70 Corre como puedas

Escape in extremis to Hilfer

PCs present: Den, Pika, Klaiton, Lyra, Daijiro, Yaang-ki.

NPCs present: None physically in the scenes, but Miria Silverhand, Krrsh, and First Officer Mari Jagad are actively discussed and mentioned in the final planning.

Main developments in the campaign (Rebuilding the Kingdom of Drinax):
The characters manage to secure the valuable technological and military loot from the Star Hawk (including six nuclear warheads and high-value components). Despite their ship being nearly destroyed in the process, the crew establishes a logistical plan to split up: they will strengthen their diplomatic ties by delivering a power plant in Kteiroa, upgrade their military fleet (transferring military sensors to their main ship), and plot a trade route to Theev, where the nuclear warheads could finance a large portion of their future pirate and diplomatic efforts.

Loose ends:

• The pending appointment with the pirate Miria Silverhand, who may grow impatient at the group’s delay.
• The complete structural repair of the ship Ginger, which requires a dry dock or shipyard due to the massive damage received.
• The safe transport of the nuclear warheads to Theev without being intercepted.
• Recovering part of the cargo that was lost during the bridge decompression following the attack.

Session joke:
The best comedic moment occurs at the height of the space combat. The ship is taking critical hits, there is fire, sparks, loss of oxygen, and Klaiton curses while struggling with the engines. While everyone panics taking on crucial roles, Daijiro (whose piloting and engineering skills are nil) puts on his vacuum suit and, with total composure, announces that he is placing his “skills” at the disposal of the captains: he offers to prepare tea, coffee, or dinner, justifying that “otherwise, I would have starved to death.” The absurd calmness and futility of his contribution in the midst of imminent destruction sets off the group’s laughter.

Scene 1: Ambush in orbit

PCs present: Den, Pika, Klaiton, Lyra, Daijiro, Yaang-ki.
NPCs present: None.
Location(s) / Planet(s): Orbit of Ergo (Deep Space).
Ships mentioned: Ginger (PC ship, 200 tons), Maui (PC ship, 400 tons, out of visual range), enemy System Defense Ship (military ship, 200 tons).

Summary of the scene:
Barely 15 minutes after leaving the atmosphere and loaded with the loot and nuclear warheads extracted from the Star Hawk, the Ginger’s scanners detect a system defense ship approaching at maximum power. The crew panics upon noticing that their other ship, the Maui, is hours away and communications are jammed. They quickly take their stations: Klaiton to engineering, Lyra to sensors and electronic warfare, Den and Yaang-ki to the double pulse laser turrets, and Pika to try to calculate an emergency jump. The enemy launches multiple missile salvos. Although Yaang-ki manages to destroy one with defensive fire, two missiles impact the Ginger violently, causing 22 points of damage, breaching the armor, causing a serious fuel leak, and damaging the maneuver drive.

Scene 2: Jumping to pieces

PCs present: Den, Pika, Klaiton, Lyra, Daijiro, Yaang-ki.
NPCs present: None.
Location(s) / Planet(s): Orbit of Ergo (Near space).
Ships mentioned: Ginger, enemy System Defense Ship.

Summary of the scene:
The enemy ship closes the distance and fires a devastating point-blank burst with beam lasers and more missiles. Den and Yaang-ki manage to destroy the new missile salvo at the last second, but the lasers pierce the Ginger’s hull. They suffer another 10 points of damage and several critical hits that destroy life support and volatilize part of the cargo (the computers they had just looted). Alarms sound and the crew runs out of oxygen, relying on their vacuum suits. Pika fails to plot a clear jump route. In a desperate moment, Lyra uses psychological techniques learned in the Silent Hand to calm Klaiton and induce him into a trance of concentration. Smoking his last “Blue” brand cigar, Klaiton manages to engage the jump drive, overcoming Ergo’s massive gravitational interference. The Ginger jumps into hyperspace a moment before being annihilated.

Scene 3: Repairs in the dark

PCs present: Den, Pika, Klaiton, Lyra, Daijiro, Yaang-ki.
NPCs present: None.
Location(s) / Planet(s): Hyperspace.
Ships mentioned: Ginger.

Summary of the scene:
Once in hyperspace, the initial euphoria of having survived fades while reviewing the damage. The greatest danger is the fuel leak, which threatens to leave them stranded in the void. The crew spends the jump week working against the clock. Lyra and Pika combine their technical knowledge and manage to seal the fuel leak, consuming most of their valuable tons of spare parts. Fortunately, the life support system manages to be repaired without requiring additional materials (“putting a screw back in its place”). During this time, they realize the nuclear warheads remain intact despite the destruction of the rest of the cargo.

Scene 4: Arrival at Hilfer and the pirate council

PCs present: Den, Pika, Klaiton, Lyra, Daijiro, Yaang-ki.
NPCs present: Miria Silverhand (Impatient pirate, mentioned), Krrsh (Mentioned), Mari Jagad (Mentioned).
Location(s) / Planet(s): Hilfer, Kteiroa, Theev (Mentioned as destinations), Marduk, Borite, Noricum, Palindrome (Mentioned in the route).
Ships mentioned: Ginger, Maui, Star Hawk (wrecks mentioned), Banshee (Mentioned as a desired purchase), Corsair (Pirate ship, mentioned as a target).

Summary of the scene:
The Ginger exits hyperspace in the Hilfer system with fuel at critical levels. They are assisted by local belters (to whom they cover up the truth by saying they were attacked by pirates) and manage to refuel. A couple of days later, the majestic Maui arrives in the system, confirming they managed to pick up Pika’s message. Now safe, the group debates the strategy to follow. They have too much loot and urgent missions. They decide to split the crew and their assets: Lyra and Pika will stay in Hilfer along with the Maui to try to sell scrap, buy necessary pipes, and transfer the Star Hawk’s advanced military sensors to the ship. Meanwhile, Den, Klaiton, Yaang-ki, and Daijiro will take the battered Ginger toward Kteiroa to deliver the promised power plant and gain allies. They leave for the immediate future the trip to distant Theev (where they hope to sell the nuclear warheads for millions) and the tense meeting agreed upon with Miria Silverhand, fantasizing before saying goodbye about stealing or buying a fearsome Corsair in the future.