アダルト

In 2496, the Kendai Relay Station reopened after the Second Galactic War closed the station in 2375 - rebuilding the gap that exists between Core Space and The Verge. Just as the communication reply starts to open, a small group of unlikely heroes uncover a plot to keep this key communications link closed. They manage to save the relay station by restoring power to the sabotaged core generator, killing a terrible virus calling itself "Geneva," and destroying 5 'infected' drivestats before they jumped into DriveSpace - infecting and effectively destroying communications in all of human space. A good day indeed... if it wasn't for the fact that the station computer's recordings seem to show the team was the 'cause' - not the cure. A sad turn of events for our heroes who were then summarily convicted of 1st and 2nd degree Murder, High Crimes against the Concord, and ordered to pay reparations to VoidCorp of 5.8 million Concord dollars. 

Sentenced to hard labor in VoidCorp's interests in The Verge (due to newly reopened shipping lanes), the convicted took the "slow-boat" to the Verge. This journey would take years in suspended animation (savings in 'shipping' charges and the added security make this a common practice in this point in history).

There is hope... for a group of unlikely heroes are about to awake from a long sleep.

Now it is the year 2504 and the known universe is amid the fight of its life. After a year of war with a new and mysterious enemy coalition nicknamed, The Externals, the Verge may never be the same - even if the Intergalactic Concord and the unified Stellar Nations win. Most observers don't believe there is a chance of winning against The Externals. 

Eight years have past since the events at the Kendai Relay station. The party was “serving time” in suspended animation aboard the CSV Wayfar when the transport ship collided with stray space debris, and is crippled and on the verge of exploding. The party members were brought out of suspended animation early by a mysterious benefactor, Yovas. New among them is Tassadar, a T’sa who cannot speak Standard and lost to them is Vinny, a fellow “victim” of the Kendai station affair.

Disoriented and full of questions, the party discovers that Yovas and a Weren friend & crewmate were trying to free them, and they have a ship waiting. When the other “inhabitants” of the suspended animation units were summarily executed-dissolved to be more precise-by their guards, the press of time to escape the ship became the sole focus of the party. The Weren was mortally wounded in a firefight trying to buy Yovas and the party time. After several unsuccessful attempts to open a security door to gain access to their equipment, the party used the Weren’s laser rifle to damage the security door and ultimately jury-rigs the rifle to explode, creating an escape route out of the room in which they were pinned down. Luckily, the party found an airlock, and the necessary equipment to survive the vacuum of space, stored along with their possessions.

With offers to spare their guards from imminent demise unanswered, the party escapes-rather ungracefully-to Yovas’ waiting ship, the Kurtosis. Despite the somewhat cryptic motivations of Yovas, the party is shown basic hospitality and introduced to "SIS" (C.C.I.S.S.), the onboard AI. Erich “looked about” the inner workings of the data reserves for information and, Rubiks and Kevlarn explored the intricacies of psionic disciplines while Tassadar and Bronz discuss the finer points of cuisine and politics. After a brief rest, the party was summoned to the Holo-bay for a meeting. More questions, and suspicions, are raised by the introduction of someone or something that knows more about the party than the party knows about it.

But at least they are out of prison. They think.

アダルト perspective:

Right when the Venerable Old Expositor was about to explain the mysteries of the cosmos, the cyborgesque Yovas barged in with some luggage: a cryotube salvaged from the prison ship Wayfar. Seeing that the tube contained a gargantuan, potentially ravenously hungry wolf-beast, the group decided to release him anyway. The newcomer introduced himself as Demlok, a Weren merchant with no plans to kill and devour the crew… yet.

Yovas, the cyborg without secrets, who always travels alone, admitted that he doesn't quite travel alone (psst--it's a secret). There's a Chinese Stereotype named "Shawn" and a Delicious Doggie Treat aboard (King), along with a computer named Sis. Kevlarn tries to make on the Virtual Girl, unaware that she already has a hard drive. 

Shortly thereafter, the senile Old Man spouted some gibberish about an Ancient Evil, Parallel Universes, and a crisis in the Verge that could end with total destruction of this Universe… all part of a struggle between the benevolent Al Karam and the vile Exeate. This insane story, with no proof, convinced everyone else to immediately volunteer for an endless string of unpaid suicide missions, and also to cheerfully allow disgusting space parasites to burrow under their skin. The wily Tassadar tried to resist, but felt a psychic compulsion to submit.

At this point, the ship detected a mysterious object at the limit of sensor range. The crew, fearing an enemy vessel, powered down active systems and prepared to wait out the intruder. A day later, with a fully recharged stardrive, they cautiously initiated a scan for their mysterious neighbor. The computer spluttered in amazement, and then...

アダルト Recount…

Of all the crew, the A.I. was the most capable member for the situation at hand.  The crew being expert in a variety of fields, except starship control or command, repeatedly failed at controlling the Kurtosis.  Only by “calling” on the A.I. for assistance with communications and sensors, could the crew ascertain that the blip was none other than a warhulk.  However, the warhulk was of nonhuman origin with several escort ships as well. 

Fearing the worse scenario, the crew demanded the A.I. to leap into starfall…  The heroes patted themselves on the back for their ingenuity, though the true hero should have been the A.I.

With time spent in starfall, part of the crew (such as Kevlarn) were trained by the A.I. via the holodeck in order to operate the Kurtosis’ systems, at least at a basic level.  Tassadar, Rubiks’Nox, Bronz, and Yovas discussed options of their next move for the crew.  The two priorities were monetary and strategic. 

The crew was in need of funds to establish a base at Ebo (in the fourth quadrant).  Two options were indicated – rhodium runs at Oberon or “criminal” activity at Lucullus.  The crew also needs to continue in their queries about the External race, the Exteats.  The Exteats “curiosity” about Precursor ruin sites, such as the Glassmakers sites at Mantebron and Coulomb, could indicate that Lucullus might be a better fund raising site.  However, with all the recent sightings of the Exteats in the second quadrant, “they” might be weary of the crew’s possible activities there.

According to Yovas, the Gardhyi (another External race) act at times as informants for the Exteats.  Do their loyalties lie with Exteats or is there a business deal arrangement between them?  It is known that the Gardhyi have interest in Oberon and Exteat presence is uncommon there.  The crew has decided then to explore this option to achieve both priorities. 

After a more few more starfalls, the Kurtosis arrives in the Oberon system.  It is instantly hailed by Oberon “security” forces on intentions in the system.  The crew responds appropriately.  The “security” forces demand inspection.  Though the crew tried to “convince” the “security” forces that it would not be necessary, the “security” team hacked into the Kurtosis and boarded the ship to confront the confused crew.  Who is this “security” force?  Pirates or Gardhyi?   May the Khala be our way…

アダルト Party

Tassadar carefully moved toward the airlock to find King standing over a body, Eric - the ships doctor. His laser pistol lay on the ground near his cold hand as two body armored figures stand - waiting for something. Tassadar is eventually spotted, and told to stand by as the ship is inspected for the "Kind" tax whish is due as the ship leaves the system. In addition to the 20% export tax, a 10% escort fee will be added. Strangely enough, no 'inspection' seemed to occur. In the engine room Bronz confronts a third armored inspector just as he releases a strange U-tube shaped device that emitted an odd light wave. Bronz lands a good glancing blow to the figure - one that would normally overbear a normal man, but in its armorwear, the figure just backs slowly out of the room and rejoins his peer near the airlock.

As the three leave the Kurtosis, in a flash of inspiration, the crew manages to grain some control of the ship and lock the trio of boarders in the airlock...

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