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Deck 2, Passengers and Officers Accomadation.
Lord Blazey occassionaly transports dignitaries and persons of high calibre, the Grand Cabin (1) is maintained for them. (1a) is the Bedroom, containing a large double bed and expensive fittings. (1b) is the Parlour, outfitted in the latest fashion imported from Britain and 91c) is a tasteful Dressing Room which also contains toilet facilities. The Main Cabins (2) are also expensively appointed although not to the extravagant length that the Grand Cabin is fitted. Each cabin contains double bunk, desk and chesterfield easy chairs. A cabinet features a fold-down basin in the style of Cunard Liners. A larger Family Cabin is (3) is for families or people of lesser stature who do not warrant an individual cabin. Restroom facilities are provided for Main and family Cabin Passengers, (4a) is reserved for ladies and (4b) for the gentlemen. Meals are prepared in the Passengers Galley (5) and served in the Dining Room (6) that doubles as a Smoking Room in the evenings after the stewards rearrange the fittings. The Salon (7) features a piano and several comfortable chairs and lounges as well as the companionway to the Gallery onthe deck above an the entrance to the Hold below where the stewards will store the passengers larger luggage. Beneath the companionway stairs is the entrance to the Servants Sleeping Quarters (8) which is also the Stewards Quarters, an ingenious bell system right beside the servants sleeping head alerts them to their masters needs. Six servants may be quartered here in three tiny bunk rooms closed by curtains on the other hand the stewards bunks are right against the outerr hull and are the only bunks with scuttles. Servants are fed in the Galley with the stewards (so they probably eat better than anyone knows). One of the interesting facets of the hull was that it was originally designed to be a screw-galley, as the machinery required is at a premium on metal-poor Mars many hulls were outfitted as kites. This is why the Crank Bilge (9) runs beneath the gallery where it would originally have held the galley crank, it's existance is known to only a few and it is kept locked at all times with the Quartermaster holding the keys and the hatch is covered in the passenger accommodation with a false pannel. The Quartermaster uses it for stowage of things that he wishes to keep private, it is possible to traverse the 4' high dry bilge from one end to the other. On this level but only accessable from the sponsom gun deck hatches is the Outboard Magazines (10), these are lit by a small hatch for lanterns sealed from the magazine proper from the gun deck. As powder is often spilled onto the lantern-hatch and the only access to the sponson guns is down a ramp in full view of the enemy these gun possitions are not popular with the gun crews. The Quartermasters Store (11) is where metal items such as grapnels etc. and expensive perishables are kept, the crews rum ration is also stored here. The Surgeons Cabin (12) and Sickbay (13) are on this deck and although the Beagle does not at this time carry a surgeon the facilities are fully stocked, if a surgeons mate was to be carried he would sleep in the sickbay and mess with the stewards. The Wardroom (14) is where the officers mess, it is as tradition bound as a mess from two different cultures could become. Rather than form a wardroom etiquette of their own the officers of the Beagle simply added both traditions together, it is amazinly easy to be fined drinks whilst dining here. The various officers cabins are First Officers Cabin (15), Sailing Masters Cabin (16), Marine Commanders Cabin (17) and Marine Leftenants Cabin (18). All these officers share The Office (19) for carrying out their official duties. There is a small Galley (20) on this deck as well but the key to the liquor store in the galley may only be retrieved from the First Officer or Captain. The Captains Cabin (21) is a surprisingly small room (although as large as the other officers cabins) and flanks the Great Cabin while on the other side is Lord Blazey's Office (22). When the Beagle was converted to a kite a huge two-storey section was left void which would originally have housed the stone flywheel, this area comprises the Great Cabin (23). A magnificent room appointed with as many costly things as Lord Blazey wishes to surround him with. The room is lit cathedral-like by two skylights over head and the stern gallery windows aft. Note that there is no quater gallery but the windows here can be opened in a similar fashion to french doors. |
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Deck 3, Cargo and Trimsman's Station. While every other deck has scuttles evry ten feet or so, the cargo deck is dark and unlit. The Forward Hold (1) is normally were passengers luggage is stowed but it has recently been converted into a Laboratory for the convenience of the passengers, several of whom are noted Scientists and Inventors. It is accessed by the Spral Stair (2) which descends from the little room off the Salon above. The Mid Cargo Hold (3) is accessable by two large cargo doors on the aft face of the forehull (not shown) and is where cargo that is unlikely to be accessed during a voyage is generally stowed, at present it is empty of cargo and the passengers luggage is stowed here instead. The Aft Cargo Hold (4) is accessed by two more large cargo doors on it's forward face and by a rampdescending from beneath the stairs on the deck above. Two small ladders from the end of each companionway on the deck over also run down the inside of the forward hull, outboard of the cargo doors. Forward of the mast step is the Trimsmam's Station in the well below the deck, accessed by the Tunnel (5) through the mast step. Scuttles on all sides afford a an all around view and allow accurate attitude corrections. At the rear of the hold temporary stables and kennels have been erected and the whole area smells somewhat as a result of this, a point the Trimsman makes often. |
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