15-0-10 didn't see anything better to do at present than to keep bashing with its shield, considering an explosion of flames would be... unhelpful for its allies at present.
Sparks, connects with his hammer decisively, the creature that had been menacing them going down and staying down, the light in their eyes dimming as the tentacles go slack in that manner that says unequivocally that there is no life left in it. That frees up Zephyr to attempt a shot with his pistol that does not hit but manages to bury itself in a bulkhead.
The pair of creatures held at the doorway again tangle each other up, possibly due to their fatigue. The shield of 15-0-10 holding against the teeth of the creature, where the other gets denied by the doorway against Dirk.
_________________________________
X1U (0)
X2B (0)
, B
The SRO seems content to continue swinging its shield around even though it's been ineffective so far.
Electricity continues running about the still conscious Dirindi!
When you enter resistance mode, you gain 1 resistance attunement point and become resistance-attuned; you’re treated as being graviton-attuned for the purpose of determining your stellar revelations’ effects. While you’re resistance-attuned, you gain damage reduction 1/—. This bonus increases by 1 for every 6 solarian levels you have, and this damage reduction stacks with one other source of DR.
The Holistic Detective then waggles his Lunar weapon and Strikes!
Apparently, there was more waggle than striking.....
Sparks mote continues another cycle of powering up. With no threat behind him, he brings his pistol back hand and fires at whichever monster looks most damaged of the two at the door of the bridge.
(range 30 ft.)
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Zephyr, takes a careful shot in a moment where the fight at the doorway allows, landing a solid hit on one of the creatures still tangled up as both try to go for Dirk at the same time again, completely failing to do anything except get in the way.
_________________________________
X1U (11)
X2B (0)
, P
,
,
15-0-10's continued attempts to smash with its glowing shield seem to pick up a bit of energy as it *finally* connects.
We got them on the fences now!
Electricity continues running about the still conscious Dirindi!
When you enter resistance mode, you gain 1 resistance attunement point and become resistance-attuned; you’re treated as being graviton-attuned for the purpose of determining your stellar revelations’ effects. While you’re resistance-attuned, you gain damage reduction 1/—. This bonus increases by 1 for every 6 solarian levels you have, and this damage reduction stacks with one other source of DR.
The Holistic Detective then waggles his Lunar weapon and Strikes!
EDIT!
Dirk begins to casually bow, as his Lunar weapon delivers its sting enough to destroy any after work plans that particular alien species had to do....
Sparks lets his atunement tune up another notch to full strength, so he directs the charge from his mote to the most injured monster. He very much wants to see an end to this very scary fight.
Target: 1 creature within 30 ft.; DC 14 Fortitude save for half damage
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Dirk deftly dispatches one more of the creatures as its companion lunges at 15-0-10, only to get rebuffed by their shield. Another shot from Zephyr finds bulkhead, the careful angle aborted due to the ongoing melee.
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X2B (0)
"Come on, comrades! One final effort! We'll win the day yet!" 15-0-10 proclaims in one of its 'action hero' voices as it keeps shield-bashing.
Sparks fires his pistol at the last one as he lets his mote start to charge up again.
(range 30 ft.)
Dirk proudly positioned himself with his friends final fantastic finale!
Electricity continues running about the still conscious Dirindi!
When you enter resistance mode, you gain 1 resistance attunement point and become resistance-attuned; you’re treated as being graviton-attuned for the purpose of determining your stellar revelations’ effects. While you’re resistance-attuned, you gain damage reduction 1/—. This bonus increases by 1 for every 6 solarian levels you have, and this damage reduction stacks with one other source of DR.
The Holistic Detective then waggles his Lunar weapon and Strikes!
Certainly proof of why friends are important!
Hoping to end this, Zeph takes another shot!
With their focus no longer split, the jolt from Sparks seems to have done some damage, and the following shot lands as well, the opening provided by 15-0-10 bashing the creature back. That does result in a missed riposte from Dirk, the creature managing to bite nothing but air amidst another missed shot from Zephyr as the mess of a melee manages to make misses of shots from the back line. The damage does wear on it, not to mention the fatigue it is still suffering under.
_________________________________
X2B (15)
Save!
Miss!
Once again, really hoping to end this, Zeph takes yet another shot!
The Holistic Detective then waggles his Lunar weapon and Strikes!
My vengeance shall find purchase...please stop moving ...this is most embarrassing....oh...the .. sanity's sate!
15-0-10 triumphantly thwacks the remaining foe with its shield!
Sparks mashes his pistol and fires again. His panic level is rising, but he's finding the will to master it and keep fighting.
(range 30 ft.)
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A shield and a shot are the last two actions taken as the third and final creature falls lifeless— the Bridge of the Acreon is now free of hazards.
The wide transparent aluminum window stretches across the forward wall of the room, the twinkling lights in the distance are all that can be seen of Absalom Station and the Armada that surrounds it. Four stations are arrayed up front, consoles and controls for operating the majority of the functions on the ship. Currently, they are all either dim or dark, as the power has been restored, but the basic security of the ship has not cleared access to its functions. The raised chair of the Captain sits between each pair of stations, facing the broad window and allowing for a good view of everything.
There are more of those pale crystal shards in here, scattered around the area of this room.
__________________________________
"I recommend pausing for maintenance and repairs at this point," 15-0-10 states, slowly trotting into the bridge and looking around. "This room should be fairly secure now. Perhaps we should rest here before investigating the systems."
Sparks keeps his gun pointed at the corpses as his heart rate returns to double digits. Then he cautiously steps over the mess and finds a seat and flops into it, holstering his gun and getting out his orrery.
"Anybody need medical attention?" he asks presently. He is a bit bruised and scratched, but nothing serious.
"Once we're rested a bit, let's take a look at the ship logs and start tryting to figure out what happened and where these eggs came from. We should also see if we can get a camera view into the cargo holds. They might hold more of ... them," he gestures with his tail at the dead monsters.
"Can we secure this room actually? Not sure what else might be lurking, although I guess not much is really moving ...
And, suddenly, it was all gone. Darkness only illuminated by mundane (artificially created) means of providing light. The Dirindi snaps his fingers! An electric spark births for a moment.
Still got it!
Nodding his affirmation at the resting and relaxing in the now secured bridge.
I feel ok, but, definitely not opposed to taking temporary succour.
"I have some need for maintenance, however my current resources would leave nothing for emergencies were I to engage in such at present," 15-0-10 states.
Having taken a short 10 minutes pause, the Espionage Specialist walks over to the computer console and begins expertly pressing buttons....
This is a bit different than the consoles that I am used too...
Under the attention of Dirk the digital, the system comes to life. Otherwise, many of the options that were possible from the aft of the ship are also accessible here. With the door closed, there are no interruptions. Rest and Repair can be had here.
BRIDGE ACCESS TERMINAL — LIMITED MODEVessel: Acreon
Class: Hauler
Affiliation: Hardscrabble Collective
Registered Captain: Nishuu Rakka⚠ Command Authorization Required
Primary navigation, weapons, cargo routing, and executive functions are LOCKED.
Valid command imprint or Captain-level override needed.Available Systems (Crew Access Tier):
Interior & Exterior Lighting Control
Environmental / Life Support Regulation
Compartment & Airlock Entry Access
Docking Collar Status Display
Acreon stands ready.
Awaiting authorized command input…
___________________________________
Dirk the Digital begins attempts to activate everything else he has access to....
Dirk dutifully dons his determined Dirindi face!
Dramatic, determined, desperate....
......
.....
Perspiration beads beautifully on his face....
BRIDGE ACCESS TERMINAL — LIMITED MODEVessel: Acreon
Class: Hauler
Affiliation: Hardscrabble Collective
Registered Captain: Nishuu Rakka⚠ Command Authorization Required
Primary navigation, weapons, cargo routing, and executive functions are LOCKED.
Valid command imprint or Captain-level override needed.Available Systems (Crew Access Tier):
Interior & Exterior Lighting Control
Environmental / Life Support Regulation
Compartment & Airlock Entry Access
Docking Collar Status Display
Acreon stands ready.
Access attempts exceeded. Retry in 5:57:35
15-0-10, currently laying perfectly still on the ground save for the quiet whirring of internal machinery, pop open a port in their forehead and extend a small cord.
"Perhaps next time take advantage of the living robot," it states in a monotone so deadpan it must be deliberate. Then it withdraws its data cord.
Sparks looks at the screens, not being savvy with computers. "Can we get a view of the cargo holds through remote cameras? I'd like to see if there are more of those creatures or their eggs aboard. If we have access to logs, we should see if they shed any light on how they might have gotten in."
Sparks looks at the screens, not being savvy with computers. "Can we get a view of the cargo holds through remote cameras? I'd like to see if there are more of those creatures or their eggs aboard. If we have access to logs, we should see if they shed any light on how they might have gotten in."
"Sorry to say, but if there are any more creatures, can we please hunt them down? I'm not sure the universe needs that ..."
The Holistic Detective seems to be staring at the countdown....
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"Getting anything out of the computer systems will not be possible for another 5.93333 hours," 15-0-10 states. "If we are not planning on an extended maintenance period, it is not likely worth our time to wait."
"If a five hour wait can result in us knowing more about these things before we explore further, I can wait. We seem to be safe here and I see no urgency to poke around in the dark when we can perhaps access cameras showing the state of the cargo holds. Finding some logs would be worth the wait as well."
"It would round to six hours," 15-0-10 point out in its most robotic tone.
With more inflection, it adds, "If we are to wait that long, it would be more effective to wait long enough for proper self-maintenance and recharging."
"Besides resting and healing, let's document these creatures, make sure the vid feeds get a good close-up look at them and the egg fragments. we can dissect one if anyone has the skills."
Dirk absently nods as his three blue eyes continue to stare at the countdown.....
"I specialize in mechanical and electronic beings, not organic," 15-0-10 says with the voice of an engineer from a famous holovid series.
Opting to take the time to rest, by the time the timer has counted down, two more hours at minimum see everyone having taken what rest they could in the locked bridge of the ship. The seats at the various stations are surprisingly comfortable, despite the overall aesthetics of the ship best described as "industrial practical". They are comfortable to get a decent rest in, but nothing that you might like to have to do at over multiple days.
The ship remains silent over the duration, the sounds and vibrations all normal for a ship functioning properly. The only disruption to the constant is the shift in the display when the timer expires most of the way through the duration, the prompt allowing access attempts once more.
__________________________________
15-0-10 pulls some tools out of its pack and spends part of the rest period doing repairs to itself, then curls up in a corner and goes into rest mode.
Precisely eight hours after starting it powers back up and trots over to one of the console. Popping out its datajack, it plugs into the proper port. "Suggestion: a collaboration," it says robotically to Dirk.
It starts trying to grant itself access to the full system.
Rudimentary access was granted prior, and it does take a longer time than acquiring access normally would have, but 15-0-10 is able to bypass the security firewall and gain access to the full system.
Of particular note are the >>Audio Logs<<. The time stamps on the logs show them to be before the Acreon arrived in Absalom station space.
Sparks takes in the log audio files and nods. "The cocoon part we figured out. This other threat will have to be discovered. Does the ship have any cameras for monitoring the cargo holds so we can see what's there before we open any doors?"
Assuming the video recorder took in the audio log, we have done what we can from the bridge.
Dirk nervously digests the properly procurement (some may say professionally properly procurement) of the audio by the previous person calling themselves Captain.
So, there may be something else here wandering about. And, they brought it back....
The Holistic Detective begins to Aid 15-0-10 with further information gathered from the computer.
15-0-10 keeps sorting through the systems to see if there are any video feeds or the like while responding in something very like Captain Arvak's voice, "Or it may've gone back to that rock, lads. 'E said he was going there in his last log, right?"
"Let's clear the ship first, since we know there was some mysterious adversary in addition to the egg spawn. Then we can consider the rock."