Homepage: http://www.xmission.com/~layne/Star.html 

System: Star Frontiers 

Type: Hook 

Category: Science Fiction 

Requirements: Small group of characters with starship skills

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For years, the mysterious Sathar have been slaughtering Frontier worlds from space. No one knows their motivation, or much of anything else about these evil worms. But that may change. You see, a Sathar individual has just made contact with us, expressing his desire to defect to the Frontier. Is this our first breakthrough...or a cleverly designed trap? Either way, we need your help!

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A Thin Sharp Line

Adventure Hook by Layne K. Saltern Based on a discussion from the STAR FRONTIERS List Server

The UPF has received a covert message from a Sathar who has expressed a desire to defect to the Federation. A small team is to take a solitary Assault Scout to an asteroid belt in an uninhabited star system just beyond the Frontier's edge. There they will meet up with the Sathar in a small Scout Ship and take him aboard. All lie detection and verification methods show that the Sathar seems to be sincere.

If the PCs work for the UPF, they are selected for the mission. If they do not work for the UPF, they are selected because the Sathar requested that non-UPF personnel be chosen for the job.

The Sathar is indeed sincere. There are a number of possible motives for his desire to defect. The Sathar nation has gone to great lengths to pool the general populace into a mentality of cohesion and hatred. But an individual mind might be stronger than that. Maybe this single Sathar being, probably having been sheltered in a privileged status, has slipped through the holes and decided that what his race is doing is wrong. Or on another note, perhaps he has committed some unpardonable crime and is fleeing for political asylum. The details are up to the game referee.

Unbeknownst to the defecting Sathar, Sathar intelligence is aware of his plan and is using it to set a trap. The primary goal of Sathar intelligence is to capture an Assault Scout undamaged, so that they can study it and reproduce it.

For this reason, Sathar intelligence has subjected the defectee to hypnotic suggestion, causing him to insist that an Assault Scout be sent. The reasoning the Sathar being will give for requesting that type of ship is that he is being picked up in a remote corner of space. The Assault Scout is the smallest UPF craft capable of interstellar jumps and capable of decently defending itself. A larger ship would attract too much attention.

By the time the defecting Sathar arrives in the asteroid field, a fleet of "sleeping" Sathar warships has already been strategically placed and hidden. (They are difficult but not impossible to detect.)

If the PCs fall for the trap, they find themselves ambushed on all sides. However, since the Sathar wish to capture the ship unharmed, they will only fire shots to disable the PCs' craft--and will only do that if absolutely necessary. It is up to the players' ingenuity to either outsmart or outrun their would-be captors. One point of leverage that the PCs might use is that the Sathar are mainly interested in acquiring an intact Assault Scout. The Sathar might get nervous if the PCs threaten to destroy their own ship. Ultimately, this is the players' chance to be creative, and the referee should honor that creativity by improvising accordingly with the rules.

If the PCs do manage to make it home with the defecting Sathar, the Sathar begins talking about this being the start of a new era of friendship between the two peoples--when suddenly he is shot and killed by a hot-head Star Law Ranger.

[[Thomas Verreault/jedion357]]

The new command crew begins to suspect something might be wrong but they are confronted with a myriad of repairs and minor emergencies. As they start to investigate numerous questions present which are tough to answer. Why is there a 45 meter hole in the hull? Why are a number of other people missing from their cryo beds? Why is one of the heavy lift shuttles missing? Why did the ship by pass a suitable planet that would sustain human life? Where did the mysterious sample of alien DNA in the med lab come from? Why is equipment suddenly breaking down now that we’ve decided to turn around and check out the planet? Did Hal just change the ship’s course on us? Just what did happen to Hal’s memory banks and is he trying to kill us now? 

Homepage: http://members.tripod.com/~dj2145/sf600.html 

System: Star Frontiers 

Type: Hook 

Category: Science Fiction 

Requirements: 5-8 mid level characters, at least 4 military specialists 

The PC's are individually recruited by the UPF for this assignment due to each members unique talents. Upon reporting to the company's branch office in the city of Teyarra, New Pale, Truans Star, they are assembled and briefed on events that have transpired. -Pan Gal lost contact with Tahll'a Cee'Dah over three years ago but due to the war could not mount a recovery. -Several investigative teams were sent and learned that the system was now ripe with Streel Corporation ships. -Fearing a hostile company takeover, Pan Gal appealed to the UPF govt but was turned down, again due to the strains of war. -A rescue team was sent two months ago, and was lost with all hands. -Now, armed with the latest in arms, armor, and equipment, the PC's must go and retake the facility. The team will be inserted via high speed shuttle craft, but upon arrival they will be met with stiff resistance. Their shuttle will actually be hit and a crash landing will occur, effectively stranding them on planet. From here, the PC's must fight their way through hostile indiginous life, find the mining camp, and retake the facility. All of this marred by ongoing sabotauge efforts by an uknown assailant. End result, the PC's will have to battle through mistrust of each other, fight overwhelming odds, and finally find another way to get home.

By Thomas Verreault/jedion357

System: Star Frontiers 

Type: Hook 

Category: Science Fiction 

Requirements: 4-6 players of mid-level experience 

Adventure hook for TSR's Star Frontiers! 

When the daughter of Motta Granx, Member to the Council of Worlds disappears, the party is called on to use their connections to the Frontier's underworld to track her down. A good deal of legwork turns up the fact that her daughter Heena has joined a secret enclave on another world. 

Infiltrating the The Brotherhood of Beings reveals that the seemingly benign cult has found an interesting way of financing its operations. Not only are they helping to produce and traffic the illegal drug Ixiol, they have unknowingly become a base for the evil worm-like Sathar inside the Frontier.

Visitors to the White Light system, most likely tourist, might not have considered the facts presented in Warriors of White List to be of any special interest. Others may have been keenly interested in them. Anyone motivated to look deeper into the agents of unrest may have found the following in their data searches on GalactipediaNET. 

SEARCH RESULTS Liberation Party, Clarion
The Liberation Party had as its major platform plank the abolition of the monarchy. For decades it had been part of the opposition parties on Clarion. In the aftermath of the assassination of King Leotus XIX it was discovered that the Liberation Party was little more than the political arm and mouth piece of the terrorist group the Liberation Front. A backlash of public sentiment ended the Liberation Party functionality as a viable political party. In the aftermath of the assassination many former Liberation Party members joined the small Liberal Party. 

SEARCH RESULTS Liberal Party, Clarion
The Liberal Party has grown in power and influence over the past few decades since the assassination of King Leotus XIX. In the aftermath of that event some of the key members of the Liberation Party brought their amassed funds and joined the Liberal Party. Overtime it became to new political home of the anti-monarchist. There are still some “classic liberals” in the party but they no longer represent the party’s leadership. In recent years the party has positioned itself as the champion of the poor and managed to stake out a pivotal role in Parliament. With the loss of the majority support in Parliament for the Queen’s close political ally and Prime Minister, Lord John Enoch, the Liberal Party became the key to maintaining the majority that kept him in charge of the government. In exchange they were given a seat in the cabinet. The Ministry of Defense is now controlled by Lady Hilda Slike. Analysts believe the coalition government formed by the Crown Loyalist, Conservative Association, and Liberal parties will not last because their political ideologies are diametrically apposed. For now the leader of the Liberal Party, Lord Jonnas Slike, often “releases members to vote their conscience”; which is political speak for go along with the Queen and Prime Minister on parliamentary votes while he publically opposes the Queen and Prime Minister. 

SEARCH RESULTS Lady Hilda Slike  
Lady Hilda Slike, Baroness of Oil Flatts and Minister of Defense. Began her political career as an aid for her cousin Lord Jonnas Slike when he as a prominent supporter of the Liberation Party. She was elevated to baroness after the destruction of the Liberation Party and has been an avowed liberal ever since. During the most recent fight in parliament to maintain Lord John Enoch as Prime Minister the Liberal Party lent support to the Prime Minister in exchange for a seat on his cabinet. As the cousin of Lord Jonnas Slike the new leader of the Liberal Party it was a forgone conclusion that she would get the cabinet seat. Her administration of the Ministry of Defense has been marked by controversy. Her liberal ideologies have led to resignations by key members of the Royal Guard and Royal Marines, including one Lord Commander. Ideological concerns led to a firestorm over the naming of the latest ship in the Royal Marine order of battle. As a stipulation for signing off on the purchase of the ship she required an unprecedented break with tradition. Normally all Royal Marine assault scouts are named for birds of prey but the latest ship was christened as a medical ship and named Nightingale in keeping with the Minister’s ideologies. 

SEARCH RESULTS Major political parties, Clarion 

The Crown Loyalist Party is largely made up of the aristocracy. Their core belief is that a strong monarchy guarantees their continued position in the political structure of the planet. This party is obviously a strong supporter of the monarchy. 

The Conservative Association has adherents in the House of Lords and the House of Commons. They typically abhor changes and measures that would lead to higher taxes. They have traditionally supported the Crown due to its policies of low income tax and strong defense. 

The Socialist Party is strongest in the House of Commons. It favors social reforms with its major belief being that the government must look after the citizens for their own good. Traditionally this party has been an opposition party. 

The Independent Party is a small but vocal force in both houses of Parliament with a long tradition of opposition to the Crown. 

New Beings Party often sells its votes to the highest bidder. Their major ideological concern is maintaining their power. They have many ideological sympathies with the Liberal and Socialist parties.

The Liberal Party has emerged as the spiritual home for the anti monarchist since the destruction of the Liberation Party. Though traditionally an opposition party it has joined the recent coalition government of Prime Minister Lord John Enoch.

SEARCH RESULTS Liberation Front 

The Liberation Front was the action arm of the Liberation Party and responsible for the assassination of King Leotus XIX. It continues to be active on Clarion but since the loss of its political mouthpiece the movement has floundered some. This has given rise to a radical element known as the Guards of Clarion. 

SEARCH RESULTS Guards of Clarion 

The Guards of Clarion are a radical and violent arm of the Liberation Front and supports the violent overthrow of the monarchy. It is known for its virulent hatred of the Royal Guards, Royal Marines and the Royal Mounted Constabulary. Typical tactics include bombing and assassination attempts by armed groups. They famously bombed the Raptor’s Roost night club in Port Royal, a known Royal Marine haunt.

SEARCH RESULTS  Royal Mounted Constabulary

The Royal Mounted Constabulary dates back to the founding of the monarchy. It has a served the role of a planet wide “federal” police force since its establishment. In the early days they kept the peace over large areas of Clarion that were sparsely populated and used live mounts to do so. As the planet has grown to be a heavily populated world the methods of the RMC have grown and evolved to meet changing needs including the introduction of the first robotic steeds in the Frontier. Today you will find some areas of Clarion are still patrolled by “Mounties” on live and robotic mounts. RMC is a modern police force every bit the equal to the Star Law Rangers. Its motto, “Fidelitas, Veneratis, Virtus” translates loyalty, honor, and valor.

Requirements: 3-6 PCs 

Koraffo stared at the Khad'dan buried deep in Ulkunk's amorphous corpse. He was the sole survivor now. Why hadn't he simply refused to follow the human female's orders? Why didn't matter any more. The Hir-Kal would be coming for him next. Then it could rest again. The Yazirian sighed then dropped his blaster belt and blaster to the deck. Lasers would be no use against such a phantom. According to legend nothing was. The hissing song of his Khad'dan being swiftly drawn from its sheathe echoed down the silent passageway. If an ancient evil wanted his life, it would have to pass through ancient steel to take it. 

The morning rays of an unnamed star glinted off the ablative hull of the privateer, Prodigal Sun as she lifted slowly into the air. In less than a quarter hour, Sun had cleared the thin atmosphere of the likewise nameless planetoid the team had spent two days exploring. Within an hour, the ship was already building up velocity for the first void-hop back home. 

In a second-hand acceleration couch, Koraffo absentmindedly fidgeted with his holster. His mouth cycled through tight-lipped, barely contained anger to purse-lipped contemplation, back to anger. Pop. Close. Pop. Close. Pop. "Will you cut that out," Marsha Teak said staring back at him from the pilot's seat. Her seething glare cut through any veneer of civility the two had managed to maintain to this point. "We are taking these artifacts back to base and that's that. No more discussion. You read me, ‘Raff?"   

"Loud and clear," The Yazirian's lips curled back to show sharp canines and he flared his nostrils in open contempt of Teak's decision to continue on in what Koraffo felt was nothing less than tempting the gods. Ulkunk, the Dralasite astrogator/engineer/every other free position on the ship, burbled for a moment. "Perhaps we should reconsider, Captain. After all, disturbing graves isn't standard even for Streel Corp." 

Teak looked at her second-in-command, a nonplussed expression pasted on her face. She pulled her three-barred rank insignia from her collar and held them out to the Dral. "Perhaps you should call, T'keec up here and make it a unanimous mutiny, Ulk." 

The blob blustered at the accusation. "No one said anything about mutiny, Captain. I was simply pointing out-- 

"Listen, Gentle-beings. For better or worse, I am the skipper on this little bag of bolts and what I say goes. The Executive VP has a thing for collections and he wants anything unusual we run across. I'd rate those ancient Yazzie grave-sites back there as unusual, wouldn't you?" 

 "Well, yes, but-- 

"Like I just told our simian muscle-boy here, it's not open to discussion. Not another gods-damned word about it. From anyone!" 

No one knows what happened to the crew of Prodigal Sun. When she was recovered, all four of the crew had been killed by various grizzly means. The human female captain had been strangled by some sort strap. The Vrusk male archaeologist was dissected into component anatomical sections, joint by joint. Several deep stab wounds were found in the Dralasite neuter's cadaver. 

Circumstantial evidence points to the crew's only Yazirian member, Koraffo except his remains massed less than four kilograms when recovered, though it all seems to be present based on proportional analysis. Piracy is one possible explanation, but why would pirates leave a perfectly functional ship floating derelict? Strangely the only thing missing from the ship's manifested cargo was a crate listed simply as artifacts. Perhaps no one will really ever know what happened aboard this ship. 

The Hir-Kal (Clan Shadow) is a venerable legend among the Yazirians. Protectors of their masters' graves, these spiritual beings supposedly wreak vengeance on any foolish enough to disturb a Yazirian warrior's tomb. According to myth, the Hir-Kal are creatures of living darkness, taking their very substance from the absence of light. From gnawtoki cats to Yazirian nightbirds, they are said to be capable of changing form, passing through walls like a Khad'dan through water. 

Accounts of Hir-Kal attack say that the only way to survive witnessing a Hir-Kal's fury is to not be the offending party. Other than simple innocence in the offending act, Yazirian folk history cites no known defenses against these shade creatures. 

Adventure Hook #1: The crew of Prodigal Sun discovered a hastily made grave for a Yazirian warrior and looted the ornate weapons and equipment that had been laid to rest with his remains. The PCs could stumble on a similar find complete with several nearly irresistible items of great value. Will they respect the dead and leave the tomb undisturbed or will they try to make off with the valuables? A Hir-Kal or events the PCs could ascribe to a Hir-Kal might just follow them should they disturb the slumbering warrior. 

Adventure Hook #2: The PCs are part of a starship crew that finds a jettisoned crate marked Streel Corp Cargo (control number:189AA8293:archaeological artifacts) floating out in the middle of nowhere. Shortly after the crate is brought aboard, strange things begin happening aboard ship. Accidents, system failures, maybe even a death. Has the Hir-Kal come aboard with the relics? 

Adventure Hook#3: A frantic and sleepless looking Ifshnit merchant offers to sell one of the PCs a pea-sized black crystal that he claims came from an ancient Yazirian Khad'dan. He offers to sell the gem for a fraction of its worth. Strange behavior for an Ifshnit especially one with a rare ebony emerald; is the stone stolen or does he have another reason for wanting to part with it?

by Chris Putnam

Message drones

Large system-spanning organizations

Using the communication lag

Lack of subspace radios in individual campaigns

The lack of subspace radios might not completely fit in with current campaigns in which the use of (or consequences of) subspace radios are in full force. The role of information courier (and their use as a source of adventures) could still exist and be important for high-level communications that must not be intercepted. Alternatively, subspace radios could fail throughout the Frontier (with the failure zone propagating through the Frontier at the speed of light). Causes for these failures might be a natural event, a scientific experiment gone awry, or tachyon jamming preluding a Frontier-wide attack. In any case, many different entities might enlist the characters to investigate the source of these failures. The consequence of a sudden failure of subspace radios, however, would likely be very disruptive, and many of the infrastructure changes detailed above would not preexist and would only be set up in the short term in an ad hoc manner.

Restricted access to subspace radios

With a Frontier with restricted access to subspace radios, characters could be recruited into investigating and/or infiltrating the organization behind the subspace radios in order to hunt down political ties, outside influences, or the schematics for the radios themselves. Characters might also be recruited by the organization controlling the radios in order to protect an installation or hunt down messages or radio schematics stolen from them. The central role of these organizations in the Frontier could easily embroil characters in adventures that interact with the political heavyweights of the Frontier.

Acknowledgments

Commander Louis V. Jameson - 22 years service Truane's Star military forces; combat veteran, Truane's Star Medal of Valor; commander two previous exploration missions. 

STR/STA 55/60 

DEX/RS 45/35 

INT/LOG 55/50 

PER/LDR 55/70 

PS +3 IM +4 

Ranged 23 Melee 28 

Description: Human, 1.9 meters tall, 88 kilograms weight, 43 years old Skills: Computer 4

[[Victor Gil de Rubio]] 

Aside from Star Law the UPF has created several government agencies to handle certain common problems which stem from governing such a large amount of territory. The success of these agencies has long been questioned, but they are the best that the UPF can create, limited by the amount of influence they can exert on the sovereign rights of each inhabited planet in the Frontier.

League of Ambassadors (LA)

The League of Ambassadors is a government agency created after the First Sathar War in an effort to use diplomacy whenever possible when dealing with races that are not members of the UPF. Lately though the League has had its mandate broadened to allow them to serve as go-betweens between member races in an effort to avoid escalating a conflict. The League of Ambassadors’ duties often involve any negotiation between planetary and interstellar societies and the UPF. They are also mandated to oversee any first-contact negotiations, which puts them at odds with the Frontier Office of Survey and Statistics.

The Colonial Affairs Committee (CAC)

This government agency handles matters pertaining to the colonization of planets. Any authorized colony in the Frontier has at least one small office where a representative from the CAC works. The Colonial Affairs Committee’s job is to insure that the regulations set out in the Frontier charter are observed in regards to any new colony. These rules generally amount to guidelines regarding the sovereignty of higher lifeforms encountered on planets. In the event of a first contact situation occurring, the CAC officer must notify the LA office closest to the colony world, and has the authority to establish first contact rules with the new species until a LA representative arrives. The CAC officer has the right to take over the management of a colony in the case of an emergency, or if the colonial government is found violating Frontier guidelines, but may only control the colony until he is relieved by a new colonial government agent, or a representative from a mega-corp if the colony is owned by a mega-corp.

Frontier Office of Survey and Statistics

The Frontier Office of Survey and Statistics is mandated to survey the worlds of the Frontier and to keep accurate records of all worlds in the Frontier. The Exploration Service (ES) is charged with exploring the known Frontier and what lies beyond the Frontier. The exploration division has the authority to certify worlds for colonization, and can make detailed observations about new species encountered and recommend how the LA should approach a first contact situation.

UPF Trade Commission

In response to the growing number of aggressive Mega-Corps, the UPF has created a government agency whose responsibilities is to set tariffs, duties, rules and regulations for all merchant ships in the Frontier, whether they are corporate or independent. All merchants must be licensed by the UPFTC in order to work in the Frontier. However, the UPFTC has no authority in the Rim, and many merchants who cannot pay the high tariffs have started to move to the Rim. At present UPFTC depends on Star Law to enforce its policies, and their constantly trying to convince the UPF that if they had their own enforcement arm, it would free up Star Law resources. At present, though, their requests have met with refusal. UPFTC operates many customs houses throughout the Frontier. Depending on the population of a star system this can either be a small office with 2-5 customs officers or can be large building employing hundreds and operating large warehouses and impound lots.

Frontier Trade Administration (FTA)

While the UPFTC oversees the operations of merchant ships throughout the Frontier, the FTA oversees corporate practices, and is a judicial branch of government authorized to fine or otherwise punishes corporations who do not follow fair trade standards. The FTA has only been in operation for two decades but its power has, on more than one occasion, been felt by mega-corps who have been caught participating in illegal activities such as selling junk bonds, or participating in “ice wars”.

UPF Postal Service

The Frontier is huge and getting messages from one planet to another is vital to maintaining the Federation. The UPFPS or just the PS as it is often called is in charge of interstellar communications. The PS maintains a fleet of courier type ships that make mail runs throughout the Frontier, but they often contract privately owned merchant ships, or purchase space on corporate owned star craft, to deliver correspondence, and packages throughout the known Frontier.

The Warmaster’s Guild

The Warmaster’s Guild was an independently operated guild which ran a registry for mercenary companies in the Frontier. Eventually, the guild received a license from the UPF and the Rim Coalition. The Warmaster’s guild is responsible for assuring that mercenary companies follow strict guidelines regarding the terms of war, the treatment of captives, and what weapons are outlawed by the UPF and Rim Coalition. To insure that licensed mercenary groups obey the regulations, the WG often assigns company overseers to travel along with mercenary companies to hotspots. These overseers often act as go-betweens and diplomats, but may defend themselves as needed. The WG also maintain a standing military force, in case a situation gets out of hand they have to be called in to resolve a matter.

By [[parriah (Jess Carver)]]

I compiled this from every source I could find. I considered all the Polyhedron and Dragon articles to be Core or canon. If anyone disagrees, I'm sorry, but it’s the criteria I used.

A * indicates a name I have made up. All other names are derived from a source. I will try to mention them all, but didn't do a great job recording those.

The Knight Hawks Campaign book gives a list of ships and types, but no names. The TOC board-game book has several. I started there.

In the Nov '84 Dragon issue there is a KH scenario called "The Day of the Juggernaut. The entirety of 

SF Nova is given, but it is a different composition of ship types and numbers. I went with the composition in the Campaign book.

In the Aug '84 Dragon issue there is a KH scenario called The Battle at Ebony Eyes. This one is a cool one set in a point of equal attraction between 2 black holes. The Admiral Clinton and some others are guarding a scientific expedition when in slither the Sathar in Heavy cruisers and destroyers.

The War Machine is another KH Scenario in Dragon as well as one other around Zebulon that was with the Yachts and Privateers articles.

BB Admiral Morgaine (given in Campaign book)

CL Dark Star

CL Intrepid (Raid on Theseus)

CL Honor

DD Thrasher

FF Flying Cloud (War Machine)

FF Vega *

FF Proton

AS Doboruas (War Machine)

AS Starpacer

AS K'Riss

AS Dauntless

ML Mainstay*

BB Admiral Clinton

CC Zamra

CC Grak

CL Courage

CL Glory

DD Chivalry

DD Faith

FF Shimer

FF Zz'Nakk

FF Z'Gatta (Never mind the Dolin Bay scenario)

FF Draidia

As Scimitar

AS Dagger

AS Raiper

AS Lancet

AS Razor

The KH Campaign Book has 6 fighters 1CV, 1BB, 2CL, 1DD 2FF and 3AS.

BB Admiral Harsevort

CC City of New Hope *

CL Courageous (Because of the composition of the TF in the KH book, I reassigned the Starpacer to TF Prenglar)

FF Electron

FF Z'YTTL

CVA Confluence *

ML Z'Rakt'Zoz

AS Avenger

AS Justifier

AS Morning Star