"Good one boss! Can you make him tell us everything he knows!?" DR34-M12 shouted over her own return blaster fire.
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DR34-M12 opened fire on the nearest thief, though the android seemed more concerned with the excitement of being in a firefight than winning it. Her blaster fire going wildly into the air above the thief's head.
DR34-M12 dived for the nearest cover and pulled out her pulsecaster. Her circuits pulsating. She loved the smell of blaster fire, smelled like excitement. With a flip of her finger her headphones started blasting music, providing a soundtrack to the action.
"I've got the delivery detes but I couldn't find much on the net. Let's head down there. I can slice the local grid and you can do your analog thing." DR34-M12 slammed the rest of her drink then rose to leave.
"Okay well my boss is all in business mode so I've got to go take care of that. Call me?" DR34-M12 said as she flipped a burner comm line to dancing android. But the bad news is that I didn't investigate as well as Dreams danced, and I haven't found out where to look for them yet. Any ideas where to start? "Well if the cell isn't activated it will be hard to find them." DR34-M12 said as she sat down and grabbed a drink. "The med shipment is our only real lead, so we dig as deep as we can on that. Let's go poke around where it was supposed to go to."
DR34-M12 smirked as a fellow android joined her. The tight fit of his clothing showing off the synthetic muscle beneath. Mimicking a fishing line, DR34-M12 reeled him in and began to bump and grind. "I like your hair!" She said with a bright smile.
While Himo went the analogue route for gathering information, DR34-M12 decided to do something interesting with her time. Striding over to the automated music-playing device, the android loaded it with credits and quickly put together a playlist. A slow electronic beat began to click over the bar's speakers. The slow opening gave DR34-M12 time to loudly drag several tables and chairs out of the way. By the time the bass dropped, she had created her own little dance floor and was ready to shake it. Her circuits glowing brightly in a rainbow cascade. Her feat and legs stepped to quickly match the rhythm of the beat while her hands and arms flailed against it.
Himo, Declan, and I seem to be the only ones here.
The holographic display of DR34-M12's custom kit illuminated the bridge as the android began a search. Her search was twofold, but ultimately for the same thing. To check what targets or valuables the Emerald Claw might be after and which of those would be vulnerable to the crew's own delinquency. "Well I'll check if there is anything workable. Let's head down to the concourse and get some food."
"Well clearly the local security forces are less than optimal. We can either get involved and solve it for credits ooor we could plan a little crime of our own and try to pin it on the Claw." The android's circuits pulsed rapidly as she processed in excitement.
DR34-M12 spun around in her chair as Himo entered the bridge. "Well that sure was something. Let's deliver the goods and get paid. Are we thinking we try to stay and squeeze some more credit outta this or just bounce before we get caught up in any ganic nonsense?"
"So I guess it'd be real easy to do some crime and blame it on someone else here huh?" DR34-M12 said over the commline. More a suggestion than a question.
"I don't think these guys even read my report! Someone make sure they know about the Emerald Claw. And make sure they don't plant any evidence!" DR34-M12 said over the closed comm channel.
"Good job Pax, keep'em busy!" DR34-M12 sent a message to Pax's feed.
DR34-M12 manipulated her feeds to get a face scan of each of the port authority members.
As the docking sequence completed, DR34-M12 threw her feet up on console. Putting on her earphones, the sound of goblincore filled her audio receptors as she pulled up numerous feeds of the ships cameras. "Suits onboard, optical feeds open." The android said to the rest of the crew over a closed comm channel.
"Okay, buckle up!" DR34-M12 Yelled over the comms. Her landings might not be as smooth as Seo's, but the android had a lot more fun. Though whether the rest of the crew felt that way, DR34-M12 had not bothered to ask.
"Of course. We're happy to cooperate." DR34-M12 said in her best sickly sweet voice before closing the comm channel and blowing a raspberry at the Port Authority. "Well we're getting inspected, make sure to hide anything illegal." DR34-M12 said over the comm as she initiated the landing sequence.
"I still don't think we should demand payment from people who are already having a hard time," grumbles Pax, but he has stated this opinion before and it has always been overruled. That's just the way things work out here, the others always told him. Maybe it was, but that didn't mean he had to like it. "Aww, it's so cute that you care Pax." DR34-M12's tone was sincere, even if her words were patronizing. "Look once we save the colony from a terrorist attack and get a giant reward, we'll make a donation to one of those nice ganic charities. Yeah?"
Everyone else still with us?
And also significantly increases the importance of awards from the mission customer - usually all major purchases are made with this money. I like having mission rewards being a big impact, and I like being able to find major loot. The problem is that so much gear needs to be replaced every 2-3 levels or you fall behind the curve. That awesome rifle you got from your rival eventually becomes outdated garbage, and you can only trade or break it down for 10% of the value. So hopefully the upgrade system will take care of that problem. Both in being able to upgrade stuff, and in the return in value.
I think we will really contact the authorities and warn them. "But...traitors?" DR34-M12 halfheartedly replied, unable to come up with a better reply and having previously had poor luck with 'I don't want to'. Still, the android began compiling a report on their findings.
Yeah having fun so far.
DR34-M12 starts the standard landing request and flight path planning while Seo is below deck. "We're on approach for the colony. If anyone needs to use the bathroom, now's the time."
Yeah the murder market economy is one of Starfinder's weaker aspects. Anything you buy that has to be replaced is just burning credits. Way better to spend it on personal upgrades and the like and just use the garbage you find for armor and weapons. I always felt players should have a similar system for equipment as BP for ships.
Well I was going to suggest a tracking bug or something but holy crap! They are expensive and they kinda suck. I was definitely more thinking leaving a phone in the box or an airtag or something. On Starfinder Enhanced, narrative starship combat and equipment upgrades have caught my attention the most. I've always preferred to keep trusty gear at my side than picking up the garbage of every 3rd person I kill.
"Great!" DR34-M12 exclaimed as the credits cleared. "See, all of this would have been a lot easier if you'd just come to us with a quest and credits." The android said, her demeanor instantly shifting now that the hitcher was a client. "When we land we need to keep an eye on that crate. The claw might have people on it. Do you think we should alert the port authority or should we assume they have traitors?" It was clear DR34-M12 was hoping there would be traitors and was maybe getting a bit worked up about things.
They are a terrorist organization that is supposedly fighting for Karrnath. To be blunt, your "roll" has led you deeper into the organization. They are connected to the blood of Vol, and it is said their true leader is the undead Lady Vol. Numerous holo-displays fed steams of data as DR34-M12's attention turned to research while the other's searched for poison. "Whoa, I thought the Emerald Claw were just two-bit "Free Karrnath" terrorists but they're hooked up with the Blood of Vol? Himo, doesn't your court have like a quest of vengeance against them or something?" The android's circuits were a bright rainbow of colors as her excitement continued to grow. "A fare? How much?" Arquand asks. "50 credits a day. 50 more if you want bathroom privileges and 50 more more if you want food and water." DR34-M12 coldly replied.
Ahhhh! I know! They must be different competing gangs... or cults... and probably they have a gang war, or a cult war, or there interests are clashing in some other way. "Yeah, Seo's got the right idea." Do you know that you owe us a fare? "Good looking out Himo! And he owes us for saving his brother! And and the colony owes us for their Emerald Claw problem we're totally going to solve!"
"Yeah let's dig into this! I want to know what the claw is up to. Plus we can probably sell our serveries to the port authority!"
You know a red android as a member of the Order of the Emerald Claw. He could be the same one, as he called himself "Bloody Claw." DR34-M12 continued to berate assumptions about androids before reviewing her logs. "...Wait did he say a red android? You don't think that was the "Bloody Claw" do you? That'd certainly make things more interesting huh!?"
Yeah, excited to see what is all in there.
"Oooohhhh of course the 'ganic blames an android!" The annoyed voice of DR34-M12 came over the comm line. "And how does this so called Arquand know it's poison huh? It's probably just drugs. Oh hey it's probably drugs! Deeco, cast 'find drugs'!"
"WHAT!? This guy doesn't have any bounties on him. He's just some loser with Lycanthropy. Ugghh!" DR34-M12's Circuits dimmed in disappointment as she threw her hands up in frustration. "That doesn't change the dataset at all. Okay just check his pockets then toss him out the airlock or whatever..." The android slumped down in her seat to pout.
DR34-M12 will run his face scan and name to pull up any info and bounties.
Dreams has a "waiting in line" torture sim she can't wait to test out on some poor soul. Pretty standard fair time perception manipulation to make hours seem like days/weeks. The real trick is your data pad is at 7% and not connecting well. You keep getting the hope that it will connect and you can browse a bit, but it never actually does. Plus you get the anxiety that it will die soon.
"Oh right, they made me remove the microphones. Okay just get on your knees, put your hands up, and don't try anything unless you like experimental simulation torture!" DR34-M12's voice echoed over the speakers before she cut the line. "Hey Seo, I can't hear him but he doesn't look armed." A much calmer voice came over the group comm channel. "I say bust in and take him down with your mad ninja skills. We can figure out what's what when he's tied up!"
"Okay rat boy, you got guns on one side and the dark void of space on the other. I'd start talking if I were you!" DR34-M12's voice cackled over the ships intercom system. An open comm line allows any of the crew to speak as well.
"It had to be Himo's good vibes! Oh I can't wait to analyze the data on this one."
"Hey Seo, should I monitor the feeds or go back up the boys?"
A growl accompanied the flat expression on their face as they swiveled out of their station and checked their pistol. "Th'only ride that'll be hitched is th'one out o'th'airlock." Stomping out of the section, they were muttering curses the entire way. "Yeah, out the airlock!" DR34-M12 cheered her crewmate on. It's a wererat, part man -- part rat. "Wait no! This hitcher is worth money! Scans are showing a wererat."
We should be there in no time, you can relax now. I'll alert you before we leave hyperspace. In the meantime, is everyone accounted for? "Here!" DR34-M12 unnecessarily said from behind Seo before doing a quick scan to locate the rest of the crew. You hear some knocking in the hold. It's like someone trying to get your attention. "UGGHH! Did another 'ganic hitch a ride!?" With a groan the android expanded her scan to determine who, or what, was in their hold.
Probably makes sense though to deduct all expenses we have during missions and everything we need to restock´, fuel and run the ship before sharing personal gains. "Oh! I could create a management VI to take care of that." The hardlight display of DR34-M12's custom kit came to life as the android furiously got to work.
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