Jumpstart Caches are described in Survival Margin as a public works
project in the back of the book. However, from the letters to Strephon
from Norris it appears that in fact they are something much more.
OUT ON A LIMB TIME:
I think Longbow is some super secret faster than light stardrive. The
reason I believe this is from the Adventure PROJECT FARSTAR (In a very
old copy of Challenge). In this adventure the players work with scientists on
the problem of how to jump farther. One of the possible scenarios is that the
players detect a starship moving faster than light! Longbow is listed
in the back of SURVIVAL MARGIN as a FTL communicator that didn't work. I
think there is more going on here than that though.
EVEN MORE WILD SPECULATION:
Wouldn't it be weird if the crash was not from the *VIRUS* but rather
from as yet unknown agent that even now is hurtling its way to the new era.
enough for now
Steven Gott