OOC: Just to let you know "results," Kri'lik's persuasion is what got you the information about how to get a permit if you want.

Let me know what you want to do next.  The potential goals and things to do are listed in the Quest Updates thread.

Hammer suggests, "Why don't we just go talk to RIK Zzik'Ti and see about the permit?  It may take us a few hours, but if he can get us one, our problem is solved.  If not, we've wasted a few hours.  My joints won't rust in that time."

"Can't hurt I guess?  Let's head out then!"

In reply to Desiraye Lipost (msg # 82):

"I think the Doc or S'Krllk make contact so we don't draw too much attention?"

It is lunchtime before you get back to the starport, and you each spend another credit for travel.

Zzik'ti takes you to a secluded restaurant for lunch to discuss your progress.  When you ask him about getting a permit, he asks you why.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 84):

Desiraye orders a reasonable lunch and a decent whiskey to sip on during their meeting with Zzik'Ti.  "We already got ourselves a body count.  We got caught up in a small riot where there was a group of anti-Vrusk delivering an ass-whooping to two Vrusk.  Lucky for them we stopped them when we did.  The one got medevac'd to a trauma center, the other one was well enough to go back to her house and gave us a good place to stay, reasonably cheap.  She was a shuttle pilot who thought there was some kind of foul play during that big explosion recently."

"I see," Zzik'Ti responds.  "But what does that have to do with Kipur?  Or finding out who LeGrange's killer is, for that matter?"  His mandibles move in an unreadable way. 

Finally, he says, "I can get you the permit, but it will take a day.  Come back tomorrow.  In the meantime, you probably saw the news broadcasts.  Ssi'Aq'Krr (SAK) news service is the only news trade house on Kraatar. So this unauthorized transmission--this threat--" and his mandibles flay out in anger "--may be identifiable if you go to the SAK offices.  They're in the Business District.  This may get you closer to finding LeGrange's killer.  Report back to me what you find."

S'Krllk has been busily taking notes on his bodycomp with one hand, and placing food in his upper mandibles with the other, occasionally switching hands. Finally, he says, "I'm not sure that SAK wouldn't have hired technicians from another house to run their transmissions. If there's no commisseration agreement in affect between the houses, they might be doing so independently, but I think the last revision committee passed a waiver for houses in designated frontier areas from the bailiwick rules. Of course, that would depend on the definition of frontier area and whether we were considered in one. I'm not well-versed on current inter-house commercial law, so I can't really be sure."
"But, until we know one way or the other the most likely place to find the person that made the broadcast would be in SAK. An unauthorized broadcast is still a broadcast, and would require some expertise to perform."

Zzik'Ti nods.  "Expertise, yes.  This is one thing you may want to hurry on.  The SAK House itself is most definitely investigating this.  They may have found something already, or you may beat them to it.  In any case, if you get the information quickly, perhaps you can beat them to it before there is a cover up.  The political ramifications of this will embarrass SAK if they are responsible -- in other words, if it was an inside job or their security was lax."

"It's a start.  We can look there and maybe get something," Desiraye says as they finish up their lunches.  She looks around and then reaches into her pack for something and then pulls out the tape she had gotten of the interview with LeGrange and the reporter who had hired them to tape it.  "Would you mind doing us a favor and holding on to this tape for us?"

Zzik'Ti nods and takes the thumbnail-sized disk from Desi, putting it in a pouch hanging at his side.

"It's probably nothing but, it's the last interview of LeGrange.

Let's head over to the SAK house to see if we can get any leads to help out here.  If this doesn't stop soon, this planet is going to be in a civil war!""
This message was last edited by the player at 21:55, Fri 24 Aug 2012.

"Civil war...why is it never easy with you all. I used to be a simple doctor but now I find myself always in the center of the surrounding conflicts. Civil war indeed. There is an approaching invasion!" Kri'lik grumbled as he followed the group to their next destination.

"Looking at the bigger picture, you're right.  The only easy day was yesterday Doc," Desiraye tell the professor of medicine as they head to their next destination.

S'Krllk remarks, dryly, "It's like the great K'Rpltnk said in his speech at Gttssgrrg during the Egg Wars, 'the universe trying to kill you is just its way of showing you it cares'."

An hour later, you arrive at the SAK offices.  The hustle and bustle, and increased security, is obvious there.  Ever since the unauthorized transmission, they seem to be thwarting claims of their lack of security.

At the main building, security guards block your way.  "Do you have press passes or security clearance?" one of them asks.

S'Krllk turns to Kri'lik and attempts to dissemble, "I did say they would ask, but it doesn't matter, now. We need to know if they were asking at least two revolutions ago."

The guards seem to find your story plausible that you are there to investigate the issue and that your non-Vrusk companions are there to assist.  (Successful persuasion roll.)

You move into the building and find that people are scurrying around.  There are two potentially interesting paths to take.  You could follow some officials who are heading quickly to the left down the hall or go to the control room to investigate.  (Or something else.)

Desiraye turns to S'Krllk and Kri'lik, "Where are we off to sirs?"

S'Krllk looks around, taking notice of the technicians actually running the place, then defers to Kri'lik, "We could begin by checking the calibration of the instruments, but I believe it should be your call."

"You should be giving the orders while we're here if I'm supposed to be one of your workers S'Krllk," Desiraye leans over to whisper to S'Krllk.

"Technician Desiraye, I beleive he was talking to me." Says Kri'lik in rather unusual commanding voice. "Lets check the instruments first and get the technical work out of the way."

You go to the control room of the Ssi'Aq'Krr (SAK) news service, which you know is the only news trade house on Kraatar.

You find three officials in the room, all Vrusk.  The control center systems have been shut down and the three are talking in an animated fashion, but they stop when you enter.

One of them, the oldest of the group and apparently some official in the government, turns and says, "May I help you?"

Hammer stands behind the others, silently watching and trying to look more like a robot than he ever has before.

Desiraye gives a slight bow of her head to S'Krllk, "Apologies sir."