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"The Lorespire complex has some of the best equipment around to keep your muscles toned and your bodies strong. Some of you look like you could use a bit of time in the gym. If you want to build a body like Rowdy Randy, you are going to need to hit these machines hard and often.
Personally, I recommend the Ab Destroyer 3000 over here. Unlike the other machines, you can set this one all the way to 11! You rookies might want to start at 2 or 3. You don't get a body like Randy's without putting in the work.
This place even has virtual reality combat training sessions. Just the other day I put a giant praying mantis into a little move I call the cradle. Had him begging for his girlfriend to chew his head off just to end the pain! It's a lot of fun and you can change the settings to be less deadly if you aren't sure you are up for the real thing just yet.
Now watch, and learn!"
Randy straddles a machine and leg lifts an absurdly heavy pile of weights.
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Still at the Reserach Center
The ysoki pilot takes great interest in the idea of making his ship faster. His whiskers start twitching as he starts looking at all of the computer terminals in the room. He makes an attempt to sneak away from the group and log onto a computer to find what information he can find.
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"So, here we are at th' Labs, Starfinders. You know we ain't just about goin' out and exploring, but we're also doin' some cuttin' edge development ourselves. Gotta keep our Starfinders up t' date on the best gear, and we get the newest stuff from our corporate partners as well as from our own engineers and scientists in the labs. We always got new ideas.
"Why, I was just workin' on a new thing the other day. Been sayin' to my bros, Lucius and Antonio, 'Why do we always have t' go in and risk our asses just t' see what's in that corridor, room, or cave? So I built a little gadget here..." he pulls out what looks like a robot-vacuum with a camera and laser pistol mounted to it, and a hover module replacing the vacuum. "We should send one of these little babies in, watch what it sees, and then we can go in when its safe. Course, I'd clen up the real doohickey to make it slick, smaller, and stealthier. Dis one is only th' prototype, mind you. But when it gets approval from the managerial mucky-mucks, after I get my patent, mind you, it is gonna save so many lives. I just gotta come up wit' a catchy name, and then there ya' go!"
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"Welcome! Welcome to the Lorespire Complex. You are standing where 300 years ago other new Pathfinders first stood. You are standing at the start of their history and of your own. You stand where other explorers, warriors, and seekers of knowledge got their start! The mind boggles!
I started my own time within the Society just as you are now! I've fought horrible brain-invading creatures, helped clean environments, and mentor new Pathfinders and I imagine you all will do even greater and more interesting things."
Each and every one of you nails the tour guide practice. Harmony of Many is ecstatic and gives you each an All-purpose Accessory in thanks. Before leaving he asks a favor, "Might you go see Royo? He's in the Archives, and just sent out a general message looking for help with something. We're tied up here, but I know you're not on assignment. Thank you!"
While the archives feature rooms filled with humming servers and computer workstations, You find Royo in a side room filled with printed and bound texts. He sits at a desk, thumbing through a mound of notes and books.
“Have you found the Barbadash files?” the ysoki in a tweed suit asks, snout buried in notes. After a moment, he looks up from the papers on the table, peers through the spectacles perched at the end of his snout, and grins. “Aha! You must be the agents here to help! Welcome! Come in, have a seat. Would you care for some tea? The stuff they serve in the canteen is swill! I imported this blend from—oh, never mind! There’ll be time for chatter later.”
Royo hurries over to an antique tea trolley, pours piping hot tea from a porcelain teapot into mismatched teacups, serves the tea, and returns to his seat. “For those of you I haven’t met, my name is Royo. I’m a former field agent, longtime scholar, and, for the past several years, I’ve had the privilege of serving in the Starfinder Society Forum. I also fund and maintain numerous archives throughout the Pact Worlds and Near Space that specialize in physical documents, books, and research materials. It would seem my efforts in recent months to encourage the Society to embrace the ways of paper and pen have amassed me a bit of a following!” He grins warmly.
“After the events of the Data Scourge, the Cognates and I have been working on cleaning up remnants of that debacle. Unfortunately, we’ve discovered a nasty bit of rogue code causing havoc in the greenhouses, and my most skilled combatants aren’t on the Station at present. I was hoping you’d be willing to head down there and sort it out. Think you’re up to it?”
"“My agents described the problem as a sort of fragmented manifestation of the Data Scourge. They said it reminded them of constructs they saw about a year ago. According to them, the code kept scurrying about the place, taking potshots at Starfinders when they could. We’ve sealed the doors to the greenhouse and are pretty sure they’re contained inside—for now.”
Eager, the agents head off...
Two Starfinders stand in front of the door to a large glass greenhouse, blocking entry. “Stop! It’s not safe to enter!” they announce. Beyond them, inside the greenhouse, large trees sway in a simulated breeze, their thick branches obscuring much of the view.
The guards sigh with relief. They then introduce themselves as Maisie Valro and Kolvii and explain, "So the rogue code has taken the form of two glitchy robots that blast lasers from their faces!"
Before unlocking the door, these Cognates offer to lend you a weapon: a liquidator disintegration lash, explaining that "the weapon seemed effective against the code."
With that, they open the greenhouse doors. Once you step inside though, there are no robots to speak of.
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"Which of you knows how to use this lash?"
Magnok makes sure that the liquidator disintegration lash makes its way into the hands of a capable starfinder and then proceeds through the doors with Tarkus. "Everyone be alert! They are taking advantage of this natural environment."
With his pistol drawn, Magnok looks around carefully for any fresh tracks or evidence of these robots.
Randy moves into the greenhouse and immediately draws out what Magnok-704 couldn't see, a pair of strange looking....things.
Round 1:
Sorros: Go
Giovanni: Go
Magnok-704: GO
Rowdy Randy: Go
Remnants: TBD
Giovanni knows that the only way is to destroy them sadly.
Giovanni knows these to be as advertised, data scourge remnants; constructs made of pure data that can somewhat control their form.
Giovanni's trick is spot on, but even then he misses by a hair. Magnok-704 misses by many many MANY hairs!
Round 1:
Sorros: Go
Giovanni: Miss
Magnok-704: Miss
Rowdy Randy: Go
Remnants: TBD
Happy he took the lash, Rowdy Randy ravishes the remnant! The creature dissolves the instant it's hit and reappears closer to the Starfinders. When it appears though it's clear that Randy's hit took its toll, and it's still corroding.
Round 1:
Sorros: Go
Giovanni: Miss
Magnok-704: Miss
Rowdy Randy: CRIT
Remnants: TBD
Red: 10 (Corrode d6, RP Used: 1)
Blue:
Sorros doesn't miss a beat. He lashes out at the remnant, solidly wrecking part of it! the remnant strikes back, thrusting forth a fist-like appendage at Sorros' chest:
for
It's the last thing it ever does. the corroding hit of the lash destroys so much of it that it falls apart into dissipating energy.
The other moves around Randy, completely ignoring him for some reason...
Round 2:
Sorros (HP: 10/12): Go
Giovanni: Go
Magnok-704: Go
Rowdy Randy: Go
Remnants: TBD
Blue: 5
Unable to get a handle on his pistol, Giovanni leaves scorch marks in a tree that never did anything untoward in its tree-life.
Round 2:
Sorros (HP: 10/12): Go
Giovanni: Miss
Magnok-704: Go
Rowdy Randy: Go
Remnants: TBD
Blue: 5
Sorros hustles in while Randy lashes out and connects!
Round 2:
Sorros (HP: 10/12): MOVE!
Giovanni: Miss
Magnok-704: Go
Rowdy Randy: Hit
Remnants: TBD
Blue: 7
Magnok's aim is true, but his drone might need some calibration!
The glitching remnant steps to it's side a little bit and a massive laser erupts from its face, streaking towards Sorros and Giovanni!
Round 3:
Sorros (HP: 10/12): REF + Go
Giovanni: REF + Go
Magnok-704: Go
Rowdy Randy: Go
Remnant: TBD
Blue: 11
Sorros dodges most of what might have been a fatal hit! He gives as good as he gets though, connecting with his strike!
It's enough to put the remnant out of commission! you're free to return to Royo and let him know you did it!
With the remnant EXTRA destroyed, you all head back to Royo.
“Well done, well done! Excellent work.” Royo exclaims with enthusiasm and a respectful nod of his head. “My thanks.”
“Now, I do hope you don’t think too poorly of my little faction here. I know there are those who think we’re on some sort of crusade against circuitry, and while our faction includes those who are… enthusiastic about our mission, I can assure you we’re not trying to toss all technology to the curb! Technology has its place. We do live on a space station, after all! We’re simply looking to diversify our methods, whether they be analog, magical, or natural, as we rebuild the Society. If we’re too reliant on any one methodology, well…we’ve seen how that can turn out!” He chuckles grimly.
“At any rate, I’ve taken up enough of your time. Go, enjoy the day! It’s looking bright on the horizon!” Grinning, he turns back to his papers. “Oh, and if you see a lost librarian, let him know I found the Barbadash files! They were in the freezer!”
You eventually return to Ehu Hadif, who asks you a simple question, "Well. How did it go?"
Ehu leans back in his chair, his eyes above his mask lighting up with a smile. “Your assistance today has been invaluable, Starfinders, and I truly thank you. As First Seeker, I don’t often get the chance to have direct contact with the daily tasks of the
Society, so I ask your forgiveness for living vicariously through you. While the role of First Seeker is one I took on gladly, I do miss those days of field work and exploration.”
The First Seeker stands and walks to the window, looking out over the grounds of the Lorespire Complex. “I feel the Society stands at a crossroads. Public opinion is at an all-time low, new threats arise regularly, and dissent is growing within the ranks. The argument you witnessed today is only the latest in a series of flashpoints. It would be easy to fall into despair, to lose hope and consign the Society to the annals of history. But if there is one thing the kasathans know, it is the calamitous effects of inaction. I will not stand idly by.” He turns as the setting sun emerges from behind a building, and the orange light frames Ehu, granting him an otherworldly halo and a commanding presence.
“I am resolved, Starfinders. For too long, the Society has been a monolith, rigid in its beliefs and unwilling to change. The recognition of these minor factions is not enough. We must do more than pay lip service—we must act. Before my tenure ends, my mission will be to ensure that all Starfinders are heard and their opinions taken seriously. A united Starfinder Society must speak with many voices, and I will use mine to uplift those who have been silenced or ignored. We shall shine light into the darkest corners of our history, look unflinching upon our errors, and ensure that our mistakes will never be repeated!”
He pauses, then inclines his head in a nod. “It’s my hope that you will join me in these endeavors, Starfinders. Your help will be invaluable. But while this work is vital… I think it can wait until the morning. You’ve all had quite a day!” Ehu seats himself
back at his desk. “I think there are still some paradox trifles in the canteen; if you are true of heart, I’m sure you’ll make it there in time!” With a wink, he turns back to his computer, his posture straightened in resolve.