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Maenela accompanies G-607 through the streets, first asking about Duravor Kreel.
"Our contact, Duravor Kreel, was a mid-ranking Society member. As expected from a Dwarf, his work focused on mineral prospecting. He was a native of the Diaspora, the asteroid belt between Verces and Eox, and was known to have ties to dwarves and other mining groups in the area. He was something of a champion of miners' rights, and often challenged large corporate interests that would exploit miners and laborers, such as the Astral Extractions. He'd personally invested money in the Hardscrabble Collective. One of his cousins was a member of the group, but she died in a mining accident... Due to safety violations perpetrated by her contact employer. And guess who her contract employer was?" Maenala lets the question hang for a moment. "That corporation: Astral Extractions. Shady, don't you think?"
___
Maenala follows the team to a sketchier part of Absalom Station, where she's able to glean the following information about the Downside Kings.
"The Downside Kings are 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-forhire, and trafficking in sentient species... Basically, what you'd expect from a shady gang," Maenala remarks. "Turnover among the Downside Kings’ leadership is high, but the gang's current boss is a barbarous human woman named Ferani Nadaz.."
"Remember what I mentioned about Astral Extractions earlier? Well, Astral Extractions has recruited the Downside Kings to threaten the Hardscrabble Collective and pressure the miners into handing over the Acreon and the Drift Rock to the company without dispute. If we want to follow a lead, the Downside Kings are known to use a nightclub called Fusion Queen as a front for their illegal activities."
___
Maenala struggles to find details about the Level 21 Crew, many a suspicious stare cast her way as she attempts to ask about them. "The Level 21 Crew are 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. The Level 21 Crew may be a criminal gang, but they have a reputation in their territory (and neighboring levels) for promoting community empowerment, and many neighborhood residents tolerate or tacitly endorse their activities. The gang has also been known to hire itself out to defend marginalized and threatened groups or factions. A grizzled ysoki called Jabaxa currently leads the Level 21 Crew."
___
For Maenala making the connection between Astral Extractions and the Downside Kings, everyone gains 100 exp each.
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While Maenala is out digging up information of the Downsider Kings Zeigris winds up wandering from the group, having noticed a familiar face among the few members the party had found. Just when it seems like the envoy has learned all she could he comes wandering back to the table with his arm over the man's shoulder and joins the conversation. There's a brief discussion bout the last time he was on the station when he may have helped them blow up a few less significant buildings.
With this smooth lead-in, Maenala is able to direct the conversation to their more recent exploits, including the fact that Astral Extraction hired them to kill Duravor Kreel in hopes of preventing any Starfinder interference due to fears that the Starfinders might be interested in the drift rock.
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Zeigris is no help with the Level 21 Crew, likely because he was just seen drinking the the fellows they had a shoot-out with.
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Zeigris spends a while after Maenala's canvasing of the station digging into a computer at the Starfinder lodge. It sounds like he has a brief argument with the interface before descending into a spirited discussion of circuitry and the importance of the Triune. By the time he's done he wanders back to the group with a small readout on what he's learned.
"My My, it's obvious that Astral Extractions is a powerful mining conglomerate with business ties throughout the Pact Worlds. Mostly it's centered in the Diaspora and the rocky moons of the outer planets where I had been staying lately, but I remember them sending scout vessels into the Vast looking for new opportunities and claims. They -did- recently hired one of the Hardscrabble Collective’s ships, the Acreon, for one of these exploratory missions."
"What's more... The public face of Astral Extractions is of an ethical and respectable corporation, but it's all a rather well done front. I found a few conspiracy blogs that say the company uses hired muscle—corporate mercenaries, strikebreakers, and even criminal elements like myself... I mean, well whatever... as proxies to intimidate and threaten those who get in its way. Breaking things is a good motivator."
"It looks like the rumors going around on the net also confirm what our seedy friends said. Following the arrival of the Acreon, Astral Extractions secretly hired a violent Absalom Station street gang called the Downside Kings to coerce the Hardscrabble Collective into abandoning its claims on the Acreon and the Drift Rock."
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Ziggy makes another round of inquisitions through his new computer friend, leaving the party to wait as he makes awkward jokes about exposed microchips. When he returns he seems rather pleased with himself. "I thought their name seemed familair... The Hardscrabble Collective a bunch of grizzled, stubborn, and old asteroid miners that that runs out of Diaspora. They don't have a central office, they mostly work from the Armada of ships floating around the station. They hire themselves out to pretty much anyone on the up and up, including Astral Extractions with the Acreon, as I noticed earlier."
"They say they're a clan, which sounds dwarfy, but it's more of a co-op business of dozens of ships’ who have banded together for strength in numbers, both business wise and because of pirates. They treat each other like a family, but most aren't really related beyond small families. They sure act like one big family, though. Look out for each other like a mob. Including hiring the Level 21 crew to protect its members and interests until the dispute with Astral Extractions over the Drift Rock is settled."
Zeigris is able to make the connection between The Level 21 crew and the Hardscrabble Collective. Granting additional 100exp each. And for Zeigris aide, he was able to point out a clue that uncovers who killed Kreel, granting them an additional 50 exp each that
"I hope I can be useful, but ermm, please don't tell my Uncle i'm doing this? he gets very edgy about me playing with this sort of thing." Yannick says softly before sitting down at an infosphere terminal. Tongue sticking out in serious concentration once again, the young Lashunta brings up more information on the famous corporation, Astral Extractions and sighs softly before revealing his findings.
"O-oh Dear... It would seem your theory Mr Zeigris would be correct. Mr Duravar's death was no mere accident. I have got communications here that say Astral Extractions hired the King's to kill him, to keep everyone's noses out of their business. Especially the Society..."
The young Lashunta pales even more and goes for a walk to clear his head. As he does so, he makes some enquiries about the 'Level 21 Crew' and their dealings in all of this.
Unfortunately, everyone is keeping quiet on the gang so there is nothing to be gained.
"What shall we do next?"
"Summary: We have two leads I see."
"Lead 1: Downside Kings in Absalom's Stations lower levels."
"Lead 2: Level 21 crew in Level 21 of Absalom Station."
"Inquiry: Do we know which gang we attacked? It may be prudent to interview the rivals to those we attacked as we may be in their good graces."
"Statement: It may also be prudent to take our collected information back to Chisisk."
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"We can either try to glean information from the Fusion Queen," Maenala sighs, a slight shudder running up her back, "While trying not to rouse too much suspicion, or head to the safer side and see what we might learn directly from Level 21. I do believe we attacked the Downside Kings, so we should already been in their good books. There's always the option of a clever disguise and marching right into Astral Extractions, but that's probably too risky." But kinda fun at the same time...
"607, I think your statement is wise. Let's see what Chiskisk might think about or findings."
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"You are correct, Maenala. We did indeed give the Downside Kings a good thrashing. My friend was both annoyed and amused by that turn of events." He adjusts the front of his outfit, absently shifting the battery he took off one of the corpses. "It would likely be wise to seek out the gang we haven't been shooting out. The Level 21 Crew tends to have a more amendable demeanor to begin with, even if we aren't entirely certain where on Level 21 they might be."
Ziggy turns his attention to 607 with an expression that is either interest in his statement or curiosity about how he works. "That might be best, at least to make him aware that Astral Extractions is taking out bounties on his people."
So,Downside Kings are the ones who took out kreel. That is troubling. But with out proof, all we have now is rumors. I'd say track down the Kings and find that proof. With that, they dismiss you.
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The PC's make their way down to the Fusion Queen.
You see two guards outside the front doors. They seem to be on high alert. Searching everybody as they going in and confiscating every weapon they find.
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Telepathically, Maenala communicates that the stylized writing of the Fusion Queen is actually just a symbol for the Downside Kings.
What's with the confiscation? Are they going to ask for our weapons, too? I think I know what to do...
Maenala checks that her rifle and pistol are still where they should be, then approaches the guards and begins shouting at them. "WHAT are you two doing? You call that guarding? I swear, I've seen some ysoki do a better job at not letting the wrong people through! Look at that sorry excuse for a gun. And you call yourselves Kings! What a joke. The boss is gonna be real pissed if I tell him you guys are slacking off. Now move, or we'll move you ourselves," she purposely bumps her shoulder into one of the guards before attempting to move past him.
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Ziggy spins around in confusion when Maenala's voice pops up in his head, moderately startled until he realizes the source. It's this distraction and his efforts to seem inconspicuous that are failing miserably which prevent him from suggesting he and Yannick trying to trigger some sort of local distraction. It appears they were just going to be one.
He keeps his mouth shout to prevent anything from squeaking out as he stands close behind the damaya. Ziggy does his best to seem tough and intimidating, doing his best impression of a confident swagger that shows he watches too many vids, even tossing in chin lift to one of the guards if they're able to slip inside under Maenala's guise.
G-607 steps up close to the guards behind her and plays along.
"Statement: You really don't want her to tell the boss anything about anything." He delivers it in a monotone robotic way, per usual, but the fact that it is so mechanical comes with its own intimidation factor.
The guards make a wide berth and look away as they let the PC's through the door.
The dimly lit interior of the nightclub is filled with the press of sweaty bodies, a haze of narcotic smoke, and the pounding beat and ululating vocals of bakarang music blaring from the main stage in the northeast corner of the room. A sinuous bar winds around the northwest corner, offering a variety of drinks and drugs for purchase. Booths line the south wall of the club, facing the main stage in the northeast corner and the crowded dance floor beneath it. Gyrating dancers stand atop four smaller stages scattered around the club: one behind the bar, one in the center of the room, and two flanking the main stage. Wide double doors marked “Staff Only” exit the room to the west.
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The pounding beats of Strawberry Machine Cake's latest single render Maenala's eardrums thoroughly upset. She grimaces as the stench circulating the club accosts her scents.
I can't hear anything but that music! I'll try to communicate this way to keep our cover up, not that you'd be able to hear my voice in here anyway, Maenala telepathically thinks.
She heads for the staff doors, trying to get a decent look inside.
Starseeker stays vigilant making their way through the crowd.
"Opinion: Unsavory types probably frequent this area. Will lookout."
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Zeigris is busy alternating between staring at the dancers, the bar, and the lights shaping the atmosphere of the room. "Unsavory types?" There's a pause to cough as a cloud of something mind-altering floats past his head. He waves a hand in front of his face to ward it off. "This is just a fun establishment for local relaxation, I'm certain there's nothing untoward about. We just need to have a chat with the good men and see if they can assist us."
If there is anyone watching the group he has clearly missed them.
Making their way throught he Spire, Yannick remembers places he used to go before his work in the mechanic's shop caused him to lose alot of his time. Yannick i completely take. Aback by the lights and noises from the gang territory and remains quiet. Thoroughly unprepared for Maenala's ferocious dressing down of the gang thugs, Yannick startles and rushes in eith the others, his trusty Drone swaggering in as a typical Vesk, despite its metallic construction.
As he enters the club, the naive Lashunta is assaulted by the smells and loud music as he blinks and looks around. "Wha-What is this place?! And what are they doing on those tables?" he exclaims telepathically, unsure how to react at the dancers. Looking around with the others.
G-607 shoots a look at Zeigris. "Response: There are many activities in which one can engage to enhance oneself. Engaging in science, exploration, self-improvement, or the quest for knowledge are all noble tasks worthy of merit, and Ibra appreciates and rewards the effort. Wanton engagement of primal instincts is not a noble task. The regular crowd here is likely undisciplined, and as a result uncaring of simple societal regulations."
"If stereotypes are correct, they show that night clubs are excellent places to cover up criminal syndicates. It is hard to track activity inside."
"Conclusion: As a result, it is the perfect storm that can spawn criminal activity. I am not on a hunt to track down criminals, but as the saying goes, you can trust law-abiding neighbors more readily than law-breaking ones."
Both Yannick and Maenala notice one of the servers staring at the weaponry in the club. He whispers into the ear of the bartender and then rushes back through the double doors.
"We have drawn a lot of attention to ourselves and one of the bar staff just left."Yannick thought speeches to his allies as he watches the comings and hoings of this exotic place. Nervous, he looks to the others to see what he should do next. Meanwhile he speaks with Zygex and gets the Drone to stand in front of him, unsure if he is in danger.
G-607 instantly stops his opinions of this place upon hearing that, figuring the damage has already been done but trying to minimize it as much as possible.
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Ziggy puts a hand to the side of his head and scratches deep into his shaggy mop of hair. "Oh my, that's probably not a good sign. They might not be too happy to see us, all things considered." He gives G-607 a bit of a knowing look. "I do hope none of us said anything that would upset the locals." He flags down a passing tray and pulls off one of the brighter drinks atop it, ignoring the reaction of the server as he sniffs at it curiously.
"Well, if guns go off just remember to tell anyone who asks that they shot first." The technomancer loosens his gun in the holster and heads to the double doors with Maenala.
Menala peaks into the room.
This large storeroom is filled with supplies for the bar outside, including bottles of hard alcohol, kegs of beer, and boxes of food and recreational stimulants. One corner holds amplifiers, musical instruments, and costumes for the club’s entertainers. A single door stands in the north wall.
In the corner, she sees three humans playing cards around a table. One looks up to the door and sees Maenala's face.
He barks out in common, Staff only, can't you read the damn sign.
You see a pistol on the table, and assume the others have them holstered.
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S%@%. They've seen me.
Maenala explains what she's seen to the others.
"Any ideas, guys? I'm going to need a clever disguise if I'm going to walk into there. Or, you know, I suppose we could just go in, guns blazing, but that could get messy. I'd hate for Yannick here to have to endure such an experience," she smiles. "What's your analysis, 607?"
"Analysis: Situation complex and solution unclear."
"Logical Conclusion: My tirade about the character of individuals in this place was likely unwise. Apologies."
"Suggestion: Perhaps we can simply ask who we are looking for? Perhaps it's easier than what we are let on to. Again, situation unclear and clear answers seem unattainable."
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"I'm not sure if those gangsters are the helpful type, 607," Maenala says in defeat. "Give me a minute. I might be able to pretend I work here. ... Not that I ever would work here..." Heading away from the staff doors, Maenala pushes her way through the crowd and looks for the coat check. Once she gets there, she waves her hand at the staff member attending to the coats.
"Hey, do you think I could have a look in the coat check? I was wearing a jacket that looks just like every jacket this side of Absalom Station, and I've misplaced my stub. Foolish, I know. So sorry for the inconvenience. Even my friend's bot here couldn't track it down," she says with a glance at Zygex. "It needs a pair of lashunta eyes. What do you say?" She leans in to give the worker a glimpse of her chest.
Smiling nervously at Maenala, Yannick looks around the club, whilst avoiding gazing at the exotic dancers and fidgets nervously. The bar staff had gone into the back room and so far there hadn't been any more shooting, which was a bonus. Hearing Maenala's blood free suggestion, the Young Lashunta nods and heads over to the coat check room along with their leader.
Smiling sheepishly, the young Lashunta stands by and blushes furiously at the tactics employed by Maenala.
"P-Please? Can we get my friend her jacket so we can leave?" he asks politely, hardly having to fake his discomfort.
Starseeker decides to go deadpan and not chime in, relying on the others to handle the situation.
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"I still believe the optimal solution is less about subtlety..." He glances at Starseeker and the drone."... and just announcing ourselves so we can talk. It tends to get more attention, and a strong front tends to get a better response, lets them know we aren't a joke." Ziggy adjusts his goggles and takes a sip of his borrowed drink.
"I mean if we need a coat, just pay the man in threats or a few credits. I'd be willing to assume he's used to that sort of thing." Still, maybe the suggestive suggestions will work. He's certainly willing to let their envoy try to be envoy-ish.
The person at the coat check looks down at the weapons and steps aside. What ever you say. Just do want any trouble
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"See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" Maenala smiles, putting a staff jacket on and tossing the other to Yannick. "Come on. We're going in!"
She heads back for the staff doors and to the group who previously threw her out.
"Hi there. We were just looking for the boss. You know, Nadaz? Where do you think we'd find her?"
Gulp
Telepathically: "How's that for being direct, Zeigris?"
A mechanic voice joins the plea. "Comment: We'd just like to have a word with her."
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Zeigris is a bit put off that he doesn't get a free jacket, but reasonable refrains from just taking one that isn't important to the task at hand. He follows her back into the staff room despite the lack of a disguise, more poking his head and shoulders through the door than anything.
He goggles at the group of men. "Yes, please! I have some business with her and your pleasant has offered to assist! I got a deal."
That's more like it! All this cloak and dagger stuff is going to leave me so confused.
Taking the tossed jacket in slight surprise, Yannick pulla it on over his usual grubby attire and uses it to cover the pistol everyone seems focused on. Embarrassed he smiles weakly to the staff member on Coat check and follows Maenala and the others through the back room, asking Zygex to stand guard by the door just in case. Breathing deeply, he follows his fellows into the room and is glad for the doors dulling the unwholesome assault on the senses in the next room.
"W-we aren't here for trouble sirs, we just need to talk with her brieflt that's all."
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When Maenala puts on the staff jacket, she ensures putting it over the rifle. The gun juts through the leather, giving her something of a hunchback, but asking about her apparent deformity would surely be insensitive, she assumed.
She also attempts to conceal the pistol into an inner pocket lining the jacket.
The guard watching the door sees it open again, revealing Maenala's. "I told you this was....she packing!!!!" He says reaching for the pistol on the table.
[spoiler=GM]
The one that reaches(blue) for the pistol fires first at Maenala. Striking her in the chest.
Intiative-Round 1(bold may post)
Yannick, Maenala
Yellow, Red
Zeigris, G-607
Round 2
Blue
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"Ugh, that stings. I was hoping we could talk this out like civilized people, but I should've known better of some low-tier gangsters!" Maenala reaches back to grab her rifle and ducks out of the staff room. "Our cover's blown, and they don't look happy!" She shouts through the booming music, pointing at the hole in her flightsuit.
Maenala moves back out the door, her cover blown. She draws her rifle. The dance floor erupts into screams and everyone begins to clear out.
Yellow and red both stand up and point there weapons at the doors....waiting to come back in.
Intiative-Round 1(bold may post)
Yannick,Zeigris, G-607
Round 2
Blue
Maenala(4 Damage)
Yellow, Red
Throwing on the 'borrowed' jacket, Yannick edges forwards and licks his lips nervously as they head into the room. Hearing the men react in surprise, the young Lashunta panics and draws his gun, his hands starting to shake, staying by the bar to keep himsepf free of laser fire. Talking through his link, he asks Zygex to move in and keep the thugs busy and off Maenala!
___________________\
"Finally, I was frying my audio circuits with that music."Zygex states dryly as he moves into the room and draws its scrap-weapon as it does so. Too far away to tackle one of the thugs for now, the Drone moves towards the one in the far corner, trying to pin it in and restrict their fire.
Deadpan, G-607 readies for battle.
He strides into the room, fully aware he may take incoming fire. As he moves, he draws out his Solar Hammer.
He attacks Yellow.
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Zeigris has rather shamelessly let the others step into the room before him to avoid any threat to his person. He downs the last of his borrowed drink, chucks the glass to the floor and steps into the room. "Pardon me, sirs. But this is not how we engage in civil conversation as businessmen. Please allow me to explain why we should be back here."
He lifts up a hand and mutters a garbled string of nonsense, then his right eye glows behind his goggles. A flash of green circuitry runs down his arm ends in a flash of energy that flies into the room in a pair of bursts of force. The two of them crash into the yellow dressed goon.
Zygex the robot enters the room and immediately comes under fire, getting struck twice.
The android moves and misses with it solar weapon...
Zeigris' spell slams into the targets from the doorway.
Blue fires at the android, but is intimidated and misses.
Round 2(bold may act)
Maenala(4 damage)
Yellow, Red
Yannick,Zeigris, G-607
Round 3
Blue