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Naiaj perks up when the two pilots begin to speak.
"Well, if you were in this situation I am more interested in what you would do? The ship engineer should be able to scavenge energy from other systems to surge through the down thrusters before impact to lessen the damage." she says stoically as if reciting from a textbook until Navasi begins to chime in. Her face softens a little as they talk together.
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Fordon continues to talk to Naiaj and Navasi.
"Yes, I agree. Nobody cares about the ship if they do not have to repair it after combat. As long as they get out of it alive. I took some lessons during my training at the Society. Ship construction and maintenance war more interesting than handling ship weapons."
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"Quite true. It isn't only record keeping where technology can fail us! If we must rely on our instincts especially with the esoteric then it too behooves us to consider other aspects of our fields, does it not?" he says to the others in the discussion. The others seem mostly convinced which has Royo show a smile for once as he pulls Tolmu aside.
"Your assistance made getting though their wired skulls much quicker. If the new age of Starfinders are all like you I can't wait to see the reports!" he says clapping the mystic on the shoulder.
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"That is good to hear. The less debris class ships coming back to the Lorespire the better. Definitely bring a gunner with you though. Someone in your group is bound to rile up a pirate." she says nodding.
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Meme joins Fordon and Navasi with Naiaj, "While I do not have any experience with an actual ship combat, I feel like it would be very important to try and discuss your issues before getting armaments involved. I mean, we all have the ability to share our thoughts to each other in one way or another and not everyone have ship scale weaponry. Am I right, dude?"
"Don't know if I would put it quite that way but your are right." Navasi adds.
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Tolmu politely excuse himself from the conversation and wanders over to Iteration-177...
"I was brought to my attention that you like to here about the various adventures Starfinder members find themselves having. Let me tell you about how I came across this..", as he slightly turns so his right his is more forward while also moving his robe back to display the Membrane Holdout Pistol sitting there. "This came from my visit to the secluded planet, Elytrio. After a wild ride through the ancient automated defenses, we explored the planet finding two subspecies of life. They called themselves, Ghibranis. Though careful negotiations, we Starfinders were able to convince them to reconcile their splintered past and to petition for entry into the Pact Worlds."
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"Fantastic! Nice to see they let you bring back souvenirs instead of confiscating them all. And your group went the route of diplomacy earning new allies! Let me guess you were the charmer that won them over? Please do tell me more when you have time...I will be visiting quite a bit more often if I can help it." says the android with a firm handshake and a wink.
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"Well to expand further it always depends on who the opposing group is. Pirates like money so you work out a deal. Others may be more accepting of assistance or promises. And some there is no hope so you look for the quickest out." Navasi says to Naiaj hoping to change her attitude.
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As the group begins to form up on Naiaj she smirks.
"That is the team thinking that can get you out of the sticky situations. You should be fine out there having each others backs. And you are right as well. Sometimes a pre-plotted course handles better than the daredevil."
Tolmu is able hammer down his interests in medicine and life science but he like many others in attendance cares to learn about the Starfinders.
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Meme approaches Ykris and starts talking to it, switching focus between the half-elf host and the thing on its neck, "You know, man, I just joined with the Starfinders, but I was told they can get me pretty much anywhere in and out of the system. With access like that, you can't really get better partners, ya know?"
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Ykris entertains the questions but the conversations are cut short as Radaszam gestures for the group to convene on him. Those that are too engrossed in their conversations are tapped on the shoulder by one of his mercenaries.
The Acquisitives leader starts to move leading the group to one of the outside hallways. He waits for the entire group to catch up before speaking. The burly vesk doesn’t mince words.
“We’ve got a situation on our hands. I’ve been following rumors of a somewhat notorious assassin who only recently showed up on Absalom Station. I just heard from one of my contacts that signs point to the First Seeker as the assassin’s next target—and if that’s the case, the assassin will almost certainly make a move tonight. Now here’s the thing. I’ve got enough security here that no one’s really in any danger; and besides, Luwazi’s no stranger to a fight. But it’d look really bad for the Society if someone took at shot at her in front of all these high-ups, you know what I mean?" he pauses looking for the spark of understanding in the fresh recruits.
"On the other hand, if a team of crack Starfinders were to investigate the rumors and unmask the assassin, we’d be able to show that we can still hold our own and add some, oh, let’s say, gravitas to the First Seeker’s announcement tonight. Defeat this assassin in style, impress the investors, make yourselves look good in the process... What do you say?”
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"Good! Enterprising individual ready for anything. I sent the information to your devices but what we know so far is this individual is not an easy person to find, unsurprisingly. Triloteya has been operating out of a seedy engineering bay in the Sparks. The address is included in your packet and I am hoping you can quickly find some evidence to nail down our target. Don't worry about things here...I will see to them till you return." Radaszam says answering the question before turning to a storage chest next to him. He kicks it open revealing some presents.
"Elsebo said you did damn good in there shmoozing up to the guests. Gifts are from her...I would make ya pay at least a little." the vesk says with a smirk.
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Just now realizing that his first time out as a Starfinder could end up his last, if he could not cut it, Meme swallows deeply as he awaits an answer from the vesk captain. I am sure I can figure out what to do, but not sure what I will do if the time comes that I need to kill a man. What would my fans think if I did?
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"Alive is always better in the eyes of the public especially if new agents were to succesfully foil an assassination attempt on an evening such as this but in reality...do what needs to be done but leave enough for identification." Radaszam says clearly not worried about the condition of the assassin.
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The group looks up the quickest route to their destination on AbadarMaps which has them taking a series of long lifts traversing the Spike. The trip takes nearly 15-minutes the group can use to check the infosphere (Computers or Culture) on their target or rest.
The exterior becomes increasingly industrial as they arrive in the rough-and-tumble neighborhood of the Sparks. The air is bitter with tang of metalworks, sharp chemicals, and the stale odor of the many creatures crammed in the small space. The maze of corridors are lit with stark LED light strips on the short 10 foot ceilings and the clang of machinery echoes constantly making it troublesome to hold meaningful conversation. Most residents pay no mind to the Starfinders as they move towards the hangar.
They arrive at the hangar bay to be greeted with stained plastic doors flanked by keypads similar to the dozens lining the grimy hallway. A glaring LED lighting strip illuminates the address code imprinted along the doorframe. Every few seconds, this light, along with all the others along the corridor, flickers briefly. Though the sounds of industry still echo through the corridors, this section clearly sees less traffic and is currently devoid of passersby.
Navasi is unable to pull up anything about the supposed hideout during their trip on the elevators but she does find criminal records of Triloteya spanning many years with bounties in many sectors of space. None of the bounties include an image.
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"Nothing, huh? Well let me sit down with the touchpad for a minute and let's see if we can get it to cooperate." Navasi says pulling out a kit which she plugs into the touchpad.
Unable to move quick enough the elctiricy courses through Navasi as she falls back convulsing for a moment before falling unconscious.
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"By the Goddess!!" calls out Tolmu as he steps forward. "Blessed Goddess, Sarenrae, please hear your servants plea and heal his companion."
Navasi stirs back to consciousness as Tolmu's healing energy washes over her.
"Thanks...I thought I made my final mistake. This one is obviously trapped...think we can disable it before it charges up again, Fordon? Then we can give hacking through that door another go." she says catching her breath.
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With little difficulty Fordon and Navasi are able to disable the shock plates. Without the threat of being electrocuted they are able to hack the door in due time allowing access to the room while also taking some of the components for their use later.
With a flicker of the lights the automatic doors slowly slide into the walls to reveal the cramped engineering bay filled with rusted crates and plastic barrels. Scattered about the floor are discarded Ready-2-Eat Chili-mac packets, Lychee-flavored beverage pouches, and packing materials. On the south wall is a recess stacked with rubber mats as a makeshift bed with a high-quality industrial backpack resting on them. Along the northern wall hanging ragged wires constantly shower the area in sparks when the lights flicker.
Tolmu is able to spot two wormlike creatures writhing around the dangling cables giving him a moment to react before they strike out.
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Navasi cringes at the news from Tolmu.
"So we need to keep them at a distance? Let's open fire then starting with that red scaled one!"
Navasi dodges out of most arcs of lightning but can't avoid the huge burst completely.
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The ysoki drops to the ground and rolls away from most of the blast before hopping back up.
One on his feet he fires off two quick shots from his pistol. The first goes straight into the ceiling passing an inch from Meme's ear but the other strikes the red electrovore in the jaw with a sizzle.
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"This one is hurting let's finish it off." she calls to the group to coordinate attacks.
She then tosses a grenade past the creatures hoping to catch both in the blast. The grenade explodes into a wave of shrapnel that envelops both electrovores.