Re: Destination: Cassandra Belt
In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 58):
Vonon shrugs into his black jacket, "It's a waypoint for the Imperial Navy on their way to Outpost." Vonon responded.
"The place used to be run by Drakaar Minerals, but they ran the place like a slave camp--mistreated the workers, provided substandard everything. The miners eventually revolted and gained independence. The Imperium thought that was a pretty good idea, so when Drakaar Minerals came back with more force to take the place with, a couple of Imperial Frontier Fleet Cruisers happened to be here, refueling."
"The Imperials wanted to know what Drakaar was doing here with all that firepower, Drakaar said that this was their system and they were here to take it back from criminal elements. The Council of Ten denied any criminal activity, then declared our independence."
"The Drakaar Force Commander refused to acknowledge the declaration and demanded the immediate surrender of Rockport. The Imperial Commander said that that wasn't going to happen. Drakaar then said the Imperials were out of their jurisdiction, and the Imperial Commander invited the Drakaar Commander to bring his ships just a little closer and they could test that theory together."
Vonon smiles, "You have to love those Imperial Frontier Fleet Captains. So, since then we've been an Independent System, but that's mostly just pride and Treaty shenanigans. We realize our need for a close relationship with the Imperium, and when all the dickering is over and Outpost gets declared an Imperial Colony, Cassandra will probably follow suit."
"But until then we provide a waystation into the central Deep for the Imperial Navy--an excellent starport facility and supply base--and the Imperium keeps us supplied with advanced technology and materials. It's a nice, symbiotic relationship. And unless the Principality of Caledon ever officially joins the Imperium, we'll always be needed, here."
"So what I'm saying is--Rockport is up to Imperial standards! If you're used to having it back home, we likely have it here. So name your pleasure! Shows or sims, we got 'em--though probably a year behind what you're used to. Or booze--our bars line up with anything in the Imperium. Libraries or Auto-Instructors--heck, we're a community of independent, usually family-oriented mining operations, we're up to our necks with home-based Auto-Instructors."
"And, ur, I hope I don't need to remind you that, while outwardly looking rather tame--" Vonon places his hand on his chest in humility, "--thanks in no small part to an efficient law enforcement service--we are still a bunch of rockhoppers, here. We have, ur, fully legal and *ahem* medically certified Companion Services, should you feel the need."
"The only thing I can't recommend is pharmaceutical abuse. Oh, we have some of the more tame recreational stuff, sure, but the hard shit is extremely illegal. Like zero tolerance. We come down hard on that, here. As in, blow the airlock out to vacuum and then produce the warrant, intolerant."