BABYLON 5 - STATION INFORMATION
Babylon 5 is a 8,592 meter (five-mile) long, 3200 ft. diameter, 9.1 Billion-ton O'Neill class space station located at a pivotal main jump gate, located at the L-5 point in a binary star system between a star and a planet named Tigris & Euphatres, in an 33,000 km. orbit around a planet called Epsilon Eridani III, coordinates: "Grid Epsilon" at 470/18/22. The station's life support system is capable of supporting over 250,000 entities in variable gravities, mostly as transit passengers.
Normal planetary gravity aboard Babylon 5 is simulated in a similar manor to Babylon 4, by rotating the station. Outward acceleration at the perimeter is approximately 9.8 m/s^2 [1g]. Unlike Babylon 4 however, Babylon 5 does not have the counter rotating sections, effectively trapping the station in orbit around Epsilon Eridani III. Babylon 5 does have a series of thruster engines however, used in maintaining it's location at the L5 point.
When the station first went on-line, Babylon 5 was defended only by a low level defense grid, leaving the station extremely vulnerable to attack. It was not until the station's upgrade in 2259, when the Station's systems were given a complete over-hall, that Babylon 5 had sufficient fire power to defend its self from attack. The new, and significantly more powerful defense grid gave Babylon 5 enough fire power to take on a battle cruiser without the need of an escort fleet and re-affirmed Earth Alliances commitment to the Babylon project.
Babylon 5 is also equipped with a full complement of 32 SA-23E Arrora class Starfuries. After Babylon 5 seceded from the Earth Alliance in 2260, it received 24 new SA-26 Thunderbolt class Starfuries. Most of these Starfuries came from the EAS Churchill which was destroyed during the Battle of Euphrates by forces loyal to former President William, Morgan Clark.
The "front" of the Babylon 5 station contains the stations control and command deck, observation dome, and docking bays. The stations docking system consists of two docking bays, the first allowing small craft to enter along the stations 0g center line of the rotating section, to be transferred to the appropriate internal landing bay. The second and larger docking bay is located in the stations upper non-rating section, which is dedicated to craft remaining in free fall. The forward section of the station, designated BLUE sector, also contains the Cobra launch bays for Babylon 5s fighter wings.
To control and maintain the vast network of power, air recycling, water reclamation, communication and data storage, Earth Alliance turned to the Centauri in the construction of Babylon 5s computer system. Based on a crystalline Earth/Centauri hybrid technology, it was decided that Babylon 5 would have a completely revolutionary AI, providing the station with an artificial personality. Unfortunately this plan did not work very well, as a technical error lead to the rather unstable personality of a New-York taxi cab driver taking over the Babylon 5 system. Quickly realizing the monumental problem this would create, the artificial personality was locked out and a more conventional computer/user interface was integrated into the system.
The computer system presently in use on Babylon 5, is based primarily on human design using Centauri crystalline technology and is capable of both keyboard and voice input, the latter in over one hundred different alien languages. Integrated within this computer system is the Babcom communications network, which is used to handles all the stations communication needs. This includes intra-station, ship-to-station, and long-range tachyon communications.
Given the size of the Babylon 5 station, engineers deemed it necessary to create an extensive mass-transit public transportation system which allows personnel and visitors to easily travel across the whole of the five mile long station. This system includes several train systems that run across the outer walls of the station, as well as a mono-rail shuttle service that runs along the stations 0g center line. The Core Shuttle as it is referred to in-station, runs every five minutes accessing 13 sub-stations along the length of the Babylon 5s habitat section.
To make it easy to negotiate the vast size of the station, Babylon 5 has been broken into six sub-sections. These include the following:
YELLOW SECTOR- Engineering, docking bays and cargo
bays.
BLUE SECTOR- Customs, operations and Earthforce personnel
quarters.
BROWN SECTOR- Commerce and transient habitation.
GREEN SECTOR- Diplomatic habitation and facilities.
RED SECTOR- Commercial habitation.
GRAY SECTOR- Construction and manufacturing.
Using a coordinate based system, finding ones
way around Babylon 5 is relatively easy. One must simple know the
sectors color designation, which is a spiral ring of the
station, followed by the sector letter, and then whatever number
that denotes a level.
Another interesting problem presented in the construction of Babylon 5, was the stations need for a very powerful power plant, in order to run all station systems as well as operate the large motors used to rotate the stations habitat wing. Thus a new type of fusion reactor system was designed.
Main power for Babylon 5 is handled by a series of mass quinterium fusion reactors in the rear non-rotating section of the station. Babylon 5 has a total of eight Tokamak Corp. 790 quinterium fusion reactors, with a combined power output of approximately 73 exawatts (73 X 10 18th power). This powerful reactor system handles all the stations power needs. In addition to the main fusion reactors, there are two hundred smaller fusion reactors strategically placed through out the station, designed to ensure key systems remain operational should it ever become necessary to eject the stations main energizer.
A marvelous achievement for all parties involved,
Babylon 5 will continue to faithfully serve the ideals and goals
that lead to her creation, the dream of one point in space where
the entire universe can come together, in peace and mutual
respect.
[It should be noted that, although Babylon 5 is on-line,
construction of the Babylon 5 station was never completed. There
are some areas where construction is still required.]
TECHNICAL & EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT BABYLON 5
BABYLON 5 STATION
TYPE: Babylon - O'Neal Class Station
LOCATION: Orbiting Epsilon 3
Grid Epsilon 470/18/22
POPULATION: 250,000 58/42% Human/Alien
STATION CREW: Earth Force & Admin: 6,500
Guild Dockworkers: 1,500
LENGTH: 5 miles
DIAMETER: 840m (Rotating Section)
MASS: 2.5 million tons (metal casing)
GRAVITY: Zero-G to 1 G
ATMOSPHERE: 92% Oxygen/Nitrogen
5.2% Methane
2.8% Other non-standard
DEFENCE GRID: Pulse Cannons
Plasma Guns
Interceptors
Mine Launchers
2ZX Tracking
SUPPORT: 32 Starfuries
24 Thunderbolt
STATION MAP
Detailed Schematic
DESCRIPTION
The non-rotating "fork" portion
of the station "over" the rotating landing bays sits
astride a 0 G cargo handling bay. The "fork" extends
into a flat non-rotating section that runs the length of the
station to the heat radiator vanes. Behind them extends the
fusion reactor section that extends over a third of the length of
the station. Mounted above and between the fork is the Tachyon
transmitter/receiver and the docking beacon.
Below the zero-g docking bay, in the rotating section, is the
docking bay proper. All ships enter the station dead centre. An
incoming ship surrenders its shipboard computer to the Babylon 5
Command and Control, located directly beneath the bay entrance. A
ship is then taken and lowered into one of many bays located
toward the hull. The docking areas are divided into sections,
with the diplomatic and military bays having restricted access.
Starfuries are housed in separate launch bays in cobra shaped
projections along the round front of the station, hence their
common name "Cobra Bays."
Set in the front of the station, beneath the entrance to the dock
areas, is a window which looks into C & C. This can be
protected by a set of blast doors, as can the docking entrance.
BABYLON 5 SECTORS
The station is divided into colour coded
sections, most of which rotate to create artificial gravity.
BLUE SECTOR:
Blue Sector is the focus of operations,
it includes the Observation Dome, Docking bays, Medlab and
Customs.
OBSERVATION
DOME:
An alternate name for the Command and
Control (C&C) section on Babylon 5, named for the large
circular window looking out onto the approach vector for the
station's docking bays, or Dockside. It is located about a third
of the way along the station radius (giving a gravity of about
0.3g) where the routing of ships is handled.
The area includes numerous terminals for environment, jump
gate/navigational assistance, security and so on, all of which go
on standby for routine maintenance every 36-48 hours or so for
cleaning, backups and so on. The rotating lights on the floor,
and around the window, are for two purposes; to designate the
center of power and authority, and to act as sensors. The lights
are kept fairly dim, to better see all the instruments, and be
able to look out into space through the window without being
washed out by the glare. When someone comes in, and the person in
charge turns to talk to them, a light descends on them
automatically to illuminate them for the purpose of conversation,
the lights automatically return to normal when they turn back to
the panel. Civilians are prohibited from entering the Observation
Dome without the express permission of the station's commander.
MEDLAB:
Medlab is geared for the treatment of
most species and includes an IsoLab for both quarantining and
maintaining difference habitats for patients. The Isolab, an
adjunct to MedLab is capable of supporting an isolated
environment via an airlock, enabling both support for different
living conditions and the containment of potentially hazardous
biological infections.
RED SECTOR:
Red Sector is the focus for all
commercial activity aboard the station and contains casinos,
bars, hotel suites, brothels and the Zocalo. Red Sector wraps
around the garden.
YELLOW SECTOR:
Yellow Sector is a non rotating section
which houses zero-gravity cargo bays, Fusion Engines etc.
GREEN SECTOR:
Green Sector contains the Ambassadorial
wing and can only be accessed by station personnel. The Green
Sector Wraps around The Garden.
THE GARDEN:
The Garden A large botanical area that
runs the center,lengthwise, of the station. It is an O'Neill
environment, which enables an observer to lookstraight up to the
other side of the rotating section. Lining the circular wall are
some farmlands, orchards,an open air hedge maze, fields, trees,
artificial lakes, Hydroponics gardens and other areas for oxygen
reclamation. There are other areas where alien food is grown, as
well as an area where food that is impractical to grow is
synthesized. Other foods are imported. Weather can occur in the
Garden area.
GRAY SECTOR:
Gray Sector Covers the industrial area,
and plays host to the stations various alien guests. Gray Sector
wraps around the garden.
DOWN BELOW:
Downbelow refers to the undeveloped areas
beneath the main levels of Babylon 5. Downbelow is inhabited by
Babylon 5's equivalent of the homeless, called Lurkers. Most of
them are people who came to the station looking for work; they
didn't find any, and can't afford passage offstation. No
government is willing to pay to ship them home (and in some
cases, they wouldn't even be allowed home) so they languish on
the station. The Downbelow is a center of criminal activity on
B5, though by no means is crime confined to that area.
COBRA BAY:
The Cobra Bay is a section of one of the
four cobra arms on Babylon 5 from which Starfury fighters are
launched using the centrifugal force generated by the station's
rotation. Starfurys returning for operations enter the station by
the main docking bay and are then transported back into the cobra
bays.
MISC:
There are various embassies and
diplomatic missions from various worlds. Because space on B5 is
so tight, complete offices for every single ambassador would kill
most of the available space; so they have access to the station's
facilities for business rooms, meeting rooms, conference rooms
and the like.
BABYLON 5 INFORMATION
LOCATION:
Grid "Epsilon" 470x18x22. The
Station orbits a barren, seemingly lifeless planet "Epsilon
3" (aka Euphrates*) in the L5 postition between the planet
and a small, gray moon. The planet orbits "near"
Epsilon Eridani (Epsilon or Tigris*) in neutral space, more or
less central to all five of the major governments.
Hyperspace distance from major
homeworlds:
Earth - 36 standard hours
hyperspace
Narn - 44 standard hours hyperspace (12.2 standard light
years)
Centauri Prime - 48 standard hours hyperspace (75 Centauri
light years)
Minbar - unknown
Vorlon Homeworld - 96 standard hours hyperspace
GRAVITY:
Normal planetary gravity is simulated by
rotating the station. Outward acceleration at the perimeter is
approximately 9.8 m/s2 [1g]. The station does not have engines
per se, although there are small thrusters used in maintaining
it's location at the L5 point.
BABYLON 5 TIME:
The station operates on Earth
Standard/Earth Mean Time, as well as running on human cycles of
day and night, with the lighting in the hallways and Garden
bright during the day times, and dark during night.
LEGAL STATUS:
The Station acts as a free port, a place
of commerce, trade, diplomacy, where different parties can meet
to work out their problems so the legal situation can be tricky.
Technically, outside of the station is in neutral territory,
while only within the station are EA laws and regulations
enforceable. These regulations are VERY strict. Anyone coming
onto the station must be scanned for weapons, since no weapons
are allowed on the station. In most everyday situations B5
operates fairly autonomously; Earth doesn't generally get
involved unless there's a good reason. The commander of B5 is
empowered to speak on behalf of his government the say that a
ship's captain exploring new worlds is similarly empowered. He is
on equal footing with the Alien ambassadors. He is forbidden from
using the Station's personnel or firepower to, for instance,
threaten someone into signing a particular treaty, since that
would be considered duress, and therefore void.
FINANCIAL CONDITIONS:
The Station is owned and operated by the
Earth Alliance, and although the EA funded the first few attempts
exclusively; after they'd dumped all their money into B4, they
needed outside funding to get B5 going. The Minbari were first to
contribute money as a show of good faith. Then the Centauri added
additional funding. Those are the only two other races that've
contributed significantly. Because of this financial
"burden", anyone who stays on the station pays a fee.
Station employees are charged a similar fee against their
salaries. Even the command staff may be required to pay for their
"room and board". As soon as a ship enters through the
Jump Gate, its "signature" is registered and the fee
for using Gate is debited to the account or taxes of the ship's
owner. If they don't have an account, they will be asked for
payment before being allowed to "land."
PERSONNEL:
Most of the humans on the station are
civilian contractees, handling things such as dockwork, food
preparation, and so forth, under contracts with the government.
Operations, such as the techs in the Observation Dome, the
Medical Staff, and Security are Earthforce. There are 1500 Guild
Dockworkers, and 6500 Earthforce Personnel.
LIVING AREAS:
There are living areas designed to
accomodate different environments, atmospheres, etc. Some of the
alien sections are uninhabitable to humans without protective
breathing gear or other measures. Similarly, heavy CO2 breathers
or methane breathers have to wear some sort of respirators or
"encounter suits" to travel among the humans on the
station. The station's life support systems are capable of
handling 250,000 entities, mostly in the form of transient
population. Only the executive suites have sufficient water for
traditional bathing facilities. The rest of the personnel make
due with sonics showers.
TRANSPORT:
The primary means of transportation
within the station are the transport tubes, similar to elevators
moving from level to level; and the core shuttle, which travels
along the axis in 0 G.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The station's main computer is based on a
crystalline human-alien hybrid technology, and is capable of both
keyboard and voice input, the latter in several languages and
integrated with which is the BabCom (Babylon 5 Communications)
network, which handles intrastation and ship-to-station traffic
while long-range communications are routed via StellarCom tachyon
messages. All the computer systems on the station are controlled
via this centralised system. This system is subject to commands
from terminals, and also the external comm feed, so EA command
could order the shutdown of life support for instance, although
the access codes have now been changed. When the system was
originally put on-line an artificial intelligence (or
personality) was installed as part of the interface, but was
later removed due to compatibility problems with the human staff.
However, the personality (called Sparky) still surfaces from time
to time. Station crew and diplomatic staff are issued portable
comlinks for voice-only communications.
DEFENCE GRID:
The station is defended by a low level
defence grid, as well as several small weapon emplacements
located beneath panels on the outer hull, and a complement of
more than 48 Starfuries (both original and Thunder Bolt
versions).