Intimidated though she may be with meeting with such important people, Boko is hyper focused on worrying for those most endangered by a power outage - people on life-support for example.  In an uncharacteristically bold move, she takes initiative and offers an emergency holo-vid.

"Th-this will outline the urgent first steps that must be taken in this kind of crisis.  But I'm sorry to say that it assumes battery operated long-range communication possible.  Which in this case can only happen if we get some Audilite to our ship.  Every moment that passes without planetary coordination will...  increase... death."

Her voice breaks and tears pour down her face as she wrestles with the immense gravity of the situation.  Sure she has every confidence that a fleet of relief ships is already being mobilized, but that takes time.  For the most at-risk people, every moment counts.  How many premature newborns in neonatal intensive care units will die before this crisis is over?

  Kra is so glad to see Boko stepping up to the challenge and handling her job with the professionalism it deserves.

  "How robust is your satellite network?  Even low tech cameras hurled into orbit with math and a prayer would do. But an existing infrastructure would mean recovering information from planetside computers, without having to scan for and scoop up satellites manually until we get a bead on where this all started."

  Kra's opinions may be influenced by the fact he's angled just behind Boko enough that he can't see her crying.

Tyrandis does not seem at all intimidated by being in the presence of a bunch of non-human leaders of a single, backwater planet. He doesn't let his sentiments show, of course, feigning interest and concern as the leaders explain what has happened. He does spare a quizzical glance at Boko's tears. Either she is a better actor than he is, or else she really does feel some sort of emotional response to the prospect of a handful of monkey-people dying. Neither scenario seems particularly likely.

Having little understanding of satellites or communication technology in general, Tyrandis remains silent as Kra Kel speaks, rubbing his chin thoughtfully with a gloved hand and nodding knowingly. He glances expectantly at the Jeenosian leaders for a response.

The Jeenosian council look at Boko. One of them speaks up, "We have some audilite in the basement. Please take as much as you need."

He then looks at Kra. "Actually, if you take our satellite expert with you, he can help you pinpoint which satellite caught the origin of the blast. For the obvious reasons, we are unable to get to space ourselves at the moment..."

Nicholas nods and says, "OK. Get your expert and have them meet with me at the entrance of the basement." he looks at his group "We're going to the basement to get the audilite. Once their satellite expert meets up with us, we'll head back to the Synchronizer."

Well that went way better than expected.  Just about every disaster film ever has at least one troublemaker within the council to have some sinister reason to resist the heroes.  But Boko's not going to complain.

She turns to face the nearest council page and says softly, "Please escort us to the basement.  Moments count.  We cannot afford to take a wrong turn."

She doesn't conveniently have the floorplan of the capitol building in her database.  Maps of the city, sure, but floorplans was something deemed easy enough to procure from the local datanet once you arrive...

  Tyrandis, please.  These are the cute cartoon monkey people, not rubber mask planet of the apes monkey people.  Think of the public opinion polls.

  Meanwhile in actual character interactions land,  Kra nods "Yes, Sir." Good chat, Kra.  Then to the locals, "Thank you for lending your expert, any time saved tracking down the source should help."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:59, Thu 01 Feb 2018.

Tyrandis has given a final bland smile to the council before following the others out of the room in the direction of the basement. He has glanced at his phone as he exits to see if his father's advisor has sent through the list of potential suitors yet.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:38, Fri 02 Feb 2018.

The group is soon led to the basement where the audilite crystals are held. The audilite is a deep blue and appears to be constantly humming. https://i.pinimg.com/736x/59/5...rystals-minerals.jpg

Captain Stalker says, "I don't know how much we'll need, so I guess each of us can carry enough to hold in one arm so your other arm is free for self defense."

Stalker grabs a box of audilite and heads back to the basement entrance in order to meet up with the satellite expert unless someone has a reason to stop him.

Boko is sure to thank the escort.

"So pretty," she whispers to herself when she sees the audilite.

As for the Captain's orders, Boko is torn.  She's no good with a weapon, so it would make sense in her case to take two armfuls of the crystals.  But she'd have to spend precious time making her point to the Captain.  And risk his disapproval.

So in the end she thanks her lucky stars that simply following orders is what's expected... But what if that one armful she leaves behind is the difference between failure and success of the project?  Dozens or hundreds of lives could hang in the balance of this decision.  So Boko stifles a whimper as she picks up as many crystals as her two arms can carry, hoping the Captain doesn't notice.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:02, Tue 27 Feb 2018.

  Kra Kel is a professional.  He didn't once consider how the audilite would taste. No way, that would be crazy.

  Though after he grabs a box, he steps forwards to be ahead of Boko.  Clearly she must be self conscious about having terrible upper body strength to need both hands to lug boxes of rocks around-oh right most species don't compare those to takeout containers.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:06, Wed 28 Feb 2018.

Tyrandis nods respectfully to the captain, hoisting a box of the strange substance under his left arm, while keeping his weapon ready in his right.

"Am I to infer that you suspect foul play, captain?" he inquires as they begin to depart.

As is his job, Nicholas has read all the personnel files on his officers. Not that he would need to in order to know how Boko would act if he confronted her about following orders to the letter. It would waste time even in the best case scenario.

When Tyrandis asks his question, Nicholas answers, "Nah. Just being prepared. There were riots outside even when we landed. No telling if they have gotten closer to our landing point." he then looks from Tyrandis to the others and says, "Lt Kel, watch our rear. Lt J'la, stay to our right. Prince Vein, to our left, if you would. And Ensign Owens behind me." thus forming a circle around Boko as they walk to the shuttle.

Maybe when the job is done, someone might reward Kra with his own personal audilite...

Tyrandis' phone notifies him of another note, but his hands are occupied at the moment.

When the group exits the building, they do hear the chaos as if it was closer now than it was earlier.

He noticed!  He definitely noticed.  That's why I'm in the middle.  Everyone else is protecting me because I didn't practice hard enough with marksmanship.  What made me think joining the military was a good idea?  I was never cut out for this.  I should have known sink-or-swim just means sink in my case.  Someone who's only good at one thing doesn't belong here.  Because of my foolishness I've put countless lives at risk.  I have to do better than my best or they'll suffer for my dumb choices.  Hopefully I'll be thrown in the brig as soon as we get back to the ship so I can't keep jeopardizing people's safety with my incompetence.  If there's a higher power, please... send enough karma to get these poor people through this.

Boko simply follows in silence, her terrified eyes so alert she looks like she expects a monster to leap out of a shadow any moment now.

  Kra is sure the prince will have time to answer his texts as soon as they outrun the angry mob that is probably forming.

  Emergency services being armed is in large part to give more time to say 'we can't save your entire planet if we're dead'... Not that he says this out loud. But the way this day is shaping up, he expects it may end up a verbal statement sooner rather than later.

Tyrandis nods in acknowledgement to the captain, taking up his position as instructed. Unlike Boko, harbors no doubts that the fate of Jeenose could be in more competent hands than his own. He suppresses a feeling of mild irritation at his father's advisor's never failing ability to find the worst possible moments to message him. He pays the phone no outward attention at this point, keeping his keen gaze on the corridors about them.

Although the riotous sounds are indeed closer now, the group is able to safely make it to the ship and soon after the Jeenosian techie meets with the group, the pilot takes off. Nicholas provides the techie with a space suit and has the group pay attention to the procedure of donning a space suit so that they will all be prepared to do so in emergencies.

Thankfully, it isn't complicated. You just jump into the jumpsuit, put on the bubble helm, press the button on the chest, and you're good to go.

The techie uses the airlock and goes to get to work with installing the audilite into the satellite.

Nicholas faces the others. "While this may be going smooth so far, I still question what could cause such a widespread problem. Worse; I expect whoever is responsible to get away. Lt Kel, I want you to continue to monitor Jeenose and any activity around the world. If the Synchronizer so much as senses a blip, pay it mind. Actually, I'd say especially if it is something small like a ship leaving orbit."

Nicholas then looks at Boko. "Ensign Owens, continue checking coms. Just because we've cleared things with the Jeenosian government doesn't mean we're done checking for signs of communication. And it was your checking in that brought us into the knowledge of the use of Audilite. So keep up the good work."

In Tyrandis' phone is a list of suitors. Ironically, someone listed from Planet Jeenose is one of the listed girls. But there are a number of others. Some from Vein's own planet, but most from places off-world and well-known to the Strife Alliance at large like Sharr, Bliss, Pirace, Tharia, Barrak, and Neplusultra. The list gives ranks, but each planet has its own ranking system.

Boko was shaking in her boots during the walk to the shuttle.  I wish I were brave like the others.  I'm so out of place with a group that includes a valorous prince, a dauntless Captain, and a fearless Coalren.

She's at least able to pay attention to the refresher course in putting on a space suit.

By the time the order was given, not only was Boko already checking coms, but she had already forwarded an update to the Syncronizer bridge crew, requested an update on the arrival time of relief ships, and begun drafting a full official report for high command.

She blushes deeply from the Captain's affirmation and nods.

  Retro Sci-Fi space suits. 100% more visibility. 200% more STYLE.

  "I'll keep a line open to weapons so you can order a warning shot or otherwise faster."  Though if a ship other than their own is already leaving orbit so soon, that would point to larger concerns.

  Unlike his player, Kra Kel is really good at listening to multiple things at once (Oh such power fantasies in gaming).  So as he monitors his monitors, thanks the Jeenose techie and asks if they have any suspicious or theories about their world's sudden blackout.

Tyrandis eyes the space suits dubiously, hoping they have been well sanitised. He has never been overly fond of communal clothing or uniforms, and especially not ones where you are sealed inside with a previous sentient's body odors. Still, it is marginally preferable to death, so he gives the captain his attention as he explains the procedure.

He waits until the captain has finished before glancing at the list of suitors in more detail, paying particular attention to the suitor from Jeenose. He is trying to ascertain whether or not she is a off-worlder human, or if she is one of the natives. Not that he is xenophobic, of course. But since humans are the naturally superior species in the galaxy, it would hardly make sense to marry any other species. He assumes that his father's advisor is intelligent enough at least to understand this, but he has learned not to assume too much of the man's mental faculties.

"Thank you, Lt Kel." Nicholas says in response to Kra's update.

Kra does detect a small craft, as if on cue, launching from the surface of Jeenose and almost out of view. How it got as far as it did without already being detected is a mystery, but it is giving off an energy signature like it is preparing to enter warp.

Nicholas immediately orders to fire an EMP round at the craft. The craft is stopped dead in its tracks. "Alright. Let's get the Synchronizer to intercept the craft and contact its occupants..." (After all, he can't just abandon the techie outside)

But even as Nicholas as ordering these things, Kra receives input that the craft is already back online and preparing again to enter warp.

Meanwhile, the comms officer informs Boko that the occupant of the detected craft is not responding to any communication attempts.

---

(Tyrandis' info)
The suitor from Jeenose is, indeed, not human. She is clearly a monkey like the rest of her people. The political advantages include certain resources the Jeenosians have that are rare in most places, such as a highly conductive goo that is naturally produced by their geysers. But Jeenose isn't alone is having a non-human suitor.

Sharr has one of its cat-dog people the Deksharr as their suitor.
Barrak has one of its demon-looking people as the suitor, more specifically the winged type called Fou (Lt J'la is a wingless barrakian called a Korshare).
Bliss has one of its little bunny people as a suitor.
But Pirace, Tharia, and Neplusultra all have highly influential humans listed as suitors since all three of those worlds have many species on them.

Boko is tearing up again.  That someone would do this terrible thing on purpose is unthinkable, so her assumption is that whomever is in that craft must be a victim of unfortunate timing, having showed up just after the crisis and just before the Syncronizer.  That they're being treated as a suspect is making her heart sink.  That things got violent so quickly is terrifying.  That the craft isn't surrendering is only making things worse.

"N.. No response from the craft on coms, sir.  B-But they were just hit with an EMP."

Boko may not be pleased about this situation, but she knows the procedure verbatim.  She contacts the security officer and requests that a boarding party be prepared for a non-lethal capture operation.

  "Ship back online already and preparing for warp already." Is 'shoot it again' on the table for their weapons officer?  "Hopefully they don't have whatever caused the blackouts to point our way as well."  Boy would that be embarrassing.

Ignoring the suitor from Jeenose, Tyrandis proceeds to skim over the suitors of Sharr, Barrak and Bliss. However he shows much more interest in the suitors of Pirace, Tharia and Neplusultra.

He pauses in his examination of the suitors at the mention of a ship which appears to possess technology capable of resisting the effects of an EMP blast, eyes narrowing in a mixture of perplexity and greed.

Nicholas frowns at the reports he's getting. But he also doesn't seem rattled. "Lt J'la, tell the security team to prep for boarding, but remain on standby. Lt Kel, have the Synchronizer fire a tracking device at the craft. The people on Jeenose need our help. If the craft escapes, it will have to be someone else's problem."

J'la says, "Sir." and relays the captain's orders to the security team. They report they are already under way due to Ensign Owens, and J'la says, "Very good. Set your weapons for stun as per Owens' orders."

Nicholas contacts the bridge. Commander Skyrise specifically. "Commander, set the Synchronizer to intercept the fleeing craft. Lt Kel is working with weapon control on which tracking device to fire at the craft in case you can not get there in time."

The Synchronizer, though big, starts moving at amazing speed and maneuverability.

Boko can hardly believe hear ears!  How did they get back online so fast?!  They... They were ready!  A grim spiral of snowballing outrage wells up within her.  It really was on purpose!  But that means...

Something inside snaps.  With a measured, hollow voice, Boko contacts the bridge, "Notify military command: 'Syncronizer only allied ship in range of unidentified EMP-immune craft.  Jeenose disaster possibly a deliberate act of war.  Engaging suspect.'  And notify any relief ships on the way...  Brace for combat.  Imminent arrival of invasion fleet likely.

"Full combat alert.  Prepare for Captain's orders to destroy the enemy."

Even if the blackout gunship is stopped, Boko fully expects these to be her final moments.  Any second now dozens of hostile ships will arrive.  Surrender will be refused.  A hail of incoming enemy fire will be the last thing she sees.  No possible chance at making such needless death worth something except...

Boko coldly advises the shuttle pilot, "Be ready for evasive maneuvers to draw enemy fire away from Jeenose."