[center][h1][color=black]BLACK[/color] [color=dimgray]VELVET[/color] [color=steelblue]SKY[/color][/h1]If we can see the horizon, we want to know what's beyond.
[color=gray][i]- Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin[/i][/color]
[/center][color=steelblue][h2]Introduction[/h2][/color][indent]In geosynchronous orbit above Seattle, Washington looms Boeing's massive Capital Ship Assembly Array (CSAA) where the NSS Eidolon, the first spacecraft with an axis exceeding one kilometer in length, nears completion. The massive ship marks a milestone for humanity's conquest of the stars, inspiring both triumph and fear. 54.6 million kilometers away, tense meetings are held on the partially terraformed Mars. Ever since a successful war for independence, the planet's inhabitants, colonists united as the Martian Free Republic, have nervously anticipated and prepared for retaliation by the de facto government of Earth, NATO. Even though the two organizations have formed a tenuous peace, military escalation on both sides continues.

And now, a new discovery threatens to plunge the Sol system into turmoil once again. NATO SIGINT organizations have intercepted covert interplanetary communications between the MFR and the independent Russian Federation. Partial decryption of these messages reveals heavy interest in a region of space previously thought to be of little importance. It is possible that whatever lies in this system offers a strategic advantage - one compelling enough to spur discussion of the possibility of an alliance. Investigation of these coordinates is now a top priority. That's where you come in.

As a top performer in your field, you are one of the best at what you do. Perhaps you work for a megacorporation, a nation state, or maybe you're a lone wolf freelancer. Regardless, you're needed for what could be one of the most delicate deep space exploration missions ever undertaken. NATO recruiters have contacted you directly to inquire about your interest in a classified operation involving revolutionary new technology just now becoming reality: the FTL drive. You are one of the few offered the chance to travel outside this solar system and explore the stars and planets in the galaxy beyond. Do you accept? Just sign on the dotted line, and we'll give you all the details...[/indent][color=steelblue][h2]Technology[/h2][/color][hider=FTL Travel]The FTL breakthrough occured at SNL/NM TA-IV (Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico, Technical Area IV) when researchers created the Casimir generator. This revelation provided the source of negative energy required for a functional Alcubierre drive. The drive manipulates spacetime around a vessel, contracting the space in front and explanding it behind. This allows for FTL travel without relativistic effects. However, extremely destructive tidal forces pose a threat to the surrounding environment. A spacecraft must be well clear of any adjacent mass before activation of the drive is permitted by the ship's software.[/hider]
[hider=Sub-light Travel]The primary method of spacecraft propulsion at speeds less than c is the magnetoplasmadynamic thruster, also called the MPD thruster. This method of propulsion uses electricity from a ship's onboard fusion reactor to ionize lithium. The plasma is then expelled from a nozzle, generating thrust. Speeds of a significant fraction of c are possible, however, NATO law requires the installation of a governor set to .25c (approx. 1.8 AU per hour) to avoid relativistic effects such as time dilation. Harmful inertia is canceled by a negative mass field generated by the ship's Alcubierre drive. If a ship is not FTL-enabled and therefore lacks an Alcubierre drive, significant periods of time will be required for safe acceleration.[/hider]
[hider=Artificial Intelligence]The Turing test is long defeated, however, AI research is at a standstill due to NATO restrictions. General AI is explicitly forbidden, especially those capable of machine learning. Instead, task-specific software (called autonomous agents) are common, with humanlike interfaces that can respond to complex commands and act autonomously within a rigid scope. This is especially important for spacecraft designers who require an intuitive interface to the vastly complex software that runs modern ships. Humans are simply incapable of performing the mathematics required for successful navigation of the abyss.[/hider]
[hider=Weaponry (Personal)]Turns out, there's still nothing much more effective than putting a hot slug through whatever you want dead. Examples:

[b]Low Tech[/b]: The aging M4 carbine remains the assault rifle of choice among those who cannot afford more sophisticated weapons. Various models of handgun abound, from decomissioned LEO Glocks to revolvers straight out of a cowboy 'flick. The ancient AK-74 can still be seen among the most destitute factions.

[b]Medium Tech:[/b] Reasonably well-equipped law enforcement agencies and paramilitary organizations favor Remington's ACR, or Adaptive Combat Rifle. Able to be reconfigured in the field for a multitude of roles ranging from MOUT/CQB to multi-kilometer sharpshooting, the ACR can probably get the job done. Handguns at this level are usually the latest models from Glock, Beretta, H&K, Colt, and many other manufacturers.

[b]High Tech:[/b] Now we get to NATO and megacorps. The rifle of choice at this level is the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Raijin. An electronic-firing rifle capable of discharging 5000 rounds per minute with little to no recoil and pinpoint accuracy, the mere sight of this weapon is a deterrent. Effective in almost any environment, the Raijin is the assault rifle of the space age.

[b]Experimental:[/b] Directed energy weapons are dismissed by many critics as impractical and expensive, but there's just something satisfying about turning your enemy into a charred pile of ash. The leader in this market is Applied Energetics. They sell, to a select group of customers, a prototype LIPC (laser-induced plasma channel) weapon. A laser ionizes the surrounding atmosphere, creating a plasma channel from the weapon to the target down which an extremely high voltage current is sent. The effect is instantly lethal against targets without appropriate shielding.[/hider]
[hider=Weaponry (Spacecraft)]The main mounted weapon of choice is the coilgun. Often gimballed and controlled by targeting computers, magnetic coils accelerate a projectile to high velocity. At large scales, such as the spinal weapon of the NSS Eidolon, these are called mass drivers and can deliver hydrogen-bomb levels of energy to a target every minute. Many spacecraft, especially those small enough to be disrupted by the recoil of a coilgun, use electronic-firing rotary cannons, such as the General Dynamics GAU-39/S "Liberator" 50mm.[/hider][color=steelblue][h2]The NSS Intrepid XDS-5[/h2][/color]
[center][img]https://s4.postimg.io/z05u9y75n/9ca48f756cea0a972473cf124e9b7058.jpg[/img]
[i]The NSS Intrepid lands at Edwards AFB.[/i][/center]
[indent][b]Type:[/b] Experimental Deep-Space Research Frigate

[b]History:[/b] Developed by a consortium of megacorps including industry titan Boeing, Lockheed Grumman, and Intel, the NSS Intrepid is the current pinnacle of spacecraft technology. As a member of its mission, you've been granted access to this classified specification.

[b]Hull:[/b] Boeing XDS-5 Carbon Nanotube Composite Hull (140 meter axis)

[b]Power Plant:[/b] Sandia Corporation deuterium/tritium fusion reactor

[b]Propulsion Systems:[/b]
[list]
[*] Sandia Corporation high-efficiency Alcubierre-class FTL drive
[*] Lockheed Grumman magnetoplasmadynamic thruster suite
[*] NASA JPL launch/backup fixed chemical thrusters
[/list]
[b]Weapons:[/b][list]
[*] 1x fixed General Dynamics CG-4 240mm coilgun
[*] 4x gimballed General Dynamics GAU-39/S "Liberator" 50mm electronic-fire rotary cannon
[*] Intel EWAR suite
[*] Lockheed Grumman point defense system
[/list]
[b]Support Systems:[/b][list]
[*] 3 ZFLOP Intel flight computer with autonomous agent interface
[*] Siemens AG integrated life support and medical bay
[*] Integrated sensor array
[/list]
[/indent][color=steelblue][h2]Roles[/h2][/color][indent]I will be playing the ship's AA (autonomous agent), the ship's medical doctor, and NPCs. The following roles are available for players, the listed players have expressed interest:[list]
[*] Captain *
[list]
[*] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3844024]@ClocktowerEchos[/url]
[*] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3844028]@The Spectre[/url]
[*] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3844057]@catchamber[/url]
[/list]
[*] Chief Officer
[list]
[*] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3844024]@ClocktowerEchos[/url]
[*] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3844028]@The Spectre[/url][/list]
[*] Senior Engineer *
[list]
[*] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3844024]@ClocktowerEchos[/url]
[/list]
[*] Security Personnel (1 to 3 players)
[list]
[*] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3843342]@Lexicon[/url]
[/list]
[*] Scientists (1 to 3 players)
[list]
[*] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3843093]@Rekaigan[/url]
[*] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3843235]@Leodiensian[/url]
[/list]
[/list]
* Minimum crew required for the ship to fly.

General interest: [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3843213]@Plank Sinatra[/url], [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3843314]@Kangaroo[/url], [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3843351]@Dragoknighte[/url]

If there is a role you would like that you do not see here, please feel free to suggest it. I'm aiming for 4-5 players. I will have my character sheet for the doctor up soon so you have an idea of what to expect on that front. As far as the game goes, hopefully you've gotten an idea of the tone from what's here. There will be mystery, exploration, politics, and living trapped in very tight quarters with other people for long periods of time. Please let me know if you're interested, and feel free to ask any questions. More setting information may be up here soon, and definitely will be up in the IC/OOC.[/indent][color=steelblue][h2]Rules[/h2][/color][indent]These are here so you can make sure this game will be a good fit for you before investing your valuable time.

[b]Interaction:[/b][list]
[*] We will treat each other like we are all in the same room sitting at a table trying to have fun. Anonyminity is not an excuse for assholery.
[*] We are all partners in creating a collaborative fiction with equally valid contributions. Everyone (including the GM) will make their best effort to respect the choices a character makes. In return, everyone (including the GM) will make their best effort to have their characters behave in a way consistent with their personality and environment. Please no god-modding or metagaming, unless your character is actually a god. Then go for it.
[*] Please try to keep as much interaction as possible in public. If scheming must be done in private, by all means, start a PM. But it works better if we can call stay up to speed on what's going on.
[/list]
[b]Posting:[/b][list]
[*] A post order will be enforced.
[*] On your turn, you will have one week (seven 24-hour days) to make a post.
[*] If there is something your character must absolutely respond to out of order, immediately make a post indicating you're going to interject, then edit it ASAP with actual content. Please have this content done within 12 hours to avoid slowing things down.[/list]
[b]Content:[/b][list][*] The following subjects should be avoided: anything prohibited by forum rules, obviously. Fair warning: I like to offer my players difficult ethical choices in the course of the game. At risk of being trite, if watching the evening news bothers you, this may not be the game for you. However, explicit violence, language, etc. should be the exception, not the rule. The majority of this game should be right around PG-13. If something bothers you, send me a PM - we can work it out one way or another.
[*] Reading text in long, semi-comprehensible, unpunctuated blocks makes me do irrational things like quitting roleplays and committing myself to a life of isolation and self-denial as a monk in a Benedictine abbey. Please have mercy, as I will read everything you post. Use punctuation, separate your text into paragraphs, and use spellcheck if you need it.
[*] I encourage romance. Fade anything unredeemably saccharine to black.[/list]
I think that pretty much covers it. Please ask if you need clarification about anything.[/indent][hr][b]DISCLAIMER:[/b] I'm not a physicist/astronomer/very smart person. I just write code. I'm aiming for hard SF here but there's bound to be some stuff that just doesn't make sense. Please don't hate me too much.