“Vortex” Update 5a.17 — First Contact at Proxima

Nearby star systems — Stars within 12 light-years of Sol

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5a.17 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 1 met on Monday, 23 May 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

In one future, humanity has begun to colonize the Sol system, but ecological degradation and internecine conflicts persist. Open and official First Contact with Galactic societies, themselves at war, threaten Terra’s very survival. Can heroes rise to the challenges?

Two aliens and their human allies encountered xenophobes and megacorporate intrigues on and around Earth. After visiting factionalized Mars and acquiring a starship in the Asteroid Belt from the Olvar Star League, they continued their mission of diplomacy and exploration to Titan, Tyche, and Alpha Centauri….

>>”Vortex” Team 1 (5a), crew of the Blackbird, as of spring 2011:

-“Tela” [Sara F.]-female Tharian (winged reptilian humanoid alien) escapee from the Encegulans, engineer

-“Chris McKee/Agent Prometheus” [Josh C.]-male Terran cyborg human sniper working for eugenicists at Black Box Security Co.

-“Aughest-vor…” [Jason E.R.]-male human from the Lemuria orbital city, onetime dilettante, solar-sail racer, pilot

-“Lt. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K.]-male Terran human, burned-out officer and explorer in the Interplanetary Patrol

-“Gombo Shisel” [Rich L./absent]-male Mongolian/Martian human, former horse rancher and wilderness survival expert

-“Syzygy” [Brian W./absent]-Trinoid (trilateral amphibious alien) xenologist with an organic laboratory and a pet cat named “Mr. Sniffles”

-“Dr. Bucket” [Non-Player Character]-United Earth Authority astromech robot assigned to the Blackbird

“20 to 22 September 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” The adventuring party readies the Blackbird to leave from Camp Alpha on Toliman, a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri A. Maj. Walt Vanderbilt, acting commander of Tiger Squadron, orders Lt. Kevin Reese and his civilian companions to take the search for the missing Lt.Col. Hollis Shelman into space.

Tela and Dr. Bucket secure the Tiger Hawk Sandstorm ground-effect vehicle and prepare for sublight travel (at 1 AU per hour), and Chris McKee checks the weapons locker in his cabin. Aughest-vor plots a search pattern around the last known location of Lt.Col. Shelman’s Raptor-class fighter.

Syzygy (with Mr. Sniffles) and Gombo Shisel offer to stay behind to analyze the local ecosystem and help the North American Aerospace Marine Corps troops learn how to coexist with the native Tolimanian “mantiles” (insectoid/reptilian pack hunters).

Kevin asks Tela to divert power from the navigational array to sensors, which detect the ion trail of the missing Raptor, as well as an anomalous cloud of hydrogen and helium. Agent Prometheus climbs into the gun turret, and Aughest sets course for Proxima Centauri, the third star in the system.

The Blackbird passes Furon, a “cold” gas giant orbiting dim Proxima Centauri, but there is no sign of Shelman’s craft. Dr. Bucket helpfully notes that flares from the red star could interfere with sensors, and Lt. Reese doggedly decides to continue searching the area.

The atmosphere of the next gas giant, Shedar, is very similar to the cloud found near the ion trail. Aughest pilots past icy rings, electromagnetic currents, and various gravity wells. Tela spots three large objects moving against the winds of Shedar.

Passive sensors indicate that they’re swimming along the magnetic field toward concentrations of hydrocarbons in the turbulent outer layers of the gas giant. When the Blackbird actively scans, two of the shark-like ships circle around, and Tela collapses from psychic overload!

Cautious Kevin tries to communicate with the three vessels, which regard him as “a solid.” Paranoid Chris trains a particle beam on the nearest potential foe but holds his fire. Hotshot Aughest-vor pulls an Immelman turn and plunges toward Shedar!

The astrogator nearly loses control, but Aughest manages to avoid one of the unidentified craft by only 100 meters. Gunner Chris keeps the three objects in his sights, and closer sensor readings confirm that they’re ships rather than individual spacefaring creatures, which Tela had hoped to meet.

The aliens aboard the three ships identify themselves as “Dwellers of the Clouds” to Lt. Reese, who asks about their intent and whether they have encountered other humans. Dr. Bucket says that the Olvar (mammal-like arboreal aliens) are aware of species that live in gas giants, but most interactions with them have gone badly. The robot declines to speculate how they could have developed interstellar travel.

The Dwellers confirm that they were harvesting from Furon and offer to take the Blackbird to a “broken one.” As ruby Proxima Centauri rises behind Eldritch, its innermost planet, the Terrans (and Tharian) approach several gas-dweller ships. Tela regains her faculties, but Chris is disappointed at not being able to shoot anything.

A damaged Raptor, dwarfed by the blimp-like starships, is quickly maneuvered into the Blackbird‘s landing/cargo bay. Tela examines the fighter and concludes that it was probably hit with a pulse similar to what affected her. Kevin thanks the Dwellers of the Clouds, and Chris takes a disoriented Lt.Col. Shelman to Gombo’s quarters and gives him a sedative.

Lt. Reese says that he hopes for mutually beneficial future relations between Terrans and the gas dwellers, but their replies are cryptic and border on condescension. Aughest-vor is only too happy to fly away from Proxima, and Tela theorizes that the Raptor could have been damaged when the aliens arrived from Transit (faster-than-light) mode.

Chris reports that the advanced aliens must have put the missing marine in some sort of stasis, since Hollis couldn’t have survived long in their atmosphere without life support. He also notes that the fighter is missing one missile, which was probably fired in panic during the collision.

After a day’s flight (subjective Terran time) back, Lt. Reese is pleased to return Lt.Col. Shelman to Camp Alpha. Maj. Vanderbilt asks the Interplanetary Patrol officer to leave the missile out of his report to the United Earth Authority. Kevin and Chris agree, and they celebrate over glasses of brandy.

Tela briefs Syzygy on the successful First Contact situation, which could have gone much worse because of the aggressive impulses of both the gas dwellers and humans. Gombo announces that he plans to stay on Toliman because his experience with animals on the Martian frontier can help the marines, as well as colonists coming on the Zheng He, but he adds that he’ll try to catch up.

Capt. Robin Buckley, a former flame of Kevin, invites notorious Aughest-vor back to her bunk. The next morning, Aughest consults U.E.A. and Kharvamid Alliance records and finds a few inhabitable solar systems on the way to Oasis Station, about 40 parsecs from Earth. Tela worries about returning to space controlled by the trade guilds and the Ru’ulok (heavy-gravity reptilian pirates).

The U.E.V. Bellerphon went to 61 Cygni after dropping Tiger Squadron off at Alpha Centauri, so the crew of the Blackbird decides to boldly go where no human has gone before, to Van Maanen’s Star, about six days away….

I hope that each of you enjoyed our latest game, despite a slow start. Brian and Rich, we missed “Syzygy” and “Gombo!” I’m glad that we’ve been able able to trade miniatures, books, and videos, as well as discuss our favorite fiction. The Blackbird‘s adventures are just beginning….

Jason, thanks for your offer to run a one-shot of Darkpages; I’ll reply separately once I’ve had a chance to reread the rules. If anybody else is interested in one-shots, miniseries, or crossovers this summer, let us know on the Yahoo/eGroups message board so we can look at the schedule.

Speaking of scheduling, the latest Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” teleconferencing fantasy session (T3.28) is scheduled for Sunday, 29 May 2011, and “Vortex” Team 2 (the Appomattox crew) will meet on Memorial Day for its planned heist of Ru’ulok FTL drives. “Vortex” Team 1 will play again on June 6, but I won’t be available on June 13. Have a great holiday weekend! -Gene

>>”Vortex” Team 2 (5b), crew of the Appomattox, as of spring 2011:

-“Gabriel Adams” [Paul J.]-male North American Terran near-human with telepathy, courier and pilot

-“Hector Chavez” [Beruk A.]-male Latin American Terran human, “burned” operative and communications expert

-“ARTHERR” [Greg D.C.]-Advanced Resonance Theoretical Heuristic Exploration and Research Robot created by megacorp Vimeco

-“Jasmine” [Sara F.] female Martian Felinoid (Synth, “Uplifted” tiger), former professional pit fighter

-“Dr. Richmond Garrett” [Dave S.C.]-male Southern American Terran human, space snake-oil salesman and social climber

-“Dr. Dieter Klein” [Rich L.]-male European Terran human, semi-retired physician, altruist and thrill seeker

-“Nero Bartholomew” [Non-Player Character]-male Terran human, former owner of the “Fortune’s Fool,” ship’s cook

-“Averki ‘Deep Dish’ Dyashenko” [N.P.C.]-male reptilian Synth (genetically engineered humanoid), onetime Venusian miner

“Vortex” Update 5a.16 — Camp Alpha and xenomorphs

Nearby stars — Stars near the Sol system

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5a.16 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 1 met on Monday, 9 May 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

After enduring xenophobic attacks on Earth, two alien explorers and their human allies were embroiled in megacorp intrigues in the Lemuria orbital city and the Lunar Free State. The group then visited Mars and obtained a starship in the Asteroid Belt from the Olvar Star League. After negotiating a trade agreement at Tyche and getting a drop ship at Titan, the scouts set out for Alpha Centauri and Oasis Station….

>>”Vortex” Team 1 (5a), crew of the “Blackbird,” as of spring 2011:

-“Syzygy” [Brian W.]-Trinoid (trilateral amphibious alien) xenologist with an organic laboratory and a pet cat named “Mr. Sniffles”

-“Tela” [Sara F.]-female Tharian (winged reptilian humanoid alien) escapee from the Encegulans, engineer

-“Chris McKee/Agent Prometheus” [Josh C.]-male North American Terran cyborg human sniper working for eugenics conspirators at Black Box Security Co.

-“Aughest-vor…” [Jason E.R.]-male human from the Lemuria orbital city, onetime dilettante, solar-sail racer, pilot

-“Lt. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K.]-male Terran human, burned-out officer and explorer in the Interplanetary Patrol

-“Gombo Shisel” [Rich L./absent]-male Mongolian/Martian human, former horse rancher and wilderness survival expert

-“Dr. Bucket” [Non-Player Character]-United Earth Authority astromech robot assigned to the Blackbird

“15 to 19 September 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” The Blackbird prepares for its first faster-than-light (FTL) journey, from the Sol system to Alpha Centauri, a trinary star system. Aughest-vor… sets a course around gravity wells, while Tela activates the biomechanical ship’s REM drive.

Syzygy sets intraship monitors to observe his human crewmates during FTL travel, and Lt. Kevin Reese joins Aughest in the cockpit. Chris McKee keeps a watchful eye on Dr. Bucket, whom he doesn’t trust, and Gombo Shisel stays in his cabin.

Each person aboard the experimental vessel experiences differently altered perceptions! To xenologist Syzygy, all of the Blackbird‘s systems appear completely organic, like his laboratory. In engineering, Tela sees Mr. Sniffles float by, round like a puffer fish, but the artificial gravity is still on.

Kevin looks around, and everybody looks to him like an Olvar (mammal-like arboreal alien), perhaps because the Morifaiwet was obtained from the Olvar Star League. Aughest-vor enjoys the sensation of flying rather than piloting, as his senses merge with that of the starship.

Chris seems immune to the strange visions of his companions, possibly because of his cybernetic implants. He finds Gombo in his quarters happily surrounded by spider-like drones. The adventuring party meets in the galley to compare notes, and Syzygy looks to the others like a cartoon human. After focusing their concentration, the crew members are again able to perceive normally.

Syzygy retires to sleep, having entered Transit-level space numerous times. Tela returns to her hammock in engineering to watch the microfusion generators, afterburner capacitors, and REM drive. The humans, now the fastest in the Milky Way galaxy, are too excited to sleep during their shakedown cruise.

Aughest-vor scans Alpha Centauri A and B, two yellow stars 24 A.U. with red dwarf Proxima Centauri in a more distant orbit (1 Astronomical Unit = 93 million miles). Alpha Centauri A is close to Sol in size and luminosity and has three planets: rockball Chiron, earthlike Toliman, and outer world Cassida. Newton and Alphane orbit dimmer Alpha Centauri B, and gas giants Eldritch, Shedar, and Furon orbit Proxima.

Lt. Reese studies records of Terran interstellar exploration. Of the 50 solar systems within 5 parsecs (1 parsec = 3.26 light-years or 31 trillion kilometers/19 trillion miles) of Earth, Alpha Centauri is the closest. The slower-than-light Zheng He was intercepted by the U.E.V. Bellerphon shortly after First Contact. The passengers of the generation colony ship now plan to refit it with FTL capability en route to Alpha Centauri.

The Bellerphon then dropped off Tiger Squadron on Toliman. The Blackbird‘s mission from the United Earth Authority is to check on the North American Aerospace Marines stationed at Camp Alpha after they requested aid.

After about a Terran day of subjective travel, the Blackbird arrives at Alpha Centauri. Aughest-vor expertly guides the scout ship through gravitational and magnetic currents and past automated defense buoys. Lt. Reese hails Camp Alpha and is greeted by Maj. Walt Vanderbilt, the acting commander.

Syzygy and Gombo are excited to find signs of life on Toliman, and Tela wonders if other extraterrestrials have recently visited. Agent Prometheus climbs into the gun turret and scans for other ships in the system but finds no evidence of any.

After the group decides not to take the Dragonfly drop ship, Aughest takes the Blackbird through Toliman’s methane-carbon dioxide atmosphere to Camp Alpha, which is a cluster of domes with some Raptor-class fighters [think of Space: Above and Beyond‘s Hammerheads] on the landing pad.

An elevator takes the Blackbird down for decontamination, which Syzygy assures his friends is mostly unnecessary. After bay is repressurized, the explorers disembark, leaving woozy Gombo and Dr. Bucket on the ship. Robots begin unloading ammunition and other supplies.

Among the armored space marines present is “Capt. Robin Buckley” [Jason E.R./Non-Player Character], a communications expert and onetime paramour of Kevin. Maj. Vanderbilt invites the landing party to talk privately in his office. He explains that squadron commander Lt.Col. Hollis Shelman vanished during a routine patrol.

The major also tells Lt. Reese that some of the marines say their leader’s disappearance is connected to attacks on Toliman’s surface. Troops have been ambushed by Tolimanian “mantiles,” vaguely reptilian/insectoid pack hunters, and they want to retaliate for their fallen comrades.

Syzygy gains permission to examine a dead mantile, and Tela lets Mr. Sniffles explore the base. Kevin finds Robin in the commissary, but she coldly rebuffs him, saying that their time together in the Martian outback was adulterous to his late wife, Heather. Aughest chats with Delphine (“Uplifted” dolphin) astrogator “Lt. Misawa Onizuka” [Sara F./N.P.C.] before calling it a night.

Chris drinks with Sgt. Kurt Schriever, a gruff Chim (“Uplifted” chimpanzee) gunner. Kurt, Misawa, and Spaceman Peter Jones, a British android, are eager to go hunting. Against their better judgment, Syzygy and Tela join Kevin, Chris, and the space marines in a foray into the violet jungles of Toliman.

Lt. Reese drives the Tiger Hawk Sandstorm, which is faster than the marines’ mech suits and closer to the ground than their Raptors. Near a pond, Syzygy observes a pack of mantiles attacking what looks like a moss-covered boulder. It happens to be close in size to a mech or the Tiger Hawk Sandstorm.

Some of the carnivores notice the ground-effect vehicle and approach, and Lt. Misawa and Capt. Buckley fire machine-gun bursts. However, they attract the attention of more predators, which swarm the intruders!

Robin hits a tree, which blocks an easy escape. Syzygy notices that the mantiles are coordinating their attacks subsonically, so the three-armed scientist dazes one with a sonic blast. Tela borrows a gun from Chris and blows off one xenomorph’s limbs.

Ignoring the pounding outside the vehicle’s turrets, sniper Chris efficiently dispatches two foes with well-aimed shots. Kevin runs over one mantile and shoots another before getting the team out of harm’s way.

Syzygy regrets the loss of life, and Tela worries that Ru’ulok (heavy-gravity reptilian alien) bounty hunters might use the mantiles to find her, even though the Trinoid tells the Tharian that they’re native to Toliman. Back at Camp Alpha, Maj. Vanderbilt orders Lt. Reese to take the search for Lt.Col. Shelman into Alpha Centauri space….

Josh, thanks again for organizing this past weekend’s cross-group cookout! I’m sorry that neither the Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” fantasy telecom game nor “Vortex” Team 2 met, but Damon F.P.’s visit went well, despite our plumbing problem (now resolved).

In the meantime, remember to let me know your availability for the next few weeks, and stay in touch as the Blackbird continues its exploration of Alpha Centauri and the crew of the Appomattox prepares for a heist of Ru’ulok FTL engines! -Gene

>>”Vortex” Team 2 (5b), crew of the Appomattox, as of spring 2011:

-“Gabriel Adams” [Paul J.]-male North American Terran near-human with telepathy, courier and pilot

-“Hector Chavez” [Beruk A.]-male Latin American Terran human, “burned” operative and communications expert

-“ARTHERR” [Greg D.C.]-Advanced Resonance Theoretical Heuristic Exploration and Research Robot created by megacorp Vimeco

-“Jasmine” [Sara F.] female Martian Felinoid (Synth, “Uplifted” tiger), former professional pit fighter

-“Dr. Richmond Garrett” [Dave S.C.]-male Southern American Terran human, space snake-oil salesman and social climber

-“Dr. Dieter Klein” [Rich L.]-male European Terran human, semi-retired physician, altruist and thrill seeker

-“Nero Bartholomew” [Non-Player Character]-male Terran human, former owner of the Fortune’s Fool, ship’s cook

-“Averki ‘Deep Dish’ Dyashenko” [N.P.C.]-male reptilian Synth (genetically engineered humanoid), onetime Venusian miner

Visit and spring potluck

Boston-area gamers gather for a barbeque — Some of the barbeque attendees

Damon F.P. arrived by Megabus from New York on Friday, 13 May 2011. He and I have been friends since high school, for almost 30 years. I’ve been Damon’s best man three times, and he created some of the first Player Characters for my “Vanished Lands” fantasy campaign setting.

We watched the Smallville series finale (review on that and recently canceled genre TV shows to come), and on Saturday, Janice, Damon, and I went to the Blue Hills Reservation south of Boston. After finding the main visitor area closed for renovations, we met role-players Josh C. & Sara F. and their friend Adam/”Llama.”

Soon, more people from Josh’s gaming groups arrived, including Bob & Ginger and Robin. My groups were represented by Beruk A., Brian W., and Brian’s wife Beth. Despite overcast weather, the potluck barbeque was a success, with some Nerf sparring and badminton. The cookout included roast chicken, pork, and sausages, as well as good conversations about politics, religion, pets, and of course, games.

Josh & Sara’s friends are a bit younger than mine and are typical of role-players who came of age in the 1990s in their interest in White Wolf’s “Storyteller: World of Darkness” and related systems. We’ve all recently played FATE 3e, with Brian and Josh running Legends of Anglerre for their fantasy campaigns and me using Starblazer Adventures for “Vortex.”

Everyone got along well, and I hope that this nongaming social gathering (the first in a few years among our groups) is just the beginning! Damon was drowsy from some medication, but Janice and I later watched the gnostic episode of Doctor Who written by Neil Gaiman.

On Sunday, after Janice made a pancake brunch, I took Damon to Central Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, our toilet stopped functioning properly. It’s the third time where we’ve had problems during visits — no heat during David I.S.‘s January visit, a leaky washer during my brother’s trip, and now this. Damon and I had lunch at Four Burgers before he returned to New York. Now I’m just waiting for our landlord to send a plumber….

Some favorite space operas

Starships named Enterprise — Starships Enterprise

[Note: Reposted with some revisions from the “Vanished Lands” Yahoo/eGroups site.]

Fellow role-players and genre entertainment fans, to follow up on a conversation from this past Monday’s FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures: “Vortex” game, here’s an admittedly subjective list of the best space opera movies and TV shows by decade:

>>1900s to 1930s movies: A Trip to the Moon, Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers serials

>>1940s and 1950s: Forbidden Planet (movie), Tom Corbett, Space Cadet (TV)

>>1960s:

-Movies: 2001: A Space Odyssey

-Television: Doctor Who (to present), Space: 1999, Star Trek

>>1970s:

-Movies: Alien, Star Wars [Episode IV:] A New Hope

-Television: Battlestar Galactica, Blake’s 7, Macross/Robotech, Space Battleship Yamato/Star Blazers

>>1980s:

-Movies: Aliens, Dune, Heavy Metal, Outland, Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan, Star Wars [Episode V]: The Empire Strikes Back

-TV: Star Trek: the Next Generation

>>1990s:

-Movies: The Fifth Element, Stargate, Starship Troopers

-TV: Babylon 5, Space: Above and Beyond, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

>>2000s:

–Movies: Moon

–TV: Farscape, Firefly/Serenity, Stargate SG1

>>Do you have any favorites or recommendations? Here are some good online resources:

http://www.filmsite.org/sci-fifilms.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_science-fiction_films

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_space_opera_media

http://movies.ign.com/articles/677/677739p1.html

http://io9.com/328003/the-rise-and-fall-and-rise-of-space-opera

http://www.allenvarney.com/av_space2.html

This list is by no means comprehensive, and it overlaps slightly with related subgenres of speculative fiction, including alien invasion/horror (The Day the Earth Stood Still), comedic/spoof (Galaxy Quest), cyberpunk/dystopian (Blade Runner), kaiju (Gamera), planetary romance (Warlord of Mars), postapocalyptic (The Road Warrior), police procedural (Alien Nation), and time/dimensional travel (Twelve Monkeys). Space opera is distinguished by relatively easy interstellar travel, familiar interactions between humans and aliens, and mostly heroic characters and plots.

What prompted this? Although we’ve previously discussed our favorite science fiction in various media, in “Vortex” Team 1, Jason and I were tossing around allusions, and Josh noted that he recognized only a few of them. I’m sure that Beruk knows more pop-culture references than much of Team 2. Everybody should be familiar with most of the items listed above!

I haven’t even touched on the best space opera books, comics/graphic novels, and games, which are worthy of another discussion! As Brian and Jason noted, the big ideas of science fiction are generally presented with more variety and strength in literature, while fantasy and horror seem more accessible to movie audiences. What do you think?

One advantage of a “sandbox,” homebrew game is that we can incorporate our favorite influences into a shared setting. “Vortex” has 22nd century humans and some established history, but they’re just starting points. I’ve enjoyed seeing the crew of the Blackbird dealing with human-alien relations and the crew of the Appomattox run its cons and get entangled in local affairs. Now that both starships are heading into deep space, the sky’s the limit!

FATE 3e “Vortex” Update 5b.15 — Switching scams

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5b.15 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 2 met on Monday, 2 May 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

After encountering robotic probes, regional warlords, and other horrors in an old battlefield and the Ghanki undersea station, a band of grifters and near-humans escaped to the Shepard 2 orbital city. It conducted a successful heist in the Lunar Free State and was involved in medical disasters in the Venusian colonies before returning to Earth…..

>>”Vortex” Team 2 (5b), crew of the Appomattox, as of spring 2011:

-“Gabriel Adams” [Paul J.]-male North American Terran near-human with telepathy, courier and pilot

-“Hector Chavez” [Beruk A.]-male Latin American Terran human, “burned” operative and communications expert

-“ARTHERR” [Greg D.C.]-Advanced Resonance Theoretical Heuristic Exploration and Research Robot created by megacorp Vimeco

-“Jasmine” [Sara F.] female Martian Felinoid (Synth, “Uplifted” tiger), former professional pit fighter

-“Dr. Richmond Garrett” [Dave S.C.]-male Southern American Terran human, space snake-oil salesman and social climber

-“Dr. Dieter Klein” [Rich L./absent]-male European Terran human, semi-retired physician, altruist and thrill seeker

-“Nero Bartholomew” [Non-Player Character]-male Terran human, former owner of the “Fortune’s Fool,” ship’s cook

-“Averki ‘Deep Dish’ Dyashenko” [N.P.C.]-male reptilian Synth (genetically engineered humanoid), onetime Venusian miner

“23 to 25 September 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” After hosting a night of gambling to gather leads on a faster-than-light (FTL) drive, the crew of the Appomattox follows up with its contacts and begins making heist plans.

Capt. Gabriel Adams maneuvers the yacht/smuggler in Earth orbit, and Hector Chavez asks his onetime handler Max for more information on magnate Feng Ruying [think Richard Branson]. ARTHERR recommends simply asking Feng for access to an FTL engine, but the robot’s more larcenous companions don’t think he’ll see the benefit “for all mankind.”

Jasmine is reluctant to be involved in more criminal activities, but “Dr. Richmond Garrett” is confident that his increasingly elaborate confidence schemes will work. The adventuring party had learned from Capt. Brandon Morgan about the Enlightened Flower, Feng’s experimental ship merging Terran technology with FTL systems from the Olvar (mammal-like arboreal aliens).

Gabriel, whose fixer Lilian Morrisey referred Capt. Morgan, notes that the Enlightened Flower is under construction at Feng’s private dock near Blackrock Station, in orbit opposite the Moon. Hector finds that although the inventor’s public record is exemplary, he is under investigation by the United Earth Authority (U.E.A.) for trying to obtain restricted extraterrestrial technology to corner the transportation market in the outer Sol system.

ARTHERR asserts that FTL technology should be freely available to humanity and looks for anarchist groups on Terran information networks. He finds several, including the Xox Memes, Shadow Orphans, Autonomist Alliance, and the Prometheans. Some include fellow rogue artificial intelligences (A.I.s).

Jasmine is wary upon learning that Feng has hired Systemes de Recuperation Executif Cie (SRE, or Exective Retrieval Systems Inc.), from whose warehouse in Kalam Spaceport in the Lunar Free State the group had stolen other parts for its ship. ARTHERR verifies that an FTL drive can be installed in the Appomattox.

Richmond finds that Brad Ogden of Transport Conglomerates is a rival to Feng and that the Ru’ulok (heavy-gravity reptilian aliens) are competing with the Olvar for influence on Terran trade. He invites Gorvek Beezo and “Rabak Porset” [Non-Player Character/Rich L.], two Ru’ulok he had gambled with, back to the Appomattox, but before they arrive, the ship receives containers from fixer “Ramon Sanchez” [Josh H./Greg D.C./N.P.C.]!

Unable to contain his curiosity, Gabriel begins circumventing the security on one of the containers, even though ARTHERR notes that they’re pressurized and climate-controlled. Hector scans and detects wood, cloth, and precious metals rather than the contraband tech he was expecting.

Underworld courier Gabriel opens one lid and finds a trove of paintings, sculpture, and books. ARTHERR cross-references art databases and finds that they’re from the Vatican museums but are not listed as lost. The robotic scout scans the other containers and finds similar artifacts, including priceless texts thought lost with the library of ancient Alexandria.

Richmond appraises the items, and Gabriel says that Ramon is underpaying for their transport to Epsilon Eridani. ARTHERR and Jasmine are unsure of why such relics would need to be smuggled out of the Sol system, but as the two Ru’ulok hail Hector, the group hastily closes the container and goes to meet them.

Dr. Garrett takes Gorvek and Rabak to the ship’s lounge, as ex-spy Hector scans them for hidden transmitters. Former wrestler Jasmine keeps an eye on the reptilian traders, who agree with ARTHERR that FTL technology should be freely shared with humanity, despite the U.E.A. and Kharvamid Alliance’s rules.

Gabriel orders Nero Bartholomew and Averki “Deep Dish” Dyashenko to prepare food and drinks for the Ru’ulok, who turn out to be carnivorous. They repeat their offer of information regarding an alien ship just outside the Sol system, saying that the worst the humans can expect are Gustrall (raptor-like, orange-furred alien) sentries.

Richmond says that he is considering Rabak’s mission among others, including the salvage of a derelict Terran vessel referred by Max. The snake-oil salesman and ARTHERR (resisting his Vimeco programming) boldly suggest that if an extrasolar FTL drive was somehow stolen, its plans could be leaked, covertly helping both the party and the Ru’ulok. Gorvek says he’ll consider the plan and try to contact friendly pilots.

After Gorvek and Rabak leave, Richmond and company shift their plans from getting close to Feng Ruying to steal the Enlightened Flower to hijacking an FTL drive from an underguarded Ru’ulok ship near Earth. Gabriel will pilot the Appomattox and move the nonaligned ship away from orbital stations. He buys pirate garb for the team.

Hector and ARTHERR intend to hack security systems and remove the engine, while Jasmine will look out for reinforcements. The tiger woman dyes her fur to resemble an Olvar. Richmond (who already looks like a young Col. Sanders) plans to bring fried chicken laced with sedatives from Dr. Dieter Klein, who has been visiting friends in the orbital cities.

ARTHERR contacts the brokers at Xox Memes as “Masters of Earthly Lubricated Information Network,” or MERLIN, to help distribute the FTL plans, in return for future help. Oceanic A.I. Gordon agrees.

Gorvek contacts the crew of the Appomattox with the names of two ships: the Star Shark (as translated from Ru’ulok) of Capt. Droata and the Red Manta of Capt. Dorno. Both of their crews are mostly on shore leave, but they are not yet aware of plans to take their engines. The would-be pirates head toward the Ru’ulok trader Star Shark….

I hope everybody enjoyed the latest “Vortex” game, and I look forward to seeing some of you at the Waltham steampunk festival, Free Comic Book Day, Thor, and the potluck at the Blue Hills in the coming weekends! Rich, we’ve missed you, and Paul and Beruk, I’ll see you virtually at Sunday’s Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” fantasy session. Later, -Gene