From Frontierpedia, the wiki for the Frontier Universe
Civilian, military, religious and surveillance functions at orbital facilities.
Terminus Gateway
Act I is titled Roman Frontier: Terminus. The gateway contains a lobby, the Aquila eagle emblem, plebeians, an astrologer and a large boundary stone: civilian life and ritual symbols share the frontier facility.
Oculus Mercurii
A governor of Terminus appears. Oculus Mercurii is identified as a frontier surveillance station staffed by an intelligence officer, establishing both provincial government and surveillance functions at the frontier.
Oculus Termini
Oculus Termini is a deep-space observatory with an astronomer. This profession is explicitly distinguished from the astrologer seen at the gateway; observation and astrology coexist.
Boundary stone
The gateway's monumental boundary stone and the name Terminus suggest a symbolic boundary of Roman civilization. This is an interpretation; no administrative or technical function of the stone is explained.
Mars Gateway
Mars Gateway is an orbital installation. An aristocratic investment meeting takes place on Mars, and a historian appears at the gateway: investment and scholarly professions extend beyond exploration alone.
Mars Gateway: sectors
Military, civic and sacred sectors contain legionaries and auxiliary recruits, plebeians and provincials, and Vestal Virgins respectively. Military, civilian and religious functions share one orbital gateway.
Auxiliary induction
Auxiliary recruits, a commanding officer and an induction appear, distinguishing auxiliary recruitment and command from legionaries. The sacred sector also contains a separate Vestal antechamber; citizenship after service is not established here.
Vesta Gateway
The orbital installation at Vesta contains a Vestal antechamber, reception chamber, a Vestal Virgin and a ship inspector. Religious activity and ship inspection occupy the same facility.
Caupona
Near Via Imperii, Caupona contains a thermopolium, a horreum grain store and a balneum bath. Sacks and a Ceres figure appear in the store; Apodyterium labels the changing area. Food, supplies and bathing share a logistics stop.
Navalia Maxima III
Navalia Maxima III is an orbital shipyard at Mars with many legion transports and a patrician. The numeral III does not establish how many other shipyards exist or where they are.
Vulcanus Gateway
Vulcanus has volcanic terrain, conspicuous lava and a gateway staffed by an overseer. Supervisory personnel appear at the arrival point associated with the slave ship's destination.
Interpretations and open questions
Episode 2
Prometheus’s identity, direct transfer of technology, links to Giza or Rome’s foundation, and whether Terminus observes another return remain unconfirmed. The present absolute date and years elapsed since 285 BC are not established.
Episode 3
The Senate’s final decision-making power, citizenship after auxiliary service and Via Imperii’s precise operation are not established. Contrasts between central and Pax housing suggest inequality but do not explain its causes.
Episode 4
The school–ship–outpost sequence suggests an exploration system, without specifying every institution’s ownership or command. Collegia are not automatically modern corporations; Navis Media and Navis Magna do not constitute a complete ship-class system.
Episode 5
The ship-to-mine sequence suggests a labor supply chain, not a single owner of every person and facility. Martian clouds and atmosphere do not establish terraforming history or extent. The slave hunter’s status as a state official is unconfirmed.
Sources
- Frontier — Episode 2 · YouTube
- Frontier — Episode 3 · YouTube
- Frontier — Episode 4 · YouTube
- Frontier — Episode 5 · YouTube