in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Game Summaries
Session 4 Summary here.
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in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Game Summaries
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships & Spacemen 2E - Intersession 3
Communications Officer’s Log, Mission date: xxxxxxx
Ensign Tintarella Di Luna
Commanding Officer White-Linen ordered a shipwide installation of preventative countermeasures to presumptive data and operational control invasion by former Chief Engineer and current felino-ubercyborg Katzenjammer. Have fulfilled command, purposefully not researching Katzenjammer’s previous work in the area, to avoid even subconsciously using methods familiar or predictable to him.
This method was possibly needless as his mind may well be beyond all correlation with humanoid thought processes, as it is now merged with cat, robot, and alien ship’s computer. This officer was not assigned to Endeavor at time of merging, and upon first reading of associated log entry, I remain unclear on percentages, and which— if any— were only metaphorical representation of the incident. I have heard officers refer to “liquid cat brain” but have not had sufficient opportunity to inquire specifics.
Unknown whether this unique state of mind will prove to be to our advantage, or his.
My surprisingly well-received suggestion of positronic data-simulation of catnip does depend on said state though, and it is the only active offense being worked on currently. For historical purposes, I feel duty bound to note I was joking. If it proves to contribute to the solution, I can only credit the Science Crew of the Endeavor for finding validity in the concept.
Drafted Nextkin Casualty Notification Spacemail to Arnanson family of record, sent to CO for approval and signature.
Previously noted concern for CO’s offer to falsify System Survey Report and give valuable mining rights to Rogan in return for information and cooperation is now determined to be unfounded, as CO subsequently made same offer to others, indicating offer must be false (at least on one account, but a pattern is emerging). Bad faith negotiations of Space Fleet Officers are also a concern, but a considerably lesser one, and subject to mitigating circumstances, unlike Theft of Confederation Resources. The mandatory waiting period for transmitting a Superior Officer Offense Report is a wise regulation.
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships & Spacemen 2E - Intersession 3
Golmak shakes his head, and shuts off the data tape of Katzenjammer's broadcast. "Not too bad, not too bad. A little megalomania, might panic the colonies, maybe he's already converting the people on board Keppler, but not too bad."
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships & Spacemen 2E - Intersession 3
[from sternum]
Broadcast on all frequencies throughout the Drift on repeat:
Katzenjammer (in his best Col. Kurtz): My labors in recreating a mechanical body were short-sighted. I see now the endless potential before me. With my positronic brain acting as an interface, I can be anything… EVERYTHING! Why settle for a simple bipedal existence when I can be a starship, a space station, or… a SWARM. A swarm of drones… the KATZWARM! HA HA!
(static)
Katzenjammer: And I need not be alone in this… ENDEVOUR. With a few simple modifications, the positronic brain can be adapted to anyone… EVERYONE! Upgrades for us all! We will all join the ZWARM! (cough)
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Game Summaries
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships & Spacemen 2E - Intersession 3
With the unrest on LN 1-3 now resolved, the crew of the Endeavor must now return to Starbase Keppler to rescue the fifty people there from the invasive cat-drones that have taken over. But how far are they willing to go, when the leader of the cat drones is one of their own? Can they save Ensign Katzenjammer, or will they have to destroy him to save the people on board Keppler?
This thread will be for the events of the two-day journey to Starbase Keppler. In-character log entries yield XP.
So far, these are the activities underway:
- Sp. Chloe Brown is researching positronic catnip, which will be ready just as you arrive at Keppler
- Ens. Di Luna has programmed electronic counter-measures into the ship's computer to prevent Katzenjammer-Drone from hacking it.
- Sub-Lt. Golmak has connected 5 neural interfaces with the Katzenjammer-Drone consciousness, which are in the repair dock, which is currently swarming with cat-drones.
Golmak is available to answer questions about Keppler.
Have at it!
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Game Summaries
The revived Session 3 of Starships&Spacemen will be happening at Brooklyn Strategist tomorrow, Friday, June 2nd at 6pm. All Redboxers welcome. We will be starting slow to accommodate late arrivals, so this will be a good session to join in and roll up a new PC officer.
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Game Summaries
Due to cancellations, Starships&Spacemen has been called off for tonight, Monday, May 22nd. Hope to reschedule soon.
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Game Summaries
We will be playing Starships&Spacemen Session 3, this Monday at 7pm at the Brooklyn Strategist, 333 Court St, Brooklyn. All Redboxers welcome. Message me here if you'd like to come.
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Intersession 2
Mission Date 139
As the Endeavor approaches Starbase Keppler with the salvaged robot ship in tow, Lt. Darrem hails them with some irritation. "Endeavor, what's that ship astern?! We do not recognize its configuration! I don't know how Space Fleet handles things, but Colony Services regulations forbid - !"
Ens. White-Linen explains that it is simply a salvaged ship full of killer robots, pacified with experimental liquid cat-brain and psychically conjoined with her chief engineer.
The silence on the comm is followed by Darrem's heavy sigh. "Bring it in to docking bay three."
Use this thread to declare what your PC's actions will be at the starbase. Threads available are:
- Ship repairs/resupplies
- Katzenjammer's psychic link to the salvaged ship
- The salvaged ship itself
- The data tape of the crimes against the Caeliferans
- Dr. Zangor's bad dreams
- the derelict MX-319
- the statuette/rune carvings
- the Zangid spy
- the lost ship that was lost
- Probably others I have forgotten
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Game Summaries
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Game Summaries
Awesome! How did it go?
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Game Summaries
I hope so! I'll keep posting info here.
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Game Summaries
I would really love to play this, but I don't think I'll be able to this time. Maybe next time?
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Game Summaries
I was reconsidering my dislike of leaving Manhattan, then noticed it's at 6pm. It's my regular evening out with friends lately.
"Saturday" made me assume "afternoon" for some reason.
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Game Summaries
Session 2, Engage! We will be playing Starships&Spacemen April 29th at 6pm at The Brooklyn Strategist (333 Court St, Brooklyn). Redbox regulars are welcome to come try out this Trek-ish game based on Labyrinth Lord/Red Box D&D. Message me here if you're interested.
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Intersession 1
Ensign White-Linen listens with dutiful respect to Administrator Wellard's view of the threat from the Zangid Space-Bastards. She gives a slightly disappointed but credulous nod. When he shifts topics to the mantis-aliens, she pays strict attention, as if no longer thinking about Space-Bastards at all.
On the way to the bowling alley, White-Linen accosts Spaceman Xox. "Crewman, I appreciate your discipline to perform a task you find personally distasteful. As a matter of logic, Captain Cygnus only would have sacrificed himself to achieve a greater goal, namely, safeguarding the freedom of the Drift from Zangid dominion. For the moment, though, I am placing you under orders to confine your readings to the officers of the Endeavor. We can surmise that the saboteur had help; we do not yet know the source. Therefore we must be … economical with the truth until we know more."
White-Linen makes a mental note to ask Ensign Rojas about pulsars and other navigational hazards between the Zangid territory and the Drift. Wellard may be telling the truth, and very likely was not the saboteur's handler, but it pays to be careful.
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Intersession 1
Official Briefing
Administrator Wellard of Colonial Services greets you in his small office aboard Starbase Keppler. After the mission debriefing, he answers the captain’s concerns about the Zangid Star Empire. “No, I hardly think the Zangids have access to the Lucanii Drift. That’s why they tried to shut down the Corridor by blowing you up, because they don’t want us to have access either. Between here and there is a matrix of pulsars, neutron stars, hyperspace distortions…it’s completely impassable. Their ships would be battered to pieces, their crews dead. No, it’s not hardly possible, never, never.”
As for the ships encountered, he’s a little more worried. “Well… of course we knew the Lucanii Drift has had hyperwarp-capable civilizations. Heck, my starbase is built on the proof of that. But the academy types said whatever people built this sphere, they were long gone. It sounds like this life-form you encountered isn’t capable of building something like that, but… then there’s this technology that makes them invisible to long-range sensors… we don’t know what they’re capable of, do we?”
He picks up the data tape containing the death report for Captain Cygnus. “In spite of all that’s happened, until we hear otherwise, it seems like your orders remain the same: explore the Lucanii Drift. Colonial Services stands ready to help Fleet in any way. But… learning more about this… insectoid life form, let’s call it… that seems like a priority if push comes to shove. And if they do mean us harm, then I assume you’ll remember that your orders are also to protect the colonies.”
Dr. Zangor
Dr. Zangor has no problem finding the Melisol bar. It seems like every intersection has a sign directing the traveler to the Melisol bar.
Built inside the shell of an old engine room, it feels like the real center of life on the starbase. The proprietor, an Entirran named Waka’biizi, is quick to prescribe Zangor whatever cocktail he wants. When he begins speaking of the encounter with the Bug Men, he becomes the center of attention, and many patrons pay for further prescriptions in exchange for his tale.
Though none have heard of the Bug Man, many are quick to speculate on Bug Man hopes, fears and dreams.
“Whoever they are, there’s no need for a feud. They’re welcome at the Melisol! We welcome all people! I love everybody!” Waka’biizi shouts in a way that, like her smile, is both merry and creepy.
“They’re just aggressive in protecting their business interests in this area… but I’m sure we can make a deal,” says Mr. Neek, a human trader, slightly soiled. He consults his Market Analyzer. “Don’t grasshoppers eat plants? A shipment of Struvian Alfalfa could be provided to them for a bargain, plus a finder’s fee…”
“But what if they hate us for our values?! What if they fear love, or art?!” cry out Shavira and Ravira, the Pleiadian croupiers/singers/chandelier technicans/fortune tellers/exotica dancers, between sets.
En. Rojas
Chemisa finds the bowling alley in corridor 12C. There’s four lanes, and one is taken by the crew of an independent trader back from Gateway Colony. It doesn’t take her long to figure out the young sport in the flight jacket and the sandgator boots is the pilot. He winks at her. Apparently a good Rigellian introduction is in order.
There’s actually a minigame around starbase bar/bowling brawls (and 30xp for all participants before the first punch is thrown), so we’ll play out the fight next time we’re at the table.
Sp. Xox
Captain White-Linen calls Spaceman Xox to the brig. He knows why he's here: she wants him to use his Tauran ESP technique on the captured Zangid spy, "Paxton." He's hesitant. What will they say of him on Taurus? But he only mutters, "It seems invasive."
White-Linen points at their grinning captive: "Spaceman Xox, he's a Zangid spy and saboteur who nearly killed everyone on this ship, the population of Bifrost colony, and would have condemned the Drift to military conquest. He had help. I'm no expert in Tauran ethics, but the Kantian Categorical Imperative, the Rawlsian Veil of Ignorance, and the Golden Rule all indicate that we have an moral obligation to protect others from similar threats, provided we do so in a manner that is not gratuitously painful. Violating this fellow's privacy is distasteful, but it's the only way to be certain he's not lying.
"If that doesn't convince you: consider it an order, and I take full command responsibility. Should you wish to file a report to Star Force, we're in a good spot for it, and I will not retaliate for a man simply following the dictates of his conscience."
Spaceman Xox complains — "This will be going into the logs!" — but ultimately enters the Zangid's mind with an expression of distaste.
Xox needs a 3 or less on a d20 to win a psychic battle with the Zangid. James, for sternum, rolls a 2.
The Zangid spy actually knows very little – their intelligence service understands the importance of siloing information — but he does know a little. With a great deal of face-fondling and brow-furrowing, Xox wrenches these images from the spy's mind…
…a massive ship, under construction in orbit around a moon of the Zangid homeworld of Zonos…
…preliminary tactical plans, involving one or more of the Alpha, Zeta and Lambda sectors of the Drift…
…and a fierce Zangid Commodore, Zak’akh, at whose will both ship and plans move forward.
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Intersession 1
Ensign White-Linen's time is spent mostly gathering intel about the Drift. But assuming she has time left over and is spry enough, she will join Ensign Rojas for Rigellian bowling.
in discussion Brief Excursions / General RPG Discussion » Starships&Spacemen 2E - Intersession 1
Chemisa feels she is in need of new people to compete with in good natured sport where brawling is part of the fun. She heads for the bowling alley in hopes of finding someone willing to adopt the game to the Rigelian version. Before she departs though she checks in with Commanding Officer White-Linen. Theresa can use some diversion after having the weight of command hoisted onto her. Chemisa invites the Commanding Officer to join her at the bowling alley after she has gotten it ready for some Real bowling.
After she is done bowling, probably a swim.
In between there somewhere she will try to attend at least one official briefing and make sure she speaks her mind to whomever will listen. She also needs to make sure she picks a fight with any pilots that are already stationed on Keppler as a way to formally introduce herself properly. If there is one thing she has it's proper manners.
