For one of my settings I designed a colonization mission to a water world.
While the technology used is GURPS, not Traveller, I thought the basic
idea might perhaps be interesting for others, too, so here is a short des-
cription.
The Background
The background universe is rather "young", humanity has only recently
begun to found colonies. The technology is still low, there are neither gra-
vitics nor faster than light drives, the starships use reaction drives and
natural (? - unsolved setting mystery) wormholes for interstellar voyages.
Robotic probes explore the regions beyond the wormholes and return with
the data used to decide whether a system contains a planet which could
be colonized, either by one of the nations of Earth or by a commercial or
private investor.
Phase 1 - ORS Academician Mamayev
One of the robotic probes has discovered a water world, and the Oceano-
graphic Research Ship Academician Mamayev is sent on a voyage of more
than two years to explore this planet.
The Mamayev has a crew of six spacers and twenty scientists. It has the
most advanced survey sensors and carries a lander, named Maury, which
is outfitted with laboratories for oceanography and marine biology and
enables a team of eight scientists to study the planet's ocean for several
months and to collect samples of the native biosphere, while the Mamayev
surveys the planet from orbit.
At the end of the survey the scientists return from the lander to the ship
with a launch, the lander remains on the planet and continues to gather
data.
Phase 2 - Darwin Base
After the return of the Mamayev the data are evaluated and it is decided
that the planet could indeed become a colony.
A huge transport brings the Darwin Base to the planet, a first floating ha-
bitat for 300 colonists and 15 dolphins. It is outfitted with all the colonists
will need to continue the exploration of the planet and to start both aqua-
culture and mining, including a hydrogen fuel refinery, an ore processor,
an automated multipurpose factory, many robots, several watercraft and
two interface shuttles.
The lander Maury with its laboratories, left behind by the Mamayev during
her survey of the planet, becomes the science unit of the new outpost.
Phase 3 - Expansion
If the Darwin Base proves that a colony is possible and can become self
sufficient through the export of aquacultural goods and raw materials, the
investors will send additional colonists and base modules to slowly expand
the outpost into a true colony, and will establish a trade route between the
planet and Earth.
While the technology used is GURPS, not Traveller, I thought the basic
idea might perhaps be interesting for others, too, so here is a short des-
cription.
The Background
The background universe is rather "young", humanity has only recently
begun to found colonies. The technology is still low, there are neither gra-
vitics nor faster than light drives, the starships use reaction drives and
natural (? - unsolved setting mystery) wormholes for interstellar voyages.
Robotic probes explore the regions beyond the wormholes and return with
the data used to decide whether a system contains a planet which could
be colonized, either by one of the nations of Earth or by a commercial or
private investor.
Phase 1 - ORS Academician Mamayev
One of the robotic probes has discovered a water world, and the Oceano-
graphic Research Ship Academician Mamayev is sent on a voyage of more
than two years to explore this planet.
The Mamayev has a crew of six spacers and twenty scientists. It has the
most advanced survey sensors and carries a lander, named Maury, which
is outfitted with laboratories for oceanography and marine biology and
enables a team of eight scientists to study the planet's ocean for several
months and to collect samples of the native biosphere, while the Mamayev
surveys the planet from orbit.
At the end of the survey the scientists return from the lander to the ship
with a launch, the lander remains on the planet and continues to gather
data.
Phase 2 - Darwin Base
After the return of the Mamayev the data are evaluated and it is decided
that the planet could indeed become a colony.
A huge transport brings the Darwin Base to the planet, a first floating ha-
bitat for 300 colonists and 15 dolphins. It is outfitted with all the colonists
will need to continue the exploration of the planet and to start both aqua-
culture and mining, including a hydrogen fuel refinery, an ore processor,
an automated multipurpose factory, many robots, several watercraft and
two interface shuttles.
The lander Maury with its laboratories, left behind by the Mamayev during
her survey of the planet, becomes the science unit of the new outpost.
Phase 3 - Expansion
If the Darwin Base proves that a colony is possible and can become self
sufficient through the export of aquacultural goods and raw materials, the
investors will send additional colonists and base modules to slowly expand
the outpost into a true colony, and will establish a trade route between the
planet and Earth.
