STALKER7

Session 2 of Farlight 43.2 – Ruins of a Distant Future

Around the Game Table

The Sturgis crew met last Saturday for the next episode of their tabletop campaign. Moving away from trad-fantasy settings/games, they have opted to roam our solar system a few centuries in the future, after an apocalyptic war with a rogue AI known as ‘Shiva’.

So new digs, good times.

Tasked with hunting down and eliminating any remaining Shiva threats – or similar extinction-level technology – our heroes found themselves on Ganymede Station, investigating the suspicious death of a fellow operative who had been working undercover.

They had choices on arrival:

• Make introductions with the Station Head of Security.
• Head to the ‘Heat Sink’, a pod hotel that was the operative’s last known habitation.
• Go straight to the Docks where the operative worked – and died.

The Heat Sink

Hotel, restaurant, bar, and brothel, the Heat Sink is one of half a dozen long-term hab-units for the workers on Ganymede Station. Some interaction, some investigation, a bit of negotiation with the locals, our heroes learned that their colleague’s death was attributed to an accident, his ‘biological material’ was recycled, and his hab-pod was cleared and cleaned almost immediately post-mortem, with his meager effects passed off to his sometime girlfriend, a dancer/sex worked named Aleece.

Heading to the brothel to question the GF, a bit more persuasion and a few credits let our heroes go through the deceased operative’s few earthly possessions. All of it was cheap and commonplace, except for an unusually hi-res holo-image of Aleece and the undercover operative. (in an uncertain world, you snatch what comfort you can)

Some tech-savvy investigation by Chris C’s character revealed an encrypted message hidden in the projection. Deciphered, it identified the operative’s boss on the docks as a potential smuggler of dangerous technology. And, surprisingly, Aleece as evidence or some sort of link to Shiva-related bio-weapon developed on Mars.

The plot thickens and another choice has to be made: Go straight at the Dock Boss? Or gather more intel for the inevitable confrontation?

Fight Smarter, not Harder

Our heroes opted to gather intel from the local constabulary. After all, “Knowledge is Power” and a little back up from station security couldn’t hurt.

Turned out the head of station security, Tanya O’Neil, and her deputy, a N8 Model Synth (Nate) would be more than happy to give our characters info on the Dock Boss – after they helped her with a little problem.

It seems a gang of thugs recently berthed at Ganymede Station under fake IDs in a stolen spaceship. If the players help her bring them to justice, not only will she split the bounty, she’ll give our heroes everything she has on the individual in question. Deal?

Deal.

Dead = Less Paperwork

Combat on a space station. Time to load up on frangible rounds, stun grenades, and med-kits.

The first turn saw O’Neil and the Nate unit lead the way to the sector where the stolen ship was berthed. On the way, O’Neil casually informed her now substantially reinforced security team that the bounty on these particular space creeps was the same, whether they were dead or alive.

And that station deaths are simpler for Admin to process, not to mention far less of a drain on critical resources such as air, food, room, and water.

Message Received.

At the berth, the thugs were boozing it up, oblivious to the long arm of the law, reaching out for them.

Noob Crim and two weapon drones were stuck with guard duty while the rest of the gang partied away their ill-gotten gains.

Marshal O’Neil and the N8 unit charge in, guns blazing. Our heroes follow and deploy. Tom’s former Martian Ranger and Chris C’s Hacker & Drone both seek high ground, while Matt and Chris A’s characters stay on ground level.

No casualties in the first exchange but the sound of gunfire brings the gangers running.

Hold the High Ground

There’s a good reason for that adage. As more gangers crowd in and rounds and laser fire fill the air, Tom’s Ranger and Chris C’s old Mil-Drone take advantage of their elevated positions. cover or not, space creeps start dropping to the deck with big holes in important places.

On the ground, Matt’s character’s proficiency with his rail gun makes up for poor shooting by the Marshal and the N8 deputy.

An extended narrative, ‘theater of the mind’ portion of the game session means abbreviated combat, so there are fewer waves of enemies coming at our heroes. It’s not long before the Criminal Boss and a Brawler show up, trying to tip the scales back in their favor.

But it’s too little, too late. Effective fire from the rooftops takes down the few remaining criminals while Chris A’s character goes toe-to-toe with the amped up melee thug. The Boss trades shots with Tom’s Ranger but he too ends up in the station bio-recycler, thanks to Tom and Matt.

With the fight finished, Marshal O’Neil transfers half the bounty as well as her files on the Dock Boss. End of session tally was more credits, credibility, and critical intel for our heroes. A definite win.

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Special thanks to the Sturgis crew for allowing me to playtest elements of a upcoming sci fi ruleset in their campaign. I literally couldn’t do it without them.

That’s it for now. There’s more Bolt Action 3E test games in the horizon. (John and I are prepping for a large demonstration game for the CCWC.)

And speaking of the CCWC crew, our 5E campaign is scheduled to resume mid-month – which is good because my Earth Genasi Paladin has been itching to smack someone with his stone warhammer. Here’s hoping.

Thanks for stopping by. Have an excellent day.