Guided by the drone, the crew of the Zhidao retraces their steps back the way they came. As they approach the T intersection, they see two men. Both are armed and wearing the same body armor as the CPM security personnel. One man, carrying a shotgun (in a low ready position) is a huge Earther, with Slavic features. The second man, is clearly a Belter of Asian descent, is armed with a SMG slung across his chest, and is operating the drone with his hand terminal.

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Van and Yuri can see some people coming from the left side if the T intersection. The group consists of two men, two women, a teenage girl, and an old frail woman. No one has any heavy armor, and no one appears to be armed with a long gun.

[Private to Alis Syn; Kala Sui: Please refrain from posting here until everyone gets to where you are. But feel free to post in the other thread if you wish.]

The big Earther with a shotgun is crouched down, and waves in the other group with his left hand. His right hand is still on his shotgun, but his finger is not on the trigger.

"Hi people."

Although clearly somewhat more the worse for wear from her ordeal, Kattalin seems perfectly comfortable holding the pistol in her right hand, her finger on the guard rather than the trigger like an armature.  Mirroring the downward barrel stance of the others she gestures to the drone with her empty left hand and asks quite simply.  ”Is this yours?”

In reply to Kattalin Zubiri (msg # 3):

The Asian man flipped up the HUD he seemed to be using to control the drone, putting a cowboy hat on his head. The drone parked itself on the floor of the duct in front of him.

Mindful that this group might think they had been lured into an ambush Van kept his hands away from his weapons. He gave a tight controlled smile.

"Yes. Am Van. This is Yuri. Earlier I use drone to help you when infected were attacking as you entered the Pachinko parlour.

"Have found smuggler's route to docking bay and we have escape plan. You are welcome to join us." By definition they probably didn't have a good plan themselves or else they wouldn't have followed his drone here.

"Must go now." He started off in a different direction they had taken. The drone lifted off an apparently on automatic started following him on automatic station-keeping mode.

Hope is initially wary due to the outfits, but then eases as she sees a belter in one of them.

When Van makes his offer she asks Sato, "Sounds good, right, bosmang?"

"You're with CPM?" Abang seems ill at ease, even though the drone operator is clearly trying to put off 'we're not here to hurt anyone' vibes.