Previous Entry: 06 - Rushdown - Captain Finn
Begin a Session
Last time, Rushdown was tasked with tracking down the Miwako, the sister ship to the Minami. Just as he set off to its last known location, a stowaway was found aboard the ship claiming to have a bomb.
"You're the space scum working for the Minami Clan. Don't think you can scare me, I have a bomb. If you try anything I'll blow a hole in the hull," comes a woman's voice from the other side of the doorway.
"Let's say I believe you," says Rushdown, "What are you waiting for?"
"Wiping you out is Plan B. My mission is to hijack the ship and force you to fly to meet one of our people. You rescued a Minami exec from Tranquilo and wiped out an entire gang doing it. We want to know what was so important about him."
"I take it you're with the rebels?" asks Rushdown.
"The Resistance."
"Resistance. Yeah that has a better ring to it. Listen, I can't just take your word for it about the bomb, I'm going to have to scan you to make sure you're not bluffing."
"Try anything and I'll blow us all up."
"I'm going to have to risk it. Janus," Rushdown says over comms, "Do a sweep for explosives aboard the ship."
Is the woman bluffing? 50/50(59)No
Is the bomb powerful enough to destroy the ship? 50/50(61)No
A moment later Janus replies "She's telling the truth about the bomb, however it's not powerful enough to breach the reinforced hull."
"See?" says the woman. "So, are you going to do what I say?"
"Everybody, clear the area," says Rushdown. All the security personnel troop out of the room. "Just you and me now. How about we make a deal? I'll vow to go and meet your people and let everyone get away unharmed, you disarm the bomb and give it to me."
"Why should I trust you?"
"I'll make an iron vow."
"Why should I trust you to make an iron vow?"
"If I make the vow will you give me the bomb?"
Compel(Heart)—3 vs 8|6 Momentum:2 → 3
"Fine, but I'm keeping the gun."
Rushdown takes out his black iron blade. "I vow that, if you disarm and surrender the bomb, I'll go to your meeting and not harm or try to capture anybody."
He hears a series of beeps and a woman steps into view holding a now-inert explosive device.
"I'm Rushdown," he says.
"That's not your real name," says the woman.
"Clearly."
"I'm Juliana. Also not my real name." She hands Rushdown the bomb.
"And for obvious security reasons you're going to have to spend the rest of the trip in the brig. I can't give you free run of the ship poking your nose into our business."
"That wasn't part of our deal."
"What did you think I was going to do, let you stay on the bridge?"
"Officer's quarters, under guard."
"Pilot's quarters."
"Deal."
Rushdown gets on the communicator to Murphy, the security officer, and he sends a team to collect the bomb, prepare Hornet's quarters for prisoner containment, and organize guard duty.
Just realized I forgot to roll for the vow
Swear an Iron Vow(Heart)—8 vs 6|6match Momentum:3 → 5 07 - Go to the Resistance meeting
Juliana passes the coordinates on to the navigator - it's only a few jumps away.
Set a Course(Supply)—10 vs 8|2 Momentum:5 → 6
07 - Go to the Resistance meeting +1 (3/10)
They come out in deep space. A multipurpose vehicle is sitting there waiting for them.
"Captain, they're hailing us," says Janus.
"On screen."
Captain Finn's face fills the vidscreen, only...it's not quite Captain Finn. His features are a little harder, and there's a glint of danger in his eyes.
"Where's Juliana?" he immediately asks.
"In a safe place."
"How did you get these coordinates? Was she captured? Tortured?"
"She gave herself up on the condition that you wouldn't be harmed or captured. We haven't questioned her. But I think introductions are in order, I'm Captain Rushdown."
"I'm Captain Finn."
"Cut the shit."
"It's true, all of the clones are called Captain Finn, after the late great last Minami captain. But people nowadays call me The Spider."
"So what was it you wanted?"
"First I want proof that Juliana is alive and well."
"Janus, patch her through. Voice only."
"Hmm? What is it?" says Juliana over comms. "Are we there yet?"
"Juliana, have they hurt you?" says The Spider
"Spider! No, they just locked me up."
"Did they interrogate you?"
"No, they promised not to harm me and they kept their word."
"Fine. I'll talk to you after all this is over with."
"Janus, end it," says Rushdown and Juliana drops from the call.
"So, what did you want to talk to us about?" asks Rushdown.
"Who was the Minami man you killed over a dozen men to save? As far as we can find out he's a nobody."
"He is a nobody. Minami didn't ask us to save him, they asked us to wipe out the gang who dared cross them. I just saved him because the job would have felt half finished otherwise."
There's a pause.
"So I burnt my best undercover agent over a nobody?"
"Guess so. Look on the bright side, at least she didn't blow herself up over a nobody. That's all you wanted to ask?"
"No, there was more but without the bomb threat I doubt you'll answer."
07 - Go to the Resistance meeting +1 (6/10)
"So what about Juliana?" continues The Spider.
"My vow was not to capture anyone at the meeting, but since I captured her before the meeting I guess I'll hang onto her for now. Unless you have something you're willing to trade for her, obviously," replies Rushdown.
"All I have is information."
"I like information."
"I heard you had a run in with Switchblade. I can tell you where he's operating out of now. He sometimes does work for us but nobody trusts him and he's flaky."
"You got a picture?"
"Yeah, I can get a screengrab of one of our holocalls."
"Ok, info on Switchblade and an up to date picture, and I'll give you Juliana. And no warning him that we're coming."
"Deal. He's on Gallows."
07 - Go to the Resistance meeting +1 (9/10)
"Thanks. Oh, and just a warning, Minami want me to bring you in alive. Next time I see you, we're not going to be having a cozy little chat like this."
The Spider's ship docks with the Rude Awakening and Juliana is escorted across.
Fulfill Your Vow(track)—7 vs 9|3 quests +1 (1/10) 07 - Go to the Resistance meetingcompleted
The Spider maneuvers to a safe distance and blinks away into FTL.
"Right, let's get back to the hunt for the Miwako," says Rushdown.
Undertake an Expedition(Wits)—6 vs 2|4 06 -Expedition to distress coordinates +1 (4/10)
They arrive safely at the next waypoint. Finding nothing remarkable, they recharge the e-drive and move on.
Undertake an Expedition(Wits)—9 vs 9|8 06 -Expedition to distress coordinates +1 (6/10)
Spaceborne Peril(5)Automated defenses or mines protect this area
"Sir, I'm detecting some kind of drone out there," says Janus.
"I know that signature," says Murphy, "They're shipkiller drones, they protect areas from enemy ships."
"Are we in danger?" asks Rushdown.
"If they spot us and swarm, then yeah they could take down a corvette."
"Let's try and stay out of sight then. Power down all nonessential systems and sit tight until we can jump again."
Face Danger(Shadow)—6 vs 6|9
"Sir, one of the drones is approaching us at speed," says Janus. "None of the other drones seem to be alerted."
"If we fire on it the others are bound to notice," says Murphy.
"Maybe it won't tag us as an enemy vessel and it'll just leave us alone," says Rushdown. "Leave the guns powered down but be ready to make a break for it if necessary."
The drone stops nearby and starts scanning the Rude Awakening.
Does the drone become hostile? 50/50(81)No
After a tense minute that seems to stretch on for hours, the drone silently returns to its patrol. The ship holds its position until it is ready to jump away.
Undertake an Expedition(Wits)—8 vs 3|6 06 -Expedition to distress coordinates +1 (8/10)
The ship makes another safe jump to an unremarkable location.
"We're close to the coordinates now, one more jump should take us there. Be ready for anything when we come out of warp, the rebels didn't mention the Miwako but that doesn't mean there isn't a nasty surprise waiting for us on the other side."
Finish an Expedition(track)—6 vs 8|1 discoveries +2 (0/10) 06 -Expedition to distress coordinatescompleted 06 - Find the fate of the Miwako and recover any surviving intel +1 (2/10)
Planetary Class(19)Furnace World
Sample Names(7)Ember
Atmosphere(29)Toxic
Observed From Space(13)Glowing rivers of lava
Outlands(63)None
Location(90)Deep Space
Deep Space(48)Starship
Starship Name(46)Long Haul
Starship Type(68)Multipurpose
Condition(55)Cold and dark
Outer First Look(73)Sending a signal or message
"Sir, we're in orbit around a volcanic world by the name of Ember. Uninhabited," says Janus. "However, we're picking up a signal from further out. There's some kind of ship out there. The signal is pretty weak, but it matches the distress signal the Miwako picked up."
"Take us in for a closer look," says Rushdown. The Rude Awakening approaches the vessel.
"No signs of power," says Janus, "Looks like it's been sitting there for a long time."
"It's just a multipurpose ship," says Rushdown, "Why divert an arkship for this? And why didn't the arkship just bring the whole ship on board?"
"Maybe there was originally more than one ship out here," says Murphy.
"I'm going across to take a look," says Rushdown.
End a Session Momentum:6 → 7