Second Sphere Expeditions

Expeditions?

Expeditions are organized missions by nation-states (or those in their employ) which set out to explore strange worlds where no one has gone this economic quarter, to seek out dangerous machinery and xenolife and recover valuable resources and items.

Of course, as neither Velan drones nor posthuman-derived machinery is terribly keen on allowing those bothersome organics from just walking in and taking what they want, these expedition are generally well-armed. Military-grade weapons is the norm, which has (unfortunately) indirectly led to the rampant militarization of even relatively minor non-state actors - it is a necessity, not a luxury.

How It Works

Expeditions are designed to be relatively 'automated', requiring relatively limited GM input to determine their results. The following is how they work.

A state may send out one expedition per quarter, barring exceptional circumstances determined by the GM. (see below for one such circumstance) Each expedition must be targeted to a specific system - expeditions require substantial planning and organization and such cannot simply fly along indefinately until they find something. Thus it becomes useful to have patrols in the previous quarter to determine any potential hotspots - systems with no meaningful drone activity will not yield a worthwhile amount of drone components, no matter how many hyperdreadnoughts are deployed. On the flipside, small expeditions may find themselves overwhelmed if they careen into a full-blown drone hive expecting victory.

Drone activity is generally higher away from major inhabited systems. Furthermore, drone activity tends to rise and fall over time according to the inscrutable plans or rythms of these alien machines. It is also possible for drones to 'swarm', greatly increasing activity level in the system and generally shifting the expedition into the level of battle simulation, as well as potentially extending it over multiple quarters.

Each expedition must have a defined list of equipment (ships, fighters, etc) - one needs to send something on an expedition, after all. Generally, because expeditions are also planning to bring loot back, they require heavier than normal logistical support (more assets tied up, essentially) and thus count as being in Heavy Combat (x5). This also covers ammunition expenditures and so forth.

The actual makeup of the expedition is also important! Energy weapon-armed craft tend to be much less effective against Velan drones than ones with kinetic weapons; ground forces of some form may be necessary to deal with posthuman defenders. Certain designs may be particularly well-suited. A sentence or two of any battleplans or clever ideas could also provide a small bonus.

Expeditions should have an 'enemy' in mind, be it drones or posthumans. If there is nothing specified, it will be assumed to be the higher value in the relevant system - drones or posthumans. It may also happen that an expedition to engage one ends up fighting the other, or even both!

The amount of loot and the results of an expedition generally relates to the ratio of deployed equipment to the level of activity in the target system. A randomized factor is also applied. It may happen that an expedition is a bust, or returns exceptionally valuable materials, or that the situation spirals out of control and goes to full battle/campaign simming.

The results of an expedition will be vague - X% damage, or a resource amount, etc. The exact effects are up to you, the player, to determine based upon this.

Finally, it's up to you, the player, to write a post or two about the expedition. While this is not meant to be an onerous chore, in order to encourage continued posting a nation may not send out another expedition until at least one story post for the preceeding expedition has been written. Given that you can only do one every 3-4 weeks real time I don't consider this unreasonable. Have fun with this - it doesn't have to be about space battleships blowing up giant dronewhales. If you are particularly stuck, speak to a GM for some help.

Particularly well-written/cool/fun arcs will probably help further expeditions. Bribery is alive and well in the 22nd century.

Example Loot

The following is an overview of the various loot that can be gotten from an expedition.

Velan Drone

Drexlers: Fairly straightforward. A supply of drexlers.

Refined Minerals: A mass of refined, relatively valuable minerals and elements. This provides an injection of PIP.

Research Data: This provides resources that can be put towards research and development.

Velan [Specific] Xenodata: Velan Xenodata is resources that can be put towards a specific Xenotech application.

Hybrid Drone

Drexlers: Fairly straightforward. A supply of drexlers.

Delta Dust: A supply of delta dust.

Refined Minerals: A mass of refined, relatively valuable minerals and elements. This provides an injection of PIP.

[Specific] Xenocomponents: A set of recoverable components that can be used with a bit of work on tanks, ships, etc.

Research Data: This provides resources that can be put towards research and development.

Velan [Specific] Xenodata: Velan Xenodata is resources that can be put towards a specific Xenotech application.

[Specific] Basic Theodata: Basic Theodata is resources that can be put towards a specific Basic Theotech application.

Posthuman

Drexlers: Fairly straightforward. A supply of drexlers.

Delta Dust: A supply of delta dust.

Theta Dust: A supply of theta dust.

Omega Dust: A supply of omega dust.

[Specific] Theocomponents: A set of recoverable components that can be used with a bit of work on tanks, ships, etc.

Research Data: This provides resources that can be put towards research and development.

[Specific] Basic Theodata: Basic Theodata is resources that can be put towards a specific Basic Theotech application.

[Specific] Advanced Theodata: Advanced Theodata is resources that can be put towards a specific Advanced Theotech application.