[SFS/Shifty] The Vast Experiment (A) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

"The SUMMERSWORD RENOWN it shall be!"

"The Summersword Renown - a fitting name. We shall begin all the installations immediately"

After a few days your return to the launch hangar and board the completed prototype starship, its hull now emblazoned with Summersword Renown in crisp black lettering. You spend several minutes inspecting the vessel inside and out, exploring its glassy white rooms and corridors, and settling into their cabins. Finally, the PCs begin pre-launch diagnostics and system checks as they prepare to set off into the Vast for testing.

Just before you take flight, however, Aphon makes his way aboard, alongside Bivi-4, a spindly, mollusk-shaped Anacite engineer with a disorienting array of appendages. The limbs appear to serve as both arms and legs, oscillating at random. Aphon greets you all with a rather flat and neutral tone - “I will be accompanying your team as a Resurgent Technologies representative. My primary responsibility is to help evaluate the ship’s performance. However, my superiors would also like for me to observe a Starfinder team in action so we can better understand our Society partners and meet their needs with optimum efficiency. Bivi-4 will join us, as well.”

As J'Shun steps onto the bridge a robotic voice says over the ship's closed circuit intercom system, "Space Admiral on the bridge."

He looks at Aphon.

"Your people have done a good job with the onboard AI computer systems, Mr. Aphon."

Seating himself in the captain's chair, he looks at home.

"Very well, Captain Chorizal prepare to take her out, you may clear all moorings. Aft Thrusters, ahead one quarter impulse power."

You complete their preparations and J'Shun gives the order to push off, Chorizal now has the first challenge of navigating the prototype out of the orbital shipyard and into open space. Aphon activates the proximity guidance overlay, which appears on the viewscreen.

Bivi-4 plops themself into the co-pilot seat and watches the viewscreen intently.

Chorizal - DC18 Piloting to avoid early embarrasment.

Chorizal inhales deeply as he boards the vessel. "Just smell that new ship smell!"

He wanders the halls, poking and prodding a bit. "Well, it's too clean, but I guess you can't expect it to have that lived in feel when it's just rolled out of the dry dock. And we probably won't get a chance to dirty it up. But other than that..."

He gives a thumbs up.

"I don't know if either of you wear socks, but if you do, prepare to buy new ones because the ones you've got on now are about to be knocked off," he tells the two inorganic lifeforms who have been sent to review their performance.

As J'Shun gives his orders, Chorizal enacts them.

There's just one final lever to move and he looks at the Space Admiral expectantly.

"You may indulge yourself, Captain Chorizal. This I command!"

Think I ninja'd you Chorizal

Yup. Proceeding.

"There we go," Chorizal says after J'Shun gives his command. He opens up the throttle on the thrusters to guide them out, keeping the fingers of his other hand firmly on the sliders that work the verniers.

Piloting: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

"Buckle up, buttercup. It's only going to get more intense from here," he says to Bivi.

Izzip buckles in next to the android supervisor. ”So if everyone on your team is mechanical, do you still need to do team-building exercises and seminars? Or does everyone just get logistics updates downloaded at work?”

"They send emails" - Izzip can tell by the response the team is a bit stiff and clearly don't have a 'fun' workplace culture.

Bivi just stares at Izzip in vague disbelief and mutters something under their breath, which is well done for a creature that doesn't breathe.

Chorizal gets the ship out successfully.

***
As you et underway and depart the station, Aphon reveals more about the mission "We're heading to Chaulara, a remote world located deep in the Vast. The destination is intended to replicate the length of a journey for a standard Starfinder Society exploration mission. The travel time could be up to 30 days long, you should use the time to relax in preparation for the testing"

Physical Science (Recall Knowledge)

"There will be no relaxing. Physical training commences at 0500 every morning, starting with a 5 mile run around the cargo bay and concluding with weight training. After the morning meal we will have combat drills every day and run battle simulations every evening. I want us to be able to go from normal operating conditions to battle stations within 5 seconds and capable of firing all our weapon systems immediately thereafter. Meet in the conference room in 10 minutes!"

About a week into your drift travel and gruelling combat readiness regimen, you come across another vessel in the Drift. The vessel self-identifies as the Shield Shard, Vyv scans the vessel recognizes it as an Inheritorworks Shieldcraft

The vessel’s captain, a smiling lashunta named Harlaena (female korasha lashunta) explains that her vessel is investigating the disappearance of several Knights of Golarion starships in an area of the Vast where Drift beacons have started to suddenly deactivate. The captain has little time for pleasantries, but wishes you all well on your journey and prays for Iomedae to watch over you before ending communications and continuing on.

***

Pause here for a few days, on the cruise ship to an island and back

"He's baaaack," Chorizal says with a grin to his fellow crewmates.

He actually even adheres to J'Shun's exercise regimen. For 2 days. Then, he shows up later each morning and does what, at best can be called a jog for several of the miles in the 5 mile run. He doesn't seem to mind the combat drills or battle simulations though he does start goofing off towards the ends of each.

"That seems like a standard Starfinder mission to test a prototype ship on to me. Should we perform our own investigation?"

That place looks awesome.

"No way, man. I agree we should keep up on the training, but 0500? And a 5-second battle readiness? I mean be honest with yourself, man. If Cho's on the s$%*ter and you call the alarm, do you really expect him to be at the piloting station in 5 seconds? I ain't cleaning up that mess! What happened to the depressed, almost normal person J'Shun we were just starting to like?"

Physical Science: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26

”MAYBE on this trip we can STOP BY some of the planet’s MOONS?! There are THREE and they have NOT yet been EXPLORED!”

Following the brief encounter with the Shield Shard, you stay on mission and finish your trip without further incident. As you arrive in the system, Aphon directs the ship to the nearby Butaan Asteroid Field "an excellent testing ground for evaluating the prototype’s maneuverability, weapons, and sensor-scanning capabilities".

As you approach the Butaan Asteroid Field, which is a dense ocean of rocky planetoids, your sensors detect rocky debris of varying sizes. Countless floating rocks of every size and shape drift in and out of view—some as small as a shuttlecraft, others as massive as planetary moons. "We have several options for testing the prototype starship. We should use the asteroids to test maneuvering capability and weapon targeting. Let’s test the ship’s advanced inubrix thrusters by attempting to phase through some of the smaller debris. While we’re here, we should also conduct scanning operations through the dense asteroid field to determine the strength and accuracy of the ship’s long-range sensors.”

"Where would you like to begin? Maneuvering?"

Chorizal grins at Aphon. "I think you're going to find that we're a 'shoot first, maneuver later,' group," he says.

"Someone want to get on those guns while I get us closer?" he offers.

Despite its large size, the prototype starship is built to be nimble and easy to maneuver in tight navigation and combat situations. The varying sizes and trajectories of the asteroids offer a significant challenge for the ship and its pilot.

Chorizal lines up and his approach then attempts to move slowly through a section of the asteroid field, weaving between the drifting rocks...

Piloting check!

"Take us into the asteroid field, Captain Chorizal. Private Rastar, put the weapon systems on standby just in case we need them. Mr. Izzip, energize defense grids, I don't want any asteroids getting through. Dr. Helix, keep a close eye on the engine, I don't want to tax the reactor beyond 70% of its maximum capacity. Steady as she goes, Captain Chorizal and prepare to take evasive maneuvers as soon as we enter the field.
ENGAGE!"

Piloting Aid Another: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

J'Shun, uses his glory medallion to add a +4 bonus to Chorizal's piloting roll.

"Aye Aye, Commander-J'Shun!" Izzip chimes in, tapping into their mystic connection to offer the crew additional insight. (Izzip can't offer magical power directly to the shields, but sees no reason to let that little detail get in the way of a fun team-building exercise).Magic Officer role, ideally will use Precognition to help with the Piloting check, but since it's not an opposed check Shifty may not allow it. If not, will use the Scrying ability to scan the asteroid field.

Mysticism (DC 22 for Precognition, DC 17 for Scrying): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 34

"No problem. I've been dodging rocks since my younger sister learned how to throw," Chorizal boasts.

Piloting: 1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 12 + 4 = 29

"Weapons? On it!" Rastar slid into one of the gunnery chairs and fired up the sensor package and overlays for the turret mining laser.

Izzip and J'Shun provide some guidance (back seat driving) to Chorizal who finds the ship a pleasure to fly, picking through the asteroids without a single collision. "An exceptional display of skill, I hope all Starfinder pilots are so adept" - Aphon continues taking copious notes on the maneuvers.

***

"Rastar, The prototype is outfitted with several types of weapons, each with its own targeting quirks and challenges. Perhaps you could give each equipped weapon a test fire?"

Chorizal needs to put the ship through a series of combat maneuvers, testing each firing arc in sequence. For each mounted ranged weapon, attempt a DC 20 gunnery check successfully zero in, lock on target, and fire at the floating space rocks as they tumble and drift through the arc.

"They're not. But they're not bad, either. Not everyone can be the best, after all," Chorizal boasts, not mentioning that one time when he ran into some trees while trying to land.

I'm assuming your previous OOC was to Rastar and not Chorizal.

"The mining laser will be well suited to this next task. Private Rastar, you may open fire."

Intimidate (Demand): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Rastar gets a +4 bonus to one of his gunnery checks.

Yep Rastar will be doing the Pew-pew, Chorizal has shown he can in fact fly :p

"Test firing the mining laser first! Rastar was super excited about the mining laser. He selected a likely nearby target rock, dialed in the power level, and then aimed and pressed the firing stud.

mining laser: 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 4 = 26

"Forward heavy laser up next!" Rastar targeted a fast moving rock a little too far away and watched as the beam ionized particles a bit away from the asteroid.

"Umm, looks like the calibration is off. Fires a bit to the left."

heavy laser: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

is that everything other than the ramming prow? I didn't see anything else.

"Let's check the calibration software, and we might look at the engineering of the mount - just in case"

"This ship has a powerful array of long-range sensors - which is key to the Society’s exploration of the Vast, especially those that can detect spatial anomalies and potential threats long before encountering them. Although the dense asteroid field may present a challenge, any
they are a good test of the limits and effectiveness of the prototype’s long-range sensors"

Computers and/or Physical Science

"Dr. Helix, activate the long range sensors!"

Intimidate (Demand): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

The DC is 27 I believe, so my roll failed.

With Dr. Helix hesitating to act on J'Shun's command, Izzip attempts to use their mystical scrying to amplify the baseline sensor activity and hone its imaging. Will use the Scrying ability to test the sensors, if possible - it functions like a scan, but uses Mysticism instead of Computers.

Mysticism 17: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31

Physical Science: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25

Helix pops onto the sensors. "Let's SEE what might be LURKING in this ASTeroid field..."

Izzip manipulates the system and manages to identify a distant test buoy that responds back with a pre-programmed “You found me!” signal.

Helix identifies a rapid increase of radiation on Elao, a distant moon orbiting the gas giant Irtanza.
Is that important? Dunno... who knows? :p

With several trials completed and the data recorded, Aphon speaks up - "We can now continue to Chaulara for the prototype starship’s final performance test"

***

After the tests in and around the Butaan Asteroid Field, you make your way towards your ultimate destination: into orbit above Chaulara. The icy planet’s extreme axial tilt makes for a volatile atmosphere, driving vast ice storms across its desolate, rocky surface.

You have little time to study the view. Suddenly, the prototype’s combat sensors begin to wail. Izzip notes two inbound fighters in attack formation, bearing down fast. As you spring into action, readying the ship for battle, Aphon speaks: “Starfinders, this is the prototype starship’s final performance test. I have just activated two fighters in orbit around Chaulara. Both are automated and programmed to attack this vessel, simulating a real combat scenario. Although their armaments will look and feel real, the damage they inflict will also be simulated. Destroy the fighters in order to complete this test.”

OK let's lock in who is in what role, and we can jump into some Starship combat!

"Well, that takes some of the fun out of it. Is the damage we do to them at least real or is that simulated, too?" Chorizal asks as Aphon explains what is happening.

"Vyv, you want to drive? I wouldn't mind handling a gun this time," he asks as the ships are bearing down on them.

"Red Alert, Captain Chorizal all power to the weapon systems and raise shields," J'Shun says from the captain's chair.

"Ramming speed!"

I'm assuming science officer for Helix?

Helix starts manipulating the scanner screens. "How REAL will this SIMULATION feel?"

Vyviane glowers at J'Shun in the captain's chair, annoyed her prank failed due to a communications error. What flipping prototype uses an encryption code that was common 30 years ago and can't be readily duplicated by modern machines! She shakes her head at Chorizal's call to her. "Right, I can take the hlm if you want me to, seeing as I can't quite help like I normally do."

Map up!

R1
Engineering
White 1d20 ⇒ 7
Black 1d20 ⇒ 9
Both ships seem to build up a lot of energy - perhaps in the thrusters?

Helm Phase
Piloting 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18
Vyv roll - if less than 18, you move first.

"Captain Chorizal, concentrate your fire on the first bogey to fly within range and fire!!!"

Intimidate (Demand): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

That roll is an epic fail.

We have three +2 bonuses from the ship's computer to skill checks every round. I suggest the two gunners and the pilot take them.

Vyviane tries to put the ship into a reactive mode, powering up the engines but not putting it into drive.

Piloting: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 = 33

She gives a smirk as the other ship responds to the engine flaring and moves first. "These guys should be really easy to trick."

She then looks at Chorizal. "Might need you to take over the piloting if we start taking hits. We'll need an Engineer at some point likely."

R1
Engineering
Both ships seem to build up a lot of energy - perhaps in the thrusters?

Helm Phase
The two enemy begin closing in...

Vyv up!

Sorry, busy weekend here, didn't get sat down until now. Problem is, I don't have statistics for the ship's movement and turn speed, as far as I can tell. Whoops, forgot to double check Discussion

Vyviane takes her time and then puts the thrusters into full power, turning the ship and setting it up to ram into the white ship. As she does she looks over at Chorizal. "Wait you want to take over a weapon? This ship has a ramming prow! That should be your weapon!"

I forgot that a ramming prow requires a gunnery check by the pilot.

A Piloting check for a manuever?: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
Gunnery check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

"Belay that order, Lieutenant Isafira I did not order the ship to accelerate to ramming speed!!!"

R1
Engineering
Both ships seem to build up a lot of energy - perhaps in the thrusters?

Helm Phase
The two enemy begin closing in...

Ramming prow & ramming

Vyv strikes at a funky angle which only upsets your shields.
4 damage to your front quadrant

Gunners go!

Before firing, Helix runs a quick scan of the oncoming vessels, trying to ID their basic specs.

Computers: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30

Rastar swiveled the mining laser to point at the nearest enemy ship. Bracing himself against the impact of the ram, he lined up the shot and pressed the firing studs.

mining laser, node: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 2 = 29

Okay, I've gone back through the thread and cannot find out how much damage the mining laser does.

2d6

damage: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12 doubled

That's going to do a lot of critical hit damage since you rolled a 20 and the mining laser has the burrowing special property.