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Gunnz is on the edge of her seat, glancing left, glancing right, judging the slope of the dunes. "This is living.... the Tomcat is doing its own dancing over the dune today." she says, enthralled....
She tries to jibe to port slightly too quickly, and the Tomcat start to tip over!
And then totters for a moment before looking like it will settle back onto its regular track...
Already Gunnz is wondering about making up a victory dance... but dance is not done until the music stops.
Cavaler fails to point out that the trophy for second place is called 'silver'. Nevertheless, he wins this game of 'boat-chicken', allowing Gunnz the room to go full speed ahead to the finish line! The crew tries to get more speed out of the boat, until a very familiar creaking sound emerges from the hull, just like that ol' spitfire creaks.
Stress fractures appear in the hull, but the Tomcat manages to pull itself over the finish line in first position. At that point, the silt coming in through the stress fractures makes the boat sluggish and hard to maneuvre, so getting it moored proves to be more tricky than the race itself.
A victorious starfinder crew is celebrated as the winners of the First Annual Dustwarren Cup. By extension a Mimli crossed the finish line before Zwarna, drawing some foul looks from the Sarcesian.
Final ranking:
1. Tomcat
2. Golden Ratio
3. Solardarity
4. Raycatcher
5. Going my way
DNF Dust Monster
DNF Flyting Jenny
Mimli discreetly asks the crew Could you keep this embarassing story of my kidnapping between us? I would not want to draw attention to any rumors of the Nurkop Richpick. Troublesome enough as it is.
Mimli proceeds to spin a story to the press claiming the Flyting Jenny was sunk by a dust manta attack, painting the Starfinders as heroes.
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The awards ceremony is held on the shore, on a scaffolded podium overlooking the sea, The ostentatious Dustwarren Cup to the winning team by Mimli herself. Zwarna Linsholm, who is still towering over the team from xyr second-place position, begrudgingly offers a congratulatory handshake and says I must admit, I did not expect to get beaten. Next year it won't be so easy for you. Amek Na is altogether more jovial. Not only did he survive, but he made it third place Drinks for everyone! he says, and fully insists on paying for all the Starfinder's drinks at the celebratory party that occurs afterward. Venture-Captain Naiaj, who is also present, silently nod to confirm her approval of the outcome.
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Following the celebration, Wat has the group come to a private meeting room with Mimli.
“I still can’t think you all enough. Not only was the race a rousing success despite everything, but you even saved my life! That’s why it feels only right to tell you the truth, though I hope you know I do so only in the strictest confidence.” Mimli wrings her tiny, wrinkled hands, for the first time showing a bit of her age. “As you may have guessed, the Nurkop Richpick is real… but as for where it is, I honestly have no idea. Whatever we found there, and how, it was lost completely during the Gap. We’ve never gone back, not ever! All we have is this.” She gestures to Wat, who lifts the lid on a lacquered jewelry box to reveal, nestled in a custom-made velvet-lined niche, a brass tube etched with lines and runes. Mimli takes it out and turns it in the light where everyone can see, making it clear that the markings don’t seem to have any meaning as they are now.
“My grandpop left me this, from his grandma before him. He said it’s one part of three, and each piece contains a clue to how our family got to where we are today.” She places it back in the box, closes the lid, and takes it from Wat to hold out as an offering. “But it’s clear to me now that leaving this question unanswered is just going to put me and my family in more danger. So, I’d like you to take it, at least for now. If anyone can unravel this puzzle, it’s the Starfinders.”
I've also created a sign-up sheet for the upcoming games from 6-10 onward. I'll give you the opportunity to sign up on these before I release to the Lodge.
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"No problem Mimli, the secret is safe with us"
***
Viper flatly refuses the handshake, laughs mockingly, and throws her drink at the cheating dog. "I spent the majority of that race looking to get even for the direct attack on our ship, I won't forget in a hurry, you lack class and sportsmanship - you shouldn't be second, you should be disqualified - Amek Na is ten times the sportsman you are."
She walks off to crush beers with Amek Na.
***
"Thanks Mimli, a fascinating mystery - I am certain the Starfinders will solve it and when we do, we will almost certainly take you on the journey"
Viper also thanks the team "A great crew, some of the best minds and best pilots of the Society were out there, and the skills were sharp - I almost wish the Jinsul would come back so we could give them another hiding in space"
Day Job - Lab Technician
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Rani dances with Gunnz for a bit but is interrupted by a comm call.
Sorry. I gotta take this. It's my partner, Bordle
She steps off to the side. Hiiiiiiiiiii .... yeah we did. You saw the vid cast? Yeah .. that was close but we had one of the best pilots at the helm. Yeah .... Oh? (long pause) SQUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Yay! I'm gonna be a MERMAID! Yeah ... Cool. I hope you negotiated out that stupid CGI clause, I do my own stunts ... but yeah .. shooting in a week huh? Yeah .. no prob. Love ya ... bye
The entire party is greeted with a Rani sized YAAAAAHOOOOOOO! I GOT THE PART!
