The Gold Dust is one of the twains that connect the Datum to Valhalla. Most of its passengers are rich traders and tourists from the Datum.[1]
Along with passengers, the ship makes several stops during her journey to load cargo like rare minerals from the Mine Belt or various materials like timber from the Corn Belt.
Appearance[]
The Gold Dust had an envelope that was 800 feet long, and a luxurious gondola made of polished hardwood harvested in the High Meggers. Even the gangplank was carpeted.[2] At its top speed, the twain could travel one step a second, or 90,000 worlds per day.[3] The wheelhouse walls were transparent to give the passengers a grand view, and the ship also featured a restaurant, a ballroom, and a well-equipped medical bay.[4] The restaurant was incredibly ornate, decorated with white filigree work, soft armchairs and carpets, oil paintings of long earth scenes, a chandelier hanging over the table, and mammoth tusks gilded with gold.[5]
The Long War[]
It was aboard this twain that the Valientés made their trip from Valhalla to Datum Earth during the events of The Long War.[1] While travelling through the Mine Belt, the Gold Dust came across a crashed twain called the Pennsylvania. While stepping through a notorious joker, it had been trapped in a dust storm, and then one of its helium sacs had split open due to a sudden expansion caused by the world’s hot, dry air. The Gold Dust’s crew and passengers, including Joshua Valienté, helped rescue the people trapped inside the Pennsylvania’s wreckage, and salvaged much of its cargo of wheat.[6]
Notable crew members[]
Bosun Higgs - Junior crewman
Notable passengers[]
Joshua Valienté
Helen Valienté
Dan Valienté
Bill Chambers
Sally Linsay