The Long Night Ends (A Traveller T20 Game) (Inactive)

Game Master mdt

"Let's see if we can unscramble those missing minuets of the video." The Captain grins "Then we can take turns making up names for all the creatures!"

Some of the video can be recovered, but the rest is missing because the equipment itself didn't transmit, or didn't record, which exactly it is is unsure.

The large freighter takes up position around the planet, and launches a dozen of the probes into orbit, each slowly gathering more and more information about the planet and it's satellites.

Feel free to make up names for them if you like. I'll go ahead and start moving you to the next warp point, since that seems to be the consensus.

Three probes go through the Alpha warp point, and McTavish awaits their return.

Eight hours go by, and one of the probes returns, and begins broadcasting images.

A small point of white light partially eclipsed by a dull red sun. A binary system, a small white dwarf orbiting a red dwarf. Long range visual identifies at least 3 gas giants, two orbiting the red dwarf, and one on the far side of the white star, orbiting it. A small reflective ring indicates an asteroid field around the white star.

Neither star is a good candidate for life bearing worlds, and there are no radio transmissions or other signs of life.

The probes entering the third warp point in the system take eight hours to return as well.

They send back images of a small red star, and sensor readings indicating no unnatural radio or sensor signals. They identify at least one gas giant, and two asteroid belts.

The probes transit the fourth warp-point in the system, and 8 hours later, return with images of a white dwarf halo'd by the slightly larger red dwarf star behind it.

The ship's computer, a few minutes later, indicates that the system is the same system as warp point 2, the small binary dwarf system, but with a terminus in a different location. Two warp points lead to the same system, unusual, but not unheard of.

Are we drawing straws on naming order? : )

Holt was sits at an Engineering station, looking over the readings from the probes.

Hmm, more empty systems... then again, I thought this last one was empty as well..

She clicks on her comm-link to the bridge and says "Captain, looking over the probe reports, I suggest we go to the second system. Two warp points to the same system is a little odd, and we may find something unusual there. Also, while neither of them seem likely to bear life, the asteroid belts in the second system may contain valuable materials."

Nah, feel free to grab anyone as quickly as possible. I suck at names so I won't probably join in, unless I get a revelation or something : )

The Captain nods. "The scientific value might be worth something. And if we are going to find something unexpected, a binary system has more hiding places."

Number of warp points is, generally, dependent on total mass in system, so binary systems tend to have more warp points (as you should have noticed by now) also.

Hig begins to plot a course as necessary to the warp point(s) that will take us to the binary system.

Does one of the points take us to a more interesting place in the system than the other? Is one much further out or some such?

The second one, that shows the white star fully, is much farther out than the one where the red is eclipsing the white.

But we (our ship) is closer to the first one (fully white with halo) that the second one?

"Hmm. Plot a course to the warp node that will take us quickest to the inner region of the star system. It will be easier to move to the potential node locations from there and we get to take a look at the planets and the belt."

Fully white with halo is the second one, you are closer to that one. The other one is closer to the interior of the system, but it'll be faster to go to the other warp point in this system, and transit, if you want to get to the inner system of the binary system.

The ship moves to the first warp point, and transits, exiting slightly above the plane of the ecliptic, and near orbital slot 5 of the red dwarf.

Should we make the active scan SOP if there's no sign of artificial signals? You need it to pinpoint potential warp points.

Yeah. If there are no signs then their tech is either low enough to not threaten us or heads and shoulders above so we would be SOL anyhow. Assuming we meet something hostile .P

The active scan goes off, this time it takes an hour for the full scan to complete, slightly longer than normal, but faster than the last binary system which required travel between stars to complete.

White Dwarf D8
Orbital Slot 2 : Binary Rocky Planet System
Orbital Slot 4 : Ice planet
Orbital Slot 6 : Small Gas Giant
Orbital Slot 7 : Small Gas Giant

Red Dwarf V7
Orbital Slot 0 : Asteroid Belt
Orbital Slot 2 : Small Gas Giant
Orbital Slot 4 : Small Gas Giant
Orbital Slot 5 : Rocky Planet
Orbital Slot 14 : White Dwarf
Orbital Slot 21 : Ice Planet
Orbital Slot 23 : Ice Planet

Potential Warp Points: 10

The only unusual things in the system are the fact that the small white dwarf is actually orbiting the red dwarf as if it were a gas giant, rather than another sun. Both suns have stable planetary systems (although the orbits are elongated thanks to the complex gravity fields), and there is a binary planet system orbiting close to the white dwarf, no doubt caused by the very odd gravity interactions. Two small planets, about the size of old Mercury, orbit each other as they zip around the small hot white star.

Twenty probes are dispatched, and within a week, three additional warp points are located.

The probes from the first warp point show a small red star.

The probes return from the second warp point, and show another binary system, a bright F type star, and a much dimmer red dwarf.

Probes return from the third warp point with views of a small dim red dwarf.

Stellar Map Updated

Holt looks over the probe reports at this first system and sends over the comms. "Captain, there are quite a few solid bodies in this sector. Maybe while the probes check out the surrounding points we could swoop by and take some geological surveys and scan some of these planets... This could be a very profitable mining outpost."

- - - - -

Reading over the probe reports, Holt is continually surprised by things that are really so common.

So many young or weak stars. I wonder how that effects the hyper-physics and warp-point formation around these systems? I'll have to be sure to take some notes, look for patterns, and have a long discussion with Aggie when all is said and done.

Turning to Higs, she says "So what is your opinion about these reports Higs? Any preferences?"

While deciding which system to investigate next, the McTavish returns to the previous system to meet up with the Resplendant at the second gas giant and spend a week refilling the fuel tanks of the bulk freighter. During this week, Vathan and his security force take advantage of the nearness of the Resplendant to set up some training courses for the ship's crews to do boarding exercises and weapons training.

During that week, the probes in the other systems continue to send back more information. When the McTavish returns to the binary star system...

System 1 Sensor: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
System 2 Sensor: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
System 3 Sensor: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Binary System Sensor: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

The probes in system one transmit they have found 2 large gas giants, an asteroid field, and 2 smaller planets.

The probes in system two don't report any additional information due to some programming glitches.

The probes in system three have found a gas giant, and an asteroid belt.

The probes in the binary system the McTavish are in have found that one of the binary planets orbiting the white dwarf is high in radioactives and transuranics, as well as metals.

The probes in the new systems are now drained of fuel, and will be unable to transit again, although they have enough to maneuver around for a few weeks in the system they are currently in. You have 5 probes in the system that are below 10% fuel, and 4 that are below 50%.

Higs has been thinking along the lines of First Officer Holt.

I would look at the F class to start. And might as well recall the probes or at least collect them at a central location in case we ever want them again

Pick up the probes here that are low and then head to the F class star =)?

I am all for that idea!

You'll need to spend about 12 hours at a gas giant to fully refuel the probes

McTavish transits to the binary system, travels for 6 hours, and then pings. The node type is an Alpha type, indicating it's open on both ends.

As the active sensor systems begin to report, information begins to come in on the ship's sensors.

Primary Star : F9 (Very hot, very bright yellow white star)
Companion Star : M4 Red Dwarf (Dim cool red dwarf star)

F9 Habital Slot 6

F9 Star Planets :
Slot 4 : Small rocky planet
Slot 6 : Medium rocky planet, Dense breathable atmosphere, frozen surface water
Slot 8 : Medium frozen planet, very thin atmosphere (Unbreathable)
Slot 20 : Red Dwarf Companion

M4 Star Planets
Slot 0 : Rocky Planet, small
Slot 1 : Rocky Planet, Small
Slot 4 : Large Gas Giant

Possible Warp Point sites : 8

I'll assume you refueled the probes before transit

The ship launches 8 probes toward the warp point sites, leaving 4 in the ship.

Yeah, that seems reasonable :)

Fortitude: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Even stuffed full with motion-sickness pills, Ceres feels her stomach churn as they jump across the point. She left Holt in charge of the bridge as usual then takes a few hours to rest after they made sure nothing immediately catastrophic was happening. She returns half an hour before they are scheduled to go 'loud' with a teacup, looking over Holt's shoulder.

When the scanners start to return the data, not even the lingering discomfort of the translation sickness can dull her enthusiasm.

"Water and atmosphere ?" she exclaims in excitement. "Double and triple check the readings! This could be huge!"

The sensors aren't picking up any lifeforms. However, the atmosphere is correctly balanced. It appears the planet is currently too cold for life (-40 C). The sensors can't pick up microbial life, so there could be microbial life. An up close scan would give more details on the planet. At this range, the system isn't finding anything other than atmospheric composition (78% Nitrogen, 20% oxygen, 2% trace).

Holt is just as surprised by the results as Ceres. She takes the time to check the specific details of the readings, but doesn't find anything odd about them.

"This... seems like something that we really should pay attention too. Comms, send a transmission back to the fleet letting them know what we found, and that we are going to go examine the sixth orbit planet. Then lets make way to that planet!"

The McTavish transmits a signal to it's probe, which transits, and transmits a message to the drone standing position on the other warp point, which transits and transmits to the Resplendent. You've got one more probe to send messages with, and then the McTavish will need to go back itself to take messages. SOP is 2 drones per point. If you want to put more, you can, but need to let me know.

Then the ship spends 8 days in travel to reach the 6th planet. Falling into a equatorial orbit, the ship goes into detailed scan protocols, performing an orbital survey for 24 hours.

Planetary Diameter : 11,280 km
Gravity : 0.875G
Planet Density : Average
Axial Tilt : 20 degrees
Rotational Period : 1476.38 Hours Standard
Orbital Period : 4383.23 Days Standard
Atmosphere : 1.28 Atmospheres
Hydrosphere : 98%
Temperature : -20 to -60 C
Natural Resources : Universal Rating Level 6
Lifeforms: INDETERMINATE

The surface of the planet is white, as are the clouds, and it's like a bright white Christmas decoration floating in space. The surface is 98% water, frozen over between 20 and 40 meters around the equator. Below it's liquid water, mostly salt water.

The planet looks like it could support life if it was warmer. The current orbital slot is warm enough, it appears it's in a perpetual ice age, reflecting most of the light from the star due to the white ice and white clouds.

Given a few hundred years, and several billion tons of carbon black or activated carbon dumped into the atmosphere, to change it's albedo, it might warm up and turn into a semi-tropical planet.

Higs makes sure the probes return after their scans. He will refuel and inspect / repair them when given time.

Got to wonder what's under that ice and if the ice interferes with a scan. I guess we let the Admirals back at fleet figure out what to do with a planet like this?

Kn(Law), Ceres: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

The Captain took her sweet time to reply to Fendar. Ceres was torn and her face showed it. On one hand, habitable worlds were a rare commodity. And she knew just the *proper* way to lay claim to one. On the other hand, they were supposed to work undercover. However, they hadn't found much remnants of the old realms yet. And this space had still been uncharted when the Long Night fell. With a grimace, she wished for not the first time during this expedition that she had a direct line to headquarters.

"We brought an alien species home with us last time." she chuckled. "A pity we can't put the planet on tow and drag it home ..."

"§125:42 Law of the Frontier - To claim an uninhabited world, the discovering part must put a dictated number of fixed position objects that broadcast the name of the claiming part and record the discovery in the claiming ship's log with a stellar date/time stamp based on star chart pictures. Then the claimed world shall register at an Office of Intergalactic Registration (OIR)." She quoted the interstellar law from memory. Granted, it might have changed during the last four centuries but ... It was the most official thing she had. "Within ten standard years, an outpost of directed size by the claiming part must be present on the claimed world or its orbit otherwise the claim is null. For an M class world at least a thousand souls must be present."

"Hmm. Placing our 'flag' on the world could provide great wealth and opportunities for the future of our people. On the other hand, it could also point the way home - with dire consequences. Let us take some time and evaluate wherever this world is worth it. Real estate is always nice, but it is not like Home is crowded."

She falls silent for a few minutes, giving her crew the opportunity to voice any ideas or thoughts about the matter.

"Now, for actually taking a look. Let us see if we can't get a probe into that sea and see what is going on - if anything. An orbital strike could probably crack the icy shell and give us an opening to send in a probe. We just need to fix it so it is both waterproof and can survive the landing." With a grin she adds "And at the very least, we should probably land and take a walk!"

At -20 C, you should not go walking more than necessary. The hovertruck could get around some for first hand viewing. The probes will last a few hours under water before it penetrates the shielding. The McTavish's main cannons will penetrate the ice at close range.

-20 C is harsh, but as long as we pick a place with little wind a short promenade should be possible. Atleast touch down and leave a footprint : )

@Probe & cannons - excellent : ) Let's hope we don't hit the only fragile ecosystem on the planet with this.

To help find additional data using the shipboard scanners:

T\scanner: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

P\survey: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

K\geography: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Holt vaguely listens to Ceres' law lesson, more interested in the planet readings. She does ask "Does it have to be a physical flag and our given name? Didn't we have some kind of registration number before everything went dark? Besides, all of the warp points have changed, so any records of how to get to our system before are obsolete. I don't think it is that big of a risk. But... it doesn't sound like we have the resources to really get anything built around here in time for the claim to matter if someone else wanted to claim it. So I'm not sure it really matters."

She smiles when the captain talks about landing. "We should be able to cruise around in the APC and get some samples, at least if we stick to the brighter parts without the storms. Higs and I can take a look at the APC and see if we can insulate it better, maybe at the cost of some fuel and cargo space."

"And waterproofing the probe shouldn't be a problem. If we land we might even be able to set up a retrieval line and repeat the readings at a few different points."

This could be interesting... another ice world, one more extreme than the last... but at least this one doesn't seem to have life signs, at least initially.

@mdt - how much effort would a 1000 people outpost/station be for our people?

"Our planetary ID and name broadcasted. So some sort of transmitter yes. And even the faintest breadcrum might lead something home ..." Ceres sighed again. She really wanted to claim the world for Telthani, to even place a real physical flag on it. I mean, discovering and claiming a new planet! Whom hasn't dreamt of that? But the complications where many...

When the topic returns to landing and the APC she rejects the troublesome thoughts for now. Better focus on what we can do! Clapping her hands together and grinning, she gives the crew her blessing to get to work. "Excellent, excellent. I'd love to take a closer look at this world!"

Retrieving the probe is not going to be doable, given that it weighs the better part of two tons. You don't have anything that can lift two tons except the McTavish itself. Much less pull it through water and ice chunks

The science team (IE: Holt & Higs) work on one of the probes, modifying it as best they can. They take some of the equipment off that won't be needed (warp point generator, meson communicator, etc), and then put some extra insulation in and fill in gaps with spray foam. Simple changes, taking 10 from both succeeds, so won't make you roll

When they are done, the McTavish drops down into the atmosphere where it's a clear sunny day. They find a thinnish bit of the surface crust near the equator, and the ship's batteries (fired by Vathan andHig) open up on the ice, blasting a crater 30 meters wide and all the way through the ice. The McTavish's lasers would never penetrate the dense atmosphere from orbit, so she had to fly down.

Once the hole is in the ice, the cargo bay doors open and the modified probe is dropped out the front and through the hole. Under the water, it's engines boil water as it moves itself around, taking readings.

The crew get's several hours of readings, no life forms, but they now know how deep the oceans are, which is deep. The planet's crust is active, meaning it has a molten core. All in all, the planet looks like it was on the cusp of developing life but perhaps a volcanic eruption or something pushed it over the edge into an ice age, similar to the Mylthani's homeworld.

The ice is thick enough for the McTavish to set down if you want to land the ship and use the APC. That's the only way of checking for microbial life. You'll have to take ice samples and ocean water samples to be sure

The APC is rated for this weather right? The McTavish can keep an eye out for hostile weather patterns and we can get down and take some samples. Did we bring skiis :D?

If we didn't I can whip some up on the way there!

The APC is rated for up to -40 C, so you don't want to land it on the night side. Daylight side, near the equator, it can handle. On the other hand, taking off out of the landing bay while the McTavish hovers and landing as it hovers, is a much dicier skill check than taking off from a landed McTavish. So needed to know which you wanted to do. You have two people with driving, if I remember, who can drive the APC (check the spreadsheet).

We can probably afford to land the ship, but if we are going to stay planetside longer then an hour or so the ship could probably take off for a while.

Or do atmospheric manoeuvring take (much) more fuel then ordinary spaceflight (for our ship)?

Takes more fuel than space. Each hour of in atmosphere maneuvering takes 10 times the fuel (dense atmosphere) that space does. So, fuel wise, ti makes more sense to land and take off when you are ready to leave. Note, the day is 4 months long, so it's not as if you have to worry about dark anytime soon.

As the ship surveys the planet, probes begin sending in information.

Probe 1 finds a warp point.
Probe 3 finds a warp point.
Probe 4 finds a warp point.
Probe 5 finds a warp point.

Probes 2, 6, and 7 are still enroute to their warp point locations to investigate.

Mkay. I was more worried about getting struck with bad weather actually. Rated at -40C is not that much marginal if a storm strikes :P

But I suppose, we are adventurers right =)? Who's up for a nice little landing :)?

Plenty of warp points too it seems. If we had some neighbours to trade with, this might make a decent way-station ... :)

Captain, perhaps we should send probes through the warp points while we head closer to the ice planet for close scans?

You'll need to send for the Resplendent then, you've only got enough fuel on the probes to send them through, not through and back. And you only had a dozen to begin with. 1 in the ice, 8 our on survey, leaving 3 in the ship.

EDIT : Or you can send for the Folly and have it transport a bunch of probes in.

We could probably send for the fleet. While the gas planet his interesting for purely scientific reasons, this world might offer more intermediate material gains. Besides, there are plenty of nodes connecting to this one! Thoughts?

Ceres nods to Higs suggestion. "It would be efficient, but we'll need to refuel them first ..."

Honestly, once we get done exploring this place, I think maybe we should head back to MWP06. The paranoid in me hates leaving unexplored jump points like that behind us, since there could be something hostile that ends up cutting off our path back. Hence I tend to like breadth first searches instead of depth first.

Holt responds "We could call back to the fleet and request for the transport of fresh probes. We could give them back these to return and refuel."

Seems like the general consensus is to send for the Resplendent

The request for reinforcements is sent off, and the Resplendent hypers into the system 2.5 weeks later. The captain of that ship indicates that she left 5 probes in orbit around the gas giant to gather up additional readings. Her people also modified them for orbital work, taking out the warp jump engines and the extra generators to improve duration. They also programmed them to dive into the atmosphere if any ship came within 100,000 miles without broadcasting a signal they recognize.

You can explore the planet during that 2.5 weeks. Whether you go out as a group or send one person, the results won't change. The science types find that there is microbial life in the liquid water, and some in the ice. Nothing more advanced than microbes though. The planet is ideal for terraforming, and the microbial life is compatible with Terran based life, which means terran life could be seeded in the oceans and it would thrive. Of course, you'd need a terraforming expert to work it right. No doubt the biologists in the crew (and back home) will want samples of as much as you can gather up, so two weeks of taking samples would give the bio boffins a lot of things to play with. While I'm sure the PCs have discussions to have about the system and the life found, it likely doesn't need to be RP'd out step by step, given there's nothing else to be found (IE: No monsters or lifeforms bigger than a microbe).

During the 2.5 weeks, the other 3 probes respond. Two more warp points are located, bringing the sum total of warp points to a massive 7 warp points, making this system a Hub System, and valuable in and of itself, especially with a marginal class M world present.

I will get up the probe results shortly.

The probe returns from the first system with pictures of two red dwarfs, one a bright hot M7 and the other a brighter hotter M9. The two stars are extremely close, orbiting so close their coronas must be interacting. At least one gas giant is observed in orbit around the combined binary system.

The probes return from the second warp point, with a barely visible dim M0 red dwarf, barely even a star.

The probe from the third system returns with images of a midrange M5 red dwarf, and at least one gas giant.