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The adventure begins on Absalom Station. The recent incident involving Zigvigix, in which the faction leader’s corrupted cybernetics infected the Lorespire Complex with the Data Scourge, weighs heavily on the minds of many agents. The Society can finally trace the Data Scourge code to its source, and most Starfinders are wondering who will get the honor of going on the mission to track it down. The anxiety and restlessness are palpable inside the Starfinder headquarters.
Over the intercom, a chime sounds, followed by a computerized voice summoning all agents on site to a mandatory meeting in the Hall of Discovery. The Forum’s meeting space is a massive hall with rows of tiered seating facing a central stage. Wide walkways cut through the seating area, providing ample space for crowds of people to file in and out of their seats. About two hundred Starfinders, including most of the Forum, are currently present. While many make themselves comfortable, a few groups mill about in the aisles talking to each other. Several venture-captains and faction leaders stand near the stage, holding conversations in hushed tones. The PCs can head straight to their seats or take time to talk with other Starfinders.
A large group by the door is clustered around Royo, a well-respected scholar in a tweed suit chewing on a pipe (rather than smoking it indoors). Everyone in this group carries analog or magical equipment. Many are towering izalguuns or dwarves in archaic attire.
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A blue-furred skittermander wearing the uniform of the Stewards enters the hall. She gives friendly waves at some of the Starfinders she's met since being temporarily assigned to assist the organisation. She tidies up a bit as as she walks by making sure all rubbish is placed in a nearby bin. When she gets to Royo and his followers, she nods in acknowledgement.
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In the room, an elven woman in a white toga, lies, lavishly on a couch. White vapors floats around her, coming from a hooka installed on the couch and the little sip she takes from it. The couch itself is well maintained, even if numerous cables, wires and circuits seem to come and go through it, as well as some vines that grows all around.
Even half-asleep, she keeps a keen eye on everyone around her.
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From the group of starfinders walk a rather tall and muscular figure, he walks straight scanning the surrounding with his eyes. He makes very little accidental movements, seems to be always focused on a goal. His hairless head is longer than those of the others, but he is Kasatha after all. His face is covered with a mask. Vecro carries no range weapon, only a shield and a relatively large hammer, as well as starknife. On his armor he has a symbol of Elority, and above his left shoulder hovers a small black hole, the constantly collapsing mass at times can be mesmerizing, but harmless.
Vecro gets himself distracted with a sight of an elf on the couch and spots nothing else.
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The group around Royo is quite animated, and seem to be discussing whether Guidance or other artificial personalities may have been compromised by ... recent events. "Think about how much information may have been lost if Guidance had been fully compromised." notes Royo. An irritable jububan replies "How do we know it wasn't?"
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Royo turns to green Gil-Oloth with a smile. "My companions are all members of a growing anti-technological movement within the Society. The data scourge is just the latest reason why we feel this way." he says.
"Many of the people here have had their lives have been altered for the worse by technology or by an over-reliance on technology, including the izalguuns and the dwarves.."
Here Gil notices Ylga Tulgarst who she remembers from her trip to Salvations Moon.
"We are overdependent on technology. Tech-reliant factions like the Dataphiles have too much power in the Forum.."
Swizzers heads over toward the Exo-guardians. There she overhears them discussing what the meeting may be about "Ehu hasn’t told us yet, but it has to be about Historia-Prime. Hopefully, it’s not another Data Scourge attack.”
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Vecro listens in on the anti-tech faction some more "Probably another data scourge attack." says one. Another replies "[b]Not in weeks. We’ve increased safety protocols since Zigvigix’s return. Though how effective that is...”
You have all have personal experience with the tedious scans, searches, and security checkpoints required to set foot inside the Lorespire Complex
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"Historia-Prime seems to have been behind the attacks. " explains Ixthia to Swizzers. "That skirmish with Prime’s fleet hit hard. We aren’t in any shape to launch ships into unknown space right now.”
Fitch, who seems to have inserted herself into the conversation clears her throat and then adds “Sure, but we always make it work. I’m not giving up now.”
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Verrek is listening. He has nothing to say. A disaster has happened. Not the first and not the last. Sooner or later, Society will find the guilty and punish them - by the hands of such as Verrek. He had no doubt about that. Why else would they get him out of prison with a life sentence? It was expensive and difficult.
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As you discuss things, First Seeker Ehu Hadif enters the room, and the meeting begins...
Ehu Hadif strides down the aisle, a hush hanging behind him as he approaches the stage. There, he stops and whispers something to the assembled leaders.
“What? That’s ridiculous!” Fitch protests loudly. “We can’t just stand around and twiddle our thumbs! We still have working starships!”
“She’s right,” Naiaj grumbles. “Prime is a monster we helped create. Stopping him is our responsibility.”
“We’d be leaving the Station defenseless,” Ixthia argues. Radaszam nods in agreement.
“We should approach this logically,” Celita says in clipped tones. “The Stewards have the resources and training to—”
“So do our agents!” Naiaj interrupts. Celita’s eyes flash dangerously, but her face remains neutral. Naiaj crosses her arms and glares back at the android.
“Your attention, please!” Ehu remarks sternly. “That’s enough speculation. This matter’s already been settled, and I’ve called you here to tell you what I know.” He walks onto the stage, leaving the group of frustrated venture-captains and faction leaders behind. Grumbling, they settle into empty seats in the front row.
Ehu speaks into a microphone. “Starfinders, I’ll get right to the point. We know where the Data Scourge code is coming from.” Whispers spread throughout the crowd.
“I’m sure you all know by now that we have reason to believe Historia‑Prime, the former Dataphiles faction leader, is responsible for the Data Scourge. Historia has tried to control the Dataphiles for years by using illegal technology to steal his successors’ bodies. We lost him in the Scoured Stars, only to find him again on our return expedition. We thought he was dead, but he’s still out there trying to manipulate us. With your hard work and the cooperation of the Church of Triune, we’ve located the source of the Data Scourge code. That means we finally know where Historia-Prime is.”
“What are we going to do?” a Starfinder shouts from the crowd. Murmurs trickle through the hall. “Nothing.” Ehu says. “The Stewards are already on a mission to those coordinates. They have the firepower, training, and authority to deal with this. They’ve worked with us in the past, but this time the Stewards don’t want us involved. I’ll be honest: I don’t like it, but I understand it. The Stewards are the defenders of Pact Law. Going against them would have repercussions for us. For now, we—”
The building shakes, knocking the microphone over with an ear-piercing whine. Ehu stumbles, and the crowd ripples with nervous energy. Frantic voices in the hall call out in alarm, and the doors fling open. The power flickers, then goes out.
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Gil-Oloth's couch avoids most of the crowd, letting the elf keep some dignity!
Immediately she commands her couch to place her in safety and the couch's thrusters animate and the couch takes off the stabilize above the panicked crowd.
In the same time, Gil-Oloth tries to connect with the infoSphere to find if the problem was specific to the building or touching all the station.
The Stars haven't talked to me about that!
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Most of the team manages to get out of the way, but Verrek gets caught at the edge of the mob.
Outside the hall starfinders and other locals gather in rag-tag mobs, gaping in awe at a terrifying sight above.
The artificial sky above the complex flickers, revealing a hectic battle scene! Dozens of starships swoop and whirl through the black, firing at a cylindrical silver vessel that swims through space with strange grace. Absalom Station’s armada and automated defenses continue to confront the attacker, but the enemy craft is fluid. It shifts shape to avoid and absorb attacks, fighting back with whiplike tendrils that lash out from its body.
Ships explode in gouts of flame at each tendril’s touch.
The protective dome surrounding Absalom Station’s Eye whirs into action, enveloping the sky in steel and blocking all view of the skirmish above.
Status
Verrek -5 sp
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It looks like some type of spaceship maybe... but different from anything you have heard about before.
With the view gone and no idea what’s happening above, the crowds panic. Most people run for cover, but a few spring into action, with plans to join the defense in their own ships or to get a better view elsewhere.
Ixthia the Unbreakable stands nearby, their antlered head cocked in curiosity rather than worry.
"That is the spirit Officer Swizzers!" they say. "My starship is in a nearby hangar. We can get there quickly if we hustle. Come. Help me defend our home.”
Ixthia breaks into a job, "Come... follow." they say, glancing over their shoulder to see if you do so.
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Verrek sits down at the scanners and works his magic on them. Wow, that is an odd ship. It is constructed of highly advanced and adaptive nanites, likely using biotech or magitech innovations.
The nanites are acting in an incredibly complex and purposeful manner and are likely controlled by a singular intelligence.
The nanites are a form of infinitely reprogrammable nanites, dubbed boundless nanites, which until now has been a purely theoretical technology. With enough magical or technical expertise, one could override the nanite’s programming and replace it with simple new commands. However, a user would need to be in close contact with the nanites and could only control a small mound unattached to the larger mass.
Gil relaxes next to the pilots chair and Ixthia suggests she take the control while they work on coordinating with other Starfinders.
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In space outside Absalom Station, the hundreds of commercial and private craft that compose the station’s armada are losing the battle against the massive enemy craft. Some starships are retreating while others hang suspended in masses of silver tentacles. Debris floats nearby, indicating more starships have been destroyed or severely damaged. Even stranger, the silver craft has changed shape and now resembles a platform rather than a starship. Buildings begin sprouting up from the platform before your eyes, like mushrooms after rain—all completely silver—creating a near-perfect copy of the Lorespire Complex and the surrounding structures on Absalom Station
Gil-Oloth does a fantastic job of evading the debris as she pilots the Defiance closer, narrowly evading a massive tentacle that lashed out toward the ship.
"Right" says Ixthia. "I'll use the Defiance to try and keep it distracted... you lot... land on fake-Absalom and try to take the battle to it. I'll stick close in case you need extraction. I'm thinking you want to head toward the Lorespire complex.."
Ixthia swoops in, depositing you on a landing platform, not far from the fake Lorespire. Familiar landmarks from Absalom Station and the Society grounds are recreated in this stark, shifting, silver landscape, making it feel at once familiar and alien.
Oddly, although you are outside Absalom station, this ship/station complex seems to have its own source of gravity, allowing you to move without any real difficulty.
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Two robot-like creatures swivel toward you as you arrive...
Also in the area are three ... mounds?... of seemingly unformed nanites.
Entering their space is dangerous, and you would need to be next to one to reprogram it. But if you succeeded (computers or mysticism) you could get it to shield a nearby character, or make a bridge/stairway (up to 20')
Status: bold may post
Gil-Oloth
Verrek -5SP
Vecro
Officer Swizzers
robot red
robot blue
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Gil-Oloth recognizes the robot-creatures as enhanced versions of the Boundless Harbinger. They are constructs but in this case it is made up of nanites not a normal robot. Their "Face" is actually a laser of considerably higher power than its normal integrated weapons. Likely it would drill through any targets and continue on to whatever is behind them. Perhaps most worryingly they can deconstruct themselves back into a hoard of nanites and infest a nearby creature. Creatures knocked out while infested... are not likely to survive as the nanites feast on the unresponsive body.