To Boldly Go: The Derelict

Originally published May 19, 2014

Circling a red giant star calls Arcturus lies a damaged Federation space vessel. Lost over 3 decades ago, it holds secrets to unknown quarters of space and unexpected dangers.

Arcturus

Aspects:

• Bath of Radiation
• Orbited by Molten Rubble

The blazing red giant possesses a mass 5 times that of Sol and glows 2000 times brighter. The heat given off by this dying star is tremendous and its orbital system consists of little more than molten and baked chunks of rock.

At the very edge of explored space and with deadly radiation, no one has chosen to settle here. The intense heat has evaporated all of the volatile elements needed for life. For most there is nothing to find here.

But roughly 20 AU from the star, an artificial object moves in a stable orbit. To select craft it sends coded signals on an outdated Federation frequency.

FSV Google
Lockdown Code Gamma; Medical Emergency Code 631

The wreck of the Federation Space Vessel Google, an exploratory craft sent to the Kappa Sector 37 years ago, has circled this star for over 36 years.

Resembling a tall tower, this 90 meter vessel has decayed with time. With the core fusion reactor failing, most of the interior structure has become uncomfortably hot and humid. Gravitational systems remain disabled as are all transportation systems. The elevators don't even work.
The Codes

Lockdown Code Gamma designates that mission files remain under executive seal. Only a ranking member of the Federation can unlock them and only in person.

Medical Emergency Code 631 indicates a biological contagion of unknown origin.

Aspects

• Altered Systems
• Fragmented Computer System
• No Gravity
• Burning Sweatbox

Known History

The Google left Federation space 37 years ago via the Kappa branch point on a survey mission. Communication was lost soon after. Later research within the Federation determined that the branch point was closed off due to a collision between two worlds in the Kappa system. This altered the orbital structure of the system and cut off any connection between it and the Federation. The Google was stranded.

Secret History

After being stranded, the crew of the Google continued their mission hoping to find another way back home. Along the way they encountered a world with remnants of an alien civilization. They activated a defense mechanism while on the planet and before they could escape 5 of their 12 man crew were dead including the ship's captain, James Scott.

Acting Captain/Chief Corporate Officer Amelia Hasbro attempted to direct the Google to safety but the contagion brought on board the vessel proceeded to kill the crew one by one. The death was not pleasant. A form of nanomachine, the disease liquefied the crew one by one. Amelia triggered the warnings and lockdown before succumbing.

Unknown to her, the Medical Officer, Benjamin Roux, survived. Using an experimental treatment on himself, he mutated the virus. This altered his genetic structure so that the original disease couldn't kill him. But instead it drove him insane and deformed his body. In the decades since he has reorganized the Google's systems and attempted to restart the ship. The ship’s AI has tried to stop him but is precluded from killing him.

Ship’s AI: Lora

Lora was meant to be an aide to the crew of the Google. With hardwired rules against harming or allowing harm to the crew, its ethics were supposed to ensure that nothing would go wrong with the expedition. But it has been slowly corrupted and broken by Dr. Roux. It has locked down the ship and thrown up obstacles to protect others from being exposed to the virus and to keep Ben from taking the Google home.

At the same time it must keep Benjamin alive, even as he threatens the integrity of the vessel. In conversation it tries to be helpful despite its warped broken voice.

• High Concept: Fragmented AI
• Trouble: Hardcoded Ethics
• Skills: Will +5, Computer +4, Notice +3, Deceive +2, Empathy +1
• Stunts: Ship’s Systems: Use Computers to create obstacles or oppose overcome actions with respect to the Google.
• Stress: 2 Physical/4 Mental (2 Mild Consequences: one for Mental conflicts only)

Medical Officer Dr. Benjamin Roux

The sole survivor of the original crew, Ben would have succumbed to paranoia and desperation even without the raging virus in his bloodstream. He has been trying to break the ship’s AI for over 30 years hoping to gain access to the propulsion systems. With the ship's grow room and makeshift mushroom farms, he's managed to get by.

Meanwhile the virus ravages his mind and body. It won’t kill him but those without his genetic code will be liquefied by the disease.

• High Concept: Mutated Madman
• Trouble: Murderously Single Minded
• Other Aspect: Brilliant and Dangerous
• Skills: Stealth +5, Deceive +4, Physique +4, Medicine +3, Combat Training +3, Notice +3, Engineering +2, EVA +2
• Stunts: Slippery Target: he can use Stealth to defend as long as he at least 1 zone away in darkness, Unseen Terror: he can use Stealth to attack from the shadows for first strike

The Virus

This alien plague is actually a complicated nanoscale machine, self replicating and able to jump species barriers. Transmitted through air and fluids, this disease dissolves and mutates cells, eventually leaving a gooey mass of cancerous tissue.

• Aspect: Protean and Alien
• Skills: Complexity +4 (used to resist cures and investigation), Virulence +6 (for initial infection and spread), Mutate +2 (used to inflict damage and create symptoms of illness)