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Allison bites her lip, about to decline, but then she remembers some advice she was given, and starts to nod vigorously. "Oh, ah, um, yes. That...that might be best. I've ah, I've not felt well for quite some time. It could be that space sickness that's been going around. Very dangerous. Um, so, we should get a large room, so we have space to maneuver. Oh! Ah, I mean, space for you to, ah...examine me."
EH-RK removes a small datapad and begins typing furiously. He raises his hand and light emits from it, bathing Allison with a bluish tint.
This is most unusual. You are showing no signs of infection from viral, fungal, or biological agents. I have called in Shirren Dr. Manteca Imani to assist in diagnosis. Human species biology and epidemiology aren't in my spheres of specialty.
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"Ah no!" Allison shouts, jumping away from the datapad with Chuck Norris-like reflexes. "Um, space sickness can only be detected if you're lying down! Don't you know anything? It's because of how the Magno Campus rests on the Ipso Facto. Duh! Um, I'll just reserve the room."
Allison turns and walks away and reserves a two-person room before he can pull out any more actual medical instruments and ruin everything!
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The bus driver isn't used to this treatment and gives up his seat standing startled in the corner. As he braces himself he starts muttering about handling the ship with care, and prolonged inspection intervals and unnecessary wear of the components. It's like sitting next to Waldorf and Statler, just not as funny. But after a few minutes of nagging in Allison's ear it is interrupted by a 'ping' sound and a red point appearing on the screen that shows space around the ship. In a meek noise the now pale bus-driver tells "I'll be in one of the escape pods." and leaves the cabin, walking through the passengers area to one of the pods. He gets in, sits down, fastens the seat belts and presses all the buttons necessary to seal the pod and make it ready to leave.
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"Whoa," Wraith says as she scans the dot.
As the LAMEness that was the pilot droned on and on about. Something about 'That was catchy.' 'So is smallpox.' And, 'What would you do if you were a rich man?' 'I'd buy the network and cancel this show' and other things she didn't understand, including what, like, half the buttons did. Meh. She'll just push them all and find out that way.
As the blip comes closer, she gets back on the ship-wide comm. "Uh, guys? Guys? There's uh, a red blip coming towards the blue blip. And I think we're the blue blip. And I don't know what the red blip is. Someone wanna get start doing the SCIENCE! and find out?"
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Manteca's comm unit vibrates, unnoticed, in a far corner of the hazy smoke-filled room. Manteca lays sprawled across the bed, a small glass pipe next to him. Up on the holoscreen, Manteca has pulled up no less than 4 examples of assorted species' mating rituals. Fascinating... the shirren telepathically exclaims to the empty room.
Needless to say, EH-RK's message goes to vidmail.
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Manteca arrives at the docking bay at 7.40, skipping breakfast with the rest of the party in his excitement. In the half hour he waits for everyone else, he does his best to document their first official Pathfinder mission by taking pictures of everything on his comm unit, but only succeeds at somehow making EH-RK's vidmail into the default notification sound for the comm unit.
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When the original shuttle pilot runs into the escape pod, Dr. Imani heads to the navigations array to chastise Allison telepathically.
Allison Wraith WhiteAngel, what did you do to the sweaty human pilot?? He just took off in an escape pod. I know you're not feeling well but that's not any reason to be rude!
I am running a scan of the incoming vessel Human Allison Whiteangel. Eric says flatly
EH-RK moves to the computer terminals and begins punching buttons, his fingers dance across the keypad like a concert pianist at work.
Humans and other biological lifeforms onboard. The ship approaching has a high probability approaching 100% that it means to destroy us. I highly suggest evasive maneuvers. EH-RK speaks over the ships intercom system.
He then begins running more in depth scans.
HIPPOCAMPUS TIER 1
Upgraded Ringworks Wanderer (Starfinder Core Rulebook 310)
Small shuttle
Speed 6; Maneuverability perfect (turn 0)
AC 14; TL 14
HP 35; DT —; CT 7
Shields basic 20 (forward 5, port 5, starboard 5, aft 5)
Attack (Forward) light laser cannon (2d4)
Attack (Turret) coilgun (4d4)
Power Core Micron Ultra (80 PCU); Drift Engine none;
Systems basic mid-range sensors, extra light weapon mount (turret), mk 3 armor, mk 3 defenses, mk 1 trinode computer; Expansion Bays cargo hold, guest quarters (common), life boats
Modifiers +1 any three checks per round, +2 Computers, +3 Piloting; Complement 1–4
Speed 12; Maneuverability perfect (turn 0)
AC 17; TL 17
HP 30; DT —; CT 6
Shields basic 10 (forward 3, port 2, starboard 2, aft 3)
Attack (Forward) gyrolaser (1d8), light EMP cannon (special)
Attention Humanoids: This is almost certainly an aggressive ship. I repeat my entreaties to begin evasive maneuvers and find a safe landing zone immediately. EH-RK says over the intercom system
Allison yanks at the stick trying to evade the other ship but she is too early and the other pilot can easily correct the course to keep the shuttle in firing range.
The laser hits the left shield reducing it from 5 to 1.
The shot from the turret coilgun goes wide.
EH-RK attempts to balance the shields out among the different quadrants
But his attempt fails as the shield multistage generator begins fluctuating.
I suggest presenting our Starboard or Aft shields to the enemy, as our Port shields are almost done for.
HIPPOCAMPUS TIER 1
Upgraded Ringworks Wanderer (Starfinder Core Rulebook 310)
Small shuttle
Speed 6; Maneuverability perfect (turn 0)
AC 14; TL 14
HP 35; DT —; CT 7
Shields basic 20 (forward 5/5, port(Left) 1/5, starboard(Right) 5/5, aft 5/5)
Attack (Forward) light laser cannon (2d4)
Attack (Turret) coilgun (4d4)
Power Core Micron Ultra (80 PCU); Drift Engine none;
Systems basic mid-range sensors, extra light weapon mount (turret), mk 3 armor, mk 3 defenses, mk 1 trinode computer; Expansion Bays cargo hold, guest quarters (common), life boats
Modifiers +1 any three checks per round, +2 Computers, +3 Piloting; Complement 1–4
The other pilot keeps up the pursuit, going past and taking a flip and burn manoeuver at the end.
And another salve flies through space.
And another shield down to 2.
"If you can try get behind them we can bring another gun to bear." Boreal says as she squeezes into the gunners seat opposite Dame Tannhauser
[dice=Laser]1d20+8;1d8
And another salve flies through space.
And another shield down to 2.
And another volley of bullets fly past the enemy ship and into the endless void of space.
The enemy ship on the other hand continues to deliver precise shots bringing down the starboard shield to 2.
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Manteca hovers in the doorway of the pilot's chair, clearly frazzled by the ship's continuing damage. "Allison, you're doing a great job and clearly this isn't exactly just on your skills but also to a certain extent their malicious intent, but is there anything we could do to maybe be shot less?"
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EH-RK attempts to balance out the Shields.
Humanoids: I have adjusted our shields and maxed the rear deflectors. However, our ship was not made for combat and we are approaching a critical probabilistic pathway that results in our demise. Please find a safe landing spot or begin evasive maneuvers. Also, I believe you are failing to adjust for the exothermic calibrators on the coilgun Kasatha Dame Tannehauser. I suggest calibrating your aim to match the following algorithm. EH-RK says over the intercom, and Tannhauser gets a massively complex equation transmitted to her over her comm unit. It isn't helpful.
HIPPOCAMPUS TIER 1
Upgraded Ringworks Wanderer (Starfinder Core Rulebook 310)
Small shuttle
Speed 6; Maneuverability perfect (turn 0)
AC 14; TL 14
HP 35; DT —; CT 7
Shields basic 13/20 (forward 1/5, port(Left) 2/5, starboard(Right) 5/5, aft 5/5)
Attack (Forward) light laser cannon (2d4)
Attack (Turret) coilgun (4d4)
Power Core Micron Ultra (80 PCU); Drift Engine none;
Systems basic mid-range sensors, extra light weapon mount (turret), mk 3 armor, mk 3 defenses, mk 1 trinode computer; Expansion Bays cargo hold, guest quarters (common), life boats
Modifiers +1 any three checks per round, +2 Computers, +3 Piloting; Complement 1–4
And so Allison outmanoeuvers the other pilot ending up facing the side of the enemy ship and preventing it to shoot at all.
Tannhäuser begins absentmindedly reading the algorithm Erik sent her to take her mind off the fact that they were in a ship getting shot six different ways from Sunday.
Now it's Boreal's turn to shoot into deep space. But Tannhäuser scores a great shot vaporizing the shield and seriously damaging the hull.
The lame shuttle doesn't react as fast as Allison would like and so it ends up in front of the guns of the interceptor.
Manteca stands, hands gripping the doorway between the piloting module and the rest of the ship. He chances a quick glance at Boreal's viewscreen.
"Boreal! Coming into view now! Ready and..."
Manteca switches to telepathy, to remove even the slight delay of sound from interfering with the perfect shot.
Now. Fire.
The interceptor shoots again.
But into deep space.
Eric doesn't shift the shield instead he boosts power to the shields.
however he is unsuccessful.
Humanoids: I am currently attempting to reroute power into the shields. The probability that we survive has increased slightly.
Both ships shoot past each other and take a new turn to reposition in this combat.
The enemy pilot keeps the upper hand again.
EH-RK uses his SCIENCE skills to divert power to shields.
Humanoids: I have increased our shields. I suggest disabling the attacking vessel.
The shuttle takes a hit to the starboard shield but thanks to EH-RK's efforts it isn't completely depleted as the laser shot connects despite Allison's attempt to evade it.
But the projectiles of the coilgun break some bones of this strange ship.
Despite the serious hits the enemy pilot is set on shooting you down.
The interceptor manages to stay in shooting position at the side of the shuttle.
Manteca is, all in all, not doing too well on the 'rigors of space combat', and the rest of the party keeps getting small flashes of nausea - something they eventually realize is telepathic bleed from the doctor.
He staggers into the gunnery, gripping Tannhauser's chair. "Madam, if you could be so kind as to destroy that ship so we can fly a little more stably, I would be very... urrrrk."
Manteca stops mid-encouragement and doubles over in distress, throwing up into a cargo container.
”I’ll try my best.” Tannhäuser calmly says to the doctor.
Tannhäuser shoots the interceptor in the front where the shields are down already. As you're pretty sure that the back end of a space ship engine is the only end where sparkling flames should come out you'd say the enemy ship has now serious problems.
Allison does a cool roll with the ship bringing the side with the still fully operating shield to face the enemy. And EH-RK boosts the shields in addition to that. In combination this takes most of the shots power but it depletes the shield, damages the hull and the EMP effect gets through.
The EMP causes a glitch in the weapons array and the sensors are hit critically getting a glitch too.
This time Allison got the upper hand again. The other pilot tries to flee but for now the ship is still in range of all weapon systems.