In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 368):

"I'm in.  But I'll need my rifle back to be of much use."
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:38, Wed 12 Dec 2012.

Ken nodded Thomas; "We'll probably want to knock a few guards on the head to get weapons or find out where our stuff is stored." He turns to the elder Messandi;  "When is Kalamanu due to arrive Professor?"

Linus began examining the hut minutely for any weak points that could provide egress.

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 370):

Messandi tried to answer Ken's questions.

"Lord, I don't know when Kalamanaru is due back, not exactly. It's not regular but he's coming more often. By the end of the week, I would guess?

"There are about, I'd say, close to 75 or so people here? There are 3 Air/Rafts, 2 larger enclosed cargo models and an open-topped air-jeep. They are kept in an open-air shed in the middle of camp.

"They have two perimeter fences for defence around this camp, the base camp. Watch towers at the corners. It's to keep the larger animals out, and the natives are quite hostile in this part of the Great Swamp. I think they revere the memories they have passed down about the Reynarik, and see the grave-robbing going on here as base desecration, which of course it is. They used to make regular attacks but that stopped about 6 months ago, but all work or survey parties go out heavily armed and the Air/Rafts have machine-guns, as you found out."

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 371):

Thomas recalled that Messandi's expedition had started out from Val Preszar with 45 personnel. Given there would have been losses (like Old Lin) the size of the operation had almost doubled in the last year. No doubt additional support personnel had been shuttled in from off-world or cities elsewhere on Mirayn.

Examining the rear wall, Linus discovered that the metal (aluminium alloy?) walls fit flush into a groove in the heavy plastic floor. They were more comfortable they he'd thought, and looking up he could see air conditioning vents about 10cm across, set into the curved roof.

There was little that could be used as a tool or weapon; the furnishings were a dozen metal frame bunk beds with mattresses but no sheets. There were several empty metal shelves at either end of the hut.

"That's quite a setup Professor.  Maintaining 75 men and all of this gear in the wilderness is expensive as hell.  I guess he thinks that the horde of the Sky Raiders is worth all of this trouble."  He thinks as he glances at Linus.  "It's a shame that the natives don't attack.  A raid would be a great cover for an escape."

He turns more to Linus. "Any luck in finding a way out of here Linus?"

"It looks pretty solid," said Linus, shaking his head.

"If this were proper archaeology, it would be a good set-up... but just a bunch of tomb-raiders... well, if all they are after is profit, they have wasted a lot of money on chasing what isn't here."

Ken nods in agreement with Linus.  "It seems that even the unlooted relics are mundane and of little value except in small quantities in museums with too much exhibit space to fill.  I'm sorry it's been a disappointment Professor but now we need to figure out how to get the hell out of here."

"You have the sad truth of it, my friend. And now it's not just me that will be paying for my folly but my daughter, and you, your friends, and all these people!" He sat on the bed and dejectedly buried his face in his hands.

In reply to Professor Jothan Messandi (msg # 377):

Lorain moved to comfort her father. "Don't worry, we'll figure something out."

In reply to Lorain Messandi (msg # 378):

Talia started examining the wounded. "We'll need medical equipment and supplies, at the very least."

In reply to Dr. Talia McKenzie (msg # 379):

Wounded somewhat more than the others, Kelso laid back on one of the beds. "Whatever I can do to help, let me know. One thing that will help me, a lot, is if you don't indulge in too much self-pity, for God's sake. Professor."

"Say, if this Kalamanaru chap is concerned about money, well, I can do something there. I'll make some kind of deal with him!"

Energised, he got up and started pounding on the door to their impromptu jail. "Let me speak to your boss, I have something he wants to hear!"

"It's not your fault, Jothan. You weren't to know that your sponsors were tomb-raiding rogues, and murderers to boot," said Linus. "Main thing is, we found you. Lorain was worried... and with good reason. Now to...". That's when Drew started banging on the door, and Linus fell silent.

He watched Drew with interest, wishing the fellow had shared his idea before enacting it. Still, just watch and play along. He moved over a bit closer to the door to observe.

In reply to Sir Drew Kensing (msg # 381):

Looking more than a little annoyed, Pylory came to the door of the hut at Sir Kensing's impassioned plea to the door guard.

"Look, we can make a deal. My family has a lot of money, let's go talk someplace private?" "Ah, fine, I'll hear you out. Make it quick, I've got a lot to do around here."

Before he left, Talia convinced him to leave a medical kit so that she could work on Kelso and the others who were injured. It seemed they didn't want people to die prior to their fate being decided, whatever that was.

In reply to GM (msg # 383):

Neva listened to the group but hadn't made up her mind yet on which is the best way to go.  If the money worked, then that would be best.  That would, of course, assume that they would let them go after paying money.  She wasn't totally convinced that they would do that.  Why would they?  They could just as easy kill them off after they got the money.

She joined in the search for looking for escape routes.  Being on the streets might help her with that.  She had gotten used to searching for ways to escape from authorities, even if she had been one once.

Ken nodded at Kelso's words.  The barrage of self pity from the professor was grating and he heartily agreed with Kelso's comments.  "Yea, getting upset about things won't help Professor.  We should focus on getting our injured treated and getting out of here." He looked up as Drew decided to try and bribe their captors.  Ken had a fairly low opinion of the stuffed shirt noble but he didn't move to stop them.  At least Pylory left a medical kit to help with the wounded.

As Talia started to work with the wounded, Ken pitched in to help.  "I'm not trained Talia but let me know what I can do to help."

Gladly accepting Ken's offer of help, Talia put him to work helping with the wounded. Fortunately no one was injured too badly.

Neva and Linus continued to examine the walls of their prison. It seemed pretty airtight, so to speak. Sanitation was from a couple chemical toilets in a corner, water was from a 10-gallon drum.

After about fifteen minutes, Drew returned.
This message was last updated by the GM at 12:56, Tue 18 Dec 2012.

In reply to GM (msg # 386):

The noble, Drew, looked a little more confident and satisfied. "He seemed impressed by my wealth and connections. Men like him usually are pretty easy to do that with! I think he's going to transmit my offer to Kalamanaru. He'll decide by the time he arrives in a couple days. Nothing to do now but wait, eh?"

He busied himself helping Talia along with Ken.

In reply to Sir Drew Kensing (msg # 387):

Neva tried to catch Ken's eye so they could hopefully have a private conversation.  It was hard to do though considering there circumstances.  "Hey Ken.  Come over here and help me with this please."  She was standing by the 10 gallon drum and for lack of some other more imaginative excuse to get him alone, would ask him to help try to move it to see if anything was underneath it.  Now she just had to hope that nobody else would volunteer to help.

Linus looked over, caught her intention and moved over to check on the wounded.

Ken glanced up as Drew returned and explained his apparent success.  "I hope they don't just hold you for ransom instead Drew.  But if it works... good work."  As he worked with Talia Ken noticed Neva making covert signals to him.  He stood as Linus came over to take his place.  "I'm going to go give Neva a hand."

Walking over to Neva he stood next to the drum.  "What can I do for you here Neva."  He moved so that his body was screening him from the rest of the room; "What's up?"

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 390):

Neva nodded to the water barrel.  "I just thought that we should try to move this too in case it was sitting on top of a hidden passage way or something.  On the streets people would use these to hide things like that.  Want to help push it aside a bit?"

Neva turned then to stand next to Ken so others wouldn't hear the rest of the conversation.  "_{Thanks Ken.  I really don't know why I called you over.  It's...just something isn't right with Drew.  You ever have one of those feelings?  I might not have been overly fond of him before but there's something about him after his meeting that just doesn't seem right.  If I was still on the force I'd be investigating.  Not too much we can do here but just keep an eye out ok?  I can't believe that it would be so simple to just go talk to them and then we'd be free.  It never goes down that easy. Not with people who are as organized as these people are.  Don't underestimate him or them.  I wonder what kind of a deal he made.}"

The last sentence was said in a pondering tone of voice because Neva had been burnt before and this felt close to that same feeling.

Ken nodded to Neva.  "Yea, it's a good idea to at least check under everything.  You never know."  He put his shoulder into the water barrel and began to shove at it more as a cover for their conversation than actually trying to make it move.

"You've got a good eye for people Neva.  That Drew is a rat if there ever was one.  I wouldn't be surprised if he sold us out to let him and maybe Loraine escape.  Still, he's enough of an ass that they may be just agreeing with him to shut him up.  I can't see Kalamaru letting any of us go given his reputation and the behavior of his assistants."

Linus helped Talia and Lorrain with the wounded.

There didn't seem to be any unexpected portal under the barrel, but the manoeuver served its purpose.

Meanwhile, Drew had gone over to one of the bunks near Lorain and laid down, hands under his head. He tried to strike up a conversation with her as she worked but she brushed him off, clearly not interested. He looked a little put out and just stared at the bottom of the top bunk.

GM Note: We'll say there's bunkbeds in addition to just cots.