Today’s the day!
The streets and corridors outside of Lorespire Complex on Absalom Station bustle with activity, with many of the passersby being Starfinder Society agents leaving on or returning from missions. It’s a scene that can’t help but inspire excitement and anticipation. Signs direct the way to the assigned meeting room, whose far wall is lined with a bank of gently-humming servers in matte black cases. The building’s temperature control system audibly struggles to keep the room only a degree or two warmer than the hallway outside.
A holographic image of a featureless humanoid form projects from a lens in the server; after a moment, it comes into focus, resembling an avuncular old human man wearing a tan sweater-vest. The hologram smiles gently. “Greetings. I am Guidance, and I will be administering and adjudicating your first mission. Please observe the following image.” The holograms shifts to show a slowly rotating world of various biomes while Guidance continues to speak. “Several weeks ago, the Starfinder Society received an unusual transmission intermingled with our regular communiques. After some examination, we traced it back to this planet in the Vast. The message was garbled and in an unknown language, but our xenolinguists determined it was an advisory warning meant for the world’s inhabitants. We know little else. Your task is to travel to this planet, explore the source of the transmission, and learn all you can.” Guidance shimmers and flickers for a moment then continues. "Do any of you have questions?"
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"What are we flying?" A balding dark-skinned man dressed in an outsized beige overcoat draped over a set of armor modeled after the kasathan hidden soldier style, raises his hand to ask. After a second he adds, "Can we get a copy of the original message and analysis files? Oh, and what did you mean by ajudicate?"
A pulsecaster rifle leans against the tightly packed backpack at his feet.
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A small Ysoki wearing a suit and a bowler hat enters the room. He takes a sit and listens to the briefing analyzing the other agents before the mission
When the time comes he tries to recall what he could have heard about the transmission, but he recalls nothing.
"Hi, I am Saratur pleasure to meet you!"
The Hologram shimmers and forms back into the shape of a man. The gentleman "paces" back and forth across the meeting room, virtual hands clasped behind it's back. The not-a-man stops pacing for a moment and turns. It's holographic head swivels to look in the direction of the speaker. A whirr begins to emanate from the server and Guidance's eyes flicker as a binary sequence of ones and zeros scroll across them when, the pattern stops it responds. "Ah Waverly Sayre, Great questions. As to your third question, in this particular case "Adjudicate" refers to the Starfinder society rating your performance on this particular mission to insure you accurately represent and act in accordance with our values. In this way we can determine the potential merit in a continued relationship with us. To your first, the society has assigned the Wanderstar, a Kevolari Venture, for your use. Please return it in much the same condition as you received it. Starships are a precious resource at the moment."
The hologram shimmers again and a beep emanates from the server. ”I have sent the data to your personal com address. Feel free to examine it at your leisure, just bear in mind our experts have been very thorough.” Guidance turns his holographic gaze to Saratur eyes scrolling binary code. "Hello Saratur, I am glad you are here. Are there any other questions?”
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A tall slender woman, obviously born in low or zero-G, arrives, waving to some people in the corridor behind:
"Oh, yes, many t'anks! See you around, mon!"
A datajack slot in the side of her head, and holstered gun at her hip, she wears clothes that favor purple, like her makeup.
Listening to Guidance, she first bows her head:
"Oye, hullo, me be Belta!"
Then smiles:
"Oh, you mean dah transmission dat appeared mysteriously several weeks back, mingled with dat other, normal message from Society agents in the Vast?
Me hear dat tt was thought at first to be nothing more than interference until a curious data scientist, the planets bless their inquisitive soul, extracted and repaired it.
Dis guy me was just havin' drinks with said that when dah xenolinguists examined the message they determined the message to be a warning meant for local broadcast, much like the warning to mind the edge of the platform when trams arrive at Dockside.
They have yet to fully decipher the language, but discovered other information encoded in the message.
This data suggests that however the warning was broadcast, it was accompanied by a non-auditory component, perhaps a form of sign language or the blinking of lights.
Dat sounds cool to I and I!"
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A short, even for his race, and skinny Ysoki walks in. He is panting a little from the exertion and the warmth. He has brown fur with random patches of white and grey in it. He is wearing light armor, has a rifle across his back and an injector pistol in a holster by his side. He has various test instruments, syringe banks and vials of unknown fluids about him as well.
He sits down, nods at the group. "Greetings. My name is Bonkers."
He then dutifully listens to Guidance and the replies from the team.
He nods at Belta but adds no other information.
Guidance nods after Belta answered Sartur's question for him. "Just so Belta, That was an excellent explanation of the situation. Thank you" The Hologram's eyes scrolled binary once again as it looked at Bonkers. "Welcome Bonkers, Thank you for coming."
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Answering the man in the overcoat:
"We have our vessel, and I imagine all the coordinates for the planet are in here--"
Belta glances at the data that was just shared with all of them.
"--so, we only have to pick up our gear, if need be, join up at the Wanderstar, and... set off. We can prepare for our mission during the trip."
"Very well, If anyone does think of any questions I will remain available over coms." The hologram said as Guidance transmitted his com frequency to each of the gathered Starfinders.
"The Wanderstar is currently berthed at the Meridian Space Dock in the arms district, section 3908 of Absolom Station." Each com unit chips again with receipt of map coordinates. "The Lead mechanic is a Ysoki who goes by the nomenclature Cakes. She has assured the Society that the ship will be ready to depart upon your arrival and is expecting you." Guidance stops pacing and looks at each of the gathered Starfinders. Solemnly he says "On behalf of the Starfinder Society I thank you for your participation in this investigation and may whatever deity you believe in, speed you back."
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"Excellent. I stand ready to traverse now, I was unsure if this mission would require immediate departure or not. Are any of you talented in piloting spacecraft or groundcraft? If not, I can serve as a pilot."
T3Dy waits until everyone else heads out, then takes up the rear of the group moving towards Section 3908.
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The winding outer corridors of Absalom Station bustle with other sentients pursuing their own agendas. Despite the relative crowding the trip to the arms district is quick and uneventful. The party arrives at the described space dock. A large metallic building with gargantuan bay doors. Inside the dock, a flurry of activity assaults the senses in a chaotic dance of efficiency. Uniform clad mechanics pepper the area, climbing over ships of all sizes like ants consuming an apple. The noise of machinery, clanking of metal on metal, and muffled shouts fill the area. A large blast of heat washes in a wave as an engine fires up before coughing once and expiring in a cloud of black smoke much to the chagrin of the mechanics working on it.
”What do you want?” Came a squeaky voice speaking common, from behind the group. ”This is a restricted area, you aren’t supposed to be here.” A female Yoski materializes in front of the group. She is dressed much the same as the other mechanics, in greasy overalls with a I.D. badge with her picture and the name ‘Cakes”. She wears a well used utility belt filled with tools of her trade. A safety helmet with attached goggles is perched under her arm. She waits expectantly for an answer.
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Belta bows deep, and remains bowed for a few seconds:
"Ma'am, we hears you but we believe we might be enter-allowed in your area here. Old man Guidance sent us for the Wanderstar in Meridian Space Dock, a ship taken care of by the great Lead mechanic, the Ysoki who goes by the nomenclature... Cakes?"
Belta then steps back, for T3Dy to speak up-- or anyone who wishes to.
”Oh, yeah the Wanderstar. Slight problem.” The Ysoki pulls a small datapad from a utility pouch, her fingers fly over it efficiently and within seconds the sought after information appears. ”Yeah, that’s what I thought.” she turns her attention back toward the group. ”It’s not done.” Her tone is unapologetic and matter-of-fact. ”It’s been that kind of day. Our first ship this morning blew a power converter and some of my team got injured. Nothing severe, but it left us short several hands and we’re backed up. I know that's not your problem but unfortunately you are just going to have to wait.”
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"As stated, we can assist with the repair work if needed. We were instructed to take the Wanderstar out at the earliest convenience to investigate a site for the Starfinders. If you will direct us to the work zone, I am sure we can facilitate repairs for your crew."
T3Dy addresses Cakes and looks for an obvious repair bay or work area.
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”Can you help? Hmmm, let’s see. the Ysoki consults her data pad yet again, finger flying over it. ”Well that quantum flux drive requires a precise measurement, I better do that myself, Jones and Vegnarthma are appendage deep in de-solidifying the bio organic expulsion extruder I will leave them to it. Ah yes here we go, if they can do this and this. She ticks items off a list. ”Then I can free up beta shift to finish the prep”
With a satisfied look she nods at the party. ”Ok well I have a few things I think you might be able to help me with. The extra hands would be a big help and I would appreciate it.
First the Wanderstar’s engine needs it’s arcane power converters to be realigned. This is pretty easy, only requiring a few minutes of retracing the runes and invoking the correct invocation. Anyone with a fundamental understanding of Mysticism should be able to figure it out easy enough..
Second, the ship’s main computers need an update. My techs haven’t gotten around to it yet. All the software is ready to go, we just need someone to do the actual install.
Also the landing gear gave us a pretty dodgy reading on the last diagnostic, I wouldn’t mind one of you giving it a once over. My Engineering department has all the materials and equipment you may need.
The hull needs a quick patch but I am missing the UPBs. I ordered them already but my supplier can’t deliver them for a few hours. If there is someone Athletic enough to run and pick‘em up, I have a map with a few shortcuts that will make the trip quick.
If some of you can Handle all that we should be able to get the ship ready in less than an hour.
She pauses as if thinking then continues. ”That said, I do have a couple of things that I could use a hand with that aren’t specifically related to the ship. For instance, I could use one of you to speak to Absolom flight control to see if you can sweet talk them into a launch window since we are going to miss the last one. They get cranky about this sort of thing so I would recommend taking as much of a diplomatic approach as you can.
Just then her com chirped a notification. Cakes looks at it and lets out a long sigh. ”Not this grognard again.” She cuts the com without answering. ”Ok look, Captain Thaulm Kindo isn’t happy with me right now. His ship was scheduled to dock earlier today but as with everything else he got pushed, problem is he can’t take a hint and keeps chirping at me thinking it will help. I would REALLY appreciate it if one of you could placate the man. Now I don’t care if you have to Bluff, charm or Intimidate him just as long as he leaves me alone.
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Belta listens, wondering about how useless she is in all this repair business, never was I and I's strong point, this.
But then she hears about the launch window:
"Hey, Cakes, me can go talk to dem officials for you all!"
Belta looks up the location for the Absolom Flight Control offices and follows the directions on her comms unit.
"Oye, oye, hullo you dem fine people! Me be here for dah Wanderstar. We do not knows if you all lot be upset with dah Ysoki named Cakes, who seems to have problems preparing ships in time for dah fine departure times you choose, which we knows is one very hard job that you lot seem to do so well! But seein' as we want to leave in time, we all be workin' hard to meet the scheduled time. Maybe you all can just let the ship slip on out of here, dat way you avoid havin' dat Ysoki come down here an' botherin' you and getting your office dirty with all the grease on its paws? Oh, hey, friend-folk, me be happy to leave a nice five-star report on StarTripAdvisor!"
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"Bonkers, trying to squeeze three into the landing gear bays will have us bumping elbows. You and Teddy look at that while I try the computer update. Give me a call if you run into a problem."
"Cakes, how can I download the ship's new software and system specs and schematics?" Waverly collects the software from Cakes and then slides into the Wanderstar. His footsteps echo in the empty ship as he swings by the crew's quarters to drop off his gear. He keeps his coat on. Toolkits slide into the capacious pockets. He slings his computer, in it's slim soft case, over his shoulder and marches to the bridge.
Once there he sits splay-legged on the floor and pops open some access panels to wire directly into the main computer trunk line. He works carefully probing each wire and comparing voltage and current with expected values. When he's sure he's properly jacked in, he starts the download from his computer.
While he waits for that to complete, he plays minimalist electronic beats that reverberate through the corridors and pulse through the doorway so they can be heard outside. The he amuses himself by dry-running functional checks at each of the main control stations. He plans to run them for real once the ship is on its own power.
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Saratur looks as everyone disappears to do the tasks that they know how to do, leaving the whitchwarper with arcane power converters. The smart dressed Ysoki went to the engine room and looked at the runes, he touched them with his furry fingers
"Ok, Saratur if this team is supposed to watch your back you need to impress them somehow. How hard can it be?"
He tried to analyze the shapes, then looked at the geometry and failed.
He removed his hat and gulchgun from his back. He stood in front of the piece
"Let's have a look at how they do it in another worlds"
He opened a small window into a parallel universe. No, not this, no... no... no....
Tens of images and universes with completely different realities, without the ship altogether... but finally a Mystic and similarly looking runes.
The mystic did a complex gesture with his hands and said in a foreign language
"¿Quién era ese c*** que hizo esto?"
Saratur kept the window opened and repeated the gestures of the hands and repeated the same incantation, to no effect.
Finally he decided to borrow some of the power from that particular universe to fix the power converters.
This time the magic kicked in, the converters started working, but the same time a snowstorm mixed with electric discharge came as well. Everything started to blink and freeze at the same time. Saratur closed the connection to other planes.
His suit was a mess, as was the engine rooms but the converters seemed to be working...
He hoped.
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With a nod of approval from Cakes the team splits up to preform their separate tasks.
Mega Krodog runs out of the hangar and into the busy Absalom street. He looks down at the data pad short cut that was provided by Cakes and begins to hustle following the route as outlined. Everything seems to be going well until the data pad instructs him to enter an alleyway with several large signs stating "Under Construction" Mega Krodog reaches the end of the ally and finds it blocked off by a wall that isn't indicated on the map.
While that is going on Belta contacts the Absalom Station flight control office. It takes several minutes but finally she gets through to a rather cranky sounding female. Belta can tell the Officer isn't too happy but after some expert negotiation on Belta's part the flight officer says "Alright, listen. I juggled a few things around and a made some room for you, I will transmit the time code and coordinates to Cakes and tell her she owes me one.
By now Mega Krodog has decided to backtrack to the street but since the "Short cut" is currently unavailable he sprints the whole way to the pickup taking the long route.
At the same time Bonkers and T3dy get to work on the Landing gear. The Engineering bay is full of top tier equipment as Cakes had said and it doesn't take long for them to get the gears ship shape. A quick diagnostic reveals a clean install and they are ready to go.
Mega Krodog finally arrives at the depot and he is met by an android in a shop uniform. The helpful android takes the order ticket from Mega Krodog and efficiently retrieves the order. Which is far heavier then Cakes had led him to believe. With a sigh Mega Krodog begins the arduous trek of return to the shop with the UPBs.
Waverly enters the cockpit and finds everything he needs to install the necessary updates. "Instruction manual is beside the data pack.Cakes called out in answer to his question. True to her word, Waverly found a data pad with all the instructions laid out step by step. It was a simple matter of following the list one through twenty-seven and before he knew it Waverly was done.
To make matters worse for Mega Krodog when he got about halfway back to Cake's place, he found that the construction area had grown, It was now blocking a whole five block corridor and there was no longer a direct route. With a grunt Mega Krodog gritted his teeth and continued to lug his burden.
Saratur found himself in the engine room tinkering with a small portion of the infinite cosmos. The power ebbed and flowed around him passing from one sci-magic relay to another. The work was precise and difficult but by all appearances seemed to be completed without issue.
When all the work is done everyone gathers around Cakes who seems to be in a much better mood then when you arrived. "Well I never thought it would work but we seemed to have nailed it. I am really grateful you guy saved my tail. Listen I got a couple of last seasons inferred sensor armor upgrades laying around. If any of you are interested It would take a minute to install. "
Around about now Mega Krodog bursts into the door. He is tired and sweaty and slightly out of breath. He deposits the UPBs on the ground in front of Cakes. The Ysoki looks confused for a moment and then says "Oh yeah, forgot about those. I didn't actually need them after all. Thank you though."
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"I could use that upgrade," Waverly replies to Cakes' offer. "I bet Belta could use one too. "
As the team moves onto the ship, Waverly smiles. "That was good work, everyone. Guidance should be pleased that we could depart so soon.
Teddy, I plotted a preliminary course in the nav computer while waiting on the oftware updates. Maybe you can improve on it. "