DAY 6

Your sixth day since the assassination of LeGrange begins like the others.  You hear about further riots, problems with race relations between the Vrusk and the other races, tensions between the various trade houses.  All normal fodder for Kraatar.

But then you hear of something new on the television broadcasts.  All five Kraatar program channels carry news of this event. A request has been made by a Mrs and Mr Manbela for the body of Jack Legrange, which had been kept at the starport. Vist'Lat officials were reluctant to hand over the body at first, but have done so after evidence was produced to prove that Legrange's real name was Cuitriss Manbela. The funeral is scheduled to take place at Quazzt's Depression in 6 days and is expected to be well attended by mourners.

Orvo also joins your group again, claiming he has finished his assignments and has the next week off to join you in whatever adventure a scientifically minded dralasite like himself might have.  You fill him in on everything that happened, and he seems glad to have missed the danger but sad to have missed the fun.

(The Transglobal Monorail will take you to Quazzt's Depression.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:49, Thu 24 Apr 2014.

Hammer says, "I think it's time for us to go visit this quazzt's depression and see what's really going on there, both with LeGrange and with the unauthorized landings.

Porter agrees with Hammer.  He changes his garb, removing his service uniform and putting on some general purpose utilities.  "Quazzt's Depression is outside my jurisdiction.  But if the Sathar and these quatterie...shadow whatevers are plotting something, I would wager the unauthorized landings are connected."

"We could use a little trip and some rest after  what we've been through the past few days."

You all check out of your hotel room, pack up your things, and head to the monorail, where you buy your tickets for 20 credits each (please subtract from character sheets).

THE MONORAIL
From Gozzorf, monorail lines stretch around the planet, linking most major settlements on Kraatar. Monorail trains leave Gozzorf station every 4 hours and travel at about 290kph (8 hours per hex). (The map is posted in a separate thread.)

You realize it will take just over 4 days to reach Quazzt.

As Kraatar is very mountainous, most citizens rely on the monorail for long distance travel, only using ground cars and explorers for short journeys. Travel on the transglobal monorail costs 20 Cr per day, irrespective of distance. The trains stop at all towns along their route for 10 minutes while cargo and mail is collected. Unless they break down, the trains never stop between stations.

Signs at mountain and desert stations remind travellers that breathing apparatus  is required. Apparatus to fit all character races can be purchased at all monorail stations, and emergency sets are stored in lockers between each carriage.

You each have to purchase a breathing apparatus.  This costs 200 credits (100 for mask, 100 for 2 tanks.  If you are a dralasite, you instead pay 400 credits for the bag. (Please subtract from your character sheet.)

BREATHING APPARATUS
Mass: mask/bag - negligible; tanks - 5kg each
Cost: mask - 100Cr; bag - 400Cr;
tank - 50Cr; tank re-fill - 10Cr.

Breathing apparatus is used to supplement the oxygen supply in thin atmospheres. Air is carried in two tanks, each holding sufficient oxygen for 10 hours. In Human and Yazirian models the air supply is via a flexible plastic tube to a face mask. A Vrusk or Dralasite model consists of a strong yet flexible, clear plastic bag. Dralasites enter the bags and zip themselves in, allowing all their breathing pores to be supplied with oxygen. Vrusk bags cover the abdomen only and have special seals for the legs and upper body. Defensive suits and screens function normally with breathing apparatus. Being unpressurised, breathing apparatus cannot be used in vacuum.

THE TRAIN
Monorail trains are suspended by a flexible steel pylon from an overhead steel rail. The rail is supported by steel girders embedded in rock, obviating the need for tunnels or cuttings.

The plan of a typical monorail train can be found along the bottom of the inner module folder. The trains are made up from five distinct types of carriage: an engine car, two cargo cars, two sleeper cars, one restaurant car and two recreation cars. The passenger cars are comfortably appointed with large glass windows providing panoramic views of the passing countryside. All carriages are pressurised and fully air-conditioned and waiter service is available at all times. The recreation cars provide facilities such as holo-movie screens, holo-music-videos, and so on, all at no extra cost.

Carriages are connected by flexible tubes and sealed by automatic doors. By the entrance to each carriage is an emergency locker containing sets of breathing apparatus (six Vrusk, six Human, two Dralasite and two Yazirian). Each carriage has a plate in the ceiling which allows emer¬gency access to the carriage's roof.
The train has a crew of nine: two RIK guards (1 Beam weapons specialist and 1 Projectile weapons specialist); two ST technicians (manning the engine car); and five ST stewards who see to the comfort of the passengers.

NOTE: The emergency breathing apparatus is in addition to what you need to purchase.  They are for emergencies only, and planet regulations require personal equipment to also be on hand for any passengers.


THE HIGH LINE

Once the preliminaries are taken care of, you board the train.

It is about three-quarters full, and you are shown to your sleeping compartments.  You are handed keys to safely lock up any equipment and told you are free to visit the lounges and restaurant whenever you wish.

You get settled, realizing it will be about 4 days' journey to get to Quazzt, and you curse the laws restricting normal air travel on this planet.

While boarding the train, you notice two Humans and a Vrusk loading some recording gear onto the train.  They look to be some sort of news crew.  They do not appear to have any weapons or defenses.

Beyond that, you will have to do some exploring to see who is aboard, though you realize that this is one of the last trains that will make it to Quazzt in time for LeGrange's funeral.  You also find it odd that the news reported that LeGrange's real name was Cuitriss Manbela, upon the request of Mr. and Mrs. Manbela to turn over the body for the funeral.

But stranger things have happened to you lately...

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:30, Mon 05 May 2014.

OOC: Porter spent ALL of his starting credits on what little gear he has.  And with this mission going outside his JD, I doubt he can requisition Star Law to foot the bill.  Anyone willing and able to loan him the money for the train/breathing apparatus?

Let's just say it was payday, and he gets an extra 1000 credits.  Since you joined the game late, it's only fair that Porter get a little spending money.

OOC: Thanks!

While on the train, Porter goes over his sparse information, which appears may be partially in error.  He was ordered to investigate Orvo's abduction, when apparently he was working in the lab all along.  Also, the name discrepancy of Dr. LaGrange.  Something doesn't sit right, and Porter wonders how to best go about finding the truth.

In reply to Sgt. Porter Min (msg # 8):

Orvo had disappeared because he had been captured, and then the party saved him and he helped them for awhile before going back to his duties.  Orvo's rescue is documented beginning on Day 3, at message 77.  I am sure the party would have brought Porter up to speed on everything that happened during day 3.  On Day 4, Orvo went back to the lab to do some necessary work.

In message 81, Orvo describes his kidnapping by two Sathar, who stashed his body in a cube enclosure in the lab until it conformed to the container like a gelatinous cube.

You are currently in Day 1 of the monorail ride.  From here, you will need to tell me what you want to explore or look at during the ride.  Occasionally, things will happen.

Porter will try to find the news crew in one of the lounges or the restaurant - if he can get a chance to talk to just one of them it would be best, but if they stick together so be it.  He will strike up some small talk.

You catch up with the news crew during lunch in the restaurant car.  They are friendly and happy to talk to you about their work.  They seem very loyal to the SAK News Service trade house where they work and nothing seems amiss as you sit at the table across from them.

Also nearby in the restaurant car, you see two Vrusk engaging in a debate about the cause of the recent riots, a dralasite sitting across from a Yazirian playing some sort of card game, and two humans talking about how much they hate Kraatar and can't wait to get back home.

S'Krllk figures he's been running around shooting things long enough that his other skills may be getting rusty. After looking at all the files on his bodycomp and attempting to cull the unnecessary, he begins to scan the train, end to end, intending to produce schematics for the vehicle with as much detail as he has time and space for.
No, it wouldn't pay, but it was better than boredom.

After overhearing the humans talking, Desiraye will approach them and ask, "So, where is home?"

As I talk to the news crew, I'll let them know I'm in the UPFMC, but won't mention my recent affiliation with Star Law.  I'll try to find out, subtly, if they know anything of the LeGrange/Manbela connection.  Who are the Manbelas?  How was LeGrange connected to them?  Why did he change his name?  That sort of stuff.

The humans turn to Desi and one jokingly retorts, "Anyplace but Kraatar."  They laugh.  "Seriously, we both come from Morgaine's World.  Since it's a UPF and Star Law base, somehow we got assigned to this mess of a planet.  Nothing against Vrusk and all, but we need a change in scenery."

The news crew opens up with Porter.  They say they are being sent to cover LeGrange's funeral, and would certainly love it if he has any leads for them.  "Funerals are boring gigs," one says.  "Anything you have to give us a scoop on a story?  We can go off the record, or I can interview you as part of a special interest piece surrounding the funeral."

The Vrusk and one female human are technicians.  The other human is the director and reporter.  The Vrusk will plan to stay back at the station for broadcast of the reports, while the two humans plan to go report on the funeral itself.  It quickly becomes obvious that you probably know more than they do.

The director says, "There's been so much unrest on Kraatar since LeGrange's death.  I'm not sure if this funeral will bring closure to the violence or just reignite it.  I hope our story will help quell the violence.  But, no, I don't know about the Manbela connection."

The Vrusk technician turns down a drink, saying it is not good for the body, and says, "The racial tension is concerning.  I mean, why can't we all just get along?"  He says, "My  name is Ki'Tk'Hatt.  I've been under a lot of stress lately, and I'm hoping this assignment will be like a vacation."

The human director pats him affectionately on the arm and says, "Yes, we hope this is all a good rest for you.  Like a vacation."


This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 21:21, Thu 08 May 2014.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 16):

Desiraye takes some interest in what the humans are talking about and tries to strike up some small talk with them to kill some time.  "So, what do you guys do here?                                 You guys aren't Star Law Rangers?  Are you?" asks Desi with a hint of curiosity and playing coy with the men.

One of the humans says, "We're just computer specialists.  We're on our way to Quazzt because it's a good destination for humans.  75% or so of the residents are humans, and about 25% Vrusk.  It's very different from Gozzorf, and I think it's time we got away from the riots and all the problems there."

"Interview me?  I'm just a grunt on leave.  I doubt I've got anything to say that would interest anyone much.  I just figured, with all the hoopla surrounding the funeral, it would be a good chance to visit the Quazzt region while I wait around for my orders to ship out."

Porter finds the treatment of Ki'Tk'Hatt by the reporter somewhat patronizing.  He shifts the conversation towards the racial tensions.  "So, as reporters, I figure you or your colleagues must be up to date on just how bad things are getting with the tension between humans and vrusk.  Is there anything you can tell me that's not being reported?  Off the record, of course!" Porter grins.  "Just want to keep my head down during all this."

The director shrugs.  "It should be much safer for everyone in Quazzt than back at Gozzorf.  In fact, if anything, the Vrusk get the short end of the stick in Quazzt and get called all sorts of names, since they are the minority there.  My name is Minh, by the way."

The Vrusk comments, "There may be more bias against Vrusk in Quazzt, but at least there's not all this violence and riots and that kind of thing.  I'll be able to relax."

Minh says, "In any case, if we find information, we report it.  I wish we had some secrets to tell, but we're just doing our job trying to find the secrets.  Being sent on a 6 day trip to Quazzt isn't exactly showing that we have all the scoops because this is going to be 6 days of boredom before we actually have a story to report."

The Vrusk says, "Maybe I should just sleep through the whole trip.  Much less stressful that way."

Minh says, "As long as you're good to go when we get to Quazzt, relax as best you can."

"I've been in the service so long.  Our 'news' service reports only what the top brass want reported.  No offense intended.  If I hear of anything of interest on the train, I'll let you know.  Can I offer any of you a drink?  I'm partial to that Yazirian lager."

Hammer says to the humans, "Maybe I'll be the first Mechanon to ever step foot in Quazzt.  What do you think?  Will they be accepting of a motley group like us?"

As he passes by, S'Krllk says to Hammer, "If by accepting you mean no one will try to shoot us, then I doubt it."
Standing where he stopped to talk, he scans the car they're in.

The car is a normal restaurant car.  There is a buffet style area, and the occasional waiter.  Other than your group, the car is occupied by the two humans, the news crew, the two Vrusk debating the riots, and the dralasite and yazirian playing cards.  The rest of the tables are empty.

It is a tight fit, of course, because the tables are against the window allowing only up to 4 to sit at a table, and then a walkway along the side of the tables that can get crowded if multiple people try to move through at once.

In total, the restaurant car has 10 booths and can hold up to 40 guests at a time.

"Hopefully all of this bullcrap stops, soon.  Nothing good is coming out of it and it may turn into a civil war if people aren't careful.

Are you guys hungry?  Any problems with computers down here since the problems here started?"

Desiraye smiles at her metal comrades comments.  "At the rate we're going, we my be running this place pretty soon Hammer!"

As Desiraye comments to Hammer, S'Krllk adds, "Assuming the universe doesn't kill us first."

"That's certainly an option too!  We need to assure that doesn't happen anytime soon."

After chatting a bit more with the news crew, Porter will excuse himself and head back to his cabin.

As he passes his companions talking to the humans, he makes eye contact with at least one of them to signal that he wants to talk in private later about what he's learned and what they're learning.  He has quite the charming wink and eye-roll.

Hammer will follow Porter to see what he wants to talk about.

When Porter and Hammer are alone, Porter tells him, "I think we need to keep an eye on that news crew.  They didn't appear to know anything useful, but they were acting strangely.  Especially the vrusk, who appears to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown.  Why would he be so anxious unless they are hiding something that the vrusk is uncomfortable with?  If we can, one of our group should try to talk to him alone.  Did you and Desi find out anything interesting?"

"Nothing too helpful.  Kri'lik or S'krllk might want to talk to the Vrusk since they are also Vrusk."

Nothing else of significance develops at the restaurant car.  The humans leave after a bit, the dralasite wins all the gambling money from a now disgruntled yazirian, and the news crew goes off to its cabins.

Nothing else happens for the rest of the day.

You get the cabin number for the news crew by telling them you'd be happy to share what you know.  This way, you can talk to the Vrusk at your leisure.  But they are tired and want to do it a different day.

Otherwise having a rather unproductive day, you settle in for the night.

DAY TWO

The second day into your six day journey begins.  You go down for breakfast and find the dining car full of guests, mostly human and a few Vrusk.  The only one you see who looks familiar is the dralasite.  He is again playing cards, this time with a human female.

A number of humans in the car look at your mixed race party with more than a little suspicion and anger in their eyes, particularly at the Vrusk members (Kri'lik and S'krllk).

The female human gets up, quitting the card game with the dralasite.  She looks slightly familiar, but you can't place her.

Hammer approaches the lady.  "Excuse me, ma'am. Have we met before?  You look very familiar."

Desiraye will approach with Hammer and stand just behind him and let him interview her.  Desiraye tries to remember where she saw her from.

The woman suddenly stiffens.  "Uh, no, I don't think so."  She nods and quickly leaves, going quickly down the hall away from you.

Desiraye puts his hand on Hammer's shoulder and tells Kirscht, "Honest mistake ma'am.  Sorry to bother you."

Porter shrugs as the woman walks by, and goes over and takes a seat next to the Dralasite.  "Morning," he says.  "Mind if I have a seat here?  The car's a little crowded."

Assuming the Dralasite doesn't mind, Porter will ask what game he plays, and will try a hand of it - fully expecting to lose to what he assumes is a professional card sharp.

Hammer turns suddenly, his Mechanon expression of surprise.  "That was Kirscht?  Why is she here?"

"If I recall, she's going to see her grandmother."

"Can that be a coincidence?" Hammer asks, trying to see if he can tell which room Kirscht goes to.  Then he looks at the dralasite and suggests, "Maybe we should talk to the dralasite about her.  He might be able to help us."

"It couldn't hurt at this poit.  I remember she was pretty destitute when we were in her apartment.  Maybe she has a gambling problem?"

OOC:  Please excuse my short posts but, we're going crazy with house shopping here and my time has not been what it was.  I'm trying to keep up.

When you look over at the dralasite, he says, "You here to play some cards?  I only bet with real credits here."

"I'm in for 100 credits," Hammer says with a smile as he sits down to play.  "What's the game?"

Desiraye stands behind Hammer as he begins to play a game with the Dralasite.  She does keep looking back to where her Vrusk team members are sitting and forgets that the sergeant is nearby as well in case of trouble.  It was nice having another set of eyes to watch out.

Porter slides over to let Hammer have a seat.  "I can pony up 100 cred as well."

Desiraye steps from behind Hammer and positions herself behind the Sergeant by putting her hands on his shoulders and whispers into his ear, "The woman who just left the table is someone we've run into before and might be of some interest to us.  See what you can get out of the Dral."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Tue 03 June 2014.

The dralasite says, "Welcome to my game then.  The game here is 'Moons over Kraatar,' a local favorite of the Vrusk.  There is some luck involved, but mostly it's about bluffing and playing your hands wisely."

He gives you a lesson in how to play the game with the various moon cards.  After you feel comfortable, he says, "That's 100 credits from each of you and 100 credits from me."  There are 300 credits in the ante.

"With this game," he says, "you may bet up the pot up to 100 percent of the ante on your turn.  Up to 3 raises may be made before you must call or fold.  If everyone passes, it is an automatic call.  If you have the worst hand and you call, then you can get your portion of the ante back.  All clear?"

OOC: I'm not going to create a new game here, but for purposes of betting, I will tell you if you have a bad, average, good, or great hand (randomly determined by dice rolling).  (If you tie on this range, then a percentile roll will determine whose hand is better.)

You look at your cards, and find:
Porter has a great hand.
Hammer has a good hand.

Hammer will raise by 50 credits.

Porter also raises 50 credits on his go.

"I will call," the dralasite says.  You show your cards, and Porter wins, getting his original money plus 150 credits put in the pot by Hammer.  Since the dralasite called with the worst hand, he gets his money back.

"How about another hand?" he says.  "Same ante?"

Porter looks at Hammer.  "I'm in.  How about you, big guy?"

Hammer says, "Me too. Ante up."

Desi will continue to watch the Dralasite to see what is going on while the three play cards.

The dralasite antes up and deals the cards:

Porter has a great hand.
Hammer has an average hand.

Desiraye smiles as she thinks she has figured out the Dralasites game plan.  She will say aloud in a calm voice, "Is it cheating if you are psychic and can read peoples' minds while playing cards?"

The dralasite raises the pot by 100 credits and then looks up at Desiraye.  "There is no such thing as reading minds.  The only cheater here is the Kirscht woman.  She tried to pick my pocket.  Who are you anyway?"  Though hard to read a dralasite's face, he must clearly be offended by the accusation.

After Desi's whispered info about the woman and the dralasite gambler's accusation, Porter is now very interested in Kirscht.  He's also paying attention to the dralasite's expressions and actions to see if he can detect any cheating.

"I'll raise another 50 creds.  And let's hope there's no cheating going on by any of us.  It's just a nice, friendly game."

OOC: Porter has Intuition 50.  Does he feel as if any of the dral's actions or words are suspicious?

Hammer doesn't comment on the turn of events.  He simply says, "I fold.  But by the way, my name's Hammer.  What's yours?"

"That clears up a little of the problem then.  We were trying to figure out what her angle was.  How long were you playing with her?"

The dralasite replies, "20 minutes or so."  To Hammer, he says, "My name is Blirdor."

He finishes the hand.  This time, the dralasite wins.

Hammer says, "I think I'm done with gambling for today.  You got to know when to hold them, and know when to fold them."  He stands up and whispers something to Desiraye.

"It has been fun.  Maybe I'll join you for a few more hands tomorrow.  I'm Sgt. Min, by the way."  Porter smiles and reaches out a hand to shake.

Whether Blirdor returns the gesture or not, he continues, "This was a fun game.  I'll be sure to show my buddies on base when I get back to standard duty.  I'm sure it will be a hit."

After leaving the table and getting out of ear-shot, he tells Desiraye and Hammer, "You know how some dralasites every now and then know when someone's lying?  I think that Blirdor is especially good at that.  No cheating through card manipulation or anything, it's just really hard to bluff him.

"Now, please tell me a bit more about Kirscht.  What's her story, and why should we pay attention to her?"

"Both of their names came up during our investigation.  Wasn't Blirdor suspected of trying to bribe us with something?"

"Are you just an unusually lucky gambler or do some of your other talents include threatening people to do what you want them to do?"

"Threats?" the dralasite says, surprised.  "No threats.  I am just a gambler who likes his games.  Why do you reproach me so?"

Porter stays back at the other end of the car while Desiraye confronts Blirdor.  He's ready to react in case there's trouble.  But if things don't blow up, he thinks it might be wise to have at least someone in their group who can still talk to the dralasite.  If he's a suspect in some crime, Porter wants to keep up the best relationship possible with Blirdor in case good cop-bad cop tactics are needed.

Desiraye moves closer to the table where Blirdor has been sitting and sits down herself.  Keeping both of her hands on the table, she continues the conversation.  "Pulling a scared Vrusk into a closet and telling him that he had to put a portable drive into the control room at the SAK offices and his job depended on it.    Perhaps it was a recorder or a relay device you had him plant there?

We also have evidence of this of you on video."

"I never did any such thing, and you don't have a video like that," the dralasite says.  "Is this some form of intimidation to help you see if I bluff?  Amateurs."  He shakes his head.  "If you want to play, let's play.  Otherwise, let someone else join me."

Desiraye smiles at the Dralasite when he comments about bluffing.  "The girl was the perfect set up to get close to you to verify your identity.   Believe me Blirdor, we do have that evidence already to the authorities and it was pretty clear as well as a corroborating evidence to convict you wher you will be playing for cigarettes and snacks in prison.  Enjoy you last couple of days as a free being."

The dralasite shows no hesitation when he says, "I don't know who you are.  I get the feeling you are telling the truth as far as you know it, but since your allegations are false, please show me the evidence you think you have."

"IF you're willing to clear your name Mr. Blirdor, I can contact the people who have hired us to do the investigation.  They are in possession of ALL of the evidence and witnesses that has been collected thus far.  We have already made an initial contact with our employers about finding you on this train and they're waiting to hear from us on how you want to further proceed.

I'm not here to judge you Mr. Blirdor, we were hired to do a job and we are filling our obligation.  I assure you, this is not personal on any level, just business.  Kind of like your card game.  You don't take it too personally if you win or lose.  It's your job and you go with the flow.  If you have nothing to hide, there should be no problems?"

Blirdor listens to you thoughtfully and says, "I think you mistake me for someone else.  I was recently the victim of identity theft, which is easier than you might think for dralasites.  His name is 'Gorboz,' and he's quite the criminal mastermind."

Blirdor leans back. "Gorboz also got me in trouble for a robbery gone bad in the offices of a human advisor named Semoins a few days ago.  Something about planting a bug and getting information related to LeGrange.  Semoins is a human advisor for the Clic'Aqat trade house, which had some executives on the Golden Dawn ship at the time of LeGrange's murder, execution, assassination, martyrdom, or whatever it's called.  Once they figured out it wasn't me, they linked Gorboz to the Vist'Lat trade house, which I think Semoins was investigating or something."

He says, "I don't have all the information, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are still sending people to spy on me, just in case they change their mind about my lack of involvement.  In fact, when you made the accusation, I thought you might be with them, but now I see I was wrong.  I'm not usually wrong when it comes to reading people.  Hmm."

Desiraye looks curiously at the Dralasite and his comments.  "Would you be willing to make a formal statement to what you just told us?  That would clear your name and get us off your back and we can go after the real criminal, this, Gorboz is it?

Everyone has a bad day every now and again Blirdor.  I'm good at what I/we do and I don't like it when we're off.  People can lose their lives and no, this isn't a threat to you sir."

Blirdor says, "If I go on record in this political environment, I'm dead.  Better to stay off the radar if you're not a Vrusk.  But I think if you find Gorboz, you'll be in a better position to finding your perpetrator.  They mentioned he  ran around with a Yazirian who did his bidding.  I think the name was Sikriie.  I don't know much more than that, even though I was trying to eavesdrop on the investigators."

OOC: In case you have forgotten your encounter with the Yazirian, go here at about message #107: link to a message in this game

As Porter listens to Desiraye interrogating the Dralasite, he sends a message to Star Law, asking for any information they may have on Gorboz and/or Sikriie.

Other than that he hangs back, watching Desiraye get to the truth.

The response Porter gets back is that he is no listed in their books, but if it is a local Kraatar matter, they do not have access to those records.  They suggest that he contact RIK authorities for answers to that question.

Blirdor is getting uncomfortable with you hovering over him asking him questions.  He mentions something about not wanting to be in the field of fire when all hell breaks loose, gathers his cards and money, and heads back to his room.

With nothing else of interest in the vicinity, you go back to your rooms.

OOC: I will advance this to the next day unless someone is doing something else.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:28, Tue 22 July 2014.

Desiraye stands up and extends her hand to the Dralasite.  "We appreciate your time and input in trying to clear this up.  In our report to our employers, we will be sure to include your participation in our investigation to clear your name.  We will also inform them that you DO NOT appear to be the one involved in the incident and provided information about other parties that should be investigated.  I'm a pretty good read of people too Mr. Blirdor and it appears to me that you are not a person of interest, unless something else comes up, which I don't foresee.    Thank you very much for your time and enjoy the rest of your journey.  I will try to keep your name out of any further incidents that may come up, unless, there is an obvious involvement.  Good day to you."

If after shaking hands, Desiraye turns to the rest of the group and see what they would like to do next and then report what she needs to.

Nothing else happens that day.  On the following day, you make your way to the restaurant area in the morning.

Nearby are the same group of reporters you met previously, eating a meal together.

The woman Kirscht, who was playing cards with Blirdor, is also nearby eating alone, eyes darting around the room to various people.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 79):

"What do you want to try and do today?  I think we can cross off Blirdor as a further person of interest.  DO we push up on the girl over there or something else?"

Hammer says, "We might want to keep our eyes out for these investigators who are eavesdropping.  Why are they doing that?  Is there something else there?  And I think we need to keep our eyes out for any other dralasites.  One of them might be this Gorboz, especially if people are following Blirdor around.  There may be more suspects on this ride than we would've thought."

"I got nowhere with the news team yesterday, but it doesn't mean we should stop trying.  I still feel like something is not right with the group.  Someone else want to chat them up today?  Kirscht doesn't know me, so I might be best to talk to her.  Is she a suspect in the assassination, or the sabotage at the lab?  Does she have connections to the Sathar or these Quantatary...Quantique... whatever they ares?"

In reply to Sgt. Porter Min (msg # 82):

"My gut tells me something with the lab.  I don't think it is in her blood for any kind of wet work.  She seems like she's the sabotage type rather than the assassin."

As you're discussing your theories, the Vrusk from the news crew gets up and leaves the restaurant car, likely to use the little vrusk boy's room.

But then in the hallway just outside the car, you hear the sounds of a scuffle.  A human voice says: "Watch it bug! You've not taken over yet!"  You hear the sounds of hitting.

The news crew looks over in shock, but the whole car seems to be paralyzed into inaction at the violence just beyond the door to the restaurant car.

EDIT: To refresh your memory, the name of the SAK news technician was Ki'Tk'Hatt.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:08, Fri 01 Aug 2014.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 84):

OOC: LIke Kit Kat?

BIC:  Desiraye gets up from their table and makes her way outside the car their sitting in and sees what the problem is.

Hammer does likewise.  His laser pistol is ready at his side.

Porter also heads toward the sounds of a scuffle, but does not draw hi s weapon.  This will hopefully require nonlethal force to settle.

OOC:  Oh boy...  <grin>

S'Krllk gets up and approaches the news crew; in the event they believe Ki'Tk'Hatt is being ganged up on, he will re-assure the crew that 'his humans' don't do those sort of things. Whether or not he can keep a straight face while using that phrase is another question.

You go outside the restaurant car and see a disturbing sight.  Two humans are attacking the Vrusk, hitting him violently and hurling insults.  The Vrusk is on the floor injured and being kicked by the two humans.

The humans do not have weapons, but at seeing you open the door, say, "Stand back.  This isn't your fight."

"You gentleman have made it our fight!  I will tell you one time and one time only, back away from him and we'll forget that this happened.  You must be proud of yourselves needing the both of you to do this."  Desiraye will take a fighting stance but does nothing yet.

This message was deleted by the player at 17:11, Tue 05 Aug 2014.

"Stand back, you bug lovers!" calls out one of the humans.

Another says to your group, "You're all traitors to the human race.  They are nothing but vermin."

But the third sees Hammer's laser pistol, and they all three stiffen and then give one final kick to the Vrusk before running down the train car.

The news crew is pushing through you now and running to their Vrusk friend.  "Ki'Tk'Hatt!" says the human female director of the news crew to the fallen Vrusk.  "Are you all right?"

But it appears that the Vrusk is not conscious, having been kicked in the head several times.

The female technician says to you, "Get a doctor!"  Then she is down with the director to cradle the Vrusk's head.

Meanwhile, the human attackers are moving into the next car.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 93):

Desiraye moves next to the fallen Vrusk and tries to stabilize him.  "Hammer, cover that direction where those three went.  I think we took the wind out of their sails but, if they come back, I want to know and be ready for them!

Someone go and get the Doc in here!  This guy's pretty bad and this is his specialty.  S'Krllk and Sarge, make sure we don't get jumped by anyone else and maybe talk to the TV people?"

"Roger that."  Porter keeps an eye on the other occupants of the train car, and watches the door the humans escaped through in case they come back with friends.  He doesn't draw his pistol, but keeps his right hand akimbo in case he needs to draw it quickly.

Kri'lik bends down and begins administering to the injured Vrusk, looking to see how bad his injuries really are.  "Don't worry," he says, "I'm a doctor."

"Hammer, I think you can holster and stand-by."

Following the news crew, S'Krllk attempts to scan the area in which the humans escaped.
"Every time I start to think the humans have learned to cull their eggs, they remind me how wrong I am."

"Sometimes,  we just can't help ourselves.  It's a shame how some people act. "

Kri'lik stabilizes "KitKat" (OOC: I didn't create that name, but I agree with Desi that it sounds like that).  Kri'lik notices that KitKat's head was badly injured in the attack.

A steward arrives and helps take KitKat to his room for medical treatment.  KitKat stumbles along the hall holding his head but not talking.

After they leave, the female human director says, "What disgraceful behavior.  They are complete thugs."

The female technician says, "Yes, but it's just symptomatic of the current unrest on Kraatar, especially after the assassination of LeGrange."

The director turns to you and says, "We're very grateful for your help.  They could have killed him.  KitKat has had some rough times lately.  He just got back from a sick leave at a sanatorium.  He's been suffering from extreme stress, and this will just make it all worse."

The technician says, "We'll tell him what you did to help him, and then I'm sure he will want to thank you himself later today.  He'll probably be resting in his room."

Desiraye tries to take it down a level since there are no more apparent threats to be dealt with at the moment.  She tries to be sympathetic to the female technician while speaking with her about the incident.  "I'm glad we could help.  We don't like to see stuff like that happen to those not involved only because of one's race.  Given the circumstances that are going on, on this planet, I understand the behavior but, don't condone it.  This assassination is beginning to tear the planet apart with the lay-offs and violence.

This sanatorium, is it a popular place for people to go to relax and deal with stress?  He may need another trip, not to sound morbid or like an insensitive bitch."

OOC: Sorry, it looks like we sort of stalled here, and I've been super busy and didn't push it forward.

The director says, "The sanitorium is not exactly a vacation, so 'popular' is probably not the right word.  The sanatorium's manin function is to provide therapy for over-worked Vrusk through 'stress-alleviation therapy.'  If I recall correctly, it's main offices are somewhere around Quazzt's Depression, so maybe KitKat can conveniently go there to help with this injury."

"Does it work?"

Turning to Kri'lik, S'Krllk speaks Vrusk, mostly,

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
"I'm having a little trouble translating..."

---

"...over-worked Vrusk..."

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
"...for my diary. How would you say that?"

---

The director shrugs.  "Who knows.  He hasn't been back that long, and we don't want to intrude into his personal affairs.  It seems like a popular enough place, I suppose.  Go talk to him about it if you want.  I'm sure he'll be glad to thank the people who just saved him.  He's in Car 3, Cabin 204."

"Ok, guess it couldn't hurt to ask him?  Doc, S'Krllk?  You want to go over and talk to him and see what he has to say?  It's probably nothing but, can't hurt to ask.  Call it a welfare check to see how he's doing.'

Porter asks the humans, "Did you see those perps before the incident?  Did it seem like they were targeting Kit'Kat on purpose or did it seem like a random incident?  Can you tell me how the incident started?"

OOC: Porter will wait for answers between each question, just wanted to get them all in in one post to save time.

They respond that it looked like just a symptom of the hatred and racial tension that is permeating Kraatar right now.  They had never seen the thugs before, "and, quite frankly," one says, "everything happened so fast, I'm not sure I even got a look at their faces."

His minor mandibles clacking together, S'Krllk doesn't quite manage to stop himself from murmuring an indication that all humans seem to have very similar appearances, to him.

Porter nods.  "It likely was random, but I'll investigate further if you'd like.  The perps aren't likely to get away, if Kit'Kat would like to press charges."

OOC: Would Porter or the other party members recognize the assailants if we saw them again?  And do we want to try and track them down for questioning, or not?

You might recognize them, but it really just looked like random racial violence.  (OOC: The "plot hook" regarding this attack will come later.)

Well, in that case, if there's something else to do, let's do it if not, let's get some rest.  I'm not sure we want to go looking for trouble but, none of us travels alone, Vrusk especially!

You go to see "KitKat" about the accident, and he thanks you profusely for the help.

"I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there to--"  He pauses, wincing in pain as a hand goes to his Vrusk head.  "These headaches are bad."

Kri'lik, the doctor of your group, takes a look.  You all see a very bad bruise on his head where he was beaten.

"My head has not stopped hurting since the attack.  I think I'm going to take some medicine and try to sleep this off."

"Before we let you rest, we have a doctor that could possibly try to give you a look over?"

OOC: I assumed he already looked over KitKat.  A private line to Kri'LIk explains his technical findings.

OOC: I only ask because he seems to still be having problems.

OOC: no problem.  I'm going to try to make up for lost time here.

You leave KitKat to rest, and go back to your cabins.  You even finding yourself reading the brochures about the monorail.

You notice that the trains stop at all towns along their route for 10 minutes while cargo and mail is collected.  This makes the trip seem even longer. Luckily, unless they break down, the trains never stop between stations.

Signs at mountain and desert stations (and in the brochures) remind travellers that breathing apparatus is required for venturing outside the monorail in the mountainous areas.  Apparatus to fit all character races can be purchased at all monorail stations, and emergency sets are stored in lockers between each carriage.

The monorail trains are suspended by a flexible steel pylon from an overhead steel rail. The rail is supported by steel girders embedded in rock, obviating the need for tunnels or cuttings.

The plan of a typical monorail train can be found along the bottom of the brochure, along with a traveler's welcome and a digital map of your destination and a handdrawn rough picture of the monorail. The trains are made up from five distinct types of carriage: an engine car, two cargo cars, two sleeper cars, one restaurant car and two recreation cars. It seems like most of your activity has been in the restaurant car or next door with the card playing dralasite.

The passenger cars are comfortably appointed with large glass windows providing panoramic views of the passing countryside. All carriages are pressurised and fully air-conditioned and waiter service is available at all times. The recreation cars provide facilities such as holo-movie screens, holo-music-videos, and so on, all at no extra cost.

Carriages are connected by flexible tubes and sealed by automatic doors. By the entrance to each carriage is an emergency locker containing sets of breathing apparatus (six Vrusk, six Human, two Dralasite and two Yazirian). Each carriage has a plate in the ceiling which allows emergency access to the carriage's roof.
The train has a crew of nine: two RIK guards (1 Beam weapons specialist and 1 Projectile weapons specialist); two ST technicians (manning the engine car); and five ST stewards who see to the comfort of the passengers.  Two of the stewards are level 1 medics (and these are the ones who attended to KitKat earlier).



The next day, you see Ki'Tk'Hatt lurching around the train as though drunk, and his speech is slurred and incoherent when he tries to thank you again. Towards afternoon, he appears clutching his head and moaning loudly as you lounge in the entertainment car.  His antennae roll round wildly and he collapses just near your feet, trying to tell you about the pain in his head.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:49, Fri 26 Sept 2014.

Here is a horizontal version of the monorail interior:

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 117):

Desiraye will try to help the Vrusk while in obvious pain.  She will call for Doc if not there using her comlink, <Mono>"DOC!  I NEED YOU HERE NOW!  MEDICAL EMERGENCY."</Mono>

Desi is quick to help the vrusk, and call for help.  Without much to do to directly aid Ki'Tk'Hat, Porter scans the car to see if the humans who assailed him earlier are nearby.

He doesn't expect to see them, especially since he saw the Vrusk earlier looking woozy.  But he looks for them anyway just in case.

Kri'lik begins inspecting KitKat with his doctor's eye.  "I will do a medical exame and attempt to stabilize you.  Can you tell me specifically what's wrong?"

Kri'lik performs a diagnosis.  The result is grave.  Unless major surgery is performed in the next hour, KitKat will die.  Even worse, the medics on board are only level 1 and are unqualified.

Kri'lik can try the procedure, though these will be less than optimal conditions and failure will mean the death of KitKat.

Kri'lik says, "Let's move him to his room and I'll do my best to help him with surgery."

Desiraye moves in to help moving the Vrusk's body into the room and waits for Kri'lik to give further direction.  "Are you going to be able to do this here Kri'lik?  I trust you but, this is the only option we have?"

Kri'lik indicates that major surgery is the only option or he will surely die.  It is risky, but it's the only chance you have.

Kri'lik clears the area, prepares his biocort and medical supplies, and then the doctor goes to work.

The surgery takes awhile, and you assist the best you can, but it is clear KitKat is not doing well.  At one point, Kri'lik curses the conditions of the surgery.  He continues forward, swearing that if only he had a medical facility, he could save KitKat.

KitKat's companions wait outside eagerly for news, but they do not enter the room, instead keeping the outside safe and clear.

And then it happens.  KitKat lets out a final breath and expires.  Kri'lik has failed to save his life, but he lifts something strange between his fingers and stares at it.

(OOC Note:  Kri'lik had a 50% chance of successfully performing the surgery in optimal conditions, but only a 30% here due to the conditions -- a -20% modifier.  The roll was a 48%...)

"I pulled this out of his cranial carapace," Kri'lik explains.  It is a small, closed device of some kind that had been implanted in KitKat's head and appears to have been damaged when KitKat was attacked by the humans, and now has caused his death somehow.

OOC: The device to be opened will require a demolitions specialist, as the device appears to be rigged with some sort of tiny explosive to self destruct.

Porter is both saddened and angered by the death of the Vrusk journalist.  When he sees the device, he asks Kri'lik if he can examine it.  "I may be able to deal with this, if it's not too complex of a device.  I got certified in ordinance disposal during the Siege of Outer Reach.  There wasn't much else to do while waiting for reinforcements to break the Sathar blockade."

Porter will examine the device to try to get an idea of how complex the explosive is before attempting to disarm it, and how big of a charge it is.  And he'll wait until he's in a safe location with no one else around, as well.

It's somewhat small and complicated, but not impossible to disarm.  (A demolitions expert gets a -20% to his roll.)  Only by disarming it can you tell what kind of microchip is inside.

The two work companions of KitKat enter and give their regrets.  The woman says, "You did all you could.  It wasn't your fault.  We will notify his family."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:07, Thu 16 Oct 2014.

Desiraye is saddened and aggravated over the situation and how it turned out.  She walks over to Kri'lik and puts his hand on the doctor's shoulder, "You did the best you could with what you had.  Try to collect evidence from the body so we have it to back up any claims so we don't get blamed for foul play.

I'm thinking we should have a chat with his news team and see what we can do?  Obviously, we need to return the body to them so they can return it to his family.  We need to get anything we can out of them.  Did we miss something?

I might be able to give you a hand Porter with the device.  I've had some demolitions training."

His two colleagues say that KitKat didn't pack much.  Other than his journalist equipment, he just brought a bag and some clothes.  They dump out the bag, but all you see there are personal effects and a card from the High Peaks Sanitorium.

The woman reporter says, "He was planning to go back to the Sanitorium once we got to Quazzt's Depression."  You see the address on the card is listed as "High Peaks" in Quaazzt's Depression.  "I guess he won't get that chance now, but his headaches started soon after he got back from there anyway."  She gathers his things to take them away.

S'Krllk begins to work at his bodycomp, and says to Kri'lik, "I'm going to see if I can't get this scanner to narrow its beam and scan that device. While I do, could you speculate on the possibility that such a device could be placed inside the head of a non-Vrusk?"
"I think this whole 'hate the other species' thing is making me think loopy."

OOC: attempting to use the bodycomp to scan the device for structure and function

OOC: Can we assist each other or is it just one of us that can do the check?  I only have a level 2 in Demolitions

BIC: "Whatever that device is, it was obviously planted there by somebody.  Can one of you check out any computer information on this Sanitorium to see if they offer put=patient surgeries?"

OOC: Also Level 2 Demolitions.  I'm happy to lead the process, since I offered first IC.  If Desi could help, though, that would be good.

Porter looks for someplace relatively safe to attempt to disarm the bomb without risking puncturing the walls of the train in case of a mishap.

OOC: All yours!

BIC: "We need to notify the train staff as to what's going on here, I would think?  We don't want them to think WE'RE the one's trying to blow up the train.  I'll handle that then see if we can get a place for Porter (or us) to try and work on it.  We could use a break in this case before the trail goes cold on us."

Desiraye will try to find a security person or a steward and tell them what is going on and try to get some kind of help or guidance for the team.

The device is a one time shot, since a missed roll will result in an explosion (albeit a rather small one) that will destroy the device.

If you have XP to spend, you can use them to upgrade demolitions or other skills during the game.  For example, examining the device closely may provide one with insights that would justify raising the demolition score if you have the XP.  Otherwise, we will proceed with Porter...

Porter successfully deactivates the device.  (21% roll.)  It opens up to reveal some small silicon chips and a tiny radio receiver, as well as an attached explosive charge.  The silicon chips would have to be examined by a computer specialist.

OOC: That worked out but, I did have the XP to make level 3 in demolitions if it was needed.

BIC: :Nice job Sarge!  Now we need to see what wqe can find out about this little baby."

Porter hands the chips to Desiraye.  "As for examining that, you'll need someone else.  I don't have any expertise in computers.  Hopefully it gives us some leads."

Orvo says, "I don't have any computer skills. Do we have the equipment to check them out?  Maybe they have important data in them.  But why were they in this Vrusk's head?"  After not speaking for awhile, Orvo had a lot to say.

S'Krllk looks at the device, "If you've wiped off all the bodily fluids, and you're sure it's done exploding, I could take a look. I have some skill with computers."
He continues attempting to scan or connect with his bodycomp as he waits to examine the device.

S'krllk examines the chips.  He discovers only that they contain a series of extremely sophisticated binary coded instructions, but has no idea as to their function.

The body is taken away by the medics, and the reporters take KitKat's personal items to return them to his family, thanking you.

You go back to the restaurant car for some lunch.  The familiar faces are here, the human woman Kirscht, the dralasite Blirdor who likes cards so much, the two human computer specialists who actively voiced their hatred for Kraatar and can't wait to get home, and another of others you've seen during your journey.

Given all that has happened on this ride on the monorail, you are glad that this is the last day.  You have already stopped at the last major city before Quazzt -- Mariga -- and your ride will soon end after it goes through the mountain passes.  You see the desert falling away behind you as the shadow of the mountains falls over you.

In addition to more signs as you go by, an announcement over the intercome reminds travellers that breathing apparatus is required to be safely secured and ready to use in case of emergency, as the air outside is thin. It also reminds you that emergency sets are stored in lockers between each carriage in case each person cannot reach his own personal apparatus.

Orvo checks to see if anyone is carrying their breathing apparatus at hand or if they're all just casual about it.  He will try to enjoy the last of the ride and ignore the strange people who were always up to no good like the dralasite and human woman.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 140):

"Any chance those computer techs we ran into might have an idea of what the chip is?"

"Never hurts to ask," Orvo says.

The humans look very curiously at the chips but say they've never seen anything quite like them before.  "Very unique structure," one says.  "Slightly curved with tendrils as if to stimulate different parts of an organic structure."

"Yeah," says the other, "and this binary code is uniquely programmed to whatever these chips are for.  These are specially programmed chips.  They're not something you can buy over the counter, that's for sure.  Where did you get them?"

"Would you believe they were implanted in someone's skull?" Desiraye says in a low voice to them as she leans closer to speak with them.

Porter flashes his Star Law credentials at the pair of humans.  He's out of his jurisdiction, but then they don't know that.

"We can't say more about it at this time," he also whispers.

One of the computer techs raises an eyebrow.  "In a skull?  Wow.  These must be medical chips.  Maybe he had some sort of mental or neurological disease they were trying to keep under control."

The other tech says, "Unless it was something more nefarious."

"Like what?"

"Mind control."

"No.  Come on.  You really think so?"

The other just shrugs his shoulders.  "Well, if it were medical, the person would know they were implanted in them and what they do, right?  If he didn't know, then it's got to be something secretly done to him.  I would check wherever he might have had medical treatment.  It seems fishy to me if the patient--or victim--didn't even know he had the implants.  Is he around?  You could ask him what they are."

When you inform him that the person is no longer living, he just nods in comprehension.  "See.  I'm going with mind control or human bomb or something terrorist-like.  I'm glad you got it out of him, but I wonder how many others have something similar in their brains and don't even know it."

They hand you back the chips as if they might be contagious.

Porter will take back the chip.  "It should be possible to scan for these chips, right?"

He also reexamines the explosive component of the chip.  Was it designed to be set off remotely, activated by the chip itself, or simply put as a booby trap to discourage removal?

OOC: if this requires another Demolitions roll, please roll for me, DM Heath!

"Well, I think we're coming up to the area where this sanatorium is pretty soon.  We can take a look into it while we're here and maybe do some research before we get there to see what they actually do."

The explosive part is supposed to completely destroy the chip and its container, and would likely kill anyone within whom it is implanted.  It appears that it can be set off remotely, but also is there to prevent tampering.

Getting rid of most of the evidence is pretty smart.  Is there any way we can get any more information off of it to tell where maybe it was constructed or developed by?  Can we search the net about the Sanatorium or is there a link up to do so on the train?

You cannot get more information about the chips where you are.

Regarding the High Peaks Sanatorium, all you find is the typical website page with address and contact information, and advertisement-like pages saying it is a high-class Vrusk convalescent home that specializes in stress alleviation therapy and is run by Dr. Martin Boot.