Campaign Turn 26 – Cleaning Up the Converted
A military ship.
A Unity military ship.
"Scout Vessel 'Renegade Pigeon', this system is now under Unity quarantine. Maintain course and prepare for boarding."
The ship was a Unity Patrol Vessel, the UPV Wonderwall. "UPV Wonderwall, this is Captain Jaxx Pearsall of the Renegade Pigeon. We are under contract from the new colony Administrator, Kazi Pearsall, to deliver her to the colony site."
The RenPig's sensors picked up the main colony vessel, which was in orbit around Truti Sanvita, and based on the RenPig's scanners, had not yet landed and unloaded its cargo. So the RenPig was not the only vessel that was being restricted. Jaxx didn't know whether that made him feel better.
"Captain Pearsall, that is irrelevant. Maintain course and prepare for boarding."
Jaxx glanced at Kazi, who was looking nervous. This was the point where Jaxx would have taken a risky weak point transition; Most of Jaxx' encounters with Unity were not friendly, and if Miranda really was the Unity agent that Jaxx thought she was, and if she was after them, this could be bad.
But, if they tried to turn tail, the Patrol Vessel could take them out.
Jaxx sighed. This could be the end of the road for him. But, he promised Kazi he would try to stay out of trouble until she and Vonthos were dropped off.
"Copy that. Maintaining course."
The Unity ship docked with the RenPig and several agents came over. "Captain Pearsall, we just need to scan the ship for traces of Converted."
"Converted?"
"Yes, Captain. When we arrived in system, we encountered a Converted vessel. We were able to destroy it, but not before one of its landing craft hit atmosphere. We don't carry marines, so the system is quarantined until a Marine Landing Craft can arrive."
"We are carrying the new colony Administrator."
"No one is being allowed to land. We don't want to risk the converted making their way off station."
Jaxx looked at Kazi. She was already nervous. This delay will make it worse. "What about if we take care of your Converted problem. Their M.O. is to set up beacons to pull in other Converted vessels. We'll take out the beacons and smack down the Converted."
The Officer Jaxx was talking to appeared shocked. "You would go up against the Converted?"
"Officer, you probably have everything on us in your database. Look us up."
It was a calculated risk. If Miranda really had it in for them, they were done for.
The Officer sent a message to his ship. A few moments later, the Officer's eyes got wide as a wall of text started to scroll across his device. Jaxx did his best to remain calm, and appear stoic.
The Officer glanced at Jaxx, then back at his device, then back at Jaxx. "Captain Pearsall, you are approved to land, but Unity will not provide payment, and you will need to quarantine before you are allowed to leave the system."
"Roger that, we'll radio you when the beacon is down and the Converted are dead."
The other agents who came aboard were leaving, carrying a few boxes. "Hey, what are they taking?"
"Captain Pearsall, our agents found some questionable items in your hold, so they are being confiscated."
Jaxx really wanted to call out 'Legitimate Salvage', but held his tongue while the agents removed a few items from his ship and left.
The Renegade Pigeon matched orbits with the colony ship "Skies Of Fortune", which housed the rest of the initial colony team. The crew took their shuttle, the Speckled Jim, over to the colony ship. While Kazi and Vonthos left to meet with their team, Jaxx and team were prepping for the mission. With both Kazi and Vonthos gone, and Vilem still in sick bay, they were definitely short handed. "We're going to have to see if we can recruit anyone from the colony ship - perhaps one of their security team - for this mission. Kazi won't be happy, but we need to clear out the Converted so the colony can land."
"I'm surprised you didn't ask Kazi to sponsor you."
"I couldn't. Don't want to give her a harder start than she's going to have. Ginny, go see if you can find someone who's willing to sign up. Preferrably long-term."
An older woman, probably in her early 60's Terran Standard, wearing the uniform of the ship's maintenance crew spoke up. "Pardon me young man, did you say you needed another crew member?"
Jaxx looked at her, sizing her up. "We often find ourselves fighting for our lives. I'm not sure..."
The woman cut him off, "Listen, sonny - I was a gropo in several battles and got the scars to prove it. Never an officer, always a grunt. After doing my 20, plus 10 more, I got out, I took this job to stay in the stars, and spent what feels like a lifetime staring at the inside of a metal tub. I got years left in me, and can still shoot a zipbug's wings off at 100 meters."
Jaxx looked at Ginny, who giggled, and then at Sorin, who had a blank expression, and then at the woman standing in front of him. "Ok, you're in. I'm not promising anything beyond this mission - we'll see what you're made of."
"By the way," Jaxx continued, "What's your name?"
"Oh.... Fisheer. Annabelle Fisheer."
"Ok, Annabell, there's spare gear in the shuttle. We leave in an hour."
...
The Speckled Jim landed close to the location that the Unity ship identified as the crash site.
Ginny and Jaxx deployed on the left; Annabelle and Sorin deployed on the right. In the distance, they could see the Converted around their crashed landing pod. But they were having trouble detecting the beacon. "Team, we'll have to search the site. Beacon is priority 1; take out as many Converted as you can, but don't push your luck."
Jaxx had a view of one of the Converted. It would be a tough shot. He lined up his Fury Rifle and squeezed the trigger. The recoil slammed against his shoulder, and the Converted dropped. One down.
Annabelle moved up and grabbed some shiny bits that were on the ground. "Nice!"
The Converted, now alerted to the crew's presence, started to maneuver around and opened fire, but due to distance and cover, their shots all missed.
Sorin moves up and shoots, but his shot missed its mark. Ginny searched the terrain, and found the Beacon. She smashed it. Now, other Converted would not know the planet had been marked for invasion, so all they had to do was clear out the few left on planet.
Jaxx took a second shot, dropping the Converted that he had pegged as the leader.
ginny's shot went wide. One of the converted landed a shot on Jaxx, but his armor prevented it from injuring him. Ginny was stunned by a light impact. Both Sorin and Annabelle were also hit, but their armor prevented injuries.However, their return fire was ineffective.
Suddenly, a Vent Crawler popped out from under a rock near Sorin and Annabelle.
The crew continued to fire, but most of their fire was ineffective. They did manage to stun the Vent Crawler so it could not attack. Fortunately for them, the Converted had no better luck landing shots.
Jaxx dropped another Converted, but one landed a shot on Ginny, taking her out of the fight. "Forget this! Team - let's get out of here." Jaxx ordered.
Jaxx continued to fire, stunning another Converted as they closed in. Their shots went wide as Annabelle and Sorine bolted, fleeing the field.
As the Converted continued to close and fire, Jaxx grabbed Ginny and escaped to the Speckled Jim, picking up the Sorin and Annabelle and flying a short distance away.
They checked out Ginny. She would be OK.
They looked over what they had scavenged on their way back to the shuttle. Some salvage worth a couple credits and a Brutal Melee Weapon. Jaxx sighed. "This is no way to earn retirement money."
He radioed the Unity vessel, informing them that the Beacon was destroyed and that they had taken out a few.
"Understood, Captain Pearsall. Unfortunately, we can't clear any further landings or departures until the remaining Converted are cleaned up. We are quarantining the planet until we can confirm its clean."
Jaxx sighed. "So the colony's still on hold?"
"They landed their scouts, but we will not permit additional landings."
Well, there's that, at least.
Turn 12
Step 1
1. Flee Invasion - n/a
2. Decide whether to travel - Yes; Cost 4 Cr
3. Starship travel event - Patrol Ship. 5 items confiscated
4. New world arrival steps -
1. Check for Rivals - Unknown Rivals DO NOT follow.
2. Dismiss Patrons - n/a
3 - License paid - No
4 - world characteristics - Crystals; Lacks Starship Facilities
x - Personal Trinket roll(s); Roll 2D6 for each; 9+ means you find the owner and gain a loot roll.
- One personal trinket returned. Gain loot roll
Step 2
1. Upkeep and ship repairs. 1Cr due to Living Quarters upgrade
Pay for Medical Care: n/a
==== Kazi and Vonthos leave party
2. Assign and resolve crew tasks
Jaxx - Patron. No
Villem - n/a
Ginerva - Recruit
Ansila - Trade - Basic Supplies
Sorin Pike - Trade - Quality Food and Booze
Sold Trade Goods for 4 Credits
3. Determine Job Offers
Opportunity battle
Conventional
Single Objective
Search <===========
4. Assign Equipment -
5. Resolve Rumors: - n/a
6. Choose Battle -
6.5 Check Rivals -
Readying for Battle -
ELITE: No
DIFFICULTY SETTINGS: Strength 4 - add 2 basic, 1 specialist and 1 lieutenant
Respawn 5
World Settings -
1. Deployment Condition - None
1. Notable Sight - Shiny Bits - Gain 1 Credit (2d6+2" in random direction)
2. Objective - Search: Put token on each medium or large terrain feature. A character in contact with, inside, or on the feature may search as a Combat Action. Roll 1d6; a 5+ finds what you were looking for and you Win. If roll fails at each location, the item is not on the battlefield and the mission cannot be won.
::: Must be completed in the first 4 rounds, then must exit across any battlefield edge.
4. Opponent Type - Roving Threats
Enemies never become rivals
never accompanied by unique individuals
Converted Acquisition
You are +1 to Seize the Initiative
They are always counted as stationary when firing
AI: Aggressive
Difficulty - Strength 4 - add 2 basic, 1 specialist and 1 lieutenant
Respawn 5
Number 3 base +1 enemy
Weapons 2B
Normal x 5
Panic 0 ; Speed 4"; CS +0; Tough 5; Save 6+; AI: A
Colony Rifle: Rane 18"; Shots 1; Damage 0;
Specialist x 2
Panic 0 ; Speed 4"; CS +0; Tough 5; Save 6+; AI: A
Hand Flamer: Range 8"; Shots -; Damage 1; AREA, BURN
Lieutenant x 1
Panic 0 ; Speed 4"; CS +1; Tough 5; Save 6+; AI: A
Colony Rifle: Rane 18"; Shots 1; Damage 0;
Blade: Range Melee; Shots --; Damage +0 MELEE
Captain x
Panic 0 ; Speed 5"; CS +2; Tough 5; Save 4+; AI: A
UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL - NO
Panic 0 ; Speed ; CS ; Tough ; Save ; AI:
4. Set up the battlefield -
---
Fight!
Seize The Initiative: Yes
Won? Yes
Held The Field? No
First Blood - Jaxx
Notable Sight: found by Annabelle
Post-Battle
1. Rivals - n/a
2. Patron - no
3. Quest Progress - n/a
4. Get Paid - 2 Cr
5. Battlefield Finds - Brutal Melee Weapon
6. Check for Invasion - Initially yes, but used Story Point to reroll and prevent it.
7. Gather Loot - n/a
8. Injuries: Ginny, but she does not have to spend time in sick bay.
9. Experience:
Jaxx 4
Ginerva 1
Sorin 3
Annabelle 3
10. Invest in Advanced Training: n/a
11. Purchase Items: n/a
12. Campaign Event: Unity Quarantine. Can not depart for 2 turns
13. Character Event:
Total 12 Converted - 2 Lt, 2 Spc; 8 Normal.
Remaining: 1 Lt, 1 Spc, 7 Normal
