Edges of the Pit

An Alternity Adventure
Background Information
983 AU (5 light-days) from the edge of Hammer’s Star,
which is located at the edge of the Verge, is an area
known only as ‘The Pit’. An area shrouded in dark,
empty space, it is one of only a few known places
containing what is commonly referred to as a black hole.
Because of its unique nature and close proximity to
civilization, the Pit was a logical choice for the gathering
of like-minded scientists who had braved the Verge
during its early settling.
StarMech, feeling bested by the Borealis Republic
colony that settled the Hammer System, began funding
a project known to the inner circles of power as “The X-
ray Project”. Together, with six of the top astrophysical
research minds in the Verge, StarMech engineers
designed a highly specialized science vessel. Launched
in the latter half of 2344, the SMSS Blacklight, a sleek
research craft designed to bring her crew closer to the
event horizon than ever before, entered the Hammer
System. From there, after ‘juicing up’, she entered
drivespace- and was never heard from again.
Captain E.L Hedrig, spacefarer, starship
commander, explorer for over 40 years, and veteran of
10 Galactic War Campaigns, had apparently entered
too close to the black hole. He and his crew were
Plot Synopsis
The heroes arrive in Hammer’s Star system, where they
land at New Spes to meet with StarMech
representatives. Scene I gives the player’s a chance to
interact with the local population as they try and rebuild
their colony, and meet the StarMech agents who will
layout their task. Toward the end of Scene I, however, an
explosion rocks the building just after the heroes leave.
Meant to be a warning, this is the first indication that the
heroes are not welcome.
VoidCorp, always eager to line its own pockets, has
hired a gang of pirating thugs to capture the prize for
itself. Nothing is to stop Darius Prime from his goal.
Things just have a way of happening to those not careful
(especially in a region as deadly as the Pit), is the way
VoidCorp sees this rivalry.
Scene II has the heroes arriving at the edge of the
Pit. Leaving drivespace, they could potentially cross the
horizon and never be heard from again. There, they
meet Darius Prime and his pirating band. In an all-out
blast fest, the heroes not only need to worry about the
pirates, but the occasional asteroid being drawn
through the system as well. Lastly, the dangers of the
assumed lost. Follow-up expeditions found no trace of
the ship or her crew, and sensors could not detect any
traces of the tachyon particles, which should have
illuminated the Blacklight’s exit from drivespace. All
indications were that the ship erroneously exited starfall
well beyond the black hole’s event horizon, and was thus
destroyed by the massive gravitational forces. With the
onset of the Second Galactic War the following year,
StarMech abandoned its search and its interest in the
system.
Nearly 160 years later, Kendai Station has
transmitted a transponder code; the code believed to be
that of the SMSS Blacklight. StarMech has a vested
interest in this discovery, for obvious reasons, and wants
to know details. Others are interested as well, some for
the purely academic and scientific reasons, and some
for the not so aesthetic.
The heroes are assigned the task of investigating
the signal. Being brought to the system by the SMSS
Lyra, a stealth-class scout vessel, they are to discover
the source of the signal, and, if possible, return the ship
intact to StarMech labs. Of course, should anyone else
gain control of the ship, StarMech would rather not let
anyone else get a chance to plagiarize their designs.
black hole itself present a number of tricky obstacles.
Heroes had better be on their toes!
Scene III presents the greatest challenge of all. The
SMSS Blacklight lies just on this side of the event
horizon, in the accretion disk. From the player’s
standpoint, she appears to be at a dead standstill, and
a bright red in color. Skill checks against knowledge
(with a -1 step) tell the heroes that the Blacklight is
undergoing what is known as red shifting. The light
reflected is being drawn back into the black hole, and
only the ‘red spectrum’ is able to escape. This means
that the ship is very close to the event horizon.
Fortunately, the means exist for the ship to be retrieved
from its entrapment, but the heroes must first voluntarily
‘go after’ the ship, and risk ‘falling over the edge’. It is a
tough decision indeed. Realistically, the heroes could
just sit and watch her disappear with a good conscience
that they have completed their mission.
Scene IV is an epilogue, which has the players
arriving back at New Spes with (hopefully) the Blacklight
in tow.
GM’s Information Area
This area contains all of the added information needed
to run this adventure. In particular: the technical
information pertaining to this area of the galaxy. To
begin with, the following information is derived from an
outstanding presentation by the University of Illinois (Go
Illini!!)
Black holes are thought to form from stars or other
massive objects if and when they collapse from their
own gravity to form an object whose density is infinite: in
other words, a singularity. During most of a star's
lifetime, nuclear fusion in the core generates
electromagnetic radiation, including photons, the
particles of light. This radiation exerts an outward
pressure that exactly balances the inward pull of gravity
caused by the star's mass.
As the nuclear fuel is exhausted, the outward forces
of radiation diminish, allowing the gravitation to
compress the star inward. The contraction of the core
causes its temperature to rise and allows remaining
nuclear material to be used as fuel. The star is saved
from further collapse -- but only for a while.
Eventually, all possible nuclear fuel is used up and
the core collapses. How far it collapses, into what kind of
object, and at what rate, is determined by the star's final
mass and the remaining outward pressure that the
burnt-up nuclear residue (largely iron) can muster. If the
star is sufficiently massive or compressible, it may
collapse to a black hole. If it is less massive or made of
stiffer material, its fate is different: it may become a
white dwarf or a neutron star.
Black Holes
By definition a black hole is a region where matter
collapses to infinite density, and where, as a result, the
curvature of spacetime is extreme. Moreover, the intense
gravitational field of the black hole prevents any light or
other electromagnetic radiation from escaping. But
where lies the “point of no return” at which any matter or
energy is doomed to disappear from the visible
universe?
The Event Horizon
Applying the Einstein Field Equations to collapsing
stars, German astrophysicist Kurt Schwarzschild
deduced the critical radius for a given mass at which
matter would collapse into an infinitely dense state
known as a singularity. For a black hole whose mass
equals 10 suns, this radius is about 30 kilometers or 19
miles, which translates into a critical circumference of
189 kilometers or 118 miles. Beyond this point, not even
light escapes. So the event horizon acts as a kind of
“surface” or “skin” beyond which we can venture but
cannot see. Imagine what happens as you approach the
horizon, then cross the threshold.
The Singularity
At the center of a black hole lies the singularity, where
matter is crushed to infinite density, the pull of gravity is
infinitely strong, and space-time has infinite curvature.
Here it's no longer meaningful to speak of space and
time, much less space-time. Jumbled up at the
singularity, space and time cease to exist, as we know
them.
The Limits of Physical Law
Newton and Einstein may have looked at the universe
very differently, but they would have agreed on one
thing: all physical laws are inherently bound up with a
coherent fabric of space and time.
At the singularity, though, the laws of physics,
including General Relativity, break down. Enter the
strange world of quantum gravity. In this bizarre realm
in which space and time are broken apart, cause and
effect cannot be unraveled. Even today, there is no
satisfactory theory for what happens at and beyond the
singularity.
Cosmic Censorship
It's no surprise that throughout his life Einstein rejected
the possibility of singularities. So disturbing were the
implications that, by the late 1960s, physicists
conjectured that the universe forbade “naked
singularities.” After all, if a singularity were “naked,” it
could alter the whole universe unpredictably. All
singularities within the universe must therefore be
“clothed.”
But inside what? The event horizon, of course!
Cosmic censorship is thus enforced. Not so, however, for
that ultimate cosmic singularity that gave rise to the Big
Bang.
Science versus Speculation
We can't see beyond the event horizon. At the singularity,
randomness reigns supreme. What, then, can we really
“know” about black holes? How can we probe their
secrets? The answer in part lies in understanding their
evolution right after they form.
Journey into a Black Hole
Imagine a trip into a black hole. This tantalizing thought
has excited much creative speculation.
There are two ways to consider the issue. One is to
“watch” someone or something -- say a small robot
spacecraft -- fall into the black hole. The odd thing is it
never seems to get there. The closer it approaches the
black hole's event horizon, the slower it seems to travel.
But for the crew inside, there would be no warning
of its impending doom.
 An accretion disk (A disk made up of matter swirling
around the outer edge of an event horizon. The matter is
being drawn in, but it thus forms a visible area around
the black hole) might warn of an event horizon beyond,
but the horizon itself would remain invisible. And for the
crew, time seems to flow normally.
Nevertheless, to you, the observer, the spacecraft
appears to halt, seemingly forever suspended at the
boundary of the black hole. The spacecraft begins to
turn orange, then red (this is known as red-shifting. The
light reflected to the observer loses energy because now
even the light is being drawn in), then fades
imperceptibly from view. Though it is gone, you never
saw where or how it disappeared.
Now brace yourself! Imagine that you are venturing
into the black hole yourself. As you travel toward it you
may notice nothing out of the ordinary, except an
inability to steer yourself in any but one direction --
which is toward the “invisible” hole. You would never
know when you had crossed the event horizon were it not
for the increased gravitational tugging that draws your
body longer and longer, squeezing in from the sides.
You wouldn't last long. Which is too bad, because
theorists believe that inside a black hole time and space
are scrambled up strangely, such that even time travel,
or travel to different universes via so-called “wormholes”
might become possible, if (and a big IF!) you could
survive the extreme gravity inside the hole.
Einstein's Theory of General Relativity predicts
that though the gravitational field around a massive
black hole is stronger on the large scale, it will exert
weaker tidal forces than its smaller counterpart, at least
outside the event horizon. These forces are what would
stretch and squeeze you into spaghetti. So, if you insist
on exploring the vicinity of a black hole and want to play
it safe, pick a big one!
What happens to a black hole after it forms?
Does it vibrate? Radiate? Lose mass? Grow?
Shrink?
Partial solutions of the Einstein equations point to two
possible outcomes:
• A non-rotating, spherically symmetric black hole,
first postulated by Schwarzschild.
• A rotating, spherical black hole, predicted in 1964
by the New Zealand mathematician Roy Kerr.
These two types of black holes have become known
as Schwarzschild and Kerr black holes, respectively.
Both types of black holes are “stationary” in that they do
not change in time, unless they are disturbed in some
way. As such, they are among the simplest objects
known in General Relativity. They can be completely
described in terms of just 2 numbers: their mass M and
their angular momentum J.
Theoretically, black holes may also possess electric
charge, Q, but it would quickly attract enough charge of
the opposite sign. The net result is that any “realistic” or
astrophysical black hole would tend to exhibit zero
charge. This simplicity of black holes is summed up in
the saying “black holes have no hair,” meaning that,
apart from its mass and momentum, there is no other
characteristic (or “hair”) that a black hole can exhibit.
Though we cannot “see” a black hole itself (since
not even light can escape the black hole's gravitational
field), we may see the black hole's effects on nearby
matter. For example, if gas from a nearby star were
sucked towards the black hole, the intense gravitation al
energy would heat the gas to millions of degrees. The
resulting X-ray emissions could point to the presence of
the black hole.
Or, if a massive black hole were surrounded by
large amounts of orbiting material — gas, dust, even
stars — their rapid motion close to the hole could be
observable via shifts in the energy of the radiation they
emit. Evidence along these lines is mounting, suggesting
that black holes may not be that rare in the universe.
If scientists could build gravitational wave detectors
of sufficient sensitivity, they should be able to measure
the vibrations in space-time generated by black holes as
they form from a collapsing star, when they ingest large
amounts of matter, or if they interact, even collide with a
second black hole or another massive object, such as a
neutron star. Certain patterns of gravitational waves
emitted would reveal the “smoking gun.”
So far, the wavelike disturbances in space-time
have eluded detection. In a relativistic universe, there
should be no shortage of places in which to hunt for
black holes. Much larger and more sensitive detectors
are now under construction. With luck, soon gravitation
scientists may be shouting “Eureka!”
Copyright © 1995, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois NCSA.
Game Specifics
This area shall attempt to present some logical results to From the GMG, page 63, the following effects are
the area surrounding the black hole, including effects on imposed for high gravity and radiation areas.
heroes, ship’s systems, and in particular, weapons
systems.

Range .1 AU .2 AU .4 AU .6 AU .8 AU 1.0 AU 1.2 AU

Gravity 7G 6G 5G 4G 3G 2G 1G
Radiation R5 R4 R4 R3 R2 R2 R2
Physical Mod +5 +5 +5 +3 1 - +1
Move Mod -100% -100% -100% -75% -25% - +50%
Fall Mod +5 Grades +4 Grades +4 Grades +3 Grades +1 Grade - -1 Grade
Exhaust Check 3/min 2/min 1/min 1/hr 1/day - -
Con Feat Mod +3 penalty +1 penalty +1 penalty - -1 bonus -1 bonus no check
Con Feat Freq. 1/min 1/hr 1/hr 1/day 1/week 1/week none

NOTE 1: If the players fail their CON check due to NOTE 2: PL7 Ships provide complete radiation
radiation, the following affects occur: protection, except that in the R4/R5 areas,
they receive an R2/R3 dosage respectively.
CON Check Effects Onset For each 25% of damage a ship takes, it is
Critical Failure Terminally Ill 10/20/30 Minutes recommended that the radiation levels
Failure Extremely Ill 1/3 hour absorbed be increased by a factor of 1.
Ordinary Ill 6 hours
Good Ill 12 hours
Amazing None --

Ship Combat
For determination of ship-to-ship combat, the following
optional rules are provided.
When the ships first engage, normal combat
ensues. No bonuses or penalties other than those
caused by individual characters will apply. The scene is
‘normal’. This holds true also for combat taking place
within the 2G area, or 1.0 AU - 1.2 AU area.
When a ship enters the 3G/R2 area, which is from
the .8 AU - .1.0 AU range, heroes begin to suffer
penalties to their skill check. A +1 step modifier is
added to all skill checks. Projectile weapons, such as
torpedoes and such, have an additional +2 (not step...
just a +2) added to the attempt to simulate the gravity
‘pulling’ the missile in.
When a ship enters the 4G/R3 area, which is from
the .6 AU - .8 AU range, the players receive a +1 step to
all skill checks. Projectile weapons receive a +3 added
to the attack roll. Additionally, there is a 10% chance
that the high radiation may affect the missile’s
guidance, sending it into the event horizon.
When a ship enters the 5G/R4 area, which is from
the .4 AU - .6 AU range, the players receive an additional
+1 step modifier to the attack roll. Additionally, missile
weapons receive an added +3 to the attack roll, and
there is a 15% chance of the radiation affecting the
missile’s guidance system.
When a ship enters the 6G/R4 area which is from
the .2 AU - .4 AU range, missile attacks receive a +4 to
the attack roll, along with the +2 step the player already
has and the 15% chance of radiation affecting the
missile’s guidance system.
When a ship enters the 7G/R5 area, which is from
the .1 AU - .2 AU range, players receive a final +3 step to
their attack roll, and projectile weapons receive an
added +5 to the attack roll. Additionally, there is a 20%
chance that the severe radiation from the black hole will
adversely affect the missile’s guidance system.
The above rules are all completely optional, and it
can be assumed that PL7 and greater systems are
unaffected by the black hole’s radiation. At a minimum,
however, some form of adverse affect due to gravity
should be used to make the player’s experience the
might and mystery of this space anomaly.
SCENE I
Players begin in the Algemron system, aboard the
SMSS Lyra, a Stealth-Class Drive Scout. They have all
been assigned to this ship, as part of the crew sent to
explore the mysterious signal, which has been
broadcast from Kendai station. The heroes are to report
to New Spes, a settlement on the planet of the same
name located in the Hammer’s Star system.
Their contact at new Spes is an agent of StarMech
who was dispatched recently from the SMSS Monitor,
which passed through these systems on a post-war fact-
finding mission. Discovering an alien race had
destroyed the original colony, StarMech means to keep
a close eye on this area. Placing informants and
information gathering specialists in New Spes seems the
perfect way to accomplish that task.
The trip to Hammer’s Star is but one starfall away
for the Lyra, so player’s have an opportune time to
discuss plans upon arrival, gather information about the
SMSS Blacklight, etc.
Arrival at Hammer’s Star can be uneventful, but for
those GM’s who desire immediate action in their games,
a brush with Darius Prime and his crew aboard the
Protégé is outlined here.
The pirate and his group have received inside
information about the arrival of the StarMech
investigative team, but as to where and when the group
would arrive, the pirates do not know. So, the encounter
should be a fairly typical meeting, with the conditions
being of the ‘Normal’ variety (DMG p157). The hero’s
vessel, the Lyra, has an IR Detector with dedicated
computer. This gives the sensor operator a -2 step to his
skill check. The sensors sweep automatically, so a check
should be made regardless if player’s state that they are
actually doing so (although in this case, the -2 step is
NOT added, as the system will be acting alone). The
proximity alarm will alert the heroes of the Protégé’s
presence if the check succeeds. The Protégé and her
Mass Detector should make a similar check. The sensor
operator of the Protégé receives a -3 step to his skill
check, as he WILL be actively searching with a
dedicated computer of Good quality.
The Protégé will not want to remain engaged in
combat for long, if possible. Darius Prime is intelligent
and cunning. If he cannot gain a decisive victory with in
a couple of rounds, he will abort the attempt and run.
On New Spes, the heroes find the colony a hub of
activity. Robotic construction machines are tearing down
old structures, and new ones are nearly completed.
There is a population of almost 1000 here at New Spes,
the majority of which are engineering, tech op and
mining types. The central colony itself has several new
structures, one of which is called ‘The Spessian Mine’,
an entertainment facility. Here the heroes can relax to
some good food, drink, and music. The local races are
mostly human, though there are the occasional Fraal
and Weren, with a rare Mechalus seen maintaining the
robotics. The Weren, in particular, make for a good
peacekeeping force.
The heroes meet their StarMech contact here. Kylie
Arten, a young female Agricultural specialist is assigned
here to help New Spes re-establish their terraforming
sites. Without them, the colony has little chance of
supporting itself. She is a loyal StarMech employee, and
will help the heroes as much as she can in the way of
information about the system, mission, etc.
Kylie can provide the heroes with any of the
information in the background brief that the GM chooses
to disclose. In particular, she directs them to ‘The Pit’.
She emphasizes the seriousness of the mission, as the
drive and engine modifications to the Blacklight could
be a source of industrial power for those who got their
hands on it. StarMech, to say the least, is eager to have
its return, or at the very least its destruction. She also
knows that ‘others’ want the ship also, though just whom
she does not know. She has heard of the Protégé, and if
the players relate the encounter with the pirates, she will
inform them that Darius Prime is most likely behind the
assault. However, she cannot confirm whether or not he
is seeking the Blacklight. Darius is a pirate, and all
ships are open game as far as she knows.
Leaving Kylie Arten, the player’s must decide what
to do next. Most likely, they will be eager to head to the
site of the Blacklight’s last known location-The Pit. Upon
leaving The Spessian Mine, however, the entire place is
rocked by an explosion. Metal and glass fly everywhere,
and players are sent sprawling for 2d4s damage. This
encounter is not meant to hurt, only to let the heroes
know that something is wrong. Kylie is assumed killed in
the blast.
VoidCorp is behind the explosion. Nearby, a
persistent group of heroes will discover that a mining
company has had a recent break in. All that was stolen
was some explosive charges. Quite trivial, the company
feels, considering the amount of mineral wealth that was
available. Further investigations reveal that a worker for
the mines, Trip Tudorman, was recently ‘laid-off’ due to
excessive problems with drink and gambling. He had
also been seen with some of the more seedy types of the
system, including known accomplices of Darius Prime.
The company is very closed-mouth about employees,
past or present. Nothing short of stealing the information
from a computer system will give the heroes any
answers.
Players will have better luck by using local
authorities for information on the employee. Diplomacy
and outright hacking a mainframe are two options
available, though getting caught stealing the
information is almost guaranteed to bring a 15 year term
on a penal asteroid. Although local investigators frown
on anyone interfering in their case, if the heroes can
convince them that the more help they have the sooner
the case is solved, the investigators will give them the
name of an establishment known for its less-than-prolific
clientele. The man can be easily located in one of the
seedier dives on the edges of New Spes, a place called
‘Primes Tyme’.
Interrogation of Trip will reveal that he knows only
that some friends of his paid him a lot of cash to look the
other way while at the storage facility. He also knows
SCENE II: The Pit
Its very name should give the players an indication that
something bad can happen if they are not careful. The
Pit itself is called that for one reason. It is a literal rift in
space, a black hole to the layman. Unlike many black
holes, this particular item, labeled NGC1533, is what is
known as a ‘rotating’ or Kerr black hole. Most are found
to be stationary. That is what drew StarMech scientists to
the area in the first place. Modern mathematics showed
that a rotating black hole would allow an object to reach
the very core of the black hole intact. Theoretically, of
course.
Before the scene is described, it is first necessary to
educate the GM on black holes themselves. It is
recommended that the section entitled GM’s Information
be reviewed for clarity of this area.
The ship’s systems will allow the SMSS Lyra to
safely enter realspace. She will not wind up in an
asteroid or some other dangerous spot. However, once
the ship’s sensors have made their initial sweep, the
heroes will discover just what kinds of problems are
facing them.
The area the ship exits is considered Crowded. This
takes into account that a lot of stellar matter is being
drawn into the black hole ahead. Periodically, around
every 20 minutes, navigators must make a successful
check in order to avoid a passing chunk of matter. These
checks are made at a -1, normally, assuming the
navigator is actively searching for navigation hazards. If
not, the computer will automatically sweep the area, but
at a +1 vice a -1.
The Pit is an incredible sight to behold. A compact
piece of matter of 15 solar masses, it has an event
horizon of 100 km, and an accretion disk out to 1 AU.
When the heroes arrive, they immediately feel the
effects, as the ship rocks and yaws in an attempt to
adjust. The gravitational affects are 1.5 G at this point,
just outside the accretion disk at 1.2 AU. The accretion
disk looks like a giant, slowly swirling pool, whitish-blue
at the edges, slowly fading through greens, yellows,
that his friends had a meeting with some ‘suits’ who are
believed to work for VoidCorp. The GM is encouraged to
flesh this area of the adventure out as much as desired.
Turning Trip Tudorman in to authorities earns them
a reward from the locals. Free embarkation of their ship
here at New Spes for a month. It also gives the players
inside help with local police during future adventures.
oranges and red as it moves in toward the pitch
blackness beyond the event horizon.
Darius Prime and his crew of the Protégé are here
waiting for the heroes, and another combat will result.
This time, Darius will not run, unless he is completely
unable to win. This means that he looses his stardrive
system or falls below 50% of his ship’s durability. If he is
able to, he will use his tractor beam to push the Lyra into
the accretion disk, so as to make them think about that
threat as well as the threat from him.
For the purposes of the combat, all navigation and
encounters are in the “Crowded” condition. Checks must
still be made for passing debris once every three combat
rounds. After two combat rounds, the ships move into the
accretion disk and the gravity moves to 2.0 G. For every
2 rounds of ship-to-ship combat thereafter, it is assumed
that the ships have moved .2 AU closer (unless they have
actively taken precautions against doing so). At each
stage, the gravitational forces go up a factor of one. The
GM’s Information area details what the level of gravity is
for each location within the accretion disk, as well as
any effects imposed on the heroes and the ships
systems. Currently, the SMSS Blacklight is at the .4 AU
area, so even if the SMSS Lyra wins, the heroes face a
monumental task in saving her.
As said earlier, the heroes can just wait and watch
the Blacklight fall over the edge of the horizon, and feel
secure in the knowledge that they have completed their
task- until, that is, a radio communication breaks the
silence.
“This is the SMSS Blacklight. Captain E. L. Hedrig
commanding. If anyone can receive this message, let it
be known that we fought to the last. Without the ability to
recharge our stardrive systems there is no escaping the
gravitational pull of the star. Pray for our souls. E.L.
Hedrig out.”
Nothing the players can do will raise the SMSS
Blacklight back on the channel. They have apparently
turned the radio off. If the players are to save the ship,
they must board her.
SCENE III
Having successfully navigated the hazards of the local
area, engaged and defeated the pirate Darius Prime
and his warbird the Protégé, the last thing that the
heroes may want to do is take an even greater risk.
However, at the end of Scene II a radio message from
the SMSS Blacklight was received, stating that they had
given up hope of being rescued. This leaves the heroes
with a moral dilemma. Do they dare risk themselves as
well as the Blacklight in what seems like a no-win
situation? Or do they allow the SMSS Blacklight to pass
over the Event Horizon and into history, as it should have
done years ago. If the heroes return empty handed,
proceed to Scene IV: Alternate Ending. Otherwise, the
climactic struggle occurs here in Scene III.
The SMSS Blacklight never entered the event
horizon of NGC1533. She went with her scheduled
experiment, and entered drivespace at roughly the 2.5
AU point. Here the gravitational effects were ideal for the
test, and the ship (though stressed) was in no real
danger of becoming lost. Unfortunately for the crew, the
best-laid plans never seem to materialize as expected.
The SMSS Blacklight powered up her sensor array
and stardrive system and began to enter drivespace. As
she did, a random act, which can quite literally be
called a ‘one-in-a-million’ shot, occurred, and a large
chuck of space debris came crashing in with them. Too
late to reverse the process, she had to first completely
submerge into drivespace before she could attempt re-
emergence.
The space matter significantly threw the fine sensor
readings all out of alignment, as it struck the ship and
then the net of sensors laced all around her. The result
was a random configuration of readings that caused a
warping of the bubble in which the SMSS Blacklight sat.
The space twisted, elongated, and battered the vessel
for what seemed like an eternity before the navigator
and helm could regain control. Exiting drivespace, the
Blacklight found herself 180 degrees on the other side of
the Blackhole. A single, 5 LY starfall, and only 8 AU
traveled? The scientists could not believe what they were
reading on the computer’s analysis: The Blacklight had
been ‘bent’ around the outer edge of the Blackhole, only
to appear on the other side.
A quick check revealed that the ship’s stardrive had
been completely shorted out by the sensory overload as
the matter crashed into her and her sensory net. Worse
still, the mass reactor was disabled, leaving her with but
bare emergency power for marginal sensors and
computer core. What the member’s of the Blacklight do
NOT know, is that during their ‘transition’ from one spot
to the other, they passed so near to the event horizon, as
to become nearly stationary in the space-time field.
Realspace-time was flowing normally all about, but the
SMSS Blacklight was caught in a severe curvature of
space. Time, in essence, stood still. Thus, when she
exited drivespace, she exited 160 years later- unknown
to her and her crew, of course. Realizing their danger,
Captain Hedrig had messages sent to StarMech asking
for help. Slowly, they have been getting closer and
closer to the event horizon of the Pit.
As one can well imagine, insanity, panic and terror
are running amok on the vessel. The crew has literally
snapped, blaming the Captain for their predicament. All
but four crew members, Captain Hedrig, his engineer
Cyrus Calm, Executive Officer Daniel Ortmann, and a
space-medic Alysha DeNoire, have ravaged the ship,
many of her systems, and each other. Together, the four
remaining survivors have barricaded themselves in
Forward Engineering, where they have re-routed
computer control, life support, and can access the
stardrive systems in the adjoining auxiliary space. Time
and weapons grow short, however. In 3 hours, the ship
will cross the horizon. In 2, the captain and party will run
out of ammunition and be subject to the whims of the
remaining six crewmembers.
Should the heroes attempt to board the Blacklight,
they will be forced to endure a 4.0G system for the
duration of their visit. After 1 hour, they will have slipped
into the 5.0G limit. The situation should be as dire as
can be.
The interior of the ship is a flood of red emergency
lighting, with the occasional arcing and sparking of
loose electrical connections, torn conduit, smashed
panels, and all forms of graffiti line the ships interior. Of
the original crew of 18, 10 remain, and four are still
coherent enough to listen to reason- the Captain and his
three supporters holed up in Forward engineering.
Bodies, or parts of them, can be found lying
about, victims of gunplay or worse. The six
crewmembers loose are unaware of the heroes’ arrival,
as they are busy trying to get into the Engineering
space. The gunplay and shouts will alert the heroes as
to the location of the action. Once the crew discovers the
heroes, they forget Captain Hedrig and attempt to board
the SMSS Lyra to escape.
Once the situation is resolved with the crew, the real
trouble begins. The heroes have a choice: save the
Blacklight or her crew at least. Captain Hedrig refuses to
leave the ship, feeling that it is his fault this all came to
pass. Given his resolve, much diplomatic discussion can
be wasted.
Fixing the ship is not an easy matter either. The Lyra
must scavenge parts from one of her mass reactors to
allow the reactor on the Blacklight to power up. Heroes
must make a check versus intelligence. Marginal=1
hour to get the required parts, Ordinary=45 minutes,
Good=30 minutes, Amazing=20 minutes. Regardless,
the time required to reinstall the necessary parts into the
Blacklight’s system is 15 minutes. If the Blacklight’s
engineer is still alive, he can add a -2 step to the heroes’
check, provided he can help.
Note: The Engineer is a very touchy man when it
comes to his systems. If he is helping the
heroes, he will insist upon being the lead repair
man, and will use his Engineering and Jury-rig
skills to their fullest. A problem will arise if the
Engineer and/or heroes fail a skill check for
repair. He is rather egotistical (and rightly so!)
about his knowledge of the ships systems. He is
not used to failure. A failed skill check sends
the man into a raging fit, where he kicks, hits,
and screams at the “blasted archaic garbage
heap” of a system. His rage lasts quite a while,
incurring the ‘Temper 3” flaw penalty described
in his stat sheet.
SCENE IV
Read the epilogue to the heroes:
The past (5/15/40) days have been one of almost
constant struggle, but it seems to coming to a close, as
the giant Hammer’s Star looms visible ahead. Around
the sun, orbiting slowly, like a tiny rock in a black void,
Spes spins silently on her axis.
Moving slowly through the outer asteroid belt, the
Lyra’s communication station lights up with a crackle, as
a commanding voice booms through. “This is Major
Alexei Dreyiv, StarMech Collective. We have you on our
sensors. Continue to a 400km orbit above the planet
Spes. Stand-by for boarding.”
The communications station goes silent, as the
ships creep along to the ordered spot above Spes.
There, a large, StarMech Escort meets you. Within
moments of docking, Major Dreyiv meets with you on the
bridge. A slight man, his pale blue eyes command
attention. It is obvious he is used to command.
“I have been sent to convey the StarMech
appreciation of your efforts. Your task shall not go
unnoticed, I will assure you; the first of which is a weeks
paid leave in the spot of your choice. Take your time
deciding, for we must search the Blacklight’s computer
systems for any useful data. Then... well, then” he
pauses cryptically, “if we need your services again, you
shall be available, won’t you. Until that time, you are to
Once the mass reactor is up online, in but a few
minutes the induction engine will be powered up, and
she can get underway; headed for the safety of the
Hammer’s Star system. As a note, the stardrive is in very
poor shape, requiring the cannibalization of many other
parts and systems to make it work. All skill checks for the
stardrive system are at a +1 step, and failure means
that she must hobble all 983 AU. This is a trip of 40 days,
and the heroes may want to ‘jump ahead’ and bring
back the needed parts for repair. This being the case, at
least 15 days will transpire jumping back and forth. If
the players decide not to, then 40 days is how long the
slow crawl back to Hammer’s Star will be. Of course, this
can always lead to further intrigue should Darius Prime
or his crew escaped, or, for interests sake, just how much
food do the heroes have anyway?
remain aboard the Lyra. The systems evaluation will
take a few days. At that time you can tell me of your
destinations.”
Turning to leave, the man leaves you wondering if
you have been applauded for your efforts, or forewarned
of things to come. No matter, a weeks paid leave; now
where shall we go, hmmm?
EPILOGUE
The StarMech, after finding very little they can use
aboard the Blacklight, decide that the ship is better
destroyed than attempting to bring her back intact. Her
hull is damaged, the support systems have been
cannibalized, and she is barely able to get underway.
The heroes are to pilot her to the nearby Hammer’s Star
for a one-way ticket to oblivion. This is an opportunity for
a GM to ad lib encounters, such as a Klick ship, a
VoidCorp hired hand, or a greedy pirate.
After its destruction, the StarMech is true to its word.
The players are given free leisure time at the system of
their choice. Of course, VoidCorp and the Concord will
want to know everything the heroes have to say, so
agents might try to contact them. But that is another
adventure...
Supporting Cast
Captain E. L. Hedrig Kylie Arten, PhD.
Male Military Officer Female Explorer
Level 4 Human Combat Spec Level 1 Human Free Agent (Agriculturist)
STR 11 [+2] dmg +1 INT 14 [+2] STR 9 INT 8
DEX 7 WIL 9 DEX 14 [+3] WIL 13 [+2]
CON 9 PER 9 CON 9 PER 7
Durability: 10/9/5/5 Action Check: 14+/14/7/3 Durability: 9/9/5/6 Action Check: 12+/12/6/3
Move: sprint 18, run 12, walk 4 #Actions: 2 Move: sprint 22, run 14, walk 4 # Actions: 2
Reaction Score: Ordinary/2 Last Resorts: 2 Reaction Score: Ordinary/0 Last Resorts: 0

Attacks Attacks
Unarmed Attack 5/2/1 d4s/d4+1s/d4+2s LI/O Unarmed Attack 5/2/1 d4s/d4+1s/d4+2s LI/O
Laser pistol 13/6/3 d4+1w/d6+1w/d4m En/O 11mm charge pistol 14/7/3 d4+2w/d6+2w/d4m+1 Hi/O
Defenses Defenses
CF coat: d6 (LI), d6 (HI), d6-1 (En) CF short coat: (Li) d4-1 (Hi) d4-1 (En) d6-3
Ordinary Body Plating: d4 (LI), d4 (HI), d4-1 (En)
Skills
Skills Athletics [9]; Ranged Weapons-Modern [14]; Vehicle
Athletics [11]-Throw [12]; Armor Operation [11]-Combat Operation [14]-Space [15]; Movement [9]-Trailblazing
armor [13], Powered armor [13]; Heavy Weapons [11]- [10]; Stamina [9]; Survival [9]; Life Science [8]-Botany
Direct fire [12], Indirect fire [12]; Modern [7]-Rifle [8], [10]; Knowledge [8]-Agriculture [12]; Navigation [8];
SMG [8]; Vehicle Ops [7]; Stamina [9]-Survival [9]; Awareness [13]; Interaction [7]
Knowledge [14]; Tactics [14]-Infantry [15], Starship [16];
Interaction [13]; Leadership [13]-Command [16]; Perks
Awareness [9] Reflexes (+1 bonus on dexterity resistance, applied)
Vigor (mortal, fatigue) (1 bonus point on mortal and
Perks fatigue ratings, applied)
Heightened Dexterity (applied) Flaws
Heightened Will (applied) Obsessed #1 (+1 penalty on all actions when triggered)
Heightened Personality (applied) Powerful Enemy #1
Flaws
Obsessed #3 (+3 penalty on all actions when triggered) Gear
Old Injury #3 (3w prim, 1s secondary, when triggered) Orbital uplink, com. gear, professional Botany and
Agricultural Instrument kits, Agricultural/Botany
Achievements Computer Gauntlet, GPS receiver, binoculars, portable
Action Check Increase x1 (applied) cabin, e-beacon, first aid kit, jumpsuit, fatigues, goggles,
Mortal Rating Increase (applied) long coat, used (very) skycar.
Stun Rating Increase x1 (applied)
Tough as Nails (applied)
 Darius Prime Commander Daniel
Human Male Pilot (Mutant) Ortmann
Level 3 Male Tech Op Male Military Officer
STR 9 INT 15 [+3] Level 3 Human Diplomat [Combat Spec]
DEX 14 [+2] WIL 9 STR 10 INT 13 [+2]
CON 9 PER 8 DEX 9 WIL 13 [+2]
Durability: 12/9/4/5 Action Check: 15+/15/7/3 CON 9 PER 12
Move: sprint 22, run 14, walk 4 # Actions: 2 Durability: 9/9/5/5 Action Check: 14+/13/6/3
Reaction Score: Ordinary/2 Last Resorts: 2 Move: sprint 18, run 12, walk 4 # Actions: 2
Reaction Score: Ordinary/2 Last Resorts: 2
Attacks
Unarmed Attack 5/2/1 d4s/d4+1s/d4+2s LI/O Attacks
Laser pistol 13/6/3 d4+1w/d6+1w/d4m En/O Unarmed Attack 5/2/1 d4s/d4+1s/d4+2s LI/O
Defenses Quantum Rifle 9/4/2 d4+3w/d6+4w/d6 En/O
CF coat: d6 (LI), d6 (HI), d6-1 (En) Defenses
Ordinary Body Plating: d4 (LI), d4 (HI), d4-1 (En) Cerametal Armor 10/5/2 d6+1/d8+1/d6

Skills Skills
Athletics [9]; Modern [14]-Pistol [16]; Vehicle [14]-Air [16], Athletics [10]; Armor Op [10]-Powered [12]; Ranged
Land [16], Space [16]; Stamina [9]; Knowledge [15]- Weapons-Modern [9]-Pistol [10], Rifle [10]; Vehicle Ops
Computer ops [16]; Navigation [15]; Astrogation-system [9]; Stamina [9]-Resist Pain [11]; Knowledge [13]-First Aid
[16]; Awareness [9]; Interaction [8] [14]; Spaceship Ops [13]-Communications [14], Weapons
[14]; Tactics [13]-Infantry [15]; Administration [13]-
Ordinary Mutations Bureaucracy [14]; Awareness [13]; Interaction [12];
Improved Durability (3 pts to stun rating already added) Leadership [12]-Command [14]
Improved PER (1 point already added)
Improved STR (1 point already added) Perks
Concentration
Ordinary Drawbacks Zero-G Tolerance
Sound Sensitivity Flaws
Code of Honor
Perks
Heightened Dexterity (applied) Achievements
Heightened Intelligence (applied) Action Check Increase x1 (applied)
Zero-G Tolerance Increase Will #1 (applied)
 Cyrus Calm - Engineer Alysha DeNoire - Med Tech
Level 3 Human [Mutant] Tech Op - Male Level 2 Human Tech Op - Female
STR 8 INT 14 [+3] STR 8 INT 14 [+3]
DEX 14 [+2] WIL 9 DEX 14 [+2] WIL 9
CON 10 PER 8 CON 10 PER 8
Durability: 10/10/5/5 Action Check: 16+/15/7/3 Durability: 9/9/5/5 Action Check: 16+/15/7/3
(-4 total modifier) Move: sprint 22, run 14, walk 4 # Actions: 2
Move: sprint 22, run 14, walk 4 # Actions: 2 Reaction Score: Ordinary/2 Last Resorts: 0
Reaction Score: Ordinary/2 Last Resorts: 0
Attacks
Attacks Unarmed Attack 4/2/1 d4s/d4+1s/d4+2s LI/O
Unarmed Attack 4/2/1 d4s/d4+1s/d4+2s LI/O Pistol, Mass 16/8/4 d6w/d6+2w/d6m En/G
Pistol, Laser 7/3/1 d4+1w/d6+1w/d4 En/O SMG, Stutter 14/7/3 d6+2s/d8+2s/d8 LI/O
SMG, Laser 7/3/1 d6w/d6+2w/d4m En/O Defenses
Defenses CF Softsuit d6/d6/d6-1 O
CF Softsuit d6/d6/d6-1 O
Deflection Harness Skills
Athletics [8]; Ranged Weapons [14]-Pistol [16]; Vehicle
Skills Ops [14]; Movement [10]-Swim [11]; Stamina [10];
Athletics [8]; Vehicle Ops [14]; Stamina [10]; Knowledge Knowledge [14]-First Aid [17], T’sa Language [15];
[14]-Computer Ops [17], Deduce [17]; Security [14]; Medical Science [14]-Forensic Medicine [15], Medical
Spaceship Ops [14]-Engineering [17], Sensors [15]; Knowledge [15], Surgery [15], Treatment [17],
Technical Science [14]-Juryrig [17], Repair [17], Technical Xenomedicine T’sa [17]; Awareness [9]; Interaction [8]
Knowledge [17]; Awareness [10]-Perception [11];
Interaction [6]-Taunt [7]. Perks
Fortitude (-1 step on stamina/endurance check)
Perks Great Looks
Concentration Heightened Will (applied)
Photo Memory -1 to all awareness perception checks) Flaws
Flaws Bad Luck (19 or 20 is a critical failure)
Temper 3 (+3 penalty to all actions when triggered.
Gear
Ordinary Mutation Bio Watch- Good
Improved Reflexes (-1 on action check)
Good Mutation SMSS BLACKLIGHT
Enhanced Will (2 points added)
Mutineers
Achievements Level 1 Human Tech Ops
Action Check Bonus (applied) STR 9 INT 10
Concentration DEX 11 WIL 6
CON 8 PER 8
Durability: 8/8/4/4 Action Check: 10+/10/5/2
Move: sprint 18, run 12, walk 4 # Actions: 2
Reaction Score: Ordinary/2 Last Resorts: 0

Attacks
Unarmed Attack 5/2/1 d4s/d4+1s/d4+2s LI/O
Laser Pistol 11/5/2 d4+1w/d6+1w/d4m En/O
Pulse Baton 10/5/2 d8s/d4+2w/d6+2w

Skills
Athletics [10]; Ranged Weapons, Modern [11]-Pistol [12];
Vehicle Ops [11]; Stamina [8]; Knowledge [10]; System
Operation [10]; Spaceship Operations [10]; Technical
Science [10]; Awareness [6]; Interaction [8]

Note: The low Will is due to the situation on board the

SMSS Blacklight. The morale and fatigue have worn the
crew down considerably.
 SMSS LYRA
Stealth-class Drive Scout
Compartments: 5 Dur: 30
Maneuver Rating: -1 Acc: 3 Mpp
Cruising Speed: 2 AU/hour Berthing: 6
Armament: 1 Mass Cannon
Defenses: Deflection Inducer
Jammer
Light Neutronite armor:
d6 (LI), d6 (HI), d6-1 (En)
Computer: Good computer core, Navigation (G), Sensor
(G), Communication (G)
Engines: Induction Engine
Power: 2 Mass Reactors rated for 30 power factors
Drive: 10 light-years per starfall
Cost: $6,570,000
Roll Comp’t Systems (Dur/Pow) Dur
1-4 Command Mass Tranceiver (1/1) 12/12/6
Deflection Inducer (1/2)
Computer Core (G) (2/0)
Navigation Computer (G) (0/0)
Comm Computer (G) (0/0)
Sensor Computer (G) (0/0)
Lt Neutronite Armor (0/0)
Spectroanalyzer (1/1)
IR Dtector (0/0)
Jammer (0/1)
Crew quarters (1/0)
Reentry Capsule (0/0)
5-10 Auxiliary Mass Reactor (15) (6/0) 12/12/6
Auto Support Unit (0/1)
11-13 Fwd Engineering Induction Engine (6/6) 12/12/6
14-17 Weapons Mass cannon (2/3) 6/6/3
Turret (1/0)
17-20 Aft Engineering Stardrive (3/*) 18/18/9
Mass Reactor (15) (6/0)
Airlock (0/0)
As her later Javelin-class sister ship, this vessel serves a
single-minded purpose: get in and out with as much
accumulated information as possible quickly and
quietly. With her Light Neutronite armor, twin mass
reactors and incredible array of sensing equipment, the
Stealth was once the jewel of the fleet. Slower than the
newer ships, the Stealth class does not rely on her
ability to out run and out gun her enemies. Rather, she is
virtually impossible to get near enough to be threatened,
and her incredible array of powerful, dedicated
computers can sweep a system and then disappear
back into drivespace before anyone knows she was
there.
Should an enemy ship manage to get close enough
to the scout to actually pose a threat, she is by no means
defenseless. With a mass cannon mounted on a turret,
she has complete coverage forward, port and starboard,
and her Deflection Inducer provides added protection for
her already excellent armor.
As impressive as her sensor systems are, so too
does her Engineering System warrant respect. Twin
Mass Reactors rated at 30 power factors allow for the
possibility of losing one reactor and maintaining the
ability to power all systems. An 8 factor Induction
Engine, and a Stardrive system capable of an
outstanding 10 light year starfall allow this ship to
rapidly conduct surveys of even hard to reach, out of the
way systems.
Designed for a crew complement of 6, she includes
a captain, an engineer, a Tech Op who specialize in
computer system and sensor operation, and two general
space hands who usually are responsible for ship
navigation and communication.

Weapon Data
System Acc Range Type Damage
Mass cannon 0 5/10/15 Li (p) 6+2s/d6+1w/d6+3w
 The Protegé
Modified System-Class Light Freighter
Compartments: 6 Dur: 32 One thing that can be said about the pirates of the
Maneuver Rating: 0 Acc: 2 Verge- they play to win. Combining maximum output
Cruising Speed: 1.5 AU/hr Berthing: 12 with minimal required input, there’s is a rag-tag fleet of
Armament: Plasma Cannon on a Turret early model craft. Unfortunately for those who test the
Tractor Beam mettle of these space rogues, what is outside is not
Defenses: Light Cerametal Armor necessarily what one will find inside. Example: The
d6-1 (Li)/ d6-1 (Hi)/ d6-1 (En) Protegé, a System-class Light Freighter.
Computer: Good Core, Good Navigation, Good Defense Modified and maintained by Darius Prime and his
Engines: 6 factor Induction Engine with stabilizers crew of 10, the Protege is far from what her original
Power: 2 Mass Reactors rated at 10 power factors each designers intended. Originally meant for small jaunts
Drive: Stardrive system rated at 5 LY Starfall about the local solar system, her primary mission did not
Cost: $5,060,000 even include any real weapons systems. Completely
defensive and passive in nature, this ship was a pure
Roll Comp’t Systems (Dur/Pow) Dur merchant vessel.
1-3 Command Laser Transeiver (0/1) 10/10/5 Heavy modifications to her engines, the addition of
Mass Dectector (1/0) a drive system, and a ‘slight’ addition of some weaponry
Multiband Radar (0/0) however, have made this craft into a warbird capable of
Computer Core (G) (2/0) inflicting massive damage at blazing speed. Darius and
Navigation (G) (0/0)
his crew gain a decided advantage in the ‘surprise’
Defense (G) (0/0)
factor. Most find the beat up ship unassuming, until her
Light Cerametal Armor (0/0)
sensors, guns and tractor beam rapidly overwhelm the
2x Crew Quarters (2/0)
Reentry Capsule (0/0) opposition. A quick boarding and looting, the space-hulk
4-8 Fwd Engineering Mass Reactor (10) (4/0) 18/18/9 lumbers away. If any try pursuit, they are stunned to
Stabilizer (2/0) watch this ancient, hulking, tortoise-of-a-ship blast into
Star Drive (3/*) drivespace.
9-10 Auxiliary Mass Reactor (10) (4/0) 8/8/4 The cargo capability of the ship is much smaller
Autosupport Unit (0/1) than her original design allowed for, but Darius Prime
11-12 Cargo Cargo Space (48 m3) (2/0) 4/4/2 prefers to have a stardrive overload capability. Still, her
13-16 Weapons Plasma Cannon (3/3) 12/12/6 48 cubic meter hold is plenty big for the operations he
Turret (1/0) takes on. With the recent addition of two stabilizers
Tractor Beam (2/*)
(which Darius refuses to explain WHERE he acquired),
17-20 Aft Engineering Induction Engine (6/6) 12/12/6
the Protege’ has the added ability to make rapid
Airlock (0/0)
Auto Support Unit (0/1) direction changes easily and efficiently, making her
maneuverability comparable with newer ships.
Weapon Data
System Acc Range Type Damage
Plasma Can. 0 4/8/16 En (e) d6+2w/d8+2w/d6+1m
Tractor Beam -1 3/6/9 En (e)
.25Mpp/3 power factors channeled
 SMSS Blacklight
Scientific Research Platform
Compartments: 8 Dur: 48 In late 2344, scientists from across the Verge gathered
Maneuver Rating: +1 Acc: 1 Mpp around to choose who the lucky crew would be to begin
Cruising Speed: 1AU/hour Berthing: 15 the maiden voyage of the SMSS Blacklight. A research
Armament: Plasma Cannon (port/Starboard/Aft) vessel specifically designed to withstand high
4/8/16 En(e) d6+2w/d8+2w/d6+1m gravitational forces, she was outfitted with the latest
Matter Torpedo (forward) 2/5/10 En(e) computer sensing arrays, astrogation modules, and a
2d6s/2d6w/d6+3m) science lab with dedicated computer that would make
Defenses: Light Neutronite Armor the most elegant Terran facility green with envy.
d6 (LI) d6 (HI) d6-1 (En) Tasked with deep research about ‘The Pit’, a
Computer: Amazing computer core, Navigation (A), collapsed star nearby the Hammer’s Star system, she
Sensor (A), Communication (A), Science (A) was to conduct intensive investigations on the effects of
Engines: Induction Engine the star’s gravity on the stardrive systems. Some
Power: Mass Reactor rated at 20 power factors researchers had hoped that with the right modifications,
Drive: Stardrive capable of 5 LY starfall the Stardrive system could use the star’s massive space-
Cost: Classified warping capability to elongate the field around the ship,
and thus double, triple, or even quadruple the distance
Roll Comp’t Systems (Dur/Pow) Dur of a single fall.
1-3 Command Computer Core (A) (3/0) 6/6/3 The ship boasts the size of a light freighter, but most
Navigation (A) (0/0) of her spare space is occupied by the massive reactor,
5-6 Auxiliary Stardrive (3/*) 8/8/4 induction engine and dedicated research facility. If one
Auto Support Unit (0/1)
looks at the ship’s mass reactor and stardrive systems,
Recycler (1/1)
their sheer size would mark them for one much more
7-9 Fwd Eng Mass Reactor (20) (8/0) 16/16/8
powerful, but in fact this is not true. They have been
Auto Support Unit (0/1)
10-12 Weapons Plasma Cannon (Aft) (3/3)18/18/9 highly modified. The ship’s entire sensor array, including
Matter Torpedo (Forward) (5/4) the remote net when deployed, pours information into
Turret (port/starboard/aft) (1/0) the dedicated computer, which in turn feeds
13-15 Crew 3x Crew Quarters (3/0) 14/14/7 gravitational wave algorithms to the Stardrive system
Sick Bay (2/0) based on the sensor indications. A secondary signal is
Lab Section (2/0) then fed back to the mass reactor, which adjusts the
Airlock (0/0) power output to what is needed by the stardrive. In this
16 Electronics Sensor Computer (A) (0/0) 6/6/3 way, researchers had hoped to compensate the
Tech Science Computer (A) (0/0) gravisphere around the Blacklight to make it capable of
Comm Computer (A) (0/0)
safely crossing the event horizon, and perhaps even to
Remote Net (2/2)
the first Einstein Ring. Should they succeed, eventually
Mass Detector (1/0)
17-18 Aft Eng Auto Support Unit (0/1) 12/12/6 the gravisphere in which the ship sits could be reshaped
Induction Engine (6/6) however the scientists wanted, thus literally harnessing
19-20 Cargo 48 cubic meter Bay (2/0) 16/16/8 the power of a black hole. No one ever found out if the
3x Escape Pods (6/0) experiment worked, for shortly after the ship’s second
starfall, she disappeared.
The ship, while primarily a research vessel, has an
impressive array of weapons. After all, she was
supposed to be alone in her research, with no military
escort. With a plasma cannon on a turret, she has
coverage Port, Starboard, and Aft. Up forward, she has a
deadly Matter Torpedo, which can blast open any who
would try to impede her travels. Rounding out with light
armor, comfortable crew spaces, and a recycler unit to
help extend her missions, the Blacklight was the promise
of a new future in space flight.