"The decrypt key? You have it?" Slrrg's voice lifts in excitement, but then a stream of air seeps from him like a tire deflating.
"Well, I guess it's useless, now. You're going to find out sooner or later. Send your boarding party; we won't resist. I'll explain everything once you get here."
A few minutes later, Betty docks with the Malthar vessel, and the crew boards. Clarissa and Garlus remain aboard The Betty.
Cherry begins a review of the ship's systems. It doesn't look great. Probably best salvaged for parts, rather than repaired.
Meanwhile, Sub-boss Slrrg meets the Captain and the rest of the boarding party. Slrrg slithers into the chamber with a sinuous grace that belies his bulk. His rubbery, wormlike body is unusually thick around the midsection, the smooth segments bulging slightly beneath the dull sheen of his reinforced suit. His pinkish-gray flesh glistens with a faint sheen of moisture, and his eyeless head swivels slowly, the sensory ridge twitching as it took in his surroundings. Though his physical presence lacks the sleek menace of some of the rest of his crew, the weight he carries was is more than just physical—it is political, and dangerous in its own right.
I do not wish to offend, so I will ask outright... what can I offer by way of refreshments?
Given the Sathar's anatomy visually, Joyride would guess they eat garbage and muck. But they do seem to have rudimentary teeth, so they can probably eat whatever sort of foods they are offered.
"Ha! Haha! This one I like!" Slrrg says, slapping Joyride on the back.
"We try to blow you out of the sky, you defeat us, and then you offer to take us for dinner and drinks! I'd offer you a job in the Malthar, if I thought you'd take it." Slrrg nevertheless seemingly avoids answering the question entirely.
He definitely doesn't seem like he's planning a backstab at this point. Slrrg seems resigned to his defeat.
Cherry has her Doshko and Tin Man stands with his guns at the ready.
After listening to the crew's questions related to the decryption key, Slrrg finally gives some exposition on exactly why they've been after the key.
"You see, it comes down to profits - AgroCorp's profits, and Malthar profits. A while ago, some of the researchers here did some genetic manipulation on a batch of seed-pods trying to find other potential uses, higher profit uses, for AgroCorp's foods."
"This research didn't yield much, and was shut down about a year ago. However, one of the experiments was stolen by an 'entrepreneurial' farmer down on Mwangi Acres. On a visit to the Station, he managed to wipe it clean from the corporate database and retained all information on it himself."
"This experiment produced the lovely dissociative drug you've probably heard of...Ixiol. Hearing this makes you think back to the addict you saw back in The Nebula Drift days ago. Ixiol has been heavily used (and abused, given its addictive properties) by many survivors since the Cyleerin attacks.
"Once said farmer was certain of what he had, he set out to find a buyer. He went to an illicit club in a nearby system and made contact with one of my associates; The Malthar are renowned for supplying this corner of space with the things their governments consider contraband. After examination of a sample, The Malthar were in. I myself was placed in charge of the project. Ixiol quickly became one of my top sellers."
"Unfortunately, the farmer in his caution decided the only way to avoid his project being potentially discovered, or stolen, was to encrypt the data with a quite ingenious proprietary method based off an old cypher. And then someone stole the only decryption key. My suppliers were thus unable to produce more Ixiol. And perhaps now you begin to see my problem."
James returns with bowls of a loose gelatin enriched with electrolytes.
So, he is still producing this... crop, himself? And, you want to cut out the middle man?
Turning to Garlus, Who was your intended... recipient?
"Heh, it's worse than that, I'm afraid," Slrrg interrupts. "Even the farmer himself can't reproduce his results without access to the data. Seems he used his machine to do the calculations, them deleted those out of paranoia each time. Not enough scientific know-how to reproduce it on his own. We came by looking for our supply, and with some finger-bending, figured out what had gone wrong."
"Sorry, James. This is Clarissa answering his comm. Garlus is...in a bad way. My scans indicate he's got end-stage organ failure. Whatever questions you have for him, he's unlikely to be able to answer."
Slrrg chuckles. "Seems you all have a choice. You can give me the key and let my business continue, providing some level of comfort to its users, or you can cut us off, either turning the card over to AgroCorp, or destroying it."
In any case, your fleet is outbound and will leave this sector soon. I don't intend to follow you, and the Malthar won't waste resources on following you away from our turf. Your decision."
Are you saying, this is the source of... all Ixiol?
AgroCorp... would just grow more of it than the one farmer.
" Can we erase it and reuse the key. Its a cyptological lock biox to play with" Cherry says excitedly.
"How did you know someone would be here with the key?" Alzura asks flatly, arms folded, a rather irritated look on her face. "If you lie to me I'll throw you out the airlock along with whoever told you we were commin'."
Unlike his casual conversation with Joyrid, Slrrg appears genuinely shaken by Captain Alzura Frostflare's menacing tone.
"That one's easy! Our agents sent word through the drift-relays. You may remember them. You beat them to a tar back at your fleet. They'd figured out it was your benefactor, Mr. Garlus Tylappar, that had the key, said having been stolen by one of Mr. Tylappar's associates when his vessel was here last."
"It was their task to bring it back. Having failed, another Malthar ship was to attack you in the drift, but failed to lock onto your location. My vessel was here merely to put pressure on the farmer to figure out a way to produce the product. It was happenstance, or perhaps kismet, that you arrived the same time as I. If you'd been a day earlier, I might never have known where the key was, once my associates lost track of you."
"Oh those guys! They were not too good, you should get better guys." Charry says, smiling as she looks them over.
Are you saying, this is the source of... all Ixiol?
"Yes, yes, as far as I know. Not sure how the farmer manages to keep it secret from the Corporation, and I don't really care. Though, if you want to sell me that key so I can keep the trade alive..."
"What the hell? Ixiol? Who even came up with that?" Alzura asks rhetorically, exasperated. "Why would anyone even want that? What ever happened to getting drunk, f%#&ing a cute girl and going to sleep?" She rubs her throbbing temple with thumb and forefinger. "Nobody can have it! We have enough problems without even more degenerate drug addicts running around! You lot," She points at the sluggos. "Are going into the custody of the station. I don't care what they do with you, you attacked them first. I'm taking this ship. Nobody can have the stupid recipe or whatever it was you said is on there."
Slrrg looks annoyed, but unsurprised. When one gets one's bum kicked in a space battle, the winner generally does exactly what the winner wants.
"Fair, and honorable. Sorry we couldn't do business, but I hear your people are on their way to the stars anyway." Slrrg gives what to humanoids might be a bow, but with his less-rigid Sathar body comes out more like a wet noodle falling over the edge of a pot.
With that, no one seems intent on giving the crew any resistance. Towing the ship back to AgroCorp Station, Alzura is able to turn the Malthar crew over to station security. Station management doesn't dispute your salvage, though they ask that you give them four of the Malthar's missiles, with which to replenish their stores from the shots they fired.
Let's get outta here and destroy that thing...
'Do we have too? The Key is an amazing program!!!" She then sighs.
"Yeah...probably for the best." She says defeated.
Leaving the secret of Ixiol relegated to the past, you head back to the ship. When you arrive there, you find a very quiet Clarissa sitting on the bridge, with a bottle of the Captain's booze and a shotglass.
"Garlus has died; multiple organ failure. There was nothing I could do but make him comfortable."
"Before he passed, he transferred our payment for the mission: 1000 Credits apiece."
"See?" Alzura asks the others as they enter the bridge, gesturing to Clarissa. She's a bit rambunctious after the ship-to-ship fight where she didn't do anything. It's a shame the slug guys didn't want to fight more. Perhaps too rambunctious to notice Clarissa's quietness. "Booze and a cute girl. Just like I said." She drops into a seat next to Clarissa. "Were, uh, you able to determine the cause of the organ failure?" The captain asks. "Seems like odd timing..."
"Auto-immune disorder, I'd guess. I'm convinced he knew it was coming. Wanted to get this key thing off his conscience before he died." She pours another double into the glass and takes a big gulp, before making the funniest whiskey-face Alzura has ever seen. Girl's not used to hard liquor.
'Do I count as a Cute girl?" Cherry asks as she then hears of Garius's death.
"Oh no, He was a great guy! he knew his engineering. My teacher would have loved him." Cherry said as she used her tail to wipe away a tear.
Alzura pats Clarissa's shoulder. "I'm sure you did the best anyone could have done without magic." She sighs. "You're cute enough, Cherry. But a little cold. As for the rest of you, how long until the slug ship will be ready to fly back to the fleet?"
"Oh, cause i'm a reptile..." She says with a frown then giggles.
"But if you ever need to cool off Cap, you know who to call on" She giggled even more.
It doesn't take the crew long to get things buckled down well enough to Drift back to the fleet. Once there, the real repairs will put you out of commission for a while, but the Betty will be back as strong as ever at the end of it.
Adventure 2, Epilogue:
Three weeks later...
Cherry, with the help of some technicians and facilities hired with the proceeds from the last mission (ie the 'UBP' you extracted from the captured vessel), has completed repairs on The Betty.
Adventure 3: The Silent Colony
The stark metal room hums with quiet power. The party sits around a central conference table, waiting for a briefing. A senior officer enters: Commander Harlan Vos, late 50s, of the Diasporum Fleet, with silver at his temples and the lean bearing of a man who’s been in service too long. He speaks with precision, not warmth.
"Thankyou for coming. You come highly recommended by the Council, else you'd not be here." The Commander paused to let that sink in. "Three days ago, Recon Raptor Two-One was dispatched to run a deep scan on a nearby system—designated Eidolon 3. It was a routine forward scout while the fleet paused for routine maintenance. The Raptor failed to return. We received a single data burst before signal blackout. Most of it was corrupted—probably some sort of external interference. But one fragment came through."
He gestures. A jittery, ground-level video fills the air above the table—dusty Colonial-style buildings under a dusky sky. In the distance, a house light flickers on as the sun dips below the horizon.
"That architecture is unmistakable. Colonial standard, late first exodus era. There's no record of any settlement in that system. We don’t know who—or what—turned that light on. We don’t know what happened to the Raptor pilot."
"We're contracting your services for two reasons. First, you come highly recommended by the Council. Second, much as I hate to admit it, our resources are stretched thin protecting the fleet; Cyleerin cruisers have been detected in this region of space, and are likely searching for us. We need every Raptor pilot here in case one finds us."
"Your mission is as follows: First, recover the Raptor or, if that is not possible, its flight recorder. Second, if you find survivors…extract them. Third, if you find something else…document and report."
James looks around at the others. I might get to fly a Raptor... Sweet! Sir!
Burlap is more sober. "Based on that signal, Commander, let's say there is a splinter colony in the Eidolon system and they don't want to leave. Maybe they've never even seen a Cyleerin. Getting them out could take more than an invite. What are the Rules of Engagement, if push comes to shove?"
Good point, LT. But, it begs the question... What is we lead the Cyleerin right to them?
What's our responsibility? Sir. His brain seems to hurt and he tries to match the Ysoki's sobriety. The young pilot cradles his head in his hands.
"We need to ensure if there are colonists alive, they leave with us. The Cyleerin are definitely aware of the existence of the system. And their arms stretch ever further this way. Unlike Mwangi Acres, this colony has no orbital satellite. No known allies with which to attempt to make a stand, however futile. Leaving them here, if indeed they exist, would eventually be a slaughter. But..."
"We won't force them, if they flatly refuse to leave. If you encounter anyone, make sure they understand the danger they're in, and offer them a ride. If there are more than you can transport, we'll send a transport ship upon your return." Commander Vos nods. He seems certain the mission the orders he's given are the correct way to proceed with the mission.
" If only we had a Cylerin frame, we could set up a trap for our friends. Or just get to have a great idea whats inside one!!!" She says excites with robotopsy.
She calms down then adjusts herself." Well we could build some traps if need be, Depends on time and rescources"
"How far away is Eidolon? The Betty isn't designed for refugee hauling. We may need to pack some extra suplies just in case." The captain was left rather unsatified with their last excusrion, wherein she simply sat around during the ship-to-ship combat. This would be a good excuse to smash some robo-heads.
"It took our Raptor roughly 25 hours to get there. Slightly longer for your vessel, I would think, say 40 hours. Assuming no major changes in Drift geography in the vicinity," Commander Vos answers.
Lives are on the line... let's move. Permission to requisition additional supplies, Sir.
Vaëlorin folds his hands lightly on the table, expression composed but serious. “Colonial architecture, ghost signals, and an unlisted settlement—this already sounds like a horror vid. Let us hope it ends more diplomatically than most.” He glances to the Commander. “If we are walking into a silent colony with unknown variables, I will prepare appropriate scanning routines and diagnostic overlays in advance. With your leave, I would also like to requisition data archives on First Exodus encryption protocols. If the pilot left anything behind, I intend to read it.”
"We've had enough horror adventures this year, Val, thank you very much." It's not too far away, and the colonist aren't going to rescue themselves. And Alzura hasn't punched anyone in a while.
"That sounds fun, OO, maybe I can build a few things. Let's get some Material so we can make a few things. For those who wish to flee. The key is to try a get them off, though I doubt all will come." She says as she then begins to type a few things out.
' Should also install a protocol in their systems if they wish to stay, or the nuclear option is always a classic. Would destroy the tech, and survivors would be spared the Cyleerins' horrible torture." She says with a cool rationale. It was a Veskarium trait; they thought strategically and well better to completely destroy the target than let the enemy have it.
Permission to requisition additional supplies, Sir.
"The whole fleet's on limited rationing of just about everything, but we'll get you what we can, within reason."
"With your leave, I would also like to requisition data archives on First Exodus encryption protocols. If the pilot left anything behind, I intend to read it."
"Talk to Corporal Elkring at the data archives, onboard the Corvette Shuriken, second shift. He'll get you what we have."
The Betty encounters no problem in The Drift, and it takes just over 38 hours flight time to arrive in the Eidolon system. The sun shines a yellow-white through the polarized viewscreens. The inner-most planet, Eidolon I, is far too close to the hot F-series star to support much but rock, and Eidolon II is an asteroid field, destroyed by an unknown cause long ago. Eidolon III sits at about 1.9 AU from its sun, well within the habitable zone.
Despite the easy ride, Alzura feels a bit uneasy as ship approaches planet. It was just a in dream, she was sure, but she felt as if she'd seen that sun before, as if through a different starship viewscreen, long ago.
James checks what sensors he can, ready for evasive action.
We being scanned, yet? Anyone lock onto us that I can't see?
Should we orbit the planet, Captain? Get the lay of the land.
Captain. Cap... you alright?
Alzura sways on her feet, pressing one palm to her blue forehead. "Guh... It's nothing. Déjà vu. Uhm, do a scan or... whatever." She plops down into her seat. "I just need a drink. Clarissa, be a dear and fetch me... something."
"Boss you need a Veskari Fuel Cleaner?" She says form her seat as she adjusts her new gear and smiles, as she sips some tea.
After some time in orbit, Vaëlorin completes his analysis.
"I regret to inform you I've been able to gather only limited information. There's a form of interference in the atmosphere I can't identify and am unable to compensate for."
"Eidolon III has a breathable atmosphere, nitrogen-oxygen with traces of xenon and fluorine. Gravity approximately .95 gravs. Surface area 60% water, one natural satellite."
[b]"There are very limited life signs on the surface; mostly small animals, certainly nothing from any common Diasporum races detectable from here."