Chapter 1: Tinker & Rodney

 

Truths: Precursors

Over eons, a vast number of civilizations rose and fell within the Forge. Today, the folk we call grubs—scavenger crews and audacious explorers—delve into the mysterious monuments and ruins of those ancient beings. Incomprehensible technologies, inexorable time, and the strange energies of the Forge have corrupted the vaults of the precursors. Despite the perils, grubs scour those places for useful resources and discoveries. But some secrets are best left buried, and many have been lost to the forsaken depths of the vaults.

[Begin a Session: Flashback reveals an aspect of a faction. +1 momentum (3)]

After the Forgespawn destroyed Earth, we fled to the Forge hoping to get away from them. We were wrong. They followed us here and living in the Forge is dangerous. Our civilization is scattered throughout the forge living in fear and on the brink of ruin. Many settlements are starved for resources.

Many believe that the Precursor Vaults hold answers on how to defeat the Forgespawn but no one dared enter the vaults until the Grubs came about. The Grubs Alliance is a Guild that scours the vaults looking for useful resources and discoveries that may aid us in the battle against the Forgespawn.

A Grub Chapterhouse can be found in every sector of the Forge. If a Vault is found or someone comes across a derelict, the Grubs are called in to investigate. Many Grub lives have been lost but they are our only hope in the Battle against the Forgespawn.

Grubs are always found wearing Orange jumpsuits and can be hired at the usual contract rates set by the Covenant. 

[Set a course: Strong Hit: 6 + 5 + 0 = 11 vs 4 | 5 you reach your destination and the situation there favors you. Take +1 momentum (4)]

The communicator chimed in Tinker's room and woke him from his nap.

"What is it, Rodney?" Tinker said as he got up and splashed water on his face.

"Avast Ye Cap'n. I be drinkin the grog late last night while ye slept and now we are lea'in the drift."

"What the hell is wrong with you Rodney?" Tinker said as he walked out of his room and made his way to the bridge. "Why are you talking like that? What the hell is grog?"

"Like what Cap'n? Get yer arse t' the bridge yer scurvy dog. We be exitin' the drift Cap'n. Mudd Station be dead ahead."

As Tinker entered the bridge, Rodney got up out of the captain's chair and turned towards Tinker. Tinker stopped in his tracks. Rodney was dressed in hot pink pantaloons and a seafoam green poet's shirt. The pantaloons were held up by a scarlet-colored sash, a hot pink pirate hat sat atop his head.

"Let me guess. Pirate movie marathon last night?" Tinker said as he pushed past Rodney and sat in his chair and pulled up Mudd Station on the viewscreen.

"I found a lot o' Pirate movies in the ole earth database 'n spent a lot o' time watchin' 'em while ye slept. A pirate's life be fer me. They lived in excitin' times cap'n." Rodney said as he walked over to the engineering console.

"I really need to look at getting your identity chip fixed one of these days," Tinker muttered to himself as he pulled up communications.

"This is the Starfall calling Mudd Station. Requesting permission to dock." 

"Permission granted Starfall. Landing pad 3 is at your disposal. Is there anything else you need Starfall?"

"Negative Mudd Station," Tinker said as he adjusted course. 

"Welcome home Starfall. Glad you made it back safe." Control said.

"Thanks, Control. Starfall out."

Mudd station was a small salvage/mining station orbiting Stygia. A once-thriving world—now a grim monument to a fallen civilization. The atmosphere on Stygia was marginal at best and all life has been extinct for hundreds of years. A broken moon can be seen orbiting Stygia, not that far from Mudd station. Mudd station was home to about 46 people at any given time. Most of them were salvagers or Grubs as people called them. 

The Grubs Alliance chapterhouse of Mobius Crossing was located on Mudd Station. Corey Nazari, Callsign Stinger, was in charge of this Chapterhouse and Tinker's boss.

As the Starfall got close enough to Mudd Station the automatic docking computer took over. The communicator chimed.

Stinger appeared in holographic form in the center of the bridge and noticed Rodney and began chuckling. 

"Hey Tinker, I got a job for you. Come see me when you get a chance. " Stinger said.

"Will do boss. Give me a few to settle in."

"Ahoy Rodney," Stinger said as he burst out laughing.

"Ahoy Stinger. How are things goin'? How's work doin'? Any news?" Rodney said as he walked up to the hologram.

"Don't encourage him, Stinger. Tinker out." Tinker said. The last thing he saw was Stinger falling back in his chair laughing before he cut the transmission.

"That was rude cap'n," Rodney said, frowning.

"Shut up Rodney," Tinker said as he got up from his chair. "When we land I want you to do a diagnostic on the ship and make sure everything is in tip-top shape. I have no idea where Stinger is sending us."

"Aye Cap'n," Rodney said as he exited the bridge to start his work.

[Ask the Oracle: Is anything wrong with the Starfall? I gave it a 50/50:  No]

[Gather Information to see if anything is wrong with the ship. Rolling Rodney's health: Strong Hit with a match: 5 + 4 + 0 = 9 vs 4 | 4 you discover something helpful and specific. The path you must follow or action you must take to make progress is made clear. Envision what you learn. Then, take +2 momentum (6)]

As Rodney begins to run a full diagnostic, Tinker leaves the Starfall and heads to his quarters to drop off his bags. Life aboard the Starfall was fine but nothing beats coming home and sleeping in his own bed.

After a quick sonic shower, Tinker made his way to the Chapterhouse to meet with his boss, Stinger.

Stinger was an imposing figure. At 6'5", Stinger was the largest person Tinker has ever had the pleasure of meeting in his lifetime, but people that knew Stinger knew that he was a teddy bear, curious about life, and very sociable.

"Glad to have you back Tinker, unfortunately, your stay home will be a short one," Stinger said as he grabbed Tinker's hand. "Have a seat."

Tinker sat down at the desk and picked up the drink that Stinger had waiting for him. Stinger always had a drink waiting for his Grubs when they came back home. A welcome home gift he always said.

"Cheers boss," Tinker said as he clinked glasses with Stinger before gulping down the greenish liquid and grimacing. "So what do you have?"

Stinger pulled out a datachip and handed it to Tinker.

"A spacer came by early this morning. She goes by the name Cutter. She came across a derelict about 8 lightyears from here. She registered a claim on it and came to us to salvage it." Stinger said as he pulled up a picture of Cutter.

Cutter was a smallish scruffy-looking woman wearing a dull brown spacesuit. Her short-cropped black hair was unkempt and she had a large gash across her left cheek. She stood in front of an Outbounder class starship with the name Invictus painted on it.

 "She paid the initial deposit and agreed to the usual 40/60 split upon delivery of anything of worth. I'm giving this one to you." Stinger said.

"Thanks, boss. Anything I need to know?" Tinker said as he slipped the datachip into his pocket.

"She didn't give many details. It's a Pennant class starship with the name Onslaught. She checked to see if it was claimed and when she noticed it wasn't she put in the claim and marked the location and left."

"Very well. I'll head out first thing in the morning boss. I need to sleep in my bed tonight. It's been a rough couple of days." Tinker said as he got up from the desk.

[Swear an Iron vow: Find and salvage the derelict ship the Onslaught. Formidable vow: Roll Heart +1 for connection: Strong Hit: 6 + 3 + 1 = 10 vs 9 | 2 you are emboldened and it is clear what you must do next. Take +2 momentum (8)]

 "What's up with Rodney? When are you going to get him fixed?" Stinger said with a smile.

Tinker sighs. "I have no idea. I've tried to fix him numerous times. I can't seem to find the problem with his programing or find any malfunctioning chip. I think he just does these things on purpose to irritate me"

Stinger bursts out laughing. 

"I'll keep you updated on the salvage boss. Good night." Tinker said as he left Stinger laughing at his desk.

[End of session: Next chapter we will find the Derelict Starship the Onslaught? Tune in to the next Chapter to find out. +1 momentum (9)]

[End of session stats: Momentum 9 Health 5 Spirit 5 Supply 5. Vow to find and salvage the derelict ship The Onslaught (formidable vow)]