You are a member of a space salvage team sent by your employer to “make safe” an abandoned research vessel. As you begin your seemingly straight forward mission of disabling the ship’s janitor bots… it soon becomes apparent that all is not what it seems aboard the mysterious Celeste. As unseen forces work against you and your colleagues, you may find yourself re-evaluating your priorities. Do you stay loyal to the company and endeavour to complete the mission as a conscientious team member? Do you hinder and betray your colleagues in a selfish attempt to win the big company bonus? Or will you find yourself fighting for your life in a desperate struggle for survival?
--------------------------------------------------------------
STARLIGHT SALVAGE AND RECOVERY COMPANY ( SSARC )
Message from S.S.A.R.C. Head Office - Eurasia Zone Nine - Earth.
17th December 2114.
The deep space research vessel Celeste was reported missing two years ago having inexplicably disappeared from all tracking instruments. After a long and fruitless search, it was presumed that the ship had met with a catastrophic accident which left no trace of the vessel or its 28 crew members. However, three weeks ago the
Celeste was found drifting undamaged but crewless in the Urdak Quadrant.
We at SSARC have won the contract to recover the stricken vessel.
You will be an essential member of an expert salvage team which will board the Celeste. The ship’s life support systems remain operational… but the on-board janitor bots have malfunctioned and are running amok throughout the craft. Instead of targeting inanimate dirt, detritus and refuse… they seem to be targeting moving human beings. Your task will be to disable as many of the faulty bots as possible using Bot Disabling Devices (BDDs) and Plasma Grenades… thus facilitating the safe retrieval of the ship. Company credits will be awarded as usual. One credit will be paid for each bot that you manage to neutralise. Credits will be subtracted from your account for incompetence or unprofessional conduct. You will be in competition with your fellow squad members for this year’s BIG company bonus. When the mission is completed, the team member with the most company credits will be awarded the substantial and once in a lifetime SSARC bonus.
The salvage and subsequent disassembling of the research ship Celeste should prove to be a very lucrative commercial opportunity for SSARC. Due to the delicate nature of this project, we must insist on the highest level of security for all those associated with this venture. The future success of the company rests on your shoulders.
Good luck on your assignment… and please remember that at SSARC all employees are like cherished family members (but nobody is indispensable).
Message ends.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Return of the Celeste is a science fiction board game for 2 to 9 salvage team “experts”.
GAME CONTENTS
1 - Game Board
1 - Janitor Bot Hub
9 - Salvage Team Figures
9 - Salvage Team Inventory Mats
1 - Alien Leader Figure
20 - Janitor Bots
1 - Escape Pod
6 - Alien Control Markers
6 - Fire Tokens
27 - Bot Disabling Devices (BDDs)
30 - Plasma Grenades
1 - Alien Dice
1 - Blue Dice
1 - White Dice
1 - Yellow Dice
2 - Cargo Crate Dice
70 - Black Company Credits
30 - Red Company Credits
85 - Event Cards
23 - Support Cards
6 - Finale Cards
1 - Abandon Ship Guide
1 - Alien Leader/Turn Sequence Guide
1 - Scene Setter/Conveyor Module Guide
1 - Finale Supplement
1 - Rules Booklet
© 2009
(revised 2017 & 2021)
