#argyle station

Argyle Station's lift network runs through passages that go back all the way to the station's original architecture. A typical turbolift capsule is a three meter tall cylinder that is also three meters in diameter, unfurnished except for grab bars and a rudimentary map display. These capsules can deliver one to most decks, and even radiate out from the central columns, although wait times can be frustratingly long near the outer hull.

In the central column there is also a larger set of capsules, useful for cargo or bulk passenger transport, that run a set schedule but do not leave the hub.

Because the lifts are going through tunnels not designed for the purpose, the ride is a bit more jostly than one may be accustomed to. Some people love it; some people get motion-sick; most barely notice. Every long-time stationer knows a guy who knows a guy who died in a lift accident because some thrill-seeking kids tampered with a lift capsule.

This entry represents a typical escape pod, of a kind found on most of the station's inhabited decks. It is an almost-spherical capsule with restraints and life support for ten adult humanoids for about 72 hours. It is old, installed during a mid-23rd century refit, but it is durable and reliable, at least if it has been maintained recently.

The square-cube law makes traditional surface-launched escape pods insufficient for a station this size, so interior pods are routed through the lift network and ejected through the closest exterior port that the system deems safe. In fact the turbolift capsules themselves can be pressed into service as escape pods in an emergency, though they are not nearly as well equipped as the regular pods.

Hydroponics was once a vital piece of the station's life support: for organics processing, food production, and air quality. Recent advances in power generation and matter manipulation have reduced the importance of these cruder methods, but Argyle Station still has an extensive paludal reserve.

These days the Marsh is more recreational and scientific than infrastructural. Many varieties of insect, marine, and amphibian life have been introduced over the years, some intentionally and some not. It will never rival the Arboretum in size or popularity, but for beings whose idea of nature is darker and muggier, it is a welcome option.

This room is usually bare except for the eight meter metal cylinder with bundles of power and data cables sticking out the top. If none of the diagnostic terminals are active the only indication that anything is unusual would be the low thrumming of the subspace field generators inside.

Inside the cylinder are roughly 30,000 beings known as Pelu. The Pelu are an intelligent species adapted to life in subspace. Starfleet first encountered them several months ago when the USS Ride detected some unusual subspace activity in deep space. This group of Pelu were attempting to reach a nearby star system, but at subluminal speeds they were hundreds of years away from anything interesting. They drew the attention of the Ride's crew when they, more or less accidentally, possessed a few of the command staff.

The experience was traumatic all around, and the Pelu asked for help establishing a controlled environment where they could practice dealing with stimuli again.

The Pelu habitat provides the Pelu with safety, nourishment, and access to the library computer. Pelu can even contact station residents, or operate characters in a holodeck program.

The Support Department (sometimes derogatorially called the "Hospitality Department") on Argyle Station is responsible for guest accommodations, special events, and cultural programming.

Directly across from the door to the XO's office, near the right side ramp to Ops Level 2, is the door to the office of the station Commander. Unlike the XO's office, this room has been remodeled to look as much as possible like a typical Starfleet installation.

A large grey desk sits with its back to the window, facing a decorative rug with the UFP seal and two chairs that are not as comfortable as they look.

Just off the left ramp up to Ops Level 2 is the office of the station's second-in-command. This room is normally bare, with dark flat surfaces that do not pull focus from the enormous window that takes up the whole far wall.

The reason the command module of Argyle Station looks like a flying saucer is that it was originally an independent spacecraft. It was refitted and installed atop the main hull somewhere in the late 22nd century by the station's new management. At this point the only legacy of the hull's past life are redundant life support and shield systems.

Ops occupies the center of the top of the command module. The lift to the rest of the station opens on the lower level, whcih contains some general-purpose workstations, but is mostly used to access other parts of this deck (through doors around the perimeter) or the upper level of Ops (via two ramps or a lift). The doors off of the lower level lead to senior staff offices, a head, and a galley.

The upper level of Ops is under a transparent dome and is currently configured with two seated workstations and one multiperson standing workstation.