USCM RPG TIMELINE

[Pale Rider]

While Nick has the final say I am going to lay out a timeline for the Easy Eights Missions using existing information and a little poetic license. Nick can edit this as he sees fit.

[Pale Rider]

2090 - LV-426 First Encounter with the Engineers
2122 - LV-426 First Xenomorph Encounter
July 28, 2179 - Hadley's Hope (LV-426)
April 2180 - Andromeda Campaign
August 2180 - Barnard's Star Campaign
September 2181 - Charybdis Campaign
November 2181 - Draconis Major Campaign
December 2182 - Exigo Campaign
May 2183 - False Cross Campaign
September 2184 - Gothic Serpent Campaign
November 2184- Hell on Earth Campaign
January 2185 - Invictus Campaign
March 2185 - Juggernaut Campaign
April 2185 - Kaus Campaign
June 2185 - Longinus Campaign
December 6 2185 - Gateway (Containment Breach)
February 2186 - Become Death
May 2186 - One if by Sea (1st Ekylprillion Campaign)
July 2186 - Operation Alpha Strike (2nd Eklyprillion Campaign)
August 2186 - Operation Eagle Strike (1st Goliath Campaign)
November 2188 - Operation Watch Dog
September 22, 2189 - Monsoon Campaign

[Corporal Hicks]

Love it! Looks great!

[Morse]

At a certain point I thought we talked about there being larger swaths of time between these. Cus yes, while they were dated the way they were, timeline wise its a bit impossible since we had numerous trips that were months in each direction. - plus we talked about longer deployments in specific areas. - In particular many of the Campaigns, which take place in numerous locations, in separate systems.

I just know that the year was always either 2179 or 80, since thats the 'Aliens' timeline, but we kinda can't actually be on that at this point, unless we started years earlier or are actually later


- Just my thoughts.

[Corporal Hicks]

I agree with you morse. I don't like thinking Roberts spend a total of six months in the marine corps... Lol

[Morse]

Well we almost always return to Earth before each mission, and going anywhere in ICC space can take months. So you just figure, up and back, up and back, up and back. - We start racking in years really quick. - which I know Dirk and I have mentioned in narrative ( I believe he said the girl he went to prom with was a grandma)

- I don't know what you wanna do about that, whether its actually listing the year, or just ignoring like we have been. I'm just pointing out the continuity trouble there.

[Pale Rider]

Well I almost took the actual time in years from 2006 and made the dates that way. So if everyone is in agreement the year should be 2186 for the current Campaign.

[Corporal Hicks]

Well I almost took the actual time in years from 2006 and made the dates that way. So if everyone is in agreement the year should be 2186 for the current Campaign.

That's a great idea Pale!

[taimdala]

2186? Works for me. I'll make a note of it in my files. As long as we're all in agreement, I'm cool with whatever date we decide on.

[Pale Rider]

Updated timeline.

[Pale Rider]

HISTORY BASED ON THE MOVIES, BOOKS, AND GRAPHIC NOVELS
The closing years of the 20th Century saw a fading of the great Nations and a rapid increase in the power and influence of multi-national Corporations. These Corporations were not restricted to a single field; their interests were vast, covering all aspects of industry and economics, as they diversified into every field that held profit. They were also not defined by country, society, or ideology. In industry, in business, and in the media, the multi-nationals became more powerful and more visible.
The first planet to have a scientific colony on it was Mars. The moon followed thereafter. Needless to say, Earth's space exploration was not united; many different countries have established colonies in space. The major colonizers are: The United Americas (USA, Canada, parts of South America), China, Japan, The European Federation and Russia. Though rare, conflicts have occurred between countries in space. The most significant cases are between the UA and China, because of the differences in government between these two powers; diplomatic unrest has occasionally turned into war. China is believed to back the notorious PRA, a communist extremist group that has been responsible for numerous communist takeovers.
As the corporations grew, they wove together the economic interests of the Nations of the world, and the specter of large-scale warfare was reduced. With head-to-head warfare economically unacceptable, the advanced states settled for venting their hostilities and waging wars in Third World nations.
This trend continued through the following decades, as the corporations prospered and the interdependence of the major Nations of Earth grew. Tensions did not end, but were kept under control and released in ways that did not damage anyone's ability to make money. Thus humanity entered the age of Space in an atmosphere of controlled tension but not outright war.
The Age of Space came in the wake of two tremendous technological breakthroughs. The first was the reactionless Displacement drive, which allowed Humanity to travel quickly and cheaply within the Solar System. The Jump Drive soon followed, expanding on the principles behind the Displacement Drive and taking Humanity out into the stars. As technologies were perfected, exploration craft went out from Earth.
The search for minerals and other raw materials was only a secondary goal of the explorers; those things were available within the Solar System itself, in amounts that would keep humanity supplied for many years. The most important things the stars held were knowledge, the potential of new habitable planets to ease the population pressures of Earth, and the opportunity to study new life forms.
The greatest value for the corporations lay in the life forms. Each world is like a gigantic laboratory, where the forces of nature have experimented on for billions of years. The creatures produced in those laboratories, and the complex chemicals contained within them, possess abilities far beyond those available to Humanity. Many of these abilities are nearly miraculous.
The expansion into Space had been a slow progress, since useful systems were rare and the effort involved in establishing colonies was great. Still, at least six Earth-like worlds have been found, and dozens more that are at least habitable. On other worlds, the process of terraforming is underway, as hostile environments are slowly changed into places where Humans can live.
On every habitable world, colonies have been established. They have expanded at varying rates, depending on the corporate support they have received and the qualities of the worlds. Shiploads of people and equipment are sent to each Colony, and eventually the colonies begin to send items of value back to the rest of Humanity; unusual life forms and mineral combination, the product of local industries, and after a generation, skilled workers.
These skilled workers are part of the rapidly growing populations of the colonies, and the corporations have developed many techniques for managing them successfully. Colonists have developed many techniques for making them successfully. Colonists are taught to live active, disciplined lives, to maximize their economic value and reduce the risks of living in the colonies. Good educations are available for those who are not. By contrast, the disorganized state of the population of Earth means that there are relatively fewer people who are well disciplined and well-educated, as the quality of life diminished on Earth. The value of trained, energetic, and obedient workers from the colonies increase.
In addition to the above aspects of corporate life, a major part of each corporation's management approach has been the establishment of a corporate military force. These forces are not large, but they are well trained, and have the best equipment their Corporation can afford.
With Colonies on many worlds, the power and influence of the Corporations rose rapidly. As they became more powerful, they became more of a threat to the Nations of Earth. The situation was a very delicate one; the nations had far larger armies, but the Corporation controlled space and vital high technology. The same economic interdependence, which prevented war among the Nations now, prevented the Nations from harming the Corporations.
Tensions between the increasingly wealthy Corporates and the Governments of Earth increased. The governments felt threatened. They saw the fabric of society changing and thought they might not be a part of the future of humanity. Every political weapon was used, including diplomacy, bribery, blackmail, and economic pressure. Separatist movements were created to destabilize Nations, which responded by seeing corporate property. Finally, one small crisis got out of control and erupted into warfare. Dozens of other small wars began within weeks, and the Earth spun into chaos. Fortunately, the wars remained limited; few nuclear or biological weapons were used.
The wars lasted for five years. The war concluded with the formation of a joint council to oversee the affairs of both Corp and government for the betterment of humanity. Out of violence came the Interstellar Commerce Commission (ICC), a coalition of Corporation and Nations which united Humanity. This organization was in charge or regulating activities among its members, and the Colonial Marine Corps was created as its military arm under the charter that they did not have to answer to any single corporation. The wars had taught everyone that it would be valuable to have some sort of “police force” to discourage them from using violence to solve their problems.
Throughout the wars, the colonies strongly supported the Corporations. They wanted to remain free from the nations, and many believed they would receive status as independent entities with increased control over their own affairs. When the ICC was formed, it became clear this would not be the case; the Colonies were treated as corporate property. Another cycle of hostility, tension, and intense diplomacy began, an eventually several Colonies rebelled. The Colonial Marine Corps, supported by corporate forces was given the job of bringing the rebels back under control.
The cause of the Colonies was in danger from the beginning. The tremendous financial and military resources available to the ICC meant that their losses could be quickly replaced, while the colonies were very weak in technology, industry, and population. One by one, the Colonies were defeated militarily and economically. There are still underground rebel movements on most Colonies, but they pose little threat to the ICC at present.
The colonies, having supported the Corps in the war, thought they would win more independence from external rule. The creation of the ICC confirmed society's view that the colonies were nothing more than Corporate property. Many colonies rebelled. They were always going to lose. The ICC, Corporate forces and the CMC waged economic and military warfare and overpowered all but one corner of resistance. The rebel system of Alexandria sealed itself off from the rest of humanity. Soon after, the Union of Progressive People formed from several rim colonies and set up a military border. Their size is small but fortified. Attempts to retake their territory proved fruitless. Alexandria acknowledges the UPPs independence but the ICC does not.
The Colonial Marine Corps was created at the same time as the ICC. The intent was that the Colonial Marines, funded by coalition of all the space-going Nations, would be an independent force that would resolve disputes among the Nations and Corporation, and keep the peace in the Colonies as well. Each nation had its own portion of the force made up of its own citizens, but they shared equipment, training, and doctrine. They were led by the Colonial Marine Corps High Command, which included representatives from several nations.
Most of the power belongs to the Corporations, however, and the Nations have little influence among the stars. Their only tool is the Colonial Marine Corps, and its power is dwindling. Every year, the Colonial Marines fall a little further behind in technology; their weapons are not upgraded, their supplies and other equipment fail to incorporate the latest improvements, and their ships are faced with the improved designs available to the Corporations.
The shortage of personnel is also a growing a problem for the Colonial Marines. They have not replaced the losses suffered during the wars against the rebel colonies, and the additional drain imposed by the current turmoil has made the problem even worse. For the Colonial Marines, the loss of a single Strike Team can mean that large areas will remain un-patrolled and unmonitored for months or even years. It wasn't until later, from secret grants from corporations which believed the ICC to be corrupt, did they manage to compete again.
2122 - First contact with Aliens creatures on LV-426. The freighter "Nostromo" made landfall on the planet, one of the crew members was infected and subsequently the crew and the ship was destroyed by the drone that emerged. Sole survivor, Ellen Ripley, escaped in a Capsule, the "Narcissus" and floated homewards towards Earth (we assume).
Between 2155 and 2160 - Colony set up on LV-426, which was subsequently known as "Acheron." Due to a sheltering mountain range and the dire meteorological conditions, the colonists failed to find the "Jockey ship."
2179 - The Narcissus was found floating by a remote mining vessel with Ellen Ripley on board. She was brought back to gateway station in orbit around Earth where it was learned that she was been in hypersleep for 57 years. Her story was not believed by the ICC and she was stripped of her rank and duties. One corporate executive, Carter Burke, believed enough of the story to ask the colonist on LV-426 "Acheron" to go and have a look at the grid references provided by Ripley. Earth subsequently lost contact with the colony.
Burke, Ripley and a strike team of Colonial Marines made their way to Acheron and had a bad time of it all. The survivors; Ripley, Rebecca "Newt" Jordon, Corporal Dwight Hicks and a synthetic Bishop headed back towards earth in their vessel the Sulaco.

CONSPIRACY AND TECHNOLOGY LEVELS

CONSPIRACY LEVELS (CL)
CLs are only used by the GM to denote the setting at the beginning of the game. This really just reveals what is available in the setting at this point. The prime reason for the Conspiracy Levels are for what impact the corporations have, how much power the USCM have, but mostly, how many Aliens are out there. This is a simple guide and they can be broken up at any time. The course of events can either be descending or ascending. You can start with the Alien War (like the Dark Horse Comics) or reverse them like I did for a course of events that fits in with the Film series. The GM, beforehand, should organize the CLs as he sees fit. I suggest simply following the course from 1 to 6. Therefore, the PCs can progress through the CLs for a very fulfilling gaming experience. CL is only used in further chapters for story development. (EG: Grant Corp needs Royal Jelly at CL 3 but operates its own hives in CL 4).

CONSPIRACY LEVEL 1: “A VISITOR”
CL1 takes course around the time of the movie. A Narcissus Shuttle is towed from Outer Reaches to Gateway station. On the basis of the report from the survivor, a CMC Cruiser was sent to a planet on the Outer Rim. The Aliens are only known by that survivor. This setting is a pre-threat scenario. Marines usually don't even consider any non-human threats in known space. The human quotient is another story. The Aliens still exist in deep, deep space, and on the planet Acheron, quarantined after the Atmospheric Processor there went critical.
EG: Aliens

CONSPIRACY LEVEL 2: “IT’S ON A NEED TO KNOW BASIS”
In CL2, stories have leaked about some alien life form on the rim. The PCs still don't know anything but their superiors may not be revealing everything. Weyland-Yutani and several other corporations are committed to a secret agenda. Meanwhile in deep space, in the deepest of the deep, several ships and colonies are found abandoned, destroyed, or they simply have gone missing. PCs may encounter trace evidence of something…deadly…something someone is trying to hide.
EG: Alien 3

TECH LEVELS
Tech levels should be enforced. They introduce technology in a step-by-step basis. It is recommended that you follow them with the appropriate Conspiracy Level but exceptions can be made. Earth War, for example, is CL5 and TL1. However, it is not recommended that you flip then (CL1, TL5) since that gives the PCs a severe advantage. The GM should start with a low TL and work his way up as the game progresses. It isn't that much fun when the PCs get everything at the start. TLs are used frequently to denote when technology is introduced and when a GM should and shouldn't use them. If a game uses TL2, you can leak TL3 technology on occasion but introducing an Anti-Alien Combat Synthetic or a Berserker suit may be unwise.

TECH LEVEL 1: STANDARD TECHNOLOGY
These are all technologies from the start of the series. Everything from the Aliens movie is present. All technology is considered TL1 unless stated otherwise.
EG: M41A Pulse Rifle, M51 Smart Gun

TECH LEVEL 2: ENHANCED
Basically, TL2 are weapons and devices which are just slightly better. No anti-Xenomorph technology is available just yet.
EG: M41A Mark2, Duchamp Blaster

ENTER HERE FOR CL1 & TL1
2179 or 2180 - The Sulaco had some of the Alien eggs left on board (Ripley apparently failed to check before she went into hypersleep) and the emerging face-huggers caused an electrical fire on the Sulaco which then jettisoned the sleep capsules in an escape pod. The pod found its way to the nearest inhabited planet "Fiorina 161 - Fury" a corporate penal colony.
Newt and Hicks failed to survive the landing and Bishop was scrapped carelessly by the inmates. Ripley found she was carrying an Alien queen inside her, lost more people to yet another drone that infected a local dog and ended up arguing the loss with a corporate bigwig who resembled her beloved Bishop. She threw herself into a boiling vat of molten lead.

ENTER HERE FOR CL2 & TL2
In 2185, the CMC secretly funded its own group to investigate the reports concealed from them events on LV-426, or Acheron. The organization goes without a name and doesn't officially exist. Not even Weyland-Yutani knew of their existence. The group was ordered to investigate the reports on the rim and return in a year with a full report.
The report returned was alarming. The aliens somehow, were not exclusive to LV-426. It was very possible they either escaped or there was another source the infestation was originating from. That location had yet to be found. Colonies had vanished and several life specimens had been examined. Life specimens had yet to survive to reach a major laboratory. After the devastating fall of the Anchorpoint station on the UPP border, the CMC realized it had a major problem. The sub-division of the CMC was given a name (the Silver Twin) and sent back with an arsenal. No longer were they to retrieve information. Now they were to control the problem. Backlash was felt from the Corporations but CMC's newfound independence with rival corporates kept their power base stable. The CMC even managed to recover the lost Sulaco and finally managed to settle a party on LV-426, quarantined from the critical processor disaster years earlier. The Alien craft there was destroyed to prevent the technology from being recovered by approaching UPP forces.

COPIED FROM SERENA DAWN.COM, EDITED TO FIT WITHIN OUR GAME CONFINES

[Pale Rider]

Bump