Tripwire descriptions

[IanBruntlett]

Hi,

(Trying to be indirect so as not to act as a spoiler)

I'm running Tripwire on Thursday and its the first time I'll have had an adventure move from one Spinward Marches sub-system to another.

Some of the systems involved have heavy naval (and presumably marine) presences, both in the Zhodani and the Imperial areas.

What's the best way to describe a heavily militarised system to a player's ship that has just jumped into?

TIA,


Ian

 

[AndrewW]

They will likely receive a challenge from the naval presence. From a vessel probably a bit larger then their own. Larger ships may be present but not likely to directly interact with the players. Orbital defense are likely present, including orbital defense platforms and installations on moons and other bodies in the system. The planet itself may depend more on the naval presence but is likely to be more fortified then usual as well. Approach paths are likely restricted to a narrow corridor, stray away from this and expect a challenge. Might be a lot of smaller faster ships moving about for courier duties heading off to parts unknown. Though activity could be lower depending on current circumstances. Could have some mine fields out there as well (part of the reason for the narrow approach path).

 

[alex_greene]

The most likely warning the ship would receive would begin with an urgent warning coming through on the civilian channels, broadcast loudly enough that there is no way it could be ignored.

Something along the lines of

Civilian vessel. You have entered restricted space. Identify yourself and your intentions, or your vessel will be seized and your crew detained. Fail to obey our instructions and you will be summarily destroyed. Alter your course to the following heading and reduce your velocity to this vector. You have ten standard minutes to comply.

This message would repeat all over the civilian channels, probably drowning out everything else. It would cut off when the nearest vessel on an intercept course shows up on the long - range LIDAR scanners.

The policy regarding intercepts is: a squad of SDBs approach for the first intercept, or perhaps a single Monitor. If they are insufficient, a medium sized vessel like a destroyer - or maybe a wing of them, with attendant SDBs and fighter squadrons already in the void. And if they're not enough, then they send out the big guns, along with their attendant fighters, cruisers etc.

Always, it's an escalation of force rather than sending out the biggest ships first. That way, they use the minimum force (and expense) necessary to solve the problem.[/b]

 

[ChipHaus]

I'm not sure that would be the response given the question. It wasn't an interdicted system asked about, just heavily militarized. More akin to a civilian ship in the current day arriving in a port that has both civilian and naval ports.

I don't believe that the navy would overwhelm the civilian broadcast channels. That would interfere with legitimate civilian communication. I would believe that there would be a common channel that all ships would be required to listen in to that would have only emergency communication on. A warning to a civilian ship in a restricted area would come on this channel.

Of course this could all be wrong, but that is how I would do it.

Chip

 

[ChipHaus]

I'm not sure that would be the response given the question. It wasn't an interdicted system asked about, just heavily militarized. More akin to a civilian ship in the current day arriving in a port that has both civilian and naval ports.

I don't believe that the navy would overwhelm the civilian broadcast channels. That would interfere with legitimate civilian communication. I would believe that there would be a common channel that all ships would be required to listen in to that would have only emergency communication on. A warning to a civilian ship in a restricted area would come on this channel.

Of course this could all be wrong, but that is how I would do it.

Chip

 

[AndrewW]

Of course this could all be wrong, but that is how I would do it.

Chip

Then it's not wrong. You can use whatever is right for your setting.

 

[BP]

...What's the best way to describe a heavily militarised system to a player's ship that has just jumped into?

Depends on the level of course. Travel zones (amber) and Law level of the primary world probably be your best foundation for establishing this (i.e. are they under martial law?).

Since space is big and Jumps do not result in precise location - the presence would most be percieved at space stations, downports, near bases and facilities and in atmo...

If one ended up too near the wrong place - they would either be warned prior to or immediately upon entering restricted space... wether by civilians first or military. Interdication assets would have to be nearby - since they will likely protect locations - not just stellar space.

In non-exceptional situations - i.e. just the presence of local bases - besides the military space/air/ground traffic, the presence of armed guards at key locations backing up civilian authorities (docks, government buildings, checkpoints near bases and related industrial zones), and lots of uniformed personnel on and offduty and military catering commercial establishments (bars, gun ranges, wargame arcades/parks, service specific diners) should set the mood and inform the players.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

Here is my take:

The players jump into the system and their sensors go NUTS.

Passive sensors pick up seven-hundred and forty-three military transponders and about two thousand civilian transponders.

Within the first turn after jump, they have been hailed by THREE different ships: an SDB, a Destroyer and a flight (4) of fighters.

Long Range sensors pick up a CruRon, two DesRons and about a dozen monitors.

There are sixteen orbital defense platforms around the mainworld.

They are contacted by the local SPA in the second turn and while mostly ignored by the military after that, as they pass within sensor range of military ships on their way to the highport, they are "painted" by the active sensors of those military ships.

Should they deviate from their designated flight path or do anything that might look suspicious (such as using active sensors on a military ship), they will be summarily boarded by the Navy.

Depending on how legal the players have been recently, this could be interesting and fun or scary and tense.