The IFS Arant (Original - Alpha-92//License 8812 "Independent License"); established itself in early 824 A.S. as a personal request by Dr. Weiss Hausenberg (757 A.S. - 824 A.S.) to serve as a mobile research and survey vessel independent from his Rheinland peers and sponsors. As a respected but eccentric member of the University of Munich's 'Advancement and Betterment of Sirius Committee', his sudden desire to leave the cloistered halls behind to seek out new frontier's and further the human race as a whole was granted with little fuss. Captained by a fanciful Libertonian by the name of Aramos Lassander, the Independent Freelance Ship "Arant" was crewed by a diverse crew of twenty with an additional ten from Dr. Weiss's own retinue of students and interns. Based aboard a civilian-class Condor gunboat, the interior was modified extensively to make room for an array of remote survey probes on loan from Cambridge University with additional advanced equipment required for the long journey replacing most of the already spartan accommodations found aboard. With multiple safety and security functions in place, all vectors from radiation poisoning to foreign and alien contamination scrubbers ensured that Dr. Weiss and his motley crew of fortune-seekers, retired soldiers, and bright-eyed researchers could take on all that Sirius would throw at them.
After a series of excursions and minor expeditions into the border and edge worlds, he came into, by random chance, contact with the trans-humanist organization known as Auxesia;
an inter-house group that seemed to have an ear and eye on anything and everything. Communicating through a heavily encrypted channel, he availed himself of his services to the shadowy figure and began a long, two-day journey acquiring information on gravitational anomalies, spatial abnormalities, xenobiological excavations, and even once ventured near a neutron star to record it's effects. The end result was a very substantial amount of credits and an extended opportunity to meet with other, more open-minded individuals that would not judge him for his hypothesis's and aged ramblings.
After the cordial meeting, he was given access to an encrypted data channel with files upon files of required research to fulfill some project in the works. His enthusiasm caused him to neglect his health however, losing sleep over long nights pouring over extensive amounts of information gathered over the extent of the IFS Arant's journey. The doctor was never far from his datapad and neural-net interface, constantly writing in and editing out old information whenever new junctions were formed and connected. The IFS Arant disappeared shortly after, mid 824 A.S., having been spotted entering the jump-hole into Omicron Minor. One of many similar stories of explorer's and intellectuals that underestimated the edge-world's unpredictable lethality. Whatever they were working on has been lost with all hands missing.
IFS Arant II (Independent Freelance Ship 'Arant Two')
As if the loss of the first IFS Arant had sparked some cult following, even if only in name and not deed, a Democritus-class Luxury Liner was mysteriously conceptualized, commissioned, and began construction two months after the original's disappearance; almost as if the designer of the initial Arant had felt cheated of an achievement.
Or perhaps they simply refused to let the name they had chosen for their vessel die out. Whatever the reason, it would appear a specific plan was in store for the new iteration as talents from all four corners of Sirius were found, recruited, paid an exorbitant sum of money (ADDENDUM - A reported one billion credits), and brought to the heart of Liberty to collaborate on a special, unknown project. It is perhaps for this reason that the affair was so private and unknown to so many netizens of Liberty as the chaos from Gallia encroaching upon sovereign soil proved a far more engaging topic then some nut job, trust fund's wedlock fantasy. Even so, strings were pulled, subtle but aggressive, as select assets from the house's of Liberty, Kusari, Rheinland, and Bretonia were requisitioned through private channels; all funneled into a singular goal. To stock goods and accommodate the people of Sirius as a whole. To provide entertainment to an as yet non-existent crowd.
Promising, young cadets of the diplomatic corps from each house were absconded from their original station, just before their initiation into the discord that was Sirius's political climate was to become a reality; their bodies later found in various stages of decomposition or too badly damaged to be identified. An Arbiter, one of many such highly-trained specialists respected for and known for their ability to tie down even a meeting between the Corsairs and Outcasts on an even field with their eloquence with words, found missing from his expensive one-thousand and six-hundred story luxury flat; the interior left completely intact, as if he had never existed to begin with. A squad of elite mercenaries known colloquially as the "Advent Seven" in their circle, one of many such units in the field of Sirius's conflicts, reportedly killed in action as the ship responsible for ferrying them in was destroyed near the Gallian-Bretonia front. A field of freshly graduated students ranging from Bretonia, Kusari, Liberty, and Rheinland's foremost universities. Galaxy-class chef's in fine, casual, and exotic cuisines. Tech specialists too obscure yet too brilliant to be found in open Neural-Net communique.
Rumors abound of a coming storm, except the conspiratorial voices fall on deaf ears, that the disappearances are related to the resurgent 'Wilde', the murderous 'Nomads' or even a clandestine group of Gallian sleeper agents killing off the vast majority of Sirius's budding talents to steal for their own gains. Yet all of this is untrue and based on fiction. The truth is far more sinister.
They wanted to try opening up a mobile Freeport.
Or, perhaps, even simpler - it was based all on whimsical, passive fancy.
The newly christened Arant Two's purpose is clear to it's patrons and guests as, once they come aboard and go through the airlock system, they are met with an interior designed to relieve stress and accentuate the individual/s specific tastes and appease the senses. For each, the experience is of both a visual and sensory appeal as the decor can range from a variety of rustic, contemporary, industrial, and modern designs. To cater to their deepest, innermost desires, to the guaranteed reprieve of a cloistered vacation away from Sirius. The Arant Two can be your home away from home, a place where the freedom to do whatever you wished is insured by your own satisfaction.
With a well-stocked hold, filled to the brim with the most luxurious of ingredients, aged wines, casual beers, and delicious sage; from the rudimentary to the exquisite, you will never find yourself disappointed. The Arant Two is at your beck and call. So come aboard, relax, and stretch your legs.
You'll be safe with us. Guaranteed.
Menu
Breakfast (Classics) 0600 SMT - 0800 SMT
Poached Eggs, Avocado, Houston Greens and Fresh Sourdough
Eggs Benedic Ham, Bacon, and Cheese
Eggs Florentine Bacon & Cheese atop a bed of fresh Spinach
Omelette Meat, Vegetarian, Seafood, Spicy; Your Choice is endless
Smoked Salmon & Scrambled Eggs
Bretonian Breakfast Eggs fried, Poached, or Scrambled, Streaky Bacon, Sausage, Tomato, Mushroom, Baked Beans / Wheat Bread or White bread / Liberty Coffee or Kusarian Tea, Orange Juice or Grapefruit Juice
Interspace Breakfast Large selection of Cured meats & Cheeses, Pastries (Scones, Macarons, Rheinland Strudels, etc), Fresh fruits, and Beverages Hot & Cold
Pancakes With your choice of - Mixed berries or Crispy Bacon and Warm Syrup
Muffins With your choice of flavors - Hazelnut, Chocolate, Kusari Green Tea, and Raspberry
ADDITIONAL SIDES OFFERED - AT REQUEST Mushrooms, Tomatoes, Bacon, Sausages, Spinach, Smoked Salmon, Berries, etc; Ask and we will do our best to accommodate you
Beverages (Hot, Shots, Cold)
Liberty Espresso Strong, full-bodied, flavorful
Cafe Mocha High-quality, thin-bodied & light
Earl Grey
Smoked Tea High-grade black tea with a deep, smoky texture
Ken-Goh Tea High-quality black tea with a rich, honey flavor
Darjeeling Flavorful, fruity with a thin-bodied texture
Bretonian Breakfast Tea Full-bodied, robust, and rich