Xysh's shots may not do too much damage, but they a few do connect and even the near misses cause the sea snakes to lose some speed while they adopt a serpentine pattern in their approach. Meanwhile Zefira is just gunning it! The surfboat's engine is redlinign by the pilot manages to keep it just together as she cuts every corner and obstacle as close as possible. It's a harrowing few minutes, but eventually you see the beasts in the water turn and slink off. Whatever prey they may end up grabbing today, it won't be you!
Now, as you make your way back to shore - and then once there get back in the starship to fly back over to Anduwaar you have a bit more time to analyze more of the data you went to such lengths to grab.
<The founders of this facility were led by a very powerful, well-respected Cloud Imperium bureaucrat, though their and all of the other major faiclity leaders' identities were never entered into the system. Instead, they used code names. The codename of this ringleader was “The Weathered One.” In this facility storm engines were researched, concepted, and prototyped, but the actual attempts at recreation were manufactured and tested elsewhere, at sites likewise hidden behind code names, such as A-21, C-6, S-13, U-27, or V-9. These mock storm engines performed only fractionally as well as those created by storm giants and required more than a tenfold increase in power to function even suboptimally.>
<Spies reporting to the Weathered One discerned that storm giants mystically transferred a portion of their own electric aura into the storm engines they crafted during the construction process. With dozens of storm giants providing a portion of their aura to each engine they
built, this amplified the power of the engine exponentially while having a negligible effect on individual giants. This led the research facility to turn to biological sources to power their storm engines, including captive storm giants, electric eels, and Pholskar serpents. Being used as a power source in this way rapidly drained one’s life force and was always fatal. Researchers were attempting to reduce the lethal effects of aura siphoning by cryogenically cooling subjects such that their bodily functions slowed to a near standstill.>
<There are notes that two researchers, named Algernal and Sopholine, were opposed to the experiments they had become a part of and were instead attempting to create an artificial or biotech substitute. Their research proposal was denied by the Weathered One and they were fired shortly thereafter. There are no further records of these researchers on the servers data you could receover.>
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Angered by the confirmed atrocities, Iskakii wastes no time in sending copies of the data to Ixthia, Ehu Hadif, and a few close friends in the Starfinder forum. He then turns to the others in the party.
<I say that we give our employers the chance to do the right thing,> he begins. <It is only a matter of time before this data is shared with the galaxy at large, and we all know it. I will give the giants a few days to read and react to the data before making any announcements. Judging by our speed, they should be able to handle it by the time we return home. We will tell them that the galaxy at large will react better to giants who admit their crimes and offer reparations than to Starfinders revealing the dirty secrets which cannot be repeated. We will allow them to make their best choice.>
When you finally do arrive back in Adunuwar, it it little surprise that you find Kurvasyr once again milling out by the docking bay waiting to greet you. "Starfinders!" they say with a nod. "So happy to see you safely returned. A successful mission into the remains of the city I hope. Tell me, did you discover anything interesting there?"
They crouch down slightly so they can look at you at closer-to-eye level. "I am curious, over the last few days did you give any thought to what we discussed? If you did discover anything of import, if you would share it with me I can assure you your first Seeker would be made aware of your shrewd judgement. My friends would write a letter fo commendation to Mr. Hadif - for each of you - and could promise you Starfinders exclusive rights to archeological explorations to Talgradur for the next several years. Or should I address them to that new Mr. Sarmak? I'm sure he would be delighted - exploring megastructures is his passion from what I hear."
"Don't worry," Kurvasyr raises their hands in a display of deference. "All of what you lend to me would be givine back. And soon! And then you can share it with Elthel, or whoever you wish. I know your Society values Reporting highly enough to place it front and center in your crest; I am not asking to take your discoveries away, but rather think of it as...a few hours' sneak peek."
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<I mean no offense, but we weren't hired to bring things to you,> Iskakii says. <Our employer went through proper channels to have this mission sanctioned. Turning on them for any reason would reflect poorly on us and would make future expeditions more difficult. But don't worry, the data will be shared before long. Everybody will be able to read about what we found down there.>
Kurvasyr listens to your rebuffal with a neutral expression on their face. The cloud giants straightens up and shrugs. "Very well. It is your decision to make after all, even if I am certain you will come to regret it." The giant politely nods and excuses themselves, then strides off into the greater city.
With that unpleasantness concluded, you are able to make your way through Anduwar to meet once again with your actual employer. Elthel greets each of your warmly, though her voice is somewhat reserved.
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<She's a bit stressed. After the previous mission, she's expecting to hear more bad news, and she's about to be proven right to think so>, Zefira tells the others.
"We did indeed reach Site 649D, Elthel, and we were able to collect a considerable amount of data and artifacts. We have a preliminary report to give you as well, but the data files we collected will require further in-depth analysis," the pilot tells the cloud giant, but then her expression turns more grave. "I'm afraid to say that much of what we found is directly connected to the discoveries made by our Society's previous expedition to Talgradur. We can confirm that there was indeed a secret research project to reverse-engineer a storm engine. Many of the details are rather unpleasant, and most definitely criminal." She looks at her companions, then back at the giant. "My teammates and I are very aware of the difficult position that this news puts you in, but we feel that it will be impossible to suppress this information for long. If the Cloud Imperium wants to form any lasting peace with Agrishall, we believe it will be necessary to be proactive in acknowledging the crimes committed on Talgradur and making reparations for them."
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<And we wanted to give you the chance to make those announcements first,> Iskakii adds. <We already had somebody else try to buy the data from us- a cloud giant named Kurvasyr- and even with the dangerous nature of the site, I would not be surprised if somebody else was able to get down there and explore further. But we are giving you a chance to share this information first. I already sent copies back to some officials in the Society, but they won't say anything for a few days. That means you have a chance to prepare.> Iskakii opens his nullspace chamber and shares some of the items the group found.
<Look at this. We found the bodies of dead giants who had been used as batteries. It would bring prestige to the Society if we showed this atrocity to the galaxy. But it will bring healing to your planet if you publicly offer these poor beings funerary rites while declaring that these crimes can never be repeated. Show everybody that no matter the evil which may have prospered in the past, it will not be accepted in the present or future.>
Elthel listens to your words with an ever-darkening expression. And blanches as you display several sets of bones to her. The giant paces around the table a bit before stopping and looking back to each of you.
she notes at the mention of Kurvasyr.
Elthel says with a gracious voice.
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With your excavation complete and report delivered, you are able to head back to your ship and make the journey home to Absalom Station. Back at the Lorespire Complex, Ehu Hadif meets with you and thanks you each personally. "It's good to have you all back. We did get that data you sent us last week. A sordid affari indded, but I am proud of you for discovering it. And getting it ready to be shared. Evern the darkest parts of history must be brought to light."
Yeah, I'm sure digging up the dirty secrets of a planet's government is going to be cathartic and not cause us any problems. a voice snarks dryly from the hall. You see Venture-Captain Naiaj standing in the doorway. The gnome looks at you You four did great: good jobs, came back alive, did the mission given. But turning towards Ehu her expression sours. But Pholsakr too Ehu? After the Marixah Republic and the Vesk-6 rebels? The society is sticking our nose in the middle of a lot of ksarik-maws. Eventually one of them is going to bite us 'neutral exploring party' or not.
The venture-Captain strides off just as abruptly as she arrived, leaving the current First Seeker to shake his head and cross both sets of arms. "Ermh. I am sorry you had to hear that agents. Some differences of opinion between myself and the VC. But she is wrong. What is missing - or worse, expunged - from the public eye has just as much value as what is 'commonly known. And only by making sure the lost past is revealed can a group and a culture truly know how to best guide things towards the future."
The kasathan coughs, then adds sheepishly [b]"Apologies. I think I might be getting a bit sentimental at the end of my tenure. humor me. But go now, get some rest. Dry off. I sense big changes may be on the horizon. It wouldn't do for some of the Society's best agents to meet the future ill-rested."
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"We all know that Naiaj makes it her job to worry about the individual agents that may be put in harm's way during our missions. A lot of us are still alive because of her paranoia." Zefira smiles, letting her fondness for the gruff bleachling gnome show more than she would dare to if the VC were still present. "I can see both your point and hers, sir. Anyway, count me in for any future missions to Pholskar. Despite the rather sordid nature of our discoveries so far, I remain very interested in seeing more of the planet, and how its people fare."
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Iskakii watches as Naiaj leaves, but does not say anything. When Ehu and the others are done speaking, he speaks.
<There are secrets which need to be kept, and secrets which need to be shared. My people first met the Society just after your election, and now your successor will come from a world which asked that we keep their existence secret. We carry baggage from the peoples we have harmed, and the peoples we have only allowed to suffer. I respect Zigvigix and Ixthia for seeking out and neutralizing threats, but I respect you because merely preserving life is not enough. We must find those who cannot protect themselves, whose stories are not told, and give them a voice.>