The hallway leads to a large, open room with two halls on either side. Storage bins stacked along the walls contain caches of deep blue crystals. A large tank filled with pale blue liquid stands to the north. A lifeless dromada floats, preserved, inside the fluid.
The body is certainly suspended in blue fluid...very much dead.
Some of you recognise the blue crystals and identify them as shimmerstone, a mineral mined on Vesk-8 that has a calming effect on
emotions.
Ed determines that the cause of death was brain haemorrhaging, and that the corpse displays evidence of repeated injections.
The bluish fluid the corpse is in appears to be a similar colour to the shimmerstone.
The various small rooms along the hallways are dormitories and lavatories specifically designed for varying species. One is clearly for a vesk as it has a fully shed skin in the trash can and the smell in one of the others is horrific. Your armour warns you that the smell is bordering on toxic and likely to outlast humanity.
Whilst perusing the side rooms you discover an eclectic collection of vidgames, including the cult classic action-adventure game Interstellar Trials, which is worth a great deal of credits to the right collector.
Murg leads on.
Several long tables fill this room, and a counter with a stove and buffet style table sit along the southern wall. The delicious smells wafting through the air suggest recent cooking.
Two Ijitkris are waiting in the area eating noodles with their noodly appendages. One immediately starts firing questions at the arrival of Starfinders - "Who are you? What are you doing here? This is a restricted space and you can't just walk through at your own leisure!" it points it's chopsticks at you all accusingly with each question. They both look well armoured and armed to the... beaks?
The squid rolls its eyes "Look new kids, telling you what was supposed to happen and what the deal is here was supposed to be up to your hiring agent, you should speak to your agent. Anyway ignore the vesk, they haven't actually bothered to do any work since they turned up either, it's a pretty quiet job, Nrall is the boss and she spends most of her time in the lab doing...lab things. She really hates being disturbed so it's worth just not bugging her" - it points at the doorway opposite
"Aside from that, it doesn't look like you guys got the memo about food as I can see you haven't brought anything - so you can only eat the common food that is marked as such, no stealing peoples personal snacks and drinks from the fridge, and make sure you wash your cups and don't leave them laying around - your mum doesn't work here"
They go back to eating their noodles.
Automatic glass doors open to a second set of computer banks used for long-range communications. One of the computer workstations is equipped with a systemwide comm unit.
There are a fair few personal items scattered through the room.
Murg looks about whilst Ysh types and finds a mk 1 computer idol shaped like a caricature of a gray alien sitting atop a computer monitor. Tucked beneath the desk is a datapad stocked with an impressive assortment of romance novels, including the newly released The Gray Abducted My Heart, by acclaimed romance author Dallia Silver. The cover illustration features a gray with an unusually muscular chest.
Ysh gets into the computer pretty easily.
Video Folder
A backlit humanoid figure appears on screen, its face blurred to conceal its identity. A clipped monotone voice speaks: “Greetings, Nraall. I am glad that you accepted my offer. I sent you a few samples of a new mineral substance I acquired. You don’t need to know where it came from or what it is. All I need is for you to use it in your experiments with the shimmerstone. I would hate for our relationship to end on a sour note, so please see that none of these materials leave your lab. I realize that science takes time, but the sooner I get results, the better. A swift turnaround could result in a substantial credit bonus. I look forward to hearing your first report.”
The second communiqué is dated months later, just a week prior to your arrival on Zrulik-3.
The blurred silhouette appears again. Their frustration is apparent beneath the digital vocal alterations. “Nraall, I grow weary of your lack of viable results. I cannot keep committing resources to a useless project. Pack up your lab, purge all data related to the experiments, and destroy any unused materials immediately. Be aware that failing to follow these instructions will result in our relationship further… deteriorating.”
***
Files Folder
7 Rova
The lab’s finally set up and I’m eager to begin my work. The shimmerstone I’m using for the experiments is quite beautiful. I’m told that kothamas utilize it in their contemplations of the universe. I have no idea what the other substance is, and my client refuses to tell me anything about it. How can I run experiments without knowing what I’m working with? At least my equipment is state of the art, and this job should be easy money. A remote wilderness and a scientific problem to solve is my ideal vacation, after all. Off to prepare the lab!
19 Abadius
All my experiments end one of two ways: the subjects die or become more aggressive until the drug wears off. Meanwhile, my client is frustrated with these results and I haven’t had a chance to catch up on my leisure reading in days. They threatened to stop my shipments, but I’m not ready to give up yet. One of my guards discovered a local dromada herd. I don’t know what they’re doing out here, but they won’t put up much of a fight if a few of their people disappear. New test subjects may yield better results.
10 Pharast
They shut us down! That skitter-brained client shut us down! The materials I have left will only last for another week or so of trials. I intend to solve this problem even if I can’t leave the lab for days. I will figure this out, with or without the client’s funding.
Computer banks line the walls of this brightly lit, sanitized room, each processing biometric data and displaying strings of numbers and diagnostic images on their monitors. A machine towers up to the ceiling in the middle of the room. Glass pods positioned in the room’s four corners each contain a living dromada. They pound on the glass and snarl, their faces contorted in rage. A series of holding cells to the northwest house several emaciated zrulicats. A grizzled, cybernetically enhanced nuar woman stands beside the central machine’s console, her scarred brow creased in concentration.
She faces the intruders and roars, “So, shutting me down wasn’t good enough? Now they send minions to dispose of me like I’m some failed test subject? No! I’ve survived worse than this. You, mercs, you have one chance to run. Flee this place and never come back—but don’t go running to your master. Discovery is what I do. I will discover their identity, and I will find them!”
There is a rather beefy and angry looking zrulicat also in the room.
Murgatroyd
Thidreks
Erastil
Ysh’yal
Edward
ENEMY
R1
Erastil
Thidreks
Ysh
Murgatroyd
ENEMY
The brawl begins in earnest as Murg punches the Nuar.
There is a flurry as Ysh and Thidreks join the battle!
R1
Erastil
Thidreks - acted
Ysh - acted
Murgatroyd - acted
ENEMY
Erastil targets the Zrulicat!
Entropic Strike
Damage
***
The Zrulicat lashes at Murg who is the most forward (and noisiest) person!
Attack - Miss
Damage
The nuar also attacks Murg with its horns...
Gore - Miss
Damage
And steps tactically!
R1
Edward
R2
Erastil
Thidreks
Ysh
Murgatroyd
ENEMY
Zruli 4
Nuar 8
The Nuar does not survive the onslaught as Murgatroyd and Ysh pile on the aggression!
The cat simply scoots for the exit and freedom beyond.
/end combat
Ysh can't see anything offhand, but the computer system might hold some clues.
You gather enough information from the lab computer logs to learn that Nraall was testing an experimental serum synthesized from shimmerstone and an unnamed additive chemical. The chemical caused odd reactions when combined with shimmerstone, as observed in the extreme aggressive behavior exhibited by both dromada and zrulicat test subjects. Procedural records indicate that Nraall dumped her specimens back into the wild when she was done with them, causing the spike in wildlife attacks over the past months.
There is enough information for a skilled chemist (Life Science OR Medicine) to work on a reversing agent/serum
You use the lab equipment to synthesize a reversing agent for the shimmerstone serum. Injecting the dromadas and zrulicats with it cures their aggressive behavior. Now freed, the dromadas huddle together and appear to shake with fear.
You search the lab and find more samples of shimmerstone but no traces of the mysterious secondary substance alluded to in Nraall’s files. You can’t find any evidence identifying Nraall’s employer or the purpose of her experiments.
|
One last perception check, for anything missed.
"Fear not, dromadas. We are starfinders. Mulrid sent us to save you - the nightmare is over, and the bright light of justice has enveloped you all. We will also handle the feral fauna with the discoveries just made by my colleagues, to guarantee the colony can pull through."
-----
Murgatroyd will remove the dromada body from the tube, and bring it back with them - when we are ready to leave.
|
Ysh'yaal winks at her comrades and says I will take care of the two squids in the previous room
Running, she gets to the room where the two guards were eating and says, terror in her voice.
Guys, guys! That's horrible! The... the boss he was killed by this terrible feline creature! Have you seen it fleeing? I fear that we will not be payed.
The two squids already have their weapons drawn, their noodle cups rolling on the floor adding to the appearance of a room full of tentacles.
"That thing killed the scientist? Ahhh what? I'm calling my agent - these clowns have no regard for workplace health and safety, specimens getting loose and going on the rampage - that's too far. That and the disgusting mess some of the other hires have left all around the toilets and common areas - not enough credits in this to look the other way"
He immediately gets on his comms and starts calling someone.
The other looks at Ysh, "Look you guys just got here, that's a tough break, might want to call your agent too and see what your retainer is worth" he starts fishing out several packs of instant noodles "Best I can do is make you some lunch"
***
The dromadas seem somewhat responsive to Murg.
(After all getting a cup-o-noodles) You escort the abducted dromadas back to the Star Treader herd, they embrace their friends and family members while Colrid appears from the herd. The old dromada smiles as he takes in the sight of faces he thought he’d never see again. “I see so many of the disappeared with you!” He says. “Thank you for returning them to us. You are one of our herd now, and you will always have a place here with the Star Treaders. This talisman is a symbol of that connection. You need only contact us to learn where we roam. In return, we will contact the Society to inform them of any interesting locations our travels take us to.” Colrid holds out a set of pendants woven with multicolored hairs in intricate patterns.
“I have one more favor to ask of you.” He continues. “When we are done here, will you allow me to visit your ship? I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with my old friend Ehu. But first, tonight is our celebratory grazing. You are welcome to attend before you depart.”
He awaits your replies...
|
|
"These ijtikris shouldn't be allowed to leave. This isn't right. This isn't justice." comments Murgatroyd, after the squids take off.
---
"I see no problem, Mulrid. But there is no need for celebration - we were only doing Iomedae's work! But it will help assuage the tension amongst the herd. So... yeah, a party should be fine, I don't mind..." answers the android, immediately starting to deflate once his holy mission is over, turning into a more awkward version of his righteous self.
"The necklace is woven of hairs from the hide of every member of the herd, so that the herd is always with you"
The celebratory grazing is accompanied by the herd watchers joyfully singing in their honking language while the others graze. The watchers and grazers periodically switch positions in rounds so that the song doesn’t end until everyone eats their fill. The dromadas prepare a feast for the you to enjoy while they graze.
Mulrid presents a plate of toasted herbs and seeds, Soorid provides roasted fish from the river, and Trisu offers a basket of freshpicked berries. After the meal, the dromadas engage in playful roughhousing in the fields, and cheerfully invite you all to join them. Eventually the dromadas all gather in the sleeping module and tell stories of important and brave dromadas, including their founder Colrid. Colrid himself adds a new story at the end, telling the tale of Starfinders coming to save the tribe from poachers.
When you return to Kagzala’s Jewel, Colrid follows you in the shuttle hidden in the clearing. He and Ehu clasp hands in a warm greeting before strolling off to a meeting room together to catch up. Colrid departs a few hours later, thanking you once again for saving his herd. The Starfinders are free to resume their tour of Near Space.
[oo]Thats a wrap![/ooc]