Travelling to the river bed site:
With the vehicles fully loaded and digital maps at the ready, the team sets out toward the so-called river bed.
Aba quickly discovers that with the seat adjusted and the hints provided by the mechanics, she is quickly doing wheelies and careening through the natural features like they are an obstacle course.
Rogers proves to be a more conservative but equally skilled driver.
Despite the challenges of Aba's driving style, Mardonnen having studied the maps has no problems navigating and Bubba finds that with the world spinning it brings things into focus for him so he can point out some landmarks on the way. Maoshi and Laksell however, are too distracted by the antics of the other vehicle to be of much assistance but are very glad to be riding with Rogers.
The team of Starfinders divert slightly from the most direct route to look for the crashed ship, however, all they find is a roughly ship size and shaped mound, covered in the same shell as everything else.
A long, shallow depression winds across the plateau in this area. Like the rest of the region, it is entirely covered in a grey, shell-like substance.
The small crater walls rise to a height of about 4 feet.
The two buggies arrive at the top of the ridge, which descends steeply 10 feet into the gully. You can attempt to drive down or proceed by foot.
As they approach the coordinates for this scanning tower, the Starfinders spot a large, green-skinned quadruped with a flame-coloured crest and massive bony projections. See slides.
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"Up we go, little friend" Rogers says, helping the halfling to his feet. "You know," the big nuar says with smile, "texting and piloting is very dangerous; apparently texting while running is too."
"oh... Yes Sorry about that you are very right just trying to rush through these schematics while trying to head here. B199S here, Mardonnen points at the Combat drone next to him, is a bit of a work in progress and I hope I will get a few days to really tinker and lock in all the parts and pieces I need too." Stowing his Rig he extends a Hand "Friends and Fellow Starfinders call me Donny. Pleasure is all mine."
Marodnnen looks up from taking extensive notes on his Rig He askes; "Sorry Miss Fitch... or is it Mrs. Fitch... in either case it sounds like this planet we are going to, Vabaimus, seems to be mainly all Flora, Fauna and Big beasties... Well Big to me that is. Might there by chance be any Technologies undiscovered there or may be even some combinations of Organic Machines?"
Mardonnnen gladly accepts one of Maoshi's business cards "Might your company deal in those build-your-own transponder kits?"
Ohh half price lesson! Sounds nice. the halfling begins tucking away the many business cards being passed around.
"Greetings everyone. Names Mardonnen Needlefeet, thats feet not feats, the halfling snortles to himself as if amused by his own words. myself and B199S here are here to help spead the cause of the Manifold Host as well as to help everyone we can. I am very much looking forward to accomplishing our mission."
"Perhaps our mechanic friend could help our two pilots find their way?" he suggests. "It is easy to lose one's way..."
"Oh Yes! I can help sorry about that." Mardonnen seems to be wiping the remains of drool from his cheek. It seems like he stayed up the entire time on the Drift ride through and is passed out atop the small chair at the display table.
Someone will need to be on the upper platform to calibrate the instruments. I will be in communication with you during that process via the comm unit. Each kit has documentation and instructions to assemble and anchor the tower, as well as to calibrate the instruments.[/b]
"Yes, Maoshi! I can help with Assembly along with B199S I prepared him this time around to be able to assist with Engineering duties. Manipulator arms are fantastic."
"Psst." Rogers whispers, trying not to alert the creature. "Anyone know what that thing is? And more importantly, is it likely to attack us?"
"Nope, Not I."
To Fitch: "Might there by chance be any Technologies undiscovered there or may be even some combinations of Organic Machines?"
Fitch gives you a look, a look that many a parent is well practised at, "There is always a chance, given if it is there it is, by definition, undiscovered. There have been no indications to date of a previous civilisation or technology on this planet but if you find some I will be most pleased to arrange for further teams of researchers."
"This looks to be a crest-eater, a predator native to Kasath and sometimes raised as pets by kasathas."
Is that pink circle where the tower is supposed to go?
>Initiate Target Lock, End
>Target Lock = Crest-Eater
>Action = Hold for Response
>>If Target = Aggressive, Fire
While Bubba is watching it seems the crest-eater is breaking up the ground, though it is unclear why.
Laskell exudes charm as he talks to the beast, gaining its attention. It now seems interested in the creatures standing up on the ridge.
Donny in the meantime instructs B1995 who now stands ready to fire if the crest-eater attempts to attack.
The crest-eater appears calm though not at all interested in attempting the climb.
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Feeling that he's made a connection with the beast, Laksell begins casually moving down the slope. He angles away from the intended tower site, hoping to lead the former pet away enough that his colleagues can get started. Though he is intrigued by the creature's pawing behavior.
Walking calmly, in black robes and with no weapon out, he makes it clear that he presents no threat to the crest eater.
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Rogers sheathes his doshko and makes his way down the slope to the southeast of Laksell's position, trying to move toward the tower site without spooking the beast by getting too close.
I don't want to mess up Laksell's play here. Still, if things go south, it would be nice to have room to run at the thing.
Laksell's new friendship provides a little insight with further observation. He sense's the beast is hungry and was breaking up the ground to extract mineral nutrients.
Bubba starts down the slope but discovers it is much slipperier than expected. He falls and slides to the bottom feeling battered and bruised as he comes to a halt.
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Bubba remains on the ground a few moments, taking a few puffs on his cigar.
"I meant to do that." he says before getting to his feet.
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Maoshi continues to whisper, "Ooh, do you think it would become our pet? You can tame it, right?" Knowing nothing about handling wild animals, she is already imagining strapping a saddle to the creature's back and riding it around this strange plateau.
She observes some of the others heading carefully down the slope, and then Bubba's tumble. Well, I'm sure I can do better than that, she tells herself, and to prove it she goes to the edge of the slope to descend.
Exuding confidence, Maoshi reaches the edge and following Bubba's example slips, slides and tumbles her way down the slope.
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Laksell is so focused on the beast that he is completely unaware that there's an incline in front of him...
Landing at the bottom of the slope in a tangled heap of long gangly limbs and black robes, he spits out a string of what sounds like especially vile curses in an especially vile language before picking himself up.
Noticing that the beast seems to be seeking mineral nutrients, Laksell reaches into his pouch and extracts the pearls they were given earlier. He drops one on the ground and calmly continues to walk away from the group. He's also listening carefully for any sounds that the crest eater makes, like lowing, grunting, or even purring.
Having arrived at the top of the ridge near the first worksite, our intrepid Starfinders find a colourful creature, identified by Aba as a Kasathan crest-eater.
Four of the party head down the slope, two to befriend the critter and two to take defensive positions as a precaution. Rogers manages to demonstrate how to traverse the treacherous terrain while remaining upright, the others are not so steady on their feet and sustain minor injuries as they slip and slide their way down.
Aba and Donny remain with the vehicles and equipment. B119S stands as instructed, ready to shoot the creature should it become aggressive.
Laksell has managed to garner some friendly interest from the hungry crest-eater and is now offering it pearls as food. Is he trying to adopt the critter, or lead it away from the worksite?
The crest-eater seems to consider the pearl a delightful treat though not terribly satisfying.
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Seeing that Laksell is working his 'Magic' with the Kasathan Crest Eater Donny possess a suggestion to Aba "now might be a good time to move the Equipment down, slowly of course as to not spook the Crest-Eater. What do you think honorable sales rep?"
Mardonnen presses a few buttons on his Rig directing B199S to vacate the buggy and take a position on the higher ground. After imputing the commands Mardonnen jumps into one of the buggies and prepares to move it closer to the coordinates Dr. Motressi placed on the Map.
>Location = Ridge Line
>Maintain Location = High Ground
>Continue, Target Lock = Crest-Eater
>Action = Hold for Response
>>If Target = Aggressive, Fire
>>If Target = Attack-Maoshi/Laksell, Provide Covering Fire
B199s continues to hold Target readied to fire at the exact instant the enemy becomes aggressive.
Donny prepares to take a buggy over the ridge, while B199S stands guard.
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Maoshi's eyebrows rise. "It dines on pearls? That's a high-class diet." She briefly reflects on the equipment she brought with her. "I wonder if it can eat titanium alloy cable. Maybe it would slurp it up like sugar twizzle twine." She quietly giggles at that image, and then pokes at Laksell and whispers to him, "Hey, I want to try. Can I feed it one?"
You get the impression that she has completely forgotten about the mission.
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"Of course, Maoshi, be my guest," he says as he hands her one of the pearls. "We probably shouldn't try to hand feed it one. Yet."
He then continues to walk away from the tower site, hoping the crest-eater - and Maoshi - will follow.
After going just a few feet though, he offhandedly asks over his shoulder, "Do you have some? Titanium alloy cable? Or even some sugar twizzle twine?"
When he hears Bubba offer to break up the ground, he responds over the comms, "That might work, my friend. Join Maoshi and me first, though, so it's farther from the work site. Just in case it doesn't. Work, that is."
Donny successfully drives his buggy down the slope while others continue to lure the crest-eater away from the tower site.
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"Ooh, alright!" Maoshi takes the pearl and follows Laksell away from the site. She looks back at the crest eater and holds up the pearl, hoping it will follow. she'll drop it on the ground a little further on and then back away to give it space to move up and dine.
"I do have some titanium alloy cable. I was hoping to use it as cable, though, not as food. But if I have to I can buy more later, I suppose." She ends on a long-suffering sigh.
Bubba is having trouble climbing the steep surface before he realises that one of the buggies is now down in the gully. He is able to retrieve a shovel from the equipment and begin work on his plan.
Maoshi is happy feeding pearls to the crest-eater but wonders, if she should sacrifice her precious cable as the supply of pearls, runs low.
Rogers tries to head back to Aba and the second buggy but also has difficulty ascending.
With more than half the team invested in keeping the crest-eater distracted, Aba and Rogers set to on constructing the tower.
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Aba drives the vehicle down the hill for a perfect landing by the tower and then she hops off and starts on the construction process. "These vehicles are really neat. I wonder if they're distributed by Abadar Corp?"
"Climbing ladders is fun too, only there are not enough hand holds for six arms."
"I'm helping, yay!"