Kuozar's light show lures the creature back toward the party. Looking at the walls,covered with pipes and conduits and electrical or control boxes, but somehow bare, Xikko realizes that the party members might be the most interesting things in the room to an alien. The party certainly encompasses a wide range of body structures and appearances. Thundergun proposes a quick comparative anatomy sampler.
Nic nack fails at explicit telepathic communication, but the creature doesn't seem alarmed or fearful of the mental touch.
The head-sized creature floats through the air and lands on Idir's back, clinging there gently.
When you report back to Fitch, she might be impressed; it's hard to tell with her harried rapid-fire way of talking. "Escaped alien, eh? AND you captured it without harm? You might be smarter than you look. Good work. I'll send an engineering team down to start work on that area. You had better get back to Absalom Station. Guidance will be looking for you."
Shortly after your return, Guidance summons you back to the Lorespire Complex. The intelligence once again presents itself in a holographic form—this time taking on the appearance of a wizened male korasha lashunta— to congratulate the PCs on their successful missions. It goes on to state that in the aftermath of the Scoured Stars incident, the Society needs skilled agents more than ever, and that it sees potential in the PCs as they start their new careers as Starfinder field agents.
|
Idir shudders a bit as "Shelby" lands on him, but calms as it becomes clear the creature is harmless. He leads the way in heading back to Fitch to drop it off and sputters indignantly at her backhanded compliment.
"With all due respect, Venture Captain, we need to have words about the supervision of childcare!" he says. Assuming Fitch lets him, he lets out a impassioned-but-trying-to-remain-polite rant about how a closer eye should be kept on these young wards to protect them. "While I am obligated to respect your wishes in regards to the raising of your own familial unit, caring for the children of others, or for children who have nowhere else to go NEEDS to have higher standards! If this creature had been dangerous, those children could have gotten hurt or worse! OhgodsIthinkI'mhyperventilating..."
Upon returning to Absalom Station, Idir visibly relaxes, and when they meet with Guidance, he nods solemnly. This was, after all, the only reason he was no longer just sitting at his cubicle combing through data...The Starfinders needed him, and perhaps...he needed them. It felt good to have people he truly could depend on once more, distressing quirks aside...a new herd.
|
Thundergun in general does not care about children. I mean, he did not. But after resolving situation and especially after Idirs passion speech, the techno macer accepted and agree, that this is an issue worth attention.
Kuozar shows another example, so Thundergun probably joins nuar for a glass or two, as he likes smart personality and straight approach.
Anyway after Commencement lonely izalguun will look forward to upcoming mission
A short hiss precedes the opening of an adjacent door. A woman with a determined look steps through the opening, holding adatapad in one hand as she sits down at the nearby table, takes a calm breath, and begins to speak, “Ah good, you made it. All of you come highly recommended. You have skills, and the Starfinder Society has credits.”
She pauses, looks over the group she has assembled, and continues, “How rude of me—introductions. I am Luwazi Elsebo, the elected First Seeker of the Starfinder Society, and I have an exceptionally fair sum of credits available in return for your specialized services. For this mission, each of you will represent the Starfinder Society, but hold no official title within our organization. As you can probably tell by the empty halls around us, I need to use mercenaries to act as temporary agents. If you agree to the terms, I would like to offer you all a job.
“The Starfinder Society endured a staggering setback several months ago when our previous First Seeker led a mission into a region of space known as the Scoured Stars. We lost almost all our experienced field agents and assets in that endeavor. What the Starfinder Society really needs right now is something to entice outside interest and investment. In short, we need to make a major discovery.
“Prior to the Scoured Stars incident, the Society acquired exclusive rights to explore a rather unique moon. The inhabitants of the nearby planet call it Salvation’s End and see it as a ‘false moon’ due to its visible metal components and underlying superstructure. There’s the potential that it’s nothing more than a mangled hunk of stellar debris on the remains of a moon, but there’s also the chance that the entire object could be one inconceivably large structure.”
Luwazi lets loose a devilish smile. “This is where you come in. I want you to go to Salvation’s End and explore the surface. First, you’ll need to make a quick trip to the moon of Varos, which orbits the nearby gas giant, Bretheda. There’s a highlevel security complex on Varos that has a survivor from a rogue prospecting mission to Salvation’s End. I want you to question the prisoner, find out what you can about the so-called ‘false moon,’ and then make way to Salvation’s End. Once there, you will need to see if the moon is worthless, or something valuable enough for the Society to announce. Understood?”
An android standing by a wall wearing a flight suit asks.
"First seeker this unit is known as TK423. Will we have some passes to get into the security complex and speak with the prisoner. Who is this prisoner we are to question? What makes that unit special?"
|
|
A grayish, mustachioed shirren holds up a small glass jar as he listens to Luwazi's briefing, a small, squirming larva inside. He gives a small, telepathic chuckle.
"Credits are always helpful, Ms. Elsebo, but exploration and growth are even greater rewards. That's what I always tell Chk-Chk here, isn't that right?"
The larva taps on the glass.
"You may call me Keskodai, or 'Kes' for short, and this is my son Chk-Chk. Don't worry, the cradle-jar keeps him perfectly safe!"
|
|
Lashunta in acidic green leggins and hair of similar colour catching her breath! This is Raia, you could not miss her in Starfiner guild.
Greetings, respectful Kesskodai! Hey, Iseph! Another routine mission or something excited? Or dangerous? How do you think? Oh, miss Elsebo, I would like to hear your mission proposal.
Raia makes some note to her holo-com through the breifing. At the end she talks...
Any scanning results? Talk to survivor at Varos then investigate Salvation's End. Understood. - summarize lashunta being ready to act and maybe already searching statnet infostructure for clues
"In a moment, a fourth team member should be arriving soon," Luwazi replies to Iseph and Raia. To the shirren she responds, "I'm not worried, Keskodai."
"Walk with me."
Luwazi walks through the complex towards a set of hangar bay doors. As you walk she continues the briefing.
“The prisoner is named Livewire. She is interred at the ‘Sauna’—a prison colony on Bretheda's volcanic moon Varos. She is the only survivor of an expedition that trespassed on Salvation’s End. Once you establish contact, it’s a matter of gathering intelligence. We doubt this information is cheap, so we authorized a spending account for you to encourage Livewire to talk. We need to know why her team’s illegal salvage on the moon failed. Once you get this information, we need you to travel to the false moon. Touch down, scout for hostiles, and look for any indications that it’s more than a moon with crashed starships piled up on it."
“We don't know much about the false moon except long range visuals of the surface. You will be the first Starfinder Society representatives to land on Salvation End. Upon completion of your greater mission to Salvation’s End, you will each receive 3,000 credits. In addition, you have use of a brand-new Pegasus-class starship for the mission.
Also I’m providing a spending account of 2,500 credits for mission expenditures; this does not include expenses for personal use, but instead for dealing with Livewire and the other occupants at the Sauna to help in your mission.
If we end on agreeable terms, you can count on the Starfinder Society for more work in the near future. Trust me when I say an ongoing partnership would be quite… lucrative, for both parties.”
|
|
Greetings, respectful Kesskodai! Hey, Iseph! Another routine mission or something excited? Or dangerous? How do you think? Oh, miss Elsebo, I would like to hear your mission proposal.
"Oh look, Chk-Chk! It's Ms. Raia! The nice lady we went shopping with the other day!"
Chk-Chk taps on the glass of his cradle-jar again.
"He's happy to see you again!"
"In a moment, a fourth team member should be arriving soon," Luwazi replies to Iseph and Raia. To the shirren she responds, "I'm not worried, Keskodai."
"Walk with me."
Luwazi walks through the complex towards a set of hangar bay doors. As you walk she continues the briefing.
“The prisoner is named Livewire. She is interred at the ‘Sauna’—a prison colony on Bretheda's volcanic moon Varos. She is the only survivor of an expedition that trespassed on Salvation’s End. Once you establish contact, it’s a matter of gathering intelligence. We doubt this information is cheap, so we authorized a spending account for you to encourage Livewire to talk. We need to know why her team’s illegal salvage on the moon failed. Once you get this information, we need you to travel to the false moon. Touch down, scout for hostiles, and look for any indications that it’s more than a moon with crashed starships piled up on it."“We don't know much about the false moon except long range visuals of the surface. You will be the first Starfinder Society representatives to land on Salvation End. Upon completion of your greater mission to Salvation’s End, you will each receive 3,000 credits. In addition, you have use of a brand-new Pegasus-class starship for the mission.
Also I’m providing a spending account of 2,500 credits for mission expenditures; this does not include expenses for personal use, but instead for dealing with Livewire and the other occupants at the Sauna to help in your mission.
If we end on agreeable terms, you can count on the Starfinder Society for more work in the near future. Trust me when I say an ongoing partnership would be quite… lucrative, for both parties.”
Keskodai returns to listening to Luwazi intently.
"How exciting!" he says when she's finished. "Why exactly was Livewire's 'salvage' illegal?"
"How exciting!" he says when she's finished. "Why exactly was Livewire's 'salvage' illegal?"
"Livewire's team landed after the Starfinders had been granted exclusive rights to Salvation's End from the local system's government. They were poaching on our preserve. "
-Establsih contact with Livewire, find out more about failed mission to the asteroid. Investigate further. Sounds fair. How about transport? , - Raia hopes fourth team member will arrive soon.
Luwazi arrives at the large hangar bay doors that you've been approaching during the briefing. Her voice drops "Well how about -- "
The doors swing open; bright light spills out. " -- THIS NEW PEGASUS CLASS SPACESHIP!"
The ship is a gleaming black jewel. The gold Starfinder compass adorns either bow.
A big female vesk swaggers up to the group.
"Obozaya." she states. Talking reveals a broad mouth full of sharply pointed teeth. She gazes past the First Seeker into the hangar.
"Pretty."
Luwazi cocks an eyebrow. "Your last team member," she announces.
"Coordinates to the Sauna have been laid into your nav system. Any last questions before you go?"
|
|
Keskodai holds up Chk-Chk's jar to get a good look at the Pegasus.
"Yes, it's quite beautiful! This will be travelling in STYLE!"
When Obozaya introduces herself, he turns to her.
"Welcome, Obozaya! I am Keskodai, or 'Kes' for short. And this is my son, Chk-Chk!"
Chk-Chk taps on the glass.
"He says 'Hello!'"
TK423 starts to describe the features of the Pegasus class spaceship.
It's Ion drive system is funneled into the flux copastors for maximum thrust...."
|
|
Raia happy to see Obozaya, but not enough to hug. I am Raia, remember? , lashunta move her head anteenas slightly and repeats the same via telepathy.
When Pegasus was presented, Raia even jump on one place few times in a winer dance.
I like Pegasus! Feel investigative spirit abrod? - Raia sends an kiss gesture to Luwazi. She's going check systems before depart...
Luwazi smiles at the team's enthusiasm. "She's our newest ship. Be careful with her."
"The Sauna is on a moon orbiting Bretheda. It's just a few days away in real space. You might save a little time if you jump to the Drift to make the trip, but I'd advise against it. Strange things in the Drift; why take any unnecessary risks?"
|
Obozaya lifts her heavy pack back unto her shoulder. She smiles at Raia. Her teeth seeming to say happy to see you too. The flex of her muscled shoulder agreeing not to hug.
As she strides through the hatch into the ship, she pounds the meaty flat of her hand against the hull. She cocks her ear to listen.
"Solid ship. Good. "
Once inside she stows her gear in a crew-cabin and then moves to the gunnery station to examine the ship's weapons.
It's a quiet six day trip from Absalom Station to Bretheda's moon, Varos, home to the Sauna. This bizarre organic complex wildly contrasts the more pleasing Brethedan arcologies found within the swirls and eddies of the neighboring gas giant. Here, only the indentured or the foolhardy suffer Varos’ tidally heated hellscapes for a chance to mine the moon’s spectacular gemstones. While the prison is safely above the moon’s surface, the extreme temperatures radiate upwards, heating the structure despite its distance and advanced organic coolant systems. From this clammy complex, indentured prisoners descend upon the moon’s blistered surface as conditions permit.
Inside the Sauna, prisoners endure strict discipline under the threat of exile to the inhospitable surface. Several communal areas provide the prisoners with the opportunity to roam freely amid a reek of flowers and sweat—a by-product of a bustling black market of deodorants, perfumes, and soaps. The prison staff is comprised solely of barathu guards who have adapted to the torrid climate with their race’s notorious bioengineering acumen.
Communication with the prison is established as soon as your orbit takes you above the horizon.
"Pegasus class ship. This is the Varos Penal Colony. What are youtr intentions."
There's a pause before the Penal colony replies,"Pegasus, what prisoner do you wish to interview?"
After taking not only the prisoner's name, but the names of any crew members that will leave the ship, the prison's flight control direct you to a landing pad at the edge of the facility.
On final approach you get a good look at the facility. It looks like a series of blobs of pinkish-grey fleshy organic matter studded with metallic fins and components, built on pillars to minimize contact with the moon's surface. The barathu are famed for their use of organic material in engineering. Looking upward the view out the window is spectacular. The gas giant Bretheda is quickly rising above the horizon.
Iseph brings the Pegasus down on the landing pad for what might be the softest landing you've ever experienced. Touchdown is practically undetectable.
As befits a small moon the atmosphere is extremely thin, and what air there is, is toxic. Additionally, heat generated by tidal forces working in Varos' core radiates off the planet surface continuously. A very unpleasant combination indeed.
An organic docking tube snakes toward the ship and fastens itself against the hull, which groans slightly in response. After you open the hatch, you can see a small cluster of barathu waiting at the far end of the docking tube. The jelly-fish like creatures float in the air. Their tentacles lightly drag the ground.
|
|
Raia enthusiastically jump into engineering or Power COre part of Pegasus and spend there half of journy.
Upon arriving she seems to be nervous, and stands especially anxious before landing at colony. She turns on environmental protection surely. And suggests that Obozya covers her. She then approach jelly barathu feeling a bit sick about. How they do fly?
SHe makes a wave gesture...
-Khm. Hello!? I am Raia. How you doing around? We'd like to see a person, who at this facility. Livewire is the name. Who'd we discuss this matter?
Stunned at the landing. He turns to his companion's.
"I think this place is an organic machine hybrid."
The air in the docking tube is moist and hot. The tube's pinkish grey flesh is spongy under foot. Once you've crossed the tube and are closer, you can see that there are four barathu waiting there for you. Their bulbous upper bodies shimmer iridescently. One of them calls out telepathically.
" Welcome to the Varos Penal Colony. Credsticks for to the prisoners or facility are permitted. No contraband, that is weapons, tools, food, toiletries, or other material gifts to the prisoners, is allowed. You may return such to your ship, or use the lockers here. We will escort you to Warden."
|
|
Before crossing the tube Obo checks the temperature and decides to leave her suit seals open for just a little while. "Warm. Nice. But too much is bad."
When the barathu announce the weapons ban, she shrugs and deposits her gear in the locker. With her body blocking the barathu's view, she nudges Keskodai and flexes her claws with a pointed grin.
Before entering the main complex, she seals her armour.
TK423 uses the locker to store his weapons and other listed contraband.
"You have a unusual moon here. Is it a fully biologic lifeform?" He asks.
"Warden will answer questions. "
Inside the main complex the halls and rooms of the Sauna are entirely organic, comprised mostly of fleshy blue walls replete with pulsating green veins. Tunnels take odd angles, sometimes sloping up or down, which is a nuisance to humanoid creatures but not an impediment to the floating barathus. An odor of flowers and sweat permeates the entire complex.
When the PCs arrive at the Warden’s office, several hard, plastic chairs await arranged in a semicircle around a matching table. Opposite the table floats the Warden, an almost comical creature that looks like a dozen of the barathu guards mashed together into a floating mass of iridescent flesh and tentacles.
The Warden telepathically offers several trays of a gray mush and glasses of an opaque, milky substance as “refreshments.” While these refreshments look welcoming, especially the drink to help cool off, the ever-present reek of flowers and sweat makes the idea of eating difficult.
|
|
" Welcome to the Varos Penal Colony. Credsticks for to the prisoners or facility are permitted. No contraband, that is weapons, tools, food, toiletries, or other material gifts to the prisoners, is allowed. You may return such to your ship, or use the lockers here. We will escort you to Warden."
Keskodai ponders a bit why they seemed to emphasize "donations." Incarceration was an experience he hoped never to have, but he was fairly sure most prisons did not require their inmates to purchase various sundries, and those that offered the ability to purchase things as a privilege usually required the prisoners do so with money the prison itself paid them for labor.
When the barathu announce the weapons ban, she shrugs and deposits her gear in the locker. With her body blocking the barathu's view, she nudges Keskodai and flexes her claws with a pointed grin.
As Obo demonstrates she wouldn't be defenseless should things get ugly, Keskodai waggles one of his antennae knowingly. He quickly informs the staff that Chk-Chk was in fact not contraband of any kind, and he preferred his son remain under his supervision.
Inside the main complex the halls and rooms of the Sauna are entirely organic, comprised mostly of fleshy blue walls replete with pulsating green veins. Tunnels take odd angles, sometimes sloping up or down, which is a nuisance to humanoid creatures but not an impediment to the floating barathus. An odor of flowers and sweat permeates the entire complex.
When the PCs arrive at the Warden’s office, several hard, plastic chairs await arranged in a semicircle around a matching table. Opposite the table floats the Warden, an almost comical creature that looks like a dozen of the barathu guards mashed together into a floating mass of iridescent flesh and tentacles.
The Warden telepathically offers several trays of a gray mush and glasses of an opaque, milky substance as “refreshments.” While these refreshments look welcoming, especially the drink to help cool off, the ever-present reek of flowers and sweat makes the idea of eating difficult.
Keskodai easily identifies the Warden as a gestalt of several individual barathus, though frankly individuality and consciousness was a hazy subject when discussing them.
He samples a small bit of the offered food and gives some to Chk-Chk as well.
"It's always good to try new things, Chk-Chk."
Upon seeing Keskodai try the food, the Warden emits a pleasantly low-pitched hum and floats a little higher.
" I am glad you like the food. Our budget is so tight here, I can't afford luxuries, or even some simple necessities to host honored guests like yourselves, let alone maintain the containment of so many dangerous and sophisticated inmates. People just don't recognize the difficulties that a small penal colony like ours faces. Given the lack of proper official funding, I've had to resort unusual measures to keep this place running. One of my young barathu is quite imaginative, and has started a crowd funding infosphere site. Donations from law-respecting citizens across the Pact Worlds are helping us do this important work."
He let's the last phrase linger in the mental ether before continuing.
"So, you want to talk with Livewire? Why do you want to see her? "
TK423 also samples the drink.
And the Warden seems pleased.
|
|
Keskodai raises an antenna not unlike an eyebrow at the Warden's explanation. It was becoming clear why Luwazi had set them up with discretionary funds. It seemed the true challenge of navigating this mission was to try and get the information they needed before running out of credits to bribe people with, warden, guard and prisoner alike.
"Livewire was arrested as a participant in an illegal salvaging operation, illegal specifically because the Starfinders already had a claim on it. Things apparently went bad. Really bad, because only Livewire made it out alive to be arrested. In preparation for pursuing that claim for the Starfinders, we need to know what we're walking into, so we're requesting to interview Livewire and learn what she encountered on that operation and what happened to the rest of her crew."
|
|
-Sometimes baratu unites to improve to a superior being! Impressive! , - notes Raia.
She follows Keskodai in general and decides to support his request.
-Respectful Warden! It is important for us as we seek knowledge. But this time we also look for missing guild agent. I think you understand concept of tribe or guild?
The warden bobs (nods?) sympathetically.Of course you may interview Livewire. Unfortunately, she is on a work detail this week. The inmates here mine the moon to help pay for their room and board. I am afraid that recalling her from that assignment would place the facility at a financial disadvantage. Could you perhaps return on next fourthday?
|
|
"Unfortunately, dear Warden, time is of the essence...we certainly would not want to inconvenience you or your facility unduly...Would we perhaps be able to offer some form of...compensation...for both yours and Livewire's time?" Keskodai replies evenly, telepathically lingering on the one word he KNEW would get the Warden's attention.
"Yes, the society has given us a... small... stipend to help with the costs for this mission." TK423 adds in
A number of Warden's tentacles wriggle. "That would be very generous of you. It would certainly ease the impact of your visit on this facility. How much was this providential stipend? What could you donate to our work here? "