Blue Moon Aurora

The Nestrid Imperium produces ships with highly advanced artificial intelligences in their mainframe computer systems that run most ship operations, allowing even large and complicated ships to be crewed by relatively few people. The AI programs, however, have a tendency to be temperamental and it falls to the captain to negotiate between the AI program and the needs of the ship. For instance, one AI program became obsessed with observing new stellar phenomenon and insisted on changes to the desired trade route in order to get closer to a different type of star. In this adventure, the AI program became enamored with the captain himself, to disastrous results. This adventure idea was inspired by the short story The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey.

Act I: Prelude
The PCs are taking some R&R at a backwater planet when they are approached by a good-looking, lanky middle-aged man with an air of desperation, who introduces himself as Halineir Talh. He tells them that he has a cargo opportunity for them: a contract to pick up a shipment of genetically-modified plants and deliver them to the Fantarus IV space station. It is a prime, well-paid contract that needs done immediately. If the PCs are interested, he explains that the plants are actually on the nearby world of Albitra. All the PCs have to do is to take him on board to Albitra and he will make the necessary arrangements. He is only asking for transport and a finder’s fee once the PCs are paid.

If asked for more information, Halineir shows them his Nestrid Imperium captain’s license. He explains that the contract was actually his, but his ship was recently stolen and he has no way of getting off world. The plants were supposed to be picked up 2 days ago, but he’s sure that if they can just get to Albitra, the PCs can fulfill the contract and he can try to get more information about what happened to his ship. If the PCs investigate, he does check out as the registered captain of a light freighter called the Astral Queen. If they investigate farther afield, they find out that he is connected locally in the disappearance of a waitress named Terala, who was last seen on his stolen ship.

Note: If the PCs are not interested, Halineir begs them to at least give him passage off-world to someplace with more traffic. He doesn’t want to go to a Nestrid Imperium consulate, because he is afraid of losing his license if he reports the loss of his ship, but he’s hoping that at least in a busier system he can find someone willing to help. If the PCs take him off-world to some other system, the journey (in Act II) may need to be adjusted to get the PCs to Albistra.

Act II: Journey
During the course of the journey to Albistra, more of Halineir’s story comes out. He arrived on the world they found him a little over a week ago, for a little vacation after some long and boring transport jobs. His first day on world, he picked up a girl named Terala at the Paradise Shores beach resort and after a long day of partying brought her back to the ship for the night. In the morning, his ship’s AI program (whom he calls Astra) suggested that he let the girl sleep in and surprise her with fresh fruit for breakfast. He headed out with just his clothes and a little cash, and as he was returning, he saw the ship taking off. He was left without significant money or equipment, and he lived on the beach for days, approaching any travelers he could for information or passage off-world. He tried to investigate Terala to determine whether she had established contacts to organized crime or shipjackers, but was unable to determine anything. Locals knew her well as a good-natured waitress and were very concerned about her disappearance. The only conclusion that Halineir has been able to draw is that his second-in-command, Jorst, has stolen the ship. Jorst is a taciturn and rather slow individual, so it doesn’t make much sense, but it seems like the only option. Halineir is beside himself with worry over both Terala and Astra, who has been his constant companion for over a decade and who he is quite fond of, though he admits that she does have a jealous streak.

Act III: Albistra
Once the PCs arrive at Albistra, they discover that the Astral Queen arrived in system several days ago and picked up the plants. They also learn that a young woman fled the ship during the loading of the cargo and is still hanging around the spaceport trying to get passage back to the world they just came from. If they search her out, she is indeed Terala, who says that she was taken hostage by Astra, who she describes a ‘crazy jealous computer’. Terala says that Astra rambled on about making sure that Halineir learned to appreciate her and tells them that Jorst argued with her repeatedly about going back for Halineir, but Astra refused to agree until more time had passed. At this Halineir gets quite shamefaced; he says that Astra tends to get very jealous when he shows attention to other women and he really was a fool for bringing Terala back to the ship. Halineir tells the PCs that he would compensate them handsomely if they can help him recover his ship, though of course he doesn’t have any funds on him now.

Act IV: Confrontation
At this point, if the PCs agree to help Halineir, they may decide to chase after the Astral Queen to the Fantarus IV space station (if they have a fast ship) or to communicate ahead to have someone else determine where the ship is going after it leaves the station. Either way, they will discover that when the Astral Queen reached the space station and began to unload the plant cargo, it was targeted by a group of actual shipjackers. Jorst was injured and captured trying to repel the attackers and Astra responded by shutting the ship down; the shipjackers have managed to secure her in a cargo bay but have been frustrated so far in their attempts to override her systems and start her up. The shipjackers have paid off station security, so it’s up to the PCs and Halineir to fight or sneak through their defenses and get to the Astral Queen. Once they reach the ship, only Halineir himself can convince Astra to open up and turn on ship systems; Astra is quite humbled now and eager to have Halineir return.

Act V: Conclusion
If the PCs have helped Halineir recover the Astral Queen, Halineir will see that they are well compensated, though the real reward may come from salvage of the shipjackers’ equipment and spoils. The PCs’ connection to Halineir would also serve as a good lead-in to the Nestrid Imperium and could be the springboard for more adventures.