The Ouragan Testing Facility, also referred to as the Ouragan Test Facility or Ouragan, was a Union of Progressive Peoples technology testing facility located on the Outer Veil world of KOI-571.02. Originally a Weyland Corp installation, Ouragan was used by the UPP for producing combat synthetics and an attempt to weaponize the dangerous neomorph species. The Ouragan Testing Facility was destroyed by the UPP in 2184 as a result of a Biodrone Xenomorph outbreak unleashed by the mysterious Deep Void organization at the nearby Corinth Colony.
Overview[]
The Ouragan Testing Facility was built to Weyland Corp specifications.
The Ouragan Testing Facility was a technology testing facility located in the midst of a desert plain on the Outer Veil world of KOI-571.02. Built to a vintage prefabricated Weyland Corp configuration, Ouragan was surrounded by a four meter–high concrete perimeter wall with two entrances to the north and south–west, each guarded by a Security Bunker. A series of floodlights was present along the wall; these lights illuminated the main premises, as well as the area outside the wall at night. The buildings at the Ouragan Testing Facility were, like the perimeter wall, made of concrete; these structures were single–story and set partially underground, being accessible by a set of six steps at each entrance. Paved with asphalt, the main compound measured a hundred meters across. It was centered around the Engineering Block, with the Habitation Block and the Square to the west; Junk Pile, Operations and CCCD Bunker to the north; Fuel Depot and Workshop A to the east; and Generator, Vehicle Garage, and Vehicle Lot to the south. The base's Assembly Hall and Warehouse, located in the Engineering Block, were also single–story but stood at a height of eight meters to allow for component construction and storage.[1]
Eight hundred meters north of Ouragan were the Conventional Weapons Testing Pits and the Test Bunker, which were accessible by way of a paved highway leading from the main complex. A rough landing field used to offload equipment and supplies lay a kilometer to the south. The Ouragan facility was protected from air attacks by six BP-33 Celestial Defense Artillery Railguns, which were arrayed around Ouragan at a distance of 250 meters and dwarfed the main structures of the base. A BD4 Automated Sentry Gun turret was stationed at the maintenance entrance to each gun.[1]
Engineering Block[]
The Engineering Block was the nerve center of the Ouragan Testing Facility, and contained the Assembly Hall, Warehouse, and Workshop B. As of 2104, the Assembly Hall had been renamed the "Growth Chamber"; initially used for the testing, assembly, repair or modification of new technology, it was refitted to serve as a work area for the UPP's "Heomopf" neomorph–based biological weapons program. In this configuration, the chamber contained several computer and medical stations, as well as twelve 3x3x3–meter airtight plastisteel cubes that linked up to form a maze. The cubes could also be injected with drugs or gases, or simulate a vacuum.[1]
Accessible through a decontamination airlock leading from the Assembly Hall, Workshop B was likewise converted for the Heomopf program, and served as a sterile laboratory. It was equipped with powerful analysis tools and containers for miscellaneous cultures. Another plastisteel cube contained a tube loaded with a neomorph egg sac; this tube could be fitted to a TX-9 Biological and Chemical Injection Air Pistol for direct delivery into an individual's blooodstream. Attempts to compromise the cube without a security override would result in the release of CN-20 Nerve Gas.[1]
The Warehouse was used to store supplies for the Ouragan Test Facility's daily operations, as well as flotsam from abandoned projects. Twenty Fighting Joe combat androids were stored in the Warehouse, along with three Syem Davydovych combat synthetics suspended in body bags and six CCC5 Combat Compression Suits outfitted with AK-104S Suit Guns. Fresh supplies were delivered monthly.[1]
Fuel Depot[]
The Fuel Depot was the site of several large tanks, which contained petrochemical fuel for vehicles and the Generator.[1]
Generator[]
The Generator was the power source for the Ouragan Testing Facility. Supplied by the Fuel Depot by way of an underground pipeline, its energy output could be regulated from Operations or the CCCD Bunker.[1]
Guardhouse[]
The Guardhouse was adjacent to the south–western Security Bunker, and checked arrivals and departures at the entrance to the road between Ouragan and the landing pad. A small armory stocked with twelve AK-4047 Pulse Assault Rifles and relevant ammunition was located in the rear of the building, while a large metal door running on powered tracks could be used to seal the entrance.[1]
Habitation Block[]
Ouragan's Habitation Block was the location of the Med Lab, rec room, and the "Gulag" Sleeping Quarters. The Med Lab included a hexagonal examination room with three beds, an autodoc, an autopsy table, and a medical supply store, as well as a shower that could be used for decontamination after radiation exposure. The rec room pulled double duty as a dining area and kitchen, and contained tables and chairs, vending machines, and wall screens. The "Gulag", meanwhile, consisted of a cage dormitory capable of lodging four dozen members of personnel. All three areas were connected via corridors.[1]
Junk Pile[]
Stacks of discarded components, packaging, and scrap collectively dubbed the "Junk Pile" occupied space between Operations and the northern Security Bunker.[1]
Landing Pad[]
Due south of Ouragan was the Landing Pad. This concrete edifice featured a guidance beacon and a small warehouse; as of 2184, the warehouse held a mothballed UPP-DS3 Accipiter dropship, which had been isolated due to overheating issues.[1]
Operations[]
Operations, or Ops, was centered around a work space housing several desks used by different departments at Ouragan; located at the rear of this area were offices and quarters for facility management. Also situated at Operations was the CCCD—Comms and Computer Core Defense—Bunker; this hardened structure was accessible through Ops, though it could also be entered through a maintenance hatch in the roof. It was equipped with an uplink dish, as well as radio equipment for FTL and conventional transmissions. The CCCD Bunker also contained the base's 1VAN/3 mainframe, which occupied a dedicated chamber. An uplink dish was mounted on the roof.[1]
Security Bunkers[]
These hardened bunkers protected the northern and south–western entrances of the Ouragan Testing Facility. Each bunker could hold four members of security personnel, and featured firing slits for the guards to use. Single BD–4 Automated Sentry Guns were stationed in both bunkers. Powered metal gates were situated at both entrances, and could be sealed from the bunkers.[1]
Test Bunker and Conventional Weapons Testing Pits[]
North of Ouragan proper was the Test Bunker and two Conventional Weapons Testing Pits. The Test Bunker was designed to withstand explosions, fire, and chemical spills, and was equipped with a proprietary rooftop turret, as well as six AK–4047s and a generous supply of ammunition. Made of concrete and reinforced with packed soil, the Conventional Weapons Testing Pits were open to the east and featured metal mounting frames to which the weapon or engine component being tested could be attached. Cameras and sensors in the pits delivered test data to both the Test Bunker and Operations back at Ouragan.[1]
The Square[]
The Square was an open–air patch of ground situated equidistantly between the Engineering Block, the Habitation Block, and Operations. It was used to load trucks with components, or for effecting quick tweaks to equipment being put through its paces at the Conventional Weapons Testing Pits.[1]
Vehicle Garage and Vehicle Lot[]
The Vehicle Garage was decked out with tools and supplies used to repair Ouragan's complement of Ox-440 HAMPV Troop Transports, which were used to ferry loads to and from the Landing Pad and the Conventional Weapons Testing Pits. The Vehicle Lot, located proximal to the garage, could accommodate twelve Ox transports.[1]
Workshop A[]
Also designated as the main workshop, Workshop A featured fabrication machines used for the synthesis or modification of components utilized in tests being carried out at Ouragan. Two Caterpillar P-5000 Powered Work Loaders were also stored at Workshop A.[1]
History[]
Changing allegiances[]
Weyland Storm Rifles were manufactured at Ouragan.
Originally a Weyland Corp installation producing storm rifles and synthetics, the Ouragan Testing Facility was later appropriated by the Union of Progressive Peoples and used by state company Norcomm to innovate and test new UPP technology produced at the nearby Corinth Colony. Devices tested at Ouragan included fusion rockets, ion drives, particle weapons, and plasma rifles. Ouragan was commandeered by the UPP's Ministry of Space Security and revamped into a weapons testing facility in 2183, after a recalled shipment of David 7 synthetics was discovered at Corinth Colony; these synthetics were shipped to Ouragan and refurbished for use in combat before being assigned throughout the People's Fleet. The UPP's Dzho "Fighting Joe" line of combat synthetics was also developed at Ouragan.[1]
Biodrone outbreak and destruction[]
UPP scientist Béla Balázs was extracted from Ouragan in 2184.
In 2184, Corinth Colony was attacked by Biodrones, a mutant strain of Xenomorph developed by the clandestine Deep Void group and released at the colony by way of the infested transport vessel PSV Yuvula. In response to the invasion, chief UPP scientist Colonel Doctor Béla Balázs released neomorph spores from the UPP's own "Heomopf" project at Corinth to generate creatures from any surviving humans to combat the Biodrones. When the resulting neomorphs were easily overpowered, Balázs launched a nuclear strike from Ouragan to destroy the colony, and attempted to scrub the data on the Heomopf program. A United States Colonial Marine Corps force infiltrated Ouragan shortly after to secure evidence of both weapons programs, and found themselves pitted against a lone Biodrone dubbed Bol'Shoy that had taken up residence in the base's living quarters. Shortly after, as the USCMC withdrew with Balázs in their custody, the Ouragan Testing Facility was destroyed in an orbital nuclear strike launched by the UPP VP-153D Kremlin Class Hunter-Destroyer SSV Zhukov, which had been summoned by the base's 1VAN/3 computer to remotely obtain the Heomopf data and ensure that it remained off–limits.[1]
Personnel[]
The Ouragan Testing Facility housed a number of engineers, scientists, UPP Space Operating Forces members, and technicians, with several military officials overseeing the workforce. Over its operational history, Ouragan was staffed by as many as three hundred workers; however, a skeleton crew of twenty was sufficient to keep Ouragan running. Languages spoken at Ouragan included German, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.[1]
Military officials[]
Colonel Doctor Béla Balázs was in charge of the Ouragan Testing Facility as of 2184.[1]
Scientists[]
Scientists at Ouragan included xenobiologist Tanya Lebedev.[1]
Security[]
During normal operations, the Ouragan Testing Facility was protected by more than a dozen guards; two were posted in each security bunker, with two more in the guardhouse. In an emergency, fourteen UPP soldiers would be deployed, with three in each security bunker, three in the operations center, and five in Workshop B to cover the Square. Major Arietta Pichilemu was a Norcomm security consultant at Ouragan.[1]
Workers[]
Workers at Ouragan included Alonso, Minh, Morag, and Tilly.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
The Ouragan Testing Facility appears in Alien: The Roleplaying Game — Colonial Marines Operations Manual, in which it serves as the primary location for the "Operation: Quiet Catch" mission. The book also offers ideas as to how Ouragan's layout can be repurposed by players for other, custom bases, such as a terrorist safehouse or a corporate research center.[1]