Dead Suns AP by GM Cellion (Inactive)

Game Master GM Cellion

Arcalinte makes the sign of the sun with his hand.

"And so the Cycle turns once more...may her next life be of peace, for the Dawn Brings New Light. So let it be," he prays.

"Spectre, Ted...please, give the man a moment. I'm sorry we couldn't recover information about the manuscript, Jellico...I'd have liked very much to read it myself."

Looking through Null-9's belongings and gear, you find quite the assortment of high-spec weapons and armor. Her armor is Specialist-grade Defiance Series armor with a white force field armor upgrade, jetpack armor upgrade and a targeting computer armor upgrade. She also carried a minor disruption rifle, three temporal disruption grenades, a tactical knife, an assault kishaxe, and a medium machine gun. Though you find no sign of the Desnan manuscript, which has likely long since left her possession, you do find her datapad.

She was deeply clinical but thorough in her documentation regarding the search for the Gate of Twelve Suns, describing how she gradually gathered hints to the location of the fallen kish system of Nejeor. Many of these hints came from annals of divine revelation, most originating with gods other than her own Devourer. Once she pinpointed the Nejeor system, she and her team raided the planet for the Key required to activate the Gate and the location of the Gate itself. She gave only a single mention of the kish she killed along the way, calling them "ashes still to be scattered".

From her documentation, you realize that Null-9's cell of the Devourer Cult - the Desperate Hunger - had been acting here in relative isolation from other cells. Their goal was to secure the Stellar Degenerator and then use it to sweep the universe clean of light and life - a task Null-9 thought herself uniquely qualified to accomplish, even in comparison to other Devourer Cultists. To that end, Null-9 had been steadily working on repairing the control systems after Osteth's sabotage. According to her final notes, all that remained was to recover one more control board from Gate 2.

Indeed, as you check Null-9 over more closely, you find a hidden pocket in her armor that holds the kishalee control board she came here to retrieve.

Jellico replies to Isu's question.

"She and her band hijacked my ship. They killed my men and stole the pre-gap Desnan manuscript we were sent to retrieve. I was given leave to hunt them down and bring them to justice. Null-9 was the last one. I agreed to join up with you because our goals were aligned for a while."

"You aren't going to leave us now, are you? Now that you've seen the threat these pizza cultists are displaying?" says Isu in some concern.

"Isu, we're his ride out of the system," Arcalinte replies dryly. "Unless you'd like to try piloting the Maiden out of its gravitational anomaly yourself."

Spectre considers the control board they had found.

"If this is the last thing required to operate the weapon, we should safeguard it. In the event we are unable to keep it safe, we should destroy it."

He raises a hand. "Unless, of course, we would care to sell it to the highest bidder."

You recall from your conversations with Osteth prior to leaving the control center that although this control board is the swiftest way to bring the Gate of Twelve Suns back into working order, they expected that even without the board, it may be possible for someone to eventually repair the control center enough to open the Gate of Twelve Suns. You remember Osteth's warning , that the only way to truly end the threat of the Stellar Degenerator is to destroy it.

I'll leave it up to you guys to discuss your next steps until we have two votes on a course of action.

Arcalinte shakes his head.

"We would not, Spectre. Anyone who'd want to operate the Stellar Degenerator would just kill us for the board rather than pay us, and if what Null-9 said was true, the Corpse Fleet are already here and probably looking for us. The time of simply hiding the Stellar Degenerator has past. We have to open the Gate ourselves, so we can destroy it once and for all. You and Ted have a look around, see if there's somewhere you can plug the board in or if there's something you can hack so we can get this started, please."

He then kneels to meditate so they're fresh for the battles to come.

Spending RP

"Arc's right. My oath is fulfilled but the problem of the Stellar Degenerator still looms over us. I will stay and do my part. I would say that we've certainly set them back by taking that board. It might be the leg up we need to catch up and stop being one step behind."

Spectre concedes that, though the monetary reward could be near-infinite to sell the weapon, it is not without risk.

"Perhaps other options will become available when we get there, then," he says as he begins looking for a console he might hack into.

The central systems room where you fought Null-9 houses a number of terminals that modulate the gravitation-based magitech that governs the Gate's operation. Spectre takes some time to investigate the system here and finds it to be in working order. Actually opening the Gate of Twelve Suns would require you to return back to the first moon you visited and the Control Center.

The board you've recovered here will likely be used to repair the main system back at the Control Center.

Isu takes a 10 minute rest.

But he agrees it is time to move on.

have we seen all there is to see here? We have a good lead...yay for getting to the next part and not dying, because I wasn't so sure there for a bit. level up???

"We should get back to the ship. The only way forward is through the Gate."

Arcalinte stands and nods.

"If there's no further things we can repair or discover here, then yes, it's back aboard the Maiden and back to Osteth. We should inform Xix of her brother's demise too. I doubt she'll care, but she needs to know."

With the control board in hand, you head back to your ship. Though the gravitational fluctuations make the trip up through the shaft tricky, Jelico is able to keep you stable enough to rise out of the moon and back into open space. The return trip gives you a few hours to simply sit and rest and contemplate your journey thus far.

Although the Devourer Cult has been knocked out of the picture, it's clear that other foes have their designs on the Gate and the Stellar Degenerator. And it is only a matter of time before others arrive to contest control of the ancient kishalee system and the weapon it seals away. Permanently destroying the Stellar Degenerator may require great sacrifice and effort, but if it is left untouched, its threat will always hang over the Pact Worlds. After all, what greater terror than a weapon that kills the stars themselves...

With that, we finish Book 5 of Dead Suns and head right into the climactic Book 6! By defeating the Devourer Cult and ending their campaign to seize the Stellar Degenerator, you guys also Level Up to 11th!

As they're taking off and making their way back to the primary moon, Arcalinte meditates for a bit on what they've achieved, and how close to the end they are. He then gets up and swings by Isu's quarters.

"So, Isu...how's it feel to know the infamous "pizza cult" has finally been crushed?"

Returning to the Controller Moon, you walk through the jungle and enter the Control Building once more where you are soon greeted by Osteth. The ancient kishalee uploaded mind looks anxious to those of you who've taken the time to study kishalee mannerisms. "I had not heard from you, so I began to wonder. Have the cultists been vanquished? Did you find the control board?"

As you head back into the main operations room, you find Xix splayed out on the floor, her fur badly singed and her tongue flopped out the side of her mouth. Osteth shakes their head "The little furred one slipped free of their bonds after much struggle and proceeded all but immediately to try to tamper with the systems here. Your additions to the shock grid were enough to electrocute them into unconsciousness... though I believe they're still alive."

"I can take care of her."

Jellico grabs a set of binders from his bag and uses them to secure the unconscious ysoki's arms behind her back. He props her up against a wall, out of the way.

As they're taking off and making their way back to the primary moon, Arcalinte meditates for a bit on what they've achieved, and how close to the end they are. He then gets up and swings by Isu's quarters.

"So, Isu...how's it feel to know the infamous "pizza cult" has finally been crushed?"

"Oh no, Arcalinte Soter. This is merely the tip of the spear. After we finish here I plan on going back to Absalom Station and conduct armed reconnaissance in every pizza parlor there. It never ends. It can't end until pizza is no longer served in our universe." He has maniacal glint in his eyes.

Spectre observes the cultist. "I do not believe that one will cease hostile actions. Perhaps we should increase the wattage of the shock."

When the kishalee asks about the control panel, he holds it up.

"Indeed, we have found it. Shall I commence inserting the control panel for analysis?"

Aboard the Sunrise Maiden

Arcalinte Soter wrote:

As they're taking off and making their way back to the primary moon, Arcalinte meditates for a bit on what they've achieved, and how close to the end they are. He then gets up and swings by Isu's quarters.

"So, Isu...how's it feel to know the infamous "pizza cult" has finally been crushed?"

"Oh no, Arcalinte Soter. This is merely the tip of the spear. After we finish here I plan on going back to Absalom Station and conduct armed reconnaissance in every pizza parlor there. It never ends. It can't end until pizza is no longer served in our universe." He has maniacal glint in his eyes.

Arcalinte's eyes widen at Isu's words.

"You're...kidding, right? PLEASE tell me you're kidding!"

In the Control Center

Arcalinte sighs when they see the state Xix is in, and shakes his head as Jellico trusses her up.

"We warned her..."

At Osteth's question, he nods and let's Spectre do the honors.

"Once we open the gate, do you have any suggestions on how best to sabotage the Stellar Degenerator?"

He rubs the back of his neck.

"We should have brought some sort of heavy munitions or something that we could detonate aboard it...As it stands we only have our one ship. Maybe we can convince Xix to jury-rig us some explosives when she comes to?" he wonders aloud.

Osteth nods to Spectre and a slot opens up on a nearby console. After you slot it in, Osteth is quiet for a few moments before announcing. "The control board has been accepted, and... the Gate is functional once more. As we discussed prior to your chase after the Devourer followers, the actual procedure to open the Gate is complex. It will take quite a number of hours to correctly align each of the moons and activate their individual systems to act in concert. This task will take all of my processing capacity once it begins. Furthermore..."

Osteth's holographic image flickers into a solemn pose, long fingers tracing slow patterns across their forehead. "The process of opening the Gate will require dissolution of my current consciousness. And yes, I will be the one to make the sacrifice. It will be up to you to destroy the Degenerator once the Gate is open. A task I leave in your capable hands."

Osteth inclines their head at Arc's question "Truly, it will not be easy. The Gate itself was designed to be rugged against enemy attack - tactical explosives that would threaten individual buildings would likely have little effect unless placed somewhere inside it. Even your starship's weapons would not be able to penetrate its regenerative hull." Osteth is silent for a moment "Sufficiently powerful and concentrated fire from the weapons platforms of our day would eventually break through. Given the analysis of your current technology level, I expect your most powerful ships may be able to accomplish such a task. Mind that the Degenerator's automated defenses will likely still be active - though I know not the details of their function."

"You may have other ideas."

Jellico listens to the hologram-kish's report about the Degenerator's defenses.

"It may be that we have no choice but to infiltrate key areas and destroy them. Although, perhaps Spectre will be able to analyze whatever's on the other side of the Gate and find something that might cause a chain reaction. Either way, I think we're on our own. We certainly don't have a fleet backing us up that can destroy this thing from range."

"We dare not call for help from the Starfinder Society or Absalom Station's fleet to destroy the gate, as such communications would surely be leaked to the Corpse Fleet or the pizza cultists. As such, it looks like we need to enter individually and shut it down from within."

"You're...kidding, right? PLEASE tell me you're kidding!"

"Methinks... you doth protest... too much..."

Is Arcalinte a pizza mole? I must watch him more carefully.

can't use logic on a conspiracy theorist, remember? It deepens the conspiracy...

"Blowing things up from the inside. Osteth isn't the only one running a suicide mission." Ted grins.

Don't forget that Chiskisk had been gathering up a Pact fleet to head to the Gate of Twelve Suns, in hopes of fighting the Corpse Fleet off while you secure the Stellar Degenerator.

rofl @ Isu

"It seems we have an accord," Spectre says. "We will infiltrate the gate facilities and destroy it. In the alternative, perhaps the Chiskisk fleet might be of assistance if we could hail them. Regardless, where do we go to reach the control facility?" Spectre asks the hologram projection.

"That's right, Chiskisk was assembling a fleet to follow us. Hopefully they beat the Corpse Fleet here. Null-9 said they were close already," Arcalinte replies with a nod. He looks up at Osteth. "Thank you, Osteth. We will honor your sacrifice and we will never forget you. When the Starfinders record this history, you will forever be a hero to the galaxy."

Oops, I just realized I made a mistake in my description that may have confused you guys, based on Spec's comments.

Correction from my post from last night, in italics: "Truly, it will not be easy. The Degenerator itself was designed to be rugged against enemy attack - tactical explosives that would threaten individual buildings would likely have little effect unless placed somewhere inside it." The Degenerator itself is very resistant to exterior attack.

Although you could potentially destroy Controller Moons or their facilities, since the Degenerator would remain unharmed within its demiplane in such an event, it would just be a matter of time until someone worked out how to access it again. As a result, Osteth is opening the demiplane that houses the Degenerator for your group to directly destroy the weapon.

Osteth responds to Arc with "It is strange, but despite my long guardianship here, I am still relieved to hear that I will not be forgotten... that the kishalee will not be forgotten. For all my people's many failures, I hope the memory of our legacy remains."

Osteth waits to see if you have any other questions, saying "If I can aid you, you must speak up now. Once the process of opening the Gate begins, I will no longer be able."

"Give us one moment. We should call Chiskisk from the Dawn Maiden to see when he plans to arrive. This thinks we shouldn't open the Gate up until there is backup to fight off enemies who come from the outside."

if people like that idea, to keep things moving, Isu will try to hail the shirren.

"Chiskisk... pick up. This is Isu Greelax Zyte of Clam Tarma, House Hadula, Scion of Isuma the Missing, here with the other of the Anti-Pizza League." He looks at the others and says, "Do you like that? This one just made it up."

Jellico rolls his eyes.

"Sure, Isu."

Spectre says "I approve of this course of action, Isu. Overcharging for pepperoni must be stopped."

Ted hits the computer "books" for information about the demiplane.

"The pepperoni GodFather is behind all of this," Ted chuckles. "What is pepperoni really made out of?"

Not sure the appropriate roll, so here's a few; Can he just take a 20?

Life Science: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (19) + 19 = 38
Mysticism: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 31
Physical Science: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24

Arcalinte tries very, VERY hard not to sigh at Isu and the others.

"Isu, why do you think pizza has any further involvement in this? We've broken the various cells of the Devourer cult, who else would they have connections with? Besides, you liked pizza just fine back on Castrovel."

Isu attempts to contact Chiskisk, but gets no response. If the shirren Starfinder Society leader is back at Absalom Station, the message could take weeks to arrive, relayed from your starship through the Drift. Your starship's comms array warns you that if Chiskisk is currently in the Drift, the message may not reach them at all.

Meanwhile, Ted studies up on the Stellar Degenerator's demiplane. What he learns from the data stored in the Control center's computers is that the demiplane is compact and tightly-bounded, with slow time, no gravity, and a total lack of atmosphere (full vacuum). Its sole material contents should be the Stellar Degenerator itself. Magic functions normally within it.

(You can choose to wait for the Pact Fleet to arrive, but it risks the Corpse Fleet arriving first. Up to you on how you'd like to approach this.)

"We can't wait for backup. If they come, they come, but every minute we wait is another minute that brings the enemy's back up closer.

We need to go in ourlseves."

"Less 'the enemy's backup' and more 'the other enemy in this three-way race,' but your point stands regardless. We need to open the Gate of Twelve Suns."

Arcalinte turns to Osteth.

"How destructive do you expect the Stellar Degenerator to be if it were, say, to explode? Would the moons of the Gate be harmed? How far would we need to fly our ship to get out of the hypothetical blast radius?"

This thing isn't gonna go all Sa-Matra on us, is it?

"No gravity. That is going to cause some major trouble. Arcalinte, we have two jetpacks that no one is using. This one is going to strap it in. This one recommends you do that too unless you like floating around helplessly. The others don't need to move as fast."

swapping out my thermal shield for... JETPACK!

Arcalinte shakes his head.

"We're opening the Gate so the Stellar Degenerator can be brought out into our dimension for destruction. If we try going IN, our enemies could simply shut it and trap us in there, where we wouldn't last long with no air, at which point they could reopen it and reclaim the Stellar Degenerator at their leisure, probably reanimating our corpses as a bonus. I will take the jetpack, though."

Osteth ponders Arc's question and then says "It has never been attempted, but unless there is some hidden function that our scientists did not uncover, it should not explode catastrophically. Instead, we expected that it would suffer critical internal damage and the exterior shell would break apart. However, I would still urge caution. There is no telling quite what will happen."

Osteth adds "It seems you've come to an agreement, so I will begin shortly. The procedure will take almost twelve hours by my estimates." Osteth touches fingers to forehead "Good luck. And... Goodbye. The future of this universe is in your hands."

Osteth's hologram blinks out, dissipating into lines of blue code before vanishing entirely. The terminals in the control room begin to hum and vibrate, their displays briefly filling with a myriad separate operations before the visual displays themselves shut down in preparation for the herculean processing effort needed to open the Gate.

You have the opportunity here to take a long rest and recover RP. You'll need it. :)

"It seems like this process might take some time. I suggest we all take advantage of the break to rest and prepare. Even with Desna's blessing, I doubt this will be easy."

Isu falls asleep, waking 8 hours later full of Resolve.

"I should point out that, in the absence of oxygen, I could survive indefinitely," Spectre says.

"Since the rest of you are resting, I will also enter minimal power mode and reboot my systems for optimal performance."

Arcalinte takes time to rest with the others, but also makes a point to greet Xix upon her coming-to. After a small "I told you so" admonishment, he breaks the news to her that her brother Zaz met his end along with Null-9 and the rest of their choir. He watches to see how she reacts to the news.

Presume the rest of you don't necessarily want to sit and wait for me to RP this conversation in detail.

Xix seems more annoyed by her injuries than upset, mentioning how 'Ya-win-some-ya-lose-some'. She similarly doesn't do more than twitch her nose at the news that Zaz is dead and Null-9 and the rest of the choir are pushing up daisies. After a brief silence she asks for a ride back to the Pact Worlds, mentioning that the robots here are getting boring.

Despite her coldness toward her former allies, she seems a little more subdued than before as you all settle in to rest for a night.

------
Eight Hours Later:
As you wake from your rest, you immediately realize that things have changed quite a bit. The lighting in the control center is on emergency power and the hum that had previously been emitting from the primary computers has turned to a dull roar. The moon's gravity seems to change by the second, ebbing and flowing in nauseating ways. Never quite growing so weak that you lose a sensation of down, but otherwise swinging in strength and direction. (In aggregate, you can treat the moon's gravity now as low)

As you look out the window, eleven suns hang in the sky, most of them partly eclipsed. In the center, directly above your heads hangs a bright, violet point, blazing brighter than any of the suns despite its small size.

Your personal terminals and comms devices blink with a received message that came in to the ship while you were asleep and resting. The recording is audio rather than video, but you clearly hear Chiskisk's speaking voice. It sounds strange after mostly hearing the shirren's mental thoughts other times you've spoken with them.

>"Hope this reaches you! Our scientists are telling me that the strange gravity waves all through this system are signs the Gate is about to open. Unfortunately, we're in trouble. Corpse Fleet is already here, and they look like they don't want us sticking around. We've already had a couple skirmishes. Hope you all have a plan, otherwise this is going to turn into a proper fight, and I don't like our chances."<

>"Oh. Also, the Corpse Fleet has been sending shuttles down to each of the moons. Not sure why, but I figured you should know. Chiskisk Out."<

Considering that Chiskisk and the Pact Fleet are somewhere in-system, you won't be able to establish real-time communication, but you would be able to send a return message of your own. To do so though, you would need to return to your starship.

Arcalinte feels relatively unaffected by the fluctuating gravity. As a sola of some power now, he was able to keep the gravity comfortable for him by will alone.

"We'd best get aboard the Maiden. I don't want to be here when the Corpse Fleet's soldiers land. If you want a ride to the Pact Worlds, Xix, we'll agree to it on one condition: You will NOT entertain yourself with the ship's systems or equipment. The Sunrise Maiden needs to remain spaceworthy and Drift-capable if we're going to get out of this alive, and from what we've seen of you, your sense of self-preservation is shaky at best when you're bored."

"I don't trust her. I say we leave the binders on. We've got enough to worry about without the possibility of her sabotaging our only way out of this system.'

Jellico gets to his feet. "Come on. Let's get to the ship and get out of here."

Isu agrees about keeping Xix a restrained prisoner and he also heads to the ship.

"She has already escaped restraints once. I suggest we leave her here," Spectre says as they return to the ship.

"But you have been known to disregard my good counsel in the past."