Obozaya seems to recoil at the voice in the her head. "Can you not speak like everyone else? It's on courteous to those who don't also have telepathic powers."
"I'm not much of a investigator, but sometimes in this line of work, things get dangerous for us. That's when I step in and quell the threat. Once, a surly and disreputable human tried to pull a laser pistol on me. He even went so far as to hold it under a table, thinking he would get the better of me. I was faster with my doshko, though." The Vesk rapidly flits her tongue out, in a sign of amusement. "The searing flames cut neatly into his skin and severed his head clean off! I finished his drink and left." She shows a toothy grin.
Twitching his head for a moment as he was asked about his stories he frowned for a moment before answering, once more telepathic even tho Obozaya didn't want it. "I have seen things ranging from experiments that turned into a plague called the Gray shakes, where I found my believe in Pharasma, to adventures with a motly crew of adventurers where I ensured they would have their wounds recovered to continue onwards for the quest for knowledge, I am, medical support so to speak..." A soft tapping of something on glass could be heard as Keskodai broke his train of thoughts and the connection was broken as he focused on the glass jar
The Warden squeals in telepathic glee--a sensation that threatens to white-out your brains for a second--after Altronus finishes his story. He seems similarly delighted in Quig's stories.
He sighs telepathically, a sort of ephemeral sense of resignation. "We have enjoyed our time with you very much. However, I am afraid that we will not be able to permit you to visit with any prisoner here. The rules are the rules, you understand. However, before you go," the Warden says as one of his iridescent purple tentacles produces a credstick, "We do happily accept donations. Sometimes we offer tours to our best donors."
Altronus gives the Warden an appraising stare.
"Of course. You have been most generous with your time, and we have much enjoyed sharing our stories with you as well. I am certain that the Sauna will make good use of our donations. Please let me confer with my companions so that we can liquidate the a generous sum to help with whatever project needs it most."
Aid/Diplomacy
The android gets a look as though encountering something it is familiar with - "I think I understand this system, but I am unsure what the protocol is, and how much the 'tour tickets' cost in this sector, let me confer with my friends"
Frowning for a moment the Shirren checked with his companions before he would turn and answer Warden "I am sure you can see we are more then willing for such a tour by you or one of your more trusted aides..."
Obozaya growls and steps forward. "Fine, a donation to your little paradise here. Though it frankly is a pity to see people locked up rather than die fighting." She authorizes her credstick to allow a transfer.
[ooc]Obozaya will donate 100 creds or go half in with someone else if they want.
With an audible sigh, Quig acknowledges "Naturally, we would compensate you for your trouble. It would be nice to see where those I catch typically end up. Curiosity and all."
Altronus returns his attention to the Warden and offers their mission expense credstick. "My companions have authorized a donation of 300 credits."
Obazaya also puts in a plea to talk to the prisoner, the credsticks transfer funds between themselves.
"We thank you for your donation. We will allow you take a tour of the facilities to see where your donation would be put to use. Please leave your credsticks in the locker just outside the penal area."
Moments later a flotilla of guard barathu float into the room, escorting you to the mentioned locker, where you leave your credsticks.
Whereas the stench within the Warden’s office was bad, the stink in the common area is almost unbearable. Several half-naked, sweat-drenched workers of various species crowd around here. The barathu guards combine to form one larger, menacing amalgam creature, ensuring you remain safe from confrontation.
After several minutes traversing through this sweat-slicked region, the barathu guard amalgam stops at a table where a ysoki sits. The ratfolk constantly licks her paws uncomfortably while grooming her drenched and matted pelt. With the guard’s arrival, she looks up and acknowledges an unspoken communication between herself and the barathu collective.
In an instant, the barathu collective splits into its separate entities and floats off in independent paths throughout the chamber, never straying to far from where you are standing, giving you some privacy with the sweat-soaked ysoki who looks up with cautious interest amid a timid introduction,
“Hiya, the name’s Livewire. What can we do for each other?”
"Iseph. You were pilot on an expedition that didn't go so well, and I'd like to know more. I'll probably be the pilot on any mission similar to yours, so one flyboy to another, what do you say about giving me the low down?"
"What's in it for me?" she raises her paw "Nah, I'll make it easy on you. What I want is nice clean fur and for that I would need a hygiene kit. We both know that I'll be here for a while, so supply for a year sounds like a good trade. You arrange that and I'll talk"
"I understand. You have a supply and we have a demand," Altronus says. "Unfortunately, while I can see why you need the hygiene kits--this place must be terrible for furred beings--the Warden confiscated our credstick so that we cannot purchase anything. At least not before we leave. Is there anything else that we could do for you in exchange?"
Silently watching the interaction, once the odd banthu creatures departed, Quig finds himself pitying the ysoki before them. 'Seems a reasonable request' he considers. 'Cleanliness is important'
Opening his mouth to speak, he closes it quickly as Altronus engages the prisoner. 'Ah, good point. Hadn't considered that aspect'
"Well actually there is something you can do for me fourarms! I left a tool belt of mine on the Archer, our spaceship. If you promise to return that belt to my family in the downlow I have some information for you."
"Of course!" Altronus agrees to the benign request. "If we can find it, we certainly will."
Obozaya squints at the ysoki. "A toolbelt? What kind of tools?" She flits her tongue out in indifference. "No matter. We can find it for you."
"Toolbelt seems easy enough. If everything checks out I'll see what can be done about some hygiene too."
"Allright, first let me tell you something about the crew that I signed on with. Captain is a nasty piece of work that goes by the name of Borgorm he is cruel and selfish. Only reason I took the mission was my friendship with Bago, his brother. With the mission’s loot, I was going to help Bago free himself from Borgor’s influence.
We found out that the other two 'Snips' and 'Xalak-don' were planning a mutiny after the successful mission, we were going to use that distraction to leave. Snips is the brain of these two, while Xalak-Don is the muscle. There are audio logs in the Archer that should be able to confirm this."
She moves forward a bit "Now about Salvation's End: People call it a ‘false moon,’ but that can’t be true. I’m pretty sure that floating metal hulk is actually some kind of really old starship caught in the nearby planet’s orbit. I don’t know what happened to it, but its signature and style don’t match up to any Pact World design.
There’s a noticeable spire rising from the false moon’s outer hull. It’s teeming with activity. Crude painted symbols are all along structure’s exterior. Inside, a hive of space goblins flourishes in one of their misbegotten makeshift nests. The goblins sneak out to rummage for scrap metal and other junk found on the false moon’s exterior.”
She stops, before turning to Iseph "“No matter what, please let me know what happened to Bago. If the old lunk’s still alive, tell him I miss my ‘Hairless Monkey.’ If you find it in your hearts after exploring that damnable false moon, please put in a good word for me with the authorities. I’m not sure I can last here for my entire term.
Letting the others speak and figure things out he merely listened to the conversation nodding once in a while as it was agreed upon their task to be done. His mind reaching out to the others "Let's go, not much more to aquire here, we have a hunt to perform..."
"If your information checks out, then one space jock to another, I'll put in that good word"
After reclaiming credsticks and tying off the loose ends for departure The Android returns to the ship and hops in the cockpit to begin getting the craft warmed up and ready for take off.
Raia leaves with the others of course, mentally lamenting the fact that she never learned the spell that would allow her to clean the little ysoki's fur. Poor thing, I wish I could have alleviated her suffering. She recovers her credstick and heads to the ship with the others. She settles into the science officer's seat upon her return.
Once back upon the starship, Altronus comments, "Barathu are... interesting. I suppose they may be more difficult for the gray aliens to mimic, ah, but who knows the extent of their shapechanging abilities?"
"Agreed Altronus. I've never seen anything like it. It's a tad disconcerting, no?" he offers, making a quick once over of the ship before take off.
The ysoki quickly reattaches Scouts guns and readies him for combat.
On leaving the Sauna you brief Luwazi who agrees that you should seek out Salvation's End and wishes you good luck.
Iseph fires up the drift engines and after a couple of days traveling you exit the drift near Salvation's End. In the distance, a great metallic structure breaks the bleak monotony of space. Massive in size, the grandeur of this planetoid is hard to take in all at once. Before the scale of the moon sets in, a shrill song pierces through the ship’s communications system.
Jam your sensors, you be blind,
All our targets we will find.
Sitting duck depleted shield,
You go BOOM in our starfield!
As the first notes of the song shriek out, a trio of vessels blink on the sensor screens, followed swiftly by a warning alarm klaxon!
Raia winces at the raucous song.. "That was... unpleasant... and about to become moreso I think."
The goblin's song shakes the resolve of the gunners! While Quig is fiddling with the controls on his engineering screen the goblins race towards you!
Roles
Captain: Keskodai
Engineer(s): Quig
Pilot: Iseph
Science Officer(s): Raia
Gunner(s): Obozaya, Altronus
"They've jumped in on our tail! Strap in, I'm going to hit the brakes and they'll fly right by!"
Iseph does exactly that, throwing the ship rapidly into reverse bringing the ship in out of their forward arcs!
Obozaya rotates the turret to bring the closest ship into her sights. She growls at the sight of her target on the screen, and blasts them with the particle beam cannon.
Altronus mans one of the battle stations, he uses one of the duonodes to assist his aim if available.
But he could use some encouragement.
Hearing the news of the incoming ships, Quig quickly flips a few switches. The small man hollers to Raia, "See if that helps id those ships."
Raia scans the enemy vessel...
scanning enemy vessel:
Once information comes in on her console, she relays this to everyone.
With brish short burst off telepathy Keskodai encourages Altronus
Quig diverts power to the science console and Raia quickly identifies the ships
"This red one is a goblin junker! Stand by while I give you more information. I would not be surprised if those others are of the same build"
On her screen the statistics appear that she relays to the others
Tiny Starship Racer,
Living crew:1
Speed: 12
Maneuverability: Perfect (turn 0)
AC: 14
TL: 14
Total and current Hull Points: 20 / 20
Total and current Shield Points in each quadrant: All 5/5
Core PCU value: 80
:
Turret: flak thrower (3d4)
Aft: light laser cannon (2d4)
Iseph quickly brings the pegasus between the goblins, enabling the gunners to shoot them to pieces! Obazaya was tracking one of the ships and had it perfectly in his sights when Iseph turns the ship around without warning, which causes the Vesk to loose his target! Altronus is contemplating the goblin song and likewise misses. The goblin to your port side has no such issues and fires away at your shields. The one nearest your starboard side misses while the one further away does not fire at all.
More warning claxons go off and Iseph knows that the spaceship is caught in a tractor beam and can not move!
HP: 65 / 65
Shields Foreward: 20/20
Shields Starboard 15/15
Shields Port: 5/15
Shields Aft: 10/10
Engineering phase / Changing roles phase
"We've hit a tractor beam, going to try break us free - Engineering, some damage to the port shield but nothing you can't fix, show us what you got Quig"
"On it!" he cries out.
Scurrying to another console, Quig quickly keys in a few commands.
HP: 65 / 65
Shields Forward: 20
Shields Starboard 15
Shields Port: 5
Shields Aft: 10
Total: 50/60
Quig quickly tries to boost the port shields, in his haste he mistypes a command on the console and it powers down. Rebooting might take a while...
Altronus stays at the weapons' station. "These two-armed interfaces take a little time to get used to. My apologies to everyone. Our fortune will cycle around, though."
If unused by the pilot, Altronus uses the computer system to offset his nerves, harangued by the goblin song, and fires a reckless blast at any passing goblin ship.
Seeing the predicament they are in Keskodai turns his attention to Iseph and tries to bolster her resolve and her expertise to break free.
Obozaya hisses at Iseph. "Hold this rust bucket steady, I'm trying to kill someone!" She spins the turret around and opens fire on the starboard goblin ship, simultaneously triggering the starboard laser cannon.
Pilot
Pilot (Evade) Vs DC18
Iseph guns the engine forward and tries bringing the ship around in a wide loop to evade fire and line the enemy up for a strafing run...
Two of the goblin ships move, while the third waits to see whatever tricks Iseph pulls of.