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You are waiting along with some other Starfinder Society members in a small office somewhere in the Lorespire complex looking at a screen with a small turning circle indicating that it's loading a message for you.
By the speed of the turning circle you assume it's going to be a while and you can't help but glance around the room. Other then the bare walls the floor and the screen there's not much to look at and your eyes keep wandering to the other agents in the room.
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A stoic android in a grey cloak, with circuit print-patterns glowing on his face, sits at the table and watches the mind-numbing (at least to an *organism*) animation run.
I don't know how these "screen savers" benefit anybody, but they are usually a social cue that it's going to be a while before we get started. No matter. I can re-index my knowledge data from the last mission...
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Chryssi, a female tiefling, sits in a corner, reading stuff on her datapad. She wears clearweave armour with only a bikini underneath. Anyone approaching her gets glared at.
She looks up as the android speaks. You should have brought something to read then she comments, a bit of sarcasm in her voice.
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The android looks over at the tiefling, who he hadn't even noticed was there, and flashes a slightly confused expression.
Brought? I'm downloading things to read and organizing my knowledge for optimal access as we speak! I'm fully utilized right now, not at all idle!
He relaxes his expression and offers. Greetings, I'm Darkrunner. What sort of expertise do you bring to our mission?
To the room enters 3rd person. He is wearing Lashunta ringwear of red color. He is of medium height but built like a fighter. He is redhead and walks quickly in.
He looks at Chryssi and flushes in an instant, not being prepared to what he saw.
"Umm.... Hi.... ahhhh.... my name is Velloro."
Then he turns quickly trying to hide his embarrassment, towards the android and says
"Nice to meet you. Velloro, I was a gladiator on Akiton I was called Castrovel Crusher!"
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The android responds plainly to the tiefling. Ah, most useful. Excellent!
He looks up as a Lashunta enters the briefing room. He's lightly amused when Velloro seems to react strongly to Chryssi, but makes no point of it when greeted.
And nice to meet you too. So then as a gladiator you've bested the life expectation of that occupation! I presume you intend to preserve that achievement by joining the society?
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What looks like a young blonde human female with very light blue eyes is browsing shopping catalogs on her datapad. She’s just touching it, not moving, but the screen changes. If someone took a look, she’s looking up tool kits comparison. What kind of tool will I need next time. And none of those have a sonic screwdriver… Quickly, her stiff behaviour and a couple of other tells indicate she is an android rather than a human.
As conversation starts, she stops and introduce herself. “Good morning everyone. I am Iris, and I know of magic and sciences.”
So then as a gladiator you've bested the life expectation of that occupation
"I think I did yes. I left fighting when they tried to force me to kill my opponents. That was not something that I wanted to agree to."
Then looking at new Android in the room he responds
"It is a pleasure."
He ignores Chryssi remark trying to not embarrass himself even more.
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The turning circle stops and an image of Venture-Captain Naija appears
It's clearly a recording and starts to speak;
“AbadarCorp has placed its faith in the Society to ensure that a potential ally safely reaches the Golden Vault. The target, Tharsa (image file attached), promotes weapons-trade philosophies that conflict directly with the interests of criminal weapons dealers.
Tharsa is unquestionably a target of black-market merchants who may attempt to intercept her before she reaches AbadarCorp.
“In order to avoid unwanted attention, Tharsa is arriving on a commercial starliner. While this keeps his arrival time a mystery
to others, it leaves her vulnerable from the moment she steps out the gate. You’ll retrieve Tharsa at her gate as she arrives at Absalom Station and escort her to the Golden Vault. Keep a low profile while doing so, and do not draw any attention to Tharsa’s arrival. Try to address threats before they become a problem. If you must protect Tharsa, avoid an extended engagement.
Remember that the gate is a public space, and anyone present could be there to intercept Tharsa. AbadarCorp is relying on your foresight and discretion, Starfinders—do not fail them.”
Naija out.
The screen blinks and the image disappears.
Obozaya wanders in. "Sorry I am late." She notices the recording and then seems relieved. "Ah, good. Naiaj isn't here." She finds a chair, puts her boots up on the table, leans her head back, and almost immediately begins snoring.
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Darkrunner begins to think out loud, going over the details of the mission.
Hmm... a mega-corporation propped up as the noble cause. They consolidate the power in specific markets, and the businesses in these so-called "black" markets might be doing all they can just to scrape by and make a living. None-the-less, Tharsa need not be harmed in the hostile situation that AbadarCorp has created. We are happy to escort and protect her.
He makes all of these seemingly counter-mainstream statements with typical android stoicness and logical assuredness.
Velloro listens to the recordings and nods at the end.
"I prefer actual interactions to the recordings but I can work with that."
Turning to his new allies he asks
"And ideas how to escort her on the airport without attracting attention?"
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Your personal datapad beep as you receive an information drop
A recording from Venture-Captain Naiaj provides you with information on Tharsa (including the image file mentioned so you know whom to look for) and the exact arrival time of her starliner and the gate it's scheduled to arrive (83).
Chryssi doesn't find much, but does locate a rather convenient tourist map of the area which details how to get to Gate 83.
Absalom Station has a several bustling spaceport gates that constantly receive and launch starships. The ease of Drift travel to Absalom means that ports are always active, but the density at gates tends to be highest just prior to boarding.
And the website for Abadarcorp
The organization known as AbadarCorp is headquartered in the Golden Vault on Absalom Station. AbadarCorp is the center of business in the Pact Worlds, as well as much of the broader galaxy. Looking to expand, improve, and standardize trade under Abadar’s name, the corporation often reaches out to commerce leaders to offer their expertise.
Obazaya stands up and hefts her doshko at the promise of violence. "Let us go see the spaceport. Perhaps us simply showing up will send any opposition running like a dromegar with its tails between its legs."
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No, not good at disguising but in a pinch I can create holographic doubles to throw a pursuer. But, subtlety is the first tactic, and then we'll see how it goes.
He follows the two fellow agents out to go scope out the spaceport. Along the way he cautions. We should be careful to apply a casual guise even now. We don't want to stomp around at one of the gates like we're obviously casing the place.
Velloro stands up and joins the other agents
"I am not to good at disguising. I can help in scoping the area out." says the gladiator following the others, letting Darkrunner go in front of him
"I should probably stay further away from Chryssi, I should keep my mind clear from distractions." thinks to himself.
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As you head out to gate 83 you make good time and arrive with a few minutes to spare before Thrasas flight is scheduled to arrive.
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.
Obozaya will go inspect the holo-statue.
Velloro chats while traveling to the airport. He casually checks is a battery in his sonic pistol is charged. He doubts that it will be needed, but better be safe than sorry.
When at the airport Velloro, buys a red cap and a scarf of a local sports club. One look at him tells you that he has no idea about disguises.
"Let us turn on the comms in our armor so we can contact. I can check the seating area, and look for anyone looking suspicious. We probably should keep a couple of people close to the gate. "
Says Velloro trying to look seriously in his ridiculous outfit.
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Obozaya heads out to inspect the holo-statue along with Iris.
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.
Velloro in his "disguise" heads for the seating area
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.
Chryssi wanders over to the kiosks while handing out flyers with Darkrunner near by
The kiosk contains travel advertisements and informational pamphlets about Absalom Station.
There are two humans, one female and one male, standing at the iosk. 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.
As Darkrunner takes a look at the boarding area (which is the front of the gate) he sees;
Two port 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 the human male gate attendant. The other gate attendant is scribbling notes
but he's too far away standing next to the kiosk with Chryssi to get anything useful out of that.
Velloro in his odd hat walks between the chairs and sits for a moment looking at the people in his sector...
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Velloro pulls down his hat to eye level to obscure what he's looking at like the true spy he is but doesn't spot anything that screams out to him...well, other then 2 small children that are actually screaming out.
Iris-1 has enough knowledge about how you should tend to plant life to know that the employee is incorrectly trimming the plants. He's more or less just cutting things of at random. Some of the leaves are even cut in half
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Chryssi can't focus enough to hear/make sense of what either the man or woman are saying.
And as Kesodai gets closer and picks out a pamphlet he's not able to make sense of the woman's muttering either but is able to pick up that the man is actually whispering into an ear piece “What’s the plan?” and “Anyone there? Who am I meeting?”
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Over at the statue Iris-1 doesn't see any cultural reason for someone to cut plants in such a hack and slash way.
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Note; you can do other things and interact if you want these are just the things you notice when observing
Obozaya exclaims, "This is no way to treat plants," pops her claws, and quickly trims a topiary into a middling-fair likeness of the Vesk hero Jaldamarrak.
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Seeing Oboyaza pop out her claws and trim the plants the man visibly becomes nervous as a bead of sweat start to roll down his neck and he keeps glancing over his shoulder while continuing butchering the plants in front of him half of the time not even looking at what he's doing - not very professional of him.
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As Chryssi and Darkrunner move closer to the gate desk to see that one of the flight attendants is writing something down
While the other gate attendant ask how they can assist the human woman in front of the desk who replies:
"Don't worry your pretty little head honey, I'm just getting closer to I can take a good look at the flight schedule board"
You also notice that there's an unmistakable bulge at the back of her waist beneath her clothes - which in your professional opinion could only be a small firearm.
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Chryssi under cover of also staring at the flight schedule board up close manages to glance at the scribbles and determines that the language is Akitonian, and that the notes are benign specs about shifts
and crew on flights, along with her own snide commentary about the annoying parts of her job.
And the woman next to her is totally focused on the flight schedule.
The vanguard changes spot again and glances at the people around him, fixing his hat a bit.
Velloro speaks through his comms, and as he is in a public space this is what he says:
"Honey! Yeah, I am still in the waiting lounge. No, there is still no sign of him."