[SFS_Aerondor] 04-04 Mission Not Found (level 5-6) (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

“I rely on logic and facts whenever I can,” Celita says. After a pause to collect her thoughts, she continues. “However, in our current situation, there aren’t enough apparent facts, so intuition will have to suffice.”

Daata nods silently, sharing Celita's efficiency.

Until we can gather more facts... that is! Sefel pipes up.

“I rely on logic and facts whenever I can,” Celita says. After a pause to collect her thoughts, she continues. “However, in our current situation, there aren’t enough apparent facts, so intuition will have to suffice.”

“Over the past few years, a hacker has reached out to Society members several times with anonymous messages. At first, I ignored them, but now the system-wide Data Scourge attacks have made us vulnerable. The situation is so dire that Guidance shut down to prevent contamination.” Celita rifles through the dossier in front of her, looking over printed screenshots and transcripts of past communications.

“These messages include offers to help, but no one has been able to identify their source. I’ve tried unscrambling the voice modifications, cross-referencing metadata, and even analyzing speech patterns. I don’t have concrete evidence at this point, but my intuition is this hacker is one of my old classmates.”

She leans over to the cassette player and firmly presses a button. With a click, a cassette starts to roll and the image flickers across the projector. A glitched image of the Lorespire Complex crackles across the screen. In the foreground sits a figure with their face replaced with brightly colored pixels. After the sharp scratch of a record needle, the figure speaks.

“Starfinders and other allies, you need aid in these trying times.” The figure’s voice warbles with heavy modulation. “My previous messages were met with questions about my identity. I can tell you no name. Call me Noname if you must have something to call me. My offer stands.”

The cassette turns to static. Celita turns her gaze away from the projection and to the assembled agents. “But I strongly suspect that Noname is my former classmate. I haven’t spoken with her in decades, so I have no idea what she’s like today. Approach with caution, as this may be a trap. However, we desperately need all available aid. Any lead we have is worth checking out."

“Her last known location was on Verces in the city of Cuvacara. I recommend you start there. At that time, she was part of a hacker collective operating out of the Spliced Rig cybercafe. If you’re trying to get the attention of hackers, you’re best off getting their attention with a flashy display of skill. For the worst-case scenario, I’ll send you with a memento from my school days, a code phrase, and some credits to seal the deal,” Celita says as she fishes a pendant on a chain out of her jacket pocket.

“I dislike sending out agents without information, but there’s no other option. Good luck, Starfinders. I trust your judgement.”

Vecro sits on the chair next to Charlie and listed to what Celita is saying.

"Go to Verces and find the hacker without a name. Given that they contacted us, did they share how to reach out? It may not be your former classmate." asks Vecro a tall and athletically build kasatha. His mote of blackness floating above his head as he speaks.

A dwarf with red hair and a neat beard smiles and speaks up, "Oh, hackers ey? My kind o' people. These seem much smarter than yer average ones. Givin' us an analog recording means we canna depixilate tha image and see who is behind it."

A small hover drone silently sitting a foot or so above Freeman's right shoulder gives a quick, almost rude sounding blurt of data noise.

Freeman looks up at it and frowns and then looks back to the briefing.

Chk'tarlsh listens as Celita relates what few details are available. He sits for a moment after she finishes, motionless save for the twitching of his antennae.

Verces. Home. Well, not exactly. He'd grown up in a colony on Fullbright, but he'd never quite fitted in. Employment opportunities soon took him to the Ring where he found better training and regular, if sometimes questionable, work. He'd not expected to return so soon, if at all. There was nothing there for him. Except a lead to an anonymous hacking, it seemed.

He tried to recall what he knew of Cuvacara, the Spliced Rig, and the region.

Culture: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Vecro focuses on the stars and meditates for a moment, then he tries to tell what did he learn from his pilgrimage around various planets. He tries to recall what he learned about Verces and Cuvacara

Culture, sidereal influence: 1d20 + 13 + 1d6 ⇒ (13) + 13 + (5) = 31

The towering izalguun emits a low hum as a suspicious sigh. "This seems like a trap. Any cavalry we can call if things go sideways?"

"A haven of hackers. It sounds as if I might be comfortable here after all."

A lanky android dragonkin walks in late to the briefing, catching the last bit of the discussion. "Your classmate of old, what did they look like then?"

Just then Sefel's datapad goes off like a page. He suddenly looks very embarrassed.

Whoops! I'm not supposed to be here! Wrong briefing... he mutters as he slinks away.

Charles has heard a thing or two about Cuvacara. It is known asthe Dusk Jewel of Verces for the way its' glass skyscrapers reflect the city's perpetual twilight.

The most populous species on Verces is verthani—gangly humanoids that can change their skin pigmentation. Verthani society is traditionally separated into three castes: the Augmented, the Pure Ones and the God-Vessels. Each verthani decides which caste to join during adolescence.

Vecro knows a bit more about them. Cuvacara’s cybernetic augmentation parlors are the best in the Pact Worlds system. Most verthani are highly augmented, but the Pure Ones reject augmentation.

He has heard rumors that the hacktivist group Syzygy recruits new members from Cuvacara. Those looking to catch the group’s attention engage in public displays of their expertise, such as changing bulletin board displays or hacking traffic monitors. The group also dabbles in corporate espionage and members of Syzygy are wanted in Cuvacara for stealing trade secrets.

Celita offers Sefel a wave. "Second door down the hall I think.." To the rest of the group she adds " We were classmates together at the
Cuvacara Institute of Ever-Reaching Mirrors. It seems like lifetimes ago. Back then, I knew her as Keris, but most of Verces’s underground hackers adopt new names. After we graduated, we drifted apart. I haven’t heard from her for a while. When I asked around with the mutual friends we had, no one else had heard much either. She may have joined the hacktivist group Syzygy, but no one knows for sure."

Other questions? A Physical Science check can also tell you more about the planet

Vecro reaches to his bag and takes out the spherical device that he enables

"What can you tell me about Verces planet and its atmosphere?"

Physical science, hireling: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

He waves Sefel goodbye and waits for an answer

"Ah might have some memory O that planet as well. let's see..."
physical science: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
"Wait. Which planet were we talkin' about?"

Ah, the curse hath started early! :) Should have just gone for the auto assist.

"Some more names to use, if nothing else. I am ready to depart when the others are."

Freeman knows that Verces is a tidally locked planet, with one side of the planet always in daylight and one side in darkness. The narrow band between the two hemispheres is known as the Ring of Nations. Nearly all Verces’s population lives within the cities in the Ring.

Vecro's sphere chips at him with additional information:
"Darkside is the nightside half of Verces. The land is an icy sheet, as the rays of the sun never warm it. Fullbright is the daytime side of the planet where deserts bake under the ever-present sun."

"Despite the extreme temperatures, air currents and pressure systems help moderate the weather. Darkside’s temperatures range from just below freezing to extreme cold due to these systems. Fullbright has a similar range of heat."

"Eh, so we should be ready fer possible hot AND cold conditions then. Gotcha."

Daata nods. "Not dissimilar to the home my people abandoned. I think I'm ready."

Any last questions we can retcon

You board a shuttle and set off for Cuvacara's spaceport. The journey is not a long one, and three days later Verces looms into sight.

Through the shuttle’s viewscreen, Verces looms large. Its split hemispheres of deserts and darkness grow closer. The communications channel chimes with an incoming message from the Cuvacara Spaceport Authority. As the message plays, a pleasant but robotic voice says, “Cuvacara Spaceport, contacting you for la–”

The message breaks into static mid-word. As the sound distorts, a klaxon on the shuttle starts blaring. The navigation screens flicker off. When the displays turn back on, the commands are replaced with nonsense strings of numbers, letters and punctation. The unmistakable stench of burning wafts from the engine room.

“Emergency landing protocols initiated,” echoes from the speakers embedded throughout the shuttle. “Follow the safety lights and make your way to the emergency pods.” The lights on the ship dim, leaving only a line of amber safety lights to the bay holding the escape pods. The message repeats as the shuttle begins shutting off all systems except essential life support.

Vecro looks at the alarm and immediately reaches for his mote that begins to spill onto his armor into a constant moving layer of darkness.

"How probable is that it is a hacker attack? We did not hit anything, nor we were attacked by any conventional weapon."

"Given the task...coincidence seems unlikely." N0ble stands, a blue glow starting to form in their throat "It seems we should probably make for the hold."

Freeman looks annoyed when the catastrophe begins. "Pods. Why be it always get in tha pods..." He and drone rush to do so.

Will check later. Pretty sure Freeman had cold weather gear but not sure on the hot weather gear. He'll pick some up if not. Just in case..

Daata takes a deep breath and heads to the pod. He loosens the seatbelts as much as possible, and even then they only barely strap in his giant frame.

The PC has a pod, with a large one having been specially fitted for Daata. Stacked near the pods are three emergency tents, a repair kit and a set of business stationware a an automatic food vendor, and a UPB emergency cred stick. There are also backpacks for everyone.

Those who want to spend some time before heading to your pods, either checking out the computers - computer check, or engine bay -engineering check, let me know. If you want to go straight to the escape pods, just confirm that.

Freeman will head straight to the pod, grabbing gear beside it quickly. He will worry about an engineering or computer check once he and Drone are inside.

The alarm sounding throughout the ship, Chk'tarlsh collects his back pack and duffle bag from the crew quarters. Slinging them over his shoulders, he returns to check his companions have commenced their evacuation.

"It could be a coincccidence," Chk'tarlsh replies over comms, mandibles clacking. "But thish sship at thish time? Not a wager I'd be makinhk."

Should anyone linger to check equipment readouts, etc. Chk'tarlsh will wait with them before making his way to his own pod.

I was hoping that someone would check the computers as my guess is that there is nothing wrong with the ship ;) But Vecro has no skills in computer/engineering ;)

Vecro looks if anyone is willing to check the software and hardware and then heads to the pods.

"...I'll be along shortly." N0ble turns quickly to a terminal and hook their datajack into it.

Computers: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

As Noble looks at the computers to try and work out what is happening, acrid smoke starts to fill the shuttle. He just has time to realize this is the result of another Data Scourge attack that injected code programmed to remove temperature safety checks on the engine.. when he too is forced into an escape pod.

And... eject!

Your pods land in darkness. Luckily in close proximity to each other. Powerful lights turn on and illuminate the area between your vehicles allowing you to see each other and make plans. And boy, is it cold. So Cold.

Those of you with coms units... realise that they are not working.

Daata quickly activates the environmental protections in his armor and deploys his drone. His wide-spectrum ocular implants allow him to take stock of the surrounding heat signatures. "We should get our bearings and head toward the rendezvous on foot."

Well, the emergency pods do have a navigation system built into them that you could possibly scavange, although it weights a bit. There is the other emergency goods (listed above).

Your armour can protect you from the cold... for a bit. Environmental protections are not unlimited though.

After the landing and he makes sure everyone is safe Freeman is seen with two packs. He drops one and heads back into his pod to unpack the other. "Always be prepared!" He comes back a few minutes later kitted out in his cold weather gear.

Vecro leaves the pod and feels the cold hit him. He as well turns on the environmental protection and shifts his solar armor to grant him cold protection. Cold resistance 5.

"I can help and carry some equipment even if it is heavy." says Vecro

"Since there is no sunrise and sunset here, we need to make our own routine of traveling and resting."

N0ble flips his recofig clothing to cold weather and adjusts his armor's EP. "I'll see if the beacons on the pods can tell us where we are."

Engineering or Computers: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 same bonus, wasn't sure which was more appropriate

Along with the cold weather gear Freeman also has a thermal capacitor in his armor, resist 5 cold and fire

Noble tries to get a feel for how far you are... it looks like there is maybe a weeks travel to get to more civilised terrain.

Freeman, thermal capacitors will last as long as your environmental protections still have power.

"Darksside," Chk'tarlsh says, looking out the viewport of the pod.

The shirren tries to contact his companions over comms, but is unable to lock a signal. Activating his environmental protections, he collects his belongings and, releasing the pod door, steps out into the frozen waste.

Chk'tarlsh also has a thermal capacitor armour upgrade.

survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
"Eh. Our armor ain't gonna stay powered long enough ta make it. We're gonna have ta conserve. We can still make it though. If needed mebbe we can figure a way to recharge them from other power sources. I dunno..."

Survival (untrained): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Daata eyes the horizon and the starscape. "We're about a week's walk from civilization, one day shy for my overplate's EP. If we're careful, we can conserve energy by turning them off when resting in shelters during foul weather. I'll cook up a regiment now." He punches some numbers into his custom rig to maximize the efficiency of the group's environmental protections.

Gathering up your equipment, the team heads off, into the darkness.

Can I get a lead survival check, and everyone else can aid if you wish. This is to indicate how successful you are at timing your use of suit environmental protections to the local weather.

If you have magic or tech things that would help with this such as scan envrionment, let me know. Also, can you all confirm the item level for your armour. If you could also each provide me a perception check..

Survival, aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Vecro tries to aid whoever is leading the party. His Vesk Brigadine II 5th lvl armor has an infrared sensor installed since kasatha does not see well in the dark. Sometimes he might use his flashlight, to better see the trail.

"Well, here we go. Not sure if this is better or worse than that Gods Forsaken jungle world I were trapped on... only time will tell."
survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Level 6 heavy armor. Does a hover drone with a camera and enhanced senses help?

Survival (Aid): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

I'm thinking more long range weather prediction stuff rather than short term tactical things here. What level is your armour Freeman five? It looks like nobels is level 4.
Charles survival aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Noble survival aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

The team sets off on the long journey toward the massive circular city that spans the narrow shadow of the tidally locked planet. Days pass. Long, cold days. But the team trudges on.

By day four you come up a steep set of mountains. Getting through them is going to be difficult, and the darkness just makes the gloom worse. The cliff is sheer and coated in ice.

The climb is difficult, somewhere in the 20-29 range. If you have an ability that lets you fly, you can avoid the check. Everyone needs someway to get up though. If you don't want to try the climb, you could try to work your way around which will take longer. In that case, we need more survival checks to see how your environmental systems handle the increased duration they are working. Again, one lead, and as many aids as you can manage.

Yes, it's level 5
Coming upon the mountains Freeman sighs.
"Gonna be tough. I did nay bring a few hundred feet of rope and climbing gear...Nothin' in tha survival gear will help either... Unless anyone kinna climb extremely well and help us all, looks like we're gonna be going tha long way around..."

Charles' armour is level 5, too. Thanks for the Surv roll. I'll add in the Perc now, too.

Chk'tarlsh surveys the barren expanse around them, looking for anything remarkable.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Chk'tarlsh agrees with the Freeman's assessment. "Gonna be a lonkh way either way. Whether up or around."

The shirren surveys the cliff. "I'd take my chance with climbinhk, but even if I made it, I only have 50 feet of alloy cable. Not much help in gettinhk everyone up."

"Unlessh someone hash any better ideas?" he asks the group, mandibles clacking.

Vecro looks at the mountai "I like to climb" he says with a hint of melancholy. He recalls what he knows of Kasatha, the long-deserted planet by most of his people.

"I also have 50 feet of alloy cable. Unless someone has jetpack, or if we could use Daata's drone, we could attach the cable and just climb it. "

Fly 45ft up, attach the cable, climb, fly 45 ft up, attach the cable, climb etc ;) Vecro has +13 Athletics to climb so he can auto-aid Charles

The climb is more than a 45' one.

The climb is more than a 45' one.

Yeah, I would imagine that, but maybe we can deal with it climbing 45 ft at a time ;)