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game_systems:traveller:insearchoftheancients:adventure_journal [2025/02/22 15:24] – [The Conference] Bryan Stephensgame_systems:traveller:insearchoftheancients:adventure_journal [2025/09/04 10:01] (current) – [The Plan] Bryan Stephens
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 Mixing with them at this meeting and over the next few days, the personalities of the attendees come out.  Mixing with them at this meeting and over the next few days, the personalities of the attendees come out. 
  
 +{{:game_systems:traveller:npcs:jessica_uuumgi_icon.png?100 |}}
 **Dr. Jessica Uuumgi** is the most scholarly. Dr. Uumgi is sure that the remnants of the Ancients culture include some species alive today. This makes her receptive to the idea that perhaps the Ancients were humans, or that some ancient humans were Ancients. Jessica can split this particular hair down to the microscopic level if given the chance but she is willing to listen to other viewpoints.  **Dr. Jessica Uuumgi** is the most scholarly. Dr. Uumgi is sure that the remnants of the Ancients culture include some species alive today. This makes her receptive to the idea that perhaps the Ancients were humans, or that some ancient humans were Ancients. Jessica can split this particular hair down to the microscopic level if given the chance but she is willing to listen to other viewpoints. 
  
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 The emergency alarms sounds and the intercoms blare the message: The emergency alarms sounds and the intercoms blare the message:
 +
 +{{:game_systems:traveller:npcs:omnicron_officer.png?200 |}}
  
 //All passengers and crew. Do not be alarmed. We are about to be boarded by personnel from an Imperial Navy vessel. You are in no danger. Please cooperate fully. I repeat, you are in no danger. ‘All passengers, please accept our apologies for the interruption. A customs and spaceworthiness boarding is now in progress. All passengers will be subject to routine questioning. Do not be alarmed; you are in no danger.’ // //All passengers and crew. Do not be alarmed. We are about to be boarded by personnel from an Imperial Navy vessel. You are in no danger. Please cooperate fully. I repeat, you are in no danger. ‘All passengers, please accept our apologies for the interruption. A customs and spaceworthiness boarding is now in progress. All passengers will be subject to routine questioning. Do not be alarmed; you are in no danger.’ //
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 The delegates are all held and taken off for interviews.  The delegates are all held and taken off for interviews. 
 +
 +=== Interviews Where there is No Danger ===
 +|Game Date|01/09/24|
 +|Campaign Dates| 284-1100 to 289-110|
 +
 +Each of the crew of the //Wandering Providence// is taken to an unused cabin or other part of the ship for their interview. Maria engages a group //mind link// to keep everyone connected. 
 +
 +
 +^Omicron Interviewers^Character^
 +|[[game_systems:game_systems:traveller insearchoftheancients:npcs:Mauro_Sorghient|Captain Mauro Sorghient]]|Lucas|
 +|[[game_systems:game_systems:traveller insearchoftheancients:npcs:Eskghi_Sorik|Eskghi Sorik]]|Vincent|
 +|[[game_systems:game_systems:traveller insearchoftheancients:npcs:Lazlo_Jeva|Lazlo Jeva]]|David|
 +|[[game_systems:game_systems:traveller insearchoftheancients:npcs:Mnemba_Smith|Mnemba Smith]]|Maria|
 +|[[game_systems:game_systems:traveller:insearchoftheancients:npcs:August_Volante|August Volante]]|Richmond|
 +
 +
 +
 +===Lucas===
 +Captain Sorghient opens with an offer of [[game_systems:traveller:things:ruer|ruer]] and talks about his grandmother and her much better version. Lucas notes it is always that way. The leader of the Omicron unit is candid, as he is sure Lucas knows what they are. They discuss Lucas’s work and the last report. He knows it was edited. The Captain makes it clear that not all the information Lucas must has reported made it to his organization and asks, if in the future, Lucas could make a more full report. 
 +
 +
 +===Vincent===
 +Vincent was sure he recognized Eskghi Sorik from somewhere. When they sat down she told him //”Yes, you recognize me. I was a worker on a ship you were on as Asi Ford. “// It all comes back to Vicent at this point. They engage in banter, with Vincent in full “butter up” mode. Despite her knowing what he is doing. Sorik cannot help but smile at Vincent’s charm. 
 +
 +
 +
 +===Maria===
 +//”So, it is like old times.”// opens Mnemba Smith. Maria and Mnemba have faced each other in the past 
 +
 +//”I admit I was surprised to find you with this crew. You have managed to keep your name low profile, no?//”
 +
 +This is the most tense of the conversations. Maria is quite noncommittal. Smith offers that she is now being watched, as are her crewmates. Maria continues her nonchalant air but inside is concerned about the scrutiny. It is clear Agent Smith is sure of he psionic abilities. 
 +
 +
 +===David===
 +//”Captain, it is good to get to meet you. I see you are having an active retirement.”//
 +Captain Lazlo Jeva greets Captain David Smith as an equal. His concern is primarily if the good Dr. can be trusted to act in the interest of the Imperium. David is able to assure him that he can. He leaves a contact link for David to reach out on future information. 
 +
 +
 +===Richmond===
 +//”So it has been a while, huh?” You were not on the list of invites. I was surprised to see you here.
 +How in space did you end up traveling with this people? Last I heard you were off to be a farmer.”//
 +
 +August is a dear friend for Richmond from the Academy. The two are open with each other. Of the crew, Richmond is least familiar with Omicron. August is most concerned with the question of //“Can these people be trusted?”//
 +
 +Richmond does a reasonable job, but notes that anyone can make mistakes by accident with Ancient technology, noting they did see a planet get blown up. August leaves Richmond with contact information 
 +
 +
 +===Follow up ===
 +After they are all “dismissed” the Omicron agents leave with the somewhat smug ‘Captain of Knowledge’ under arrest. The //Pearl// is headed back to Aki. On the trip back, Richmond mostly keeps to himself. Uncle Vlen notes the writing on the he recognises the handwriting and who it belongs to, and expresses surprise she is still alive. It is Mercedes Karamaka, the actual owner of the //Garnett//. He last know that she was living in a small town named Respis on [[game_systems:game_systems:traveller:worlds:Pagaton|Pagaton]]. If Omicron Division have taken an interest in her, it is time she moved on. He asks Vincent, as a favor to him, to visit her and extend his compliments along with the warning, and if they are feeling kind that they help her relocate. He will owe Vincent and his friends. 
 +
 +Once back on their own ship, the crew is still uneasy. Gwith’thin comes to David with an urgent need to meet. David puts his stuff into his cabin and goes to meet with Gwith’thin and Ama-Gi. Apparently, the Droyne ship for Diusk has been in more than one location where they have bene. It is registered as //“Yusote’s Ship”// which seems a strange designation but may make sense to the Droyne. It has been in several of their past locations, including at the destruction of Califaction and Weiss. 
 +
 +The whole crew is uneasy and they excited jumping. David has them move an extra distance from Aki to make the Jump-4 directly to Pagaton. They all feel they are on a clock. 
 +
 +===== 13 Mercedes =====
 +|Game Date|03/20/24|
 +|Campaign Dates| 295-1100 to 296-1100|
 +
 +
 +==== Pagaton ==== 
 +{{:game_systems:game_systems:traveller:worlds:pagaton.png?600|}}
 +
 +
 +|UWP: C769873–4|||
 +|Starport |C |Routine|
 +|Size |7 |11,200km|
 +|Atmosphere |6 |Standard|
 +|Hydrosphere |9 |90%|
 +|Population |8 |Hundreds of thousands|
 +|Government Type |7 |Balkanisation|
 +|Law Level |3|Machine guns, automatic rifles prohibited|
 +|Technology Level |4 |Industrial|
 +
 +[[game_systems:game_systems:traveller:worlds:Pagaton|Pagaton’s]] Class C starport consists of a mooring beacon for larger ships and a tiny highport created out of old freighter fuel tanks linked by gantries. This rickety-looking contraption is kept in a stable orbit by an equally cobbled-together collection of old starship manoeuvre drive components. The setup works well enough and is only needed for the occasional orbital adjustment. All the same, starfarers used to more salubrious installations sometimes ponder the wisdom of going aboard. A couple of shuttles provide a service to the downport, where most of the facilities are located.
 +
 +The //Wandering Providence// is hailed by a voice of a young man sounding like he is about to grow some chest hair any day now. He suggests that the ship, since it can land, use the downport. David acknowledges and directs Anson to take them down. 
 +
 +The downport is a small town located on an island in the Giplenn group. Four hundred years ago this was a fertile and attractive island chain with extensive wildlife and room for arable crops. Today it is bitterly cold, battered by frequent storms and subject to long, harsh winters. The local staple diet has changed from cereals and farmed meat to cold-water fish and various vegetables, and most of the former arable land is now cold grassland or being reclaimed by taiga forest. 
 +
 +{{:game_systems:game_systems:traveller:insearchoftheancients:npcs:vance.jpg?300 |}}
 +
 +The downport can handle several ships at once, a capacity it has never really needed. One side of the landing area has a passenger and light freight terminal whilst the other backs onto a maritime port frequented by local shipping. Ice is becoming a problem, to the point where the port staff have repurposed two steam-powered tugs as icebreakers. As When they descend. they encounter strong gust of wind, with snow blowing almost horizontally across the landing area. They can see that one of the tugs is stuck in the ice and a party is preparing to launch a boat with charges to break up the coverage. Maritime ships prowl off the island’s coast and Lucas witnesses one ship apparently try to ram another. This causes the intended victim to go hard astern, allowing the more aggressive captain to move to the front of the queue waiting to land. Clearance to land is provided in a perfunctory manor at the port, and despite the wind, the high tech ship has difficulty in making a landing. Ground service personnel are sluggish and clumsy in their heavy overcoats, using a tractor with an actual internal combustion engine to carry the refueling supplies out. A man not part of the ground maintenance crew walks up. He offers them to come to his office to get checked in. He says his name is [[game_systems:game_systems:traveller:insearchoftheancients:npcs:Rusty|Vance Calloway]], but he goes by “Rusty”. Rusty is direct and to the point and asks them their business. He is not surprised when told they are hear to see someone.
 +
 +//”I don’t want to tell any of ya’ your business, but this planet is a powderkeg. The Vellari and the the Drekhar were shooting at each other just six weeks ago. If you take that ship flying across the planet, I don’t know what might happen. Tech Level 4 is what this place mostly is, but that does not mean there is not a pulse laser or even a nuke here and there.”//
 +
 +
 +
 +After Rusty gets them checked in on the aging computer, he tells them that Respis is a village about 50 klicks inland on this island. There is not a road but there is a train //”Roads just don’t work much in this place these days.”//. [[game_systems:game_systems:traveller:worlds:Respis|Respis]] is a typical small town on Pagaton. He promises to get their ship fueled up and sends them on their way. 
 +
 +The group opts to take the air/raft to the town. Richmond says he will stay behind. The constant revelations seem to be weighing heavily upon him. They load up some weapons. Maria packs her full combat suit in addition. They fly out the distance to Respis, moving far faster than is normal for an aircraft on this world. 
 +==== Respis ====
 +
 +{{ :game_systems:traveller:npcs:mercades.jpg?400|}}
 +
 +They land and head for the local general store/bar. All eyes turn on the vacc suit wearing strangers shaking off the snow. After some initial uneasy questions, they order drinks and converse with the locals. Only “Dreya” would be interested in seeing offworlders. After a pleasant few minutes, the group leaves to go to the old structure that is “Dreya’s” home. The maintenance structure looks the same as it always did but it has been heavily modified with materials quietly brought in by Mercedes over the years. The floor and walls are reinforced with military-grade ceramic/metal alloy plate; lightweight but extremely tough. This was mainly for strength and insulation but it has had the side effect of making the upper part of the structure more or less bulletproof. It is clear this is no long a fully native structure. 
 +
 +They use the comm and announce who they are. It would seem that Mercedes has heard of Dr. Vin der Volk and has a robot “Rupert” escort them to her lounge. The conversation goes well. Maria verifies her truthfulness. It is clear that Mercedes does not consider most Ancient hunters worth much. Like the crew of the //Providence// she is sure that Vlen is up to something. She is saddened to hear of the death of her friend, Bernadatta. They talk about her theories on the Ancients. What becomes clear is that she and Lucas agree that the Ancients were terrible in their treatment of other sophonts and that there are Ancients alive today. She does not trust Omicron or the Imperium, but feels they are the best there is. Now she knows Omicron knows this location, she needs to leave. 
 +
 +Mercedes tells the group about Twilight’s Peak. The story is real, although it contains one or two blatant lies. She and her companions found a functional Ancients base and entered. They observed wonders and they retrieved a few artefacts. They always intended to return when the time was right but never did as she was worried that a second visit might lead Omicron Division to it. Her companions are long dead. One of them turns out to have been Professor A. Now and Mercedes has come to the conclusion it is time to go to Twilight’s Peak. She is close, she thinks, to discerning the pattern of what is happening regarding the Ancients. She shares this data with the crew, and it looks quite good to Lucas. Even Calcification is on the map. Mercedes is sure just little more data will help her unravel the mystery of where are the Ancients and when will they return? As she sees it, the risk of Omicron Division getting control of the Ancients base is inconsequential compared to what will happen if the Ancients regain control of it. Lucas agrees. So, her plan is to go there with the crew and investigate. If the Ancients return they will find their fortress held against them or find it destroyed. 
 +
 +=== The Plan ===
 +Lucas an David invites her to come with them to Twilight’s Peak. Mercedes declines, saying she has to work on setting things up for her next cover, even though she is fascinated by the revelation that the //Providence// has a mind of an ancient human. However, she has to make sure her next cover is intact. They should go to Twilight’s Peak, gain entry and…//”Do the right thing. I will join you as soon as I can and we will explore the wonders of an active Ancients base together.”//
 +
 +She notes her personal train is run on a fusion plant, and while she is leaving that behind, she is taking Rupert. Lucas asks if they can turn that over to the locals and Mercedes agrees. They depart, friendly if not yet friends. For once, Lucas as found someone with the same understanding… and urgency… as he has had since Dawnworld. 
 +
 +While Mercedes packs and prepares to leave, the heroes return to the downport. It is now late into the night, or early in the morning, take your pick. Lucas rouses Rusty, who is unhappy about it. He grows less groggy when Lucas both tells him about the train, and that he can expect Imperial agents showing up at some point looking for their “friend” who is leaving. Rusty grabs the phone can rouses more unhappy men to immediately head up the line, help Mercedes move and get that train back to them. It is here that Rusty gets more support. Richmond is staying behind. 
 +
 +//"I appreciate getting picked up. I was in a fix. You guys are into some really heavy things. I, uh, really wanted to retire. Being a farmer was not for me. However, I can sail, and I know how to fight. I've already talked with Rusty and I have a job lined up. I've got my things already off the ship. Good luck. And thank you."//
 +
 +Richmond shakes hands and heads into the shelter of the base. 
 +
 +The storm still blowing, the //Wandering Providence// heads into space. Anson Notes they paid in fabricated parts. It is not until after they jump she reveals that Rusty talked her into parting with a rack of missile reloads.
 +
 +==== Epilogue ====
 +
 +//A ship emerged close from jumpspace near Pagaton. Two launches loaded with Delvin’s Combateers head towards the planet. little. Omicron hired a group of mercenaries to do the dirty work and sent them to Pagaton. They have been ordered to pick up a Potential Threat/Asset named “Dreya Elinnier” using whatever means may be necessary and to consider bystanders expendable. This is a standard order whenever Omicron Division feels it needs to use force but the actions taken are usually kept within sensible limits. Omicron Division is well aware that causing mayhem has long-term consequences and much prefers a clean ‘pinch’ or to get someone to cooperate either by coercion or incentives. However, in this case the Division was pushed for time and short of options, so it hired a ‘direct action detachment’ from a mercenary group named Delvin’s Combateers. These personnel are not well disciplined and enjoy chaos so long as they are not in much danger. In short, they are a bunch of trigger happy yahoos serving for thrills as much as money.//
 +
 +//The launches both rapidly moved towards Respis, their deadly cargo itching to get into a fight. They ignored the hails from the downport, as just some local with a strange Imperial accent. The Combateers had their marching orders. Both launches closed on Respis, closing to within 1km before they blossomed into balls of fire.//
 +
 +//Behind the newly acquired engine was a flatbed with a hodge-podge turret mounted. It looked to have been stripped from a an old scout ship and slimmed down. One of its two barrels drooped lower than the other. A man in a parka, standing in the still air too a long drag on his smoke. Debris rained down in the mountains. He tossed his cigarette into the snow and shook his head.//
 +
 +“They always equate low tech with stupid.”
 +
 +//The ship in orbit broke away and made for the jump limit. When someone informed Rusty of this he joked,//
 +
 +“Guess they weren’t paid enough for this.”
 +
  
  
  
game_systems/traveller/insearchoftheancients/adventure_journal.1740255856.txt.gz · Last modified: by Bryan Stephens