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“Rice candy for everyone!” shouts the excited Ziggy.
Neon Ten pops one of the candies, wrapper still on it, into his mouth. “Thanks Ziggy! I’m going to store it for later though!”
"I have had experience with the first and last, but I have not a construct running on just magical power as of yet. I do admit I'm no expert there. It is harder sometimes for me to tell an AI from a truer intelligence. Even then, the line there is somewhat scorched and hard to read. Have you met with many sentient machines yet yourself?"
“I assume you mean other than androids, SROs and Guidance.” he says.
“I’ve met with a couple of roboticists who had drones or implants with a lot of personality. Guidance is quite impressive, but I’ve never been given an opportunity to examine them closely. I can’t say for sure if Guidance is sentient or not.”
He pauses to think a moment, then answers “Other than that, nothing really impressive. Hopefully someday!”
"It is time to rescue our friends!"
“Yes!” Neon Ten exclaims. His whiskers twitch in anticipation.
Suddenly, every screen aboard the Starfinder fleet switches to show nominated First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo standing next to a golden obelisk about two feet in height. Behind her, a large observatory window showcases the Godshield, a shimmering force field surrounding the Scoured Stars system. Luwazi Elsebo slowly lifts her eyes from the artifact and addresses the Society.
“Starfinders, this is the Tear, an ancient artifact some of our most skilled agents recovered during a recent mission. The Tear is our key back to the Scoured Stars—our key to liberating those who were lost a year ago. We are ready, so let’s not waste any more time.”
Luwazi Elsebo speaks a few words in an alien language and the artifact start humming softly. She then traces her finger along the artifact’s surface, and a set of glowing runes appear around the obelisk. The golden field surrounding the Scoured Stars starts twisting upon itself, and massive gashes appear as the force field starts tearing itself apart. As the final shreds of the shimmering field evaporate, Elsebo speaks: “It is time. Good luck, Starfinders. Fleet—activate Drift engines! Go!”
One by one, the ships of the fleet pierce the veil between the Material Plane and others, splashing through space like it was water, and then vanish into the swirling depths of the Drift.
*****
Whisked away through the Drift, the Starfinder Society fleet spreads across the three solar systems that form the Scoured Stars. The ships begin scanning the planets, asteroids, and other objects orbiting the three distinct stars. The fleet’s long-range sensors soon start picking up communication signals, energy signatures, and signs of life. After a quick analysis, the Society has identified a few locations where information on the lost Starfinders is most likely to be found. After nearly a year of waiting, the search for survivors can begin!
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"I have had experience with the first and last, but I have not a construct running on just magical power as of yet. I do admit I'm no expert there. It is harder sometimes for me to tell an AI from a truer intelligence. Even then, the line there is somewhat scorched and hard to read. Have you met with many sentient machines yet yourself?"
Al 2O3 blinks a bit at the question, processing how to respond.
"I am uncertain on your definition of "truer intelligence" given the advances seen by the Anacites on Aballon, including their contribution to the All-Code, which in turn brought about The Signal that uniquely shaped all of civilization as we now it today.
I myself have been endeavoring to refine my half-mechanical half-biological thought processes into a more evolved intelligence," Al will nod their head and indicate the red LED embedded in their forehead. "My exocortex, Ruby, is a work in progress, but she has already shown that she has within her code the capacity to exceed me."
Al then checks over their gear one last time as the team's ship exits the Drift, nodding in solidarity with Sorami's and Neon Ten's statements before uttering a quiet few words almost under their breath.
"May the lady of wisdom help us to find and save as many of our lost comrades as possible...I'm certain they'll be invited to publish their observations in all manner of peer-reviewed journals with minimal scrutiny."
Alarms and scanners begin to go off all at once as they try to keep up with all of the information. The Starfinder Society’s fleet has identified five locations where clues about the whereabouts of surviving Starfinders are most likely to be found.
While in the Scoured Stars system, the Tear resonates with the Drift engines of the Starfinder vessels in unexpected ways; as the massive ships spread out across the trinary system, they create a network that allows individual ships’ Drift engines to make short jumps in a matter of hours.
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The Scoured Stars consists of three star systems, Agillae, Bastiar, and Callion, which revolve around a common barycenter. There are one or two missions available in each system as detailed below.
- Agillae: Agillae is an orange dwarf star with five planets, all of which are terrestrial planets in the star’s habitable zone. Recon and evacuation missions 1 and 2 take place in the Agillae system.
- Bastiar: The largest, brightest, and most massive of the three stars, Bastiar is a yellow dwarf star with eight planets—five terrestrial planets, a gas giant with more than three dozen moons, and two ice giants. Recon and evacuation missions 3 and 4 take place in the Bastiar system.
- Callion: The smallest of the three stars, Callion is a red dwarf star with two small, tidally locked planets whose orbits are synchronized so that they are always on the opposite sides of the star. Recon and evacuation mission 5 takes place in the Callion system.
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"The scans of Callion II suggests the presence of worlds bearing similarities to Verces, an early pioneering planet for space exploration among the Pact Worlds. If the is a form of universal symmetry, then it should be worth explorin as any signs of civilization there may be able to provide us with information about the capabilities and history of starfaring lifeforms in this region." Sev suggests.
The imposing vesk Radaszam, leader of the Acquisitives, stands near a large screen that displays a tidally locked planet labeled as Callion-2. “Starfinders,” He greets, in his pleasantly low voice, “I’m sure you’ll find this mission interesting. Our sensors have detected numerous communication signals broadcast from Callion-2. Because one side of the planet is always facing the sun, only a narrow habitable zone exists, but here’s the interesting part: the entire habitable area is covered in one big, technologically advanced megacity. Finding survivors, or at least useful information in the city, seems likely. I’ll upload mission data on your ship’s computer. Good luck and come back safely!”
Following the Radaszam’s instructions, you easily find the right location in the sprawling megacity to take their landing craft. You are able to find a suitable place to land on a rooftop. As you approach the destination, you realize the only living things in the city are plants and small insectile invertebrates.
Doing a quick scan with your equipment there are five locations the PCs can investigate within proximity of their landing zone. Strangely enough you can hear strange alien music (akin to distorted modern elevator music) playing in the background through loudspeakers integrated into the city’s buildings and infrastructure.
Where do you wish to go first?
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Travelling through this city is an eerie experience. There are gleaming buildings, beautifully tended gardens, shops that still advertise their wares. Everywhere are little robots tending plants, repairing infrastructure, and sweeping the already pristine streets. There is not a humanoid in sight, and the robots all seem intent on their individual tasks and don't respond to your hails. Strange, almost elevator-like music, plays through loudspeakers incorporated into the architecture throughout the city.
The library is clearly marked, first in large alien runes*, and then in languages of the Pact Worlds and other cultures. With the exception of the ever-present alien music, this enormous building remains completely silent. Digital and physical records from the planet’s past fill shelves and data archives stretching for the equivalent of city blocks.
Neon Ten scans the digital storage... and discovers something interesting. He finds a log entry that indicates the last set of visitors were members of the Starfinder Society. The log entry is a year old, and indicates that the Starfinders had signed in as a courtesy before trying to access some of the data files here. You’re not sure what they were searching for, but they were HERE.
Both he and Antoine suddenly realize that some of these records are thousands of years old. Many are pre-Gap. As Antoine searches, he realizes why the runes are eerily familiar. These records all pertain to Izalgaan culture — a culture that is incredibly technologically advanced and ancient. You find ancient songs, designs for spaceships, what appear to be stories and other entertainments.
But... where are they? After some more poking through the records, you realize that this place has far more information than your little team can sift through at this time. It’s time to move on.
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Where to next?
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En route to the library, and then even after arrival, Sev looks for signs of activity on the planet within the past year.
"My understanding is that the Tear directed the Scoured Stars Expedition to a single planet and that a large number of exploration teams were dispatched to the surface of that world before contact was lost." Sev explains. "If this is the planet to which they were directed, one would expect such a significant expedition would have left some traces of their members having been present."
He analyzes the robots, attempting to ascertain if they pose a threat or, alternatively, whether they removed what residual traces of the expedition's presence may have once existed.
Once at the library, he nods silently upon viewing the runes. After Neon has identified the relevant archival files, the android gets to work analyzing the available data.
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Al was most likely just helping at the library , but would note their peaceful past dealings with the izalguun people. After that...
"The fact that Starfinders have been here, but are not reachable on our comms is disconcerting. Internal telemetry would suggest searching the residential area, factory, or shopping mall in case they sought refuge...or the military base if we fear the worst may have happened to them."
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In the files, Sev finds lots of tidbits to pass on to scholars at the Lorespire later.
While they are walking, Sev notices that the maintenance bots are ubiquitous. But they all appear to be utility models: no weapon arrays, and not a spark of sentience among them. In the shopping mall, the weird elevator music is louder than elsewhere.
Flickering holograms appear, mostly of Izalguuns doing inexplicable things. You see a pair of Izalguuns roar, jump on each other, and then explode into fireworks that coalesce and drip like paint into a jar that is held by a frowning elder. Then some animals riding on some sort of floating board slide into a gigantic and leering Izalguun’s mouth that makes ‘Mmmmmm’ noises. Other holograms are mostly depictions of shimmering alien runes, with tiny irridescent robots whizzing through their gaps to a song with an irrepressible beat.
Robots place useless and deteriorated products on display, but no one is around to buy anything. One robot dusts an Izalguun-shaped mannequin. The mannequin’s clothes are in tatters, but some of its jewelry is still intact as the robot polishes it.
It is clear to Al that the shopping center (like everything else here) was abandoned long ago—likely millennia ago—and the original inhabitants left the machines to take care of the city. As they stalk carefully through this mall, all they can see are weird holograms, maintenance bots, and busted products.
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Sev reaches out to grab ahold of some of the jewelry, hoping for an opportunity to analyze its composition.
"Reports indicated that the inhabitants of the Scoured Stars were powerful, but disorganized and possessed no obvious spacefaring assets." Sev notes. "However, these artifacts suggest the existence of an advanced civilization--if not also an interplanetary one. Furthermore, historical records indicate that the Starfinder Society prohibited expeditions to the Scoured Stars for more than a century, in part because of the deadly inhabitants but also because findings from the few successfully explored worlds showed little of research value. Again, these artifacts would seem to suggest otherwise.
"For, are these flickering holograms not what some would consider 'art'?" Sev ponders aloud.
The jewelry appears to be made mostly of non-corroding metals — gold, platinum, rhodium — shaped in patterns reminiscent of scales and leaves. So much of this city is high-tech, yet the jewelry is pastoral in design, hearkening back to nature. It’s striking; especially since so much of the art of the Pact Worlds seems to glory in technological abstractions rather than natural forms. The bracelets and arm bands are large, designed for an Izalguun physique. Sev realizes that he could step in one, and his thigh would fit comfortably. It and the holograms do seem to be some sort of art — but espousing very different styles.
Antoine and Al notice there seems to be one hologram that is NOT like the others. For one thing, it is of an androgynous human. And it has been staring directly at your party, following you by appearing in various holographic dioramas as you’ve walked around the mall. But when your party approaches, it dissipates completely, and stops following you.
Even doing another pass through this odd shopping center, you cannot find it again. Were you imagining it?
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Where to next? I’ve heard one vote for the Military Base, but the Factory was also mentioned.
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"Processing...
"Yes, I am certain within only a fractional margin of error that one of the holograms in that area was human. Given that this location was apparently inhabited by the izalguun race, this lends more weight to the likelihood of Starfinder presence. The izalguuns worked diligently to disguise their mastery of advanced technology, so the information you mention, Sev, might be tempered by their attempts at obfuscation.
"I concur with Sorami that the military base should be searched...with caution, of course."
As you walk to the Military base, Antoine and Sorami get the sense that you are being followed. They note weird flickerings in reflective surfaces that Sev and Al soon spot as well. The glimmers show the face of the androgynous human hologram, sometimes raising an eyebrow, othertimes just turning its head as you go by.
As you all approach the military base, the figure shimmers into being right in front of it. “You may address me as A-1. Please, what is your purpose and mission coming here?” The hologram cocks their head as they study you, brushing back translucent locks of hair impatiently in a very human-looking gesture. Their speech is slightly accented, but otherwise flawless common. “You are clearly seeking something, but this is a place forbidden to you. I require you to turn back.”
Behind them, four medium-sized bots appear. They are heavily built, and brandishing large spikes. They do not appear to be maintenance bots.
What do you do?
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"Your assessment of our purpose here is basically correct. We are conducting a search; one for fellow members of our organization, the Starfinder Society. Have you seen them by any chance?" Sev responds. "However, I must inquire as to basis for your conclusion regarding our presence at this location being forbidden. By what authority was such an edict issued and by what method was the prohibition disseminated?"
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Ivok watches the bots warily but doesn't resort to pulling his pike out yet, although that doesn't make him any much threatening.
"Yes, we are willing to listen, but we can't turn our back on our allies. If you can direct us to them, I would be grateful. Who are you though? Why can you speak the their language?" Ivok gestures to the rest of the party regarding the question of language.
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Al thinks about opening their mouth to speak, but then remembers that they are regularly rated poorly on empathy with students, and decides to best help the conversation by staying out of it. They do, however, give a simple hand-sign behind their back to Yang, so she is ready to speak up in support of the others if needed.
A-1 pauses a moment, looking uncharacteristically still, before saying, “I see. I’m sorry to report that there have been no one called Starfinders here in this base, so there is no need to continue past this point. As for who I am, I am the one left behind to care for this city and guard it for the ones who left, thousands of years ago. I send out the bots. I care for the gardens, the buildings, and everything here. When they return, they will find the city ready to take them back in.”
“As to how I learned your speech, could I have not learned it from you? Perhaps I did so. I regret that I can not let you past this point. I must guard this place. As for authority, I consider that authority to issue from myself. Wouldn’t you consider a guardian who has done their job alone for millenia to be in effect... a government?”
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Antoine listens to A-1 explication's before doing an answer of his own.
"Yes, as my friend said, we are here for our other members of our organization.
Antoine shows his starfinder insigna.
"But, I am also a photojournalist (Show his press card). And the liberty of press is very important in a modern society. You know this right? I should be able to see what inside. If there anything classified secret defense. I can assure you it will not be leaked to the public.
" Also," Antoine adds, "we are not intruder. We are here at the invitation of the Izalguuns of the planet Icefront or Izalraan as they called it. They have given us the relic knowing what we will do with it."
Please...
“The relic?’ A-1 looks surprised. “You have a relic... of Izalraan? But they’re classified!”
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"Yes the relic. A very radioactive thing that the god of the Izulguun have give them. We have their permission and we had to fight ENORMOUS mutants before restoring them."
Antoine pauses for a few moment before realising what A-1 said.
Yes, they are classifed! As you can see, we have access to classifed informations because how we would know about them if not? "
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“We needed one in order to get through the shields in order to rescue our people.” with a slight frown, he cocks his head to the side and asks “Do you think the Izalguuns would refuse such a reasonable request? The ones we met were actually quite civil.”
“Such items need to be inspected to verify safety!”
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Sev looks at A-1 and demands, "Please provide some tangible form of assurance that you are being forthright."
Sev engages his recently revised and rarely used, "iLie", subroutine, "We have not been authorized to disclose who provided us with the authorization to review classified information. Thus, the identity of such authority is... classified."
Sev attempts to appear intimidating, by forcing the facial actuators around his optic sensors to squint and his hand actuators to achieve contact with the grip of his holstered pistol.
As Sorami, Neon Ten, Al, Sev and Antoine all work together to look menacing, A-1’s shoulders slump. "I... cannot do this. Not if you have a relic! It could destroy all that I have worked so hard to preserve! But why did my people not share one with me? Surely I have been faithful to them..." The hologram paces back and forth, features slowly morphing into that of an Izalgaan.
“You are right. There were Starfinders here, a year ago. I did not know what they were... I thought them invaders. My defense bots killed them, all but one who was gravely wounded, and kept telling me stories of your Society. I tried to save them, but they contracted some sort of infection a few days later.” They sigh. “I was afraid to tell you. Afraid of how you might react. I did not want to kill your kind again.”
Then the hologram’s eyes light with hope, as it lopes around using the long arms of the Izalguun form. “In my subsequent investigation, the bots found information about a group of Starfinders trapped on the desert planet Callion-1. My computers have detected weak signals coming from that planet within the last 24 hours, which may mean some of the Starfinders are likely still alive.”
The data arrives on all of your coms, and the bots wielding spikes all lower them, and back away. “Go find them... And should you see my people again, let them know that I am still waiting. Still faithful. They have a home if they want it with me.”
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Neon Ten frowns at the news of the dead Starfinders, but takes no action.
“I will tell them.” Neon Ten promises. “I suspect they will be glad to hear that you have taken care of the gardens. The ones I met were living in very close harmony with the wildlife on that planet.”
“As for the dead, mistakes were likely made on both sides. I am sorry they died, but happy to hear others may still survive. Thank you for telling us.”
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Ivok grimaces at the news and holds back some of himself in his response. "I will not coddle you and suggest I support what you did, but it takes a strong will to admit a mistake. There may be more that come with more questions, but know I will pass on my trust of you and what you did. If I meet more of your people, I will tell them of you."
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"It seems that way Neon. Lets send them a message to get the fleet into a position and begin scans on the planet. Our ship isn't as well equipment for search and rescue as others. We can move onto Bastier-4 while they search."
Pausing for a moment as the location is decided, Ivok adds, "Do you believe that that hologram was sentient? If so, do you think their creators had that intent and ability or was the intelligence that developed over years?"