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Post by Tikobe on Aug 26, 2017 23:41:08 GMT -4
"If we're still anchored to giant magnets for travel while everyone else flies free, yeah. Scary, isn't it?"
You hear a sound outside, it seems like a shuttle of some sorts landing. After the shuttle lands, you see a human walk in. He was in his mid-30's and was quite buff, and matched the picture of one your crew men. You struggled to recall until...
"Ah, Ulysses!" Jakti says, giving him a handshake. This was Ulysses Wiseman, the second fighter pilot.
"Jakti, my man! I heard you broke your arm implant or something," Ulysses shouts, looking at Jakti's arm until he finally notices the broken monitor. "Holy hell! What kind of a crazy fucker did this to you!?"
"Giant, scary, furry and with a blast cannon and a goddamned bomb."
"Shit man, you're gonna need to tell me about it," Ulysses says wide eyed before turning over to you and giving a military salute. "Ulysses Wiseman, sir. I was asked by the Lieutenant to bring the shuttle to you from the other part of the colony."
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Post by Bannanachair on Aug 26, 2017 23:52:29 GMT -4
"At ease. We need to load this onto our ship and get it installed." I indicate the jumper coil. "It will prevent us from needing to use slingshots."
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Post by Tikobe on Aug 27, 2017 0:21:22 GMT -4
"What!?" Ulysses exclaims.
"Yeah, I could hardly believe. Still don't know if I can," Jakti replies.
"Boy oh boy, I can't believe this is what I get to see when coming out into the ass end of the galaxy."
"D-Did he just say 'boy oh boy?' Oh no, he's starting to sound like he's an adrenaline junky from the infantry," Miranda groans.
"Well, I suppose this is it. You folk have fun wherever you're going," the governor says.
"Just one question, if I may," Clare begins. "You said that you established the colony and the slingshot in this system. That requires money, a lot of it. How could you...?"
"Well since you're going far away, I don't mind telling you, if you can keep the secret," the governor chuckles, giving a slight wink. "My name is Noah. Noah Nest, owner and former CEO of Nest Industries. Also, a connoisseur of old Earth westerns, as I'm sure you can tell."
Nest Industries? Well, that was big news.
Nest Industries was the group that produced and marketed the Helpers sixty five years ago. It took a massive hit after the Helper wars, but someone, aka Noah himself, managed to restore the company's reputation and put it back into the top five economic powers of the 24th century. If it wasn't for Nest Industries and the funds leftover by the revenue generated by the Helpers, the humans and the Zathrelle wouldn't be acknowledged as the two most important races in the Keepers. Unfortunately, ever since Noah resigned and his son took over, some dark rumors began to surround the company but nothing could be proven. To be fair, it was just a shock meeting Noah himself; He rarely showed his face on camera while he was CEO. He claimed that he didn't deserve the attention of being such an affluent man when it was his father's reign over the company that began the production of the Helpers and it was his father who stood in front of the courts and failed to come up with a reason that Revelation could sneak the Shiva Core into the design plans, a mystery still left unsolved to this day.
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Post by Bannanachair on Aug 27, 2017 0:45:29 GMT -4
"That would easily explain where the funding for this came from."
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Post by Tikobe on Aug 27, 2017 0:56:11 GMT -4
"Indeed. Not that it matters anymore. I'm out. I'm in a place outside of all that Keeper trouble. Here, there's no politics or bull I have to deal with. I can just relax and live in my own little dream world," Noah replies, before looking out at the empty desert. "Or at least try to. One day I'll find someone willing to share my dream, and not go away just because there's some valuable resource over there. Amazing how quickly things fall apart when no one shares the dream, isn't it?"
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Post by Bannanachair on Aug 28, 2017 12:19:01 GMT -4
"I have indeed noticed that with a number of dreams which I had in the past."
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Post by Tikobe on Aug 28, 2017 14:31:10 GMT -4
"We're living one," Miranda remarks.
"Well, I hope you can get it back together then," Noah smiles. "Now, I really shouldn't keep you waiting any longer. Good bye."
The others start to leave towards the shuttle, with Miranda carrying the jumper coil and the language files you've received.
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Post by Bannanachair on Aug 29, 2017 10:28:29 GMT -4
I go towards the shuttle with them.
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Post by Tikobe on Aug 30, 2017 15:49:19 GMT -4
As you and the other members of your crew fly up towards your ship, Ulysses pulls up an image. It was far in the distance, and the fact that it was flying as fast as it can away from the planet wasn't a help, but it was clearly a ship. It looks Themali in origin.
"There it is," he says. "That's the ship that attacked us."
"Is that Themali? It gives credit to that Peku's claim that he's been getting help from the Divimadi. They founded the organization after all," Jakti rambles.
"So that's Peku's ship," Chess frowns.
"What did he call it again?"
"The 286th."
"So, why did they attack us?" Miranda asks.
"Peku says he's out on a ko, a blood crusade. In short, he's out to kill Kaminski," Chess explains.
"I see. 286th: 143 times two. Kaminski was in charge of a building with the number 143 on New Alcatraz. Tell me Chess: Is imprisonment enough to declare this 'ko?'"
"No. Usually when someone like Peku is imprisoned, they riot until they're, as you humans say, given the Drop. It's the greatest mercy he can receive. A declaration of ko is dishonorable, especially when made against the one who can grant you the greatest mercy," Chess replies, before turning to you. "Captain, Peku wasn't lying. He will return, and even if he were to fail, he would just return again and again until either he or Kaminski finally dies. What will you do when he comes?"
"Trying to persuade our captain into sparing your friend?" Jakti asks.
"On the contrary, I'm trying to convince the captain to kill him. I was okay with letting him live this once because he was also protected against me by nayu, but Peku must be killed if we want to live. And he is not my friend. Just an old comrade in battle. He's a type that my own type could never get along with enough to be friends. Now, your answer, Captain."
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Post by Bannanachair on Aug 31, 2017 22:18:07 GMT -4
(Sorry I'm so slow, I'm writing some other stuff which I want to post on this forum and it's taking up lots of my free time that I'd otherwise spend here.)
"I do agree that they must be killed or imprisoned if we are to survive. The next time we encounter them we won't be the ones who are caught off guard. In addition, it seems that we need to do yet another sweep of this ship to look for tracking devices."
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Post by Tikobe on Aug 31, 2017 22:25:05 GMT -4
(You fine. You fine.)
"They probably found us because they knew where we were heading, but I'll talk to maintenance and get right on it," Miranda replies.
"And Captain? Don't imprison him," Chess says. "Even if Peku gives up, shoot him where he stands. It'd both doing yourself a favor and becoming his own little saint."
"It's kinda creepy how you can just casually tell us to kill a man like that," Ulysses mumbles. "I mean, I know there are many races which think that murder is a just thing, but he's a living being. If you're gonna tell us to kill him do it with some remorse."
"The Ta don't give false emotions. If we do not care if another lives or dies, we will show our apathy, and we will not fake sympathy."
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Post by Bannanachair on Aug 31, 2017 22:35:50 GMT -4
(You will not be disappointed by what I'm writing, I hope.)
"And the humans believe in fair trial and mercy. If we are in a position to capture him we will do so, and if, after everything is presented, I deem him worthy of the death penalty, I'll give him the venus drop."
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Post by Tikobe on Aug 31, 2017 22:50:38 GMT -4
Chess stares at you before looking away in a very morose manner.
"If you do, you'll find one day that you failed to do the right thing. Mercy isn't always in the prettiest of forms."
Nothing else was said for the rest of ride to the ship.
When you arrived in the hangar, you see Kaminski standing still, watching over Mateo, who now wore a white jump suit with the abbreviation "NACC" on it.
"Welcome back Captain. Heard you had it a little rough down there," Kaminski replies.
"Weren't you the ones attacked by a ship the same size as ours?" Miranda points out.
"We're left with a few scratches, but Henry kept up a good defensive and it wasn't all that long before the enemy just turned tail and ran."
Mateo stares at you guys, but then silently turns away. You notice he held a mop and a soapy bucket of water. Mops had long fallen outdated in favor of more convenient tech. You weren't sure where one was found on this ship.
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Post by Bannanachair on Aug 31, 2017 23:36:42 GMT -4
"Kaminski, the reason that the ship attacked us was because of you. Some members of the Divimadi want you dead, and I'm rather curious as to why."
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Post by Tikobe on Sept 1, 2017 0:01:08 GMT -4
"Only some members? I've given the Divimadi so many reasons to kill me that I'm surprised that it's not the entire organization after me," he replies.
"Y- You can't be!? Were you a bad-ass superhero cleaning the streets of crime!?" Ulysses says in shock.
"Uh... No. Honestly, I don't wanna what you were talking about. Go back to your Batman comics. What I am though is the former head of the New Alcatraz prison planet until eleven years ago when I was demoted."
"Head of New Alcatraz? Demoted? I never heard this story, and Edward and I worked under you for six years," Clare points out.
"It's a long story. In short, eleven years ago the Divimadi tried to make a ruckus on New Alcatraz as a kind of smokescreen for some big operation of theirs. I saw through it, told the Board not to worry and rounded up all the prison guards and got them armed. We roughed up every single prisoner right then and there. Took a lot of heat for that decision though, and so the Board had me demoted, even set up a new prison just for me. Name was 143. Now, I'm not a pessimist, at least I think I'm not, but let me tell you about how that kind of a hell was something completely different. The Board would fill it up with every single one of the most dangerous criminals to hold: Religious fanatics, warlords, terrorists, even monsters like Andrea. In short, anyone that there'd be someone willing to raid for, or in some cases just blow the place to smithereens. It's actually quite similar to this ship, except not everyone's a criminal. I think. Anyways, we had a few more attacks and attempted assassinations from the Divimadi down there. It's really not a surprise that I'm wanted dead."
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Post by Bannanachair on Sept 4, 2017 3:56:40 GMT -4
"Is there anyone else who might want you dead for once we deal with this? This is our second day on this ship and we've already been attacked three times and foiled one attempted espionage; I'd rather this be the last attack for the week."
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Post by Tikobe on Sept 4, 2017 4:30:39 GMT -4
"Hmm... Plenty, probably. Damn aliens have these weird ideas sometimes. You saw it with the Schallans. They'd attack us just for some ridiculous reason. So many cultures advocate things like that I'd honestly be surprised if there was a man alive who didn't have an alien out to kill him for the smallest thing," Kaminski shrugs. You'd heard words like that before, especially from people in positions of power within the Keepers. Ones who think some cultural customs of the different alien races are ridiculous and they should conform to the list of morals provided by the Keepers and become simply "Keepers" like simply being from a Keeper race wasn't enough. It's not like they're all bad people, but it would be helpful to remember for interactions with Kaminski and others like him.
"How about a Ta by this name: Leff Peku," Chess replies. Mateo is surprised to hear that name, as well as Hollis.
"Leff? I heard a Peku but I was hoping it'd be a different one," Officer Hollis mumbles.
"Oh, Leff," Kaminski mutters. "He was one of the few in 143 who wasn't in solitary. He was like most Ta inmates, incredibly violent and out of control. Fixed that soon enough."
"'Fixed'?" Chess inquires.
Clare and Mateo look away nervously, but Kaminski speaks up without hesitation, "Sometimes inmates start picking fights. I don't shoot them down, that just makes them think that if you didn't have that gun they could take you. So, I go into the fight and I clobber the hell outta them with my fists. You'd be surprised how easy they are to handle afterwards. One time Leff actually assaulted Mateo here and I stepped in and floored the alien. Show them what he did to you, Mateo."
The imprisoned spy lifts up the sleeve of his jumpsuit. His left forearm was terribly scarred and malformed. It looked like an animal attacked him and not a humanoid being. Chess didn't even look surprised.
"Did Peku say anything after that fight?" he asks.
"Uh... He gave me a glare and muttered something, but it wasn't in any language that I spoke."
"'Dei ty sik,'" Mateo says just barely audible enough for you to hear it. "He said 'dei ty sik.' He said it every time he saw the Security Chief and everytime someone just mentioned something about it. Leff seemed obsessed."
"Dei ty sik? I understand now," Chess says as he walks away.
"Are you not gonna tell us, Mr. Kipo?" Miranda snaps.
"No. I have a weapons station to run. Good day, Lieutenant, Captain."
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Post by Bannanachair on Sept 6, 2017 21:01:31 GMT -4
"I'll get whoever's at the information desk to look up that phrase."
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Post by Tikobe on Sept 6, 2017 23:37:17 GMT -4
"Good point," Miranda sighs.
"You okay Lieutenant? You look like you could kill a man," Ulysses points out.
"I'm fine. It's just that I've only learned to work with people who aren't insubordinate," Miranda replies. "We should meet with Henry on the command deck and see what information Drake found."
At that point you received a transmission. It was a text message of sorts.
Hold on, Captain Edwards! I know you would more than love to talk to Henry immediately, but you have some business to sort out real quick. You need to give that jumper coil to the spider living on the bottom deck. After all, the jumper coil is made to be attached to your engine and the only way to the engine is through the spider. You shouldn't worry much; Just leave the coil outside the door to the bottom deck. The arachnid has more hands down there than you want to think about.
You also need to release Andrea. Once Leff, the Aruth'Mekai and the Nethilians start chasing the Magellan, you'll die without her skills, and those are only a few the people you need to be scared of. At one point, you are going to need to have a talk together with Kem and William, and Captain, you'll need to set up a few coffins a month or so from now. And by a few, I mean a whole crew's worth. All I can say is have mercy at the end.
You'll understand one day, even if then you'll refuse to accept it,
Your Friend, HAR
At the bottom was a circle with a wavy line that ran through it's center. On the left side of the bottom half was a line that curved until it ended with a bulb like shape. According to the CEM, the message came from the jumper coil itself, and was made twelve years ago and set for your CEM specifically to receive at this precise second. Odd, since the beginning tied so perfectly to what Miranda said.
"Captain, you coming?" Miranda says as she waits next to the door out of the hangar bay.
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Post by Bannanachair on Sept 10, 2017 9:46:52 GMT -4
"Yeah, just give me several minutes to bring the jumper coil down to the engine room."
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Post by Tikobe on Sept 10, 2017 14:19:01 GMT -4
Miranda seems surprised, but she sighs in acceptance.
"Fine. I'll wait for you on the command deck," she says.
You walk around the halls until you arrive at the hatch to the bottom deck. There, you see a female Zathrelle. She turns in surprise.
"Oh! Hello there. Who are you?"
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Post by Bannanachair on Sept 11, 2017 4:53:54 GMT -4
"I'm the captain of this ship. Who are you?"
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Post by Tikobe on Sept 11, 2017 19:38:45 GMT -4
"Uh... Come again? Captain?" She says, following it with a quick curse under her breath. "Uhm... Heheh. Can I say that I'm Kem Argi?"
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Post by Bannanachair on Dec 15, 2017 23:56:02 GMT -4
"You're clearly not."
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Post by Tikobe on Dec 16, 2017 0:34:45 GMT -4
(Oh shit, we're continuing this? Alright.)
"Oh come on, it's as you humans say... Uhm... That's right! We all look the same!"
At that moment she drops a piece of metal in her hand. It's her badge, which states quite clearly: Asru Sha, Weapons Station Officer
"That's a lie!"
She's clearly desperate now that she's been caught hanging around an area you blocked the crew from.
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