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The orbital command is an upgrade to the terran command center. It was previously known as the surveillance station.[1]

Overview[]

The number of command centers deployed in combat zones drove the development of standard schematics to upgrade them into a dedicated military role. One variant was the orbital command.[2] The ATVX orbital command entered service following the Brood War and allows space assets to better assist ground forces;[1] it includes a satellite comlink useful for reconnaissance.[3]

Structures similar to orbital commands and planetary fortresses were in use by the Kel-Morian Combine by 2502.[4]

The following section contains information from a previous version of StarCraft II which is no longer valid.

Dominion Special Forces utilized advanced orbital commands with cutting edge scanners for reconnaissance, much to the pleasure of the ground forces usually assigned on that duty.[5]

Game Structure[]

The orbital command retains all of the command center's functionality except it may no longer load SCVs, or be changed into a command center or planetary fortress. The orbital command takes over the role of StarCrafts ComSat station with the Scanner Sweep ability.

Versus[]

OrbCommand SC2 Icon1
Transform Command Center to Orbital Command

The command center can transform into an orbital command. The transformation is irreversible.

Usage
Hotkey B
Cost 150 Minerals 25 seconds Command center
ve
Upgrades and Abilities
BuildingArmor SC2 Game1
Neosteel Armor

Upgrades the armor of structures by 2 (excluding auto-turrets). Increases the cargo space of bunkers by 2. Also provides extra cargo space for command centers and planetary fortresses.

Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey B
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 100seconds
ve

The orbital command has the ability to temporarily clear the fog of war and detect all cloaked or burrowed units within the target area.

This can be executed anywhere on the map at any time. The circular view shown lasts for about 12 seconds before changing to the fog of war static view.

Analogous to the ComSat station in StarCraft.

Usage
Hotkey C
Cost 50 Energy
Duration 12 seconds
ve
MULECalldown SC2 Icon1
Calldown: MULE

An orbital command summons one MULE via drop pod. If the ability is targeted on a mineral patch the MULE will begin mining automatically, extracting 45 minerals per trip. The ability may be used only on areas uncovered by the fog of war.

Usage
Hotkey E
Cost 50 Energy
Duration 64 seconds
ve
Calldown: Supplies

The orbital command can target a supply depot to permanently grant it an extra 8 supply. The modified supply depots look different, but are still capable of raising and lowering themselves.

This ability is disabled during campaign play.

Usage
Hotkey X
Cost 50 Energy
ve

This structure can lift off, enabling it to fly. It cannot produce units or conduct research while in flight, and must leave add-ons behind.

Usage
Hotkey L
Cost 2 (for lifting off and landing) seconds
ve

Wings of Liberty[]

See: Wings of Liberty command center

Upgrades all command centers to orbital commands.[6]

ATVX now manufactures a satellite comlink that can reveal unexplored areas on the map. The comlink can also call down a MULE. A MULE gathers much faster than an SCV and can produce a major surge in mineral production. Because it is a prototype, the MULE will come apart after a short period of time, but it is still well worth the cost.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Complete 12 missions.
Acquired from Hyperion armory for $125,000
ve

Nova Covert Ops[]

The Covert Ops Crew orbital command structure exists within the map editor. It can use Scanner Sweep and add supplies to supply depots, lacking the MULE ability from multiplayer.

Co-op Missions[]

Orbital commands are exclusive to Jim Raynor in Co-op Missions. Unlike multiplayer it cannot deploy supplies, as Raynor has orbital depots by default from level 12. It can use Scanner Sweep and deploy MULE.

Upgrades and Abilities[]

SC2Liftoff
Lift Off

This structure can Lift Off, enabling it to fly. It cannot produce units or conduct research while in flight.

Usage
Hotkey L
Cost 2 (for lifting off and landing) seconds
ve

The orbital command scans a target location on the map revealing cloaked, burrowed or hallucinated units temporarily.

Usage
Hotkey C
Cost 50 Energy
Range 13
Duration 12 seconds
ve
MULECalldown SC2 Icon1
Calldown: MULE

The orbital command calls down a MULE via Drop Pods. MULEs can gather minerals at a faster rate than SCVs, and last for 90 seconds. One MULE and one SCV gather from the same mineral patch simultaneously.

Backwater Marshall: MULEs are unavailable.

Usage
Hotkey E
Cost 50 Energy
Duration 90 seconds
ve
BuildingArmor SC2 Game1
Structure Armor

All structures gain +2 armor.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey B
Cost 100 Minerals
Mastery: -2 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Minerals
100 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -2 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Vespene gas
60seconds
ve

Development[]

SurveillanceStation SC2 DevRend1

Early render of the surveillance station

Originally named the surveillance station or surveillance center, it was renamed by February 2009. The Calldown: Extra Supplies ability increased supply be 2.[7]

The orbital command's functions were originally possessed by the sensor tower (albeit prior to the conception of the MULE). Its design was carried out after that of the planetary fortress, and didn't undergo much variation.[8]

StarCraft II beta patch 1 decreased the build time from 50 seconds to 35. Patch 2.5.5 in the Legacy of the Void beta removed Calldown: MULE. Balance Update #1 returned the ability, set it to autocast on nearby minerals, replaced the energy cost with a cooldown, added a max range of 30, and decreased the MULE's harvest amount from 45 to 40. The energy costs of Scanner Sweep and Calldown: Extra Supplies were also increased to 100 and 75 respectively. Balance Update #2 reverted all of these changes.

Trivia[]

  • An orbital command appears on the in-game maps around the Blizzard World map in Overwatch as part of an attraction named "Command Center Lift Off."

Images[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Karune. 2009-02-18. StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 49. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-02-18.
  2. SC2 Command Center. Accessed on 2008-18-11
  3. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Armory upgrades (in English). 2010.
  4. Furman, Simon (w), Federico Dallocchio (p, i), Milen Parvanov (col). "StarCraft #2" StarCraft 1 (2) (June 24, 2009) DC Comics (Wildstorm).
  5. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. July 19, 2017
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard) (in English). July 27, 2010.
  7. Anderson Mccutcheon. 2008-10-17. Inside StarCraft 2 Q&A 49 – Analysis and Summary. SC2 Blog.
  8. 2011, Terran Command Center. Deviantart, accessed on 2011-05-30
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