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In the corridor before the briefing room sits an Ysoki in military outfit. The laser rifle stands next to him leaning on the wall when the Ysoki sits with a bag of fried snacks as they begin to fly out of the bag. The Ysoki is saying
"This is the last chance for Absalom team here comes the pitch..." and the fried bit makes a u-turn and flies into Croaker's open mouth. He smiles as he uses magic to get more pieces from the bag.
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"Are you waiting for VC Arvin?"
The android stands rigidly straight, as if trying to stretch her height to five and a half feet. Her straight black hair contrasts with her pale complexion, white eyes, and the pale blue tracery of circuits just under her skin. Mildly feminine features are offset by a broad mannish jaw and a compact body composed of wide shoulders, flat chest and narrow hips. Pistol , a large knife, and a long rifle are strapped over her form-fitting armor.
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Slowly shuffling into the room is a another ysoki with gray hair and patches of white throughout. Her frame is slight, shorter than three feat with her hunched posture, and seems as though her motion is slightly aided to a significant degree by mechanical augmentations that quietly buzz as she approaches. She has a few pistols tucked away in a set of cobbled together, patchwork holsters and a pack of a similar, eclectic style.
Taking a look into the room she gives a smile and a slow wave to those present. "Hello dears, I hope I have not been slowing you down at all. I was in middle of cooking a batch of treats and couldn't leave the kitchen in such a state."
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"Are you waiting for VC Arvin?"
Croaker throws the bag of treats in the air trying to catch it startled by the question being asked. He is able to steady the bag before dropping the bits of food as well as regain control on the bits that were mid-air.
Before he answers Croaker spots Teka and listens to what she has to say.
"Arvin? Yes, I am waiting for Arvin. Slowing us down? You are one of the firsts. Wanna bite?" asks moving the bag of fried meat to Tofana and Teka
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A man walks in shaking his head, lost in thought. He is wearing armor that looks like black fatigues with a medical patch on the shoulders, fluorescent wires run along the outfit which is also covered in various toolkits.
He finally shakes his head causing his long black hair to pull further away from his ponytail as he looks to the group. A scar crosses one of his eyes which has been replaced with cybernetics.
"Oh, hello. It appears I may have arrived late again...my memory is still not what it used to be, I have my systems set to the wrong planetary timecode." he sighs before giving a small bow of apology.
He then walks up to each of the others for a formal introductions, "Dr. Mavrik Drix. Cybernetics specialist. It is nice to meet you and please call me Drift since we are companions."
A small holo-business card is also offered to each of the group.
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"Arvin? Yes, I am waiting for Arvin. Slowing us down? You are one of the firsts. Wanna bite?" asks moving the bag of fried meat to Tofana and Teka
Looking to the bag Teka cocks her head from side to side in debate declaring, "oh I should be more wary of such foods, but we may well be line for many days of rations if we are needed off station so I gratefully accept a just bit. I'll even share a bit of the extra bits I baked, I was saving it for after the meeting but no since wasting away while the Venture-Captain arrives." Teka withdraws a small bag of bread cookies of varying solar shapes; planets, stars, and partial moons.
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"Arvin? Yes, I am waiting for Arvin. Slowing us down? You are one of the firsts. Wanna bite?" asks moving the bag of fried meat to Tofana and Teka
The android peers closely at the offering, before answering without inflection. ". No. I have very specific nutritional requirements."
Looking to the bag Teka cocks her head from side to side in debate declaring, "oh I should be more wary of such foods, but we may well be line for many days of rations if we are needed off station so I gratefully accept a just bit. I'll even share a bit of the extra bits I baked, I was saving it for after the meeting but no since wasting away while the Venture-Captain arrives." Teka withdraws a small bag of bread cookies of varying solar shapes; planets, stars, and partial moons.
". Also no." This statement is also made without inflection. Tofana continues to stare at the cookies before adding. ". Your material selection complements the moons particularly well. Surface cavities resulting from the expansion of yeast bi-products could be interpreted as a multitude of impact craters."
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"Arvin? Yes, I am waiting for Arvin. Slowing us down? You are one of the firsts. Wanna bite?" asks moving the bag of fried meat to Tofana and Teka
The android peers closely at the offering, before answering without inflection. ". No. I have very specific nutritional requirements."
Looking to the bag Teka cocks her head from side to side in debate declaring, "oh I should be more wary of such foods, but we may well be line for many days of rations if we are needed off station so I gratefully accept a just bit. I'll even share a bit of the extra bits I baked, I was saving it for after the meeting but no since wasting away while the Venture-Captain arrives." Teka withdraws a small bag of bread cookies of varying solar shapes; planets, stars, and partial moons.
". Also no." This statement is also made without inflection. Tofana continues to stare at the cookies before adding. ". Your material selection complements the moons particularly well. Surface cavities resulting from the expansion of yeast bi-products could be interpreted as a multitude of impact craters."
Apparently having exhausted her conversational gambits, the android puts her back to the wall and stands stiffly, looking for side to side down the corridor.
Venture-Captain Arvin enters his office and seats himself behind his work desk.
“My apologies for keeping you waiting,” the lashunta says without peeling his eyes from the datapad clutched in one hand. “I’m dealing with several issues at the moment, and most are quite… serious. Excuse me another moment while I finish… this… message.”
The venture-captain’s fingers dance across his datapad a few more times before he frowns and sets the device down on his desk. Arvin then takes a seat and an awkward silence fills the room as his gaze shifts to meet those of everyone present.
“Right, let’s talk about your next assignment. We’re sending you to Thosum V, a gas-rich world in Near Space colonized five years ago by AbadarCorp’s mining division.”
The venture-captain pauses a moment to let those words sink in before he continues. “A mining team at a site called Three Spires—one of AbadarCorp’s gas-abstraction encampments— recently unearthed what the local taxmaster described as a metallic structure with a sealed door two miles below the planet’s surface. As you probably already know, we have a contractual arrangement with AbadarCorp that allows us to send a Starfinder team to investigate any newly discovered ruins for historical relevance. And that’s where you come in.”
“The AbadarCorp bulk freighter Nova Dawn has a cabin waiting for you, and your equipment has already been stowed aboard. I want you to go to Thosum V and meet with the local taxmaster, an elf named Alazdra Magarak. He’s an old friend and I’m sure he’ll be helpful. Alazdra will brief you on the mining site and can tell you more than I can. He’ll also provide you with an escort and transportation to the site. When you get there, I want a thorough investigation of the ruins. All historical records belong to the Society, so we can document them in future Starfinder Chronicles. However, any newly discovered technologies or equipment must be handed over to AbadarCorp, though they should pay us an appropriate bounty in credits for any gear you turn over.”
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"I have had dealings with the AbadarCorp in the past on missions with the Society. They are not a bad ally to have and I will surely be in their files." Drift adds in case it becomes pertinent.
He thinks for a moment on the possibilities, "Have they entered the complex at all and are there any native species or people that the structure could belong to? Especially if we could be making contact with anything living or at least functioning in there?" he asks.
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In reaction to hearing of AbadarCorp Teka's face turns a bit sour for a moment before she forces a more neutral, but still disappointed, expression. "My dealings with mega-corporations have been rarely pleasant and especially poor regarding AbadarCorp as of late. I'll do my best to give the dears the benefit of the doubt though given your negotiations. I wouldn't want to be the sour pill in this arrangement."
"I second Drift's question and also wish to ask if they have reported any discoveries of ruins in the system?"
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Croaker listens to the revelations and takes some of the baked goods from Teka
"AbadarCorp is neither good nor bad, they have plenty of people and money. As a mercenary, they hired my services a number of times always paying for the job done. I worked for way worse employers." says Croaker munching on the goodies.
"These are really good Teka, have you considered selling them?"
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Slipping in to the meeting late, the petite lashunta woman tries to creep over to her alotted position ×÷while Arvin pauses to wrap up his message. Her efforts are thwarted, however, when her rifle and satchel catch on the back of a chair as she passes.
Red-faced, she hastily falls into her seat, satchel and rifle clasped before her. "Uh, sorry," she murmurs, clearing her throat.
Saeron tucks an errant strand of hair behind an ear and sets to listening to the briefing, occasionally jotting a note into her comms, the picture of absolute attention. Nodding throughout, her eyes widen slightly at mention of their elven contact, but she quickly composes herself and makes no comment.
He thinks for a moment on the possibilities, "Have they entered the complex at all and are there any native species or people that the structure could belong to? Especially if we could be making contact with anything living or at least functioning in there?" he asks.
"I second Drift's question and also wish to ask if they have reported any discoveries of ruins in the system?"
"I don't have the records on hand to see if they have reported any others in the past, but our notification of this ruin was from Abadarcorp. As per our arrangement, they have not entered the complex to the best of my knowledge."
"Are there atmospheric conditions that we should know about?"
"It’s a frontier world in Near Space. It’s a little larger than Akiton and almost as cold. You can check the infosphere for terrain and climate specifics. AbadarCorp discovered Thosum V a little over five years ago and immediately laid claim to it. The planet’s primary export is ssarlithine, a rare gas used in the fabrication of specialized computer chips.”
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"These are really good Teka, have you considered selling them?"
"Oh, I've trade them for some crafts and some credits in some cases, but I haven't thought too much of making it another job. I have picked it up to help fill the hours of travel and keep my idle hands busy." She gives a smile as she clasps her hands together, "I have a hard time wiling away the hours without keeping myself doing some little thing or another."
Teka gives a long and clear bow to Saeron as she passes in, giving a wave to the lashunta in an effort to try to settle Saeron's worries as she settles in.
"I might need to explore the infosphere before we take our leave, my mind is full of questions, but I think that the net or Alazdra should be able to answer them."
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Appreciative of the gesture, Saeron offers Teka a small smile and inclines her head in thanks.
At the venture-captain's suggestion, Saeron brings up Thosum V's data on her comms unit.
Nodding several times as she reads, the lashunta observes, "Rich with resources... Thosum's Vault. A lucrative prize."
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Croaker nods his head
"It sounds like a nice discovery for AbadarCorp. A nice and rather empty planet rich with resources."
He thinks for a moment and adds
"I wonder what this complex will be? Especially if there is no sapiens life on the planet? Does it mean that someone already had a colony on that world?" wonders Ysoki
"If you have any other questions, you should speak to the Taxmaster Magarak once you arrive on the planet. The freighter Nova Dawn is expecting you."
Arvin ushers you out of his office and towards the hanger bay and picks up his comm unit to page the next group of Starfinders.
The journey aboard the Bulk Freighter Nova Dawn takes days using the Drift to travel from Absalom Station to Thosum V. Though the cabin and meals provided by AbadarCorp are not memorable, the journey passes mostly without incident. A variety of entrepeneurs and investors seeking to prospect Thosum V for possible start-up business opportunities have also secured passage on the freighter, and it seems to be a relatively full ship.
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Croaker spends his time on the ship playing all different games with the other passengers.
Through the days he gets a bit of reputation as a goto Ysoki for different bets and games. As always there are rumors that he cheats but Croaker assures you that these are only frustrating losers venting their anger and that there is no proof of him cheating.
Spike finds that most of the entrepeneurs are looking to open hotels and shops on Thosum V, however one particularly interesting passenger onboard is Lasara Ven, a xenodruid travelling to Thosum V from Aballon. Lasara spent the past three years helping a growing enclave of khizars dwelling within Gullet, one of Aballon’s Ice Wells. She eagerly recounts her tale of living within Aballon’s half-frozen jungles, and her current mission to prospect on Thosum V.
Finally the party arrives at Thosum's Vault's small but bustling spaceport. A crowd of cibilians, including many children, greet you, nearly all adorned in gold-colored clothing and many with gold ink adorning their arms and faces. As soon as the doors are even a crack open you hear cheers and a the sound of the crowd shouting in unison, Several individuals toss large handfuls of gold glitter at everyone disembarking the ship and everyone cheers.
As the gold-clad celebrants slowly disperse and saunter away, a group of about twenty adults and children remain behind. Though they are also clad in gold, their stern demeanors easily set them apart from the departing revelers. After a few moments, a large man with calloused hands steps to the fore. “Well met, friends,” he says, though his voice doesn’t sound particularly friendly. “My name’s Kevid and I’m a foreman at Thosum’s Vault Gasworks in Midtown. We understand that you’re Starfinders. My friends and I were wondering what your business is here.”
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Croaker gets out of the ship carrying his gear and smiles when the gold glitter falls from above
"I will remove it from my fur for hours but it feels great!"
Seeing Kevid coming to them
"And the party is over."
Croaker looks around and says
"Hey Kevid, you and your friends seem worried is everything ok? We are here to do some investigation of something that was found. Our contact is Taxmaster Magarak who I am certain to tell you everything that you need to know about our presence here." says Croaker to the Gasworks employees.
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Saeron hurries from the Venture-Captain's presence, full of excitement for the coming mission and eager to be out of his office before he can take her to task for her lateness.
Aboard the Nova Dawn, she will readily chat with any of her companions or fellow passengers that are so inclined. Any downtime she will spend uploading videos and snaps taken during recent adventures to her vidlog, as well as posting updates and replying to (the admittedly few) fan comments.
She is particularly taken by Lasara Ven, full of questions and sharing tales of a recent assignment to one of Aballon's ice wells and sharing observations and photodocumentation.
A day prior to their expected arrival at Thosum V, Saeron will gather her crew mates around and activate protective wards.
As the partygoers disperse, leaving the terse Kevid and his crew, Saeron comments, "It seems word precedes us."
"I'm sure you can appreciate that the details of our current assignment are confidential. Can we assist you in any way?"
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During the voyage, Tofana observes Croaker's gambling closely and tries to various algorithms to prognosticate the future in the same manner that he apparently does.
Tofana stands behind Croaker and stares unblinkingly at Kevid. Her right hand grasps the strap of the rifle slung over her shoulder. Her left drops to her belt, not far from the knife sheathed there.
It is obviously a diplomatic situation, which she has learned is best handled by more socially aware agents, but she decides a simple request for information will do no harm.
". Does the presence of Starfinders alarm you?"
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"I will admit," Teka says as she smiles recalling the lovely exuberance all the people showed, "I was expecting this place to be far more dour. I admit I enjoy it, but I do love celebrations of all sorts. I would be disappointed if there was something more nefarious behind this all."
Her smile does wane a bit as she pays more attention to the less ecstatic people left. Uncertain to his motives, she still presents a more pleasant response as she tries to gauge his own motives. "As my friend says we have come and are looking to discuss matters with Taxmaster Magarak. Although we were certainly not made aware that we were entering in any sort of celebration. What is this Goldfest about if I might ask? I'll admit dear that you seem less enthused than the others."
Kevid keeps his arms crossed tightly and glares. "The celebration is for all of us who have made this our livelihood. Not for a bunch of auditors here to shut us down..."
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"Oh like my dear friend says we are neither auditors nor looking to cause trouble with you." Teka moves slowly as she meekly looks about and offers, "still you are right, I would be happy to experience the celebration that your people have earned, but it isn't one we have earned nor been invited. We have not come here to cause you trouble and I'm sorry our appearance might have put a damper on your own enjoyment of the festivities."
To a degree her interactions might make another feel like they are being treated as children and disrespected as she does try to calm Kevid.
Kevid grits his teeth. "You don't seem to be the rabid thugs you've been made out to be... but that doesn't mean I like this. If you guys go popping around and find some little shrine to a dead god and we'll all be out of work before you can say 'protected historical site.' Then what for us? No mine, no settlement... no settlement and we've all gotta move off-world."
He turns back to the small gang that accompanied him and motions for them to stand down. "Just leave 'em to their job boys. Intervening won't do anyone any good anyways."
They all take their hands out of their pockets and disperse. Mere moments later a long hovercar pulls up just a dozen yards away and a man wearin gan expensive gray business suit gets out and waves you down. "You are the Starfinders? Taxmaster Magarak is expecting you. I am his personal hovercar driver and I've been sent to give you a ride to the his office."
He opens the doors and ushers you into the vehicle, and once everyone is buckled in he heads off. The drive is only a few minutes, however it involves quite a bit of weaving around several crowds of drunken gold-adorn revelers. Finally he parks the car in front of Thosum's Vault's tallest building, a 16-story gold and blue obelisk made of glass and steel capped with AbadarCorp’s triangular corporate symbol. As soon as you enter the building, staff offer you refreshments in the vault-like lobby. After a short repast, a clerk escorts you all to Alazdra Magarak’s office.
The mag-lift elevator door opens to a spacious office, its walls filled with windows that provide a view of the settlement and the majestic mountainous landscape beyond. A middle-aged elf wearing a dark gray business suit rises from his cluttered steel desk and moves forward. “Greetings, Starfinders,” he says. “My name is Alazdra Magarak. Thank you for answering my request. Preparations have already been made to transport you to Three Spires—that’s the name of the mining encampment where we discovered the buried metal structure. I’m not sure what you’ve been told, so let me know if you have any questions.”
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Croaker enjoys the ride, especially that they were able to avoid escalation with local workers. He grabs a glass of some non-alcoholic drink and greets Alazdra Magarak
"We know that you found a metallic structure with sealed doors. And we were sent to check it. What can you tell us of it? " says Croaker as he walks around the office looking at furniture and various trinkets here and there.
"Did you tried to open it?" Croaker is almost certain that they did, but he will do the pleasantry of asking.
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Teka doesn't offer any counter to the arguement as they back away. However she ponders a matter bit as she studies the region from the vehicle before finally focusing on the mission at hand.
She gives a neat bow to Alazdra as she introduces herself, "Teka Teach."
"Have there been any other signs of prior construction elsewhere in the system? Is this the first site your teams have found?"
"We know that you found a metallic structure with sealed doors. And we were sent to check it. What can you tell us of it? "
“Not much, I’m afraid. The mining team discovered the structure by chance after boring a two-mile long shaft through solid bedrock and breaking into a network of what appear to be ancient mining tunnels or something of the like. After sending a drone to investigate, a small team descended the shaft and found the metal structure and a partially buried door. They finished clearing the door, secured the mine shaft, and then reported the find to me. I immediately put a halt to all drilling operations at the site. Then I called Arvin.”
"Have there been any other signs of prior construction elsewhere in the system? Is this the first site your teams have found?"
“This is the first... we didn't think Thosum V had sapient life. We have no idea who built the tunnels, but my geology experts on the Three Spires mining team tell me they’re at least six or seven hundred years old... possibly even older. I’m hoping you find some answers for us.”
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Saeron enters the car and spends the trip quietly observing the local scenes as they flash by.
She greets Alazdra with a traditional greeting of prosperity spoken in the Elven tongue. She listens intently as their contact fills in the details of the find and her companions ask their questions.
"What do the workers think of the discovery?" Saeron asks. "How have the reacted to news of the find? How has it impacted them?"