The group left their fellow expedition members at the long-abandoned housing/control complex, making their way up the long lift platform ride to the "surface" of the "Garden". The surface destination was a long flat building in a forest.

After a short walk through the forest they came to an area of cleared fields. Now able to see the "sky" Jedec then realised how large this chamber really was. It was kilometers across with 12-pentagonal facets separated by high ridges forming a sphere. In the middle was a burning sun, clouds moved across the interior of the space. The other facets overhead were mostly overgrown with forests, streams wound their way through them. One was completely flooded to form a lake. He could hear insects, see birds. A breeze rustled the trees and grass. Before them lay cleared and planted fields.

Laying repeaters as they went they returned to a small, primitive-looking village on a small hill surrounded by a wood palisade. Inside Dr. Gilenkaar (guarded by Jack) was working away at his computer, trying to build a verbal language program. He swore to himself, as they realised was his habit.

GM Note: Also reposting to make the sequence make more sense.

In reply to GM (msg # 939):

Dr. Gilenkaar was the only scientist present.

"I am about halfway done with the translating program. If you'd only stop bothering me I would make more progress."

Angus made himself familiar with the shotgun he got and loaded it but did not chamber a round. That could be done any time as it was a pump shotgun. He kept his ears open and his mouth shut for the most part, trying to get his head around 20 years and catching up with the news. Another Frontier War had been fought and won too.

Time to find his scout and see if it can be salvaged or used to get the shuttle flying again so they could escape this rock. Adapting the jump drives from a scout to a shuttle if necessary.

"Is there any point in us taking a copy of what you have so far?"  Billy asks the doctor.  "We are heading off to try to find a power source on the other side of this biodome, and we think we might run into the people who attacked us previously.  It would be good to have even a few words or phrases that we could use.  Something like 'we mean you no harm'  or 'do not come any closer'" Billy asks.

Then turning to his colleagues he asks, "And what are we going to do about the prisoner?  Leave him here?  If these people will continue to hold him ....  take him with us?  Or even just release him?"

In reply to Billy (msg # 942):

"Release and follow him? Try to speak with him Doc. to make sure they speak the same language even?"

In reply to Angus McStubbin (msg # 943):

The linguist snorted. "when I figure out these peoples' language, I'll ask the prisoner if he speaks it! And sure, release him. What did you think you were going to do with him?"

GM Note: Sorry, Gilenkaar knows his stuff but is also a bit of a jerk. This is apparent to the new arrivals.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:10, Tue 23 June 2020.

In reply to Dr. Lurushar Gilenkaar (msg # 944):

"We could gut him."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:55, Tue 23 June 2020.

"I think I prefer your earlier suggestion, of let him go and follow him".  Billy responds looking at the others for their thoughts.

"Lucky" Jack, the belter who was with Dr. Gilenkaar to act as bodyguard, snorted. "Seems like a bit of a waste after all the effort to save his life after lasing him yesterday and then keeping him safe until now."

In reply to Billy (msg # 946):

I'm guessing we don't have any tracking tech on us we could just tag him and then watch where he goes??

In reply to Jedec Istec (msg # 948):

"There's an idea. I was just thinking out loud, don't intend to gut him."

The belter shook his head. "Naw. I went over the gear we have. No trackers like the cops might use. Besides, he's a half-naked savage. No pockets. We'd practically need to implant it or have him swallow it. If we had a shop we could make something, but we don't."

Let the profs keep him to speak with. Blake is ready to go.

"Do you want him?" Billy asks Gilenkaar.

In reply to Billy (msg # 952):

The anthropological linguist thought about it for a moment.

"Yes, leave him with me. I think he could prove useful. Once I have the basics of the Sky Raider language down, I can maybe learn his, if it's a dialect. Then I can start to build a rapport."

"Right.  Lets go then. I know nothing about 'scouting' or the military, So someone lead the way ..."

"Agreed, I'm a belter." he elaborates.

In reply to Angus McStubbin (msg # 955):

With a snarky tone..

Do we have to vote on it or have a committee or can I just lead so we can get this moving?

In reply to Jedec Istec (msg # 956):

"Lead on Grasshopper!"

Billy grins, "Well you can go at the front ...."

"You lot bickering about who leads off?" asked Linus, looking rather amused.

Seeing that his suggestion was accepted, Jedec pulls his pistol, making sure the first 3 rounds loaded are tranq, and the next three anti personal. He taps at his ear to indicate his communicator, turns around and begins to head for a edge of the "cavern" as opposite to the elevator that we entered the space from.

Over his shoulder he says " give me about 5 meters then next follow, someone with some combat skills should also tail to protect the rear of the column"

Angus follows at about 5 meters, carrying his shotgun.

A couple of paces behind Angus, Billy asks  "Did you say you had a misjump,  to get here?"  However, he makes a point of looking on the opposite side of their route, to the way Angus is looking.

"Me, yes I misjumped and ended up in empty space, drifted here I guess. I dropped into cold sleep for the ride, had no idea it would take so long."