GM S's "Disaster at Dreamlink Labs"

Game Master Chris Marsh

We'll begin as soon as everyone's ready. Given the start time, this is NOT part of Gameday.

Mystic 2 Checking In.

”Hey, big guy. Checkin’ in.”

A small ikeshti, wearing sunglasses over his eyes and what looks like a broken piece of a doll on a chain around his neck, nods his greetings.

You each get a summons from Venture-Captain Arvin via comm; time to report to the Lorespire Complex on Absalom Station, the Starfinder Society’s primary base of operations. You find Arvin awaiting your arrival in a comfortable meeting room. He beckons you inside, introduces himself politely to those who do not yet know him, and asks you to be seated...

“Starfinders, thank you for coming,”[b/] Venture-Captain Arvin says. With a gesture, the lights dim, and [b]a holographic image of the Pact Worlds system appears above the conference room table. “I’m sure you’ve heard of Aucturn, a planet that orbited our sun until last year, when it hatched, birthing a godling called the Newborn. Turns out the planet was an egg.” Arvin flicks his wrist and the hologram shifts. The furthest planet from the sun explodes, its debris scattering across the system, with most coming to rest at the ice field at the very fringes of the system—the Gelid Edge.

“It’s not every day a new god emerges, and certainly not in our own backyard, so we aim to learn as much as we can. To that end, I’m dispatching you to Dreamlink Labs, a laboratory in the Gelid Edge operated by a woman named Arta. Arta is a professor associated with Absalom Station’s premier magical academy, the Arcanamirium. She established Dreamlink Labs to study the remains of Aucturn, a material called aucturnite. She claims she’s made an important discovery, but that she needs our help to perform a follow-up investigation.”

“Your mission is twofold. First, I’d like to send a token of the Society’s support to Arta—a sample of Aucturn’s crust taken only hours before the Newborn hatched. Deliver this sample to Dreamlink Labs. Second, meet with Arta and see what she’s up to. If her research seems credible, I’ll work with her to plan next steps.”

"Arvin waves his arm, causing the hologram to vanish. “I’ve got a starship prepped and awaiting you in the hangar. But first, do you have any questions?”

Of average height and average build, a humanoid wearing robes in warm colors and solar motifs enters the waiting room before the briefing. An opaque helmet masks their face for the moment. "Hello. We are Helianthoides," they introduce themselves. When the door to the Venture-Captain's office opens, they quickly follow inside.

A ysoki in a colourful street clothes listens intently to the briefing, excitement apparent in her mousey grey features. "Fun! This sounds easy enough. Just bring the token to Arta, then see what she's up to. I assume she'll be happy to share what she's been doing."

"What ship have you got for us? Can I get a tech spec download? I know the Pegasus class ships well, as it's what my dad likes to fly around in. But I'm good with whatever."

"Oh! The Newborn," they say as Venture-Captain Arvin concludes his briefing. "There will surely be many things of great interest in the region and at Dreamlinks!" They rise on their toes as an expression of eagerness. "You summoned us for this mission in anticipation of something dangerous happening? The regular dangers we always risk, or is there something in particular you're worried might happen?"

Venture-Captain Arvin gives Jewel a crooked smile, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it? The Gelid Edge is a remote ice field on the edges of the Pact Worlds, which has always been dangerous and eerie, filled with occult magic, strange debris, and cosmic predators. Since the birth of the Newborn, the Gelid Edge has also become a hotspot for scientists, Newbornite worshippers, and raiders intent on profiting off them. It's a new era for the Society, you're taking neither Drake nor Pegasus. You'll board the Zephyr Blue, a starship well-suited for speed and exploration. It's usually a couple of days, but a good pilot can navigate the Drift to shorten the trip."

“The Newborn gestated within the planet Aucturn until multiple gods battled on Aucturn over its fate. In the aftermath, the Newborn hatched from its planetary womb and quite a few people chose to worship it. They say it’s an outer god of birth, cosmic horrors, paradigm shifts, and renewal, but I don’t know if that’s what the Newborn is or what people choose to believe of it. I don't PLAN on any trouble, but we need to escort and meet in person. Also ways, be prepared though.”

"Do we have any authority to offer Arta a contract with the Starfinders, or are we just researching what she has been up to and bringing the info back here to you?"

"You can negotiate. See what she has and then simply report back the best deal you can if it becomes a deal. I'm hoping a desire for knowledge will win the day though. You mission is to come back with knowledge."

A small white ysoki waltzes in late and looks approvingly at the other ysokis gathered together for the mission.

"Heya, nice to meet ya, I'm Pipsqueak, the little ysoki with the big gun. What are we doing today?"

She looks at the materials. "Bringing some dirt to some nerd, huh? Oooh, the Zephyr Blue! I hear she handles like a dream."

A wiry Ysoki about four feet tall with snow white fur, black eyes, and a restless energy. His left arm is a gleaming patchwork of metal and wires, always faintly humming. His flight jacket is plastered with old patches and scorch marks. He smells faintly of ozone and engine oil, grins often, and never seems to stop moving.

“Hey there, champs! Name’s Pipp Jetstream—pilot, tinkerer, occasional genius, frequent survivor. This here’s Lefty Mk. IV (points to his metal arm)—don’t shake too hard, she’s sensitive about her wiring. I fly fast and I call it a good day if nothing explodes that wasn’t supposed to. You got a ship that needs flying, a hole that needs patching, or a plan that sounds just crazy enough to work—I’m your rat. Now, who’s buying the first round when we make it back?”

”What’s this mission about? Birthing gods? Are we going to my mom’s place to ask her how she did it?” Pipp starts plotting a course in his mind and mutters. ”It would be worth the trip, she makes a killah ratatouille.”

Helianthoides shifts his feet and fidgets with his fingers as the phrenetic energy increases proportional to the number of ysoki in the room.

Jewel chitters excitedly at the two ysoki joining the group. "Pipp and Pipsqueak! I can't wait for the others to be so confused about who is who!"

Realizing that there might suddenly be some competition, she quickly adds, "Dibs on the pilot's chair!"

Her mind has already drifted off to thoughts about flying the Zephyr Blue. She has no more questions.

Kazi has the opposite reaction to the increasing energy in the room, seeming to retreat into himself as he mutters a barely audible meditation to calm himself.

”Dibs don’t apply when you’re flying with the best the sky has to offer, chief.”

”Dibs don’t apply when you’re flying with the best the sky has to offer, chief.”

"You're right, of course. But since I'm the best AND I called dibs, it's the polite thing to do."

Arvin, his eyes wide at the level of energy, clears his throat, "Well! I hope you can maintain this level of energy through the whole mission!"

Venture-Captain Arvin then gives you a foot-long glass canister that contains a greenish-gold material suspended in a murky liquid. Wisps of black fluid seep out from the edges. He also gives you each one medpatch, "just in case."

Alright Jewel, let's see a Piloting check.

Helianthoides reaches out to accept the canister. Noting the wisps of fluid escaping, they ask, "Is this safe to handle?"

Arvin, his eyes wide at the level of energy, clears his throat, "Well! I hope you can maintain this level of energy through the whole mission!"

Kazi stares at Arvin, equal parts horror and betrayal on his face.

Venture-Captain Arvin then gives you a foot-long glass canister that contains a greenish-gold material suspended in a murky liquid. Wisps of black fluid seep out from the edges. He also gives you each one medpatch, "just in case."

"I recognize the medpatch. Thank you very much. However, what is this murky green stuff? Will it help us?"

Piloting: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Well now... If that's a fail I will hero point
Piloting: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Jewel is very excited by the ship, but is less familiar with the controls than she'd like.

GM S - Starfinder 2e wrote:

Arvin, his eyes wide at the level of energy, clears his throat, "Well! I hope you can maintain this level of energy through the whole mission!"

Kazi stares at Arvin, equal parts horror and betrayal on his face.

I needed this laugh after the week I've had. Take a Hero Point!

Jewel isn't quite as good as expected, and progress is slow. Not to mention, midway through the journey, the starship’s proximity sensors blare alerts as a large structure appears out of nowhere. The structure is visible out the starship’s viewport and on its scanners; it looks artificial and alien, of a style unlike any starship or space station the you've seen before.

Just as swiftly as it appeared, the structure vanishes into the Drift.

On the last day of the journey, you receive a message over the comms...

“This is an automated emergency message from Dreamlink Laboratories. We require urgent assistance! Navigation information encoded. I repeat. This is an emergency message from Dreamlink Laboratories. We require assistance!”

As you land I'll take a Perception check for visual, or Computers check for scanning intel.

When Helianthoides boards the ship, they remove their helmet. A dark-skinned human appearing woman shakes their hair loose and smiles. "What fun! A ship full of ysoki pilots all competing for the stick." They do not appear to be being facetious at all. It is worth noting that their voice is now feminine and distinctly different from earlier.

Helianthoides is rather gregarious, happy to chat in the mess or keep the pilot of the day entertained on the bridge. However, it is difficult to tell what exactly they are good at doing. They are comically bad with computers, only have a rudimentary understanding of piloting, and are no good at trivia.

One day, while gazing out the window, they shout, "Did you see that? It was another ship. Very uncommon configuration."

Spoiler: Perception (E): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

"Ah. See? I knew Arvin was expecting trouble," they comment as the Zephyr Blue picks up the distress transmission. "Hopefully, it isn't just engineering trouble or I'll just get in the--oh, um, I should hope it is just engineering problems and there are no rampaging mutants taking over the labs."

Landing: Perception (E): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Arcana/Occultism: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

"Yeah, I saw it too. Conical shape, spires or tendrils coming out of it. It all moved randomly too. Definitely something occult about it."

As they make their landing, Jewel punches a few commands in her wrist console, getting a reading of things.
Computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
"Huh. Might need to recalibrate this thing."

"Maybe land with visuals," Helianthoides suggests. "Allow me to help."

Computers to scan the weird structure: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

They shrug and scratch their head, then go back to ignoring the antics of their shipmates.

------

Computers to scan during landing: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

"I have a bad feeling about this mission..."

Computers 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Arcana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

"What the heck is that thing? Some kinda space squid?"

Computers 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Pipsqueak runs a solid preliminary scan of the station and determines it’s structurally unharmed and both life support and artificial gravity are operational. Helianthoides spots a small, bug-like black shuttle clinging to the bottom of the station’s hull. It looks like it'd be a simple spacewalk to check that out. Main mission or this interesting find?

”Look there!” they say, pointing out the view port. ”That ship must be part of the trouble.”

"What an interesting find! I say we check it out!"

The shuttle clinging to the underside of Dreamlink Labs latched onto the station’s exterior and burrowed through the hull. After a short examination, they discover the seal between shuttle and station is airtight, and the secondary entry hatch into the shuttle is locked. You can try to open with a Computers check to Hack, a Thievery check to Pick a Lock, or a Athletics check to Force Open.

”All of this high tech stuff looks beyond me. Take me to the natural world anytime!”

Rolo casts detect magic periodically to see if anything gives off an aura of magic.

"Let's expedite this," Helianthoides says as you reach the sealed hatch. Their body ripples under their armor, and then everything expands. Yellow bat wings sprout from their back as their body grows in size. A masculine and slightly sibilant voice says through their comms, "Brute force, then."

Athletics (T): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Helianthoides easily forces open the door. Sickly green lights inside the shuttle illuminate an interior made of an oily black material. From inside, it’s clear the shuttle latched on to Dreamlink Labs with a mechanized array modeled after insectoid legs. The shuttle’s maximum capacity is six.

There's a lot you can do to investigate:

Jewel, like her father, is naturally drawn to solving problems at the press of a keyboard. She resists, instead taking a moment to look around with her keen eyes.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Helianthoides squeezes their enlarged frame into the unfamiliar shuttle, keeping an eye out for dangers. Their helmet retracts back and reveals a yellow-scaled dragonkin's face.

Perception (E) (low-light): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Jewel and Helianthoides both immediately start poking around. There's a cabinet that holds mostly liquid food, including bulbs filled with viscous black fluid. The bulbs don’t have any noticeable openings or labels. Discarded under one of the shuttle chairs, you find two jump spell amps.

Computers
Crafting
Piloting
Nature, Medicine, or Religion
Society

Pipp checks it out with a pilot’s lens.

Piloting: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Pipp looks at the ship. The shuttle is not intended for extended travel. It’s occupants likely need to dock frequently at another starship or space station to survive.

Computers
Crafting
Nature, Medicine, or Religion
Society

Helianthoides the dragonkin looks over the bulb-like containers of fluid. Food? They look through the ship with a clinician's eye, trying to deduce some of the characteristics of the crew of this ship.

Computers: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Kazi thinks about what sort of people might have created the shuttle.

Society: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Rolo uses his medicine background to investigate.

Medicine: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Crafting: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

The team continues to investigate this strange find. The black liquid in the bulbs is ichor found on the former planet of Aucturn. Rumor has it that when ingested, it acts as an addictive hallucinogen and provides no nutritional value.All text inside the ship is written in Aklo....

It seems that's all you can glean. There's a hatch that leads directly into the station from here. No need to go outside again.