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Helios, seeing the wire sticking out of Less Than Three and hearing a lot of static noise, tries to tinker with the robot to make it less visible.
He examines his work for an instant and grimaces.
"Not my best, but that'll do." He then casts a simple spell to camouflage the robot before clapping Floquet and Analog on the back.
"You've got this."
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The Halfling is conscious about what they are doing and the implications that have. So he tries to be sneaky as possible, taking advantage of the work from the others.
Stealth:
He run when it should be run. He waits when it is urgent to wait. So he hopes to carry the android in the starship incognito.
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”Hmm, you raise an interesting theory - I wonder if it has to do with the distance of the Copi from the planet’s core, or to do with the cycle in which it began to be formed.” Taerem ponders as they compare notes with the Copaxi ”The harnessing of gravitational properties is an interesting one - how do you think they go these vehicles to move? They may help with your future ship designs.”
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Striding confidently into camp Tiberius puts a flipper on Panacula's shoulder and tries to steer them away from the ship.
"Ah Panacula! I was hoping to continue our conversation from earlier. You know my home planet of Arniselle is mostly covered in water. Water and large mineral deposits. And the earthquakes don't get me started on the earthquakes. Actually maybe you have some insights into why we have so many damned earthquakes! I TOTALLY want to answer all your questions about other planets."
Starship design draws Gnaucara into Taerem's conversation as he declares, "might help. But not the problem. Read about the guidestone in the Pact Worlds that speeds your return trip. We don't have that and that cuts most our Drift flights in half. I've been only a week out myself looking around our systems. Still making incremental improvements including some copi in the alloys, but not enough to get those pieces of junk flying..." Gnaucara continues onward talking about the particulars of the current copaxi starship design and tries to draw out more information that Taerem might know from the Pact Worlds designs that might help.
Panacula is absolutely delighted and leaps into discussing the matter. "You mean the earthquakes still affect you so much despite the world being mostly water? That does make sense, but I would have never thought about since I haven't been involved in any underwater studies. Of course you would still have earthquakes!" They continue forward theorizing and positing their own ideas on the tectonic structure of Arniselle. They then go an ask about the various worlds of the pact, notably the gas giants within the system.
This all gives plenty of time for Floquet and The Analog Affair to make a safe return to the ship with Less Than Three with none of the research team aware.
Therseis begins the quick process of informing their own government of the request the researcher gave you to allow them to join you on your trip back to Abaslom Station as a cultural ambassador assuming you accept their request. In any case you are able to prepare for your return ship in rapid order.
The party is asked for the recovered relics and are compensated for the time and effort with Pact World credits. The other researchers have seen bits of the information you have gathered and are less confident of their success in than your first landing.
In any case you have time to decide on your own final recommenation you will made to the Stewards. Whether you support or oppose the copaxi petition for protectorate status.
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"I have worked as an engineer in my Starfinder training and a previous mission but have not had much experience with constructing them i'm afraid. The Starstone is invaluable to Absalom Station which causes the beacon though scientists and Mystics still don't truly understand it." Taerem explains, giving them some information they have stored on the Starfinder's schematics. "I must take my leave, the Captain informs that we are to go back now."
Back on the ship, Taerem supplies he data collected and compiles it into a report for the Pact Worlds - a list of advantages from having access to the Copi and examining the tech on their floating Islands. They do not omit anything about the attempts to divert their investigation and supply some of the coins they found in evidence.
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Once they can talk together, the Halfling exposes his idea:
I think the protectorate will give the Copaxis the chance to take a new flight. I mean the researches will intensify and the history of the planet will be known by everybody. That will learn them from where they come. Not to make mistakes twice. And then the protectorate will assume some more equal justice between the citizens. So the ones like the two we met should find something better with it. Third, the protectorate will allow them to trade with the Pact Worlds. So they will gain in technology being also granted a military assistance. The danger is to view this protectorate like an empire's construction by the Pact Worlds. But we must be confident to our government not to act like this.
I recommend to accept the protectorate.
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Once aboard the starship, Helios congratulates the team then goes to sit by the engine room to compile his thoughts.
Mission report
Agent number 347661-704
Mission: Protectorate status for Tabrid Minor
He begins with a meticulous accounting of all the events of the mission and the findings of the team, being honest down to every detail. The android finishes the document with his own thoughts about the petition:
As for my own opinion, I recommend granting protectorate status to Tabrid Minor and the Copaxi.
As written above, the previous Copaxi governments have made some awful actions, in particular towards artificial intelligences and might have a suspicious history with the use of magic, depending on how you interpret the findings of the team. Nonetheless, they may eventually prove valuable allies; if species such as the Vesk and the Shirren, which were once feared, are now part of Pact Worlds, why couldn't the Copaxi be? I believe that protectorate status could help Tabrid Minor develop more strongly in the future.
Furthermore, the Pact Worlds have a lot to gain from this alliance: interesting technology was observed on Tabrid Minor, and the Copi substance in particular, which is thought to have a link with gravitational control, could help further our own research on the matter.
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"Alright, let's get this show on the road." says Tiberius as they board the ship.
During the flight back, Tiberius also types up his report making sure to include everything they found.
Once they arrive he gives his suggestion to Tower-9. "Look, they've done some questionable s%~+ in their past and their sheisty ass government has definitely lied to us and their own citizens to cover it up but I'm still going to recommend them for Protectorate status. Our interactions with the research team and the other copaxi we encountered convinced me that they can do better. Plus that Copi stuff could probably be pretty useful once the nerds get to play around with it in their labs."
With your tacit permission Therseis returns with you to Absalom Station along with Less Than Three. Both the Venture-Captain and Stewards thank you for hard and excellent work.
As information on your mission ripples through the Pact Worlds a member of the Android Abolitionist Front makes contact with the Starfinder Society and offers their own assistance aiding Less Than Three. They setup a clear place for the robot to find a healthy position in society and, as a reward for the life you saved, provide an ample financial reward for your service.
It isn't clear how the Pact Worlds will decide on the petition, but news from the copaxis themselves is entirely positive and, even as their government is lambasted for their clear cover-ups, many copaxis spread word of your good judgement and a number begin to immigrate to the Pact Worlds. A handful are so impressed that there are already a handful of applications to join the Society. It is clear the party has made a clear impression on the planet.