Casefile 1: Starfall Smackdown

"The 26th day of the 1st month, 2036 S.U.   The planet Sotys is a cold windswept desert on the edge of Unconqered Space. Despite this Starfall, a city on the planet's equator, has its own beatuy. People come here seeking a new start, a new ship, and new life. Lovers come her to kiss underneath the nightly meteor showers that give the city its name. Of course we aren't lovers and we aren't on a veranda in Warm Lake gazing up at the stars. We are in the lower city on a cold dawn."

  We begin right in the middle of the action. The crew are in the middle of a gun fight with members of the 9th Street Savages. The cause of the conflict is who can claim the bounty of philandering scientist Emril Forrest. The crew are after him for an easy bounty and test of how well they work together before they leave Sotys. The Savages are after him for trying to sell a mysterious substance in their territory. Paet Do'donna also hopes that claiming the bounty will allow his gang to move up in the world. Intiative starts with Mustang.  

Mustang

"Mustang a bullet whizzes past your ear and ricochets off the concrete pillar. First thirty minutes out with your new squad and you're already in a fire fight. This might be fun after all."

  The ship's engineer and heavy gunner stands next to his old green hover truck. He puts a belt into his .50 cal and opens fire on two gang members who manage to evade the worst of the burst. He does manage to tear up the black top around the two gangers.

Memories

"As the smell of gun powder fills your nostrils you are transported back to cluttered tent on a jungle planet long ago. Gun powder and ozone smells comforting your nervous grasp on the shield generator."

  Mustang chats with the blind artillerist. Django asks if he's sure he wants to take the risk because the company's actual doctor doesn't approve of this operation. Mustang says he's sure. Django takes the generator and hands Mustang a bottle of cheap whiskey (anesthetic.)

Aisling

"The gang's leader stands toe to toe with you. A seven and a half foot tall brute with four arms and a cool certainty in his eyes. Yet another foe that will make the mistake of underestimating you."

  Aisling Murphy, martial artist, assassin, and now cook aboard the STL-K199, stares down Paet Do'Donna, qua'kyoian bike riding brute and gang leader. She pulls out a pearl, morphs into an armored form and summons a viscous looking trident.

Memories

"You perform a flashy kata as your trident appears in a burst of dark turbulent water. Your body recalls these movements from when you were 14."

Ash is training inside a boxing ring with The Brute, an agent who relishes his chance to beat up on smaller opponents. As he charges her she focuses and [Critical Success] performs a high kick and sends The Brute crashing to the Matt with a broken nose.  

Aiden

"Pain. Sudden searing pain. Pain that courses up your leg and slams against your skull like a typhoon. Pain that isn't yours."
"You look down at the sleaze you came to retrieve, sprawled out on the black top. 'Please! You gotta help me man!' Blood oozes out from the bullet wound in his lower leg. That's gotta hurt. Hell you know it hurts because you're sensing his pain and fear. How long has it been since your last dose?"

  Aiden Murphy, a zyrlexian conman and blur addict, was dragged into this by his twin sister. He crouches behind a car and takes a shot of the red mist narcotic known as blur. At is feat is wounded and panicking Emril. Ten feet further is the case Emril was carrying.
Aiden calms down Emril and pulls out his shadow daggers. He sneaks over to one of the Savages and [Critical Failure] sees double and overextends his attack, falling flat on his face.

Memories

"Your mind turns once again to blood and muscle. You-"
"You're 17 once more. The chamber is dark save for the light above the operating table. You studiously rattle off the patient's symptoms. The proctor nods. 'Very good Aiden. Have you ever opperated before?' He hands you the scalpel. 'Time for some hands on experience.'

Young Aiden tries his best to perform the operation but fails to save the patients life. The Proctor coldly "comforts" Aiden by explaining the man was a prisoner and won't be missed. The darkness solidifies into a black thorn tattooed on adult Aiden's arm.  

Captain Detroit

"The cyborg missed his shot. The assassin is full of surprises but remains untested. Of course the druggie brother she instisted join the crew just fell flat on his face. This is your crew. Time to show them how it's done."

  Serena Detroit, Captain of this rag tag crew, draws her twin filly .45s and takes aim. [Critical Success] She instantly drops one of the Savages.

Memories

"The smoke from your filly rises into the cold air of Starfall. Rising like-
The mist rises above the elevated walkway to the hanger. The junkyards and hangers below you stretch for miles in the falling dusk. Bonnifer sighs. 'You sure about this? It's an old ship and a huge risk.'
'Oh I'm sure.'"

Serena enters the hanger and looks down on her new ship- The STL-K119. It's an odd but captivating freighter. The cargo bay sits below the cockpit in a stylized dragon head. Below the wings hang two sets of quad cannons. Her coppery metal shows through the faded blue paint and the white letters bearing her old name- "The Healing Spirit."  

The Battle Rages On

  It is now the Savages turn. One dashes behind a car and fires at Mustang. The bullet bounces of his armor harmlessly but almost hits his truck. Two try to take pot shots at Serena and miss. One tries to whip Ash with a length of chain while Paet punches her hard. The final hanger takes his pool cue and slams it down into Aiden's face only to recognize him as his friend "Desmond."

Mustang surgically removes the threat to his truck. Ash impales Paet on the trident while the Captain takes out another Savage. Aiden does what he does best and talks. Turns out "he" (or at least his alias "Desmond") knows the thug, a fine bloke named Jeremy.

Some dead bodies, the gang leader's sense of honor, and Jeremy's expert diplomacy ends the conflict in the crew's favor. Of course Mustang and Serena's threats might have jeopardized helped things end in their favor. Now they take Emril and his mysterious case back to their ship.