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Omzig quickly scurries back and have a quick conference, just as the vesk door guard swings open the door to check on the occupants. Satisfied that Lady Marigana's would-be paramour is still there, he closes the door again.
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Sharmain takes a good look around the room, at the movers and shakers and the ebb and flow of the crowd. She carefully makes her way to the area between the two bars to the west, noting that the more well-dressed clientele are keeping to that area, away from the low-class android bar in the centre. More importantly,any attention there would draw the bouncers attention away from the fire exits.
Signalling to Majko and the rest from the room, she gets to work. An innocuously spilled drink down the back of a tall and elegantly dressed damaya lashunta who just happen to be standing next to a gangly ysoki, add a few choice words from an empathetic Sharmain, and you get the spark that leads to an altercation between the lashunta's partner and the ysoki, with the ysoki's pack joining in almost immediately. The fracas grows and grows, and the bouncers nearby leap in to break things up!
Majko hastily takes the opportunity to work on the door. Despite not being particularly stealthy, no one of importance seem to notice, with most eyes on the fight that has broken out. Unfortunately, she is jostled as the crowd either rushes to get a good view or to get away and she fails to find the circuit to disarm the alarm for now.
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Special Circumstances, having no capabilities when it comes to technology, stays behind in the dressing room, looking around for a bathroom he can pretend Omzig has disappeared to should the Vesk get curious again. He does a fair job of trying to not look suspicious as he holds his position and listens over the comms.
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After a minute of fumbling around, and some encouragement and guidance from Omzig on the other side, Majko manages to disarm the alarm on the fire exit. As quietly as possible he pulls it open and slips in to join Omzig. They now turn their attention to Bogdin's office door. The lock does not look too difficult but Majko sees a trip that would trigger an alarm.
Through the crowd, Sharmain sees this happening and deliberates whether to join them. The bouncers still seem preoccupied with breaking up the fight but she is near the midst of the altercation and might be spotted.
Through the dressing room door, Special Circumstances hear the shouts, curses, cheers and jeers as the brawl proceeds. Sharmain can see that although the vesk guard is looking at interest, he stays at his position.
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Sharmain decides that perhaps her best contribution will be to remain in the main room. She deliberately stays out of the altercation and positions herself so that she has a good view of the room.
Over their private comm's channel, Sharmain informs the group, "I am going to stay here unless you need me back there. I think it wise to have an observer/lookout in here, just in case."
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Harec notes his comrades slipping into the room and decides now (while the ruckus is still going on) is the best time to enter the room circumspectly as well. Harec moves over to the door and inspects it carefully nodding to the others, No luck with yet huh? Well let me give it a shot...both of you says Harec nodding to both Omzig and Majko... give me a hand will ya? Harec huffs while pushing a pin on the exo-skeleton he is wearing. A small custom tool kit pops out of a compartment set in the upper shoulder area of his rig. one of you work the top section Says Harec handing Majko a slim long tool with a hook, ...and the other the bottom ... Harec says while passing a similar tool to Omzig. I'll try to bypass the terminal Harec nods while setting to work on the already opened panel. Harec jumps back suddenly as a spark erupts form the panel he's working on..and he drops the tool in his hand...balls blood! Harec yelps while shaking his slightly singed fingers. I got a bad feeling about this...what if I tripped a counter measure? Harec takes an unconscious step back from the door.
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Harec quickly moves into the back office area after Majko. He knocks over a table on the way, but by the time one of the vesk bouncers look up, the fire exit doors have already closed behind him.
He joins Majko and Omzig who are intently studying the door to Bogdin's office, and the trio get to work. The formian and the skittermander work jointly on one set of circuits while Harec focus on another. Unfortunately for Harec, almost immediately, he trips a short circuit, mildly shocking him. He cringes, waiting for the inevitable alarm, but hearing nothing, he looks up and sees Majko grinning triumphantly at him, the control panel removed and in her hands.
Not wasting another moment, the three bundle quickly into the office before being spotted. The room contains several small workstations, a desk, and well-stocked bar. Other than the door you got in via, there is another doors on the southern wall, clearly a leftover relic from a previous renovation. A door on the northern wall is blocked by an open and empty deep-space storage pod. Two doors frame the western wall.
Meanwhile, Sharmain retreats to one corner of the club to keep an eye out on the brawl, which is still proceeding quite nicely. Special Circumstance stands beside the dressing room door, listening through, when he suddenly feels it being pushed open!
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Special C jumps back and does his best to look casually nervous, adjusting his hat and tie in a small mirror he's pulled out of his pocket. Then taking a moment to pick at his teeth as if he saw something there. If the Vesk appears peering through the opening door he gives the guard a look, then attempts to peer around him back into the main bar. "Oh, hello again. I think you might be my valet back with another drink. I sent him out there, but it sounded like a scuffle was going on." Special sighs dramatically and goes back to inspecting himself.
"Skittermanders are useful, but so easily distracted. I'm afraid he's decided to help everyone on the block with chores and first aid."
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"Skittermanders are useful, but so easily distracted. I'm afraid he's decided to help everyone on the block with chores and first aid."
The door guard in fact does peer in. "Wait, what? I thought he was in here with you?" He looks rather confused, but after checking the room and indeed finding no eight-limbed creature present, decides that he must have snuck out while he was distracted. "Sneaky little furball," he mutters to himself as he closes the door, turning attention back to the brawl.
Special Circumstances wild bluff wasn't too far from the truth. While Omzig goes rifling through apparently cryptic invoices and Harec stands guard, Majko and Zac searches the room. Almost immediately, the ysoki locates the secret vault door behind the painting and a computer access panel on it. He skillfully cracks the password, and the screen throws down a menu list. It seems that this computer panel is connected to the other control systems for the club!
Menu Options:
A. Vault door controls
B. Android collars controls
C. Dance floor smoke machine controls
D. Dance floor strobe lights controls
E. Transfer master control to remote device (password required)
Zac quickly unlocks the safe door (through menu option A), but also quickly explores the other options. It seems that the android control collars can be deactivated through option B. What exactly the control collars do currently is uncertain. Option C would activate the smoke machine located near the stage . Option D provides control for the brightness of the strobe lights. You figure that if the brightness was suddenly increased, it might temporarily daze whoever's on the dance floor . Zac also finds that these controls can be transfered to personal datapads , allowing remote access anytime but he would need to hack through the password.
While Zac fiddles with the computer, the rest of the Starfinders throw open the vault door to find a perfectly preserved fragment of their objective—the sandstone tablet—within.
Meanwhile, Sharmain notes that the bouncers are doing a good job breaking up the fights, knocking out the patrons rather indiscriminately. The curious onlookers are also starting tot disperse. She estimates in a couple minutes or so, the brawl would be pretty much ended.
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With Sharmain's urging, the four Starfinders quickly exit the office and make there way back to the dance floor. Elated that the mission was a success, they did not immediately notice the attention of a certain someone on them. Until you hear a mechanically augmented voice shout out across the room, "You fools, stop bothering with those riff raffs! Stop those thieves!" A heavily augmented verthani is standing near the two vesk bouncers is yelling at them. You take a better look and you realise that is Karelite Bogdin himself! The two vesks drop the unconscious ysokis they are grabbing and turn their attention on the four of them!
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The formian moves forward, weaving through the crowd as best she can. Reaching into her pocket she draws out a bundle of scrap metal. She whispers a phew words into the metal, drawing out the innate magic within. As she does so, electrical connections come to life and connect the metal pieces! The formian cracks her neck and whips the rod into place. She looks the vesk in the eye. "You don't scare me, Vesk-ling."
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Having briefly considered her options, Sharmain realises she is very angry at the trafficking of androids and how they are collared and treated here. With that, she seeks her centre then reaches out to tap the power of the stars before she sends three bolts of force zipping unerringly toward Karelite Bogdin.
"You are a menace to society. Surrender now and we will hand you over to the authorities. Choose to fight and you are like to die."
Secretly Sharmain wonders, What has come over me, I used to be quiet and gentle. I am definitely experiencing aspects of my nature of which I was not previously aware. I will need to meditate on this and seek guidance.
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Special Circumstances is completely aware of the chaos going on, and like a good interfering and confused bystander he comes barging out of the room he's in to see the spectacle. "What in the world is going on! It sounds like a bar fight out here..." He stops a few steps away from the vesk by his door and stares for a moment. "It IS a barfight!"
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Majko pushes her way through her crowd, suddenly calling a weapon into existence. Harec pulls out his rifle and fires a lazer shot straight into the chest of the nearest vest. At the other end of the club, Sharmain calls forth three starbolts that slam into the back of verthani. He yells out in pain as spins around, barely spotting her through the crowd.
The suddenly barrage of attacks suddenly send the crowd into chaos. Realising that this is no longer a bar brawl but a deadly battle, the patrons nearby start to panic and stampede towards the exit, all in a cacophony of screams and shouts. Special Circumstances keeps up his bluff, peering out the door like a curious busybody to see what's going on.
"Get that witch!" Bogdin screams at his vesks, ignoring the four Starfinders. He shoots at Sharmain but only manages to shoot out the champagne glass of a kasatha standing beside her. The two vesk swing their pistols around, but eventually figure out who their boss is pointing out. Their shots are much better aimed and two laser shots smash into Sharmain.
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Majko takes a step forward through the crowd, elbowing the scared dancers. "Do not worry, I am an emissary of The Mother. Do not be afraid." The crowd does not seem very calmed by this, instead ducking out of the way of the oncoming formian with the impromptu staff. Getting within reach, Majko swings the rod in a wide circle, over a dancer's head and into the closest bodyguard!
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Special Circumstances is glad he wears his hat brim low, as the strobe lights just barely miss blinding him. He gives the Vesk by the door a look. "Right, I'm not sticking around for this nonsense. Good luck!"
He starts hustling for the door, but his stance changes as he goes. With a few quick movements he's drawing his rifle off his back in the same moment a blue wireframe of stellar energy surrounds his body. He takes aim at the back of the Verthani and fires off a shot.
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Sharmain is overcome with the sudden rush of sensory stimulation. One of the hazards of reaching out to the universe for assistance is that sometimes it has a nasty sense of humour.
In exasperation, she yells at her team, "Takedown Bogdin and let's clear this place!" before she slowly slides down the wall.
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Harec attempts to fire again, but this time with the stampeding crowd, he is just jostled too much. Majko closes the distance to the nearest vesk and slams her weapon across his head. When Zac turns on the smoke machine for some cover, Omzig decides that strobing lights would be good accompaniment and turn them on full power! Unfortunately for the Starfinders, despite the the skittermander's warning, both Sharmain and Majko are caught by surprised and momentarily dazed by the sudden glare. Fortunately for them, both Bogdin and his two bouncer vesks are momentarily blinded, and stand around for some time trying to clear the bright circles of light from their eyes. Special Circumstances recover quickly enough but the bright spots in his eyes interfere too much with his aim and he misses.
Quite a large portion of the club goers are also affected, and the stampede becomes chaotic flights in random directions!
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Harec jostles through the crowd pushing his way through the throng grabbing at their eyes. He thinks of taking another shot at the Vesk in the crowd (near the center bar) but between the smoke and people there's just no clear shot. Therefore he pushes his way up the ramp and takes a shot at the Vesk near the door.