The jump field collapses into a crowded navigation display. A small moon hangs ahead beneath a weak magnetosphere, with several useful bodies scattered beyond it.
Lahani
Manual thrust is holding. I can keep us on the bend, but the observation window is narrow and closing.
Ranuko
The portable survey package is vibrating against its mounting. It is not loose yet, but the oscillation is growing with every correction.
Amber Wing banks under Lahani’s careful inputs. The instrument rack shivers in its restraints while the moon’s magnetosphere paints unstable bands across the sensors.
Nikayo
There. The inner body has a clean sampling line for less than four minutes. After that, our route bends behind the moon and the return geometry worsens.
Ranuko
Nahuli, the rack needs attention during controlled motion. I can damp the mount remotely, but not while preserving the full survey package.
The service panel exposes the mounting assembly, its power lead, and a compact manual damper. Lahani keeps the ship moving while the window counts down.
✓ Quest Accepted
Make the survey package reliable enough to map the moon's surroundings
“Ok, typical procedures. Scan first, then bots if something needs a closer look.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -3)
Nahuli
Scan first. If anything needs closer examination, deploy the survey bots.
Nahuli routes the sensor sweep through the stabilized navigation feed, separating magnetosphere noise from terrain returns while Lahani holds the bend. The scan maps the inner body, two outer rocks, and a thin debris arc.
Nahuli
The inner body has a clean sampling line, but the debris arc is denser than expected.
Nikayo
The inner body shows hydrated mineral signatures and a shallow thermal anomaly. It warrants a closer look.
Nahuli releases two compact survey bots from the portable package. They cross the sampling line, adjust around the magnetosphere, and return with sealed mineral and thermal readings.
Ranuko
The bots completed their pass, but their guidance burst consumed the package’s spare navigation cell. We have no second deployment without replacing it.
The scan is archived and the samples enter the laboratory intake. Amber Wing keeps its route and return geometry, but one spare navigation cell is now spent.
✓ Quest Accepted
Analyze the moon's hydrated minerals and thermal anomaly
+ New Item Acquired
Mineral and Thermal Samples
− Scene Quest Removed
Make the survey package reliable enough to map the moon's surroundings
“Sneak to Lahani”
FAILURE (Fair Stealth, rolled -2)
Nahuli slips from the service panel, keeping low as Amber Wing banks. He moves toward Lahani’s station through the dim instrument glow, avoiding the vibrating survey rack.
A correction rolls through the hull. Nahuli catches a handhold, but his shoulder clips the rack’s exposed frame, sending a sharp metallic knock through the cabin.
Lahani
I heard that. Secure yourself before the next correction, or the ship will decide where you land.
The rack shifts another fraction against its restraints. Nahuli reaches Lahani’s station, but the quiet approach is gone and the loose assembly now threatens the sampling line.
Ranuko
The impact worsened the oscillation. Lahani, hold the bend steady. Nahuli, the manual damper is within reach from your position.
Lahani
I can give you twelve seconds of stable attitude. After that, I must correct around the magnetosphere.
Nahuli is no longer concealed beside Lahani, and the shifting rack blocks the direct route back. The brief stabilization window becomes the crew’s immediate priority.
Quest Complete
Analyze the moon's hydrated minerals and thermal anomaly