Azara and Kat hustle forwards, the latter blasting one of the frenata. From atop her perch meanwhile, Mahair lands two quick shots on the one to the far side.
Grunting and snorting, the beast Mahari struck raises its head and shoots out a globule of acid at the halfling.
for plus
Meanwhile, two other frenata move slightly down the wider lane between crates. One gargles and shakes its head to send a spittle of acidic juices spraying across the floor and one of the crates. the ground before it begins to dissolve.
Next to it, another injured frenata moves to the edge of the spittled area, then lobs its own acidic blast at the elevated envoy, though this one thankfully misses
for
Initiative
Teleemo, invisible
As a BOOM goes off around the frenata the creatures howl in pain and confusion. One scampers around a crate to spit up at Mahari again.
for
Initiative
Croaker
Kat
Mahari 45/72 SP, corrode 1d6, need Reflex
Nimh
Azara
Several shots go wide on the eastern side of the room, but Nimh and Kat manage to pepper their target while Azar slams into one of the frenata. It holds its ground, but claws back at the lashunta as it gets singed.
for
Its adjacent comrage snorts and claws frantically at the solarian too.
for
for
Meanwhile one of the others spits once more up at Mahari
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plus
...only to get covered in it again
Initiative
Teleemo
A huge blast of fire erups at the fire edge of the room! One of the frenata drops, while two more look heavily injured. The fiery burst even melts away much of the two distant plastic boxes, exposing the contents within. The far one holds a mess of fabrics and carpets that looks torn and shuffled into a large nest. The closer box has several sculptures and statues inside
Next to the frenata that fell, the beast that managed to dodge the worst of the blast lets out a loud cry. It ambles forwardsa and spits out at Azara as he slices into its kin.
for
Initiative
Croaker
Kat
Mahari 25/72 SP, corrode 1d6, need DC 11 Reflex
Nimh
Azara
Nimh drops his target and Kat wings its comrade. Meanwhile Mahari and Croaker blast away the Frenata in the far lane.
Azara’s flurry of slashes hit the air, but the beast before him retreats backwards towards the hole in the ground anyway. The other remaining Frenata looks back and forth between Croaker and Mahari and the last other creature left.
Teleemo [ooc]is up. Both look ready to go back into the tunnel though.[ooc]
Teleemo keeps his weapon drawn and aimed, but the other frenata then slow and cautiously retreats as well. When both are at the tunnel entrance, the large creatures burrow back down it, and you hear their snorts - and several quieter higher-pitched snorts as well - retreating back below ground.
With the invasive wildlife gone, you have a moment to check out the crates in the room. The mostly destroyed one contains - or contained as the frenata seem to have torn much of it up - sets of ceremonial robes, crapets, and various tapestries. Four of the remaining crates hold various large, heavy items — things that would take up precious cargo space on a starship. Most are sculptures and statuary clearly of hobgoblin origin. One crate contains two elaborately carved stone thrones, inlaid with bone and rare wood, and a dizzying assortment of ceremonial pre-Gap polearms, also consistent with hobgoblin culture.
The sixth and final crate contains only two items, both of significant note. The first is a treasure beacon just like the one you found on Aratosim. The second is a mysterious object: a ten- foot-tall disk of non-native black stone, engraved with strange symbols. Some of the symbols appear to be astrological, while others seem to be mathematical formulas, possibly for the calculation of eclipses and planetary transits.
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Azara goes so far as to creep up to the tunnel and gaze down, leaning far over the edge just to make sure the crocopotomi are gone before going to help Mahari down from her perch.
"Looks like you took the worst of it in that one," he comments.
For once not needing to take a breather after a fight, he finds himself at odd ends and unsure of what to do.
He decides to help try to figure out what the objects are and might mean.
He's not a lot of help.
"Oh, cool! Old slap bracelets!"
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Mahari hops down from the top of the crate, happily accepting Azara's assistance with a teasing smile and wink. Silly boy, he saw me fly up there. Not too bright, but he is good looking, and he's got a nice bod, she decides. She kneels down ostensibly to check the damage to her borrowed armor, but also maybe to check out a certain chivalrous solarian's tush.
She stands as the "view" wanders off. Satisfied that the armor's damage isn't too bad, she heads over to look at the haul.
"Whoa! This thing is old!" she exclaims in excitement. "Certainly pre-Gap, and look at these marks here, and here. This isn't a hob thing, I'm certain."
She stares at the disk a while longer. "We can't really haul this outta here, can we? Do we just leave it and tell Vekkhad about it?"
the size and bulk of the goods does seem to be a bit difficult to transport all of them out now, even with the null-space chamber Vekkhad provided you with. Still, based on the director's comments about the deal his ancestor made with Rasheen, he considers the remaining items here your property to do with what you will, and so can probably arrange transportation for them from here back to the Lorespire Complex.
Looking around, this underground space does not seem to have any more rooms, or if so the ways into them have long since collapsed or been sealed off. The tunnel the frenatas bore through the floor leads further down below ground, but do not look especially stable.
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"Well, I guess we can leave the big stuff here for now. Let Vekkhad arrange transport back to the Lorespire complex later, maybe," Mahari ventures as she goes to look down the frenata burrow.
"I don't mind crawling through tunnels, but only when I'm breaking into somewhere secure or checking out a new ship. I think we've found everything here worth finding," she says as she peers around the warehouse space.
"Can you guys get the data off the beacon? We don't have a ship that we can put in orbit while it downloads this time."
She peers over Nihm's shoulder for a couple minutes, but then gets bored and starts loading some of the smaller loot into the null-space chamber.
"What do you say we head back, take a nice hot shower, and have Tioran show us some of the city's best resto's and clubs?" the semi-professional party girl asks with a twinkle in her eye.
Oh, I so wanna get this whole team wasted. Especially [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]. THEN we'll have some fun....
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"Whoa! This thing is old!" she exclaims in excitement. "Certainly pre-Gap, and look at these marks here, and here. This isn't a hob thing, I'm certain."
"Well...on the one hand it might prove that the hobgoblins weren't the first people here so their claims that the place belongs to them aren't true. On the other hand, it may just mean that there's ANOTHER culture that does have prior claim to everything," Azara comments and can get no further in the logic or politics.
Instead, he throws in his assistance on the computers and getting the beacon data.
"A hot shower and a night or three on the town sounds just right to me."
The six of you are able to record your findings and getthe beacon information downloaded. Then, you make your way back through the hallways and up the cable and get back into the vehicle to drive back to the city.
When you return, Vekkhad is eager to meet with you. The hobgoblin listens to what you tell him and commits to having some crews sent to carefully excavate and ship the heavier items like the thrones to the Lorespire Complex. I am glad I was able to finally fulfill the D'Salaz family's commitments. And Your Society seems worthy enough with your historical aims: please use these riches and artifacts to tell the tale of Miss Rasheen's final journey to the rest of the galaxy.
The director has transportation for yourselves back to Absalom Station arranged and books seat on the same sort of Marixah Republic transport system you used to arrive. While you are chekcing out of your hotel, the front desk alerts you to yet another message. It is a hand-written card from Tioran: the half-elf notes how much he enjoyed the pleasure of your company, and asks you to stay in touch. There is also a request to pass along their contact information to any representatives in the Pact Worlds who might be interested in keeping an eye on the Republic-Authority dispute. Two bits of contact information in fact - one official and one a covert coded offer to act as a messenger between the Pact Worlds and the Marixah Republic if necessary.
---
When you eventually return home, both Radaszam and Celita are eager to debrief you. Back again. Excellent! the vesk says with his typical wide smile. I got your ping you found the second beacon. Excellent! Was there anything else interesting down there?
"Not just physical things" Celita adds glancing over to Radaszam before facing you again. "While the deciphering of Rasheen's course was the primary objective in your mission, you six are the first agents to have directly operated in Marixah space in recent months. We are receiving fragments of the full story, but the conflict between that system and the Gideron Republic appears to continue to be steadily escalating. What are your assessments? Some of the Forum are debating whether the Society should continue to operate in and involve ourselves in both bodies' spheres, or instead should give that area of space a wider berth until the conflict settles itself. Your own insights would be greatly appreciated"
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Mahari sits at the conference table and carefully considers how she was greeted and treated by both governments in question. She straightens up and puts on her serious face.
"I've had contact with both systems. I got attacked unprovoked by an Authority ship, and I got welcomed civilly by the Republic. The Marixans are more like the Pact Worlds, and if the Society, the Council and the Stewards want to encourage that kind of democracy in other worlds, they need to put their money where their mouths are."
She pauses and fidgets with her fingernails. "I'm no lawyer," though I've played one more than once "and I don't know the terms of the Society's non-aggression pact with the hobs. But non-aggression to the Authority shouldn't preclude closer diplomatic and trade ties with the Marixans. I'd recommend working with the Republic and keeping the Authority at arm's length. To that end, in fact, there's this," she finishes by passing over Tioran's coded contact info with a quick explanation.
"As far as what we found, Kat's got a full visual readout of a very interesting Pre-Gap and non-hobgoblin artifact that Jelev found along with a golem that the drow claim to have invented but was certainly there long before that. We arranged to have it all shipped here so you and yours' can study them."
Later after all the paperwork is done, and she's said goodbye to her team, Mahari heads to her Station apartment. There, in the OakWood tower on the Ring just a stone's throw from the SecRes Pavilion, she relaxes with a cup of tea and compiles her personal report making sure to include Tioran's contacts. Following a quick nap, she dials in her outfit to the latest party fashion while adding in some Marixan elements. She heads out to scam drinks, pick pockets, skim comms, and most importantly blow off some steam...
until she gets her next call for a job.
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On the ship and when back, Croaker plays cards. As usual, using magic to read enemies' mind does not make him popular and some begin to avoid playing with him.
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Croaker sits through the debriefing. "I think Mahari got it right, a messy situation there. You can feel the tension, but I think we made some contacts which could prove valuable in the future."
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"I also agree with Mahari. The Republic seems much more in line with the beliefs not only of the Starfinders but the Pact Worlds in general, though with a few exception, obviously. However, my suggestion is that we keep contact with both and sides and act as negotiators, if possible. Taking sides is only going to make the other side feel defensive and, potentially more aggressive," Azara comments.
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On the trip back and as soon as the briefing is over, he works on his next epic poem.
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Kat takes Mahari up on her offer to go out and enjoy the local night life before they leave the planet. Many drinks are had. While she is an android, she has several organic and semi-synthetic tissues that are susceptible to the effects of alcohol. In the morning when she wakes, she reviews her memories of the night before and finds that parts of the data is corrupted later in the night. These things happen. While checking out of her room the next morning, she appears slightly disheveled and is wearing her aviator sunglasses inside.
Back on Absolom, she agrees with Mahari's review of relations between the two factions. Adding "Some even expressed a negative outlook on our non-aggression pact. I was asked if we were interceding on behalf of the Authority. The perception seemed to be that we will turn a blind eye to their actions"
She connects wirelessly to a terminal in the briefing room and shares the photos captured by her brain implanted Custom Rig. "This will give you a heads start on the research until the real deal is delivered"
As the briefing let's out, Kat smiles at the crew and says her goodbyes, unsure if she will see them again. "It's been great working with you all, nice to keep a crew together for more than one job. See you around, next time, maybe." as she turns and walks away, she calls back over her shoulder. "Hell, maybe we'll even find the goods next time"
Not even out of earshot yet, Kat mentally accesses her contact's job board and searches for a quick contract to pick up while waiting to hear from the society again.
Celita begins typing away furiously throughout your briefing, while Radaszam nods. Understood. We'll bring your thoughts to the Forum. With luck they'll agree. And who knows: maybe having some connections on both sides could actually give us a chance to calm things down. It worked for the Aspis!
"That also involved the external extinction-level threat of the Swarm" Celita responds without looking up.
Well, it's not a perfect analogy. the vesk admits. So get some rest. As soon as this gets decoded we'll let you know!
Each of you gets several weeks of leave, a chance to drink, sing for drunks, write poems about drunks, or whatever tickles your fancies.
Eventually however, you receive a letter from Radaszam. An actual letter, on paper and everything. Equally odd is that it contains very little details about the mission he’s recruiting you for - it just says that the ‘next step has been traced’ and calls on you to report to a starship in the hanger at a certain time. When you each head there, you find each other, and a sixth figure , as well as a fueled up starship with coordinates already programmed in and a palm-sized cube on the bridge. This cube rests atop a keycard, and a handwritten note atop it reads: ’Sorry for the roundabout methods, but we’ve got intel this Data Scourge may be about to hit, HARD, again. I and Ehu had some things come up so couldn’t do this face to face, but we recorded a briefing for you on this. Play it once in the Drift. And good luck! - R’
Once on your way, manipulating the cube causes the forms of the current First Seeker and Radaszam to emerge, in some form of magically embedded illusory magic.
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A familiar face greets you at the boarding ramp of the ship, leaning casually against the door jamb, arms crossed.
"Thought you could just slip away without so much as a goodbye did you? I'm heartbroken I won't be joining you, but I had to see you off. Who'se the new guy? Looks like you got yourself a Gen 6 even. Anyway, I won't keep you, I know you're in a rush, and I'm off on another contract. Be safe out there, and let me know what you find"
She eyes the new Android in the group, and adds "You bring them home in one piece. They're a good crew"
The stranger nods at Kat's instructions, and watches she she moves away.
"Haven't seen a K.A.T.-5 model for awhile. That generation was plagued with problems, especially the "e" version.. Who builds a companion android with a bad attitude and a predisposition for violence. Bad code."
"Anyway, I don't want to get off on the wrong foot. I'm not here to replace your friend. I've reviewed your files, so I feel like I know you guys already. So, we shouldn't have that awkward 'getting to know you' phase. In fact, if you want to call me by your friend's name, that's fine too. It will be like nothing's changed"
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Croaker heads to the docking bay, he smiles seeing Kat5e and welcomes Kat6
"Bad code is like bad upbringing, you can't choose one, you get what you get. What you do with it is up to you." He goes to the ship
"How nice it is to enter society ship not certain if anyone have hacked it and will cause it to crash."
He plays the briefing...
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Mahari eyes the "new guy"* suspiciously and doesn't really like the backhanded comments about her friend's model. She goes over to Kat and gives her a hug.
"I wish you were coming, but I understand. You get a job, you gotta take it. You be safe out there, too. Comm me when you get back."
She releases the hug but keeps hold of one hand for a lingering moment. When she lets go with a final squeeze, she wipes an eye with the hand. "Geez, they really need to replace the filters down here. Too much metal dust in the air," she says blinking away "something."
She turns her attention to Kat6. "Alright. Welcome aboard. You know us, but we don't know what you're really capable of. If you can, how about you take the pilot's seat and show us what you've got," she says trying to hide the implied challenge.
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After listening to the briefing, Mahari sighs. "Great. Undead. Didn't we already do this? Probably frellin' undead Azlanti crocodiles."
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Azara is just coming off a signing tour when he is handed a letter while still in the hangar. He has a little trouble reading it since he tears the letter along with the envelope while trying to figure out how to get it open.
"Just because a person is newer doesn't mean they're better," Azara says to Kat5e. "I'm sure we'll see you around."
He turns to the new model. "Welcome to the team. Hopefully, you'll fit right in."
"Is anyone else a little nervous about all this holo-cloak and hold out pistol stuff? Why did we have to wait until we were in the Drift before reviewing this message?" he says after the message is played.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely interested in finding out more about Rasheen I just wonder why all the secrecy is involved."
"Alright. Welcome aboard. You know us, but we don't know what you're really capable of. If you can, how about you take the pilot's seat and show us what you've got," she says trying to hide the implied challenge.
Kat6 just nods and moves to the pilots terminal, bringing the ship up to full power once the crew is settled in, and easing it from the docking station, out into nearspace, and finally into the drift.
"Is anyone else a little nervous about all this holo-cloak and hold out pistol stuff? Why did we have to wait until we were in the Drift before reviewing this message?" he says after the message is played.
"If they're worried about data security, I suppose it makes sense. I wouldn't want whoever is behind this data scourge to beat us to the punch."
Whether the extra security is warranted or excessive caution, at least the ship they left for you is top of the line. Kat6 is easily able to get it moving as the vessel speeds through the Drift towards the exit to the Ukkoruuk system - and the 'Tombworld' therein.