Silver Lining:Turn off the Sun Pull the Stars from The Skies
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| May 20, 2022 – Episode 2: Turn off the Sun Pull the Stars from The Skies | ||
Characters Introduced
NPCs
- Customs Agent Seemo
- Rental Agent Weyland
- Commissioner Sandou
Locations
Renzo - PCs are asked to retrieve plant samples from this planet. It's a fairly recently colonized planet, with a sparse population scattered on the surface in isolated outposts.
It's feels like everything is going to shit; but what's so new about that? The last job we took left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. I can't say I blame them. I thought it was going to be simple; find a missing ship, whatever. And it turned into more than that. The Silver Lining got trashed and it's going to cost a heap to get her back to her old self. The new mechanic we got (I don't think we've talked since I hired him on) will help, though. So long as he sticks around. It feels like no one is getting along. It makes me long for the old days, you know? Hopefully the next job I lined up will be a bit better. It's... not so much on the up-and-up, so I'll spare you the details. Anyway, you know I'm always available to pick up work, if you got anything that needs doing. Besides, it's been a while since we all saw each other.
Take Care,
J
Cold Open
You're out of breath as you dive behind one of the large trees nearby for cover. "Fucking jungle. I hate this fucking place." you think to yourself, and try to get a bearing on your location.
The calls of your compatriots over your comm device comes into focus as you get a second to think.
Shouts of your name and "Hey!" "where are you?" "What's going on?" blare into your ear.
You reach for your device, your only lifelne, and are about to press the button to let them know, to call for help.
"HEY I think i see him over there!" and gunfire erupts near you, as another fusillade of bullets impact the your cover and rip apart softer flora around you.
Setup
Amalgamated Pharmaceuticals has hired the Silver Lining to retrieve plant samples from the planet Renzo. They want the plant samples for research purposes - corporations are required to pay licensing fees and for natural resource rights if a compound that leads to a new drug comes from a plant on an independent colony such as Renzo. Amalgamated Pharma doesn't care to pay these fees, so the next best solution is hiring outside contractors to smuggle samples off.
AP has provided the crew with two scanners and vacuum sealers for transport. Naturally, if they get caught, AP will not provide them any support or backup.
They are also provided a map with an area they are instructed to search - about 250 km from the nearest settlement with a space port, a location called Outpost 10.
It's up to the PCs to get establish a cover story, and get in and our without arousing the suspicion of customs. Failure to do so will reduce their reward significantly. (whether through having to bribe of pay fines)
Scene 1 - Clearing Customs and Hitching a Ride
Upon landing at outpost 10, the PCs are greeted by Customs Agent Seemo.
| Customs Agent Seemo | ||
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Seemo asks biting questions, such as "what is your cargo?", "What is the nature of your business?" and "Do you have any fruit to declare?" If there are any boxes (like those that AP provided with the equipment in it), the agent will go to inspect the contents of those. If someone tries to stop him, he points out they are free to leave the planet. Without any intervention on the PCs part, Seemo will find the equipment, which will add a complication Caught Red Handed and make things more difficult. Without a viable explanation, Seemo will replace Caught Red Handed with Impounded Silver Lining
Seemo can be bribed: at first he reacts with shock, but this is more surprise than sense of righteousness. He does take Pride in his Work, but he is a Low-Level (and low paid) Bureaucrat.
All said, after Seemo has been dealt with, the PCs will now need to find a way to get to the investigation site. They can't just fly there, as that would get a lot of attention, and there's no saying if there's any decent landing spots.
The only place to rent transportation here is Wayland's Vehicle Emporium ("At Wayland's, I've got Just What You Need!"). Wayland is a very talkative Macedonian in sear-sucker suit who will, left unchecked, ramble on about whatever vehicles he has on the lot (not that many, to be honest). He is a fan of phrases such as "ain't that a beaut" and "she purrs like a Cydonian" and " that'll buff right out. PCs are free to take the vehicles for a test spin, but honestly, the choice boils down to two.
- A large off-road vehicle that, while slow, is much less noticeable. This will fit all PCs and cargo.
- A pair of small gyrocopters, suitable for low-level flying. One 'copter will only fit two passengers and limited cargo, so they will require two, and the split the cargo up among the two. These will get a lot of attention but get the PCs to the site quicker. (1 day instead of 2)
The cost is roughly the same, and like most things, cost can be negotiated (with successful negotiation, the final reward will be boosted).
| Rental Agent Weyland | ||
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Scene 2 - Fun in the Jungle
If the PCs chose the gyrocopters, each PC starts this scene with a complication Like a Sore Thumb on them. Hitches that occur doing this scene should be used to upgrade those complications.
Let the PCs determine how they'll set themselves up, and then present the following Challenge Pool:
| Foraging |
| The PCs are going forging for plants. |
| Foraging
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In addition, the location carries with it a Complication Difficult Terrain
A botch by a PC, OR if a PC is knocked out of the scene from Like a Sore Thumb going above, that PC is separated from the rest of the group and is immediately discovered, leading back to the Cold Open and the next scene. IF this doesn't happen, after 3 rounds, or upon the last die being knocked off the Challenge, the PC with the highest Like a Sore Thumb is ambushed, starting the next scene.
Scene 3 - Jungle Ambush
By coincidence, another enterprise has set up shop in this area - a Mob drug lab which uses local plants to create a powerful hallucinogenic. They're not expecting any company and, being a bit hot headed, will open fire on sight at the first PC (see above) they come across. It's up to the PCs to find a way out of this. As this scene begins, all levels of Like A Sore Thumb get removed from the players. Difficult Terrain becomes a Location Distinction.
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However things are resolved, murder, making them run away, as long as the PCs don't run away themselves, Dambolo will have (or drop) a personal organizer with some incriminating info. There is a map nearby that leads to the lab. The lab is populated by a dozen forced labor extras who will just keep working but will gladly accept any assistance if they are offered freedom. Additionally, in the organizer there notes about drop off and pickup times (apparently someone comes to the lab to pick product up every few weeks and drop off supplies and more workers, who are kidnapped from off world or otherwise coerced into working here, because of debts, etc. ), and another note that mentions how "S" has been paid off for the month a few days ago. There is no indication of who "S" is in the notes.
If they PCs wish to transport the extras back they'll need to figure out how. There is no transportation here other than what they brought. If they had not completed the task above in scene 3 they may continue. If they don't complete it however, their final pay will be docked.
Scene 4 - Leaving Renzo
If the PCs wish to report the the drug lab, they will be pointed to Commissioner Sandou, the combination mayor/law enforcement here at Outpost 10. Sandou is a bit of blow-hard politicking type who will scrutinize their story, and whatever cover story they provide. Depending on how things go, he may even call in Customs Agent Seemo to help question them. If the PCs return to the ship with their ill-gotten gains, Seemo will attempt to inspect whatever they have before boarding the ship. The end goal for them is getting off planet without running into any undue stress.
| Commissioner Sandou | ||
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Final Reward:
Stepped down appropriately for bribes, failed scenes, etc.
| Musical Inspiration | |
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| Song: | The Perfect Drug 
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| Artist: | Nine Inch Nails |
| Album: | Lost Highway Soundtrack |
| Listen online | |
 Spotify
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 Amazon Music
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 YouTube
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