Portauthor 3D Render, Digital Artwork by emarukk

! REPORT

Portauthor

3D Render by emarukk

Kaori arrived at the Portauthor security check with plenty of time to spare. However, her plans for a quick check-in were dashed when the driver came to the gate and presented yesterday's news as travel documents, causing a delay in the process. The gates remained closed while OWTC security dealt with the situation. Kaori observed as a retired army general confidently displayed his essential documents and privileged access to the guard, further prolonging the wait. As she glanced around, she noticed a group of entitled teenagers from wealthy families trying to cut in line with their special tickets. It was clear that the line would continue to grow before the gates finally opened. The tension in the air was palpable as everyone waited impatiently for their turn to pass through security. The bustling crowd hurried past Kaori, eager to catch their transport. The Skylifts were currently out of order, leaving the taxi service as the only means of transportation. Frustration radiated through the air as people argued and demanded priority access to the lounge area, each claiming to be more important than the others. But Kaori remained calm and patient despite her frustration, knowing that her ride would wait for her. Unlike the others, who seemed in a constant hurry, she was in no rush. As a skilled pilot, she knew that the shuttle would not move without her. Especially when she would be piloting it to the planetary station. The thought brought her a sense of pride and purpose as she waited for her turn in line amidst all the self-proclaimed important people.

In the heart of the bustling metropolis, Portauthor served as the main terminal for the first Off-World station orbiting the planet. The port was a maze of gates, each one teeming with activity and throngs of people, especially since the installation of new security measures. Security checks were conducted closer to the platform in the past, but now they are spread out, causing chaos and delays. The once lively area filled with street kitchens, bars, and shops was now eerily quiet and empty. Kaori's mind wandered back to childhood when her father would take her to watch departing ships from this very spot. They would stand at the edge of the pier, feeling the hot gusts of dust and exhaust from the massive vessels taking off into the unknown depths of space. She closed her eyes and could almost feel the rush of excitement and anticipation that filled her younger self as she gazed up at the stars after the ship.

One fateful day, an unknown assailant crashed a fleet of trucks filled with dangerously explosive material into the Portauthor terminal, triggering a devastating explosion that almost decimated half of the bustling port. In the aftermath, security measures were heightened, and a temporary checkpoint was established, stretching far from the platform. The once lively bazaar was now a desolate wasteland, and access to the viewing platform on the edge of the pier was closed. However, the shops and bars stubbornly remained open. Due to the painstaking slowness and inconvenience of the new security procedures, most crews chose to remain within the safety of the zone, leaving the city outside the port barren and lifeless when money was consumed inside the safety zone.