|
The two opponents begin to look uneasy, their faces flushing similarly to the sick Izaalguun at the encampment. DICBOT doesn't hesitate to carve up the dragonkin as it flys by, giving chase to continue his work.
Their sickness throwing off their abilities, Carson and Osuro work together to nearly topple Spinjack with tricks. Their blasts hit in unison causing him to curse. Darkrunner quickly returns with his own blast.
---
Spinjack feels the pain of Farvenzi thorough his link and turns towards Dicebot. Farvenzi ignores the pain himself and stubbornly attempts to bite the android.
---
Carson
Osuro
DICEBOT (-32)
Darkrunner-42 (-55)
Spinjack (-55)(Flat-Footed, Sickened, Fatigued)(Currently 10 feet above the wall top, 25 feet total in the air.)
Farvenzi (-26)(Sickened, Fatigued)(Currently flying just above a conduit, 5 feet up in the air.)
|
|
Carson continues to stay locked on, urging the group to finish Spinjack. His bullets hammer away at the quickly failing armor of the ryphorian.
---
Carson
Osuro
DICEBOT (-32)
Darkrunner-42 (-55)
Spinjack (-62)(Flat-Footed, Sickened, Fatigued)(Currently 10 feet above the wall top, 25 feet total in the air.)
Farvenzi (-26)(Sickened, Fatigued)(Currently flying just above a conduit, 5 feet up in the air.)
|
|
DICEBOT swings wide as the dragonkin sways in the air and the rest of the team, even with distractions fails to hit their targets.
The duo attempts to regroup, avoiding the constant barrage, Farvenzi dropping his glaive and pulling out his rifle as he pulls back. Spinjack follws suit fliyng to the other side of the enclosure to avoid the fire of the other android and lashunta.
---
Carson
Osuro
DICEBOT (-42)
Darkrunner-42 (-55)
Spinjack (-62)(Flat-Footed, Sickened, Fatigued)(Currently on the wall, 15 feet up.)
Farvenzi (-26)(Sickened, Fatigued)(Currently on the wall, 15 feet up.)
|
|
DICEBOT begins to feel better as the serum works through his body.
Darkrunner gives chase, distracting Spinjack but not enough to score another hit.
---
Carson
Osuro
DICEBOT (SP 0/21, HP 12/25)
Darkrunner-42 (SP 0/35, HP 14/34)
Spinjack (-62)(Sickened, Fatigued)(Currently on the wall, 15 feet up.)
Farvenzi (-26)(Sickened, Fatigued)(Currently on the wall, 15 feet up.)
|
|
Osuro tricks Spinjack but fails to follow up; Carson has better luck nailing him in the chest. With a grunt he falls unconscious atop the wall.
---
Farcenzi roars as his partner falls.
"For that I will crush each of you myself! Starting with you!" before taking aim at Carson.
---
Carson
Osuro
DICEBOT (SP 0/21, HP 12/25)
Darkrunner-42 (SP 0/35, HP 14/34)
Spinjack (-69)(Unconscious, dying)
Farvenzi (-26)(Sickened, Fatigued)(Currently on the wall, 15 feet up.)
|
|
DICEBOT (SP 0/21, HP 12/25)
Darkrunner-42 (SP 0/35, HP 14/34)
---
Farvenzi continues to rage at the group as his partner lies atop the snowy ramparts. Both sides exchanging fire for some time before the dragonkin falls to his knees then with a loud thud next to his partner.
If it weren't for the loud machine, it might even seem calm for a moment. The group has time to deal with the guards and the duo as they see fit before the Doctor arrives finally having heard notice of some commotion in the area.
"BY the stars what is going on out here? Why are all these guards on the ground...you look positively dragged. Do you need immediate medical attention?" the doctor exclaims as he enters through the door leading back to the facility.
|
Darkrunner remarks Well, it appears our exit isn't going to be simple.
He takes out his datapad and starts recording what they've seen, the exploitation of the locals' resources and so forth.
People need to know what's going on here. In addition to reporting to the Society, I will ensure this information gets out to the masses.
He looks up from his datapad just in time to see him arrive.
|
We need to secure Spinjack and Farvenzi as well as the guards. Does anyone have manacles or do we just tie them up?
The intent is to search and secure them before they restart the fight.
Doctor, I'm pretty sure you weren't aware, but the machinery here is having negative impacts on the planet and needs to be shut down and removed.
|
|
Darkrunner is a bit taken aback that the doctor is truly unaware of the negative affects of his work.
You... didn't study the side effects of your processes? Or were other people in charge of that and hid the results from you? Anyway...
He proceeds to explain the negative affects on the locals to the best of his expertise.
|
|
He stance begins to soften at the questions.
"I...there were always assistants that reported no significant side effects. I may have been focused on the ability for it to thrive in dire climates, perhaps I overlooked some aspects?" the Doctor says shaking their head, a look of embarrassment peaking through.
Still they stand fast, "I can run the tests and find alternatives! This work is very important!"
|
|
The doctor thinks for a moment about the thought of profit, never crossing their mind before.
"Addictive, that would not do at all. This is meant to help desloate areas get food. In that type of environment an addiction would be devastating. Profit...this benefactor funding the research doesn't have a track history of doing things without profit in their eyes." they muse aloud.
|
"My associates are underselling the level of addiction involved. We were attacked by giant herbivores, because they had eaten all of their preferred plant that was growing outside your facility. The planet's entire ecosystem is breaking down as the fauna's behaviors are being forcibly changed through this addiction. The intelligent people of the planet are working hard to avoid becoming addicted, but more and more of their food supply is becoming part of the process. Their culture could die, because your corporate sponsors are chasing profit. You can stop the destruction of this culture and of this ecosystem."
|
|
The doctor loses composure as Osuro confronts them, color flushing from their cheeks. They shake their head and immediately start to work on their comm device.
"Experiments are being shutdown immediately. Most of the science team are my associates and will have no issue doing so but now we have nowhere to go...perhaps some of this research can still be salvaged?" they say almost pleadlingly.
"My knowledge of the Starfinders is minimal at best...perhaps we can right these wrongs under your guidance. Do you have science teams?"
---
Naarma is waiting at the encampment center.
"I have heard from my scouts that there was a battle at the loud machinery but you are all well, for that I am thankful but perhaps more thankful that the science team seems to be loading their supplies. I hope the bloodshed was minimal but you may have saved my people and the life of this planet." she says with a deep bow, placing all six appendages on the ground.
She hands the Starfinders a starmap, showing a moon only four orbits away. She explains the location of the facility and warns of the defenses present.
"That facility was meant for the artifact to never be found. Be wary. That is all the information I can give but I have one last request. Please do not tell the stars of our life here. We wish to live simply and not be sought out."
|
|
Yes, we have scientists in the Society. I'm sure we could make use of your mind. We will put in a good word for you back on Absalom Station!
-------
Darkrunner responds to Naarma. They are. I have to admit I presumed they must know about the effects of their work, but I believe it was in fact kept from them. They see now, and will seek out ways to continue their experiments more mindful of side effects on any local population or ecosystem. Saving this ecosystem was important, but convincing scientists to correct their methods is no trivial outcome as well...
|
Yes, we have science teams. And cooking teams. DICEBOT says, not in any way suggesting any illegal activities.
---
DICEBOT didn't quite have an experience that could be described as 'minimal bloodshed', but he is fine. He is okay to mark the planet on the starmap as 'RADIOACTIVE WASTELAND, DO NOT ATTEMPT LANDING'
|
|
"Darkrunner undersells the case, again, I think. Yes, the Starfinders have a growing scientific arm, and we are always looking for bright, ethically minded people to help us improve lives on the known worlds. I think your decision here today will go a long way to encouraging your request to join, if you would like to apply."
------
Osuro accepts the map, making a show of examining and admiring it before stowing it. "Thank you for trusting us with this information. We will do all that we can to ensure the artifact is not abused. As far as your privacy goes, I think we can easily report that the planet has a primitive culture surviving in arctic (and worse) conditions, that wishes to be left alone."
|
|
Naarma bristles with gratitude as Osuru talks of their reporting.
"Then we will always be an ally if you come this way again. You have saved countless lives not just our own. Thank you all." breaking their normal stoicism.
---
"Oh good. I will apply with haste as soon as we load up what we can and decomission any equipment that could be used by those who stumble upon it. The Society can put good use to it, as can my team." the doctor says with a bow and quickly begins to work, directing any scientific staff still around.
---
The group has an uneventful trip back to Absalom Station, no signals of attackers or followers.
Luwazi awaits eagerly in her office. She quickly discusses the location the team has found and dispatches multiple squads of Starfinders to begin initial touchdown.
"Fantastic work, this is our next step in unraveling this mystery. I know you need rest so I am sending some teams to get us situated and informed of the location!" she smiles but then starts to look over the report.
“The izalguuns have lived in relative anonymity for millennia, and they’ve done so despite prior invitations to return to their home system. Although our responsibility as Starfinders is to share our findings with the Pact Worlds, doing so in this case might seem a violation of a people’s wishes. I can provide counsel, but in the end, you are the only Starfinders to have interacted with this culture and studied them firsthand. What is your official recommendation?”
|
|
"Sharing what we know about the Izalgun will not only lead to repeated violations of their desired privacy, but it would explicitly break our promise to represent them as a primitive culture that wishes to be left alone. I recommend we do something more important to our reputation than sharing data. I recommend we keep the promise made by the team on the ground."