Each of your comm devices begins going off all throughout the day as First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo’s voice breaks the silence. “Starfinders, if you’re receiving this transmission, I’m requesting that you cease your current missions and return to Absalom Station at once. I have obtained urgent information regarding one of our foe’s activities. If she succeeds, she could tip the balance of corporate power within the Pact Worlds and possibly even destroy the Society. I’ll explain once we convene at the Lorespire Complex.”
The Lorespire Complex’s familiar grounds are in a boisterous state of flux. Hired workers set up pavilions and booths on the lawns, courier vehicles dart back and forth down the adjacent streets, and janitors hustle to prepare rooms for occupation throughout the compound’s buildings. Dozens of early guests loiter nearby chatting excitedly. The festive, yet chaotic, atmosphere persists in stark contrast to the First Seeker’s ominous announcement.
A lashunta man, Venture-Captain Arvin, strides forward to intercept the newest arrivals. “Welcome back, Starfinders. First Seeker Elsebo plans to meet with the agents involved in her operation shortly. She’ll announce when she’s ready—listen for the code phrase ‘pest control.’ It looks like Luwazi is finally going to have us strike back at Datch, the architect of our past year of credibility woes. Regardless of our foe’s machinations, we’re hosting several weeks of conferences and parties to honor Ehu Hadif, and there’s plenty to do while you wait. Let’s get you checked in, shall we?”
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Following the start of Year 4, players no longer slot boons. Instead, for this adventure, players gain specific benefits.
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Grinning widely at all the going-ons, Arratoi says, "Hello everyone!! My name is Arratoi! I'm a writer and I find inspiration working various missions for the Starfinders and travelling the stars. Someday, I'll write the quintessential space novel that will be read across the entire galaxy!!
"Now I know that some may struggle to pronounce my name, but that's okay. It's pronounced ARA-TOI. But honestly, if you cannot say it, just call me 'A Rat'! I know you were thinking it! So now you can say it without fear of causing me any offense!
"Oh and by the way, I have quite a few dwarven novelist colleagues who've taught me how to throw insults like a dwarf. It's quite an art! And I daresay.... addictive! So if I say things such as, 'Why won't that incompetent harpy-faced decrepit fuzzpot stoplight turn green already?!?!' then please don't take offense. I just get carried away now and then!
"Pleased to meet you all and I'm looking forward to this opportunity to party while pretending to control some pests!!! Or wait...was it the other way around...?"
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A trash can with a clipboard rolls up to Arratoi. "Eh, pleased to meet you, Arratoi!' The trash can eyes the ysoki. "I'm Trusty Trashbot, and I clean up messes. I'm hoping that we'll be able to clean up the one called Datch." There's a grimness to Trusty's voice, and he rolls back and forth in agitation. "She killed a friend of mine. It's personal. I want to be in the group that brings her in, for all that she's done. Pest control, indeed." Trusty tosses the clipboard into his trashcan, and looks around at the missions. "Shall we do them all?"
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An SRO rolls over to Aratoi and extends their mechanical hand in welcome. “Hello Aratoi, I’m Doctor Mech Coy.” The plates on his face move to emulate a smile.
Looking towards Trusty, he says “Ah, it has been a while. Good to see you again Trusty!”
“So while we are waiting, shall we see how we can help with the preparations?”
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"Good to see you too, Dr. Mech Coy! Nobody can fix me up as well as you can!" Trusty thinks. "Sure, if Fitch wants a sound check, count me in!"
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
SOUND CHECK
"Hey Fitch, need some help with that equipment? We'd love to pitch in and help you get it sorted!" Joining the other techs, Trusty pulls out his tools and starts working like the expert maintenance worker he is. "Hey if we reroute some of this, we can boost the sound throughout the Lorespire network."
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Professor Patrick Messier at your service says a shortish human male who looks like a typical nerd. And finally .. a chance to sort out this Datch rat once and for all - erm apologies to any ysoki in the vicinity. I have lost count of how many apples she has wasted ... and that is the most minor of her offenses.
Since he's championing the Wayfinders, he decides to start with Fitch.
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The Starfinders chat while moving quickly through the chaos. After countless firefights, this is a calming sort of chaos.
The Trusty Trashbot spots Fitch inside the Hall of Discovery. Ysoki scuttle about setting up audiovisual equipment while Fitch directs them. Fitch, leader of the Wayfinders, waves to you from atop a towering scaffold. “Good to see you! The kiddos and I are sprucing the place up for the big event.” She stops and beams proudly at a scrawny, gray ysoki fiddling with a circuit board. “They’re doing great, but it’s a big job. Mind lending us a hand?”
The Trusty Trashbot very efficiently untangles the circuit board issues. It frees Fitch up to help you in return.
1. Each time the PCs attempt a skill check to repair or
reprogram a technological item during the adventure, one PC can gain a +3 bonus to the check.
2. Once during the adventure, each PC can roll twice and take the better result.
Venture Captain Naiaj (Buffet Crisis)
* Relevant Skills Acrobatics, Life Science, or Profession (chef)
Celita, Leader of the Dataphiles (Media Boost)
* Relevant Skills Computers, Culture, or Profession (any Charisma-based)
Radaszam, leader of the Acquisitives (Media Control)
* Relevant Skills Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate
Zigvigix, Leader of the Exo-Guardians (Valet Pileup)
* Relevant Skills Engineering, Piloting, Survival
Venture Captain Arvin (VIP Roundup)
* Relevant Skills Athletics, Diplomacy, or Perception
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As a full-time employee of Poshkettle Tea, Trusty is familiar with how hungry organic life forms get when they don't get their food. "The boss will kill me if I don't aid Naiaj here!" He moves forward through the crowd, delivering trays of stacked appetizers and other food stuffs through the thick crowds of people! "Excuse me, excuse me, food coming through..."
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Desha catches up with the group soon after they begin their work. "Good to meet you, everyone. I'm Desha Doash, formerly of the Stewards. I can't say I've had much in the way of direct contact with this Datch character yet, but I've heard she's been quite a thorn in the Society's side, and of course I've seen the smear campaign all across the infosphere. I can't allow that to carry on, so consider me on the case."
For her own part, Desha Moves to assist Radaszam in his media control efforts, detailing the positive contributions the Society has made while also trying to convince various media personalities that this whole campaign is just character assassination.
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'Yeah that's what Datch is all about. Character assassination. You know who's not about that? The starfinder society. A team selflessly sacrificed themselves so that Mech Coy and I could live. How can I repay that?" Trusty pauses. "I can't. The only way forward for me is to act with integrity, and try to be at least half the person they were."
Trusty pauses. "You know why Datch is doing this? She's jealous of something she cannot have. She's jealous of the Society's integrity, so she drags our names through the mud, hoping to bring us down to her level. But she won't."
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Having previously worked with Radaszam in the search for clues on the last route of a famous explorer, Dr. Mech Coy was somewhat familiar with the vesk. “Greetings, Radaszam! Have you been able to decode anything yet from Jelev Rasheen’s second beacon?”
He then goes out to help Desha and Trusty convince the last few protestors that it is time to move on.
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Having done what he could with the protestors, Dr. Mech Coy checks in on Ziggy. “Hello Ziggy! How can I help?”
Hearing that some of the vehicles are stalled in the most inconvenient places, Dr. Mech Coy says “Well, that shouldn’t be too different than some of the medical procedures I’ve performed!” He immediately cleanses his hands and starts work on the most problematic of the vehicles,
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Once he finishes with Ziggy’s task, Dr. Mech Coy decides perhaps he could check in with Celita. He hasn’t worked with her much, but Ziggy has always spoken highly of her.
Hearing that she is trying to do a media blitz, Dr. Mech Coy decides that the best thing he could do is optimize some of the meta-tags in order to cause the media already being produced to rank higher with the various news and culture bots. He even subverts some of the tags he knows Datch has used in her smear campaigns to high light some of the health care failures and how the Society has stepped in to save people.
Venture-Captain Naiaj leans despondently against the wall outside the cafeteria. Workers clad in white chef smocks hurry past carrying a covered tray, which Naiaj eyes longingly. She turns to you and snaps, “Have you ever been so hungry you got angry? It happens to me all the time. there should be a portmanteau of those two words... Anyway, I came here to get my snack on and found the caterers in a panic. They don’t have enough food prepared to handle the guest list, and they’re struggling to accommodate some attendees’ unique dietary needs. I’d hate to see our new First Seeker’s big day spoiled by an empty buffet line. Get in there, and see what you can do to help. Look alive, Starfinders!”
Trusty demonstrates some serious battle-field mobility, moving to and fro with aplomb! Thankful for the help, the head caterer gifts you a vacuum-sealed, spoilage-resistant takeout container full of scrumptious food!
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Radaszam, leader of the Acquisitives, alerts you to a potential security breach on the Lorespire Complex’s front lawn, where a group crowds the main walkway, hoisting signs with anti-Society slogans. “Looks like these people bought in to Datch’s propaganda,” Radaszam grumbles. “They’ve been here all day. We’re not going to make them disperse—please talk with them and work out a peaceful resolution.”
Desha's speech is ready for prime time, and with a pair of "yes androids" behind her hyping the positives, there's a palpable change in the crowd. It's enough to end the peaceful, albeit misguided, protest. As the crowd disperses, you learn from the demonstrators that despite the Society’s efforts to counteract Datch’s smear campaign, many individuals in the Pact Worlds still distrust your organization. You gain valuable insight into the crowd’s behavior.
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Arratoi heads off in search of the VIPs mentioned by Arvin. Arratoi decides to try and sweet talk all of the VIPs' various assistants, thinking that if his charm offensive is successful, the assistants will steer the VIPs back to where the Arvin needs them to be.
However, Arratoi is less than convincingly successful this time around...
"Well rats! I be a rickety nib-chewing lantern-lugging donkey!!"
Zigvigix, leader of the Exo-Guardians, chats animatedly with one of the hired event staff, a stocky, brown ysoki dressed in stained coveralls embroidered with the name “Tall Sam.” The two avidly discuss a cluster of haphazardly parked land vehicles. “Hey, you!” The ysoki shouts at the approaching Dr. Mech Coy, “Why are you just standing around, huh? We’ve got a pileup worse than A-Station rush hour over here. Get off your tails, and go park some vehicles!” Zigvigix nods enthusiastically and adds, “Relieving the valet queue might help our fellow Starfinders get to Luwazi’s meeting. Please do whatever you can to help!” Zig's body language is impossible to read, but if ever a shirren could show a lack of approval, that was it. Still, the doctor does manage to provide some ideas to "tetris" the cars better. It's a start. When the good ol'Trusty Trashbot jumps in, the vehicles fall quickly into place.
This gives Tall Sam free reign of the Society’s parking garage and starship hangars. With Zigvigix’s permission, Tall Sam modifies several of the parked vehicles.
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Dr. Mech Coy grabs the attention of Celita, leader of the Dataphiles, in the Archive’s Cortex. “Our esteemed colleague’s elevation to First Seeker is a historic occasion. As such, we must all do our part to foster a celebratory atmosphere—not only to honor Ehu’s nomination but to conceal Luwazi’s activities. Your help with creating a positive buzz across the infosphere would be greatly appreciated.”
Dr. Mech Coy's metatags are on point. Traffic immediately starts finding its way throughout the local infosphere!
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Arratoi is the first to encounter Venture-Captain Arvin pacing in front
of the building’s entrance, clearly overwhelmed by a list of familiar names on his datapad. “Sparklemane and associated weapon permits unaccounted for. Zo!—shuttle delayed. Envar Tam—oh, this is ridiculous.” Arvin relaxes when he notices the Arratoi and Dr. Mech Coy.
“As you know, we’re expecting an influx of visitors over the next few weeks. Some decided to arrive fashionably early, and we seem to have misplaced a few guests of honor in the confusion. If you can help me locate and corral our more elusive guests, I’d be grateful.”
After a hectic search of the grounds, the pair locate each of the missing guests of honor. The three VIPs are grateful for the escort and give the whole part a mk 1 serum of healing. Furthermore the magnanimous Zo! thanks you by gifting you a voucher for a one-time 10% discount on gear or equipment purchased on Absalom Station The VIPs also pool their resources in appreciation.
Yes .. it is called Datch
A chime sounds throughout the Lorespire Complex and its surrounding grounds, followed by a broadcast of First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo’s resonant voice: “Pest-control workers, your presence is kindly requested in the Hall of Discovery.” Spurred by the announcement, junior and experience Starfinders file into the Forum’s meeting space.
As the last of the summoned Starfinders enter the meeting space, Luwazi stands atop a stage at the centre of the hall. Radaszam and Zigvigix position themselves behind the First Seeker, warily surveying the crowd. When the doors shut behind the final Starfinder team, Radaszam steps forward and whispers in Luwazi’s ear. She nods as he offers her a microphone.
“Thanks to your courage and resilience, Starfinders, we have overcome adversity time and again. Two years ago, we embarked on a mission to rescue our lost agents from the Scoured Stars. Last year, we returned to battle the jinsuls and won. Today, I stand before you for the last time as your First Seeker and invite you to accept a very different challenge.
“I trust you are all familiar with the individual called Datch. For the past year, Datch orchestrated a slanderous media war against the Society for reasons incomprehensible to us. We’ve recently learned more about our enemy and realized that the Society is not her only target. As a member of AbadarCorp’s security department, Datch used her connections to manufacture a media smear campaign against us. She did so to gain power within the corporation, and her next target is Executive Archdirector and CEO Iseki-Okaibo. Yesterday, Datch instigated a vote of no-confidence against him. If the motion passes, Datch stands to take advantage of that power vacuum.”
Luwazi frowns at the assembled Starfinders. “We cannot let that happen. We can’t directly challenge Datch—not yet. If we’re going to stop her, we must beat her at her own game. While Datch positions herself to seize power, I plan to use Ehu Hadif’s elevation and the presence of our most veteran agents at the elevation event as a cover to send you on covert missions throughout the Pact Worlds. The missions vary, but your primary goals are to disrupt Datch’s ongoing activities and convince AbadarCorp executives not to support the vote of no-confidence. I’m counting on you, Starfinders.”
Encouraged by the First Seeker’s words, the chosen Starfinder teams prepare to depart the Lorespire Complex for various destinations across the Pact Worlds. Society leaders direct smaller groups of agents into specialized briefings, where they present information about each covert operation. After a year of enduring Datch’s merciless attacks against their organization, the Starfinders finally have the chance to retaliate.
Everyone in the room immediately looks down at their displays, and looks over the missions. Starfinders of all shapes and sizes separate like the Diaspora.
Speaking of, all eyes turn to Dr. Mech Coy as the party heads out to the ship. The Diaspora it is....
The group of you immediately head to see the prominent verthani scientist heading up this mission, Dr. Monsylkis.
Dr. Monsylkis inspects a pocket-sized cylindrical device equipped with retractable microscopes, syringes, and probes. She peers into one of the microscopes as she speaks, her attention clearly divided. “Ever since we exposed AbadarCorp’s unethical price gouging of medicinal products, their pharmaceutical department went into overdrive. They began mass-producing affordable vaccines and serums, providing healthcare access to more Pact Worlds citizens. I consider that a victory.” Dr. Monsylkis straightens and smiles, snapping the lens cap back into place.
“I found it strange that AbadarCorp hasn’t responded to a localized epidemic in the Diaspora. Several days ago, Laelund Station quarantined itself to prevent the spread of an unknown virus. Despite many requests for help, AbadarCorp hasn’t even issued a statement acknowledging the situation. I fear that Datch, or the upheaval she’s causing in the company, is to blame.”
The doctor begins methodically disassembling the device. “We can’t let anyone undermine the Pact Worlds’ public health. Take this instrument to Laelund Station, and gather as much data as you can about the virus. If possible, find out where it came from. My lab can hopefully manufacture a vaccine using the samples and data you obtain.”
Dr. Monsylkis demonstrates how to use the instrument, an upgraded version of the prototype she loaned to the Society for use on Zeyther-3 earlier this year. The device has multiple functions. First, it can collect and store living tissue samples for up to 4 weeks. Second, it contains probes that gather data on body temperature, heartbeat, and other vital signs, with programming for multiple species. Third, the device contains a database of all known bacterial and viral pathogens in the Pact Worlds. The good doctor has no problems working it.
the trip to The Diaspora passes uneventfully, giving you a chance to check your gear and find your spot on the bridge. As your starship approaches Laelund Station, security hails you,
"Due to the ongoing quarantine, unauthorized visitors are prohibited."
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Trusty yanks Dr. Mech Coy into the center of the view screen and then makes sure that he's also visible, but keeps the rest of the group out of the viewscreen. "Really? Because Dr. Monksylkis said that we were authorized, and she sent us here to work on this." Trusty points to himself. "You know what I am? I'm an SRO, and I clean up messes. This bot next to me is also an SRO, and they're a medical trained professional. You know what SROs are immune to? DISEASE, that's what."
"You need help. We're here to help, and we can't get your illness. Let us in. We're the safest medical help you can find anywhere in this sector!"
"Oh, and we've got other folks with us, but I promise that we'll keep them gloved and masked and out of trouble."
Ha. No one keeps Starfinders out of trouble.
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On seeing the machine, Dr. Mech Coy asks Dr. Monsylkis about some of the changes. He is impressed by many of the improvements. "Yes, this should work well. Thank you."
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"There are better ways to decontaminate, but Trusty is basically correct. It is relatively easy to do. With the device, we may even be able to customize the procedure to the pathogen."
"I would suggest all of you seal the environmental systems on your suits while we are at Laelund Station. That is usually enough to prevent contamination provided you follow proper procedure."
The doctor then gives a brief run down of the basic procedures -- which includes not releasing the environmental seals until after decontamination is complete.
The voice on the other end stays silent during the banter. It finally crackles back in, "Alright, alright. You're clear to land on Docking Bay 2. Be warned that our entire facility is [color=red]low gravity[/color]."
Everyone gives a collective (and in some cases symbolic) sigh of relief.
You're met immediately on the dock by an orderly. His PPE makes it hard to get a read on him, indeed, even what planet he's from, "By stepping beyond the dock you officially and formally agree to abide by the safety protocols, including but not limited to: donning protective masks and gloves. Welcome to Sector 9."
The worker quickly departs, leaving you alone.
A holographic terminal to the west displays an interactive map of the sector including a directory and the nearby cafeteria’s daily menu. Cheerful posters and potted plants decorate the space. the people in the area don't avoid you, but neither do they approach.
You notice jet-black spines bored into the walls.
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Arratoi follows Mech Coy's instructions to the tee. "Getting sick here would do no one any good. Glad to have a medical professional such as yourself here on the team!"
Looking over at the spines pointed out by Reaper, Arratoi says, "Huh. Well that's curious, isn't it? No idea what that is but no way it can be normal, amirite?"
Arratoi opens the door to the lavatory... and wonders why it wasn't marked that way...
Station map downloaded to your systems.
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"I'm not familiar with those formations either, but I don't like the look of them. Let's keep a bit of distance, shall we?" Just to be sure, though, she reaches out to try and detect any magical aura emanating from the spikes.
Once she's taken a moment to try and pick up any magic auras, she turns her attention to the Doctor's question. "Let's hit the cafeteria first. I've found it's the people on the ground that often give you the best sense of what's really going on, not always the experts."