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

Game Master Nik B.

They return fire at your Fore

Shadow Bolt
Reaction 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
Damage 1d10 ⇒ 5

Light Buster Canon
Reaction 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
Damage 3d8 ⇒ (4, 4, 6) = 14

You only get clipped.

***
R5
Engineering Phase
Enemy 1d20 ⇒ 19

Helm Phase
Piloting 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

Chorizal, your move

Let's aim for a really solid round here... :)

Izzip, will do a precognition action in an attempt to boost Chorizal's piloting roll.

Izzip Mysticism (Precognition): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (20) + 20 = 40

+2 bonus to your piloting roll and you can take a +2 bonus from the ship's computer also, Chorizal. I still haven't calculated damage on our ship yet. We are probably badly damaged...

Chorizal all but kills their forward momentum to try to force the enemy ship to fly by them. But he twists the Summersword Renown wildly so it is hard to tell that for the crew.

There isn't a lot to do when you go first so I'll take the precog boost but leave the computer boost to the gunners.

Piloting Evasion: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 2 = 29

Piloting (Initiative): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

OK Gunners go!

Rastar quickly regained familiarity with the heavy laser battery and blasted the enemy ship.

heavy laser: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 = 30
damage: 4d8 ⇒ (7, 3, 1, 8) = 19

J'Shun, fires the mining laser and the starboard light plasma cannon. fire at will

That's it Captain Chorizal, we have them now."

Mining Laser: 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 2 - 4 = 18
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4

Light Plasma Cannon: 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 - 4 = 12
Damage: 2d12 ⇒ (9, 6) = 15

Doc Helix, sends power to the shields.

Engineering (Divert): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24

It'a bit late, but Vyviane would likely have Encouraged Rastar this turn.

Vyviane gives a look at the displays and frowns. She gets distracted for a moment on trying to fix the damage display before realizing she's been distracted for too long and tries to give Rastar some encouraging words after the fact. "Er, nice shot there Rastar!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

She then turns to J'Shun. "If you're going to fire Broadside like that, you should do it with All your focus. Try that again and MAKE THEM PAY!"

Demand: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

+4 to J'Shun's action(s) next round. (Posting now so I don't forget again.)

At that moment, the ship ceases its assault and appears to power down, seemingly disabled.

The Corsairthen sends a message to your bridge; the video feed shows a dangerous-looking crew of humanoid pirates including a massive one-armed vesk, a lashunta in piecemeal armor with jagged spikes, and a pair of shirren holding serrated daggers. The vesk addresses your ship in an accent more akin to vidcast pirate speak than any standard speech pattern - "This be the Corsair you pack of scurvy land-lubbing scrubs! My crew are in search of the treasure, which we will soon be taking, and you scallywags won't be getting in our way. Strike ye sails and turn about - nothing for you here but peril and doom"

Yes, this just happened

Chorizal's eyebrows raise as he sees the ramshackle nature of the equipment of their opponents.

They lower and his chest puffs as he hears what they say.

"You stand down or we'll wag your scally and strike your sails and turn you about. This I, Captain Chorizal, fifth son of Clan Summersword, House Yashida, line of Kazsta, storm spawned! command! he barks in reply.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

The enemy ship sends a reply back to Chorizal.

The video feed shows a dangerous-looking crew of humanoid pirates including a massive one-armed vesk, a lashunta in piecemeal armor with jagged spikes, and a pair of shirren holding serrated daggers. The vesk addresses your ship in an accent more akin to vidcast pirate speak than any standard speech pattern - "This be the Corsair you pack of scurvy land-lubbing scrubs! My crew are in search of the treasure, which we will soon be taking, and you scallywags won't be getting in our way. Strike ye sails and turn about - nothing for you here but peril and doom"

The diplomatic ship Linovae hails you once again,

A female Shiren, presumably the vessel’s captain, appears on the viewscreen. A haze of smoke and emergency light fills the air around her.

“My thanks to you for saving our lives! I am K’zyk, captain of this vessel. Truly, I shudder to think what might have befallen us had your crew not intervened. We have suffered some injuries, and the damage to our ship is extensive. If you are willing to wait until our repairs are complete, we would humbly request an escort back to Verces"

"Wait a minute, that's pirate is a recording!"

"Captain Chorizal, brings us alongside the Linovae we will render what aid we can. Mr. Helix, give me a damage report."

K’zyk appears on the vid screen to help coordinate the assistance for repairs.

"I'm very confused over why any ship would attack a diplomatic vessel in this sector of the Vast. The Linovae makes regular diplomatic trips to the Vast along this route, though the sudden deactivation of a Drift Beacon complicated the journey through the area. We've never seen pirates around here before - it has always been safe"

Aphon also looks concerned, "Not something we expected either, we need to know more about this disabled Idaran ship" - K’zyk nods in agreement, "We will all be stuck out here a while undertaking repairs, makes sense to find out more now rather than have someone else fall victim to pirates later"

"We should board that pirate ship and see if they're really pirates. This may all be a scheme by someone to blame some innocent pirates for their politically motivated attacks," Chorizal says even as he takes the Summersword Renown near the Linovae for repairs.

"Agreed, Captain Chorizal once we have assessed the damage to the Linovae we will board the pirate vessel."

You find you concur with the captain of the Linovae, it has taken some serious damage, but with a lot of jury-rigging and makeshift repairs it should be able to limp back to Verces with their engineers nursing the engines and life support systems.

You are able to render aid to get things moving, but this ship will need a serious overhaul once back in civilisation.

Ready to go board a pirate ship!?

Ready!

Ready.

Helix watches the recording back a few times for anything unusual about the pirate attackers. "Just checking for ANYTHING that might be a TELL!"

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32

Ready to go!

Vyviane's eyes narrow at the repeated recording, curious if she can't see anything useful in the recording... Perhaps this was from a show?

Culture: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

She gives a shake of her head. If it was a show she doesn't know it. "Fine let's get to boarding the enemy ship."

Ready

Map up!

Vyv and Helix are pretty solidly convinced there is a lot wrong with this picture, and the whole thing seems almost comically over the top. What might be behind it all is still a mystery.

You pull in alongside the pirate vessel and begin boarding, making your way unchallenged to their airlock.

The transport ship’s airlock is rectangular, with a narrow vestibule and emergency lights blinking rapidly in each corner. The door is shut tight and its control console appears blinks dully. A simple series of commands is sufficent to open the airlock The airlock doors open into an atmosphere-starved interior. As Chorizal moves into the hall, he quickly sees a conical kasatha helm, sliced in half and floating in the corner of the hall.

Rastar moved in with Chorizal, weapons at the ready. It seems that they had done a lot more damage to the ship then they had thought.

"Got a decapitated helm over here. No idea if it's got a head in it or not until we get closer. Be ready."

Rastar moved up and examined the helmet, while keeping an eye out for bad guys.

Before they board the ship, Chorizal uses the special clamps on his static shock caster to attach his dragonglaive like an oversized bayonet. Given his dedication to this particular group and Clan Summersword, it is easy enough to forget that he is also a member of the Order of the Pike. Until he uses some of their tricks.

Despite the mass and unwieldy nature of the combi-weapon, he maneuvers it through the tight corridors with ease.

When he spots the severed helmet his eyebrows raise, a gesture enhanced by the small bone spikes growing there. It's a particularly grisly threat given the composition of Chorizal's Chosen.

Nonetheless, he trusts them and opens the next door, ready to charge in, gun and glaive blazing.

J'Shun, activates the environmental protections on his armor before Kay's Kommandos board the pirate ship. He's armed to the teeth with his devastation blade, SMG, and tactical shield filling his hands.

"Impressive weapon, Captain Chorizal after this mission you must train me on how to wield it."

"Okay Kommandos, I want this op to go by the book. Captain Chorizal, you're on point with Private Raster backing you up. Lieutenant Isafira and I will secure our flanks. Doctor Helix and Mr. Izzip, you linger in the rear with the gear. By the numbers people, move out!"

J'Shun, follows Chorizal and Rastar into the ship.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Once Rastar notices the damaged helm, J'Shun moves in for a closer look also.

If there is dim light conditions, J'Shun activates the light projector attached to his shield.

The helm is bloodied but no head is within it.

***

The airlock gives way to a dark, dusty interior. Several tools and utility cases lie about, as if discarded. Emergency power is on; with hazard lights flickering ominously against the darkness.

Vyviane, standing on the ceiling from her Falcon Boots, takes a moment to scan the room with the light from J'Shun that she's a bit displeased to admit is actually pretty useful here.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

"Bad news, crew, there's blood splatters all over here. Especially on the ceiling. Who or what ever had control of this ship before might be dead. Let's be careful that we aren't the next victims."

"The ceiling?" Chorizal asks. It seems logical Vyv would spot that, given where she is. He makes a mental note to keep a particular lookout for attacks from above.

Following standard Chorizal's Chosen doctrine, he moves to the next closest door, waits for the group to form up behind him, then breaches.

"If the ship lost internal gravity at any point during the fight, any fluids could easily splatter everywhere. Of course, there could also be something aboard carving up fountains of blood. We definitely need to be cautious."

Saying that, Rastar readied his weapons then leapfrogged with Chorizal to form up on the other side of the next door, ready for the entry.

You open the next door.

The engine room is awash in the orange-yellow glow of the Drift core’s low-power mode. Access terminals line the walls. A few splashes of blood are visible on the consoles, and a smeared trail of blood winds around the huge cylindrical engine toward an unseen corner of the room.

J'Shun, makes several rapid hand signals that are meant as commands for the other Kommandos to follow, but in reality they may or may not recognize and then begins following the blood trail toward the corner of the room.

JShun investigates the trail of blood on the floor and discovers the body of a kasathan slumped near the rear engine terminal. Upon inspection, the body is desiccated - clearly the kasatha has been dead a long time.

"Dr. Helix and Mr. Izzip, we have a dead body here, I need your assessments immediately."

As J'Shun investigates, Chorizal waits just long enough to be sure there's no threat in the room before turning to face down the hall. There may still be a surprise hiding in the engine room but he wants to make sure that nothing sneaks up on them while they're focused on their investigation.

Botting Doc Helix.

Medicine: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24

"The Kasatha was killed by a combination of plasma bolts and bladed weapons."

J'Shun, moves to the door on the north wall and checks it for traps.

He again gives a series of hand signals for the rest of the Kommandos to back him up.

He then opens the door and moves in.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Map updated, pick a door :)

"Lieutenant Isafira, secure the toilet to the east. The rest of you with me."

J'Shun, checks for the first door to the north for traps and moves in.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

J'Shun thinks it all looks reasonably safe and opens the door.

The ship’s cramped commercial seating areas are visibly empty. Aside from the rows of stiff chairs, only a small refrigeration unit floats in the room. The sleeping bunks behind this area are similarly empty.

"Kommandos, search this room."

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Searching is not what Chorizal is good at. He heads to the next door, guarding it and keeping a line of fire down the hallway to deal with whatever caused all these blood stains.

Finishing his examination of the body, Helix turns his attention to the rest of the room. He keeps a ten-foot distance behind J'Shun while scanning the room. PLASMA bolts suggests SYNTHETIC attackers. Eyes UP!

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

The only thing you find that is notable is in the refrigerator unit, you discover 12 bottles of Nalpure, a rare hydration beverage popular among traders, smugglers, and mercenaries.

Rastar continued to follow Chorizal, acting as overwatch support as the vesk opened doors and turned corridors.

With nothing of interest in the room he just entered. J'Shun, follows Chorizal and Rastar.

"Wait...Nalpure? Is there any green? Green is the best flavor," Chorizal says when it is revealed that there are bottles of The Hydration That Breaks the Rules! available.

With that search done, he opens the next door.

Chorizal finds this area only contains neatly made bunk beds that have not been used.

"Of course you'd say green is the best flavor. But everyone knows that it's really purple."

Rastar continues to keep up with Chorizal, offering fire support as the vesk takes the point position.

"Purple? You like purple? I don't even know why they make purple. It tastes like they mixed red and blue together!" Chorizal continues the conversation as he opens up the other door next to him, which probably leads to the bridge.

"Maintain tactical discipline Kommandos. Now is not the time to be discussing the merits of Nalpure!"

J'Shun, follows Chorizal through the next door.