Dot in.
You have been personally chosen for your skills for a particularly important task. Please board the Perfect Silence at docking bay SF 42 by 0900 hours.
Luwazi Elsebo
Jadnura
On the bridge of the Perfect Silence, the First Seekers Luwazi Elsebo and Jadnura stand in front of a large tactical screen. The screen shows the Saaruq solar system, where numerous blips of different colors indicate fleet positions and other strategic information. Luwazi and Jadnura turn away from the screen. “It is good to see you all,” Luwazi says in a formal tone. “You are some of our most trusted and experienced Starfinders, and I’m glad that you’re able to join our fleet in this very demanding mission."
“Months ago, a group of Starfinders investigated a previouslyuncharted star system, hoping to find a lost civilization that might have more information about the warlike species we’ve come to know as jinsuls. They succeeded and discovered a civilization we’ve come to know as the Kreiholm Freehold, and much like jinsuls, they originated from the Scoured Stars. Once the Starfinders located the Freehold’s new home in the binary star system of Saaruq-Ruaan and traveled there, they realized that the jinsuls had begun a full-blown invasion of the star system. Those agents managed to rescue an important council member, which greatly helped us establish diplomatic relations with the Freehold.”
Jadnura walks a few steps away from the screen, puts each of his four hands on his hips, and nods approvingly. After a few moments he waves of his hands and the view on the tactical screen changes to show dozens of Starfinder ships in a vast formation. The kasatha speaks with deliberate emphasis. “When the Starfinders returned with news of the jinsuls‘ expansionist actions, we started to muster all of the Starfinder Society‘s available starships in preparation for this mission. Our main objective is to assist in relieving the Kreiholm Freehold from an ongoing jinsul attack. This is also in part a diplomatic mission— we hope we can convince the Kreiholm Freehold that the jinsuls are a threat that must be stopped, lest they keep building their forces and maintain their offensive. Hopefully, we can forge an alliance with the Freehold and they‘ll join us in a future strike on the Scoured Stars to put an end to this threat.”
Luwazi nods, sharing a concerned look with Jadnura. “We’ll be exiting the Drift into the Saaruq solar system, and once we get there, it‘s going to be a rough ride. Be prepared for anything. If you have any questions, ask them now.”
|
Killik arrives at the docking bay a good hour or so early, making sure he is ready to greet each member of the team. He speaks realtively little, preferring telepathic communication.
On the trip he happily busies himself cooking for the team, organising activities for everyone and generally encouraging eveyone to get along and work together. He is particulary fond of what he calls, "board game night" and is a little sad when people havent heard of the old custom.
As they arrive at the briefing he scans the screen and broadcasts telepathically.
Master Jadnura, what can you tell us of the disposition of the Jinsul forces? Do we know any more about just why they have taken such an aggresive stance? I believe many of us now know their languages, has there been any attempt to stablish diplomatic relationships with them?
|
Klysk meets with Killk at the docking bay, followed by a small scorpion-like skittering robot. He engages in plenty of discussion with the other Shirren, taking care to let them know of his physical handicap.
At the briefing, he patiently works through his Drone, which is seated in a chair next to him, to get all the information that the two first seekers are saying. A few moments after the briefing has ended, he gives a gentle broadcast with his mind. {If I may ask, what exactly is our mission here going to be? You've mentioned the overall goals, but what will the handful of us agents be doing? Or are you aware at this time of what might be required of us?}
|
Gab looks startled at Killk. "I love board game night! You ever hear of Escape the Shield? I got a copy over here. Salvaged it from this museum of a destroyed civilization ... Took a while to translate it, but I think I got the rules worked out finally."
Over the days of the trip, he takes the time to work out hand signals with the shirrens, signifying he needs to talk to them telepathically.
As the briefing approaches, he listens quietly, then nods to the two Seekers. "You know you can count on me." He surveys the rest of the team, the gears in his rodent mind clearly at work. "Looks like we got a pretty diverse crew here, but not much in the way of frontline fighters. Am I right?"
|
"I wouldn't say that." says a muscular human woman with short black hair. She wears a longsword at her side with the comfort of a practiced warrior. "Lady Lanius Agria of the Church of Ioedae, at your service. But please, feel free to just call me Shrike. Most people do."
She smiles, nodding towards a familiar face. {We meet again, Klysk.} she thinks with her mind unguarded, half-remembering the shirren's preference for telepathic communication. {Just couldn't get enough of fighting Jinsuls after getting a taste? Me neither.}
"You can count on me to do the Goddess' good work from the front lines. I also have a modest connection to her mystic arts of healing, should we need to evacuate wounded survivors."
|
|
In the dock Jasper introduces himself to the team as they come in. Hello fellow Starfinders, I do not believe we've had the pleasure of serving together. Hopefully this mission goes according to plan
After hearing the briefing Jasper replies back to Gab We should be able to handle ourselves with the team they've put together. If we need more support I can summon an extra friend as well ()
|
|
The ysoki wears a stylish plum-colored suit, designed to fit in well with his light armor. A matching plum-colored fedora sits rakishly upon his head. Two pistols hang from his belt, as well as a couple of grenades, and he is wearing a starfinder backpack.
He takes notice of Jasper's introduction and smiles back, offering a wave. "Heya there. Gabbers McTalkington, but folks call me Gab. You may of seen me on Absalom's Got Talent a couple of years ago, or on Live Exploration Extreme, or on one of my comedy specials, or my new cooking show ... Grub with Gab." He glances around as the team assembles for their mission. "Okay, so Imoedae Lady over here is our front line, but I want you all to know that I'm really here to support you. You need somethin' ... some flanking ... someone pinned down with harrying fire ... healing ... Let me know. I'm a people person, you know. Soft skills, as they say. Probably not the most useful skills in a Jinsul warzone, but, hey, that's just an opportunity to improvise, that's how I see it."
Luwazi Elsebo nods in response to Gab's question the speaks, “So far, the Society has encountered three species belonging to the Freehold: the bat-like nelentus and gaseous thyrs, both of which originated in the Scoured Stars, and the amphibious syngnathrixes, who are native to Saaruq-5. There are several habitable planets in the system that host other sapient species who have joined the Freehold. One of the Freehold’s leaders is a thyr named Speaks Forgotten Words, whom Starfinders rescued during a recent clash with the jinsuls.”
|
|
Looking over at the two First Seekers, Klysk sends out another telepathic query. {For those of us who have interacted with these people before, do you know if we will be meeting any familiar faces on the upcoming mission? It would be nice to catch up with either Dr. Yuuqa or Muyari again, even if for a short period of time.}
|
|
Gab shakes his head. "Luwazi, I don't want to meet any of those Jinsuls I met on the last mission you send me on ... Yikes, those guys were nuts. Even the one that helped us out. Cra-ay-zee." As he says this, a small dark blue creature climbs out of his Starfinder bag, wrapping its tentacles around his neck. "Not you, Sam. I like you." He pats the creature's tentacle soothingly.
Jadnura speaks up, "We don't know exactly what we are going to be in once we arrive, just that there is a space battle with eh jinsul on one side and the Freehold on the other. Your team has some of the most experienced Starfinders we have right now, so you get to deal with the most delicate and difficult matters as they arise." He then gives a nod to Luwazi, "If there are no more questions, we have either the pegasus or drake for your use. Both are attached to this ship. Pick one and be prepared to detach from this ship on Luwazi's mark. You have about 30 minutes."
Luwazi Elsebo broadcasts a message to every vessel in the Starfinder fleet, ordering each of the ships to exit the Drift. One by one, the ships disappear out of the Drift and arrive moments later near the planet Saaruq-5. There, dozens of Kreiholm and jinsul ships dart around each other, already engaged in intense firefights. Blinding flashes of laser cannons and plasma appear in fantastic displays over the blue-green surface of Sarruq-5.
Shortly after exiting the Drift, you receive an additional message from Luwazi:
“Detach and get to your battle stations! Our fleet is deploying to assist the Kreiholm Freehold’s ships and engage these damned jinsuls. You have a special task—our analysts have identified an unexpected threat. The enemy has deployed a new type of starship, and they’re mercilessly taking down several of our ships trying to join the Kreiholm Freehold’s defense. Destroy those new jinsul ships before they cause more trouble!”
|
|
Pilot: Dusty
Engineer: Klysk
Captain: Gabbers
Science Officer or Gunner: Jasper
Gunnery: Lady Shrike and Killik
Plopping himself down into one of the gunner sets Killik swivels round and starts to line up the weapon tactical display with the enemy ships. Keep her steady and stay on target he calls out as he unloads the particle beam at the enemy vessel.
|
|
Lanius takes a seat in the gunner's position and gets activates the targeting systems. She doesn't look up to express her gratitude to Gab. Best say 'thanks' with results, after all.
She delays, if only for an instant. Better to see where Killik is aiming and concentrate fire than to waste time and ammo spreading the love. The moment that the particle beam fires, she locks in and launches a heavy missile from the turret!
Engines
Aft Weapons
Forward Weapons
Engines
Engines
Aft Weapons
|
|
"Let's see if we can throw their gunners off ..." Gab mutters. He opens a frequency to the orange ship, and suddenly perectly-pitched shrieking erupts from him as he speaks in Jinsul.
rounds
|
|
With the orange ship destroyed, Gab switches over to the yellow ship, again screeching in the Jinsul language.
He turns the comm off and rubs his throat. "That is a really irritating language," he mutters in Common.
rounds