Writing Reece Carter Editing Roz Leahy Illustration Holly Jencka & Ruby C Layout Eric Hill

CHIRON (J1C-IV) Pg.4

Medical research ship gone dark. The test subjects have broken loose and the crew
is unresponsive.
TERUS MAJU (J2C-II) Pg.10
Cargo ship with a cracked engine. Might be an ambush.
PREVENGE (J2C-II) Pg.14
Pirate vessel disabled in battle. The hold is full of ill-gotten goods and jumpy crew.
FIREBIRD (J1C-II) Pg.18
Partially destroyed salvage ship working to recover missing crew before a debris
field finishes them off.
ARGOSY (J2C-II) Pg.22
A planetary exploration ship is on a deliberate course towards the nearest sun. The
signal warns not to approach.

Distress Signals
2023/03/15
Copyright 2023 © Reece Carter

This edition was produced in collaboration with Reece Carter and Space Penguin Ink, LLC.
All rights reserved.

Redistribution without prior written consent is prohibited. Permission is granted to reproduce for personal use. All creators reserve the
right to be identified as such. In all cases this notice must remain intact.
This publication is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

This product is based on the Mothership® Sci-Fi Horror Role Playing Game, published by Tuesday Knight Games. This product is published
under license. MOTHERSHIP® is a registered trademark of Tuesday Knight Games. All rights reserved. For additional information, visit www.
tuesdayknightgames.com or contact [email protected].
CHIRON (J1C-IV)

The Automated Distress Signal

is the only communication being
received from this ship.

4 DISTRESS SIGNALS
Classification: Medical Research Vessel Home Port: Sineto Deep Space Factory
Crew: 15 Destination: Redacted

DISTRESS SIGNALS 5
CHIRON

The ship’s automated mayday signal has been broadcast Scanning the ship: Life support and power remain
but there has been no communication from the crew. operational, with some life signs detected on board.
Life support and power remain operational, but the rings Artificial gravity is offline.
aren’t spinning so there is no artificial gravity. Three Docking: Forward Docking Bay, Cargo Bay near Ring 1
chimps broke free and killed everyone they could, with
only some of the crew able to make it to the escape pod.

6 DISTRESS SIGNALS
 CHIRON
CHIMPANZEE ATTACKS FORWARD DOCKING BAY
This adventure can be run as a Slow Burn or Random. This room contains a manual control station for the ship, a
Slow Burn: Describe the ship in cold, clinical detail ladder up to the Command Bay, and a large, magnetically
and allow the players to stress themselves out as locked docking door.
they anticipate an attack. As soon as they become The door can be:
complacent, hit them with a jump scare chimp attack. ◾ Overridden by the Mayday Override Code.
Take the opportunity to lunge at the players or make a
◾ Bypassed by overloading the maglock.
loud sound to emphasise it.
◾ Manually pried open using a pry tool and a combined
Random: Roll on the chimp encounter table whenever the Strength score of 100.
PCs enter a new area.
COMMAND BAY
CHIMPANZEE ENCOUNTERS
Four seats surround the command console—none of the
0-5 Nothing computers are operational. A ladder on the port side of
Two chimpanzees are chewing on the body the ship leads down to the Forward Docking Bay, and
of a dog. Everyone who sees this gains 1 a small life support generator is on the starboard wall.
6 There is a large airlock door at the end of the room.
Stress and makes a Fear Save. Those failing
make a noise and alert the chimps. MAIN HALLWAY
A red-eyed chimpanzee lunges down from A thin hallway that runs the entire length of the ship.
7 above a doorway, clawing and gnashing at
RING 1 INTERNAL HALLWAY
the nearest PC.
Power to the rings has been stopped, and they now sit
Two chimpanzees look up from smashing stationary. There are four passages this section, leading
8 computer consoles, confused by the PCs’ to the Mess Hall, Cryo Chambers, Barracks, and Cargo
presence. They attack after 1d5 rounds. Bay.
A human corpse with a smashed in helmet MESS HALL
and torn up space suit floats in front of the
A large, open-plan lounge and kitchen area. Discarded
entrance. Everyone who sees this gains 1
9 food packets float freely. Cupboards and shelves are bare.
Stress and makes a Fear Save. Those failing
cry out in shock, summoning an aggressive CRYO CHAMBERS
chimpanzee in 1d5 rounds. Two large airlock doors lead to this room. Fifteen
Two chimpanzees are trying and failing to cryogenic pods line the walls, and a secondary
open a closed blast door on the opposite mechanical life support system is installed along the roof.
10 In emergencies, this chamber can act as an escape pod.
side of the room. They are becoming
increasingly agitated. BARRACKS
◾ Chimpanzee Five small, triple-stacked bunk beds form a row down
C:40 Claw/Claw 2d10 or Bite 2d10 I:45 W:2(15) the side of this room. At the far end there are toilet and
shower facilities and a small seating area.
◾ Advantage on Strength Checks.
CARGO BAY
The small cargo hold has been ransacked. Torn up boxes
and food packets float in the zero gravity.

DISTRESS SIGNALS 7
CHIRON
RING 1 OUTER HALLWAY RING 2 OUTER HALLWAY
This hallway links the Ring 1 rooms along the perimeter. This hallway links the Ring 2 rooms along the perimeter.
RING 2 INTERNAL HALLWAY MEDBAY
Similar to Ring 1, there are four passages radiating out The damage done to this room looks to be deliberate and
from the internal hallway. These lead to the Medbay, targeted.
the Specimen Holding Lab, the Testing Lab, and Waste ◾ The autodoc scanner has been torn off of the medpod
Disposal. and the restraining straps have been ripped away.
HOLDING LAB ◾ The syringe cabinet door is broken, and used needles
and sample tubes float freely.
Empty cages of various sizes line the walls, their doors
bent open. Dead specimens float through the lab in a haze ◾ A blood-smeared plastisteel container looks to have
of blood—mice, hamsters, one dog. been smashed open from the inside. Analysis of the
◾ Everyone who sees the carnage gains 1 Stress. blood reveals a handprint much larger than a human’s.
◾ Upon inspection, the dead animals show signs of blunt ENGINEERING
force trauma, tearing injuries, and missing chunks. The perimeter of the room is lined with computer
◾ 4 chimpanzee cages labelled A, B, C and D, 2 dog consoles that control and monitor the ship’s pulse engine.
cages, multiple mouse and hamster cages. The main life support systems and rotational gravity
WASTE DISPOSAL motors are also operated from these consoles. A small
cage contains fuel canisters.
Airlock chamber with external doors. There is a control
◾ All but one of the computer consoles are offline. A
console for the external doors on either side of the airlock.
Computers or Hacking Check is required to log in to
TESTING LAB the functioning computer and restore control.
A large, blood-splattered containment bay takes up the
SHIP’S LOG
majority of the room, its door smashed off of its hinges.
There are some small cages are along the opposite wall. This can be accessed once logged into the computers.
Various scientific instruments have been destroyed and The crew of Chiron has been conducting strength
now float around the room, mingling with the viscera from enhancement research to try and combat loss of
the two dismembered corpses. bone density and muscular atrophy in microgravity
◾ Everyone who sees the dead bodies gains 1 Stress and environments. During one of these tests subject B slipped
makes a Fear Save. Anyone who fails the Fear Save free of a restraint and attacked Dr Albert II. This sent
freezes up for a few actions. subjects A and D into a frenzy. Dr Makris attempted to
intervene but was mauled by subject B and the now free
◾ Discarded paperwork floating amongst the debris
subjects A and D. Emergency protocols were initiated and
contains notes on the tests being performed.
the automated mayday distress signal was broadcast.
“Subject D dosage increased to 5mg of The subjects embarked upon a rampage through the ship.
Dexemezaprine, 2.3 Gy. Continue until levels stabilise. Remaining crew evacuated via the forward escape pod
Increased aggression and suggestiveness.” and initiated a ship shutdown sequence. The last entry in
the log is an error message: Life Support Shutdown failed.
Insufficient permissions.

8 DISTRESS SIGNALS
 CHIRON

CONTINUING ON: The ship’s log mentions that the escape pod was trying to rendezvous with Osso, another
medical research ship. It also has the location of the home port (see Burning of Carbex) and the redacted
destination (see Rogue Brood).

DISTRESS SIGNALS 9
TERUS MAJU (J2C-II)

“Mayday Mayday Mayday, this is

Captain Turbulen of the cargo ship
Terus Maju requesting immediate
repairs. We are currently drifting
sunward of Chimera 5. I’m the
only one left on board, everyone
else has been evacuated. Engines
have failed, and the life support
isn’t going to hold out for much
longer. If you’re receiving this,
the ship can be accessed via the
cargo bay. A replacement engine
component is required immediately,
I don’t have much time.”

10 DISTRESS SIGNALS
Classification: Cargo Ship Home Port: Karth
Crew: 9 Destination: Prospero’s Dream

DISTRESS SIGNALS 11
TERUS MAJU
This adventure can be run Straight Up or as an Ambush. CARGO BAY
Straight Up: The fuel oxidiser has disintegrated and The stairs lead up to a catwalk along the perimeter of the
cracked the thrust chamber. With a new oxidiser, the ship cargo bay. On either side of the catwalk there are steps
will at be able to make it to Station 472 for full repairs. down into the main bay. At the far end of the catwalk is
Ambush: The mayday call is a trap. The pirate crew is yet another stairway, this one leading to sick bay.
waiting to ambush the PCs in the cargo bay. The cargo bay is big enough to hold a couple of blue
Captain Turbulen: A tall, commanding woman with whales. One wall is taken up with an airlock door, behind
long brown hair and soft features. She’s dressed in which sits the loading area. The ship currently has quite a
smart pants, a button up shirt, and a brown trench coat. sparse load.
She keeps a PDW slung over her shoulder and a trench 1. A create of military medical gear
knife on her belt. She is beloved by her crew and will do 2. A small box with an advanced logic core inside
anything for them. She’s a bit of a smartass but otherwise 3. A large create containing fuel canisters
a straight shooter. 4. A 5L canister of compressed water (worth 50L)
5. A pallet of MREs
C:40 PDW 1d10 or Trench Knife 1d10 I:65 W:3(16)
Captain Turbulen is waiting in the cargo bay to welcome
Scanning the ship: The engine is offline and so is the
the PCs aboard.
life support. There is Approximately 1 hour of oxygen
remaining and internal temperature is 9°C. There are life Straight up: Captain Turbulen explains the situation with
signs on board. her broken engine and offers to trade any of the goods
in her cargo bay for the replacement oxidiser. She acts
Docking: Forward docking bay, Cargo bay
cautiously and is ready to defend herself.
COMMAND BAY Ambush: The eight pirate crew members are stationed
A large room with three control panels. A hatch in the around the cargo bay catwalk under grey-patterned,
floor leads down to the forward docking bay airlock. A thermal camouflage, waiting for the signal from Turbulen.
heavy blast door leads to the main hallway. ◾ Captain Turbulen explains the issue with the ship
Straight up: A red button has been jury rigged onto the until the PCs are in the centre of the cargo bay. She
main control panel. Pushing it plays a short, celebratory tells everyone to drop their weapons, signalling for her
jingle. This escape shuttle returns to the ship in 4 hours. crew to reveal themselves.
HALL 1 ◾ Terus Maju crew:
C:40 SMG 2d10 or Pulse Rifle 3d10 I:50 W:2(10)
A short section of hallway between the command bay and
◾ Advantage on the first round of shooting.
another large blast door leading to Hall 2. There are five
small doors on each side, each opening on to a ladder MESS
down to a crew bunk. Ten cheap plastic chairs surround a long table. Along
CREW BUNKS one wall there are pantries stocked with tinned food and
small kitchenette. The back of the room has a well-worn
Each of these small rooms only contains the barest of
sofa and a tv hooked up to an out of date games console.
essentials: a bed, wardrobe, desk with a chair, and a
A bookshelf bolted to the wall is mostly bare, save for a
shower with a fold away toilet. A small console outside the
handful of trashy paperbacks, a vintage GalGeo magazine
shower can activate its cryosleep function.
and a copy of High Frontier 4 All. There are two doors on
HALL 2 the back wall. One leads to the fridge/freeze storage area,
This section contains a stairwell leading up to the cargo and the other to shower and toilet facilities.
bay, and down to the mess hall. The blast door at the far
end leads to Hall 3.

12 DISTRESS SIGNALS
 TERUS MAJU
HALL 3
Stairs in this section lead up to the now vacant shuttle bay
and down to sick bay. At the end of the hall, a large blast
door leads to the engine room.
SICK BAY
The medical facility is small, but well stocked. There’s
an autodoc treatment chair and two full sized beds for
patients. Most common prescription drugs can be found
here, or synthesised by the autodoc.
◾ A stairwell leads down to the cargo bay.
ENGINE ROOM
Most of this room is taken up by the large turbine that
usually powers all of the ship’s systems. Fuel for both the
impulse engine and the jump drive is stored in tanks along
one wall. Some basic tools and spares are haphazardly
stored in the drawers opposite.
Fuel Oxidiser - A PC needs to have some kind of
mechanical Skill in order to diagnose the problem.
Straight up: The fuel oxidiser is a year past its service
date. A pressure valve failed, and the explosive
depressurisation cracked the thrust chamber.
Ambush: The fuel oxidiser is missing a pressure valve and
the thrust chamber is cracked. A successful mechanical
repair roll reveals that the broken thrust chamber was
installed very recently, and was already cracked.

CONTINUING ON: The items in the cargo hold can

suggest a next move to the PCs. The crate of military
medical supplies hides The Creation Device (see
Terminal Delays at Anarene’s Folly). The Advanced
Logic Core has a CLOUDBANK logo, and contains
a fetal AI. If an android PC tries to interface with
it, they are compelled to go bring their crew to The
Deep (see Gradient Descent). The compressed water
is earmarked for the Manian Expeditionary Force on
Karth (see Desert Moon of Karth).

DISTRESS SIGNALS 13
PREVENGE (J2C-2)

ARMAMENTS:
▪ Twin Minigun 3d10(+) DMG
▪ Torpedo 20 MDMG
▪ Harpoon 3d10 DMG, 750m cable

14 DISTRESS SIGNALS
Classification: Redacted Home Port: Redacted
Crew: Redacted Destination: Redacted

“This is the LAS Prevenge calling

out for help. A dust-up starward
of Enorm has left us disabled.
Requesting a tow to the nearest
station for repairs. We are in
possession of, uh, a significant
cargo and happy split it. Flash
signal chi-delta on approach.”

DISTRESS SIGNALS 15
PREVENGE
This ship barely survived a raid on the terraforming vessel ACCESS HALLWAY
Discovery One. The crew managed to appropriate a large The hallway is lit intermittently by the flashing, red
amount of their target’s cargo and escaped at a limp, but warning lights. The high pitched whine of air escaping
their engines have now fully given in. This distress signal through the bullet holes permeates the corridor, while the
was intended for the allied pirate vessel, Funny Business, life support rushes to compensate. The temperature is
but has been intercepted by the PCs. well below 0°C. At one end, an intact airlock leads to the
Scanning the ship: Life support is operational. Large command module, at the other a stairwell leads down to
sections of the ship are depressurised. There are some the cargo bay and engine room. At the midway point, a
life signs on board door on each side leads to a weapon station.
Docking: ◾ Two corpses are propped up against the wall of the
◾ Cargo Bay (destroyed, requires a manual docking hallway. Closer inspection shows that they are being
umbilical or skillful piloting) slowly sucked into space though some of the holes.
◾ Command Module (welded shut) Anyone inspecting the bodies must make a Fear Save
◾ Engine Room (destroyed, accessible by EVA only) or gain 1 Stress. Moving them causes sharp blood-ice
shards to float free. From this point on there is a 5%
COMMAND MODULE
chance of an EVA suit being punctured by anyone
Depressurised. Projectiles have shredded large sections using this hallway.
of the bulkhead and forward viewport. Blinking console
◾ The doors to the weapon stations are locked down,
LEDs provide the only source of light.
shimmering blood-frost smeared across them.
◾ The navigation console reads:
DISTRESS SIGNAL RECEIVED. WEAPON STATIONS
LSA FUNNY BUSINESS ETA 3 HOURS. A small corridor leads down to a single-person gun pod.
A successful Piloting or Astrogation Check reveals the Each pod has a single seat at a targeting computer, and
ship’s home port and other recent stops. gyroscopic rails that give the entire assembly 170° of
◾ The command console is cycling through a ship movement.
diagnostic. ◾ Small blood globules are sucked out towards anyone
COMMAND MODULE: who opens the door. Anyone in the room must make
LOCKED DOWN, DEPRESSURISED an armour Save or their vision becomes obscured and
ACCESS HALLWAYS: they gain 1 Stress.
LOCKED DOWN, PARTIALLY DEPRESSURISED ◾ Twin miniguns (3d10[+]) visible through the window.
WEAPONS STATIONS:
LOCKED DOWN, OPERATIONAL ENGINE ROOM
LIFE SUPPORT: An immense blast has sundered the entire engine room
OPERATIONAL and fused the doors shut. Most of the fuel canisters have
ENGINES: been shattered, allowing the fuel to leak out and freeze.
DEPRESSURISED, OFFLINE The room is full of small, sharp and almost imperceptible
GRAVITY: icicles. Some intact fuel canisters still remain.
POWER SAVING - COMMAND BAY, CARGO BAY ◾ If a suit is torn by the frozen fuel shards the wearer
◾ The targeting computer flashes urgently. must make a Body Save or succumb to vomiting and
TARGET LOST: DISCOVERY ONE nausea for an hour.
TARGET ACQUIRED: [PCs Ship] ◾ The life support systems can be accessed from a small
The system is out of date, but a successful Weapons console that remains intact and functional.
or Hacking Check allows a PC to cancel the target lock
on their ship.

16 DISTRESS SIGNALS
 PREVENGE
CARGO HOLD
Boxes and crates marked with the logo of the Discovery
One are stacked high against the walls of the cargo
hold. The remaining crew of the Prevenge are anxiously
awaiting rescue.
◾ The remaining crew members are: (C:40 I:45 W:2)
◾ Vade: Recently promoted to captain when Zor died
in the raid. She just wants everyone to stay calm
and get along until the Funny Business arrives.
She’s a clear-headed presence among the anxious
and manic crew.
◾ Moon: This broad-shouldered teamster is
claustrophobic. If they haven’t already been
knocked out by a crewmate (50% chance), they’re
hyperventilating in the corner.
◾ Smitty: A lithe little marine who keeps pacing
around the hold brandishing his LMG.
◾ Chris: The hunched, unscrupulous doctor of the
ship, constantly eating a Fundo Pocket™.
◾ Lucky: The best dressed of the crew, with a smart
shirt and designer glasses, currently tinkering with
a long range transmitter.
◾ Goose: A barely legal stowaway with an attitude.
◾ On the port and starboard sides of the hold are two
airlock doors leading to small shuttle bays. The small
fighters once housed here were destroyed in the fight.
◾ The cargo includes: vacuum sealed seeds of a variety
of subsistence crops, cryo frozen embryos of herd
animals, terraforming equipment, medical supplies,
communication equipment, rare-earth minerals,
religious relics, and portable habitats.

CONTINUING ON: The cargo stolen from the

Discovery One is worth an unquantifiably huge
amount of money. The questions and complications
involved in trying to sell these goods is an adventure
onto itself. The Discovery One was a colony
ship headed to Samsa VI, and the company who
bankrolled them will be looking to recover their
losses. The crew of the Prevenge were heading to
Station 472.

DISTRESS SIGNALS 17
FIREBIRD (J1C-II)

18 DISTRESS SIGNALS
Classification: Repair Ship Home Port: Laika moon base
Crew: 5 Destination: Satellite orbiting Kessler IV

“Mayday Mayday Mayday,specialist

Holland of the RMU Firebird, I
am in geostationary orbit within
the upper atmosphere of Kessler
IV, my ship has been destroyed,
Im attempting to make repairs to
the ship so that I can escape the
on coming debris field and rescue
specialist Hill.”

DISTRESS SIGNALS 19
FIREBIRD
The crew of the Firebird, a Red Mustang Unlimited Specialist Hill: Thin with close cropped hair and a
salvage vessel, were disassembling the SDO satellite in bloody, frozen stump just below their elbow. Their suit
orbit around Kessler IV when the nearby Kibo Research is cinched tight against their bicep with a makeshift
Station exploded. The debris from the explosion collided tourniquet and their oxygen is low.
with the Firebird and the SDO, destroying both. In 43 ◾ Their suit was punctured and their arm was broken
minutes the debris field will come back around, laying
in the collision with the debris. They used their knee
waste to everything in its path.
for leverage to rip off their now frozen appendage and
(Warden’s note: start a countdown timer for 43 minutes, throw it, hoping to change their course back towards
and reveal it once the crew figure out how long until the
the ship. Anyone hearing this story gains 1 Stress.
debris field comes back around.)
◾ All Hill knows is that there was an explosion on the
Holland is attempting to make repairs to the Firebird in research station and the debris field accumulated too
order to rescue Hill, who is hurtling into the void of space.
quickly to move out of its path. They’ve heard horror
The orbit occupied by the SDO satellite, the Firebird and stories about this, but never thought it would happen
the research station is littered with shrapnel and space to them. Everyone hearing this story gains 1 Stress.
junk, even outside the debris cloud. All EVA in these areas
carries the risk of suit puncture. Scanning the Ship: Oxygen is at critically low levels. Very
faint life signs.
Kibo Research Station Debris
Within the rapidly orbiting debris field of the ruined Docking: Payload Bay (destroyed).
research station float the remains of two humans and the COMMAND BAY
ruined husk of an android. The corpses are frozen and
The inside of the ship is pockmarked with hastily repaired
bloodied and each PC who sees them gains 1 Stress. The
holes and the heavy blast door barely maintains a seal. A
android is scorched and melted, with its rubbery skin
handful of intact cryopods remain, packed along the walls
mostly burned away, but its logic core is mostly intact.
next to a wheezing and spluttering life-support system.
The shrapnel presents a risk of vaccsuit puncture.
Loose wires and access panels litter the ship controls.
◾ Recovered Logic Core: The serial number indicates
◾ Two bloody, pulped corpses are strapped into chairs
a recently built android from a facility on Kessler
(each PC who sees this gains 1 Stress).
IV. Their final memories can be accessed with a
◾ Specialist Holland: Holland is stripped down to their
successful Computers or Artificial Intelligence Check,
liquid cooled underclothes, their empty vaccsuit
although the sound is lost.
floating amidst the loose nuts and bolts. Their long
◾ Smiling humans, speaking wordlessly, lead the
hair is pulled back into a messy bun while they work
android through a cramped corridor. The video
on repairing the ship controls. They refuse rescue or
feed is obscured with red code for a moment:
even conversation unless Specialist Hill is safe.
<INITIATE PROTOCOL ONE>. The two men gesture
◾ Holland knows that there was an explosion on the
at doors and equipment. The red code reappears.
research station and the debris field accumulated
A countdown. A reflection in a window shows the
too quickly to move out of its path. Everyone
android, dressed in the same uniform as the two
hearing this story for the first time gains 1 Stress.
men. The countdown reaches zero. More code:
<say “you should have taken the deal”>. The
colour drains from one man’s face, while the other
appears confused. A bright light floods the feed for
an instant before cutting to static.

20 DISTRESS SIGNALS
 FIREBIRD
PAYLOAD BAY
The middle section of the ship was ripped open in the
collision. The bay doors that span most of the length of
the ship are twisted and mangled but the blast doors
at either end are intact. Severed electrical conduits
occasionally spark and flash as the failing power surges.
The ship’s extender arm is ruined and barely attached,
but still clutches the SDO satellite.
ENGINE BAY
Debris tore through this section of the ship in the
collision, rupturing fuel lines and shattering storage tanks.
The main life support system is supplying the room with
just enough oxygen that returning power to the engines
will result in a catastrophic explosion.
SOLAR DYNAMICS OBSERVATORY (SDO) SATELLITE
A 34m3, 3t cuboid with cracked solar panel wings and an
array of powerful sensors and instruments on every face.
The surface of the satellite is dented and scuffed and its
small thrusters appear to be warped but are otherwise
functional. It’s an impressive piece of engineering, and
worth a lot if it can be saved.
◾ One of the solar panels was completely destroyed and
has floated away into space.
◾ The broken extender arm still barely attaches the
satellite to the Firebird. The lifeless body of Specialist
Hayes hangs from the arm by tangled cables and
tethers around their neck. Their vaccsuit has multiple
fist-sized punctures and their blue-red face can be
seen through the shards of their helmet. Everyone
seeing this gains 1 Stress and makes a Body Save.
Everyone who fails the Body Save gains an additional
1 Stress and throws up.

CONTINUING ON: The rapidly orbiting debris field means that Kessler IV will be inaccessible for the next ten years,
unless someone pays to clear it. If the crew of the Firebird are rescued, the PCs will be offered salvage work by
Whitly Strubber, CEO of Red Mustang Unlimited. The android logic core has incriminating evidence, and the PCs
might decide to investigate the corporation behind the explosion, or sell the memories to someone looking for dirt.

DISTRESS SIGNALS 21
ARGOSY (J2C-II)

22 DISTRESS SIGNALS
Classification: Exploration Vessel Home Port: New Terra
Crew: 15 Destination: Epsilon IV

“This is crew chief Stephanie

Ramirez. <cough cough> I am the
sole survivor of the Argosy and
by the time you receive this
message I will be dead. This
<cough> is a warning. Steer clear
of this ship. Do not board this
ship! <cough cough> I have set
course for the star Wolf-Rayet to
dispose <cough> of this vessel.
Do not attempt to alter this
course. This ship is <cough cough
cough> END TRANSMISSION”

DISTRESS SIGNALS 23
ARGOSY
At the end of a short terraforming survey mission on COMMAND BAY
Epsilon IV, Arkham 7, the ship’s android, deliberately A large room with three control panels. A hatch in the
broke decontamination protocol. After running some tests floor leads down to the forward docking bay airlock.
on the samples the acquired, they introduced an alien A heavy blast door leads from here to the main hallway.
mould into the ventilation system, infecting the crew. ◾ A body is slumped against the communication panel,
When the contamination was traced back to Arkham
blood splattered over the instruments. The name tag
7 a fight broke out, ending with the captain dead, the
on their jumpsuit identifies them as Ramirez. A pistol
navigation systems destroyed and Arkham 7 floating in
the void of space. with three rounds remaining is held loosely in their
hand. Everyone seeing this gains 1 Stress.
Scanning the ship: The ship is in standby power. Its
◾ The navigation panel has been destroyed. Severed
course is set for Wolf-Rayet. Oxygen levels are low,
temperature is 2°C. No lifesigns. Cryopods are active. cables spill from the smashed console. A small
indicator displays the coordinates for Wolf-Rayet.
Docking: Forward docking bay, Cargo Bay
HALL 1
A short section of hallway between the command bay and
another large blast door leading to Hall 2. There are eight
small doors on each side, each opening on to a ladder
down to a crew bunk.

Sporoencephalitis: The fungal infection starts as a respiratory disease, but quickly moves to the brain and
cerebrospinal fluid. It is inevitably fatal.

The stages of infection are:

A mild chesty cough and some difficulty breathing. Body Saves are made at disadvantage and the
1
infected character will become stunned after 1d5 rounds of combat as they experience coughing fits.
Headache, aching bones and joints, irritability, mild fever, difficulty breathing The infected character’s
2 Body Save is permanently reduced by 2d10. They have disadvantage on all physical activity and -15% to
all mental activity.
Severe headache, loss of consciousness, seizures, severely breathing difficulties - The infected
3 character’s Body Save is permanently reduced by a further 2d10. They have disadvantage and -20% on
all activity.
4 Death. Eyes darken with infected blood, and cerebrospinal fluid begins to drip from the ears and nose.
Any characters reaching stage 4 are eventually resurrected with the below stats.
◾ C:45 Fists 1d10 I:35 W:3(15)
◾ Thermal Vision: Your vision is reduced to the infrared spectrum and you have difficulty
distinguishing between colder objects. You can easily track and hunt things between 35°C and 38°C.
◾ Your are driven to destroy and infect living organisms.

24 DISTRESS SIGNALS
 ARGOSY
CREW BUNKS
Each of these small rooms only contains the barest of essentials: a bed, wardrobe, desk with a chair, and a shower with
a fold away toilet. A small console outside the shower can activate its cryosleep function.
◾ The following bunks differ from the others ◾ Arkham 7 - The bunk contains absolutely nothing
◾ Jones - A well muscled man with short hair but the smell of bleach and a single android
occupies the crypod. If revived, he is friendly and charging station.
eager to inform the PCs of the situation on board. ◾ If the charging station is hacked, it reveals a
He has a stage 1 infection. recent software update with instructions to
◾ Rey - A person with a medium build and a infect the crew, study the results and ensure
buzzcut occupies the cryopod. They know what return to New Terra. All other directives are
happened on board but are reluctant to share the overridden. Any android accessing the station
information. They have a stage 3 infection with is prompted to update their firmware before
mild symptoms except for the persistent headache being given access.
they keep complaining about.

DISTRESS SIGNALS 25
ARGOSY
HALL 2 CARGO BAY
This section contains access doors on either side leading The stairs lead up to a catwalk along the perimeter of the
to the engine rooms. The blast door at the far end leads cargo bay. On either side of the catwalk there are steps
to Hall 3. down into the main bay.
ENGINE ROOM 1 The cargo bay is massive. One wall is taken up with an
airlock door, behind which sits the loading area. Within
A large spinning turbine with thick cables and an access
the airlock is a decontamination shower and UV lighting.
terminal takes up most of the room. This turbine powers
the mechanical life support system, the engine, the jump Towards the rear of the ship is a set of airlock doors that
drive, and the electronic and mechanical systems of the leading to the science lab
ship. ◾ Core sampling machinery, power loaders, and a short
The life-support air scrubbers are full of spores. If power range scientific investigation vehicle are all strapped
is returned to the ship before the filters are changed, the down within the cargo bay. Hazard suits and vaccsuits
PCs will become infected by breathing the air. are stored in lockers near the airlock doors, alongside
racks of laser cutters, flame throwers, and shotguns.
ENGINE ROOM 2
Ammunition is stored in small footlockers. Most other
A large spinning turbine with thick cables and an access basic equipment can be found here.
terminal takes up most of the room. Fuel for both of the
◾ One of the vaccsuit lockers is neatly stuffed with two
engines and the jump drive is stored along one wall, with
badly mangled corpses, clearly the work of someone
tools and spare air filters along the other.
stronger than a human. Everyone seeing this gains 1
The main engine terminal has been patched with a smaller
Stress. If there is an android among the PCs, everyone
console. A very complicated program is running which
else gains 1 extra Stress.
allows limited manual steering.
SCIENCE LAB
HALL 3
The lab contains multiple hooded and enclosed
This section contains a stairwell leading down to the
workstations. Sample fridges and storage shelves
cargo bay. A door at the far end leads to the mess hall.
accompany each station. Written notes on the samples
from Epsilon IV can be found here, though the samples
themselves were destroyed when the planet was
deemed inhospitable. Research was beginning into
sporoencephalitis, but the only symptom noted was “mild
headache”.
◾ A data stick contains the outline of the report on
Epsilon IV’s potential as a colony.
◾ Epsilon IV is a ringed planet on the outer rim of
the Wolf-Rayet system. CO2, methane, soil acidity
and water toxicity levels are all above acceptable
limits, with the planet likely to require extreme
terraforming to reach minimum viable habitability.
The ring system contributes regular meteor
showers. Conclusion: not suitable.
◾ In one of the workstations there is an abandoned
water testing kit. The paper strips all show bright
red indicators. A Botany Check, or comparison to a
manual, indicates high levels of arsenic.
26 DISTRESS SIGNALS
 ARGOSY
MESS
Twelve folding metal chairs are arranged around a long CONTINUING ON: The coordinates of Epsilon IV
dining table. Eight of the chairs are occupied by slumped can be found within the captain’s log if the PCs go
over corpses. The remaining food of the in-progress looking for it. It also lists the coordinates for another
banquet has frozen in the low temperatures. terraforming candidate, Muraldal (see Bloom).
The cooking station and pantries line one of the walls,
while the back of the room is taken up by a comfortable
sofa and a small cinema system. A small bookshelf is
crammed with dry looking textbooks and the occasional
fantasy novel. There are two doors on the back wall. One
leads to the fridge/freeze storage area, and the other to
shower and toilet facilities. Testing the food and drink will
show high levels of arsenic in them (+1 Stress for crew
when learning this).

DISTRESS SIGNALS 27
M AY D AY !

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