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As Spanner debates performing his self diagnostic, we are Friday, December 28, 318 AG, and you are on Absalom Station.
AG stands for After the Gap.
Some cultures collapsed in fire and famine, but most societies, faced with no other choice, simply gritted their teeth and carried on, either attempting to piece together their traditions from the unreliable shreds of the past, or else using their amnesia as a chance to reinvent themselves, unshackled from whatever they might have been before. Those races that reproduced faster had the advantage, as children born into a world without recent history accepted the fresh start as natural—new historical records and memories held firm, and that was all that mattered. Gradually, order reestablished itself.
Today, roughly 3 centuries after the obscured period now referred to as the Gap, most societies view the historical cataclysm with little interest, save for the cryptoarchaeologists, salvagers, and scientists who attempt to unearth and reverse engineer wondrous artifacts from the lost age. For everyone else, the focus is on creating new history, moving ever onward and upward.
No one has ever been able to say for certain what caused the Gap, as even the gods themselves remain steadfastly silent (or ignorant) regarding the matter. Nevertheless, theories abound, the most popular being that the Gap was a quantum ripple effect caused by the discovery and use of Drift technology, a hole torn in history and traveling backward in time, possibly entangling our timeline with those of alternate universes. Others argue that the Gap was caused by whatever magic whisked away the planet Golarion, a magical resonance that stretched forward and backward, its tremors gaining strength until they eventually shattered the fundamental structure of time.
What is known, however, is that while the Gap is universal— and a combination of carbon dating and astrochronology suggest it lasted several millennia—its edges are geotemporally inconsistent. Where one star system might have accurate records stretching back 300 years from the present, worlds in different parts of the galaxy might have 310 years of history, or only 275. Some scholars have even uncovered rare “caches” within the Gap—places where accounts seem suddenly consistent for a given period or topic. For an organization like the Starfinders, locating these scattered bread crumbs and syncing them up with ancient pre-Gap records may yet hold the key to unraveling the greatest mystery of the universe.
The ascension of Triune changed all that. While the solar system had always had gods dedicated to machines, even back to confirmed antiquity, they’d always remained relatively minor. Yet exactly 3 years after the end of the Gap in the Golarion System, a new deity revealed itself: a divine network integrating Epoch, the machine-built deity of Aballon; Casandalee, the god of androids; and Brigh, the clockwork goddess. Calling itself Triune, this new collective consciousness vaulted to prominence by providing mortals with access to a heretofore unknown hyperspace dimension called the Drift, reachable only via technology and granting easy travel to distant stars. For a relatively low price, ships could now acquire a Drift engine that let them slip quickly between star systems.
In the wake of this revelation, a land rush began. The adventurous and disenfranchised sought opportunity in new colonies. Corporations sought resources and freedom from regulation. Governments sought to expand their territories. Yet as quickly as it began, this exodus hit its first hurdles, for many “new” worlds were already inhabited or bore strange contagions inimical to life, and predatory civilizations both vast and incomprehensible lurked in the dark between the stars. New races flooded the Pact Worlds in turn, coming in peace and in war, forcing the worlds to come together for mutual protection and in shared appreciation for all they held in common. Today, space exploration remains rampant and lucrative for citizens of the Pact Worlds, but it’s still a romantic pursuit and fraught with danger.
For the next 250 years, the two systems would remain each other’s greatest threat, skirmishing over planets outside the direct authority of either autonomy, or else engaging in limited space battles along the cordons between their systems, too evenly matched for either to commit to a full-scale assault. This so-called Silent War finally came to an end in 291 AG, when a vast, world-devouring entity called the Swarm attacked both systems simultaneously. In danger of being completely overrun, the Veskarium—as the reptilians call their empire—and the Pact Worlds signed a formal alliance, together managing to force the Swarm out of their region of space. Yet while the alliance put an end to active hostilities and opened both systems up to trade with one another, citizens on both sides recognize that the alliance was one of convenience and could fall apart at any moment.
Fortunately for the Pact Worlds, not all extrasolar contact was so violent. The insectile shirrens arrived in 83 AG, bearing nothing but goodwill and quickly integrating into Pact Worlds society. Kasathas, who appeared in 240 AG on the massive worldship Idari, proved less willing to be assimilated wholesale, yet they quickly established themselves as valuable allies. Although other sentient creatures hailing from beyond the Golarion system occasionally arrive, brought back by Pact Worlds explorers or homing in on Absalom Station’s powerful Drift beacon, the already incredible diversity of life-forms in the system means that most such creatures can easily blend in and take up residence, provided they don’t stir up too much trouble.
More info' page 428 of the Core Rulebook
Founded shortly after the Gap, the Starfinder Society was inspired by incomplete tales of a similar pre-Gap organization called the Pathfinder Society. The Starfinder Society originally aimed to map the temporal edges of the Gap and piece together the history of what transpired during that tumultuous event, ambitiously endeavoring to find lost Golarion. Since the Society’s inception, its mission has changed to focus less on the Gap and more on exploring a galaxy made accessible due to the spread of Drift beacons.
The heroes of the Starfinder Society travel the breadth of the galaxy—from verdant jungle worlds where even a fingernail-sized insect is deadly, to seemingly abandoned space stations filled with unspeakable horrors, to ruined temples of dead gods hidden amid the ruins of similarly dead worlds, and to the bustling streets of the metropolises of the Pact Worlds. Starfinders work in small but efficient groups to explore the known and unknown, recording their findings and bringing them back to the greater organization for dissemination.
Most Starfinders operate out of scattered regional headquarters called lodges, which dot the galaxy. Each lodge is home to a venture-captain and that officer’s staff, who provide direction and support for field agents and manage the day-to-day operations of the Society. The Lorespire Complex stands apart from other lodges. Located in Absalom Station, the Lorespire Complex is always accessible to even the farthest-flung Starfinder expeditions due to the unique ability for ships to quickly travel the Drift to reach Absalom Station. More than a single building, the Lorespire Complex is a campus of structures built around the eponymous spire. The Archives, the Hall of Discovery, and other edifices integral to the Society’s ongoing existence fill the grounds of the Lorespire Complex.
The First Seeker is a Starfinder elevated above her peers. This Starfinder is elected based on the merit of adventuring experience and personal field of focus. Each First Seeker uses her appointment to prioritize the Starfinder Society’s primary research focus, using the position to advance a personal scholarly pursuit of value. Once a First Seeker’s term has ended, that First Seeker can never again serve as a leader within the Starfinder Society. The thrust many of the Starfinder Society’s missions are the result of the First Seeker’s goals—luckily, those same agents who perform these missions are integral in deciding who receives the honor of ascending to the rank of First Seeker.
The Forum is an elected body of Starfinders who work to coordinate the Society’s many operations. Integral in drumming up the necessary support to elect a First Seeker, the Forum also assists the elected First Seeker in completing her personal mission. Any Starfinder can ascend to become a member of the Forum, and membership does not stop one from partaking in other activities. In fact, many faction leaders and venture-captains are active members of the Forum in addition to their other duties. Many other Forum members are experienced Starfinders who hold no title beyond their appointment to the Forum.
The third pillar of the Society’s leadership is Guidance, a network of uploaded personalities of exemplary Starfinders. Most First Seekers are invited to upload their consciousness into Guidance, and only those deemed unworthy or who perish in their mission fail to become part of the Starfinder Society’s spiritual anchor. Guidance functions in two major ways: it’s the first entity to formally induct new Starfinders into the organization, and every new Starfinder begins his or her careers by receiving a commencement address from Guidance. The uploaded bank of personalities also confirms the election of new First Seekers, and while historically Guidance agrees to the democratic decision of the Society, there have been a handful of cases where Guidance has not approved an elected First Seeker.
Every Starfinder contributes to the overall success of the Starfinder Society. Some do so through diligent research, rarely leaving the teeming Archives of the Lorespire Complex. Others prefer to explore the relative safety of the Pact Worlds or the appropriately titled Near Space, where civilization remains only a short jaunt into the Drift away. The bravest Starfinders travel to the other ends of the galaxy, using the Society’s starships to explore the endless expanse of space known as the Vast.
So, as I said, the date is Friday, December 28, 318 AG, and you are on Absalom Station in the Lorespire Complex
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A couple days later, on December 30, 318 AG as you are enjoying Castrovelian Eggnog in the Cantina, or looking at the Skittermanders "helping" string up the holiday illuminations, your comm unit beeps.
It is a summons from Venture-Captain Arvin , that damaya lashunta you have already met or at least heard of: Immediate briefing in my office at the Lorespire Complex on Absalom Station.
So, as a good Starfinder, you move off to obey the summons.
Arriving in the office, you see Venture-Captain Arvin stand up from behind his desk.
“Welcome Starfinders. As time is of the essence, I felt the interruption in your New Year festivities was warranted. Please take a seat."
Venture-Captain Arvin gestures to the chairs in his office. He folds his hands behind his back before continuing.
“This morning I received an official contract from the Marixah Republic. What is the Marixah Republic, you ask? The Republic is a small starfaring nation located in Near Space. What is Near Space, you ask? I hope you know the answer to that. The Republic have been involved in an ongoing conflict with another nation in Near Space, the Gideron Authority, but the conflict between the two powers has recently escalated. Escalated how, you ask? A few days ago, Gideron sent a scouting flotilla into the Acalata system, where the Republic has several mining colonies. The Marixah settlements detected the incursion, and they fear this event might be the precursor to a contained invasion of Acalata, so they’ve begun evacuating their settlements and operations within the Acalata system. During the evacuation, the Republic identified several sites of archaeological interest. The contract we have with the republic is that we are free to explore the ruins on the planet Sansorgis. In return, we provide aid in the ongoing evacuation.”
Arvin sits down at his desk and pulls out a small stack of datapads and six little objects wrapped in foil.
“I have secured diplomatic documentation for all of you, establishing you as investigators from a neutral party. There are two sets of documents.”
Arvin carefully hands out the small datapads and then holds up a second, larger datapad bearing the Pact Worlds emblem.
“Keep those datapads with you at all times, as they could save your life if this conflict escalates. Your individual documentation on the smaller datapads should suffice, but if not, this larger pad contains several documents granting you a measure of diplomatic immunity by the authority of the Pact Worlds. It’s something the Society rarely invokes, and you should only use it if the situation is dire. What is dire, you ask? By dire I mean your starship is about to explode or you’re being boarded. That level of dire. Its use could potentially draw the Pact Worlds into this conflict, something we would rather avoid. I know this is a lot of information to take in, but I don’t want to send you to a potential warzone unprepared. I have also sent a small info package--"
Your comms units beep.
"--regarding the situation to your comm units. Your preferred starship will be transferred immediately to the docks. Unless there are any questions, please pack as quickly as you can. The window of opportunity on this mission is short.”
He then hands one of the small objects wrapped in foil to each of you.
You discover it is a Barathu-gumball from Bretheda.
Arvin smiles:
"Happy New Year. They are all different flavors. Can we trade, you ask? Yes, but not in my office. Questions?
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Ratatat bows to all in the room and says, "Hello everyone. I'm a warrior pursuing studies in the philosophical art of war. At this point in my career, I'm most interested in the doctrine of shock and awe."
Ratatat pulls out a pulsecaster rifle in one hand and says, "Please meet my dear friend, Shock..."
Then he lifts up a massive red star plasma array in his other hand and says, "...and my other close friend, Awe!"
Turning to Arvin, Ratatat asks a few questions, "Now, it's not my forté, but has anyone tried reaching out to the Gideron flotilla diplomatically? Yes, I'm prepared for a fight but diplomatic solutions are always preferable over military ones, no?
"Secondly, what are our mission goals exactly? Are we to explore the ruins and perform just a general survey of the sites? Or are we to assist in the logistics of the evacuation?
"And thirdly, is there anything you can tell us about our contact Corporal Kalyavata? Is he/she trustworthy? Someone the Society has worked with before?"
Ratatat begins eating his gumball right away....
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Arvin looks at Spanner:
"What exactly is your mission description, you ask? To restate: travel to the planet Sansorgis in the Acalata system. Provide any aid the colonists on the planet need to evacuate. Then, travel to the designated archaeological site to perform an inspection. Transcribe - digitally, of course. And don't go leaving your gumballs laying around either - as much information as can be found, and bring any important relics contained within the site back with you. In other words: Evacuate, Inspect, Report."
Turning to Ratatat, Arvin says:
"Mission goals, you ask? Answered just now. But, more precisely: since we don’t know what state the ruins are in I cannot be more precise. Then be more general, you ask? Well: if it is still accessible, bring back any relics, art, or information you can find. Bring back anything that might prove useful. If it is nothing more than foundations, map them.
As for the Gideron flotilla and diplomacy, you ask? Neutrality I answer. Not our game. What can we do if the Gideron Authority tries to stop us, you ask? The documents I provided you with establish us as a neutral party in this conflict. So, remain neutral. While we are there to provide aid, it is simply a business transaction. Our form of payment, the chance to explore those ruins, is just a bit more unorthodox than usual.
What if things truly escalate, you ask? My answer: you can use the second datapad I provided you with to invoke diplomatic immunity. But only use that as a last resort.
If you can dissuade any Gideron aggression with a bloodless starship fight, that’d far better than using these documents. I care greatly about your safety, but getting the Pact Worlds potentially involved in a war is a situation best avoided if possible.
The least Shock, the less Awe, the better.”
Arvin thinks for some seconds: "Corporal Kalyavata, you ask? She has a nice voice is all I can say."
As Ratatat begins eating his gumball, Arvin smiles:
"Oh! Lucky you! You Eoxian-bone-marrow flavor, rare!"
Then Arvin looks at all of you:
"The Drake or the Pegasus, you ask? My answer: yes.
Indeed, you’ll likely want to take a Drake or the Pegasus, but the ultimate choice is up to you. Both ships have their own strengths and weaknesses, though the Drake’s increased armaments might help deter any issues if the Gideron Authority shows up. Whichever ship you choose will be ready for you in Docking Bay 27 when you are ready to leave. Docking Bay 94 being used as a mustering area right now."
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The Umbral Dawn is a very serious looking lashunta man, dressed in a flowing red kimono embroidered with golden dragons. He is handsome, graceful, and unpleasantly intense, with a stern, judgemental gaze and a burning temper that he barely has under control.
"You are all lucky, for THE Umbral Dawn, the dragon blooded Battleflower of Triaxus, is here and ready for battle." He clenches his fists, which briefly glow with a golden light. "May the gods have mercy on anyone who tries to stand in my way."
"I would prefer the Pegasus, for it is a far more graceful vessel than the clumsy Drake. With it we will glide through the endless black of space like a shadow drake taking flight."
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As Spanner is fumbling around with his memory banks, unsuccessfully trying to recall information on the groups involved, he does pull up information from Absalom Station Infosphere: Sansorgis, a.k.a. The Dustbowl, a mineral- rich planet in the Acalata system. The world hosts a mining outpost of the Marixah Republic. Its dry climate doesn’t lend itself well to agriculture, preventing larger-scale colonization, but its high yield of rare metals offsets the cost of having to supply the outpost from off-world.
Sansorgis - Diameter: ×1; Mass: ×1; Gravity: ×1; Atmosphere: Normal; Day: 2 days; Year: 1 year
As Ratatat kicks back he waits to see what other flora will arrive.
After the briefing, Ratatat will head over to the Cantina to have some drinks with the Starfinders coming and going from their missions, and the base personnel on a break, to see if any have some information to share.
Between drinks and finger food, Ratatat learns that while the species that form the citizenry of the Marixah Republic came together during the Gap, the republic wasn’t formally established until the aftermath of the Gap, when the constituent planets realized how far they were from other systems. The Marixah Republic formed a democratic government to better represent the different needs and wishes of its diverse population.
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The pale-skinned half-orc says little during the briefing, barely lifting the brim of his hat enough to make eye-contact. His form, rather slim for that of a half-orc, is draped in a lengthy, brown duster that has obviously seen better days.
As the Venture-Captain speaks, the tusked Starfinder considers what he knows of the two aggressors.
Content he likely knows more than the others in the room, the man known as "Harrowed Jack" flashes the slightest of grins, but says no more until asked.
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The Gideron Authority used to have an elected council as a ruling body, but in a recent coup, the military has taken command of the government.
Very little information has left the Gideron home system or its colonies since the military coup, making it hard for diplomatic parties to properly assess the situation. The information that does emerge appears to be mostly propaganda. Their starship captains are reputably bloodthirsty and often shoot first and ask questions later when entering a conflict zone.
The Pact Worlds have very few formal ties with the Gideron Authority, and the only solid link between the two nations are covert arms deals provided by the Zeizerer drow household. Most Gideron ships employ powerful ramming prows that make them deadly when engaged at close range.
While the species that form the citizenry of the Marixah Republic came together during the Gap, the republic wasn’t formally established until the aftermath of the Gap, when the constituent planets realized how far they were from other systems.
The Marixah Republic formed a democratic government to better represent the different needs and wishes of its diverse population.
While the conflict between the Gideron Authority and the Marixah Republic has so far been restricted to space battles, fears of ground invasions or incursions escalate with each passing month.
Since the Marixah Republic has vehemently maintained its status a sovereign territory, the Pact Council has remained split on whether to provide aid, despite the brisk trade that the two systems enjoy with one another.
Scholars surmise that the Marixah Republic contains a relatively high number of hobgoblins because hobgoblins maintained an empire of their own in the same section of space prior to the republic’s formation. Many Marixah outposts are located near ancient hobgoblin military installations, and the Acalata system is believed to contain at least one such complex.
As the last of your group arrive and introduce themselves, you ask your last questions, while Arvin asks: "Have you picked which spaceship you will be using? And have you determined who will be piloting, manning the guns, and all?"
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"Ysoki! You dare to mock me! The battleflowers of Triaxus are insurmountable warriors. We dance a deadly tango of death with blades as thinly delicate as the petals of rose and even sharper than its thorns."
"Ysoki! You dare to mock me! The battleflowers of Triaxus are insurmountable warriors. We dance a deadly tango of death with blades as thinly delicate as the petals of rose and even sharper than its thorns."
"I believe that I should be the captain of this vessel. But be warned, if you will accept me as your captain, know that I will not tolerate laziness or incompetence. You are all supposed to be trained professionals and should not require being coddled like small children. I will only allow the best from my crew and I intend to get it."
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An arthropod sits quietly in the corner of the room as the briefing commences, eyeing it's candies with interest. 'Eat now...eat later....eat now....eat later....eat now....'
Suddenly, a shriek rings out in your heads as it shoves the ball into it's golden mandibles. 'I WILL EAT IT NOW!' A strange clacking sound emanates from the creature somewhat resembling a strangled chuckle.
Glancing up, it inquires telepathically 'So...what race are these things? I like investigating new races! It's a lot of fun to choose for oneself what one does.'
Turning to its fellows starfinders, it inclines its head slightly and offers 'I am Xochitl T'zek, but you are free to call me Xo.'
'I do prefer to talk down violence, but when it is required, I can wade into the battle with confidence. I agree with the angry thing...The Pegasus has proven to be a good ship.'
Looking over the stranger, you notice a pulsating gauntlet strapped to one of it's clawed hands, while it's smaller arms are hidden somewhere beneath armor. A strange black orb revolves about it's head.
Once all discussions have completed, it heads towards the local watering hole to observe the strange customs there and inquire of their potential foes...or allies to be.
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As you all remember and learn information, the entire group picks up on the following, like Harrowed Jack did. And this answers Xo's question: it seems there'll be a lot of races!
Very little information has left the Gideron home system or its colonies since the military coup, making it hard for diplomatic parties to properly assess the situation. The information that does emerge appears to be mostly propaganda. Their starship captains are reputably bloodthirsty and often shoot first and ask questions later when entering a conflict zone.
The Pact Worlds have very few formal ties with the Gideron Authority, and the only solid link between the two nations are covert arms deals provided by the Zeizerer drow household. Most Gideron ships employ powerful ramming prows that make them deadly when engaged at close range.
While the species that form the citizenry of the Marixah Republic came together during the Gap, the republic wasn’t formally established until the aftermath of the Gap, when the constituent planets realized how far they were from other systems.
The Marixah Republic formed a democratic government to better represent the different needs and wishes of its diverse population.
While the conflict between the Gideron Authority and the Marixah Republic has so far been restricted to space battles, fears of ground invasions or incursions escalate with each passing month.
Since the Marixah Republic has vehemently maintained its status a sovereign territory, the Pact Council has remained split on whether to provide aid, despite the brisk trade that the two systems enjoy with one another.
Scholars surmise that the Marixah Republic contains a relatively high number of hobgoblins because hobgoblins maintained an empire of their own in the same section of space prior to the republic’s formation. Many Marixah outposts are located near ancient hobgoblin military installations, and the Acalata system is believed to contain at least one such complex.
As the last of your group arrive and introduce themselves, you ask your last questions, while Arvin asks: "Have you picked which spaceship you will be using? And have you determined who will be piloting, manning the guns, and all?"
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"No, no. Not mocking you...uh...battleflower...?" replies Ratatat.
Ratatat quickly shoots Arvin another sideways glance.
In response to Arvin's query, "I believe I'll be taking the pilot's seat and as we're going into a potential conflict zone, the Drake is the ship we're taking."
Ratatat looks over at his teammates to see if there are any objections.
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You will eventually make your way down to Docking Bay 27, and choose the Starfinder ship you want.
On board, once your pilot, Ratatat, has gone through the checks, and you all take your positions, Ratatat takes 3 minutes to start the thrusters.
Once they have warmed up your pilot exchanges messages - and pleasantries - with Absalom Traffic Control (ATC), and moves your vessel into departure orbit.
hours
Then Ratatat deactivates the thrusters, mandatory manoeuver before using the Drift engine. He then remains stationary for the obligatory minute... and engages the Drift engine, homing in on the Drift Beacon coordinates given by Arvin and transmitted to ATC.
Praise Triune!
Your vessel slips from the Material Plane into the Drift, this mysterious space that seems to link all the various Planes of existence.
And then you're off, moving through this pinking kaleidoscope.
Since your engine is a simple one, a Drift 1, you take a full 15 days to reach the Beacon's coordinates.
The journey is mostly uneventful.
You do pass a smile fiery island, with some strange magma-creatures, that float by you.
As you know, every time you enter of exit the Drift, a part of some Plane somewhere is ripped apart... a side effect of Triune's gift, or some deliberate plan?
Anyhow, other than the bland food for two weeks, you will make it safely to your exit point.
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Spanner will take some time to research The Gideron Authority (Take 20 for 25 total) and the Mixrah Republic (also Take 20 for 25).
Spanner is confident in his roll as Science Officer. He familiarizes himself with the controls, making small tweaks to the interface for his own preferences, and running tests and diagnostics.
"Science station is operational."
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Dariox will have sat through the mission briefing quietly, letting the more experienced agents in the room ask questions of the Venture-Captain. As the other members of the group head out to start gathering pre-mission intelligence, she pays attention to the manner in which they do so.
Once the team gets to the starship and begin traveling to their destination, she spends most of her time either typing away on her small computer or staring out at the swirling kaleidoscope of the Drift outside the ship.
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After a fortnight onboard the Drake, where you found that someone had scratched an inscription in the head: Obozoya was here, Ratatat stops the thrusters and engages the Drift engines to exit back into the Material Plane, where the Drift Beacon is located.
Just as the Drake pushes back into the dark black of deep space, beep beep, the ship's computer gives off a warning.
The science officer reads the warning flashing on the screen: Solar particle event in progress in the system. A proton storm is occurring.
The good news is that the coordinates indicate you are where you should be, near Sansorgis.
If the science officer is curious, and the long trip has not dulled his mind, he can deploy the ship’s scanners to scan the storm and learn more about this phenomenon.
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Spanner's clumsy fingers press two or three buttons at the same time, and nearly freeze the whole system.
Thank Triune, he is skilled, and the computer a bit advanced.
The sensors spit out their reading of the surrounding space
Ratatat plots a course towards Sansorgis, and you move towards the planet.
When, suddenly, your proximity alarm sounds out.
It appears a starship smartly used the proton storm as a distraction to get up close to the Drake without being detected.
The ship has moved across your path, is blocking your approach to the planet.
Beep - beep - beep, the starship is hailing you.
On the bridge's screen an image appears, displaying a muscular female in a stylized military uniform . You recognize her as a hobgoblin.
"Salutations! Captain Odrakor of the Gideron Authority starship Susumu’s Sword speaking. Please identify yourselves."
When you scan through your sensors, you see the vessel itself.
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Listening to the discussion of its crew for but a moment, Xochitl raises a spendly finger and mumbles 'I's will reply.'
'Hello good captain. We thank you for allowing us a chance to reply. We are here for a diplomatic reason. We do not wish to harm ourselves against your wits or vice versus.'
'I am Captain Xhochitl T'zek and it pleases me to speak with you. Never seen one of your kind before and while it's not our mission this day, I constantly search out new races. I am a Host Shirren by the way, in case you were unaware.'
'This ship is known as the Drake for your records. We are aware of the unpleasantries occuring in this region of space, but truly hope we can avoid being involved. We are here for humanitarian efforts. You see, some innocents have been caught in the crossfire and we are hopeful to evacuate them before things become untenable.'
Pausing a moment, it releases the button as it considers the discussion before pressing it once more. 'Does this please you? Would you permit us to pass and do the good works of Hylax? We promise not to dilly McDally and be on our way in a speedicious amount of time.'
'Is there perhaps something we could do to aid you while we are here? Remember, we have no desire to fight...but if forced into it, we can hold our own.'
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Ratatat reminds Xo (out of comms earshot to the hobgoblin), "The papers indicate we're purely neutral - that our presence is a simple business transaction. Transporting non-military innocents out of a high tension zone and in exchange we are allowed access to explore sites of archeological interest. We're not taking sides in any conflict...ultimately we're mostly interested in archaelogy."
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Nodding slowly to the pair, Xochitl produces it's small datapad and broadcasts to it's companions 'Remember, we don't want to use the big one if we don't have to.'
Calmly reactivating the com unit, it replies 'Oh, but of course. I wouldn't dream of coming through your space without the proper documentation. One moment and my crew will send you the data stream needed.'
Releasing the button, it again turns towards the crew. 'Spanner, go ahead. Only send the bare necessities though. We don't wish to instigate any troubles in the Pact Worlds yet.'
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A few seconds after Spanner beams the data stream, an answer comes back from Captain Odrakor: "We do not acknowledge your insurgent, Marixah-provided, documentation. As a kind and benevolent gesture from our great country, we only demand that you depart the system immediately. Or else I will seize your starship in the name of the Gideron Authority. Have a nice day."
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Ratatat says on internal comms, "I agree with the flower screamer. We're here legally and non-threateningly. They can even scan us after we've picked up evacuees to prove we're not moving military assets.
"But if they decide to take an unnecessarily aggressive stance, we'll have to defend ourselves.
"I think I know where this discussion is going..."
Ratatat tightens his grip on the controls as he senses impending combat.
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As Spanner starts to scan, the Susumu's Sword's countermeasures kick in, but are too late or too weak to block your sensors.
The display indicates: Medium explorer class vessel. Speed: 8 stellar knots. Good maneuverability (turn ratio of 1). Drift engines Mk 1. Hull armor indicator 18. Anti-Targeting Lock 15.
Just then, your screen flashes: as the enemy ship's weapon arrays start target locking on the Drake.
And Captain Odrakor signs off with: "As expected you are an aggressive agent of subversion. We are forced to defend ourselves. You may surrender at any time. Long live the benevolent and beloved Gideron Authority!"