Unusual scout base setup

[rancke]

I'm working on an adventure set on an interdicted world that is being used as petri dish for scientific experiments. It is one of the rare cases of interdicts not sponsored by either the Scouts or the Navy.

The world became isolated during the Long Night (ca. -1000?). Its population decivilized violently and fell to TL0, then slowly rose to TL1. It was
discovered by the Scouts around 100-200 (depending on just where it is located). Around 300 a then-powerful scientific institution called the Imperial Academy of the Arts and Sciences managed to get it assigned to itself for research purposes, whereupon Academy scholars started runnning psychohistory experiments and other experiments. The TL rose to around 3, then stagnated, not the least because the Academy actively repressed inventions. After the Civil War funding became a problem. After the Psionic Suppressions the Academy became moribund and experiments almost ceased. A few underfunded projects survive. Technological advances no longer being artificially suppressed, tech level rose to 5 and 6. Current date is 1000 and the world is still under interdict, since the Academy is still defending its turf against the Scouts.

What I'm trying to figure out is the practical setup of the permanent base, both the original setup and what it has evolved into after two centuries of declining activity.

It is important, for plot purposes, that the interdict is sufficiently well enforced that the existence of offworlders is unknown to the general public. There are some smugglers, but not very many, and probably a result of collusion with the guardian forces rather than exploiting holes in the coverage. I'm not quite sure about that part. But it's not the sort of place free traders casually visit on a whim.

At the moment I'm thinking of a setup where the Scouts supply guardships and support personnel and the Academy supply scientists who give the orders. The legal underpinning is an old Imperial edict from 300 that requires the Scouts to cooperate fully (Something they no doubt resent).

So how would such a hybrid base be organized?

Currently the Scouts are trying to get the authority over the world taken away from the Academy and given back to them. How would they go about doing that?



Hans

 

[MCEvans]

What is the rest of the system like?

Were is the world located in system?

How far is it to other systems? (I would think J3 at least for isolation.)

Remember the three primary rules - location, location, and above all location.

 

[rancke]

What is the rest of the system like?

I have no idea. No one goes there. The system is interdicted and the locals do not have space travel.

Were is the world located in system?

In the life zone. As yet I don't know what type of star, but it would probably be best if the world was outside the solar jump limit.

How far is it to other systems? (I would think J3 at least for isolation.)

That would depend on what canonical world I finally decide to use. I've already failed to find one that will work for 1100, so I'm going to find an uninterdicted world and set the adventure in Milieu 1000,

Remember the three primary rules - location, location, and above all location.

What was the third one again?


Hans

 

[Strummist]

Currently the Scouts are trying to get the authority over the world taken away from the Academy and given back to them. How would they go about doing that?

Scout:There's this problem that needs sorting out. It's against the rules. If you do it, we'll turn a blind eye.
Academy:Okay. We'll do that then, after all it's for the good of the mission.
Scout:You seem to have broken the rules. Naturally, I have to arrest you now. And I'd better keep a closer eye on you in the future.

 

[Hyphen]

How does the IAAS differ from the IASM?

As for the base, think where you would locate one if it was Earth. Av Imp tech in 1000 would be TL 12? Surveillance satellites could routinely read someone's newspaper, so you may not need in-place devices. On the other hand, the surveillance has been there for a LONG time, so may be more ubiquitous. And presumably you want adventuring material, so they may have an undercover position right in the town with the locals; somewhere to keep an ear on the ground - either the local general store or (more traditionally) the pub!! With a big secret set of rooms underneath, 'natch!

An underwater main base (or one in some high, inaccessable mountain peak) might be the answer. By underwater, I include something in a seaside cliff-face, with access via underwater tunnels.

I can see a bunch of scenarios now, such as when the IAAS hire the PCs the retrieve one of their team members who has "gone native" and is helping the planetay leaders raise the TL. On the way they realise their erstwhile employers are not the nice guys they purport to be, and they have to decide between bringing out the rogue or joining him.

Or the one where the Scouts - bent on discrediting the IAAS - send in the "deniable" PCs to dig up the dirt on the whole shebang.

 

[MCEvans]

I have no idea. No one goes there. The system is interdicted and the locals do not have space travel.

You mean the Scouts have not done a basic survey of the system?

 

[rancke]

How does the IAAS differ from the IASM?

What's the IASM? I'm guessing it's an Imperial academic institution? Where is it mentioned?

The main difference is that I made up the IAAS long ago and haven't noticed any canonical substitute.

An important feature is that it used to be tremendouly influential (important enough to get an entire interdicted world assigned to its authority, for example), but that it has become moribund by 1000.

As for the base, think where you would locate one if it was Earth.

I was asking about a Table of Organization. The main physical base is the aforementioned observation sattelite.

Av Imp tech in 1000 would be TL 12?

Built to state-of-the-art TL12 in 300, upgraded to TL14 since then. Should have been upgraded to TL15 years ago, but nothing ever gets done any more.

There will be some hidden on-world installations. Most of the surviving ones haven't been used for a long time. (It used to be that installations were erased when they were closed down, but lately they've just been closed down and left for PCs to find).

I can see a bunch of scenarios now, such as when the IAAS hire the PCs the retrieve one of their team members who has "gone native" and is helping the planetay leaders raise the TL. On the way they realise their erstwhile employers are not the nice guys they purport to be, and they have to decide between bringing out the rogue or joining him.

Or the one where the Scouts - bent on discrediting the IAAS - send in the "deniable" PCs to dig up the dirt on the whole shebang.

PCs will be local to the world, initially completely ignorant of any off-worlder influences. I'm waffling between making them counter-intelligence officers assigned to the space base, astronauts, or police officers looking for counterfeiters. At the moment I'm leaning towards astronauts.


Hans

 

[Hyphen]

What's the IASM? I'm guessing it's an Imperial academic institution? Where is it mentioned?

The Imperial Academy of Science and Medicine. Detailed in JTAS #22:
http://members.tip.net.au/~davidjw/libdata/alphabet/i/iasm.htm

Given that the IASM was becoming a mover and shaker in 950 (around the time you need the IAAS to become moribund & in decline) it could be written that the IASM eventually takes over - from a discredited IAAS - as the pre-eminent Imperial scientific organisation.

Whom do you want as the Emperor? Place it a few years earlier and you'll get Styrx during the 3rd FW, just before his enforced abdication. Presumably some power shake-ups too.

 

[rancke]

The Imperial Academy of Science and Medicine. Detailed in JTAS #22:
http://members.tip.net.au/~davidjw/libdata/alphabet/i/iasm.htm

So not actually canon, but canon-compatible. Which I prefer to go along with unless there's some compelling reason not to.

(But... 31 worlds? Doesn't sound all that impressive to me. That's one per sector capital plus up to half that again (depending on whether you think sector capitals of sectors like Reft and Alpha Crucis would have one). The IIAS had 300 affiliates and only kept it down that far for practical purposes.)

Given that the IASM was becoming a mover and shaker in 950 (around the time you need the IAAS to become moribund & in decline) it could be written that the IASM eventually takes over - from a discredited IAAS - as the pre-eminent Imperial scientific organisation.

Works for me.


Hans

 

[rancke]

You mean the Scouts have not done a basic survey of the system?

I mean that I haven't created the system and that I don't think it will matter much (though the solar jump limit is an obvious exception).


Hans

 

[MCEvans]

My thoughts were
1. a satellite of a GG in the H-zone the main base could be another satellite of same GG, reduces orbitals to small unmanned ones.
2. is similar but main planet is in H-zone and main base is on it's satellite.
3. main base is in a close belt system.

I would avoid putting any base in orbit because it would attract attention. Ships coming and going, and a telescope is a very powerful tool of passive observation. Just because your sensors can't 'see' it doesn't mean you can't with your eyes. :devil:

 

[rancke]

I would avoid putting any base in orbit because it would attract attention. Ships coming and going, and a telescope is a very powerful tool of passive observation.

Just keep the asteroid between your ship and the planet as you approach and leave. Or time your final approach for daytime. Or both.


Hans

 

[MCEvans]

Just keep the asteroid between your ship and the planet as you approach and leave. Or time your final approach for daytime. Or both.


Hans

I think that is to much trouble.
I also remember a ST:V episode just the presents of the ship in orbit shaped the entire planetary culture. I'll admit that it was a time warp perspective but anything that behaves unnaturally will get noticed and observed as why it behaves differently.

 

[Badbru]

I'm working on an adventure set on an interdicted world that is being used as petri dish for scientific experiments. It is one of the rare cases of interdicts not sponsored by either the Scouts or the Navy.

At the moment I'm thinking of a setup where the Scouts supply guardships and support personnel and the Academy supply scientists who give the orders. The legal underpinning is an old Imperial edict from 300 that requires the Scouts to cooperate fully (Something they no doubt resent).

So how would such a hybrid base be organized?

Currently the Scouts are trying to get the authority over the world taken away from the Academy and given back to them. How would they go about doing that?

Hans

Easiest way for the Scouts to gain authority would be to discredit the Academy to whomever it is that decrees who has authority. Who is that by the way? The Emperor or some lesser branch of administration? Make it apparent the Academy is incapable of maintaining responsible interdiction and/or is hamstringing the Scouts attempts to do so.
How devious are the Scouts representatives in this matter?
Nuclear weapons allways trigger an Imperial response and if the planet is reaching TL 6 now...
You could get quite convoluted with this power game. Are there any megacorps in the area wishing the world was no longer interdicted?
You say funding is an issue to the Academy now?, and that they need the Scouts for the ships/personel? Would the Academy, sensing the threat of the Scouts, seek ships and mercs and finance from a Megacorp in return for, well, what might a megacorp want to do on an interdicted world?
Could there be a rival megacorp? Suddenly there are four powerfull players in this, could this draw the attention of the Navy?
Could be quite the pandoras box you have here.

 

[rancke]

I guess I shouldn't have posted two questions in one post. The one I really need help with was the first one: how to organize (as in Table of Organization) such a hybrid base.

(But please don't think I'm ungrateful for the other suggestions).


Hans