"Sounds less boring than what we have been doing...that is when unexpected things do not happen like they did during our last cargo transport job." Marcellus tells Tarika as he retrieves his crystal ball, "You know who the deciding factors are for me, Tarika. Cookie went to the food market to purchase some fast-selling ingredients before the the vendor sells them all. He should be joining us for breakfast soon."
"What do the rest of you want to do?"
Vegoia shrugs at Tarika's question.
"He's been awful quiet since the berry job went sour. I think he may be wondering if he should've followed the old captain and retired himself..."
She sighs a bit.
"I'd miss his cooking," she says. "BUT he deserves to take it easy if that's what he wants! Not begrudging him that decision! After dodging that plasma bolt with the Golden League, I'd be considering other options too."
Then her antennae perk up as she realizes she's got the perfect segue to the new topic.
"Options like this "Future Profitable" gig. Who's your contact?
While they chat, Vegoia orders an enormous drink that appears to be less a coffee drink and more a milkshake with a couple shots of espresso thrown in the blender.
"I'll have to feed you all some of my bakin' " he laughs but then crosses his arms and pretends to be serious "Yes, better business an all that"
Dosheen-45 orders an electrolytic drink.
"I too am interested in this potential profit," the android tells Tarika.
"Do you have any specific items you enjoy baking?" he asks Makaleku.
"Snacks. Biscuits. Cookies. Bread. So more of a baker than a cook I guess?" he shrugs with a toothy smile
Tarkia listens to your responses and small talk as she sips some blue concoction that somehow still smells like coffee.
She raises her eyebrow at Vegoia's request for the contact's name.
"Well. As for that... how about I let her introduce herself". . She then steps away from the group for a moment and raises here planetwide communicator (Cell Phone) and speaks into it for a moment before returning to the group.
"She'll be here in about 5 minutes. She's close-by on her ship. I can tell you what I do know. Recently a map to an unexploited area of space came up at an auction and the EJ company was able to make a successful bid. They are eager to explore this new area and have hired my friend to put together a crew to carry out some tasks there.".
"The only information known about this place is its location and name: Oamnil, in a system called Kazmurg's Absurdity. Traveling Kazmurg’s Absurdity is challenging, even for experienced explorers. It’s a shattered region of space, where navigating between star systems requires maps, a retrofitted starship, and a captain foolish enough to expose their crew to its hazards; the Drift won’t help you here. Crews still brave it, though, as being first to survey a new location usually brings fame and a substantial paycheck".
"Ah here comes Captain Vonda now".
A thrill-seeking female astrazoan explorer. approaches the group with a smile, and a quick hug for Tarika.
She then turns to the group. "I'm Captain Vonda of the "Galaxsea Hopper". I've been hired to transport a group of explorers to this Oamnil. Never been myself... but always up for a challenge. Maybe you can tell me a bit about your skills, and we can determine if you'll be able to meet the mission objectives".
"My name is Dosheen-45. Many call me Dosh as an abbreviation," the android says. "I am a decent pilot of starships. I also navigate the infosphere fairly well. I've been trained in security basics such as disabling locks and hacking, not for illegal purposes. I would attempt to infiltrate systems to determine where security flaws existed. This was years ago, when I helped build starships."
"Always up for a challenge myself. Vegoia is the name. Suppose you could call me the group's "strong-gal," as such."
She flexes a bicep and her stellar mote manifests orbiting her head.
"I'm a solarian, mostly self-taught. I'm not one of those high-and-mighty types you might see up in the Eye. What do they call themselves, "Empty Orbit" or something? Plus, I'm our group's negotiator and kinda strategist. I'm good at talking to people, in any way that matters. I've...briefly been the captain of our little group, but after barely salvaging that deal on Akiton, I don't imagine I'll remain so much longer."
Marcellus stands up and extends his right arm out to shake the captain's hand.
"Hi, Captain Vonda. I am Marcellus Magravi. Some might consider me a scholar on Golarion though I do not consider myself as such. I more than dabble in the knowledge of languages. I am currently fluent in seven languages and currently teaching myself the ancestral language of androids, Androffan. Azlanti, Draconic and Vesk are among the languages I am fluent in. I can also cast a number of spells, including magical healing and detecting the presence of magic."
The blueish purple skitter salutes the new Captain
"Makaleku, at your service cap'n! Good at sneak'n, huggin, steerin and I bake on the side!" he pronounces proudly
"You seem like a good enough group... and I trust Tarika... so let me share the mission objectives with you and let me know when you'll be available to depart. If you can achieve the objectives, they'll be a 250-credit bonus each in addition to any loot you recover on the mission".
She then opens her datapad and displays it for you guys to share.
"Here is what the company wants to achieve. Me and my crew's objective is to get you there and back as safely as possible".
This is what's on the display.
* Record a meteor shower caused by Oamnil’s ring deteriorating.
* Catalog the flora and fauna of a local ecosystem.
* Survey three types of terrain.
Vegoia looks over the mission objectives and "hmmms" a bit.
"Don't have much experience in scientist stuff, but I can probably take a crash course or two."
She looks over to Dosheen-45.
"You're the brains of this crew, Dosh. Got any recommendations on learning apps on the infosphere I can use for the trip out to the Vast?"
"Sorry Captain, lost in thought, well and The Sphere, well ... prayer too."
N'than's smile is fairly sheepish, for N'than
"N'than, Techno ... and Chosen of Triune. At your service."
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"Well you all seem to be my best choice at the moment. Can you all be ready to leave at 5 bells first thing tomorrow morning"?
She then stands and gives Tarika a quick hug.
"Any questions before we leave"?
Tarika reaches for the bill and shakes off any offers to pay.
"I got this. I feel bad for your misfortune on the last mission".
Marcellus concentrates as he focuses on his crystal orb and brings up the visual of the timeline the twins are in. As expected they are sitting with Tarika and the others discussing something with Captain Vonda. The twins and the rest of their crew are agreeing to work for Captain Vonda.
He then dismisses the view within the glass ball, "Five bells. Where at? Here or somewhere else?"
The crew arrives at the Galaxsea Hopper ln time the next morning after quick goodbyes to Tarika. As the crew begins its delivery journey.
Captain Vonda gives a quick update on the ship modifications for travel in Kazmurg’s Absurdity
She then introduces the group to the ship’s navigator Strither (fastidious male ysoki astronomer), medical officer Doctor Chesvyn (eager unbound lashunta geneticist), and Chief Steward Bonotrope (supportive male skittermander steward) crew the charter shuttle alongside Vonda.
The charismatic human captain of the starship Galaxsea Hopper stretches in her chair. When her arms fully extend, they briefly unfurl into tentacles that stretch and curl far above her head. She winks. A paper-white display next to her shows a map with hand-drawn paths scrawled
between unfamiliar star systems.
"We’re coming up on your destination". the captain says as she points at the furthest visible edge of the map.
"Initial scans show liquid water, non-organic structures, and areas of cultivated plant growth: so gardens and stone-and-wood structures that might be natural or synthetic. Intelligent life has existed on Oamnil, I’d bet on it. A thousand credits says that you’ll find a friend on that rock".
She points to a world marked in a nearby star system that orbits a gas giant.
"Once we arrive, we’ll drop you off, make sure you have time to settle in, and then head out to resupply. If you need to bail before you’re done with your survey, ping us and I’ll bring the Hopper back double quick".
She places a painted miniature of the Galaxsea Hopper down one of the intersecting paths. As she looks over the map, she traces out the next turn with the tiny replica. ship and says, "Now, I’ve an appointment with Strither to finish plotting the arrival course. I’ll update you when we have a timeline for landing".
"Doctor Chesvyn wanted to see you before then. He’s in the medical bay. Bonotrope also has supplies ready for your trip, so you should swing by the galley before you pack up your gear".
Makaleku, to no one surprise, will go to meet and greet with Bono first
As Vonda grows more comfortable with the crew on the trip she, being a natural storyteller, shares some of her adventurous career.
Vonda enjoys discussing current piloting conditions (a bit more debris than normal), her previous adventures in the Absurdity (her favorite story involves shipping fancy coat squoxes to the Cooperative of Worlds), and the different forms she’s developed as an astrazoan (she has what she
calls her “human Pact Worlds face;” a stern, battle-scarred vesk “imperial face;” and a “night out on the town face,” which is a skittermander with iridescent fur).
"You're the brains of this crew, Dosh. Got any recommendations on learning apps on the infosphere I can use for the trip out to the Vast?"
"I will find a suitable learning app for you Captain," Dosheen-45 says.
During the orientation, Dosheen-45 studies the map with the hand-drawn paths and where the miniature Galaxsea Hopper is placed.
"Doctor Chesvyn wanted to see you before then. He’s in the medical bay. Bonotrope also has supplies ready for your trip, so you should swing by the galley before you pack up your gear".
"Thank you Captain Vonda." The android walks with Makaleku down the corridor, but when Makaleku turns in a direction not leading to the doctor, Dosheen-45 stops and consults the ship's map on his comm.
"Maka, I believe the doctor is this way," he points towards the medical bay.