Asteroid K9204

After the Gap - March 30, 317 @ 15:51

Having obtained from Captain Alera Okwana of the Rusty Rivet the coordinates of the asteroid where the Corpse Fleet ships had gone, Nict enters the location into the navigating computer and steers the Sunrise Maiden through the asteroid belt. It takes about four hours to make it to the location of Asteroid K9204.

Seaching the historical databases on the Sunrise Maiden, Yiris is able to obtain information about Asteroid K9204. About a mile wide and featuring light gravity and a thin but breathable atmosphere, Asteroid K9204 was acquired in 199 A.G. by Roclift Mining after prospectors discovered a valuable vein of pure iron ore. Over the next 20 years, the asteroid was extensively mined, with the ore extracted, stored, then shipped out by transport back on Absalom Station. 

The site suffered a sudden catastrophe, however, and communication was severed. When a rescue mission arrived five days later, it was discovered that all miners and every piece of machinery and equipment had vanished. No cause was ever found. Asteroid K9204 has been abandoned ever since.

Bratrizik downloads the mining map of Asteroid K9204, and superimposes them on current geological surveys. As Nict maneuvers the Sunrise Maiden to land, he detects several burn patterns on the ground indicate that a large ship, most likely the capital ship of the Corpse Fleet flotilla they were tracking, also landed here recently. Nict puts the ship down in the center of the landing area. Yiris sets up the Sunrise Maiden's sensor to notify them if another ship enters the airspace above the asteroid, and the trio departs.

Observing the ground, Nict determines that at least 20 to 30 humanoids went through here recently, leaving tracks in the iron dust that has accumulated over two decades of mining.

Intrigued by the missing buildings that spontaneously vanished almost a hundred years ago, Bratrizik videorecords the site of the administrative building, hoping to discover clues as to what happened. Yiris notices that the cliff face here has been carved flat, indicating that a building was present and featured a concrete pad. 

As they trek through the dust following the tracks left by the larger group, a grenade lands in the trio and explodes, inflicting damage to all. Nict is able to jump out of the way and avoids some of the damage, but Bratrizik and Yiris take the brunt of the explosion. They run back to the Sunrise Maiden and regroup. Bratrizik suggests using the ship's turret cannon to destroy the surrounding peaks, neutralizing the sniper.

Yiris sits at the control, maneuvers the turret's weapons and fires on three of the surrounding outcrops, turning them into piles of dust and rubble. Bratrizik reviews the video footage but does not see anyone escape, even when he studies the recording frame by frame. Fairly certain the sniper is dead, the party emerges from the safety of the ship, and begins exploring the pillars. Roles are assigned as Nict and Bratrizik cover the cliffs with their weapons, while Yiris navigates the ground.

Bratrizik finds a crude staircase carved in the base of what remains of a pillar. In the debris he sees a boot sticking out. He calls down to the others, who come and help. After some digging, they are able to pull the body of a Sarcesian out of the rubble. His weapons have been crushed, and his environmental suite is ruined. Searching him, Nict discovers a ring of sustenance and a credstick. Nothing indiates why the sarcesian attacked them, but Nict postulates that perhaps he was left behind by the Corpse Fleet. However, he was clearly not an undead.

Continuing to climb what remains of the staircase, Batrizik spots another body in the rubble. They spend more time digging it out, and this time the body is that of a human who has clearly been dead for a few weeks. Most of the human's uniform is ruined, but Bratrizik identifies surviving symbols as being those of the Cult of the Devourer. This body has clearly never been animated so it probably was not a member of the Corpse Fleet. The vesk continues to the top.

Arriving at the top of the crystaline and iron structure, Bratrizik locates a small improvised shelter built against a protective wall. This site would provide an idea location to see any ship approach the landing area and would at the same time provide shelter against ships' scanning systems due to its high content in iron. In the shelter the vesk finds a bundle with 2,800 credsticks, three weeks' worth of dried provision, a personal digital device with a drained battery, and a leather-bound journal. He grabs everything and returns to the ground below.

They pursue their march forward, following the steps of the larger group of individuals who walked here recently. Coming into another large cove, the trio is startled when a flight of skreelings emerges from the cliff face to the south and engage the party. Yiris's devastating attack hurts most of the skreelings, while Bratrizik, Nict and BARGO inflict heavy damage. The skreelings deliver damage of their own and inflict several bleed effects in the process, but they are soon defeated.

Skreeling

Bratrizik climbs the cliff, and finds several nests of skreelings in shallow caves. In one of the caves he also finds two more Sarcesian bodies who each carried a tactical dueling sword and a advanced diasporian rifle, with little else. They died, recently, most likely within the last month. The Sarcesians wear a similar uniform to that of the body they found earlier. In another cave the vesk discovers the body of a human worker with a belt buckle sporting the Roclift Mining logo and name. The android follows him to the cave, and examines the body. It has been dead for hundreds of years. Yiris determines that the bones were irradiated quickly and death would have been fast and painful. She takes a knee bone to bring back to the ship for analysis. Under the body she finds four bars of pure silver in a foot locker marked with Roclift Mining. Yiris places the silver in BARGO''s storage compartment, and packs the body in the locker for repatriation.

Having now dealt with the dead bodies, Yiris and Bratrizik climb down the cliff, meet up with the Shirren mechanic and his robot, and return to the path traveled by the others ...

Searching for the Corpse Fleet in the Diaspora

After the Gap - March 19, 317 @ 21:22 
 
With the middle of the month approaching, Yiris, Bratrizik and Nict each see their February's monthly pay of 2,600 credits deposited in their accounts. They spend some time shopping the bazaars of Qabarat and purchasing upgrades for their weapons and armor.

After completing their last errands, they board the Sunrise Maiden, and they prepare for their departure back to Absalom Station. Yiris finds a message from Chiskisk, their contact in the Starfinder Society, requesting an update on their mission. The android sends a generic message back advising the Starfinder representative they are fine and have completed their mission and are heading back to the space station to provide a personal account of what transpired on Castrovel.

 
After the Gap - March 23, 317 @ 9:22 
 
After an uneventful travel from Castrovel, they emerge from the Drift near Absalom Station. A message from Chiskisk sent two days ago invites them to tea on the day they arrive. Bratrizik contacts station security, which promptly directs them to docking bay 94, where their current adventure began. They complete the deboarding procedures, meet with security, and then secure the Sunrise Maiden before heading to the Lorespire Complex deep within the station.

 They arrive at the shirren's office. Chiskisk greets them excitedly. The shirren serves a wonderfully rich-flavored tea, which Nict finds lovely. Bratrizik shares the video footage of their expedition, while Yiris and Nict narrate the highlights of what they did. They share descriptions of the fauna and flora, and how the ruins correspond to the travel journal of Halkueem Zan. They report on the knowledge found in the Temple of the Twelve's library. They tell the shiren that they also found some intriguing information but wish to pursue it to determine its value before revealing it.

Bratrizik submits one of the vials of kaukariki poison acquired in the jungle of Ukulam so that the Starfinder Society's laboratory can study and possibly synthesize it. Chiskisk informs them that the Drift Rock was finally awarded to the Hardscrabble Collective. The shirren also reports that ships of the Corpse Fleet engaged in attacks on the outskirts of the Armada. Nict inquires about the station's gang fighting, but unfortunately Chiskisk is not familiar with those. 

After departing Chiskisk's office, the trio heads to the Starfinder Society's extensive library and they research any information they can on the location of the Gate of the 12 Suns. Unfortunately, they find no references to the constellation. Either it has not been observed since the Gap, or records have been deleted. Either way, they are no closer to find the exact location of the super weapon's hiding place. 

While on the Starfinder Society's infosphere, Nict searches various jobs boards, looking for an opportunity to earn some credits. There are three possibilities, all riskier than the next. After a short discussion, they decide to contact Ambassador Gevalarsk Nor and inquire whether he might have employment for them. They contact the Ambassador, and request an appointment. His secretary confirms that the Ambassador will meet them at 800 the following day.


After the Gap - March 24, 317 @ 8:00

After a peaceful night spent aboard the Sunrise Maiden, Bratrizik, Nict, and Yiris head inside Absalom Station and enter the Eoxian Embassy, where they are greeted by Ambassador Gevalarsk Nor. Nor offers them a light breakfast, but does not partake of the food. After discussing their most recent mission, Nor confides that a contingent of the Corpse Fleet has recently attacked ships in the Armada that floats around Absalom Station. He offers them 15,000 credits to chase the Corpse fleet contingent and report on its mission, including their current whereabouts and any contacts they might have with other ships. Yiris asks whether Nor could provide advanced equipment to boost the efficiency of their ship. Nor offers advanced medium-range sensors, but reduces the payment to 10,000 credits. They accept it.


After the Gap - March 24, 317 @ 13:17

The sensors are delivered to the Sunrise Maiden, and Nict begins to install them. The shirren mechanic estimates it will take three days to complete the process.


After the Gap - March 24, 317 @ 19:46

Chiskisk contacts Yiris and requests an urgent meeting, telling them that they had just received news from Professor Muhali in Castrovel from their mission, including their findings from the Temple of the Twelve. The trio reports to the Starfinder Society, and meet a distressed shirren. Chiskisk appears pertubed by the idea that the Cult of the Devourer is seeking to get their hands on a super weapon, and they express sadness that the party did not see fit to share this information with them. They extend 2,500 credits for them to pursue this forthwith. 

Bratrizik tells Chiskisk that they do not believe the Cult currently know the specific location of the Gate of the Twelve Suns. There is some evidence that the gate could be something else. Bratrizik further adds that they have agreed to a mission with another group, but there is no reason they couldn't complete both missions concurrently, and they accept Chiskisk's offer.


After the Gap - March 28, 317 @ 7:12

Nict completes the Sunrise Maiden's upgrade, and soon the ship blasts away from Absalom Station and enters the Drift. They head out towards the Diaspora.


After the Gap - March 30, 317 @ 10:11

The Sunrise Maiden emerges from Drift travel in one of the sectors most likely to have been visited by the Corpse fleet contingent they are tracking. Running a sensor sweep, Yiris detects a ship lying in wait at the extremity of their sensor range. Their previous sensors would not have detected them. As the Sunrise Maiden begins to move, the other starship maneuvers to shadow it. Bratrizik deduces that this ship is not aware that the crew of the Sunrise Maiden knows they are out there, so they begin planning a counterattack in case the other ship turns hostile.

As the Sunrise Maiden sails through space, it becomes clear the other ship is shadowing them and closing in on an attack vector. As the ship nears, Bratrizik is able to make the ship's ensigna. They fly the flag of the Free Captains.

The Free Captains

The enemy ship soon puts itself into an attack position and powers its weapons. Nict powers the weapons, while Bratrizik opens a communication channel. The captain of the other ship identifies herself as Alera Okwana, of the Rusty Rivet. She claims allegiance to the Free Captains, and request that the Sunrise Maiden pay a tribute or be attacked and possibly captured.

Rusty Rivet

Negotiations ensue between the crews of the Sunrise Maiden and that of the Rusty Rivet. The crew of the Rusty Rivet recognize Bratrizik as a celebrity involved with the Drift Rock as well as in Castrovel and are pleased to be dealing with someone famous. Eventually, Bratrizik agrees to pay 2,100 credits, but in exchange Okwana agrees to reveal the heading of a group of Corpse Fleet ships that passed through here two days ago. Bratrizik transports over to the Rusty Rivet, and exchanges the credit. The pirate crew takes selfies on their personal communication devices with the Vesk, before sending him back on his way. The Rusty Rivet soon departs the area, and the Sunrise Maiden is allowed to continue on its course to Asteroid K9204, the most recent known location of the Corpse Fleet!

Alera Okwana