Search Posts
"It was fun, guys. I appriciate you putting your lives on the line for the safety of others. I think I'll be taking a bit of a vacation, and I encourage you all to do the same. But keep those comm units on - I might have a job or two for you in the future!"
Gripping her shoulder tight from the still smarting wounds "Captain...whats the plan for this thing? Were not just going to sell it to the highest bidder, right? Why not just destroy it now?" "I would be surprised if we had the power to destroy this thing. Luckily, I don't think my buyer is much for dabbling about with creatures of the Abyss. Everyone take a moment to recoup, then let's get this thing on the ship!"
"You're not dying on me! Not today!" Captain Ross runs up to Ranif's side and quickly attempts to staunch his wounds.
Unfortunately, she's unable to stabilize the downed dragonkin.
"Clear out those Abyss-spawn, we need to grab that evil rock and get outta here!" The Captain runs forward around the barrels, firing at the nearest demon to punctuate her words.
Unfortunately, she stumbles slightly and the shot hits the ground, covering a section of plating with a thin frost which quickly sublimates into the vacuum of the chamber.
"Whatever you did, that seems good! Let's wrap this up and get the hell outta here!" Captain Ross fires off another pair of shots at the last Drow, punctuating her words. Unfortunately, she can't hit a damn thing.
Captain Ross pops off a couple shots at the nearest Drow. Unfortunately, neither shot lands. "Time is ticking! Shut that thing down!"
Leaning around the corner, Captain Ross aims her pistol and fires at the closest demon.
Her shot lands squarely, and the quarrelsome creature is sent back to the Abyss.
"Oh s#!#! They're opening a quasi-dimensional rift! We gotta stop this thing!" "You heard her! Let's shut this down!" Ross fires her pistol twice at one of the guards , striking once.
"Damn bastards are getting in the way of our paycheck! Take 'em out before they do anything creepy with that artifact!" Captain Ross moves up, firing her sidearm at one of the entangled guards . Her arm isn't very steady, but the grasping vines hold her target still and the shot lands.
"Wait, what the hell...? It looks like this stuff is brand new, they used them once on something way too hard and gave up." she rubs her chin before snapping her fingers "Ah, that makes sense...whatever is causing this gravitational anomaly must be very dense material indeed." "Starmetal. They're trying to mine starmetal of some sort. Did you ever wonder why we were bringing fancy drill bits from Akiton? "Cranston. Ziyad. Can we get this door open?" Engineering DC 16:
The door is locked, but there's not a pressure differential between the corridor and the mining space. Computers check <17:
The door doesn't open, but a series of emergency lights start flashing throughout the facility. Computers check 17+: You override the security protocols and the door opens smoothly, without complaint, into a dark hallway with metallic flooring.
The Captain reaches over and shakes Alfin by the shoulder. C'mon! Stay in this!
"It's not gone. It's just licking its wounds. If we don't finish it off, it'll hound us every damn step on this rock." The captain draws a pistol with one hand while fumbling a vial containing a translucent blue liquid into a port on her helmet. After a moment, her breathing steadies and she stands up.
A rattling voice clicks in over the suit-to-suit comms, "Tharystrix, you big bastard! Take a hit like a man! Like a... dragon... man!" The Captain has managed to drag herself up into a sitting position and draw her pistol, but she looks fazed.
Captain Ross spits out a tooth inside her helmet. With a slight wheeze in her voice, she barks, "No one's allowed to die, you understand? Especially not you, Mills - there's no way in the seven layers of Hell we're getting back to Absalom in one piece without you!"
The Captain strides into the center of the space, viewing the carnage with a dispassionate eye. "Looks like we've wandered into the middle of an active conflict. My favorite. Well, grab whatever looks useful, and we'll move on. I'd like to move as quickly as possible, but if you need a breather, speak up!"
"Damn it! Does no one have a light with them? Ranif! Kragga! See if you can find a switch, or a flare, or something!"
"Gwrah! What in the HELLS was that, Ziyad?!" The captain staggers forward, pushing against the door, which now swings open freely, the control panel still smoldering. She points her pistol into the darkness for an agonizing minute, but no horrible threats come charging out. "Tharystrix. Kragga. Get in there and find some damn lights. Try not to get yourselves killed."
"Alright, here's the plan. Our artifact is probably in there - if it wasn't, we wouldn't have encountered such resistance. On the flip side, that means we'll probably encounter some resistance on the inside as well. "We have no idea what we're stepping into. I need everyone at 100% on your toes. We get in, we secure our hot potato, and we get out. Understood? "Clive - once we're offloaded, the ship is yours. Circle around and hide somewhere nearby. Return on my command. "Alright, load up! Be ready to disembark in ten!"
"Pilot, bring us in as close as you can. I doubt there's a functioning docking arm, but a little bit of space isn't unsurmountable." Standing up from her console, the Captain beckons Kragga, and points the half-orc to the captain's chair. "This was a 'gift' from one of our investors - it's a specialized sensor set for monitoring fluctuations in certain planar energies. I'm trying to find out what's happening on the inside, but I can't make heads or tails of these readings. You seem fairly 'in-tune' with the natural world - perhaps you'll have better luck." "Science officer, give me some more traditional eyes in that rock. Do you see anything?"
"Interested in prisoners, Captain?" Cranston asks. Captain Ross looks up from her battle station. Improbably, it appears that she's hardly paid any attention to the battle at all; her forearms are wreathed in loops of runes and sigils that float in and out of her control monitor. DC 15 Mysticism check:
It appears that Captain Ross is manipulating some sort of ship-based divination equipment, but it's impossible to determine what exactly she's doing without seeing the actual equipment. "Eh? Oh, them. If they don't ask for quarter, don't give any. Cripple the ship and let them float off into the void, for all I care."
With a distinctly cheery tone, Captain Ross says, "I'm sorry, but dying isn't on our manifest today." With an aggressive swipe, she cuts the transmission and switches back to her standard gravel tones. "Smuggler indeed! Clive, switch to engagement status! It looks to be us or them!"
"Captain, we're not alone...getting some radio crosstalk in Sector 7g." "Alfin, bring us in with a lazy spiral - I don't like surprises. Ziyad, keep your scanners sweeping. Mills, I want shields at full. Everyone else, stand by."
"Alright, everyone!" barks the captain as she takes her seat in the bridge, "Just because we're expected guests doesn't mean they won't shoot first and ask questions later. Keep your eyes peeled and be ready for trouble. "Science officer, keep our transponder up and keep your eyes glued to those scanners. We don't need any surprises."
"My only question about this, is do we know just what this artifact is? Or are you able to tell us?" "Unfortunately, no - but I've been assured that it's not subtle, if that gives you any assurance."
"Who else knows about this artifact?" "Hopefully, no one," the captain says with a wry grin, "but news like this tends to travel like a skip on the Astral Plane. I'm concerned that we'll have all sorts of wonks, weirdos, and various ne'er-do-wells hounding us from here to Absalom. Some people can just sense these things." "Who are these power players?" "There's more than one interested party here, and they value my discretion." DC 19 Culture or DC 14 Mysticism check: The Captain could be alluding to more than one group here - AbadarCorp, the Stewards, or even groups like the Hellknights or the Xenowardens might be motivated but politically constrained. However, an obvious standout would be the Knights of Golarion and/or their sponsor, the church of Iomedae.
When you first left Absalom station several days ago, Ranif discovered a box of holy fusion seals in the supplies, which some of you have applied to your weapons. The changes were gradual, but by now any affected weapons are resplendent in ivory and gold with Iomedae's holy symbol - a sword over a sunburst - displayed in a prominent position.
An hour before Drift exit, Captain Ross gathers the crew together in the galley. "Alright, listen up, everyone. I've been pretty tight-lipped about the intent of our endeavour, and not without reason; however, you've all proven the capacity to take orders, act prudently, and handle yourselves in a fight, so I figure now is the time to bring you into the inner circle, as it were. "On Akiton, we gathered some very valuable and rare mining equipment - various starmetal-based tools and solvents - used primarily for the extraction and processing of certain exotic materials. If everything goes well, in less than four hours' time we will hand them over to the Android Abolitionist Front at a covert location in the Diaspora. "Now, if you feel less than comfortable dealing with a quasi-terrorist group, join the club. We're not in this for fun or profit, though - the AAF has found some sort of artifact hidden in the asteroids, something of a terribly unholy nature. Certain power players have a vested interest in securing such artifacts - for the protection of civilization - but can't be seen dealing with the AAF publicly. "That's where we come in. We make this deal, secure the artifact, and transport it to Absalom Station, where we hand it over to some people in big shiny power armor for safekeeping." Captain Ross leans back on the galley counter, sipping some coffee. "Or at least, that's the plan. Any questions?"
"What do you think is in that thing, captain?" "A bargaining chip!" Before the conversation carries any farther, the captain walks out of the room, working with Kragga to carry Cattergorn to the ship's medbay.
"Looks like you succeeded," the captain quips, eying the pile of crates that was just hauled off the elevator and onto the warehouse floor, "but we're on the clock here, so there's no time to celebrate." "Kragga! Help me carry Cattergorn to the med bay on the ship - he's fading in and out. You can debrief on the way." "Mills!" Ross tosses the engineer a computer access card. "Cattergorn's 'guests' did a number on his drone. This should get you into the lighthouse computer system; find the drone protocol backups and send a copy to Clive." "The rest of you - get this cargo on the ship, pronto. After that, search this place for anything worth walking away with - once the bandits realize their spoils have been intercepted, this place will get hit, and hit hard."
"I'm going to stay here and watch Cattergorn and these prisoners - go get that package! If you can hack that elevator, you might be able to catch up with them before they hit the canyon floor. Otherwise, you'll need to take the long way down - those bikes out front must have come from somewhere."
On the other side of the room, Captain Ross and Cattergorn are having an animated (albeit silent) conversation. Exasperated, Captain Ross snaps "You need to work with me here, Cat - I don't know that sign. Yes, I - what do you mean, 'long down box'?" In frustration, the injured Akitonian points at the east side of the room, where two large chambers sit, each with large, industrial doors. One bears an amber light above the access panel, the other a green light.
The Captain holsters her pistol and sheaths her sword. She nods to the trio watching the bandits. "This isn't all of them - there are too many junkcycles outside. Figure out where the rest went. They probably have my cargo, since I don't see it here."
The Captain watches as Kragga revives an unconscious Cattergorn. As soon as the old man's eyes flutter open, she kneels down and says, "Thank you, first officer. I'll take it from here." Despite her clipped tone, Captain Ross is surprisingly gentle with the injured Akitonian. She makes a series of small, precise finger motions close to her chest. Cattergorn responds by shaking his head slightly.
"Is everybody set?"
"Mills - blow the door."
"There's four humans and a vesk in a room, they've got an Akitonian tied up and beaten." "Damn it all, that's Cattergorn. At least he's still alive." "Do you wish for me to continue, captain?" "Aye! I'd prefer to get there before they slit Cattergorn's throat, if you don't mind!"
"Captain, there seem to be several vehicles on the plateau. Let's keep our eyes open for anybody who might be lurking near them." "Captain, environmentals are off. Primary living chambers operating with a zero pressure differential to outside, something's jacked their false atmosphere! Also getting power fluctuations...from their internal grid." The Captain pauses, briefly processing this new information. She frowns, muttering darkly. "It looks like Cattergorn's got trouble. Kragga - take Ziyad and Alfin. Circle around the far side of the building, and see if you can find another way inside. Tharystrix and Mills, you stick with me. We're walking in the front door."
The Captain snorts. "He's probably just on the can. As long as we aren't getting shot at, go ahead and land." Alfin takes a wide swing around the landing zone before setting the Inscrutable down, revealing a tall, slender signal tower clamped to the side of a small mesa, extending a few hundred feet above the surface and extending down the side of the rock formation into the canyon below. Checks:
Kragga and Ziyad:
As Alfin brings the ship in for a landing, you notice that several small vehicles are parked outside the plateau-level entrance to the "lighthouse". Ziyad:
Your attention to detail and delicate sensor manipulation has revealed that the outer chambers of the Lighthouse are not at standard pressure (i.e., they're open to the elements). Additionally, you detect a slight power surge within the building. As the Inscrutable touches ground, Captain Ross bounds of of her chair, making for the airlock. "Right, follow me! Get your suits sealed - the air is thin up here, and I don't want anyone fainting!"
"The last time you worked with this Cattergorn, what kind of terms did you leave on?" "Well enough. We working on the same crew for a while, but when our big windfall came through, we went different ways. I invested the cash in a business, and he bought a big rock in the ass-end of nowhere. Never really kept in touch." Captain Ross looks into the holographic map thoughtfully. "I would bet credits to creepers he got fat."
As everybody takes their positions on the bridge, Captain Ross activates a holographic projection over the ship's primary viewport. Smaller copies of the same image appear at each crewmember's console. "Alright, sharpen those ears! Here's our exit point." An image of Akiton, the red planet, springs into view, with a Drift jump point in low orbit glowing softly. "As soon as we leave Drift, we're headed on an immediate atmospheric entry trajectory with a landing zone... here." The hologram zooms and tilts, highlighting a spot on the surface near the edge of the southern ice cap. From an orbital perspective, the terrain looks rough, like sandpaper. "We'll be meeting up with an old associate of mine by the name of Cattergorn - he has some refurbished mining equipment for us. I know that may not sound exciting, but this is actually some rare, out-of-production hardware, and I've already got a client lined up. "And keep your eyes open! This is bandit country. They don't get too many fly-overs, so expect to be noticed. "Any questions?"
"Well, I believe that calls for a drink! Clive, pour a round of stiff ones in the galley. As for the rest of you, you know your responsibilities, and Clive has a backlog for each of you, if you get bored. Relax while you can - next briefing is eight hours before jump!"
The Captain sighs, rubbing the bridge of her nose with a rueful grin on her face. "That's the Clive I'm more familiar with. "Well, the grand speech is over. Ziyad - get us clearance for take-off. Alfin - as soon as we have clearance, get us flying and prepare to jump to Drift. Clive already has our destination coordinates. "The rest of you - keep on your toes. No idea how well this heap will keep itself together."
As the crew takes their positions on the bridge, Captain Ross strides to her chair and takes a seat, briefly surveying her crew before speaking. "Now, I know you've met each other just hours ago. I know we're about to take a rust bucket with more mods than original plating and careen across the system. But I also know that each of you is a consummate professional, and that you will execute your tasks to the high-"
"Captain, permission to speak freely?" "Permission granted, Sci-Off." "What do you think we'll run into out here?" Captain Ross leans back against the wall, clearly choosing her words carefully. "I'm not entirely sure what we'll find ourselves up against, which is why I've done my best to prepare us for anything. Rest assured that you'll be briefed on any possible threats well before the first shot is fired. "And don't forget - docks have ears, big and small." With that, the captain straightens up, says, "Right! back to work, everyone!" and strides off.
"ALRIGHT, listen up! I've just gotten word that the hull work is complete. You're on the clock now. We're hitting Drift in six hours, whether or not you're ready! Get yourselves settled and get to work."
Do ahead and take care of whatever tasks you have left - when you're ready to go, take your station in or near the bridge.
The Captain listens intently as Cranston delivers his report. "I'm well aware of the... instabilities of Norwich thrusters. I'm surprised this set hasn't been replaced yet. As for Clive, I think he's been sitting idle for far too long. Speaking of a demon - Ziyad! How is our ship AI? I noticed he went offline a few hours ago."
"I've got the thruster arrangement figured out, Captain. It's not one I've seen before, but it won't be any trouble. I'm ready to go." "I hope so, pilot! You'll get a chance to prove yourself soon enough."
"I'm glad the guns will shoot where they point!" Captain Ross barks off a single laugh. "Historically, that hasn't always been the case. "As for the armory, I expect everyone to store anything unwieldy or unstable there and not in a public space. Outside of that, I'm not your mother. Don't shoot yourself in the foot. "Until we see the result of Ziyad's work on Clive, I'd keep that button on mute if you can. He's always been an odd one, but lately he's been downright derelict."
Around midday, Captain Ross' voice booms over the ship's intercom system. "Paging all crew to the galley! Galley, now, for status reports. And snacks."
Captain Ross greats each crew member as they arrive, giving each individual instructions: Kragga:
"First Officer Kragga reporting for duty. Ready to leave the Station for new climes, sir." "First Officer! Glad to have you on board. I'd like you to make a stem-to-stern inspection - we need to identify any potential issues as soon as possible." She gestures to the rear plating of the ship, covered in scaffolding and canvas. "Disregard the rear plating for now, let the engineers finish their repairs." The Captain hands Kragga a small, heavy-duty datapad with Ross Shipping stamped on the casing. "Once you've finished your inspection, ensure the lobheads over there haven't missed anything on the cargo manifest. If you've got time after that, Clive will have additional instructions for you." Cranston Mills:
"Mornin', Captain. Engineer Cranston Mills reportin' for duty. Permission to come aboard?" "Permission granted, Engineer. Good to see you. Head down to the reactor immediately and get me a full status check - this hulk has sat idling for a long time, and I want it in peak flying condition by yesterday. If you need any additional parts or tools, just stick your head out and holler, someone should come running. "Oh, and Mills - don't let Clive give you any lip. If he becomes a problem, remind him that I will roll him back to factory settings faster than he can blink." Alfin:
"Alflin reporting for duty." "Pilot! I hope you know your stuff. Report to the bridge and get yourself accommodated. This ship has a fairly unusual thrust vector collection, so I've had Clive set up some simulated exercises for you. Get through 'em as soon as you can, we need to be sailing yesterday!" Ziyad:
"Sufficiently punctual, Science Officer. Head to the bridge and get me a full report on the sensor configuration. I've recently had some additional instruments installed, and I want to make sure they're up and running before we need them."
The Captain points a stern finger at the Kasatha. Clive is your responsibility now, as well - see if you can't hammer some sense into that surly glitch. Ranif Tharystrix:
"Ranif Tharystrix reporting in, ready to serve aboard the Inscrutable. Permission to come aboard?" "Permission granted, soldier." Somehow, Captain Ross manages to exude a commanding air despite craning her neck back to look up at the Dragonkin. "Despite appearances, our armament is brand-new, fresh out the box. Report to the gunner station and ensure all the connections have been completed. Clive should have set up some simulated target practice, if you so choose. Afterwards, take inventory of our armory - I'm planning to stock up at our next juncture, but it would be nice to see what's already on board." After handing down instructions to each crew member as they arrive, Captain Ross shifts her attention to the bustle of dock workers attending the ship, precluding any follow-up questions.
As you enter the Starsailor’s Rest, it isn’t difficult to locate Captain Ross, a tall human woman with a commanding air, sharing a drink with a hooded figure. As you approach the table, the Captain’s companion rises quickly and leaves, allowing you to see the face of a female half-orc as she brushes past you. As soon as you sit down, an aggressively pleasant Captain Ross starts to pepper you with questions: “Greetings! Thank you much for stopping by. What compels you to apply for a position aboard the Inscrutable?” “How many ships have you served on, and for how long?” “I’m concerned about piracy around the Diaspora. How good are you in a scrap?” “Do you have any ethical reservations, moral consternations, legal restrictions, or biological incompatibilities with the shipping and handling of cargo in the following categories: peanut products, fruit products, non-sentient creatures, semi-sentient creatures, creatures of unknown sentience, non-living items of questionable sentience, legal weapon components, toys depicting legal weapons, toy depicting illegal weapons, undead pet products, magical artifacts, religious artifacts, magically religious artifacts, magical prescription beverages, or romantic literature of any kind? Before you answer, please note that I am legally prohibited from making a hiring decision based on your answer to this question; it is purely for statistical purposes.” “Thank you for stopping by! I should have recruitment finalized in a few days, stick to your comm unit for a message.” |
