Chapter 1: The Commencement

The past two months of training have been nothing short of brutal. With frantic urgency, you were rushed through Starfinder training in order to help bolster the faltering organizations ranks. Turning what was once a six month process into a mere third of that has resulted in you: The first new class of Starfinders since the Scoured Stars incident four months ago. You can only hope that you are up to the task.

After a simple (and quick) graduation ceremony held at the Lorespire Complex on Absalom Station, home of the Starfinder Society, you were given a short time to gather your things, clean up, and report to a briefing room for your first assignment.

As the doors to one of the inner chambers of the Lorespire Complex slide open, a green holographic image of a blank humanoid form shimmers into view at the center of the room. "Greetings," it says in a smooth, feminine voice. "I am Guidance. Please use the cheek swabs in the open receptacle to provide a genetic sample for Starfinder Society identification purposes. If desired, you may place your hand on the glowing panel to receive a subdermal implant, further marking you as a member of the Society."

The room is well-lit with clean white walls, causing it to seem even brighter. It feels too empty and each footstep echoes uncomfortably off the walls. Off to the right side of the room is a glowing panel with an outline of a hand on it. Right next to that is a a cup with white swabs in it, some small glass tubes, and a chute to deposit them into once you are done.

Sioux placed her hand on the panel and waited for the process to complete. Afterwards, she swapped her cheek as instructed.
She did it, she is a starfinder! And the idiot Jock is not.
She looks around at the other graduates. She looks to be a slime athletic female, her skin mimics that of a pale causation human, but her black eyes reveal her as a Verthani. And with the ease as she took the implant, she is properly of the Augmented cast.

My name is Sioux (pronounced "Sue") and I'm exited to be here. She looks at her palm as the starfinder symbol starts to glow there.

Xiordin's name is difficult to pronounce, and he likes it that way. The dark skinned man is prone to laze about and be in your way, his dark eyes daring you to make a fuss and find out. Everything about him screams "entitled bad boy".

You've watched him half ass his way through the brutal training, but realized over time that it isn't that he isn't working as hard as everyone else, it's that he's putting in extra effort to make it seem like he's not. That being said, he suffers from some genetic condition that wearies him faster than you'd expect. Not that that stops him.

Things changed when you conglomerated into team. The hard edges and denegrating glares softened and became, somehow, supportive. Encouraging.

Today, he's dressed in his Lashunta ringwear heavy armor, long hair flowing free. An archaic longsword hangs at his side.

"Guidance. I, Xiordin of Absalom, greet you." His name almost buzzes in his mouth, beginning with a complex consonant that is part j, r, and z sounds. Most people give up and merely say Zordin or Zyordin, despite how he judges them as if expecting the failure.

Standing beside Sioux he nearly blocks her from the hand port, but then she realizes he's just checking it first. He gives her a nod, and keeps an eye on the process (while he pretends to focus on examining the perfection of his own skin) before subjecting himself to the graft after her. When she's done he places his hand in idly and waits for the procedure to complete, leaning against the wall like he's been waiting for someone all day

The cheek swab is performed with equal lazy disdain.

Soryn walks into the room with the hologram with his head held high and and an easy smile on his face. He was proud of himself for making this change - years of teaching had left him with an itch to return to the field, doing real research and exercising his skills in ways he never could behind the lector. He looks to the other new recruits - some perhaps more experienced in the adventurous life than he, yet all of them 'green' in a sense for the new opportunities ahead of them as Starfinders.

"DNA samples," he comments, "So you might identify us, even if reduced to very little, I imagine. Let us hope it doesn't come to that." He takes a swab and does as requested, placing it in the receptacle. He then places his left hand on the panel and accepts the implant. He holds it up and inspects it - quick, painless, practiced perfection.

He looks to to the tall, dark-skinned man, saying his name with practiced care. "Xiordin, I must say, that armor suits you quite well. It is of fine quality - much too heavy for my own self, but I envy it nonetheless. Reminds me of home."

He smiles and looks to the others. "I suppose, we know each other well enough by now, but much awaits us out there. I find myself...excited, to see what the Society has in store for us now. I will do my best to keep you all on your feet, should we find trouble."

Scrap was very pleased with herself. She'd only had to be hurried along twice as she got distracted by something in the Longspire Complex that she wanted to stop and watch or study. It was something her companions would be used to by now. The Ysoki knew what she was talking about with many machines... but the desire to stops and takes something apart or figure out how it worked had sometimes come at inopportune times.

There is a confused look at Xiordin beats her to looking at panel. Had he suddenly realised the wonder of machines and what they could do.. no he was just being his usual protective self. Ah well. Maybe there was still hope.

Hello Guidance! I'm Scrap.'[/b] It was a nickname she had acquired when very young, digging through waste piles for metal and components to piece things together. Still it had been a long-time since she had used any other name. '.. and this is Bolts' She pat the drone next to her

The four legged drone standing next to her has gone through several iterations during training, as she had tinkered here and there, added alterations, removed alterations when they turned out to be a bad idea. In her defense they'd only accidentally set fire to something once. The smoking on the machine bench that one time didn't count.

Scrap clambers onto the drones back, being careful not to knock the arcaster mounted on it. She'd only make that mistake once. Use the added height she raises her left harm, the one not covered with augmentations and cybernetics that let her access machines and computers, and places her hand on the panel, before hopping off to do the cheek swab.

Finaly. Even under the rushed circumstances finally. Finally she was a Starfinder. Even more opportunity to travel, learn and see more. She look up at Soryn at his words briefly and nods. Can you imagine all the secrets. New sights to discover? Record? As for trouble.. that where the this one comes in' She pats Bolts again before looking down at the subdermal implant in her hand, making it glow.

You know fascinating history these implants have. In fact the exact manner of their invention is argued and..' She starts to go off on one of her many information dumps. By now her companions will know she could go on for a long time unless interrupted, though she often doesn;t realise if no one is listening.

Xiordin, this protective big brother rutine will not win you any girls. Just saying

She turns her black eyes onto Soryn Ral. I have seen you in class, but I'm sorry say that I was a bit preoccupied to remember your name. Sioux and Jock, a male human, had a fierce rivalry, or courtship. He was always getting into her business, making comments and finding ways to annoy her. It pissed her off to no end, and she seemed very smug when he failed the final test. Others might have spotted that Jock had a crush on her but didn't have to social skills to talk with her and ask her out.

Bolts! That is your name. I have seen you and Scrap around, but I never knew your name.
Pleased to meet you Bolts The message goes directly to Bolts computer.

I know a little about robots myself, but mine are smaller and more numerous.

Guidance doesn't respond at all to any of your greetings directly, but hums as it processes your swabs and then goes quiet for a few moments before speaking again.

"It is our pleasure to officially welcome you into the Starfinder Society. Today is the commencement of your new role as a Starfinder field agent. It is our tradition, at the end of the graduation ceremony, for new graduates to present themselves to the heads of our most prominent factions and complete a task at those leaders’ behest. This allows the leaders of these groups to become familiar with all new Starfinder agents, and it provides a constant supply of agents for handling situations in our holdings on Absalom Station. While these tasks were formerly symbolic, the heavy loss of Starfinder agents in the Scoured Stars system necessitates that these missions become something more. Please treat any tasks given with the gravity you would grant any other Starfinder assignment."

After letting this sink in for a moment, it continues, "I have sent coordinates for your first meeting with the leader of the Acquisitives faction to your personal communication unit. Best of luck to you." With that, Guidance's hologram disappears, leaving the four of you alone in the room.

Your personal comm units each beep and you have a new document available for you, titled "Acquisitives: Radaszam".

Radaszam "the Dealmaker" manages the deployment of the Acquisitives and his personal mercenary outfit, the Obsidian Spiders. He keeps a public-facing office for this purpose in the Nyori Palisades, a luxurious neighborhood located in Absalom Station’s central dome.

Please report to him immediately.

Xiordin surveys the team. "A fine group of individuals. I see among us the ability to tackle many problems, or in my case, tackle many things." He smiles grimly, as if to wave away his own training as a lawyer.

"I'm curious as to the nature of these requests. One would expect that with the rapidity with which they rammed us through training that they'd have wanted us out in the field tracking things, or problems, right away. Picking up the," he waves absently at the document they just ask recieved, "faction leaders' dry cleaning seems out of place."

"Mmm a mission already!" Soryn says, exuding excitement. "I am quite ready to see what Radaszam has in store for us. Yes, Xiordin, we will make for a fine team, I believe. Our breadth of skills shall ensure it." He nods curtly, as if the determination was final. "Perhaps it is more than 'picking up dry cleaning', as you put it. We will need to see, but must trust the Society is using their resources wisely."

His voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper as he steps closer to the group. "After all, they can hardly afford to do otherwise now, can they?"

Sioux stretches and jumps to the door. Lets go then.
Outside the room, she fiddles with a wrist-mounted computer. If we take the alpha4 elevator up two decks and then, take the shuttle we should get there pretty quickly.

For a moment Bolts doesn't respond, and in fact Sioux may wander if it is capable of doing so before it's head swivels to look at her.

Greetings Sioux. My designation is Bolts.

Yes. Let us go. She speaks up, having been snapped out of her rambling as Guidance had startedt spekaing again.

Perhaps that is the most efficient route, but if I recall there aren't very many interest things on the way. This station is a marvel, ot would be a shame to miss out on seein gmany of its working.'

Guidance flickers back into existence as Xiordin speaks, sounding slightly annoyed, though it's hard to tell for sure, "This is a time-honored Starfinder Society tradition. There is always work to be done around Absalom Station and now there are few Starfinders to do it. We expect you to treat these tasks as you would any other task set out by the Starfinder Society."

With that, Guidance disappears from view again. It seems that the AI is monitoring the room despite not being visible.

Sioux's directs prove to be very efficient indeed and you quickly find your way into the building where you are to meet Radaszam. It's a well-constructed building, but not very flashy, with very few windows. After a bit of thought, this makes sense, as it's likely that the leader of a mercenary company has made many enemies. A pleasant male Lashunta receptionist calls for you after only a few minutes of waiting, "Mr. Radaszam will see you now."

The plain white doors of the office slide open to reveal a stark, dimly lit room. The chamber is bleak and expressionless in its emptiness—no vanities line its smooth black walls, and no signs of use mar its smooth black furniture. The only occupants of the suite are a bug-eyed tadpole wriggling in a glowing blue aquarium and a reptilian vesk seated behind an onyx desk. The vesk gestures to several chairs in front of him, his features sharply illuminated by the light of his desk’s green holoscreen. "The new graduates," he says in a low and pleasant voice. "Good day. I am Radaszam, though since you are here, I should hope you already knew."

"I trust you’re all aware of our Society’s traditions, so I will cut to the point. I have a situation that needs resolution. Recently, a probe of some kind appeared in the Drift in relative proximity to Absalom Station. The Pact Worlds haven’t had the opportunity to examine it yet, but they’re preparing to. However, there’s a slight complication… it seems the Veskarium has salvage that’s late for its scheduled arrival here at our station. Doesn’t take Eloritu’s wisdom to realize that this ship has probably gone looking for the probe."

"This could escalate quickly. If the Pact Worlds send a ship and find that Veskarium salvage barge, there could be violence. Embarrassing, isn’t it?"

"I want you to get out there in a starship and get this probe before the Pact Worlds manage to send a ship of their own to investigate. If you absolutely need to get into a tussle with the Veskarium ship over this, then you’re authorized to do so. After all, the Society gets into sticky situations all the time, and us defending ourselves from a Veskarium starship is a way better outcome than the start of another interstellar war!"

"I'll send you the coordinates of the probe," he continues once he's sure you understand the task, "You'll find a ship in Hangar 17 for your use by the name of Legacy. They'll be expecting you. If you have any questions or concerns, make it quick."

Sioux makes a fist pump. Yes! A ship!
Then she looks around, remembering where they are.
Sorry, Sir. Thank you Sir. Can't wait to get underway.
She is clearly excited to get into a spaceship.

Xiordin greets the senior man politely. After his spiel, Xiordin categorizes the risks. "Guidance suggested that we might need to pick up your dry cleaning," he says with a twinkle of mischief. Or malice, it's hard to tell. "We'd be honored to take on this task. "

"Certainly an important mission, for our first. Thank you for the opportunity to prove ourselves in the field, Radaszan. Shall we do anything with the probe upon recovery, or simply return it to the Station?" Soryn bows his head respectfully and leaves when the others are ready.

"Simply bring the probe back to the docks and we will have a team retrieve it," Radaszam replies, "Do well and you'll be well on your way to being true Starfinders."

With that, he waves you away. He immediately returns to working on his computer before you're even out of the room.

You head down to Hangar 17 and find several workers with Starfinder insignias on their shoulders preparing a medium sized Kevolari Venture. The ship is rather basic, but it appears to be brand new as far as you can tell. When the workers spot you, they pause to salute.

She is a beauty. Dips on pilot chair! Jumping with joy she bounds up the gangplank