"Sure, that's a good idea." she says to Esh.
The external city is in shambles, due mostly to flooding, but some significant bombing damage on the outskirts. The original dwarven-dug caverns that make up the inner city, however, are mostly untouched.
Esh makes contact first with Morgrym, your Gardathir point of contact. "Yeah, I can probably get you into the bunker they found the forcefield mechanisms in, if ya wanna take a look. Weirdest thing, that. Wish magic. Huh. Still don't believe it."
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The Elf snorts derisively. "No, I wouldn't expect you too."
Taking a look back toward where he came, he recalls the sorry state it was all in. There was a strange feeling in his chest, yet it was one that was corrected promptly. It wouldn't do at all for him to form any sort of attachments to these dwarves. Yet maybe it wouldn't hurt to get some information, something that the captain might appreciate.
When and if his guide starts to lead him, Eshenvral decides to break the silence with a prompt. "The damage to your city seemed substantial. Were you able to perform the proper evacuation maneuvers before the attack began?"
"Security forces got most of the population into the mountain strongholds. Except those hard-asses who decided to stick it out, the official forces, and of course us Gardathir."
The room in which the controller and mechanism for the shield is contained is, indeed, ancient. It must have been designed by some ancient starfaring civilization, perhaps even an offshoot of the Azlanti themselves.
Make an engineering check to determine the damage to the system.
Very simply the ancient system was overloaded. Whatever weapon the Azlanti used was incredibly powerful; if this shield is ancient Azlanti tech, it's likely that their weapons are specifically designed to overcome it's flaws. Regardless, it can be repaired by replacing some of the components with more modern technology, but it will take time. Hopefully, the victory today, in which the Revenge played a large part, has bought the Dwarves enough time to implement such upgrades.
He took his time formulation of the necessary adjustments, creating a miniature hologram from a token spell in front of him as he did so. To the dwarves present, Esh made sure to use slow, simple words as much as possible to both the purpose of annoyance and assured results. His spell highlighted every key facet of the device which needed upgraded or replaced with intricate detail, and in the end he transferred the complete schematics to a data-chip for their perusal.
Azlanti technology, ancient at that. Truly fascinating. From where exactly did that spell pull this from? Behind the glass case of some antiques museum on their homeworld, under a pile of trash of a long forgotten rubbish-heap, ripped out of an intact ruin lost to time, or maybe simply conjured out of thin air? There was no certain way to know.
"Unless you need something else of me, I believe I'm done here." The elf declared, eager to get back to the ship and his workstation as soon as possible.
Several weeks have gone by since the defeat of the Azlanti attack. Security, both by the official defense forces and the Gardathir underground, has been heightened. Dwarves have been delving night and day for deeper defensive positions in the mountains, and mining forays into the sun-side of the tide-locked world have been kept even shorter than normal.
There is a palpable fear in the air; aside from the shields and defensive platforms, Zothune now has even fewer defenses. Pretty much all official defense ships were destroyed in the initial onslaught against Azlanti forces, and the Gardathir hodge-podge fleet did not fare much better.
Helping Otis on the ship until the man was all healed up after his exploits, Sharlavaka found himself taken by the more technical work he'd been doing. Although his devotion to following his leader was complete, he wasn't much like most Vesk, and the idea of working on more than weapons had a strange pleasure.
As a result, he started to get in to practice with suits of mechanised power armour - there constructions, the theory behind there piloting, and other details. His main concern was the power requirements.
Also, the cost.
He wasn't overly concerned about the poor defences. Eiter the leadership would get smart and send them to do something - steal some Azlant warships, maybe, or trade for them - and things would work out, or they would all die to heavy fire. It wasn't something he could deal with, so he didn't worry about it.
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Isis brews ginger beer and masters Mandarin to have a secret language with her Captain. Also, having been gifted with delicious good looks she makes a scholarly study of sexual interaction to control men.
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There was a point at which Eshenvral was actually about to make an effort to interact with Isis, as he really was fascinated by her android physiology. Though he need only hear the moans emanating from her computer before he turned on a dime without even saying a word, never again making any attempt to meet with her privately again.
Otherwise, he concerned himself mainly with giving his prosthetics much needed tune-ups as well as de-fragging and restructuring his various computers and their processes. All in the name of maintaining the peak efficiency of his cybernetic parts.
Quinn would also teach Isis a thing or two about seduction and check out the various clubs and such with her... for similar reasons.
Also she would spend some time researching space-time anomalies and such, trying to figure out what possibly could have brought her to another galaxy.
So, one evening, Isis and Quinn are spending some time at a local establishment. This being Zothune, the majority of the patrons are Dwarven, and it is a mix of old-style pub and modern dance venue; overall feel is kind of like the cantina in Star Wars, but without all the weird aliens. Only the occasional human miners mixed among the Dwarves, really. Maybe a few Formians from Castrovel, as well.
Please an appropriate check (Diplomacy, Charisma, I'll allow Bluff at a higher DC) to attract attention.
Meanwhile, Esh is in the lab tuning his cyberware, while Irina works nearby.
Sharlavaka and Otis are putting the final touches on their engine repair.
"Boy, I really appreciate your help with these repairs. Would have taken me another month on my own, especially with this arm just now getting back up to speed."
OOC: Isis Diplomacy (This includes +2 to influence heterosexual men.)
Esh sat at a workstation at the far end of the room, his right arm Splayed out before him detached. It was currently split down the middle displaying the many circuits, wires, and arcane mechanisms that allowed it to function just as well if not better then natural limbs. Normally, at least. Recently he's noticed that the index finger was starting to react with a noticible input delay. Taking the time to fix it also gave him an excuse to engage in a complete cleaning and tune up.
Working with just one arm, however, had it's difficulties. "Irina," He spoke up, still wearing his usual mask as always. "I need a twelve inch length of mithral wire, there should be a spool nearby."
The large Vesk grunted in acknowledges, hauling and locking a large section of pipework into place before reach one long claw for the sealant. "Has been...educational. Useful. Only used such skills to break, or maintain equipment in the past. Never used them to repair, create. Has been more satisfying than anticipated."
OOC: Isis Diplomacy 1d20+8+2 (This includes +2 to influence heterosexual men.)
Isis is only marginally effective. The Dwarven men present are mostly caught up in stories of the battle (that they probably had little part in, from the looks of them), or drinking, or other pursuits more in line with Dwarven machismo.
You do draw the attention of one haggered old miner; he's got to be older than Otis, and significantly less attractive.
Working with just one arm, however, had it's difficulties. "Irina," He spoke up, still wearing his usual mask as always. "I need a twelve inch length of mithral wire, there should be a spool nearby."
"Hmmm?" Irina says, looking up from her medical scans. "Oh, yeah, wire. Hold on."
Once Irina confirms she's got the correct wire from across the room, she heads over to Esh. "You, uh, you need me to hold something or...tie something? or something?"
"Or something." He confirms, tapping a section of his arm with a tool similar to a soldering iron, and removes a strip of wire that seems to have snapped in some way. "Place one end of it right here so I can weld it in place. Then you're going to string it through this hole here where I can..." The elf continues, explaining in further detail how the repair is supposed to take place.
"Cool, now I can fix people AND machines! Watch out, Otis!" Irina jokes.
"Yes, you're a regular 'jack of all trades', aren't you. I believe that's what your humans like to tote yourselves as." Spoke the elf with a flat tone.
After having secured the last few screws which kept his arm's plating in check, he lifted it up and carefully aligned it with the joint's automatic coupling. There was a jolt of pain that he'd grown familiar with as the artificial sensory inputs came online, a signal that the attachment was a success. Simple flexing of his hand and fingers were only further indication that everything had gone well.
"I usually use magic to assist me, yet I can't deny the usefulness of extra hands." Was his way way of thanks.
At this point, the comm system activates, indicating an outside call. It can be answered from almost anywhere within the ship, or from your personal comm if you happen to be elsewhere (such as Quinn and Isis).
OOC: "Hello, Isis here."
Sharlavaka paused a moment, making sure the conduit was solid before removing his claws and answer the comm. "Sharlavaka. Speak."
Shalavaka and Isis answer the call simultaneously, with the effect that both are tied into the conversation.
"This is your friend Morgrym! Has been too long since we've talked about the glories of the past, my friends! Please meet me at the Topaz Room in the morning."
The Topaz Room is Gardathir code, informing you of the location of a safehouse. Glories of the past is code for a mission assignment.
OOC: Isis gets off the comm and apprises her Captain. They exit the bar and make their way to the safehouse.
Grunting an acknowledgement, Sharlavaka ended the call and finished up before preparing to go to the safehouse.
Making no move at all to reach for his comm either mentally or physically, Esh continued to make perfectly sure his arm was fully attached and operational. "It seems we're about to be asked to save those dwarves yet again. You'd think that they'd have learned to fend for themselves by now, yet here we are. Money is money at least."
Gathering up his things to head for the door, he pauses just as he's shouldering a heavy looking duffel bag loaded with various electronics. "I appreciate your help in my repairs. Your assistance was adequate." He hiked it up again from slipping, and started to walk away.
"For a human, at least." Yes, and there was she was doubtlessly expecting.
Later, everyone has gathered at the safehouse, where we find Morgrym in his usual dour mood. The Safehouse is in the back of a back-street bar, not far from where Isis and Quinn were carousing earlier. The room you're in is carved from the living rock in the old city, and this tavern looks like it was probably built to serve the original miners. Doesn't look like it's been redecorated since then, either. The lighting is dim overhead fashion, orange to mimic that of natural fire, as is popular among Dwarves.
"Ah, here you are then. Well, first things first," Morgrym opens up a bag and dumps it out on one of the room's small tables. There is a cred-stick for each of you. "We finally got some of our big-wig allies to shunt us some funding, so you all finally get paid for helping save this rock a few weeks ago." Checking the cred-sticks, you find 2000 credits.
"Now, on to the mission. Just after the battle with the Azlanti, Zothune sent an Ambassador to Aballon, first planet in the Pact Worlds system. We had a tip from a trader that there was a hidden factory that would be willing to produce some starfighters for us under the table, since the Pact World's treaty forbids them from assisting us directly or indirectly.
"This Ambassador, named Thomdock, was also authorized to earmark a few of those fighters specifically for the Gardathir.
"Problem is, Thomdock and his contact, a human billionaire named Ellyon Mesk, have completely dropped from sight, and no one on Mesk's team is giving us much information on the situation."
Morgrym pauses.
OOC: Isis reaches out to some of her criminal underworld contacts at -5 to the DC, Culture to gather info on Thomdock and Mesk.
OOC: Isis reaches out to some of her criminal underworld contacts at -5 to the DC, Culture 1d20+13 to gather info on Thomdock and Mesk.
Sharlavaka nodded as the credits entered his account. "Our thanks." Considering the mission brief, he added, "Assume you wish us to find out what the problem is, and resolve it? Whether credits stolen, problem with factory, shipping issues, and the like?" His best guess was that Eleyn Mesk had reappropriated the funding to make some kind of new, more family-friendly space vehicle that recharged directly from the local sun. He'd heard something about him developing that on the net, along with the man being...eccentric.
Esh's eyebrows came toguther as he considered that name. "Eleyn Mesk... Wasn't that the human who smoked hyperleaf live durring that infostream a fee months ago? Hmph. No mater."
"Mrph, the very same!" Morgrym replied to Eshenvral. "Still, a chance at boosting the non-existent Zothune navy is a thing we cannot afford to let slip lightly."
And You are correct, my Vesk ally," Morgrym continues. "Your mission is to go to Aballon and locate the Ambassador and Mesk and get this whole mess sorted out, if possible, as soon as possible. We have no idea what forces the Azlanti are willing to bring to bear on our little world, and we can't rely on just a couple defense platforms and a few aging transports for our defense."
"Agreed. Will need heavier than fighters, eventually, but a start." Sharlavaka still thought that trying to steal a battleship was a better way to go, but fighters would do.
For now.
"Captain," Esh started respectfully, turning toward the Aasimarian woman. "Are we taking this mission?"
"Yes, Morgrym is right, if the Azlanti attack again, we won't win."
The quickest way to get to Aballon would be to travel directly to Absalom Station (1d6 days), then move in-system to Aballon (1d6+2 days).
That, however, places you in Absalom Station's traffic control, where you would be scanned. Remember, the Revenge is a little unpopular there for blasting out with a cargo full of illegal weapons.
You could, alternately, head directly for Aballon, which would place you at 3d6 days. At the end of that, you'd still have to deal with traffic control at Aballon, which may or may not have Revenge's warrant in it's database.
There are a couple potential precautions you could take. First, you could take an entirely different ship, though they're hard to come by on Zothune. Second, you could do a physical refit of the transponder on Revenge, which I'm going to say will cost you a day, due to how integrated into the ship's structure the device is. Finally, I believe Esh and perhaps Isis had been working on trying to alter the transponder's software to allow it to output a different signal. If you wish to try that option, you can leave at once, but it will require a successful Computers check on arrival.
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Other than buying ammunition, Sharlavaka didn't need much...but there were a couple of other things he wanted. He bought and Engineering Kit so he didn't have to borrow Otis' anymore, as well as more specialist kits so he could work on his armour and weapons more effectively (1100 credits), 100ft of titanium cable (50 credits), and added a Backup Generator to his armour to allow him to recharge his ammo, rather than having to carry a ton of extras. It drained both his payday and his reserves, but it seemed wise.
I like the Isis/Esh transponder tweak.
Recognizing it was time to start taking his safety into greater consideration, Eshenvral decided it was time to trade in his armor. After pawning off his Second Skin to a shop that was most likely just going to scrap it for valuables rather then sell it again, he started browsing the local infonet for suitable purchases. He tries on a few of them using holographic overlays, and eventually comes to grips with a fairly sturdy looking Estex Suit, a type II model it seemed.
Once it arrived via drone later that evening, he made sure to verify that it had both the features he'd become accustomed to having with his old suit. It was a bit tighter then he expected, a sign that he had perhaps finally started to fill out to a more healthy weight. Once he found out hoe to adjust it more precisely, he found himself pleased with the result. Of course, he would never go out simply wearing that alone, and as always had his hooded clothing worn overtop when he finally left his room.
Overall it was a very hefty purchase that used up his entire paycheck and then some, but the results would surely be worth neglecting the next hardware upgrade for his computer. Next time, however...
The trip to Absalom takes days. In the meantime, I'm assuming Esh and Isis are working on making final tweaks to the transponder application.
Please each make a Computers check; I'll use the base roll and the secondary roll will count as aid another.
Would anyone else like to do anything during the trip to Absalom?
Sharlavaka made sure the ships weapon, shields, armour and thrusters were in top condition. Because if this went wrong they were going to need them all.
Computers
Isis manages to solve an algorithm problem that was vexing Eshenvral, and the two of them put the finishing touches on the transponder program. If this works, they will have made a major invention.
You finally arrive in the airspace of Absalom Station.
"Attention unknown freighter," space traffic control says in a businesslike voice. "Please prepare for identification scan."
I need another Computers check from each of you. I'll take the best roll of the two as the base, and the second roll as an aid another attempt. Remember to add +2 for Vera's assistance.