That is where the ships are created as well as where the people are trained to operate the ships. The crew that is here originally are schooled at the Midway Hub. The mission given by the Hub was for them to go to different places and then use the Ingress to return the entire ship. It is like an academy as well. And before that Ploiatos guy became energy vampire, he is said to be smart and kind. That happened somewhere along the ship's trip.