Originally posted by jatay3:
[QB] How does one make the feel of beginning such a campaign look real?
Jatay,
Oh, that's an easy one!
Astron is a project its founders are attempting to launch despite opposition from the Border Worlds and Imperium. The requirements are lots of secrecy, lots of misdirection, and a cell-structured management style among other things. Prior to launch, Astron will be run more like an espionage campaign than a colony project.
Because of that, your PCs will NOT be in on the Big Secret from the start. As you mentioned, there are lots of ships and equipment to gather. Let your PCs get put to work on that end of things. Astron will also have need for plenty of red herrings to confuse its opponenets. The activities of the PCs can be those misdirections, so much the better if the PCs don't know themselves.
All the PCs know is that there is a job to do, but they have no idea WHY the job needs doing! It's only after they have performed well and that their superiors trust them that they will be let in on the secret, and then only in small doses.
Run your Pcs about doing things like:
- Arranging for low profile warehouse space in a number of different ports. Naturally, the types of folks who store nondescript shipping containers without asking too many questions aren't upstanding citizens.
- Arranging for 'equipment upgrades' for various ships and small craft, again performed by less than honest types.
- Running about on 'nail missions'; i.e. tracking down vitally needed parts or information critical to the project.
- Making, guarding, and/or transporting important purchases.
- Acting as deniable cut-outs.
- Trailing various Border World or Imperial agents and trying to frustrate their plans.
- Engaging in any of the activities listed above only not to directly advance the project. Instead, their actions are meant to decoy, misdirect, or confuse any of Astron's opponents as to what the project is actually working on.
At various times the PCs can and should believe they are working for smugglers, ECMs, mercs, a criminal cartel, terrorists/freedom fighters, or any of the Confederation's intelligence services. Keep 'em guessing. Learning about Astron, even learning that htey have been working for Astron, should be the reward for a lengthy 'Project Preparation' campaign.
Sincerely,
Bill