Since I am guilty of stealing from Bluerise Tower, it is only a matter of time before corporate security hunts me down. I have no realistic hope of evading agents in my current state. Help me fake my death to get out of the hot water, and place Jubair under Society protection. Do that and I'll share the files."[/b] Her eyes almost glimmer with excitement "Oh I haven't done something like this in years, it's so exciting."
She grins at all of your and looks over at Jubair who has fainted in his seat, she shrugs her shoulders. "He's not used to this kind of thing."
"Sounds good to me!"
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How am I going to eat a scone with this mask? It would be IMPROPER to take it off. But the scones look so good. Maybe if I adjust it? But the indignity. Maybe if I save one for later?
”Oh? Oh! Yes. Indeed. Society protection. We can manage that.”
"Well we're going to need a death certificate and a new identity. We've got to either trick or bribe a mortician for the death certificate, bribes are easier but they might sell us out. The new identity, well it depends on your contacts and assets the best way to go about that."
Baedjrak smiled at the old lady. "By the ten Gods, you're really up for this?! Well, I guess we have some options to figure out, and quick. But I think the Starfinders might have a place for the two of you. Yes, bribe or trick a mortician... Or hack their database perhaps?? And yes, an identity would be helpful... Course, if we had a body to swap in place of you, the first part might be easier. What do you all think?" he finishes, turning to his companions.
”Effective. But murdering someone might bring unwanted attention on us. Though...” He looked at the woman. ”Do you have any enemies? We could have you vanish and frame them. Make it look like there was a struggle.”
What he didn’t say was that this sounded cheaper than bribery.
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Trosvod says:
"That sounds way easier than blowing up this place!" , he says, impressed by elven tactics.
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Damn it, why didn’t I think of that? A nice large explosion could be made to look like an accident. Gods, but I can’t say that now. Why must humility be so humiliating?!
All this went on behind his impassive mask.
"I go out for walks in the park nearby." She pats her sons leg "He's always telling me to be careful, no point framing someone. I think I've outlived most of my enemies. The death certificate is the key, we can"
Ceren needs a new identity if she wants to survive her false death. PCs can help set up a solid new alias for Ceren with a successful DC 15 Bluff, Culture, or Disguise check. They can use a successful DC 17 Diplomacy check to provide Ceren with allies and contacts in her new life. A successful DC 14 Profession check in any field can pull strings to get Ceren a new job, though she refuses degrading or dangerous employment. PCs with the Computers skill can attempt a DC 18 check to forge Ceren different identification papers. PCs need at least three successful checks to create a solid legal persona for Ceren.
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Baedjrak ponders that final statement for a few minutes. "Well, if the death certificate is the most important part, I can give my hand a go at a bit of hacking. I am no master like you, ma'am, but I will see what I can do."
Activating his personal computing device upon his wrist, he begins coding in, using vocal commands as well thanks to its connection to his comms system.
Looking at his completed work on the screen, he routes the file to the residence's printing equipment, causing it to spew out a copy of the completed file. Walking over, Baedjrak pulls it from the printer, smiling. "Not too shabby if I do say so myself." Then he hands it to the older woman.
"Now, as for a new identity, it would seem we need to put in some leg work, setting up connections and friends, altering your bearing, and perhaps even arranging for some form of employment." Turning to the others, "I can go attend to the details of sowing a new identity for the lady. Given your skills, I trust the three of you can stay here and keep them safe should anyone come looking for them?"
Before departing, Baedjrak begins to propose a new identity...
Baedjrak smiles, "How about you are a retired yet notorious space pirate, Lady Andara the Fierce! Yes, with hundreds of famous battles in your past! What? Too much? Hmm, guess my imagination can get a little wild... Maybe we should go with something simpler..."
Baedjrak calms from his last idea. "Perhaps something simpler, and more mundane. A retired minor freight systems administrator. It matches your computer skills, though I would encourage you to keep them to a minimum. Retired due to old age and a weakening memory. Seems appropriate for your situation."
Heading out the door, "I have some kinsmen in freight and logistics management. Let me see if I can get her some 'past colleagues' and the like. Maybe I can get to identification paperwork while I am gone as well."
After a couple hours, Baedjrak returns, with a sizeable grin on his face. Reaching out, he hands the woman a new ident card and a datastick. "Everything is in order, including your friends, colleagues, and the like. Hope you enjoy my people, and our cuisine. So... about that datafile...?"
"Pirates? Oh yes! You need to get the look - just right!"
Trosvod is able to draw rather a lot of knowledge about pirates...
(1st)
You have a distinct advantage over others when operating in the shadows of society. Reduce the DC of Culture checks to recall knowledge about black market locations, known smugglers, and notorious space pirates by 5. Bluff is a class skill for you, though if it is a class skill from the class you take at 1st level, you instead gain a +1 bonus to your Bluff checks. In addition, you gain an ability adjustment of +1 to Dexterity at character creation.
Once they complete the necessary steps to secure a death certificate and establish her new identity, or at the end of six hours, they must meet with Ceren at the designated meeting place in Jatembe Park.
Open to all citizens, Jatembe Park occupies a wide portion of the Eye of Absalom Station. Filled with lush trees and open grass fields, the park offers some natural terrain to the otherwise metalclad station. Ceren’s meeting point is one such forested portion of the park, specifically a spot often ignored by citizens due to the winding path required to reach it.
As your group approaches the bridge you can spot some figures hiding in the trees watching Ceren.
Trosvod says:
"People watching us from the trees. Anyone object to shooting them until they fall over?"
”Seems premature. Murder charges are inconvenient to flee from.”
Elthaeron can see them and with his keen eyes spots that they are wearing light armour (but almost everyone on the station does), they have pistols and batons... lightly armed compared to his own group. Armed enough to defend themselves but not so well armed as to raise eyebrows on Absallom station.
”Light armor. Pistols. Batons. We stay out of their range. Preferably out of sight too. There isn’t enough information yet to make killing them worth the risk.”
"Fine, but I'll pull my cannon out of this large carry case if needed."
Baedjrak casually checks his pistol, secured in a abdominal holster on the lower left side of his vest. "Watching us, you say? Me thinks we should go and introduce ourselves, let them know they should mind their own business. Can't have them raining on our little parade. I got all the important work already done!"
Trosvod looks surprised but pleased.
"Yeah, we can do that! Tell them what's what."
As you approach clearing having seen the figures they do not respond with weapons but with words. "You're going to want to leave this area, we're under contract from Arasaka Arms." They call out to you but now their presence is known they move towards Ceren with intent.
Trosvod grins, a foul cigar burning down.
"Folks, you're one more bad decision away from making my day!", he says with poorly disguised glee.
Tapping his fingers on the grip of his pistol, Baedjrak adds, "I don't think you realize just how much my companions are itching for a fight. Might be best if YOU move along..."
”Just great. But you’ll carry the bodies this time.”
He wasn’t sure if they even heard him, and if they whether they’d take a thin elf seriously when a large vesk with a giant gun was already grinning at them due to impending violence.
The two corporate goons make themselves scarce. Ceren doesn't worry too much about them now that you've scared them off.
Historia-7 has someone collect Ceren at the appointed hour. Ceren hands you a tub full of scones. "You take care now."
As she gets into a vehicle a rudimentary courier robot approaches you. It
presents the PCs with a gift box containing a standard datajack and 200 credits. A simple electronic message from Historia-7 indicates that the
datajack is a token of thanks from the Dataphiles. The box also contains a frostbite-class zero rifle.
"I helped! Without shooting anyone!"
Trosvod seems quite chuffed with himself at this achievement, likely rare.
"You take care too! Scones are great!"
After they're done...
"Sweet payday! Tasty rifle but a bit light for my liking. Elth?"
”A very nice rifle indeed. I would hate to be greedy by claiming it, given my armor from the previous mission. Can anyone here make use of it?”
You all receive a message from Guidance requesting your presence as a group at the Lorespire.
"Duty calls!"
"So does a pay-day. Let's go."
The intelligence once again presents itself in a holographic form—this time taking on the appearance of a wizened male korasha lashunta. "Congratulations on your successful missions. In the aftermath of the Scoured Stars incident the Soceity needs skilled agents more then ever. You have great potential in your careers as Starfinders."
"Zigvigix also wanted it to be relayed he has an opportunity he would like to discuss with you in three days for a few missions. The time in between you can use to heal up and re equip if needed."
"Cool. I'll look for big guns."
After three days Zigvigix is waiting for you in the Downlow district at the ExoGuardians’ new headquarters, a familiar recently renovated warehouse. It watches a bustling crew move office equipment from several large pallets into a large warehouse, while other workers weld scrap metal to gaps in the warehouse’s walls. The shirren occasionally directs a crew member and makes a note on a datapad. The shirren notices their new guests and turns to telepathically project a greeting.
Zigvigix wears a set of shoulder speakers that blast out sugarpop music from the band Strawberry Machine Cake. They bounce in place along to the music. <Welcome back! Isn’t this song the best? I’ve been playing it on loop for hours!> Behind the excited shirren, several grizzled-looking station workers, each carrying a side of a heavy-looking holotable, roll their eyes.
Elthaeron walked in, equaled with two aeon stones. He called them propriety and dignity. His hunger almost made him remove his mask in public! He could not abide by such shame. The aeon stones removed base necessities like eating, drinking, or breathing. Things obviously beneath him.
His rifle was still secured on his magic, though it could be magically called to his hands with a thought. He crossed his arms, waiting for someone else to talk. He had important things on his mind. Such as how long it would take for him to no longer be tempted by the memory of taste...
"It's nice. I'm ready to start the briefing when you are."
<Good, it's optional.> Zigvigix keeps moving his shoulder to the beat as he briefs your group. <I've got a few jobs in mind for a group with your skill sets. Ye can handle yourselves in a fight but there's more to it than that. Technical skills, a bit of style and some not being afraid to operate out in the vast.>
<If you're happy to keep working together that is? One of the perks I'm going to call in some favours and we're going to get ye the use of a ship and eventually it'll be yours on paper. I'm not going to need all your time just every now and again to do a job. I've got one lined up as kind of a shake down cruise, it's a grub run, a delivery to a colony out in the Vast to Nakondis. Abadarcorp needs the job done as they are big backers, they've got big pockets too.>
<The supplies aren't even morally questionable or anything just stationary for the most part. A respectable pay off upon completion too. Wait I love this bit!> Zigvigix keeps dancing for a little while before getting back to the briefing "The last thing is you all know your contact at the colony, an android named Cedona. Guidance helped cross reference a few factors including association. We might have used the opportunity to give ye a chance to get to know each other. So a ship, money and the chance to see an old friend? You guys in>
"Sure. I'll go and get started packing. Let me know where the ship is docked."
<Well that's part of the thing, I know a guy who runs a junk yard. He owes a few favours so within reason ye can pick out a frame and customise it to your tastes.>
Baedjrak chuckles at the offer. "Ah, so it's going to be like our first task together, but this time rather than cobbling together a racer, it will be our own starship! Hopefully we can make sure it's environmentally sound! I think we shall have a magnificent maiden voyage!"
Elthaeron nodded. "A princely gift. Though I suppose investment is the right word here. I will collect my belongings immediately."
"Our own ship? And a milk run with catching up with Cedona at the end? I'm sold!"
Trosvod grins, not least because of his shiny new sonic cannon.
It takes a week to get your ship void worthy, as it's refurbishment nears the end of it's first phase it's hard not to consider what role you should each take. Common knowledge on Absallom Station would advise you that it's a bit late to sort out who's doing what when an your ship is under enemy fire.
"Missles.", Trosvod nods sagely.
”Piloting. As much as this thing can he piloted.”
"I can try and fill in whichever role you think I would fit best in, but I've never worked as a ship's crewman before, so I can't say that I would offer much in the way of experience."
Baedjrak, still covered in grease, coolant, and a variety of other chemicals necessary in getting their vessel functional, uses a sham cloth to clean his hands. "Suppose I'll be serving as the ship's engineer, seeing to our propulsion, computer systems, and what not. Arika, you can man the second guns, and as a marksman, I bet you have a keen eye. Perhaps you can watch our sensors?"
It takes seventeen days of travel to get to Nakondis, by the time ye are about to exit the drift you've all started to get used to your ship. There are still various auxiliary systems not quite performing but it's yours.
As you exit the drift while locked onto Naknondis' drift beacon the world comes into view amidst a sea of stars. It is good to be back in real space and no longer is the swirling maelstrom of the drift. Your ships sensors start to chirp to alert you to something, looking at your consoles you note two objects which had been in orbit have sharply changed direction and velocity...
...they're heading to flank each side of your ship!
You can recognize the drones as automated craft, although the machines are of a design unknown to the Pact Worlds.
You recalls tales of spacecraft resembling these that were deployed by the aggressive and expansionist Azlanti Star Empire!
Trosvod slaps an internal wall.
"Yup, "The Rustbucket" is a fine name for this!"
"And damn! Is that the proximity alert!?"
"Fine, I'll command the ship. "
As the ship exits the Drift, Arika is roused by the sounds of the proximity alarms. Sighing, she says "Let's kill them all and be on our way."