Freelance Traveller

by Michael Hughes

While visiting a backwater township a massive explosion occurs on the street near the PCs. Soon bloodied and burned wounded are staggering around, if they can. Within 10 minutes paramilitaries and emergency workers arrive.

Possible directions to develop this:

1. The blast was an accident, the result of a poorly maintained gas supply igniting. This is, however, unknown (at least initially) and the PCs are immediately rounded up by security services for questioning.
2. It was a terror attack, single device. As above the PCs are rounded up and, being off worlders, interrogated at length. It gets unpleasant.
3. As 2., but word has spread that suspects are 'in custody'. A mob forms outside the police station, intent on doing unpleasant things to the PCs. Police are forced to defend the station and enlist the PCs' help
4. It was a terror attack and a second planted device, a road mine, detonates, destroying emergency vehicles and killing paramilitaries and ER response teams.
5. It was a terror attack and armed rebels are waiting nearby. Once the emergency workers start attending they attack shooting anything that moves.
6. It was a rocket attack aimed at the PCs which just missed. The PCs, it seems, have been mistaken for another group of offworlders. Or have they?...