[Recruiting] [GURPS 4e] [TL9] Another World Within

[Shayuri]

Another possibility: Perhaps he's doing research for a university, which has contracted with the company to allow him to use their facilities for his study (at significant cost to the school, via grant or something). He is probably still required to pull his weight on ship...but he may not be an Exxon employee...

Which reminds me.

Briefing questions!

1) What's the rule of engagement here? Minimum force? Are civilian casualties a concern (officially)? What about equipment damage?

2) Are there rules on salvage? Treatment of prisoners? Treaties or accords to keep in mind?

3) What's the fate of the Nebula supposed to be? Is it to be set adrift? Scuttled? Are we stealing the cargo? What do we do with the crew?

And finally

...how big's the tactical squad, and what sort of tactics is the commander planning to use? So I can make sure I'll have what I need to play a part. Are we all in a mercenary unit (and thus know each other), or were we independent contractors who were brought together for this mission?

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Psychologist... oh yeah... you know you love me. He's spent years studying and practicing brain picking, and has began to dabble in hypnotism a bit. Otherwise he is your normal, everyday, creepy guy.

[sblock]Attributes (100 pts spent)
ST 8 (-20pts)
DX 10 (0pts)
IQ 15 (100pts)
HT 10 (0pts)

HP 8
Will 15
Perception 14
FP 10

Basic Speed 5
Basic Move 5

Build 6'0'' 175lbs
Appearance Average


Advantages (15pts spent)
Empathy (15pts) [+3 to psych, detect lies, fortune-telling]



Disads -45

Arachnophobia (-5pts)
Frightens Animals (-10pts)
Laziness (-10pts)
Secret (Imprisonment or Exile): -20


Skills (25pts)

Body Language: 14 (2pts)
Crewman/TL: 16 (2pts)
Gun (pistol: 12 (4pts)
Hypnotism: 15 (4pts)
Poisons/TL: 15 (4pts)
Psychology: 15 (4pts)
Propaganda/TL: 15 (2pts)
Sociology: 15 (4pts)


Equipment
Cash: 30,000



[/sblock]

 

[Raivon]

So I have been planning my character and am just waiting for Jemal's days off so he can assist me in creating it.

 

[Shayuri]

Okay, here's my basically finished first draft. Backgrounds needs flesh, but the skeleton is done and I put an outline in the box so the basic shape could be seen at least.

The chameleon tacsuit is not what she's wearing on this mission, of course. It's her old suit from the counterterrorism unit, which she kept (only semi-legally) for sentimental reasons.

As for what would be known about her by crew and squad; she has a reputation for being nosy and temperamental, but takes her duty and military honor very seriously and always has the backs of her team.

Cpl Melara Richter

Attributes 110
ST 11 10
DX 12 40
IQ 12 40
HT 12 20

[sblock=Advantages and Disadvantages]Advantages 10
Attractive, 5
Rank 1, 5

Disads -50
Bad Temper -10
Sense of Duty (Squad) -5
Duty (Employer) -5
Mild flashbacks -5
Curious -5
Easy to Read -10
Code of Honor (military) -10[/sblock]

Quirks -5
Dislikes plants
Likes non-electronic music
Wants to retire and get out of the biz
Has a brother on Earth she sometimes corresponds with
Is more comfortable hanging out with men than with women

[sblock=Skills]
Karate 12, 4
Knife 12, 1
Beam Weapon (Pistol) 13, 2
Guns (Pistol) 12, 1
Guns (SMG) 14, 4
Guns (Shotgun) 13, 2
Guns (Rifle) 12, 1
Throwing 1

Electronic Operations (Sensors) 12, 2
Electronic Operations (Security) 12, 2
Electronic Operations (Communications) 13, 4
Computer Operations 12, 1

Running 11, 1
Climbing 11, 1
Stealth 12, 2
Swimming 12, 1
Survival 12, 2
Freefall 11, 1
Vacc Suit 12, 2[/sblock]

[sblock=Equipment]
Cash: 609

Electronic lockpick, 1500, .2lbs
IFF Comm, 500
Tiny Computer, Complexity 3, 50
Software
- Targeting (SMG) +1, Complexity 3, 500
Inertial Compass, 120
Nightvision Contacts (Night vision 7), 200
Wristwatch Rad Counter, 100
Tiny laser communicator, 100 (5 mile)
10 A cells, 20, -
10 B cells, 30, .5lbs

Electrolaser pistol w/lethal setting, 1800, 2.2lbs (c cell)
- 3 C Cells, 30, 1.5lbs
ETC PDW w/underbarrel shotgun & IFFInt, 2800, 6lbs
- 6 EMP Shotgun shells, 110, .5lbs
- 5 jammer shotgun shells, 45, .5lbs
- 10 APHC shotgun shells, 36, 1lb
- 50 shotgun slugs, 90, 4lbs
- 5 spare SMG clips, 100, 5lbs
Very Fine Large Knife, 160, 1lb

Reflex Vacsuit, 12050 (30lbs)
- Sleeve Display
Visored Space Helmet, 2050 (4lbs)
- HUD
14100, 34lbs

Reflex Tacsuit w/Chameleon, 7000, 19lbs[/sblock]

[sblock=Background]outline summary
Born in united states to poor family. Joined military at 18, served in middle east. Did SIG/INT and recon, mustered out after 1 term. Went to school then joined counter-terrorism team working for CIA, did stint in indonesia during which she was captured briefly. Left service and went mercenary, signing up with GE to do spaceborne security...and 'other' tactical operations.[/sblock]

 

[Moon_Goddess]

I'll get your questions answered tomorrow, and look over your sheets, I just wanted to say

"Man, Indonesia was bad, I saw things, things you don't forget." Thanks for adding the 2099 Indonesian Riots to my setting.

 

[Jemal]

OK, so I was looking at the two wealth lvls: Comfortable(X2 wealth, 10 pts) and Wealthy(X5 wealth, 20 points). I know you said wealth isn't as useful in this as in most, so I was wondering if you'd allow me to go halfsies: 3.5X standard wealth for 15 pts (~$100,000).
He's not actually WEALTHY, per-se, but he's spent most of his life and resources upgrading a few select pieces. Primarily, I'm looking at this:
Wireless Neural Interface (Major Procedure: 10k + 50.1K cost) $60,100
Computer Implant(major procedure: 10K, 4K+comp) $16,000
Tiny Computer: 50 base, Genius(X20), Compact(X2), +100TB storage = 50100
*Complexity 5, 101TB, .1 lb*

with several high end programs (trying to figure out how much full augmented reality will cost) and a few other gadgets.

 

[Moon_Goddess]

Question Roundup:

Firstly to Shayuri's breifing questions

[sblock="Aurora Bounty briefing, Aurora and takeover crews only"]

You are seated in the Aurora Bounty's conference room a converted cargo space with a large table and chairs, a UltraScreen™ has been painted on one wall. A man who you've only been introduced to as Mr. Jancey walks into the room, his official title is Corporate Liaison and the captain appears to take orders from him. Jancey is a average looking man in his early 40's, balding, he wears a expensive business suit and glasses despite laser correction being commonplace. Captain Shu Jacob, a man in his mid 30's, sits quietly reading thru his notes during the briefing.

"If I may have your attention, please." He pauses for a moment before continuing.

"Thank you, this breifing will outline Operation Rx0-717. Operation Rx0-717 is being launched in retaliation for the destruction of the GE's microgavity silicon factory at Phobos. This is a proof of concept operation."

"The Aurora Bounty is currently flying under falsified transponder codes identifying it as a Google crawler ship. Our destination is a Exxon-Mobil cargo tanker named the Nebula Harvest, en-route from a hydrocarbon pumping facility on Titan to their refineries on Mars. Current trajectory plots intercept at this location near the Jupiter orbital path." The screen display a point on a gird of the solar system.

"Upon interception EMP missiles will be used to disable the Nebula Harvest with minimal damage. When the ship is disabled the Aurora Bounty will dock with the target and use the cutting airlock. The crew members designated as 'takeover team' will enter the 'Harvest and take control from it's Captain Sam Turner. Naturally casualties will need to be kept to a absolute minimum, but deaths are sometimes unpreventable." He says this last laugh with a bit of a laugh, looks at you in a way to let you know that he wants you to know he's lying. It's the first emotion you've seen out of the man.

"Survivors can be transfered to the Aurora Bounty for secure detainment. Equipment damage will need to be keep to an absolute minimum as the Nebula Harvest will need to be repaired and ready for flight as quickly as possible before the chance of retaliation. Naturally the cargo is of the highest priority here."

"After the takeover the 'takeover team' will pilot the Nebula Harvest under false transponders to our facility on Ceres, and the Aurora Bounty will make for Earth orbit. After the Nebula Harvest is unloaded on Ceres the ship will be scuttled and the 'takeover team' will be transfered back to our facilities on earth by individual carriers. If questioned by government agents you are to deny all knowledge of the events. Any prisoners aboard the Aurora Bounty can be transfered to a facility on Luna, for their eventual destination."


"OK, lets get back to work"


As to your further questions, there are treaties and accords regarding this, they would be very similar to how ships of private ownership regard each other in international waters today. Obviously you can see they are mostly ignored.

The takeover team is 9, and I was hoping a PC would take command of it.

[/sblock]
[MENTION=9026]Jemal[/MENTION] I think I'll allow that, since you are simply going in the middle. I'll allow it to anyone else who's wanting a lot of equipment for fewer points. You gonna get your girl some help with her character or not man?


I'll get a briefing for the Nebula Harvest crew written up soon. Might not be today though.

 

[Jemal]

Will be getting the lady's character worked up now that it's my days of.

Any idea what some Augmented reality costs are btw? Computer program costs are kinda hard to judge in Ultra tech.. they've got the list of 'complexity/TL/Cost, but I can't really tell how to judge what a certain program should be.. some of the specifics have complexity and cost, but 'memory augmentation' for example doesn't.
Also for programs, do I have to come up with every single possible program he might have loaded beforehand, or could I buy say a 'suite' of programs and leave some TBD?

 

[Shayuri]

Most software you buy will be a generic bonus to a skill...for those, complexity is determined by the difficulty of the skill (Easy, Average or Hard) and the amount of the bonus. Those rules are in the entry for Software, though they're sort of buried in there.

A few specialized programs, like the Targeting program Richter uses, have different formulas for Complexity and cost; those are noted in the program's description.

Like a lot of things in GURPS, the rules aren't well suited for window shopping. They work better if you have a fairly clear idea what you want your software to do, then translate that into game terms.

 

[Shayuri]

Darwin, I think Rank 2 would be enough for a character who is a 'sergeant,' or an enlisted squad-level commander. The officer giving the orders could stay on the Aurora.

Now I don't have enough points to make Richter a squad leader -and- a tech specialist to my satisfaction, but I could make revisions to make her a squad leader -instead- of a tech specialist. It wouldn't require more than cosmetic changes to the background.

I originally tried to have both, and had to scrap that build.