Traveller: The Story So Far

Volume 3

Our Heroes (033-1118)

Natasha Alexevich (Yvonne Barker) - SolSec 2nd Lt.

John Matrix (Sean Rowan) - Solomani Army Commando Major/SolSec Chief Agent.

Kiell Randor (Mark Lavery) - Solomani Marine Captain/SolSec Agent 3rd Class.

Lalie Kaylen (Tom Stradling) - Freelance hacker.

Mary Webster II (NPC) - SolSec Agent 1st Class.

Session 1: "Reality Used To Be A Friend Of Mine"

033-1118 (16 May 5638)

[Everybody has a strange dream, in which God destroys the Universe and replaces it with a new one, almost - but not quite - identical to the original...[in other words, I changed from the MegaTraveller to Traveller: The New Era rules - Ref]]

Our Heroes borrow a Fleet Courier, and get a copy of the flight plan filed by the ship carrying Pandora. Jump to Ys, along with a couple of Marine guards for Matrix, (who's in the refrigerator, pending a Court Martial), and Kiell. Matrix is defrosted, and Kiell annoys the Marines.

034-039

In Jump.

040

Fleet Courier reaches Ys. Lalie hacks into Starport computer, and more Marines arrive for Matrix and Kiell. Webster bullshits to the Colonel in charge, and he lets them go. Refuel.

041

Jump to Mirabilis/Capella. Kiell destroys his stateroom and moves in with Matrix.

042-047

In Jump.

048

Reach Mirabilis. Refuel at gas giant. Lalie hacks into Naval Base computer and discovers that the ship carrying Pandora never arrived here.

Session 2: "I'll Set You Free"

048-1118 (31 May 5638)

Jump to Twylo/Capella.

049

In Jump. People start to feel unwell.

050

In Jump. Crew start to feel unwell. Sensor Operator goes into coma.

051-054

In Jump.

055

Reach Twylo. Run medical tests on everyone, (result: there might be something wrong with someone, but they're not sure what or who). Lalie hacks into Starport computers. Matrix is collected by Marines, Kiell visits his ship, and Webster looks for a good lawyer. Laly discovers that the ship, and some of the crew, are still here, so Natasha and Webster pay a call on the sister of the Medic.

056

Natasha "persuades" the sister to arrange a meeting with her brother, at which Natasha probes him but discovers he doesn't know much. They send him off to fetch the ship's Executive Officer, holding the sister hostage. The Exec arrives in a psi-shield helmet, and gets beaten up. Everyone goes to a car-park. A Navy grav car follows, but Natasha "loses" it. Webster hi-jacks a lift, and Natasha probes the Exec, although he doesn't know much either: the ship went via a deep-space research station, but only the Captain knew its location. "Clean up" prisoners minds, and send them home. Collect Laly from the ship, and bullshit their way into the SolSec HQ. Laly looks through the records, while Webster and Natasha go to Matrix's Court Martial. Matrix pleads insanity, the doctors agree, and he is medically discharged from the Army. Webster and Natasha return to the ship, and Matrix goes shopping, (to "broaden his mind!").

Session 3:

056-1118 (8 June 5638)

Matrix returns to the ship, and everyone plots. They decide to get aboard the Le Mat and down-load the data from the Flight Recorder. Webster catches the shuttle back to the Downport, bullshits her way into the Naval Base - which seems rather busy - catches a second shuttle up to the Orbital Naval Base, and sneaks aboard the ship. She secures the ship, knocking out two engineers she finds in the Engine Room. Meanwhile, Natasha floats across from their ship to the Le Mat. Once aboard, she rigs up an interface to the Flight Recorder, which Webster then uses to down-load the data into her hand computer. Natasha wipes the memories of the two engineers, and she and Webster leave the way they came.

057

The Naval Base and Starport are very busy, and Webster only just manages to sneak back onto the ship, arriving just after Natasha.

Session 4: "Race Through Space"

057-1118 (9 June 5638)

Laly hacks into the government database and orders Matrix a new set of weapon permits - which will take about two weeks to arrive - and then advertises for some engineers for Kiell's ship. When the engineers arrive, everyone boards Kiell's ship, the rather unimaginatively-titled Kiell Randor. One of the new crew turns out to be Buxton, an old acquaintance of Laly's. They file a false flight-plan, then jump to Luuru/Capella.

058-063

Kiell Randor in Jump. Laly forges Matrix a new set of weapon permits and builds several little robo-Kiells for Matrix. Decode the stolen flight recorder data and find that the research station they're after is in 1935/Gemini.

064

Reach Luuru. Do a spot of shopping while the ship is being refuelled.

065

Jump to Teucer/Capella.

066-071

Kiell Randor in Jump.

072

Reach Teucer, which they find is now under quarantine. Refuel at the gas giant.

073

Two robo-Kiells escape, but get back to Matrix's stateroom before Kiell's warbot gets them. Jump to Cameroon/Gemini.

074-079

Kiell Randor in Jump.

080

Reach Cameroon, which is also under quarantine. Get medical data from the authorities. Refuel at gas giant.

081

Jump to 1935.

082-088

Kiell Randor in Jump.

089

Reach 1935. Find a cluster of asteroids and what could be the research station. Lalie has a little accident with the active sensors, which alerts the defenders, (a Destroyer and a Destroyer Escort). The DD follows them to the station...

090

...where they meet the DE. Kiell teleports onto the bridge and wipes out the command crew, while a Cutter full of Marines flies over to board the Kiell Randor. Kiell kills the DE crew and Natasha kills the Marines. Persuade the station that "everything is under control", and disguise themselves as the DE crew.

Our Heroes (090-1118)

Natasha Alexevich (Yvonne Barker) - SolSec 2nd Lt.

John Matrix (Sean Rowan) - SolSec Chief Agent.

Kiell Randor (Mark Lavery) - Solomani Marine Captain/SolSec Agent 3rd Class.

Lalie Kaylen (Tom Stradling) - Freelance hacker.

Mary Webster II (Andrew Moreton) - SolSec Agent 1st Class.

Buxton (Alex Stokes) - Freelance engineer.

Session 5:

090-1118 (12 July 5638)

Webster programs the DE computer to open fire on the DD as soon as it gets within 30000km, and to self-destruct an hour later. Meanwhile, Kiell steals some of the spare missiles. Everyone except Kiell transfers back to the Kiell Randor, and dock with the station, claiming to be injured crew-members of the DE. While they are being decontaminated, a technical team is sent aboard the ship. Our Heroes take over the Sick Bay, and Webster and Lalie break into the computer. At this point, the DE opens fire on the DD, creating a nice diversion. Kiell panics, and escapes on the Cutter. When he gets back to his ship, he kills the techs, then goes to find the rest of the Party, along with the warhead from one of the nukes. Kiell teleports into the Bridge for more mayhem, Natasha heads for the labs, where she finds Dr Jane Nellis, the original creator of Pandora. Kiell kills a load of Marines and heads for the Computer Centre, while Natasha gets the antidote to Pandora. The main computer is taken off-line, and Kiell trashes the Computer Centre, sets his nuke to go off in seven minutes (!) and then 'ports back to his ship to prepare to leave. Natasha 'ports back to her stateroom with Nellis, samples of Pandora II and the antidote, and all the data on it. Everyone else returns to the ship. Lalie pilots the ship away, and Matrix, Kiell, and Natasha start to get the missiles aboard. Lalie jumps just before the nuke goes off. Unfortunately, something goes wrong, and the ship misjumps. Everyone goes to talk to Dr Nellis, and Natasha mentions that this mission was inspired by an IRIS agent. Webster gets a bit upset by this, and while Natasha is trying (unsuccessfully) to explain that this doesn't really mean that they're working for the Imperials, Kiell solves the problem of what to do with Dr Nellis by disintegrating her [sigh -Ref].

091

Kiell Randor in Jump. Natasha starts reading the data on Pandora. Kiell discovers that there are only 50 man-days worth of food left on the ship, (not that this particularly bothers him...)

092

Kiell Randor in Jump. Natasha finishes reading the data on Pandora, and then destroys the only copy.

093

Kiell Randor in Jump. While Kiell is asleep, Natasha 'ports into his stateroom, 'ports Shere Khan into an empty fuel tank, and stuns Kiell. She then probes Kiell to get the over-ride codes for his security codes, which she gives to Lalie and Webster, and then infects Kiell's food with Pandora. Lalie and Webster use the codes and Lalie's robot to reprogram Kiell's Warbot.

094

Kiell Randor in Jump. Lalie and Webster use the codes and Lalie's robot to reprogram Kiell's security droid.

095

Kiell Randor in Jump. Lalie and Webster reprogram the security system on Kiell's ship, and delete all records of them ever being at the research station, and all security camera videos.

096

Kiell Randor in Jump. Webster programs the warhead of one of Kiell's nukes to detonate 48 hours after the ship comes out of Jump.

097

Kiell Randor in Jump.

098

Kiell wakes up, believing the date is 093. Kiell Randor comes out of Jump at Barnard/Sol.

Session 6:

098-1118 (20 July 5638)

Lalie announces that they're stuck out in the middle of nowhere, and it'll take them over three weeks to get to the gas giant. Webster calls the Starport and arranges for an SDB to meet them ASAP. Kiell discovers he has the virus and panics. Natasha and Webster take samples from Kiell to work out what the correct dosage is for the antidote.

099

Give Kiell the antidote. Dock with SDB. Kiell, Matrix, Natasha, Webster, and Lalie go aboard, leaving the Kiell Randor in Buxton's hands.

100

Nuke detonates, vaporising the Kiell Randor. Kiell is a little upset. SDB docks at asteroid base. Webster books passage to Terra for everyone, while Kiell drowns his sorrows. Jump to Terra/Sol.

101-106

In Jump.

107

Reach Terra. Natasha 'ports to David & Tarlin's house and reads her mail, which includes an interesting message...Matrix goes back to Chico, and is never seen again. Webster and Lalie go and get drunk. Kiell goes to SolSec HQ to resign, but they refuse and he ends up in a shoot-out with several Marines. He teleports to the Marine Base to get his stuff, but it hasn't arrived yet, so he goes to the Starport to try to find it. Unfortunately, a couple of grav-tanks have other ideas, and he gets arrested and taken up to an orbital station. He refuses to agree to have an unspecified operation, and tries to 'port back to the surface. He appears half way, and starts to burn up in the atmosphere, so he moves to a higher orbit until he can decrease his speed.

108

Natasha's message was from Delorean, aboard the ISS Excalibur, apparently at the Ganymede Naval Research Centre, so she stows away aboard a ship heading out that way.

109

Natasha en route to Ganymede. Kiell reaches Los Angeles, where he kills, and takes over the identity of, unemployed actor Gregory Heinlein.

110

Natasha en route to Ganymede. Kiell finds a shady cyber-doc, and arranges for him to make him a new body.

111-113

Natasha en route to Ganymede. Kiell being rebuilt.

114

Natasha reaches Ganymede and teleports aboard the Excalibur, where she has a long conversation and a very civilised lunch with Colonel Delorean. Kiell still being rebuilt. Webster finds a different cyberdoc, and also has a few "modifications".

Interlude

115-1118 (6 August 5638)

Kiell being rebuilt. Natasha catches shuttle back to Terra.

116-118

Kiell being rebuilt. Natasha en route to Terra.

119

Natasha en route to Terra. Kiell/Greg's new body is finished, and he goes back to Phoenix to see his boss - SolSec Colonel Eduard de Vere - again. He apologises for making such a mess last time, but says that he thinks he deserves a promotion. De Vere does not agree, and Kiell leaves in a hurry. He goes back to the cyberdoc, and has his face returned to it's original shape, (i.e. Kiell's face). Meanwhile, Lalie is arrested for illegal hacking, fraud, etc.

120

When the cyberdoc has finished, Kiell 'phones de Vere and apologises for not apologising properly last time. Then he goes to the insurance company, to try to claim for his ship's destruction. After threats and violence, Kiell leaves when the Marines arrive. "No more mister nice guy," he thinks, and steals some firepower from the Marine armoury. Unfortunately, SolSec have been following him, and when he gets home the Army blow up his apartment. Finally admitting defeat, what's left of Kiell goes back to see his boss, where he unconditionally surrenders...with a few conditions...

121

Kiell is repaired, (again), and is told that the insurance company has filed a fraud charge against him, claiming that the ship wasn't destroyed. After some fast-talking, (and a large 'donation'), they drop the charges. Kiell lurks in bars and gyms for a few hours, before undergoing a bizarre transformation...and becoming the Kiell-Roach, (complete with chaos-death-spiky-bits)!

Our Heroes (122-1118)

Natasha Alexevich (Yvonne Barker) - SolSec 2nd Lt.

Kiell Randor (Mark Lavery) - Solomani Marine Captain/SolSec Agent 1st Class.

Lalie Kaylen (NPC) - Freelance hacker.

Mary Webster II (Andrew Moreton) - SolSec Agent 1st Class.

Session 7: "I Didn't Expect the Spanish Inquisition!"

122-1118 (13 August 5638)

Webster leaves hospital. Natasha returns to Terra, and visits SolSec HQ. Kiell and Webster are ordered to meet her there. De Vere asks Natasha where she has been - she says she was up a mountain in Tibet, but Kiell, (under truth drug), has already told him the real story. When asked, Webster tells a third story. De Vere gives them truth drug, and gets slightly different stories. He summons a Telepath to check their stories, but Natasha takes over his mind, and they repeat their previous stories. Webster and Natasha leave. Natasha visits a psychiatrist, and is told she needs a holiday, while Webster goes on a little trip out to the Belt. Kiell tells de Vere what Natasha did, and they plot. Meanwhile, Matrix and Lalie have been questioned, and their stories match Kiell's.

123

Webster is picked up by two SDBs full of Marines. After frying the psi-shields, Kiell teleports into Natasha's bedroom and shoots her full of tranq darts. Before she passes out, Natasha teleports back to Tibet. Kiell uses the radio transmitter in one of the darts to trace her, and the pair are taken up to a ship in orbit, to join Webster and de Vere. The ship jumps, (back to Terra). While in jump, Webster and Natasha are interrogated.

124-129

In jump. Webster and Natasha being interrogated.

130

Natasha and Webster are woken up, on the Bridge, with Kiell and de Vere. De Vere is rather angry that they've been lying to him, and even more angry that they're doing something useful, (so he can't have them executed). He tells them to carry on with what they're doing, but do it for him rather than Delorean, (he wasn't keen on his agents working for the enemy). The ship comes out of jump, and de Vere leaves. Kiell flies them to Terra, then steals Natasha's Shimmersuit and disintegrator. Natasha trashes her house in Cairo. Webster does illegal electronic things in London.

131

Natasha joins Webster, and they both go to Paris, where Webster jams the police com-net, while Natasha butchers a house full of hippies, (along with a few neighbours). Just to be on the safe side, Webster crashes the police computer. Then the two go to the library, where Natasha borrows most of the Genetics section, and Webster reads a few Psychiatry books. Webster "requisitions" Lalie, and they charter a ship.

132

Jump to Dismal/Sol. Natasha reads books.

133-138

In jump. Natasha reads books. Crew and passengers feel ill.

139

Reach Dismal. Book passage to Tlaloc/Kukulkan.

140

Natasha and Webster jump to Tlaloc. Kiell Randor reaches Terra. Kiell hires techs to remove bits of his old ship, and orders a robot crew for his new one.

141

Natasha and Webster in jump. Techs working on Kiell's ship.

142

Natasha and Webster in jump. Kiell sells his ship to SolSec.

143

Natasha and Webster in jump. Kiell buys a Firey-class Close Escort from the Navy.

144-145

Natasha and Webster in jump.

146

Natasha and Webster in jump. Kiell's new ship and robots delivered. Techs start working on it.

147

Natasha and Webster reach Tlaloc.

149

Natasha and Webster land, where they meet up with Mikhail, Tarlin, and lots of kids. Webster tells Tarlin that Natasha is crazy, and Tarlin and Mikhail wonder how to cure her.

Session 8:

150-1118 (9 September 5638)

Natasha tries to commit suicide, and is rushed to hospital. Webster plays with a bus.

151

Natasha in hospital.

152

Natasha in hospital. David Carter arrives in a Battleship, (the SS Ivan Wolfe).

153

Natasha in hospital.

154

Natasha recovers, and is pounced on by a gang of psychiatrists.

155

Natasha being psychoanalysed.

156

Natasha being psychoanalysed. Webster "buys" a Cruiser.

157

Natasha being psychoanalysed.

158

Natasha is released, and goes shopping with Webster.

159

Natasha and Mikhail, (+kids), and Webster join David and Tarlin, (+kids), on the Wolfe for the trip back to Terra.

160

Wolfe jumps to Ember/Sol.

161-166

Wolfe in jump.

167

Wolfe reaches Ember/Sol.

168

Refuel.

169

Wolfe jumps to Terra/Sol.

170-175

Wolfe in jump.

176

Wolfe reaches Terra/Sol.

177

Wolfe travelling to Terra.

178

Dock with Phoenix Highport. Everyone goes down to the surface. Natasha visits de Vere. Shortly after she leaves, his secretary, (SolSec Captain Mitchell Tagashi), finds de Vere's body - sans head - and a smoking gauss rifle, registered to Natasha, [yes, I know gauss rifles don't smoke...] Kiell and Webster arrive at SolSec HQ, and are locked in an office, where Webster plays with a computer. Natasha teleports in, grabs Johnson, (who'd just arrived to investigate the murder), and takes him to Arabia. Kiell 'ports back to the Marine base, and returns with his and Webster's guns and armour. Natasha discovers that Johnson is bugged, so she trashes the bugs and takes him to Australia. Kiell and Webster break out of their office and slaughter half a dozen Marines. Kiell 'ports up to Johnson's office and destroys the murder weapon, while Webster hides in an empty office. Then Kiell goes down and trashes the computer room. Meanwhile, Natasha probes Johnson and discovers that he was part of the Pandora Conspiracy. Back at SolSec HQ, Kiell 'ports back to the Marine base, changes back into his old clothes, and goes back to the office where he had been kept, just in time to be captured by the rather surprised Marine who had searched the room 30 seconds earlier. He is taken to a nearby g-carrier, where he is held prisoner. Natasha checks on Webster, and is just in time to stop her from being fusion-gunned out of existence, (scratch four more Marines). Webster wanders off to find a medic, while Natasha grabs Captain Tagashi and takes him to Australia. Kiell "reprograms" his brain, so that he forgets about all the illegal things he's just done. Natasha probes Tagashi and finds that he killed de Vere, then grabs Johnson's secretary, but has to dump him on the "not guilty" pile. Kiell knocks out his guard, but can't break out of the g-carrier, so he settles for scrawling graffiti on the walls. Natasha 'ports near the building, possesses a convenient guard, and waits. Shortly after, Commodore David Carter arrives, and Natasha explains the situation to him, (via the guard). He goes semi-ballistic in the general direction of Kiell and Webster, who are ordered to "be good" until he gets things under control, and Natasha escapes back to Australia.

Session 9:

178-1118 (7 October 5638)

Natasha is contacted by Tarlin, who has just flown half way around the world, and wants to know where Johnson and Tagashi are. Natasha hands them over, and Tarlin takes them back to Phoenix for interrogation. Meanwhile, Kiell calls an estate agent, and buys a desert island.

179

Everyone is summoned to a meeting with David on board the Ivan Wolfe, which is acting as the SolSec HQ while the building is being rebuilt. He confirms de Vere's decision to classify their work as an official SolSec mission, and gives them all a promotion, (Kiell and Webster to Chief Agent, Natasha to 1st Lt). He explains that a Navy Courier jumped out-system without authorisation just after the "incident" at SolSec HQ. He believed the ship was heading for either Lagash or Scandia, to warn the other conspirators, and he sends the group - in Kiell's ship - to Scandia to catch them. The ship jumps to Loki/Sol.

180-185

In Jump. Webster starts working on a "Soulkiller" program, to attack people using neural interfaces.

186

Reach Loki.

187

Refuel at gas giant. Jump to Scandia/Arcturus.

188-193

In Jump.

194

Reach Scandia. Webster starts hacking into the Starport computer. Shortly after they dock, she discovers that Admiral Powell is on a Cruiser about to jump, and Commander Harris is still on-planet. Natasha teleports on to the Cruiser, while Kiell starts rounding up a few Marines, and Webster continues playing with the computers, (including testing her Soulkiller). Natasha grabs the Admiral, and 'ports back to Kiell's ship just before the Cruiser jumps. Kiell and the Marines storm the Courier, but don't find anyone, so he goes and hassles Colonel Lowenstien, the Starport Marine commander. He sends Kiell to Commodore Floyd, military commander for the system, who agrees to help. Kiell and Natasha start searching Harris's room. Natasha uses psychometry, and Kiell uses Shere Khan to "sniff out" Harris. Webster's Soulkiller is activated, but when she tries to trace the source, it ends at a vending machine which was being used as a relay. Natasha has a vision of a house on an island, and Kiell leads a squadron of grav tanks to investigate. After a few hours of searching, they find the house. Kiell teleports in to the room behind Harris, but the Commander commits suicide. Natasha 'ports in and brings him back to life. They find the body of the Ensign who flew the Courier, killed by Harris.

195

Everyone returns to Kiell's ship, and put the prisoners into cold sleep. Jump to Melchior/Arcturus.

196-201

In jump.

202

Reach Melchior.

203

Refuel. Jump to Hathor/Arcturus.

204-209

In jump.

210

Reach Hathor.

211

Refuel. Jump to Ninkhur Sagga/Sol.

212-218

In jump.

219

Reach Nunkhur Sagga.

220

Refuel. Jump to Lagash/Sol.

221-226

In jump.

227

Reach Lagash. Land at only surviving Downport.

228

Talk to General Swerdlowski, Lagash military commander. He tells them that a group of SolSec agents, (Brickman, Conrad, and Vandermayer), arrived a few weeks ago, and left with General Ly, Colonel Medina, and Major Hume. Everyone goes back to Kiell's ship, and leaves for Nusku/Sol.

229-235

In jump.

236

Reach Nusku.

237

Refuel. Jump to Agidda/Sol.

238-243.

In jump.

244

Reach Agidda.

245

Refuel. Jump to Terra/Sol.

246-251

In jump.

252

Reach Terra. Contact David. Land, and hand over the prisoners.

253

David calls them to a meeting at the now-rebuilt SolSec HQ. He says that, considering they've just saved Humaniti, and uncovered a treasonous conspiracy, there are a lot of people who think they should be awarded the Banner of Terra, (although he doesn't say if he agrees). Kiell says thank you, and can he have another promotion? Webster says, in that case she resigns (on the grounds that Kiell, and possibly Natasha, aren't Solomani). Natasha says she doesn't care, since she's resigning anyway. David tells them not to be so stupid, and gives them a month's holiday in which to reconsider.

+++ END OF MISSION +++