Begin a Session
Likely(45)Yes Ascendancy scouts arrive in AshitabaThe Starforged/Campaign Rushdown/Clocks/Ascendancy scouts arrive in Ashitaba.md → 3/4 Ascendancy scouts arrive in Ashitabaresolved
Likely(70)Yes Barracudas strike backThe Starforged/Campaign Rushdown/Clocks/Barracudas strike back.md → 0/1
Likely(66)Yes 19 - Takamaki ResponseThe Starforged/Campaign Rushdown/Clocks/19 - Takamaki Response.md → 0/1
The Ascendancy scouts slip out of FTL in the Ashitaba sector. There's a corvette with large dishes attached to its midsection designed for long-range listening, and a trio of multipurpose vehicles to protect it. The corvette turns its massive listening device in the direction of Minami City, and its operation begins. If the Miwako is here, they'll find out where it is and how well it's defended.
20 - Ascendancy respond to the Miwako's theft(0/The Starforged/Campaign Rushdown/Clocks/20 - Ascendancy respond to the Miwako's theft.md)
Rushdown makes his way to Tranquilo.
Set a Course(Supply)—10 vs 6|5
He heads straight for Bigmouth. He goes to the bar where Bigmouth usually does business, but he's not there.
"Where's Bigmouth?" he asks the barman.
"New office," says the barman. "I'll let him know you're here."
Several minutes later, a ganger wearing sky blue shows up and leads Rushdown to an office complex. They head up to the top floor, and into Bigmouth's new office. Rushdown notices security is much tighter in the new office than the old bar.
"Moving up in the world?" asks Rushdown.
"Just making the right moves," says Bigmouth with a grin. "What can I do for you?"
"A Red Suns ship got attacked leaving Tranquilo, did you hear anything about it?"
"No, I don't pay attention to off-planet news. What happened?"
"It was an ambush, someone knew they were coming. Three corvettes with powerful cannons, probably mercs. Ring any bells?"
"That could be anybody, plenty of mercs have corvettes," says Bigmouth.
"It's strange to have multiple corvettes without any support, though," says Rushdown. "Most merc groups would at least have snub fighters."
"Sorry I can't tell you more," says Bigmouth.
"Thanks anyway," says Rushdown. He leaves the office and heads back to the ship, and calls Florian Angel.
"Rushdown, long time no see. Sorry I haven't sent any work your way, things have been quiet. What can I do for you?"
"I'm looking for some mercs. Three corvettes, powerful weapons. Any idea who they might be?"
Gather Information(Wits)—9 vs 1|2
"Spunds like the Triple Threat. Triplets who specialize in ambushes, they're notorious on Tranquilo."
"Where can I find them?"
"They come and go. Their ships are called Gottem 1, 2, and 3. Remember, no action on the main strip."
"I remember. Thanks, Florian."
19 - Solve the attack on the Rude Awakening +1 (6/10)
Are they on Tranquilo? 50/50(68)No
The call ends, and Rushdown uses the city's 'net to check the ship registry - the Gottems are currently offworld. The Seventh Sun begins patrolling commonly used jump points near Tranquilo.
Face Danger(Wits)—6 vs 2|10 Momentum:10 → 9
It takes a few days for the Triple Threat to return, but when they do the Seventh Sun is waiting for them. They see the Red Suns' destroyer, and immediately try to flee. Rushdown moves in to disable the three ships - he wants them alive and talking.
Battle(Edge)—7 vs 2|9
Using Crew Commander to make this a Strong Hit
Momentum:9 → 10
The fleeing ships make easy targets for the Seventh Sun's main cannons, and they shoot out thier thrusters and edrives one after the other. With the three ships at his mercy, Rushdown hails Gottem 1.
"I think we need to have a little chat," says Rushdown.
"Look, it was just a job, nothing personal," says the captain.
"So you admit to attacking the Rude Awakening?"
"Yeah, no point denying it now, is there?"
"Who was the client?"
"I don't know."
"I'm going to start blowing up your brothers' ships while you watch if you don't tell me what you know," says Rushdown.
Compel(Iron)—7 vs 8|1
"I'll tell you what I know if you let us live," says the captain.
"I'm going to blow up the corvettes either way, if you talk I'll give you all ten minutes to evacuate first," replies Rushdown.
Does the captain know who hired him? 50/50(6)Yes
"Ok, fine, it was a guy called Bigmouth on Tranquilo," says the captain.
"Bigmouth? The gang leader?" asks Rushdown.
"Yeah. Didn't tell us what it was about, he just said to ambush the Suns ship and make it look like a pirate attack."
"If I find out you're lying, you'd better hope you're out of the sector because I will find you and finish you."
"It was him, dude in Southside with the blue shirt gang."
Rushdown waits until the ships are evacuated, then blows up each corvette in turn. Then, he heads for Tranquilo.
19 - Solve the attack on the Rude Awakening +1 (8/10)
Rushdown is on the roof of Bigmouth's new office building. He has a squad of Red Suns soldiers alongside him, and a second squad is ready on the ground floor. A third squad is providing sniper support from the roofs of nearby buildings. Rushdown gives the signal, and they all spring into action.
Battle(Iron)—6 vs 7|2
Using Crew Commander to make this a Strong Hit
The roof team rappel off the roof and smash through the windows of Bigmouth's office. They take out two guards in the room before they have a chance to react and two more who rush in through the door to the office, and restrain a surrendering Bigmouth.
The ground team enters the building from the first floor and clears the building room by room. They encounter reisistance, but the untrained gangers are no match for Rushdown's crack troops.
The snipers don't see much action, but keep an eye on the streets surrounding the building in case reinforcements arrive.
"Rushdown? What's going on here, I thought we had an understanding," says Bigmouth.
"Save it for the interrogation room," says Rushdown. One of the soldiers downloads Bigmouth's files from his terminal to a datapad, and they leave with the prisoner and return to the ship.
Later, Bigmouth is in the brig aboard the Seventh Sun, talking to Rushdown through the bars.
"So, you hired the Triple Threat to take out the Rude Awakening. The missing part of the puzzle is, why?" says Rushdown.
"Who told you that?" replies Bigmouth.
"We have your files, it's only a matter of time before we break in, then we'll have everything. "
"So why bother talking to me?"
"I want to hear it from you. Why did you order the hit on the Rude Awakening?"
Compel(Heart)—3 vs 7|3
"I'll tell you in exchange for a multipurpose vehicle and safe passage out of Ashitaba."
"Not a chance," says Rushdown. "I'll get it from the computer if you're not going to spill."
"But I know something that's not on the computer. I know what's going to happen next."
"I don't believe you."
"Believe what you want."
Rushdown heads to the bridge. "Any news on the data from Bigmouth's?" he says into the communicator.
Gather Information(Wits)—6 vs 2|8
"We've got some intel, but a lot of it is encrypted. Military grade. We'll have to send it back to HQ or Takamaki for decryption."
"So, what have we got?"
"He traded information for tech with Satonaka. He used Satonaka weapons and spy drones to take out the competition in Southside."
"Anything else on Satonaka?"
"If there is, it's in one of the encrypted folders."
"But he definitely mentioned Satonaka by name?"
"Yeah, it's right here in black and white."
"Good work. Keep going through it, see if anything else useful comes up."
Rushdown heads back to the brig, and tells two soldiers he passes in the hallway to follow him. He goes up to the bars of Bigmouth's cell and says "I swore a vow to find out who was behind the attack and take care of them. If you don't give up Satonaka, then you're taking personal responsibility for the attack."
"Who said anything about Satonaka?" says Bigmouth. Rushdown opens the cell door, and grabs Bigmouth.
"Follow me," he says. He starts walking down the corridor, and the two soldiers flank Bigmouth and shove him. He follows along.
"Where are we going?" asks Bigmouth. "To my multipurpose ship?" Nobody answers him.
They arrive at an airlock, and Rushdown stops. Bigmouth and the guards stop behind him. Rushdown opens the airlock and shoves Bigmouth inside, and closes the inner door behind him.
"Whoa, whoa, what are you doing? If I am who you think I am, I'm too valuable for this," says Bigmouth through the intercom.
"Not if you don't talk," says Rushdown. "Last chance."
Compel(Iron)—6 vs 3|4
"You're serious, aren't you?" says Bigmouth.
"Red Suns died in that attack," replies Rushdown.
"Okay, let's just calm down. Yeah, I was ordered to carry out the attack by Satonaka. They wanted to get rid of the corvette while your ship was away on a mission."
"What else do you know about Satonaka?"
"They have a small base in the sector, but they keep its location a secret. I really don't know where it is."
"How do you contact them? You never leave Tranquilo."
"Courier's guild. They message me directly, I send messages to an anonymous mailbox on Tranquilo and it gets collected by one of their agents. One of their actual agents."
"What do they look like? I know you, I'm sure you tracked them," says Rushdown.
"I have a picture, it's in my encrypted files. I'll give you the passwords."
"Anything else?"
"That's everything, but it's kinda hard to think when you're trapped in an airlock."
19 - Solve the attack on the Rude Awakening +1 (10/10)
Rushdown stares at Bigmouth for a few moments. He looks at the airlock control panel. He looks back at Bigmouth.
"I'm tempted to just push the button, but like you said, you're too valuable. I'm going to hand you over to Takamaki instead. I'm sure you'll be able to cut a deal."
Rushdown returns Bigmouth to the brig, and they head back to Minami City.
Later, Bigmouth is on a prisoner transport on his way to rendezvous with a Takamaki warship, and Rushdown is in Gray's office.
"So, Satonaka were behind the attacks after all," says Gray.
Fulfill Your Vow(track)—19 vs 10|2 19 - Solve the attack on the Rude Awakeningcompleted Connection Gray +1 (10/10) quests +2 (3/10)
"And you captured the one responsible," she continues. "Good work, Rushdown, it's a shame we didn't get to kill the bastard but you were right to hand him over. So, our next step is to track down the Satonaka ship and destroy or capture it. Our only lead is this image of one of their agents." An image appears on the vidscreen of a woman with shoulder-length brown hair.
"You have to be kidding me," says Rushdown. "That's Juliana Barbosa."
End a Session
Next Session:
Form a bond with Gray
Rest the crew