Cardinal Terminus

Cardinal Terminus is the primary home railway station for the Northern Galeric Rail Barony and the largest railway station in the Desert Galeric. Cardinal Terminus has eight primary and twenty secondary paxanium rail lines in service that connect to points from all over Galeria- the Free City of Salameer on the Gongaler Bay in the west; the Ardhal Plateaus on The Eastern Edge; and the Geth kingdoms in the foothills of the Gethreim mountains to the south. Situated on the flatlands just beneath the southern slopes of Norther' Galeric's power seat, the city of Ven Prociff, Cardinal Terminus is outfitted for an abundant variety of sailtrains, from single-seat handcars to enormous Rail Titans.

Purpose / Function

Cardinal Terminus is the main transit and launching hub for all of the Northern Galeric Rail Barony's operations, including shipping, passenger service, and prospector/ contractor lines.

The 'Card' also acts as the headquarters for the the Barony's executive arms: the Rail Security Authority (RailSec, or "Bashers"), the Rail Transit Authority (RailTran, or Counters), and the Rail Business Authority (RailBuss, or "Gobblers"). The station's also the primary customs inspection point for entry into the Northern Galeric Rail Barony's zone of control, also known as 'The Bastions', the rail network of walled railways with hidden tracks throughout the central Norheim mountains.

Alterations

In the three decades after reconstruction three new subterminals were built around six new raillines; a fourth subterminal was completed a half century later. By the beginning of the 6th century construction began on a fifth, larger subterminal to deal with expanding immigration. The most recently completed 6th and 7th terminals were special projects ordered by the newly baronized Vornelion Vanderhill at the beginning of his rule in 760. Construction on the new Grand Terminal began in 809ME but was halted in 812ME due to design and budget disagreements between builders, architects and the Office of The Rail Baron. The Grand Terminal has seen workers return in recent months, is rumoured to have been refunded and slated for completion by mid 828, but this three year time frame has been deemed unrealistic by most mechanists and rail engineers.

Architecture

Cardinal Terminus uses architecture inspired by old Norheim mountain clan Greathause builders, with multiple steep, slowly tapering archways in both symmetric and asymmetric patterns defining each terminal building, and bespoke stone fixtures and filagree accenting the maentium enforced wood and stone arches. Bizarre, slowly shifting Paxanium sculptures occupy the negative spaces within arches; "monuments to the Holy Joinder framed by the materials and techniques that earned they the right to be masters of our world" (Temple of Paxius Scripture).

Defenses

As with most large rail stations throughout the Galeric desert, defense begins with smaller inspection stations found in the outlying rails; Cardinal also benefits the preponderance of Northern Galeric Rail Authorities ("Bashers and Counters") traveling the Northern Highways networks across the Kodachi saltflatlands. These authorities keep Cardinal officials apprised of all activity in the nearby desert.

On an immediate level, Cardinal's defenses largely rely on two aspects: the station's physical plant, the static fortifications, and the number of active rail-infantry companies they have at their disposal dependent on RailSec escort schedules.
The station's physical plant includes two dozen towers and redoubts set along a 6.6 km wall surrounding the Terminus, with 6 external gates allowing 6 primary and 16 secondary lines into the terminus from points outside Ven Prociff, and 2 primary and 4 secondary lines from the Terminus into the Bastions, Northern Galeric's private walled rail network. Cardinal's wall itself is a 40' tall Paxanium plated solid panel enclosure, built on a stone skeleton enforced with beams of stainless maentium.

Founding Date

267 ME; razed 396 during Second Pax War, Reconstructed 397-398

Alternative Names

The ‘Card’; the ‘Gate’

Type

Transportation hub

Owner

Varnelius Vanderhill

Owning Organization

The Northern Galeric Rail Barony