Gamma World 2e - Adventure GWAC1 - The Albuquerque Starport (comes with Referee's Screen).pdf - Adventures - holmes001

THE ALBUQUERQUE STARPORT

by Paul Reiche III

CREDITS

Designed and written by: Paul Reiche III

Development: Lawrence Schick

Editing: David Cook, Anne C. Gray, Allen Hammack, Roberta Reilly, Edward G. Sollers, Steve Winter

Cover Art: Keith Parkinson

Scanned & OCRed: Patrick Burke

GAMMA WORLD is a trademark owned by TSR, Inc.

ISBN 088038-30-6

Printed in U.S.A

On a crisp, clear New Mexico morning in the spring of the year 2261, the great city of

Albuquerque died. The sequence of events which caused the death of five million people began

with the malfunction and failure of a reaction control force-field in the world's largest

megafission reactor. A chain of coincidental failures, which according to all probabilities never

should have happened, did. One by one the safety system's back-up failsafe devices were

engaged, and one by one they fused, short-circuited, and failed. In one searing moment the

homes, businesses, theaters, parks, and inhabitants of Albuquerque, New Mexico, vanished in a

wave of blinding light and furious energy. All that remained was a seething pit of flaming,

molten earth 25 kilometers across.

Many miles away at the city's small starport, a few lucky travelers saw the thermal flash and

watched as the city rose into a boiIing cloud of glowing radioactive dust. When Albuquerque's

powerful broadcast power stations disintegrated, the starport was plunged into darkness. The few

remaining broadcast powered cars, bereft of energy, ground to a halt. Swiftly the back-up power

plant was engaged but, to the survivors' horror, the starport's ultra-radar revealed that the

radioactive cloud was moving quickly toward them. With desperate speed they evacuated the

starport and shut down the emergency power plant, leaving the station's robots and other devices

in powerless immobility. Days later, survivors returned to the starport for the stores of preserved

food and water left there during their panicked evacuation. They found that the radioactivity

remaining in the area was too great, and the starport was abandoned permanently. Eventually

Albuquerque was rebuilt dozens of miles away from its old, poisoned location, but as the

decades passed people forgot about the abandoned starport. Now, more than 200 years later, the

radioactivity is gone and only a barren desert remains. The ever-shifting sands cover the sta rport

in a thick shroud many meters deep. Only the top of the starport's tall radar tower remains above

the surface of the burning desert in the year 2471.

INTRODUCTION

This GAMMA WORLD mini module is suitable for beginning and intermediate characters. The

Albuquerque Starport has been designed to provide characters with a short exploratory

adventure, and a permanent base of operations for later adventures. This mini module is suitable

for three to eight characters, but six is best. If more or fewer characters will be playing, the GM

will have to alter the encounters to suit the strength of the party.

Althouyh the adventure is set in New Mexico, GMs may change the location to fit their own

campaigns.

HOW TO USE THIS MODULE: It is very important that the GM be familiar with all the

information presented in this module before attempting to run it for players. A thorough

knowledge of the GAMMA WORLD rules is required also. Careful preparation will add much to

the enjoyment of both the players and the GM.

BACKGROUND: This adventure begins in the burning sands of New Mexico nearly 500 years

in our future. The characters are searching the lands northeast of their home, Tempesta, for the

fabled land of Aksarben. They are tired, hungry, and very thirsty. Worse yet, the sun will set

shortly, bringing out the desert's many hungry, nocturnal predators on their nightly hunt.

Suddenly, one of the characters notices glints of light -the setting sun reflecting from something

in the distance. Eager to find shelter, food and drink, the characters make their way toward the

source of the reflections. After traveling a few kilometers, the party crests a tall dune and stands

facing a strange tower protruding nearly 30 meters out of the sand. It obviously is metallic and is

covered with clusters of unknown devices. Its shining surface is totally seamless, except for a

wide band of dark, smoke-colored glass or plastic near the top. On the far side of the tower is

what looks like a way in--a jagged two-meter wide hole in the glassy material. The side of the

tower looks easy to climb, and with night closing in offers much-needed shelter. The adventure

begins here, with the party scaling the side of the tower toward the dark opening.

POWER AND LIGHT WITHIN THE STAR PORT: Although there is no power in the

starport when the characters first enter it, the descriptions of most encounter areas are given with

the assumption that the power plant (see 11) has been activated. As a resuIt, The GM will have to

describe each area as it would look without power until the characters turn on the power plant.

For example, before the power plant is activated, the restaurant (2A) is filled with immobile

robot waiters, frozen at some stage of their normal motions. All viewing screens in the starport

remain dark until the power comes on.

The starport's main lights will not come on until the power plant is activated, but characters will

be able to see fairly well in the dark because of illumination from the manv everglow lightstrips

located throughout the starport.

THE STARPORT

1 . THE ULTRA-RADAR TOWER. As the characters climb through the gap in the wall they

will notice that this room is filled with all manner of advanced electronic gear. Chair consoles

and display screens line the outer wall. In the center of the ceiling is a large round screen.

Although all the equipment in the room appears undamaged, the screens are dark and none of the

electronic devices appear to be functioning. Hidden behind two large electronic cabinets are two

hissers (HD: 18d4; hp: 63, 57; AC: 3; MV: 6/30/12; AT: 1 bite (1d6 damage); MU : mass mind,

sonic blast, telepathy). One of the hissers is armed with a vibrodagger, the other with a stun

whip. Each device has enough energy left for 14 minutes of use. They will wait until the entire

party is in the room before attacking. On the far wall is an open elevator. Until the power plant is

activated, however, it will not move. On either side of the elevator are doorways opening onto

staircases. Both lead down 60 meters to the main concourse (see 2).

When the power plant is activated, all equipment in the room will light up and begin to function.

If the characters try to operate the various devices, they will discover that all the display screens

show the same message regardless of what they do. The message reads, "NO TARGETS IN

RANGE... NO TARGETS IN RANGE... NO TARGETS IN RANGE."

2. MAIN CONCOURSE. This huge chamber is the central building for the starport. The

concourse's walls and high domed ceiling are decorated with colorful Amerindian mosaics and

painted designs. Located evenly around the outside wall of the concourse are large windows, but

beyond them is nothing but packed sand. To the east and west of the centraI group of rooms are

two wide passages leading to the east and west terminals. To the south are escalators leading

down to the baggage claim area. In the center is a circular area divided into many rooms. Each of

these rooms is detailed below.

2A. THE RESTAURANT. This establishment once served many hungry travelers the finest

food in the solar system. The restaurant is totally automated . Three waiters and the maitre d' are

simple modified general robotoids (HD: 5; hp: 20 each; AC: 4; MV: 12; AT: none). All of the

tables are carefully set, but until the starport's power plant is activated, everything is covered

with a thick layer of dust. If characters peruse the restaurant's menu they will find many archaic

and unknown types of food; however, Mygnyl Chorts are available. The characters may eat here

as often as they wish, but each meal will cost 5-10 domars per person. The restaurant's cash

not pay for their meals, or otherwise cause trouble (including robbing the register), the maitre d'

will summon the security robot from 16.

2B. THE KITCHEN. This room is filled with all manner of cooking apparatus, including a

quark-powered cooker, a selenium stove, and a maxi-boron boiler. Large quantities of canned

and freeze-dried foods are stored in a small adjoining room. The restaurant's two cooks (also

general robotoids) will not bother anyone in the kitchen unless they are prevented from

performing their duties.

2C. LOUNGES. These two areas are virtually identical. Both have dozens of comfortable piastic

chairs, a display screen showing departure and arrival times(none are listed currently), and a

friendly information robot implanted in the wall. This helpful machine will gladly answer any

questions the characters ask about the starport (as it was before the accident), but it is

programmed for nothing else.

2D. GIFT SHOP. This shop contains hundreds of cheap knick-knacks such as imitation

turquoise jewelry, miniature plastic thunderbirds, small drinking glasses, inedible candy, and

piles of flaky dust which once might have been paper-back novels. Sitting behind the counter are

three cal then (HD: 6d8; hp: 21, 17, 15; AC: 9; MV: 0/300/6, 6/600/12 flying; AT: 1 bite (3d6

damage), 2 kicks (2d6 damage))which flew in through the opening in the tower and have been

investigating the starport. If outnumbered, the creatures will not attack unless discovered.

Although the cal then have no valuables, a cash register hidden in the counter will be discovered

if characters spend a few minutes searching for it. Inside the cash register are 750 domars.

2E. RESTROOMS. The east room is for males, the west room is for females. None of the

devices in the rooms are operable, but there is an undamaged 1m x 2m mirror in the east

restroom. It is made of polished crysteel, and is very sturdy.

3. BAGGAGE CLAIM AREA. This large room was used as a combination waiting room and

baggage claim area . Aside from the many chairs and benches, the only other structures in the

charnber are six half-meter high circular platforms. These disks were used as receivers for the

starport's mass transmitters. The luggage and other inanimate objects in each shuttle's hold were

transmitted here. The disks will not function even if the power is on. On the westernmost

platform are 1O suitcases. All are locked, but characters will have little trouble breaking them

open. Eight of the suitcases are filled with such useless things as ancient ragged clothing and

toiletries. In one suitcase, underneath the deteriorating rags, is an energy cloak modified to

operate on hydrogen eneryy cells with 1O hours of use remaining. Nothing of value has survived

in the last suitcase, but if it is forced open it will release a 3-meter-diameter cloud of Nervium-12

anti-theft gas. Anyone with in the cloud will be stunned for 20 minutes minus their constitution

score.

4. THE LOADING ZONE. The party passes through the outer glass doors into an underground

tunnel. The tunnel extends both left and right but about 30 meters out the roof has collapsed,

closing off the passage. In the open section of the tunnel are three passenger vehicles. They are

heavily corroded and will not function. The two cars parked at the curb are empty. Inside the

third car's glove compartment are 350 domars, a state of New Mexico vehicle registraton, a

flashlight (normal illuminaton but infinate life, a radium chronometer (will keep perfect time for

the next 400 years), and the car gun--a stun ray with seven charges remaining. The car's rear

trunk is slightly open. Inside the trunk is a mutated chuckwalla (HD: 12; hp: 43; AC: 5; MV: 18;

AT: bite for 3d6 points of damage plus intensity 7 poison; MU: reflection, heightened

intelligence, and symbiodc attachment. This iguana-sized intelligent reptile will wait until a

character approaches the back of the car before leaping out of the trunk and attacking with

symbiotic attachment After this first attack, the chuckwalla will use its reflection power until its

victim falls under its control. Inside the trunk is the chuckwalla's treasure hoard, consistlng of

one book explalning the mysteries of Cerebrospansial Evolution, 16 dice, three pairs of women's

stockings, one football helmet, one rubber monster, and one canister of breath freshener

displaying the message, "IT SMELLS RIGHT WITH PYRIDITE!"

5. WASHROOM. This room contains all the equipment one would expect in a 23rd century

restroom, including an egg-shaped sonic fresher and a low-power disinfecting energy bath.

Anyone who enters the fresher clothed or otherwise, will be scrubbed clean with energetic sound

waves. Any electronic devices (ray guns, energy cells, etc.) subjected to this cleanslng have a

20% chance of malfunctioning. The low power energy bath wlll totally disinfect anyone who

stands beneath its circular mechanisms. If a force field enters the energy bath it will cause an

electromagnetic flux, destroying both the force field generator and the energy bath in a shower of

crackling energy and shooting sparks. This is harmless to living things, but will destroy all

electronic equipment within three meters.

6. JANITOR'S ROOM. The door to this room is locked, but the lock is weak and will snap if

given a hard shove. The room is filled with all kinds of cleaning devices and fluids (none are

poisonous). In a corner of the room is a sani-rob (HD: 3; hp: 15; AC: 4; MV: 8; AT: none). This

robot has a humanoid appearance from the waist up, but its lower body is a box-like hovering

machine. When the power plant is activated, the sani-rob wlll repair the broken window at 9 and

clean up the sand which has spilled into the room. The robot is preprogrammed to do its job, and

will not obey verbal commands.

7. THE FLINGING FERN. This chamber is the same as 5, except that in the room is a mutated

houseplant (HD: 20; hp: 70; AC: 6; MV: 6; AT: eight vines can constrict opponents for 3d6

points of damage each up to nine meters away, MU: explosive seeds, squeeze vines, mobility,

and size increase). Originally this creature was a small potted houseplant which was left here by

a frightened tourist during the evacuation of the starport. When the cloud of radioactive dust

swept over the area, it caused the plant to mutate Over the years the plant has kept the starport

pest-free by devouring all intruders. When characters open the door to this room they will be

attacked immediately by the monster's eight constrictins vines. Each limb will take 10 points of

damage before being severed. When four or more vines have been severed, the mutant plant will

start flinging explosive seed pods at the party. Each pod may be thrown up to 20 meters,

exploding on contact for 5d6 points of damage in a two-meter radius. The plant has only 10

pods.

8. PAGING/LOST AND FOUND. This room was used for starport paging, information, and

lost and found. The room is divided in half by a clear plastic wall. The near side of the room is

filled with the remnants of what were once chairs, tables, and couches. Through a door in the

plastic wall are two desks, a control console for intercom paging and several shelves. The desks

are filled with scraps of ancient paper pencils, and other stationery. The shelves contain various

objects left and forgotten by the starport's travelers. Among the items are three leatherette

jackets, two purses, one camera (self-developing, three photos remain), one pair of binoculars

(amplify vision up to 20 times), and three sets of keys (none are useful). If the characters activate

the starport paging system, they will hear their amplified voices booming throughout the starport.

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