Vega Prime
Part One
November 9, 2000
(Story Two of the Kinder and Gentler Gallifrey Season)
Plot by Jen Kokoski

GAMETIME

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PLAYER RULES

The NADW Simulation is a PG-rated scripted roleplay game in the spirit of the original Who tv series. Profanity, vulgarity and offensive behavior is frowned upon. All games are logged for story reconstruction. Unclaimed Cast Roles listed below are open on a first come first serve basis. Final Casting Calls are made by 10 after the hour. The group is a friendly bunch, but once the game begins non game chat must be in <> brackets.  Spectators are always welcome to join our peanut gallery and watch our Doctor Who story unfold on chat screen. If you'd like to play, please see our sign-up page.

Background

Vega Prime is a luxurious resort on the satellite planet of Trellorious Major in the distant alpha Sector of space. It is located at a crucial juncture between the known "civilized" worlds of the Galaxy and the as yet "untamed" worlds of the exploratory sectors. Most of the space traffic is comprised of space privateers and star miners who've taken government grants to try and conquer remote space. Also attracted to the resort or the wealthy and adventurous classes who want to loose themselves in this glitzy attraction.

The resort on Vega Prime is comprised of two massive towers bound together by an activity complex. The towers are filled with condominiums, penthouses, suites, and hotel rooms offering the latest in recreation links (3D TV), online gaming and their own personal sea balconies where the vista is brought to you.

The activity complex consists of several stories above and below ground. On the highest level is an "environment deck" where vacationers may relax and get a tan specifically tailored for their appropriate skin type. You never have to worry about being burned or getting scarring skin cancers. Invisible force fields ensure you get just the right tint of Vega's trio of suns. Just below that is the "exercise deck" where resorters can try hundreds of the latest excercise gear, soak in soothing hot tubs, saunas or race around an Galactic Olympic-sized track. Below that is the "aquatic deck" where three naturalized swimming pools and central waterfall fulfill every whim.

On the main concourse are the "Amusement Center" with indoor boardwalk style rides and games. A real rollercoaster rolls past an indoor ice rink and down to the "Shopping Square". Here, a dozen of the best stores this side of Andromeda offer just about whatever you need. Dine at one of 3 5 Star restaurants, take in a virtual show or a live performance nightly.

And for the real amusement of adult vacationers are the 5 levels of Vegas-Style Casino games. Blackjack, Poker, Roullete, Cribbage, even Venusian Whist is played here. The stakes are high, but on Vega Prime you get only the best.

For those wishing to rejuvenate their bodies as well as their minds, Vega Resorts have a unique architecture designed to fulfill even the simplest desires. Built on the edge of Vega Prime's largest sea estuary, every room has a perfect view of the effervesent pink waters of Vega. Each building has its own private guestway to the sandy white beach where guests may take a long walk, lie in the sand or take a dip in the healing salt waters. Like the Dead sea of Earth, Vega Prime's oceans are heavily concentrated in salt and so make the water much denser than typical. Humans float effortlessly on the surface of the pink-hue water. It has long been considered a healing remedy for just about any ailment. And for those interested in Vega Prime's natural and bountiful sea life, a "catch-n-toss" pier is ready to help you see these clever creatures for yourself.

GALAXIA ENTRY: VEGA PRIME

Small remote satellite planet with a 90% terra normal atmosphere. The sky is a soft pinkish hue and as such imbues the oceans with the same color. The planet is 80% water with 20% dry land contained in one large continent about the size of Australia [see Earth]. Oceans contain a high content of natural salts making the water denser and bodies more effervescent. Small streams of fresh water are known to trickle down from a central chain of snow-covered mountains in the center of land and feed the local life in small estuaries. The predominant lifeform is aquatic as land resources are too small to support a large dry land population. Currently, 250,000 sea species have been identified. It's supposed 1,000,000 more are left unknown and presumed thriving in undersea volcanic streams.

The largest aquatic inhabitant is locally known as a "Seaphant" or "Sea Elephant". Roughly the size of an African elephant but with a large tailfin and predilection for waterlife, it frequents all known estuaries in colonies. The "Seaphant" slightly resembles the now extinct Manatee of North America, Earth. It is a mammal living for an undetermined time. Mates at sea, presumably, the young are raised within estuaries until able to swim the length of the seas. It breathes air above and below water, but is believed to need to resurface periodically for fresh air like whales. Seaphant colonies seem centered around familiar units rather than mating harems or hunting parties. while highly organized social structures may be seen, no "civilized" behavior has been noted. The species is termed Category 5: nonhostile animal species.

WEATHER/ENVIRONMENT

Temperature roughly 75-85 degrees Farenheit, slightly humid but mild. Mostly overcast, with thick fog in early morning and late evening. Bright sun may burn off clouds briefly during midday to provide sunshine. Rains occasionally. Heavy electrical storms occur during "Moontide" Season when the planet drifts close to Trellorious Major and gravitational forces create a aggravating pull on the planet's oceans. "Moontide" may create massive tital waves and severe lightning, but only lasts a period of 42 days.

THE CAST
Reserved roles marked by a [name]

10th Doctor - [DrTuna] a wandering timelord in his 10th regeneration. Since uncovering the mystery of his wife's murder and his true reasons for leaving Gallifrey, he has a new lease on exploring the Universe and abandoning his people's dark ways for good.

Irish - [Rob/IrishTCat] a morphing green cat and companion to the Doctor. He witnessed the late presidential candidate Andros' death on Gallifrey in sim Shadows of the Past.

Jacie Hunter - [Jen] a child from Earth 2164, she became a Space Time Gypsy to escape their wrath and became a defender of the timelines. Companion to the Doctor with a talent for picking pockets and reading people.

D. Bond – posing as a realtor on vacation who is unnaturally curious about previous guests and their disappearances.

Director Dil Dilfries – acting director of the profitable Vega Prime resort. He watches the place like a hawk and ensures the games are as fair as necessary, guests are kept happy, and the resort remains profitable – by any means.

Billy Clyde – a high rolling gambler and frequent visitor to Vega Prime. He’s come, as usual, to drink, gamble and pretty much toss away all his profits from the games.

Bubbles M’gee – a waitress built like most of the female staff, tall, beautiful and barely-clothed. Despite her tempting attire, she and all the female staff are strictly look-but-don’t-touch and willing to defend themselves, at whatever cost.

EARLY BEGINNING

TARDIS ARRIVAL (The Doctor, Jacie, Irish)

The TARDIS materializes on the rooftop of Vega Prime Towers where they can see everything below: activity complex, beach, condos, spaceport, etc. The Doctor tells his friends a bit about the planet and what he's read about the resort. He's eager to explore it. Jacie and Irish find a way into the glass elevator where they travel down to the complex.

IN THE PENTHOUSE FLOOR (Realtor Bond)

Realtor queries the resort data system for profiles and three men - all wealthy from the Troygon sector. The men had nicknames like "Lefty", "Doc" and "Big Billy D". All men are marked with arrival dates on a particular shuttle flight "Lone Star" and resort exit dates, but no verifiable passage record for a departing plane. When queried about their room status, the hotel computer says "Account paid in full - Ident Card Reference Number...". Realtor downloads all this data into his handheld and departs for the elevators.

LATE BEGINNING

ELEVATOR (Doctor, Jacie, Irish, Realtor Bond)

On the Penthouse floor the glass elevator stops and picks up Realtor Bond along with the Doctor, Jacie and Irish. Bond is surprised to see them on the elevator already since this is the highest guest floor. He questions if they are just arrived sightseers. The Doctor agrees, not letting it be known they came from the roof, and asks how long the realtor's been here. Bond delays answering, checking his watch and the elevator numbers. Jacie gathers he’s nervous about something. She reiterates the Doctor's question. Bond lies and says 2 years, since buying some satellite real-estate in this sector. He claims it’s easier to watch his investments from here. Vega Prime usually “traffics” in a lot of things. Before the Doctor can question what things, the elevator stops on the realtor's floor and he hastily gets out.

IN THE CASINO (Director Dilfries, Billy Clyde, Bubbles the waitress)

Billy Clyde sits at his lucky blackjack table and orders his 5th Mai Tai. He's betting high and getting frisky with the waitress, Bubbles. Director Dilfries politely intervenes, suggesting gambler call it quits for the night. But Billy refuses because he’s riding a lucky street and hopes it'll get him back all last month's losses. Director Dilfries instructs the robotic dealer to continue the game, but whispers to Bubbles to have the alcohol taken out of the gambler's drinks for the rest of the night. He directs her to have the bartender put the sleeping draft in it instead and when the gambler passes out come get him.

MIDDLE

ACTIVITY COMPLEX (Doctor, Jacie, Irish)

The glass elevator opens inside the main concourse of the "Entertainment Level". The crew take in the sites of roller coasters, food stands, stores and shows en route to the spiraling escalators to the busy casino. They pass one gaming table after another. Irish finds it all pretty boring until he spots a slot machine made for cats. He wanders over to have a few spins. Meanwhile, Jacie and the Doctor continue on. Jacie finds the place ostentatious, but the Doctor sees an interesting game being played between one gambler (Billy Clyde) and a robotic dealer - Blackjack. He decides to sit in. Jacie joins him, but sits uncomfortably close to the drunken gambler. Billy Clyde leers at her a bit, but Jacie holds her own. She becomes much more interested in watching the men circling the room, including that strange preoccupied Realtor from the elevator. Meanwhile, the Doctor sweeps the table quickly discerning the game and winning one hand after another. Billy Clyde on the other hand loses all his hands and his money. He becomes a bit beligerent until it comes down to the last hand. Clyde bets everything he has, the Doctor, with his conspicuous skill for numbers, wins it all.

At the same time, Irish has a disagreement with his one armed bandit and ends up winning the jackpot of two machines. Alarms and buzzers go off to tout his victory.

MEANDERING ABOUT [Realtor Bond, Director Dilfries]

In separate areas of the casino, these two men circle and watch everyone.

ENDING

DIRECTOR'S ORDERS (Director Dilfries, Gambler Billy Clyde, Doctor, Jacie, Irish)

In the melee, Billy Clyde accuses the Doctor of cheating. The Director quickly appears to deal with the situation. He orders Bubbles to direct the gambler to the special elevator telling him there's always another game and his credit is still good here. It appeases Clyde and he goes off with Bubbles. The Director retains the TARDIS crew inviting them back to his office to discuss their amazing "winnings".

DIRECTOR'S OFFICE (Director Dilfries, Doctor, Jacie, Irish)

In his office where all the gambling tables can be seen on security cam, the Director interviews the strangers. He finds it peculiar that in the span of 15 minutes they were able to win a combined total of 3.5 million credits. They play dumb.The Doctor attributes it all to good luck and some skill with numbers. The Director assumes he's a shark and warns they don't permit sharks to circle their casino. They run an honest establishment. The Doctor insists he has no ill-intention and to prove it, it forfeits his winnings. Irish isn't habit about that since he feels he could buy lots of fish with his winnings. But the Doctor insists they really just came as tourists because they heard Vega Prime was one of the most interesting 7000 Wonders of the Universe. The Director softens and beams at the mention of his pride and joy - the resort. He offers to give the travellers a guided tour, as long as they stay out of his casino. He's afraid they'd beggar him in an hour.

SPECIAL ELEVATOR (Bubbles the waitress, Billy Clyde, Realtor Bond)

Meanwhile, Bubbles struggles to get the drunken Clyde out of the casino. Realtor Bond jumps in at the elevator bays and offers to help. They drag/carry him across to an opaque special guest elevator marked "Express". Clyde shrugs off Realtor Bond and makes a leering grab for Bubbles. She shoves him in the elevator and instructs the computer to take him to his floor. The doors close and the man nods off.

A minute or two later, Clyde wakes up as the door opens onto an unfamiliar floor. It's pitch black. He stumbles forward, the doors shut behind him. He thinks it's a mistake or cruel joke, but then sees something glinting in the light. Before he can react, he's shot with an energy weapon and his body dragged away.

Next Week's Adventure Continues

While the Doctor and his friends take the grand tour of the outer tropical beach environment of Vega Prime, Billy Clyde meets a terrifying population underground. Find out what fate awaits the travellers. If you'd like to play, just sign-up online. Questions? Contact David our game coordinator at AlxKeegan2@aol.com.