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R2 realises that tell that the Robot was tampered with - its corrupted programming treated all nearby living creatures as viable targets for its attacks...
This room is much like the other passenger cabins. The bed is unmade and tossed as if by a restless sleeper, but the rest of the room is tidy and free of personal effects. A shiny, hard-shell suitcase is tucked under the desk.
The clothes inside the suitcase are a jumbled mess, as if shoved in hastily. John finds a small, gift-wrapped package tucked away in an interior pocket. A holographic tag on the gift reads, “From Your Loving Wife!” In the same pocket is a folded note...
The folded note is on military stationery from Vesk-2, preprinted to show it’s from the office of Brigadier Alonya Sobok.
Trostinek,
I love you. You are free to engage in your hobby, traipsing across the galaxy. I want you to live your life, despite how I miss you. But remember your vow to me. Although I have been tolerant of your previous infidelities, mother is well able to find out and is not as forgiving.
Have a care.
—Your Alonya
The suitcase also contains two rolls of Ion Tape.
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R2 frowns.
Great. So, are we dealing with assassins sent by an angry Vesk Military Commander? Exactly how 'friendly' were Algiada and Trostinek?
He leaves the items, but retains the note as evidence.
R2 then moves on to systematically explore the rest of the ship, talking with the other passengers and crew that he can reach.
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John finds that the Captain has sequestered himself upon the bridge, and asked to not be disturbed (something which Lozu confirms).
The First Mate, however, notes: “Algiada could be rough. I think the whole crew basically liked her, though.” After a pause, Mate Lozu
goes on, “I can’t imagine any reason why someone might want to hurt her.”
Heading to the Galley, R2 finds Song, who professes to being too busy to talk.
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Grath's stuff is pretty potent, but after some initial coughing, R2 manages to hold his liquor.
Eventually, Grath drunkenly circles back to his former friend.
“Yeah, you could say Algiada and I had a falling out. You know what she did? She stole my tail ring while we were sparring in the gym. Right under my nose! My grandfather gave me that ring! She denied it, of course. But you can’t trust her, see? I know she’s got some serious side business with the captain.”
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This rec area contains workout machines next to free weights along the forward wall, small pools with retractable covers that can be used for current swimming or as hot tubs to port, and an open padded area for floor work or sparring to the aft. The sparring mats are fraying at the corners, revealing the foam within. Hooks along the wall hold several plastic batons and staves, each wrapped in black tape and cushions. Parts of the forward and aft walls are mirrored.
R2 doesn't notice anything unusual.
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Washing their hands after putting lunch in the oven, Song nods.
"Alright, I'm free to talk."
They then pinch the bridge of their nose, and sigh.
"With Algiada gone, exactly who’s going to keep those damned goblins in line? Mark my words, they had something to do with it.
As for last night, I was too busy scrubbing the dining hall’s floor after those goblins finally left. I went back to my quarters pretty late. Now that I think of it, I am pretty sure I saw the captain and that vesk bounty hunter enter the captain’s room. The captain said something about the ship’s thrusters before the door closed behind them.”
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R2 nods politely.
"Thank-you. I'll leave you in peace."
As he heads down to Engineering, he is in a thoughtful mood.
I doubt that a respected member of the Vesk military would stoop to using Goblins as assassins, but stranger things have happened... I *really* wish that I had been able to get into the Captains cabin; maybe I'll try again later...
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As R2 is heading down to Main Engineering, he passes the Incinerator, and notices that the door is slightly ajar!
The metal door creaks ominously as R2 opens it, revealing a statue, made of a dense plastic polymer and of light bulk, that is a model of the Idari. While the statue is painted in light browns and grays, the nose is stained with blood...
Whoever was trying to get rid of it didn’t seal the door properly, and the evidence wasn’t destroyed...
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R2 raises an eyebrow.
That... is rather convenient... and sloppy; it suggests that either someone is being framed, or whatever happened occurred in the heat of the moment, and someone was desperate... Either way, a model of the Idari? The only person on board likely to have one of *those* is the Captain. I *really* need to look at his room, now...
He carefully packs away the evidence, then continues on to talk with Kiiv.
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R2 finds Kiiv hard at work in the port thruster access area.
Kiiv bangs on a thick metal pipe with a large wrench, distracted enough to notice little else.
Kiiv seems genuinely relieved to see R2!
“Thank the fates,” Kiiv says. “I don’t know exactly what happened to the thrusters, but it’s done a real number on the Chimera’s whole damn propulsion system. I could really use a hand here. Do you have any skill in engineering?”
Kiiv crosses to a toolbox on the other side of the room and produces a small diagnostic datapad.
“You see that big valve in front of you? I think it’s jammed. If we can get it unstuck, we might be able to get the Chimera moving again. However, I need to temporarily slow down the amount of fuel pumping through there or...” Kiiv mimics the noise of an explosion.
“Trouble is, this limiter over here has always been finicky and needs constant supervision during the process. When I give you the word, just twist that valve to the right real hard. Okay?”
Unfortunately, when R2 twists the valve, it breaks off and lets out a jet of flame in a 15-foot cone that’s perpendicular to the corridor!
"S@@&!"
Kiiv quickly shuts down the fuel flow, so more damage doesn't occur.
"I am soooo sorry! I had no idea that was going to happen!"
He then looks over the mess.
"This has set back repairs of the thrusters by at least another day..."
R2 easily recognises that this was no accident... someone deliberately sabotaged the fuel intake valve.
When this is brought to his attention, Kiiv nods.
"Yeah, I noticed that too. Thing is, I have no idea who might have done it. Only me, the Captain, and maybe Grath have the technical knowledge to perform such sabotage, and I don't know why either of them would do *that*!"
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R2 dodges the worst of the blast, but still ends up singed.
"Just... be careful, Kiiv. If someone did it once, they might do it again, or take more... *direct*... action..."
He then innocently adds:
"By the way, do you know if the Captain happened to have a model of the Idari among his possessions?"
He then heads upstairs to take another crack at the Captain's cabin...
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Kiiv nods absentmindedly.
"Yes, I think he does..."
Back upstairs, this time, R2 easily hacks the lock on the Captains's room... almost too easily...
This room has a bed, a desk made of real wood, and several shelves and chests of drawers, all decorated in kasathan style. A pair comfortable, high-backed chairs fronts the desk, with a similar nice chair behind it. The chamber is tidy but has a lived-in look.
R2 notices a spot on the captain’s desk that is free of dust... which is an exact match for the base of the statue of the Idari...
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Just as John is preparing to head down to breakfast, he hears loud banging noises coming from the corridor outside, as of someone thumping the walls, and occasionally shooting at them.
When he opens his door cautiously, he spots Jincheroga's Goblins haphazardly attacking the walls.
"It has to be around here somewhere!"
"Yeah, Boss said so!"
"She'll be upset if we don't find it..."
"Hey! One of the longshanks is here!"
They turn their unstable junklasers threateningly in John's direction...
John (-)
Space Goblins (-, -, -, -)
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R2's pistol fries the final Goblin.
R2 also finds a rough schematic of the Chimera scribbled onto a pillowcase in black ink and marked with a few likely places to search, labelled ? smuggler's compartment.
The ship’s intercom crackles, and Captain Rameem can be heard shouting, “...off my bridge!” Someone screams in a high pitch, and then the intercom cuts out again with a pop.
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On the bridge, amid the officer stations and near the central captain’s chair, a creature that seems to be part goblin and part wolf holds Captain Rameem by the neck.
R2 recognises that this is a Barghest.
“Stay back!” it says in Jincheroga’s voice, snarling. “I’ll tear his throat out if you interfere!”
She addresses First Mate Lozu Pahir, who has her hands raised. A pistol has been cast to the floor near her.
Mate Pahir says, “Let’s talk about this, Jincheroga.”
Jincheroga draws Rameem close, then says, “I’ll tear you apart if you don’t clear the bridge and give me control. I’ll swallow your soul, whoever you are.”
R2 recognises that the First Mate is tensed-up, and ready to leap for her weapon...
John (-5)
Lozu (-)
Jincheroga (-)
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R2 zaps Jincheroga.
Lozu leaps for her pistol, and fires as well...
...burning the Barghest's nose.
With a snarl, Jincheroga tosses the Captain aside, and charges Lozu...
...killing the First Mate with one crunch of her jaws.
She then turns and smiles cruelly at R2.
"You're next!"
John (-5)
Jincheroga (-13)