Campaign Turn 17 – Marduk Station – Contraband You Say?
"I don't know about that, Villem. Even you said the deal looked shady. And you, more than anyone, knows shady."
"Thanks, I think. But anyway, 4 Credits is 4 Credits. And we all know you like credits."
Jaxx signed. "Well, you are not wrong there. Anyway, crew, our rep is spreading. Ginny found two jobs, plus ODH reached out to us with an urgent request. That ghost ship is scaring them. There were reports of converted attacking a group of salvagers, and they want us to go check it out."
"Converted? I mean really, Jaxx. We're good. But..... I'd almost rather face the Swarm again. You just paid big bucks to get me out of medbay, and I don't want to go back."
"We wouldn't be going to battle, Selene. Just scout and retreat."
"What other jobs are on the table?"
"Miranda has one, but it's not urgent. And she might have a follow-up on that odd datachip we found with the Black Dragon mercs."
"Speaking of the Dragons," Selene said to Vonthos, "How's Ulleda?"
Vonthos looked at Selene, and realized she was not teasing. "She's doing great! She loves working for Miranda. She doesn't know more about the datachip - that was something the squidhead kept to itself, but apparently, Miranda was quite intrigued by the squidhead that was carrying it. We still don't know what species or system they're from. Nothing in the station databanks. But that's the rub. The station databanks, as well as Unity databanks lost all its data about this sector. Gone, zilch, nada. And that should be impossible."
"Well, Kazi is doing maintenance on the RenPig. We'll take ol' Jim out to the ghost ship, do our scouting, and come back."
"Speaking of Kazi", Selene asked, "how's she doing. She's seemed a bit off since the whole Archimedes thing."
"Well, that's the thing. She's really not a spacer. She only left home to find out what happened to her parents. But this life isn't for her. I think she's just sticking around because she doesn't want to leave us, but it's wearing on her. I've reached out to home, just seeing how things are back there. The research station has closed, but I did touch base with some old friends. We'll see."
"Anyway, enough chatter. ODH expects us out there ASAP. Suit up, Gear up, and let's go."
The crew left their rooms and head for the docking bay. The Marduk Station residents, used to seeing freelancers walk this section of the station, paid no mind to the six people decked out in armor, and carrying large rectangular cases.
"Bay sixteen Charlie three. No idea what it was originally used for, full of a mish-mash of industrial stuff, some hundreds of years old, converted to a hangar bay. Gods, I love Marduk Station!" Jaxx laughed.
As they entered the bay, they saw another shuttle was docked in the bay, and noticed motion near their shuttle, the Speckled Jim. Simultaneously, the crew opened their cases and readied their weapons with practiced ease. The sound of the cases dropping to the floor alerted the suspicious folk near their shuttle.
"Ey, You punks!" one of the suspicious folk shouted, "You took something that was ours. We're taking it back, or we're taking your hides."
"I have no idea what you're talking about" Jaxx shouted back.
"Uh, Captain?" Villem said softly, "I think I might know."
Jaxx glanced at Villem and sighed. "Gents, you are clearly outnumbered. I suggest you return to your shuttle and make a friendly exit, or you'll be making a decidedly unfriendly exit."
"Ey, you're no friends of ours, punks. And I can count. We gots more men than you, and more on the way."
Jaxx signaled his team to go. "I never said we had more people than you. Just that you were outnumbered."
Vonthos started to make his way to some old industrial scaffolding, while Selene quickly moved up, taking cover by some old storage containers, and firing her Fury Rifle. Her shot hit the target, but he stayed standing. "Villem!" she shouted "Ever since you touched my baby, she's been shooting weak!" A number of quips ran through Villem's mind. But, for once, he decided that discretion was the right choice.
T
he mercs, reacting to the opening salvo, returned fire. One's rifle round struck Villem square in the chest, his armor saving his life. "Gurrok!" Villem cursed. "Even the bad guys are mad I touched your fury rifle. I promise to never touch Selene's guns again!"
The rest of the crew moved to better cover, opening fire. At this range, shooting on the run was not easy, but Villem's shot hit a target, who ducked back. Ginny fired her shell gun at a group of opponents, the blast shaking them up, but not stopping them.
Miak unleashed his rattle gun, and dropped two of their opponents, including a sniper who was lining up a shot. A third opponent was hit, but not dropped.
The firing continued. Vonthos and Miak took hits, both dropping. But, several of their opponents were down.
Jaxx' hotloaded Blast Rifle overheated, tripping the safety and shut down. "Frak!", he shouted as he dropped the rifle and drew his Blast Pistol.
As Jaxx was moving closer to get the opponents - some unidentified mercenary faction - within range of his pistol, he stumbled. As he moved to catch himself, a round from one of their rifles passed right where his head would have been. "Captain's Luck" he whispered under his breath.
They continued to slowly take out the mercs - Selene's Fury Rifle, normally death to whomever she targets, was firing weakly, merely stunning most of the mercs she shot. As her Fury Rifle failed to perform, her own fury kept rising, and everyone in the crew could hear her continued chant of "hands off Selene's stuff.... hands off Selene's stuff....."
As they continued firing, more mercs arrived [note: I had forgotten that difficulty level was respawn 4, so these four should have come in as opponents dropped. Once I remembered, I had them all arrive, which was actually to our advantage as....]. Ginny fired her shell gun at the arriving Mercs, dropping two just as they arrived.
Selene's Fury Rifle finally scored a kill. "Ha! Got it tuned in!". But her next shot seemed weaker, merely stunning her target, so her chanting resumed.
The opponents were down to just a single member. "Hey, I'm not in charge. Can we just, oh, stop shooting at each other?" he shouted.
Selene's final shot answered that question.
As they checked on Vonthos and Miak (who were both OK; simply knocked out), Jaxx walked up to the leader. He was injured, but still alive. Jaxx pointed his blast pistol at him. "I know one of my crew got his hands on your stuff. Now, we're going to take all your guns and sell them. Maybe we'll donate the money to charity. You're not going to object, are you?"
"Nnn... No...."
"You're not going to come after us again? We're even? This is done with?"
"Good." Jaxx said as he holstered his pistol.
"It's done". The merc slowly rose, gathered the few survivors of his team, and departed.
Jaxx went over to the Speckled Jim. "Ginny, you fired those shell gun rounds way too damn close to Jim. Going to have to do a full inspection before we take it out. We're going to miss our launch window, and ODH isn't going to want to wait.
"I could have let them keep shooting at us." Ginny replied sweetly.Jaxx sighed. "I know you're not using your empath powers on me, because if you ever did, I'd space you. But it's very hard to stay mad at you. Well, let's get the good old Speckled Jim checked out. I think we will still have time to make a salvage run out to the ghost ship before we need to do Miranda's job."
Turn Report
Turn 3
Step 1
1. Flee Invasion - N/A
2. Decide whether to travel - No
3. Starship travel event - N/A
4. New world arrival steps - N/A
1. Check for Rivals - N/A
2. Dismiss Patrons - N/A
3 - License paid
4 - world characteristics - Alien Species Restricted (Precursors) - Precursors can not be hired here or go on crew missions, but they may partake in battles. No invasion
Step 2
1. Upkeep and ship repairs. 2cr (paid)
Pay for Medical Care: 4 Cr to get Selene back
2. Assign and resolve crew tasks
Jaxx - Repair Boarding Saber - success
Kazi - Repair Frag Vest - Success
Selene - n/a
Villem - Trade - Contraband +4 Credits and a Rival
Miak - Trade - Medical Pack - receive Stim-pack
Vonthos - Train
Ginerva - Patron - found two patrons
3. Determine Job Offers
Faction Job - ODH - they are concerned about rumors that freelancers have encountered the Converted on the ghost ship, and want it investigated.
+1 Standard Enemy
Timeframe: This Campaign Turn
Hazards: n/a
Conditions: Full Squad
Patron job - Wealthy Individual (Wealthy Individual (Miranda O'keefe))
Danger Pay: +1 Cr
Timeframe: This or the following 2 campaign turns
Benefits: Connections - Gain a Rumor
Hazards: n/a
Conditions: n/a
Patron job - Corporation
Danger Pay: +2 Cr
Timeframe: This or next campaign turn
Benefits: n/a
Hazards: n/a
Conditions: Reputation Required
4. Assign Equipment -
5. Resolve Rumors: - We have a quest!
6. Choose Battle - Faction Job
6.5 Check Rivals - one has tracked us down. The Unknown Rival from the Contraband
Readying for Battle -
ELITE on 3+ - no
DIFFICULTY SETTINGS:
World Settings -
1. Deployment Condition - n/a
1. Notable Sight - Really Shiny Bits - gain 2 Credits
2. Objective - Brought Friends - add 1 additional enemy
4. Opponent Type - Unknown Mercs (-1 to Seize the Initiative)
Difficulty - Strength 3 - add 2 basic and 1 lieutenant
Respawn 4
Normal 4
Panic 1-2; Speed 5; CS +1; Tough 4; AI: T ; Weapons 2B
Let's Just Call It A Day - if they are down to 1 or 2, they will accept ending the fight.
No side holds the field in that case.
Military Rifle – Range: 24"; Shots 1; Damage 0;
Specialist x 2
Panic 1-2; Speed 5; CS +1; Tough 4; AI: T ;; Weapons
Marksman Rifle – Range 36”; Shots 1; Damage +0; Critical (Nat 6 causes 2 Hits)
Lieutenant x 2
Panic 1-2; Speed 5; CS +2; Tough 4; AI: T ;; Weapons
Military Rifle – Range: 24"; Shots 1; Damage 0;
Blade – Range: Brawl; Shots --; Damage 0; Melee (+2 Brawl)
UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL - No
Speed ; CS ; Tough ; AI ; Luck ;
4. Set up the battlefield -
---
Fight!
Seize The Initiative: Roll at -1
Post-Battle
1. Rivals - They've had enough
2. Patron - n/a
3. Quest Progress - n/a
4. Get Paid - 6Cr
5. Battlefield Finds - Nothing of value
6. Check for Invasion - N/A
7. Gather Loot - Gear - Gun Mods - Shock Attachment
8. Injuries & Recovery - Vonthos & Miak just knocked out
9. Experience:
Jaxx 4
Selene 4
Vilem 4
Miak 3
Vonthos 2
Ginerva 4
Kazi -
10. Invest in Advanced Training: n/a
11. Purchase Items: n/a
12. Campaign Event: Recent events made for a good learning experience +1 XP
13. Character Event: Miak - You're feeling great. Eating well must be paying off. Next time forced to roll on injury table, roll is ignored.
