Bisbos.com

Until recent years Skybases were a common sight for all travellers in deep space, but the great elliptical tubes with their four external service docks are now fairly rare. Originally conceived as temporary depots for government exploration teams, they gained a new significance in the Proxima Wars.

Throughout this period they were produced in high volume as they had the advantage of being comparatively cheap and quick to manufacture, and were turned out by the tens from local shipyards as little more than shells. They were then ferried to their various sites under power supplied by Consolidated Engineering's Pluspak 7 addon thrust pods, which were then removed for reuse once the base was in position.

Probably 80% of these constructions were fitted out as supply and repair depots, and within a few years constituted a wide and efficient interstellar system. By the closing years of the war any damaged or depleted ship could find refuge within a fairly short period of time. Although very vulnerable to attack due to their lack of any effective defence system Skybases could be replaced quickly and economically, and were a welcome sight to many a ship's captain.

Those not equipped as maintenance depots provided facilities for rest centres, hospitals and regional command posts, and were home at one time or another to practically every Spacer on active service. Their physical similarity to an artefact from an antiquated communication system led to their widely used nickname of 'Letterboxes'.
The first Skybases were constructed of real metals and probably no more than two or three of these still exist. There is certainly one example in perfect working order in the Galactic War Museum off Jupiter and another, rather more dilapidated, in the Centaurian system. These models were soon replaced by those formed from the more familiar Plastalloy in the search for greater durability.

All bases except those near habitable worlds or with specialized functions were without human personnel and relied entirely upon a crew of Mechtecks or Roboserves. There was one amusing incident reported in which a meteorite strike had damaged the central control of a Skybase and a patrol ship was unable to dock due to the entry being obstructed by the entire complement of Mechtecks executing a slow waltz.
After the war a huge number of Skybases was dismantled for materials, which were by then in short supply. Nevertheless, there are many still of operational status, particularly in the region of the trade perimeter, and a large number which have been sold and adapted for local commercial use.
The illustration depicts a prewar, realmetal Skybase which differs from later versions only in that power was drawn from solar collectors situated in the side facing the nearest sun, whereas subsequent bases were fitted with all round bands of highly sensitive Photomax Transducers.

Incidentally the illustration also shows Panther pursuit ships of the Federal Law Enforcement Authority (or 'The Flea' to use its popular name) and an Avery C14 Transporter, taking on fuel, both models now long obsolete.