“Vortex” Update 5a.24 — Panic at the disco

"Vortex" Player Characters — "Felana" and the crew of the P.T.S. "Venture"

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5a.24 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 1 met on Monday, 14 November 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Bulldogs, 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. Will 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, they continued their mission of diplomacy and exploration to Titan, Tyche, and Alpha Centauri. From Van Maanen’s Star, the Olvar scout ship evaded a trap at Cetus Eridani and met priestesses and miners at Beta Canum Venaticorum before resuming its journey toward Oasis Station….

>>FATE 3e “Vortex” Team 1 (5a), crew of the Blackbird:

-“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 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

-“Scoop Chang” [Rich C.G.]-male Jovian “near-human,” interstellar reporter kidnapped by the Olvar; psi interested in First Contacts

-“Tariq Asrad Saladin” [Beruk A.]-male Terran “near-human,” seeker of enlightenment and investigator met aboard the Ma’ari ship Cyan Horizon

-“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

>>”25 to 31 October 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” At BD+04-123, or 96 Piscium, the Blackbird had found a planet with ancient canals and dinosaur-like creatures. The explorers also encountered a Talari — a huge ark ship of the mysterious Ma’ari.

After some debate in reaction to the brusque invitation from the Ma’ari, the crew agrees to visit the Cyan Horizon. Aughest-vor… pilots the drop ship Dragonfly into a landing bay, where he is greeted by trade envoy Rilga and Asdann Fre’vel, an impatient Gustrall (orange-furred, antlered, avian/raptor-like alien) guard. The Ma’ari themselves turn out to be pale humanoids with large, dark eyes and are only about 1 meter tall.

Rilga, who is more relaxed in attitude than many of her fellow wanderers, takes the Terrans, Trinoid, and Tharian on a tour. She intensifies the ambient light locally since the Ma’ari see in the ultraviolet.

Tela asks to see engineering, and Rilga takes the group to a compartment that uses zero-point energy for both inertialess maneuvering and faster-than-light (FTL) travel. Syzygy notes that the Ma’ari have been starfarers for about 10,000 Earth years, so some of their technology is more advanced than the Blackbird‘s or even that of the Trinoids.

Asdann warns Chris McKee that because the Ma’ari have been traveling for so long, several areas of the Talari don’t respect central authority and may thus be dangerous for visitors. Aughest-vor notices that his party is being quietly watched by the curious Ma’ari as they walk around their vessel.

Lt. Kevin Reese shares superficial details about the Sol system and asks for a holographic display of the various species aboard the Cyan Horizon. He sees the positions of a few other humans, Olvar (arboreal, mammal-like mystics), and even Tharians! Tela manages to tear herself away from the power generators and is excited to meet others of her kind for the first time as an adult.

Scoop Chang instructs EVE, his hovering robotic camera, to record everything. He and Kevin warn robot Dr. Bucket back on the Blackbird to move confidential data to protect it from unauthorized Ma’ari scans. Syzygy and Aughest believe the effort is futile because of the difference in tech levels.

Rilga and Asdann escort Syzygy and company through garden levels and a waste processing plant. The xenologist is happy to obtain samples from scientist Murilo for later study and learns that Ma’ari biochemistry is different from that of humans. They then go to residential areas, including an Escher-like maze of passages with localized gravity and a space for artistic performances.

A group of Ma’ari sit with their legs folded as one named Kasfel telekinetically shapes and colors a living mass. Syzygy, who normally objects to the creation of artificial sentience, has no problem with this strange sculpture. Tela looks for other Tharians.

Aughest-vor, normally friend to all, finds the small, staring extraterrestrials disconcerting. Observant Lt. Reese spots a human in the audience, while Scoop briefly joins the circle telepathically. The retro hipster journalist finds that the Ma’ari do not have a hive mind.

Kasfel invites wary Chris to join him in Heliconian Twisting, a “biomechanical self-defense form of expression.” Agent Prometheus steps into the circle, thinking that he’ll be sparring with just Kasfel, but four groups of three Ma’ari each emerge!

One martial artist leaps toward Chris, who knocks him down and puts his knee on his chest. However, the diminutive foe is double-jointed and easily slips out of a joint lock. Syzygy, who has brought along his cat Mr. Sniffles in a carrier, senses nothing untoward.

Stealthy Tela sidles up to the Terran in the audience. Tariq Asrad Saladin places bets on the newcomers and describes himself as a “seeker of enlightenment.” Aughest grabs a bo stick, and Scoop uses Genurgy to grow wings and pick him up. Kevin goes to sweep the leg of yet another Ma’ari, and the lights go out!

Scoop activates EVE’s spotlight, and Syzygy asks Rilga about the rules of the sparring match. A second Ma’ari is hurled at Chris, but he blocks the blow. When all sound in the chamber is dampened, Tela uses an EMP gun to against the counterwave emitters, knocking out artificial gravity in the process!

The acrobatic Ma’ari have little difficulty maneuvering in weightlessness, but Mr. Sniffles isn’t happy. Scoop and solar-sail racer Aughest slam into a wall before pushing off back into the fray with bo sticks and mental bolts. Chris and Kevin hold their own until Kasfel agrees to call the match a draw, disappointing Tariq.

Rilga brings the away team to the main bridge of the Cyan Horizon, a spherical room whose crew stands on hovering platforms amid multicolored displays of ship functions and interstellar space. Capt. Lurandi directs drones that resemble hummingbirds and coolly greets the humans, still sweating from their recent exertions.

Syzygy asks the Ma’ari for help removing Chris’ cranial implants, and Lurandi orders physician “Felana” [Jenna R.P./Non-Player Character] to prepare the patient for surgery. While Tela and Aughest hope to learn more from archivist Hublo, Agent Prometheus’ self-preservation subroutine activates, and the sniper bolts for the door!

Lt. Reese tackles his onetime brother in arms (back on Mars), drawing a stun grenade — and the ire of Scoop and Lurandi. Kevin explains that Black Box Security Co. has compromised Chris’ health and free will, but Scoop and Tariq worry about offending the Ma’ari and that his faculties would be diminished if his cyberware is removed.

Felana reassures Syzygy that the microprocessors could be reimplanted if so desired by Chris and company. Asdann confiscates the interlopers’ weapons (and promises to return them later). Syzygy and Kevin stay with Agent Prometheus as Felana and her drones operate.

Rilga leads the others through twisting tunnels until they come to a nest of conduits near a sensor array. Tela sees a male Tharian, whose glider wings and low frill resemble her own, rather than that of another caste. Kedar seems just as awkwardly excited as Tela, unexpectedly bringing out Aughest, Scoop, and Tariq’s paternal instincts. They reluctantly give the gargoyle-like pair some privacy as they compare technical notes.

While Chris recuperates and Tela canoodles, the rest of the Blackbird‘s crew and Tariq go to meet Kligba Onagan, an Olvar who had contacted Syzygy on behalf of the Kharvamid Alliance. They enter a darkened apartment and talk with a hooded figure seated behind a curved desk.

Syzygy and Aughest respond that they are no assassins, and Scoop detects no mental activity. Tariq hangs back as the person is revealed to be a xenoid (alien android). The real Kligba arrives and warns that the Sol system is in the path of the dreaded Zarkonian Armada! Laransu and other worlds have already fallen [see earlier update for a list of alien species].

The agent of the Olvar Star League tells Syzygy, off the record, that the crustaceans will reach human space in about a Terran year. The Ma’ari are neutral, he says, but they encountered the Zarkonians millennia ago, and their arks could be helpful. Syzygy agrees that while they are often divided, humans have potential and are worth trying to save.

When the humans express a desire to head home to relay the warning to the United Earth Authority, Kligba responds that a Precursor FTL gate has been set up at Oasis Station, about 40 parsecs from Sol (three weeks’ travel for the Morifaiwet). It would enable them to communicate with or travel to Earth even more rapidly than with its REM drive.

Aughest-vor recognizes the need for Terrans to find allies and not to dawdle, as Kligba reminds him that humans will soon be traveling through the space they’re exploring. Lt. Reese hopes to gain strategic information from Kharvamid contacts at the interstellar crossroads, but Scoop is more optimistic about the Ru’ulok (reptilian heavy-gravity pirates) and Zarkonians.

The crew of the Blackbird reconvenes with Lurandi. Syzygy thanks the Ma’ari for their hospitality, and Tela invites Kedar to come along to Oasis Station. He and Tariq accept, with Kedar and Tela bunking in their scout ship’s engineering and Tariq taking Tela’s cabin. (Scoop had already taken Gombo’s quarters.)

Chris seems happy to be free of his cranial implants, but he is still interested in going hunting with Asdann. Aughest-vor asks xenoid Hublo for astrogation advice for avoiding Kuvor’s Veil, a nebula between the Sol system and Ru’ulok territory.

During a private meeting, Capt. Lurandi tells Lt. Reese that she’ll send Felana and a delegation to advise the U.E.A. as soon as possible. Kevin also wants to ask for a cloaking device, but Scoop instead recommends improving long-range FTL communications. Syzygy says they should weigh their options before making any more requests and departing….

I hope that everyone had a good time, even as we had a full basement! Brian, thanks again for picking up dinner from Pronti Bistro, and thanks to everyone for replenishing our munchies. Beruk, I’m glad you were able to make a cameo. I hope that Bruce and Rich can return the favor sometime to Team 2 (the grifters aboard the Appomattox).

I hope to see some of you at the Super MegaFest or whatever game we play during Byron V.O.’s visit this coming Saturday, Nov. 19! Remember that we won’t be role-playing on Nov. 20, 21, or 27, or Dec. 5, and let me know your availability for Nov. 28 and Dec. 12. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, -Gene

In blackest night…

Kilowog and Hal Jordan — Green Lantern: the Animated Series

On Thursday, 10 November 2011, Janice and I had dinner at the Acropolis restaurant in Needham, Massachusetts. The next evening, we settled in for the usual night of animation and genre television. We enjoyed Cartoon Network’s premiere of Green Lantern: the Animated Series, which combines Bruce Timm’s streamlined style from his superb 1990s shows with computer animation similar to that in Star Wars: Clone Wars.

I thought that it was smart of GL:tAS‘s producers to focus on Hal Jordan’s missions against the murderous Red Lanterns in deep space rather than on his origin story, which was recently covered in the live-action movie and First Flight DVD. The previews of Cartoon Network’s DC Nation were also fun, with a Wallace & Gromit-like short and another of the chibi Teen Titans. The level of violence in GL:tAS was greater than in some superhero shows, but as with Clone Wars, it’s necessary for the military space opera.

Speaking of Clone Wars, I think the darkening tone befits a war that began with idealism and ended with critically weakened democracies, much like World War I. On a related note, famed comic book creator Frank Miller lobbed a rhetorical grenade into debate around the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street movements. I don’t deny that there have been difficulties with latter’s focus and safety, but I also believe that questioning economic fairness is no less patriotic than fighting terrorism. Science fiction author David Brin posted a strong retort, and I wish that both liberals and conservatives alike would strive harder to stay civil.

On a lighter note, I’m still impressed with the gradual world building in ThunderCats and belated insights into the superheroes in Young Justice. Chuck and Fringe have been experimenting with some role swaps this season, and Grimm reminds me not just of the fantasy Fables or Once Upon a Time, but also the late Pushing Daisies.

After raking leaves on Saturday, we ate at the Texas Road House, whose Dallas filet steak I enjoyed. I also liked Masterpiece: Contemporary’s Page Eight, an all-star musing on British national security and bureaucracy (not unlike Homeland). On Sunday, Janice and I attended a performance of works by Bach, Respighi, Haydn, and Brahms by the Rivers Symphony Orchestra at Christ Church in Needham.

“Vortex” Update 5a.23 — the Menace on Venice

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5a.23 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 1 met on Monday, 24 October 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Bulldogs, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

>>FATE 3e “Vortex” Team 1 (5a), crew of the Blackbird:

-“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 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

-“Scoop Chang” [Rich C.G.]-male Jovian “near-human,” interstellar reporter kidnapped by the Olvar; psi interested in First Contacts

-“Lt. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K./absent]-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

>>”22 to 25 October 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” While on the way to Oasis Station, about 40 parsecs from Earth, the crew of the Blackbird had more hallucinations in Transit space, thanks to the REM faster-than-light drive. In their shared dream, the explorers met representations of the experimental Olvar ship and newcomer Scoop Chang, another Terran far from home.

The scout vessel returns to normal space near BD+04-123, a star in in the Andromedae constellation. Syzygy assesses Chris McKee’s cybernetic implants (for eventual removal) and the biomechanical Blackbird, assisted by droid Dr. Bucket.

Tela optimizes Scoop’s hovering newsbot, which he has nicknamed “EVE” and styled to look like an early 20^th century flash camera. She adds thrusters and manipulator arms so that it can help the interstellar journalist when he’s outside the ship.

Chris reviews the Olvar Star League database for records on the Zarkonians, a species he glimpsed during the shared hallucination. Agent Prometheus finds that the crab-legged aliens’ armada threatens the Aquarian and Polarian homeworlds. He is wary of Scoop, whose arrival on the Blackbird even engineer Tela can’t explain.

Pilot Aughest-vor… scans the BD+04-123 system — a.k.a. HR 222, GL 333, Hip. 3765, 96 Piscium, or Wolf 25. The orange-red dwarf is orbited by two Neptune-size gas giants, one iceball world, and two rockballs (one hot). There is also a planet in the “Goldilocks” zone, about half an AU (Astronomical Unit, the distance from Earth to Sol) from the star.

Lt. Kevin Reese takes a turn at the helm while Scoop asks Chris and Aughest-vor about their dealings with aliens. They explain their distrust of the Ru’ulok, who have been involved with intrigues on Earth and Mars. Chris and Aughest describe the following extraterrestrial species that they’ve met so far:

-Aquarians/Polarians [created with Carlo R.]: Amphibious humanoids with colonies in a few systems; threatened by Zarkonian Armada

–Boobulons: Green-skinned, three-breasted humanoids on planet “Henson/Hefner” near Beta Canum Venaticorum; Syzygy believes they’re derived from Terran stock by the Encegulans

–Cestolar: Literal-minded, badger-like former Olvar clients; prospectors encountered at Tyche

–Dwellers of the Clouds: Gas-giant dwellers met near Alpha Centauri

–Encegulans: Slug-like slavers from whom Tela escaped

–Gustrall: Orange-furred, antlered, velociraptor-like warriors

–Kutalrin: Robotic scavengers/raiders with hive mind, used “Squltures” and T-inhibitors to trap unwary vessels near Cetus Eridani

–Ma’ari [created by Jenna R.P.]: Diminutive humanoid wanderers; see below

–Meorr [created by Dave F.R-B.]: Lion-like berserkers

–Nethians: Blue insectoid engineers, members of the Kharvamid Alliance

–Olvar: Arboreal mammal-like pranksters and mystics; co-founders with the Trinoids of the Kharvamid Alliance

–Precursors: Ancient starfaring species capable of massive engineering projects such as those near Van Maanen’s Star; current whereabouts unknown

–Ru’ulok: Heavy-gravity reptilian traders

–Salvorain: Descendants of Aquarian miners near Van Maanen’s Star

-Tharians [created by Sara F.]: Gargoyle-like, pre-FTL aliens; see Tela

–Tolimanian mantiles: Reptilian/insectoid xenomorphs (hostile life forms), pack hunters that communicate via subsonics, encountered near Alpha Centauri

-Trinoids [developed by David I.S., Brian W.]: Three-armed, barrel-trunked xenobiologists; see Syzygy

–Venetian land whales, carnosaurs, and lampreys: See below

–Xenoids: Synthetic beings created by aliens, similar to humanity’s “Synths” (robots/A.I.s, “Uplifted” animals, genetically engineered humanoids)

-Zarkonians [created by Gene D., Carlo R., Bill B., Jon B., and Ray C.]: Tentacled crustaceans with an interstellar armada; homeworld unknown

Their diplomatic missions have been mostly successful so far. Scoop then interviews Syzygy and Tela about their interest in Terrans, but he is interrupted as the Blackbird enters orbit around a life-bearing planet (96 Piscium B). Tela names it “Venice” after a sunken human city because of a network of canals visible from space.

Lt. Reese and Dr. Bucket stay behind as Aughest, Syzygy, Tela, Chris, and Scoop take the drop ship Dragonfly to the surface. Aughest lands it near a large waterway amid indigo vegetation and bird-like aliens. Syzygy says that the air is breathable, gravity is 80% of Earth’s, and microbes pose a minimal threat. The humans adjust their goggles to shift the visible spectrum to be less stressful on their eyes.

Xenologist Syzygy happily wades into the old canal, and grease monkey Tela glides to a ruined pump station. Curious Scoop asks Chris if the party typically scatters without a First Contact protocol, and the paranoid Black Box agent says that the aliens are often in charge in such situations. Aughest reminds everyone to keep comm channels open.

Although he is unable to identify the canal builders, Syzygy enjoys swimming with fish-like creatures and takes samples until he senses tremors. Tela climbs up the side of the stone building until she finds a round opening into an upper chamber. She climbs in, stepping on squishy, reactive moss. Scoop sends EVE up to provide light and record her findings.

Aughest-vor soon also notices the ground shaking, and he spots a stampeding herd of animals approaching! Scoop surprises everybody by using Genurgy to grow wings, and he carries Aughest to the top of the tower. (Such mutations are very rare among humans.)

Chris calls to Syzygy to get out of the water and hasten to the pump house, where Tela is disappointed to find the strange hydraulics equipment inoperable. The beasts hove into view, and each herbivore has six legs, a wide stalk with sensory organs above a low-slung maw, and a body the size of the Tiger Hawk Sandstorm ground-effect vehicle (which Aughest wishes he had taken)!

From the top of the pumping station, Scoop and Aughest see a dozen large carnosaurs loping at the edges of the panicked herd, which has started crossing the canal. Tela throws a rope to Chris, while Syzygy seeks shelter behind the tower. Fortunately, none of the lumbering Venetian “land whales” collides into him.

While looking for passageways, Aughest falls through a hole to a level below Tela. EVE illuminates numerous crawling creatures, a few of which resemble millipedes with lamprey-like jaws! The onetime playboy calls for some help, and Tela throws down a glow rope but forgets to tether it to something. Aughest tries to fend off the swarm with the rope and asks for another.

Chris and Syzygy eventually pull up Aughest, who has only a few bites that need medical attention. Scoop observes that most of the land-whale herd has passed, so he could fly toward the “Dragonfly” with Aughest. Tela volunteers to follow, and sniper Chris says he’ll cover them.

Scoop uses psionics to thicken his skin and takes off, carrying Aughest, who has a pheromone grenade from Syzygy. Three of the clawed carnivores run after them. Tela follows, gradually descending, but Agent Prometheus’ first shots go wide.

Barely outpacing the predators, Scoop and Aughest-vor get to their drop ship. Scoop establishes communications with the Blackbird, and Aughest frags one of his pursuers with the rail gun, making Chris proud. The Dragonfly picks up the rest of the away team and returns to orbit, just as Lt. Reese warns that a huge vessel has entered the system.

Lurandi, captain of the Talari (ark ship) “Cyan Horizon,” hails the fellow explorers and tells the Blackbird to prepare to be boarded. The Terrans are alarmed, but Syzygy asks the Ma’ari captain to rendezvous in neutral space to trade information on the world they call “Stark.” She agrees to go to “Florence” (96 Piscium C), an airless rocky planet.

Aughest-vor, Tela, and Scoop take the Dragonfly, while Syzygy, Chris, Kevin, and Dr. Bucket stay on the Blackbird. The vacc-suited Terrans and Tharian step onto Florence, where they meet representatives of the Ma’ari, who appear humanoid but less than half the size of humans! Lurandi and trade envoy Rilga coolly invite the delegates to their moon-size ship, but they hesitate.

Syzygy checks the Olvar database and learns that the inquisitive Ma’ari don’t have a homeworld and have been starfarers for about 10,000 Earth years. Chris sits in his gun turret, wary of the massive Talari. Lt. Reese tries to assess whether the nonaligned species is a threat, and Dr. Bucket’s scans indicate as many as 1 million life forms on the space ark!

Scoop is more optimistic about aliens, however, so he and Aughest try to engage the Ma’ari in conversation, despite Tela’s worries. They ask for time to discuss the invitation among their crew, and Lurandi agrees. Meanwhile, Kligba Onagan, a hooded Olvar aboard the Cyan Horizon, privately radios Syzygy and asks to meet on behalf of the Kharvamid Alliance….

Bruce, we missed you at this week’s game! Brian, thanks again for the cheese, and Jason, thanks for bringing The One Ring for us to look at. Josh, I look forward to participating in your Fortune’s Fool one-shot this coming weekend.

Note that the Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” fantasy telecom team won’t be meeting again until Sunday, 6 November 2011, and “Vortex” Team 2 (the crew of the Appomattox) will play on Nov. 7. Have a Happy Halloween, -Gene

“Vortex” Update 5b.22 — “Spyger,” or closing the case

Uplifted creatures in Eclipse Phase — "Uplifted" animals

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5b.22 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 2 met on Monday, 17 October 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Bulldogs, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

A band of grifters and near-humans retrieved dangerous samples from a battlefield north of Karachi and the Ghanki undersea station. It stole starship engines from a lunar base and an orbital city and was involved in medical disasters in the Venusian colonies. After finding a dimensionally displaced derelict, the team made inquiries into its cargo amid religious turmoil on Titan….

>>FATE 3e “Vortex” Team 2 (5b), crew of the Appomattox:

-“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

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

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

-“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

>>”19 to 21 October 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” While on its way to deliver a mysterious cargo of Vatican relics to Epsilon Eridani, the crew of the Appomattox became involved in a murder investigation on Eclipse Station, in orbit around Saturn’s moon Titan.

Hector Chavez monitors news channels and hacks into the station’s security, and ARTHERR notes that LP 656-38, a star system near Epsilon Eridani, is somewhat more likely to have human-inhabitable planets.

Jasmine meets with Kolidari, the octopoid (“Uplifted” octopus) co-owner of the Lucky Garden Casino. After reluctantly sharing a hot tub with him and Delphine (“Uplifted” dolphin) astrogator Erta Garza, the Felinoid says she’ll consider his offer to work with “Synths” rather than for humans who treat them poorly.

Richmond Garrett orders a hovercycle in the form of a robotic horse from provisioners Amir and Hassan Mukhtadi. Back at the casino, Capt. Gabriel Adams continues chatting up gynoids Tanya and Galia in the hope that they’ll help him with a heist.

Damp Jasmine returns to the space yacht, where she reports to Hector and company about Kolidari (whose voder makes him sound like archaic-era actor Sean Connery). Onetime spy Hector recalls that security cameras caught an octopoid near where firebrand preacher Hugh Doyle was found murdered.

ARTHERR sees little reason to turn in the charismatic fellow Synth (synthetic sentient) to the local authorities, since Doyle had claimed that divine scripture “granted man dominion over all life.” Mr. Garrett agrees that it’s better to steer clear of the unsettling assassin, even if Gabriel still plans to rob his casino.

A security alert warns Hector of another disturbance near Eclipse Station’s chapel. A woman is rallying Doyle’s followers to continue spreading his fundamentalist doctrine across the outer Sol system. The local constabulary — as well as gambler Rev. Winston Jones, in all likelihood — seems more concerned with protecting the casino than confronting the angry mob.

Hector sets off an alarm in an attempt to disperse the assembled scruffy colonists and religious zealots. ARTHERR and Richmond get on the intercom and warn of “Venusian cancer gas” before local authorities cut them off. Since the woman continues inciting the colonists, Hector uses the fire-suppression systems to spray her with carbon dioxide foam.

The communications expert later identifies her as Louise Reinhagen, the wealthy widow who was a financial supporter (and onetime lover) of Hugh Doyle. ARTHERR notes that a recording from the Ringtown Diner caught her talking with Adrian Valentin, a smuggler who bought the equipment used to kill Doyle. Reinhagen had revealed to Gabriel that Valentin was blackmailing her and Hugh at the time of his death.

In a back alley, Jasmine again meets with Synth laborers “Prini Vonchadry” [Non-Player Character/Beruk], “Rosario Tamuz” [N.P.C./Greg], and cigar-chomping Chim (“Uplifted” chimpanzee) Faisal Batar. She warns them of Doyle’s followers, who may lash out at nonhumans in their grief at his unsolved murder.

Ursoid (“Uplifted” bear) Prini relays the tiger-woman’s news about Reinhagen and Doyle’s relationship to the information networks, while Felinoid (“Uplifted” panther) reiterates her drunken theory that Doyle was sacrificed to “dark gods” — even though she is unaware of the ritualistic aspects of his murder. ARTHERR had theorized that the disembowelment and candles were an attempt at misdirection.

After conducting research into Louise’s late husband Jurgen Reinhagen, an Oromax megacorp executive killed at the Hephaestus Stadium disaster near Venus, Richmond changes clothes and goes to meet her at a luxury apartment on the station. A robotic butler greets the confidence artist, who finds the merry widow strangely unaffected by the deaths of her husband and lover.

Louise admits that Doyle was no friend to the United Ecumenical Movement (U.E.M.), Rev. Jones, or Synths, but she found his beliefs comforting after her husband’s death. Reinhagen reiterates that Valentin had threatened to expose her relationship, which has now happened even after Doyle’s murder.

Meanwhile, Jasmine and a small but feral group of Synths goes in search of Reinhagen as the current leader of Doyle’s flock. Hector spots them heading toward the residential area, and ARTHERR hastily assembles Mr. Garrett’s robotic horse (a non-Vimeco model).

Richmond tells Louise to retreat through a rear exit and meet him later at the Appomattox‘s dock. He then goes to talk to the fierce bioengineered and robotic beings. Former wrestler Jasmine tosses the snake-oil salesman over her shoulder and sprints to get some breathing room.

Engineer Hector shuts down airlocks so they can’t be spaced and tinkers with life support to slow down pursuit. ARTHERR broadcasts images of Richmond’s past altercations with Doyle’s followers to the corridors near the Synths to show that he’s actually on their side.

The sheriff and counterdemonstrators will soon arrive, observes Hector. ARTHERR remotely — and not very gracefully — guides Richmond’s horse to him, crashing into a wall on the way. Mr. Garrett manages to calm the crowd and gets behind Jasmine in the saddle. They fly back to Eclipse Station’s docking bay.

Capt. Garzan Cisneros of the local patrol warns the troubleshooters that since Richmond has been involved in several civil disturbances around Venus and Saturn, he should avoid future trouble on the station. Even though he plans to address Doyle and Reinhagen’s followers and has had complaints filed against him by the real Dr. Garrett, Richmond agrees.

Synths Averki “Deep Dish” Dyashenko and Jasmine are reluctant to let Reinhagen aboard the Appomattox, but Richmond ushers her to an unused cabin, hoping to later tap her wealth and perhaps have her join his crew. ARTHERR attends to the damaged hovercycle, adding a pony-shaped sidecar.

Archbishop Javier Fuentes radios Hector to inquire about progress in the investigation of Hugh Doyle’s murder. The armored U.E.M. officer says he has two troop transports of chaplains on its way from New Quebec to help secure the orbital station, but ARTHERR warns against provoking further violence among the Saturnian colonists.

Hector reveals that a conspiracy suspect is in custody, and Archbishop Fuentes agrees to send a less obvious detachment for her once a confession is extracted. Burly Jasmine stands guard as Richmond reluctantly questions the widow.

After flirting and weeping in vain, Louise explains that Adrian Valentin had been using Doyle’s expanding network of followers to facilitate his smuggling. When moralistic Doyle objected, Valentin blackmailed him and Reinhagen, ultimately carrying out his threat to kill him.

Mr. Garrett asks Reinhagen who else would profit from Doyle’s death, and she eventually names Kolidari and Esteban Bakafret, a shipping magnate whose profits might be threatened by the self-righteous preacher. She knows nothing of the ritualistic aspects of the slaying.

In return for a “donation” to “MarSoupAil” — shell company Mars Soup Aid Lenders Ltd. — the grifters offer to minimize their description of Louise’s involvement (not to mention the octopoid assassin) to the U.E.M. to protect her from reprisals by Bakafret. They then turn her over to Archbishop Fuentes’ agents, who say they’ll work with Capt. Cisneros to find Valentin and close the inquiry.

Now that the U.E.M. owes the Appomattox a favor, Hector contacts his onetime handler Max back on Earth to help cover his tracks and check the news. Richmond retreats to his well-appointed quarters and calls for chef Nero Bartholomew.

Jasmine wonders whether Erta, Tanya, and Galia will be able to join the crew without her going back to Kolidari. Gabriel still wants to rob the casino and learn more about the Vatican artifacts. ARTHERR sets a course for Epsilon Eridani….

Thanks again to both “Vortex” groups for replenishing our munchies! Paul, we missed you, and note that the Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” fantasy telecom team won’t be playing again this coming weekend. Thanks, Greg, for your flexibility regarding your Dresden Files game as I sort out my schedule for November.

In the meantime, Team 1 (the crew of the Blackbird) is set to meet on Monday, Oct. 24 (sorry, Brian), and I won’t be running anything on Halloween. I look forward to Josh’s Fortune’s Fool one-shot on Saturday, Oct. 29! Be seeing you, -Gene

Autumn 2011 genre TV, Part 3

In the first two parts of my look at the new television season, I looked at the mysteries and thrillers that fill many weeknights. Fridays are different, however, with more speculative fiction than any other night. Cartoons, conspiracies, and fantasy worlds abound!

Cartoon Network has been burning off the final episodes of the fun and retro Batman and the Brave and the Bold, followed by the darker Young Justice, lone space opera Star Wars: Clone Wars, and the cool reboot of Thundercats. There have been decent reboots of G.I. Joe (Renegades) and Transformers, but I haven’t had time for them.

I’ve been less impressed with G4’s late-night Wolverine and Iron Man — they have many of the worst weaknesses of both Marvel and anime, such as static scenery, long internal monologues, stereotypical (and worse, bland) villains, and improbable action scenes punctuated by shouting. I’ll give the latest incarnations of the X-Men and Blade a try, however.

I lost Marvel’s Iron Man: Armored Adventures and Fantastic Four in the scheduling shuffle, and I still miss the canceled Spectacular Spider-Man and Sym-Bionic Titan. Cartoon Network/Boomerang has been rebroadcasting Samurai Jack, and the Hub has been showing the superlative Batman: the Animated Series.

In yet more animation, I’m looking forward to Nickelodeon’s fantasy Avatar: the Legend of Korra and the computer-animated Green Lantern and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as well as to the recently announced Beware the Batman. The computer-animated Tron: Uprising, How to Train Your Dragon, and Kung-Fu Panda movie tie-ins should also be coming soon.

As I’ve noted before, Disney/Marvel may have the lead in print comics and live-action movies (see The Avengers trailer), but Warner Bros./DC is holding on with TV series and direct-to-video releases such as the upcoming Batman: Year One and Justice League: Doom. To be fair, Marvel‘s Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and Super Hero Squad have been renewed, and Ultimate Spider-Man (and a live-action Hulk, Cloak & Dagger, and A.k.a. Jessica Jones) is in the works.

Speaking of live action, spy spoof Chuck, cryptozoological Sanctuary, and alternate reality drama Fringe have all moved to what used to be called “SciFridays.” My DVR will be working hard from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.! As with Smallville, I’ll enjoy the cameos on NBC’s Chuck to the show’s approaching end. SyFy’s Sanctuary has been uneven in tone, but Fox’s Fringe is still going strong, in my opinion.

Torchwood is over for now, and I haven’t yet caught A Gifted Man. I’ll try to see Grimm, which combines the modern supernatural aspects of Once Upon a Time with the procedural spoof elements of Dylan Dog (which I recently rented and enjoyed). Less fantastical but more gruesome is Spartacus: Vengeance, which lost its original star Andy Whitfield and whose third season I plan to watch.

On Saturdays, other than the annual Christmas special, Whovians will have a long wait for new Doctor Who episodes — until late 2012. I’m also looking forward to the eventual return of BBC America’s Being Human, if not the Americanized SyFy remake.

A few updates: After my previous posts on the current TV season, I saw that laid-back Southern crime drama Memphis Beat has been canceled, as well as the latest Charlie’s Angels, which I had already dropped. David I.S. has picked up Terra Nova and American Horror Story just as I’ve dropped them from my busy schedule, but there are only so many hours in the week!