FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLANET SPRAGUE, OMEGA-3 SYSTEM
With the Gallic War coming to a head, all of Sirius is mobilizing to help those in need. Heeding the call of Commodore Redmond of the Bretonian Armed Forces, OSC was determined to aid in any way it could to evacuate civilians from Leeds as Gallia mobilized forces for another round of orbital bombardment.
The refugees were expecting a basic passenger ship with enough life support to get them to their next camp. What they got was the Breezewood.
Coordinating with the local resistance, Breezewood swapped badly needed pharmaceuticals for 1,500 refugees. The passengers, many of whom were children born after the start of the occupation, were treated to all the luxuries Sirius had to offer.
"Many of these children have known no life other than the tunnels used by the resistance. They've barely seen unfiltered sunlight, let alone a flowering plant," said Captain Jonathan Seabourne. "It was a treat for our crew to share with them their first meal that didn't come wrapped in plastic, to show them their first tropical animal, or to expose them to their first work of art."
Some questioned whether OSC should have unloaded its amenities and stripped the vessel to accommodate more passengers. "It's a matter of morale," said Seabourne. "We're transporting human beings from one refugee camp to another. For years, they've lived hand to mouth and are likely to do so for sometime on Sprague. We wanted to give these souls a taste of what it means to truly live and not just survive. Even if just for a little while, it reminds them that they're humans, not just animals trying to survive."
The operation required coordination with the Leeds Resistance Forces, who have taken point in conducting the evacuation while BAF focuses on holding the military front near New London. "I had an old pen pal in the resistance who put me in touch with the right people," said Seabourne. "Still, it was a sigh of relief when we finally got to the rendezvous point and no one was shooting at us!"
The passengers were distracted by the on-board amenities for most of the journey, which Seabourne conceded was completely understandable. "Most of them would not have been able to afford an OSC cruise even in better times, so this was a rare treat for them." He continued, "Plus, it wasn't exactly our most scenic route. We stuck to the smog clouds to avoid Gallic patrols so there was just a lot of oranges and browns."
The operation was made possible by an earlier sortie lead by a combined BAF and Liberty Navy battlegroup. With a narrow window of opportunity, the Breezewood was able to slip in, pick up the refugees, and slip out without incident. "We're used to dealing with tight timetables," said Seabourne, "but these stakes were significantly higher!"
The captain added, "Our gratitude goes out to all members of the Allied fleets, and to Jonas Hudson and Drake Newport of the LRF in particular. Without all of them, none of this wouldn't have been possible."
Orbital Spa and Cruise Planet Curacao, Cortez System