Luxury Liner Shetland

Luxury Liner Shetland

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Owner

Orbital Spa & Cruise

Location

D/E-4/3, Cortez

CLASS: Enterprise

AMENITIES: Full

PASSENGERS: 700

Owned and operated by Orbital Spa and Cruise Lines, the Shetland is a movable feast for the rich and those who service them. The ship was damaged during the Gallic invasion of the Edinburgh system and was pushed into service as a floating hospital ship, servicing the Bretonian forces defending Newcastle for several years.

Following the conclusion of the Gallic War, Orbital Spa renovated the ship's interior at great expense before dispatching it to Poole. This did not last long, as Bretonia began a phased draw-down of operations soon after. Poole was abandoned entirely by 832 AS due to unsustainable infrastructure costs.

The Shetland has since taken up position in high orbit of Planet Curacao in Cortez, in hopes of re-vitalizing the Spa and Cruise Lines' luxury resort after the Gallic war drove tourists away, seriously harming the planet's tourism income. The Shetland offers its gourmet restaurants and shopping arcades a stunning overview of the lush and breathtaking oceans and islands, along with a mixture of local attractions, local sights and entertainment focusing on the ships own wartime service in Cortez.

Bribes & Missions Offered

Bribes

Bretonia Police Orbital Spa & Cruise Border World Exports Gateway Shipping Cryer Pharmaceuticals

Missions

Orbital Spa & Cruise Bretonia Armed Forces Bretonia Police

Commodities

Imports

Commodity Price Robotics 13$ Hessian Tears 205$ Rheinbier 55$ Rum 62$ Sake 60$ Detroit Light Arms 44$ Stabiline 108$ Vodka 59$ Whiskey 26$ Black Market Pharmaceuticals 108$ Slog 90$ Gold 143$ Wildcat Gold 145$ Silver 152$ Niobium 187$ Oxygen 1$ Water 1$ Diamonds 199$ Food Rations 19$ Kyushu Rice 43$ H-Fuel 103$ MOX 24$ Basic Alloy 19$ Construction Machinery 24$ Pharmaceuticals 26$ Hull Panels 36$ Consumer Goods 27$ Cardamine 235$ Consumer Goods 240$ Artifacts 221$ Consumer Goods 226$ Daumann Side Arms 102$ Gallic Enfer Blasters 116$ Hangar Provisions 255$ Xeno Relics 229$ Gaian Wildlife 319$ Holotainment Bands 149$ Pineal Amulets 116$ Platinum 188$ Synth Paste 10$ Tobacco 72$ Wine 83$ Hypnotainment Bands 202$ Munitions 25$ Xenobiotic Filters 41$ Nox 199$ Consumer Goods 204$ Passenger Cabin (Liberty) 21,060$ Passenger Cabin (Bretonia) 20,582$ Passenger Cabin (Kusari) 53,547$ Passenger Cabin (Rheinland) 54,845$ Passenger Cabin (Gallia) 59,923$ Passenger Cabin (Omega) 53,556$ Passengers (Omicrons) 94,313$ Fire Pearls 93$ Iron 21$

Exports

Commodity Price Gin 39$ Liberty Ale 21$ Crew 216$ Luxury Food 77$ Luxury Consumer Goods 76$ Vacationers 10,041$ Cigars 168$ Tea 9$

Ships sold

Ship	Class	Price
Obsidian	Very Heavy Fighter	546,129$
Sunburst	Freighter	2,946$
Arrow	Light Fighter	25,242$

News

[834 AS] Liberty advises against Sigma vacations

HAWAII -- 834 -- Liberty has issued a formal travel advisory recommending its citizens avoid visiting Sigma-19 for cruise vacations. This comes after the recent destruction of Atka Research Station, and the disappearance of two OS&C shuttles. These incidents have been attributed to Outcast pirates. OS&C spokesman Judith Hillier reassured potential customers that the cruise provider takes passenger safety extremely seriously, and has “invested heavily in escort fleets and corporate security affiliates.” Kusari officials have also raised concerns about the Sigma security situation, expressing “concern and dismay” over the GMG’s handling of the dangerous region.

[831 AS] Gate corps clash over 'Blackout'!

ABBEVILLE -- 831 AS -- EFL's 'Resilience Taskforce' today reported its findings on The Blackout, claiming to have gathered forensic evidence that proved the cause as Ageira negligence. A spokesperson claimed that the destruction of the Dublin Jump Gate by Molly separatists had created a hyperspace feedback loop that was propagated and amplified through the Ageira gate network. Ageira disputed this finding in their own press release, calling EFL 'fantasists' and countering that their own scientists had narrowed the cause to a rare 'hypernova' stellar event that originated outside the Sirius sector. Both corporations claim that network-wide hardware safeguards have been implemented that would prevent a similar occurrence in the future. Independent researchers have sharply criticized the corporate announcements, accusing both of self-interested misdirection. Professor Sophia Nagel from Heisenberg Research Station called EFL's accusation 'incoherent' and the hypernova explanation 'nonsense' that did not explain the characteristics of the 'Blackout Pulse'. Despite multiple different Pulse recordings being widely disseminated across the neural net, public efforts have so far failed to triangulate its source.

[831 AS] Bretonian focus turns on Mollys

SHEFFIELD -- 831 AS -- The Bretonia Police Authority has announced the eradication of the Molly movement is their top priority. Following the loss of the Dublin system, the dangerous terrorist movement has leaped to the top of Bretonia's most wanted board. Bounties on Molly terrorists have doubled, with Guild Hunters flocking to the beleaguered House. Sheffield Guildmaster Tina Hale commented that, "these are Edge World rates for domestic threats." Despite that, prospective Hunters should be cautious, as the Mollys are notoriously cunning fighters. The crackdown appears to be having some effect, as reports of Molly attacks on shipping in Cambridge and Newcastle have already fallen.

[831 AS] Pulse phenomenon linked to Blackout

AMES RESEARCH STATION -- 831 -- Independent researchers have announced that a hyperspace pulse of unprecedented strength was detected moments before The Blackout, destroying many of the sector’s most sensitive and finely tuned observatories. Surviving data about 'The Pulse' has been widely shared across the neural net in recent days, prompting mass speculation. Professor Katsuma Oster of Ames Research Station described the signal as “astounding”. “These readings are unprecedented, as if reality itself were struck like a gong.” House authorities have remained tight lipped, refusing to share their own observatories' data.

[831 AS] 'Blackout' causes jump network failure

MANHATTAN -- 831 AS -- Two days ago Jump Gates failed simultaneously across Sirius, freezing commerce and neural net access across the sector. When communications resumed 31 hours later, the news broke of Bretonia's loss of the Dublin system. This twin shock has plunged markets into chaos, prompting fears of sector-wide economic recessions. Interspace estimates that the stoppage alone caused billions of credits in losses. Gallia immediately accused Liberty of causing the outage, claiming the destruction of Dublin's Jump Gate instigated a cascading failure in faulty Ageira infrastructure. Ageira has sharply refuted the allegation, claiming such a systemic effect would be physically impossible.

[828 AS] Cortez cleanup begins after delays

CURACAO -- 835 -- DSE has accepted a cleanup and salvage contract to address war debris in Cortez. The Aruba Debris Field has long been a cause for complaint by Orbital Spa and Cruise, over concerns that the unsightly wreckage would blight local tourist attractions. The site does not obstruct traffic, so clearance has been of low priority to both Bretonia and Liberty. This appears to have changed following a significant Orbital contribution to a clean-up fund. DSE was appointed as the primary contractor, as preferred subcontractor ALG does not have capacity for the job. The Rheinland group is facing manpower constraints following the Rheinland Civil War, and exploding demand for battlefield salvage across the sector.

Rumors

Orbital Spa & Cruise

The number of wounded we've treated during the Gallic war has been mild. Space combat doesn't usually create a whole lot of wounded. Just people who had a working escape pod - and casualties. That or they expect large ship crews to become injured - which means capital ships will be getting involved in the fighting ahead. I just hope it won't be in Cortez. The Shetland used to take care of forces wounded in the fighting with Gallia. While we did that, we also still received guests from all over Bretonia who wanted to see the damage the Gallic forces left on us. The company was trying to capitalize on the skill of our captain, and turn the Shetland in some kind of war hero attraction. "Shetlands Survival", I suppose there's worse ways to serve Bretonia. It was a major morale boost for the soldiers and people, one they desperately needed after Leeds was lost. We receive many shipments of medication from Cryer. The Gaians have been attacking some of them. Makes me wonder if those ecoterrorists have become Gallic lapdogs now. Wouldn't surprise me. The Gallic war was a major change for us, to switch from catering to the rich and famous to tending injured soldiers and war tourists. Still, we can be glad to get out of it alive. The Gallic Navy would have finished us off if they had the chance. I'm happy to enjoy the Curacao peace and luxury life again. Home. Finally home again. You have no idea what it was like, travelling from Edinburgh to Dublin by conventional engines only. These liners aren't built for interstellar travel without the aid of Jump Gates. Our engines are designed for slow runs around a starsystem. It is amazing that our captain managed to pilot us across! The Shetland was heavily damaged when Gallia attacked her. Attacking a civilian liner... There is no excuse for that! After the crew and passengers were rescued in Dublin, the ship was ferried to Southampton for repairs. It became fully spaceworthy again, but will require a much more extensive overhaul before it's suitable for luxury cruises. That's precisely why the liner is in Curacao orbit now - a lot of tourists, not a lot of movement.

Bretonia Armed Forces

I got to admit, I was annoyed about all these damned tourists coming to "see war up close". Gawking at a few scorched hull panels doesn't quite compare to the experience of being under fire. I'm happy the war is over, and we went back to Curacao no less. A perfect spot to enjoy as long as possible, without major wars. The Armed Forces used the Shetland as a hospital ship during the Gallic war. During the Newcastle front battles none of the stations in the system could have handled that task as well as a Liner can - a hospital requires extensive life support systems able to handle the needs of a lot of people. I was with the Shetland when it was forced to flee Edinburgh. Me and twelve other fighters had to face off against seven Gallic squadrons. I was one of three ships that managed to survive. I don't know what became of the others, my own wing kept close to the Shetland as it withdrew into deep space. Eventually, we were forced to dock on her and became passengers ourselves. I'm one of the border control officers aboard the Shetland now, while it is within Bretonia's reach. After that, I'm probably off to the Dublin frontier.

Border World Exports

Bowex handles most of the cargo runs to this ship. Shipments of Pharmaceuticals and Food from Cambridge, and occasionally a ferry flight to New London with tourists who've had their fill, or lads recovered enough to be transported. The passenger flights are usually done with a heavy military escort - the Mollys would love nothing more than to blow up a ship full of Armed Forces pilots who aren't in their own fighters. Savages, the lot of them. Here's a little irony for you - during the Gallic war tours of the most pristine planet became tours of duty. An interesting turn of events, but a good reflection on the state of Bretonia as a whole. I hope I won't have to live through a similar experience ever again. I'm happy to see the Shetland almost fully repaired. Gaia and the Edinburgh loop were more suitable to what she was built for than the Gallic war fighting. Now that she's capable of being a tourist attraction again, it's time to go back to the lush life.

Bretonia Police

I used to be posted in Aberdeen, before Gallia laid waste to it. That wasn't a huge loss - police outposts are just that, small, largely automated outposts, which are cheap to maintain but don't tend to last long against a fullblown naval assault. At the time Gallia attacked it and cut off the Edinburgh gate, I was on the Shetland - I couldn't do a thing to help my fellow officers. The area around Carlisle is safe enough for the time being. Between the Harlow and the police forces stationed at Gateshead, we can deal with anything short of a dedicated military assault on this area. Word among the military has it that neither of the Outcasts, Mollys, or Gaians can amass the forces for that kind of an attack yet, so I was sent aboard the Shetland to Curacao as a border control constable. Bretonia gave up Edinburgh without much of a fight. I can't say I blame the Armed Forces, because I think there's a purpose for the Gallic presence there. The only true asset there was Gaia, but those Green Party eggheads prevent people from settling that planet in earnest. I think most of Bretonia hoped Gallia would break ground on that world, so that if and when the system was retaken, the planet was no longer pristine. Not even the Greens would have been able to speak out against Bretonia taking over Gallic holdings on that world. Unfortunately, it didn't happen, and the Greens will continue to be a pain in the arse.

Cryer Pharmaceuticals

I'm not sure what to expect in the near future. With the Gallic war over, the need for medical professionals decreased significantly. I think I'll go back to Cambridge next year. So far it's been a breeze for me. Orbital still receives tourists, and tries to, as best as they can, maintain their standards here. I've arranged for quarters on the tourist section, so I'm not exactly roughing it. Back on the Shetland... Not exactly as I remember it. I'm only a liason here, to help run the medicinal logistics for what is now officially a hospital ship. I remember there used to be a huge buffet the promenade deck. Now it's a surgical bay. I'll leave the meat jokes up to the soldiers.

Gateway Shipping

Well, I say. The boys who ran this ship certainly have a bit of cleaning up to do. What a fine job they did in bringing her home. I hear it drifted into Dublin - they can be glad the Corsairs or Mollys didn't happen upon her first. Now that would have been a tragedy. Now that the Shetland is operational again, I think the crew will never allow themselves to be caught like that again. Gateway hasn't gotten any serious contracts with the military. That is fine with me, I didn't sign up for combat duty, I'm a merchant. Hauling soldiers and weapons around just paints a big bullseye on your hull. Every Gallic, Outcast, Corsair and Molly raider will be on your tail. Gateway delivers several basic commodities to this ship and other bases in the region. Water and Oxygen come in from the South Shields refinery, since we can't use anything from Carlisle for some reason. Biohazard, the grapevine says. Food has to be shipped in from Cambridge for the same reason.