In reply to Angus McStubbin (msg # 736):

Lorain was a little taken aback that someone would not have hear of nor know anything about the relatively obscure long-vanished semi-mythical space raiders she had spent her entire life studying.

"Not really, they came from deep in what is now the Imperium. Say, what's the name of the Duke of Regina again?" If Angus was one of the space pirates he would normally answer "Norris". At least on the theory that Kalamanaru's henchmen wouldn't be very bright or well-versed in Imperial history.

"Duke Willem was Duke, why do you ask? Who is Duke now? Still Willem?" He takes several more practice steps to get his legs back under him. "Can you introduce me to my rescuers? I'd like to thank you all by name. By the way, I'm a prospector, or belter you might call me, by trade."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:00, Wed 24 Apr 2019.

Billy remains quiet, and keeps an eye on the natives.

Angus looks to each person and nods a greeting, not knowing their names, he introduced himself to each one in turn and reached out his hand to shake the hands of each individual in turn. Hi, Angus McStubbin, prospector. . . hi, Angus McStubbin . . ."

"So I guess I crash landed somewhere here on the asteroid after I misjumped, good thing it was here or I'd still be floating in space apparently."

Blake, Blake Renfield. Formerly of the Scout service. Pilot, IISS representative.

"Linus Spruance. Formerly Navy, then a bartender. Now, an explorer."

He ginned. A somewhat unlikely resume.

"Billy.  Engineer, mechanic and general dogsbody." he offers quietly.

In reply to Angus McStubbin (msg # 740):

Lorain introduced several more academic-looking members of the Institute expedition. There was Dr. Goezghae, a Vargr and specialist in asteroid habitats, and Dr. Chandragora (archaeo-technologist), Dr. Gilenkaar (linguist, busy at the moment talking to the natives), and Dr. Mirost (linguistic archaeology). They were either from the Imperium or from the Institute for Interstellar Studies on Alenzar in the League of Free Suns, a university in an Imperial client state here in Far Frontiers that Angus had heard about. They too were armed (shotguns, carbines, etc.) and were wearing vacc suits, visors open. Their vacc suit flashes matched their story, that being from the Institute.

The natives were human but not Solomani. Maybe a little Vilani-looking. There was a strong smell of smoke in the air and it looked like some of the primitive thatched huts around them were either smouldering or had been recently put out. Villagers were rushing around, trying to stamp out the last of the flames with others manning the walls and gates.

"Pleased to meet you all, do you think they can find my seeker? They found me."

"How much of what they say do you understand?" he asks the scientist that was the language expert, Dr. Gilenkaar.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:23, Thu 02 May 2019.

In reply to Angus McStubbin (msg # 746):

The scientist, Dr. Gilekaar, seemed a little annoyed to be pulled away from his halting conversation and gave a put-upon sigh. But he did answer, "I have just started learning their language, which has been dead for thousands of years. I would say about ten percent. The most simple concepts, really. I shall ask him."

After a bit of effort he replied, "I do not know what a "Seeker" is. Nevertheless I asked where they found you. He said they found you here, which does not make a lot of sense, unless this village is less than twenty years old. I can't get any more out of him that I understand."

The villagers started having an animated discussion centred around Angus and his low berth. Lots of random-seeming finger pointing was going on between them as they tried to figure out who discovered what, and where.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:06, Sat 04 May 2019.

"Ain't been dead if they been speakin' it. I guess we got to look the old fashioned way, with our eyes. Anyways, you been hijacked and I apparently crash landed, we may be stuck here if'n we can't retake your ship or fix mine. Besides, my stuff is on my seeker."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:10, Fri 03 May 2019.

In reply to Angus McStubbin (msg # 748):

The Dr. a bit of a twat, sniffed at Angus' observation. "I see, "Seeker" is the name of your ship. Well, I can see if they know of any ships."

After a while he shook his head. "Sorry, no. Not until I learn more of this language. Which I guess is not technically dead."

"A seeker is a style of ship, it's a 100dton ship, it's name is 'Angel Eyes', it's what I used to prospect around the galaxy." Angus explains. "I had a mis-jump and wound up in open space. Here I am."

In reply to Angus McStubbin (msg # 750):

"Ah, I see." He consulted with the village headman.

"They want us to come to a feast or supper tonight, I gather.

"And... if we are going to eat our prisoner?"

He indicated the prisoner they'd dragged along with them into the village.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Sat 04 May 2019.

"Long Pig has never appealed to me ..." Billy replies to Gilenkaar  with a bit of a grimace.  "But now that you have a better idea of the language, you might be able to get more information from the native we captured.  Especially, when you point out that could intervene to stop hem becoming the star attraction in tonight's feast ..."

"Long pig isn't my cup of tea either, I'll stick to a liquid diet thank you, it's been 25 years since I ate solid food. I'll start slow."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Sun 05 May 2019.

In reply to Billy (msg # 752):

It did not appear that anyone was being eaten, as the bodies of the recently killed enemies were being burned on a large pyre outside the village gates. As well, there were no signs of cannibalism, which would only ever happen in times of extreme famine or else ritually.

"Can you ask the villagers why they were fighting with the other lot?" asked Linus, who was curious.

In reply to Billy (msg # 752):

"good thing these people are not cannibals, then." Replied Lorain, thinking there must be some kind of misunderstanding!

He asked a question of the headman and got a lengthy and incomprehensible reply in return.

"Who knows? Maybe it's territorial, maybe religious, maybe some kind of insult. At any rate, I don't have a good enough grasp of the language yet to understand his reply."

"Well I'm glad we won't be dinner at least. When I'm strong enough, we need to find my seeker, or we'll all be fluent in a dead language before long." Angus states.

"Ken Jenkins, former marine and the head of security for the party.  We've been chasing down the Sky Raiders along with Lorain for over a year now."  The burly soldier introduced himself to Angus.

He looked around. "We'll do what we can get get back to your ship Angus.  I doubt if we all can fit aboard her even for a week though.  You'd have to go for help while the rest of us hold somewhere safe."  He shrugged.  "Surely the Sky Raiders had smaller jump capable ships.  Lorain, do you think they may still have some of them docked here?  I doubt if they are in much condition to fly though after all these years."

At the mention of their prisoner Ken nods at the suggestion. "He should be very willing to talk if the alternative is to star as fuel in that bonfire."

"Ex marine huh? How'd you lose your ship marine? I crash landed, my jump drive malfunctioned so I have an excuse, what happened to yours?"

Ken snorted without rancor. "Former marine..." He shook his head.  "Treachery.  The enemy that we've been dodging the entire time we've been on the trail with Lorain must have suborned the crew of our ship.  They attempted to gun our small ships down and stranded us here."