The kasatha seems to relax a bit and she smiles at you. Name's Muldoi. I'm the head of security here. I'm not happy about keeping Vossi locked up through the gala, as his leg was sufficiently healed almost a week ago. However, that fundraising for conservation is very important to keep the Conservancy afloat. It was quite difficult for me to agree keeping Vossi in captivity through this event but I'm looking forward to returning him to the wild tomorrow.
As she says that she seems genuinely happy about it.
Sorry, can't do. Only the boss can give you access to the security feed. Ask her and if she gives us the authorization, we will provide you the access codes.
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Max nods to Kitkul and quietly says, "I'm going to head to the banquet table... see if anyone there is interested in our line of work. Or extremely disinterested in this event..."
With that he takes a seat with whomever seems most out of place and tries to strike up a conversation.
"So... ludicrous display last night eh?"
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Kitkul walks up as Reynold is talking to Muldoi. "Reynold, one just got done talking to the security station, and sent me over to talk to their captain Muldoi." Turning to the kasatha, Kitkul bows gracefully on its four legs, "You must be her. One must say you have a very professional security force. Please to meet you, my name is Kitkul, and I am a guardian of the Starfinder Society members here. I am hoping to ask you for a favor or two?"
Buff-Bot 9000 joins Chikasa conversation as he discuss with a regal looking Haan at the banquet.
The two are engaged in a discussion about conservancy efforts generally and the Esowath Conservancy in particular.
BB9000 arrives when the Haan, called Ipsoth, asks his comrade ... what do you think about the renkodra? Trapped in a cage?
Muldoi answers to Reynold My men are all around the permitter, patrolling on foot or with buggy with non lethal weapon, and to protect the gala and the guests, I've set up an energy field all around the perimeter. It’s a barrier to keep the native creatures of the Ikal Expanse away from the gala; it deters animals in some manner I don’t understand. But you’re safe on this side. Furthermore, security drones patrol in the air, giving us living feed in and outside the perimeter.
You don't have to worry about ...
She stops as she gets a message on her personal comm. Making a sign to wait as Kitkul start to asks for a favor.
After a a short conversation she turns to you and says Wait here and call your comrades to join us. Radaszam want to talk to me and you Starfinders.
Once everybody is regrouped near the pen, Radaszam nods towards Muldoi, the kasatha head of security. Muldoi tells me we might have a situation. One of the guards on the eastern perimeter has failed to report; we’ve lost wireless contact with everything in that section.
Muldoi adds, The guard is a big human man named Carthas. He’s sharp but not tech-savvy; if wildlife got at a transponder, that might explain why he hasn’t reported in. It could be nothing, but I want to be sure.
Radaszam says I’ve offered your services to Muldoi: investigate, then report back here to us.
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Max makes a non-committal gesture toward the Haan. "From what my compatriots indicated, the specimen is a wounded creature, being re-rehabilitated for imminent release. If its confined status proves beneficial towards its long-term health, and its presence here contributes to an increase in funding towards Renkroda conservation, then I suppose that the... distasteful nature of its display would in fact be... from a utilitarian perspective, a good thing. It does feel a bit disingenuous for a conservation organization to have such a creature on display as though this were a zoo... or worse as a trophy... and mind you, I've been places where exotic beasts are used as gladiatorial fodder... but I do believe that when one considers the all of the facts I think the Renkroda can survive a day on display for the greater good of its species."
He sighs and continues. "But, the principle of the matter is of course concerning. I will confess I have my reservations."
He looks around the room and sees his compatriots meeting up with Radaszam and sighs. "Ah... it looks as though one of my compatriots needs to be... metaphorically caged for his own good... far away from the alcohol. I would love to engage in further discussion with you later, but I'd prefer that nobody gets drunk and dives into the cage with the Renkroda."
With that he slips off to see whats going on with Radaszam.
The Haan seems satisfied by BB9000 speech.
Muldoi says to Kitkul I can give you access to the feed but it will do nothing for you here. As Radaszam said, all the wireless connection are lost in this section. The drone feed are wireless...
Radaszam adds More importantly, redirecting the feed from the Security Station to your personal datapad will take time. I'm worried there might be trouble, and time is of the essence.
Muldoi adds I will work with Radaszam to include you on the security comm channel while you check the section.
Understanding that nothing need to be added, you get to the silent section.
The walk to the eastern edge of the energy field takes only a few minutes.
When you arrive, you immediately see two humanoid bodies laying on the path: a large male human and a male lashunta. The energy field flickers as a nearby emitter at the base of the field sparks. Dappled scorch marks on the surrounding trees indicates a recent firefight.
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Max massages his throat for a moment, then nods. SPREAD OUT, KEEP WEAPONS DRAWN AND READY FOR THREATS. NON-LETHAL FORCE PREFERRED. INTERROGATION MAY PROVE BENEFICIAL.
He draws a pair of pistols, an arc pistol set to 'Stun' and a sonic pistol with no such settings. He offers the arc pistol up to his compatriots.
Once everyone seems set with their tactical positions, Max approaches to inspect the bodies.
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As they are walking to the silent section, Kitkul telepathically sends to the group, "Someday, One hopes that they get a mission to go somewhere, and nothing happens. Maybe it just goes to a party and enjoys it. No dead bodies, nothing trying to eat it, or infect it with parasitic larva. Anybody else here think that occasionally?"
As they get closer, Kitkul seems to shrug and telepathically broadcasts again. "Looks like a large human male...that might be Carthas. No idea about the lashunta. Be alert."
With that, while it looks around with its compound eyes, it grabs its blue-white mote and a mace forms in its hand.
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Ipsoth greeted Chikasa: "Greetings, I'm Ipsoth, an off-world entrepreneur. What do you think about the effort of the Conservancy to preserve the nature here, in Castrovel?"
Chikasa nods politely to the haan and takes a look around him, "Well, way I see it, ya either do what ya can to keep the state of the world in balance or ya end up living on a ball o' dust like Akiton. I spent the first few decades of my life scrapin' at whatever chance came my way just to get off that rock. So yeah, I'd say it'd be a good idea for folks like this here Conservancy to keep the planet from fallin' apart."
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Chikasa moves as quickly as his old ysoki legs will carry him as the group mobilizes toward the silent eastern end of the security perimeter. As they walk, he replies to Kitkul, "I hear ya on that one. Can't even go to a gol'dern concert without someone tryin' ta get up to somethin... Eh! I could go on all day, and it wouldn't do a lick o' good. Just comes with the job, I s'pose."
As the group approaches the scene of the firefight, Chikasa dismisses the glamer disguising his sniper rifle and peers through the scope to get a better view of the flickering energy projector from a distance.
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Still wearing her pretty cocktail dress, Gunnz stays back from the bodies.
"There is no way I'm paying for dry cleaning on this number. Someone wanna check if they are still alive?"
From her voice, it is clear she doubts it.
She reaches quietly into her bag, withdrawing her own static arc pistol, making sure it is set to stun, before taking position behind a (non spiky) tree and looking around.
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"Ta-ta, Poshment! Looks like business calls. Never a rest day for us Starfinders. Don't go anywhere! When I get back, I SO need to find out where you got that cardigan!"
"You got it, Kitkul. Can't we just once have a party? Without unconscious guards or assassination attempts?" Poppilo sighs rather melodramatically.
That said though, he pulls out his pistol and focuses his attention, studying the scene.
Should he or the rest of the team fail to spot anything, he concentrates briefly, his lashunta antenna starts moving animatedly as he scans the area for thoughts.
As BB9000 and Kitkul approach the corpses, Kitkul senses numerous creatures, but not big enough to be a threat. Poppilo seeing that his comrades found nothing threatening starts moving towards them.
Like Kitkul, Poppilo senses the presence of numerous creature in the area. Before he could senses more, a pack of theropods, the size of small dogs, regroup and swarm to attack BB9000 before anyone can act!
They have poison that give the catatonic state and are vulnerable to sonic attack
Some creatures seems to react with Reynold maneuver but most of them seem unaffected and Reynold realizes that his tactic don't seem to work with so many creatures together.
As he shoots and hit one, he realize that again, one shoot is not sufficient to disperse so many creatures packed together!
Again, even if Kitkul's perfect hit killed one creature, it don't seem to have any effect on the swarm!
Poppilo waits to know more about the creatures before acting.
The swarms of theropods moves towards Kitkul and engulf it, biting both BB9000 and Kitkul!
Poppilo starts looking for anything useful. He sees nothing on the Lashuntas corpse, but on the guard he sees grenades, some vial and a weapon he recognizes as an arc emitter tactical
Kitkul disoriented by the multitude of creatures is unable to act coherently and moves away.
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"Butter my biscuit and call me for breakfast, it's a Compsikania Swarm," Chikasa calls out in alarm as he spies the tiny animals swarming over his companions. "Ya'll best back outta there quick-like. Yer weapons ain't gonna do no good unless they can hit a wider area. Not likely gonna do much good to try charmin' 'em either. If ya got sonic weapons, though, give those a try. The noise tends to scatter 'em!"
As he gives the team the run-down on the swarm, Chikasa blasts forward on his jump jets and absorbs some of the heat from them to power the magic of the spell he is calling up on his techno-magical interface. When he lands next to Popillo, he holds onto the spell, ready to unleash the blast of furnace-hot air at the swarm when it draws closer.
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"Look!" Poppilo calls out in uncharacteristic seriousness. "Grenades, and what looks like a tactical arc emitter! They should come in useful."
But first, he notices how uncomfortable close he is standing next to Chikasa. "It's nice to be pally and all, but now is not the time, my dear old rat." He moves to spread out, but still keeping close to the ysoki to draw the swarm towards the spellcaster. He then concentrates on this pistol and lifts it into the air.
As Poppilo sees the gun on the guard's corpse, he moves out to not be next to Chikasa and starts lifting the gun to hand it over to one of his comrade at his next opportunity.
Reynold starts moving around while Chikasa moves toward the swarm of theropods ready to burn them!
Having many targets, the Compsikania Swarm hesitate for a brief moment before choosing its next victim.
While moving towards the android, they are enough of them for Chikasa to let go his spell which burns a lot of creatures!
This time, most of the creatures are aware of the danger of explosion and dodge most of the blast.
But a large part of the theropods are still killed by it!
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"Still not done are ya," Chikasa says as he follows the swarm's movements. "Well alright then. Didn't wanna have to do this again, but when push comes to shove..." The ysoki once again collects heat from the environment around him (thankfully the jungles of Ukulam have plenty to spare), then prepares to send the inferno toward the Compi's again, once BB gets himself out of the line of fire that is.
Again, the dinosaurs, warmed up by the first flames dodges most of the spell heat but are still burned!