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Hef arrives at the briefing early. There's almost always a briefing. Usually boring but sometimes they have donuts.
He is a tall, four armed, grey skinned, black eyed Kasatha. Dressed very simply in what appears to be station maintenance gear crafted for zero g maneuvering with a handaxe clipped to his waist. Criss-crossed across his back is a tactical spear and boring looking staff. Other than the weapons, he appears more suited for manual labor than an exploration party.
An odd symbol adorns his chest. Those in the know might recognize it from various encounters (most, probably all bad). It is the symbol of Kadrical.
He nods to the others, "Greetings. I am Hef. I will serve as your protector on this mission. May your wounds be intercepted by my flesh, so that I may experience your pain in your stead."
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“Hello, everyone! I’m doctor DuQuesne and it’s a great pleasure to be working with you all. I joined the society only some months ago, so, after a lifetime of working in a corporation in Akiton, this is all quite fresh and exciting!”
DuQuesne is an older halfling, with a gentle smile and calm demeanor, wearing casual clothing. He goes around the room shaking hands or equivalent appendages.
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A tall, lanky figure in a trenchcoat and fedora staggers into the room. All of this features are obscured until he reaches one of the open chairs. Then, with an exaggerated motion, he casts off his coat, revealing a green-furred skittermander on stilts, a backpack with an assortment of handguns dangling from the straps. He leans one stilt against the wall and splits the other in half, revealing that a part was actually a cane. He rummages around in his sack for a moment, retrieving an antique quill and paper notebook, then sits at the table.
"Name's Kōlēfō," he says, a wide grin splitting his beard. "I bet we're all about to be part of a great story."
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A very dark skin half elf makes an appearance. she is wearing heavy armor and appears to have quite an arsenal of weapons.
Greetings everyone! I am Luvara, an Envoy with a bit of Soldier experience. Looking forward to working with you all. My best skills are Intimidation, Bluff, and Diplomacy. I also enjoy working out and staying fit .
Luvara seems to have done thousands of sit-ups to get those washboard abs. Although she is a half elf, her very dark skin makes her almost look like a Drow.
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I also enjoy working out and staying fit .
A vesk with shiny, green-tinted scales glinting like gold arrives adorned in hidden soldier armor. Unusually large for a male, his reptilian eyes flicker red as they are momentarily eclipsed by the shadow of the deep, black mote that swirls around his head.
"As well you should, elf-ling." hisses the vesk in a thick accent. "Even then, I suspect you will have difficulty keeping pace with Sarankahn." An unpleasant, tothy grin forms across the face of the haughty vesk.
First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo steps forward to her podium addressing the Starfinder fleet. “Starfinders, after two years of hardship following our devastating first foray into the Scoured Stars, we now stand taller than ever and are back to fighting form. Today, new recruits rally beside experienced agents and rescued veterans, coming together to form the most resourceful, prepared, and skilled organization the Pact Worlds have ever known. This newfound strength comes not a moment too soon, for the threat within the Scoured Stars is unlike any we’ve ever faced: a hostile military force known as the jinsuls, committed to our complete destruction. Stopping the Jinsul Hierocracy will challenge us more than anything we’ve done before, but what I’ve seen from our agents these past two years assures me that we are more than up to the task! Your orders will arrive shortly; for now, gather your equipment, finish your preparations, and send any messages you wish before we reach the Scoured Stars.”
Hundreds of Starfinder agents hustle throughout the loading docks aboard the ever-impressive and newly refurbished Master of Stars, the pinnacle of the Starfinder fleet. Junior agents hastily pack every docked starship with weapons, armor, spare parts, and provisions, while technical staff runs diagnostics on starship armaments and senior officers finalize flight formations and supply routes. Many Starfinders’ faces are dark with uncertainty, but the fiery resolve burns in their eyes.
Venture-Captain Arvin, a damaya lashunta man, emerges from the shifting crowd of activity, his expression hard with repressed concern. “It seems fate has made soldiers out of explorers. We’ve always prepared our agents to navigate danger and violence, but never anything like this. Still, there isn’t another organization in the Pact Worlds that I would trust more with this daunting task.” He pauses for a moment, then shakes himself back to attention. “Right, much left to do! There are still a few specialized tasks remaining that you might be able to help us complete.”
Fitch, leader of the Wayfinders, walks you to an airlock leading out to some of the scaffolding on the ship’s exterior. “It’s strange to not have my children aboard, but this is no time to be bringing the young ones along. Last time, the jinsul capital ships chased away our carriers. I’d love to see how their flagship holds up against ours, but we’re still not quite finished with renovations. Try to wrap up the finishing touches on this gem of a ship— I want the last thing those jinsuls see is just how brightly it shines.”
Iteration-177, the enigmatic android, meets with you in a conference room, as charming as ever. “It appears I finally get to participate in a famed Starfinder adventure! I suspect you still have some desire to seek solace with the divine before heading into battle? I too, know this desire. I’m more than happy to converse, if you’d care to sit and chat.”
Venture-Captain Arvin looks over a group of anxious recruits in the mess hall. “Those green agents are not ready for a battle against an organized foe. Sadly, they’re liabilities when they’re frightened. Talk them through some of your experiences, set them at ease, and help them prepare for the challenges they’ll face ahead. We need them primed and ready for combat if we’re going to win this.”
Celita, leader of the Dataphiles, feverishly works on the mainframe in the command center of the Master of Stars. “Greetings, I’m Celita of the Dataphiles. You may have known me as Historia-7, though I’ve since stopped using that name due to reasons we don’t have the time to discuss. I think I’ve devised a way to artificially replicate the resonance effects of the Tear relic to help our ships stay in communication and traverse the Drift more precisely. I need you to double-check my code for errors and then see if you can shield the network from detection by jinsul sensors.”
Zigvigix, leader of the Exo-Guardians, sits before an immense cargo bay filled with crates of supplies. “They say an army marches on its stomach, but it also fights with guns and ammo! Can you take a look at all our gear to make sure it works and then load it onto the ships? Just try to keep the explosives separated from the food, please. We don’t want to have that mistake happen again!”
Radaszam, leader of the Acquisitives, overlooks a large holographic map of the Scoured Stars system, overlaid with smaller, more detailed maps of terrain on specific planets. “I don’t know about you, but I’m keen to take this fight to the jinsuls on their home turf. We have topographic data collected from our last foray into the Scoured Stars, plus some information on fighting styles our agents have reported from past jinsul encounters. See if you can make sense of it all and formulate a plan of attack.”
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Fitch: Master of Stars Touch-Up
Iteration-177: Prayer and Reflection
"Ah, Iteration-177! I haven't seen you since that Starfinder gala a couple of years ago! You know, that one with the bomber assassin! Everyone saw that kerfuffle, but what happened right before was even more amazing..."
Venture-Captain Arvin: Rookie Training
"Alright, you bunch of greenhorns! You have absolutely nothing to fear! Let me tell you a story about some real trouble I got myself in, some time ago: it all begun in the world of Arniselle, when we were looking for a missing crew of kalo starfinders..."
Celita: Starship Priming
Zigvigix: Supply Run
"Ah, this reminds me of the time when we had to transport medical supplies to a colony out in the Vast... what was it called again? Well, we ended up having to locate some resources to help develop a cure to the malady, it was a right old mess!"
Radaszam: Tactical Preparations
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Allsix, yes!
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Luvara can help with four of the six:
Iteration-177: Prayer and Reflection: Yes, Perhaps I can assist with this endeavor. Sense Motive
Venture-Captain Arvin: Rookie Training: OK everyone, this is going to be exciting. Lets get out there are do this! Show them what we've got! Take it to the next level! Let's Go Starfinders!!!
Diplomacy
Zigvigix: Supply Run: I'll look around
Perception
Radaszam: Tactical Preparations: Perhaps I have some cultural knowledge that could help against the Jinsul
Culture
Sorry I cannot help with Fitch or Celita, those are areas beyond my training and expertise
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Hef dives right into the task list. Some of the things he can help with, some not so much. He doesn't worry about it though, preparation is necessary for a mission like this.
Fitch: Master of Stars Touch-Up
He shares a small story, "On my last mission, we had to take out quite a few drones. I didn't have to do much, my gunners were good. Just kept us mostly on line with them."
Iteration-177: Prayer and Reflection
He takes a deep breath, "The last time I fought Jinsul, I discovered a deep yearning that wasn't being met. I discovered my goal in life is not just to help others, but to put myself in between danger and them, literally. Kadrical embodies this self-sacrifice and it is my calling."
Venture-Captain Arvin: Rookie Training
"My last mission, we had to rescue. Well, that isn't right. We had to put an asset in a position of danger to draw out an enemy. It wasn't the ideal situation, but we had a good plan and stuck to it. In the end, the threat was neutralized and the person we were protecting was safe."
Celita: Starship Priming
Zigvigix: Supply Run
"One of my first missions I completed, we had to search and recover some powerful magical artifacts. It was a lot more complicated than we thought, but in the end we triumphed and the society learned a great deal."
Radaszam: Tactical Preparations
"My first experience with the Jinsul, we were trapped on one of their planets. We had to carefully avoid notice and work our way to a communications system to call for help. It was harrowing."
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"Try to wrap up the finishing touches on this gem of a ship— I want the last thing those jinsuls see is just how brightly it shines.”
"Shining up your starship is a waste of time, Morsel," sneers Sarankahn, even as the light glints off his own polished scales. "The fight against the jinsul should be up close and personal. Indeed, I wish to hear the snap of their chitinous exoskeletons and the hissing of their death throes. The sound of my battle cry shall be the last thing those miserable insects here. Such is why those who have seen me in battle refer to me, Sarankahn, as "The Deathsong."
"I too, know this desire. I’m more than happy to converse, if you’d care to sit and chat.”
"A vesk does not 'chat'." Sarankahn retorts, "But, I shall regale you with a tale of my travels, one of which took me to a rogue asteroid at the furthest fringes of a rare stellar event. There, beneath its unusual light, I ventured through the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to Ibra, the deity of cosmic mysteries. There, too, I found battle!"
"We need them primed and ready for combat if we’re going to win this.”
"Look alive, Morsels!" Sarankahn rails the recruits. "I have been to the Scoured Stars. I have faced its horrors! I was trapped behind the so-called 'Godshield', nigh for eternity, but I survived! Once the shield fell, I continued to dominate those who dared oppose me--from the hob-lings of the Marixah Republic to the undead-lings of Eox!"
"You are undoubtedly weak. Your lives will be short. Few of you will return from this expedition." Sarankahn declares. "However, if this expedition fails due to your shortcomings, then you will face more than just death--you shall face 'the Deathsong'!
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"I need you to double-check my code for errors and then see if you can shield the network from detection by jinsul sensors.”
"Let them find us!" Sarankahn cries out in response. "They shall come to us and be destroyed."
“They say an army marches on its stomach, but it also fights with guns and ammo! Can you take a look at all our gear to make sure it works and then load it onto the ships? Just try to keep the explosives separated from the food, please. We don’t want to have that mistake happen again!”
"The loading of weaponry and ammunition is a simple matter." says Sarankahn as he heaves a pair of crates upon his shoulders. "I have personally tested equipment like this."
“I don’t know about you, but I’m keen to take this fight to the jinsuls on their home turf. We have topographic data collected from our last foray into the Scoured Stars, plus some information on fighting styles our agents have reported from past jinsul encounters. See if you can make sense of it all and formulate a plan of attack.”
"Of course, I am an expert in tactics and warfare." Sarankahn replies, showing respect for a fellow vesk. "And, I, too, am eager to take the fight to the jinsul, as I have many a foe before them."
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With their depth of experience, Hef and DuQuesne are able to provide additional pointers and tune ups to a couple of engineers flanking Fitch. Kōlēfō's own piloting stories while amusing, prove less fruitful to actual ship preparations.
"Yes, yes! That'll work. Your advised modifications will definitely be of value to the Master of Stars pilot!"
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Looking at DuQuesne, Iteration-177 takes a brief moment before his eyes register recognition. "Ah yes! DuQuesne! So good to see you again! That WAS quite the evening wasn't it. And in so many ways, led us now to here our mission today..." He continues chatting with DuQuesne about the events of that evening.
After their chat is finished, Iteration-177 greets Kōlēfō, Luvara and Hef. "Ahhh... The three of you are well-versed in more... mystical matters I see. Very good, very good..." The four of you have an engaging coversation...
"And you, Sarankahn, your tales of battle are as much a religious experience as quiet contemplation and meditation may be to others." Iteration-177 listens attentatively and appreciatively to your story.
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The rookies look at Hef, nodding at what he's saying. Unfortunately, it's obviously that type of nodding that people do when the message doesn't really sink in but nevertheless want to be polite.
Hearing Kōlēfō, a few of the young agents half-heartedly repeat, "errrr... best troops... yay us..." On the bright side, a few of them find Kōlēfō so furry and cute that they attempt to pet you! (if you let them that is....)
However, when DuQuesne, Luvara and Sarankahn speak, it as though a fire is lit under them! They snap to attention! Hang on your every word, eating up the entire story of the previous mission that you convey to them. And by the end, the agents are fired up and inspired by DuQuesne and Luvara while scared out of their mind by Sarankahn - immediately getting back to their own mission prep tasks, doubletime!
"Thank you." says Arvin after you're done inspiring/intimidating the agents. "Every little bit of motivation. Every ounce of courage. And even a drop of fear to keep them clear-headed. All of it will make a difference in the fight ahead."
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After Sarankahn's initial outburst, Sarankahn, DuQuesne, Luvara and Hef stares silently at Celita. Celita stops her work and stares back - equally silent and absolutely emotionless. After 30 seconds, she says, "Okay, good talk." and gets back to working on her code. The four of you walk off to lend a hand elsewhere.
Kōlēfō, however, gets in there and with typical skittermander zeal, giving the code modifications his best effort! The code is mostly beyond Kōlēfō but fortunately, your previous experience with the izalguun does prove a bit useful!
"Thank you Kōlēfō. While there's still room for improvement, your izalguun-style code additions do help!"
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At Ziggy's request, DuQuesne, Kōlēfō, Luvara and Hef immediately starts working together like a well-oiled machine! What you lacked in coding knowledge for Celita, you more than make up in manual logistics work!
Hef and Luvara spot useful magic items and sets them aside to be allocated.
DuQuesne locates essential meds and portions them out as needed for various gear packages to be used by agents this mission.
Kōlēfō, with all six hands and unbelievable speed, packs the magic items and meds, labels them, sorts the boxes and stacks them all up, ready to be shipped!
Sarankahn moves crates and boxes around but they end up not so much in the wrong place but not in particularly useful places either. But no matter, his teammates have things well in hand!
"Couldn't have done it better myself!!! You all deserve a little bonus!" Ziggy, obviously pleased with your work, hands you each some rice candy.
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Radaszam watches all of you proudly as you look over the map and discuss strategy.
DuQuesne, Luvara and Hef's knowledge of jinsul tactics and formations lead to some solid conclusions around attack plans.
Kōlēfō, despite being a bit cryptic and esoteric about his mission, does also provide some solid ideas on backup plans when certain tactics potentially go pear-shaped!
Sarankahn's input, while not explicitly useful and consists mostly of Leeroy Jenkins tactics, does at least cement in everyone's mind that Sarankahn will prove to be a reliable meat shield in combat!
"Excellent work! This intel that you've collectively produced will save lives while neutralizing the jinsul, no doubt about it!"
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Hello everyone. As you know, this could be a dangerous mission and we should be prepared for Starship combat, should it occur. I suggest we all discuss ahead of time where we feel most comfortable on a ship, so we can assign roles accordingly.. Luvara pulls out her datapad.
I will go first, just to get this conversation going. I believe I have the most experience here, and would be able to fill the role of captain if needed, but as a secondary role could be a gunner or chief mate. I have been the captain before in several battles, and have never been on the losing side! I will serve you well if appointed captain, but can handle other roles if the captains chair is filled.. Luvara starts to jot down some notes as the various PCs speak.
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Kōlēfō mostly submits to the petting, but picks one of the less attentive-looking cadets to instead throw to the ground as an object lesson.
And lets out an exaggerated sigh as it goes about as well as the rest of his speech. He walks over to Luvara and responds, "I don't mind if you take the big chair. I'd rather fly the ship or pew pew pew the bad guys. I keep asking them to install controls that let me pew pew pew three times as much, but they never do."
A lithe tall confident lashunta walks into the briefing area with a datapad, "Hef Sadir? Yeah, you big guy. You're needed for a different mission bud. They sent me to replace you. Did you even check your messages? Jeeze, they call me scatterbrained."
The Kasathan exits stage left.
She turns to the rest of those assembled, "Alright ya lumps of coal, my names Raia and I can handle pretty much any tech that exists. That includes any spy cameras put in my room. So if you get any ideas, just remember I don't plant cameras, I plant bombs."
She continues, "Now, we get into a fight out there, I'll start in at the science station. If things go bad, I can matriculate elsewhere. That means 'move' down to engineering and keep our ship going."
She takes a short breath, "And lastly, if for some god forsaken reason we end up actually FIGHTING close range, just remember to duck if I yell duck."
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After a bit of time, a smile slips on her face, "Now that my hardass persona isn't needed anymore, let me just tell you that I look forward to exploring new cultures and aliens on this mission. Hopefully we can avoid harming anything, but these escapades tend to run afoul of stuff that can kill us, so I'm not naive to think nothing will happen."
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Welcome Raia. It is good to have you as part of the team. It is also nice to have another female aboard for the mission. Perhaps when this is all over We can celebrate with a drink at ladies night! I believe you would serve well as Science Officer, Magic Officer, or Engineer and could see you definitely rotating around depending upon the situation.
As preparations wind down, a stillness settles over the crowd of Starfinders gathered on the command deck of the Master of Stars. First Seeker Jadnura, flanked by nominated First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo and the android Iteration-177, steps forward to an elevated captain’s platform and looks out over the assembled agents. Jadnura’s resonant voice carries across the assembly. “Starfinders! Today we gather not merely as explorers and scholars, but as defenders of the galaxy. Ever since the jinsuls ambushed our rescue mission into the Scoured Stars, they have assailed us and our allies at every turn. The danger the jinsuls present to our friends and homes cannot be ignored. We now know that they intend to awaken the divine being responsible for trapping our first expedition into the Scoured Stars. We know that this scheme threatens not only the Scoured Stars but all the space surrounding it. This leaves us with one mission: break the jinsul fleet and drive them from the Scoured Stars, putting an end to their depredations once and for all. Today we march to war!”
The Starfinders disperse to their ships and launch into orbit, assembling into either tactical strike formations or vanguards surrounding the larger vessels. The fleet’s synchronized screens flash to life, showing Luwazi Elsebo from her own command station. “We are ready to approach the Scoured Stars system from the outer orbit of the Agillae system’s star. The majority of our fleet will stay together to protect our supplies and support our ground troops, while our field agents are to scout the system and find the most strategic places to engage the jinsuls. Kadrical’s divine herald, Dhurus, is the head of the snake: find where he is hiding so we can direct our full forces against him. Once we close in on him, we can face down Dhurus on equal footing and end this conflict.”
Luwazi nods to the camera. “Stick together, support each other, and stay the course. We live or die as one today. Good luck, Starfinders. Fleet—activate Drift engines now!” The screen shuts off, and each formation of starships surges forward as a unit, vanishing into the Drift.
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
The Starfinder fleet emerges from the Drift as a single force, the three suns of the Scoured Stars burning brightly against the surrounding void. Moments later, onboard computers ping with streams of incoming data detailing nearby jinsul ships, planets with concentrated industrial activity, and further commands from the First Seekers. Several files emerge on the captains’ screens: briefings of locations where field agents could find useful information about how best to target the jinsul fleet’s weak points.
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A dispatch officer approaches your team. "We have a variety of missions available to you. Let me know which you think suits your team best. If you finish in time, we'll have others."
Ground force intel - Find out what jinsul forces are up to on Agillae-2
Data theft - infiltrate a data centre on Agillae-4
Recovery efforts - recover a scout ship that was ambushed near Agillae-5
Scout hunt - track down a jinsul scout that escaped one of our attacks
Captive interview - interrogate a captive.
Raia suggests they need data, so that should be their first stop.
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"While you are here, you had may as well join in the interrogation. Razaszam is already there." suggests the helpful aid.
You board a shuttle and are sent to another, smaller ship.
Radaszam’s already imposing vesk figure appears extra threatening as he looms over a bound jinsul on his starship’s bridge. “Let me introduce you to my guest, Teskrkah, a jinsul who claims to have betrayed her teammates—those teammates being an assassination squad sent to kill me. Now, I don’t know what to believe, so I want you to figure out the truth here. I have some bigger fires I need to put out at the moment, so I’m handing this off to you. I’ve programmed the computer to translate for you if you need it. Remember, we’re Starfinders and not depraved killers, so don’t torture this pitiful creature. Just get what information you can from her. Engage the ship’s autopilot once you’ve gotten her to talk and it’ll bring you right to my location.”
You are left alone with the captive.
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DuQuesne approaches the jinsul, removing his jacket and rolling up his sleeves.
“Teskrkah, the jinsul. Warrior, trained assassin and now a prisoner of war.” he sits on the table.
“The word is you have betrayed your mates. I myself have never been in this situation, but I don’t doubt my life would be worth more to me than my loyalties... But I’m here to give you the best deal we can afford. Tell me your story, anything you have on your former acquaintances and we’ll ensure you’ll have a good life going forward. Perhaps even join one of our crews to explore the universe, if that’s your thing - or join some army out there to conquer other worlds, plenty of opportunities for a professional like you.”
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Kōlēfō jumps in, speaking in a fast but understandable accent of Jinsul. "Yeah, look at me, I could be pushing papers on Vesk-3 now, but instead I am seeing the universe, pew pew pewing ships and, well, sometimes pushing papers on Absalom Station..."
He pulls out his pen and paper. "Listen, man, I know you have a great story about how you get here, and you don't want it to end now. I don't want it to end now either! Let us know what you can about how you got here and why, and we can make sure your ending is glorious!"
Raia stays out of it, watching from behind the glass in the other room. She isn't particularly good at lying and playing 'bad cop' just makes her stomach roll.
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Sarankahn approaches the jinsul, the brow of his reptilian eyes periodically eclipsed by a circling mote of dark matter.
"You are all wasting your breath on this jins-ling," sneers Sarankahn, bearing his sharp teeth. "For this one, undoubtedly knows nothing of value to us. This insect is cannon fodder. Worthless. Expendable. Why else would its superiors have tasked it with the night unachievable task of murdering a vesk?"
"No." Sarankahn continues with cold-blooded demeanor. "This one is the lowest of vermin, sent by its commanders on a suicide mission with the intent to see it killed--likely because they were too cowardly or inept to carry out its execution by themselves."
"We would be doing the jinsul forces a favor by killing this one--by removing a piece of worthless trash from their so-called army." Sarankahn pauses for a moment to consider the claws on his open hand, their edges like razors, before tightening them into a fist and moving towards the Teskrkah. "Still, I am nothing if not generous--even to my enemies. I shall simply toss it out the airlock. It is not even worth soiling my claws with its blood."
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Yes Teskrkah, we know you want to talk. You want to do the right thing. You can save yourself as well as many others. Just tell us what we need. You will feel so much better, and rid yourself of the burden of carrying this information. Please Teskrkah, we are here to help, tell us what you can. Talk my friend, talk.