Vokuvi continues grumbling, but moves as best he can to give you access to the leg for repairs.
Anyone planning to repair Vokuvi's leg, or should we move on?
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Kultanien takes a quick look at the cybernetic leg. "This isn't really my area of expertise, but I think ..."
Jopsie just looks on. "If it were still a real leg, I could help, but I know nothing about cybernetics.."
Twitch looks unimpressed with the leg. "Surely it shouldn't be malfunctioning this badly, even here..Just reroute the secondary power and switch to auxilery coms, then activate the servo manually, reboot the flux capacitor and ... really, does nobody read manuals any more?"
Depsite Yarameh's and Kultainen's stumbling around, Twich finds the problem with Vokuvi's leg and gets it working before the others return. While you wait, he is willing to share some of his history and insights with you.
“So, you can probably guess, I’m not a fan of the Veskarium or their allies. But you seem alright, maybe I was wrong about you. Maybe.
“You want to know about me? I was a soldier. Fought in the military. Yeah, the Veskarium one. Then I left. Want to know why? Did you ever hear of Outpost 74? It was a small settlement on one of the moons. Emphasis on “was.” Veskarium razed it to the ground. Last I saw there were only ashes left. My family lived there. My parents. Wife. Two kids. I was in the field when it happened. Got home, found the same people who’d sent me out to fight for them had done that. I’ve got every reason to hate the Veskarium. I’m in this to make sure no other civilian ever gets hurt or killed like that again. That tell you what you want to know?
“The rest of the group, they’re good kids. Still wet behind the ears though. If I was harsh at you before, it’s because I want to protect them. I’ll tell you one thing though: Eshga’s tougher than she looks. I’ve seen her wolf down Vesk-6 field rations like it’s nothing, and boy I’ll tell you, just about every civilian I’ve ever known throws that stuff up unless they’ve built up an immunity. As for Renvir, well, I won’t lie to you; I think his heart is in the right place and he’s certainly devoted to the cause, but he’s gullible. I think he could be easily led—if you get my meaning. Keep an eye on him.
“You know, maybe I was wrong about you. Maybe.”
"Not that I've heard. Says she joined up because the Vesk killed her family. She's got a natural mind for maps and tactics, though, so she'd do well if a force was bright enough to make her an officer."
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Chk'tarlsh's antennae twitch as Vokuvi shares his tale.
Glancing at his companions, he sends telepathically, Seems unusually lucky to have such a strong stomach for rations and a natural inclination toward maps and tactics without any military training...
"That's a good crew you've got," he says aloud to Vokuvi, mandibles clacking. "You're bringinhk them alonhk nicely. How's the leg feelinhk?"
"So far, Alfey'sh been helpinhk guide ush in the right direction. It'sh interestinhk, a priest of the Dark Hunter..."
"No worse than before. When you've been through what I have, you're never not in pain."
The Shriek blazes in the distance, its dynamic rage whipping like an electric hurricane, spiraling with colorful arcane winds and dangerous metal shrapnel. Eshga kneels next to Renvir, completing the finishing touches on the probe meant to take readings of the Shriek. Tentatively, she looks up, “I hope this works, but between us, don’t feel bad if it doesn’t. The Shriek’s never been happy to divulge its secrets.” She looks around to confirm Miiyu and Vokuvi aren’t within earshot, then confides, “I know they say we’re safe over here but we’re still too close for my liking!”
Eshga describes the Shirek as fascinating and is keen to see what the Starfinders discover, but nowhere near as keen as Alfey. Alfey is genuinely amazed at this awe-inspiring sight, claiming to have never seen such a wonder. Renvir has been helping Eshga ready a probe to fly into the storm and complete scans; the two are working away, clearly enjoying one another’s company. Vokuvi grumbles over the delay, complaining that “if Eshga and Renvir would quit mooning over each other, we’d already be on our way out of here.”
Eventually, Eshga sets down the tools. “I don’t think we’re going to get this to fly, unless… You’ve got some electromagnetic patches on your gear. Could you maybe apply one to this? If you rewire the configuration interface module and, uhh… well, I’m not sure what else, but it should allow it to fly, right?”
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Kultanien offers advice. Every now and then it is even helpful. Well, maybe more "then" than "now"
Jopsie is a little more use, providing Twich with some very helpful background information as her lab-coated form peers on with interest. When it comes to programming the probe to deal with the storms magical energy she gently offers to take over from Twich.
When it comes to flying the drone in, Kultanien offers to take the controls..
The Starfinders easily get the probe working, and it relays its scans back without issue; the scans are an intense string of cryptic mathematical data that will require lengthy analysis at Absalom Station to fully interpret.
Soon after, the storm worsens.
Winds blow across the launch site at a far stronger speed, knocking devices over and kicking up a considerable amount of dust. Vokuvi gets to his feet, pulls a pair of binoculars from his backpack, and scans the horizon. “This is bad” he grumbles. “Storm’s turning this way.”
“Do you think we made it angry?” asks Alfey.
The old pahtra shrugs. “It’s temperamental, so anything’s possible. We should get to cover.”
A crackling surge of blue magical energy snaps into existence nearby, whipping through the air. It narrowly misses the group, driving into the ground near Renvir. He yelps, scattering his belongings as he scrambles back out of the way.
Miiyu calls out orders into the storm, but her voice is lost in the wind. Shrapnel slams into the ground, creating a plume of dust that engulfs the launch site.
The storm’s sudden intensity divides the group, isolating the Starfinders from the Liberators with shrieking wind and flying debris.
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Kultanien shivvers in the storm, using her body to shelter the unarmoured Jopsie from the heightening chaos and debris. Unfortunately this means she has no time to look for shelter.
Shuddering she tries to endure the wrath of the Shriek.
Through the swarm of rocks and dust she spies a slightly larger rock to provide a small bit of shelter.
Twich ducks out of the way.
Chk'tarlsh (-51 SP)
Kultainen (-26 SP)
Twich (-31 SP)
Yarameh (-31 SP)
After almost an hour, the storm dies down. The launch site lies in scorched disarray. For a long while, none of Miiyu’s crew appear. Then, slowly, two silhouettes emerge from the dust cloud, stumbling beside one another. Miiyu and Vokuvi, their fur matted with dust and ash, trudge wearily. As they catalogue the damage, three others arrive. Eshga’s clothing is torn and scorched, and she leans heavily on Renvir to walk. She has several large cuts which bleed lightly but it’s the limp form of Alfey, whom the pair struggles to carry, who is in the worst shape. Carefully, they lay their colleague’s battered body on the ground. The Liberators fall silent.
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Kultanien's eyes open wide as she dashes toward the body of Alfey. "Who found them?" she asks.
Jopsie approaches the body and gives it a quick scan.
The golden girl then casts her eye around for who has plasma weapons. She waits for a reply to her first answer before stating clearly. "Alfey was not killed by the shriek."
None of the Liberators is carrying a visible plasma weapon, though Yarameh is.
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"Someone else is out here." she says, looking around.
Pointing to the burn pattern Jospie, tears running down her face says "See the burns... they are almost certainly from a plasma weapon. They are so symmetrical... I doubt an energy burst from the Shriek would look like that." she then peers closer. "And look here..."
She leans forward and extracts a tiny needle from the middle of the wound. "This didn't come from the Shriek either."
As the Starfinders begin to investigate, the Liberators react to the situation.
Renvir is visibly distraught and insists on a burial for his colleague.
Eshga is more reserved; she explains the three were separated from the others and they sought shelter, but Alfey was injured by the storm.
Miiyu is horrified by what happened and determined to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. She pushes for the group to leave the area, determining the risk of the storm to be too severe to delay.
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Moved by Renvir's raw display of grief, Chk'tarlsh places a comforting hand on the Liberator's shoulder.
His antennae drooping sadly, he says, "I've only known Alfey a short time, but it wash enough to see they were a great friend and companion. We will do everythinkh in our power, but for now, we have to make ssure everyone elsse ish ssafe."
"Can you tell ush what happened out there?" he asks gently.
Glancing nervously around the landscape, he looks to his companions. "Hash anyone sseen any signsh of anyone elsse movinhk about out here?"
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Kultanien eyes up the remaining group, passing her eyes over everyone. That Renvir is so upset is obvious. No overacting there. Of the others though... too hard to tell - at least for the moment.
"Let us give honor to the fallen, though do you think Alfey would want to be buried so close to.... that?" she says, pointing to the Shriek.
You can either find a place nearby (but not too nearby) to bury the body or return with it, but considering how far you are from a city, the latter will be unpleasant unless you have a means to preserve it.
You can also take a 10-minute rest, whether you are burying the body now or not.
The Starfinders can find a spot to bury Alfey. The Liberators keep to themselves, talking in hushed voices, whether to plan or grieve, you cannot tell. When you are finished, Miiyu approaches you. "We need to move on. If we gave up now, Alfey's sacrifice would be in vain." The groups gather their tools and move toward the bunker.
As you make your way, Eshga approaches you to tell you how impressed she is with your technical expertise and seems willing to answer questions about herself.
“Oh, you want to know about me? Um… gosh, I don’t know… I was born on this planet. I’m not really all that special. I like machines, so I spent a lot of time working at my uncle’s machine shop. I could probably bore you by talking about schematics and power circuits. I’m sorry, I’m not very interesting. I kind of want to open my own mechanics shop someday. When all of this is over. I think I’d like that…
“How did I get involved with the Liberators? Well, everyone’s lost people to the Veskarium, haven’t they? I mean, we’ve all lost friends, family, you name it. There isn’t a single pahtra on Vesk-6 who hasn’t lost somebody to Veskarium hands. I know, you’re not from here so you haven’t seen how bad things can be. If you make an enemy of the Veskarium, you disappear, you know? Things have to change. I lost my entire family. Everyone. I couldn’t live with myself knowing I didn’t try to do something.
“I’ve known Miiyu since I first joined the Liberators. She’s amazing! She’s good at reaching people. Like… connecting, you know? She can reach right into your heart and make you feel like you can do anything. And Renvir, I… well… He’s so kind, you know? And sweet and… Well, enough about that. …Actually, there is one thing… I don’t know if I should tell you this, but the other pahtra—Vokuvi? I know we’re all in this together, but he’s so intense, you know? I mean, he kind of scares me. Like he could do anything. Like… the way he got so angry when you arrived! It’s as if he only sees people as allies or enemies. I think he’s dangerous, if I’m honest. Like he would hurt anyone to get what he wants. You understand what I mean, right? Just, keep an eye on him.
“I’m going to go see how Renvir is doing. Let’s talk later, okay? You seem nice.”
The entrance to the bunker is partially buried by mounds of rock and debris. Clearing away this debris takes several hours of work alongside Miiyu and her entourage. Once cleared, the bunker’s large steel doors are exposed.
A wide ramp descends below the ground. The bunker is completely dark. You can tell that the ceilings are high, as none of you can reach them while on the ground.
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Yarameh checks whether the weapon is loaded, whether everything is at hand, and so on - as a professional mercenary soldier, who she is also. Then she turns on a drone with a video camera and heavy metal in one of the headphones - to listen to her favorite music but still hear her comrades with the other ear.