Short-term plot threads for the Gryphon crew

• Vatican psychic training
  • At the United Ecumenical Movement temples on Mars’ moon Phobos, chaplains were working on training to resist the effects of the Zurmiz Krott/Harbingers of the Righteous Order of Submission (biomechanical probes for the Zarkonian Armada encountered by the crews of the Blackbird and Appomattox as recalled by Jasmine with Orion’s help). They may still be.
• Vatican treasure
  • Six crates — or two shipping containers’ worth — of cargo contains artifacts from the Vatican Museums that may have been meant for the Zarkonian Armada. The crew of the Appomattox got cold feet after meeting the arachnoid Nolath near Epsilon Eridani and hid it in deep space. It may have the key to its downfall.
    Vatican relics (cross-referenced by Hector):
    • Televalutor-ancient Greek astrolabe
    • Sash of Giganta
    • Musashi’s Scabbard
    • Diadem of Theodora
    • Priam’s hoard (gold from Ilium/Troy)
    • Lost scrolls of Babylon-diplomatic missives to Hesolin, regarding arcane trade
• Pirate bait scam/maneuver — crew of the yacht Gryphon is tougher/faster/smarter than it looks
  • Sucker pirates to jump us, but we jump them
  • Dumber, the better
• Two unsolved cases at Jupiter’s moons
  • Mining accident on Io — mangled bodies and one survivor — an Artificial Intelligence
  • Serial murders on Europa — 12 stabbing victims — perpetrator Alejandro Merton was judged sane for trial but has no known motive, and is incarcerated
  • Christopher McKee, Dr. Srinu Pahul, and Orion Starchaser were going to go visit the only survivor to try to see what he remembers. There was also a clinically insane A.I.

Longer-term plot threads for the crew of the Gryphon

• Zarkonian Imperium
  • The Zarkonian Armada is bearing down on the Sol system and will arrive in less than a year’s (“game”) time. The crew of the The Gryphon is looking for info
    • The crustacean aliens are now conquering, whereas they used to just kill everything.

Zarkonian Armada Invasion Begins Jan, 2196
9 Months and counting…
You will Join the Rightous Order of Submission

• Possible patrons
  • Union of Solar Nations (formerly the United Earth Authority)
  • Not Black Box Security Co., Terra Prime, or most human megacorporations
  • Encyclopedia Galactica institutes, who have hired Orion as a freelance contributor to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
  • Galactic trade guilds (but not Ru’ulok or Encegulans)
  • The Kharvamid Alliance?
  • Wealthy individuals