Plague at Criticorum
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Author: David Gilbert
Homepage: http://homepages.enterprise.net/skyline/tech.html
System: Fading Suns
Type: Hook
Category: Science Fiction
Requirements:

This adventure is really a small scenario that can be played as the P.C.s travel from one system to another. It relies on the idea that ships slow down for the jump. As has been explained elsewhere, it would be ridiculous for a ship to accelerate for the full journey to the gate as there is a good chance that the gate would not be reset when they reached it meaning the ship would have to turn around and reverse thrust for days just to stop and have another go. This adventure requires the P.C.s to have a ship capable of make jumps and with at least one weapon (which is okay as most P.C. ships are bristling with weapons!)

A small plague has occured in one area of a Criticorum planet. The Avestites, long angry about the large amount of sinning occuring right next to their home system, have decided it is time for action. Bishop De Aragon has mobilised a small fleet to create a blockade at the Criticorum jumpgate. They will then begin to seacrh all ships, supposedly for signs of he plague but they will also confiscate proscribed technology. Essentially the whole action is an excuse to use their powers to their own ends. This has caused a terrible backlog of ships waiting to make their jumps. More and more come through the jumpgate but the Avestites searches are taking to long and people are getting impatient. There is a small Amaltheans ship, the "Angel of Eternity" on its way to the planet to help with the plague but the Avestites know that as soon as they arrive they will discover that the plague is contained and on the decline. As a result they will try and stop the ship from reaching its destination. The P.C.s should be given the oppurtunity to intervene.

Before the P.C.s make the jump to Criticorum (or wherever you choose to set this adventure) allow them to hear rumours of a plague there. They may even meet the Avestite fleet on its way.

When the P.C.s jump through the gate they will find it surrounded by fleets of ships of all sorts. Standing guard over the gate is an Avestite Destroyer, called "The Purged Soul" and three Avestite Frigates, the "Atonement", the "Attrition" and the "Penance". As soon as the P.C.s have been detected the Destroyer will contact them.

"You are have entered a controlled zone of space. This area has become quarantined. You may travel to the planets in this system but you will not be allowed to leave until you vessel has become purged of plague and sin."

If the P.C.s have business on any of the planets, they are free to fly between them without intervention but if they attempt to make a jump the "Purged soul" and its escorts will open fire upon them. Whilst the P.C.s are there they could well see some of the ships attempt to rush the blockade and make the jump. They will be quickly torn to pieces by the Avetite fleet.

If the P.C.s decide to wait for their turn there is plenty of time to interact with other ships in the queue. Larger Bulk freighters make allow the P.C.s ship to dock and let them walk around the public areas of the ship. A trip aboard one of these vessels could well lead to a small adventure of its own. Whatever happens the P.C.s could find themselves trapped in the queue for up to two weeks, way too long for P.C.s to sit around and do nothing.

At one point, early on, the P.C.s will be approached by an Amalthean vessel called "The Angel of Eternity" which is a small and delapidated freighter. The crew are on a mercy mission to the plague affected area and ask the P.C.s to fly escort with them and protect them from harm, mentioning that they cannot pay them. If the P.C.s accept then allow them to make a test to reduce their Urge ratings for this selfless act.

If they accept then the ships leave almost immediatly. When they reach the planet a small medical team will head down to the surface to evaluate the situation. If the P.C.s escort them the will find that Avestites are waiting for the team and will attempt to kill them before they can discover how small the plague is. If the P.C.s do not escort them the team will be killed. Whatever the result the "Angel of Eternity" will be attacked by an Avestite vessel (something of a size enough to challenge both the "Angel of eternity" and the P.C.s vessel).

If the team successfully return to the "Angel" then the Amaltheans will decide that it is important that the waiting fleet of ships at the jumpgate should be informed that there is no danger of contagion and that they can all leave. A medical team will stay with the victims of the plague but the "Angel" will return to the fleet. When they arrive and announce their discoveries the Avestites will be forced to let all the ships contiunue on their way.

If the P.C.s do not help the Amaltheans or the Amaltheans are killed before they can impart their message then the blockade will continue. Eventually a small fleet of Brother Battle ships will arrive and secretly organize an attack on the bloackade. The P.C.s will be approached and asked to attack one of the Frigates along with several other ships. At the given time the attack will take place and the better equipped Brother Battle ships will quickly overcome the Avestite destroyer. The P.C.s will have to engage a Frigate long enough for the Brother Battle to gain their victory and come to the P.C.s aid. The Avestite vessels will surrender when they sustain enough damage. Any damage they sustain will be repaired at the next Charioteer friendly port in exchange for keeping the jumplanes open.

The adventure could well allow the P.C.s to gain the respect of the Amaltheans, Brother Battle and the Charioteers but will inevitably make them the hated enemies of Bishop De Aragon.