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Stefani re-targets her weapon on the zombie that Damonkayo is still fighting, muttering something under her breath about stubborn vesk.
Gritting her teeth against the shock from the exploding zombie, Recorva brings her rifle to bear on the remaining one. Taking sim, she allows excess energy to go into the shot before releasing it at the undead.
Reeling from a hard-hitting strike, Damon contents himself with taking potshots from the corner of the room.
Between Stefani and Damon's blasts with their disintegrators, the last cybernetic zombie destabilizes and detonates!
When you get the chance to examine the computer here, you realize that it is the server for all of the building's other computers. This master computer terminal contains modules for the building’s lighting circuits, messaging network, and data storage.
"Well that was refreshing," Stefani says as she tries to flatten out her flyaway hair. After a moment she gives up trying to fight all the static in the air and swaps out the battery on her weapon.
"So is there anything in there," she gestures towards the server, "that was worth this?"
Shabad shields her face from the electrical burst and her bio-capacitors harmlessly discharge the remaining electrons over the next few seconds. Shabad momentarily is sheathed in a halo of tiny motes of light.
"Is everyone okay?" she asks as the others filter back into the room. She expects everyone to be fine, being a tough lot, so she doesn't wait for a replay and begins picking through the remnants of the cyber zombies, picking up junk tech to use in fabrication. Then she looks at the computers.
"Best if we can find a card reader before anyone tries to hack this. It's well protected, which means there's likely some juicy information. It will be a big shock if whoever tries to crack this firewall fails, so it's probably best if I do it, since I have some defenses against electricity."
She looks through the remains of the zombies and through the rest of the room for any key cards.
There are no key cards in this room.
"How about I stay as well Shabad? Having someone to help might make the difference between success of failure on this system." While the others step away from the computer, Recorva will stay up next to Shabad, ready to help her out on getting into the computer. She makes sure that they are the only two within the area of danger before they she does anything.
"Here, before you do that, why don't Damon and I take another walk around this place. Maybe we missed the keycard somewhere," Stefani suggests.
"Here, before you do that, why don't Damon and I take another walk around this place. Maybe we missed the keycard somewhere," Stefani suggests.
Damon hefts his disintegrator rifle and grunts. "Right behind ya, let's go on a creepy scavenger hunt."
"Rain can go with you. I can offer him excess processing power to let him keep up with you two."
Rain looks at Stefani and Damon, sliding his manipulating hands out of his chest to give each of them a thumbs up as he nods. He then retracts the arms back into their housing in his chest.
As you head along the north hallway, a silver nameplate on the wall outside one office catches your eye. It reads, "Kaeon Rhyse."
A matching chair sits behind a mahogany desk in this spacious office. A pair of filing cabinets stands against the eastern wall. A map of a vast city covers most of the western wall, studded with many silver pins in seemingly random locations.
Searching the desk, you find an electronic frame haphazardly shoved into a drawer alongside other office detritus. When powered on, the frame cycles through holographic images of a young adult male verthani shaking hands with a gray-haired human man in medical scrubs, walking across the stage at a graduation ceremony, posing with verthani children in front of a school, and other happy-looking memories.
In addition, you find a laminated key card. It displays a picture of a smiling verthani male in his late 20s and is labeled “Kaeon Rhyse, Executive Director.” The face on the badge is the same as the one featured in the frame’s images.
"Gin!" Stefani proclaims, holding up the keycard with a smile. She ignores the rest of the personal items as nothing more than distractions. "Back to the others!"
"Back to the others!"
"Hold up, Stef." Damon picks up the electronic frame, comparing it to the keycard in the human's hand. "We've seen this guy before. He was at the resort, remember? Bigshot with guards? Left right before everything hit the fan."
Damon picks up his comm unit. "Doc, we've found somethin' you might wanna check out before tackling that server'o'death."
Having been waiting on the others to return before doing anything with the server, Recorva looks over at Shabad. "Sounds like we should head over to them and see what they found. Could be important." She takes a step towards the door, waiting before exiting so that they don't split up the group any more than they have already.
Shabad leaves off her study of the computer defenses and joins Recorva in seeing what the others found.
Shabad nods in recognition of the suit on the key card. "Target acquired," she says in an exaggerated AI monotone.
She turns her attention next to the map on the wall. "That's Cuvacara. This facility is right about here," she adds, pointing to a sector of the map. She frowns as she notes the pin locations. "Not sure what those are, but I'd guess they may be people who have been infected. If so, the city might be in for a crime wave."
Shabad rummages through some of the drawers other other possible places to hide things. "Hello!" she says as she finds a couple of computer chips. After examining them, she says, "Two spell chips. I can put them in my computer and they act like prepared spells. One hides a person from security cameras and magical means of detection. The other I might want to use when I try to crack that computer. It gives me a little bit of prescience to avoid disastrous mistakes. Was there a computer in this room?"
The computer in this room has been wiped clean, but when you return to the server room, you use Kaeon's key card to help bypass the defenses and hack into the system.
A data module within contains information about the development of Penumbra, a new social media app created by the company. Penumbra is described as a private infosphere accessible only to its users. Those who purchase and download it can share video recordings, status updates, pictures, and their current location with other users. User feeds are broadcast through signal transmitters around Cuvacara, Penumbra’s test market. The module also refers to something called the “Penumbra protocol,” according to which Eclipse will broadcast a new type of signal to each comm unit on which Penumbra is installed.
The computer holds several files describing the planned installation of signal transmitters around Cuvacara. An image of the same map found in Kaeon's office contains three sets of coordinates for Eclipse engineers to install this equipment. A document explains that the test conducted at New Elysium is going according to plan. Cuvacara will host stage two of the trials in approximately 1 week, when Eclipse broadcasts the Penumbra protocol to all devices that have Penumbra installed. Additional recovered memos reference Eclipse Innovations’ new headquarters, a black site on Verces’ Darkside, though no coordinates are listed for the facility.
"Wow. Is that the same s#+~ they were broadcasting before that drove everyone bonkers? This'll be even worse," Stefani says with a shake of her head. "We either need to shut them down or get the f++# out ASAP."
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"Wow. Is that the same s*&* they were broadcasting before that drove everyone bonkers? This'll be even worse," Stefani says with a shake of her head. "We either need to shut them down or get the f~%% out ASAP."
"I don't think this is something you can run from. Maybe for a year or two, but before you know it space will be clogged with creepy masochistic psychopaths. If you wanna get as old an' pretty as I am, we're gonna need to burn this out from the bottom up."
Damon studies the map with the locations of the signal transmitters. "I say we scour this place for any info on this broadcast tech and then go blow that s$++ up. If we make enough noise, we might trigger a response big enough to trace back to the black site."
Shabad makes sure she has a separate record of the coordinates of the transmitters. "Looks like our itinerary includes a tour of this fair city." She also makes copies of the relevant files as evidence of the crime being committed and in case it holds clues that may be needed down the road.
"Let's check out the rest of this place. Any rooms along this hall we haven't checked yet?"
You search through the rest of the building. In the northwest corner is the marketing department, featuring two personal comm units running the Penumbra app. Accessing the computers here gives access to spreadsheets of sales reports and projections that show the recent release of Penumbra was well received, with 60 percent of city inhabitants purchasing the app within 48 hours of its release.
In the center of the building is a workroom featuring rows of beige plastic cubicles. Each identical cubicle contains a metal desk and swivel chair, differentiated only by various personal items such as photographs and kitschy paperweights. The green carpet and off-white concrete walls provide a bland, unimaginative decor, and potted plants adorn each corner of the room. Screens on the walls cycle through holographic images of outdoor scenery accompanied by motivational phrases: "Persevere." "Collaborate." "When we all work together, we win together."
Six verthani feverishly work on computers here. They appear haggard and emaciated, and ignore your presence.
Screens on the walls cycle through holographic images of outdoor scenery accompanied by motivational phrases: "Persevere." "Collaborate." "When we all work together, we win together."
"This is the creepiest thing yet. These aren't normal, are they? Please tell me this is some Conqueror-damned masochism and not something Pact Worlders do."
Six verthani feverishly work on computers here. They appear haggard and emaciated, and ignore your presence.
Damon whistles sharply. "Hey! Eggheads! Work is closin' up for the night, time to head home!"
"Maybe these are test subjects for the Penumbra app. Corrupted workers might take pleasure in working non-stop. The evil suits would consider it a win-win, I'm sure."
Seeing an empty work station near the east door, Shabad sits down and begins to play with a computer, using Kaeon Rhyse's keycard, if it helps.
Attempting to use the computer seems to enrage the employees, who rise up as one to attack! They hurl random pieces of office furntiture at you, but they don't prove much of a challenge, and you are able to dispatch them easily.
Shabad is then able to access the computers. Information about Penumbra can be found here as well, identical to what was found earlier. There's also an Eclipse Mail module, an inbox for office messaging. A group message titled “Relocation” details internal preparations for a move from the HQ building in Cuvacara to a new location on the planet’s Darkside. This message is addressed to all personnel and is signed, “Kaeon Rhyse, Executive Director of Software Development.” No coordinates are given for the new location, though.
It seems you've learned all you can from this building.
Shabad copies what files seem useful and informs the group of what she found. "I think we have all the information this place has to give. Time we check out these coordinates for the transmitters."
Shabad uses the Infosphere to get detailed maps of the areas around the coordinates.
Checking the local infosphere reveals basic facts about the three areas where the transmitters are located. The first location is the Blue Room, an infosphere cafe in the Southeast Facet rumored to be a hacker den. The second location is a black-market cybernetic shop in the city’s Northwest Facet run by a ysoki named Scuttle. The third location is the Lizard Lounge, a vesk-owned club in the South Facet.
With several minutes of searching, Shabad uncovers more information about the various sites:
Blue Room: The Blue Room is a small infosphere cafe among dozens of its kind in Cuvacara’s Southeast Facet, the city’s tech district. The cafe is open at all hours and is owned by a verthani named Liander Vaz, who frequently picks up shifts when understaffed. Rumor has it that the hacktivist organization Syzygy either co-owns the cafe or has close ties to Liander Vaz.
Cybernetics Shop: This cybernetics and weapons shop is located on the ground level of the Northwest Facet, an impoverished area known as the Shade that is infamous for its criminal activity. The shop’s owner, a ysoki mechanic named Scuttle, maintains ties to several local gangs, and the area is not well policed. Scuttle sells both stolen and legally acquired items at outrageously inflated prices, but he has enough clout within the local crime scene to protect himself from unsatisfied customers. Anyone with proof of allegiance to a Cuvacaran gang may qualify for a “friends and family” discount. Scuttle, who normally loves technology, has loudly refused to buy the new Penumbra app and has discouraged his close associates and employees from downloading it. He claims to hate social media, but his acquaintances don’t recall him being outspoken about this fact in the past.
Lizard Lounge: The Lizard Lounge is a popular nightclub located on the 30th floor of the Apex Building in Cuvacara’s South Facet. It is a typical bar and dance club that does brisk business around the clock in the restless sunset city. Celebrities frequent the establishment and enjoy its private balcony, which boasts a stunning view of Cuvacara. The Lizard Lounge’s owner, a vesk immigrant known as Boss Zurnala, values brains over brawn and prefers a refined life of luxury to the battlefield. She relies on the stereotypes about her race to gain an edge over those who underestimate her intellect, and employs a staff of vesk bouncers to protect partygoers at her club. Boss Zurnala’s best friend and favorite customer is Silvene, a male damaya lashunta who works as a high-class escort in Cuvacara. Silvene frequents the lounge and brings his wealthy clients there.
Recorva attempts to examine the office workers bodies, but isn't able to tell much. She then turns her attention over to the information Shabad is turning up about where the transmitters are located. Glancing them over, her attention is drawn to the cybernetics shop, or more accurately its owner. "This Scuttle individual seems awfully suspicious to me. Perhaps he might know something about this whole situation?"
"This Scuttle individual seems awfully suspicious to me. Perhaps he might know something about this whole situation?"
Damon cracks his knuckles and grunts softly. "Seems like a good place to start. Looks like the Lizard Lounge might have the best protection, so I would like to learn more about these transmitters before cracking that skull."
"So we're shutting them down," Stefani says with a nod. She gives Damonkayo a shoulder nudge. "Looks like we get to blow more s+&& up."
It doesn't take too long to make your way from the West Facet of Cuvacara to the Northwest Facet, heading towards Scuttle's shop. The golden glow of evening light fades to near blackness within this maze of murky, shadowed streets illuminated only by blazing neon signs. The few pedestrians in the area move quickly, heads down and clutching their valuables, as they speed past stone walls crowned by razor wire and adorned with colorful graffiti. The squalid buildings here are characterized by boarded windows and metal doors riddled with bullet holes. Located near a two-way intersection, one such entrance is adjacent to a large, intact storefront window displaying a variety of tech from weapons to cybernetic augmentations. Neon block letters above the door simply state, “Open.”
Recorva catches a glint of light off of armor behind you, belatedly realizing that your group is being followed!
Before she can shout a warning, however, two mercenaries step out from behind the cover of a trash compactor and open fire on the strix! One slug pierces her armor.
Two more shots ring out from above as bullets slam into Damon and Stefani. The wounds glow with magical power as energy engulfs the vesk and the soldier, entangling them! You can see the shots came from two blurred figures on a rooftop nearby.
Recorva reels from the impact from the railgu, but then quickly assess the situation. Through her mindlink circlet, she sends a quick telepathic thought to the rest of the group. {Rain and I will head after the snipers.} She then takes off, flying down the road at a roughly 45 degree angle up towards the snipers.
Following Recorva, Rain dashes along the ground below her, getting to the base of the building beneath the two snipers. Getting there, he places his front two legs against the wall and engages his climbing systems. However, he is unable to begin climbing just yet.
Stefani snarls in frustration as she attempts to maneuver her weapon into a position to fire at one of those following them.
Dodging Stefani's shot, the mercenaries begin to advance slowly, firing upon the soldier. One slug strikes her in the shoulder. The snipers switch to laser pistols as Recorva flies up towards them, shooting at the strix! She dodges the first laser, but the second burns into her side.
Shabad is lost in dark thoughts seeing all the signs of crime and still suffering from the side effects of the nightmares and shadow corruption. The attack catches her off guard and she is slow to decide what to do, with so many attacks coming from so many directions. But as her teammates take action, she snaps out of it and draws spell energy and directs it at one of the mercenaries on the ground. A nimbus of green energy shoots forward exploding silently close to the target, releasing magical nanites that convert water vapor into caustic acid
Caught in a web of magical energy, Damon roars in frustration. With surprising agility, the old vesk performs a powerful backflip, cleanly escaping the arcane snare. Fixing his eyes on the mercs with the rail guns, Damon launches into a full-on sprint, gathering a fiery aura like a comet crashing through the evening atmosphere. Closing with the mercs, he slams into one of them, drowning them in a wave of plasma.
Seeing that Damon is seeing to those in the rear, Stefani attempts to free herself from the chemical webbing.
... but finds herself going nowhere.
She instead turns her frustrations on the snipers.
Wincing in pain, Recorva continues flying up, gaining altitude as she passes the two snipers along the roof. Turning in flight, she aims her rifle at one of them and takes a single shot. She pours excess energy into the shot, letting it build up before firing.
Rain begins advancing up the wall towards the two snipers, getting halfway up the wall this turn.
Recorva strikes one of the snipers, causing the verthani woman to cry out in pain as the laser blast burns into her side. Rain continues to clamber up the wall.
Damonkayo disentangles himself before rushing at one of the mercenaries. He fails to push the man back, but the flames surrounding the vesk still scorch him.
Shabad blasts the same mercenary with magic, the acid sizzling and melting through armor and flesh alike!
Stefani fires up at the sniper Recorva shot, but the edge of the building provides the verthani cover, and the soldier's shot disintegrates only some of the stone.
The mercenaries quickly draw their skyfire swords, flames erupting along their length as they slice at Damon, though the vesk only takes one hit. The snipers duck back behind cover before popping out at shooting at Recorva, one scoring a debilitating trick attack!
Shabad relaxes as the firefight changes to a sword fight that's 50 feet away from her. She concentrates and extends a hand toward the merc without acid burns. Another green glow darts from her hand to explode in their face.
+ 5 per turn for 3 turns
Recorva wings her way around, turning as she ascends a little further in order to get on the roof a short ways away from the two snipers. If possible, she finds a location to land that provides her with a measure of cover from the two of them. She levels her rifle at the two of them, but doesn't do anything this turn.
Rain clambers his way up the rest of the wall, getting to the top of the wall right next to the two snipers. Activating his hammer, he swings it at the already wounded individual. He does so in a way that keeps himself from overextending, keeping his own defenses up at the expense of his attack.
Catching only a glancing blow from the flaming swords, Damon chuckles darkly. "I think this one's above your paygrade, kids." Plasma pours off of Damon's armor like a waterfall, obscuring him in a haze of intense heat. Without warning, he sprints around the two mercs in a circle, trapping them in a ring of fire.
"Nova!" As soon as the word leaves Damon's lips, the microfusion rifle on his back vanishes, reappearing near-instantly in his hands. The vesk grins as he bathes the firetrap in even more plasma.
Stefani tries one last time to escape the chemical bonds and is finally successful.
She then takes aim at one of the snipers.
Recorva takes cover while Rain makes it to the top of the roof. The drone attacks one of the snipers, but fails to hit.
Damon takes a hit as he runs a blazing orbit around the mercenaries. He draws his rifle and blasts both of them with radiation. Shabad strikes the other mercenary with acid, setting up a chain reaction upon him as well. Stefani misses with her rifle shot.
The mercs quickly switch back to their rail guns before shooting at Damon, though his armor absorbs the impact of their slugs. The snipers change their aim to Rain and fire on the robot, one scoring a debilitating hit!
Shabad draws her semi-automatic pistol and holds it with both hands, aiming at the mercenary she just dowsed with acid. After squeezing off a careful shot, she advances 30 feet, keeping her pistol aimed at the melee with Damon.
"Come on! I thought we were all professionals here - surely you can do better than that!" Egging on his foes, Damon runs another flaming circle around them, but this time he cuts inward, stopping right between the two. With a roar, the vesk thrusts a claw into the business end of his microfusion rifle, ripping apart the miniature star and subsuming its energy into his armor. Glowing with the rage of a dying star, Damon lets the energy loose in a massive thunderclap, jettisoning waves of plasma in every direction.