Sniffing the air Kenta pads through crouched, but on two limbs... keeping quizzical eyes on those approaching them.
Perception:
You spy a tall and lanky dwarf with a bristly, iron-gray beard standing waiting at the far end of the docking bay. He periodically checks the computer he’s holding between glances at the crowd.
With his patched and stained coveralls, the dwarf could be just another dockworker, but a large badge bearing the symbol of the Starfinder Society stands out on his chest even at a distance - leaving you in little doubt this indeed must be your patron-to-be Duravor Kreel. He has not noticed you or your companions, yet...
In addition to Kreel and the small crowd of Ab-Stat denizens, your keen eyes also zero-in on two separate groups of people on the fringes of the docking bay furtively taking up defensive positions among stacks of cargo crates and machinery...
C
?
Ed waves a segmented forelimb and makes a loud buzzzing sound to attract the dwarf's attention, "drrrrrrffffrrrnn'g."
To his closer companions, Ed communicates telepathically, You may get your wish for trouble, Kenta. Do you see those groups at the back of the bay? I could swear that they are preparing for an attack."
Rubbing his eyes and frowning "Kenta only see hairy one Ed... over there with shiny badge" pointing at the dwarf seemingly oblivious to any other threats within the landing bay.
Spotting the dwarf across the way, Kris nearly has a hand raised when Ed voices his concerns. Transitioning the hand wave into a hair tuck, Kris looks both directions. "Yes a cozy place this is turning out to be"
TRICK ATTACK (EX) [1ST]▸ You can trick or startle a foe and then attack when she drops
her guard. As a full action, you can move up to your speed. Whether or not you moved, you can then make an attack with a melee weapon with the operative special property or with any small arm. Just before making your attack, attempt a Bluff, Intimidate, or Stealth check (or a check associated with your specialization ; see page 94) with a DC equal to 20 + your target’s CR. If you succeed at the check, you deal 1d4 additional damage and the target is flat-footed. This damage increases to 1d8 at 3rd level, to 3d8 at 5th level, and by an additional 1d8 every 2 levels thereafter. You can’t use this ability with a weapon that has the unwieldy special property or that requires a full action to make a single attack.
The vesk looks down at Kenta. "You see him?"
That smell. That familiar smell. How could she have forgotten that smell. Memories flooded back into Aiko's head, as the familiar, yet distant site of the docks come into focus. She hadn't seen the docks as she left years ago, as she'd been concealed in a trunk, but she'd seen them enough in her life to revel in the familiarity.
Not trusting her voice, she nods at her placement in the group, and looks around for anything suspicious.
Perception
Her eyes quickly dart from the patron they were expecting, to the groups gathered in the station. She steps close and says under her breath.
"Don't look now, but there may be trouble brewing. Those groups"... she motions with her eyes... "Are not overly fond of each other I reckon".
"Just make sure you keep your head down if they start shooting, no do overs here gamer." Kris says quietly over her shoulder. "Granted you are quite good I noticed on the shuttle."
As you collectively pause to scan the docking bay, the distant dwarf focusses on your group and waves a hand in response with a relieved smile.
As he does so shouts suddenly ring out across the hanger: first "DOWNSIDE KINGS RULE AB-STAT - BOW YOUR HEADS OR DIE!" answered in bellicose volume with "FRAK YOU! LEVEL 21 CREW AIN'T NO-ONE'S VASSALS!"
Then the shooting start as the air is suddenly filled with the crackling spit of laser weapons firing!
Iridescent shots wildly streak across the docking bay - illuminating boxes and bulkheads as they impact! The Absalom Station denizens caught in the midst panic - diving for cover or running in panic as they yell and scream.
At the far side of the bay you see Kreel momentairly freeze as las-fire erupts, then a stray shot catches him still mind wave... and your patron crumples to the plated floor!
Gangboyz
Aiko
Ed
Kenta ?
Kris
Retsiji
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Ed's outrage is felt by all nearby, They are harming innocents! I must help our benefactor! He weaves through the crowd as he moves forward, hunched over low, across the bay toward Kreel.
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Kris no sooner gets her comment out to Aiko about keeping her head down and their benefactor goes down in the hail of laser fire.
"Told the wrong person it appears." Rushing forward, thru the midst of the scattering citizens she slides into the wall next to the crate there.
azimuth laser pistol +6
As Kris scythes across the docking bay, and Ed makes his way toward your downed patron both seem to draw the attention of shots...
Kris deftly ducking at the last moment as a las-blast flashes past her. Ed momentarily stops in his tracks as another shot screams past his antenna.
Even Aiko is pulled from her reminiscing as a shot scours the plated flooring before her...
Of the other gunmen,one ganger from the easterly positioned group and one from the westerly step forth from their cover and brazenly trade shots - wounding each other!
The citizens continue to bolt toward potential safety
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Kenta hisses, muttering under his tongue "Stupid fleshbags, why fight here... put round in wrong place all bastards sucked into space." before assessing where he might best find some cover to start perforating the disturbers of the peace. On the approach he slips his pistol out of his belt, cocking back the hammer. He then shuffles together a couple of crate fragments and packing material he hunches down.
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Great. Now I remember why I left this place in the first place. Always somebody wanting what somebody else had, or getting all fracked because somebody believes differently.
Aiko believes that survival is the key component to survival, so she runs up to take position behind some crates to see what plays out. She won't get involved unless some of her shipmates are endangered.
Retsiji glares at the feuding gangs, then rushes forward, angling for the limited cover offered by the line of crates between him and the nearest enemy.
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Ed reaches the fallen dwarf and casts a spell covering himself in a glittering skin of stars as he crouches over the form shielding it. An antenna turns toward his closes companion, Kris, help me get him to safety.
As chaos erupts throughout Docking Bay 94, various security klaxons erupt to add to the mayhem.
Ed crouching next to the crumpled form of Duravor can see he has taken a las-shot to the neck;
The shot was fatal, and Duravor has left this mortal coil.
Over the bay's comms the following message is heard and displayed:
"THIS IS ABSALOM STATION TRAFFIC CONTROL! DISCHARGE OF WEAPONRY IN A DOCKING BAY IS A VIOLATION OF STATUTE 17A_B_33! CEASE AND DESIST ALL CRIMINAL ACTIONS! SECURITY HAS BEEN ALERTED AND ARE CONVERGING ON YOUR LOCATION. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!"
Several of the citizen's continue to exit, others run toward cover in the knowledge AB-SEC will arrive and solve the issue.
One young juve wearing a gaming-visor hunkers next to Aiko, clearly petrified. As the young half-elf scans the area wide eyed with fear, they focus on the hiding woman... and amidst the fear, a stirring of recognition;
"H-Hey... D-d-do I know y-you? I do... Sh-Sure I do..."
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Kris draws her own pistol as the gang members had started firing at them, remaining where she is crouching next to the crate she studies their benefactor laying at his feet.
"Ed, there's too much blood."
Draw weapon - move action
study fallen Duravor - from 15' away
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"OMG! Not you too! Everybody thinks I look like some gamer girl or something. Are you sure one of those bullets flying around didn't graze your head or something. What would a professional gamer be doing in the middle of a gang war"?
Bluff
"Now keep your head down, so it doesn't get blown off. This is no Video game with someone coming to bail you out".
The exocortex in the side of the ysoki's head sparks and begins to whir as Kenta's mandibles twitch and his eyes grow wide with angry intent. He snarls "Rrrrr, eat lead sons of fleshbags" popping up above his makeshift barricade to squeeze off a pistol shot at a likely ganger.
azimuth laser pistol +6 [19/20]
21Pink:
21Blue:
21Green: Ath
DSKYellow
DSKRed
DSKPurple
Aiko:
Ed:
Kenta:
Kris:
Retsiji:
The firefight continues unabated as one of the gangers ducks as Kenta's slug lodges itself in the crate next to him. The ganger shouts "Stay out of this ratter! Our scrap's with the Downside Kings not the likes of you!" He points at Kenta then retreats northward, before scrabbling atop the crate next to Kris...
His partners in crime hold position and fire at the other gang with enthusiasm but little accuracy.
Conversely their mohawked opposite numbers exhibit more skill; continues in his duel firing his las-pistol and scores a hit, whilst another of the 'hawks tracks the climber and greets him with a solid blast!
The final mohawk gang member circles back around an abandoned load-lifter and grins sadistically as he blasts the juve hunkering with Aiko. The youth screams in pain as the las-shot burns a hole though his booted foot (eliciting more maniacal laughter from the mohawked Downside King)
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Retsiji thunders along the bank of crates, keeping it between him and the enemies to the north, and shoots at the nearest mohawked thug. "I'll tear your throat out, softshell!"
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Ed drags the dwarf to the doors and hitting the panel to open them, continues on when they open so they are just outside the door where he can safely aid the dwarf without either of them being shot.
"Ha! Serves you right. Find you own hiding spot next time".
Keeping low, Aiko rushes around the stacked crate, looking for a more secure hidey hole.
Ed drags the downed dwarf out of the docking back, whilst Retsiji pops a slug into the purple mohawked King whose sneer turns to a pained grimace.
Most of the citizens find hiding places and hunker there fearfully. A few closer to combatants, turn face and run around in blind panic.
Of the gamer-juve, he lies clutching his foot wound in pain, eyes his surroundings fearful as Aiko too bolts for cover as his shouts echo her footsteps;
"N-no! W-W-Wait! Don't l-leave m-me! V-Void-damn you!"
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Remaining crouched Kris moves around the edge of the crates "you shot my employer"
<sigh>
azimuth laser pistol +6 [19/20]
21Pink:
21Blue:
21Green:
DSKYellow
DSKRed
DSKPurple
Aiko:
Ed:
Kenta:
Kris:
Retsiji:
The visored 21 Crew continue to attempt to manoeuvre against their rivals; one bolts across the Bay halting to blast at the Downside King NE of his new position... His shot is accurate but the cover of the mohawked ganger stymies his intent.
His wounded companion stands trading shots with his opposite number in the Kings and the two exchange simultaniously wounding blasts! It is the 21 Crew member who comes off worst - as the blast sets him alight as he screams...
From his vantage above Kris, the 21 Crew punker shifts, avoiding her pistol shot. He levels his own laser at the android bellowing his innocence, but does not fire;
"I didn't shoot no one you know Ladytron! This is between us an' the Kings! Stay out of the way or get hurt! Understand?"
As he remonstrates with Kris, the most entrenched punker cackles at his luck and blasts the rival ganger with a damaging shot.
The remaining Downside King looks at the bullet wound in his thigh and spits in anger;
"You're gonna get it lizard-gizzard! Gonna make you into a Veskskin cloak for Ferani!"
The punker levels his pistol at Retsiji, but his belligerence outstrips his aim and the shot is wayward...
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Behind the faceplate of his combat armor the Vesk grins. He didn't retreat.... He closes the distance separating him from the Downside King in a rapid rush, drawing his assault hammer and bringing it down on the mouthy pinkskin.
Out in the hall, Ed ministers to the dwarf.
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Kneeling beside the dead dwarf, Ed throws his head back and raised futile claws toward his God giving the traditional Shirren call of grief.
"I didn't shoot no one you know Ladytron! This is between us an' the Kings! Stay out of the way or get hurt! Understand?"
Looking back and forth to the rival gangs and their relative combat expertise Kris agrees with him. "You're right your gang has no sense of aim." she replies in a flat tome turning to observe the other gang; as yellow tags him once more.
Swearing that he will complete the mission, Ed leaves his pitiable dead benefactor's body behind and reenters the danger zone to recover Kreel's handheld.
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Kenta takes in the refusal of the gangers to shoot at him, Ed's attention given to the short hairy one they came for and furrows his furred brow. Muttering "No respect for ysoki... not even shoot at me..." scurrying out from his cover and towards Mr Ed.
Retsiji engages one of the Downside Kings in brutal fashion; the cocky punker crumples in a whimper as the Vesk drops the hammer on him.
Kenta scurries across the bay toward Ed, Kris and Kreel's dropped handheld. As he goes you all hear the muffled respirator screams of pain of the 21 Crewman as he burns.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Aiko keeps her head down observing the scene, and hoping that she can sneak away before any authorities arrive, that might announce her return home.
Perception
Still crouched, Kenta cocks his head "Ed? What happens? Is dead?" pointing to the dwarf.
Sounding sad, Ed confirms. Yes, Kenta. Kreel was killed in the crossfire. Shot in the throat. His beard just hid the fatal wound
No sign of Absalom Station Security... yet. All you can see is the Level 21 Crew thug whose intent on firing towards the North East of your position. He is oblivious of your presence.
In Bay 94 and all neighboring docking bays claxons are sounding and the same tinny message sounds over the comms;
"THIS IS ABSALOM STATION TRAFFIC CONTROL! DISCHARGE OF WEAPONRY IN A DOCKING BAY IS A VIOLATION OF STATUTE 17A_B_33! WE REPEAT DISCHARGE OF WEAPONRY IN A DOCKING BAY IS A VIOLATION OF STATUTE 17A_B_33!
"CEASE AND DESIST ALL CRIMINAL ACTIONS! STATION SECURITY HAS BEEN ALERTED AND ARE CONVERGING ON YOUR LOCATION. THEY ARE AUTHORISED TO NEUTRALISE WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!"