"Look, you gotta accept that there'd be conditions. It's a negociation, after all."
Hack-it seems to be helping, but the professor isn't swayed yet...
"Professor, I think your friend was a little misguided, but we were able to persuade him to make a public apology. With a few concessions such as library usage and record of this incident erased, I'm sure he will be back to being a great addition to your staff. How does that public apology sounds to you?"
"It's all on the level, I'm sure."
Gig and HAck-it help Janzi out. "Fine! If that's the only thing it'll take. I'll do it."
She looks on expectantly....
”Professor, it sounds like you are amenable to working out a solution. Great! So, you’ve agreed to canceling his suspension. He will be most appreciative of that. The other two minor conditions he requests is to restore his access to the restricted section of the library and thirdly to pardon this incident in his tenure review record. Do we have an accord?”
Excellent! Janzi says, making a note of it on nothing in particular. Second, there's the matter of this incident in his tenure review file — to let all parties seem as though this unpleasantness never occurred. We'll ensure his apology states unequivocally that the notions did not come from his time or experience at Qabarat University of Xenoarchaeology and Xenoanthropology.
And lastly, we'll just need to be able to assure him that his access to the university's restricted collections will no longer be hindered — presuming he's not delving into hoarcruxes, of course — and we will help him draft the apology.
Gig opens with the other two requests, leaving the professor agog. Even with Janzi's words it's not enough...
"'Sides, what we're you planning to do with him anyway? Just keep payin' him to do nothin'? Might as well get your credit's worth o' research out'v a professor."
It's a bit like the comedy troupe "Spacey Python" but eventually the party gets their nerfs herded.
The professor frowns. then she scowls. Then she sighs. Finally she gives a crooked grin. "Fine. I'll tell you what, if the lot of you ever give up Starfinding, you've got the potential to be administrators. Just saying."
As you leave to go deliver the news she stops you. "I like the vector of your thrusters. Here. Let me give you something in appreciation. Don't worry, it's all stuff Ailabiens 21:2 lost out on when his grant proposal blew up. It's yours. He's the one you should talk to anyway, as he's got the most complete records on Zan." She hands you a mk 1 ring of resistance, and a cred stick with 700 credits on it.
She gives you a final smile before checking out the Drift Rock texts you brought back.
It's hard to read the Contemplative's expression, but you think he's happy.
"I last read the primary source notes about a decade ago. I assure you're they're drivel. Still, you did me a great favor by smoothing over the stupid feelings of the melodramatic."
He floats over to his desk starting his thought anew, "I reviewed the entirety of Zan’s original notes early in my time here as faculty, and to my considerable knowledge, only Doctor Solstarni has studied them more recently. Zan’s methodology was imperfect, catering to an uneducated reader’s lexicon, fetishizing the ‘exotic,’ and conveying a pathological love of his self-image as an adventurer—likely to earn money or as an elaborate mating ritual. As a result, his work is scientifically wanting and his conclusions doubtful. Nevertheless, his notes provide enough detail to hypothetically retrace his steps if that's your interest. I'd have dismissed it out of hand if you hadn't found similar writing in a completely unrelated source."
Professor Muhali appears in the door. Gone is her prickly demeanor. It's been replaced with academic curiosity and studium. "You're telling me!" Any signs of the dispute are gone, "I recognize the writing you discovered. I can't read it, but I know that it belongs to a non-Elven language group found in association with the few known elven sites on the continent of Ukulam to the west.... HERE ON CASTROVEL!"
Both professors turn and look at you.
The acadeics looks at each other, then back at you. Whaloss also turns.
Then they laugh. "The FIELD? Are you kidding me?"
After they realize that you're serious, they cogitate a bit. Professor Muhali gives a serious reply.
"Let's work this through. You found an unknown writing on a strange alien artifact. You have reason to believe that a whackjob pseudo-academic may have encountered this a couple centuries ago. I can confirm that the script IS found her on Castrovel. So what we..."
"Eureka!" exclaims Ailabiens 21:2, "Check THIS out." he sends you all the primary source documents he has.
Muhali picks back up. "If you and the Starfinders are interested in decoding this language, and finding out the origin of this rock from the drift, you are going to have to check out these sources directly. We won't join you, but we're a comm call away. That reminds me, we should have another in here; my colleague Doctor Olmehya Solstarni has a strong interest in the ruins of Ukulam.”
Muhali examines a screen and scrolls through several pages. “According to my records, though, she departed on personal leave two days ago.”
She seems really confused by this, though she doesn't say why.
Janzi is too preoccupied by the notion of a return to space to notice anything about of place with Muhali.
DANGNABBIT
Booker frowns in confusion. "A... ah, colleague, wit' th' Starfinder Society mentioned the continent o' Ukulam is forbidden?"
”Is it unusual for professors to take time off in the middle of a semester?”
"Ok, and?"
Muhali ignores Gig's question and holds up a finger to Booker. "Excuse me, I need to make a call. Stay here."
She leaves promptly and is gone for a solid 5 minutes. When she returns she seems concerned. "No it's rare to take time off, and I never approved it, though the system says that I did. I just tried every mode of contact I have and I can't find Dr. Solstarni anywhere. I've called the police and they're on their way here now. Meanwhile, here's the keycard to Dr. Solstarni’s office. You're Starfinders, which means you've got skills. See if you can get to the bottom of this. This is a coincidence right? It's not related to what you're doing, right?"
"Let's hope not," Booker growls, taking the keycard. "What kind'a research didja say she did?"
"Dr. Olmehya Solstarni is an archaeologist specializing in archaeoastronomic validation." Professor Muhali sees some blank stares and explains, "The study of how ancient cultures viewed the cosmos and expressed those observations in their architecture, artifacts, and writings."
You notice there are security cameras in the hallway in front of the door.
While you hold the card, she accompanies you to the office. This office is in disarray, with cabinet doors ajar, several stone artifacts scattered across the floor from open archival drawers, and a traveling bag open and half-packed. The computer on the desk at the far end of the room is dark, but a diode at its base blinks regularly.
"I know it looks ransacked, but this is normal for her. Though it does look like she packed up in a hurry. I'm going to contact the police again and make sure they hurry. Please, do whatever you need to in here."
What now Starfinders?
”I notice security cameras outside. May we please check the data from them? Maybe it will tell us a little more.”
Booker holds up a hand before anyone steps into the room, and uses his suit's camera to take a panoramic-3D picture of the room as is. He points at the half-packed bag. "Is that normal for her?"
"Hack-It, see what'ya can get outta that console there while Gig checks the security footage. The rest-o' ya, let's see what we can find."
Gig gets an immediate download of the security footage from the receptionist, Ikimsi.
Footage shows that a trio of korasha lashuntas carrying heavy backpacks and wearing uniforms entered the building 2 days ago in the late evening—after all reception personnel had left. They then took the stairs up, but there seems to be no footage of them on other floors or even leaving the building...
The uniforms the trio wears are those of the Gateway District’s Port Authority.
Booker, Dunk, Janzi, and R1G5 begin a physical search of the office.
One of the cabinets is ajar and contains Dr. Solstarni’s field suit, a set of basic lashunta tempweave fitted for a kasatha, though it has fallen from its hanger.
You find a printed version of an invitation to the "Five Arches." It's a request to meet by a "Fellow academic" by the name of Eyrub Paqual. It looks like it was purposefully slipped behind a cabinet...
Some printed scans catch your eye. They are of Halkueem Zan’s notebooks and are marked in red pen. There seem to be pages hastily removed. Even so, these notes include enough information to plot a trail from Turhalu Point to, as Zan describes it, the “accursed pyramid city of Loskialua.” Dr. Solstarni helpfully wrote that this regards what’s now known as the Oatia culture, a poorly understood dynasty of elven immigrants to Ukulam...
Dr. Solstarni’s computer is in sleep mode, but interacting with its controls brings up her log-in screen. The computer is tier 2
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Dunklezahn canvases the room. He runs his gauntleted had over the cabinet.
Definite signs of a struggle.
As he's bending down to examine the cabinet, a bit of white catches his eye behind it. Dunklezahn tilts the cabinet a bit and reaches behind to grab it, pulling out what looks to be an invitation. He takes a quick look at it, and hands it off to Janzi to examine it further.
Hack-It plunks down in front of the Computer terminal to do what he does best.
The gloved claws on Hack-it's fingers move in a blur as he effortlessly breaks into the computer. There was a lock out countermeasure, but Hack-it steamrolls right over it.
Hack-it can review the computer’s recent functions and Dr. Solstarni’s correspondence. Her personal calendar notes that she is scheduled for a research sabbatical in approximately 2 months, as approved by her department head, Muhali, and the authorities in Turhalu Point on the east coast of Ukulam. However, one of the recent files on the computer is a letter from Professor Muhali granting Dr. Solstarni leave to depart 2 months early to take advantage of special conditions in the field, signed 2 days ago.
The timing is perfect as Muhali walks back in. You ask her about the change in plans, and she confirms that it's not something she okayed...
Aha! It’s a forged document generated by an off-site computer that spoofed Muhali’s identity.
Hak-it also finds a series of 15 messages exchanged between Dr. Solstarni and this "Dr. Eyrub Paqual" regarding Solstarni’s research into the ancient elven settlements of Ukulam. The exchanges begin fairly cordially as Paqual and Solstarni discussed minor details of interest from the minimal research published about these sites. As the discussion continued, however, Paqual grew more insistent and attempted to cajole the kasatha to meet with him at a cafe called the Five Arches in Qabarat’s Gateway District 2 days ago to appraise several artifacts he had recovered. Solstarni refused, citing a busy schedule.
increasingly skeptical about Paqual’s motives.
Booker is not a detective, and his findings result accordingly.
”Did you guys notice how some of this footage has been tampered with? Someone has tried to fool us, but it’s so obviously a fake.”
"Oh wow, is that a bad forgery. Definitely not a legitimate approval. You can tell based on an internal time signature on the data that they forgot to scrub. And... Oh, that header information is all wrong! Not even close to the correct protocol stack!"
Booker attempts to collect the leads gathered so far. "Lessee... three kasathas in Port Authority uniforms came in two days ago, an' someone hacked th' security footage so we don't know what they did inside. In 'ere, we've got signs of a struggle and maybe a Doc tryin' to take off. There's also this invite to th' Five Arches, also in th' Gateway District, from some Eye-rub Packwall fellow, who's been hitting up the Doc for a while now..."
The soldier frowns. "Anythin' else?"
Some printed scans catch your eye. They are of Halkueem Zan’s notebooks and are marked in red pen. There seem to be pages hastily removed. Even so, these notes include enough information to plot a trail from Turhalu Point to, as Zan describes it, the “accursed pyramid city of Loskialua.” Dr. Solstarni helpfully wrote that this regards what’s now known as the Oatia culture, a poorly understood dynasty of elven immigrants to Ukulam...
you can tell there's a change in the subtext. Dr. Solstarni's message conveys she was feeling increasingly skeptical about Paqual’s motives.
"Have you guys ever heard of the Oatia culture? You know, the Elven immigrants to Ukulam."
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R1G5 looks over everything and tries to help compile all the information.
R1G5 confirms Gig's finding that the document was a forgery and yes, a bad one at that.
"These scans look interesting. These scans are of Zan's notebooks and are marked all over in red pen. We all know what the red pen means. Oh what is this! Reading these notes more... computing... yes! These notes spell out a path between Turhalu Point and the "accursed pyramid city of Loskialua". Hack-it! Can you search the infosphere for this Loskialua?"
Before Hack-it can start his search, the Qabarat detective called by Professor Muhali arrives to survey the situation. He takes basic statements from you and does a sweep of the room, not finding anything that you haven't. Based on the evidence, he recommends the best course of action to be following up on the connections to the Five Arches and the Port Authority. "Those uniforms in the video are definitely Port Authority. The ancient ruins will still be there, but the missing professor could be on borrowed time. Based on the nature of the suspects, I suspect they might hide at the first sight of law enforcement." The detective turns and looks at each of you. It's an uncomfortably long stare. "You know, I can grant you deputy status f you don't mind helping us find the professor. We'll have to bug you of course, and I'll have a couple of undercovers trailing you just in case there's trouble."
Concern for her colleague written plainly on her face, Muhali encourages you to pursue these leads. "I know it's not your mission, and I know the Starfinders have their own goals in the ruins, but I'd appreciate any help..."
Seems Dr. Solstarni had a notion that something wasn't on the level with Dr. Paqual, Janzi notes, picking up the inferences from the journal. I'm betting his refusal to meet has something to do with all of this.
Booker shrugs. "I don't mind doing a side quest job fer a little coin." He adds the last part casually, as though it is assumed. "Just don't have the undercovers gettin' too close."
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You're correct, Professor. We have our own reasons for being here and this is certainly beyond our mandate. At face value, this is strictly speaking an internal matter that the police should handle, particularly if they have resources enough to have undercover agents trailing us. Dunklezahn gives the detective a glance. That being said, I am not without sympathy for your distress. As Starfinders, we are given great latitude in seeking our goals. If the detective wishes to hire us as private consultants in this case, I'm sure we could see ourselves amenable to finding your lost colleague.
"I'm just here to see where adventure takes me. So I'm willing to be a detective for a little while. Sure. Let's do this!"
The cop nods at Dunklezahn, "Undercovers aren't trained or equipped for what we're asking you to do. As for recompense..."
Muhali speaks up, "Take the professor's tempweave suit. Also, I'm sure the good officer here will suspend the law for weregild."
The cop stares at Muhali for a moment, "Yes, anything you lift from the suspect is yours to keep. Also, I can offer a reward for 300 credits if you happen to apprehend any smugglers, hired-knee breakers, or the like."
The establishment is easy enough for Hack-it to find through Castrovel’s infosphere, and it’s located off the beaten path in the Gateway District near the east end of the city. According to its advertisements, the Five Arches is “a café dedicated to serving the discerning palettes of a dozen worlds.” According to online reviews, it’s an eclectic dive with wildly variable food and drink quality combined with bizarre food pairings for the daily specials. Overall, the reputation suggests it’s not a place that right-thinking individuals frequent willingly....
Hack-It is momentarily offended at being only worth 300 credits to the authorities, but then remembers that they're not here for him. He relaxes.
"There's a chain of Five Arches back on Akiton. Watch out for the fries. They must put something in them, because they're addictive. I've seen what they can do to a person."
When it comes to time to discuss a plan, he says, "Might be we go to the Arches pretending to be artifact hunters, which we are, looking to sell information on ancient elven artifacts, which we aren't. The connected sort, we can ask around there and see if Paqual bites. If not, we ask about him directly. Someone is bound to know."