Obonto maintains an SRA series of habitats in the Saturn-Enceladus system, for agricultural and research purposes. These platforms face the same dangers as any ship in the rings, 24 hours a day, and regularly interact and trade with independents in the ring, as delivery runs into the rings are inconsistent. -Description of the Obonto Habitats' office on Enceladus Prime
The Obonto Habitats are 7 small-scale stations that can be found within the rings. Built, owned, and operated by Obonto Microengineering, the habitats host researchers and private inhabitants right in the heart of Saturn's A ring.
Station Structure
The circular stations, measuring approximately 200 meters across, are composed of a central support structure supporting an outer habitation ring. This ring houses the majority of each station's inhabitants and civilian infrastructure, maintaining approximately 0.4 G in spin gravity when the station is at its ideal rotational velocity (20m/s). The ring is divided into 3 different sections, separated by the 3 support arms, which all host different simulated times of day as viewed from outside.
Outer Hull
- The outer hull possesses three evenly spaced Point Defense Microwave Generators (NDPT-4205 for SRA-02), which are used to protect the station, both from encroaching ringoids and hostile ships. They function just as standard player-owned Point Defense tools, as such captains should exercise caution when in close proximity.
- Three AR-1500 Manipulator spaced evenly around the outer hull allow for docking and transfer of processed materials and crew with nearby craft. Heavier craft will need to match their spin to perform a successful capture and docking. Even then, the heaviest crafts may need to perform manual flight maneuvers to stabilize their spin, as manipulator arms are only capable of capturing so much weight when the stations are at their ideal rotational velocity (approximately 600,000kg[needs verification]).
- Engaging the autopilot while docked to a habitat arm will cause most ships' autopilots to attempt to fight the imparted spin, resulting in potentially unintended separation. Only manual maneuvering should be used to correct the position of your ship while docked until you are ready to separate.
- Three gimbaled RCS thrusters allow the habitats to maintain minor control over their maneuvering, allowing them to maintain their relatively stationary position and ideal rotational velocity. They are also capable of repositioning to other parts of the ring, and will inform passing ships when they are preparing to do so, however it is unclear if they use their station-keeping thrusters for this or some other system.
Trading With The Habitats
As they are in constant need for minerals due to logistical issues as a result of the rings, the Obonto Habitats will commonly ask independent miners to aid by having them collect and process minerals in exchange for at least twice what they would go for on Enceladus Prime's own mineral market. In some cases, they will be in desperate need of minerals, and will request up to five times the market price for the ore.
Note: Obonto Habitats will NOT ask for processed beryllium or tungsten.
| Requested ore | Normal asking price (avg E$) | Desperate asking price (avg E$) | Market value for reference (avg E$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron (Fe) | 1,800 | 4,500 | 900 |
| Palladium (Pd) | 5,000 | 12,500 | 2,500 |
| Platinum (Pt) | 5,400 | 13,500 | 2,700 |
| Vanadium | 6,000 | 15,000 | 3,000 |
Upon first discovering Habitat Obonto 07, they will request to buy 5,000kg of remass off you at ring rates, explaining that they just recently finished construction and their shipment is late. Agreeing to the transfer and following through will net you positive reputation with the Habitats, and allow you to trade with them immediately after.
Faction benefits
The Habitats also can supply you with licensing for special gear once you've reached a high enough standing with them through trading, first costing 800,000 E$ as an associate, however exceptional service to the habitats means they may offer it for free after enough trade with them.
Standing will increase based on the amount that the habitat has paid you for your services. They will first open up offers for purchasing their equipment once you have sold at least 3 million E$ worth of merchandise to the habitats. They will keep this offer until you have surpassed 9 million E$ in minerals sold, where they will recognise your efforts and grant you access for free. Do note that any damages incurred will increase the total needed to be sold to reach the milestones.
Unlockable Gear| NDPT-4205 Point Defense Turret |
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Obonto 01/SRA-01
At some point in very recent time as of the events of the game, Obonto Habitat 01 came under attack and was almost completely destroyed. It can be found in a ruined state just from exploring the rings, from a Big LiDAR contact, or from acquiring its coordinates from another Obonto Habitat, and can play a major role in the Missing Sibling Quest but is not guaranteed to be a part of it. Upon discovery it will grant the achievement Paradise Lost, its POI appearing as "Destroyed Habitat", with several bodies floating inside and around its superstructure. The habitation ring has notably been almost entirely destroyed. Dialogue from the crew highlights that whatever was used against the station was very likely real weaponry, not the mining equipment the average miner has access to, however, there is no hard evidence of involvement by any group of interest in the rings, and the culprit behind the attack is currently unknown along with their motives. The designation 01 likely indicates this was the first habitat to be constructed, as 07 was only recently completed.
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Trivia
- All habitats use a Transponder code of SRA-(01 through 07), with SRA standing for "Saturn, Ring A".
- SRA-02 is the only habitat that uses the NDPD turret provided through trade with said habitats.
- It is not currently possible for Obonto Habitats to be destroyed in-game, however sufficient damage can cause them to temporarily lose power and cause the lights of the habitation ring to flicker.
- More enterprising captains equipped with an MPU may be able to take advantage of the spin gravity generated by the habitats. When docked and a ship's MPU is pointed away from the Habitat, the imparted spin gravity will allow ore chunks in your ship's hold to fall right into a ship's MPU processing bay. Chunks may still jam in the entrances to MPUs with smaller processing bays, however forwards thrust towards the station will typically unjam any blocks.
- Most larger ships can easily overpower the station-keeping thrusters of the habitats, allowing captains who don't mind inconveniencing the habitats' occupants to decelerate the spin of stations to something more their fancy, or move them to more advantageous positions.
- When trading with the Obonto Habitats, all dialog lines for where they offer their "desperate" rates will be ended with "We'll pay you premium". As "desperate" rates are dramatically higher than rates on Enceladus Prime for even the most valuable minerals, an enterprising captain would be advantaged to switch their mining focus towards supplying the habitat's needs.
- SRA-02 is the only Habitat that has to be found through random chance, every other location can be found through talking to miners or crew interactions.
Images
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