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A cluster of sleek black computers rests against the far wall of the meeting room. The Starfinder Society emblem at the center of the server cluster shines and begins projecting a stream of holographic light. The light takes the form of humanoid figure bereft of any definition, standing at the end of the meeting table closest to the servers.
“Greetings, I am Guidance. I have a new assignment for you. Please observe.”
The projection gestures a flicking hand to its side, and a stream of data detailing an outpost made of interconnected circular chambers scrolls beside it.
“One of the Pact Worlds’ most prestigious organizations recently discovered a dataset detailing the location of an outpost abandoned over two hundred years ago. The organization has requested that the Starfinder Society dispatch a team of agents to secure the site, along with any remaining equipment or data. Your team will travel to this outpost and retrieve as much information about it as possible. You should also salvage any relevant equipment, which the Society will take as part of its payment."
The data feed ceases. "Starfinder records indicate that this is the first time that this group of agents have been selected for a mission together. Please introduce yourselves to your teammates. Then, if you have questions, now is the time to present them.”
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A young human in her early twenties with bright red hair comes in for the meeting right on time for a change. Her flightsuit is unzipped to her waist with the arms tied there like a makeshift belt below her crop top. The suit, top, and her whole upper body are covered in little smudge marks here and there like she just got done working on an engine. She has her comm unit in one hand and is almost absentmindedly scrolling through the infosphere on it during the briefing.
After being directed to introduce herself, "Oh hey there! I'm Kaylee! I love ships and vehicles and engines...and well ships most of all. I can build 'em, repair 'em, write code for 'em, run their weapons, or fly them too if you need me to!"
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A male Vesk stands at military attention. His scales are deep and earthy in shading, greens and browns mottled together with light black striping down his neck and arms. His equipment looks to be kept in impeccable order.
Relaxing to at ease once Guidance begins speaking. "How large was the installation, and what was its purpose? Is there any chance that survivors, or their descendants, could be present?" he thinks for a moment, "Who is our benefactor, and do they have any directives for this assignment?"
He turns to the others in the room and offers introduction, "I am Akkedis Dauðlaus, warrior of the Veskarium. I am trained in special tactics, primarily disruption and misdirection. I look forward to serving with each of you." Akkedis speech is very formal, and lacks the normal accent of most Vesk.
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Crouched in the corner on its four legs, a formian wearing ceremonial armor quietly listens to the hologram from the mechanical box, cocking its head to side when it hears the words 'prestigious organization'. A glowing blue-whitish orb hangs over its left shoulder, and a pistol at its right side.
With Guidance's preamble over, it stands up fully on its four legs, then bows the front two, so that its head gets bowed in turn.
"I am Kitkul, and you know that I am of the Starfinder Society. Therefor, you all are my brood-mates, so I will protect you as if we hatched from the same clutch."
Shifting its head around it eyes at the others, assessing their equipment and demeanor, it then adds,"Unless another thinks they are better suited, I am your shield. I should likely be in the front where I can protect you all better. Note that I am good at fighting, and decent at diplomacy, and well," jestering at its frame,"not bad at intimidation if you can believe that. The last thing I want to mention, I sometimes backslide into the my hive mentality when a fight breaks out, so sometimes I address myself in a gender-neutral 'one' in those cases. I have trained myself so that when I have time to be sociable, it rarely happens."
With that it turns back to the hologram. "Guidance, which 'prestigious organization' are you sending us out to work with? The last time I was sent out to work with a 'prestigious' person, it turned out to be an Eoxian with a bad penciled in moustache named Zo!. And while he might be 'prestigious', I didn't enjoy the camera's in my face. "
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A darkly clad young man, who had been watching the brief from the darkest corner of the room, steps forward into the light when the others start introducing themselves. He pulls back his hood, revealing a tanned face and wavy dark brown hair along with amber eyes; there's also a prominent scar on his right cheek. His rugged frame belies his age; the man appears to have lived a rough life for one just in his twenties...
Obviously not very comfortable in this setting, his eyes linger on the others before he nods and curtly bows to Kaylee, Kitkul, and Akkedis. "I am Qwyn...I'm new to the Society. I can fly a little and know my way around a ship's guns. I am also fairly adept at getting into, as well as out of, places unseen...so I make a decent scout, when needed..."
Being as it's his first Starfinder mission, he's content to let the others ask the questions as he listens intently...
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"Impressive, young man." notes an elderly ysoki upon spying Qwyn making himself known. "I'd be curious to learn as to the source of your... training." The red-robed ratfolk, absent-mindedly strokes the greying hairs that collect at the end of his chin.
"It is good that so many of you know your way around the various systems of star vessels." he continues, his tone becoming more professorial in nature. "But, better still, is to allow oneself to become a vessel of star systems and to learn from their varied ways." Master Filament nods knowingly at the formian.
Noting the curiosity of his allies and that their questions asked mirror his own, the wisened ysoki remains silent, awaiting response from the AI.
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After Master Filament, a Ysoki stands up which doesn't make him any more visible so he quickly jumps on the chair. Now you can see him wearing a military uniform of unknown origin, on his back you can see a laser rifle but more distinguish thing is his medical bag and a patch on his arm of a field medic. After looking around with his dark eyes he sniffs air really quickly and speaks in pitched voice:
"Welcome Gents and Lady" he bows and continues
"My name is Spike I am a merc fighting for whoever pays for a job, this time the highest bidder was Starfinder Society. My primary assignment is to make sure that you come back in one piece back, or in few of them that can be stitched together later." He burst into laughter.
"I treat it seriously so I will not let you die on me. My second assignment is to mess in enemies head. I see things and I know things, I can try to convince or trick people into doing things, I know a bit about engineering. My best bluff was when I tried being a gunner on a ship, the enemy was thinking that he was fighting with blind halfwits." He again burst into laughter.
"Friends call me Croaker, and while on the mission you will be my family."
After that Croaker shifts to Guidance and asks: "Do we know who else knows about this outpost? My experience tells me that whenever such discovery happens the information about it is sold to whoever has money. Are we working against someone?"
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"Impressive, young man." notes an elderly Ysoki upon spying Qwyn making himself known. "I'd be curious to learn as to the source of your... training." The red-robed ratfolk, absent-mindedly strokes the greying hairs that collect at the end of his chin.
Qwyn's nod is nearly imperceptible in response to the elder Ysoki's query. He shrugs as he murmurs, "More a matter of survival than any training..."
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Guidance processes the questions that have arisen, and responds.
"The Hellknights of the Order of the Pike are a militant order that enforces law and regulations on civilized planets. The outpost was intended to be a monitoring station for the other colonies in the area. Pre-Gap, the Order of the Pike were known as renowned "monster-hunters" - enforcing order in the regions they controlled by hunting and eliminating creatures that preyed on settlements and transit routes. The Hellknights in general are not known to fraternize with the Eoxian media mogul Zo! to any degree that we are aware of.
"The location itself is primarily a prefabricated modular outpost made by Veylen Enterprises. These outpost models used to be quite common. However, the presence of unfamiliar modifications and defenses installed by the Hellknights are very possible.
"Long range scans are limited, but suggest that this planet has an highly eccentric orbit relative to its host star that takes it relatively close to a nearby gas giant. The result is a planet with active volcanism and possibly a toxic atmosphere. Beyond the environment of the planet, it is unknown what threats may exist at the outpost. You should prepare for many possibilities, such as pirates, large predators, hostile native cultures, or even supernatural events.
"In regards to survivors, this is unlikely. The exact reason for this outpost's abandonment remains unknown — and part of the reason you are being sent to investigate the site. Records indicate the outpost confirmed its arrival and establishment with the hiring organization, but since then there have been limited communications. No reports or responses have been received in over two hundred years. A clerical error apparently caused this outpost's disappearance to go unnoticed. The Hellknights assure us that they are actively seeking to rectify their old procedures to ensure this does not happen again in the future."
After answering your questions, Guidance projects images of two different starship hulls, both marked with the Starfinder Society insignia. "For this assignment, you have been authorized use of a Drake or a Pegasus starship. Both starship frames can complete this assignment. Please consider the following advantages when making your decision: Drake frames have greater firepower, whereas Pegasus starships are equipped with advanced science labs and sensors. As always, to optimize the chances of completing the assignment, it is recommended that each Starfinder team choose a ship that covers any area of weakness. However, the final decision is based on your personal preference. Once you decide, the appropriate ship will be made ready for you at Docking Bay 27. Safe travels, Starfinders.”
Two separate checks are now available to you:
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Kitkul has no more questions for the hologram.
"I realize that I am usually more a hindrance than an asset on a ship. My form is unsuited for a lot of the seats, so I will have to ask to see if we can modify it. My knowledge of computers and engines are that you push a button and they go, you push it again and they--usually--stop. So, what usually happens when a space fight breaks out, I get pushed into a gunner's chair. For which I am fine with. I can sometimes be intimidating or diplomatic enough to be a captain, though I also realize that there are usually better suited people to do such a role."
"On which ship is best taken, I don't think I have much experience to determine which is better. The only thing I will say though is that it sounds like the planet might be hazardous. The Drake is more solidly built, though the Pegasus does have those fancy sensors and science equipment."
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Croaker looks at the ships on his comm unit's screen, glance through the screen and speaks:
"I have no knowledge about spaceships or space combat, however, as a gambler, I have good feelings about Pegasus. Drake looks like a vessel that a group of Ysoki girl scouts could use to sell cookies."
He burst into laughter. You might have mixed feelings about his jokes but it doesn't stop him from laughing.
After he calms down Ysoki continuous:
"My previous captain always said if you choose between firepower and speed take both. If you can't then speed can give you the edge. But I will follow the guidance of those who saw more battles in space."
Croaker looks around and waits for opinions.
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Knowing he's expected to provide input, Qwyn shifts his feet and ponders for a moment before speaking. "In my limited experience, the one with the bigger guns usually wins the fight...but the quicker stealthier one avoids it and lives to fight another day. I prefer firing the big guns in hostile areas and this outpost appears hostile...but a ship with superior technology will be better able to handle/analyze any environmental factors..."
Qwyn shrugs as well...
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Master Filament considers the description of the destination.
"It is the life and death of a star that leads to the formation of the heavier elements. Those elements, themselves, are then drawn together in a process of conglomeration often begun by the forces of gravity such as those that accompany a nascent star. Such is the formation of planets." Master Filament opines. "The result of these processes are as varied as the elements themselves. For on a world of low-gravity world, where the gravity is no greater than a third of standard gravity, one could jump three times as high and as far and lift three times as much."
He produces a starknife from his belt, before adding, "And the range of a weapon thrown would increase there, likewise."
"Among those elements captured by the gravity of a world as those found most abundantly in their gaseous state." he continues. "This, too, leads to great variety among worlds. For instance, inarea with a toxic atmosphere, the air itself may be poisonous to most living entities, such as most natives of the Pact Worlds or Veskarium natives. The atmosphere itself functions as poison, not to be inhaled. Fortunately, the environmental seals available on all suits of armor are sufficient to keep this danger at bay for as long as the suit has power."
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"In my limited experience, the one with the bigger guns usually wins the fight...but the quicker stealthier one avoids it and lives to fight another day. I prefer firing the big guns in hostile areas and this outpost appears hostile...but a ship with superior technology will be better able to handle/analyze any environmental factors..."
"And, thus your lack of formal training becomes evident, my son." replies the elderly ysoki. "If we wished to arm yourself with devastating weapons, then we would chose a Drake frame starship. But, from my experience, I find it is far better when facing combat to have the ability to outmaneuver your opponent and, if necessary, outrun it."
"For such strikes with precision and careful evasion, the Pegasus frame is the superior ship." The solarian strokes his beard before continuing. "Besides, the Pegasus is also better equipped for missions of exploration such as this, given its analytical capabilities."
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You head to the hangar, where your ship awaits. This Drake-class vessel has been prepped for each of you, including astrogation information for the planet in question and the general coordinates of the outpost belonging to the society's clients.
After days of travel through the Drift, you arrive in-system, approaching a world known to your computers only as Colony 753-MF. As the destination planet appears on the starship’s main viewscreen, alarms suddenly blare! A slender form emerges from the distant void, slithering up from out of the planet’s shadow. It moves directly towards your starship, as if drawn to it!
As it comes into range of your viewscreens, you can see that this is no starship...but rather a colossal shark-like space creature!
Your ship starts hexes away from the creature that rapidly approaches you, its electrified double-row of teeth facing your front arc!
STARSHIP COMBAT!
- Starfield Map is Updated
(I think I have it set so your pilot's player can move the ship, but everyone else only has "comment" access)
Besmaran Whelp Round 1
DC 11 Y
Target AC 15 X
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Unless DireGM disagrees, this is how I have found the best way to get use/remember the use of the bonuses the ships computers give is to have the Captain give them out.
With that, +1 to Pilot, +1 Engineer and +1 to the gunner shooting the H.E. Missile.
Phase: Gunnery
Role: Captain
Action: Kitkul looks towards whomever has the H.E. Missile launcher and says, "If you would, please make sure you hit with the missile. I think this creature is likely wanting to have us for lunch."
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Phase: Gunnery
Role: Gunner
Action: "Master Filiment, your skill with these weapons is greater than mine. You should control the missle systems," with that Akkedis takes position at the coilgun turret controls. He quickly powers up the weapon, and begins quietly chanting a archaic Vesk war cadence to the rhythm of coilgun's fire...
...miss for pretty good damage.
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After the alarm sound goes off, Croaker wakes up, grabs his tool and run like crazy towards the engine room. While on his way he turns on his comm unit and shares:
"It's good that I had a few days to pimp our engines, I did some reworks beforehand, after that I have some spare parts, but they were not needed to begin with."
After ship increase throttle you can hear some heavy cursing in Akiton language. You hear Croaker speaking:
"Ok I reverted some of my changes, I don't understand it but some of those additional parts were needed."
He continues speaking:
"I will divert some energy towards our guns so that we blast this thing away."
A prolonged radio silence
Phase: Engineering
Role: Engineer
Action: Divert auxiliary power into Weapons
DC = 13 (10 + 1.5*2)
"The divert of power failed, I repeat the divert of power failed. I messed somethings up. I don't know where this power went to..."
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After a few seconds your Engineer that you start loving more and more with every second speaks again:
"I do have good news, I found out where I diverted the power to... it went to the construction of the ship. Refrain from touching walls for next 30 seconds or so... The zaps are at most mild."
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"I do have good news, I found out where I diverted the power to... it went to the construction of the ship. Refrain from touching walls for next 30 seconds or so... The zaps are at most mild."
When the vesk takes control of the turret coilgun, Master Filament nods.
"Very well. I will man the missile launcher, but if we can close with the creature, then I shall utilize the heavy laser as well." notes Master Filament, feeling somewhat at ease with the controls in light of the formian's' instruction. "After all, does the mass of two binary stars not become greater when they become combined within a singularity?"
The solarion closes his eyes, getting a sense of the energy being emitted from the creature and its position among the stars. Then, he fires!
As the glow of the weapons' fire striking the creature filters through the gunnery port, Master Filament notes over the comm link, "What you mistake for skill is, in actuality, a sense of the pull of the stars, my scaled friend. You would do well to listen to them. The ways of the solarian are available to all whose mass feels drawn to the stars."
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Your engineer, Croaker attempts to boost power to your weapon systems but the energy gets caught between the wrong set of capacitors. Meanwhile, the space creature channels energy into its tail/propellant!
Science Officer Qwyn attempts a scan, and is able to obtain some concrete information!
Unidentified Starship-sized Aberration - Basic Info:Unidentified Starship-sized Aberration - Defenses:
That said, you can decide at the start of each combat round to change to a different console/ship role, but those need to be stated before you take actions if you want to shift. As science officer, you can move shields around (even over-charging one quadrant at the cost of another), even the shields out, target certain enemy systems, or scan again. Hope this helps!
Your pilot, Kaylee anticipates its movements (won initiative), and is able to act after it does. The creature charges straight at your ship, but isn't able to get close enough to try and bite or claw. Kaylee responds by coaxing extra maneuverability out of the Drake, swinging around the beast's side while still lining up the forward weapons array!
Captain Kitkul encourages the missile gunner to aim true!
The creature seems to roar in displeasure but fires a spiked quill at your vessel...which misses!
Gunner Akkedis fires the coilgun, but his shot goes wide.
Gunner Filament, however, aims true with both his missile and gyrolaser, scoring two direct hits on the creature's port side! (Missile: 16, Gyrolaser: 8)
In addition, Filament seems to have struck one of the creature's critical nerves!
STARSHIP COMBAT!
ROUND 2 - Starfield Map is Updated
(I will list shields as Fore/Port/Starboard/Aft)
Besmaran Whelp Round 2
DC 11 Y
Y
Target AC 15 (+4 if only 1 shot) Y
Target AC 15 N
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Looks toward Master Filament. "One is very pleased with Master Filament. Please keep up the good work."
Then, it turns its compound eyes towards Akkedis...."However, one is NOT pleased with Akkedis. One highly suggests you do better, or else."
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"I do not begrudge this creature for seeking sustenance, if that is what it indeed is doing." Master Filament acknowledges. "But, I will not allow simply allow myself to be consumed without a fight."
"If you can keep the creature within our forward to arc, I will continue to bring as many weapons to bear as I can." he suggests to Kaylee.
The ysoki again reaches out beyond himself and allows the targeting sites of the missile launcher and gyrolaser to follow.
"It is the force of gravity that controls the tides--of oceans as well as battle!" Master Filament instructs.
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Kaylee grins when seeing the hits on the space monster. "Woo! Keep those coming! I'll try to make sure it doesn't get anywhere near us! Let's see how far I can push this bucket of bolts!"
She flicks the screen of her personal comm unit for a brief second, speaking softly. "Simon activate starship fighting song 2!" Her AI responds by piping one of her favorite tracks from the drow agrosynth band Abysshead's newest album into the comms!
dc13
Kaylee will try to pull hard turns to circle around to stay away from the space monster and will try to get the front arc facing it so her gunners can fire all weapons at once! If she can't, she'll at least go for the port/starboard arcs so the gyrolaser can at least swing around to shoot!
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Croaker curse under his snout and keeps working with his tools holding additional wiring in his teeth. Speaking the phrase like a mantra: "I know that I can do it."
Phase: Engineering
Role: Chief Engineer Oficer (CEO)
Action: Divert auxiliary power into Weapons
After a few seconds, you can hear gunnery roaring with more power, and happy voice speaking:
"WOooooo, eat that you space eel. Blast it to pieces Akkedis and Master Filament. "
After a second when Ysoki though that he turned off the comm you can hear him:
"Now you can stuff your: 'Croker is not good for that job', where the light of stars can't reach it. Oh crap."
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Akkedis accepts Kitkul's admonishments, "Kitkul, you would make a fine officer in the Veskarium! No space fish will mar my honor." He returns his focus to the targeting systems and humming his cadence.
Phase: Gunnery
Role: Gunner
Action: Shoot the space fish
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Croaker rectifies his previous issues with the power systems of the Drake, routing auxiliary power into all weapons systems. The monster once again overpowers its tail so it can give chase!
Having seen that the beast can fire on you at-range, Qwyn adroitly creates a targeting solution to lock-on to its quills!
In a very close call, Kaylee is once again able to figure out where the creature is going (won initiative...barely!), and can see that it works itself into a very maneuverable left turn. Your pilot isn't able to get your front arc to line up due to the space creature's improved turning radius, but is definitely able to take evasive action to get away from it with room to fire!
Captain Kitkul issues a demand to Akkedis to do better, that your vesk gunner takes to heart in order to focus!
The creature clearly tried to close the distance in order to bite and claw at your vessel, but is instead forced to fire another spike...which misses only because of the evasive maneuvers taken by Kaylee!
Akkedis lines up the coilgun and scores a direct hit. The bioshield absorbs all of the impact, but Akkedis bringing down the shield is perfectly timed for his fellow gunner! (Coilgun: 10 Damage )
Master Filament, aided by Qwyn's targeting, lands a critical strike on the creature's back from where it fires its quills at you, even though the gyrolaser misses. (Missile: 16) The extra damage from the missile strike is enough to also critically injure the monster again as well!
The star monster's tail/propulsion is hit making it harder to control its own movement!
STARSHIP COMBAT!
ROUND 3 - Starfield Map is Updated
Besmaran Whelp Round 3
DC 11 X
X
Target AC 15 (+4 if only 1 shot) X
Target AC 15 Y
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Opens ship internal coms. "One would like to say VERY WELL Done all. One would like you all to keep up the good work."
Turning off the comms, Kitkul turns to look at Akkedis again."One is very pleased. Let me see if I can help you with targeting that big shark."
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Kaylee just grins as her team lands hit after hit on the space shark! "Simon, play starship fight song 1 now!" Her AI responds by putting on a different track from another artist as she calls over it to everyone on the comms. "Hope the artificial gravity is powered up or at least you're all buckled in. Time to pull some Gs! Woo!"
oh yes! with that roll she'd totally try a flip and burn or something else flashy! ;)
Kaylee will try to pull a flip and burn to reposition the ship to line up on the space shark unless she's forced to go first and then she'll instead try to increase manuvering to circle around behind it. She'll always try to get the front arc lined up for Filament and Akkedis!
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With Kitkul's encouragement, Akkedis swings the turret to meet the creature and continues firing.
Phase: Gunnery
Role: Gunner
Action: Shoot the space fish
As rounds straff across the creature he breaks humming for a moment, "BWAH! Do they make these smaller? I may need one..."
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Elite #1 Engineer Croaker pumps more and more power into your weapon systems, while the space monster's heart is unable to pump blood efficiently enough to boost any of its systems!
Qwyn has a definite handle on the Drake's targeting systems, and has your weapons focus on the monster's propulsion!
For the first time since your arrival in-system, the creature is able to out-guess Kaylee (won initiative), forcing your ship to move first.
Kaylee kicks your engines into high gear, then suddenly adjusts the thrust vectoring of the Drake's engine nozzles as the artificial gravity strains to compensate from her hard turn, almost pulling a complete flip to line up behind the monster! Having sustained so much damage already, the beast isn't able to keep up with Kaylee flying your Explorer craft like it was a starfighter, and lumbers around in a slow turn that prevents it from catching up to you!
Moving over to Akkedis's gunnery station, Kitkul helps calibrate the coilgun's targeting based on Qwyn's data!
The creature once again tried to get close enough to bite or claw your ship, but your pilot is keeping one step ahead of it! It shoots another quill at you that misses by at least several hundred meters!
Taking Kitkul's assistance in stride, Akkedis's turret coilgun once again slams into the space monster's port side, making the beast shudder in pain! (Coilgun: 10 Damage ) Once again, the creature sustains critical damage from Akkedis's assault!
Slugs from the coilgun have embedded in the monster's glowing heart, making it harder to perform engine-equivalent actions!
...at that same moment, you think you hear someone snoring over the comm system?
But, the elderly ysoki finds himself nodding off for a moment.
A moment later, a missile and gyrolaser fire as your elderly ysoki gunner, Filament suddenly snaps back to the moment. The gyrolaser goes off in a random direction while the missile just barely misses its mark!
STARSHIP COMBAT!
ROUND 4 - Starfield Map is Updated
Besmaran Whelp Round 4
DC 11 Y
Y
Target AC 15 X