Heroica RPG 2.0 - Mission #0: Last Of Its Kind

[Classic_Spaceman]

2 hours ago, Endgame said:

"Aw crap, holo crystal is all scratched up." Bemoans the automaton. Indeed, the figure was a little blurry, his face obscured by the poor projector machine.


"Is this working? Are we good?"


"Yep, we can hear ya. Can't quite see ya, but it'll do, I guess..."


"Good, good, alright. Ahem - first, thank the six of you so much for dispatching on short notice. I'm Kyler Vannoy of GLESP. We simply had to rush! I fear we don't have all that much time to save the Sabrillo egg, and if this one slips through the cracks they truly might be gone forever..."

Anyone else feel like something's off about this mission? Tech glitches are common, but I've had a bad feeling from the start. <IRIS - I need visual data on GLESP activist Kyler Vannoy> <IRIS. . . > Dammit - Still not getting anything. 
Fine. 
Mr. Vannoy: What can you tell us about this "Cydonian Collective"? Our pilot droid. . . uh. . . Kayarr. . . mentioned that they have a few planets under their control - Do you know how many, and what the conditions are on their other occupied worlds? And about the egg: Why is it important - aside from being a nearly-extinct species? Who stole it, and why would they bring it to Gnorra? A planet under occupation isn't usually the best place to sell stolen goods. 
By the way, how did the Sabrillo go extinct - well, almost, anyway? 

 

58 minutes ago, samurai-turtle said:

/// I find stealth a waste of energy. I am quite capable of taking out multiple targets at once and at a relative good speed. 

Good for you. I think stealth's the way to go, though - At least until we know what we're up against. Also, if you're done with that pass, I'd like to take a look at it. 
 

Edited January 14, 2020 by Classic_Spaceman

[KotZ]

1 hour ago, samurai-turtle said:

/// I find stealth a waste of energy. I am quite capable of taking out multiple targets at once and at a relative good speed. 

 

/// Being an egg, the creature could be a reptile, fish, amphibian or an insect in nature. Not mention something not in my memory banks. 

"I am quite sure you are capable, war bot. But sometimes stealth is a necessary deal. As for the egg, that is quite possible. I merely have an interest in birds, being Ornithun and all."

40 minutes ago, Kintobor said:

Dunola raised an eyebrow at the Ornithun, remembering their sensitive noses. "Eh, fine, I suppose I can refrain smoking in here. Name's Dunola, Clan Matar. At your service." Dunola, nods.

"Thank you," Kleeck replied with a bow of his long neck.

[Endgame]

1 hour ago, samurai-turtle said:

Tester-Three "eyes" started to swish faster than normal as scan the Landing Pass making a temporary file in it memory banks. 

/// Will I need to have a physical copy or will a virtual copy work?

"It'd be smart to hold onto both, I think."

1 hour ago, Goliath said:

Intrigued and baffled by the hologram, Igaz cannot help himself but swipe his hand through it.  It is like the man is there but not actually there.

"It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance Mr. Vannoy, I am Igaz.  Exactly what is a Sabrillo?  I am not familiar with this species."

As the undead cyborg runs his hands through the hologram, particles of blue light scatter like scared fireflies. Vannoy doesn't react, seemingly unable to tell his hologram was being interfered with. Shoddy technology indeed.

"Nice to meet you, Igaz. As for what Sabrillos are - well, were - well, are going to be, assuming you succeed... Have a look."

The hologram of Kyler steps to the side, and a new figure emerges. Made of green and yellow light, it was a peculiar reptile, with two long snakey appendages and a large beak. The depiction wasn't perfect, likely due to the nonexistence of a living specimen.

"I fear it is not avian, as the Ornithun asked, but moreso a reptile. Of course, you will instead be looking for its egg; it's a large, darkly colored thing, with a tough shell. About the size of a head. Ah, human head, that is." Kyler notes, mentally going through both the species he knew and the species in the party. It was an eclectic bunch he had hired.
 

33 minutes ago, Lord Duvors said:

Enson seemed to be about to say something to Kleeck before he was interrupted by the incoming call. Resigning himself to the situation he rose from his seat and followed the others down.

Enson bowed to the projection respectfully. "it is good to meet you Mr. Vannoy," he said, "my name is Ensonvilterayquis (or Enson if you prefer) and these are my companions; Kleeck, Dunola, Tester Three, Yelana Fennix and I see Igaz has already introduced himself."

He waited for the man to answer Igaz's question before speaking up again. "Can you perhaps give us the name and appearance of the thief we are to find? I'm afraid the document we received did not contain as much detail as one might need."

"Well met, Ensonvi... Ensonvil... Enson," he says, the man's tongue unable to twist around the name. "And I apologize if the note I left your organization was vague. I admit I panicked at first and rushed to find assistance... After all, GLESP has never really had a specimen stolen before, let alone taken by one of our own! But, yes, the man you will be looking for:"

Kyler's hologram steps to the opposite side, and the simulated Sabrillo disappears, to be replaced by a rugged looking humanoid alien.

"This is Jek Flakko, once an employee of GLESP, and now, sadly, a thief of GLESP. I honestly don't know what possessed him to take it - obviously, since he is auctioning it of on Gnorra, he must want the Credits - but he was such a fine worker! By the time security realized he was taking the egg and not just transporting it elsewhere in the facility, they only managed to get a tracker on his ship. The tracker went all the way to Gnorra before we lost signal."

31 minutes ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

Mr. Vannoy: What can you tell us about this "Cydonian Collective"? Our pilot droid. . . uh. . . Kayarr. . . mentioned that they have a few planets under their control - Do you know how many, and what the conditions are on their other occupied worlds? And about the egg: Why is it important - aside from being a nearly-extinct species? Who stole it, and why would they bring it to Gnorra? A planet under occupation isn't usually the best place to sell stolen goods. 
By the way, how did the Sabrillo go extinct - well, almost, anyway?

"The Cydonian Collective," begins the hologram of Vannoy, seemingly choosing his words carefully. "I happen to not be a huge fan of them. They have about a dozen planets under their control, as far as I am aware. And with Gnorra now under their occupation, I suppose its a baker's dozen now. That number has been rising, rising, rising... It has come as something of a shock, really. Just four or five deca-cycles ago, Cydonia was a rather self-isolated planet. And now look at them, scooping up worlds left and right. I've never crossed paths with them during my work with GLESP, but a few of our workers actually hail from planets under their occupation."

"Jek actually happens to be one such individual. My understanding is is that he was raised on Gnorra; I imagine he returned there because he has ties there, knowledge of some channel that he can sell the Sabrillo egg on."

Although the facial hologram on Kyler was shoddy, you can see that he was biting his lip when it came to the subject of the Sabrillo.

"The Sabrillo was hunted to extinction. Hunted to extinction because it happened to be, well, unfathomably delicious. Their eggs, even moreso. They became the trendiest dish to eat across half the Outer Rim. I will confess when I was a young boy, before I even knew of GLESP, I had a Sabrillo omelette once, and, well... by the stars, it is still the greatest thing I've tasted. Immensely shameful, now that I know what has become of them, but the flavor...

Ahem. That is why I am so panicked. I fear that not long after Jek auctions off the egg, it is going to end up as someone's meal. I can imagine some upper crust or crime boss serving it up as some, some status symbol, not even caring about that poor species - hmph! Makes me sick."

[KotZ]

"Ah!" Kleeck exclaimed. "A reptilian and not avian. Fascinating. I wondered based off the name if it was related to the Sabrithinius class of flightless avians. Fascinating it's a reptile. Culturally, that is interesting as a delicacy. Now, I have some questions for you, good sir. Why was the egg in the hands of Jek in the facility being transported. Also, how did GLESP manage to gain possession of this rare egg? I understand your organization's mission, but am curious to know how you recieved it."

[samurai-turtle]

1 hour ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

Good for you. I think stealth's the way to go, though - At least until we know what we're up against. 

1 hour ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

34 minutes ago, Endgame said:

 

 

 

 

22 minutes ago, KotZ said:

"I am quite sure you are capable, war bot. But sometimes stealth is a necessary deal. As for the egg, that is quite possible. I merely have an interest in birds, being Ornithun and all."

/// By your command, I will attempt stealth. 

22 minutes ago, Endgame said:

"It'd be smart to hold onto both, I think."

/// Understood. 

1 hour ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

Also, if you're done with that pass, I'd like to take a look at it. 

/// If you have appropriate pockets you should hold on to the Landing Pass. 

36 minutes ago, Endgame said:

The Sabrillo was hunted to extinction. Hunted to extinction because it happened to be, well, unfathomably delicious. Their eggs, even moreso. They became the trendiest dish to eat across half the Outer Rim. I will confess when I was a young boy, before I even knew of GLESP, I had a Sabrillo omelette once, and, well... by the stars, it is still the greatest thing I've tasted. Immensely shameful, now that I know what has become of them, but the flavor...

Ahem. That is why I am so panicked. I fear that not long after Jek auctions off the egg, it is going to end up as someone's meal. I can imagine some upper crust or crime boss serving it up as some, some status symbol, not even caring about that poor species - hmph! Makes me sick."

/// Is their cloning facilities on the planet? If the creature is as tasty as you claim, a possibility is to try to clone it to make a ton of money. 

OoC:

Sorry for the odd quoting. I am doing this on my phone and I am not sure how to delete it.

 

[Yzalirk]

As the hologram of the Sabrillo appears, Igaz appears to be confused.  At least as much as his undead face can express.  He has never seen a reptile with such unique features.

"Cute."

He proceeds to listen to Kyler Vannoy speak, absorbing all the information he is giving.  Learning that this Sabrillo is the last of its kind makes him sad inside.

"Exactly how do you know this Sabrillo, assuming it hatches, is the last of its kind?  And assuming we can take it back, what then?  It seems like it will become the loneliest creature."

Igaz sighs.  Just the thought of this creature's future being possibly the loneliest bothers him but he tries not to show it.

"Tell me more about this Jek Flakko character.  What exactly is he?  Are there others like him on Gnorra?"

[Endgame]

1 hour ago, KotZ said:

"Ah!" Kleeck exclaimed. "A reptilian and not avian. Fascinating. I wondered based off the name if it was related to the Sabrithinius class of flightless avians. Fascinating it's a reptile. Culturally, that is interesting as a delicacy. Now, I have some questions for you, good sir. Why was the egg in the hands of Jek in the facility being transported. Also, how did GLESP manage to gain possession of this rare egg? I understand your organization's mission, but am curious to know how you recieved it."

"Ah, no, not a Sabrithinius, but we happen to shelter many organisms of that class at our headquarters. You're welcome to stop by if you're curious! We have a newsletter." Seems like Vannoy wasn't above a little self promotion.

"Jek was hired to be a 'stable-hand', so to speak. To clean out animal habitats and maintain equipment. To that end, him transporting the egg's incubator unit through the facility was normal behavior. In fact, it seemed he was en route with it to our lab when he suddenly bolted, diverting course and stealing the Sabrillo egg. We really ought to invest in more security...

GLESP dispatched a few volunteers to an old Sabrillo nesting ground on Yandral, which happens to be a very, very cold planet in places. The coldest the Sabrillo was ever recorded living on. And trapped in the permafrost, frozen away, was a lone Sabrillo egg. It was... Well, or lack of a better word, it was a miracle. Nature preserved one for us. But now, we've experienced something of a reversal of fortune."

1 hour ago, samurai-turtle said:

 

// Is their cloning facilities on the planet? If the creature is as tasty as you claim, a possibility is to try to clone it to make a ton of money.

"That's something I can't confirm or deny. Honestly, though, cloning is such a finicky process. the lab boys at GLESP have looked into it before, and I couldn't understand half the science they were throwing my way, but it boiled down to 'cloning anything is hard, and when you try to clone a non-human you have to reinvent the process from scratch.' So yes, there's that. Even if there was a cloning facility, I imagine the Cydonian Collective would have something to say about it..."

55 minutes ago, Goliath said:

He proceeds to listen to Kyler Vannoy speak, absorbing all the information he is giving.  Learning that this Sabrillo is the last of its kind makes him sad inside.

"Exactly how do you know this Sabrillo, assuming it hatches, is the last of its kind?  And assuming we can take it back, what then?  It seems like it will become the loneliest creature."

Igaz sighs.  Just the thought of this creature's future being possibly the loneliest bothers him but he tries not to show it.

"Tell me more about this Jek Flakko character.  What exactly is he?  Are there others like him on Gnorra?"

"When we live in a pond as large as the cosmos, there is no way of saying anything is really, truly gone. Maybe there's some uncharted planet teeming with Sabrillos. But... This egg is the first recorded sighting in many, many cycles."

Vannoy's voice gets more serious as he discusses the creature's future, and he looks down at his feet. "It is unfortunate. Yes, it would be alone. But it would be given comfort and care, and hopefully be content enough. And we will try to record as much info about it as possible, both research data and genetic info, in hopes of passing it on to the future, so it is at the very least remembered. As something other than a delicacy." The annoyance was back in his voice there, for a bit.

"Jek is a Fangreak. Tall, blue carapace, darker blue forehead plate, red eyes. I don't believe there's too many of them on Gnorra, to be honest, so if you do find him he should be easy enough to pick out of a crowd."

[Yzalirk]

4 minutes ago, Endgame said:

"Jek is a Fangreak. Tall, blue carapace, darker blue forehead plate, red eyes. I don't believe there's too many of them on Gnorra, to be honest, so if you do find him he should be easy enough to pick out of a crowd."

"Good."

Igaz then diverts his attention to Kayarr.

"Kayarr, how much longer until we arrive at Haurbo Spaceport?"

[Classic_Spaceman]

2 hours ago, Endgame said:

Kyler's hologram steps to the opposite side, and the simulated Sabrillo disappears, to be replaced by a rugged looking humanoid alien.

"This is Jek Flakko, once an employee of GLESP, and now, sadly, a thief of GLESP. I honestly don't know what possessed him to take it - obviously, since he is auctioning it of on Gnorra, he must want the Credits - but he was such a fine worker! By the time security realized he was taking the egg and not just transporting it elsewhere in the facility, they only managed to get a tracker on his ship. The tracker went all the way to Gnorra before we lost signal."

You’re assuming that he plans to sell the egg, though - The only actual intel you have is that he took the egg to Gnorra. He may have other plans for it. 
What was the natural habitat for the Sabrillo? Anything like Gnorra - Or Cydonia, for that matter? It's reptilian, but it looks like it can move through water, and, according to our database, Gnorra’s surface is mostly water. 
 

2 hours ago, Endgame said:

"The Cydonian Collective," begins the hologram of Vannoy, seemingly choosing his words carefully. "I happen to not be a huge fan of them. They have about a dozen planets under their control, as far as I am aware. And with Gnorra now under their occupation, I suppose its a baker's dozen now. That number has been rising, rising, rising... It has come as something of a shock, really. Just four or five deca-cycles ago, Cydonia was a rather self-isolated planet. And now look at them, scooping up worlds left and right. I've never crossed paths with them during my work with GLESP, but a few of our workers actually hail from planets under their occupation."

Interesting. How is Cydonia maintaining control over such a large territory? It can’t be outright conquest, since their military forces would be overstretched, so it must be something else. 
 

1 hour ago, samurai-turtle said:

/// By your command, I will attempt stealth. 

/// Is their cloning facilities on the planet? If the creature is as tasty as you claim, a possibility is to try to clone it to make a ton of money. 

Good - And nice thinking, Toaster! I was wondering how the species could ever be repopulated from just one egg. If Jek really is as devoted to GLESP as Vannoy thought he was, he may be trying to save the Sabrillo through cloning. 
 

1 hour ago, samurai-turtle said:

/// If you have appropriate pockets you should hold on to the Landing Pass. 

You can keep it - I just want a closer look at the sigil. We might be able to tell something about Cydonia and its intents from the design. I’ve not done this without access to IRIS, though, so I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to discern. 

 

OoC: Underlined text indicates action. @samurai-turtle can keep the Landing Pass, since I will be a bit busy tomorrow, and I do not want my potential unavailability to hamper the party’s progress. 

[KotZ]

9 minutes ago, Endgame said:

"Ah, no, not a Sabrithinius, but we happen to shelter many organisms of that class at our headquarters. You're welcome to stop by if you're curious! We have a newsletter." Seems like Vannoy wasn't above a little self promotion.

"Jek was hired to be a 'stable-hand', so to speak. To clean out animal habitats and maintain equipment. To that end, him transporting the egg's incubator unit through the facility was normal behavior. In fact, it seemed he was en route with it to our lab when he suddenly bolted, diverting course and stealing the Sabrillo egg. We really ought to invest in more security...

GLESP dispatched a few volunteers to an old Sabrillo nesting ground on Yandral, which happens to be a very, very cold planet in places. The coldest the Sabrillo was ever recorded living on. And trapped in the permafrost, frozen away, was a lone Sabrillo egg. It was... Well, or lack of a better word, it was a miracle. Nature preserved one for us. But now, we've experienced something of a reversal of fortune."

"Oh you do?" Kleeck said, almost squealing in delight. "They are such astounding creatures, the Sabrithinii. And you should invest in security. Old Ones forbid there is a breakout of creatures in a park or lab."

Kleeck then leaned forward, keen on the discussion. "On Yandral? The egg survived such extreme temperatures? That's one hardy creature."

Quote

"When we live in a pond as large as the cosmos, there is no way of saying anything is really, truly gone. Maybe there's some uncharted planet teeming with Sabrillos. But... This egg is the first recorded sighting in many, many cycles."

Vannoy's voice gets more serious as he discusses the creature's future, and he looks down at his feet. "It is unfortunate. Yes, it would be alone. But it would be given comfort and care, and hopefully be content enough. And we will try to record as much info about it as possible, both research data and genetic info, in hopes of passing it on to the future, so it is at the very least remembered. As something other than a delicacy." The annoyance was back in his voice there, for a bit.

"Jek is a Fangreak. Tall, blue carapace, darker blue forehead plate, red eyes. I don't believe there's too many of them on Gnorra, to be honest, so if you do find him he should be easy enough to pick out of a crowd."

"As others have said, cloning could be a great way to jumpstart the species. Of course, there comes the ethical debates, and inbreeding debates. Many cultures actually despise cloning. The Fandian people actually have a word for clones, 'Githar," which coincidentally also means 'scum.' Fascinating, cultures and the variety of them are, no?"

Kleeck then went back to the task at hand. "A Fangreak would surely stand out, as don't they mostly reside on their homeworld and nearby systems?"

[Classic_Spaceman]

13 minutes ago, Endgame said:

"That's something I can't confirm or deny. Honestly, though, cloning is such a finicky process. the lab boys at GLESP have looked into it before, and I couldn't understand half the science they were throwing my way, but it boiled down to 'cloning anything is hard, and when you try to clone a non-human you have to reinvent the process from scratch.' So yes, there's that. Even if there was a cloning facility, I imagine the Cydonian Collective would have something to say about it..."

So, cloning is a possibility. As for the Cydonians, Jek could have worked out a deal - In exchange for allowing him to use Gnorra’s cloning facilities to preserve the Sabrillo, some of the clones produced would be turned over to the Cydonian Collective for their. . . own purposes. 
 

3 minutes ago, KotZ said:

"As others have said, cloning could be a great way to jumpstart the species. Of course, there comes the ethical debates, and inbreeding debates. Many cultures actually despise cloning."

I doubt that people who’d regard an endangered species to be a delicacy are concerned about the ethical implications of cloning - Particularly if it guarantees them a steady supply of that species. 
 

[KotZ]

9 minutes ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

So, cloning is a possibility. As for the Cydonians, Jek could have worked out a deal - In exchange for allowing him to use Gnorra’s cloning facilities to preserve the Sabrillo, some of the clones produced would be turned over to the Cydonian Collective for their. . . own purposes. 
 

I doubt that people who’d regard an endangered species to be a delicacy are concerned about the ethical implications of cloning - Particularly if it guarantees them a steady supply of that species. 
 

“Oh, I agree with you, my friend. They specifically may not care, but various organizations in different sectors may care about cloning.”

[Classic_Spaceman]

Just now, KotZ said:

“Oh, I agree with you, my friend. They specifically may not care, but various organizations in different sectors may care about cloning.”

Which could be exactly why Jek came specifically to Gnorra. Moreover, since GLESP already considered cloning, they clearly don’t have any qualms about it, at least when it comes to preserving endangered animals. 
 

[Endgame]

14 minutes ago, Goliath said:

"Kayarr, how much longer until we arrive at Haurbo Spaceport?"

The space pilot was staring off into space, seemingly uninterested in the fate of some delicious organic being. (After all, Kayarr had no sense of taste.) However, he snaps to attention.

"I'd say about twenty minutes, roger roger. As soon as you guys are done talking to Kyler the landing sequence will begin, if I had to guess."

17 minutes ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

You’re assuming that he plans to sell the egg, though - The only actual intel you have is that he took the egg to Gnorra. He may have other plans for it. 
What was the natural habitat for the Sabrillo? Anything like Gnorra - Or Cydonia, for that matter? It's reptilian, but it looks like it can move through water, and, according to our database, Gnorra’s surface is mostly water. 
 

Interesting. How is Cydonia maintaining control over such a large territory? It can’t be outright conquest, since their military forces would be overstretched, so it must be something else.

"It's not an assumption, I'm afraid. After the egg went missing, I kept my ear on transmissions from the planet, and sprinkled in between news and outrage over the occupation, I heard rumors of something called the Umbra Auction, with a "rare egg" supposedly on the auction list. I think the Umbra Auction is something of an old tradition that endures, despite the government trying to stomp it out."

"Sounds seedy, makes sense why people would try to get rid of it. And seeing as our good pal Jek is a native Gnorran, he might just have ties to it."

"Precisely.

The Sabrillo lives in largely temperate climates, and is an exceptionally poor swimmer, believe it or not. It sinks like a rock.

As for how the Cydonians do it... I'm a chairman at GLESP, not a general or a politician. But they strike me as the "speak softly and carry a large plasma baton" type. Keep your head down and try not to stir the pot is my advice."

21 minutes ago, KotZ said:

Kleeck then leaned forward, keen on the discussion. "On Yandral? The egg survived such extreme temperatures? That's one hardy creature."

"As others have said, cloning could be a great way to jumpstart the species. Of course, there comes the ethical debates, and inbreeding debates. Many cultures actually despise cloning. The Fandian people actually have a word for clones, 'Githar," which coincidentally also means 'scum.' Fascinating, cultures and the variety of them are, no?"

Kleeck then went back to the task at hand. "A Fangreak would surely stand out, as don't they mostly reside on their homeworld and nearby systems?"

"Hardy indeed. They had almost all the tools needed to thrive, if they weren't so delectable.

I've sat through many an office debate at GLESP over cloning. I'm still mixed on it, personally...

I unfortunately don't know a lot about Fangreaks. Jek wasn't the talkative sort and shared little. And all I know about Gnorra is the transmissions I listened to trying to get a hint as to what happened to the poor egg. That being said, I didn't feel comfortable delving into the criminal underworld of an occupied planet, so... I had to call in help."

"Any last questions for me? By the sounds of things you're almost to your destination."

[Yzalirk]

3 minutes ago, Endgame said:

"Any last questions for me? By the sounds of things you're almost to your destination."

"Yes.  What did Jek's ship look like?  Perhaps we may be able to find clues there."

[Classic_Spaceman]

2 minutes ago, Endgame said:

"It's not an assumption, I'm afraid. After the egg went missing, I kept my ear on transmissions from the planet, and sprinkled in between news and outrage over the occupation, I heard rumors of something called the Umbra Auction, with a "rare egg" supposedly on the auction list. I think the Umbra Auction is something of an old tradition that endures, despite the government trying to stomp it out."

Wait - What outrage?? Is there some kind of internal conflict going on? 
Also, is there any reason why we shouldn’t contact local authorities about this “Umbra Auction”? If they really want it shut down, they may be willing to work with us. 
 

8 minutes ago, Endgame said:

"As for how the Cydonians do it... I'm a chairman at GLESP, not a general or a politician. But they strike me as the "speak softly and carry a large plasma baton" type. Keep your head down and try not to stir the pot is my advice."

It’s been difficult without IRIS, but I’ve been examining the sigil, and. . . I hope this makes sense - It seems to suggest that the Cydonians think of themselves as benevolent overlords, or even some kind of divine figures or representatives! The sigil looks like five circles, possibly representing planets, with one as the ‘leader’, in a cloud - that, or it’s a person with their arms out - and with rays of light shining down.
Does this match anything you know about Cydonia? Perhaps the Cydonian System has five planets, with one being the capital? 
If Cydonia is a theocracy with a state religion, that would explain both the mentioned outrage and how they can maintain control over their territory. 
 

[Endgame]

52 minutes ago, Goliath said:

"Yes.  What did Jek's ship look like?  Perhaps we may be able to find clues there."

Kyler pauses, racking his brain.

"Aw, dammit, I had it written down here somewhere..." he says as his hologram searches an off-"camera" desk. "Small, single cockpit, two wings, four main thrusters, yellow paint job..."

"The E-11 Dart?"

"Yes, that's it! How did you...?"


"I'm a pilot droid, I know a ship or two." The droid ambles over to a monitor on the wall opposite to the projector, and turns it on, displaying an image.

"Looks a little bit like this. Honestly, I kinda hate it. The E-11 is a consumer version of a lightweight combat ship. So they basically took off the guns, cut the engine power and half, and people gobbled it up. The E-10 Combat Dart is a much better ship... If you see Jek's E-11 Dart, do me a favor and give it a good solid kick in the tail pipe for being a crappy ship."

31 minutes ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

Wait - What outrage?? Is there some kind of internal conflict going on? 
Also, is there any reason why we shouldn’t contact local authorities about this “Umbra Auction”? If they really want it shut down, they may be willing to work with us. 
 

It’s been difficult without IRIS, but I’ve been examining the sigil, and. . . I hope this makes sense - It seems to suggest that the Cydonians think of themselves as benevolent overlords, or even some kind of divine figures or representatives! The sigil looks like five circles, possibly representing planets, with one as the ‘leader’, in a cloud - that, or it’s a person with their arms out - and with rays of light shining down.
Does this match anything you know about Cydonia? Perhaps the Cydonian System has five planets, with one being the capital? 
If Cydonia is a theocracy with a state religion, that would explain both the mentioned outrage and how they can maintain control over their territory. 
 

"Their old government got put in the back seat, I am sure there are some outspoken activists who are unhappy. Just how it works, I guess?

And that is definitely one interpretation. The sigil obviously must have some meaning, given the design, but I have no clue what. To be honest, you've exhausted everything I know about Gnorra and the Cydonians. That being said, any final questions?"

Mission Master Note: Expect to land tomorrow, but feel free to keep asking questions/roleplaying - just know that they might not have all the answers by now.

Edited January 14, 2020 by Endgame

[Yzalirk]

Igaz studies the ship on the monitor and listens to what Kyler and Kayarr have to say.  He actually likes the idea of sabotaging the ship.

"Heh, not a bad idea Kayarr.  Consider it a contingency plan in case Jek tries to leave."

"Thank you both.  This information is very much appreciated."

[samurai-turtle]

3 hours ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

You can keep it - I just want a closer look at the sigil. We might be able to tell something about Cydonia and its intents from the design. I’ve not done this without access to IRIS, though, so I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to discern. 

/// Affirmative, if anyone else wants to hold on to Landing Pass, be my guess I was not design to carry a lot of extra stuff. 

2 hours ago, Endgame said:

"I'd say about twenty minutes, roger roger. As soon as you guys are done talking to Kyler the landing sequence will begin, if I had to guess."

/// Be sure to get the Victor vector and Clarence clearance. 

2 hours ago, Endgame said:

 

"Looks a little bit like this. Honestly, I kinda hate it. The E-11 is a consumer version of a lightweight combat ship. So they basically took off the guns, cut the engine power and half, and people gobbled it up. The E-10 Combat Dart is a much better ship... If you see Jek's E-11 Dart, do me a favor and give it a good solid kick in the tail pipe for being a crappy ship."

Tester-Three makes a quick "mental picture" of what E-11 Dart looks like in his temporary file(s). 

59 minutes ago, Goliath said:

 

"Heh, not a bad idea Kayarr.  Consider it a contingency plan in case Jek tries to leave."

/// I can rig the vessel to blow up, but that might not consider very stealthy. 

[Duvors]

6 hours ago, Endgame said:

"Looks a little bit like this. Honestly, I kinda hate it. The E-11 is a consumer version of a lightweight combat ship. So they basically took off the guns, cut the engine power and half, and people gobbled it up. The E-10 Combat Dart is a much better ship... If you see Jek's E-11 Dart, do me a favor and give it a good solid kick in the tail pipe for being a crappy ship."

Enson nodded to the pilot. "I will remember to do so given the opportunity." he said without the slightest hint of levity.

4 hours ago, samurai-turtle said:

/// Affirmative, if anyone else wants to hold on to Landing Pass, be my guess I was not design to carry a lot of extra stuff. 

"I will take it if no-one else minds." said Enson, holding out his hand for the pass as he spoke.

Enson will accept the Landing Pass.

[Kintobor]

Dunola takes in the information being told, before jumping in.

10 hours ago, Endgame said:

"It's not an assumption, I'm afraid. After the egg went missing, I kept my ear on transmissions from the planet, and sprinkled in between news and outrage over the occupation, I heard rumors of something called the Umbra Auction, with a "rare egg" supposedly on the auction list. I think the Umbra Auction is something of an old tradition that endures, despite the government trying to stomp it out."

"Sounds seedy, makes sense why people would try to get rid of it. And seeing as our good pal Jek is a native Gnorran, he might just have ties to it."

“ What other kind of... er, goods are being auctioned off? You said you have a list of the items being entered into the auction? Perhaps knowing what other items are being auctioned off will give us some insight as to what kind of criminal element we can expect.”

[KotZ]

2 hours ago, Kintobor said:

Dunola takes in the information being told, before jumping in.

“ What other kind of... er, goods are being auctioned off? You said you have a list of the items being entered into the auction? Perhaps knowing what other items are being auctioned off will give us some insight as to what kind of criminal element we can expect.”

"Perhaps some spectacles or paintings, will be there. Although I have serious doubts those are the items that will be sold at this auction." Kleeck then checked his bank account. "I do have 60 credits, so perhaps I can purchase the egg and we get this done before any blood is spilled."

[Yzalirk]

10 hours ago, samurai-turtle said:

/// I can rig the vessel to blow up, but that might not consider very stealthy. 

"Heh, I like the way you think but we should probably just disable the engines.  Maybe remove some of the internals.  We should not draw attention."

28 minutes ago, KotZ said:

"Perhaps some spectacles or paintings, will be there. Although I have serious doubts those are the items that will be sold at this auction." Kleeck then checked his bank account. "I do have 60 credits, so perhaps I can purchase the egg and we get this done before any blood is spilled."

"Hopefully we can get the egg before then.  I can only imagine how expensive it will be.  We may not be able to afford it even if we pooled our Credits together.  We might be forced to take other actions."

[samurai-turtle]

7 hours ago, Lord Duvors said:

"I will take it if no-one else minds." said Enson, holding out his hand for the pass as he spoke.

Enson will accept the Landing Pass.

/// It is yours. 

Giving the Landing Pass to Enson. 

1 hour ago, Goliath said:

"Heh, I like the way you think but we should probably just disable the engines.  Maybe remove some of the internals.  We should not draw attention

/// Yanking out enough wires form the vessel should disable said vessel and get desired results. 

 

2 hours ago, KotZ said:

"Perhaps some spectacles or paintings, will be there. Although I have serious doubts those are the items that will be sold at this auction." Kleeck then checked his bank account. "I do have 60 credits, so perhaps I can purchase the egg and we get this done before any blood is spilled."

 

1 hour ago, Goliath said:

"Hopefully we can get the egg before then.  I can only imagine how expensive it will be.  We may not be able to afford it even if we pooled our Credits together.  We might be forced to take other actions

/// Agreed, criminal types tend to have deep pockets. 

[Endgame]

4 hours ago, Kintobor said:

Dunola takes in the information being told, before jumping in.

“ What other kind of... er, goods are being auctioned off? You said you have a list of the items being entered into the auction? Perhaps knowing what other items are being auctioned off will give us some insight as to what kind of criminal element we can expect.”

"I heard whispers of some sort of ship, some sort of weapon, and something stolen from the occupational forces also on the list, but you never know... It is all rumor. But the fact that a rare egg is being auctioned off on the same planet Flakko went to is no coincidence.."

1 hour ago, Goliath said:

"Hopefully we can get the egg before then.  I can only imagine how expensive it will be.  We may not be able to afford it even if we pooled our Credits together.  We might be forced to take other actions."

"Whatever route you want to take that works, is fine with me. I would be wary about using the Cydonian authorities, though. You never know if they'll just apprehend, or even destroy, the contraband that they find."

"That being said, I wish you all the absolute best on your mission. Return safely, and I will contact you when you return to the Initium... hopefully with the egg in hand."

With that, the hologram blinks of out existence, and Kayarr begins to scoot back to the bridge.

"Let's get this rust bucket landed, now. I'm pretty sure I found all the right buttons, so here goes..."

The ship begins its descent, decelerating as it pierces atmosphere and swoops down towards a landing pad at the Haurbo Spaceport. The ship cuts through a layer of clouds and slows down, down, down, rumbling slightly as gravity takes hold over it once more. With a loud clunking noise, the landing gear is deployed, and the ship's engines slooowwwly cut out as it descends, jostling just a tiny bit as it lands.

A successful trip across space!

"See! Told you guys I could do it!" calls out the droid over the ship's intercom. "Let me drop the landing ramp for you, so you can step out..."

There is a mechanical whirr as the docking ramp sinks down, some brisk air rushing into the stuffy ship. Refreshing, if not a bit chilly. The sunlight leaking in indicated it still daytime on Gnorra. And sure enough, at the foot of the ramp was the first agent of the Cydonian Collective they would encounter.

Sturdy crimson armor and a matching crimson match did little to distract from the large photon pike on the soldier's back, nor the drawn blaster. At least the weapons weren't pointed at them yet, but it sent a message.

"Identify yourselves. Do you have a valid Landing Pass for this space port?" she asks. In the distance, the tolling of bells could be heard.