Move: Begin a Session +1 Momentum Envision a scene: Flashback reveals an aspect of another character, place, or faction
In a large underwater glass bubble, Senior Acquisitor Manga sits upright, alert, in a chair with a cigar. Other Silver Veil personnel are gathered around the poker table.
“Well, Manga, are you gonna call?”
Manga taps his two cards against the table. He looks at his bank, only one chip left. It’s labeled, “Bingo” on one side. He picks it up and flips it over, a stillshot of his employee on the other. He tosses the chip to the pile, “All in.”
He smiles and lets out a puff of smoke.
The vessel that Bingo and Tara were approaching had its name, Smoldering Flame, painted on the side. Knowing that the Scuttlebutt class Merprises vessels were commonly stocked with repair bay and maintenance equipment, Bingo thought about the name and was inspired. He formulated a bit more of a plan. He donned his EVA suit and exited through the cargo bay airlock, hoping to fabricate a pyrotechnics show.
Move: Secure an Advantage
1d6+wits(3) = 8 versus 10 / 5, Weak Hit.
+1 momentum
Bingo returned to the cockpit after a while, bringing with him a large briefcase and a flat datapad, the kind used for deliveries.
Tara was there, staring at the schematics as if she was trying to memorize them. She asked, “So this Casablanca, you’re going to retrieve them, but do they know that you’re coming?”
Bingo shook his head, “No, protocol means no contact. I have a phrase that I can use to let her know that I’m an ally. The phrase also indicates the weight and authority I’ve been granted by the Senior Acquisitor, so she has to come with me or else her contracts will be terminated.”
Tara sat back in her chair, “Is it all about the money with you? I nearly die and you tell me that it’s good news that I don’t owe my life to the Corps.”
Bingo thought for a moment, “No, it’s not really about the money. I have so much in my bank account at home that I don’t know how to spend it. It’s about order and keeping people safe. Where would we be without the corporations? Stuck in a galaxy of dying stars, waiting for the life givers to wink out? No, I’m thankful for them and I’ll do anything for my employer the Silver Veil.”
Bingo didn’t see Tara roll her eyes. He activated a panel and the ship started moving to the Scuttlebutt class Merprises vessel, commonly stocked with repair bay and maintenance equipment.
“Maybe the Raider Boss let it keep that role. It’s a gamble, but I’ll try.”
Bingo piloted Blank Check towards the permeable hanger, where the plasma doors formed the airlock. Before going in, he pushed a button, activating the flairs that he had placed on the outside of his vessel that burned in space.
Bingo keyed up on the comms channel that he had identified as belonging “Hey, clear the hangar we’re coming in hot, I don’t know, it’s the E-drive or something!”
Move: Face Danger
1d6+shadow(2) = 3 versus 4 / 3, Miss.
Burn Momentum (5) for a Strong Hit
Move: Reach a Milestone (Extract Casablanca) Mark Progress
Bingo increased speed, coming in for a controlled yet hard landing while the comms garbled about authorization and identity. He grabbed the datapad and briefcase, making an “Shh,” motion to Tara before exiting the emergency chute.
On the hangar deck, a few scruffy-looking spacers in overalls with fire extinguishers in their hands tried to figure out how to climb atop the Blank Check. Bingo had placed the flares atop the ship, hoping that the added difficulty might buy him some time. He raised his voice and spoke up, “Who’s in charge? The boss sent me with a load of relaxants and ammunition for y’all.”
One of the spacers looked at him, “The boss? Why would Hotshot send us those? This is a torture vessel.”
Another one of the spacers elbowed him in the stomach before turning to address Bingo, “You’ll have to talk to Shallot. He should be in his office.”
Bingo’s heart leapt in his chest. “Torture? For what?”
“Okay. But no touching the cargo til somebody signs for it!” Bingo waved the datapad around, looking for where to go. There was only one visible corridor out of the hangar towards the side of the vessel that Casablanca had pinged at. He remembered the schematics and made his way through. He activated his comms, opening a private channel to Tara.
“Okay, it worked so far. They shouldn’t be coming aboard for a while. I learned this is a torture vessel, and that the whole fleet is run by somebody named Hotshot. What they are torturing people for?”
Tara replied back, “Who knows? Maybe the Raiders turned on folks like Wheeler after they’ve outlived their usefulness.”
“Maybe. How’s that ping from Casablanca? Still towards the rear?”
“She’s on the move. Heading to the topside of the ship, in an elevator.”
An idea was formulated in Bingo’s head. “Okay, forget about that for now. Can you guide me to where she came from? I have a sneaking suspicion about something.”
Using Tara to guide him, Bingo made his way through the corridors, briefcase in his left hand and the datapad tucked under his left arm.
Move: Ask the Oracle
Can Bingo make it to the area without detection?
Yes
Move: Ask the Oracle
What was Casablanca doing?
Action/Theme: Await Language
Bingo found himself outside of a sealed door. Tara told him that was where Casablanca had been since they started pinging, and that she had only recently left. Bingo flipped open the datapad to try to open the door. He gave open access to the datapad’s camera, streaming the process for Tara.
“Okay, I recognize this. Merprise door, of course, one of their downtrace companies Portal or something like that. According to your schematics, there’s a way to backdoor the…well, the door.”
Bingo looked up and down the corridor, knowing that he was sticking out like a sore thumb this far into the ship. Still, he deemed it important enough to get in.
Move: Face Danger
1d6+shadow(2)+connection(1) = 8 versus 10 / 4, Weak Hit
Suffer Move -1: -1 momentum
The door popped open and Bingo stepped inside, pressing the button to seal it behind him. This was apparently Casablanca’s living quarters, and it was spartan. Bingo had seen some jail cells better furnished than this. If it weren’t for the personal computer on a desk, he would have thought it a jail cell. The only other furnishings were a bed and a toilet.
Bingo snaked a cable from his datapad to the computer tower, downloading all of the files and transmitting them to his ship.
“Look and see if anything on your Wheeler is in here. You seem savvy enough to do that on your own.” Bingo said to Tara over the comms.
Bingo flipped through the files, trying to find the hidden cache Silver Veil operatives were trained to leave behind for others. He found it after a few minutes, scanning the documents and looking for clues about what Casablanca had been up to.
“This isn’t protocol. Neither is letting an outsider like Tara have access to these files.”
Something in Bingo’s gut told him that it was okay. He kept reading, looking for anything on Wheeler or Casablanca’s current assignment.
Move: Reach a Milestone (Extract Casablanca)
Mark Progress
Move: Gather Information
1d6+wits(3)+connection(1) = 7 versus 8 / 10, Miss.
Pay the Price: 57, your equipment or vehicle malfunctions
The datapad flickered and the screen went blank before an image manifested on it, a red skull shaking its head back and forth. “Shit.”
“Tara, turn the computer off, do it quick. She must have left behind defenses.”
Tara didn’t answer at first, but then replied sullenly, “She’s in your system. I lost control of it.”
Bingo knew that he needed to get upstairs to explain himself. He disconnected the cable and tucked the datapad back under his shoulder, opening the door and peering down the hallway. He needed to make it to the elevators and Casablanca’s last location without anyone else noticing him. He slinked.
Move: Face Danger
1d6+shadow(2) = 7 versus 9 / 4, Weak Hit
Suffer Move: Endure Stress -1
Resist: 1d6+spirit(4) = 9 versus 9 / 8, Weak Hit, Press On
This wasn’t Bingo’s usual schtick. He was used to standing tall, wielding the weight and backing of his corporate sponsor like a hammer versus all of the end-users. Sneaking through the corridors of a raider ship was dangerous new territory for him.
“They put the fire out. They’re still not coming aboard yet,” Tara said over the comms as Bingo made his way up the elevator, “I can’t tell you if she’s still in that last location. Her code took over your computer here, locked it down.”
The elevator door opened up, and Bingo found himself face-to-face with Casablanca. He was slightly taken aback. He stammered for a moment, before taking out his datapad and playing his part, “Excuse me, could you sign for the stock of relaxants and ammunition so I can unload it and get the fuck out of here?”
Casablanca frowned, “No, I’m afraid I’m not in charge here.”
“Listen lady, every star’s got to wink out eventually, and I don’t wanna be here when it does,” Bingo said, throwing the Silver Veil code phrase into the conversation.
“And I don’t want to be here when the sun fades myself,” she said, offering the countersign, “But you’ll have to speak with Shallot back there,” she turned and pointed at a man munching a donut near a security suite.
Move: Reach a Milestone (Extract Casablanca)
Mark Progress
“Is she trying to tell me something?” Bingo asked himself. Shallot wasn’t paying them any attention. Bingo made a slashing motion across his throat inquisitively. Casablanca shook her head and made a frame with the L and pointer fingers. Bingo knew what she meant now.
Bingo walked past her to the unaware Shallot and thrust the clipboard out, “Listen, pal. I gotta make more deliveries to the rest of the ships or else Hotshot will be very cross with me. Now, sign here and flip through to sign the rest of the documents.”
Shallot took the datapad with one hand and brushed crumbs off of his hand with the other. He looked like he was about to complain, but his mouth was full of pastries. While he signed, Bingo took his briefcase and placed it on a nearby desk. Using the opened lid to shield what he was doing, he took out and assembled the weapon that was within.
Bingo held The Answer aloft and pointed it at Shallot, who was finishing up his signatures and absentmindedly returning the clipboard when he saw the massive tube barrel pointed right at him. Bingo smiled.
“Listen up, Shallot. You’re going to do what my friend here says.”
Casablanca took the hint and stepped up, “Erase the recording of his ship’s arrival and turn the recorders off. No funny business, Shallot. You know I don’t play around, and my associate here is even more serious as you can see.”
Bingo put an exclamation point at the end of her sentence by flicking a switch on the weapon, causing it to output a high-pitched whir. Shallot’s hands were held aloft and shaking, but he nodded and whirled around to hopefully carry out the action. Bingo and Casablanca watched as the screens shut off one by one, and he turned his chair around to say, “I-I’m done. Please don’t hurt me.”
Casablanca took a roll of wire and hold-all tape from the drawer of a nearby desk and began to fasten Shallot to his chair. When she was done, she lifted a donut from his box, took a bite from it, and stuffed it into his mouth.
“Toodles,” she said, striding to the elevator. Bingo followed after packing The Answer back into its briefcase.
Move: Reach a Milestone (Extract Casablanca)
Mark Progress
As the elevator descended, Bingo informed Casablanca of a slight hiccup, “I have another contract. A Merprises engine tech by the name of Wheeler, real name Levi. Do you know of anything?”
Casablanca almost laughed out loud but stopped herself, “Do you know what I’ve been doing here?”
Bingo took a guess, “Torture.”
Casablanca’s smile faded, “How did you know? Yes, torture. I marketed myself as an information extraction agent. The head of Rampart, a guy nam-”
“Hotshot, yes, I know,” Bingo interrupted, growing impatient.
“Yes, Hotshot. He paid me, well, Silver Veil, really, to interrogate prisoners for anything useful. He had an arrangement with Wheeler. I learned this from Wheeler. It’s a real spy web, Wheeler was a Merprise operative hired by Taxcan Intergalactics to steal and sabotage their latest experimental FTL. He stole notes, I stole them from him, and Rampart won’t be getting anything.”
“He’s still being held here?” Bingo asked, hand moving to the elevator button, “Where?”
“The opposite way of the hanger,” Casablanca sighed, “Okay, let’s do this I guess.”
“Okay, let’s craft a believable lie and get down there.”
Secure an Advantage
1d6+shadow(2) = 4 versus 5 / 3, Weak Hit
Take 2 momentum
The two exited the elevator, moving with speed and quickness. They had workshopped a story on the fly, one of Bingo being an observer sent by Hotshot himself to see how the operation was going, and Casablanca was giving him a tour.
The story became necessary as they were stopped in the hallway not too far from the cells. Inquiring security guard raised the question, a laser pistol hanging on his belt. Bingo relayed the story.
Move: Face Danger
1d6+shadow(2)= 5 versus 9 / 6, Miss.
Pay the Price
Security muttered something into his wristmic, and Bingo saw his hand drifting towards the laser pistol. Bingo swung his briefcase in an effort to knock the guard out.
Move: Face Danger
1d6+iron(1) = 5 versus 3 / 3, Strong Hit with a Match
+1 momentum
The guard's datapad fell out of its holster as the guard’s body hit the deck of the ship, not moving. Bingo secured it and the laser pistol, placing it in the sleeve of his jacket. The two dragged the guard into the prison area. Bingo disrobed the man and took his uniform. Bingo's datapad fit neatly into a sleeve on the front, doubling as a recorder and transmitter.
Move: Reach a Milestone (Kill Wheeler)
Mark Progress
Wheeler was in his cell asleep when the two came in.
“Tara,” Bingo came over the comms, “You’re sure you want Wheeler dead?”
There was silence, and Bingo thought that his comms weren’t broadcasting. He was about to attempt to raise her again when she spoke up, “Yes. My condition, my curse, it’s all his fault. He doesn’t deserve to live.”
“Do you want to watch?” Bingo said, activating the transmitter in its chest slot.
“Yes.” Bingo raised the laser pistol and fired.
Move: Reach a Milestone (Kill Wheeler)
Mark Progress
Move: Reach a Milestone (Extract Casablanca)
Mark Progress
Move: Fulfill Your Vow
9 progress versus 4 / 2, Strong Hit.
Asset: Bounty Hunter means 2 ticks of quests legacy progress track progress
Move: Develop Your Relationship (Tara)
Mark Progress
Wheeler never woke up. Tara didn’t say anything. Bingo turned the transmitter off.
“He’s gone, but he’ll never know why. Maybe he didn’t deserve to know why.”
Bingo looked at Casablanca, “Alright. We make it to the ship and we clear out of here. The story should still be intact, hopefully. If not, we can sell it with this uniform I’ve got on.”
Bingo and Casablanca made their way to the ship. Nothing immediately indicated to them that the alarm had been raised, no warning klaxons or pulsing lights.
“By the way,” Bingo said to Casablanca, “Could you release the hold you have on my ship? I’ll explain what happened later.”
Move: Compel
1d6+heart(1)= 5 versus 10 / 4, Weak Hit
+1 momentum, demand or complication
Casablanca took his datapad and input a few controls, visibly angry, “You were in my files. Why?”
“Now is not the time, and I assure you that I was authorized to do so,” Bingo lied, “SVI was afraid that you were compromised, and your little script here didn’t help me see you as hospitable, now did it?”
Move: Compel
1d6+shadow(2)= 6 versus 7 / 5, Weak Hit
Asset: Credited, upgrade Weak Hit to Strong Hit and mark use
+1 momentum
Casablanca gave Bingo a mean look before swiping a few more inputs into the datapad.
“Thank you,” Bingo said, “Now, I trust that you won’t question me again, or else I will have to include this in my report to Senior Acquisitor Manga.”
Casablanca didn’t say anything, only picked up her pace to stride ahead of him. She was so angry that she didn’t see the other security guard rounding the corner of the hallway until she collided with them.
Bingo didn’t hesitate, “Watch where you are going! Do you know how important she is? In fact, you should escort us to the hangar.”
Move: Compel
1d6+shadow(2)= 6 versus 7 / 3, Weak Hit
Burn 8 momentum for a Strong Hit
+1 momentum
“Right away, sir!” the guard barked, helping Casablanca to her feet. “Please, follow me.”
The security guard led the way.
Move: Reach a Milestone
Mark Progress
Bingo’s heart was pounding as they say the Blank Check resting on its supports in the hangar bay. A few of the overall-wearing technicians were sweeping ash off of the top of the ship. The guard stepped aside.
“Thank you,” Bingo said, “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have urgent business to take care of for Hotshot.”
The two boarded the gangplank, entering the ship near the cockpit. Bingo threw The Answer’s briefcase to the ground as soon as the door shut, taking his seat in the cockpit and firing up the engines. Before the rest of the hangar could act, he had reversed and 180’d out of the hangar, making a course to get out of the wake of the Rampart fleet.
“One last punch with the E-drive and we’ll be home-free.” Bingo said, inputting a few coordinates, “Plus there’s a derelict Taxcan ship that’s ripe for the taking.”
Move: Set a Course
1d6+supply(5) = 10 versus 5 / 4, Strong Hit
+1 momentum
Move: Reach a Milestone (Extract Casablanca)
Mark Progress
Move: Fulfill Your Vow (Extract Casablanca)
10 progress versus 2 / 6, Strong Hit
Asset: Bounty Hunter means 2 boxes of progress on Quests Legacies track
Bingo let out a sigh of relief as the E-drive carried them faster than light in the direct opposite direction of the raider fleet. He had expected Tara to be here in the cockpit, and Casablanca hadn’t joined him here, either. He pushed away from the controls to go speak with them.
Move: End a Session
Next session will be reconciling with Tara, reporting the derelict to Manga, and hopefully exploring
+1 Momentum
Another great session.
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