Lauren's mind boggles at both the volume and the volume of the words being spoken as she struggles to translate the meaning of everything that surrounds her. She completely fails to recognize that 'Tentacles' is referring to her.
As Captain Diedre speaks, she visibly shrinks and looks at the others blankly, trying to come up with an idea of how to get out of this. Finally, she pulls out her comm unit and sends an email to Chiskisk, with a CC to Sgt McFeeblerduchy and Ambassador Nor.
"We is needing help to bring back for reporting. Too many peoples is everywhere. Send escorters."
Miraj drifts to the back of the crew as the crowd presses in. He studies the people in the crowd, looking for anyone who seems to be out of place, worried that one of his old enemies might have pierced his disguise and come to get him.
Then he pulls out a blank data clip he keeps for just such situations, holds it up, and says to those nearest him, "All the things you want to know are on a report. Once we've given it to the ..." He pretends to lose his grip on the data clip and it flies up in the air and into the nearest clique of questioners.
As they fight to retrieve it, Miraj tries to slip through the crowd, hoping the others will be able to manage something similar.
Aureum reaches out to give Diedre's hand a squeeze, silently thanking her for the distraction, and then tries to slip away in the opposite direction.
Her way out is quickly blocked as the throng of reporters surges forward, and the archaeologist finds herself trapped in front of the crowd. Folding her hands behind her back to keep from nervous fidgeting, she silently stands at Diedre's side and tries to look official, hoping that none of the questions will be directed specifically to her.
Entiren isn't particularly good with crowds even when he is at his best. In his current condition, he especially has no wish to interact with reporters shouting out questions at him and the others. Sending a grateful look her way as Diedre moves to direct their attention towards herself, he shuffles slightly to the side. Looking over the cluster of people, he attempts to determine when they are the most distracted by his teammate, at which point he tries to surreptitiously move away.
Seeing that some of the others are unable to maneuver away from the throng, Diedre shifts tactics. "Maybe we do have time for just a couple of questions," Diedre calls out. Picking out a handsome middle-aged human, she points at him, "Yes?" she calls out.
{"Lauren? Can you get a message to McFeeblerduchy and see if he can get us an escort?"}
Noting Aureum's state of nervousness, the half-elf moves to stand slightly in front of her and attempts to intercept any questions sent her way.
{"Is already sending, captain."} Lauren replies as she forwards the email to the rest of the crew.
Diedre expertly captures the crowd's attention, and all but Auruem are able to appear mundane enough to slip away without question. Miraj scans the dock for any familiar faces, but sees none, for better or worse.
Lauren receives a blip to her comm unit, but before she can look at the screen, a sleek black hovercar pulls out in front of the scyphozoan, automatic doors opening to reveal an opulent (if stark) interior with ample room for the Starfinders.
Looking down at her comm unit, Lauren sees a message from the ambassador: <Transportation already arranged. Looking forward to speaking with you all.>
Lauren, Jehir, Miraj, and Entiren all find their way to the hovercar easily enough, and after twenty minutes or so of haranguing, Diedre and Aureum manage to excuse themselves from the press and join the rest of the group. As soon as the six are all aboard the vehicle, it silently pulls out into the crowd and begins to meander towards the station center.
After the hubub of the docking bay, the interior of the car seems supernaturally quiet. It moves slowly, as there as few vehicle-only spaces on the Station and it must contend with pedestrian traffic, but the ride is pleasant enough. In fact, the hovercar moves slow enough to allow the occupants to gatch glimpses of viewscreens in nearby coffeeshops and bars, where the Starfinders' recent exploits are on full display - dramatic action shots of fighting akatas, zombies, and ol' Garry are juxtaposed with Diedre's statements given just minutes prior. It seems that the fate of the Acreon and the contents of the Drift Rock are the hottest story of the hour!
Before long, the hovercar pulls up in front of the Eoxian embassy, a disconcertingly organic mausoleum sitting in the middle of the airy, green gardens of the Eye. Another cluster of reporters line the street here, but a small squadron of officially-dressed skeletons usher the Starfinders into the building with just the right amount of haste. Almost immediately, they find themselves standing in Ambassador Nor's office once more. The tall necrovite is shaking hands with another skeleton, this one wearing medals of some military fashion on her lapels.
"...and I do hope you find success in your endeavors, Commander Eskolar. Ah! Speak of devils, here they are now. Commander, these are the Starfinder field agents I was boasting about. A credit to their organization!"
The bone trooper bows once to the group before excusing herself; Nor, meanwhile, sits behind his desk and steeples his bony fingers. "Now, I've reviewed the footage from both the Acreon and the Drift rock, but no camera drone has ever provided the full story. Please, sit! Tell me everything. I'll send for refreshments."
Diedre waves to the pack of media hounds as she slips into the hovercar. Once inside she takes a deep breath and blows it out. She smiles. "I think that went well," she says, her eyes moving around the group and finally settling on Aureum.
"We need to make a decision regarding the ownership of the Drift Rock," she says, her tone turning serious. "I'd like to think that it's cut and dried, but I don't believe it is. As much as I'd like to decide in favor to the miners, I think they both have a valid claim on it."
Her gaze drifts outside the car to the media screens the vehicle passes. She closes her eyes and cringes. "Oh, gods, please don't let my mother be watching any of this," she mutters to herself.
"So what does everyone else think?" she asks, turning back to the group. At just that moment a notice appears on her comm unit that draws her attention. She smiles and glances at the Lashunta.
~~~~~
"Thank you for your hospitality, Ambassador," Deidre says smoothly as she takes a seat. "It's hard telling a story that competes with hard footage. How about a copy of the footage and I'll play it back with commentary?"
Diedre controls the playback of the footage with her comm unit and begins a narration from the group's point of view. At various points, she skips non-relevant interactions - with a slight flush in some cases - and glosses over others. When she reaches the battle with Ol' Gary, her description falters. She can feel again the coldness of her life draining away and pales slightly.
She shakes her head and resumes her narration, praising her companions actions, but embellishing nothing. If, perhaps, she spends just a bit longer on a certain Lashunta's efforts, it might be just the listener's imagination.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Bewildered and befuddled, Lauren rushes into the proffered vehicle without bothering to pay much attention to the crowd or her teammates as soon as it arrives. When Diedre asks about her position on the ownership of the she shrugs her feeding tentacles, saying, "Miners is ones whos has paid for it... and Captain Moriko" Though she feels it in her bulb, she's unable to put much conviction into her assertion. She still isn't fully sure of the ramifications of any decision.
For the remainder of the trip, she rides in silence as questions swirl around in her head. A few times, she starts to ask one, but then realizes she has questions about the question and stops herself. She feels like she's looking for some core question that would explain everything and failing. As they arrive at the Embassy, she resigns herself to not understanding, now, in hopes that experience and time will be the teacher she needs.
She gets out with the rest of the party and enters Nor's office near the front of the group. She twists and bows her bell in the standard sign of "Thanks" among her species and sits in the seat as directed.
Lauren lets Diedre do most of the talking. When Diedre falters about Garry, she interjects with, "Space Lamprey is still outs there, somewhere. Is bad news. If not for aliens artifact, would bombard Drift Rock and leave dust." When she gets to the part about the alien computers, she adds, "Codes was not reading able. But was very advanced. Special. Most important."
Aureum lets Diedre do most of the talking, occasionally looking embarrassed (but pleased) when the half-elf describes her part in all this. She does speak up about the alien code when they come to it, describing what little she understood about the equipment that she believes to be designed to monitor other systems on the Drift Rock.
"I've never seen anything so advanced. It was so completely alien." She leans forward, her eyes bright with curiosity. "I would love to study it further."
Miraj finds himself quite weary after everything that has happened. He sits quietly in the limo and tries to gather his thoughts and recover some vim and vigor. His thoughts keep going to food, drink, spa services, and anything not related to combat or space exploration.
By the time the team gets to the meeting with Nor, he's recovered somewhat, but finds himself detached from the question of who will get control of the space rock. He is curious about whether Nor got his package and what was in it, but only asks about it if Nor doesn't bring it up. He remembers there was some extra credits for safe delivery.
He's deeply suspicious of everyone in the corporate world, except the miners. He wonders who contracted with the Claras to kill them and why a corpse fleet ship attacked them as they left the rock. But he waits to see if Nor mentions anything about these details as they come up in Diedre's narration.
Entiren moves to the waiting hovercar, giving a faint nod in the direction that Clara disappeared before wearily getting in and sitting in one of the availiable seats. As they wait for Diedre and Aureum, he takes a small amount of time to rest a bit, glad to be in a safe(ish) area in which to do so.
Upon arriving at the embassy, and more specifically getting into Ambassador Nor's office, he lets the others do most of the explaining of what happened during their investigation of the Acreon and the Drift Rock. There is something that he wishes to ask the Ambassador about, however. Once everyone else is done with what they wish to say and ask of him, Entiren leans forward slight and addresses the Elebrian. "Ambassador, I recall that when we went out to investigate the quarantined ship and asteroid, you sent along a camera drone to record our investigation. I also recall us having been promised copies of any and all recordings in made. However, as we were being driven in, I noticed that there were clips on various viewscreens already showing various portions of the more... intense portions of the investigation, some of which occurred only in the last few hours. I am interested in how the media acquired these shots so quickly."
"He leaked it, of course," Diedre answers Entiren's question for the Ambassador. She shoots Nor a knowing smile. "It created the perfect distraction while he retrieved his package."
Diedre looks around at the others before turning back to Ambassador Nor. "I assume it was you that appropriated our shuttle with your shipment on it?" she asks. "Some of us had personal belongings on that ship, so we would really appreciate their return."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Ambassador," Deidre says smoothly as she takes a seat. "It's hard telling a story that competes with hard footage. How about a copy of the footage and I'll play it back with commentary?"
Ambassador Nor makes a slight wave with a skeletal hand, and a holographic version of the drone footage appears on the desk before him, the virtual Starfinders moving from place to place like pawns on a board. As Deidre narrates, he interrupts from time to time with minor questions, always nodding sagely to the half-elf's answers.
"Space Lamprey is still outs there, somewhere. Is bad news. If not for aliens artifact, would bombard Drift Rock and leave dust."
"Ah, yes. 'Garry', I believe?" With another wave of his hand, Nor brings up a second screen split between stills of Garry and an illustration bearing a strong resemblance to the monster. "I've heard of such a creature before. 'Drift wraiths', some sailors call them, but I believe the xenobiologist community has settled on the moniker 'Garaggakal'."
A video of a grainy camera feed show a sailor walking through a ship's cargo hold. Suddenly, a garaggakal phases through a bulkhead and attacks the sailor from behind, ripping her in two. Closing the archived footage, Nor continues, "As more commerce plies the Drift, we've been hearing more reports of such attacks. It seems the Drift is not as empty as we once thought."
"Codes was not reading able. But was very advanced. Special. Most important."
I've never seen anything so advanced. It was so completely alien."
"Ah, yes, this was unexpected". Nor brings up yet another screen, this one covered in images of the alien text superimposed with annotations written by some sort of language-interpretation algorithm.
"I have been unable to identify the language, but the tools at my disposal have led me to some preliminary conclusions. See this smaller symbols, here? They repeat on several pieces of technological equipment; most likely serial numbers of some kind. These symbols over here are always accompanied by gauges, and these are associated with fail-safe switches. Most likely, this means something along the lines of "backup power transmission", this could be related to a thruster system of some kind, and I'm fairly certain this system here was once a secondary or tertiary weapons array. All in all, it has become clear that the 'Drift Rock' was at one point in time part of a substantially larger engineered structure."
Nor pauses for a moment, allowing the revelations to sink in. "That time is likely distant history, however; visual isotopic dating indicates the equipment in this rock was in disuse long before the birth of civilization in this planetary system."
"Ambassador, I recall that when we went out to investigate the quarantined ship and asteroid, you sent along a camera drone to record our investigation. I also recall us having been promised copies of any and all recordings in made. However, as we were being driven in, I noticed that there were clips on various viewscreens already showing various portions of the more... intense portions of the investigation, some of which occurred only in the last few hours. I am interested in how the media acquired these shots so quickly."
"He leaked it, of course," Diedre answers Entiren's question for the Ambassador. She shoots Nor a knowing smile. "It created the perfect distraction while he retrieved his package."
"Leaked? Charlatans and grifters 'leak'. More upstanding members of society distribute press releases." Nor produces a thick, slightly lustrous piece of paper with an Eoxian letterhead, which he slides across the desk to Diedre. The press release contains a brief description of the Starfinders' mission and a net location of relevant footage. "The first rule of mediation is to keep control over the situation, and that includes information."
Diedre looks around at the others before turning back to Ambassador Nor. "I assume it was you that appropriated our shuttle with your shipment on it?" she asks. "Some of us had personal belongings on that ship, so we would really appreciate their return."
"Actually, it was Station Security that recalled the Hippocampus. When you entered the Drift Rock and communications went completely dark, some feared the worst. I had more faith, however, and took the liberty of collecting your personal items. They are currently being loaded into the vehicle that brought you here."
"Speaking of belongings..." Nor presses a button under the desk, revealing a drawer on the Starfinders' side containing six credsticks. "These belong to you. Well-earned, if I may say so."
"You haven't asked us about our thoughts on the ownership of the Drift Rock," Diedre says after a bit.
"I'm not a lawyer, but my guess is that by a strict reading of the contract, ownership of the resources contained in the rock belong to Astral Extractions. But even with that, in my professional opinion, by far the most valuable property is the rights to the story of the miners struggle against the ..." she looks at Lauren, "... akata? The akata. It's ultimately a sad story, but heartwrenching can be a very marketable trait. And unless Astral Extractions wants a PR disaster, they'll concede the rights to that story to the miners. Unless, of course, they want to be known as the corporation that literally profits from the deaths of their contractors."
She looks at her companions.
"Anyway, that's my opinion - not necessarily the thoughts of the majority of our group."
"You haven't asked us about our thoughts on the ownership of the Drift Rock," Diedre says after a bit.
"Your observations are far from erroneous," Nor replies with the barest hint of a smile, "but only the future truly knows how the arbitration will be resolved. Your part, however, has been completed in stunning fashion, and rest assured that I speak for all parties when I extend official commendation and thanks. Are there any issues I might assist you with before you depart?"
Diedre looks around at the others. "We still expect a full copy of all the recordings of the mission. Other than that, nothing comes to mind. We'll be happy to be on our way for our debriefing with our superiors with the Starfinders."
She flashes Ambassador Nor her most sincere smile and rises to take her leave.
Not hearing anything about the two attacks on the team, Miraj speaks up.
"Who contracted zee Claras--zat is, Clara-247a and b--to attack our ship?"
After Nor addresses this, Miraj will follow up with, "Next, why did zat corpse-fleet ship attack us ven ve left?"
Not hearing anything about the two attacks on the team, Miraj speaks up.
"Who contracted zee Claras--zat is, Clara-247a and b--to attack our ship?"
After Nor addresses this, Miraj will follow up with, "Next, why did zat corpse-fleet ship attack us ven ve left?"
"Unfortunately, Mr. Pavana, those are not questions with easily discovered answers. The fighter craft that engaged the Hippocampus was, as far as I can ascertain, unregistered and largely fabricated from scrapped vessels. Such 'junkcraft' are common in and about the Station, and tracing their origin is nearly impossible without a significant investment of time and resources. As for motive, I will refrain from speculating during the course of this mediation, and I strongly advise you to do the same.
"The Corpse Fleet, in contrast, has very simple motivations - the complete domination and eradication of life itself. I strongly and without reservation condemn both the intentions and actions of this rogue organization, and assure you that the Eoxian Conclave fully supports their fellow Pact Worlds citizens, regardless of life-status. I am truly sorry that you experienced this aggressive action and assure you that we are taking every possible precaution to prevent it from happening again."
The undead elebrian stands, gesturing towards the door. "Your personal items have been placed in the transport, and it will take you wherever you would like within the Station. I look forward to crossing paths with you again, Starfinders."
As the Starfinders filter out of the tomb-like office, Nor calls after them, as if remembering a small detail.
"Oh, Mr. Jahanet'ai. I looked into the issue you spoke of at our last meeting. Perhaps you would take a walk with me? I would like to discuss Ozymandias."
Jehir's head snaps around like an arrow from a bow. "I..." Looking back at his compatriots, the borai solarian seems nervous. "I will catch up with you at a later time. Don't wait up." Nor and Jehir disappear down a hallway, deeper into the embassy.
Diedre waves goodbye at Jehir in confusion.
"I hope he's going to be ok," she says, watching as the Borai takes his leave. Any consternation she might be feeling about Jehir's departure is quickly swallowed up at the sight of her gear in the ground car.
"Yes!" she says as she pulls her guitar from its storage bag and looks it over. "Not a scratch. Well, there is one scratch, but that was there when I got it so ..." What follows seems to be a quick inventory of her clothes that concludes with a frown.
"Um..." she glances at the others nervously before leaning a little closer to Aureum. "The place I picked out is nice, but not like really nice, you know? It's not ... meh ... either, so ..." She shrugs. "I'm going to have to get something to wear and I would normally love to go clothes shopping with you, but I kinda ..." She glances at the others again and her voice gets even quieter. "I was hoping for it to be a surprise. Since this will be our first date and all."
Nervousness crosses her face and her blue eyes widen emphasizing her elven features.
"It's ok if I call it a date, right? It is a date, right?" Diedre doesn't even breathe as she waits for the lashunta's response.
As Lauren exits the embassy, she 'thumbs' the credstick in her pocket with a feeding tentacle absentmindedly. She looks around the group and says, "I is needing some things. Should I also be sellings the things from Drift Rock?"
Aureum exits the embassy alongside the other Starfinders, gladly retrieving her few personal items.
Nervousness crosses her face and her blue eyes widen emphasizing her elven features.
"It's ok if I call it a date, right? It is a date, right?" Diedre doesn't even breathe as she waits for the lashunta's response.
Aureum blushes, her heart beating a little faster at the sight of Diedre's wide blue eyes looking at her like that. She smiles and nods, trying to keep her cool. "I think so. Yes."
She looks down at her own clothes, rumpled and dirty after their overnight on the Drift Rock. "I guess I'll be doing the same thing. I'll, um..." Feeling a little giddy, she grins coyly. "I'll pick you up in a few hours?"
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
As Lauren exits the embassy, she 'thumbs' the credstick in her pocket with a feeding tentacle absentmindedly. She looks around the group and says, "I is needing some things. Should I also be sellings the things from Drift Rock?"
"That would probably be best, Lauren. Thank you for thinking of that."
Aureum blushes, her heart beating a little faster at the sight of Diedre's wide blue eyes looking at her like that. She smiles and nods, trying to keep her cool. "I think so. Yes."
She looks down at her own clothes, rumpled and dirty after their overnight on the Drift Rock. "I guess I'll be doing the same thing. I'll, um..." Feeling a little giddy, she grins coyly. "I'll pick you up in a few hours?"
As if hearing the doctor reveal that all the tests are negative and 'Yes, you'll live.' Diedre takes an actual breath and her face lights up in excitement. "Yes," she says nodding and grinning. "That'll work. I just need to ... Yes, that'll work."
~~~
Diedre spends the next hour in her cabin with her comm unit digging through data, applying filters, adjusting for themes, swiping left over and over again as she engages in the age-old quest; The search for the perfect dress.
"Unngggg," she growls in frustration. "Why is this so difficult? This is why porn is easier - no one gives a hedgehog's hiney what you're wearing!" She swipes the image off to the left. "Too sexy." Swipe. "Not sexy enough." Swipe. "Nope." Swipe. "Definitely not." Swipe. "Gods no." Swipe. "Geez, this is going to take forever. I need to speed this along."
With a few taps on her control unit, she finds the data she's looking for and with another few taps, she transfers the program to the Moriko's systems. She hops up from her bunk and exits the cabin. Heading down the hall, she opens the door to the holo-suite. She closes the door behind her and engages the privacy lock.
"Load and Run: 'A Special Night with Lana Lash'," she commands. The sparse room is almost immediately replaced with a romantic dining area with candles shedding a flickering light over the room. An simulacrum of Diedre, dressed in a provocative evening gown rises from the chair on the other side of the table. "I've been waiting for you," she purrs seductively.
"Console Mode," Diedre commands and the fabricated version of herself freezes in place. "Hard Jump to 'Sounding Board' routine."
The romantic room is replaced with a table sitting outside a sidewalk cafe. The fabricated Diedre reappears in one of the two chairs. However, this time she's dressed in capri pants and a light blouse. She pushes the sunglasses she wears up to the top of her head and smiles in a friendly manner.
"So, what's up, Didi?" she asks. "What would you like to talk about?"
Diedre drops into the other chair and presses her face into her hands. "I have a date tonight and I need a dress." She looks up from her hands. "No, correct that. I need the perfect dress."
"You know that there is no such thing," software-Diedre says, her grin widening. "But let's see what we can find." She waves her hand and a third version of Diedre appears, standing naked and at rest next to the table. "How far should we search, geographically?"
"Absalom Station," Diedre says with a sigh.
"And the date? Male? Female? Other? Race? Any known preferences?"
"It's with Aureum Ophir, reference the ship's crew."
An image of Aureum appears next to the standing Diedre.
"So, female Lashunta," software-Diedre says with a smirk. "Does this, by any chance have anything to do with ...?"
"It's just a coincidence," Diedre snaps, interrupting.
"Ok, ok," the image answers with raised hands. "Just asking. No need to get defensive." She turns back to the two images in front of her. "She is cute."
"Yeah, so cute. And she's smart too. She knows her way around a computer console." Diedre says with a smile and a sigh.
"You are such a nerd," software-Diedre says with a laugh. "Autonomic responses indicate that you're strongly attracted to her. You're not being creepy, are you?"
"Gods, I hope not," the half-elf answers, dropping her face into her hands again.
The image shakes her head and chuckles. "Tone of the date?"
"It's our first date. Dinner. I want something sexy, but I don't want to go full 'Lana Lash' on her."
The image looks back and forth between Diedre and the image of Aureum. "First thing you need to do is lose the blue hair. Stick with your natural color - you're trying too hard." Diedre frowns and touches one of her blue ponytails, but then she nods. Software-Diedre then looks back at the prop Diedre who's hair has now switched back to the half-elf's natural auburn. She's also now clothed in a slinky black dress. "No," is Diedre's response. The dress is replaced with another which is also quickly rejected. A number of dresses follow - each in turned declined.
"Wait," Diedre says after a moment. "Show me that last one again." The image is garbed in the requested dress. "I think that's the one."
"That one is in stock in Glinda's Glamorous Garb," software-Diedre offers, along with the location of the shop. "You'll need shoes as well. If we stick to what Glinda has ..." An instant later, the prop Diedre shifts up in height about five inches as matching shoes appear on her feet. "Those would be your best option and put you within easy kissing distance of Miss Ophir - assuming, of course, that she doesn't go for heels as well."
"I don't know if there will be any kissing involved, but ... good to know," Diedre says with a nod. "Put them on hold and let Glinda's know I'll be by as soon as possible to pick them up." She rises from the chair.
"Done." software-Diedre says after a moment of thought. "Good luck."
"Thanks," Diedre says with a nod. "Console Mode. Save Interaction Data. End Program."
Miraj listens to Nor's excuses for giving out no useful information with a stoic expression. He's dealt with enough of this kind to know DD when it's being shoveled his way. With nothing to leverage a more informative answer, he shrugs and leaves when dismissed, happy to clutch his credit stick as his main reward.
"Zat vas a stinky brew of Dragon Drek, I'll wager," he says once they are free of the embassy staff. "Zat undead excuse fur a sentient being is likely up to his top vertebrate in zis. Convenient zat the Eoxians have a rogue group zat zey can always use to keep their bony hands clean. I've seen organized crime groups use zee same tactic many times."
Once the transport, Miraj says, "Once we've had a chance to clean up, ve owe zee miners a visit, to give zem vhat answers ve can as to vhat happened to zere comrades. I'll put together a report using zee pictures of zee crew, along with captures from zee video file. As for zere claim on zee rock, I doubt zey vill get possession of it, now zat it is revealed to have alien and ancient advanced tech on it. But knowing it came from zee void und not zee area zey vere sent to survey may help. Ve need to give zem vhat data ve can about where zee rock vas obtained." He shrugs, angry at how big corporations take advantage of the people with less resources to fight them.
Miraj will suggest the group gets rooms close together until things settle down. "Ve may still have targets on our backs. I may change my appearance again, just to avoid getting zee extra attention ve seem to warrant. I'd suggest everyone keep his/her/zheir guard up."
When it comes to selling equipment collected on the adventure, Miraj opts to keep the weapons he picked up, having already carried them about, he feels safer holding onto them, as if they are lucky. But if someone needs a cheaper than new handgun, he'll gladly give up a couple of them, although he'd like to keep Clara's sniper rifle, if nothing else.
He pats his semi-auto as this is negotiated, saying, "Don't vorry, Alice. You'll always be first in my heart. But I might haf to give zhese other veapons names."
"I have no doubt in my mind that Nor is involved more than he's stated. That was no junkyard ship that attacked us in the Moriko - that was pure Corpse Fleet. Why they're involved ...? But there's a connection to Ambassador Nor there, I'd bet my tips on it." One hand moves subconsciously to rub the tip of one pointed ear.
"Yes, it would be good to meet with the miners in person. We could do that tomorrow morning, right after breakfast."
Diedre plans to bunk on the ship for rest of the group's stay on the station.
Entiren nods at Miraj's suggestion about sleeping arrangements. "The Moriko is probably one of the safest places for us to sleep for now. While it would mean slightly more time in getting around the station, sleeping in safety seems worth it to me. After we get a chance to rest, it would definitley be a good idea to go and speak with the Hardscrabble Collective." Pausing to think for a moment, he then continues. "That said, we should probably go give a report to Chiskisk as soon as possible. They, as well as the Starfinder Society in general, will likley find our discoveries on the Drift Rock to be of interest, to say the least."
Looking through the gear, the only items he specifically grabs are the two healing serums. Gesturing to the small pile of UPBs, he says "Do we wish to keep these, or transfer them into credits? I have no major preference on the matter, but keeping them could be a good idea. You never know when they might be useful."
"Keeping the UPBs in the Mariko's hold would make for a good ship fund," Diedre offers.
Miraj groans as Entiren mentions reporting to the Starfinders. He had briefly forgotten his new affiliation. "Your're right. Let's make zee Starfinders our first stop. Maybe zey have some facilities where ve can clean up. I'm for getting something good to eat and maybe some shopping. Ve can meet back at zee ship. We'll want to take zee ship to visit zee collective anyway. No way I'm riding zat rust bucket zey call a shuttle again." His stomach turns a flip at the memory.
Lauren looks a little dejected at the suggestion to sleep on the ship as she had been hoping to fill her bell with water for the night in a sleep pod in Puddles. She relents without word, though, and nods along with the group.
"Sos wes head to Lorspires, then to ship to sleep."
Aureum nods her assent. "Report to the Starfinders, and then we can go about our evenings." She glances at Diedre, smiling.
"Yes, sleep or ... or whatever you'd like to do."
Diedre smiles shyly back and then turns her attention to her comm unit. She seems to be searching for something and getting slightly agitated at not finding it.
Miraj sends a message to Jehir letting him know of the group plans. "I wonder what Nor wanted to talk to Jehir about. Anyone know what that might be about? Who or what is Ozymandias?"
"I don't have any idea what he would want to talk to Nor about," Diedre says without looking up from her comm unit. "But since Clara left, he's got the room to himself."
"Anyone know what that might be about? Who or what is Ozymandias?"
Miraj can't recall any specific people, places, or things by that name, but the detective can gather enough culture scraps together to assume that "Ozymandias" is likely an alias used by someone who revels in their anonymity and believes themselves to be powerful.
---
The embassy vehicle takes the better part of half an hour to travel from the open parks and boulevards of the Eye to the spacious but crowded thoroughfares of the Ring. As soon as the Lorespire is visible, the automated vehicle turns down a narrow alley, descending beneath the primary street level and finally coming to rest in some sort of loading bay. A sharply-dressed human male with the insignia of the Society emblazoned on his jacket approaches at a hurried jog/shuffle pace.
"Sorry, sorry! The embassy called to let us know you were coming, but the stiff on the phone neglected to mention they were dropping you off in the basement! Come, come, there's a service elevator around the corner." Offering assistance with the Starfinders' gear, he ushers the group into the aforementioned elevator, which promptly begins to rise.
The Starfinders very quickly find themselves herded into a familiar office occupied by a familiar shirren.
{"I would ask how it went, but..."} Chiskisk gestures to a nearby vidscreen showing a newsreel peppered with B-footage of Diedre manically chasing a goblin through the corridors of the Acreon. {"...I'm sure you're tired of retelling the same story. More interestingly, I've been cross-referencing some of the footage with the Society's anthropological database, and... wait, where is Jehir?"} Chiskisk twitches their antennae quizzically.
Diedre cringes at the selected footage. "Not my best scene," she says with a regretful smile.
When asked about Jehir, she frowns. "Ambassador Nor had more information regarding something personal for him and he stayed behind, I guess," Diedre offers with a shrug.
"Nor said it vas about something Jehir had asked about before, something to do with 'Ozymandias?' I remember Jehir said something to zee ambassador in Eoxian as ve were concluding zee initial meeting. Couldn't understand it myself."
"I kept notes as ve had opportunities to rest. Has most of zee details I remember are in it." Miraj sends his file to Chiskkisk.
Diedre looks nervous for a moment before speaking up.
"Um... Jehir was asking about Eoxian implants. He was looking for a merchant that dealt in them," she says, her face flush. "I wasn't trying to eavesdrop or anything. It was just that I rarely get to practice Eoxian. I needed language credits at uni and it was the only language they offered that I didn't already know."
"Jehir is leavings to gets implants? Why is this troubles or secrets?" Lauren says, confused again. As she speaks, though, she never takes her eyes off the monitor, trying to determine if the footage really is unedited.
{"In some places, those types of implants are illegal,"} Diedre passes along to Lauren.
When asked about Jehir, she frowns. "Ambassador Nor had more information regarding something personal for him and he stayed behind, I guess," Diedre offers with a shrug.
Chiskisk sighs audibly, absentmindedly cleaning one antenna with a gnarled hand. {"I was afraid of that. Nor alluded to someone putting pressure on Jehir - I don't believe this is a simple case of grey market necrografts. The Conclave, through Nor, have a tendency to see all undead persons as defacto Eoxian citizens, and any threats against them become a matter of state, more or less."}
Leaning back in their chair, Chiskisk massages around the base of one eye, clearly fatigued. {"If Jehir does have some trouble - be it loan shark, spurned lover, or some other sort of nemesis - he'll likely be on the next ship to Eox, where he can safely take the Eoxian solution to life's problems. Wait until your enemies are dead."}
Standing up, Chiskisk leans on their cane as they limp over to the vidscreen, changing the feed from the news to an analysis of the alien language of the Drift Rock. {"I lose more promising agents that way... Anyhow. We must focus on the now, and right now, this is what interests me. What do you make of it?"}
"Whatever it is, I haven't seen it before," Diedre says, her attention being drawn back to the strange characters. "Some of what we were looking at looked like control software, but control of what, we don't know." She looks to Aureum to expound more on the subject.
"Ambassador suggest it is once parts of very large place, and Is agrees. Is old places too. Robot was... not same as new. Languages unknown." Lauren twists her bell and bobs her feeding tentacles in her imitation of a shrug.
Miraj lets the experts worry about the language. "This vill likely spark a stampede to try to get hold of anything zat ancient und zat advanced. It's one of zee oldest story hooks in space exploration fiction. Accidental discovery of ancient und presumably powerful tech/magic/whatever, und next thing assassins und dark op teams are swarming over zee heroes to get zee goods."
His tone is joking, but only half.
Lauren squelches her bell in the cultural equivalent of an exaggerated gulp, "Waits, is we the hero in this story?"
”Zat depends on our next assignment,” Miraj replies and looks at Chiskisk.