[SFS 3-04] The Vast Experiment: Falling Into Deliverance (Inactive)

Game Master AFlashInTime

Sefel looks over the computer and probe, pondering if he can figure out how they work together.

Of course...

Engineering: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31

Surely this computer will have the plans or remaining instructions to complete the probe.

Conrad looks over the gear and takes a couple of grenades. "Fire it up!"

"What were they working on here? Well, maybe we'll find out soon...."

Let's take a look at that computer and see what the probe does before we decide to build it. I don't think we want to attract too much attention from that thing outside.

Computers: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28

Yeah, if computers is the right skill here, same result for Sefel.

The party investigates the computers and the robotic equipment. You manage to deduce that the computers here primarily serve to control the robotic arms to service and build probes. The computers do log that the most recent probe launch was 23 days ago. The device sits atop a floor port, designed to load and fire the probe deep into the planet. In any event, given the probe isn't completed (and the parts appear to be missing), shooting it toward the planet's core wouldn't accomplish much of scientific merit.

The computers here appeared to be tied directly into the probe building/launching system and are unlikely to be able to access any useful data files.

Do we know *what* parts are missing from those rolls, so that we know them when we see them later on?

It looks like we need to keep an eye out for some spare parts as we continue to explore. The probe isn't much use until then!

I thought we were supposed to be rescuing Dr Tsorsk

You never know what can help. Perhaps the probe can help us locate her.

"We have to look around for the Dr. anyway, we can keep our eyes peeled as we go." Conrad motions to head out. Though I'm not sure where on the map to go.

"Agreed. Interesting but our first priority is the good doctor."

Continuing to explore the station seems the best course of action. Presumably we will eventually find the doctor if she is here.

Unclear to me where else we have to go, but we will go there :-)

I assume we keep traversing the hallways and look in unchecked rooms for clues.

Correct! You haven't been around to this side of the hallway before. Sorry if it's a little confusing, but your characters can keep track easily enough.

The party rounds a corner to see more doorways leading into more small rooms, mostly personal residences. Unlike before though, one of these doors is marked with a name plate: Dr. Tsorsk. The door to the room is locked. (Engineering check to unlock)

Adjacent to the room, however, has had its door torn ajar and the room ransacked! Visible in the room is a Tiny tunnel, made by teeth and claws from the look of it, leading into Dr. Tsorsk's locked room. While a Tiny creature could fit through the tunnel, a Small individual will have to squeeze and use Arcobatics to fit through. The tunnel is too small for medium or larger creatures. It's possible to widen the tunnel by dealing damage to it or by making what would probably be a very difficult Strength check.

You guys get the door. I'm going in Rani exclaims

She dives into the hole.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35

Sefel's antennae stand straight up on end as he lights up seeing the specific nameplate.

Ah! Now this is promising. I doubt she'll be here, but there should be some good clues in here.

He approaches the door to fiddle with the locking mechanism.

Engineering: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20

Ouch. In the worst case, Sefel does have the Knock spell.

You sure you know what you're doing there Sefel?

Engineering: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25

...

"Wow... Bold move Rani, let's see if it pays off." He whispers, "I hope she doesn't get herself killed..."

"Rani, wait! Don't go off on your own... Oh well. I hope we'll just see her inside then."
Yith stays near the hole, just in case there is a way to help if Rani gets into trouble.

Both Sefel and Deckard try to open the lock, but neither are having much luck. Meanwhile, Rani squeezes through the tiny burrow and makes it inside!

Inside, Rani finds a comparatively put together room. Its contents include personal effects like heavy clothing, a personal datapad, and several pill bottles. The datapad is locked.

Right now Rani is the only one with access to the items and the associated skill checks, but she can exit the room with a successful DC 25 Acrobatics check (which she can achieve by taking 10). If she removes the rooms' contents, anybody can make the check above.

Rani has a quick look around to check to see there are no threats and no sign of Dr Tsork before attempting to unlock and open the door from the inside

engineering: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

She then examines the datapad and the medicine before pocketing both

computers: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
culture: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

If Rani can't unlock the door from the inside, I presume she can let us know that over the comms, and then Sefel will cast knock. Hopefully she can simply unlock it though :)

Rani unlocks the door from the inside. It opens!

Whoops, oversight on my part.

Rushing into the room, Sefel nods to Rani.

Thanks for letting us in!

He reviews what she found in the datapad, but what he sees on the pill bottles makes him particularly nervous. He remarks, as his antennae twitch and rub together Uh oh, she's been missing doses of the stuff that helps her maintain her shell. Wherever she is, she's likely not in good shape and may have trouble communicating once we find her.

Yeah ... that's what's concerning me too. That's why I'm taking the meds with us. I'm also wondering what made the hole in the wall.

She calls Fitch to tell her what they have found out.

"Yes, she's probably feeling pretty bad by now. We should hurry."

"Aye that can't be good. Grab the pills. They likely don't work THAT quickly, but still."

"If I had to guess, I'd say it's one of those centipede things. Hopefully, anyway. I'd hate to think there are multiple aggressive alien species on this station."

Azara waits for the room to be properly explored before continuing on the search of the station.

The party moves on to investigate the last unexplored room on the upper floor: the commissary, located to the south of Dr. Tsorsk's abandoned living quarters. The room has several circular tables and a variety of seating for Small, Medium, Large, humanoid, and arthropodan shapes. Integrated shelves and pantries built to store months of supplies are relatively bare; all that remains here are a mk 2 culinary synthesizer, two overlooked R2E meals, and 37 UPBs.

This concludes your exploration of the upper floor. Beyond staying here and continuing to reinvestigate areas, the most obvious option is returning to finish exploring the lower level.

Rani ponders the current predicament.

Have we managed to provide full mains power to the computer banks we found earlier? she asks. If so, it might be an idea to start uploading all the station's data through the comms array and up to the Pegasus, just as a precaution. Besides, I sorta promised Celita

Also, if Dr Tsorsk has lost her shell, she'll be instinctively seeking a waterfilled cave to hibernate in - which is most likely to be down the lower levels. Did we find the station schematics anywhere?

"Yeah, let's get an upload going and get our backsides downsides." I don't remember finding a schematic.

"Good thought. We can do that and then go search down below."

"Agreed. It doesn't appear she's up here. Let's go back down and finish searching the lower level," Azara chimes in.

Let's take a quick look through the cameras I've linked to my datapad and see if we can find any likely candidates for a spot or see if any additional cameras are online with the power back up.

Deckard will review the areas she can see on the datapad.

I agree, we should finish searching the lower level.

Didn't know if I was being waited on the post, but I agree with the plan we're proceeding with!

Do you need any help with that upload Rani? Should be simple enough.

Rani smiles up at Sefel. I'll take any help that's offered thanks. Hopefully with main comms up, the signal should be strong

After quickly exploring the rest of the upper level, the party returns to the station core lower level.

The platypus hologram greats you as you reenter the area.

"Welcome back! Looks like the communications array is up and running."

The two glowing words reappear in mid air under the cartoon:
Communications and
Power

Communications begins glowing green.

Since it's been a month since the post where you met the AI, here's a refresher: Link

The AI's platypus persona continues, "Currently the station is running on emergency power only. The station has the capability to resume running on full power mode, but to do so would almost certainly cause a total power loss, and with it a catastrophic and perpetual loss of altitude, potentially within several hours. I recommend remaining on emergency power unless there is a situation for which full station power is required."

The platypus/AI awaits your response.

Is it possible to copy the station's database to our ship with the current power status?

"Well then, we remain on emergency power then. I doubt we'll be able to fix this in the short run but hopefully a follow up team can."

"Yeah, keep it on low for now, but if we can download, let's do it. I think we're closing in on the end of our mission here, there isn't a lot of space left. I don't suppose the AI can fill in some more blanks... Can ya buddy?"

"If the station ends up being a total loss, we should figure out how to get our strange looking friend off, as well," Azara says, gesturing toward the holopus?...platygram?

"But if we can maintain on emergency and plummet on full, lets stick on emergency for now. And work fast."

When everyone is ready, he heads down the hall they haven't explored yet (to the right on the map.)

I think not plummeting to the center of the gas giant sounds like the better plan unless the station has enough power to get us into orbit. She turns to the platygram. Does it?

Assuming the answer is no, lead on Azara.

Assuming we can't easily upload the data on low power, can we instead copy data to our own datapads?

Right, that would not be good. Let's continue our search for now!

Sefel starts to follow Azara as they continue on.

The platypus responds to the party.

"Unfortunately, no. Most of the computers on board the station are in extreme power saving mode, if not already offline to conserve energy, and would require increased power to enable the transfer of such a large amount of data. If or when it is safe to do so, full power will enable the transfer of data files. This station currently does not have enough power to reach orbit; I recommend the space elevator if there is a need to transfer personnel or supplies to or from another ship."

Since multiple people have asked, the first room you went to was the primary way that you've found (so far) to access the data the researchers were working on. Based on this conversation, it doesn't appear to be accessible from here (the station core). You had just begun to explore the data on those computers when they powered down, due to the lack of power available under emergency power conditions.

The party departs to continue exploring the lower level (for right now, now you have the option of coming back if you change your mind about the station power). The party travels down a long, winding hallway. This hallway traces around the station’s eastern side, with several small ports and a broad observation window, the latter which is dirtied by a spray of blood from an centipede-like carcass that’s slumped beneath it.

Medicine: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20 Couple of blunt hits, but it looks like it was constricted. Maybe a snake-like creature of some kind?
Engineering: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22Also some kind of catalyst used in Magitech, possibly tied to electrical effects?

Shall we continue?

@GM Deckard has Blindsense to 60 feet. Is there anything moving in the room around the corner?

Yes, let's continue. Being near the large observation window is eerie given that... large thing is probably still skulking about outside...

Sefel stays distinctly behind Deckard as they move forward.

"This constriction and residue worry me. It's new. Stay sharp, whatever did this hits hard."

"At least whatever it is is fighting the things that were fighting us. Maybe it is an ally?" Azara says as they examine the carcass.

He keeps moving, also glad to be away from the window.

I'm not sure where else there is to go, given the map.

Yith grimaces. "I suddenly have a bad feeling. I hope it's not the good doctor in heavy regression..."

Was wondering that too