The Voyage of the Joyous Venture

Volume 1 of Ghosts of Eden, my Traveller 2300 campaign)

So the plot runs like this: a senior Trilon exec, Komiko Jones, recruits a scratch crew to drive her around known space in a state-of-the-art space yacht. Rumour has it she's on an enforced sabbatical thanks to an ill-advised affair with another director's husband. Her itinerary is essentially a tour of all the Ancients sites discovered during mankind's stellar explorations.

The characters:

Andi Moran, a computer scientist and part-time hacker from Thisbe Mining Colony (played by Claire Stevens);

Antonio Falchi, a risk-taking interface & space pilot on the run from Kurita, originally from Rome, Italy (played by Steve Mills);

Miho Takemura, an archaeological geophysicist with an illicit son raised by her sister from Japan, Earth (played by Louise Sellers);

Robert M'Butu, a pacifist xenobiologist raised by the Bheekhu after his parents were killed (played by Bill Sellers).

The action begins in September 2303 in the Trilon Industries & Associates Galactic HQ in Titan orbit, Sol system.

Part 1: Interview day; what have we got that they haven't; truth and rumours regarding Komiko; last trips home; nice ship – shame about the gravitron sink

Part 2: Isn't our ship fast; don't point that particle beam weapon at me; meet my auntie, the lizard

Part 3: Whose side is Robert on; watch out for yellow; the good thing about a firewall; talking to Telstar

Part 4: A slow sky-boat to Va'atchi'iktuon; I like the colour of your crest; the G'Kah'Hah

Part 5: I love you so much I could eat you; the perils of Bheekhu Scholarship

Part 6: the Holiest of Holies; You lied to me – do it again!

Part 7: Take the Long Way Home; Derelictus in Caelum

Part 8: Mainly Microbots

Part 9: Whoops - astrogation; you see no Kurita warships for ages and then they all come along at once; Sam Houston is going our way

Part 10: Hey, your DNA is weird too; Bernard bothers Miho; Sam asks 'so who is Komiko Jones'

Part 11: The Trial of Bernard Singh; Merry Christmas everyone

Part 12: How to amuse yourself in space; Father Ruiz – Space Bishop; the trail of the Ancients

Part 13: Father Ruiz reveals why the Eber give the Pope a headache; Miho never gets lost

Part 14: Jan-Ganyr 'listens' & 'speaks'

Part 15: 'Come in and see my etchings', said the Myrrb; it may be just a Tree to you, but to me…; Kidnapped!

Part 16: The Long Jump Home; I am not sure what the interest in India is about

Part 17: Dear Mamma, I hope that you do not read this

Part 18: Trouble for Thisbe; Corporate Grand Strategy (according to Victor); Keisuki's learning difficulties; Miho and the Tarot; the meaning of Symbology

Part 19: Dinner with Ichiro; the Ancients – where are they now?

Part 20: Dinner with your Ex; flares, Forethought & fertility; Komiko muses

Part 21: Isn't Marine Biology interesting

Part 22: Have you ever seen an echinoderm raft

Part 23: Ichiro again; where did you buy that plasma gun

Part 24: Komiko wants to be alone; Robert's little trouble I; Komiko says goodbye

Part 25: Robert's Brain I; do not go to Urwald; so this is Bishop's Folly

Part 26: Stay away from my daughter; the weirdness that is Bishop's Folly; my word, you've got good hearing

Part 27: Elektra…is an interesting girl in many ways

Part 28: Elmer Goldberg; Karelia Bengtsson; where is Hulk 14;

Part 29: The Karelia; Robert's little trouble II – is it catching; the Kostromo Pacific; the Karelia files – who is Shammy anyway;

Part 30: What happened to Charmian; Robert's Brain II; the Watcher in the Darkness; the Berghofs; Ahluic; the Eye in the Pyramid