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A thin Lashunta enters the room, he's well-kept and handsome in a way. But nothing that bares much remembering. He leans on a staff in his left hand, and in his right he absentmindedly swirls three, small spheres that chime lightly as they spin. He looks around the room, "I am Ajatus, my presence was requested by Guidance. Is this the right place?"
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Radak strides in not as broad as most vesk, but it's his armour that stands out most. Black with a starcape painted across it, with a symbol of desna on his left shoulder with a string of other colourful icons running down the left side. Catching the end of Ajatus's question.
"I hope so or we are all in the wrong place or could this be another test?"
He finds a place to stand facing the door, just in case. Lightly scratching some of the white scales on the side of his neck.
You have just finished your graduation ceremony when Guidance, the Starfinder Society’s compiled intelligence of Starfinder personalities, summons you to the Lorespire Complex, in room A101010.
As the A101010 room's doors, inside the Lorespire Complex, slide open, a green holographic image of a middle-aged human woman shimmers into view at the center of the room.
Greetings it says. I am Guidance. Please use the cheek swabs in the open receptacle to provide a genetic sample for Starfinder Society identification purposes. If desired, you may place your hand on the glowing panel to receive a subdermal implant further marking you as a member of the Society.
Bilimi senses a little pinch on his hand, but nothing hurtful.
Thank you Bilimi for your cooperation. Who's next? says Guidance.
Thank you Ajatus Sundalo for your cooperation. Who's next? Repeats Guidance.
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Radak walks past the hologram, giving it a nod as he passes.
"Greetings Guidance. "
He quickly swaps his cheek. I wander is this to id us when alive or when not enough of the corpse left to be sure who it is.
He opens his mouth slightly but decides best not to voice the thought aloud. He lays the back of his left hand on the glowing panel and then makes space for the next person.
Your choice Ziamat. says Guidance when the Dragonkin refuses its offer.
Thank you Radak kosok for your cooperation. Who's next? It asks again.
Thank you Basalt Stonepeak for your cooperation. Who's next? It asks again.
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Tixylix clambers down off the back of the clanking six-legged drone that he rides on.
Me, I'll go next. Tilylix places his hand on the implant pad and then moves to grab a swab and provide a genetic sample.
He casts a glance at Ziamat. No judgement here. I just figure if I am in I am all in.
The drone sits with its belly pan on the floor. Tixylix climbs up onto it and the pegs whir into action raising itself and its rider.
Guidance voice continues It is our pleasure to officially welcome you into the Starfinder Society. Today is the commencement of your new role as a Starfinder field agent. It is our tradition, at the end of the graduation ceremony, for new graduates to present themselves to the heads of our most prominent factions and complete a task at those leaders’ behest.
This allows the leaders of these groups to become familiar with all new Starfinder agents, and it provides a constant supply of agents for handling situations in our holdings on Absalom Station. While these tasks were formerly symbolic, the heavy loss of Starfinder agents in the Scoured Stars necessitates that these missions become something more. Please treat any tasks given with the gravity you would grant any other Starfinder assignment.
Guidance provides an overview of the factions, sending the info on your datapad, and explains that once you complete the faction leader’s desired mission, that leader will signal Guidance to indicate the mission is finished.
Guidance finishes the briefing telling Once all missions are complete, you can return to the Lorespire Complex to finish your commencement and prepare for future missions.
Absalom Station is the cultural hub of the Pact Worlds. Races from every planet in the system, including those once prominent on lost Golarion, can be found on the station.
People around the station are increasingly amenable to Starfinders. They respect both the dogged veteran field agents who were not lost in the Scoured Stars disaster and the new recruits, whose presence brings renewed hope. Stating one’s association with the Starfinder Society is likely to garner support from the locals of Absalom Station.
A host of starships, known locally as the Armada, orbits Absalom Station. Ships from the Armada are often starships that have taken advantage of the station’s Starstone core—a mystical device that allows for quick travel through the Drift back to Absalom Station. The ships of this fleet are increasingly at risk of bringing back undetected alien life, simply because the policing Stewards lack the numbers to search every orbiting ship.
Everyone is excited about the upcoming junkrace. Apparently some nobody mouthed off to Ratrod, the reigning junkrace champion.
People know that trash talking really gets under Ratrod’s fur and wonder whether there will be more harsh words exchanged before the race.
The latest prerelease song from sugar-pop sensation Strawberry Machine Cake is about to be released. Unlike previous releases, the band is putting out a limited-edition physical copy prior to the concert when the released single and additional tracks are scheduled to debut and become available in digital form.
Word on the street is that a dangerous alien predator got loose somewhere in the Downlow district of the station. The creature is now contained in a warehouse, but not after it impaled a security officer with a harpoon-like natural projectile.
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"I vote to to meet the Wayfinders as soon as possible. I'm really into the outlook." Bilimi say's as he heads to the door rubbing his palm. "I asked if this was gonna hurt, why didn't they say yes?"
Looking around at everyone "So anyone here about that new somg from SMC, I'm really looking forward to hearing it."
The Wayfinders’ transitory nature precludes them from having a single stationary headquarters on Absalom Station. Instead, the Wayfinders operate out of the Master of Stars, an enormous starship that is part of the Armada orbiting Absalom Station. The Master of Stars is currently undergoing extensive repairs, obsessively overseen by the Wayfinders’ leader Fitch.
A Society shuttle takes you out to the orbiting ship. As you take off, the station’s Armada can be seen from the shuttle’s view screen, gleaming figures standing out against the emptiness of space.
The Master of Stars immediately stands out from the rest, as layers and layers of scaffolding obscure its hull. Tiny lights flicker among the metal beams as distant figures weld plates and heat shields to the ship’s exterior. The shuttle smoothly glides closer until it reaches the starship’s docking bay, slipping through the magic field that keeps the hold pressurized with breathable atmosphere.
The Master of Stars is the largest starship in the Society’s arsenal. Even before the events of the Scoured Stars, it was the pride of the fleet. Years of neglect required an extensive retrofit during the events of the Scoured Stars incident, inadvertently saving the flagship. The repairs are still ongoing, hampered by the lack of any senior Starfinders familiar with the ship’s myriad and esoteric systems.
As the shuttle doors open, a small drone flies in and pops up a holoscreen, displaying a harried-looking ratfolk.
Finally, fresh meat! the ysoki exclaims over the screen, sounding pleased. Name’s Fitch—pleasantries over, time to get to work. I had some trouble earlier with the lights flickering on the ship, and now both the lights and computers have suddenly gone out on E-Deck. No idea what’s causing it, but you work this job long enough and— Fitch’s attention flicks to something offscreen, and she shouts The welding torch is not a toy! You wanna go in the toddler’s pen with the other kids? She snorts dismissively before continuing, Sorry, some of these little ones would cut off their own heads if I let them. Anyway, it could be some lunkhead screwed up the wiring, but that’s a pretty big system failure for a simple electrical short. I’d prefer to send in some people with combat training to scout it out, just in case someone or something is sabotaging the ship. If it’s nothing, great, get the power back on if you can. If there’s something suspicious, use your comm units to report in to me. I’ll give you the access codes, so— If you touch that panel I will staple you to the hull!
The screen on the drone cuts out, then flashes to display the ship’s schematics and the passwords for the computers on E-Deck.
When you tries to reach again Fitch, she seems quite busy and only says Any Results on your investigation?
Having nothing more to says to the Wayfinder leader, you use the working lifts and maintenance tunnels to reach E-Deck.
The doors on E-Deck are closed and do not automatically open without power, but since the magnetic seals on the doors are also disabled due to the power loss, you can force your way through it.
E-Deck is a heavily underused section of the Master of Stars, consisting of various primary access corridors and adjoining chambers. Most side rooms are crew quarters or communal living spaces—far less important locations due to the recent shortage in personnel. The Wayfinders recently started using some of these chambers to store nonthreatening alien objects.
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Radak, checks his rifle as the lift descends down the floors. Never assume a weapon is ready. If it's your life at stake make sure. His mother's words running through his mind, the familiar routine keeping him calm.
Work indeed, but what you you reckon is the cause. Sabotage or poor workmanship?
He keeps out of the way of his more mechanically minded comrades working on the door but ready to add his strength to push the door open if required.
The E-Deck is in total darkness when you arrive, but thanks to Ziamat's quick thinking with the help of Tixylix you are able to restore power to the lights and the cameras prior to entering the area. This quick jury- rigging only provides limited power where you are on E-Deck, but it is enough to restore moderate computer functionality.
Radak don't need to show his strength as there is now enough power to activate the doors and Ajatus perception doesn't discern anything threatening in the area.
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Bilimi reaches up and grabs the black mote witch coats his hand then slides down his body covering his clothing in a slick black semi-transparent shell. He then draws his pistol at the ready.
"Good job. Why do I get the feeling we're about to start of one of those old space drama's where the big acid spitting bugs is gonna jump out at us?"
Most of the starship’s cameras remain off, but one is still on and reveals two human children hiding in the empty storage room just behind the doors.
It's difficult to gauge the mental state of children, even more on camera. But Ajatus senses that the children behavior is not the one of a terrified person but more of someone catch where it shouldn't be; both afraid and relieved. The children tries to stay hidden from the entrance and both seems in good health.
Ajatus also catches some of their look toward a second door as if they had hidden something there.
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After explaining his observation, [b]"Then let us presume they are children." He moves forward behind Basalt calling calmly to the children, and making sure those behind him have as clear line of sight as possible.
Ajatus raises his hand, the new implant's Starfinder emblem glowing, "Relax children, it is safe. We are Starfinder's sent by Fitch to make sure all is well here. Please come out, you aren't in any trouble. What are your names and how did you get down here?"
Scattered barrels and boxes line the lowered floor of this storage chamber. A thick bulkhead to the port side leads farther onto the deck, while a similar bulkhead to the aft connects to an arterial hallway that runs the length of the deck.
First scared by Basalt's attitude, the reassuring voice of Ajatus seems to quickly calm down the two children.
the boy says We were playing with... he's interrupted by his sister who pinches him and she says We were playing with our toy because Father is always busy since mommy is gone missing in the Cured Store accident!
But... but the lights went out! and we have been trap here since!
the boys whispers to his sister Don't you think we need to talk about the protection?
The girls raises an eyebrow at his brother but don't pinch him and says proudly Be careful, we have secure the passage to the next room
and the boys adds Yes, to protect Friend! again, his sister raises an eyebrow at him but says or do nothing.
Walking over to the children Bilimi, lowers his weapon and addresses them. "Alright, you were just playing with your toy. Why don't you tell me what this toy is, maybe we can find it for you. Also, what did you do to secure the passage?"
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The gnome has no time for children. He sits atop his drone as it moves through the room. He scans the surroundings looking for evidence of damage or anything useful. His augmented eyes briefly run over the chidlren. Ziamat, keep them out from under my droid. I hate having to clean blood off the chrome.
The girls proudly says to Bilimi Me and my brother Lan we have reset the sensitivity on the ship’s fire extinguishers to go off at the slightest sign of heat, including the body heat of an adult!
Clever, right?!
The boy, Lan says It's not a toy! It's... Friend! the girl seeming angry says No! You can't tell them! They're adults, they can't understand, you're so stupid Lan
The boy responds I'm not stupid, you are! Stupid, Stupid
Clearly the two kids seems to have found some sort of creature and have befriend it, and after some time talking to them you are able to make them confirm that they found "Friend" in the other room while playing around. The creature resembles a tailless horseshoe crab.
With the information given by the children, it's easy to find the trap.
Even if the children don't want you to hurt "Friend", they finished to follow your order and you put them outside the room.
The trap taking care of, the children put away safely, you are ready to open the next door.
The doors open to an area that consists of two adjoining chambers. Four large containment capsules fill the fore room, three of which hold stasis-locked objects, including a tablet, a strange curved sword, and an odd spiral of bioluminescent coral. A crack leaks fluid from the fourth capsule, which displays a foot-wide breach near the bottom. The aft room is filled with cold smoke.