Gate Houses

Gate House

aka Union Gate House

aka Ancient Gate Fortification

Even before the activation of the Ancient Gate network in 5040

There were known trans spatial gates (None were active) and those known to the Union received research and monitoring stations close by. These stations were called Gate Houses.

In the period between 5030 and 5050 (OTT) four distinctive different Trans spatial gate systems were discovered.

By Assembly decission after a recommendation by Admiral McElligott, every knwon gate was to recveive a heavy armed space station in order to control what or who used the gates.

The gates were declared Highest strategic interest to the Union.

Using the space salvage custom and this widely accepted practice. The Union is actually taking posession of these gates and

has no problems denying access to others (Union Strongarm tactics)

Core feature of taking posession is the establishment/ construction of a Gatehouse.

Gatehouses are the most heavy shielded, armored and armed constructs the Union ever devised.

The first Gatehouses were based on Medimon and Gigamon space station.

But now Gatehouses are purpose designed monsters  of typical Union design : Huge, well defended and busy places.

Gatehouses are often only the core of such an Union Gate installation, there might be DS Villages, additonal ship docks, Army and or Navy installations, the nearest star system fortified and used as a Station Support system and of course the Xeno lab facilities investigating the gates itself.

All Gatehouses are under the auspice of the Union Border Defense but may be assigned to Fleet, Army or even Space Force[1] by Assembly decission.

All Gatehhouses have a Union hospital, space bus terminal and a post office. One of the features are the Data Drones that pass throught the gates every hour (or as needed)

There are usually  Fighter wings, Destroyers or battle ships.

Gatehouses are also often connected to  Unionm Buoy Border markers, "Milestones" or sensor pods. Many of the gate approach vectors are mined and the mine fields can be activates or deactivated from the Gatehouses.

All gatehouses have the ability to destroy the gate if needed.

(Also see SII Project "Thomas Watson")

[1] Gatehouse Blue Yonder is under Union Space Force Command