Saint’s Reborn – Forgotten Ruin – Adventures in Gygax Station Part 1

Selene met with the Captain.  "Selene, you did well.  Finished the contract and let us get off that forsaken world."
"Thank you, Captain."
"We have our next mission, and it set off so many red flags that I almost refused.  But the pay was quite generous.  What's our current status?"
"Squad one is at full strength.  Two troopers from Squad two are on their feet.  Three more are still on the mend, but should be combat-ready soon.  Armaments are still at minimal level; the two APCs are being worked on, and the speeder needs new G-compensators still."
"Have you ever played any role playing games, Selene?  Physical ones, with books and dice?"
"No ma'am.  A few of my fellow milbrats did, though.  And this is a very odd question."
"I agree.  But we were contacted by a part-owner of a playground for the rich and powerful, where they can go in and live the life of a fantasy adventurer for a while, delving into castles and dungeons fighting animatronic monsters and searching for treasure.  Apparently, they lost contact with the station.  There were no guests there at the time, which is good for them, because they would be forced to involve Unity.  But they want the station investigated and brought back under their control.  And they want it done with no press - they've already had to give out refunds claiming they were upgrading the experience."
"So rich people frolic around pretending they're mighty heroes, and pay lots of money to do it?"
"That's correct.  A lot of money.  This company apparently spends a great deal to come up with 'adventures' that react to the customers actions.  They simulate magic spells and magic items with a combination of special effects and technology.  Weapons that detect when and where they strike the opponent, and automatically decrement their 'hit points' - when they reach zero, they are 'dead'."
"Any indication of what happened?"
"No.  Station just went dark.  They sent a maintenance crew that docked at the maintenance port, but they never reported back.  Doesn't seem like pirates."
"Might be converted - it sounds like they'd love that place!"
The Captain chuckled grimly.  "True, and if it was converted, Unity would just blow the place.  The owner wants it intact.  The owner is one of the red flags.  Fully anonymous.  I accepted the job contingent on partial payment, and it arrived almost immediately.  We'll pay for advanced medical care to get Squad 3 to full, and we'll send everyone in.  We don't know what to expect, so go in, hit hard, and get out." 
"What system is it in?"
"That's the other red flag, Selene.  You know that strange indicator on the nav charts - 'Planet'?  It's supposedly there, orbiting a small red dwarf.  The weak point is not in any nav chart - any ship captain would be crazy to try to scout it out on their own.  And it has defenses to keep the non-wealthy away.  Normally, they only allow their own ships to dock.  We received a self-destructing nav program and a single-use docking code, so the Hammer will stay docked while you're inside.  We'll be arriving there in two days."
"Copy that, Captain.  I'll rally the troops."
"And Selene.... Be careful in there."


Two days later, the Saint's Hammer arrived at the mysterious station.  As they beamed the codes to the station, a strange melody started to be broadcast. It was a jaunty tune, one that got the team's toes tapping as they prepped for deployment.
The Saints Hammer locked into a docking approach.  As it docked, mechanical and gravitic clamps locked the Hammer onto the station.
Selene and newly promoted Squad Leader Garran Threx were the first to enter the lift.  While Garran was upright, he was still dealing with injuries from the prior mission, and would not be active.  However, as Squad Leader, he needed to be in the know.  They rode the lift up, and as the lift moved, the music got louder.  As the lift doors opened, Selene and Garran stepped out into a warmly lit room that resembled a primitive tavern.  A number of tables held feasing people - or at least what appeared to be people.
The barkeep looked up at them "Well, you've arrived.  Please, have a seat".
Selene and Garran approached the bar, while Garran radioed the rest of the Saints to load up and come aboard.
"You were expecting us?" Selene asked.  "Of course.  I hired you."
"You?"
"Absolutely.  You see, this station is entirely automated and run by AI.  Well, two AI's.  And that's where the problem comes in.  This station is the biggest and best entertainment complex in ten sectors.  One of our competitors apparently snuck a saboteur on board.  This saboteur was able to infect my counterpart with a virus.  Now, instead of providing engaging tactical adventures, A.C.E.R.E.R.A.K. has become, well, rather murderous."
"Acer-what?"
"Artificial Campaign Engine for Realistic Engagements, Risk & Attrition control Kernel.  A.C.E.R.E.R.A.K. designs the challenges that guests face, and controls the monsters that inhabit the station.  And now his creations have turned lethal."
"You will need to venture forth from this inn, cross the lands to his Tomb of Horrors and shut him down so that we can regain control."
"So you're sending us on a quest?"  Garran asked, smiling.
"Why yes.  That is my job as the QuestGiver.  And as your employer."  The bartender wiped a glass clean, for the third time.  "You may use this inn as a base of operations.  But, you need to hurry.  I'm sensing a small approaching force."
"Squad!" Selene called.  "Check perimeter."
Illtharae replied "Ten incoming.  Appear human, carrying close combat hand weapons.  Wearing deep red robes."
"Cultists of Elemental Evil" the bartender said.  "A.C.E.R.E.R.A.K. cut me off from the main core, so if they shut down the inn, I will be lost, as will your only way off station.  And the rest of your pay."
"Squad, head out and engage.  Illtharae, provide sniper support.  I will stay here and coordinate with the rest of the team.  Captain, status?"
"We are locked down hard.  We can't leave."
The bartender spoke up "A.C.E.R.E.R.A.K. controls the docking.  You must shut him down."
"Squad, you heard the, uh... quest-giver.  Shut them down."
"Copy that, Lieutenant.  Shutting them down."
"There are four hidden control panels nearby.  They control the Inn defenses.  I'm sure the cultists are after them.  If you harden them down, that will increase your ability to defend the Inn."
"Copy that.  Sergeant Threx, make it so."
"Copy."

Illtharae positioned herself on a balcony off the second floor, and took careful aim at the cultist-bot that seemed to be a leader.  Her shot struck the bot, but instead of sparks, there was a spray of blood as the Champion fell.  "Lieutenant - these don't seem like robots".  Selene glanced at the barkeep.  "Ah, yes.  I failed to mention.  When this station came online, real robots were used.  But over time, the guests requested more realism, so the owners began using cloning technology, creating biological robots.  Their craniums do contain fairly sophisticated computers that control the organic bodies."
Selene looked at the barkeep.  "That's frakkn disgusting.  I'd like to see your client listing so I can let them know how I feel about their 'entertainment'."  "I'm sorry, but that list is not present on the station.  We only know the guests by their in-game names."
Selene responded to Illtharae, "They're biological robots.  Rules of engagement stand.  Take them out."
"Copy."
While the conversation was happening, Miak had used his jump-pack to get to the first control panel, locking it down as the barkeep had instructed, to prevent A.C.E.R.E.R.A.K. from tampering with it.  Team 1 lead, Marik Voss and Team 1 trooper Tiber Holt both took out a cultist-bot each.  The cultist-bots advanced, seemingly unphased by the 'deaths' of three of their number.  The squad could hear them chanting - a discordant chant that sounded foul to their ears.  "Hey Selene!" Miak  called.  "Listen to them - sounds like the crap you call music."
"Knock it off, Miak.  It needs a bass-beat and some synth tracks.  And focus on stopping them."
The rest of the troopers maneuvered, firing as they moved, but no more cultists went down.

Miak jumped to the top of a nearby hill, to get a better look at the battlefield.  Illtharae's second shot missed its mark, and Sevrin's shots also failed to drop a cultist.  They continued their advance, one climbing up the hill to try to take Miak out.  The rest of the squad maneuvered, with Tiber and Ingrid dashed towards one of the control panels, and Marik dropping one of the cultists.

Miak drew his Boarding Saber and slashed at the cultist next to him, cutting him down.  "Blood does look real." Miak said, "But they drop wrong when they 'die'."
Illtharae took another out with her sniper rifle, while Squad 1 advanced to the control panel.  Sevrin dropped another.

With the cultist next to him dead, Miak jumped from the hill towards the furthest control panel, while Illtharae left the balcony as the cultists were out of her line of sight. Sevrin was attacked by one of the cultists, who managed to rattle his cage.  Another cultist attacked Faith, who, even though she did not have a close-combat weapon, dropped the cultist with the butt of her rifle.

Illtharae continued to shoot from the ground, missing the cultists.   One of the troopers dropped another cultist, while Miak took care of  the final control panel.  "Squad, fall back and regroup.  Movement at the perimiter, right by Miak.  Miak, fall back and regroup with the others."

Miak apparently either did not hear Selene, or had forgotten what 'fall back' meant, as he unloaded his Rattle Gun on the cultists that appeared from the dark forest, nearly on top of him.  The rounds from the rattle gun found their marks, dropping the oncoming Champion and two of his minions, leaving only a single cultist standing.  That remaining cultist leapt at Miak, who swung the rattle gun at the cultist, pushing him back.  The rest of the squad maneuvered as ordered.

Miak once again leveled his rattle gun at the cultist, spraying every round in, and through the last cultist, blasting him into oblivion.  "Repeat that, Selene.  There was a bit of.... interference."  "Miak! You heard me, and you know it.  Fall back!"

Suddenly, a hidden trap door in the ground opened up almost on top of Squad 2, and more cultists poured out.  Miak, turning, fired his rattle gun at them, killing one, as did Illtharae.  Sevrin was able to connect with one, but did not drop it.  But that gave the cultist an opening, and he struck Sevrin, his weapon somehow tearing through Sevrin's Trooper armour,  Sevrin's scream cut short as he fell to the ground, clearly dead.One other trooper was attacked, but was able to push the assailant away.

The rest of Squad 2 opened fire, dropping the last two remaining cultists.  "I don't detect any more coming."  the barkeep said.  The squads sealed the trap door, and carried Sevrin's corpse back to the inn.

The squad met briefly afterwards, to mourn Sevrin.  "I know this is difficult.  Losing anyone is.  But we need to keep going so that we  can get out of here.  Lissa, you are now Team 2 lead.  We'll fill your spot from Squad 2."

"Team 1, you're on patrol.  While you're out, gather up some of the weapons they had.  If we're going to be going toe-to-toe, we'll need some.  Team 2, meet with the Captain for Sevrin's last rites and blessing."

"Captain, we'll want one of our microdrones in the air.  I don't want to rely on the barkeep's scanners.  I'm going to discuss our situation with our barkeep 'friend'.  If we need to take out the AI, we need to know the best way to get there, and what to expect on the way.  Squad, carry out your orders.  Dismissed."

Something stunk here, and it wasn't the meatbots, although that was another difference from actual corpses.  The smell was unnatural and vile.  She couldn't place what felt off yet, but she would.  But, Selene knew that she couldn't afford to lose any more troopers, especially any experienced ones.