Jonas fires up his tech and scans for the Skimmer's signature in the local ether. He spends a little while trying to recall the command sequence for triggering the maintenance mode for this model.

It takes a while for the Prognosticator to pick up the skimmer’s ID, and the firewall is well encrypted, but after about 10 minutes, Jonas is able to force the vehicle into maintenance mode. It’s not going anywhere for now.*

Opening the squawker frequency, Jonas calls Hakkar and informs him that Jo’vet unfortunately managed to escape towards the graveyard. Ahzi nods and bolts from a bush towards the moonlit cemetery.

Hakkar curses and calls Jonas a few inventive names, and then rushes out of the farmhouse with a thug behind him. Jonas recognizes the man with the battered top hat from the alleys of Container City.

They rush to the skimmer and jump in, but there is no telltale sound of high-powered turbines starting to spin up. They quickly jump out again and Hakkar pauses briefly to aim a swift kick at the vehicle. Running towards the cemetery, Hakkar shouts something and another thug appears from hiding behind some bushes near the house. This fellow runs back towards the farmhouse while Hakkar and Top Hat spread out and begin to search the graveyard.

“There he is!” shouts Top Hat excitedly as he spots Ahzi a good distance away. He fires his sub-machine gun in a long burst, but only manages to shatter a few gravestones.

“I think this is our cue to free the others,” mutters Jo’vet. “We should be able to take out one guy.”

*[Jonas scored a Marginal Victory]

Jonas nods. "Let's see if we can draw him out a bit though. I think I can reach that stack of firewood over there with..." He doesn't finish the sentence, but taps his temple to make clear what he means.

"Reckon you can rush in and take him out quietly, if he's distracted? Failing that, I will have to use this," he adds, patting his blaster pistol. "OK? Then let's go..."

The engineer focuses hard, willing the pile of wood to move.

Jo'vet nods and draws his kraxi knife, the edge covered in a sticky, clear paste. "Dead man walking," he smiles grimly.

The thug is quickly approaching the house, cautiously holding his shotgun ready. Jonas reaches out with his mind and shoves some kindling over. The man is startled and quick as a flash, Jo'vet approaches behind him and slashes him in the side. He grunts and falls over, twitching a bit but seemingly unable to move.

The ukari sneaks closer to the house and takes a quick glance through a window, before giving the 'all clear' sign to Jonas.

Jonas quickly summarizes his plan to go in and rescue Paavo, and encourage the other captives to flee, then take the skimmer and attempt to rendezvous with Ahzi.

Jo’vet nods and together they sneak into the house. At the very last moment Jonas avoids having his skull bashed in with a cast-iron frying pan, wielded by the formidable housewife! He quickly explains that they are here to save the family, and they hurry out the backdoor, into the storm cellar.

In the back room, they find Paavo. He is bleeding badly and in need of urgent care. Jo’vet smears a foul-smelling paste on his wounds, which slows the bleeding somewhat, but it’s still a critical situation.

Together, they manage to manhandle the unconscious Charioteer into the skimmer, and reset the controls. As they get into the vehicle, there is the sound of a loud explosion from the direction of the graveyard. Steering the skimmer towards the noise, they pass the body of Top Hap, with a neat bullet hole in his head.

It is a grisly sight that meets then as they draw closer. Two bodies lie near each other, both obviously killed in the explosion. Ahzi and Hakkar have fought their last duel….

Jo'vet looks at the scene with no emotions - clearly not the first time he has seen dead bodies.

"Guess we're done here," he remarks coolly to Jonas. "Won't even have to drag them far to bury them. Hey, what the hells!?"

He grimaces and starts swatting at his face. "Noooo! Get away from me!" He is staring fixedly at something, but Jonas can't see what it is.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:51, Sun 15 July 2018.

Jonas hastily dons his engineering goggles, trying in vain to discern the invisible assailant.

"What? What is it, man?" he demands, sounding alarmed. "I can't see anything..."

Jo'vet doesn't answer but pops the skimmer's cockpit open and leaps out. Shouting something about night demons and flailing his arms as he swats at his head, he quickly runs further into the graveyard...

"Curse my confounded luck!" Jonas exclaims, hastily securing the skimmer and then leaping out to chase after the crazed ukari.

Jo'vet, however, is nowhere to be seen. Realising that Paavo needs urgent medical attention if he is to live, the engineer curses vehemently and colourfully and tends to his fallen comrade. Aided by his Steady Right Hand and his medical knowledge, he soon has the charioteer stitched up and out of immediate danger.

Only then does he turn to the Prognosticator, hoping that it can help him one last time to track down his troublesome quarry. Sending a news set of instructions to the seeker drone, he hooks it up to his composite device and quickly programmes it to execute a search pattern.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 20:00, Mon 16 July 2018.

After stabilizing the Charioteer, Jonas sends the drone high up in the air, linking the search results with his new think machine. The tiny drone brain soon creaks softly, and the fish-eye camera zooms in on a dark shape, huddled against a gravestone.

Jonas starts up the skimmer again and quickly arrives at the location. It is indeed Jo'vet, leaning against a cold stone, staring into nothing. He does not respond to questions.
This message was last updated by the GM at 20:27, Mon 16 July 2018.

Puzzled, but recognising the signs of some mysterious mental trauma, Jonas speaks to him gently and attempts to steer the ukari into the skimmer.

"Come on now, there's a fellow," he cajoles. "We're all set now - our chariot awaits. Let's get you settled and then perhaps later, if you're very good, I'll let you drive for a bit..."

Jo'vet nods and lets himself meekly be guided into the cramped skimmer cockpit. On the backseat, Paavo moans softly, clutching his bandaged side.

Jonas checks the skimmer's fuel supply. Enough for perhaps an hours flight, no more.
This message was last updated by the GM at 20:27, Mon 16 July 2018.

Jonas steers the skimmer towards Hovinton. It is after midnight, so there are few lights but he spots an inn near the outskirts and pulls up to it. The innkeeper of Holly’s Folly directs Jonas towards the Servants of Peace monastery, indicating that Paavo can be treated there. He also points out the workshop of Wilberforce West, where passing travelers can get their fuel cells recharged.

“We yav rooms available if yaouw wanna rest,” he adds in the nearly incomprehensible local dialect. “Yaouw luke loike yaouw cud do with a kip, with all due respect.”


This message was last edited by the GM at 18:47, Tue 17 July 2018.

Jonas nods wearily. "That sounds... very tempting."

He examines each of his companions in turn, with a deepening frown.

"However, I think I had better take care of my colleagues first..."

Jo’vet is led to a chair where he sits down with almost robotic movement. He stares blankly ahead, not reacting when spoken to. The innkeeper walks Jonas back to the street and gives him directions to the Servants of Peace monastery. “Doy werrit yaw yed, lad. I'll luke after yaw befuddled friend until yaouw return.”

It’s only a short skimmer ride to the monastery. This small community consists of two dozen huts and hovels surrounding a stone keep enclosed within a timber palisade. The monastery proper is an Urth Orthodox institution dedicated to St. Lextius and the ideals of enlightened nobility with their sacred responsibilities to the world and the Universal Church.

Most of the monks are retired nobles, the majority of which are veterans of the Emperor War who found ordinary life impossible to cope with after suffering irreparable emotional damage. Now they live out their retirement in peace and quiet among their fellow veterans, many of whom fought on opposing sides in the Emperor Wars. Around the monastery several refugee families have set up homes, relying on the monks for guidance and protection in exchange for helping to feed the holy men.

Jonas pulls up to the main building, where two monks carry the wounded Charioteer into the hospital, promising to do their best to treat his wounds.

Next the engineer visits West's workshop to recharge the skimmers fuel cells, and enjoys the chance for some amiable technical small talk with the proprietor.

At last feeling that he can rest, Jonas returns to the inn and takes the innkeeper up on his offer of a room. He leads the stricken Jo'vet to a bed and encourages him to lie down. Still not quite willing to believe that his quarry won't run away while he sleeps, the engineer jury-rigs an alarm on the door of the room, which he locks carefully. He sets an alarm for himself, and then, at last, he closes his eyes.

Jonas falls into a deep, exhausted sleep. The next morning, the innkeeper wakes him and takes him down to a hearty county-style breakfast. Checking in on Jo'vet afterwards, Jonas finds him sleeping on the bed and very difficult to rouse.

The Ukari finally wakes up and frowns at Jonas. "What happened? I had the strangest dreams! Please take me back to Acheon. I'm ready to face my punishment. Oh, and here is the knife I for some reason had planned to cut your throat with."

Jo'vet hands over a small blade with a puzzled smile. The edge glistens with blade venom.

Checking in on the workshop and the monks, Jonas finds that the skimmer will be ready later in the day - for an exorbitant charge. Paavo is recovering from his wound but does not remember much apart from being shot as he traveled towards Hovinton.

Jonas calmly settles his debts, neglecting to haggle, but making sure to obtain detailed receipts so that he can claim it all back as expenses from Sir Hückebein.

He also asks Wilberforce West to retrieve the abandoned skimmer from the edge of the forest, giving him the details of the rental agent in Acheon who expect to collect it, and sweetening the deal by mentioning that there is a Pegasus hoverbike out there, just waiting for some enterprising soul to salvage it...

The engineer plans to set off  soon as the skimmer is ready and Paavo is fit to travel.

Wilberforce nods eagerly when learning of the salvage opportunity and thanks Jonas profusely. He organizes the spare parts for the Lazzarini Coupé skimmer and sends some of his assistants to repair and retrieve it. Jonas checks in on Jo’vet, who seems lucid and remarkably calm. “So, I’m going to jail? he inquires. "Interesting. A journey of redemption – punishment for crimes committed. Will they kill me, do you think?”

The newly repaired skimmer arrives at the workshop and Jonas and Jo’vet drive it to the monastery to pick up Paavo. The Charioteer is looking better and is eager to return to civilization and his ship. “No telling what stupid crap Tic has installed while I’ve been lollygagging here. What’s up with sunshine there? Is he tripping? And where’s Ahzi?”

The ride back to Acheon is at a more relaxed pace, giving the travellers a chance to appreciate the breath-taking beauty of the wilderness. Finally, the glittering spires of Acheon can be seen in the distance.

After careful consideration, Jonas delivers Jo'vet to Warden Habbakuk.

He is perplexed and a little disturbed by the Ukari's strangely philosophical mood, but tentatively puts it down to shock and belated contrition. Against all the odds, he feels weirdly protective of the murderer and shares his thoughts with the Warden.

"And when I showed him the clemency agreement that you drew up for Brownbird, he surrendered his weapons right there and came quietly. Later, he could easily have killed me, or just run off, but he didn't," the engineer observes. "Something happened to him out there. I still don't know what, or what it all means, but I think somehow he wants to make it right. I hope you'll give him the chance..."

Bidding Jo'vet farewell and good luck, Jonas heads for the Emerald Mansions, armed with a signed receipt for his prisoner from the Warden.

Warden Habbakuk frowns while listening to Jonas’ story. “Most odd. I would not have expected that from him. I will keep him under observation for a few days to see what happens. In any case, I congratulate you and your companions for bringing Jo’vet back to me. I am sure his fellow inmates will be thrilled to hear about this.”

At the Emerald Mansions, Jonas and Paavo are shown into Sir Hückebein’s office. He studies the letter you got from the warden and calls up the prison to verify that it is indeed Jo’vet you have brought in.

Once this is confirmed, Sir Hückebein beams happily at you. “Excellent work! Not a scratch on him! I will not ask how you managed this, I am just pleased to have him back under lock and key! Now, for your reward, I have here your one thousand firebirds. I will also honour my promise to arrange a small revelry in your honour, inviting distinguished guests from the League, Church, and nobility. Would two days from now suit you? I can leave details with your guild master.”

Jonas gratefully accepts his reward and then calmly itemises the details of his legitimate expenses (skimmer hire, repairs, medical expenses). He hopes that he'll be able to settle these all quickly, before Alina notices how much he has been abusing her line of credit...

He accepts the invitation to a 'revelry' more warily, wondering how much trouble he'll be able to get himself into if he's forced to attempt polite conversation with a group of 'distinguished guests'.

"Thank-you kindly, sir. You can indeed reach me through the Guild. In fact, if you'll excuse me, I should really be heading there right now..."

Forcing a smile and enduring his benefactor's lengthy farewell, the engineer tries not to let his eagerness to depart show, and only breaks into a run when he exits the lift. Cheerfully hailing his old friend Kazzon the Vorox as he leaves, he heads straight for the SOE guild hall, anxious to report his success to Lady Brass.

Sir Hückebein calls in a Reeve accountant to check and verify all the expenditures. “This will take a while, Sirrah”, says the Reeve with a clipped voice. “Some of these are quite… unorthodox.” Sir Hückebein waves him away and bids Jonas a good day.

Arriving at the SOE guild hall, Jonas is shown to the small room where Lady Brass resides. She is bent over a workbench, two of her many limbs soldering a small component onto a rapidly blinking device. Swirling her head 180 degrees around, she smiles as Jonas enters.

“Mr. Fisher! Good to see you again. I hear that you managed to capture Mr. Siddir alive and well. Well done! I will not ask how you did it, but if you would like to elaborate, it would please my memory banks.”

Finishing the soldering work, she turns her body around and one multi-jointed arm snakes out to pick up the small think machine that Jonas gave her.
“Now, there was some nasty countermeasures on here, and some of the finer details were lost, but this speaks of House Cameton and a terrible conspiracy to infiltrate the great Houses with antinomists sleeper agents. Apparently, they already have several people in place and are working to tighten their grasp. I was able to extract a partial list of names and targets.”

She manages to produce a frown on her metallic face. “This could threaten a lot of things. I suggest you convey this information to the relevant authorities as soon as possible – but make sure whomever you speak to is trustworthy. I can recommend a person who is here on Acheon, and who has contacts on Byzantium Secundus. A Charioteer named Vesper. She performed a small service for me and might be useful.”

Jonas turns visibly pale at the mention of the charioteer's name, but does his best to hide his reaction by thanking Lady Brass profusely for the information, and goes on to relate his recent adventures in some detail.

As he does so, a deep frown settles over his features and he seems increasingly distracted. Having concluded his tale, he is silent for a few minutes and seems to be lost in thought. When he speaks again, his tone is unusually soft and almost wistful.

"Vesper, you say? I wonder if..."

He breaks off, looking suddenly uncomfortable.

"Uh... And where might I find this charioteer?" he asks briskly.

In reply to Jonas Fischer (msg # 368):

Lady Brass stares into the distance for a moment, her bright blue eyes flashing rapidly.

"At the moment, you would have an 87% probability of finding Ms. Roger-Exupéry at the Sink, on the Basin Basin Expanse Road."

Jonas recalls Alarus mentioning the Sink, a tavern that caters primarily to Musters and Charioteer guilders, and a good place to pick up off-world news and gossip from elsewhere on Criticorum. Although the name is not very inviting, the Sink is a clean and charmingly rustic tavern that brews its own fine selection of beers and ales. The Sink
is also a place where Musters and Charioteer guilders advertise for discrete troubleshooters to handle sensitive jobs.

"Tell her I sent you", adds Lady Brass with a slight smile.