Your comm beeps with an incoming message from Venture-Captain Arvin: "Come to the hallway outside Briefing Room # 17A--I have an urgent errand for you to run."
Upon receiving the message. An android powers up from it's place of rest and starts to make it's way to the hallway outside Briefing Room # 17A.
Once it has arrived, It looks at each person and says "You are not Venture-Captain Arvin. This unit will stand by until the Venture-Captain Arvin unit arrives." And the android places it's back to the wall and waits.
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Detaching herself from the paltry shadow of the nearest corner, a heavily tattooed female approaches the group. At first glance, she might look human, but upon closer inspection one discovers that small glints of an android's glowing circuitry peek out of strategic gaps in the black tattoos depicting a riot of bones, decay, rust, and ruin that cover nearly all of what little epidermal layer isn't covered by her completely black clothing and short, spiky black hair. Even her eyes have black contacts in them, though they allow the slightest ring of pale blue to glow past the edges of the outer rim.
With an expression of the deepest boredom, she greets the group gathered in the hallway. "This all of us? <sigh> I'm Twila-4. Hey, Scruffy. Where're your dancing duds?" Perfectly deadpan, she slouches against the wall beside the brakim and gives a nod at the drone. "Hey Robert-0."
The corridor outside Venture-Captain Arvin’s office seems busy today, crowded with your fellow Starfinder agents and visitors to the halls of the Lorespire Complex. A few minutes after the designated meeting time, you see Arvin (a male lashunta) arrive accompanied by another team of agents--one older, more experienced, and battle-scarred. “Go on in,” he says to them. “I’ll be right there.”
But then he turns toward you and the other Starfinders waiting outside, steps a bit closer, and lowers his voice.
“Thanks for coming. I have a quick task for you, and from the outside, it doesn’t look like much. You just need to go to Bluerise Tower, where AbadarCorp’s financial review department is located, and speak with the director there, a man named Ebaki. He’s going to give you a datastick. Bring it back here. That’s it. That’s the mission. Looks like you get off easy today. I admit that I don’t know what’s on that datastick. It’s important, but I don’t know why. This assignment came from a higher-up in the Society who wants to remain anonymous. And that’s why I asked for a team of skilled agents to handle what's supposed to be a simple pick-up and delivery job.”
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Her hooded-eyed expression unchanging, Twila-4's eyes momentarily unfocus as she considers this mission briefing. Sounds too easy. <sigh> There's probably a catch. (How will this go sideways?) She blinks, switching to another line of thought that seems less likely to spiral into wild theories or offhand dismissals. He seems to know little, but likely more than he's said. Which queries will yield more information?
As she considers what she knows so she can formulate better questions, she drones: "<sigh> Won't sending a group like this attract attention? If secrecy's the goal, why not send one agent?"
Arvin looks around to make sure no one is listening in before replying to Twila-4 "You might be right. Bluerise Tower is one of the most secure facilities on Absalom Station. I would like to say no one is stupid enough to cause any trouble in there, but then again, some people are pretty stupid. A solo agent might not be noticed, but also wouldn't have anyone to watch their back if trouble started. I'm going with safety over stealth." Arvin then looks over at George 09-23. "Soon. Assuming everything goes well, take the rest of the day off from any other Society activities you were scheduled for.”
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Nodding once to acknowledge the response to her query, Twila-4 feels her hopes build slightly. Danger means death. Maybe I'll get to appreciate it this time! Straightening up from her customary "I'm-too-cool-to-not-be-bored-by-this" slouch, she replies: "I'll watch our backs in there. <sigh> So when we arrive, do we just say we're from the Starfinder Society and Ebaki is expecting us? Is there a different name we should use to identify ourselves? Is there a specific time for an appointment?" Which other questions would an administrative assistant ask if they're being difficult? <sigh> Office social posturing. ("I have power over you, and there's nothing you can do about it!") Ugh.
Arvin stands in front of Scruffy, barring the door to the briefing room. "I've got another briefing. You know what to do. Just tell reception the courier from the SFS has arrived, pick up the datastick from Ebaki, and bring it back. Any problems, you can comm me." The Venture-Captain nods at you all and enters the briefing room, shutting the door behind him.
Just as the Venture-Captain leaves TK423 says "This mission has no logic to it. This unit concurs with the Twila-4 unit. This mission is beneath Starfinder agents and a local messenger service should have been sufficient.
But orders are orders and this unit will comply."
TK423 goes over to a data screen to find the fastest way to AbadarCorp. And then he starts searching what type of data sticks AbadarCorp uses and where he might be able to get a copy of one.
The walk to Bluerise Tower doesn't take long, and the directory in the lobby indicates which floor the AbadarCorp Financial Review Department is located on. When the elevator opens, it's clear you've been expected. A brenneri in a loose, brightly-colored short-sleeve shirt and shorts says “Greetings! You must be Arvin’s people from the Society. I’m Bordle. I work here, and the director asked me to meet you and walk you to his office. We have a lot security, but just stick with me, and we’ll have you in and out in no time.”
“First, you’ll have to leave your weapons with security before you can enter the main floor. So follow me. It’s just down this hall. Oh, hey! I can show you the Smoker while we’re here.” As she speaks, Bordle presses her hand to a biometric scanner adjacent to the door on the southeast wall. Instantly, it opens. Beyond is an octagonal chamber 30 feet across with a second door at the far end.
“That’s the Smoker. As far as security systems go, it’s pretty fancy. There are vents in the floor that fill the whole thing with poison gas! Or, at least, that’s what I’ve been told. Never seen it in action, of course. No one would dare to break into this place!”
Continuing the tour, Bordle presses her hand to a biometric scanner next to the eastern door, which opens for her. “The doors are all keyed to employees,” she says. “And of course some areas require special clearance. But I can get us to security.” She leads you down a hallway through an area filled with cubicles. Inside most of them, a single individual is working, their screens filled with spreadsheets and analytical tools. The carpet is a geometric pattern incorporating the key symbol of Abadar, and a suit of golden armor on a display stand bears Abadar’s symbol prominently on its chest.
As she walks, Bordle gestures to the ceiling, where small hemispherical devices can occasionally be seen. “Motion sensors,” she says. “All tied into Argent, our security AI. Hey Argent!” Bordle waves to the nearest motion sensor. There is no response, but Bordle doesn’t seem to have expected one, and she weaves around the cubicles until she reaches a door at the far end of the hall.
During the walk to AbadarCorp. TK423 stop at a shop for a data chip that is a match for ones that are used by AbadarCorp. He then down loads re-runs of "Live Exploration Extreme!" and some tunes from the band "Abysshead".
TK423 hands over his weapons but tucks the data chip in his internal quick-release sheath.
"Is this a sensitive area to have such security? Or does AbadarCorp have security breaches often? Just trying to understand why the amount of security. And has anyone breached the security before?
During an emergency how would one get past the "smoker" It would be bad if it started to poison gas their own people who are just trying to get out of the building."
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"First, you’ll have to leave your weapons with security before you can enter the main floor."
Unease spikes within Twila-4. It's been so long since she's had to go weaponless. She begins mentally assessing her odds of hiding a weapon on her body. She's good...but is she good enough to fool Abadar Corp? <sigh> Probably not. (Yet, anyway.)
Why show us their security features? What *isn't* she showing us? <sigh> *That* stuff is probably worse. Twila-4 isn't quite familiar with the motion sensor system, but nods appreciatively as George identifies it. He seems to know his stuff.
One thing nags at her: If they were expected, surely Ebaki could've come to meet them. Why drag them through all this security? <sigh> Must be too high up the ladder for something that practical. Ugh.
Bordle waves off the various attempts to check your weapons with her. "Don't give them to me, sillies! We'll be at Sassanda in a moment." She listens to TK423's questions and replies. "Security breaches? Never! But if you have great security, you don't need it. Am I right? And don't worry about The Smoker. Argent would only activate it if there were intruders, not if an evacuation were called for."
Bordle leads you to a heavy security door. She presses a button by the biometric lock panel and, a moment later, the door unlocks and she ushers you inside. Beyond the door is a simple square room twenty feet on each side. A door leads out to the south, and a large metal locker fills the northeast corner of the room.
A kasatha in a black suit sits at a desk, but rises as everyone enters. “Hello,” they say, their voice muffled by their traditional mask. “You can place all your weapons in this locker. They will be safe here for the duration of your visit.” The kasatha presses one of their hands to a biometric lock on the locker, which opens. After waiting for everyone to place weapons in the locker, the kasatha then picks up a wand-shaped device from the desk and prepares to run it over each of you.
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George crosses his arms waiting for the others to deposit their arsenals in their appointed lockers. He is more than willing to allow the security people to scan him as he is carrying no weapons at all.
@GM Jhaeman - Just a note that the life support unit in George's Graphite Carbon Skin armor has been running since the party entered the building. He has a three day supply before recharging and he paid full price for the armor so he might as well use it. Android or not. :)
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Now that it comes right down to it, Twila-4's paranoia overrides her earlier caution. She just plain doesn't want to go in without her weapons. When it's her turn, she places her tactical baton, survival knife, and her brand new static arc pistol into the vault. Her old azimuth laser pistol was already packed away in a difficult to reach spot, kept as a backup but not intended to be used. She could easily claim she had forgotten about it. When it's her turn to be scanned, she tries to inconspicuously angle her body slightly so the scanner misses that little spot on her person.
As she does so, she rehearses in her head what she'll say if she gets caught. "What? What's in there? Oh! Sorry, I thought I'd taken that out yesterday. I didn't realize it was still in here." And then I'll put it in the vault or surrender it without hassle. They may not like it, but I'll end up complying if they catch me. What can they do? Besides treat me as a threat and undermine this whole mission. What'll they do to the others if they suspect me? Unease takes hold, a feeling of vertigo in the pit of her torso. She already regrets her decision, though she maintains an emotional facade of boredom.
After weapons are placed in the locker, the kasatha waves the wand over everyone. It beeps and flashes when they wave it over Twila-4. "You need to surrender your weaponry," the kasatha says. "Or you will not be permitted entry and will be escorted back to the elevator."
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"You need to surrender your weaponry," the kasatha says. "Or you will not be permitted entry and will be escorted back to the elevator."
Crap. <sigh> "What? What's in there?" Twila-4 begins speaking her rehearsed lines as she shrugs off her backpack and digs down to the bottom, revealing her old pistol. "Oh! Sorry, I thought I'd taken that out yesterday. I didn't realize it was still in here." She places it in the vault and submits her pack for a second check.
The kasatha places the pistol in the locker, waves the wand, and nods.
"You may proceed, they say.
Bordle moves to the southern door and waits for the kasatha to open the door by pressing a button on the desk computer. Once the door swings open, she leads the way through the door, into a very large workspace filled with cubicles. The ceiling is 12 feet high, and the floor is covered in the same Abadar-themed carpeting as before. Dozens of cubicles fill the space, with AbadarCorp employees working at most of them, crouched over computer terminals.
“This way,” she says, waving a hand as she begins to walk south, between two rows of cubicles.
Bordle leads the way south, passing another suit of golden armor resting on an ornate stand. “Hey Becky,” she says, waving to the armor as if it were alive. “I named all the Abadarmors.” As Bordle speaks, she gestures to each wall of the work area, where more suits of armor are on display. Each one is decorated with Abadar stylings, including a golden crossbolter weapon attached to the arm. “This one’s Becky,” she says, “and the others, they’re Almond, Carnation, and Denty.” Bordle leans in confidentially, her voice lowering to a mutter. “I named him that because he has a dent in his head. He’s a little sensitive, so try not to stare. But I tell him it doesn’t matter.”
“But let’s go. The director is probably wondering if you all died in the Smoker or something.” About fifty feet to the southwest is a door, and Bordle approaches it before pushing a button on the biometric lock.
A voice comes from the lock. “Yes?”
“It’s Bordle, mister director, sir. I have our guests from the Starfinder Society.”
The door unlocks and opens, and a voice from inside the room says, “Please come in.”
“Take care!” Bordle says, waving as she wanders west. “I’m gonna check in on the secret lab.” As she says the words 'secret lab', she draws quotation marks in the air. “Those people could probably use a break.”
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Bordle leads the way south, passing another suit of golden armor resting on an ornate stand. “Hey Becky,” she says, waving to the armor as if it were alive. “I named all the Abadarmors.” As Bordle speaks, she gestures to each wall of the work area, where more suits of armor are on display. Each one is decorated with Abadar stylings, including a golden crossbolter weapon attached to the arm. “This one’s Becky,” she says, “and the others, they’re Almond, Carnation, and Denty.” Bordle leans in confidentially, her voice lowering to a mutter. “I named him that because he has a dent in his head. He’s a little sensitive, so try not to stare. But I tell him it doesn’t matter.”
Nonplussed, Twila-4 inquires: "So...are they just for decoration? Or are they security measures, too."
“Please come in.”
With a shrug, she gestures to the others to go first.
Bordle responds to Twila's question about the armors before she departs. Oh, that's a good question! To be honest, I'm not really sure. I've never seen them move, but I guess you never know . . ."
Director Ebaki’s office is spacious and well-furnished, including a broad and handsome wooden desk and comfortable chair, a table in one corner surrounded by a few chairs for more casual conversation, and even a fully-stocked bar along the northern wall. A side door also leads north and a large handwoven carpet in bold geometric pattern fills the center of the room. A transparent aluminium bulkhead gives an impressive view of the Armada outside Absalom Station and the countless stars beyond.
The man seated behind the desk looks up and says, “You must be the people Arvin sent. I’m the person who sent for you. Before we proceed, I'll need you to confirm your identity as authorised representatives of the Starfinder Society.”
Seeing George's glowing symbol of the Starfinder Society, Director Ebaki withdraws a small datastick out of his desk drawer and hands it to him. “This needs to go to the Lorespire Complex. Arvin will know what to do with it.” His gaze then returns to the computer screen and he begins to type, resuming his work.
But suddenly, without warning, the lights in the office go out and Ebaki’s computer dies, filling the room in complete darkness save for starlight beyond the external window. The sound of several small explosions can be heard from the main work area, through the sealed door. Screams of pain and terror follow, only to be cut short.
The distant noise of something large and heavy grinding to a halt, like a closing blast door, resounds from beyond the office. Ebaki panics behind his desk: “What was that? What’s happening? Oh no . . . it’s the information on that datastick! They’ve come for it! They’re going to kill us all!”
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George secures the data stick. His eyes automatically adjust to the darkness.
"Keep calm everyone. There is a fully stocked bar remember? There will be bottles there you can use as weapons and more than likely a knife or two to cut up fruit that are used in mixed drinks."
"We need to get out of this room as soon as we can. They will leave the director alone once they realise that we have what they are looking for."
Director Ebaki frantically crawls under his desk and cradles his head in his arms--in this state, he's not going to be of much use!
A search of the room turns up little of interest. There's a small alcove containing a private bathroom. The bar is stocked with a wide assortment of alcoholic beverages, ice, and glasses. Ebaki's computer looks fairly basic.
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"<sigh>" Marching over to Ebaki, Twila-4 crouches to speak to him. "Ebaki. We're trained professionals, and we were expecting an attack like this. We are fully capable of keeping you safe." She knows that's an exaggeration of the truth, but if he feels safe or brave enough to help them it might end up being true enough.