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Description
A Groundport is the formal name for any kind of ground based spacecraft receiving facility or installation, and it replaces the now archaic spaceport as that term was often met with confusion wherein orbital receiving facilities were concerned. Orbital facilities are known as Spaceports, as that makes sense. The layout shown here is typical of a planet based groundport.

01. Control Center: a large sixty floor control and traffic directing facility that is armored against impacts and explosions. The tower also holds the administration section, the various agents for the shipping and receiving companies, as well as facilities for military forces should the need arise.

  02. Medical Section: capable of providing quality medical attention to as many as six hundred persons at any given time, every groundport has a medical section in case of incidents, accidents, and the arrival of wounded on board a vessel or vessels.

  03. Administration Receiving Section: pilots coming in for unloading are required to interface with the administration receiving section personnel, as it is them that handle the necessary paperwork and freight documentation.

  04. Port Law Enforcement (Police): the cops are located at the base of the tower and can be moved into action quickly should the need arise. Location as they are within the main complex, this also makes it useful for spacers and other personnel to find them for the reporting of crimes, the paying of charge fees and other sundry law enforcement business.

  05. Shipwright Services: this cluster of offices holds the port authority approved shipwrights office. Shipmasters can request repairs, upgrades or downgrades, overhauls and general maintenance for their vessels and vehicles here.

  06. Shipwright Upgrading Stores: a shipwrights shop/store essentially where spacers can wander into their showroom and see what they can purchase for their vessels.

  07. Shipwright Testing Section: Ships are moved from the main landing strip to this section of the port for testing in the open section of ground immediately beyond the buildings here.

  08. Port Authority Section Warehouses: this is the receiving and storage area for all of the cargo being brought in and taken out of the groundport. An extensive and well-protected series of large structures, the area is patrolled, and is constantly monitored to ensure theft or interference of cargo takes place. Off-limits to all but warehouse personnel.

  09. Scrapyard: old ships, ruined and crashed write-offs are stored back here with the more expensive ones broken down into useful bits which are stored in the structure. Spacers are welcome to scavenge the 'pile' for anything that they can use, but all finds must be purchased. Taking an item, no matter how small without payment constitutes theft and will be prosecuted.

  10. Fuel Services: The fuel and radioactive source tanks are deep underground here, and this area (above ground) houses connection points for vehicles that convey fuel to parked vessels.

11. Receiving Facility, Passengers: Passengers either loading or unloading from vessels are sent to this structure until such time that they can be taken from the port, or board an outgoing vessel.

12. Sub-Control Facility: a smaller tower that handles local air traffic, including airborne vehicles flying over the port.

13. Air Vehicle Landing Area: air vehicles, or in fact any vehicle that isn't actually a spacecraft can land on this area and use it as a waypoint between the pads and the city beyond the groundport.

14. Accident and Emergency Services: fire, rescue and medical services are dispatched from this building.

15. Spacers Recreational Center: spacers-only recreational facilities. The area includes a mall, eating area, and other facilities on site.

16. Spacer Only Slabtels: a slabtel is a simple rented room with all of the facilities you may expect of a motel/hotel but considerably cheaper. Room can be rented by the hour or day. Guests have to sign in.

17. Large Vessel Landing Area: as the name suggests, space for very large vessels. This area is often utilized for visiting military vessels.

18. V.I.P. Field: landing spaces for yachts, custom or expensive craft. The area is generally off-limits to anyone who does not have a pass or good reason to be there. It is also monitored and has gun towers protecting it.

19. Landing Berths 1-18: as the name suggests, these are landing bays for medium or small craft. The Arcos series constitutes a medium-sized ship and would easily fit into any of these spaces with plenty of room to spare.

20. Landing Berths 19-37: once again, these are landing bays for small to medium-sized craft.

21: Cargo Storage Area: a temporary standing point for cargo that has been cleared for transshipping out of the port and off-planet.

Designed and illustrated by Jonathan Bluestone (C) Copyright Bluestone 1980-2023. The author has announced intellectual property rights over this/these images and concept. Unauthorized usage or adaption will be met with legal action against the offender. This design is associated with the Fallen Worlds universe.

Description
A Groundport is the formal name for any kind of ground based spacecraft receiving facility or installation, and it replaces the now archaic spaceport as that term was often met with confusion wherein orbital receiving facilities were concerned. Orbital facilities are known as Spaceports, as that makes sense. The layout shown here is typical of a planet based groundport.

01. Control Center: a large sixty floor control and traffic directing facility that is armored against impacts and explosions. The tower also holds the administration section, the various agents for the shipping and receiving companies, as well as facilities for military forces should the need arise.

  02. Medical Section: capable of providing quality medical attention to as many as six hundred persons at any given time, every groundport has a medical section in case of incidents, accidents, and the arrival of wounded on board a vessel or vessels.

  03. Administration Receiving Section: pilots coming in for unloading are required to interface with the administration receiving section personnel, as it is them that handle the necessary paperwork and freight documentation.

  04. Port Law Enforcement (Police): the cops are located at the base of the tower and can be moved into action quickly should the need arise. Location as they are within the main complex, this also makes it useful for spacers and other personnel to find them for the reporting of crimes, the paying of charge fees and other sundry law enforcement business.

  05. Shipwright Services: this cluster of offices holds the port authority approved shipwrights office. Shipmasters can request repairs, upgrades or downgrades, overhauls and general maintenance for their vessels and vehicles here.

  06. Shipwright Upgrading Stores: a shipwrights shop/store essentially where spacers can wander into their showroom and see what they can purchase for their vessels.

  07. Shipwright Testing Section: Ships are moved from the main landing strip to this section of the port for testing in the open section of ground immediately beyond the buildings here.

  08. Port Authority Section Warehouses: this is the receiving and storage area for all of the cargo being brought in and taken out of the groundport. An extensive and well-protected series of large structures, the area is patrolled, and is constantly monitored to ensure theft or interference of cargo takes place. Off-limits to all but warehouse personnel.

  09. Scrapyard: old ships, ruined and crashed write-offs are stored back here with the more expensive ones broken down into useful bits which are stored in the structure. Spacers are welcome to scavenge the 'pile' for anything that they can use, but all finds must be purchased. Taking an item, no matter how small without payment constitutes theft and will be prosecuted.

  10. Fuel Services: The fuel and radioactive source tanks are deep underground here, and this area (above ground) houses connection points for vehicles that convey fuel to parked vessels.

11. Receiving Facility, Passengers: Passengers either loading or unloading from vessels are sent to this structure until such time that they can be taken from the port, or board an outgoing vessel.

12. Sub-Control Facility: a smaller tower that handles local air traffic, including airborne vehicles flying over the port.

13. Air Vehicle Landing Area: air vehicles, or in fact any vehicle that isn't actually a spacecraft can land on this area and use it as a waypoint between the pads and the city beyond the groundport.

14. Accident and Emergency Services: fire, rescue and medical services are dispatched from this building.

15. Spacers Recreational Center: spacers-only recreational facilities. The area includes a mall, eating area, and other facilities on site.

16. Spacer Only Slabtels: a slabtel is a simple rented room with all of the facilities you may expect of a motel/hotel but considerably cheaper. Room can be rented by the hour or day. Guests have to sign in.

17. Large Vessel Landing Area: as the name suggests, space for very large vessels. This area is often utilized for visiting military vessels.

18. V.I.P. Field: landing spaces for yachts, custom or expensive craft. The area is generally off-limits to anyone who does not have a pass or good reason to be there. It is also monitored and has gun towers protecting it.

19. Landing Berths 1-18: as the name suggests, these are landing bays for medium or small craft. The Arcos series constitutes a medium-sized ship and would easily fit into any of these spaces with plenty of room to spare.

20. Landing Berths 19-37: once again, these are landing bays for small to medium-sized craft.

21: Cargo Storage Area: a temporary standing point for cargo that has been cleared for transshipping out of the port and off-planet.

Designed and illustrated by Jonathan Bluestone (C) Copyright Bluestone 1980-2023. The author has announced intellectual property rights over this/these images and concept. Unauthorized usage or adaption will be met with legal action against the offender. This design is associated with the Fallen Worlds universe.