Planet Curacao

DIAMETER: 19,443 km.

MASS: 6.98 x 10e25 kg.

TERRAIN: Terrestrial

TEMPERATURE: -56°C to 53°C

ESCAPE VELOCITY: 13.27 km/sec

Unfettered by colony law, Curacao is run by Orbital Spa and Cruise Lines as a pleasure planet where every whim and decadent urge is fulfilled. The only sound that can be heard over the lapping waves on its fabulous beaches is the tremendous outpouring of credits by its patrons. This is not a planet for the idle vacationer; it was established to cater to the affluent from Manhattan and Los Angeles who, in many cases, have more currency than morals.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* Gateway Shipping
* Universal Shipping
* Bounty Hunters Guild
* Orbital Spa and Cruise

## Commodities

* Luxury Food
* H-Fuel
* Pharmaceuticals
* Consumer Goods
* Luxury Consumer Goods

* Water

## Rumors

* The drinks are really cheap here, not like back home where they're highly taxed. I'm not particularly fond of Liberty ale, though. I think I'll try jet sailing tomorrow; it's supposed to be a great way to see the planet.
* I won a sweepstakes, that's why I'm here -- it's not something I could afford on a navy pilot's salary. I'm originally from Leeds, so oxygen-rich air like they have on Curacao is a definite pleasure. My mood is improving already.
* The Charles Kane and its escorts were ambushed in the Roatan Ice Crystal Cloud several weeks ago, probably by Rogues or Lane Hackers. They commandeered the ship and flew it further into the cloud. Several Bounty Hunters happened upon the hijacked ship, and a fierce firefight ensued. Only one limped back to tell the tale. She said the ship was still out there in the cloud, abandoned and drifting with the field.

* I'm not supposed to tell anyone this, but I've had a few. There are some Jump Holes I know of in this system. One is in the southeastern quadrant in the Paloma Cloud, and it leads to California. The other is in the Corcovado Field. That one goes to Magellan.
* I just came back from a tough battle in the Roatan Cloud. I was ambushing some Lane Hackers when some Outcasts showed up out of nowhere. Barely got out. My wingman didn't. I think I'll need a couple of those Curacao shooters from the bar tonight.
* If you know the shipping paths of the Outcasts, you can snag some Cardamine cargos. They don't give up without a fight, though. Best thing is to find the Jump Hole to California in the Paloma Cloud, then hang out a little to the southwest of it. They'll be along soon enough.
* We do a lot of patrols in this system. There's a Rogue base somewhere out in the Corcovado Field. Good luck getting close to it. It's swarming with Rogues, Hackers, and Outcasts.
* I'm thinking of starting a side business. Take out some of those soft rich folks from the inner House worlds that have never seen true Indie-world danger. Cruise the clouds, look for some trouble, then hightail it out of there before it gets too hot. What do ya think?
* The Charles Kane and its escorts were ambushed in the Roatan Ice Crystal Cloud several weeks ago, probably by Rogues or Lane Hackers. They commandeered the ship and flew it further into the cloud. Several Bounty Hunters happened upon the hijacked ship, and a fierce firefight ensued. Only one limped back to tell the tale. She said the ship was still out there in the cloud, abandoned and drifting with the field.

* The reefs here are stupendous. We took the five-day sail and sea package. They dive for all sorts of strange creatures and prepare absolutely amazing meals every night. The night sky is just incredible here. You can see the Barrier in all of its glory stretching off into space.
* Bowex is holding its company executive retreat here for the fourth consecutive year. It's a little dicey getting here, but great once you've arrived. They should convert one of those crazy Bretonian terraforming projects into a pleasure planet like this.

* I work on the Cambridge Research Station -- a long ways from Liberty and this place. It gets kind of crazy in there after a couple of months of zero-g. Cambridge is nice to visit, but it ain't like good 'ole Liberty, folks. Much better food here.
* This is THE place for Liberty executives like me to take vacations. You can do a lot of networking here if you want, or you can just sit back and enjoy the good life by the pool.

* We send patrols out into the eastern fields to keep the considerable criminal population in check. Fortunately, there is a substantial Bounty Hunter contingent based here to provide some sense of security. Unfortunately, their rather crude behavior and offensive odor has been a problem with our regular guests.
* We bring in Luxury Goods from Manhattan so that our clients can shop in addition to their daily regime of water sports and gambling. The armored transports tend to get attacked quite a bit in the Paloma Cloud.
* This is the original home of Orbital Spa and Cruise, founded in 475 by Tony Cortez. This was the first planet in the Sirius Sector devoted solely to the pursuit of pleasure. There is now a second in Stuttgart, and several cruise ships in the far reaches of civilized space.
* We ship Luxury Food from New London. It's perishable, so we have to be fast. Only the finest Cambridge organic produce for our discriminating customers.
* The unusually high oxygen content of Curacao's atmosphere has a rejuvenating effect on most of our patrons, which primarily include the Liberty wealthy. They can hop a special transport and be here in a matter of days via the Jump Gates and Trade Lanes.
* There is no appreciable landmass on this planet. Outside of the hotel platform there is a vast, shallow sea covering the planet. Various water sports are the preferred activity. We also offer submersible expeditions for more adventurous travelers who want to experience the exotic undersea life.
* Curacao wasn't discovered until 465 because of its obscured position in the heart of the Barrier. The Tantulus, a Liberty survey ship, accidentally stumbled into the system while researching a new Jump Gate route between Liberty and Bretonia.
* Orbital will normally accept any guest that can pay their way, even a Bounty Hunter. On our Hawaiian ship you can spot Hogosha and even the odd Corsair or two. The Lane Hackers have expressed interest in staying here, but we feel their piracy against our ships is too severe to ignore.

* This is the best layover you get on Gateway runs. We normally don't stop here much, but when we do, it's a nonstop party.
* This is the only safe stop in this neck of the woods. Pretty rough on both sides in the clouds. I was stuck here once when the Trade Lane got taken down for a few days. I liked it so much that I try to come back at least once every few years with the missus. The sun's pretty hot though -- I always get burned.

* It gets a little pricey here, especially if you've just lost last month's salary in the casino. Oh well, there are always the cheap buffets of Luxury Foods like lettuce and potatoes, none of that Synth Paste crap. Now I know how the rich people of Sirius live. The seafood is pretty weird though. They can keep that.
* I'm taking a well deserved R&R, compliments of Orbital Spa and Cruise. My patrol saved Orbital's butt last week on the east Trade Lane to the California Gate. A crew of Rogues was about to make off with a Luxury Goods shipment. We saved the day.

* These Independent Worlds are the roughest areas that Universal has to traverse. At least we don't have to deal with the Border Worlds. Just last week we lost a shipment to Hackers in the Roatan Cloud.
* Our main business on the Bretonian-Libertonian Line is Bretonian Gold, New York Luxury Goods, and Trade Lane Parts bound for Bretonia.
* This resort is the first Orbital Spa and Cruise hotel built. They have a second one in the Stuttgart system, but I prefer to be closer to home in case something goes wrong. The hotel is getting a little old, though. I think they should level it and create an artificial island here.
* The only time it gets scary here is when there's a big storm. We were caught in one five years ago -- we thought the platform wouldn't make it. But it's still standing, so I guess I shouldn't worry too much.
* I heard that some visiting dignitaries were kidnapped en route by Rogues in the Paloma Cloud. That's unsettling.