There is no mech in the spirit world. So your guessing that he can't see you ether.

Where do you want to go now?

That is better news then I imagined. I return to the site where the one lady was at. Hopefully she has gotten out of there. If I do not encounter her, I will simply return to the point where I dropped my things off at.

If she has just taken the hint and is now leaving, I will follow her. If she stays, though, I'm retreating. I am not able to fight this mech like this.

She is not there although it is hard to tell that from the spirit world. You return to where you left your things.

I step back between worlds, and shift back into a human. Just thinking about that statement for too long feels rather strange. I dress up, and call up my crew.

"Reiuji, return me to the ship ASAP. Organize a council of war. We need to discuss the fate of this planet."

You return to where you left your things and get dressed. Reiuji beams you up. A crew member leads you to where the others are. Reiuji, Iridessa, The navigator and Scotty are there.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I need advice." I'm taking a seat. I've done enough moving. "And yes, I'm aware of task delegation. That's not it. I need to hear what we know about this planet, and all involved factions. Is there anything up here we have that I could not obtain on the ground? I need an assessment of all known factions on the planet, what their scope is, and above all, where they stand with each other. If we cannot get it from here, how can we get it, and who on this ship feels qualified to get that information?"

"I'm asking because I'm very seriously considering glassing these vampires from orbit, and I'm trying to come up with a reason not to commit an entire race to death."

Reiuji steps forward and starts talking
"The First Faction is the Vampires. The Rule the planet in a aristocracy. They where not that technologically advance until about ten year's ago they got advance item such as magical power armor and weather control satellites. Which suggests meddling from an outside power. They have grown complacent and arrogant now that they think that the Light of Pelor can't reach them. "

"The Second faction we have detected is the Gunslingers Guild. They use primarily magitech weapons that seem to use The Magical energy in sunlight as their ammunition rendering them particularly effective versus vampires. They call themselves freedom fighters. But they don't seem all that effective against the vampires. To be fair, Mortals fighting against exalts do not generally fare well. Their leadership might be something more, though.

Most of the rest of the populace have given up and became depressed with despair. They accept their lot as food for the vampires and do noting to make it better."

Iridessa chimes in
"Looking though the arcane sensors, I can tell the planet's spirit is very sick. The spirit's that regulate it's magical energy are missing. Which is very strange. I wounder why they are missing."

Scotty says
"Ah can answer 'at. Ah hacked intae whit passes fur th' vampires network. Ah got a swatch at whit they caa 'caskit armor' it's powered by a spirit trapped within. th' mair powerful th' spirit th' mair powerful th' armur. but that's nae aw. Ah detected Syrnth technology used within their construction."

"So, we've determined these vampires are a threat to the planet itself. In our world, we had legends of our own about a race called the Reapers." I'm not being...entirely honest here, but it's close enough to the truth. "They are treated as a myth, a story. But if they work here like they do in our stories, they are likely the ones behind the casket armor, and who's to say how much of this planet's leadership is still intact."

I sigh. "I would have hoped the legendary vampiric egoism would have worked in our favor. Here's hoping."

"Regarding these vampires, we need to know who innovated Casket Armor, who's taking the credit for it and who is presently working on it. I highly doubt any vampire would give credit to extradimensional beings when they can credit themselves. That is our real target; find out where this tech exactly is coming from, and attack that point."

Some of your crew seem surprised at you admitting to knowledge about the reapers but most don't react.

Scotty speaks up at that
"I hink Ah got a leid oan 'at Keptin. while searchin' fur documents abit th' Caskit Armur Ah cam athwart th' nam Baron Stoker several times. Ah looked intae it an' it seem 'at unlike most ay those damn bluid suckers thes a body actually has respect technology. It seems loch most ay th' vampires technological advancements can be traced tae Baron Stoker. I've also located his research complex. it's a large tower north ay th' largest concentration ay vampires oan th' planet."

"So, it is settled. We need an audience with this Stoker." Like Bram Stoker? This universe is both familiar and different. I'll have to stay on my toes. "We need to assemble a diplomatic team."

I sigh and look down. "And, unfortunately, I was thinking about it on the planet below while that Mangrove thing was chasing me. I need to delegate more tasks to you, my crew. If I perish, or go missing, or communications are cut from me for whatever reason, you are stranded and dead in the water, so to speak. I am not expendable, regardless of my personal feelings on the topic."

"So, we need to assemble a diplomatic team for first friendly contact with vampires. This...will require volunteers. Give me a list, and I will narrow it down to...five. Unless five is all we have. Then we need a rescue team ready in case things happen and our diplomatic team gets into hot water."

"Make it happen, crew."

So, I need to assemble an away team for diplomatic purposes, and explain to them our goals. Whoever is doing this will likely be untested. Diplomacy with creatures that view you as food...talk about a baptism by fire for the guy unlucky enough to go for it. But I cannot engage myself unless things are truly dire, not anymore. Nothing like a near death experience to humble oneself.

The crew talks among themselves for a bit.
Then One of them talks to you.
"We have determined that the best ones for diplomacy is First Mate Utsuho and Chief Arcana Officer Iridessa. But We also have a list of five other crew members.

"Get them assembled. We have two of our diplomats, so we need to know who can support them and how. Bodyguards, physical presence. Someone who can crunch numbers and recall important details. These are important qualities in the remaining crew that will support them as they seek an audience."

I am likely on the verge of pacing in excitement. "Also, our goal is to establish a diplomatic line. If we must address a sensitive issue, do not antagonize them for it. At the same time, and this is the hardest part: don't sacrifice your own beliefs, or demean yourselves. Stay true, in whatever darkness you walk."

"Dismissed all." I have to catch my breath. Today has been busy and long. I'm also curious about this key I have, and its worth. It can wait a moment, though.

Iridessa, Reiuji and the five listed crew members assemble. Along with two of the larger Solders and a bookish member of engineering. Reiuji looks a bit surprised to be here. Iridessa looks excited. and the Rest look nervous.

I need to get some work done. What on earth does a captain actually do?

"Don't let them see that fear. We are going into the game for real, guys. Show me your game face!" I'm yelling that at the guys who look nervous, hoping they steel up. "We represent our homes, our people, our ship! You are MY crew, and we are not weak! Don't let the rest of us down! We will be preparing to get you out, to keep your communication up, and to level the countryside you are in if it all goes belly up. You are not alone!"

The five other crew member stand strait up in attention. They look less nervous now.

Reiuji steps forward
"Captain, Which two are we going to send to talk to this Baron Stoker? And what information are we trying to find out about him?"

"We are trying to find out how much of this Baron's ideas are his own, and how much are not. I need to know if he is a great innovator or if he is just the cover for something else. I really need a witness to provide evidence either way." I look to those assembled before me. "I also need a measure of the man himself taken, in addition to that. What is he like? Get a feel of the political mood, while you are down there. Can you earn any allies for us while there? If invited for food, have witnesses and remain public. I have an odd feeling that will matter."

"As for which two, you are my crew. You can determine for yourself which of the two of you needs to be leading the talks, and who needs to serve as eyes, ears and hands for the two who are doing 'good cop, bad cop.' You are smart, and we run a meritocracy on this ship. Figure it out."

Not exactly sterling leadership on my part, but I want them to have some autonomy without me. This way if something DOES happen to me, they won't be paralyzed.

Both Reiuji and Iridessa decide to send a team of two diplomats an engineer and two big bodyguards for them. The chosen crew walk to the Teleportium.

You wait for a few minutes and then one of your crew members says
"Captain. We are receiving a signal from the surface. A woman is identifying herself as an Information broker. How should we respond Captain?"

"Patch her through. I'd like to hear what she is offering, and what she wants."

I hate just sitting around telling others what to do, but this, unfortunately, is a Captain's job. If I die, no one else can pick up after me. I need to change this at all costs.

You hear a woman's voice. She sounds a bit young.

"Greetings Captain. I've noticed that you are snooping around the Baron's computer network. What do you want to know about him? I would be willing to offer a deal for that info."

"My question to you would be equally vague, namely: what do you expect to get from me? I do not possess that world's proxy currency in abundance, I have no precious metals that are not in use, and my crew likes its blood right where it is."

I don't know if I am talking to a human or not, so...keeping my options open.

"It's true that you don't have what I usually ask for information... Except for Blood. I never ask for that. But You do have a ship that is capable of going though the Crystal Sphere. And that means you are rather powerful. So how about a favor for the info you want. I got quite a few friends that don't want to be here. So If you take them with you when you leave. I'll give you the info you want. How about that?"

"Depends on your friends." I'm thinking. "I'd like to know what kind of people I'd be helping out before I offer aid. I also don't want to vaporize them on sight should they be possessed or having an astonishing nature, should I agree."

"I'm likely to agree, but I do need to know."

"They are normal humans and off-worlders. None of them are Exalts if that is what you are worried about."

"That is..." I catch something at this point. "You said off-worlders. This place struck me as isolated. How did they get here?"

That might change my dealings with this world.

"Heh. The same way you did. On a Spelljammer. It's rather rare since this Crystal Sphere is so out of the way in the Great Wheel. In general their ships are too weak to challenge the Vampires. But You are different. You are on an actual warship."