Recent days have seen a spike in activity by passenger shuttles across Gallia and Rheinland. Imperial Shipping has offered government-subsidised Passenger fares to encourage dignitaries and trend-setters to visit their new "diplomatic enclave" on Versailles Station. Gallia is putting its best face forward for this initiative, offering carefully curated tours of approved cultural, historic and commercial sites on New Paris, in an attempt to manufacture a positive image abroad.
Exploiting the buzz from this partnership, Orbital Spa & Cruise has taken this as free marketing for its own endeavours, offering discount deals to Gallic citizens at its resorts on Planet Baden Baden, while trying to entice Rheinlandic visitors to attend Cannes Resort Station in Provence. Many Gallic citizens have also elected to visit New Berlin, seeking out icy ski slopes, ancient cities, and salacious clubs and cabarets.
The Unione Corse have also slashed their own prices for Marseille's retreats in an attempt to price Orbital out of the market, and steal their thunder during this brief moment of public exuberation. The Corse's offerings are typically raw and unregulated compared to the somewhat sanitised options found elsewhere, and appeal to thrill-seekers and those yearning for a remote, wild experience.
Describe some of the sites, scenes and situations involved in these tours here - these could be descriptions of historic sites, excursions / activities, cultural misunderstandings between visitors and locals - or whatever else occurs to you. This compendium is open to characters from Gallia, Rheinland, and OS&C, but we can approve any additions on a case by case basis.
Material from this thread may be canonized for future patches.
ID:Caitlyn Cross Location:Cannes Resort Station, System Provence. Encryption:OS&C Alpha One Subject:Gallic Opportunities
Caitlyn Cross smiled as she stood on a Balcony that would overlook the Mail Ballroom of the OS&C|TE-Red-Velvet-Club below her, where any passengers who enjoyed the Evening with a glass of wine and a good meal. The cooks of the Red Velvet have done their absolute best to make this Journey into a Culinary Spectacle. Many of the Guests on Board were Sirians who wanted to experience the Exotic Beauty of Gallia. Most of them were Rheinlanders who benefited from the Close Relations between Rheinland and Gallia, and of course, the Good Offer that OS&C made to them. But there were also some Guests of Other Nationalities, she had seen Libertonians, Bretonians, and even some Kusarian Names on the Passenger List. The backgrounds of the Passengers were equally diverse, from the Family that spent their Holiday in a faraway Country, to the Neural Net Travel Blogger that wanted to be the first to share their Experience in Gallia with their Followers. However, some businessmen and women wanted to use the situation to make deals with Gallic corporations and, of course, to make big profits. And of course, she also had some diplomats on board who would work on the improvement of Relations even more. And Cait was pretty sure that among her guests were maybe even some Spies who would...well, they would do things that Spies would do. Nothing that bothered her too much or that she would think about too much. After all, she and her Company had followed all of the Government Regulations and Requirements for this trip.
For a while now, they had operated a Small Orbital Resort Station in Orbit of Planet New Paris. But now they had a Lease for a Proper lease of an Operator License for the Cannes Resort Station. A much Bigger Place than what they have operated before. And its Location was absolutely Perfect, directly at the Trade Lane Junction of the Planet Marseille. While OS&C might not have gotten the Buyer's lot for Versailles Station, the Offer that the Marketing Department and the Lawyers of Orbital made was impressive Enough that OS&C got the Lease of Cannes Resort. The Ship was now on the way to the Station to bring the First Load of Passengers to Orbital´s new acquisition in Gallia. And the Red Velvet was not alone, a whole Convoy of OS&C Ships was on the way. In total, they had 4 Liners and around a Dozen Escorts of Fighters and even 2 Gunboats. The Convoy was already through most of Gallia and had Recently Jumped into the Ile-de-France System and had now only one more Jump Ahead of them.
Cait would look over her shoulder at her wife. The Tall and Blonde Rheinland woman would sit on her table with a Data Pad in her hand that would have the Latest Data from the Orbital Flotilla. They had some Forward Scouts that checked the Way towards the Jumpgates while the Gunboats and the Rest of the Ships would fly in Close Formation. 2 out of the 3 Liners would carry normal Passengers while the 3rd was full with Orbital Personnel. The Agreement with the IDF was that Orbital would take over all the Employees of Cannes and would hire them as Orbital personnel. But the Standards of Bouvet Space Entertainment and the Training were Severely Below the Standards of OS&C. And therefore it was decided that a Liner would bring a Replacement Crew to Cannes, while the Former Bouvet Space Entertainment personnel would be shipped to Baden Baden for some Training and Education. To Prevent some Cultural Uproar and a Shitstorm, they had Chosen to Staff this Replacement Crew Only with Rheinlanders and some of the Few Gallic Citicens that were already Working for Orbtial Spa and Cruise. In the Long Run, they would return the Original Employees to Cannes and would have the Station at 96% staffed by Galics.
All of these Plans were under the Deal they had made with the IDF and its Subsidiary Bouvet Space Entertainment. One of the Major Factors that secured them the Lease was the fact that Orbital offered from the Start to keep the Gallic citizens who worked on Cannes Employed. Orbital Knew that they would have an even harder time in the already Strongly Competitive Gallic Market when they would create a Scandal by throwing out Gallic Employees to replace them with foreigners. While the King and his Xenophobes might be gone for a while by now, there were still parts of the Gallic Society that preferred to be Isolationist and were at least sceptical towards Foreigners, if not outright hostile. Therefore, OS&C had offered a Generous Takeover Package to the Employees of Cannes. They would have at least the Same Pay as before, but in most Cases they received a Raise. On top of that, they would also get a 3% share of the Resorts' Profits on top of the already existing Christmas Bonus at the end of the Year. This 3% would be put into a Pot that would then be distributed among all of the Resort Personnel at the end of the Year. If OS&C Calculations were Right, then they would pay out a Bonus of a couple of Thousand Credits. Of course always dependant if the Profit meets the Expectations.
For now, she would shove those Concerns on the back burner. Today was a Day of Celebration. Today, they would celebrate the Fact that Orbital finally had a Foot in the door of the Gallic Market. The Board of Directors hoped that this Opening of Gallia to foreign tourists would not only Boost Gallia, but also that Gallics would enjoy the Luxuries of Baden Baden and bring the Profits of the Planet finally into a Stable Zone. Right now, they would run some Advertisements about Baden Baden on Gallic TV, News, and Neural Net Channels to promote the Tropical Planet. And at the same time, they would run ads about Gallia in Sirian Media. And of course, the Invitation of all these Celebrities and Neural Net Influencers was also part of the OS&C Add Mashine. They Prepared Extensively and wanted to make sure that all of the Guests on the Liners had a Great Time at OS&C´s Newest acquisition. And so would the Convoy continue to move through the Space of Gallia and come ever Closer to their Destination of Cannes Resort Station.
If you are receiving this Neural-Net message, it means you’ve recently booked either a luxury cruise to Gallia or a delightful stay at our newest resort in Provence: Cannes. Let us begin by saying—what a pleasure it is to have you aboard.
As hosts, it is our solemn duty and utter joy to ensure your visit to the Gallic Union is nothing short of unforgettable. Gallia has, until recently, remained a bit of a recluse on the Sirius social circuit, and for many of our new guests—particularly those unfamiliar with our quaint eccentricities—the first encounter may be... let us say, bracing.
Which is precisely why we have prepared a tailored Travel Advisory, crafted especially for our esteemed Rheinland clientele. This short guide contains practical tips, etiquette pointers, and, sadly, a selection of the more inventive scams that seem to target Sirian tourists with an alarming sense of optimism.
We warmly invite you to leaf through this guide before embarking on your vacation, so that your arrival in Cannes may be as smooth and splendid as a well-poured champagne.
As always, your comfort is our command. Our travel agencies, ground staff, and on-board crew are at your disposal, ready to assist with any inquiries—be they existential or entirely mundane.
On behalf of the Orbital Spa & Cruise Executive Board, we wish you safe travels and a magnificent stay in Gallia.
Yours, delightfully,
Sub Director Hector Balzac,
OS&C Regional Manager for Gallia
"Right. Smarmy enough, I think. Let’s keep that as the intro."
"You think they’ll actually read it?"
"I’m quite optimistic. The Rheinlanders are the only guests who actually follow instructions when given. You know those safety leaflets we stuff into every cabin? The ones with the emergency procedures, life pod diagrams, and what to do in the event of gravitational failure?"
"Yeah, what about them?"
"Well, apparently, no one reads them. Ever. Except in cabins occupied by Rheinlanders. And not just read—they’ve been handled. Used. And not, mind you, as rolling papers for Synthetic Marijuana."
"I don’t know what’s more surprising—the fact they read those utterly pointless things or the fact that we actually ran market research on them."
"Moving on. Let’s get to the scams, see if we’ve got all of them covered."
Unfortunately, the grand tradition of exploiting tourists for coin, credits, or—in some particularly inspired cases—ransom, is alive and well even within the esteemed borders of the Union. We consider it a top priority to reduce these events as much as possible, with the diligent assistance of the Gendarmerie and the ever-stylish but surprisingly well-armed Corse protection teams.
Please remain vigilant. If anything seems suspicious, contact our security staff immediately. They are easy to identify, properly credentialed, and very polite—at least until they aren’t.
Here are the most common and creatively shameless scams:
“Space Vineyards”
Vineyards, as one might guess, require soil, sun, time, and a complete absence of vacuum. If someone—particularly around Marseille—offers you a private tour of “subterranean space-grown vines,” what they’re really offering is a one-way excursion to a Brigand base, followed by a delightful wait in a dimly lit room until your relatives send money. Politely decline and report immediately.
“Private Shuttle Services”
Any claim involving priority boarding, skipping the queue, or docking directly aboard is a fabrication. Orbital Spa & Cruise only offers these luxuries to Princess- and Emperor-class passengers, and only by request. All other classes must board via communal Dorado-class ferries, undergo standard document checks, and ascend to orbit through proper channels.
There have been incidents involving individuals posing as Orbital staff who escorted guests from Baden Baden only to detain them for ransom. If someone offers to make your boarding experience "special," decline with dignity and call security.
“Organised Tours”
The only officially sanctioned tours departing from Cannes are operated by the following agencies: H| Horizons, IS/ Imperial Shipping, Bouvet| IDF, and OS&C| Orbital Spa & Cruise.
Any other so-called "travel company," particularly if based in Marseille or Marne, is either illegitimate or tragically uninsured. Orbital accepts no responsibility for bodily harm, missing credits, or suddenly acquired marriages resulting from such excursions.
“Circuit Racing”
Unless you are a certified SGRCA pilot, you are not allowed to race on the Monte Carlo circuit near Marseille. Visitors may observe the track, and indeed may book a ride in one of our racer-class vessels—with a professional pilot at the controls.
Anyone offering you a dubious racer for a few credits is, at best, an opportunist, and at worst, plotting your financial ruin (to say nothing of potential splattering across the asteroid field).
“Hypnotainment & Nox”
There are no therapeutic, medical, or legal variants of these substances. None. Any offer to sell you these items is illegal and should be reported immediately to the Gendarmerie at Cannes.
“XXX-rated Holotainment”
Adult content in Gallia is available through legal, regulated channels—licensed holographic boutiques and select red-light establishments in New Paris and Cannes. Should you find yourself approached by someone offering “exclusive” material on the black market, be assured that what they are actually peddling is either counterfeit, corrupted, or (most likely) embedded with an illegal Hypnotainment protocol.
"Wait, are there really still people falling for the asteroid vineyard thing?"
"You’d be surprised. And we even know exactly where they’re taken. We could post a shuttle and just bring them back every Thursday."
"Still better than scraping someone’s remains off the rocks after a failed turn at Curve 4."
"True. At least the Brigands occasionally offer a drink and a laugh."
"Right, now let’s move on to style and etiquette—because those barbarians are going to need it."
The Gallic people have been unjustly described by Sirians as “closed” and “backwards,” when in fact they are merely proud—proud of their history and their customs. They may seem distant at first, but once you gain their trust, you’ll find yourself basking in a rare warmth of human connection—something not often encountered in the wider colonies.
There are, however, certain unwritten rules of conduct. Master these, and your welcome will be notably less frosty.
Food: Eating in Gallia is not simply about nourishment. It is a ritual, a social dance, a discipline of refined pleasure. Even the humblest snack is expected to arrive with grace and a touch of flair. Here, form is not the enemy of function—it is the function. Expect multiple courses, never single-plate meals. And for the love of all that is culinary, do not badger the waitstaff to “speed things up”—unless, of course, your station is on fire. Meals are to be savoured, slowly, with reverence. You’re on holiday. Live like it.
Wine: Wine in Gallia is not a beverage; it is a cornerstone of civilisation. Thousands of labels. Hundreds of varietals. Reds, whites, rosés, still, sparkling, dessert, and naturally, champagne . To mishandle wine here is to insult centuries of tradition. If you don’t know what to order, don’t panic—ask the sommelier. It is their life’s calling, and they will thank you for sparing them the trauma of watching you pair a rosé with andouillettes.
Under no circumstances should you ask for a red wine chilled—or worse, request ice. It is said that with every ice cube dropped into a glass of Bordeaux, a vintner dies a little inside.
Language: Unless you are genuinely fluent in Gallic, do not attempt to speak it with locals. They will assume you are mocking their rich, melodious tongue. Smile politely, indicate you are a foreigner, and all will be well. The staff in restaurants and cafés are generally prepared for your presence—if not always thrilled about it.
Politics: There are wounds—deep ones—in the Gallic national memory. Discussions surrounding alleged authoritarianism, the glassing of Leeds, the Royal Family, or the recent Kusari invasion should be strictly avoided. Your waiter may be charming, but that charming glint in his eye can fade rapidly if you blunder into post-war diplomacy before dessert.
“Well, the rest of it should be basic common sense,” Luc muttered, reviewing the final paragraph. “They shouldn’t need a pamphlet to figure it out.”
“Let’s hope so,” Hector replied, before pausing see Luc to sniff the air theatrically.
“You smell that, Hector?” Luc asked, his brow furrowing.
“What?”
“The scent of poverty, barbarism… and sheer ignorance. It’s approaching.”
Hector, who had already wandered several paces ahead, burst into a roar of laughter.
“Oh Luc,” he called back, “what I smell is a profit spike. And remember: pecunia non olet!”
“What?”
“Money doesn’t stink, Luc. The Romans figured that out ages ago.”
Hector kept walking, leaving Luc to contemplate this sudden encounter with classical wisdom. His gaze rose to the stylised silhouette of an Enterprise-class liner, its Orbital Spa & Cruise logo gleaming in the sunlight of Provence.
“At worst,” he muttered to himself, “it’ll smell like Rheinbier.”
Sirius Tour Guide Visiting the Heart and Soul of Rheinland (1/2)
A nos chers auditeurs.
This is your auditory guide to one of Sirius's many gorgeous and interesting sites.
Today we'll take a look at the heart of Rheinland. A nation forged by war, a tragic cesspit of political schemes and once breeding ground to the spreading Nomad forces, aiming to conquer Sirius. Let me take you on a journey to Planet New Berlin, Rheinland's snowy capital.
Exiting one of the many tradelanes leading to Rheinland's junction for commercial, civilian and even military traffic will present a view of a large, surprisingly colourful planet, orbited by a celestial body as white as silk.
As the liner enters a stable orbit around planet New Berlin, you will notice a loop like structure encircling the planet, aptly called 'The Ring'. What once were a plethora of shipyards, mooring fixtures and servicing bays have been jointed together into an unparalleled gigantic complex that provides space for large part of Rheinland's economic production capability.
While there are active warships patrolling the area, such as the battleship Bayern, there is also the decommissioned battleship Westfalen, which has been turned into a museum with the help of public funding. It pays tribute to the 80 Years War that Rheinland waged against the Gas Miners Guild starting around 600 AS. Reason for the war's outbreak were rising tensions between Kruger Minerals, a Rheinland company which aims their efforts at extracting valuable resources within Rheinland and its neighbouring territories, and the Gas Miners Guild, who focus their work on harvesting highly sought after gasseous elements from gas pockets within the Sigma systems to be refined into H-Fuel. Kruger's forceful expansion into the Sigma systems and support from Rheinland's government are said to have escalated the conflict, forcing Kusari's hand in an attempt to keep their monopole on the H-Fuel market, thus funding further militarisation of the GMG. Battleship Westfalen was the sole surviving "Bismarck"-class battleship of the Battle of Yanagi Cloud, serving as one of the few remaining witnesses of a war that cost hundreds of millions, potentially billions their lives.
Resting close to this behemoth of time is the Seewinde monument. This "Oasis"-Class Passenger Liner used to serve as a burial ship in the aftermath of the 80 Years War, being the sole Rheinland Military vessel that was permitted by the GMG to enter Sigma-13. It was tasked with retrieving the bodies of Rheinland personnel from the Yanagi-Debris field, completing its mission 818 AS. With many of the wreckages being covered in volatile gas clouds and thus too dangerous to access, it is less than unlikely that every soldier managed to return home. Accusations of the Seewinde being harassed by the GMG have not died down, even a decade after the end of its mission. There are however no official reports from either side that give any merit to these claims.
Finishing our tour around the planet is Bodo's Wurstbude, a famous family-owned restaurant aboard a repurposed civillian transport. It's owned by Bodo Uwe Bartels, Magda Bartels and their son Ottmar Bartels. Their most famous dish, a sausage covered in ketchup and curry powder alongside riffled fries, was praised by Interspace Cuisine's space food poll and should make for a good snack before you take a look at New Berlin's surface.
See you next time for the second part of our Grand tour de Nouveau Berlin.
Orbital Spa & Cruise Gallia Integration Initiative
voiced by Chloe Bellegarde
This two-part story follows Alley, a person who has taken their first trip in what believe is one of Spa & Cruise's most luxurious pleasure liners within Sirius. Little did they realize the trademark signage, sterile vacant corridors and spartan quarters of the scientific crowd until it was too late. Too excited to begin their exciting trip to Gallia, Alley takes a spot near their bedside window and the Sol disembarks from Planet Stuttgart. The planet quickly vanishing as the ship makes it's way down the trade lane towards Cologne. The third part of this story takes place from the view of the vessel's owner and captain, Albert.
PART ONE - THE FOOD
The staff were all very polite. Cheery, smiling and ensuring all guests were taken care of. One could tell they came from Spa & Cruise, though Alley slowly noticed that something didn't line up. All the people were dressed as if it was the last day on earth, the colourful and high-class population sitting within the blank and monocoloured environment. Within one of the major halls, tables were lined with seating on either side. All of the passengers gathered on one end, lining up at the cafeteria to be served their first meal. Alley being the third in line, only due to being in the right place at the right time, gets their bowl filled with a form of green paste, and their cup with what looks like blue milk. Alley looked up at the cafeteria worker.
"Do we not get room service out here?"
"Welcome to the Sol, don't have much of anything here."
"I booked a holiday that came with room service!"
"We're disappointed too. You're holding up the line. Please take a seat."
Alley thought this was rather strange. No room service? What kind of Spa & Cruise ship doesn't have that? Surely they'd have that organized when they started advertising trips to Gallia. They placed themselves in front of a window, close by to the other two who had already gotten their food. Alley looked over at their food and saw the same mushed down paste, the same blue milk.
"Hey there, my names Alley. Do you know what's going on?"
"No idea, this isn't a Spa & Cruise ship. Look around... and this shit tastes like... well, shit."
"That doesn't fill me with confidence. Already off to a great start."
An hour or two pass by, with every few minutes the trade lane rings zooming by the window. Alley quietly makes a whooshing noise when one passes, thinking of ways to entertain themselves. When they returned to their room later, a message was left on their terminal. The terminal itself wasn't standard issue hardware. An hour was spent trying to figure out the legend so they could use it. Eventually, looking up the inbox was made easy. The Spa & Cruise staff informed everyone that they were on board a Starfliers liner. One that has been fitted for carrying passengers. The only issue is that a lot of their services and entertainment has not been worked on during the refit, so all who are on board will have to work with what the Starfliers has to offer. This was all organized last minute to get double booked passengers on their way to Gallia. This sent Alley into a frenzy, their first holiday. Ruined. Not only is it not something understandable like a waiter tripping over and spilling food everywhere, but they are on a ship that they didn't sign up to be on and have to deal with it being so far from home.
PART TWO - ENTERTAINMENT
It was the fourth day. The sight during this part of the transit to Gallia was Zurich's sun. A few people gathered A huge commotion was heard from bed, only to have it die down for a few minutes. Groggy, Alley woke up briefly onto to hear nothing once they regained their senses. With a shrug, they returned to their sleep only to have it disrupted again by another loud cheer. This time, fully awake, they got up off the slabbed bed and got dressed. Looking at the clock, Alley makes a mental note that this is much too early. Following the loud mix of cheering, yelling and shouting, Alley leaves the room with their terminal showing 2:34am. Didn't take long to find a group of people gathered around a terminal in the cafeteria, their loud noises being used a guidance to locate them.
"Alley is it? Get over here, check this out!"
It was the same person they spoke to on their first day. A space opened up beside them to allow Alley in.
"This is called Tetris."
Another in the group had the controls, wildly pressing buttons with everyone else seeing the shapes spin and fall.
"It's a game! I don't know why they don't have the other well known holos. Spa & Cruise cheaped out here. Wish they had Spiral Sliders 3. They have something called a Rubik's Cube, haven't tried that one yet."
"This isn't them."
The group roars in disappointment as the words "Game Over" appear onscreen. It quickly dies down with everyone's heads facing Alley.
"What?"
"Did not see the communication from the staff? They said this is not one of their liners. Some group called the Starfliers run this ship"
Some murmuring and whispers scatter among the group.
"The explorers? Why are WE here?"
"It's explained in the message. Just read it when you go back to your room."
"Well I don't know how to use that bloody terminal. Way too fancy and high tech for me."
"Listen, I get it. I'm tired, the bed is not comfortable and we don't even get alcohol out here."
"Alcohol! Goddamn, I want a drink now. Where's the staff? We should round up everyone later on and go make some noise."
"Give me a few hours of sleep, and I'll give you that noise. Fuck these Starfliers, I want my goddamn holiday."
PART THREE - COMPLAINTS
Infront of Planet Marseille, the Sol hangs in orbit doing their post-launch checks before departing for Rheinland. Albert McKenzie looks over his dashboard to see the list of complaints growing. Without hesitation, he swipes the display away wanting to ignore it. Though it hangs on his mind that eventually, these need to be addressed. A nearby Corse frigate was pinged on scanners. Knowing that they are of the same nature as Spa & Cruise, Albert hails them over local subspace frequency.
Code:
[21.04.2025 09:01:55] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: Hello, can I get your assistance?
[21.04.2025 09:02:01] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: Ah, there you are.
[21.04.2025 09:02:27] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: As we said earlier; we should be the one asking you that! We try to make sure the various liners that comes here are-
[21.04.2025 09:02:44] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: coming in one piece, without any problem. I trust this run has been going well?
[21.04.2025 09:02:55] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: The transit is going well.
[21.04.2025 09:03:09] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: However the issue I am experiencing is with the passengers themselves.
[21.04.2025 09:03:16] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: Too excited?
[21.04.2025 09:03:25] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: Too disgruntled.
[21.04.2025 09:03:30] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: *chuckles heard across the CIC*
[21.04.2025 09:03:51] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: I am receiving reports from my staff that the passengers do not enjoy being on the Sol.
[21.04.2025 09:04:27] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: Ah. I thought it was pertaining to our various resorts. Well... maybe we can help out in redesigning, reworking, and so on
[21.04.2025 09:04:40] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: the interior; the various services proposed on board, and so on.
[21.04.2025 09:04:54] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: Hmm, this vessel is primarily a science vessel.
[21.04.2025 09:05:11] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: I have had modules swapped to accomodate standard passengers.
[21.04.2025 09:05:22] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: It's quite a big ship though-- Yeah. Well, you're Starfliers, so... si, I can understand it.
[21.04.2025 09:05:42] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: What are your recommendations for an enjoyable experience?
[21.04.2025 09:05:54] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: As you know, this is not our primary venture.
[21.04.2025 09:06:04] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: I suppose you don't rush to see a science organization as the #1 liner travel organization. It's natural, earlier we had a
[21.04.2025 09:06:14] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: -GMS liner, so, yeah you're not the only ones!
[21.04.2025 09:06:31] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: Well; for a starter, maybe *capitalize* on being a science vessel.
[21.04.2025 09:06:44] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: That is the intent, at least a future goal.
[21.04.2025 09:06:59] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: The task now is a test to see if this future goal is viable.
[21.04.2025 09:07:00] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: Offer various, easy-to-digest, and varied courses on space, astronomy, the like. That would be pretty cool, I'd sign up!
[21.04.2025 09:07:30] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: Oh, interesting. Make it educational.
[21.04.2025 09:07:36] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: For example, while travelling through a nebula, indicating various fun facts (not on the speakers of the whole ship) about
[21.04.2025 09:07:43] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: the nebula itself, and so on!
[21.04.2025 09:08:15] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: Its composition, and so on; for example here with the Mer Mediterrannee, there's Planet Nice! Which is quite cool.
[21.04.2025 09:08:21] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: Indeed; educational!
[21.04.2025 09:08:27] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: It appears the services provided on the Sol are not what Spa & Cruise's clientelle are used to.
[21.04.2025 09:08:45] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: Capitalizing on the scientific aspect of the whole thing. -- and yeah; it'll need some refurbishing I assume.
[21.04.2025 09:08:47] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: This friction is causing unrest and disgruntlement.
[21.04.2025 09:09:08] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: Thank you for the recommendation. We will indeed explore this educational angle.
[21.04.2025 09:09:10] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: But at least, some training for your crew on how to handle people; and so on. It's quite easy when you know how to.
[21.04.2025 09:09:23] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: Si, any time.
[21.04.2025 09:09:28] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: Yes, well... we are not customer service.
[21.04.2025 09:09:40] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: Training in that field may be necessary.
[21.04.2025 09:09:41] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: That's where partnerships between organizations comes in!
[21.04.2025 09:09:54] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: Indeed.
[21.04.2025 09:10:11] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: You could skip the whole training part and, I dunno, hide some OS&C, or IDF's IDFS crew, and rotate the crew!
[21.04.2025 09:10:28] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: Speaking of reports, the passengers from Marsielle are getting annoyed that we aren't moving.
[21.04.2025 09:10:32] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: Train them on astronomy, astrochemistry, and so on.
[21.04.2025 09:10:39] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: There's a LOT of people indeed.
[21.04.2025 09:10:58] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: And we've noticed a spike in pirate and terrorist activity nearby, but not in Provence proper, thankfully.
[21.04.2025 09:11:00] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: But I will record this conversation for future reference.
[21.04.2025 09:11:07] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: Of course, no problem.
[21.04.2025 09:11:10] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: Your recommendations have been invaluable.
[21.04.2025 09:11:24] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: So yeah; educational angle on the whole ship, there's a lot of potential!
[21.04.2025 09:11:39] '\S/'SRV-Sol: Albert: Godspeed on your supply runs, Corse.
[21.04.2025 09:11:46] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: Anytime, it is our goal to provide security and help to our friends!
[21.04.2025 09:11:51] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: Merci beaucoup!
[21.04.2025 09:12:03] UC/-UCW-Provenza|SOFP: CIC: May the stars smile at your new ventures.
Sirius Tour Guide Visiting the Heart and Soul of Rheinland (2/2)
A nos chers auditeurs.
This is part two of your auditory guide to one of Sirius's many gorgeous and interesting sites.
Planet New Berlin serves as the perfect metaphor for Rheinland's change starting with the conclusion of the 80 Year War. One day and night cycle each last almost an entire year, plunging the nightside into a freezing winter, with temperatures south of -50°C, and an almost spring-like paradise with temperatures hovering above the freezing point. In a way a harsh, an unforgiving winter makes way for a lush wave of greenery and sunlight.
In this edition we will take a look at three distinct attractions that you may want to visit during your stay.
1. The Wandering Glaciers
A veil of extreme cold travels around Planet New Berlin at any given time, indicated by the sunset. At a speed of roughly 78 kilometers per earth day the unstoppable force of nightfall turns meadows into snow-covered plains, forests into gatherings of icicle-lookalikes, and the vast rivers into enormous glaciers. Visitors are invited aboard hovering observatories that keep pace with the impending winter, offering a breath taking view of what time manipulation would look like, if it existed. Flowing water, even waterfalls become, quite literally, frozen in time. For nearly an entire year this scenery will remain as is, not counting occasional snowfall. Many smaller cities rely on monthly supply deliveries, and are otherwise entirely self-sufficient to defy temperatures of as low as -78°C.
2. Kronburg Residence
Marking another remnant of the 80-Year War is the Kronburg Residence, a once luxurious residence built deep within the Lernhofer mountains, hundreds of kilometers away from the nearest settlements. Built to look like a beacon of Rheinland's engineering skill, overflowing with flawless craftsmanship and highest quality furnishing, saunas and indoor swimming pools, it was a place where Rheinland would keep high ranking prisoners of war of the Gas Miners Guild. As they were not to be harmed, an entirely different approach was attempted. Treating these officers, commanders, and admirals more like guests of a luxury resort than prisoners aimed to make them feel comfortable in each other's presence. So much so, that they would start to talk about classified information, which would then be picked up by the residence's plethora of surveillance equipment and transmitted to the nearest military intelligence department of the MND. Prisoners remained in this facility for an average of one and a half years, before their intel was deemed to be outdated and they were made prime candidates for prisoner exchanges with the GMG.
3. City of Ice
Every New Years Eve a group of talented engineering graduates comes together to build a small city of houses made almost entirely of ice. Visitors may book up to three nights in one of the city's bungalow style residences. Don't be afraid, it does come with basic furnishing such as beds, tables and chairs. The walls, dividers, roof and flooring are made of cristal clear blocks of ice. Given New Berlin's day and night cycle the city will remain for roughly one year, the entirety of a day's nighttime, before melting away once more, making place for nature to return and a New City to be built by next year's graduates. The city's pendant of a crown jewel is the fifty meter tall church, called the Berliner Dom (Berlin's dome). In it hangs an actual small scale replica of the Alexander's Bell which, according to the planet's history, rang every day for 200 consecutive years upon the capital's establishment. It was destroyed when one of its support beams broke, more than two decades before the church's planned renovation. To pay tribute to their predecessor's mistake in planning ahead for possible instability of the structure, graduates in practical engineering come together each year to faithfully rebuild the entire church amidst numerous other historic buildings in the City of Ice.
Thank you for taking part in our Grand tour de Nouveau Berlin, Orbital Spa & Cruise is honored to welcome you aboard one of our many vessels, showing you places in Sirius like you have never seen them before.
Orbital Spa & Cruise Gallia Integration Initiative
voiced by Chloe Bellegarde
Cait smiled as she stood in the quarters of her Royal Suite on the Cannes Resort Station board. She would wear a beautiful red Evening Dress that would complement her figure and give her Curves the Right kind of help to shine. The Chairwoman of OS&C Hated Dresses; they were impractical, and she would more often than not stumble over her Legs while wearing one. The only benefit of this thing was that she didn't have to wear high heels as the Fabric of the Dress would Almost Reach down to the Floor. Cait would usually prefer some Pants or a Nice quality business suit. But she had no choice in this, at least not if she didn't want to risk the Wrath of her Wife. Stephanie Cross Fleischhauer was a Tall woman who would come close to what the Ancient Germans on old Earth would have described as a Valkyrie. She was 2.03 Meters Tall and had Long Blonde hair that would fall halfway down her back, her body was sporty like a soldier, but had natural Grace that Cait would credit to the years of Ballet Training that Steph had done as a Young Girl. While Cait was the Mighty Chairwoman of Orbital Spa and Cruise, there was one thing she feared: the Wrath of Stephanie. Of course, all of this was a Game between the two Lovebirds, and they would play this for a long while now. It was a back and forth of little Pranks and Cheeky acts, a mutual teasing like only true lovers can do. But Cait didn't want to upset her Wife tonight, she knew how much Steph loved it to see Cait in a Dress and how special these moments were. So for this one evening, she would pause the Game and do something that would make Stephanie Happy. She would wear a Dress and dance with her wife to some Romantic Music. Even when this Dress would kill her.
Stephanie was in the Second Room of the Royal Suite. She had chosen to wear a dress like Cait did, but hers was All Black with some Green accents that would give a hint ot her Origins in Rheinland. In comparison to Cait, she would wear some High heels, but only with a Flat Curve. She was already more Tall than her wife by around two heads, and she didn't want to Dwarf her wife, at least not more than she already did. Steph would put on some Light Makeup and then braid her long Blonde hair behind her head with a Green ribbon. Once she was ready for the evening, she would go over to the Second Room where Cait would still fight a Bit with her Dress. But as Steph would see her, she had to hold her breath. Cait was looking absolutely Beautifull.
Steph: Verdamt mein Herz. You look gorgeous, my Love. This dress looks as good on you as I imagined it. I can't believe that you hate to wear them when you look so good in one.
She said and smiled as she helped Cait with the last Steps in getting the dress Ready. Cait was thankful for the pair of Extra hands that would help her in the fight against this Red Monster that Steph had described as a Dress. She was already longing for the moment when she could get out of this thing. For her, was this like torture to be in a dress like this? Still, she would do this for her wife, and she knew how much Steph loved it when she could dance with her wife. And of course, she would not only wear this Dress for her wife, but it was also for the Show, to wear a dress like this that was made from the highest Quality Fabric and by the best Designers that Curacao had to offer.
Cait: You know how much I hate to wear a dress. I only do this for you, so be happy that I love you so much.sighs. Honestly, I don't understand why everyone is obsessed with me wearing Dresses to such occasions. I mean, I am the same woman in a Suit or just some Jeans and a T-shirt.
Steph would laugh and shake her head as she would take the hand of her wife and walk with her towards the Main Ballroom of the Resort. While the Resort itself looked nice and would give the Impression of Luxury and Decadence. But an Experienced eye like that of Cait and Steph could see that in some places the paint was peeling off or minor damage was not repaired. It was nothing that a Normal Guest would notice at first Glance, but it was something that she would order to be repaired as the first thing in the morning. This Resort would become the Crown Jewel of OS&C in Gallia, and Cait would make sure that the Place would become a Symbol of Pride for the Employees of the Station. Cait had read some of the Reviews about the Station that were written by both the guests and the Staff. Often, they would complain about the lack of Enthusiasm that the Employees would show during their work. And the Employees would complain that the work that they had once loved dearly became monotonous and dull. Some of the Employees had described that the Lack of Investment by the Company was one of the main forces that made them lose the Drive for excellence, and that this had, of course, impacted Guest happiness.
But all of this would be Problems for the Coming days. For tonight, she would be the Mighty Chairwoman who would soon give a Grand Speech. Cait knew that Steph would also make a list in her head with every deficiency. Steph would have an Arm wrapped around Cait´s hip and would hold her close and help her a bit not to stumble over her Dress. Soon they would reach the Main Ballroom, it was a place that was a Copy of a Ballroom that once existed in a Country called France on Old Earth. This Room would be kept as the Crown Jewel of the Resort, but it would be, of course, modernized and upgraded, but they would make sure to keep the Charm and Style of the Original room. Cait loved the Gallic Style and the Artistic Talent that they had. Where Sirians had often built Stations and Buildings just with more Function than Form in mind, the Galics had never made any Compromise and had built their stations with a Beauty in mind that Sirian Stations often lacked. Cannes was no exception in that tradition and was a beautiful Station that would combine Form and Function. Now it was almost time for her Speech. Steph would lead her wife onto a little Balcony from where they could overlook the people below who would enjoy the evening with a glass of wine and some snacks. The Lights would go out in the Ballroom once the Chairwoman steps onto the Balcony, and a Spotlight is pointed at her. She would have a Microphone in front of her and smiled friendly at the Crowd.
Cait: Ladies and Gentlemen, I am Caitlyn Cross, the Chairwoman of Orbital Spa and Cruise. I welcome you all to the takeover ceremony for the Cannes Resort Station. As the Leader of Orbital Spa and Cruise, I am Incredibly Proud to celebrate the first Grand Orbital Resort in Galia. Of course, we also have Riviera Resort in Orbit of Planet New Paris, but this Smaller Resort is more for Luxury and VIP Guests. But Canes will be a Resort for all people. We hope that with this station we can make our contribution to the construction of bridges between Galia and the rest of Sirius. Cannes Resort Station will be the Gateway for Sirians to explore the Wonders and Natural Beauty of Galia, and for the Citizens of Galia, it will be a Starting Point to explore Sirius as well. We hope that this can lead to both a Cultural Exchange and a better Understanding of each other. Galia was isolated for a long time, and we at Sirius had no known what we had missed. But now, after a Turbulent and sadly Tragic Start, we can begin again and start over. We at OS&C hope that the Opening of the Galic Market for Foreign Tourists will lead to a Better Understanding of the Great Houses that will hopefully bring a peaceful future for all of Humanity. Please enjoy the Beauty of Cannes during your stay, then after this Weekend, we will close the station for an Extensive Renovation and Refurbishment Project that will let the Station Return to its Old Glory. In this, we will work together with Gallic Architects and Engineers to let Cannes Shine again and to make it into the Lighthouse of Tourism and Beauty that is worthy to represent Gallia to its Guests. But this is a Dream of Tomorrow, today I want to invite you all to celebrate with the Takeover of Cannes with us. Please enjoy yourself and have a Wonderful Stay at Cannes Resort Station.
Once Cait had finished, she would hear Loud applause from the Guests below. Many of them clinked their glasses or applauded. The guests would have a great time, and soon the band would play some Soft and Romantic Music, and the Couples would start to dance with each other. And of course, Cait and Steph would soon join them. The Couple would dance romantically and slowly, and Cait would lay her head on Steph´s chest. The height Difference between them made it Easy for her to relax with her. The two Lovebirds would dance for hours and had fun with each other as the Ballroom would slowly get more and more Empty. In the end, they would be the last Couple that was still on the Dancefloor, and Cait would ask for their Favorite Song to have the Perfect end for a Wonderfull evening.
![[Image: D7ezXS7.png]](https://i.imgur.com/D7ezXS7.png)
![[Image: PojtqNs.png]](https://i.imgur.com/PojtqNs.png)
![[+]](/forums/images/collapse_collapsed.png "[+]")
SCAMS
![[Image: l1lCU4B.png]](https://i.imgur.com/l1lCU4B.png)
