"Councillor?"
Seemingly distracted at the prospect of dining, Chiskisk refocuses at your prompt;
{Hardscrabble? Collective yes? Name is not overtly familiar to us... Our members all have their own interests and pursuits outside of the Society you know... We ourselves have dined in many of the renowned Magellan Star restaurants in the Pact Worlds... However a few still elude our mandibles...}
The shirren's antennae ripple as a thoughts of culinary masterpieces emanate from Chiskisk.
{Quite. Hungry... Where were we. Hardscrabble...}
The Councillor taps once again at the deta-desk, bring up holo_files which they quickly survey for relevant content.
{Ah yes. The Hardscrabble Collective are known to the Society. A clan of asteroid miners that operates primarily amongst the scattered planetoids of The Diaspora. We know Duravor hailed from there. Perhaps that is the link you seek? The Collective have no formal offices or base of operations, but we have it recorded that The Armada; the ever-changing fleet of ships that orbit Absalom Station is viewed as central gathering place. We see also from our files that Collective crews hire their ships out to a wide variety of business concerns and corporations throughout the Pact World space. We cannot see an obvious conflict of interest, but this is a line of investigation you should follow... for weal or woe yes?}
Retsiji notes that the cred-stik has 150CR upon it, and the azimuth laser pistol with charges remaining on its
battery.
"Thank you Councilor, we shall follow up with them. There are many good restaurants on Verdes have you eaten at Le Bruler?"
Bored by the talk of food, Retsiji sits still and waits, running through tactical scenarios in his head.
At Kris' question the Councillor merely waggles their antenna, as a functionary droid arrives with a trolley of R2E meals before leaving just as unassumingly.
{We have not had the pleasure. Though we have heard great things about the menu...}
The shirren then eyes the pistol and cred-stik produced by the brooding Vesk;
{Do you wish to refashion the weapon as Earned Seizure Mr. Retsiji? As we said the Society can furnish fair trade in credits or equipment...}
You arrive at the Starfinder's Lorespire Complex, somewhat numb yet focussed...
Somewhere inside await a group of strangers who were the last souls to see your mentor alive and well earlier this day-cycle. What their motivations and demeanours will be is the unknown, however with more questions and answers, you request to meet with a Starfinder named Kris.
After a few minutes of searching the receptionist finally tracks down the eponymous "Kris" as a guest of Councillor Chiskisk.
She beckons over one of the many Functionary Droids operating within the building, then bids you follow your automaton guide;
"SFF-101.22 here will take you to Councillor Chiskisk and his guests."
The droid looks over the three of you methodically before commenting in a flat, automaton voice:
”YOUR PERSONAL WEAPONRY HAS BEEN NOTED. I MUST MAKE YOU AWARE THAT ALL THE 44 FUNCTIONARY DROIDS OPERATING WITHIN THE BUILDING HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO UTILISE LETHAL FORCE SHOULD ANY OF THE STARFINDERS OR THEIR PROPERTY BE DAMAGED. THANK YOU.”
The droid then plods through the complex, leading you to an office deep in the bowels of the building. Upon the closed door a simple name-plate: Chiskisk. From within you can hear voices...
Outside the door you hear the sound of another droid approach, accompanied by several other footsteps...
The vesk nods.
When the safe opens, Koro peers inside, moving things aside to make sure nothing was missed.
After a moment, she efficiently stuffed the smaller item into the backpack, but left the armor, "You guys want that?".
If not she leaves the armor in the safe for now, and closes its door.
"Let's not keep them waiting." she says, slinging the pack over her shoulder and going to the waiting grav-cab.
....later at the LoreSpire...
Koro give a look to the others as the droid officiously declares it's lethality, rolling her eyes, but turning to follow the automaton to their meeting....
"Le Bruler lives up to its name about half the year, the original owner had built it when he first moved to the area. Surprised he was when the week before the place was to open the little bit of waver there is within the planet's axis wobbled and the restaurant was uninhabitable for the next 6 months. The place nearly burnt down but with some ingenuous application of fireproof materials he is now open nearly year round. definitely a place for those who like to live dangerously, and the food is to die for.....I think we have company coming. Footsteps approach."
The Councillor processes Kris' assessment of Le Bruler, their antenna zeroing in on the android as she speaks.
When visitors are announced, Chisisk addresses the room and corridor beyond;
{Please come in. We are expecting you... There are others here who would speak to you of Duravor and the dire fate that befell him...}
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Noah 2.0 opens the door hesitantly and almost shyly steps in and steps to the side to make way for his friends. I am Noah 2.0, a friend and, well, student of Duravor. I understand you all saw him fall?
Allowing the others time to enter and settle themselves, Kris nods in greeting to each. "Welcome I am Kristine, designation Kris-7. We each came to Ab-Sat at Duravor's request however before the shuttle we were unaware of each other or you for that matter. Upon our arrival at Dock 94, a street fight broke out between rival gangs it appeared at the time. We now have reason to believe perhaps it was not accidental timing. At any rate Duravor was killed in the initial volley. "
A tall, broad vesk in lashunta-style heavy armor growls a greeting. "Retsiji. Kreel was shot once. Neck. Have to be good to do that on purpose. None of the gangers were that good against us, though."
You can call me Ed. The big bug's antennae droop with sorrow. I tried to save Duravor, but there was nothing that I could do. I think that there is one way to tell if it was murder; we must track down these gangs in the Spike.
Noah 2.0 brightens to see another android in the group. And he seems further encouraged when Ed recommends a course of action. Yes. I would very much like to know if it really was an accidental killing, and to seek some level of retribution if it was not.
Retsiji gives a wide, toothy grin, then turns serious. "The Collective was working with one of the gangs. Start with Hardscrabble?"
As Paeon enters the room he takes in the present company and quietly listens to introductions. He nods and informally salutes Resiji with a tilt of his head,
"Greetings warrior.."
His cool gaze slides passed Kris and towards the Shirren. Paeon's history lessons and training in war cloud his thoughts momentarily as he is reminded of the millennia of war between the Lashunta and Shirren.
As the memories fade Paeon addresses Ed,
"May you forever remain separated from the swarm."
Paeon's attention turns to the Ysoki and his electronics adorning his temple he half begins speaking to himself and those in the room,
"Remarkable that you've managed to survive such a barbaric marriage of technology to your biology. Such crude Xenobiology must have originated from..."
Paeon tries to recall where primitive Xenobiology may have originated from...
...But the thought escapes him.
Remembering his place in the room Paeon addresses all,
"Forgive me, I am Paeon Tel'domah, former military of the Lashunta turned Starseeker and as my bad manners have shown, Xenobiologist. Duravor was a friend to all of us. We owe it to him to discover the meaning of his death."
Paeon bows slightly to all his cool voice fades from their minds and his Stellar Mote orbits feverishly for a few seconds before settling back into its usual resting place in the center of his chest.
Chiskisk's antennae droop as the reminder of Duravor's passing is once again driven home.
The shirren approaches the newcomers;
{Our sincerest condolences. We notice you have completed Duravor's RIProtocols... Do you have his urn with you..?}
The Councillor bows their head reverently;
{We would express our grief in the correct fashion of our race...}
Noah 2.0 produces the urn solemnly.
Kneeling beside the dead dwarf, Ed throws his head back and raised futile claws toward his God giving the traditional Shirren call of grief.
Chiskisk reverently kneels before the produced urn, then throws their head back, mandibles clacking and claws raised toward the heavens as they utter the traditional Shirren grieving call:
{Khhhhaaaaaannnnn!}
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Ed falls upon his rear leg joints beside the mourning Shirren and joins in the call of grief. Slightly outdoing his ex-swarmmate.
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Kris cocks her head as the shirren express their grief. Turning towards Retsiji in a flat monotone
"That is not typically done during combat is it? Seems like it would make one an easy target"
Koro enters a step behind Noah, and gives each of the other party a nod of greeting.
She passes through to stand before a suspiciously non-descript abstract painting, staring at it as talk immediately took on the subject at hand...Duravor's death.
A muscle clenched in her jaw as her emotions rose once again, but with a deep breath taken in and exhaled slowly she turned and joined the conversation.
She takes a moment to respect the Shirren's mourning ritual, then speaks.
"Name's Koro Tass, journeyman troubleshooter from out in the Diaspora. That is until Duravor managed to drag me here to civilization" she says with a fond smile, that quickly fades.
Her eyes settle on the large Vesk, "So, do you think someone besides the gangers, shot Duravor? Was there any evidence of another shooter?"
At Kris' question, Retsiji nods. "They don't do it in the fight. Gets loud after, though."
He pauses after Koro finishes speaking, then shakes his head. "I didn't see anyone else." He looks at the others. "Did you see anyone?"
"How true it may be remains to be seen but the Level 21 banger said they didn't shoot Duravor, their beef was with the Downside Kings. Perhaps we should see what their beef was."
Mourning completed, Councillor Chiskisk composes themselves then sits back behind their holo-desk.
{Both this Level21 criminal gang and The Hardscrabble Collective seem credible starting points to your investigation...}
The shirren pauses in their telepathic communication, eying their desk curiously before continuing;
Most interesting... It would seem The Hardscrabble have additional concerns...}
With a tap of the desk, Chiskisk brings up the data_bulletin that has drawn their attention;
"Let's start with Hardscrabble. We might be able to help 'em out, get 'em owing us something."
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Noah 2.0 considers. Data suggests Duravor did have a soft spot for the Hardscrabble collective. If fact he left them a reasonably large sum of credits in his will. I also believe that while the law is likely on the side of Astral Extractions Duravor would have wished us to help the collective. I do not care where we begin but I actually see 4 sides here. In addition to the two sides who dispute the derelict ship there is still The Downside Kings and The Level21 Crew. I recommend we investigate all 4.
He pauses to let his words be considered before asking There is also the matter of Duravor's datapad. We have been asked to retrieve and return it to the Starfinders.
"That's easily done, I have it here, actually used it to contact you when we asked for you to meet."
Kris says from her perch on the chair where she is currently paging through Duravor's datapad while playing a version of solitaire that is available on nearly every device known to man.
Retsiji glances over Kris' shoulder. "Red ten on black jack."
Chiskisk's antenna bob in agreement;
{If Duravor's datapad will aid you in your investigations, then we will merely cache its file contents here for the Society records. The Dataphiles fraction do like to archive all materials concerning our members...}
The shirren offers Kris a data_jack cable running from his desk...
{If you would be so kind...}
Deftly taking the data_jack from the Councillor, Kris inserts it in Duravor's data pad and begins the file transfer in a matter of milliseconds.
"thanks" she says, while with the other hand moving the cards into place as the system auto-completes the file transfer and her game simultaneously, the latter shooting a fireworks hologram up above the pad's viewing screen.
"Why not check on the sources here on the station first before heading afield to try and meet the Hardscrabble Collective? We may gain a name or two to use to make inroads with them."
Paeon nods in agreement to most of what has been said,
"I don't know much about the area happy to have you take the lead Kris, if we need any more information or perhaps a favor or two I can contact the AB-SEC, would leave them out of our business if we can though. Especially if we have to go off the record."
Ed slowly comes back to his senses and stands after being lost in his grief for a bit. He slowly catches up on the conversation, I thought Chiskisk said that the Hardscrabble Collective was off-Station in The Diaspora somewhere. I think it makes sense to start with the gangs in the Spike.
Retsiji shrugs. "They might have had an agent here. Unless it was Kreel."
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Retsiji shrugs. "They might have had an agent here. Unless it was Kreel."
khaaaann.
I thought Chiskisk said that the Hardscrabble Collective was off-Station in The Diaspora somewhere
"Hence the reason it made more sense to follow up on the lead with the gangs first. I used to know a guy here, at least he was a he the last time I was here, and he knew who's who in all the gangs. I'll check and see if he's still around."
Kris begins tapping on the date pad, searching for the wolf's head icon.
almost as an afterthought to Retsiji's comment
"They might have had an agent here. Unless it was Kreel."
"They almost certainly have at least 1 more if not multiple, that's how they keep track of who's cheating who" Kris says with a feral grin.
Noah 2.0 jacks into a computer and runs some searches to see if he can find in known locations where these gangs hang out.
Chiskisk's antennae bob in agreement at the proposed courses of action;
{Duravor (khaaaann) was most likely at least an advocate, if not a representative. And yes, while The Hardscrabble are indeed based in The Diaspora.., when present on Absalom to conduct business they are rumoured to congregate on the Armada which orbits the station. A simple shuttle ride would get you to one of their vessels...}
The shirren's manibles twitch in a sign of quandry;
{... Presuming of course you could identify such a vessel... and also be invited onboard...}
You easily locate the information required - you pop the details of one M'urr'k Chillum; an edgy half-orc fence who did plenty of dealings with Absalom's criminal fraternities (both of stolen goods and acquired info). M'urr'k goes by the online handle of Shifter...
@Shifterᐒ 7? That you? Long time nada see. What can I do you for?
As you did into the Station's infosphere you access previous news reports, social networks etc. On the gangs encountered you manage to build the following profiles:
The Downside Kings: A brutal street gang that controls several decks of Absalom Station’s lower levels, or “Downside,” through a combination of intimidation and violence. They are known to engage in a wide variety of illegal activities, from extortion, fraud, robbery, smuggling, and theft, to drug and arms trafficking, kidnapping, murder-for-hire, even trafficking in sentient species.
The Level 21Crew: A street gang that claims (unsurprisingly) Level 21 of Absalom Station’s seedy lower decks as its territory. Their known criminal endeavors include theft, fencing stolen goods, gambling, prostitution, racketeering, and smuggling.
Noah 2.0 shares what he finds on the two gangs with the others. Nothing too surprising here. He adds after reading the summaries. The Kings seem a little tougher maybe, but nether are going to win a popularity contest. The Crew comes off as a little less violent. I would not mind acting against either or both groups but must add either will make dangerous enemies.
Retsiji shrugs, as if to indicate that the enmity of a couple of gangs matters not at all to him. "It's revenge we're wanting, so let's see which of them did for Kreel. Or make whoever really did it pay."
Paeon rolls his shoulders in an agitated impatience.
{I haven't spent much time in front of data pads and computers and they are not my area of expertise. I do however have a knack for squeezing thugs and putting down criminals. Lead the way.}
His mote pulses in anticipation.
"Hiya Shifter, it has been hasn't it? 21 crew and the kings created a heat wave out at 94, need to meet up with the crew at grandma's house."
Anyone looking at Kris' screen can she is initiating a comms-dialogue with someone handled as Shifter.
@Shifterᐒ 94 was a fire. Sprinkler systems are on everywhere and you know I don' like gettin' wet. Need something to pay for the drying yeh?
Diplomacy will likely be hit or miss, you can use Intimidate also, and remember you know Shifter's identity and Paeon has connections with AB-SEC... course it would mean strongarm tactics should you go in that direction...
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Ed doesn't seem particularly interested in the texting. He turns his attention to a R2E meal on the trolley.
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Retsiji stands very still while Kris-7 talks.
Koro takes up the new bulletin, her knuckles white as she reads, "Damn corps, snatching up everything they can get their greedy little claws on!"
She nods, "Yeah, Hardscrabble's up and out mainly, the gangers are a good first choice."
Then she stands off to the side as 7 texts with her contact, offering a couple suggestions on what tack to take with the obviously suspicious Shifter.