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Cartman
Patheticwretch
TRS-80 (OK)
pauljathome
CariMac
Jelani (OK)
Could you all please make yourselves known to the cabin crew?
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General Service Announcement: In order to maintain proper recordkeeping, all starfinders are requested to fill out their details in the Form provided. Please also keep an up-to-date CV in your profile. ()
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Welcome all! Please take a seat as we start the show.
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...swelling orchestral music
Venture-captain Arvin awaits in the Lorespite complex. The tall and confident lashunta man gestures to several functional chairs, inviting you to sit. “Thank you for arriving so quickly. As I mentioned
in my comm message, we have an urgent opportunity to recover some critical information.
“Several months ago, a crew of Starfinders took a ship called the Unbounded Wayfarer into the Vast to explore a series of uncharted planets. They never returned. Earlier today, a vesk pawnbroker in the Downlow neighborhood contacted us, offering to sell us several Starfinder insignias. These insignias belonged to the lost crew of the Unbounded Wayfarer, and that immediately caught the Society’s attention. The pawnbroker named Julzakama—doesn’t realize the true value of the insignias. We negotiated a purchase price in exchange for the insignias and information about the seller. We hope this seller can lead us to the Unbounded Wayfarer and its crew.
“We’ve remotely transferred the requested credits to Julzakama. Now, we need you to collect the insignias and all the information you can from the vesk regarding whoever sold him the insignias, and then track down that seller. Learn where to find the Unbounded Wayfarer and its crew. I’m worried that the seller might not be on the station for long, so act quickly. If you have any questions, please make them fast.”
Arvin shakes his head, He is a Vesk, and an usually arrogant one at that. I don't know him personally, but he doesn't sound like the kind of person I'd like much. That being said, though, I'd prefer to stay on friendly terms with him. Our position is weak enough as it is.
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Before TRS-80 enters the Lorespite Complex...Vic! stand guard over there in the corner!
A few seconds later Vic's thin coating of paint begins to adjust to the surrounding lighting until she becomes unperceivable to the untrained eye.
TRS ignores her usual transformation and enters the complex with his sentience emanating like a glow from his meticulously constructed form.
Upon hearing from Venture-Captain Arvin and listening to Krensher's comments, TRS opens with a few comments followed by a few questions directed at the captain....
Whens Lunch??
Vic needs a can of oil...her gears are beginning to strip, and her seals are undergoing inelastic deformation....
Anyone seen my sprocket?...If not I think I dropped it down the ventilation shaft last night...
Now onto the business at hand...Captain Arvin..have any communications been received since your crew have departed the station?
Is there a transponder code or some similar unique identifier for the Unbounded Wayfarer?
I will need technical specs for the wayfarer..knowing what its capable of could be important.
How many were among the crew? Do they have names and particular specialties?
Zayobo, a large Vesk mercenary kitted out in plate armor and sporting several weapons, hisses at Krensher. "Since when does 'collect the insignias' mean 'take out some Vesk'?" he asks, a hint of bite in his voice. Turning to the VC, he says, "Yeah, like the 'droid said, how many missing crew we looking for here?"
The wayfarer sailed under a standard callsign, TVXQ-2017. It's a standard Drake-class starship, with a handful of crew. They are quite a resourceful bunch. You see, the crew of the Unbounded Wayfarer received special insignias, the ones you are after, long ago for exemplary service to the Society. It isn’t common knowledge outside the Starfinder Society, but these insignias are no mere trinkets; they can be used to encrypt or decrypt information that the Starfinders wanted to keep hidden. One of the crew was a particularly smart one, a Lashunta called Yuria.
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TRS-80 sits in his chair motionless and with a detatched empathy he interacts with his custom rig integrated into his chassis thus opening a communications link with VIC-20.
VIC!...find the nearest terminal and download the specs for a Standard Drake-Class Starship, and confirm that the standard call sign TVXQ-2017 corresponds with a specific Drake class. I also want any recent maintenance reports and inspection reports on this particular starship......TRS-80 signing off
Without missing a beat, TRS-80 turns to Captain Arvin.
Sir...would I need any specialized knowledge to make use of an insignia?
This Yuria, other than intelligence, what kind of skills and training does this individual have?
How would you characterize the morals of this Yuria? Smart people often have much going on under the hood.
Did the crew of the Unbounded Wayfarer file a flight plan? Or were they drifting through the Vast without a plan?
Given the urgency of this endeavor, I hate to waste more time on questions. Does anyone else have any additional ones?
TRS-80 glances respectfully at the assembly of highly trained agents of the Starfinder Society.
If you manage to recover the insignia, I will give you the information you need to operate it. It's really a lot easier to show when you have one in hand. As for Yuria: outstanding character that one. We don't go handing out special insignia to just anyone.
he flight plan of the Wayfarer. All I know they had some mission in the Vast, but the Starfinder responsible.. we unfortunately lost him in the Scoured Stars incident. I'm afraid there's very little information to recover.
Moments later, VIC-20 beeps back in, confirming the words of Arvin: there's basic maintenance records for TVXQ-2017, but nothing that stands out. Meteor impacts, dents, a clogged waste projector and a bent landing strut from a rough landing, nothing else.
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Vic!..check the manifests of that starship. Look for anything unusual such as extra passengers or illicit cargo.[B]
Turning his attention to his fellow starfinders
[B]Gentlemen...please describe your areas of expertise in precise and simple terms. It seems we need to understand each other if we are dropping ourselves into the underworld of Absalom Station.
TRS-80 quietly contemplates his knowledge of the underworld while he awaits the responses of his partners in crime.
"Name's Zayobo. I'm a soldier for hire. I've found working in the smaller teams here at the Society more to my liking than any of the bigger outfits. If it needs shot, smashed or blown up, I'm your Vesk."
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A tall Lashunta woman enters the room as she hears the android ask about specialties. Her skin is a tanned and her hair is a silver. "I am so sorry I'm late. I got caught in customs. I had some sort of bug from my last mission. Took them fifteen minutes to catch the little creature once it got loose. I'm Lira." She takes a seat. "I'm an explorer. You need a dangerous location scouted out. I'm your girl."
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A pleasure to meet both of you. My name is TRS-80, and my specialty is computers as well as general Engineering.
TRS-80 flashes the group a stiff smile, and then glances at his feet momentarily.
Lira, have you heard of a pawnbroker here at the station who calls himself Julzakama? How about a Lashunta Starfinder called Yuria? It seems the highly prized Yuria is missing in action while on an unknown mission into The Vast.
TRS-80 takes another unnecessary pause...one that is built into his programming so he can better interact with biologicals.
Do either of you have any piloting experience?
Finally TRS-80 turns back to the captain...
sir....the agent responsible for this unknown mission into the vast, what was his/her name and reputation?
"I'm afraid not," Zayobo answers TRS-80. "Nice to meet you, Lira."
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"Let me about the pawn broker, and a missing Lashunta." Lira tries to recall what she might have heard about both of them.
She brightens when she hears mention of piloting. "I can pilot a ship. I wouldn't be much of an explorer if I couldn't get myself to the places to explore."
-Posted with Wayfinder
The name of that Pathfinder eludes me, I'm afraid Arvin answers.
Rumour on the tunnels has it that Julzakama is a domineering brute, and only the truly desperate deal with him. He tends to respond better to bluster than to honeyed words.
Downlow is a poor and densely- populated section of the Spike that extends below Absalom Station. Julzakama’s shop is less than an hour from the Lorespire Complex, the headquarters of the Starfinder Society, and the run-down store is fairly simple to reach
Although some areas of Downlow are clean and trendy, this narrow alley of concrete and metal buildings drips with oil and sparking wires. A wide, red neon electric sign reads “Julzakama’s Loans” on a building sandwiched between a Kuthite sensation house and a derelict building covered with graffiti. The shop’s solid metal door contains a single, small window too grimy to peer through.
From the other side of the door, loud, pounding music can be heard.
The noise is recognizable as 'Demolecularizer', Trash-Techno music. It's loud and it's been out of style for a few years.
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Lina listens to the rumors and tunnels about Julzakama as they travel to the downlow. "I've found some information. Julzakama is a domineering brute, and only the truly desperate deal with him. Makes me wonder who exactly was desperate enough to sell the insignias to him. He tends to respond better to bluster than to honeyed words. So intimidate him if you wish." Lina slips to the side of the group waiting for others to knock on the door.
An ysoki mechanic slides into the room, late as always.
"Whatya know? Quig's here," he says, apparently referring to himself. "Did I hear something about recovering some insignias? Not that I was listening through the door..."
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While we make our way, to Julzakama's Den of Domineering Depravity,
TRS-80 gives VIC-20 explicit instructions that can be heard and understood by everyone.
Vic!..When we arrive at Julzakama's shop.... The others will go in first and we will wait a few seconds. you are to prevent him from knowing that you are there. (Using the Reactive Camouflage Initial Mod for Stealth Drones) You will steal anything small enough that you can see that could be relevant to our mission. (Using Stealth/Sleight of Hand and Manipulator Arms Basic Mod) Meanwhile I will pretend to be a customer waiting his turn for service.[b]
[b]Krensher and Zyobo? Do you gentlemen mind doing the talking?(Intimidate and aid another) Make demands....be forceful don't back down...and most of all don't identify ourselves as starfinders...I think that may be an invitation for a shakedown. I'll pretend to be impatient and make noise about having to wait too long for service. This will create chaos and confusion. Lira? and Wretch? can either of you back up Krensher and Zyobo should they need it with a timely bluff if the intimidate fails? If all else fails, ill step in and explain that Im the starfinder coming to collect the insignias and offer to chase you hooligans off for him. This is plenty of distraction for Vic to scavenge anything of importance unnoticed.
"Sounds like a good enough plan, 80. I'll head on in and see what's what. C'mon guys," Zayobo says, motioning to Krensher, Lira and Wretch.
He enters the shop, looking around for this Julzakama.
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TRS-80 will quietly convey to his partners that Lira brings up a good point.
Should anyone obtain the Insignias, then that is when we come clean and admit to be the starfinders. This pawnbroker may be the kind of guy who respects that show of force and manipulation. We can also explain that this side of town requires a certain amount of pull to get things done. If we have the insignias then we must have intimidated or bluffed him thus making him more cooperative. From there we can resort to diplomacy or actual violence to get the information from him. However Vic will continue to Scavenge either way.
Quig takes it all in.
"Yeah, we'll get the mission done, but if we find riches along the say, the more the better, I say!"
The interior of Julzakama’s Loans is crammed with shelves containing all manner of near-valueless items, from small appliances to VR game consoles and jars of colored powders. The shop has the acrid smell of a reptile house that has not been cleaned in months. A massive vesk in a muscle shirt stands at the rear of the shop, behind a low desk and a series of heavy metal bars anchored into the ceiling.
The vesk stops from what seems like carelessly disassembling an old robot arm, and gives the nearby boom-box a crude slap. The loud music stops, leaving only the faint whizzing of some broken vacuum pipe - somewhere.
Julzakama () looks up and sneers at Zayobo. Yea? he says impatiently, before snarling at Lira don't touch that, Lash-ling. You break it, you own it.
Zayobo puffs out his own massive chest. "Julzakama?" Without waiting for the Vesk to really answer Zayobo continues on. "No point in pussyfootin'. Been hired by the agrieved of several missing Starfinders. They loved ones went away on a mission and never came back. They want to know what happened, and recover anything if possible. I talked to the Society, seems someone told them you have the insignias of a few of the missing."
Zayobo grins, leaning over the counter to an uncomfortable closeness with the other Vesk. "I know your reputation, s#+%bird. We can do this the easy way, where you hand over the insignias and tell me who sold you them, I give you a few creds and walk away. Or you know...there's always the hard way..."
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TRS-80 comes strolling through the door without a care in the world, and takes a rigid stance towards the rear of the crowded room.
He carelessly leaves the door open a little so Vic can get in unannounced.
While Vic is moving in, TRS-80 exclaims
"Ohh...great!...a line!...thats all I need!...I cant believe I came all the way over here for a loan, and then I'm expected to wait!...Maybe I should go solicit one of Julzakama's competitors...betcha they wont make me wait...
While speaking TRS-80 scans the room quickly.
Perception
Quietly takes 10 to move quietly into room then stands motionless for one round so her reactive camo will activate.
Stealth: Take 10: 1d20+8 = 10 + 8 = 18
Hide Reactive Camo:
Perception
Quig begins refiling through the items on the shelves while the others discuss items with the local tough.
He presses a button on his wristpad, and a drone emerges from his backpack.
"See if there's anything we need, Scout!" The drone beeps and boops and begins scanning the merchandise.
Yea? You know my reputation? Then you also know that you don't talk to me like that, pattycake! the Vesk responds to Zayobo's words.
From someone like Julzakama, this is about as respectful as he will get[.
I'll let you off for this one. What do I care that the seller was an Eoxian? Exegara she called herself and she wasn’t from around here. Wore a flight suit and all, like she had come off a long trip. Once she had her money, she asked about where to purchase clean skeletons. I ain't going nowhere near that kind of stuff, so I sent her to the Vat Garden. These Eoxians, they're just not natural. Looks like a man-ling, talks like a man-ling, but doesn't breathe or blink or anything. Now scram, take your upper deck faeries out of here and don't show your face again.
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Once the room has emptied, TRS-80 confidently strides up to the Vesk...
Meanwhile, Vic-20 stays motionless and out of view assuming nothing of interest was noticed.
He flashes his starfinder identification
Agent 80 here he states in a dry matter of fact way.
Now that the trash has been taken out...
I've come to collect and conclude this business.
Zayobo winks at Julzakama. "Thanks, scaly-pooh. If you hand over those insignia, I'll be on my way."
The Vesk flicks his hand under his chin, a gesture aimed at Lira. When TRS-80 addresses him, he responds by holding up the half-disassembled robot-arm and replying yea, that's what your mother said. Here's your damn insignia. Not sure what the fuss is about.
Quig looks preoccupied with the merchandise in the store. "How much for this converter coupling?" he asks.
"Oh...the insignias! Yeah...thanks for handing those over."
Zayobo takes the insignias, throws his last credit chip on the counter and walks out of the shop. Once everyone is together again outside he says, "Sounds like we need to head over to the Vat Garden to track down this Exegara."
Lira remembers that the Vat Gardens are an Ysoki-run garden. The Ysoki surreptitiously accept corpses to help grow their plants (which is not illegal on the station).
The location of the gardens is common knowledge, and they're not hard to find. Upon arriving at the gardens, the station passageways open into an enormous sunken pool filled with a riotous growth of plants. A narrow walkway leading to other parts of Downlow encircles the overgrown vat, and a spire of some kind of machinery stands in its center. For such a busy section of Downlow, the area is surprisingly quiet. Two ladders and a steep staircase pierce the foliage and lead down into the vat.
At the floor of the Vat, a rustling can be heard, and hidden among the plants. There's a lanky figure in a flight suit and wearing a concealing cloak, who is just putting a skull in a bag. Accompanying the figure are three burlish-looking humans.
As soon as the person in the flight suit spots the Starfinders, she order the attack. With swiftness, the thugs grab assault hammers and move closer, while the cloaked figure draws a laser gun.
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Zayobo
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Thug
Thug
Thug
Cloaked Figure
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TRS-80
Lira
Quig
Krenshar
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Zayobo grunts, annoyed. "Typical..." he huffs, striding over to the top of the ladder while raising his light reaction cannon to his shoulder. He takes aim at the woman with the laser gun, then fires at her.
"We'd rather talk to you than kill ya! Drop your weapons and this might go well for you!" he calls down after shooting.