The Martin II and the Harbinger managed the Jump to TECH-WORLD without incident. On arrival in the system, one of the marines, Jen Laral approaches Rex and speaks for the rest of the crew. They would like to leave the Martin II once docked on TECH-WORLD, and would appreciate 10,000 credits per person to allow them to make their way home. Rex wanted them to stay and work their money – but they were having none of that, threatening to say they were brought to TECH-WORLD under duress if their demands are not met. Some discussion is made over killing all/some of the crew, but sense prevails and the group decision is that they will be allowed to disembark at TECH-WORLD. Of course, Osha stays with the party, as she has the device that can be
The decision is made to dock at the Spaceport, (as the Martin II is expected anyway).
From orbit, Tech-World looks like a rusty wasteland. Native lifeforms are almost non-existent, unless you are a big fan of slime. The world lacks any notable mineral resources or anything else that might make it desirable for colonisation. Thousands of years of colonisation waves and empires in the Trojan Reach ignored it.
Then the colony comes into view, and it looks like a microcircuit spread out across the desert. In the centre of the colony is StarPort, a featureless matt-black hemisphere the size of a small city. As the characters’ ships descend towards StarPort, a docking platform grows to accommodate them, and when they land, it draws their ship through a seemingly solid barrier.
The walls are composed of trillions of microscopic robots, who can flow and reshape themselves to whatever configuration is required.
More macro-scale robots swarm out to service the ship. A servitor android - a perfect female form sculpted in brass and steel - comes to greet the characters and welcome them to Tech-World. She introduces herself as Sophia, and declares that she has been assigned as the characters’ personal guide and aide for the duration of their stay on Tech-World.
The party is reunited at Luddites, a bar where the highest level of technology used is a Robotic washing machine. There are millions of robots on Tech-World, and only a few thousand humans, so Luddites is a brief respite. Only pistol weapons are allowed to be carried on TECH-WORLD. After only a short time, the decision is made to head to the address that Osha has been given. Sophia leads the way, walking down corridors covered with slime which indicate that their form has not changed in many years. As the address is approached, suddenly a combat drone is spotted in the distance. Without warning a pulse of laser fire is directed at Rex, and it hits the Aslan square in the chest. Luckily his armour takes the brunt of the damage, and he is left with merely a bruise. Shots at Kane and DeWinter miss as they dodge out of the way and into cover. After determining that the combat drone is not firing at Osha or Sophia the guide, the party send Sophia forward to the building (labelled CP Computing). An Android answers the door, and cannot or will not explain why the drone only fires at selected targets. Osha is sent forward to the building. The drone doesn’t fire and she disappears into the building. A short while later, Osha reappears and states that some DNA of the Captain is needed. Lance heads back to obtain some DNA material from the captain’s quarters on the Martin II. He returns shortly and Osha heads back into the building. After a few minutes, she returns saying that the device will be delivered to the ship over the next couple of days.
The party head back to the ship and Osha tells that there was supposedly someone else working for GeDeCo on the crew and that something was to be put into the vault when it arrives in Byrni. The party search the upper decks, and in the Purser’s quarters, they find what looks like an Imperial Treaty.
GeDeCo’s forgers did an excellent job – the treaty is identical to a genuine Imperial treaty, right down to the genetically-coded seals affixed next to each signature.
The corporation influences the Regent of Byrni to order all ships passing through the system to be searched for contraband. Now, if they Treaty was ‘discovered’ in the vault…
According to the Treaty, the Aslan claim the right to annex any worlds in the subsectors of Dpres, Sindal, Tliowaha or the Borderland, on condition that they do not take any planet within six parsecs of the Imperial frontier. In exchange for not protesting these territorial claims, the Imperium is granted favourable trade terms. Currently, the independent worlds of the Trojan Reach look to the Imperium for protection. The independents have no love for the Imperium, but they believe that the Imperium will contest any large-scale advance by the Aslan to protect its own borders. The Trojan Reach’s status as a buffer zone between the two star empires is a major factor in interstellar politics.
The treaty strips away that status, casting hundreds of human worlds into the maw of the Aslan in exchange for profit. Such a treaty would not only panic the independent worlds and drive them into the embrace of the General Development Company, it would also stir up the anti-Aslan, pro-military factions within the Imperial nobility. Currently, Imperial politics is divided on the Aslan question, but the treaty would be seen by those opposed to the Aslan as a massive, unconscionable step towards abandoning the Reach. If word of the treaty spreads out into the Trojan Reach, then every
Independent world will start looking for allies and support.
After about 18 hours, a delivery is made to the Martin II. It is a small device. Not wanting to wait any longer, everyone heads down to the vault. The button on the device is pressed, and miraculously the Vault swings open!
Inside the vault is.
Four 5-ton mail drums of secure electronic communications between the Imperium and the Hierate.
Various legal documents relating to Imperial diplomacy and mercantile ventures in the Hierate.
40 tons of Luxury Goods (Cr 200,000 each).
20 tons of Pharmaceuticals (Cr, 100,000 each).
20 tons of Radioactives (Cr 1,000,000 each).
Gemstones and other rare items of negligible mass worth another Cr. 30,000,000.
But there is no artefact! Rex goes crazy looking for an artefact until the others point out that perhaps it was just a rumour!
Acting quickly, Vance shows off his expert brokering skills and sells on the gemstones and radioactives. His experience knew that these goods would be in demand on a high tech level plant, and he manages to fetch 125% of the value of the goods. Good work!
Some purchases are made on this high tech level world before preparations are made to depart. An enquiry is made into purchasing a JUMP4 drive for the Harbinger…
