Messages from Callisto
It is 1990.
Classified images from Voyager showed a regular, pyramid-shaped structure on the surface of Callisto. The structure looked too regular to be natural, and in 1983 the US government decided to send a follow-up mission, Arcadia, to Callisto to learn more.
Now, the first signals from Arcadia have arrived, and the International Alien Response Task Force (IARTF) is meeting in London to discuss Callisto along with several other issues that have all come to a head at once.
Message from Callisto: The first pictures from Arcadia have now been received and clearly show some kind of technology. A decision as to the next stage needs to be made.
The Intrusion Web: The deep space surveillance system has identified an anomalous sighting.
Cuculus presentation: The Cuculus have requested to speak to the IARTF.
Budgeting: The next round of science budgets need finalising. McDonald to lead this discussion.
Extra-terrestrial intelligences (ETIs)
Several ETIs are now known to have been present on Earth. ETIs must be registered and carry identification that clearly shows they are not human.
Tau: Shapechangers that grow new bodies in pods. A blood test has been developed that identifies Tau aliens.
Symbiotes: Symbiotic worm aliens. They take over human bodies and leave a recognisable cross-shaped scar on the back of their heads.
The Consciousness: An alien flower intelligence confined to Millville, USA.
The Cuculus: Human-ETI hybrids.
The Shoal: A single shoal ETI landed in Roswell in 1948.
IARTF decision making
Decisions are made democratically by the IARTF executive board. The board is made up of General Billings, Dr Chén, McDonald, Dr Vostok, Dr Blake and Dr Wescott. Decisions are voted on, ties are broken by the President, McDonald.
Cast of characters (alphabetical order)
Ash of the Cuculus: Member of the Midwich Cuculus group. Ash has striking, golden eyes. 18.
Dr Bakker: A scientist working for Russia on their meson-directed beam lance. Mid 40s.
General Billings: Head of the USA’s Department of Extra-Terrestrial Defense (DETD). Late 60s.
Dr Blake: IARTF xenobiology director. Mid 70s.
Dr Chén: Senior administrator in the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. Late 40s.
Janssen: Australian-born billionaire industrialist. Mid 40s.
McDonald: IARTF President. Mid 50s.
Pollard: Symbiote Leadership Cluster and IARTF science advisor. Before being revealed as an alien, was an admiral in the US navy. Late 40s.
Saito: Hosata Manufacturing director. Early 30s.
Lt. Sartori: IARTF Cuculus intelligence officer. Early 30s.
Dr Visser of the Tau: Tau Council member and IARTF representative. Late 40s.
Dr Vostok: Director at the Russian Academy of Sciences. Late 30s.
Dr Wescott: EU science director. Late 40s.
A 2-3 hour freeform larp for 13 players by Steve Hatherley.
Messages from Callisto is set in the same universe as (and shares some characters with) Children of the Stars, but you do not have to play Children of the Stars to enjoy Messages from Callisto.