by Jack McClellan

The U.N. has released information regarding eight prisoners who escaped from a high security facility earlier this week.  They are known to be T’sa sympathizers and apparently had inside help.  Security feeds show numerous other government workers assisting in the escape.  In addition to the great financial cost to repair damages caused in the escape the U.N. has announced the names of 14 personnel who were killed by the escapees.  A statement was made by the office of Edgar Rummel, Chief of Staff for the security facility.  “It is very unfortunate that our own people have been subverted by the alien threat we now face.  Many lives have been lost due to our negligence in supressing any sympathy for the many races who now seek our downfall.  Further security measures will have to be taken in order to prevent this kind of action taken by humans against humans.”  Also speaking out on these events was William Bryson himself, U.N. Senator to New York.  “I met personally with this group of people numerous times and never did I expect them to be capable of anything of this magnitude.  Sympathy for the T’sa is understandable as that race had many of us fooled into thinking they were our friends.  But the violent acts and murders of human security personnel is unforgivable.  We are already outnumbered in this war and our own people are making it worse.”  A substantial reward has been offered for any information leading to the recapture of the following dangerous criminals:  William Edward Cole, Vincent John Detta, Thelma Ivy Roeper, Quinton Rychtanek, Dyami Smoke, Kenji Thompson, Dale Wilson, and John Charles Yeager.  For more information please contact your local Civil Order Forces office.

by Jenny Rufledt

With the proposed completion date of the new Mars only a few months away some U.N. officials are concerned as to the intentions of the T’sa. Having only recently discovered the T’sa plot to help the Fraal in their war against humanity some are proposing the possibility that the terraformed Mars isn’t all it was supposed to have been. Junior Senator Chase Treeby spoke with reporters this morning. “There are currently too many unknowns. I mean what if the water is hosting a new bacterium or the oxygen levels in the atmosphere are just half a percentage point too high. Soil, animals, temperature, plant life: there are so many ways they could have been planning our demise on that planet it’s mind-boggling. It will take years for us to determine whether or not it is safe. I strongly suggest those who were planning the initial colonization put those plans on an indefinite hold.” Sources indicate the government has yet to determine a course of action for Mars but for now 20,000 would-be colonists, 200 businesses and a host of government employees will have to wait for their historical new life on the once-red planet.

By Jenny Rufledt

After the recent discovery by U.N. officials that the T’sa stationed here on Earth were in league with the Fraal and had plans to undermine recent developments in the war a special council has been called to meet next week. This council plans on enacting new laws to place aliens residing on the Earth under tighter scrutiny and closer observation. The discovery of the T’sa sympathizing with the murderous Fraal comes as a shock after many years of seemingly friendly cooperation. According to Junior Senator Morris Zimmer, “Information was obtained from the T’sa embassy here in Brazil that verifies the plans they had to help the Fraal. They had numerous objectives planned, one apparently including the use of time-travel as a weapon against humanity.” Soon after this discovery was made, small strike force units were mobilized to capture any T’sa and Fraal currently residing on the Earth. The rapid response and successful capture of numerous, important sympathizers is attributed to the well-oiled military strength of the U.N. forces. Although many aliens eluded capture , the U.N. is confident these war criminals will be found. The U.N. suggests that you report any T’sa or Fraal hiding on the Earth or in near orbit as they are now considered enemies of the state.

All-Purpose Armor Gravitic Helmet

This device creates a gravitic bubble around the wearers’ head that prevents any airborn contaminants or unwanted gasses from entering the breathable air supply. It also successfully repels the negative forces of the vacuum in space. The bubble has an AC bonus of +4 (just like the suit itself). The helmet also has a retractable “Blackout Goggles” visor (found in Future Tech p.16).

Personal Grav Unit

This device fitted into the backpack creates an ever-changing gravitic force controlled by the wearers’ specific movements that allow the ability to fly. This item bestows the benefit of good flight. However, due to the interaction necessary from the user to keep this item in use, he must concentrate on it while using it.

Silent Suit

The stats are listed below. Due to the additional equipment built into the APA the bonus to Stealth is only +6.

Power Backpack

As found in d20 Future, page 74.

Power Cestus

These items are similar to those found in d20 Future Tech, page 21, but for one minor difference. The arm-length glove has been reduced significantly to a band that attaches to the back of the users’ hands.

Self-repairing

The APA is designed to take 50 points of damage before it is destroyed. The damage reduction provided by the armor absorbs the first 2 points of damage from any attack. The armor also has this ability found in d20 Future, page 69.

Type Tactical

Equipment Bonus +4

Nonprof. Bonus +2

Max Dex Bonus +6

Armor Penalty -1

Speed 30′/20′

Flight Speed 50′

Weight 10 lbs

DR 2/-

In 2036 the global war on terror came to a head with the executions of many high-profile terrorists. At this point there was enough anti-American sentiment throughout the world to unite numerous countries in a new war – an economic war against the U.S. Numerous tactics were used against the United States: increased tarriffs, boycotting U.S. products, refusing to sell to Americans, even OPEC started selling its oil in Euros. China, North Korea, Russia, France, most of the middle east and several African, South American and Central American countries together destroyed the American economy. Troubles quickly grew in the U.S.A. So the U.S. government responded in kind to this non-violent war. U.S. citizens living outside of the country were encouraged to come home. Foreign aid of all kinds was suspended by the government and foreign military bases were closed. The United States spent all of its’ might dealing with the worst economic depression ever to hit the country. Without the aid of the most powerful country on the planet other countries soon had problems of their own. Smaller wars soon broke out around the globe. This caused militant groups, terrorist organizations and religious factions to take their chances at the grab for power. Slowly, countries across the globe started to go into military and financial ruin.

By 2092 the fate of the U.S. economy spread to the rest of the planet as one by one governments fell. During this time there were great advances in battlefield technology. Fusion energy became readily available. Scientific feats were achieved in space travel and exploration.

In 2147 war with the Fraal waged.

In 2155 The United States, the last surviving country on the planet, rediscovered the Psion project and combined it with a new tech……..artificial DNA. The generation of psions did what was thought impossible. They saved the Earth. Slowly, locales were brought back into current use but the U.S. Government insisted that the whole planet, for the good of humanity, come together under one government…….The U.N. This of course is the new name of the U.S. Government. In order to become a citizen of this country you must agree to live by certain new laws. These include Dermachip implants, a ban on all religions, and strict social behavior rules.

In 2190 the U.N. discovers “Orbo”. This is the energy inside a psion that gives him his ability. It is discovered that the Fraal are actually affected by this type of energy.

The year 2192 brought about a new technology to replace artificial DNA: Mutagenic Compounds. This life-altering virus was originally designed to help the psions in their fight against the Fraal but was soon available to the public sector at a much higher cost.

In late 2196 the Earth made contact with two new alien species. The Vrusk, who recently signed a treaty with the Fraal Majority (the citizens’ party) for help in their war with the humans, and the T’sa, the small, technologically advanced race.

In 2203 a disease was released upon the Earth by the Fraal. Simply called “The Plague”, this disease changes the physiological composition of the host and destroys their grasp of reality. Also, Human technology (with “unofficial” help from the T’sa) led to the first, successful Gravity Wave Drive. The U.N. will make wide use of portable GWD’s on the battlefield within two years.

By 2205 the Fraal had developed a weapon that could cause massive tectonic instability within a certain area. This weapon was tested on the Hawaiian islands and collapsed them all into the ocean. The OTIS (Orbiting Tectonic Instability System) was then fired upon the lower Illinois region and created the world’s largest volcanic region. This massive hole in the crust vents off such large amounts of pressure that world-wide earthquake activity has dropped 64% since its’ creation. As the OTIS was being positioned for its’ next shot the UN military breached Fraal defense forces and destroyed the OTIS.

In 2210 as a last-ditch attempt to win by both sides, atomic weapons were unleashed. The overwhelming nuclear energy roaming the planet makes life difficult outside Sanctioned Zones. Strong doses of a new radioactive material used by the Fraal are known to mutate DNA. The benefits can be useful but come with drawbacks.

In 2212 the Earth finds out its’ human front on the Fraal homeworld, Proxima Major, has been broken and is being systematically destroyed.

In 2213 the U.N. made their official treaty with the T’sa and announced to the public of the existence of these two new alien species. The treaty gives sole authority to the T’sa for terraforming the Earth back to life. In exchange for this financially profitable offer the T’sa put their entire planet into debt. They used a god-sized portion of energy to teleport the planetoid Varuna into orbit around the Earth. They are finished terraforming Varuna and are now working on Luna.

It is now 2214. Due to loss of life and resources, the Tech War has stalled. The Fraal homeworld, Proxima Major, or Ersetu as they call it, has been laid to waste just as much as the Earth. Survivors from both sides exist and battle on both worlds.

Varuna

This dwarf planet was once in orbit around Sol. While in its’ 283 Earth-year orbit past the boundaries of Pluto in the Kuiper Belt, it consisted of numerous frozen liquids and volcanic rock. Its’ surface gravity was 1/8 that of the Earth and it had a surface temperature of roughly 43 Kelvin. Varuna had a rotational period of six and one half hours. That was before the T’sa got their greedy little claws on it. Now the fate of the dwarf planet is somewhat different.

Varuna is now in orbit around the Earth. Here are the major changes: the 6 1/2 hour rotation has been sped up to 6 hours; material was added to the core during teleportation to increase the gravity to 1/2 that of the Earth; it orbits in direct opposition of the moon at twice the moons’ distance; the surface now consists of rivers, lava soil for the thriving plants to grow, and a lake all with animal species being introduced yearly. The T’sa government absolutely refuses to discuss any information about either terraforming or teleportation with any other race, including humans. They have no “official” part in the war and they don’t want their technology used in it.

This new neighbor of the Earth is not in exact orbit opposite the moon. Varuna is actually in orbit directly around the equator. It simply stays on the opposite side of the Earth from the moon. This did have a small impact on the tides. They are roughly 15 percent smaller than they used to be. Varuna is now a warm, tropical moon. It was chosen over Ixion and Orcus to be teleported here because of it’s ideal composition. The fact that it rhymes with Luna was purely circumstantial. It was then stocked with plant and animal life that was genetically altered to adapt to the planetary conditions. These life forms come from Earth and those supplied by the T’sa from elsewhere.

Luna

The terraforming of Luna is coming along faster than planned. The soft layer of topsoil was apparently mort nutrient-rich than previously thought. The tests showed a much lower level of acceptance for the new plants. The life forms being introduced to Luna are genetically engineered to survive without an atmosphere but at the same time adapting to the atmosphere being put into place as well. Both plant and animal life have been created but the animal success rate is lagging behind expected goals. Even with this setback, evidence of terraforming is evident from Earth.

You may pick up a permanent class skill from the list of Expanded Skills in d20 Future, page 10. If, by chance, you already has all these skills as class skills youmay choose to receive a +2 bonus to any one skill from said list.

During this time, the regimen of training will include a two-week course with the Department of Interplanetary Survival. All Pcs will be rquired to take this course and receive a +2 to their Survival skill.

Goodies

You will also be offered two items off of the following list: the psychic converter/psicomm combination and one other item.

Psychic converter (Future Tech p.18)
-Psicomm (Trinity Tech p.101)

Neural computer link (Future p.78)
Artificial muscle fiber +2 (Cyberscape p.20)
Biofunction regulator (Cyberscape p. 28)
Body repair weave (Cyberscape p.33)
Microcomputer (Future p.198)
Shocking Discharge MGC (Tomorrow’s Hero p.26) 1d4 damage every round

Feats

The pc’s will receive 1 additional feat of their choice, provided they meet the prerequisites.

Action points

The pc’s will receive an additional 5 action points

When the pc’s finally return to New York, Senator Bryson offers them, as their inaugural mission as agents of the U.N., a job to bring back the heads of the assassins hired by Senator Meeks. Alive is not an option. This group of people has been encountered by the U.N. before and are listed as dangerous to society.

Okay, here’s what my character looks like.  Notice the laser pistol.

The second group, Laura, Quintan, and Chip, repeat the sneaking out process. Then, the third group, the married couple, Ivy, and Yeager, repeat the sneaking out process. Ivy stays the whole time to keep the door closed, if necessary, and to be ready to throw stuff at the robot, should it spot people or an alarm of some kind be raised. Yeager should also be ready to throw and open one of the anklet bombs at the robot.

Should the twins be awoken and brought out, Web and Yeager should use the anklet bombs to attack them while most of the rest of us focus on Pa. I don’t think killing Pa will stop the twins, but I do think it will stop Beulah and possibly stop Jeremiah.

If we try smaller groups, I think it will cause problems with the other four slaves.

Of course, since night one, we’ve been planning in Spanish. Also, I NEVER ONCE mention my weapons on the comm.

Sound good? Any additions? Alterations?