The Chamax Plague
This writeup is based on Carl's notes, most of the unbolded text below is his.
248-1100 1100
When we left off, we had just arrived in the Jacent system of the
Darrian subsector, en-route to Alenzar. Uneventfully arriving at the
port, we refueled, refilled our life support and picked up such cargo as
Sam and Medicus thought was best. Additional information about the
surrounding subsectors let us learn that piracy is not rampant, but
rather is largely under a business approach, overseen by the crime lord
Khomak Rhynd. Based in the Mire system, he keeps things at a low enough
level to not cause high interest, but high enough to keep in profitable
business (sounds well organized).
We decide to NOT visit the Mire system, and continue vigilance in our arrivals and departures.
251-1100 0100 Jump out for the Engrange system. Class C port, unrefined fuel available. Agricultural, high law. Light gravity. No serious threats anticipated.
258-1100 1100
Arrive in the Engrange system.
Refuel, sell and buy cargos, update local subsector information as best we can learn. Unrefined fuel has to be processed on-ship, holding us over 3 more days.
263-1100 0100
Jump out for the Roget system. Class B port, with a large colony of Aslan, moderate law, rich agricultural world.
270-1100 1100
Arrive in Roget, uneventfully. To our slight surprise, Fig and Sam are
getting a handle on the astrogation issues. Hopefully no catastrophes
in the future.
Inbound to the station we pass a manufacturing or refining plant, and make a normal arrival. Gas, cargo, update sector news and off we go.
We heard about an Aslan mercenary crew in the general area, looking for work. Maybe they will keep any pirates suppressed, and in any event should not be a problem for us.
274-1100 0100
Jump to the Kardin system. Kardin is a class E port, and we are now
outside the Darrian Confederation's space. Low law, and a water
refueling for us this time. The atmosphere there is not really
breathable, so we will be on our own life support. Rumors of moderate
piracy in the area. Normal vigilance in arrival and our actions there
is the order of the day.
281-100 1100
Arrive in Kardin. Water refueling keeps us here a few extra days.
289-1100 0100
Jump out for 886-945. D class port, non-industrial, both water and a
gas giant for refueling. In keeping with our historical results in the
crew skills (fortunately improving, wish we were getting better faster)
Our sensor team (who shall remain nameless for now) misses the 800 ton
mercenary ship nearby. We learn of them when they hail us and ask if we
have any meat or ammunition for sale. Gotta be the Aslan ship we heard
about. The ship is the Fasile, translated by our system as "The
Talon".
On into the gas giant for scooping and processing.
300-1100 1100
Jump out to our final (for now) destination. The Alenzar system. Reminding us what we learned earlier about this place:
Company system, in the Reidan subsector. Asteroid system, C class port. Owned by InStarSpec, an arms supply company, diversified to mining, metals, manufacturing and associated activities. A Megacorp, their reputation is not aggressive.
307-1100 0100
Arrival in Alenzar system, about 3 days at 1G from the actual asteroid
for which we are bound. We call ahead with confirmation of our system
arrival.
310-1100 0800
We get an emergency radio call from Alenzar traffic control. They have a
mayday situation with a ship, and want us to intercept it, rescue the
ship if possible or at least any people still on board. The ship is
outbound from Chamax, the only planet in the system, and has been out of
radio contact for some time. It is moving at speed, but coasting now,
and bound pretty directly for the sun.
Because of our delays doing our own refueling and fuel processing in a few spots enroute here, we are also low on life support.
We need better planning next time, making sure we learn not only what we need to do for fuel, but if we will have to breath our own air while we do it.
Fortunately, we have enough to just make the attempt, but we ask that Alenzar have emergency services standing by for our return, in case more time is needed, or we take on enough people to impact the oxygen remaining.
312-1100 0800
After two days at high thrust, we are along side the ship. It is a 40
ton pinnace, with the InStarSpec logo on the side and has clearly been
damaged more than a little. The damage does not appear to be laser or
missile type, several holes in the fuselage are visible. While there
could be the pilot and up to 8 passengers, we now more than before hope
there is just one or two people, since by join-up time we have
absolutely no more than a half hour to effect rescue before it is too
late to get away from the sun.
The pinnace was part of a survey/archaeological expedition on Chamax. We have learned that orbital surveys had found indications of ruins on planet, and since antiquities can sell well, plus the knowledge for its own sake, InStarSpec mounted a team to look. The pinnace was the support/ferry ship, and was coming back on its first trip when this 'event' occurred.
As we approach and synch up with it, we see the damage, and no signs of life through any windows or holes we can view, although we can see lights on the pilot consoles.
Ship-to-ship docking is not possible, so our Away Team of Kipenzi, Leon and Fig suit up and go across.
The pinnace has its wings extended, usually only done for atmospheric flight, making us wonder if this damage was done as it exited the Chamax planetary environment, and has been coasting since. With no radio contact in that whole time, it seems likely.
Leon opens the outer hatch, and we squeeze in for airlock cycling. When inside, we see a big mess - papers, scientific equipment and gear are scattered all about. There are no people in the passenger compartment, and the bulkhead between the passenger and cargo areas shows some damage that at first glance appears to have come from the cargo side. We leave that part alone.
Leon opens the pilot area, and initially sees nothing. A second look-round shows 4 bolts and a tool on the deck, and examining the access panel they secured reveals one survivor, whose only words are "No! No! Chamax!" before he passes out. The ship is out of fuel, so there is no possibility of saving it. The pilot is Ward Lee (we learned later) and there is a data cartridge on the console. Leon grabs it. The holes appeared to have been caused by an acid of some kind or a large cutting torch. With time running out, we get the pilot suited up and make our way back to the Skylark.
Medicus gets us out of the sun's grasp, and as soon as we are enroute back, swaps out of the pilot seat to treat the survivor. Isolating him in the airlock, he checks for biological contaminants, and after that possibility is eliminated, gets the man bedded down. He is sedated and secured so that he cannot panic and flail around.
We radio our results in to Alenzar.
As well as this, in keeping with our past practices, we make a copy of the data cart for ourselves. It is encrypted, well beyond our abilities to crack, but there is one file that can be seen, most likely added after the encryption was applies. This file is a picture of a roughly humanoid statue made blue crystal. None of us recognize the exact life form or can identify the crystal itself.
We try to persuade the AI that we took from The Haunting Thunder to look at the decryption, but are just told that we have no authorization to do so.
Coming back into the Alenzar belt, with just enough life support to be comfortable landing ourselves, the survivor comes around long enough to scream "Spiders everywhere!" -- not the most encouraging words ever spoken, for sure.
314-1100 1000
Alenzar's port could easily be and A class if all the amenities were
here. It is huge and we land with no difficulties. A company
representative meets us and asks for the data chip and the sealed cargo
we brought from Villis. We wonder about the video game - we are still
unsure of what is really in that container, but he tells us "It is for
our diplomatic people". Perhaps a company that is system wide does have
diplomats, but with just mining and resource gathering here that sounds a
dissonant note in our ears.
Alenzar has about 52,000 people total in system, with about 20,000 in the main asteroid itself, the rest spread around the star system, working, prospecting or other activities. We learn that the prospecting is largely for Cerulene, a bluish crystal that forms only in space or on asteroids, and get a retelling of the Chamax story - mostly ignored until recently, then the expedition.
Shortly after the representative got the data chip and game, we received an invitation to speak with Sevor Hallin, the branch manager, "at our earliest convenience" about a job offer. He is the system officer.
It hardly needs be said that we are MUM about the copy of the data chip we have, and will not have a clue what a blue crystal statue might have looked like, and NO ONE heard a word, or even a syllable, about spiders... We definitely want to inquire about the cartridge and why it was so important
Meeting at Hallin's office, we are told (official confirmation of stuff we had heard in passing) that the pinnace was part of a survey/archaeological expedition to Chamax, along with a converted R-type merchant ship fitted with scientific gear and configured for the trip.
The goal of the expedition was to survey Chamax and evaluate commercial possibilities.
The adventurers get a printout of the layout of the Sharrin Challenger.
There were 8 scientists and 7 crew on the merchant, plus the pinnace pilot. So far one person is accounted for.
The pinnace and the launch were intended as scout vessels, with the pinnace also performing the round-trip visits to Alenzar for reports, equipment, personnel swap, etc.
Chamax had been ignored until recently, being known for having considerable sea life and no land life whatsoever. However, it is not old enough to have developed native life without some seeding, and when a general survey showed some ruins partially covered with blowing sand and dust, the interest level went up considerably.
It is believed that an advanced culture was present on Chamax until between 400 and 800 years ago, with the destruction of land life taking place over a very short time, and is referred to as the Chamax Plague by the company.
The headquarters were eagerly anticipating the first data chip, and are very happy to have it, but Hallin is not forthcoming about the contents, saying such things as "We are still analyzing, it would be premature to speculate" ( M.Y.O.B ).
As for the main reason for our meeting, Hallin offers us a goodly amount for the use of our ship and for us to go to Chamax and see what happened.
250,000 to investigate and search for survivors
50,000 bonus per survivor returned to Alenzar
50,000 bonus if we find out what happened
With 14 or 15 potential survivors, this could be a large amount, and even without such an amount on the table, we are the only ship in system that could make a rescue effort at all, so we are in.
Known information about Chamax:
High desert type environment - HOT in the day, COLD at night
32 hour rotational cycle
Breathable atmosphere, if a little thin. (Think Denver, Colorado)
Normal gravity and a fair amount of weather.
To assist us Hallin offers money up front if we need to buy equipment, and comps us for fuel and life support.
Gear that Alenzar/Instarspec has to offer:
Cable - 50m - 250Kg capacity
Patches suitable for sealing punctures in hull or other wall
Medical scanner, such as the Scout Service uses
Portable airlock - 1.5 X 1.5 X 2m
We purchased two of the med scanners, two of the airlocks, and two lengths of the cable, having plenty of patches already on board.
Three people will be coming along with us on this trip
Dr. Kel Wurrin, MD
Mr. Lotin Delaradi, Instarspec manager
Cal Yotisk, Security
Dr Wurrin arranged for us to get the loan of a lift basket in case we need to medevac people who are injured. We also get our current cargo offloaded into storage for the duration of the rescue.
As well as the rescue type equipment, several of us picked up additional weapons, and everyone purchased some desert clothing, boots, hat, water carrying gear, and so on.
314-1100 1800
Ready to go, with Delaradi anxious and intense, we launch for Chamax.
During the flight out, we get to know the people a little, learning that Wurrin is a xenobiologist as well as a very well trained doctor, and that Delaradi's intensity comes in at least a great part from the fact that his fiance is part of the Chamax expedition. He bumped the person who was originally picked to represent the company interests. Yotisk is more of a closed book, spending much of his time cleaning and checking over his weaponry and security equipment.
En-route, we also learn that the pilot we rescued from the Pinnace had a nervous breakdown and has not yet become coherent, but that no disease or other contaminants were detected. Good thing, since we are a bit short on the biohazard gear.
316-1100 1800
Arriving at Chamax, and descending to the immediate vicinity of the
Sharrin Challenger just before the sun came up. The ruins are to the
North, flat terrain to the East, hills and broken areas to the South,
and a stepped canyon and river to the West. The nose of the Sharrin
Challenger is pointing West.
Circling at 1000 feet or so, we can see that the Sharrin Challenger has several burn marks very like the ones on the Pinnace, all of them on the North side, the side with the ruins in the distance. Additionally, there is a shelter and a ground vehicle on that side, and both have similar damage.
The ruins are a couple square miles in size, with domes visible amidst the dirt/sand. Walls that can be scanned appear to have been of reinforced concrete type, based on the rust-colored discolorations in the broken parts. There is one place that appears to have been the beginning of an actual excavation, but we cannot see any details.
After circling for about 15 minutes, seeing no immediate threat, we launch the air/raft to do the initial investigation. Kipenzi pilots, with Fig, Sam and Cal Yotisk along. We did not configure a shoulder-mounted video camera yet, but have some still cameras and our radio gear, as well as weapons, lights and first aid kit.
Landing on top of the ship where the Sharrin Challenger's launch docks,
we open the hatch to the top level. As we approached, we noted that
all the holes in the side are on the lower level of the ship, and all
appear burns/acidic/big torch type damage.
Kipenzi lands the air/raft on the top of the Sharrin Challenger near the launch access hatch.
Going in carefully, we find:
The engine room - engines are shut down normally, no personnel or mess there.
The low berths are empty
Along both corridors we can see holes in walls or doors, about hip high to us, in no particular configuration, but appearing to be only one per room.
There is a great deal of general background static on our broadcast frequencies, not enough to disrupt our comm or between us and the ship, but noteworthy.
Most of what we look at is just staterooms, but in one (near hatch, on left side of aft) has a lot of papers scattered about, and a data chip. Fortunately, Sam is the person opening that, and Cal (security man) is up one of the corridors out of sight, and Sam is able to get the data chip and many of the papers into his pack - more on that later.
On the floor in the right corridor, we see part of a shoe, part of what appears to be a belt buckle, and some unrecognizable piece of equipment, partially dissolved. We got a couple photographs of it for later analysis.
Up close, Kipenzi and Fig can see that these holes are about the same size as the ones that were in the pinnace.
Past the midship iris Kipenzi shines her light in through a door and
sees something in the room, about the size of a big dog with hair or
fiber on its body. Four legs are visible on one side, each with three
feet, 3 claws per foot. While at first it appeared to be dead, very
shortly it moved and turned to face her. Whether reacting to the light
or the noise or something else it moved toward her. At about this time
(hard to say exactly, it got frantic real fast) the static got worse,
and we were nearly cut off from the ship.
Closing the door, which had a hole in it, as best I recall from the next few seconds it went like this:
The first two shots were ineffective, but Cal scored just right, and the entity went SPLAT.
Unfortunately this resulted in a large splash of something coming out the door, and Sam was not quite fast enough to dodge. Taking substantial damage, he was able to avert more by getting out of his boots, pants, etc as they sizzled on him.
Then the static got even worse breaking all contact with the Skylark.
We retreated to the air/raft and went back to the ship, administering first aid to Sam as Kipenzi returned us to the ship. Between the first aid and treatment by Dr Wurrin and Medicus about half of Sam's damage is tended adequately enough for him to be back in action if needed.
Fig was in the aft corridor when Sam scored the data chip and papers, and passes them off to Medicus for computer-copy of the chip and scanning of the papers, and for now we keep that under our collective hat.
As it happens, this data chip is NOT encrypted, and in the next few hours we find that it is a journal, probably from Uchefuna Yoruba, the leader of the expedition. Significant in it, at first reading --- more on this after we have time to look it over more completely ---
is a reference to the location of an unreported Ancient Site on Yorbund in the Regina subsector.
The expedition had set the time of the planetary surface extinction event at 641 years ago, taking place in less than 6 months. The printouts are plans of the ruins.
Medicus was able to remove the reference to the Ancient Site from the original data chip, without damaging it. Well done.
We radio back to Alenzar the findings, minus any mention of a data chip or printouts. No decision yet on what we will do with that. After sending the photos of the unidentified lump thing in the corridor, we are told it is the remains of an artificial kidney, and Khanuk Khamaari can be written off as beyond rescue.
After the beastie exploded and dissolved itself, there were some cellophane-like fragments left in the corridor. We are asked to retrieve some of those at our return visit.
For our part, we have asked what the artificial kidney is made of, hoping we can find some way to protect ourselves at least a little.
========== end of narrative, all after this is speculations we made =========
The thing we encountered:
Overwhelmingly likely it came out of the ruins after the excavation.
Is it alive or a cyber guard put here by whoever seeded or destroyed the surface life? If alive, perhaps a hive mind that communicates in our radio bandwidth.
The static increase lends some votes to the cyber theory, with a controller cranking up the gain after comm was lost with it after it had been shot, but so does the hive mind.
On the cyber side, if it were a life form in the real sense, what could it eat?
The Ancient Site:
We know it is a major violation of Imperial law to dig in one without permission from the Imperium, but we started our career straddling the legal line, so that must be considered.
If the expedition leader is alive we will probably just lose the data chip and put the papers back, after a more extensive check to see where the information about the Ancient Site came from. If we can leave the system knowing about the site and no one else knowing we know, there are a lot of options.
Plans for the next few hours on Chamax:
Determine what frequency range the static is on, and if it can be jammed or worked around by using different communications channels.
Scan for the Sharrin Challenger's launch, the most likely place to find survivors.
Return to the Sharrin Challenger for a full checkout, more careful this time, and with one or the heat lamp devices we had on the Haunting Thunder trip, to see if these things are in any way sensitive to light. We also hope to find a log entry or a note of where the people went.
Our priorities are, if not necessarily in this order:
- Find the people, if any.
- Review in some leisure the data chip we have, and see if the Ancient Site is a new find, and if some third party is involved. We are not certain at this point that the data chip was intended for the company, or for is personal gain.
- Remove any trace of the location of the Ancient Site, and underlying data, from all records that will go back to InStarSpec, unless the leader is still alive. If he is dead we will reseed the chip in the stateroom.
- Find out more about the statuary in the picture we saw.
Continued in The Chamax Plague - Conclusion
See Also: Dramatis Personæ, Campaign Starts, The 2nd Adventure.
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