Mission 01

Mission One: The Siege of Balkor

M1:C0 - The Siege of Balkor

• Introduction:
  • The Defiant Order is stationed aboard the Harlegand, conducting minor operations to build camaraderie and operational experience.
  • Genesis commands initiate Operation Traveler’s Debt, a massive siege of the Hiigarian military base Balkor to capture or destroy their advanced FTL technology, ATHENA.
• The Battle Plan:
  • The assault involves multiple Genesis ships and squads:
    • The Harlegand and its allied fleet will neutralize orbital defenses.
    • The Defiant Order will support the 32nd Platoon, tasked with disabling Balkor’s communications hub.
  • Stakes are emphasized: Balkor’s defenses are formidable, and success is critical for Genesis to gain the upper hand over the Hiigarian regime.

M1:C1 - Boots on the Ground

• Initial Infiltration:
  • The squad lands and quickly eliminates the garrison defending the communications hub, securing the building.
  • They plant explosives and prepare for the 32nd Platoon to take control of the station’s systems.
• Complications:
  • A Hiigarian shuttle escapes the main fortress, is shot down, and crashes near the communications hub. The Defiant Order investigates.
  • Inside the wreckage, they discover an AI core and evidence of a desperate attempt to preserve ATHENA.
  • A massive Hiigarian platoon approaches the hub. The squad orders an orbital bombardment to slow them down while calling for emergency evacuation.
• Psionic Disturbances:
  • During the retreat, sensors detect a massive energy spike at Balkor. Psionic forces destabilize the environment, sending the base into chaos.
  • The sky tears with purple energy, and a massive explosion obliterates the facility. The squad and other survivors are caught in a violent energy wave.

M1:C2 - Welcome to Thea

• The Jaunt:
  • The energy wave displaces the squad and parts of both Genesis and Hiigarian forces to Thea, an uncharted desert world.
  • Scattered wreckage litters the sky and ground, signaling that entire fleets have been torn apart and scattered across the planet.
  • Initial scans reveal the planet’s isolation—there’s no sign of Genesis systems or Hiigarian forces within range.
• Survival and Exploration:
  • The squad regroups and evaluates their options. They determine that building alliances and gathering intel are critical to survival.
  • They intercept an SOS from a Hiigarian ship, the Light Frigate Llandaff, but find it overrun by hostile Cult of Set mechs. The squad destroys the cultists but is unable to save the ship, which explodes.
  • Val establishes a brief connection with Genesis’s AI GILGAMESH, receiving cryptic coordinates before the link is lost.
• First Encounter with an Iterator:
  • Following the coordinates, the squad discovers an ancient, impossibly large structure called an Iterator.
  • Inside, they encounter corrupted mechs and the quirky AI Seven Echoes Beneath the Surface, who warns them of lurking dangers and offers limited assistance.

  • The squad repairs a communication relay and briefly connects with the Harlegand. Commander Williams, now in charge, issues new mission objectives:

    1. Survive and regroup.
    2. Establish a base of operations.
    3. Gather intelligence on Thea and its factions.
    4. Build alliances with local powers.

Mission One Key Takeaways

• ATHENA’s Importance: The mission underscores the high stakes surrounding Hiigarian FTL technology. The squad begins to suspect ATHENA may not be a device but something more profound.
• The Jaunt: The squad’s displacement to Thea introduces themes of survival, exploration, and the unknown.
• The Iterators: The introduction of Iterators adds a layer of ancient mystery. Their scale and purpose suggest ties to psionics, advanced civilizations, or even cosmic forces.
• Factions and Alliances: The stage is set for the squad to navigate the political and military landscape of Thea, balancing Genesis’s goals with their need for survival.