As John searches the nooks and crannies of this cargo bay, a glint catches his eye. An ornate credstick lies forgotten under a pallet.
Other cargo seems to be either of a personal nature for crew or passengers, or various items that Captain Rameem can easily sell upon arrival at Absalom Station (various holovid chips, a few bolts of fabric in exotic colors or patterns, odd culinary items aimed toward specific species on the station, etc.).
Beauregard assists Trostinek and inquires about how this all began. Trostinek replies:
“With Security Chief Iom missing, I
thought maybe my robot pal would be helpful in restraining
any culprit that turned up. But when I opened up the crate
and turned on the bot, it went berserk and punched me. A
lot. Someone must have tampered with it!”
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"Look guy, I wanna help you, but your story just doesn't track. Is the Robot yours? And why would you assume there is an assailant? She could have just as easily had an accident or suffered some medical issue. And . . . listen, I don't wish to be indelicate, but we all know you were up to something with the security chief last night. None of us bought her cock-eyed story, but I didn't want to press anything. Now though? The ship and this robot have been sabotaged, and the security chief's missing, so we really need to know what's going on here. I don't mean to imply anything, but right now you are looking like the most likely suspect, so we need to clear your name or the rest of the crew might turn on you.."
Trostinek agrees about Beauregard's first point. "Yeah, I hope it's just an accident and she turns up. I figured it might be good to fire up my pal here just in case, though."
Trostinek takes a deep breath and tries to sooth one of his bruises.
“She’s… a friend. She was trying to get me to install
some upgrades onto my robot. But I don’t need ’em! I can
handle the bounties myself! My robot is for bringing ’em
in alive when the client doesn’t want... too much blood.”
Trostinek scratches his bony chin. “Maybe Algiada’s
responsible for this thing going crazy, though. Wanted to
prove me wrong.”
"Last night was the last time I saw her."
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Beauregard gives Trostinek a harsh look. "She wanted you to upgrade the aged security robot, the one she didn't think would work to well, so she sabotaged it to attack you? And she's your friend? Doesn't sound right. Not to mention that thing took down you AND a Trox Royal guard, clearly it doesn't need upgrading and any security chief worth her salt would know that. Plus she told YOU to stick to the plan, and you were talking about changing it. That doesn't track with a discussion about security robot upgrades. Now I wanna help you here, but not if you keep giving me lines so obvious my five year old niece could see through them. Try again."
“Okay, okay! I couldn’t sleep much
last night—first nights in the Drift leave me a bit restless,
so I took a walk. I spotted the first mate—Pahir, uh, Lozu—
knocking on Algiada’s door. Algiada opened it from the inside,
but I only caught a glimpse of her hand. That’s all I saw!”
“And there's one more thing: I don’t know if this is even worth
mentioning, but while I was up last night,
I saw Kiiv the engineer heading toward the
engineering deck. I didn’t think anything of
it at the time. After all, that’s part of their
job, right? But it was very late. And with the
Chimera’s problems, maybe Kiiv knows
something…?”
Trostinek groans and rubs a huge knot on his noggin. "I'd really like to lay down for a while. Can we talk again later?"
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Moving closer as a natural part of his search, John sweeps the credstick up and palms it. Satisfied that there's nothing more to be found, he straightens his robe, and transfers the stick to his pocket in the process.
He returns to the group around Trostinek in time to to reply to the vesk's question, " Can we talk again later?"
"Not yet. Be the captain aware that you brought a dangerous rogue robot aboard? Or did your friend Algiada fudge the paperwork for you? And be you hunting a bounty or bounties aboard this ship?"
Trostinek sighs and grimaces in pain as he stands up to head to his cabin.
"I believe the captain is aware that this robot is aboard. Packed up in its crate is poses no threat to anyone. In fact, it is not capable of doing any lasting damage to anyone. They don't call these 'hugbots' for nothin'!"
He continues, "I do have a job I am pursuing, however it is in the pact worlds system. I can assure you no one aboard the Chimera is my mark."
Trostinek haphazardly tosses the remnants of the robot into the crate and leaves to go to his cabin. "I'll be taking a nap if you need me. Maybe I'll see you at dinner tonight. I'm looking forward to the Pygosian Rending Geese the chef is preparing for later."
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After the Vesk leaves Beauregard turns to everyone.
"He's hiding something, I'd bet my fedora on it. Did you see the way he just ignored the part about how his story doesn't make any sense? I'd wager his talk about Kiiv and Lozu were just distractions, trying to get us to forget that his story is about as flimsy as a sheet of drywall. Still, since there are six of us, I guess it couldn't hurt to take a look at those two."
Beauregard pauses for a moment as he lights up and then takes a drag off of his cigarette.
"It might not hurt to talk to everyone in fact. Did you see those goblins earlier? They had Junklasers, which is kinda a right of passage for some goblin tribes. They have to scrap-build their own lasers. Someone with that level of technical expertise might have been able to sabotage the robot or ship. And their leader, that Jincheroga lady, seemed suspiciously eager to start a firefight over where she ate breakfast. That either makes her nervous or mentally unstable, either or could be because of or result in problems."
He takes another drag. "And have you noticed how the captain, and first mate aren't looking into this? Just leaving it to passengers? You'd think they'd be loosing their heads trying to find their security chief. There may be something there."
He takes a final long drag off his cigarette and puts it out. "Well, Occam's razor says that whoever sabotaged the ship also did the robot. So we're looking for someone with some degree of engineering and maybe computer programming skill. Also, someone should talk to the first mate and see if she did really see the security chief last night, or if our Vesk friend is lying about that too.
"I suggest I talk to Jincheroga and her Goblins, be subtle about it if she really is on that hair-trigger of a temper. I hope I can take Rar'Gul with me, she looks like she'll respond to strength. Yareal and T'Sorkal, you wanna talk to Kiiv? See if whatever he tells you about his late-night trip to the engines makes sense technically? That leaves the last two to talk to the first mate. Sound good?"
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Yariel pipes up, "That's a lotta assumptions. We don't even know if the engine trouble is sabotage, it could easily just be a mechanical issue. The thing that cooked me was just a stripped valve, happens all the time. But we definitely shouldn't split up again, if ya hadn't been able to fall back from the bot, it woulda taken ya two out earlier."
Her whiskers twitch a bit thinking, "But let's assume the absolute worst and work from there so we don't get surprised again. We stick together, watch each other's backs an don't trust anyone. Shall we all head back to engineering and talk to Kiiv then track down the first mate?"
Rar'gul hefts his hammer, resting it across a broad shoulder. "Therre is something strrange going on here. Flash is rright - might be best to stick together."
"Will be pleased to join you in visiting Jincherroga and the goblins afterr we'rre done though," the trox says to Beauregard.
He hesitates a moment, then speaks up. "I didn't think it any of my business at firrst, so I didn't say anything," he rumbles. "But maybe it means something. I overrhearrd Kiiv and Lozu discussing theirrr relationship. Turrns out they arre togetherrr, although Kiiv is not rready to go public just yet."
T'sorkel nods. I'll go see if Kiiv is alright. He seems very disregarded by the crew. If he knows something, he could be willing to share it.
But where has the Security Chief gone? She couldn't just have walked out the ship, right? At this point, can we rule out that she's just working in some hatch and will show up again? Maybe we should speak to the captain and begin a systematic search. We can cordon off all the crew and search each space in order to avoid anyone doubling back.
He pulls out the holopicture of the Professor. And we need to ask the Professor about this picture too.
"Hold on." Doc's sudden interjection highlights her lengthy silence; it's easy to forget the slight halfling is even in the room. "T'sorkel's correct in that we have evidence of a pre-existing relationship between the security chief and the professor, but we need to cultivate our current collection of facts before we go hunting for more."
She lays three objects on the surface of a nearby crate - a datapad, an analog ledger, and the holopicture T'sorkel was carrying. The picture shows a male ryphorian - with possibly a familial resemblance to Iom - standing next to a younger Professor Benjam.
"We found these objects in the security offier's cabin. Yariel, dear," Doc hands the ysoki the datapad, "I assume this is locked. Do what you do best." Doc opens the ledger and begins to investigate the contents.
As you observe Trostinek answer Beauregard's questions, you feel he seems sincere, although at one or two points he did seem agitated, perhaps unusually so.
Spending about a half hour with the ledger gives you a decent picture of Algiada's financial situation. The ryphorian
made regular deposits into accounts in a few Pact Worlds
and Near Space banks and had quite a lot of money saved
up. One recent transaction that stands out is a 10,000-credit
withdrawal to a credstick that is accompanied with a note
reading “For LP, ship repairs.”
The datapad is password protected.
10,000 credits? A telepathic whistle pierces the senses in your mind. Why would Algiada be funding repairs for the ship? And where is she getting all of this cred? I doubt their cargo runs are that profitable. Something doesn't seem right.
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Beauregard puts his Privite eye datapad on the crate with all of the notes he's taken and offers them up as cross reference.
"Hmm, that changes things. I can't see why the security officer would be forking over money to the first officer for starship repair. Anyone around here know about starship engineering? Certainly lends credence to the idea that the first mate and Iom met up last night like our Vesk friend said. Looks like we need to talk to this first officer too. Off the top of your head, anyone know what 10,000 credits would get you on a barge like this? Could that buy you a smuggling compartment?"
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"He's hiding something, ...
"I suggest I talk to Jincheroga and her Goblins, be subtle about it if she really is on that hair-trigger of a temper. I hope I can take Rar'Gul with me, she looks like she'll respond to strength. Yareal and T'Sorkal, you wanna talk to Kiiv? See if whatever he tells you about his late-night trip to the engines makes sense technically? That leaves the last two to talk to the first mate. Sound good?"
John nods in agreement through much of the nuar's speech.
"That's a lotta assumptions.... But let's assume the absolute worst and work from there so we don't get surprised again. We stick together, watch each other's backs an don't trust anyone. Shall we all head back to engineering and talk to Kiiv then track down the first mate?"
"Therre is something strrange going on here. Flash is rright - might be best to stick together."
"Sounds good. But since it's on the way, let's stop by the gym and talk to that Hobgoblin and her crew. I don't trust someone willing to start a firefight over where they eat their breakfast."
"I agree, we should all be together when we talk to the hobgoblin. Or , better, everyone should be waiting outside in case there is trouble. She may feel that we are spoiling for a fight if we appear in strength first. If she reacts badly to Beauregard's questions, we can rush in."
He hesitates a moment, then speaks up. "I didn't think it any of my business at firrst, so I didn't say anything," he rumbles. "But maybe it means something. I overrhearrd Kiiv and Lozu discussing theirrr relationship. Turrns out they arre togetherrr, although Kiiv is not rready to go public just yet."
"Interesting."
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T'sorkel nods. ...
But where has the Security Chief gone? She couldn't just have walked out the ship, right? At this point, can we rule out that she's just working in some hatch and will show up again? Maybe we should speak to the captain and begin a systematic search. We can cordon off all the crew and search each space in order to avoid anyone doubling back.
"Beauregard and I started at the bow. We still haven't checked the aft passenger spaces or the escape pods. I suggest doing at least that before involving the captain."
He pulls out the holopicture of the Professor. And we need to ask the Professor about this picture too.
Also, interesting."
John drops out of the active conversation to help Yariel. "Officer Flash, I know a little about computers, perhaps I could help."
He draws her a little way off from the others. And asks quietly,
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The Ysoki bristles for a brief moment when John points out which cord to connect to the computer but once she realizes he is just trying to help and not mansplaining how to do her job she goes ahead and plugs it in, beginning the cracking attempt. And he remembered how I told him to address me? Maybe the stooge isn't a dumb a-hole. Eh, I'll keep giving him chances, I don't really know him after all. Maybe just a cog in the machine as he claims.
She whispers her response while watching her program work.
At first, you see nothing suspicious and no obvious connections to her disappearance. However, you do find a folder in her messages that is deeply hidden in the files section of the computer. Opening the folder, you find it contains a set of messages between Algiada and a “no-reply” contact in the city of Maro on Akiton. The conversation appears largely innocuous, discussing the “memories” of an “Uncle R.”
new home, permanently. Algiada writes that she will “take
care of Uncle R’s old place once he’s gone.” It sounds as if the
two participants were plotting something sinister against
Uncle R upon the Chimera’s return to the Pact Worlds.
Leaving the cargo hold, and moving down the corridor, you note that the goblins and their hobgoblin leader are indeed in the gym doing some sort of combat drills with their dogslicers.
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John keeps watching the screen while contributing to the general conversation. "Ship's repairs be an unlikely true explanation. And 10,000 be too much for a payroll kick-back scam. Unless the ship be a cooperative and the crew be all partners in ownership..."
He looks up from the screen. Look at this. Yariel's managed to unearth some buried files..."
He looks up from the screen. Look at this. Yariel's managed to unearth some buried files..."
Doc takes a moment to read the files, and then reads them again, her eyebrows slowly climbing.
"Algiada Iom was plotting to seize possession of the Chimera."
Taking a deep breath, Doc displays the files so all can see them. "Look, this is a coded conversation. Algiada's mysterious contact in Maro is interested in "Uncle R's memories". Algiada is willing to provide her contact with said "memories" if they ensure Uncle R gets a "new home", after which Algiada would take care of his "old place". The most likely candidate for "Uncle R" is Captain Rameem, which would make the Chimera his old place. Algiada was going to facilitate his kidnapping and take the vessel as payment."
The halfling looks around the group. "This isn't a string of strange coincidences anymore. This is a full-blown conspiracy. Algiada just took out a substantial sum in hard credits. This ship has multiple mercs on board. We must tred lightly."
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Beauregard curses under his breath. "Damnit, can't just have a damn normal cruise." He then turns around and talks to everyone. "I mean, that's one way of looking at it. Like you told me, gotta make sure you aren't making too many assumptions." He sighs though. "But yeah, that fits, what with the soldiers itchin' to fight on board." he then stops. "But then who would sabotage the robot? If the vesk is in on the plan to capture the ship, then it would have to be someone on the captain's side blocking the coup. But if the captain is wise to the plan, then they could just shut everyone in the brig or whatever. There's still more to this mystery."
T'sorkel's antennae vibrate nervously. It's some sort of mutiny? Oh, goodness. But then maybe that's exactly what's happened. Maybe the Captain found out and put Algiada into the brig? If he doesn't know who else is involved, that could account for the mystery. He's not wanting to tip his hand to anyone else and start a battle on the ship. Maybe he's just hoping to get back to Absolom and have authorities waiting.
Like you said, this means anyone on board could potentially be aligned with one side or another. What should we do next?
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John adjusts his silky red robe, and rewinds the sash. He taps his cane meditatively on the floor, strokes his chin.
"Someone on the captain's side could be acting without his knowledge. Or it could be someone who's interests aligned momentarily with the captain's. Or the vesk be incompetent and set his robot on himself. "
"Song knew we were looking into Algiada before Beauregard and I spoke with him. It seems far less paranoid now to wonder if the staterooms are bugged."
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Yariel pipes up, "Mine wasn't bugged, but y'all's could be. As to Doc's theory, it fits somewhat, but where does the professor and the connection to Algiada's relative fit in? Is the professor just completely paranoid and none of this has anything to do with him and his bauble?"
She takes a deep breath, "So, we pretty much can't trust anyone. Let's feel out the hobbo & gobbos, see if they might be involved. Then check back in on Kiiv, see if they might have had any reason to sabotage their own engine. Then work from there. Right now we've got nothing concrete."
I don't even trust the group here, other than maybe the doc an big guy over there.
Rar'gul nods his head; first thoughtfully, as John and Flash share what they uncovered during their search of the datapad, and then in agreement as Beauregard and Doc formulate theories.
"Someone onboarrd definitely knows what's going on," the trox grumbles. "Maybe 'someones'."
"Why would the Securrity Chief leave if she was trrying to gain command of the Chimerrra?" he wonders. "It doesn't make sense. No doubt these rreasons are the why of how we arre the only ones lookking into this mess."
"Once we've checkked out these leads, it might be an idea for us to checkkk on Uncle R," Rar'gul suggests.
"I may not be as smooth as the good doctorrr, herre, but my bedside mannerrr can be quite charrrming," he says, a deep chittering emanating from his torso as his mandibles quiver, in what must pass for laughter. "Not to mention that I've often found my prresence prroves to be quite... perrrsuasive."
"I'm okay with paying these goblins a visit. We can try with words at first and move onto more persuasive arguments.
Song is indeed serving lunch. The fare is simple, including a very nice selection of soups and Absalom-style Daygu wraps. Pygosian Rending Geese are on the menu for later this evening.
You note Professor Benjam sitting by himself at his usual table. He appears quite concerned when he sees that many of you have been battered, shot, or burned. He greets you all quietly, and asks if you would like to stop by his cabin later.
First mate Lozu, who observed first-hand T'sorkel getting shot by the ice carbine asks him how he is doing, and if he needs anything. She indicates that she is available if there is any status update on Algiada.
Trostinek takes his lunch to go, as does Lozu (she takes two lunches, one for her, and one for Captain Rameem).
Grath appears shortly after most of you arrive, and plops a tray of food down and eats rather sloppily, though not as sloppy as the goblins, who eat quickly and at least make a cursory attempt at cleaning up after themselves.
Kiiv looks tired and disheveled. He grabs a wrap and a beverage and heads back down to engineering.
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Song is indeed serving lunch. The fare is simple, including a very nice selection of soups and Absalom-style Daygu wraps. Pygosian Rending Geese are on the menu for later this evening.
You note Professor Benjam sitting by himself at his usual table. He appears quite concerned when he sees that many of you have been battered, shot, or burned. He greets you all quietly, and asks if you would like to stop by his cabin later.
First mate Lozu, who observed first-hand T'sorkel getting shot by the ice carbine asks him how he is doing, and if he needs anything. She indicates that she is available if there is any status update on Algiada.
Trostinek takes his lunch to go, as does Lozu (she takes two lunches, one for her, and one for Captain Rameem).
Grath appears shortly after most of you arrive, and plops a tray of food down and eats rather sloppily, though not as sloppy as the goblins, who eat quickly and at least make a cursory attempt at cleaning up after themselves.
Kiiv looks tired and disheveled. He grabs a wrap and a beverage and heads back down to engineering.
At lunch, John selects one of the wraps and a spicy clear soup. He nods his thanks to Song and sits down. When Benjam approaches John says quietly, "We be planning to interview the goblins immediately after lunch. Perhaps after that?"
When Benjam leaves, John turns to his partners, "We should settle what we will tell him ahead of time."
As they eat lunch, Doc quietly turns to Beauregard. "How confident are you that our esteemed captain is still among the living?" She delicately picks at her wrap. "He's the only soul aboard this vessel I haven't met yet."
When Benjam leaves, John turns to his partners, "We should settle what we will tell him ahead of time."
"We don't tell him anything. At least, not yet. Hopefully he'll provide some answers to our questions."
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As they eat lunch, Doc quietly turns to Beauregard. "How confident are you that our esteemed captain is still among the living?" She delicately picks at her wrap. "He's the only soul aboard this vessel I haven't met yet."
Beauregard replies in a hushed tone. "Not that strange. Lots of captains don't like to mingle with the crew or passengers. Still, something to keep in mind."
Beauregard replies in a hushed tone. "Not that strange. Lots of captains don't like to mingle with the crew or passengers. Still, something to keep in mind."
Doc nods, carrying on in a similarly quiet voice. "Lozu seems to be the lynchpin of this crew. Thus far her behavior has been completely above-board, but I would be surprised if she doesn't know something. We'll need to press her as well. Later, I suppose."
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When Benjam leaves, John turns to his partners, "We should settle what we will tell him ahead of time.""We don't tell him anything. At least, not yet. Hopefully he'll provide some answers to our questions."
John keeps his voice similarly low. "I like that plan. We don't speculate. Algiada's fate be still unknown; we be working on it. Yariel's close call was an accident. Trostinek be incapable of programming his own robot or it be defective. Be everyone agreeable?"
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Beauregard replies in a hushed tone. "Not that strange. Lots of captains don't like to mingle with the crew or passengers. Still, something to keep in mind."Doc nods, carrying on in a similarly quiet voice. "Lozu seems to be the lynchpin of this crew. Thus far her behavior has been completely above-board, but I would be surprised if she doesn't know something. We'll need to press her as well. Later, I suppose."
"We will need to talk to her." John sips his soup.
T'sorkel sips his soup lightly, distracted by the knowledge that any one of the people in the dining room could be a conspirator. If it's a mutiny, isn't it always led by the first mate? He nods to Louz and assures her that he is ok. The Doctor is treating me. I'll be fine in a few days.
Once she is gone, he glances at Doctor Flint-Bridge. I agree. She has to be involved, yes? Either she's protecting the Captain or she's the largest threat to him. Perhaps later we can go see her and question her.
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Yariel fumes a bit through lunch, Freakin dropped right inta a damn mutiny. What the hell are the odds of that an everyone seems to be in on it. AAAARFHHHH!!!"
She whispers to her allies, "Listen, I ain't a detective nor pretending to be one. Mysteries can go frack themselves, honestly. Let's just get to the bottom of this quick and beat up who we gotta beat up. I'll go fix the damn ship after lunch so we can move on with this crap. But I ain't going myself so you all make your fancy plans an hurry up so we can get down to engineering."
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"This soup be genuinely excellent. Pardon me while I fetch another bowl. Anyone?" John implies an offer to bring soup. He lays his napkin on the table.
When he returns he places the soup down carefully and seats himself. When he pulls the napkin to his lap a small golden wing, roughly the size of a mans' thumb lies on the table.
"This can help us all." He intones in a soft voice. "I found this on the floor in the hold. It contains 4500 credits."
The goblins head for the gym. Most everyone else has retired to their cabins or duty stations. Song is cleaning up after lunch, and is preparing two of the geese to go into the oven for a special feast tonight.
Virtually any of the crew or passengers are available to question (although the captain is inaccessible on the bridge and does not wish to be disturbed at the moment).
4500 CREDITS?! T'sorkel blasts into your heads. Oh, sorry, sorry. I got a bit excited. It was just lying on the floor? Could it be Trostinek's?
"This can help us all." He intones in a soft voice. "I found this on the floor in the hold. It contains 4500 credits."
Doc chokes on her soup for a split second before regaining composure. "What a memorable day this has been. We should make it disappear - quickly."
The caustolance will be available to pick up in two hours from Captain Rameem's Vend-o-matic.
Accompanied by T'sorkel and John, Doctor Flint-Bridge finds Professor Benjam in his cabin.
"You seem concerned, Professor. Is everything alright?"
"I see that there are injuries among your group, so of course I am concerned. I'm sorry that it appears that my simple concern regarding a missing person and security aboard this vessel has been more dangerous than I had anticipated."
The professor seems genuinely regretful about T'sorkel's injury.
"I suppose I am hoping for an update on your investigation. Any news?"