GM_MG's Dead Suns (Inactive)

Game Master GM_MG

Nice work Tiktik! Agreed. We should report to the Ministry of Eternal Vigilance. They have clearly become lax in their efforts and should be brought up to speed. Mayhaps they have information on this Nejeor system. If we are leaving for the Vast, this may be our last opportunity for sine time to make purchases in the Pact Worlds.

We also need to check in with the Starfinders and tell them we found the missing information. They might have found out more when we have been doing this.

Dang, da Mayor was da one who went to da Diaspora and wiped dem records? Hacker dude, probably how he got elected. An' now our next lead is somewhere inna whole 'nuther sprockin' system? Do ya know how big space is?

Bet dey ain't even a Fuzion Kween out dere.

Indeed my ravenous friend. Best stock up on galxainous caramel cremes, singulatity sucrose wafers, and Drift flake cereal before heading out to the unknown.

Rags will make a special order of each of these for the "B-bop needs a pick me up" stash.

Chiskisk is glad to hear your report.

> Excellent. Grim news that both the Corpse Fleet and the Cult of the Devourer are ahead of us in this race, but it is good to have a destination all the same.

> Once you are in the Vast, communication will be unpredictable but slow. I wish you well, Starfinders, as does Guidance. First Seeker Elsebo is aware of your heroics, as well. We are all counting on you.

The Minister sighs irritably when you give her the report.

"A smokescreen. I don't receive enough resources as is, and to spend time tracking down pointless leads...Very well. I appreciate your assistance in this matter, even if this matter was concocted just to make you spin your wheels. Please, take this as a reward."

She gives you a spellthrower weapon fusion.

Alright, I'm sure you'll have purchases you want to make, and possibly other people or groups you'd like to contact before you leave. You can continue to talk to Chiskisk, but as Eox is almost 2 full astronomical units from Absalom Station, it takes about 16 minutes for a message to reach her.

So, what would you like to do?

Bepo wants to buy a Devastation Blade, Wrack and a Serum of Healing MK2. Then my Curve Blade, Carbon Steel will be put in the pot to sell.

Ok with the new cash I am going to go ahead and Craft myself a Decimator Caustolance, and add my azimuth laser rifle to the sale pile. If anybody is close to having enough cash for something, we now have about 80 more credits each worth of stuff we can divvy up. I also have 1000 credits left over that I am happy to loan out if it makes the difference between being able to afford something or not. From the GM hints, it sounds like it will probably be our last chance to buy stuff for a while.

Rags formulates a detailed report of the activities on Eox to Director Tlaxhosh, including the Ministry of Vigilance's lax attitude towards reports of suspicious activity.

Before leaving Eox Rags will upgrade his Synergistic Symbiote to MK 2 for 5,100 credits, and purchase a library chip for Culture, life science, mysticism, and physical science for 250 each. And whatever it costs to stock up on some special treats for B-bop.

Several minutes after submitting his report, he receives a response.

Tlaxhosh appears to be on a firing range of some sort, carrying a massive sniper rifle.

"Uh, it's recording, sir." A voice off camera says.

"I know that, man! Ragabash! What in the Nine Hells is going on out there? The Corpse Fleet, the Cult of the Devourer, some sort of Superweapon?!"

The barathu turns and unleashes some incandescent profanity at a robotic attendent at the end of the firing range before returning his vision to the camera.

"Getting out there and stopping them is your first priority. Destroying that weapon is second--no one can be trusted with something like that, especially not me! And certainly not those eggheads you're palling around with!"

The message ends.

Rags, after receiving his new orders, snaps to attention and attempts a sharp salute, but the transmission ends abruptly...
After a few seconds of confusion, he finishes the salute.

Sometime during travel, Rags will survey the evidence for the Cult of the Devourer and build a conspiracy web, studying it for 10 min, and gaining the theme benefit:

You can spend 10 minutes to lay out the evidence you’ve gathered about a specific cult, as long as, at the GM’s discretion, that evidence is enough to specifically identify that organization. This helps you prepare against that cult’s tactics and methods, but doesn’t count as a resting to regain Stamina Points. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Perception and Sense Motive checks against members of that cult and a +1 circumstance bonus to saving throws against its members’ spells and effects. This bonus lasts until you create a new conspiracy web. You can benefit from only one conspiracy web at a time.

I'll give everyone until the end of the day to finish purchases. If everyone is ready tomorrow morning, we will move on to Book Four.

5d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 3, 5, 1) = 13

The Sunrise Maiden, laden with nutrient rich yeast pastes and Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs, lifts off from Eox.

Sunny manifests in the helm, wearing a lab coat.

"Escape velocity achieved. current speed 105% Eoxian delta-v. Estimated travel time to the Nejeor system is between 10 and 17 days. This will be my first trip into the Vast since Captain Nash landed on that asteroid, long ago. Have any of you ever been out of the Pact Worlds system before?"

Once the Sunrise Maiden has passed the Eoxian L2 point, B-Bop cuts the engines, cycles up the Drift engines, and exits the Pact World System, travelling towards Nejeor.

Several days will pass here, where you will have time to craft, roleplay, heal any untreated hit point damage or ability score damage, and the like.

Pausing briefly for roleplay opportunities if anyone wants to answer Sunny's question. Will resume this evening or tomorrow morning.

”Of course Sunny. I was birthed on Parin many years ago. It has been quite some time since I have had a chance to return, and now doesn’t exactly seem opportune, but one day, I plan to make my way back there.”

"What is Parin like? I have never been outside the Pact Worlds."

I was born on Absalom Station so I haven't but I always wondered what it was like out there. It is just is terrible its under these circumstances.

Bepo is going to spend alot of time using his Hygiene kit to make his fur nice and bright white again.

B-Bop's jaw drops open at the sight of the packaged junk food bonanza in the cargo hold. After a few moments of stunned silence, he begins to stammer a response.

W-w-w-wh-where-where did all d-dat come fr-from?

"I'd never been off the station--or even above level 12--before I met you guys! This has been the best adventure ever! I met so many cool new species--I mean most of 'em want to eat and/or plant babies in me, but still, super exciting!"

"Ooo, yeah, what is Parin like? I bet it's like a giant ball of water!"

"What kinda places have you been to, Sunny? I bet you've got logs of super exotic places we've never even heard of. By the way, I like the new coat. So distinguished!"

To B-Bop, likely before takeoff:

Sunny manifests nearby. "Starfinder Society agents stationed a good deal of the food here, but it is, I suspect, not to your taste. The junk food is partially care of Mr. Lupo; when I learned of his actions, I took the liberty of purchasing some as well." The hologram fritzes out, and Sunny is replaced momentarily by a blushing image of Bone from Strawberry Machine Cake.

"The Starfinder Agents who upgraded my systems used my computers to handle the necessary requisitions and billing. I used their system to order a couple pallets worth of items as well." Her image fritzes out, replaced by the strange sight of Sunny, dressed in an old-timey wrestling singlet and carrying a medicine ball.

"If you eat all of this, though, you should use the exercise equipment in the Recreation Suite to work some of these carbs off, mister." she says severely.

To Bepo:

"Ah, don't look at it like that. Sure, the Pact Worlds are likely in mortal danger, but you're doing good! And from what I have seen of your capabilities, I have no doubt you are more than up to the task!"

To Tiktik.

"Thanks," She says shyly, placing her fingers together akwardly.

"I've been to the Veskarium, to Nakondis, to Siphona and Rebaris. We ferried passengers to Arquand once, when low on credits. Captain Nash would often go to systems just to look--we obsered Tysona, during its helium flash. I have seen black holes, and neutron stars. Captain Nash liked to travel to see Bok Globules and protoplanetary disks. I think, if credits weren't an issue, she would have done little else but look."

To L and Rags

"I, too, would like to know. I have never been to the Azlanti Star Empire, of course, as to do so is certain death."

Tiktik stares wide-eyed in a dream-like trance as he listens to all of the exotic locations and fascinating sights that Sunny has seen.

As he eventually comes to, his eyes dart around to see if any of the others are paying attention to him, before he serruptitiously types in a message to Sunny, <I love you.>

”A vast amount of blue. And green, yellows, some reds, and lots of black. It is much like most worlds. Indeed it has a vast amount of water across its surface, but also great stretches of solid land masses covered in life. Though, it is greatly different than what I’m told it used to be like. Hard to say where the truth is there. I have only known the world after the Azlanti’s brought their empire to Parin. We mostly try to avoid them when we can, but on rare occasions can broker a deal with the empire. I was lucky enough to make such a deal to get out and explore, but it cost me nearly everything I had to do so.”

L wiggles his tentacles and shifts to a bright orange shade.

”I managed to secure some credits and supplies off world before I left. Otherwise, I would not have lasted long in space. My transport pilot was overtaken by an odd fit of malicious compliance. His part of the bargain was to take me to space. So he did just that... and ditched me just outside of the gravitation pull of my former home world....”.

He trails off shifting to a muted yellow color.

”So, uh... tell me more about other places you folks have been. It’s interesting hearing these tales.”

Talek enters the bridge carrying a case of various alcohols here you go B-Bop this should cover what i consumed previously. Talek takes a seat at the science officers console and addresses Sunny i spent most of my existence on that cesspit we are currently putting behind us. Triune grant that we never have to return. I am looking forward to seeing more of the universe that the small bit I have seen so far. And i am glad that i have such excellent companions to do the exploring with.

"That sounds so sad, L! What a jerk! Maybe we should go murder that guy that spaced you!" he says helpfully.

"Aww, thanks, Talek! I'm really glad you seem more like yourself. It was getting to murder all those undead jerks that did the trick, huh?"

"Im sorry that happened to you L. And Talek, I hope our recent foray on Eox hasn't dredged up too many bad memories. I, too, am from Absalom Station. Being only seven years old, I haven't had much opportunity to explore beyond my home system. Vlaka aren't originally from the Pact Worlds. We hail from a planet in the vast calle Lajok. From what my family told me it is a harsh, cold place, orbiting a dying star. I would like to see it some day, however, just t know where we came from."

B-Bop approaches Rags after hearing the news about the snacks delivery.

Hey, hey! Sunny done said ya pulled strings an' got dose pallets'a snacks, is dat fer real? Dat's some top shelf stuff in da hold dere! Wow, I don't know what ta say, thanks, Stew... uh, I mean, uh, Bro-Dog.

My pleasure B-bop. It's the least I can do for such an accomplished pilot, who is putting his skills to work in defense of the Pact Worlds. Don't go eating it all in one sitting! Rags will follow that last comment up with a good natured pat on the back. It also pained me to learn that some of my brothers in arms have forgotten their oaths of duty. When all this mess is behind us, I'd like your help in bringing some reform to the Spike.

Da Spike? I ain't never thought'a steppin' foot back in dat section since I first blasted off da station.

Ya know, maybe I could start up a taco-burger-doughnut joint dere someday usin' some'a cuisine ideas I seen around out here. Could be safe place fer cops ta not curb stomp at side by side wit' da locals ta not shank ya fer a credit. Could make it a convenience store, too, have a refuel station fer vehicles ta bring in more business.

B-Bop looks ahead but his eyes see something different and brighter than the ship bulkhead.

I would put up a big sprockin' sign dat says "eat here an' get gas".

"Ah... the vast. Full of so many wonders. I've been here and there mostly and just about any place you can imagine in the Pact Worlds. Back in my days as a smuggler, my former crew and I ventured many a crazy places. All thanks to the fattest human you've seen, "Large" Sunderland. Though, as great a pilot as he was, all the real thanks goes to his ship, The Crimson Storm.

It was formerly a top secret project that the stewards were working on. A cruiser to be used for reconnaissance missions and stealth operations. Though after some careful planning and the help of a sneaky cat, one of the biggest and most successful heists took place. Sure, several dozen men lost their lives on both sides, but all paid off in the end. A few months later, some modifications and a new red paint job and you've got one of the most sophisticated ships in the Vast."

Jax leans back in his gunnery seat, "I'm even certain that if Sunny could be jealous, shed be jealous of Crimson Storm. Those stealth systems were so top notch, it could be behind us right now and Sunny wouldnt even know until the Storm was already at ramming speed.

I've got so many stories about that ship. Even some back at my home planet, Pulonis or Vesk-6."

Odd. Why does the kitty talk so much about these past thing as if they were real? When we met, he could barely aim his weapon straight, but managed to be the key component to a major plan to steal top secret equipment. And from the Stewards? He just said that out loud... in front of our new friend. Poor Jax has been reading too many of his space comics again.

Smiling broadly at the Pahtra.

”Oh my, that is so interesting.”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 18 + (6) + 1 = 42

You tell quite the tall tales, Jax. You could chronicle them in a children's book. Who knows, they may even be picked up as a serialized vid-cast. You should hire a publicist.

"Speaking of which, has anyone ever been to Vesk-6 before? I didn't live there long but even so, there's few planets that behind like this one. Crazy strong gravitational waves make entering and leaving the planet near impossible. They also mess with all electronics without proper re-tuning for the environment. Radios never work or you'll get static at best. And the low gravity there is responsible for the planet's massive jungles and life forms. Even the mountains are bigger than the forests! It's like Casteovel on steroids, ha ha ha!"

After laughing, Jax sighs and continues. "Anyway, I myself was not on Vesk-6 for long. My mother was a merchant and my father was a guerrilla fighter, fighting against any Veskarium troops that ventured into the wilderness and occasionally joining other raiding parties. I only saw him a handful of times. No idea if he's still alive or not.

On one of my mothers merchant voyages to the pact systems, I was brought along due to the length of the trip and my father not being around to take care of me. It was in this voyage the vessel was attacked by raiders and most of the crew and passengers were thrown into slavery."

Jax pauses then uncomfortably rushes the end of his tale, finishing up with a laugh. "Then some time passes, I became a pirate, traveled, smuggled and now I'm here."

Hmmm... probably leave that one out of the children's book.

The Sunrise Maiden's drift engines finish cycling up, dumping the Sunrise Maiden into the endless purplish pink clouds of the Drift.

Days pass. The monotonous pink expanse is broken up by bizarre sights; objects pulled into the Drift by other travellers, or the quirk of fate. On your first day, looming from the mist, a massive cog, the size of a city, turning end over end eternally, with fragile clockwork intelligences living on it. The cracked oxygen-carbon degenerate matter of a white dwarf, torn apart in some obscure cataclysm. A throne of basalt, of maddening size, with a dead and mummified being of incomprehensible scale seated on it, its flaking and rimed tentacles splaying out in the empty vacuum.

Three days into your journey, you see several enormous cloud-banks, black and threatening, light internally by flashes of lightning; Likely pulled from the Elemental Plane of Air by some passing traveller.

Talek's panel beeps a chiptune klaxon--a ship lurks in the clouds.

B-Bop will receive a +2 bonus to his Piloting check the first round.

A sleek green starship emerges from one of the clouds--several of you can identify it as of Azlanti make.

You receive a transmission from the other ship. "Attention, Pact Worlds vessel. This is the Azlanti Star Empire vessel Fearful Symmetry. Surrender immediately, and you will not be harmed. In fact, you will have the immense pleasure of becoming another small part of the empire’s vast populace. Refuse and we will be forced to turn you into slag. This message will not repeat.”

The ship kicks forward as its impulse drive blasts into action.

Sunrise Maiden (No damage, F90/S90/A90/P90)
Fearful Symmetry (?)

To stations! Remember, please spoil your rolls, but declare your actions openly in your post, in character or out.

What da sprock? Azlanti? I think I saw some docu-vid once 'bout dem, pre Gap used ta worship some dead god? Aerosol? Aretha? Ara-mental?

Jax takes position at the gunnery helm of the turreted main gun.

"Damn elves! You'll have the immense pleasure of sucking on this!"

Jax swings the main gun around and prepares to fire.

bonuses given by other sources have not been applied. Will add those once the posts come in.

Rags takes hold of his mote and stares into the light, with sightless eyes. "I didnt know the Azlanti were elves? L anything we should know going into this."

Rags will wrack his brain to recall anything helpful about the Azlanti from Steward Intelligence.

And then he will try to pierce the veil of time and give warning to B-bop.

Bepo will jump into the gunnery seat but will wait for L to give us to command to fire.

”Elves? No Jax, the Empire’s finest is far from elves. They would be akin to a human, only physically and mentally superior in every way.”

Opening a comms channel to the Fearful Symmety and speaking in Azlanti.

<Hello there. It would seem that you may have misinterpreted our arrival. You offer surrender to be part of the Empire, but I am already a citizen of Parin. No surrender should be needed.>

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 18 + (4) + 1 = 39

Clicking off the broadcast, ”I doubt that will work, so, feel free to blast them if they maintain an attack heading”

"Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy! Sunny, let's see how you do with all those sexy new upgrades!" the ysoki squeals with joy as the klaxon goes off.

Then he clicks on the comms and gives the pilot a heads up, <I'm gonna scan the ship. I'll let ya know if I detect any weak spots so you can determine your approach, B-Bop!>

Jax takes position at the main gun gunnery station.

"Damn Elves! You'll have the immense pleasure of sucking on this!"

Jax swings the turret around and prepares to fire.

After everyone's comments...

"Ah... well, we always just called them elves. Besides, aren't elves just more physically and mentally powerful versions of humans anyway!? Bigger priks too!?"

Jax mutters to himself, "I swear if Sunny is ever programmed into a physical body... Tiktik would never leave the ship."

in the event diplomacy fails, targeting their core.

Round One Gunnery Phase
Sunrise Maiden (No damage, F90/S90/A90/P90)
Fearful Symmetry (?)

ENGINEERING

None you are aware of.

HELM

Rags isn't quite able to calibrate his third eye, but B-Bop hardly needs the help, and is easily able to outfly the Azlanti ship.

The Azlanti craft is shockingly fast and maneuverable, and darts forward, placing a massive cloud formation between the Sunrise Maiden and it. Firing through a cloud provides the target with Concealment.

Talek locks the ships guidance systems onto the opposing ships reactor core.

Tiktik does an excellent job scanning the Fearlful Symmetry. The ship is a Medium Explorer (due to the extreme lack of info on the ships of the Azlanti empire, he isn't aware of its make and model). It has 4 living creatures aboard, has a base move of 10 and Good maneuverability.

The ship has an AC of 21 and TL of 20, 65 Hull Points, Shields at 30 in each quadrant, and a core PCU value of 175.

The ship has a light plasma cannon in its front arc (2d12 damage, short range.)

GUNNERY

Pending B-Bop's move.

As a reminder, please don't spoil your action, everyone can and should know what you are planning on doing. I just need the actual roll spoilered.

Sorry to ya, Sunny, but ya could possibly take'a slight scorch on da fore shields, dere tryin' ta be using da battlefield ta dere lousy advantage but we gots da range on 'em an' we need ta coax 'em out a bit.

B-Bop guides The Sunrise Maiden in a graceful glide face to face to the Azlanti ship, just beyond the primary range of their fore weaponry but just within the primary range of the Starfinders' second turret. He then flicks open a comm channel to the enemy ship.

Hey, pinheads, hey. Can one'a ya guys tell me what was da name'a da god dat ya used'ta worship like pre Gap long time ago? Was it Aresol or Areo-mental? It was one'a dose, right? I gotta turn in a new field research paper to da university ta keep my field commission up ta date. Hey, wasn't Areo-mental da god'a air elementals dat was stuck inna black licorice gumdrop onna comet? I really need dis fer my paper.

Round One Complete
Sunrise Maiden (No damage, F75/S90/A90/P90)
Fearful Symmetry (65/65, F30/S30/A30/P30)

B-Bop keeps his distance.

Both of the Starfinder gunners miss.

The other vessel does not--a missile fires from its turret mount, zipping through space and slamming into the Starfinder Forward shields.

Round one complete; Declare actions and spoiler rolls, please.

Rags gets his third eye open enough to shout a quick warning to B-bop about the future, but not enough to get the winning lotto numbers.

locking targeting sensors on the enemy ship

Sunny, baby, I ain't used ta gettin' yet pretty outside scuffed up but if we're gonna show off yer fine dance moves, we gotta work up a little sweat, huh?

pilot check without any bonuses added yet, bonuses tbd

B-Bop flicks open a comm channel again.

Hey Ass-lannies, if ya ain't gonna help me wit' my history paper, maybe I can give ya some pilotin' lessons fer yer troubles? Heh, superior empire, my hairy, green heinie!

Bepo tries to focus harder and take another shot.