Skytether

The Skytether is a space elevator on Magdora, and was the first of its kind as what would be later called a "space elevator". It functions as the main access point for both the planet's surface, and the Uy'ima Dockyard. The Skytether consists of four major sections, including the cables connecting them: The ground base, the geostationary platform- officcially titled the Uy'ima Dockyard- the counterweight, and the elevator.

The Skytether is located on the northern side of Selanar, away from major population centers and where it contends with the smallest orbital elevation. The region has since become a major trade region, and a place where a number of starship components are manufactured.

## Structure

### Ground Base

This is the second largest section of the entire structure, however it is by far the most significant, and important to it's continued functionality. It is a large underground structure, approximately 20 stories deep, that serves both as a loading dock for passengers and cargo, as well as a largely automated maintenance dock for the elevator, which is also capable of "printing" objects of a similar size, notably including the rocket that was used to first deploy the counterweight and cabling into space.

Additionally, while this is usually only reserved for loads beyond the elevator's standard tolerances, the ground base has the ability to move the cabling in the elevator's stead. In emergency situations, this can be used to reduce the amount of damage caused by cable whiplash, though thankfully this has never been required.

### Orbital Platform

Tittled the Uy'ima Dockyard, is the space half of the elevator, and the largest of its sections. It is a space station locked in geostationary orbit directly above the ground base, and is the main point of egress for the elevator platform, though the addition of other sub-stations was considered, before the construction of the Ocharna Citadel, which reduced the demand being placed on the Skytether. A relic of it's time, the Uy'ima Dockyard is a rather simple station, consisting of three interconnected and airtight arms, which are capable of docking with up to 6 small vessels each, as well as supporting the construction of a similarly sized vessel on their tips.

Functionally, despite its size, the dockyard itself serves little purpose beyond being a place for ships, passengers, and cargo to wait for each other, with minimal infrastructure for each- consisting of only standard docking berths, a relatively cramped plaza and hotel section in the centre, and a minimally automated cargo tram and crane system. Large contributors to it continuing to be so minimal are the difficulty in mass management that comes with a space elevator, especially one of the Skytether's age, and the fact that for each of these functions, and ones it did not perform, it was quickly superceded by other, independent platforms in Magdora's sphere of influence.

### Mobile Platform

The elevator platform serves exactly the purpose its name describes: It is the part of the Skytether that moves between the ground base and the geostationary platform. It is roughly hexagonal in shape, and, like most space elevator platforms of Magdoran design, houses a sealed passenger compartment on it's top surface, has mounts for standard cargo pods on the underside, with various pieces of machinery sandwiched between the two layers, while all components relating to moving the platform along the cables it is attached to are located in the direct centre of the platform.
When operating with standard loads, it is entirely capable of moving itself between the ground base and geostationary platform, with trips taking approximately three hours upwards. In the event of emergencies, the elevator is capable of locking its position on the cabling, either in a way that completely prevents movement, or in a way that allows it to be pulled by the ground station or counterweight.

### Counterweight

The counterweight is what allows the cable to retain its relative stability, and what keeps the lower section of the system in geostationary motion. The counterweight is located almost 90,000km above the Uy'ima Dockyard- this length being almost double the altitude of said station,- and is essentially just a motor and collection of high-mass bricks. It's sole purpose is to keep the entire system in stable conditions, and place the geostationary platform at the centre of mass for the entire structure. In emergency situations however, like the ground station, it is capable of pulling the cabling towards itself, to prevent collateral damage.

Under ideal circumstances, this would include pulling the geostationary platform and elevator platform away from Magdora's atmosphere, however this would be an unlikely outcome, and has never been practically demonstrated in either direction.