It takes a lot of work and coordination to save the universe. CORSAIR handles the intra-Cluster communication array and collects information on Anomalies and other situations where a Hand’s intervention is required or desired. Liaisons identify which teams have the best chance of success (and are available for dispatch) and offer them a MISSION.
CORSAIR will never hide important details about a Mission from a prospective Team – the problem is the limit on what CORSAIR itself knows. THREATS can be reported to CORSAIR in a lot of different ways and depending on the channel or urgency, details might be scarce. The less is known about a THREAT, the more dangerous the Mission is considered. CORSAIR doesn’t want to be sending a Team out just to get murdered by something outside their capabilities.
So you may know what kind of situation you’re walking into or have to figure it out along the way. Regardless, all Missions will start with a BRIEFING and have a GOAL.
BRIEFING
Sometimes Teams may be offered a selection of Missions, but more often than not, they’ll be summoned to Central for a specific one. Every Mission will have a Liaison, someone who can offer general information about what is known.
SIDEJOBS
Sometimes while on a Mission, opportunities will arise to tackle unexpected issues or aid with local problems. A team never has to accept these – especially if they’re on a tight time table – but completing these sidejobs will include bonus rewards, such as additional Rests, alchemical materials, temporary Bonds, or assistance. Any non-emergency Mission should include a few potential sidejobs.
THREAT TYPE
Even for non-combat Missions, there’s always something at stake. The Threat Type is what might be lost should the Mission fail. Sometimes it’s as simple as an Anomaly (as if Anomalies are simple) or it could upset negotiations with a potential ally World. CORSAIR will always tell you everything they know about the nature of the Threats on a Mission, whether it be parties involved, strange opponents, or special challenges.
GOAL
Every MISSION will have a set objective. It could be “learn more about a new Legend,” “defeat all the Nemeses in an Upwell,” “confirm the status of an outpost.” Completing the goal is considered a successful Mission regardless of what else happens.
It’s the ‘what else’ where your Team can shine.
Things can change rapidly out in the field and Teams are given a great deal of freedom to decide how they’ll complete the Mission.
FAILURE
It’s not the end of the world if you fail (unless it literally is, in which case you have bigger problems); sometimes CORSAIR didn’t have enough information to accurately assess a Mission’s threat level or required specializations. Sometimes everything goes wrong no matter how cut and dried a scenario seems. While Mission failures are noted on a team and Hand’s record, it’s not held against them or you.
In fact, should a THREAT be considered too powerful for the Team to handle, the GOAL of the Mission might change – “inform CORSAIR and wait for help.” Just because you’re immortal doesn’t mean you’re expected to handle suicide missions.
Only when a team starts racking up multiple failures without any successes does CORSAIR suspect foul play and even then they’ll try everything before assuming malicious intent: therapy, easier Missions, specialization assessment, or reassigning team members. Sometimes people just don’t get along or don’t work well.
COMPLICATIONS
A Mission is intended to be a relatively short affair handling one, maybe two Anomalies or Threats. Longer Missions, such as tackling the Heart of a Tribulation, might reward more than one successful Mission credit – these Missions will also include commensurate resources, including more Rests, special gear or Wonderworks, or allies.
DOWNTIME
Even immortal beings need to rest. Being in the field is dangerous and stressful, so Hands typically have a 1:2 ratio of time on a Mission and time off. This isn’t set in stone; sometimes someone needs a little extra time or they want to get back out there. It’s up to the team and CORSAIR to know when they’re ready again.