|
"Gunnz!" a suave-looking halfling man, currently lounging in a corner chair, calls out to the young woman, "nice to see you again." With a grin, he adds "let's hope there aren't any exploding planets this time, huh?"
The halfling's shirt is open several buttons at the collar, revealing a tasteful gold medallion in the shape of a sun nestled among his chest hair. Fashionable shades cover his eyes, and he exudes the easy confidence of a movie star....which he is! Sort of. You may recognize him (and if not, he'll surely let you know) as the star of a number of direct-to-infosphere action movies, such as Rumble in the Spike and Akiton Noon.
|
A very large...very large, luxury car pulls up outside the building. It sits idling for several seconds before a golden skinned man with golden hair steps out and comes around, headed for the entrance.
The driver's side window rolls down, revealing the head and shoulders of a fire giant woman who calls out to him. He turns just in time to catch the kiss she blows to him before he waves a final good-bye.
Not unlike Yuqab, you probably know Azara Thenason, one of the most popular writers of Castrovellian Epic Poetry in the Pact Worlds. And if you don't know him, that won't stop him from giving you an autograph.
"Exploding planets? That sounds like a story worth hearing," he says.
few weeks ago, First Seeker Ehu Hadif put out a call for volunteers willing to travel to the colony of Braerton on Kortus IV and evacuate its citizens.
Intel suggests that the villainous "Organization", now revealed to be the Order of Dawning Fate, have long held the town in a stranglehold to control its finitrium mines. Now that the mines are exhausted, the Order intends to eradicate all trace of their presence from Kortus IV—this includes the destruction of the mines, the town, and all the town’s inhabitants. You are among those Starfinders who volunteered to make the journey to Kortus IV and lead the evacuation. What forces the Order of Dawning Fate will have in place on Kortus IV are unknown, but judging by the number of Starfinders gathered, First Seeker Ehu Hadif is expecting considerable resistance.
You are currently aboard the Master of Stars, the Starfinder Society’s flagship vessel, as it travels through the Drift.
|
|
"Ahhh...." sighs Gunnz, her face serene.
"But remember what it was like to fly... without even engines?" she reminisces.
Turning to Azara she gushes. "Wow... are you Azara... Azara Thenason? Can I get your autograph! You're almost.." and here she grins ".. as famous as SMC! I didn't know you were a Starfinder too!"
|
"But remember what it was like to fly... without even engines?" she reminisces.
"It's fun, isn't it?" says the hawkish looking woman as she steps into the room. And hawkish in many literal ways: from her slightly angular face and pointed nose and chin, to the pair of avian wings folded in behind her back. Beyond that, the woman is wearing heavy armor colored in red and white and gold trim. Her protective shell is festooned with a small church's worth of iconography, all dedicated to Iomedae.
"Greetings. I am Sister Chaplain Lanius Shrike, paladin in service of the goddess Iomedae. You may simply call me Lady Shrike, if you prefer."
She happily takes an autograph from Azara. "Thank you. A sister in battle from my old mercenary unit would likely appreciate this. She's from Castrovel."
|
|
Azara smiles shyly at the attention and praise, though he is quick to pull out a pen/stylus/digital signature device that he has in an easily accessible pocket.
"Oh yes, many of my poems are inspired by my adventures in the Starfinder Society. I suspect a certain two ladies just may make an appearance in my next work," he says with a wink and a smile.
"Pilot who needs no engines
The Son of the Sun
Iomedae's favored one"
[b]"The real man of false action
Must face down dawn's fate
To avert catastrophe."
As he gives Shrike her autograph he asks "Which part of Castrovel?" and will chat up his homeworld.
|
|
A bald human wearing blue robes and spectacles
"Well met, Gunnz. Well met, Azara.". Ohmarc politely bows. "It is nice to meet other Starfinders who are giving so much to our universe."
"Greetings. I am Sister Chaplain Lanius Shrike, paladin in service of the goddess Iomedae. You may simply call me Lady Shrike, if you prefer."
"Ahh, Lady Shrike!" Ohmarc says with a smile of recognition. "It is so nice to see you again after that episode with the Dustwarren race. I still cannot believe that we won, even after facing off with pirates. I am pleased that you too volunteered to help with the evacuation of Kortos IV. This sounds far more meaningful that a simple race. We have people to save!"
Ohmarc would have made an effort to gather information on the Order of the Dawning Fate.
|
|
Yuqab grins at Azara's poem (especially the part about him), and greets the new arrivals with a nod and a mock salute. "I read about that mission in Braerton. That one sounded like a hoot!". His's attention seems split as he speaks, however, as he thinks back to Kortus IV and the Order of Dawning Fate.
Ohmarc is a veritable trove of information. Everyone is certain he spends time editing Wikisphere in his downtime!
The Order of Dawning Fate is a powerful and mysterious criminal organization who keep their secrets close and their presence hidden. Despite a century of successful operations— marked by extensive criminal activity, political manipulation, spycraft, and financial success—the Order of Dawning Fate remains known to only a few outside of its inner circle. Most who work on the Order’s behalf do so through intermediaries, shell corporations, and other fronts and remain unaware of their true masters.
Four years ago, agents of the Starfinder Society fought and killed Iroiveth, a founder of the Order of Dawning Fate, and determined that this unknown criminal had a connection to the Starfinder Society. Last year, Iroiveth’s sister, Evethriel, incited a prison break within the Society’s Adamantine Bastille to assassinate several prisoners and freed the meddlesome ysoki Datch. In the following months, the Starfinders discovered that Iroiveth and Evethriel were part of a larger, unidentified criminal syndicate, which they dubbed the Organization.
The Order of Dawning Fate was founded by seven ex-Starfinders—criminals who used their position as Starfinders to obscure and facilitate numerous crimes, including the murder of Venture-Captain Koerah, ancestor to Venture-Captain Arvin. The Order is led by Zhaneni, who has inspired loyalty bordering on fanaticism in her followers. Information on Zhaneni is sparse, but she’s known to utilize a machine capable of divining the future with uncanny accuracy, which is likely the reason that the Order seems to always know what their foes are up to, cover their tracks, and slip away. Three other founders of the Order of Dawning Fate remain at large: the mechanic Kebzec, the mystic Evethriel, and the undead solarian Sozirenn.
Dozens of Starfinders have gathered in a large briefing room aboard the Master of Stars, flagship of the Starfinder Society, to hear First Seeker Ehu Hadif speak. “Thank you for your bravery, Starfinders. As you know, we’ve spent much of this year tracking down and foiling the machinations of a mysterious criminal syndicate we dubbed the Organization. Thanks to the tireless work of agents like yourselves, we’ve identified the Organization as a fanatical group called the Order of Dawning Fate and discovered that they have dire plans already in motion that threaten the lives of millions of innocents, all to claim this—finitrium.” Ehu Hadif raises a hand to hold aloft a small piece of green stone. “A starmetal with no known applications.”
After a pause, he continues, “Yet the Order has found a way to use this material to power a machine capable of divining the future with unparalleled accuracy. They have gone to extreme lengths to obtain finitrium, up to and including the conquest of the town we’re about to visit: [b]Braerton, a colony on Kortus IV that was erased from Pact Worlds records by agents of the Order, who then conquered Braerton solely so the Order could claim ownership of Kortus IV’s finitriumdeposits. Now, these mines are played out, and Braerton has outlived its usefulness. The Order of Dawning Fate is moving in to destroy everything—the mines, the town, and all the people in it. We’re their only hope.”[/b]
Fitch steps forward, casting her hands out to summon a holographic display of the planet Kortus IV. “Kortus IV is a forested planet with a single settlement, the mining colony of Braerton. It’s got a very small population, numbering somewhere in the thousands. We don’t know what kind of forces the Order has stationed there, but we do know that Kortus IV is protected by automated defenses, including a network of launch pads that deploy combat drones into orbit. Coupled with the rumors that suggest the Order can apparently see the future and read our every move, and I’d say we’re going into a very dangerous situation. Expect heavy resistance.”
“You’ve each been allocated to different teams—check your comm units for specifics. Half our teams will engage in starship combat against the drones and any ships sent in by the Order of Dawning Fate, while the rest will enter drop pods programmed to get you to the surface fast. It’s a bumpy ride, so strap in tight. On the surface, your goal is to get as many people to safety as possible. Each team has been assigned different search areas, so stick to your orders and keep the sweeps tight. Send all civilians to the launch pad for evac. Once the skies are ours, starships will land there and ferry people up to the Master of Stars. Remember: stay alert and stay alive. Any questions?”
|
|
Azara examines his comm unit then looks up at the group that has gathered near him with a smile.
"Serendipity steps in.
Old friends and new friends
Will save Braerton from its doom."
He looks around. "Are we hoping for ship or drop pod?" he asks them, half listening to the flurry of questions that have gone up from other groups.
"Drop Shuttle is your assignment. Kortus IV is not a part of the Pact Worlds, making it well outside the jurisdiction of the Stewards and anyone else we might call on for aid. While some of our allies have answered my request for volunteers—notably members of the Stewards, the Obsidian Spiders, and the Veskarium—they join us in an unofficial capacity. If the people of Braerton are to live through this attack, it falls to us to save them. In short, we NEED agents with your level of experience on this one.”
"Any other questions?"
Fitch replies, “Teamwork! I'm quite confident. Half of our teams will pilot starships, whose primary goal is to destroy the drones and punch through the Order’s defenses, clearing a path for our drop pods to make landing. In short, your fellow Starfinders have your back. After the skies are secure, these same starships will evacuate civilians from the landing pad to the Master of Stars.”
|
|
Lady Lanius smiles and she brings her gauntlet covered fist into her palm. "My old mercenary unit used to favor hot drops into combat zones. Shrike Squad was renowned for their rapid insertions and deadly assaults. It feels like a lifetime ago when they were giving me basic grav training."
The normally stern woman's face lights up with excitement. "We won't let you down, Fitch. We'll cut through the enemy like the sword of the Goddess herself and get those people out of there."
To Ohmarc, "Well, I don't know if it's true, but they ARE too good at keeping one step ahead of us."
The Second Seeker calls an end to the meeting, "Time to fly Starfinders. I'm sorry it's not a dogfight Gunnz. They can't all be."
The launch bays are packed with teams of Starfinder agents running along gantries and hurriedly performing last-second checks to their ships. The bay reeks of petroleum and sweat. To the right, a team of Starfinders, Red Team, board a scarred Drake vessel. Two of the agents are bickering playfully, while the leader quickly checks their wrist-mounted camera display. Beside them, a nervous looking ysoki boards a drop pod labeled “Blue Team.”
Tara Nova then waves you over, She's got the easy smile of a vidcaster, and she flashes it your way with a firm handshake. "I'm tasked with ensuring that Blue Team’s drop pod punches through the Order’s orbital defenses and makes it to the surface of Kortus IV in one piece. I promise to keep Blue Team safe 'on the drop.'"
Soon, a klaxon signals that there are ten minutes until emergence from the Drift, which encourages Red Team to bid you farewell and board your starship. In parting, Tara drops some well wishes, “I hope this goes well. More than that, I hope we all come back in one piece. Stay safe out there.”
A nervous ysoki with white fur pushes down her anxiety as shefinishes packing her supplies. “You’re here. I’ve been waiting. I’m Ongie. I escaped from Braerton a long time ago, and whatever they’ve told you, I didn’t need saving.” Ongie huffs a bit, then offers a nod of thanks. “I do appreciate this, though. The people living on Kortus IV don’t have any choice in helping the Order of Dawning Fate. That town has been their prison their whole lives and there’s no way out. Not alive, anyway. We can’t leave them to die.” Ongie slings her pack onto her back, then checks her pistol, making sure it’s loaded. “I haven’t been to Braerton in years, but I’ll do my best to escort you around. We’ve got the major sites on our checklist, so we’ll have to keep a brisk pace. I hope you’re as skilled as Ehu assured me you were.” Ongie holsters her gun, then sits in her seat, strapping herself into the drop pod’s safety harness. “You should know that my father’s still down there. His name’s Roget. I’m not leaving until I find him.”
Ongie's face softens as it's obvious that you're no neophyte agents, “We’re expected to land in the eastern farmlands. From there, I’m leading you west, to Founder’s Square at the town’s center. After you secure the square, we have three major sites on the edge of Founder’s Square to sweep: the hospital, town hall, and Braerton Sanctuary. Then we’re heading further west into the residential sector to sweep the community center. With that done, we’ll need to rendezvous at the landing pad south of town for evacuation or further orders.”
There's a pause, "I'm honestly not sure. I think in this chaos, there will be little in the way of subtlety. I hope friend and foe will be obvious."
One final klaxon sounds as the Master of Stars leaves the Drift,
entering space in orbit of Kortus IV. As you emerge, a viewscreen
in the drop pod displays the scene unfolding outside.
The sky above Kortus IV burns.
From around the planet’s orbital ring, automated defense platforms spill a blizzard of drone fighters that fly into battle alongside waiting warships emblazoned with the black and gold sigil of the Order of Dawning Fate. Starfinder vessels light up space with searing blazes of laser fire. No sooner are the ships launched than the drones return fire. The comms crackle to life, and Ehu’s voice strains to conceal fear. “They… they were expecting us. All starship teams, target the platforms! Punch through! All gunners aboard the Master of Stars, target those warships! Take them down!” Explosions start to fill the sky like newborn stars.
The Starfinders are joined by allies who arrive a few tense moments later, dropping out of the Drift to fill the orbit of Kortus IV with ships. As well as bringing their own squadron of ships, the Order has control of the planet’s defense platforms, which spill out automated drones to attack any ship which draws too close to its surface.
After a few tense minutes, an opening is cleared between the drones and drop pods start to fill the sky. The voice of Tara Nova crackles through the your comms. “You’ve got your opening, Blue Team! Launch now!”
When you press the launch switch, the drop pod is blasted from the Master of Stars like a torpedo, punching through the atmosphere at high speed and then plummeting down through the sky. While the launch begins with the sensation of movement and high speed, when gravity takes hold, you feel like your falling at terminal velocity—an uncomfortable feeling in a drop pod you have no control over. When the drop pod nears the ground, its rockets activate, slowing its descent to safer levels. A few moments later, the pod slams violently into the ground, dredging up a plume of debris and soil. You are buffeted back and forth in your seats, but are kept safe by multiple safety restraints, although the landing is not remotely pleasant.
No sooner have you landed than Fitch radios in. “Blue Team, we’ve got two squadrons already closing on your location. Get out of the pod and into town, fast!”
Once you’ve evacuated the drop pod, Ongie hurredly leads you west through the farmlands at a brisk pace, urging you to stay low.
A few minutes later, an explosion sends shockwaves through the ground—a drone strike targeting you drop pod.
This explosion is followed up by a barrage of gunfire unleashed by a squadron of Order soldiers. Ongie urges you to take cover and stay out of sight to avoid being spotted— "Blue Team’s mission is to visit the assigned locations and evacuate civilians, not get pinned down battling all the enemy forces they encounter in their way!"
This is no adventure this is a warzone.
|
|
Azara listens to the briefing quietly, trying to take in all the information. He hasn't been here before and Tara is a new face to him.
His eyes snap up to the speaker as more and more information about how bad things are going are fed to them after they're strapped into the pod.
"It's a trap!" he exclaims, his voice oddly wet when he says it.
Yet, he does not flinch, just breaths deep, his solar moat flaring where it hovers between his antennae.
"Just like Der Stuka back on Absalom Station!" he declares at the beginning of the drop pod launch, referencing a famous thrill ride.
"Ugh...but they could work on the landing," he continues.
He doesn't hesitate when Fitch's warning comes in and piles out of the pod first, his pistol in one hand and his solar weapon - an ankh that he holds by the loop while the tail extends like a blade - in the other.
|
|
"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee" giggles Gunnz all the way down... right until the sudden stop at the bottom. Even she doesn't ask "Can we do it again.." but you can see the thought was in her mind right up until the end.
After getting out of the pod, it seems her t-shirt has managed to change itself into something a little close to normal Starfinder-combat wear. And suddenly the giggly girl is all business, slipping into shadows as the team approaches town.
|
|
As the drop pod descends, Sister Chaplain Lanius Shrike retrieves a censer from her belt. She holds it in front of her, motioning across the strapped-in crew. It's smoke is odorless, and likely crafted to not cause issue in pressurized compartments.
"O Spirit of Golarion, bless these warriors as they go forth to do your good work. Bless us with bravery and valor in the face of these villains. Guide our blades and our reticles so that we may strike true in your name. Deliver unto us the weak and sick and the innocent so way may deliver them from evil."
Her prayer intensifies as the drop pod's landing is imminent. "May we strike the earth like your armored fist to deliver justice!"
The chaplain is the first to step out, blade and pistol in hand. "As expected, they were ready. I've no doubt their visions foretold of their inevitable defeat. Come, let us bring their prophecy to life!"
As you near the fringes of town, you reach a farm that’s been destroyed. Its farmhouse reduced to a mound of burnt debris and its fields blanketed with white and gray ash so thick it looks like snow. Ongie gasps at the sight of it and dashes out into smoldering ruins, pleading for her father to answer.
You don't find Roget, but you do find an unconscious ysoki in the field, half-buried in ash. Everyone moves quickly to rescue him.
Everyone except Ohmarc. At the last second the mystic notices that it's a trap! It's a robotic assassin! Two more emerge from the ruins!
SURPRISE:
Ohmarc: Go
ROUND 1
Lanius: Go
Gunnz: Go
Azara: Go
Yuqab: Go
Assassin: TBD
Ohmarc: TBD
******************************************
Red:
Blue:
Black:
In the opening seconds of battle, the party learns a lot. Gunnz learns taht while they're vulnerable to her style, they do't bleed. Lanius learns that their synthetic skin is harder than it looks, though she cuts deep. Lady Shrike also knows a lot about this model. They're weak to fire as it messes with their synthetic skin, and that it'll take some magical fire to halt their regenerative process!
SURPRISE:
Ohmarc: Go
ROUND 1
Lady Shrike: Hit
Gunnz: Hit
Azara: Go
Yuqab: Go
Ishkitik: Go
Assassin: TBD
Ohmarc: TBD
******************************************
Red:
Blue:
Black: 63
Ohmarc has just the right tool for the job!
Azara dashes forward, connecting, but not shoving the robot.
ROUND 1
Lady Shrike: Hit
Gunnz: Hit
Azara: Fire
Yuqab: Go
Ishkitik: Go
Assassin: TBD
Ohmarc: TBD
******************************************
Red:
Blue:
Black: 91 (Regen off in Round 2)
Ishkitik wings the assassin robot, if the shot landed a little more exactly, it may have destroyed it.
Meanwhile Yuqab heads after the one flanking the side, landing a shot of his own, though the robot's nanites immediately get to work repairing the damage. It returns fire with a simple pistol:
but misses.
Using the wreckage as cover, the one to the north takes aim at Lady Shrike:
Miss!
The last one opts for fists against Lafy Shrike as well
ROUND 1
Lady Shrike: Hit
Gunnz: Hit
Azara: Fire
Yuqab: Hit
Ishkitik: Hit
Assassin: ATK!
Ohmarc: Go
******************************************
Red:
Blue: 18
Black: 102 (Regen off in Round 2)