GM Zoomba's Battle for the Beacon (Inactive)

Game Master Zoomba

Gameplay thread

Dot

A rainbow haired halfling waits outside for the briefing, clearly excited about the trip. She had already heard about the vanishing beacons ((having played the prequel)) and was really curious about what was going on.

I wonder what I'll get to fly this time. she says to noone in particular. Be neat if it's a Pegasus although, I'd like to try out one of those new Azatas I've heard about. Anything has to be more nippy than a Drake

A sweaty human in a slightly too-tight "SMC- #1 fan!" t-shirt hurtles into the briefing room.

"Sorry boss. Just got the message and my last gig ran overtime!" she pants as she quickly eyes up an empty chair and launches herself into it. Mid air she hears mention of different star ships, twists and lands in a chair next to Rani.

"I've not heard anything about the Azata. But give me a Pegasus over those boring Drakes any day of the week. Honestly, flying one of those is like driving a buss full of yoski pre-schoolers."

She settles down quickly to have a girl-chat about different ship configurations, glad to see she has a kindred soul on the team.

Rani is wearing shorts and a Cirque d'Absalom t'shirt which had been customised to show Rani wrapped up in rope suspended over a body of water and the caption "I can get out of anything ...... except chores". She gives Gunnz an appraising look as she hurtles in.

Tell me about it she replies. It's much easier to stunt fly the Pegasus. Heck. I managed to drift one once. Drake maneuvres like a brick. But .... most of the teams I've been on are gun nuts

She then pauses. So ... I take it from that we're going to be competing for the pilot seat? How about a friendly challenge? The one who can stay underwater the longest gets to fly. I bet you'd look great in a swimsuit. Besides you're bound to win. Your lung volume must be a lot bigger than mine.

She gives a sly grin as she speaks.

Gunnz eyes the little halfling up warily.

"How about a dance off?" she counter-offers.

"See, I've heard about augs that let you stay underwater for hours... Actually I was on this mission once with an underwater dancer. She had the sweetest moves. I always feel ungainly when I'm swimming, that water pressing in all around. And even SMC doesn't sound that great with your head under. "

Rani grins back. Yeah, you're right. I don't have gills, that'll be cheating in my escape acts She then sighs. Still I ended up getting an aug so I could stay underwater as long as my brenneri girlfriend. Nearly half an hour now. So, I'm not sure I'm gonna be doing any more underwater escapes when news of that gets out. Besides, who'd want to watch an escape that takes that long. Still, we have a lot of fun underwater *wink*

Oh I'd love to see that underwater dancer in action. Maybe I should learn to do that now. I got a few moves I use in the circus sooooo ... and I sorta disagree. You might have to adjust your audio gear a bit but SMC does sound pretty good with the right tweaks.

Ungainly? Wanna pop by our place sometime? Me and Bordle could show you a few moves.

She then grinned. Ever taken the pilot's seat while just in a bikini? I did once. We had this captain who was convinced Pact World Spaceforce regulations applied to us Starfinders so most of us were bending those rules for laughs. For instance he calls me up to the bridge, immediately. So I did. He wants to know why I'm out of uniform. So I made up a regulation that said that any aquatic could wear one if they chose - and he believed me. *smirk*

What about you? You get up to mischief on the flight deck? Or stunt fly whenever possible?

"Well..." says Gunnz, offering a suriptious look around the room.

"I have a friend who does engine augs, right..." she grins.

"And we were flying a pegasus so I got them souped up and we were flying along well into the red zone. Then, you know that overload capacitor under the dashboard, the one that blows if you push the engines too far. Turns out that you can bypass it...

base speed 10, +2 from engines, for 12, engineer diverted power to engines for +2 and sky jockey for final +1 to speed 15. I think that was before she could get the full power stunt, so these days would be able to boost it by another 6 up to 21!!!

"Let me tell you, the entire crew was barfing and I had bruising from the restraints for a week afterward. But see, I was talking with this engineer in a pub the other week, and he told me that in theory there is a testing circuit that completely avoids all the fail-safe's. Supposed to be only used for in-cradle engine testing, but..."

She grins evilly. "Next time the sticky stuff hits the fan, I know what I'm going to be trying."

Rani giggles at that story. Oh that sounds so cool. And no, I didn't know about bypassing the overload capacitor. I'll have to remember that. But the poor Spitfire. I mean I'm sure I turned that Pegasus so tight once that we did the spacial equivalent of a powerslide. Nearly popped some of the hull plating. Any tighter and we'd be making doughnuts in space. That ship needed a complete overhaul after the abuse we gave it.

This friend of yours .... wouldn't happen to be a skittermander would it?

She ponders a bit. Wow, think of the turns I could pull off if it was possible to flood the bridge with water. Wonder if I can get hold of a Kalo ship?

Colthan is an android that looks like an average unattractive human. He would have arrived early and merely nods to the new arrivals at first.

At Rani's comment about ships "I agree, Until we get ships that combine both superior speed and firepower I prefer the Pegasus."

He stands by amused at all the banter.

"Everything is for sale if you have the credits. Even a Kalo ship. You just have to find the right seller."

In walks a large female Vesk, a little over 7' tall. Her green scales turn to brighter purples and blues from the small crest atop her head down to her tail. She is wearing heavy armor, carrying a large Doshko and has a few other weapons about her. She also has a symbol of Desna hanging around her neck.

She looks across the room and grins. "Rani? Gunnz! Good to see you again!" He looks at Colthan as well. "You also look familiar."

"It is good to see you all. Maybe this time we won't be jumping out of a perfectly good star ship. "

Rani, who is also wearing a symbol of the Black Butterfly, leaps out of her chair and gives Yith a hug.

Yeah ... Skydiving .... She looks a bit embarrassed. Not my finest moment ... no

To Colthan she says. Well I was more thinking on flying one than buying one

She then looks at her fellow pilot. Gunnz huh? Sure you wouldn't be happier in the gunner's seat? Say Yith ... you seem to know her. Maybe you can help settle an argument ... before it starts, or we might have to resort to 'rock paper scissors'. Mind you .... the dance off could be fun.

Yith smiles and remembers not to hug Rani too hard.
"Oh, personally, I want to see this dance off. Gunnz is a good pilot but some might call him a bit, er, eccentric."

Rani just grins. It's a pity you never really got the chance to see what I could do with a starship She giggles afterwards.

"Eccentric?" huffs Gunnz as she puffs out her chest.

"Exotic? Perhaps. Erratic? For sure! But Eccentric... that is a first."

She leans closer to Rani for a moment. "Of course, what most people think I am is *fast*"

She shakes out her hair, sending droplets of what you hope is clean shower water everywhere.

"Dance off!" Clicking the ever present (and SMC branded) music-pod at her waist, the oh so sweet sounds of Strawberry Machine Cake echo through the room, and she starts to Strut Her Stuff (tm).

dancing: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17

Only to all but trip over an office chair. She tries to recover, drawing Yith into an intricate set of shuffles and wiggles.

Once Gunnz has finished and Rani recovers from yet another giggle fit, she too attempts to dance, after takimg off her t-shirt to reveal a bikini top, but it's rapidly obvious that the poor halfling needs lessons as the dance degenerates into a rather showy acrobatic display.

dance? more like rhymic gymnastics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

You win she says when she finishes her gymnastic display But it was SO worth it for the laughs. Tell you what, you teach me to dance properly and I'll show you some really neat underwater tricks. Deal?

She offers a hand for Gunnz to shake with a smile.

I guess I'd better learn how the ship's weapons work

"Sounds like a deal to me." says Gunnz as she admires Rani's physique.

"Although, to be fair, I think you won the dancing. Whoever said 'use a chair as a partner' really never tried it."

She adds a broad grin...

"But you know, if you want to fire the guns, I'm more than happy to pilot..."

As Gunnz pulls her in, Yith tries to keep pace...
acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

She somehow manages to not quite step on her toes...

That was a close one there Yith. If we all stop trying to impress everyone, we do better.

Well ... technically, I'm not sure what I was doing was actually dancing ... but ... you should see me doing aerial silks ... now that's dancing.

She pauses for a bit. Anyway ... weren't we suppose to be here for a briefing?

Well ... technically, I'm not sure what I was doing was actually dancing ... but ... you should see me doing aerial silks ... now that's dancing.

She pauses for a bit. Anyway ... weren't we suppose to be here for a briefing?

Colthan grins at the spectacle.

"Maybe they are late."

Yith gives Z Data Z a friendly laugh.
"I wasn't trying to impress. I was trying not to stomp on Rani! Now, as for the briefing, I think we are waiting to see if more join us.""

I don't think you could even do that if you tried Yith. I'm really really good at dodging.

Yith laughs again. "Hah! True. I've seen that. I however, am not... I thought our last escapade was going to end badly for us..."

Rani nearly visibly droops when Yith mentions that. It was one of the few times that she had actually felt the possibility of not coming out of the situation alive and with no hope of recovery. Even her death defying escapes had some procedures for emergencies but ... this didn't.

So did I she said sadly. It's .... sort of another reason I'm considering quitting the escape acts. I .... might have lost my spark

There ... I said it ... now I have to deal with it

She slumps down in the chair

As the five of you wait in varying styles of chairs outside of one of the Lorespire Complex's many briefing rooms, the door to the chamber beyond opens abruptly and a tall and narrow-framed SRO strides through it. Their metallic form is painted with red and blue hihglights, and their three eyes each glow a bright color as they stop the door from opening too widely to slam into Rani's chair.

Oh, I am soooooo sorry about that. They say to the gnome. I didn't realize there were people waiting out here. Well, I suppose I could have assumed. The Starfinders have so many agents and things are moving quickly. Always something to do I suppose. I haven't even had the chance to meet most of you yet. Well, I mean us yet. Starfinders I mean. There's a lot of us now. And so many types! Just yesterday I saw a Spathinae who said they were undergoing their commencement! I thought they might be a nano-tech figure at first, but they're actually --

MAKEPEACE!!! a curt and annoyed voice calls out from the meeting room the SRO has just left. Can you please let the agents waiting come in for their own briefing? The assignment is a bit time-sensitive.

Oh! sorry, so so sorry! the SRO turns back and says, hands raised in apology. They looks at the five of you to briefly add. Sorry. Didn't mean to keep you longer. Maybe we'll see each other around! before hurrying down the hallway.

Rising and looking through the doorway, each of you can see a bleaching gnome standing at the head of an ornate conference table - Venture Captain Naiaj. The VC bears her standard stern expression as she looks through the doorway back at you, then nods to the seats encircling the table withing the briefing room. Apologies: Makepeace is a competent mage, but a bit...talkative. Well, come in. We have a multi-pronged mission to brief you on and we have limited time before launch-hour.

Colthan nods to Makepeace then enters the room and sits down.

Gunnz can't help but goggle at the SRO. "Wow, I'd heard there were a few in the society, but I've not met one before." she says. "Cool name though."
She bounces into a briefing room and balances on the back of a chair.

"What's up, boss?"

Rani perks up again.

Yeah. My brennari girlfried is due to have her commencement ceremony in a couple of weeks. Hope I'm back in time for that.

She strides in, following Gunnz, but pales when she sees Naiaj as she's only wearing a pair of shorts and a bikini top. She tries to conceal that fact from Naiaj with her t-shirt before finding a chair at the table.

Ooops

She also quickly looks up Spathinae on the infosphere.

Naiaj waits silently for each of you to file in and take a seat before clearing her throat and beginning.

Today, we are launcing two missions to investigate the continued malfunction of many Drift beacons in the Vast. I believe your counterparts are boarding the Master of Stars for their own briefing as we speak. You five get me.

As you know, for the past few months, Drift beacons have been going dark throughout the Vast. In effect, this is rapidly reducing the size of the traversable universe. As Starfinders, the Forum and First Seeker feel it is amongst our duties to protect these beacons, as they represent new roads to travel and new knowledge to unearth.

Naiaj waves, and a projection appears on her desk: a sector of space, long stretches of the unexplored Vast dotted with small settlements, and in the center, a red dot that indicates a Drift beacon. We've detected another Drift Beacon that may be on the verge of vanishing like the others. This Beacon has been operating sporadically for several weeks — shutting down, then becoming targetable again for a short time before winking out entirely. The fact it hasn't yet gone fully dark has led us to determine that it’s a good candidate for investigation. This mission also presents an opportunity for a test flight of sorts: the Beacon's signal is so sporadic that it seems only the navigational gear on our newest model of starships, the Azata's, are able to consistently track and navigate towards it.

The Venture captain looks at each of you. We’ll be issuing you an Azata for this investigation. Your task is to navigate to the beacon, investigate the cause of its malfunctions, and repair it, if possible. Once you’ve returned, we’ll compare the results of your mission with the results of your sister mission and see what we can learn about why these beacons are shutting down.

Understand?

"Alright! The Azata! I've never flown one of them.." smiles Gunnz.

Then rolls her eyes to Rani. "Maybe we can take turns..."

She turns back to Naiaj, a smile of sweetness on her face. "And not a lick of paint missing from the ship. Get out there, fix the beacon, give the Azata a bit of a practice run."

Yith quietly enters the room and finds a seat. She listens attentively to the briefing.

"It sounds like we are headed into an entirely unknown situation. I think this group can handle it."

As Naiaj speaks Colthan pulls out his com unit and a couple of chips. His fingers blur as he pulls up news and specs regarding drift beacons.

Take 10 on Computers Engineering and using a library chip for a total of 28 and 32. Unless the news is Culture in which case I'll have to roll.

possible culture check for news on beacons including Library Chip: 1d20 + 18 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 18 + 4 = 23

He then looks at the specs for the Azata and nods his head. "Nice, nice, very nice... Wait..."

"I can't help but notice the Acata is a lacking in weapons compared to our usual ships. Will we have a military escort?"

Understood, thanks.

Naiaj frowns a bit (more) as Colthan starts surfing the infosphere in the middle of the meeting, but answers the android anyways:

No escort on this one. The Society is spread a bit thin at the moment with Ehu Hadif’s greenlighting of so many exploratory missions. There’s a contingent of agents who have been recently wrapping up several delves in Veskarium space, but many haven’t yet gotten back to the Pact Worlds and fully debriefed. As for the combat ships we do have on-station…

The gnome taps her own datapad and the projected image zooms out to highlight another point in space far away from your own destination. I mentioned this is part of a multi-prong operation. The other, larger, component is being helmed by Zigvigix and Fitch directly. They are taking a force to Siygess-4; a system that hosts a Pact Worlds settlement known as New Hope. The Drift Beacon around there has also gone dark, fully offline, and no communications from New Hope have come in recently. As a result, their operation is a bit more exploratory in the dark and could potentially involve rescue operations. Your mission should be a more straight-forward investigation and repair.*****

Looking back, Naiaj does add: That said, while the Azata frame’s core tech is what’s letting us still get a fix on you Beacon, if you have some more cannons that can be easily fitted onto it be my guest.

Colthan’s own research as Naiaj explains the situation, does back up the fact that Drift Beacons are the navigational lodestones through which Drift travel is possible. Strategically placed throughout space by priests of Triune — or spontaneously generated through the god’s power over the Drift — Drift beacons are both temples and targets that navigational computers can use to make precise jumps through space. It is only through Drift beacons that practical interstellar travel is possible. As a result, they are the lifeblood of many outlying settlements, with colonies and settlements frequently built near those Beacons and in turn often needing the transport possibilities ta Beacon provides in order to survive and secure necessary materials.

***This briefing takes place BEFORE the events of mission 3-22 and 4-01 – classic comics-equese Ed. Note!

"No fancy cannons here but if my teammates have any I can help install them. Have the Triune worshipers been notified? Maybe their boss is cranky and taking the toys away."

Colthan offers to send his findings to anyone in the room who wants them then puts his gear away.

"I'll do more in-depth research later if there is time. For now the mission seems simple enough."

And given Rani's last mission was 3-22 .... yeah

Rani is busy making notes on her own datapad. I suppose if worse comes to the worse, we could always navigate by pulsars she comments. Although I'm not sure if a complete survey of those has been done

She then looks over to Gunnz and smiles. Of course we're taking turns. Wouldn't have it any other way. Not flown an Azata before either, except briefly in simms. Been hoping to get my hands on a real one. They might even have more manoeuvrability than the Pegasus as I believe they're lighter. Could be wrong though, haven't read up on it's specs yet. To be honest, I was curious to find out what you can do with it.

Of course her t-shirt has fallen on her lap by now as she looks over to Naiaj.

Is this beacon in a solar system? And I presume we'll be getting it's signature. And, have any of it's nearby beacons gone out?

She also asks Colthan for a copy of his file

And given Rani's last mission was 3-22 .... yeah

As coincidentally was the character I played this with

Is this beacon in a solar system? And I presume we'll be getting it's signature. And, have any of it's nearby beacons gone out?

Naiaj looks down at her notes at the halfling's question. 'Nearby' is a relative term when dealing with Drift Beacons. A system 4 light-years away in the Material Plane can be considered practically next-door if the right set of Beacons line up. I'm not certain how 'close' your blinking one is to others which have gone dark but ah! The gnome gives a tight smile as she finds what she was looking for. I'm not seeing any heavily populated worlds in the system this beacon is recorded in, but there are a few mining sites nearby. The largest, if you can call it 'large' is called Dyu-Taras - mostly seems to mine iron, tin, and small amounts of noqual.

She looks back up at Rani. You see what I mean? there are populated and lush systems that are weeks away from their nearest Drift Beacon. And then Beacons like this in a place with no apparent reason or value.

Have the Triune worshipers been notified? Maybe their boss is cranky and taking the toys away."

The Triunites as best we can tell are aware of the recent and growing disappearance of these Drift Beacons. Naiaj lets Colthan know. What they are doing about it is a bit unclear. Some worshipers of that God believe Beacons are a form of temple to Triune, but others treat it as more of a beneficial gift to the rest of the cosmos. We've given Absalom's Station's clergy a heads up of what you're doing here, but I have no idea how much they may pass that information on. The whole church has been silent on the whole issue so far - to outsiders at least.

I guess it makes sense to someone ... Triune most likely. I've never really looked into Drift Beacon placement before but, to be honest, now I'm getting curious. Maybe it's related to the Drift itself, not normal space.

Anyyyyyway. The reason why I asked that is, when I first found out about this, I was wondering if some race like the jinsuls were knocking out our beacons and replacing them with their own for some nefarious reasons. Which means they'd be spreading out from their home system.

She shrugs. It's a theory anyway.

Gunnz shudders... kind of like she does when she watches a Horror show. OR when there are especially grubby punters on the floor.

"We don't want anything like that. Jinsuls were gross enough, but at least they didn't take out beacons. Though now I wonder... how did they do their own jumps - presumably they don't have drift beacons."

The way I understand it. Triune enabled the Drift Beacons to be used by all entities that know how to use them. Presumably the Jinsuls used them too. She ponders a bit. Yeah, the more I think about it, I might be thinking way off in left field or something.

At the mention of Jinsuls Yith gives a low growl.
"If there is a more offensive species than the Jinsuls, I have not found it yet."

Agreed Naiaj says. Luckily, while we know the jinsuls are still out there, we have not heard any major sightings of them near the since-vanished Drift Beacons. Nor do the spread of the vanishing beacons seem concentrated around those near either the Scoured Stars or Rax.

Still, we can't rule anything out. We don't know the cause of this Beacon's malfunction, much less the others', so you be ready to defend yourselves. If some one or something - jinsul or otherwise - is actively interfering with it troubleshooting might be as easy as pacifying or defeating them. If that’s not the case, you’ll need to enter the maintenance deck and run diagnostics on the beacon’s internal computers. I trust you will be up for the task.

Any more questions for Naiaj, or amongst yourselves?

Assuming not-

With no further questions, Naiaj dismisses you, with a final request to report back to her when you return on your findings and a update on the Beacon's current status. The launchpad she directs you too is located in one of the Starfinder Society's several hangers, where you see many other teams of agents moving about as they prepare for their own excursion. As you board the Azata waiting for you, Rani even thinks she notices an oddly familiar flash of multicolored hair moving low amongst the other agents, but then the sight is lost in the throng...

True to Naiaj's description, the Drift Beacon marking your destination seems to flicker in and out of the ship's sensors as you begin booting up the engine and preparing to launch. Still, the Azata's computers keep a firm lock at the coordinates at all time, even when the blip vanishes from the basic sensors. You are able to make your last preparations and board the tight but comfortable vessel before heading out on what is expected to be a potential weeks-long journey. Luckily Naiaj does seem to have outfitted the ship with a sizable array of vidgames and library of digital books for your amusement along the way.

Heading out to the Vast like this is going to take some time. What are each of you doing as you spend days to weeks moving through the Drift?

Well, Gunnz is going to spend at least half her waking time trying out the pilots chair. Adjusting settings, moving the seat forward and back. Getting the monitor tilt 'just right'. Oh, and at least once a day ensuring everyone stays on their toes with "emergency avoidance maneuver drills".

The rest of the time, well she is keen on education. In particular ensuring that everyone is very well educated on the latest and greatest hits from SMC.

She dances, she gyrates. And (horror or horrors) sometimes she sings. Really, those who have flown with her before know to prefer experiencing her high-G in-combat evasion techniques without doing up their safety harnesses to her singing. As once mighty vesk (who to preserve his honor will remain nameless) once put it. "I suffered through eighteen months of daily torture from the jinsul. Please send me back there."

The rest of her time she squanders on sleeping and eating. She does pick up a book from the library on the first day and takes careful note of the title, author and the contents of the first two pages, page 17, page 113 and the final two pages so if anyone feels an unfortunate need to discuss it with her in detail she can go on at length about how Sgt. Smith never seems to run out of ammo for his rocket launcher until the plot somehow demands a non-high explosive solution to the current problem he is facing. "And this was written by a Starfinder?" she sighs in exasperation.

Before leaving, Rani had pushed a transparent aluminum tank on board the Azata, which also contained her personal belongings.

On the way out, the tank was filled with water which enabled her to practise her aquatic dance moves as well as relaxing in it. She was actually relieved that Naiaj didn't chew her out for 'inappropriate dress' during the briefing.

She also spends time with Gunnz, practising dance moves, listening to SMC and demonstrating that, with the right adjustments to the audio gear, SMC can sound rather good underwater. She'd also watch Gunnz pilot as well as taking her own turns putting the Azata through it's paces. Of course, if Gunnz, or anyone else, wants to try out her watertank, Rani would help.

She also offers to put on a one halfling show to show off her escape skills for the others on the way out. In her quiet times, she peruses the digital library. Thank goodness her reader is watertight.

Everyday, she calls her girlfriend to see how her preparations for her Starfinder Graduation is going as well as just keeping in touch. On occasions the conversation gets a bit 'saucy'.

Afraid so she replies Sometimes sensibility gets thrown out the window when it comes to those types of novels, especially if it screws up the plot

Still haven't decided what class to make the Brennari yet

Colthan makes sure the ship is outfitted with any extras before we leave. While that is going on he spends time doing more research.

Take 20 on Beacons, Triune, The Azata, and any other topic his allies can suggest. With the library chip that is a 40+ During the trip he socializes a bit but mostly stays to himself. However after his first stint as pilot the computer has an option to play a new pilot simulation game. It is pretty basic at first but over the days and weeks it grows more complex and starts including races some of you have never heard of.

"I made something to pass the time. Feel free to give it a try."

It tracks scores and Colthan's are often near the top.

He does try to participate in the dancing a couple of times.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34

He has talent but lacks the skills.

Data is taking a nap most of the time, he might look out the window every now and then for stars. Attention crew members, feel free to talk to me when you get bored. And he hides his own boredom.

Yith, being a pilot but not in the same league as either Gunnz or Rani, still has to try the seat a few times. She might leave it up high and pretty far back on purpose a time or two, walking away with a big smile on her face.

Much of her time is spent studying texts, meditating or reading in general. She will be happy to assist in any repairs or maintenance on the ship and to help out with any daily chores.

She does try her best to join in the dances occasionally.
acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
And seems to possibly be learning a few new steps!

She is also happy to check out the water tank. Yith turns out to be surprisingly agile under water.

Pleased with the crew getting into team dancing, Gunnz is happy to try some of their favorite activities. In particular she likes the water pod, "Though to be honest, it does feel a little claustrophobic in there sometimes.." she adds is an unusually subtle voice.

"Come on Data.. team spirit and all. Think of it as getting the team working together as a single unit. Very efficient use of time."