Katara stares intently at the video as it plays what are likely some of the final words of Captain Nash. He cannot help but feel impressed by the strength and resolve displayed in her words while simultaneously feel sadness for the situation she was put into that led to her one on one with that monster we just fought.
I hope this kind of fate never befalls any of my comrades, should it ever come down to a sacrifice being made I hope that I can draw upon the sheer willpower Nash has just displayed and follow in her lead. If it means my comrades survival I would gladly sacrifice this wandering life I lead, no family or home would grieve for me.
Alim enters the ship with some hesitation. This place has shown that beasts tend to come and go as they please here, and this ship is dated... How long has it been here? And what befell this crew...?
Coming into the ship, Alim is amazed at just how much bigger it is, compared to the ship given to them by the Ambassador. Finding that he is lost in thought as he drags his lower hands along the items within the ship, Alim is startled as Captain Nash's video message begins to play. Approaching the video slowly, Alim finds each step he takes towards the video seems to get heavier, as the words from Nash's mouth seem to convey a mental weight upon his body. Stopping just feet shy from the video, Alim feels her strength, but also understands her need to be strong. Whether she was trained as a warrior or not, it is clear she has seen much... And has accepted this as her reality...
Alim closes his eyes as she says her final few words, and hears the transmission shut down. Hearing Dahlia address Tool several times brings him back to the present. As Tool tinkers with the feed, Alim is still, processing her words. He slowly looks around the ship, which seems impossibly huge for one individual to run alone... This ship is huge... Surely she had some comrades or someone that has missed her...?
Alim slowly turns back to the group, noticing most are still silent and lost in thought. Making a few grumbling cough noises to clear his throat of the emotions that lingered there, Alim begins to speak in a soft voice, that clearly has some emotions still within it. "After we explore this ship, I think we owe it to Captain Nash to carry on her legacy of strength to take this ship wherever our journeys may take us... Finding the emotion starting to rise in his voice, he pauses for a moment. "... I also wish to find her body. While I am up to hear what others think, her wishes were to leave her body here... To rejoin the stars... The only thing I ask is that, when we find it, that I may have a moment to send off her spirit to the Universe... Because Captain Nash does not deserve to be remembered as the Driftdead we fought just a short time ago..."
Alim looks down to the floor for a beat, collecting his thoughts, and then looks to each of his comrades. While his gaze isn't met by all, he knows how important it is that he make the connection to each before he says what is on his mind. "While speaking of emotion is typically frowned upon in the warrior ways on which I was raised, I feel Captain Nash's words evoke emotions that I do not wish to dismiss. I want you all to know that, although we may not always see eye to eye and may disagree, that you are all my friends. Strange a bunch as we are, I can say that you are all of great importance to me, and I will fight beside you, and to defend you, until my final breath."
listening to Alim Tool nods his head in agreement. Nash's words put a lot of thing into prospective. If we do keep the ship we should rename it after captain Nash. maybe something Nash's strength or something like that.
"I agree, we should see to the proper disposition of Captain Nash's body. But first we should secure the rest of this insufferable rock. I suggest we reform our ranks and head this way." Dahlia says, pointing to path 1.
The crew back tracks out of the hanger, past the odd alien tech, back into the caverns with no gravity. You climb across the walls, all the way till you get towards the beginning and follow the short trail there. It quickly opens up into an empty cavern. Large chunks of rubble are scattered across this cavern. A large boulder lies to the west. Beyond that, a through search of the shows nothing unusual in here.
In stark contrast to the caverns elsewhere inside the Drift Rock, this chamber looks more like a room on a space station or starship. Rather than the unfinished rock of the asteroid, the walls, floor, and ceiling are clad with finished sheets of some polished, metallic substance, along with components of unrecognizable equipment. Panels on some of the walls flash with lights and mysterious symbols, and an almost infrasonic hum of unseen machinery pulses through the walls.
As everyone moves into the hallway, you hear the noise of movement and notice one of the machines is not just a machine, it is a security robot. But everyone seemed to notice a moment to late as it moves closer. It zooms up up close to Alim and then it carefully steps forward.
Alim, startled by the quick advance of the robot, quickly grabs at his orb and swings at it in hast.
Hux has never seen this tech before, it is clearly made by the same people who made the machines in the last room. But based on his knowledge of engineering, he is certain of a few things. It is definitely a medium sized technological construct so it has the typical construct immunities. . He also notices a few weak points that come in some robot designs. It seems to have a weak spot for electric and critical attacks. Beyond that, this seems like a technologically advanced construct, but lacks AI and also seems to be ancient, like it has been sitting her for a very long time.
The foreign and old design seems to trow Tool off as he is unable to help Hux with this robot.
Construct Immunities (Ex) Constructs are immune to bleed, death effects, disease, mind-affecting effects, necromancy effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, and stunning. They are also immune to ability damage, ability drain, energy drain, exhaustion, fatigue, nonlethal damage, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect works on objects or is harmless). Effects that specifically state they override these immunities affect constructs normally.
Alim swings his solar sword at the robot, but the thick armor of absorbs the blow, leaving it unharmed.
jib takes a guarded step around to get in position to flank next round and then attacks the robot.
Hux fires at the enemy
Running short on options, Dahlia attempts to put a hole in the offending bucket of bolts with her pistol.
Leaping over Hux Tool take a shot as he flies through space
Katara fires at the oncoming enemy.
Jib stabs at the other robot, but the armor around it is pretty strong, showing that this is a powerful robot. That happens while Hux sneezes and nearly drops his weapon.
The sneeze from Hux startles poor Dahlia as she fumbles her small weapon, but is able to catch it.
Tool pulls of a risky act as he squeezes between his allies to get next to the robot then fires his gun. He seems to surpirse the robot but the attack is unable to harm it.
Katara tries a very risky shot as he shoots through a crowd of his friends! His first shot zooms by but only hits the robots chest plate, a well defended region. The second shot manages to dodge all of the allies as well and this time it strikes true dealing a significant amount of damage.
The robot lifts an arm and lets out a field of electricity that seems to arc between Jib, Tool, Dahlia, and Alim.
jib takes another guarded step to complete the flank and strikes out at the foe.
Hux fires again trying not to hit any of his allies.
Having seen that the robot is capable of only small amounts of damage, Dahlia fires again.
Katara continues to lay into the robot.
Alim tries again to strike this robot, attempting a different swing style with his sword.
Jib's pike cuts right through the defenses of the robot causing lots of internal damage. Hux follows it up with a laser shot right to the hole that Jib just made! Both of them causing the robot serious damage.
Dahlia is still recovering from when she almost dropped her gun last round and is unable to get a good shot off. Tool, still standing in a dangerous position manages to hide from it again so it doesn't take a free attack again but Tool fails to capitalize as he miss the robot right in front of him. Alim is also having struggles with this robot as it deflects the solar sword with it's armor.
Lastly, Katara makes two shots from the back of the room. The first narrowly missing Alim but unfortunately, it also misses the robot. The second shot, by some miracle, hits the robot and goes through the armor! The robot is in bad condition.
The robot lets out another arcing burst of lightning from it's left arm, shocking Alim, Tool, Dahlia, and Jib. But the age of the weapon must really be effecting the power of the electricity as it barely hurts.
Still nothing worth worrying about Dahlia thinks as she shrugs off the electrical burst and shoots again.
Eyeing the robot aims his Laser Pistol, Azimuth as he runs by. But the quick drawing his survival knife and takes a swing hoping to fool it with a surprises stab instead
Katara continues to lay into the robot
Dahlia is still struggling with the gun. She manages to hit the robot this time, but center mass right into it's thickest armor, causing it to no harm the robot at all.
Tool has had amazing luck with sneaking around this robot, but seems to be unable to finish it with a good attack. He misses with his knife causing no damage again.
But all of that is made okay by the fact that Katara has lady luck on his side. Despite it being a really tricky shot, he hits the robot in it's weakest point. . The shot is enough to finish off the robot, turning it completely off.
The security robot’s design clearly originates from beyond the Pact Worlds. You believe you can sell it as a curiosity to a scholar or collector for 2,000 credits. You think you could detach a arc rifle from it's arm but it is integrated meaning it will destroy that arm. You are unsure how much that would hurt the price of selling it as a whole.
The room has similar machinery as the other room. There are a few monitors that are flashing writing in a odd language (the same as the other room).
There also appears to be a sealed hatch in the left side corner of the room. It is barricaded from the other side but with some work, you are able to break down the door.
The room it opens into is a small, about 5x10 foot. It was probably a storage closet at some point but now it is the home of Captain Nash's dead body. It is clear that she was attack by the same creature that you just killed, but the killing wound was a single gun shot to her head.
It’s still wearing an estex suit I with a brown force field, though
the force field’s battery is depleted. The body also carries two spell amps of lesser restoration and a personal datapad (tier 1 computer). Moriko’s empty static arc pistol lies on the floor next to her outstretched hand. On the data pad is another copy of the video you already watched on the ship.
Dahlia encourages the others to carefully search the hallway and closet. When that is done, she breathes a sigh of relief.
At the sight of the captain of the now crewless Sunrise Maiden, she speaks,
"Poor woman, to have to choose between two hopeless scenarios." Closing her eyes, Dahlia begins a quiet prayer,
"Sarenrae, though this suffering happened years before we walked the stars, we ask that (being outside of time) you would ease the passing of Captain Nash. She lived amid the vastness of space, as all your children do, and she has returned to you, as we all must."
When all the valuables are gathered from the area we searched, Dahlia suggests we move on, to the two hallways to the north we have not yet explored.
When the robot falls Hux moves quickly to investigate. The unfamiliar technology is fascinating to him and he spears to be completely focused for a moment on learning whatever he can about the robots construction. After a moment however he recalls his friends and decides just to look over the remains and any other visible technology only to make sure it it not a threat and potentially discern a purpose and leaves further investigation to be done later on the ship.<br>
<br>
<br>
The robot overall functions just like a robot that are in the pact worlds; but the way it is built is totally different. Without further tinkering, it is hard to say if it is better or worse. The materials are completely foreign to you. None of the metals seem to have any special properties though. There is a symbol on the robot that you would guess to be a manufacture label but you have never seen it before nor do any of the "letters" in the symbol look familiar. It is clear this is not from the pact worlds, and given the dust and a few other bits of information from the components, you would guess this machine is at least a 1000 years old.
The machinery in this room is built into the walls and would require you to cut open the walls to get. This is possible but you also know you have no legal claim to the machinery (the robot is fine because you are allowed to keep the spoilers of enemy combatants). The robot will be tricky to move to the ship, but doable.
Katara suggests we take the gun from the robot and he can use it as his main gun giving him access to two different types of damage.
He listens as Dhalia says her prayer before bowing his head at Captain Nash in a show of respect for the bravery she held. Having already come to grips with the fact that she was likely dead he leaves the room without saying anything and awaits everyone's return.
As the robot falls to the ground, Alim does a quick scan of the room, to see if anything in here rings any bells from all of the history texts he read over as a young one.
Walking the halls, he is surprised to find Captain Nash's body so soon after combat. Looking over her body, he feels his soul tug at his emotions. Her face looks so peaceful... so at ease. What strength this woman had! To be so calm and confident in the face of such terror...
Stepping aside for Dahlia to say her prayer, Alim respectfully bows his head, listening to the hushed words of the prayer. As Dahlia prays, Alim can feel a presence enter their space... it brings a feeling of strength, safety, peace. Wrapping up her prayer, Dahlia steps aside as Alim settles himself into the open doorway to the room where Captain Nash lays. Alim situates himself into his typical seated position, feet touching one another in a triangle shape on the floor. His hands softly touch in an open palm prayer position at his chest, as his upper hands connect at the wrists, fingers coming to rest gently in an open heart shape above his head.
Finding comfort in his seated position, Alim begins to make a soft humming sound. As the hum ebbs and flows in a lulling pattern, Alim's orb drifts from it's usual spot near Alim's shoulder and comes to rest in front of Alim's face, hovering above Captain Nash's body. Alim's humming fades for a moment, and he opens his eyes, staring straight into the orb before him. He nods subtly at the orb, and closes his eyes once more. This time, his humming turns to chants. As his words carry, the orb sets to work, and slowly but surely, an image of Captain Nash begins to develop.
Alim chants on, his words soft, slow, and filled with emotion. It is clear that this chant is one that is filled with much meaning to Alim...
"'an takun shjaeana hu 'an tubki walakun la yazal alqatalu.
Ela alrghm mn 'ana alnatijat kanat qatimatan , 'iilaa 'an shajaeatak lm tata'alaq.
Min khilal waeabr , kunt syd masirik.
Baynama wasalna muta'akhirin , sataeish ruhik.
Alsamah lihadhih alsalat litadae ruhak fi alraahati.
Alkawn aleazim , harruha , litakun wahidat fi dakhilik.
Alkawn dakhil eizamaha.
Alnujum mala'at ruhuha.
'iinaha laysat alnahayat."
"You have fought on and on, thought it be difficult.
Though the outcome was bleak, your bravery did shine.
Through and through, you were the master of your fate.
While we arrived too late, your spirit will live on.
Allow this prayer to set your soul to rest.
Great Universe, set her free, to be one within you.
The Universe is within her bones.
The stars have filled her soul.
It is never the end."
Alim repeats the last few lines over and over again, and as he does, his orb begins to pulse. The light fading, but always growing brighter as it pulses back to life. The light grows and grows until it bursts into the brightest light that it has ever produced. It stays this way for a moment, and then fades as it drifts back from the image it has made. Alim opens his eyes, and in front of him is a beautiful image of Captain Nash. She looks back into Alim's eyes, and smiles. Alim's eyes mist as the image of Nash moves its arm, and gives him a thumbs up. The image moving causes it to become distorted, but Alim is transfixed on the smiling Nash. He sheds a single tear as the image begins to unravel itself before him. As he closes his eyes to finish his chant, another tear falls.
"Narju 'an takun rawhik wahidatan mae alkun."
Alim quietly repeats his chant over and over, and as he does, the image of Nash disperses, until it is nothing more than light particles floating within the small space. To Alim's comrades surprise, the light particles begin to move, though it is unclear how it happens, since there isn't any breeze to encourage such a disturbance. The particles rise and fall, tumbling over one another as they make their way through the empty tunnel and out to the surface of the Drift Rock. Most of the comrades are caught in awe at such a sight, and some are tempted to touch the light dust on its way by them. Alim's chant comes to a quiet end, and he looks back just in time to see the last few particles disappearing from view.
Sitting quietly on the floor, Alim reflects up what has just happened. My images don't typically move... Could it be...?
Alim shakes his head, and rises from the ground, with his orb again resting within the space by his shoulder.
Alim looks back to his comrades, waiting to hear of the direction they would like to go next, or what they would like to do.
Alim is only able to get that the same message is repeating when looking at the monitors.
With all the prayers and emotions taken care of, you get a call from Zo! When the call is picked up, his excited voice booms through the comm unit. That was beautiful, absolutely beautiful! What a way to end this episode! I think we are wrapped up for shooting now! If any of you superstars wanted to say anything to cameras as a wrap up feel free! We can discuss a future of you all being major stars when you get back to the station! One thing Nor asked me to tell you is that the that ship you took to get to the Acreon is equipped with a remote beacon that will send it back to the station unmanned. So we have sent it back just a moment ago since you have your own ship now! Please swing by the embassy when you get back! He pauses for a moment to see if you had any questions for him. If not, he hangs up.
If the robot looks valuable, Dahlia includes it in the gathered loot. No need to rest for sp.
hearing the message from zo! Hux appears confused but says nothing until he hangs up. So he just sent us here and then took our ship back without even asking us? And now we have to take a ship that hasn't run in like what, 70 years and hope its total fine and safe. Hux pauses lets get back to the station and find our next job, hopefully with more, concentrate employers.
Hux takes the robot back to the new ship and begins carefully disassembling the arm to remove the weapon.
So how did he know we would get another ship to get back? I Cant help but feel that bag of bones knows a lot more then he is letting on as to whats going on here. Tool said well helping Hux work on the bot
Alim hears the buzz of the comm unit as Zo! comes through. Hearing the request of checking back in at the Embassy when they arrive back at the Station, Alim nods to himself as Zo! hangs up.
Making his way back to the ship, Alim goes to take a seat with his comrades. Glancing over the robot they had just fought, Alim's interest in it is cut short as Hux begins to attempt disassembling it for Katara's use. Just look at him... Tearing this intriguing piece of unknown history apart as though it has nothing of interest to tell us...
Feeling his stomach turn at the destruction of a potential alien artifact, Alim rises from his seat before he says something he would regret later, and begins to explore the Sunrise Maiden.
Hux and Tool are able to remove the arm and make the cuts look pretty clean with minimal damage to other systems. They are pretty sure that if Hux's hands were just a little bit steadier from his illness, the value would of been even higher for the robot.
After being sure that you have finished exploring the Drift Rock, the crew loads up and takes there positions on the ship. Once everyone is in place, Tool begins his pre-flight check list before starting her up the engines. Everything seems to be in order and she actually appears to a very well maintained ship. Once everything is in order, the systems come online. The ship's AI boots up and a loud female voice can be heard from the bridge. Hhhhhhhhhhowdy Y'all! I reckon that you's are the new owners! Cap'tin Nash as turned me over to who ever started me up next. The name is Sunrise Maiden! It is nice to meet y'all. Yeeehawwww! Where we heading first?
Once the course is plotted for the station, the Sunrise Maiden takes her first flight with the new crew. Unfortunately, this doesn't appear to be as safe of a flight as you would like. As soon as you take off of the Drift Rock, you see the remains of the ship you took here, blown apart. As you start to scan the nearby areas, you get a message. In a voice that is using a voice modifier you hear, Hand over Commander Eskolar! If she is not on your ship, tell us where to find her! That is when you finally spot the eoxian designed ship. Weapons armed, but has held fire, waiting for your response.
The ship is an Thaumtech Cairncarver which is an Eoxian Small light freighter.
You are 100% sure that this is a Corpse Fleet ship.
Alim listens as the voice speaks, but pauses. He turns to his comrades. "I do not think that is our place to give this information. We do not know enough yet to know where our loyalties lie... And the Ambassador is our direct report currently..."
Alim waits to hear other opinions.
"I would consider our contract with the ambassador complete. And the non-disclosure clause to be void. He told us the package was not illegal or dangerous, and it was both. I am not a fan of answering questions at the tip of a sword, but feel no loyalty to Nor. If the information has value, and we can get paid for it, I have no problem disclosing what we know."
Choosing not to tell them what they are asking seems like its going to pick our loyalties pretty
quick. I don't think they will take "let me brush up on some history and get back to you when I've
decided who I'm loyal to" for an answer. I think we decide now if we are on the side of the rogue
terrorist fleet or the stuck up zombie who sent us into a dangerous situation without any
information or explanation. I miss having my own side, with no dead people.
Let's just sell them the info they are looking for, Nor probably thought we would get stopped by these guys and that's why he took the ship back without consulting us first. If he doesn't care about informing us of the risks we are taking then I don't see why we should care enough to keep his secrets.
Alim, feeling his emotions bubble beneath his skin, does his best to keep his cool. Though, when he speaks there is an edge to his tone. "I will do my best to keep my words plain and even, though I must say I am overwhelmed by all your thoughts. Did you only sign up to be a member of the Starfinder Society for the money? Do you all realize that this organization doesn't pay at all, and that our money we will be getting is from the Ambassador himself? Do you realize that we have been entrusted with a job, and have yet to make it back to the station? Our mission is not complete until we have sought out the Ambassador to confirm that our task is done! Seeking money from any other source to cross the Ambassador is absurd to say the least! Being adventurers, we never know what we are signing up for when we are given an assignment. We do not know what the Ambassador has going on, but stated he would explain it to us upon our arrival home!There is a reason the Ambassador was given the title he has, and to not trust him at this point based on the little knowledge we have would be idiotic. And if you all are unaware of your histories, the ship across from us is part of the Corpse Fleet! They do not speak of peace! They do not believe that we are much above a speck of dust on this ship! They are out to prove their kind is superior to all within the Pact Worlds. You are all fools if you think bargaining information on the Commander we found will save us from not fighting. These individuals want nothing but our heads, but you all seem to think that dangling a piece of information in front of them will allow us to pass without a fight. And for what?!?! For money?!"
Alim lets out an empty, forced laugh. "HA! If this is the way you decide, then you are as foolish as these Eoxian believe all of mankind is. I will take no part in your treason. If you all decide to reconsider your thoughts and speak some sense about the TERRORIST FLEET in front of us, then let me know. Otherwise, I suggest we ready our weapons."
Alim, shaking his head in disbelief of the others thoughts, begins to prepare for the oncoming fight.
"Do not scoff at my quest for wealth, solarian. The money I earn goes to help those around me who are much less fortunate than both of us. We were misled about this job and you may find our lack of trust foolish, but some may see your blind trust as foolish. You may belong to the ambassador, but I do not. The fact that you accuse us of treason and call us fools is proof that you are loyal to the ambassador only. And as for the fleet in front of us, they are likely aligned with the ambassador himself. If your wish is to fight our way out, make your vote known. If you wish to continue insulting us, perhaps silence might be better."
"I wish to have words with them, Alim wishes to attack. What say the rest of you? Bear in mind, if you do not vote with Alim, you are aparently an idiot."
Hux has always been an idiot and he would proffer to at least try to use diplomacy to get out of the situation if that could include some pay that would be even better. I would like to avoid fighting if possible, if communication fails i'm not apposed to fighting them as they are clearly an evil organization, but that evil is not my responsibility to correct.