Orion System, seat of house Van Halewyck

[Alexandrine]

Orion

Off all the systems in the empire, Orion is closest to the home base of humanity, the system of Terra. Since Terra is also the capital of the empire and seat of the emperor, Orion has always been close in relation to the home planet. They bow and pay homage to whoever controls the empire at the time and rarely take part in the wars of the empire. Its primary industry is manufacturing luxury items for the Capitol and as a result, has a generally favourable relationship with the Capitol and other mighty systems. This also makes Orion one of the wealthiest bases in the empire. Other planets may call them the lapdog of the emperor, but it served them right. The name Orion is well regarded in the empire. "Orion made" is a synonym for quality and class. Their market output are generally fashionable, high class and luxury products.
In the beginning of the Empire, due its short journey and cold climate was a cheap destination for those who wanted to leave Terra. The criminality that attracted these circumstances lead to the enforcement of penalty laws. The criminality ended quickly when the artists moved into the planet due the cheap rents, long summer nights and 'serene' Arctic landscape. The penalty laws however stayed in place. It did not take long before Orion became a fashionable destination for all kind of artistic and skilled adventurers. In time Orion attracted a large population, whose inhabitants industrialized the planet. Nowadays Orion claims to be the centre of fashion, design and the arts within the empire. Making it a wealthy planet at the very heart of the empire.

The planet in short:

• Arctic climate: +2 to defence rolls. -5% manpower, -5% manpower regen.
• Large population: +5% manpower, +5% manpower regen, +5% system income.
• Opulent economy: +10% trade income, -10% system income
• Gas Giant: +15% to system income.
• Luxury Goods: +2 prestige per year, +1 wealth/prosperity on system generation.
• Magnate: +1 administrator. +10% ship sale commission, +10% system income. Allows penal labor characteristic.
• Small Penal Colony: +5% system income, +5% trade income.
• Industrialization: +10% to system and building income.

House van Halewyck



Polyxena van Halewyck is ruler of the Orion system. She is not the most typical of rulers. Often she is stubborn, unpredictable and shown to be cunning. She is able to be a charming woman, but often she is impatient and sometimes even cruel. Instead of taking up studies of Economics, History or Law, according to her responsibilities of a noble ruler, she went to Orion's leading fashion school. When asked why she had made the choice, she responded that her planets main product would be her own too. But it is likely she rather chose it because she had little taste for studies. She is guided by a council of her own and usually follows their advice, but has proven to be a steadfast ruler in the past too. She is mostly bored and because of her disinterest of it, confused about politics.
Her royal court is notorious for its endless stream of parties, gossip and intrigue.

[Pericles of Athens]

A Yamaguchi ship drops out of Jump Space just outside Orion's planetary defense radius, the ship transmits a message requesting permission to land.

[The Mad Skylord]

Kathleen Cogaíoch arrives on Orion to speak to Lady Halewyck.

[Alexandrine]

A Yamaguchi ship drops out of Jump Space just outside Orion's planetary defense radius, the ship transmits a message requesting permission to land.

The ship gets permission to land on a platform nearby the Royal court.

Kathleen Cogaíoch arrives on Orion to speak to Lady Halewyck.

She is lead to the Royal Court of Orion; the centre of this planet. Inside the building Kathleen is taken towards the ballroom. The loud music proceeded the building by far. Inside, the room was packed with young adults, dancing on the music, nearly all seemed to be heavily under influence. The people are all very fashionable dressed and wore masks. Clearly this was some kind of masked ball were the great and the good of the realm had gathered. They neared a young woman in a elaborate pink dress The guard who had leaded Kathleen coughed a few times loudly, while the young woman was actually busy making various selfies with some of her friends. So she made them wait. When the guard was noticed he bended over to speak into the ear of the woman. Since he obviously wasn't able to converse on a normal tone because of the loud dance music. She looked up towards Kathleen, took off her mask and looked to the guest. The guard properly introduced lady Cogaíoch to the Baroness Polyxena. "Good name of Orion, have you come all the way from Terra Nova?" was the first thing the baroness blurted out. "Where exactly is Terra Nova." she wondered out loud. "Here, take some drinks. Take a line. Whatever you like. You are my guest." she seemed quite pleased. "We must get you a mask, if you like."

[The Mad Skylord]

The ship gets permission to land on a platform nearby the Royal court.



She is lead to the Royal Court of Orion; the centre of this planet. Inside the building Kathleen is taken towards the ballroom. The loud music proceeded the building by far. Inside, the room was packed with young adults, dancing on the music, nearly all seemed to be heavily under influence. The people are all very fashionable dressed and wore masks. Clearly this was some kind of masked ball were the great and the good of the realm had gathered. They neared a young woman in a elaborate pink dress The guard who had leaded Kathleen coughed a few times loudly, while the young woman was actually busy making various selfies with some of her friends. So she made them wait. When the guard was noticed he bended over to speak into the ear of the woman. Since he obviously wasn't able to converse on a normal tone because of the loud dance music. She looked up towards Kathleen, took off her mask and looked to the guest. The guard properly introduced lady Cogaíoch to the Baroness Polyxena. "Good name of Orion, have you come all the way from Terra Nova?" was the first thing the baroness blurted out. "Where exactly is Terra Nova." she wondered out loud. "Here, take some drinks. Take a line. Whatever you like. You are my guest." she seemed quite pleased. "We must get you a mask, if you like."

Kathleen smiled, this woman was quite interesting. She sipped some wine.

" Oh, Terra Nova is in the south, on the border beside Delpha. I apologise, Baroness, but in the south we are on the brink of war. I wouldn't mind a mask, but I need to ask a favour on behalf of my grandfather first. Will you vote for him as Lord Admiral in the Landsraad? I would also like to attend this party, grandfather wants me no where near the front line, or Terra Nova."

[Alexandrine]

Kathleen smiled, this woman was quite interesting. She sipped some wine.

" Oh, Terra Nova is in the south, on the border beside Delpha. I apologise, Baroness, but in the south we are on the brink of war. I wouldn't mind a mask, but I need to ask a favour on behalf of my grandfather first. Will you vote for him as Lord Admiral in the Landsraad? I would also like to attend this party, grandfather wants me no where near the front line, or Terra Nova."

"Who is your grandfather again?" what was it with all these grandchildren coming to her, whining about the wishes of their grandfathers. Did she look like a daycare nurse? Although this one looked quite around her own age. But a bit too serious to her taste. "Shots first, me thinks. War is such a inconvenience." booze was brought closer.

[The Mad Skylord]

"Who is your grandfather again?" what was it with all these grandchildren coming to her, whining about the wishes of their grandfathers. Did she look like a daycare nurse? Although this one looked quite around her own age. But a bit too serious to her taste. "Shots first, me thinks. War is such a inconvenience." booze was brought closer.

Kathleen smiles, shots were her thing. She starts drinking whiskey shots, enjoying herself thoroughly.

"The Duke of Terra Nova. He would of course be willing to give an incentive for your vote."

She holds up a small purse of 5'000 Crowns, before making a "cheers" sign with her glass.

[Alexandrine]

Polyxena laughed and cheered with her, taking a pink shot. "Who says I won't volunteer myself?" She asked and raised an eyebrow.

[The Mad Skylord]

Polyxena laughed and cheered with her, taking a pink shot. "Who says I won't volunteer myself?" She asked and raised an eyebrow.

Cocking her head, and with a sly smile, Kathleen says:

"You, just now. I believe you just called war an inconvenience? A more suitable position for you would be Lord Treasurer, where funds could, eh, disappear, and Orion parties could become even more legendary."

[Pericles of Athens]

A young, sharp, foreign yet handsome looking man exists the ship beside his entourage. He wears a military uniform of some kind, though somewhat recognizable to an imperial officer it is very clearly heavily influenced by Kzinic tradition. From the materials, to the color scheme, to the basic design and to keep with tradition he carries two traditional swords at his right side. He has a stiff regal nature about him and a certain elegance about the way he carries himself. He removes his hat and bows, introducing himself as Tomamo-no-Mai of the Yamaguchi and requests an audience with the head of house Halewyk.

[Alexandrine]

Cocking her head, and with a sly smile, Kathleen says:

"You, just now. I believe you just called war an inconvenience? A more suitable position for you would be Lord Treasurer, where funds could, eh, disappear, and Orion parties could become even more legendary."

Her face turned dark and a the distance was obviously growing, on a harsh tone she replied: "Do you suggest I would steal from the Empress and the Empire? Commit treason like a common thief?"

"Be gone with you before I'll have you executed." Polyxena snapped at the young woman and later turned around to put up her mask again. Bystanders looked not too nicely towards Kathleen. Her grandfather would be the last person in the universe who would get her vote.

A young, sharp, foreign yet handsome looking man exists the ship beside his entourage. He wears a military uniform of some kind, though somewhat recognizable to an imperial officer it is very clearly heavily influenced by Kzinic tradition. From the materials, to the color scheme, to the basic design and to keep with tradition he carries two traditional swords at his right side. He has a stiff regal nature about him and a certain elegance about the way he carries himself. He removes his hat and bows, introducing himself as Tomamo-no-Mai of the Yamaguchi and requests an audience with the head of house Halewyk.

He is shown to a room where she laid down upon a divan, surrounded by courtiers. Before them, models show the latest fashion from the couture houses of Orion. "Goodday Tomamo-no-Mai of the Yamaguchi" she said nicely and ate some fruits. "Do you enjoy fashion?"

[The Mad Skylord]

Kathleen Cogaíoch merely laughed, she was the most arrogant of the family after all.

"As if you could execute me, Baroness. Do you want to see Orion burn? Because you and I both know that is a threat that you can't keep. But this is a threat I can keep. If you ever harm or threaten House Cogaíoch again, this world will burn. Simply because we are strong and you are weak."

Kathleen Cogaíoch turned to leave, having meant every word. But still, Darr Cogaíoch would be furious with her outburst.