Cosmic Odyssey: A Hostile Solo campaign. Episode 13: Man down?
Our corporate friend Sanford Rains is hiding aboard the Maxim. His hostage Dr. Novara has been recovered by the Cosmic Odessey’s landing team of ex colonial marines Jamal and Kristi along with the ship’s scientist Jack Leftwich (the only other crew member with medical experience.)
Sanford Rains associate, Vergis has escaped from the Odyssey, after a detour for a little sabotage. She is currently holed up in a cave system that runs virtually beneath the Odessey and is trying to get the colonists from the Maxim to return to the ship, so far unsuccessfully.
A least one xenomorph has been discovered on the Maxim, which has lead the colonists to escape into the caves.
Speaking of xenomorphs, Dr Novara is currently in the sickbay of the Odyssey and until recently was under the care of Jack Leftwich.
Captain Sambrano was all for leaving Rains, Vergis and the colonists to their fate and blasting off from the planet. This started an argument between Sambrano and chief engineer Jerry Vasconcelos. Chief was disgusted that his old friend would abandon these innocent colonists and together with chief scientist Jack Leftwich has taken the Armadillo and made their way to the entrance of the caves where the colonists mayday signal is coming from.
And Captain Sambrano has discovered an issue with the Odessey’s engines courtesy of Vergis and is busy working on the issue until he’s called back to the bridge and discovers Chief and Leftwich have left the ship.
Dominick Sambrano cursed loudly as he punched the buttons on his console. “He’s looking for that mayday isn’t he?”
Jamal nodded, “Looks that way skipper.”
“Fucking bleeding heart every time.” Sambrano raged.
“You want us to go after them?” Kristi asked.
Sambrano pursed his lips as he glanced up at the monitor, still showing the hulking mass of the Maxim. “No, I need to get the engines working, keep trying to raise that jackass on the comms and get them back here in one piece.”
“Yes sir.” The ex-marines responded as Sambrano stormed off the bridge.
Chief has walked into the entrance of the cave system. Does he encounter any colonists near the entrance? Unlikely.
Roll 2D6: 5/6, yes and…
So there are colonists, we’ll roll on the inspiration tables for more information.
Roll D66 on the action table : 16, Control
Roll D66 on the theme table: 56, Enemy.
Hmm so is Vergis the enemy from the table? 50/50
Roll 2D6: 2,2. No
Do they have a captured xenomorph? Unlikely
Roll 2D6: 3,5. No
Are they planning on ambushing Chief, thinking he’s an enemy? 50/50
Roll 2D6: 1,2. No
Is Vergis lurking and planning an ambush? 50/50
Roll 2D6: 1,5. No.
Is the enemy someone or something new? 50/50
Roll 2D6: 4,1. Yes, but…
Is it an animal? 50/50 either animal or person
Roll 2D6: 3,2. No, it’s a person/people.
Is it Con-Am goons from the Maxim? Likely
Roll 2D6: 4,4. Yes.
How many are waiting for the Chief?
Roll 1D6-1: 1 (-1), a single goon has survived the escape from the xenomorphs and is waiting to ambush the Chief as he enters the cave.
The comms crackled, “Skipper, we have a problem.”
Sambrano cursed and slowly extricated himself from the confined space next to the control panel of the engine diagnostics.
“What is it?” He snapped irritably into the comms.
Jamal sounded almost apologetic, “Sorry sir, you’ll want to come up and talk to Leftwich.”
“Jack? What’s wrong? Are they ok?” He paused and took a deep breath, “I’ll be right there.”
Kristi Lacap leaned over the comms on the captains' console, “ Say again, you’re breaking up.”
A hiss of static replied to her.
She cursed and hit the comms again, “I say again, can you give us a sitrep ?”
“What’s going on?” Sambrano walked quickly onto the bridge and slid into his chair as the ex marine moved to one side.
Jamal swiveled around in the Chief’s chair. “The comms is breaking up but from what I can make out, the chief has gone into the cave.”
“Alone?” Sambrano asked exasperation pain in his voice.
“Seems like it sir.” Christi put in, “But comms is all over the place.”
“Some kind of interference around the cave it seems.” Jamal confirmed.
“Shit.” Was all Sambrano could manage.
Suddenly the comms crackled with life, “..gone into the cave…hissing static… gunshots…..more static… can’t contact.” And the comms light winked off as silence descended on the bridge.
“What do you want to do sir?” Jamal as carefully from the safety of the chiefs chair.
Sambrano slowly shook his head, “I don’t know.” He said finally.
“We’ll go get him.” Kristi declared.
“I don’t want to risk losing more of you. We don’t know what the hell is going on.”
“But we can get eyes on sir.” Jamal put in.
“You need to get him Dominick.” The voice came from the doorway that none of them had hear hiss open.
Dr Kory Novara stood in the doorway, the medical gown spattered with blood and the IV trailing on the floor from her arm. She stared at them across the bridge from white sightless eyes.
“You must get him back.” She swayed back and forth as the crew rushed forward to help her. Sambrano caught her under the arms as she sagged to the floor.
“They’re coming.” She whispered before she slid into unconsciousness.
Really good stuff! Loving it!
Each episode is great at holding the readers attention. I love all the twists and turns the dice bring.