MISSION BACKGROUND:
MISSION: HACKED OFF AT ATOM VALLEYSHIPS: THE ION HOPE AND THE BLACK MARIA
CREWS: ARIANNA SABRINE AND GAK (ION HOPE) AND JACE DOLMAN AND JAY "LARS" LARSEN (THE BLACK MARIA)
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: THE CLAWTECH CHIP WAS HACKED! FIND THE HACKER (KAORI) AND STOP HER TRANSMITTING THE DATA!
SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: SCAVENGE NEW EQUIPMENT (CLOSE COMBAT EQUIPMENT CAN BE SOLD FOR "BUY PRICE"
SET UP:
This is the second part of the Perseus Campaign as featured in the Core Space rulebook. Core Space is available to buy from Battle Systems now! Any sections below which are written in italics tell the story of the game, while those in plain text refer to the actual game itself. The story aspects are not-for-profit fan fiction and the copyright for the characters and universe belong to Battle Systems.
Note that the main report relates to a Solo Play Game using two different crews cooperatively. This campaign is intended to be played with two players - notes only on the 2 player session can be found at the bottom of this article.
As they prepare for another mission, Lars puffs and snorts as he buckles himself into his chair in the Black Maria's cockpit. Jace senses his engineer's agitation before he even speaks.
"Could you believe that the Ion Hope showed up at the Trader's Gambit? The last thing we need is Arianna and that alien freak Gak stealing our business!"
"It's a free universe," Jace sighs. "We're both operating out here so expect to see a lot more of them. So long as we don't start shooting at each other, it can be beneficial to both of us."
"Shooting them? Not a bad idea," Lars shrugs. Then, as Jace draws him the look of death, his tone softens. "Of course, we won't shoot 'em. All I'm saying is that it'd be better if they'd just butt out."
"Well, we've got the jump on them this time," Jace attempts to reassure Lars. "We can pick our spot to dock with the Atom Valley outpost. Let's get down there, find Kaori and stop her transmitting that hacked Clawtech data!"
"Already thinking of another juicy payday," Lars smiles, plotting the landing course as they enter orbit.
Overview of the table, ready for play!
A closer view of the board from Jace & Lars' side of the table.
And a close look at the board from Arianna and Gak's side of play.
...sending Gan'Eek to the crew of the Ion Hope.
As they open the airlock, the crew of the Ion Hope spot a civilian, Gan'Eek rushing towards them.
"Ignore him," Arianna instructs Gak. "The Black Maria is already here and you can bet your last UA that they're here for the same reason we are. I'll get to Kaori, find out which terminal she's broadcasting the hacked chip from and take it out. If you can focus on salvage, we can make this a lucrative little score - and get one over on Jace Dolman and that creep Lars."
"That would make Gak happy," the Quell nods stoically.
But they aren't interested! Everyone rushes on board while Jace and Arianna are in a race to reach Kaori first!
End of Round One Overview.
Jace approaches Kaori...
"Kaori," Jace smiles as he approaches the hacker. "Just the person I was looking for. Word has it you're transmitting sensitive Clawtech material. How about you save yourself a lot of trouble and you tell me where the terminal is?"
But she waves him away! Arianna steps in, attempting to Persuade her...
"The hell I will," she responds.
"Quite right too," Arianna nods, placing her arm around Kaori. "You can't trust Jace - he'll just as soon put a round in you when you tell him the information. Listen, I can help you..."
Though her Persuade roll is worse than Jace rolled, Kaori whispers the location of the terminal Arianna is looking for!
Despite her misgivings, Kaori whispers the location of the terminal to Arianna - much to Jace's dismay! He instinctively reaches for his gun to insist Kaori reveals the information...
Lars and Gak search crates and find more equipment! With armour which improves Gak's strength in close combat, Gak will be a fearsome opponent!
Kaori attacks Jace, costing him two Health!
...but Kaori fires upon Jace, wounding him!
"Don't think me a helpless damsel," she warns.
Arianna drops a Health stim for Jace even though he is the opposition. Knowing Jace doesn't even have the information about the terminal and that neither of them can make it to the terminal this Round, she moves into position to search another crate and pockets a grenade.
Jace gratefully scoops up the Health stim and subsequently Persuades Kaori to tell him where the terminal is, before pursuing Arianna down the corridor!
"That looks like it hurts," Arianna says somewhat gleefully to Jace. "Here's a stim, don't say I'm not good to you!"
She drops a stim and rushes off down the passageway. Jace grabs Kaori by the throat and holds the gun under her chin.
"I'm trying not to be the bad guy here, but you aren't leaving me with much choice. Either you tell me what I want to know now or I decorate the walls with your brains and I find out anyway. Which is it to be?"
Kaori whimpers her response and Jace charges after Arianna to destroy the terminal.
A Harvester enters play and heads for Gak.
Overview at the end of the Round.
Able to activate first this Round, Jace charges in to the room and - to be certain - fires two rounds at the terminal, destroying it! Primary Objective complete! He uses Arianna's stim to restore his Health, something which the rival Captain possibly regrets gifting him now!
Jace rushes past Arianna and unloads on the terminal, destroying it! Moments later a notification on his data pad chimes that Clawtech had transferred the reward!
"I just helped you out and you steal my score?" Arianna blurts, disbelieving her eyes.
"All's fair in love and the Core," Jace smiles.
Livid, Arianna moves off in the opposite direction to try to find some additional loot. More Harvesters enter the board and close in on Jace. Can he make it back to The Black Maria alive?
"Noted," Arianna answers as she spots Harvesters closing in - and leaves Jace to deal with them! She has to find some salvage to ensure that the mission isn't a complete failure.
Gak casually destroys the Harvester and moves behind a generator to cover Arianna's return to The Ion Hope. He is caught off-guard when Gan'Eek suddenly shoots at him - and wounds him!
"Why shoot Gak?" the stunned Quell asks the Ech Triune. "Shoot purge!"
End of Round overview.
His Outland Energy Rifle will require a Repair action to be usable again!
"What the hell?" Jace asks no one in particular. "The rifle is showing a software malfunction! It won't fire until I reset it!"
Jace runs as far as he can to get away from the Harvesters which means they are now closer to Gak and closing in on hm!
End of Round overview.
End of Round overview. A Harvester appears next to Jace's position but fortunately he is just outwith the robot's reach!
"All right, all right," Arianna replies over the comms. "I'm on my way!"
Jace unjams his weapon and shoots the Harvester, destroying it!
"Lars always hits control, alt, delete..." Jace mutters as a Harvester closes in on him. As it almost gets into striking distance, the weapon reboots and several status lights on the gun turn from red to green. Jace levels the rifle at the Harvester and blows it in half!
A very disappointed Arianna and Gak return to their ship without further incident.
"What happened?" Gak asks as they return to the Ion Hope.
"That slimeball Jace Dolman happened, that's what. Come on, let's get the hell outta here and see if we've got anything worth trading."
Gan'Eek is swiftly dispatched by the Devastator and the Purge now start pursuing the fleeing crew of the Black Maria. Lars returns to cover their airlock while Jace races back.
End of Round overview.
Jace scoops up the money and struggles against the gravity as he heads back to the Black Maria!
"Watch your back," Lars shouts, spotting the pursuing Devastator almost in striking distance behind his friend! Lars runs back inside the ship to prepare a hasty blast off.
...but the Devastator makes a double move to catch him! End of Round overview.
Note to regular reader and commenter "Spikey": for some reason I'm having problems responding to your comments on the Mission 1 post and this seemed to start after there were three comments on the thread. I don't know if it's a browser issue or simply Blogger not being able to handle more than a few comments but thank you for all the kind words! I really value comments though so please keep them coming if you or anyone else reading this feels inclined to do so!
Re your last comment: you're right, there is a fair amount of work that goes into these posts and recording them as they happen does break up play - but I do it mainly because I enjoy being able to look back at old sessions I've played. I'm also incredibly grateful to yourself and everyone else who seems to be enjoying these - and for returning again to read more! Thanks all!
Note that the main report relates to a Solo Play Game using two different crews cooperatively. This campaign is intended to be played with two players - notes only on the 2 player session can be found at the bottom of this article.
As they prepare for another mission, Lars puffs and snorts as he buckles himself into his chair in the Black Maria's cockpit. Jace senses his engineer's agitation before he even speaks.
"Could you believe that the Ion Hope showed up at the Trader's Gambit? The last thing we need is Arianna and that alien freak Gak stealing our business!"
"It's a free universe," Jace sighs. "We're both operating out here so expect to see a lot more of them. So long as we don't start shooting at each other, it can be beneficial to both of us."
"Shooting them? Not a bad idea," Lars shrugs. Then, as Jace draws him the look of death, his tone softens. "Of course, we won't shoot 'em. All I'm saying is that it'd be better if they'd just butt out."
"Well, we've got the jump on them this time," Jace attempts to reassure Lars. "We can pick our spot to dock with the Atom Valley outpost. Let's get down there, find Kaori and stop her transmitting that hacked Clawtech data!"
"Already thinking of another juicy payday," Lars smiles, plotting the landing course as they enter orbit.
Overview of the table, ready for play!
A closer view of the board from Jace & Lars' side of the table.
And a close look at the board from Arianna and Gak's side of play.
ROUND ONE:
Event Card doesn't cause any problems...
...sending Gan'Eek to the crew of the Ion Hope.
As they open the airlock, the crew of the Ion Hope spot a civilian, Gan'Eek rushing towards them.
"Ignore him," Arianna instructs Gak. "The Black Maria is already here and you can bet your last UA that they're here for the same reason we are. I'll get to Kaori, find out which terminal she's broadcasting the hacked chip from and take it out. If you can focus on salvage, we can make this a lucrative little score - and get one over on Jace Dolman and that creep Lars."
"That would make Gak happy," the Quell nods stoically.
But they aren't interested! Everyone rushes on board while Jace and Arianna are in a race to reach Kaori first!
End of Round One Overview.
ROUND TWO:
There's no Purge on the table so (unfortunately) the Event Card has no effect.
Jace approaches Kaori...
"Kaori," Jace smiles as he approaches the hacker. "Just the person I was looking for. Word has it you're transmitting sensitive Clawtech material. How about you save yourself a lot of trouble and you tell me where the terminal is?"
But she waves him away! Arianna steps in, attempting to Persuade her...
"The hell I will," she responds.
"Quite right too," Arianna nods, placing her arm around Kaori. "You can't trust Jace - he'll just as soon put a round in you when you tell him the information. Listen, I can help you..."
Though her Persuade roll is worse than Jace rolled, Kaori whispers the location of the terminal Arianna is looking for!
Despite her misgivings, Kaori whispers the location of the terminal to Arianna - much to Jace's dismay! He instinctively reaches for his gun to insist Kaori reveals the information...
Lars and Gak search crates and find more equipment! With armour which improves Gak's strength in close combat, Gak will be a fearsome opponent!
Kaori attacks Jace, costing him two Health!
...but Kaori fires upon Jace, wounding him!
"Don't think me a helpless damsel," she warns.
ROUND THREE:
The Event Card will have no effect.
Arianna drops a Health stim for Jace even though he is the opposition. Knowing Jace doesn't even have the information about the terminal and that neither of them can make it to the terminal this Round, she moves into position to search another crate and pockets a grenade.
Jace gratefully scoops up the Health stim and subsequently Persuades Kaori to tell him where the terminal is, before pursuing Arianna down the corridor!
"That looks like it hurts," Arianna says somewhat gleefully to Jace. "Here's a stim, don't say I'm not good to you!"
She drops a stim and rushes off down the passageway. Jace grabs Kaori by the throat and holds the gun under her chin.
"I'm trying not to be the bad guy here, but you aren't leaving me with much choice. Either you tell me what I want to know now or I decorate the walls with your brains and I find out anyway. Which is it to be?"
Kaori whimpers her response and Jace charges after Arianna to destroy the terminal.
A Harvester enters play and heads for Gak.
Overview at the end of the Round.
ROUND FOUR:
No searches have been performed on rooms so the Hostility Tracker is reduced by a single peg.
Able to activate first this Round, Jace charges in to the room and - to be certain - fires two rounds at the terminal, destroying it! Primary Objective complete! He uses Arianna's stim to restore his Health, something which the rival Captain possibly regrets gifting him now!
Jace rushes past Arianna and unloads on the terminal, destroying it! Moments later a notification on his data pad chimes that Clawtech had transferred the reward!
"I just helped you out and you steal my score?" Arianna blurts, disbelieving her eyes.
"All's fair in love and the Core," Jace smiles.
Livid, Arianna moves off in the opposite direction to try to find some additional loot. More Harvesters enter the board and close in on Jace. Can he make it back to The Black Maria alive?
"Noted," Arianna answers as she spots Harvesters closing in - and leaves Jace to deal with them! She has to find some salvage to ensure that the mission isn't a complete failure.
Gak casually destroys the Harvester and moves behind a generator to cover Arianna's return to The Ion Hope. He is caught off-guard when Gan'Eek suddenly shoots at him - and wounds him!
"Why shoot Gak?" the stunned Quell asks the Ech Triune. "Shoot purge!"
End of Round overview.
ROUND FIVE:
Arianna has the UA token and in a moment of spite, applies the Event Card to Jace's only weapon!
His Outland Energy Rifle will require a Repair action to be usable again!
"What the hell?" Jace asks no one in particular. "The rifle is showing a software malfunction! It won't fire until I reset it!"
Jace runs as far as he can to get away from the Harvesters which means they are now closer to Gak and closing in on hm!
End of Round overview.
ROUND SIX:
Apologies, some pics were missed here - Lars decides to risk checking out one last crate for salvage before returning to the Black Maria. He drops some credits as he cannot carry any more items. Jace also risks grabbing some salvage even though he is close to a Purge entry point. Arianna sprints back to the Ion Hope as the Purge close in on their position!
"Airlock room heating up," the Quell hollers. "Gak has company! Hurry up Arianna!"
"Airlock room heating up," the Quell hollers. "Gak has company! Hurry up Arianna!"
End of Round overview. A Harvester appears next to Jace's position but fortunately he is just outwith the robot's reach!
"All right, all right," Arianna replies over the comms. "I'm on my way!"
ROUND SEVEN:
Gan'Eek distracts the Devastator - and Gak, having been shot be Gan'Eek leaves the Ech Triune to his fate!
Jace unjams his weapon and shoots the Harvester, destroying it!
"Lars always hits control, alt, delete..." Jace mutters as a Harvester closes in on him. As it almost gets into striking distance, the weapon reboots and several status lights on the gun turn from red to green. Jace levels the rifle at the Harvester and blows it in half!
A very disappointed Arianna and Gak return to their ship without further incident.
"What happened?" Gak asks as they return to the Ion Hope.
"That slimeball Jace Dolman happened, that's what. Come on, let's get the hell outta here and see if we've got anything worth trading."
Gan'Eek is swiftly dispatched by the Devastator and the Purge now start pursuing the fleeing crew of the Black Maria. Lars returns to cover their airlock while Jace races back.
End of Round overview.
ROUND EIGHT:
Apologies, I was too involved with the game and missed a few more pics! Jace decides to retrieve the credits Lars discarded before returning to the ship! Lars is far from impressed but holds his position for the time-being!
"Never mind the extra credits Jace," Lars shouts. "We're outta time!"
"I can make it," Jace insists.
"Never mind the extra credits Jace," Lars shouts. "We're outta time!"
"I can make it," Jace insists.
End of Round Overview.
ROUND NINE:
Gravity Unwell! Jace won't escape this turn!
Jace scoops up the money and struggles against the gravity as he heads back to the Black Maria!
"Watch your back," Lars shouts, spotting the pursuing Devastator almost in striking distance behind his friend! Lars runs back inside the ship to prepare a hasty blast off.
...but the Devastator makes a double move to catch him! End of Round overview.
ROUND TEN:
However, the Event Card helps! Jace spends a skill point to make a free Move to safety.
The Devastator inflicts three health loss on Jace but it doesn't matter!
The robot swings its fist at Jace and almost knocks him clean of his feet. His gashed forehead bleeding profusely, he throws himself over the airlock threshold and seals the door behind him!
They made it!
The robot swings its fist at Jace and almost knocks him clean of his feet. His gashed forehead bleeding profusely, he throws himself over the airlock threshold and seals the door behind him!
They made it!
AFTERMATH:
"Result," Lars grins. "We did it!"
"We did - but Arianna is not pleased. I think I made a mistake in stealing the job from under her nose. She threw me a health stim after Kaori shot me and I rewarded her by destroying the terminal and taking the reward. That was a lousy move on my part."
"What did she expect? That job was an open contract," Lars remarks. "If you're not fast, you're last!"
"Still, I don't feel great about it," Jace says, his voice trailing off.
"She'll get over it."
"That remains to be seen. I hope I haven't just created new problems for us next mission."
"We did - but Arianna is not pleased. I think I made a mistake in stealing the job from under her nose. She threw me a health stim after Kaori shot me and I rewarded her by destroying the terminal and taking the reward. That was a lousy move on my part."
"What did she expect? That job was an open contract," Lars remarks. "If you're not fast, you're last!"
"Still, I don't feel great about it," Jace says, his voice trailing off.
"She'll get over it."
"That remains to be seen. I hope I haven't just created new problems for us next mission."
POST-GAME SEQUENCE:
Arianna and Gak take their career boosts and increase their skills. Note the items they sell during trading. No close combat weapons were found to take advantage of being able to sell the items for "Buy" price.
As do Jace and Lars. Same again with regards to selling goods, no close combat weapons were salvaged.
Post-trading phase, both crews have more funds available to spend.
After spending their monies, both ships upgrade. The Black Maria now has level 2 Docking Thrusters to ensure quick extraction in future missions!
CLOSING REFLECTIONS:
It was fortunate that both crews were able to reach Kaori very quickly and extract the information. This meant that the mission was completed relatively quickly without too much confrontation with the Purge - but even at that Jace was nearly defeated! It will be very interesting to see how things progress in future missions as the Hostility Tracker starts higher. I didn't do much with the skills again but these did get some use in the 2 player session (noted below).
Even though this was Solo play, I did play both crews as being willing to race each other to the main objective. I've decided that Arianna and Gak will be more hostile towards Jace and Lars in the next session, and that they may use force to do so. I haven't decided if this will definitely happen but it is an option on the table! And if they are fired upon, perhaps the Black Maria may retaliate! This could end up going very badly, but time will tell!
I'm still greatly enjoying the system and looking forward to Mission 3 of the campaign!
2 PLAYER PLAY:
Our session was fun and played out in a similar fashion with Jace and Lars managing to trash the terminal to secure the Primary Objective. On this occasion though, Jace and Lars made their escape without issue but Gak had to fight his way back to the airlock with Harvesters, Devastators, an Assassin and a Live One breathing down his neck! He made it though! We both made use of several skills and this definitely brought an added dimension to proceedings - leading to several Purge characters being destroyed by various means! Both sides found some close combat weapons so enjoyed a bumper payday which allowed both ships to not only be fully maintained but add a number of ship upgrades including the docking clamps (see below)! Things are building up nicely for our continuing campaign!
Re your last comment: you're right, there is a fair amount of work that goes into these posts and recording them as they happen does break up play - but I do it mainly because I enjoy being able to look back at old sessions I've played. I'm also incredibly grateful to yourself and everyone else who seems to be enjoying these - and for returning again to read more! Thanks all!
