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With the intruders temporarily trapped in the airlock, the intruders quickly
prepared to threaten or fight their way out as the party prepared for the
worst. In a moment of inspiration and near recklessness Bronz raised the
pressure in the airlock to crushing levels, beyond the protection of the
e-suits and airlock design parameters alike. As the intruders imploded under
the pressure, a war of words began between the Escort ships and Tassadar,
punctuated by Kevlarn's expertly aimed warning shot across their bow. A bold
move that paid off, at least in the short term, but likely to cost the
Kurtosis and her crew in infamy among the pirates in the area. Only time would
tell if they had made right move that day.
With Erich's body on life support, having been mercilessly slaughtered by the
intruders, the crew began to assess their current situation. Rubiks, Tassadar
and Bronz began a discussion of the history and politics of the Oberon system
and what opportunities it would have. Rubiks suggested hiring an extra hand,
and so that became a priority; eventually, making arrangements for Erich would
need attention as well. Yovas shared insight with the crew, since she had
chosen so well thus far.
Rubiks took on the role of Head-Hunter and news gatherer, trying to find a
someone to supplement the party's abilities. Rubiks learns that Leen has no
Grid presence of its own, which immediately called into question the wisdom of
heading there. Using the Grid on Lison, Rubiks managed to find a candidate for
the party, Maverik, a former Austrin-Ontis marine. During an interview, Rubiks
found no major objections to hiring Maverik and his judgment was he best the
crew could rely on, as human motivations are often hard to read and military
types more so. So after an interview with Maverik, who is looking for honest
work, the decision was made to hire him. Maverik took a shuttle to meet the
party in space, abroad the Kurtosis, as a final measure of security, as hiring
those with strong combat skills is potentially a double edge sword.
With general introductions out the way and the Kurtosis in what is believed to
be working order, further tests would have to wait. The party decided to head
for Lison. The monetary situation is grimly apparent, as the docking costs may
be routine, the available credits among the crew are only going down. Yet
another disadvantage of being reported "dead" on the Wayfar, no income is
heading our way. Rubiks and Tassadar each financed the costs of getting
Maverik onboard and getting safe dock in orbit above Lison, now the time has
come to make some of it back. After a bumpy ride down to Tribon, with only a
skeleton crew aboard the Kurtosis, the party fails to get the "fresh air" they
had been hoping for; the industrialized feel of Tribon is an experience
in and of itself and likely full of surprises. The first one may very well be
in the form of Dwayne Kessler, a self proclaimed rhodium trader.As the saying
goes... "A city is but a man-made jungle and not all jackals are four-legged."
Pressed by Dwayne Kessler's forwardness on the topic of Rhodium trading, Tassadar found himself and the rest of the party quickly engaged in a little information gathering on how Rhodium trader's ply their trade. Mr. Kessler, apparently a legitimate "45-trader" scout, resisted Tassadar's persuasions to work more closely with the group, citing legal issues and the strict laws governing the Rhodium trade on Lison. After mostly fruitless discussion amongst themselves on how to raise the necessary capital to get started as "45ers", Tassadar closed the meeting and the group began to look for lodging, cheap lodging. In an unexpected turn of events, Vinny, a fellow "convict" of the Kendai
Station affair - thought dead, passes the group on the street. Most of the
group recognizes Vinny and the group follows him to find out what had
happened over 8 years ago.
Just as some of the cybernetic changes to Vinny became apparent, so is the
presence of three "externals". Suspicion fills the air and Tassadar
attempts an open and very forward "dialog", only to receive instructions
with a cryptic purpose. Tassadar, determined to seize the moment with
quick wit and poor "aim", manages to scare off the intruders with only
slight embarrassment.
As the travellers rush to defend Alaaxis from her nefarious assailants, an
unearthly darkness blacks out the stage! Several of the heroes plunge helplessly
into the insufferable gloom, and stagger through a gauntlet of wild punches,
stabs, and laser blasts. By the time the eerie murk evaporates, Tassadar and the
grizzled mercenary Maverik have both been nearly incinerated by laser fire--and
Alaaxis, the gorgeous nightclub singer they'd sworn to guard, has vanished! Two
bloodthirsty Sesheyans swoop over the seething crowd, pistols in hand, but the
culprits flee before Rubiks can unleash the full fury of his psychic energies. |