This is a project to create a role-playing game adventure to introduce Beyond the Spozak to the gaming community.
The Plot
The PCs are the crew of a small freighter that has been chartered to haul agricultural supplies, including a number of cattle to the planet New Promise (the first planet explored by the Planetary League that is well suited for large-scale agriculture).
Unfortunately, the Convergence has an outpost nearby. The Convergence can't stand the radio noise generated by human development, and are actively trying to discourage the settling of New Promise. The PCs are caught in the middle of the conflict between the two factions.
To end the conflict, the PCs have to find the Convergence outpost and convince them, by diplomacy or force, to stop harassing the settlers.
Since this is a beginning adventure, the Convergence (who specialize in psychological and information warfare), are just performing some intimidation tactics, and are fairly easily deterred from their interference.
The PCs
Player Characters should include the various members of the crew of a small freighter. To fit in with the time period, the PCs should be mainly humans, as the Planetary League has yet to incorporate other intelligent species. There are a number of subcultures available, including Edenites, the Autonomous Republic of Lindbergh, and the Clockwork Empire. Humans may have appropriate bio- or cyber- enhancements, including Algal Symbiosis.
Robot characters are a possibility, but they should specialize in one skill, and have relatively little personality.
The party as a group could be working directly for the Planetary League government, in which case, some or all of the characters could be Tardigrades.
First Encounter
The adventure begins in medias res. The characters are about to arrive at New Promise, when a great commotion can be heard in the cargo hold. Investigating this will reveal that all the cattle are trying to flee to the rear of the ship. At the same time, a silver Convergence Saucer de-cloaks in front of the ship, blocking the way. At this point in time, there are plenty of stories and rumors of greys, alien abductions and cattle mutilations, but there has been no official contact between the Planetary League and the Convergence. The Saucer is easily turned away with warning shots, and will flee rather than communicating.
Other encounter ideas
The Convergence has decided to use a number of tactics to get the humans to leave:
They put out a call for protesters (mostly Edenites) to come to the planet on the grounds of preserving/ encouraging biodiversity. Situation solvable with diplomacy and/or investigation of the origins of the call to action.
They put a jamming device on one of the colony's PISA (Planetary Infrastructure Satellite Array) satellites. Solvable with an EVA, and some technical ability.
They wage a campaign of abductions and livestock mutilation to intimidate the settlers. Intercept and drive off the invaders.
The Payoff
At the end of the adventure, the PCs officially make first contact. This is the climax of the adventure, and if they convince the Greys to leave the colony alone, they are treated as heroes by the Planetary League. Either way, they have made history.
