USS Seneca

The exterior of the U.S.S. Seneca, commonly known as the Mastershphere

Overview

History

The U.S.S. Seneca, better known as the Mastersphere, is the first of the four huge colony ships sent to Raana in the years 2230, 2231, 2233 and 2237, following the initial, much smaller colony ship USS Dorothea which had "vanished" on arrival a century earlier. The U.S.S. Seneca is a gargantuan ex-space-dreadnought, modified to carry 5,812 optimistic men and women selected with a wide range of academic and professional skills and from diverse socioeconomic groups - plus technological equipment suitable for starting an advanced colony.

The ship passed through the Celassi quantum gate and entered orbit around Raana about 250 years ago, from where it founded the Ikaanos colony and has remained its "brain" ever since - connecting with the surface via five shuttles.

Following The Severance in which Raana lost contact with Earth, the Mastersphere has remained the primary source of political power on Ikaanos - thanks to its ion cannons, and safe location in orbit - but those controlling it have failed to keep up to the lofty ideals of the initial colonists.

The small group of individuals who currently call the Sphere home include The Senate who control The Republic, and The Chancellor who controls The Senate. They and their powerful allies are collectively referred to as The Spheremasters. Residing in the Sphere, they can still enjoy most of the luxuries that were widely available before the Severance from Earth, and which are now a distant memory or thing of legend for those on the surface of Ikaanos. Artificial gravity levels cover approximately 20 million square feet, in which the powerful elite indulge in virtual worlds, partake of unimaginable sex orgies, and experience the cuisine of indescribable delights. All are maintained by the still-functioning pre-Severance technology of The Seneca, plus plundering from the less fortunate surface dwellers below.

In-game, the U.S.S Seneca is a location that can be visited by using the Shuttle Station located in The Palace District. Most of the ship is off-limit, with a few exceptions.

Layout

Hangar Bay

This is the place where spaceships land to allow the player and other people visiting the U.S.S. Seneca to enter the Elevator Central area. There are also several Space Marines here who guard the area to ensure that order is enforced.

Deck II

Section 1

Section 1 of Deck I has several rooms that are off-limits to visitors.

Section 2

Section 2 of Deck II of the U.S.S. Seneca features two facilities that the player can access:

• Rec Rooms - A facility where visitors can rent rooms, and use bars and training rooms. They can also do deals with shady characters here for items that are off-limit to normal people
• Med Bay - A legendary medical facility, offering various forms of treatment and implants to whomever can afford them