Themis Theta Sector - A Stars Without Number Campaign

Themis Theta Sector Campaign

Game: Stars Without Number Science-Fiction RPG, by Kevin Crawford,
Purchase at www.drivethrurpg.com

(Note: The Hard Light System description is taken from Kevin Crawford's scenario of that name.)

This campaign will be run as a sandbox game, giving the PCs maximum flexibility in pursuing their goals after the first session.

First Session Preparation

Twelve PCs are pre-generated, so you will choose one during the first session.  The remaining PCs will be available if you are killed.  To prepare, download the free rules or purchase the full set at drivethrurpg.com.  Review the rules on characters and systems (combat, skills, etc).

Sector Background

Most of the sector has recovered from the Scream, but it remains out of touch with the rest of humanity.  Three major powers and a loose confederation have emerged: the Republican Guild, the Buddhist-Communist Unified Sodality, The Peoples' Society, and the Viridian Council.  Although these political groups dominate the sector, rebellions, rogue groups, and lawless explorers are numerous.  Several systems, in gray, are not in regular contact with the rest of the sector.  Even in the recovered constellations, planets and moons that have not been scavenged or resettled remain.

No Credits and Two Creepy Aliens

A series of misfortunes has resulted in your band of adventurers being credit-poor.  Looking for easy money, you took a job transporting two jellyfish spiders, rare alien life forms, for a buyer on Eurystheus named Xin Lee.  Eurystheus is the Homeworld of the Republican Guild, located in the Lozano system (0103).  

You must avoid customs and security forces who might question the transport and seize the cargo. Although a legal purchase, Xin would like to avoid the problems that could arise from some overly zealous Guild bureaucrat holding the aliens for quarantine, ruining his plans to feature them at some event in three days.

On-Time delivery (in three-days): 30,000 credits for the group (and 2000 XP per player)

Late delivery: 15,000 credits for the group (and 1500 XP per player)

Delivered dead or not at all: Group must pay Xin 120,000 credits, one way or the other.

Xin provided an expense account, and the group keeps 50% of any remaining funds.  Today, you have 3000 credits remaining, loaded on 6 credit chips with no record of ownership.  To keep costs down, you chartered a flight on the rickety free merchant, The Black Diamond, captained by Torag Schmalls and his first mate, Reeves Losarian.  The ship has broke down twice, eating up your schedule slack.  

Tonight, you find yourself at the Minos Mine Settlement on the moon Zigzibus over Ogarrio (0003), staying in the Space Rat's Hostel.  After a quick bite at The Crater tofu bar and grill, Torag and Reeves returned to the ship with a local mechanic to fix the oxygen recyclers.  He seems very confident that you will be able to leave tomorrow morning and make the deliver on time.

The mining settlement consists of three large domes and a half dome that shelters a rare metal mining operation. The domes are connected by twin passageways.  Most of the inhabitants are miners, but you were surprised by the size of the security force upon arrival.  Although in Guild territory, all of the security guards and bots are part of a private force, not Guild soldiers or cops.

The domes seem to be in decent condition, but the air quality is less than optimal.  A fine silvery dust is noticeable in areas not recently cleaned.

You met several interesting characters at The Crater before hitting the rack last night.

• Master Chief Barkley- owner and retired space marine.  Barkley was friendly but gruff.  He commented on the lack of visitors recently given the miners’ situation. There have been many complaints about work conditions and even a protest that was quashed.  He recommended mechanic Derek M. to Torag Schmalls, your ship’s captain, to assist with repairs.
• Diego Mitsubishi- your group really hit it off with Diego who owns and operates the Traveler, a free merchant. While the ship is beat-up, Diego and his maintenance droid, GREENEYE, manage to trade far and wide across the sector.
• Theodore Cross - a curious but wary hydro farm manager who has lived on Minos for three years now.   He seemed bored but helpful.
• Alexandria Liu - Lexie was very, very friendly…almost too friendly.  She visits Minos often on business, traveling solo in Frozen Star, a free merchant ship, but she would not elaborate.  She asked a lot of questions. She offered to help the crew if you had questions about systems controlled by the People’s Society, which she visits frequently.
• Smitty - a one-eyed maintenance worker who was enjoying his Tofu brew a little too much.  He spent the night complaining to Barkley about management and the screwed up situation on Minos. He wants to move back to Eurystheus.
• One woman set alone in the corner, openly wearing two laser pistols and avoiding conversation. She ate a tofu and bioengineered-almond salad.

You are fast asleep in a squad bay in the Hostel, with the wheeled case containing the two jellyfish spiders sitting in the middle of the room, when the adventure begins.