Place: The Pulsing Phaser
Overview
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Bar / Dive / Info Hub |
| Parent Location | Beaven Point |
| Owner/Steward | Frederike Bannink |
| Security Level | Minor, Bouncers |
| Price/Quality | Dive-Bar |
Visual Reference
Atmosphere & Vibe
Sensory Tags: Thick haze of synth-tobacco, rhythmic thumping of a failing ventilation fan, smell of ozone and stale beer, shouting in multiple dialects, low-light red neon, chirping of small servos.
The air inside is noticeably hotter than the station corridor, recycled too many times and thick with smoke. The “Pulsing Phaser” gets its name from a malfunctioning neon sign behind the bar that strobes violently every 8 seconds, casting the room in a harsh red wash. The furniture is bolted to the floor—mostly repurposed shipping crates.
Contrastingly, three small, pearly-white, spherical robots with glowing LCD faces weave between the muddy boots of miners, collecting empty glasses and chirping cheerfully amidst the grime.
When the players first enter, give Frederike an Encounter with Mitchel Jackson, who is asking Frederike to talk with his Wife about letting the UPN investigate the Leerenstein incident.
Portrait
Link to original
Goods, Services & Points of Interest
| Item / Service | Cost / Value | Notes / Effect |
|---|---|---|
| ”Core Sample” | 5 cr | A shot of industrial-grade synth-vodka with a drop of engine coolant. Forces a Physical Save or nausea. |
| Real Coffee | 25 cr | The most expensive drink on the menu. |
| ”The Board” | - | A digital job board near the back. Mostly legitimate mining contracts, but flagged with encrypted tags for illicit work. |
| Backroom Poker | Variable | High-stakes gambling. Miners often bet raw gems here instead of currency. |
Inhabitants & NPCs
| Name | Role | Quirk / Disposition |
|---|---|---|
| Frederike Bannink | Proprietor | An ex-marine with a mechanical prosthetic arm. She is calm, deadly, and keeps a shotgun under the bar. “No tabs, no fighting, no politics." |
| "Slag” | Head Bouncer | A massive brute wearing a partial pressure suit helmet he never takes off. Loyal only to Frederike. |
| The “Pebbles” (Paddington, P-Body, Porridge) | Bar Assistants | Three shin-high, round, pearly-white droids with emotive LCD faces. They clean spills, run drinks to low tables, and trip troublemakers. |
| Artem Rieman | Patron (Spy) | Often found in a corner booth, ostensibly “recruiting,” but actually listening for Guild secrets. |
Security & Hazards
- Passive Defenses: A weapon scanner at the door, reinforced plasteel bar counter.
- Active Defenses: Slag, the “Pebbles” (the droids act as ankle-biting distractions during fights), a riot-suppression sonic emitter in the ceiling (Frederike has the remote).
- Access: Public, though the “High Rollers” table in the back is Invite Only.
Secrets & Clues
- The Murder Scene: Booth 4 still has a faint, scrubbed-out stain on the wall. This is where the crew with the Leerenstein gem was celebrating before they were killed. A successful Search might reveal a datachip wedged between the seat cushions (contains a scan of the gem).
- The Smuggler’s Drop: The ventilation grate in the unisex bathroom is loose. It’s a dead drop used by Artem Rieman to pass goods to local fences.
- Droid Surveillance: Frederike can tap into the optical sensors of the “Pebbles” to review footage of the bar interior, though she rarely admits this.