Hmm's Incident at Absalom Station (Inactive)

Game Master Hmm

"Yes," Xyklik says. "A breather is beneficial to us. We will need to proceed with caution. It seems close-quarters fighting with these creatures is ill-advised, so we will need to find a way to bottleneck any more that come through these hallways."

He mutters, "Treat the enemy like they never sleep," as he looks about the hallway for crates and other debris that can be used to create barriers.

"This will be our last stand room, if escape becomes impossible."

“So, we know the space lions don’t need air. Are they undead? Is there anything we can tell about them from the corpse?”

The aft doors slide closed under Hawthorne's command. He bends under the bench and pulls out the tactical arc emitter.

"I'm glad you're still with us Xyklik," the engineer expresses through the comms. "Those beasts near looked like they tore off an arm."

He shakes his head at Zeyram. "They were flesh and... blood creatures. Definitely some kind of life, neither undead nor extraplanar."

@Hawthorne sorry, filled wrong number ; re. Datajack: you jacked in and got that reading/information from the computers.

Xyklik sees no debris or crates to move around.

Zeyram does not know if these are undead or not, but Simagus told him they were aberrations.

Xyklik (SP 0/0 HP 10/13)
Hawthorne (SP 4/7)
Big Jim (SP 7/7 HP 1/12) 1 RP spent

Looking at Xyklik, Zeyram asks “Wouldn’t it be best to rest before we continue?”

Then he says “We need to come up with a better plan for fighting them. Avoid getting bunched up, and hopefully avoid them tearing into us so much.”

“Any ideas?”

"Fight defensively," Hawthorne suggests.

"Given the way they rushed us, I was thinking we try to line up people with guns a little bit back from the doors. Given them a clear firing lane. Have someone open the door and be to the side, so they can attack anything coming out."

Looking around, he adds "Be nice if we could rig some sort of make-shift mantlet to place in front of the door just to slow them down when they try to come out."

"They don't seem to be able to open doors, so we at least have control over that!"

As Zeyram states that the monsters do not seem able to open doors, he sees that the two doors on the opposite side of the corridor from where you entered, the ones on each side of the engineering bench, are locked in the open position.
Beyond them you see the corridors going around what is obviously the Power Core.
This is made evident by the sign on its wall: Beware - Power Core.
These corridors are also lit with emergency lighting, providing dim light. Ceilings at the same 8 feet high.

Glancing towards the open doors, Zeyram adds “At least I hope they can’t...”

I wouldn’t have expected the crew to leave doors open. How the heck...

Oh no! I hope they can’t open doors. Telekinesis might allow it.

Looking towards the others, he asks “Is there any way to check the logs, make sure the creatures can’t operate the doors?”

“I would really hate psychic space lions that telekinetically open doors!”

As others discuss, Cade quietly explores the engineering systems.

wngineering: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

trying to figure out current status, any damage and turn on

Cade sees that the engineering systems are in good condition.
All has simply been powered down to the minimum you now have - gravity, emergency lighting...

Cade shrugs, "Let's get this show on the road."

He checks everything is functioning. Then he turns on anything that can be activated from here.
I'm guessing that's very little.

"Well, if we need to we can power down systems."

Cade checks his weapons and looks at his allies, "Did they come from the rock?"

Zeyram hands a Mk I Healing Serum to Big Jim. "Here, you better use this before we move on."

Healing: 1d8 ⇒ 6

"The doors don't record the species that opened it," Hawthorne says with a chuckle.

He moves into the power core and tries to assist Cade in restarting the systems.

Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Big Jim takes the serum, and his scales seem to shine brighter as his gash closes up, mended by the magical healing.

Hawthorne still remembers seeing that the aft airlock can be closed from controls in that airlock itself, and he still does not find anything in the walls protecting the power core that would do so from here, nor anything here to repressurize the ship with a breathable atmosphere.

Xyklik (SP 0/0 HP 10/13)
Hawthorne (SP 4/7)
Big Jim (SP 7/7 HP 7/12) 1 RP spent

Aft doors closed here

"Oddly, I'm not finding the means to power-up the core in the core room," Hawthorne says to the others. "We'll have to look elsewhere. Dwarven engineering..? More like goblin."

"The core hasn't exploded or opened a rift to another dimension. It can't be goblin engineering."

As he says this, Zeyram moves up to the other side of the double doors leading out of the room with the power core.

The doors are closed, but there is nothing to open or close them from elsewhere. Only the place in the lock you saw.
The power core is powered up and doing just fine.
Its power is only being used for gravity and the emergency lights so far.

So, we can't open the double doors?

Cade joins Zeyram and Hawthorne.

"This is weird. Maybe we'll have to fly round to another entrance?"

“Locking doors in the open position is strange. Wouldn’t that take some sort of special override?”

The closed doors was re. the aft airlock.

The double doors Cade, Hawthorne and Zeyram come up to are also locked in the open position.
The corridor you see past the doors has the same eery emergency lighting, providing dim light, and the ceilings are the same 8 feet high.

This corridor is rather long and, according to your plans, runs up to the bow of the ship.

But, right now, your eyes pick up signs of battle.
First you see bullet holes, then scorch marks... and finally, when looking closer, droplets of blood— clearly visible on the walls and floors once you know where to look.

Oh! And what's that, there?
A small body in... a space suit lies sprawled on the floor, in the middle of the hallway junction.
Were there any miner's children on the Acreon's roster?

”Right, lets get the rest of the team together before we push on.”

Do we need to buy comms units?

Cade strolls back to engineering to gather Xyklik, Jim and Simagus, ”Anyone still beat up? I’ve got a serum.”

Here's a blurb I put together for my character sheets of what comes with all armor suits (Light or Heavy) of lvl 1 or more (they all have a Comm' Unit - though, personally, I purchase an extra comm' unit in case of having to do something w/o armor on one day). Also, to answer previous comments, in here is the reason why - only playing Androids - I personally use the re-breather on them, since , yes, Androids do not breathe or fear space but they are harmed by airborne corrosives, poisons, spores and such).
Personal Comm’ Unit lvl 1 / In Armor (80 charges, use 1/hour) —
A personal comm; unit is pocket-sized device that combines a minor portable computer (treat as a tier-0 computer with no upgrades or modules) and a cellular communication device, allowing wireless communication with other comm units in both audio- and text-based formats at planetary range.

Also includes a calculator, a flashlight (increases the light level one step in a 15-foot cone), and several entertainment options (including games and access to any local infospheres).
The boots include a functionality that can anchor your feet to a solid surface in a zero-gravity environment, allowing you to orient yourself or return to normal footing when needed.

The armor protects you from a range of hazards to ensure that you can survive for at least a few days if you must make emergency repairs to the hull of a starship, explore an alien world, or endure exposure to an environmental breach in a space station. It does do this through an environmental field (a minor force field specially attuned to pressure and temperature that does not reduce damage from attacks) that lasts 24 hours (standard to turn on, can be used in 1 hour increments) - cf. p. 297/298 CRB.
Armor facilitates self-contained breathing, protecting you against vacuums, smoke, and thick, thin, and toxic atmospheres (including any airborne poison or disease). Self-contained breathing functions underwater and in similar liquid environments. This protection allows you to breathe in a corrosive atmosphere to prevent suffocation.
Armor protects you against low levels of radiation and grants a +4 circumstance bonus to saving throws against higher levels of radiation. 
Armor’s environmental protections reasonably protect you against both cold (temperatures below –20° F) and heat (air temperatures over 140° F).

Simagus regarded Cadence for a moment and grimaced. "I have healing capabilities should it be needer, I have used one of them already and if more are damaged I will use Sarenrae's power to aid us..." I am not sure how the rest are holding up..." Checking his armor and weapons he checked that everyone was charged and loaded. "Anything worth of notice to keep an eye out for?"

"Resting, yes." Xyklik sits back down for a ten-minute breather.

Xyklik is spending 1 RP and resting for 10 minutes to regain his stamina.

"I'm all right," Xyklik says to Cade. He produces his own healing serum. "Preparation is victory."

Once done with his rest, he moves over to where the others are. He stows his club and draws out his laser rifle.

"We are ready, then?"

Cade shrugs at Simagus’ question, ”Access panels. If we can turn everything in then we’ll have better control of the ship. Plus, we need to access the records and see if there’s any evidence of what happened.”

Then he cracks a smile, ”and, y’know, if you see any more space lions let us know.”

After Xyklik’s confident words, Cade gives a thumbs up, then he looks over to Jim and Buster, ”How’s he holdin’ up, Buster?” before leading the trio to the double doors where Hawthorne and Zeyram wait.

assuming we are still botting Big Jim.

After Xyklik's rest, Big Jim and Buster move up as per Cade's idea.
I placed the minis, but feel to move them Cade.

[i]Hawthorne (SP 4/7)
Big Jim (SP 7/7 HP 7/12) 1 RP spent

Cade nods thoughtfully at Busyer’s reply and gives Jim his serum.
healing: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Hawthorne (SP 4/7)
Big Jim (SP 7/7 HP 11/12) 1 RP spent

"Shall I move up to the intersection, check each way?"

"You take right, I'll take left. Just a peak round the corner."

Nodding, Zeyram moves up to the corner.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

My entire post got eaten by posting at the same time as Zeyram...

"Be careful," Hawthorne cautions. "It looks like we'll have to get to the helm to restore any functions."

He raises his pulsecaster rifle and keeps an eye on the port hall, ready to fire if anything charges from the shadows.

Cade licks his lips.

why is my mouth dry when my palms are sweaty?

"Don't worry, we're on it."

Cade saunters forward and peers around the corner.
perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Carefully, timing their advance, Zeyram and Cade move up to the edge of the intersection, each on their own side.
Both slowly move to poke their heads around the corner and look down their part of the corridor that branches off ...
While Hawthorne gets ready to shoot if anything charges.

As all this happens, and neither Zeyram nor Cade spot anything special--
--Xyklik's instincts as a soldier kick in, and he spots something moving in the faint illumination from the emergency lights, and off to the side of the cone of light projected by Big Jim: Xyklik senses that another one of those "space-lions" is starting to move and thus revealing itself from the shadows it was hiding in.

Round 1 - Bold may act
Xyklik -
Yellow -
Big Jim - (SP 7/7 HP 11/12) 1 RP spent
Cadence Rem -
Hawthorne the Innovator - (SP 4/7)
Simagus -
Zeyram -

Cade whispers, ”Nothing this way.”

But something tingles at the back of Cade's neck... he feels as though events are about to unfold.

“Clear here too!”

Xyklik hisses into his comm, "Contact! Lion port side around the corner!"

He rushes up ahead of the others and fires his laser rifle at the creature.

Unbidden, a thought flickers across Cadence Rem’s Mind:
They're coming out of the walls, they’re coming out of the goddamn walls!

”We need to get the lights up, can’t see these inky bastards!”

Xyklik breaks into action, warning all, and sending a red laser line that passes over the back of the crouching creature.
The creature lunges at Zeyram, trying to bite him, despite the corner of the passageway hindering it, but Xyklik's shot distracted it and it is unable to reach its prey.
You all see the same blue-ish creature with its rubbery main. This one has yellowish eyes.

__________

Round 1 - Bold may act
Xyklik -
Yellow -
Big Jim - (SP 7/7 HP 11/12) 1 RP spent
Cadence Rem -
Hawthorne the Innovator - (SP 4/7)
Simagus -
Zeyram -

Cade reaches forward quickly and touches Zeyram’s blade, ”Make it count.”

The blade thrums with barely contained power. Supercharge Weapon

Wish he had done that to one of my pistols instead.

Drawing on his connection to photons, Zeyram carefully steps up to the creature and then slices at it.

Guarded step, Attack

Survival Knife: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Slashing damage, photon mode: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5
Supercharge damage: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 6, 5) = 14

Cade reaches out and gets the atoms throbbing in Zeyram's blade.
Zeyram then steps up and slices the "space-lion's" rubbery hide with his knife, leaving a gash made of blade and photonic light-damage... and then the overcharged blade bursts deep into the flesh of the beast.
The beast flops on its back... dead, the yellow light has gone from its eyes.

Combat over.
Big Jim - (SP 7/7 HP 11/12) 1 RP spent
Hawthorne the Innovator - (SP 4/7)

Cade grins with relief, ”Yeah, like that.”

Then he checks over his dark vision sensors, gettin’ the drop on us every time.

”Any more of them?” Cade peers around, ”Is that a kid, or a halfling or something?”

Cade kneels down beside the body, ”Not really my area of expertise...”

perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Zeyram stands guard, watching for trouble while Cade examines the body.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

“That is a really effective spell, Cade. I should mention though, I’m better with small arms than I am with a knife.”

Added an image to the slides.

Cade kneels down, a little afraid that this will turn out to be a dead child looking back at him, and not some old battle-hardened halfling.
He is surprised to see... a green skinned humanoid.
It has been chewed up, its ragtag space suit ripped apart.

Zeyram looks around: nothing moving around here.

@Cade: You can attempt untrained skill checks to identify a creature if the DC is 10 or less. Starfinder CRB pg. 133.

"I don't see any more."

life science: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

”Space goblins! You’re kidding me? Did they have goblins on the roster? Can’t be... Space Goblins, well at least that explains why nothing is working.”