Antongrad: High Orbit

Far above Antograd is a sea of clutter, shrapnel, and activity arguably more bustling than the planetary surface. A hundred custom lanes handle the various tiers of commercial and private traffic while a fleet of fast-moving skiffs and cutters intercept inbound vessels and guide them into their appropriate queues. Drones zip about wildly, gathering debris and ushering it to a proper destination; spaceports and construction stations repair or dismantle a massive ensemble of craft gathering around the planet; and the stabilizing beams of space elevators pierce the void in a dumbfounding display.

Again, the disembodied androgynous voice calmly asserts, “Welcome to Antograd, a proud member nation of the Pandorian Alliance. Please set security measures on autopilot systems to protocol 7b-36e. Marines will be available to assist your cargo screening shortly. Your patience is appreciated.”

In the distance, built upon the husk of a massive asteroid set just beyond the planet’s penumbra, lurks Antograd's fleet of dreadnaughts, carriers, and various other interstellar vehicles crewed by individuals who make the customs marines seem tame by comparison.