13 ITEMS IN THE ALIEN'S POCKETS (PART 1)

 The 13 item challenge again but for the two aliens that are likely to carry enough stuff with them to do this challenge.  

THE WHITE-FEATHERED SPECIES: [THE TERMINATOR WIND CARRIES A LEAF ALONG]

1. Utility footblade: strapped to the front left foot.  Wind mostly uses it to to dig for arthropods and process tubers but could kill and maim a human if used in anger.  
2. Rattle charm necklace; seed pods filled with irregularly-sized balls of metal and wood; creates a distinct and appealing rattling sound as Wind walks and denotes that they are a merchant.  
3. Devotional tongue-stick: grooved bumps and notches carved into it store written information.  Human xenoanthropolgists initially mistook these for dental implements.  This one contains Wind's favorite religious parable.
4. Grooming pin; used to reach where the neck can't quite.  Like most luxury tools, it is made of lacquered wood and carved to create interesting tongue sensations.  Being blind, the White Feathered Species are not usually interested in precious metals and shiny things except for their ductility.
5. Leg satchel; made of rugged local plant fiber and fastened with a patch of velcro that was (at some point) purchased from the humans.  Wind loves pulling the patch open and closed in idle moments.  The pouch contains fiat currency from a local merchant polity (backed by steel), several dissolvable beads of narcotic sap, and a small tongue knife.
6. "Saddlebags;" made from the hide of a large grazer and very well cured.  Contains. among other things, various trade goods, flint and steel, a used human matchbook, a manual chainsaw (requires two people to use), a fluffy bedroll, jars of pickled arthropods, a bag of dried grain, a copper cooking pot, and a foldable wooden chin rest for sleeping.  
7. Tape player and a large unopened package of batteries; bought from human traders.  Wind has a few tapes of bizarre human music but they have convinced some of their traveling companions over the years to sing into the the tape recorder. Wind has a respectable bootlegged collection of music from all over the World.  These tapes would be a priceless anthropological resource to human researchers.
8. Scarf; a human knit this for Wind out of real animal hair (which is apparently quite hard for humans to come by) and gave it as a gift.  Wind is informed that the scarf is "blue" and suits them very well.  It's also agreeably fluffy. 
9. Boot/gloves; sturdy construction for travel but soft enough to allow fine manipulation with the toes.  Well cared for and frequently patched.  These boots have lasted Wind almost a half circumnavigation of the Terminator.
10. Neck ring; heavy cast copper ornament; denotes family relationship to a minor branch of a merchant house on the far side of the world.  The weight is a symbolic reminder of family obligations.
11. Wound dressings; Wind's back left leg was cut on a sharp shrub running from a bandit.  The wound is covered with a poultice and bandaged.
12. Fireworks; Wind knows that these are children's toys for humans but they have impressed some uncivilized peoples that don't walk the Terminator and gotten them out of a few scrapes.
13. Poking stick; a ten-foot cane made from a long reed.  Light enough to be used with the tongue and neck to assess the terrain ahead where echolocation fails.

JUMP CYCLERS

 

AN INRODUCTION TO JUMP CYCLERS

Jump drives aren't cheap and long-range jump drives are especially not cheap.  As a practical matter, there are almost no sensibly-sized Jump-3+ ships other than a handful of specialized corporate survey vessels.  Relatedly, jump routes are very valuable trade secrets and stable Jump-3+ routes require several orders of magnitude more computing time.  These routes are fiercely guarded and if the secret got out their discoverers would be financially ruined.

All this leads to the jump cycler, a space station with a fusion engine and a colossal jump drive.  These ships generally weigh between 500kt and 2000kt and carry at least 100kt of payload.  Some of that payload is in the form of simple shipping containers, which are ejected when the cycler enters a new system and magnetically decelerated.  Cyclers also carry smaller freighters and ship-less passengers.  These ships may hitch a ride and cast off to make a shorter jump as soon as a cycler reaches a destination or they may stick around a bit longer and save on fuel costs (since they only have to make a deceleration burn). 

Most cyclers follow predictable routes, visiting 2-5 systems per year, stopping at gas giants for more deuterium fuel and completing their loop in a year or two.  Many cyclers carry a permanent population of service workers, traders, and technicians who often develop their own local cultures. The largest cyclers are cities and major habitats in their own right

A cycler is equal parts truck stop, casino, trashy cruise ship, and market; most are big enough to protect their passengers from the effects of jumpspace; you don't need to sleep through your jump and can instead spend your money, do business with other spacers, and stretch your legs.

A SAMPLE JUMP CYCLER: THE CRV LENIN'S TOMB

LENGTH:  1.8km

HULL DIAMETER: 135m

SHIP BERTHS: 15 medium, 3 large

DEFENSIVE COMPLEMENT:  32 interdictors, 1 frigate

PERMANENT RESIDENTS:  ~5,000

PASSENGERS (AVG):  ~10,000

PASSENGERS (MAX): ~61,000

The Lenin's Tomb is not a communist ship; quite the opposite, in fact.  It is so named because it is where communism goes to die (the midlevel executive who thought of this is still quite pleased with themselves).  It is an average-sized Jump-3 cycler which connects a handful of Outer Core systems with Prospero's dream.  The Tomb follows a 3-year route, stopping at nine systems in its loop.  It picks up rather more passengers than many other ships, especially on its inbound leg.  

Tempest is contracted to provide security aboard the Tomb by the corp that owns the Tomb.  Generally, the Tempest detail enforces the same type of law they are accustomed to at home.  Serious offenders may be detained (or frozen) until the ship gets back to the Dream and they can be tried by combat.

The Tomb also houses a full resleeving facility (new sleeves sold at a 200% markup) and a miniature shipyard (repairs at a 400% markup but done quickly and well).  

Passengers without a ship are expected to pay the Dream's oxygen tax (in lieu of a fare).  Anyone whose vessel has paid a docking fee is excused.  Security is usually a bit more forgiving of people who lose their sticks (you can buy a new one at a steep markup instead of being spaced).

1d5 ATTRACTIONS ABOARD THE TOMB:

1. Albatross.  The Tomb's fanciest cocktail bar.  Prices are reasonable compared to many other plainer establishments but the cover charge is not.  Tempest officers drink free here and if you need to do business with them this is where you'll meet Corrin, Tempest's chief of security.
2. The Dive.  A pressurized tube running the length of the ship and an unusual bit of green space.  When the Tomb is under acceleration you'll slowly fall down the length of the tube at about .01g.  Bring a set of wings.
3. The Market.  At the core of the Tomb's hangar complex you can buy quite a bit of speculative cargo from other crew.  The Market is the site of many informal games of skill and chance and regular duels (permitted if precleared by Tempest).  A good place to find passengers, sell those drugs you're carrying, or poach somebody else's chief engineer. 
4. Red Scare.  The Tomb's most popular dive bar.  Stunningly violent but pick a fight with the wrong person could go badly.  Pool tables are free; shooting pool with the local Coriolis effect is a skill.  Don't play the locals.  Beer is expensive and not very good.
5. The Pool.  The Tomb has a real Olympic swimming pool in its swim section!  Such an extravagant waste of mass isn't cheap; everyone must pay admission.  A real novelty for spacers. 

  

WHAT DOES IT HAVE IN ITS POCKETSES?: A SETTING IN 13 ITEMS

 This is a good challenge.  I like it; I'm all about letting trinkets doing the heavy lifting.

SILKE'S POSESSIONS

1.  Seidel 805 Tapecomp With Direct Neural Jack and Portable Keyboard

Uses standard high speed 32MB micro tapes.  Also reads standard analog video and audio tapes.  She has the complete discography of Truly Neon (pop rock; painstakingly recorded from the radio), Scream of Peace (alt-idol pop; bought with honest money), and Paradise Precepts (industrial lullaby; her sleeve's favorite).  She also has various standard issue Rhombus meditation tapes (occasionally used) and the complete collected works of Sergei Yang-Witte.  

2.  Patch: "POWER ATTRACTS STRANGE ENEMIES"

The official motto of Rhombus' Paranormal Response Unit on an inverted triangle.  On the left shoulder (secured by Velcro).  Patch also depicts a grinning Werewolf skull with glowing green eyes. 

3. Patch: "Eating for Two"

Natural pregnancy is either an alternative lifestyle for the very rich or or something left to the underclass.  Regardless, patches like this are mostly bought ironically by sleeve operators not expectant mothers.

4.  Lioness MPR1150-XL Automatic Smart Rifle

Smartlink to 230 pin neural jack adapter.  Cut down barrel and laser sight on the right-side rail for short range use.  She's modified the fire selector to fire two round bursts instead of three.  18 round drum magazine with hand-loaded 11.5mm depleted uranium rounds; doesn't trust her ammo to Management.  Regular optics and a paper windage table in a pouch in her pack.  

5. Ultralight Electric Kettle

Uses a standard cutting torch power cell to heat liquids and pipe them into a space suit (or into space to de-ice coolant lines).  She drinks black tea mixed with powdered bone broth and a little bit of artificial sweetener.  Silke is a monster; she drank this when she had a regular human body too. 

6.  Ventworm Extract Skin Cream in a Vacuum-Sealed Foil Bag

A combination beauty product/topical anesthetic/anagathic.  Undersea drug cartels on Last Fathom kill each other over this stuff.  She got hers off the cooling corpse of a midlevel executive who had good taste in beauty products and the bad judgement to play with dangerous alien artifacts. 

7.  Compressed Gas Knife

30cm rondel-style dagger designed to pump 10 liters of carbon dioxide through the tip (that's about 1.7 regulation basketballs worth according to the promotional material).  It's enough to blow somebody's guts out of their mouth and freeze the wound.  Company policy says it's OK to use this on people but she still doesn't.  

8.   Technical Manual (Vintage Pressurized Sports Rover)

Restoring vintage lunar rovers is just a hobby but reading a manual is a good way to pass the time when things are quiet.  

9. High-Density Chimera Rations

Compressed bricks of colorless goo and synthetic protein in individual plastic packages.  Tastes like lard mixed with marrow.  Salty with a kerosene nose.  Her sleeve loves them.  Can be squeezed through a tube to be eaten in a vacsuit.

10.  Plate Carrier Vacsuit

Anti-flash white.  Sized for a 2.2m tall chimera.  The suit was a custom job because her sleeve was a runt; Silke is always the first person down the horrible tunnel.  She's decorated the back side of her plates with elaborate mandalas in grease pencil.  Wards of this sort have been empirically proven not to do anything but she's not taking any chances.

11.  Brass Medallion (St. Christopher of Lycea)

St Christopher is depicted in the Orthodox manner as a warrior cynocephalus and carried in a small Velcro pouch where her heart would be if she were a human.  The broken chain has been replaced with  paracord.  Shares the pouch with extra-strength breath mints (loose) and a single 2x1 brick from a popular brand of modular construction toys. 

12.  Notepad and Pencil

Strapped to her left wrist on the outside of the vacsuit.  Pencil has been sharpened with a claw.  Front page has a rough calculation of her yearly union dues, a conversion from Rhombus scrip to real money, and a shopping list (gum: organic beef stock flavored, caffeine pills, marrow bones, primer caps, soup dumplings (frozen), fresh flowers, laundry detergent (unscented), food-grade paraffin wax, nail polish (clear), new exfoliating brush (metal), and a reminder to visit the company pharmacy for more sedatives.   

13.  Wireless Satellite Phone

Most recent text message is to a friend from school.  Second most recent is a message reminding her that she has 10 more in-plan texts this week.  

50 MORE PATCHES

When writer's block strikes, make lists of random stuff!

50 PATCHES

1. "Whywolf" (confused chimera)
2. "WARNING: contents under pressure"
3. "Feed me Seymour!" (Verde tourism board swag)
4. Fangs and eyes in the dark
5. "Butcher, Faker, Policymaker"
6. Make More Mans logo
7. "You're a fucking monkey!"
8. "Longshoreman's Local 4906"
9. "Memetic Hazard"
10. Obscure obscene hand gesture
11. Your phone number
12. "No More Tears" (stylized nuclear warhead)
13. "BAD"
14. Slide Rule
15. VX nerve gas molecule diagram
16. Symbol of Shamash (obscure Solarian icon) 
17. Black silhouette of an ibis on a white triangle
18. Aviator sunglasses
19. "Hello, My Name Is: [REDACTED]"
20. "Bonk!"
21. "It's not me, it's you"
22. Eyeball looking through gunsight 
23. "CPR Certified"
24. Local pirate radio station patch
25. Cartoon Neanderthal
26. "Everyone loves a farmer!"
27. Stack of gold bars
28. Little green man
29. Chessman (queen)
30. "Fuck the repo man" (grim reaper crossed out)
31. Monomethyl hydrazine molecule
32. Screaming man (Edvard Munch) 
33. Checkmark
34. "RTFM"
35. "Eyeball Fryer" (stylized laser mirror) 
36. Elysian mantis tiger
37. Fluorescent blue radiation symbol
38. An asteroid
39. "Plastique Surgery" (brick of C4)
40. "Having a bad day yet?"
41. Random Merit Badge
42. "YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID"
43. "Somebody's Daughter"
44. "The Drink That Shall Not Be Named For Copyright Reasons" (picture of a latte)
45. Dodecahedron 
46. "Look Alive!" (zombie)
47. Juice box and straw
48. "RIP"
49. Random sequence of binary that spells gibberish
50. Stylized coat of arms

The Angels

ANGELS

An angel is to a chimera what a ballistic missile is to a bow and arrow: the logical conclusion.  Such a dreadful tool is beyond the reach of all but a handful of the most powerful and secretive actors.  And of those who could even bring such a thing into the world only a handful dare try.  Usually there's no point.  The category of problems that can be solved with an Angel is almost entirely coextensive with the category of problems that can also be solved with a thermonuclear warhead at a hundred-thousandth of the price.  But sometimes the only solution to a problem is a walking basilisk hack broadcasting arcane formulae on every auditory and electromagnetic frequency.  It isn't using the magic: you are and the only safe way to handle arcane formulae is to use them without thinking about them . . . .  

Angels are very secret (and rarely leave survivors to tell tales).  The least of them can work alongside specialized chimeras.  The greatest are a localized extinction event given shape.  

Angels are highly intelligent but barely self-aware.  Like every chimera, there is a human brain somewhere inside but anything resembling humanity is long gone.  You can talk to one if you like; it can understand you (and also read your mind).  But what would such a creature have to say to you?

An Angel is big -- far too big for reality to fully contain.  The world twists and contorts to accommodate them.  Much of an Angel's bulk resides in hyperspace. The physical body is nothing more than a puppet.  The puppeteer is elsewhere and the destruction of its physical body is a minor nuisance.  As with any hyperspace conduit in or near a gravity well, Angels tend to leave fertile ground for the Gaunt for decades after their use.  If you have a problem that requires an angel, this is usually regarded as an acceptable sacrifice.

When an angel is not in use, it sleeps.  Housed in enormous golden sarcophagi micro-etched with arcane formulae and helium-chilled to three degrees Kelvin.  Surrounded by triple-redundant magical white noise generators.  Organic components drugged into a stupor with neurotoxins.  Strapped to a weaponized warp core should any of those other forms of containment fail.  

This is Humanity's last line of defense.  Never used lightly.

A LESSER ANGEL

Lesser Angels are the only sort a player could conceivably survive.  Greater Angels do not require stats -- you wouldn't try to engage Cthulhu in gunfight. 

 

ENTITY DESIGNATION K-24η

A low drone in your head. A visceral dread at the back of your throat and deep in your stomach.  A n infrasonic roar; loud as a jet engine but barely audible.  Awe.  Electronics announce its presence and bend to its will.  The sensation of a phantom presence just out of your sight. 

K-24η is an unusually precise tool currently in the possession of Rhombus Technical Services.  As Angels go, it sees frequent use.  K-24η cannot be directly observed and cannot be attacked unless it is indirectly observed.  This exposes the indirect observer to the Angel's attack.

It is physically present next to everything within 250m. It usually appears behind all intelligent beings unless faced with a credible threat.  It always appears behind a target it has directly attacked.  In theory it can  target all indirect observers regardless of distance.  In practice K-24η is limited by lightspeed lag and can only effectively target indirect observers within 1 light-second.     

      

COMBAT: 70

INSTINCT:  80

SPEED:  The Angel is always adjacent to you.  All of you.  Always.

HITS: 4 (2MDMG)  The Angel will regenerate in 1d10 minutes.  Immune to ordinary damage.

Attacks against any target within 250m 1/round:

5d10 against 3 targets

OR FEAR save or panic.  The Angel may pick a second target.  That target saves at [+].  The Angel always knows who is most likely to break and always targets that person.

Attacks against all indirect observers:

1d10 damage to FEAR  (SANITY for half)

1 point of stress (no save), ability cannot be controlled, affects friendlies 

AND 3d10 against any 3 targets

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

• Cannot be directly observed.  Can only be attacked if viewed with an electronic sensor (you may attack any instance of the angel within 250m)
• May control any electronic device within 250m (or, if observed, any electronic sensor within 1 light-second).  Use of this ability limits the Angel's power but can protect it from detection or orbital bombardment.

UNIQUE EQUIPMENT:

Angelic Censor (requires slicksocket, 1 slickslot) -- functions in a similar manner to an ANI; protects against stress caused by K-24η and allows safe indirect observation.  K-24η could easily turn a censor off if it wished.  Unique item used to enable friendly operators to work alongside the Angel. 

ADVENTURE HOOKS INVOLVING ALIENS AND HUMAN-ALIEN RELATIONS

 Luckily for the aliens, none of them have things that humanity is particularly interested in (except perhaps the Tiny Tyrant Species) and humanity must also keep up appearances.  Beyond appropriating some asteroid belt resources without asking (there's hundreds of thousands of years worth of that at current rates of extraction) there's not a lot of incentive to exploit.

THE ELECTRIC-TENTACLED SPECIES

Their homeworld is inimical to human life; frigid, high-gee, poisonous, and air too thick to breathe without a mask.  Worse, it's filled with a veritable jungle of hybrid methane-water life which regards these temperatures as sweltering.  The aliens are willing to trade cultural artifacts with humans in exchange for copper and gold.  Because of the novel biochemistry here, the planet has a large collection of researchers and scientists.  The locals' rich electric storytelling also attracts artists, anthropologists, and creative androids.

5 ADVENTURE HOOKS:

1. Human botanists have inadvertently angered a powerful chieftain by accidentally destroying her overland telegraph wires.  She has hostages.  Party is hired to escort a cable-laying expedition through uncharted jungle.
2. Locals petition human settlement for assistance in dealing with a pod of dangerous (and worryingly intelligent) deep-water predators that have taken to hunting closer to shore.  
3. Dolphin uplift in combat sleeve got loose, is behaving exactly like a typical dolphin.  Wanted dead or alive before the body count gets any higher (who thought uplifting dolphins was a good idea anyway).
4. Local shaman wants android brains -- they have interesting conductive properties and have many ritual and artistic applications.  She can pay in cultural artifacts and favors (free guides).
5. Brushfire war erupts between rival pharmaceutical company researchers; too far inland to annoy the locals but major corporate stakeholders want the conflict resolved.  Peaceful resolution preferred but killing all the belligerents is also acceptable.  

THE SOLITARY SPECIES

Live on a basically Earthlike world (slightly drier, cooler, and smaller).  Because the locals exist as powers unto themselves and don't really have the neurological hardware for language communication is difficult and contact is established on a case-by-case basis.  Very little human interest in this world but small settlements in areas unused by the locals is permitted.  

3 ADENTURE HOOKS

1. A local has obtained and reverse-engineered a pulse rifle, manufactured an arsenal, and taught her near-sapient helpers how to use automatic weapons.  Stop her from capturing any more human technology by any means necessary before she bootstraps enough technology to be really dangerous.
2. Local scientists illicitly trading steel and titanium for near-sapient helper species.  Plan to smuggle them off-world and create an uplifted population.
3. Anthropologist wants you to break into a local's house to study the development of technology in a solitary species.  At least Smaug had a normal number of legs.

THE TINY TRYANTS

Their world is warm, wet, and has low gravity.  Worryingly compatible with terrestrial biology; biosecurity blockade is comparable to the forces quarantining the Deep.  Local population is comparable to a rather large chunk of Humanity & Friends' population.  Serious discussions among corps about how to outsource factory labor to bat fascists without also giving them advanced technology persist behind closed boardroom doors.

5 ADVENTURE HOOKS 

1. Bat fascists belonging to the major superpower have mounted a mission to attempt to capture a human starship to (1) use the drive plume as an orbital superweapon; (2) reverse-engineer human technology; (3) explore and exploit their own solar system.
2. Tight-beam communication from minor polity: will trade gold and rare earth metals for advanced technology but you must deceive the blockade somehow.
3. Human orbital station used as embassy has fallen gravely ill due to novel bacterium transmitted on improperly sterilized alien textiles.  Possible that locals' treatment will work on humans -- rare diplomatic mission to surface of planet authorized to obtain the alien medication (your sponsors are not responsible for the results of any breaches of your hazmat suit).  DO NOT give human technological secrets to the bat fascists. 
4. Rescue the locals' failed moon mission.  Don't get detected (they'll lose face if you do) and make sure to sterilize everything.  Also, DO NOT give human technological secrets to the bat fascists (who will be very curious about the contents of your ship).
5. Minor nuclear war has broken out.  Stop it from becoming a major one.

 

THE WHITE-FEATHERED SPECIES

World is dark, cold, and windy.  Not really attractive to humans (and also not very biocompatible -- don't eat anything).  Local polities are linked by a global trade network and humans usually recognized in most major population centers.  Tourism is permitted (and the locals love it). 

6 ADVENTURE HOOKS

1. Local polity wants to buy more guns; they are on the receiving end of a rather nasty invasion.  Figure out how to help them without completely upsetting regional power structures.  
2. Renowned local poet wants you to explain "color" to him.  Good luck.
3. Princeling wants human courtiers to teach his children about math and natural philosophy (and to show off his humans).  This has been cleared with local authorities and might be very profitable for you as well.   
4. Local trader upset that her imported pets are dying -- teach her how to care for a Lampblack jumpbug properly and probably get involved in high-stakes merchant politics. 
5. Local prophet wants to proselytize to Humanity & Friends.  Local corp wants to negotiate a book deal.  Help the two of them find common ground.
6. Someone implanted an ANI in one of the locals.  It actually sort of works.  Please kill the evil wizard-queen.  Definitely keep the brain intact -- it's an object of intense scientific interest.

THE BOWER-BUILDING SPECIES 

Human friendly world (a bit dry and slightly low-gee).  Locals are regarded as insufferable, sex-obsessed boors.  But their feats of architecture and engineering still draw many off-world tourists.  

5 ADVENTURE HOOKS

1. Local leader wants unique art supplies.  He'll pay for weird pigments, bulk nanotubes, and particularly attractive rocks.
2. Dam collapse has displaced tens of thousands of locals and angered local leader's many (ex) wives.  Assist in humanitarian relief efforts.
3. Local leader wants you to sabotage rival's megaproject.  Do it without getting caught by the corps.
4. Local wants cultural artifacts from The Black Plains.  She seems less boring and more likeable than most of the locals and it is part of her species' heritage.
5. Combination of mating display/"war"/rave between several rivals.  There's not much real fighting going on but both sides need flashy textiles and other shiny objects.  A light show and some fireworks might be nice.  But make sure none of the locals become infatuated with you.