"Engineering and the cargo holds might hold further clues," he says. "I suggest we start with engineering first, in the event there is a problem we need to resolve to keep the ship stable."
The engineering bay sounds like something I'd be good at helping repair. Sydney takes the Star Sugar Heartlove! pen from behind her ear and begins to twirl it.
"After you." Sydney gestures to the open hallway. "I don't wanna be squid food if there's another in the Engineering Bay."
Grix follows after the rest, happy that his treatment on Arc seems to have taken without issues. "Maybe we khan find the mythikhal "pakhage we'll know when we see it" in the khargo bay? But Engineering is good too. We are being very diligent." He peeks at the camera drone following them.
"I khan't say that what we've seen so far has given evidence on who owns the Akhreon. Just that no-one should want this akhata infested hulkh. Kehe."
Grix will inspect the door to the engineering bay (?) and check it for any traps or sounds of akatas.
"Ah, Arc, where did you go?" Grix whispers as Arc executes some stunning stealth. :)
Sydney looks over Arc's shoulder at the closed door.
If there is a trap, Sydney will attempt to disable it.
You find no signs of traps on the door nor do you hear or otherwise sense anything moving or potentially threatening on the other side of the door.
When you open it (assuming a logical next step here), you find a cramped cargo hold containing much of the ship's supplies -- extra food and water stores, replacement air filters, spare parts and the like. There is also a shipping container, approximately 8 feet square. Examining the container reveals it is sealed and has no shipping manifest, though it is addressed to the Eoxian embassy on Absalom Station.
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Spectre can't help but see the logic in Isu's suggestion.
"We should certainly investigate this package," he agrees. "Perhaps we will find clues as to what happened to the crew. Or better still, credits."
The droid begins examining the box thoroughly. "I will run preliminary diagnostics on the exterior," he adds.
Spectre spends a couple of minutes walking around the container and examining it from a variety of angles. It appears to be made of a hardened plastic in two parts: a larger bottom portion forming the container, and then a smaller portion forming a lid. There is a hermetic seal between the two parts and it seems difficult, though not impossible, to open without leaving evidence of the tampering.
As Spectre examines the crate, the robot Ambassador Nox sent along to record your activities rolls into the corridor behind you. Its camera swivels about, focuses on the container for a moment, and then it turns around and rolls away, continuing to catalogue the vessel's interior.
Sydney suggests: "If we're going to open the box, let's open it in a way they won't know we tampered with it." Sydney assists Spectre as best she can.
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Isu indicates that Arc should join him in the hallway, and carefully closes the door behind him. He glances about, and notices that the camera drone is in the vicinity and not closed up with Spectre.
"Where this one comes from, Solarian, once two have insulted each other, it is difficult to make amends. You have called me an ass, and this one has been rude to you. This one feels the one way to move forward is to do this."
Isu cocks one of his arms back and attempts to smack Arc in the face with his fist.
With his punch delivered, Isu stands still and freely takes the inevitable return punch from Arc (auto-hit).
Grix rubs his claws together as he looks at the box "I likhe the way you thinkh Spectre! How khould we not? Its as though it has a sign on it saying checkh me, checkh me!"
With Arc and Isu handling the distraction, and the more engineering inclined members of the party handling the crate opening, Grix keeps himself busy inspecting the remaining cargo. As part of his investigation, he casts Detect Magic and sweeps the cargo bay for any unusual auras.
As soon as the crate is cracked open, he skitters over to watch over Sydney's shoulder.
"Given that you agreed to deliver the contents back to Absalom Station, I think your suggestion is made in jest Ted!" she smiles and waits for the lid to be removed carefully.
Out in the hall, Isu squares off with Arcalinte and tosses a punch into the other solarian's face. Indeed, the surveilance robot is just a bit down the corridor, waiting at the intersection with its camera turned towards them.
== Back in the Cargo Hold ==
Spectre and Sydney are able to cleverly pop off the lid while circumventing the anti-tamper indicators. It should be possible to replace the lid without any evidence of the examination.
Inside, you find a smaller, transparent polycarbon plate capsule that looks much like a coffin -- an impression only heightened by the capsule's occupant, a skeletal humanoid figure with an elongated cranium wearing a military uniform. As you're processing the discovery, the capsule suddenly cycles and pops open and the skeleton stands up.
The Eoxian looks about the cargo hold and then at you.
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Isu indicates that Arc should join him in the hallway, and carefully closes the door behind him. He glances about, and notices that the camera drone is in the vicinity and not closed up with Spectre.
"Where this one comes from, Solarian, once two have insulted each other, it is difficult to make amends. You have called me an ass, and this one has been rude to you. This one feels the one way to move forward is to do this."
Isu cocks one of his arms back and attempts to smack Arc in the face with his fist.
With his punch delivered, Isu stands still and freely takes the inevitable return punch from Arc (auto-hit).
Arcalinte grunts in surprise and shock from Isu's hit and then rights himself, rubbing his now-bruised face.
"I fully deserve that. I'll admit I'm not familiar with this kasathan tradition. Is it common on the Idari?"
He takes a swing at Isu, pulling his punch because he doesn't want to actually hurt him.
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Not attempting to dodge, Isu takes the punch in the mouth. He spits out a mouthful of blood.
"Common on the Idari, yes. Killing each other is forbidden. But proper exchange of blows can quench arguments. This one thinks that a single punch is not sufficient, however. Two will be acceptable, but only if you don't hold back."
Isu lets loose with another blow.
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Arcalinte takes the punch, expecting it this time and not flinching. He spits some blood of his own.
"Interesting. None of the kasatha in the Cosmonastery settled disagreements this way. I can see the appeal, though. A solarian is nothing if not a fighter, though the Dawnflower probably would frown on it."
He winds up for another punch.
“Forgive him who wronged you; join him who cut you off; do good to him who does evil to you; speak the truth even if it goes against you”.
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Isu takes the blow, which rocks his head back hard. He backs away, panting.
And then he bows. "This one wishes to start over with you, Arcalinte Soter. Isu Greelax Zyte of Clam Tarma, House Hadula, Scion of Isuma the Missing, bids you greetings, and is sure that this one and yourself will become good friends. Both of us respect tradition, respect martial prowess, and appreciate intelligent discourse. Is that not a strong set of principles to build upon?"
Grix double-takes in surprise. "An... Eokhsian?" As soon as its capsule begins to stir he rapidly rasps "Lid! Lid! Lid! Lid! Don't-" but it's far too late to undo the opening of Pandora's box.
When the Eoxian suddenly stands, Grix awkwardly utters "Uh, hello there Mister... uh. We're here to reskhue you from this terrible wreckh of a spaceship.-" Its not precisely a lie, but he still follows it up with "-Among other things. Sent by the Eokhs Ambassador Nor on Absalom Station. And uh, you are lookhing khuite good, if I may add. Very alive."
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"I'm sorry, we have woken you from your sleep, or at least from your transportation meditation. You are a friend of the Eoxian ambassador on the Absoalom Station?" she asks, not as a statement, but a question in a very apologetic tone. "How should we address you, your uniform marks you as a Eoxian of importance, does it not?" She shifts from foot to foot, a little intimidated by the braid and and extreme cut of his clothes. "Perhaps you would feel happier, to return to your cask, your... mode of transport... for the final part of the journey. All that my friend Grix here says is true, we have been sent to take you back to Absalom Station, although we weren't told it was such an important .... package." she says hoping to sooth the way with talk to make the skeleton being feel the gravity and importance attached to his transport to Abasalom Station.
The Eoxian stares at Grix while he talks, then at Solaria. It is the same, unsettling, near expressionless gaze that the ambassador had. It seems to consider your words for a moment, your hearts beating several times during the uncomfortable silence, before it responds.
"If you were sent by the ambassador, I imagine your instructions were also to leave the container unopened." The tone is flat, not angry, just observing. "Still, the living are endlessly curious. We can excuse this indiscretion. To answer your question," it addresses Solaria, "my name is Eskolar. Just Eskolar, no title is necessary, though it would be ma'am if you insist on pronouns."
Her gaze then settles on Ted as she continues to speak, though it's clearly not directed at him. "It would seem your colleague disagrees as to the proper disposition of my transport. 'Blowing it' would be decidedly contrary to your arrangement with Ambassador Nor. And yet, I do need to see the Ambassador as soon as possible. If this vessel is now 'wrecked', as you say, then I have likely been unacceptably delayed."
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Arcalinte can't recognize any insignia on Eskolar's clothing either, but he holds up a hand.
"Hang on a second, Ma'am. Why were you in that box in the first place? Why ship yourself in a container rather than simply travelling like a normal passenger? It can't be to save money if the Ambassador was willing to pay for your recovery. I know undead such as yourself don't value creature comforts the same way us breathers do, but why subject yourself to that kind of boredom?! And wasn't this ship's last location the blasted Diaspora?! How would the crew have known to pick you up out there?!"
He gets more and more excited as his mind races. He'd been imagining this like a chessboard, and now the board had been flipped into the air!
Eskolar peers at Arcalinte after he returns from the corridor and replies to his questions with a string of her own. "Are you representatives of the ambassador or are you not? If so, how do these questions pertain to your task?"
"As you say, we don't need creature comforts. No air. No atmosphere. No food. No sleep. When you've existed as long as I have without a need for sleep, one must learn to be patient while time passes else one might become inclined towards paranoia, ill-temper and even violence. And we all know there are enough prejudices against Eoxians that anything we can do to maintain a peaceful state of mind is best for everyone involved, yes? But even then, you 'breathers', as you say, sometimes become uncomfortable as then we are not animated enough. And, while we are asking questions, how comfortable would you be with the undead walking around your ship, sharing your space, having conversations with you about your latest meal, waiting while the ship merely moves from point a to point b?"
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Spectre can't quite process the best way forward. "It seems the shipping container's cargo ensures evidence that we opened the container. Regardless, at this point we must decide whether to reseal the container with you inside, or transport it without its cargo."
He considers their options. "I anticipate they would expect the container to contain something. We should put you back inside," he says, the possibility of losing credits distressing him.
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"We're Starfinders. The Ambassador hired us to obtain evidence that would help him mediate between the Hardscrabble Collective and Astral Extractions corporation for ownership of this vessel and the asteroid it brought with it. As for why the questions are relevant, we still don't know when and where the crew pucked you up, so as far as we know you could be a witness. The akatas that attacked the crew could have snuck on board when the Acreon picked you up, if they knew they were picking you up at all."
He pauses, takes a deep breath, and then continues.
"As for your other questions, I personally may have some initial discomfort, but I am aware that it would be my responsibility to look past that prejudice and judge a person based on their actions and character, while understanding that our culutural contexts are different, the Eoxian is still a Pact Worlds citizen and is due the same rights and respect as any living one. Is that answer satisfactory?"
The Eoxian makes a sound that resembles a grunt before responding. "I'm glad to hear you are so informed about my rights, but that wasn't my point. You had asked about comfort. It was for my comfort, and those of the living, I chose to be transported in the container. As for akatas attacking the crew... I assume this relates to the shirren's reference to the ship being 'wrecked', yes? That is unfortunate but, as you may have noticed, I've been in a cargo container." She pauses, glances back at Grix, then Spectre, then Arcalinte. "Interesting. He said you're here to rescue me. The robot says there are credits for the return of the container. And you say you're here for evidence on a contract dispute."
She pauses briefly, then adds, "I understand your confusion. It sounds as if you have arrived here with less than full understanding of the situation and perhaps mixed reasons for being here. As for what happened to this ship, I'm afraid I truly have no information to offer you on that topic. I know nothing of any akatas. As for your other questions, I must decline to answer. Will you take me to the ambassador, or not?"
Sydney has been leaning against the hallway wall for the duration of the conversation, hands in her jacket pockets.
Sydney rolls her eyes. This thing a prisoner? An evil being? The operative pushes herself away from the wall and pulls the Star Sugar Heartlove!! pen from behind her ear, twirling it in her hand. "Look. I get it. You're undead. You've been living a gods-awful long time. We're obviously annoying you - so since you don't enjoy talking..." Sydney approaches and puts her hand on the transport crate. "I've got a solution: we can lock you in the room with the remaining akata, let the beast rip you to shreds, and then return to the Ambassador. We'll tell him we were, Sydney holds up both hands to air quote: "'too late.'"
To solidify her point, Sydney smirks and says: "I've never been a conventional person. In fact, our group is a bit unorthodox." Sydney shrugs, "that's why we were given this mission... probably." Why else would they hire a pirate? She glances over at Grix.
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While the box-skeleton is highly suspicious, Sydney's comment sends bolts of alarm through Grix's body "SID! How dare you threaten our poor, innocent, living-impaired friend here with terrible akhata-based dismemberment! We are hardly going to be paid if we khan't bring her bakh intakht and still living-impaired, but uh, funkhtioning! Thinkh of the khredits. Thinkh of poor love-sickh Ambassador Nor, missing his ekhsiled lady friend! And then thinkh of the khredits again, bekhause we sure aren't getting paid if our friend here gets torn apart!"
He turns to Eskolar, he bows apologetically "I am very sorry Eskolar, Sydney has had a diffikhult day filled with akhatas and almost dying. But I khan tell that you want onwards and inwards, yes? Into Absalom Station. Though if you wanted to be smuggled in, surely there would be an easier way, yes? Many a pirate khruiser khould have brought you in with fewer khuestions!" The eoxian is surprisingly poor at masking her reactions, so he watches her carefully to see if his stab in the dark is on the mark.
Eskolar tips her head to the side in a gesture reminiscent of life as Sydney talks, her bale fire eyes unblinking. When Sydney is done, she listens to Ted, then fixes her gaze on Grix as he tries to smooth things over.
"I understand," she says. "Actually threatening an Eoxian under diplomatic protection en route to the Ambassador of a Pact signatory and by whom you have been retained -- and think you could do so without consequence -- would be the height of hubris. So, that was probably just a... poor joke ill-considered due to stress."
She considers the situation a moment, then adds, "My business with the ambassador is of a diplomatic nature. I would not be a very trustworthy courier if I divulged the nature of it to some hirelings... even those as esteemed as the Starfinders." Diplomacy is not her forte and the last is added in a haphazard attempt to smooth over something she realized could be offensive only after she said it. "My means of transit are not your concern. And unless you've some reason to believe I am somehow responsible for killing the crew of the vessel intended to take me to my destination, thereby stranding me and summoning your peculiar brand of assistance, I really don't see why I should continue to entertain such questions. See to my transport to the Station and be rewarded, or don't. I will wait here until the Ambassador sends someone else."
Sydney crosses her arms and scowls at Grix. ...Ruining my interrogation tactics...
"SID! How dare you threaten our poor, innocent, living-impaired friend here with terrible akhata-based dismemberment!"
"Look, man," Sydney begins, not even trying to be discreet in front of the "cargo." "Sometimes you gotta be firm to get the job done. We don't got time to be talkin' 'bout chocolate-on-the-pillow accommodations." Sydney glances over at the half-elf Solarian.
"My business with the ambassador is of a diplomatic nature. I would not be a very trustworthy courier if I divulged the nature of it to some hirelings... even those as esteemed as the Starfinders." Diplomacy is not her forte
"Diplomatic nature, huh?" Sydney jabs a thumb at her own chest, "well I hope you're worth it. We've been in starship combat, nearly eaten by akatas, and apparently there were some goblin stowaways too." Sydney relaxes her stance, returning both hands to her jacket pockets. "Speaking of starship combat..." She looks questioningly over at her companions, we gonna' talk about it? "Nevermind...
So you gonna get back in that shipping crate? Or do you want to walk into Absolam Station with us? Since you're visiting for diplomatic reasons?"
Though still alarmed by Sydney's cavalier attitude about this sensitive "escort mission", Grix follows up her comment with a "That IS a good point. You seemed khomfortable in that bokhs before Eskolar. Are you going bakh into it so we khan haul you to your suitor's door on Absalom Station? Or are you going to walkh?"
Grix very very much wants it to be the former rather than the latter.
Solaria somewhat overwhelmed by the Sydney's words, "It all seemed so simple .... I mean you agreed ... we take the cargo to the ambassador. ... I mean ... nothing's changed ... she's the cargo ... we'll get the credits for taking her back ... And, the ambassador will send work our way again maybe ... if we do this right." Solaria's face is shows signs of stress, her antennae rocking from side to side, blue patches appearing as hues under her skin, particularly as the skeleton woman seems unperturbed by Sydney's threats. Eskolar even implying that in remaining for the ambassador to bring her to Absalom Station, that this might include the option to remove any current living group that might try to resist that meeting.
Solaria points to the box, "Please Eskolar return to your container, so we can tidy up and deliver you to your destination, a meeting with the ambassador." Her antennae twitch... as a message is passed telepathically
Let's find out more about this one, before we hand him to the ambassador, we may have compromised our reward already.