Ivris-Mu calls out ”Well done Jahn and Nuri, continue pressing them.” It fires a shot, hoping for success and not having to explain later that it never won any marksmanship medal on Avardu-3.
With the combined actions of Ivris-mu and Jahn, both of you managed to down the other invader. This allows Jellek Fulson -- the colonist you saved, to speak.
“I don’t know how far back to start. Maybe it’s when we saw the meteor crash-land about 10 or 20 miles from here. A group of folks went to scout it out—Cedona, Quorsica, and others—and they came back with some strange news. First, they learned that the meteor was some kind of high-tech probe, but it had been destroyed in the crash. Interestingly, the probe landed near an old crashed starship we hadn’t noticed before. Been there for ages, probably. Cedona went into the crashed ship and came out with a pack full of old tech she was very excited about. She talked to our leader, Madelon, and Aibretta—that’s our best mechanic and my ex-wife—about what she’d found.
“A few days later, a starship sailed in above the town commons, blasted our communications building to slag, and unloaded a bunch of soldiers. There wasn’t a lot we could do. The soldiers rounded up everyone in town and their leader—a stern woman whose face I never saw—told us that our planet was now annexed as a part of the Azlanti Star Empire. Anyone that protested was shot right there. The soldiers made us bury the bodies, then forced us to unload some prefab building components, which they turned into a garrison in the center of town.
“The woman in charge asked us about the crashed ship; turns out, it’s old Azlanti technology. She was very interested in what Cedona found. They rounded up Madelon, Cedona, and a few others and jailed them in the garrison. The large ship went away, but all the soldiers stayed. They’ve instituted martial law in town; we’re basically prisoners. We try to make do just as before, but anyone stepping out of line gets punished. When I got the chance, I ran. I didn’t know there were soldiers in the forest waiting to catch escapees. Three of them found me. I killed one with a lucky shot, but the other two chased me. And that brings me up to where I met you.”
As she listens to Jellek's story, Nuri kneels down beside the fallen Azlanti soldiers and collects more ammunition for their rifles.
As he finishes, she looks up at him. "So, with the three we ran into earlier and the three that followed you, how many Azlanti soldiers does that leave in town?"
As she listens to Jellek's story, Nuri kneels down beside the fallen Azlanti soldiers and collects more ammunition for their rifles.
As he finishes, she looks up at him. "So, with the three we ran into earlier and the three that followed you, how many Azlanti soldiers does that leave in town?"
"I'm afraid I don't know. Twenty maybe?" Jellik says.
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Jahn breathes a sigh of relief as the fight ends, joining Nuri in restocking his ammo pool. When he stands up, his expression is grim.
"We're friends of Cedona," he explains. "In addition to the supplies we were running to the colony we were hoping to catch up with her. I owe Cedona a lot...she...saved my life, for lack of better words. I was in a very dark place, and she kept a light shining for me. It looks like I'm going to have to repay her in a more literal way than I expected. Jellik, can you guide us to the colony? We weren't finding much stumbling around in these mists except Azlanti and hobgars. Name's Jahn, by the way, Jahn Soter."
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Continuing to check the bodies for supplies, Nuri looks over to Jahn for just a moment. ”I too owe much to Cedona, but we’re not equipped to take on twenty Azlanti soldiers in a jailbreak. We’ve all been wounded, we’re low on ammo, and we don’t have the skills to do covert surveillance. We’re just plain outnumbered and outgunned.” She stops and stands. Turning to Ivris-mu, she continues, ”Captain, what do we do?”
You can, but the colony is a better place for it.
Ivris-mu listens to the colonist and its crewmates. Nodding along to Nuri’s points about being low on ammunition and lack of skills.
”Could we assault the garrison with our ship I wonder?” the android says. ”Is that where Cedona and the other prisoners are? If so, we can’t attack the building then.”
It looks at the colonist, ”Do they have any Drift-capable starships that you know of? We need to get word back to the Pact Worlds and Abadar Corp. about what is happening here. Perhaps we could take one and send Nym through the Drift.”
It studies the tree branches overhead. ”Another consideration is this crashed starship. How far is it? That may have some communication equipment.”
Ivris-mu checks its pistol’s ammunition. ”I feel the priority is to rescue Cedona and the others. If we can create a distraction it may provide opportunity.”
"You can find rest with my ex-wife, Albretta in her junk shop. There you can find healing and we can talk more about what happened," Jellik suggests.
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Jahn gives Ivris-mu an "are you serious?!" kind of look.
"Assaulting the garrison using the Breeze would effectively be an orbital bombardment. Which would destroy the colony. Somehow I suspect that'd come up in AbadarCorp's next performance review for you, Captain."
Then he looks at Jellik.
"So...are you expecting that the Azlanti won't be patrolling and we can just walk into town? Why'd you have to run from them, then?"
Nuri finishes checking the Azlanti scouts for useful gear and stands up. ”Sounds like their outpost is also their jail. We can’t use the Breeze without injuring our friends held inside. As long as we’re careful we might just be able to get into town. Sounds like they’re trying to keep people in, not out. So getting back to she ship is gonna take some work.”
They were as equipped as the other three.
Jahn gives Ivris-mu an "are you serious?!" kind of look.
"Assaulting the garrison using the Breeze would effectively be an orbital bombardment. Which would destroy the colony. Somehow I suspect that'd come up in AbadarCorp's next performance review for you, Captain."
Then he looks at Jellik.
"So...are you expecting that the Azlanti won't be patrolling and we can just walk into town? Why'd you have to run from them, then?"
"The Azlanti do patrol, but not around the building of my ex-wife!"
Kicking their useless armor to the side, Nuri pockets half the ammo and the knives and hands the rest of the ammo to Jahn. ”Then we’d best be off to visit Albretta’s junk shop. And on the way, maybe you can shed some light on why you think the Azlanti ignore the place.”
”I too would like to hear this story,” Ivris-mu says. ”Do you know how the Azlanti learned of the crashed ship’s discovery? Could they have a spy in town?”
"That's why they sent the probe," said Jellik. "Come with me into town and everything will be explained."
After about 10 minutes of walking, you find yourselves near Aibretta's junkshop.
This mechanic’s workshop consists of three interconnected, prefabricated modules, each the size of a shipping container. The central module is open on one side and appears to be a repair bay, although the tool chests, spools of wire, and broken equipment stacked haphazardly around the area imply that the repairs are slow going at best. Storage crates, broken furniture, and scrapped engines litter the yard around the junk shop. A short metal fence surrounds the yard, separating the chaos within from the orderly paths and shrubs of the surrounding colonists’ modules.
Jellik opens the door for you and he walks in. He holds the door open for you as you walk in.
You also gain a level up. Plus, you're not alone.
A blue and purple-ish 7 ft. tall phentomite is standing by a crate, examining some specimens of the smaller local fauna displayed on top of it, obviously hunted recently. At his feet an orange-colored small sized dragon is gnawing on a piece of rusted metal.
The phentomite just glances at Jellik entering the shop, but both him and the dragon raise their heads at the sight of the PCs following behind. “Visitors? Here? That’s unexpected.”, he smiles.
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After about 10 minutes of walking, you find yourselves near Aibretta's junkshop.
This mechanic’s workshop consists of three interconnected, prefabricated modules, each the size of a shipping container. The central module is open on one side and appears to be a repair bay, although the tool chests, spools of wire, and broken equipment stacked haphazardly around the area imply that the repairs are slow going at best. Storage crates, broken furniture, and scrapped engines litter the yard around the junk shop. A short metal fence surrounds the yard, separating the chaos within from the orderly paths and shrubs of the surrounding colonists’ modules.
Jellik opens the door for you and he walks in. He holds the door open for you as you walk in.
Jahn gives a small "heh" as they approach.
"Reminds me of some of the old habs back on Akiton," he comments quietly.
A blue and purple-ish 7 ft. tall phentomite is standing by a crate, examining some specimens of the smaller local fauna displayed on top of it, obviously hunted recently. At his feet an orange-colored small sized dragon is gnawing on a piece of rusted metal.
The phentomite just glances at Jellik entering the shop, but both him and the dragon raise their heads at the sight of the PCs following behind. “Visitors? Here? That’s unexpected.”, he smiles.
When Enslig greets them, Jahn's eyes widen. He'd never encountered a person like this back home. Still, this guy seemed friendly enough. Tall, but not shobhad tall.
"Everything about this situation's unexpected," he says, giving the phentomite a casual wave.
In a cluttered corner of the bay, mostly hidden from view, someone is tinkering with a device. At the sound of new arrivals, the work stops and the worker peers cautiously around a corner of a drum of chemicals. Not seeing green armor, he sets his tools down and stands, removing leather gloves and sauntering over to meet and greet.
He wears freebooter armor, carries a couple of small arms and blades, along with a belt crowded with pouches carrying a couple of different tool kits, a comm unit, and a canteen. He wears a backpack. Attached to it is a long cylinder that looks like some kind of woodwind instrument. A variety of small devices perch on his shoulders, the cuffs of his coveralls, and around his ankles.
His face is humanoid but with features of a jungle cat, which means he's a pahtra. Once his gloves are off, his hands can be seen to have retractable claws and more fur. His fur is light grey and white, with spots of black. His eyes are golden and his face is handsome. He's lean and wiry, not overly tall, but hale and healthy. A long slender tail waves behind him as he walks.
"Greetings! I'm Duncan. I ha'no been on the colony long enough ta knaew aab'dy, but I think I'd 'member yous! Ye'n't Azlanti scum, soe I'm expectin' a great tale ou' o' ye." His common is heavily accented, somewhat like the dwarven tongue, but more melodic.
The heavily armed and armored kasatha steps in and makes sure Jellik, Jahn, and Ivris-mu are safely inside before securing the door to the workshop. Standing nearly eye to eye with Enslig she braces against the door.
Holding a pair of Pacification Rifles with two more strapped to her pack, the knives and pistols at her hips seem unnecessary. The ceramic plates of her armor give her an almost insectile appearance. Her wary eyes peering out of the slit in her helmet are the only exposed part of her.
”I’d say the Azlanti are the most unexpected myself. It has definitely been an interesting trip. This leg was supposed to be the boring supply run. Cedona was hinting at something more interesting once we’d arrived.”
"Ye ken Cedona, eh? She's the reason I'm on this rock. Hired me when she got here an' found all the mechas were shortin' out from the charge in the air and the ore. That's a problem we pahtra's deal with on our home waerld o' Pulonis. Electromagne'ic winds dou a righ' number on mechas there."
Duncan's long tail switched back and forth as he grew more animated.
"I was up in BTEP-1 workin' on the mechas what aer supposed t' mine tin. Came out ta see why me comm went all gloamin'. Saw frachin' Azlanti smack in the middlins o' the landin'. I made my way down ta see what I could dou ta muck up their plans o' conquest. Fled Pulonis ta get oot froem under the Vesk only ta be invaded by Azlanti. I'm a bit snooted oot aboot that!"
Duncan shakes Jahn's hand, saying, "Honoured ta mee' ya. Lang may yer beam be a baumin'!" His handshake is firm, his fur soft.
He doesn't wait to be introduced to the others, going around shaking hands to all who extend a hand in response.
"Supply run, eh?" Duncan says in delayed response to Nuri's statement. "Where's yer ship? I hope ye got a case ur two o' some nan-caps. Used all mine up the first week! This place's got moere 'lectricity than an aier elemental's fearts!"
Aibretta cuts in.
"The Azlanti don’t know it, but a few of us have been coordinating a resistance to their occupation. I’ve been in charge of that. We don’t have all the pieces we need yet, but with you on our side, perhaps we do.
"The first step is to weaken the Azlanti. A few targeted strikes around town can reduce their numbers, weaken their defenses, or both. In between, you’re welcome to hide out here. After that, a direct attack on the garrison can flush the Azlanti out and free our prisoners. We’re not equipped for that, but it looks like you might be. The rest of us will round up any survivors, disarm them, and take back our settlement."
"And if you don't mind, we'll join you. Jagare here doesn't take well to staying indoors for long, and I have been meaning to check the damage the azlant have done to this area." he scratches his drake's head. "I'm Enslig, by the way. I'm the local druid."
Enslig collects the animals he hunted and hands them over to some cook-looking NPC. "This frog-type creature can be consumed and should be hunted more than others; based on what I've seen, they reproduce quickly and shouldn't be impacted too much by a colony this size - we can also start looking into keeping some of them in pens. The two birds have some very distinctive poisonous glands, I can't be sure how safe they are without some lab analysis. Better keep that on hold until we can reclaim the garrison..."
"Aye, count me in! I hate boolies. I got weapons an' kin mess with their mechas. I e'en know a wee bi' o' their language. Took some courses at the uni, hopin' I migh' find some Azlanti relics ta figure oot."
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"And if you don't mind, we'll join you. Jagare here doesn't take well to staying indoors for long, and I have been meaning to check the damage the azlant have done to this area." he scratches his drake's head. "I'm Enslig, by the way. I'm the local druid."
"Druid? Then you can see the Lines too. You can probably see them better than I can," Jahn says, raising an eyebrow.
When Duncan asks about the ship, he turns to him.
"The Golden Breeze. We parked it out in the jungle, a short trip from the town, as encountering Azlanti drones in orbit made us wary. Our drow, Nym, seems to have lingered behind to protect the cargo should the patrols or hobgars stumble on it. The stomach isn't a mirror; fill it with hay, no one will see it."
"Druid? Then you can see the Lines too. You can probably see them better than I can," Jahn says, raising an eyebrow.
"Lines? You mean the electricity that permeates the green?"
Giving Duncan's paw a firm shake, Nuri relaxes slightly. "Well met, I am Nuri Gihersi Tar Nu Zahgev of Clan Dael, pilot and security officer of the Breeze. You can call me Nuri. We've also left our mechanic with the ship to keep it safe, hopefully the two of them will be able to keep the Azlanti from discovering and claiming it." With her last remaining free hand, she gestures to Ivris-mu, "And this is our captain Ivris-mu."
Shifting her attention to Jellik's ex-wife, Nuri inquires about the resistance. "Aibretta, what kind of strikes have you been thinking about? We were able to remove six of the Azlanti occupiers on our way here. Although I don't know how long our presence will remain a secret with their absence."
"Secret strikes, although your group can look like to handle one of them," Aiabretta mentions. "I won't betray my fellow conspirators, though."
Oh, your ship is tier 2 now.
"If you want to help, you can check the storhouse and make sure our clerk, Rendell Tace, is alright," Aibretta says. "There are also a few more that I can think about. But that's the most pressing on my mind."
She reveals a map of Madelon's Landing.
"We are having trouble with the trapped Hobgars. If someone will release them they may cause trouble with the invaders. Also, you could check our Moisture Collector. Something wierd has gone on with it."
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"Druid? Then you can see the Lines too. You can probably see them better than I can," Jahn says, raising an eyebrow."Lines? You mean the electricity that permeates the green?"
"You might call it that, though there's very little green on the world I called home. My understanding of it is through bones and nerves and blood and will."
"You might call it that, though there's very little green on the world I called home. My understanding of it is through bones and nerves and blood and will."
"Sounds like religion. Not sure if I follow... we tend to have a more practical view of things, more grounded you could say."
Enslig packs up his belongings, ready to travel/vanish into the green, if need be.
Duncan checks his weapons to be sure his small arms are loaded, a semi-auto pistol and a pulscaster. The semi-auto is in a holster on his left side. His pulsecaster is in a shoulder holster on his right, suggesting the pahtra is left handed. He draws his survival knife and checks that it is sharp enough and then does the same with a sword cane he wears on his belt much like a sword in a scabbard.
He checks the various devices on his person. They blink, flash, send out harmless laser beams in different colors, create small holographs that manifest just for a few seconds. "If we ge' in a fire figh', dinnae be alaermed if one o' these sets ouff. I use 'em ta distract the enemy when I'm aboot ta ploog 'em." He pats his semi-auto as he says this last bit.
"I'm no pacifist, jus' so ye ken. But I can use 'lectricity ta stoon a mon if anyone wants the minger's taken alive. Doen't werk on the hobgars, 'course. Hae ye met those sleekit beasties?" he asks the newcomers.
He checks that his tool kits are in order and examines the map. "The trap is here an the water collectors here. Which first?"
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"You might call it that, though there's very little green on the world I called home. My understanding of it is through bones and nerves and blood and will.""Sounds like religion. Not sure if I follow... we tend to have a more practical view of things, more grounded you could say."
Enslig packs up his belongings, ready to travel/vanish into the green, if need be.
Jahn nods.
"It's...a lot of things. Some crude medical training, some shobhad shamanism, some just desperate, painful experience."
Duncan checks his weapons to be sure his small arms are loaded, a semi-auto pistol and a pulscaster. The semi-auto is in a holster on his left side. His pulsecaster is in a shoulder holster on his right, suggesting the pahtra is left handed. He draws his survival knife and checks that it is sharp enough and then does the same with a sword cane he wears on his belt much like a sword in a scabbard.
He checks the various devices on his person. They blink, flash, send out harmless laser beams in different colors, create small holographs that manifest just for a few seconds. "If we ge' in a fire figh', dinnae be alaermed if one o' these sets ouff. I use 'em ta distract the enemy when I'm aboot ta ploog 'em." He pats his semi-auto as he says this last bit.
"I'm no pacifist, jus' so ye ken. But I can use 'lectricity ta stoon a mon if anyone wants the minger's taken alive. Doen't werk on the hobgars, 'course. Hae ye met those sleekit beasties?" he asks the newcomers.
He checks that his tool kits are in order and examines the map. "The trap is here an the water collectors here. Which first?"
"I'm not a pacifist either. Akiton eats those kinds of people alive. Violence and I are old acquaintances, though I wouldn't say we're friends. That honor goes to plague and ill fate."
He nods at Duncan's question.
"We ran into a band of them as we made our way through the jungle. They were ready to defend their territory, but I distracted them with a little peace-offering of pemmican...unfortunately that means I'll have to mooch off the rest of you for food until we can resupply."
It is refrains from talking while Aibretta discusses potential actions. It nods along in agreement about needing to perform covert actions to weaken the Azlanti. It smiles to see Jahn and Enslig find a topic to bond over. It doesn't know much about druids, but it appreciates nature.
Ivris-mu greets the town's residents with gratitude. "Thank you Nuri for that introduction. Indeed, I'm the Captain of the ship, but I will defer to their knowledge of the situation here. Actually my goal was to look at the colony's financial spreadsheets. That's my primary occupation in life. Getting pulled into an occupation and subsequent resistance was not at all a figment of possibilities when I left Absalom Station.Any other word about the hostages like Cedona?"
It pauses while thinking of a few other questions.
"Abrietta, do you think our clothes will mark us as being from off-world? Have the invaders done a census of the colony to know how many residents there are? Does the moisture collector serve a critical role? Finally, can I have more ammo for my pistol?" It pats its sidearm on its hip.
Duncan offers Ivris-mu 10 of his small arms rounds, leaving him 20.
Duncan looks at the map again. "Best we check that moisture collector afore releasin' hobgars. We dinnae need them beasties peltin' us with Brigh kens wha'. Wha' say we move through the brush north o' town an' approach the waterworks under coever o' these other modules? Sound like a plan?"
"Abrietta, do you think our clothes will mark us as being from off-world? Have the invaders done a census of the colony to know how many residents there are? Does the moisture collector serve a critical role? Finally, can I have more ammo for my pistol?" It pats its sidearm on its hip.
Abrietta finally answers, "We can offer you ammo for your pistol, only about thirty rounds. I don't think the invaders did a thorough census. They counted us, that's for sure. And the moisture collector serves as a way to get water here."
"Water is an incredibly important resource on most planets. And if we start to run dry, expect the azlanti to take care of their needs ahead of the colonists - let's see what we can do about it before it’s too late.”
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Jahn nods at Enslig's words. Water had been all too precious a commodity on Akiton. The few watering holes that hadn't been tainted by pollution were where civilization desperately clung, and just like the Azlanti, it tended to be one of the first things raiders demanded when harassing towns like his.
"Sounds like a good plan, Duncan."
Ivris-mu accepts the ammo from Duncan. "Let me pay you," the android says, indicating his comm unit. He transfers some credits to the pahtra. "I thank you."
Looking at the map, the android nods. "Yes, let's go there first. Are either of you good at clandestine activities?"
"I'm just terrible at sneaking around - and Jagare here snarls all the time, at anything. We have more of a "stay away from us" approach when walking about the green." Enslig explains. "But the environment here will work in our favor, with the heavy fog that covers all."
"I'm just terrible at sneaking around - and Jagare here snarls all the time, at anything. We have more of a "stay away from us" approach when walking about the green." Enslig explains. "But the environment here will work in our favor, with the heavy fog that covers all."
To this comment, Duncan shrugs and says, "Och, chief, failin' means ye're playin', doen it?"
Duncan tries to dissuade the captain from paying him for bullets, but does not make a fuss about it. If it insists on payment he makes a mental note to donate the credits when all is well with the colony. But since Abrietta offered, he will replace the rounds he gave to Ivris-mu from the supply on hand, when Ivris-mu is not looking.
"'Less Abrietta here has any more info ta impart, let's move. I've been around the Landin' so I'll lead, 'less someone else wants that honor. If things gan pear-shaped, try ta get back ta the woods by this place."
Edit: Duncan draws his sword cane to use on brush and in case of ambush.
The druid and his companion creature tag along!
"Shhhh, Jagare! There'll be plenty to eat later!" he admonishes the drake, who only stares at him with contempt.
Nuri gladly takes what small-arms rounds are available for her pistols. With quick, skillful motions she reloads all of her weapons and thanks Abrietta. ”I’ll admit I am not once for the quiet approach myself, but I will try.” She states as the falls in behind their newfound companions.
You stealthy, well kind of, make it to the storehouse. So far, no one has seen you. As of yet. Do you continue to the moisture collector? Or do you check things out here?
The settlement’s storage building consists of four prefabricated corrugated metal modules welded together to make a single enormous warehouse. Two doors lead into the storehouse: a closed door marked “Office” and a wider door that hangs open. Inside the open space are several storage racks and an interior module emblazoned with the massive symbol of a golden key.