Greetings, Starfinders. Venture-Captain Arvin has requested to meet with you at the Lorespire Complex aboard Absalom Station.
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An energetic white Ysoki walks in and looks around.
"Hi all...I'm Rattus Solo, captain of the Castrovel Hawk. Never heard of the Castrovel Hawk?" He looks shocked. "It's the ship that made the Absalom run in less than 12 parasecs! But it's been in the shop for a while. Something to do with ah...some cargo that slipped off a loading dolly! Ah...Right! But never mind that!"
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A medium-size Shirren sits in the tube running through Absalom Station. On his neck, he wears a headset as he watches the latest edition of Pact World Warriors.
He chuckles for a moment as he observes the contenders fighting each other. His chuckle sounds a bit like a giant insect would try to eat stones, his mandibles moving with a lot of clicky like sounds.
Suddenly the tube stops at the 'Spire underground' station so the alien stands up collects his backpack and military-grade laser cannon. He continues moving with a stream of other aliens catching connections or heading to the spire higher levels. Shirren walks towards the elevator still watching the latest episode.
The figure wears a brown trousers with side pockets, t-shirt and a black jacket with whole set of music band patches stitched to it. An anarchy symbol is present on his left arm just next to the exoguardian emblem. On his other arm, he wears Rusty SRO's emblem.
As the lift arrives he walks in and the episode freezes. Shirren hides his comm unit and looks around the elevator, seeing young and attractive lady android. He decides to chat casually.
"No network. <click>. You saw how Oz hit that wall in the latest Pact World Warriors?<click> That was funny.<click>" As he hears no reaction the Shireen begins to be blunter.
"Want to grab a beer today?" after which the Shirren opens his mandibles wide, in a famous shirren smile.
The lady casually took a step away from him.
"Story of my life" thinks to himself as he selects some music to listen to. He picks some ancient punk rock track which results in his antennas immediately beginning to move to the beat frequency.
As he leaves the elevator he spots the Ysoki. Listening to his greetings he responds:
"12 parsecs?<click> Nice!<click> My name is D'vost. Waiting long?<click>"
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A relatively tall (6'4" or 193 cm) 'man' walks in. His clothes definitely appear to be what the average dock worker or maintenance worker wears. His appearance....well....he isn't alive. His skin is very pale, almost grey. His eyes are sunken in, but they seem to shine from their sockets. He seems to know where to go in the spire, so he must be one of the many 'returning' Starfinders from the Scoured Stars, though being a starfinder for so long, his badge seems to be out of place. It is bright and shiny, as if it is was just recently given to him.
Looking around at the people who have shown up for the meeting with VC Arvin, he nods slowly. "Greetings, I am Eleazar Amasa. Please do not fear my appearance, it was a series of unfortunate events in the Scoured Stars."
Seeing there is apparently a Shirren on the team, his eyes slightly cloud over (almost as if in pain), and his head almost imperceptibly dips down.
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"Hey bub not long. What's shakin?"
"I can." On that shirren begins to shake to the sides with his antennas twitching. And he burst into laughter.
As Eleazar enters Shirrens antennas respond to the movement.
"A pleasure<click> Eleazar.<click> I am D'vost and this is Rattus Solo, <click> captain of Castrovel Hawk.<click>"
Seeing that he is not well
"You seem to be unwell,<click> I got some gellies from Ziggy,<click> they are of most unusual tastes.<click> If you are lucky you can get of a grilled cheese with crickets." On that Shirren puts his hand into a pocket and pulls out a handful of gellies of different colors
"Wanna?"
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A formidable well-armored formian strides into the room. She carries no weapons aside from a glowing crystal in one of her front legs. She glances over her companions with a click of her extremely sharp looking mandibles.
Looking to D'vost, she telepathically projects, "Which of these two have we been hired to guard? Or is there another yet to arrive?"
She reaches a hand out and plucks one of the gellies to try.
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Looking down at the bags of gellies, Eleazar shakes his head. "Thank you very much D'vost, but I do not need to eat or drink anymore. And I am not unwell.......well....that isn't technically true. I am not exactly alive anymore. I died in the Scoured Stars you see." Hesitating a moment, Eleazar continues, "A very kind person was able to bring me back, but because of my reanimation happened behind that God blasted shield something went wrong."
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Looking to D'vost, she telepathically projects, "Which of these two have we been hired to guard? Or is there another yet to arrive?"
D'vost responds telepathically to Mierwag
"This are not subjects to be protected, I think they are our partners in whatever we are supposed to do."Then smiles broadly to Rattus
"That was a joke<click>, on my part.<click> It's good<click> Ziggy promised me some more interesting mission<click>. Last time I was babysitting some delegates daughter<click>. It was fun<click> but I would like something<click> with more action. "
You are ushered into a briefing room where Venture-Captain Arvin sits near the head of a large table. The table is aglow with images depicting an unfamiliar planet and its tiny moon, all surrounded by data readouts. Arvin is speaking with an android who wears a blue military uniform with gold accents. Bright red conduits trace across her bald head.
Noting your presence, Arvin looks up and gestures to the remaining seats. “Join us, Starfinders. This is Major Tower-9 of the Stewards, and we have much to discuss.”
The android stands—she is nearly eight feet tall—and gives a stiff bow. “Hello,” she says in a deep voice. “The planet you see before you is Tabrid Minor, a Near Space world whose primary sentient inhabitants recently made contact with a Pact Worlds survey vessel. They call themselves copaxis."
"Having just developed Drift technology, they are only now learning about the galaxy and its many inhabitants and threats," notes the android. "Copaxi leaders have petitioned for protectorate status. It is up to the Stewards to decide if Tabrid Minor is an acceptable candidate. As the supervisor for Tabrid Minor’s petition process, I have asked your venture-captain to organize an independent review of the planet and its people.” The android sits.
Arvin waves his hand across the table. The display zooms in on one of the planet’s largest continents.
“The copaxis are a terrestrial species numbering two billion, and their petition claims they have a unified government and a peaceful history." Arvin continues, "Massive floating cities drift over the planet’s largest continent, but they are apparently abandoned. The Major and I have determined that an independent review of one of these sites would provide the Stewards with valuable information for their final decision. Your destination is a city called Tabantria. It is your job to do what Starfinders do best: explore this area, cooperate with the copaxi research team, handle any dangers along the way, and report back to us."
The Venture-Captain pauses for a moment, then asks, "Any questions?”
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D'vosts big eyes are looking at the images presented. His antennas are responding to every movement in the room, the small ground shakes when they move, oh D'vost loves this stuff. It reminds him of hunting when he waits for the prey, it is good that he was blessed with a skill to do multiple things at once.
D'vost blinked couple of times, he completely lost focus.
Ok Copaxis, check if they are paceful think to himself
"Venture-Captain<click> Arvin, <click> Can we get geological information <click> about the planet: atmosphere, gravity<click>, dangerous plants or animals?<clack> And the floating cities did copaxis<click> provided some sort of explanation about their <click> origin?"
Asks Shiren.
"Venture-Captain<click> Arvin, <click> Can we get geological information <click> about the planet: atmosphere, gravity<click>, dangerous plants or animals?<clack> And the floating cities did copaxis<click> provided some sort of explanation about their <click> origin?"
"The atmosphere of Tabrid Minor is fairly standard, but we have had some anomalous gravity readings. Be sure to run a scan of the
planet with your ship’s computers when you arrive,” suggests Arvin. "Half the planet is covered by oceans, so it is not a bad idea to prepare for dealing with potential aquatic threats as well as terrestrial ones. However, I am not aware of any particularly dangerous plants or animals on the planet that you would be likely to encounter.""As for the floating cities," he continues, "they remain somewhat of a mystery at the moment. The copaxis are also conducting archaeological research in the abandoned cities. Apparently, they have only recently developed the technology to safely reach these cities, which float miles above the planet’s surface. Their researchers seem eager to learn from your example, and we hope that you can form a good working relationship with them.”
"Do we anticipate there being a barrier to communications with the copaxi?"
"We have had few official interactions with the copaxi, so we hope you can add to our understanding of their society and history." notes the Venture-Captain. "A copaxi is a colonial network of specialized creatures living within a flexible exoskeleton, and each colony behaves and speaks as a single creature. So far, they have been worthy diplomats and shown great interest in Pact Worlds’ cultures and technology. Some of their representatives have even learned our common language and used it to write their petition. You should have no trouble communicating with their research team and any delegates they send.”
He pauses for a moment for a moment, "Any other questions?"
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D'vost nods hearing answers to his questions and looks at his allies. Seeing that no one has any new ones, he begins to gather his belongings to begin their mission.
He also takes out his comm unit and sends a previously written message to a diplomat that owes him a favor to help him buy jump jets at a more reasonable price.
Happy about his decision shirren picks up his laser cannon and join his new colleagues.
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A 10ft tall bipedal bear wearing a long white leather lab-coat over khaki-colored scrubs, pockets bearing multi-colored vials, with numerous cybernetic implants poking out from his fur steps into the briefing room, broad shoulders bearly fitting as he ducks to avoid the door frame. Aside from a pair of pistols, he doesn't appear armed (beyond the obvious). Even his lab coat's sleeves are quite long! He gives his fellow Starfinders as well as the Steward officer a respectful nod but stifles an obvious yawn with a massive paw.
"Oh...I'm so sorry everybody. I was hibernating in the lounge - I pulled a double shift at the clinic yesterday despite there being a specific claws in my contract about that sort of thing within 2 days of a posted assignment to the Starfinder duty roster..."
He trails off, realizing that he's making a rather dumb spectacle of himself and suddenly notices that he needs to adjust his bright pink bow tie a bit.
"Er, in any event. Dr. Dov Delano at your service. I don't suppose I could offer everybody a free checkup while we're in the drift?"
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Shirren feels the trembles spreading when the new agent enters, he is almost certain that other agents also felt it.
D'vost steps ahead and extends his hand with 4 claws saying:
"D'vost, <click> nice to meet you Dr. Delano.<click>" Then he eyes his belongings and adds
"You seem a bit lightly armed<click> if things go south<click> will you fight with your bear hands<clack>?"
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"Er, in any event. Dr. Dov Delano at your service. I don't suppose I could offer everybody a free checkup while we're in the drift?"
Rattus offers his hand for the doctor to shake. "Rattus Solo here Doc. Nice to meet your acquaintance." He then points to himself. "Thanks for the check up offer but this Ysoki is doing fine."
"As you know, any Starfinder mission has the potential for danger." Arvin adds. “The Stewards are interested in peaceful diplomacy, but that does not mean your team needs to put itself at risk. Handle any danger as best you can and use your discretion if the copaxis themselves are threat. It seems unlikely, but the galaxy is filled with surprises.”
The Venture-Captain provides you with a data readout including basic information about Tabrid Minor, the copaxis, and the Starfinders’ mission.
He then dismisses you to make any last-minute purchases and preparations, before directing you to Docking Bay 22, where a Drift-capable starship awaits to take you to Tabrid Minor.
Drift Travel to Tabrid Minor is uneventful and takes just a few days.
Upon emerging from the Drift, Tabrid Minor can be scanned remotely using your ship's sensors.
Additionally, you discern that the planet’s weather systems are atypical for a planet of this size and atmosphere, likely because the anomalies interfere with ocean currents, tides, and storm systems.
Not long after you arrive in orbit, you receive a transmission from the planet's surface.
Four humanoid creatures appear on the starship’s video screen, their faces are featureless masks of smooth coral, distinguished by elegant antler-like growths. One of them has two antlers that form a swooping, symmetrical pattern before meeting nearly two feet above the creature’s head. The other creature’s antlers are shorter, but no less elegant: one has three jagged antlers like lightning bolts, another has two antlers curled like ram horns, and the last has countless antlers that resemble spiked hair.
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Oddman interprets the shadows in the bridge of the ship.
He pokes at the red button written "Incoming transmission".
"Who do you worship?" he asks of the creatures.
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"Whoever is flying us down to the surface, be careful. I'm detecting intense gravitational anomalies on the planet’s surface, especially under the oceans. The readings also show gravitational anomalies around several city-sized land masses floating a few miles above the planet’s surface."
The good doctor will also copy down to his datapad (and share with the others) his findings that the planet’s weather systems are atypical for a planet of this size and atmosphere, likely because the anomalies interfere with ocean currents, tides, and storm systems.
Finger/claw picking away at the ship's computer, Dr. Dov is also able to bring up a holographic image of a coral-like organism that seems to be the source of these anomalies, as well as an image showing where it is found on the planet. This organism appears mostly underwater, far from land, but traces of it appear here and there on the planet’s continents, and high concentrations exist in the floating landmasses.
"Hmm...interesting, interesting." He stands up from the computer terminal, promptly smacks his head on the ceiling, grumbles a bit, then hunches back over again to study these readings while thoughtfully rubbing the fur on his chin.
Dr. Dov will telepathically inform the rest of the team that that these “masks” and “antlers” are part of the creature’s anatomy, and that minute patterns on the masks and growths resemble those on the image of the coral-like organism that seem to the source of the anomalies that he had been noted in the earlier remote scan.
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D'vost listens to the information shared by Oddman and Dr. Dov.
He watches the faces of copaxis with interest and wonders how much impact on the planet has the coral-like organism. He hopes it is not some sort of swarm entity. Hearing the prolonged silence when the beings look at them D'vost is wondering who at their end should begin talking.
When he hears Oddman's question he thinks to himself
'Isn't that a nice conversation starter.'
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Eleazar just stands silently, watching the working of the group from the Society he is with. Memories of past workings with fellow members seem to flood his mind for a minute, until he remembers the loss of his life.
He shakes his head, waiting to help keep this group alive....he doesn't want what happened to him to ever happen to another.
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On the trip, Rattus pushes his way to the pilot's chair. And when he's not piloting, he pulls out a deck of cards and plays with the other Starfinders.
When they get closer to the planet, on voice of concern from the ursine physician, he turns around.
"Doc...No problem! I'm an awesome pilot!"
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Rattus looks at the computers.
He looks at the images.
"Anyone know anything about these coral guys?"
As the transmission continues from the surface of the planet below, four creatures stare at the screen for a few moments, muttering to one another, pointing excitedly, and coming in and out of view as they jostle for their comm unit.
One of them urges, "Be quiet! Look! It is working! There they are!” The speaker—the one with tall, symmetrical antlers—enters the center of the screen. “Greetings, esteemed Starfinder Society representatives. I am Therseis, representative of the Yihil regional government, and these are the members of our research team. Thank you for accepting our transmission from our two-way planetary range personal communications device. I hope that your space journey was pleasant, and your Drift travel was of a minimal duration."
"Welcome to Tabrid Minor." Therseis continues, "We are using our computational device to share our latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates with your starship’s computational device. We have prepared a landing zone for you. We hope that it is large enough for your orbit-to-ground personnel shuttle.”
You are able to easily navigate your shuttle to Tabantria using the copaxis’ coordinates, which designates a city that is not the largest or most central of the planet’s floating cities, but is by far the most intact. Despite the fact that the city is floating, gravity on the city’s surfaces below appear to be stable.
However, as you approach the landing platform, you encounter a sudden swell brought on surrounding gravity shifts and which now threatens to hurl your shuttle into the structures below!
The landing platform occupies most of a small field about 100 feet from the research base. Beyond the landing platform, the jagged edge of the floating landmass is completely open to the sky—the view of the smog-shrouded cities below is staggering.
The encampment contains four small structures arrayed around a single larger structure, all temporary but fully enclosed. The copaxis wait outside this structure. Behind them, the dilapidated stone buildings of Tabantria stand in eerie silence.
As you emerge from your shuttle, the copaxis approach, their arms angled slightly out to the side, empty palms facing forward. The continue walking toward you until they are about thirty-feet distance from you. Then, suddenly, each one of them stops and begins to spin in a slow circle. When they have each completed their rotation, the copaxis stop and give you their undivided attention. They say nothing, but rather remain completely silent.
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If Dov can, he'll try to scan again for those gravitational anomalies to find a flight path that'll be easier for the pilot?
Once we're "face" to face, Dov will share that information telepathically, and will also hold his arms out (but will not bare them) and will slowly turn in a circle alongside Mierwag.
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The scenario doesn't call for anything, but I am willing to consider creative suggestions.
D'vost looks when Rattus jumps on the pilot chair and stands next to him. Saying
"You've got this Rattus.<click> Don't screw this up, <click> as we would probably die. <click>" Some of us for the second time, thinks to himself D'vost but does not say it.
He always felt that motivational talks were his thing, he never understood why in the army the major never agreed with him on that.
D'vost follows the others in presenting his arms and turning slowly.
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Rattus tries to steer the shuttle.
He grabs the wheel.
"Hang on guys! I got this!" He turns back to the ursine doctor. "And you Doc!" He smiles. He turns to D'vost. "It looks really tough but this rats done the Absalom Run and that's TOUGH."
He safely lands the shuttle. He cracks his knuckles and smiles.
"See guys...no sweat!"
- - -
Once inside the city he looks around.
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Oddman opens his four arms and does a spin. Then he moves forward until he's 15 ft. from them and asks:
"Who do you worship?"
"My! Such forthrightness!" declares the copaxi with the tall, symmetrical antlers--the one named Therseis-- as he steps forward. None of the copaxis carry weapons or wear armor; they are dressed for a day of research and social interaction.
"Thank you for responding in kind to our greeting." they say. "It is a long tradition in our culture. We copaxis are not familiar with the traditional greetings of Pact Worlds natives. Some of my colleagues feared that you may try to get us with physical contact!"
"As if it were not obvious that any physical contact would be inadvisable unless it has been specifically invited!" Therseis replies, pointing to his antlers, which appear quite smooth in appearance. "As for worship among the copaxi? Our society is not uniform in this regard and different beliefs may hold greater sway among the different colonies. Certainly, The Endless Horizon and The All-Code each count some followers on Tabrid Minor. Still others strive to replicate the perfect forms of the First Vault."
Therseis pauses for a moment, as if considering their words rather carefully, before adding, "Most copaxi, though, hope to avoid divine attention, rather than bring its focus upon themselves."
"But, please," they add quickly, "Let us head to he research office, where you may meet with the rest of our team and we will make formal introductions. Please join us, won't you?"
Once in the office, Therseis introduces the members of the team:
"This is Bryanisis. A biologist." says Therseis, gesturing--from a socially acceptable distance--to a jagged-antlered copaxi. Bryanisis gives a silent nod, then takes a step back.
"Next, allow me to introduce Gnaucara. A physicist and our pilot." says Therseis referring to a copaxi whose antlers are curled like a ram’s horns.
"We have seen your shuttle." noted Gnaucara, "But surely you did not travel all the way from the Pact Worlds in such a small craft. It would not be capable for Drift travel! Or would it? You must tell us!"
A spiky-antlered copaxi steps forwardly eagerly, the exoskeleton of their chest, unlike those of the others, takes the shape of an insignia. You recognize the insignia instantly as that of the Pact Worlds. "We are Panacula." says the copaxi, not waiting for introduction. "We are an archaeologist and also a geologist." The copaxi scans the party, noting, "Your physical features are very different from one another. Are you each from the same planet?"
Looking at furry, uplifted bear and ysoki, comparing them to the shirren and formian, and then--ignoring the necrotic figure--settling their gaze on kasatha they then ask, "Do you interbreed?"
"Yes, we would very much like to get to know you." chimes Therseis.
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"Do you interbreed?"
"Wow, they are equally subtle as Oddman. " Thinks to himself.
THen looks at his allies.
"Our races<click> come from different planets<click>. However given time, a lot of aliens <click> moved to different settlements<click>. Creating more diverse places.<click> With regards to interbreeding <click> it is possible between some races, not with the others. <click>"
Considering his response as sufficient he looks at them
"We would gladly <click> learn about you<click>. The symbol of your exoskeleton<click> can you shape it?<click> What is it's meaning?" Asks shirren.