GM Dinketry and the Dead Suns AP (Inactive)

Game Master dinketry

August takes a drag on his cigarette and thinks of the alternate identities he can build with 1200 credits.

"Deal."

"Then it is up to you, sir," and Nor rotates his gaze to Telion.

The last holdout unfolds his arms and flexes his antennae. "Yeah, ok. What's in the box?"

"Most excellent," Nor replies to Telion. The Eoxian depresses a button on the side of his cocoon-like chair, and the skeletal attendant who brought you in - or possibly, a different skeletal attendant who appears quite similar - comes in with a thin black-as-pitch electronic datasheet. The attendant comes up to Nor, who waves it at Diamaante. "I have already received permission from station security to send an exploratory team to the Acreon. That datasheet contains your launch clearance codes from Absalom Station, as well as legal releases indemnifying you on behalf of your neutral party status and exploration and docking codes for both the Drift Rock and the Acreon. Oh, I think I also included the specifications for the Hippocampus there as well."

Nor shifts his gaze to Telion. "I can assure you that the package contains no contraband and that there are no illegalities involved. I would simply ask for you to return this piece of personal property from the ship, thank you very much."

(Hippocampus stat sheet)

After the attendant delivers to Diamaante the datasheet, it leaves the room, only to re-appear a moment later holding a grapefruit-sized silver orb.

"Ah, yes," Nor says as he gazes at the skeletal attendant. "I'd like to give to you this drone-bot to accompany you." As he says this, the attendant lightly tosses the silvery ball up, but instead of falling to the ground, it bobs around for a bit in mid-air, then rotates on its axis, revealing a small camera sensor.

"This small observer robot will record your expedition. I want an objective record that can be provided with unimpeachable neutrality to both sides as a foundation for our mediation efforts. You won’t have to do anything with the bot yourselves; it will simply follow and observe."

"I'd recommend exploring the Acreon first, but you can do whatever you want. The ship I have arranged for you will be available tomorrow morning. Any questions?"

You suddenly all feel very tired - the weight of the non-stop busy work that you've engaged in since joining up on Absalom Station with the Starfinder Society catches up to you now that you hear that you'll be leaving AS together on your first interstellar journey. You even think back to just this morning, when you were about to receive a mission from the Dealmaker and you were pondering waffle toppings (Jaxom had homemade waffles). This is what being a Starfinder agent feels like. You try to consider what business you'd like to complete prior to setting off on the Hippocampus.

"Why so serious? Uh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh." Nor reads your glazed-over expressions and gleans some pleasure from your non-plussed faces.

Diamaante smiles and tries not to rub her eyes. "No questions from me, ambassador. We will head out to the Acreon in the morning. For now, we must get some rest. Have a pleasant evening."

Assuming the others don't have anything else to add, the lashunta will lead the group back to their lodgings to rest for the night.

I'll make that assumption as well, Diaamante, to move things along. Retroactive questions may be fired for now.

You are led out of the Eoxian embassy by the skeletal attendant and you trudge back to your beds. The dronebot follows behind you, and stays with the largest group. Idar, Diamaante, and Telion check in to the Moons of Sleep, while August heads off to Ignatius House, the low-rent hostel where he has pitched his tent. Jaxom looks torn between staying at his parents' empty but comfortable home in Parkside, or his hotel room at the Moons of Sleep.

Your choice, Jaxom.

Telion yawned. "Too bad we couldn't get the drone to follow August home. He'd probably have flipped out. I'll see you guys in the morning, I can't imagine what we'll find on the ship, but it's gotta be something big, right? Why else would so many big names be clambering after it."

GM roll: 1d12 ⇒ 3

The dronebot follows Diamaante to her hotel room on level 42. The rest of the crew find their way to their beds.

Any further actions before the morning?

Idar has no business to settle before departing, just a good night's sleep.

August immediately covers his face when the bot springs into the air, putting his hood up and leaving the office before his picture is taken.

"Thanks," he says, "but I really don't want my face recorded. I'll proceed ahead and meet you guys at the Hippocampus."

He will be busy creating a opaque face shield for his armor - and getting a change of clothes to match the face shield - to prevent his face from being recorded by the bot during their expedition.

How fast can August get a vocal modulator installed?

Diamaante gives the bit a look once they are in the hotel room. "You can stay here, but you don't follow me into the bathroom, got it? That's where I draw the line."

She showers (privately) and turns in for the night.

Desperately searching the Sphere from the privacy of his cheap hotel room, August finds no cybersurgeons open at this hour of the evening. The best you can do is schedule an appointment with a large cybersurgery clinic in the Eye for tomorrow morning.

The dronebot seems to understand and respond to Diamaante's voice command, coming to a halt in the corner of her hotel room near the front door.

Jaxom, anything you need do? Where do you sleep?

I stay at the Moons.

In the morning, the crew at the Moons of Sleep all file downstairs to sample Minnie's wares. On their way through the lobby, the ever-present Landry hails them.

"Morning, Starfinders! It seems you're popular. I took two messages for you, not an hour ago. The first asked if you could please return the call. Akitonian fellow by the name of Serissi. Said it was important to speak with you this morning. The second message was sent by a 'Ms Joss' and she said that you would know what this is about. It's some form of electronic multimedia file. I could forward it to a datapad...?" Landry gives you a sheepish grin. "I think it's too big for a comm-device, unfortunately. I screened it for malicious content for you - it's clean - but I wasn't able to open it on the hotel comm-link. You tell me what you want to do with it." Landry passes you a slip of paper with 'Captain Serissi' and a contact number written on it.

"Joss is Astral Extractions, yes? Refused carrot. Probably threaten stick."

August walks out of the clinic and smiles, checking his neck and nodding at the sight of the already-healed incisions.

The wonders of modern medicine in the Pact Worlds!

We'll have August rejoin us after the group makes the decision regarding their two morning messages from Landry.

Diamaante shakes her head at August's message. The android's paranoia never ceases to amuse her. She looks back at the others.

"If somebody has a datapad, they can listen to Joss's message, though I doubt it will be anything worthwhile. In the meantime, let's call back Serissi."

She'll dial up the Akitonian on her comm unit.

”We never got those datapads back.”

"I can let you take a look at it on the office computer," Landry says cheerfully. He rotates a screen behind his desk around so that it shines through the enclosed transparent kiosk wall in which he sits. He then opens the file on his computer, and the following multimedia presentation automatically plays.

(Imagine an over-wrought but cultured voice paraphrasing the slides in the following Powerpoint presentation with non-specific but soothing tonal music playing as background.)

Astral Extractions' Presentation

GM roll: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Once completed, Landry turns the screen back around. "Well, that was something, wasn't it?" he says in a half-hearted attempt to be cheery.

Diamaante rings the number provided. It picks up nearly immediately.

"Captain Otal Serissi of the Dust Runner, how can I help you?" A red-skinned face, handsome and rugged, appears on Diamaante's vid-screen.

"Hello, Captain Serissi. This is Diamaante, holo-star and recent Starfinder recruit. You wanted to speak with us?"

Idar is a bit bewildered by the presentation. "Not sure of point."

"Well, hello! And yes I did. You see, I'm a member of the Hardscrabble Collective. We're an organisation of independent freighter and mining captains - I think you've likely heard about us. I've been informed that you'll be doing some mediation work in a matter involving us, and I thought I'd invite you to my ship so I can better explain who we are and what our aims are in this dispute."

A jolt of static hits the connection, but it quickly clears. "My ship is in the Armada, and I'd be happy to send along a transport to pick up and ferry you to us for a cuppa and a conversation if you have time. I can understand that you might be mighty busy. Still, it's important that you've heard from us. What do you say?"

"We actually have our own ship that we intended on taking out this morning. If it's okay with you, we can dock with your ship and meet with you on our way to our other objective."

Assuming he agrees, Diamaante tells the others about the meeting and prepares to head to the docking bay once August arrives.

Made it! Thanks, GM

Diamaante, you’ve got a few minutes left to correct your post so as to have it come from your character. I do that sometimes - tricky thing.

Telion buried his face in his hand as they watched the AE presentation. "I don't know what they hoped to accomplish by sending that. Stock video from new hire orientation? Sales pitch for the small businesses they intend to buy? Whatever. You guys all ready to head out? I'm itching to get off station and take the ship for a spin."

Captain Serissi agrees to Diamaante's suggestion and sends docking coordinates for the Dust Runner before signing off.

Halfway through waffles, August shows up sporting some new gear.

August, very conscious of the floating camera, has appeared wearing his space suit, now attached with the Pact Worlds symbol for an ammonia atmosphere breather and an opaque face shield and speaks out of the voice modulator with a deep, bass voice that seems to rumble with ever word.

"Well are ready to head over to the Acreon?"

"And you are?"

August sighs audibly and texts Telion as he speaks.

"Your jokes about my suit are funny as always Telion. It's an abandoned spaceship run by oxygen breathers so of course I'll have to wear my suit."

Once August signals his identity, the crew finish up breakfast and head out with a farewell wave from Minnie. The dronebot follows along just over Diamaante's left shoulder.

You head off to a private hangar off of Docking Bay 4 as per the instructions on the electronic data-sheet provided by Gelvarask Nor. Once there, an attendant similarly dressed to August in a sealed spacesuit comes up to you.

"You must be the crew of the Hippocampus. Please follow me."

The all-black exterior of the ship does not come as a surprise to you as you are led to the open hatch of the shuttle. The suited-up attendant turns and says: "His Excellency did not want to involve any crew members of Absalom Station Port Control so as to maintain absolute neutrality. Your launch codes are all that you'll need to key in once you've powered up - it was assumed that you would want to pilot the ship manually. Have a nice flight," and the attendant walks away.

Please find your seats, ladies and gentlemen. I'll need to know who is manning which stations. If it helps, I've created a spreadsheet that tells you who is capable of filling which roles on the ship and attached it to the ship's stats on the byline up above.

So looks like Diamaante is the best captain, Telion is our Engineer, Jaxom's the science officer, Idar is our gunner and I'm the pilot?

Diamaante automatically gravitates towards the captain's chair, settling in as they prepare to depart.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Piloting: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Lots of high end ships here - this must be a VIP hangar.

August will sit down in the pilot's seat and start running through the pre-flight checks.

"We have your clearance for initial thrusters-up, shuttle Hippocampus. Proceed along departure coordinates." The overhead radio crackles to life as August, Diamaante, and Jaxom massage the helm, comms, and computer operating systems into working order.

The ground lifts a jolt to the left as the Hippocampus floats off of the ground.

"You're all clear for power-up and departure, shuttle Hippocampus. Farewell from Absalom Station. May the Beacon light your way home." The radio crackles off as the ship passes out of the hangar gravity rings.

"Shuttle gravity in effect," a computerised voice notifies the crew, seamlessly transferring gravitational pull to the centre of the ship as the AS gravity loses its pull. "Coordinates set for Mark one-zero-two-delta-four, Armada ring. ETA in six minutes."

You all may enjoy a few minutes as a crew before your first docking in the Armada.

Perception: 1d20 + 0 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 0 + 1 = 15

Jaxom appraises the ship...

Piloting: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

... and nods.

Once aboard, he starts checking out the science station, programming the interface to suit his preferences, and announces he is ready for the “up ship” command.

"Take us out, Mister Vydoc!" Diamaante says with a smile,

The dronebot settles in near the captain's station on the ship as the shuttle pulls further out from Absalom Station.

The view of the asymmetrical, six-pointed star moves out of near-focus into more global shapes. The central core of the space station - the Eye - remains glimmering and verdant. A few shuttles strafe towards docking bays, carrying passengers back into AS, passengers who have business on the station - but that's not you. You've got business elsewhere.

The vast and shifting swarm of ships known as the Armada isn't quite visible from AS proper without magnification, but it doesn't take long, even on neutral impulse power, to spot the mish-mosh of vessels from space. Your coordinates take you past multiple hulls and derelicts as you near the Armada, but a gleaming silver warship sporting a stylised sword and sun symbol on its hull grabs your attention. The ship looks a bit out of place next to the junked-out wrecks that make up some of the flotilla.

"Mark one-zero-two-delta-four, Dust Runner hailing Hippocampus. You have been cleared to commence docking procedure at Bay 3." The radio crackles to life, indicating your pre-set coordinates have found their target, a red-tinged freighter ship adjacent to the shiny silver behemoth.

Take 10 on Culture!

"Acknowledged Dust Runner, beginning approach to Docking Bay 3."

August's voice sounds like it should be singing in a lounge more than dealing with mundane procedures like docking.

He brings the shuttle into the landing bay and sets down with hardly a bump.

"We have arrived at the destination. What are we doing here?"

"Welcome, Starfinders!" A twangy voice comes through the ship's PA system. "Welcome on board the Dust Runner. Take your time disembarking; I'm just waiting here in the hangar bay for you when you're ready. I'm quite pleased you were able to find time to meet with me."

The voice crackles off.

When you disembark, you're greeted immediately by a red-skinned gentleman in casual clothing and dark glasses. (IMAGE)

"Please, come on in! I'm Captain Serissi. Otal will be just fine." He doffs his hat as he greets you each warmly with a firm handshake - if a hand is provided.

Telion found his station and started checking out the ship's systems as they boarded. "Looks like nothing fancy as far as shuttles go, but it's not too bad. Decent power core and slightly upgraded shield system. Engine's nothing to get excited about and there's no drift drive, so we're not going to be winning any races in this thing, but it should get us out to the rock just fine."

Diamaante shakes Otal's hand. "It's nice to meet you, Otal. So, tell us more about the Hardscrabble Collective. We're interested in hearing your perspective on this whole situation."

Idar takes the tactical station as they board. He doesn't know too much about ships, but he knows enough to be glad this isn't a typical Eoxian boneship, and enough about weapons to appreciate the turret-mount coilgun.

He keeps his eyes on the tactical readout, but (obviously) keeps the weapons powered down and his hands off the controls for their flight through well-patrolled space.

On board the Dust Runner, Idar leaves the talking to Diamaante and August. An arbitator, he is definitely not.

"Please, follow me," the captain says warmly, leading the crew out of the loading dock and up a flight of stairs. "I'll take you to our mess hall where we can stretch out and have a cup of coffee. As you can see," he says, indicating the utilitarian appearance of the freighter, "we ain't a luxury cruiser. Our sick bay is down there, just off the loading docks. Cargo holds - two of them - are down there as well. One of them is actually a shuttle dock, but we got rid of the shuttle years ago so we could have more cargo space."

He leads you up on a catwalk over the loading dock and points to the opposite end from the direction he turns. "That way leads to personal quarters, wash facilities, and engineering. I'd show you the engine if you had the time - we cobbled her together from a mound of spare parts and she is souped-up something thick! Anyway, this way leads to the control stations, operations bank, and most importantly," he finishes, hitting a switch that swings open a hydraulic door, "the mess. Make yourselves at home. I'll serve the coffee."

After making sure that everyone has something hot and strong to drink, Captain Otal Serissi gives you his pitch. "I'm not going to dart around the asteroids here - I'm an unofficial spokesperson for the Hardscrabble Collective, but we all think this business with the Acreon is mighty important to us. Most important is what happened to the crew of the ship. We all ain’t rich; most of us scratch out whatever meagre livings we can from the rocks of the Diaspora, so the occasional corporate contract—like that contract with Astral Extractions— is an opportunity few of us have the luxury to refuse. But see, we value our independence and freedom greatly, and we all have experienced struggles against exploitation and even takeovers from would-be corporate overlords. This feels a lot like that."

He shifts in his seat and continues. "We are family in the Collective. We look out for each other, defend each other, care for each other. We don't know what value, if any, the Drift Rock might have, but we know the worth of our brothers and sisters on the Acreon. We need to know what happened to that crew, as any family needs to know the fate of their loved ones. And if the worst has happened, then perhaps whatever wealth the Drift Rock holds can help ease the loss to the families left behind. That’s all we really care about."

"Now I'm not, mind you, disputing Astral Extractions’ contract with the Acreon; we’re happy to turn all of the files and findings from the ship’s prospecting mission over to the company. But the ship, and the claim its crew staked on the Drift Rock, belong to the Collective, to us. I hope your investigation goes well."

With that, Captain Serissi sits back and waits for any questions or comments.

Diamaante finds Otal's side of the story much more sympathetic than that of Astral Extractions. She sips her coffee as she listens, then nods.

"Don't worry, Otal. We'll do right by you and the crew of the Acreon. We're not about to sell out to a greedy megacorp."

"I'm sure the proof will be in the pudding, as that old saying goes, when you get a look-see at the ship log on the Acreon. I'm sure that they staked their claim on the Drift Rock lawfully, believing that the terms of their contract allowed them to do so."

"More coffee?" he offers.