Campaign Timeline¶
This timeline tracks character backstory events and campaign milestones. For setting history, see Timeline.
Campaign start: early 2375.
Pre-Campaign Events¶
2371: Fleet Basic Training¶
Azure Armstrong, Victoria McKinley, and Kai Le Gerrac went through Fleet Basic Training together. This is where Kai and Azure deepened their friendship after meeting at a concert before enlisting.
2372: The Boarding Incident¶
The UEF Vigilant, a beta-class military vessel on a routine Luna-Ceres patrol, responded to what appeared to be a distress call. It was a trap — pirates boarded the ship, killing many of the crew in the breaching action. They cut off the cockpit from the rest of the vessel, intending to seize the ship. A fully-armed Fleet beta-class would be an incredible prize, worth taking to the outer system to harass corporate shipping lanes.
Azure Armstrong, serving as copilot, interposed himself between the boarders and Splishy-Splashy, who could not effectively defend himself. What happened next was Azure's Talent Explosion — the sudden stress of life-or-death combat triggering his latent Talent as a Prime. His telepathy let him read the first combatant's intentions, allowing him to prevail — but he had established a deep link with that pirate, and when the pirate died, Azure experienced the moment of death alongside him. He then amplified and projected that experience with overwhelming force, killing most of the remaining pirates.
Kai Le Gerrac, stationed in engineering, was the first to reach the cockpit afterward. Azure was found in a state that would become catatonic. He received a medical discharge (no penalty) and was transferred to Ceres Medical Center for rehabilitation.
2372-2373: Ceres Period¶
Multiple PCs were on Ceres during an overlapping window:
- Azure Armstrong: Rehabilitation after the boarding incident (arrived catatonic, gradually recovered)
- Kai Le Gerrac: Accompanied Azure; helped get him to Ceres
- Rin Jeong: Also in rehabilitation (Mispahk survivor)
- Victoria McKinley: Stationed on Ceres for medical work and teaching
During this period:
- Azure, Kai, and Rin met during rehabilitation
- Victoria and Rin became acquainted
- Victoria was called in by UEF to examine the Tiamat cylinder — she was selected because she had the right expertise and was already on site. She signed an NDA forbidding discussion "with anyone who does not already know about it"
2373: Travel to Luna¶
Victoria's Ceres posting ended. Rin Jeong had completed initial rehabilitation and was heading to Luna for coursework. They traveled on the same vessel and became close friends during the voyage. Victoria learned the real story of Mispahk.
2373-2375: Recovery and Development¶
Azure Armstrong: Traditional therapy failed to fully address his trauma — in part because no one initially recognized the Talent Burnout component. Splishy-Splashy put him in contact with Silence Before Dawn — an orca researcher at the University of Mare Serenitatis and an old friend of Splishy's. Working together at UMS's Center for Talent Research and Development, Azure and Silence developed the Goetic therapeutic technique. Their collaboration evolved from researcher/subject to mentor/student to something approaching equals. They co-authored a paper on the technique. Mycroft Holmes was present as more than just a computer system during the work — Azure had known Mike since childhood in Armstrong Warren.
Rin Jeong: Took coursework at University of Mare Serenitatis (security focus, sensors minor). Deepened her friendship with Kai Le Gerrac during this period.
Victoria McKinley: Served as guest lecturer at UMS during this period.
2374: UMS Carl Sagan Commissioned¶
The University of Mare Serenitatis commissions the Carl Sagan as the flagship of their research fleet.
2375: Mission Assignment¶
The crew is assembled for the Mars Archaeological Survey aboard the UMS Carl Sagan — a relatively new ship, barely a year old.
- Splishy-Splashy, having left Fleet to pilot for the University of Mare Serenitatis, was recruited by Professor Leonidas for the mission
- Splishy recommended Azure as copilot
- Kai Le Gerrac was promoted to Chief Engineer specifically for this mission
- Captain Iyer and Splishy-Splashy have worked together before
This is the first mission for this crew configuration.
2375: Pre-Launch (Session Zero)¶
Session One will begin with the Sagan departing Lunar orbit — the PCs' first day aboard.
- Professor Leonidas introduced the crew and briefed them on mission objectives (target: Jezero Crater)
- Kai learned of his promotion to Chief Engineer
- The four PCs went out to celebrate Kai's promotion
- Azure telepathically contacted Rin and Kai: "There's more going on here than we're being told, and it might come back to bite us if we're not careful." Rin suggested bringing Victoria into the conversation, given their friendship.
Campaign Events¶
Session One — Departure (Day 1 - 1.5)¶
The Carl Sagan departs Lunar orbit, bound for Mars. Transit time: approximately 3.5 days.
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Departure from Luna | Sagan begins 1g acceleration toward Mars |
| The lunch meeting | PCs gather and share secrets telepathically while maintaining verbal cover conversation |
| Rin reveals the Mispahk cylinder | The crew learns about the Tiamat artifact recovered from the Belt, with alien script |
| Rin reveals Leonidas's artifact | Leonidas has his own piece of evidence — not as definitive as Mispahk, but real |
| Victoria released from NDA | With the crew now aware of the Tiamat remains, Victoria shares her psychometric vision and dream journal |
| Kai flags the power conduit | Engineering instincts identify a materials weakness in the main power conduit |
| Rin finds the encryption system | An extra encryption system in the comms suite that shouldn't be there; suspicions toward Kyle Chen |
| The Book Club formed | A "book club" established as cover for regular telepathic strategy sessions |
| Azure evaluates Chen | Psychology assessment: career Fleet, open and curious, doesn't sit with his back to a door — and noticed Azure watching him |
| Tanaka and Kai collaborate | Dr. Tanaka independently identified the conduit weakness; she and Kai begin redesigning the system |
| Conduit failure at turnover | The power conduit fails during midpoint turnover; Kai and Tanaka's preparation means they're ready |
Session Two — Day One Post-Turnover (Days 1.5-3.5)¶
The Sagan is decelerating toward Phobos. The crew repairs damage from the conduit failure and secrets continue to surface.
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Intercom repaired | Chen installs backup system on the bridge; Kai discovers multiple systems designed for aesthetics over function (SPOFs) |
| Medical baselines | Victoria scans the crew; Azure is normal post-Talent use; Kyle evades, eventually reveals he has a gene mod (enhanced reflexes/strength) |
| Kai designs backup conduit | Five successes; build takes the rest of the trip, installation at Phobos |
| Kyle confesses to Azure | During a ship exterior inspection EVA, Kyle reveals he's Fleet Intelligence; Azure reveals the Book Club's true purpose |
| Kyle-Azure deal | Azure will help Kyle train lowering his telepathic shield; Kyle will help the Book Club improve their Double-Talk |
| Rin's boot | Azure tells Rin about Kyle; she sends Kyle a message: "Consider this a boot to your head" |
| Kai's kinesis manifests | Anger about the ship's construction causes lights to flicker; Azure tests him by throwing an object; Kai catches it kinetically |
| Victoria and Leonidas advise Kai | Victoria offers microkinetic training; Leonidas offers macro exercises and Rule One ("never reach into someone's body"); Kai decides to train on both |
| Tanaka revealed as precog | Dr. Tanaka gives Azure a verifiable prediction, then consents to telepathic contact; Azure witnesses a vision of two malevolent presences, a third neutral/waiting presence, and something enormous on the horizon |
| Arrival at Phobos | Sagan enters parking orbit around Phobos; crew plans to shuttle to the station at 0900 LST |