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* One note about the in-game soundtrack: an apparently recent change in Dropbox has them setting the volume to max when you hit play. I recommend keeping an eye on that so you don't blast your eardrums off! Some of the tracks for this are custom edits or else I'd just use -tube links and the like.
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Sometime in the past day or two, each of you discovered a posting on the Absalom Station infosphere seeking test crews to fly a prototype starship. Answering that call, you all find yourself, not in a majestic starship or exotic locale, but rather...
In the reception area of United Interfaith Engineering, waiting for your hours-long background check to be completed!
Given that you are the only ones here, aside from the receptionist, you have plenty of time to introduce yourselves to each other!
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Using her datapad as a audible (and somewhat visual for Gik-pik) device to get her to United Interfaith Engineering, she finds the door handle and lets herself in.
Walking in the door, an all white vlaka (except for the black nose and the milky blue eyes) walks in with a red and black squox on her shoulder, holding a small datapad and occasionally nuzzling the vlaka's neck. On the other side of the vlaka's head, a white-orange glowing mote hangs over her shoulder.
Doing a quick sniff, and hearing the rececptionist's breathing and heart, the vlaka walks toward the desk.
"Ahh, I am Ivroklizolink, oftentimes called Ivory, and I would like to be a test pilot for your new prototype starship? Oh....ahh, yes, there is 'paperwork' for the background check...well....can you send it to my datapad? It has the braille function."
With that she turns to her right, walks unerring towards a chair. As she sits down, the little squox hops into her lap and hands the datapad to her.
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In a corner of the room where everyone is gathered the air starts to shift and shimmer for a moment and then, with a small pop and a wave of air, an older dwarf appears where there was nothing before. He seems dressed for conflict carrying what looks like the most recent model of plasma bolter but carrying the patina of centuries. He wears a set of clothes that shift slightly in the light, as if turning to best absorb the light in the room, and what looks like a set of second skin armor, but made of parchment with constantly shifting lines of incomprehensible text.
The bald man scans the room through his tiny glasses, frowns, and then sighs. "Still not on target!" He peers off into the middle distance for a moment, fingers twitching slightly, eyes scanning as he seems to stare at... something. [b]"14th day of Desnus, 322 AG... A popular year!
But still significantly off target...."
He pauses his monologue for a second to finally take in the room around him. He spots the other people, giving everyone a judging look for a moment before spotting the United Interfaith Engineering logo and giving a smile. "AH! Right. The UIE." He digs in his pack before pulling out a pass card and stepping up to the receptionist. "Threzlomn Cinderfall, Head Librarian of the Sealed Library Ark of the Committee of the Eternal Quest for the Sky... or at least will be in another 200 years or so. But, more importantly, I also helped with development of your Flout series model about 30 years ago. Still have my security clearance card, if that would work. Just check your systems for me, please?"
After a bit of back and forth, he sits down with the rest of the people here and gives them a small smile, and a puff of a friendly scented pheromone for the blind vlaka when he notices. "You probably heard my introduction there, but it's nice to meet you. So what is a group of battle ready folks like you doing in a UIE facility?"
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Saratur was dancing with great agility and ease in the club. He moved around Kalo dancer, trying to match her speed. His big body and heavy weight did not mean much as swimming was easy for him. He had giant four tusks that have seen some usage in the past.
"I told you, girl, I swam down the great currents. I crossed hundreds of seas and dived the deepest depths. I am Saratur the sailor!"
The girl smiled and moved her wings
"If only half of what you say is true, UIE is looking for brave ones like you, how about you apply?"
Saratur did not like her smile, but he said A so now he needed to say B
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Through the doors enters a Morlamaw, his giant body moved slowly towards the reception.
"I am Saratur, saw your offer, are those other candidates."
Saratur moves slowly towards Ivory and Threzlomn
"Good to see you, name Saratur." says in a low deep voice.
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Imagine a vesk was shrunk down, or could be born diminutive. Wait, better. Imagine there is a vesk miniature for your dashboard, or starship console station. You know with the suction cup on the bottom? It has all of the scales, horns, fangs and other features but you wouldn't put the depicted figure on the front-line of a major space battle.
That's Drek. What you can tell is that he adorned with a number of gadgets that betray his tinkering habits. He was particularly excited by the prospect of being asked to meddle with a test starship.
Approaching the receptionist desks, he announces himself loudly and with juvenile self awareness. I'm Drek! Engineer extraordinaire! If you need an augment implanted I'm your man. Also, I'm here to help with your test starship! Question: when it's over and we've really put it through the ringer can we keep any of its parts?
He then slowly scans the room, starting to notice that others present are likely here for the same purpose.
Hello fellow pilots and starship breakers!
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The receptionist continues to smile politely whenever you interact with them, looking at the clock as everyone awaits the last 1-2 participants, but also still the results of the background check info you sent in before arrival. Their computer pings every now and again, but none of you are called upon, yet.
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As others seem to walk--or pop--in, Ivory's nose and ears twitch a little....first the slight smell of ozone, the feel of displaced air, and the waft of the smell both parchment, and of some of the harsher spices that some races use hits her nose. The sound coming from that corner allows Ivory to mentally draw a picture of a squat figure with a gun. After he introduces himself she nods in acknowledgement.
Next the door opens, and the smell of the sea with the hint of the smells of the nightlife--perfume, cologne and even a bit of alcohol. The sound of a large creature comes in from the door. The sound coming from the large creature definitely gives Ivory a mental picture of a large walrus type creature--a Morlamaw Ivory mentally thinks as she politely nods to the newcomer.
The third one in definitely doesn't have the same size profile of the Morlawmaw, it actually seems to be the size of a halfling--whom Ivory is familiar with. The smells she gets definitely seems to be the smell of a reptilian lizard, mixed with the smell of plastic, the hint of ozone and a very faint hint of oil and grease...definitely a person who tinkers with electronics and some mechanical items. Almost smells similar to a Dragonkin she knows....but mini-sized.....
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When Saratur comes up and starts to puts a hand/flipper on her shoulder, the little squox on her lap scampers into a protective case built into her armor, pulls the top down and seals it.
"The new one definitely has an unique profile, I will say. You do too....were you at a night-club recently? I definitely smell the distinct smell of perfumes on you..and maybe a little alcohol."
Turning her face towards the small lizard (since most races seem to use visual clues when determining where the point of interest/discussion is being directed to.
"As Saratur says, I am Ivory...at least that is my nickname since most non vlaka races hate to use the growl/howling language of the my people. Drek, you have the sense about you as a person who is at home in a comfy computer chair, tinkering with a piece of electronics, or maybe even installing said items into a vehicle or ship? Especially since you seem to want to keep this experimental model we are supposed to test fly for UIE?"
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Huffing, puffing, and looking extremely put out, a shirren hustles into the waiting room and makes a beeline for the receptionist. She speaks quietly enough that no one else can make out the words, but her irritation is palpable. After being assured by the receptionist that everything is in order, she huffs and takes a seat, trying to act normal and get her breathing under control. A scrap of paper (Paper? Really? Who does that anymore?) flutters unnoticed to the floor as she settles herself, landing with the writing face up. It has this location's address printed in sloppy handwriting, but one of the digits is so poorly written that it's illegible. Well, that explains her tardiness.
Squaring her shoulders in her seat, she introduces herself pretentiously to the group assembled: "Hmph. Hello. I am Anock. I assume you are here for the test flight as well? I am prepared to give detailed notes on the improvements they will no doubt need to make before this ship goes out on the market. I will also serve as the medic, should this prototype damage us in any way. What are your specialties?"
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Heyo Ivory. I am Drek, from the arid wastes of Akiton! I never have a comfy chair, or really ever use a chair at all. I'm too jumpy when I work! But the rest of what you said was pretty spot on! I mean, I doubt they'll let us keep the whole ship, but I imagine while we testing it parts fall off! Useful parts!
The ikeshti grins an innocent, toothy grin.
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Threzlomn sits for a moment as all of the new people filter into the room and start chatting. He puzzles through what everyone is saying befreo Drek gives a bg hint as to what they're here for. He reaches his hand out to Drek to give it a shake. "Saratur already said it, but I'm Threzlomn. Pleasure to meet you, but I'll hold off on getting an augmentation. Hard to get people who can service them where I'm hoping to get to."
He gives a small shake of his head and turns back to the mini vesk, "But, right, you're here to test a prototype for the UIE? Mind if I join you? It'd make a great experience to record for whenever I get home to the Sealed Library and give me something to do while I build up the energy to try jumping again."
He looks at everyone else for a moment before he pulls a starfinder symbol out of his pack and adds, "You wouldn't happen to be Starfinders, would you? I'm one as well, and have been... from your perspective one for the past 100 years or so! Proved a real surprise when I first tried to join, uh, 30ish years hence!"
He gives a chuckle at that and then turns to Ivory, "Uh, you wouldn't happen to mind me recording your true name as well, would you? I have a colleague who studies Valakan naming conventions in her spare time and she'd tove to have a 4th century example (and if you have more that'd be even better!)"
He finally turns to the newcomer in Anock and gives her a smile. "My specialty would be... Knowing things. But I've only got a basic knowledge of this time and my portable data sets from home got hit a few jumps ago and I haven't found someone who can repair, and I can ethically allowto repair, 6th century tech yet. I can shoot well otherwise?" he says as he taps the side of his plasma bolter with thewords for 'Shhh' or 'quiet' engraved in various languages on it.
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Saratur opens his mouth and closes it again "I can't believe my eyes! A shirren, isn't this test bringing all sorts of fellows?" he says in his low voice
Turning to Ivory "I was in fact in a club, it was 'Marine Depths', amazing one you should visit it sometimes. It has a nice look, vivid elements, big dance floor. Altho it is fully submerged so I am not sure if it would be to your taste."
He greets Anock "I am Saratur, I traveled across the seas and oceans, crossed the galaxy far and wide, I can inspire you with tales that would make your heart pump faster, assuming that you have a heart."
Turning to Drek "If useful parts fall off, they were not that useful in the first place, or you are in serious troubles. Ha! You are the funny one"
"And jumping, what a bizarre thing to do, invented by dry-land folks. I once heard that it represents your longing for flying or swimming. Jumping, is a waste of muscles, you can't travel far enough, it is like walking in circles!"
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Listening--really listening to each person, trying to get their voices well associated with their smell and body/sound profile, Ivory carefully opens up the little door to lightly caress the little squox's head.
In vlaka"It is alright little one...come on out and at least get a look at the people we are likely going to go pilot a ship for."
The little squox's head pops out, and gives a look at everybody, her little nose twitches and ears pivot as she looks at each person in turn.
Looking toward the newest person,"Hello there Anock. Hopefully with a test run of a prototype ship there won't be any need for a medical doctor....but depending on if," she casually points her nose towards the little ikeshti and smiling a little, "someone decides see what this ship is made up...we could have some interesting times...."
Still looking at the little lizardfolk, she says very lightly, "Drek, any parts that 'actually' fall off...we probably should show them to the engineers here. So that they can figure why a perfectly good part fell off. NOW if they allow it after that, you might be able to keep it. But please ask them first."
"Threzlomn, I am fine with divulging my name, and talking a bit more in the vlaka tongue for your friend. It would be a pleasure to help a linquest better understand the vlaka tongue."
To the large figure next to her she responds. "Marine Depths....sounds like some deep bass might be happening there. If I went, I obviously need to use my environmentals, but after that I should be fine...maybe I should go only with my volume set to rebroadcast the sounds at 10%. The 3 dimensions of the place wouldn't bother me, I am used to perceiving in all directions, and am quite good at paying attention to all axis. Though I am going to guess that Gik-pik might not enjoy it as much."
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Drek takes the dwarf's hand to accept the shake, but he struggles to pronounce his name.
Good to meet you THRELZON!
He quickly gets back to shop talk, turning and responding to Saratur and Ivory.
Hey! You never know. Big piece fails, smaller useful parts attached to it. Lets see how it goes. Junkers have to keep their eyes open!
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Now that she's heard some of what this group is made of, Anock sits back with a hint of a self-superior expression. She preens inwardly at her self control: she refrained from sniffing snootily at the lot of them. Still... They seem capable enough to test a prototype. This really should be a simple little mission. In, out, report some minor bugs. No big deal. Sure, fiiine. These folks'll do for now.
Yup, she's humble all right.
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The receptionist's phone rings. They stand up and smile, inviting you to come along with them, leading you through office corridors lined with artistic renderings of countless deities worshiped in the Pact Worlds, until you reach an office.
This office is a picture of chaos. Three different computer desks set at slightly differing heights have been pushed together to support four keyboards, seven holo‑monitors, and no less than nine data ports. A mosaic of coffee stains covers the desktops’ surfaces. A chair that would look more at home in a vid-gamer’s den sits behind this haphazard workstation, while the opposite side hosts a retro velvet-cushioned recliner chair, a vinyl loveseat that has seen far better days, and a plush sofa that converts into a bed. Stacks of datapads and tech manuals cover almost every free bit of floor space. By contrast, a window at the back of the office looks out into a stark white cleanroom where engineers are carefully assembling a sensor array.
The office’s sole occupant is a host shirren wearing a wrinkled suit and a colorful bowtie. The shirren’s antennae quiver with excitement as they introduce themselves telepathically.
“Please come in! My speech-name is J’scib, and I’m the lead engineer for the Grimshaw. Can I offer you some Randblaz?” The shirren holds out an open bag of candy. “Each candy is visually indistinguishable but has fruit flavor profiles from dozens of worlds. Every bite is a surprise! The lime ones are my favorite!” J’scib hands out sweets while continuing.
“We here at UIE want to bring an affordable starship to market that can handle the rigors of system exploration while still defending its crew and looking sleek in the process. As such, we’d like you to take our new prototype on a preprogrammed course to Liavara. Put the ship through its paces and test out as many systems as you can on the way. When you get there, transmit your flight records to our data relay station on one of the moons, then come back. The space lane you’re taking is regularly patrolled by Stewards law-enforcement ships, so the whole trip should be nice and safe. Come, let’s head to the hangar!”
J'scib stands up and leads you out toward an elevator. "Do you have any questions for me? Also..." they look down at their data pad, "Saratur, what are your parents' names?"
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Drek runs towards the loveseat and launches himself onto it.
A trampoline!
He almost starts to bounce on it and then realizes the shirren is probably giving him strange looks.
Clearing his throat self-consciously and sitting down, he asks Can we get the specs to the ship downloaded to our datapads so we can review it while we head over?
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Saratur moves slowly into the office. He looks around "It looks like someone had a lan-party here ..." and he wonders why did he say that. What was a lan-party anyway? He heard that term in one of the clubs but the premise made no sense.
On Arniselle computer stations are made completely different than those for land folks. He can't imagine putting his body on such a 'chair'.
"Ship for masses, what would be the name? Maybe something like Leviathan? Liavara as a destination, will we test the fighting capabilities of this ship? I mean in a simulated environment?"
He pauses for a moment "My parents' names? Ben and Jerry. My childhood pet name was mermaid, and my first fried name was Barney! Do you need anything else to get a credit on my name?" asks looking at the shirren with suspicion
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Threzlomn looks in the room with a slightly surprised look on his face. "Wouldn't ever expect this kind of set up in this time and place, 70 years ago...or another 50~60 years from now after these things have a retro craze and then are discarded again. J’scib you are a certainly unique shirren. Only question I have for you is if I can get an encoded copy of the schematics? I'd love to take a copy back to my library, but I understand if you worried if I wasn't who I said I was, and thus the encryption."
He glances at Saratur when the morlamaw starts talking about his past, and takes a few notes. "I'm definitely calling you Mermaid from now on."
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Upon entering the room, Anock immediately stops short. What a mess! Ugh! She's utterly disgusted at the obvious lack of cleanliness. The *filth!* How can they live like this?! Well, she certainly knows well enough that people don't like to hear her professional opinions about their shortcomings, despite how badly they need to hear it from someone. She silently huffs and tries to find a clean-ish-looking spot on the floor to stand so she can *attempt* to focus on the instructions for this mission. When offered the candy, she fails to completely hide her disdain as she declines. "...No. Thanks."
“We here at UIE want to bring an affordable starship to market that can handle the rigors of system exploration while still defending its crew and looking sleek in the process. As such, we’d like you to take our new prototype on a preprogrammed course to Liavara. Put the ship through its paces and test out as many systems as you can on the way. When you get there, transmit your flight records to our data relay station on one of the moons, then come back. The space lane you’re taking is regularly patrolled by Stewards law-enforcement ships, so the whole trip should be nice and safe. Come, let’s head to the hangar!”
Ha! They want everything, and they want it cheap! If it was that easy, it'd've been done already. So... How is this ship going to fail their expectations? I wonder what hints they've ignored so far. Brusquely butting into the conversation about Saraur's security questions family members' names, Anock asks: "Have you run simulations on this prototype yet? If so, what have you learned? If not, why not?"
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Ivory walks in close behind Saratur into the new room. While the smell of coffee is strong, and some weird scents of different artificial fruit flavors assaults her nose, she doesn't smell any smell of rotting food or garbage. The sounds coming from the whole area--the whirring of all the fans in the computers, the whine of one of the datapads almost inaudible sound of it being charged, and even the sound of the new person they are meeting seem to give Ivory a feel that the room is well lived in, and likely untidy, but more of a person that is to focused on what they are doing to just, well...tidy themselves.
Hearing the rattle of the bag as J’scib offers the candy, she holds up a polite hand in negation. The artificial taste will likely mess up her taste and smell for hours....speaking of messing up...the bouncing onto a love seat by Drek makes some high squeaking of springs, though blessfully the little ikeshti stops after a bounce and a half.
Hearing Anock's question, she thinks "I would hope that there have been sims ran on the prototype. And if so, can we look at them before taking off? Also, a 'preprogrammed'. Does this mean the autopilot will be on the whole time?"
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Soundtrack #3: Office - The Last Starfighter OST: Planet of Rylos
He pauses for a moment "My parents' names? Ben and
J'scib waves their arms wildly to get you to stop talking! They reveal that this was a joke to gauge all of your common sense, warning that nobody should ever give out that kind of information or else you could get hacked!
Regardless, J’scib then gives you a shared user password necessary to operate the starship for the duration of the trial flight. They note the password will expire shortly after your scheduled return date, or immediately if you stray too far from your appointed route. This is a security measure meant to prevent theft. J’scib asks you not to share the password or details of the starship with anyone outside of UIE, until such time as the starship’s marketing campaign begins.
To answer your questions:
“The overall design comes from the best explorer in all the known universe: the fly, which exists on many planets that support life. More specifically, it’s design is inspired by a species called grimshawi. The name was a bit hard for non-telepaths, so my assistant Drosxan shortened it to the more stylish-sounding Grimshaw!”
“By having different crews test the Grimshaw, we can obtain a robust data set regarding its performance before it goes to the production line, not to mention the potential for word-of-mouth advertising! You’re going to be the first to fly it now that our test-pilots have ensured it's safe.”
"The navigation system will take you to Liavara, but you get to put the ship through its paces on the way! Ah, here we are!"
The elevator dings and you enter the hangar.
Test Flight Scenery and Maps Updated!
J’scib proudly introduces you to the Grimshaw, gushing about the vessel’s scientific components, which can be customized during assembly and are kept in the “thorax” section of the craft. They get extremely excited while talking about the wings, which can be configured to act as solar panels, solar sails, or vectored to generate lift during atmospheric flight.
Onboard, J’scib activates the Grimshaw’s automated navigation system and data recorder before leaving you to start your pre-flight checklist!
Medium explorer
Speed 10; Maneuverability good (turn 1)
AC 13; TL 14
HP 55; DT —; CT 11
Shields Basic 40 (forward 10, port 10, starboard 10, aft 10)
Attack (Port) light laser cannon (2d4; 5 hexes)
Attack (Starboard) light laser cannon (2d4; 5 hexes)
Attack (Turret) force projector SOM (1d10; 5 hexes; force field 15)
Power Core Arcus Heavy (130 PCU); Drift Engine none;
Systems mk 1 mononode computer, basic medium-range sensors (10 hexes), crew quarters (common), mk 3 armor, mk 4 defenses;
Expansion Bays escape pods, life science lab, physical science lab, surveying sensors SOM
Modifiers +1 any one check per round, +2 Computers, +1 Piloting; Complement 6 (minimum 1, maximum 6)
(These stats are also re-posted on the slides)
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The...sounds coming off the 'Grimshaw' is....weird. And while J’scib's description of a fly is a context that Ivory recognizes, the ship....almost feels like a metal version of a fly. So...aptly named.
She slowly traces her hands on the wall as they walk up the onramp. The hum of the ship feels....electric. Her mouth opens in what only could be described as a 'doggy grin'.
She walks to the Pilot seat, with Gik-pik only poking her little nose once or twice to help Ivory get settled into the seat. Ivory pulls out her datacord that runs to her temple, and Gik-pik grabs it and scampers to the pilots console and finds the datajack point and plugs it in for Ivory.
Ivory's mind gets the full spectrum of the ships sensors. This ship should be a blast to fly.
Gik-pik helps Ivory get the pilot's crash straps around her, and then clambers back into the safety of her carrying pouch, though keeping her head out so she can watch with her eyes what Ivory will do with this ship. She gives a little excited chirp as her nose twitches and her ears saucer around...keeping an eye on where everybody else heads to in the ship.
"I am a great pilot, though if there are lots of distortions around--like say a lot of asteroids, anybody who can in the science area, please tag which is an enemy vessel. That way I can know for certain which is the target and which are objects I should just ignore and fly around."
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As soon as she sees the Grimshaw, a bubble of genuine laughter bubbles out of Anock. "Oh, it really does look like a fly! How beautiful!" Her snobbishness is momentarily forgotten as she takes in the most gorgeous little ship she's ever seen. Oh, I hope this turns out better than I though! As she strides excitedly into it, she announces: "I'll be the Chief Mate. Just tell me what needs to be done and I'll do it." There's no reason for us to need a medic, right? I can just relax and get to know this adorable vessel. Everything's going to go smoothly.
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Waiting until just the last person gets on....Ivory starts to flip a few switches, and using her datajack initiates the closing of the airlocks and securing of them. The 'take-off immediate' beeping sounds throughout the ship.
"Let's take this ship...and put it through it's paces. Ladies, Gentlemen and Gentle-beings, please buckle in. Have your trays and seats in their upright positions, and please note that--I hope--they left you barf bags in the little pocket to your right. This is going to be an exciting Ride!!!!" she says gleefully....with Gik-pik giving a happy little yip right after that.
With that....she does her best VTOL launch of this ship...it is a fly after all...and as everybody knows....flies can fly amazingly.
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Departing Absalom Station, you can finally stretch your proverbial wings. Because the prototype’s Drift engine won’t be installed until next Secondday, the route takes days of travel along the ecliptic plane of the Pact Worlds system to Liavara. The vessel automatically handles primary astrogation for the trip.
Over the course of your flight, you now have time to give the ship a proper shakedown. Each PC should attempt two different tests (and can freely change or keep the same crew roles during these tests as you wish).
Prior to rolling these checks, you must decide how rigorously you want to push the ship's systems, declaring one of the three following options. You are aware that the ship's data recorder can obtain much more useful information the harder you push your starship's systems:
- Easy “standards verification” tests
- Average “stress amplitude” tests
- Hard “rupture strength” tests
Below the spoiler (and posted to the slides) are example tests and their applicable skills, but you can also devise your own!
- Chief Mates (Acrobatics, Athletics) can test the starship’s structural integrity via its manual override systems, or can conduct safety checks through organizing timed evacuation drills to the starship’s escape pods.
- Engineers (Engineering) can test the vessel’s damage control procedures through simulations, or by conducting emergency power core scram / shutdown drills.
- Gunners (gunnery check) can test the state-of-the‑art weapon system by firing at passing asteroids, or through pinpoint targeting of space debris launched out of an airlock.
- Magic Officers (Mysticism) can test how well the starship’s layout aids scrying by reaching out their senses, or can meditate on if the vessel’s aesthetics help it connect to galactic leylines.
- Pilots (Piloting) can push the engines to conduct speed trials, or can perform fancy aerobatic maneuvers around passing asteroids.
- Science Officers (Computers) can calibrate the starship’s complex surveying sensors, or can test how fast the computer recovers from a simulated electronic warfare attack.
You can also devise tests using Life Science or Physical Science, gaining the +2 circumstance bonuses provided by the Grimshaw’s robust scientific expansion bays.
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The 5 days to the test sight allows Ivory to spend some of that downtime meditating, and doing her best to find a little room to do her katas and keeping limber.
During that time Gik-pik gets used to the rest of the crew, and will oftentimes find a way to get one of the new people to give it a treat, or a scritch....she isn't really choosy.
When the ship gets close to the Liavara's test site, Ivory puts her pilot face back on...getting a bit bouncy as the excitement of taking a ship--a brand new prototype--into a place so she can really see how it handles.
"Now, as I said....a design like this--mimicing a real creature--probably doesn't have the true maneuverability of its biological counterpart....but as any good scientist would do...we must test the edges of that. And remember the different between being a scientist and goofing off....write stuff down!"
First...she sees from the computers scanners a large clump of asteroids--so many it is almost impossible to discern where one stops and the other one starts. But knowing that this ship should have an amazing ability to do hard turns, she does a mental plotting of courses....the ships and at least 5 other asteroids and attempts to see how close she can get to each asteroid before finding the next vector to change the ships course on.
"Get those barf bags ready ya'll....this might make even the strongest stomachs have issues...and that definitely means you Saratur...if you have to blow chunks...we all might be in trouble!"
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Anock finds ways to stay away from Gik-pik as he makes the rounds of the crew, at least until she has watched him enough to know how clean he keeps himself. After a few days, she's reasonably assured that he's clean enough that a simple hand-washing routine will be sufficient to ensure decontamination after contact. At this point, she warms to him, and even lets him sit on her shoulder for a few moments before tossing a scrap of food onto the seat next to her to get him off.
Once it's finally time to test this beautiful baby, Anock gets an enthusiastic gleam in her eyes. Oh, let's see what this beautiful baby can do! ...But then, I don't want to overdo it too quickly. Get an understanding of her before you punch it all the way. Ease into the relationship, so to speak. She starts with an easy standards verification test, then bumps up to an average stress amplitude test on the manual override systems to get multiple data points on the same system.
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Okay! Let's get some parts to fall off! I wonder if it provides optics like a fly, with thousands of tiny images of what's in front of it...
While he's doing this he's tapping away at the engineering console for an inexplicable reason.
Finally after a long period without looking up, he jumps out of his chair and exclaims Prepare for the simulations!
Right as his code start to executes he gets a sudden worried look.
Uh... I put an extra zero on the number that determines difficulty...
Gulp
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Saratur positions himself on the captain station. He puts his one flipper on the touchscreen "Ok, let us test the communication protocol, Pulling in readings from Pilot station. Speed 145 drift knots, engine temperature ... Ok I spotted a difference in here, report a bug. Catastrophic failure? What the heck ..."
Saratur tries to record what is not working as he would expect it to.
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Saratur looks at the readings and yawns. He scrolls through options on the screen and sees an option: 'Developer Options', after a few clicks he finds 'Kraken Emulation'.
Morlamaw smiles and chuckles loudly, then he clicks it, on sensors of the ship a giant octopus-like creature is seen
"Dear crew these are drills, Besmara has pulled from the deepest depths of the drift a Drift Kraken. That filthy creature has spotted our fly and decided that it will be easy prey. Fear not, I will grapple the creature myself if the situation requires."
He calls Ivory "Sailing Master Ivory, spread our sail wings, catch some of the wind to give us an edge over that monstrosity. Better stick your head out through the airlock if you have to hear it!"
"Engineering Master Drek, system reports guns malfunctioning on the port side, on your fins! The system needs to be working without any glitches. Take out those parts from your bag and put them on its place "
"Gunner Thezlom! Stop doodling mermaids in your notebook and shoot the damn thing. No one will come back home if you fail. If you want to look fierce wrap that beard in two braids to look like tusks if you have to!"
"Bosun Anock, Ivory will need some juice from this fly, try to give her some extra! Come on chop-chop! Like your hive depends on it!"
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Ivory does some hard loops at first...but realizes that not all of her companions have the stomach of steel to handle them...so she decides with Saratur attempting to simulate a combat....to do something interesting....let's see how this ship slides...so that she can evade this 'space octopus' that Saratur has manifested.....
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Guns are fine. Faaaiiine! I was just playing with the firmware a bit but I reset it. I mean, you've gotta really dig in and experiment to know how this thing is going to hold up in a pinch! the ikeshti exclaims back at Saratur.
He wants the team to think of him as reliable, but his fingers get idle and bored quickly. Chances are, when needs arise, he'll have some non-trivial sub-system of the ship in parts and on the floor.
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Even though not everybody participates, the amount of data you do collect is tremendous , almost as if you gathered enough for a crew one and half times your size!
With exceptional working knowledge of the ship in-hand, you finish the voyage at S-413, one of Liavara's smallest shepherd moons, where you begin to transmit all you've collected to an unmanned UIE data relay.
Before the flight records finish uploading, the ship’s sensors alert you to two approaching contacts! Two adolescent voraijas are approacing, their powerful electromagnetic starsongs disabling the relay’s comm-link.
Test Flight Scenery and Maps Updated!
Each of you can attempt a Culture or Life Science check to recall knowledge.
You recall hearing a recent news report that pods of voraijas have been spotted in Liavara’s upper atmosphere. Many tourist ships skim Liavara’s orbit hoping for a rare glimpse of the creatures feeding or giving birth, all carefully monitored by the Xenowardens organization.
The Grimshaw’s sensors indicate these two carnivorous creatures are lost, hungry, and apparently interpret the organic shape of the ship to mean that it’s edible! To avoid becoming devoured in a grim case of mistaken identity, you must decide what you're going to do!
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Trying with limited success to hide the know-it-all attitude from her voice, Anock replies: "They're voraijas. Apparently pods of them have been seen in Liavara’s upper atmosphere. The Xenowardens monitor all the tourist groups that come to watch them. Since these seem so hungry, I agree with the warning shots idea. I'd rather convince them we're not food than have to fight them off."
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Ivory can not 'see' them in the senses that the others can, but she can 'feel' them from the sensors. Their subsonic call is kind of mesmerizing."What exactly are the voriajas exactly? Any idea Anock on what they eat? I am going to assume that because we look like a fly they think we must be organic. Firing warning shots might work....or I could attempt to fly--pun intended--away and let them chase us instead of attacking something that sounds so majestic? If Drek can keep the engines running hot for speed, maybe we can keep ahead of them."
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Looking at the available data, you think you have a few options here.
Threzlomn remembers that Pact World conservation laws prohibit the hunting of voraijas, but since they are carnivorous, ships are allowed to fight against them in self-defense.
Alternatively, you could attempt to use your ship as bait and lure them to the upper atmosphere of Liavara, where their pod might be. You could also try to herd them through some creative technomagical programming of your ship's force weapon.
What are you going to do?
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Anock agrees with Threzlomn, and is saddened by the idea of these magnificent beasts facing extinction. "Yes, killing them isn't necessarily necessary. I like the idea of tweaking the force weapon and using it to herd them to join the rest of their pod--can we locate them? Anyway, since our job is to test the limits of this ship, I think doing this will fit right in with our report. Which of you has the technomagical expertise to do it?"