BridgeCon brings players together to crew simulated spaceships in linked hotel rooms. Its sixteenth convention takes place at the Westgate in Las Vegas, where Jacaranda Rosenbaum-Josselewicz commands Terran players under the name Admiral Rose-Joss. Ben Etxina attends while seeking Jordan Damour, a Homonoid employee playing an executive officer.
Rooms and missions
A banner marked BridgeCon XVI hangs above the second-floor rooms. A dress code calls for Terran Navy, Endolian or Khorran clothing and insignia. Conference Room Seven serves as a holding area with snacks, adjoining a dark, cool simulated bridge with technical stations, LED path lighting and a projected viewscreen. Fans, bass effects and alarms supply sound and movement cues. Crews can pass physically between neighboring rooms during a rescue.
On the ship Diana, Kelly Brown handles communications, Lucy the helm and Julien the weapons. Divya Khawaja initially occupies the captain’s chair but tells Jacaranda she is too high to command, so the admiral takes over. An opposing commander is played by Daniela using a plush puppet on a video call.
A mission to rescue the crew of Phoebe leaves Diana without shields or faster-than-light travel. Jacaranda attempts to destroy Daniela’s ship with a nuclear torpedo, but it is intercepted. Julien criticizes her focus on defeating Daniela while the third faction, the Khorrans, advances.
Players and social gatherings
Jacaranda says participants book travel under the nearby InfoComm audiovisual conference so employers cover the expense. Damour’s conference record draws Ben to Las Vegas, while Jacaranda’s old friendship with him provides the introduction.
The Terran players dine together and invite women from Vegas Desert Swingers, a neighboring party, to join them after an argument about birthright citizenship. In Jacaranda’s suite, she promotes Hunter Haldeman to captain of Diana, citing his simulated combat record and moving Divya into the reserves. Kristin, a swinger, kisses Hunter and puts her hand inside his trousers. Jacaranda asks Chena’s permission to kiss her and warns the remaining guests that sexual activity may follow.
Ben and Kelly leave the living-room gathering for a separate bedroom. Their intercourse is interrupted when Jacaranda brings news that Ben’s own room has been burgled.