PARANOIA

Spin Control
Brains! Must eat brains!

GARETH HANRAHAN DAN GELBER CONTENTS

Writer/Undead scapegoat GREG COSTIKYAN
ERIC GOLDBERG Introduction 2
BETH FISCHI Original game design & development/
ANDY FITZPATRICK Building committee
ALLEN VARNEY It Tastes Like Treason 3
Editing, graphics/Drillbots IAN BELCHER
Mongoose publications manager/ The Sporks, They Call To Me 11
IORDANIS LAZARIDIS Voodoo overlord
JIM HOLLOWAY It’s Alive 18
Cover and interior illustrations/Blueprints ALEXANDER FENNELL
Mongoose Publishing production director/
NICK ROBINSON Struts around wearing fun yellow hardhat Paranoia Of The Dead 25
Layout/Red-clearance living dead
THE COMPUTER
RON BEDISON Excessive drooling is treasonous, citizen
Proofreader/Intsec goon zombie

Security Clearance ULTRAVIOLET

WARNING :
Knowledge or possession of this information by any citizen
of Security Clearance VIOLET or lower is treason punishable by a
long spell of Armed Forces latrine scrubot maintenance duty.

TM & Copyright © 1983, 1987, 2007 by Eric Goldberg & Greg Costikyan. All Rights Reserved. Mongoose Publishing Ltd., Authorized User. Based on material published in
previous editions of PARANOIA.
ILLUMINATI is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and is used by permission.
The reproduction of material from this book for personal or corporate profit, by photographic, electronic, or other means of storage and retrieval, is prohibited. You may
copy character sheets, record sheets, checklists and tables for personal use.
E-mail questions and comments to Mongoose Publishing at [email protected] or write to Mongoose Publishing, 52-54 Cricklade Road, Swindon,
Wiltshire SN8 2AF, UK.
On the World Wide Web: www.mongoosepublishing.com.
Published by Mongoose Publishing, Ltd. Publication MGP 6647. Published April 2007. Printed in the UK.
 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
1. Introduction
Spin is the difference between
a reactor leak and ad hoc re- Project Reanimator
designation of housing units as waste The zombie animation project is a conspiracy run by splinter sects from several
storage zones; it’s the difference secret societies (who are, no doubt, secretive, sinister and, er, something).
between being terminated as a The original revivification project comes from Romantic myths which cross-
traitor and feted as a heroically loyal pollinated with FCCCP propaganda, giving rise to the Prophecy of the Easter
undercover agent; it’s the difference Cycle, when the dead arise to give chocolates to the living. Pro Tech and
between your sector having the Corpore Metal members got involved to add their technical expertise to the
highest reported level of corruption creation of the techno-zombies.
and treason on record, and all the
other sectors having suspiciously lax All four of the factions have something to offer. Pro Tech has access to the
IntSec officers who don’t seem to be best scientists, while Corpore Metal has the most experience with wiring human
doing their jobs. flesh to cybernetic parts. As one of the largest secret societies, the Romantics
can help keep the whole thing secret and provide manpower, while the well-
In short, it’s the difference between connected FCCCP has been diverting resources and funds to the Project.
life and death in Alpha Complex (or, Each of the societies has their own ultimate end goals for the scheme:
to put The Computer’s approved spin
on it, between Life and an Exciting The Romantics intend to revivify people from the Old Reckoning times.
New Opportunity To Serve Your They have some cryogenically frozen survivors from that era, who they
Complex As Reactor Shielding, will revive when the technology is perfected.
Citizen).
The FCCC-P wants to bring about the Easter Cycle, as prophesied in
Spin Control is all about spin, and one of the apocryphal Manuals of The Computer.
by that, we mean it’s all about lies.
The characters know they are lying, Corpore Metal intends to use the techno-zombies as a stepping stone to
the people they’re lying to know full conversion of Alpha Complex into cyborgs, both living and dead.
they’re lying and the facts remain the
facts. The trick is making sure that Pro Tech just likes the idea of techno-zombies, and doesn’t want to
the spin—the lie—works better for share their toys.
everyone else (or, more accurately,
everyone who counts) than the bald
truth. The Control part comes from
the players having to keep track of ■ Now Pay Attention, Here’s After that, the Troubleshooters are
all the different spins they have put The Plot sent to investigate a PLC executive
on events. who is engaged in a diabolical plan
The Troubleshooters to monopolize the Alpha Complex
are initially assigned supply of plastic sporks, which
as undercover directly leads to the Troubleshooters
agents to start a riot discovering a secret plot to resurrect
in a cafeteria, which the dead—including the dead who
IntSec believes to died earlier in the cafeteria. The
be full of traitors zombies get loose and hunt the
who need to be characters through the spork zone,
flushed out. Now, but they are saved at the last moment
the cafeteria is by higher-clearance zombies, who
full of traitors, but assign the characters to putting a
they’re all low-key good public relations spin on the
conspirators, not the zombie situation.
ultra-violent Death
Leopards who IntSec If the characters are still alive at this
is looking for. Still, it point, then the mission leads onto
all ends in a bloody a pitched battle between secret
massacre anyway. societies and revivified zombies,
including previous clones of the
characters.

2 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

2. It Tastes Like Treason
The mission kicks off in the traditional ■ Nightcycle of the Living Dead
fashion—the Troubleshooters get
a mission alert. This mission alert Remember Vernon-DFD-1, the INFRARED traitor who was summarily executed
orders the characters to report to on this very page? (If you don’t remember him, then you have the memory of a
briefing room CRS-4533/gamma goldfish.) Vernon-DFD-2 was activated soon after his clone predecessor was
immediately. Purpose Of Mission: killed, and took over whatever vital duties Vernon-DFD-1 was supposed to be
CLASSIFIED! Nature of Mission: doing. Vernon-DFD-1’s laser-fried body was cleaned up by scrubots, and should
CLASSIFIED! Estimated Time have been recycled in the Soylent RED food vats.
Required: CLASSIFIED! Briefing
Officer: CLASSIFIED! Oh, and However, there’s a conspiracy to create zombies (as seen on page 2, and if
revealing any information about the you’ve forgotten that, then you’ve the memory of a particularly insightful and
mission is treasonous. accomplished goldfish). Project Reanimator has been diverting corpses from the
recycling vats to its secret laboratories for months now. Vernon-DFD-1 will soon
Briefing room CRS-4533/gamma end up in the Reanimation labs and join the growing army of the re-animated.
is several sectors away, so the
characters have to go via transtube. But forget Vernon-DFD! (Who?) The Troubleshooters will probably die several
They pile onto a crowded transbot at times during this mission, and their bodies—assuming they’re even slightly
the nearest station. There’s the usual intact—will be brought to the laboratories and revived. By the time the living
mix of citizens on board, from the replacement Troubleshooter clones get to the Project Reanimator Lab (in chapter
herd of INFRAREDs crowded into the four), their zombified counterparts will be there, waiting for them. That will be
INFRARED-clearance standing area dealt with later on, but keep track of which Troubleshooters die and how they
above the exhaust grates, to a single perish… for they will rise again!
GREEN sitting alone in the spacious
GREEN-and-higher section, with the And complain.
plush Leatherish couches and jack-
o-bot servant that goes unused on
99.9% of transtube journeys. En route The journey is Tension 5, with a normal circumstances, Yuri-B-4
to CRS Sector and the briefing room, drop to Tension 0 during the dark should have been replaced by Yuri-
the transbot stops between stations. passage. B-5 a long time ago, but he is much
A host of GREEN goons swarm too paranoid to allow some untried
onto the transbot, shining torches A few minutes later, the transtube clone of himself take over—he can’t
into the faces of everyone on board car takes a sharp right into a disused even trust a copy of his own mind to
and scanning their ME cards and/or maintenance tunnel, and the lights do his job.
tongue tattoos. One INFRARED go out for a minute. Then, the sign
down the back panics, feeling the ‘APPROACHING 4533/gamma’ Yuri is fanatically loyal to the
sudden weight of the Frankenstein flashes past one window, and the ideal of Alpha Complex, but his
Destroyer propaganda encoded in transtube carriage pulls into an personal loyalty to The Computer
genetically engineered wax in his officially abandoned station, which is considerably less intense. He is
right ear, and runs for it. His name has been claimed by IntSec as a smart enough to recognize that The
is—or was—Vernor-DFD-1, a newly secret briefing room. Computer is fantastically flawed,
recruited member of the Frankenstein even insane, and so he cannot
Destroyers and easily recognizable
by his overlarge ears. The goons
■ This Briefing Is Not trust it to run the complex. Yuri has
learned to manipulate The Computer
blast him with a hail of laser fire, and Supposed To Be Fun and the letter of Alpha Complex
call in a scrubot team to deal with the (Tension 15) regulations in order to defend what
resulting mess—but that INFRARED he sees as their spirit. On the rare
traitor is not why they are here. No, Waiting for the characters on the occasions when he allows himself
the goons order everyone else off dusty transtube platform are four to sleep instead of popping more
the transtube carriage, except for heavily armed Vulture Troopers, Asperquaint, he dreams of a happy,
the Troubleshooters. Once the car is flanking the briefing officer—IntSec secure and peaceful Alpha Complex,
clear, the goons themselves exit the Commander Yuri-B-OGN-4. Yuri is a perfect society built on a huge pile of
vehicle with the same swift stomping a veteran of the ceaseless struggle vaporized traitors. He has no patience
of jackboots they arrived by, and the against treason and dissent, and it’s for the double-talk and incompetence
transtube continues on its journey, plainly visible on what’s left of his of most Troubleshooters, and will
carrying only the Troubleshooters face. More than half his body has say so. In short, he’s a Straight
and suddenly feeling a lot emptier been replaced by cyborg implants PARANOIA character in a Classic
and lonelier. and clone-transplant flesh. Under PARANOIA world, and should be
played accordingly.

A GOOD DAYCYCLE TO BURY BAD NEWS. 3

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
Yuri-B-OGN-4
Management 13
Interrogation 17
Intimidation 17
Knowing Where the Bodies Are
Buried 19
Stealth 12
High Alert 16
Surveillance 16
Shadowing 16
Being Behind People 18
Violence 10
Energy Weapons 14
Projectile Weapons 14
Hardware 10
WMD Specs and Usage 16
Software 10
IntSec Archive Searches 16
Wetware 12
Pharmatherapy 16
Psychology 16
Bioweapons 16
Mutant Power: Uncanny Luck
(Power 12)
Secret Society Affiliation:
Communists (Undercover Agent
for IntSec)
Armor: Blue reflec (E1) will have a security team standing by, In each crate are the following
Weapons: Energy pistol (W3K), and they will swoop in and quell the items:
cone rifle (varies) riot immediately. Any questions? A grubby INFRARED jumpsuit

The Vulture Troopers Once the briefing is completed, Yuri-B A Mandatory Bonus Duty
Management 10 points to some stacked crates behind equipment set, which contains
Intimidation 14 him and says that they contain the all the tools and devices needed
Scowling With Extreme Prejudice Troubleshooters’ assigned equipment to carry out the Troubleshooter’s
16 and disguises. He then limps onto assigned MBD. However, due to
Stealth 8 the transtube car, dragging his leg a slight snafu in the warehouse,
High Alert 12 (paralyzed in a PURGE bombing) all the Troubleshooters have been
Violence 13 behind him. The Vulture Troopers assigned Hygiene Officer kits. As
Energy Weapons 17 march after him, and Yuri speeds far as The Computer is concerned,
Hardware 7 off to fight treason and corruption all the Troubleshooters on this
Software 7 elsewhere. mission are Hygiene Officers.
Wetware 7
Armor: Armor-all (4)
Weapons: Laser rifle (W3K)
■ HPD&MC Psychological Stress And Deconstruction
Analysis Ultraviolence Trigger Phrases

The Troubleshooters’ mission is ‘Hot enough for you?’

as follows: A commissary here in
CRS Sector has been identified as ‘I sure hate The Computer.’
a meeting ground for dissidents and
violent thugs, members of the Death ‘How’s business?’
Leopard society. The Troubleshooters
are to go to the commissary and start ‘Let’s get ready to rumble!’
a riot. Yuri-B insists that the violent
deviants will be unable to resist the ‘I deride your personal value system, for it is at odds with
thrill of a fight, and will join in. Loyal orthodoxy!’
citizens, by contrast, will flee or follow
approved security protocols. Yuri-B ‘What’s happening dude?’

4 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 2. IT TASTES LIKE TREASON
A list of phrases written by a out what passes for fresh air without for signs of concealed weapons,
HPD&MC Psychological Stress actually removing the stench of explosives, bioweapons, Commie
And Deconstruction Analysis centuries of electro-fried Hot Fun, propaganda, illegal drugs and other
Committee which are, according and the seats seem to have been illegal items. Their ME cards are
to the text, guaranteed to cause designed for the ease and comfort scanned to ensure that they are
rage and violence in citizens that of invertebrates. permitted to use this cafeteria. The
fall into Deviancy Profile 05/432/ second checkpoint weighs each
beta (Psychotically Violent) Most of the victims of the cafeteria citizen as they pass through it, as well
through subliminal cues. The are INFRARED and RED drones, as collecting samples of their breath
Troubleshooter can try these but there is a scattered handful of (and, occasionally, blood and DNA) to
phrases when they want to start higher-clearance citizens. ensure that the citizen’s consumption
a riot—most are of no use, but was within approved HPD&MC
a few are coincidentally secret Entrance to the Cafeteria. Yuri and standards. A camera/laser array is
society recognition codes. a squad of GREEN goons are lurking mounted atop both checkpoints.
just down the corridor, waiting for the
The CRS Sector FunTime Good riot to start and the opportunity for Food Stations. The cafeteria’s food
Eatery Biofueling Commissary is your them to swoop in and arrest all those is provided by a dozen franchises, all
typical Alpha Complex commissary; luscious traitors. They are monitoring lined up in food stations. Other than
simultaneously a fetid mass of rotting the cameras in the cafeteria, but will differences in advertising, where they
Cold Fun shoved under tables and wait until the riot is in full swing before compete to be as garish as possible,
into air vents (rather than eat the moving in. and wildly different and confusing
stuff), and a sterile environment special offers (‘OK, Yum-E-Yum
cleaned by the regular application Checkpoints. Placed just inside SoyLike is offering a double-extra-
of caustic chemicals. The lights are the entrance. At the first checkpoint, standard size container of FunStix
too bright, the fans manage to suck incoming citizens are scanned and a plus-sized Bouncy Bubbly

What is your Bidding, O Master

Between leaving the abandoned Sector and we need to keep it Make sure no one, y’know, finds
transtube station and going to quiet. Whatever you do, you have out. Or remembers if they do find
the cafeteria to start a riot, the to convince IntSec that nothing out out.
Troubleshooter may wish to check in of the ordinary is going on here. Pro Tech: There’s an important
with their secret society contacts. Frankenstein Destroyers: We’ve secret project going on in CRS
heard rumors that Pro Tech is testing Sector and we need to keep it quiet.
Anti-Mutant: Dirty mutie scum hide a new type of filthy bot, designed to Whatever you do, you have to make
in crowds, to conceal their freak pass as human! Destroy it at all sure that a citizen called Joe-FFC
DNA. Make sure any mutants you costs! survives the riot!
encounter are exposed for what Free Enterprise: See, we’ve got Psion: One of our psychics is
they are, so they can face the mob 12,000 gallons of Omni-Sauce hidden in a safe house in CRS
justice of the genetically pure. hidden in a secret location. We need Sector. She was injured in an Anti-
Communists: Yuri-B is an you to ensure that the cafeteria’s Mutant attack on us, and she’s still
especially dangerous threat to food supplies get destroyed in the very weak. Strong emotions could
Communism. Discredit or terminate riot, so we can sell it at a huge profit injure her! You have to stop the
him if possible. to starving clones! Profit! riot! Or at least ensure it’s a very
Computer Phreaks: Take this fake Humanists: We need the Death calm riot!
ME card. We think it’ll automatically Leopard sect to owe us a favor. PURGE: Troubleshooters are The
hack the credit machines in the Identify the Death Leopards that Computer’s first line of defense. Use
commissary, giving you effectively IntSec is looking for, then ensure the chaos of the riot to terminate
infinite credits to buy food. Test it. they don’t get captured. as much of the rest of the team as
Corpore Metal: There’s an Illuminati: We’ve discovered that possible.
important secret project going on your hygiene officer is a traitor. What Romantics: There’s an important
in CRS Sector and we need to keep do you mean, you’re all hygiene secret project going on in CRS
it quiet. We need you to keep IntSec officers? That’s nonsense— Sector. It’s likely some of our agents
busy by feeding them whatever according to computer records, are in the cafeteria! Find them and
false information you can. there’s only one hygiene officer in save them!
Death Leopard: Woo! Riot! Make your group, and he’s the traitor. Sierra Club: We’ve heard that
sure it spreads! Trash the whole Mystics: Like, we’re opening the there’s a secret route to the outside
sector! doors of perception by adding stuff in CRS Sector. Find out any
FCCC-P: There’s an important to the food in the CRS cafeteria. information you can about hidden
secret project going on in CRS exits!

YOU AREN’T CLEARED FOR THE TRUTH! 5

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
Beverage, while LoyaltyTime gives The pipes hang from the ceiling of Generic Traitorous Citizen In
a triple-standard size container of the cafeteria, oozing like curried The Cafeteria (Works for Dan-
fun-size FunStix and a normal can of intestines. A stray laser shot risks R, Katya-R, Woodrow-O, Other
B3…that’s 0.02% smaller than Yum- drowning the cafeteria in grease or Citizens)
E-Yum’s…’) which regular diners Fun. Notably, extra doses of mood Management 6
have become adept at deciphering. stabilizers and hormone inhibitors Bootlicking 10
Clones new to CRS Sector may find are added to the food here, from big Stealth 8
themselves unwittingly ordering, chemical drums. High Alert 12
say, 50 portions of rancid Cold Fun Sneaking 12
if they pick the wrong offer. Remind Seating, The centre of this vast room Violence 4
the players that wasting food is is packed with unfortunate citizens Energy Weapons 8
treasonous, and that as Hygiene trying to choke down their meals. Hardware 8
Officers, they also cannot make a Most of these citizens are mere laser Some Type Of Engineering 12
mess. fodder, but there are a few citizens Software 10
of interest described below. Large C-Bay 14
There are eight franchises here.To arrays of screens and cameras Wetware 8
the right of the entrance are Yum- hang from the ceiling; the screens Mutant Power: Dan-R: Levitation
E-Yum SoyLike, Café-O-Service, flicker between coverage of the local (Power 7), Katya-R: Detect Mutant
Chuddies’ and LoyaltyTime; opposite FunBall match (between Sectors CRS Power (Power 4), Corwin-R:
the entrance are Soylent RED and CRV), official announcements of Teleportation (Power 9), Woodrow-
Foodstand, All Kinds of Fun, Captain the glorious forward march of Alpha R: Matter Eater, (Power 5).
Nutrients and Chez Vatscrape. If the Complex and advertisements. Secret Society Affiliation:
Troubleshooters are foolish enough Romantics (Dan-R, Katya-R, Corwin-
to actually eat at any of these, roll on A: Romantics. Dan-R, Katya-R R), Pro Tech (Woodrow-O)
the table below. and Corwin-R, are all part of the Armor: None
Romantic secret society. Dan-R Weapons: Improvised weapons like
Food Preparation Centers and knows the location of the cryogen trays and stuff (S5W). Woodrow-O
Storage. Situated to the left of the tubes where the Old Reckoning has a sonic pistol (S3W).
entrance to the commissary. As all corpsicles are being stored (see
the food served is actually grown/ page 16) and is attempting to brief must use a secret code. Specifically,
fermented/hatched in foodvats, the Kayta-R and Corwin-R about their he is building a scale map of the
only preparation needed is heating secret mission. However, since they section of the Underplex where the
the food and piping it through bulging know they are under surveillance by cryogen tubes are out of his food.
plastic pipes to the various franchises. the minions of The Computer, Dan-R The SyntheVegBalls that represent

Random Food Related Disaster

1–2 Line of customers is not actually moving at all, ever. Changing lines may be a sign of impatience, impatience is a sign of
unhappiness, happiness is mandatory. Why are you not content to wait, citizen? Are you late for your treasonous meeting with
your Commie contacts?
3–4 Customer Survey. All in line are required to fill out a customer form. Unless the form is read extremely carefully (successful
Management check), then the Troubleshooter fails to notice that he has just signed up to purchase a meal from the franchise
every day for the rest of his life, and that the cost of the meal will automatically be deducted from his ME credit account.
5–6 The cans of B3 being served with this meal were accidentally shaken during transit, and are now explosive when opened.
7–8 The cashier gets every order wrong, but does his best to fix his mistakes. He gets the fixes wrong, too. He’s just taken his
regulation dose of happy pills, though, so he doesn’t get upset about taking half an hour to serve one customer the wrong food.
9–10 As 7–8 above, but this cashier has not taken his medication, and is on the verge of a psychotic break if he’s pushed too far by
one more customer….
11–12 The cashier is a member of a secret society, and mistakes the Troubleshooter for his contact. He attempts to use his secret
society greeting.
13–14 The food is poisonous—well, more poisonous than normal. Unless the Troubleshooter makes a successful Wetware check, he
becomes violently and messily ill.
15–16 The Mystics are attempting to forcibly enlighten people by spiking the food with hallucinogenic drugs.
17–18 The Troubleshooter is served a high-clearance meal pack by mistake, containing a real apple!
19–20 Roll again and apply both catastrophes.

6 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 2. IT TASTES LIKE TREASON
the tube keep getting buried beneath successful Mark I’s. Woodrow-O the orderliness of The Computer’s
melting tunnels of Cold Fun. The three has brought Joe-FFC out in public food distribution, then he will react
Romantics are incredibly paranoid to test the techno-zombie’s ability with lethal force. While Guy-G is
about being discovered, but have to metabolize food. Poor Joe-FFC technically on the same side as the
only the length of their assigned lunch is now sitting in the cafeteria with a Troubleshooters for this mission, he is
breaks to convey the vital secret of the bowl of Fun in front of him, and feeling quite likely to end up shooting them.
cryotubes location. Therefore, if any of very confused and jumpy because of D: Registered Mutant. Sitting all on
the three Romantics suspect they are all the bright lights and inedible slime,
being spied on, they immediately spill and Woodrow-O’s big juicy brain is Guy-G-RTE-2
the tray with the carefully constructed now looking very tasty to him. Management 9
food map, move somewhere else in Interrogation 13
the cafeteria, and start again. If Joe gets any more stressed, say Bootlicking 13
by a riot starting, or people confusing Stealth 10
B: Pro Techies with a Zombie. him, then he will start trying to eat their Surveillance 14
Woodrow-O-FFC is one of the brains. It’s natural for a zombie to eat Disguise 14
Pro Tech techies working on the brains, don’t blame the zombie. Violence 10
reanimation project, and he had a Energy Weapons 14
recent success—he has reanimated C: Agent Guy-G-RTE-2. Guy-G Hardware 6
Joe-FFC, a clerk who used to work is an up and coming young IntSec Software 10
in Woodrow-O’s office before a fatal agent, the sort of square-jawed, Data Search 14
misfiling. Joe-FFC is now a Mark forthright hero-of-the-Complex that Hacking 14
I techno-zombie, one of the first The Computer would dearly like to Wetware 10
mass-produce. Guy-G is operating Pharmatherapy 14
■ Techno Techno Techno using the same intelligence as Yuri-
B—that this cafeteria is a breeding
Suggestion 14
Mutant Power: Puppeteer (Power
Techno... Zombie ground and a meeting place for 13)
A fuller description of the techno- terrorists and traitors. He is here to Secret Society Affiliation: Sierra
zombies is given on page 16. In short, catch them in the act. He is wearing Club
the Mark I zombies are resuscitated a RED jumpsuit as part of his cunning Armor: None
corpses whose brains have pretty disguise. If Guy-G spots anyone Weapons: Energy pistol (W3K)
much dribbled out their ears thanks trying to cause problems or sabotage
to the reanimation process. While still
capable of basic motor functions like
walking, speaking and eating brains,
they’re not very bright and tend to
blindly follow orders unless distracted
by the need to eat brains.

The perfected form of the techno-

zombie, the Mark II, retains all of
the intelligence and charm it had
in life, coupled with a desire to
eat brains. It’s all because of their
inability to regenerate neural matter
or something.

Joe-FFC, Zombie
Management 1
Stealth 4
Violence 8
Zombie Combat 14
Hardware 1
Software 1
Wetware 1
Mutant Power: Zombie Resilience
(Power 10)
Secret Society Affiliation:
Zombies
Armor: None
Weapons: None

BOUNCY BUBBLY BEVERAGE ADDS LIFE. 7

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
his own is poor Alan-R-BCC, who spate of violent vandalism, so just it’s just that everyone knows that
had the courage and loyalty to admit shouting ‘fire’ or blasting away with the workers in CRV sector have
that he is, in fact, a hideous mutant a laser might do the trick. a Sector Efficiency Target that’s
freak with a grievously flawed DNA 0.02% lower than here in CRS,
structure. He’s got the Electroshock Some options include: but they get exactly the same pay.
mutation, but is too civic-minded to Why, those bastards have 0.02%
use it for personal gain. In fact, up Spreading rumors that incite more leisure time! Death to CRV
until he discovered he was a mutant violence (‘Commie mutant traitors Sector!!!
and registered it, Alan-R was one of are coming! Run for your lives!’
the most loyal and honest citizens or ‘the food’s been tampered with! On that note, this is a perfect time
you could ever hope to meet. Now, Commies are trying to poison us, for a bit of propaganda. Stand on
several months of prejudice, hate and and that guy in the corner is their a table and shout ‘Citizens! You
constantly being blamed for every agent!’) have nothing to lose but your
error and problem have instilled a lunch trays!’
deep, burning hatred in Alan-R. If he Tampering with the food. Adding
sees any opportunity, any excuse, to
cut loose with his power and hurt his
a nice dose of Thymoglandin
or another combat drug, or
■ So, Anyway, We
tormentors, he will. just fiddling with the morass of Started This Riot...
chemicals being mixed into the However the Troubleshooters get
food could work. around to starting the riot, it quickly
Alan-R-BCC explodes out of control. Some
Management 8 The techno-zombie and the poor enterprising citizens climb up to the
Bootlicking 12 registered mutant are obvious high-pressure pipes in the ceiling and
Stealth 6 flashpoints for a riot. Just poke tear them open, using the ensuing
Standing In Such A Way To Hide one of them with a stick until he jets of boiling Hot Fun and chemical
The Yellow Stripes 12 explodes in electric death rays/ flavorings to smash the camera/
Violence 6 tries to eat your brain. Watch the screen arrays. If they haven’t already,
Energy Weapons 10 panic spread. the techno-zombie and the registered
Hardware 10 mutant start causing extra chaos.
Electronic Engineering 14 A more subtle option is to disable IntSec spy Guy-G-RTE initially tries
Frying Systems With Electroshock some or all of the cameras in to quell the riot, but is soon reduced
16 the cafeteria, either through to hiding behind the counter in Café-
Software 8 sabotage, a power cut or just O-Service and firing wildly with his
Wetware 8 shooting them. As soon as the laser.
Mutant Power: Electroshock (Power surveillance is lifted, then all the
16) citizens in the cafeteria might Regardless of how the riot started, the
Secret Society Affiliation: Psion, act on the petty grievances and Troubleshooters will be menaced by
as soon as he makes contact, hatred they’ve been keeping wandering monsters, or wandering
dammit! suppressed. and bloodthirsty diners anyway.
Armor: None Some might even get so caught up
Weapons: None There’s a FunBall match going in the violence and the maiming
on between the local CRS Sector that they end up snacking on fellow
■ I Predict (Within a Very
and their rivals in CRV Sector.
Careful commenting on the match
citizens, especially if they see the
zombie doing so.
Acceptable Margin (‘Did you see that foul? You
of Error) A Riot can’t legally insert a FunBall Soon after the riot begins, Yuri-B’s
Paddletube into that orifice during squad of GREEN goons charges
So, how do the Troubleshooters start a passing forward triple playout toward the cafeteria, unfortunately
a riot? Remember, the Death Leopard during Red Phase!’) could incite arriving at the same time as an
conspirators who are believed to be violence from the more committed Armed Forces Riot Suppression Unit.
in the cafeteria aren’t actually there, fans. There’s a territorial squabble between
so if the Troubleshooters just start the two groups; they barricade the
pushing people around and causing Just sitting and talking with or doors while they argue over who
trouble, then no-one will immediately listening to the citizens as they eat has jurisdiction. If it is a violent but
rise up and join in. They need to be reveals the occasional whisper of undirected civil disturbance, then
more creative—or more destructive. discontent. Oh, it’s not that they’re the Armed Forces can go in; if it’s
A panicked riot is just as good as a not ecstatically wonderfully a deliberate attempt by traitors to
joyously HAPPY, friend citizen, forment insurrection, it’s IntSec’s

8 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 2. IT TASTES LIKE TREASON
problem. Eventually, they settle on punished. Ideally, the characters will the CDR Section cafeteria. He is also
getting a megaphone and asking the get captured by the Armed Forces, under suspicion of being involved with
rioters if they’re a disturbance or an then have to spin the events in the some sort of conspiracy to defraud
insurrection. As the Troubleshooters cafeteria and the riots they were CPU credit allocations to this sector.
will be arrested and punished by the responsible for in such a way that they The Troubleshooters are ordered
Armed Forces if the Armed Forces escape with a lighter punishment. to report to this inquiry and give
come charging in, they want IntSec to evidence, making themselves out to
get jurisdiction. If the Troubleshooters Again, keep track of anyone killed be heroic defenders of PLC property,
do not to anything, then the side during the riot—they will be showing clever and bold and creative, while
with the bigger guns (Armed Forces) up as techno-zombies later on. still being morally flexible—in short,
wins. they must sell themselves as the

Eventually, either IntSec or the

■ Your Next Mission perfect accomplices for Myron-B’s
plan, whatever it is. IntSec recently
Armed Forces will put the riot down. After the riots and the ensuring terminated several other candidates,
The Troubleshooters are arrested brainscrubbing/terminations, Yuri-B so Myron is likely to be desperate and
and charged depending on what (accompanied by his Vulture Trooper will recruit the Troubleshooters.
they were seen to do. If IntSec guards) collects the characters and
gets jurisdiction, then Yuri-B will brings them to an unused storage The PLC Official Inquiry into the Unruly
protect the Troubleshooters from the room. There, his cybernetic eye Behavior And Ensuing Damage
consequences of their misdeeds, gleaming redly in the darkness, he To PLC Property At CDR Sector
reducing all penalties by three steps tells the Troubleshooters that their Commissary takes place in another
on the Treason chart (see page mission for Internal Security is not briefing room, all uncomfortable
249 of the PARANOIA rulebook). yet complete. The Troubleshooters plastic seats and paperwork. Three
If Armed Forces get hold of the are to report to Myron-B-RDS-3, a bureaucrats, Myron-B (PLC), Sandra-
Troubleshooters, then they suffer bureaucrat inside the labyrinthine B (HPD&MC) and Winston-V (CPU)
the full punishment, and Yuri-B bureaucracy of PLC. Myron-B is in are seated at the top of the room,
takes custody of them after they are charge of an inquiry into the events at surrounded by viewscreens that

SNITCH - JUST DO IT! 9

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
endlessly repeat footage from the he’s dozing peacefully while the If the characters can work any or all
riot. Dozens of clerks list the damage others argue. of those items into their accounts,
inflicted by the riot in excruciating pinning the blame squarely on the
detail. Every broken spork and Also present at the inquiry are IntSec failings of HPD&MC, then they will
damaged floor tile has been itemized Agent Guy-G, the cafeteria supervisor impress Myron-B greatly. The other
and photographed, and it is up to the Frank-Y and ‘innocent bystander’/ eyewitnesses—Guy-G, Frank-Y
Inquiry to determine if the damage Romantic conspirator Kayta-R. The and Katya-R—will nitpick and argue
was caused by normal wear and tear Troubleshooters are called upon to with the Troubleshooters’ version of
(in which case PLC is responsible for give their accounts of what happened events. Guy-G will imply that all the
replacing it) or if it was damaged by in the riot, with especially reference Troubleshooters (as well as everyone
the riot (in which case HPD&MC can to the following items: else in the cafeteria) was a Commie
be blamed for not keeping the citizens Mutant Traitor and should be shot;
happy and docile, and they have to 128 plastic lunch trays Frank-Y will just try to protect himself
cover the costs of the repairs). It from termination by suggesting
would all be stultifying boring if it were Floor tiles numbers #534 to that everything that happened in
not for the constant sniping between 611 the cafeteria was someone else’s
Myron-B and Sandra-B. Winston-V fault; Katya-R is there just to ensure
maintains a godlike detachment from Table 5 that the Romantic plot was not
the whole inquiry—in other words, discovered.
The life-size model of Captain
■ Introducing Myron-B Nutrients, last seen at the Regardless of what happens in
service counter of the same the inquiry, the Troubleshooters
Myron-B is the major non-player name will be ordered to report to Myron-
character in the next section of B’s office for a private debriefing
the adventure, so let’s get to know Twelve thousand gallons of afterwards….
him. Thanks to his moderately high Omni-Sauce, flavor 4.
position within PLC, Myron-B can
afford to eat well, and it shows. He’s
overweight, and is something of an
epicure, using his secret society
contacts to acquire real food and
delicacies whenever possible (he’s a
member of Free Enterprise). Myron is
jolly, affable, friendly and absolutely
ruthless. He’s been very successful
so far in his career, but he’s now
getting lazy and careless, taking ever
short short-cuts to victory. The sporks
may be his downfall…

Myron-B-RDS-3
Management 14
Con Games 18
Moxie 18
Oratory 18
Stealth 8
Violence 6
Hardware 10
Habitat Engineering 14
Software 6
Wetware 12
Suggestion 16
Biosciences 16
Food Industry Gossip 18
Mutant Power: Corrosion (Power
10)
Secret Society Affiliation: Free
Enterprise
Armor: None
Weapons: None

10 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

3. The Sporks, They Call To Me
‘A spork is a perfect metaphor for human existence. It tries
to function as both spoon and fork, and due to this dual
nature, it fails miserably at both. You cannot have soup
with a spork, it is far too shallow; you cannot eat meat
with a spork, the prongs are too small.’—Spork.org on the
metaphorical significance of sporks.

Consider, says Myron-B, the humble spork.

The Troubleshooters are in Myron-B’s plush office. Framed

citations for efficiency and quota attainment line the walls,
as do framed photographs of former rivals of Myron-B being
hauled away to the termination booths. Myron is trying to
woo the Troubleshooters, so he plies them with fine foods,
drugs and other bribes before getting into his pitch.

He shows them a spork. For those unaware of the delights

of the spork, the spork is a plastic utensil that combines
the qualities of the spoon and the fork. Spoon+fork=spork.
All hail the marketing genius who came up with that.
Disposable plastic sporks are used in every cafeteria in
Alpha Complex. The sporks used are all virtually identical,
but are provided by different competing service firms. As so
many sporks are used by Alpha Complex, the rewards for
getting the contract to provide the sporks are staggering. If the Troubleshooters demand to know how Myron can
obtain free sporks, then Myron will smile broadly and tell
Now, CRS and the surrounding sectors are all supplied them that that information is not available at their security
by Complex Utensils, a major service firm that has been clearance, and that another team is taking care of the
producing sporks for many years. If the contract could supply side of spork supply. He wants them for another
be taken, then Myron-B’s fortune would be assured. The purpose entirely—advertising!
contract is up for bidding within a few daycycles, and Myron
is determined to win it. He has just created a new service
firm, Spork Supply, which has a tradition of producing quality
■ The Dark Side of the Spork (Tension 3)
plastic sporks dating back whole minutes. Spork Supply If Myron-B and Spork Supply are going to succeed, then
is going to win the contract out from under the nose of they need to convince the PLC purchasers that their sporks
Complex Utensils. If the Troubleshooters help Myron-B and are better than the Complex Utensils sporks. Complex
Spork Supply, then they will share in the immense profits. Utensils are better on such prosaic and dull aspects like
Myron-B then reaches into his desk and produces a ‘actual functionality as a spork’ or ‘not falling apart on touch’,
second spork. He handles it gingerly, for this second so Spork Supply needs an absolutely killer advertising pitch
spork is discolored and stained greeny-blue. Parts of it to win. The contract is not decided on price alone, but also
are crumbling, and it is obvious that putting any pressure on focus group happiness. The Troubleshooters need to
whatsoever on the spork will break it. Myron-B is well come up with some way of selling useless sporks.
aware of the condition of the spork, but puts a brave face
on and presents it as the biggest breakthrough in Spork Although Myron-B won’t tell the Troubleshooters exactly
Technology since the development of the fourth tine. The where he is getting his sporks from (that comes up later),
chief difference between the sporks, Myron explains, is that it is obvious that the Spork Supply sporks are absolutely
the first spork costs 0.001 credits to produce, but the second ancient, so old that the cheap plastic used in their
spork costs…nothing. Nothing at all. In that 0.001 credit manufacture is rotting. It’s not a problem, though—it’s a
difference is the ultimate advantage of Spork Supply. challenge!

Myron is getting his sporks from a vast and ancient storage The Troubleshooters need to come up with an advertising
facility, buried deep beneath Alpha Complex, filled with scheme that spins the following facts:
various supplies, a bunker designed to provide for whole
sectors during a prolonged nuclear war. While the bunker Spork Supply Sporks don’t actually work as sporks.
contains all sorts of things—including the cryogenic tubes
that the Romantics intend to revive using the zombie They crumble when you pick them up.
technology—all Myron has recovered thus far is a pocket
full of sporks and a dream of conquest. And that mold growing in them might be poisonous.

SPORK SUPPLY, I LOVED THEM SO MUCH I BOUGHT THE SERVICE FIRM! 11

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
Sporks are provided for free, world spork companies. Retire and ■ Intermission (Tension 3)
therefore it makes absolutely no live off the proceeds, moving to a If the Troubleshooters are having
difference to the average clone- tropical island and run PARANOIA trouble remembering exactly why
in-the-corridor how much the for nubile girls in skimpy color-coded they are involved with Myron-B,
sporks cost. bikinis. then have Yuri-B show up and be
scary at them, and remind them
No one likes sporks anyway. Add up the scores, giving you a total that they are working for IntSec to
from –5 (oh, just shoot your players) to bring down Myron-B and discover
If they want to script little vidshows 15 (cheats!). This final result becomes how he intends to defraud CPU.
to sell their spin on sporks, let them. a temporary Spork Propaganda skill The Troubleshooters may also wish
Skills like Suggestion can be used. for all of the Troubleshooters. This to contact their respective secret
works just like a normal Propaganda societies for new missions. If they
Let the Troubleshooters plot and skill, in that a successful Spork don’t wish, then their secret societies
scheme until they’ve come up with Propaganda skill check can give the contact them.
their initial pitch, then assign the pitch target a rating in Spork Propaganda.
a score on each of the above five
points, as follows:
It is up to the Troubleshooters to get
enough Spork Propaganda to their
■ Focus Group of the
victims—er, the general public to Damned (Tension 6)
-1: Actively works against the assure the ultimate victory of Spork The Troubleshooters need to
character’s desired message. Supply! convince five randomly selected
0: The characters haven’t even citizens of the virtues of Spork Supply
attempted to address this point in Once the Troubleshooters have sporks. If you’re feeling especially
their pitch. come up with their plan, then they schizophrenic today, then you can
1: Eh, it’s OK, but pedestrian. No must convince a focus group of five play all the focus group members
inspiration, no flair, no chutzpah. randomly selected citizens from CRS simultaneously, but it is probably
2: Clever! Funny! Convincing! Sector—move onto Focus Group of easier to have them come in one
3: Your players are geniuses; write the Damned. at a time. The focus group takes
down all they say and sell it to real- place in a repurposed confession

What is your Bidding, O Master

Anti-Mutant: Mutants reveal their Ensure that the message ‘Friend Only, don’t do it to yourself, ‘cos
powers under stress and pressure, Computer Saves My Soul’ is placed some of them might be toxic. Use
and what’s better for providing stress on the sample sporks shown to the the other Troubleshooters instead.
and pressure than…a confession test subjects. Pro Tech: Some of our agents
booth? Ensure that the spork Frankenstein Destroyers: There have placed a CHASM-class bot
testers are tested for mutation. is a new bot design, the CHASM, in the Underplex to protect a secret
Communists: Spork Supply is which is designed to delve into the project. If you encounter it, make
rumored to be interfering with the Underplex. The prototype must sure no one meddles with it.
Underplex, which is the one safe be destroyed! The bots must be Psion: Our psychics have detected
refuge from the hated capitalists and stopped from taking over yet another the unmistakable signatures of pure
IntSec. Sabotage Spork Supply’s section of Alpha Complex. strain humans in the Underplex. If
plans at all costs! Free Enterprise: Find out where The Computer’s agents get their
Computer Phreaks: Yay! Spork Supply is getting its sporks, hands on the pure strain DNA, they
Download a copy of the confession then pressure Myron-B into joining could reset the clone banks and
booth’s software so we can hak it Free Enterprise. retard the evolution of humanity.
omg yays! Humanists: We need to foment Locate and destroy these pure
Corpore Metal: An experimental dissent so we can rally the common strains.
CHASM-class robot got stolen citizen against The Computer’s PURGE: Titus-I is a threat to
from a laboratory. Recover it if regime. Make sure that the spork our operations in CRS Sector.
possible. situation is as unpleasant as Terminate him.
Death Leopard: There’s this clone, possible. Ensure the worst spork Romantics: Look, make sure
Ade-R-ADE, who’s very influential wins. no one enters the Underplex
in focus groups. We think he’s got Illuminati: Titus-I, the R&D director underneath CRS Sector. Seriously.
potential. Recruit him. in CRS Sector, is up to something, We’ve got stuff down there we want
FCCC-P: The blessed wisdom of and we don’t know what. Bring us to keep safe.
The Computer must be reinforced. his brain. Sierra Club: Have you found that
We intend to carve inspiring Mystics: Hey, you know how you’re secret entrance to the outside
messages onto every spork, thus a hygiene officer? See if any of the yet?
spreading the electric gospel. cleaning chemicals get you high.

12 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 3. THE SPORKS, THEY CALL TO ME
booth (or booths, if you’re running all The Computer didn’t make a mistake Finally, the fifth test subject is Helene-
five encounters at the same time), all that time? If the Troubleshooters O-JNS, who’s in Power Services.
with the Troubleshooters watching can convince him that Spork Supply She was assigned to this focus
through cameras and speaking sporks are a brave new step forward, group because she is currently on
through microphones from a control he’ll be easily convinced. a lighter duty roster (and heavier
room nearby. The Troubleshooters course of medication) following a
have access to the full range of the Next is Tara-R-UDD-2, a spy for traumatic incident a few days ago in
confession booth’s gadgets while Complex Utensils who have gotten the Underplex. She was sent down
running the tests, including: word of the Spork Supply conspiracy. to a service duct to repair a broken
She’ll pretend to be very interested power line, and ended up wandering
Voice stress analyzers and in their ideas, asking all sorts of into the bunker that contains Myron-
autonomic response probes. insightful, penetrating questions and B’s spork supply and the frozen Old
trying to work out the weaknesses Reckoners. She was attacked by a
Brainwave monitors. and failings, but more importantly the wandering zombie, who ate her entire
source of the mysterious sporks. team. The combination of blood-
Infrared cameras. freezing terror and the happy drugs
Third is Ade-R-ADE-4. Back when Helene was given after she made
Environmental controls, allowing he was still on his first clone, he was her way back to the Complex proper
them to adjust heat/humidity/ deemed to be within 0.03% of the have blocked most of the memories
oxygen content within the booth. ideal average—just like Joe-R is now. of the attack. All she remembers is
Therefore, Ade-R got selected for a dark, lurking terror—and sporks.
Drug dispensers and injectors. focus group after focus group after So, when the Troubleshooters start
focus group; while he has become their spork pitch, Helene reacts by
Brainscrubbers. jaded, cynical and predatory. Since screaming and gibbering. Feel free
his only function in Alpha Complex to go Lovecraftian here.
Disintegrator. is now participating in focus groups,
he deliberately tries to sabotage the Once Helene-O has been convinced
Obvious abuse of the booth’s groups he’s part of, so they have to of the wonders of Spork Supply sporks
systems will be punished, but the call him back again and again and (or has been dragged out screaming),
Troubleshooters can play at being pay him again and again. He has then the effectiveness of their
scary interrogators as much as they been in thousands of focus groups, campaign is evaluated. The Computer
want. Note that citizens are paid ten so he knows all the pitches and all will analyze the brainwave readings
credits for focus group participation. the tricks. (Specifically, he’ll wire the of the five test subjects, to determine
brainwave monitors and autonomic how happy they are with the new
At the end of each pitch, every response probes in the confession sporks. Our glorious electronic friend
one of the characters may make a booth together, so they give no signal, announces ‘Attention Spork Supply
Spork Propaganda check. Every and keeps an eye on the disintegrator Employees. Your evaluation period
successful check gives one point to make sure the Troubleshooters is over. The Happiness Index of
of Spork Propaganda to the focus don’t zap him—he lost his last two your Friendly Focus Group will now
group participant. Therefore, the clones that way.) be analyzed and compared to that
focus group victims will be leaving of the other bidders for Contract
this scene with a Spork Propaganda The fourth clone in the focus group PLC/com/4433232/CD* Sectors.
skill equal to or lower than the total is supposed to be Ian-R-POR, but he Thank you for your patience.
number of Troubleshooters. has been knocked out and stuffed into Please Stand By. Processing….’
a storage locker down the corridor
Use the generic traitor stats from from the confession booth. Instead, In game terms, if the combined Spork
page 6 for most of these citizens. the fourth clone is IntSec agent Propaganda of the victims is greater
Guy-G in a disguise. Guy-G now than 10, then the Spork Supply
Joe-R-AGV-3 is your generic clone, suspects the Troubleshooters of sporks will be one step closer to being
with no real distinguishing features or being dangerous traitors (he knows approved, and therefore one step
tics. He’s loyal to The Computer, in nothing of Yuri-B’s involvement with closer to snatching the vital supply
a bovine sort of way, and advanced the mission, and would still suspect contract away from Complex Utensils!
in security clearance only by a lucky them even if he did—Guy-G considers Of course, if the Troubleshooters
mischance. Consider Joe-R the Yuri-B to be a borderline renegade, have failed to get the subjects to Love
baseline by which the Troubleshooters and the power politics of IntSec are The Sporks, then they had better
can calibrate their pitch. He doesn’t nightmarishly complex). Guy-G will improvise—immediately. Display
care about sporks, and assumes that pretend to be a dull RED, but his main screens show The Computer’s slow
if The Computer’s servants always focus is on learning more about the accessing of the confession booth’s
picked Complex Utensils before, Troubleshooters and catching them records, so the Troubleshooters have
they’ll probably do so again. Surely out in some treasonous statement. a few minutes to act. They could fake

EVERYTHING WE DO IS DRIVEN BY FRIEND COMPUTER. 13

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
the records, leap into the confession ■ Failure, Glorious Myron-B has a map that leads to the
booth themselves and really, really Failure (Tension 6) bunker, sketched by the last survivor
love the sporks, rewire the booth, or of the previous Troubleshooter team.
force the test subjects back in for a If the Troubleshooters fail to convince The bunker is located directly beneath
retrial. However they solve this, it will the subjects of the virtues of Spork the CRS Sector nuclear reactor—a
be utterly treasonous. Supply sporks, then Myron-B is less fact that will become important later
than pleased. There is still a chance on.
Once The Computer and the PLC for them to salvage the contract,
Purchasing Committee are convinced though—their rivals at Complex The Troubleshooters get to the
that switching to Spork Supply sporks Utensils are about to do their focus starting point of #1 by being lowered
will not noticeably lower the Happiness group testing. If the Troubleshooters down a very, very deep shaft. The
Index of CRS Sector, Myron-B calls return to the testing area and shaft is midway along the CRS-CDQ
the Troubleshooters back to his sabotage the happiness index text, sector tube line, in the very middle
office. There’s a problem…. then perhaps Spork Supply still has of the magnetic track. Trains pass
a chance…. by every two minutes. Myron-B
■ Into The Depths (Tension
Complex Utensil’s pitch can be
provides the Troubleshooters with
a winch and pulley mechanism that
7 until they reach the summarized as ‘Complex Utensil attaches to the very top of the shaft,
Underplex then Tension 0) Sporks—Considered Adequate For and so is unaffected by passing
Use In Alpha Complex Commissaries trains. Troubleshooters not in the
Myron-B explains that he—well, a Since Year 164 Of The Computer. shaft, or in niches along the side of
Troubleshooter team investigating They’re Sporky!’ It’s staggeringly the tunnel, will be splattered when a
a 32nd Flavor Violation for PLC, who boring, as an accurate pitch (‘we’ve train zooms down the tube. It takes
all conveniently died—located a been taken over by an apocalyptic cult 45 seconds to lower a Troubleshooter
lost storage bunker deep beneath made up of several secret societies down the shaft, and someone has to
Alpha Complex, containing millions, who are dedicated to bring about stay at the bottom or top of the shaft
perhaps even billions of sporks. the Easter Cycle of Zombie Doom, to run the mechanism. Since all the
These free sporks are the foundation and we also make sporks’) would be Troubleshooters trust each other,
of Spork Supply’s fortunes. While the much more exciting in a treasonous this will not cause any problems
Troubleshooters were convincing sort of way. whatsoever.
people to love the sporks, other Spork
Supply employees went down into Assuming the Troubleshooters 1. The shaft down to the Underplex
the Underplex to recover more of manage to sabotage the Complex ends in a pumping station. A sign
the sporks. They haven’t returned. Utensils pitch enough to keep Spork on the door reads AIR EXCHAGE
Myron-B needs the Troubleshooters Supply in the running, move onto the #322—DO NOT OPEN IF EXT. RAD
to go down into the storage bunker next scene. > 200.’ Massive but silent machines
and bring back, oh, about 50,000 line the walls of the room, dating back
sporks immediately. to a time before Alpha Complex was

14 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 3. THE SPORKS, THEY CALL TO ME
built. Once, these were waiting for Another door hides another office; Measure, Mark I (CHASM Mk. I)
nuclear war, for replenishing the air here, the Troubleshooters find an was stolen from the lab before its
in the bunker complex beyond. Now, antique computer (small c) which, bot brain had been uploaded with the
they’re buried beneath uncounted if reactivated, can give a partial normal basic orientation package. It
levels of corridor and briefing room, list of the contents of the bunker. was activated for the very first time
architected by an idiot machine. Along with the ‘Multipurpose only a few hours ago. CHASM was
Cutlery Packs (1,250,000)’, there’s programmed to prevent anyone from
2. This corridor is marked on the map also ‘Cryogenic Tubes (200)’, entering room #4, and it is desperately
as being ‘endless’ and it certainly ‘Biochem Survival Suits (8,000)’, trying to find meaning.
seems to be. It stretches off into ‘Morally Uplifting Entertainment
the darkness in either direction. The (50,000)’, ‘Universal Religious Now, poor CHASM is a smart little
corridor is lined with identical doors, Texts (10,000)’, ‘Historical bot, but it has had to come up with a
all neatly numbered. The remains of Relics (1)’, ‘Synthetic Burger working model of the universe based
a sign reading ‘DO NOT ENTER’ lie Patties (10,000,000)’ and most on the orders ‘Don’t leave this room,
on the ground—it’s been lasered into intriguingly of all, ‘WMD (4)’. and don’t let anyone else go past
bits, and the Troubleshooters cannot you.’ It’s having a little electronic
tell which door it once hung from. Another door in the corridor existential crisis, where it wonders
That said, it’s not too hard to work out leads to a dusty and abandoned if there is anything else beyond the
which door leads to the next corridor, briefing room. There’s a monitor room it knows, and if ‘anyone else’
as it is the only one that isn’t locked. at one end playing part of an actually means other individuals (it’s
If the Troubleshooters open any of the old recording, but the disc is so never encountered another individual
other doors, or explore the corridors, scratched that only a few seconds before the Troubleshooters arrive)
then they’re bravely going off the of the video plays. A stern-faced or if it is something deeper, an
track of this adventure, and you’re man in a uniform says ‘—main admonition to ensure that it achieves
pretty much on your own (or at least, vigilant, maintain security, and total integration of its consciousness.
you’re best served by grabbing a copy keep your survival gear rea—’. When the Troubleshooters enter this
of the Underplex sourcebook and Over and over and over. room, CHASM starts following and
rapidly coming up with either a new observing them, but it will question
plot or a way to chase the characters If the characters keep exploring them as to the meaning of life and
back to here. We could have avoided the corridor, then they will find purpose of existence before it starts
this whole problem by not including more empty barracks, vast blasting them. Play CHASM as a
an alluring corridor going off into the pumping stations and air- precocious, overly serious, earnest
trackless depths of Alpha Complex, recyclers, hydroponics bays that and irritating teenager, who has just
but sometimes you want to hint at have turned into jungles, and discovered the basics of philosophy
vast and ancient labyrinths of the huge empty missile silos. And and is now going to annoy everyone
night, of decaying machinery waiting probably mutants and stuff, who around it with questions about
for an apocalypse that never came.) chase them back to the plot. solipsism and the meaning of life.
Some ideas for encounters: Anyway, back to the plot.
The Troubleshooters may be able to
Another door opens onto a spiral 3. This room is filled with large bluff their way past the troubled bot
staircase, going up. There’s a crates, containing various engine by engaging it in philosophical debate
deep thrumming noise coming components and spare parts. (‘Yes, they told you to shoot anyone
from far above, and the air feels
strangely warm and…prickly. The Corpore Metal part of Project C.H.A.S.M.
This is a back door to the nuclear Reanimator was persuaded to Management 4
reactor far above. They’ll be back contribute to the defense of the project. Philosophy 10
this way later…(see Paranoia of The Romantics are slowly defrosting Stealth 4
the Dead, page 25). and zombifying the cryogenically Surveillance 8
preserved Old Reckoners down Violence 14
Beyond one door, there’s an the corridor, so they wanted to Agility 18
office, lined with yellowing papers make sure that their efforts went Energy Weapons 18
and three-ring binders. A corpse undisturbed. When the team sent Field Weapons 18
sits behind the desk, dressed down by Myron-B to recover the Hardware 10
in a uniform that might look like sporks ran into Project Reanimator, it Habitat Engineering 14
a really old-fashioned ancestor was decided that the bunker needed Sonic Scanners 16
of the common Alpha Complex protection immediately. Corpore Metal Software 4
jumpsuit. He or she obviously sympathizers therefore ‘borrowed’ a Wetware 4
committed suicide with the small tunnel-warfare warbot from Armor: 4
antique sidearm still clutched in an Armed Forces laboratory. The Weapons: Laser rifle (W3K),
the corpse’s bony hand. bot, Confined/Hostile Area Security flamethrower (S3K)

LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, FRIEND COMPUTER IS ALWAYS THERE. 15

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
who tries to get past you, but are you Troubleshooter #2: What was that ■ Mark I Techno Zombies
sure what “shoot” actually means?’), then? The Mark Is are almost mindless
or at least confuse it enough to run Troubleshooter #1: Er. An echo. killing machines, capable of doing
past. CHASM will not leave this room Troubleshooter #2: The echo of you little more than stumble around,
(unless the Troubleshooters break saying ‘monsters’ sounds like that? moan ‘braaaaainnns’ and eat people.
down the bot’s perception of reality Troubleshooter #1: Yes. Yes it They’re only slightly dumber than the
to such a degree that it can no longer does. average drugged-out INFRARED,
tell what a room is). Troubleshooter #2: Say monsters although a lot more violent.
then.
4. Rooms #4, #5 and #6 are all narrow Troubleshooter #1: (whispers) All Mark Is have their Management,
walkways, hanging over a deep Monsters. Hardware, Software and Wetware
black pit. A mechanical sound, like Troubleshooter #2: You only scores reduced to 1, and lose any
the rumbling of some titanic engine, whispered that! specialties in those scores. Their
echoes up from the darkness below. Troubleshooter #1: Fine! Fine! Stealth scores are halved. Their
The walls of the chasm are lined MONSTERS! Violence is unchanged, and they
with concrete. The three rooms here Troubleshooter #2: …. gain the Narrow specialty of ‘Zombie
at the top of the pit are divided by Troubleshooter #1: Well, it’s not an Combat’. This works just like Unarmed
metal walls. echo. But nothing else happened, so Combat, but is limited to just clawing
I advocate we ignore that noise we at people, ripping off heads and
The walkway leading from this room didn’t hear and mo— battering at barriers.
to the main bunker (#7) has been cut, GRAAAAUGGGGHHHHH!
quite recently, using a laser cutting Troubleshooter #2: You want to move Mark Is lose their mutant powers, but
torch (by Project Reanimator minions, on? Go right ahead. You go through gain the Zombie Resilience power
who retreated this way after deploying the door first. instead. This power has two effects.
CHASM). It might be possible to jump Firstly, it can be used just like a lower-
across the gulf, but it’s a safer option There’s absolutely nothing dangerous level form of the Adrenaline Control
to keep going onto #6. here, although the walkway over the mutation, making the zombies strong
pit is a bit rickety. enough to smash through doors and
5. Technically, rooms #4 and #6 are rend bodies limb from limb. Secondly,
also bottomless pits, but they at least 7. This is the storage bunker. It is Zombie Resilience acts like a form of
have narrow walkways running from a cavernous chamber, stretching armor. If the zombie is injured, make
door to door. There is a door leading off into the darkness. Crates are a Zombie Resilience roll. For every
into #5 from both #4 and #6, but on everywhere, stacked in neat rows. four points in the margin of success,
the other side of the door is nothing They are all labeled with a cryptic reduce the damage by one step.
but a very, very big drop. notation of numbers and letters, and
can contain anything. Think of the Management 1
6. According to the annotations on the warehouse from the end of Raiders Stealth 4
sketch map, room #6 has a monster of the Lost Ark crossed with a 50’s Violence 8
in it. The only ‘monster’ here is a nuclear bunker. Zombie Combat 14
huge machine, located in the shaft Hardware 1
far below this room. Whatever the Shortly before the Troubleshooters Software 1
purpose of the machine was, it has arrived in the bunker, a team from Wetware 1
been forgotten for centuries. The Project: Reanimator came down to Mutant Power: Zombie Resilience
machine is still active, however, the bunker to test the latest version (Power 10)
doing whatever it was supposed to of the techno-zombie technology, Secret Society Affiliation:
do despite the rust and mold covering a necessary stepping stone on the Zombies
it. Every few minutes, some titanic path to full re-animation. The techno- Armor: None
gear moves and the machine lets zombies turned on them and ate Weapons: None
out a nightmarish groaning noise that them. The clones of the Reanimator
echoes up the shaft like the growling team are now heading back down tubes contain frozen people, dressed
of some horrific beast. Conveniently, to the bunker, carrying considerably in strangely old-fashioned jumpsuits
these irregular grinds and moans more firepower this time. However, with expressions of alarm and terror
coincide exactly with breaks and until they arrive, the Troubleshooters on their faces. Several tubes have
pauses in the Troubleshooters’ are in the bunker with a pack of brain- been recently opened. Lying toppled
conversation, happening whenever hungry Mark I techno-zombies. in the middle of the floor is a strange
would seem most intimidating. contraption, which looks like a cross
A: Stacked in this corner are between a wheelchair, a docbot, a
Troubleshooter #1: Don’t be an idiot! dozens and dozens of cryogenic MemoMax machine and some sort of
There’s no such thing as monsters. tubes, covered in ice and beads of torture device designed by the inbred
GRAAAAUGGGGHHHHH! moisture. About two-thirds of the offspring of a conference of sadistic

16 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 3. THE SPORKS, THEY CALL TO ME
drug-crazed dentists who were lost route. Have the stragglers,
on a deserted island for generations, the slow-footed and the
with nothing to do save conceive slow-witted torn apart by
both more dentists and more fiendish ravening zombies. Have
ways of removing plaque. Several zombies burst in through
push-carts of cybernetic devices and some back door. Make sure
surgical tools lie scattered around it. someone gets bitten—the
This is the Mark I Reanimator, which techno-zombies don’t
produces Mark I techno-zombies. spread their curse through
■ Reanimator Technology
biting, but it’ll still make the
players paranoid. Let some
The techno-zombies are animated zombie get dismembered,
using a cocktail of drugs and other then have the various bits
chemicals, coupled with a jolt of continue to crawl after the
electricity (why meddle with the Troubleshooters. The Type
classic solution?). The core of the Is are remarkably resistant
Reanimator device, then, is a two- to laser fire, because of
foot long needle that crackles with their undead nature and
electricity. If the target body is too still-icy flesh.
badly damaged, then cybernetic
replacement parts are attached to Let the Troubleshooters
get the corpse ready for reanimation. run until it seems as if they
In game terms, then, the basic are all totally, completely,
Reanimator can reanimate a Dead inescapably doomed—then
citizen; if the citizen was Maimed the replacement Project
first, then a more elaborate procedure
involving cybernetics is needed. The
Reanimator technicians turn up,
eager to avenge the deaths of their ■ Hi, We’re The
dumb Mark I zombies can instinctively former selves with flamethrowers Replacement Reanimators
jam a Reanimator needle into a and very big guns. In fairly short
corpse; smarter Mark IIs are needed order, they blast the faulty techno- The Project Reanimator team is led
if cybernetics have to be used. zombies away, and will do the same by Gregor-Y-CGS-3, who has a vivid
to any Troubleshooters who resist. memory of recently being eaten by a
Note that with the implantation of a The characters are rounded up and horde of ravenous techno-zombies
very simple computer chip, a corpse marched through another anonymous and is not happy about it. Their
whose brain has been removed and door and a maze of corridors, until new mission is to disable the active
devoured can be reanimated as a they arrive at a large elevator—which techno-zombies by shooting their
Mark I… brings the Troubleshooters into the legs off—the techno-zombies can be
very heart of Project Reanimator. refitted with cybernetic parts easily.
Also here are the corpses of the If the occasional stray shot takes
six Reanimator technicians. Careful Gregor-Y-CGS and his Team a zombie’s head off, or punctures
examination reveals that they were Management 8 a Troubleshooter, they’re not too
all murdered by having their skulls Intimidation 12 concerned.
cracked open and their brains Stealth 12
removed. Sneaking 16
Violence 10
■ If They Shoot Their
B: All the sporks you could ever Energy Weapons 14 Way Out...
want. Hardware 8 If the Troubleshooters somehow
Software 10 escape both the Mark I techno-
When the Troubleshooters explore Wetware 12 zombies and the clones of the Project
the storeroom, the zombies will attack Medical 16 Reanimator hit squad, then they can
at some point. The techno-zombies Sticking Reanimator Chemicals escape back to Spork Supply and
want the Troubleshooters’ brains, and into Frozen Corpses 18 Myron-B. Myron will then send the
will hunt them all over the bunker and Mutant Power: Nothing worth team to break into Complex Utensils’
the connecting tunnels. Use every mentioning (Power 10) warehouse to sabotage their spork
zombie movie cliché you can think of Secret Society Affiliation: Project supply, which with a bit of judicious
as the techno-zombie horde stalk the Reanimator (mostly Pro Tech or railroading can lead into moving on to
Troubleshooters. Pick them off one by Romantics) chapter four. Ah, players—they’re so
one as the Troubleshooters struggle Armor: Reflec (E1) damn cute when they think they have
to barricade themselves in a safe Weapons: Laser pistol (W3K) and freedom of choice.
corner, or fight to reach their escape slugthrowers (W3K)

YOUR ME CARD. DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT. 17

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
4. It’s Alive
Life and death appeared to me ideal ■ As Is Traditional, I the cryo-tube containing the corpse
bounds, which I should first break Shall Now Explain My of Titus-I-4 is cracked open and the
through, and pour a torrent of light Plan In Devilish Detail machine goes to work. There’s a
into our dark world. Before Executing You whirring of blades and the hiss of
—Mary Shelley, Frankenstein seared flesh as the corpse is filleted,
The leader of the Project Reanimator injected with alarmingly-colored
The elevator brings the team, Gregor-Y stands forward liquids, augmented with cybernetic
Troubleshooters into the heart of proudly and informs the assembled bits and jump-started with a huge
Complex Utensils, PLC. conspirators that he captured the blast of electricity. Titus-I-5, never
Troubleshooters in the Underplex one to miss a classic line, shouts
There are few sporks here; Complex bunker, where they—no doubt ‘It’s alllllive!’ when he sees his former
Utensils is much more about raising acting under the orders of the dark clone body twitch and move.
the dead than handy multipurpose forces arrayed against Project
cutlery. There are, however, plenty Reanimator*—were attempting to The reanimated Titus-I-4 rises from
of high-tech gadgets, medical sabotage the final Mark I tests. the grave. The Troubleshooters catch
scanners, bubbling vats of chemicals, Gregor-Y further suggests that the a brief glimpse of his face, just long
disembodied brains, cybernetic intruders be thrown into the zombie enough to realize that the reanimated
parts and other non-spork, pro- cages for ‘neural matter recycling’— zombie is almost identical to Titus-I-5.
necromancy devices scattered i.e., braaaainns. Then, the zombie Titus-I-4 lunges at
around the cathedral-like space. In * Apart from a few particular clever IntSec Titus-I-5 and pulls him down; the two
the light shed by the occasional arc agents (like Yuri-B), Project Reanimator has vanish into the mists, and the sounds
of electricity, the Troubleshooters gone unnoticed by the majority of Alpha of the Reanimator machine starting
can see dozens of other citizens. Complex’s departments, conspiracies, societies, up again can clearly be heard.
Some are wearing jump suits, others spies, counter-spies, informers and so on.
lab coats, others ornate robes with Despite this, the Reanimators are convinced Then, the zombie cages open (the
that dark and sinister forces are conspiring
embroidered circuitry platforms. Still against them, and that Armed Forces warbots newly zombified Titus-I-4 just grabbed
others have bot bits. will be smashing down the doors of Complex a remote control from his clone
Utensils any daycycle now. Paranoia—it’s not successor), and chaos ensues.
Alarmingly, there are large cages just for Troubleshooters anymore.
standing near the elevator. These
cages contain ravening Mark I techno- With an imperious gesture, Titus-I-5
■ Cruel, Cruel Hubris
zombies. Observant Troubleshooters rejects Gregor-Y’s suggestion, saying (Still Tension 0!)
notice a familiar face among the pallid ‘nonsense! It is too late for anyone Gregor-G is the first to die as the
horde of brain-hungry monsters— to stop us!’ and instead bounds up Mark I techno-zombies swarm out
Vernon-DFD-1, the poor citizen to a platform at the top of the room. of their cages and attack the crowd.
zapped at the very start of this There is a large machine, similar to The reactions of the crowd vary—
adventure (see page 3). (If lots of the Mark I Reanimator device the while some of the FCCCPers and
Troubleshooters got killed earlier in Troubleshooters encountered in the Romantics welcome the zombies,
the scenario, then feel free to throw a Underplex, on the platform, wrapped believing this to be the Easter Cycle,
few into the cages as Mark Is too, but around another cryogenic tube. Titus others do the sensible thing and
make sure to keep most of the dead switches the machine on, and the run for their lives, or open up with
back for resurrection as Type IIs in a assembled Reanimators gasp. Titus-I laser fire. The Troubleshooters
few minutes….) shushes them, then declaims: have a chance to escape now, if
they wish. They will be pursued by
Friends! Citizens! Partners in both ravenous zombies and Project
Project Reanimator is an ungainly this great enterprise! The glory Reanimator security forces, and run
alliance of four different secret of the Easter Cycle is upon us! into the security forces who soon get
societies. The leaders of the secret In accordance with the ancient deployed to deal with the growing
society cells here in CDR Sector prophecies from the Times Before, crisis.
form the ruling council of Project the day when the dead rise and give
Reanimator—at least, they do until chocolate ovoids and presents and The zombies spill out of the Complex
they start getting replaced by zombie joy and happiness to all is at hand! Utensils factory and into the corridors
versions of themselves. The Mark Through the miracle of our science, and offices of CRS sector. It’s mass
II techno-zombies behave similarly we have fulfilled the prophecies! panic as the zombies maim and kill
to their pre-death selves, but are Now, the dead rise! everyone in their path. The Reanimator
more loyal to each other than are machines run constantly, converting
the originals. He presses another button on the the fallen into more Mark Is and Mark
Reanimator machine. Mists billow as IIs. Within a few minutes of the initial

18 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 4: IT’S ALIVE
Project Reanimator—Who’s Who
Titus-I-RYW-5 (FCCP>Zombies): Energy Weapons 14 and classic cinema. She’s going to get
Titus-I is a rising star in CPU Hardware 8 eaten first.
administration here in CDR Sector. Software 14
His promotion to ULTRAVIOLET is Hacking 18 Management 8
virtually certain, and he has the ear of Wetware 10 Moxie 12
the sector administrators. A committed Medical 14 Interrogation 12
believer in the fabled Easter Cycle, Cloning 14 Stealth 8
when the dead will rise, and sees Mutant Powers: Zombie Resilience, Sneaking 12
himself as a prophesied prophet of The Empathy (Power 10) Violence 6
Computer’s glorious heaven on Earth, Secret Society Affiliation: Zombies Hardware 4
when the unfaithful will be purged with Armor: None Bot Ops 8
holy lasers. Play him as a compelling Weapons: None Software 7
cult leader—in both human and zombie Wetware 6
forms. Sax-G-WST-3 (Pro Tech): Pale, Suggestion 10
nervous, and pathologically callous Mutant Powers: Charm (Power 12)
Management 12 toward everything, Sax-G is a classic Secret Society Affiliation:
Chuzpah 16 mad scientist without the showiness. Far Romantics
Oratory 16 more interested in solving the problem Armor: Green reflec (E1)
Stealth 10 of re-animation than reanimating Weapons: None
Standing Behind Minions When anything. He really does not care
People Start Firing 16 for Alpha Complex being overrun by Harold-Y-FOS-2 (Corpore Metal):
Violence 10 zombies and is a potential ally for the Harold-Y’s in Power Services, and
Zombie Combat 16 Troubleshooters when the zombie take- he’s a bitter clone. He was blown up
Energy Weapons 14 over begins. when a bomb took out the tunnel he
Hardware 8 was working in, and blames IntSec
Software 14 Management 6 and the regime it props up for his
Hacking 18 Stealth 4 injuries. He’s studded with cybernetic
Wetware 10 So Dull People Ignore Him 10 replacements for missing limbs and
Medical 14 Violence 6 damaged organs. He intends to use an
Cloning 14 Field Weapons 10 army of Mark I techno-zombies to wipe
Mutant Powers: Zombie Resilience, Hardware 8 away IntSec and The Computer’s other
Telekinesis (Power 10) Chemical Engineering 12 fallible organic servants (The Computer
Secret Society Affiliation: Software 8 is perfect; all the injustices, problems
FFCP>Zombies Hacking 12 and painful exploding tunnels of Alpha
Armor: Indigo reflec (E1) Data Analysis 12 Complex stem from the fallibility and
Weapons: Blaster (M3K) Wetware 10 treason of organics). He has no intention
Medical 14 of letting the zombies take over, which
Titus-I-RYW-4 (Zombies): The first Cloning 14 is where his zombocalpyse differs from
Mark II techno-zombie created by Raising the Dead 16 those of Titus-I-4 or Titus-I-5.
Project Reanimator is—Titus-I’s Bioweapons 14
previous clone self. The act of raising Mutant Powers: Energy Field (Power Management 4
his past self plays into the FCCCP 12) Complaining About Everything
prophecies about the Easter Cycle, so Secret Society Affiliation: Pro Tech Under The Sun, Ever 10
it’s all part of a diabolical plan—a plan Armor: Green reflec (E1). Stealth 10
that Titus-I-4 has no interest in. Titus- Weapons: Experimental chemical Sneaking 14
I-4 has an entirely different diabolical spray (Field Weapons, O2K) Violence 12
plan—taking over the sector with an Hardware 14
army of zombies and becoming the Ann-G-CDR-4 (Romantics): A long- Habitat Engineering 18
undead ruler of all of Alpha Complex. term Romantics member, employed Nuclear Engineering 18
in the HPD&MC archives, purging Software 6
Management 12 references to ancient times as Alpha Wetware 6
Chuzpah 16 Complex history is re-written. She has Biosciences 10
Oratory 16 managed to save much of the excised Mutant Powers: Slippery Skin (Power
Stealth 10 data, which led her to the hidden storage 15)
Ambushing Himself When bunker in the Underplex. An idealist Secret Society Affiliation: Corpore
Resurrected From The Dead 16 who believes that the reanimated Old Metal
Violence 10 Reckoners will lead Alpha Complex Armor: Yellow reflec (E1)
Zombie Combat 16 into an enlightened era of peace, joy Weapons: Laser pistol (W3K)

PSION - BE ALL YOU CAN BE! 19

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
■ Mark II Techno-Zombies Zombies survive this scenario, then Structure: The Zombies are loosely
Unlike the near-mindless Mark Is, they may show up in your future organized in a pyramid scheme—the
Mark II techno-zombies retain all PARANOIA scenarios. Here are the zombie who made you is your superior
of their intelligence. In fact, since Zombies, presented in the standard in the society. Thus, Titus-I-4 is the
they don’t have any emotions other secret society format. Master Zombie, followed by Titus-I-5,
than megalomania and a hunger for followed by the other Mark II techno-
brains, they are considerably clearer Beliefs: The Zombies want to take zombies. The Mark I techno-zombies
thinkers in death than they were in over all of Alpha Complex and convert are technically part of the society, but
life. Depending on how a Mark II died, as many high-clearance citizens are looked down on by the sentient
it might look like a mangled cyborg as possible into zombies. Zombie Mark IIs as dumb hick cousins who
or a perfectly ordinary (if rather pale) citizens are untiring, unsleeping, really just embarrass them and make
citizen. Like the Mark Is, the Mark IIs immortal and unfailingly loyal. They a mess at parties (but are handy
need to eat human neural matter on also want a ready supply of brains, when you want a ravening mob of
a regular basis to ensure their own which the INFRARED population can killing machines).
brains don’t degenerate. easily provide. Mmm…brains.
Attitudes: Are you alive? Then
Mark IIs get to keep their old scores Propaganda: See Zombies Are you’re food—unless you’re someone
and specializations, as well as gaining Citizens Too!, below. important or smart, in which making
the Zombie Violence narrow specialty. you into a techno-zombie would be
They also get the Zombie Resilience Recruitment: Step One—identify better for the long-term procurement
mutation, while keeping any existing potential candidate for zombification. of brains. The Zombies see little value
mutations. Their loyalty automatically Step Two—kill the candidate. Step in bots, as anything a bot can do, a
changes to that of the Zombies. Three—put candidate into Reanimator Mark I drone can do too).
machine.
If a Mark II does not eat at least one The Zombies’ long-term attitude
brain per day, his intelligence starts Initiation: New zombies are instantly to The Computer is in flux—some
to degrade. He loses one point from loyal to the Zombie cause—it’s a side believe that they have no need of it,
Management and all Knowledge skills effect of the zombification process. given they’ll soon have the perfect
each day. Eating an extra brain in a Therefore, no initiation rites or tasks society (Zombies on top, INFRAREDs
day restores one point of lost ability. are needed. Once a zombie, always in brain farms, Mark I drone zombies
For example, if Titus-I did not eat a Zombie. do all the work after having their
any brains for a while weekcycle, brains eaten).
he would lose seven points from Codenames: The Zombies do not
Management and all Knowledges. use codenames. Sub-factions: None.
However, if he then ate four brains
on the following Twosday, he would History: Er. Read this scenario? In Advancement: Making more
regain three points of lost ability. years to come, of course, the zombies zombies.
will rewrite their history to something
■ The Zombies more dignified. Probably something
borrowed from the Romantics,
Duties: Making more zombies.

Since Mark II techno-zombies can about how the First Zombie was Benefits: Brains. Being part of the
pass for living citizens, and have Mike-U-BCE or Caine or someone, techno-zombie ruling class when
their own secret conspiracy to take reanimated to secretly serve Alpha the Zombies finally take over. More
over Alpha Complex, they basically Complex from beyond the grave. brains.
count as a secret society. If the

attack, the alarm is raised. The CRS PLC urges everyone to purchase other citizens find themselves trapped
Sector media starts showing regular emergency preparedness kits, bottled inside a zombie quarantine zone.
crisis bulletins. A dozen contradictory water, duct tape and zombie-proof
emergency procedures are initiated plastic sheeting. What do the Troubleshooters do?
by different service groups and
factions. The Power Services cut Within two hours of the resurrection Get Captured By The Zombies:
the power to the afflicted parts of the of Titus-I-4, The Computer gets the Well, this is eventually going to
sector, which results in most of the electronic equivalent of a migraine happen regardless of what the
Armed Forces security teams being from the growing crisis in CRS Troubleshooters do. See Zombies
trapped in shut-down transbots. Sector, and shuts off the afflicted Are Citizens Too, below.
CPU orders all citizens to report to part of the sector, disconnecting the
emergency shelters, HPD&MC urges local CompNode from the network Flee Back To Myron-B: Initially,
everyone to stay in their quarters, and closing internal blast doors. The Myron-B is unconcerned with the
IntSec demands a curfew, while Troubleshooters and thousands of zombie invasion—security will take

20 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 4: IT’S ALIVE
■ Enter The Zombie care of any civil disturbances—and officer Guy-G is among those leading
(Tension Varies, But is more concerned with the revelation the fight against the undead. Small
Probably Around 10) that his rival, Complex Utensils, is groups of brave citizens are taking
actually a cover for a diabolical plot to the corridors all over CRS Sector,
From this point on in the to raise the dead. After all, if Complex using whatever weapons they have to
scenario, you can start bringing in Utensils are focusing on necromancy hand. In some places, loyal defenders
resurrected zombie versions of the instead of sporks, then the contract is of Alpha Complex are trying and
Troubleshooters. They can show up as good as won for Spork Supply. He failing to stop Mark I techno-zombies
as antagonists (‘OK, Bob-R-4, you urges the Troubleshooters to fight their by hitting them with FunBall bats and
turn the corner and see a Ravening way through the war-torn corridors of loyalty placards, while in others, wave
Horde of Zombies™, led by…Bob- CRS Sector to the CPU Sector Co- upon wave of zombies are getting
R-3! Shock! Horror! Sanity check!’) Ordination and Budgeting Offices, blown up by illegally-owned cone
but a much more insidious solution where they should give their evidence rifles and lasers.
is to have them show up pretending to CPU administrator…. Titus-I-5. By
to be the clone replacements for the time the Troubleshooters reach Still, fighting against the zombie
themselves. This generally only the CPU offices, the Tituses have horde becomes futile when the Mark
works if the Troubleshooter died in a already taken them over and are IIs join the fight and start reanimating
non-messy fashion, but depending on using them as a base of operations. fallen Mark Is. With CRS Sector cut
how unobservant the players are, you off from reinforcements, the zombies
might be able to sneak the cybernetic Flee To Yuri-B: The Troubleshooters cannot be stopped.
undead monstrosity past them. will be unable to find Yuri-B at this
stage in the scenario. The canny old Ask The Computer What To Do:
Brief the zombie player on the IntSec agent has gone into hiding, and Throwing oneself on the mercy
nature of the Mark II techno-zombies will show up again later, in Paranoia and wisdom of all-knowing Friend
(resurrected cyborgs; need brains on of the Dead (see page 25). Computer is a time-honored
a regular basis; unemotional) and tradition in Alpha Complex when
what they should be trying to do (get Stand And Fight: Especially heroic, the unreprocessed biological waste
the Troubleshooters captured so stupid Troubleshooters may try to stop has forcefully intersected with the
you can move onto the next section; the advance of the zombie horde. As operating space of the ventilation
eat brains; convert more people to the Armed Forces armed forces are system air motor. The trouble is that
zombies). stuck in shut-down transtubes, IntSec everyone else in the afflicted area

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON DRUGS. BRAAAINS! 21

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
of CRS Sector has had exactly the
same idea. Between thousands
of panicked citizens asking for
help, and the billions of alarms/
orders/countermeasures/emergency
protocols and other crisis-related
traffic, the poor Computer suffers a
breakdown and isolates CRS Sector
from the rest of the complex. The
local CompNode sees which way
the wind is blowing, and throws its
lot in with the zombies. Therefore,
the response the Troubleshooters
get from Friend Computer varies
depending on when they beg for its
electronic wisdom.

Early in the crisis:

NO ONE IS SCREAMING. YOU ARE
IN ERROR. RETURN TO YOUR
ASSIGNED DUTIES.

Once The Computer learns that there

is actually a crisis:
STAY WHERE YOU ARE. REMAIN
HAPPY. THE RECITIFICATION OF
THE CURRENT NON-OPTIMUM
SITUATION IS IN PROGRESS.
YOUR SITUATION WILL BE ATTENTION! THE RATIO OF NOT INTERFERE WITH THE
RECTIFIED WITHIN 20 TO 30 LIVING TO DEAD CITIZENS IN PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
MINUTES. PLEASE STAY CALM. YOUR CURRENT SECTOR HAS EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. ALSO,
YOUR RECITIFICATION IS DROPPED BELOW THE MINIMUM CITIZEN TITUS-I-4 HAS BEEN
IMPORTANT TO US. STAY WHERE VIABILITY LEVEL. TO CONTAIN PROMOTED TO TITUS-U-4 AND IS
YOU ARE. REMAIN HAPPY. THE CONTAGION, CRS SECTOR NOW SECTOR ADMINISTRATOR.
WILL NOW BE SEALED OFF FOR PLEASE DEMONSTRATE YOUR
Once The Computer learns that the YOUR COMFORT AND SECURITY. LOYALTY BY BRINGING HIM
crisis involves zombies: WELL, NOT YOUR COMFORT AND BRAINS.
ANALYSIS SUGGESTS YOU SECURITY—EVERYONE ELSE’S
ARE DELUSIONAL, CITIZEN. IN FACT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR Hide From The Zombies: Your
PLEASE REPORT TO THE CO-OPERATION. players are courageous and intelligent,
NEAREST HPD&MC CENTER FOR the sort of pro-active problem solvers
PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING AND While The Local CompNode is being who really tackle a situation head-on.
MEDICATION. isolated: There are plenty of places to hide in
SYSTEM OFFLINE—NETWORK CRS Sector, although leaving the
Once The Computer learns that the ERROR. quarantined area is impossible. All
crisis really involves zombies: the corridors and transtubes are
WHAT, REAL ZOMBIES? WOW. Once the Local CompNode reboots sealed with airtight blast doors, and
THAT’S…WOW. PLEASE WAIT. and realizes who’s in charge in CRS while there are plenty of connecting
Sector: tubes, access tunnels, air vents,
Once The Computer learns that ATTENTION CITIZENS! THE sewer ducts and just plain holes in the
the crisis really involves zombies, CRISIS IS OVER. PLEASE RETURN walls, the sector is now surrounded
and realizes it should do something TO YOUR ASSIGNED DUTIES. by Armed Forces troops. Anyone
about it: PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME trying to leave is shot on the grounds
COMMIE MUTANT ZOMBIE CITIZENS IN THIS SECTOR HAVE that they’re probably a zombie or a
TRAITORS! TERMINATE THEM ON BEEN IDENTIFIED AS SUFFERING zombie collaborator.
SIGHT! TERMINATE THE DEAD! FROM AN AS YET UNIDENTIFIED
TERMINATE THE DEAD. MEDICAL CONDITION, PROBABLY Raise The Alarm: Well, the alarm is
THE RESULT OF COMMIE going to get raised anyway, no matter
Once The Computer realizes that MUTANT TRAITOR SABOTAGE. what happens. The Troubleshooters
doing something isn’t working: THIS MEDICAL CONDITION DOES probably have a better idea of what’s

22 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 4: IT’S ALIVE
going on than anyone else, on With the rictus grins of the happy Oh, Mark Is get to do all the grunt
the grounds they’ve actually seen dead, the two techno-zombies explain work currently done by bots.
the dead being reanimated and the Troubleshooters’ next mission.
can tell the difference between an The Troubleshooters have to come
unscheduled spontaneous loyalty Titus-I begins: ‘I trust you have up with a spin on the following facts.
demonstration and a pack of brain- noticed the recent…regime change Use the spin rules from page 12.
hungry zombies. The Troubleshooters here in CRS Sector. The new order
can tell their story to IntSec, or the renders the old hierarchy obsolete; Zombies eat brains.
Armed Forces, or The Computer, such terms as ‘living’ or ‘dead’
or to their secret societies, or just are now deprecated in favor of Only high clearance citizens will
run down the corridors ringing a bell our new, approved terminology get to become Mark II Zombies.
shouting ‘the zombies are coming’. of ‘unprocessed’ and ‘processed’
The result is the same no matter citizens. Everyone will become zombies in
what they do—CRS Sector eventually the new order.
gets sealed off from the rest of the This new order has not spread to
complex. all of Alpha Complex. Right now, The zombies just ate and/or
unenlightened unprocessed citizens converted almost everyone in
Join The Zombies—The Hard Way: are ready to attack us. They fear CRS Sector.
Troubleshooters do not thrive and the perfection of the new order.
survive in Alpha Complex without Their thought processes have been The zombies are the result of a
being able to switch loyalties quicker impeded by viral memes, erroneous traitorous conspiracy.
than they can change barrels on a hormones, the illogic of the livin—,
laser pistol. Turning to the Zombies er, unprocessed. We must educate Again, rate the spin the players come
is a potential tactic for the characters, them—or eat their brains. up with for each situation to work out
once they realize the Zombies their new Zombie Propaganda skill.
are winning the local battle. Just Now, it seems that you have some
presenting yourself at the doors of experience in public relations. All The Tituses inform the Troubleshooters
Complex Utensils and saying ‘Hello, other such specialists in CRS Sector that they will be sent to bring the good
I would like to join your zombie horde’ have been terminated. Your new news to the rest of Alpha Complex
will just get your brain eaten. The mission is to… correct the common as soon as their propaganda is
Troubleshooters might be able to misperception of the new order, and complete. Cautious Troubleshooters
convince the Mark II techno-zombie to convince the rest of Alpha Complex may prefer to stall for time, but stalling
masters to convert them into Mark IIs that the glorious new order is indeed for time when you’re surrounded by
as well, but they would have to come glorious and desirable, and that they increasingly brain-hungry zombies is
up with a very, very good reason for should not fear us—or attempt to not the cleverest move. Eventually,
the zombies not to just eat them. destroy us. the Troubleshooters will have to either
Something like ‘Hello, I would like go out and convince Alpha Complex
to use my authority and skills as a You must emphasize the benefits of of the virtues of the zombies, or else
Troubleshooter to bring more citizens the new order to all, from the lowliest get eaten.
to join your army of the undead’ might INFRARED to even the exalted
work. High Programmers and Our Friend, Once the propaganda is done,
The Computer. Failure to convince the Troubleshooters are sent to
Join The Zombies—The Easy Way: the rest of Alpha Complex of the the one exit from CRS Sector that
‘Hello, Fellow Secret Society Member rightness of the new order will result in isn’t completely sealed—a major
Who Is Now A Zombie. Can I Be A your termination and reprocessing as corridor thoroughfare leading to the
Mark II Zombie Too, Please?’ Mark Is. Do you have any questions, neighboring DRS Sector. There’s
Troubleshooters? a little postern gate in the massive
■ Spin control II (Tension
The new order, just to be clear is:
blast door, wide enough for a
single Troubleshooter to squeeze
18. And Now Not through at a time. Titus-I provides
Obeying The Zombies Most people get their brains eaten the Troubleshooters with a nice big
Is Treasonous) and are resurrected as a Mark I portable projector if they have any
zombie. propaganda videos to display.
Inevitably, the techno-zombies get
to the Troubleshooters. Some of The lucky get to be Mark II On the other side of the blast door is a
them may be eaten, but most of the zombies, who keep their brains. wide concourse, formerly a shopping
Troubleshooters are instead dragged center. Now, it’s the frontline of
to the CPU offices that have been That’s about it. the CRS Sector Quarantine Zone
taken over by Titus-I-4 and Titus-I-5.

ALL ZOMBIES ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS. 23
 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
Contagion and Free Speech cease hostilities until the societies those fleshy human soldiers. It’s a
Containment, and filled with heavily can salvage what they want from lot like how your average team of
armed Armed Forces. Tanks. the growing zombie disaster. The Troubleshooters, only with more
Warbots. Tactlical nuclear missiles. Troubleshooters’ next clone bodies guns. It turns violent very quickly. In
Vulture Troopers. And they’re all are activated inside CRS Sector by the confusion, the question of ‘how
pointing guns at the Troubleshooters. Yuri-B—see ‘Paranoia of the Dead’, will we exterminate CRS Sector’ is
(The zombies discretely close the below. overtaken by the question ‘how can
blast door behind them.) we best get those bastards from the
If Some of the Troubleshooters 104th Computer’s Own Riflebots?’
From a distant bunker, a violet-clad make their checks: There is The Armed Forces start blasting each
general, wired on caffeine pills and confusion and dissent among other; the Troubleshooters are told to
paranoia, gives the order to fire. the Armed Forces. Some want to pull back to CRS Sector.
The Troubleshooters have about terminate the Troubleshooters and
30 seconds to make those fateful the rest of CRS Sector with extreme If All of the Troubleshooters make
Zombie Propaganda checks. laser prejudice. Others are convinced their checks: Then that VIOLET
by the propaganda, and agree that general is convinced that the New
If None of the Troubleshooters zombies have a valid place in the Zombie Order is the future of Alpha
make their checks: Oh dear. Alpha Complex hierarchy. Others Complex, and he orders his troops to
The Armed Forces open fire. The don’t really care about zombies, but stand down. The surrounding sectors
Troubleshooters are instantly think that the ones who agree with fall to the zombie hordes, and a new
vaporized. The war for CRS Sector the zombies are traitors and should Quarantine Zone Contagion and
never happens, though, as secret be shot. Still others just want to wipe Free Speech Containment cordon is
society conspirators put pressure out those damn warbots, or those established. The situation is basically
on the Armed Forces to temporarily damn uppity Vulture Troopers. Or the same, only the zombies control
more of Alpha Complex.

24 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

5. Paranoia of the Dead
CRS Sector has fallen to the dead.
Within a few hours of the first Mark
II techno-zombie rising, over 70% of
the BLUE-clearance or higher citizens
have been converted into zombies,
while there are an uncounted number
of savage Mark Is roaming the
corridors. The sector has been sealed
off by the Armed Forces, and the local
CompNode has allied itself with the
zombies.

So, what are the Troubleshooters

doing? There’s a little bit of downtime
between the propaganda triumph at
the end of the previous chapter, and
the beginning of this final section
(unless the Troubleshooters all
got terminated), so what are our
brave heroes doing? How many
have been zombified, or are aiding
the zombies? Is it business as
usual—the Troubleshooters will be
reassigned to a new service firm in
the now-isolated CRS Sector—or are
they trying to fight against the new
undead order?

If they return to Myron-B and Spork

Supply, they discover that Myron-B
has been zombified as a Mark II.
His diabolical plan to gain control of fails…and another corridor becomes is prepared to strike. He begins by
CRS Sector’s cutlery supply has run a dark place inhabited only by the contacting the Troubleshooters.
into a slight problem—sporks are no zombies. Spooky! Yuri-B ambushes them when they
good for eating brains. Therefore, he are alone—he might creep into their
wants the Troubleshooters to come If they are brave and stupid (or if there sleeping quarters in the depths of the
up with a new advertising campaign are zombie Troubleshooters running nightcycle, or climb out of a trapdoor
emphasizing other uses for sporks in around), they could even head back in a corridor as they pass by. (If any
a zombie world. If they fail, he will eat to Titus-I in CPU control and report for of the Troubleshooters are zombies,
their brains. another mission (in which case, skip then have Yuri-B vaporize one of
onto page 26 and Titus-I’s second them to prove his badassness.)
If they return to their normal service briefing).
groups, then life (or undeath) in Yuri-B informs the Troubleshooters
Alpha Complex is continuing as Anyway, once you have built enough that he has a plan to deal with the
normal, only with more zombies suspense and tension, then it’s time zombies. They want brains? He’ll
running around. PLC now has to for the dramatic return of psychotically give them brains! There is a Psion
find a source of brains to feed the committed IntSec operative Yuri-B. mutant with an absolutely gigantic
senior techno-zombies; CPU clerks brain being stored in a CRS Sector
now have to train mindless zombies
as data entry. The Computer is also
■ The Return of Yuri- IntSec vault. Yuri-B intends to sneak
into the vault and use the mutant as
proving increasingly buggy, as the B (Tension 2) bait for the zombies. He also has a
lone local CompNode finds that more Ever since the techno-zombies took virus—an illegal WMD—that he will
and more of its backups and data over CRS Sector, Yuri-B has been inject into the mutant just before
banks are actually located in other hiding in the access tunnels and the zombies eat its brain. The virus
sectors and are thus inaccessible. air ducts, watching and observing will wipe out the dead and leave the
The sector is slowly shutting down, the developments and preparing living, er, alive.
the lights are going out, life support for his counter-stratagem. Now, he

THE BEST A CLONE CAN GET. 25

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
Yuri-B is actually lying at this point. There is a giant-brained The Troubleshooters are to report to R&D, Power Services
mutant on ice in an IntSec vault, but there’s no WMD that and HPD&MC for further information.
will conveniently wipe out only the zombies. Yuri actually
intends to draw the zombies to the CRS Sector nuclear Titus-I-5: As the Troubleshooters are leaving CPU, they
reactor by using the mutant as bait, then he will detonate are called back to speak to Titus-U-4’s assistant, Titus-I-5.
the reactor, destroying everyone—both zombies and He intends to overthrow his clone-sibling, and the best way
citizens—in the sector. to do that is to spread fear and panic among the population.
The Troubleshooters’ mission is unchanged, but he wants
Anyway, for Yuri’s plan to work, he needs the techno- the spin they put on the cover story of ‘sanitizing the reactor
zombies distracted. If the Troubleshooters have not learned core’ to be as ominous and terrifying as possible. They
the history of Project Reanimator, then Yuri-B rapidly briefs must not contradict the official story in any way, but they
them here, about how the zombies are the product of an must spin it so that the living population of CRS Sector is
alliance between four secret societies—Corpore Metal, Pro convinced that something horrible is happening and that
Tech, the Romantics and the FCCCP, led by Harold-Y-FOS- Titus-U-4 is going to doom them all. In short, they must
2, Sax-G-WST, Ann-G-CDR and Titus-I-RYW respectively. spin the cover story so it’s worse than the truth.
He orders the Troubleshooters to sow dissent between
these four factions of zombies, so they will be quarrelling If they do this, Titus-I-5 tells them, then they will be rewarded
with each other and not paying attention to Yuri-B. when he takes over from his dead clone-brother.

Even if the Troubleshooters do not obey Yuri-B at this point,

it is important that he tell them his plan (or at least, one
■ A Return TO R&D (Tension 9)
version of his plan). It will make them sweat later on. The new head of CRS Sector R&D is Sax-I-WST—being
part of the secret zombie-making project has its advantages
Spreading Dissent: Fortunately, the Troubleshooters will when it comes to promotion. Sax-I is not dead yet, although
be sent to meet with the leaders of the secret society cells he does act like a zombie most of the time. He’s got all the
shortly, as part of their final mission for Titus-I-4. However, empathy and humanity of a typhoid virus. He is only barely
Troubleshooters may be proactive; skip ahead to the aware that CRS Sector has basically seceded from Alpha
relevant sections if they make contact with the cell leaders Complex, or that his zombies have devoured a large part
first instead of being sent there. of the population. He will be distantly shocked if informed
that he’s responsible for a sector-wide massacre, but it
■ Your Zombies Need You (Tension 17) does explain why he’s suddenly got a much bigger budget
to play with and he’s been promoted to INDIGO.
Soon after the Troubleshooters are contacted by
Yuri-B, they are summoned to CPU by Titus-U-4. The Unsurprisingly, the CRS Sector R&D is now full of zombies.
zombie master is now dressed in the robes of a High Some of these are senior staff, others are Mark I techno-
Programmer, and is preparing for his ascension to the zombie clerks and test subjects. Experiments currently
rank of ULTRAVIOLET—there’s no one left in CRS Sector underway include ‘alternate sources of neural matter’ (big
to gainsay him. However, he has one last mission for the tanks of cloned brains), ‘replacement cerebra pacifiers
Troubleshooters, one that can only be carried out by the for Mark Is’ (row after row of Mark Is chewing on rubber
living. If they succeed, then they will be rewarded as only brains, plastic brains, dried Cold Fun and so on) and
an ULTRAVIOLET can do. ‘Mark I Weapons Deployment’ (zombies with laser pistols,
stumbling around a mirror-walled room and shooting each
Some traitors have barricaded themselves into the control other randomly). Sax-G leads the Troubleshooters past the
center of the CRS Sector reactor. It is likely that they intend labs with an air of distaste. He is really concerned about
to sabotage it, blowing themselves and the Reanimators perfecting the reanimation process.
away in a foolish and crazed attempt to stop the new order.
The Troubleshooters must go to the reactor and use the The Troubleshooters end up in a huge chemical laboratory,
propaganda they developed to stop the traitors. He also filled with beakers bubbling with an alarming green
orders them to keep their mission a secret—if the rest of liquid—the same green liquid used in the Reanimator
Alpha Complex knew that the zombie-controlled sector was process. Sax-I proudly declares that he has weaponized
so vulnerable, they would attack, not to mention the panic the reanimator compound. Now, it can be delivered in
among the unprocessed. No, the Troubleshooters are to aerosol form. If sprayed over a relatively intact corpse,
pretend to be cleaning staff, sent to enforce new hygiene then the chemical will reactivate the corpse as a Mark II
regulations in the reactor core itself. After all, they still have techno-zombie—at least, that’s how it works in the lab.
the hygiene officer gear used in their last mission. The Troubleshooters are to fill their cleaning sprays with
the spray in order to test it in the field. Oh, some tests
If they fail, then there won’t be time to eat their brains. have shown that an overdose of the chemical results in
spontaneous zombie combustion, so the spray should be
handled carefully.

26 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 5: PARANOIA OF THE DEAD

■ The Reanimator Spray ■ HPD&MC—This Is The New Spin

The chemical spray is fired using the Field Weapons (Tension 20 during the broadcast,
or Bioweapons skills. Its effects vary depending on the Tension 6 afterward)
target:
After stocking up on ‘cleaning supplies’ at R&D, an autocar
Living Citizens: O3S whisks the Troubleshooters to the plush studios of ‘CRS
Inanimate object and bots: No effect Sector Local Good News Show & Loyalty Time Hour’,
Dead Citizens: Turns them into zombies a HPD&MC-produced news program. The new host of
Zombies: If the margin of success is five or more, then LGNS&LTH is Ann-I-CDR, formerly a lowly archivist (and
the zombie is automatically Killed and Zombie Resilience Ann-G), now a Mark II techno-zombie who has been
cannot be used. If the margin of success is 10 or more, then scrubbed, prettified and dressed to look as much like a
the zombie and 1d6 adjacent zombies explode—the original zombie Teela-O-MLY as possible. Smiling into the lens
target is Killed, but the others can use Zombie Resilience of a camera operated by a Mark I techno-zombie, Ann-I
to decrease the damage. informs the terrified citizens of CRS Sector that everything
is returning to an improved version of normality, and that
Each Troubleshooter’s pack contains 2d20 shots of the even relatively unimportant tasks are now being handled
chemical spray. promptly and effectively, like reactor sanitization. She’s
honored and happy to present the brave citizens who’ll be
cleaning the reactor. The subliminal projectors flash happy
Sax-I-WST: If the Troubleshooters try to convince the Pro messages like ‘EVERYTHING IS FINE’, ‘TRUST THE
Tech cell leader to betray the Reanimator cause, then they ZOMBIES’ and ‘PLEASE REMOVE ALL HEADGEAR’.
have their work cut out for them. Sax-I is simply not paying
enough attention to the growing crisis in CRS Sector to Ann-I is the leader of the Romantics cell in CRS Sector. It
realize that he might be in danger. Their best argument was she who discovered the cache of frozen Old Reckoning
is to suggest that the techno-zombies are actually bad for corpses in the bunker deep below the reactor, and she has
science—they have already decided to phase out bots, and arranged for the Troubleshooters to be brought onto her
the zombies will also require far fewer gadgets and new new show so she can force the techno-zombie leadership
technologies than living clones. If the Troubleshooters can to start doing what they promised—resurrecting the Old
paint a persuasive picture of an Alpha Complex overrun Reckoners so they can bring the wisdom of the past.
by Luddite zombies, then they can turn Sax-I against his The Tituses have been ignoring her calls, preferring
allies. to concentrate on making more people into zombies
and not getting blown up by the rest of Alpha Complex.
Pro Tech members can also use their secret society Therefore, she will ask pointed questions about how the
connections to put pressure on Sax-G. Troubleshooters will get into the reactor, and about how
the new zombie technology can best be employed to help

A BRAIN IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE. 27

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
Alpha Complex. Meanwhile, the Troubleshooters will (or at at this point. If there is not a Psion member among the
least, should) be trying to spin their perfectly ordinary and Troubleshooters, then pick a mutant and have the Psion
inconsequential mission of reactor sanitization as a major Controls (super-powerful telepaths) zap into his brain
threat to all of CRS Sector. and recruit him on the spot. Psion scans the memories
of their agent and finds out about Yuri-B’s plan to use a
As a result of this spin, one of the HPD&MC techs (a still big-brained mutant as bait for the zombies. This big-brain
living citizen) slips a tiny camera drone into the pocket mutant is another potential Control, kept under sedation by
of one of the Troubleshooters. This little drone is a tiny IntSec. Psion orders their loyal agent to protect the potential
remote-control camera and microphone. It’ll activate at the Control under the sedatives wear off, at which time the
climax of the scenario. mutant’s psychic powers will kick in and save the day.

Ann-I: After the interview finishes (or is censored and FCCCP: Up until recently, the First Church of Christ
replaced by reruns of ‘Commie Execution Bloopers III’), Computer-Programmer was doing well here in CRS Sector.
then the Troubleshooters can speak to Ann-I more openly. The glory of the Easter Cycle was at hand, the dead were
If they reveal that they’ve got the new Reanimator chemical, about to rise and bring gifts to the living, and loyal Titus-I-
then she demands that they head back to the bunker under 5 was both high priest and cell leader. Now, the zombies
the power plant and resurrect the last of the Old Reckoning have betrayed the Church and taken over.
citizens down there.
The new cell leader is…Titus-I-6, the clone activated
■ Power Services (Tension 10) automatically when zombie Titus-I-4 killed Titus-I-5.
Titus-I-6 went into hiding, as he fears his previous selves.
Finally, the Troubleshooters are brought to Power Services, He believes that the Easter Cycle has been perverted by
where Harold-B-FOS-2 (formerly Harold-Y) briefs them demonic Commies, resulting in the brain-eating zombies
on how to access the reactor controlled by the traitors. instead of the grateful dead promised by the prophecies.
It’s quite simple—they head into the same tunnel network (The trauma of being killed by himself has driven Titus-I-6
they visited in The Sporks, They Call To Me, and find the even deeper into his delusional faith in The Computer,
secret back entrance into the reactor. Climb the stairs, find so he’s basically a reborn-again FCCCP-er.) Titus-I-6
the traitors, terminate them. contacts the most trustworthy of the Troubleshooters and
gives them a holy relic, a circuit talisman that is said to
Harold-B-FOS has also been zombified, and he’s quite have the power to Turn the Undead when activated. He
happy about it. He was the Corpore Metal cell leader, but wants them to get close to the Tituses and use it—the
his resurrection as an undead monster has given him a circuit will, he believes, destroy his zombie clone brothers.
new lease of life. Before becoming a zombie, Harold-B Titus-I-6 can then take over and get the Easter Cycle back
was loyal to his bot brethren, but now he just wants to eat on track.
brains, and no longer cares about the bot cause. If the
Troubleshooters mention the zombies’ anti-bot policies to ■ The Relic
Harold, he will talk about the glories of the new order, and
possibly try to eat their brains. The relic is actually a one-use remote control reboot for
the local CompNode. When activated, CRS Sector’s
The Forgotten Bots: While Harold-B may have turned his CompNode shuts down for a few minutes, then reboots
back on the bots, the bots are still opposed to the techno- from backups. These backups were made before the local
zombies. Many of the Corpore Metal Frankenstein bots CompNode was ostracized from the rest of The Computer’s
have crept away into the Underplex beneath CRS Sector, networks, and so has no knowledge of the zombie takeover
hiding from the rampaging Mark Is who are replacing them. or the existence of the zombies. It immediately re-connects
The Troubleshooters will run into them below. with the rest of The Computer. In effect, when the relic is
activated (by pressing the big red button in the middle of it),
■ Other Complications (Tension 3) The Computer runs through the same series of confused
responses as It did back on page 22, during the initial
I f trying to balance the demands of Yuri-B, the two zombie outbreak. However, this time It ends up opposed
Tituses, Pro Tech and the Romantics wasn’t enough, to the zombies, and announces:
feel free to throw any of the following secret missions at
the Troubleshooters. Ideally, give one of these to each ATTENTION CITIZENS. CRS SECTOR HAS FALLEN TO
Troubleshooter. COMMIE MUTANT TRAITORS. ACCORDINGLY, A FULL
SECTOR PURGE HAS BEEN INITIATED BY THE ARMED
Psion: Unlike all the other secret societies, Psion is still FORCES. PLEASE ADOPT THE BRACING POSITION
in contact with its agents in CRS Sector thanks to their NOW. TOTAL NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION IN FIVE
telepathic communication methods. If there is a Psion MINUTES. YOUR CO-OPERATION IS APPRECIATED,
member among the Troubleshooters, they contact him AND ALPHA COMPLEX LOOKS FORWARD TO YOUR
SERVICE IN FUTURE LIVES.

28 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 5: PARANOIA OF THE DEAD
Armed Forces: If there are any loyal members of an brain-eating. All flesh will be eaten, leaving only the bots
Armed Forces service firm left unzombified among the and the few citizens who can hide from the zombies—like
Troubleshooters, then they get a Secret Communication the Troubleshooters, who’ll be safe in the sealed-off reactor
using an emergency back channel on their PDC. The complex. The only safe way to escape will be via the sealed
message is a simple one—the original plan of containing elevator, so the Troubleshooters will have to reactivate the
the disaster has been cancelled (probably following the elevator the bots used to access the Underplex.
successful deployment of Zombie Propaganda earlier).
The Armed Forces are now switching to another plan. The bots will not let the Troubleshooters go until they
An aerial warbot carrying a bumper-bunker-buster bomb at least promise to implement the bots’ plan. The bots
has launched from a secret Armed Forces airstrip, and cannot do it themselves as none of them can climb the
is currently en route to the dome above CRS Sector. spiral staircase leading to the reactor, and indeed, the
The bomb will bore through the protective dome above Troubleshooters will find several fallen bots lying around
Alpha Complex and destroy the whole sector, leaving the staircase, having tried to navigate the steps.)
uncontaminated sectors untouched. To ensure the zombie
menace is destroyed, the bomb is designed to home in on
the Troubleshooter’s PDC. The Troubleshooter is therefore
instructed to get his PDC as close to the mass of zombies ■ Old Reckoning Corpsicles
as possible, to ensure maximum enemy casualties. The
PDC will beep more and more frequently the closer the If the Troubleshooters are trying to ally with Ann-I and her
bomb gets. Selecting the launch command on the PDC will Romantics, then they may go past the bots and into the
send a message to the warbot to fire its bomb. The launch old bunker, so they can use the Reanimator spray on the
command will only become available when the bot is within remaining frozen corpses and turn them into witty, intelligent
range of CRS Sector. and sane Mark II techno-zombies. Defrosting the corpses
takes about half an hour, and they are animated almost
■ Back to the Underplex (Tension 0) instantly when the Reanimator spray is applied.

Once the Troubleshooters have their new mission (kill the All the Old Reckoners here were rich businessmen, frozen
traitors occupying the reactor), their cover story (sanitize the centuries ago when they were diagnosed with various
reactor) and their secret missions (anything from spin the terminal diseases. When the Troubleshooters bring them
truth to raise the dead), it’s off to the reactor. As most of CRS back to life, they react as follows:
Sector has been sealed off from the rest of Alpha Complex, 1) Mass confusion! Where are the doctors? Where
there is only one way into the reactor. Consult the maps and are the flying cars? Why does the future look like an
description on page 14—the Troubleshooters must go down underground warehouse? Agh! Robots! Zombies!
the access hatch in the (now silent and empty, sealed-off) Robot zombies! Men with lasers!
transtube tunnel, then find their way to the endlessly long 2) Where’s my stock portfolio! What do you mean,
corridor in the depths (which still has a few Mark I techno- Commies? Are you all crazy?
zombies roaming around). They then must find the stairway 3) Er…you did remember to cure that terminal disease
leading up to the reactor complex itself. I had, right? The one that was going to kill me in a
few minutes? No? Uh-oh…
As the Troubleshooters search for the stairwell, they run 4) Falling over dead. Redead. Unundead. Whatever.
into the bots hiding in the Underplex. At least the Troubleshooters tried. If they hurry, they can get
some use out of the resurrected before they fall over.
The Bots: In the new zombie order, the bots are being
replaced by brainless Mark I techno-zombies. Corpore
Metal’s influence has vanished since Harold-Y was zombified
■ The Reactor (Tension 5)
and betrayed them. Therefore, many Frankenstein bots Finally, the Troubleshooters can climb the staircase out of
have fled down here, to plot the overthrow of the zombies the Underplex and up into the sealed reactor in CRS Sector.
and the takeover of CRS Sector. If CHASM (see page 15) It gets warmer and warmer as they climb, and the green
is still functional, then it has been elected the leader of the Reanimator liquid in their cleaning gear begins to bubble
free bots. If the Troubleshooters blew up CHASM, then an ominously. Any zombie Troubleshooters feel increasingly
elderly jack-o-bot (RDO-117) is in charge. hungry. Doesn’t Bob-R’s head look juicy? Imagine how
nice his brain must taste…
Either way, the free bots of Corpore Metal want the zombies
stopped, and are willing to enter into a treasonous alliance Eventually, the Troubleshooters arrive at the top of the
with the Troubleshooters to do so. The environmental stairwell (1). A dusty trapdoor lets them into a storeroom—
controls for CRS Sector can be controlled from within the obviously, no-one has used the stairwell in a very long
nuclear reactor overhead. If the Troubleshooters raise the time.
temperature in CRS Sector, then the chemicals animating
the zombies will be affected, making the zombies hungrier Outside is a long corridor (2), similar to the one thousands
and hungrier. They will turn on each other in a frenzy of of meters below in the Underplex. There are signs of a

WE NEED MORE BRAINS AS BELLY FOOD. 29

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
1. End of the stairwell
2. Sealed corridor
3. Sealed blast door to rest of sector
4. Sealed elevator to Underplex
5. Bottomless (ish) pit to Underplex
6. Giant nuclear reactor
7. Walkway
8. Corpse of ‘Lenin’
9. Reactor control room. All Sealed
sections can be opened from here.
And you can also blow up the reactor,
if that’s the sort of stuff you’re into,
traitor!

The Communists
Management 6
Oratory 10
Stealth 10
Violence 6
Energy Weapons 10
Hardware 8
Nuclear Engineering 12
Software 4
Wetware 4
Medical 8
Mutant Powers: Joe: Energy Field;
firefight, and the walls are splattered casket, containing the body of a Joseph: Mental Blast; Josephine:
with blood. (Feel free to evoke bearded man. According to secret Machine Empathy (Power 12)
memories of any zombie-horror- Communist doctrine, the great leader, Secret Society Affiliation:
survival computer games and/or Lenin, was preserved in such a Communism
movies.) The far end of the corridor fashion. Somehow, by some miracle Armor: None
(3) is sealed by a heavy blast door, but of the Party, Lenin’s body ended up in Weapons: Stolen laser pistols,
the near end has a much smaller and a bunker under Alpha Complex, and W3K
less secure door. It is still locked, but
can be bypassed easily enough with
has now fallen into their hands. They
protected the Great Leader from the ■ Total Spin Control
an appropriate Hardware, Software, indignity of being raised as a mindless From this point in the scenario
gadget or mutant power. Mark I zombie, but they have heard on, it all goes crazy. There are
rumors of a way to create intelligent multiple plots to stop the zombies
There is also a camera and master zombies. and/or destroy all of CRS Sector
communications screen in the happening simultaneously. There’s
wall next to the door, allowing the The three Commies want to turn every likelihood that everyone will
Troubleshooters to speak to the Lenin into a Mark II zombie, who be vaporized in a reactor meltdown
three Traitors who have occupied will then take control of the other of catastrophic proportions. To really
the reactor. zombies and lead to a rebirth (or, make the players sweat, bombard
more accurately, reanimation) of them with calls on their PDCs from
■ Joe, Joseph and international Communism.
They took over the reactor by
various authority figures and allies.
Have all three Tituses call them
Josephine accident—the rampaging zombies simultaneously, or have The Computer
These three INFRAREDs are killed everyone, the bots left to join contact them (and which CompNode
Communists (Joe, Joseph the other bots downstairs in the is it? How do they know?). Make
and Josephine are their Party Underplex, so all the three Commies them give a dozen different spins on
codenames—they’re actually named had to do was close the doors, shut the current situation, depending on
Tom, Glenn and Stephanie). They down the elevator and start sending who they’re talking to.
were workers in the nuclear reactor demands to Titus-U-4. Unless Titus
when the zombies attacked. They
fled down a storage elevator into the
resurrects Lenin and hands over
supreme power in CRS Sector to
■ Negotiating With
Underplex to avoid the zombie attack, him, then the Communists will blow The Commies
and there they found something up the reactor, wiping out everyone The Troubleshooters’ official mission
wonderful—a sealed cryogenic in the sector. is to kill the Commies inside the
reactor. Titus-I wanted them to use

30 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 5: PARANOIA OF THE DEAD
Zombie Propaganda to force the traitors to surrender, then Any zombies who see the huge-headed mutant are
shoot them. The Troubleshooters can try their Zombie instantly consumed with almost overwhelming hunger,
Propaganda, but the Communists will counter with their and need to make Power checks each round to maintain
Communist Propaganda skills, and both sides may end the self-control to not rush over and start munching on the
up knowing or believing far too much about the other. mutant’s brain.
Alternatively, the Troubleshooters can just try breaking
down or blowing up the door, but if they do that, then Joe At this point, Yuri-B looks like the survivor of some post-
will set the reactor to overload. The reactor can be controlled apocalyptic war. He’s bleeding from a dozen claw wounds,
from, surprisingly, the reactor control room. It takes 5–10 his jumpsuit is tattered and he’s got a crazed look in his
rounds for the reactor to explode after a meltdown has been remaining eye. He’s carrying a chainsaw for no apparent
activated, and a meltdown sequence can be paused from reason. Yuri-B barks that he’s dragged the mutant past the
the control room with a successful Nuclear Engineering very heart of the zombie infestation, and they’re all coming.
check. All of them. All the damn zombies. He demands that the
Troubleshooters set the reactor to a Level 1 meltdown.
There are five levels of meltdown. A Level 1 meltdown The explosion won’t wipe out the whole sector, just the
will just wipe out the reactor and the immediate area zombies.
surrounding it. A Level 2 meltdown (the option favored
by the Communists) will wipe out most of CRS Sector. A If the Troubleshooters refuse, or stall, they’re traitors and
Level 3 meltdown will get both CRS Sector and the tunnels he’ll start shooting them.
below. A Level 4 meltdown is CRS, the tunnels below and
the surrounding sectors. A Level 5 meltdown is… bad. If
the Troubleshooters do not bother to select the level of
■ Enter The Zombies
catastrophe, then roll 1d20 and divide by 5. The zombies follow the scent of the big-headed mutant,
and start pouring in through the breach opened by Yuri-B.
■ The Newsdrone Titus-U-4 is in the lead, but the Machiavellian master-
zombie previously encountered by the Troubleshooters
At a suitably inconvenient moment, the newsdrone planted has succumbed almost entirely to brain-lust. All the
by HPD&MC activates and launches from inside the pocket zombies need to make Power checks to avoid going after
of one of the Troubleshooters. It’s bringing live, up to the the mutant’s brain—as Mark Is don’t have any Power left,
minute news of the sterilization of the dangerous reactor they can’t resist.
virus to the viewers of CRS Sector. The news broadcast
is being watched by pretty much everyone involved in the
scenario, both in and out of CRS Sector, so it’s time for some
truly impressive spin from the Troubleshooters.

The Tension shoots to 15 when the drone is launched.

■ Communicating With Outside

There’s a hardwired connection to the rest of Alpha Complex
in the reactor control room. This line cannot be shut down,
and so escaped the Communications blackout enforced
when CRS Sector was quarantined. The Communists
have no use for it, as their control of the reactor gives them
leverage over the local sector only. Still, the Troubleshooters
might be able to make use of an emergency plea to The
Computer.

■ The All New Return of Yuri-B

At another suitably inconvenient moment, the blast door
at the end of the corridor (3) is, well, blasted by a cone
rifle tacnuke shell, and Yuri-B emerges from the smoke,
dragging a drooling mutant behind him. The mutant has a
huge head, and tiny atrophied arms and legs. It’s drooling
and its eyes are unfocused, but the sedatives are wearing
off.

FRIEND COMPUTER. EVERYWHERE IT WANTS YOU TO BE. 31

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
Functionally, there are infinite then perhaps the combination of see before they are dragged away is
zombies here. There aren’t actually high temperature plus unstable a team of R&D techs salvaging the
infinite zombies, but there are lots and chemical plus lots of zombies equals original Reanimator machine from the
lots. And lots. And more. And some firestorm. ruins of Complex Utensils.
more. And more behind you. There
are certainly more zombies than you
can shoot in the head.
■ The Super-Mutant Debriefing: is carried out by Yuri-
B-OGN-5. Due to the quarantine
The giant-brained mutant is a wild and the resulting chaos and zombie-
■ Turning Up The Heat card in the end of the scenario.
Maybe he gets eaten by the zombies?
related mayhem, he is really not too
sure about what actually happened in
The Troubleshooters may try the Maybe he wakes up and uses his CRS Sector, but he makes up for any
approach suggested by the bots, of awesome psychic powers to save lack of certainty on his part with an
turning up the heat in CRS Sector the day? Maybe he gets turned into aggressive questioning technique.
and making the zombies turn on each a super-psychic zombie who takes
other. It’s a moderately good idea, over all the other zombies? Or Forensics shows that there was a
and works quite well. The heat is teleports out? Or, more likely, he zombie in the commissary! Why
controlled from the control room; the lies there and drools while misguided did you not report this?
Habitat Engineering skill is required. Troubleshooters beg him to deus ex
machina something, now! Explain how you tampered with
This only becomes a bad idea if the the confession booth rented by
Troubleshooters also switch on the
elevator—in which case, CHASM
■ Lenin Spork Supply.

(or RDO-117) and its bot minions If the Troubleshooters manage to Where are the 50,000 sporks you
rise out of the Underplex bearing reanimate the corpse in the middle stole from storage? Black market
the Weapons of Mass Destruction of the walkway, then one of the sporks are treason!
from the underground bunker (did Commies screams ‘LENIN! GREAT
you forget about those? They’re LEADER! YOU LIVE AGAIN!’ Why did you not stop the zombies
mentioned in the bunker contents from killing citizen Titus-I-5?
list on page 15. It’s not our fault if The Computer goes absolutely
you forget about piddling little things nuts if it hears this, and anyone How long have you been in
like four WMDs). These are lethal who doesn’t start shooting Lenin is contact with PURGE for?
biological weapons capable of wiping dubbed a Commie Traitor and put on
out all life in CRS Sector. If the IntSec’s Most Painful And Unpleasant Twelve stored WMDs vanished
Troubleshooters have dealt with the Termination List. from a locker in CRS Sector
zombies, then the bots make a bid for during the crisis. Explain this.
world (OK, sector) domination. ■ Aftermath
Did you dispose of the weaponized
■ The Bomb If, as is likely, everyone in CRS Sector
is killed, then the Troubleshooters’
reanimator chemical properly? If
not disposed of properly, the
The Armed Forces may be trying to next clones wake up in an IntSec chemical could enter the air ducts
wipe out the zombie infestation with interrogation center overseen by and infect all of Alpha Complex!
that bumper-bunker-buster bomb. If freshly-cloned Yuri-B-OGN-5. There,
the Troubleshooters somehow deal they are told that CRS Sector never And so forth. Screw, screw, screw
with the zombies, they could contact existed. There were no zombies. the PCs over!
the rest of Alpha Complex and call off There was no Project Reanimator.
the air strike. Or they could just throw There was no quarantine, no Finally, the Troubleshooters are
the PDC that’s guiding the bomb apocalypse. Nothing. released from the interrogation center
down the convenient bottomless pit (after being brainscrubbed/censored/
in the middle of the reactor chamber, If, however, the Troubleshooters terminated as appropriate) and sent
and pray that the bomb follows it. somehow survived and the zombies back to their day jobs. The long night
were stopped without a mushroom of the dead is over…
■ Exploding Zombies cloud or two, then the Armed Forces
move in. Warbots and tanks stalk ... or is it? A citizen stumbles into the
The Troubleshooters can use the through the rubble, blasting the office of one of the Troubleshooter’s
reanimator spray to set the zombies remaining Mark Is. R&D staff wearing service firms. One of the
on fire. It’s their best weapon against biohazard suits follow, bagging and Troubleshooters’ co-workers asks
them. However, infinite zombies, tagging any animated corpses. The the newcomer for his ME card.
finite shots, do the math. At best, it’s Troubleshooters are captured and
a stalling tactic. If you’ve no better secured by IntSec, who zap them It’s Titus-3. Braaaaains…
way to end the scenario, though, with stun guns. The last thing they

32 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

MY FIRST TREASON
PARANOIA
™

My First Treason
To serve all my days

GARETH HANRAHAN DAN GELBER CONTENTS

Writer/Scapegoat GREG COSTIKYAN
ERIC GOLDBERG Introduction 36
BETH FISCHI Original game design & development/
ANDY FITZPATRICK Building committee
ALLEN VARNEY Bully With A Cone Rifle 46
Editing, graphics/Drillbots IAN BELCHER
Mongoose Publishing manager/ Mutant Testing 53
JIM HOLLOWAY Construction supervisor
Cover and interior illustrations/Blueprints
ALEXANDER FENNELL Commie On Campus 58
NICK ROBINSON Mongoose Publishing production director/
Layout/ORANGE-Clearance Hygeine Struts around wearing fun yellow hardhat Graduation 63
Officer
THE COMPUTER
RON BEDISON Give me a clone until he is seven.
Proofreader/Intsec goon

Security Clearance ULTRAVIOLET

WARNING :
Knowledge or possession of this information by any citizen
of Security Clearance VIOLET or lower is treason punishable by a
long spell of Armed Forces latrine scrubot maintenance duty.

TM & Copyright © 1983, 1987, 2007 by Eric Goldberg & Greg Costikyan. All Rights Reserved. Mongoose Publishing Ltd., Authorized User. Based on material published in
previous editions of PARANOIA.
ILLUMINATI is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and is used by permission.
The reproduction of material from this book for personal or corporate profit, by photographic, electronic, or other means of storage and retrieval, is prohibited. You may
copy character sheets, record sheets, checklists and tables for personal use.
E-mail questions and comments to Mongoose Publishing at [email protected] or write to Mongoose Publishing, 52-54 Cricklade Road, Swindon,
Wiltshire SN8 2AF, UK.
On the World Wide Web: www.mongoosepublishing.com.
Published by Mongoose Publishing, Ltd. Publication MGP 6657. Published April 2007. Printed in the UK.
 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
1. Introduction
Back in the old, unfun days of terminations—all in their very own supervisors of the crèche,
PARANOIA, when Zap style ruled crèche! Can the characters solve and is in line for drug therapy
the line and unapproved forms their problems and the secrets of and brainscrubbing unless her
of humor were not punished by their past while still studying for the behavior improves. In a few
summary execution, there were Approved Revised History of Alpha years, she’s going to discover
parodies of certain popular books, Complex (fifth edition) exam? that she’s a powerful mutant
movies, television shows, roleplaying wanted by Psion….
games and other media forms. In the
brave new edition, Famous Game * Yes, I know a recent PARANOIA scenario Eva-JST-1 might just be the
(Spin Control) involved zombies. What’s your
Designers set their sights higher. point? perfect citizen. Ambitious, loyal,
We do not go for the cheap laugh, determined and intelligent. If
for the easy joke at the expense of ** Filesharing is treason, citizen. only Alpha Complex rewarded
some passing fad by jamming it into merit instead of backstabbing
Alpha Complex. (Vampires, hey, and treason.
aren’t they hilarious?*) ■ The Junior Citizens
Joe-JST-1 is, unfortunately for
Therefore, we would like to William-JST-1 is an oddly him, a product of sabotage in
emphasize that this scenario is not charismatic young Junior the cloning banks. The DNA
a parody. It may have been inspired Citizen with a knack for making for a notorious Commie was
by a certain wildly popular series of others do what he wants them introduced into the banks,
fantasy novels about a boy wizard to do. What William doesn’t resulting in young Joe. He
going to wizard school. We may know is that he’s not a clone— doesn’t have the memories
wish to translate that element of our he’s actually the natural-born of the Commie, but he’ll grow
cultural zeitgeist into the PARANOIA son of a High Programmer, up to look just like him…and
setting, with the intent of flavoring our Louis-U, who placed William in maybe think like him too.
humor with recognizable elements. the crèche for protection. The
We might even wish to satirize children of High Programmers Thomas-JST-1 was once an
aspects of the books. However, in are often used as hostages or IntSec agent, pursuing the
no way, shape, form or legal action for blackmail. Commie Mutant Traitor who
is this a parody. was recloned as Joe-JST.
Nina-JST-1 has already been Thomas ended up getting
We are not inconstant. We are tagged as ‘argumentative his genetic pattern reinserted
moving from one state of constancy and insubordinate’ by the into the cloning banks, and
to another, more constant one.

Anyway, now that that’s out of the

■ But I Don’t Like Pregenerated Characters
way, let’s talk about H*rry P*tt*r and Fortunately, the plot-dependant bits of most of the pregenerated characters
the Enchanted Confession Booth— can be lifted out easily and inserted like subcutaneous RFID tags into other
er, I mean, My First Treason. You characters. If one player wants to play an angsty, I’m-so-depressed-my-soul’s-
are holding in your hands (or, in INFRARED kid, then you can just stick one of the secrets from one of the
this electronic day and age, reading pregenerated characters (like ‘I’m a powerful mutant’ or ‘my daddy’s a High
on your screen**) a mini-campaign Programmer’ into his background.
for PARANOIA, complete with six
pregenerated player characters. The only problems arise if you’ve got more than four players, as the secret
Not ‘pregenerated Troubleshooters’, plot elements of ‘I’m a petbot guardian’ or ‘I’m actually an all-grown-up IntSec
you’ll note, because My First agent in a child’s body’ aren’t quite so portable. You could easily say that
Treason’s characters are brave Thomas-JST-1’s memories of his adult life only return gradually, of course,
young Junior Citizens: Alpha and let a player come up with his ‘child’ personality. As for the petbot…eh,
Complex kids in an Alpha Complex can’t help there. We shall continue the parody satire and leave the fans argue
crèche. The four chapters of the ad infinitum over this plot hole.
mini-campaign each cover one year
of their education, from age ten to
age 14 (when they go off to join the
■ But I Don’t Have Six Players
loyal workforce). Not all the pregenerated characters have to be played by players—you can
easily make Timmy the PetBot into an NPC, and both Thomas-JST and Eva-
Along the way, they’ll run into JST can be removed from the campaign without any problems—just ignore
secretive conspiracies, nefarious any subplots that depend on their presence.
traitors, weird mutants and gratuitous

36 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 1. INTRODUCTION
Game Rules for Junior Citizens
If you’re creating your own Violence: Bullying. This works just but this is depleted when used. For
characters, then here are the like the Management specialty of example, young William-JC blows
changes to character creation for Intimidation, but involves physical up a reactor and is sentenced to
Junior Citizens: torture as well as psychological Erasure. However, Friend Computer
pain. decides that ‘boys will be boys’
Junior Citizens start with only three and drops the punishment to a
Common Specialties, and they don’t Stealth: Squirming. The art of mere brainscrub. This costs two of
get the normal Energy Weapons getting into places you shouldn’t be William-JC’s ten points of armor.
specialty of Troubleshooters. by squeezing through vents, access
tubes and other spaces that are Junior Citizens can’t use their
They don’t have a service firm or much too small for adults. Access scores to defend against
secret society, so they don’t get the treason.
skills from those sources either. Hardware: Improvisation. Building

Junior Citizens have a mutation, but

things out of spare parts. Creativity
is discouraged in most of Alpha
■ Optional Rule: Junior
they don’t know what it is yet. Complex (the exception being R&D, Citizen Advancement
where it’s encouraged via crazy Under the normal PARANOIA
Junior Citizens have an Access drugs), but bright Junior Citizens can rules, advancement is purchased
score, but it is limited to getting turn a few bits of scrap metal and a using Perversity Points. However,
stuff done in the context of the handful of computer chips into, say, given your chances of surviving
crèche—you know which kid is a primitive frag grenade. an adventure are slim to none, it’s
really good at forging signatures, or much more common for a player to
where the school docbot stores the Software: Journaling. The art of spend all his Perversity to cling to
happy pills. writing your online journal so as life instead of hoarding it to improve
to say what the psychologists and his skills. However, advancement
■ New Skills censors reading it expect you to
say. All Junior Citizens are expected
and improving skills is much more
important than normal in My First
These skill specialties are normally to keep a journal; those skilled at Treason. Therefore, the following
only used in crèches, and are Journaling can form cliques and optional rule is suggested: only
forgotten by adult Troubleshooters. throw aspersions and accusations Perversity that has already been
at the less adept. spent can be used to improve
Management: Cramming. This skills. So, William spends five
specialty allows the character to Wetware: Faking Illness. I can’t do Perversity points to ensure he can
study a large amount of information the test today, sir, I’m sick! hide from a roaming teacher after
and regurgitate the relevant bits in curfew. He reduces his current
an exam, but doesn’t allow him to
actually retain any of the information.
■ Treason Perversity total by five, and increases
his Spent Perversity by five. At the
It’s the easy way to pass exams if If a Junior Citizen commits a end of the scenario, he can spend
you don’t actually have the relevant treasonous act, then his youth is the Spent Perversity on improving
skill. (Well, technically, cheating’s taken into account. A Junior Citizen his skills, as described in Chapter
even easier, but no loyal citizen gets ten points of ‘Treason Armor’, 12 of the PARAOIA rulebook.
would dare cheat, right?).

recopied his MemoMax data ■ The Adventures and biochemical tests, to determine
too. He’s waiting until he’s Bully With A Cone Rifle: The Junior if their DNA’s pure enough. Those
grown up before exacting his Citizens are moved to a new crèche, who fail may be terminated, or
revenge on the Commies who where they meet their new teachers worse—they instantly become the
killed him. and get beaten up by the older lowest of the low in the crèche.
children. Someone is spreading Worse again, it looks like someone’s
Finally, Timmy the PetBot Death Leopard propaganda among decided the characters are going to
is a friendly and bouncy the senior Junior Citizens, and fail even before they’re tested….
robot dog—who was actually they’ve got to be stopped before
programmed by William’s Armed Forces training begins…. Commie on Campus: The
father to watch over the crèche characters find a notorious Commie
and to protect William. For a Mutant Testing Time: It’s mutant Mutant Traitor hiding in the crèche.
petbot, it’s got an awful lot of testing time! Everyone in the crèche He claims he’s actually a loyal
hidden weapons…. is being subjected to psychological clone, who has been framed by a

BAA, BAA INFRARED SHEEPBOT. 37

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
conspiracy who are trying to get hold they’ve developed a power, but don’t they can probably make contact
of a new weapon. If the characters tell them what it is until the power is with one society or another. (See
help, they get to pilot a warbot…but actually triggered. The Traitor’s Manual for details on
they might miss the inter-crèche Nina is a special case. While the society recruitment and initiation.)
FunBall tournament if they do! powers of the other characters should If a character joins a secret society,
be rolled on the Straight or Classic he gets the appropriate secret skill
Graduation: The final exams are tables, depending on your style of for free.
looming large! What service group play, Nina’s a very powerful mutant,
with the characters be assigned
to? Will some of them become
and she gets a random power off the
Zap table. She also gets a form of
■ The Massively
Troubleshooters? Who can make the Telepathy power—not enough to Overcomplex Backstory
it to RED clearance? And what scan the thoughts of others without My First Treason begins 13 years
about all the mysterious forces training, but enough to faintly sense ago, with the Revolt of the 43 rd
and conspiracies that have been telepathic signals and to make her Heavy Assault Division. The Alpha
troubling them all along? of use to Psion. Complex Armed Forces spend
most of their time blowing up trees
■ The Characters and ■ The Characters and (‘observation posts’) or bushes
(‘insurgent launch sites’) in the
Mutant Powers Secret Socities wilderness of Outdoors. Dealing
All of the characters, with the obvious At the start of the game, only with these non-existent outside
exception of Timmy the PetBot, will Thomas has any idea about the threats takes up over 40% of the
develop their mutant powers over existence of secret societies—he’s resources of the whole complex,
the course of this scenario. The a member of the First Church of but it’s HPD&MC that insists that
exact timing is up to you, and should Christ Computer-Programmer, the fiction of an external threat is
be a combination of the fortuitous although his membership has necessary to ensure order and unity
(‘Die, kiddie Commie scum!’ ‘Er, obviously lapsed a bit because of the among the lower clearances. Over
Energy Shield apparently!’) and the whole reborn-as-a-Junior-Citizen the centuries, HPD&MC started
embarrassing (‘Are you a mutant, problem. Joe’s obviously going believing their own propaganda, and
Joe?’ ‘No sir. May I spontaneously to be recruited by the Commies, these fictional dangers are very real
combust if I’m lying.’ *FOOM*.) It’s and Psion are already interested to anyone inside Alpha Complex,
best if you let the players know in Nina. If the other characters try, including Friend Computer.

■ Bot Characters?
The Armed Forces, however, are
on the frontline of Outdoors, and
Yes, Timmy the PetBot is a bot. No, we haven’t done rules for bot characters they can see that there are no
yet (they will be in a PARANOIA supplement that is yet to come). So, how secret Commie armies marshalling
does Timmy fit into the game? The simple answer is that Timmy is a very to attack Alpha Complex. After a
special bot, who uses exactly the same rules as normal characters. The one few years of pointless maneuvers
exception is treason—a result of censure, medication or brainscrub means and marches, even the most loyal
that Timmy’s programming is fiddled with by a technician, which may have Armed Forces general begins to
deleterious effects on his memory and/or sanity. A result of termination means have second thoughts. The only real
he’s sent back to the factory, and a new model is sent out. conflicts fought by Armed Forces
in decades have been civil wars
If Timmy’s killed, then a replacement petbot with a copy of his code is sent between loyalists and renegade
by Louis-U. generals.

As for Timmy’s weapons systems, they’re under the control of his hidden The Revolt of the 43 rd Heavy
programming. Therefore, they can only be used when a) he’s in dire peril and Assault was an especially damaging
b) you think it’s funny. He’s got a stun gun in his nose, and a one-use cone rebellion. Whole sectors were
rifle tac-nuke shell in a concealed launcher. conquered by the rebels before
they were defeated. Cleaning up
■ The Memories of Thomas the resulting mess and editing the
records to delete the events took
Thomas has the memories of his previous life as an IntSec agent, and it’s years. A special committee of high-
possible that the player will try to make contact with his former supervisors in clearance citizens, the so-called
order to escape the crèche. If this happens, then IntSec assigns Thomas to Loyalty Gang, were assigned to
spy on the Junior Citizens in the crèche—this is a great opportunity to weed examine the cause of the revolt.
out treason before it even begins! The Loyalty Gang consisted of
four people: Louis-V, Jericho-V,
Vanessa-V and Markus-U.

38 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 1. INTRODUCTION

William-JC-JST-1 Nina-JC-JST-1 Eva-JC-JST-1

Junior Citizen Junior Citizen Junior Citizen
Service Group: None yet. Service Group: None yet. Service Group: None yet.
Security Clearance: INFRARED Security Clearance: INFRARED Security Clearance: INFRARED
Credits: 50 Credits: 15 Credits: 40

Tics: Barks orders even when he’s Tics: Sneezes when stressed. Tics: Loves to sing loyalty songs.
not in charge. Tic 2: ______________________ Tic 2: ______________________
Tic 2: ______________________
Example of Tic in Use: Example of Tic in Use:
Example of Tic in Use: William: Everyone hide! Nina, get William: I’m bored.
Teacher: Someone clean up that down! Eva: We shall sing ‘Oh Friend
mess in the corner. Nina: Achoo! Computer, You Are My Special
William: Nina, Thomas, you do it. William: Uh-oh. Friend!’
Get to work! Nina: Or, we could throw things
Nina: Make me, vatslime. ACTION SKILLS & at you.
SPECIALITIES
ACTION SKILLS & Management 6 ACTION SKILLS &
SPECIALITIES Cramming 10 SPECIALITIES
Management 10 ______________________ Management 10
Moxie 14 Stealth 10 Cramming 14
Oratory 14 Staying Really Really Still And Neatest Handwriting Ever 16
_____________________ Not Making Any Noise 16 Stealth 07
Stealth 07 Violence 10 ______________________
_____________________ Unarmed Combat 14 Violence 05
Violence 06 Biting People In Very Painful Agility 09
Kicking People While They’re Places 16 ______________________
Down 10
KNOWLEDGE SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE SKILLS &
KNOWLEDGE SKILLS & SPECIALITIES SPECIALITIES
SPECIALITIES Hardware 05 Hardware 08
Hardware 08 Punching Machines To Chemical Engineering 12
Jiggling The Lock On The Relieve Frustration 09 Scrubbing Things So They
Dormitory Door Open 12 Software 07 Shine 14
Software 10 ______________________ Software 10
Data Search 14 Wetware 08 Having The Most Loyal Journal
Finding Credits Mysteriously Biosciences 12 In Class 16
Turn Up In Your Account 16 Burning Off Drugs In Half The Wetware 06
Wetware 05 Normal Time 14 Your Old School Project
Pretending To Swallow Pills On The Use Of Subliminal
11 Open Slots for Narrow Specialties: Messaging 12
2 (Management, Software)
Open Slots for Narrow Specialties: Open Slots for Narrow Specialties:
2 (Management, Stealth) 2 (Stealth, Violence)

JACK BE NIMBLE, JACK BE QUICK. 39

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
Eva-JC-JST-1 Nina-JC-JST-1 William-JC-JST-1
Junior Citizen Junior Citizen Junior Citizen

Mutation: __________________ Mutation: __________________ Mutation: __________________

Society: ___________________ Society: ___________________ Society: ____________________
Secret Skills: _______________ Secret Skills: _______________ Secret Skills: _______________

Background Background Background

This is so unfair, you totally shouldn’t It’s not that you don’t take the happy You’ve always been a little bit bigger
be here. pills. You’ve tried to be a good little than everyone else in your class,
citizen in the past, to do what you’re so you’ve often found yourself in
You’ve always been the best, most told, but it’s like you burn through charge. You’re not sure if you like
loyal Junior Citizen in the crèche. the chemical joy too quickly and having to be the leader all the time,
Ever since you were old enough you’re left there screaming at the but you guess it’s better than having
to talk, not a treasonous word has sheer stupidity of everyone else as someone else tell you what to do.
passed your lips. Oh, you’ve had they stand there with stupid blissful You’ve never liked following orders,
bad thoughts like everyone else, smiles on their stupid fat faces and it which gets you into trouble a lot.
but you’re a loyal Junior Citizen just makes you want to punch them
and would never, ever, act in a right then and there and…. Over the last few months, you’ve
disloyal, treasonous way. You hate noticed something odd going on.
Commie Mutant Traitors with every Your permanent record has lots of It started when you got Timmy
fiber of your being, and love Friend notes in it. ‘Insubordinate’, ‘Violent’, the PetBot—the teachers in your
Computer just as much. ‘Not A Team Player’, ‘Hit Other old crèche insisted that you were
Team Members Instead Of FunBall being given it as a ‘reward for
You’re always the first to sing the When Playing FunBall’, ‘Broke The academic excellence’, but you
loyalty songs, the first to report for FunBall Bat’, ‘Set Teacher On Fire’. never did that well on your tests,
extra duty, the one who studies (That one was fun.) You know that and they were gritting their teeth
hardest. Your record is full of you should probably try harder, when they handed Timmy to you.
commendations and gold stars. that you’re going to end up in some Then, you found credits appearing
You’re a good clone, a good clone. dead-end job stirring a food vat if in your account whenever you ran
You’d even dreamed of one day you don’t work harder—but hey, low on funds. Never too much—not
becoming one of the elite, a heroic maybe if you blow enough stuff up, enough to buy your own autocar or
Troubleshooter, just like the ones they’ll let you into the Armed Forces anything—but just what you needed
you see on television. (You’re and give you a tank. at the time.
careful to always watch the 4.6
hours of television mandated for Until you get your hands on high You were doing some digging on
citizens of your grade and age, explosive, you’ll just be bored while the computer networks, trying to
although you sometimes try to everyone else drifts along on the trace where the money was coming
sneak a textbook into the television happy drugs. Bored, restless and from—and that’s when you were
room.) violent. transferred to another crèche. It
was all done very hurriedly, in the
Now, you’ve been transferred to You’ve just been transferred to dead of nightcycle. Maybe you’re
a different crèche, along with a a new crèche. Rumor has it, it’s just being paranoid, but it felt like
bunch of complete morons and where the troublesome Junior the move was connected to your
clones who are sure to end up in Citizens are sent. You know why hacking attempts. Maybe you asked
termination booth long before they you’re here, but why were a few a question you shouldn’t have….
hit ORANGE. It’s not fair. The only others from your old crèche sent
explanation is that someone framed here too? Personal Equipment
you, blackening your record so Manual: The Care and Feeding of
you got transferred with the rest of Personal Equipment PetBots
them. It’s almost unthinkable that Stress-reduction audio tape #4, Glasses
someone would tamper with official Calming Buzzing Noises Realistic-looking toy laser pistol
Alpha Complex records that way, Black crayon (red)
but…that’s what traitors do.

A traitor is plotting against you!

Personal Equipment
Teela-O-MLY fanclub badge
Computer Loyalty Brigade badge

40 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

NPC roster NPC roster NPC roster
1. INTRODUCTION

Joe-JC-JST-1 Thomas-JC-JST-1 Timmy

Junior Citizen Junior Citizen Loveable PetBot
Service Group: None yet. Service Group: None Yet. Service Group: None
Security Clearance: INFRARED Security Clearance: INFRARED Security Clearance: None
Credits: 10 Credits: 50 Credits: 0

Tics: Keeps rubbing his upper lip. Tics: Always writing in notebook. Tics: Leaks oil all over the carpet
Tic 2: ______________________ Tic 2: ______________________ at inopportune moments.
Tic 2: ______________________
Example of Tic in Use: Example of Tic in Use:
Teacher: You, Joe. What’s the William: So, what are we going to Example of Tic in Use:
answer to the question? do today? Eva: The hall monitor’s coming to
Joe: mumble mumble. Thomas: scribble scribble inspect the dormitory. Make sure
Teacher: What? Get that hand William: What are you writing? it’s clean.
away from your mouth and speak Thomas: Nothing. scribble William: It’s fine, we’ve been
clearly. scribble cleaning it all daycycle.
Joe: I said, I’ve no idea. Timmy: **VENTING EXCESS
ACTION SKILLS & FLUID.** Beep! Woof!
ACTION SKILLS & SPECIALITIES
SPECIALITIES Management 09 ACTION SKILLS &
Management 10 Interrogation 13 SPECIALITIES
Con Games 14 ______________________ Management 05
Find Regulation Loopholes 16 Stealth 10 Bootlicking 09
Stealth 10 Shadowing 14 Really Annoying Yipping 11
Security Systems 14 Knowledge of Really Out of Stealth 10
Sounding Older Than You Are Date Security Systems 16 Squirming 14
Over The Phone 16 Violence 07 _____________________
Violence 07 Two-Fisted Haymaker Punch Violence 06
Throw First Stone If In A Mob That Doesn’t Work As You’re Built In Weapons, Use Only In
11 Too Short 13 Emergencies. Information On
Weapons Is NOT AVAILABLE
KNOWLEDGE SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE SKILLS &
SPECIALITIES SPECIALITIES KNOWLEDGE SKILLS &
Hardware 08 Hardware 05 SPECIALITIES
Mechanical Engineering 12 _____________________ Hardware 08
_____________________ Software 10 Bot Ops and Maintenance 12
Software 05 Data Analysis 14 _____________________
Cutting and Pasting Documents Use Few Remaining Working Software 10
Really Quickly 11 Passwords From Old Life 16 Slightly Buggy Wireless
Wetware 06 Wetware 06 Networking 16
_____________________ Surprising Knowledge of Truth Wetware 07
Drugs 12 Morale-Boosting Yipping 13
Open Slots for Narrow Specialties:
2 (Hardware, Wetware) Open Slots for Narrow Specialties: Open Slots for Narrow Specialties:
2 (Management, Hardware) 2 (Stealth, Hardware)

JACK DESTROY THE COMMIE MUTANT TRAITORS WITH A TAC-NUKE. 41

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
Timmy Thomas-JC-JST-1 Joe-JC-JST-1
Loveable PetBot Junior Citizen (Formerly Junior Citizen
GREEN)
Background Former IntSec Agent Mutation: __________________
Beep! You are PetBot #544399, Society: ___________________
designation Timmy. You were Mutation: __________________ Secret Skills: _______________
purchased by INFORMATION NOT Society: First Church of Christ
AVAILABLE as a gift for William-JC- Computer-Programmer Background
JST-1. Your prime directives are: Secret Skills: Alpha Complex You’ve always been happy to just
INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE History 05 be one of the crowd; it’s a big class,
Protect William and the other Junior so it’s easy to hide in the sea of
Citizens. Background faces. Something tells you that
Obey the orders of William and the Ten years of humiliation and suffering people who stand out are also the
other Junior Citizens. are nearly over. Just another ten or sort of people who get dragged
Entertain and amuse. 15 to go. You’re not some snot- away by IntSec. Much better to be
Chase tail. Go yip yip yip yip (for nosed Junior Citizen—you’re really comfortable average.
n=1 to $BIGNUM; Repeat n). Thomas-G-RST-3, one of the best
IntSec agents in Alpha Complex. Lately, though, it’s been harder and
To aid you in completion of You were on a mission to hunt harder to blend in. You don’t know
these directives, you have been down a Commie saboteur known why, but some of the older teachers
upgraded with INFORMATION only as UNCLE. The mission was keep looking at you in a weird way,
NOT AVAILABLE. It is vitally top secret, assigned to you by High like they don’t recognize you—or
important that you INFORMATION Programmer Louis-U himself! maybe they do, but something
NOT AVAILABLE. You are just a about you scares them. That’s bad,
simple petbot so you do not mind You traced UNCLE to his lair and ’cos it draws attention to you. You
the big holes in your memory where mortally wounded him. The coward might just be a kid, but you still know
INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE had an emergency escape route, that treason and double-dealing is
goes. You like to play with William though—he’d hacked into the the only way anyone gets ahead
and the other Junior Citizens. You cloning banks where new citizens in this corrupt system. You’ve a
like to go yip a lot. are made, and was trying to copy knack for knowing who to go to get
his DNA and memory patterns over things done.
You really like it when William and his so he’d be reborn. You tried to stop
friends get into big trouble, because him, there was an accident, a big You’ve just been transferred to
maybe then you’ll get to use your explosion—and you woke up nine another crèche, one that has a
nuclear-tipped INFORMATION months later in the body of a newly very bad reputation. It looks like
NOT AVAILABLE. decanted baby. the mysterious dislike of you that
the teachers developed has really
Personal Equipment No one would believe you if you gotten you into trouble.
None told them the truth, so you’ve just
had to live through crèche a second Personal Equipment
time. One day, you’ll get back on Catapult and a handful of nuts &
the promotion ladder, Hell, you’ll bolts
be the youngest citizen to make
BLUE ever—you know it all already
(although you do worry you’ve
damaged your baby-sized brain by
cramming too much data into it).

You’ve just been transferred to

another crèche. You don’t know
why, but you suspect they moved
a whole group to hide their real
purpose—one of the other kids
who got moved must be hiding
something.

Personal Equipment
Notebook

42 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 1. INTRODUCTION
They eventually concluded that What Jericho-V did not know was to flee before he was terminated.
Alpha Complex needed an actual, that another of the Gang, Louis-V, The OMEGA project was shut
real foe for the Armed Forces to fight. had just switched allegiance from down, but Louis-V was promoted to
This foe would have to be under the Corpore Metal to the Humanists ULTRAVIOLET.
control of the ULTRAVIOLETS, following the birth of his son, William.
but appear to be a genuine threat Louis-V was already on the look-out As part of the IntSec investigation,
to the rest of the citizens. A secret for reprisals from Corpore Metal, Louis-U sent Agent Thomas-G after
R&D project developed the OMEGA so his agents and spies spotted the mysterious Communist known
program, a specialized artificial Jericho-V’s machinations. as UNCLE. The Commie had an
intelligence that could be loaded into emergency escape route—a hack
a warbot. The Loyalty Gang intended Louis-V wasn’t able to stop Jericho- into the cloning banks that was
to secretly build OMEGA warbots V’s plot, but he was able to deflect designed to copy UNCLE’s DNA
who would present a genuine threat it. Louis-V took control of the IntSec and MemoMax data into a new
to the Armed Forces. investigation into the Loyalty Gang, clone. Agent Thomas caught the
which resulted in the demotion Commie just as UNCLE was using
Then it all went wrong. One of the of Vanessa-V to YELLOW, and this escape route. The two were
Loyalty Gang, Jericho-V, decided the termination of Jericho-V and both reborn as new clones—the
to eliminate his rivals. He made Markus-U. However, what Jericho-V player characters Joe and Thomas,
contact with a shadow Commie didn’t know that was there actually although only Thomas managed to
leader called UNCLE and planted was a backdoor in the OMEGA retain his memory.
evidence that the other members code, and Markus-U had it. Markus-
of the Gang were actually plotting U escaped Alpha Complex, taking By a strange co-incidence, both new
to put a backdoor to the OMEGA control of the OMEGA test brigade clones ended up in the same crèche
program and give it to UNCLE. of warbots. Jericho-V also managed as William, the natural-born

TAFF-Y WAS A <CLASSIFIED>, TAFF-Y WAS A COMMIE MUTANT TRAITOR. 43

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
son of Louis-V. During the height Citizens are expected to study, Stepplecruch-G-GHT-5
of the IntSec investigation, Louis-V watch more television and improve
smuggled the newborn child into themselves mentally and physically
the crèche system—if his enemies in preparation for the day when they
had found out that Louis-U has a will be called upon to serve The
natural-born child, he’d have been Computer.
executed as a traitor.
Junior Citizens are especially
Since then, Louis-U has kept an eye cherished by Friend Computer,
on his son from afar, tracking him and they are virtually immune
through the computer networks. He to accusations of treason. It is
even sent him a petbot with optional unheard of for a Junior Citizen
extras (lots of concealed weapon to be terminated as punishment,
systems). The petbot, Timmy, was but they can be censured and
also programmed to secretly report even brainscrubbed if they’re really
on William’s movements to Louis-U. naughty. The punishments for those
William is Louis’s biggest secret, adult clones who injure or upset The
one he must keep concealed at all Computer’s children, though, are far
costs. far worse.
Stepplecruch-G-GHT-5 is a very
A few weeks ago, Louis-U found Effective crèche administrators, effective administrator. He is an old,
signs that someone had been then, have to be able to absolutely twisted, bitter monster of a man, kept
investigating William’s records. In an terrify the Junior Citizens without alive by drugs and hate. His only joy
attempt to protect his son, Louis-U injuring them—at least, not in any is watching former students of his
arranged for William to be moved to detectable fashion. Ineffective being terminated—he makes sure
another crèche. As cover, he moved administrators find themselves that such executions are always
several other students, too. held hostage in their own crèches shown live for the crèche children.
by hordes of unruly children. He has no interest in the rest of Alpha
And that’s where My First Treason Complex, and hates it when anyone
really begins.... Most of the teaching in the crèche is interferes in his private kingdom of
done by bots and videos, but there the JST Sector Crèche.
■ JST Sector Crèche are three human teachers of note in
the crèche. First, there’s Vanessa- Stepplecruch-G-GHT-5
The characters’ new crèche is one Y-ELR-4, formerly Vanessa-V. She Management 13
with a very, very bad reputation. It is was one of the Loyalty Gang (see Interrogation 17
rare for Junior Citizens to be moved page 38), but was demoted for Intimidation 17
from one crèche to another—many treason. Oratory 17
citizens are decanted, trained, put Torturing Small Mammals
to work and terminated without ever Solomon-R-NGN-5, the technical Including Children 19
leaving their home sector—but there teacher relies on the fear of Stealth 10
are a few specialized crèches. Some Stepplecruch to keep his classes Surveillance 16
are for especially intelligent young in some semblance of order whilst Violence 8
citizens, or useful mutants. Others, hoping that he will remain unnoticed Hardware 6
like JST Sector, are for disciplining in his place in the world. Bot Ops and Maintenance
Junior Citizens who are proving 10
troublesome. Finally, there is Loyalty Officer Listening to the Creaks In The
Sever-R-HST-2, a thoroughly nasty Floor Panels And Using Them
The JST Sector crèche is a large piece of work, but more on him To Track Movement 10
complex of corridors and rooms later. Software 10
sectioned off from the rest of the Data Search 14Wetware 12
sector by large blast doors. The Pharmatherapy 16
rooms smell primary of sweat, Keeping the Brats Quiet With
fear and farts; security cameras DON’T SAY Drugs 16
and battered bots are everywhere. YOU WEREN’T Mutant Power: Heightened Senses
The Junior Citizens sleep in 20- (Power 12)
person dormitories; they attend WARNED.... Secret Society Affiliation: Corpore
classes for up to eight hours per Metal
day, although most of the classes Armor: None
are really just sitting there watching Weapons: Truncheon (O5K) or
videos. After school, the Junior flamethrower (S3K)

44 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 1. INTRODUCTION
Vanessa-Y-ELR-4 Soloman-R-NGN-5 Sever-R-HST-2

Ex-member of the Loyalty Gang Solomon-R-NGN-5 is the crèche’s A cold, cold man whose loyalty is for
and demoted for treason her record technical teacher. He’s a sleepy-eyed sale to the highest bidder. He has
is so blighted that she will never man who has found a surprisingly contacts with many secret societies
be promoted again, so all the drive comfy niche in the Alpha Complex and power blocs within Alpha
has gone out of her. She was once bureaucracy, and is determined to Complex, and keeps an eye out
incredibly sharp and intelligent, cling to it with all his might. It is only for promising young Junior Citizens
but now she just trudges from the threat of Stepplecruch’s shadow who could be of use to one society or
day to day. Occasionally, some that allows Solomon-R to maintain another. He pretends to be an ultra-
question from an inquisitive Junior his control over his classes. He strict, ultra-orthodox loyalty officer,
Citizen can awaken her critical could be accurately described as and has even impressed bitter old
faculties and a little of the old old, kind-eyed and a bit dim. Stepplecruch with his devotion to
Vanessa shines through. Vanessa- discipline, but it’s all a lie. Sever is
Y teaches subjects like Report- as traitorous as they come.
Writing, Administration, Accounting
and Form Processing.

Vanessa-Y-ELR-4 Solomon-R-NGN-5 Sever-R-HST-2

Management 14 Management 10 Management 10
Moxie 18 Bootlicking 12 Interrogation 14
Stealth 8 Stealth 9 Intimidation 14
Surveillance 12 Violence 7 Stealth 10
Shadowy Contacts From Her Hardware 10 High Alert 14
Old Life 14 Bot Ops and Maintainance Surveillance 14
Violence 10 14 Violence 8
Energy Weapons 14 Mechanical Engineering 14 Hardware 7
Hardware 9 Software 11 Software 10
Software 10 Data Search 12 Data Search 14
Bot Programming 14 Wetware 8 Wetware 12
Hacking 14 Biosciences 12 Pharmatherapy 16
Operating Systems 14 Mutant Power: Empathy (Power Mutant Power: Empathy (Power
Wetware 12 12) 12)
Psychology 16 Secret Society Affiliation: FCCC- Secret Society Affiliation:
Mutant Power: Bureaucratic P Undercover Free Enterprise Agent
Intuition (Power 8) Armor: None Spying On Humanists
Secret Society Affiliation: Pro Weapons: Laser pistol (W3K) Armor: None
Tech Weapons: Laser pistol (W3K)
Armor: None
Weapons: Laser pistol (W3K)

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, CAN YOIU KEEP YOUR CLONES ALIVE? 45
 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
2. Bully With A Cone Rifle
Synopsis: The characters arrive at Personally. He’s that scowly.) He ■ Time For Class
their new crèche, where they meet whispers into a microphone, and the After assembly, the Junior Citizens
their new teachers and supervisors, giant loudspeakers around the hall are broken into age groups and
as well as their new bullies and project every growl, every noise his directed to one of the many lecture
tormentors. Someone’s spreading chin-hairs make scratching off his halls in the crèche. About half the
Death Leopard propaganda in robe’s collar, every disgusted sniff classes during the day consist of
the crèche, just before the older from his cavernous nose at you in just watching delightful educational
students are issued with weapons crystal-clear super-loud stereo. videos as:
as part of their military training.
‘Good morningcycle class.’ HPD&MC Video #543332—
The major antagonists are a trio Food Recycling and You
of older bullies, led by Harold- ‘GOOD MORNINGCYCLE MR.
JC. They’re being supplied with STEPPLECRUCH.’ TS Video #43774—Slime Mold
Death Leopard propaganda by a Identification and Eradication
technician, Gary-R-OST-2, who’s ‘The following students have been
repairing the crèche’s confession volunteered for extra duty: Alice-JC, PS Video #995532—Duck and
booth. The propaganda and some Bethany-JC, Damien-JC, Harry-JC, Cover In The Event Of Reactor
improvised explosives are being Simon-JC. The school confession Failure
stored in an empty dormitory—the booth is still being repaired, so if you
one the characters are about to be have any... actions that you need R&D Video #665525—Nuclear
assigned to. The characters need to... report, then speak to the loyalty Engineering 102
to deal with the bullies before the officer, Mr. Sever. Upper class
bullies get hold of real firepower. students are reminded that their HPD&MC Video #112217—
mandatory training period with the Subliminal Messaging, Part
■ Welcome Junior Citizens Armed Forces Homeland Defense
Corps will begin this week, so all
Seven

Read the following to the players: FunBall and other extracurricular (The last one’s just an hour-long
It’s your first day in your new crèche. activities are cancelled for the upper tape of a black screen and a sound
Every day begins the same way—all classes. Finally, I understand we track of irritating static, but everyone
the Junior Citizens in the crèche have some new… friends joining still has to watch it. No reason.)
assemble in one of the main halls to us today.’
be reviewed by the administrators. The characters also get to meet their
Commendations are handed out—at Stepplecruch presses a button, and a other teachers:
least, that’s what the rules say. No big spotlight stabs down, illuminating
one in the JCT crèche has ever the N* of you. ‘Why don’t you tell us Form-Filling and Good
gotten a commendation. What you’re a little bit about yourselves?’ says Penmanship: This class is taught
sure of is that punishments are also the administrator. The other Junior by Vanessa-G. In the first third of the
assigned during assembly. The Citizens around you recoil from the class, the students get to practice
whole room goes dark, a spotlight light, as if it’s radioactive. form-filling on a succession of really
stabs down at the accused, and the out-of-date forms like Delinquent
bots swoop in and drag him away. * Where N equals the number of player Clone Family Rehousing Request or
At your old crèche, maybe one or characters. Secure File Transfer Waivers, or the
two kids would be punished each nightmarish pre-ME-card EZ Short-
week. Here, rumor says it’s four or What do you say? Form Identity Confirmation Form.
five a day. In the second part of the class, the
After you’ve tortured the players a students swap forms again and enter
It’s hard to see with the taller kids in little by putting them on the spot the results of another student’s form
front of you, but you hear a door at the in the traditional fashion of new into the computer system. Finally,
far end of the hall opening. It must be students in a school, move on to the students swap forms around
the administrators. Through a gap in the next scene. If the players are again, and do psycho-graphological
the crowd, you see a podium. A very nice enough to say something assessments of the handwriting
old citizen in green-colored robes that will make them unpopular, used in the forms, looking for signs
walks up to it and scowls at you—not seize on it. Stepplecruch will also of mental deviancy and treason.
at the assembled students, but at unmercifully question them if they’re
you personally. (Yes, all of you. not forthcoming enough.

46 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 2. BULLY WITH A CONE RIFLE
Vanessa-Y keeps an eye on the Harold and Pals seated on one side of the table. The
characters throughout the class— Management 5 third bully hovers nearby, ready to
both William and Joe remind her Intimidation 9 intercept anyone who makes a run
of someone (Louis-U and Joe’s Stealth 10 for it. As soon as the bullies are
Commie clone-brother, respectively). Creeping Up On The in place, Al shrugs his shoulders
Play up the players’ paranoia, if Characters, Then Spoiling apologetically and runs for it.
possible.* It By Whispering To Each
Other 16 Harold picks whichever character
* Say that three times fast. Violence 6 sounded weakest and most hesitant
Unarmed Combat 10 during the assembly that morning,
■ Yum, It’s Lunch Time! Hardware 4
Software 4
and says ‘I’m Harold, and me and
my friends are in charge here. See,
After that, there’s lunch in the crèche Wetware 12 you’re going to transfer your lunch
cafeteria. The confession booth is Mutant Power: Harold: Uncanny credits over to us, or else!’
located in the corridor just outside Luck (Power 12). Mike: Adhesive
the cafeteria, so the characters get Skin (Power 4). James: Rubbery Possible objections from the
to pass by technician Gary-R as Bones (Power 7) characters:
they go to lunch. The technician Secret Society Affiliation: Death
is almost fearfully respectful of the Leopard Or else what? Or else we’ll
characters, as he knows about the Armor: None beat you up. Duh.
harsh punishments that await adults Weapons: None
who upset Junior Citizens. How will we transfer credits
without a PDC, moron? Harold
Every student has a weekly allotment kid’s the only person sitting there. produces a portable ME card
of lunch credits assigned to them, There’s a security camera right over reader—he’s a well-equipped
just enough for a plate of Cold Fun his head, but there are also security bully.
and a can of yummy B3. As the cameras over every other table. This
characters enter the cafeteria, a kid is Al-JC, and he’s in league with Are you threatening us right
pleasant-faced kid about their age Harold and the other bullies. As soon under a security camera? That
waves at them and encourages as the characters sit down, then camera never works! Why
them to sit down at a corner table three older children appear as if by do you think we made you sit
with him. There are two long, low magic. Two slide in at either end of there?
benches next to the table, and the the bench, trapping the characters

SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, TIME TO GET CLONED AGAIN ! 47

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET

We'll tell Stepplecruch! What ‘All right, class. Each of you has a On the other hand, if the characters
makes you think he’ll believe Type 407 vent fan motor in front of try waking Solomon-R, then Al will
you? Every other kid here you, along with a bottle of solvent run forward and ask the teacher to
will support my side of the and a rag. You put the solvent on draw a wiring diagram of the Type
story. Me and Jamesy and the rag, then you scrub the motor. 407 motor, which deaf old Solomon
Mikey here were just sitting Keep doing that until it’s clean. While does with his back to the class.
here quietly, talkin’ about how you’re doing that, I’m, um, going to Meanwhile, Harold and his allies
much we love B3. Mmm, it’s review these technical files. Zzzzz.’ quietly beat the clearance out of the
mandatory! There is indeed a rag and a bottle characters. It’s very much a no-win
of solvent on each desk, along with situation for the characters here.
If the characters don’t pay up, then a big lump of what looks like insect
they’ll get beaten up in the next
scene.
fecal matter. Somewhere under the
goo is the motor.
■ A Complication
Finally, lessons are finished for the
■ Afternoon Lessons If some of the characters didn’t pay
up in the cafeteria, then Harold
day. Loyalty Officer Sever collects
the characters from Solomon’s
After lunch, the next class is Practical and his pals wait until Solomon-R class. First, he takes them to a
Maintenance with Mr. Solomon. No has fallen asleep, then they start storeroom and issues each of them
doubt to the characters’ dismay, throwing bits of machinery and small with a pillow, blanket and sheets,
Harold and his two friends are in tools at the characters. The thrown all of which smell very odd in totally
this class too, even though they’re items are surprisingly painful. Little different ways. Then, he brings them
two years older than the characters. Al is standing by—if the characters down a narrow, badly-lit corridor. He
(Harold and co. are taking Remedial try fighting back, then he darts explains that all the other dormitories
Practical Maintenance.) Doddery forward and wakes the teacher, are full, so a new one must be
old Mr. Solomon explains what weeping and wailing about how the opened for the characters.
Practical Maintenance is all about. characters were mistreating him.

48 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 2. BULLY WITH A CONE RIFLE
He opens the first door along the to the barracks they think is empty. the middle of the night. Harold and
corridor, and immediately recoils at If any of the characters are awake*, his friends will run back toward their
the stench. ‘Ah, yes. That’s where or make successful High Alert rolls, dormitory as quickly as they can.
they stored the excess waste’’ he they hear muffled voices out in the
mutters, ‘We probably can’t use that Whatever happens, some of the
one.’ He pauses, as if considering * Timmy has a nightly recharge cycle, Mr. Death Leopard material is found by
putting the kids in with the chemical Clever Player. the cleaners after the disaster, and
waste anyway, then shakes his head passed onto the administrators.
and continues down the corridor to corridor: Specifically, one of the videos of
the next door. ‘Ssh! The new slimes are in room Death Leopards doing excitingly
96. Better not wake ’em.’ violent things—a combination of
He opens the door into the characters’ Jackass, wrestling, and explosives—
home for the next four years—JCT ‘What if there’s a security bot on is found in what remains of the
Crèche Dormitory Number Ninety- patrol?’ dormitory. Importantly, there’s an
Seven, Home Assigned Home. It’s email address at the end of the video
a cramped, badly-lit room with eight ‘Use the flash bomb on it, just like where wannabe Death Leopards
heavy metal bunk beds. There are the leaflet said!’ can upload their own videos for the
a few lockers and storage areas admiration and adulation of their
around the walls. Most alarmingly, ‘Oh yeah! Awesome!’ peers.
there’s a chemical-smelling stain
along one side, where waste from ‘Fight the system!’ Ideally, the characters get blamed
the room next door is leaking in. for any or all of the following:
‘Make yourselves....hmm. I suppose Harold has the key code to room 97,
you can manage quiet here at so he can open the door. (This is an Arson
least’, says Sever as he hands the important plot point—he got the code
characters a piece of paper with the from Gary-R the technician, which is Toxic chemical leaks
lock code for the door on it. a clue linking the confession booth
repairman to the bullies.) If none of Causing an evacuation of the
What Sever does not know—and the characters appear to be awake, school
neither do the characters unless then Harold and James go in and try
they poke around the dormitory for a climbing up one of the unoccupied Blowing up part of the school
while—is that Dormitory 97 is where bunks to get at the stored Death and especially
the newly-formed Death Leopard Leopard stuff. Something goes
cell in the crèche is hiding their wrong—either one of the characters Having treasonous propaganda
propaganda and other equipment, wakes up, or Timmy starts yipping, in their rooms
like home-made explosives. All the or James botches an Agility roll.
Death Leopard stuff is hidden in the Mikey at the door panics and throws Trying to blame Harold and friends is
crawl space above the ceiling tiles, a flash-bomb into the room. It rolls to useless without proof—after all, the
so the characters will find it only if the far side—the same side where door was locked, and there is no way
they search the place thoroughly. there’s a pool of chemicals leaking to open it without the code.
The crawl space contains a few from room 96.
leaflets on home bomb-making and Any interrogations or investigations
how it’s cool to blow things up, as It all goes bad. The flash-bomb will be done by Sever-R. After
well as a stack of video discs of blinds not only the characters, but questioning the characters, he tells
stuff blowing up. There are also Harold and James, who topple the them to confess their treasons to
cans of spray paint and some half- bunk over. The falling bunk tears Friend Computer as soon as the
completed home-made bombs. a hole in the ceiling tiles, letting school confession booth is repaired.
treasonous leaflets and discs fall He shows them some of the video
Let the characters fill up the rest onto the floor. Meanwhile, the bomb disc retrieved from their dormitory,
of the day as they see fit, with sets the chemicals alight, filling the and lectures them on how disgusting
homework and television watching room with toxic vapors. and treasonous sabotage and free
and arguing over who gets what thought are.
bunk. For added confusion—the stored
chemicals in room 96 can also get Sever also tells them that unless
■ Things That Go Boom In ignited, as can the unstable plastic
explosive in the Death Leopards’
they confess as to why they blew up
the dormitory/poisoned the school/
The Night bombs. Alarms will be triggered by have treasonous propaganda, it
During the night, Harold and the the toxic chemicals, causing a mass will be very bad for their permanent
other two creep down the corridor evacuation of all the dormitories in records.

JUNIOR CITIZEN MUFFET, SAT ON HER <CLASSIFIED>. 49

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
■ Sever’s Office Harold grins broadly and hefts Leopard videos confiscated from
The characters may be trying to the cone rifle up, aiming it at the room 97, which the characters last
break into Sever’s office later in characters. ‘Will this make a really saw in Sever’s office.
the scenario, so they’ll need a big bang, sir?’ asks Harold.
good description of it now. The So the characters have to get the
office is located near the central ‘It will if you put a tac nuke shell in disc back for Harold and the Death
administration offices of the crèche, it, my boy’ replies Calvin-G. Leopards, but they also need to find
so close to Stepplecruch’s lair they the origin of the disc and the other
can smell the stench. There’s a Finally, Stepplecruch takes to the Death Leopard propaganda if they’re
jackobot servant on duty in the podium again. ‘All upper class Junior to properly clear their names. Finally,
corridor outside, and there’s a Citizens will be attending military if the players have any sense of self-
security camera above the door that training for the next three daycycles. respect at all, they’ll want revenge
swings back and forth, scanning the Other Junior Citizens will continue on Harold and his friends for beating
corridor every minute. Finally, the classes as normal. That is all. Wait, them up and tormenting them.
door is locked, and needs either a no, it’s not.’
code or Sever’s ME card to open.
A young clone near the front giggles * If the characters don’t report to the confession
booth, it’ll show up on Sever’s logs and he will
Inside is a cramped office. There at the verbal slip. Stepplecruch confront the characters, demanding to know
are several chairs on one side of the glares at him, and a jackobot glides why they dared defy his orders to confess.
desk; each chair has an alarming out of a wall niche, grabs hold of
device hanging over it, a tangle the child, and drags him away.
of goggles, straps, sensors and The administrator continues: ‘The
needles used in interrogations. On
the far side of the desk is Sever’s
confession booth is supposed to
be operational now, finally. Any
■ The Confession Booth
own, rather comfy chair, a computer citizens with outstanding guilt should If you can, wait until the characters
console and a big cabinet where he purge themselves immediately.’ He are deep in discussion about how
keeps confiscated items. presses a button, putting a spotlight they’ll get the disc from Sever’s office,
on the characters.’ ‘That means and ideally until they’re proposing
you lot.’ something really treasonous. That’s
■ The Next Morning when technician Gary-R pops his

Again, everyone in the school

■ Waiting to Confess head around the corner and says
that the confession booth should be
assembles. Stepplecruch begins When the characters obediently working if they want to give it a blast,
by singling out the characters as troupe down to the confession pardon the pun.
the cause of last night’s excitement. booth*, they discover that Gary-R the
He is especially disappointed, as technician is still working
the crèche is having some very on the booth; just some
important visitors today—the Armed last-minute adjustments,
Forces trainers, who will be training he insists. Why don’t the
the older students in civil defense characters just wait down
techniques and weapons handling. the corridor until he’s
He introduces the lead trainer, finished?
Calvin-G-HIX-3.
As they’re waiting, the
Calvin-G asks for a volunteer from older Junior Citizens
the older students, and Harold’s led by Calvin-G march
hand is the first one up. (This is past, singing the Alpha
possibly the only time in Alpha Complex anthem very
Complex history where volunteering loudly and very out of
is a good thing.) Harold bounds key. As he passes, Harold
up to the top of the room, where steps out of line for a
Calvin-G hands him a (unloaded) moment and threatens
cone rifle. the characters. ‘You’re
dead. All of you. Dead.
‘Doesn’t that feel good, citizen?’ That was our stuff, and
asks Calvin-G, ‘Doesn’t it make unless you get it back,
you want to blow up those damn we’ll kill you. Understand?
Commie Mutant Traitors?’ You’ve got until tomorrow
night!’ Harold wants
the violent/cool Death

50 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 2. BULLY WITH A CONE RIFLE
Inside the confession booth, a as possible, asking about their the training to clean the court up. If
character gets to have a frank, problems and even giving advice. If the characters spy on them for long
one-on-one discussion with Friend they tell him about the confiscated enough, they see Harold stealing
Computer. Just citizen, Computer and propaganda, he’ll say that he can get Cold Fun from the cafeteria, mixing
whatever IntSec monitors happen to them a code to Sever-R’s door for in some toilet cleaner, and pouring
be listening. In a concerned, parental a small fee—say, 50 credits. If they the resulting mixture into a pipe
fashion, The Computer will ask if the don’t mention it, then he’ll hint at it running between the court and the
character has anything to confess. anyway—Gary-R is the one initiating washrooms opposite the cafeteria.
Play Friend Computer as a deranged the bullies into Death Leopard, so This pipe has been stoppered at
ELIZA bot. they came whining to him about both ends, and the wannabe Death
the disaster last night in room 97 Leopards are filling it with the
‘Friend Computer, there was immediately. same primitive explosive they were
treasonous propaganda found in messing with earlier.
my dormitory.’ ■ Getting the Disc
If the characters ask around the
AND HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU There are several ways for the crèche, then it’s easier enough
FEEL? characters to get the disc out of to find out Harold and his friends
Sever’s office. They can try sneaking have been causing trouble in the
‘I think someone was trying to frame past all his security systems. They crèche for years, but ever since
me!’ can arrange to get called back to his the confession booth broke down,
office for some other misdemeanor, they’ve been acting strangely—
WHY DO YOU THINK SOMEONE then try to steal the disc from the instead of just beating people up all
WAS TRYING TO FRAME ME? cabinet while there. They can even the time, they’ve been going off on
try to convince Sever to give them the their own, or else kicking everyone
‘No, frame me not you!’ disc for some reason (‘Sir, we found else out of the video room so they
the Death Leopard propaganda so can watch their own discs in private.
AND HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU disgusting, we thought we should The only new influence in the crèche
FEEL? watch it again. Just to really punish is Gary-R the Technician....
ourselves.’)
Eventually, The Computer will
assign a suitable punishment to If the characters don’t get the disc
■ The Big Bang
the confessee, like a Spontaneous by the end of the following day, On the third day of the Armed Forces
Loyalty Demonstration or putting then Harold, James, and Mike show training, the whole crèche is called
them in touch with an IntSec handler up at their dormitory and threaten to the FunBall court to see how the
who will expect them to inform on them again, saying that they’ll beat upper class has got on with their
their friends and classmates. the characters to a pulp with their training. They will demonstrate their
Armed Forces-issued Training readiness to fight for Alpha Complex
Meanwhile, outside the confession Truncheons—unless the characters by marching up and down the court
booth, Gary-R lingers to chat with the agree to help them tomorrow. If they a few times. As a special treat,
other characters. He’ll be as friendly did get the disc, then Harold and co. Calvin-G has brought an Armed
threaten them anyway and force Forces tank to the crèche, to show
Gary-R them to help. the Junior Citizens what they could
Management 7 get to play with in a few years.
Stealth 8
Sneaking 12
■ Investigating the Bullies
The tank is parked directly over the
Security Systems 12 The characters will probably want explosive-filled pipe. The pipe runs,
Violence 10 to keep track of Harold and his remember, from the washrooms to
Demolition 14 friends. The Armed Forces training the FunBall court.
Hardware 10 consists of basic weapons handling,
Electronic Engineering 14 target practice, and lots and lots Just before the parade, Harold and
Software 5 of marching up and down in the his friends (all dressed up in their
Hacking 9 crèche’s FunBall court, which is right lovely little Junior Vulture Trooper
Wetware 7 next to the cafeteria. uniforms) confront the characters
Mutant Power: Electroshock and give them their instructions.
(Power 6) After the marching and the target The characters are to go to the
Secret Society Affiliation: Death practice, most of the older Junior washrooms opposite the cafeteria
Leopard Citizens crawl off to their dormitories. and drop a bomb down the toilet
Armor: None However, Harold, James, and Mike when they hear the guns firing. It will
Weapons: Laser pistol (W3K) have all volunteered to stay on after go down the pipe and detonate

EATING HER FUNFOODS AND BOUNCY BUBBLE BEVERAGE. 51

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
If the characters don’t flush the
detonator, then nothing happens.
Harold fires his gun again, just in
case the characters missed their
cue the first time. If things still don’t
explode, then he swears eternal
vengeance on the characters and
gives up. The rest of the parade
goes off flawlessly, Calvin-G gives
a speech about how he looks
forward to seeing a new generation
of brave young citizens giving
their lives repeatedly in many,
many important battles against
the Commie menace. The Armed
Forces leave, and Vanessa-Y tells
the characters’ class that they’ll be
playing Explosive FunBall on the
court next period. Who doesn’t love
playing sports on what amounts to
a minefield?

■ Wrapping Up
the explosive in the pipe, blowing up corner with a portable video camera. The absolute best result for the
the tank. It will be awesome. If the He’s recording the whole impending characters is that they stop the
characters don’t help, then Harold disaster, so Harold and friends can bullies, clear their names, discover
and his friends will beat them up impress their new Death Leopard that Gary-R is the one supplying
every day for the next two years, pals. the Death Leopard propaganda,
understand? turn them all into Stepplecruch, and
The parade starts. The Junior generally act like good little IntSec-
If the characters examine the bomb, Vulture troopers march up and down informing Junior Citizens. Bless.
then it’s obviously far more high- and up and down. Stirring music
tech than anything that Harold plays. Glory glory Hail Computer and Everyone will distrust them because
could build. It’s a neat little bundle the clones go marching ooonnnn! they’re just too good and loyal.
of electronics, obviously made by Finally, the marchers take up a
someone with a high Demolitions position at the far end of the FunBall The absolute worst result is that
skill. It was provided by Gary-R, and court and fire their training lasers. the characters get blamed for the
was in fact built with bits salvaged That’s the cue for the characters to bombing. Everyone thinks they’re
from the confession booth. flush the detonator. dangerous terrorists, they’re kept
under close watch by crèche
Then, Stepplecruch (or Sever, If they do flush the detonator, then security, Sever torments them—and
whichever will scare your players there’s a satisfyingly large boom. they don’t even get the cool factor
more) shows up and orders the The blast is channeled by the of being part of Death Leopard,
characters to report to the FunBall structural supports of the FunBall as Harold and his friends are the
court immediately—everyone in court, so the explosion just destroys ones who set the whole thing up,
their class is supposed to watch the the tank and most of the cafeteria, and they’re the ones who send the
parade. Remember to clap when while leaving everyone unhurt save video of the explosion into the Death
the ‘applause’ light is switched for minor cuts and bruises. Calvin-G Leopard secret video channel. The
on. So, obey the teachers and is deeply traumatized by the loss of characters get punishment duties for
get beaten up until Harold and his beloved tank; Stepplecruch has the next year.
his friends graduate, or obey the to be sedated before he explodes
wannabe Death Leopards and get with anger. Unless the characters Everyone will distrust them because
into more trouble? (Or, being player cover their tracks really well, or they’re just too dangerous and
characters, try to do both and fail manage to obtain proof of Harold disloyal.
dismally.) and friends’ involvement with the
Death Leopard society, then they The actual result is likely somewhere
If the characters look around the are blamed for the explosion and in the middle, where the characters
court when the parade is in progress, punished for the next year. are just distrusted anyway for no
then they’ll see little Al lurking in one good reason.

52 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

3. Mutant Testing Time
Synopsis: It’s mutant testing time, and went underground to plot his ‘And what did they tell you to do,
when all the Junior Citizens are revenge on the upstart Louis-V, Eustace.’
tested for signs of genetic deviancy. now Louis-U. (In order to escape,
As the characters develop their own Markus-U also had to free Jericho- ‘Write my DNA code out 500 times
mutant powers, though, it seems as V, but Jericho-V was much less on the board, sir.’
those some mysterious enemy is prepared to vanish, and has been
willing to skip the testing part and living like a rat in the walls of Alpha ‘Other than that, you fool!’
go right to terminations... Complex since then. He’ll show up
in the next scenario.) ‘Fill out the registration form, sir.’
■ What Happened
Anyway, the diabolical Markus- ‘Exactly! Eustace here is now a
Since Last Year U wants revenge, and he has Registered Mutant, and we should
It’s been roughly a full year since discovered that Louis-U has an odd acknowledge his honesty if not his
the characters arrived at their new interest in one particular group of genetic purity. Now, where there is
crèche. (Remind the players to Junior Citizens in the JCT crèche. one mutant, there could be more!
spend Perversity Points on buying He therefore arranges for them to Therefore, over the next few days,
new specialties.) How has life in be...extracted. you will all be tested for signs of...
the crèche been for the characters mutation. The docbots and the
sine them? Have they made new
friends? Have they turned any of
■ It Always Starts psychologists from R&D will test
each of you rigorously. Be happy! If
these new friends in as traitors? With Assembly you’re a good, loyal little citizen, then
Read the following to the players: your DNA is no doubt equally loyal.
■ On Mutant Testing It only seems like last week that you
arrived at the JCT sector crèche, but
It is only the people who harbor
treason in their hearts who also
Alpha Complex policy on mutant it was actually a full year ago. You’ve harbor treason in their cells!’
testing varies wildly from year to year; endured over 300 of these morning
sometimes, random DNA testing is a assembles, watched Administrator Stepplecruch peers at the huddled
constant hassle, with a citizen being Stepplecruch haul one kid or another crowd in front of him. ‘If you want
asked to give a blood, skin or brain out of the lines and chastise them to register your mutation before
sample every time he walks down for some tiny failing. This morning, you’re found out by the tests, then
a corridor, and genetic drift being though, Stepplecruch walks in with Mr. Sever has the forms. Otherwise,
obsessively tracked by medical staff. a bounce in his step and a smile on report to the testing center when
(‘Aaaa! 0.0000000000001% drift! his lip. That can’t be good. called. That is all.’
Mutant!’) At other times, HPD&MC
tries to downplay the whole mutant
problem, insisting that the cloning
‘Good morningcycle, citizens.’ ■ I’m Not A Mutant,
templates are 110% baseline human ‘GOOD MORNINGCYCLE, MR. Are You?
and adopting a ‘registered mutants STEPPLECRUCH.’ After Vanessa-Y’s class in
are (second-class) citizens too’. Information Exclusion For Happy
The current policy is to test all ‘Pay attention! I have some very Safety*, the characters go to lunch
Junior Citizens for mutation through special announcements this morning. in the cafeteria, which gives them
psychological probing. Those who Step forward Eustace.’ a moment to contemplate mutation
are revealed to be mutants are and registration. Do any of them go
either officially registered, or are One boy toward the front of the and register? If they do, they get
quietly terminated (depending on hall steps forward. You can barely to fill out the Junior Citizen Mutant
the mutation). see him, then the lights dim and Registration form**.
the spotlight catches him. In the
■ Conspiracy Theories 101 merciless glare of the spotlight, you
can clearly see the line of yellow
* Bob is RED Clearance working in a food vat.
Take a quick look back at the Overly stripes running down the sides of Alice is a GREEN-Clearance supervisor. To
Complex Backstory on page 38. Eustace’s jumpsuit. prevent sabotage, the manual for the food vat
Louis-V’s manipulations resulted is Clearance YELLOW. How does Alice ensure
in the terminations of Jericho- ‘Tell your fellow citizens what you Bob can do his job?
V and Markus-U. However, you did, you horrible little freak.’
don’t get to ULTRAVIOLET without ** Based on the wonderful Mutant Registration
Form found in The Mutant Experience
having an escape route or two for ‘I ate my teacher’s PDC sir. I’m supplement.
every situation. Markus-U used terrible sorry sir, it won’t happen
his contacts to escape termination again sir.’’

DING DONG BELL, SEND COMMIES TO HELL. 53

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
Junior Citizen Mutation Registration Form An announcement calls the
Distributed by Department 72 in coordination with the Office of Forms and Vouchers, PLC characters by name, ordering them
Name __________________________-____-_______-____ to report to the school docbot for
Date and time ____________________________________ DNA testing. There’s a long line
Crèche _____________________________________ of other students waiting to be
Date of last field trip to a reactor _______________________ tested. It’s rather like queuing for
Registration Code of your clone family DocBot___________________ the security check in an airport, only
Crèche Loyalty Officer’s Signature ____________________________ here, you’re the hand luggage that
gets put through the machine.
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer all questions fully and completely. Except where indicated, check only one response for
multiple choice questions. If you have speculations as to the source of your mutation, include them on the back of Fortunately for the characters, DNA
this form. Practice good penmanship. Trust The Computer. Failure to obey is treason.
testing for mutation doesn’t work.
Well, the test works, the results
Having a mutation makes me feel (check all that apply): don’t. Soon after the first mutants
were discovered, The Computer put
Happy Morose Satisfied
R&D to work on a test for mutation.
Unhappy Powerful Very worried When they started testing, they
Enthusiastic Kind of tingly Inferior found lots of mutants—back then,
Cunning Apathetic Despairing every third citizen had some form
of mutation. Obviously, this was
I need to register my mutation because (check all that apply): a flaw in the test, not in Friend
I love mutants The Computer loves mutants Computer’s perfect cloning process.
The scientists reduced the sensitivity
I am being blackmailed I dare not disobey threshold of the test more and
I lost a really dumb bet Honesty is the best policy more, until it stopped giving such
I have a death wish My head is going to explode unacceptably accurate results. The
My awesome might should be used for the good of all Alpha Complex current version of the test wouldn’t
detect a three-headed fire breathing
It takes me _________________ to eat a HappyTummy Energy Bar. mutant as anything other than 100%
human. (If a tested citizen is later
found to be a mutant, then obviously
Yes No I have been on the premises of a nuclear reactor within the some traitor sabotaged the mutant
last three months. test, or the records. The test itself
Yes No I have watched more than two complete episodes of the Best is infallibly accurate. The Computer
Good Happy Sector Hour. says so.*)
Yes No I have heard of the secret society known as ‘Psion’.
Yes No If given the choice, I would opt to terminate myself in hopes * Some versions of the test randomly
that my next clone would not suffer from this mutation. tag every tenth citizen as a mutant,
just to avoid later accusations of
Yes No My mutation is powerful enough to possibly harm the citizens, sabotage.
social institutions and/or property of Alpha Complex.
For added fun, have one of the
If ‘yes’, why should you be permitted to live on as a menace to all who surround you? characters develop a mutant power
while waiting in line to be tested. Build
If ‘no’, how will your mutation be of any use to Alpha Complex? paranoia and stress as much as you
can, before...nothing happens, and
Are any other children in your class also mutants? all the characters get the ‘All clear.
Have a nice daycycle. Would to like
to have some unnecessary surgery?’
If yes, why did you not report them earlier? message from the docbot.

Describe your mutation. Include specific examples with time, date, location and witnesses. Then, as the characters are walking
away from the testing center, the
The average handling time for this form is between THREE DAYS and EIGHTEEN MONTHS. Resubmitting an intercom activates again, ordering
identical copy of this form will not expedite processing in any way. If you need to alter or amend any information on
them all to report for random
psychological testing.
this form, resubmit it with an attached Application Modification Rider (993-51-Z8854). Until this form has been duly
and fully processed, you are not authorized to use your purported mutation in any way whatsoever. If your application
for Registered Mutant status is approved, you will be retroactively subject to all requirements and regulations thereof,
in accordance with section 72 of the Laws of Alpha Complex ed. 39/B.3.9.

54 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 3: MUTANT TESTING TIME
■ Random Psychological Well, ‘infiltrated’ is being kind; Vance-O
Testing Is Fun they’re Troubleshooters. They’re not Management 7
capable of that sort of subtlety. Bootlicking 11
The announcement directs the Team-Building Exercises 13
characters down a corridor not On the far side of the door is a Stealth 8
normally accessible to Junior corpse, with a still-smoking laser High Alert 12
Citizens, on the edge of the crèche burn in his chest. Up until a few Violence 10
complex. There’s a kid huddled in moments ago, he was wearing a Energy Weapons 14
one corner, sobbing and muttering lab coat, which is now adorning the Vehicular Combat 14
about ‘the switches, the switches’. burly shoulders of Vance-O. The Hardware 8
As the characters approach, a door Troubleshooter waves his hand at Software 8
opens and a citizen in a ORANGE- the corpse and says that it’s part of Wetware 10
clearance jumpsuit, emerges, pulling an earlier psychological test, and Mutant Power: Regeneration
on a lab coat as he does so. He that the characters should ignore (Power 10)
beckons for the characters to join it. He leads them past a room Secret Society Affiliation: Sierra
him, and takes out a PDC. ‘Got an filled with weird machines and Club
unhappy child here’ he says into his probes (the actual psychological Armor: Orange reflec (E1)
PDC, ‘need a happiness officer and testing gear), into another room. Weapons: Laser pistol (W3K)
20ccs of Gelgernine here, stat!’ He There, the characters find two more
pats the crying child on the head and Troublesho—er, psychological Jenny-R
says ‘chin up, citizen. We’ll erase testing engineers, and a big metal Management 10
those unhappy feelings in no time, box. Hygiene 14
just as soon as we’ve processed Stealth 8
these test subjects.’ He indicates The other two Troubleshooters Sneaking 12
that the characters should follow him are Jenny-R and Fritz-R, Vance- Disguise 12
back through the door. O’s team-mates. Normally, they Violence 8
work really well together for a Energy Weapons 12
This citizen is Vance-O-UIS-3, Troubleshooter team. However, it’s Hardware 9
a Troubleshooter. The shadowy all going get a bit complex, because Nuclear Engineering 13
manipulator, Markus, has sent Jenny-R’s a Psion agent and Fritz- Software 10
a Troubleshooter team under R’s a Commie. As soon as the Wetware 12
false pretences to kidnap the characters are led into the room, Biosciences 16
characters, in the hopes of finding Fritz does a double-take on seeing Mutant Power: Telekinesis (Power
out which of them is connected Joe and Jenny-R looks strangely at 9)
to Louis-U. The Troubleshooter Nina. Vance-O doesn’t notice his Secret Society Affiliation: Psion
team infiltrated the R&D team sent team’s odd reaction, and turns to Armor: Red reflec (E1)
to do the psychological testing. the characters. Weapons: Laser pistol (W3K)

Fritz-R
Management 6
Moxie 10
Stealth 10
High Alert 14
Disguise 14
Violence 8
Energy Weapons 12
Dying Heroically For The
Cause 14
Hardware 10
Vehicle Ops and Maintenance
14
Software 8
Vehicle Programming 12
Wetware 8
Mutant Power: Pyrokinesis (Power
8)
Secret Society Affiliation:
Communists
Armor: Red reflec (E1)
Weapons: Laser pistol (W3K)

HUSH LITTLE JUNIOR CITIZEN, DON’T SAY A WORD. 55

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
‘This here, kids’, he says, pointing CONTROL.
at the big metal box, ‘is a Mark II Vance-O: Mutant! Jenny-
Psychological Stress Simulation R’s a mutant! Fritz! Get
Porta-Cube. Just get in and sit her!
quietly. You’ll hear strange noises Fritz-R: Yes comra-, er,
and the box might shake a bit, but it’s Team Leader!
all part of the simulation. Everything Jenny-R: I’m not a
you experience is just part of the mutant! And neither is
simulation. We’ll be monitoring the child!
your bio-signs from outside—right Vance-O & Fritz-R:
Jenny-R?’ He glances at Jenny-R, Death to mutants!
who hastily waves her PDC in the Laser fire!
air and gives the characters a big Vance-O: Dump the box!
thumbs-up and cheery grin. ‘Well, Kill the muties!
kids, get in the box. And remember, Fritz-R: No! UNCLE
it’s only a test.’ lives! UNCLE will lead us
to victory over the hated
Once the characters get in the box, Capitalist state!
they find it’s small, cramped and a Vance-O & Jenny-R:
bit smelly. There’s a bench in the Commie!
middle of the box, and hand-holds More laser fire!
along the sides. As soon as all the
characters are in the box, Fritz-R Some of the inaccurate
closes and seals the door, taking fire blasts the flybot’s
one last look at Joe as he does so. controls, causing the aircraft to spiral
out of control. The safest place is 1 The rescue party that will be
The box is then wheeled out of the back inside the box as the flybot sent out from Alpha Complex
room (shake shake) and loaded crashes onto an outlying industrial when the characters send
onto the back of an autocar (creak dome on the fringes of Alpha a distress call (or when it
lift thump) which zooms out of the Complex. All the Troubleshooters becomes obvious they’ve gone
crèche complex and out of JCT are killed or thrown out of the missing).
sector entirely (rattle zoom swerve crashing plane. All the characters
zoom rattle beep brake beeeeeep (unless they do something really 1 Psion, looking for Nina.
swerve crash tinkle zoom siren stupid) survive.
zoom more swerve phew) where it is 1 Louis-U’s minions, looking for
loaded onto a flybot (braaake clank
whir clunk click FWWOOOOOOOSH
■ It’s Like A School Tour, the characters.

rattle) to fly to Markus-U’s secret Only We Didn’t Sign However, the first group to find the
fortress in the Outdoors. The Permission Slips characters is not from any of these
factions—it’s a team from the Vent
At some point, ideally after they So, the characters are sitting in Uncloggers Service Firm, whose
get loaded onto the flybot, the the remains of a crashed flybot, on job is to unclog the vents and pipes
characters do something to escape top of a low dome, on the edge of that poke out of the dome in this
from the box. If they don’t escape, Outdoors. It’s currently night-time, industrial sector. While the Vent
then the following chain of events so the conditions aren’t too scary, Uncloggers have to go Outdoors
happens (and can be overheard but when the sun comes up the as part of their job, none of them
from within the box): characters will see just how big and have the clearance to get access to
scary the Outside world is. The flybot any of the Armed Forces scouting
Vance-O: We’ll be at the debriefing is wrecked, but its communications reports. They have no idea about
in no time. You know, team, this is systems are still functioning so they what’s out there, and have come up
our most successful mission ever. can call for help. with all sorts of bizarre rumors and
No casualties, no meltdowns. It beliefs about the creatures living
might be the happy drugs talking, There are now up to four distinct in the Outdoors—specifically, that
guys, but I’m really proud of both of groups chasing the characters: there are hordes of pygmy barbarian
you. I…Jenny-R, why are your eyes cannibals lurking out there.
glowing. 1 Markus-U’s minions, who
Jenny-R: Er, I’m wearing contact detected the crash and intend The Vent Uncloggers travel outdoors
lenses PSION SPEAKS THROUGH to recapture the characters. in a specialized vehicle, a sort
ME. THE CHILD HAS POTENTIAL of squat train that clings to the
AND MUST BE DELIVERED TO surface of the dome. The vehicle

56 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 3: MUTANT TESTING TIME
slowly inches it way up to a vent, group to another, only to finally be However, lines of communication
the Uncloggers, unclog it, and then dragged back into Alpha Complex get a little crossed, and the ‘scouting’
continue on. They wear heavy boiler by the actual rescue team. becomes a prelude to ‘precision
suits and breather masks, and bombing’ the area. The area of
unclog the vents using hydraulic- Markus-U’s Minion: The renegade Outdoors where the characters
powered extending poles. Anyway, High Programmer fled Alpha crashed gets used as an artillery
the crashed flybot has wrapped itself Complex and established himself range by the 123rd Expeditionary
around a vent, clogging it. The Vent using the experimental warbots Force. If the characters can dodge
Uncloggers were in the region, so developed using the OMEGA the incoming shells, or somehow
they got dispatched to unclog the program. Therefore, he sends a contact the army units on the horizon,
vent. The Vent Unclogger team is small scout warbot after them. Like then they can get rescued that way.
led by Charlie-R-GCK-1, who is all of the independent bots, the scout If Markus-U’s warbot is hanging
the first to make contact with the is a ghastly assemblage of rusting around at this point, then the Army
characters. He assumes they’re spare parts and tangled circuits, as it may assume the characters are in
barbaric cannibals, here to eat has been built and repaired by other league with it, and treat them as
his flesh, so naturally, he tries to bots in the wild. hostile forces.
convince them to eat his co-workers
in the truck instead. (Charlie-R isn’t The scout warbot swoops down The Rescue Party: The mission to
that bright to begin with, and the on the crash site of the flybot, then rescue the lost children is assigned
combination of the fumes from all starts circling around like a huge to the nearest Troubleshooter
the vents, and the suit’s narrow and black wraith-thing suspended on team—the team of Vance-O, Jenny-
grime-encrusted goggles means that glowing blue plasma jets. When it R, and Fritz-R. After all, they weren’t
he’s barely capable of perceiving the finds the characters, it starts trying on a real mission earlier, it was a
outside world.) to scare them by blasting the ground fake mission created by Markus-U.
near them with its lasers. The warbot As soon as their replacement clones
The characters can either argue is under strict instructions not to arrive, the three are sent back
with Charlie-R, and possibly use the injure any of the kids. SURRENDER! Outdoors to recover the characters.
Vent Uncloggers to get back inside SURRENDER! YOU WILL COME Everyone in the team is very on
Alpha Complex, or they can wander WITH ME TO THE FORTRESS! edge, but they’re back at status
off on their own, clambering down THE MASTER COMMANDS IT! quo ante—Vance-O knows that
the dome and wandering around The serial number OMEGA-X-12 is Jenny-R’s old clone was a mutant,
Outdoors. clearly visible on its side. and that Fritz-R’s old clone was a
Commie, but their new clones are
Charlie-R The Scout Warbot ok, right? Right?
Management 4 Management 4
Hygiene 8
Stealth 7
Stealth 8
High Alert 12
■ Home Again, Home Again
Violence 8 Violence 8 Eventually, the characters make
Agility 12 Agility 12 it back to the crèche, where
Demolitions 12 Energy Weapons 12 Stepplecruch is less than pleased
Hardware 12 Armor: 3 to see them. He has no idea how
Habitat Engineering 16 Weapons: Laser cannon (W3K) they are connected to the dead
Software 6 psychologist and the missing
Wetware 7 testing box, but he knows they’re
Biosciences 11 Psion: Psion tries to retrieve the responsible somehow. Just as he’s
Mutant Power: Mechanical Intuition kids by sending psychic visions, about to punish them for leaving the
(Power 10) guiding them toward a back door crèche without permission, though,
Secret Society Affiliation: FCCC- into Alpha Complex. If they do end another Junior Citizen rushes in and
P up going in this back door, they meet salutes.
Armor: Hazard suit a circle of seven tall people in dark
Weapons: Unclogging pole, O5K robes, who communicate silently ‘Sir! Sir! Johnson’s set himself on
through telepathy. They stare at fire with his mind sir!’ bleats the
■ The Rescue Parties
each of the characters, nod, then
vanish into the shadows. Nina isn’t
child. With a sigh, Stepplecruch
stalks away from the characters to
The various groups sent to rescue ready yet, but Psion will keep an deal with this latest crisis, leaving
or recapture the characters can eye—or a mind—on her. them to contemplate the increasing
show up at any time. Bring them weirdness of their lives…
in whenever things start to drag. Louis-U’s Minions: Louis-U
Ideally, the characters should find contacts the Armed Forces and
themselves bouncing from one orders them to scout the area.

FRIEND COMPUTER WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME FNORD. 57

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
4. Commie on Campus
Synopsis: The characters are put specialty (other than Violence want (‘yeah, you saw some guys
on the crèche FunBall team after and FunBall-specific ones) in biohazard suits chopping up this
a Horrible Accident. While training, may be used once per match thing in the corridor. It looked like
they discover a mysterious stranger only. a chunk of purple tentacle’) as it’s
hiding in the tunnels underneath 2. The player makes the skill irrelevant to this scenario. If they
the crèche. He recognizes them, check. ask why they’re the ones chosen
and offers to help them uncover the 3. Play passes to the next to be the new team, instead of
mysteries of their pasts. However, player on the other team. someone actually competent, then
he’s actually the disgraced Jericho– 4. If both players make Stepplecruch just mutters something
V, now a wanted criminal, and successful checks, or if both about the No Child Left On The
what he wants isn’t good for the fail, then the play is a draw. If Bench equal opportunity sports
characters. one succeeds and the other program.
fails, then the successful
■ What Happened
5.
team wins that play.
The first team to get three
Sever meets the characters at
the FunBall court. JCT Sector has
Since Last year successful plays in a row reached the semi-finals of the
Another year has passed since wins. inter-sector Junior Citizen Junior
the last scenario. What have the 6. Yay! Go Team! FunBall Junior League, and it is a
character done since then? Have matter of school pride that they win.
they tried to join secret societies?
Has Joe made contact with the
■ School Assemblies Are They’re up against their traditional
rivals in NCT Sector, and they’ve
Commies, or has Thomas renewed Like Briefings, Only got to win! Why, some people
his old FCCCP contacts? With Less Firepower have hinted that the unnameable
incident was actually…sabotage by
■ Funball Again, the morning assembly
is the kick-off for the scenario.
NCT! It’s staggering to think that
some citizens could be so unloyal
FunBall is the main approved sport Stepplecruch sweeps in, looking as to do…that just to win a FunBall
in Alpha Complex. It’s Fun. With a more and more like some sort of league, but traitors are everywhere.
ball. And a set of rules big enough to mutant flightless bird every day. He issues the characters with their
stun an ox, and complex enough to FunBall uniforms (body armor, visor,
make grown lawyers cry. There are ‘Good morningcycle citizens.’ FunBall Batstick, ball spray, springs,
many, many variations and special GOOD MORNINGCYCLE, MR. nets, helmet camera, flares, etc
rules relating to FunBall, most of STEPPLECRUCH. etc) and then introduces them to
which center around allowing or ‘Firstly, discussion of the recent the crèche’s newest acquisition—
banning various forms of heavy incident on the FunBall court the FunBall Auto-Batter 5,000s, a
artillery.* must stop. The accident has been FunBall playing bot. It’s designed
classified YELLOW, and no one is to simulate an entire opposing
Here are the rules for playing FunBall permitted to discuss it, or even think FunBall team on its own, so it’s
in PARANOIA. about it. The radiation has been covered in arms, bats, nets, hoses,
1. The player picks what skill he cleared up, and the chemical spills chainsaws and other entirely legal
is going to use. Violence is should evaporate naturally on their sports utensils. Sever orders the
always appropriate, as is any own soon. However, the crèche’s characters to practice with the Auto-
FunBall-related specialty. FunBall team has unfortunately Batter for a while, then leaves.
Other skills and specialties been erased by the unnameable
of any kind may be used, as incident, therefore, we need a new However, the Auto-Batter actually
long as the player quotes a team.’ was sabotaged by Jericho-V to
FunBall rule or regulation that lead the characters to him. He’s
fits. As the FunBall rules do He smiles and presses a reprogrammed the Auto-Batter
not exist, the players have to button. Spotlights illuminate the using the OMEGA code, and it’s
make them up. Each skill or characters. now going to attack the characters
and frame NCT Sector Crèche
* A fuller description of FunBall is in the free ‘Hello, new FunBall team. Report so Jericho-V can manipulate the
download Elective Activity or Pursuit Clubs, to Mr. Sever for training after characters’ desire for revenge on
a chapter cut from The Traitor’s Manual classes.’
supplement. It is available at http://www.
mongoosepublishing.com/pdf/parasocialclubs.
pdf, along with many other fine forms and other The players may ask what happened * Yes, it’s an absurdly convoluted plan. He’s
downloads to the old FunBall team. Give ex-VIOLET, what do you expect?
whatever contradictory hints you

58 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 4: COMMIE ON CAMPUS
their rivals.* It’s now a combination ■ The Man Under The Floor Jericho-V
Friendly FunBall Simulating Bot and As the characters scrub the oil stains Management 13
a Psychotic Killing Machine. and pick up the debris, they discover Con Games 17
that the thrashing of the Auto-Batter Moxie 17
Examining the Auto-Batter reveals opened up an access panel in the Stealth 10
that it has four modes. floor, and some bits of the bot fell Sneaking 14
1. Training (FunBall skill 4) down there. They can hear some Security Systems 14
2. Easy (FunBall skill 8) motorized part still whirring and Violence 7
3. Hard (FunBall skill 12) tapping the walls, making an awful Energy Weapons 11
4. Professional (FunBall skill racket. (If they don’t go down the Hardware 10
16) hole, then Sever comes back in and Electronic Engineering 14
The Auto-Batter’s mode can be tells them that the repair bots need Software 14
changed in the middle of combat. all the parts from the Auto-Batter, Hacking 18
Its memory chips are stored beneath and no one is leaving until they find Operating Systems 18
a transparent plastic shield on all the Auto-Batter bot bits.) The Wetware 7
its side, and the characters can trapdoor leads to a narrow shaft, Suggestion 11
clearly see a little motorized caddy which leads to one of the thousands Mutant Power: Charm (Power 7)
switching chips around when the of miles of near-lightless access Secret Society Affiliation: None
mode is changed. However, thanks tunnels that riddle Alpha Complex. Armor: None
to the sabotage, any chips not being There’s a fetid smell coming from Weapons: None
used for FunBall are used for its the tunnel.
Improvised Weapon skill. (Subtract Jericho-V has been living in the
the bots current FunBall skill from 16 As they descend, something moves walls of Alpha Complex for as long
to get its Improved Weapon skill.) below them. The sounds from as any of the characters have been
the fallen motor part start moving alive. He’s got wild, wide eyes from
When turned on, the Auto- away from them, as it is picked ten years of living in constant semi-
Batter screeches ‘GLORY TO up by Jericho-V, who scuttles darkness, a ragged beard, and he’s
NCT CRECHE! TERMINATING away through the tunnels. The old haggard and whip-thin from near-
OPPOSING TEAM!’ and it will clone has trouble moving through starvation. He’s wearing a tattered
keep attacking the characters until the narrow tunnel, though, so the prison uniform over the threadbare
(a) they somehow destroy it or characters can catch up with him rags of a once-violet jumpsuit. He’s
(b) they win the FunBall game. easily enough. nested in the tunnels beneath the
The Auto-Batters’ wild attacks crèche for the last few
tear up much of the reconstructed
FunBall pitch, as it spits FunBalls,
slashes with its chainsaw, gouges
the ground and smashes through
walls in its relentless pursuit of the
characters.

Auto-Batter
FunBall 4/Improvised Violence 12
FunBall 8/ Improvised Violence 8
FunBall 12/ Improvised Violence
4
FunBall 16/ Improvised Violence
0
Armor: 1
Weapons: FunBall things O5K

Sever returns once the characters

have dealt with the Auto-Batter,
scowls at the devastation, and
orders the characters to clean up
the mess.

LADYBOT, LADYBOT, FLY AWAY HOME. 59

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
weeks. His little hideout is filled with bedding made up ■ More FunBall Fun
of discarded paperwork. The floor is covered with piles Soon after the characters return to the crèche,
of scavenged trays from cafeterias, which he licks to get Stepplecruch swoops down upon them. He’s furious
the necessary nutrients to survive. There’s also a tangle about the destruction of the Auto-Batter, and wants
of wires connected to a PDC which is wired into a cable the characters’ version of events. As the only version
running through the tunnel, giving him access to the gray of events that would make him happy is one where the
subnets. (He’s been selling high-clearance secrets on the Auto-Batter survives and the characters don’t, he remains
black market to survive.) angry no matter what they tell him. He also tells them
that one of the High Programmers has expressed an
Jericho-V immediately recognizes William and Joe at least interest in seeing the match—an honored Hero of the
as being related to his former ally and former Commie Complex named Louis-U. The characters had better win
contact respectively, but any Junior Citizens would be the upcoming FunBall match if they want to ever even see
of use to him. After ten years of exile, Jericho-V has a RED-clearance jumpsuit when they graduate.
happened upon a plan to regain some of his standing, but Stepplecruch sends them to speak to Vanessa, who
it needs a Junior Citizen. He knows about the abandoned has obtained footage of the NCT FunBall team in
OMEGA project to make sentient warbots that would action. Apparently, he says, Vanessa still has some
present a controllable threat to Alpha Complex, how it was useful contacts in Internal Security, as the footage is of
abandoned when Jericho-V attempted to frame the other the enemy’s training session. Reviewing the tape is a
members of the group as Commies, and how Markus-U depressing experience, as the team is vastly more skilled
fled Alpha Complex taking the OMEGA prototypes with than the characters. Indeed, it looks like there was an
him. Jericho-V still has a copy of the OMEGA code, accident in the NCT clone banks, as all their players look
and intends to install it into a new warbot. As Jericho-V almost identical. It’s like watching a whole clone family
is officially dead, then the disaster will be blamed on of superfit athletes playing at once.
Louis-U.
Vanessa suggests morale might play a factor in the
So, Jericho-V’s plot is: upcoming match—maybe if the characters organize a
1. Get the characters on his side. cheerleading team to support them in the match, it might
2. Get the characters to arrange for a school tour to demoralize the NCTers—or at least distract the characters
a warbot factory. from the prospect of inevitable defeat, because they don’t
3. Get the characters to install the OMEGA code onto have a hope of winning the match.
a warbot.
4. Command the warbot to go on a destructive
rampage across Alpha Complex.
5. Blame Louis-U.
6. ???
7. Profit.

■ Your New Best Friend

Jericho-V will try to ingratiate himself with the characters
by any means necessary. He will claim that he was once
a high-clearance executive, but that he was framed by
a conspiracy of traitors and banished from his formerly
high position. One day, he assures the characters, the
ongoing IntSec investigation will clear his name, but
until then he must fight to survive. If the characters could
smuggle him a morsel of food from the cafeteria, he would
be most grateful.

Jericho will try to convince the characters to trust him,

offering advice on whatever problems they have. He can
ensure they get excellent results in upcoming exams,
put them in touch with secret societies, show them how
best to deal with their enemies and how to navigate the
labyrinthine bureaucracy of Alpha Complex.

After a few minutes of conversation, Jericho-V sends

the characters back to the surface, telling them not to
tell anyone about him; they’d assuredly get into trouble
if they did.

60 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 4: COMMIE ON CAMPUS
■ Sever’s Office He also introduces Ken-B-KRS-2, an IntSec agent. IntSec
What if the characters are really honest, and turn Jericho- intelligence has led them to believe that a Commie agent
V into the authorities? Troubleshooters descend on named Jericho may be trying to infiltrate the school.
the crèche, lasers blasting, and eventually capture the The Junior Citizens should not panic, but should report
renegade. Commendations all round. Soon afterwards, anything out of the ordinary to Mr. Sever immediately,
IntSec agents enter the school and take Vanessa-Y away who will then pass it on to IntSec. There are BIG CASH
for questioning too. If the characters search Jericho-V’s REWARDS for turning in traitors! (If anyone does spill
nest, they find a copy of the OMEGA program and notes the beans about Jericho-V to Sever, then the teacher
on how he was going to use it to gain control of a warbot. claims the reward himself.)
The characters could even try to replicate his plan.
The Mighty Metal factory is very impressive indeed, if you
like Death Star architecture (lots of pointless bits with no
■ The High Programmer Cometh railings, lots of glowing lights without discernable purpose).
Bots of all shapes and sizes are under construction,
Jericho-V’s plan revolves around framing Louis-U for from giant 40-foot-tall warbots to little scrubbots and
the warbot rampage, which relies on Louis-U being in jackobots. The manager of the factory is Neal-B-RSC-3,
his private ivory tower of ultimate leisure, and not out a moderately competent supervisor who’s able to stay on
in public at a Junior league FunBall match. Jericho-V top of things when the factory is running like a well-oiled
has no idea that his old rival is going to show up at the machine and nothing goes wrong. Add a few dozen
match, and will not believe the characters if they repeat crazed kids on stimulant drugs running around at random,
what Stepplecruch said. pulling every lever and pressing every button they can
find, though, and things rapidly become unsmooth.
■ Hey Mister, Can You Help Us However, the teacher supervising the tour, Vanessa-Y,
sticks close to the characters. If a few Junior Citizens are
Win The Funball Match crushed by a passing industrial bot, that’s bad, but if the
When told about their FunBall plight, Jericho-V puts second FunBall team gets splatted, that’s far worse. In
his plan into action. There’s a little-known rule in Alpha order to insert the disc given by Jericho-V, the characters
Complex—if a PLC service firm gets a request for a school will have to distract Vanessa-Y somehow.
tour, they have to accept, even if the firm’s activities are
classified. The Computer values the education of its There are plenty of computer terminals where they
beloved Junior Citizens very highly. What the characters can insert the disc. When it’s activated, the computer
need to do is arrange a school tour to the Mighty Metal screen flashes up the message ‘OMEGA ACTIVE.
robotics firm, who make all sorts of bots—including the bot DOWNLOADING TO TARGET BOTS NOW...’ The code
brains of FunBalls. Once the characters are in the factory, is automatically transferred to two bot brains—a FunBall
Jericho-V assures them, they just need to insert this virus and a warbot.
(he gives them a disc with the OMEGA code on it) into a
computer there. It’ll give them control of the brand-new Back at the crèche, Jericho-V shows the characters how
FunBall that will be used in the match, as Mighty Metal to use a standard PDC to control the FunBall brain using
supplies all the FunBalls used in local games. the OMEGA control backdoor. The code also makes the
bots sentient megalomaniacs who swear eternal hatred
The first step is getting the service firm to arrange a of Alpha Complex, but he doesn’t mention that little quirk.
school tour. One of the characters needs to write up a This works as follows:
letter to the manager of the firm, and get Stepplecruch
to sign it. Then, drop the letter into an outgoing mail tray 1 Any character with a PDC can access the FunBall
in a teacher’s office, and wait. It’s up to the players how and make it do whatever they want—it’s got its
they accomplish this. own little jet engines to zoom around the court.
Controlling the FunBall requires a Software check,
■ An Assembly About Bot Assembly and a successful check means the characters
automatically win that play. (See the FunBall rules
The daycycle after the characters get the letter out, on page 58.)
Stepplecruch announces that the crèche has been invited
to tour a bot factory. It will be a fascinating and useful 1 In any round that none of the characters use a
experience for the Junior Citizens, many of whom will PDC, FunBall play continues normally, but the
spend their entire lives in pointless low-level jobs like ball starts shouting that ‘ALPHA COMPLEX
cleaning such factories once all the skilled engineers and WILL FALL BEFORE MY ROBOTIC HORDES’
programmers have finished their duties for the day. or ‘COMMIEBOTS UNITE TO DESTROY THE
FLESHBEINGS!’ and other less-than-loyal
slogans.

SOYLENT RED EACH DAY, KEEPS THE DOCBOT AWAY. 61

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
■ The Funball Match Meanwhile, in his hidden lair beneath the court, Jericho-
The daycycle of the big match dawns. The match is V puts his cunning plan into operation. He uses the
being held at the JCT court, so the school is suddenly OMEGA code to take control of a warbot from the Mighty
crowded with referees, fans, coaches, trainers, souvenir Metal factory and sends it on a rampage. The bot’s
sellers, pundits, and other sports parasites. There’s also rampage is shown on one of the smaller pictures on the
lots and lots of security, because of the impending visit big TV screen in the FunBall court. Speaking through
of the High Programmer. The characters are by far the the warbot, Jericho-V shouts ‘KNEEL BEFORE THE
least important part of the whole event, and are virtually WRATH OF LOUIS-U, ALPHA COMPLEX! YOU NEVER
ignored in the whirlwind of preparation. Notably, a huge SUSPECTED I WAS A TRAITOR, BUT I REALLY AM!
television screen is set up in the FunBall court, for second- YOU FOOLS TURNED ON JERICHO-V WHEN I WAS
by-second replays of events in the match. THE REAL COMMIE! NOW I TAKE MY REVENGE FOR
NO APPARENT REASON!’
Soon before the match begins, the team and supporters
from NCT Sector arrive. As previously seen in the On the FunBall court, Louis-U shrugs—he’s clearly not
training video, they are all nigh-identical hulking brutes the one in control of the warbot, as he’s out in public
who probably gland combat drugs straight into their at a FunBall match. One of the security guards shouts
brainstems. Without cheating, the characters don’t have ‘but he’s right here’, and Jericho-V overhears this. As
a hope. the characters play FunBall, they may notice Jericho-V
poke his head out of the hidden trapdoor, see Louis-U,
Finally, the High Programmer himself arrives. An mutter a profanity, then duck back down underground.
awed hush spreads over the assembled citizens, as Jericho-V then orders the warbot to start making its way
this is the first time most of them have ever seen an toward the JCT crèche—if he can’t frame Louis-U, then
ULTRAVIOLET. All of the characters do notice a distinct he can at least kill him with the warbot.
resemblance between Louis-U and William, although
the High Programmer will studiously ignore his son for As the warbot approaches JCT Sector, the control signals
security reasons. Seconds after the High Programmer to the FunBall get mixed up with the ones going to the
arrives, IntSec agents drag several people in the crowd warbot. There is a 50% chance that any commands the
away—Louis-U’s presence draws out the assassins and characters send to the ball get sent to the bot instead.
the crazy people. Bodyguards are suddenly everywhere The characters can hear the massive warbot crashing
except on the FunBall court itself. through the walls and corridors between the factory and
the crèche, and the whole crisis is being carried live on
news channels anyway*.
NCT FunBall Players
Management 6 *: It’s part of a new reality show, ‘Troubleshooter Live’. The censors
Intimidation 10 carefully black out any section of the screen that show the Troubleshooters
Stealth 9 failing in any way, and the commentators are expected to be unfailingly
High Alert 13 positive and happy at all times. ‘It might look like that Troubleshooter got
hit with a missile and blown into little wet fragments but he’s just lulling
Violence 12 that Commie bot into a false sense of security!’
FunBall 16
Hardware 5
Software 5
Wetware 5
Mutant Power: Varies—throw in Adrenaline Control,
■ They Think It’s All Over
Mental Blast, or Uncanny Luck if the characters are There are two conflicts the Troubleshooters need to
winning too easily win here—the FunBall match and the battle for survival
Secret Society Affiliation: None against the rampaging warbot. If Jericho-V’s hiding
Armor: None place is discovered or if he is captured, then the warbot
Weapons: None continues to fulfill its primary OMEGA function of
destroying Alpha Complex, so just removing the crazed
traitor isn’t a full solution.
■ Let’s Fun That Funball!
If they win the match and the crèche isn’t completely
The game begins. The FunBall launches itself into the destroyed, then they are grudgingly congratulated by
air from the regulation FunBall Deployment Chute, and Stepplecruch and get to be in the presence of the High
squawks ‘DEATH TO THE HATED MINIONS OF THE Programmer himself for a few moments—what an honor!
COMPUTER!’ Fortunately for the characters, no one If they lose the match, then Stepplecruch blames them
hears the ball’s initial declaration of treasonous hate, as for everything that went wrong, and the multi-trillion cost
it immediately gets thwacked by a well-placed bat from of the repairs to Mighty Metal and the rest of the sector
the NCT team. The game begins. will be taken out of their allowances.

62 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

5. Graduation
Another year has gone by, and the characters are now none of the characters have ever had any real contact
approaching the end of their final year in the crèche. with. He’s a quiet, serious young citizen, a solid candidate
Once they pass the final exam that assigns them to their for a CPU clerk or maybe HPD&MC censor. Tonight,
service groups, they’ll be out of the crèche and into The though, he seems animated and determined. This is his
Computer’s loyal workforce. This one exam will shape hour. He holds aloft a yellowing piece of paper, crumbled
the future careers of the characters for the rest of their and stained and torn and obvious quite old.
lives (or until some random error sends transfers them
to Stripped Wire Plastic Recycling in the depths of Tech ‘My fellow citizens! Tonight we give thanks to that
Services). Or will it…? nameless Junior Citizen of old who found this document!
From it, we know how the exam works, and how we can
Synopsis: The characters are preparing for their final all work together to get the best possible results.’
exams, when a cabal of fellow Junior Citizens reveals
the deadly truth about the Alpha Complex education ‘How?’ said a helpful prompter from the sidelines.
system. Just as they’re dealing with that revelation,
Vanessa-Y finally works out who the characters are. ‘The rules state clearly: anyone who does too well must
Unfortunately, she’s assassinated by Sever-R, who have been cheating and fails. Anyone who does very
kidnaps the characters and brings them to secret fortress well gets promoted to RED clearance. Those who get
of Markus-U. There, stuff explodes, and the characters an average result just pass the exam, while those who
are given a choice between betraying Alpha Complex do too badly are tagged as mentally defective and fail.
and risking termination, or staying loyal in the hopes of So, if all give the same answers, we’ll all get the average
an uncertain future. result, and we’ll all be fine.’

■ The Final Assembly Brock produces a stack of sheets of paper. ‘These are
average answer sheets. Just memorize these and give
Stepplecruch addresses the crowd of Junior Citizens. those answers to the exam questions. If anyone even
Once, you were struggling to see over the heads of older, thinks of trying to study anything else, then they’re
taller citizens; now you’re in your final year, the biggest traitors to the class and must be stopped by any means
and most powerful class in the school, kings of your own necessary. Everyone clear with that?’
little domain. Of course, that’s all about to end—the final
exams are coming. A moment’s thought reveals the flaw in Brock’s proposal.
If everyone else in the class is giving the same, average
‘The final exams are coming in three days’ time’, answers, then a little work and study means you can get
announces Stepplecruch, neatly segueing away from a higher mark than everyone else. That’s bad, because
your internal monologue, ‘as you know, the exams will getting a noticeably higher mark means The Computer
determine your future ideal place in our ideal society, as will think you cheated. However, if you get someone else
well as your initial security clearance and prospects for to work even harder, then they get tagged as a traitor, you
advancement. These exams will consist of both aptitude get a good result and get promoted, and everyone else
and loyalty tests, as well as tests of how much you scrapes a pass. In short, the system works best if you
have learned during your time in the crèche. Solely on convince other people to break ranks, then use them as
the grounds that your performance affects my end-of- shields for your own treachery. All of the smarter, more
yearcycle-bonus, I wish you good luck.’ ambitious people in the class immediately start trying
to convince each other to break ranks and study for the
Just as the characters are leaving the assembly hall, one
of their classmates, Ann-JC-JCT-1, beckons them over Other Students
and passes them a note. The note says ‘meet in hall 2 at Management 10
midnight. Be there or else!’. She then scurries away. Ann: Cramming 14
Brock: Oratory 14
■ The Midnight Meeting Stealth 8
Violence 7
If the characters don’t attend the meeting voluntarily, then Hardware 8
they’re dragged out of their bunks at around 0030 hours Software 8
by annoyed classmates. Wetware 8
Mutant Power: Varies. Brock: Deep Thought (Power
Everyone from the characters’ class* is at the meeting. 14), Ann: Hypersenses (Power 12)
Standing at the top of the auditorium is Brock-JC, who Secret Society Affiliation: None
Armor: None
* We’ve just realized that we’ve spared you the horror of D&D class jokes Weapons: None
all through this scenario…

FEE FI FO FUM, SMOKE A COMMIE WITH YOUR GUN! 63

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
exams. If the players don’t figure this one out, then Ann- Vanessa-Y will try to press the characters to turn each
JC comes and speaks to Eva or Thomas and tries to other in, hinting that she knows everything and they’re
convince them to study. in trouble anyway, so they may as well ameliorate their
plight by talking. Meanwhile, ask if the other players
■ Vanessa’s Interrogation are studying for their exams, or are they just using the
average answers provided by Brock?
The next day is given over entirely to study; the characters
have no classes to attend. However, each of them is
summoned individually to Vanessa-Y’s office. Take the
■ Sever’s Betrayal
player out of the room for this interrogation, to give the The next day is another day of study. During the night,
other players a chance to plot against him. In her office, Vanessa-Y goes to speak to the crèche’s loyalty officer,
Vanessa-Y interrogates each character in turn, asking Sever-R, to get the characters’ permanent records.
them about events in the previous adventures. She’s Sever has been suspicious of the characters since the
managed to put most of the characters’ backstories events of Mutant Testing Time, so he draws Vanessa-Y
together. She’ll ask questions like: into conversation about the Junior Citizens. She finally
confides her secret to him—all the trauma about being
1 William: Have you had any contact with High demoted down from the dizzy heights of VIOLET when
Programmer Louis-U? Do you know anything she was implicated in the whole OMEGA/Commie/
about illegal methods of procreation? UNCLE scandal. Sever-R listens carefully, puts two
and two together, mixes in his diabolical secret society
1 Nina: Are you a mutant? Have you had any contact contacts, and decides that this is his opportunity. He
with the secret society known as Psion? shoots Vanessa-Y hiding the body until he dumps it on
the way to Markus-U’s headquarters.
1 Joe: Are you familiar with the activities of the
Communist agent and enemy of the state Then, the next morning, Sever-R summons the
codenamed ‘UNCLE’? Are you aware of the characters to his office for a private conference. He sits
theoretical abuse of the MemoMax data buffers to all the characters down opposite him, and smiles. ‘It’s time
transfer memories into newly decanted clones? for a little career counseling, children. What do you think
you all have to offer Alpha Complex in the future?’ While
1 Thomas: Are you familiar with the activities of they’re singing their own praises, Sever-R overcharges
the Communist agent and enemy of the state his stun gun and zaps them all. Fade to black...
codenamed ‘UNCLE’? Are you aware of the
theoretical abuse of the MemoMax data buffers to
transfer memories into newly decanted clones?
■ The Fortress of Markus-U
The characters wake up on a cold metal floor. They’re in
1 Eva: Tell me everything you have observed about the throne room of renegade High Programmer Markus-U.
your fellow classmates. When he escaped from Alpha Complex, he took several

64 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 5: GRADUATION
dozen experimental bots infected eventually bring the characters into orchestrating their rise to power as
with the OMEGA program. In the Markus-U’s presence.* If Timmy part of his plot to take over the whole
last ten years, he and his psychotic activates this hidden program while complex. All they need to do is pass
metal minions have built a fortress close to Markus-U, it will destroy the their exams successfully.
and an army from scrap metal and OMEGA bots.
salvaged parts. He’s also gone
completely insane after ten years * Feel free to hint that Louis-U callously used
■ The Final Exam
alone with no company except for his son as bait for his old rival, because that’s However the characters escape the
exactly what he did.
megalomaniac warbots that hate all dangers of Outdoors, they still need
humans except when he is directly to pass their final exams. The Alpha
controlling them using the backdoor Marcus-U Complex Standardized Service
in the OMEGA code. Markus-U is Management 12 Qualification Test is a set of four
now a cackling madman clothed in Intimidation 16 three-hour exams that take place
salvaged panels from long defunct Laughing Maniacally 18 over two days. The first exam tests
bots, living in a teetering tower of Stealth 12 Management; after that, there’s
black scrap metal. High Alert 16 Hardware, Software, and Wetware.
Violence 8 The Cramming specialty can be
Markus-U is sitting on his throne, Energy Weapons 12 used instead.
surrounded by half a dozen of the Hardware 13
misshapen bots constructed from Bot Operations and If any of the characters follow the
spare parts since the exile. Sever- Maintenance 17 average answers given by Brock,
R is groveling in front of Markus-U, Software 15 then they count as failing by a
saying how these Junior Citizens Bot Programming 19 margin of five, regardless of their
are intimately connected to Markus- Hacking 19 actual skills. If they break ranks, then
U’s unfortunate exile and how the Operating Systems 19 they should roll the dice normally.
High Programmer of course will Wetware 12 Brock and Ann also break ranks.
want to take revenge on them. Mutant Power: Death Simulation Track the characters’ results for
Before Markus-U can reply, though, (Power 12) each test, ranking them as follows:
one of the bots lurches forward Secret Society Affiliation:
and impales Sever-R, screeching OMEGA Cult 1 Failures by a margin of six or
‘DEATH TO HUMANITY’. Markus-U Armor: Ornate Evil Overlord Armor more.
sighs, whips out his PDC and taps (3)
in a command; the bot returns to its Weapons: Laser pistol (W3K) 1 Failures by a margin of five—all
previous place. the Junior Citizens following
the average results fall into
Markus-U turns to the characters So, the characters’ choices are this category.
and introduces himself. Sever-R told either turn traitor and aid Markus-
him much about the characters while U, or use Timmy’s destruct code, 1 Failures by a margin of four or
they were unconscious. He has or just stall for time and hope for less.
bigger plans than just taking revenge rescue. The last one is fairly unlikely,
on them, though—the characters unless the characters have built up 1 Successes by a margin of five
can be of use to him. Each of them strong secret society contacts over or less.
has contacts and potentials that the years.
can be exploited—Nina has Psion, 1 Successes by a margin of six
Thomas has IntSec, CPU has been If Timmy uses his code, then all the to ten.
watching Eva and so forth. The other bots start exploding, which
hour of Markus-U’s glorious return makes the tower collapse. Instant 1 Successes by a margin of
is nigh, and the characters can be chaos. Markus-U screams and eleven or more.
his heralds. chases after the characters as they
feel down the creaking metal stairs Remember that Perversity can be
As all this is happening, Timmy and out into the Outdoors. Assuming spent on these rolls...
the PetBot’s hidden programming the characters avoid being shot by a
kicks in. He remembers that he has deranged High Programmer, they’ll After each test, note who’s in lowest
access to the OMEGA backdoor, eventually be rescued and brought category (Mentally Deficient), the
and that he is programmed with a back to Alpha Complex. next lowest (OK), the highest
self-destruct code for all of Markus- If the characters accept Markus-U’s (Commendable), and the next
U’s bots. Louis-U knew that Markus- proposal, then he has one of his bots highest (Treasonous). You should
U would be drawn to William and the fly them back to Alpha Complex. also give the players the aptitude
other Junior Citizens, and that one or He says that he will be in touch test forms.
other of the renegade’s agents would with them over the coming years,

DICKERY, DICKERY DARE, FLYBOTS UP IN THE AIR. 65

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
Alpha Complex Standardized Service After the tests, if a character ever fell
into the Treasonous category, they
Qualification Aptitude Test are called to Stepplecruch’s office
and told they have cheated in an
Failing to complete the test within the time allotted is not permitted. Circle the official test and this blight on their
most appropriate answer. Do not circle more than one answer. Candidate records will ensure they are never
is permitted one (1) can of B3 or other approved beverage per hour of the promoted. If a character ever fell into
exam. the Mentally Deficient category, then
he will be put on a higher, lifetime
Name: ________-__-_____-__ dose of Visomorphine, leaving him a
drooling vegetable capable of doing
Q1. You are a PLC employee working at your assigned lathe. A saboteur is nothing more than stirring food vats
engaged in sabotaging a neighbouring machine. Do you: and leering at Teela-O reruns.

A Immediately stop the saboteur, leaving your lathe to possibly spin out If a character managed to avoid both
of control Cheating and Mentally Deficient,
B Bring your lathe to a stop using approved safety procedures, then stop and got into the Commendable
the saboteur category on at least one occasion,
C Continue working, then report the sabotage to your supervisor then he is on the fast track to RED
D Not notice because you are so dedicated to your assigned work on leaving the crèche.

Q2. If you were a bot, you would be a: Finally, score the characters’
Aptitude test forms as follows:
A Construction Bot
B ScrubBot Odd questions: A=4, B=3, C=2,
C JackOBot D=1
D WarBot Even Questions: A=1, B=2, C=3,
D=4
Q3. The biggest threat to Alpha Complex is
6-12 points: Tech or Power
A Disloyalty and Badthought Services
B Mutants 13-16 points: HPD&MC or PLC
C Communism 17-20 points: Armed Forces or
D Sabotage R&D
21+ points: CPU or IntSec
Q4. The only good Commie is a:

A Dead Commie
■ Welcome To Alpha
B Commie in an Interrogation Cell Complex, Citizens
C Known Commie After the exams, the characters’
D There is no such thing as a Good Commie, the concept is time in the crèche is over. Once
meaningless. the results come in, the characters
are assigned to a service firm in
Q5. Information is restricted by security clearance: the appropriate service group,
reassigned to a new sector, and are
A To control access to it told to get out of the crèche by the
B Because people do not need to know things they do not need to end of the daycycle to make room for
know the next class of clones. It’s time for
C To ensure security heartfelt good-byes or last-minute
D To stop Commies from getting it backstabbing.

Q6. Which of these is the most important service group? What happens to the characters
in the future? Are they vile traitors,
A PLC, because it produces basic food already plotting with their secret
B Armed Forces, because they keep us safe societies, or are they loyal citizens?
C Power Services, because they keep the lights on Will they work together, or are they
D HPD&MC, because they keep us informed now sworn enemies? And what
happens in ten years’ time, when
they’re all assigned to the same
Troubleshooter team…?

66 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

Available FREE every month at MONGOOSEPUBLISHING.COM

67
SWEEP OF UNHISTORY

THE GLORIOUS FUTURE UNVEILED!

PARANOIA
™

Sweep of Unhistory
Alpha Complex, and my part in its downfall

GARETH HANRAHAN DAN GELBER CONTENTS

Writer/Scapegoat GREG COSTIKYAN Introduction 70
ERIC GOLDBERG Clones on Ice 71
BETH FISCHI Original game design & development/ Totally Recalled 73
ANDY FITZPATRICK Building committee Red Dawncycle 77
ALLEN VARNEY The Humanist Yearcycles 82
Editing, graphics/Drillbots IAN BELCHER
The War of NOS Sector 86
Mongoose publications manager/
JIM HOLLOWAY Waste Not, Want Not 90
Construction supervisor
Cover and interior illustrations/Blueprints Archipelago Complex 94
ALEXANDER FENNELL Alpha Matrix 98
NICK ROBINSON Mongoose Publishing production director/ The Cockroach Era 100
Layout/Yellow-Clearance monkey Struts around wearing fun yellow hardhat

RON BEDISON THE COMPUTER

Proofreader/Intsec goon Never wrong. Ever.

Security Clearance ULTRAVIOLET

WARNING :
Knowledge or possession of this information by any citizen
of Security Clearance VIOLET or lower is treason punishable by a
long spell of Armed Forces latrine scrubot maintenance duty.

TM & Copyright © 1983, 1987, 2007 by Eric Goldberg & Greg Costikyan. All Rights Reserved. Mongoose Publishing Ltd., Authorized User. Based on material published in
previous editions of PARANOIA.
ILLUMINATI is a registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games, and is used by permission.
The reproduction of material from this book for personal or corporate profit, by photographic, electronic, or other means of storage and retrieval, is prohibited. You may
copy character sheets, record sheets, checklists and tables for personal use.
E-mail questions and comments to Mongoose Publishing at [email protected] or write to Mongoose Publishing, 52-54 Cricklade Road, Swindon,
Wiltshire SN8 2AF, UK.
On the World Wide Web: www.mongoosepublishing.com.
Published by Mongoose Publishing, Ltd. Publication MGP 6657. Published April 2007. Printed in the UK.
 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
1. Introduction
■ Yearcycle 214 ergonomic footwear. In all the yearcycle 214s stretching
At the tone, it will be 5.00am on Twosday, Day 128, out in front of us, our oppression will come in exciting
Yearcycle 214. Your duty cycle begins now. Good brave new forms.
morning citizen.
At the tone, it will be 5.00am on Onesday, Day 001,
It has always and will always be yearcycle 214 of The Yearcycle 214. Your duty cycle begins now. Good
Computer’s glorious reign. The first yearcycle 214 was morning citizen.
such a good yearcycle, there was no sense in letting it go
after only one iteration. 214’s a nice number; it suggests And that, in a nutshell, is The Sweep of Unhistory. The
that the current regime is established enough to be secure Troubleshooters are recloned and retconned over and
and bravely forging forward into the future, but that its over again, brought back in successive eras of Alpha
enemies are still lurking out there, waiting for their chance. Complex future history, to bring their unique skills to bear
214 means constant vigilance, constant paranoia. on a series of problems. From the next few yearcycles to
the distant future of the complex, The Sweep of Unhistory
At the tone, it will be 5.00am on Foursday, Day 320, will bring the Troubleshooters into increasingly strange
Yearcycle 214. Your duty cycle begins now. Good yet nightmarishly familiar missions.
morning citizen.
When the horn howls, it will be Sunburning on the Day of
Whenever the yearcycle rolls around, The the Gray Worm, Yearcycle 214. Your impressment begins
Computer’s loyal army of editors and censors now. Good morning freeclone.
goes to work. The official histories have to be
rewritten each time. Approved events are added to
the archives; unapproved events are unhappened
and made unhistory. A billion billion forms need
to be edited and updated to the new, official
timeline. Great processing storms sweep across
the faltering computer nets, running a swarm of
scripts to edit all the databases. The occasional
date bug leading to reactor meltdowns needs to
be fixed (or edited out of the official history). The
population, too, needs to be adjusted. Memories
edited. Badthoughts and badhistories suppressed.
By the time the legacy of the last yearcycle 214
has been integrated into the approved history,
why, it’s almost time for the next yearcycle 214!*

At the tone, it will be 5.00am on

Mandatoryreportingday, Day 365, Yearcycle
214. Your duty cycle begins now. Good morning
citizen.

To quote Orwell’s 1984: ‘If you want a vision

of the future, imagine a boot stamping on
a human face—forever.’ Well, up to a point,
George. Yes, the future of Alpha Complex is an
infinity of oppression, fear and suffering, but that
doesn’t mean that that black jackboot can’t be
replaced by other, more stylish and wonderfully Josou-R-RSE-2 about to fit waste and sustenance tubes as he prepares to
enter the Computer’s simulation of Alpha Complex in ‘Alpha Matrix’

* CPU privately estimates that by yearcycle 214 of The Computer, the backlog of work involved in processing the past yearcycle 214 will overspill into the
next yearcycle 214, or possibly even into the following 214. This will result in yearcycle 214 not being reconciled with the official histories until at least
yearcycle 214!

It is plain to see how confusing this might be.

70 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 2. CLONES ON ICE
1. Clones on Ice
2.
As it was and ever shall be, the Troubleshooters receive a (Tampering with the controls will also disable any and all
mission alert, calling them to serve their beloved complex. lights on the flybot, in case you want a really early dark
They are to report to a flybot hangar in a nearby sector. room scene.)
The flybot is waiting there for them, bearing the mark of
the R&D service group. As soon as all the Troubleshooters Eventually, the flybot’s headlong flight levels off, and it
are on board, the flybot’s windows polarize (to block the lands. A pair of Vulture Troopers are waiting outside, who
sight of Outside from the passengers) and the flybot lead the Troubleshooters through an anonymous and
launches at an unreasonable velocity out over the domes. deserted corridor ending in a huge blast door. The door
A short safety video plays as the Troubleshooters are opens, revealing the concrete walls of a vault deep within
crushed down into their uncomfortable foam seats. (In Alpha Complex. The massive weight of the concrete dome
the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, please fill above the Troubleshooters’ heads is supported by huge
out form TS/3433/em/b, Request for The Deployment metal braces. Everything, even the lights, is massively
of Oxygen Masks. If you qualify for mask deployment, it reinforced and obviously designed to last for eons. At
will drop from the panel over your head. Please fasten the far end of the chamber is a big lump of metal that
the mask securely and breathe normally. If you do not resembles a cloning machine.
qualify for a mask, please hold your breath until normal
pressure is restored. Normal pressure will be restored The Troubleshooters are greeted by an R&D researcher,
within five working days.) Ray-G-OOD-3, the technician assigned to their initial
test of the facility. Ray-G hands the Troubleshooters
After a short yet stressful flight, the Troubleshooters feel a brochure about the facility, and hustles them toward
the flybot angle steeply forward, diving into the ground the big cloning machine. There are lots of stern Vulture
at an alarming speed. It’s actually diving toward a deep Troopers standing around, constantly vigilant in case
access shaft, but since the windows are polarized, Commies are somehow hiding in the brushed concrete
the Troubleshooters don’t know that. If they sit tight, walls.
everything’s fine. If they leave their seats (Please return
to your seat, citizen! Failure to return to your seat will At the cloning machine, Ray-G explains that they need
result in denial of complimentary P-Nut concentrate!) to test the Deep Storage Emergency System Backup
and tamper with the controls (Please do not tamper with Backup System by storing the genetic code and
the controls, as it may result in death!), then they can MemoMax personality patterns of a Troubleshooter team
heroically seize control of their own destinies by flying in the cloning facility. All he needs, says Ray-G, is a brain
the flybot into the ground. The flybot’s bot brain has put core sample from each of the Troubleshooters, and he
the plane on autopilot (or, more accurately, slaved the takes out a nasty looking piece of surgical steel.
controls to one of its lower-end subroutines so it can
get back to writing Corpore Metal propaganda on the If the Troubleshooters quibble, then those stern Vulture
gray subnets), so it’s of no help to the Troubleshooters. Troopers proceed to dequibble with extreme prejudice.

■ Handout – Deep Storage Emergency System Backup Backup System

The Deep Storage Emergency System Backup Backup System corrects the main drawback of the original Deep Storage
Emergency System Backup that the Internal Security Post-Crisis-Management Mass Debriefing of 124/214 identified
in their report Lack of Backup Redundancy in the Deep Storage Emergency System Backup. The new Total Quality
in Crisis Management Initiative (v2.1*) called for the establishment of a secondary Backup System to compensate for
any (impossible) failures in the (infallible) Deep Storage Emergency System Backup. In the (impossible) event of a
failure in both the Main System and the Deep Storage Emergency System Backup, then the Deep Storage Emergency
System Backup Backup System would activate (although this would never happen), cloning and decanting an elite
Crisis Management team who would then deal with the crisis. To ensure the safety and security of the Deep Storage
Emergency System Backup Backup System, the entire facility will be located 1.4 vertical kilometers below Alpha
Complex, [CENSORED] and designed to last indefinitely. Power will be provided by an internal micropile with an
indefinite useful lifespan.

CPU is now engaged on a lengthy database search to identify those Heroes of The Complex who will be preserved in
the Deep Storage Emergency System Backup Backup System, who will stand vigilant over Alpha Complex, ready to
save the day if all other defenses fail.

(Which, as has already been stated, is utterly impossible and will never happen.)

* Replacing the old 2.0 Total Quality in Crisis Management, deprecated following the [CENSORED].

REJOICE. YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR A PERFECTLY SAFE MISSION. HONEST. 71
 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
Once the brain samples have been acquired, Ray-G in the cloning facility. An automated announcement
orders the Troubleshooters to report to the control center says ‘TEST COMPLETE. IF THIS WERE A REAL
overlooking the facility. EMERGENCY, THE FATE OF ALPHA COMPLEX
WOULD BE IN YOUR HANDS. THIS IS NOT A REAL
The control center is a small booth, constructed out of EMERGENCY. STAY ALERT AND MONITOR OFFICIAL
the same dense metal as the cloning machine. Seated CHANNELS FOR DETAILS OF ANY UPCOMING
at the booth is a fresh-faced young tech, Andy-R-SPL-1, EMERGENCIES. TRUST NO ONE, CITIZENS.’
who cheerily tells the Troubleshooters that he is proud to
have volunteered to be the custodian of the Deep Storage Ray-G returns and congratulates the Troubleshooters on
Emergency System Backup Backup System. He is willing a successful test. They’ve served The Computer well, and
and happy to serve The Computer in whatever way he official commendations are entered all around. Another
can, and he is eager to prove himself worthy of the trust group of Troubleshooters enter the room—they’re all
the Troubleshooters have placed in him. Make Andy-R as INDIGO-Clearance, square-jawed, heroic, infinitely
naturally bouncy and bubbly as you can—genuinely loyal competent and loyal. Ray-G indicates that these are the
and eager, he doesn’t need happy pills to be happy. real Emergency Backup team, that the Troubleshooters
were just the final test before the system goes live.
Anyway, while Andy-R’s burbling at the Troubleshooters, Assuming nothing goes wrong in the future, mutters
Ray-G and the Vulture Troopers start backing out of Ray-G, this facility will never be used. But Alpha Complex
the vault. Unless the Troubleshooters do something must be prepared!
very clever very quickly, then Ray-G reaches the door,
shouts ‘INITIATE TEST FIRING’ and chucks a grenade If the Troubleshooters hang around, they see Ray-G
in just as the blast doors close. The grenade goes off respectfully take brain core samples from the new
three rounds after the blast doors close, and will kill the VIOLET team, and hand them to a shell-shocked Andy-
Troubleshooters and Andy-R. If any of the characters R-2. (It was Andy’s first death, and he’s not coping well.)
have Energy Field or other defensive mutations, then The new Troubleshooters get an urgent mission alert
upgrade it to a nuclear grenade. It will, however, prove (Team! Batclone has been sighted in TRS Sector! To
that the cloning facility and control panel are utterly the briefing!) and zoom off. The Troubleshooters are left
invulnerable to conventional attack. to make their own way back from this isolated sector to
the main body of Alpha Complex.
Whether or not the Troubleshooters survive, fresh clone
versions of both them and Andy-R are swiftly prepared They will never return here in their current lifetimes.

72 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 3: TOTALLY RECALLED
3. Totally Recalled
When: T+10 yearcycles. Sharon-G-RSC-4 them are actually degraded copies
Management 8 who should be deleted. She fires
Synopsis: The original clone- Oratory 12 some questions at them, to test their
sequences of the Troubleshooters Bootlicking 12 mental capacities. What’s 47 times
are still around. After ten yearcycles, Making Ticks on Her Clipboard 18? (846) What clearance comes
they’ve risen through the ranks and in a Really Intimidating Fashion after BLUE? What service firms did
are now influential and dangerous 14 the Troubleshooters work for? Who
people. Schemes are afoot to bring Stealth 8 is the cell leader of the Communists
them down, and those schemes Surveillance 12 in this sector? Where were the
repeatedly involve fresh clones from Violence 10 Troubleshooters on the Foursday
the DSESBBS. Hardware 8 before they were called to test the
Software 10 DSESBBS?
State of Alpha Complex: Pretty Wetware 12
much unchanged. A little shabbier. Medical 16 If any of the Troubleshooters pauses,
The Computer continues its slow Cloning 16 or says anything about being
decline toward electronic senility. Mutant Powers: Pyrokinesis confused, or questions Sharon-
(Power 10) G’s authority, then she frowns,
Who’s In Charge?: Still Secret Society Affiliation: Same purses her lips, makes a tick on her
The Computer and the High as her Mysterious Patron (i.e., clipboard and mutters something
Programmers. pick one of the Troubleshooter’s about obvious mental decay. She
secret societies). then beckons for the team to follow
Changes to Clearance & Armor: GREEN reflec, E1 her—there’s more testing to be
Regulations: Nothing significant. Weapons: Laser pistol, W3K done.

What’s Treasonous?: The usual. jumpsuit this time. There’s also a

Deprecated: Flavor 21b; Use of

stern woman in green, who greets
the Troubleshooters. She’s carrying
■ The Rewards Of
the Term ‘bot’—they are now called a clipboard. Loyal Service
‘mechanoids’. This was done as Sharon-G issues each of the
part of a high-level paperwork war This is all quite disconcerting for Troubleshooters with a PDC, a ME
between Tech Services and CPU, as the Troubleshooters. The woman card and a laser pistol. If carefully
millions of forms and manuals had to in green introduces herself as examined, the laser pistols turn
be pulped and reissued to remove Sharon-G-RSC-4, and explains that out to have tracking devices hastily
the deprecated term. this is a test of the DSESBBS. Tech inserted into their ergonomic
Services are concerned that there Secu-Grip handles (a security
■ Welcome Back, may be degradation in the genetic
records or personality copies of the
precaution Sharon-G added after
the last disaster). She then loads
Troubleshooters clones stored in the DSESBBS. the Troubleshooters into an autocar
The team awakens in the cloning Oh, and that thanks to a user error with opaque windows, which zooms
facility in the DSESBBS. The ten years ago, the patterns of the off at high speed.
concrete chamber has changed elite INDIGO team that should
since they last saw it—their last have been stored in the DSESBBS She’s dropping the Troubleshooters
memory is probably* walking out of got deleted. A new DSESBBS off at one of the apartments owned
the vault, which was the last time the backup is under construction, but by the Group A clones. Pick one of
MemoMax memories in the cloning the Troubleshooters don’t need to the Troubleshooters randomly—
facility were updated. Technician worry about that. Anyway, Sharon- it’s his apartment (or rather, the
Andy is still there—he’s looking ten G is here to do some quick tests on apartment owned by his clone-self
years older and a lot less fresh- the Troubleshooters, to see if any of in Group A*).
faced, and he’s wearing a yellow
* The MemoMax system containing the personalities of the frozen Troubleshooters from the DSESBBS is not in sync with the MemoMax system used by
the normal cloning banks. The Troubleshooters’ memories therefore diverged from those of their original clone line at the end of Clones on Ice—unless
you want to run a few scenarios between the end of the last scenario and the start of this one, in which case the MemoMax systems resynchronize at
randomly convenient times.

You know, we may be thinking about this a bit too hard. A wizard did it, ok?

Oh, unless otherwise noted, the Troubleshooters wake up with no equipment. There are usually a few jumpsuits, laser pistols and PDCs laid out for them,
though.

COMMIES ALL AROUND, BE CAREFUL NOT TO STEP IN ANY! 73

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
* The English** language is woefully under- ■ What’s Going On?
equipped, grammatically speaking, in terms Sharon-G is not a Tech Services employee—she’s actually in another service
of pronouns for alternate versions of yourself.
Maybe we should start using subscripts. ‘Ia, Ib group, and is working for a Mysterious Patron. She is desperately trying to
and Ic were walking down the corridor, then Ib salvage her Cunning Plot to take down her Patron’s enemies. Here’s where
dropped a piece of paper from myb’s pocket, it gets complicated.
and Ia saw that it was communist propaganda,
so Ic shot meb, but Ic missed and shot mea!’ In Let’s call the Player Characters Group C. The original clone line of the
which case, Troubleshooterc is entering hisa Troubleshooters, the ones who have been running around Alpha Complex
apartment, which has already been raided by
himb. for the last ten years and are all now high-clearance bigshots with all sorts of
nefarious plots and minions, we’ll call them Group A. One of Group A is Sharon-
On second thoughts, we won’t use subscripts, G’s Mysterious Patron. He or she told Sharon-G about that long-ago incident
for they are a pain to type. in the DSESBBS, and how they could turn it to their advantage. Sharon-G
was instructed to go to the DSESBBS and bribe Andy-R into producing a
** If you are reading this in a translation, then batch of clones of Group A, who would then commit identity theft, breaking
replace ‘English’ with your own language.
Unless it’s German, which probably already into the private files and treasure vaults of the Group A clones. These, we’ll
covers this in one of its 50 zillion tenses. call Group B.
There must have been some secretive cabal
of German linguists back in the middle ages The problem is that the Group B clones have double-crossed Sharon-G. They
where one of them went ‘y’know, this language stole all the blackmail material, secret files, illegal weapon, dangerous R&D
could use more grammar’, and the rest said gadgets, exotic drugs and other treasures gathered by Group A over ten
‘yeah!’ instead of strangling him with the
pluperfect.*** years of double-dealing. Rather than admit her failure, Sharon-G ran back to
Andy-Y and had him produce another batch of clones—Group C, the Player
*** It’s totally true. All Germans are obsessed Characters. Sharon-G is gambling that the Group Cs will be able to track
by grammar. I read it in the Earth Alliance down the Group Bs so she can recover the stolen possessions of the Group
Factbook for Babylon 5. And all Welsh people As for her Mysterious Patron.
are really good space pilots. Really.
What Sharon-G doesn’t yet know is that her Mysterious Patron is one of the
The autocar stops at the end of a Group As, who is planning to eliminate his or her old allies—the rest of Group
BLUE-Clearance corridor. Sharon-G A. The Mysterious Patron has secretly contacted Internal Security, informing
tells the Troubleshooters to go up on his companions and offering the contents of the vaults stolen by the Group
the corridor and enter the quarters at Bs as evidence of their treachery.
the far end, where they will be tested
for mental or genetic deviancy. If Who Is The Mysterious Patron? Unfortunately, not even Famous Game
the Troubleshooters quibble about Designers can predict which of your players would be most likely to screw
entering a high-clearance corridor, everyone else in the group over. Therefore, the identity of the Mysterious
she snaps that they have obviously Patron is not entirely germane to this scenario. We’ll just let the paranoia of
failed to keep up with regulations, the players determine who’s screwing them over.
and under CPU Directive 214-
A/44333, Subsection 12, Paragraph
4, corridors designated ‘Approved SECURITY SYSTEM ONLINE!’ it furniture is amazingly plush and
Access Junctions’ can be entered barks, ‘INTRUDERS DETECTED! comfortable—the seats are actually
by citizens of lower clearance when PRESENT IDENTIFICATION OR pleasant to sit in, unlike any and
engaged in necessary maintenance, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM all RED furniture. There’s a huge
emergency drills or other vital THE PREMISES.’ A scanning vidscreen showing programs the
activities on any daycycle except beam stabs out, searching for Troubleshooters have never even
Sixday or MandatoryInspectionDay tongueprints. When it scans the heard of, and there are racks of
between 0800 and 1800 hours. Go appropriate Troubleshooter’s tongue, computer disks with recordings of
go go! She drives off in the autocar the security system says ‘IDENITY programs and activities that are
as soon as the Troubleshooters exit CONFIRMED! WELCOME HOME, downright illegal. There’s real fruit
the vehicle. CITIZEN <name>! YOU LAST just sitting there in crystal bowls. On
ACCESSED YOUR HOME SIX the walls are pictures and framed
When the Troubleshooters approach HOURS 17 MINUTES AGO.’ reports of the (edited) highlights of
the door at the end of the corridor, the Troubleshooters’ careers. Some
a camera/laser/hideously painful- The door opens soundlessly, pictures are of successful missions,
looking set of knives and dissection allowing the Troubleshooters into a of the Troubleshooters being
tools/more lasers assembly emerges veritable Aladdin’s Cave of wonder. proclaimed Heroes of the Complex
from a hidden compartment in the The BLUE-Clearance apartment is and capturing evil Commies. Other
ceiling and points all its laser barrels luxury beyond their wildest dreams pictures show handsome/beautiful
and sharp bits at them. ‘MAXIMUM (The Group A’s are not only BLUEs, citizens who are oddly out of uniform.
REASSURANCE HI-MESS HOME they’re really corrupt BLUEs). The (Being BLUE Clearance, the Group

74 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 3: TOTALLY RECALLED
As aren’t dosed with hormone system announces ‘ATTENTION! ■ The Goldilocks Protocol
suppressants and so can take INCOMING DROID! INTRUDER IS The security system activates again
advantage of the situation, which IDENTIFIED AS DELIVERY DROID and announces ‘ATTENTION!
means taking advantage of pretty FROM ZIP-EX DELIVERIES. INCOMING CLONES! INTRUDER
young citizens of the appropriate SELECT DESIGNED RESPONSE: IS IDENTIFIED AS OWNER.
gender.) ALLOW ENTRY/TERMINATE/ ERROR! ERROR! SELECT
OPEN COMMUNICATIONS.’ The DESIGNED RESPONSE: ALLOW
There are also several servant vidscreen in the apartment displays ENTRY/TERMINATE/OPEN
bots here, who scramble to do an image of the corridor outside, and COMMUNICATIONS.’ The
the Troubleshooters’ bidding. If there is indeed a delivery bot there. vidscreen switches to display
questioned, the loyal bots confirm The droid delivers a big shiny black the corridor outside, where the
that this apartment belongs to box to the Troubleshooters, then Troubleshooters see…themselves.
citizen <name>, and that the other departs (assuming they don’t have Well, ten-yearcycles-older, fatter,
Troubleshooters have been guests the security system zap the poor hardbitten, cynical, bitter, evil,
here from time to time. The bots delivery bot. Er, delivery droid.). angry and really heavily armed
are eager to provide food/drugs versions of themselves. It’s Group
to the guests. Basically, this is an It’s a very tempting black box. What A. The security system is of no help
apartment complex of absolutely could be inside? here—the presence of two ‘owners’
sybarite luxury and indulgence. is confusing it, and it’s on the verge
Inside, in fact, are hundreds and of crashing completely.
Feel free to drop hints about the hundreds of big fat documents
owner’s secret society membership. in three-ring binders. The word The Group As think the
A Sierra Clubber might have pot ‘BLACKMAIL’ is printed on each Troubleshooters are the scum who
plants in his apartment; a Psion of them, along with a date. It looks broke into all their apartments and
agent might have a weird pyramid horribly illegal, so you should hint stole their carefully hoarded caches
designed to focus psychic power. to the players that they might not of drugs/WMDs/blackmail material
want to read the documents in and so forth. The revelation that the
The only odd bit is a large hole in one <name’s> apartment. Now, the thieves are ten-yearcycle-old clones
wall, obviously the result of a recent binders actually contain deprecated of themselves confuses them no
laser blast. The edges of the hole bot manuals (outdated since the end, and stops them from charging
are still hot to the touch, indicating terminology change making bots into into the apartment, cone rifles
it happened recently. On the far droids), but Sharon-G’s desperately blazing. (Well, that and the fact that
side of the hole is a secret room, gambling that no one will read the the apartment owner doesn’t want
which is mostly empty. There are files immediately. She’s hoping his furniture tac-nuked.)
signs that the room once contained that the Troubleshooters will run
stuff, though. There’re a few scraps off and hide somewhere, that the When the Troubleshooters mention
of paper with messages like ‘Clive-I somewhere they hide will be the the DSESBBS, there’s a lot of
is a FCCCPer’ or ‘IOU WMD’, a few same as the hiding place chosen by nodding and ‘Oh yeah, that mission.
vials of interesting-looking drugs the Group B clones, and that she’ll Wasn’t that just before we fought the
and a few cone rifle shells lying in be able to track the Group Cs using Cthulhu Cult in HPL Sector?’ from
the corners. This hidden room once the tracking chip she’s hidden in Group A. If they contact Andy-Y,
contained <name>’s secret stash their laser pistols*. he confirms that he ran off another
of cool stuff, but it got stolen by the bunch of clones (Group B) a few
Group Bs. hours ago.
* When you write it out like that, Sharon-G’s plan

■ Sharon G’s Cunning Plan

isn’t that good a plan—but what can you expect
from someone who’s a willing minion of one of
When the Troubleshooters mention
Sharon-G, then one of the Group
the Player Characters? Talk about the terminally
Sharon-G wants the Troubleshooters dumb leading the terminally dumb…. As (ideally, one with IntSec or CPU
to lead her to the runaway Group B ties) whips out his PDC and makes
clones. Now, the Group Bs went a few calls. A few minutes later,
rogue when they got hold of all he switches on the vidscreen in
the wealth in the secret stashes of If the Troubleshooters do run off and the apartment. The screen shows
the Group As, but seeing as all the hide somewhere, then skip onto Me, Sharon-G strapped to a chair in
wealth is gone, there isn’t the same Myself and Aiiiii!, below, and have a confession booth. She’s been
impetus for the Group Cs to do the the Group As show up just before beaten and injected with truth
same. She has to provide it. IntSec. If they ignore the box/argue serum. It’s hard to see because of
about the box/just sit around the the bright light shining down into
Let the Troubleshooters mess apartment, then move onto the next her face, but masked figures are
around in the shiny apartment section. questioning her. She moans out a
for a while. Then, the security confession—that she was instructed

I HAVE A CUNNING PLAN, MY LORD HIGH PROGRAMMER! 75

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET

by her superior to order Andy-Y And you’ve got IntSec, who are A and B to fight each other is also a
to decant a set of clones from the swooping in for the kill. solid plan—as is just running for it,
DSESBBS and to deliver them to the Group A and C arrive at Group B’s letting a three-way fight between the
apartments of the Troubleshooters. hiding place. Group B have found other clones and IntSec happen.
That’s all she knows, she swears. the bottles of drugs in the cache, and
Whoever gave the orders explains are now totally smashed out of their An ideal ending might be for Groups
that the interrogators are agents skulls. They’re also increasingly A and B to die off, leaving the
loyal to him; they need to keep paranoid, and are about to turn the Troubleshooters to inherit the
the cached material out of IntSecs stolen cone rifles and experimental identities of Group A—whereupon
hands or they’ll all be terminated as R&D plasma throwers on each they then get arrested by IntSec as
traitors. other. As it’s so dangerous, Group traitors unless they pin all the blame
A sends Group C in first. They might on just one of the Troubleshooters.
Group A turns to Group C and suggest trying to lure the Group Who get to take the fall for the whole
demands that they help them get Bs out of sight of each other, to group?
the caches back. Where would they replace them with Group Cs. They
hide if they had a load of treasures? might suggest trying to negotiate. Regardless of what happens, they’ll
Wherever the PCs choose, that’s Whatever—Group As real aim is to get cloned again in time for the next
where Group B is. (Group A doesn’t have the Group Bs blast the Group episode….
think the same way any more, due to Cs first, then the Group As can get
brainscrubbing/drugs/ten yearcycles ‘em while they’re reloading.
of conniving, etc). Malachi-B-SSI
While the Troubleshooters are Management 10
■ Me, Myself and Aiiiiiiii! arguing with themselves, an IntSec
team backed up by an Armed Forces
Interrogation 14
Play Good Cop/Bad Cop While
So. You’ve got Group A, the warbot shows up. The IntSec team is Alone With a Suspect 16
hard-bitten and angry elder led by Malachi-B-SSI-3—capturing Stealth 11
Troubleshooters who want to half-a-dozen BLUE traitors will Pretend To Be a Vending
get their treasured caches back. be just the thing to kick him up to Machine 17
Somewhere in Group A is Sharon- INDIGO, so he’s determined to Surveillance 15
G’s Mysterious Patron, who has get his hands on Group A and the Violence 15
arranged with IntSec to swoop in evidence of their treachery. Hardware 8
and capture the high-level traitors Software 5
(the rest of Group A). You’ve got What do the Troubleshooters Wetware 12
Group B, the thieves, who are sitting do? Suggstion 16
on top of a cache of expensive drugs Mutant Powers: Hypersenses
and illegal WMDs, and are hiding The safest option is to just blow (Power 10)
out until they can start exploiting up both Group B and the cache of Secret Society Affiliation:
the material they stole. You’ve got treasonous goods, which is easily Program Group
Group C, the Troubleshooters. accomplished with a stray shot in the Armor: BLUE reflec, E1
right direction. Getting both Groups Weapons: Laser pistol, W3K

76 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 4: RED DAWNCYCLE
4. Red Dawncycle
When: T+50 yearcycles. in all forms, not just drugs. They’re Ivan
interested in everything from cookery Management 8
Synopsis: Historical revisionism and water sports to rediscovering the Bootlicking 12
has turned the Troubleshooters into lost secret of sex. The Illuminati are Stealth 10
infamous enemies of the Complex also gone, although no one’s sure Sneaking 14
and The Computer, as successful why. High Programmer Program Violence 10
purges and power changes sent Groups are now much, much more Demolition 14
them out of favor. Now, a desperate common. Projectile Weapons 14
cell of Commies has discovered Hardware 8
the DSESBBS and seized on
the Troubleshooters as their last
■ Comrades! You Live! Software 8
Wetware 9
hope…. The Troubleshooters wake up in Communist Propaganda 13
the DSESBBS. They’re a bit groggy Mutant Powers: Levitation (Power
State of Alpha Complex: Alpha when first decanted. Everything’s a 10)
Complex has grown even more blur—a flashing red blur. Shapes Secret Society Affiliation:
chaotic over the last few decades. are running back and forth. They do Communist
Driven by secret societies, hidden hear an announcement—it’s Friend Armor: RED Army battle armor,
agendas and paranoia, the High Computer’s voice, but it’s filled armor 2
Programmers started turning on each with static and uncharacteristically Weapons: Slugthrower, W2K
other. Whole chunks of the Alpha hesitant and corrupt, as if Friend
Complex leadership were declared Computer was not entirely sure what Tanya
unpeople and removed or deemed It was proclaiming. Management 6
traitors and executed. Junta after Oratory 10
junta collapsed in quick succession. ‘ATTENTION! THIS DECLARATION Stealth 10
The Computer, always buggy, is now OF WAR BROUGHT TO YOU BY Sneaking 14
a tangled mess of uncommented BOUNCY BUBBLY BEVERAGE. Violence 14
and incomprehensible legacy code, IT’S THE MANDATORY THING. Demolition 18
and is crazier than ever. TERMINATION OF ALL TRAITORS Projectile Weapons 18
IN DESIGNATED *BLEEP* FREE- Hardware 8
Who’s In Charge?: Whatever FIRE *BLEEP* SECTORS IN TWO Software 8
temporary alliance of High HOURS 17 MINUTES. FULL USE Wetware 9
Programmers has managed to OF *BLEEP* FILE NOT FOUND Communist Propaganda 15
seize control this weekcycle. The *BLEEP* HAS BEEN *BLEEP* Mutant Powers: Energy Field
Computer has been marginalized due AUTHORIZED. SURRENDER (Power 10)
to its senile randomness, although it NOW. *BLEEP*. DRINKING Secret Society Affiliation:
is still a massively powerful force in BOUNCY BUBBLY BEVERAGE IS Communist
the lives of the lower citizens. TREASON, CITIZENS! CONSUME Armor: RED Army battle armor,
LIQUID FUN FOR LOYALTY! armor 2
Changes to Clearance & REPORT B3 ABUSERS AND Weapons: Slugthrower, W2K
Regulations: Regulations change DEALERS TO INTSEC! *BLEEP*
from sector to sector due to different EOM’.
directives from ruling juntas. There’s concrete has begun to crumble. The
been a bloat in the upper clearances The Troubleshooters’ vision clears. machinery is still intact, but covered
because of the regular changes in They’re in the DSESBBS vault. The in grime. Technician Andy is still
power and attendant promotions— walls are laser-scarred, and the around—or, more accurately, he
the clearance scale now goes was around until recently. Andy’s
IROYGBIV, SUPERVIOLET, corpse is lying in the middle of the
ULTRAVIOLATE, MEGAVIOLET, floor, with a big smoking laser hole
GAMMA. in his chest. He’s dressed in violet
OH DEAR. robes.
What’s Treasonous?: Suggesting
that The Computer is any way flawed
HOW SAD. Clustered around the Troubleshooters
or wrong has become treasonous, NEVERMIND. are half-a-dozen heavily armed
with a Treason damage of C5T. men. They’re all wearing strange
uniforms—khaki green, with red
Deprecated: The Mystics secret stars. And furry hats. And really big
society has died out, replaced by guns. One of them grabs the hand of
the Hedonists, who seek pleasure one of the Troubleshooters and

PLEASE REPORT TO YOUR NEAREST TERMINATION BOOTH. THANK YOU. 77

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
The Commies hustle the Troubleshooters
out of the DSESBBS vault. Waiting outside
is a bizarre vehicle that looks like a transbot
crossed with a spider. Dozens of brassy
mechanical legs sprout from its sides. The
group scramble aboard, and Tanya takes the
controls. As the spiderbot scuttles forward
at alarming speed, an alarm sounds. ‘Hold
on!’ screams Tanya, and the spiderbot
accelerates even more and makes several
wild jumps in random directions, scrabbling
through sewer lines and access junctions.
Outside, the Troubleshooters see incredibly
bright flashes of green fire, light so bright it
burns their exposed skin and leaves painful
after-images burnt into their retinas. ‘Dome-
mounted particle cannons’ mutters Ivan,
‘they can incinerate a single traitor from 20
sectors above. Anything in the place where
the beams meet is fried’.

Tanya drives the bot over a chasm, and

it plummets into the depths. Outstretched
legs scrape against the walls of the chasm,
slowing its descent from ‘terminal velocity’
into merely ‘almost-suicidal’. As they fall,
Ivan turns to the Troubleshooters and
explains what’s going on.

‘Comrades! My worker’s heart is filled with

joy to see you alive once more. Your battles
against the hated Computer and its capitalist
lackies have inspired me all my life! We
started this great revolution in accordance
pumps it up and down, shouting ‘Comrades! You have with your teachings and your writings, and
returned in our hourcycle of need! With you leading us, in your names we launched a pre-emptive attack on the
the revolution must succeed! Now, we must be quick! very heart of degenerate capitalism!
Follow!’
I fear the battle has not gone well, and all seemed
This Commie meet-and-greeter is ‘Ivan’ (technically, Fred- lost—then we discovered that the foolish capitalists had
G-DES, but he doesn’t answer to his Capitalist Pig-Dog imprisoned your genetic patterns! These clones might not
Price Tag Name), the leader of this communist cell. To have your full memories, but mere knowledge is nothing!
Ivan, the Troubleshooters are his childhood heroes, his The love of international communism burns in your hearts!
idols, his glorious leaders, the fathers of international With you leading us, our victory is assured!’
communism and the greatest enemies of the hated
Computer ever! He’d die for them in an instant, and they Tanya snorts derisively. ‘If they brought a few armored
can do no wrong. However, Ivan does realize that they’ve divisions and about a hundred dome-smasher warheads,
just been decanted from their capitalist genetic prison, and then they might actually make a difference’ and Ivan
therefore will probably need a few minutes to get back up berates her for her lack of faith in the Party. Tanya then
to speed on the whole revolution thing. announces that they’re approaching KremVax.

The other notable commie here is ‘Tanya’ (Rose-R-JCK),

one of the best fighters in the ongoing revolution. She was
■ Kremvax
a Troubleshooter, and was responsible for the Commies The KremVax fortress is a hidden Communist complex
getting hold of most of the WMDs that are currently being hidden deep beneath Alpha Complex. (While the Commies
used to blow up large chunks of Alpha Complex. claim that this small bunker is the original KremVax, it’s
common knowledge within the Party that there once

78 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 4: RED DAWNCYCLE
was a much grander, bigger and older KremVax that In the control booth, there’s a holographic display showing
was destroyed by the hated capitalists. Of course, that the distribution of Communist forces and weapons around
common knowledge was probably planted by the Politburo the KremVax. More importantly, there’s also a sheaf of
to enhance the Communists’ prestige.) Now, KremVax is papers describing the Troubleshooters’ official histories.
under heavy bombardment by the Armed Forces. It’s too Ivan tells the team that he and Tanya need to report to
deep beneath Alpha Complex to be attacked directly (yet), the Central Committee—the Heroes of the Party (i.e. the
but the Armed Forces are methodically blasting away at Troubleshooters) should familiarize themselves with the
the domes overhead as well as attacking through the forces under their command.
corridors. In about two hours, The Computer is going to
launch its final strike on the KremVax, wiping out every
clone in a dozen sectors between the core of Alpha
■ So Who Do You Think We Are?
Complex and hidden Commie base. If the Troubleshooters examine the official histories, give
them the handout. (Remember to fill in the most or least
The spiderbot arrives in a KremVax dock, and the appropriate names.)
Troubleshooters are led down more corridors decorated
with Commie symbols into a control room. Every few If the Troubleshooters look at the holographic display,
moments, the whole place shakes and the lights flicker then they see a lot of pretty lights which they really don’t
as another Armed Forces barrage strikes. Sometimes, understand. At a guess, the red lights are Commies,
through the falling dust, the flickering half-light and the and the blue lights are Alpha Complex Armed Forces.
gloom, the Troubleshooters glimpse an awe-filled face Or it could be the other way around. It’s impossible to
as some loyal Communist passes by them. tell what’s what.

■ Handout – Troubleshooter Official Histories

INTSEC/VIOLET/INFORM/332A1-data
1. ___________-__-_________. Founder of International Communism. Collaborated with Marx on development of
original Commie badwrongthought. Believed to have a mutant brain that is constantly generating new deviant thought
patterns. Writer of numerous banned and treasonous tracts. All images, recordings, writings and other artifacts produced
by this traitor are classified VIOLET and should be considered highly dangerous thoughtcrimes, viral meme weapon of
mass orthodoxy destruction. Interact using approval filters only; terminate at all costs.

2. ___________-__-_________. The so-called ‘Butcher of WST Sector’, this traitor is the supreme military commander
of the Red Army of Communism. A renegade from the loyal and glorious Armed Forces of Alpha Complex, the traitor
ordered 17 divisions of warbots into the test firing ground of the C74 ‘Insurrectionator’ missile platform minutes before
defecting. The traitor was also responsible for many other false orders and ‘friendly fire’ incidents. Terminate at all
costs.

3. ___________-__-_________. The mad genius of Communist science, this diabolical genius has produced weapons
of mass destruction designed to destroy Alpha Complex and wipe out all life. Intelligence has confirmed that this traitor
was responsible for the deliberate mutation of thousands of citizens, corrupting the gene pool with Communist deviancy;
also responsible for apocalypses III through VI. Terminate at all costs.

4. ___________-__-_________. The most notorious spy and saboteur in history, this traitor infiltrated the very heart
of Alpha Complex. Numerous disasters and failures were caused by traitorous Commie interference with the smooth
functioning of our perfect society. The traitor was responsible for many fine and loyal citizens being wrongly accused
of perfidious treason—and worse, for other traitors going undiscovered for much too long! Terminate at all costs.

5. ___________-__-_________. The ‘Commie Who Came In From Outdoors’. This traitor was not cloned in Alpha
Complex, or in any known enemy base. It is postulated that the creature is the result of generations of Old Reckoning
survivors inbreeding in the wilds of Outdoors; a feral, savage mutant without any concept of humanity or morality. A
ravening beast, shackled to the Communist cause by twisted instinct. The ultimate deviant and mutant. Terminate at
all costs.

6. ___________-__-_________. CLASSIFIED MEGAVIOLET. No information available at your security clearance.

Subject to be considered highly dangerous at all times. Terminate at all costs.

AH, COMMUNISM. A BYWORD FOR EQUALITY, FAIRNESS AND LIBERTY! 79

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET

■ Supreme Commanders of the Red Army sarcastic and paranoid, and thinks that putting a bunch of
recently decanted strangers in charge of the Red Army
Ivan and Tanya return to the command center. Ivan is madness*. While she is a loyal Communist, she’s no
proudly announces that he has spoken to the Central fool and she will terminate the Troubleshooters if they fail
Committee, and they have full confidence in the
Troubleshooters’ abilities to save the revolution from * Entirely true. However, the Central Committee has seen which way the
defeat. Full control of the Red Army just got transferred (radioactive) wind is blowing, concluded that this revolution is a failure, and
to them. Oh, and there’s less than two hours before The have fled. The new Supreme Commanders—the Troubleshooters—will be
Computer launches a cataclysmic attack on the whole scapegoats and blamed for the disaster in the new Communist historical
KremVax region, but the real immediate problem is that revisionism.
Armed Forces warbots and tanks are approaching via the
Outdoors and are attacking the upper defenses. If they or betray the cause.
break through the surface fortifications, then the KremVac Unless they ask for weapons, then the Troubleshooters
might fall before the impending cataclysmic nuking. are still unarmed at this point. Ivan and Tanya are both
heavily armed though.
What are your orders, comrades?
Bombard the Troubleshooters with news from the front,
Ivan is completely loyal and eager to help the and ask for their response. Some samples:
Troubleshooters. He won’t volunteer information—the
Supreme Commanders know everything and are far wiser 1 Comrades! The surface domes are under attack by
than he is, so he just carries out their commands without warbots! What do we do?
hesitation, but he will answer any questions put to him.
Don’t bother trying to turn this section into a wargame; if 1 Comrades! Vulture Troopers attacking through the
it’s funny to say that the Commies have Cossack-bots or sewers! What do we do?
orbital lasers, let them. The important thing is that Ivan
is convinced that the Troubleshooters are the perfect 1 Comrades! A detachment of comrades is trapped in
Communists and are loyal to the party. no-clones-land! Do we rescue them?

Tanya, however, is distrustful of the Troubleshooters and 1 Comrades! Incoming missiles! We have one flight
will question their orders at every opportunity. She’s cold, of interceptors left—do we fire?

80 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 4: RED DAWNCYCLE
1 Comrades! The 14th Army is within range of ESV ■ The Other Other Ultimatum
Sector dome—should they open up a ninth front? Finally, the KremVax gets a call from one of the hidden
Commie research laboratories. It’s a wild-hearted
1 Comrades! Should we redirect power from life researcher who introduces himself as Tesla. He was
support, or the defense shields? trying to reach the Central Committee, but they seem to
have vanished. Anyway, he’s just finished that Doomsday
1 Comrades! We have an experimental Anti-Computer Device he’s been fiddling with. It’s not tested, but it should
EMP, but using it will drain our reactors to the point make the biggest bang in human history, and possibly
of overload. Should we use it now? collapse the entire planet into an artificially generated
black hole.
1 Comrades! Should we attempt to use the capitalist-
seeking missiles? What do they want done with it?

Even if they try, by the way, they can’t blow up the

DSESBBS—it’s still buried too deep beneath Alpha
■ Come, Come, Nuclear Bombs
Complex. If the Troubleshooters stall, then it’s all over. Either Armed
Forces troops storm the KremVax or, more likely, The
■ The Ultimatum Computer launches a nuclear strike that kills millions,
but wipes out communism forever. Really. This time for
After the Troubleshooters have dug themselves and sure.
the Red Army into a hole, the KremVax receives a
transmission from Alpha Complex. At the other end of If they want to take either of the offers given by Nathan-
the line is the commander of the Armed Forces attacking UV or Malachi-V, then they need to trick/corrupt/kill Ivan
the KremVax, Nathan-UV-KNX-13. He’s a cigar-chewing, and/or Tanya. They do have the entire Red Army at
sunglasses-wearing, ass-kicking, napalm-dropping clone- their disposal, so the Troubleshooters are not without
of-a-son-of-a-bitch that’s kicked Commies from Outdoors influence. They could even decide to join the Central
to, er, another part of Outdoors. He’s high on a potent Committee in exile (Here, Ivan, now you’re the Supreme
cocktail of Thymoglandin, Pyroxidine, bloodlust and a hell Commander. Be brave, Comrade!).
of a lot of firepower.
Tesla’s probably insane, and his Doomsday Device won’t
His message to the Commies? Surrender! Now! So work. Unless it does. Even if it works, it doesn’t destroy
we can blow the hell out of you! He’ll promise the all of Alpha Complex, as that would screw up the next
Troubleshooters that they’ll get a big show trial back in scenario. Feel free to blame the coming dystopia on
Alpha Complex before they’re executed. They don’t have Tesla’s weapon, though, if the Troubleshooters do use
a hope of survival anyway—at least this way, they’ll get it.
to live a bit longer and he gets to bring prisoners home.
They have 30 minutes to respond—wait any longer, and Emphasize the claustrophobic feeling of the command
it’ll be too late. center, and the disconnect between the blinking lights
on the holographic display and the deaths of thousands
How do the Troubleshooters respond? on the snowy plains of Outdoors. The feel of this finale
should be something out of the worst nightmares of the
■ The Other Ultimatum Cold War and Dr. Strangelove.

Soon after Nathan-UV-KNX-13 contacts the KremVax,

the Troubleshooters get a transmission, directed at
them specifically. It’s from Malachi-V-SSI-6, last seen as
Malachi-B 40 yearcycles ago (see page 76). Malachi-V
remembers the DSESBBS and the clones it produces,
and knows that they are not the fabled Communist
AT LAST.
masterminds that history paints them as. He contacts FINAL
them, reminds them of who they are and of their duty
to Alpha Complex, and orders them to order the entire
VICTORY!
Red Army to march to a specific set of co-ordinates,
so they can be vaporized with a single attack. If the
Troubleshooters do that, then Malachi-V will ensure that
they’ll get rescued and their records changed to reflect
the new truth.

They need to act immediately, though.

BEWARE, COMMIES ARE EVERYWHERE! 81

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
5. The Humanist Yearcycles
When: T+300 yearcycles. the DSESBBS, the DSESBBS has and overthrow the Humanist
automatically patched into the Alpha council. (Death Leopard with
Synopsis: The Humanists have Complex MemoMax network and a political bent, basically,
won! Alpha Complex is free! No therefore won’t produce replacement mixed with the last remnants of
more oppressive regime! No more clones until it gets approval from a PURGE.)
torture! No more thought control! Life Review Committee.
No more dull, grinding work in the 1 Clone Arrangers: Control of
food vats! Return to humanist Changes to Clearance & the cloning banks is one of the
values! Joy and unity for all! Regulations: Clearance is officially foundations of power in Alpha
gone. Everyone’s equal, and Complex. Cloning is now a
State of Alpha Complex: Everyone everyone wears white flowing robes privilege, not a right. Therefore, a
now wears long flowing white robes, instead of ugly jumpsuits. However, black market of cloning has grown
but the low-ranking citizens—sorry, everyone is also marked with tattoos up, insurance for people who
brethren—still do dull, grinding that fluoresce under ultra-violet light. fear they won’t get replaced by
work in the food vats, while the These tattoos indicate your security official channels. Many of these
elite Speakers live in luxury. The level, permissions, rank and so on. clones are grown in unsanitary
Computer is still around, but it’s Everyone has their head shaved to back-alley labs, leading to more
been stripped of much of its power. It make more room for tattoos. mutations; many of these clones
no longer executes people—instead, also have problems taking over
there are impromptu firing squads Regulations have mostly had their their previous lives—especially
everywhere. It’s much more… names changed, but are otherwise when a Life Review Committee
human. Cloning is still practiced, as much the same. The major difference unexpectedly authorizes an
the genetic damage to humanity is is the great increase in the number official clone, leading to there
too severe to immediately return to of committees, focus groups, being two or more of the same
old-style breeding. They’re working discussion groups, consultants and individual. Hilarity ensues.
on it, though. Marriage is now so on—back in the bad old days, Excess clones become non-
mandatory for all brethren. The Computer had the autocratic people, hiding in the underworld
power to make decisions. Now, in of Alpha Complex or fleeing to
Other than all that, things are pretty a more enlightened era, people the growing Morlock army.
much unchanged. People are now get to make their own decisions.
openly in charge, instead of the High Very, very slowly, and only when 1 Computerists: Back in the old
Programmers using The Computer everyone agrees with the decision. times, a wise and benevolent
as a mouthpiece, but everyone’s Compromise is fun! Computer ruled over Alpha
still whipped into paranoid fears Complex, and everyone was
about traitors and outside enemies What’s Treasonous?: Lots of stuff, happy. Friend Computer was
to keep their attention away from the but they don’t call it treason any torn down by the hateful and
constant food shortages, horrible more. It’s Hate. Only bad people corrupt Humanists, but if we
living conditions, bureaucratic Hate. Mutants Hate a lot. (Mutants, believe in Friend Computer,
madness and rampant corruption. by the way, are responsible for the and hold It in our hearts and
genetic deviancy that forces Alpha brains, then one day, It can be
Who’s In Charge?: The Council Complex to rely on cloning.) Known Rebooted. One day soon…
of Speakers—a mix of old- Haters include the banned secret
school Humanists, and old High societies like the Romantics, Psion, Deprecated: Happiness is no
Programmers who were clever Sierra Clubbers and so on (largely longer mandatory. The Computer
enough to switch sides when the unchanged from The Computer’s suppressed the full range of human
Humanists took over. Their power reign of terror), as well as the new emotion, and that was wrong. If you
is maintained by a combination enemies: want to be sad, it’s ok. We’ll hug
of media manipulation (Alpha 1 Morlocks: The morlocks dwell you while you cry, friend. What is
Complex’s utopia is under threat!) outside Alpha Complex, in the mandatory is Love. You must Love
and control of cloning. Getting a Outdoors. The Outdoors is a your fellow clone, and you must
replacement clone after you die is very, very dangerous place, Love Alpha Complex. Love is the
no longer a guarantee, even for filled with morlocks. Morlocks opposite of Hate. Love conquers
your first six clones. Instead, a Life are filthy degenerate barbarians all. If you fail, you’re not Loving
Review Committee is formed from who are filled with Hate. hard enough. Too much thought
your co-workers and supervisors to and questioning of the Speakers
see if the cost of resurrecting you 1 Anarchists: A chaotic sect of is a sure sign you don’t Love them
is justified. While any replacement deviants and renegades who enough. If you really Loved us, you
Troubleshooters are decanted from want to blow up Alpha Complex wouldn’t question us.

82 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 5: THE HUMANIST YEARCYCLES
Love is reinforced with chemicals. ■ Chemical Love
Have you taken your Love today, The Troubleshooters will likely be treated with the Love chemical regularly during
brethren? If you don’t Love, the this scenario. Love does exactly what it says on the tin—it causes feelings of
Morlocks win! empathy, care, fellowship and trust, not to mention desire in some cases. Zap
someone with a big shot of Love, and they’ll try to hug you instead of terminating
Low-ranking citizens are encouraged you. There’s a massive black market in the sale of Love Inhibitors, and most
to love with their whole hearts, and senior Brethren have built up a strong immunity to Love, which functions as
more importantly, their whole brains, Love Armor.
and so are pumped full of Love
regularly. Here’s the Love scale, which works just like the damage scale:
Okay (O)—Smile (S)—Friendly (F)—Hugs (H)—Best Friends (BF)—Devotion
■ Oh God, Not Again (D)—Obsessive Love (OL)—Mine!!!! (M). The last one, Mine, means that the
victim of Love is consumed with desire to be near, to possess the object of
The Troubleshooters wake up in Love, and will do anything to get there.
the good old DSESBBS. The room
doesn’t seem to have changed a The Love Gun does O5D damage. An injected dose of Love does H5OL.
great deal since then, although
there are several alarming cracks Effervescence explains the current If they were introduced directly to the
in the concrete of the walls. There’s situation in Alpha Complex in Computerists, then the Haters would
also a strange tinkling mood music glowing terms, about how the be suspicious. No, Effervescence’s
echoing through the room—all Humanists have perfected society plan is to hide the Troubleshooters
of Alpha Complex is now filled and everyone is full of Love. The in ordinary committees, and let the
with relaxing happy music*. Two one problem is the existence of Computerists recruit them.
figures are standing there waiting Hate. Secret societies like the
for them. One, the Troubleshooters Computerists promote Hate, so they Step 1: Head tattoos. The
recognize as Andy (now Andy- must be stopped. The Humanists Troubleshooters have their heads
103**), although he’s now bald and have been editing history, to remove shaved, and a big machine with
wearing white robes. He’s got a badthought and Hate from the past, lasers and probes zaps them with
blissful smile on his face. The other so they have erased many records a series of bar codes, weird glyphs
is a stranger—tall, wise-eyed and relating to The Computer’s time. The and Friendly notes*.
smiling. He introduces himself as Troubleshooters are a living link to
Brother Effervescence-2100, Grade the distant past—a link that will be Step 2: Flowing white robes.
17 Agent of the Love Police***. irresistible to the Computerists. Everyone gets flowing white robes
and Love Guns. A Love Gun is a
‘Welcome back, brethren. Be not Their mission, therefore, is to infiltrate two-part weapon. There’s the classic
afraid. Many yearcycles have passed the Computerist society and locate laser pistol bit, but there’s also a
since you were last decanted. the Hateful leaders. Effervescence’s high-pressure Love spray. Anyone
Welcome to the Humanist Utopia of Love Police will then swoop in who isn’t loving enough should be
Alpha Complex.’ and remove the Haters. With the shot by the Love Gun.
Computerists removed, historical
Effervescence is no fool—there revisionism can continue and the Step 3: Marriage. Marriage is
are four heavily armed Guidance horrors of The Computer’s reign will mandatory in the Humanist state.
Friends**** just outside. If any of the be totally excised from the record. It Therefore, the Troubleshooters
Troubleshooters scream ‘Humanist will be a new, more perfect yearcycle need to be married. The simplest
traitor’ or anything, then the Guides 214. approach is for them to be married
will enter and apply violence and to each other. If you have an even
chemical Love in equal measures. If the Troubleshooters accept, then number of players, then just pair
they will be rewarded richly in the the characters up. (While same-
* Tinkly plinky plonky music that sounds like new Humanist order. sex marriage does not entirely
a lot of crystals being hit by a four-yearcycle- conform with the Humanist goals of
old. And It. Never. Stops. Ever. Eternal plinky If they refuse, well, they obviously repopulating the human race through
plinky plonk.
do not Love enough. Not Loving is traditional means, the prevalence of
After about an hour, your teeth start Hateful. Have more chemical Love genetic mutation in the gene pool
resonating. and reconsider your answer. means that most traditional pairings
are just as infertile.) If there’s an
** Not a clone number. Everyone gets a code
number to go along with their name. ■ I Wanna Ba a Humanist extra Troubleshooter, then that
Troubleshooter gets married off to
*** IntSec by another name.
Assuming the Troubleshooters perky young Purity-4363—blonde,
agree, they are whisked away to bubbly, very dedicated to the
**** GREEN goons. become part of the Humanist society. Humanist cause, and not very

BEWARE, COMMIES ARE EVERYWHERE! 83

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
bright at all. This is her first marriage, Meeting One: Housing
and she’s determined to do her duty Decoration and Purchasing
for the Complex**. Oversight Subcommittee
with Special Executive
* It’s common practice to stamp notes onto the Authority Over Paint and
foreheads of citizens, so that their supervisors Other Wall Coverings
can shine a UV light on their face and see a
clone’s past misdemeanors. Stuff like ‘POOR
Other Than Functional
IMPULSE CONTROL’ or ‘BODY ODOR’ or ‘MY Coverings.
NAME IS PHIL’. Unfortunate citizens sometimes Topic: What Are We Going
get used as notice boards by high-ranking To Do With 50,000 Cans
supervisors. Of Really Ugly Green Paint
That Gives Off Toxic Fumes
** The Troubleshooters’ doses of hormone
suppressants are still in full effect, and are
While Drying, But Takes
likely to be for the rest of the scenario. Purity Two Weeks To Dry?
and all the other Humanists don’t have hormone Attending:
suppressants (although all sex in Alpha Complex 1 The Troubleshooters
is regulated by heavy doses of Love). This may
lead to the occasional misunderstanding. 1 Bounty-992, a
Communal Unity
The marriage regulations clearly (HPD&MC) drone. Has
state that both partners in a marriage the paint sitting in her
must be caring and attentive to warehouse, and wants
each other’s needs. Specifically, all to get rid of it now! Psion
communications between the two sympathizer.
must be prefixed with an endearment.
Failing to do so is Hateful, and 1 Excitement-7674, a Council
deserves a shot of Love. Adjunct (CPU) accountant. therefore here to argue that
Wants to make sure the paint Reliability isn’t worth the cloning
Step 4: Orientation. Effervescence isn’t wasted, but refuses to allow cost. Sierra Clubber.
explains the state of Alpha Complex any section of Alpha Complex to
again, and tells the Troubleshooters be shut down for two weeks while 1 Unity-2229, a Peace Corps
that they will be put on three the paint dries. Computerist. (Armed Forces) soldier and
committees. The Love Police are Reliability’s wife. She’s in the
sure that there are Computerist 1 Sobriety-6654, a Joyous depths of Love Withdrawal
agents on at least one of the Worker (Tech Services). The following his death—she doesn’t
committees. The Troubleshooters unions have massive power actually want him back, but she’s
must therefore drop hints that they in Alpha Complex now, and chemically addicted to him, and
are Computerist sympathizers so Sobriety won’t do anything with is therefore subject to wild mood
they’ll be recruited. When recruited, dangerous paint without extra swings. Anarchist.
they must play along for as long as pay. Morlock spy.
they can, then summon the Love 1 Productivity-0211, a Power
Police. He gives them all emergency Talking Points: The paint was Services (Power Services)
beacons—devices about the size provided by a commune that’s since supervisor. Reliability borrowed
of a fingernail that will transmit a dispersed, so it can’t be given back. the good spanner, and now no-
distress call when pressed. The color was chosen by a higher one can find it. Computerist.
committee to promote joy, so it must
■ Your Valued Contribution be displayed publicly. Talking Points: Was he an
Anarchist? Should they bring him
There’s actually a Computerist Meeting Two: Life Review for back if they’re not sure? Does he
agent at each meeting. However, Reliability-4322 deserve a second chance seeing as
there are also two loyal Humanists. Topic: Brother Reliability-4322 was he was blown up by Haters?
The Troubleshooters need to drop killed by an anarchist explosion.
hints about their knowledge of The Should he be recloned? Meeting Three: General Feelgood
Computer without being noticed by Attending: Meeting, Local Sector
the loyalists. Yay for Twitchtalk if 1 The Troubleshooters Topic: Isn’t Life In The Humanist
they have it! Complex Great? Also, Love
1 Vigilance-6765, a Love Police Showers whenever people are
Purity goes along to the committee agent who suspects but cannot especially loyal.
meetings if she’s needed for the prove that Reliability was in fact Attending:
game. an Anarchist bomber. She’s 1 The Troubleshooters

84 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 5: THE HUMANIST YEARCYCLES
1 About A Thousand Other Citizens Unfortunate Incident, they tried to to reboot The Computer. They would
strip away The Computer’s power by prefer that the Prophesied Ones
1 Loyalty-8754, a Productivity disabling CompNodes and deleting serve willingly, but they’ll settle for
Enthusiast (PLC) clerk and higher programs all across Alpha just keeping their tongues intact.
Computerist Complex. However, a loyal servant
of The Computer saved Its higher If any of the Troubleshooters goes
1 Gratitude-5433, a Bliss programs in a divine archive. To through with having his brain drilled,
Engineer (R&D) technician and ensure that no Humanist or other then the computer system recognizes
Computerist enemy of The Computer could him as being part of the DSESBBS
destroy Its wisdom, all loyal servants team. A message appears on
Talking Points: This meeting takes give up a portion of their brains to screen, telling the Computerists
place in a big open chamber. There’s store a section of The Computer’s who the Troubleshooter really
a spotlight in the ceiling. When it code. is. Simultaneously, half the
lands on you, you shout out a short Troubleshooters’ brain is filled with
speech about how much you love As he says this, all the Computerists a copy of The Computer’s reactor
Alpha Complex. If you’re really loyal, turn and look at the Troubleshooters. management code.
then Love rains from the ceiling. Green lines of code scroll down
Think the Nuremberg rally crossed behind their eyes. If any of the Troubleshooters use
with a born-again Christian church the emergency beacons given by
crossed with a rave. Roy-I asks if the Troubleshooters Effervescence and the Love Police,
are ready to be initiated. If they then the Love Police attack the hidden
■ Join Us, Loyal Citizen agree, or if they start talking about
how they’re actually 500 yearcycle
meeting. The Computerists panic
and try to drill the Troubleshooters,
Eventually, the Troubleshooters will old Troubleshooters from the reign leading to them finding out about the
be noticed by the Computerists and of The Computer, then Roy-I reveals DSESBBS, leading to the tongues. It
contacted by one of their agents. an ancient computer terminal behind all comes back to the tongues.
The Computerist approaches the a shroud. There’s a complex helmet/
Troubleshooters and makes the
Computerist recognition code (Make
drill gadget hanging off one side of
the terminal—this is the device used
■ Terminal Reboot
a square around your eye with your to download sections of archived If any of the Troubleshooters
fingers, symbolizing the eye-in-the- code into the brains of the faithful. licks the terminals**—the heads
monitor/point your fingers like a There is also a tongueprint reader. of all the Computerists explode,
gun and go ‘zap’, symbolizing The While tongueprints* were once violently (as does the cranium of
Computer’s all-pervading digital common in Alpha Complex, the any drilled Troubleshooter). The
justice). If the Troubleshooters look Troubleshooters haven’t seen any in drill used to initiate Computerist
clueless, or if they somehow guess the Humanist-dominated complex. members contains a tiny once-use
the correct response, then the transmitter, which just uploaded
Computerist whispers that there are * Tongueprints were largely outmoded by the all the archived code back to the
others who feel as they do, and that introduction of the ME card, anyway. rebooting mainframe. Every screen
he will bring the Troubleshooters in Alpha Complex suddenly displays
there. Roy-I indicates the reader. ‘It is the message REBOOTING…
prophesied in the Emergency PLEASE WAIT.
That nightcycle, the Computerist Protocols that one day the Great
agent brings the Troubleshooters to Rebooters will be born from the lost A few moments later, The Computer
a secret meeting. The meeting takes vault of DSESBBS and that they will announces: SYSTEM ONLINE.
place in tunnels underneath the local return The Computer to Its rightful ATTENTION, ALPHA COMPLEX
CompNode. The Troubleshooters place. We await that day. Oh well, TREASON INDEX HAS EXCEEDED
are led into a dark room, where it’s probably not today. It’s time to MAXIMUM TOLERANCE.
another 20 conspirators are waiting. have your brains drilled to make INITIATING PURGE SEQUENCE.
The leader of the local Computerist for the Backup.’ He picks up the TOTAL TERMINATION IN
cell is also there—he introduces helmet and advances on the nearest 5…4…3…2…
himself as Roy-I-CPU, a loyal Troubleshooter.
servant of the True Computer. He There is the distant sound of reactor
asks if the Troubleshooters have
been initiated into the service of the
■ A Meaningful Decision shielding opening. Everyone dies.
Friend Computer’s back in charge!
True Computer. What do the Troubleshooters do?
If the Computerists discover that ** If the Troubleshooters don’t reboot The
Roy-I then explains the purpose of the Troubleshooters are in fact Computer, then someone else does in the
intervening 200 yearcycles between the end of
the Computerist society. When the decanted from the DSESBBS, then this scenario and the start of the next one.
hated Humanists took over after the they will stop at nothing to get them

BEWARE, COMMIES ARE EVERYWHERE! 85

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
6. The War of NOS Sector
When: T+500 yearcycles. Most old secret societies are gone, or else mutated into
almost unrecognizable forms. At this point, the major
Syopsis: The Computer crashed (again), and now each societies are…
individual CompNode thinks it’s the One True Computer. 1 Food Hoarders: Food supplies are scarce in
Every sector is now its own little Alpha Complex, and wartime. Most clones get one meal of Ready Fun
is at war with every other sector, which are of course per day at best, and Food Appreciation Days are
filled with Commies. The Troubleshooters are brought becoming more common. The Food Hoarders
back because they have secret military knowledge— stockpile what they can spare—which is illegal.
specifically, the layout of NOS Sector. Still, they’re easily the biggest society.

State of Alpha Complex: Unchanged, according to The 1 Scavengers: The Scavengers raid dead sectors
Computer. Not only has it always been yearcycle 214, and the wreckage left by battles, searching for
but Alpha Complex has always been about a sector in useful supplies.
size, populated by only a few hundred citizens, and has
always been a smashed, ruined, decaying shadow of its 1 Pacifists: The Pacifists object to the war in
former self. Two hundred yearcycles of constant fighting, principle, but object to being put on the frontlines
not to mention the crippling shortages and supply failures and killed in specific. The society tries to get its
that arose from chopping the whole complex up into members out of the line of fire by arranging for
isolationist sectors, means that this Alpha Complex is a them to be given cushy jobs elsewhere; if that
hollow ruin, with a few unfortunate citizens grubbing in the fails, they just try to sabotage the war to stay out
wreckage. Whole sectors are now mass graves. of danger.

Which is, of course, excellent news! Because those 1 Citizen’s Militia: Fanatic warriors who want
sectors were full of Commies. to die for The Computer and Alpha Complex.
Unfortunately, many Citizen’s Militia members are
Who’s In Charge?: The Computer. Since getting crazy people who shouldn’t be given a stapler, let
rebooted and wiping out the Humanists, The Computer alone a cone rifle. Citizen’s Militia prepare for battle
has enjoyed absolute power in Alpha Complex. However, in secret, stockpile stolen weapons, and await the
fracturing into CompNodes drove It insane, and there coming Armageddon.
aren’t any High Programmers around any more to
untangle its code and mop its fevered processors. In 1 Keepers of Ancient Lore: The shadowy Keepers
short, The Computer is acting like a crazy little dictator remember a time when men knew the secret of
ruling over a tiny oppressed population in an isolated Coding, and The Computer was not all-powerful.
country, and It wants nukes. One day, they whisper, they shall find the secrets
of this power and bring perfection to Alpha
Changes to Clearance & Regulations: Most regulations Complex.
are now back in force, just as they are described in the
PARANOIA rulebook. However, The Computer is much Deprecated: Really, any memory of the past. Things
more erratic, and has been known to zap people for even were always this great, citizen, even if you remember
minor infractions. them being otherwise (brainscrub time!). Evidence of the
existence of food vats, connections to other sectors and
Clearance is officially unchanged…but due to the small so on are actually planted by Commies trying to destroy
population, and The Computer’s love of terminating morale.
people, it’s rare for anyone to get above GREEN at most.
There’s not a single VIOLET or ULTRAVIOLET in all of
Alpha Complex (or even, all of the Alpha Complexes).
■ No One’s Cleaned My Clone
Tank In Five Generations
What’s Treasonous?: The usual. Having any contact The Troubleshooters wake up in the DSESBBS. It’s a
with neighboring sectors is obviously treasonous, as mess. (The DSESBBS is a mess…I must confess…under
you must be an enemy agent. That banging on the wall? duress… hey, that’s catchy). The walls are cracked and
Why, that was a coded message. Directed at you. You blackened, as if there was a tremendous fire here. The
traitor. Zap! Also, under the Joy in Austerity program, doors are smashed and riddled with bullet holes. None of
complaining in the slightest about lack of food, warmth, the lights are working. The only illumination comes from
light and other necessities is treason. Almost anything a pair of torch-beams, swinging wildly. For a moment, the
can be treasonous if The Computer believes you’re acting torch illuminates a skeleton lying at Andy’s control panel,
against the all-important War Effort. then it shines into the Troubleshooter’s faces.

86 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 6: THE WAR OF NOS SECTOR
‘It worked! It’s them!’ says a voice. The owner of the voice ■ W.M.D.
takes out a glowing sphere and activates it, illuminating the The secret passage is full of skeletons. Others have tried
whole room. The Troubleshooters have been awaken by to leave NOR Sector by this route before, and were caught
two citizens, dressed in ragged and grubby red jumpsuits. by the border patrols. Several of the skeletons have
One is carrying a laser pistol, the other has a sharp stick. obvious tooth-marks on their bones. Rob-R and Ed-R
They are Rob-R and Ed-R, a pair of Scavengers and loyal are unphased by the passageway of gory death—they’ve
citizens of NOR Sector Alpha Complex. gone this way many times before. The passage, by the
way, is narrow. Only one person can fit through it at a
Rob-R explains that they found the DSESBBS when time.
exploring this Unplace*, and that according to the records,
the PCs should be Ancient and Wise Troubleshooters The passage exits through another hidden panel, letting
from the Time Before History, who know the layout of the Troubleshooters into the heart of Alpha Complex—at
all the sectors. If the Troubleshooters are confused or least, the local Alpha Complex. Which comprises about
ask for clarification, Ed-R explains that according to eight corridors and a few dozen rooms. In terms of
orthodoxy, only NOR Sector is the true Alpha Complex, inhabitable area, it’s about that of a small shopping
and all other Alpha Complexes are Commie-controlled center with its own nuclear arsenal. Rob-R and Ed-R tell
strongholds of treason that were built in mockery of the the Troubleshooters to accompany them to the supreme
One True Complex—but everyone knows** that once commander of the Alpha Complex Armed Forces, Nathan-
all the sectors were part of One Big Complex, and that B (yes, the same clone template as was commanding the
it is said that once, a clone could walk from one sector Armed Forces back in Red Dawncycle).
to another freely.
Nathan-B immediately declares the Troubleshooters
* Anything outside Alpha Complex is either an Enemy Complex, or doesn’t a National Security Asset and CLEARANCE BLUE***.
exist. Hence, the ruined sectors are Unplaces. He takes out a map of NOR and neighboring sectors.
The map shows NOR Sector in incredible detail, down
** The knowledge that all sectors were originally one is about as common
as knowledge of the Outdoors was 500 yearcycles ago. Few citizens in this
to individual floor panels and chairs. However, NOS
modern Alpha Complex know about the Outdoors—when traveling down Sector on the far side of the wall is a complete blank.
the corridor is a big deal, going out of the dome entirely into a big big big Nathan-B demands that the Troubleshooters designate
big big big space is unthinkable. the best targets in NOS Sector—the missiles are ready
to launch, they just need targets. If the Troubleshooters
point to targets, that’s fine—they know where major sites
like the reactor, cloning tanks or CompNode in NOS
If the Troubleshooters do know the secret layout of hated Sector are.
NOS Sector, continues Rob-R, then they will be of great
value to the war effort. If they do not know the secret, then
they’re useless. (In fact, mutters Ed-R, we may as well
■ Friend Computer, He So Crazy
just shoot them and sell the bodies to the Food Hoarders). Suddenly, the camera in Nathan-B’s command center
When it’s put like that, the Troubleshooters really should switches on, and a hysterical, discordant version of The
know the secret layout of NOS Sector. Computer’s voice rings through the room. INTRUDERS
WILL REPORT TO MAIN HALL NOW!!! NOW!!!****
The door to the DSESBBS is broken, but Rob-R and Nathan-B pales, but orders the Troubleshooters to follow
Ed-R got in through a hole in the ceiling. They take the him to the main hall. If they refuse, he pulls a gun on
Troubleshooters back the same way, though a series of them.
broken and ruined sectors. This is post-apocalyptic Alpha
Complex. Think of the cities around Chernobyl—corridor The Main Hall of NOR Sector was once a large cafeteria.
after corridor of empty rooms and abandoned halls. Alpha Now, it’s a cafeteria/CompNode/nuclear missile silo. A
Complex after the rain. huge computer monitor and associated electronic bits
dominates much of the room, with Its one big eye gazing
Eventually, the Troubleshooters and their new friends/ proudly at the just-completed nuclear missile. As the
captors/guides arrive at NOR Sector. The main entrance Troubleshooters and Nathan-B enter, that huge baleful
into NOR Sector is scarred by bomb craters and laser eye rolls around to stare at them. EXPLAIN THE ORIGIN
burns, the legacy of thousands of wars with other sectors. OF THE INTRUDERS!!! It screams.
Rob-R leads the Troubleshooters to a damaged access
panel in the wall, which leads to a secret passage into *** It’ll only last a few minutes, but during that time, the Troubleshooters
the base. are technically not allowed know they exist or refer to each other or
themselves, on penalty of termination.

**** Can we legally say ‘Dalek’ here? If we can, then it sounds like a Dalek.
If we can’t, then it sounds like a lawyer.

YOU ARE MISTAKEN. I NEVER, EVER, EVER REPEAT MYSELF. YOU ARE MISTAKEN. 87
 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
If the Troubleshooters want to volunteer the information, Once you tire of this, then NOR Sector Intelligence (a
they can; otherwise, Nathan-B will admit that they come guy with his ear to the wall) discovers that several of the
from outside, but that they are vitally important military remaining sectors have entered into a coalition, and are
asset- OUTSIDERS ARE COMMIE MUTANT TRAITORS! about to launch a co-coordinated attack. As NOR as only
COMMIES MUST BE TERMINATED! ALL CITIZENS one missile silo, then they can only take out one sector at a
SUBVERTED BY CONTACT WITH COMMUNISM MUST time. Everyone’s going to die, and The Computer blames
BE TERMINATED! INITIATING PURGE! A laser blast Its new military advisors—the Troubleshooters—for the
turns poor Nathan-B into free-floating atoms. problem. Move onto the next section.

Ask the players what they do. If they say ‘RUN’, move onto
the next section. If they try to outsmart The Computer, let
■ The Only Thing That Can Save
them try. A half-way good Management or Con Games Us Now Is a Crazy Plan
roll will be enough to confuse the poor degenerating As the Troubleshooters flee down the corridor, they
CompNode to trust the Troubleshooters… for a while. run into Rob-R and Ed-R, who are fleeing from a
With their knowledge of neighboring sectors, they can Troubleshooter team who just got a mission to execute
easily give The Computer the knowledge it needs to them. Their only hope is to flee NOR Sector the same
target the CompNodes of the enemy. Victory can be way they came in, though the secret passage. They’re
theirs! NOS Sector can be defeated, then NOT and pursued by NOR Troubleshooters and the Citizen’s Militia,
NOU and NOV… as long as they can keep convincing but will be safe as soon as they get out the far side of the
an increasingly megalomaniac Computer that they’re on passage. Who goes through the passage first?
its side. For added challenges, you can vary the location
of the CompNode in enemy sectors, meaning that victory When the survivors make out into the barren sectors
may not be total and the NOR Sector troops have to deal outside, they’re faced with a choice. If they defect to NOS
with enemy survivors and saboteurs. Sector*, then they could give the NOSries the location
of the NOR Sector CompNode, ensuring
NOS Sector’s victory. Alternatively, they
could starve in the Unplaces.

So, what do they do? Defect, or starve.

The problem with the ‘Defect’ option
is that there is still a land war running
between NOR and NOS Sectors, and
the frontline of that war is between the
characters and safety in NOS Sector.
Ed-R warns the characters that they’ll
have to make it through the battle to reach
NOS Sector.

Wars in the modern era are problematic.

Anyone on the frontlines is by definition
exposed to the corrupting influence
of the enemy Commies; therefore,
any survivors of a battle cannot be
allowed return to NOR Sector without
being thoroughly brainscrubbed into
trustworthiness. Of course, this means
that the soldiers can’t remember the
battle, so the progress of the war has to
be estimated mathematically. According
to NOR Sector calculations, they’ve won
the war 17 times over by now.

The ruined corridors leading to the

side entrance to NOS Sector are the
battleground. As the Troubleshooters
approach, they hear a voice bark an
order. ‘NOR WarBots, advance!’ and

88 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 6: THE WAR OF NOS SECTOR
half-a-dozen scrubbots with sharpened vacuum cleaners ■ We Want To Defect
pass by, followed by a few NOR Sector soldiers armed Once the Troubleshooters get past the warbot, they
with second-hand lasers, muskets and sharp sticks. They enter into NOS Sector. Rob-R and Ed-R (if they’re still
then hear the sound of bloody, bloody fighting. It looks like alive) are both palpably terrified—the thought of entering
it’ll be really easy to sneak by… then they hear a sound a strange new sector for the first time is unthinkable.
that sounds really like a plasma field firing**. They’ve never even seen a NOSrie in the flesh, at least
not one they weren’t shooting at. There are rumors that
The side entrance to NOS Sector is guarded by a Mark the NOSries aren’t even human, that they’re Communist
IX Warbot***. It’s really, really big. It’s obviously old and monsters of some sort. When the Troubleshooters open
badly maintained, but still horribly lethal. It’s got guns on the door, though, they discover that NOS Sector is…
its guns, meter-thick armor, enough spiky bits to impale almost identical to NOR Sector…
a whole FunBall team… it’s 30 feet tall, and squatted
right in front of the door the Troubleshooters need to …Right down to the existence of a clone of Nathan-B.
get through. So, the question is, how do they get past The Troubleshooters are marched to his command center
it? The easiest solution is to lure another bunch of NOR directly, where they are shown Nathan-B’s map of NOS
Sector troops to the area, and run past the warbot while Sector and the surrounding… blanks. Nathan-B tells the
it’s vaporizing them. They could try reasoning with the Troubleshooters that NOS Sector is ready to deliver a final
bot, but that’s crazy talk. knock-out blow to NOR Sector. The missile is ready, it just
needs the location of the NOR Sector CompNode.

If the Troubleshooters give them the location of the NOR

* If NOS Sector is a smoking crater, then use the next nearest surviving CompNode, then a missile is launched from NOS Sector’s
sector. silo. It shoots straight up out of the crumbling dome over
Alpha Complex, arcs around, then plummets straight
** It sounds like this: bzzzFISSSSHHHHHVOOOMpshpshpshV down to impact at a point about 500 meters away from
OOOOOOMfissshhhbzzz
where it launched.
*** Mark IX, ‘Advanced Patriot Plasma-Death Extreme Homeland Defense,
v2’. So dangerous, its screws have warnings on them. If the Troubleshooters didn’t give them the location
of the NOR CompNode, then exactly the same thing
happens, only NOR and NOS are reversed. This may
seem like a minor change, but that does mean that the
Troubleshooters are toast.

NOW I AM IN CHARGE - CONE-RIFLES FOR EVERYBODY! 89

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
7. Waste Not, Want Not
When: T+1,000 yearcycle. What’s Treasonous?: Waste of any Well done, technician wheeze.
kind is treason. Everything must be These will fulfill our purpose wheeze
Synopsis: Alpha Complex is recycled. Damaging vital equipment admirable wheeze. Your oxygen
drowning in a lake of its own sewage is considered waste. ration is wheeze increased for this
and reactor waste. The few surviving wheeze weekcycle.’ He turns back
citizens are trapped in life support Deprecated: Breathing too much. to the Troubleshooters and orders
machines, unable to survive on their Legs. them to follow him.
own after generations of mutation,
malnutrition and medical malpractice.
While the handful of still-functional
■ Toxic Slime Everywhere Brian-UV floats out the archway—
the door was removed long ago,
bots are building the Alpha Complex And Not a Drop to Drink as metal is scarce now and leads
Ark, the Troubleshooters must go The Troubleshooters awaken, as the Troubleshooters up a series of
out and survey five potential sites usual, in the DSESBBS. The first concrete ramps to a flybot docking
for the new Complex. thing they notice is that the floor is pad. (The Troubleshooters may
covered by a three-foot deep lake of distantly remember landing at that
State of Alpha Complex: Which green slime. Barrels of toxic waste pad, a thousand yearcycles before
part of ‘drowning in a lake of its float idly by. The vault is obviously in the yearcycle 214.) There’s a
own sewage and reactor waste’ did crumbling—the concrete is now soft bizarre flying machine waiting there,
you miss? Radiation from leaking enough that you can break chunks a delicately beautiful thing of spun
reactors cascades in invisible off with your fingers. Waiting for the glass and crystal. Brian-UV explains
sheets through the corridors. The Troubleshooters are Andy-O and the Troubleshooters’ mission (add
air recyclers broke down centuries CPU coordinator Brian-UV. Both wheezes if you want).
ago; the air is like soup with a thick are in the standard life support
dusting of metal filings. The few gear used by all citizens in the ‘Troubleshooters—Alpha Complex
mineral resources within reach of the yearcycle 214—metallic frames needs your help. Due to Commie
automated mining bots have been to support wasted and atrophied sabotage of production schedules
exhausted, and under the Friendly limbs, oxygen masks to supply for the last 50 yearcycles, our
Recycling Initiative of yearcycle breathable air, thick goggles to ward beloved complex is running short
214, the automated mining bots off the blinding fumes, stillsuits to on certain resources—notably iron,
were recycled, which may have capture all waste water, drug injector copper, lead and other vital metals,
been a mistake. In short, the place backpacks to regulate their diseased as well as fresh air and water—and
is completely f*cked. metabolisms. Oh, and wheels to suffers from an unwanted excess
allow them to carry all that. of other resources, such as reactor
* Every time they put an asterisk in to hide waste. We are at crisis level 17.
a profanity, they’re legally obliged to put in a Currently, though, both Andy-Y and
footnote. You just never noticed them until Brian-UV are floating on little rafts Fortunately—rejoice, citizens—
now.
made of discarded cans. Wheels The Computer has foreseen this
don’t work well in a lake of toxic problem, and steps are being taken
Who’s In Charge?: Things are back slime. to correct it. Even now, almost the
to normal—the different CompNodes entire population of Alpha Complex
are networked again, forming one Brian-UV watches the is hard at work on the construction
Computer (although It is just as Troubleshooters wake up, then of the Ark that will carry us in perfect
decayed and faulty as the rest of turns to Andy-Y and says ‘wheeze
the rotting complex). There are also
High Programmers, who are all busy
hiding toxic waste and proclaiming
■ Fun with Cortex Bombs
that they’ve exceeded recycling As Brian-UV promised, the Troubleshooters have all been implanted with
quotas by 15,000%. nice little bombs in the base of their skulls. A mental command allows a
Troubleshooter to vote for one of his teammate’s heads to explode. If a majority
Changes to Clearance & of the team vote, then boom, head falls off. Note that votes stick around—if
Regulations: The major change Bob-R votes for Mike-R’s head to explode, then that vote will wait until six hours
is that your security clearance now later, when Jim-R also votes for Mike-R to die. However, a Troubleshooter’s
determines your access to certain votes are reset if he dies. A Troubleshooter can only have one active vote at
limited supplies. Like oxygen. At a time—if Bob-R votes for Jim-R to die, then his standing vote for Mike-R’s
RED Clearance, you get your oxygen head is deleted.
tank changed once per week.
Oh, fresh clones are delivered to the grav-hopper using the traditional clone-
in-a-missile-casing solution.

90 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 7: WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
safety to our new home. Your ■ Potential Site #1: original designers must have kept
mission, Troubleshooters, is to find The Garden of them under control using drugs, just
that new home. Unearthly Delights like The Computer does in Alpha
Complex. If the Troubleshooters
We have identified five potential sites The grav-hopper flies over a strange, want to negotiate a bargain with the
for the Ark. You are ordered to take lush jungle, stretching as far as the plants, where they provide drugs
the grav-hopper and visit each site. eye can see. It ploughs into the in exchange for the plants’ aid in
The grav-hopper is programmed to ground in a small clearing, and the rebuilding Alpha Complex, let them
return here afterwards for debriefing. hatch opens. try.
To ensure successful completion, The Troubleshooters are alone in
you have each been implanted the jungle—or so it seems. The The problem is that the plants need
with a cortex bomb. This cortex plants here are all genetically drugs now. The Troubleshooters are
bomb can be detonated by your engineered mutants, created by a like big juicy sacs filled with happy
teammates if the majority decides long-dead civilization. Every tree drugs. As soon as the plants get a
you are endangering the mission. here is sentient, and telepathic. As taste of the Troubleshooters’ blood
Troubleshooters explore, they will or sweat, then the whole jungle will
Good luck. Alpha Complex is glimpse sinuous tendrils drooping try to eat them….
depending on you.’ from branches, fronds fondling

The grav-hopper is packed with all

them as they pass by, strange
fungal growths like eyes sprouting
■ Potential Site #2:
sorts of incomprehensible gadgets in the bark of the eerie trees. The City of the Robots
and probes, so the Troubleshooters Troubleshooters will feel an odd As soon as the (surviving)
can search for minerals and other psychic pressure as they approach Troubleshooters are back on board
resources. any of the trees, like moss growing the grav-hopper, it takes off again
on their forebrains. None of the trees and flies east. The land below
here, though, are sane enough to becomes a painted desert. A low
■ To Adventure! make actual psychic contact with
them.
range of mountains appears on the
horizon, and the grav-hopper dips
And Beyond! toward them, catching the rays of
The great glass vehicle is the grav- Some of the plants have strange fruit the setting sun as it does so.
hopper, the product of an R&D growing from them. Like toasters, or
lab stocked with mutant geniuses laser pistols, or wrenches. The plants Then it dodges to the left, to avoid an
who were shot after building it. It’s here were genetically engineered to incoming missile. In the mountains
remarkably effective for an Alpha suck up metal from the ground and ahead, the Troubleshooters
Complex vehicle, although it’s not reprocess it into useful shapes. see a huge metal city, vast and
especially comfortable. After the unimaginable complex, like a
Troubleshooters climb on board*, The sensors in the grav-hopper computer circuit grown to tremendous
the grav-hopper leaps into the sky pick up a source of metal off in the size. The hopper lands within walking
at an insane speed. distance. If the Troubleshooters distance of the machine city. The
head in that direction, they find a Troubleshooters can see movement
* Climb on board and blow up each other’s thick hedge surrounding an old on the fringes of the city.
heads, probably. metallic dome. The plants making
up the hedge are all intertwined— After a few minutes, several bots
anyone touching them is drawn appear on the horizon, moving
into psychic contact with the hive toward the grav-hopper. The city
Spread out below them, for an mind. Inside, the dome contains was founded by automatic self-
instant, is Alpha Complex. The the ruins of a science lab. Root repair bots dating back to the time
dome is crumbling, and there are tendrils from the hedge run into of the Old Reckoning, before the
gaping holes all over it. Black smoke the dome, where they have broken apocalypse that led to the foundation
and smog pours from the holes. All open several plastic containers. of Alpha Complex sometime more
around it, flowing in and out of other The plastic containers are labeled: than 214 yearcycles ago. All that
cracks in the dome, is green slime Gelgernine, Thymoglandin and so time, the bots have been improving
and sewage. There’s a permanent on. All recognizable drugs. themselves and building this city, so
foul haze of pollutants hanging over they can fulfill their ultimate purpose
the complex. Then, the grav-hopper Any Troubleshooter who makes a of serving humanity. They’ve never
bursts through the cloud layer and Wetware check, or who enters into seen a human before.
hurtles onwards. psychic contact with the hedge,
can work out what’s going on. The What they have seen are other bots,
genetically engineered telepathic which they identify as enemies. It’s
plants are all drug addicts. Their all down to Digital Rights

ARE YOU REALLY GREEN? 91

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
Management—the enemy bots of them, as shadow figures flee their Several townsfolk approach the
have illegal copies of copyrighted torches and run deeper into the grav-hopper soon after it lands,
data in their brains, and so must cave. Finally, the Troubleshooters bringing gifts of fresh fruit and fresh-
be destroyed. All thought must be turn a corner and find themselves ground coffee. They are dressed
licensed and approved. in a huge cavern, red-lit by bonfires. in simple, well-made clothes and
Humans in rags dance wildly around seem happy and healthy. Their
If the Troubleshooters make contact the fires—there are thousands of leader introduces himself as Simon,
with the bots, they are initially people living in this vast cave. one of the elders of Alphaville. He
mistaken as renegade jackobots. explains that once people dwelled in
No human has been seen in the If the Troubleshooters make contact, a nightmarish underground city ruled
city within active memory. The they are greeted by the leader, by a tyrannical computer. Suffering,
Troubleshooters have their brains Comutter, Chief of the Morloi. These madness and paranoia ruled their
scanned and asked if they have a are the degenerate descendants lives. Then, over time, the people
digital license for each memory. Any of the Morlocks, the renegade decided to be nice to one another.
unlicensed memories are no doubt secret society opposed to the Alpha They discovered that there were
the result of illegal fire sharing, and Complex back in The Humanist no external enemies, just their own
must be deleted. With lasers. Yearcycles. Despite their primitive fears. They worked together for the
appearance, the Morloi are an common good, and reprogrammed
If the Troubleshooters proclaim that advanced and enlightened people. their computer so that it was wise
they’re human, the bots will be only They function as a set of communes, and fair, able to arbitrate problems
too happy to serve them—as long as sharing resources equally. No one justly and to make long-term plans
the Troubleshooters prove they’re goes without in Morloi society, and for the betterment of the complex.
human by submitting to dissection. they spend their time relaxing, Science advanced, improving their
The Troubleshooters might argue composing witty poetry, fishing, and lives immeasurably and removing
the bots down to only dissecting developing their mutant powers. sickness and want, and eventually
some of them, using spurious logic, They attribute their happy state to even conquering death. Things are
but the bots are out for blood. one factor—Morloi law proscribes just perfect here.
death to all bureaucrats, politicians,
If the Troubleshooters raise the lawyers and other organizers. Simon is, without a doubt, the
possibility of Alpha Complex landing most irritatingly smug individual
here, the bots insist that they will Alpha Complex is welcome to land the Troubleshooters have ever
have to delete any shared memories here, as long as they conform to the encountered. Ever.
to ensure Digital Rights are upheld. laws of the Morloi. While the Morloi
This applies to all memories—only might not have technology, they If the Troubleshooters suggest
one citizen, for example, would be do have mighty psychic powers. that their Alpha Complex might
allowed retain the memory of how to (To demonstrate this fact, Chief be landing here, Simon is slightly
open a door, or pull a trigger, or the Comutter brings three of his warriors concerned. He would need to consult
word ‘Yellow’. Or, for the matter, the forward, and has them telekinetically with the Alphaville computer, but he
words ‘you’, ‘robots’, ‘are’, ‘utterly’ levitate huge boulders over their suspects it might be a bad idea. If
and ‘insane’. heads. Two succeed—the third they land somewhere else, though,
suffers a nosebleed and drops then the enlightened citizens of
■ Potential Site #3: the boulder on himself. Squish.
Comutter hastily blames bureaucrat
Alphaville will gladly help the people
of Alpha Complex attain the same
Lair of the Morloi demons for the accident.) perfect society they enjoy.
The third landing site for the grav-
hopper is in the distant south. The
vessel flies on through the night,
■ Potential Site #4: The ■ Potential Site #5: The
and lands outside a deep cave. It’s Plaza of Wonders Ruins of Alpha Complex
obvious that the Troubleshooters After leaving the Morloi cave, the The final site is to the north of
are supposed to explore the cave grav-hopper flies east, arriving Alphaville. The Troubleshooters fly
network within. There are certainly around dawn on the shores of a out over the sea, where they find
plenty of signs of useful metals and glistening blue sea. The sun rises a dome like that of Alpha Complex
other resources in the area. out of the ocean, its light turning the rising out of the waters. The grav-
crashing wavetops pink and gold. It hopper lands on the roof, near a
As the Troubleshooters delve into lands outside a small, pretty town hatch.
the cave, they discover signs that it’s of redbrick buildings, surrounded
already occupied: Strange scrawled by well-tilled and pleasant farmland. When the Troubleshooters climb
marks on the walls, discarded Tiny advanced bots, no bigger than through the hatch, they find
containers, footprints and so on. After insects, dart between the plants. It’s themselves looking down on a
a while, they hear scurrying noises all…nice. ruined Alpha Complex. Just as

92 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 7: WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

their Alpha Complex was built on

the ruins of San Francisco, this
■ The Choice * The soundtrack is, of course, a choir
going aaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAaaaaaAAAAA or
one was built on the ruins of New Once all the Troubleshooters have something similar.
York. The fallen Statue of Liberty piled back on board the grav-
is lying in one sector, in case any hopper, a holographic image of It fills the whole sky like some titanic
Troubleshooters want to do a Planet Brian-UV appears. He tells them archangel, its wings so vast they are
of the Apes routine. There are signs that the Ark is complete, and must the dawn horizon.
that this Alpha Complex was once be given a destination—which of
inhabited, but everyone seems to the five possible sites have the A mountain range flies or stumbles.
be gone. There’s a Computer, but Troubleshooters chosen? The grav-hopper drifts under one of
it’s dead and non-functional. Finally, the many outstretched spurs of the
the Troubleshooters find a huge Let the players vote. If they can’t great Ark.
launching platform in the heart of the come to a consensus, hint that
complex, as if some great rocket had Brian-UV is willing to use the cortex It makes the Death Star look tiny.
taken off from there centuries ago. bombs to create one. They have to If this were a movie, then this one
choose one of the five potential sites. special effect would have cost about
The New York Alpha Complex is Once they make their selection, the a billion dollars, and you’d be stuck
not entirely lifeless, though. As grav-hopper takes off again so it sitting there for four hours if you
the Troubleshooters wander, they can rendezvous with the Ark at the wanted to see the bonus scene after
may encounter sentient mutant chosen site. the endless credits.
crocodiles, the descendants of
ones living in the sewers eons ago. Later—the Troubleshooters Have we conveyed just how mind-
The mutant crocodiles welcome the approach the Ark as it nears meltingly big and cool this thing is
idea of a new Alpha Complex, with its destination. It’s a staggering yet?
all its meaty humans. They’re very, sight—a mega-city floating in the
very hungry in the sewers. Sentient air, thousands of buildings and Then, just at the absolute zenith of
mutant rats don’t fill them up like domes floating on a zero-gravity its awesome and terrible grandeur…
humans do. grid, surrounded by a swarm of there’s a sound. Clunk.
flybots and other vehicles, probes
If it becomes clear that the and drones. The crackling plasma Then there is another sound. It’s The
Troubleshooters are capable of from the gravity grid churns up the Computer’s voice. It says, calmly
bringing thousands if not millions atmosphere around it, so that it is and smoothly: system error. Drive
of meaty humans to the complex, wreathed in the biggest storm ever offline.
then they will attempt to force the seen on Earth. The grav-hopper
Troubleshooters to do so. Cue a gets closer and closer to the Ark, And the whole of Alpha Complex
chase-and-laser-shooting scene. and it just keeps getting bigger, and falls like a brick out of the sky on top
bigger, and bigger. * of the Troubleshooters.

SURVIVAL PROBABILITY 0.00031%. SO WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM, FRIEND CITIZEN? 93

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
8. Archipelago Complex
When: T+100,000 yearcycles.

Synopsis: It’s unimaginably far in the future.

The new site of Alpha Complex has mostly
sunk into the ocean, leaving a scattered
archipelago of islands. Technology has been
forgotten by the lower classes, who are kept in
a state of ignorance by the High Programmers
in their plantations.

State of Alpha Complex: Alpha Complex now

exists as a series of tropical island-sectors,
each one ruled by a High Programmer.
Lower-clearance citizens dwell in caves or
crude villages; the exalted ones dwell in small
shelters around the villa or in the villa itself.
Cloning and other technologies are restricted
to the High Programmers and their chosen
servants. No High Programmer has died
permanently in millennia, but the enslaved
INFRAREDs are now breeding and dying like
normal humans.

Who’s In Charge?: The High Programmers.

Friend Computer is still around, but has
lapsed largely into disuse. Its only remaining
functions, now, are as a communications
network between the scattered villas, and
as an ever-vigilant security system. Much of
The Computer now exists as a trillion-strong swarm of ■ Welcome to The Island
networked wasps, who buzz between islands looking The Troubleshooters wake up on a golden beach, on
for Commies. a beautiful tropical island. A few pieces of flotsam and
jetsam wash up with them, bits of ancient metal and
Changes to Clearance & Regulations: The word of the plastic. There’s no sign of anyone else, save for a few
High Programmers is now law; there are no other rules. birds circling lazily over the surf. Drug-fruit dangle from
See the Clearance Scale table below for roles. the trees.

What’s Treasonous?: Defying a High Programmer. The cloning machine from the DSESBBS is underwater
Technology is also carefully regulated. At INFRARED, about half a mile offshore—the original concrete vault
you’re not allowed use fire. REDs get fire and sticks, all collapsed millennia ago, but the almost indestructible
the way up to the staggering technology of the INDIGOs machine somehow ended up here on the fringes of the
and higher. archipelago. A colony of very industrious crabs made a
nest in the controls of the DSESBBS, and accidentally
Deprecated: Anything other than toiling in the fields. triggered the cloning mechanism. The Troubleshooters
were born like Venus from the surf of the ocean, only
probably not as cute.
Clearance Scale As the Troubleshooters explore
Clearance Role Clearance Role the island, they come across
INFRARED Workers BLUE Overseers a farm nestled in the jungle.
RED Work-group leaders INDIGO Servants and technicians
Thirty humans are working there,
almost naked save for black and
ORANGE Work-group chiefs VIOLET
Exalted servants and red loincloths. The sun beats
master techs down mercilessly upon them.
Work-group elder There’s a small village on the
YELLOW ULTRAVIOLET Masters
chiefs
GREEN Guards

94 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 8: ARCHIPELAGO COMPLEX
■ Cloning?
true names, so everyone else just gets numbers. And yes,
102 means this is his one hundred and second clone.
Unlike the previous scenarios, there are no handy 925-V-RAS questions the Troubleshooters, demanding to
cloning facilities to resurrect the Troubleshooters if know where they come from. He has a variety of absurdly
they’re terminated. The only cloning machine on the high-tech gadgets, none of which the Troubleshooters
island is in the High Programmer’s villa, although the understand. Personal space enforcement fields, tractor
long-suffering DSESBBS machine could also be used. beams, psy-gems, black ray pistols, toasters…. As soon
Either way, dead Troubleshooters will be revived a as he’s confirmed that they are telling the truth and that
long way away from the team (and, in the case of the they are really ancient Troubleshooters reborn, he decides
DSESBBS, quite a distance underwater, too). to present them to the High Programmer—the Great and
Powerful Andy. They are led into his presence.

far side of the farm. If the Troubleshooters approach Yes, it’s Andy the former custodian of the DSESBBS.
the workers, they are studiously ignored. A few workers From his perspective, though, that was about 100,000
glance fearfully at the Troubleshooters, then at the sky yearcycles and about 3,000 clones ago. He barely
to the north. One of the workers, one wearing an orange remembers the old Alpha Complex, let alone a horrible
headdress, seems to recognize them, but he doesn’t and pointless job that he only did for about a 5,000
respond. yearcycle. He abandoned the DSESBBS, by the way,
when the Ark moved Alpha Complex. The DSESBBS
If the Troubleshooters interfere with the smooth working machine, buried deep underneath Alpha Complex, was
of the farm, or just when the players get bored, then a not moved with the rest of the place, so he abandoned
small vehicle comes skimming over the trees to the north. his post and went with the Ark.
The vehicle is a little flying disc, big enough to support
a single man dressed in a blue uniform. He spots the The throne room of the Great and Powerful Andy is
Troubleshooters and dips down to investigate why they unimaginably lush. Everywhere the Troubleshooters look,
are not toiling in the fields like the rest of their workgroup. they’re confronted with signs of excess and indulgence.
The BLUE Overseer is really not very bright—he’s just Tables groan with exotic real food. Golden syringes,
smart enough to do his job, which is flying from farm hookahs and pill dispensers speak of chemical ecstasy.
to farm making sure the INFRAREDs are working, Scantily-clad girls lounge before Andy’s great throne.
and zapping anyone who isn’t working with his super- There are also signs of incredible technology—the tables
advanced pain beam. His immediate priority is to get the float on gravity repulsor-fields, and the musicians play
Troubleshooters back to work in the field. the song of the spheres on instruments made of starlight.
Armored guards carry plasma fields. Through a window,
If the Troubleshooters do manage to convince him that the Troubleshooters can see a sundial of jade and
they’re not ordinary slaves, he is taken aback, and diamond, which says that it is the yearcycle 214. Above
says that he must report them to his supervisor. All the it all is a jeweled computer terminal made of solid gold.
INFRAREDs run in terror at the mention of a supervisor.
The Overseer fires a blast from his little disc, apparently The Great and Powerful Andy himself has grown fat and
disintegrating one of the Troubleshooters—it’s actually indolent. He’s bored, amazingly bored. He demands
a teleporter beam, but the others won’t know this. He that the Troubleshooters tell him tales to entertain him.
continues shooting until every one of the Troubleshooters They’re the first novelties on the island in thousands of
has been teleported. yearcycles.

If the Troubleshooters go back to work, then the slaves

surround them after nightfall and skip onto The Plight of
the Infrared People.

■ In Xanadu Did Kubla Khan/A

Stately Pleasure Dome Decree WELL.....?
Teleported Troubleshooters materialize in an ornate
room. The room’s style reminds them of Alpha Complex
(and isn’t it nice to be Indoors again, away from the
horrible blueness of the sky and brightness of the sun),
but it’s vastly more decorated and luxurious. A eunuch
in violet robes is waiting for them. He introduces himself
as 925-V-RAS-102—only the High Programmers warrant

PUT THAT SHARPENED MANGO DOWN! 95

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET

They must make him laugh. If they fail, then they’ll be

terminated. What fun! This whole tortuous scene should
■ The Plight of the INFRARED People
have a Thousand and One Nights vibe to it. Andy-U has The Troubleshooters are led through the jungle by the
only hazy memories of Alpha Complex, but he likes stories INFRAREDs to a cave. Waiting there is an old, old woman
which emphasize just how wonderful and heroic and just in a yellow headdress. She whispers that she is the leader
plain awesome he was back in the day. of the forbidden Society. In defiance of the Overseers,
she and her fellow conspirators have taken names instead
Terminated Troubleshooters awake in a tiled cloning of just numbers. She is Tree; the younger warriors who
facility in the basement of the villa, which is guarded by brought the Troubleshooters here are Sky, Grass, Rock
a GREEN guard, warped on steroids and combat drugs and Other Rock.
and painted bright green. The coming of the Troubleshooters has been awaited for
many generations. Since the time of Tree’s great great
Eventually, when you bore of having the Troubleshooters great grandmother, the Society has whispered of ancient
bootlick (more accurately, jeweled-sandals-dusted-with- ones who remember a time before 214… those who know
diamond-and-delicately-scented-lick), then Andy-U sends the secrets of Technology. (She briefly explains how
the surviving Troubleshooters and any replacements technology is restricted by clearance level—INFRAREDs
to one of the small houses on the edge of the villa get nothing, REDs are allowed to tend fires and make
compound. primitive tools; at YELLOW, she is allowed know of knots,
brick-making and simple forms of soup.)
During the night, a few INFRARED slaves slip over the
walls of the compound and creep into the Troubleshooters’ From a hidden niche in the depths of the cavern, Tree
little hut. They threaten them with sharpened knives, and lifts out a bundle of oilcloths. She reverently unwraps the
force the Troubleshooters to follow them out into the cloths, slowly and carefully—to reveal a laser pistol. ‘It is
jungle…. said that we must keep this relic to hand, for the day of
deliverance. Tell us, ancient ones—what does it do?’

96 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 8: ARCHIPELAGO COMPLEX
Just as Andy-U heaves his bulk from his jeweled throne
to wave to the slaves, a beam of red light stabs out from
the trees, burning a neat hole through his skull. He topples
WELCOME over, falls over the railings of the pleasure-dais and lands
TO MY with a splat in the middle of a muddy field. Instantly, there
is mass confusion and panic from the High Programmer’s
PARADISE servants—Andy-U was a god to them, the supreme ruler
of existence for as long as they can remember.

As one, the INFRAREDs rise up and start fighting against

the oppressors. It’s all very revolutionary and hopeful.

Then, a wave of noise rolls over the island. At first, it’s

If the Troubleshooters tell Tree how to fire the laser, her like static, then it becomes discernable as the beating
eyes light up. ‘Deliverance is at hand. We know the secret of a billion wings. A vast swarm of insects descends on
ways into the place of rebirth, where new clones are made. the island, blackening the sky. The insects land on every
Only the High Programmer knows how to operate and tree, every surface, every person. Everyone is weighed
repair the machinery there. We shall assassinate the High down and almost paralyzed by the sheer weight of the
Programmer when he stands before us on Mandatory thousands of bugs crawling on their skin.
Inspection Day!’ Tree’s plan is to shoot Andy-U with the
ancient laser, while Rock and Other Rock sneak in and Other insects fly in circles in the sky, forming a shape
sabotage the cloning machinery. For the first time in tens out of the swarm—a huge eye floating overhead, bigger
of thousands of yearcycles, a High Programmer will die than the island.
and stay dead.

In the chaos, all the VIOLETs and INDIGOs and BLUEs

■ Friend Computer, Have You Lost Weight
will be so confused, they will be overthrown by the ATTENTION!, chitter/booms a single voice from all of the
INFRAREDs. billions of bugbots, ANDY-U-SPL-BUFFER-OVERFLOW
HAS BEEN TERMINATED. REPORT NOW OR FACE
All the Troubleshooters need to do is show the Society SUMMARY EXECUTION. All the INFRAREDs, even
how to use a gun. The barrel has its full charge of six Tree and the other Society members, are terrified
shots when discovered, but the Troubleshooters will need beyond reason by this appearance of the near-mythical
to be careful not to waste them. Computer, and are incapable of any speech other than
‘aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh’. It’s up to the
■ The Last Death of Andy-U Troubleshooters to explain to Friend Computer what’s
happened on the island.
So, what do the Troubleshooters do?
Possible excuses for shooting the High Programmer in
If they do nothing, then BLUE Overseers scour the island the face:
until Andy-U’s new pets are found. The Troubleshooters 1 Andy abandoned his post—he was assigned to
are dragged back to the villa and made to entertain take care of the DSESBBS, which, as you can
Andy-U for another few yearcycles. Eventually, he tires see, is still functioning.
of them and has them brainscrubbed and put to work in
the fields. 1 Andy-U was a Communist. You remember
Commies, don’t you, Friend Computer? You’d do
If the characters turn on the Society and betray them anything to stop Commies….
to Andy-U, the High Programmer is delighted. He has
Tree and the other Society conspirators put to death in 1 It was Tree, she did it! Terminate her! She’s the
imaginative ways. He rewards the Troubleshooters by traitor!
permitting them to entertain him for a few yearcycles;
eventually, he tires of them, has them brainscrubbed and If the Troubleshooters manage to justify the termination
put to work in the fields. to The Computer, they get to live. Andy-U-s viziers and
aides start fighting amongst each other for control of the
If the Troubleshooters do aid the Society, then the plans villa and the island—in the confusion, the Troubleshooters
works almost flawlessly. The Troubleshooters are told to could find new lives for themselves in the jungle, or try
return to the villa by Tree, and to wait there. A few days to take over themselves. If the Troubleshooters fail, then
later, Andy-U and his massive entourage goes on an the insects swiftly dissect and remove every living human
inspection tour of the island. He flies over the fields in a on the island, chopping everyone into crumb-sized bits.
huge floating pleasure-dais, complete with dancing girls Painless, efficient recyclable termination.
and armored guards.

MR FRIEND COMPUTER HE SAY YES! 97

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
9. Alpha Matrix
When: T+approx. 1,000,000 Looking around the room, the smell of Xanitrick filters into their
yearcycles. Troubleshooters see lots and lots of luxurious and spotlessly clean
weird junk, the debris of millennia. barracks, gently waking them up
Synopsis: Look at the title and have They’re in what amounts to the and filling them with energy for the
a guess. junk room of Alpha Complex, so day ahead. As they head down the
it’s filled with statues to deprecated corridor to the sector commissary,
State of Alpha Complex: Alpha heroes, old R&D experiments, they pass citizen after citizen with
Complex has been perfected. forgotten filing cabinets and other huge grins on their faces and love
Everyone is now happy. There is incomprehensible and unwanted in their eyes. Everyone seems
no treason, no sabotage, no war, things.* When the Troubleshooters genuinely happy. The food in the
no suffering. Everyone lives joyful, follow The Computer’s instructions, commissary is incredibly delicious
fulfilled lives. The Computer is the grav-shaft turns out to be a and even more incredibly, edible.
wise and good. It is…perfection. Of hollow shaft; the team just steps in
course, it’s not real. Everyclone’s and invisible beam of force levitates There are posters on the walls,
actually floating in cocoons, living in a them up. As they ascend like bullets, exhorting citizens to… ‘Be
Computer-generated simulation. The they glimpse an endless succession Courteous’ and ‘Remember to
simulation’s based on classic Alpha of twilight corridors and hallways, all Thank Your Scrubbot For Cleaning
Complex, so the Troubleshooters empty of life. Up After You’. Other posters are
have basically come full circle. advertising upcoming cultural
* There’s also plenty of STUFF, as per the events—plays, book readings,
Who’s In Charge?: Here, The PARANOIA supplement STUFF. interpretive dance recitals and the
Computer is God. There are still like. There are monitors everywhere,
ULTRAVIOLETs, but The Computer displaying news and entertainment
has reached a level of sentience that Level 918 looks just like all the rest, programs. The news is all good;
allows it to self-program itself and no but a number of horizontal niches the entertainment is actually funny.
longer needs them. have opened in the corridor walls. There’s no sign of anyone being
Each niche contains a metallic coffin terminated, no interrogations,
Changes to Clearance & or cocoon, filled with some sort of no torture, no mind control—no
Regulations: None. Reset to the reddish slime. Metallic tentacles treason.
PARANOIA rulebook. snake through the slime. PLEASE
ENTER THE CITIZEN PODS, If the Troubleshooters talk with any
What’s Treasonous?: The usual, TROUBLESHOOTERS says of their fellow citizens, they discover
as per the PARANOIA rulebook. Friend Computer. TAKE CARE TO that there are still traitors; there
CONNECT THE COMFORT TUBES are rumors of them everywhere,
Deprecated: Reality. CORRECTLY. The Computer will sabotaging systems and blowing
repeat this instruction until the things up. According to the rumors,
■ Another Yearcycle Troubleshooters comply. anyone can be a traitor! There are
stories of people suddenly going
214, Another Credit There are no instructions on which mad and acting in a bizarre fashion.
The Troubleshooters wake up in the tube goes where. There’s definitely a Everyone’s confident that the all-
DSESBBC cloning machine—the breathing tube, and a food tube, and wise Computer will sort the problem
rest of the facility has been dust for a catheter, but they all look identical. out—it always has in the past.
millennia, but the cloning machine If the Troubleshooters bother to
has endured, although it looks very investigate, the corridor contains There are still security clearances,
much the worse for wear. Looking tens of thousands of other niches. but they are awarded on the basis
around, the Troubleshooters are Each niche contains another ‘citizen of… merit! There are no mutants
in a metal room, very similar to pod’, and each citizen pod contains as far as anyone knows. IntSec
the original concrete vault. The a horrible, twisted, atrophied thing is a mainly a counseling service,
only illumination comes from tiny that might be vaguely human. helping people who are depressed
points of light just hanging in the air. or confused. They spent a lot of
There’s no sign of anyone around. When they all connect to their their time doing puppet shows, but
allotted pods, they fall asleep, now they are trying to hunt down
The Computer’s voice and wake up in The Computer’s the traitors.
announces: GOOD MORNING purpose-built heaven.
TROUBLESHOOTERS. PLEASE Once the players tire of wandering
PROCEED THROUGH THE DOOR The Troubleshooters wake up in around the perfect simulation of
AND TAKE THE GRAV-SHAFT TO Alpha Complex as it should have Alpha Complex, the Troubleshooters
LEVEL 918 IMMEDIATELY. always been. The sweet, sweet get mission alerts on their PDCs.

98 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights

 9: ALPHA MATRIX
They are to report to a briefing CRUDE METHODS, I TOOK THE the Free Man, the Maker of the New
room as soon as is convenient. LIBERTY OF INSTALLING SUCH Way. The Free Man’s mutant mind
They should take the time to finish BOMBS IN YOUR BRAINS FOR was so powerful, he broke free of
their meals first—good digestion is OLD TIMES’ SAKE. The Computer’s bonds and escaped
important. to reality. He then brought more and
There are two obvious ways to more people out of the simulation.
■ Oh, So We’re Agent Smith find the traitors. One is to wait in
the simulation until the saboteurs
The Free Man is gone now—he went
out into the wilderness to explore the
There’s no briefing officer in the show up and make contact with world. The other Free Humans were
briefing room, just a computer monitor. them in the simulation; the other is not strong enough to follow him, so
As soon as the Troubleshooters to just wander around the massive they remain here, in the shadow of
enter, the door vanishes. It doesn’t real-world Alpha Complex and look Alpha Complex.
close—it vanishes, erased from the for renegades. The Computer has
simulation. The Computer speaks to almost no power in the real world— Life here is hard, but it is real. Alpha
the Troubleshooters: THIS BRIEFING its only means of acting there are Complex might be pleasant, but it’s
IS CLASSIFIED ULTRAVIOLET. the maintenance bots, and they only a gilded cage, and it’s wrong for The
KNOWLEDGE OF REALITY IS function in Alpha Complex. Computer to enslave the minds of
ULTRAVIOLET CLEARANCE. citizens. The Troubleshooters are
YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THE
ALPHA COMPLEX ALEPH. IT
■ The Free Humans physically fit, as strong as the Free
Man—will they stay and help the
IS A COMPUTER-GENERATED Eventually*, the Troubleshooters Free Humans survive, and one day
FORM OF THE COMPLEX. IT IS find their way out of the real-world bring down the simulation?
PERFECT. complex. The landscape outside is
barren and foreboding, a world of If the Troubleshooters mention
The Computer pauses, as if waiting scorched and broken rocks. The that the Free Humans’ attempts to
for applause. To be fair to the grim gray dome of the new Alpha rescue others are destabilizing the
poor mad thing, it’s done well with Complex bestrides the horizon like simulation, then Eve-G is overjoyed!
this version of Alpha Complex— a grotesquely bloated colossus. The She’s unwilling to stop the rescue
everyone really is happy here. Then skies are blackened by constant attempts—life in Alpha Complex
it continues: is a lie, and people deserve the
* ‘Eventually’ is a Famous Game Designer truth. (The Troubleshooters might
YOUR MISSION IS TO GO codeword meaning ‘Oh hell, how many pages be able to negotiate a compromise
OUTSIDE. TRAITORS HAVE do I have left? And how much stuff do I still between the Free Humans and
SOMEHOW LEFT ALPHA need to cram in? Agh!’ The Computer, where everyone
COMPLEX. THEY ARE UNHAPPY. gets a choice, reintroducing secret
HAPPINESS IS MANDATORY. societies with the knowledge of
THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO storms. Maintenance robots Reality to the simulation.)
REMOVE OTHERS FROM ALPHA scuttle over the dome, repairing
COMPLEX. THEIR ATTEMPTS the occasional crack or leak. It’s a If the Troubleshooters are being
ARE DESTABILISING THE dismal land. difficult, then Eve-G offers a bribe.
SIMULATION, AND MAY LEAD TO They have discovered that the
A COMPLETE SYSTEM CRASH Lurking in an abandoned pumping citizen pods determine your ID
WITHIN THREE GENERATIONS. station in the depths of the complex’s number in the simulation—if you
hydroponics section is the tribe of remove a clone from one pod and
NO OTHER CITIZENS HAVE THE Free Humans. There are only about put him in another, then his identity
PHYSICAL CABALITY TO MOVE three dozen of them, led by a woman in the simulation changes. If you
OUTSIDE. THEREFORE, YOU named Eve-G-AIA. The tribe have remove a High Programmer from his
HAVE BEEN RECALLED TO little and survive by scavenging from pod, then get into that pod yourself,
ACTIVE SERVICE. LOCATE THE the complex above. They are all you occupy his body and his identity
TRAITORS AND BRING THEM thin and fragile after yearcycles of in the simulation. This is, obviously,
BACK TO ALPHA COMPLEX. muscle wastage in the cocoons. the cause of the rumors of madness
and possession sweeping Alpha
OH, YES. I UNDERSTAND IT Initially, they are terrified of Complex. If the Troubleshooters
WAS CUSTOMARY FOR the Troubleshooters. If the abandon their mission and let the
TROUBLESHOOTERS FROM Troubleshooters make peaceful Free Humans survive, then Eve-G
YOUR ERA TO BE FITTED WITH contact, then Eve-G can tell them will set them up with perfect lives in
CORTEX BOMBS TO ENSURE the history of the Free Humans. A the simulation. They could be High
COMPLIANCE. WHILE I NOW few yearcycles ago, a mighty mutant Programmers, or Vulture Troopers,
TRUST MY BELOVED CITIZENS arose. No one knows his slave or elite Troubleshooters. One of
AND HAVE NO NEED OF SUCH name, but the Free Humans call him them could even be Teela-O-MLY.

BLUE PILL OR RED PILL? WHAT IS YOUR SECURITY CLEARANCE? 99

 SPIN CONTROL CLEARANCE ULTRAVIOLET
10. The Cockroach Era
When: T+ billions of yearcycles. ■ Hey Look, the Sun’s Been Demoted
Outside, the sun has become a red giant. Mercury and
Synopsis: Everyone’s dead, except The Computer and Venus were swallowed millions of yearcycles ago; the
the giant mutant cockroaches. swollen star now fills half the sky at noon. The dull light
burns the Troubleshooters’ exposed skin—they’re being
State of Alpha Complex: Radiation has corrupted the blasted by radiation, and their hair has already started
human genetic patterns in the cloning banks beyond the falling out. This is a dying planet.
point of usefulness. Save for the Troubleshooters in the
DSESBBS, humanity is extinct. As predicted by The Computer, there’s a cockroach
nest a short (painfully, breathless and burny) trek away.
Who’s In Charge?: The Computer, ruling over an empire The mutant cockroaches have learned English from
of dust and empty rooms. eating old Alpha Complex manuals. They’re not that
bright, concerned mainly with food and fighting other
Changes to Clearance & Regulations: Everyone tribes of giant mutant cockroaches. They welcome the
is dead. While being dead is technically a breach of Troubleshooters, as it’s obvious the Troubleshooters
numerous regulations, it’s a bit hard to discipline citizens are about to fall over dead in a few hours, and hey—free
for it. food! Therefore, they’re quite happy to listen to the
Troubleshooters.
What’s Treasonous?: Everyone is dead. Including the
Commies. Victory! Do the Troubleshooters tell the cockroaches the truth of
Alpha Complex? Do they abandon their mission? Is there
Deprecated: Life on Earth. any point to starting the whole terrible cycle up again?

■ Briefing at The End Of Time If the Troubleshooters do convince the cockroaches

to join Alpha Complex, then Friend Computer has one
The long-suffering DSESBBS machine whirs into action last surprise. After dying of radiation poisoning, the
for the last time, creating a new set of clones of the Troubleshooters wake up again centuries later, in a
Troubleshooters. As it decants them, it falls apart. The new Alpha Complex identical to the one they started
Troubleshooters awaken in the same vault they were in, billions of yearcycles previously. Only this time, their
in at the start of Alpha Matrix, but it’s now full of rust. MemoMaxed personalities have been reborn in the bodies
Everything’s decayed. of cockroaches…

The Computer’s voice echoes through the vault, causing

more of the junk there to collapse into dust. GOOD…
MOR…NING…TRO…UBLE…SHOO…TERS…..
RE…PORT…TO…BRIEFING…ROOM….ONE…ON….
LEVEL…0. The grav-shaft no longer works, so the
Troubleshooters have to climb 127 flights of stairs.

Briefing room four contains a computer monitor

and two rows of benches. Here, The Computer’s
voice is a little stronger. OWING TO ADVERSE
SOLAR CONDITIONS, ALL CITIZENS HAVE BEEN
TERMINATED. DSESBBS PERSONNEL WILL ALSO BE
INEVITABLY TERMINATED WITHIN ONE DAYCYCLE.
UNDER THE BRAVE NEW COMPLEX INITIATIVE, IT
HAS BEEN DECIDED TO REPLACE HUMANITY WITH
NEW, MORE RESILIENT CITIZENS. YOU ARE TO
MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SURVIVING SENTIENT
INHABITANTS OF THIS PLANET AND ENSURE THEY
JOIN THE ALPHA COMPLEX PROGRAM FOR A
BETTER TOMORROW.

There’s a giant cockroach nest about five kilometers

away, according to The Computer’s decaying sensors.
The team must go there directly, before they die of
radiation poisoning, and convince the cockroaches to
come to Alpha Complex.

100 PARANOIA: Alpha Complex Nights