S.E.T. doesn't motive anything else, most of the computers on the bridge seem to have been smashed, and the few that are intact flash error messages. Examining the crystal, they notice that the prongs and such on the metal cap resemble archaic versions of an outdated type of data drive that were present on Absalom Station during the Gap. There is an abjuration aura that is quickly dispersing, which Quitch realizes was in a radius centered around the crystal.
Krizen takes a closer look at the error lights while Quitch and S.E.T. work out the engineering, trying to decipher what little there is.
"Lexie? Lexie, do you read?" Bravo asks into his comm.
”Not pre-Gap,” Quitch says focused on the crystal. ”Still, fairly old. Impressive.” Scratching his cheek, the ysoki thinks for a moment.
”There was an abjuration aura, centered on the crystal,” Quitch says to the group. ”It quickly dispersed.” He looks at Krizen. ”Do you think you could read any data on this using our ship and Lexie?”
He pauses waiting to see if Lexie responds to Bravo’s hail.
Lexie responds, ”I am reading. Glad to see you all are still alive.”
Krizen looks over at Quitch's question. Well, it can't hurt to try. We might have to fabricate some adapters, but Lexie's computer should have the specs for that old-style connection. Worst case, we can check back on-station. Krizen glances towards Bravo when Lexie replies, and keys his own comm unit. We are glad to still be alive, Lexie. Are your scanners able to reach any areas of the ship that were blocked before?
S.E.T.'s ocular sensor goes wide as it contemplates the discovery. "A piece of technology from the Gap itself? This one thought existence had been scrubbed clean of such things. If it is intact with records we can extract, the Society will be most pleased. Still..." It looks about the bridge with a more focused gaze, "The relative lack of of booty is disappointing, notwithstanding that armor and weaponry. No gold? No gems? This one had its backpack and everything. Let us finish searching the rest of the vessel."
The error messages are similar to that of the message on the generator. The specifics aren't decipherable, but it seems to require an update with the time since the last update in the tens of thousands of years. Lexie responds to Krizen's query, "I believe I can. I see very little of interest. No other life signs detected, energy signatures are minimal."
"Apart from that, you guys think there's anything else on this piece of junk of any value, academic or monetary?" Bravo asks the rest of the group. "Only other thing I could think of would be hitching the whole damn ship to the Pipe Dream and towing it through the Drift, but I don't think we were equipped with that possibility in mind."
Krizen muses out loud: No, but perhaps we could tow the ship a little out of the way and equip it with a homing beacon on an unused frequency... That we could return at some point if outfitted for such a retrieval. Once it left the local zone, no one would be able to find it without us. His mind is running faster than his words, as Krizen starts trying to calculate the stresses involved and the amount of cable it would take to sustain an acceleration that wouldn't take years to leave position....
Lexie quips, "Even if I tried my hardest, I couldn't pull that ship without the engine breaking into millions of tiny pieces."
Quitch grins when he hears Lexie’s voice over the radio. ”That’s a good report.”
He fills his clip with rounds. ”Yes, let’s keep exploring. Who knows what else we’ll find. Perhaps something of great financial value. Keep your backpack ready and open, Captain.”
Despite a thorough search of the ship, the party is unable to find much else of value. However, one of the gun turrets seems like it could be salvaged, providing 1BP upon return to Absalom Station.
Krizen looks around after everything has been gathered together. Well, I don't think there's much benefit to staying out here. The longer we stay the more we risk some other group of adventurers chancing upon us - or searching us out to steal our findings. I suggest we head back to Absalom Station and report in.
"We got a way to mark this location in case the Society does wanna come back and get it?" Bravo asks.
A message comes up on the parties viewscreens from Lexie, "I though it prudent to warn you of an approaching space-borne entity. It does seem to be responding to hails."
"S***!" Bravo swears. "We gotta get back to the Pipe Dream! Double-time!" He begins hustling back through the ship to get back aboard their own, before whatever this thing was either blew it up or stole it, stranding them either way!
Krizen saves his breath to run after Bravo, not willing to think too long on the prospect of being stuck on this ship for eternity.
“We got a way to mark this location in case the Society does wanna come back and get it?"
”That’s a good idea, Bravo” Quitch says.
”I’m glad there are no more undead,” the ysoki says. ”I do think the skeleton should be brought back to Absalom. It spoke Common and deserves some sort of cere--” his words are cut off by Lexie’s announcement of an approaching ship. He begins to pick up the skeleton but realizes he can’t carry it on his shoulder and run to the exit with ease. Dropping it he whispers ”Sorry, stranger,” and then follows the others at a run.
The party is able to make it back to the ship fairly easily. Looking at the sensors, the party sees the entity. It seems to be an asteroid, though crawling with...something.
Krizen looks at the scanners and sees the rock approaching with life - or at least movement - on the exterior. I don't know and I don't care what that is, let's get out of here! He immediately starts the required engineering checks to get the ship ready for travel.
”You don’t have to tell me twice,” Quitch pants getting into the pilot’s seat. The metallic clicks of his seat restraints punctuate his words. He quickly scans the screen for the status of the engines and the telemetry of nearby asteroids.
”Secure your restraints, we’ll be experiencing some heavy G’s,” Quitch says. ”Are we fleeing Captain? What are your orders?”
Much to his dismay, Krizen doesn't think the Drift engines will be charged up in time, as Quitch realizes that given the asteroid's trajectory, it will reach the party in around fifteen minutes.
"Give the word, S.E.T., and I'll open fire," Bravo says, warming up the torpedo launcher.
”Engines online,” Quitch says. ”Accelerating rapidly...”
The asteroid isn’t fast enough to compare to Quitch’s lightning reflexes, and so the party is up!
The Pipe Dream is Ship A.
Ship A Helm Phase
* Captain Action: ?
* Engineer Actions: ?
* Pilot Action: Evade
* Science Actions: ?
Ship B Helm Phase
* Captain Action: ?
* Engineer Actions: ?
* Pilot Action: ?
* Science Actions: ?
Ship B Gunnery Phase
* Attack Rolls: ?
Ship A Gunnery Phase[/b]
* Attack Rolls:?
Krizen looks across the board - all lights are green, with no damage showing. He starts working to divert power to the weapons. Bravo, I'm sending the guns more power - make your shots count!
"You got it, Kriz!"
Bravo opens fire on the approaching object.
”Hold on to loose items!” Quitch says as he attempts to pilot the ship with quick lateral thrusts to avoid laser fire but not so much that he interferes with Bravo’s targeting.
”Any idea how fast that ship is compared to us?” he calls out, eyes focused on the telemetry information for piloting.
Quitch, if that asteroid is moving faster than us, let's try doubling back and do a strafing run - we may be able to damage something and build velocity going the other way!
Krizen is assuming that coming form a dead stop to build speed is going to be a losing battle to escape, but thinks there may be a change the asteroid is not very maneuverable.
"Is that asteroid even shooting at us? Does it even HAVE guns?" Bravo thinks aloud.
”Run first ask questions later,” Quitch says. ”Apparently that motto isn’t always the best. Great ideas Krizen and Bravo! Prepare for the turn. We’ll do a flyby, possible strafing fun. SET can you read the sensors and tell us if it has weapons?”
The asteroid careens to the side as small jets of what appears to be gas shoot out of one side. As it moves, it launches something from out of it. The thing flies toward the ship and as it draws near it seems to be one of the mollusk-like creatures that the party encountered in the hull of the wrecked ship. It impacts into the shields creating a mighty splat, along with significatly weakening the front shields.
Whoa! That hurt! Diverting power to the shields - we can't keep taking hits like that!
"Trying to get a fix on 'em!" Bravo adds.
Quitch’s nose whiskers twitch and vibrate as he adjusts the controls for another set of evasive movements. He exhales slowly trying to remain calm, knowing too much tension will hinder his actions.
Bravo fires the torpedoes again.
The asteroid continues to hurtle along. Another insectoid creature shoots out of the asteroid, but it flies far past the ship, careening into the void of space.
[/dice]
Bravo keeps firing.
Almost back to full shields, captain. One more should do it...
S.E.T. calls out at Bravo, "Come on, you can hit that rock!" With the encouragement, Bravo manages to get a hit on the asteroid, blowing off a large chunk of rock. Several more creatures shoot out of it, but hurtle into the void of space past the ship.
Way to go Bravo, do that again!
Krizen looks visibly relieved as shields return to full power. Now that the ship as safe as it can be, he works to re-route the extra power back to the guns.