"Last stand it is." Jarix moves into the room and fires at him.
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"Idiots to the end," Olaraja spits from the cover behind his desk. "It will be a pleasure to end you."
The technomancer draws an arcane sigil in electric lines in front of himself with one hand, sending a swirling pattern of scintillating colours at Jarix.
Olaraja curses as Jarix shrugs off the spell and ducks behind the desk, bringing his pistol up.
Mallura pursues her quarry. Moving in behind the desk, her knife and her semi-auto pistol in hand, ready to strike if Olaraja makes a move or tries casting a spell. "If you value your life, I would surrender now," she says, venom in her voice.
Jarix fires at him again.
Verne limps into the office and takes a shot at Olaraja.
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Verne moves into the room, firing his pistol into the side of the desk. Hemmed in by Mallura, Olaraja pauses to pick up his duelling sword from the ground with his free hand and stab at the captain from his crouched position.
The edge of the chair deflects Olaraja's stab from piercing Mallura's cheek by mere centimetres. The Azlanti man laughs. "You unwashed heathens think you're superior, but you've not glimpsed a fraction of the power of the Aeon Throne! And you will not!"
”Shut up and die,” Mallura growls as she thrusts her dagger at Olaraja.
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The sounds of gunfire and shouting echoes in JD's mind. For a moment again he's a young man racing to an escape pod, running from the gunfire behind him. As he charges through the hallways he steps into the foliage outside Maledon's landing, the sound of the thunderstrike rifle ringing in his ears as he looks into the face of the cadet he's shooting down with the rifle.
He awakes with a start from the fretful dreams and looks around the room with a sigh. Absolom. S$&~. I'm still only on Absolom. Ugh, what happened last night. "Shim? What time is it?" he calls out as he lays his head back down on the floor until the defending roar of the thunderstrike rifle sounds again from the next room and reality sets in. His eyes land on his old pistol at his side. As he struggles to his feet he grabs it and makes his way back towards the office.
We've got to find a way to incapacitate him.
Verne lunges forward. His hands grip the desk in front of him, and he attempts to fling it over and on to Olaraja to pin him into the corner.
Mallura takes a deep breath, and slowly releases it, letting her anger escape with the air from her lungs. Just as she finishes, she looks up suddenly and shouts, ”Oh no! JD!” She pushes past Jarix and heads for the door. As she passes over the threshold, she just manages to stop herself before she collided with the mechanic.
”Oh thank the stars, you’re okay,” she says with relief. ”Good. Alright, let’s get back in the office before this shock pad thing turns on again and fries us.”
Leading JD back into the room, she moves to check over Olaraja for anything useful, but turns to Jarix. ”You’re our resident hacker, Jarix. Could you see if you can find the mechanism to disable that trap and let the prisoners out?”
"Could someone reassure our friends behind the electric field. It may take a bit of time, but we'll get them out."
Once he finds out that JD is ok, Jarix rests a bit.
"Does he have an access key or something on him?" Jarix looks around the office
Take 20 on Perception if I can (25 total)
Otherwise:
Access the computer
"I'll be alright, thanks guys. Once we get outta here I might need some time and a few strong drinks though." JD reassures the crew as he limps into the office. He makes his way to the desk and puts his weight on it for support.
He checks the body of Olaraja, placing any items he finds on the desk for the rest of the crew.
He will then assist Jarix with the computer to see what they can find together.
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The body of the fallen Azlanti officer bears casual stationwear, a static arc pistol with 2 batteries (17/20 and 20/20 charges, respectively), and a tactical dueling sword. A cursory examination of his form also indicates that he's had some technological augmentations, though it's not clear what they did.
The bigger prize is the tier 1 computer on the desk, still logged in under Olaraja's ID. All of the following is in Azlanti, but represents a true treasure trove of information.
"Woah, woah" JD blurts out as his eyes go wide at the infodump. "Hey, Cap, Verne, you gotta see this. Looks like There's a higher Azlanti officer still out there. They're looking for some kind of crashed starship, likely where the mining operations have been going on outside of town. Bad news, they're expecting the ship that dropped them off here to return at some point. Have a look"
JD backs away from the computer to let the others read what's going on. He will assist Verne with translating, or summarise the rest for the android. When they're done, he will suggest 'We should get those prisoners out, and see what they have to say about the crashsite."
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The controls for the brig's prison walls (along with the electrified trap at the door to Olaraja's office) are easily noted from Olaraja's main frame, but protected behind a firewall. Jarix's computer skill cleaves through the security with ease, and the prisoners are imprisoned no more.
The colonists are thrilled to be released from captivity, but take cues from you all as to how and where to exit the garrison. The former prisoners pick up the form of Quorsica and carry her unconscious form, but they leave the human male behind.
Once outside, the freed colonists quickly return to their homes. Madelon asks you to accompany him to his module .
Madelon’s private residence consists of two connected prefabricated modules, rather than just one, although there is a separate entrance to each module. One of the entrances is painted with an elaborate cityscape in gold above the words 'All Are Welcome Before the Master of the First Vault' while the other has a small sign reading 'Private Business.' Each entrance has a keypad next to the door. The building is well maintained, but its lights are out and it carries a general air of abandonment.
Madelon taps in a code on the keypad that reads 'Private Business', frowns, and looks closely at the numbers, then turns to the crew.
"The power - of course it has been cut to my home. Could one of you assist with restoring some form of auxiliary power, or - if there are no other alternatives - forcing the door to my home open?"
Jarix doesn't have a medkit, but will look over the body lying in the prison. "It's Lih! He'll do what he can for him or Aid if someone else has a medkit.
At Madelon's
"Let's see if we can get the power back on before possibly messing something up by forcing it."
Take 20 for 26 or
Before leaving Olaraja alone, Mallura looks over the augmentations in Olaraja's body, trying to identify their functions.
When Jarix calls out that Lih is alive in the prison, Mallura is filled with relief, and quickly turns to one of the colonists to ask if they could take him to the settlement's doctor for treatment.
When the group finally leaves the barracks and heads for Madelon's home, Mallura takes a swing at restoring power to the keypad as well.
I meant to Aid if Jarix couldn't Take 20. If he can do so now, he will try to Aid.
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Mallura takes some items of use, and on her way out, uses the main-frame computer to disable the signal jammer and the surface-to-air guns. In doing so, she uncovers the information that the Brilliance has not been shifted from its position in the jungle, and that two Aeon Cadets were left at the site to guard it.
Mallura and Jarix together are able to rout auxiliary power into the datapad leading into Madelon's private quarters. Madelon keys in the code and the door opens. The interior of Madelon’s residence is in disarray and has plainly been thoroughly searched. The governor of the colony sighs deeply as he regards the mess from the now-open doorway.
"I would offer you a seat, but..." he says a bit helpessly.
JD stumbles into the quarters and drops to the floor to rest against a wall. He shuts his eyes and leans his head back, exhausted.
"I dont suppose you've got any liquor here after the squibs raided the place' he asks without opening his eyes.
'What can you tell us about this ship the Azlanti are after? How about the Azlanti's arrival. Any idea of how many boots they've got on the ground here?"
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Madelon leads the crew inside, but just as he sets foot inside, a sonic blast trap laid by the Azlanti triggers, tearing through the entire group!
Jarix and Madelon both get tossed off their feet. As they come to, an annoying buzzing tone muffles their hearing. Madelon cries out in frustration and pain and stumbles into his quarters, looking around wildly, blood streaming from his ears. He makes for the door that appears to lead into the attached module.
Jarix moves to keep Madelon from going to the door. If possible, he'll also ready his gun.
JD takes a face full of shrapnel and utters a barely audible "F+&!in' Squibs!" as he braces against the impact. He reaches out with a "Oh no you don't" to grab Madelon with Jarix. He will attempt to bring the colony leader to the ground incase there are any follow up explosions.
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As Madelon totters unsteadily into his quarters, Jarix attempts to flop up from the floor to block him, but fumbles and bumbles at trying to draw his pistol and move and deal with his deafness all at once. The operative succeeds in drawing his pistol and falling into the room, yelling out nonsensically as he does.
JD doesn't have that problem, being accustomed to unsteady gaits and a curious tremor that he has developed over the recent few days. The mechanic tackles the governor to the ground before he gets to the door leading to the adjoining module. Madelon cries out in surprise, then gestures to the door wildly at JD.
"Ok, Ok, hold on. We ain't going in there till we check for another trap. Captain, Verne, you ok? He seems like he wants something from the next room." He gives Madelon a "slow down" gesture and takes a look at the next doorway.
JD is having a hard time getting up to go over and examine the doorway.
"Captain, Verne, you ok?"
"I...I'm.." the side of Verne's face sparks as a circuit overloads. "I might need to hold back and rest for a moment."
Mallura joins JD in shouting expletives, but quickly regains her composure as Madelon moves toward the next door. When JD stops him, she pats the mechanic on the back, "Good work. Now. Let's take our time here..."
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Mallura inspects the door leading to the other module. She determines there to be no traps and easily opens the door, revealing hat appears to be a chapel. It contains several simple benches and an altar bearing a seal of a golden key. The room has also been searched, though somewhat less thoroughly than the room you're currently in.
From the floor, Madelon makes a pained grunt and points at the altar.
"The holy symbol of Abadar." Verne observes. "The god of cities and wealth. It isn't unusual for the Azlanti to worship this god.
It seems that Madelon would like us to take a closer look?"
JD stands and reaches down to assist Madelon up after Mallura confirms there are no further traps. He will carefully move to the chapel with Mallura and look around.
"Yeah, alright Verne, let's check it out. But keep your eyes open for more dirty Azlanti tricks"
With the rest of the team he will approach the altar to check it out, before anyone touches the key he takes the time to check the altar again for more traps.
Once Jarix's ears stop ringing (10 minute rest anyone?), he helps with the datapad, assuming Madelon doesn't have the password.
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Indeed, after bringing the datapad to Madelon, he immediately types in his password and grants the crew access to the information therein. It contains a video recording of Madelon's conversation with a female android (identified as Cedona) and her explorations of the ship Royal Venture. There are also several detailed still images of the techno-magical relic she discovered in the engine room, labeled rune drive.
Madelon watches along with you as the recording plays, absently rubbing at his bloody ears. Once the video ends, he attempts to tell you more in a loud voice, as if he cannot hear himself speak.
"It sounds like the order of operations here is: rest, fix our ship, then visit the crash site."
Jarix, once he can hear, agrees with Verne.
Mallura will type a message onto her comm link and hold it up for Madelon to read, as well as any of the others who lost their hearing from the sonic blast.
"First of all, I realize your hearing is gone, but you can talk a LITTLE more quietly! Second, I Verne says we should start with some rest, then fix up the ship, then visit the crash site. I absolutely agree with item 1. We need to rest and heal up. We've been going straight out since we reached this little rock you call home, fighting an invasion we did not sign up for, and we're going to need at least a night or two to get in good enough shape to make any more moves against the Azlanti.
"After that, I'll leave up to each member of this crew to decide what they want to do next, but as for me, I would love to stick it to those green goons again. I was assigned to be this crew's captain for this delivery, and that job is done. What they do now is their call.
"As for timing, maybe while we go check out the crash site, we can get your help making sure the Brilliance is space-worthy."
JD shifts a little so Madelon can't read his lips. He shakes the credstick he found at the crew. "Guys, we got paid. As I count it, our shares went up too. I was all for helping these people out but we almost all died here. Multiple times. I'm a starship engineer, not a guerrilla soldier. We're all in this together, but for Triune's sake, someone else has to see that we are way in over our heads here. I haven't slept in two days, I'm down my little helper, and oh, I was almost murdered with a katana sword." he emphasizes the last part. He sighs and continues. "My vote is getting out, while we still can. Just some food for thought. I am 100% down with Verne's first two points, however."
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Mallura replies telepathically to JD, "I get it, JD. And that's why I said I'm not commanding you three to join me in this fight. You're right, we're not soldiers...most of us at least. But it seems like we're the only ones on this ball of dirt that could handle the squibs. I'm not saying I'm gonna run off and start a one-woman war Against the Aeon Throne, but I sure wouldn't mind snubbing my nose at 'em one more time before tucking tail and heading home."