**Welcome to Cruise City, The Oasis of Ingenuity!**
From the horizon emerges Cruise City, the emblem of human tenacity and innovation. Born from the steel and dreams of moored cruise ships, this thriving metropolis stands as a testament to our ability to navigate the choppy waters of change and steer toward brighter shores.
With a skyline sculpted from colossal ocean liners, Cruise City is a fusion of diverse cultures, experiences, and expertise. Once vessels of leisure and luxury, these ships now serve as our homes, offices, hospitals, and sanctuaries. Their decks bustle with activity: artisans craft, traders barter, chefs concoct, and engineers innovate.
A city of unity in diversity, every corner hums with a chorus of languages, flavors, and melodies. While every ship has its own story, together they weave a tapestry of collective resilience. From the sunny promenades to the vibrant bazaars, Cruise City offers a world of opportunity for all its denizens.
For the inquisitive, our educational hubs offer a wealth of knowledge, training minds to think, adapt, and pioneer. For the adventurers, our docks beckon with expeditions both under the waves and across the Dust-laden lands. And for those seeking solace, our serene parks, art galleries, and tranquil spas offer respite for the soul.
In Cruise City, ambition has no anchor. With a community spirit forged from adversity and a shared vision of the future, we stand united. Whether you’re here to work, play, heal, or dream, there’s a place for you in our vibrant mosaic.
So, come aboard, intrepid traveler! In Cruise City, the voyage never ends; it only transforms. Welcome to a city that sails on hope and thrives on unity!
**Cruise City - Hilo Bay**
In the aftermath of "The Dusting," the world as people knew it had irrevocably changed. The paradisiacal Hilo Bay, once a hotspot for tourists seeking a slice of Hawaiian heaven, had now transformed into the bustling hub of survival and community known as "Cruise City."
**Structure and Layout**:
Multiple mammoth cruise ships, previously filled with tourists, now stood anchored near the shores of Hilo Bay. The bay's natural protection and deep waters made it a perfect anchor point for these vessels. Over time, the ships had been connected by intricate networks of planks, bridges, and pontoons, forming a cohesive, sprawling structure that covered large portions of the bay.
**Functionality**:
1. **Living Quarters**: Many of the cabins on the ships continued to serve their original purpose, providing shelter and privacy for families and individuals. The luxury suites became command centers or meeting points for the leaders.
2. **Medical Facilities**: Some ships, especially those with existing spa or wellness facilities, were quickly converted into hospitals and quarantine zones, leveraging the medical professionals on board.
3. **Agriculture**: Open decks and pool areas were repurposed as makeshift gardens. The Gardeners of Desolation played a role here, cultivating biodiverse gardens and ensuring that the city had a steady supply of fresh produce.
4. **Trade and Marketplaces**: Promenades and entertainment decks were transformed into bustling marketplaces where goods salvaged from the deep by DredgeCorp or grown by the Gardeners were traded. The Sisters of Chorus often visited these markets in search of relics and knowledge.
5. **Entertainment & Knowledge**: Theaters and seminar rooms were used by the Sisters of Chorus to share legacies, litanies, and history, ensuring that the knowledge of the old world wasn't lost.
**Security and Defense**:
The ships' inherent structure, with their tall sides and limited access points, offered natural defense against threats. Photonic munitions, as discussed earlier, were strategically placed at entry and exit points, with innocuous-looking decorative objects acting as covert explosive devices. The ship's former security personnel, combined with volunteers, formed a defense force, patrolling the perimeters and ensuring the safety of Cruise City's inhabitants.
**Societal Structure**:
The remnants of the ships' crew and the officers became the de facto leaders, primarily due to their knowledge of the ships' infrastructure. However, representatives from the Gardeners, DredgeCorp, and Sisters were included in decision-making councils, ensuring a balanced approach to governance.
**Culture & Day-to-Day Life**:
While survival was the primary concern, the inhabitants of Cruise City were determined to hold onto the remnants of their past. Hawaiian culture was deeply interwoven with the new city's daily life. Traditional dances, songs, and ceremonies became a vital part of community gatherings, often led by the Sisters of Chorus, ensuring that the past was remembered and celebrated.
In this new world, Cruise City stood as a beacon of hope, resilience, and unity, showcasing humanity's ability to adapt and thrive even in the face of unimaginable challenges.
While DredgeCorp's contributions to Cruise City are undeniable, a conglomerate with such influence and control over a vital resource like the ocean is bound to attract rumors. Some whisper about secret underwater bases, while others believe that they have discovered more about the cause of The Dusting than they let on. There are also hushed conversations about exclusive deals with the Gardeners of Desolation or the Sisters of Chorus, suggesting that DredgeCorp might be involved in more covert operations. But for now, these remain mere speculations, often dismissed by the general populace who rely heavily on DC's contributions for their survival.