Orb Twelve

Orb Twelve is one of the Laterran‑inhabited living spheres in the Orbstack of the starship Daban Urnud. It is the highest‑numbered and farthest‑aft of the Laterran orbs (Orbs Nine–Twelve), effectively the “caboose” of that four‑orb stack.

First appearance and context

• First directly visited by the Arbran delegation while transiting from the Laterran stack toward the Core for opening ceremonies held in Orb Four.
• Reached after passing through the portals from Orb Ten to Orb Eleven and then into Orb Twelve; beyond it there is no further inter‑orb portal.

Key relationships and connections

• Part of the Laterran stack (Orbs Nine–Twelve) within the Orbstack.
• Connected “upward” to the Core by a portal at the zenith, accessed by a tubular catwalk and ladder.
• Its portal and ring‑catwalk assembly are described as matching the praxic, heavy industrial style also seen at the oculus of Orb 1.
• Nearest Laterran neighbor is Orb Nine; Orb Ten and Orb Eleven lie between Nine and Twelve in the Laterran sequence.

Important actions and key beats

• Served as the departure point from the Laterran orbs as the delegation ascended the zenith ladder to the Core en route to diplomatic proceedings in Orb Four.
• Identity verification and face scans were conducted at a speely terminal before access through the airlock.
• Movement to the Core used a small round side hatch and an airlock rather than opening the massive ball valve.

Description and features

• No onward portal beyond Twelve; the sky supports a tubular catwalk‑cum‑ladder that leads to a zenith portal.
• Closer proximity to the ship’s axis makes pseudogravity noticeably weaker near the zenith.
• The connection to the Core includes: a ring‑shaped catwalk below the portal, a small round hatch with an airlock, and a large ball valve designed to operate even against strong pressure differences. Some observers note this design functions as a standing deterrent, since Command could evacuate the Core and then open the valve to catastrophic effect inside an orb.
• Standard security practices observed include blindfolds to reduce Coriolis disorientation during the climb and controlled pacing to avoid motion sickness.

Current status

• Operational Laterran habitat sphere used for routine inter‑orb travel to the Core. It remains the terminal orb of the Laterran four‑orb stack.