Contact

Larry hunkers down behind a small pile of rocks and waits for Mac to circle around the other side of the encampment.  It takes about a half hour for Mac to low crawl down the slope and close to within 100 yards.  Mac is freezing by the time he gets to the other side and his hands are starting to lose feeling.  Despite Larry being a worse shot, he keeps the rifle (being stationary it is the only way he could help if trouble comes down) and watches with his thermal scope.

As he gets closer, Mac is able to see a two-man tent, similar to the one you brought with.  You crawl low and can see some movement on the other side of the tent (you are apparently on the back side of it now, the front being on Larry’s side).  Mac slowly circles to get a look at the front of the tent (about 75 yards out now) when an alarm sounds from inside the tent.

Larry, you can see three man-shaped images run from the tent and take up defensive positions.  When nobody comes at them, they start to slowly fan out; one comes at you, one toward Mac, and one away from Mac.  The man approaching Mac (Mac can see him and the one approaching Larry; you can’t see the third) gets to within 50 yards or so yells “Put your hands up” and aims a rifle at you.  You start to get to your feet and he fires a panic burst 10 yards to your left (you assume he was bluffing and couldn’t see you).  Mac, you instinctively step forward, steady your pistol and three shots directly at him.  Two of them strike him in his chest and he drops.

With no cover available, Mac chooses to cover the distance between him and the now dead body in front of you and take his battle rifle.  Larry hears shots fired and sees the two others start to run toward Mac.  you assume that Mac is alive, as you saw the man nearing him drop.  Knowing that Mac will be quickly overtaken Larry shots at the figure nearest him.  The rifle cracks loudly, but misses (you are shooting in twilight conditions through a thermal scope).  Still, the shot confuses the two other men, who immediately hit the ground.

Now, you need to decide what to do.  Mac, you are standing on the back side of the tent, 50 yards from it.  You can’t see either of the other men.  You hold an assault rifle in your hands.  It seems familiar, but doesn’t match any design you’ve seen. 

Larry, what will you do?  Keep in mind that while you both carry walkie-talkies, using them may reveal your position to the other men.  Retreat is an option, but you may be vulnerable while you back up the slope.  Staying out in the cold much longer will risk frostbite (although you’d probably be okay if you kept moving).

Respond with your actions, keeping in mind taht communication is risky (you may not know what the other is doing).  Larry can see Mac’s outline, but nothing else.  Mac can’t see Larry at all.

Sensor

You both set out to the east, which is the direction indicated on the homing device. You start out slowly. It takes your bodies a while to adjust to the subzero temperatures (equipment at your base camp puts it at -20F) and the half-light makes you cautious. After a bit, your eyes adjust and you warm enough to move more quickly. The wind is bitter and you keep your goggles on tight. The flat ice sheet you are on starts to give way to a rocky downward slope. Mac, it is easy for you to collect a few sharp rocks, and you pick a few to bring back.

After a half hour, your homing device gets a stronger signal. You can still see only 100 yards or so in front of you, so you hear a metallic ringing before you can detect what is causing it. It is coming from the direction of your homing device. You instinctively start into a low crawl and make for the sound. You have binoculars, which are equipped with thermal imaging and range finding. You turn them on and can spot two human shaped heat signatures 250 yards out, down a slight (likely rocky) slope. Your homing device has a very strong signal at this point; obviously, whoever is here has your sensor.

The question now is, what do you want to do? You can slowly make your way down the hill, but the rocks are too small to give you much cover. You can circle around and try to approach from the other side (where it is flatter and you’re less exposed), but you are already feeling the effects of the cold and may end up with frostbite if you stay out here too long. You can just boogie back to base camp and come up with a story (or report that you failed). If you approach I want to know how (quiet or loud and which direction). If you attack, how close do you get before shooting (and are you going to shoot first)? Mac is holding the rifle (he is the better shot), you could probably shoot someone from 100 yards out in this light. If you shoot one person what is your plan for the second (assuming there are only two people)?

1BVEGGIE

POD: A.D. 1100

Opened:  2/20/2004     Closed: 11/15/2006

World Population: 2.2 Billion

Technological Equivalent: A.D. 1920 (wind, solar, biofuels advanced)

1BVEGGIE is an alt where the vegetarianism is the norm.  It is much more ecologically balanced, but less populated and less technologically advanced.  The sole superpower is the government of India, where their vegetarian revolution took place.  Approximately two thirds of the global population is vegetarian.

India is the sole superpower; where the vegetarian revolution started.  Their India also encompasses Pakistan, Afghanistan, and parts of China (as we know them).  Our U.S. is called New England and is largely protected Forest reserve (and underdeveloped).  Much of the Native American population remains intact.

On 1BVEGGIE the Chola Dynasty (A.D. 1100) in the Indian subcontinent never toppled (they are barely a footnote in our world).  They persisted for 500 years and taught harmony with nature, trading, and vegetarianism to traders from Europe and China.  These ideals spread and the world was and is a much more peaceful place.  The largest religion is Catharism, which now mixes Hindu, Buddist, and Catholic ideals.

Population is controlled by widespread use of birth control and a cultural emphasis on sexual abstinence.  Historically sterilization has been used forcibly on minority populations; an analog of sorts to our genocides. Interestingly, while capital punishment is almost unknown, mob justice is often administered (and can be quite lethal).  It is considered the most serious social issue of this world.

We were able to exchange some technologies with the Indian government on this world.  Their wind, solar, and biofuel technologies were very advanced and are already being covertly incorporated into our markets.

3DTHINKTANK

POD: Unknown

Opened: 4/11/1997 Closed: 7/2/1997

World Population: 0

Technological Equivalent: Pre-human

At first 3DTHINKTANK seemed like a habitable world with some animal life, but not much to distinguish it. When we landed a team there, we found that intelligent beings could control the physical environment by thought. Our team could lift rocks with their minds and control the flight of birds. Sadly, one team member died there as the result of an aneurism (we suspect due to stress of thought). The three who returned lost their abilities when they returned, so it was a phenomenon unique to that environment. Two of them died of brain cancer not long after, and the fourth has had no ill effects.