"I agrree with John's suggestion of not heading strraight for Rrroselight," Rar'gul rumbles. "The worrd is out beforrre us - we need to prroceed with cccaution."
"Perrhaps we find somewherrre safe, ccclose to Liavarra, wherre we cccan get a better sense of what we'rre dealing with?" he suggests. "It's not qqquite the trriumphant rreturn home I'd imagined," he laughs. "But I have frriends and rresourrrces on Nchak. Or perrhaps Ced knows of somewherrre on Arrkkkenen," he adds, turning to their newset companion.
T'sorkel clicks with excitement. Oh, I have always wanted to pilgrimage to Nchak! He pauses and his antennae drop slightly. Though perhaps we won't have much time for such things. I agree that we should not go straight into the Roselight just yet. We need to assess how deep the infiltration of the Stewards has gone.
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"Hiding near Liavarra? I wouldn't have thought of that. I was thinking to boost for the Diaspora. Liavarra might be clever enough that the Stewards don't think of it either.
If I can contact Abadar Corp we can be assured of proper due process of law. Depending on how good the frame is we may be vindicated.
I don't think we can assess the rot in the Stewards, but we can take a closer look at what they've been sent."
"Thinking about evidence," Cidribvoot say, "maybe we should have taken the reptoids' corpses. I'm beginning to wonder when Pike and the others were replaced. We could document our discovery on the Infosphere, but I'm sure there are countless conspiracies on there. Ours would be lost within the noise."
His fingers press a few buttons on the flight controls. "So some place near Liavara and thus Roselight, but safe to contact Abadar Corp. We could go to Nchak, Rar'gul and T'srokel. Psyden is on the opposite side of Liavara from Roselight. Oh, Upwell is the main spaceport for Liavara. One more ship shouldn't draw much attention. They all advantages. Arkanen too would suffice."
T'sorkel clicks. We should go to Upwell. It has thousands of ships coming and going; a massive space station that is the gateway and transport stop for Liviarra. We can blend in easily and figure out our next move. If we want to go to Roselight, we can get passports from the Barathu-run Office of Commercial Interests (OCI).
"Upwell is a wise choice," Cidribvoot says. "A round-about route? You mean not the Drift? We'd add a few more days to our journey but we could use the time to learn more about each other. Discuss strategies for proving our innocence."
"Upwell will worrkkk," Rar'gul rumbles in agreement, surprised by a pang of disappointment that they won't be visiting Nchak. There's still a long way ahead of us yet, he reminds himself.
"I'd likke to spend a bit morre time digging into those files we found on the cccomputerrs and Narla's tablet now that we'rre not trrying to fight our way out of a hostile base," he adds. "Some of those glyphs seem strrrangely familiarr. I might be able to starrt piecing togetherr some patterrns..."
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T'sorkel yawns as he looks over some of the data in the grey language. His multifacted eyes drift slightly and then unfocus. While the rest of the group chats about their desitnation, the Shirren is mentally flipping through thousands of memories like textbooks. He finally finds Akashic memories about the grey language: the hours of deciphering by a student, a young grey's psychic stumbling as she speaks with her older siblings, a technician's programming of a language interface, a learned grey's mastery of the language in a formal speech, and the intuitive discourse of a psychic translator.
Barely a few seconds had passed when T'sorkel blinks again, having the memories at his disposal now. He sways a bit and reaches out to Rar'gul for stability. The touch of the Trox, however, links their minds for a few moments and in the mind link T'sorkel shares a large portion of the memories unintentionally.
When he realizes what happened, T'sorkel exclaims, Rar'gul are you ok?! Sorry, I should have known I was too tired to control a deep dive into the Archive. I hope that wasn't overwhelming!
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The cockpit door opens, and Lilly stumbles in. Her hair is a mess, and her mouth is wide open in a deep yawn.
“Uh… I, um…” — she finishes her yawn and waves her hand toward the ship’s hold — “…I stowed the gear we got, but then I kinda took a nap. I think. Sorry.”
She yawns again and stretches, then tries to get her hair into some kind of order.
“Did I miss anything?”
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You find that the files you found earlier include entries on
specific reptoid agents, identified by number with associated
identities (Narla Yalamis, for instance) subordinate to that
number. From the context of these reports, you can
identity Narla Yalamis, Shez Daiasha, and Orvir Pike, but no
one else with certainty.
Narla and Shez had been serving at the Steward station on Roselight on Liavara before being assigned to Tyrkalis Base. It’s clear from these reports that reptoids have infiltrated Roselight. However, some of these
reptoid agents are no longer communicating with superiors
or have gone missing.
The Tyrkalis reptoid also gave a full briefing on all of you to unnamed superiors, passing along your pictures, your personal information, and video of them fighting aboard the Voidcrier and in Tyrkalis Base.
Unfortunately, similar information, doctored for the audience,
has been transmitted to the Stewards on Roselight. This
“evidence” makes you look like terrorists who attacked
Steward facilities, implicating you in the destruction of Tyrkalis
Base. This transmission looks like it comes from an anonymous
broadcaster aboard the Voidcrier.
Despite having evidence of a reptoid conspiracy, it seems you are likely to soon be wanted in the Pact Worlds, at least until you can clear your names.
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"Upwell is a wise choice," Cidribvoot says. "A round-about route? You mean not the Drift? We'd add a few more days to our journey but we could use the time to learn more about each other. Discuss strategies for proving our innocence."
[dice=Culture Check DC 15]1d20+4
Cidribvoot recalls that Upwell is an enormous space station run by the
gas-mining corporations that control Liavara. It orbits
the planet above the city of Roselight, its so-called
sister city, which floats in Liavara’s atmosphere.
"T'sorrkkkel?" Rar'gul asks, reaching to catch the swaying shirren. His body stiffens the instant their arms touch and his eyes roll back into his head.
In a searing flash, memories of times, places and people he's never known flood his consciousness, merging with his own. Burning away the haze of unremembering, the wisps of vague familiarities crystallise into clarity.
The dreams! Rar'gul realises. There had been glyphs and abstract symbols interwoven with the strange vignettes that had become part of his dreaming. He hadn't known what they'd meant any more than he'd understood the glimpses of the peculiar future events.
The memories passed through T'sorkel's Mind Link decode the symbols - well, most of them - but the dream visions still remain mysteries.
"Yes," Rar'gul rumbles. "Yes, I'm... fine. Not overrrwhelming. It was... enlightening," he continues, finishing with a broad grin.
"Let's lookk into those files."
"The mattresses are surprisingly comfortable. Pike was a firm believer in quality sleep," Cidribvoot says smiling at Doc. "We decided to travel to Upwell, without going through the Drift. Have you been to Upwell? If you're into starship and gas-mining you'll love it. He indicates a monitor to the left. "That's the planned course."
He reads the files when they become available. "My family won't believe this about me at least. Well maybe some might after what happened at Skydock..." his voice fades off as he becomes lost in thought.
T'sorkel helps Rar'gul look through the files, helping him read the texts.
Once they are finished, the Shirren retires for rest, passing Lilly in the hall. Tag, you're it. We were able to pull up some of the Reptoids' data. Have a look. He yawns and goes to feed the twins before passing out.
[Dice=Culture]1d20+11
While Upwell has a corporate-run police force, law
enforcement authorities don’t generally care about
how you behave as long as you don’t damage the
station, interfere with the corporations’ interests, or,
to a lesser extent, disrupt local businesses.
The barathus from Bretheda administer Liavara
through the Office of Commercial Interests, or OCI,
though they generally turn a blind eye to most of
what happens in Upwell. Still, making a reputation
as a troublemaker is a sure way to be barred from
visiting Liavara or Roselight.
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...He indicates a monitor to the left. "That's the planned course."
He reads the files when they become available. "My family won't believe this about me at least. Well maybe some might after what happened at Skydock..." his voice fades off as he becomes lost in thought.
...
John looks over the dirindi's course. He saves off a copy of the file and when Cidribvoot is resting John researches ship navigation and checks the course against his own neophytic calculations.
Finishing the search of the files, Rar'gul leans back, rubbing at his eyes. The trox looks tired and in need of rest. "Nothing new," he rumbles to T'sorkel. "But it ccconfirrms everything we thought we knew frrom beforrre."
He greets Doc as she joins them after her nap. Shaking his head, he says, "We didn't find any new infortrmation. But, likke Cid said, we arre discccussing wherre we'rre headed to next. To lay low and figurre out how to handle the frrrame."
"Upwell will get us ccloseb to Rroselight, but not dirrrecctly undetr the Stewartds' noses. If we kkkeep ourr heads down, no one should even notice us - they'll be too busy with their own business."
Once the plans are finalised, Rar'gul stands, excuses himself, and heads off for some much needed rest.
...He indicates a monitor to the left. "That's the planned course."
He reads the files when they become available. "My family won't believe this about me at least. Well maybe some might after what happened at Skydock..." his voice fades off as he becomes lost in thought.
...
John looks over the dirindi's course. He saves off a copy of the file and when Cidribvoot is resting John researches ship navigation and checks the course against his own neophytic calculations.
Liavara’s “capital” and is a popular tourist spot for
Pact Worlds elite. It has scenic views, museums,
nightlife, and is home to most of the barathus who
watch over Liavara.
warehouses occupy the floating city’s lower levels,
and some major mineral and biotechnology companies
have headquarters above. The Office of Commercial
Interests, or OCI, serves as the local government.
must apply for a visa at the OCI satellite office in
Upwell to travel without risk of being shot down.
native Dreamers and the local environment. Most of
the local police work is handled by private security
firms and the local Steward base. In fact, Roselight is
home to a large Steward precinct.
when necessary, force. Leaders of the organization
strive to protect the citizens of the Pact Worlds from
threats, both internal and external, though they
leave the policing of individual planets and moons to
those entities’ law enforcement agencies.
police illegal gas-mining operations, smuggling, and
poaching, but specialize in monitoring for extrasolar
threats from outside the Pact Worlds.
intelligence-analysis branch, and maintains a post in
a base on Roselight.
Rar'gul nods in agreement with John. "Imterresting. I'd not rrealised that. The OCI might not be able to do much until we get to Rrroselight," the trox rumbles.
"I've hearrd of this Direccctorr Evoscco. We need to find out some morrre about them beforre makking any moves."
Flying the Steward ship confiscated from Varos, it takes you 3
days of Drift travel to reach Liavara (or 4 days using
standard thrusters) and a few additional hours to enter the
gas giant’s orbit and approach Upwell. As the you do so,
the utilitarian form of the space station spreads across the
view screen of the your vessel. Two colossal, rotating wheels
dotted with gantries, cranes, and docking spars have been
constructed around the remains of a small moon. Countless
cargo ships—most of them stenciled with garish corporate
logos—come and go. You are soon contacted by an Upwell
docking assistant over their ship’s comms.
“Attention, vessel. You are cleared to dock, but you’ll need to
visit the Office of Commercial Interests if you want a passage
to Roselight. Proceed to Spar N-380, sponsored by Hexane Fuels and Almost Chicken. Remember: When it’s almost time
for dinner, it’s time for Almost Chicken. Welcome to Upwell.”
Rar'gul watches the approach to the station on the viewing screen.
"Hmm. The OCI alrready. I suppose that's in line with what we knew cccoming herre," Rar'gul murmurs.
Oh, Almost Chicken! I've heard they're meals are quite good! I wouldn't mind getting something fresh.
The Shirren pauses. Do we have a plan? Or is this something where we just need to see what's going on and search out for information on what's been happening with the Stewards?
"Spar N-380, heard," Cidribvoot confirms to the docking assistant. He manipulates the controls and adjusts direction to their assigned dock. He glances at the traffic flow to see if any disturbances are occurring.
"T'sorkel, I've been here many times over the past sixteen years," the dirindi says. "But not frequent enough to make any lasting friendships. We wanted to get our ship modified so it no longer looks like the Voidcrier. We can find someone to do that. Also, do we know what the reptoids were going to do next? Maybe we can lead the Stewards there to catch them in the act?"
Cidribvoot is able to skillfully guide the Voidcrier to the docking ring on Spar N-380.
An inch of ship exhaust and grime covers every wall of this place.
The air reeks of coolant, fuel, and something that smells
vaguely like heavily spiced chicken. An arching sign overhead
reads “Welcome to Upwell: Gateway to Roselight,” though
someone has graffitied over the last word with a crude, obscene
drawing. The deafening shriek of metal against metal and the
hiss of industrial ventilation drown out the conversations of
locals and other travelers in the wide hallway.
A quartet of androids eye you as you disembark. They approach and indicate that you owe 2,000 credits for "docking fees." It doesn't appear that they'll take no for an answer.
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John smiles back at the androids. If Upwell allows this on the docks, we might do very well here.
"I am sorry, Gentlebeings, but we have insufficient funds on us at this moment. We need to draw upon our account at BancAbadar. I promise that we will return and deliver the docking fee to you as soon as possible."
FASt Talk: You can distract a creature with a confusing barrage of words, causing it to be surprised at the beginning of combat. You can use this ability only on a creature you are able to converse with (it must be able to see or hear you and understand your words) prior to the beginning of combat, and you must continue to converse with it until combat begins. You can’t use this ability if you are the one to instigate combat or if you are unaware at the start of combat.
When the GM declares that combat has begun, but before initiative is rolled, you can spend 1 Resolve Point to attempt a Bluff check against a single creature that this ability can affect. The DC is equal to 15 + the target’s total Perception skill bonus, or 20 + 1-1/2 × the target’s CR, whichever is higher. If your check is successful, the target creature is considered unaware at the start of combat, allowing other creatures (including yourself) to act in a surprise round. Once you have attempted to use this ability on a creature, whether or not you succeed, it is immune to this ability for 24 hours.
John smiles back at the androids. If Upwell allows this on the docks, we might do very well here.
"I am sorry, Gentlebeings, but we have insufficient funds on us at this moment. We need to draw upon our account at BancAbadar. I promise that we will return and deliver the docking fee to you as soon as possible."
[dice= BLuff] 1d20+16
** spoiler omitted **
The androids are deliberate and calculated. One responds to John's proposal. "We might be inclined to to agree to allow you to visit a bank, but it's usually traditional to ask for collateral. What do you have that you could leave with us?"
The situation is tense, but then again nobody has reached for a weapon. Yes...they absolutely ARE armed.
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"You know where our ship is and could easily prevent us from undocking or even getting back on board. That seems security enough. If it's not, perhaps I could remain behind. " He looks hard at T'sorkel. "Captain, what are your thoughts on this matter?"
Rar'gul strides slowly forward to stand casually behind John, lending support to his companion's efforts.
"My frriend is rright," he rumbles, turning to gesture toward their vessel. "Not only will we need our ship to deparrrt, I'm not exacctly what you'd ccall incconspicccuous," he adds, turning back to face the androids and shrugging, his broad hands open before him.
The Shirren catches John's tone and sends him a psychic message. Go ahead. I'll relay to the others. Do you really want me to act as the Captain?
T'sorkel considers the exorbitant cost of the docking fee and checks the memories of previous pilots who visited to see what the protocol might be.
Cidribvoot stands with his hands on his hips, shaking his head at the four androids. He opens his mouth like he is going to interject, but halts when Rar'gul speaks to the local welcoming committee. He takes a calming breath. Patience, he thinks. Which Android Abolutionist Front anecdote should I tell? Or maybe that time I gambled 2.71828-or-nothing in a similar situation and lost?
"You know where our ship is and could easily prevent us from undocking or even getting back on board. That seems security enough. If it's not, perhaps I could remain behind. " He looks hard at T'sorkel. "Captain, what are your thoughts on this matter?"
[Dice= Diplomacy] 1d20+12
[Dice=Bluff, secret message v DC 15 or 20 at GMQs determination]1d20+16** spoiler omitted **
The Shirren catches John's tone and sends him a psychic message. Go ahead. I'll relay to the others. Do you really want me to act as the Captain?
T'sorkel considers the exorbitant cost of the docking fee and checks the memories of previous pilots who visited to see what the protocol might be.
[Dice=Culture]1d20+17
The leader of the androids offers the following: "It seems that Upwell may be a new destination for all of you. We're prepared to discount your docking fees for this particular visit. We are authorized to take 50% off. You can pay us 1,000 credits, but it will have to be done right now."
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"Fraudsters or thugs. Does anyone see a constable, or call box? If it comes to fight don't kill them if possible. It might invite investigation."
John mentally grits his teeth while continuing to smile and says, "A drastic discount indeed! Are you associated with Abadarcorp by any chance? They offer classes on the art of bargaining among other tenets of commerce.
I'll give you one of the most broadly known tenets for free. Fair price for fair value. For a mere 100 credits, I'll tell you the first flaw in your bargaining strategy."
Rar'gul nods several times, looking to John. "Qquite a disccount," he agrees, sharing a meaningful glance with the Abadaran.
"Cccaptain?" he asks, turning to T'sorkel.
If it turns ugly, I'll grab the leader* - try to end it quickly and without blood, he sends telepathically.
Perhaps we should call for an Abadarcorp notary to witness the transaction? I'm sure we can summon one quickly enough for you. T'sorkel sends to the whole room.
To his shipmates, he sends a much mess sure tone. We can't allow them to steal from us, right? Perhaps apprehending them will put us in good graces with the local security. They must have done this to others. He prepares to send a psychic shout at one of the androids to stun him.
"Maybe we could ask to let one of us go to the bank while the others stay here? That person could attempt to get authorities," he thinks to the others.
"Is there a contract we need to sign?" he asks the androids. "Is this considered a docking fee or a temporary insurance for the ship?" While he asks the dirindi looks for any snipers or beings who may be a long-range hazard.