Iron Stars - freya

The night air is chilly with the last remains of spring. Summer will be here soon and this cold snap will break, but for tonight one does not look out of place behind a scarf and big hat. Freya Locke has just left one of the local watering holes in Forgia, overhearing a rumor of some sort of bunker in the countryside near here Nexcorp hid valuables they had taken from the locals during their occupation. Nexcorp was a private contractor the governor had invited to the world to help police the citizens and extract resources from them, resources that were turned into more weapons and more satellites for the now defunct defense grid. Nexcorp pulled out of the world after resistance movements sponsored by the Protectorate popped up all over the planet and continued occupation no longer was profitable. They left many hidden supply bunkers and depots behind in the wilderness of this world and now you think you have your lead on one.

Freya keeps her head down as she walks quickly, her mind focused on planning. "What gear do I need? What local contacts can I still trust?" Time is of the essence, and she knows this is no place for half-hearted measures. As the chill sends a shiver through her, Freya pauses to glance around. Before all else she needs to head to her temperary quarters. Away from prying eyes. With a little luck her lead is good and she still has time. A quick glance to the stars then she begins walking again.

Home, as it is, is reached through a set of double doors in an alley that lead through a storm basement in an abandoned factory before a stairwell on the other side of the cavernous space winds upwards and deposits you in the alley on the other side of the factory. From here , a trap door set into a dirt hill and made to blend with the surround is the location of the comfortable spider hole you have made for yourself

Freya pauses for only a few moments once she reaches home, waiting for signs she had been followed. A moment of silence, and she begins packing her gear. Knife on her hip, rifle over her shoulder, supplies tucked into her trusty backpack. A quick check of local maps and what info she has, before she wraps herself back up against the cold. Ready or not, she wants to be on the move by dawn. The quicker she finds the cache, the quicker she can disappear.

(survive/wis, as we prepare to head into the wilds. You were not followed)

(8)

Heading out into the woods east of the city you take advantage of the darkness to slip into the woods. Sound carries further at night, and the darkness will hinder anyone tailing you as much as it will hinder you. For now, everything is equal. You see footprints in the muddy trail signifying others have come this way recently. The rumored treasure was in the hands of Nexcorp, and if they operated in this region there should be something they left behind or some hint in these woods somewhere. A large group of mercs using walkers, vehicles, and otherwise acting like the de-facto lords of a world is a hard thing to hide, even fi they are gone now.

Freya moves slowly, trying to make as little sound as possible. The footprints in the mud are worrying, causing Freya to pause frequently to listen for sounds. As long as she has darkness as a cover, she keeps moving.

A common landmark when you first get into the forest is a fallen nexcorp crab walker, now semi overgrown with the first of the forest's vines and weeds. The path turns right towards a logging camp and left toward the highway heading south, which takes you back out of the woods after a few kilometers. Approaching the wreck after now an hour of walking, you can see it is front down into the mud, its top half 3m off the ground. You see no signs of someone trying to ever get inside once it was sealed up by its former crew.

Freya will spend a few moments looking over the fallen walker, searching for any possible ways to get inside and any signs warning her away from doing so.

You see the normal warning signs on it most vehicles have, showing where steps are, and where certain surfaces are not a step. You think you might be able to climb a nearby tree and drop down on the hatch, but you'll have to figure out how to pry it open or open it some other way.

Freya will look for any place the vines growing on it, or just normal weather damage, have created cracks or weak points. She would try to use to knife to pry it from there. If nothing seems likely, she will attempted to climb the tree and see if she can find a weakness once on top of the hatch.

It looks like after a few tries you're not going to be able to pry armor plating meant to stop small arms fire free, and you'll have to use the hatch to try to get in. (fix/int, or exert/str, your pick just let me know what you pick)

(fix/int = 6)

Lowering yourself onto the top half of the walker you’re able to slide your knife into one of the gaps and pop the lock. There is a mechanical thump as it comes free after a season of taking the elements and starting to rust. The interior is dark but you hear nothing within.

03:05

The gunners chair can be dropped into , and you can slide out of it further down into the other stations within the walker (Think like how a tank crew sits)

Freya will carefully drop down into the chair. Digging out anything from her pack that will make light, she wants to search for anything that could be carried easily and might have value.

The computers seem to be intact here, and with a little tinkering you might be able to get some power out of them. The walker crew would have known where friendly bases were and this might be a lead on the bunker youre looking for, if you can get them working. There are a few small trinkets in here, a pair of polished iron good luck dice, a company service medal pressed into the ceiling for luck, and a rolled up Nexcorp banner to be run up the Arenal antenna when the walker was on the move with its unit

Freya pops her head up, listening to the night for any sounds. She nervously thinks about the footprints in the mud she saw, chewing on her lip as she makes sure the area is empty. Popping back down she looks over the tech. "OK, lets see if there's any juice left in here." She gently pats the dice and the service medal, taking any luck she can get, then begins tinkering with the computers.

(If you have a type A cell, I think splicing it into the computers is probably somewhat routine based on your skillset, so we dont need to worry about a check for it)

(Freya has a bundle of 8 type A cells, so not a problem.) (edited)

(is this in character or out?)

(Forgot to add the OOC format above, sorry.) Freya fiddles with the systems for a few moments, before realising her luck. A battery, spliced in just right, should be enough to get the computers going. The iron dice are quickly grabbed and shoved in her pocket. "Lets see how much more luck you can provide." With care she begins working on getting one of her batteries to plug into the old system. "Come on baby, mama needs a good set of coordinates."

The interior light comes on. It is dim from the residual power the type A cell is providing it, but you can see enough of the keyboard to get things going. The navigation screen begins lighting up and calibrating itself. A small percentage meter begins going from 0%, reaching 22% when you hear the clear sounds of a boot breaking sticks in the woods outside.

Hearing the snap of sticks outside caused Freya to jump. Quickly Freya digs into her survival kit, pulling out the tarp stashed inside and hastily trying to toss it across the computers to block out the light. Taking a deep breath, she then tucks herself away, trying to find a spot she can squeeze into that would not be immediately seen by anyone looking in. One hand gripping her knife, Freya listens for the footfalls to come closer or move on.

It doesn’t seem like they’ve heard anything or have noticed the glow. You’ve covered the source fast enough thanks to your quick thinking. A stone is thrown , bouncing off the exterior of the mech but it seems random , and no others follow. You get a faint smell of cigarette smoke for another moment before the two sets of footfalls walk away deeper into the woods

Freya waits as the footsteps move on. When they seem distant she lets out the breath she was holding and moves back to the computers. Stuffing the tarp back into her survival kit as best as she can, she gets to work on the computers.

Needing to bunker down for a moment was enough of a distraction from the slow information download. You have access to the walker's navigation systems, and Friend or Foe systems now, and you can see a forward operating base is marked 5km from here into the deep woods. There is an access code needed to get inside that you also now have due to sifting information from this system.

19:54

The location is incredibly remote, and you would not have found it if you did not know that it was specifically there.

Freya makes notes of all the relevant info. She pauses, then decides to try and use her knife to get the service medal from the ceiling as well. "The more luck the better." Turning back to the computer, she begins digging through the Friend or Foe data for anything that might be usefull. Now that she has coordinates to the base, she wants to move on as quickly as possible.

(sneak/dex, as we move through the woods toward our destination)

(10)

You’re not detected by the other frontiersmen out here following the same rumor , and none of them were able to claim the intelligence boon you managed for yourself. It is about 230 in the morning by time you pass through the dense woods quietly but quickly. The bunker is just beyond the treeline and you can see it’s glowing keypad lit starkly against the dark night across 10m of open ground

Freya stops within the treeline and kneels down. Watching and waiting for any movement, any sound that might indicate she is alone. As she waits, her nerves begin to build. Heart pounding like a drum in her chest, sweat starting to form on her brow. Another minute, just one minute, then she darts out into the night. Running as fast as she can toward the keypad. Silently begging the stars for just a little more luck.

80085, immature, but memorable. The code taken from the downed walker manages to disengage the door locks handily.

20:32

The bunker is a large vaulted room, with an elevated level above where you come in where storage , machinery, and some small work spaces are housed. A bunk, work table with a few disassembled weapons, and a computer system are on this lower level.

Freya takes in everything around her, in awe that so much value could be left behind. After a moment she gets to work making her way through the room, mentally categorizing the items based on value and ease of transport. When she gets to the computer system she pauses, debating if there is enough time, then walks up to it. "Lets see if you're still operational."

The computer screen blinks to life as you jiggle the input. A small comms suite capable of broadcasting into space ,and it looks like recent Nexcorp orders were on it. Recent for the time of their occupation, that is. (you can ask questions and the computer will answer)

"OK, first things first then." Freya reaches into her pocket to give her new good luck tokens a pat before diving into the computer system to see what she can find. (Freya would ask: Is there anything special/valuable/important in this bunker? Are there any other bunkers near by? Does the comms suite pick up any ships in range to be messaged?)

There is a Protectorate free merchant in orbit maintaining station over the world after delivering recent aid. Most of which you know is probably going to end up in the hands of the black market. The communications suite in this bunker is valuable, as are the wrecks of the mechs this bunker has plotted on its navigation suite as this was once a hub for commanding several units of off world mercs. Some of their gear has been left behind and the Protectorate could use it, having been engaged in many wars recently. This is the largest of the facilities nearby. Nexcorp withdrew from the world when it looked like the Governor would fall, heading for another contract at Ziya- Al- Guliam, a neutral world closer to UNW space. They only left damaged equipment behind, or equipment that would be more expensive to move than to acquire elsewhere.

(I assume the comm suite itself is too big to be portable. Barring that, would it be possible to download the info on the suite to her survey scanner in some way? If not she would look for something nearby that could act as a thumb drive.)

(if you have a compad that would work, survey scanner doesnt really do that kind of thing)

(Perfect, she's going to start downloading as much data as she can to the compad. While its downloading, she'll wander around looking for anything valuable yet small enough to stuff into her backpack: things she could sell on the black market and things that she might find useful for herself to have.)

(d100)

(94)

You are able to find a submachine gun with a loaded twenty round magazine for it, along with an instrument case. Inside is a cherry red hardbodied guitar, left behind by the technicians when Nexcorp abandoned the world. Once the download is complete you'll also have information that will bring you into notice by the Protectorate, and it could even be transmitted to the ship in orbit.

(Would Freya think she could sell the info to the merchant ship? Or would she know someone on-planet that she could sell the info to that she would trust not to hurt her?) Freya begins loading up the things she has found. The submachine gun and the guitar seem like good additions, maybe even a couple of the disassembled weapons that could fetch a little money. Glancing around one last time, Freya nods to herself. Information seems to be the best item here, now to just find a buyer.

(I think the Protectorate ship would be the avenue that provides the most trust/legitimacy, and the biggest payout as they can actually move what you found)

19:22

(and could be your ticket out)

With a final glance around the bunker, Freya sits down and begins to hail the ship in orbit. She needs to let them know what she has, hopefully someone able to approve the trade is willing to talk. "I'm looking for a ride off-planet, and of course a reasonable finder's fee for the data," she explains. "I can, of course, provide proof of data if you so require." For a moment Freya's mind wanders to the others outside, searching for this same bunker. She bites her lip and worries if any have gotten close enough to become a threat yet. Pushing those thoughts aside, she returns to the deal at hand.

Unidentified surface contact, this is the Voice of Hermes. We are interested in your offer, and we can agree to your terms. Transmit your location, and we will verify data on site

20:58

The return message is short and crisp, coming in after about six minutes as the ship replies from orbit.

"May I return in better circumstances." Freya whispers a goodbye to Erdoza then sends her coordinates.

(3xp, 5000 credits. I can help you level up if you want and I’ll move things forward

)

Level Up Level: 2 Focus: Specialist lvl 2 Old HP: 7 HP Roll: 12 New HP: 12 New Skills: Notice 1 Sneak 1 Current AB: 1 (edited)

01:19

(We would have to wait for level 3 to have a skill at 2)

01:20

(You also get a foci pick )

(Sorry, meant move foci Specialist (notice) foci to level 2) (edited)

(Gotcha. Okay sounds good to me)

The free merchant descends, and the ramp lowers. A pair of ship security begin scanning the woodline with their rifles panning to follow their gaze , as the ships captain emerges. He is a middle aged man who looks close to being retirement age for a spacer, and is relieved to see he has not landed in the middle of some kind of gang ambush.

14:16

"We almost didn't come down, we thought it was a trick until we saw where the transmission was coming from"

Freya smiles and nods politely to the captain. "I promise, no tricks. At least, none that I'm aware of. There are a few other 'treasure hunters' out in the woods tonight, but as far as I know they're still lost and bumbling their way through the trees." She grins then waves toward the bunker. "I've got quite the little data haul, safely downloaded and stored. All yours, for a handful of credits and a ride off this rock. I don't even care where you drop me, as long as its the kind of place a traveler can find work." (edited)

"The Protectorate is interested in what you found, so interested in fact that you have a call aboard my ship in the comms room. No tricks, you can keep your weapons when you go aboard, I'm just delivering a message. "

Freya's face pales for a moment, a lump growing in her throat as she tries to force her grin to remain in place. "A call? Well, it would be rude not to answer." Pushing through her nerves, Freya enters the ship and makes her way to the comms room.

Answering the comms in the small chamber near the bridge. A small manual is chained to the side of the terminal just in case of a problem but you recognize the call holding light just fine- putting the headset on the video screen opens revealing a Protectorate military officer. "Ah you must be the one who found the cache. Very good, let me introduce myself, I am Logistics Major Krushenka." The man is a taros male of middle age, and looks to have been a soldier and then flag officer for a good portion of his life. "I'm here to offer you some stable employment and some safety from the other people who you beat getting to the treasure you alerted us to. The Protectorate is interested in people who can think for themselves are are resourceful and quick thinkers, you seem to be both"

Freya takes in a deep breath, forcing her voice to take on a cheerful tone. "If the pay is good and the work is interesting, then I'm your woman." She reaches into her pocket to grasp the iron dice. "Lets talk business."

(Usually just so you understand how I plan out missions, I don’t give out credit rewards ahead of time because its hard fo gauge the difficulty until we actually start doing stuff, but it’ll be worth the time to do. As far as your specific interests did you have anything in mind you’d like to do?

(Any sort of smuggling work she'd be good with, possibly spying if that was on the table. Also would not be opposed to exploring/gathering things.) (I also updated my goals on my character sheet.)

(sounds good ill take a look now)

(Would you be interested in exploring a new world with Katalin ?)

18:00

(both of you are trying to escape your various planets right now)

(Sure, sounds good to me.) (edited)

(I'll make a group mission for the two of you)

(Updated my character goals, changed the ones that did not work)

Level Up Level: 3 Focus: none Old HP: 12 HP Roll: 8 New HP: 13 New Skills: Talk 1 Current AB: 1

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(hot!)

!roll 4d6+4 ! Hit Point Roll

Freya Locke Roll: [6, 3, 3, 2] Result: 18 Reason: Hit Point Roll

**Level Up**
Level: 3 -> 4
Focus: none
Old HP: 13
HP Roll: 18
New HP: 18
New Skills: Lead -1 -> 0 (1 SP) Talk 1->2 (3SP)
Current AB: +2

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