WARNING: This is a WORK IN PROGRESS. See the enclosing directory for more about NOMAD Stellar Alliance.
Part of the NOMAD: Stellar Alliance series, using Faster Than Light: Nomad by Stellagama Publishing.
Basics
What Is An Away Team?
An Away Team explores unknown planets and civilizations when scans from orbit will not suffice. “Space Exploration” is part of the Alliance Fleet’s full name (Alliance Space Exploration and Peacekeeping Fleet), but the Alliance explores more than space anomalies and solar systems.
Who Is On An Away Team?
The Captain or Executive Officer assigns junior officers or crewmen1 with a broad range of skills. Typically this includes:
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One Command Service member to provide diplomatic and cultural expertise … or if the crew members may lose focus otherwise.
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One Medical Service member in case of any injuries
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At least one Security Service member in case things get violent.
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One or more Science Service members to conduct surveys of the flora, fauna, geology, and other features of the planet.
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Optionally, one or more Technical staff if the mission requires analyzing and/or repairing alien technology.
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Optionally, one or more Operations staff with special skills, e.g. prior knowledge of the planet, a similarity to the dominant life form, or mission-specific skills like mountain-climbing.
Away Team Kit
Generally each away team member receives one communcator, one multi-sensor, and one exo-pistol. Members of specific services receive additional equipment related to their specialty.
Weapons
Weapons issued depends on the type of mission and the role of each crew member or officer.
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Aboard ship, under normal conditions, all security crew receive Stunners, which disable targets without killing them.
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If the ship has been or is about to be boarded, all personnel receive at least a Blaster Pistol. Security personnel will receive Blaster Rifles or Plasma Rifles, depending on the nature or scale of the threat.
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Away teams will be issued Stunners and possibly Blaster Pistols, Blaster Rifles, or Plasma Rifles, depending on the nature of the mission.
All weapons are listed on p. 74 of FTL: Nomad.
Every Alliance-issued weapon has a Secure Weapon (p 75) module that prevents all non-Alliance personnel from using them.
Other Equipment
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All crew members carry an Omnicomm (p 85) networked to all other crew members and the ship.
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All crew members have a Near Universal Real-Time Translator System, a.k.a. an early Universal Translator (p 100).
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Command officers sometimes carry an Omnicomp (p 85) or Omnicomm (p 85-6) loaded with crib sheets for the planet’s culture, customs, and places of interest.
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Operations staff may carry any small tools or equipment needed for their specialty.
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Medical officers carry a general medi-kit sufficient to render first aid. If the planet’s population suffer from a particular disease, the shuttle will contain several doses of an immunization serum or general antibiotics and antivirals.
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Science personnel may carry special equipment to study a particular phenomenon, although usually a multi-sensor will suffice.
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Security personnel typically carry a packet of restraints (26th-century zipties). They may also smuggle small weapons like knives or holdout slugthrowers and contraband like electronic and mechanical lockpicks.
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Technical personnel may carry special tools or equipment if their task includes repairing or setting up technology on the planet.
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Holonovellas aside, the senior officers do not
beamfly down to an unknown and unexplored planet. They’re too valuable. ↩︎