Adventure Seed

Date: Tue, 31 Jan 1995 14:15:39 -0500 (EST)
From: Mark Clark <markc@brahms.udel.edu>
Subject: Adventure Seed

PLAYER INFORMATION

While refueling at a gas giant in a remote system, sensors indicate a very
faint incoming transmission.  At first it seems to be a random series of
numbers, but computer analysis indicates it is a data stream, compressed
using a method long out of date (from the Last Imperium if adventure is
set in the New Era universe).  Triangulation indicates the transmission is
just above the pressure horizon (max depth into the atmosphere) for the
ship and spacesuits the party is using.  The source also appears to be
slowly sinking - if the party decides to go down they will only have a
limited time to do so.  The exact time is up to the GM, but should be
short enough to prevent the players from going for help. 

If the players investigate, skill rolls for piloting and sensor ops are
appropriate.  The object will turn out to be a large (1000 ton
displacement) sphere with rather obvious dents and other damage, which
reveal that the sphere is very heavily armored.  Sensors indicate low
power.  If the players have a neural activity scanner, they will get no
readings.  There are no obvious markings.

REFEREE INFORMATION

-Classic Traveller or Megatraveller Version-
The object is a scientific probe used to explore the interior of gas 
giants, collecting data and taking samples.  It is designed to descend 
and ascend on a regular basis - apparently the scientific team that was 
collecting the data is no longer here for some reason (see below).  The 
probe will open for maintnence and sample retrieval if a code is 
transmitted - the players should be given some way of figuring this out 
(a small panel on the hull, an entry in a databank on their own ship, 
decoding the data transmission, etc.) 

1) The scientific team left because it thought the probe was destroyed - 
it was only damaged and took much longer to come to the surface.  If the 
players go on board, they may be able to fix the probe and download the 
data collected.  This will be a race against time, as the probe slowly 
sinks into the atmosphere.  If the players find the scientific 
organisation that placed the probe, they will be rewarded in some 
suitable way.

2) As 1 above, but the probe is damaged beyond repair.  The players may 
be able to salvage some of the sensor equipment.

3) As 1 above, but pirates are using the probe as bait - they will attack 
the players during the salvage operation.

4) As 1 above, but the probe has brought with it some Blobs (tm) from down 
below.  The blobs are unintelligent, fearless, and in pain - they attack the 
players, of course.  Adjust number and strength of Blobs (tm) to 
challenge players.

5) As 4 above, but these are Smart Blobs (tm).  In fact, it's a team of
Smart Blob (tm) scientists and explorers (Smart Blob (tm) player
characters, of course), and they and their friends down below captured the
probe and are now using it to explore the upper atmosphere.  They are
excited to meet these strange carbon-based life forms, and would like to
set up trade relations.  If they play their cards right, the players could
wind up rich and famous. 

6) As 5 above, but these are Evil Super-Smart Blobs (tm).  They want to 
take the players with them as samples, and will stop at nothing.  Good 
luck surviving high pressure.

-New Era Additions-

The above scenarios can be complicated by the presence of a Virus in 
the probe's computer.  The exact type is up to the GM, but a "Hobbyist" 
strain is most appropriate.  The hobbyist virus, if contacted, will be 
happy to talk about the gas giant and how fun it is going up and down 
in the atmosphere, and will even cooperate with the players if they help 
fix its broken systems.


Note: Blobs (tm) appear courtesy of GDW's Azhanti High Lightning game; Smart
Blobs (tm) and Evil Super-Smart Blobs (tm) appear courtesy of several twisted
campaigns run by yours truely.