Voyage 2: Sketchy Notes vers. (pt. 1)
The Setup
Literally Alone Among the Stars, a traumatized Molly Hyaline claims the star-hauler Thuvia as her own. She is determined to find out if they Qath Combine sent her and the rest of the crew of the Dejah Thoris to their deaths.
Given her choice to destroy the Dejah Thoris and annihilate the alien plant that created the deadly "Seed" of Uuthan, she decides to lay low, recruit a crew, and raise funds in the frontier sectors.
I will start by generating a random starbase to serve as her new home.
Jacinto Drift
Government: Low government presence, lawless
Economy: Grey market trade
Opportunities:
- A frantic government official named Chroge Coxand needs someone to transport him to a local world. However, the job turns out to be very different than described.
- An alien diplomat named Mrani needs someone to help him escape from a corrupt government official.
- An alien government official named Br'Zeni needs someone to investigate a telepathic signal emanating from the Zorga System. However, the job turns out to be very different than described.
- A corporate agent named Arthah Ramorg needs someone to recover an object from the ruins of Colony Location Name. However, the job is a trap.
- A saurian alien named Droni needs someone to transport 4000 tons of industrial chemicals to a nearby star system.
- A frantic academic scholar named Stophua Dere needs someone to escort a group of robot cargo spaceships to a nearby colony. However, the job turns out to be very different than described.
- An academic scholar named Kathia Cotte needs someone to explore the S'Shooli Expanse.
- A mammalian alien named M'Sisu needs someone to expose a corrupt government official. Further, the crew must travel through a cosmic debris cloud.
- An alien academic scholar named C'Alhoon needs someone to explore the Taxu Sector.
- A charming military officer named Wanda Lexand needs someone to discover the fate of a cargo spaceship lost in the Uton Expanse.
- A'hatai Chaotic Lawful Explorer Race [Ak'htari] Mercenary Explorer (ace pilot)-1 Str 5 Int 9 Wis 12 Dex 10 Con 9 Cha 11
- Gael Ghelfi Neutral Human Scoundrel Rogue (scum)-1Str 11 Int 14 Wis 12 Dex 13 Con 9 Cha 8
- Richy Powell Lawful Human Gunner Warrior (officer-1) Str 14 Int 8 Wis 9 Dex 5 Con 12 Cha 18 N
- Braki Skiee Chaotic Amphibiod [Ubul] Cultist Brute (crusader)-1Str 12 Int 7 Wis 14 Dex 9 Con 17 Cha 10
- Hadi Diani Chaotic Hunter [Yoc] Criminal Rogue (bounty hunter)-1 Str 12 Int 9 Wis 9 Dex 18 Con 12 Cha 11
- Traskyo Chaotic Giant [Elicant] Aristocrat Warrior (officer)-1 Str 14 Int 10 Wis 5 Dex 14 Con 6 Cha 6 N
- B'gani Neutral Schemer Race [Kitat] Officer technician (scientist)-1 Str 14 Int 13 Wis 5 Dex 6 Con 16 Cha 7 N-H
- Henry Ramurph Chaotic Human Vagrant Explorer (Ace pilot)-1 Str 8 Int 8 Wis 12 Dex 12 Con 11 Cha 5
- L'rani Chaotic Schemer Race [Kitat] Computech Rogue (scum)-1 Str 9 Int 13 Wis 8 Dex 16 Con 12 Cha 6 N -H
I have three more alien races to create. A race of explorers, the Ak'htari, a race of Amphibioids, the Ubul, and a race of Schemers, the Kitat. I will use a mix of my random table codex, and the characters I have already created as a guide to alien races, I will note them there.
Scene 1
Chaos roll: 3... altered scene: Introduce a new NPC: Neglect a representative.
Oracle Time:
- Is this NPC violating Jacinto traffic control or laws (such as they are)? 11
- Yes... unexpected event: NPC Action: Dominate Lies
- Were Hugo's credits in a format she could appropriate? Yes barely... 45 on the nose)
- Were Marshall's? Yes
- Did the cultists have cash? Yes
Apth
Chaotic Yoc Criminal Rogue (scum)-1
Hp 4 AC 14 SV 15 Attack +1
Str 11 Int 10 Wis 12 Dex 12 Con 7 Cha 12
Skills: +1 gambling, +1 Navigation +1 Melee attack +1 Perception +3 Pick Locks +5 Stealth +1 Trade +2 Urban Lore
Luck: re-roll a Saving throw each session
Sneak attack: +4 attack double damage when attacking unaware opponent
Gear: Light armor, advanced thieving tools, sword, ion pistol, basic jetpack, 1000 credits
Jacinto Drift slowly appears in the forward window of the Thuvia's cockpit. Molly wearily watches the readouts on the auto docking system. She had spent the last day fixing the exowalker for re-sale, praying her job was good enough to warrant a decent price at the local market.
Repair roll... 10 (definitively still a "used" vehicle will get abot 6,250cr for it.)
As she watched the autocommuncator deal with customs, docking fees, etc, she felt like she could sleep for a week. But she had business to take care of. And fast. Running starship is expensive. Even with the hydroponic food and raw ingots that Yth had loaded into the ship, she was going to be hard-pressed to pay a crew the necessary advances, refit the ship, refuel, and actually eat all at once.
If she trusted the Thuvia a little more, she might have put her head down and let the automatic docking system take care of things for her, but after years of jury-rigging, tinkering and make-do the ship was full of strange quirks, and she was only beginning to learn a fraction of them.
But maybe just a nap until the proximity system started chirping...
Her incipient nap, and almost all of her drowsiness was gone in an instant when every alarm the ship had started screaming at once and ashrike tore across her bow perilously close. Her comms skwaked with a high priority hail.
Ap: "Commercial ship Thuvia this is Jacinto starion security; cut engines and adjust course for boarding and inspection!"
Molly blinked at her screens. She was already cleared, according to her computer.
(Disguise 10 v. Molly's Perception of 6)
Mo: "Security vessel, I am pre-cleared for docking! I have no inspection listed!"
The ship rocked with a low-yield burst before her bow.
Ap: "Only one chance, Thuvia, heave to and submit to boarding or my squad will blast you from the sky."
Molly begins slowing the ship as she furiously checks her computer. Still no mention of an escort an inspection or a squad. Something is clearly not right. She's lived on roughneck colonies like these for years, and not once has she encountered this kind of security. She decides on a gamble. One that could land her in even more trouble than she already has.
Mo: "Shite an away wi' you, ya hoor pirate! If yo were legit, this search 'd be on the comms. I'll not be lettin' you on my ship 'a rob n' rape me!"
Molly takes a wild shot with Thuvia's pulse cannon, and skims the Shrike's outer shield.
Mo: "I've had a hell if a week, and I'm not about to give anyone a lash at making it worse."
While not impressed with Molly's aim, the Shrike falls back for a minute, Apth considering his options. (Morale roll 4, Reaction roll 8)
Ap: "This is your final warning. Heave to or we will open fire!"
Mo: "Who's we, then? My scope shows one of ya's. Scarlet on yer mother for havin' ya! I'm not fooled by you. Heave to, yourself; my gun's bigger than your whole ship."
Apth, realizing his ruse has been caught decides to brazen it and quit the system with what he can take out of the Thuvia. He starts aiming his launchers. With a curse, Molly leaps to the ship's controls and attempts to make a run for the station.
Rolling Initiative...
Apth calls up his targeting computer and starts working on a solution, only gunnery isn't his strong suit. He accidentally reboots fore control with careless punching.
Registering that the Shrike's active sensors have stopped tracking her, Molly starts counter tracking? (Computers 10)
Mo: "What's this? Janxed our scanners have we?"
Round 2
Before Apth can pull away, Molly's pulse cannon gets a lock, and she fires! Getting a 19! Dealing 70hp of damage!
His shields broken, and hull seared, Apth realizes that this fight went badly fast, and turns for a run away from both the Thuvia and Jacinto while he can.
Round 3
Molly intensifies the fire on her pulse laser she blasts off the Shrike's comm antenna and Scorched it's primary sensors before it gets out of range.
End of Combat
Molly hp 3/3 7 CON | Thuvia hp 200/200 |
Chaos Factor 🔻5
Scene 2
Chaos Roll... 8
Molly sighed as she counted out her credits again. (19,320). Just a day and a half aboard Jacinto and she was already down over a thousand. Having a medic binding her rib properly had been worth it. She'd been on her own home-brewed painkillers for days and was worried about side effects. And, at the moment a starion mechanic was working his way through the ship, dealing with all the little kinks. While the exowalker had not got her as much as she had hoped, it let her stock the lab, and order upgrades on the ship's sensors, to be installed ASAP. She and the Thuvia were both running better... but she needed a crew fast and work soon. Finding the best had been hard, especially with the small advance and pay on spec she has to offer.
Only half of the local prospects had even been willing to talk to her. The two Kitat engineers she had approached too offense to her approach, and made vague threats.
The "Sorry, You're not my type of operation, ' message she had gotten from a human ex-military gunner had been disappointing. But the way the Ak'htari has responded...
She'd arranged to meet A'Hatai in the bay. It was rare to see the elder races looking for work at all, let alone in a mining Drift. The being was even stranger than she had expected: an impossibly tall, thin, four-armed shape draped in an encounter suit alive with elegant patterns and ornate projections. A vaguely humanoid face glowing through a cloud of purple must within the helmet.
Mo: "You are A'hatai, yes? I am captain Hyaline."
Ak: "Yes."
Mo: "This is my ship, the Thuvia. She's a freelance commercial ship. I intend on looking for opportunities to explore and trade on the frontier of allied space with her..."
A'hatai gazes at Molly, and then at the ship indicated silently. Then, A'hatai returns its gaze to Molly.
Mo: "It's... in need of a pilot."
A'hatai nods slowly.
Mo: "You advertised yourself as a pilot for hire. I am willing to hire you."
Ak: "No."
Mo: "No. As in you are not interested?"
Ak: "No."
Mo: "Out of curiosity, may I ask why not?"
Ak: "You are unsettling."
Mo: "I am unsettling?"
A'hatai touches Molly's forehead with a pointed finger.
Ak: "You are a blank. You have been Scorched here."
Mo: "Could you elaborate?"
Ak: "No."
A'hatai turns and walks away, leaving Molly flummoxed. A scrawny man in a patchy just psuit hops off dome nearby crates where he had been resting with a few fellow dockworkers.
He: "Jeez. I have never seen an Ak'htari act that rude befor5, and that's saying something...."
Mo: "That was strange. Yeah."
He: "Did I hear you are looking for a pilot?"
Molly gives herself a shake and regards the man. He is young, but the style of his suit, the way he moves in low-gravity, and the tools he carries are all familiar; he's a spacer, like her, and one who has traveled.
Mo: "I'm in need of a few crew. A pilot is my top priority. '
He: [Holds out his hand to shake.] "Henry Ramurph, pilot, at your service. "
Mo: "A pilot, eh? And for hire?" [Shakes his hand]
He: "I've been all over the Alliance, captain. And flown a dozen different starcraft. And your Thuvia there is a fine lady. I have flown a Oosh Kombi Hauler like her before. And I loved it. They're a lot of metal, but they never fight you. If you are good they can practically dance. I'd love to fly one again."
Mo: "Well, that's a fair start, Mr. Ramurph. Why aren't you still flying her now?"
He: "Henry, please. And the answer is that I don't like sitting in one place for very long. I have been trying to see the Universe, you know? Well the owner of the old Kombi I used to fly landed a contract for a regular run of supplies and goods between five points in the same system. It was steady work, but it was boring. I got an itch and just couldn't scratch it, so I ended my contract. I bummed a ride on a freighter out here where I've been learning how to handle mining pods and wrenching ships for a living, while I wait for a new opportunity to get out there... and that would be you."
Mo: "Molly. Okay, Henry, I'm willing to give you a lash, but I notice you aren't even asking about pay or shares."
He: "Doesn't matter, really, as long as you treat me fair. I'll take whatever you were offering the Ak'htari. And I guarantee you that I will be worth every credit."
Mo: "Right, then. Let's grab a drink and talk specifics. And while we're at it, I'm hoping there is more crew you might recommend me.""
Chaos Factor 🔻4
Scene 3
Chaos Roll... 1 altered scene: PC Negative: Vengeance Attention.
Molly's sense of confidence is sinking. At first she enjoyed talking to Henry... until she realized that he never stopped, and had nothing in his head except sightseeing and ship's. But at least his references checked.
His choices from the available crew is... less encouraging.
Gael Ghelfi came off at first as a poised confident woman... but now that she was halfway through the interview she was mostly coming off as just plain superior.
Ga: "Trust me, I know trade, and if you want to make money, just put your cargo hol in my hands and focus on plotting fast, direct routes."
Mo: "I appreciate that you have some experience with the market, Ms. Ghelfi, but I intend to keep my ship under a little more close observation than that."
Ga: "Then you are compromising control for profit, Captain. I don't understand why you are even on Jacinto if you are the kind who plays it safe. Trading on the frontier is not for the feint of heart."
Molly starts wondering if she shouldn't just strike out on her own. Her new pilot began nodding his slimy pink head in agreement.
Br: "Courage and uncertainty are brothers, captain."
The tiny amphibian was almost too cute to be a ship's defense officer, but they had a long battle record and a list of satisfied customers.
She knew that if she didn't assert herself here and now this crew would lose her respect and have her for breakfast.
Mo: "Go and bollox with that. She's my ship and I'll not have it a scow full of organleggining and Yoc drug labs. There's profit and there's stupidity, and a captain who doesn't know shite about what is in her hold doesn't deserve to have it. You all can hold your asses about how the ship is run, or go kick rocks. I'm for taking risks not for fly off in rag order."
Br: "Perhaps you are too safe a captain for me..."
Gael purses her lips in unspoken agreement. Then suddenly looks up in surprise and dives under the table. Braki hisses and activates his portable energy shield. Henry, who had been fetching drinks drops his tray scattering liquor and broken glass as he dives for cover.
Rolling Initiative
Molly is surprised. The rest of the crew has Initiative, but knows nothing of what is going on and take defensive action.
He: "Molly! Heads up!"
Molly is hit from behind by an ion pistol, and arches her back in a silent scream as Apth storms into the Rockgrinder tavern, Jacinto's watering hole with ion pistol whining.
(Molly is stunned for 4 rounds.)
Ap: "You bitch! You fired on me while I was retreating! Do you have any idea how many thousands the repairs are going to cost?! "
The bar patrons know Molly for a better and roll well on Morale, but are also surprised.
Round 2
Gael hesitates. She's taken 3,000cr in advance from Molly, but the contract has only been complete for 15 minutes. If Molly disappears now, she might be able to jack the Thuvia... she holds on for a moment.
Braki fires a blaster built into his armor cuff at the floor between Molly's twitching form and Apth.
Henry fishes through the spilled drinks and grabs a broken bottle.
Ap: [ignoring the hissing Braki wraps his claw in Molly's hair.] "I scanned your ship. It last belonged to a Yoc captain. How many of my kind did you murder to get it?"
The room suddenly fills with the gaussian hum of energy weapons as the various bar patrons pull weapons on Apth. The bartender shoots Apth in the side with an ion pistol, he drops shaking for 6 rounds.
Round 3
Bartender: "That's enough of that! You start a fight in my bar, you do it to people's faces. Guns down, people."
Round 4
Molly staggers to her feet, wiping saliva from her chin.
Mo: "Craic 90, Belters! Top notch bar!"
The bar explodes into a roar if cheers as Molly raises a fist.
Round 5-7
Slapping down a credit chit on the bar, Molly tells the bartender that the people inside drink on her (ultimately costing her 4d6x200cr) and asks for a heavy bottle of whiskey on the top shelf.
Round 8
Apth begins staggering to his hands and feet for a moment before Molly steps over him.
Mo: "Mornin' sunshine!"
Apth sees the full whiskey bottle descend and all goes black.
End of Combat
Molly hp 3/3 11 CON |
Henry hp 8/8 11 CON |
Gael hp 6/6 9 CON |
Braki hp 11/11 17 CON |
Thuviahp 200/200 |
Mo: "And you lot... A fine load help all of you except Braki were. I expect you to feck up now or return your advances."
Br: "I think I may have found the right captain after all..."
Chaos Index 🔻3
Scene 4
Chaos Roll... 6
Oracle:
- Does Molly have any claim on Apth's Shrike? 05... Extreme yes.
Mo: [Staring indcredulously at the 'Chief' of Jacinto, Gabriel Marca.] "So because I downed the Shitehawk and dragged his ass here... an becaue he attacked and tried to defraud me earlier, you say I have claim to his ship?"
Ga: "Yes, Ma'am. We like to keep things simple here. Defaulting property to aggreived parties keeps us from having to deal with debt collectors, suits, and previous owners. That's their problem if they want to gripe at you about it."
Mo: "I... am... surprisingly okay with that."
Molly contemplates her balance of 6,020cr again... She should've known not to give free drinks to belters for a day. How they managed to drink 4,000cr was beyond her... but she was vaguely proud of them and the fine Irish belter showing.
She looked agian at the Yoc pirate in bonds in the cell she was overlooking.
Mo: "In fact' I intend to laugh all the way to the bank. Bless you, Chief."
- Can she find a buyer for the Shrike? No
She laughed less as she found herself paying double docking fees until she could manage the manouvres to get it parked in and dominating the Thuvia's hold.
This was going to limit the jobs she could take.
Chaos Factor 🔺️4
Scene 5
Chaos Roll... 2 Interrupt scene! PC Positive: Attract Opposition
Oracle:
- Does QRC have rivals? Yes
- Are they aware of who Molly is? Yes
- Are they connected to a by of the existing jobs in Jacinto? Yes
The money flitting away, Molly moved down the Corridors of Jacinto, praying she would be able to find something soon.
She was on her way to yet another interview for one of the... odder... jobs on the Drift. The damnable Shrike in her hold might sell her for mercenary work, but in spite of the last week she wasn't normally a fighter. And the one gun on the Thuvia would not be enough against a squad of determined fighters. Without a hold she couldn't haul ore or food. So, exploration it was. And preferably before her ship's ran out of antimatter.
Ca: "Captain Hyaline, I presume?"
She chided herself on her sudden bias.
Mo: "That's me! May your gods smile on you with gems and good tidings,' she offered the Hune a traditional greeting.
Ca: "And you profits and wisdom. I would like a moment of your time."
Mo: "I'm afraid I'm running late to get to a meeting with a potential client. Can we make an appointment.?"
Ca: "I'm afraid it is rather urgent. It is about the Dejah Thoris. "
She froze.
Mo: "You're with Qath, then?"
Ca: "I am decidedly not. I know what they want, however."
Mo: "I presume you don't want to jaw with me out here in the corridor."
Ca: "I do not. I have rented for us a private meeting room to discuss a sensitive matter."
Mo: "Right, then. Show me the way."
NPC reaction roll 10, C'Alhoon is friendly. He doesn't wish Molly any ill.
A few minutes later, Molly haw called Gael to stand in for her at her original meeting, and sits in a quiet space across from the Hune.
Mo: "Well, I am all ears, mister..."
Ca: "C'Alhoon."
Mo: "C'Alhoon? You'll br C'Ta'tat tribe then?"
Ca: "Indeed. I am impressed with your knowledge of my species."
Mo: "I was neighbors with a family of C'Ta'at on a Drift much like this one most of my childhood. "
Ca: "I am very lucky, then. What's the human saying? It is a small world?"
Mo: "That's the one."
Ca: "it is good to find rapport. I have much that requires trust to discuss."
Mo: "Why don't you start by telling me what you know about the Dejah Thoris?"
Ca: "The Dejah Thoris was one of seventeen self-sustaining exploration vessels commissioned by the Qath Research Combine. They were intended to operate as autonomously as possible. Each with hand-picked all- human, all-hune, or all-trassi crews. They would be given important research leads to help collect pieces of some larger historical puzzle.
"Qath had first rite of refusal to exploit any discovery made by the crews it was sponsoring. Their intention, to keep the crews autonomous, was to take only the discoveries that fit the puzzle, and a few moderately profitable ones to muddy the waters, but let the crews keep most of their discoveries to themselves.
Oracle
- Does C'Alhoon know this because he was part of the QRC? Yes.
- Did C'Alhoon leave for ethical reasons? Yes
- Does C'Alhoon know the bigger picture? No
- Is he part of a larger organization? No
- Is he of means to be a regular patron? No... and Interruption! NPC Positive: Release Expectations
- Does the QRC know Molly is alive? No.
- Is he going to go with the Ship? Yes.
Ca: "The first voyage of each ship was meant to follow up on some hunches... possible clues toward the mystery they want to unravel. A shake-down of the crew. But the Dejah Thoris ' mission was to confirm signs of Ancient ecosystem tampering on Uuthan... but it went horribly wrong. They didn't expect it to fall into the hands of violent cultists. They believe all hands were lost.
Mo: "So what is the bigger picture?"
Ca: "I don't know. But I want to find it before Qath does. And I have a hunch of my own. In the Taxu Sector.
Molly's comm chirrupd with an urgent message.
Mo: "One second. " [She logs in to see a hologram of Henry looking distraught.] "Story, Horse?"
He: "Molly, we got trouble. A crew just arrived in a frigate and bailed Apth."
Mo: "Shite. Who knew the Shitehawk had friends? Lock her down except for Gael 'till I come back. Start applying for launch clearance. " [Looking up at C'Alhoon.] "Mr. C'Alhoon, I just got some bad new that requires precipitous escape from this station. Do continue about the Taxu system?"
Ca: "I need you to take me there and help me explore. I have 27,000 credits to pay.."
Mo: "Can you pack your bags in 20 minutes?"
Chaos Factor 🔺️5