"Tales From Where Angels Fear to Tread" A White Spa Lines Publication, A Division of Orbital Spa and Cruise 10 March 827 A.S.
A Link to the Past
Orbital Spa and Cruise has a proud tradition of catering to ship-spotters, passengers who enjoy catching glimpses of the myriad vessels that traverse the sector the way fanatics of old Earth would track down rare birds. From improvised Junker frigates whose functionality defies the laws of known physics to hauntingly beautiful Nomad captial ships, OS&C liners have given their patrons a glimpse of every ship that Sirius has to offer except for the one that started it all: An Alliance sleeper ship.
Residents of Manhattan will of course be familiar with the profile of the "Liberty" that dominates the skyline, but the original sleeper ship was salvaged down to its frame to build the fledgling Manhattan colony. Most of the modern skyscraper's fascade is a reconstruction on top of a partially original frame, more tourist recreation than authentic vessel. The other sleeper ships were completely dismantled for parts by their colonies, save for one: the Hispania.
Ironically, the last remnant of the Alliance fleet has the Coalition to thank for its preservation. Crippled by onboard sabateurs from the rival political block, the vessel limped into the Omicron Alpha system while the remaining crew limped down to what they would christen as planet Malta. It was easier to carve the reasources for their new colony from the planet itself, leaving the battered sleeper ship to drift silently in space, a link to their past and a memorial for their future.
As the settlers from the ship morphed into the modern Maltese nation, these "Outcasts" because fiercely protective of their vessel, fiercely protecting their territory from all who would blemish their heritage. For centuries, they'v warded off Corsair incursions and Coalition vandals, but rumors of the last sleeper ships have left the ship spotters of Sirius eager to cross one last vessel off their lifetime lists. Fortunately, Captain Cross of the OS&C liner Red Velvet Club had the proper mix of moxie, diplomacy, and armament to make their dreams come true.
Cross rendezvoused with a guide named Garcia Ortega whose security escorts along with OS&C's own Paul Falker provided a sizable escort for the liner. The extra guns turned out to be a wise precaution as a Corsair squadron was waiting to assult the liner in the Outcast home system. "We have at least neural standing with [the Corsairs]," said Captain Cross of the careful diplomacies OS&C maintains to keep its passengers safe. "I tried to negotiate with them, but they wanted blood, something I will never understand. Why fight when you can enjoy your life? But the Corsairs did not only want the life of the Maltes, they wanted our heads!"
Ortega advised the Red Velvet Club to retreat to Omicron Tau, which Cross promptly complied with while her escort stayed behind. A fierce battle ensued where Ortega's wing exchanged fire with the Corsairs, eventually driving them from the system. Captain Cross returned once the dust settled, and Mr. Ortega proved as capable a tour guide as he had a pilot as he explained the history of the Hispania to an eager audience. However, the Captain did not share in the enthusiasm of her passengers. "I felt a stab in the heart as some one who where Born in Space and Raised on Star Ships," said Cross after laying eyes on the Hispania. "It was a sad view for me. I Imagined how majestic this vessel under full power was, flying through the dark cold emptiness of space." Still, a pensive captain and a jubilant group of passengers makes for a successful journey in the eyes of the corporation.
A Strong Defense
As OS&C pushes the envelope to open up the most exotic and dangerous corners of Sirius to commercial travel, Sirius is beginning to push back. Fortunately, the Luxury Fleet is taking new precautions to ensure our liners are as safe as they are magnificent. With the addition of a new Spa-Sec initative, Orbital will now host its own fighters and gunboats commanded by our brave and skilled stewards. Already Paul Falkner has proven the value of such forces while escorting the Red Velvet Club to planet Gaia, in the heart of Enclave space.
Gaia, once the ecological jewel of Sirius, has been under Enclave occupation since the collapse of the Gallic Monarchy at the end of the war. The only planet suitable for habitation under the crown's control, the former wildlife preserve and eco-tourism mecca has been transformed into an industrial refugee world.
An embolded Enclave has recently been striking out at OS&C vessels. With the addition of Spa-Sec forces, the corporation can finally push back, trading petty stick-ups and hit-and-run encounters for a boastful flyby of what passes for the Enclaves capital world. "Aquitaine System is one of central systems of the Royal Enclave," said Steward Falkner, "thus we prepared accordingly: Red Velvet Club and my Taurus shuttle were temporarily equipped with Cloaking Devices."
Cloaking devices allow for ships to temporarily disappear from scanners and visual tracking, allowing for a quick escape. They have their drawbacks, namely in the form of massive amounts of additional batteries needed to power the systems. But anything that keeps passengers safe is a welcome addition to an OS&C liners. The two ships made their way to Gaia and took several photographs of the garden world.
Fortunately, fortune smiled on the luxury floatilla today as the natural ice clouds allowed the ships to avoid any Enclave encounters. "All in all, I deem tours to Aquitaine feasible," said Falkner. "With mandatory precautions, of course."
A Close Encounter
Most of a luxury liner's life is spent pursuing daring adventures to entertain our guests. However, every once ina
while OS&C ships have to put in for repair work or simply shuttle between destinations with no passengers along for the ride. These "empty runs" give a chance to perform much needed maintenance or upgrades for the ships before they take on their next batch of passengers. And they usually provide a breather for the crew in between bouts of excitement. Usually.
Captain Theobald Franklin of the luxury yacht Reverie, for example, recently completed a refit and upgrade at Baltimore Shipyard. After an unfortunate misunderstanding with two Liberty Navy torpedoes in Manhattan's orbit, the captain thought it prudent to install upgraded medical facilities aboard the vessel. "What if we hadn't been directly in orbit of a Capital Home World, but somewhere far away?" asked the forward thinking captain. Franklin has also taken the liberty of commissioning docking facilities from the zoners at Freeport 12 and is looking forward to traversing Gallia with the upgraded amenities.
Of course, not every empty run is a walk through the park. Captain Jonathan Seabourne of the liner Breezewood found himself shuttling from Freeport 1 to New London when an urgent message from HMS Trojan warned of a Nomad vessel making for New London as well. The captain attempted to make a run for the gate and slipped into the trade lane on the other side with the alien vessel hot on his heels. Everything appeared to be going fine, until a lone Corsair fighter disrupted the tradelane. The Nomad vessel, identified as K'Hara|Minerva by a confused bridge crew, disrupted the Breezewood's cruise engines and opened fire.
With limited evation, Seabourne made for New London, deploying shield batteries and nanobots as needed to buy the liner more time, but with the hull increasingly compromised and New London a far way off, the Captain began to make peace with the universe. "If I had to go," said Seabourne, "at least my last experience would be conning the bridge of an Enterprise."
But today was not the day Breezewood's luck was to run out. With less than 5% of its hull remaining, the alien guns went quiet. Having sufficently cowed the civilian vessel, it moved off, leaving a vague feeling of intending the encounter to serve as a warning to others. "They seemed to realize that Wanderlust Magazine would be a more striking warning if we survived to tell our tale, I suppose," said a relieved Seabourne. "I don't dabble in the artifact trade, I've never tolerated the things on my ship, but after feeling the outrage of that vessel, how it wanted to protect its... heritage I suppose the word would be, I don't think I'll ever go anywhere near the things again. It was angry, but at least in this case, it was merciful."
A stylized Red Velvet Club takes to the stars. Streaks of orange and blue replace the more familiar black and white of space, evoking the infectious joie de vivre of space-born captain Cross.
> > > > Closing Transmission < < < <
OS&C|Breezewood
Captain Jonathan Seabourne, Editor-in-Chief, Wanderlust Magazine
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