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Mardonnen, along with B199S, also assist in the building of the tower. "Instructions say insert cross bar 21 into socket 23B.... So who designed these things A-Key-a."
As long as the tower has been erected soundly Mardonnen will scale the tower and help Aba with the calibrations needed for the system.
Aba demonstrates that driving is not all just fun and play. When required, expert skills allow precision piloting to maneuver the buggy down the treacherous slope without scaring the crest-eater. Pulling up next to the desired site and with the help of Rogers and Donny, Aba soon has a perfect tower to scramble up. Once on the top platform, she is able to communicate with the base and perform the needed calibrations.
Dr Motressi confirms, "All looks good at this end. Let's hope the other two go as smoothly. Did you say something about a pet? I didn't think you had any animals with you."
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Over the comms, the joyful exclamations of the skittermander at having (!)Helped(!) let Laksell and the others know that the team is done here.
“Maoshi, we should probably leave... it? him? her?... here. But maybe we can lead it out of this barren riverbed to somewhere with more minerals? “
Laksell looks around at the terrain to see if there's an easier way out for their new friend.
“Do you all think we have time to get to the Canyon before we run out of daylight? “
Those at the construction load up the buggies while the others debate how they may be able to keep the crest-eater. With Aba and Rogers once again piloting, they head the short distance to collect the others. Aba has a cable dangling out the back of her vehicle, hoping to lure the crest-eater away.
The approach of the vehicles proves too much for the creature though and it takes off as they approach.
With everyone once again on board, the team head off to the canyon.
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"Awwww." Maoshi quietly wails in disappointment when the crest eater takes off into the distance. But she can't complain since she didn't have any better ideas. She raises one arm and shouts after the creature, "Live well, little fella!" before rejoining her team at the vehicles. She watches their surroundings alertly as they head towards the canyon, ready to point out any landmarks she notices to Donny. Her mind is still filled with the crest eater. "Do you think there are more of them? Maybe there will be a whole herd here someday."
The team sets out in the two buggies heading for the canyon.
Pilot A: Aba 27
Maoshi, Bubba and Laksell spend the entire drive on the comms discussing the crest-eater, wondering if there are more of them, scheming to capture and adopt any they can find. Meanwhile, Aba, Rogers, and Donny stay focussed on the task at hand making good time to their next destination.
Like the rest of the plateau, Forsaken Canyon is a bleak and lifeless region, the ground covered in a hard, gray substance that resembles the shell of a lobster or the surface of an oyster. But here, the ground slopes steeply down into a wide canyon with large mounds the size of vehicles and narrow gullies that wind between hills. The coordinates the team has been given lead them to a hill in the middle of the canyon. The scanning tower must be erected at the top of the hill in the center of the map. The path ascends gradually, whereas the sides of the hill ascend at about an angle of about 35–45 degrees.
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“... should just let it be free, but put out food for it as they are able. Ah, look, we've arrived at the next site. “ Laksell finishes with a yawn. As he stretches his extremely long arms, he reaches over and across everyone else inside the cramped interior, brushing heads and horns alike.
“Are you doing okay up there, my friend? “ he asks Rogers, knowing full well there's little to nothing he can do to help.
With their usual skill, this group of Starfinders proceed cautiously toward their target with the intent to construct the next survey tower.
As the team drive up the hill, Aba, Donny and Maoshi spot a flock of birds a mile or so away, perched on the edge of the canyon and looking toward them.
These bird-like creatures have stony shells the same colour as the plateau, and instead of a beak, each has a long proboscis.
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Laksell climbs out of the buggy and arches his back, twisting left then right a few times. The interior, while adequate, is somewhat cramped for a being of his height.
"I apologize for being unskilled with technical things. If there's anything I can help with, please let me know, though."
In the meantime, he finds a nice spot alongside a buggy and watches the birds. Though it's not exactly clear if he's actively watching them or just staring in their general direction, lost in his own thoughts and dreams.
As construction of the tower begins the bird-like creatures begin to approach. They are taking no aggressive action but lazily circle above, slowly spiralling closer.
You may deduce that the birds must consume an enormous amount of calcium to maintain their shells, likely liquefying the calcium before drinking it up through their proboscis; the creatures are uniquely adapted to this ecosystem and there is nothing quite like them on record.
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Maoshi stands at the foot of the tower as it's being constructed, overseeing the work. She squints at the birds as they spiral closer, and shades her eyes with one hand to get a better look. "Ah, those must be the bird-like creatures Dr Motressi was talking about. They don't actually look much like birds up close though. She was wondering about what they eat, right? Do you think they like minerals too?"
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Upon hearing Maoshi comment, Laksell looks up and follows Maoshi's gaze to the flock of strange calcite birds. As he studies them a bit, he's able to make some reasonable observations about them.
"They must eat an unbelievable amount of calcium. Is it possible they're simply eating the material of the plateau? Or are they getting it from somewhere else. But where would they.... Noooo.... Certainly not.... Bones? Bones that they liquefy and drink up through their proboscis?"
His fear is almost palpable as he considers the nightmare scenario. Then he shakes his head before finishing, "Although they do seem to be uniquely adapted to this ecosystem and there is nothing quite like them on record. So maybe they are just eating the minerals of the plateau. Like the crest-eater."
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Laksell's theory sounds appropriate to Aba, whose eyes widen. "Oh no, then we all need to HELP and build this tower!"
Aba rushes up to help Rogers, tools in all six hands. "I'm helping! These are some of the best tools that Abador Corp makes!" In a flurry of fur and tools, Aba runs everywhere on the building project, giving it her all.
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As the Tower is constructed with Rogers and Aba giving it "All-Six" Donny begins to scale the Tower.
Having scaled the now constructed tower Donny plugs into the towers systems and begins making contact with Dr. Motressi. "Hey Doc, can you hear us?"
"Hope you are reading us loud and clear. I think I have the right channel. We got the second tower up and we are also seeing these weird "Calcium Birds" as Laksell has deemed them."
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Unable to assist with the technical issues, Laksell decides to test his theory regarding the birds' diet. He retrieves a shovel and steps around to the opposite side of the buggy. There he starts cracking the ground and scraping off bits of the calcite shell-ground into a small pile. When he's satisfied that he has a decent amount of bait, he moves back around the buggy to a position both by the buggy's door and where he can observe his little pile.
He may have unintentionally forgotten to inform his teammates of his plan, though the scrapping and digging noises echo off the rock walls. Through the comms come his occasional musings to himself about hypotheses, various inorganic calcium compounds, evolutionary adaptation timelines, and what he thinks might be the relative differences of calcium content percentages between the shell-ground and humanoid bones.
This crack team has no trouble with the tasks that have been set them. The tower looks sturdy and shiny, Donny shimmies up the ladder without pause and sets up the equipment in an efficient manner.
During this time the birds have shown their curiosity and several now circle overhead while others perch atop nearby hills. While they have been watching Laksell dig and pile, none have yet to take the bait offered.
Donny contacts Dr Motressi and Mora responds, "Reading you loud and clear. I hope you are taking notes and pictures of those birds. We haven't had a chance to study them yet. OK, let's start the calibration. Send the first pulse."
About 30 seconds into the calibration process, the "Calcium Birds" begin fluttering their wings and tapping each other's shells with their proboscises.
The next calibration pulse seems to spook the winged observers. Many begin flying away, wailing in shrill tones. Several others take a more aggressive stance.
Potential Combat
Round 1 On your first turn, you may attempt a
Bold may act
Rogers
Aba
Bubba
Donny
Maoshi
Green
Yellow
Laksell
Red
Blue
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Maoshi watches the not-birds nervously, then starts at their loud cries. She edges over to a space between the buggies, thinking it might provide cover if anything bad happens. She feels a little better with Rogers and Laksell in front of her, and calls out to the ones up on the tower, "Hey? Um, maybe we should hold off on the calibration for a minute or two? They don't appear to have liked that."
Which map edge are yellow and green off of?
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Bubba moves over next to Aba and manifests his solar weapon which appears as a big, oversized glowy red cigar which Bubba wields as a club!!
"Move behind me, lil buddy and take cover!!" Bubba goes total defense (EAC 20 / KAC 22) and waves his arms around, trying to draw the birds' attention to himself and away from others.
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Seeing the birds making an advance getting into what Mardonnen can only think as an attack formation, the little halfling realizes he is in a rather easy pecking location and decides to do as Maoshi recommends and gives a quick response to the doctor. "Need to call you back later Doc." and then Donny stops the calibration with a few button presses.
Aba takes a moment to study the birds exhibiting this new behaviour.
She then ducks behind Bubba and closer to the buggies.
Rogers makes ready to defend himself and his team.
Maoshi makes for potential safety near the buggies while suggesting a pause in their calibration efforts.
Bubba takes a protective stance near Aba and waves his arms to draw the birds attention.
Donny heeds Maoshi's suggestion and quickly shuts down the test and communications with the base.
It appears that Bubba's tactics to lure the birds to him may be successful as the two that were further away zoom in and try to attack.
However, they fail to penetrate his armour.
Round 1 cont.
Bold may act
Rogers
Aba
Bubba
Donny
Maoshi
Green
Yellow
Laksell
Red
Blue
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“Bubba, I agree that we should try to scare them away. But capturing one could prove more useful to the expedition team, “Laksell calls over the comms. Then switches off the comms and mumbles, “As long as they don't digest our bones first. “
Having nothing further to add, he draws his electro claw and prepares to fire if threatened.
Laksell prepares his weapon just in time as red dive bombs him The speed of its approach, or maybe the steep angle, assists it to pierce the armour but only just.
At the same time, blue charges Rogers. While its aim seems true, the slightly shallower dive combined with more effective armour protect the Nuar from any damage.
Round 2
Bold may act
Rogers
Aba
Bubba
Donny
Maoshi
Green
Yellow
Laksell
Red
Blue
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Trying to keep the green and yellow birds' attention on him, Bubba yells out a (he believes) bird mating call, "ca-caw. Ca-Caw? CA-CAW!! Haa Haa! Eee EEE! Tookie TOOKIE!! CA-CAW!!!! CA-CAAAW!!!!"
Then he swings at the same bird as Aba, green, while trying to keep his guard up. (EAC 18, KAC 20)
While they clearly don't want to hurt the wildlife, never the less the team is quick to act in defence of themselves and each other.
Laksell who was ready for the bird's dive singes it even as it draws a drop of blood.
Aba offers one some excellent samples of a calcium enriched drink she has available, however, the bird is distracted by the stunning shock it receives from her arc pistol.
Bubba takes advantage of the distraction to deliver a solid blow and the green bird drops at his feet.
Maoshi harries the red bird that is attacking Laksell, making it an easier target and distracting it from its own attack.
A great wailing erupts from the yellow bird as it sees its mate struck down. It then attacks Bubba even more frantically than before. But its grief is no match to modern armour and it fails to cause any damage.
Round 2 Continued
Bold may act
Rogers
Aba
Bubba
Donny
Maoshi
Green -13
Yellow
Laksell -1
Red -harried
Blue
Rogers, ever at the ready, took one swipe to skewer the blue bird foolish enough to try to attack him. With grace and agility, he continued the momentum to also pierce the yellow bird threatening his friend.
Taking a moment he looks at the "Calcium Bird" kebab he is now holding, wondering what he should do next.
The remaining bird lets out a loud mournful wail and departs with haste.
Round 2
Aba
Bubba
Donny
Maoshi
Green -13
Yellow -15
Laksell -1
Red -2 harried
Rogers
Blue -14
Out of initiative
It now looks safe to reestablish communication with the base and resume calibration. Donny, still atop the tower, has no trouble completing these tasks.
As the team wraps up another successful site set up, Dr Motressi adds over the comm for all to hear, "I am very impressed with how efficient this team is. It is no wonder Fitch selected you for this assignment. Please do take plenty of notes on the birds. If you can manage any samples, that would be wonderful.
"You have been in the field for nearly six hours and there are just over six hours of functional daylight left. Do you think you can manage the third tower today, or do you want to come back to base and complete the setup tomorrow?"
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Rogers looks down at the skewered birds. Whoops. If I hadn't lost my head there we might have been able to capture one alive for further study.
"No time like the present, right? May as well get this last one done."
Rogers stows the bird carcasses in the buggy to take back to Dr. Motressi and gives the vehicle a quick inspection, preparing for departure.
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As the last of the birds flies away, Laksell moves with a speed and sense of purpose not seen before. Rushing up the the side of the yellow bird, he casts a quick spell hoping to stave off its death. He immediately does the same for its mate, the green bird, and lastly for the remaining blue one.
“Could one of you put together a cage or something for them? “he asks his teammates as he disassembles Rogers' bird kebab. “Now that they are stable, I will wait to cure the mating pair until we get them into the cage. But let's leave the blue one outside, so it can return to the flock. “
He waits until a cage has been found, and the green and yellow birds placed inside, with the blue one atop it outside. He then focuses his own will to heal all three of them at once.
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After the tower is calibrated, Laksell remarks that they do seem to be making good time, and should try to finish the last tower today.