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Zoran's bullet crashes into the floorboards but his words warm Zulu's mechanical heart. Zulu's enormous energy blast and Pippimi's swift strikes turn the dwarf into a pile of mush.
COMBAT OVER!
Looking over the dwarven bodies, you find that each of them has a survival knife, an advanced semi-auto pistol, and a torn and hole-pierced astronaut suit. Each of their astronaut suits have dwarven runes scratched into the exterior that look like they were scrawled with bloody fingernails. One of the bodies has another humanoid finger-shaped security key as well, that must have been stolen from the cabinet behind the desk.
Pippimi SP: 75/88, HP: 79/79
Davrin SP: 77/77 HP: 68/68
Zoran SP: 32/100, HP: 73/73
z45719 SP: 60/76, HP: 72/72
Lenny SP: 42/110, HP: 78/81
Blue Big bad scary monster 132 Damage
Green Big bad scary monster 115 Damage
Yellow Big bad scary monster 121 Damage
Red Big bad scary monster 117 Damage
Pink Big bad scary monster 270 Damage
Largely unscathed despite the intense battle, Pippimi offers to stand guard while the others rest. "What that all about? Dwarfy-undead probably prisoners here, but then not want to help strike back at Corpse Fleet? Hrmmmm..." She shrugs, realizing that she's unlikely to puzzle it out "Now that team have second finger key, maybe this time to go back to control room and try hacking for second time?"
"Or, team can zip over to other side of hall and check other secure areas?"
"Negative emotions. Bitterness, revenge, confusion. Many things can affect unwilling undead. I can at least see to some rites to ensure their souls move on while the group rests if needed." Zoran says before reciting some Pharasmin ritual lines.
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The gang waits ten minutes for Lenny to do some deep breathing while Zoran performs some rites to usher the dwarves on to their eternal resting place.
Zulu, Davrin, and Lenny head back to the zombie-ridden control room. Zulu sits down at the computer and contemplates the two bony security keys. It is clear that the keys could help him surmount the tough computer, the strongest he has ever seen. The real question: How many keys to use?
Meanwhile Pippimi and Zoran creep through the hallways to the other side of the area. The other hallway is empty, the roving security botst be patrolling elsewhere. This doorway has a similar lock to the one you found on the brig, that can be hacked or taken apart.
Pippimi rolls back to rejoin the group after the brief jaunt to the western corridor. After filling them in on the lock she found, she settles down to watch anxiously as the team tries another difficult hacking attempt.
Zulu nods, focuses his self, pulls out his expert rig, sits down and plugs in.
Somewhat jittery after the last shocking experience, Davrin nonetheless sidles up next to Zulu. He knows his knowledge is nigh insignificant relative to the android, but he pulls out a terminal beside him.
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Back in the brig, Zulu looks over the computer one more time while Lenny meditates. It appears this computer is an isolated unit, just for administration of the prisoners.
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Zulu sits down at the keys of the terminal and plugs a security key in. Davrin and Lenny watch over his shoulder, eager to help. With a little luck, and a helpful hint from Davrin, Zulu manages to break through the firewall! Zulu immediately learns that the surrounding cybernetic zombies are managed from a cybercontrol platform in the ship’s command section, though it doesn't say where that is. Additionally, he can examine the specific orders they zombies are receiving and the information they return.
Looking into the data, the android pulls up a holo of the space around the Empire of Bones with its sensors. It looks like the armada is still engaged in destroying defense systems on the Gate of Twelve Suns controller moons. Putting that away, he takes some time to analyze how the ship’s officers are using the cybernetic zombies. Even a cursory analysis is enough to understand the mindless cybernetic zombies are controlled by a command link used by someone in the ship’s science officer role. This officer remotely controls the dozens of cybernetic zombies all across the ship in order to perform science officer actions in starship combat. It seems the ship is "automated" enough for a small crew to keep it running thanks to the undead "help".
In addition, Zulu's foray into the background code of the heavy terminal reveals much about the way the computers aboard the Empire of Bones are organized,
Zoran watches with interest as the purpose of the zombies is revealed, "Then it is a good thing we did not send them on their way. If our plan remains to send this into the weapon...it may be of use to have as much automated as possible. They will receive their rest after saving us all." he says even though he seems bothered by the issue of leaving them there.
He then falls in line as they head into another room of the ship.
Pippimi is quiet for a while after Zulu explains what he's learned. Eventually she pipes up with "That... everything? No map of ship? No communication codes so team can know when undead coming? No connection to hack piloting computer from here?" She crosses two sets of arms. "That info not worth getting shocked over and spending valuable hack-finger technology!!!" She puffs up, annoyed at the dead end.
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The group huddles around the southwest door and Zulu gets to work on the lock. Within seconds he has it popped open, wires splayed everywhere. The android steps back silently, stoic as ever at his own success. Pippimi listens at the door once more, hearing nothing, then turns the door handle.
As Pippimi opens the door you get a brief view of a small room with displays on the walls. Then your visor is covered with white sticky gunk as a stickybomb grenade explodes in your face!
After a moment you are able to get your bearings, seeing into the room.
You can see that this room has only the single door. A small dais in the center of the room is raised up a few feet, and pillars line the walls. Each pillar supports a display, all of which show collections of video streams of hallways, hangar bays, rooms, and other locations within this section of the Empire of Bones. You quickly realize that those video streams are showing you!
Loops of your fight in the hanger bay, the battle against the undead dwarven prisoners, and Zoran's interaction with the robotic security guards are on the monitors. A special few seem to be dedicated to Zulu's near miss by the rushing starship and it's following collision with the wall. In the corner of the room stands a tall, lithe, and pale undead woman. Her gaunt face is unearthly still, white eyes staring at you with disdain. Both of her pistols are raised and she gives you a wry smile. "Welcome, I've been waiting for you." She then shoots at Pippimi!
The gun looks like an ancient pistol but it shoots a laser right at Pippimi! Thankfully her armor shrugs off the missile.
But the undead woman is unbelievably fast! She bows quickly, continuing to monologue in Common. "My name is Malakar, welcome to my ship. I have been assessing your skills, you will be quite the addition to my crew." Both pistols fire again, shooting lasers at Pippimi. One hits, some of the flames being absorbed by her armor.
There are more grenade traps in this room! You see a frag grenade wired to the the ceiling, one five feet north of the doorway and one five feet south. You also see a cryo grenade on the ceiling ten feet north of the doorway! You guess that a skilled engineer could disable them within a few seconds but you're unsure of their firing mechanism...
Pippimi SP: 53/88, HP: 79/79
Davrin SP: 77/77 HP: 68/68
Zoran SP: 100/100, HP: 73/73
z45719 SP: 60/76, HP: 72/72
Lenny SP: 110/110, HP: 78/81
Undead Lady 0 Damage
Zulu deftly avoids the grenade trap and slides to the side, calibrating his weapon to this new undead woman pistolero.
Even as the white tendrils wrap around his legs, Zoran doesn't pause his actions.
"This Malakar just claimed to be the owner of this ship. Time to send this foul creature to judgement! We will never serve her crew, pile on Lenny!" he commands while moving in to get a look at this Malakar.
Pippimi waves in response to the welcome "Hullo hi!" only to eat a blast of goop followed by a laser bolt. "OK, that not at all good way to recruit potential employees! That actually feel more like way to treat enemies!" She wipes some goo off her faceplate and starts laboriously rolling toward the enemy.
Intending to do a flanking maneuver with Lenny, she rolls around the pistol-armed undead and pops to her feet behind her.
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Lenny jumps in place as the goo flies at them from inside the room...
But once he lands it seems the stuff caked onto his legs, and is holding him in place for the moment.
"Addition?" I think not...
He trudges forward despite the goo, forming his solar sword.
He moves in almost opposite Pip, trapping her between them but leaving a shot open for Zulu.
Davrin is unlucky and takes a smack of the sticky goo right all over him. With disgust, he wipes as much away from his face as possible. He reaches up to feel at his hat.
"How dare you! This is ruined!"
Despite being hampered, Davrin can still move pretty fast. He closes in, coming round the pillar and fires upon the undead woman with great indignation.
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Zulu manages to avoid the sticky trap that entangles the rest of the group, deftly setting up his next shot. Zoran moves into the room, prepping him and Lenny to get into the fight. While Pippimi and Lenny move in to surround the lone undead woman, Davrin jumps in! His ball of sonic energy hits the woman in the ankle, throwing her off balance. She stands up straight, pointing a pistol at Davrin then Zoran. "I have plans for this ship! And you will be part of them!" She slaps a piece of her armor and a grenade hidden in the ceiling explodes above Zoran and Davrin!
The undead woman smiles and stares right into Lenny's eyes. "I've seen your magic sword work. I wonder if it will still function after your death." She then dashes off, away across the room! Once next to Zoran, she slaps her armor again and a second grenade rocks the room!
She laughs and points to the room's monitors. "I have seen you coming! I know your methods!" She slaps her suit a third time and a POP is followed by a flood of supercooled particles filling the north half of the room!
Amidst the falling debris, kicked up dust, and settling ice particles, the woman - Malakar - quickly raises her pistol and shoots Davrin in the side.
You can tell that the insignia of Malakar's uniform definitely aren’t grand enough for her to be the captain of the Empire of Bones. She is likely a lower ranking officer, perhaps in charge of this section of the ship.
Pippimi SP: 30/88, HP: 79/79 ENTANGLED 4 ROUNDS
Davrin SP: 50/77 HP: 68/68 ENTANGLED 4 ROUNDS
Zoran SP: 100/100, HP: 73/73 ENTANGLED 4 ROUNDS
z45719 SP: 60/76, HP: 72/72
Lenny SP: 110/110, HP: 78/81 ENTANGLED 4 ROUNDS
Malakar 48 Damage, FLATFOOTED
Avoiding the worst of the grenade barrage, Zulu slides in the room and lines up a shot, then unleashes firey death.
"This is all you have planned? Some explosives? You haven't been paying attention if you thought that was enough. Pharasma awaits you and your judgement will be severe...undead scum!" accuses Zoran as he whips up his rifle and fires on Malakar regardless of her threat.
Pippimi slashes at the mean shooty zombie lady as she runs away, then tries to dodge away from the icy explosion. Unfortunately, she trips just as she's about to duck and roll, and takes a full burst of ice to her behind. Staggered by the cold, she rolls to a central position in the room and starts thinking about how to corner this annoying foe.
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Davrin sees the first grenade going off but the sticky goo sticks his foot to the ground and he fails to roll away in time. But he is primed for the second one, and ducks behind the pillar just in time to avoid the cryo blast completely.
He turns around just in time to take a shot to his chest, but he quickly returns the favour.
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Lenny slashes at the undead woman as she runs, hitting thanks to the limp Davrin's wound gave her. Lenny is not so icy, distracted by the multiple explosions rocking her suit's sensors. Her and Lenny then takes the brunt of the grenades. The second one's icy particles slow down the pair's movements, allowing them to only cross half the room.
After avoiding the explosive mess, Zulu enters the room only to blow a very large hole in one of the background computer monitors. Zoran does a 360 no scope on Malakar, though it appears his words hurt more than his bullet as the woman seems to shrug off a portion of his sniper's impact. Her lips curl downwards in response to his words responding, "Ah, but you will join me there, BORAI. Or, we could both rule the galaxy for all eternity, escaping their callous judgement." She looks like she'll continue speaking but is interrupted by a sonic blast right to her jaw! Her jaw blows apart in a gory mess, flaps of skin hanging from the upper portion of her face. Her eyes widen and her body shakes with pain, but she does not fall! She raises both pistols, sending fiery lasers right at the halfling! Davrin bends over backwards, causing one missile to miss by an inch, but is still hit by the second laser.
Pippimi SP: 13/88, HP: 79/79 ENTANGLED 3 ROUNDS
Davrin SP: 0/77 HP: 67/68 ENTANGLED 3 ROUNDS
Zoran SP: 86/100, HP: 73/73 ENTANGLED 3 ROUNDS
z45719 SP: 60/76, HP: 72/72
Lenny SP: 85/110, HP: 78/81 ENTANGLED 3 ROUNDS
Malakar 180 Damage, FLATFOOTED
"Davrin, shake it off and erase the rest of that ugly visage. Her prattling is useless in her coming judgement." Zoran says standing fast in the face of Malakar.
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Lenny, swaggering like a drunken sailor from the ringing in his ears, staggers over to Malakar. His solar blade flashes in the light, cleaving into the woman's empty jaw space. Her eyes go blank and she falls to the floor limp.
COMBAT OVER!
You search the body, finding that she has four elite semi-auto pistols, an ultrathin longsword, another finger-shaped emergency security key, and a system-wide comm unit. Oddly enough the ancient pistols seem fitted to fire physical shells, though it hit you with lasers. But... the woman has no batteries or ammo. The pistols are empty, without firing pins.
You can tell that the insignia of Malakar's uniform definitely aren’t grand enough for her to be the captain of the Empire of Bones. She is likely a lower ranking officer, perhaps in charge of this section of the ship.
The central pillar behind you contains a sealed locker with a fancy lock.
While examining the locker you notice a touch-sensitive biometric sensor that is probably keyed to Malakar. You don't worry about that though, you cut through the wires and open it up. The locker includes two batteries, two high-capacity batteries, two super-capacity batteries, one ultra-capacity battery, 90 small arm rounds, 100 longarm and sniper rounds, 60 heavy rounds, and 25 scattergun shells.
The security console is not a stand-alone computer, but is rather a keyboard and terminal designed to access the heavily secured tier 10 computer running the Empire of Bones’s security systems.
Pippimi SP: 13/88, HP: 79/79
Davrin SP: 26/77 HP: 67/68
Zoran SP: 86/100, HP: 73/73
z45719 SP: 60/76, HP: 72/72
Lenny SP: 85/110, HP: 78/81
Malakar 204 Damage
With the power of haste on her side, Pippimi powers through the sticky globs weighing her down and jumps up to the wall behind Malakar before dropping down into a flank with Lenny. She raises her blade and... Malakar is dead before she can get to her.
Immediately after the fight, Pippimi starts pulling off and shaking off as much of the stickybomb residue as she can, kind of just grossed out by how long its lasting. Afterward, she closes the door to the room and moves to bar it with any appropriate nearby object. "Better team not get checked up on while so beaten up..."
"Maybe time to rest again?"
"Pitiful, that couldn't have been the Captain of the ship...but I wonder if these camera feeds go elsewhere. Can you find out? If so we may have more surprises waiting for us." Zoran says before kicking the corpse of Malkar and citing more scripture to send her to the Boneyard once and for all.
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Look at the insignia on her uniform. It's so basic, like a kid could have drawn it. I'm pretty sure she wasn't really so important.
He smacks his own head a couple of times in a last-ditch effort to "knock" the ringing out of his ears.
Lenny eye's the security console, and then Zulu.
What do you say, friend android? Once again into The Net? (Who says "Net" anymore? What, am I collecting disks for free hours of AOL Pact Worlds Online?)
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Unfortunately, it does not appear like there is anything available to physically block the door. However, the lock you cracked appears computer driven. Additionally, the monitors around the room are displaying old camera feeds. If you could get into the terminal, you might be able to display the hallway outside.
You do an inventory, not counting the finger stuck in the other terminal, you have two security keys in hand.
With nothing in the room to physically block the door, Pippimi activates her boots and climbs up the wall, then activates them again to walk along the ceiling. She brushes aside some undead spiderwebs and takes a seat right above the door to the room. "OK Pippimi going to nap for moment. Someone warn if anything coming! Good luck with terminal Zulu!"
"I'll keep watch in case we get more security bots or wandering crew, if we can get the cameras back on live feed we will have a heads up. Might even be able to surprise them." Zoran suggests utilizing parts of Malakar's outfit to better his own disguise.
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Zulu's circuits buzz in frustration as he falls quite short of hacking into the computer. A message appears on the terminal screen in eoxian, which Zoran translates to say "INCORRECT PASSWORD. IS THIS A SECURITY EMERGENCY? PLEASE ALERT YOUR SUPERVISOR AND INSERT SECURITY KEY. FURTHER FAILURES WILL BE PUNISHED SHARPLY." Zulu's progress was not completely ineffectual as he is able to access the basic functions of the computer to lock the door. Additionally, he notices a touch sensitive lock on the front of the terminal - recognizing it as a biometric lock that must be keyed to the undead officer.
Zulu tries again, this time somehow doing even worse. An electric shock flows out from the terminal through the floorboards and into your suits! You are stunned for a moment, but undamaged. The terminal snidely remarks, in eoxian, "INCORRECT PASSWORD. ALERT YOUR SUPERVISOR OF YOUR FAILURE. FURTHER FAILURES WILL BE PUNISHED HARSHLY."
Zulu can tell that even with the help of his friends and the officer's biosignature, this will be a tough job. It may be time for a second Security Key.
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Davrin turns to look at Zulu. "I say we shoulder through. What do you think?
Zulu scowls, actually scowls, at the terminal as he tries one more time with the hand.
Then grunts and stands.
"This is beyond me at the moment."
As the group rests he sets up his charging station and recharges another battery.
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Zulu takes another stab at the machine, still using one security key. His hard work is rewarded with another shock of electricity, this one stronger than the last!
The electricity pours through the floorboards and up into the boots of the trio working the machine! Another eoxian error message appears, which Zoran translates - from a safe distance. "INCORRECT PASSWORD. DEMERITS WILL BE ISSUED. IF THIS IS A SECURITY EMERGENCY, CONTACT YOUR SECTION OFFICER FOR A SECURITY KEY AND A DEMERIT. IF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN YOUR PASSCODE, GATHER THE SECURITY KEYS OF ALL AVAILABLE OFFICERS TO RESET*.
*BOTH PASSWORD AND OFFENDING CREW MEMBER'S BRAIN MATTER WILL BE RESET."
Meanwhile, Pippimi sits on the ceiling of the room going through company protocols as a form of meditation.
Each secure site on the map held a Security Key thus far. Eoxian culture is nothing if not predictable, you expect you will be able to find another one in the room to the north.
"The undead are consistent if anything. Each of these secure areas likely houses a security key or someone holding the key." Zoran adds in as they struggle with the computer.
This time, Davrin is all ready and leaps out out of the way just in time.
He looks with some concern at Zulu and Lenny. "Um, again?" he asks tentatively.
Zulu shudders as the countermeasure overcharges his system.
"This system is ... challenging." he mutters and looks over the keys and sighs, "I'll try again."
Pippimi, who was snoozing while the party tried to hack the computers, gives a start when people start getting electrocuted again. "Try extra finger! This computer seem very important, and team can always find more finger elsewhere." She nods, looking down with total trust that Zulu will pull through. When he pulls out all the stops, she starts humming his theme song.
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Davrin deftly dodges danger while the other pair's skeletons briefly show through their electrocuted bodies.
Pippimi SP: 88/88, HP: 79/79
Davrin SP: 0/77 HP: 67/68
Zoran SP: 86/100, HP: 73/73
z45719 SP: 29/76, HP: 72/72
Lenny SP: 54/110, HP: 78/81
Zulu shakes off the pain and sets back to work. Thanks to a little bit of luck and a lot of help, the android manages to crack the code! He begins to pour information to all of your datapads.
The Empire of Bones is a unique ultranought: a massive warship larger than battleships, carriers, and even dreadnoughts. It is one of the flagships of the Corpse Fleet and leads its own armada of vessels. You find a high level map of the vessel that shows areas of interest. It appears the area you are in is colloquially referred to as Hanger Country, listed on the official map as Primary Launch and Recovery Decks. Unfortunately, it seems like you are unable to access any of the major ship systems from this terminal. Though crews throughout the ship are required for the vessel to function, all orders come from the command and control decks. While it might be possible to remotely hack some of those stations to control a single thruster or one sensor array, operating the entire ship requires taking control of the bridge and cybercontrol in the command section.
You already know how the cybernetic zombies are controlled, but additional information from the security terminal indicates that the command link from cybercontrol governs both the sensors and the engineering crews . A different, related system on the bridge governs the gunnery and navigational crews . Controlling both the command link and the bridge systems allows an individual to act in the captain role. Getting to the Command section may be a more difficult feat. On a ship the size of the Empire of Bones, there are hundreds of ways to get from one section of the ship to another. However, the fastest and safest route from the primary launch and recovery decks to the command and control decks is travel via grav-train. There are grav-train stations near both hangar country and the command section.
You are also able to pull up the crew log but most of you are not able to make heads or tails of the unique eoxian nomenclature.
Admiral Serovox commands the entire armada for which the Empire of Bones is the flagship, and while they have the power to issue commands to any crew on board, they rarely get involved in the ship’s day-to-day operations. Captain Ghurd Nashal is captain of the ship and Commander Malakar’s direct superior. The records about both senior officers are limited but provide enough details for a suitably educated person to identify what kind of undead they are. In addition, Nashal’s record includes a footnote mentioning something called Project Tombstone that appears to have been added by Malakar and is only on this particular security terminal.
You also get to work finding the security camera footage of you running and fighting your way through the area.
Searching through the logs of security video available on the terminal, it is clear that at some point, Malakar realized there were intruders in hangar country and periodically spotted them on hidden cameras in the ship’s hallways. The log also notes that Malakar chose not to activate any alarms and didn’t report the invasion to her superiors in the command section - notes indicate this as part of something called Project Tombstone.
"Malakar definitely wasn't the captain, this ship and the entire armada is commanded by Admiral Serovox. Yet, there is a Captain Ghurd Nashal who handles the control of the ship and WAS seconded by Malakar. I do wonder what this Project Tombstone is on this terminal but at least we know who we need to kill." Zoran says clenching a fist.