With the barrage of attacks, Spinjack's bodygoes limp. His laser rifle drops from his hands, jetpack sputters, and his body careens to the ground after it, crashing onto the frozen earth with nauseating, wet cracking sounds.
As you catch your breath, a team of rhyphorian researchers rush past you to Spinjack's side, apparently having approached in the tumult from beyond the campus's borders. A handful of sercurity guards train their weapons on you, but seeing their commander's body on the ground they are visibly shaking and have no desire to engage. Dr. Monsylkis, dressing in an environmentally-sound field coat, pushes past them toward you. "What in the name of...what happened here?!"
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"Doctor, Spinjack and Farvenzi attacked us. I am afraid we have discovered that your research here is harming the local wildlife and even the Izulguun more than you have been led to believe. We saw an Izulguun who requires medicine for the rest of his life because he consumed some of the proteins from your research. Something in the plants your research produces replaces protein receptors in Izalraan organisms' cells, preventing them from metabolizing proteins from local plants and making them dependent on the synthetic ones. You need to stop your research before the damage becomes even worse."
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"Besides the negative effects of the plants it seems that your climate adjuster, if I may call it that, has a far greater effect than what you claimed it would be. I would invite you to take a trip over the planet to see for yourself what the impact on the climate is and see the differences in the local climate near your camp as compared to other similar areas on the planet. I would be happy to join you on such a trip to ascertain your security. Off course it would be up to you where to go, I would not interfere in your research in any way"
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"If you are in need of some new security for this trip I think I can manage to take on the job for a bit until the Society has a new gig lined up for me. And I have some people I can bring you into contact with who should be able to take over the job for a longer term...who should be more loyal to you then your ..previous assistants."
Rocket then softly mutters to himself
"..as long as the pay is decent off course..'
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Ba'hob additional details regarding the changed to the plant life and its effects. "It seems that an unsated desire for the protein change is extremely detrimental. Here are the notes from the Izalraan research and its effects."
"Also you should note that the weather tower itself is beginning to strain. You most likely won't be able to continue the research you wanted to do after a few weeks. You may be able to jurry rig it for a while. " Ba'hob looks over at Spinjack. "But you seem to be down one very skill mechanic" Ba'hob will point out the various technical problems with the generator.
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"And here are the especially relevant bits of data from the izalguun's research..." Arratoi highlights various bits of information presented by Ba'hob.
"In going to see the impact for yourself, we can also broker friendly discussions with the izalguuns. You'll find out, firsthand, that they have more intelligence and information than you thought. They may also be able to provide you information regarding how to further your research while ceasing the ecological harm your current methods are causing."
"Yes, with the weather changing, your weather tower will have difficulties keeping this climate up. Not that you'd want to given the harm being caused to the local fauna and flora. But the risk of an engineering mishap is just another reason why it's time to stop and reevaluate the project."
Final Diplomacy: 37
Final Engineering: 32
Final Medicine: 23 (with evidence)
Dr. Monsylkis's outrage shifts to confusion and regret as you walk her through the damage her research does to the environment and how ill-equipped the machine is to continue facilitating her work. "I just...I don't understand why they would attack like that. This is...this is not what I wanted. Yes, I'll have our team collapse the site and return to Triaxus immediately."
She gives the order and the rhyphorian staff immediately begin dismantling the station. She lowers her head and shakes it, muttering to herself.
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Delea gives the doctor a sympathetic look. "I don't think my friend Gunnz appreciates how much the loss of this research project may hurt. However, she is right that the Starfinder Society is always looking for talented people, and may have resources to help you with another interesting and useful research project."
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Listening to Gunnz and the doctor speak of ruined research, Arratoi can't help but burst out in a tell-all to the doctor...
"Ruined? Maybe... Maybe not... It's time you know the truth about this so-called nonprofit, Winterharvest, that you've been working for...
"Did you notice how well funded Winterharvest is? Or how quickly Winterharvest was able to set up this, admittedly, very advanced research station? Winterharvest is a very young organization - there is no realistic way it could have gotten onto its feet so quickly without significant deep pockets behind it.
"The truth is that you've been funded by a Triaxian DRAGONCORP named Frozen Trove Labs. They've blocked other corps from coming to perform any research on this planet. And being a dragoncorp, they are as unprincipled and as cutthroat as they come.
"Did you notice how despite Spinjack and Farvenzi being subordinate to you, they never really deferred to you as their boss? That's because their true boss was Frozen Trove and they've been managing you. They didn't want us to tell you the truth about your research affecting the local fauna and flora so that you'd keep working.
"You believe you've been working on research for a good and noble cause - how to develop crops more resilient to extreme weather. While I assume you've made progress towards this goal, you've also,as a by-product, developed a very potent narcotic. Sure, the addictive properties affect only the local fauna but I'm guessing, with the right research, it can be adapted to affect off-planet living beings as well.
"Both weather resistant crops and a new source of narcotics would prove profitable to Frozen Trove. I'm really sorry to break the truth to you, doc. Your employer does not have the same altruistic motives as you. They also may not treat you too kindly now that you've shut down this research station.
"Like my colleague said, the Starfinder Society is always welcoming to people of all backgrounds and disciplines. We can put you in touch with the right people to discuss if the Society can help further your research.
"However, we also have a contact with CeriCore Labs. We can arrange an introduction for you if you wish. I'm sure they'd be interested in your research and finding a way to continue your work - preferably in a more ethical manner. But beware...they are still a corp so profit is their motive but I believe their corporate policies are more responsible and ethical than Frozen Trove (although that's not saying much...).
"Either way, we're happy to help with whatever you desire. We're really truly sorry to have to break the news of Winterharvest and Frozen Trove's deception to you.
"On the bright side, this does give me an idea for a new novel... Perhaps I'll call it, 'Frozen Lies'... Or something along those lines... You'll get a free, autographed copy from me of course!"
Between Delea's informed flattery and Arratoi's comprehensive conspiracy theory/promised networking, the crestfallen doctor's face brightens. "Thank you for all of this. If what you say is true, I'd be honored to devote my work to the Starfinders or CeriCore. You've really helped me out of a jam here, and it's better than returning to Triaxus empty handed, especially if Winterharvest is actually backed by some cutthroat dragoncorp. I'd love to chat more about it on the journey home!"
Over several hours, the research team collapses all of the structures into star-travel worthy vessels, and your Pegasus has evidently been repaired to working order. Prior to departing, you return to the izalguun camp and explain your work to a grateful (but still reticent) Naarma. She gives you a hand-drawn star chart bearing a black "X" over a small moon four orbits away from Icefront’s sun. "You will find the relic you seek on a secret facility hidden inside this moon. I have included specific details on where the installation is located. Please know, however, the facility was designed to ensure that the relic was never found. Proceed with caution." After a pause, she looks to you and says, "I also hope that our people's technology can remain secret. We are comfortable with our lifestyle, and would rather not be probed further."
...
Your fleet of research vessels' journey back to Absalom Station is uneventful, minus some long conversations with Dr. Monsylkis and her staff about how best to orient themselves as new Starfinder Society staff. Luwazi Elsebo is elated that you discovered a new lead, rewarding each of you with a mk 1 electrostatic field armor upgrade. She prompts you for a detailed briefing from your mission—which Arratoi happily provides—and ultimately fixates on the star chart, the mysterious starship, and the izalguuns. The star chart she immediately scans copies of and transfers to her navigation crew, using her tablet to begin preparing exploration teams with your names at the top of the roster. Concerning the starship, Luwazi expresses both curiosity and concern; she double checks all of Guidance’s known starship designs and can’t find any known blueprints that match your attacker. Fearing that there might be more of these hostile starships, Luwazi asks you to prepare a presentation on your encounter for the rest of the Starfinder Society, so future expeditions can be better prepared to challenge them.
As for the izalguuns: "It appears this species has lived in relative anonymity for millennia, and they’ve done so despite prior invitations to return to their home system. Although our responsibility as Starfinders is to share our findings with the Pact Worlds, doing so in this case might be a violation of a people’s wishes. I can provide counsel, but in the end, you are the only Starfinders to have interacted with this culture and studied them firsthand. What is your official recommendation?"
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"I'd say leave them be since that's what they want. But in reality, they can't stay isolated forever as other organizations (corps, most likely) will eventually encroach upon their territory again. Staying isolated probably won't work forever.
"I'd propose giving them the distance and isolation requested but also providing them a means to contact the Society. When the time comes that they want or need to make contact with the outside world again, they can reach the Society to open up relations.
"What do you guys think?"
Arratoi turns to his teammates to listen to their opinions.
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"That is a splendid idea Arratoi!" gushes Gunnz.
"Give them space to remain isolated, but a way-out if something similar to that research happens again. Or a relative of someone on that mysterious space ship turns up looking for a lost sister. I don't suppose the society can put a claim in on the world to stop others exploring it can they? That might buy them some time. Perhaps we should open an embassy there to study them too. They have a lot of tech and we only saw the surface..."
Luwazi listens to the vocal majority. "So be it: the Pact will not be told of the izalguuns' advanced technology. I don't think we can try to block others out of exploring Icefront...or 'Izalraan,' rather...without arousing suspicions, but I will keep an ear to the ground in case anyone else starts poking around their planet. I'll also send an envoy from the Society to reaffirm that they can communicate with us should they choose. Well done, agents. I cannot begin to describe how helpful your findings are for our mission!"