Need a Corperate Secret. [My players keep out]

[Moon_Goddess]

I'm planning a D20 Future game soon with a the major54 plot point stolen from Farscape/Voyager/System Shock 2/and a host of other sources. But I need help with a major plot point to keep the campaign going.


Here's the plot for the "pilot episode"

The year is 2157, mankind has established a thriving colony on mars and mining the asteroids. Exploration out into the stars has been blocked by the speed of light. Until Dr. Nagami invented the hyperdrive allowing travel to Alpha Centuri in under 6 days. The first probe to travel there discovered large deposits of rare earth elements in the asteroids. However on the first manned faster than light trip the ship with our hero's was flung to the other side of the galaxy into the clutches of a waiting trap by a race of slavers.

My only problem is I'm stuck on the why.

 

[smootrk]

Sounds like your Corporate Secret, is that the corporation is working in cahoots with the Slaver Aliens.

 

[Moon_Goddess]

but why?

 

[Nifft]

Why a waiting trap on the other side of the galaxy? Why not a malfunction which drops them into hostile space (where the hostile slavers live) instead? If the hyperdrive is a new invention, then something the PCs do could trigger an accident fairly easily, right?

Cheers, -- N

 

[Moon_Goddess]

The reason for the nature of the accident is I didn't want them to be able to get home easily.

 

[Nifft]

The reason for the nature of the accident is I didn't want them to be able to get home easily.

Hyperdrive tech is new, yes? They're pretty much the first manned flight?

So: the presence of a conscious observer alters hyperspace geometry. Thus hyperdrive drones are easy (so long as they don't have an AI good enough to be capable of "consciousness"), but hyperdrive ships with people on them are tough.

The more experienced races know this, and thus they use techno-bauble X to briefly counteract this phenomenon, and they make short jumps (so no getting back easily). The PCs are able to (eventually) get themselves a techno-bauble X, but it won't work exactly right for humans until it's been tuned to compensate for the specific consciousness of our species.

No conspiracy necessary.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Raylis]

if you want a conspiracy perhaps the pcs are they payment for Dr. Nagami "inventing" the hyperdrive

 

[Moon_Goddess]

ooooo....


I like both of those.. now see which I'll use or maybe combine them.

 

[funkysnunkulator]

The year is 2157, mankind has established a thriving colony on mars and mining the asteroids.

While these operations were profitable and kept the terrestrial economy/economies growing, economists realized that this "resource bonanza" would not last forever". Moreover, efforts to terraform Mars had been unsuccessful. Mars simply lacked the gravity necessary for atmospheric pressure equal to earth.

This situation was creating some tensions back on earth as well as on Mars. Environmentalists had raised concerns for decades about "destroying a second world". Governments had raised concerns from the beginning about security (namely keeping the colonies under "proper" control). Corporations had raised concerns for years about the costs involved in keeping the colonies operating (larger and larger operations were actually starting to affect profits). Colonists had raised concerns for years about the work conditions, lack of representation, educational opportunities for thier children, etc.

Meanwhile, exploration out into the stars has been blocked by the speed of light. Well, that and concerns over security, control, profits, environments, conditions and of course, the sheer cost for developing this technology. It truly seemed as though noone would ever travel the stars... until Dr. Nagami invented the hyperdrive allowing travel to Alpha Centuri in under 6 days.

Dr. Senjin Nagami was an obscure researcher in the private sector whose developments were few, but notable. Known generally as a "computer science type guy", he had made significant progress in the area of quantum computation. For several years, it seemed he was the man everyone wanted to hire. No matter what. several major corporations and agencies tried to "hire" him. He always seemed to have a talent for "remaining independent". To further confound the situation, noone seemed to know where the bulk of his funding came from.

The world was astounded by his claims that he had broken the "light barrier". The public was at first dismissive of the claims, but several governments knew "something had happened". Dr. Nagami had launched two probes to the Alpha Centauri solar system (just over 4 light years away). The first probe to travel there discovered large deposits of rare earth elements in the asteroids. The second probe discovered an earthlike (though slightly harsh) planet in that system.

 

[funkysnunkulator]

In an uncharacteristic move, Dr. Nagami granted liscences to many companies to develop commercial FTL (faster than light) transportation routes. This move galled the governments of earth (who naturally wanted to control such a technology for thier own purposes). However, with so many players on the field, it was impossible for any government to gain enough influence to halt the liscencing process or the development process of FTL. The genie was out of the bottle.

The first group to actually put together a manned mission to Alpha Centauri is as yet unitentified. The crew of this mission is also unidentified. The current status of the mission and it's crew are unknown. The current public opinion is that the entire project has been a giant waste of time and money. Billions of dollars spent, no accountability, worsening relations between Terrans and Martians, and now, missions to other worlds that "magically vanish"? To say that this is all too much is an understatement.....


"Ingall, how the hell did this happen? According to our instruments, we are about 75000 light years from Earth."

"I have no idea, Sir. It shouldn't be possible. According to the briefing Dr. Nagami gave us, as well as information from the other scientists and engineers at the company, we should not have the energy available to have gotten here."

"And where is here?"

"I have no idea, Sir. You know what I know. I'll keep running the numbers and try to find out what occured."

"Uh, Sir.... you had better look at this"

"What is it Reece?"

"Sir, it looks like we have company."

"Oh my god... what is that?"

Blackout.....