Introductory Game - The Artifact

[Onix]

I'll take that as no questions or conversations then?

[Chainsaw Aardvark]

(Sorry, been out of the house all day)

Pleased to meet all of you. I am Zvika, I am from a kibbutz near Mount Hermon - wine country. This my first time here. Is this usual? Is contamination much problem?

[misterecho]

Hello Zvika, I'm Edward from Soweto in Jo-burg.

[roll biology? to see what I know about the risk of diseases.]

[Onix]

(Sorry, been out of the house all day)

I do not accept excuses! I'll just have to find myself another giant!

Pleased to meet all of you. I am Zvika, I am from a kibbutz near Mount Hermon - wine country. This my first time here. Is this usual? Is contamination much problem?

Sorry I didn't realize that you were addressing everyone at first (just woke up didn't read it right). The Lieutenant turns slightly and says "Cultural contamination, they don't want you guys talking to the natives for some reason. Might have to do with where they're sending you." The other guys in the transport say "hi" or "hey".

[roll biology? to see what I know about the risk of diseases.]

Biology would work, usually it would be general medicine but you effectively have over a 100% chance of success even if I said -10 to your roll. He's safe you all went through several regiments of antibiotics before coming here (something like traveling from Earth to other planets in the I-Robot series if you're familiar).

[Chainsaw Aardvark]

(An OOC note of interest - Onix, check today's entry at miniaturewargaming.com - you'll be pleased.)

[For now I accept the officers are better informed than a private and will explain what we need to know in good time. Besides, struggling with English now isn't going to impress the LT.]

[Onix]

Whoah, how'd that happen? Is that your site?

So far this is just a real brief general intro to the game story. Now we can move into the game itself. I'm going to be doing a lot of writing to give you as much information as possible. If I steamroll over something you want to discuss, are unclear on or want to do, raise a red flag and we'll back up to it. Apologies in advance if I do.

You're brought to a location on the outskirts of the base where there is a number of barracks tents already set up. There is a simple chain link fence around the tents and a few MPs standing guard. A Brigadier is talking to a Captain in front of the gate. A number of other staff are hovering around the General. As the Transport comes to a stop, they finish their conversation and the Brigadier leaves.

As you're getting your gear out of the Transport, the Captain approaches and calls out to the Lieutenant "Are these the new recruits?" The Lieutenant nods. The name tag on the Captain's uniform says "Allen".

The Captain says "Hello, I trust your arrival was unpleasant, unfortunately you're not going to get a chance to see the sights, we need you for a special assignment. I can't talk about it out here, we'll have a briefing in a few hours and I'll explain what's going on. You are not to have any contact with the native population, do not talk to them, do not interact with them. Each one of you are here because you've got the qualities we need to make this work. Get your gear in the barracks and stowed but don't get too comfortable, we'll be headed out tomorrow."

The other recruits head in to the fenced in area and get settled in. The Lieutenant does not. Inside the fence the barracks are big enough for a platoon plus about ten others. There's the usual 36 Footsoldiers, 4 Scouts, 4 Comm Officers, 4 Sergeants, 4 Medics, 1 Tank Pilot (Zvika), and a Field Scientist (Bouchet). There are no officers bunking with the platoons, the Sergeants are there to keep order the MPs are there to keep anyone from leaving. The Sergeants tell everyone to relax and get some rest.

A Sergeant First Class (Ortiz) and Captain Allen arrive a few hours later to begin the briefing.

The Capt. explains "We're going to be escorting a small group of diplomats. We've been offered a chance for a small group to live with the Chezbah. They're calling it a cultural exchange. Not everyone trusts the Chezbah, we've had a few black eye's from trying to deal with them. Command wants us to keep the diplomats safe and get them out if things go south.

Things could get twitchy so I need all of you too keep your heads on straight.

We're teleporting out to a remote operation station and then we'll have to drive the rest of the way into Chezbah territory. It's about a fifteen hour trip. If we all do our jobs and things go as planned, we'll spend a few months with the Chezbah in a town called "Hef-elek-meser" and then pack up and head home. If they don't, we high tail it out as fast as possible. We've got no E-Suits on this so. . . Where's Zvika? You're our firepower. I wanted two tanks but command felt it would send the wrong message.

Be ready to head out at 07:00 tomorrow. We teleport out starting at 08:00.

Any questions?"

[misterecho]

Edward stands at ease throughout the speech. When the captain has finished speaking he awaits permission to fall out.

He tries to contain his excitement at the thought of meeting the chezbah, coupled with the anticipation of his first "hot-op". He knows he's trained for active service, but the anticipation is causing waves of butterflies to attack his already upset stomach.

When dismissed he avoids conversation with the other men, proceeds to his bedspace and prepares his equipment and beds down early.

[Onix]

I don't know if Chainsaw is just out having a great weekend or if he doesn't have anything he wants to say. We'll wait another day and see what happens.

[Chainsaw Aardvark]

(Busy Weekend. And no - that isn't my site - but it is an updated daily list of games or ideas for settings. Checking it every morning while I drink my coffee has been a ritual for a few years now.)

"Sir, its an honor to be here, sir!" (Admittedly, it seems odd that a privets here less than two hours is assigned to a mission like this, but asking the general in this setting would be a breach of protocol. )

When the chance for questions comes up - the usual one come to mind. "Sir - what uh are the expected threats?"

After the briefing, Zvika tries to bury his uncertainty and work through the first mission nerves.

[How many hours do we have until lights out? Should time allow the priorities are:

• Checking maps for good defensive positions in the target area.
• A good meal at the mess - never sure when or what you eat in the field, after all.
• Taking a quick jog to the vehicle depot to give the tank a personal inspection.
• Reviewing info on potential enemy vehicles

Getting enough sleep to be awake and alert for convoy duty is the over-riding priority however. Choosing someone with less than a day "in country" for a diplomatic mission seems odd - but Zvika is going to do his best to meet the leader's expectations.

[Onix]

When the chance for questions comes up - the usual one come to mind. "Sir - what uh are the expected threats?"

Answer: "We know there is going to be a inspection when we reach the Chezbah border,we don't know what this inspection will consist of. We don't expect a large military presence but that doesn't mean that they can't call in reinforcements. We're going into Chezbah territory so while we aren't expecting any combat, we need to be ready. The Chezbah have been difficult to deal with in the past. They can be unpredictable. The majority of Chezbah forces can be engaged effectively by footsoldiers. Hounds are best kept at distance, don't let them advance on your position. Warriors should be considered dangerous within a kilometer. Their Hunter E-Suits are fast and maneuverable but not heavily armored. It's their Anti-Grav tanks that are the biggest threat. We can't outrun them and the AVWs (Anti-Vehicle Weapons that footsoldiers carry) are ineffective against their armor. Tanks are our primary countermeasure against them, two or three well placed missiles are needed to bring one down."

How many hours do we have until lights out?

It's been a long day so lets say four hours.

Checking maps for good defensive positions in the target area.

There are no specific maps of the area but the Chezbah are regulated by religious law to not modify the structures in the underground so they will use the standard residential hex structures to live in. (See page 87 and 88 of the game book if you have questions let me know). Hard copies would be made available to everyone.

A good meal at the mess - never sure when or what you eat in the field, after all.

There are Scimrahn working with the ASO that could be there, because of that the mess is off limits right now. So meals will be provided. It's an unusual situation.

Taking a quick jog to the vehicle depot to give the tank a personal inspection.

Your Tank is already at the remote operation station. You'll have time to inspect it there.

Reviewing info on potential enemy vehicles

There is some rudimentary data on their operation and identifying each available to you. If you want more info than above let me know.

Choosing someone with less than a day "in country" for a diplomatic mission seems odd.

Maybe I'll address that in a minute. Let me know. (And yeah maybe this isn't a completely realistic situation but it's fun.)

The Captain introduces a member of the diplomatic team. "This is John Bowen of the NACSP. He's assigned to this diplomatic effort. He has asked to speak with you."

Mr. Bowen says "You're being quarantined because we feel that exposure to the Scimrahn has negatively influenced previous encounters with the Chezbah. We know very little about their culture other than a few fragments of information that our allies have been able to supply us with. One of the biggest roadblocks have been the Chezbah's hate for the Scimrahn. Whenever they are involved in discussions, things have not gone well. We also know that Chezbah religious law forbids them from using materials that were originally part of the structure of the planet, Hexes or plasma conduits. This mean that all Scimrahn produced equipment cannot be brought into their territory. They have stated that they recognize we do not know their ways and will not expect us to follow all their laws.

The Chezbah are the dominant power on The Artifact. Opening up diplomatic relations with them would go a long way toward opening up Colonization. We're counting on you to do your duty for all the people that are waiting back on Earth for a safe new home. Thank You."

After that the briefing is over you're dismissed to follow your planned actions. Any further thoughts/questions or actions?