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Thak listens and thinks a moment, weighing the options and opportunities.
“I’m leaning toward the distress beacon scenario. We’ll end up in combat either way, but maybe the distress call will lower their alert levels and give us a better chance than going in guns blazing.”
After a pause, he adds, “Is there a way we could sneak up on them? Maybe by hiding from their scanners?”
Athletics +5
Bluff +8
Computers +12 (ranks 3)
Diplomacy +4
Engineering +11 (ranks 3)
Intimidate +8
Mysticism +4
Piloting +4 (ranks 0)
Gunnery +4
Duncan would be best placed as Engineer or Science Officer, but could function as captain or gunner
Dot
As all of you make the final plans to sally forth from Outpost Zed to capture the approaching Azlanti vessel, you have found that the cantina area of the station has become a home away from home for all of you. The conditions in most of the station are perpetually both hot and humid. It's often so oppressive that only Yoro's reptilian blood is comfortable for more than hour of work.
The cantina, however, is kept at a much lower temperature, and it's rarely crowded. Many who use the nearby food dispensers take their meals with them to other parts of the outpost. All of you have gotten used to the unusual beverages and food items dispensed. You've probably even found something you liked.
As the crew of the Nova Cedona gather for refreshment and a well-deserved break, you notice a new face seems to be paying very close attention to all of you.
Duncan is the most surprised, as it seems this new face is another pahtra.
Duncan saunters over and gives a greeting in Pact Worlds common. "Hey cous'. Yer far from home, same's me."
Yoromishtali laughs in surprise. The vesk gives the two pahtras a moment of privacy before approaching. "A cousin of yours so far from the Pact Worlds and the Veskarium? What are the probabilities of such a meeting? I'm asking rhetorically, not asking for any math," he adds talking to the newcomer in case he thinks Yoromishtali actually wants an answer.
"My name is Yoromishtali."
You all notice that one of the vending machines that was out of service just a day ago is now loaded with self-cooling cans of VOS and new VOS Biological. This is a delicious treat from the Pact Worlds. Only a single credit for a can.
Drink in hand, the pahtra watches Duncan warily as he approaches. Nodding, he replies in Common, "Yes, very far from home."
Lowering his can of VOS, he stands and regards the others in turn as they arrive, returning their greetings.
"I'm Locket," he says. "Sorry if I was staring. It's just I'm looking for someone and it seems I might have found them." He looks over the group assembled around him. "I've heard we might be able to help eachother."
"First things first," Duncan says. "What d'ya think aboot that Azlanti empire, hey?"
Locket shrugs a shoulder. "Don't know much about them," he admits. "But what I do know I can't say that I like all that much."
"And you?"⁵
Occasionally a denizen of Outpost Zed wanders through to purchase something to eat from one of the various food dispensers or vending machines. Otherwise, it remains fairly quiet in the cantina.
Duncan commences with a narration of the events on the colony that led them here. "We were colonists from the Pact Worlds busy with mining and surviving the unique challenges o' the planet when an Azlanti ship arrives, takes over the only settlement on the planet, and proceeds to search for a spaceship that crash-landed on the planet. We colonists managed an uprising and took out the occupation force an' then went after that team sent to salvage somethin' from the crash site. We took them out and found some interesting technology that the 'zlanti's wanted.
"That'd be the end of it, I 'spect, 'cept they took one o' the colonists, an android named Cedona, with 'em. We've got intel that tells us where they took her, an' we aim ta git 'er back. Seems the mission was a private project of an Azlanti officer acting as a rogue agent fer 'is own benefit. We figure that gives us an opportunity ta git in an' rescue our friend.
Toward that end, we aim to nab an Azlanti freighter due to pass nearby an' use the booty ta finance some upgrades ta our ship that'll make her better at getting past their defenses. Should be a lot o' fun, if yer of a mind to join us."
Locket listens to Duncan's recount, nodding his head every so often through the tale of the Azlanti invasion. His ears twitch when he hears of Cedona's abduction. "Definitely not a nice sounding bunch," he murmurs.
His expression hardens. "They've taken someone I care about, too. I think they've taken them to the same place as your Android friend. I'd like to come with you."
"I first heard of you from Brightbrightcrackleflickerdim," he replies to Thak. "And I put together pieces of rumours from here and there about what you're planning."
Thak smiles and nods in the conversation.
“We’re a good lot if I do say so myself. So why were you looking for us? Is someone out there recruiting for us?”
"Welcome aboard," Duncan says enthusiastically. "Unless ya've got some unfinished business here, let's show ya the ship and make a flight plan. What d'ya usually do on starships?"
Yoromishtali says, "Ah Brightbrightcrackleflickerdim doing us another favor. Yeah, do you need anything before going Locket? I hope those rumors don't alert any Aeon Empire sympathizers or agents."
His eyes sweep the crowd in the vicinity. "It's not what I was expecting, but this station isn't so bad after all."
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”I first heard of you from Brightbrightcrackleflickerdim. And I put together pieces of rumours from here and there about what you're planning.”
Thak nods. “Makes sense. I wondered if they’d keep our story to themselves or… um… if…”
His voice trails off and he cocks his head a bit.
“This is the strangest thing, but you sound so much like a fellow I went adventuring with on Ab” — he stops, glances around, and leans into the conversation, his voice getting quieter — “Absalom Station, back in the Pact Worlds.”
Thak leans back and scratches his head.
“Sorry, I'm still getting the hang of this place. Never sure what I should say or who's listening."
He taps his front tooth with a claw. "Anyway, what was his name? Pahtra too, I think, just like you. Whip smart, good with a gun. Good in a fight. Heck, good in any fight. Name of… gah, started with an M? L? P? It’s almost right there... argh!”
He sighs and shrugs in frustration, letting out a barky laugh.
“Well anyway, you remind me of him. I’m Thak, Thak Poorida. Apologies for missing introductions. Stupid vending machines. You are?”
"I first heard of you from Brightbrightcrackleflickerdim," he replies to Thak. "And I put together pieces of rumours from here and there about what you're planning."
Turning to face the speaker, Locket's bright eyes widen in surprise as the brenneri emerges from behind his larger companions. "Thak?" he asks, incredulous. "What are you doing out here?"
"Yeah, Locket," he clarifies for his new-old companion.
"Thanks," he replies to Duncan's invitation. He shakes his head. "Nothing. I'm ready to go when you are."
He shrugs in reply to Duncan. "I haven't been on many starships. I just helped out where I could."
"Don't know that too many would notice," he reassures Yoromishtali. "It only got my attention because I was loking for the exact same thing as you."
Standing at the pronouncement of readiness, Augrok crumpled the container of her slush-food-thing and looked for the nearest waste receptacle. A nod of greeting was offered to Locket. "If Thak vouches for you, it's good with me. Name's Augrok. I came along t'give some payback." The grin that came with the declaration was hard, full of intent. "They took one of ours from Nakondis."
Locket returns Augrok's nod.
"Let's go get them back," he says, moving to follow the crew.
The Azlanti ship will be nearing the intercept point soon.
It's time to go.
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Turning to face the speaker, Locket's bright eyes widen in surprise as the brenneri emerges from behind his larger companions. ”Thak? What are you doing out here?”
Thak squints, and his eyebrows knit together, then his head tips back with a hearty laugh.
“Locket! By the gods it is you!! I knew you looked familiar. It’ll be good to work with you again. This trip just got a lot better… and it’s about time. Ever since the Azlanti took Cedona…”
Hope rises in Thak’s heart now that the ship will have a full team.
“Indeed. It’s time to go.”
"Let's do a security check before leaving," Yoromishtali says. "Make sure we don't have any trackers or more nefarious devices attached to the hull...or even inside."
Duncan does a full system check, including a check for trackers and the like.
Shedding some of the gear that she had as they got in, Augrok set into assisting where it was needed, making sure things were secured and prepared for leaving the station. Linking her comm and syncing to the checklist, she was starting to get excited for what was to come. "Yoro, I've got this side over here, you want to sweep the outside?"
"I'm happy to do that. Thanks for asking, Augrok," Yormoishtali says as he starts climbing up the inset rungs to reach the top of the starship. Once on top the vesk searches for anything that doesn't belong.