P I R AT E S O F D R I N A X :

FRIENDS IN

DRY PLACES

III
 P I R AT E S O F D R I N A X : F R I E N D S I N D R Y P L A C E S

CREDITS
CLASSIC TRAVELLER
Marc Miller

Loren Wiseman, John Harshman, Frank Chadwick, Darryl Hany,

Winston Hamilton, Tony Svajlenka, Scott Renner, Doug Poe,
David MacDonald, Wayne Roth, Paul R. Banner.

MONGOOSE TRAVELLER
Author
Martin J. Dougherty

Editor
Matthew Sprange

Layout, Graphic Design

Will Chapman, Amy Perrett

Interior Illustrations
Amy Perret

Traveller ©2017 Mongoose Publishing. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this work by any means without the
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text herein are copyrighted by Mongoose Publishing.

This game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without
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This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United Kingdom and of the United States. This product is
a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organisations, places or events is purely coincidental.

Traveller is a trademark of Far Future Enterprises and is used under licence.

 T R A V E L L E R

INTRODUCTION
The world of Kteiroa is the largest ihatei camp in Ihatei groups come in on a frequent basis, and so do
the subsector, located just two parsecs form Drinax. individuals or small groups hoping to find a charismatic
Since eradicating this potential threat is not a viable and successful leader to follow. The success of some
option, the only course of action is to foster friendly operations has enabled the outcasts to bring in
relations. The usual trade-and-gifts approach is out additional equipment, but it is becoming impossible to
of the question; ihatei respect strength and daring far keep pace with the expanding population. Aslan being
more than wealth and largesse. The Travellers must what they are, competition for scarce resources is fierce,
impress their potential allies with deeds, which leads to and tensions are running high on Kteiroa.
particularly daring piracy.
The answer is not simple or easy. The camp’s
overstrained life support plant must be augmented with
THE SETTING additional water recycling equipment, storage tanks
Kteiroa is a frozen desert, though it does have a and even basic items like piping. Ideally, the camp also
breathable atmosphere. What little water is available needs additional power generation systems, distribution
must be drilled out of deep aquifers or more-or- components and workshop machines. Without these
less wrung out of the rocks. This is one of several mundane items, the camp will be unable to support
reasons why Kteiroa has never been a hot prospect its population. The best possible outcome of that is a
for colonisation or ihatei landgrab. However, there are rapid abandonment and loss of prestige for the outcasts.
those who can see past the forbidding landscape and More likely, there will be serious and large-scale
appreciate Kteiroa for what it might be – a staging post violence. Whether the camp is destroyed in the expected
for raids and annexation of the Sindalian Main. bloodbath or merely damaged, the long-term prospects
are not good.
The world has been settled by a family of Aslan
outcasts, who brought with them sufficient equipment
to create a rather basic starport and town to support it. THE PATRON
This has grown into a thriving ihatei camp, with several Utea is an outcast from Aslan society, one of a family
leaders and their followers present at any given time. who have settled Kteiroa and made it their own.
These transients are not counted towards the world’s Despite stereotypes about Aslan males being unable
official population figures, though some of them are a lot to understand anything more technical than a hand
less transient than others. grenade, Utea knows very well what is needed to prevent
his family’s project from collapsing onto carnage. He
As the camp has grown, so have its requirements for is not opposed to a violent cull of the numbers, but
basic supplies such as water and food, as well as luxury his family would almost certainly come off badly in
items – not to mention accommodation. Word is getting such a fight as several of the ihatei bands at the camp
around that Kteiroa is a good place to pick up additional outnumber his warriors.
followers – usually from another ihatei band whose
leader has failed to impress – and to rest up before Utea’s economic and technical advisors (who happen
launching an expedition. The world’s ihatei population is to be two of his wives) have presented a rather bleak
on the cusp of an explosion in more senses than one. picture of the situation. Kteiroa needs a large amount
of the sort of equipment used to set up a frontier Thus the Travellers find themselves in the august
colony, and cannot afford to buy it. Nor can Utea ask presence of Utea himself. He is haughty and disdainful
for assistance from any Aslan clan. He must solve this of… pretty much everything really, and makes it
problem using only his own resources. Fortunately, a clear that anything not Aslan is inherently inferior.
solution is at hand. Utea will take what he cannot afford Nevertheless, he provides his guests with fine food and
to buy, and use it to turn his worthless frigid desert of a drink, and asks them for their story. He even deigns to
world into one capable of supporting huge numbers of listen to the answer, and seems genuinely interested at
ihatei. some points.

The concept is simple, but the execution of Utea’s plan What Utea wants to know is: are the Travellers smart,
will require considerable effort and a little inventiveness. armed and willing to do what it takes to get the job
He has the additional problem that he needs to be seen done? Do they have a starship available? If they present
as the undisputed lord and master of Kteiroa, dispensing him with a tale of their exploits suggesting these things
gifts and necessities as the fancy takes him. Asking are true, he will be favourably disposed towards them.
any ihatei leader to help him provide basic services On the other hand, if the Travellers choose to downplay
would undermine his own position and would be a major their illegal and violent exploits – i.e. they talk to Utea
political risk even if his pride let him consider it. like they were trying to wriggle out of criminal charges
– he will be far less impressed. No human can ever be
Utea therefore needs someone outside the society of the equivalent of an Aslan ihatei, but they can aspire
Kteiroa’s ihatei camp; someone creative and bold but to be something similar – if lesser in all ways. An ihatei
who cannot possibly supplant him as leader. Humans, is proud of his exploits or at least prepared to answer
say perhaps a band of pirates out of Drinax, would be a for them; weaselling and deception might be useful but
perfect choice. they are hardly the hallmark of notable warriors.

HIRING ON
During a visit to Drinax (or perhaps in some other port
along the Sindalian Main), the Travellers notice a bit of
a stir. This is caused by the arrival of some Aslan bigwig
or other, who turns up in a 600-ton ship acting like he is
the Emperor of Everything. Wearing splendid garments
and surrounded by well-armed bodyguards, he makes a
lordly peregrination around the port before grudgingly
settling upon barely-suitable lodgings. From there, word
goes out that the lord Utea invites bold and adventurous
souls to come into his presence. He has a proposition
for the right group; one that carries with it great rewards
and the patronage of the lordly Utea.

The Travellers will no doubt have seen this routine

before. The humblest of Aslan officials or leaders will act
like a great lord in the presence of outsiders, and many
of them (if not all) seem to genuinely see themselves as
better than humans. Be that as it may, this Utea seems
to have money and at least a modest amount of prestige,
so it might be worth listening to his offer.

3
 FRIENDS IN DRY PLACES
Amid all the pomp and self-importance, Utea’s proposal The Power Source will more than likely come from a
comes down to this: he needs a crew to obtain several salvaged or pirated starship. Utea needs a reactor
pieces of equipment, and deliver them to his holdings capable of generating at least Power 60 plus sufficient
on Kteiroa. If the Travellers can meet his needs in a spares to keep it running. He will also need fuel
reasonable time frame he will decree they are always tankage, though this can be improvised locally, and a set
to be welcome on Kteiroa, and will even permit Aslan of fuel processors to convert water into liquid hydrogen.
warriors to sign on aboard their vessel or ihatei vessels A small powerplant, such as that from a Free Trader or
to accompany it on its missions. In fact he has no real Scout/Courier, would be worth KCr200 to Utea if stolen
control over any of this, but if the Travellers succeed or pirated, and perhaps half as much again if he can be
in their mission, Kteiroa will move one step towards sure it was legitimately obtained.
being a Haven. It will move two steps if the Travellers
impressed Utea with their bold and forthright statements The Water Recycling Unit could be pulled from a
about who they are and what they do. In addition, Utea starship or orbital station, or colony on a world with no
will pay for the items he wants the Travellers to source breathable atmosphere. Of course, that suggests that
for him, based on their suitability and condition. someone might be using it which could raise other
complications. Getting the system out of a vessel or
There are three key pieces of equipment Utea needs; installation would be quite a lengthy engineering job,
requiring several days at least after which it would have
1. A large power source capable of supplying power for to be dismantled, transported and put back together in
a long time. A starship reactor would be eminently a working condition. A suitable unit would take up about
suitable. 20 tons of cargo hold and would be worth KCr100 to
2. A water recycling plant of the sort used on rockball Utea.
colonies or large space vessels.
3. A very large quantity of piping, cabling, and The Piping and Conduits are not especially glamorous
conduits to build a distribution network. but will be necessary to get power and water where
they need to be. Enough to get the job done properly
Whilst the Travellers are engaged in attempting to obtain would take up 40 tons of cargo space, and could be
these items, Utea will refuel their ship each time they delivered in more than one batch. Utea will pay KCr50
return to Kteiroa. Given how scarce water (and therefore when presented with enough piping, though first his
liquid hydrogen obtained from it) is on the world, this engineering-minded wife would have to pronounce it
is a grander gesture than might at first be apparent. sufficient. Utea himself has no interest in a pile of
He will also dispense gifts totaling up to Cr1000 x pipes, however vital they may be, and will not even take
2D. These take the form of furs, ornamental weapons, a look at them.
jewellery and similarly ostentatious items, and are given
as much to demonstrate Utea’s (largely illusory) wealth These requirements could be met by plonking a pirated
as for their value. Of course, Utea will want an update starship of at least 400 tons down on the landing pad at
on progress each time the Travellers come through. He Kteiroa, but there are other ways to go about getting the
will tolerate a couple of empty-handed arrivals but after ihatei what they need.
this he will withdraw his favour, which translates in this
case to ignoring the Travellers and looking for someone
else to fulfil his mission.

Utea will not handle the grubby details of handing over

money for the things he needs – that is beneath the
dignity of an Aslan lord. Instead his wives deal with
such matters. They will pay a reasonable price – in hard
currency – for the three necessary items.
 Obtaining the powerplant is only part of the problem. It
THE POWER SYSTEM must then be conveyed to Kteiroa and installed. Utea’s
As noted elsewhere, it would be possible to meet most people have some technical skills but are for the most
Utea’s needs by bringing a stolen starship of at least part not experienced with starship equipment, especially
400 tons (or ships and small craft totaling that much) systems made by humans. The Travellers will initially
to Kteiroa. This would certainly be an attention-grabbing be greeted with gifts and praise, but it soon becomes
way to solve the problem, and might result in the apparent that they are expected to present a working
Travellers gaining status with some of the ihatei groups powerplant rather than a collection of parts. If they leave
using the camp. However, it would require stealing Kteiroa without setting up the plant, Utea will not be
entire vessels and to do so the Travellers might have to pleased and their next visit may be a little frosty.
breach the Code of the Stars. This solution could be
more trouble than it is worth. On the other hand, if the Travellers take the hint and
start work on the plant, they will have to contend with
The alternative is to obtain the necessary equipment galactic-level impatience from Utea and visits from
through some means less likely to be troublesome. various ihatei leaders who want to know why the system
One option is to steal (or even buy) a powerplant from is not already up and running. Responses of a ‘because
a starship breaker, either as a complete unit or parts you keep interrupting’ nature will not go down well. Note
of several. It is not necessary that the completed that these leaders are Aslan males and do not actually
powerplant fit neatly into the drive rooms of any specific care in the slightest why the plant is not running yet –
vessel, after all. Many systems with a Class A or B what they really mean is why have they not got power
starport have starship breakers yards where spares can yet.
be obtained from dismantled ships.
Each of the ihatei leaders is also concerned that he is
Before a ship gets to the yard it is often placed in a not somehow cheated or left out of the distribution grid,
holding orbit for some time whilst preparations are and uses a combination of threats and vague promises
made to receive it. Some systems have large ‘starship of largesse to ensure that the Travellers know he is to
graveyards’ in distant orbits, where hulks await their get his fair share (and a bit more) and get it before his
final transit to the breakers yard or are stripped in space. rivals. Some will offer incentives to try to cut those rivals
There are also illicit ‘ship-chop’ operations that do the out of the distribution grid.
same with stolen or otherwise ‘hot’ vessels.

It might be possible to enter one of these graveyards THE WATER

(Utea can supply a list of suitable locations) and strip
out a powerplant. This is quite a lengthy operation, RECYCLING SYSTEM
requiring the plant be dismantled and transferred to In theory, a recycling system could be pulled from a
the Travelers’ cargo bay. A better alternative would be starship and augmented with additional components,
to remove whole small craft and pull the powerplant at but such systems tend to be buried deep in a ship’s
leisure. innards and are even more time consuming than power
systems to remove. Persistent Travellers could manage
These starship graveyards are not undefended. At it, but unless the salvage operation were conducted
the very least, there will be remote sensors which, legally (which would cost a lot more than scavenging
if triggered, will result in a response from the yard from a derelict) this would be an expensive undertaking.
owners or local system defence vessels. Wrecks might
also be booby-trapped, and it is entirely possible that There is an alternative. A few years ago a small
the breakers might have salvaged a working missile prospecting-and-mining company went bust, pulling out
launcher or two. This is more likely for illicit ship- of its various operations and selling them to anyone who
chop operations, whose owners are keen to discourage would pay to take them over. One of these installations,
pilfering by rivals or investigation by authorities. A lethal although bought at a rock-bottom price, has never been
response is far more likely if the operation is illegal, properly taken over and now stands derelict. It is on a
and word might get around that the Travellers delivered gas giant moon or rockball planet in a nearby system
powerplant components to Kteiroa not long after similar (the referee should decide which one) and, to the best
items went missing. The Travellers might run into an of everyone’s knowledge, remains undisturbed.
attempt at retribution some time later when they have
forgotten about the incident.

5
 The installation is now owned by Arenson Investments, substantial outer walls of the building. It is not
which is no mining company. Arenson has never immediately apparent what happened here (apart from
managed to put together a crew for the installation, the obvious) but it does seem items have been taken
but it did send a team to mothball the plant and set up from the two dead spacefarers. Tools, weapons and
deterrents for unwanted visitors. small salvageable items have been removed but the
bodies have been left where they fell.
As the Travellers approach, they will be detected by
an automated defence system which will broadcast a The casualties were caused by a security robot, one
warning to stay away. This repeats and becomes more of two left to deter intruders. These are small devices,
strident, before a missile is launched from the surface about 1m high, that run on fat balloon tyres and mount
somewhere close to the installation. The automated a submachinegun in a revolving turret. They do not
system only ever had three missiles, and it fired one issue any warning before opening fire; anyone in the
some time ago, so there is only one shot to follow this. installation has already got past the missile defence
However, the Travellers will not know that. The launcher system so is assumed hostile.
is not a proper turret, but a one-shot container stood
upright in a hole drilled in the rock, coupled to a rather The robots are smart enough to shoot and scoot, with
basic sensor system. one perhaps drawing the Travellers into an ambush by
the other. Once they are dealt with, the recycling system
Once past the missile system, the Travellers can easily can be removed at leisure. There are also some lab and
gain access to the prospecting site. This consists of workshop systems that can be looted, but everything
a few prefabricated base segments linked by flexible small and valuable was taken when the site was
tunnels. It is a bit of a maze, but not very large. When mothballed. Still, the Travellers might be able to obtain
operating, the site had an accommodation building, some extra salvage for their trouble.
utilities structure and power centre plus workshops and
ore sampling lab. The power centre is disappointing; its
reactor and key systems were removed when the station PIPEWORK GALORE
was mothballed. Piping and conduits could be obtained from the
same sources as the powerplant and water recycling
The water recycling unit is mainly modular, but contains equipment, though pulling them from ships in a
components scattered across the complex. Getting graveyard would be a very lengthy process. If the
the main unit out is a big, heavy job; removing the Travellers have time to spare and like spannerwork,
additional systems is easier work but time-consuming. there is nothing to stop them dismantling a ship or
All work has to be done in vacc suits unless a power installation. Spending a week extracting pipes and
feed is rigged from the Travellers’ ship; life-support and conduits from a derelict space vessel is a rather
lights are completely dead without the reactor. slow process.

There is an additional problem. Soon after arriving The Travellers should find some more efficient way of
the Travellers will find two bodies, both in vacc suits obtaining pipes, conduits, connectors, pumps, filters
and riddled with bullets. Stray rounds have smashed and other entirely mundane but essential equipment.
up equipment and punched holes in the less-than- The Travellers might come up with all manner of

Security Robot

HITS SPEED TL COST

14 12 m 12 Cr675000
SKILLS Gun Combat (slug) 1, Recon 1, Tactics 0
ATTACKS Submachinegun (3D Auto 3)
TRAITS Armour (+3)
PROGRAMMING Basic (security)

6
extravagant ways to overthink this, in which case the The atmosphere of goodwill lasts about sixteen hours,
referee can have some fun watching them collect a before things start to go wrong. One problem is that
bunch of pipes. The simplest solution is to simply buy Utea insists on irrigating land near his camp, intending
what they need. About 40 tons of pipes and conduits to grow crops and wild vegetation where animals
are needed, all told, to fully set up the camp with (introduced from offworld) can run free and be hunted.
water recycling and power distribution. Some of what His plan is, naturally, far too grandiose and the system
is needed will come with the power and water units. cannot cope. An ihatei leader rages about sewage in
The rest could be bought for Cr1000 per ton or less if his washing water; another cannot recharge his laser
the Travellers are good at bargaining. This cuts into the weapons quickly without browning-out the power grid
profit margin, but it gets the most potentially time- in his section of the camp. Disappointment
consuming part of the job done quickly. turns to anger…

THE GRAND UNVEILING THE FINAL PIECE

Once the components are in place, it only remains to Utea is dismayed at this turn of events, though this
connect it all up and throw the switch. Of course, Utea manifests itself as condescending annoyance. A
makes grand pronouncements as soon as the parts prodigious ihatei leader has decided to make Utea’s
arrive, and everyone will be expecting the plant up camp his base; he will be arriving soon and Utea needs
and running straight away. The Travellers can expect to have everything in order or lose prestige. That would
another round of demands about what has gone wrong, be bad for everyone involved.
even though in truth nothing really has. Utea has
created an unrealistic expectation (or transferred his The power issue is a secondary one; it results mainly
own expectations onto the camp in general) and now from trying to force water into the barren soil of Kteiroa
the Travellers are under pressure to instantly deliver and extract it again. Since Utea will not give up the idea
something that takes time to set up. of a hunting preserve (the farms he will do without),
the only answer is to reduce the strain on the system by
While they are getting the plant up and running, the giving it more water to work with. Easier said than done,
Travellers must deal with Utea and other Aslan males perhaps… but perhaps not. There is water on Kteiroa, in
wanting to know when the power and water will be on, artesian basins that can be reached by drilling a shaft
plus female Aslan technicians deriding solutions to and inserting pumps. The equipment to do this is rather
technical problems. They will be under grave pressure to specialist, but Utea has an idea for how to get it.
throw something together fast, but this does mean that
some parts of the system will have to be redone later. Utea has information on a company that specialises in
Getting it right first time will take longer, but reduces drilling exactly this sort of artesian pump system. They
the chance of a serious malfunction or major delay while have a ship that carries the necessary equipment, and
a cobbled-together section is taken out and put back are operating in a nearby system. All the Travellers need
together properly. do is steal the ship and its equipment, drill a hole a
kilometre or two in depth, and plug it in to the water
Utea pushes for an immediate quick-and-dirty solution, system. That, or convince the ihatei that sewage is not a
but can be persuaded to take the time to do it right if bad thing to find in your drinking water…
the Travellers approach him correctly. He is receptive to
the idea that a grand switch-on followed by some sort However they do it, the Travellers need that ship and
of failure would damage his reputation more than a few its equipment at Kteiroa as soon as possible. Once they
more days of methodical work. He is not in the slightest have achieved that, drilling the shaft is a simple enough
bit interested in details. matter – though there will be the usual barrage of
questions about why the work is not already completed.
Finally, the system is ready and Utea announces that Success will be obvious when muddy water starts to
henceforth there will be sufficient energy to recharge geyser out of the shaft, showering everyone nearby. This
every fuel cell and water to meet everyone’s needs. He will create large numbers of irate, muddy-furred ihatei
switches on the systems, and they work! Congratulations who cannot get a proper shower until the water system
and gifts (another Cr1000 x 2D worth) come the is fully operational. They will try, of course, but with low
Travellers’ way, and Utea basks in the admiration of water pressure the system cannot cope.
lesser ihatei for whom he has provided the
fundamental needs.

7
 The disputes that follow might provide an interesting Of course, it may suit the Travellers’ interests to let the
insight into the Aslan psyche. Nobody likes being camp at Kteiroa collapse into chaos. A major ihatei
covered in mud, and remaining filthy is an obvious staging post just two parsecs from Drinax might be too
indication that the individual (and his followers) were much of a threat. If so, the Travellers might stir the pot
behind someone else in the order of precedence. This is a bit or simply sneak back to their ship and leave. They
not accurate; it has more to do with how pipes are laid will make enemies of the survivors, of course, but the
out, but the Aslan will not see it that way. Some find ihatei outpost at Kteiroa will more or less self-eradicate.
inventive ways of getting clean and strut about, taunting
those who are still dirty. Others fling accusations around If the Travellers prefer to try to salvage the situation,
about bribery, corruption and underhand ways of getting they will need to apply persuasion and diplomacy – not
a decent level of water pressure. least to stop angry ihatei from shooting them! It may be
possible to persuade some warriors to guard the pipes
After the first death, the Travellers will realise that the and conduits, and technicians to help fix them. Anything
ihatei are not actually fighting over who gets to use the that calms the situation down even a little will help buy
bathroom first; they have translated the situation into a time.
status contest. Being able to get clean is a commodity
everyone wants, and those who have obtained it can If they are successful, the Travellers will be able to
flaunt their success by simply walking around without provide the camp with enough water and power to
muddy fur. And they do, rubbing everyone’s noses in the keep everyone happy, or at least prevent a fight. Utea’s
fact that they got the desired commodity long before prestige will be a little dented, but this is soon repaired
others. The implication is that those who are still dirty when a large ihatei band arrives to find the camp well
are of lower status since they lack the influence or power set up with the necessities of life. Soon the ihatei
to get what they need. are plotting raids and landgrabs with those they were
recently in conflict with.

SOLUTIONS Whether this is a good thing depends upon perspective.

Bizarre as it may seem to humans, the ihatei camp is It is probably bad for nearby human-controlled worlds,
on the verge of ripping itself apart over shower rotas. but Kteiroa itself will become a friendly port. If the
A particularly important ihatei leader is due any time, Travellers have made friends among the ihatei they may
and Utea’s reputation is on the line. Meanwhile, the be able to join a raid or embark upon a joint venture.
Travellers are approached by emissaries from ihatei They may also have started a rivalry with some of the
bands of varying size, all wanting the same thing – ihatei, and there may be indivudual’s or whole bands
privileged access to the water and power supplies, who resent the Travellers’ involvement in the recent
and occasionally the interruption of someone else’s situation at Kteiroa.
supply. The Travellers will have to tread a fine line when
dealing with these requests – they cannot really afford In short, unless the camp collapses into chaos (and
to offend any of the ihatei leaders unless they have the probably even then) the Travellers’ actions will have
wholehearted protection of Utea. consequences. The ihatei will become part of the local
political situation, one more variable in a complex
The Travellers will also discover the system is being equation. Smart Travellers will be able to make use of
sabotaged in places, cutting off some ihatei groups. this; lucky ones may benefit by accident. Disaster is
They might have just come to a deal with Utea or the always a possibility.
Travellers, and will be even more aggrieved if they
think they have been cheated. Actually fixing all the
technical problems would merely be a matter of time
and manpower; the Travellers’ real problem will be
preventing a bloodbath until they can do so.