Heaven's Gate Starbase

The Heaven's Gate Starbase was a security station operated by the Terran Confederation prior to the year 2666 in the Heaven's Gate System. As of 2666, it was captured by the Kilrathi Empire.

The Heaven's Gate Starbase once was a major supply center for the Terran Confederation and a center for military operations across the Heaven's Gate System. It was captured during the 2660s by the Kilrathi and has since then served the Empire. It became the nerve center for Kilrathi operations in the system and as long as it remained active, the Kilrathi would retain control of the system.

In 2666, during the Enigma Sector Campaign, the Terran Confederation sent the TCS Concordia to liberate Heaven's Gate, with the starbase as its primary target. However, during this offensive, Mariko TanakaMariko "Spirit" Tanaka, a Terran pilot, received word from a Terran traitor that her fiancee, Philip, who was captured by the Kilrathi ten years prior, was being held as a POW on the starbase. The traitor blackmailed her with Philip's life so that she would join the Society of the Mandarins, a Terran traitor network. She refused to share this data with High Command, unwilling to put additional pressure on them.

Captain Christopher Blair and Spirit were deployed to destroy the Heaven's Gate Starbase, flying F-57 Sabre Heavy Fighters. Unfortunately, during the battle, Spirit's craft was damaged by a bomb planted in her fighter, killing her gunner. Losing control, Spirit chose to launch a kamikaze attack on the starbase, against Blair's objections. Her craft and her entire missile payload exploded on impact, annihilating the starbase and killing both Spirit and Philip. Blair fled back to the Concordia in defeat.

Although Heaven's Gate Starbase was destroyed, Heaven's Gate was reinforced by a Kilrathi fleet, forcing the Terrans to retreat before the system was fully recaptured.