Author: Sean Parsons

Zhian Prime

This is a lab that looks exactly how you expected it. Stainless steel walls and tables with lots of ongoing experiments everywhere evidenced by all the beakers, hot plates, magnetic stirs, microscopes, and sleek looking computer displays. An old Zhian woman in a lab coat turns to look at you upon entry and attempts a smile, but the warm intent is lost on you as you see all her large teeth. 

“Thank you for bringing the sample with you, it is most helpful. We Zhian are an overly proud people as we have been ahead of most of the other species when it comes to technology for centuries. However, that pride is honestly based on hubris. In a relatively short period of time the other sentient species have gained near parity with our level of technology. I would like to think though that our long history of classifying and studying diseases allows us to bring something unique to the table. While waiting for a sample to be delivered I found an ancient text about an obscure old religion that is only practiced by a few people. It makes mention of a disease with very similar attributes. With your sample to use for comparison, I have been digging through all of our old archives and various other places looking for leads. What I found most interesting was something cataloged on the Aether Processing Station. One of the relics they had sifted a while back found an ancient virus with a remarkably similar helix structure. It is likely what wiped out the people on that dead world. They were probably dead before the Great Rikishi Event even took place. It appears that the Great Rikishi Event that happened all those hundreds of years ago may have been what obliterated the disease back then. I will be sure to include all the data that I can.”

Something about her wording gives you pause, “Does that mean that there is data that you can not share?”

“I really wish your people understood our scent language. You completely missed all my subtext while I was speaking. Of course my government puts limitations on the dissemination of sensitive information. What I am really trying to communicate is that I am sending you all the data that I can share, and maybe a little bit more. Be careful how you handle that information as I really like my research position, my head being attached to my body, and the general welfare of my grandchildren. Hopefully that is plain enough.”

Remove a virus token from your hold, and replace it with the purple triple helix token. This represents the data collected from Zhian Prime. It may be taken to Merv’s Missiles or Arken’s Arsenal at any time. Gain 1 fame point when you deliver it to Merv’s Missiles or Arken’s Arsenal.

The cure

“So Doc, now that you’ve got all the data what’s next?”, you inquire.

“I know that I have been asking the solar system to refer to me as Dr. Arken, but that was to help the plebeian masses to trust me. You though, in many ways, are my coworkers and I prefer the informal use of my given name, Merv. The data you have provided has given the Drift System a shot at fighting off this virus. I have been working diligently on both a cure and a delivery method and that last bit of data you delivered finalizes what I need to do. You are going to need to shoot missiles at each of the planets.”

“What!”

“These missiles won’t have destructive warheads on them, they are going to contain the RNA based therapy that I’ve designed to fight this new virus. Because the virus uses just about any animal or insect as a host, we need to treat everything. These bio missiles I’ve developed will make it possible to spread the treatment across the upper atmosphere and then it will work its way down to the ground, where hopefully a majority of species will receive a sufficient dose of the RNA for their bodies to create the necessary antibodies and fight off the SARS-39.”

“Are there any health concerns in using this treatment?”

“Of course there are, but the alternative is potential mass extinction of all terrestrial life on the planet. Whatever the side effects end up being, they are an acceptable cost.”

“Now, for you to deliver these BIO-Missiles you will need some sort of missile armament on your ship already, and then each BIO-Missile you purchase will cost you1,000 credits, however each infected planet that you treat is offering 5,000 credits. The BIO-Missiles are single use missiles.”

When treating a planet, immediately remove all SARS-CoV-39 tokens from the planet, gain 5,000 credits and 1 fame point.

Ularos IX

“We Ilex have a desire for conquest dating back to when we first ventured into the black ocean back in our own solar system. With all of our collective adventures to various hostile planets, we’ve probably been exposed to and seen more diseases than you can imagine. Our government’s willingness to share data with the rest of the drift system is an incredible gift to all the sentient beings in this region.”

When the Ilex virologist pauses for a moment, you take the opportunity to interject, “Does that mean that you already have a cure for this disease?”

“Not yet, but me and my cohorts will figure it out eventually. Maybe one or two of the planets in this drift system would die first, but this virus has yet to take hold on our planet.”

You decide to lob a comment out there and see how he reacts. “Some people have accused the Ilex of designing this disease to wipe out some of the planets aiding in your desire for conquest.”

The Ilex makes either a scoffing noise or has a hairball, “Our great pack may be many things, but attacking with a virus has never been our style. Look at Tig. We declared our intentions, just many didn’t think we would actually try and carry through with it. No, I doubt my people would be the ones to attack with a disease, especially one that could eventually cause us harm.”

Remove a virus token from your hold, and replace it with the gold triple helix token. This represents the data collected from Ularos IX. It may be taken to Merv’s Missiles or Arken’s Arsenal at any time. Gain 1 fame point when you deliver it to Merv’s Missiles or Arken’s Arsenal.

Smuggler’s Den

An old man with many tattoos and an unscrupulous look upon his face looks you over. “Da, I know lots about man made biological weapons. I may or may not have implemented some before to help with specific contracts, but this spreads too easily and doesn’t kill quickly enough to be something I would make. If I make a virus I want it to act quickly and then for it to die quickly without a viable host. A virus like this is likely to eventually backfire and one day kill its own handlers.” 

The tattooed senior continues, “My grandparents were born on Loath over a century ago, back when it was still a forced labor camp. Their parents had committed crimes to land them on Loath, but my grandparents had never done anything wrong other than to be born. When they were old enough they were forced to work in the mines as well. My Grandpa always got a twinkle in his eye when he talked about the day that all the prisoners revolted and claimed Loath for themselves. It is good story and it is true story that my grandparents were amongst the first free people of those that actually claimed Loath as home.” 

“For the memory of my grandparents I will work hard to save a free Loath. Here are my notes on how I would try and engineer such a virus and the most likely ways to have it introduced in so many places simultaneously. Use this information and save my people.”

Remove a virus token from your hold, and replace it with the red triple helix token. This represents the data collected from Smuggler’s Den. It may be taken to Merv’s Missiles or Arken’s Arsenal at any time. Gain 1 fame point when you deliver it to Merv’s Missiles or Arken’s Arsenal.

Neo Damascus 

“On this giant ice ball of a planet I probably see more ‘new’ viruses than anyone else in the drift system.”, states a warmly dressed female scientist talking to you in an ice cave. This planet is coming out of a 10,000 year ice age and with all the melting we keep finding ancient fauna that is still harboring viable viruses. I’ve seen some crazy things before but this clearly engineered monstrosity is something completely different”

“What makes this so unique?”, you ask.

“I’ve never even imagined a virus with a triple strand of DNA.”

Remove a virus token from your hold, and replace it with the green triple helix token. This represents the data collected from Neo Damascus. It may be taken to Merv’s Missiles or Arken’s Arsenal at any time. Gain 1 fame point when you deliver it to Merv’s Missiles or Arken’s Arsenal.