Difference between revisions of "Sanctuary"

Latest revision as of 17:49, 7 February 2012

The largest and most famous spacecraft ever constructed, the SVS Sanctuary, or Sanc, was built by Oswald Cottington as a lifeship against the Kretonian invasion of Normalspace Prime in 2651. She mysteriously rifted - intact, but without her 50,000 passengers - into Hiverspace near the end of 2653, where she was claimed by Dusk Corporation.

History

Sanctuary had an illustrious service as lifeboat, center of government, and focus of many historical events. She spent three months in Hiverspace, providing first contact with Comorro Station and severely impacting native cultures. Upon return, she was briefly renamed Concordance Station, only to be re-christened Sanctuary during the Moebius Effect crisis and for her last voyage to the Kamir planet of Nocturn. There she was to serve as a stepping stone to the universes beyond the Multiverse Nexus. Sanctuary was subsequently captured, occupied, and destroyed in the first quarter of 3003 by the Nall Clawed Fist Fleet.

General info

Mission statement

When I was a little girl, the Il'Ri'Kamm Hive Mind were waging war against every species known to the Expanse. By manipulating Otherspace technology, they dragged Outversers into it, rifting us between dimensions and purposing us as drones in their campaign against God.

I don't need to repeat the story of the Harrower to Inversers. But for those Outversers unfamiliar with the tale, the people of the Orion Arm stood firm with the people of Hiverspace, destroying the Hive Core and ending the greatest war to befall the known universe.

We are united by that moment. Inverser hate groups and Outverser isolationists may never admit it, may even selectively ignore their own history, but the divisions that they have erected between our two peoples are fictional. We are united by that moment.

Oswald Cottington envisioned Sanctuary as a safe haven from the senselessness of war. As its new captain, I am not going to tarnish his legacy by perpetuating the great falsehood that it belongs to any one group or nation or race at all. Rather, it belongs to all of us, as a reminder of that singular moment when countless nations came together and defeated a supreme evil.

Today, there are no invading Kretonians. There are no Hivers selfishly spilling blood. There is only Inverser and Outverser, standing on opposite ends of the unknown, unsure if the other will build enmity or bridges between them. I say: allow me to lay that first plank.

- Cpt. Jacen Reilly
2653.01.16

Construction

Built from limited materials and on an extremely constrained construction schedule, Sanctuary is an engineering triumph. Heavily armed and shielded, she boasts a massive landing and cargo handling facility, huge park-like bays housing fully-contained forest and agricultural preserves, habitation domes providing proper environments for the varied races of the Expanse, and the largest operational OS Drive. Her exact specs have not been made publicly available.

Operation

Sanctuary is currently manned by one hundred and fifty permanent crew, with accessory positions divided between short- and long-term contractors.

• Captain/Chief Engineer: Jay Reilly
• First Officer/Chief Navigator: Thomas Rathenhope
• Operations Liaison: Gwen Risoli
• Security & Defense (SanSec): Red Eclipse Mercenaries (rep: Vadim Tostanavich)
• Auxilliary: Observational Limbics (rep: Leucohyle Hall)

Local homes are privately-owned by residents and local businesses may be rented out by those who have established legal residency. Government representatives throughout the Expanse are invited to maintain an embassy in the Diplomatic Quarter, but do not have a direct say in the operation of the vessel - the captain's word is final.

Areas and amenities

Top to bottom, Sanctuary consists of seven decks, each of which is devoted to a specific purpose ranging from command to defense to diplomatic relations. A map of the station is conveniently posted just outside the hoverlifts. Areas of note include:

Observation Dome

The only publicly-accessible room in the Command Quarter is incidentally the most interesting. From within the enormous confines of the Observation Dome, one can witness the spectacle of the starscape from within the comfort of artificial atmosphere.

Fitness Center

More than your typical gym environment - in addition to the usual weights, cardio machines, and group exercises, Sanctuary's fitness center also boasts a state-of-the-art virtual reality center capable of running millions of training and combat simulations.

Engineering/Science Quarter

Central to Sanctuary's mission is the betterment of the galactic community, and one of the greatest tools she has put toward that purpose is her laboratory and stellar cartography facilities. Sanc's scientific efforts maintain a focus on starship navigation and drive technology, multiverse rift theory, and the study of rifted and Kamir artifacts, and strives to be a leader in these fields.

Biochemical and medical R&D is very light and generally only large enough as necessary to support the onboard hospital or local agriculture - anything more sophisticated is usually outsourced to outside firms such as the one headed by Dr. Alastair Hall on Comorro.

Resource allocation toward military and weapons development is practically non-existent and does not fall within the scope of Sanctuary's scientific endeavors.

Construction Hangar

Sanctuary maintains the fourth-largest shipyard in the Expanse, following Mare Tranquilis, Hekayt Prime, and Pyracan. Development is geared toward the salvage, restoration, and sometimes reimagining of junked or derelict vessels, with priority given to unrecognized or rifted starcraft.

Residential and Commercial Quarters

Deck Seven, sometimes called the Habitation Deck, is the melting pot where Sanc's residents live and work. The residential concourse is divided into four domes whose climates and environments vary, not only allowing residents to experience the changing of seasons in deep space, but providing comfortable living conditions for a wide variety of races. A moving walkway connects the domes to the Commercial Quarter, the bustling business district whose venues are maintained either by locals or the Sanctuary Bureau of Commerce.

The Quarter Beneath

Every community has an underbelly, and Sanctuary is no exception. Rougher, poorer, and harder to control than the other areas of the ship, the Quarter Beneath is often viewed as the home of Sanc's criminal element.

Laws

• A single sidearm or melee weapon is permitted and it may not be concealed. Psiblockers are forbidden.
  • OOC Note: Attempts to sneak something past customs will require a smuggling roll made before an officer, SanSec, or staffer. The first failure to perform the smuggling check will result in a warning and a request to retcon any poses containing the forbidden weapon; the second will result in your character's incarceration; anything above that will be regarded as an OOC unwillingness to play fair and will lead to ejection from the ongoing scene.
• Use of psionics is tolerated so long as it is respectful of others and of property.
• A zero-tolerance policy is in place regarding religious provocation. Expressing a difference in beliefs is acceptable; aggressive or militant evangelicalism is strictly forbidden. The threat of religious warfare is taken very seriously by Sanctuary command.
• The Command Center is off-limits without the specific permission of the captain or first officer.
  • OOC Note: As with smuggling, rolls will be required and will vary depending on how exactly your character is trying to get inside. The same penalties are in place.

Trade

The SVS Sanctuary has positioned herself to be a hub of intergalactic commerce. As she is no longer supported by an alliance of political superpowers, she relies heavily on tourism and trade to maintain smooth operation and financial stability.

Sanc's chief exports are starship technology, tea and coffee, animal meat and hides, and livestock.

Sanc's chief imports are military and medical equipment, robotics, and natural resources such as ore and lumber.

OOC considerations

Roleplay opportunities

Sanc is not currently hiring officers. We do, however, offer a number of ways to get involved if you're interested in more than just hanging out.

• Special trade, salvage, and Dominion-related events for starship crews. Characters who own a starship and have a PC crew of two or higher may contact Reilly to organize a one-night event. Want to make a little money running freight? Hauling in a derelict? Exploring strange deep-space anomalies? Shoot an @mail! You'll not only get some credits, but improve your crew's standing with Sanc and have a little fun in the process - but beware, danger may be lurking.
• Claiming a house. Those players Green Belt or higher who are eligible to +str for a character home may do so in any of the four residential domes or the Quarter Beneath. Just be sure to give us a heads up!
• Owning a business. Want to own a clothing store? A supermarket? A restaurant? Let us know! Interested parties may claim an available store (look for a big FOR RENT sign inside) if they are Yellow Belt or higher and have been around for at least three months, or establish their own if they are Red Belt or higher and have been around for at least six months. Residency aboard Sanc and a demonstrated willingness to generate RP is required - but don't worry, you're still free to run around and play in other worlds and events whenever you like. Give us a shout!
• Redshirt crew. Lower-level engineers, pilots, scientists, janitors, and whatever are encouraged to drop us a line. The three months/Yellow Belt rule is in effect here, too - just so you have time to hang out and make sure this is really where you want to be. Some exceptions may be made!
• Running your own event. Always welcome, always encouraged, we don't care who you are. Drop us a line, please, and accept our eternal and undying love.

Contact info

Most day to day stuff is handled by Reilly. If you've contacted her and she's not getting back to you, go ahead and try Grey, Narai, or Rathenhope.