Station

A Station, also known as command center or Firebase is an encampment set up by Marines in combat zones or other locations that are otherwise hostile. It includes a Command Center, five building sites and four Turret foundations.

Overview
The Station combines the needs of a tactical communications, a command center and expansion into both a barracks and a production facility capable of assembling combat vehicles. A default Firebase costs 500 resources to drop in from orbit, and only provides three construction slots and no turret foundations. The Station itself is a variant of the old colony starter units constructed out of polycrete and powered by a small hydrogen reactor. Because gaining a foothold quickly was key to fighting insurrections throughout the colonies, ships can directly deploy the entire assembly unit of a Station, making it immediately useful. This ability proved invaluable in the ongoing war with the Covenant and was often considered a key advantage of the UNSC on the ground.

In addition, Stations are capable of producing unarmed Warthogs, along with the special unit for the selected leader.

Stations were used to great effect at the Third Battle of Harvest and were also used at the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV, the Battle of Reach, and the Battle of Installation 04.

Although starting out frail, the structural strength of the Command Center is increased with the addition of each new Firebase addition, making it a good idea to erect multiple Firebase additions as soon as possible.

Beneath the Firebase there is a large underground garage in which resources and vehicle parts dropped down from orbiting warships may be stored. Also, all Firebase additions such as Reactors or Supply Pads emerge up from this subterranean area, pre-built and fully constructed.

Expansions

 * UNSC Reactor
 * UNSC Air Pad
 * Vehicle Depot
 * Field Armory
 * UNSC Barracks
 * UNSC Supply Pad
 * Base Turret

Installation 04

 * Alpha Base

Harvest

 * Alpha Base

Sigma Octanus IV

 * Alpha Headquarters
 * Firebase Bravo

Behind the Scenes

 * The Firebase is a buildable structure in Halo Wars, starting as a Firebase, upgradeable to a Station, and finally to a fortress. It appears that only one expansion can be built at a time.

Units Produced and Available Upgrades

 * Warthog
 * Gunner
 * Grenadier
 * Gauss Cannon
 * Elephant (Captain Cutter only)
 * Twin Engine
 * Defense Turret
 * Ceramic Armor
 * Cyclops (Sergeant Forge only)
 * Repair Kit
 * High-Torque Joint
 * Gremlin (Professor Anders only)
 * Focusing Lens
 * Chain Amplifier
 * Command Center
 * Station: Cost: 300 resource units. Upgrades Firebase to Station, adding two extra building sockets and four turret foundations.
 * Fortress: Cost: 400 resource units. Upgrades Station to Fortress, adding two extra building sockets.  Requires station upgrade.