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Another successful salvage operation! You’ve just returned from an abandoned dwarven mining asteroid, and its spoils fill the cargo hold of your vessel, the Helping Hand — your very own ship! You’re still so proud of it and of the fact that your boss Nakonechkin trusts you enough to send you on lone missions.
You've been in the Drift for a little more than two days since you left the asteroid when an alert on your ship’s sensors lets you know that another vessel, a sleek, yellow explorer vessel that looks slightly familiar (but with different markings) is approaching!
You all gather on the bridge as a communication channel opens from the incoming starship. The view screen lights up with the image of a scarred, angry human woman.
“Attention, filthy vermin,” she sneers. “Prepare to be boarded by the crew of the Nova Warlock. We will take your cargo, destroy your power core, and leave you to float aimlessly through space until you die from hunger, thirst, freezing temperatures, or lack of oxygen. hichever. It really doesn’t matter to me, as long as you die slowly and painfully!”
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Gazigaz looks at the Nova Warlock frantically, obviously troubled. He mutters his worries to himself while nervously adjusting his armbands:
"Is it...?? No it can't be, gree? It's been what? A year? It can't be! Even if it was, they wouldn't remember us, gree? They wouldn't still be mad... Or would they? No they wouldn't! No one can stay mad for a whole year, gree? They must be over it... Maybe not... It doesn't make any sense!"
He then suddenly turns to his companions as if emerging from a trance, changing abrubtely from an agitated to a still state.
"It could be a misunderstanding. Or if not, there might be a way to talk them out of it. Maybe I should speak for us, but what should I say?"
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Quonx scratches her fur, picks out a copper wire that is sticking out and fidgets nervously while looking at a console.
"Gree, if I recall correctly the readings look very similar to those of the... Uhh... What was it? Nova Wizard? Nova Enchanter?"
She listens to Gazigaz and Dakoyo for a moment before adding:
"Maybe they just need help? We have some spare parts that we could offer. Maybe even a few snacks! But not the vercite potato chips, I wanted to eat those during my lunch break." Upon hearing Dakoyo speak of weapons and shields, she snaps out of her reverie about snacks and runs to the engineering panel.
"Yes, let me divert some of the auxiliary power to start them up!"
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"I'll stall them while you prepare the ship for the worse, but please, don't take any violent action before they do! I might be able to come to an arrangement with them...", asks Gazigaz smiling to his friends.
Gazigaz clears his throat before connecting himself to the communication channel:
"Greetings Nova Warlock's nufriends! I am Gazigaz, the handsome skittermander acting as the spokesperson for the crew of this wonderful ship called the Helping Hand. I think that there might be a slight misunderstanding here. You see, we don't want to cause any harm to anyone. If you are in desperate need of supplies, we would be honored to share some of ours with you. No need to fight! If you need a helping hand (pun intended, hehe) you crossed path with the right ship! I can assure you that everyone on board would give allsix to assist you.
I don't know why you are uttering those scary threats, but I am pretty sure that we can all find a compromise that will leave everyone satisfied. Don't you think?"
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After Gazigaz introduces himself, she cuts him off.
“My name is Captain Anga Silazi. Let that name ring in your fuzzy ears, for it is the name of your downfall!”
When Gazigaz mentions lending a helping hand, Captain Silazi sputters in disbelief. “You don’t remember my brother, Abram Silazi, captain of the Nova Witch? You defeated and humiliated him only a year ago! While piloting a luxury cruise liner of all things! I could not let such a slight stand, so I tracked you down. It wasn’t easy, and it cost nearly a fortune, but I'm here to avenge my brother!”
And finally, when he asks about a compromise, Captain Silazi and the crew around her (but off-screen) let out a long, sustained laugh. “Not a chance! Prepare to die!”
Just as you can see the angry human woman about to give the command for her crew to power up their ship's weapons, the screen goes to static!
The Helping Hand’s sensors begin to screech wildly as a swirling cloud of multicolored energy suddenly surrounds both ships. There is a vertigo-inducing wrenching sensation as your vessel is teleported somewhere, the strange but familiar backdrop of Drift space replaced with an unknown configuration of stars. However, alarms are still blaring, signifying total engine failure and countless other problems. To make matters worse, the computers indicate that the Helping Hand is high above an unidentified planet and plummeting rapidly!
Plus, the Nova Warlock is missing...but somehow the Helping Hand's mass and dimensions are almost double what they are supposed to be!
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"We had vercite potato chips!? Why didn't I know about them?!"
Deeply concerned about Quonx bogarting the chips, it takes Dakoyo more than a few seconds to realize that the ship could be in serious trouble.
As the utter enormity of this unknown threat emerges, Dakoyo takes prompt action. He conjures a purple blindfold for his eyes and asks for divine help, "Ibra help us!"
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Quonx takes a peek at a console and exclaims in surprise:
"We're no longer in the Drift! We're above a planet! And crashing!!" She frantically runs her arms over the console, running diagnostics. "And our ship seems... Double its normal size? What is going on!?" Quonx whips out a worn out manual from her overalls, titled "Observations on quantum anomalies" by Dr. Zambressa Von Vultoo, and begins to rapidly read various passages out loud in hopes of finding something helpful.
Quonx turns to Dakoyo for a moment and plays with her hands nervously.
"I might have... stowed away a few in my cabin. In case of emergencies! But I was gonna share, I promise!" She turns back to the console upon hearing a new alarm join its voice to the ongoing blaring.
"Our sensors show people on board! They're going into our cargo hold!" She goes to the rest of the crew, scratching her fur.
"The cargo bay! We salvaged a zero-g vehicle recently, remember! We could use it as an escape pod before we crash! We just have to get there before them!" The blue-furred skittermander runs to a nearby locker and grabs her Azimuth rifle.
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Quonx grabs the rifle with an upper arm and hurries back to the console, still reading Dr Von Vultoo's manual. Suddenly she gasps and exclaims:
"I get it now! It seems both our ships have... fused !? The bridge of the Nova Warlock is just below ours, next to the cargo bay! We have to get there fast!"
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"Crashing??? I'm too handsome to die like this! Nako, my dear Nako, your wisdom is marvelous. I'm following you. Get us out of here!", shouts Gazigaz as he also grabs his weapons.
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Fortunately, Dakoyo's gear is light and he almost always carries it with him. You never know when someone will get hurt and you need a medkit. He grabs his battle staff and slings the satchel with his medkit over his uppermost shoulder and clamps it against his side with his middle arm.
"Lead on. Lead on!"
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The Helping Hand’s bumpy return to the Material Plane has thrown the cargo hold into disarray. Crates—some cracked open and spilling their contents across the floor—have been flung out of the cargo webbing and are scattered everywhere. A small vehicle festooned with claws and drills sits on a quartet of thruster nozzles near the airlock door.
Already in the cargo bay and trying to figure out how to get inside the mining craft, however, are three Space Pirates! As soon as you open the door, they see you and draw their weapons, shouting, "Yar, let's claim the bounty then get out of here. Captain'll reward us...if she survives!"
All three pirates react faster than the four of you and they all advance to take cover behind heavy crates. Each one of them draws a grenade while moving, lobbing them towards the door once they reach the end of their movement ! They seem to be experts at lobbing explosives, and have greater range at this than normal people would!
Piercing | DC 12 for Half Damage (1)
Piercing | DC 12 for Half Damage (1)
Piercing | DC 12 for Half Damage (1)
ROUND 1
Quonx
Nako
Dakoyo
Gazigaz
ROUND 2
Lars (Blue)
Renuto (Red)
Velta (Yellow)
Quonx winces and ducks behind a nearby crate, but some of the shrapnel scrapes one of her shoulders. She gets up and runs behind a huge metallic crate, drawing her knife in the process.
"I was going to offer them a place on the shuttle, but I don't think they're going to listen!"
Quonx aims with her laser rifle and turns a knob all the way up, and the whirring of the gun becomes more intense.
"BOOM THINGS!!", shouts Gazigaz running for cover behind a crate. Although, not quick enough, a fragment stabs the skittermander's left thigh.
"Bloody hell that hurts!", mumbles the green skittermander as he removes the bloody fragment from his thigh and tosses it angrily on the ground.
Gazigaz aims his pistol at the nearest pirate (Renuto/Red) and shoots.
"Sorry for Abram Silazi by the way, but he deserved it! Let us teach you the lesson we tried to teach him a year ago: you can't attack innocent people without consequences, not when this fantastic skittermander crew is nearby!"
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Dakoyo is less observant or less agile than his companions. He stands there while the grenades go off.
He continues to stand there and looks down at his shrapnel studded armor. Like Gaz he pries one of the pieces loose, but the purple skittermander doesn't throw it down. He throws it at one of the pirates.
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(evocation, close, one object & one creature) –fling an object of less than 1 bulk at the creature, making a ranged attack vs. KAC. Object deals 1d6 bludgeoning.
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Quonx fires an overcharged shot that almost knocks the blue pirate off his feet. He reels a bit, but stays up and fighting!
Gazigaz and Dakoyo both miss with their shots, while Nako gets close and ready for melee!
The Blue pirate, wary of getting hit by Quonx, takes a round-about path (shown on map) while drawing his sword, trying to swing for the blue mechanic's head!
vs. KAC
Meanwhile, the Red and Yellow pirates see Gazigaz and Nako bunched up together, giving each other a little grin. They both shift their positions a bit and lob two more grenades right between the pair of skittermanders!
Even though Red's grenade is off-target by five feet, it still explodes where it will catch both Gazigaz and Nako and nobody else.
Piercing | DC 12 for Half (1)
Piercing | DC 12 for Half (2)
ROUND 2
Quonx
Nako (2 Reflex Saves)
Dakoyo
Gazigaz (2 Reflex Saves)
ROUND 3
Lars (Blue)
Renuto (Red)
Velta (Yellow)
Soundtrack 04: Cargo Hold - DropBox mp3 Link: Robotech "The 15th Squadron"
Quonx takes a peek at her bleeding shoulder and takes a quick step back. Grimacing from the pain, she hears Dakoyo exclaim and sees the pirate grab his head.
"Thanks, Dakoyo!"
She takes aim and fires again.
"Damn it!", shouts Gazigaz as he takes a step back from the deflagration.
"You got it Quonx! Don't give up, that stinky pirate is almost down!"
Gazigaz aims at Lars (Blue) and shoots.
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Quonx fires another shot at Blue, nearly dropping him again, but he barely holds on!
Gazigaz, encouraging Quonx into feeling better, puts an electrifying shot in on the Blue pirate that hauls his keel, permanently!
With his initial target down, Dakoyo instead targets a Mind Thrust at the Yellow pirate!
Meanwhile, Nako delivers a savage strike to the Red pirate, nearly cutting her in half!
Drawing her sword, the Red pirate attempts to retailate against Nako!
vs. KAC
Meanwhile, the Yellow pirate backs away a little bit while drawing both sword and pistol, taking a shot at Nako - hoping to focus fire on the dangerous doshko-wielder!
vs. KAC
ROUND 3
Quonx
Nako
Dakoyo
Gazigaz
ROUND 4
Lars (Blue)
Renuto (Red)
Velta (Yellow)
Soundtrack 04: Cargo Hold - DropBox mp3 Link: Robotech "The 15th Squadron"
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The sound of skittermander screeches echoes in the cargo bay.
Almost went demoralize but it's a full standard action in starfinder, and not dying means killing someone.
Followed by the rallying scream of rage while bringing the doshko down on the pirate, translation I don't want to die!!!
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"NAKO NOOO!! Stay with us my friend, STAY WITH ME!! You're one of my best friends, I don't know what I would do without you. We should get matching arm bands, you would look great with arm bands like mine, don't you think?? But you need to be okay, gree? You're a fighter, the best damn skitter fighter I know!", cries Gazigaz.
As soon as the pirate drops, Quonx hears Nako screaming bloody murder and turns around. Seeing the blood drip from her friend's fur, Quonx dashes to his aid.
"Nako!!!"
She sees the pirate with the red scarf drop, then points her rifle to the remaining one.
"No need for more harm!" She begins. "Don't move, drop your weapon and put your hands in the air, and we'll sort this out."
She keeps her rifle pointed at the pirate
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After seeing her two companions drop, the remaining pirate turns red in the face, shouting something almost incomprehensible about skinning the four of you alive, as she full-attacks with her pistol at both Nako and Quonx!
vs. Nako KAC
vs. Quonx KAC
ROUND 4
Quonx
Nako
Dakoyo
Gazigaz
ROUND 5
Renuto (Red)
Velta (Yellow)
Soundtrack 04: Cargo Hold - DropBox mp3 Link: Robotech "The 15th Squadron"
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Quonx, unphased by the shot that just hit her, shoulders her rifle once again.
"That's it! I'm not bringing you aboard the shuttle!"
She activates her targeting system and takes another shot.
"You should be more polite!"
Gazigaz shoots the pirate.
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Dakoyo, Nako, and Gazigaz focus their fire on the remaining pirate, dropping her to the deck with a thud! You are now out of combat!
You ship shudders violently as debris and salvage slide all across the deck of the cargo hold - you don't have much time left! The mining vessel was originally built for a crew of 2 dwarves, so 4 skittermanders is going to be a tight fit.
However, you have another problem first - getting the cargo bay doors to open! You haven't linked the mining shuttle up to the Helping Hand's systems yet, so you can't do it remotely...somebody needs to jury-rig the doors to open on a timer with an Engineering check while everybody else loads up in the vehicle. If you succeed, you'll have just enough time to get all four of you inside before the doors open! If you fail...well...
You can also each grab one random piece of salvage as you hurry to your makeshift escape pod - each of you please roll a 1d100!
If you roll a 100 exactly, roll two more 1d100s!
"It would be sad if everything went to waste", mumbles Gazigaz as he opens a crate.
Quonx dashes to the door controls and begins pressing buttons frantically.
"Quick! Get in the vehicle!! I'll join you!"
The hangar fills with a loud buzzing noise as a countdown begins. Quonx runs to the vehicle, grabbing some item along the way.
She jumps into the mining vehicle.
"Brace yourselves!"
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As you all run through the cargo hold...
Soundtrack 05: Escape Pod - DropBox mp3 Link: Robotech "Catastrophe"
Dakoyo grabs a carbon steel curve blade with a series of runes on the hilt that spell “Blooddrinker” in Elven.
Gazigaz grabs a canister of sprayflesh emblazoned with a cartoon starfish wearing a doctor’s reflecting mirror.
Quonx grabs a slightly out-of-date but still usable targeting computer armor upgrade with the ATech logo on it.
and Nako grabs an experimental weapon fusion seal that grants the blasting weapon fusion on any item of 5th level or lower and takes effect 10 minutes after being placed on an appropriate weapon.
Quonx quickly and expertly programs the door on a 9-second delay, then you all rush inside the mining craft! Less than a second after you close the hatch, the cargo bay doors open, decompression blowing everything stored within out into space!
Not designed for a crew of four, everyone lands on top of Nako as your makeshift escape pod tumbles free. You are a tangle of furry appendages and can only just barely all see out of the mining vehicle’s one transparent aluminum window.
You can see that what was once your ship is now a twisted amalgamation of two distinct vessels, as if they had collided at a perpendicular angle and became permanently wedged together. Fins jut out improbably from bulkheads and the nose of the space pirate ship protrudes from where your sleeping quarters should be. Suddenly a bolt of purple lightning from nowhere strikes the fused vessels, and they disappear from sight! Moments later, your makeshift escape pod plunges into the upper reaches of the planet’s cloud cover!
You can each attempt ONE action/check as your craft plummets! What will you do?!
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"Ow ow ow, that's my arm! Oh, sorry Nako!" Quonx manages to get up and tumbles to the vehicle's console.
"C'mon... There's gotta be descent thrusters on that vehicle, gree?"
Quonx works the console, trying to activate thrusters or some kind of piloting system.
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"My fur, my lovely fur! Stop messing with my fur!", whines Gazigaz as he escapes from the pile of skittermanders.
He then follows Quonx to the console looking for a piloting device, hoping to be able to take control of the escape pod for an emergency landing.
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Your descent is a flurry of frantic activity, but no matter what switches you flip, buttons you press, or levers you yank, the vehicle’s safety measures only partially activate: gravity shielding envelops the vessel, plasma turbines slow the vessel’s descent, and the interior is suddenly filled with cushioning foam that smells vaguely of dwarven ale (but with the consistency of a cannoli (reminiscent of an old holo-vid some of you may have seen once ).
Moments later, the vessel makes landfall with a cacophony of crunching metal, snapping vegetation, and splashing water!
Thanks to the foam, none of you are hurt...but with a loud CRACK, the hull of your escape craft splits in two, dumping you all out unceremoniously in a pool of swampy water, as the wreckage smolders and emits sparks.
You find yourself in a swampy environment, with irregular hillocks poking from murky water and tall, skinny coniferous trees in every direction. The sky is the color of an angry bruise, occasionally lit by the same flashes of purple lightning you saw while your mining vehicle was plummeting to the ground. The air on this planet is obviously breathable, if a bit humid, and despite the heavy cloud cover, it is apparent that it's day.
Well...what now, skittercrashers?
Quonx, covered in mud, shakes her fur in the manner of a squox, sending flecks of dirt flying everywhere. Panicked, she feels the pockets of her overalls and sighs in relief as she realizes her quantum reality spanner is still safely stowed in a pocket.
"Whoa, that was close! But did you see our ship!? That's so amazing! I really wonder what kind of phenomenon would cause two ships to fuse like this! We gotta find it so I can study it!"
Realizing nobody is sharing her interest in the matter, Quonx helps her friends clean their suits before looking around.
"Well... Maybe this planet is inhabited? Maybe there's a settlement or something nearby..." She begins actively looking for prints, a stream or anything that could help them orient themselves.