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Doc Kemple trails out after the others, doing her best not to be obvious when she stares at the camera crew from the corner of her eyes and fidgets under their attention. Pytho seemed to have the right idea and beat her to it. Still, she does load up the #LEE hashtag on her personal comm to keep tabs on what people are saying. It could prove useful, especially if they notice something the group doesn't.
Her small steps have her shuffling after Lynn as he pulls her satchel further up her side and hunkers close to it, grumping softly. "This feels so strange. I don't know how much I like having half the pact worlds staring at us. I'm fine with Rora and Lynn making spectacles, it'll distract people from the rest of us."
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Verus steps off the shuttle and listens to the other Starfinders. While "mugging" for the camera would certainly be beneath him, the others are certain to notice that he takes just a bit too long to scan the horizon, run diagnostics on his weapons, and otherwise provide something camera-worthy.
"Lighten up, Grinds-Blades-to-Dust *cough*-y. We knew the deal. Part of the job is to let them film it. And we always finish the job. Right, Rora?"
Much more quietly to Doc, "See? Just give them the opportunity to talk and the camera crew won't even notice you any more. Even if it means riling up the haan a bit."
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With all said and done the team learns from the mechanics that they will have to go down the hallway to see where the previous team got. As they make their way down Wazasha and some of the film crew start to ask the starfinder questions about how dangerous it is, what they have seen so far and what kind of monsters they have seen and if they have been on Salvation's End before.
As the team makes their way down they find broken and incomplete robots and drones of unknown design at irregular intervals along the worn steel hallways. Almost every light fixture is broken or malfunctioning, making the 15-foot-tall tunnels dark but for the occasional, haunting flicker of light from the distance. In the few places where it seems signage once hung, someone has purposefully defaced or removed the analog signs and torn out any digital displays.
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Pytho-7 stops as the party walk down the tunnel, his fingers move across his datapad once more as he tries to ascertain more data and information about this place. His eyes glow and move looking ferverishly at the surrounding. "Something is wrong, I can't get any information, there is not any data I can discover about any computers that may be here." The android turns to walk back in annoyance and disgust at the lack of his own expertise, but then remembers the TV crew. His neuro-paths flash, Irrational behavior is sure to elicit attention, not wanted. He moves towards the other android nudges Line-04, "I can't attach to Salvation's End's network, something is wrong."
Instead Pytho-7 tries to answer the TV crew, "Team caught a fraudster on Akiton. Team very good, I wasn't needed." he says disinterestedly. Team accomplished mission. he leaves the crew and starts to analyse the tunnel, he needed to do something or he would not contribute and miss out on future missions. Capture the data and move on. Inform team.
Using his battered communicator he speaks to all the team, from his place following them. "Point of information, Pytho-7 speaking. Tunnels are damaged and the surrounding rocky matrix is visible. Analysis continuing." His head is bathed in a soft greenish light. His eyes revolve turning 360 degrees, he walks forward slowly, before the light subsides. "Analysis complete. Point of information. Geology confirms the rock seems natural. Signs of warping and buckling of the strata. Postulate periodic strong gravitational forces or large-scale movement of large organic or non-organic object toward the moon’s core. Further exploration and analysis required. Continue on."
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Kemple glances over towards Varus and offers him a conspiratorial wink. "I'm certainly not above riling up somebody larger than me if it means people focusing somewhere else. It works rather well on most missions, I guess it can work here, too."
She skitters ahead a bit, but stays in the general vicinity of Verus and his plethora of weaponry while digging about one of the old androids. She rips out something that seems important and brings it close to her eyes while turning it over several times. "Well, whatever this stuff is, it looks about as advanced as anything we have. Never seen the style before, though. I don't think it's from a Pact World race...."
She trails off upon noticing one of the cameras creeping ever closer to her face as she studies the object. She uses it to partially hide herself while addressing them. "I mostly just go around on the shoulders of a vesk I know and keep him running in the right direction... the last mission I did on my own... we uh... ran into some people that were turned into cyberzombies.. um... because of some bad augmentations... I uh... I did save someone's life by removing one?" She offers hopefully before dropping her robot part and trying to shuffle away from the camera's angle. She was glad she had fur so no one could notice how red she was turning.
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Lynn kicks her feet out in front of her as she takes a look at the walls of the tunnel ahead. She hums to herself as she does so, then turns to glance at the camera "Well, it sure is pretty spooky!" She says so while not looking phased in the slightest "You know, the flickery lights make you think that a cyberzombie is gonna jump out at you at every turn. Or an assembly ooze is gonna drop on you and turn you into a pile of comm units! But to be honest, I feel zetta safe with all the super well armed, well trained Starfinders in this group!"
She nods at Kemple's analysis about the tech level at work here. "You don't think this was maybe some kind of secret hideout? Maybe a secret Diaspora Pirate Captain base! Ooooh, maybe they're still here?" Her mouth twists to the side as she considers what else she sees. "Though with how the signs have been trashed, maybe it switched owners a couple of times?" She taps at her nose before shrugging. "We'll find out soon!"
Hearing Pytho's comment, she steps over to put one hand on his shoulder "I'm not sure how to break it to you Pytho... but Salvation's End probably doesn't have an info-sphere. This is off the beaten track! The wild unknown! A mystery rock full of mysteries!" She grins as he explains the geologic phenomena. "Oh, maybe some besmaran whelp borrowed down into the moon? That'd be a huge movement!"
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Pytho-7's eye revolves to look at LINE-04, his head lights in shades and after a good 108 microseconds of consideration, replies "The probability of that is only 0.1728 times 1 to minus 56, there are at least 7.56 million more likely causes." His head tilts to the side, as he watches for LINE's reply, calculating as she does, that it will not be accurate enough to warrant storing for retrieval. LINE android series: must determine make, core functionality and imperatives. Pytho-7 stores for later analysis, when the present mission is over, or at least requires less concentration.
Pytho-7's head sinks into his shoulders, in what an organic life form might consider a shrug. "Correct assumption regarding info-sphere" as the android lets out a sigh, "There is much to catalog and analyse." His eyes turn once more light a bright green and search for dangers and possibilities in the walkway.
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"Always!" Rora replies to Verus.
As they head down the hall, Rora spins her pistol in her hands and answers the questions posed to her.
"Dangerous? What is? Being a Starfinder? Of course! And deadly! But me? I enjoy the excitement! What's life without a bit of danger, hey?"
"Past missions? Oh, I've saved a town from economic ruin, fought off thugs and bandits in the deserts of Akiton, captured a renegade agent, forged alliances with other organizations, caught and captured an infamous assassin, and saved a gala fun of important dignitaries! As for enemies, the fiercest thing I've ever fought were humanoids. There's no enemy more cunning, or capable of horror."
With a grin she adds. "I've never been here before. But, I can't wait to uncover the secrets it holds."
As the light flicker and the others point out their opinions on the robotics and stone, Rora checks them out herself.
"Oh, yeah! These babies are NOT Pact Worlds technology. Advanced, but not ours." She nods at Kemple. "Nice work, pal."
She examines the rocks and makes and "Huh!" sound while nodding. "Good assessment, Pytho."
With a glance back at the cameras, Rora explains, "It takes a crew to get a job done right!"
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"Correctness doesn't need confirmation from the uninformed. I can download my assessment of the geology to your datapad for education." he says to Rora in a matter of fact and deadpan way. "You have areas of expertise, I have areas of expertise, sometimes they overlap." Pytho-7 considers Rora's assessment of her previous missions, "Your success in missions is commendable." He walks on...
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With the team slowly making their way down the corridors and the crew filming their every steps and asking questions as they go, showing the quirks from all the starfinders in full display, thos keeping track of the infosphere and the #LEE! tag will see some notes flashing "#LEE: Pytho seems like a regular android, boring and dull, does know his stuff tho!" "#LEE! Is rora single! asking for an adventorous friend!" "#LEE! Dusty seems to be a doomsayer! gotta keep my eye on him!" and finally "#LEE! Kemple seems scared, should his parents have let him go?!" as the team moves farther down their chosen tunnel, they also find a midden containing both refuse and excrement.
As the starfinders explore Wazasha is up in the face of Kemple, asking him what he has found, what is going on and if he thinks there is any danger up ahead. All the others are in spotlights as well and it seems that Wazasha is keeping an eye on any of the starfinders to record them doing anything out of the ordinary, standing out, anything for some good ol' fashion live tv!
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Kemple is alternating between trying to seem to pleased by Lynn and Rora's praise, scanning the area, and looking down at her comm to follow the tag. Despite her split attention she stops and leans far down to consider the refuse piles. Hey, um... I think someone or something has been here in the last couple of hours. I don't know what, but I would gather there were at least a few of the--" Her eyes flick down to her comm, then widen as her fur bristles. "What's this 'He' stuff!!" She turns to Wazasha, ignoring the Eoxian's questions and instead points an accusing finger at her while trying to maintain some maintain of composure while stuck on galactic television.
"What is wrong with your audience! I'm a girl!" She sniffs and adjusts her glasses before stomping away from the cameras muttering to herself and hunkering down further. Just because her gear is practical and not as flashy as the others.
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Grinds leads the group grunting as he hears his name. Its not doomsaying; its the caution gained from a thousand hunts. This team would die on this rock without my caution. Except Rora. Lucky little scamp. And don't call me Dusty.
Grinds proceeds an examines the piles of refuse. He rolls it around a bit with his giant armored legs Goblins.....and ah yes those pretentious lizards who fancy themselves at the top of the food chain. Foolishly. Vesk. Maybe. Lets be careful. Goblins and Vesk mean we're about to be more annoyed. he turns to Lynn and lets out low pitched clicks to indicate his other source of annoyance.
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Pytho-7 starts to zig-zag in a rather unorthodox way as he follows the the party as they make their way down the corridor. He does this in a childish way, trying not to be caught. Damn spotlight! what might pass as a smile is illuminated on his face, a yellowish light passes as the illuminated words describe him.
He continues in the motion, kicking as he does various bits of discarded technology. Occasionally he stoops down, to pick a piece from the floor and study it for a moment or two. The Doc is right, this technology is not found in my databanks. His eyes flash green and the datapad displays a holographic type image of the object, a date, time and notes accompany the image. As part of the notes he adds, low-value technological scrap, 85.7% chance was at some time attached to high value technology.
Pytho-7 moves his rifle slung from one shoulder to the other, as he stores the datapad for a moment and counts the number of darts he bought with him, his eyes sparkle green, "Ammunition confirmed.". He continues on.
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Rora struts down the hallway with her pistol in hand. As the others dive into the dung heap, Rora raises an eyebrow and smirks at the camera. "I'll let them handle that." She shakes her head and lets out a mild chuckle before turning her attention back to her pals.
"Goblins and a vesk, hey?" Her grin widens. "Sounds like it's about to get exciting."
"Eyes open, Team."
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"Acknowledged Rora" the android replies as he takes hold his rifle, caressing it in his hands. The all black sleek weapon, with a rather larger than normal bore, takes specialized darts able to inject substances into the target, for good or ill. Currently the darts contain no serums and deal just normal projectile damage, but none the less it may keep adversaries at bay.
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Lynn wrinkles her nose pre-emptively at the sight of the midden, mouthing EWWWWWWWWWWW for the camera. "Gross. Goblins and Vesk? I'm gonna guess they're not working together. Because wow would those two not mix one bit! All I can imagine is the vesk stomping on the little goblins right now."
When Dusty looks at her, she gives him a friendly wave of her hand, oblivious to the fact that she's managed to irritate him.
While some of the group continues to investigate the midden, Lynn holds back and takes a look at her other companions. Pursing her lips, she focuses, and ♪♫ begins to hum ♪♫...
Once the mental link is established, she continues to hum, but without summoning any further magic. As she does, she sends mentally to Kemple "Oh my gosh Kempie! I feel for you soooo much. I was at a party for Luwazi and met this scholar ysoki there named Royo? Well after I had a nice long chat with him he started calling me Mister! Seriously! I was sooo embarassed. And then there was this other singer and Starfinder, you might know her, she's called Vixi. She heard it and gave me a look. Like... all mean. It was terrible!" Her mental voice wobbles with emotion. "But don't worry! Once people see how cute you are in the vid, no one will be making that mistake for you!" She sends a mental giggle.
To Rora she sends "Gotcha Rora, my eyes are super open!"
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The vesk listens carefully to the androids and cracks up at Pytho's comments. "Lynn, is this guy not the funniest? He just can't stop himself!"
Verus carefully considers the other Starfinders as they examine the pile. He finally peeks over Grinds shoulder after his comments about vesk, "You... You know that's s+*+, right? You're playing with s%$~."
Without waiting for comment, he unlimbers his tactical pike and sets off with Doc. "Show me the way, Doc. Then get behind me. Rora can handle them if they are in a talkative mood. I'll give them something to think about if they aren't." He stops for a moment after speaking.
"Or if you'd prefer..." he offers the ysoki a shoulder to ride on, remembering what she said about her other large friend.
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Kemple purses her lips and gives Lynn a long look as if struggling to come up with a response to all that was said without actually giving away the hidden discussion. "Um... I don't know if I want them to notice that much... just, to not call me a guy. But thanks." There's some effort put into giving the android a small smile before Verus distracts her. She nearly jumps out of her skin at the sudden Vesk on her heels, having been a bit too focused internally.
"Gah!" He steadies herself on a vesk boot with one hand while pointing further down the path. "They went down that way, just... just be noisier. You surprised me, but I think I'll walk, I don't want to be as close to anything as I think you're going to want to get." She gives Verus's boot a couple pats and then wanders back while he argues with Dusty over who gets to touch the piles of crap, frowning at the Haan's dirty claws. "Please wash your hands before you eat anything, you're going to get a GI infection from that."
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Wazasha regarded Kemple for a moment and then shrugged. "Don't blame me if the audience thinks you are a male Ysoki!" with that said she turns her head and regards the rest and makes sure that all of the crew is taking in the actions of the starfinders, just as she wants to say something a loud explosion can be heard down the tunnel and a cloud of dust can be seen around the corner of the tunnel. Wazasha turns and motions to the crew in hopes of taking in their reactions and getting a glimpse of how a well trained team of starfinders would respond to explosions and dangers like a true M. Bay action movie!
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Kemple watches everyone dash off with way too much zeal to be healthly and can't help but smirk as she fixes her glasses and follows after. "Yep, definitely a Starfinder Op." If she had anymore words for Wazasha, she abandons them for the situation at hand. As she reaches the heels of their rather large front line she pulls her pulsecaster out of the holster and pulls a handful of rocks out of her pocket.
"I don't see any goblins, but I see at least one vesk." Being at the back of the party the only vesk she could see is Verus.
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As Pytho-7 was about to grab the organic matter that so interested Rora, Verus and the others, the world or at least the corridor is rocked. "I have been disturbed, analysis incomplete, however the vapors are noxious, not poisonous. Unpleasant to most humanoid life forms."
Even as the sound of the explosion reverberates down the corridor, Pytho-7 immediately brings his rifle up to his shoulder. He watches closely as Rora makes her way to poke her head round the corner. He looks for cover, from which he could use his weapon without exposing his vitals. He makes understated, purely functional moves.
His eyes flash, his head flashes with green lines as he waits for Verus and He-who-grinds to act. To follow them at some distance if they move forward. "This interesting enough?" he says loudly enough for the cameras. To the others invited to join this expedition he says, "Awaiting Target."
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As Rora looks around the corner she can see some shadows moving up ahead and the sound of footsteps as well... it seems like, yeah upon listening closer she can hear goblins up ahead. Meanwhile, due to the darkness the camera crew turns on the lights of the camera's some shining up ahead and some right into the faces of the starfinders. So far the team has been unnoticed.
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"Goblins. Ready, team?" With a wide grin she adds, "Let's show 'em who's boss."
Rora steps around the corner. Silhouetted by the smoke and dust from the explosion, and backlit by the lights, she announces loudly, "Hey, goblins! The name's RORA! Put down your guns, explosives and shivs and let us pass, and you'll all come out of this fine and dandy! This is your one warning! Open fire, and my face will be the last thing you see... That's a promise!"
"What'll it be?"
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Pytho-7 looks on amazed at Rora's audacious and overconfident display in threatening goblins around the corner, that he and the others haven't even seen yet. The fact the lights from the camera crew followed her round and light up the whole area. "So no surprise, except a Ysoki lit up and like a target." Pytho-7 moves over behind any cover he can find and takes a position with his rifle. Tell Rora, to take precautions.
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"We're going in?" Lynn stares for a moment at Rora, theatrically wide-eyed, before nodding affirmatively. "Alright, we're going in!" She jumps into the spotlight with the ysoki.
She spins in place, puts a hand on one hip, and points a finger gun at the goblins when she sees them. "Hands up goblins, and listen to Rora here, if you don't want no trouble!" Midway through she uses her vocal modulator to affect an Akiton drawl in the style she picked up back in Tasch. She ruins the whole effect by giggling afterwards.
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"Oh boy, this is what we're doing?" She wants to slap herself in the face, but resists the urge to instead at least be a little productive in facilitating this charade? Was it a charade or were they serious. One pawed hand draws down the rim of her spectacles so she ccan peer over them, staring at Rora and Lynn. After a breath her eyes begin to glow an intense purple and she mutters to herself the words "Sparkle."
And just like that a patina of red and violet sparkles burst into life behind the pair of showboats, adding a little flair to their display.
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From behind the rest of the Starfinders, a voice is heard in its usual monotone, "Looks like a target range, you're all practice targets!" The android looks out into the darkness from behind his cover, seeking a hostile target. He adds "And turn those B***dy lights off, so we can see the threats...." and lets out a sigh of android resignation that this is not the way he does things.
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With Rora stepping into the open and making alot of noise, the light, camera and action effects shown as well seem to have little to no effect on the Goblins as they turn and take a quick shot at her before seeming running into cover. Rora can see in the back of the cavern something moving.
The film crew ignore the comments and one of them goes as far to take a heroic pose from Rora and her companions as they call out to the goblins, they take a magnificent video as Rora gets hit by the laser in the shoulder, doing a close up on her face to register the hit.
Those tracking the infosphere will see #LEE! We have action, heroic pose, goblins not impressed.. #LEE! taking bets the Ysoki will go down!
Bold can act
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Lynn: (17) + 6 = 23
Doc Kemple: (15) + 2 = 17
Pytho-7: (8) + 5 = 13
Space goblin 2: (10) + 3 = 13
Grinds: (9) + 3 = 12
Creature: (12) + 0 = 12
Space goblin 1: (8) + 3 = 11
Space goblin 2: (8) + 3 = 11
Verus: (4) + 6 = 10
Rora: (6) + 2 = 8
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Lynn calmly strides straight ahead, taking up a postion near the camera crew but with better visibility in all directions that enemies might come from. She tugs her headset on and flips a switch on the external speakers. After a few moments to quickly select appropriate backing music on her datapad, the speakers begin to deliver the opening bars, and Lynn ♫♪ begins to sing ♫♪ !
As she croons out the opening lines, the air around her appears to ripple and waver. Some kind of energies are gathering around her!
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Kemple scuttles her way between the legs of Dusty and Verus, keeping herself low to the ground and dodging around camera crew. Despite having her pulsecaster out she keeps it down at her side in favor of her much more mundane pile of rocks.
She peers around the wall into the next room and is about to make a comment when Lynn starts singing up a storm, causing the good Doctor to pause and glance back in confusion. She opens her mouth to say something else, shakes her head and just lets out a small grin to herself before looking ahead again.
She takes sight of the goblin proudly standing in the middle of the room and one of the stones in her hand is surrounded by a purple nimbus to match the glow in her eyes. Then it flashes forward right at the little creatures forehead.