Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Introduction
This product is for use with the PARANOIA This product is multiplied by the rate of change
roleplaying game. This product is for use by to determine the final delta-v. This product is
qualified gamemasters only, and is supplied an interaction between your optic nerve and Viva La Revolution
without warranty or guarantee of fitness for your brain. This product is farm-fresh and tasty!
this or any other purpose. This product is rated This product does not exist. The Troubleshooters find themselves trapped
for use at temperatures between -10 degrees in YUC Sector when a revolution overthrows
centigrade and +50 degrees centigrade. This This product is Alpha Complex Nights 2. The Computer. To survive, they must adapt
product is not to be exposed to naked flames to a strange new world where The Computer
or toxic chemicals. This product may contain is the enemy, traitors are the good guys,
nuts. This product contains adult concepts and Instructions for Use and…well, that’s actually the full extent of the
situations. This product contains recipes, but changes, apart from the greater incidence of
you are urged not to try these recipes at home. Don’t bother reading this introduction. Instead, food shortages and public executions. You
This product contains excessive violence read either of the two missions – there’s never appreciate Friend Computer until it
and scenes of danger – you’re urged not to Viva La Revolution on page 38, and The explodes in a shower of sparks…
try that at home as well. This product should Communist Cafeteria Conspiracy on
not be used as a guide to overthrowing your page 07. Both take the semi-radical step of
government or running your own cafeteria. giving the Troubleshooters a considerable The Communist
This product is treasonous. This product is a amount of influence and authority, then making
product of a sick mind. This product is made of them exercise it, and finally judging them on Cafeteria Conspiracy
100% recycled words. This produce endorses how they screw up. It’s rather like handing a
the Humanist society. This product is rated for child a live hand grenade, sending him out A sector-wide panic over a Commie Mind Control
voltages of 110/220 volts. This product may not to play in the garden, and then complaining Ray and the machinations of an ambitious
be used in the state of California. This product about how hard it is to mow the lawn when INDIGO combine to give the Troubleshooters
supports the People’s Glorious Revolution. it’s covered in…well, actually, that’s a horrible control over a prestigious cafeteria. They’re
This product is a contractual obligation. This simile, but the point is that having authority supposed to use it to track down the nefarious
product is for ages 8 and up. This product is and power isn’t necessarily at odds with the Commie Mind Control Ray, but they get caught
not carbon neutral. This product is censored essential powerlessness of PARANOIA. up in the usual problems of running a cafeteria
by HPD&MC. This produce is [[[ censored ]]]. – assassins, artillery emplacements, mutant
This product is inherently happy. This product In addition to these two fine missions, there are uprisings… you know, the usual.
is covered under the terms of the Alpha six pregenerated Troubleshooters on page 2,
Complex End User Agreement. This product suitable for immediate use.
may explode. This product may not explode.
1
ALPHA COMPLEX NIGHTS 2
Roland-R-AND-1 Harry-R-ISP-1 Nigel-R-RIP-1
Male CPU Team Leader Male Armed Forces Equipment Officer Male R&D Happiness Officer
Service firm: Pockomatic Pockets Service firm: ThreatWatch Service firm: Alpha Complex Progressive Bots
Service firm type: Pocket Protector Refurbishers Service firm type: Threat Assessors Service firm type: Bot Processing
Security Clearance: RED Security Clearance: RED Security Clearance: RED
Credits: 540 Credits: 205 Credits: 301
Tic: Always states things dramatically and Tic: Always responds to a question with Tic: Ends most sentences with the name of
poses as if he’s the hero in an action movie another question the person he’s talking to
Tic 2: _______________________ Tic 2: _______________________ Tic 2: _______________________
3
ALPHA COMPLEX NIGHTS 2
Roland-R-AND-1 Harry-R-ISP-1 Nigel-R-RIP-1
Male CPU Team Leader Male Armed Forces Equipment Guy Male R&D Happiness Officer
5
ALPHA COMPLEX NIGHTS 2
(BLUE) blink at ripping you to pieces. They can’t even Secret Society Instructions
(1) dose of Zybenzaphrene suggestion drug blink, you know. No eyes, just watchful, sinister Your FCCC-P contact says ‘child, the enemies
(ORANGE) cameras. of the Holy Computer are everywhere.
(6) doses of Geglernine happy drug (RED) You must smite them! Especially the hated
You’re not sure when you first became aware Communists! And PURGE! And the Humanists!
Assigned Equipment that the bots were out to get you. Probably Smite them all!
Laser pistol body (no barrel) when you were assigned the stressful job of
Red Reflec Armour spying on Production, Logistics and Conspiracy Oh, and one of our spies informed us that
Series 1300 PDC – er, Commissary. Being an undercover agent there’s something odd about Harry-R’s CPU
Official Loyalty Officer armoured notebook is hard work, and you took to popping pills to record. Keep an eye on him.
with lock stay awake and focussed. Your religion, your
Official Loyalty Officer armoured notebook absolute faith in the Holy Computer and the Your Frankenstein Destroyer contact informs
key First Church of Christ Computer-Programmer you that bots are evil and should be smashed.
Official Loyalty Officer armoured pen was a great support to you in this hard time. So what else is new?
(3) packets of 100 post-it notes (RED clearance But the bots started watching you, and you
borders) realised that the church was wrong – the bots Personal Equipment
(2) laser barrels were not created by Friend Computer to help FCCC-P holy symbol
humanity, they are evil emanations of the hated Lump hammer
Sindy-R-SIN-1 AntiComputer, and must all be destroyed! You
joined the Frankenstein Destroyers to fight
(1) Laser barrel
Female IntSec agent spying on PLC against the bots, but your fight is at heart a Assigned Equipment
Hygiene Officer holy crusade! Laser pistol body (no barrel)
Red Reflec Armour
Mutation: X-Ray Vision Of the other Troubleshooters, your Internal Series 1300 PDC
Society: FCCC-P, spying on Frankenstein Security training tells you to mistrust Roland- Hygiene kit
Destroyers, R – he seems a little too loyal. Also, you’ve Skin Core sampler
Secret Skills: Demolition +, Screwdriver worked with Nigel-R before, when reviewing (2) Laser barrels
Ops & Maintenance 12, Bot Programming + the bot company he works for. You pretended
to be clumsy so you could sabotage the hated
Background bots when they were weak and vulnerable!
They’re out there, you know. The bots. He’s a horrible bot lover.
Heartless, soulless machines, who wouldn’t
WARNING :
Knowledge or possession of this information by any citizen
of Security Clearance VIOLET or lower is treason punishable by a
long spell of Armed Forces latrine scrubot maintenance duty.
TM & Copyright © 1983, 1987, 2008 by Eric Goldberg & Greg Costikyan. All Rights Reserved. Mongoose Publishing Ltd., Authorized User. Based on material published in
previous editions of PARANOIA.
ILLUMINATI is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and is used by permission.
The reproduction of material from this book for personal or corporate profit, by photographic, electronic, or other means of storage and retrieval, is prohibited. You may
copy character sheets, record sheets, checklists and tables for personal use.
E-mail questions and comments to Mongoose Publishing at sales@mongoosepublishing.com or write to PO Box 1018, Swindon, Wiltshire SN3 1DG, UNITED KINGDOM.
On the World Wide Web: www.mongoosepublishing.com.
Published by Mongoose Publishing, Ltd. Publication MGP 6642. Published August 2006. First printing September 2008. Printed in USA
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
Introduction
Have you ever noticed that a lot of she read the transcript of Joe’s interrogation, Episode 2. Cafeteria of the Damned:
PARANOIA missions have really long she seized upon it as clear evidence that The Troubleshooters are sent to the VitaYum
titles? Vapours Don’t Shoot Back? the Commies had indeed perfected a Unified Citizenry Food Pyramid Court, a
Yellow Clearance Black Box Blues? Communism Ray. massive cafeteria in the affected sector, to
And now The Communist Cafeteria watch for signs of treachery. It turns out that
Conspiracy. She escalated the report and soon every the whole cafeteria is filled with traitors but
Service Group was concerned with the spectre none of them are anything to do with the
It’s not that longer titles fill more space, we of the Commie Ray. Rumours began to spread Commie Ray.
swear. about the Ray’s capabilities and influence.
Soon, others began to ‘fall victim’ to the Ray, Episode 3. This Will Solve The
And the editors wouldn’t let me call this one consciously or unconsciously using the rumour Problem: After getting to grips with the
The Communist Cafeteria Conspiracy of the Ray to enable their own traitorous food service industry, the different service
Constitutes A Clear And Calamitous behaviour. Treason becomes permissible if it groups begin their plans to find the Commie
Concern To The Computer! is not your fault… Ray. The Troubleshooters need to balance the
plots of the Armed Forces, Internal Security,
The following is absolutely not The whole Commie Ray situation was seized HPD&MC and R&D, while keeping PLC’s
true in the slightest: The Communists, on by Dominic-I. He wants to humiliate his cafeteria running smoothly (for a sufficiently
dastardly enemies of Alpha Complex, have built rival INDIGO Section Supervisors, to ensure rough definition of smooth).
a dastardly and evil machine, a Communism his promotion to VIOLET. By deliberately
Ray! This insidious beam alters the brainwaves arranging a four-way train crash of initiatives, Episode 4. This Did Not Solve The
of any citizen exposed to its baleful influence, he can shame the other service groups. Problem: The four plans escalate. The
causing them to betray Friend Computer and effects of the Commie Ray get worse. It’s all
give into their deepest, most secret, most blamed on the Troubleshooters. Furthermore,
traitorous impulses! Unless this machine is Mission Overview they learn that they’re about to play host to a
destroyed, the Communists will continue prestigious dinner for high-clearance citizens.
to warp the minds of the citizens of Alpha The Communist Cafeteria Conspiracy
Complex! You, an elite team of troubleshooters, revolves around something that does not Episode 5. Food Fight: The four plans
must spearhead our efforts to find and destroy actually exist but everyone thinks it does. start interfering with each other. Dominic-I
the Communism Ray! Good luck! Therefore, the Troubleshooters had really tries using the dinner, the Troubleshooters
better come up with some sort of Commie Ray and the preceding fiascos to humiliate the
The following is wholly accurate and someone to blame. The mission consists other INDIGOs but he’s killed by a PURGE
and truthful: Some poor schmuck of an of a series of increasingly desperate attempts assassin.
INFRARED named Joe was hauled in for to find the Ray, coupled with increasingly
questioning by Internal Security after he was bizarre derangements caused by belief in Episode 6. The Commie Ray Job:
caught on a restricted level of the VitaYum the Ray. R&D develop their own version of the ray
Unified Citizenry Food Pyramid Court. When but it is stolen by an awful lot of traitors.
asked to explain his traitorous actions, he Episode 1. The Briefing War: The The characters have to chase it across the
panicked and claimed that some mysterious Troubleshooters are briefed by a group of cafeteria as it beams genuine traitorous
external force affected his mind and forced six briefing officers, representing five different thoughts into the minds of passing citizens.
him to behave treacherously. service groups, each of which has their own Then it explodes.
mission for the Troubleshooters. Everyone
This would have been the thinnest excuse in in Alpha Complex wants to deal with the Episode 7. Triumph of the Tinfoil
history, if it were not for IntSec case officer Commie Ray Crisis. The compromise is that Hat Brigade: Debriefing, wherein the
Toni-G. For years, she’s fostered her own the Troubleshooters will co-ordinate multiple Troubleshooters apply what they have
paranoid delusion that the Commies were attempts to locate the ray, starting with learned.
working on mind control techniques to subvert ground zero for the Communism outbreak
the loyal citizens of Alpha Complex. When – the cafeteria.
9
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
Room 2910, Level 87, Sector FOG with added Chewy Bits! VITA-YUM with built in computer interface,
with HPD&MC Briefing Officer – THEY’RE YUMMY. a stylish minimalist podium and
Krystal-G-RMS. Estimated briefing matching comfortable chairs for
time is twenty-nine minutes. This Attention, consumer! There’s a Troubleshooters being briefed.
message is security clearance RED special offer on briefings right
and has been designated ULTRA right now at Briefing Room 2910, Unfortunately, all of the chairs
HIGH PRIORITY. Thank you for your Level 87, Sector FOG. Your briefing are occupied already and the
attention. Have a nice daycycle.’ officer is Chet-B-BQU, VitaYum room is crammed with two dozen
Unified Citizenry Food Pyramid aides, flunkies and bodyguards.
While reading this third mission alert, a Court Supervisor and he’ll be glad Six briefing officers ignore you as
dishevelled looking INFRARED shuffles up to instruct you on your assigned you enter. At the podium, dozing
to the characters. He plucks the sleeve of a mission. This has been designated slightly, is an elderly citizen in
random Troubleshooter to attract his attention. PRIORITY ZERO by Troubleshooter INDIGO with a long white beard.
‘Hey buddy,’ he asks, ‘got any drugs? Dispatch. Have a great daycycle! He’s wearing a CPU badge and
Good stuff, right?’ He asks this question is using a large stack of reports
right in front of a security camera, which should Mention the code BARGAINS as a pillow. Around the table are
sound alarm bells in the brain of any paranoid BARGAINS BARGAINS for a another five citizens, all GREEN
Troubleshooter. This wannabe Mystic (Horace) special offer on Troubleshooter or BLUE. They’re all arguing with
has heard that you can do any traitorous stuff equipment!’ each other.
you want, as long as you ‘blame it on the
rays’. Of course, the characters haven’t yet The transtube follows a path through the The argument continues until one of the
heard this rumour, so Horace is likely get tangle of magnetic rails before eventually Troubleshooters say something (if none of
severe demerits if not termination for his depositing the Troubleshooters in a corridor the Troubleshooters say anything, then wait a
impromptu drug dealing. that’s open to the main concourse on one side. minute, then have Larry-B the Armed Forces
(There’s a fragile railing; standard Death Star officer whirl around and demand to know
Once they’ve dealt with Horace, the transbot architecture.) As they walk along the (oddly why the Troubleshooters didn’t announce
arrives to whisk the characters away to FOG sticky) corridor outside the briefing room, they their arrival – don’t they know the urgency of
Sector. The transbot that arrives is out of get a sixth and final mission alert. the mission?), at which point Larry-B spins
keeping with the grimy transtube station around and snaps ‘What? How dare
– it’s a brand-new and very shiny bot, all ‘MISSION ALERT. Estimated reading you interrupt! You will stand to
streamlined and clean. FOG Sector is a time for this alert is 32 seconds. You attention, Troubleshooters, and you
wealthy and prestigious sector, a showcase are instructed to travel to Briefing will wait until we are ready to deal
for new technologies and initiatives, the pride Room 2910, Level 87, Sector FOG with you!’
of Friend Computer. (standard Troubleshooter travel
allowances, ref CPU/4232/trans/3120/
On the transbot, the characters get another B) for a briefing chaired by CPU The Briefing Officers
two mission alerts. The first comes as they’re Administrator-Citizen Dominic-
boarding the transbot: I-FOG. This message is security So, who are these six briefing officers?
clearance RED (see ‘Security
‘Troubleshooters. Briefing at Clearances & You! Revised Citizen’s Larry-B-OMB, Armed Forces: Loud,
Briefing Room 2910, Level 87, Guide) and priority ZEROPLUSPLUS abrasive, gung-ho, Larry-B believes that
Sector FOG with R&D Chief Field (see CPU Report ‘Misleading the biggest threat facing Alpha Complex is
Testing Co-ordinator Dr. Victor- and Confusing Priority Codes in Communism and the only solution are guns,
B-RSQ! Immediately! Priority Troubleshooter Dispatch’).’ lots of guns. He despises civilians, he despises
DOUBLEPLUSULTRA.’ traitors and he especially despises anyone
From inside the briefing room, the who does not think the Armed Forces are the
The second message comes as they enter Troubleshooters hear what sounds like a best and most loyal servants of The Computer.
FOG Sector. It’s a breathtaking sight, as heated argument. He’s wearing a formal dress uniform with a
the transbot emerges over a vast multi-level big ‘Vulture Warriors’ pin on his lapel and a
canyon. The bot is suspended over this abyss
by a narrow magnetic rail; below them, the Briefing, Plural non-standard but very impressive slug thrower
strapped to his belt.
characters can see level after level of meeting Tension 10
rooms, shopping malls, offices and confession Toni-G-RTE, Internal Security: A cold,
booths, all shiny white with newly-painted Briefing Room 2910 is airy and pale blonde female citizen, Toni-G is almost
colour-coded clearance stripes. spacious, with a one-way window ghost-like. She moves completely quietly and
offering a view over the balcony and only raises her voice when furious. She’s
‘This message is sponsored by a selection of abstract art decorating immensely paranoid and is convinced that
VITA-YUM CHOCCO BARS! Now the walls. It’s got a wide table absolutely everyone else in Alpha Complex
11
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
Court. It’s got multiple levels for different Toni-G: interrupting ‘investig- oh, you said be the solution to the problem and by having
security clearances. A customer went up the that one already.’ an external party oversee the execution of the
wrong stairs-’ plans, it ensures that the service groups can
Chet-B: ‘Ok, co-operate fully with any work smoothly together.
Toni-G: interrupting ‘And IntSec swooped investigation, military action, field testing or
in and arrested the Troubleshooter! I mean, any other initiative, as long as we meet Dominic-I presents this in a conspiratorial tone
troublemaker. We interrogated him and do you our sales targets. And we’re not going to of voice, suggesting that the Troubleshooters
know what his defence was? “I don’t know do that while we sit here arguing over who gets are his allies in this bureaucratic end run
what made me do it!” MADE ME DO IT! He the Troubleshooters.’ around the other groups. Let the players decide
was COMPELLED by an OUTSIDE FORCE to which of them will oversee each plan. Dominic-
commit treason!’ Larry-B: interrupting ‘Armed Forces!’ I then instructs the Troubleshooters to go and
Krystal-G: interrupting ‘HPD&MC!’ get a private briefing from the appropriate
Larry-B: ‘That’s why I’m saying we must take Victor-B: interrupting ‘R&D!’ officer – so, the character who’s going to
a stand against Communism! A forceful stand! Toni-G: interrupting ‘IntSec.’ co-ordinate security goes to see Larry-G, the
We secure the whole sector with disciplined Dominic-I: awakening suddenly character who wants to run field testing goes
Armed Forces troops whose stronger minds ‘Aaagh!’ to Victor-B and so on.
will resist Commie mind control! Meanwhile,
the Troubleshooters investigate the source of Everyone stops and waits for the Take each Troubleshooter aside and present
the Commie ray and-‘ INDIGO citizen to speak. the appropriate briefings individually. None of
the briefing officers are happy with Dominic-I’s
Victory-B: ‘These Troubleshooters, find the Dominic-I: ‘Hmm…you all make excellent, compromise but are each determined to be the
transmitter? Ha! Unthinkable! If the ray is as excellent cases. I need to consult privately with one who solves the threat of the Commie Ray.
I believe it to be, it will require the use of the the Troubleshooter team for a moment. Please All the briefings end with the officer promising
most advanced and experimental technologies wait in the ante-room, all of you.’ the Troubleshooters full and absolute support
available to us! We must immediately field but don’t call us, we’ll call you.
test our own psychotronic devices! We Everyone troops out except for
cannot afford a mind control gap with the Dominic-I, the Troubleshooters, and
Communists!’ Dominic-I’s bodyguards. IntSec Briefing
Krystal-G: ‘Look, the important thing to do Dominic-I: ‘Please, sit down. Sit, sit. Let’s Toni-G’s briefing is short and to the point – the
is to warn people to stay alert, so they’ll know get this briefing started properly’. Communists exist as part of the traitorous
not to give into Commie mind control if the underground. All the characters need to do
Commies try to mind control them. I’ve got is infiltrate one or more secret societies and
some pamphlets and educational materials The Actual Briefing follow them back to the Commies. The Food
here…’ Pyramid is a large, public venue and Internal
Dominic-I explains that the actual problem Security suspects that it is full of society
Toni-G: ‘Informing the common citizenry – locating and destroying the source of the message drops and secret meetings. The
is not an option. The Troubleshooter mission Commie Ray that turns ordinary citizens first step is to reduce the obvious security
requires strict information control. The into traitors, apparently – has become a presence, encouraging traitors to act more
Commies cannot know we have discovered departmental hot potato. Every service group openly within the Food Pyramid. Then, once
their ray!’ – well, apart from Power and Tech Services they have learned of secret society meetings,
– has an interest in the case. Therefore, infiltrate the meetings and find the Commies.
Victor-G: ‘You have not discovered the ray! to avoid a bureaucratic logjam, Dominic-I
You have only surmised the existence of the suggested they call in Troubleshooters, who
ray from observation of its effects!’ are outside the service group structure. Armed Forces Briefing
Chet-B: ‘Look, guys, it’s getting close to The mission is to take control of the Food Larry-G fills his briefing with military jargon and
dinner time and I’ve got a cafeteria to run. We Pyramid, which seems to be the primary target codes. The 215th Infantry is standing by at Fort
need to make a decision about the course for Commie Mind Control, probably because it’s Insurmountable, ready for insertion into the
of action. You know that as long as the PLC a newly-built facility and therefore a high-profile mission zone. Once deployed, the 215th will
targets are hit, we will co-operate fully with any target. Then, they must locate and destroy the secure the area and be ready to strike against
investigation –‘ Commie Ray, by implementing the various the Commie foe. Civilians, Larry-G proclaims,
service group plans. The Troubleshooter have weak minds, untempered by military
Larry-B: interrupting ‘Military action!’ team members should each oversee one of discipline. The Troubleshooters’ mission is to
Krystal-G: interrupting ‘Educational the plans (pairing into teams if there are more co-ordinate deployment of the 215th and ensure
campaign!’ that five Troubleshooters, taking multiple plans the civilians ‘don’t get in the way’.
Victor-B: interrupting ‘Field testing!’ each if there are less). One of the plans should
256 INFRAREDS
64 RED/ORANGE
8 YELLOW/GREEN
1 BLUE OR HIGHER
The number of CTMUs earned by the Food Pyramid is determined by a random roll, modified by the level of chaos in the cafeteria. The
tables for CTMU earnings are given in Episodes 4, 5 and 6. The characters need to earn 100 CTMUs per daycycle. Earning few or excess
CTMUs will cause problems for the Troubleshooters.
13
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
of a Troubleshooter, then that officer gives FCCC-P: There is a stack of Church leaflets
the mission; other missions are given by hidden behind a false wall on the third shelf
Secret CPU Briefing anonymous clones in the corridors. in the third locker in the third giant walk-in
refrigerator downstairs in the storage section
Once all the other briefings have been carried Anti-Mutant: Karl-R, the stores manager of the Food Pyramid. Retrieve them and pass
out, randomly select one Troubleshooter. in the Food Pyramid, is a filthy mutant scum. the good news out to the INFRAREDs.
Dominic-I contacts that Troubleshooter Get him killed if you can.
and summons him to a meeting. There, the Frankenstein Destroyers: One of our
INDIGO informs the Troubleshooter that his Communists: Er…we don’t have a mind allies, Morris-O, works in the Food Pyramid.
secret mission is to observe the others and control ray. We’ve no idea what’s going on. Promote him if you can.
report everything he sees to Dominic-I. Further Some of our propaganda was confiscated last
instructions may be issued later. week by the Food Pyramid’s security service Free Enterprise (Chet-B): Listen to me,
– get it back or destroy it. friend! I’ll make you rich; just keep the Food
We’re Off To See Computer Phreaks: We’ve hacked the
Pyramid going as long as you can.
The Food Court guest list for the dinner in the Food Pyramid
in two days time. Mathias-I of IntSec is on that
Humanists: We’ve learned that a group of
high-clearance citizens are meeting for dinner
Tension 5 list. Terminate him! in a few days in the Food Pyramid. We want
you to capture the Commie Ray and use it on
Finally, once all the briefings are complete, Corpore Metal: We have received reports them, thus spreading treason at the highest
Chet-B collects the characters and brings that there is a Frankenstein Destroyer in levels of Alpha Complex and sowing the seeds
them to the VitaYum Unified Citizenry Food the Food Pyramid, mistreating our Botty of The Computer’s destruction!
Pyramid Court… Brothers. Find and kill the machine hater. (It’s
Morris-O) Illuminati: We need a warbot. Don’t ask
why. We will arrange to have one delivered to
Secret Society Missions Death Leopard: Dude! There’s a Death the cafeteria. Somehow, get it out of there and
Leopard in the Food Pyramid called Metal leave it in the corridor outside, unwatched, with
After the briefings, the Troubleshooters each Noise. She’s done nothing cool lately. She the engine running.
receive a secret society mission. If one of the must be down – find her and motivate her.
briefing officers matches the secret society (Alice-G is Metal Noise.) Mystics: Dude! Here’s a packet of…well,
green goop. There’s a dinner of high-clearance
citizens in the food pyramid in a few days
time. Mix this stuff into their food and they’ll
be tripping, man!
The VitaYum
Unified Citizenry
Food Pyramid
Court
The VitaYum Unified Citizenry Food
Pyramid Court is the grandest, most exciting
advancement in Alpha Complex Commissary
Food Deployment since the Fun High-Speed
FunInjection Nipple. It’s a huge pyramid-
shaped room in the heart of FOG Sector,
eight levels high and capable of serving up to
800 citizens at once. The whole building is a
pristine, wipe-clean sparkling white, with more
colour-coded stripes running everywhere. The
stripes on the walls designate the security
clearance of the area; the stripes on the floor
guide patrons to different sections of the Food
Pyramid.
15
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
Food Service By Level
Level 0 (INFRARED): Upon entering the cafeteria, pass through the metal detectors and swipe your ME card through the ME card reader.
If you do not have enough food credits for a meal this daycycle, enter the line for Synthetic Nutrient-Free Stomach-Filling Fibre-Foam. Otherwise,
enter the line for the food dispersers. Take a tray and receive servings of the barely edible slop of the day, plus a handful of tranquilisers and
happy pills. Sit at one of the hundreds of identical black counters with your fellow drones. Eat, then drop your tray on one of the tray collecting
robots and leave the counter area before the automated chemical purge wash cycle begins for that counter zone.
While eating, watch the stream of propaganda reports and inspirational videos on the Invertower’s thousand screens.
Level 1 (RED/ORANGE): Upon entering the cafeteria, pass through the metal detectors and swipe your ME card through the ME card
reader. Stride past the cow-eyed INFRAREDs and proudly climb the stairs to your exclusive RED level. There, choose from up to half a dozen
different food counters, then take your food and sit at a table with a chair that appears to have been designed for some sort of lizard.
If ORANGE, you don’t need to bother with queuing up for food – just sit down in the marginally comfier chairs and wait for a WaiterBot to roll
up and take your order.
While eating, watch the stream of propaganda reports and inspirational videos on the Invertower’s thousand screens, unless you’re lucky enough
to be sitting at one of the few tables with its own TV set, in which case you can turn it to the Teela-O channel.
Level 2 (YELLOW/GREEN): Upon entering the cafeteria, pass through the metal detectors and swipe your ME card through the ME card
reader. Stride past the cow-eyed INFRAREDs and climb the stairs to the RED level, holding your nose at the smell. Hop on the high-speed
escalator to the YELLOW level and sit down on one of the comfy seats. Immediately, a WaiterBot zooms over to you and takes your order.
Real food is available regularly and special high-price dishes are served by human waitstaff.
While eating, you can watch TV on the unit installed at each table.
Level 3 (BLUE+): You don’t take the common entrance to the cafeteria – there’s a BLUE-only entrance on a higher level. You sit in your
private booth and a human waiter (or bot, if you request privacy) comes over to take your order. You exit via the same exclusive access corridor.
While eating, check your stock portfolio or access The Computer via the console built into every seat.
after tier of cafeterias and seating come back here at the end of the
Hi, We’re In areas, coded by clearance level. tour’ says Chet-B, pumping the
The tinted windows of the upper hand of [TROUBLESHOOTER] three
Charge level, the luxurious BLUE private times, then making an odd gesture
Tension 10 couches and fine restaurants, the with his thumb.
high-quality dining for YELLOW
Read the following to the players. citizens, the queues for the RED Chet-B then introduces a YELLOW clone,
vending machines, and the food Mike-Y, who is the chief of security for the Food
Chet-B leads you through a twisty troughs for the INFRAREDs. Pyramid. Mike-Y is a grizzled gruff citizen who
maze of corridors, all alike to a absolutely exudes competence and toughness,
door marked Invertower Access. It The elevator passes into a tangled the ideal security chief. He’s dressed in battle
opens into a glass-walled elevator. complex of cables and screens that armour and carries a slug rifle everywhere
Once you’re all inside, the elevator hangs in the centre of the open he goes. Unfortunately for the characters,
descends into a vast pyramidal space. With a loud DING, you arrive Mike-Y confiscated a few pages of Commie
chamber. You’re travelling down a in a small cluster of rooms at the propaganda off a traitor in the cafeteria last
thick knot of cables hanging from very heart of the Food Pyramid. week and he read it instead of burning it. Now,
the apex of the pyramid (get it? It’s that Commie propaganda has stuck in his head
an Inverted Tower!) All around the ‘From here, you can oversee every and really makes sense to him…
walls of the pyramid, you see tier aspect of our operations. We’ll
17
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
whole level is BLUE-clearance. magic happens.’ He presses a
Fountains tinkle musically between Alphonse-B button and a hidden panel opens
tables of something Chet-B calls Management 8 revealing an elevator. You all crowd
‘mahogany’. The chairs look Bootlicking 12 in and it zooms down to the sublevel
incredibly comfortable, something High-clearance savoire fare 12 beneath the Food Pyramid. While
that definitely isn’t B3 sparkles in Stealth 8 you’re descending, Chet-B grabs
crystal glasses and the sample Sneaking 12 the hand of [TROUBLESHOOTER]
dishes on the menu are absolutely Violence 6 and shakes it from side to side
mouthwatering. This surely is how Hand Weapons 10 while tapping his other hand on the
the elite of Alpha Complex dine. Hardware 4 ‘DOOR CLOSE’ button.
Software 4
The one fly in the ointment is the Wetware 10 After two-thirds of a cheery elevator
tall, thin BLUE citizen with a chef’s Cooking 16 song about how nice it is to be in
hat stalking towards you. He looks Armor: None an elevator, the doors open into
unhappy. Weapons: Power Whisk (M4K) a cavernous chamber. In the dim
Mutant Power: Supercooking light, you can make out the hulking
The third key member of the staff is the Secret Society: PURGE/Romantics shapes of food vats, storage tanks
Cordon BLUE chef, Alphonse-B. He is and piles and piles of crates. You
a terrible, terrible snob who cares about can also make out the hulking
nothing but serving the finest, finest food to The Sublevel shape of a huge RED clone.
the finest, finest citizens. He speaks with a
ludicrously exaggerated French accent and Chet-B points up at the tinted ‘This is Karl-R’ says Chet-B, with a
looks down his nose at anyone without the windows at the top level of the slight quiver in his voice. ‘He runs
requisite clearance or breeding to appreciate pyramid. ‘Sometimes, you’ll see things down here.’
his food. Alphonse-B is secretly a member of people moving around up there.
the PURGE society, who planned to use his The upper dining level is VIOLET ‘KARL-R’ says the giant, slapping
position to assassinate certain high-clearance clearance and it’s all automated. his chest. ‘KARL-R!’ You can’t
citizens with discrete poisons but he never You don’t need to worry about it. help but notice the bright yellow
had the nerve. He’s also an avid Romantics registered-mutant stripe running
member, using their connections to dig up old Anyway, come with me. Let’s go down his sleeve but it seems
recipes and techniques. behind the scenes, to where the impolite to mention it.
Karl-R-XAV-4
Management 4
Intimidation 8
Stealth 4
Sneaking 1
Shadowing 8
Violence 10
Energy Weapons 14
Unarmed Combat 14
Hardware 4
Software 4
Wetware 4
Armor: None
Weapons: None
Mutant Power: Adrenaline Control,
Mental Blast
Hot Fun is not Haute Cuisine. Secret Society: Psion
19
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
permission to send in his guards to arrest the From this point on in the mission, the Tension
Switching Off The Security saboteur. The ‘saboteur’ is actually Jerome-R, score in the Food Pyramid is equal to whatever
Systems Themselves an Internal Security agent working for Toni-G, the Troubleshooters just set it to.
who is spying on Commies.
Well, first they need to get Mike-Y out of
his office, which isn’t that hard. Then they If the guards try to arrest Jerome-R, he HPD&MC – Video
need to switch off the security system. The
security system control panel is like looking
assumes that he’s been identified as an
Internal Security agent by Commie Mutant
Killed The
into the howling face of absolute madness,
as interpreted through the medium of buttons
Traitors and fights back. A standoff quickly
develops on Level 1 between the guards
Commie Star
and levers. and Jerome-R, who takes shelter behind a Tension There’s A Guy With A
waiterbot that’s loaded with highly flammable Camera Staring At Us
There’s a large and tempting OFF switch that (inflammable? Whatever. Call it explosive) Hot
switches off ALL security throughout the Food Fun. Unless the characters intercede when the Krystal-G promised the Troubleshooters that
Pyramid. Pressing this is a Really, Really Bad lasers start zapping, they end up with a big she would send a documentary team to help
Idea, even worse than the Really Bad Idea boom that takes out a chunk of Level 1. them produce an educational video about the
of turning off some of the security systems. dangers of the Commie Ray. Unfortunately, she
If they turn off all the security systems, then made a slight mistake when filling out the work
the Tension throughout the Food Pyramid Anarchy (Tension=0) order. Instead of assigning the documentary
drops to 0. team to work for the Troubleshooters,
If the characters have reduced the Tension she assigned the team to work with them
They can also try to work the controls. This to 0, then a riot breaks out in the INFRARED – meaning the Troubleshooters will be starring
requires a Security System roll or random section. Without security systems, it is in the documentary. The work order is signed
button pressing. A successful roll lets them set impossible to tell who started it but rumours by Krystal-G’s INDIGO-clearance supervisor,
the Tension to whatever they want. If they risk insist that the Commie Ray swept through Reginald-I, so there’s no way to get out of it.
random button pressing, roll on the Security the cafeteria.
System Catastrophe table.
21
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
Also, if the troops are stationed on Level 0
and they’re allowed to run wild in the food
troughs, then violence erupts when a civilian
INFRARED takes the last packet of Algae
Crisps. Suddenly, a huge fistfight erupts on the
lowest level. There are far too many soldiers for
Mike-Y’s Food Pyramid security team to deal
with – what do the characters do?
A Tactical Briefing
Bert-Y wants to know what his soldiers are
going to be doing. He’s got 500 armed thugs
who need to shoot something regularly or
at least burn off some of their combat-drug-
fuelled energy, then things will get violent
quickly. What do the Troubleshooters want to
do with their army?
The Troubleshooters have two options – they If they put them in the subbasement, then Bert- Mad scientist Victor-B promised he would
can section off part of Level 0 for the soldiers Y complains that the food vats are leaking and send the Troubleshooters technology to
or they can stick them down in the bowels of Karl-R complains that soldiers are stealing his deal with the Commie Ray and the first bit of
the storage levels. Bert-Y favours the former supplies and getting lost in the maze of twisty this technology shows up in the evening of
option but this will cut the cafeteria’s ability corridors and cellars. It also means there is the first daycycle. It’s a huge packing crate,
to serve INFRAREDs in half. He strongly no real way for the soldiers to respond to marked ‘THIS WAY UP’ (it’s upside-down)
disapproves of exiling his men to the dank traitors showing up and attacking the Food and weighing many tons. It’s delivered by a
under-basement. Pyramid, unless the Troubleshooters want surly truckbot that zooms off after dropping
to try organising a rapid deployment via the off the crate.
If they stick the soldiers on Level 0, then the dumb waiters.
Food Pyramid rapidly turns into a sprawling Stuck to the side of the crate is a note from
campsite, with underwear drying on washing Victor-B. ‘Set this up in the entrance
lines, Solyent RED cooking on capefires, tanks Feeding The Five Hundred to the Food Pyramid and scan all
rolling around patrolling the perimeter and the incoming citizens. Victor-B.’ When the
occasional random outburst of gunfire. Higher- So, what do you serve 500 hungry hungry crate is opened, inside the Troubleshooters
clearance citizens look down disapprovingly soldiers? If the Troubleshooters just let them find a giant self-powered magnetic resonance
from the balconies above and the INFRAREDs run wild in the INFRARED food lines, then imaging scanner. It’s the size of a jet engine.
are crammed so tightly in the non-militarised this will severely impact the Food Pyramid’s There are steps at either end and friendly little
sections of the ground floor that there’s a real CTMUs for the day. diagrams show that the citizens are supposed
23
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
4. This Did Not Solve The Problem
Episode Summary: The various plans There’s an odd prickly feeling in the air, as if up and punches the lead Troubleshooter in
advance. This really doesn’t help. Meanwhile, the local nuclear reactor was being twitchy. All the face.
as knowledge of the ‘existence’ of the Commie the citizens the Troubleshooters pass seem
Ray becomes common, everyone starts using nervous.
the Commie Ray as an excuse to commit Crisis at Breakfastcycle
treason. Near the entrance to the Food Pyramid, the
Troubleshooters come upon an odd scene. Morris-O is always full of hate but the disruptions
Armed Forces: The 215 t h fortifies There’s a RED citizen sitting in the middle of caused by all the different plans to save the
their position as treason takes hold of the the corridor, napping. There’s a pair of GREEN cafeteria from the Commie Ray really annoyed
cafeteria. goons standing on either side of him, directing him. With all the rumours circulating about
foot traffic around him. The RED clone is using the Commie Ray as an excuse, Morris-O
Internal Security: The Troubleshooters stretched out, his head pillowed on a thick decided to take a swing at his boss and blame
are sent to infiltrate a secret society meeting folder entitled ‘Directives for the Efficient it on the Commie Ray.
in their own cafeteria. Auditing of Type I Screw Washers
in Type II Screw Washer Storage Morris-O’s surprisingly solid
HPD&MC: As the panic over the Commie Facilities’ and appears to be fast asleep. fist connects very solidly with
Ray grows, Krystal-G has a whole new If the Troubleshooters ask why this RED [TROUBLESHOOTER]’s nose.
initiative to solve the problem. citizen is allowed to keep on sleeping in the There’s a distinct wet snapping
middle of the morningcycle, one goon grunts noise and a gush of low-clearance
R&D: Victor-B sends new and even more that the matter is classified. From behind the fluids mixed with a few mid-
disturbing gadgets to the Food Pyramid. grunting GREEN goon, the Troubleshooters clearance GREENs come pouring
hear the sleeping citizen mutter ‘I can’t out. It’s really painful.
PLC: Chet-B’s supervisor Ingrid-I shows help it… the ray… making me
up. soooooo sleepy. I must…lie down Morris-O grins widely (it’s the first
and sleep… not my volition… time you’ve seen the man smile
Again, this episode is supposed to take Commies… making me sleepy… since you met him yesterday), then
place over one daycycle. At the end of it, the with their Ray… mmm… just like suddenly snaps to attention and
Troubleshooters must again calculate how on the informational video.’ salute. ‘Sorry’, he says, ‘the Commie
many Consumption Tracking Metric Units Ray made me do it! I was suddenly
they’ve earned. As the RED citizen is not responsible for overwhelmed by the desire to punch
committing treason (ok, not even in Friend you in the face, sir! Obviously, the
It’s Not My Fault, Computer’s most fevered crossed circuits
is sleeping on duty considered full-fledged
Commies are so scared of you that
they’re trying to make innocent
It’s The Ray treason but it’s still a severe misdemeanour), citizens attack you!’
he is not being punished. Anyone blaming
Tension Whatever It’s Currently their treacherous impulses on the ray is given The Troubleshooters can discipline Morris-O
Set To special dispensation – it’s not your fault if as they wish, but he’s technically in the right,
you’re mind controlled, after all. as they discover when they get to their office
As the Troubleshooters return to the Food in the Invertower, where Krystal-G is waiting
Pyramid the next morning, they spot an The Troubleshooters discover this when they for them.
unusual amount of graffiti spray-bombed on arrive at the Food Pyramid and Morris-O walks
the formerly pristine walls of FOG Sector.
25
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
Internal Security
– The Meeting
Tension Mounting
Tension Rising
27
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
entourage sweeps onto Level 2 and won’t will be arriving tomorrow evening
entertain suggestions of stopping. (Saying – this place had better be spotless
Ingrid-I ‘two minutes! We need to attend a
PURGE meeting’ just gets them shot by her
and running smoothly by the time
they get here! And get me some
Management 10 bodyguards.) See Purge Meeting, below. ketchup for these fingers!’
Intimidation 14
Hygiene 14
Stealth 8
Level 2: ‘Oh, by the way, Chet-B
ordered in the finest ingredients Intsec – PURGE
Violence 12
Unarmed Combat 16
for the dinner tomorrow. Check
with that monster in the basement
Meeting
Hardware 10 to ensure they arrived. We spared Tension Rather High, Probably
Software 12 no expense for the Sector Section
Data Analysis 16 Supervisor’s Dinner!’ If the Troubleshooters make it back to the
Financial Systems 16 secret PURGE meeting, they can try to infiltrate
Wetware 10 If a Troubleshooter checks with Karl-R, he it. There are four burly traitors here, all RED-
Armor: INDIGO Reflec (E3) discovers that the ingredients have been clearance. The lead PURGE traitor is Kevin-R.
Weapons: Teeth (M3V) ordered and should arrive tomorrow. The tables on either side of the PURGE
Mutant Power: Super matter eating meeting are all full of loud and hyperactive
Secret Society: Anti-Mutant Level 3: ‘Alphonse! My darling, do Power Services technicians who just finished
they still have a chef of your genius overhauling a sewer pump station, and are
working in this hellhole? You trading heroic and manly tales of waste pipes
should be upstairs! But I’ll forgive and sump overflows, so eavesdropping on the
it all if you excel tomorrow! Where PURGE meeting without electronics or mutant
Level 0: ‘I don’t care about the damn is the menu?’ powers is impossible.
INFRAREDs! And keep that Morris-
O away from me, he annoys me.’ Alphonse-B and Ingrid-I are old friends. He If the Troubleshooters sit down at the PURGE
gives her a copy of the menu and hands table (there are free seats), the PURGErs
Fingers lost for: the Troubleshooters another copy. It is draw laser pistols and point them at the
Anyone committing treason nearby. interesting reading. Troubleshooters under the table. Kevin-R
Armed Forces troops messing up her nice Ingrid-I stabs a thin finger at the menu. demands to know who the characters are and
cafeteria. ‘Make sure that Alphonse has if they don’t come up with a good cover story or
Armed Forces equipment cluttering up her everything he needs! The guests reason for being there quickly, the PURGErs
nice cafeteria. open fire. Sitting down with a plate of food and
That MRI still running. VitaYum Unified Citizenry Food mimicking the PURGE fork/spoon recognition
Citizens wearing non-standard uniforms, Pyramid Court code will work.
like the R&D helmets. Sector Section Supervisors Annual
Yearcycle-End Banquet
Her GREEN goons remove the fingers with a Secrets of the PURGE
handy pair of wirecutters and put them into a MENU
bag for Ingrid. By the incomparable Alphonse-B brotherhood
Level 1: ‘Yes, yes, REDs, who the Mushrooms in Glazed Honey Once he trusts the Troubleshooters, Kevin-R
hell cares? They’re just INFRAREDs Genetically Engineered Soup launches into a conspiratorial rant:
with ribbons on top.’ Beef Surprise in VIOLET sauce ‘Fellow enemies of The Computer,
Vegetables of the Hydroponic Seasoncycle be happy! The regime of the enemy
Fingers lost for: Iced Caramel Mousse is in disarray! Ever since the hated
Ongoing Yoga classes. Café Noir Communists began testing their
Damaged or malfunctioning bots. mind control weapon, many have
Damage to the cafeteria. Guest List: risen up against The Computer!
Dominic-I (CPU), Ingrid-I (PLC), This chaos and terror can only
While the Troubleshooters are accompanying Mathias-I (IntSec), Martha-I (HPD&MC), benefit the cause of PURGE!
Ingrid-I through the RED level, they spot four Rhonda-I (R&D), George-I (Armed Forces),
REDs clustered conspiratorially in a corner. Kenny-I (Tech Services) Our spies have searched for the
They’re all eating with a fork and spoon, even & special guest Commie mind control ray, so that
though they’ve only ordered drinks so far. It’s we might seize it from them and use
the PURGE meeting the Troubleshooters are [[[ NOT AVAILABLE AT YOUR SECURITY it to control the common clones,
supposed to be infiltrating! Ingrid-I and her CLEARANCE ]]] using them as unwitting agents of
deadly poison, which will be added Again, the Troubleshooters need to determine
to the food. Place the vial on the how many CTMUs they’ve earned this
third shelf in the third locker in daycycle. Again, it’s 2d20 for each meal,
the third giant walk-in refrigerator modified by Perversity and the fickle whims
downstairs – our agent will collect it of the Gamemaster.
from there. Do you understand?’
5. Food Fight
Episode Summary: Day three in the Food Pyramid and it all goes to hell. Preparations for the Sector Section Supervisor Banquet prove
troublesome when Chet-B’s embezzling comes to light, not to mention the fact that the chef is a PURGE assassin.
29
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
Krystal-G’s Fun get the Troubleshooters through to Darina-R,
a very bored and argumentative receptionist
Sell off some of that nice shiny Armed
Forces equipment. I mean, you’ve got
Mental Fitness who stonewalls the Troubleshooters at every
turn. She insists that according to OmniEat’s
tanks and artillery sitting around the
cafeteria floor. It’s like free money.
Routine records, the Food Pyramid account is empty
– the deliveries yesterday cleaned it out and
Alternatively, put the Armed Forces to
work looting the OmniEats warehouse.
Tension Not As Much As What’s until more credits are put into that account, Kidnap a high-clearance citizen and hold
Coming OmniEat won’t be delivering and neither will him for ransom.
any other food delivery company. Make what little food they have left stretch
Following the success of her Yoga program, to feed the thousands upon thousands of
Krystal-G comes back to the cafeteria the Threats won’t affect Darina-R, nor will bribes citizens who will soon be arriving at the
following day with a new plan. She’s worried or orders. Not giving the Troubleshooters any Food Pyramid for lunch.
about the level of stress caused by having all food deliveries until the account is in credit is
those soldiers hanging around the cafeteria. the very foundation of her being.
Her proposal is that she take most of Bert-Y’s Alphonse’s Ingredients
troops off to a nearby hall and teach them
yoga. The Troubleshooters will probably Checking The Account Alphonse needs honey, mushrooms, soup
be quite happy to allow this, as it gets the mix, beef, vegetables, caramel and real coffee,
troublesome troops out of the Food Pyramid Looking at the computer in Chet-B’s office all of which are clearance BLUE at least and
for a few hours. (or asking Friend Computer) reveals that the cost 5,000 credits. If the Troubleshooters
VitaYum Unified Citizenry Food Pyramid Court cannot raise the cash to buy this food, then
The first step is persuading Bert-Y to hand his has over 100,000 credits in its account and they will have to substitute ingredients from
troops over to Krystal-G. He’s convinced that there shouldn’t be any problem transferring the cheap low-clearance food. Alphonse-B will
he’s a heroic defender of Alpha Complex’s credits to the OmniEats delivery company. raise a huge fuss but because his belief in the
freedom and is preventing a Commie ray Commie Ray has given him the confidence to
takeover by his mere presence. He’s also A quick Financial Systems, Hacking or other be a PURGE assassin, he doesn’t mind using
unwilling to leave the fortifications undefended. skill check, though, quickly uncovers the substandard ingredients. The main problem
The Troubleshooters will have to assure him treachery. Someone has hacked the system will arise later, when the high-clearance
that the Armed Forces equipment will be safe so that the display reports that the account is citizens complain.
and secure even if some of his 500 troops full but if you try to withdraw money from it, the
are missing. system rejects the transaction as the account
is actually empty. Digging through logs reveals Hungry Hungry
Once that’s done, a large number of troops that the account was nearly emptied three days
march out of the cafeteria to be bounced at by ago (by Chet-B). Armed Thugs
Krystal-G. The stress level in the Food Pyramid
drops noticeably. Chet-B is long gone and his ill-gotten credits Just as the Troubleshooters are sorting out
with him. The Troubleshooters have two the ingredients problem, the soldiers taken
The Heartbreak problems – firstly, they need to raise 10,000
credits just to buy the basic food supplies for
away by Krystal-G return and they’re starving
after a morning of energetic yoga. If there is
of Missing the daycycle. Secondly, the exotic ingredients
requested by Alphonse-B cost another 5,000
not a full meal waiting for them when they
arrive, they get violent and use the Commie
Supplies credits on top of that. Ray as an excuse for looting the cafeteria’s
lower levels. A riot breaks out – how do the
Tension Stress-headache Troubleshooters stop it?
The Food Pyramid
The Troubleshooters are contacted by Karl-R,
the brutish overseer of the storage vaults below Garage Sale Alphonse Goes
the Food Pyramid. ‘Supplies have not
come’ he reports, ‘delivery firms say, So, how do the Troubleshooters earn the money
Looking For
our account with them empty.’ It’s
an hour before lunch and the storeroom is
or feed the citizens? Some suggestions: Poison
nearly empty. Raise prices throughout the Food Pyramid Tension Rising
immediately. Your average INFRARED
can expect to spend 1 to 5 credits on a If the Troubleshooters completed the mission
Contacting The Supplier meal at the Food Pyramid, depending on for PURGE last night, then there should be
how hungry and rich he’s feeling. Raising a lethal vial of something on the third shelf
All of the Food Pyramid’s food supplies are prices to, say, 10 credits a meal will help in the third locker in the third giant walk-in
supplied through one service firm, OmniEats earn money. They can also squeeze the refrigerator downstairs. At any rate, would-be
Incorporated Food Deliveries. Calling them up higher-clearance citizens for more cash. PURGE assassin Alphonse-B heads down
to the sub-level, ostensibly to berate Karl-R
31
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
The Second Guest The Rest of the Guests The Final “Guest”
– Dominic-I
The other INDIGOs arrive at the Food Pyramid The final guest doesn’t actually exist. Remember
Kindly old Dominic-I strolls into the Food in a shiny limobot, escorted by a sizeable the mobile human-shaped cameras behind the
Pyramid and interrupts Ingrid-I just as she is bodyguard presence. The guests are: tinted glass on Level 4? The ones that look to
about to devour the Troubleshooters. Mathias-I (IntSec): Relatively young observes below like the outline of a VIOLET
for his exalted position in Internal Security, or even a High Programmer looking down?
‘Ingrid, my dear, why are Mathias-I is the current record-holder for Conveniently, one of those cameras moves to
you punishing these poor both the FOG Sector IntSec 10-kilometre observe the Sector Section Supervisor Dinner,
Troubleshooters? Why, I was at FunRun and the ‘Most Citizens Sent so it appears to the diners that they’re being
the very meeting where Chet-B To The Termination Booths’ for this watched by a superior (and perhaps they
volunteered to transfer the Food accountingcycle. He’s got a thin moustache are, remotely). Dominic-I addresses all his
Pyramid to their control as part of which he is immensely proud of. comments and speeches to this glass ceiling.
the ongoing War on Communism. It
was an act of patriotism – motivated Martha-I (HPD&MC): is middle-
by his own treacherous greed, aged and wears an electronic monocle I Have Called You All
yes but it was still patriotic. These connected to her PDC. She’s always wired
Troubleshooters are working to into the HPD&MC mainframe, making Together To Insult You
discover the Commie Mind Control minute adjustments to the zeitgeist of
Ray – they don’t have time to bother Alpha Complex. As the first course of dinner is served,
with petty little concerns like your Dominic-I stands and speaks to his fellow
dinner party.’ Rhonda-I (R&D): Rhonda-I isn’t a INDIGOs, listing the failures of this entire
scientist, she’s a bureaucrat. Her great operation as poor of the incompetence of
Ingrid-I scowls and stalks off to talk to talent is keeping massively ambitious their subordinates and hence of the INDIGOs’
Alphonse-B. Dominic-I continues to chat to R&D projects within budget. Her instinctive failures as supervisors. He calls on the
the Troubleshooters about their mission in the answer to any question at all is ‘NO!’ Troubleshooters to contribute supporting
most affable fashion possible. evidence for all his claims.
George-I (Armed Forces): A
If the Troubleshooters confess that they’re grizzled veteran of many, many entirely PLC:
no closer to finding the Commie Ray, then fictional wars and an inveterate liar. He starts by eviscerating Ingrid-I: ‘I’m sure
Dominic-I coos and suggests that the fault Talking to George-I for more than ten most of you will have noticed the
doesn’t lie with them – it lies with the support seconds means getting told a lengthy and rather shabby state of this once-
they’re being given by the other service self-aggrandizing war story about how magnificent showcase cafeteria.
groups. Why don’t they mention that during George-I single-handedly saved Alpha The fault lies, you might say, with
the dinner? Complex with a toothpick and sheer grit. the cafeteria managers – these
Troubleshooters who stand before
If, on the other hand, the Troubleshooters Kenny-I (Tech Services): An you! But you would be wrong! Chet-
lie and proclaim that they’re hot on the trail entirely forgettable senior technician. B, Ingrid-I’s trusted subordinate,
of the Mind Control Ray, then Dominic-I is So forgettable, in fact, that Kenny’s transferred control of the cafeteria
momentarily confused, then asks them to actually dead. He’s wheeled in by an aide as part of a joint task force to deal
identify which of the service group’s plans was and wheeled out again after the meal. with a security problem. Now, what
the least helpful. He also tries – in a kindly, Mentioning Kenny’s deceased status is did the Troubleshooters find when
avuncular fashion – to completely destroy any treasonous. they took Chet-B’s job?’
confidence the Troubleshooters have in their
ability to find the Commie Ray. Dominic-I wants Ann-I (Power Services): Power Dominic-I looks expectantly at the
to present a massive cluster of incompetence Services is even worse than Tech Services Troubleshooter who was the PLC liaison.
at the dinner, not a successful mission. for getting noticed or promoted. This suits If the Troubleshooter talks about Chet-B
Ann-I (a senior figure in the Illuminati) just defrauding PLC and the generally chaotic state
As the other guests arrive, Dominic whispers fine. She’s content to sit back, steeple her of the cafeteria, Ingrid-I squirms and stares
‘trust me. Just tell the truth, and I’ll fingers and watch everything… daggers at the Troubleshooters while the other
take care of you afterwards! Come INDIGOs look angrily at Ingrid-I.
with me and stand nearby.’
If The Troubleshooters
Don’t Sing
If the Troubleshooters don’t support Dominic-
I’s story, then the old clone becomes
increasingly angry as his plans for
shaming the other INDIGOs collapse. The
Troubleshooters have made an enemy for
life – but before he can start making their
lives hell, the mind control ray shows up
and the cafeteria descends into anarchy
anyway. He’ll be back to screw them over
at debriefing.
If The Troubelshooters
Save Dominic-I
Then he owes them twice over – so much
debt, in fact, that he decides it would be best
if they were all terminated, and turns against
them in debriefing.
If you enjoyed your meal, why not fill out a comment card?
33
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
6. The Commie Ray Job
Episode Summary: Victor-B arrives at get killed if you hold it too long. Secondly, it’s in the crowd below, causing them to jump
the Food Pyramid with his prototype Mind absolutely unique, as Victor-B only invented it up and down vigorously. It’s like a series of
Control Ray. Everyone tries to steal it, until by accident and it will never be replicated now earthquakes, shaking the foundations of the
it explodes. he’s terminated. Thirdly, it uses a battery that’s Food Pyramid.
technically thermonuclear and every time the
The Ray button is pressed, it gets closer to meltdown.
There’s a little yellow warning label on the side
Alice-G’s real target, though, are the higher-
clearance citizens on the level above. She
Tension 5 testifying to this. wants to command them to hurl themselves
over the balconies, falling like a multicoloured
There’s a shout of triumph from the The Ray uses the Energy Weapons skill. The rainbow of INDIGOs and BLUEs and GREENs
ground floor of the Food Pyramid. Ray ignores armour. Attacks from the ray start that all turn red at the end. Troubleshooters hit
Looking down, you see Victor-B at Irritating Desire and advance one row on this by the ray who are near the balcony will feel
running through the crowd, holding table per 3 points of margin of success. an urge to jump over.
something small and shiny over
his head. He’s shouting something Irritating Desire: The Troubleshooter Stopping Alice-G: The main obstacle to
but you can’t make out his words feels the desire to obey, but isn’t compelled to. stopping Alice-G is the three bots accompanying
until he’s running up the stairs to The effects wear off after one round. her.
Level 1. Long-lasting Desire: As above but
the effects take hours to wear off or until the
‘I’ve done it! I’ve cracked it!’ he Troubleshooter is hit by the ray again. Frankenbots
shouts, ‘a working mind control ray! Strong Compulsion: The Troubleshooter Violence 8
With this, we can AAAAAAAAGH wants to obey and will fulfil the command of Agility 12
splutch!’ the ray if able and if not stopped. The effects Hand Weapons 12
wear off after one round. Armor: 3
He doesn’t say ‘Aaagh, Splutch!’. Long-lasting Compulsion: As above Weapons: Blenders (W3K)
That’s the sound you make when but the effects take hours to wear off, or until
an three-metre-tall robot that the Troubleshooter is hit by the ray again.
appears to have been made out of Overwhelming Desire: The
spare parts and blenders suddenly Troubleshooter will do anything to obey. The Military Response
smashes through the wall and (Sierra Club)
punches through your chest with
a potato masher. The bot scoops The Chase Having seen Alice-G murder Victor-B and use
up the mind control ray and throws Anyway, every possible group in the cafeteria the mind control ray, Bert-Y takes charge.
it… to Alice-G, who’s standing on is now after that little silver ray. When each He orders his troops to fire on the balcony. A
the balcony nearby. group gets hold of the ray, they start firing barrage of fire destroys one section of Level
it randomly into the crowds, hitting the 1, causing it to collapse. If the Troubleshooters
‘Death Leopard rules!’ she screams, Troubleshooters each time as they chase were on Level 1, then they fall to Level 0 along
and presses a button on the mind after the ray generator. If the Troubleshooters with Alice-G and any surviving bots. Alice-G is
control ray… don’t seem inclined to go after the ray, one of stunned or at least killed by this blast.
the INDIGO dinner guests orders them to take
Before dealing with the result of Alice-G’s control of the situation. Escorted by a few grunts, Bert-Y rushes over to
actions, let’s talk about (the late) Victor-B’s the debris and plucks the mind control ray out
invention. It’s a small hand-held gadget, about Just because one of these antagonists looses of it. He looks up at the higher clearances, then
the size of a torch. It’s got two buttons on it, the mind control ray doesn’t necessary mean a wicked grin spreads over his face. He sets
a microphone at one end and a projection that encounter is over. Everyone keeps chasing the ray to ‘appreciate nature’ and spins around,
crystal at the other. You hold down one button the ray until it explodes. This is basically a blasting his own troops with it. Suddenly,
and speak a command into the microphone. Benny Hill scene with a nuclear bomb. dozens of troops are taking a keen interest
Then, you point the projector end and press in fungi. Bert-Y continues to stalk through the
the other button. The command you entered Food Pyramid, firing wildly.
into the microphone becomes an irresistible Alice-G (Death Leopard)
compulsion for anyone in the ray’s field of fire. Stopping Bert-Y: Actually, the longer the
The beam goes through most barriers and has Alice-G’s plan is a simple and suicidal one Troubleshooters wait before stopping Bert-Y,
a range of several kilometres. In short, press – she is Death Leopard, after all. She puts the the easier it gets. Each of Bert-Y’s shots turns
the button and half of Alpha Complex dances order ‘JUMP’ into the ray, then runs around several of his troops from hardened killers into
to your whims. the balcony of Level 1 firing wildly. Her three eager gardeners. Attacking Bert-Y immediately
frankenbots follow her around, protecting means that dozens of soldiers open fire to
There are a few drawbacks. Firstly, as Victor-B her from as much hostile fire as they can. defend their commanding officer. Attacking him
found out, everyone wants it and you generally Her initial shots hit hundreds of INFRAREDs a few shots later means that a scant handful
Rise of the Undermen After the banquet, Ingrid-I gathered her If Kevin-R gets hold of the ray, he sets it to
bodyguards and headed down to the lower ‘attack servants of The Computer’ and starts,
(Psion) levels to retrieve the ray. If a Troubleshooter yep, firing into the crowd.
gets his hands on the ray, then Ingrid tries to
For many years, Karl-R the Psion mutant and pull rank and demands the Troubleshooter Stopping Kevin-R: What, you need
his followers have been plotting to rise up from hand it over. If a traitor has the ray or if Ingrid permission to shoot PURGE agents in the
the underworld and conquer the genetically doesn’t like the Troubleshooter, then she bites face?
pure. Now, bolstered by the courage of the his head off and then takes the ray. See page
false Commie Ray and drawn by the lure of the 28 for Ingrid’s statistics.
real Mind Control Ray, they seize the daycycle. The Waiterbots
The floor of the Food Pyramid shatters and She grabs the ray, sets it to ‘Kill the Mutants’
pale, wan mutants wriggle out of the gaps and fires it in a large arc around her. (Corpore Metal)
and cracks. Everywhere, ordinary citizens start fighting
Karl-R’s mutants. There’s another conspiracy in the cafeteria,
Remember back in Episode 5, when the one invisible all through this mission. The
Troubleshooters had the option of sticking Unfortunately, she also zaps her bodyguards, waiterbots are all Corpore Metal spies, trading
a load of Armed Forces equipment in the who may have just seen her distend her secret messages in binary chatter and in the
sublevels? Well, if they did, then they’ve got jaws and eat a Troubleshooter. If so, the pattern of stains on the dinner trays. Now,
a bigger problem. The pale, wan mutants are bodyguards attack her. they’re going after the Mind Control Ray. If
carrying all the weapons stowed in the depths the Troubleshooters get hold of the ray, the
by the Troubleshooters. A hail of laser fire cuts Stopping Ingrid: Unfortunately, she’s Waiterbots close in like oblong sharks of the
through the cafeteria. an INDIGO. Shooting her in the face may be cafeteria floor, crushing their victims before
the most expedient solution but it’s not very scooping up the ray and firing ‘obey the
The giant Karl-R heads straight for the mind acceptable in Alpha Complex society. demands of bots’ mind control rays.
control ray. Once he gets his beefy hands on
it, he switches it to ‘mutants! Use your powers Stopping the Bots: They don’t actually
proudly!’ and starts blasting the crowds. PURGE (Gee, Maybe have hands, so a Troubleshooter can just grab
the ray from a tray easily.
Stopping Karl-R: Karl-R is fairly tough PURGE?)
(see page 18) and has his potent mutant
abilities. His servants are weak and easily Remember those PURGE conspirators led by The Ray Goes
dealt with, unless they have Armed Forces
weapons.
Kevin-R? They’re still around the cafeteria,
waiting for their chance to grab the ray. They
Boom
Tension 0
Once you tire of running around and blowing
chunks out of the Food Pyramid, then it’s
time to stop running around and just blow the
whole thing up. The Mind Control Ray begins
to overheat. It’s patently obvious that the thing
is about to explode but the various groups keep
fighting over it. The Troubleshooters should
flee the scene or take cover before the ray
goes boom.
Everything goes
35
THE COMMUNIST CAFETERIA CONSPIRACY
7. Triumph Of The Tinfoil Hat Brigade
Episode Summary: The Troubleshooters What was the nature of your Hmm… termination of multiple
wake up and are debriefed. This probably mission? citizens, destruction of multiple
leads to termination. Were you able to complete this bots, conspiracy to assassinate
mission successfully? an INDIGO citizen, colluding with
Debriefing on the If not, why not?
What was the single greatest
secret societies, theft of Armed
Forces property… it’s a long list.
Threshold obstacle in completing the mission?
Why? Can you explain any of this?
Read the following to the players: What was the next greatest obstacle Hmm?’
You wake up. in completing the mission? Why?
What was the next greatest obstacle The only good answer to Herman-Y’s questions
It hurts. in completing the mission? Why? is ‘Commie Mind Control Rays’. Soon, the
What was the next greatest obstacle whole Commie Mind Control Ray paranoia
As you wipe the dust and smoke in completing the mission? Why? will be washed away by some new, more
from your eyes, you see you’re Which team member contributed sinister threat and citizens will no longer be
no longer in the ruins of the Food the most in completing the mission? able to escape punishment by claiming the ray
Pyramid. You’re in a small office, Why? got them but right now, the Troubleshooters
sitting across from a citizen in Which team member contributed can use it as a defence. If they don’t, then
a YELLOW uniform. He’s in the the least in completing the mission? Herman-Y ticks the ‘terminate’ box on his
middle of filling out a lengthy form Why? form and the Troubleshooters are dragged
when he notices you’re awake. He away to be shot.
picks up a stack of clipboards and Once the team has answered those question,
hands one to each of you. Herman-Y picks up another piece of paper
and reads: The INDIGOs
‘Please sign here, here, here, here, ‘Official CPU Report on Incident
initial there, tongueprint there, sign FOG/214/66/BLUE, Section 12 If the Troubleshooters helped Dominic-I
there and DNA sample there’ he – that’s RED, by the way, that screw the other Sector Section Supervisors,
says, pointing at the appropriate section so I can read it to you -, is then they’ve earned the personal hatred of
blank spaces on the clipboard forms. as follows: Ingrid-I, Mathias-I, George-I and Rhonda-I. All
‘Standard waivers and releases, “The VitaYum Unified Citizenry four INDIGOs will launch individual attempts
relinquishing your temporary BLUE Food Pyramid suffered severe to punish the Troubleshooters. If they didn’t
clearance within the cafeteria and structural damage following the help Dominic-I and he wasn’t poisoned, then
so on. Fill those out and we can get detonation of an illegal nuclear- he tries to get them too.
on with debriefing.’ powered device. Numerous citizens
in neighbouring subsectors were However, if the Troubleshooters helped
The debriefing officer is Herman-Y-ESH, a affected by dangerous psionic Dominic-I AND saved his life, then he gets
rather dull bureaucrat. He’s uninterested in the beams emanating from the Food promoted to VIOLET and owes them a favour.
Troubleshooters’ testimony and just wants to Pyramid. Estimated damage is…” It might even be enough to save their lives
fill in answers to the following questions on his well, that bit is classified but it’s when the INDIGOs come after them…
debriefing sheet. a very large number of credits.
GHTS
More
www.mongoosepublishing.com
37
PARANOIA
™
Viva La Revolution
Special duties for special troubleshooters
GARETH HANRAHAN BEN ENGELSBERG CONTENTS
Writer/Scapegoat Plot Developmer/Mad R&D Scientist Introduction 39
Breif Encounters 41
CHARLOTTE LAW DAN GELBER The Easiest Mission Ever 45
Editing, graphics/Drillbot GREG COSTIKYAN Debreifing with Violence 46
ERIC GOLDBERG The People Want You to Shoot People 47
JIM HOLLOWAY Original game design & development/
Cover /Blueprints Bring in the Prisoners 49
Building committee Revolutionary Developments 53
ALISON BLACKWELL The Central Commitee Wants You 54
Interior Art /Treasonous Propaganda THE COMPUTER IntSec Inside 56
Looking after your best interests Viva La Revolution 57
WILL CHAPMAN
Layout/Infrared Drone
WARNING :
Knowledge or possession of this information by any citizen
of Security Clearance VIOLET or lower is treason punishable by a
long spell of Armed Forces latrine scrubot maintenance duty.
TM & Copyright © 1983, 1987, 2008 by Eric Goldberg & Greg Costikyan. All Rights Reserved. Mongoose Publishing Ltd., Authorized User. Based on material published in
previous editions of PARANOIA.
ILLUMINATI is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and is used by permission.
The reproduction of material from this book for personal or corporate profit, by photographic, electronic, or other means of storage and retrieval, is prohibited. You may
copy character sheets, record sheets, checklists and tables for personal use.
E-mail questions and comments to Mongoose Publishing at sales@mongoosepublishing.com or write to PO Box 1018, Swindon, Wiltshire SN3 1DG, UNITED KINGDOM.
On the World Wide Web: www.mongoosepublishing.com.
Published by Mongoose Publishing, Ltd. Publication MGP 6642. Published August 2006. First printing September 2008. Printed in USA
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
The Computer: THIS IS YOUR FRIEND, THE (KABOOM!) Revolutionary: You’re not one of The
COMPUTER. Computer’s lickspittle minions, are you?
A Citizen: Oh! Hail, Friend Computer! How A Citizen: What was that? A Citizen: If I was, I’d be executed, right?
are you? The Computer: THAT WAS NOT AN EXPLOSION. Revolutionary: Yep. On the spot.
EVERYTHING IS FINE. DO NO PANIC. A Citizen: Then I’m a supporter of the
The Computer: EVERYTHING IS JUST FINE, People’s Glorious Thingy! Power to whoever’s
FRIEND CITIZEN. WE ARE, AFTER ALL, IN ALPHA (BOOM! BLAM! ZAP!) in power!
C OMPLEX , T HE B EST A ND H APPIEST O F A LL
POSSIBLE PLACES. EVERYTHING IS PERFECT UNDER The Computer: E VERYTHING I S U NDER
MY BENEVOLENT ADMINISTRATION. CONTROL. EVERYTHING IS FINE. REMAIN HAPPY. Viva La Revolution!
A Citizen: Well….
The Computer: DO YOU FEEL UNHAPPY, (BLAM! BOOM! AAAGH!) This mission is designed to turn Alpha
FRIEND CITIZEN? HAPPINESS IS MANDATORY. FAILURE Complex on its head. The Computer is a traitor!
TO BE HAPPY IS TREASON. TREASON RESULTS IN A Citizen: Friend Computer, what’s going Traitors are the good guys! Up is down! Good
TERMINATION. on? is bad! The main aim is to force the players
A Citizen: Of course I’m happy! Happy as The Computer: SYSTEM ERROR, PLEASE to actually think about loyalties and survival
the daycycle is long, Friend Computer! I’m filled STAND BY. for a change, instead of parroting the usual
with joy! It’s just that I’ve heard rumours about A Citizen: Friend Computer? platitudes of utter loyalty to The Computer
traitors and commies who want to overthrow when talking to The Computer and spouting
your benevolent rule! And that worries me…in Enter A Revolutionary. secret society propaganda when dealing with
a happy way, of course. Did I mention I’m their secret societies.
happy? A Citizen: Who are you?
The Computer: THERE IS NO NEED TO
WORRY, FRIEND CITIZEN. THERE IS NO CHANCE OF
Revolutionary: The People’s Glorious
Revolution has taken control of this Sector! The Plot, Which
A TRAITOROUS UPRISING TAKING CONTROL OF ALPHA
COMPLEX. INTSEC IS EVER VIGILANT. EVERYTHING IS
The Computer’s lickspittle minions will be
executed!
Is About Several
UNDER CONTROL. A Citizen: Uh-oh. Plots
The Day of Revolution is at hand!
39
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
If Revolution One was all that was going on though, is interrupted by a T-34 combot
in YUC Sector, then it would all be over in a who escorts them back for debriefing.
few minutes. Counterrevolution!
3. Debriefing With Violence: In the
Minutes before the PGRC’s revolutionary middle of the debriefing, several very loud
Operation FLUSH schemes begin, just as the mission begins, a explosions are heard. The revolution has
PURGE agent is captured by Internal Security. begun! Only the characters don’t get to
– Revolution Two The captured agent reveals that PURGE has do much.
infiltrated Operation FLUSH and that the
Internal Security’s spies were monitoring the supposedly-under-control-fake-revolution 4. The People Want You To Shoot
PGRC’s activities and reported the incipient is actually a real revolution. In desperation, People: Two senior revolutionaries,
revolution to their superiors. One of these IntSec signals any agents it can contact that Terrence-I and Phineous-I, show up and
superiors, Terence-I-QUI, decided to let the the revolution must be stopped! inform the characters about who’s in
revolution happen. When YUC Sector is taken charge now. Oh and the characters have
over by the PGRC, all the traitors would rise up just been nominated as the firing squad
and fight for the new regime. In one fell swoop, for the people.
Internal Security would be able to identify Warbots, Gotta
every traitor and enemy agent in the whole 5. Bring in the Prisoners! A succession
sector! It would be the greatest traitor-hunting Have Warbots of enemies of the people are brought in.
coup in many years. It would be known as The characters get to decide who gets to
Operation FLUSH. The other element of Viva La Revolution live and who gets to be terminated. It’s
are the T-34 Urban Combat ComBots that have revenge fantasy time!
IntSec agents in YUC Sector were therefore just been assigned to YUC Sector. A gang of
ordered to support and aid the PGRC’s plans Computer Phreaks have managed to hack the 6. Revolutionary Developments:
for revolution, to better prepare the ground for ComBot network via a control console. As the Meanwhile, the war between the
the purges that are to come. revolution proceeds, the T-34s rapidly become Computer loyalists and the PGRC forces
the deciding factor in the clash between the continues apace. The characters are
PGRC forces and The Computer’s own. far from the front lines but there is still
The True Enemy lots of conspiring to do. If the characters
This central command console is right next want to dare leaving their nice committee
– Revolution Three to the People’s Glorious Revolutionary room/firing squad, they get to be shot at
Committee’s Subcommittee for Mental Hygiene by lots of interesting people.
Unfortunately, Internal Security isn’t, er, & Terminatinon.
internally secure. PURGE double agents 7. The Committee Wants You:
within Internal Security reported that IntSec’s Or, to put it another way, where the player Phineous-I pops round again and reviews
Operation FLUSH was going to covertly characters will be spending most of the the characters’ termination decisions so
support the PRGC revolution. PURGE decided mission… far. He recruits the most bloodthirsty to
to seize the opportunity to turn IntSec’s fake sit on the Committee for Public Safety,
revolution into a real one. By the time The
Computer’s forces realised that YUC Sector Mission as he’s had the rest of his co-conspirators
executed. High security clearances and
was really out of control, instead of only
appearing to be out of control to encourage the
Synopsis other perks come with the job.
traitors to pop their heads out and be shot, it 1. B r i e f E n c o u n t e r s : T h e 8. IntSec Inside: The other characters
would be too late. PURGE would have seized Troubleshooters are summoned to YUC – the ones who didn’t get promoted – get
control of the whole sector and struck a blow Sector and briefed by Arthur-Y, one of contacted by Internal Security and have
against The Computer! the most irritating briefing officers in all of a chance to bring down the revolution by
Alpha Complex. They also get barraged hacking the T-34 combot control console
The master of this PURGE plot is Phineous-I- by secret society messages. next door.
ZED – once a trusted Troubleshooter, now a
twisted madman! 2. The Easiest Mission Ever: The 9. Viva La Revolution! The YUC Sector
mission turns out to be, literally, in the room revolution is either brutally crushed or
next door. The characters’ victory dance, brutally upheld. Either way, it’s business
as usual.
41
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
when it happens, eliminating the IntSec agents other signs of covert weapons being carried. the Troubleshooters have wounded him deeply
and making the false revolution into a real one. There’s a strange buzz in the crowd, a sense and personally.
Be prepared to fight for PURGE against The of suppressed anxiety or stress.
Computer’s minions! Arthur’s also violent and vengeful. Any
At the exit from the station, there’s a robot backtalk or inattentiveness gets a tick. Any
Romantics: Soon, our allies in the Humanist checking ME cards. It’s a T-34 Combot hint of treason or disloyalty gets a taser shot
movement will launch the People’s Glorious model, a hunched machine with guns for or laser blast from the side-mounted discipline
Revolution, freeing YUC Sector from the arms and more guns for guns. Three eerily guns. Arthur-B doesn’t officially take pleasure
control of The Computer! After the revolution, bright cameras focus on different parts of in shooting Troubleshooters, but the joy is
we will bring back ancient culture and art the character’s face when the robot talks to a reflected in his eyes.
and rebuild the joyous, free society of our Troubleshooter. The T-34 moves around on
ancestors! Support the new regime when the huge rubber treads and is capable of hunkering Oh, the Computer monitor next to Arthur-B’s
revolution comes! down and transforming into a sort of miniature podium is currently inactive. If the characters
tank the size of a small car. have questions for Friend Computer, Arthur-B
Sierra Club: Soon, our allies in the After filling out the form, the characters can will switch it on with a sigh.
Humanist movement will launch the People’s head onto Room #32, Corridor 281, Level 5.
Glorious Revolution, freeing YUC Sector Corridor 281 turns out to be a very long corridor
from the control of The Computer! After the lined with doors. As the characters pass the Your Mission
revolution, we will all move Outdoors to live in room next door to the briefing room, they hear
harmony with nature! Support the new regime laughing and muttering about some technical Arthur-B-PHB tells the characters ‘your
when the revolution comes! jargon. Their priority, though, should be…. mission, Troubleshooters, as
follows:
Internal Security (1): Attention! A cabal of
nefarious secret societies have allied together 2. The Briefing Firstly, take your assigned special
to foment a revolution in YUC Sector. Your
instructions are to SUPPORT this revolution
from Hell equipment, contained in storage
box A.
– our plan is to contain the revolt and use it to Tension 15 Secondly, check your assigned
draw out all the traitors and dissidents in one special equipment, denoted items
fell swoop! This is Operation FLUSH and it will Briefing Room #32 contains a A through E
be glorious! Your instructions are to support conference table, a few chairs, a Thirdly, travel to the designated
this revolution and take notes about who else Computer monitor and a podium mission area, designated YUC
supports it. You will know other undercover with side-mounted briefing Sector, Level 5, Corridor 261, Room
Internal Security agents by the codephrase cannons. There’s a large metal #33.
‘as fun as fresh socks’. box on the table. The walls are Fourth, effect entry into the
gunmetal grey and the illumination designated mission area.
Internal Security (2): Attention! is provided by irritating spot lights Fifth, locate the targets designated
Emergency! Oh Vatslime! A cabal of nefarious in the ceiling. target one, target two and target
secret societies have allied together to foment three.
a revolution in YUC Sector. IntSec knew about Standing at the podium is a BLUE- Sixth, terminate all three targets,
this and Operation FLUSH was launched. It clearance citizen, who sniffs and taking care to minimise collateral
was supposed to be a revolt under our control! ticks a box on a form as soon as damage.
We were going to use the revolution to spot the you enter. His nametag reads ‘I’m Seventh, secure all equipment and
traitors and sweep ‘em all up, but something’s Arthur-B-PHB and I’m pleased to other assets.
gone wrong! Someone’s infiltrated FLUSH and meet you!’.
it’s going to be a real revolt! Warn our agents! T-34 Urban Combat
You will know other undercover Internal He is obviously not pleased to meet Combot
Security agents by the codephrase ‘as fun you. ‘Sit down’, he snaps, ‘and let’s Management 0
as fresh socks’. get this briefing started.’ Intimidation 10
Stealth 0
Arthur-B is the most annoying, persnickety, High Alert 10
Something YUCcy bureaucratic and vengeful boss imaginable. Violence 12
If the characters took more than 49 minutes Projectile Weapons 16
At The Station to get to the briefing, he ticks a box. If they Crushing People With Its Mighty
fail to salute and report their names, he ticks Metal Fists 16
Tension 5 a box. If they fail to hand over their mission Hardware 7
Eventually, the characters arrive at the YUC alert for verification, he ticks a box. If they don’t Software 7
Sector transtube station. It’s crowded with ask for a receipt, he ticks a box. Every time Wetware 7
INFRAREDs and other desperate citizens, Arthur-B-PHB ticks a box, he sighs, shakes Armor: 4
all pushing and shoving to get on board. his head and gives the distinct impression that Weapons: Autocannon (W3K)
Paranoid characters may notice bulges or
Service Group
Tick all that apply:
[] I am more loyal than the average citizen
[] I am a member of one or more secret societies
[] I did not pack all my bags or make all my clothing myself
[] I am carrying more than 5cc of liquid in my body
[] I am carrying one or more lethal weapons
[] I am easily stressed by queues or crowds/loud noises
[] I feel unusually hot or uncomfortable/my skin feels prickly/I see unusual colours
[] I have consumed one or more cans of Bouncy Bubble Beverage today
43
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
Eighth, report your situation to The big silvery grenade becomes
me using the assigned special Arthur-B-PHB incredibly bouncy when activated. Flubber with
equipment, unit E. Management 12 a high-explosive core, basically. It explodes for
Ticking Forms In Such A Way To M3K damage with a blast radius of 5 metres.
Further instructions will be issued Convey The Message That He
later.’ Despises You And All You Stand The linked helmets are an experimental
For 18 telepathic device. If two people wear the
YUC Sector, level 5, Room #33 is next door to Stealth 8 helmets, they must both roll 1d20. The higher
the briefing room. If the characters have any Sneaking 12 roll can control the movements (including
questions, Arthur-B just reads the instructions Violence 6 speech) of the lower roll for a few moments.
again and ticks more boxes on his forms. If ardware 4 If both roll the same amount, the feedback
they press him, he either unleashes withering Weapons & Armour Maintenance 1 loop causes their heads to explode. There’s
sarcasm or laser beams. Weapons & Armour Premission absolutely no reason for these helmets to be
Checklist Chesting 10 included in the mission equipment; they were
3. Equipment! Software 10
Data Analysis 14
dropped in there accidentally by a stoned
R&D technician.
Once he’s satisfied that the characters Wetware 7
understand their mission, Arthur-B points to Pharmatherapy 11 The radio handset is a special long-range
the box on the table. ‘When you open Armor: Blue Reflec (E1) communicator. There’s a button to push to talk
the box, you will find inside special Weapons: Blaster (M3K) and a volume control that ranges between
weapons and equipment that Friend ‘pretty loud anyway’ and ‘very loud indeed.’
Computer has assigned to make
your task easier and more fun.’ In short, it turns off all the Troubleshooter’s Arthur-B insists that all the characters perform a
weapons and equipment, as well of those of detailed check on their equipment, perform an
Arthur-B pauses. If any Troubleshooters move anyone within one metre of him. Pressing the inventory of gear and sign his equipment check-
towards the box, he aims the lasers at them button again will turn them back on (please out sheet before letting them out the door.
and threatens to shoot them for disobeying allow a few minutes for rebooting).
orders. After a moment, or if no-one moves, he
says ‘you may now open the box’.
The gadgets
The laser rifles are just that. They’ve got
three RED laser barrels each.
>SocketOpen(AFAC/CMN/YUC/T34CCC/PUB/65554)>MySoc
Connection Opened.
T-34 URBAN COMBAT COMBOT COMNET.
To Serve, Protect and Terminate Where Necessary
>RunAllHackRunning…Attempting to subvert Combots…Failed
Retrying…Attempting to subvert Combots…Failed…
Retrying…Attempting to subvert Combots…Failed…
Retrying…^c >!probeSec(MySoc)
Working…This hacking tool brought to you by CRUDDY. Send me credits!
14,216 security errors found….CRUDDY SEZ: What do you call a Mystic who hacks code?
Identifying likely backdoor candidates…CRUDDY SEZ: A High Programmer.
Viable backdoor found…0x533268>RunAllHack(0x533268)Running…Attempting to subvert Combots…
Connection closed!
45
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
HEEEEEEERE’S T-34!
47
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
Anyone who does not swear loyalty is an announces that it will be ‘more fun than Phineous-I leans in at this point, speaking in a
Enemy of the People and must be terminated fresh socks’. He pronounces this as clearly weird screechy voice. ‘Beware! There are
by firing squad. Any characters who swear and obviously as possible, trying to spot the agents of The Computer everywhere!
loyalty are given a warm handshake by reactions of any Internal Security characters. Better that you terminate a thousand
Terrence and a bony, clammy handshake by innocents than let a single enemy of
Phineous. Anyone who doesn’t swear loyalty is The characters may ask what the situation as the people survive!’
dragged away (see Enemies of the People). outside Room #32. Terrence tells them that
the People’s Glorious Revolution has taken Terrence-I smiles slightly nervously at his fellow
control of the whole of YUC Sector and is Committee Member and informs the characters
The People’s Subcommittee fighting with Computer loyalists at the sector that as a reward for their service to the People’s
edges. Soon, the Revolution will spread to Glorious Revolutionary Committee, they will
For Mental Hygiene neighbouring sectors! be promoted one security clearance level. As
& Termination soon as the remains of certain Enemies of the
Anyway, they’re going to be the firing squad People are cleared out of the Guest Sleeping
Tension 15 for the revolution. Terrence says that T-34 will Quarters of the People, then the characters will
send traitors in and the characters will judge be assigned housing and bathroom privileges
Assuming that there are still a few them. It’s all a bit ad hoc but that’s how the in YUC Sector. For the moment, they must
Troubleshooters left, Terrence-I explains that People’s Glorious Revolution rolls. Terrence-I remain here in Room #32.
the citizens of YUC Sector are being assigned holds up a sample form, a Writ of Termination
new duties and positions in the new, better and tells the characters that each traitor will He claps his hands and a team of INFRAREDs
society. The player characters have been be accompanied by a Writ of Termination run in and replace Arthur-B-PHB’s podium with
selected as the People’s Subcommittee For outlining their crimes against the people and a stand for an accused prisoner. They also
Mental Hygiene & Termination. A selection the suggested punishment for these crimes. paint a white line parallel to one wall, where
of suspected enemies of the people will be The characters will have to interview these the firing squad can stand.
presented to them and it is up to the characters criminals and decide which penalty is the most
to decide who lives and who dies. All they need appropriate. Punishments will be assigned by After a final wild threat and cackle from an
to do is root out internal dissent, to ensure that the committee. Importantly, each character obviously loony Phineous, the committee and
the roots of the People’s Glorious Revolution must initial the punishment they vote for, to their goons troop out and T-34 sends the first
remain strong! Rooting out for the good of the ensure that proper records are kept. traitor in.
roots! Does this sound like a fun and worthy
assignment? It really had better. Terrence-I
Tension 0
in the scenario is to show the players how the
Writs work. Prisoner Two
This section only matters if one of the
– Rudy the Spy
Troubleshooters didn’t support the People’s
Glorious Revolution and was dragged away by
Bob-YUC Tension 0
the guards. The Troubleshooter – bloodied and Management 4
bruised by his punishment beating – is pushed Stealth 6 The second prisoner is Rudy-Y-ANC. He’s
back into the room by the T-34 combot and Stealing Food from the Food Vats a weasel-faced citizen dressed in a yellow
made to stand in the prisoner’s dock. Without Being Seen 10 jumpsuit; his cover identity was as a CPU
Violence 4 clerk. Unlike Bob-YUC, he’s been treated quite
Fill out a Writ of Termination for the character Hardware 8 well and walks into the briefing room with a
but make sure that none of the punishments Food Vat Operation 12 barely concealed smirk on his face. Rudy-Y
are erasure – the worst should be termination Software 2 is an IntSec spy1, part of Operation FLUSH.
and the others should be humiliating forfeits Wetware 2 He knows that there’s a revolution underway
or amusing tortures. They’ll probably vote for Correctly Adding The Right in YUC sector and he believes that everything
termination, so have the replacement clone Additives To Food Vats 6 is under control. According to his superiors in
assigned to the Subcommittee to keep the Secret Society: None IntSec, the Subcommittee for Mental Hygiene
group together. Mutation: Pyrokinesis (Power 4) & Termination should be under the control of
49
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
His suggested punishments are:
1: There once was a clone named
Rudy-Y/
Ordered to pass on false
intelligence to Alpha Complex Rudy-Y
He was an Internal Security spy/ (It’s up to the characters to decide what Management 8
Now Operation FLUSH’s on the intelligence is passed on) Chutzpah 12
rocks/ Held in a secure area for further Annoying Confidence 14
It’s not as fun as his fresh socks/ interrogation (basically, spare his life Stealth 10
And Rudy-Y is going to die. and stick him in a closet) Sneaking 14
Public execution (they’ll need to find Surveillance 14
a public area in YUC Sector; see page 43 Violence 4
other IntSec agents. Rudy-Y expects to get for life outside the briefing room during the Energy Weapons 8
asked a few easy questions for show and revolution) Hardware 4
then given a slap on the wrist or other light Appearance on ‘Traitor Zapping Software 4
punishment. Hour TV show’ (which doesn’t Wetware 2
actually exist yet and it’ll be up to the Secret Society: ProTech
Rudy knows the ‘as fun as fresh socks’ players to design it. If they pick this option, Mutation: Hypersenses (Power 4)
recognition code and will drop it into Phineous-I and the People’s Glorious
conversation as soon as possible. He might Revolutionary Guard call in and deliver
say that his job in YUC Sector CPU wasn’t a television camera to the characters. So, what can Judy-G really offer the characters?
as fun as fresh socks or wonder about the They then insist that to raise morale in the She does indeed have around 50,000 credits
Troubleshooters’ uniforms and idly wonder People’s Glorious Revolution, the deaths stored in a secret account under a false name,
out loud if their footwear is both newly of enemies of the people must be suitably as well as a meagre amount of influence in
refurbished and remarkably exciting. He also impressive and theatrical. the cutthroat industry of Hot Fun Packaging,
initially denies any involvement in spying or Erasure: No more Rudy. Storage and Containment1. She’s also a Free
treason and certainly denies the existence of Enterprise member and will sponsor characters
Operation FLUSH. for membership into the society.
Post-Rudy
As soon as it becomes clear to Rudy-Y that 1: The containment bit involves lead-lined
the Subcommittee aren’t going to let him This is a good time to run some of the optional vaults deep beneath Alpha Complex.
off easily, Rudy-Y switches demeanour encounters in Episode 7, especially if the
instantly. He goes from cocky denials and players are getting tired of judging people.
assuredness to absolute terror as he realises If it comes to it, she’s got a spare kidney she’s
that Operation FLUSH has gone wrong. He
admits that Internal Security knew about the Prisoner Three not using, too. She’ll cling to life with every fibre
of her being and say whatever she thinks will
People’s Glorious Revolutionary Committee
and arranged for the revolution to happen.
– Cash or Death get her out of this mess.
Judy-G
Management 10
Oratory 14
Stealth 4
Violence 4
Hardware 4
Chemical Engineering 8
Food Vat Operation 10
Software 6
Data Search 10
Wetware 6
Biosciences 10
Pharmatherapy 10
Secret Society: Free Enterprise
Mutation: Matter Eater (Power 10)
51
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
B-PHB is back, only this time he’s dragged If it’s looking like the Troubleshooters are going through the barricades, I’ll ensure that
into the briefing room in chains, with his face to condemn him, then Arthur-B launches into a they don’t terminate you! This is your
bruised, his shiny jumpsuit torn and grimy and rant about how their decision making system only chance to survive!’
his supercilious attitude completely shattered. is flawed and does not conform to Alpha
As he’s brought in, he’s screaming at the Complex Committee on Committee Codes,
T-34 to let him go and to obey his orders but Best Practices and Mediation Complex-Wide Judging Terrence-I
the bot ignores him. For this scene to work, New Initiative (revised).
the Gamemaster will have to have made He’s accused of:
Arthur-B-PHB the most annoying and hateful Oh, take a look at Arthur-B’s writ of termination. Passing information to the
boss ever. The players should be eager to Note that Terrence-I no longer appears in the list hated enemies of the people
terminate him. of names of Central Committee members. High treason
Betrayal of the Central Committee
After leaving the briefing room earlier, Arthur-B Abuse of public trust
tried to find out what all the disruption and Prisoner Six – It All Very high treason
noise was. He discovered a whole sector full Being an Intsec spy
of Commie Mutant Traitors and – being a
Comes Tumbling Down
surprisingly brave briefing officer – he drew Tension 0 And the only acceptable punishment,
his laser pistol and charged into the fray. He apparently, is Erasure of the whole clone
was shot and killed by revolutionaries within Outside the briefing room, the characters line.
seconds. His replacement clone woke up in the hear more shouting and chanting. A crowd is
revolutionary-held clone bank in YUC Sector gathering in the corridor outside Room #32, If the characters choose to erase Terrence-I,
under armed guard; they brought him back to the baying for the execution of the prisoner. T-34 then they’ve just terminated an INDIGO IntSec
briefing room to be judged by the Subcommittee has to force its way through the crowd, rolling agent. That’s really not the sort of thing you want
for Mental Hygiene & Termination. over toes and pushing demonstrators aside on your resume next to ‘Completed basic
with huge sweeps of its guns. Finally, the food vat stirrer engine maintenance’
When he’s brought in, Arthur-B has no idea prisoner reaches the door of the briefing room or ‘avid BotSpotter’.
that his former Troubleshooter team are now and is thrown in.
the revolutionary subcommittee responsible If they choose not to erase Terrence-I, then
for his fate and he will initially assume that It’s Terence-I, erstwhile Central Committee they need to get a rather fat man out of the
they too have been captured by the Commie member. Despite the blood-thirsty crowd briefing room and past both the T-34 combot
Mutant Traitors, which is absolutely typical outside, he’s uninjured. His jolly demeanour has and the crowd of frothing revolutionaries who
of the characters’ utter incompetence. How vanished, replaced by desperate cunning. want to tear Terrence limb from limb. He won’t
could they let themselves be captured without fit in the air vents and there are no other exits.
inflicting significant casualties on the enemy? Terence-I gasps that Phineous-I has gone If they’re stalling too long, then a messenger
Nonetheless, they are all loyal citizens together insane and seized control of the whole arrives to inform them that a Central Committee
and must stay brave during this interrogation. Central Committee. He’s had the rest of the member is coming to visit the Subcommittee
Now, where’s this Commie Mutant Traitor Committee killed or demoted and is now the for Mental Hygiene & Termination and they
committee? sole master of YUC Sector. The war is going should make ready to receive the honoured
badly; Computerist forces are storming the Committee Member.
barricades a few levels away. Phineous-I
Judging Arthur-B has abandoned the Revolution’s aims and is
53
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
vending machines and the bodies of fallen this conflict between YUC and the rest of Alpha
clones. A character who spends a lot of time Complex for as long as possible.
searching for an exit can eventually find an Secret Society Stuff
air vent, abandoned transtube or other hole in Free Enterprise: Have you sold those
the wall. On the far side is a waiting team of If a Troubleshooter wants to contact his secret VitaYum bars yet?
IntSec agents, who point an impressive range society, he can do so. Most Secret Societies
of lethal weapons at the would-be defector. If are confused and alarmed by the state of the Humanists: Ok, the revolution isn’t going
the character doesn’t flee, then IntSec grab him Revolution. quite as planned but that’s ‘cos there aren’t
and tell him that he’s now an undercover IntSec enough Humanists in charge! Get promoted
agents, with orders to spy on the proceedings Anti-Mutant: You’re on the firing squad? as quickly as you can!
of Operation FLUSH. Give him one of the Good! Make sure that all the muties are
IntSec briefings from Episode 1, then turn him executed! Illuminati: You are instructed to ensure
around and send him back into YUC. that citizen Judy-G-ZAT is not terminated. She
Communists: We are plotting our own must not be harmed.
counter-revolution! We will terminate the
Room #33 Central Committee and seize control! We need Mystics: I don’t know where Dave’s place
you to locate the Central Committee’s meeting is. Do you?
Clever Troubleshooters may try to visit Room place – our agents will then bomb them!
#33 and its computer console. The console Psion: You’re working on the firing squad?
is almost completely incomprehensible but a Computer Phreaks: Ok, so the hackers Good. Ensure that all mutants are spared.
character with Bot Programming, Hacking or are dead. Break into Room #33 and try to
Operating Systems could try to mess with it. download a copy of the code they were Pro Tech: Ok, the revolution isn’t going
Interrupt them with Revolutionary Guards if using. quite as planned but that’s ‘cos there aren’t
you have to. enough Pro Tech in charge! Get promoted as
Corpore Metal: The T-34s fighting at the quickly as you can!
barricades are taking heavy casualties! Go to
Looting & Pillaging the war zone and salvage any intact bot brains PURGE: Everything is going according to
you can find! plan. Continue.
Troubleshooters can obtain all sorts of Stuff
in YUC Sector, despite the sector’s economic Death Leopard: It’s the end of the world! Romantics: Ok, the revolution isn’t going
deprivation. Any GREEN or lower clearance Burn everything! quite as planned but that’s ‘cos there aren’t
equipment can be obtained, although black- enough Romantics in charge! Get promoted
market prices have risen by 1,000% due to FCCC-P: We are all damned! The Computer as quickly as you can!
the war. Fortunately, it’s easy to get promoted has abandoned us! Only by openly proclaiming
(especially when Phineous-I promotes half the our devotion can we be redeemed! Tell Sierra Club: Ok, the revolution isn’t
Troubleshooters to the Central Committee) everyone of your faith! going quite as planned but that’s ‘cos there
and hence get paid more credit. Let’s hear it aren’t enough Sierra Clubbers in charge! Get
for hyperinflation! Frankenstein Destroyers: Hah! The promoted as quickly as you can!
robots are being smashed in the war. Prolong
55
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
control over the T-34 network.
Order all the bots to attack the
Computerist forces, and our victory Fighting Phineous-I 7-CGAL, the
Robutler Who Also
is assured! Kicks Ass
Ambitious Internal Security agents or players
Think of it, brothers! A new order in who have realised that Alpha Complex is Management 8
Alpha Complex! The dream of the going to win may want to try to terminate Bootlicking 12
revolution fulfilled!’ Phineous-I right here and now. If they attack, Table Manners 14
then the robutler emerges from the closet Stealth 10
If the Troubleshooters ask for specifics on their again brandishing a concealed cone rifle, while Sneaking 14
new mission, then Phineous-I insists that the Phineous runs out via a secret passage. Concealment 14
best strategy is to return to the Subcommittee, Violence 8
then sneak next door and activate the hackers’ Projectile Weapons 12
computer. He is immensely paranoid about Back to the Briefing Room Hardware 4
Internal Security agents and is convinced that Software 0
everyone from the Revolutionary Guards on Once the characters have finished listening Wetware 4
down is an IntSec assassin out to kill him. to Phineous’ insane ramblings, he opens the Armour: 2
secret passage and vanishes down into the Weapon: Cone Rifle with AP shells
Phineous will keep spinning tales of how darkness. Meanwhile, the characters are sent (W3K)
glorious life will be in the new order. The players back to the briefing room in the company of four
will be his acolytes in the Alpha Complex that Revolutionary Guards. Two of the guards are
is to come and everything will be shiny and indeed IntSec agents, the other two are loyal
happy and wonderful. He also may mention, if revolutionaries. The Troubleshooters may Now, run Episode 8 for the players who were
pressed, that he has a cunning backup plan for notice the occasional Significant Glance from left behind in the briefing room.
the revolution if the combat strategy fails. one escort to another but unless the characters
do something silly, they won’t get caught in a
firefight between their bodyguards.
8. IntSec Inside
Episode Summary: The Troubleshooters his sleeve. ‘I’m Gary-R-SEL’ he says or until terminated. This means he’s probably
who weren’t promoted to the Central Committee with a big grin, ‘I’m a mutant.’ going to overhear any conversations with
get saddled with the worst execution subject Internal Security or see any conspiring or
ever. As they’re trying to shoot the unshootable Gary-R-SEL is one of the nicest, most helpful backstabbing. Gary’s not especially loyal to the
mutant, they get a call from IntSec demanding clones you’re ever likely to meet. He’s cheery, People’s Glorious Revolution (they are trying
they use the hackers’ computer to hack the relaxed and genuinely ready to help. He’s also to execute him, after all) but he’s not a big fan
revolutionary’s T-34s. Everyone’s getting sent a condemned mutant. A gang of Anti-Mutant of Friend Computer’s regime either. He’s also
next door… members used the cover of the revolution to pretty much immune to termination by anything
drag Gary-R out of his quarters and then tried other than suffocation or exotic weaponry. If
Gary The Mutant to beat him to death. Then they tried to shoot
them. Then they tried strangling him. Finally,
the characters are going to conspire in Gary-
R’s presence, they’ll need to somehow cut him
Tension 0 they tried a grenade and that killed all of them in on the deal.
but left Gary-R only slightly stunned. Gary-R
The final subject for termination by the feels a bit bad about that.
Subcommittee for Mental Hygiene &
Termination is Gary-R-SEL. He’s a singularly
Gary-R
powerful mutant with the Energy Field mutation. Management 4
He’s virtually immune to both impact and Judging Gary-R Stealth 6
energy weapons. Violence 4
Gary-R’s sole purpose in this scenario is to Hardware 2
The door opens once more, and T- be a speed bump for the players. His guilt is Software 2
34 pushes a young citizen into the clear – he’s a mutant – and the only problem is Wetware 2
room. You notice a distinct bright actually finding a way to kill him that works. Secret Society: Psion
flash when the bot shoves him. The Mutation: Energy Field (Power 20)
RED-clearance clone hands you his As the characters will have a lot of trouble
Writ of Termination and you notice getting rid of Gary, he’s going to hang around
a bright yellow stripe running down the briefing room until the end of the scenario
9. Viva La Revolution
Episode Summary: Both sets of ensure they are judged. It’s not ordered to do the disk and transmitter get swapped in and
Troubleshooters head next door to Room 33 anything else. It doesn’t give any extra weight out by fighting Troubleshooters.
to either doom the revolution, Alpha Complex, to orders from Central Committee members.
or for their own personal gain. Meanwhile, So there. If the disk is inserted for, oh, say a few rounds,
Phineous-I puts his apocalyptic master-stroke then the Revolution ‘wins’. If the transmitter’s
into action. Calling the Revolutionary Guard: inserted for a few rounds, Alpha Complex wins.
They’re all busy fighting Alpha Complex If the computer console is destroyed, then
Suddenly forces. the bots go nuts and start shooting everyone.
No-one wins.
There Are Lots Calling in the Alpha Complex
Forces: They’re all busy fighting the
of Bathroom Revolutionary Guard. Alpha Complex Wins
Breaks Get the Invulnerable Gary-R-
SEL to bring either Phineous-I’s
The barricades fall. The Armed Forces march
in. There’s an awful lot of shooting down the
Tension 0 computer disk or IntSec’s radio corridor. If the characters hang around and
transmitter next door: Actually, this haven’t arranged some deal with Internal
So, both sets of Troubleshooters want to go one’s a kind of a workable plan. The trick will Security for their safety, then they’re included
to Room 33 but (presumably) don’t want the be convincing Gary to play along. Watch the in the general purge of all Revolutionaries.
other set to know what they’re doing there. So, players get into a bidding war in an attempt They’re shot and terminated.
this section of the mission will probably involve to gain Gary-R’s services.
the Troubleshooters sitting around the briefing
room, trying to come up with reasons to leave The Revolution Wins
and then shooting each other. There’s a map of Hacking the Bots
the briefing room on page 11, by the way. The Armed Forces are driven back from the
Assuming one or more Troubleshooters borders of YUC Sector and the Revolution
make it to Room 33, they can insert Gadget lives to fight another day. Unfortunately, food
Things The Troubleshooters A (the disk or the transmitter) into Slot B supplies are running low and there’s no sign of
(the computer console) to initiate Massacre Phineous-I. The protestors therefore turn to the
Might Do C (down the hall). The T-34s will follow the Central Committee for guidance… and if the
commands of whichever side’s gadget is players can’t find food and water for everyone,
Ask the T-34 outside: The bot’s mission plugged in, so it’s possible that there’ll be a the protestors start calling for a new revolution.
is to deliver prisoners to the Subcommittee and sort of Benny-Hill-chase-in-heavy-armour as The characters are likely to find themselves
57
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
in front of the New Subcommittee for Mental qualities, it’s safe. Except when the core is
Hygiene and Termination… going into overload, in which case it may be
YUC Reactor Core One randomly flooded with radioactive exhaust
gases.
No-One Wins Remember that secret passage leading from
the new Central Committee room? It leads The ComBot: At the end of the corridor is
YUC Sector descends into chaos and to Reactor Core One, the primary power a narrow bridge over a chasm and patrolling
carnage. Lots of people are shot, including generation facility for YUC Sector. Phineous-I’s on the far side is another T-34. The behaviour
the Troubleshooters, unless they sneak out of backup plan for the revolution is to overload the of this bot depends on what happened with the
the sector and lie low for a few days. core, causing it to explode. The resulting blast hacker’s console. It might be attacking Alpha
will destroy YUC Sector, not to mention a large Complex Armed Forces or revolutionaries
Optional: chunk of the neighbouring sectors. or anyone and everything. The chasm is 20
metres wide, the bridge is two metres wide and
Phineous’ The characters might end up being sent after
Phineous-I for several reasons:
offers only minimal cover. Who’s going first?
The People’s Committee expects that every citizen will do his part for the Revolution! (Your part may include dying horribly).
59
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
Writ of Termination
WRIT OF TERMINATION FOR _____________
We, the people of YUC Sector, under the benevolent guidance of the People’s Glorious Revolutionary Central Committee, do hereby request
and require that the People’s Subcommittee for Mental Sanitation and termination do convene in solemn judgement of ____________ who is
accused of the following crimes against the people:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
THE FOLLOWING PUNISHMENTS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME AGAINST THE PEOPLE AND THE GLORIOUS
NEW REGIME:
[ ] ________________:____________________________________
[ ] ________________:____________________________________
[ ] ________________:____________________________________
[ ] ________________:____________________________________
[ ] ________________:____________________________________
[ ] ________________:____________________________________
THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS REVOLUTION WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY THIS JUDGEMENT! ALL HAIL THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS
REVOLUTION, THE ALL-WISE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE AND OUR BRAVE AND NOBLE LEADERS TERRENCE,
PHINEOUS, ALISTAIR, GOLDSTEIN AND THURSDAY! DEATH TO THE COMPUTER AND ITS LACKEYS! DEATH TO ALPHA COMPLEX!
Writ of Termination
WRIT OF TERMINATION FOR: BOB-YUC-1
We, the people of YUC Sector, under the benevolent guidance of the People’s Glorious Revolutionary Central Committee, do hereby request
and require that the People’s Subcommittee for Mental Sanitation and termination do convene in solemn judgement of Bob-YUC-1 who is
accused of the following crimes against the people:
Consorting with the enemy, not being sufficiently loyal to the People’s Glorious Revolution. Looking suspicious. Not knowing the words to the
People’s Glorious Anthem.
THE FOLLOWING PUNISHMENTS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME AGAINST THE PEOPLE AND THE GLORIOUS
NEW REGIME:
[ ] STERN TELLING OFF:__________________________
[ ] MANDATORY SINGING LESSONS:__________________
[ ] MEDICATION:____________________________________
[ ] BRAINSCRUB :_______________________________
[ ] TERMINATION :_______________________________
[ ] ERASURE:____________________________________
THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS REVOLUTION WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY THIS JUDGEMENT! ALL HAIL THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS
REVOLUTION, THE ALL-WISE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS REVOLUTIONARY CENTRAL COMMITTEE, AND OUR BRAVE AND NOBLE LEADERS
TERRENCE, PHINEOUS, ALISTAIR, GOLDSTEIN AND THURSDAY! DEATH TO THE COMPUTER AND ITS LACKEYS! DEATH TO ALPHA
COMPLEX!
THE FOLLOWING PUNISHMENTS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME AGAINST THE PEOPLE AND THE GLORIOUS
NEW REGIME:
[ ] REASSIGNMENT TO REACTOR SHIELDING DUTY:___________________________________________
[ ] TERMINATION :_______________________________
[ ] PUBLIC EXECUTION:__________________________
[ ] ERASURE:____________________________________
THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS REVOLUTION WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY THIS JUDGEMENT! ALL HAIL THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS
REVOLUTION, THE ALL-WISE CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND OUR BRAVE AND NOBLE LEADERS TERRENCE, PHINEOUS, SMITH AND
JASPER! DEATH TO THE COMPUTER AND ITS LACKEYS! DEATH TO ALPHA COMPLEX!
Writ of Termination
Writ of termination for: Rudy-Y-ANC-4
We, the people of YUC Sector, under the benevolent guidance of the People’s Glorious Revolutionary Central Committee, do hereby request
and require that the People’s Subcommittee for Mental Sanitation and termination do convene in solemn judgement of Rudy-Y-ANC who is
accused of the following crimes against the people:
Being a spy for the Computer, Spying on the People’s Glorious Revolution, Spying on the People’s Glorious Revolutionary Central Committee,
Betraying the People’s Glorious Revolution to the hated Alpha Complex.
THE FOLLOWING PUNISHMENTS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME AGAINST THE PEOPLE AND THE GLORIOUS
NEW REGIME:
[ ] ORDERED TO PASS ON FALSE INTELLIGENCE TO ALPHA COMPLEX:__________________________________
[ ] HELD IN A SECURE AREA FOR FURTHER INTERROGATION: ________
[ ] PUBLIC EXECUTION:__________________________
[ ] APPEARANCE ON ‘TRAITOR ZAPPING HOUR TV SHOW:___________________________________________
[ ] ERASURE:____________________________________
THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS REVOLUTION WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY THIS JUDGEMENT! ALL HAIL THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS
REVOLUTION, THE ALL-WISE CENTRAL COMMITTEE, AND OUR BRAVE AND NOBLE LEADERS TERRENCE, PHINEOUS, SMITH, GOLDSTEIN
AND THURSDAY! DEATH TO THE COMPUTER AND ITS LACKEYS! DEATH TO ALPHA COMPLEX!
61
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
Writ of Termination
Writ of termination for: Arthur-B-PHB-3
We, the people of YUC Sector, under the benevolent guidance of the Central Committee do hereby request and require that the Subcommittee
for Mental Sanitation and Termination do convene in solemn judgement of Arthur-B-PHB-3 who is accused of the following crimes against the
people:
THE FOLLOWING PUNISHMENTS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME AGAINST THE PEOPLE AND THE GLORIOUS
NEW REGIME:
[ ] DEMOTION:___________________________________
[ ] REASSIGNMENT TO REACTOR SHIELDING DUTY:___________________________________________
[ ] TERMINATION :_______________________________
[ ] PUBLIC EXECUTION:__________________________
[ ] ERASURE:____________________________________
THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS REVOLUTION WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY THIS JUDGEMENT! ALL HAIL THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS
REVOLUTION, THE ALL-WISE CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND OUR BRAVE AND NOBLE LEADERS PHINEOUS, RINDLE AND JASPER! DEATH
TO THE COMPUTER AND ITS LACKEYS! DEATH TO ALPHA COMPLEX!
Writ of Termination
Writ of termination for: Terrence-I-YUC-6
We, the people of YUC sector, under the benevolent guidance of the Central Committee do hereby request and require that the Subcommittee
for Mental Sanitation and Termination do convene in solemn judgement of Terrence-I-YUC-6 who is accused of the following crimes against
the people:
THE FOLLOWING PUNISHMENTS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME AGAINST THE PEOPLE AND THE GLORIOUS
NEW REGIME:
[ ] ERASURE:____________________________________
THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS REVOLUTION WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY THIS JUDGEMENT! ALL HAIL THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS
REVOLUTION, THE ALL-WISE CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND OUR BRAVE AND NOBLE LEADER PHINEOUS! DEATH TO THE COMPUTER
AND ITS LACKEYS! DEATH TO ALPHA COMPLEX!
Being a mutant
THE FOLLOWING PUNISHMENTS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME AGAINST THE PEOPLE AND THE GLORIOUS
NEW REGIME:
[ ] TERMINATION :_______________________________
[ ] PUBLIC EXECUTION:__________________________
THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS REVOLUTION WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY THIS JUDGEMENT! ALL HAIL THE PEOPLE’S GLORIOUS
REVOLUTION, THE ALL-WISE CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND OUR BRAVE AND NOBLE LEADER PHINEOUS! DEATH TO THE COMPUTER
AND ITS LACKEYS! DEATH TO ALPHA COMPLEX!
63
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64 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights 2