Extra - Piracy Aboard Steam Sky City!

[This is a rush account of the accounts described below. Though the author has made every effort to portray events accurately and thoroughly, this Journal makes no assurances.]

Yesterday afternoon, at approximately 2 p.m. SLT, word came to This Correspondent that Steam Sky City was under attack! Several fires were burning, and the perpetrators of the foul deed were unknown - yet were possibly lying in wait to assault any would-be salvage attempt.


Lady Caer Firnas (Mrs. Volare) sent out a garbled but troubling distress call, reporting fires aboard the Sky City. I believe her exact words were, "Has anyone noticed that Steam Sky City appears to be on fire?" Such calm in the face of adversity!


I was in the area and already aboard my airship, so I changed course and flew to the affected area. Several large fires were immediately visible, as was the large charred section of the landing deck (see three figures below). I was unequipped with fire-fighting apparatus, so I attempted to stay out of the way of those coming to the rescue.


Captain Rachire Andel of the Crimson Pirates flew in and executed a daring landing on the blazing deck. (His craft is below mine and about to land in the photograph two below.) He immediately took steps to douse the blaze.


He was joined shortly by a committed group of Caledonians intent on stopping the remaining fires. This was largely accomplished, though one or two small conflagrations could still be seen.


By then, the RCAF, in the form of Captain Dan Gervasi, had arrived. Captain Gervasi attempted to secure the scene. With so many aircraft in the area, however, and, being good Caledonians, all armed to the teeth, the inevitable happened: several friendly fire incidents. However, though good fortune, no one was hurt and no aircraft seriously damaged. Everything was sorted out through a comedy of errors series of communications through the ISC channel. Captain Gervasi declared that the airspace was secure, and ordered other pilots to remove themselves from the scene.




I landed and began a brief reconnaissance of the city. It was clear that the villains were not content with setting fires; they had also vandalized parts of the structure. Below, Mrs. Volare surveys the damage in the Volare Warehouse.


The Green Fairy Tavern was also severely damaged. Mrs. Volare's beloved Abney Park daguerrotypes were thrown to the floor, a large fire still burned,...

...and her entire absinthe supply was tossed carelessly about. This is an unspeakable crime!


The deed was committed on the eve of the celebrations for Guvnah Shang's fifth Rezday. Coincidence? This reporter thinks not.

At the risk of editorializing, we can only hope that the perpetrators of this foul deed are brought to justice forthwith, and dealt with as severely as the law permits!

Closings, Openings, and Hanging On

Changes. I seem to keep harping on them, but perhaps this Journal is nothing but a chronicle of the changes I see.

First up is the sad news: Mr. Mako Magellan reports that he is closing Magellan Straits. Magellan Kinvera, the adjoining sim, will remain, and house Mr. Magellan's line of clothing, as will with clothing stores locations in Victoria City and Kittiwickshire.

This likely means the demise of the famed Crystal Palace - an architectural marvel in both our realm as well as that Other Life. As spectacular is the Palace, one cannot help but feel that it never was an efficient use of space. Still, I'll miss this silent gent:

He was always sharply dressed, but I could never start a conversation with him. And what other sim has kangaroos?


Moving back to Caledon Penzance, Royal Caledon Air Force leader Zoe Connolly reported that a sale of the Connolly-Messmer Aerodrome was imminent. Fortunately, only hours later, she posted an update that the financial pressures were reduced for the next few months.





I'll keep my fingers crossed for a more permanent solution to maintain Caledon's air defences.

Finally, we have the discovery of an older piece of Caledon's history. I traveled to the Highlands, disembarking from the train near the Museum of Steam recently noted in this Journal.

From there, I descended into the earth to find this Mysterious Cavern:


According to Mr. Ambiant Kukulcan: "During the recent construction of the Harbour Shoppes in the southern portion of Caledon Highlands an unusual cavern was unearthed containing the well preserved remains of an early 19th century electrical laboratory."

So there you have it: comings and goings. Changes.

Attack on Penzance Aerodrome

Captain Zoe Connolly of the Royal Caledon Air Force reported an attack on the Connolly-Messmer Aerodrome in Penzance. I flew to the scene as soon as I could upon hearing of the dastardly deed.


When I arrived, the airfield and its principal building were still ablaze. There was no sign of Captain Connolly. Two other aircraft were in the area, with markings I did not recognize, so I made lazy circles over the airfield while taking several photographs of the destruction. Were these other craft friend or foe?

A little later, they made radio contact. The pilots of the craft were Captains Wrath Constantine, Lord Middlesea, and Rachire Andel. I took my finger off the button that engages the Vickers machine guns on the Steamray and took a deep breath of relief.

As Captains Constantine and Andel appeared to have the situation at the aerodrome under control - or as much under control as a raging fire could be said to be - I dipped my wings in their direction and flew off, keeping an eye out for any member of the RCAF.