Gazigaz rolls on in and deflates immediately when he sees he's alone. Rather than waste time, he pulls out his hand mirror and adjusts the styling of his furry green beard while he waits for the rest to arrive.
What he sees in the mirror is this!
It began as a dull day aboard the Clutch, Nakonechkin Salvage’s only ship and your home for the past year or so. Your boss, the vesk Nakonechkin, brought the ship out of Pact Words space and into some of the void beyond, looking for derelict space stations or the remains of forgotten starship battles to pick through.
Suddenly, with a buzzing chime, the ship’s computers registered a starship drifting in the region. Nakonechkin rushed to the captain’s console and initiated a scan. An image of the target ship appeared on screen: a large, ornate green starship with brass accents. It looked abandoned and ill-suited to be so far from the Pact Worlds.
Nakonechkin quickly pulled on his space suit and grabbed a set of all-purpose tools. “This looks like an easy enough job. You lot stay here and keep an eye on the Clutch. Try not to ‘repair’ anything while I’m away. I should be back in a couple of nanoseconds.” He nodded curtly and cycled the airlock to float over to the derelict ship.
Two hours have passed since Nakonechkin departed, and he isn’t responding to your communications. Something must have gone terribly wrong—and Nakonechkin might need help!
forced open.
Quonx always believing it's better to ask forgiveness than permission gets to work on the computer.
This thing has always hated me, maybe I should just fix it. I know I will let someone else try and they will say it's broken then I can fix it.
Should we go after the Captain? The computer is not giving me much, it could be broken should I just try and fix it?
Dakoyo stares out the viewport waiting for the Captain to return...
"We have been floating here more than a nanosecond. Our connection to him and each other implores us to check in!" he says quietly still looking towards the ship.
Gazigaz looks up from his mirror in alarm "Oh no, the captain! Already two hours and he's not back. What do we do? What can we do?" He peeks over Quonx's shoulder "Big Nako said we shouldn't try to fix it again, and I think he's right. Don't you remember last time Quonx? The Clutch almost dropped us into a star when we tried to Drift!"
"Our only choice is to go finding Big Nako! This is a task for Gazigaz to help!" He strikes a pose for just a moment before turning to the other skittermanders. "Let's go to that ship and rescue him!"
Nako looks out the viewport for a moment, one hand idly tapping the mvindee fingerdrums strapped to her arm.
"Dakoyo is right. Gazigaz is right! We're not doing Nakonechkin any good sittin' here and twiddling our thumbs! Quonx, what is the computer telling you? How do we get into that ship?"
It looks like the aft airlock could be opened if forced, Then I can fix it.
Holding up is fix it tool
Gazigaz scurries around the bridge of the Clutch, wondering out loud. "Where IS everyone? We have a crisis of mega proportions here and the crew's sleeping in! Big Nako would be disappointed in us!"
The door to the bridge whooshes open, and Dakoyo II strolls onto the bridge in time to hear Gazigaz' complaint. "Here me be! Had to take care of some VERY important business! Me won't bore you with the details." The skittermander chuckles as he takes a look around and then asks. "Me must have been gone for longer than me thought. Where be Big Lizard Boss?"
"Big Nako out there!" Gazigaz points three thumbs at the derelict shown on the Clutch's viewscreens. "You able to scan it for us Dakoyo-but-not-Dakoyo? Would be a biiiig help!"
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The eyes of Dakoyo II become wide as he waves his six hands in negation. "Ohhh noooo! You remember when me try to download Star Sugar Heartlove to playlist last month? Big Nako got sooooo mad when me accidentally erase notes from first AND second expedition! No. Dakoyo-but-not-Dakoyo will not be touching computers again." The skittermander folds his three pairs of hairy arms across his chest, as though to make certain that those little hands don't dare touch anything electronic.
"Please try Dakoyo-but-not-Dakoyo, The computer is not working for me and Big Nako ordered me not to fix."
"No no no... me no want Big Nako use my head to clean toilet again..." The skittermander backs away from the computer, wringing his hands.
Nekonechkin isn't going to find himself, so clearly a visit to the nearby ship is in order.
Your armor affords you protection from the dangers of vacuum, so moving between the Clutch’s airlock and the Emerald Empyrean’s should be a simple matter. Once outside of the Clutch, you can hook themselves to that ship with tethers (for safety) and then push off toward the Emerald Empyrean.
The two vessels are a few hundred feet apart, but it takes no more than a few minutes to float between them. The cruise ship’s outer airlock door is marked with a large Trendsetter Excursions logo (a golden rocket blasting out of a glass of sparkling wine) and can easily be opened using an adjacent access panel.
Unfortunately, just as you begin their space walk, the two vessels are engulfed in a passing micrometeoroid storm. The tiny particles don’t damage the starships, but everyone must take cover to avoid the sudden storm!
Luckily, the storm is over as quickly as it begins, and you can continue on your mission!
Dakoyo II makes certain his environmental protection is up and running before heading out into the vacuum of space, enjoying the view of the shiny stars in the distance, picking out constellations he recognizes while leaving the computer and engineering to Quonx.
When the micrometeoroid storm begins, the skittermander yelps in surprise and tries to find cover quickly, hoping that the others gain access to the the Trendsetter ship soon! And though the storm finishes quickly, the mystic is battered quite badly.
vs DC 13 = Failure!
Gazigaz does flips and loops in the vacuum all the way until he's suddenly caught in the storm of micro-meteors.
As they swarm around the group, he bounces from meteor to meteor, punching and kicking stray small ones. "Ahah! I am going to have to take new job as big panzer kunst pro after this!" He giggles in glee across the comms circuit.
Upon reaching the door, he does a cool landing, and then stands awkwardly, waving at the others as they arrive. "Uh, everyone, anyone able to open hatch?"
Nako ensures the others cross behind her. "If big space whales attack, I wanna be out front!" She puts on her serious face, letting the others know that she is in charge.
"Watch out for the space rocks! They could sting if you aren't fast enough! Like me!"
As a rock is about to hit Quonx too, he flips sideways and uses is arms and hands like little feet to run across the rock. Having the rock pass by safely.
Getting to the computer panel and using his quantum reality spanner that he thinks that can fix anything.
"This panel has been hacked already. I think Captain Nakonechkin went this way."
"Excellent! Onwards!"
Nako strives to be the first into the airlock. Once inside, she unholsters her ember flame doshko and her tactical semi-auto pistol, fearing someone (or something) may have waylaid Nakonechkin.
Dakoyo-but-not-Dakoyo defers to Nako, waiting until the soldier enters through the airlock before following after. The skittermander knows that if something indeed happened to Big Nako, he might require the services of the mystic quickly.
Quonx too waits until everyone gets through the air lock before closing it up.
Gazigaz rolls on into the airlock as soon as it opens, pulling out his hand mirror and arc pistol.
"Gazigaz will keep you all safe, don't worry everyone!"
"Just let them pass by you on their way to wherever they are going! The rocks...not each other." Dakoyo says while the asteroids graze by him...a nervous look covers his face when one almost takes him out.
You are able to clear the airlock without further incident.
This square chamber arrive in has little in the way of furnishings, and the walls and ceiling are a clean white, while the floor is a silvery metal. Four cages are stacked in the two forward corners of the room. A heavy door leads into the airlock to the port, while a flickering holographic sign reading “Welcome Guests” floats over the door to the starboard.
Additionally, three observer-class security robots float about here, buzzing and humming to themselves. When you step in from the airlock, however, these robots quickly scan the newcomers and one declares the following, in a deep robotic voice.
“Error! Pets must be placed in approved carriers before boarding the Emerald Empyrean. Initiating containment protocols.”
Next up: Gazigaz!
"Wha wha what? Gazigaz is NOT a pet! Don't go and put me in a carrier you dumb robots!" Gazigaz puts two pairs of paws on his hips.
Of his two remaining paws, he points one at the nearest robot and calls out "Get it! Don't let it stuff you in a cage skitter-friends!" . He raises the arc pistol in his last paw and fires at the robot he pointed at.
Gaz hits the nearest robot before it can fully even react, electricity scoring over its previously pristine shell, but not incapacitating it.
The robots all move towards the skittermanders, two ganging up on the unfortunate Dakoyo, one targeting Nako.
Curiously, the robots seem to be more interested in subduing the "pets" than damaging them. One closes to Dakoyo tries to pull them towards a cage (unsuccessfully) whereas the others shoot nonlethal blasts of stunning energy.
Dakayo's eyes grow large at the pronouncement of the robot, and despite his injuries the skittermander peers around excitedly. "Pets? Where the pets? Dakayo-but-not-Dakayo no see... ohhh..." The mystic seems a bit crestfallen as he quickly determines that these robots will likely be immune to several of his spells, and so he focuses on one of the cages, hurling at one of the robots firing on him and his friends!
vs KAC
bludgeoning (to both robot and cage)
"Also Dakoyo are we caging the cagers? Ah the way the tides turn. Let me help!" Dakoyo adds to his counterparts volley of cages or anything around that makes a suitable projectile.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH NAKONECHKIN?!?"
Nako runs at the nearest security bot , ignites the burners on her flame doshko, and brings the weapon down in a fiery arc.
Taking aim with his laser rifle, he takes a shot at a security bot (gray).
"I can fix it, after I break it."
"Ooh, hang in there Dakoyo! I will send some good vibes to you!" Gazigaz makes a rubbing motion with his paws and Dakoyo feels his shoulders get massaged.
He then points at the white robot. "OK Skitterteam! Next one!"
Red goes down in a shower of sparks, its voice modulator sounding off, "It was for your own... good..."
The robots seem unaffected by the loss of one of their number, continuing to fire shots at you in an attempt to subdue you... Both Dakoyo and Nako get singed fur from the stunning attacks.
"Ow! That stung, you bucket of bolts!" Nako rushes forward and swings her flaming doshko at the security bot that attacked her .
Gazigaz once more wiggles his paws, towards Nako this time."Friend Nako, you can do it! Don't let those nasty robots put us in cages!"
"And Everyone! Don't let that robot get us!" He points his mirror at the white robot.
"You got it Gaz!" Dakoyo II shouts to the envoy as he picks up the cage once again with his mind and hurls it at the robot! "Awww..." The skittermander whines as the cage smacks solidly into the wall, a few feet above his target. Maybe his brush with the meteroids outside of the ship had done something to his telekentic abilities? Dakoyo-but-not-Dakoyo certainly hopes that's not the case!
vs KAC (White Robot)
bludgeoning (to both robot and cage)
"More cages and more lasers! What an odd turn for the day."
Quonx too moves into the room and aims with his laser rifle, he takes a shot at a security bot (White).
Both Qounx and Dakoyo hit, though not enough to fell their targets.
Nako advances, and both of the robots appear to change tactics, opting to try and grab the red furred skittermander instead!
They are unable to latch on to the slippery fur, though.
Taking aim with his laser rifle, he takes a shot at a security bot (white).
"I can use their parts to fix the ship."
"You think you can touch this? You CAN'T TOUCH THIS!" With an energetic duck'n'weave, Nako avoids the bots' and lashes out with her flame doshko at the bot directly in front of her .
Gazigaz hangs behind Nako, bopping paws in the air as she ducks and weaves and generally acting as her hype-man for the moment. "Ooh ooh ooh Nako you're on fire! Go and give it to 'em!"
He points towards the sole remaining security bot and calls out "Go go Skitterfriends! We're almost through!"
Never one to quit in the face of adversity, Dakoyo-but-not-Dakoyo lifts the battered cage again and hurls it at one of the robots trying to get its metal hands on Nako. "Hey! You stop try to hurt Nako!" The mystic shouts angrily.
vs KAC (White Robot)
Includes +1 for 'Get 'em' bonus
bludgeoning (to both robot and cage)
Nako apparently took the hair singeing VERY seriously, as she brought her doshko down on one of the robots, obliterating it. Small arms fire brought the other down, sadly chirping out a "Enjoy your staaaaaaaay."
Moments later, a synthesized feminine voice comes over the loudspeakers: "Attention passengers, this is M2, your ship’s artificial intelligence. Scans indicate that a handful of pets have escaped their cages and are running loose. If you spot one of these errant animals, please contact the nearest porter robot. Thank you.”
There isn't much more of note in the room (other than a couple cages that the robots were trying to put you in.)
Outside of the current room a long hallway stretches in the direction towards what you imagine to be the bridge. There are doors on the port, starboard, and forward sides of the hall.
Dismissing the fiery blades of her flame doshko, Nako steps out of the room and into the hallway, scanning the area for more porter robots.
"Nakonechkin could be anywhere! We should comb the ship with a fine-toothed... doshko."
Nako steps up the the closest doorway and opens it.
"Nakonechkin! Are you in here?!"
The mystic starts to get excited again about pets running loose, until he realizes that 'they' are the pets. Crestfallen, he follows Nako and peers through the door that the tough skittermander opened. Dakoyo-but-not-Dakoyo is glad for the presence of the soldier in this place. This strange ship and its cold, metallic robots trying to cage them along with the disembodied announcements spoken in an emotionless tone is somewhat creepy.
"Pets can often be a term of endearment but I won't stand by and be caged. Let us move forward unto our mission. What do you see in the hallway?" says Dakoyo peaking over Dakoyo.
The Starboard door is locked shut, but either engineering or elbow grease is able to open it.
Smooth wooden flooring and paneled walls give this chamber an air of elegance that is immediately countered by the obvious mess and rank smell of body odor and other foulness. In the aft part of the room is a bar made from real mahogany. In front of the bar are several stools and behind it is the nonfunctioning husk of a bartender robot and an unmarked door. Half a dozen tables and accompanying chairs are pushed against the forward wall to make room for makeshift cots.
There are also approximately a dozen humanoids of various races, who seem to be in quite sorry shape and at least one is unconscious on a cot. At your arrival a couple of the passengers grab a few weapons (mostly knives, though a Lashunta Voryna has a azimuth laser pistol) though no one fires.
Quonx too takes a quick look in the cages to see if the captain is in any of them.
He then fixes the door so they can go through
Seeing all the humanoids a worried looks comes across his face
"This ship is a plague ship, I can't fix this I don't think"
In common "Don't be alarmed, were here to help"