Lost Colony

Faraway System Map

2008-07-22T13:44:00.000-07:00

Lightning Sale on Suplus HI Firearms

2008-07-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

Get 'em while they last!

New Belter Camp Survey

2008-07-22T11:52:00.001-07:00

STU = Standard Travel Unit. How Far a Ship can travel in an average day

The belt is an asteroid ring 200 STU's in circumference. These are broken down into four 50 STU quadrants. Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Gamma - each with their own quirks and flavor.

1,2 - Alpha Quadrant

Closest to Banshee in the fall -- furthest in spring
(Encounters triggered J-Ace)

M89
tiny; 80 miners. -6 buy/sell mod
Point of Interest: Bar
main export:Radioactive Metals

M10
healthy; 500 miners, and support shops. -4 buy/sell mod
Point of Interest: tech shop
main export:Standard Metals

M26
healthy; 200 miners, and support shops. -4 buy/sell mod
Point of Interest: bar
main export: Precious Metals

Canton Skyplex
A booming space station with over 800 residents, and hundreds of black-market support shops. +2 buy/sell mod
Canton has refused to allow EXFOR to get a foothold here and operates with an no questions asked policy. It's distance from Reaver Space (over 90 STU) provides ships with some measure of safety. EXFOR cruisers occasionally like to lay in wait in the surrounding asteroid fields in the hopes of snagging an undocumented shipment. But the high levels of radioactive materials in the locality often fouls sensor readings and communications. (+4 to escape pursuit)
Point of Interest:tech shop
main export: wadda' ya want?

M912

M812

M38

M43
small; 29 miners. -5 buy/sell mod
Point of Interest: tech shop
main export: Precious Metals

M22
healthy; 170, and support shops. -2 buy/sell mod
Point of Interest: bar
main export: Radioactive Metals

3,4 - Beta Quadrant

Closest to Banshee in the summer -- furthest in winter.

the most populated quadrant in the belt -- and the most heavily patrolled by EXFOR
(Encounters triggered 9-Ace -- any black card is an EXFOR patrol)

M912
small; 23 miners. -5 buy/sell mod
Point of Interest: EXFOR post
main export: Ghost Rock, Iron Ore

M812
healthy; 50 miners, and support shops. -4 buy/sell mod
Point of Interest:bar
main export:Ghost Rock, Minerals

Goliath Station
A space station that serves as a nexus for a hundred smaller mining camps. any given day will see a healthy 600 miners, and support shops. -0 buy/sell mod
Point of Interest:bar
main export:Ghost Rock, Iron Ore, Precious Metals

5,6 - Delta Quadrant

Closest to Banshee in the spring -- furthest in autumn months
(Encounters triggered J-Ace)

M410
tiny; 27 miners. -6 buy/sell mod
Point of Interest:bar
main export:Ghost Rock, Minerals

Iron Fist
An asteroid based space station made out of a capped mine. Has a healthy population of 200 running support shops for the western wing of the belter crescent. -2 buy/sell mod
Point of Interest:bar
main export:Ghost Rock, Precious Metals

M95
booming; 900 miners, and support shops. -2 buy/sell mod
Point of Interest:tech shop
main export:Iron Ore

7,8 - Gamma Quadrant

Closest to Banshee in the winter months -- furthest in summer
(Encounters triggered J-Ace -- any black card is a Reaver party)

M04
Just over the line into Reaver Space MO4 is the most lawless belter camp of them all. Survivor of the fastest -- Anything goes.
booming 13 hundred miners, and support shops. -2 buy/sell mod
Point of Interest:tech shop
main export:Ghost Rock

Reaver Space
A 50 STU long stretch of largely unexplored asteroids. With no belter camps this far out, EXFOR does not have the manpower and little interest in patrolling the Gamma Quad. This makes it a prime haven for Reaver ships and other outlaws looking to lay low.

Space Travel and the Burn

2008-05-29T15:40:00.000-07:00

The boats of Lost Colony are all powered by micro-fusion engines, which provide the power to a high priced Hellstromme do-hickey called a "gravity sink". Properly maintained and with the right parts, this drive can push a crew all the way to Charon and back a 100 times. But since the collapse of the Tunnel, replacement parts have become scarce. Having an unlimited fuel supply don’t mean nothin’ if you ain’t got a set of control rods to keep the heat down; or a compression coil to channel the plasma feed right. Folks that don’t keep track of this can blow an engine and end up on the drift – ripe pickings for scavengers, and pirates. This is called Burnout – or simply the Burn

The Burn - Ships have 5 levels of ‘Burn’ that track how much strain has been put on your engines traveling from one location to the next. A ship takes a level of Burn every time it makes an interplanetary push

Gravity Well maneuvers use a lot of fuel and put lots of stress on an engine. A ship takes a level of Burn every time the ship takes off from planet side (but not from low-G orbits, like space stations)

Moving from place to place in orbit is a simple matter, and relatively easy on the engines. Only if the Pilot rolls a '1' on his skill die does the ship take a Burn.

Once a ship has taken five or more levels of burn, any further pushes, delivers a critical hit directly to the engine.

...and now for the science nerds...

How the Gravity Sink Works

Gravity is an illusionary force created by Mass and Inertia - Hellstromme Industries has cracked the 'code' for this and built a device that can manipulate gravity on a small scale.

It creates an effect of a weak artificial gravity on board a ship; strong enough to affect high mass objects like cargo and people. This weak gravity can't overcome the effects of real gravity. Which is why folks need to strap down when the pilot wants to try something fancy in a gravity well (fancy word for "up close to a planet") - but not when he is pulling barrel rolls in deep space.

The second thing this Gravity Drive can do is lower the apparent mass of the ship. This takes a few moments - it's called “spinning up” Once "at speed" the ship weighs little more than a 10th its weight, and can be pushed around using powerful jump jets venting superheated plasma. This lets a 20,000 ton hunk of steel and chrome -- fly. Fighting the effects of real gravity however requires that the engines be constantly firing. This uses a lot of energy and puts a great deal of stress on the fuselage. Things also tend to break as false gravity and real gravity duke it out.

Once free of a planet’s Gravity Well however, a boat becomes much more efficient. Basically the ship powers up the field to artificially lower the mass of the ship. Then it fires off a series of powerful bursts of force - pushing the ship off at higher and higher speeds... as the ship goes faster it gains more mass. Then the drive lowers this mass again, and fires off another pulse. Compounded over time, this brings the boat up to a very impressive speed that lets you travel millions of miles in just a few days - for a tiny amount of energy. All this is possible because you are 'tricking' the universe into thinking that the ship weighs almost nothing1. If the drive is ever turned off however, all the mass comes back and the ship grinds to a stop.

MARSHALS ONLY

1 Hellstromme isn't 'tricking' the universe into anything. He isn't lowering the mass of a ship either -- his gravity drive shunts the mass of the ship and everything in it into the hunting grounds. As a result each level of burn used to push the ship temporally raises the Fear level on the ship by one.

Long trips at high speed also attract gremlins and other malevolent spirits (see below) , not to mention the more mass shifted into the hunting grounds mean the greater the risk that you leave something behind when you go.

Whenever a ship pushes - have the crew make a Spirit check. Those that fail the roll gain a fatigue level from the bad dreams the plague them for the duration of the trip, as the tainted spirits use their psyche to sneak into our reality. Botching the roll could mean spirit possession, or even death -- depending on how vicious you are.

The drawback of this Gravity-Pulse Drive is, once you pick a direction you are stuck with it. Small adjustments can be made, allowing a pilot to dodge asteroids or derelict wreckage but no significant changes can be made to the destination. Changing direction requires turning off the drive, re-plotting new coordinates (+1d6 hours to the travel time) and getting back up to speed (another +1d6 hours, and +1 burn). Some folks can't wait that long. They like to cut corners in the plotting stage or make the ship push harder. Both of these things can shave time off the trip but each come with its own drawbacks.

Journal Plotting - this is how most freighter captains cut the prep time for a push. Normally a captain has to plan the arc of travel for the entire trip before they even start 'spinning up' - taking into account every Gravity Well between here and there. Crafty captains keep an almanac of gravitational eddies that let them turn the hours of prep time into minutes: Boating -4 reduces re-plotting time to 1d6 mins; but using the journal makes it Boating -2.

Known Trade Routes - Prime Journal Plots are jealously guarded by freighter captains, and never posted to the interwebs. But information yearns to be free. Many corridors are so well known that it's real easy to hop in line and take off. This option gives a navigator Boating +2 but increases the chances of encounters (Pirates and EXFOR patrols) along the way.

The Hard Push - Where finesse fails, force prevails. When time is of the essence, ship captains often cut the travel time of a trip by pushing the ships engines past factory recommended specifications: each extra level of burn spent on a push cuts travel time by 1d6 days.

Captains that push harder run the risk of punching though the barrier between here and the Hunting Grounds. Any time the captain spends more than 2 burn on a push, draw a card. On any face card, the ship attracts a gremlin. and if they pull a 2 -- they have punched right though into the hunting grounds. Also - Remember each level of burn used to push the ship temporally raises the Fear level on the ship by one. The fear level an its effects last for 1d6 days after the trip

Get Your Hellstrome Certifications Today! Start a New Future!

2006-07-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

Are you Hellstromme Material?

We hope so.

Do you feel like you are pounding away at a dead end
job, with no future? Have you always felt different,
specially talented and not fit for the manual labor
that seems to be so common in the colonies? Do you
feel like you are getting nowhere? Do you want more
out of life?

We all feel this way sometimes, but what we do about
this makes all the difference in the world. If you
want to take your future in your own hands, you cannot
waste another day of fruitless pondering. Join the
legions of ambitious professionals enrolling everyday
in courses geared to help them attain their Hellstromme
Industries Certifications. We offer a variety of
courses to help you learn a variety of career paths
within Hellstromme Industries. These courses include:

Nanotechnology

XenoBiology

The Psionic Arts

Jump Gate Technology

Paranormal Countermeasures

Archaelogical Reverse Engineering

Viral Hacking

Astrogation

Cloning

Starship & Satellite Repair

Cortex Security

Electromagnetics

Cybernetics

And we are adding new courses everday*

You can't afford to lose another day to that job with
no future. Take the first steps now towards becoming
the real you. The future is in Hellstromme, and you
can get the edge on the competition for the lucrative
positions within HI.

Courses are offered through GeigerVisions, a
subsidiary of Hellstromme Industries Intellectual
Property Development Divisions. The courses range
from the standard classroom learning to online Cortex
learning, as well as satellite classrooms. The
certification exams take place in HI facilities,
despite the course method, so you must have a means of
travel for the final exams.

To get more information on course offerings,
scheduling, and financial aid, go to the Cortex
meta-site at: 04.815.16.023.42

*coming soon, Transmutation Technology.

Disclaimer: All course enrollments require signing of
a non-disclosure agreement, and a microchip tagging
for security reasons.

Missing Tunnel Ship Found?

2006-07-09T04:46:00.000-07:00

TODAY IN SCIENCE -- 5 years ago the Hellstromme Industries research vessel Prometheus went missing and was presumed destroyed after apparently failing it's deep space jump. Today, one astronomer claims to have found it.

The Prometheus was HI only major attempt to reestablish contact with Earth since the Tunnel com went offline on September 23, 2081. Prometheus was Designed to operate much like Dr. Hellstrommes original deep space exploration ship the Unity. Possessing a scaled down version of Hellstrommes Portal technology and a massively potent gravity drive system, Prometheus was supposed to return to Earth and reestablish the com beam.

The fact that no such beam ever came online, was taken as proof that the ship was destroyed. No further attempts were made by HI, citing issues of insufficient materials.

Prometheus was at approximately 60 degrees spinward in the 2nd quadrant when it vanished. Over the years, various observation ships and treasure hunters have retraced its flightpath and performed thorough deep scans for the vessel. No sign or distress signal has ever been found.

"until today", says Astronomer Martin Clark.

Using a technique called "gravitational microlensing". Part of Einstein's great contribution to science was the idea that gravity can bend space. Space is more than just a thing in which objects sit; Einstein's math shows that space is itself a thing has properties, like shape. Gravity distorts the shape of space, similar to the way a heavy weight sitting on a bed warps the shape of the surface of the bed. If you take a ball and roll it on the bed, its path won't be straight, but it will curve as it passes the depression caused by the weight.

Massive objects have gravity, and that gravity bends space. As light passes through that space, it can bend. If that's not weird enough for you (and really, it should be), gravity can also act like a lens, amplifying light as well.

If a massive object is sitting between you and a distant light source, then the gravity of the object can make the light appear brighter. This is the method used to find the Prometheus.

"Originally I thought it was a rouge asteroid, or moon" says Clark, "something native to Faraway. But now I'm certain that it's the Prometheus' gravity drive. We never got a signal from Earth because it never made it out of the system."

At this time HI has not confirmed the discovery.
HI PRESS RELEASES

Toxic Jungle Safaris, LLC

2006-07-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

BANSHEE | TOXIC JUNGLE -- Are you the adventerous sort?

Are you the kind of person who has run with the Bulls
in Pamploa, Space-jumped across the Delphi Expanse,
and hunted the most dangerous game?

Are you looking for something new, a new challenge to
achieve?

Look no further! At Toxic Jungle Safaris, we offer a whole new adventure for those who seek a higher high, an adrenaline rush like no other. Let me warn you, that the Toxic Jungles are dangerous, a place that only the bravest can venture, but their reward for the risk is a whirlwind of excitement. If you have the money and are willing to sign the waivers, we will take you into a place few have laid eyes upon, and few have returned to tell of.

The aptly named Toxic Jungles support the savage life of the Anouks, natives of Banshee. While the civilizing influence of man has yet to touch this dark land, these noble savages live in a strange and unique culture that will amaze and perplex. We can take you through this life, as we safari into the Toxic Jungles, in which not only Anouks live, but a plethora of bizarre life forms, plants and animals that have yet to be catalogued by the scientific community.

The journey includes 15 days of emergency provisions, as well as the latest hover caravan vehicle to house you in comfort should the need arise. You will be accompanied by 4 guides, 2 anouks and 2 humans, in case the natives get restless. You will also have a cookand a butcher/taxidermist to help prepare your catches for eventual mounting and for dining. Also a cook will accompany you to prepare the meat you catch with jungle vegetables in exotic dishes during the safari. The creative dishes are artistically seared over a camp fire, by a cook schooled by the natives in some of their most guarded secret recipes, and each meal will be a tasty masterpiece, that you will savor.

For the person who has experienced it all, and still yearns for something more, Banshee offers a romantic new world of savage Anouks and shamen. Marvel at their bizarre religious rituals, and feral warriors, while testing yourself in their world, while we provide the amenities and expertise.

Come to a whole new world, and tame it, come to the Toxic Jungles!

Alabaster Station advert

2006-05-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

BANSHEE ORBIT | ALABASTER STATION -- This semi-orbital resort satellite, is a starfront paradise located in the Faraway system at an altitude of approximately 360 km above the surface of Banshee.

Once a playground of the wealthy elite, this art deco inspired satellite community now serves dual roles as a retirement community for the first elite, the noble who civilized the Banshee system, and a resort/spa for the younger generation of powerful world builders who need some time off from their uniquely stressful works. The main hotel is next to star observatory and just a stellar jump away from Banshee's golden sands. Inside the station is an Earth embassy location, able to process the needs of Earth's elite, as well as a starport where a private security staff will use the most modern systems to clean, maintain, and guard your star ships while you enjoy the finest amenities in the system.

The five-Sector Resort consists of two restored 1930s Art Deco hotels, moved brick by brick from Earth, and two new towers. The hotel is a mix of modern chic and retro ambience. A spa tub is available in every room, and five pools, located on three different levels, all featuring poolside bars. The observatory concierge provides lounge chairs, TV/radio/internet headsets and the finest oils and salves for solar tanning. Located on site, the Britto Restaurant offers mouth- watering international cuisine and ocean views. The resort also features a 24- hour fitness room. Should a business need arise, the hotel provides 6,000 square feet of meeting facilities, a business center and wireless Internet access throughout the hotel.

Spacious guestrooms include spectacular ocean and city views, and many have private balconies with port holes looking out on the many star system views available and an ever changing vantage point as the satellite slowly revolves. Accommodations are decorated in a tropical contemporary theme and feature photographs of Earth on the walls. Bathrobes, high-speed Internet access, turndown service, coffeemakers, and Vid disc players are included. Guestrooms also feature complimentary newspapers,
in-room safes and minibars.

Don't spend another vacation in Paradiso, where wealth is the only requirement for entrance, when you can mix with the truly powerful. We don't let as many people in, but we trade quantity for quality. For retirement, vacation, or those important business meetings, choose Alabaster Station for all your luxury needs.

Smugglers Blues -

2006-05-13T04:22:00.000-07:00

Commerce Report -- Many folk don't like paying EXFOR for the right to earn a working wage. They employ such tricks as secret compartments to hide cargo in or high tech stealth packages to escape EXFOR notice. Some just cross their fingers and run for it. Space is big and EXFOR can't be everywhere.

If you are hailed by EXFOR, a you are required by law to send back the Captains Operating license, ship destination, passenger list and Tracking ID. Assuming there is no funny business going on, your ship will probably not be stopped and can continue on it's merry. Otherwise the EXFOR ship will order the transport to halt for boarding. Assuming you stop - the cargo hold will be searched, and all passengers and crew questioned.

Any cargo deemed "unlisted" will be confiscated as contraband and the captain gets a blackmark in the shipping registry. Often, crooked EXFOR officers can make a blackmark "go away" for about 1000c. Just make sure you are bribing the right (or should that be wrong) man

Super Cargo

2006-05-13T04:19:00.000-07:00

Commerce Report -- Super Cargo is just a fancy way to say 'People'. Lots of folks want to get from here to there and don't own a space ship... That's where you and your ship will come in.

First Class passengers - pay 100 credits per person and expect spacious quarters, fresh food, and attentive service.

Second Class passengers - pay 50 credits, and are generally the kind you find on transports. They expect the same quality of life as the crew.

Steerage passengers - pay 20 credits a head, take what they can get for comforts, and may have to provide their own food.

As with freight, voyages over a week, guaranteed express service, or into known dangers are worth an additional premium.

The High Cost of Shipping

2006-05-13T03:54:00.000-07:00

Commerce Report -- Lots of folks are curious about starting up a life in the exciting field of interplanetary trade. Today we look at this glamourless job.

FREIGHT HAULING
This is when the cargo belongs to somebody else and the crew is just being paid to move it - The usual rate is 1 credit per ton of general cargo, assuming the trip doesn't take more than a week. Longer trips or those involving danger or difficulty will charge more. Some shippers will offer bonuses for timeliness or charge penalties for late delivery.

CHARTER
Sometimes a customer wants to hire an entire boat. This is called a charter. The cost is based on the ships potential revenue. 3 credits per ton of cargo hold plus 150 credits per passenger cabin, per month. Add the usual surcharges for hazardous duty.

OPEN TRADE
This is what they call it when a crew wants to take matter into their own hands. Buy their own goods and resell it at profit.

As a warning, EXFOR charges a tariff on all cargo (that they can find) going into or leaving the belt (if they catch you). Normally this is all handled by the client when you Freight Haul or take on a Charter. Crews that go solo, will also have to do all their own paperwork.

Most ports have EXFOR agents that will check your hold and give the captain a "Tracking ID" at the going rate of 20% of the cargo value (local). A discreet donation to the right people can knock that down to 10% cargo value -- but get to know your EXFOR customs agent, trying to donate to the wrong guy can land you in the hoosegow for attempted bribery.

See Also: >> Super Cargo >> Smugglers Blues

Banshee Orbit

2006-05-13T03:39:00.000-07:00

BANSHEE ORBIT -- Located in the space around the planet Banshee are many stations and orbital platforms, such as...

Orbit Forge -- Manufacturers of all the tech not made by HI

Paradiso -- a former spaceliner, home to Faraway's Elite

Providence Station -- Sin City Sci-fi Style. Providence is the best place to spend R&R... if you got the cash

Space Hulls Unlimited -- the largest still functioning shipyards

Tranquility Base -- Located on Banshee's Moon Tranquility Base used to be EXFOR's base of operations until they pulled up tent posts and moved to the rim

Hanging Gardens -- a Low G hyroponics station. Why spend 50 cents on a Bakka fruit when you can blow 50 Bucks on a slice of real-Earth watermelon

Welcome to the Lost Colony

2006-05-12T02:02:00.000-07:00

OVERVIEW -- Howdy spacer, welcome to the Faraway system -- I hope you enjoy your stay, 'cause it's going to be a long one.