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Horizons Campaign: Zyrkar(working name) Invasion
Premise: The alien Zyrkar(wn) have invaded the 40+ human inhabited solar systems with the goal of permanent conquest and enslavement of the human race.
Player Goals:
1) Repel the Zyrkar(wn) from each solar system.
a. By defeating their space based assets
b. Destroy their Interstellar Gate
2) Help the inhabitants of the system rebuild.
a. So they can withstand a future incursion
b. Contribute supplies and upgrades to the Horizons
Player Hinderances:
1) As the player clears each system the Zyrkar(wn) become more established is all other systems.
2) The Zyrkar(wn) can return to a previously cleared system, which the players will have to respond to before the Zyrkar(wn) can overcome that systems defenses.
3) Pre-invasion problems within each system.
a. Piracy
b. Rebellion within the colony
c. Natural phenomenon such as a Solar Flare storm.
4) Political hindrances from the Colonial Alliance were the major factions are trying to secure control of the freed system.
a. Players may decide to help a given faction which will increase their influence with that faction, but it risks the factions going to war with each other if they are too successful.
b. Players may decide to hinder all factions which will keep the Colonial Alliance intact but risks the Colonial Alliance withdrawing their support from the Horizons.
Zyrkar(wn) Technology
The Zyrkar(wn) wormhole drive works differently than the humans. They deploy a container from their ship that establishes the wormhole and then expands out into a gate that is large enough for the ship to go through. The gate reaches through the wormhole and establishes a ring on the far end. Once the ship is through the container collapses to the far side of the wormhole and the ship recovers the container.
For Interstellar travel the Zyrkar(wn) employ very large versions of this. That can more rightly be called Space Stations or Gate Stations. These are not closed after they are deployed. They are very resource intensive for the Zyrkar(wn) to build. So they are defended vigorously and it takes them significant time to replace.
In addition, once the connection is lost the wormhole is no longer available to be used. Thus a new transit wormhole to a system needs to be found.
Where was the Horizons?
Horizons was charting an uninhabited system when the invasion occurred. The system can be used as a tutorial area for the campaign, to familiarize the players with basic systems. Upon their return to Sol they will be introduced to what has happening.
At Sol the battle should still be ongoing and the Players should have significant help from other human ships. These will not be available in future system as the Colonial Alliance will insist they remain behind to guard Sol.