Hack-It's page

Hack-It is quick to take possession of his reward: a new ship that he christens the Moonlit Lady. That it's retrofitted Pegasus class Starfinder ship doesn't seem to bother the mechanic at all. With only a few words exchanged with the crew of the Maiden he leaves for parts unknown.

Of course, Hack-It has transferred a copy of Osteth for his new ship. It provides just enough complications for him to keep him on his toes. Not unlike raising a rebellious adopted teenager.

It takes a few more years, but he recruits several other like-minded ysoki ship captains to his cause. What that cause is is never quite clear, but with Hack-It's infamy as the "Man who pushed the Button" it doesn't take much. Plus they're able to make money. It's never clear how legal the whole operation is, but Hack-It does indeed become Admiral Hack-It. Which suits him just fine.

Somewhat late in life Hack-It meets Memory, a ysoki woman that steals his heart. There is, of course, a litter of children that, of course, are all girls. They're all big fans of Gig's music too, forcing Hack-It to attend more of his old shipmate's shows than he'd like. He complains mightily about this to Memory, who reminds him that "it's for the girls" while also calling him out when he's busted tapping his foot in time to the music.

He never misses an episode of Dunk's vid show, even trying his hand at cooking. None of it is ever edible. He calls the retired Vesk soldier now and then, and weeps for days when he learns of Dunk's passing.

Hack-It never, EVER, checks in on Booker or Janzi.

"Goodbye, a+$++#+s."

He presses the button with zero remorse.

"No. Of course not," Hack-It scoffs, setting to the task of disabling the failsafe.
Computers w/Hack Directory: 1d20 + 34 ⇒ (9) + 34 = 43

Using the 1/book re-roll that we unofficially do...
Engineering: 1d20 + 36 ⇒ (12) + 36 = 48

Per Slack, posting a mysterious Engineering roll...
Engineering: 1d20 + 36 ⇒ (7) + 36 = 43

Hack-It chuckles. "Fine, we leave your name off the kill order."

To the council he says, "It's a bit of a discussion because being part of a ship's crew is complicated. But majority rules when it comes to getting things done, and the majority says you should send those hibernating sivvs into the nearest flaming star. The time of the Sivv Empire is over, and their return would lead to nothing good for the rest of us."

Hack-It punches a few commands into the console, running a query. He smirks when he sees the results. "Take a look for yourself. Soldiers, every last one of them. It's not a resettlement plan, it's an invasion force. Their plan for survival is subjugating the local populate of wherever they invade."

Hack-It relents, his tone softening. "Give it up man. Some folks you just can't save. And this lot doesn't want saving."

"How you planning to find out if they're all soldiers or not, Booker? Because I'm still not hearing how you plan to figure it all out. Only that you don't know."

Hack-It shrugs. "Probably some good salvage off Ark Prime. But once you get the good bits off it, sure. Any sun will do."

"And for the record, I don't want to be talking about the sivv. But since you're making me hear about it, you're going to hear me talk." Hack-It glares at Booker. "And you're right that I don't care about future generations. Their problems are their own to figure out. But the council does care, or at least they're supposed to. So they should hear that."

"And if you think coexistence is such a great idea, maybe you should actually suggest a solution that would work. And then stick around and see it through. But you won't have to, because there isn't one. So stop acting all noble because you aren't going to fix this."

"Why not just interview each? Ask them if they're a murderous a%+!*@+, and kill them if they say yes. Going to feel any better about your conscience then?" Hack-It throws his hands up in exasperation. "Or give the the choice of die or mind wipe? That enough agency to suit your morality?"

Hack-It paces around, hands continuing to gesticulate annoyance. "This is stupid, and it doesn't matter. Whatever choice we make, some group of sanctimonious bastards are going to judge us for it. Pinning that decision on the Starstone Saviours is just a convenient way to be spared political backlash. But fine, if you want the choice to have come from us, so be it."

The ysoki mechanic stops. The next words come out with zero hesitation. "I say kill them all. That way it's over with, and there's no looming threat that'll bite future generations in the ass. Nobody else dies, nobody else has to make a decision. We own it, it's done, and we can move on."

"It's a pretty bold move to ask five people who just spent the better part of who knows how long fighting the sivv this whole question. This is something for the politicians to figure out, not us," Hack-It says, irritation showing. "How often do you ask your army's soldiers this question? After we just saved the cheese for everyone in the solar system, maybe figure this one out yourselves? Because you aren't getting unbiased opinions here."

Hack-It shrugs. "This doesn't really sound like my problem. No offense. But I say do what you want with the. But they're all a%*~~~*s, and I'd be happy to never see one again."

Hack-It complies, sending a broadcast text message to anyone within nearby space a note. It's pretty terse, saying: Good news, we won Full control of the Prime by me, Admiral Hack-It. We got some non-sivvs aboard who want to live, so maybe don't shoot anymore. They want to talk. Ship is set in reverse anyhow for now, moving away from Absalom Station.

To the Council he adds: Job done. Ready to collect payment.

Hack-It executes the code to do what Booker shouted

The mechanic turns his attention back to the computer. "Ok, computer. Time to die."

[ark@localhost] $ su Hack-It
[ark@localhost] $ rm -all
[ark@localhost] $ execute

Hack-It punches a series of commands that delete everything from the system.
Computers: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (15) + 33 = 48

"I can check. Worst case..." Hack-It shrugs and points at the host of grenades that are strapped to him rights now.

He also enters a series of commands to his wrist console, and Hum flies over. The drone transforms, attaching itself as a makeshift jetpack.

Fort save vs DC 30 (Hack-It): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
Fort save vs DC 30 (Hum): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Hack-It manages to resist the pull, and frantically works at the computer with Gig. "You know Gig, if this is the end, I'll say that I'm glad it ended in front of a computer. Despite the music, you're alright."
Computers (Full round): 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (3) + 33 = 36

Forgot to post for Hum

Hack-It's drone follows its most recent command, it's rifle barrel tracking the holo-Booker and firing upon it.
Parallax Laser Rifle vs X: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (5) + 21 = 26
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (5, 6, 2, 2, 4, 1, 2, 6) + 18 = 46

Fort save (Hack-It) vs DC 30: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
Fort save (Hum) vs DC 30: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Hack-It is dragged toward a column, cursing as his fingers leave the controls. He pushes back, muttering under his breath at the computer system before him. "I will break you down into so many undocumented code fragments that no one will ever see your use."

Fingers touch controls as he resumes his hacking.
Computers (Standard action): 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (4) + 33 = 37

Fort save (Hack-It): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
Fort save (Hum): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
FFS

"About time you showed up," Hack-It replies as he moves back to the computer console. "This one is tricky. Race you to crack it?"

Computers: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (10) + 33 = 43

Hack-It continues to struggle with the complex system.

Meanwhile, Hum takes a shot.
Parallax Laser Rifle vs Fake Booker: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (4) + 21 = 25
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (2, 3, 4, 4, 1, 6, 3, 1) + 18 = 42

Fort save vs DC 30 (Hack-It): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30
Fort save vs DC 30 (Hum): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Hack-It holds his ground while Hum is pulled to the column.

The mechanic, who stands in front of the mother of all computers, puts hands to keys and hastens to find the big red button, unplug the cable, jam the power supply, or... hack it.
Computers: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (15) + 33 = 48

Hum takes another shot at holo-Booker. Because it is its master's drone.
Parallax Laser Rifle vs Fake Booker: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (9) + 21 = 30
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (4, 1, 6, 6, 3, 2, 3, 2) + 18 = 45

Fort save vs DC 30 (Hack-It): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28
Fort save vs DC 30 (Hum): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

The two and drawn further into the room.

With Booker's should Hack-It replies, "ON IT!"

The ysoki hacker, for he is indeed a Hacker with a capital H, heads towards the computer at full speed, heedless of the dangers around him.
Activate Haste circuit and double move to get to the computers. This would provoke from the sivv that was beside him

Dragged to share the same space as Booker, Hum fires point blank at the fake Booker.
Parallax Laser Rifle vs Fake Booker: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (11) + 21 = 32
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 4, 6, 2, 6, 3) + 18 = 48

Forgot to move Hum randomly last round
Left 1, Right 2: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Reflex save, DC 22: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24 Half damage to Hack-It
Fort save (Hack-It), DC 30: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
Fort save (Hum), DC 30: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Hum is inexorably dragged towards one of the columns.

"All these extra spawns are real annoying. We need to put that a%+!*&~ down, quick!"

Hack-It and Hum both take multiple shots at Vheiransch, going for broke.
Zenith Laser Pistol vs Vheiransch: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 21 - 4 = 21
Damage (Fire): 8d4 + 15 ⇒ (2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 2) + 15 = 32
Zenith Laser Pistol vs Vheiransch: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 21 - 4 = 31
Damage (Fire): 8d4 + 15 ⇒ (1, 1, 1, 1, 4, 1, 1, 1) + 15 = 26

Parallax Laser Rifle vs Vheiransch: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 21 - 4 = 31
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 3, 5, 2, 2, 5) + 18 = 49
Parallax Laser Rifle vs Vheiransch: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 21 - 4 = 31
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (1, 6, 6, 3, 5, 5, 2, 3) + 18 = 49

Reflex save vs DC 22: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21
Fort save vs DC 30: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17

Reflex save vs DC 22 (Hum): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
Fort save vs DC 30 (Hum): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Hack-It is caught off guard by the grenade, whose impact causes him to be pulled in. The drone fares only a little better, but suffers from being equidistant to a pair pillars.
Damage to Hum: 2d12 ⇒ (4, 9) = 13

"What, no villainous monologue," Hack-It says with seeming disbelief. "All this work to take the fight to Absalom station and you can't even make it count. Disgraceful."

"Fine I'll do," Hack-It says, punching in a series of commands to his wrist console. "You, as a inorganic life form, have no clue how to measure the struggle of all of the life on the stance."

He and his drone then fire upon Vheiransch.
Zenith Laser Pistol vs Vheiransch: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (12) + 21 = 33
Damage (Fire): 8d4 + 15 ⇒ (4, 1, 1, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2) + 15 = 38

Hum takes a shot.
Parallax Laser Rifle vs Vheiransch: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (13) + 21 = 34
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (3, 2, 6, 2, 5, 4, 3, 2) + 18 = 45

Hack-It cracks his knuckles, does a couple stretches, and looks at the computer. "Alright, let's see what you've got."

He quickly reviews a couple code segments he's written on his wrist console and nods to himself. He then turns to Gig "Wouldn't it be nice if we could just do a buffer overflow to this? Or insert some kind of logic bomb? I'm hoping we don't need to do a brute-force attack, but... you know what? Actually, I'd be fine with that. Let's do this."

Computers: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (10) + 33 = 43
Note that Hack-It has Hack Directory, which allows him to, on a failure, immediately become aware of any countermeasures and roll a Computers check to prevent one countermeasure from activating.

"Alright, let's give this door a quick scan before we go in..."

Hack-It examines the door for any tricks, traps, and potential tragedies.
Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (3) + 24 = 27

Moved Hack-It to be near the door I think we'd go through

Hack-It grins and rubs his hands together. "Oh, I can make a big boom with that. Just give me all of the grenades and I'll rig them up to a detonator."

He then pulls out four incendiary grenades that he's been looking to use for quite some time.
Hack-It will load 25 of our best damage-dealing grenades to the 5 detonators from Booker. He'll give each person one of the detonator remotes, and will carry the grenade-laden detonators

"It's true. I'm one of a kind."

Hack-It shoots again.
Zenith Laser Pistol vs Me: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (11) + 21 = 32
Damage (Fire): 8d4 + 15 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 1, 3, 2, 3, 2) + 15 = 31

Hum takes a shot.
Parallax Laser Rifle vs My Master: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (13) + 21 = 34
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (1, 6, 4, 3, 6, 4, 6, 3) + 18 = 51

"Heh. Seems even shadow me is hard to kill. Still," Hack-It keeps up the fire from his pistol and his drone's rifle.

Zenith Laser Pistol vs 'Hack-It': 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (5) + 21 = 26
Damage (Fire): 8d4 + 15 ⇒ (2, 1, 3, 4, 1, 3, 2, 1) + 15 = 32

Parallax Laser Rifle vs 'Hack-It': 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (5, 3, 1, 4, 5, 5, 3, 5) + 18 = 49

"Hey me, not cool man," Hack-It says, taking a shot at himself.
Zenith Laser Pistol vs Fake Hack-It: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (17) + 21 = 38
Damage (Fire): 8d4 + 15 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 2, 3, 2, 3, 1) + 15 = 36

Hum takes a shot too.
Parallax Laser Rifle vs Fake Hack-It: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (18) + 21 = 39
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (1, 1, 5, 3, 6, 6, 3, 5) + 18 = 48

Hack-It keeps firing at the fake Dunk, feeling a bit guilty as he does so.
Zenith Laser Pistol vs Fake Dunk: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (18) + 21 = 39
Damage (Fire): 8d4 + 15 ⇒ (4, 1, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3) + 15 = 39

Hum takes a shot too. They're a drone though, and don't really care.
Parallax Laser Rifle vs Fake Dunk: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (9) + 21 = 30
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 6, 4, 6, 1, 5) + 18 = 48

Hack-It and Hum turn their attention on not-Dunk, once more delivering some firey pew pews.

Zenith Laser Pistol vs Shadow Dunk: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (16) + 21 = 37
Damage (Fire): 8d4 + 15 ⇒ (3, 4, 3, 1, 1, 3, 3, 1) + 15 = 34

Parallax Laser Rifle vs Shadow Dunk: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (7) + 21 = 28
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (4, 4, 5, 4, 6, 6, 3, 1) + 18 = 51

"Wait, he didn't?" Hack-It says, sparing a glance at the real Booker. "But it was delicious!"

Hack-It and Hum both fire upon faux-Booker as well.
Zenith Laser Pistol vs Evil Booker: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (5) + 21 = 26
Damage (Fire): 8d4 + 15 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 3) + 15 = 40

Parallax Laser Rifle vs Evil Booker: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (4) + 21 = 25
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (5, 4, 2, 3, 6, 4, 2, 1) + 18 = 45

Paizo ate my post. Alas, here is the short version.

Seeing fake Booker as the bigger threat to his personal safety, the mechanic takes aim and fires upon the shadow soldier.
Zenith Laser Pistol vs 'Booker' : 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (16) + 21 = 37
Damage (Fire): 8d4 + 15 ⇒ (4, 4, 1, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4) + 15 = 40

Hum takes a shot.
Parallax Laser Rifle vs 'Booker' : 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (16) + 21 = 37
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (6, 1, 4, 3, 2, 4, 2, 3) + 18 = 43

"Sure. It's nothing useful right now, but..."
All - Feel free to check the two spoilers

Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (15) + 24 = 39

Hack-It puts the helmet on, mostly so that he does it before Gig does. He takes a look at what the telescope is showing.

"Sure thing. Just give me a bit,"" Hack-It says, proceeding to do exactly what he wants to do. He ensures that any audio capture of Booker speaking is an octave higher, that the soldiers aim is wildly inaccurate, and that there are visible bursts of noxious gas that come from Booker's ass.

He also augments the others to varying degrees of flattery. Dunk ends up being a frightening goliath four times his size, Janzi a mute whose powers manifest from his assistant Monroe, and he turns Gig into a walking mechanized drum set. For himself, he simply erases himself from the feed, leaving Hum. "There. Done."
Per Slack, we're going with the 'mess with it' route

"Sure, why not?" Hack-It says, agreeing with Booker. "Whatever you do, make us look good. But I think it'd be appropriate if we suddenly were also the opposites of ourselves. Give me a big energy sword and make it look like I cut people up with it by getting close to people."

"Why does everything want to kill us? It's just so... stupid. And annoying."

He follows his statement up with a shot from his pistol.
Laser Pistol vs Giant: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (14) + 21 = 35
Damage (Fire): 2d20 + 15 ⇒ (13, 14) + 15 = 42

And Hum follows suit.
Laser Rifle vs Giant: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (16) + 21 = 37
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (6, 6, 3, 2, 2, 1, 4, 3) + 18 = 45

Hack-It moves into the room, stepping over the dead sivv. His drone follows. "Big and ugly. I get why you're angry. I would be too if I looked like you."

Hum only shoots at the behemoth.
Laser Rifle vs Blue: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (2) + 21 = 23
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (1, 6, 2, 4, 3, 6, 6, 3) + 18 = 49

Hack-It and Hum catchup, taking a peek through the door. "Right, more of this. I guess we kill these ones too."

Hum's rifle mount swivels to aim at the smaller sivv, then fires
Parallax Laser Rifle vs Sivv (Medium): 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (1) + 21 = 22
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 1d8 ⇒ (6, 5, 3, 1, 3, 4, 1, 2) + (1) = 26

The shot flies wide. Hack-It swears. "I need to recalibrate you again?"

Hack-It shrugs. "I'd scram too if they hadn't hired us to save Absalom Station, and probably the galaxy, again. Get gone."

Do we know if there are other Aqlath in the galaxy? That knowledge would govern what Hack-It would say.

"Yeah, yeah. I see it," Hack-It says, noticing what Gig sees after the technomancer points it out. "Now give me a second and I'll deal with the countermeasures properly so we can hack this with safety."

He once more attempts to live up to his name and hack the computer.
Computers (+2 from Gig from Aid Other): 1d20 + 33 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 33 + 2 = 55

Per Slack, that was a fail and it triggers a countermeasure. So I will use Hack Directory to stop one of countermeasures (my choice).

Computers: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (16) + 33 = 49

Hack-It gets in front of Gig, rushing to get to the computer before the other ysoki triggers a countermeasure.
Computers w/Hack Directory: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (4) + 33 = 37

Hack-It and Hum fire upon the sivv.
Executioner Laser Pistol (Hack-It) vs Red: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (12) + 21 = 33
Damage (Acid): 2d20 + 9 ⇒ (19, 18) + 9 = 46

Parallax Laser Rifle (Hum) vs Red: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (14) + 21 = 35
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (6, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 6, 2) + 18 = 48

"It'd be nice if these thinks just, I don't know, stayed extinct?"

Hack-It and Hum both move forward, the drone's rifle attachment swiveling to take aim at the sivv.

"Eat this," Hack-It says, pressing a button on his wrist console.
Parallax Laser Rifle vs Sivv: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (7) + 21 = 28
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (5, 1, 4, 6, 3, 6, 5, 3) + 18 = 51