"My worst case scenario is far more boring. A simple 'It doesn't work off planet anyways, suckers'.  Still, that assumes the Golem or any other defenses will politely sit back and let us take it rather than move to stop us.  But trying it with drones is still a much better plan than anything I had come up with yet."

  That said, he gets started on busywork prepwork for Sci-Fi construction working for Work and Piracy.  He's sure Pyrus didn't set that controller for player 2 or anything, that would be crazy.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:01, Sat 15 Feb 2020.

But before the team can do much of anything just yet, Murphy says, "Hey guys... we got a new development. Scanners just picked up a ship approaching the site we just came from."

He taps a few buttons. "Looks like a privately owned ship. But I recognize the model as one made on Planet Tavern."

Angel walks over to take a look at the onscreen. "Probably an independent crew then. But why here? They daredevils or something?"

Larry says, "If they're brave enough to come here, I like 'em already. Let's meet 'em on the surface and find out what they are here for."

Pyrus nods and turns the ship to face the newcomers.

He coms them, "This is The Galaxy Imperative ship, Maiden's Voyage, hailing the approaching Tavernian ship.  We like you already for having the guts to come here.  Pick a spot and we'll meet up on the surface."

Figuring it a waste of fuel, he doesn't flip on the shields and sets a very leisurely course for the surface.

After flipping off the mic, Pyrus comments, "If they're here for the Heart, should we just let them have at it then buy it off 'em for normal money?  That way if we bump into any angry super-beings, we can blame the theft on the Tavernians and claim we were in the process of getting the Heart back for her."

  Joe won't be the first to suggest 'Or, you know. Just shoot them' because Larry likes them and Pyrus is thinking ahead for plot device risks over the plot device.

  "Right, delaying that drone deployment so I don't run over our new acquaintances in a cramped hallway just yet."

The other ship coms back that they want to meet in front of the structure. The voice on the com is male and gruff.

The two ships land and out of the other ship comes a male Fou Barrakian, a female grenu, a male coalwren, a male wolf, and female wolf. The barrakian is clearly exuding authority as if he's the boss of this other crew.

The barrakian says, "My name's Kallon. This is Shishi, Morning Glory, Gerald, and Ginger."

Larry introduces himself and his crew in return.

It is soon apparent this crew is here for the relic as well.

"Nice to meetcha!  We just successfully rescued a team of scientists that were stuck here," Pyrus boasts, being sure to not mention the other reason for being here.  That's more for Larry to decide whether to divulge or not.  Yaaay for not being team leader!

And now to impress and bore them with geology technobabble so they don't ask too many questions.

"This place is great!  The lithospheric history points to an intimate coupling between the movement of the plates on the surface and the convection of the mantle (that is, the heat transfer caused by bulk movement of molecules within fluids).  Thus, the plates and the adjoining mantle convection currents always move in the same direction – because the lithosphere is actually the rigid upper thermal boundary layer of the convecting mantle.  This coupling between rigid plates moving on the surface of the plane and the convecting mantle accounts for the stone used in the structures here."

...and because Pyrus is legit fascinated with the topic.  It shows in the big smile, eager tone, and tail-wags.

  Joe doesn't consider Pyrus living up to a sterotype, when the usual stereotype for elemental themed beings is 'Lava hot! I like cold! Smash tiny houses with rocks, we like rocks!'

  "I'm more curious about the timing than the reasons. Lots of people saying they want things, but not even trying.  Now everyone is suddenly in a rush to try at the same time." Well, that could just because that's how adventures work, Joe.  Nobody ever talks about 'That time we found the buried treasure and nobody else showed up'.

Kallon answers Joe, "Simple really. Most believe any relic of Planet Morose to be pure myth, or at the very least hard to find. And this world is hard to even land on, as you are quite aware, which keeps most from bothering to try. But when people see someone approach this planet at all, that catches attention. My crew and I saw a tharian science vessel approach here and tapped into their comms, doing some remote spying with some sensor cloaking*. We found out they were after the heart of stone. Then we saw you guys. So we approached and figured we could talk things out."

Larry says, "Bit of a gamble we'd be willing to share. It is, after all, one relic."

Kallon says, "Yeah, well... you guys identified yourselves as the Galaxy Imperative. While I'm hesitant to believe that, I can't deny this is the kind of thing the GI might be involved in... so if you are here on orders, we don't want trouble. But we also don't want to have come here for nothing."

In a smooth voice, almost timid voice, Morning Glory looks over at Pyrus and says, "Based off what you're saying, there must be some crystals inside the temple. Though you are an unusual one in that you seem equally excited at the idea of heat as you are about rocks. Unless I'm mistaken and you are more excited by heat..."

Gerald and Ginger look happy. Tails wagging, tongues hanging out (granted, this place is a bit hot so most canines would be panting here). Shishi, though panting, is otherwise nearly frozen for how attentive she is.

Angel is keeping an eye on Shishi, with the occasional glance to Gerald and Ginger. Murphy is just leaning against one of the boarding ramp's pistons, looking relaxed.

Larry says, "You didn't come here for nothing. In fact, we were thinking of recruiting you bunch to help us acquire the stone."

*sensor cloaking is usually only effective if a sensor hasn't picked you up yet and only works at certain ranges. Get too close and sensors will pick you up. Range is determined by how good the other guy's sensors are and, well, the PCs have some of the best.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:30, Sat 22 Feb 2020.

"It's so weird how that's a thing with everything," Pyrus comments to Joe, "You go to a store with no customers inside for one item and the registers are all swamped in the time it takes to grab it from the shelves.  Or you find a lonely spot to camp mobs in a low traffic MMO server then next thing you know there's a bunch of other parties all pulling from the same area faster than the mobs can respawn.  What're the chances?  Never understood that coming up so often."

He head-tilts at Larry's answers.  Must figure it a waste of breath to try and convince anyone of being who you are.  Pyrus is new enough to the team that, "Yeah right.  I doubt you bunch are the Galaxy Initiative," isn't something he's used to.  Probably best to keep out of that conversation rather than risk saying something stupid.

To Morning Glory he smiles.  "I'm made of lava.  So both are important topics to me.  Nice to meet someone who shares some of my interests.  You a gamer?  That's my real passion.  It's pretty awesome how this whole scenario has been a mash-up of various games I've played.  Makes it familiar enough that I can contribute, and at the same time I don't know what to expect, so it's fun!"

  Joe doesn't quite have the hubris to assume he has the best personal sensor cloaking around.  But he is fairly confident it would take a plot device or Important NPC to do better... So of course his job involves constantly being around both those things.

  "Not really too surprising a thought process, though did you have a step two for your three step process worked out yet?"

  Insert 'Well... Step 3 is profit!' joke here.

Morning Glory headshakes. "I am sorry, but I am not much of a gamer. Gerald and Ginger like gaming..."

The wolf pair seem to be eyeing Pyrus excitedly now that he has mentioned gaming.

Kallon says, "Well... you guys are looking to have us work with you. I was thinkin'. We work with you now. You work with us on another exciting thing when we find one? You guys do have time off to do fun stuff on the side that pays off, don'tchya?"

Larry strokes his beard/mane. "Sure. That way, we don't have to worry about how much to pay you for helping us?"

Kallon nods. "Exactly. Favor for a favor. Though obviously, if there's a big score for the thing we get your help with, it would be ours."

Larry shrugs. "Sure. Sounds fun."

Murphy's ear wiggles a little, but he doesn't comment.

Angel is quietly observing also.

Pyrus grins proudly and shows off his trophy profile on his holo-projecting mobile device.  Not e-sports level, but achievements enough that prove he has no life outside gaming and watching videos on geology.

On the arrangement, he wants to brag, "The Galaxy Initiative's time ain't cheap!"  But...  recovering a divine magical super-weapon kiiinda fits the bill of, "Doesn't come cheap."

But wow!  Larry just said, "sounds fun!"  So glad the guys aren't all business.

"Just in case it wasn't obvious, we're not allowed to pull any jewel heists in Dominus-controlled space.  And since Dominus is all about uniting the systems for the good of all, we can't be doing gray-area stuff like kidnapping for ransom even if they totally had it coming.  But breaking into ultra-high security high-tech research facilities to nab valuable schematics is right up our alley."

  It would be Pyrus's gimmick to consider the tradition of main quests leading to sidequests, but Joe will think about it anyways.

  "While it wouldn't be the first time it happened, I'm not expecting today to involve any offers of 'Hey, wanna betray your boss next week?', Pyrus."

The narrator has NO IDEA what to do next, so the scene transitions to the two groups parting ways and our PCs have the Heart of Stone. It was technically free for the taking, but there were traps and golems and stuff that were set off once the heart was taken.

Soon, the group is on the way back to Haylor (Base 3). The stone itself is currently in Larry's care and locked inside a metal box. He orders Murphy to get a nap and Murphy obeys without questioning it.

Angel asks, "I suppose Dominus might ask us to use the thing on some enemy or other. But just in case he doesn't, do you guys have any personal enemies to use it on before we turn it in?"

Larry shrugs and looks at Pyrus/Joe.

"As often as I hear rants about subordinates going off the rails, kinda figured it needed clarifying," Pyrus answers.

One sniff of the Heart and Pyrus lost interest in eating it.  "Erm.  So we still don't know what the catch is.  Such as it turning the user's arm into stone in addition to petrifying the target.  I guess if anyone can spare an arm to find out it'd be me.  But I'm in no hurry to test an unholy weapon on gamers with bad manners."

  "As far as I know, there isn't anyone who has vowed revenge against me personally." Now, the Galaxy Imperative in general would probably be a different matter.  But at that point you may as well qualify the list as 'hates pirates' and that would just get out of hand.

  Joe already had the feeling this may end up one of those 'I hired the new girl because she can work the plot device' situations back in the temple.  But it would still hold true now.  "Of course while you are asking, I don't suppose you had some deep seated hatred against someone we should be made aware of?"

Angel shrugs and says, "They're all dead. I half figured it would be the same for you guys, but figured I'd check."

Larry says, "Well then. If nobody objects, then straight to Haylor."

The trip doesn't take long and the group docks on Base 3. Tharcon is actually there to meet them. He has a kart behind him with five lock boxes in it. Each lock box has the names of the Galaxy Imperative. Larry, Murphy, Joe, Pyrus and Angel. Tharcon explains, "These are for you all. Consider it bonus for getting the job done quickly and efficiently while also rescuing the forward team."

It wasn't a HARD job... but it wasn't easy either. Just easy for the players since we did a time skip.

Pyrus is glad none of his friends have any nasty personal enemies that need to be killed.

When Dominus presents the group with treasure chests, the lava dragon wags his tail and hops in excitement!  "Oh boy!  Is it gold?  Yummy minerals?  V.R. goggles?"

He calms down some when he realizes that it's unlikely the others would be getting those kinds of things as a bonus.  "Ooooh!  It's cutting-edge commando gear, isn't it?"

 It's the equipment of the now disposed of failure team!... Nah, probably not.  Recycling isn't 'look how evil I am' enough.

  "Thank you, sir.  I take it there are no pressing issues we should be aware of currently?" Clearly he would have told them already if so.  Unless he was just being polite by not bringing it up yet.  Consistency isn't really a thing when it comes to employers in... Well, everywhere.

Dominus answers Pyrus, "I'll let you all discover what is in your boxes on your own."

Dominus then nods to Joe. "Correct. No pressing matters. Enjoy your break."

With that, he heads off, leaving the group with the lockboxes.

Angel shrugs and goes to check hers. It seems to be a simple lock that opens upon sensing the electrical signatures of the individual team members as well as a quick fingerprint scan. So ANY of the Galaxy Initiative could have opened each others' boxes with a little bit of effort, but most people wouldn't even have the skill set.

Inside Angel's box is a bunch of parts and a data platform. For Joe, it's obvious the parts are for energy applications and thus probably most likely for things like laser gun upgrades or even flat-out building a laser gun from scratch.

She begins browsing the data platform, but makes sure she has her back to the wall to prevent anyone from seeing what's on it. In case it is something private.

Inside Pyrus's box, should he choose to accept it, is actually several different kinds of rocks (with labels to indicate where they are from) and V.R. goggles.

Inside Joe's box, should he choose to accept it, is also some parts, though more varied in application than Angel's box had. There is a note indicating most of these parts are exotic and where they are from so if he should want more of a given part, he can easily order such from Dominus's treasurer.

Larry and Murphy are opening their own boxes also. Larry got some explosives. Murphy got just a data platform. Murphy does like Angel and hides what he's reading, but he seems VERY pleased with the result.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:19, Tue 26 May 2020.

Pyrus jumps for joy and thrusts his fist into the air!

"OMG!  It's a limited edition Theta-Wave Hypnoban Neuro Sim 9000!  I heard there were only a handful of these ever produced before the factory got raided, and that shipment never made it to the open market!  The tech is so cutting-edge rumor has it that the Eternity Alliance hired double-agents to steal it for their elite psychics!"

Pyrus begins to unbox it with such reverence you'd think it was a holy relic.  "Daaang.  Is that blood on the plastic seal?  People literally kill for these..."

As he reads the expected certificate of authenticity at the top of the box, Pyrus absent-mindedly reaches for one of the rocks and has a taste.  His eyes go wide.  "Woah!  Spicy!"

He takes a closer look at the label.  "Ooh niice.  Copper porphyry Morenci sterlinghillite.  Heh.  Save this for...  No, this IS a special occasion!"

Inside the box is what looks like a pair of sports sunglasses.  Pyrus puts 'em on, syncs up with his mobile computer, and begins playing his favorite A.R. sim: Paintgun.  He fires off a few virtual paintballs at his friends.

"What's got you smilin' so much, Murphy?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:49, Mon 13 Apr 2020.

  Clearly Murphy got the names and addresses of everyone who has ever beaten Murphy in a videogame.  What a waste, he already knows where Joe and Pyrus live.  Speaking of video based defeat, Joe could cheat his way out of Pyrus's pretend paint, but chooses not to.

  Meanwhile, a real sign your boss is a professional is when they give you the black ops version of 'I have no idea what to even get you, have a gift card?'

Murphy smiles at Pyrus. "Just some info I've been wanting. Locations of people I wanted revenge on. Blackmail on some important jerks. Stuff like that."

Larry says, "Dominus definitely knows how to treat his special employees."

Angel gets to playing with the parts she got to upgrade one of her guns. "This is why I have two guns. I can upgrade one while still having a fully-functional one handy. And since I got into building guns, I can customize them to every one of my preferences." She has the cutest little bunny smile as she works on it.

Larry says, "Well I'm gonna put in for some time off. My wife's getting on me about time away from home."

Murphy says, "Then so will I. I have some more unwrapping to do with these gifts."

Angel shrugs. "I'm the new girl here. I haven't earned time off yet, so I guess I'll hold down the fort."

Larry chuckles. "I see we have a professional wrapped in that blissian package. Alright. Well if Dominus has a mission for the G.I., don't call me unless it becomes clear you really need me. I'm sure you three can handle whatever, though."

Pyrus ohs.  "Revenge" could be something as simple as killing some evil dude who killed your parents or as serious as publicly shaming a troll who joined your team to deliberately throw the world FPS championships.  Either way, Pyrus has learned it better to not ask details unless he's ready for some super-long exposition.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbKum3NtLDg

Pyrus smiles at Larry and nods.  "You said it!"

Cute bunny smile is enough to convince him that he should get a scan of Angel's gun to use as one of the skins of his favorite virtual pistol.

Pyrus pretends to be clueless.  "We have a fort?  And it walks away unless you pin it down?  Just kidding.  I know what that means.  And I'll be happy to challenge you to some Duck Hunt if you like, gun bunny."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:47, Tue 02 June 2020.

  The correct answer is 'More than two guns, but only tell people about two of them'.  So Angel probably gave the correct answer.

  "Your confidence in us not screwing up and dying is truly inspiring, Larry.  Though that would also require our Boss being impatient enough to give us a task we'd fail without you in the first place." Is it 'what's the worst that could happen' risks when you're shoving an important NPC's good reputation onto the tracks in front of you first?