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Imperial Air Launches New Passenger Liner 
Maiden Voyage of New Zeppelin Is The Toast Of Manhattan Imperial Air—the premier passenger line based in the Empire State—unveiled the newest airship in its fleet of luxury zeppelins at a gala christening ceremony last evening. The ceremony, held atop the Empire State Building, was attended by many of Manhattan's social luminaries. Also attending were noted aviation security pioneer, Paladin Blake; Broadway Bomber, Major Loyle "Show-stopper" Crawford; notorious privateer, The Black Swan; and Jackson Meade, CEO of air security newcomer Sacred Trust, Inc. The new Imperial-class airship, Son of the Empire, measures 1,840 feet in length, with a gas capacity of nearly 24,000,000 cubic feet. The Imperial-class zeppelins are noted for their sleek design, lavish passenger accommodations (the Son of the Empire carries 240 guests, most in deluxe suites), and surprising grace and speed.
Imperial Air caters to the wealthy, which makes the Son of the Empire a target for piracy. To combat the rising tide of aerial crime, Imperial Air provides a Blake Aviation Security escort on any North American runs. Interestingly, many speculate that Jackson Meade's presence indicates that Imperial Air is considering switching security firms, a contention that Blake himself hotly denies. "Hogwash. Plain and simple hogwash. We offer a level of protection and service that no other firm, here or abroad, can provide...and Imperial Air knows that. That's why they are one of our oldest clients." Ironically, the launch of the Son of the Empire was delayed by several weeks. Though neither Imperial Air nor Blake Aviation Security will comment, sources within the Empire State government have revealed that the Son of the Empire was the victim of sabotage during construction. Police sources believe that saboteurs—from the I.S.A. or Hollywood—damaged several of the Son of the Empire's gas cells, causing them to blow out catastrophically. The damage took an estimated three weeks to repair, injuring several workers, and escalating tensions between the Empire State, the I.S.A. and the Nation of Hollywood. Despite the evening's rocky start—tension was evident between Blake and Meade—the airship's maiden voyage was a rousing success. The Son of the Empire's scheduled route includes stops in Boston, London, Paris, and Madrid.
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