Dead Suns AP by GM Cellion (Inactive)

Game Master GM Cellion

"This one thinks that we could not be more trapped if we tried, so if she wishes to betray us, we will result in equally dead. Eskolar, do you have a readout of the ship's blueprints? What is the fastest way to the bridge?"

Jellico looks at the others with him. "You trust this woman?"

Arcalinte shrugs.

"She's about the only person on this vessel we COULD trust, Jellico."

Eskolar steeples her bony fingers at Jelico's comment, but focuses on answering Isu's question. "Interestingly, I have no access to the ship's schematics. For that you will need to access the secure databanks via the sensor suite." She points across the hall. "However, the quickest route to the bridge is by grav-train. There is a station at the boundary of our current sector, but if you seize a grav-train, you will need an emergency security key to divert it to the command deck."

"This will all be more obvious to you if you can obtain the schematics via the sensor suite."

To clarify, she's saying the sensor suite's just next door to us?

Yep, just across the hallway

"Seems simple enough, then: go to the sensor suite and hack into the secure databanks, get the Empire of Bones' schematics, use those to determine where best to steal an emergency security key, get said key, fight and sneak our way to reach the grav-train, use the security key to hijack it and reach the bridge, take out the commanding officers and staff we'll assuredly find there and take control of the Empire from there, turn it towards the Stellar Degenerator and basically set thrusters on full, then escape before the crash and subsequent lightshow."

Arcalinte smirks a bit, knowing none of that would be actually simple.

"That's the spirit, Arcaline! It is easy!" says Isu, who misses all the sarcasm.

"Can we stay in comms with each other, Eskolar?"

Eskolar nods "Yes. But contact me only in the most critical circumstances. If any communications are overheard or intercepted, it will be... unpleasant... for all of us."

"Schematics would also show the pizza factory..." Ted smirks.

Jellico listens to this in silence for a moment. "I'm inclined to trust you based on the testimony of my friends. But you understand, if we succeed, this ship will be destroyed. Can you get off the ship before that happens? Your help to us should deem you worthy of surviving this."

"The odds of what you have described happening in succession are low, Arcalinte. Incredibly low. But let us see what we can find across the hallway."

"For that matter, how do WE plan on jumping ship? Perhaps your time would be better spent in an escape vessel, Eskolar, so when we jump into the void of space through a window in the bridge, you can pick us up."

Arcalinte grimaces as Isu finally brings up the yaruk in the room...they'd been so focused on getting ON to the Empire of Bones that they hadn't prepared a contingency for getting OFF the vessel.

Eskolar follows Jelico's comment with "Though I am flattered by your concern, you do not need to worry about me. I will make arrangements, should it look like you will be successful." She gives the tiniest of nods. Neither her tone nor her posture reveal if she's confident it'll turn out alright "Should you successfully seize the bridge, I am certain you will be resourceful enough to find a way to escape." She doesn't acknowledge the suggestion of picking you all up from the bridge - perhaps not taking Isu seriously.

----
With Eskolar remaining in the security room, you head out across the hall to the sensor suite. Unsurprisingly, these doors are also locked down tight and need some digital or physical finesse to open. (Computers or Engineering)

computers: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (1) + 24 = 25
engineering: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34

Didn't we program the sunrise maiden to come get us?

Working together, Ted and Jelico program an autopilot path for the Sunrise Maiden, sending it off far from the battle with instructions to return upon receiving a signal

Jellico bows his head slightly. "Our escape is planned for. Again, thank you for your help. As Spec suggests, the odds are slim, but we must get moving or they'll become slimmer." He looks at the others. "Shall we get moving?"

Isu will stand in front by the closed door, ready to block whatever enemy lurks within when Ted gets it open. "Once more unto the locked door, my friends. We have a solid plan. Let's get it done!"

Spectre works on opening the door remotely.

"It will be open in just a moment."

computers (expert rig): 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (15) + 26 = 41

Ted's initial attempt to hack into the doors to the sensor suite hit a dead end quickly, and surprisingly, he's not able to make much progress through his mechanical skills either - the system lock on this door is exceedingly complex. However, Spec steps in and manages to override the security and get you in.

Map updated

This room is almost dark, lit only by illuminated button and dim displays piercing the blackness. Even these illuminate no more than the rough shape of the area. Panels of computer screens, bundled data cables, and digital readout displays line the walls, with more than a dozen chairs arrayed in front of them. The constant chatter of beeps and clicks accompanies the data streaming across every readout.

See handouts for a visual!

A dozen cybernetic zombies sit plugged into the consoles here, thick cables plugged into their foreheads and spinal cords, with readouts fused across their eyes. They twitch every so often, signifying that they're 'active', but they otherwise don't react at all to your presence. Several seats across the room are currently empty and their associated terminals are blank and locked down.

The terminal readouts in this room show information about the space around the ship gathered by the ship's sensors. At a glance, the data here covers only a small fraction of the entire space around the Empire of Bones, suggesting that this is but one of many sensor suites.

From your experience at the hangar bay, you know that you could either try to hack a terminal directly here (very difficult but greater access) or intercept the data link to a cybernetic zombie (easier but less access. It must be done with Computers, Engineering AND Mysticism. You have to succeed at all three)

"How confident are you guys and your computer abilities?"[/b} Jellico asks Ted and Spec, motioning to the empty consoles. [b]"Not that I'm suggesting you plug one of those into your head. I might be able to help if you want to go through one of the zombies directly."

Go for the greater access route? or could try both approaches?

"These chose a poor afterlife."

computers - aid spectre: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (18) + 24 = 42

Isu nods in appreciation at Ted's expertise.

Shoot, I bet a 42 would have done it if you didn't do an aid.

(I'll hold off to give Spec a chance to roll.)

Given that I don't have mysticism, I'll have to try the harder way.

"We should gain as much access as possible," Spectre says, nodding at approval of Ted's efforts.

computers (expert rig): 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (15) + 26 = 41

"These chose a poor afterlife."

"Ted, they're zombies. They most likely didn't GET a choice in it," Arcalinte says as he watches and waits.

Ted Under wrote:

"These chose a poor afterlife."

"Ted, they're zombies. They most likely didn't GET a choice in it," Arcalinte says as he watches and waits.

"Make sure we don't also make that choice," Ted winks.

Surprisingly...

Spec, a genius at breaking into secured systems, and Ted, supremely skilled himself, work away at an unoccupied terminal. Ten seconds in, it becomes clear that the security here is more than up to the challenge the two of them pose. The barriers actively morph and react to their attempts, inject code back into Spec and Ted's devices to scramble them, and otherwise resist intrusion. At one point, Spec and Ted are both forced onto the back foot as streams of retaliatory data manifest magically into waves of negative energy. Luckily, they're able to cut their connection just before they're bathed in life draining magic.

Although their attempt isn't successful, they get a measure of the system. (The DC to hack the terminal is 45, so you missed it by a smidge. Luckily, you avoided failing by 5 or more. You know there's a nasty countermeasure if you do fail that badly. You can try again if you'd like)

looks like it is designed to be nearly impossible, so lets try the other method.

Isu closes his eye and tries to go into a trance and facilitate a mental attack on the zombies.

mysticism: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Jellico looks a little worried as Spec and Ted find themselves unable to get into the system. He follows Isu's lead and tries to go after the zombies as well.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

Arcalinte meditates briefly for a minute to try and center his mind and then begins to aid Isu and Jellico's efforts.

Meditating to switch my Sidereal Influence.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 14 + (5) = 23

Gonna need a computers + engineering to go with those, so I'll hold off until then. I'm treating Arc's attempt as an aid for Jelico.

engineering: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31
computeres: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (20) + 24 = 44

Could've beat the hard computer check w/ an additional aid... lol

Jelico Will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Arc Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Isu Will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

However, you're able to persist and break into the data link. What you learn is that the cybernetic zombies here are controlled from a physical location known as cybercontrol in the ship's command section. You aren't able to tell exactly where the command deck lies in comparison to your own position. You follow the specific information the cybernetic zombie you hacked into is sending and receiving. This lets you observe the space around the Empire of Bones, where the Corpse Fleet is still engaged in destroying the Pact Worlds Fleet.

(Essentially, these zombies are a small fraction of the crew used for the ship's Science Officer role. Destroying them all would put a small dent in the ship's ability to use that role, but because there are other sensor suites, it wouldn't knock it out completely)

You also make use of the link to investigate the few files stored locally, among them plenty of military propaganda extolling the virtues of the Corpse Fleet and the weakness of the living, and a simplified map of the ship's layout. (See Handouts) You appear to currently be in a section on deck 18.

(Your success in hacking this link has given you a sense for the ship's systems, so you ALL get a +2 circumstance bonus on Computers checks vs the ship from here on out)

Arcalinte grits his teeth as he endures the negative energy onslaught.

"The Dawn brings new Light, the Dawn brings new Light..." he chants. Then as it passes he takes a deep breath. "That was unpleasant...but at least we know a bit more about what we're up against. I'd say it says something about the Corpse Fleet that it's so dependent on having legions of unthinking turbolaser fodder to fuel the ambitions of a few individual undead megalomaniacs."

He strokes his chin.

"I imagine cybercontrol should be on our list of destinations, if we aren't effectively headed there already. Let's stymie the Empire of Bones in a small way and set these miserable creatures free."

Assuming Isu and the others don't object, he draws his sword and begins dispatching cybernetic zombies systematically and efficiently.

"Dispatching these operators will alert security," Ted grimaces.

Arcalinte hesitates at Ted's words.

That's...a good point, Ted."

"If we take out this ship, I imagine these drones will perish. It doesn't seem as if they have much in the way of a survival instinct anymore." He turns to Arc. "I'd rather them be out of their misery as well. However, alerting security to our presence will likely work against our efforts."

Arcalinte nods and sheathes his weapon.

"Very well."

So what next?

The room to our east is marked "Secure Site". I vote that way, although there's a good chance we'll find the same thing we found here.

Isu brings up the maps on his comm unit and point at the deck marked Command and Control. "Here is our destination, or so we think. It looks like a simple trip up the elevator. But this one wonders if it would require a passkey or authorization. Another issue is that it will be heavily guarded. Even if we can get immediate access, maybe running in is a bad idea. What do you think of first setting a diversion, and then making our way to the Command deck when the diversion draws security?"

"I approve of Isu's suggestion," Spectre says.

"The command deck is our optimal location to alter the ship's trajectory."

"Right, security key. And that'd be held by a ranking officer. Eskolar apparently wasn't important enough to get one of her own, so we need to find someone we can ambush and take their stuff."

"Maybe we need to cause a problem to draw an officer. It couldn't be huge problem to draw ranks and ranks of security, but one that would be problematic in the middle of the battle. Like... sabotaging the missile tubes. We are not far from them."

"Sounds like a plan, Isu."

What looks like an elevator on the map is actually the "Grav-Train" mentioned by Eskolar earlier - essentially a railway system for getting between floors. You'll need to use the Grav Trains if you want to get between sectors/floors.

Feel free to ask any OOC questions you like - this situation is open ended enough that I'm happy to clarify things without giving everything away.

"I find a higher likelihood that taking the Grav-train up will lead to the bridge than taking it down," Spectre muses after doing some calculations.

"I suggest we do that."

"Let's look at the Grav-Train and see what floors are accessible."

Isu heads to that area of this floor and tries to call the Grav-train, if possible, and see if access is free or gated by security.

I like the apparent really open nature of this book, and I'm curious. Can we really do anything/go anywhere in all those levels or is there some specific course of action we have to predict or else fail?

Arcalinte follows Isu and the others.

"I suppose we can see how far hacking will take us, though I suspect we will have to try and spoof a Corpse Fleet Officer ID before too long."

Seriously, Ted and Spectre have REALLY been carrying us through this adventure!

The book assumes a route, but I'll roll with whatever you guys cook up. There's no binary do-this-or-you-fail mechanics here beyond the soft "time limit" of only being able to long rest by burning a security key to use Eskolar's program.

With the team agreed on heading to the nearest Grav-train station, you exit the sensor suite and head for the starboard doors away from the hangars. You march through the largely empty halls, only crossing paths with one group of wandering security robots that entirely fail to spot you. The lack of undead guards or staff speaks both to the size of the ship and the degree to which its occupants are deployed in the ongoing fight.

Since your rough map doesn't clearly indicate individual passages, you stick to the main arteries and maintain direction to the center of the ship where the Grav-trains should run from bottom to top. It takes almost half an hour before you arrive in front of a massive pair of heavy steel doors. Above them, you see "Station" written in Eoxian. At a cursory inspection, they don't appear to be locked, but they're also exceedingly heavy and they don't open automatically at your approach. There's a motion sensor next to the door, but you don't see any manual buttons to press to get the doors open.