BLACK VELVET SKY
If we can see the horizon, we want to know what's beyond.- Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin
Introduction
In geosynchronous orbit above Seattle, Washington looms Boeing's massive Capital Ship Assembly Array (CSAA) where the NSS Eidolon, the first spacecraft with an axis exceeding one kilometer in length, nears completion. The massive ship marks a milestone for humanity's conquest of the stars, inspiring both triumph and fear. 54.6 million kilometers away, tense meetings are held on the partially terraformed Mars. Ever since a successful war for independence, the planet's inhabitants, colonists united as the Martian Free Republic, have nervously anticipated and prepared for retaliation by the de facto government of Earth, NATO. Even though the two organizations have formed a tenuous peace, military escalation on both sides continues.
And now, a new discovery threatens to plunge the Sol system into turmoil once again. NATO SIGINT organizations have intercepted covert interplanetary communications between the MFR and the independent Russian Federation. Partial decryption of these messages reveals heavy interest in a region of space previously thought to be of little importance. It is possible that whatever lies in this system offers a strategic advantage - one compelling enough to spur discussion of the possibility of an alliance. Investigation of these coordinates is now a top priority. That's where you come in.
As a top performer in your field, you are one of the best at what you do. Perhaps you work for a megacorporation, a nation state, or maybe you're a lone wolf freelancer. Regardless, you're needed for what could be one of the most delicate deep space exploration missions ever undertaken. NATO recruiters have contacted you directly to inquire about your interest in a classified operation involving revolutionary new technology just now becoming reality: the FTL drive. You are one of the few offered the chance to travel outside this solar system and explore the stars and planets in the galaxy beyond. Do you accept? Just sign on the dotted line, and we'll give you all the details...
And now, a new discovery threatens to plunge the Sol system into turmoil once again. NATO SIGINT organizations have intercepted covert interplanetary communications between the MFR and the independent Russian Federation. Partial decryption of these messages reveals heavy interest in a region of space previously thought to be of little importance. It is possible that whatever lies in this system offers a strategic advantage - one compelling enough to spur discussion of the possibility of an alliance. Investigation of these coordinates is now a top priority. That's where you come in.
As a top performer in your field, you are one of the best at what you do. Perhaps you work for a megacorporation, a nation state, or maybe you're a lone wolf freelancer. Regardless, you're needed for what could be one of the most delicate deep space exploration missions ever undertaken. NATO recruiters have contacted you directly to inquire about your interest in a classified operation involving revolutionary new technology just now becoming reality: the FTL drive. You are one of the few offered the chance to travel outside this solar system and explore the stars and planets in the galaxy beyond. Do you accept? Just sign on the dotted line, and we'll give you all the details...
Technology
The NSS Intrepid XDS-5
The NSS Intrepid lands at Edwards AFB.
Type: Experimental Deep-Space Research Frigate
History: Developed by a consortium of megacorps including industry titan Boeing, Lockheed Grumman, and Intel, the NSS Intrepid is the current pinnacle of spacecraft technology. As a member of its mission, you've been granted access to this classified specification.
Hull: Boeing XDS-5 Carbon Nanotube Composite Hull (140 meter axis)
Power Plant: Sandia Corporation deuterium/tritium fusion reactor
Propulsion Systems:
Weapons:
Support Systems:
History: Developed by a consortium of megacorps including industry titan Boeing, Lockheed Grumman, and Intel, the NSS Intrepid is the current pinnacle of spacecraft technology. As a member of its mission, you've been granted access to this classified specification.
Hull: Boeing XDS-5 Carbon Nanotube Composite Hull (140 meter axis)
Power Plant: Sandia Corporation deuterium/tritium fusion reactor
Propulsion Systems:
- Sandia Corporation high-efficiency Alcubierre-class FTL drive
- Lockheed Grumman magnetoplasmadynamic thruster suite
- NASA JPL launch/backup fixed chemical thrusters
Weapons:
- 1x fixed General Dynamics CG-4 240mm coilgun
- 4x gimballed General Dynamics GAU-39/S "Liberator" 50mm electronic-fire rotary cannon
- Intel EWAR suite
- Lockheed Grumman point defense system
Support Systems:
- 3 ZFLOP Intel flight computer with autonomous agent interface
- Siemens AG integrated life support and medical bay
- Integrated sensor array
Roles
I will be playing the ship's AA (autonomous agent), the ship's medical doctor, and NPCs. The following roles are available for players, the listed players have expressed interest:
* Minimum crew required for the ship to fly.
General interest: @Plank Sinatra, @Kangaroo, @Dragoknighte
If there is a role you would like that you do not see here, please feel free to suggest it. I'm aiming for 4-5 players. I will have my character sheet for the doctor up soon so you have an idea of what to expect on that front. As far as the game goes, hopefully you've gotten an idea of the tone from what's here. There will be mystery, exploration, politics, and living trapped in very tight quarters with other people for long periods of time. Please let me know if you're interested, and feel free to ask any questions. More setting information may be up here soon, and definitely will be up in the IC/OOC.
- Captain *
- Chief Officer
- Senior Engineer *
- Security Personnel (1 to 3 players)
- Scientists (1 to 3 players)
* Minimum crew required for the ship to fly.
General interest: @Plank Sinatra, @Kangaroo, @Dragoknighte
If there is a role you would like that you do not see here, please feel free to suggest it. I'm aiming for 4-5 players. I will have my character sheet for the doctor up soon so you have an idea of what to expect on that front. As far as the game goes, hopefully you've gotten an idea of the tone from what's here. There will be mystery, exploration, politics, and living trapped in very tight quarters with other people for long periods of time. Please let me know if you're interested, and feel free to ask any questions. More setting information may be up here soon, and definitely will be up in the IC/OOC.
Rules
These are here so you can make sure this game will be a good fit for you before investing your valuable time.
Interaction:
Posting:
Content:
I think that pretty much covers it. Please ask if you need clarification about anything.
Interaction:
- We will treat each other like we are all in the same room sitting at a table trying to have fun. Anonyminity is not an excuse for assholery.
- We are all partners in creating a collaborative fiction with equally valid contributions. Everyone (including the GM) will make their best effort to respect the choices a character makes. In return, everyone (including the GM) will make their best effort to have their characters behave in a way consistent with their personality and environment. Please no god-modding or metagaming, unless your character is actually a god. Then go for it.
- Please try to keep as much interaction as possible in public. If scheming must be done in private, by all means, start a PM. But it works better if we can call stay up to speed on what's going on.
Posting:
- A post order will be enforced.
- On your turn, you will have one week (seven 24-hour days) to make a post.
- If there is something your character must absolutely respond to out of order, immediately make a post indicating you're going to interject, then edit it ASAP with actual content. Please have this content done within 12 hours to avoid slowing things down.
Content:
- The following subjects should be avoided: anything prohibited by forum rules, obviously. Fair warning: I like to offer my players difficult ethical choices in the course of the game. At risk of being trite, if watching the evening news bothers you, this may not be the game for you. However, explicit violence, language, etc. should be the exception, not the rule. The majority of this game should be right around PG-13. If something bothers you, send me a PM - we can work it out one way or another.
- Reading text in long, semi-comprehensible, unpunctuated blocks makes me do irrational things like quitting roleplays and committing myself to a life of isolation and self-denial as a monk in a Benedictine abbey. Please have mercy, as I will read everything you post. Use punctuation, separate your text into paragraphs, and use spellcheck if you need it.
- I encourage romance. Fade anything unredeemably saccharine to black.
I think that pretty much covers it. Please ask if you need clarification about anything.
DISCLAIMER: I'm not a physicist/astronomer/very smart person. I just write code. I'm aiming for hard SF here but there's bound to be some stuff that just doesn't make sense. Please don't hate me too much.
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Just to add though: your character can be from anywhere on Earth or a Martian traito-*cough* colonist, as long as they do not have easily discoverable ties to organizations/individuals that NATO considers overtly hostile.
