[OutPost II] SFS 1-33: Data Breach (Inactive)

Game Master GM Red

Hudathan, Sovyal, and Chikasa examine the plinth. Sovyal thinks it might've been used as an archaic stone table for a dining room. Chikasa has a better idea as to what the plinth might be for - it looks like its dimensions match that of a data core, and the disconnected power cables further the ysoki's idea. Hudathan finds that the power cables are lying in a pile to the west and aren't connected to anything.

Moxie Moon listens closely - the hum sounds mechanical or electrical in nature. A constant, soft hum. Almost white noise-like.

The area is free of magical auras, and Hawthorne doesn't find traps on the blast doors. Upon his inspection, he notes the sturdiness of the metal. It seems trying to break them down physically would be futile, or painful at the very least.

Current Map

"The sound is probably the climate control systems," Hawthorne answers Moxie. "The agent mentioned increasing the temperature to make the core easier to hack, but he also mentioned that the temperature controls were well engineered. Does anyone have the means to make the room hotter? Before I open these blast doors."

Just to clarify terminology: we've basically got a stone table upon which a giant data core could rest and cables to which such a core might be connected?

Yup, that's exactly right.

"The controls seem not to be in this room." Mnamae-6 takes careful look around as well.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

"If that is the case, we have little option but to move on." He, together with his drone, circles around to the northern door, and listens carefully through. He does not like surprises coming up from behind them.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Hawthorne turns toward the card reader, the LED on the side of his head flickering madly.

"I am beginning the door hack," he says.

Computers/Engineering (Hack/Open Door)(Take 10): 10 + 18 = 28
Remember hack directory if it is a computer lock with countermeasures.

"They must've moved the data core," Chikasa says solemnly, "Did they know we were comin'? Ah well, let's know assume the worst quite yet. Let's see if we can find our way into the climate controls here." The ysoki moves to join Hawthorne and help him bypass the room's lock.

Auto-aid both Computers and Engineering makes that check a 30.

BTW, I'm trying to be 20 ft away from the card reader. I had assumed it was near the door.

Once the rest of the team fill him in on the purpose of the stone plinth, Sovyal begins to stroke his mustache. "Ah, a clever move on the part of our hosts. But I question their choice of heat sink for their data core. Surely a material other than stone would be appropriate?" He narrows his eyes at the structure, suspicious, but not knowledgeable enough to work out the reason behind its existence.

As the more technically minded members of this crew begin to tackle the key-card reader, Sovyal draws his laser pistol in his right hand and steps to the side of the doorway.

Hudathan knocks on the plinth with his knuckles, chuckling. "I say good choice. Strong." He smiles, obviously lacking in computer skills. He then moves forward to the doorway, laser cannon ready.

Mnamae-6 listens behind the door to the north closely, but hears little from the other side. Hawthorne expects something to trigger upon his hack attempt, and so he stays far from the doors. Yet after only a few moments, the slot turns green with a beep, and the doors slide into their respective feeds to the north and south.

Beyond the blast doors, a ten-foot-wide alcove lies, and beyond that is an immense, roughly octagonal room approximately a hundred feet wide. The chamber is lit throughout from regularly spaced lighting panels set in the ceiling. The room is spotless and strangely empty. The walls and ceilings are starkly white, while the floor is a mix of metal and cobalt blue. At the center of the room is a huge column of humming computer equipment that runs to the ceiling and rests on a twenty-foot-wide black square base.

Map updated. If you are moving in, please also move your pawns on the map.

Moxie cautiously enters the room, scanning up and down for any signs of danger.

"Wow, this room is pretty intense. Be careful everybody. There just has to be some kind of counter measure in this room."

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

"There are almost certainly countermeasures within the computer," Hawthorne says. "But I was expecting a more robust physical resistance."

He scans the path in front of him for triggers.

You know when the GM brings out the 100ft wide room that something is going to go down :>

"Physical and electronic both, I would say Hawthorne. The informant oversold our friends here. Their defenses have been... puerile at best." He sniffs as the blast doors open. "And I believe we have our prize." He joins the mechanic and envoy in scanning the room for threats as he enters.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

BTW, what are those pyramids in the corners supposed to be? Also how tall is the ceiling? Also, you describe the floor as a mix of cobalt blue and metal, are these different tiles, and what does the cobalt blue material appear to be?

Sigh, posted last night but forgot to hit submit...

"I would not be so hasty, Sovyal. I expected more defences than this and there is time yet for surprises." Mnamae-6 sends Tilly up together with Hawthorne while he stands beside Moxie with his weapon drawn.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Chikasa moves in as well, allowing the others to do check for traps, as their eyesight seems much keener than his own. He moves up beside Mnamae, however, and begins scanning for magical protections once again.

Move in and cast Detect Magic directly ahead

Hudathan moves at the front of the group, his gun swaying from side to side. "Good visibility. If there are defenses, they have seen us. This will be a glorious battle." He nods in approval of the firing range the group is walking into.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 1

It's a little harder to adjudicate this particular room given the nature of PbP - but given Hawthorne and Sovyal's posts, it sounds like they are looking for traps as they move ahead. However, it isn't until they move past the short hall that the following happens, and they're a little too far from the floor panels to see them before getting that far. I hope that you guys are okay with this. I moved back Hudathan and Hawthorne slightly in fairness.

@Sovyal: 20 feet ceiling. The pyramids are.. well, you're about to find out! And the cobalt/metal tiles are for flavor only.

As the party passes the entryway, four panels slide open in the corners of the room, out of which rise four rods that hum and crackle with electricity. The 4-foot-tall rods are gleaming, metallic implements that resemble chess pawns.

An alarm blares, and then something metal moves behind the computer equipment. It's unclear what it is from where the party stands, but the EMP rods certainly don't look inviting...

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
The whole party
????

___
The EMP rods can be disabled individually with an Engineering check as a standard action.

Sovyal throws himself to the side as the room begins 'activating' and ends up rather close to one of the four strange electrical devices. He uses it as a bit of cover against whatever creature is approaching from behind the datacore. Then, noticing the potential danger of the tesla coil nearby, he opens a panel on its side and checks if there's something obvious to cut to disable it.

Engineering: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Move action to move north, standard to try to disable.

Hawthorne moves between the EMP rod in the southeast corner and the computer system. He releases his nano-anacites toward the nearest EMP generator. The LED on the side of his head flickers blue-green and then stops on solid red.

Move: Move 25 ft
Standard: Disable mechanical device

Engineering: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
So disappointing.

Engineering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Hudathan moves to the south side of the room, not noticing the new combatant. Hands busy, he gets to work on the electical tower. As he works, he whispers to himself. "Red means power... Black means ground... Red means power... Black means ground..."

Was there anytime earlier that Mnamae-6 could have taken 10min to recover SP?

With the two nearest EMP generators taken care of, Mnamae-6 races towards one of the those at the back, keeping his rifle trained on the metallic being behind the structure.

... while Tilly is set forward as well as a shield for him.

Unable to move quickly enough on his own feet, Chikasa activates his jump jets to propel himself toward the southeastern pylon. As he comes to land beside the device, he keeps repeating Hudathan's mantra, "That's right big fella: 'Red means power, black means ground.'"

Fly 30ft on my jump jets, then auto-aid Hudathaan's engineering check.

Lacking engineering skills, Moxie moves into the room and gets ready to shoot at any hostile robots that emerge from ceiling.

@Mnamae-6: Yup, that's fine.

Hawthorne's attempt to disable the rod works, and it begins to descend back into the floor - unfortunately, it looks like it will take another round before the rod is completely disabled - that is, until Sovyal gets close enough to disable the control circuit, and the rod falls away into the floor panel.

Hudathan and Chikasa also work together, with Hudathan tearing out the power wiring and rerouting it to ground. Chikasa keeps him on task and focused.

Afterwards, whatever was behind the computer makes itself known: a four-legged, four armed bot whose head seems to rotate 360 degrees crawls out towards Hawthorne.

A blue light flickers on the bot's head, and then the room goes dark. The lighting touch pad adjacent to the blast doors also goes dim.
Turning the lights back on requires being adjacent to the lighting touch pad and a DC 16 Engineering check to reactivate it.

The two active EMP rods crackle and discharge an enormous, deafening burst of electromagnetic energy. Luckily, no one is close enough to be hit.

DC 13 Engineering to identify the bot.

Active Conditions
Darkness

-- Bold is up --
The whole party
Bot

Current Map

Hudathan marches forward, a big grin on his face. He slings his Corona laser around and into his other hand. The vesk looks at the robot, eyeing it up and down. "I hate spiders..." He sends a large blast of laser into the robot's chest.

Corona Laser@: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
DMG@EAC: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 8) + 4 = 15

Mnamae-6 can see in the dark but not his drone. But since Mnamae-6 is closest to the NW EMP rods, he'll go for that. Not sure if it is critical since the two active ones don't seem to do anything.

Mnamae-6 quickly fires off a shot as he takes off to EMP rod at the end of the room.

azimuth laser rifle vs EAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 fire dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
There should be cover bonus from the computer.

... while sending his drone to move to provide some support to Hawthorne, even if it has no night-vision capabilities. Something that needs to fixed at some time.

"Do not let the EMP generators damage the computer core!" Hawthorne says as he circles around the robot toward the southwestern generator and readies his railgun. He fires a quick burst of plasma at the guardian.

Engineering (Identify Robot), Library Chip: 1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 14 + 4 = 33

12-notch plasma fork, no modifiers: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 Does not use ammo on miss.
E&F, no boost: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

So... Special Attacks, Regular Attacks, Special Defenses, Resistances, AC

Moxie moves into the center of the room and tosses in of the sticky bombs right under the robot's feet.

Sticky Bomb I, Reflex DC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Duration-Entangled: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6

Sovyal mentally thanks the Stewards for their helpful gift as he dashes southwards to get a clear shot at the robotic defender. "Ah, it seems we have a rusty old piece of scrap barring our way. How quaint." He smirks at the robot. "How about you go stand in an EMP blast and save us the trouble, you pile of junk?"

With condescending haughtiness uttered, he draws an icy pistol as he moves and fires a quick shot at the robot. (I'm assuming he needed his hands free to do the disabling earlier.)

Calignous Shadow Pistol: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Shadow Pistol damage (C): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Do the EMP generator blasts reach towards the core, or are they just focused around the pillars?

The blasts you saw last round from the two EMPs that are still active were directly to the east (not really in the direction of the core).

Hawthorne identifies the bot, a Core Defender-Class Security Robot. His AI supplies the following data:

Hudathan's laser charges with enough power to blow a perfectly circular hole through the bot's mechanical body.

Hawthorne tears another layer of sheet metal off with a blast from his plasma gun.

Moxie Moon throws a grenade that explodes in a mess of sticky, resinous nanotech fibres, but the robot leaps over it with all four legs.

Mnamae-6's vision is obscured by the giant computer, and his blast fires wide, as does Sovyal's.

Combat Map
-- Bold is up --
Chikasa, Sovyal, Moxie Moon, Hawthorne, Hudathan, Mnamae-6
Core Defender-Class Security Robot (-23)

Chikasa engages his jump jets again and hovers over after Hudathan. "Don't you go leavin' me all by m'self, now," he shouts over the din of battle as his allies open fire on the security bot. Once he lands, he turns and slaps the side of the vesk's laser. "There ya go, big fella! Now you'll do some real good with that thing!"

Move 30ft via jump jets, then cast Supercharge on Hudathan's Corona Laser.

Sophia relays the tactical data through the Starfinders' linked comm channel.

>>> Warning: Magnetic Manipulation, proximity limit 30 feet.
>>> Warning: Nanite Repair
>>> Warning: 360 degree sensors

Just as Sophia lets everyone know about the bot's abilities, a faint whirr begins to emanate from the bot's head. It increases in volume until its near-defeaning, and then stops with a sudden bang. Everyone but Sovyal and Mnaemae-6 (and his drone) feel their weapons and armor - anything metal - pulling sharply out in random directions.
Chikasa, Hawthorne, Hudathan, and Moxie Moon should make a DC 12 Reflex save or become staggered for 1d4 rounds.

The bot then rotates its head and skitters back behind the core.

The two active EMPs release electrical energy once more, but no one is close enough to get hit.

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
The whole party
Core Defender-Class Security Robot (-23)

Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Between his natural reflexes, synaptic accelerators, and overclocked cerebral implants, Hawthorne is able to keep up with the random gyrations caused by the magnetic field upon his equipment. He follows the robot toward the back of the room while releasing a stream of nano-anacites into the closest of the remaining EMP generators. The LED on the side of his head flickers red.

Engineering: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19
This is just embarrassing.

Sovyal dashes forwards, rolls across the tiles, and then hops to his feet with a swish of his long coat that disguises the path of his pistol's movement. "Why, I would never have guessed anyone would program cowardice into their Guard robots. Allow us to put you out " He fires without warning. "-of your misery~"

Using my entangling weapon fusion on this shot as well.
Entangle Duration in rounds, if attack hits: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Trick Attack (Bluff): 1d20 + 13 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 13 + 4 = 33
Calignous Shadow Pistol: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Calignous Shadow pistol damage (C); d8 is trick attack damage: 1d4 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (5) = 9
If Trick Attack is successful, enemy is flatfooted vs. all until my next turn.
Challenge (Demoralize): 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 14 + 1 = 30
If enemy is shaken, the shaken penalty also applies to their weapon damage rolls. Also, they are off-target for all attacks except those made vs. Sovyal for the same duration as shaken.

If that's a hit vs. flatfooted, the robot is: Entangled, Flatfooted, Off-target vs. non-Sovyal individuals, Shaken, and applies Shaken penalty to damage rolls. Whee!

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Moxie leaps out of the way of the robot's magnetic blast, saving herself from being pulled off balance.

She continues to dash forward, stopping to fire her sonic pistol at the robot as soon she has a clear shot.

Sonic Pistol vs EAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Sonic Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Staggered rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Chikasa shouts in alarm as his staff begins to fly out of his hand and his armor begins pulling in the opposite direction. He desperately flies further over toward Hawthorne and one of the remaining EMPs.

Move 30ft via jump jets.
Two rounds of Staggered remaining.

Hudathan looks up at Chik-Chik with a scowl. "Oye! Don't touch my.... ooh, now it hums..." His mouth turns into a grin as he turns to the robot with a murderous glare.

Reflex, DC 12: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Just then, his gun nearly gets pulled out of his hands! "Noooo..." He growls and pulls up the weapon for a desperate shot! With a squint of his eye, he shoots around the intervening cover. I ignore the first two points of cover.

Corona Laser @ bot: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
DMG@EAC: 2d8 + 4 + 4d6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 + (2, 6, 6, 2) = 24

Mnamae-6 dashes the remaining distance to the pylon at the back. "Let me see what I can do with this" Activating his custom rig stored within his left forearm, he gets to work to disarm its mechanisms.

engineering: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

... while sending Tilly to move up towards the robot, raising its longspear to get ready to strike.

Hawthorne and Mnamae-6 advance on the unstable rods, and both manage to disable the power chips.

Being staggered has little effect on Hudathan's determination. Or on his massive, supercharged corona artillery laser, which vibrates wildly in his hands, just begging to be fired. He obliges, lining up a shot at the bot's metallic torso and releasing a beam of pure energy. The beam comes within inches of Sovyal and Tilly, and Sovyal watches half his 'stache curl up from the heat exposure. The beam continues on and fries the bot beyond repair, reducing it to smoldering scrap and bolts.

Out of combat

The computer core awaits, though a look at its components reveals remote access will not be possible. The user interface is a holographic keyboard, and the screens seem to respond to gestures and voice commands.

Hawthorne walks over to the large computer core. He rests his armored hand upon the casing, and then the image of a hellhound's head flashes across the holographic screen so quickly you wonder if you imagined it.

"I anticipate that I will need assistance," he says over the integrated comms in his helmet. The LED changes back to blue and begins to flicker. "If anyone can figure out a way to heat the room, it may help in our efforts to gain access."

Once everyone is ready, a slender tendril emerges from his custom rig and datajack through his helmet to spread filaments across the holographic interface. He pulls out the high density storage device, and a second tendril reaches out to plug into it.

Grumps about Remote Hack allowing any Computer or Engineering check to be done at range without exceptions or any explanation of reality. But fine, I'll go stand next to the big box with what I expect has electrocution countermeasures. I mean, level 5 is when the ability comes online, it's not like anyone's had tons of scenarios to use the ability in before they start nullifying it by author fiat.

Wow, that main robot was a lot wimpier than expected.

Sovyal saunters up to the holographic interface for the data core and peers at the screen. "If their digital security is as competent as their physical security, we should be done in no time at all. Allow me to make your otherwise excellent work even easier Hawthorne." Sovyal plugs his own hacking kit in and starts sending batch queries to increase the load on the system.

Computers (aid another): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Wow, that main robot was a lot wimpier than expected.

Yeah, I thought they sorted that out from the earlier scenarios. Either that or we're just that good! :)

When the robot comes down, Mnamae-6 sends Tilly to guard the entrance with a few quick taps on his custom rig. He then moves to stand beside Hawthorne. "You are clearly much more skilled in this than I am. Let me taking care of the peripherary countermeasures so that you can focus on the core."

Autoaid with +11 to computers.

"Huduthan, can you see a way to raise the temperature?" Hawthorne asks as they prepare to unleash a multiple pronged assault on the secured portion of the datacore.

...and are there any unsecured functions before we begin?

Chikasa slowly moves toward the final pylon and looks it up and down as the others dive in on hacking into the main system. "I wonder if there's a way we could feed back the energy from these pylons on themselves to make the systems overheat," he says as he opens up the control terminal. "Could be we build up he charge in here enough without letting her discharge and she'll make it nice and toasty in here."

Engineering: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

"We could also just try to set things on fire with our laser pistols. I'm not a scientist, but I've heard anything will burn if you get it hot enough."

"What do you propose burning?" Hawthorne asks.