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Desha takes a moment to size up Speaks Forgotten Words at a distance before engaging with the thyr representative directly.
Desha moves around the room of representatives with a solemn, but determined rhythm to her stride. She approaches Speaks Forgotten Words and offers a greeting as she gauges the thyr's personality to better understand how she can win his favor for the alliance.
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This bipedal creature resembles a human-sized cross between a chameleon and seahorse, with coral-like growths sprouting from his head. He wears jewelry of coral and glittering metal and carries a coral-tipped baton in his prehensile tail. I am Xirillis, and I represent the syngnathrixes of the Kreiholm Freehold. I know you selflessly put yourselves in harm’s way to help our people. Nonetheless, I believe this attack on our planet would never have happened, had your Society stayed out of the Scoured Stars. Here in Saaruq, we haven’t known war since the Kreiholm Freehold arrived centuries ago and we joined them. The jinsuls have been born and raised as killers. They know nothing else—no fear, no remorse. We are no warriors. What chance do we have against them?
Really? Because I've been to these jinsul's home planet. And they were put in a frothing mood for a fight even before any of our agents set foot in your old home. But as vicious as they are, I've seen one other thing too: they aren't smart. Mean and savage fighters, but their conquest is only in the moment. Without being propped up by their dead godling they were living in scraps on a barren world; a truly powerful foe would realize that victories aren't just for their sake but should become the mortar to build up a lasting Imperium!
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of the people and the preservation of tradition. ((Easy Culture or Average Diplomacy)
Kreiholm Freehold. (Hard Bluff or Average Profession (accountant, con artist, corporate professional, manager, merchant, or politician))
((I shall assume that Kait'lax is accessing Kahura))
enough to defeat the jinsuls. (Average Computers, Hard Diplomacy, or Average Engineering.)
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"Honored Kahuru, I understand your hesitation. You have suffered under the Jinsul more than we have, and caution is indeed warranted. But I do not feel luck was what won the day for us." "The Pact Worlds have exceptional scientists, engineers and crews working to create a strong presence in space. And your survival means that the Freehold also has impressive people working on their navy. Sharing research between our cultures will be force multiplier that will put the Jinsul on the defensive and allow you to fully reclaim your lands."
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Sensing that it might add a sense of familiarity for Speaks Forgotten Words, Desha communicates with them telepathically, "I understand your concern, Speaks Forgotten Words. You wish for the safety of your people and their traditions. And your contentment here in your lovely star system is very much part of that. But you can see from the present circumstances that there are forces in the universe that are not content as you are--the jinsul have been beating on your doors for a long time now, and if you wish to return to your lives of peace and solitude, you must strike out to show that you are not to be trifled with." Desha pauses to think for a moment, and an image occurs to her, "There is a creature on the planet Triaxus in the Pact Worlds called a snapping dragon turtle. It is a creature with a hard outer shell that it can withdraw into when it feels threatened or for its own comfort. Yet when someone tries to harm the creature, it can strike out and bite with its hard, beak-like jaws. That is what you must do now."
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Xirillis does not believe his peaceful civilization is ready for war.
You don't think you're ready? Krara asks almost increduously. Well battle doesn't give a formal announcement before it starts. Ready or not, you're thrust in the thick of it now. But lucky for you, you're fighting alongside the Starfinder Society. We have beat these insects again and again: I've killed their forces, their demons, and even stragglers cowardly working to sabotage behind the lines.
You arne't in this alone, which means for your first good scrap you'll have plenty of leads to follow and people to look up to. But right now we're already fighting and losing people trying to defend your little Freehold, so just because its 'new' is no excuse for you to not be doing you best to go and join up with them!
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With the meeting concluded, the members of the Kreiholm Freehold contingent depart, bound for their ships to relay instructions. Jadnura clasps his lower set of hands together and looks around at those still in the room. We’ve no time to waste. We must plan the next phase of our mission—forcing the jinsul invasion out of the Kreiholm Freehold’s star system.
Luwazi Elsebo nods and speaks: We’ve analyzed reports from countless Starfinder missions over the past several months and concluded that an influential religious figure known as Hierarch Kraaton leads the fleet from a massive jinsul command carrier. As far as we know, this hierarch is one of Dhurus’s most trusted commanders. The jinsuls probably expected an easy victory here, but our presence forced an unexpected stalemate. If we can defeat the hierarch, the leaderless jinsul fleet has no choice but to retreat to the Scoured Stars.
Jadnura cracks his knuckles on each of his four hands. Your mission is one of utmost importance: fly your ship into the command carrier, fight your way to the command chamber, and defeat the hierarch. Although you will be alone aboard that ship, we will be providing you cover and clearing a path so that you can reach the command carrier before the jinsuls even realize what’s happening. Let’s get to work.
The First Seekers then encourage you to return to your ship as quickly as possible.
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You return to your ship, which still bears the damage and scars from your previous starship battle and it takes two hours to get your starship ready for launch. The hull is a bit of a patchwork job ((like a car that has been to the panel beaters but before repainting)) You also get the impression that sealing putty ((or 'bog' to any Aussies and Kiwis)) has been applied in liberal amounts to seal some of the smaller holes.
Still you're good to go.
Defensively positioned between two vast clusters of asteroids, the jinsul fleet looms in the distance. Near the blue-green world of Saaruq-5, the Starfinder fleet assumes an attack formation, and on Jadnura’s command, the starships begin darting toward the enemy formation as a unified front. When the allied ships reach just outside the enemy’s firing distance, Jadnura sends a message to every ship across the fleet: There is no retreat. No surrender. Today we fight and make the jinsuls pay for their heinous actions! Make the jinsuls regret they ever stepped their chitinous feet in this star system! Starfinder fleet, attack at speed! Hold the line! Support our valiant agents in their mission!
Luwasi Elsebo sends a follow up message to you directly Now! We got your backs
You head towards the Jinsul Command Centre
((This is a series of skill checks. The encounter progresses through the steps listed below. During each step, each PC can attempt one of the skill checks listed in that phase. The PCs must decide who attempts which skill check or aid another check prior to rolling. Some skill checks are marked as “max 1”, which means that only one PC may attempt the check; other PCs may only attempt an aid another action using that skill. Encourage the PCs to attempt all available checks, as skipping a check detracts from their overall success. For each skill check that the PCs collectively succeed at, the PCs increase their total number of successes by one. Multiple PCs succeeding at the same check do not increase this total. For example, in the “Incoming Asteroids!” step, the PCs may increase their successes by three (for succeeding at Engineering, gunnery, and Piloting checks). These successes represent the PCs figuring out a fast but safe way to approach the carrier. The total number of successes determines how prepared the jinsul defenders are and how much damage the PCs take when the ship lands in the hangar bay. The PC's may call on the Kreiholm fleet once to automatically succeed at a skill check. They must choose this option before they decide who rolls what check))
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Check 1 - Rapid Approach.
The Starfinder fleet mobilizes quickly, and your starship must quickly reach an advantageous position near the enemy formation.
Easy Piloting (max 1): The PCs quickly manoeuvre the ship to a tactically advantageous position.
Average Engineering: The PCs give the engines a really good boost.
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((That's two successes - on to the next one))
== Step 2 - Plot a Route ==
You quickly plot an optimal route through the enemy jinsuls’ formation.
Easy Computers: You calculate an optimal route to avoid enemy contact.
Average Sense Motive: You anticipate the enemy ships’ moves as they prepare for a fight.
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((Two more successes - onwards))
== Step 3 - Incoming Asteroids ==
In order to slip past the enemy’s front line, you must take a dangerous route through a cluster of asteroids.
Hard Piloting (max 1): You evade the largest asteroids. It is possible to use Computers to perform aid another checks, calculating asteroid trajectories.
Average Gunnery: You destroy incoming asteroids, clearing a route for the ship.
Average Engineering: You divert more power to the shields, deflecting small asteroids.
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3 successes - you're doing well
== Step Four - Fight Me ==
While approaching the carrier, an enemy craft challenges your ship to a dogfight, but there’s no time for such monkey business.
Average Bluff (max 1): You fool the enemy into thinking you’re going to fight the jinsul starship.
Average Piloting (max 1): You perform a well-timed barrel roll or other maneuver, deftly slipping past the enemy.
Hard Gunnery: With a few solid hits, you make the enemy ship think twice about pursuing you.
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Desha just made the Hard DC so that's three more successes.
== Step Five - Quick Entry ==
Having reached the carrier, you must quickly find a way in.
Hard Piloting (max 1): The PCs cleverly avoid the carrier’s laser turrets and other defenses and manage to fly in through a narrow opening.
Hard Computers: You find the entry point quickly, avoiding additional flybys.