On the bridge of the Perfect Silence, the First Seekers - both of them, Luwazi Elsebo and Jadnura stand in front of a large tactical screen. The screen is displaying the Saaruq solar system, where numerous blips of different colors indicate fleet positions and other strategic information. Gazing out the viewportals, you can make out dozens of other Starfinder ships moving nearby as the a sqaudron of the Society's forces moves through the Drift.
As Luwazi and Jadnura talk quietly amongst themselves about final tactical considerations, you wait on the bridge along with several other Starfinders. The summons for this mission was brief but direct: the Kreiholm Freehold is under heavy siege by jinsul forces. The Starfinders required as many senior agents as could be found to report for a mission to try and break it, at all costs. And so now you stand waiting for your final instructions before the Society's ships transition out of the drift and into the besieged Saaruq system proper.
Male CN Ysoki Mechanic 8 | SP 56/56 HP 50/50 | RP 10/10 | EAC 26 KAC 27 | Fort +7; Ref +11; Will +2 | Init: +5 | Perc: +14, SM: +0 | Speed 30ft | Laser (14/20) (8/20) Pulse (17/20) Disintegrator (40/40) | Active conditions: Fire Resist (8), DR 5/-, +2 vs spells/spell-abilities
Raatchet enthusiastically shakes everyone's hands if they're willing and says, "Pleased to meet you all! By day, my name is Raatchet, TPS report specialist. And by night, my name is Raatchet (it's the same), tinkerer extraordinaire!
"I'll be running tech support on this amazing opportunity to... ummm... well.... engage in a large scale fleet battle where the ship I'm posted to will probably come under fire from multiple jinsul attack ships resulting in me and my teammates being obliterated into our component atoms?? Amirite?!?!? Welp, slap me silly with a hunk of cheese and sign me up!!!"
Male Shirren Operative/9 SP 64/64 HP 54/54 RP 8/9 PER +17 INIT +8 EAC 24 KAC 25 FORT +7 REF +11 WILL +8 DR 6 ER (cold) 5 ER (fire) 5
A rather somber shirren sits in the corner of the briefing room, moving a chair to a dark corner. You recognize him as the Starfinder Quirk, though the bright red fez he would often wear in the past seems to be missing. His old, out of style overcoat is on him though, and he has it pulled tightly around him, the collars upturned around his face.
He speaks in a low tone. "Hello everyone. I am prepared to give these jinsul a good spanking. My pistols are charged, and I can assume any position on our ship, from pilot to captain."
As you familiarize yourselves with each other, Luwazi and Jadnura finish their hushed conversation and turn away from the screen. The assembled Starfinder agents on the bridge quiet as Luwazi calls out It is good to see you all in a formal tone. Jadnura walks a few steps away from the screen, puts each of his four hands on his hips, and nods approvingly before deferring to his colleague to continue.
You are some of our most trusted and experienced Starfinders, and I’m glad that you’re able to join our fleet in this very demanding mission. Luwazi speaks, her voice somber but inspired. Months ago, a group of Starfinders investigated a previously uncharted star system, hoping to find a lost civilization that might have more information about the warlike species we’ve come to know as jinsuls. They succeeded and discovered a civilization we’ve come to know as the Kreiholm Freehold, and much like jinsuls, they originated from the Scoured Stars. Once the Starfinders located the Freehold’s new home in the binary star system of Saaruq-Ruaan and traveled there, they realized that the jinsuls had begun a full-blown invasion of the star system. Those agents managed to rescue an important council member, which greatly helped us establish diplomatic relations with the Freehold. But the sytem, and its culture, is still under assault from our mutual jinsul foes.
Jadnura waves his hands behind her and the view on the tactical screen changes to show dozens of Starfinder ships in a vast formation. The kasatha steps forward and speaks with deliberate emphasis. When the Starfinders returned with news of the jinsuls‘ expansionist actions, Luwazi and I began to muster all of the Starfinder Society‘s available starships in preparation for this mission. Our primary objective is to assist in relieving the Kreiholm Freehold from an ongoing jinsul attack. This is also in part a diplomatic mission however— we hope we can convince the Kreiholm Freehold that the jinsuls are a threat that must be stopped, lest they keep building their forces and maintain their offensive. Hopefully, we can forge an alliance with the Freehold and they‘ll join us in a future strike on the Scoured Stars to put an end to this threat.
Luwazi nods, sharing a concerned look with Jadnura. We’ll be exiting the Drift into the Saaruq solar system, and once we get there, it‘s going to be a rough ride. Be prepared for anything. If you have any questions, ask them now.
Mystic Spacefarer Star Shaman Mystic 12 | SP 120/120 HP 78/78 | RP 13/13 EAC 32; KAC 33 | Fort +9; Ref +9; Will +14 | Init: +6 | Perc: +26, SM: +15 | 1st 5/7, 2nd 5/6, 3rd 2/4, 4th 2/3|GM re-roll 0/1
"Do we have any more information about the species that make up the Kreilholm Freehold?" Did the council member provide a way for us to prove to the rest of the Freehold we are friends?
Luwazi nods towards T'kai. Excellent question. The Kreiholm Freehold are one of the eight civilizations that left the Scoured Stars thousands of years ago. So far, the Society has encountered three species belonging to the Freehold: the bat-like nelentus and gaseous thyrs, both of which originated in the Scoured Stars, and the amphibious syngnathrixes, who are native to Saaruq-5. Our understanding is that there are other sapient species that have joined the Freehold as well, but the Society has yet to meet them. Ou primary contact so far has been a thyr named Speaks Forgotten Words - he is one of the Freehold's leading council members, whom Starfinders rescued during a recent clash with the jinsuls.
Jadnura takes Raatchet's question. We fear, but expect, that face-to-face combat will be involved yes. But the location of those fights will depend on the situation when we arrive. So far we do not believe the jinsul fleet has managed to establish a beachhead on any of the Saaruq system's planets, but that may have changed since our last contact with the Freehold.
It needs to be said: these jinsul are aggressive, expansionist, and believe they have a divine mandate for their actions. In the aftermath of the Starfider Society’s rescue mission to the Scoured Stars, the Jinsul Hierocracy reclaimed the trinary system. Since then, the jinsuls have dispatched expeditions to many solar systems in an attempt to reunite the species that departed from the Scoured Stars in the distant past and create an interstellar empire with their priests — under the divine herald Dhurus — in control. They initially dispatched demagogues to convince the Kreiholm Freehold’s leadership to return to the Scoured Stars. When Freehold rebuked these jinsul agitators and declined, the jinsul launched a war fleet to forcibly conquer the Kreiholm Freehold, starting with Saaruq’s outermost planetoids. We believe a high-ranking religious figure — a hierarch — leads this jinsul fleet. Once we arrive and assess the situation, we will be able to plan our next moves.
Then get to your stations Starfinders! We have multiple Drake and Pegasus ships in the hanger. We Drift-exit in 30, so good luck and get moving!
Please select which Ship you would like to use: the bulkier but more armed Drake or the lighter but more maneuverable Pegasus.
Also, now's the time to finalize Boon load-outs, if there are any changes you wish to make. (Such as if one of your Starship boons Raatchet gives you a different ship you'd like to use)
Also right now I am seeing this as the assumed crew roles. Let me know if this is fine to start, and you can also change round-to-round:
Pilot - T'Kai
Engineer - Raatchet
Gunner - Huckle Jim
Science Officer/Second Gunner - Quirk
Male Shirren Operative/9 SP 64/64 HP 54/54 RP 8/9 PER +17 INIT +8 EAC 24 KAC 25 FORT +7 REF +11 WILL +8 DR 6 ER (cold) 5 ER (fire) 5
Quirk could start on captain and encourage the pilot or gunner, then jump to science/gunner as needed. I would also like to consider the Drake. They are so much more durable than a Pegasus. The only starship combat losses I have seen were in Pegasus starships--they just can't take the same amount of damage. I'm will to be convinced otherwise though.
SP 48/48, HP 52/52, RP 8; EAC 22, KAC 23; F+3, R+10, W+9; Perc +12, darkvision; Init +4, SM +12
Navasi rushes in, looking winded. "Sorry, had the wrong briefing room... Are you aware there's apparently some sort of reality TV show being planned for Salvation's End? The catering bill alone looks frightening..." She catches her breath and nods to each of you. "Navasi's the name. I'm supposed to help you lot with a mission? Also, we are totally out of soap in the head."
Mystic Spacefarer Star Shaman Mystic 12 | SP 120/120 HP 78/78 | RP 13/13 EAC 32; KAC 33 | Fort +9; Ref +9; Will +14 | Init: +6 | Perc: +26, SM: +15 | 1st 5/7, 2nd 5/6, 3rd 2/4, 4th 2/3|GM re-roll 0/1
"While I do like the speed and maneuverability of the Pegasus, I think the firepower and durability of the Drake will be more advantageous when facing off the Jinsul fleet."
Male CN Ysoki Mechanic 8 | SP 56/56 HP 50/50 | RP 10/10 | EAC 26 KAC 27 | Fort +7; Ref +11; Will +2 | Init: +5 | Perc: +14, SM: +0 | Speed 30ft | Laser (14/20) (8/20) Pulse (17/20) Disintegrator (40/40) | Active conditions: Fire Resist (8), DR 5/-, +2 vs spells/spell-abilities
"GUNZ! PEW PEW PEW! MOAR GUNZ! PEW PEW PEW!"
And that's Raatchet voting for the Drake!!
"Heya, regardless of which frame we fly into battle, we can christen our ship with whatever name we want right? How about Roquefort's Wrath!?!? Have you ever had that stuff? Some of the best cheese ever but woooo! That stuff stanks!! And your bowels may be a little loose for a few days after, amirite???!!!
The five of your hurry over to one of the waiting Drake frames. Waiting for the rest of the Starfinders to assemble in their own craft, Raatchet is able to find a bottle to smash against the now-Roquefort's Wrath's hull as the engines spool up. Over the comms, Luwazi's voice echoes across every vessel in the Starfinder's fleet. All right. Preparing to Exit the Drift in 3...2...1...
With a shifting lurch, the Perfect Silence, the Roquefort's Wrath, and dozens of other Starfinder vessels vanish from the drift and re-enter realspace not far from the planet of Saaruq-5. As you get your bearing,s you see the space around the planet blanketed in light: dozens of Krieholm and jinusl ships are already orbiting the planet and engaged in intense firefights. The craft dart around each other as blinding flashes of laser cannons and plasma appear in fantastic displays over Saaruq-5's blue-green surface.
Map added to my profile and the Campaign header.
Seeing the fight before you, your ship's holo-display flares to life as an image of Jadnura appears before you on the bridge. Starfinders. Get to your battle stations! Our fleet is deploying to assist the Kreiholm Freehold’s ships and engage these damned jinsuls. But I'm giving you a special task — our analysts have identified an unexpected threat. The enemy has deployed a new type of starship, and they’re mercilessly taking down several of our ships trying to join the Kreiholm Freehold’s defense. Destroy those new jinsul ships before they cause more trouble!
The ships Jadnura wants you to focus on are the Green and Purple bordered ones near the rear of the map from your starting position. The heavily lined sections on the map are heated firefight zones: if you fly through them you will need to use a stunt to avoid getting hit in the crossfire.
Right now I need the actions from your engineer and science officer, as well as the pilot's action and your ship's movement this round. If the captain (Navasi) is interfering/affecting the enemy ships this round, or aiding your pilot/engineer/sci officer, you can do that now as well. The green ship has already moved, but Purple beat you in initiative this round.
Ratchet's a bit less familiar with the Roquefort's Wrath's computers than he'd like, but he manages to start getting a read on the jinsul ship.
Medium-frame Supplicant class ship. Crew complement of 6. Speed of 10 with average maneuverability (Turn 2). AC 20, TL 21
85 Hull Points, with 25 forward shields and 15 in the port, starboard, and aft. PCU estimate of 175.
With Navasi's encouragement, T'Kai surges the ship tightly around the closest engagement, pointing her forward arc towards the 'green' ships' starboard. As you do so, the other jinsul craft maneuvers closer as well, getting your port in its sights.
Green Linked turret:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33 for damage to Starboard:8d4 ⇒ (1, 4, 3, 2, 4, 3, 1, 4) = 22
The second craft unleashed a series of shots at you, but T’Kai’s piloting and the ship’s armor evades most of it. The single shot from the closer jinsul hits its mark however and chews up most of your Starboard shields total of 24 damage on that hit - they diverted power to weapons that round
Male Shirren Operative/9 SP 64/64 HP 54/54 RP 8/9 PER +17 INIT +8 EAC 24 KAC 25 FORT +7 REF +11 WILL +8 DR 6 ER (cold) 5 ER (fire) 5
Quirk fires up the weapon interfaces and targets the nearest ship (green) with the turreted light particle beam. He also diverts computer power to get a more solid shot off.
to hit with light particle beam:1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 2 = 17 damage:3d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 4) = 13
"Huckle Jim, you may have the honors with one of those big missiles!"
Male Human Arcane-Blitz Soldier 14: Spd:65, Init:14, SP:168/168, HP:130/130, RP:13/13, EAC:30, KAC:33, DR/5- 14 Fire Resistance, Fort:15, Reflex:12, Will:11, Perc:0, Darkvision
It don't look like we are facing the right way, but here is the missile shot at green. Also, I've never used missiles hit:15 + 2 + 1d20 ⇒ 15 + 2 + (12) = 29Not including range penalties. dmg:5d10 ⇒ (7, 2, 3, 10, 5) = 27
Male Shirren Operative/9 SP 64/64 HP 54/54 RP 8/9 PER +17 INIT +8 EAC 24 KAC 25 FORT +7 REF +11 WILL +8 DR 6 ER (cold) 5 ER (fire) 5
I believe the missiles are turreted, so facing won't matter much. They are speed 10, so they'll have a chance to immediately hit anything within 10 hexes. Otherwise, they move 10 hexes, then continue 10 hexes a turn each turn. It appeared the target was within 10 hexes.
Quirk is correct. The turretted Antimatter launcher can fire in any direction, though there are only 5 (now 4) missiles available for it. You can also choose to fire all guns in an arc/on the turret with a single action, but each shot would take a -4 to hit, just like Full-attacking
Quirk's shot with the forward particle beam deflects off a nearby other vessel without striking you target. The missile Huckle fires is a different story: it lands square on the jinsul ship's starboard arc, devastating its shields and leaving damage on the hull.
Green Divert to weapons:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 Green to target engines:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21 Purple Divert to weapons:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16 FAIL
Purple to target engines:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
Both of the vessels continues to glow bright in space as they seem to be diverting power to their weapons, though only the closer ship's mounted guns appear to be properly charging with the extra power. Meanwhile an alert pops up in front of Raatchet: your scanners are detecting targeting from the jinsul directed towards your engines.
Round 2 Engineering
Helm (Science Officer and Pilot)
Gunners
Mystic Spacefarer Star Shaman Mystic 12 | SP 120/120 HP 78/78 | RP 13/13 EAC 32; KAC 33 | Fort +9; Ref +9; Will +14 | Init: +6 | Perc: +26, SM: +15 | 1st 5/7, 2nd 5/6, 3rd 2/4, 4th 2/3|GM re-roll 0/1
It looks like the ship was turned a bit. Our front should be facing the right so green's starboard is in our front arc. The idea was to have the Persistent Particle Beam and the Anti-matter Missle Launcher be available for attack.
The Starboard is/was in your forward arc at present. If you’d like I can update the ship icons later today to make it clearer exactly what their facing is, and will try to note what ships are in your firing arcs for the gunning sections when it is time for those.
SP 48/48, HP 52/52, RP 8; EAC 22, KAC 23; F+3, R+10, W+9; Perc +12, darkvision; Init +4, SM +12
Navasi hits the comms and broadcasts to the Jinsul ship, TAUNTing their crew. "Listen you sons of space-crabs, cease fire or we'll not only destroy your ship, we'll destroy your sad and pathetic souls as well! You'll be reborn as lice on the butt of a space whale, got me?"
Mystic Spacefarer Star Shaman Mystic 12 | SP 120/120 HP 78/78 | RP 13/13 EAC 32; KAC 33 | Fort +9; Ref +9; Will +14 | Init: +6 | Perc: +26, SM: +15 | 1st 5/7, 2nd 5/6, 3rd 2/4, 4th 2/3|GM re-roll 0/1
"I'll try to keep us in good position." Evade DC 22:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29
I think what was throwing me off was the point of the icon is not pointing in the same direction as the front of the ship. When I zoom in I can see where the point of the icon is facing.
Navasi insults the jinsul ship One target a taunt attmept, so will assume Green for now. She receives a chattering cry over the comms in response, but they seem rattled. for 1d4 ⇒ 3 rounds Meanwhile T'Kai serpentines in space while Raatchet gets some of the lowered shielding back in shape.
The farther jinsul craft weaves evasively as it wheel around you, as the other continues on its path only to reverse its heading abruptly. With your starboard still exposed, each jinsul craft fires a set of linked coilguns from their turrets, paired with another and a maser blast from their fores.
As they fire, the two jinsul drift by you and attempt to flank. But T'Kai keeps their cool and is able to react/ You won intiiaitve this round. They have moved to where they will be.
Round 2
Gunners (Quirk, Huckle Jim) At the time you would be firing, Purple is in your starboard arc, Green in your starboard & Forward (right on the line)
Round 3 Engineering
Helm (Science Officer and Pilot)
Male Human Arcane-Blitz Soldier 14: Spd:65, Init:14, SP:168/168, HP:130/130, RP:13/13, EAC:30, KAC:33, DR/5- 14 Fire Resistance, Fort:15, Reflex:12, Will:11, Perc:0, Darkvision
Quirk, I think it is 8d6, not 10d6
Anyway, Huckle Jim will fire at purple with a missile hit:15 + 2 + 1d20 ⇒ 15 + 2 + (20) = 37 dmg:5d10 ⇒ (7, 5, 10, 4, 9) = 35
edit: a crit which system did I damage:1d100 ⇒ 47
Male Shirren Operative/9 SP 64/64 HP 54/54 RP 8/9 PER +17 INIT +8 EAC 24 KAC 25 FORT +7 REF +11 WILL +8 DR 6 ER (cold) 5 ER (fire) 5
CRB lists a persistent particle bean as 10d6, as does the ship description in the Society guide. I think I seek your confusion--you might be looking at the tier 6 version of the ship. We are on a tier 8 Drake. Good news: you get 10d10 for missile damage! Roll some more dice!
Nice hits! And I missed it before, but your (Huckle's) hit last round also was missing 5 dice worth of damage. Rolling those now... extra damage from last round:5d10 ⇒ (7, 7, 3, 7, 7) = 31 Extra missile damage from this round:5d10 ⇒ (10, 4, 9, 10, 2) = 35 re-rolling 1 from Quirk's Particles:1d6 ⇒ 3
Raked by Quirk's shot, the first Green Jinsul ship is starting to show significant battle damage. And with a perfectly aimed missile right through the other Purple craft's defenses, it too begins to show scars.
Green system crit:1d100 ⇒ 27 Green system crit:1d100 ⇒ 9 Green system crit:1d100 ⇒ 21
Extra purple system crit:1d100 ⇒ 33 Extra purple system crit:1d100 ⇒ 95
In fact T'kai's nimbleness evasiveness causes the maser shot to slice past the Rcquefort. However, the far ship's paired coilguns just hit the mark. At the same time as the coilgun shot from the limping craft's turret - that ship Green may be in bad shape but still is showing remarkable accuracy in its shots.
One of the jinsul Purple continues to circle wide around you while the other reverses course and flips quickly. The strange ships seems especially configured for such a maneuver.
Round 2
Gunners (Quirk, Huckle Jim) At the time you would be firing, Purple is in your starboard arc, Green in your starboard & Forward (right on the line) Also at time of firing, both ships lack Forward shields (they re-balance the ships in the start of round 4, but you're firing in Round 3. Timey-wimey things!
Round 4 Engineering
Helm (Science Officer and Pilot)
