Campaign Launch: Starfaring 8956 — The Year of the Snake
Sector Survey: The Lumina-7 System (The Gastric Nexus)
Date: January 24, 2026 (Day 24) Status: Condition Red
I. Constructing the Heavens: The Hedges Alpha Rules
To build the Lumina-7 System, we follow the strict sequence of generation found in the Starfaring (1976) workshop. As the Galaxy Master, you roll the dice to determine the "Anatomy" of the sector.
Step 1: The Star Type
The Proto-Star Core: We roll 7D6 for a Blue-White energy source. This "White Hole" provides the raw power for Foundry Prime.
Step 2: Determining Orbits
We roll 5 Dice to determine the number of orbital tracks within the Gastric Nexus.
Result: Two Gas Giants, two Terrestrial Worlds, and one massive Asteroid Belt.
Step 3: Calculating Gravity & Atmosphere
Gravity: Using the D6 Gravity Calculator, we ensure the Eden Agro-Caves maintain a stable 0.8 to 1.1 G for optimal crop growth.
Atmosphere: The inner worlds are rolled as Earth-Normal (Carbon-Base), while the outer mining moons remain Type III (Toxic), requiring the Hedges Filter for survival.
II. The Anatomy of the Sector: Life & Rot
The Lumina-7 System is the "Gut of the Lion". It is where the universe digests raw aether and forged antibodies to fight the God-Cancer.
The Pathology of the Infection
We are tracking three stages of the Chaos Blood of Demons:
The Slaanish (Cellular Rot): Parasitic infestations that eat ship logic.
The Ophidians (Metastasis): Phase-shifting cells that move through the Void.
The Iron Legion (Terminal Stage): The final mechanical calcification of life.
The Shield: The Thorne Asteroid Belt
The outer ring is a massive field of debris home to:
Monitoring Bases: Every major rock houses a listening post equipped with high-gain sensor dishes.
The Talons: Hangars for Hawk Wing Interceptors (?) and Tiger Claw Heavy Fighters (?).
Astro-Worlds: Mining moons like Villus-4 (Aether-Steel) and Crystol-Alpha (Kyber Crystals).
The Heart: The Eden Agro-Cave System
At the center, protected by the belt, lies our Genesis Project.
The Function: Artificial biospheres growing food for the 111 Species.
The Stake: If these caves fall, the Alliance starves.
III. Starship Construction Rules: The Foundry Prime Method
At Foundry Prime, ship construction follows a four-step ritual of engineering and technomancy.
Step 1: The Concept & Hull Frame
Every ship begins with a purpose. In Starfaring, you choose a Class which determines your base Hull Strength (ST) and Capacity.
The Concept: The Arturis was designed as a Long-Range Slipstream Scout.
The Frame: Class 4 Explorer.
Base Stats:
Hull Strength (ST): 100 (Standard)
Energy Capacity (EC): 300 (Standard)
Cargo/Expansion Slots: 6
Step 2: Attributes of the Machine
A ship in the 8956 Timeline is a character. You must determine its "Spirit" using your ship-building budget (measured in Construction Units or Credits).
Battle Readiness (BR): This is the ship's accuracy and dodge.
Arturis Example: We spent 50 Units to give the Arturis a BR of 65.
Structural Integrity: Gideon Thorne adds his "Foundry Bonus."
Arturis Example: +20 to ST for a total of 120 ST.
Step 3: Systems & Weaponry (The Beamer Loadout)
You must choose how to fill your Expansion Slots. Each weapon or specialized drive takes up space and reduces Cargo Capacity.
Propulsion: Flux Slipstream Drive (?). Takes 2 Slots. Allows for Drift Rating 5 travel but requires the Phase Variance check.
Primary Weapon: Beamerion Cannon (Ion Cannon). Takes 1 Slot. Costs 20 Energy/60 Damage.
Secondary Weapon: Beamer (Phase-Cannon). Takes 1 Slot. Costs 5 Energy/20 Damage.
Heavy Ordinance: Antimatter Missile Rack (Photon Torpedoes). Takes 1 Slot. Holds 10 Missiles.
Defenses: Brahma Deflector (Deflector Dish). Takes 1 Slot.
Step 4: The Neural-Resonance Sync
The final step is the "Handshake." The crew must bond with the ship’s Brahma Core.
The Rule: The Chief Engineer makes a Level 2 SR (20) Wizardry or Technical check.
The Success: The ship's EC (Energy Capacity) is boosted by +50 as the Kyber Crystals align with the crew’s life-force.
Construction Example: The Z.S.F. Arturis (Slipstream Prototype)
| System | Starfaring Stat | Narrative Function |
| Class | Class 4 Explorer | Nimble and fast for "Noir" scouting. |
| ST (Hull) | 120 (100 + Bonus) | Lead-Lattice plating from Villus-4. |
| EC (Energy) | 400 (300 + Sync) | Powered by a Pure Brahma Core. |
| BR (Battle) | 65 | Highly responsive in a dogfight. |
| Drive | Flux Slipstream | Pierces the Great Meridian. |
| Main Gun | Beamerion Cannon (?) | Designed to strip Ophidian cloaks. |
| Second Gun | Beamer (?) | Rapid-fire for Slaanish gremlins. |
| Torps | Antimatter Missiles (?) | For "Imploding" Iron Legion ships. |
The "Noir" Shipwright's Advice
"When you're building a ship like the Arturis, don't skimp on the Brahma Deflector (?). Space in the Lumina-7 sector is full of 'Chaos Bile' and asteroid teeth. If your energy capacity hits zero, you aren't a Captain anymore—you're just a ghost in a tin can." — Gideon Thorne
Join the Antibody Crew
The prototype ship Aether is on the pad at Foundry Prime. We need Starfarers ready to man the stations.
Primary Weapons: Beamerion Cannons (Ion Cannons) and Tracking Antimatter Missiles (Photon Torpedoes).
Defense: The Brahma Deflector (Deflector Dish).
Engine: Flux Slipstream Drive.
IV. Starfaring System Profile: Lumina-7 (The Gastric Nexus)
System Designation: Sector 8956-Abdomen
Primary Star: Lumina-7 (White Hole / Proto-Star Core)
Classification: Industrial / Agricultural Fortress
Strategic Value: Omega Level (Vital to Alliance Survival)
Astronomical Data
Star Energy Output: 50,000 Energy Units (EU) per cycle.
Navigational Difficulty: Level 4 SR (40). The ionized "Bile" gas causes a -5 penalty to all Sensor Checks unless using Crystol-Tech Scanners (?).
Orbit Count: 5 Major Tracks.
Planetary Registry
In the Year of the Snake, the Galaxy Master (GM) and the Time Master use this registry to track the "Health" of the sector. Each location serves as a vital organ in the Alliance’s fight against the God-Cancer.
| Planet/Base | Gravity | Atmosphere | Tech Level | Note |
| The Eden Caves | 1.0 G | Earth-Normal | 9 | The "Life Blood" breadbasket. |
| Foundry Prime | 0.5 G | Ionized/Toxic | 10 | Gideon Thorne’s heavy shipyards HAS BIO DOME PROTECTEROS WITH BRATHABLE AIR DUCTS. |
| Villus-4 | 1.5 G | Extreme Heat | 4 | Magma mining for Aether-Steel. |
| Crystol-Alpha | 0.2 G | Vacuum | 3 | Moon-Crystal excavation site. |
| Chyme-Prime | 2.5 G | Gas Giant | N/A | Flux-Fuel skimming station. |
Perimeter Defenses: The "Ribcage" Grid
The system is surrounded by the Thorne Asteroid Belt, which serves as a natural and artificial barrier against the God-Cancer.
Outer Bases: 12 Automated Monitoring Posts.
Interception Force: * Hawk Wing Interceptors (?) (Speed 12 / BR 70)
Tiger Claw Heavy Fighters (?) (Hull 50 / Beamerion Cannons)
The "Noir" Rule: If an unidentified ship enters the belt, the monitoring bases broadcast a "Resonance Ping." If the ship doesn't respond with an Alliance-coded Neural-Resonance Link (?), the defense platforms auto-fire Antimatter Missiles (?).
Economic & Logistics Data
Exports: Crystol-Tech Arms (?), Aether-Steel, Eden Rations.
Imports: Raw Aether-Gas, Volunteers for the 111 Species defense force.
The Foundry Bonus: Ships repaired here gain +20 ST (Hull) and +50 EC (Energy).
V. The Galaxy Master & The Time Master Protocol
In Starfaring 2nd Edition, the management of the Lumina-7 Registry falls under a dual-authority system. This is the core of the "Anti-Evil GM" philosophy we are building for the 8956 Unification.
The Galaxy Master (GM) – The Architect of Disease
The GM’s role is to manage the tactical reality of the sector. They track the Energy Units (EU) of the planets and roll for the spread of the God-Cancer.
The Rot Check: For every week of game time, the GM rolls to see if the Slaanish, Ophidians, or Iron Legion have compromised a location on the registry.
The Rot Check Mechanic (The 8956 Malignancy Roll)
At the start of every in-game week, the Galaxy Master selects one planet or station from the Planetary Registry and rolls 3D6 (the "Infection Dice").
The Resistance Save
Each location has a Fortitude Rating based on its tech level and defenses (e.g., Foundry Prime is harder to infect than Crystol-Alpha).
Target Number (SR): 10 + (Planet's Tech Level).
The Roll: If the 3D6 roll is Higher than the TN, the infection has breached the perimeter.
Determining the Pathogen
If the check fails, roll 1D6 to see which face of the God-Cancer has manifested:
1D6 Roll Pathogen Type Effect on the Registry 1–2 Slaanish (Cellular Rot) Sabotage: -50 Energy Units (EU) to the planet. Ship repairs take twice as long. 3–4 Ophidians (Metastasis) Phasing: The planet is "Shifting." Sensor checks to reach the planet are at a -20 penalty. 5–6 Iron Legion (Terminal) Invasion: The planet is under siege. No one can land or take off without a dogfight. The Time Master’s Intervention
If a Rot Check results in the Iron Legion (6) on a vital organ like the Eden Agro-Caves, the stakes become terminal.
The Chrono-Warning: The Time Master senses the shift in the Zosma Lattice-Grid and alerts the crew.
The Window: The crew has 72 hours (in-game) to excise the rot before the location is "Lost to the Timeline."
The Loop: If the planet falls, the Time Master may trigger the Continuity Loop, but it costs the crew a permanent "Temporal Scar" (a -1 to a random attribute) because resetting a whole planet's fate is a heavy burden for the Kyber Dragon.
Galaxy Master’s Note
"The Rot Check is why we don't dawdle at the spaceport bar. While you're arguing over credits, the Iron Legion is hardening the 'Gristle' of the galaxy. Every week you wait is another roll against the life-blood of the Lion."
The Leo Galaxy Time Master – The Guardian of Continuity
The Time Master is the ultimate failsafe for the crew. Bonded to the Ether Kyber Moon Crystal Space Dragon, the Time Master oversees the stability of the Zosma Lattice-Grid.
The Continuity Loop: If the crew is wiped out or the Eden Agro-Caves are destroyed, the Time Master intervenes. Instead of a "Game Over," the Time Master uses the Moon Kyber Link-Way to reset the timeline.
The Mission: The Time Master ensures that the universe does not implode. They provide the "Antibodies" (the players) as many chances as needed to correct their mistakes and excise the cancer from the timeline.
The "Noir" Rule of Survival
"A Galaxy Master may try to kill you, but the Time Master won't let you stay dead. The universe is a living thing, and it refuses to give up. Every reset is a lesson learned in the blood of the previous timeline." — The Leo Galaxy Time Master
VI. The Call to the 111 Species: Mobilize the Life-Blood
The Year of the Snake (Day 24) is not a drill. The Galaxy Master has confirmed that the God-Cancer is active in the Zosma Lattice-Grid, and the Time Master has stabilized the first "Save Point" in our continuity. The foundations of Starfaring 2nd Edition are set—now we need the crew.
The Mission: Operation Eden Shield
Your first deployment under the 2nd Edition rules is simple but absolute:
Report to Foundry Prime: Undergo your Neural-Resonance Sync with a T.F.F. vessel.
Patrol the Ribcage: Monitor the Thorne Asteroid Belt for the first sign of a failed Rot Check.
Protect the Heart: Ensure the Eden Agro-Caves remain at Stage 0 Infection.
The Time Master’s Commission
Every volunteer for this campaign is granted the Chrono-Seal. This means you are no longer just a mercenary; you are an Antibody. If you fall in the line of duty, the Ether Kyber Moon Crystal Space Dragon is standing by to reset the loop. We will keep fighting until the cancer is excised.
"The engines are hot, the Beamerion Cannons (?) are calibrated, and the Lumina-7 sector is waiting. This is the dawn of the 8956 Unification. Do not let the Lion die in the dark. Report for duty." — Captain Hedges
VII. The Continuity Loop: Preventing the Universal Collapse
In the Year of the Snake, we have established a hard rule for all Galaxy Masters: The Universe Cannot Die. Because the crew of a T.F.F. vessel represents the vital "Life Blood" of the Lion, their survival is tied to the stability of the Zosma Lattice-Grid. If a "Killer GM" or a disastrous roll of the Wild Chaos Die leads to a total ship implosion, the God-Cancer wins. The timeline is extinguished.
The Role of the Leo Galaxy Time Master
To prevent a total campaign reset, the Techno-Chrono Wizard and his Ether Kyber Moon Crystal Space Dragon intervene.
The Trigger: If the ship reaches 0 ST (Hull) or the crew is wiped out, the Time Master detects a "Temporal Fracture."
The Action: The Chrono-Dragon breathes a shroud of Kyber-Mist over the sector.
The Reset: The timeline is "Re-Woven." The players are dropped back to their last stable coordinate (usually a Monitoring Base or Foundry Prime).
Why the Reset is Mandatory
Anti-Evil GM Protocol: This prevents a Galaxy Master from simply "killing the party" to end the story. The Time Master forces the narrative to continue until the "Cure" is successful.
Cosmic Stakes: If the crew dies, the God-Cancer metastasizes through the entire Leo Galaxy. A reset isn't just a second chance for the players; it's a desperate move to save the Divine Creator Osgood from terminal failure.
The Continuity Loop: Players retain their memories of the "Failed Timeline." They know which Beamer (?) frequency failed and which Ophidian trap was set, allowing them to adapt their strategy for the next attempt.
The Time Master’s Warning to Galaxy Masters
"Listen well, GMs. You may test them, you may scar them, and you may push their Brahma Cores to the limit. But if you let the Arturis implode, you have let the cancer win. I will rewind the clock as many times as it takes until these Antibodies get it right. The Dragon and I do not accept extinction." — The Leo Galaxy Time Master
Galaxy Master’s "Year of the Snake" Note
"When you look at the Lumina-7 Profile, don't just see numbers. See the wall. This system is the only thing standing between the Slaanish Rot and the heart of the Alliance. If the 'Stage 2' infection hits this sector, the whole Zosma Lattice-Grid goes dark." — Captain Hedges
Product Identity & Legal
The following items are designated Product Identity of Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. / The Adventures of Captain Hedges: The specific "8956 Unification" timeline, the Leo Galaxy Time Master persona, the Ether Kyber Moon Crystal Space Dragon, the "Hedge Wizard of the Shreveport Cabin" persona, the T.F.F. (Thorne Foundry Fleet) registry, the Eden Agro-Cave System, and the specific mechanics of the Continuity Loop and Rot Check. The Giedion Thrine Persona
The world of Zimrala and the Monastery of Zimrala are the creations and property of Ken St.
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