...across the Solomanni Rim!
*********** detailed precis follows ************
Questions to Troih or other planners are met with "something's brewing on the Imperial side - hang loose and be ready to go on short notice".
Soon enough, the time comes...
The team is again summoned to Troih's luxurious office:
- Imperial technicians have determined that the next stop 'of interest' for Annic Nova was to be the Chinon System, deep in the Jardin Subsector...and across the Solomanni Rim border. Technically, the armistice of 1003 still holds and trade and travel across the border is legal; flight plans just have to be filed, ships must be registered, all paperwork must be in order, etc. A suitable cover is needed, preferably a real one.
- Chinon is the only habitable planet in the system.
from CLICK
It is:
-- about 6000mi diameter, [3/4 of Terra],
-- with a dense, tainted atmosphere,
-- regular volcanic activity,
-- hydrographics 60% [just under Terra's].
-- It has a Gas Giant, a class C starport, and a population of only 10,000,000.
-- Due to the moderately hostile atmo, most inhabitants live either underground or in habitation bubbles, which are classified as "The Inhabited Zones".
--The government is a representative democracy with Law Level 9 [no weapons outside of home] within the Inhabited Zones: the law level is officially '3' but more like '0' out on the wilder frontier area, where prospectors and explorers need to protect themselves.
-- The general Tech Level is '7', with exceptions for the larger corporations, government entities, and of course, the wealthy.
-- the main industry of the planet is "molds, spores and fungi" [MSF], that grow naturally in sub-surface caverns. These are open to the surface through fissures, and the interaction of pressure, air and mineral qualities is what makes the MSF valuable enough to be an export, mostly for medical and agricultural uses.
***SPOILER ALERT***
If you plant to play "Shadows" from Double Adventure 1, then you should not read these posts!
The Operation
-- the Chinon job is a subcontract with the Albadawi Bureau of Sophont Culture, Art, and Archaeology, which is acting on behalf of the Imperial Ministry of Technology and Ministry of Health. MoT because of the unusual technology in Annic Nova's solar sail, drive, and vacc suits [for starters]. The MoH because plague is still one of the greatest threats to Imperial hegemony, trade, cultural interaction, and sophont health / welfare.
-- The viral properties and the DNA of the 'active' plants on Annic Nova have been linked to those on Chinon, largely through the carefully kept medical records of the big Pharma companies that work with Chinon MSF. Of course, it is difficult to be precise, as the MSF have been used for numerous medical purposes in thousands of systems. However, the Pharma companies were happy to cooperate with Imperial research teams, as lawful, patriotic businesses of the Imperium [!].
--- Thus, a fast-moving scout vessel coordinated with Imperial agents on Chinon over these last few months, to develop the most likely origin point of the plants.
--- Under the guise of the continuing effort to map Chinon [periodically interrupted due to funding constraints], and in cooperation with local authorities, an Imperial survey ship quickly located a site of interest thanks to the coordinates in Annic Nova's travel plan. The site has pyramids constructed by sophont culture.
--- The site was not closely investigated; instead, the survey vessel scanned the artifact from atmo, just well enough to determine that its metallurgical properties were similar enough to the construction metals in Annic Nova for there to be a likely link in the construction culture of both artifacts, ship and pyramids.
--- This link being established, a Team must investigate the artifact, locate and obtain samples and other useful evidence as to the people and purpose of Annic Nova. This includes, but is not limited to: MSF samples, cultural and metallurgical samples, zoological acquisitions including plant and biological specimens.
Cover
Using Eclipse, an upgraded and armed Free Trader, the Team will carry a primary cargo of items useful for the Chinon agribusiness sector, including mining and harvesting equipment, protective suits and gear, replacement parts for common powered tools, and lab equipment for MSF testing and analysis. The goods have already been sold to on-world corporations, and Eclipse is therefore a delivery vessel.
Eclipse will carry a secondary cargo of exploration and prospecting gear, and has permits and authorization to prospect new areas on Chinon as agents for Symbiosys Design or "SD" [CLICK] pronounced "symbiosis". It is a 'reputable' pharma-corp that has previously chartered prospectors and done MSF research, support, distribution, development, and sales "For a Better, Healthier Galaxy" on Chinon and many other worlds. This gear will be used to explore the artifact. Oran Biel has been licensed as a dual agent with SD for this mission, and is prepared with all the necessary, legal paperwork.
The cover is not simply a cover - it is actually a legitimate series of contracts with the various parties involved, including SD for any actual Pharma prospecting that occurs, or at a minimum the delivery of the primary cargo.
The Chinon government is a secondary interest holder in any prospecting and archaeological work on the planet. The only aspect of the cover that is potentially problematic, and possibly illegal, is that the team is not "randomly" prospecting, but headed to a specific uncatalogued artifact as secret agents of the Imperium.
As long as this mission is carried out effectively, the team will be lauded as discoverers of valuable artifacts and alien technology, and receive the usual certificate of thanks from Chinon authorities while also gaining a significant bonus from their employer. Imperium agents and agencies will handle the relationship with Chinon regarding the Artifact, which is of no interest to BWI as a sub-contractor anyway, right?
A Team of minimum 8+ Members is formed:
- the ship can be manned by 2,
- a surface / relay team can be manned by 2,
- and the ground "away" teams can be 2 of 2 members: an entry team, and a relay / backup team to support the entry team, or guard a rapid withdrawal.
TEAM MEMBERS
Pharma Contract:
Heinrich "Doc" [Greg M, Grn L] - Sr. Medical, Glitch [Tony F, Red K] Medical Asst.
Subcontract - Artifacts and Archaeology:
James Moffitz [NPC, Gry J], Phil [John P, Red H] Geological Conveyor
Support Team:
Oran Beil [NPC, Red L] Administration
Simpson [Tony G] Sr. Pilot / Navigator
Jerek [Mark S], Ship's Engineer
Gabriel [Mark S, Red B], Security
Alternates
Hildegard [Bill R, Gry F] Asst. Sr. Pilot
[Glitch [Tony F, Red K] Jr. Pilot]
Dafydd [Tony F], Security
Nehvar [Tony G, Gry A], Security
As of the conclusion of the June session, the Team made the following progress:
- safely landed at standoff distance from the artifact [left image]:
- documented initial encounter with the unusual design, and
- gained access to what appears to be the main area of construction, below the surface. [Interior Level, below].
All this being subject to correction / revision from team members & BWI upon discovery of error, I submit this to the Imperial authorities,
ORAN BIEL, IMar/LTC/ret, for BWI/BRAVO-7.
