I know a bunch of folks here have run Continuity, and so if you've read it/run it and discussing it won't spoil it for you, I have a question.
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So, after reading over Continuity and reading to and listening to a couple examples of people playing the adventure, I have some significant questions about the Kepler station's internal structures.
It seems to me that, depending on when the Kepler was built (and to a lesser extent, by whom), the adventure becomes a lot easier or a lot harder. I'm going to set out three possibilities for the Kepler, and I'd like to know from you guys where you think the Kepler falls.
[h3]Option 1: Kepler as Pre-Fall Relic[/h3]
In this option, the Kepler predates the Fall by more than two decades. Much of its modern equipment is retrofitted, and some archaic features exist. This means:
- Cables and conduits for power and data run on the inside of the habitat units in such a way that someone with an axe could cut power/data access to a unit
- Fusion reactor can be set to self-destruct with difficulty
- Intercom system with PA runs throughout station; if you're lucky, not connected to Hans. Otherwise, enjoy back-to-back basilisk hacks commercial free.
- Nanofabricator units are later additions; can be (with some time and an appropriate Hardware roll) yanked out of the wall
- Control room has physical controls for station maneuvering, plus a physical keyboard and monitor for access to the database (and Hans)
- Internal lighting mostly manually controlled
- You could, although it wouldn't be easy, go on a spacewalk outside the Kepler and disconnect one of its maneuvering thrusters from the main control and just jury-rig it to fire, if you were crazy and wanted to "accidentally" smash the Kepler into something
- Bulkheads can be locked/unlocked by Hans through mesh, but must be manually opened and swing closed with significant negative pressure
- All cables, conduits, etc. are internal to the structure and maintained by nanobots, with multiple redundancies. Want to cut the power to that nanofabber? Easier just to blow the whole thing to bits with a plasma rifle (which you won't have).
- All normal interface with Kepler systems through mesh. Want to talk to Hans? Gotta access the mesh, or jack in. Want to control the Kepler, including opening locked doors without tools? Gotta access the mesh.
- Bulkheads and airlocks are sliding doors and/or irises with complete remote control by Hans or otherwise. If open, there is no failsafe against vacuum.
- Tamper with the fusion reactor enough, and the worst it will do is blow its plasma out into space for your safety, leaving you on battery power.
- Internal lighting controlled through mesh and sensors, may not be switches
- Failsafes on various components prevent you from setting off thrusters or other ship components in unauthorized ways
- All conduits and many station devices are modular and can be disconnected/removed in one or two turns by grabbing a handle, twisting, and pulling. Worried about TITANs nanofabbing viruses? Out of the wall the nanofabber goes. Don't want any power/communication to a particular sector? Turn and yank.
- Control room has keyboard and terminal with separate, intentionally downgraded processor that can run diagnostics on a TITAN infovirus-infected machine without itself being susceptible
- May be emergency manual thrust control of Kepler unconnected to any "fly by wire" systems
- Blowing up the Kepler no harder than blowing up the Nostromo in Alien
- Bulkheads and airlocks automatically close on pressure differential and lock, requiring a manual override (probably a physical lever) to reopen. Bulkheads and airlocks cannot be remotely opened by Hans; he would have to control a drone to do so.
