Location: Scirocco
Planet: Aster
Kieran and Mae met with both Eveline and Arnav and learned a bit about the attacker in the labs. Kieran swore a vow to Eveline to capture the attacker, Juro Mackenson, and bring back the creature that he stole. Unfortunately, before Kieran could learn more, warning systems alerted Scirocco that some type of catastrophic seismic event was imminent. Kieran and Mae were tasked with rescuing a group of stranded researchers and bringing them back to the settlement. The pair raced across the barren, blistered surface of the planet and recovered the team and returned to the settlement. Upon their arrival, Laris - one of the security guards, rushed the pair and the research team away from the garage into shelter…
---- TIME TO PLAY
Laris leads the group down a dimly lit winding tunnel with reinforced walls and beams. They arrive at a reinforced blast door with a locking handle, similar to the standard blast doors on a starship. The door hinges groan as she opens the door and leads everyone inside.
With the door firmly closed behind them, Kieran takes a look around. There's several people already in the shelter - many leaned up with some of their belongings against the walls. The ground shift slightly from a small tremor passing through the settlement.
Laris speaks up. "Don't worry, this shelter is still several meters below the surface. But the tunnel here is elevated to keep any lava or magma away from the shelter. Each of these rooms have their own small air and waste recyclers in case we are stuck for a while."
"Well, let's hope we aren't," says Mae, her helmet now tucked under her arm. Kieran leans up against the wall next to her.
-- So is there a significant even that jeopardizes the colony?
Kieran and Mae meet with Arnav on the way to the Relentless
Juro is the leader of the Scirocco Ranger Teams (Explorers/Pathfinders)
He is not from Scirocco but was hired on to do the job
Juro has mentioned the Deep Space Station Enigma in the past
Arnav is aware of other "research labs" scattered around the planet - but not where.
He does know about the Osoped creatures and is concerned about the research being performed
He does want Kieran to investigate the research being performed
Does it coincide with why Juro stole an Osoped?
Arnav has Laris tag along with Kieran and Mae to find Juro and seek out Enigma
Kieran and Mae continue to talk with Arnav for several minutes. Arnav, with a look of despair, asks that Kieran swear a vow to find out what research is happening on Aster at these other research stations.
"Arnav, I swear that I'll find out what is happening at these stations. But we first need to find Juro and bring back what he stole." Kieran opens the cargo bay doors to the Relentless and tosses his pack onto the floor.
Mae gently pats Arnav on the shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll find out what's going on. You'll need to keep this place together while we're gone."
Arnav chuffs under his breathe. He glances over his shoulder, looking around the landing bay - eyes searching the shadows for eavesdroppers. "I don't know what's going on here, but there's rumors about experiments on the local wildlife. Don't get me wrong, not much lives here, but there is a basic ecosystem that lives underground and can survive the climate. After what you saw under the hospital, it worries me what may be happening. And what could happen to the people here."
"Well, we'd best be about it, Arnav. We'll be back as quick as we can - with Juro and the…what's it called…the Osoped, with us. We'll get to the bottom of this. After our short time here, this planet is growing on me." Kieran chuckles and runs his fingers through his hair. "But don't ask my WHY this planet has grown on me."
A figure trots out into the landing bay At the sound of footsteps, Arnav waves Laris over. Laris, no longer wearing her security uniform, but a vacuum suit under a light jacket and durable pants. Her pack slung over one shoulder.
"Kieran, Mae, I wanted Laris to tag along with you. She's great in a fight and can help you guys on your journey."
Laris grins at the pair, and tosses her bag onto the ship. "Permission to come aboard?" She giggles. "I've always wanted to say that."
"Granted," Mae says with a smile. "We'll find a spot for you."
The trio say their goodbyes to Arnav who quickly exits the landing area. Within a handful of minutes, Kieran and Mae have secured the ship and started prepping for launch. Laris joins them on the bridge and takes a seat at an unused terminal, watching the pair go about their work.
The Relentless takes off gently, the roar of the engines muffled through the hull, and Kieran pilots the ship back through the external airlocks. The ship slips through the atmosphere, ascending steeply as they head for space, the surface of the planet rapidly receding.
"Laris," says Kieran, "there's no known passage to Enigma. We're going to have to follow the drifts and see where they take us. I'm guessing we have at least a week to get there - if we find it."
"This is the furthest I've ever been from Scirocco," she replies. "I'm in no rush to get back."
Once they clear orbit, Mae readies the navigation system and powers up the e-drive. The distinct hum of the engine grows slowly, a buzz that morphs into a low growl. The Relentless, now ready, pulls steadily away from Aster. Without a word, Kieran watches the navigation readouts and engages the e-drive. With a shimmer, the Relentless drops into the drifts.
Hours later, Mae is alone on the bridge, monitoring their travel through the drifts - making corrections when necessary. Kieran is scheduled to take her place in a few hours. Laris had left the bridge an hour before, off to find a spare bunk to call home for the next week.
She sips her coffee, the dark brew now cool and slightly unpleasant. She glares at it menacingly. "Don't make me reheat you," she whispers to herself.
Mae stands up, prepared to make good on her threat to reheat her drink. She feels the Relentless shift beneath her feet. Subtle at first, like cresting a small hill in a skiff. Then the ship bounces again and again.
"Hells" Mae mumbles.
Warnings lights flash across the console, the ship bouncing and shuddering violently, her forgotten coffee tipping and spilling onto the floor.
The shuddering stops, the dancing lights of drift space replaced by distant pinpricks of distant stars. The growl of the e-drive gone - the ship silent except for the dim hum of the environmental systems.
Kieran bursts through the door onto the bridge. "What happened?"
Mae looks up from the console, the myriad of blinking warning lights reflected in her eyes.
"The e-drive is dead. We're not going anywhere."