The mist closes in on the settlement as the air cools late in the day. As you round the corner toward the entrance to the settlement's warehouse, you get a good luck at the huge, out of place garrison building near the center of the settlement. It looms as a threat, though things appear to be quiet.
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 partially open. There are no noises coming from the warehouse.
I learned my lesson last time, Chiaiese communicates telepathically to the team. She takes a minute to check each door and the area in front of them for traps.
I learned my lesson last time, Chiaiese communicates telepathically to the team. She takes a minute to check each door and the area in front of them for traps.
[dice=Perception]1d20+6
Chiaiese doesn't think there are any traps.
Duncan double checks Chiaiese's inspection for traps.
Not seeing anything either, he ventures cautiously inside.
Yoromishtali watches the area while Chiaiese and Duncan check the entrance for traps. When he hears Duncan enter, the vesk slings his rifle over his shoulder and draws his doshko. He exhales slowly then steps quietly inside.
Chiaiese falls inline in the middle of the group as they enter the warehouse.
As you step into the warehouse, you see a chaotic pile of goods in the middle of the floor. It appears that a shelf collapsed.
A single Azlanti soldier stands near the pile of goods, his back partially turned to you. He appears to be looking down at his rifle, perhaps as if he is sorting out some sort of problem with it.
It's clear he hasn't noticed you.
If we can capture this guy, we can question him, Yoromishtali thinks. He adjusts his grip on the doshko so that he'll hit the soldier with the flat of his teeth. He quietly approaches and raises his doshko to strike.
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As the team quietly enters the warehouse, Thak looks for signs of life, either friendly or hostile. Cubber’s bright eyes do the same, almost as if knows there could be danger ahead.
Thak spots the soldier ahead and motions to the other party members so they all see it. He notices Yoro shift his grip on the doshko. Okay, we’re going for a knockout. Probably to minimize the noise. Clever approach.
As Yoro moves forward, something clatters softly to the floor near him. The stored goods and the warehouse’s high ceiling absorb and disperse some of the sound, but Thak instinctively crouches out of sight, hoping the soldier will dismiss the noise as something else falling off a shelf.
The soldier turns quickly toward Yoro and Thak. It's obvious his helmet fits poorly, as he has to turn awkwardly and jiggle it to see the two of you.
There is a pregnant pause. The soldier only seems to be able to get out "Uhhhhhhh...YOU'RE NOT AZLANTI!...nonononoNO! Don't shoot me!"
He throws off the Azlanti helmet.
It's Rendell Tace.
Yoromishtali slowly lowers his doshko. He exhales, producing a rumble in his throat that he suddenly stops. "Looks like I need more training on sneaking behind people," the vesk laughs. "Rendell Tace, there are some people worried about you."
Chiaiese wonders at their dumb luck.
She nods affirmatively at Yoro's comment. "We're here to help," she says quietly. "We're working with Aibretta to disrupt Azlanti operations here. Rendell, what were you trying to do, and what can you tell us about this storehouse?"
Rendell tells his tale:
"Yesterday evening one of the Azlanti soldiers came barrelin' in here wanting a full accounting of everything in this warehouse. Well, ya see, that's easier said than done. I can't just hand that over, it's a pretty complex report that I have to run on an old, under-powered data pad."
Rendell continues, "the soldier lost patient with me, leveled this gun, and pulled the trigger." It is at this point, Rendell sweeps the gun quite unsafely toward many of you, though it doesn't go off. "He missed, only the shot ricocheted off that support beam, hit that shelf causing it to collapse right on him. He was dead, so I hid the body. I was worried they would check in after him, so I put the armor on, hoping to get them to leave. Now I don't know what to do. Somebody keeps speaking to me in a foreign language through the helmet. I haven't answered..."
As the tale is being told, Yoromishtali looks around the room imaging the event occurring. A burst of laughter followed by some clearing of his throat and then silence. The silence lasts about three seconds before he laughs again. It's a combination of hissing and a bark. His hands are on his knees as he is bent over, then holding his abdomen as he rears back.
"Oh," the vesk says, finally able to talk. "That was magnificent. Thank you." He shakes his head. "I wish I could have seen that." He sighs. "Still, it shows how chance is involved in combat. Fate is fickle."
Yoromishtali ponders a moment. "Is there anyway to falsify what you have in this warehouse?"
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"He missed, only the shot ricocheted off that support beam, hit that shelf causing it to collapse right on him. He was dead, so I hid the body. I was worried they would check in after him, so I put the armor on, hoping to get them to leave. Now I don't know what to do. Somebody keeps speaking to me in a foreign language through the helmet. I haven't answered..."
Thak moves toward Rendell and holsters his pistol. “That’s just perfect. I’ll bet you wish you had video of that one, eh Yoro?"
He nods toward Rendell, then gestures to his pocket. "I'm Thak. This is Cubber. Nice to meet you.” Cubber adds an enthusiastic yip.
Rendell’s comment about the helmet comm speaking to him finally sinks in, and Thak turns back to Chiaiese. “Chasey, he says the helmet is speaking to him. Might be the garrison trying to check in. Maybe we can throw them off the scent a bit with a response.”
Duncan advances on the armored figure, pistol drawn with the safety off. He sucks in a sharp breath as Yoro makes some noise and aims, ready to fire. Something holds him back, however. The armor did not look like it fit. All the Azlanti he had seen were fairly tall.
When the figure turns out to be Rendell, Duncan relaxes. He had not gotten to know the guy from his brief time in the settlement, but he had seen him before.
"I thought ya looked a wee short fer an Azlanti trooper," Duncan says as the tension breaks. "Duncan Sangster here. I hae been up in the mines until an hour ago."
After he learns about the attempts at communicating with the fallen soldier, Duncan steps forward and asks for the helmet.
"I'll see what they're askin'. I'll try ta put 'em at ease if I can 'member my Azlanti lessons. It's been a while. I'll tell 'em the report's almost ready. That'll buy some time."
Pleased with the easy teamwork demostrated, Chiaiese asks an obvious question. "Rendell, what's in this warehouse? Can we use anything in here to help the resistance?"
Rendell replies to Chiaiese. "There really isn't anything in particular that would help anyone fight those soldiers. No weapons. No more than a few hundred-odd UPB's. Mostly what you'll find here is household goods, a few replacement parts for the colonies hab-units, and some emergency rations. Oh, there's a few agricultural tools and seeds as well."
After Duncan puts on the helmet, he holds up a hand calling for silence. He then utters some strange words.
"Колоніст майже закінчив. Слідкуйте за звітом."
Duncan holds his breath as he waits for a response.
Yoromishtali stands still, watching the door and listening for any sounds coming from outside. He grips his doshko lightly.
It appears that Duncan is relieved by the response he just received. Rendell recommends that all of go back to Aibretta's workshop to grab a bite to eat and plan for further disrupting the Azlanti.
Duncan is not sure of the proper protocol for concluding such conversations. Things like 'Roger' or 'Ten-Four' would not translate. So he just said, "Я зроблю це. М'ясний рулет? Hmmf.".
After the transmission ended, Duncan kept hold of the helmet, but headed back toward Aibretta's workshop.
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Thak watches Duncan with interest, listening to the cadence of his voice and trying to make some sense of the Azlanti language. He notes Duncan's relieved expression at the end of the conversation.
"I take it the conversation went well? What did they say?"
As the party prepares to leave the warehouse, Thak noses around some of the stocks of rations and canned goods.
"No squox chow, Cubber. I guess it's another meal of table scraps for you. If we keep this up, I'll have to spend months retraining you once we get home."
Cubber, for his part, does not seem to care about Thak's food-oriented concerns. He yips once and licks Thak's nose.
Duncan smiles at Thak's question. "It seemed to work. I got no pushback. I was told it was meatloaf fer supper. Yum."
Back at Aibretta's workshop, she is relieved to see Rendell. Jellik heartily shakes his hand and ushers him inside (with all of you following close behind).
While Goraya has left, there is a new presence in Aibretta's dwelling. Before you is an Android. Aibretta makes introductions. "This is Sevens. I think they might be able to help ya'll usher these Azlanti off this planet. I'll let you all have a talk and make some plans here..."
Duncan tells Sevens his name and gives a smile by way of welcome. Then he waits to learn more about her.
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Amidst a pile of electronics in various states of repair and wrapped in a worn longcoat sits a humanoid figure intently reading a data pad, their gently glowing eyes and asymmetrical tattoos giving away their being an android (That and Aibretta outright stating so.)
A second passes between Aibretta's introduction and the figure looking up, blinking slowly and realizing that there are new people within the workshop. "Oh." they say quietly as they stand and attempt a smile. It isn't so much friendly as it is polite, but it still looks somewhat off.
"Hello. Aibretta had mentioned that there was help. My name is Sevens, I do repairs for the most part." they refocus on their data pad long enough to click it off and slide it inside their coat before giving the group their full attention.
"Duncan. Hello. I do not know what Aibretta or Goraya might have said, but I am a relatively new resident here. It has been an... interesting week." The smile falters a touch as Sevens watches the group assembled, reading for social cues and preparing their expression to match accordingly. It's apparent that Sevens is not exactly the outgoing type.
"Well met, Sevens," Yoromishtali says. "My name is Yoromishtali. Where are you from? What type of skills is Aibretta referencing to? How are your fighting skills? Do you have a weapon preference?"
Yoromishtali's eyes trace over Seven, as if looking for weapons.
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Thak smiles warmly and offers his paw.
“I’m Thak, and this —” he opens the squox pocket in his armor and a furry head pops out“— is Cubber.” A happy yap punctuates the introduction.
“We all have friends here. Sorry to hear about your week. Or were you talking about something other than the Azlanti war band?”
"I'm Chiaiese. Well our party has filled out nicely. It's about time we take the fight to the Azlanti. Although we still have the hobgars and the moisture collectors to deal with."
For once, Chiaiese is happy that Aibretta is not throwing food at them. She's still bloated from the casserole earlier.
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Sevens nods slightly to each introduction, making sure to gently but firmly shake Thak's offered paw, their expression remaining neutral as they work on which question to answer first - there were so many.
"Hello Thak, Cubber. Yoromishtali. Chiaiese." A pause.
"I am originally from Aballon. It is... a world much less alive than this one. If you have been there, you understand. Aibretta is likely referring to my general skillset; I have spent much time here assisting with mechanical maintenance and programming." It seems like Sevens is going to continue but they stop and turn and pull a large pack from beneath some scrap and from within the pack, carefully, an older but serviceable laser rifle, carefully offering to Yoromishtali for inspection.
"I am a decent shot with it, but I'm not a soldier; it might require calibration." They turn slightly to Thak, the neutral expression now feeling forced. "The invasion. People have been hurt. I...I...it has been a lot to process."
"Maybe reading from the Five Teeth can help you," Yoromishtali says to Sevens. "Some of it teaches how to understand and emotionally process the violence we witness and commit. It's not easy. Nor should it be."
He looks around the room, nodding at the others. "I think we're closer to rescuing Cedonna than ever before. Should we investigate the water facility?"
Duncan points out his various tool kits and says, "Ah'm sometimes called a gadgeteer, since ah love ta design an' repair mechanical objects. Ah specialize in devices which require only the simplest wirin' an lecky. Ah dinnae deserve ta be called a mechanic though. Consider me a jack-o'-all-skills. Ah 'xpect we can coordinate our efforts ta guid effect."
Duncan's speech is strongly accented, which some people find hard to understand.
As the group gets ready to check out the moisture processer, he asks, "Whit is wrong wi' the collector?"
Aibretta responds to Duncan. "The Azlanti have been rationing the water. A few people have said that there's somethin' odd goin' on at the moisture collector. I think Goraya wanted to tell you about it. JELLIK! Go get Goraya. Tell her she needs to tell these folks about the moisture collector..."
Jellik sighs, and saunters out to find Goraya. When they return, she tells her tale:
She relates to you that she learned Aquan years ago while an exchange student on the watery moon of Kalo-Mahoi, and she was singing a song in Aquan while passing near the water collector yesterday. Oddly, she heard the water slosh in time with her singing.
"Huh!" Duncan remarked after hearing Goraya's story. "Something fishy aboot that." He cracks a wry smile at his joke, but then says, "Onybody know water-speak? Sounds like some kind of aquatic creature guardin' the water. If it can understand speech, it might be intelligent enough to chase away colonists but allow Azlanti's ta get water."
Chiaiese perks up at Duncan's deduction. "Goroya, can you accompany us on this mission? Your talents would likely help us to create a connection to whatever is there."
"If you don't come with us, do you mind if I make a recording of you singing that song?" Yoromishtali asks, indicating his comm. "I don't know why the water would react to your voice, but I'd like to witness its reactions if I play the recording."
Chiaiese perks up at Duncan's deduction. "Goroya, can you accompany us on this mission? Your talents would likely help us to create a connection to whatever is there."
Goraya seems pleased to have a bit of adventure. She also seems sincerely curious about what she encountered. "Yes! I'll come with you. Let's see if we can get to the bottom of this."
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Sevens takes moment to simply look at Osamiri in wonder - they had never seen a being quite like that before, and they return the greeting given as best they can. "Hello, Neap."
They take a second to parse Duncan's accent, then nod and pat at the toolkit they keep on their person. "I agree, the two of us should be able to coordinate well. And it will be nice to have an extra pair of hands." An attempt at a joke, but a well meaning one.
Gathering their belongings as the issue with the water collector and the possible being that might be within. " I remember hearing about that during routine maintenance; there did not seem to be anything unusual at the time." Within a moment, Sevens has their gear gathered and has carefully taken their rifle back from Yoromishtali.
"I am ready."
As all of you make your way toward the moisture collector, Goraya continues to tell you about the problems the colonists have had with water since the Azlanti arrived. "Some of us have been saying that the moisture collector is haunted. I'm not sure I agree, but something is going on. No one is able to draw water from the collector basins unless one of the soldiers is around to oversee. And then there was my song yesterday...I can't wait to see what we can find out."
The moisture collector in Madelon’s Landing stands on the northeastern edge of the settlement. The device is a metal spire adorned with several wide flanges, similar in shape to satellite dishes, and four large plastic tubs for water collection sit at its base. Thick plastic tubes connect the flanges and the tubs.
"Are you going to start singing now?" Yoromishtali asks Goraya as he takes a position on the grass near the closest plastic tub. He grips his doshko in the middle of the shaft, a neutral position that can move quickly to offense or defense.
As Yoro settles in near the moisture collector, he notices that the tub nearest him is full of water.
As he turns toward Goraya to ask her to sing, he notices the nearest tub emptying itself! The water seems to pour itself into one of the other tubs.