GM Dinketry's Against the Aeon Throne for FoDs and GCP Faithful! (Inactive)

Game Master dinketry

Verne braces at the science station as Jarix navigates off-planet, his harness straining with the gee force.

"Our ship has indeed been enhanced, he observes. "We can only hope that our own upgrades will match those of the Barazad."

As Jellik walks off with Aibretta, JD call out after him. "You still owe me that drink!". He then turns and mutters half to himself, half to the crew "Best drinking buddy I can imagine... can't talk..."

He will examine the ship as he walks through it, sticking his head into various access hatches and panels to inspect the upgrades. As the engines run up and they lift off into the air, he visibly relaxes. He enjoys the minute vibrations for a moment before saying "Good to be back in the air. All that solid ground... It just isn't for me. If I'm gonna die out here, I'd rather die orbiting this rock that on it."

JD will sit at the gunnery station for now, he has a base +5, 3 points in Pilot & 2 dex mod.

"Don't you dare have that drink without me," Mallura chides, "After the hell we've been through the past couple days, I figure I could handle a fifth of sreh myself." She follows her erstwhile crew up into the refurbished Brilliance and smiles at the pristine shape of the ship. "Wonder if AbadarCorp is gonna charge us for tampering with company property when we get home," she muses with a smirk. "IF we survive that is. First things first, I suppose."

She steps around the other stations and sits down in the captain's chair with authority. "Right, Jarix--take us out. JD, Let me know if you need another hand on the guns. Verne, I want all the intel we can get on the Barazad as soon as you can get it to me, then you can focus on making sure our asses aren't hanging out if our shields get depleted. JD or I will make sure you've got the power you need in that regard."

Mal settles back into her seat and looks out the main viewer as the clouds draw closer, "Here we go, team. This is for all the marbles. Let's do this...for Lih, for Asenath...even for that maniac Mayhem. Let's do it for all the good folks tryin' to make a life down in Madelon's Landing."

Jarix pulls the ship off the ground, noting the quick-release and the souped-up engine that he's not used to - it appears that the Brilliance has some more pep to its cylinders.

As reflected in the increased speed (10), but the lack of a Piloting boost to handling the ship (0).

Glancing through the ship's computer in his launch preparations, Verne notes with a tinge of regret that the budget mid-range sensors were not amongst the upgrades to the ship. On the other hand, the responsiveness of the mk 2 duonode computer to his responses is blessedly swift compared to the old shipboard computer. Additionally, the pulse green power core is a steep upgrade from their previous energy source, allowing them to make use of all sorts of new toys, like their enhanced shields.

Just running through some of your upgrades. The mk 2 duonode computer provides a +2 enhancement bonus to any TWO checks during ship combat.

JD runs through the weapons available to his shaking hands, noting a new toy installed in the forward firing arc: a twin laser array!

Lastly, Mallura takes the captain's post and runs through the system specs of the refurbished Brilliance. A few items stand out to the former corporate shill - the defence capability of the ship has been upgraded to mk 4 standards and a collection of escape pods now occupies one of their cargo bays. Hopefully they won't need to use the latter.

As the ship swiftly breaks the gravitational pull of Nakondis, the sky darkens to the familiar purple and black hues of space. For some of you, you have returned home. Mallura and Jarix scan the forward display from the bridge while JD and Verne consult their monitors and scanners.

You know the Barazad is out here, but you cannot see it.

You're not in starship combat....yet. You have a round where each of you may do something, but of course, without an enemy to engage, there's no attack rolls needed. Piloting, Engineering, Science Officer, and Captain checks may be made.

"I don't see any sign of our enemy. Verne, run a scan for us, would you? Hopefully those sensors will give us a position."

Encourage Computers: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

No luck there, so no bonus from me, Verne.

DC16 Engineering, Divert: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

If I can do this out of combat: JD accesses the power core and tries to route more power to the scanners.

"Sending you auxiliary power, Verne"

If allowed, that would give Verne a +2

Jarix slows the ship down about fifteen percent. He wants to give the sensors time to scan at their limits better and have as much time as he can to react once the enemy ship is spotted.

I'll forward this along as it appears that you've all put your eggs in the 'scan things' basket. Those mid-range sensors might be things to consider upgrades for in the future, yeah?

Jarix slows the ship down as the team crane their necks and tap at their monitors, hunting the space within the limits of their sensors. JD curses, recognising the limits to their ship's abilities. If the enemy ship has long-range sensors, we might be a sitting duck...

The target lock alarm blares into life, wrecking the mechanic's train of thought. Just as that happens, a spray of explosive bullets slams into the forward arc, depleting the front shields!

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 164d4 ⇒ (3, 2, 4, 3) = 12 HIT! 12 pts dmg to the forward arc. This depletes the forward shield and gives you 2 pts of hull dmg.
Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 15

In the aftermath of the explosion, the clear form of an emerald-tinged missile can be seen through the heads-up bridge display, careening through space straight at the Brilliance!

It is the Engineering phase of the first round of starship combat! If someone would like to patch the shields, you may move to the Engineering station. The captain may do so as well, or they may act as captain in the Engineering phase.

Well I just learned something new about starships! Apparently there is a limit to what is visible to a starship. However, in doing some reading, I think we should be able to see the rest of the map. According to the rules in Archives of Nethys, "In passive mode, sensors automatically scan the ship’s surroundings. Passive sensors detect visible or unhidden objects in a 360-degree field around the ship at a range of up to twice the sensors’ range category while in space or in the Drift (no skill check required), though local conditions may affect their range." So unless there's some effect from the planet that we're not aware of, we should be able to see at least 20 hexes away, which may have alerted us to the Barazad's position and actually put us on combat footing. Any chance we can get a slight retcon if that does prove to make a difference?

When in active mode, the sensor range is more of a range increment.
Sensors

An excerpt:
Active sensors can discern information about a target up to five times the sensors’ range away from the ship, but such checks take a penalty of –2 for each range increment beyond the first to the target.

As per previous, a wrinkle in the space-time continuum washes across the perceived reality of our heroic crew. Or did it?

Jarix slows the ship down as the team cranes their necks and taps at their monitors, hunting through space for a sign of the enemy ship. Verne, the first to spy the medium explorer-class ship off their port arc on passive sensor display, signals the rest of the crew members. The Barazad lurks outside the first range of their budget sensors. JD curses softly - scanning is going to be difficult. Maybe a new array of sensors will be the next upgrade purchased for the Brilliance, provided they all survive.

Sudden alerts chime from the mainframe and the sensors shift into active mode. Only one thing could trigger that automated action: the Brilliance is being scanned!

BEGIN COMBAT! ROUND 1!

GM Rolls: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 281d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

We are now in the Engineering phase of the first round of starship combat. The above-mentioned scanning is purely for melodrama purposes (i.e. it occurs in the next phase of starship combat), but yes, you will be scanned. Engineers or captains may act! After that, our Pilot and Science Officer (and perhaps our Captain) can act in the Helm phase - you all lost initiative this round, so you get to move first. Don't forget that the mk 2 duonode computer offers a +2 to two separate rolls that y'all make in any one round of combat. Those two bonuses cannot be used on the same roll, BTW. Please move the ship as you'd like to do on the map, but be sure to leave an arrow trail of where you went for me to follow on the map. Use the electric blue colour matching the outline of your ship, please.

No action from me in the Engineering phase. During Helm phase, I'll do what I tried originally and try to give Verne some encouragement.

"Alright Verne, once Jarix brings us in a bit closer, try to get a scan on the enemy ship. I want to know what we're up against if we can."

Encourage Science Officer (Computers): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

There we go! +2 to Verne's next check at the Science Officer station.

Jarix isn't very worried about the scanning. His concern is the weapons fire that will be sure to follow. While he keeps the Brilliance pointed at the enemy craft, he begins evasive maneuvers.

Evade Piloting: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

JD will be acting in the gunnery phase this round

GM rolls: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 261d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 1 = 31

Jarix does what he can to slide their ship into a defensive position to prevent the Barazad from gaining advantage, but the pilot of the Azlanti ship must have taken the good drugs today. The operative watches with interest and horror as the opposing medium class explorer zips and manoeuvres off their port side, well out of their forward firing arc.

Verne, you may take your Science Officer action. JD, go ahead and use your Gunnery phase action. The map has been updated. Again, I'll point out that there are two +2 bonuses to checks your team makes each round coming from the ship computer. I don't see that anyone has used one yet.

Then I will take one!

JD brings up the turret controls and tries to fire as the Azlanti ship maneuvers through space around them.

Gunnery, Missile Turret: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12
Damage: 4d8 ⇒ (7, 4, 2, 4) = 17

I'll go ahead and roll for our Science Officer using the last computer bonus of the round.

Verne's fingers fly over the console as he scans the Barazad.

Computers, Bonus, Mallura: 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 + 2 = 14

Verne reports what he has learned.

(Verne)"Captain, the Barazad is what is known as a vanguard voidsweeper, a common exploratory vessel used by the Imperial Fleet of the Azlanti Star Empire. It is compact and sturdy, but features the graceful, sweeping lines common to the Azlanti fleet. This ship boasts a long-range sensor array and weapons in all but the aft quadrant. Of course, it also has a turret which seems to be fitted with a long range aeon torpedo launcher. Yes, and they've just fired it at us along with their forward quadrant weapon. Incoming."

JD fires the Brilliance's missile launcher, but his calibrated shot needs further calibration and the missile disappears into deep space.

GM rolls: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 234d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 4) = 12 HIT! That depletes your port side shield and damages your hull by 2 pts.
GM rolls: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 103d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 1) = 6 MISS!

Jarix's defensive adjustment turns the Brilliance into the barrage of fire from the coilgun in order to avoid the aeon torpedo. The launched explosive sails past the nose of the ship and explodes harmlessly into space dust! A warning klaxon sounds as the hull takes a light hit.

ROUND 2!

We are in the Engineering phase of Round 2. Anyone choosing to fill the engineer role may act, and of course the captain may do so as well.

GM rolls: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 201d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 151d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 1 = 151d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Moving past the Engineering phase.

The crew of the Brilliance spring into action after the glancing hit to the hull from the Azlanti ship. Unfortunately, the Azlanti ship appears to be moving faster.

You all go first during the Helm phase.

Jarix tries to fly in close to give the gunners a better shot before gunning the engines.

Flyby Piloting: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Does anyone else want to go in the Helm phase? Captain, Science Officer?

"Attempting to balance shields by diverting power from the aft quadrant," Verne reports, fingers flying over the display.

Computers: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

The shields must be balanced as equivalently as possible when re-balancing, FYI.

Verne balances the shields successfully, but Jarix's daring move does not pay off, and the Brilliance's attempted fly-by triggers a reactive shot from the crackerjack gunners on the Azlanti ship!

Attack of Opportunity vs Forward arc: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8 MISS!
GM rolls: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 241d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

The coilgun's propulsive shells explode around the Brilliance, but fail to touch the ship. In the meantime, the Azlanti craft zips around the Brilliance to open fire again on the port side, once again protected by Verne's timely move!

Map updated. We are in the Gunnery phase. I will remind you all once more about the dual node +2 bonus (two of them) during each combat round. We haven't heard from your captain in about two weeks, so I hope they're still active here. Fire at will.

JD brings the turret around and fires again.

Gunnery, Missile Turret: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12
Damage: 4d8 ⇒ (3, 6, 6, 7) = 22

JD blasts the turret gun at the Azlanti ship, but it proves too agile for his targeting programme.

The space battle continues on, but the Brilliance seems outmatched by the Azlanti ship, both in terms of technical capabilities, as well as crew capacity. Though Jarix valiantly keeps the recently-upgraded ship out of range of the majority of the worst of the firepower, the residual damage begins adding up, and with their restricted crew capacity, it isn't long before the Brilliance's mobility is neutralised.

It comes as no surprise that Mallura orders her crew to make use of the newly-installed escape pods. The crew watches from their individual pods as the Brilliance takes a pulverising amount of destructive energy from the Azlanti ship-beast, exploding into a cloud of debris. The Azlanti ship then heads for planetfall. It would seem that the Azlanti couldn't even be bothered to expect that the crew of a ship would have something as foreign as escape pods to utilise. It likely has saved your skins.

But to what end? Drifting in a finite pod with a finite amount of air, water, and food is no way to live, and you all are not even together anymore. Will some other ship come to find you? What of the Stewards? What of Lih Soloroh, still in a medically-induced coma on Nakondis? What of the Fulsons, or Madelon Desi?

These stories will need to be told with different voices. For now, you have all the time in the world to ponder these queries and more. Well, all the time that you have, at any rate.

THE END?