[SFS, Campaign Mode] GM Blake's Against the Aeon Throne

Game Master Blake's Tiger

Unsurprisingly, nobody is willing to lend a bunch of complete strangers a ship to use to hijack an Azlanti vessel. Fortunately, you have your own reasonably armed ship. Approaching the paranoid schreedeep, Glest, and asking him for help results in a several minute episode of shrilly screamed questions about your motives following which he accuses you of trying to kidnap him and he slams the shield closed on his stall. However, when Haro goes back to talk with Half-Red, the tiny cephalopod informs him that he can hack into the Azlanti shipping network to find the shipping schedule.

After two hours of work, the aquakinetic alien finishes his hack. He conveys to you that he has found a cargo ship called the Relic will be passing close to Outpost Zed soon. He indicates that you could, obviously, set out to intercept the ship, or he could--at great risk to himself--try to lure the Relic to Zed under the ruse of hiring the ship to transport goods into Azlanti space proper.

Given their two options, Haro thinks it would be better to intercept the ship themselves, rather than put Half-Red at personal risk.

"I believe we could disable the ship and commandeer it without the need to put you at risk, friend. You have already done much for us."

Lors nods, "The debt we would incur would be too deep; we can face them without the artifice."

"But, I like 'artifice'." Rril sighs quietly.

"Let's disable, I mean intercept, this Relic." Steve gleams as he drums his fingers on Oonopidae's frame. He sets her back to in teh direction of their ship, eager for a bit more mayhem, but first he needs some coffee.

You make your way back to the Hunter's Bounty and, after a few system checks, set out on an intercept course for the Azlanti transport vessel, the Relic. Within a few hours, you are approaching from the Relic's port side.

At this point, you have the Azlanti transponder. If you want to attempt some sort of ruse to get into an even more advantageous position, go ahead and attempt to whatever you wish, likely requiring a Bluff check.

If, however, you want to move to battle stations and jump right into the action, the other vessel will know you have hostile intentions--per standard Starship combat rules--and you may perform Engineering phase actions (Engineer, Science Officer).

Starship combat map on top of slide deck (you're the green ship).

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 10 + (5) = 33 Antenor hails the ship, "Greetings! So we were doing a routine test of some new-fangled sensors that we just installed. We picked up an anomoly on your starboard aft bulkhead. Some kind of bio sign. Better safe than sorry, give us a second and we'll come around and get a visual. I'm sure it's nothing, but it would certainly suck to have some kind of alloy eating monster tardigrade!"

Off hail, "Quick, maybe if they buy that we can get a preemptive scan without raising their suspicions."

Oh, that was a beautiful roll and role play, but... does Antenor speak Azlanti? In honor of the effort, move your ship to any hex no closer than 5 hexes and any facing before they realize that was Pact Common. Or anywhere and get off your free scan if Antenor's profile isn't up to date and he does actually speak Azlanti.

Haro finds himself believing Antenon's ruse, if just for a second.

Could I translate what he says as he says it?

No (or rather, yes, but that would rely on your own Bluff roll and modifier, so not as cool).

Man, I should have picked that up! Thanks for the thrown bone! Placed. Irony, almost every last one of my characters since I started playing in the late 80s is a polyglot... and Antenor is one of the few who aren't!

Placed!

Steve watches his soaps on a small screen as his crew deals with the logistics. Nobody seems to want to let goblins deal with negotiations for some reason. Giving a small gasp he wipes cheese dust all over the console, before licking his fingers.

alloy eating monster tardigrade

This catches his attention as his head snaps up. "Where? On my ship?" A flame rifle snaps to his hands, flickering on.

It takes a moment--the bluff delivered with such convincing sincerity--before the Azlanti transport vessel realizes that they were just addressed in Pact World Common. Then battle stations are engaged!

Engineering Phase
Engineer, Science Officer, +/- Captain

Upcoming: Helm Phase
Pilot Initiative: Move first if your initiative is 27 or less.

I'm pilot, yes? Will wait to see if anyone in Helm uses computer bonuses.

I'm pilot, yes? Will wait to see if anyone in Helm uses computer bonuses.

I believe that Del had been our Science officer. I assume Rril wouldn't have jumped on since the plan was to shoot them before they knew what was happening, right?

"Battle stations! Target those shields, but gently! We don't want to blow this thing up like we usually do! Once their shields are down, we can hail them again."

diplomacy to encourage gunner: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Sounds good, let's do this. Using one of the tetranode bonuses.

"Alright, let's send up their Azlanti arses!" Piloting: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 1 = 18, but then blows it.

"Blasted Bollix up! Hang on to your butts, I'm going to pull back, hopefully we can keep them in our sights!" Back Off stunt: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 1 = 29

"Where the hell was I a second ago!"

Steve twists the dial, pushing all available power into the engines. "Whip it around and smash into them!"

Engineering: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

The small Azlanti cargo shuttle makes a break for it!

Gunnery Phase

Oof. Sorry guys. I didn't expect them to flee right off. I should have listened to Steve.

Rril sighs. "Well, we can't have them running off and tattling on us." He lines up an aeon torpedo and fires.

Gunnery (aeon torpedo) w/computer bonus: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 5) = 9

Always listen to the goblin! :P Your life will be shorter.

"There's too much debris this close to a travel lane. The laser's going to diffuse at this range..." Lors grumbles as she lines up her shot.

Laser Cannon (Computer): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 - 6 = 16
Damage: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 1, 2, 4) = 11

Lors is an excellent shot, but her assessment of the interference with the lasers is accurate. Fortunately, the Azlanti transport's targetting is equally affected. Rril gets a target lock and fires. The aeon torpedo begins chasing after the Relic.

Engineering Phase
Engineer, Science Officer, +/- Captain

Upcoming: Helm Phase
Pilot Initiative: Move first if your initiative is 21 or less.

Initiative: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 = 27

The agile transport jukes and flies off in another direction. The torpedo gives chase.

Moved the Azlanti. Moved the torpedo, which will hit this turn.

"Get them!" Steve stands up pointing to the vid screen. "They are getting away. Ram them. RAM THEM!" He pushes more power into the engines.

Engineering (Divert Power Engines): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Hmm. I need a better way to confirm nobody's doing Science Officer in a given round than waiting...

Helm Phase
Gunnery Phase
Captain at the Captain's Leisure

"Light it up!" Evasive Maneuver: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 1 = 18 Success

"Second verse, same as the first." chimes Rril as he releases a second torpedo.

Gunnery (aeon torpedo) w/computer bonus: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 9
Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 4) = 8

Watching the torpedo disappear into the depths of space, he quietly corrects, "Well, not exactly the same."

Worth using a reroll?

Haro watches in some alarm as the torpedo goes well off the mark.

"Come on, Rril--you got this!" he says.

diplo to encourage gunner: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

"Tch. Cargo ships. Always fleeing in straight lines..."

Heavy Laser Cannon (node): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 = 20
Damage: 4d8 ⇒ (6, 1, 4, 1) = 12

The Azlanti vessel begins to take evasive maneuvers as you give chase. The first torpedo catches up and explodes on the aft, damaging its shields. Rril fires a second torpedo but taps the fire command before he can get a target lock. The torpedo launches into space then vanishes and reappears on a more accurate trajectory, but it has no target lock and sails just over the evasive vessel. (all your torpedoes have rerolls due to the quantum property)

Metal slugs scatter around your vessel, but none strike you as the Azlanti's turret fires. Lors' shot hits the vessel in the port shields despite the efforts of the Azlanti pilot.

Status

Azlanti Shields (F */P -12/S */A -9) Hull
Hunter's Bounty Shields (F 10/P 10/S 10/A 10) Hull 70/70
Torpedoes 3/5

I don't think you can beat 31... so move your ship.
New Plan: Since there's only one enemy ship, everyone post your actions, just put your rolls in a spoiler and don't peek if the captain or engineer hasn't gone yet, then I'll modify what needs modifying.

Haro continues to encourage the gunners.

diplomacy encourage gunner: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

What should we do about the different possible fire arcs? Range might also mean we want to use torpedoes or lasers...

Haro continues to encourage the gunners.

"No worries, Phane. I got this." Rril replies, now more determined to show off than before.

I could tie.... Piloting: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 1 = 16 Or not.

Antenor curses and tries to keep up the their butt.

Piloting (Slide): 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 1 = 19

Hmm. I should put the goblin in charge.

Port Firing Arc is available.

The Azlanti streak away from you while firing their turret. This time the transport's gunner manages to hit and the metal slugs take out your forward shield and ruin the paint job. Rril's torpedo finds its mark with a beautiful explosion. Lors hits with the laser even at the extreme distance.

Lors damage roll

OK, that experiment didn't work well.

Engineering Phase
Helm Phase: move first if less than 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

Status

Azlanti Shields (F */P -5/S */A -17) Hull
Hunter's Bounty Shields (F 0/P 10/S 10/A 10) Hull 66/70
Torpedoes 2/5

Turret Lasers: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 1, 3, 4) = 12

Initiative: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 = 21 Antenor pushes it! He tries to keep up.

Gunnery (aeon torpedo) w/computer bonus: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19
Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 6) = 12

Haro smiles, despite things not going as well as hoped.

"You've got this, boys! Bring it home!"

encourage gunners: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Well underway and with the upperhand Steve shoves more power into teh weapons. "Blow them out the airlocks."

Engineering (Divert Power Weapons): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

As you chase down the Azlanti vessel, it flips and streaks towards you. It's gun fires furiously into your cockpit. You weapons targeting array takes damage. The Azlanti vessel takes a torpedo to its forward shields for its effort.

Status

Azlanti Shields (F -12/P -5/S */A -25) Hull -4
Hunter's Bounty Shields (F 0/P 10/S 10/A 10) Hull 55/70
Torpedoes 1/5
Forward Weapons Array: Glitching -2

Lors can fire. Front fire arc is available. This is before the forward array is damaged.

Move ship if less than Initiative: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

"That's right, turn and charge. Test your mettle against us, and we'll see who blinks first..."

Heavy Laser Cannon: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19
Damage: 4d8 ⇒ (1, 7, 3, 1) = 12 So 14 with diverted power.

Pilot: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 1 = 22 "Let's get'em!"

"Like pickles in a barrel, boys! You got'em now!"

diplo to aid gunners: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23