STORY: You hear a growling voice pipe in over the intercom. “A CHALLENGER.”
STORY: “WELCOME.”
TUELLER: Tueller is going towards his flashlight as he hears that.
TUELLER: “Excellent!”
ALEJO: “Oh boy.” Alejo slips a headlamp over his stocking cap.
TUELLER: Tueller gets his light on, held in his off hand, and sweeping the cargo bay area.
TUELLER: His right hand is ready to punch something.
STORY: “TAKE MY SHIP, CHALLENGER, OR DIE. IF YOU WISH TO BE GRANTED *the universal translator issues the long beep that indicates a word it doesn’t understand* SPEAK NOW.”
TUELLER: Tueller grins.
ALEJO: Alejo clears his throat. “Granted what?” He mutters this and then repeats it louder.
STORY: “SKU-FARNUM.”
TUELLER: “We need the ship and we don’t have a ride. I’m assuming we’re not interested in asylum or mercy or painless death or what ever sku-farnum is.”
ALEJO: “Right.” Alejo frowns. “We’re taking your ship.”
ALEJO: Alejo shouts this at no one in particular.
TUELLER: “It’s our ship. You just haven’t given it up yet.”
STORY: “A FIGHT, THEN. EXCELLENT. COME FIND ME, TWO-VOICE.”
STORY: The three of you plus Jac crowd into the cramped bridge of the Peregrine, peering out through the viewscreen. Jac sticks a greasy finger on the windscreen. “There.”
ALEJO: Alejo looks in the direction she’s pointing.
TUELLER: Tueller looks happier than you’ve ever seen him.
STORY: You peer through the glass in that direction, and see it in the distance, a tiny dot. Mercury, with its band of solar panels, scattered lights, and the burning sun surrounding it, blinding you to any further details on the surface.
STORY: She peers down at a panel. “Looks like we’re a few hours until the next predicted solar flare.”
TUELLER: “Any readout on the debris yet?”
STORY: She types on a keyboard and swings a trackball around a few times.
STORY: Shakes her head. “Hard to tell the difference between ship debris and normal asteroid activity. She jams her thumb on an intercom. “Kahn, you got anything down there?”
STORY: There’s a longer pause than one would expect, then a click as the intercom responds. “Equipment’s mostly in good shape, crew’s briefed. There’s an EVA suit down here we may want to get someone trained in. How long we got?”
TUELLER: “Normal asteroids are fine, too, if we can give them a push. How’s your tractor beam rated?”
TUELLER: “Our. That is.”
MILLICENT: Millie chimes in, “Oh, I’ll be taking the EVA.”
TUELLER: “I’m ready to get outside. Wherever I can apply the most force.”
TUELLER: Simultaneously
STORY: Noma answers. “This ship does not come standard with a tractor beam, Mr. Ya’Makasi. We could most likely find one for purchase at the Ark, though it would be at great expense and would take some time to retrofit onto the ship. I estimate the duration of the journey, necessary repairs, and return trip to be six months.”
STORY: “Would you like us to turn around?”
MILLICENT: “I don’t think that will be necessary, Noma. Could you scan the debris field and identify any ships that may still have a working tractor beam?”
TUELLER: “Or, hell, anything with a working engine would be fine by me.”
STORY: “Scanning.”
TUELLER: “Doesn’t even have to hold together. Better if it comes apart as it flies, really.”
ALEJO: “Jac and Noma, if we find a ship, can two you rig up a remote control of some sort?”
TUELLER: “Really, we just want it to go in the right direction, right?”
STORY: Jac bites her lip, thinking, humming as she does. “Probably? Noma, you can go wireless?”
STORY: Noma answers. “If the ship has a working computer system, I should be able to take control of it, yes. We would need Peregrine to be within range both before and after we send it into the atmosphere, or I would likely be unable to find a friendly network through which to depart the ship’s computer system.”
TUELLER: “We wouldn’t want to leave you behind.”
MILLICENT: “I’d imagine our greatest chance for success will come if we send multiple vessels, or portions of vessels, into the atmosphere at roughly the same time.”
TUELLER: “Make it rain metal.”
MILLICENT: “But we’ll have to see what the debris field holds before we can plan further.”
TUELLER: “This is exciting. I’ve never dropped a kinetic weapon on anyone before.”
STORY: Noma chirps in. “I believe I have found two adequate candidates.”
MILLICENT: “On screen, dear, if you would.”
STORY: Two schematic outlines appear, slowly spinning onscreen, showing the extent of the damage to each, with a smaller grainy live picture in the corner of each. “On the left, a mid-bulk transport registered the USS Hana, lost last year in early March. Erde-Maris reported it as a deserter vessel and after registering its lost left it derelict in orbit here. Most likely a mutiny that turned to piracy and went bad for the pirates. There is severe damage to the hull, including a major breach in the bridge that means we will not be able to maintain atmosphere inside. Anyone attempting to fly it will need an EVA or sealed suit to operate the ship.”
STORY: “Computer systems appear to be functional.”
TUELLER: “EVA or a Ghost, right, dear?”
STORY: “Right, dear.”
MILLICENT: Millie frowns. “I really don’t like that word, Mr. Ya’Makasi.”
TUELLER: “I don’t like grasshopper tacos, Millie.”
STORY: “On the right, an unregistered ship with extensive modifications. It appears to have originally been a Centaur-class, though the serial has been painted over. Most likely a stolen ship, or one that the owner didn’t want identified. Hull appears to be intact, and there appears to be power – I would describe the ship as in standby mode. Unclear what has happened to the crew or why it is currently adrift. The computer system is well shielded and I’m not able to access it here, though I may have more luck if someone could plug me in to an onboard port.”
STORY: “Those are our best options for use within the time we have before the next solar flare.”
ALEJO: “So, a trip to the Centaur-class ship, then. How many sealed suits do we have?”
STORY: — that’s a question for y’all! i think… none?
TUELLER: “We have an airlock, Ejo.”
MILLICENT: —does the ship have a shuttle?
STORY: — nope, but you have that cool walker
MILLICENT: —does the walker fly as fast as a shuttle?
STORY: — nope! and it can only hold one person
STORY: — you’re sort of resource poor right now
MILLICENT: Millie claps her hands. “Well! We’ve certainly got our work cut out for us!”
STORY: — if you want to, because you haven’t used it yet, i’ll let you switch that walker to a shuttle, but it’s only useful in space then
ALEJO: —So, I presume that we can doc with this Centaur-class ship, as Stu’s suggesting?
TUELLER: “I’m not much of a hacker, but if there’s atmo on the Centaur we can just walk on.”
STORY: Sure! The Centaur class is intact, so docking shouldn’t be an issue
MILLICENT: “If you can give me a ride, and a pickup, I believe I can handle the USS Hana. Do you dashing pirates believe you can handle the Centaur?”
STORY: Jac pokes at the keyboard. “I don’t see any atmo leaks coming from her. Should be ok.”
TUELLER: “I see no harm in trying. Worst thing that happens is we all die.”
ALEJO: “Alright. Jac and Tueller go to the Centaur. I’ll go with Doc to the Hana. Sound good?”
MILLICENT: “I’m afraid I haven’t a spare space suit, co-captain.”
TUELLER: —You got a space suit we don’t know about, buddy?
TUELLER: “It’s a mite chilly out there with what we’ve got right now, buddy.”
ALEJO: —Wait. I thought that we just concluded that . . . fine. I see.”
TUELLER: “Noma, you got a place you’d like to be?”
STORY: Noma: “I can accompany Dr. Breedlove.”
MILLICENT: “Yes, thank you, dear.”
STORY: “Mr. Soto, if you’d like to come to the Hana, Dr. Breedlove can clip you on to her suit. How long can you hold your breath?”
TUELLER: “Outstanding.”
ALEJO: “Cute.”
STORY: “Twenty minutes should do it.”
STORY: Noma doesn’t laugh, but it’s clear she enjoys poking at you.
MILLICENT: “Noma, don’t tease the bold and daring pirates.”
STORY: “My apologies. I’m very impressed.”
ALEJO: “At least the jokes are getting funnier.” He doesn’t smile.
MILLICENT: Millie nods, satisfied.
STORY: Ok! So we split the party, my favorite thing.
TUELLER: —Tueller and Alejo will split up when they get on board.
STORY: — VERY good
MILLICENT: “Now, according to my maths we must fling our space debris into the planetary defense grid within,” Millie checks a nearby time display
STORY: Since we haven’t clarified this yet, is everyone fine with Noma acting as the pilot when she’s available, or did you want to dedicate a crew member to being the pilot?
MILLICENT: “Two and a half and four hours from now.”
TUELLER: Tueller’s got no problems with Noma doing anything she wants to do.
MILLICENT: Fine with Millie!
TUELLER: —She’s only capable of doing one thing at a time, though, right?
STORY: She can fly the ship, and if she’s not onboard, it’s easy enough to pilot that any unnamed crew member can do any standard flying.
STORY: Tricky maneuvers will be tough with Anonymous-NPC
TUELLER: Okay.
STORY: But anything that would be within normal use of the ship is fine. Like how you don’t have to roll in WoD to drive a car under normal circumstances
STORY: All good?
TUELLER: Fine by me.
MILLICENT: —so, should Noma drop off the rest of the crew and then take Millie over or vice versa?
STORY: Ask the Captain!
MILLICENT: hahaha
MILLICENT: “So, then, Captains. Will Noma and I be giving you a ride?”
TUELLER: Tueller’s getting ready for a trip. Making sure his gloves are on and charged up, getting out the infiltration kit, making sure his knife is strapped on.
ALEJO: “Yeah. Just don’t leave us behind.”
TUELLER: “Sure. Just put us on the derelict space craft killed by an alien weapon. I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
MILLICENT: Millie nods happily.
TUELLER: Tueller does not carry a gun.
ALEJO: “You were the guy up for adventure.” Alejo teases.
MILLICENT: “I’ll go give the EVA a pre-flight check. I don’t suppose anyone has a clipboard?”
TUELLER: —Tueller was not being sarcastic there, btw.
STORY: Noma slides Peregrine in next to the derelict, beginning the docking procedure. From your prep area in the cargo bay, Dr. Breedlove dons her expensive-looking wired suit and climbs into the EVA, flicking switches as she checks off items on a literal clipboard.
STORY: Kahn comes by and makes sure everyone is equipped as desired, looking more than a little disappointed he can’t accompany you.
TUELLER: “Not coming with, buddy?”
STORY: He laughs and rolls his eyes, holding up his arm, which is still in a sling. “Thanks, Tueller.”
STORY: “Next time.”
STORY: “…Make sure there is a next time please.”
TUELLER: “That’s the plan!”
ALEJO: Alejo takes moment to touch each piece of his critical gear, methodically making one last check that everything is both secure and positioned for quick access.
ALEJO: “Jac, you stay on the ship and keep an eye on things, will you? If Tuller and I need something, have those schematics up.”
MILLICENT: Millie has found a bottle of paint somewhere and is painting lovingly on the side of the EVA.
STORY: From the cargo bay, you hear the airlock engage and the air pressure equalize in the tunnel. Noma clicks in. “Airlock is secure. Shall I open the cargo bay doors?”
TUELLER: “Open the pod bay doors, Hal.”
STORY: “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Mr. Ya’Makasi, as we do not have a pod bay.”
STORY: “But…”
TUELLER: “Okay, give us the cargo bay doors.”
ALEJO: Alejo moves to the doors, tightens the straps on his pack, and prepares to board.
STORY: There is a hiss and a blast of air as the large cargo bay door unlocks and begins to lower to the floor.
STORY: It’s very dramatic and takes like fifteen seconds, which is really a lot on TV.
STORY: You are greeted with the sight of the side of the Centaur-class, with its airlock door closed and a small panel lit up next to it.
TUELLER: Tueller’s going up over the cargo bay door before it even hits the floor.
TUELLER: To the door!
ALEJO: Alejo moves quickly but more cautiously behind him.
STORY: Tueller, you have to crouch a little bit to fit in the airlock tube. This class of mid-bulk was designed before humans had spent much time in space, and as a result this particular feature is only about 6’5″ tall.
STORY: The panel looks as cheerful as a door lock can look.
STORY: It’s lit up, with green lines like an old school alarm clock, and reads: LOCKED.
TUELLER: I’m going to see if I can unlock it, with help from the Infiltration Kit.
TUELLER: Ummm…unless that’s an interface roll rather than a Mettle.
STORY: I just realized you and Alejo both have an Infiltration kit. Let’s take an annoying pause right in the middle of our exciting action and ask – do one of you want to switch out for a different asset? I’m ok with that if either of you would rather not be overlappy.
TUELLER: Ummm. I’ll swap it out.
TUELLER: Makes more sense for Alejo anyway.
ALEJO: — Okay. Fine by me.
STORY: Ok! You don’t even have to decide now, it’s my bad that I didn’t notice that. Just know you’ve got a class 1 asset whenever you decide you want it
STORY: ok SO
STORY: An infiltration kit can be used! That’s generally for mechanical intervention, so something like prying the panel off and trying to hotwire it.
ALEJO: — So a mettle roll because of training?
STORY: yep, it’ll be Face Adversity + Mettle
TUELLER: With assist from Tueller?
STORY: eait no Expertise
STORY: Sorry, I didn’t read. Expertise is the lock picking diddly-doo
ALEJO: —Ugh, okay. Let’s give it a whirl.
STORY: I think get involved happens after we see Alejo’s roll, so hang tight, Tueller.
TUELLER: Ahhh, right.
ALEJO: 3+6=9 – 1 = 8
STORY: 8! You will succeed, but at a price. Tueller, are you going to Get Involved?
TUELLER: Sure!
TUELLER: 2d6 plus my expertise, right?
STORY: Hang on, let’s describe what’s happening first.
STORY: Alejo, you know you succeed, but at some cost – can you describe for me what happens when you pry this panel off and try to hotwire it to gain access?
STORY: From there Tueller can tell us what he does to Get Involved and hopefully mitigate the cost
ALEJO: Alejo is crouched down, in front of the panel. When he pries the panel off, sparks fly in all directions. There was an extra layer of security that Alejo missed and bypassed, but a bit late. He falls backwards, an electrical blast hitting him.
TUELLER: —(I think the Infiltration kit should add a +1 tothis attempt)
STORY: Does it? Ok! 9 is still a partial
ALEJO: — Okay, so I think that still works. Alejo is zapped pretty hard.
TUELLER: Tueller’s going to try to assist that
STORY: How?
STORY: What does he do?
TUELLER: You declare and then attempt, is how this works?
STORY: Yeah! I just mean I don’t know what ot make you roll if you don’t tell me how you’re going to try to help your friend who is being electrocuted
TUELLER: Tueller’s watching out and trying to assist, looking out for traps, with the idea of pulling his friend back if something gets triggered.
ALEJO: —Works, if he gets to me in time, he can prevent me from being zapped real bad.
STORY: Ok! So he starts to get shocked and sort of buzz there – you want to knock him out of the way so he doesn’t get cooked?
TUELLER: Roll(2d6)+1:
1,6,+1
Total:8
TUELLER: (Nice phrasing–making it so I could get hit if I rolled bad)
STORY: I was gonna say, that can be Get Involved + Physique if you’re like knocking him out of the way
STORY: was that what you rolled?
TUELLER: Oh, I ran Expertise. Physique is +2 rather than +1
TUELLER: Want me to reroll?
TUELLER: Roll(2d6)+2:
6,4,+2
Total:12
STORY: hahah
STORY: sure
ALEJO: Nice!
STORY: Ok!
TUELLER: —Sorry, just went quickly. No need to burn time.
STORY: So Alejo pries off the panel, starts to get a bad shock, and Tueller springs into action and throws a gigantic shoulder into his buddy to knock him out of the circuit he accidentally created, knocking them both to the floor – but no one is injured.
STORY: Jac, too late to react usefully, jumps forward with an “Oh!”
STORY: And then realizes everything is already handled and sort of embarrassed slinks back.
STORY: The door dings in a friendly way and slides open.
TUELLER: “Sorry my man. You get some current?”
STORY: The stale air from inside the ship greets you. It smells faintly of… is that chili peppers?
ALEJO: “Damn! That was close!” Alejo shakes it off. “Thank you.” He looks at Tueller gratefully.
TUELLER: Tueller gives him an arm up, and then starts into the ship.
TUELLER: “Got a bit of a vindaloo smell here, I guess.”
ALEJO: Alejo is still shaking his head, like a boxer after having taken a hard hit. But he moves into the ship as well. “Yeah,” he mutters, trying to be sensitive to the surroundings.
STORY: You note the absence of any sort of wind tunnel that would be created by a hull breach aboard the Centaur-class, so everything passes the sniff test: this ship is safe to board.
STORY: As Alejo and Tueller step aboard, the door slides closed behind them.
STORY: And the lights shut off.
TUELLER: “Okay, we’re boarding now. Come back and get us. We’ll stay in comms…”
TUELLER: “Shit.”
ALEJO: Alejo looks back through at airlock, as the door slides closed.
STORY: Let’s switch to Millie and Noma.
STORY: Noma clicks in to the cargo bay. “They’re safely aboard. Shall we disembark, Millie?”
MILLICENT: Millie finishes painting a name on the EVA and steps back to admire her work.
MILLICENT: “Yes, I’m sure they’ll be fine. Let’s get moving.”
STORY: The cargo bay door closes, slowly again, and you hear the click and hiss of the airlock seal being broken. Noma begins to pilot the ship to the Hana.
MILLICENT: The industrial yellow EVA now bears a name in caligraphy, along with a small silhouette. It reads: CANARY with a small bird taking flight
STORY: — this is a good name, and if i had some kind of incidental bonus i could award you, i would, but i don’t think i have those
STORY: — trying to avoid houseruling before we break everything
MILLICENT: —you should find one because it’s also the name of the plane Amelia Earhart disappeared in
STORY: Jac admires the EVA. “You get much practice in that planetside?”
STORY: — you get double Nothing Points!
MILLICENT: “Oh, not much practical experience, but I have read the manual.”
MILLICENT: “Twice!”
STORY: Jac visibly swallows.
STORY: She looks to the cargo bay door. “You think they’ll be ok?”
STORY: This question is more serious than she is letting on.
MILLICENT: “I’m sure they’ll be fine. It’s an abandoned wreck floating miles from the planetary defense grid. What could go wrong?”
MILLICENT: —smash cut, the frame spinning out of focus with Millie’s last line repeating
STORY: She smiles wanly. “I’ll get up to the bridge. Noma, anything I need to know about piloting her once you’re gone?”
STORY: Noma clicks into the intercom. “You will do fine, Jac.”
STORY: Millie, you note that Noma is using a familiar name with Jac. She does not typically address anyone other than you by their first name.
STORY: Jac hurries upstairs to the bridge.
MILLICENT: Millie’s fingers twitch for a moment
STORY: Noma speaks. “Yes, Millie.”
MILLICENT: “Oh good.”
MILLICENT: Millie visbily relaxes.
STORY: “It would help in the future if you could inventory their belongings. Remember that I do not have visual capabilities onboard.”
MILLICENT: “Of course. I’ll get settled in the EVA, please join me when you’re ready.”
STORY: “But in the meantime I will lock all typical override functions until I am back onboard. We are approaching the Hana. Can you please perform a visual confirmation that you are the only one in the cargo bay so I can lock the doors and open us to the black?”
MILLICENT: Millie does so
STORY: Ok. You confirm the cargo bay is empty, all crates are locked down, and you are sealed inside your EVA suit to Noma. She issues a shipwide alert that we will be opening the cargo bay doors and a warning for no one to attempt to enter the area before opening the cargo bay door. This time, you feel a slight wobble in your suit as all the air in the cargo bay explodes out of the opening. A stray basketball flies into the black, never to be seen again.
STORY: After a few moments, you hear Noma pipe into your suit. “I’m ready, Millie.”
MILLICENT: “Come aboard, Noma.”
STORY: She greets you in the typical way by flushing your suit’s heating functions, giving you a brief chill and then warm embrace. It’s as close to a hug as a Ghost can manage.
MILLICENT: Millie smiles hugely and steps forward. “Good to see you, old friend.”
STORY: Please roll me a Face Adversity + Mettle to get that walker over to the derelict ship, Millie.
MILLICENT: 6
MILLICENT: 5+1
STORY: oh BOY.
TUELLER: —Bye Amelia!
STORY: Please describe for me what happens when you step into space and completely fail at reaching that ship.
ALEJO: —Eeek.
MILLICENT: Millie takes a careful step forward, rolls slightly to put her heels on the edge of the deck and pushes off at a pretty bad angle
MILLICENT: Millie starts drifting the wrong direction, clearly she’s going to miss the ship
STORY: Noma: “Millie.”
TUELLER: —I’m picturing basically an EVA version of the loader from Aliens.
MILLICENT: —that’s what I’m picturing, yeah
STORY: — that’s exactly it, it’s a walker that has been sealed for space use
STORY: “You are not going to reach the Hana, Millie.”
MILLICENT: “Correct, Noma.”
MILLICENT: Millie starts futzing with the environmental controls. “You know, these are rather sensitive, Noma.”
STORY: You drift through space, watching the Peregrine and the Hana drift away from you. “Our trajectory is sending us to the planetary defense grid. Slowly, but we will reach it in approximately 85 minutes.”
MILLICENT: “Seems silly that they are controlled with these…joysticks.”
STORY: “And to be clear, when I say reach it I mean we will very likely be obliterated.”
TUELLER: —Aim for something expensive.
MILLICENT: Millie attempts to rewrite the controls so they’re motion sensitive, using the suit’s environmental pressure readings instead of the joystick.
STORY: Let’s jump to Tueller and Alejo.
MILLICENT: aw okay
STORY: The lights go out. The intercom starts up.
STORY: Alejo!
STORY: Please answer an important question for me:
ALEJO: —Yes.
STORY: Have the Maitri submitted their language for digestion into the Erde-Maris universal translator that all of you wear?
STORY: Right now, all earth languages are covered.
ALEJO: Yes. But only the basics are covered.
STORY: Excellent.
STORY: You hear a growling voice pipe in over the intercom. “A CHALLENGER.”
STORY: “WELCOME.”
TUELLER: Tueller is going towards his flashlight as he hears that.
TUELLER: “Excellent!”
ALEJO: “Oh boy.” Alejo slips a headlamp over his stocking cap.
TUELLER: Tueller gets his light on, held in his off hand, and sweeping the cargo bay area.
TUELLER: His right hand is ready to punch something.
STORY: “TAKE MY SHIP, CHALLENGER, OR DIE. IF YOU WISH TO BE GRANTED *the universal translator issues the long beep that indicates a word it doesn’t understand* SPEAK NOW.”
TUELLER: Tueller grins.
ALEJO: Alejo clears his throat. “Granted what?” He mutters this and then repeats it louder.
STORY: “SKU-FARNUM.”
TUELLER: “We need the ship and we don’t have a ride. I’m assuming we’re not interested in asylum or mercy or painless death or what ever sku-farnum is.”
ALEJO: “Right.” Alejo frowns. “We’re taking your ship.”
ALEJO: Alejo shouts this at no one in particular.
TUELLER: “It’s our ship. You just haven’t given it up yet.”
STORY: “A FIGHT, THEN. EXCELLENT. COME FIND ME, TWO-VOICE.”
STORY: — stu, you also get a Nothing Point
TUELLER: Tueller starts moving towards where the bridge should be.
TUELLER: “On me, Ejo.”
STORY: Tueller! Tell me about the inside of this ship. It’s a human-built vessel, though there are obvious changes that have been made to it. What’s it like inside?
ALEJO: Alejo moves into a flanking position and pulls his assault pistol free of its holster.
TUELLER: —Well, there IS data points in the game.
STORY: — yeah but those are different
STORY: — actually fine!
TUELLER: The ship is not well taken care of. It looks like it was built as a pleasure craft, not an attack ship. Whoever held onto it didn’t take great care of it.
STORY: Tueller, you get a Boarding Maitri Ships data point
TUELLER: —Yay!
ALEJO: —Boom!
STORY: Millie, you have a EVA Piloting data point, which would have been useful before now that I think of it. You can use it later
STORY: I’m gonna have to make a data points document
MILLICENT: Hooray!
TUELLER: It looks like a frat house with a fusion engine strapped to it.
STORY: The way Data Points work is that you have to keep them up to date or they expire, which I am going to interpret as You Must Do Something To Keep This Relevant each session or it will expire
TUELLER: At the end of the school year.
STORY: There’s junk everywhere. Food wrappers you don’t recognize, dishes piled in the sink as you pass through the galley, garbage, random pieces of tech pulled out of wall panels and left hanging. Someone trashed this vessel.
ALEJO: “Quite the mucky pups, aren’t they,” Alejo whispers as they keep moving forward.
STORY: You know the layout of this ship, though, and exactly the path to the bridge. Are you taking it directly?
TUELLER: No. Tueller is taking a flanking route, so if something on the bridge is waiting for us, we’d be coming from his side.
TUELLER: Through Cargo, then to Engineering, then through the armory, then towards the bridge.
STORY: Ok. You lead Alejo through a few tubes and side access tunnels, which are tight for you but also familiar, so you move quickly through them. Alejo, a normal human size, has no problem proceeding through these areas.
STORY: Roll Face Adversity + Mettle please
TUELLER: Tueller is traveling fast but light on his toes, trying to keep quiet.
TUELLER: Roll(2d6)+1:
4,2,+1
Total:7
ALEJO: —He’s pretty tall too. I think I said in our first adventure six inches shorter than Tueller, so still 6’2. Though not a giant, pretty tall.
STORY: — ok, ok, you’re the tallest, handsomest crew in the galaxy, i get it
ALEJO: 2+6=8 +2 Total 10
ALEJO: — Yeah, data point for looking dope as hell.
STORY: You move quickly through the ship, as stealthily as you can, but you sense from the silence in the intercoms that whatever is waiting for you on the bridge is expecting you. As you reach the door unmolested, you realize whoever is here knows where you are. “YOU MISSED MY TRAPS, TWO-VOICE. IMPRESSIVE. COME TAKE THIS SHIP.”
STORY: — you do not get a data point for being attractive!
STORY: — ok let’s be fair that probably will happen at some point but I HAVE TO ASK FOR IT
TUELLER: Tueller motions to Alejo…
TUELLER: three.
TUELLER: two.
TUELLER: One.
TUELLER: And then attempts to breach the door.
ALEJO: Alejo nods and follows his lead.
STORY: Let’s see what Millie is up to.
MILLICENT: Millie is rewiring the EVA to better follow her movements instead of the controller
STORY: Noma is still calibrating your thrusters.
STORY: “I can give you better control or I can take over and stop us spinning.”
STORY: “I am also within range of the Peregrine, but they have no equipment on board with which to catch us.”
MILLICENT: My Patch Up skill ought to be able to add the Motion Controlled aspect to the EVA
STORY: yeah let’s try it! roll dem bones
MILLICENT: Which should bring the EVA under my control
STORY: that’s an Expertise move
MILLICENT: 10
MILLICENT: 8+2
STORY: Very nice. You swing your bag around inside the tight space afforded to you inside this suit, take out a screwdriver and a small PADD, and start tinkering. What upgrade are you going to add to this Walker?
MILLICENT: I don’t know if this is one, but I think Motion Controlled
STORY: Screen Shot 2017-11-20 at 9.55.06 PM.png
STORY: I’m thinking it’s Agile or Controlled
MILLICENT: Yeah let’s go Agile
STORY: All right! You’re now able to roll + Mettle on this again to try to regain control.
MILLICENT: Any bonus?
STORY: Nah but it can actually do things other than walk now
MILLICENT: hahaha 11
MILLICENT: 10+1
MILLICENT: fuck yes
STORY: Nice. So you stop it spinning, and can control the thrusters onboard.
ALEJO: —Yeah! Data point for badass rolling.
STORY: Noma pipes back in. “I should not have doubted you, Millie.”
MILLICENT: I pilot the EVA to the ship
STORY: — i feel like we don’t understand how data points work
MILLICENT: —haha
STORY: Excellent! You fly back to the hole
ALEJO: —Yeah. I’m just makin’ it up as I go.
MILLICENT: I’m looking for a computer terminal.
TUELLER: —Data points I thought were there to give you a +1 on a related roll.
MILLICENT: —but they represent an advance in knowledge
MILLICENT: —not just having done a cool thing
ALEJO: —Yeah, I’m just being a smart ass.
MILLICENT: —as a result of research oh hey nevermind hi Henry!
STORY: Millie, can you describe for me your walker? If it’s Alien-style, it’s really big and will be hard to fit inside a ship – meaning you’ll be Clumsy and have to roll on movement things. If you want it to be smaller, that’s fine too, but you can lift less weight.
MILLICENT: I think when Millie’s in it she’s a little bigger than Tueller.
MILLICENT: But not much wider.
MILLICENT: It’s a utility machine that was built for non-atmo loading.
STORY: Ok cool
MILLICENT: So it’s got a basic claw hand and foot thing with pallet forklift arm bars
STORY: So you can slip inside the hole in the side of this ship, which is substantial. It’s effectively like one of the sides was shaved off.
MILLICENT: And some decent lifting power.
STORY: You quickly determine there is no one onboard.
STORY: Noma pipes in. “I can attempt to infiltrate the computer system, though we won’t be in contact anymore.”
MILLICENT: “If you can take control, I’ll have a look around.”
STORY: “Will do.” She clicks out, the sound you know means you know you are now alone.
STORY: Describe the inside of this ship please.
MILLICENT: It’s a half open wreck
MILLICENT: Half the view is Mercury
MILLICENT: The other half is mostly stripped of human occupation by the vacuum.
MILLICENT: There are occasional signs that people lived here.
MILLICENT: Under the main monitor someone drew a nose and mouth, making it look like a giant eye
MILLICENT: Down the extant hall there are doors with bedrooms nametagged.
STORY: Please roll Command + Influence
MILLICENT: Shit, 11
STORY: Damn!
MILLICENT: yeah dude
MILLICENT: hot hand tonight
STORY: The lights on the bridge blink on, and a friendly-looking screen displays text: HELLO MILLIE. I NOW HAVE CONTROL. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO WITH THIS SHIP?
STORY: Let’s check back in with Alejo and Tueller.
STORY: You open the door, which is unlocked, and see before you an open space, roughly 20’x10′. All the flight seats and most of the nonessential gear has been cleared out of this bridge, replaced by a small nest, seemingly made up of the clothing left onboard, to the port side.
TUELLER: Tueller is in and moving towards anything that looks sentient.
STORY: In the center of the room stands a seven foot tall creature, laden in chitinous armor, panting heavily, wearing a battle mask. His four arms graze the floor as he takes a fighting stance and prepares to charge you.
STORY: Let’s imagine he looks like this:
STORY: Darwin_V8.jpg
STORY: In the face, I mean.
STORY: He shouts a battle cry that the universal translator helpfully informs you is not translatable.
STORY: NOW.
STORY: I haven’t done a fight. Is there initiative?
STORY: hahaha
STORY: Kidding. What does everyone do?
TUELLER: Tueller is already charging at him, though from the left, giving Alejo an opening to fire.
TUELLER: I’m going to attack and try to punch his face off.
TUELLER: (with my data point!)
ALEJO: Alejo takes a shot at his legs, trying to knock him down but trying to avoid the armor around his core.
STORY: Ok! Tueller, let’s have a Launch Assault
STORY: that’s roll + Physique, +1
STORY: and i think you have some Assets that help with this?
TUELLER: Roll(2d6)+3:
4,6,+3
Total:13
STORY: Well damn.
TUELLER: I don’t understand how assets work. They just make things possible? I guess?
STORY: Alejo, let’s see yours as well – give me Open Fire, which is + Mettle
STORY: typically, y eah
STORY: basically they let you try things you couldn’t otherwise do with just your hands and wits.
ALEJO: 6+1=7 +2 = 9
STORY: All right. First I’d like Alejo to tell me how he sets the stage for Tueller’s assault, knowing that he’s sort of succeeded. I’m going to choose this consequence: You suffer harm during the exchange!
STORY: What happens?
TUELLER: I do or he does?
STORY: Alejo does
ALEJO: Alejo moves in closer to the target, to optimize the shot. He fires off two rounds, both of which strike the big charging fellow in what looks like his shin.
ALEJO: ….
TUELLER: —Oh damn, I need to remember that I have the insane 50/50 move, where things either go REALLY GOOD or REALLY BAD.
ALEJO: The rounds have their intended effect. Mostly. The charging alien has a leg knocked out from under it. This causes the creature to stumble, but as it does, it reaches out with one of its rather long arms, now having closed the distance to Alejo and strikes him hard.
ALEJO: —How badly is Alejo hurt? Like broken nose?
TUELLER: —Need to move to the other rooom. Just a sec.
STORY: Alejo is thrown hard to the ground! You take a Minor injury, which is the sort of thing that sucks now and will heal on its own by tomorrow.
STORY: The Maitri charging at Alejo is slowed down, somewhat. Tueller moves in and…?
STORY: — succeeds completely, so please tell us about it.
STORY: Maybe you bonk your nose real hard, Alejo. It hurts and blurs your vision for a bit.
TUELLER: Tueller runs straight for the Maitri, screaming with delight when the creature stumbles. He doesn’t notice Alejo taking it in the face…all he focuses on is the newly gimp leg. He takes a running dive, and hits the weakened legs with both hands at the same time, which completely pulverize the leg and puts the Maitri down on the floor.
STORY: Are you killing him or subduing him alive?
TUELLER: All four of its hands go to grasp at the mangled stump, and it screams, and while it screams, Tueller hits it in the face until it doesn’t have a face anymore.
STORY: That answers that question.
TUELLER: Way killing it.
STORY: Tueller learns that day what Maitri meat smells like.
STORY: And the two of you catch your breath.
STORY: Millie!
STORY: Sup.
MILLICENT: Sup
STORY: HELLO MILLIE. I NOW HAVE CONTROL. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO WITH THIS SHIP?
MILLICENT: “Noma! Please set this ship’s thruster’s to engage on a collision course with the planet in an hour and a half. After that, please rejoin me.”
STORY: CALIBRATING…
MILLICENT: “We’ve got a ship to catch.”
STORY: CALIBRATING…
STORY: CALIBRATING…
STORY: ALERT: THRUSTERS ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE FINE ADJUSTMENTS. DAMAGE TO STARBOARD THRUSTERS MUST BE REPAIRED OR MANUAL CONTROL MUST BE MAINTAINED.
MILLICENT: Millie makes her way to the starboard thruster
MILLICENT: s
MILLICENT: Time to repair some shit!
STORY: ok! Tell me what’s going on here. What’s broken? This part of the ship is literally exposed to space, so I imagine it’s going ot require some improvisation wrt parts.
MILLICENT: Yeah, looks like it required some small amount of pressurized environment to function
MILLICENT: So Millie uses the EVA to break off some nearby likely bulkhead and welds it to the engine to seal it up and restore function
STORY: Roll patch up for me!
MILLICENT: 9
MILLICENT: 7+2
STORY: Ok, which bit are you doing here?
STORY: Screen Shot 2017-11-20 at 10.29.59 PM.png
STORY: The thruster functionality is a major debility
MILLICENT: Yeah, so I stablizie a maor debility
MILLICENT: I just need it to work long enough to plunge into atmo
STORY: Ok! You get it working long enough
STORY: It blasts into life, right in front of you. You get to see a thruster do its business, which is scientifically interesting!
STORY: Now what.
MILLICENT: I get Noma back on board and push back off for the Peregrine
STORY: You have to go back to the bridge to grab her, yeah?
MILLICENT: Yes!
MILLICENT: I do that!
STORY: You see this on the display: MILLIE, WE SHOULD RETURN TO PEREGRINE AND LET MRS. SOTO AND YA’MAKASI HANDLE THIS. THEY APPEAR TO HAVE CONTROL OF THE CENTAUR-CLASS AND CAN MANAGE ON THEIR OWN.
STORY: IN TERMS OF RISK MITIGATION THIS IS THE RIGHT DECISION.
MILLICENT: “Noma, come back over, please!”
MILLICENT: “It’s time to go!”
STORY: She blips into your suit and gives you her usual hug, then comes in over the monitor. “Millie, please perform a systems check on this suit, I want to confirm our trajectory.”
MILLICENT: I do so
STORY: Move: Face Adversity + Expertise
TUELLER: —Ahhh, “Misters Soto and Ya’Makasi” not “Mrs. Soto and Ya’Makasi.” thought we were getting mocked there.
MILLICENT: 10
STORY: — no no, she’s respectful
MILLICENT: 8+2
STORY: Excellent
STORY: “Excellent. We’re well prepared to return to Peregrine and await Mrs. Soto and Ya’Makasi after they complete the mission. I’ve patched the Peregrine’s location to your HUD.”
MILLICENT: Millie performs a last-minute calculation and launches herself from the ship, headed for the Peregrine
STORY: Do me some roll! Face Adversity + Mettle please
MILLICENT: hahahaha
MILLICENT: Holy shit
MILLICENT: 9+1 = 10
STORY: Oh come on.
MILLICENT: no joke!
MILLICENT: It’s crazy!
STORY: You smoothly launch yourself back to the ship and nothing interesting happens.
MILLICENT: haha
STORY: Back to Tueller and Alejo!
MILLICENT: sorry
STORY: The body of the Maitri.. guard? Whatever he was, lays on the ground in the bridge. It’s silent aside from the low chirping of the computer systems. You smell…. Indian food.
STORY: I guess he liked curry.
TUELLER: Tueller is quickly grabbing the mask off of the corpse and keeping it as a trophy.
TUELLER: Tueller looks content for now.
STORY: Hey! Now you have the opportunity to please describe what a Matri’s face looks like to us.
TUELLER: Like if the Predator had a comically bulbous nose.
STORY: Seems fair.
TUELLER: Mandible face, but a bulbous schnozz.
STORY: Alejo, what’s happening?
ALEJO: “You’re a frightening man. But I’m damn glad you’re on my side,” Alejo says as he stands. He has a swelling eye that is going to get very black.
ALEJO: He looks around the bridge, trying to locate the controls.
ALEJO: The place is wrecked, the Matri’s nest sprawling from the corner.
STORY: Tueller, you now have a Class 1 Impressive Attire, which is a Maitri Battle Mask. It’ll fit you.
STORY: Anyone aware of the Maitri culture will be intimidated by this.
TUELLER: Excellent. I’ll not put it on until it’s cleaned. The yellow blood is dripping off of it.
ALEJO: “Let’s get this thing moving, maybe have a quick peek around for anything valuable, and get outta here.”
TUELLER: —Huh. Apparently blood plasma is yellow. That probalby means something.
STORY: Alejo, please roll me an Access, that’s + Interface
ALEJO: 4+6=10 No modifier.
STORY: Nice. You gain access to the computer system. The prompts are all in Maitri script, which you don’t understand, but you do your best explaining it to the universal translator.. If only you had Noma to help.
STORY: You see a prompt that appears, by the shitty job the translator is doing, to be “GO HOME”
ALEJO: —Is this a Matri ship?
STORY: It’s a human ship that has been most likely stolen and retrofitted by the Maitri
ALEJO: —Right.
TUELLER: “Do we have landing access in this thing?”
ALEJO: “Okay. Home. Think that means the surface?” He twists towards Tueller.
ALEJO: He shrugs. “Maybe. Thinking we might be able to sneak past defenses just flying this thing down?”
TUELLER: “Well. Unless it takes us back to Mait. Depends on their definition of home.”
TUELLER: “Either way it’s a trip.”
ALEJO: Alejo nods. “Yeah. Seems unlikely though, in this hunk of junk.”
ALEJO: “Adventure, right?”
ALEJO: “So do we send it home at crash speed or . . . see if we can ride it all the way into whatever is down there?”
TUELLER: “I’m no scientist. Let’s get the scientist on the line, see what she thinks of this.”
ALEJO: Alejo nods and actuates his com.
TUELLER: “It’d be a shame to waste a nice pleasure Centaur yacht if we didn’t have to.”
STORY: Millie, as you float through space towards home, you hear a little bing.
STORY: Noma pipes in. “We have an incoming call, Millie.”
ALEJO: “Doc, you out there?”
MILLICENT: “Thanks for calling The Canary, this is Dr Breedlove speaking.”
TUELLER: Tueller goes to check out to see if there’s any Indian food left over.
STORY: she pipes Alejo in directly, because she’s not an asshole
STORY: well
STORY: she’s not that much of an asshole
TUELLER: —she’s kind of an asshole.
STORY: yeah, fair
MILLICENT: —she’s my kind of an asshole
ALEJO: “Doc. How’d it go on your end? We’ve got a development over here.”
STORY: Tueller, there is totally something that looks like paneer bhurji happening on tonight’s plate. Still warm, even.
MILLICENT: “My vessel is set for impact in a little over an hour.”
STORY: Naan nearby.
STORY: It’s hella spicy
MILLICENT: “Tell me about your development.”
TUELLER: Tueller digs in.
STORY: Tueller eats alien food, everyone
STORY: Just so we’re clear.
STORY: He’s gonna have mega farts later.
STORY: to be clear, farts from a 6’8″ man are serious farts
MILLICENT: Nah, they just start higher
ALEJO: “The Matri had taken over the ship. We had to negotiate to take it back. Anyway, the nav is asking if we want to go ‘home.’ We’re thinking that might mean the surface. We’re thinking we might be able to ride this thing down and avoid the security measures.”
TUELLER: Tueller’s going through the guy’s stuff, while snacking on his food.
ALEJO: “Thoughts?”
MILLICENT: Millie’s voice is diplomatic and kind. “Oh. What. An interesting idea! Do you have any idea why one of the Maitri’s ships might be.” Brief pause. “Very nearly destroyed?”
STORY: Tueller, he didn’t have anything noteworthy with him. Do an Assessment move please, + physique for messing with his stuff
TUELLER: “It’s a solid ship, guys. Looks like eight bachelor parties went through it, and then a fucking 8 foot tall beetle set up shop, but it’s a good ship.”
ALEJO: “Man, that’s raunchy.” He covers the com and whispers over his shoulder to Tueller.
TUELLER: —Assessment? Just 2d6 plus physique?
TUELLER: Roll(2d6)+2:
5,1,+2
Total:8
ALEJO: “It’s not destroyed. It seems to be in pretty good shape. Apart from the godawful smell.” Alejo says the last part louder and over his shoulder again.
TUELLER: “You should try some of this. Bug’s not a bad cook.”
MILLICENT: “Interesting!”
MILLICENT: Millie seems very interested and extremely concerned.
TUELLER: “And it’s our ship now. He gave it to us.”
TUELLER: “I’ve got the receipts and everything.”
ALEJO: “It’s our ship now.”
STORY: Yes, Tueller. You figure out that he was probably some kind of guard, hanging out here as an additional layer of security for the planetary defense grid. Unfortunately, he was bad at his job and you now have the ship that he was going to use to get home at the end of his shift.
MILLICENT: “Have you. Ah. Solved the mystery of why this ship hasn’t entered a terminal orbit and crashed yet? If it is a viable entry point?”
TUELLER: “This is the border guard. He tried to check our papers. We’ve passed.”
MILLICENT: “Oh! Well!”
MILLICENT: Beat
TUELLER: “Didn’t even have to bribe him much.”
MILLICENT: …
TUELLER: “Two handed discount.”
MILLICENT: “Just. A curiosity. Who would be in charge if the both of you died on impact?”
STORY: Noma, in your suit: “Nice.”
ALEJO: “Sweet to worry after us, Doc.” Alejo shakes his head.
TUELLER: “You’d be, until Ejo’s crew killed you.”
STORY: we should rename this game Everyone Wants Alejo Dead
MILLICENT: Concerned, “It would be Jac, right?”
MILLICENT: “I feel like it should be Jac?”
ALEJO: “Let me see if I can figure out the orbit mystery.” Alejo turns to the controls and does some digging to see if he can figure out why the ship hasn’t yet crashed.
ALEJO: “Yeah, it’d be Jac.”
STORY: Alejo, roll Assessment + Expertise!
MILLICENT: “Oh good! Well! Good luck!”
ALEJO: He says this absentmindedly as he fiddles with the controls.
MILLICENT: Millie increases thrusters
ALEJO: —Assessment?
STORY: oh, Millie.
STORY: yeah just 2d6 + expertise
ALEJO: Right! Hang on.
TUELLER: “I’m unclear what happened there. She coming?”
ALEJO: 6+5=11 – 1 = 10
MILLICENT: wow jesus nice roll
TUELLER: Tueller goes to check out the bar.
STORY: Noma pipes into your suit, Millie. “Millie, I think you have made the right decision. Jac and I are friendly, and she will likely fall in line behind you as captain if Mrs. Soto and Ya’Makasi are lost on this mission.”
MILLICENT: To herself and Noma, “But I don’t want to be captain”
STORY: “Recommend you first visit the medbay to adminster a combination of medicines that will mimic trauma in preparation for your conversation with Jac.”
STORY: “She will be more willing to accept your leadership if she believes Soto and Ya’Makasi were lost by accident.”
MILLICENT: “Activate comms.” to Tueller and Alejo, “Please don’t try to fly the alient death trap down onto the surface! I’ll be back to pick you up very soon!”
ALEJO: —What has my digging uncovered?
TUELLER: “Gotcha, kid.”
TUELLER: Tueller has been cycling through nicknames for everyone, trying them out. He hasn’t settled on anything for anyone yet.
STORY: Alejo! This is a ship that has been stolen from the humans and specifically modified to appear harmless but be able to look like it’s floating adrift in orbit. It houses a rotating guard every three days, who is cycled in with someone who lives on the surface. It’s fully functional, and you have access to operate it as you please.
STORY: This ship was scheduled for return later today.
ALEJO: Alejo reactivates his coms, linking Tueller and Millie in. “Doc. Tueller. More news. This is a Matri guard ship. It was posted here and scheduled to land later today. Looks like there’s another guard on the surface. They would rotate postings.”
ALEJO: “And, I think that we’ve got full control of this thing. It was designed to look like a hunk of junk, but it’s not.”
TUELLER: Tueller raids the bar and grabs two of the fanciest bottles left on the ship.
TUELLER: Maitri left it untouched, since alcohol is poison to them.
STORY: Tueller, please roll face adversity + influence
TUELLER: Roll(2d6)+0:
1,4,+0
Total:5
STORY: Fantastic. Both bottles have one finger of alcohol left in them.
STORY: Enough for you to get drunk and share with no one.
TUELLER: Tueller looks a little disappointed, but stashes the bottles in his knapsack.
ALEJO: “Can we stop the Hana?”
TUELLER: “Well, are we armed?”
ALEJO: “Not sure. Checking.” He digs some more.
STORY: No. Just a transport ship.
STORY: You’re in a honeypot.
ALEJO: “No guns.”
STORY: Most people wouldn’t survive an encounter with a Maitri guard, so they didn’t bother with guns.
ALEJO: “Millie? You there?”
TUELLER: “Excellent.”
MILLICENT: “Hello, yes. To which captain do I have the pleasure of speaking?”
ALEJO: “It’d sure be nice not to crash something into the station and warn the other guard that we’re coming.” Alejo pauses. “Doc. Yes. Did you not hear anything I just said?”
MILLICENT: “Wait, you’ve control of a ship we can ride down without alerting the planetside guard? Is that right, over?”
ALEJO: “Yeah. In fact, it’s scheduled to land today. But I don’t want to throw the Hana anymore. We can’t stop it. Can you?”
TUELLER: “Well, we wouldn’t alert the guard until we stepped out of the ship. Then we’d have to probably beat him to death.”
TUELLER: “But that’s okay.”
MILLICENT: “No, but it might serve as a good distraction to us not being able to answer ground communication.”
MILLICENT: “Oh there’s Tueller. Hello, Tueller!”
MILLICENT: Millie, in space, waves.
TUELLER: “We could also shoot him. Point is we’d have to kill him somehow.”
TUELLER: “Could also be a her. Don’t know the gender breakdown of these things. Only met one for the first time today.”
TUELLER: Tueller looks at the corpse in the room. “No obvious genetalia I can find on them. Probably for the best.”
TUELLER: “Wait. no. I thought that was a proboscis, but…well, it’s inconclusive, honestly.”
ALEJO: —When is the thing supposed to land?
TUELLER: “Anyway, doc, we’ve got an elevator ride here down to meet some people.”
TUELLER: “And there’s room for more if you don’t mind the smell of Indian food.”
MILLICENT: “Oh, I love samosas!”
TUELLER: “We don’t have samosas, but the naan’s pretty good.”
TUELLER: “You in, Doc?”
TUELLER: “Noma, you’re invited too.”
MILLICENT: Firmly, “We’re both in! And save us some korma!”