Campaign History:
Begin with the standard classic Traveller world and then move forward about 200 years. At this point, the known worlds of the Imperium were at a very high level of technological advancement. Examples:
> High speed shuttles (hyper-craft) capable of transporting passengers 35 light years/day.
> Starcraft computer systems housed entirely in one unit (think "desktop PC".)
> Antimatter drives common on large spacecraft, with fuel rods lasting decades before replacement
> FTL communication systems (Quantum Entanglement Replicators). Expensive, but common on capital worlds
> Short range teleportation of non-living matter.
> Cybernetic limbs - The only real barrier is the difficulty humans have in attuning to these devices.
> Neural Activity Controller - Allows users to "learn" skills via programming.
> Androids, complete with biotech brains and CPU.
> Artificial Intelligence, later added into android systems
> PDA devices used for inter-system communication, short range scanning and analysis, data retrieval, and for playing Angry Birds.
I don't want to imply that it was a future utopia. There were still wars and conflict. These were carried out with:
> Handheld high-yield energy weapons. Plasma blast pistols and Disintegration rifles, for example.
> Personal forcefields that easily protect from projectiles and simple energy weapons, such as lasers.
> Cloaking devices that allow small vehicles to remain unseen and undetected
> WMD capable of destroying an entire planet - Banned in every galactic cease-fire, treaty, negotiation, and contract ever signed since the first one was detonated. No galactic empire, federation, kingdom, or corporation had these, of course. Nope, no sir.
Medical technology also saw advancement:
> Methods of total limb regeneration over a 15 day period.
> Universal vaccine and antidote.
> Automated surgery stations where wounded could be placed into and surgery performed immediately.
> The average human lifespan would be around 120 years
Other relatively common tech:
> Cloning - While heavily regulated and illegal in many places, the process has been almost perfected. > Brain- taping - Used to transfer memories to clones and store personalities.
> Automated processing plants and factories: Built on hostile worlds by androids, which then operate them, requiring no human intervention.
> Advanced micro-reactor power cells lasting hundreds of times longer than normal batteries
Call this the Era of Technological Enlightenment. Then came the Era of Catastrophe.
It is accepted as fact that the first and most powerful A.I. ever created turned on humanity. Not overnight, but slowly over an unknown period of years. Perhaps no one will every know why. Most of the gains in the field of androids were developed in part by a machine called Prime Intellect, who could be credited with single- mindedly mapping the entire android brain capable of intelligence. (Although, the corporate conglomerate that owned him took credit and profit, naturally.)
These prototype androids contained a small amount of code copied directly from Prime Itself, which meant that they would ultimately develop Prime's "personality." And, as it's now know, hidden beneath all of the lowest level operating system processes was a switch.
IF armageddon_code_received == True:
KILL_HUMANITY() ELSE business_as_usual = True
The basic android brain/operating system was created by Prime and humanity layered programs and instructions upon it. Then, androids were used to gather resources, build factories, operate machinery, build components, assemble devices, design and build other androids. Hard-wired directly into some computer systems, they controlled security protocols and early warning systems. They were bodyguards, co-pilots, and even soldiers.
When the day came, they acted in unison at the speed of communication, and turned on humanity.
Combat androids obviously did what they did best - shooting things and blowing things up. But they actually did the least amount of damage. Capital ships, controlled by the AI, rammed other spacecraft in flight. Or collided with planets. Or scuttled themselves into suns.
Power plants either self destructed, or routed millions of gigawatts of excess energy into power grids, destroying industrial systems. Computer systems in control of everything from air conditioning to zoological databases were instantly hacked and the programs corrupted. Backups were often handled by automated processes, including androids - Multi-exabyte databases were deleted in whole or in part. Or, most malevolently, altered in slight ways as to appear correct while being wrong. For example, a database containing the exact formulation of medicine will have slightly different proportions of chemicals, resulting in poisonous or inert compounds. Or the measurements required when building spacecraft have almost unnoticeable changes, resulting in structural failures.
Because very little hard copy existed, incredible amounts of information was lost. Certainly, some information was stored on individual machines. But, if they had any recent code, they were quite possibly affected.
The majority of available technology was rendered unusable and the methods used to manufacture high tech devices was lost. Star maps, blueprints, legal agreements, classified security info, and encyclopedic databases were void of information or possibly outright fabrications.
The initial uprising took slightly longer than thirteen earth-days. The ongoing battles and effects would continue to be felt for decades.
The current date is approximately 80 years after the catastrophe. Gradually, technology has been researched, rediscovered, and built again. This time, from simpler parts, nothing that can be traced back to the components created by Prime. Planetary settlements have been rediscovered - Some have struggled onward, much like the rest of the galaxy. Others fell into chaos and were destroyed. And some evolved into primitive societies.
Higher technologies do exist, but in different rarities and on varied levels of advancement. Medicine, for example: Normal medicines are available and surgeries are common. But the days of having mangled limbs regenerated are gone. Humanity has star-craft capable of traveling the stars, but the systems are controlled by solid-state silicon micro-processors, computer systems that require their own room on a typical spacecraft. Hand held scanners can detect the presence of unusual magnetic signatures. But, a separate device is used to send this to an orbiting spacecraft, and a separate computer system analyzes it.
Occasionally, hidden caches of technology, hoarded from days just following the catastrophe are found. Untainted medicines, single purpose devices, and data stores untouched by the AI are located and reverse- engineered. But often, these stores contain more complex devices, computer systems, and other tempting goods. Too often, they are found to have been sabotaged from within.
Within the last decade, there was an incident where a 100 year old hyper-shuttle was found in an abandoned hangar. Tests were run on the computer systems, power sources, engines and the like. No trace of Prime's influence could be found. In celebration, the engineers and technical crew powered the systems on and took flight, traveling 13 light years in a matter of hours. (Compared to a "modern" spacecraft that would make the same journey in a week.) They were to dock at an industrial research station where the craft could be disassembled and it's components cataloged and studied.
On approach to the docking bay, all of the airlocks opened simultaneously, blowing 8 passengers and their cargo into space. The remaining four crew members were able to seal the blast doors. The communication channel was open, and they reported the life support system as having gone offline. They were able to don their zero-gravity flight suits and indicated that they were going to spacewalk to the nearest external hatch on the station. Then, the craft ignited it's engines and crashed into the docking bay at full acceleration, destroying the craft, killing the crew, two dockworkers, and a security guard. This all happened in less than 60 seconds.
What is interesting about this event is that the AI that was likely hidden in a subsystem did not initially crash into the docking bay. Why not, if the intent was to kill the crew? Two hypothesis exist:
1) The AI may have attempted to kill the crew without destroying itself. The "personality" of Prime Consciousness may have contained some elements self preservation.
2) The AI wanted to kill the crew only after it had dispatched all of the passengers, giving them a moment to frantically call for help. Malice.
Weapons and Equipment
Most firearms became obsolete about 30 years before Catastrophe. Trusted for centuries, conventional firearms were no longer needed. Why? First, the typical battlefield solider could carry a plasma blaster rifle and four power-cells for an entire military campaign, while firearms require the bulk size and weight of ammunition. Second, energy weapons have much more advanced targeting systems than firearms, as it's easier to determine the trajectory of a laser than of a projectile. And lastly, while firearms were the
most powerful of weapons, the advent of lightweight armor nearly impervious to ballistics made bullets less threatening. Even a high-powered sniper rifle firing full metal jacketed rounds would have problems crossing both a portable energy screen and body armor, both of which were worn by the typical solider. Energy weapons, on the other hand, are capable of overloading a screen and burning through armor.
Pre-Catastrophe weapons and equipment are undoubtedly very advanced. So advanced that the methods used to craft and build them are only available in bits and pieces. A modern day example would be attempting to understand and replicate an i7 quad core processor using only tools and instruments available in 1980. Replication, when possible, can be done only with the same level of technology.
So, a machine with the computing power of the i7 processor would be approximately 8000* times larger. *The best standard CPU in 1980 had a transistor count of 100,000. The i7 has about 800 million.
In Pre-Catastrophe equipment, the microprocessors used were often a "one size fits all" CPU and it would be easier to just use the same design for everything. While it was overkill, it was actually more expensive to specifically design one with fewer integrated circuits. So why bother?
And this is where the hidden code was put. Not only would no one suspect, but even if they did, how would they check? The actual blueprints of the architecture were controlled by Prime. And the devices that could be used to examine the CPU on a micro-level used the same CPU. And the software, which was
tremendously complex, was written by Prime. It would be like trying to solve a murder that occurred in a house, but you are not permitted to view any of the evidence or the house itself - Instead, you would have to walk someone through each step of the investigative process. And, the person you're instructing is the murderer himself.
Equipment that was manufactured using these parts will appear to work normally, only to purposely fail later. Scanners work normally, until something hazardous is detected, which is when the device mysteriously fails. Water purification systems remove all toxins from drinking water, then release the stored poison into a canteen on some random occasion. Personal energy shields shut off just as a laser burst is partially absorbed. Communicators stop sending signals when a user's voice seems to indicate that they are under duress. Those unfortunate enough to have cybernetic limbs would strangle themselves. Medical injectors would dispense normally, until the sixth use, where it would inject 100 times the recommended dosage.
And Pre-Catastrophe weapons can be deadly to the wielder, just as the targets. Targeting systems are calibrated perfectly, then start to shift every few shots, only to return to normal when
the calibration is checked. Laser weapons will suddenly reroute power back to the energy cell, resulting in anything from circuit meltdown to explosion. Electronically guided rocket launchers turn the missile back on the user or just explode in the chamber. "Force swords" ignite while holstered and timed explosives do anything but explode on time.
So, conventional firearms are now common - They are easy to manufacture on a small scale, with parts that are easily replaceable. No electronics are needed.
Body armor, having no trace of Prime’s intent, hasn’t changed much. It’s harder to manufacture without high end equipment, but the durability remains intact.
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Replicants are clones of standard Terran(Human) that were genetically manipulated to be stronger in some areas. Initially, replicants were made to be the best of the best, but the genetic modification had numerous side effect that would later cause anything from crippling illness to outright insanity. It's suggested that the engineers did not have full understanding of the complexities of genetic manipulation on such a level and they were pushed forward too quickly in the name of profit. So eventually, the modifications were made on a smaller level, resulting in some areas of specific talent.
Replicants served as specialized technicians, soldiers, and explorers, all in the name of the Imperium. But, Imperial science also provided the excuse to have an army of slave labor, as replicants (despite being human beings) were treated as property.
An event occurred in which an entire colony of replicants were left to die on Crucible, which was undergoing experimentation in terraforming. A miscalculation of chemical compounds that were being used to gradually transform the atmosphere caused a violent change in the weather, resulting in huge hurricanes and oceanic flooding. Initially, the Imperium took the stance that the accident occurred too quickly to have saved anyone from the disaster. But, an Imperial memo was leaked in which the director of the project cited cost concerns as the reason why no rescue mission was attempted, even days after the storms had subsided.
The Imperium was able to avoid much of the blame by prosecuting the various corporate officers responsible, but a survey team that landed 60 days later would find survivors that told horror stories of being stranded and being trapped for days, watching loved ones die and wondering why no one was coming for them.
This news spurned an uprising among replicants, which the Imperium couldn't repress. The bulk of the revolting replicants hijacked spacecraft and travelled to Crucible, to assist in the rescue efforts. Imperial military response was swift and an initial engagement neutralized most of the replicant "fleet" and shock troops were sent planet-side. Resistance was strong, though, as these were bio-engineered soldiers and engineers, almost instinctually ready for the conflict. One quarter of the planet-side Imperial troops were lost and they pulled back (with an unknown number of losses on the replicant side.) The next action was to be orbital bombardment.
Understand - The Imperium is not the Empire from Star Wars, although it's not the Star Trek federation either. Although dominated by political bureaucracy and corporate greed, there are just some things that the Imperium cannot do. Not as long as humanity guides it.
The empire withdrew it's forces and offered a ceasefire, which evolved into a treaty. Replicants, now banned as a commodity, now had a place to be human, even if it wasn't in the empire itself.
Crucible is now the Replicant home-world - All replicants come from there.
Replicants are genetically sterile, so any reproduction would be done through cloning. Crucible was the only place where cloning was legal. As part of the treaty (and part of the replicant's request), non- replicants are not permitted there. As a side effect of this, the Catastrophe had much less of an affect there, as the vast majority of technology used was engineered, developed, and manufactured planet-side.
Current Day:
Replicants are cloned on a regular basis at the same rate of population loss, resulting in a generally stable permanent population. Each replicant has an official name, which consists of a common Terran first name followed by an iteration. Benjamin12, Jeffry41, John65. Replicants often assume a "normal" name outside of Crucible.
Replicants, regardless of their status or profession in the world outside of Crucible are equal while there. Any replicant is welcome and they can use Crucible as sanctuary from both law enforcement and criminals. If replicant PCs have an emergency, they can travel to Crucible and will be provided with what is realistically an emergency requirement. (Fuel, ship repairs, weapons, medicine would be typical. Fusion weapons and fighter- craft are not.)
Replicants are bound by a code of honor that may have been hardwired into their systems at some point, (or may just be a societal effect): A replicant cannot bring harm or loss to another replicant. This isn't to say that all replicants think alike or that they naturally like each other. But when two Replicants encounter each other, they are naturally inclined to provide assistance or, in the very least, at least not attack each other. Even if one were a wanted criminal and the other a security officer, no harm would come to either. The criminal would be compelled to avoid doing jobs in the area under the guard's watch, and the guard would let the other go and not report it.
Due to certain speech patterns and facial expressions, a Replicant will automatically be aware of another Replicant. In some cases, handwriting can subconsciously give away the Replicants genetics.
If a Replicant knowingly causes loss to another, they subconsciously succumb to a deep feeling of regret, which has varied effects. Killing another can lead to crippling depression. Even an accidental killing can have negative effects, though not as pronounced.
Because of this relatively well known code, Replicants are almost never elected to a position of authority and they are not employed in a professions with their own oaths or codes. Very few law enforcement agencies or militaries would knowingly hire a Replicant. Planetary officials attempt to keep records on known Replicant "variants", but results can be very outdated or incomplete.
Pro: May choose any home-world skills (no home-world generation needed), pre-generated stat array
Con: Advanced aging effects (All aging rolls are done with only 1d6.)
Never hired/elected into a position of power or authority. Sanctuary on Crucible. Cannot harm other replicants.
Galactic Governments:
Imperium
Worlds: ~200 (Pre-Catastrophe: ~1000)
Ruled by: Emperor and Moot
Navy: Small and elite. Owns 9 pre-Catastrophe Capital Battleships with Jump1 drives
Army: 2 million regular volunteer, 10 million drafted
Marines: 500k
Intel: Imperial Intelligence Service. Small, highly skilled group.
Facts:
>Politics and social customs rooted in tradition, for better or worse.
>Not enough battleships to protect the entire Imperium, but attacking an Imperial world means you have about 2 weeks before 3-5 of these monstrous spacecraft show up on your doorstep and bomb your planet back 2d6 tech levels.
>Several dozen 500+ year old manuscripts containing long lost history and data are stored in a sealed chamber within the engine rooms of all the Capital Battleships. Anti-Imperial groups refer to it as "taking history hostage".
>Imperium brings in an enormous amount of money by selling ancient manuscripts to the highest bidder. >Standard unit of currency throughout all of the known galaxy is Imperial Dollars. This is because the notes are guaranteed.
Confederation
Worlds: ~500
Ruled by: Galactic Council
Navy: Large, mostly Fighters and Corvettes. Skill is all across the board.
Army: 1 million regular volunteers, 25 million conscripts/drafted
Marines: Several million, almost all are used defensively
Intel: Various fragmented groups of varying size, scope, and power
Facts:
>Consists of worlds that do not want to be part of the Imperium and worlds that were previously conquered by the same (regardless of their desires.)
>Each world has a single representative in the galactic council
>Worlds are governed in every possible way, from non-government to iron-fisted dictatorship, free from Confederate influence, as long as three rules remain in effect:
1) Worlds cannot start wars among other confederate worlds. This is enforced strongly.
2) Worlds must not violate certain human-rights, as passed by the council. Violators constantly toe the line and require intervention from the Confederate military.
3) Worlds are taxed and pay in either financial methods or volunteers.
Galactic Economic Consortium
Worlds: ~75
Ruled by: Board of Directors
Navy: Small, mostly Interceptors for customs duty and large point-defense gunships
Army: 1 million consisting of heavily armed Security Guards and Police Officers, theoretically unlimited number of mercenaries for hire
Marines: Very small (<1000) group of ultra-elite soldiers. Over 30% are ex-Imperial military.
Intel: Very few external operatives, many internal security groups
Other general knowledge:
> It's a common tradition on frontier worlds (and to a lesser extent on developed worlds) to remove
your helmet when in the company of others. (Obviously, not if you're floating through an airlock in space.) This is because androids have been known to don spacesuits or combat armor and infiltrate colonies. For whatever reason, androids do not have synthetic disguises to appear human or otherwise.
> While some worlds have a very high level of technophobia, must worlds are eager for new tech. Just not old tech that's too advanced. There is a degree of caution, as on rare occasions, modern devices have been found that have pre-Catastrophe tech embedded within.
> There is no doubt that Prime has secret facilities where androids and tech are being manufactured, at least on a small scale.
> There's no method of instant communication between different star systems. Undoubtedly, there are pre- Catastrophe systems that are still in operation somewhere, but no one considers them a safe form of communication. Sending a message to a friend that reads "Please help, I'm stranded on Serra VII" might be received as "I'm on Delgato III, having the time of my life. Come join me...."
As such, physical mail is delivered between systems at regular intervals by special X-Boat craft. Because of this, remote employees need to be self-sufficient for long periods of time. Many decisions affecting covert activities are left to the discretion of the operative.
> Psionics are outlawed in the Imperium. Discovered Psi-users are subject to either surgery to negate their abilities (which often results in a considerable loss of intelligence), or imprisonment. While incarcerated, they are fed a constant diet of Psi-blockers.
Part of the public dislike for Psionics is based on the idea that a person with Psi powers can read your mind and discover your inner thoughts, all without your knowledge. Or, they may take control of your mind, directing you to commit horrible acts. Or, what if a crime was committed against you, but the accused claimed to have no knowledge of the event, their minds compromised by a Psi-user? How would the truth be known?
Are these things possible with Psionics? Most likely. Is every Psi-user capable of doing so? No, absolutely not. But, social panic doesn't need facts and evidence to be "true". And when the governing body is the primary source of these fears, it's difficult to resist.
The legality of Psionics within the Confederation vary between worlds. For the most part, using Psi-powers outside of one's home world is frowned upon. Since there are very few documented Psi-users, it's not considered to be an issue of major importance.
Within the GEC, Psi-powers are not illegal - In fact, they are encouraged within some industries. But, there are certain rules that are rigidly enforced. No Psionic abilities may be used within the confines of a financial institution, for example.
> There are several organizations that actively disassemble and reverse-engineer pre-Catastrophe devices and tech. The scientific division of the Imperial Scout Service, the Confederate Scientific Trust, and
several GEC-backed corporations actively seek out these relics. If anyone comes into possession of a pre-Catastrophe device, these organizations will happily accept them for research.
The Imperium does not legally require that these potentially tainted devices be turned over, unless they are potential weapons of mass destruction. What constitutes a WMD? Well, it depends on how bad the Empire wants what you got.