Introduction (Players and Referee)

Vinorian/Rhytanor (0701) is a medium sized world, largely covered by water. The atmosphere is heavily tainted with chlorine, which occasionally creates a green mist just above the surface of the seas, and which dissolves in the water forming very dilute hydrochloric acid. On the surface of the sea grows a kind of seaweed unique on Vinorian, which can be used to make certain drugs. The monopoly for this trade is currently held by Lindar Chemitechnics Ltd. The population of just over one million are mostly company employees, and live in Lindarport, a large domed city some two kilometres from the starport. The starport is on piles and stands twelve metres above the surface of the sea, but Lindarport itself is beneath the sea, on a plateau. The seas are warm, but the land masses are arid and support very little animal or plant life.

When the players land on Vinorian, they are forced to wait while their papers are updated. During the delay, a Lindar executive recognises them as travellers, who he supposes might be interested in earning the price of a passage off Lindar. He fetches his superior, a major of mercenaries, who is in charge of security. This man makes a proposition:

Lately drugs have appeared on the market, on Rhylanor and other worlds, which could only have been produced from this weed, but which were marketed by a rival company. This prompted an investigation, as the drugs undersold Lindar's products by a considerable amount, and the company's profits were threatened. The investigation showed that large amounts of weed were being harvested, by an unknown agency. Obviously Lindar wishes to put a stop to this, but is unable to use force because that would seriously damage its already shaky public relations. If, however, some off-worlders were to find out how the pirates operated, as if by accident, and render their trawlers useless, then Lindar could not possibly be connected. Any measures the players deem necessary could be used, if the action did not harm the weed crop or appear to be connected with Lindar. Lindar Chemitechnics would provide equipment for the operation: swimming equipment, and oxygen tanks for each man, along with a C02 harpoon gun and knife. Lindar would also arrange for the hiring of a minisub, with undersea equipment handling gear and microtorpedoes. The pay for a successful mission, which would require the immobilisation of whatever the pirate group are using to harvest the weed, would be Cr 50,000 per man, and possibly some little gift from the firm if the mission was carried out particularly well.

Minisubs

Displacement: 5 tons.

Dimensions: 11 x 2 x 2 metres. (Note: Hull is cylindrical.)

Speed : 30 kph submerged/25 kph surfaced.

Passengers or crew: Max = 5.

Range: Powered by a nuclear micropile, 4800 km or four days.

Depth limit: 300 m.

Key to Minisub

1. Bridge: At the bow of the submersible is the bridge, a small space with one chair and controls (simplified) for the pilot.The bow portion of the bridge is made of reinforced glassteel, and searchlights mounted in the bridge includes sonar, image intensification and controls for the equipment mounted on the pylons. The airlock doors may be controlled from here.

2. Fore corridor : this narrow corridor is flanked by equipment lockers and the bow steering motors. The lockers have space for a wetsuit and oxygen tanks, with a little other equipment, and there are two in the forward passage. On the roof of the passage is a glassteel dome.

3. Cargo bay/sleeping area: This area is a cargo bay holding one ton of cargo. It can alternatively be used as a sleeping area, and beds are fitted, behind metal panels in the hold. There are four beds.

4. Aft corridor: This narrow corridor is similar to the fore corridor (2), but there is no glass dome.

5. Lounge: The so-called lounge is a small area about the size of the bridge, but without any control panels. There are two chairs in place, and the roof of the area is glassteel. The rear end is the airlock door. There are controls for the airlock above one of the seats, protected by a wire mesh cover which must be raised before the buttons can be pressed. The panel includes a warning light for each door, to show whether it is open. Another light indicates whether the airlock contains air (green) or water (red).

6. Airlock: When the airlock controls are operated, the inner door folds up into the ceiling of the lock. When this happens a buzzer sounds in the bridge. There is a control in the airlock, which, when pressed once closes the inner door. If pressed again it opens the outer door after a thirty second delay. If, within that delay period the button is pressed again, the outer door opening process is aborted, and the inner door opens. The outer door is controlled by a stud on its surface, and will open the outer door if the inner door is closed. Each time the outer door is opened, there is a pressure equalisation period during which time the lock is filled with water. The airlock does not function below one hundred and fifty metres depth.

7. Steering jets: These jets are the main drive and steering controls of the submersible. It is powered by water jets, which are fitted at bow and stern, top and bottom, mounted so as to be able to swivel, thus applying equal force in any direction. The work of the waterjets is assisted by hydroplanes mounted on the fins.

8. Equipment pylons: These pylons are mounted on the sides of the sub, and are intended for carrying weaponry or equipment. Each pylon includes a power supply, and universal fitting. Alternatively, equipment may be chained to the pylons, and there are shackles onto which the chains may be fitted. Such chains are carried as part of the usual equipment in a sub.

9. Work pack: This equipment unit contains grabs and wrenches, powered by an internal electric motor, and controlled from the bridge. The cameras mounted on the pod and the fine scales and controls on the bridge allow remarkably accurate control.

10. Micro-torpedo: This is a small torpedo, powered by compressed oxygen. An internal system uses infra-red to locate its target. The images are relayed to the submarine which fired ht, and the torpedo is controlled by the pilot. The explosive charge carried is sufficient to chase off most sea creatures, and can possibly damage a submarine.

11. Drive pod: This equipment unit contains extra, independent motor units which can increase the speed of a submarine carrying them by some 2'/2 kph for each one carried. As there are two pylons, a submarine's speed can be increased by a maximum of five kilometres per hour.