Davies
Legendary Pubber
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2021
- Messages
- 322
- Reaction score
- 510
Starsmasher
While the Konan never surrender, making a fighting withdrawal is an acceptable way for a Konan battlegroup to escape from a conflict that is going against them. The emphasis, however, is on a fighting withdrawal. Having never employed them, the Konan have no saying equivalent to "return with your shield or upon it", but they would recognize that simply turning and running from the enemy, and especially abandoning fellow Konan to their fates, is completely unacceptable.
Forty-seven years* ago, Branax was a recently-commissioned bridge officer aboard an Asakahida-class carrier that was part of the first Konan attempt to conquer the planet Paraza. He was shocked and horrified by how easily much of the group was dispatched by the empowered defender of Paraza, Starfinder, but not nearly as much as he was by his commander deciding to flee rather than risk the loss of the ship that had already suffered the destruction of its entire battlemover compliment. The Primacy regarded this as abhorrent cowardice and had the commander and several of his senior staff executed, and the entire crew was viewed as untrustworthy thereafter.
Branax did not take this disgrace well. He volunteered for any mission that would have him in attempts to wipe it out, and these tended to be exceptionally dangerous assignments. Branax wound up surviving every one of these, not always triumphantly but always in a way that should have cleared his record. Unfortunately, by that point his superiors had recognized that his desperate need to prove his valor gave them a way to motivate him in the desired way, where recognizing that valor would remove that advantage on their part. So he was led to believe that he was still viewed with contempt, even though most of the Armada had long since forgotten the episode.
In particular, Branax volunteered for all of the subsequent invasions of Paraza. He was even granted group command of the most recent one, five years ago. They all failed to claim the planet, but none of them cut and ran, but he still expected to be further disgraced after the fighting withdrawal that he commanded. He was wrong; the Primacy accepted his report and dismissed him with neither praise nor condemnation, with its members privately agreeing that he had gotten further than anyone else -- but there was no point in telling Branax that. They could tell that his mind was finally starting to break.
Obsessed with taking vengeance on Starfinder, Branax began to consult with the Trantian savants to design weapons that could destroy her. This led to him becoming one of the most technically-accomplished members of his people, which neither he nor they has yet recognized. With the help of one particular savant, Branax was able to design the "micro-battlemover" that he dubbed the Silver Death Armor, equipped with force fields that could absorb directed energy attacks and redirect that energy to its own weapon systems and thrusters. Surely, this device would allow him to finally triumph over his nemesis.
Unfortunately, by the time it was ready to go, Starfinder had disappeared from Paraza. Intercepted transmissions suggested that she had traveled to the planet known as Earth to assist in its defense against the Konan battlegroup sent to attack the strange planet. The Primacy began to discuss strategies to attack Paraza in her absence, but Branax was no longer listening. He declared that he was going to go to Earth and face her there, destroying her before she could return.
The Primacy granted him permission. They even provided him with a gunship to take him on his way. Why not? They have the designs for the Silver Death, after all, and can reproduce it whenever they like. One aging and clearly-insane warrior will not be missed. For his part, Branax believes that he has been promised not only the long-awaited clearance of his record but a seat on the Primacy if he should succeed. Nothing of the sort awaits him, of course.
On Timeline α, where Vulcan still hangs in the sky above Earth, he will find that Starfinder -- accompanied by a fleet of Parazan starships -- is still present, both negotiating an alliance with the Technate and assisting in cleaning up after the battle. On Timeline β, however, he will be angered to learn that she has already departed, returning to Paraza to prepare for a long mission looking for some lost friends or something idiotic like that. Starsmasher, as he now calls himself, will seek to salve his wounded pride by attacking the world she came to protect, and likely fall to its other defenders. Regardless, the advanced technology he brought with him will pass into other hands, for a variety of uses ...
Starsmasher -- PL 13
Abilities:
STR 4 | STA 6 | AGL 2 | DEX 4 | FGT 6 | INT 5 | AWE 3 | PRE 3
Powers:
Konan Biology: Immunity 2 (disease, poison) - 2 points
Konan Swiftness: Leaping 3 (60 feet); Movement 1 (environmental adaptation [zero-g]); Speed 3 (16 MPH) - 8 points
Silver Death Armor: Removable (-30 points)
* Armored Shell: Impervious Protection 12 - 24 points
* Boot Jets: Flight 9 (1000 MPH) - 18 points
* Energy Absorption Armor: Immunity 20 (energy damage), Limited to Half Effect When Unreliable* - 15 points
* Redirected Energy: Array (10 points)
* Sensors & Communication Systems: Radio Communication 4 (planetary); Senses 9 (accurate acute radio, direction sense, distance sense, infravision, time sense, ultravision) - 25 points
* Servo Motors: Enhanced Advantages 5 (Close Attack 5); Enhanced Strength 4 - 13 points
* Weapon Systems: Array (22 points)
* Whenever the armor receives an energy damage effect, make an Unreliable roll. On a 10 or less, it provides only Immunity Limited to Half Effect. On a roll of 11 or more, it provides regular Immunity. In either case, this allows the use of Redirected Energy.
Advantages:
All-out Attack, Close Attack 5, Defensive Attack, Improved Initiative, Inventor, Ranged Attack 4, Startle.
Skills:
Athletics 3 (+7), Expertise: Galactic 6 (+11), Expertise: Military 5 (+10), Insight 4 (+7), Intimidation 5 (+8), Perception 5 (+8), Technology 7 (+12), Ranged Combat: Particle Beam 2 (+6), Vehicles 5 (+9).
Offense:
Initiative +6
Unarmed +11/+6 (Close Damage 13/8/4)
Particle Beam +10 (Ranged Damage 16/11)
Missile Launchers +8 (Ranged Damage 8, Burst Area Damage 6)
Defense:
Dodge 8, Parry 6, Fortitude 7, Toughness 18/6, Will 9
Totals:
Abilities 66 + Powers 133 + Advantages 9 + Skills 22 + Defenses 14 = 241 points
Offensive PL: 13
Defensive PL: 13
Resistance PL: 8
Skill PL: 7
Complications:
Vengeance--Motivation. Delusions. Power Loss (cannot use Redirected Energy before struck by an energy attack.) Unfamiliar With Earth Culture.
While the Konan never surrender, making a fighting withdrawal is an acceptable way for a Konan battlegroup to escape from a conflict that is going against them. The emphasis, however, is on a fighting withdrawal. Having never employed them, the Konan have no saying equivalent to "return with your shield or upon it", but they would recognize that simply turning and running from the enemy, and especially abandoning fellow Konan to their fates, is completely unacceptable.
Forty-seven years* ago, Branax was a recently-commissioned bridge officer aboard an Asakahida-class carrier that was part of the first Konan attempt to conquer the planet Paraza. He was shocked and horrified by how easily much of the group was dispatched by the empowered defender of Paraza, Starfinder, but not nearly as much as he was by his commander deciding to flee rather than risk the loss of the ship that had already suffered the destruction of its entire battlemover compliment. The Primacy regarded this as abhorrent cowardice and had the commander and several of his senior staff executed, and the entire crew was viewed as untrustworthy thereafter.
Branax did not take this disgrace well. He volunteered for any mission that would have him in attempts to wipe it out, and these tended to be exceptionally dangerous assignments. Branax wound up surviving every one of these, not always triumphantly but always in a way that should have cleared his record. Unfortunately, by that point his superiors had recognized that his desperate need to prove his valor gave them a way to motivate him in the desired way, where recognizing that valor would remove that advantage on their part. So he was led to believe that he was still viewed with contempt, even though most of the Armada had long since forgotten the episode.
In particular, Branax volunteered for all of the subsequent invasions of Paraza. He was even granted group command of the most recent one, five years ago. They all failed to claim the planet, but none of them cut and ran, but he still expected to be further disgraced after the fighting withdrawal that he commanded. He was wrong; the Primacy accepted his report and dismissed him with neither praise nor condemnation, with its members privately agreeing that he had gotten further than anyone else -- but there was no point in telling Branax that. They could tell that his mind was finally starting to break.
Obsessed with taking vengeance on Starfinder, Branax began to consult with the Trantian savants to design weapons that could destroy her. This led to him becoming one of the most technically-accomplished members of his people, which neither he nor they has yet recognized. With the help of one particular savant, Branax was able to design the "micro-battlemover" that he dubbed the Silver Death Armor, equipped with force fields that could absorb directed energy attacks and redirect that energy to its own weapon systems and thrusters. Surely, this device would allow him to finally triumph over his nemesis.
Unfortunately, by the time it was ready to go, Starfinder had disappeared from Paraza. Intercepted transmissions suggested that she had traveled to the planet known as Earth to assist in its defense against the Konan battlegroup sent to attack the strange planet. The Primacy began to discuss strategies to attack Paraza in her absence, but Branax was no longer listening. He declared that he was going to go to Earth and face her there, destroying her before she could return.
The Primacy granted him permission. They even provided him with a gunship to take him on his way. Why not? They have the designs for the Silver Death, after all, and can reproduce it whenever they like. One aging and clearly-insane warrior will not be missed. For his part, Branax believes that he has been promised not only the long-awaited clearance of his record but a seat on the Primacy if he should succeed. Nothing of the sort awaits him, of course.
On Timeline α, where Vulcan still hangs in the sky above Earth, he will find that Starfinder -- accompanied by a fleet of Parazan starships -- is still present, both negotiating an alliance with the Technate and assisting in cleaning up after the battle. On Timeline β, however, he will be angered to learn that she has already departed, returning to Paraza to prepare for a long mission looking for some lost friends or something idiotic like that. Starsmasher, as he now calls himself, will seek to salve his wounded pride by attacking the world she came to protect, and likely fall to its other defenders. Regardless, the advanced technology he brought with him will pass into other hands, for a variety of uses ...
Starsmasher -- PL 13
Abilities:
STR 4 | STA 6 | AGL 2 | DEX 4 | FGT 6 | INT 5 | AWE 3 | PRE 3
Powers:
Konan Biology: Immunity 2 (disease, poison) - 2 points
Konan Swiftness: Leaping 3 (60 feet); Movement 1 (environmental adaptation [zero-g]); Speed 3 (16 MPH) - 8 points
Silver Death Armor: Removable (-30 points)
* Armored Shell: Impervious Protection 12 - 24 points
* Boot Jets: Flight 9 (1000 MPH) - 18 points
* Energy Absorption Armor: Immunity 20 (energy damage), Limited to Half Effect When Unreliable* - 15 points
* Redirected Energy: Array (10 points)
- Boosted Flight: Enhanced Flight 5 (32,000 MPH) - 10 points
- Boosted Servos: Enhanced Strength 5 - 1 point
- Force Field: Sustained Immunity 20 (physical damage), Limited to Half Effect - 1 point
- Improved Particle Beam: Enhanced Ranged Damage 5 - 1 point
* Sensors & Communication Systems: Radio Communication 4 (planetary); Senses 9 (accurate acute radio, direction sense, distance sense, infravision, time sense, ultravision) - 25 points
* Servo Motors: Enhanced Advantages 5 (Close Attack 5); Enhanced Strength 4 - 13 points
* Weapon Systems: Array (22 points)
- Missile Launchers: Ranged Damage 8, Burst Area 6 - 22 points
- Particle Beam Cannon: Ranged Damage 11 - 1 points
- Roar: Auditory Perception Area Affliction 11 (Resisted by Will; Dazed, Stunned), Limited Degree - 1 point
- Shield Ripper: Nullify Force Field 11, Simultaneous - 1 point
* Whenever the armor receives an energy damage effect, make an Unreliable roll. On a 10 or less, it provides only Immunity Limited to Half Effect. On a roll of 11 or more, it provides regular Immunity. In either case, this allows the use of Redirected Energy.
Advantages:
All-out Attack, Close Attack 5, Defensive Attack, Improved Initiative, Inventor, Ranged Attack 4, Startle.
Skills:
Athletics 3 (+7), Expertise: Galactic 6 (+11), Expertise: Military 5 (+10), Insight 4 (+7), Intimidation 5 (+8), Perception 5 (+8), Technology 7 (+12), Ranged Combat: Particle Beam 2 (+6), Vehicles 5 (+9).
Offense:
Initiative +6
Unarmed +11/+6 (Close Damage 13/8/4)
Particle Beam +10 (Ranged Damage 16/11)
Missile Launchers +8 (Ranged Damage 8, Burst Area Damage 6)
Defense:
Dodge 8, Parry 6, Fortitude 7, Toughness 18/6, Will 9
Totals:
Abilities 66 + Powers 133 + Advantages 9 + Skills 22 + Defenses 14 = 241 points
Offensive PL: 13
Defensive PL: 13
Resistance PL: 8
Skill PL: 7
Complications:
Vengeance--Motivation. Delusions. Power Loss (cannot use Redirected Energy before struck by an energy attack.) Unfamiliar With Earth Culture.