Markar's pike is batted aside my the waving tendril-fronds of the creature, but it has clearly been weakened by the barrage of fire it has sustained...
Cybel
Lynn -11
Feather Stalker -32
Maia (Fatigued)
Markar (Fatigued)
Donavaan
Alpha -7
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Lynn takes the feather harpoon to her abdomen this time. Her song cuts off with a sharp gasp of pain as she doubles over. Her hands clutch at the harpoon and she manages to pull it free with a whimper as she falls to the ground prone .
Lynn's reaction is just a little too slow, making it seem like her cry of pain might be less than authentic.
Her voice wavers with pain as she says "I think it didn't like my performance." She coughs out a weak laugh through trembling lips.
Although injured, Lynn keeps her eyes on the disrespectful audience member and prepares to roll away if another feather would be launched.
With a dull clunk Donavaan's projectile sends the Feather Stalker tumbling to the ground, feathery appendages splaying out around it as it falls still.
Once you signal to station-security, a small contingent of them moves in to start removing cargo and free up space for the Exo-Guardians.
A short while later, Zigvigix themself shows up to congratulate you all.
They buzz contentedly in your head, Hey, you didn't even blow up the warehouse to get it! They present you with a set of basic iridishell armor, a pair of incendiary grenades I, and 400 credits. I wasn't sure about the grenades, but now I know you won't blow yourselves up with them! Which is good, I like you! Just make sure to get that album to Historia-7 and you can consider yourself commenced as far as I'm concerned!
The Lorespire Complex, home and heart of the Starfinder Society, is a striking campus dedicated to knowledge. Communal labs and historical departments study the Archives’ massive collection of artifacts and texts, gathered by generations of agents from across the galaxy. A quick search of the directory indicates Historia-7 frequents the Archives’ Cortex, a computerized matrix containing digital records of the Starfinder Society’s most prominent discoveries.
The android reclines on a raised chair and is plugged into the local infosphere when the doors open. The neural cables detach themselves from her neck as she swivels in her seat to address the new arrivals. Greetings, Starfinders, she says calmly. I am Historia-7. If you are seeking a mission from me, please be aware that my request requires both discretion and speed. Do not accept it if you feel incapable of working within these parameters.
I discovered someone recently hacked into Bluerise Tower’s computer systems and stole a large amount of sensitive data from the resident corporations. I wish to be privy to this information. I managed to trace the hacker’s location through many proxies and erased the trail so that station and corporate security should be delayed in their pursuit. This deception will not fool them for long, so you must move quickly to retrieve the data before they can recover it. I will leave you to decide
what to do with the hacker afterward, but should it be feasible, I believe that person would be an asset to the Society.
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Bidding Zigivigix farewell after collecting their payment, Cybel follows the others from the warehouse after reloading his rifle and slinging it over his shoulder. The Android also takes the time to replace his pistol within the hidden holster underneath his exterior. Returning to the Lorespire, he decides to leave the gift giving to Lynn as she seemed like she would take satisfaction from the act. Instead, Cybel listens carefully to their mission briefing and commits the facts to memory.
"We are more than capable in carrying this out at speed, and most of us can handle discretion easily enough." Cybel replies directly. "Have you any credentials we can give to the suspect to prove your willingness to hack for you?"
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Lynn pulls herself to her feet, and wobbles in place for a moment as she takes in the dying creature. With her legs shaking and her lips pursed, she looks small and vulnerable. She holds a hand to her side and gives a feeble smile "Hehe, Mission accomplished, right? I'll be better in a bit. Maybe lie down."
She waves hi to Ziggy, but otherwise doesn't say much during their mini-debriefing. If offered any healing, she gladly accepts.
Either way, she splits off from the group with promises to meet them back at the Lorespire and heads back home to recuperate for a while. She also bandages up her wound, switches to an undamaged set of clothing (a flowing blue ruffled dress), and catches up on her postings on the infosphere.
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Lynn shoos the SMC album back at Cybel, whispering "You go ahead if you want, I can't go around promoting my rival's albums, can I?".
Once in the Archives Cortex, Lynn gingerly takes a seat next to Historia-7 and spends the briefing listening to the android with her hands up under her chin. "I can do discretion and speed, but it sounds like you want us to get in trouble for you. Stealing something that's already been stolen once is still stealing, don't you think?" She smiles at Historia-7, but its clear that her comment isn't a joke.
"If you can guarantee we won't get in trouble, well, then it sounds like fun!"
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Lynn holds up her hands in protest "A warrior? No way." She takes the serum of healing gingerly. "But... thank you for looking out for me." She looks up into his eyes the eyeholes of his mask, gaze steady. "You care more than you pretend to, hm?"
She steps away "Eh, not my place to pry. Thank you! I'll use it later, in private. These things are kinda creepy, what with the way they make your skin all move around and yuck." She wrinkles her nose in disgust at the serum.
Historia-7 hedges about the specific legality of acquiring the data, It would be quite surprising if anyone were to involve the station's Stewards however. What the megacorps that maintain Bluerise get up to in there is kept secret from Everyone, and why they need such absolute sovereignty over their own affairs could prove interesting all by itself, hmm?
As for the hacker, they appear to have been working out of a flat in Drifter's End, out on the Ring. A good place to find cheap housing, if you need it.
Anything else?
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Completely lacking comprehension of Lynn's statement, Cybel ponders it before listening to the further info offered by Historia-7 on their task at hand. Commiting the details to his memory banks, the Android then reaches into the pocket on his thigh, drawing out the silver disk of 'Strawberry Machine Cake' and sliding it across the table to the Daraphile's leader. "I don't understand it, but Zigivigix bid us pass this to you. He apparently worries you are poorly affected by the loss of your Master."
With his errand done for the strange Shirren, Cybel bids Historia farewell and makes ready to leave.
Historia-7 gives Cybel a long unreadable look as he hands over the latest Strawberry Machine Cake hit.
But she does take the album...
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The coordinates that Historia-7 gives you point to an apartment that resembles a cement cube; a young human man hand-pollinates several tomato plants in plastic barrels sitting on the otherwise barren porch.
The door is open to air out the cube, letting the Pathfinders see boxes of nutrient broth, gardening tools, and various cultural knickknacks cluttering the floor of the flat, leaving barely any room for visitors to sit down.
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Lynn follows along, at first seemingly unsatisfied at Historia-7's evasiveness, but eventually regaining her normal energy. When they arrive at the cement cube apartment, she thinks back towards Maia 'Nope, definitely odd. I'll see what he has to say first.'
She heads right on up to the young human man with a cheery "Hi there! I like your plants, do you sell any tomatoes?" She points towards the tomato plants as she comes in closer "Not many people with the patience to farm things the old fashioned way. You must really like it!"
She gives the fellow a smile and tries to make herself seem genuinely interested.
Though the young man is clearly alarmed by Alpha's weapon, Lynn's words do manage to keep him from bolting, Uh yeah. I do. Sell tomatoes I mean. We eat most of 'em, but yeah, we sell some of the others. His eyes still haven't left Alpha's rifle,
Are you here to buy tomatoes?
He cowers as though Alpha has already drawn on him, What?! Oh my gods are you here to kill me? Why? What're the Bluerise Towers?!
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"Oh Alpha! Don't scare the poor guy! He's just a hard working innocent tomato farmer!" Lynn lays her hand on the tomato farmer's shoulder, turns him to face her, and then looks up into his eyes.
"You are, right? My friend is looking for someone who hacked into Bluerise Towers, and got word that they're hiding out here. You're not that person, but it could be someone else here?" Her voice is cheerful, but she ends each statement with a questioning lilt, as if asking him to dispute her statements. "Any new roommates recently? Anyone with a lot of computer equipment? We'd love to meet them."
He backs away, hands raised defensively, I don't know what the frak you're talking about!
Jubair? Jubair, what's all that ruckus?
A wizened woman in a blue-and-white abaya walks out and looks at the strange tableau with curiosity but precious little fear.
Hello, my name is Ceren. Why are you threatening my grandson?
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Following the others and keeping his eyes peeled for signs of corporate agents in the area, Cybel decides to leave the interrogation to his colleagues for now. Upon hearing Alpha's choice of tactics, Cybel's thoughts turn to possible violence as he mentally prepares the catch on his own hidden weapon. Instead, the group are greeted by an aging human who jumps to the defence of her 'grandchild'.
Bored, Cybel turns to the woman. "We are investigating a recent theft for the Starfinders. Apparently it is sensitive information." he explains briefly.
Well I don't know anything about that... An uncertain look crosses her face.
Perhaps you should come inside, and we can sort this out. Now what exactly was taken?
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Lynn turns a sunny face to the old lady next, saying "Oh, sure! I would love to buy a tomato too." She follows Ceren into the house. As she does so, she looks for anything out of place that might suggest there is hidden computer equipment or anything that would support such equipment.
"I didn't mean to threaten your son. But we are here about a theft, Miss Ceren. Someone hacked into Bluerise Towers network and we think they might be living here." She puts her hands up apologetically "Really, we're here to offer a... ummm.... business opportunity?.. to whoever was responsible for stealing data from Bluerise Towers. The lady we're working for was really impressed by it, it seems." Lynn plays up her confusion at the situation, pouting with a thoughtful expression.
"You wouldn't happen to know who here was doing this hacking? Oh, was it you Miss Ceren?"
The old woman's eyes go blank as she fiddles with something behind her ear.
A moment later, her cheeks redden. Ah, it seems I do in fact have those files. I wonder how-
Her eyes go blank again, for longer this time.
Jubair is clearly shocked, and asks How could this be possible? But she remains unhearing.
After a very long minute, Ceren returns. I really should be running diagnostics more often... I did steal those files, though I hadn't planned to. You see I did a great deal of that sort of work in earlier years. My disappearance from the life was once a great mystery among my cohorts, but the answer is fairly simple. I had developed a degenerative brain disease that had gone unchecked. I developed certain augmentations that halted its progression, but I do still have certain... gaps. Bad days, that sort of thing. She smiles fondly, Jubair helps me with those. It looks as though I had some sort of reversion, and stole the files in something of a fugue state. Your point is well taken, LINE-04; I have no doubt that some CorpSec or other will quickly be coming to "sanitize" me and my grandson. I'm not quite up to a daring escape any more, so here is my proposal. You arrange for me to be declared dead and acquire a new identity for me and I will happily turn over the information. As for any further work, I would have to speak with your... with Historia-7?
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As Ceren speaks, Lynn claps her hands, pleased that she'd managed to guess correctly. As the old woman continues though, something in what she says causes Lynn to bite her lip. She leans in closer and closer to the woman, and with a slight turn of her head she peeks behind the old woman's ear to see what kind of tech might be hiding there. Right before pulling away, she whispers "I don't appreciate you poking about. Please refer to me as Lynn and we will get along a lot better."
She steps away from Ceren and rejoins the rest of the party. "That does sound terrible. Tragic! Guilty of something you barely know you committed!" She clasps her hands to her chest. "I know we'll be able to help you, Miss Ceren. Before you get 'sanitized', that is." She looks over her shoulder "What do you guys think?"
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Alpha nods to itself, thinking that if you can hack into a place like in your sleep, that's something, no wonder Historia-7 wants to recruit you.
'So, declared dead... what do we need to do for that? Since the hack was last night, we need to make it appear as if the lady, Ceren, died very early this morning. So, I'd vote for hacking into the Station's medical-coroner's database, and putting in a file about a body having been recovered here, this morning. Some woman having died from overloading her brain while linked up - so they think she died during the hack. That way she'd be on file as dead and her body taken away. Would that be enough?"
Pangea-Alpha tries to recall all it knows about the station's procedures and how their coroner and morgue systems work--
--and then prepares what Alpha hopes is a well written file, that fits a sudden death due to hacking and such--
--to finally upload this file in the correct place, making it look as if it were produced by the morgue.
Hmm you know your way around the nets.... Pangea-Alpha. But a little legwork will really help sell it. Do you have access to a body? I haven't kept tabs on the rates, but it shouldn't be too hard to find a coroner with a "spare".
Sadly, for the residents if not the Starfinders, in this part of town you don't have to go far.
The mortician is clearly skeevy and has no questions about why you would want the bodies. Her only question is who will be paying her the 60 credits.
Now that Ceren's official fate has been manufactured, she will still need help establishing her new life.
There are several things that should be done to help her on her way:
Helping set up a solid alias
Providing her with allies and contacts in her new life
Pulling strings to help set her up with employment
or actually forging various IDs