Command center

Command centers are the core of every terran outpost.

Overview
Command centers, or "command posts", were designed to be roving resource processors for Confederate prospectors, the command center can pick up stakes and move on to new mineral or vespene deposits. They also have the ability to manufacture SCVs and serve as the return point for mining vehicles. Heavily armored and sturdy, the slow-moving command centers are most vulnerable when they are on the move.

Structurally, the command center is as wide as it is tall (3 stories), easily identifiable from a distance through its flashing beacons. Massive repulsor landing claws support the main bulk of the structure with external ablative plates reinforcing the main hull. Observation towers, antennae, sensor domes and other similar devices are situated above the center proper. Processors are also maintained to process resources, taking up the bulk of the command center's external space. Through jumpjets, Command Centers are capable of being transported to other locations, though all other systems must be shut down for this to occur.

After the Brood War, the command center design underwent expansion, including extra bay facilities to carry a number of SCVs while the command center is in transit. This facilitates rapid exploitation of fresh mineral fields or vespene pockets, as well as supplying a handy shelter for the SCVs in case of enemy action. In addition, the increasing use of command centers in combat zones has also led to the development of standard schematics for upgrading them to a dedicated military role, a change from previous standards where command centers featured minimal staff and defenses.

Command Bay
The command bay is the first point of call for anyone entering the Command Center.

Infirmary
The infirmary is located at one of the command center's lower levels. It is arguably the most well protected section of the command center, encased by the structure proper and set within its exact middle. However, command center infirmaries lack advanced equipment and only really function as a first-aid station, a place to keep an injured soldier alive long enough so that he/she can reach better facilities in time. Water is supplied via a basin and multiple bunks are present, which feature straps should the subject have to be restrained.

Operations Room
The operations room is situated at the very top of a command center. A ring of transteel windows surrounds the entire room, allowing an officer to look in all directions from the structure. The centerpiece is the command island however, a raised circular platform situated in the room's center. From here, command staff monitor activities of a base and the operations room itself. Various consoles are located below the island, specifically monitoring the aspects of a base. It is also from the operations room that general radio traffic can be monitored and answered.

SCV Maintenance Bay
The SCV maintenance bay is located above the command bay, squeezed between the processors. In truth, it is something of a misnomer, as fabricators can create SCVs from scratch.

StarCraft
The command center is the most durable base building without upgrading and can lift off, allowing it to fly into better positions. A commonly used tactic is to construct a command center in a defended area, and then fly it to another resource node to begin another base. However, like all other terran buildings, the terran command center will literally burn to the ground when lower than about 35% HP. Another dangerous weakness is the fact that command centers are able to be infested by zerg queens, resulting in an infested command center which creates explosive infested terrans.

A command center can build a comsat station or nuclear silo add on. It can only use one at a time but can switch back and forth between them.

StarCraft II
In StarCraft II, the command center has enhanced mobility. When flying, the command center shows its three thrusters (one large and two slightly smaller) that it uses to fly.

Transformation
The command center can be upgraded to either a planetary fortress or a orbital command. The planetary fortress has a large cannon that can attack ground units, while the orbital command provides the ComSat Sweep. Once the building is upgraded, it cannot be reverted to a command center, but continues to produce SCVs normally, both orbital command and planetary fortress.