/Insert adventure here!
Venture Captain Naiaj summoned you with great urgency to the Lorespire complex on Absalom Station "Time is short and the hour is late, we need you to get to the starport and collect a VIP and take them to the Golden Vault of Abadar. We want to keep this low key, pardon the pun, but get a move on now. Instructions and details have been sent to your comms devices"
Naiaj then turfed you back out to the waiting rooms as she to move on to briefing more Starfinders on other tasks.
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A surprisingly dour Ysoki tries to get a word in before getting thrown out of the conference room. He tips his stetson slightly with his finger.
”Shortest mission briefing I’ve ever gotten.” he grumbles.
He then turns to the rest of the party and checks his comlink.
”M’name’s Cero, but everyone calls me Duke by they way.” he drawls. ”Shall we?”
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A kasatha wearing a white suit with bell-bottom trousers, black shirt, and black heeled platform shoes struts rhythmically into the room.
"Hey y'all..." he says, greeting everyone with confident eye contact.
"My name is Fuunk and meeting you is my pleasure.
"I'm a dancer both professionally and for leisure.
"But when the society needs to bring the heat,
"I've got the tools to render our enemies dead meat!
"So when the laser fire starts rippin' every which way,
"Git behind me and down you stay.
"In between you and harm is where I'll be...
"And together we'll crack our enemies - jus like Humpty!"
"Ya dig??" He gives everyone a friendly, knowing wink.
Fuunk listens to Naiaj and reacts to being so abruptly dismissed...
"Huh. So that's it then?
"Well, off to the lion's den!"
Fuunk moves to strut out of the room just as rhythmically as when he strutted into the room.
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Duke is likely to be disappointed.
A short, pink haired android with glowing purple eyes, wearing a pink tutu and with a glowing purple gem inset into her forehead spent most of the short briefing staring at an antique computer device and occasionaly muttering , got you and giving little fist pumps. As they are dismissed she looks up and says, Oh hello, what's happening?
She looks around in confusion, Where's Archiibald? He normally takes notes for me on these things, helps me deal with you fleshies. Did I give him the afternoon off, I dont remember doing that? Maybe my memory circuits are on the blink again. Are we supposed to be doing something, sorry, I was distracted slaughtering the inhabitants of Almeda with the 3rd Vesk Heavy Infantry. They really would have been far more succssful if I had been in command.
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Duke is likely to be disappointed.
A short, pink haired android with glowing purple eyes, wearing a pink tutu and with a glowing purple gem inset into her forehead spent most of the short briefing staring at an antique computer device and occasionaly muttering , got you and giving little fist pumps. As they are dismissed she looks up and says, Oh hello, what's happening?
She looks around in confusion, Where's Archiibald? He normally takes notes for me on these things, helps me deal with you fleshies. Did I give him the afternoon off, I dont remember doing that? Maybe my memory circuits are on the blink again. Are we supposed to be doing something, sorry, I was distracted slaughtering the inhabitants of Almeda with the 3rd Vesk Heavy Infantry. They really would have been far more succssful if I had been in command.
Duke plants his face in his palm and, with his other hand, points to Numina's Commlink which is buzzing with !!!Alert, New Starfinder mission!!! indicating she has a text message from venture captian Naiaj.
"She-We have a mission. It's on everyone's commlink."
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Low key I can do. Whipping up some hors d'oeuvres I can do given a reasonable kitchen. In fact most things I can do tolerably well.
Most of you didn't spot Gordon arriving before he spoke. He is a halfling but is dressed in a Ysoki second skin and gas lots of white fur growing from his skin.
Gordon Bleu, Chief Cook and bottlewasher he says tapping himself on the chest as he introduces himself So Duke, Funk and sorry seeking Archibald I didn't catch your name. Anyone else?
He hands in his sniper rifle. Pistols and knives should be sufficient for this mission. Not that we should need even those but sniper rifle isn't really low profile. Look after Peter for me
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An unobtrusive plant unfolds from a corner planter. It unroots itself and broadcasts telepathically to all those nearby, "Greetings fellow Starfinders. I am referred to as Ua." The 'voice' is soft, matter-of-fact, and lacks any change in intonation. The yellow bulb, that seems to be the head, lights up with bioluminescence while talking. Floating near the bulb is a small gem with a camera attached to it.
"I have received this transmission. Abdar-corp has hired us to retrieve a kasathan, Tharsa that will be arriving on station soon. We are to bring the kasathan, Tharsa, to Abdar-corp. This message seems to imply that the kasathan, Tharsa, might be in danger." Ua broadcasts to the group as it shambles along.
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Actually i'll think I'll keep Peter He takes back his rifle
Welcome Ua he says out loud
That was a good hiding in plain sight trick you pulled there he thinks back
No I do not know Archibald. But as Duke says its time to go
He tries to think what he knows about Tharsa and the Weapons dealers
Theme Corporate agent may apply
If he thinks of anything useful He will share (verbally) as they head for the spaceport
He tries to think what he knows about Tharsa and the Weapons dealers
[dice=culture]1d20+12 Theme Corporate agent may apply
Gordon racks his mind for a while and then it clicks. He was at a corporate function a few weeks ago, really wild party, all the B-List nuCeleb and infosphere hot new things were there to spice up what was essentially a wild frat pary dressed up as a corporate function. To be fair, there was probably some work done in the day but come nightfall things got wildly unhinged - and as Gordon went out to speak to some half plastered corporate who INSISTED on personally giving his compliments to the chef (his necktie wrapped around his forehead like a pirate made it clear he was not off his chops), Gordon started drifting off from the one way talk and began watching a presentation from a few senior execs who were still legitimately working, and in one of the FredX type clips they were watching he happened to spot a piece on the Idari and some of the emerging identities and thought leaders.
Tharsa, is a trade leader from the Idari—the massive kasathan starship in the Pact Worlds—who philosophizes the role of lucrative weapons trade in a law-abiding and peaceful society.
Tharsa’s ideologies would establish a strong regulated market that improves production and distribution within the weapons industry, consequently disadvantaging black market sellers. Whilst her philosophies could lead to a lucrative business environment if implemented, it has also made her a target among dangerous groups.
***
The maglev train is almost at the Spaceport
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Numina looks at the plant creature with curiosity. Non traditional? This is entirely in keeping with my position as second in command of the Vesk Battlecruiser Indomitable.
She pauses and peers closely at the plant, prodding gingerly with a finger. How is it that you are ambulatory? And sentient? Do you have internal organs like these flesh bags? Do you have a central nervous system, distinct brain, vocal cords? I have never met a member of your species before. Would you mind if I disected you to explore the inner workings of your form or perhaps them is some sort of entry in the Infosphere I could study about you?
She pauses and looks out of the window of the Maglev train. Oh, we are nearly at our destination. Best get ready.
She taps a button on a device strapped to her uppper arm, opening her nul space chamber. From inside she draws a long black metal cane topped with a snarling vesk head in polished silver .
Numina also tries to recall what she might know about the people who might want to do their contact harm.
Ella is aware that there would be umpteen numbers of criminal underworld groups involved in black-market weapons sales who may be very motivated to maintain the status quo. Basically there are too many potential enemies to narrow it down.
***
The maglev train arrives at the starport.
The constant hum of chatter surrounds Gate 83, which is located between two other gates at the end of a long terminal corridor. Passengers sprawl across seats near the gate, perusing nearby kiosks, or leaning idly against the decorative plants surrounding a holo-statue of a starliner. Passengers from other starliners pass back and forth along the walkways. Two gate attendants stand at the computers in front of the gate while employees dressed in dark-blue uniforms with insignia of Absalom Station walk purposefully throughout the port.
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"Ok I will head to the gate area and see if any our friend knows who is expected to greet him. Someone probably wants to check the information desk and see if his star liner has arrived. I will also check for fake greeters"
With his starfinder society placard he will head for the gate area
Must remember to get a glammer fusion for the sniper rifle
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Ua, having just recently gained the ability to 'see' as most can do, is immediately attracted to the Holo-statue area as it contains both plants and the statue. As it shambles over, it broadcasts to the group in it's usual neutral tone, "You may also relay communication through me, should you want to keep obvious communication to a minimum."
Gordon - Gate Desk
Cero - Info Kiosk
Fuunk - Seating area
Ua - Holo statue
Numi - TBA
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Duke will set up on the opposite side of an information Kiosk as some other customers and pretend to look up prices for a trip to Maro (on Akiton) while really keeping an eye out on anyone near the info Kiosks.
"Ua . . . I didn't know your species had such a . . . wide radius of telepathic contact."
Gate Desk:
(Gordon)
Two starport employees stand at the desk in front of a large holographic screen that displays the gate’s schedule.
A passenger is attempting to get assistance from one gate attendant whilst staring past them.
The other gate attendant is scribbling notes next to a dossier of flight information in a non-Common language.
***
Information Kiosk
(Cero)
(Numina)
Numina can find a list of flight details, and so far it looks like the ships should all be arriving on time. Clearly there were some delays earlier in the day as the usual jockeying for gates occured during peak hour which is pretty normal, but now everything is running like clockwork again. Numina thinks the shuttle you are all waiting on should be arriving in a couple of minutes.
Duke flips through some prices to Maro on the red planet of Akiton.
Akiton once held extensive starship fuel and mining industries, but with FTL travel coming into vogue the prices of Thasteron fell and now Akiton is home to rusting machinery in the forgotten and abandoned mines in its remote hills. A sales genie app appears on the screen "Maro, the city of a Thousand Lights!" the screen shows something that looks more lights from billboards, businesses and residences in the enormous trench-city "Come to the exciting city of Maro, home to the latest cool and edgy creative media, see the newest coolest trends - the shumka beats style and the edgy pigment-growling artistically rendered as immense graffiti sprayed on the Edaio Rift's upper walls from hoverbikes" it displays some artfully presented destination photos and offers a reasonably priced flight and hotel combo, as well as 20% discount code for some cheap travel insurance (quote code THASTERON20 for 20% off your next purchase!)
A quick infosphere search confirms Maro is famous for both its fashion and nightlife and its gangs, formed by the ambitious and desperate souls attracted by its prosperity.
There are two humans, one female and one male, standing at the kiosk. One is looking at a guidebook for Bretheda and the other has a pamphlet for shopping locales on Absalom Station. They both speak to one another, and they appear to be muttering (not to each other).
****
Seating Area
(Fuunk)
Fuunk starts practising some moves to music that only they can hear. Unfortunately the floor is still a bit sticky with what appears to be the remains of an icecream that some strung out passenger probably bought their kid to mollify them after an extended wait for perpetually delayed trips on a budget carrier resulting in an inhuman existence on plastic chairs for hours as fellow passengers tried sleeping on the cold hard floors using their carry-on bags as pillows. Anyhow between the sticky patch and the sudden mental haunting by ghosts of travellers past, Fuunk just can't get the boogie on.
The rows of seats are back to back, with half facing the gate. The seats are half-filled with passengers and mostly in small clustered groups. A few people sit on their own, likely waiting for an arrival from the incoming starliner.
***
Holo Statue
(Ua)
Ua is disappointed to note that none of the plants are members of their family tree.
The pedestal is projecting a blue holographic image of the newest starship models. Decorative plants surround the holo-statue.
There are several passengers leaning against the planters around the holo-statue, and one human employee. The employee is tending to the plants around the holo-statue.
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Ua studiously observes and regards each of the trees and then the holostatue.
"It seems ysoki...Cero that I am a deviation from the average Khizar. Also, a fellow Starfinder on my last mission suggested to me a magical product called a Psychic Booster. I have found that the magics of this item enhance the range."
Gate Desk:
(Gordon)
The gate attendant looks up at the passenger finally - "Can I help you?" and at that moment Gordon adeptly picks the moment to slide in behind the passenger as though they might be together but the attention is on her. Using the cover of distraction he starts reading the other attendants notes - she is writing in Akitonian - it appears to be some details around specs about shifts and crew on a flight perhaps? She isn't finished yet so Gordon is still guessing, but he also hasn't been spotted...
"Oh I'm fine, I was just getting a better look at the gate schedule" the woman smiles back to the other attendant who moves aside a little to let the woman see. The gate attendant leans down to speak into the PA system.
***
Information Kiosk
(Cero)
(Numina)
Cero and Numina have kept pretty low-key and so far haven't been noticed.
Neither Cero or Numina can make out what the woman is muttering, but it has a regular cadence and low pitch as she distractedly flips through a guidebook on Bretheda.
Cero spots that the man is actually the man is also muttering while reading, but is actually whispering into an earpiece. Cero can make out that the man keeps asking, “What’s the plan?” or “Anyone there? Who am I meeting?” and touching his earpiece to try adjust it.
It appears the two are not actually together.
****
Seating Area
(Fuunk)
Fuunk manages to avoid any more sticky spots, but with so many passengers around and so much going on finds it hard to try hone in on anything suspicious - it just seems too busy.
***
Holo Statue
(Ua)
Ua watches carefully and is rather shocked when the man starts hacking away at the plant - well actually its trimming, but incorrectly trimming and a horrible job that is hard to watch for such an in the know observer. Ua is tempted to make a comment to save the fellow piece of flora when Ua notices the workers uniform is makeshift and inauthentic.
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Ua shambles over to the worker, its steps an over accentuation of a standard walk. It then place a root-like appendage on the man's hand, wrapping around it slightly. "Excuse me," Ua sends telepathically in its standard non-fluxuatory tone, "You are tending to that sapling incorrectly. Also, why is it that your uniform is inconsistent with the traditional uniform of the staff here?
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Not knowing if the man’s ‘nefarious plan’ involves his client, or if it’s entirely unrelated, Duke decides to try something a bit rash. He meanders over to the man and taps him, trying to get his attention. His demeanor changes entirely from gruff Ysoki to amiable but lost traveler. He’ll also text Numina 6 about his plan before heading over so they can assist if they so desire.
”Excuse me sir, I was wondering. Have you heard that new slang phrase ‘she’s on G100?’ Do you know what that means? I’ve tried space urban dictionary but there’s no results.”
Ua - talking
Fuunk - Grooving
Duke - Hustling
Numi - TBA
Gordon - TBA
You can hear the slight *clunk* as the ship attaches to the walkway past the gates.
***
Gate Desk:
(Gordon)
Gordon stops reading for a second due to the interchange between the passenger and the second attendant, but this takes his attention off the first gate attendant and her writings - she keeps noting away quietly.
Gordon has a feeling that something is off with the passenger, she claims to be trying to look at the schedule but her eyes appear to be fixed on the gate doors. Gordon is about to look away when he notices the grip of a small firearm at the back of her waist.
***
Information Kiosk
(Cero)
(Numina)
Numi bumps into the woman who ceases her mutterings and looks a bit startled and confused at the accidental contact, she pulls away immediately, you suspect she was already quite tense and nervous and now she's slightly more so. She grips the guidebook tightly.
Cero manages to pass a bit of a coded message to the fellow - he looks a bit relieved. "My communicator isn't working, have you got comms? What's the plan?"
****
Seating Area
(Fuunk)
Fuunk keeps on Fuunking away, a few people watch on happy to have a distraction.
***
Holo Statue
(Ua)
As Ua corrects the gardner the chap looks up confused and slightly spooked, he overdoes it with the shears and slices off a chunk of foliage "Ummm I'm a new hire, first day on the job, boss said this uniform was close enough, they um didn't have any in my size" - he seems pretty suspect and his eyes are darting all over the place.