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UMS Carl Sagan

The UMS Carl Sagan is a Beta-class research vessel owned and operated by the University of Mare Serenitatis. It is the flagship of the university's research fleet — and a high-stakes bet on the institution's future (see the university's financial position for context).

The Sagan's current mission is a pre-colonization archaeological survey of Mars, led by Professor Alexandros Leonidas.

UMS Carl Sagan

Crew Roster (Quick Reference)

Crew: 14 of 16–20 capacity · PCs: 4 · NPCs: 10

Command & Bridge

Name Role Notes
Captain Pravitha Iyer Commanding Officer Lunar, former Fleet survey/patrol
Captain Splishy Splashy Primary Pilot Dolphin; rank is Fleet convention, no command authority
Azure Armstrong Co-Pilot Loonie, Prime telepath/empath — PC
Rin Jeong Security / Sensors Belter, empath, unregistered Talent — PC
Kyle Chen Communications Career Fleet, American Midwest / Chinese descent

Engineering

Name Role Notes
Kai Le Gerrac Chief Engineer Loonie Specter, latent kinetic — PC
Dr. Yuki Tanaka Fusion Systems Quiet, methodical; strong precog (hidden)
Marcus Webb Maintenance Former merchant marine, unflappable

Research

Name Role Notes
Prof. Alexandros Leonidas Principal Investigator Xenoarchaeologist, K6 kinetic
Victoria McKinley Medical / Linguistics Empath w/ psychometry, microkinetic — PC
Dr. Osei Mensah Materials Science Here to verify Leonidas's claims
Dr. Fatima Al-Rashid Geologist Mars surface specialist
Noor Hadid Colonization Assessment University rep; uses they/them

The Ship

Classification and Capabilities

The Carl Sagan is a medium-sized Beta-class vessel optimized for extended research missions. Unlike military Beta-class ships configured for combat or force projection, the Sagan prioritizes laboratory space, sensor arrays, and crew comfort for long-duration operations.

Key specifications:

  • Class: Beta (medium-range research variant)
  • Length: 150 meters (overall)
  • Operating range: Long-range capable; designed for inner-system operations without infrastructure support
  • Crew capacity: 16-20 (current mission: 14)
  • Rotating section: Single torus, 112m diameter (~350m circumference), providing Earth-standard gravity across four decks for crew quarters, medical bay, and primary laboratories
  • Cetacean facilities: Dedicated dolphin habitat tank, pilot-cabin integration, mobile tank for ship transit

Layout:

The Sagan follows standard Beta-class architecture: a central spine with the fusion drive at the rear, cargo and zero-gee operations modules along the spine, and a rotating torus section for crew habitation. The ship is configured for cetacean/human hybrid operation.

  • Spine (zero-gee): Bridge, cargo holds, sensor arrays, communications suite, engineering, dolphin habitat and pilot cabin
  • Torus (rotating): Crew quarters, galley, medical bay, primary research laboratories, mission planning room, recreation space

Dual-Helm Design:

The Sagan has two helm stations, neither designated as "primary" — control can be transferred between them as needed:

  • Forward cockpit: Located at the bow, with stations for both cetacean and human pilots. The dolphin pilot cabin integrates directly with this space. Offers direct visual observation during close maneuvering.
  • Bridge helm: Located on the bridge at the ship's center, configured for human operation only. The central placement provides maximum protection from external threats — standard practice for the bridge on vessels that may face hazards.

Lunar Network Integration

Like all vessels constructed in Lunar shipyards, the Carl Sagan includes standard integration with Luna's infrastructure network. In the Sagan's case, this takes the form of a dedicated communications and data storage module — the Lunar Network Integration System, Mark MYC00FT.

The module serves two official functions: it maintains a secure communication channel to Luna independent of the ship's primary communications suite, and it stores mission telemetry and records for Lunar governmental oversight. The University agreed to this arrangement as a condition of construction; Luna has legitimate interests in any mission with political implications for Mars colonization.

In practice, the module is unobtrusive — a small installation in the communications suite that most crew members don't think about. It doesn't monitor crew conversations or private communications; it records mission data (sensor readings, official logs, scientific findings) and provides a back-channel to Luna if needed.

Naming Tradition

UMS names its research vessels after famous scientists. The Carl Sagan was commissioned in 2374; she still has that not-quite-lived-in quality. The name honors the 20th-century astronomer and science communicator who advocated for both rigorous scientific skepticism and the search for extraterrestrial life — a fitting patron for a ship investigating claims of pre-human intelligence on Mars.

The Mission

Objectives

The Mars Archaeological Survey has dual objectives reflecting different institutional priorities:

Primary (Scientific): Investigate Professor Leonidas's claims of artificial elements in historical Mars rover samples. Conduct systematic archaeological survey of sites identified through Leonidas's research. Document and recover any artifacts of potential xenoarchaeological significance.

Secondary (Institutional): Assess potential colony sites for the anticipated Mars settlement. Evaluate water ice deposits, geothermal resources, and habitability factors. Produce reports that will inform the university's position in the coming Mars charter negotiations.

These objectives exist in tension. Time and resources devoted to archaeology cannot be spent on colonization assessment, and vice versa. The mission leadership must balance scientific discovery against institutional investment.

Political Context

Mars is the prize of the current era. UEF, Luna, and corporate interests are all jockeying for position in the anticipated colony charter. UMS is betting that early scientific presence — both archaeological discovery and colonization groundwork — will translate into educational authority and institutional prestige when the colony becomes reality.

Professor Leonidas's claims of pre-human artifacts add an unpredictable element. If he's wrong, the university has backed an embarrassing failure. If he's right, the implications are world-changing — and whoever controls access to alien artifacts will have enormous leverage.

Timeline

The mission is planned for approximately 3-4 months:

  • Transit to Mars: ~3.5 days (average orbital position)
  • Mars operations: 10-12 weeks
  • Phobos Station coordination: Ongoing throughout Mars operations
  • Return transit: ~3.5 days

Crew Details

For full NPC profiles, see the NPC Index. Player character sheets are in the Player Characters section.

Command and Bridge

Captain Pravitha Iyer — Ship's Captain. Lunar, former Fleet. Old friend of Leonidas. Runs a tight ship with dry humor and genuine care for her crew.

Captain Splishy Splashy — Primary Pilot. Dolphin; rank is Fleet convention. An explorer's soul who thinks in flow and current, and answers tension with puns.

Azure Armstrong — Co-Pilot (PC). Full telepath and empath (Loonie). Former Fleet copilot on the UEF Vigilant; saved Splishy's life during the boarding incident. Co-developer of the Goetic therapeutic technique with Silence Before Dawn.

Rin Jeong — Security Officer / Sensors (PC). Belter, empath. Mispahk survivor. Ship security and backup sensors.

Kyle Chen — Communications Officer. Career Fleet. Revealed as Fleet Intelligence in Session Two; now working with the crew rather than against them.

Engineering

Kai Le Gerrac — Chief Engineer (PC). Loonie Specter, third-generation hybrid descendant. Latent kinetic — manifested in Session Two.

Dr. Yuki Tanaka — Fusion Systems Specialist. Quiet, methodical, prefers machines to people. Revealed as a strong precog in Session Two.

Marcus Webb — Engineering Support. Former merchant marine, practical and unflappable.

Research

Professor Alexandros Leonidas — Mission Principal Investigator. Xenoarchaeologist, K6 kinetic. The driving force behind this mission and the reason it exists.

Victoria McKinley — Medical Staff / Linguistics (PC). Empath with psychometry. Trained microkinetic (medical applications). Carries heavy secrets from examining Tiamat remains.

Dr. Osei Mensah — Materials Science / Physics. Here to verify or debunk Leonidas's claims. Skeptical but fair-minded.

Dr. Fatima Al-Rashid — Geologist. Mars surface specialist. Friendly rivalry with Noor.

Noor Hadid — Colonization Assessment Specialist. Uses they/them. The university's strategic investment in Mars's future, personified.

Key NPCs

Full NPC profiles have been moved to individual character sheets. See the NPC Index for a complete reference.

Key crew dynamics aboard the Sagan:

  • Iyer and Leonidas argue like an old married couple and trust each other with their lives. She's an explorer; he's an academic. The friction is real and productive. See Iyer and Leonidas.
  • Splishy and Azure share a bond forged during the Vigilant boarding incident. Azure saved Splishy's life at enormous personal cost. See Splishy Splashy.
  • Kyle Chen confessed his Fleet Intelligence role to Azure in Session Two. They struck a deal: mutual training, mutual trust. See Kyle Chen.
  • Tanaka revealed herself as a strong precog to Azure in Session Two. What he witnessed during telepathic contact shook even him. She and Kai collaborate on engineering. See Dr. Yuki Tanaka.
  • Noor is the university's strategic investment, and Leonidas considers them an unwanted imposition. See Noor Hadid.