FTZ Concepts
The Free Trade Zone is an area of approximately 6 kms in radius, centred over Downtown Denver. It is a walled zone containing part of all the different sectors in the Front Range Free Zone, formerly known as the city of Denver. Designed as a trade nexus between all the countries, getting into the FTZ is very easy. In fact no one really cares, its just a toll paid on your SIN (equivalent to a rating 1 check) and then you're in.
On the other hand, getting out is another problem. Specific countries know that all manner of restricted items are available for trade inside the FTZ, so upon leaving the FTZ, you are subjected to the same checks that you would go through if you arrived in the country of destination from overseas. This means you're getting your SIN checked, and if you're not a citizen, then you'll need a visa, and all the other paraphernalia required by someone who is visiting or working overseas in a foreign country.
Alternatively, you can just jump the border. And here's how to GM it.
Border Security
Borders in Denver are either walled, or fenced. The older borders, those belonging to the old US-NAN borders, are typically walled. The FTZ border is almost exclusively fenced, as it is the newest and put in as a sign of goodwill between countries, and as such is a more 'friendly' looking border.
Fenced borders can be electrified, or razor/monowire topped and between 5 to 10 metres in height. Fences are barrier rating 8, whereas the walls are barrier rating 12, and of similar height. Both fences and walls are lined with sensors, ranging from radar to ultrasonic, impedance and infrared. To model these sensors, borders are given an 'overall' sensor value, which varies both from country to country, and on a daily basis. To determine the sensor rating on a particular day, consult the Sensor Rating Modifiers Table, after rolling 2D6. Then apply the modify to the ratings found in the Sector Sensor Table.
Trying to sneak past the border sensors requires a character to move at no more than 1 metre per combat turn, AND pass a Stealth test with the TN equal to the current Sensor Rating of the border.
| Sector Sensor Table |
|
Sensor Mods Table (roll 2D6) |
|
| Nation |
Rating |
Roll |
TN Mod |
| Aztlan |
5 (most) |
2 |
-2 |
| CAS |
3 (in sensitive areas) |
3-5 |
-1 |
| Pueblo |
6 |
6-8 |
0 |
| Sioux |
3 (sporadic) |
9-11 |
+1 |
| UCAS |
4 (most) |
12 |
+2 |
| Ute |
2(Sporadic) |
|
|
Patrols
All sectors supplement their border security by employing people to patrol their borders. When a character(s) attempt to sneak over a border using the above method, roll 4 dice against a TN chosen from the Sector Patrol Table, modified by the appropriate modifiers in the Sector Patrol Modifiers table.
| Patrol Table |
|
Patrol Table Mods |
|
| Nation |
Rating |
Situation |
Mod |
| Aztlan |
6 |
Urban |
-1 |
| CAS |
5 |
Rural |
+2 |
| Pueblo |
9 |
Non-contiguous border |
-1 |
| Sioux |
6 |
|
|
| UCAS |
8 |
|
|
| Ute |
6 |
|
|
1 success means a patrol is nearby. More successes means a patrol is more powerful than the standard patrol. 4 successes may mean the players have unluckily run across a heavy patrol conducting an intensive sweep of the area. Breakdowns of the various sector patrols can be found in Borders Patrols. If a runner group encounter a patrol, remember that the patrol also gets perception checks to spot the PCs, as well as the Sensor Check. Apply the appropriate perception modifiers from SR3.
Active Security
Besides patrols, other security measures the various nations employ include automatic Sentry Gun systems, the Ares Underground to Air Missile system (UAM), and landmines. Landmines are never located around the FTZ border due to being in a built up area, however landmines can be a threat in less populated areas of inter-sector borders.
This file is just a guide, and it can be expanded upon, treated as a whole chapter to an adventure or just a minor part. This file also only includes actually jumping the border, not many of the other ways one can cross a line on a map. It should also be noted that regardless of the success or failure of PCs to avoid sensors or patrols, they still must have some feasible method of getting over/through the walls and fences lining the borders.
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