Yon takes Tylurs idea and fires twice.
Dee, Sybil. Assessment? You do not look well."
"My apologies, I do not know. Whatever it is, I do not believe it is anything friendly." Dee replied, placing her index finger activating her spell cache activating it. Index finger out, she let the finger gun do the talking.
"Hopefully whatever that attack is can't be used too often! Sybil, catch your breath." Zam calls out over comms. "Let's burn it down before it burns us! Fire at will!"
Tylur's second shot strikes true on the creature. Which seems to silenly wail into the vaccum.
Yon's shots both miss the creature. The second one just barely.
The magic misiles from Dee strike true.
Zam's boost gives Sybil a bit of a jump into action.
Sybil tries to focus her mind onto the creature's alien mind. Forcing a blast of physicic energy into its mind.
The creature seems to be staring at Yon. Even though he is farther back, he flies directly at Yon into the corridor.
Clara tries to take a shot through people down the hall.
But it misses as to avoid the group in the hall.
Round 3
Tylur, Sybil, Yon, Dee, Zam <- Do anything?
Monster
Clara
Tylur backs up to put some distance between him and the creature now that it's closed on Yon in the hallway. "This way!" he shouts, then triggers the artillery laser at close range, "Keep it in the open!"
Watching the creature attack Sybil and Yon, Dee decides to let loose one of her most powerful attacks against it. Hands glowing with electricity, she attacks the creature.
"Shake it off Yon! We've got this!"
Zam fires a shot.
The halfling feels the assault of the creature with great pain but is aided once again by Zam. She lets loose with her own magics once again and considers her next action and notice that Yon is attacked.
She raises her laser rifle and fires off two shots at the yellow creature... both shots go wide...
Yon looks on to the entity before him and fires at point blank.
Tylur's shot strikes the back of the creature, injuring it.
Dee's hand flashes with electricy and the hand jabs into the ceature who can't quite dodge out of the way. The Electricty jumps to it and burns its skin even more than you would assume with the qulity of the spell.
Zam and Sybil shots go wild, but Zam seems to be keeping everyone focused on the creature.
Yon's shot strikes true.
The creature turns to Dee, quickly looks over the Android's strange markings. You get the impression the creature is somehow dicecting the android with its mind. Looking at the inside of the none human body.
It flaps backward and up into the air, near where it hovered before. It goes to drain the life out of Dee. Breathing in deeply.
The creature seems to suck in the energy even more feel better.
Clara sends a com to everyone, "Look this thing is hard to get through you all. If you want to lure it in here, you can have my bullet to help, but I am not going in there..
Round 4
Tylur, Sybil, Yon, Dee, Zam <- Go GO go
Monster
Clara
Tylur grimaces as he tracks the creature's flight and it seems to drain vitality from Dee. No wonder the beast was so dangerous if it could harm other creatures as it healed itself.
"This thing has some kind of regen ability if it targets you, so we gotta bring it down FAST..." he calls over the comm, "Get your butt in here with the rest of us, Clara! We need all the firepower we can focus on this thing, and it's in the open here in the cavern. You said you wanted off this rock so we could go our separate ways. There's nothing back there, so you gotta move forward and help us!" He uses his soldier-voice to bark out that last order.
Tylur then moves further into the cavern so the team can follow and spread out. As he jogs along, he triggers another blast in an effort to keep wearing down their opponent...
"Blast it!" he curses as the artillery laser locks up on him for a moment, and in trying to adjust it, the gun misfires and his shot sails wide.
"Nothing worse than you've overcome before, Dee! Don't let it have the upper hand!"
Dee felt the creature's magic wash over her, feeling her life energy drained from their opponent's attack. Screaming out in pain, she regained her composure when the elf droid heard inspiring words from the team's captain and friend.
"Thank you Zam!" Dee replied, her words held a renewed strength. Throwing her hand at the creature, the Technomancer fired an electrical ray creature.
The halfling follows Tylur into the room but not before glaring back at the "assassin" who seems is afraid of some monster... She lines up her Rfile once again and fires... missing once again.
Lasers and a ray of electricity miss the creature as it flies around in the air.
Yon runs into the room, making room for others. Lines up a shot and shoots the creature.
Clara runs into the room, pushes against the wall and brings down her rifle on the creature, "I hear you Tylur. I do wish to get out of here. I can assist
But her rifle jams in the last second and does not work. "I am worried my weapon might have malfunctioned. Zero emotion behind the words.
The creature's strange tough flicks around in its mouth and it flies down straight at Dee.
Taking a huge bite out the android's side. A mix of fluids hits the floor as the android seems to dim and fall to the floor.
Round 5
Tylur, Sybil, Yon, Dee, Zam <- Go GO go
Monster
Clara
"Medic! Somebody get a spell amp on Dee..." Tylur urges someone to save the android before she bleeds out. In an effort to aid them, he fires twice on the monster to drive it back.
"Get off her!" he bellows into his comm as he walks the artillery laser's tracer fire into the creature's flank.
"Oh no you don't!" Zam yells at Dee. "You're going to make it out of here, Dee! Hang on!" She raises her pistol and fires.
The halfling looks worried for Dee... she would have gone to her aid, but this strange beastie is between the two. "Hang in there Dee... "
She takes several steps back and fires her laser once.
Yon continues firing at the creature.
His weapon make an unhappy sound as the battery fails to properly discharge from being overcharged.
Tylur and Zam's shot strike true. The creature seems to be reeling back.
Round 5
Tylur, Sybil, Yon, Dee, Zam <- Go GO go
Monster
Clara
The hit sent a shock through the elf-droid system, but determined not to give up, Dee had one final spell to cast. Still, on the ground, DeeV8 finger gunned her last of her magical energies at the creature. The magical missiles hitting it's target through.
As the Android reaches up to cast the magical spell the looming yellow winged creature uses the opportunity to strike.
Dee is not able to get the spell off before the creature bites down.
Having bitten down on the Android, the creature slowly turns to the other android next to it and bites down again.
Clara drops her rifle to the deck and pulls out her small knife.
Round 6
Tylur, Sybil, Yon, Dee (This round to stabilize), Zam <- Go GO go
Monster
Clara
"Zam! Get Dee out of there! Everyone else try and draw its attention this way!" Tylur punctuates his battlefield directions with yet another pair of blasts from his artillery laser.
As Tylur unloads 2 shots onto the creature, it seems to start to go transparent and starts to fade into the wall behind it. It almost looks like it is floating through the wall itself, moving through the space like stories of Ghosts you have all heard on the vids.
But Tylur's second shot strikes the creature in the chest. It seems to yowl in pain, in the vaccum you can only see its head move upward in a strange gesture of pain. With its lower half still in the wall the top half solidifies and slumps over. Its wings falling to the hard ground and its head slumping into a pile of blood and drool oozing out of its mouth. It goes still.
Dee has fallen to the floor, but is able to stabilize herself after a few seconds.
Behind you, in this large chamber is a large space ship docked in this strange room. The body of this strange alien creature is joined by the two humans that have been vivisected. Organs spread out meticulously.
As combat settles. Guns giving off radiant heat from the fire being used. The group of you have a moment.
Just to make sure, Tylur walks up to the creature and sends other blast through its remains. Once he's satisfied, he lowers the big cannon and drops to one knee, breathing hard inside his armored suit.
"Sybil? Zam? Is Dee okay? Check her out. The rest of us can keep watch while you stabilize her." He then checks the remaining charge on the artillery laser. "Wow. I think I depleted the battery on this thing." He sets the cannon down and draws his handguns again before standing. Then, his eyes scan the rest of the chamber, hoping there are no younglings or mates to whatever beast they just managed to kill. "Maybe we can get Dee on that starship and see if it's got a med-bay?" he suggests. "Yon? Can you see if it's got any active countermeasures up? I'd hate to try boarding that thing only to trigger a booby trap."
Sybil runs over to Dee... "By Desna's will... you will not die... not today." She calls upon her mystic powers. A strange dark purple with a tinge of blue surrounds her hand as she places it on Dee's wound. The wound starts to knit closed.
The halfling watches as the magics restores some life to the android but not as much as she would have hoped, but as much as required it would see.
"She should be alright, provided we do not run into any more of whatever that was." the woman replies to Tylur.
The android is suddenly brought back to contousness. Able to stand and feeling better.
Yon goes and takes a quick look at the ship. While a bit old, you do not find any traps. You also know that the datapad of the woman you found has access codes to the ship. Just need to enter them to gain access to the ship itself.
Then, hopefully, take ownership of the ship itself.
In your searching, you are not able to find any other creatures in the area. Just this one. Half encased in stone.
Zam helps Dee to her feet, taking a moment to appreciate her circuitry. "It looks like we're in the clear," Zam replies to Sybil with an obvious sense of relief. "At least for now. Yon? Are you up to clearing our access into The Sunrise Maiden?" She turns back to Sybil, pointing to the remains. "What do you think we ought to do with the bodies? Is there, er, etiquette for space burials? Some last rites we could say?"
As the rest of the team helps Dee and examines the ship and the remains of the Acreon's crew, Tylur stares at the rock wall and the half-embedded creature, watching with no small amount of paranoia that it might somehow survive and phase through again. Some small part of him idly wonders how such an ability even works. '' he muses to himself.
As he overhears Zam asking about space burials and last rites, it piques his interest, drawing attention back to their surroundings. "Maybe we can find some bodybags...or fashion some...from whatever supplies and containers are on the ship? That way, we could take them back with us, turn them over to the families of the Hardscrabble Collective, and give them some amount of closure. I've bagged fallen comrades before, so I can handle it, if you'd prefer. We just gotta make sure we're not bringing any dangerous pathogens or parasites back with us so we can clear customs. So, maybe the ship's got a scanner we can use to assure us it's safe. Let's get onboard and find out. And, while we're at it, let's make sure she's still intact and functional after all this time..."
"Thank...you..everyone." Dee replied, her pinkish blood still very much stains her armor. It was her blood, a sight that did nothing to faze her. DeeV8 had seen it before at the hands of her oppressive Dark Elf masters. Reaching into one of her packs, the Elf droid administers a health stim. "Yon, perhaps you can run a system diagnostic on the ship's systems?" Dee asked her fellow Android.
Yon snaps to attention, having gotten distracted while staring at the computer as he mused about the dead bodies and the death that has occurred. He enters the last couple codes from the data pad. .
Copy that, Zam, finishing up code entry now. Done.
Now running system diagnostics.
How do you feel, Dee?
Looking back to the wounded android, "If you need anymore healing, I have a few serums tucked away from anything dire."
With a nod she turns and looks over the descrated bodies and comments, "I have no idea why that creature would have a need to do that," she gives a shrug and asks in a rhetorical manner, "But what I know about the multiverse?"
"I am not sure what they would have wanted, but I think Tylur has the right of it. If we can return the remains to the Station and those of the Hardscrabble would appreciate that. She answers Zam
She looks on at the ship with a small glint of excitement at seeing how the old girl would perform, "What is taken away, Desna provides." referring to the fact that those of her home, Absalom Station, abandoned her and her colleagues on the drift rock and that there was not a ship that would actually be theirs... the possibilities became promising.
"We about ready to get off this hunk of rock?" She asks as she turns around and looks at her fellow Startfinders.
As Yon finishes with the final codes the airlock of the ship opens. Leaving access to the ship itself.
As the group gathers up and enters the ship, slowly, prepared for anything, they desicover a well kept ship. It seems to be in low power mode. Most lights are off with emergency strips glowing with a soft light. Air pressure and temperature are at Absolom standard.
As the group makes their way to the cockpit they find one screen flashing softly. With a simple click on the screen the same message found on the datapad is played again. At its completion a voice is broadcast on all local frequencies and in their air itself.
Greetings, I am the Sunrise Maiden. The last will and testament located on the datapad acknowledge transfer of ownership to the user holding said pad. User, you now own and are designated Captain of this ship. You have all rights therein. May I ask your name/designation/call sign? Also please acknowledge ownership, or pass it to another.
The voice is clear, and waits for a response.
Yon begins to respond and then pauses for several seconds as he processes the best way to proceed. Greetings and we'll meet.
I am P-1107 but you may designate me as Agent Yon. I am a member of a group of agents serving the Starfinder Society.
I am no captain, and there are others in my group far more suited. Therefore the only logical solution is the following: after I give my approval of the submission of this command, I relieve myself, Agent Yon, of duty as Captain of this vessel, effective immediately. In order to choose a new captain, we shall do the following:
The group as I designate them, will take a formal vote. The candidate who shares a majority vote from the owners of this ship shall become captain. Those designated as owners, in addition to myself are the following, Yon then lists Agents: Sybil, Zee, Tylur, and Zam.
The 5 of us shall all share ownership if that is alright with you, Vessel Sunrise Maiden? Please verify these commands as you interpret them back to me, along with any problems, and pertinent information you feel we should know.
Assuming nothing crazy gets responded to him Yon will give final approval to initiate ownership and captain changes.
Yon smiles at the group. So who shall be captain, Zam?
Zam can't help but smile. For days, the others, Tylur especially, had been promoting Zam as captain of the crew. And, she couldn't lie, captaining the voyage from the Station to the Drift Rock had been the most exhilarating experience of her life. But after everything they've been through, she has another idea.
She looks to Tylur. "Tylur, your combat expertise has proven the most valuable to us. There have been so many moments I'd have been clueless what to do, but you always have a suggestion. You might not think of yourself as the captain sort, but I think we all can testify to the contrary. I think you should be our captain. What do you say?"
Response acknowledged, Agent Yon. Captain seat is to be determined by users. Ownership of the ship is to be shared among the 5 individuals. This is acceptable.
With a flash of code and legal text on the screen.
Ownership has been transferred. Awaiting Captain designation
"Tylur, your combat expertise has proven the most valuable to us. There have been so many moments I'd have been clueless what to do, but you always have a suggestion. You might not think of yourself as the captain sort, but I think we all can testify to the contrary. I think you should be our captain. What do you say?"
Tylur scoffs and laughs, but then sobers a bit when he realizes Zam's serious. A frown crosses his face as he considers how best to reply to her vote of confidence in front of the team.
"Well, hell, Zam. I ain't never been officer material before. Mostly, I just make a good platoon sergeant on the ground, leading a fire team, clearing rooms, taking down bad guys. That's my calling. But, up in the air, you need me on those cannons, not in that captain's chair. And when somebody's gotta do the talking ship-to-ship to another captain, friendly or not, that ain't really my strongsuit. That's yours. And it's why you're the face of this team. And rightly so. That's why my vote still goes to you, lady..."
He looks around to everyone else. "What do you all think?"
DeeV8 was still trying to access what had happened to her. Death as an android was only a rebirth as another of her people would simply carry on with the body she had inhabited. Ever since finding a new purpose in the Starfinders and forging new friends, Dee's prospects of her existence within the universe was becoming brighter.
The near-death experience had been quite a wealth of resource to the even evolving Elf-Droid. Now that she was alive, it only seemed to bring forth a rush of new emotions.
"If you need anymore healing, I have a few serums tucked away from anything dire."
"Thank you Sybil, I believe I have one of these healing stims left." Dee pulled out another stim administering the healing injection herself.
"Although I agree with Zam's assessment of Tylur's skills, I have to disagree that he is the perfect choice as Captain. My initial assessment suggests that role falls to you Zam. Being Starfinders falls less into that territory of military experience and more of people for I believe that military knowledge isn't all that is required to lead. No offense Tylur." Replied the Android looking over at Zam then to Tylur.
"I would second Tylur's nomination for Zam."
Sybil nods to Dee with a smile.
The halfling considers what Yon has said and looks to Zam and Tylur. "Well... Zam, you are the more 'diplomatic' of the group and a good leader draws on the knowledge and skills of others. You would do well as a Captin if you want it."
She turns towards the ship, putting other matters aside for a breif moment, "Dibs on the captian's quarters!" And with that she runs for the ship to check it out... more to see where the ship has been and what kind of tales it could tell.
Yon begins to run additional diagnostics, digging about looking for things that were likely of interest solely to the Android. Without looking up he voices his own opinion, which hadn't changed much.
I believe you both would make fine Captain's. My vote is for Agent Zam, and then Agent Tylur should Zam not wish to take on the duties and responsibilities."
Zam blushes a deeper shade of blue. "I'm flattered guys, really. I certainly never would have expected to be in this situation. But I'm glad it's with the lot of you." She considers a moment longer. "But I'm only agreeing to do this as long as I have the team standing with me. I certainly can't do this on my own. Tylur, when it comes to tactical scenarios, your advice takes precedence over mine. Heck, I'm lucky if I don't shoot my own finger off. Yon, you're our tech expert. Dee and Sybil, the arcane and mystical arts are all yours." She smiles brighter. "Deal? Alright then, let's get this show on the road."
Zam assumes the captain's chair and speaks in a clear voice. "Computer, this is Captain Zamasea De. Co-owners and starship officers are Tylur Trask, DeeV8, Sybil Surefoot, and P-1107, also designated as Yon. Confirm. Computer, run diagnostic and full report on shields, weapons, power core, drift engine, and all systems. Confirm." She looks to the others with a grin. "Absalom Station, here we come!"
Before heading back... She gathers everyone around and borrows the datapad, and types out,
She hads the pad around and let the others read it without the camera-bot reading it.
The voice chimes quietly and lights seem to flash on the sceans "Confirmed. Captain Zamasea, how can I help you? I do not wish to concern you, but you have left out one of your group members out in your dialog. Do you not wish the other android rights on this ship? Should prepare alert stations for intruders?
Clara quietly grunts and is leaning on a bulk head behind you, "Yeah? Am I to gain rights to this ship as well? Other than its worth, I care not for it. I just wish to be released. Hopefully on one of your escape pods before we get to the station."
"...I'm only agreeing to do this as long as I have the team standing with me. I certainly can't do this on my own. Tylur, when it comes to tactical scenarios, your advice takes precedence over mine. Heck, I'm lucky if I don't shoot my own finger off. Yon, you're our tech expert. Dee and Sybil, the arcane and mystical arts are all yours."
"I'll stand with you as long as you'll have us, Captain," Tylur replies, "I can be your XO and lead the away team when we're on the ground. Outside of that, I'm still your best gunner. So I'll be on the cannons..."
Clara quietly grunts and is leaning on a bulk head behind you, "Yeah? Am I to gain rights to this ship as well? Other than its worth, I care not for it. I just wish to be released. Hopefully on one of your escape pods before we get to the station."
"We'll live up to our part of the bargain," Tylur nods, "And your help dealing with those creatures on the Drift Rock...even though it was in your own self-interest...was still very much appreciated. That counts for something, and we've got no reason to hold a grudge for your attack on us...unless you give us a new one. So, if you're keen to go your separate way, I think we do our best to help you in that."
"That said, I'd rather keep our escape pods intact. Maybe instead, we can let you off at another ship in the Armada? You got any friends out there we can dock with? A quick dropoff and then we head to Absalom while you make other arrangements for passage to wherever you want to go..."
Before heading back...Sybil gathers everyone around and borrows the datapad, and types out, She hands the pad around and let the others read it without the camera-bot reading it.
Tylur glances at Sybil's message on the datapad and nods. "Agreed. We still need to pick up a few things from the Acreon. There's all those noqual shards we can probably sell off, then we can use the proceeds to restock our newfound ship here with whatever amenities we'd like."
As the soldier talks, he types out another message on the datapad for everyone. ""
Clara seems to pause briefly to process the thought.
"When we get into the Armada, can you get this ship to broadcast this packet on wide broadcast?" She pulls out a datapad and sends a short packet of information to your terminals. A quick look seems like it would be interpreted as background noise.
"Someone will meet up with us and I can transfer to their ship."
The small bot seems to be hovering around, though you are sure it is not getting a clear shot of any of your screens.
Yon smiles happily at the outcome, these parameters were far.more agreeable to him than the original.
HE Uses Trianna to respond to Sybil and Tylur.
Yon looks at the data packet while.voicong his consent to the plan
"I agree with Agent Tylur, if.this is how you wish for us to keep our word, then I consent.
Yon takes a second just looking at the data packet. It seems like it might be a basic signal. Something most people would ignore, but if you where listening for this specific thing it would signal someone. It also looks like it has some basic location information. Likely a location Clara would want you to go before sending.
"A drop off should be perfectly manageable," Tylur agrees with Clara's alternate plan, "We just need to make one more stop back at the Acreon and load a few scavenge-able items from the creatures we fought. We also need some bodybags to bring back the crew's remains."
At a command of the ship there is a soft chime, Ship systems are being activated. Welcome aboard crew. Please let me know how I can offer assistance
You can hear the hum of various systems coming alive after some downtime. All of the verbose logging messages, while scrolling quite fast, on the terminals in the cockpit are displaying items in the green. Looks like the ship is going to be ready to go soon.
As you all find your appropriate locations on the bridge. There is the same soft chime Excuse me captain, before being deactivated for that length of time the previous captain and myself had determined the controls to open the hidden door to gain access to this docking area. Would you like for me to reverse it so the doors open? Don't believe we will get far without opening the door. You all sense a hint of sarcasm in the ship's AI.
With a simple command the ship opens the door to the rock, as well as get the ship out into the black. It flies well!
With Zam, under the guise of being captain goes on a tour of the ship, getting the small camera to follow along.
A combined effort of the rest of you, you make your way to the Acreon. Dock up. Head in and grab the large shipping container, you know to contain the eoxian Habiza Eskolar. You bring it onto the ship,
You also go through the ship and grab the various noqual. The ship and its data might belong to the Astral Extractions vs Hardscrabble Collective, but as far as you know the noqual is all yours. In total you find 9 Bulk of Noqual. Likely totaling 4000 credits.
While the rest of the crew quickly strips the Acreon, Zam is busy distracting.
When the all clear ping is said, Zam reenters the bridge and continues operations like nothing has happened.