Outpost Houtman
Outpost Houtman is a Starfleet dilithium mining facility located on Sheo III, a class-M planet dominated by humid jungles. This outpost is also the nucleus of a new Federation colony, though the sustainability of long-term inhabitation of the planet is unknown due to the planet's tectonic instability and unpredictable weather. Key threats in the region include the Breen, Ferengi, and Kzinti, so this facility also houses a long-range sensor array to serve as a waypoint for exploratory and patrol missions in the area.
Facilities
Outpost Houtman currently consists of several pre-fabricated structures with accommodations and control facilities. Its mining facilities are still under construction. It is located in a valley, as Starfleet found the rain shadow effect in this small strip of land to be a useful reprieve from the humidity present everywhere else. Even still, local flora and fauna are a consistent worry. Civilian facilities are interspersed with Starfleet ones. When fully constructed, Houtman will support a crew of over a thousand.
Organization
Outpost Houtman has a Starfleet crew commanded by a Starfleet commander. The new colony slowly being established around the outpost is under civilian control, but its leaders defer to Starfleet in most matters.
History
The Sheo system was discovered on the coreward frontier of Federation space near to the Breen border in the mid-2300s, but was not fully surveyed until 2400 when it was visited by the USS Walker. Long since thought to be unremarkable, or at least unappealing for colonization because of its tempestuous climate and hostile lifeforms, a massive dilithium deposit was discovered on Sheo III and Starfleet elected to establish a presence there. Outpost Houtman was established in late 2400 with a Starfleet crew, and limited civilian settlement surrounding the core structures was also authorized for a trial period to confirm the viability of colonization. Starfleet's core goal with this outpost is to ensure that the dilithium is extracted ethically and in keeping with environmental laws. While also keeping an eye on the region with a new subspace listening post and deep space sensor array, designed to help plot both patrol and exploratory routes in the coreward Alpha Quadrant.
Auxiliary Craft
- Aeroshuttle (2x)
- Volga-class (Rosalind Franklin)
- New Atlantic-class
Maintenance Craft
- Type 7 or Cargo Bee (5x)
- Type 4 or Work Bee (10x)
- Type 9 or Construction Bee (10x)