Amara Zarides
Clones just wanna have fun!
Atoll Base
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
The surrounding waters have significant shallows and reefs which impede access to large ships.
POINTS OF INTEREST
High.
The main defence of Atoll Station is its remoteness and secrecy of its existence. No external trace save a concealed aerial amongst the trees on the top exists. Further, the entrance is underwater and has a trapped false entrance as well. Once inside the main hall two E-Web blasters are pointed to target any emerging threats. On top of all of this a garrison of about 80 soldiers is capable of defending the base.
Being an island, and built deep inside, it is virtually immune to any but the most devastating weapons on Tephrike. It would take either a concentrated bombardment by the heaviest guns and missiles or a prolonged drilling attempt to access from outside.
Despite this, the Republican Guard don't want to push their luck and maintain high levels of operational security for the base.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The island which has become Atoll Base was formed millions of years ago during an upwelling of volcanic material. This happened relatively quickly leaving a series of 'blob' islands scattered across the sea. This same volcanic material formed a hard shell of rock but an inner, softer core which eroded and formed a natural cave and tunnel into the heart.
For almost all of the planet's history the island was completely ignored. In the days of the Old Republic tourists would travel past it going from one resort to another, and though some photos were taken no closer inspection was made. For ornithologists the collection of avians roosting in the trees and crags were of some interest but no more than a hundred other locations.
This area of the Kyranica Coast was fought over by the Dominion of Light and Disciples of Vader briefly during the initial uprising of the Sith, but again this island received little attention other than a missed shell from a Jedi cruiser startled some birds by exploding nearby during a sea battle.
This isolation changed about sixty years ago when the Republican Guard started looking for places to hide from Dominion and Vaderite retaliation. By chance a scouting aircraft was shot down and the crew ejected. The two Mon Cal aboard parachuted to safety and took shelter by the island to escape search parties. Diving under they found a tunnel leading into a cave. Following it, with a few false ends they eventually came to a large cave inside the island. They both immediately saw the utility of the location, so when they were eventually rescued, they reported it to their superiors. A small group of engineers and intel officers accompanied the pilots to the island and found it immediately suitable. Swiftly the order was given to bring the newly named Atoll Base into the fold.
It was decided by the Guard that the base would not, in itself, be a raiding base. Very early on it was decided that a 3km exclusion zone of attacks around the island would be enacted and obeyed to prevent any activity being tracked back there. This proved rather difficult to follow at times, such as when a large, slow, Vaderite transport ships passed close by. However, the base commander let it go. Little did he know that the convoy was actually a trap trying to roust out the location of a suspected base. The ships were later attacked far away, leading to fruitless Vaderite searches in the wrong stretch of sea.
The main purpose of the base is for training, resting and hiding. Members of the garrison and other experts can enter here and have some respite from the war. It is also a great place to store prisoners. Access to the base is difficult enough for aquatics, but impossible without rebreathers or scuba gear for land lubbers. All garrison troops and almost all experts are aquatic; Mon Cal, Gungan, Quarren or Nautolan. This very much sets a tone in the base and a feeling of exceptionalism amongst the inhabitants.
The greatest exploit carried out from the base was a long range strike group which targeted the Vaderite battleship 'Hammer of the Sithari' which had stopped to refuel and make repairs after a battle with Guard submarines off shore. The probable location was sent to Atoll Base who dispatched a team of seven Trident Class Torpedoes from the base. The crews made the arduous journey through the waters over 9km to the battleship. Despite tight security measures the small Tridents slipped in, using the cover of a school of whale-like creatures as cover. When ready they lined up and opened fire. Although one torpedo missed and another proved a dud the rest hit the Sith battleship's stern, causing massive damage and causing the ship to sink. The crew of the torpedoes were then able to ambush and drag down or kill many crew who leapt to safety in the waters. By the time the carnage was done the twenty-one Mon Calamari and Nautolans had sunk a modern battleship and caused the death of over 600 crew, about a quarter of which was in melee. For this they had lost a mere three killed. The survivors scattered and lay low, eventually returning to Atoll Base as heroes.
Atoll Base is an important part of the Republican Guard's arsenal, though it's very unconventional situation means it has equally unconventional uses.
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: Inspired when on holiday to make a cool addition to Tephrike.
- Image Credit: Photos taken by me!
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: Using species, locations and groups of
Elpsis Kerrigan
with permission. - Links: Dominion of Light, Disciples of the Vader, Republican Guard, Tephrike,
- Military Base Name: Atoll Base
- Classification: Secret Naval Station
- Location: Tephrike.
- Affiliation: Republican Guard, Tephrike.
- Population: Sparse. The base survives through secrecy and deception. Soldiers and specialists cycle through the base regularly, but a garrison of ~80 marines and officers is maintained at all times. Further, a contingent of engineers, demolition experts and intelligence officers passes in and out of the base frequently, normally numbering up to ~40 additional personnel.
- Demographics: All soldiers and almost all experts are aquatic sentients capable of breathing underwater. If a non-aquatic expert needs to visit the base they are provided scuba gear as the only access is via water.
- Accessibility: Tephrike is an isolated, backwater world, and Atoll base is an isolated and backwater location. Further, the base is deliberately hidden and secret. Next, the base is only accessible by diving into an underwater cave which makes access to land dwellers difficult. Finally, a garrison and defences help protect if an enemy does breach the entrance.
- Description: Atoll base is a small volcanic island on the Kyrinica Coast in the north-east of Tephrike. It rises from the water, one among several others in the vicinity and apparently no different to all the others. Tropical plants have grown into the top and sides of the island over the millennia and it is hope to many avians. The island is about 300m in diameter and about 80m high. There is no flatland or beach on its edge by the sea.
The surrounding waters have significant shallows and reefs which impede access to large ships.
POINTS OF INTEREST
- The Mouth of the Hidden Realm. The long tunnel which leads from about 20m underwater and then up into the inside of the island. The passage is dark and narrow in places, though it has been widened as the base was occupied. A guide from the base is needed for newcomers to navigate less they take a trip into the Gullet of Doom (below). This passage is monitored and alarmed so any activity is sent to the command centre.
- Halls of the Hidden Sea. This rather cramped central chamber is where people emerge from the water into. It is covered by a pair of manned E-Web blasters. From here visitors and garrison can access the other areas of the base.
- Ordinance Cave. Due to the close confines and potential dangers, large ordinance is not allowed in the main hall. These are instead stored in a side passage of the Mouth where a dry area has been cut. Here some torpedoes or explosive charges for sabotage work are kept.
- Armoury. In the main hall is a short tunnel which leads to the locked armoury where the garrison and visitor weapons are kept.
- Command Room. A squashed and often damp command room is situated above the main hall with windows looking down onto it. In here the sensor monitors and the limited comms equipment leads. The commander of the base resides here and discusses matters with visiting experts or intelligence officers.
- Living Quarters. Four small barracks are cut into the rock off from the main hall. Three of these are for the garrison and have triple-decker bunk beds along with a couple of tables and lockers.
- The Dac Lounge. Named in honour of a planet the Mon Cal once came from…but which none have visited in 500 years, the Dac Lounge is a place for the off-duty to relax. There are some holo-projectors which show propaganda and other entertainment. There are also food and drinks of various forms and a couple of hot tubs. The Lounge is close and often rather damp so is hardly the most comfortable place, but it suffices.
- Cannery. Despite being aquatic, the garrison of the base can't go fishing easily without potentially giving away their position. So instead the cannery acts as a store of food, both preserved and live. Live fish, seaweed and other seafood can be preserved for later consumption at the base.
- The Gullet of Doom. This rather overdramatic name is for a false tunnel which leads enticingly into a cul-de-sac whilst the real tunnel branches off beforehand. Once activity is triggered a sliding portcullis seals the exit and a jolt of electricity is put through the water. Most of the time this only kills seafood which can be handily collected for the Cannery. However, if an attacker tried to infiltrate it would be most likely lethal to them as well.
- The Brig. Unruly or disobedient soldiers can be put in the handful of cells near the command centre. It is also a useful place to store hostages as they have no easy way to escape the base even if they did get free of their cages.
High.
The main defence of Atoll Station is its remoteness and secrecy of its existence. No external trace save a concealed aerial amongst the trees on the top exists. Further, the entrance is underwater and has a trapped false entrance as well. Once inside the main hall two E-Web blasters are pointed to target any emerging threats. On top of all of this a garrison of about 80 soldiers is capable of defending the base.
Being an island, and built deep inside, it is virtually immune to any but the most devastating weapons on Tephrike. It would take either a concentrated bombardment by the heaviest guns and missiles or a prolonged drilling attempt to access from outside.
Despite this, the Republican Guard don't want to push their luck and maintain high levels of operational security for the base.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The island which has become Atoll Base was formed millions of years ago during an upwelling of volcanic material. This happened relatively quickly leaving a series of 'blob' islands scattered across the sea. This same volcanic material formed a hard shell of rock but an inner, softer core which eroded and formed a natural cave and tunnel into the heart.
For almost all of the planet's history the island was completely ignored. In the days of the Old Republic tourists would travel past it going from one resort to another, and though some photos were taken no closer inspection was made. For ornithologists the collection of avians roosting in the trees and crags were of some interest but no more than a hundred other locations.
This area of the Kyranica Coast was fought over by the Dominion of Light and Disciples of Vader briefly during the initial uprising of the Sith, but again this island received little attention other than a missed shell from a Jedi cruiser startled some birds by exploding nearby during a sea battle.
This isolation changed about sixty years ago when the Republican Guard started looking for places to hide from Dominion and Vaderite retaliation. By chance a scouting aircraft was shot down and the crew ejected. The two Mon Cal aboard parachuted to safety and took shelter by the island to escape search parties. Diving under they found a tunnel leading into a cave. Following it, with a few false ends they eventually came to a large cave inside the island. They both immediately saw the utility of the location, so when they were eventually rescued, they reported it to their superiors. A small group of engineers and intel officers accompanied the pilots to the island and found it immediately suitable. Swiftly the order was given to bring the newly named Atoll Base into the fold.
It was decided by the Guard that the base would not, in itself, be a raiding base. Very early on it was decided that a 3km exclusion zone of attacks around the island would be enacted and obeyed to prevent any activity being tracked back there. This proved rather difficult to follow at times, such as when a large, slow, Vaderite transport ships passed close by. However, the base commander let it go. Little did he know that the convoy was actually a trap trying to roust out the location of a suspected base. The ships were later attacked far away, leading to fruitless Vaderite searches in the wrong stretch of sea.
The main purpose of the base is for training, resting and hiding. Members of the garrison and other experts can enter here and have some respite from the war. It is also a great place to store prisoners. Access to the base is difficult enough for aquatics, but impossible without rebreathers or scuba gear for land lubbers. All garrison troops and almost all experts are aquatic; Mon Cal, Gungan, Quarren or Nautolan. This very much sets a tone in the base and a feeling of exceptionalism amongst the inhabitants.
The greatest exploit carried out from the base was a long range strike group which targeted the Vaderite battleship 'Hammer of the Sithari' which had stopped to refuel and make repairs after a battle with Guard submarines off shore. The probable location was sent to Atoll Base who dispatched a team of seven Trident Class Torpedoes from the base. The crews made the arduous journey through the waters over 9km to the battleship. Despite tight security measures the small Tridents slipped in, using the cover of a school of whale-like creatures as cover. When ready they lined up and opened fire. Although one torpedo missed and another proved a dud the rest hit the Sith battleship's stern, causing massive damage and causing the ship to sink. The crew of the torpedoes were then able to ambush and drag down or kill many crew who leapt to safety in the waters. By the time the carnage was done the twenty-one Mon Calamari and Nautolans had sunk a modern battleship and caused the death of over 600 crew, about a quarter of which was in melee. For this they had lost a mere three killed. The survivors scattered and lay low, eventually returning to Atoll Base as heroes.
Atoll Base is an important part of the Republican Guard's arsenal, though it's very unconventional situation means it has equally unconventional uses.
