Pre-Starfall on Serena Dawn; departure from Truane's
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:19 pm
The government of Truane's Star has hired you to carry out a preliminary exploration of a newly discovered planet. You are to journey by starliner to Volturnus and map as much of the planet as possible. The government is especially interested in contacting and studying any intelligent races living on the planet. If you meet an intelligent race, you are to make friendly contact and learn as much about them as possible. Truane's Star has found itself short of personnel and funds due to colonial troubles and associated police action on Cygnus Omicron IX recently. They have hired you, a team of unknown adventurers, to mount a relief expedition to Volturnus. Your mission is to explore Volturnus, gathering as much information as possible about mineral deposits, life on the planet, and other items of interest to future colonists. You are also to find and rescue the members of the original exploratory mission if possible.
The government has provided you with a minimal amount of equipment, and transportation to Volturnus aboard the starliner Serena Dawn. After dropping you on Volturnus, the Serena Dawn will return in three months to transport you (and, with luck, the original exploration team) back to Truane's Star.
The first expedition to Volturnus disappeared without trace as soon as it entered the Zebulon system. If possible, you are to locate and rescue any survivors of this mission.
As you boarded the starliner that would take you to Volturnus, the steward gave you an interior plan of the starship and urged you to study it carefully (see Jedion's design of the Serena Dawn as this is the map we will be using: http://www.starfrontiers.us/node/3448 ) He also searched your luggage and placed all weapons and power packs in the weapons locker. His assistant placed your other heavy gear, such as the military skein-quits given to you by the government of Truane's Star, in the cargo hold. The only items you were allowed to take to your tiny cabins were your non-weapon tool kits.
During your journey, you have toured the area of the ship not shown on the map. It contains recreation areas, the observation dome, the galley, the first class living quarters, and fuel storage. There is nothing else of interest in that area.
In the event you must evacuate ship, you have been instructed to proceed immediately to the escape bay, where two of the Serena Dawn's lifeboats are stored. Each lifeboat holds up to eight persons. If it becomes necessary to use the lifeboats, you have been instructed not to open the hatch until all persons using the lifeboat are assembled and ready to enter it. This is because the lifeboats automatically launch one minute after the hatch is opened. They then seek the nearest inhabitable planet and land in the first safe spot.
It doesn't take you long to get acclimated to the converted freighter. In a matter of minutes after disembarking from the orbital station, the ship reaches its acceleration of 1 g providing comfortable gravity before jump. This gives you time to explore the ship in detail, and review some vital mission information. On board, in addition to the members of the Dawn's crew, is a cadre of 8 marine types, clad in full polyplate armor bearing the markings of Truane's government. No one said when you signed up that there would be military types aboard. Unlike yourselves, they seem allowed to carry their rifles and mono blades. So far, you've not seen any of their faces, as they are shielded behind combat visors.
Over the next few days as the astrogators do their work and the ship approaches jump velocity, you and the others hired by Truane's government make each other's aquaintenances.
(OOC: feel free to do some background posts in game covering this period of time, pre-starfall).
BIC:
Information you all have access to and review on your holos is as follows:
Planetary Brief Volturnus
PLANET HISTORY: Named after the Greek god of the southwest wind, Volturnus is a hot, dry world with many types of hostile terrain. The endless deserts, rugged mountains, volcanic wastes, and dangerous salt flats are constantly scoured by a strong southwesterly wind. Despite these harsh conditions, rare patches of forest and even a few lakes have managed to maintain a perilous existence.
MOONS: 1.) Leo: Completes one orbit every three days, reddish-orange in color 2.) Lulu: Completes one orbit every 27 hours, bluish-silver in color
CLIMATE RANGE: Hot, arid to humid
ATMOSPHERE: 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon
GRAVITY: 1.0013
DIAMETER: 12,895 kilometers
LENGTH OF DAYS: 24 hours, 03 minutes
AVERAGE SURFACE TEMPERATURE: 25 degrees C
COLONIZERS: Unsettled; presently claimed by the government of the Truane's Star.
KNOWN NATIVE POPULATION: 1) The Ul-Mor, desert-dwelling novepi (nine-limbed creatures). Number and range unknown.
BACKGROUND ON ZEBULON STAR SYSTEM: The Zebulon star system was first investigated 20 years ago by an unmanned exploration probe launched by Truane's Star. This probe indicated that Volturnus was the only inhabitable planet in the Zebulon system. It also indicated that great mineral wealth might exist on the planet in the form of molybdenum, tungsten, gold, and other heavy metals. Truane's Star soon made a legal claim to the ownership of Volturnus, and completed exploration of a star route to the Zebulon system one year ago.
The first manned expedition to Volturnus from Truane's Star was launched nine months ago. The four member team of specialists was instructed to set up an outpost, gather data on the possible colonization and mining of Volturnus, and report back.
After passing into the star system, the starship carrying the specialists was never heard from again. The four members' dossiers hang in the air before you along with some boring details about their service records, like holographic ghosts:
Commander Louis V. Jameson
Human, 1.9 meters tall, 88 kilograms weight, 43 years old Skills: Computer 4 Background: 22 years service Truane's Star military forces; combat veteran, Truane's Star Medal of Valor; commander two previous exploration missions
Geeko- sur-Mang
Professor of geology, Capital University
Yazirian, 2.1 meters tall, 50 kilograms weight, 52 years old Skills: Computer 4 Background: Recognized authority in geophysics, specialist in planetary crust formation
Itklikdil
Cartographer, Vrusk Atlas Manufacturing Corporation
Vrusk female, 1.5 meters height, 85 kilograms weight, 32 years old Skills: Environmental 6 Background: Ph.D., experienced explorer and cartographer; loaned to exploration mission by employer in exchange for Volturnus mapping rights.
Grod
Technician, Truan's Star Civil Service
Dralasite, 1.3 meters height, 65 kilograms weight, 85 years old Skills: 5th level all skills Background: Developer, hydro-magnetic stabilization system in Dralasite air cars; author, ''The Metaphysical Foundations of Dralasite Morality''
You wonder what possibly could have happened to them......?
OOC: ok, your all familiar with the above, but I thought its a nice way to begin the module and a good refresher. note there are some subtle changes, so don't go on auto-pilot. i am open to comments or suggestions as well, but in pre-jump i think it would be a good time to get some preliminary posts out of the way about your characters, introductions, etc. We will then pick up just after the jump.
The government has provided you with a minimal amount of equipment, and transportation to Volturnus aboard the starliner Serena Dawn. After dropping you on Volturnus, the Serena Dawn will return in three months to transport you (and, with luck, the original exploration team) back to Truane's Star.
The first expedition to Volturnus disappeared without trace as soon as it entered the Zebulon system. If possible, you are to locate and rescue any survivors of this mission.
As you boarded the starliner that would take you to Volturnus, the steward gave you an interior plan of the starship and urged you to study it carefully (see Jedion's design of the Serena Dawn as this is the map we will be using: http://www.starfrontiers.us/node/3448 ) He also searched your luggage and placed all weapons and power packs in the weapons locker. His assistant placed your other heavy gear, such as the military skein-quits given to you by the government of Truane's Star, in the cargo hold. The only items you were allowed to take to your tiny cabins were your non-weapon tool kits.
During your journey, you have toured the area of the ship not shown on the map. It contains recreation areas, the observation dome, the galley, the first class living quarters, and fuel storage. There is nothing else of interest in that area.
In the event you must evacuate ship, you have been instructed to proceed immediately to the escape bay, where two of the Serena Dawn's lifeboats are stored. Each lifeboat holds up to eight persons. If it becomes necessary to use the lifeboats, you have been instructed not to open the hatch until all persons using the lifeboat are assembled and ready to enter it. This is because the lifeboats automatically launch one minute after the hatch is opened. They then seek the nearest inhabitable planet and land in the first safe spot.
It doesn't take you long to get acclimated to the converted freighter. In a matter of minutes after disembarking from the orbital station, the ship reaches its acceleration of 1 g providing comfortable gravity before jump. This gives you time to explore the ship in detail, and review some vital mission information. On board, in addition to the members of the Dawn's crew, is a cadre of 8 marine types, clad in full polyplate armor bearing the markings of Truane's government. No one said when you signed up that there would be military types aboard. Unlike yourselves, they seem allowed to carry their rifles and mono blades. So far, you've not seen any of their faces, as they are shielded behind combat visors.
Over the next few days as the astrogators do their work and the ship approaches jump velocity, you and the others hired by Truane's government make each other's aquaintenances.
(OOC: feel free to do some background posts in game covering this period of time, pre-starfall).
BIC:
Information you all have access to and review on your holos is as follows:
Planetary Brief Volturnus
PLANET HISTORY: Named after the Greek god of the southwest wind, Volturnus is a hot, dry world with many types of hostile terrain. The endless deserts, rugged mountains, volcanic wastes, and dangerous salt flats are constantly scoured by a strong southwesterly wind. Despite these harsh conditions, rare patches of forest and even a few lakes have managed to maintain a perilous existence.
MOONS: 1.) Leo: Completes one orbit every three days, reddish-orange in color 2.) Lulu: Completes one orbit every 27 hours, bluish-silver in color
CLIMATE RANGE: Hot, arid to humid
ATMOSPHERE: 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon
GRAVITY: 1.0013
DIAMETER: 12,895 kilometers
LENGTH OF DAYS: 24 hours, 03 minutes
AVERAGE SURFACE TEMPERATURE: 25 degrees C
COLONIZERS: Unsettled; presently claimed by the government of the Truane's Star.
KNOWN NATIVE POPULATION: 1) The Ul-Mor, desert-dwelling novepi (nine-limbed creatures). Number and range unknown.
BACKGROUND ON ZEBULON STAR SYSTEM: The Zebulon star system was first investigated 20 years ago by an unmanned exploration probe launched by Truane's Star. This probe indicated that Volturnus was the only inhabitable planet in the Zebulon system. It also indicated that great mineral wealth might exist on the planet in the form of molybdenum, tungsten, gold, and other heavy metals. Truane's Star soon made a legal claim to the ownership of Volturnus, and completed exploration of a star route to the Zebulon system one year ago.
The first manned expedition to Volturnus from Truane's Star was launched nine months ago. The four member team of specialists was instructed to set up an outpost, gather data on the possible colonization and mining of Volturnus, and report back.
After passing into the star system, the starship carrying the specialists was never heard from again. The four members' dossiers hang in the air before you along with some boring details about their service records, like holographic ghosts:
Commander Louis V. Jameson
Human, 1.9 meters tall, 88 kilograms weight, 43 years old Skills: Computer 4 Background: 22 years service Truane's Star military forces; combat veteran, Truane's Star Medal of Valor; commander two previous exploration missions
Geeko- sur-Mang
Professor of geology, Capital University
Yazirian, 2.1 meters tall, 50 kilograms weight, 52 years old Skills: Computer 4 Background: Recognized authority in geophysics, specialist in planetary crust formation
Itklikdil
Cartographer, Vrusk Atlas Manufacturing Corporation
Vrusk female, 1.5 meters height, 85 kilograms weight, 32 years old Skills: Environmental 6 Background: Ph.D., experienced explorer and cartographer; loaned to exploration mission by employer in exchange for Volturnus mapping rights.
Grod
Technician, Truan's Star Civil Service
Dralasite, 1.3 meters height, 65 kilograms weight, 85 years old Skills: 5th level all skills Background: Developer, hydro-magnetic stabilization system in Dralasite air cars; author, ''The Metaphysical Foundations of Dralasite Morality''
You wonder what possibly could have happened to them......?
OOC: ok, your all familiar with the above, but I thought its a nice way to begin the module and a good refresher. note there are some subtle changes, so don't go on auto-pilot. i am open to comments or suggestions as well, but in pre-jump i think it would be a good time to get some preliminary posts out of the way about your characters, introductions, etc. We will then pick up just after the jump.