As you asses your ships systems the power core is damaged and various subsystems will need to be replaced. If you land you can likely affect the repairs within a few days.
The Azlanti have been driven from Nakondis. But as you found in the datapad your friend Cedona has been taken back to their Empire. You know the route and destination where they were bringing her... once your ship has been repaired you will have to make a choice, to accept she is lost to their vile prison or attempt a rescue.
Trosvod slaps a wall.
"Barely scratched! We'll have this bucket up in good shape, and then we rescue Cedona! Transponder is going to come in handy for that!"
After discussing your options with the colonists you discover that every previous Pact Worlds ship that has attempted to approach the Star Empire has been destroyed, which has led the Stewards, in their role as peacekeepers, to forbid Pact Worlds ships from attempting to fly into Azlanti space...
”So, thoughts? That was one ship we destroyed. One. If we pursue, how many will be there? I’m not saying...actually, I don’t know what I’m saying.” He finished, with a sigh.
"They weren't us, and they didn't have the transponder.", Trosvod replies gleefully.
The illegality of any such approach does not seem to bother him whatsoever.
"The colony has actually received a transmission from the Stewards on Absallom Station." Madelon chimes in.
In the recorded transmission, you are greeted by a human woman with brown skin and short, black hair. “My name is Major Deepadra Evosco
of the Stewards. I don’t know for certain whether you will have a chance to receive this message, or if the Azlanti invaders we believe to be in Nakondis’s orbit intercepted you. If you are listening, then you truly are as resourceful as we have been told that you are, and I have no qualms about relaying the following information. We recently received a troubling transmission from the Pact Worlds colony Nakondis. It was sent from an android named Cedona, with whom I believe you are acquainted. She informed us she had salvaged what she believed to be an experimental starship drive from an ancient wreck she discovered on the colony world, and that a ship from the Azlanti Star Empire had suddenly appeared in the colony’s atmosphere. We have received no further transmissions from the colony, leading us to assume her worst fears were true: that the Azlanti ship intended to attack the colony in order to lay claim to the device."
“Our records show you were contracted by AbadarCorp to carry supplies to Nakondis, which leaves you as the only Pact Worlds ship with a chance of knowing the exact situation. We are requesting your aid in a matter regarding the system-wide security of the Pact Worlds. If the Azlanti have indeed retrieved this experimental drive, we want you to enter the Azlanti Star Empire and attempt to either recover or destroy that drive. None of our ships are close enough to intervene in this situation in a timely fashion. We’re willing to deputize you to operate in the Star Empire on our behalf for this mission—you come recommended by someone that we hold in very high esteem."
“We know that we are asking a lot from you with this request, and rest assured, you will be very well rewarded for your efforts when you return. If Cedona is still alive, I recommend you rendezvous with her as soon as possible. She will no doubt have far more information on the current situation than we can provide you. Beyond that, I can only hope you accept our offer, and wish you good luck if you do. Evosco out.”
You realise that the Stewards are hoping to maintain plausible deniability if something goes wrong. If the Stewards were to send a force into Azlanti space, it would likely spark off an interstellar war, while a small team of freelancers can easily be disavowed. Nevertheless, the Stewards are also correct on the issue of timing. With the transmission delays between Nakondis and Absalom Station, by the time the Stewards got the information they needed from Nakondis and dispatched ships to the Star Empire, the drive would most likely be long gone.
"I love the timing! Rewards as well as whatever we can loot!"
"They weren't us, and they didn't have the transponder.", Trosvod replies gleefully.
"I have to agree" - AXL pipes in - "We know the route to take, and we have the transponder" - the android adds - "With a believable account of facts, we may be able to get to Cedona unhindered"
”Seems like our course is set. Think we can get paid up front or at least outfitted for this? If not, let’s salvage what we can from the wreckage before we get ourselves killed.”
"Oh wow! I've seen this in spy thriller holovids! See, if the Stewards themselves got involved, it'd probably spark a war with the Azlanti, regardless if they attacked first. So what they've got to do is send in a team of freelancers to get the job done. If we're captured, they'll be able to disavow us - plausible deniability and all that. We'll be on our own, just our wits and each other to rely upon. This is so cool!"
The excitable engineer dashes off to inspect the ship and the status of the repairs, eager to ensure it's ready to depart on this high-stakes rescue mission. With no lasers searing past his head and no torpedoes striking against his ship, the business of adventure again becomes an abstraction to Nosmo. Thus, he throws himself into the endeavor even though he remains quite novice as a Starfinder.
"If they send you a lot of funding it would undermine their deniability if they sent you funding... and at current they don't know who you are."
"So long as they pony up the cash after, we can live with that."
”If we live. Let’s make our repairs, and move off. I suppose it will give me time to make a new mask as well.”
Before you depart Madelon gives you a Tactical Rail Gun before you leave.
Following the courier’s flight plan, you exit the Drift at the edge of the Nys system, as is standard procedure for Imperial Fleet vessels returning to the empire from forays outside its borders. An Azlanti patrol ship quickly approaches you.
"I don't suppose we have a way to trick them, right?" Nosmo laughs nervously. "I mean, we just got this ship fixed."
Nosmo begins to call up certain menus upon his computer console, preparing for the inevitable worst case.
Your stolen transponder beams out the correct “handshake” signal, and the Azlanti vessel turns away.
Another vessel begins to approach your ship, it's clearly not of Azlanti design but attempts to hail your ship.
”Try it again. But prepare for a fight. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
The ship continues moving closer, within weapon range but does not fire. The close into visual range and continue trying to hail you.
"Let's answer, damn it. Worst case, we shoot them!"
The view screen flickers on to reveal a four-armed figure dressed in bright yellow robes with red accents and covered by a dark blue cloak. She gives a slight bow, with all four hands making a gesture in front of her conical hat. Sayonsi greets you in Azlanti.
“Good hunting, illustri! I hope your travels have proven fruitful to you and the Star Empire. Would you care to see some items from home after your long journey away—why, that’s interesting...”
She seems to realize something and then presses a button on her console. She suddenly folds her four hands together in front of herself, appearing far more enthusiastic and friendly, and continues in polished Pact Worlds Common.
“Why, hello, travelers! Welcome to the Azlanti Star Empire! Would you be interested in buying a few goods for your continuing journey?”
"Sure, buying is good!"
"I have a few items you might be interested in but I find it rather curious that a vessel from the Pact Worlds would journey into the territory of the Azlanti Star Empire. I'm sure you're aware that if you are found by them you'll be shot on sight?"
Aeon stone, clear spindle 245
Sword cane, tactical 250
Aeon stone, iridescent spindle 740
Ring of resistance, mk 1 735
Spell gem of charm person (5) 140 each
Aeon stone, amber hyperboloid 2,200
Darksight goggles 2,100
Aeon stone, sapphire cone 3,200
Serum of enhancement (commando) 475
Serum of enhancement (diplomat) 475
Serum of enhancement (sneak) 475
Serum of enhancement (warrior) 475
Staff of mystic healing 3,700
Aeon stone, viridian balbis 4,200
"Sure could use that diplomat serum right about now," Nosmo mutters to himself as he scrolls through the inventory, transmitted to his console. The item gives him an idea, however.
He leans over and whispers to Elthaeron.
"We could claim to be invited diplomats. Or would that just cause more problems? I just know I wouldn't trust myself to sell that story."
”The Aeon stones are all valuable. But there is nothing there I would feel the need to lay claim to.” Eluvias said. ”Though I will add that I don’t trust them. When our business is done we should not tarry.”
Trosvod cuts across the others, speaking up:
"The ring of resistance. That's the ticket!"
Elthaeron stepped back and let the others barter.
If anyone from the other ship attempts to talk to him, he will merely say ”I’m not paid to talk.”
Tight lipped on your part few more words are exchanged a simple trade is made before you continue on. <The items I did not have, you might have luck finding them at the Free Station of Outpost Zed. There is an individual named Talmrin who you might want to speak to.> The parting message includes co ordinates.
Trosvod slips on his new ring.
"That could have gone worse!"
Nosmo offers a wheezing sigh and clutches his chest as soon as the communication closes.
"I thought my heart was going to stop," he manages to choke out the words. "Do you think they noticed how nervous I was? I didn't blow our cover, did I?"
Nosmo distracts himself by looking up the coordinates on his console, comparing the free station to their current flight plan.
”And this is why a mask is so useful, Nosmo.” Elthaeron said. ”I, too, am not cut out for this...guile. It felt for sure like they would see through it. We will need to do better when we get further in.”
"Yeah, we'll either need to feed them better lines or start shooting sooner!", says Trosvod, clearly stating what he sees as the options.
"Unless we really need to gear up, I say we push on to the Azlanti."
AXL can see the trader clearly is suspicious of your group and hopes to get a reward from this other person but isn't malicious.
"I'm not sure how much time we have for a detour," Nosmo worries. "What about Cedona? She could be getting tortured as we speak!"
You continue on towards Gulta, a few days travel bringing out towards it. A few times Azlanti ships pay attention but your salvaged transponder keep them at a distance.
As you move towards Gulta a ship patrolling near it moves in. They seem to be paying closer attention and scrutiny. They hail you as they begin to close in. <Barazad, we're picking up unusual readings from your engine. Do you require engineering assistance?>
Trosvod nods at his companions and flaps his hands like a duck's beak in front of his face.
Nosmo fights against his own muscles as their seize up with fright, and he pushes himself to hammer away at his console with his stiff fingers. He hurriedly works to identify the irregularities the patrol ship refers to, hoping he can quickly fix them on his own.
AXL opens the hailing frequency in response - "please stand by for update - we are waiting our own engineering report"
Everything seems to be working fine as far as Nosmo can tell. You have a fully functional pact worlds vessel... the irregularities are almost certainly in that it's not an Azlanti Star Empire vessel, if they close in the irregularities will become more obvious... with such unusual irregularities they might not want you going near a sensitive location as a prison.
"Our engineering team reports 'all clear'" - AXL explains - "Thank you for the hail, but no assistance is required"
<Your internal scans must be malfunctioning, your readings are way off baseline. We'll close to give you more details.> The Azlanti ship continues to approach you.
Elthaeron took the speaker. After a deep breath to steady himself he said, in his most imperious voice ”This is Engineering. We took damage from pirates and I repaired the damage we took with their parts. It will last until we have the time to do proper repairs. But I guarantee that MY work is sufficient and that I do not need any assistance.”
"Please be advised," Nosmo adds, jumping on the comms to spin an idea he'd seen in an action vid, "Additional irregularities may stem from the fact that we are piloting a commandeered Pact Worlds vessel. We have been conducting undercover surveillance around the occupied planet Nakondis to prevent Starfinder interference with the Star Empire's operations. We are returning to imperial space to resupply."
Trosvod crosses his clawed fingers.