Bummer :(
And just when things were going to slow down for me and I’d have more time.
Ah well, c’est la vie.
You know where to find me if things change.
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"Ok, so, what's next?" Kamiya pulled out some of the med supplies she had liberated from the colony stores. "What's next is that we get everyone patched up the best we can."
Kamiya began moving deeper into the woods. "Alright, we find a place that's safe enough to regroup. Too bad we can't send word to Arebretta so she doesn't worry about us. But it would put her in too much danger now if we go back to her place." The lashunta kept an eye on the ground as she walked so that she didn't trip over a tree root or anything, "Even though we're regrouping, we can't afford to take too much time. The more time we take, the more time the Azlantis have to also fortify their position."
Kamiya dropped the rifle and rubbed the feeling back into her shoulder. "So where are we going? Are going into the wilderness to do a full regroup? If that's the case, maybe we find one of the mining settlements. If we're not going far then I guess we just go until we figure we aren't being followed."
Kamiya winced at the kickback from the rifle but had no choice but to try shooting it again. She raised the barrel and as she squeezed the trigger she also squeezed her eyes shut, expecting more pain in her shoulder.
Kamiya ran over to the Captain and struggled with another one of the rifles they had appropriated. "How do you work this thing? I've never shot something this big before. How do you even hold it?" The lashunta studied the Captain as he took his shot and did her best to follow his lead.
Kamiya stopped running when she realized that Kip and Thyx weren't with the rest of them. She rushed over to Robert, "Can you reprogram one of the comms to override the drones operating system? Maybe we can crash them or else take control of them and go on the offensive."
Kamiya was on the move as soon as it was decided they make a break for the forest. "I would also suggest staying low in the mist if at all possible." She looked up at the drones with the sad realization that there was nothing she could do. Grenades wouldn't work against something flying and she couldn't daze something that was a machine. "I've really got to find myself a gun that isn't a rifle," she mused. She ducked around a tree, "But where are we going? Just further into the woods?"
The news that something was said over the comms didn't sit well with Kamiya. "If Mags tells me what to say in Azlanti, I can get back on comms and say that it was just a false alarm...some hobgars causing problems. It may buy us some time." The lashunta didn't really want to stay and fight more of them but really it was the Captain's call.
Kamiya moved a few steps forward to get close enough to the remaining cadet. As soon as she was in position, she unleashed a mental assault on the cadet's mind filled with a cacophony of images and colours meant to disorient and daze.
Seeing some of the cadets leaving rather than helping their comrades, Kamiya knew they couldn't let them get away to warn any others. She dashed out of the cemetery, pulling a frag grenade from her belt as she moved. Once she was in range of the two cadets furthest away, she lobbed the grenade at them.
Kamiya's high from hitting the cadets with the stickybomb quickly turned to disappointment as they very slowly started to move away.
The lashunta's antennae started to twitch as she projected her ghost persona outwards at one of the cadets in order to terrify them so much that they stood frozen to the spot and couldn't do anything. Witness as our old dry bones escape our graves to bludgeon our oppressors! You cannot flee for your fear freezes you in place.
Action 1: As soon as all the cadets had congregated in front of the cemetery gate, Kamiya lobbed her stickybomb grenade into their midst as they had planned.
Kamiya stood within Robert's illusion, stickybomb grenade in hand, waiting just long enough that all the cadets got close enough to the gates. As Kip sprang into action, the lashunta aided her how she could with the reality of ghosts by telepathically getting into their minds. The Azlanti have disturbed our rest by imprisoning our people. We will haunt them until they go insane
Kamiya wasn't one for any kind of military strategy so she was relieved to have Thyx put forward a plan. She added what she could, "I have one special grenade that makes everything sticky when it explodes. If the cadets are close enough together, I may be able to stick them to the ground and you guys can pick them off."
“Wait - are you saying we just need the box? They just need the box?” the Captain asked. Kamiya looked thoughtful, "I guess we're beginning to see why everyone was so excited if all you need is a box that size." "I agree with Robert," the lashunta began, "and with Kip. Freeing the hobgars could backfire on us so let's start with the cemetery and thin the herd of Azlanti a little more. The fewer cadets around to guard Cedona the better when we go to break her out."
"Although, might be a third option as well," Robert mused. "The ship crashed, but might still be spaceworthy. Or repairable. Someone could take the ship out, hide it in the void between the stars, then Drift-jump out with another ship while keeping the stellar coordinates. Take away what makes this rock valuable to the Azlanti, and keep open the option of trying to cash in later. Might be worth looking into." Kamiya rewound the video to show the engine room. She pointed at the jungle on screen, "As much as I would love to find and even possibly fly that ship, the presence of jungle and that charred metal makes me think that it isn't. I don't think the ship is fully intact. But I would love to be proved wrong." The envoy gave Kip an understanding smile, "And I agree with Kip, we can't destroy that box. Provided that it can even be destroyed. Who knows what material it's made out of since this tech has obviously been lost to current knowledge."
Action 2 Kamiya listened to the Captain's summary. "Hopefully we can liberate the colonists before more Azlanti show up." She projected her next thought into the minds of her crew mates but not Aibretta, Or at least, Cedona The lashunta looked over at the mechanic, "Who all knows where the wreck is? Seems to me that we either boost the morale of the imprisoned colonists but either ending the water rationing by the Azlanti or taking out another one of their patrols...or finding the wreck and learning what we can from it." The pilot looked over at the Captain, "You mentioned making this secret not-secret." and then over at Aibretta, "Are there any comms reaching off-planet that aren't controlled by the Azlanti?"
Action 1: Kamiya's frown of frustration morphed into a smile of triumph as Robert revealed his find. "Nicely done!" The lashunta watched the video with rapt attention like everyone else. As the video ended she breathed a single word, "Whoa." She recovered quickly as the enormity of the discovery sank in and her body practically vibrated with excitement. "I can totally see why Cedona was so excited and why the Azlanti invaded to reacquire it. Hyper-fast travel without the drift? The implications are huge!" Kamiya stopped suddenly, a puzzled look on her face. "But if this tech is Azlanti, why don't they use this tech today?" She gasped, "Unless this knowledge was lost to them too over time." She gave an exaggerated shudder, "The last thing everyone needs is the Azlanti having a way to travel without the Drift."
Kamiya pushed open the door into Madelon's personal quarters. In her mind, if he was going to hide something then it made more sense that he do it in the place that was his and others wouldn't regularly access. The lashunta looked along the walls and other seams trying to find loose panels where Madelon may have stashed something. She also looked at any displayed personal belongings to see if anything may have been hidden inside or behind.
Having spent more time looking around than maybe she should have, Kamiya let out a long, frustrated sigh. "Well this was a colossal waste of time. He was either really good at hiding whatever it was that he hid or else it was already found by whoever ransacked this place."
Action 1: Kamiya perked up at the mention of her home planet. It made her think of her family and her early days as TortAce and a smile came to her lips. "There are similarities between Castrovel and Nakondis so I can see him liking it here. Although it is quite a change from being part of AbadarCorp on Castrovel and administering this colony here on Nakondis. The was a huge change for him." Action 2: Kamiya almost clapped her hands when Thyx reconnected the power. Instead she settled for saying quietly, "Nicely done, Thyx, I'm sure the Captain's shoulder thanks you too." The lashunta stepped into the chapel, realizing almost instantly what it was. I guess Madelon found another way to serve Abadar here on Nakondis. She walked around the chapel, looking at the mess with dismay. "Looks like the rumours were true and we weren't the first ones to think about coming here to look. Let's hope they didn't find what we're looking for."
Action 1: Kamiya shrugged, clearly unconvinced. "Maybe. But it still seems odd to leave people at large when you're trying to subjugate a planet. It makes them an uncontrolled variable." She holds up her hands as if surrendering, "I know, I know. Who are we to know how the Azlanti think? I'm just saying that it seems weird from my point of view." Action 2: The lashunta cocked her head at the Captain, "I don't think speed is our only advantage. And I would argue that you having your insides on the inside where they belong is a huge advantage. I would be willing to risk going slower so that you can wear the armor." Or is it? Can anyone think of something else we have they lack, apart from stunning good looks and a brilliant commander? Kamiya grinned, "I know it sounds corny but we have diversity and the ability to improvise. I think all those cadets can do is follow orders and not think on their feet."
Action 1: Kamiya looked puzzled, "I find it unusual that the Azlanti invaders didn't demand that everyone in the outposts return here so that they could better control the colonists. I guess it's good to know that we have potential reinforcements should we need them. The fact that they are odd people may work in our favour." Action 2: Kamiya looked somber as the Captain and Thyx returned, "I'm glad that unpleasantness is over and done with. Hopefully our little ruse will work but it makes sense to go back to Aibretta's and wait there to find out. That and we'll be able to discuss more freely what to do next." Action 3: The lashunta considered their options left from Aibretta's suggestions on how to help the colonists while making things more difficult for the Azlanti. "The Azlanti will already be annoyed by the hobgars based on what happened at Rendell's so freeing them may further cause distress. However, I personally would like to learn more about what Cedona found and so visiting the Administrator's house would probably be my preference."
Action 1: Kamiya grabbed what she could without decimating supplies and making it look suspicious. Not that she knew how to bandage anyone properly but at least they had the supplies now if someone needed it. Action 2: The pilot's eyes sparkled at the mention of the hovertrikes. "Good to know in case we need to make a quick getaway. Are there many colonists in the outposts? Or did the Azlanti bring them all back here to keep everyone under lockdown together?" Action 3: The lashunta wasn't sure she had the stomach for what was to come in staging the accident. "Robert has the right of it, I think. Better if we stage the accident away from here. We should be able to clean up the majority of the blood that's here. And I like the idea of planting the idea of an unknown local predator. They're already somewhat familiar with hobgar behaviour so them being concerned about a new predator could be beneficial to us."
Action 1: Not being able to speak the language meant Kamiya stayed quiet and listened as Robert relayed to Thyx what to say. She was able to recognize a name and filed it away for future reference...Master-at-Arms Olaraja. I wonder if she's the one in charge or just the one in charge of these cadets? Either way, she did not sound like a pleasant woman. Kamiya nodded in agreement with Kip but didn't add anything further. They all seemed like they were on the same page - make sure the Azlanti cohort firmly believed that the locals were no threat to them and had been sufficiently intimidated into compliance. Kamiya glanced at the manifest and scanned it for any useful items. It seemed pretty basic supplies for a group of colonists. She pointed to a few items that would be easily portable and would probably come in handy. "Captain, we should take one of the basic medkits, some medpatches, some more batteries, and this creator capsule. If something breaks then we could use it to make a replacement part, provided it's not too complicated. And we've already shown that we could use the other stuff. As long as we don't get too greedy with what we take, they shouldn't notice it's missing." She handed the list over to Kip and Thyx, "Any engineering tools that would be of use?" She looked at Aibretta questioningly, "Did you guys bring any land vehicles with you when you colonized?" Action 2: Good thought. Hmm - do you think the Hobs could have wrestled the rifle, shot him by accident, and run? Do they use clubs?" Kamiya offered her thoughts on the planet's fauna, "The hobgars are definitely dextrous enough and handsy enough to wrestle with a gun causing it to go off, although they'd be more interested in fighting for batteries than weapons. It may be feasible enough although a hard to prove theory with no witnesses. On the other hand, who knows what larger creatures exist on this planet and I'm willing to bet that the Azlanti don't know for sure either. It would be just as feasible that there is something large enough that is capable of mauling a human. Either way, I think we could make it look enough like an accident of some sort to remove suspicion from Rendell."
Action 1: “Should we tell them what I really have or stall them?” Kamiya responded almost immediately, "Stall them." The lashunta turned to Thyx and Robert and made her suggestion, "Can you ask the voice what he's looking for on the manifest? Tell it that it's so you can get them the information they require faster than bringing them the manifest. That way we may be able to find out what they're looking for." Action 2: Kamiya patted Kip on the arm, although she was of a height that she could pat her on the head if she wasn't careful, "Good plan, Kip. It would make sense that the cadet tried to chase off the hobgars into the woods and then had an accident. Although it will be hard to disguise the bullet hole." Kamiya tried to remember what she'd read about the planet to see if she could recall larger animals that may attack humans. Possibly ones that could maul a person in order to cover up the bullet hole.
Action 1: Kamiya held up her hands and said gently, "Of course it wasn't your fault. How about you put the gun down so it doesn't accidentally go off again and we'll figure this out. We have no intention on alerting anyone to what's happened so you're safe for the time being." She gave a comforting smile, "This kind of thing can be quite traumatic. Do you want to sit down?" Action 2: Since Robert was the only one of them that knew Azlanti and was human, Kamiya was about to suggest that he respond directly when the message came over the comm when Thyx took it and strapped it on. She was paralyzed by surprise for a few moments while Thyx tried to mimic phonetically what Robert was saying. Finally she said in a forced whisper, "Wouldn't it be easier if Robert replied directly into the comm?" Then she looked at Rendell, "How can I help with the manifest? Is there a reason we shouldn't provide them with one? Even a false one?"
Action 1: Shocked, Kip said, "The Doctor might not want to help? What kind of a doctor is she?! Even if she won't take up arms, she'll still help heal our hurts, won't she?" She was used to doctors being neutral and sacred, and the idea of a physician not helping was foreign to her. Kamiya frowned, "I agree with Kip. A healer should do their job regardless of their personal beliefs. Don't they have to take an oath or something?" She sighed, "But it's not like we can coerce her either into helping us. It's sad really." But all this talk about healers reminded the lashunta that she still carried a healing serum. Fat lot of good it did them when there were five of them and four were hurt but it was better than nothing. Considering she wasn't the worst off of their group, she couldn't in all good conscience keep it for herself while others suffered. She went over to Thyx while he was checking his weapons and pulled the healing serum out of her bag. Kamiya handed it over to the android, "You seem to be the worst off of us all. The Captain isn't much better off but I'm hoping that with the retrofitted armour that he'll have a better chance at staying on his feet."
Kip nodded enthusiastically. "That would be good! Captain needs his armour. How long will that take?" Kamiya nodded, "Agreed. Even if it takes some time, I think that it's necessary to make sure Sig doesn't get more hurt than he already is." Action 2: Kamiya crept along with the others as they made their way to the storehouse. She cautiously moved through the door into the storehouse and was immediately on alert when she spotted someone dressed in Azlanti armour who was obviously armed. The lashunta couldn't help but think that this cadet was poorly trained in comparison to the cadet's they had encountered in the woods. Remembering Aibretta's words about Rendell doing something reckless, she can't help wonder if it might be him before them. Immediately she begins to probe its mind to see if she could determine if she was dealing with an Azlanti or a colonist in disguise.
Action 1: Kamiya recognized that there was some disappointment from Aibretta's at their hesitation, "I hope you can understand that there is huge risk for us given the numbers, especially in our current situation where quite a few of us are hurt. It's not that we have forgotten about what Cedona has done for us but we are of no help to her if we're dead or dying. I think the fact that we are thinking rationally rather than acting rashly should be applauded, especially when we're outnumbered five to one." The lashunta listened carefully to the mechanic's outline of how best to start the resistance against the Azlanti. "That is a good place to start. However, may I suggest that we see the doc first as suggested?" Action 2: Kamiya studied the map as Aibretta pointed to the different locations and summarized how each location could hobble the Azlanti and their efforts. "Each place has its pros and cons. Personally, I suggest that we leave the hobgars for last because there is no guarantee that they will just affect the Azlanti systems and they can be pesky creatures." Not sure if the Captain wanted his position known to those planet-side, Kamiya continued using his name which felt odd, "However, I think Kip and Sig have the right of it, we need to get whatever supplies we can to better shore up our own position and weaken theirs." She turned her head towards the mechanic, "Would armour be kept in the storehouse as well or would it be elsewhere?"
Action 1: “So, why are you here?” Kamiya chuckled at the woman's eagerness brought on by curiosity, "Believe it or not, we're here to see an old friend. We had no idea that Nakondis had been invaded. We came to see Cedona. After a couple of encounters with Azlanti, we literally ran into Jellik and he brought us here. Considering everything we're up against here, it would very helpful if we could get more specifics and fill-in some of the gaps in Jellik's information. Maps would help as well as an accurate count of the enemy as well as a list of the assets available, including medical aide for us as my crew member has kindly pointed out." The lashunta looked around Aibretta's home with interest, "You have a beautiful home. How difficult is it to see other people within Madelon's Landing? Would Cedona be allowed here to visit you? And by you, us?" Action 2: “Will you help us liberate Madelon's Landing from the Azlanti occupation?” Kamiya looked around at the others. As far as she was concerned, she owed Cedona and so was willing to help because of her but she wasn't about to speak for them all. She is surprised and a little taken aback by Jellik's response to his ex-wife's request. She studied his face for a moment and then Aibretta's, trying to figure out why the man was so jittery and somewhat hesitant to have them help while she was a little too eager.
Finally Kamiya spoke, "I can't speak for everyone but I'm willing to help since this is Cedona's home. When would we be able to see her?"
"Next; who sees a vulnerability we can tie into a plan?" Kamiya smiled at the man apologetically, "Any detail, no matter how small, could be important in us helping the others. As you can see, Mags is very thorough." The lashunta cocked her head to the side, "Out of curiosity, how did you escape? If it was using a weakness in the Azlanti security then maybe we can make use of it ourselves to gain access."
Kamiya's antennae flicked around as if agitated at the mention of Cedona being held prisoner. So far this supply run wasn't turning out as planned at all. Were they even remotely equipped to take back an entire planet held hostage? The envoy's voice was sympathetic as she responded to what the man had shared, "That sounds like quite the ordeal. You were very brave to escape when you could. May I ask where you were planning on running to once you escaped? Is there somewhere on this planet where we can find additional help to overthrow the Azlanti?" She glanced around at the rest of their crew suspecting that they too felt the need to help Cedona and the rest of the colonists, "And who have we had the pleasure of meeting here in the woods? In all the excitement, I never caught your name, sir."
Kamiya was almost horrified that the others in her crew were practically interrogating the frightened man rather than speaking with him. Luckily she kept her face properly schooled as she stepped forward to greet the man properly. With a friendly smile she said, "I'm sure that this has been quite the ordeal for you. We are all fortunate indeed to have met in such dire circumstances, you being chased and us being somewhat lost. My name is Kamiya and we are looking for an old friend. Perhaps she is with your ex-wife? Is that who is in charge of the colonists that are still here?"
She reached out to touch the man's arm comfortingly, "Maybe we can talk while we walk. The sooner we get out of the open, the better, don't you agree?" The lashunta didn't want to bring up the fact that they were carrying supplies on their ship until she knew a bit more about what was going on. "Those cadets appeared to be Azlanti. Has Nakondis been invaded?"
Kamiya cursed quietly under her breath as she realized that the cadet had shaken off her attempt to cloud their mind because she knew she couldn't try again. The pilot couldn't throw a grenade since her crew was closing in on the last cadet so she went on full defensive and retrieved her healing serum in case someone needed it. The lashunta heard Thyx ask about the fugitive that had nearly run them down and so she took a moment to look around to see if she could find him or if he had run off.
Round 4: Kamiya kept advancing through the brush. She broke cover briefly as she ran over to the cadet who had just fallen, ready to use its body as a shield should she be shot at.
Seeing the remaining cadet take a shot at the Captain, the lashunta focused her mental energy on the remaining cadet and transmitted a picture of fog into its mind. [ooc]Daze, DC15[/dice]
Round 3: Kamiya looked up at Thyx and nodded. She started moving forward through the brush, pushing aside a branch as she went. She groaned as the movement reminded her of her recklessness, "Don't worry, lesson learned." She continued to move forward as quickly as possible while remaining under cover.
Round 2: Kamiya gasped as she was pierced by a bullet. It hurt a heck of a lot more than road rash. Knowing that she couldn't stay out in the open, she dove into the bush. As she tried to put pressure on her wound, her antennae twitched as she sought to daze the cadet closest to her.
Round 1: Kamiya's years of supposed recklessness as TortAce caused her to do something risky before the firefight started and bullets began flying everywhere. The lashunta dashed out of her cover and ran forward. As she ran she pulled the pin in the frag grenade she was holding and then launched it at the closest two cadets.
Action 1: Kamiya watched the hobgars scamper into the woods and can't help but involuntarily shudder at the thought of what they could do to Honu should they come across him. She hoped that they had landed far enough away from any hobgar habitat so that that didn't happen. Action 2: Kamiya skidded to a surprised stop as the stranger almost crashed into them. He seemed quite panicked and she had her doubts as to whether he'd be able to coherently answer the Captain. She found it odd that he never questioned their presence in the forest. While the Captain tried to get verbal answers out of the man, the lashunta tried to detect the man's thoughts. She expected them to be scattered but hoped that she'd be able to tease some info out of the man's head that would help them face this new threat. As she focused on the man's thoughts, she lowered herself into some foliage so that she wouldn't be readily visible and grabbed a grenade from her belt in case it was needed.
Kamiya was fairly certain that she wouldn't be able to use her abilities on the hobgars considering they weren't sentient. She tried to remember what she had read on the ship, trying to recall anything that may be of value to get the buggers to go away.
Not wanting to have to deal with a bunch of irate simians, Kamiya tried her best in posture and tone of voice to shoo the hobgars away.
She motioned at the Captain who had put on such a marvellous display moments before, "See if they'll respond to you if you motion for them to go away - but not menacingly." Her voice had a soothing quality but her demeanour was stern albeit non-threatening as she said, "I know that you can't understand a word I'm saying but you really need to back off and leave now. You can't have our batteries and you may be hurt if you don't comply." She clapped loudly to get their attention and pointed at the trees, "Now go away!"
Kamiya watched the creatures watch the Captain. The look of awe on their faces was quite the sight to see. Her face was a mixture of apprehension and fascination, ”These must be the hobgars that I read about. Under no circumstances can we lead them back to Honu. They would start gnawing on his wiring and bad things could happen.” She swatted away a roaming hand looking for anything electrical. ”I don’t see them going anywhere and after probing their minds, there’s nothing to be done to reason with them.”
Three down and one to go. Already having broken cover, Kamiya dashed forward and attempted to short circuit the brain of the last cadet. Even though its comrade had managed to shake off her psychic abilities, she hoped that this one wasn’t as strong.
Seeing the Captain drop and Robert hit by multiple bullets, Kamiya knew she had to do something. She freed one of the grenades from her belt and hoped that the cadets would be easily bluffed as she dashed out of her cover. She made for the cover where Thyx was pretending to draw their fire but at the last moment she pivoted, switched directions, and lobbed her grenade at the two cadets.
Kamiya’s antennae drooped a bit as she realized that the cadet had shaken off her attempt to stun it. Knowing that she wouldn’t be able to affect them again for awhile, and seeing both the Captain and Kip converge on the cadet closest to her, the lashunta knew that she would have to break cover to get closer to any of the other cadets. It’s not like she was about to throw a grenade with part of her crew so close and the others were too far away.
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