History The Babylon series of stations were not the first orbital habitats built on such a grand scale. Similar habitats have been built around the EA, in places not usually able to support human life, or by mega corporations who wanted to have a place of prestige among the stars. John O'Neill (note the two "L"s) and Dan Jackson Stations were built in companion orbits to Mars's moons in the early 23rd century for corporate concerns. Originally they were identical stations, both unarmed as they were in the home system of the EA, and civilian operated. These two mile long stations provided a home in space, away from the unforgiving, unending tracts of Martian desert below. When the EM War began, the stations were armed with an interceptor grid, as the EA wanted some defense, but didn't want to present an offensive target. As it turned out, Mars was bypassed by the Minbari, and the stations were saved. After the war, they continued to operate as before, until the EA Civil War. The stations were armed by President Clarke's forces, receiving not only particle beams and quad particle beams, but also Cobra Bays for small craft. These were built off of the stable part of the structure, and came forward, similar to the way Babylon 4's were. Jackson Station's bays were finished first, though they were smaller than what was originally planned. When MarsGuard took over the station, they took advantage of the Cobra Bays on the stations. They were able to house a squadron of light fighters and two SWACS in the port bay, a detachment of medium fighters, four Enforcers and four shuttles in the starboard bay and they modified the forward hangar to allow for three Prosecutors, three Interceptors and eight shuttles to be berthed. The O'Neill had been modified a bit futher than Jackson Staion was. The Cobra Bays were larger, and had a structural support built between them and the rotation collar on the main body of the station. On the support, two MPC's were installed during Clarke's modernization. When MarsGuard took over, they kept all weapons in place with EA technical support. O'Neill's spacewing consisted of a squadron of medium figthers, a squadron of light fighters, three SWACS, three Enforcers, three Prosecutors, three Interceptors, and a dozen shuttles. Both stations are still popular tourist attractions. O'Neill Station bills itself as the "Mini-Babylon 5" while Jackson Station is a popular first stop for Mars sightseers. |