Heroica: Glory Amongst The Stars - Mission #1: Mercenaries On the Boreal Express

[Kintobor]

"Something powering the engines. A cube of some sorts." Zaria replied in response to being asked what Blackguard attempted to steal. "The cube was removed from some machinery: perhaps that is what's causing the train to slow down? I left it in the engineering room. I do not think it is going anywhere anytime soon." The prospect of being grilled by the Space Police bothered Zaria, but the explosive combat a few moments ago would've led to something inevitably.

[Waterbrick Down]

31 minutes ago, Kintobor said:

"Something powering the engines. A cube of some sorts." Zaria replied in response to being asked what Blackguard attempted to steal. "The cube was removed from some machinery: perhaps that is what's causing the train to slow down? I left it in the engineering room. I do not think it is going anywhere anytime soon." The prospect of being grilled by the Space Police bothered Zaria, but the explosive combat a few moments ago would've led to something inevitably.

"Very well, I'll let the rest of the passengers know that they can return to their seats. We should probably see about getting some first aid to the engineers."

[Kintobor]

6 hours ago, Waterbrick Down said:

"Very well, I'll let the rest of the passengers know that they can return to their seats. We should probably see about getting some first aid to the engineers."

"Agreed. I am not sure exactly what that might entail, but moving them out of the engineering car might help."

[Waterbrick Down]

“I think we’ve still got one or two plasma potions behind the bar. If you can bring them here, I’ll see to it that they are patched up.”

[Kintobor]

"That I can do. We will be back with the engineers shortly." Zaria replies. She motions for Yelana to follow her as she makes her way back to engineering.

[Waterbrick Down]

Heading back to engineering, Yelana and Zaria find Soren face down splayed out on the floor, his gun thrown to one side of the car, his knife the other. Blood pools around the pilot’s head from a gash across his face soaking the collar of the tactical leather armor he had donned.

[Classic_Spaceman]

On 9/24/2021 at 12:37 AM, Kintobor said:

"You can devise the most well laid plans, but they rarely survive first contact with the enemy." Zaria replies. 

Yelana smirked. 
"Well, that's why you always have backups." 

On 9/24/2021 at 12:37 AM, Kintobor said:

"I... admittedly stole that quote from... someone... but I think it holds true. I can plan, sure, but actions mean more to me than plans. They always have." As she moves through the empty Business Car, Zaria shuffles around fallen luggage. "So far, your actions have not made me trust you, and they continue to do so. Do not misjudge our relationship, Yelana. You are a part of the team. We all succeed together, or we all fail together."

"I recognise that; I get it." 
 

On 9/24/2021 at 12:37 AM, Kintobor said:

Zaria moves into the dining car, continuing the conversation. "And what does that change? Is it something we should break free? Or is it something to remain locked away? Sometimes our ancestors hide things away for a reason, and that reason is to keep future generations safe." Zaria shrugged, unsure of what to make of this news. If this was something trapped under malicious circumstances, perhaps the entity should be freed and allowed to continue their journey through life in peace. However, an inkling of doubt crept into Zaria's mind, clouding her thoughts with the potential of releasing a great evil. She was torn. was it even possible something was inside the cube?

Yelana follows Zaria. 
"A lot, actually. What it means is that this isn't a power source, as we were led to believe - not like a silicon crystal, or something like that. And I don't know - I don't have the equipment to properly and safely analyse the cube; not here, anyway. Regardless, trying to break open that casing could be catastrophic, given the energy readings I was getting." 
Yelana took a breath. 
"I can kinda see what you're thinking, bits and pieces, anyway, and yeah, it's possible. I can't tell you where or when or how - that's all classified - but. . . I've encountered something like this before. It's definitely possible. I might even have an idea as to what it is, now that I think of it. . . " 

 

22 hours ago, Waterbrick Down said:

"The other attendant said a group of idiots was rushing the engineering car earlier, I figured she meant you."

"Okay, rude." 
 

13 hours ago, Waterbrick Down said:

“I think we’ve still got one or two plasma potions behind the bar. If you can bring them here, I’ll see to it that they are patched up.”

"Thanks - Oh, and if you don't mind, could you get me a cup of Crimson Chai - cream and Poojat sugar? The cup I had at Ebria has loooong since worn off, and caffeine is basically the only thing keeping me alive at this point!" 
Yelana chuckled awkwardly. 


OoC Character Note: 

Spoiler

Unlike Bers, who requires alcohol as fuel, Yelana does not actually need caffeine in order to live. She is being metaphorical (and somewhat overly-dramatic), since I am deliberately writing her as an exhausted college student-type. 

 

Edited September 25, 2021 by Classic_Spaceman

[Classic_Spaceman]

43 minutes ago, Waterbrick Down said:

Heading back to engineering, Yelana and Zaria find Soren face down splayed out on the floor, his gun thrown to one side of the car, his knife the other. Blood pools around the pilot’s head from a gash across his face soaking the collar of the tactical leather armor he had donned.

"Shit! What in the hells?! <What happened here?? Scan those injuries - What caused them? . . .And where's the cube?>". 
"<SCANNING. . . >" 




OoC: 

Spoiler

Actions: Perception check to look around the room, Medicine check to look at Soren's injuries, Insight and/or Nature check to determine the cause of the injuries, Perception check to see where the cube is (and possibly a Nature/Technology check to determine its condition). 

 

[Waterbrick Down]

54 minutes ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

"Thanks - Oh, and if you don't mind, could you get me a cup of Crimson Chai - cream and Poojat sugar? The cup I had at Ebria has loooong since worn off, and caffeine is basically the only thing keeping me alive at this point!" 
Yelana chuckled awkwardly. 

"Um.. sure." Bloeberis returns after a few minutes with a steaming cup just before Yelana and Zaria head to engineering.

35 minutes ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

"Shit! What in the hells?! <What happened here?? Scan those injuries - What caused them? . . .And where's the cube?>". 
"<SCANNING. . . >" 

MM Note: Examining Injuries and cause would both be a Medicine Proficiency Check

Yelana Perception Proficiency Check (DC 3) - (4,5,1,3,+1) 3 Successes

Yelana Medicine Proficiency Check (DC 3) - (1,3,4) 1 Success

Yelana Perception Proficiency Check (DC 3) - (5,5,3,5,+1) 4 Successes

Yelana scans around the room, but aside from Soren's weapons there are no other clues. As she examines the pilot she finds him Unstable, though she can't determine anything else about his injury. Scanning for the energy signature of the cube, she is able to pinpoint it safe in Soren's leather armor.

[Classic_Spaceman]

3 minutes ago, Waterbrick Down said:

Yelana scans around the room, but aside from Soren's weapons there are no other clues. As she examines the pilot she finds him Unstable, though she can't determine anything else about his injury. Scanning for the energy signature of the cube, she is able to pinpoint it safe in Soren's leather armor.

"How can he. . ?? <Activate Cloak Matrix. Reconfigure MedSpray system for external use.>" 
"<CLOAK MATRIX ACTIVE. MEDSPRAY SYSTEM RECONFIGURED.>" 
Yelana gingerly reaches into Soren's armour and retrieves the cube. Placing it into her backpack, she deactivates her cloak and hovers her palm over Soren's face, a mist of Plasma Potion spraying over him. 



OoC: 

Spoiler

Actions: Equip Cloaking Generator, Sleight-of-Hand check to take the cube, unequip Cloaking Generator and reequip Farsight Goggles, use Plasma Potion on Soren. 

 

[Waterbrick Down]

Yelana removes the energy cube and heals Soren (+3 HP).

[Kintobor]

OOC: Is this damage visible to everyone present?

Edited September 25, 2021 by Kintobor

[Waterbrick Down]

4 minutes ago, Kintobor said:

OOC: Is this damage visible to everyone present?

MM Note: Not unless Yelana’s giving a cry or anything.

[Classic_Spaceman]

39 minutes ago, Waterbrick Down said:

Yelana removes the energy cube and heals Soren (+3 HP). The cube's radiation begins to burn the hero though as she isn't wearing any energy armor (1 Energy Damage).

OoC: 

Spoiler

Yelana is wearing Energy armour (the radiation gauntlet). 

 

[Waterbrick Down]

37 minutes ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

OoC: 

  Reveal hidden contents

Yelana is wearing Energy armour (the radiation gauntlet). 

 

MM Note: Give us a moment folks, your bone-headed Mission Master forgot to take something into account from 3 scenes ago. 

[Waterbrick Down]

MM Note: Retconned.

As Yelana stands back up from reviving Soren, Zaria and the pilot note the Agent's armor pulsing with red veins having been enhanced in some way.

[Classic_Spaceman]

Yelana leans over and helps Soren sit up. 
"Soren. . . Soren? Are you okay? What in the hells happened?!" 
 

Edited September 25, 2021 by Classic_Spaceman

[Kintobor]

4 hours ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

"A lot, actually. What it means is that this isn't a power source, as we were led to believe - not like a silicon crystal, or something like that. And I don't know - I don't have the equipment to properly and safely analyse the cube; not here, anyway. Regardless, trying to break open that casing could be catastrophic, given the energy readings I was getting." 

Yelana took a breath. 
"I can kinda see what you're thinking, bits and pieces, anyway, and yeah, it's possible. I can't tell you where or when or how - that's all classified - but. . . I've encountered something like this before. It's definitely possible. I might even have an idea as to what it is, now that I think of it. . . " 

22 minutes ago, Waterbrick Down said:

As Yelana stands back up from reviving Soren, Zaria and the pilot note the Agent's armor pulsing with red veins having been enhanced in some way.

Zaria closed her eyes, a welling sense of anger growing within her, boiling, roiling over like water in a heated pot. All she could see was red. The red gauntlet and the red of blood. Clenching her hand into a fist, she opened her eyes, approached Yelana and threw a haymaker at her. Rage flared in her eyes.

"You... absolute utter imbecile! <You weaselly little liar! You snake in the grass!> I told you, explicitly, to not take that gauntlet from the briefcase. I told you that doing so would endanger our mission, and you disobeyed me! When this mission started you elected me as group leader. What do you take me as? Some patsy you pawn off to the authorities if your plan fell through? You speak of classified information but not who told you it. You claim to know so much but you say so little." The urge to draw her khopesh rushed through her body. Zaria reached out her hand. "No more second chances. Give me the gauntlet. Now."

[Classic_Spaceman]

28 minutes ago, Kintobor said:

Zaria closed her eyes, a welling sense of anger growing within her, boiling, roiling over like water in a heated pot. All she could see was red. The red gauntlet and the red of blood. Clenching her hand into a fist, she opened her eyes, approached Yelana and threw a haymaker at her. Rage flared in her eyes.

"You... absolute utter imbecile! <You weaselly little liar! You snake in the grass!> I told you, explicitly, to not take that gauntlet from the briefcase. I told you that doing so would endanger our mission, and you disobeyed me! When this mission started you elected me as group leader. What do you take me as? Some patsy you pawn off to the authorities if your plan fell through? You speak of classified information but not who told you it. You claim to know so much but you say so little." The urge to draw her khopesh rushed through her body. 

Yelana took a step back and turned her head, deftly avoiding Zaria's strike. 
"Okay. . . First, I swapped out the briefcase for an identical one with the same weight, so no one's going to notice the gauntlet's gone until they try to open the case. And, between Blackguard's attack and the ensuing panic, we're not really the prime suspects if something's missing on the other side of the train. Second, I put you in charge, because I thought you'd be a competent leader - You are, but you're woefully naive when it comes to espionage. I knew we'd need the gauntlet at some point, so I took very careful steps to ensure we had it when the time came. Third, the information I told you about? I was the one who classified it! I encountered that object, retrieved it, and had it classified! I don't know any more than that, now, since it was classified above my level after I handed it over." 

30 minutes ago, Kintobor said:

Zaria reached out her hand. "No more second chances. Give me the gauntlet. Now."

Yelana paused to take a deep breath. 
"I can't. My suit's nanoadaptive, so the gauntlet is integrated with my other gear." 
Turning towards Soren, Yelana looked back at Zaria. 
"Remember when you said our ancestors hide things in order to keep us safe now? Contemporaries do that too." 

[The Legonater]

4 minutes ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

Second, I put you in charge, because I thought you'd be a competent leader - You are, but you're woefully naive when it comes to espionage.

Well, you’re a shitty spy too, so I guess we’re all even, Soren groans, rolling onto his side. 

1 hour ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

Yelana leans over and helps Soren sit up. 
"Soren. . . Soren? Are you okay? What in the hells happened?!" 

Yeah, yeah. You were right about one thing - Blackguard did come back. Roughed me up a little, bit I was able to hide the cube from them. Turns out this armour actually works pretty well, I’ve got the cube right-

Soren goes to check his pockets, but funds them void of any cubes. 

What in the stars!? It was right here!

[Waterbrick Down]

Zaria vs Yelana - (1,6) 1 Success vs (4,6,4) 3 Successes = 0 Damage

Zaria swings at Yelana, but the latter hops out of the way of the punch.

[Classic_Spaceman]

9 minutes ago, The Legonater said:

Yeah, yeah. You were right about one thing - Blackguard did come back. Roughed me up a little, bit I was able to hide the cube from them. 

"'A little'?? You were almost dead when we found you! Alright, let's start at the beginning - Tell me everything that happened after Zaria and I left." 

12 minutes ago, The Legonater said:

Turns out this armour actually works pretty well, I’ve got the cube right-

Soren goes to check his pockets, but funds them void of any cubes. 

What in the stars!? It was right here!

"They probably took it off you after they kicked your A$$! Dammit! Never mind, just tell me what you remember." 
 

[The Legonater]

12 minutes ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

"'A little'?? You were almost dead when we found you! Alright, let's start at the beginning - Tell me everything that happened after Zaria and I left." 

"They probably took it off you after they kicked your A$$! Dammit! Never mind, just tell me what you remember." 

Nah, I was conscious the whole time. I had the thing when they left. As for what I remember, there’s no much to tell - I was minding my business, out of curiosity I slipped on the armour and tried to pick up the cube, and then they stormed in. ‘Beat me up, wanted to know where the cube was, gave me this cut. Soren motions to his face. 

Luckily, I was able to convince them it was long gone. After roughing me up for long enough, I guess they were content. But yeah, I definitely had it on me when they left. Which means someone here had to have grabbed it. Or it rolled off the train, but that seems less likely. 

[Classic_Spaceman]

2 minutes ago, The Legonater said:

Nah, I was conscious the whole time. I had the thing when they left. As for what I remember, there’s no much to tell - I was minding my business, out of curiosity I slipped on the armour and tried to pick up the cube, and then they stormed in. ‘Beat me up, wanted to know where the cube was, gave me this cut. Soren motions to his face. 

Luckily, I was able to convince them it was long gone. After roughing me up for long enough, I guess they were content. But yeah, I definitely had it on me when they left. 

"I'm. . . not sure I believe that. When we got here, you were unconscious and unstable - And why wouldn't Blackguard search your body if they thought you were dead? And why did you pick up the cube to begin with?" 
Yelana paused to think for a moment. 
"Who attacked you?" 

8 minutes ago, The Legonater said:

But yeah, I definitely had it on me when they left. Which means someone here had to have grabbed it. Or it rolled off the train, but that seems less likely. 

"You're being evasive - Tell me exactly what happened, who was here, and why you picked up the cube!" 
 

[The Legonater]

2 minutes ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

"I'm. . . not sure I believe that. When we got here, you were unconscious and unstable - And why wouldn't Blackguard search your body if they thought you were dead? And why did you pick up the cube to begin with?" 
Yelana paused to think for a moment. 
"Who attacked you?" 

"You're being evasive - Tell me exactly what happened, who was here, and why you picked up the cube!" 

There’s a difference between being unconscious and bleeding out. They definitely didn’t think I was dead, they just believed I didn’t have the cube. I’ve told you all that happened, I don’t know what else you want.