CCI
| Command Center Invictus | |
| Military Installation & Defense Complex | |
 Aerial view of the CCI complex and Mount Isfahan | |
| Location Information | |
|---|---|
| Country |
 Nouvelle Alexandrie |
| Region |
 Alduria |
| Geographic location | Mount Isfahan and Dasht-e Kavir Basin |
| Nearest city | Juana Díaz |
| Area | 9,200 km² (restricted territory) |
| Installation Details | |
| Type | Military command, aerospace defense, research facility |
| Built | 1707 AN–1717 AN |
| Operational | 1714 AN (partial), 1717 AN (full) |
| Current status | Active |
| Cost | €46.7 billion |
| Underground levels | 5 official levels (610 meters deep) |
| Personnel | 8,200 military, 3,700 civilian, 2,100 contractors |
| Primary Facilities | |
| Primary installations |
• Starfall Redoubt Military Base • San Diego de los Baños Cosmodrome • Federal Aerospace Defense Center • Federal Space Headquarters • Federal Information Defense Center • Nuclear Research Center • Alexandrium Applications Laboratory • Dasht-e Kavir Missile Range |
| Notable projects |
• Project Space Armor • Project Fortuna • Project Paladin • Project Phoenix |
| Defense & Infrastructure | |
| Power generation |
• 270 MW nuclear power plant • Geothermal plant • Emergency diesel generators |
| Water systems | 110 km³ primary reservoir, mountain springs |
| Self-sufficiency | 200 days for 12,000 personnel (food, fuel, supplies) |
| Part of the Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie | |
CCI, formally "Control Center I" but colloquially known as "Command Center Invictus", is a New Alexandrian military installation and defensive underground bunker complex located in the Region of Alduria. Centered around Starfall Redoubt Military Base, the facility encompasses numerous military units and organizations spread across a vast secured area.
CCI is built into and around Mount Isfahan, a mountain located to the southeast of the Aldurian city of Juana Díaz. East of Mount Isfahan lies the Dasht-e Kavir Basin, a graben basin. Most of this basin is also part of CCI and comprises the Kavir-e Namak Missile Range & Research Reserves, which covers approximately 9,200 square kilometers of restricted territory.
Construction of the facility began in 1707 AN, funded through short-term infrastructure financing government bonds and the Department of Defense's Defense Construction budget. Initial construction was completed in 1717 AN at a cost of €32 billion, with continuous expansions and modernizations since then totaling an additional €14.7 billion. Additional infrastructure spending was allocated by the Department of Civil Works and Transportation through its National Defense Infrastructure Development Fund.
Background
The conception of CCI emerged from the New Prosperity Plan's defense modernization initiative in 1706 AN. Following several security assessments that highlighted vulnerabilities in the Federation's command and control infrastructure, the Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie identified the need for a hardened, centralized facility that could withstand both conventional and strategic weapons strikes while maintaining operational capability.
The site at Mount Isfahan was selected for several key advantages. It had natural protection from the mountain's granite composition and it is a remote location away from major population centers. It had its own access to natural water resources, proximity to existing military infrastructure, and had the conditions favorable to aerospace testing and operations.
After the site was selected, initial excavation began in late 1707 AN with specialized boring machines imported from Natopia and Constancia. The project employed over 42,000 workers during peak construction, with approximately 17,000 of those having security clearances for sensitive areas. Many architectural and engineering innovations were pioneered during construction, including new techniques for creating massive underground chambers without compromising structural integrity.
The facility became partially operational in 1714 AN, with full capability achieved in 1717 AN. Since its initial completion, CCI has undergone significant upgrades, particularly following the Spring Crisis of 1739 when additional security measures and redundant systems were implemented.
Facilities
At a total investment of over €46.7 billion, CCI represents one of the largest defense construction projects in Nouvelle Alexandrie's history. The complex extends five levels below the surface, with the deepest facilities approximately 610 meters underground. The primary command centers are protected by reinforced doors weighing 25 tonnes each, designed to withstand direct strikes and electromagnetic pulse weapons. The complex maintains complete self-sufficiency with redundant systems for all critical infrastructure.
The Federal Aerospace Defense Center maintains the capability to monitor the air space of all of Nouvelle Alexandrie for missiles, space systems, and foreign air or spacecraft through its worldwide early-warning system. It has the ability to provide immediate connectivity and cooperation to allied militaries from the Raspur Pact such as Constancia, Zeed, Natopia, and Oportia.
Starfall Redoubt Military Base features an extensive training facility used by the Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie for crew training and serves as a backup command center if required. The facility includes advanced simulation chambers that can replicate any theater of operations and communication environments.
San Diego de los Baños Cosmodrome (colloquially known as SanDi) is a Federal Air Force of Nouvelle Alexandrie base that serves as a space launch base and a missile testing facility. Adjacent to it is the Javelin Testing Range and Laboratory, a joint research and testing facility for Javelin Industries, Pontecorvo Firm, the National Research and Development Corporation, and ESB Thermodynamics. In addition to its military space launch mission, San Diego de los Baños Cosmodrome also performs space launches for civil and commercial space entities, with an average of 17 launches conducted annually.
The military complex also includes the central headquarters of the Federal Air Weather Service, and the Marco Zimmer Emergency Center, where federal, regional, and local emergency management agencies coordinate and maintain offices or headquarters. The complex's vast and powerful communication center is also used, developed, and partially maintained by the Department of Communications and by the Department of Research and Development.
As of 1742 AN, the facility employs approximately 8,200 military personnel and 3,700 civilian employees, with an additional 2,100 contract workers supporting various operations. During heightened alert scenarios, the installation can accommodate up to 15,000 personnel for extended periods.
Power Generation
CCI houses three independent power generation systems:
- A primary nuclear power plant with 270 megawatt capacity;
- A secondary geothermal plant drawing energy from natural thermal vents;
- Emergency diesel generators capable of maintaining critical systems for up to 6 months.
Water Systems
There is more water produced by the Mount Isfahan mountain springs than the base requires, and a large reservoir of 110 km³ (26 cu mi) of water ensures that even in event of fire, emergency, or extreme need, there is enough water to meet the facility's needs and assist nearby communities. An additional reservoir of 4.5 million gallons (17,000 m³) of water is used as a heat sink.
Food and Supplies
The facility maintains extensive stockpiles:
- Large underground hydroponic agricultural pods capable of producing fresh vegetables, fruits, and protein supplements;
- Food stores sufficient for 12,000 personnel for 200 days;
- Medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and blood products;
- Fuel reserves for all vehicles and generators;
- A large battery bank powering critical command systems.
Security Features
The perimeter of CCI extends approximately 14 kilometers from the central facilities and is secured through multiple layers:
- Outer perimeter with sensor arrays and automated surveillance;
- Middle security zone with anti-vehicle measures and patrol routes;
- Inner security perimeter with advanced biometric access controls;
- Deep underground security checkpoints between facility sections.
Institutions at CCI
- Starfall Redoubt Military Base;
- Dasht-e Kavir Missile Range & Research Reserves;
- San Diego de los Baños Cosmodrome (colloquially known as SanDi);
- Federal Aerospace Defense Center;
- Federal Information Defense Center;
- the Federal Space Headquarters, the headquarters of the Federal Space Force;
- the Julio Delgado Space Flight Center, the spaceflight control center for the Aeronautics and Space Administration of Nouvelle Alexandrie;
- the Nuclear Research Center, a research laboratory complex that is part of a joint research project with the National Science Administration and the Orbaetron Company.
- the Augustus Strong Alexandrium Applications Laboratory, established in 1739 AN following breakthroughs in Alexandrium research.
Euran Air and Space Monitoring Commission
The Euran Air and Space Monitoring Commission is the combined organization of Constancia, Nouvelle Alexandrie, Zeed, Oportia and the Suren Confederacy (through their joint participation in the Euran Economic Union) that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and protection for the continent of Eura.
The Euran Air and Space Monitoring Commission maintains a large central underground facility for the joint monitoring and participation of all parties in the Commission at CCI. This includes dedicated communication links to counterpart facilities in partner nations and specialized monitoring equipment capable of tracking objects as small as 10 centimeters at ranges exceeding 1,800 kilometers.
In 1740 AN, following the Alexandrium superconductivity breakthrough, the Commission established a joint research initiative focused on applying the new technology to early warning and detection systems. By 1742 AN, the first Alexandrium-enhanced detection systems were deployed, significantly expanding monitoring capabilities across Eura.
Units
CCI hosts numerous military units and detachments:
Federal Space Force
- 1st Space Defense Wing
- 3rd Strategic Space Operations Group
- 115th Missile Air Defence Brigade
- 42nd Orbital Surveillance Squadron
- Space Defense Command School
Federal Air Force
- 17th Air Defense Squadron
- 302nd Special Operations Wing
- 44th Experimental Test Squadron
- Advanced Flight Training Center
- Air Combat Strategy Institute
Federal Army
- 2nd Special Forces Group "Black Wolves"
- 71st Anti-air Artillery Regiment
- Electronic Warfare Development Center
Federal Guards Service
- Mountain Guard Regiment "Isfahan Sentinels"
- 3rd Special Security Battalion
- Perimeter Defense Forces Command
Joint Units
- Joint Communications Command
- Combined Intelligence Analysis Center
- Rapid Response Coordination Element
- Special Projects Division
Conspiracy Theories and Popular Culture
Since its inception, CCI has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories and has featured prominently in New Alexandrian popular culture. The facility's remote location, classified projects, and occasional strange phenomena observed in the surrounding desert have contributed to its mystique.
Conspiracy Theories
Black Vault
The "Black Vault" conspiracy theory represents one of the most persistent rumors surrounding CCI operations. According to this theory, a heavily classified subterranean facility exists beneath Mount Isfahan, allegedly housing recovered non-human artifacts and technology from various incidents across Micras, particularly materials allegedly recovered from Theogiorick encounters. Conspiracy theorists claim this installation operates as a joint venture between New Alexandrian intelligence services, Natopian specialists, and representatives from Mondo Etzeterra. The theory gained significant traction following the controversial 1721 AN exposé by chicha press tabloid Primer Impacto, which published purported "leaked documents" describing reversed-engineered alien technology and potential communication with non-terrestrial entities. Despite categorical denials from the Department of Defense and the absence of credible evidence, the Black Vault theory remains embedded in New Alexandrian popular culture, frequently appearing in underground publications, sensationalist documentaries, and fringe political discourse. Officials maintain that these rumors originate from misinterpreted routine aerospace research and deliberate disinformation campaigns by hostile intelligence services seeking to discredit the Federal Forces' technological capabilities.
The "Sixth Level" Theory
Despite official documentation stating that CCI has five underground levels, persistent rumors claim a deeper "Sixth Level" exists where experimental weaponry and captured alien technology are studied. This theory gained widespread attention following the 1723 AN Dasht-e Kavir incident, when unusual lights were observed over the facility for three consecutive nights. The Department of Defense attributed these lights to routine testing of atmospheric research equipment, but many conspiracy theorists maintain they were evidence of exotic propulsion systems being tested.
Project Lazarus
A popular conspiracy theory claims that beneath CCI lies "Project Lazarus," allegedly a program dedicated to reviving and interrogating deceased foreign agents and scientists through a combination of advanced medical technology and Alexandrium-based neural stimulation. The theory originated from an anonymous message board post in 1737 AN allegedly written by a former CCI maintenance worker. No credible evidence has ever substantiated these claims and military officials have consistently denied their existence.
The Isfahan Connection
Some fringe groups believe that Mount Isfahan was chosen for CCI not for its strategic or geological properties, but because it sits atop an ancient structure of unknown origin. Proponents of this theory point to unusual electromagnetic readings occasionally detected in the area and claim these are evidence of an ancient power source or communication device buried deep within the mountain. Archaeologists have dismissed these claims, noting that extensive surveys were conducted before construction began.
Weather Control Operations
Following several seasons of unusual weather patterns in 1729 AN-1730 AN, conspiracy theories emerged claiming the Federal Air Weather Service facilities at CCI were being used to develop and test weather manipulation technology. These theories gained traction during the severe drought affecting eastern Alduria in 1731 AN, with some activists claiming the drought was an unintended consequence of weather experiments. Government officials have consistently denied these allegations, attributing the unusual weather to natural climate fluctuations.
The "Silent Zone"
Amateur radio enthusiasts have documented an unusual "silent zone" extending approximately 75 kilometers around CCI where radio signals are distorted or blocked entirely. While the military acknowledges operating electronic countermeasure systems around the facility, conspiracy theorists claim the effect is too extensive and persistent to be explained by conventional technology, suggesting experimental communications suppression systems are being deployed.
In Popular Culture
Tourism
Despite its classified nature, CCI has generated significant tourism to the region:
- The CCI Perimeter Museum in Juana Díaz, established in 1735 AN, offers information about the facility's publicly acknowledged operations and history. The museum features decommissioned equipment, interactive displays, and presentations by retired military personnel.
- Lookout Point, a designated observation area 12 kilometers from the facility's main entrance, has become a popular tourist destination, particularly among conspiracy enthusiasts hoping to glimpse unusual activity. Local businesses have capitalized on this interest with themed souvenirs and "alien detector" rentals.
- Annual Isfahan Phenomena conventions in Punta Santiago draw thousands of enthusiasts, conspiracy theorists, and curious tourists to discuss theories and alleged observations related to CCI. These conventions have grown from small gatherings to major tourism events featuring celebrity speakers and elaborate exhibits.
The facility's presence in popular culture has created a complex relationship between public perception and operational reality. Military officials occasionally leverage this interest for recruitment purposes while maintaining strict secrecy about actual operations. In 1740 AN, the Department of Defense established a "Myths and Facts" section on its official website addressing common misconceptions about CCI, though critics note this has done little to diminish the facility's mystique.
