0.1 THE LIGHTHOUSE
It's 2600 hours on the Lighthouse, in orbit of the moon Alaundril, "Gateway to the Verge". The massive station has been here for 3 days, and in another 7 it will begin the jump to its next stop, Corrivale. The station is abuzz right now, as right now Brian Cole, a very important official within the Rigunmor Star Consortium, has arrived at the Concord station from the Rigunmor capital world of "Bazaar", and is making a quite public display of "getting to know the Verge" before getting off on Lison to engage in rhodium negotiations. As of right now, he and his entourage are on the Level 3 promenade (commercial marketplace), where he is giving a speech in front a of a statue of Michael Thayne about how unrestrained commerce is the key to peace in the Verge.
In the audience, Jim Gammel stands next to a group of reporters, watching the speech with only about half of his attention, the other half focused on checking his watch every minute or so. Nearby, on a bench in front of the Terra-X Outfitters shop, sits Nancy Harrison, who has sit down here with a stack of news reports and Concord paperwork, giving her tired feet a break before turning in the forms necessary to register her ship and its defensive robot. She's been on her feet all day running from one office to the next, and the speech gave her enough of a pretense to sit down and take a load off. Next to her stands Zippy, her robot, motionless and unarmed, continually scanning and re-scanning the area for any imminent threat to his owner.
About four meters above and behind Nancy and her cybernetic companion, on the "top row" of shops, Finnabog "Finn" Gunnarsdottir is reading a newsterminal in front of a rather large "The Rigunmor Alien Collection" clothing outlet. Dropped off by the "Iron Guard" mercenary company a few days ago, she's checking up on newsworthy happenings while she was in drivespace, as well as looking for public job notifications. She's chewing a bolt, a nervous habit she picked up at a young age, and the depth of the teeth-marks show how displeased she is with the current employment prospects. On the other side of the kiosk Finn is reading is George Kodoma, looking through the public records of Lighthouse comings and goings for any mention of the name "Corazon Parker". He doesn't expect she's still here, but he thinks he can get information on where she went.
Across the "aisle" that the stores line, on the upper level on the opposite side as the Rigunmor clothing outlet, a T'sa named Opium Fenrir is walking out of a bookstore, eyes on his dataslate as it displays his purchase, the latest compilation of reports and autopsies of alien life on various Verge worlds. Sean Jeffries had walked into the store to buy a nice, trashy romance novel -- he is on vacation, after all -- but right now he's spinning a wire rack of 3Ds while staring at Fenrir. He knows it's rude to stare, and that the owner of the shop probably thinks he's some kind of sicko, but he can't help it -- the way the T'sa moves is like a rapid-flowing stream, even when he's doing something as simple as reading his dataslate.
This is the time for general "prologue" stuff. Bump into each other, look around the Lighthouse stores, listen to Cole's speech, go about your business. In about 9 to 12 posts, less if nobody is doing anything, Something will Happen (tm).
O.2 THE LIGHTHOUSE
Nancy listens with less than half an ear to the politician's speech. Unrestrained trade sounds good to her, but she's more interested in getting her business registered and her ship back into space than in hypotheticals.
0.3: The LIGHTHOUSE
"Tanj," Finn mutters under her breath, as she slaps the newsreader off and turns her back on it, shifting the bolt from one side of her mouth to the other. Ain't nothing worth the time. Gonna end up cleanin' punkin' 02 tanks at this rate.
Ignoring the clothing shop entirely, she wanders over to lean on the rail over the promenade. She spends a little time listening, then snorts. Yeah, right. 'S good fer Rigger wallets, y'mean. Punkin' suits. Tuning out the song and dance, she adjusts to slump with one elbow against the railing, alternating between watching the crowd below and the traffic below. Hey, y'never know -- maybe somebody itching to hire will walk by. At least it's a cheap way to amuse herself.
Finn: just idling.
[edit: Was not the first post! LOSER AM I!]
0.4 THE LIGHTHOUSE
Seeing the T'sa walk out of the store, Sean sighs, and gets back to picking his trashy novel. There'll be plenty of chances to see a T'sa here. I'm not going anywhere, and neither are they.
Finally getting a book about a holoactor-turned-explorer, who makes first contact with an extremely well-endowed race of humanoid females, Sean moves to the cash register, purchases it and heads outside.
After listening for a few minutes to the speech given by some Rigunmor bureaucrat, he snorts. I'd love to see them try that on Penates.
Finn: You can see that below you, Nancy has a stack of papers that look like Concord "new ship registration" forms sitting beside her.
0.5 THE LIGHTHOUSE
George continues to look through the records, still searching for any mention of Corazon Parker. Damn it! I was sure that she had been here recently!
Unfazed by the lack of results, he went on with his search, knowing full well that he would be considered one of the best in his business should he capture this criminal.
0.6 THE LIGHTHOUSE
Zippy stands calmly near Nancy, scanning about for any possible threats in silence.
Dracos
0.7 THE LIGHTHOUSE
Finn leans a little farther over the railing, to confirm her guess. Ship registration... huh. Looking carefully at the woman sitting beside the paperwork, she shrugs mentally. Probably don't have crew, but might not have money to pay for 'em either. On the other hand, small ships got... tanj, is that robot hers?
Grinning broadly, Finn pulls herself up before she falls over the railing. Settles that, don't it? Now, how the tanj do I get down there?
Finn: looking around for a staircase, elevator, whatever to take me down to Nancy's level -- ideally a route that will let me keep an eye on her, so I don't lose her.
[Edit: Unclear referent. Grammar: sucks.]
Finn: There's a staircase a few meters to your right that keeps Harrison in full view.
0.8 THE LIGHTHOUSE
Finn strolls down the staircase and towards the human, weaving and sliding through the crowd with practiced grace. It's a little tricky to keep your eyes on your target when you're this short and surrounded by humans, but then, Finn's been this short or shorter all her life. You get used to it.
Finally getting close to the black-clad woman, Finn takes the bolt out of her mouth, clears and throats, and smiles. "Hey, how's it goin'?"
Finn: talking to Harrison
0.9 THE LIGHTHOUSE
Nancy smiles. "Hey! What's up?", whilst trying to remember if she's met this particular Mechalus before.
Nancy speaks to Finn
0.10 THE LIGHTHOUSE
Finn waves her bolt at the paperwork strewn across the bench. "Hope ya don'tmind me sayin', but I noticed ya were fillin' out the reg papers for a new ship, and I won'ered if ya were lookin' t'hire an engineer. I just finished a contract, see, and I figgered I been coolin' my heels long enough."
0.11 THE LIGHTHOUSE
"Well, sure, honey," says Nancy, looking up. "That's one of the first things I need. Have you ever worked on a Rhone-class freighter?"
Zippy simply sits there on the sidelines, keeping an eye on the mistress.
Finn shakes her head. "Nope, can't say that I have. But I pick things up fast, ya know?"
Nancy shrugs. "Well, that's cool with me, hon. If you have the paper to back that up, I'll take you aboard. And if you know any other hands who're looking for a berth, I'd be pleased. I'm just setting up a new business here, and I need a full crew to back me up."
Ignoring the second half for now, Finn blinks. "Paper? What d'ya mean?"
Some kind of proof that you're who you say you are is what I mean," Nancy explains patiently. "Sorry, it's an Earth expression, maybe not used out here."
Finn grins wryly. "Lady, this is the Verge. The proof that we can do what we say is the fact we're not punkin' dead. I can give you the contacts for the last outfit I looked for, if that'll do."
Nancy extends her hand. "I'm Nancy Harrison, skipper of the Principia Mathematica."
Finn shakes Nancy's hand. "Finn Gunnars--"
Finn and Nancy: IRC conversation
0.12: THE LIGHTHOUSE
"The Second Galactic War was a dark time for all of us. Now is not the time for further struggle, now is the time to rebuild. Please, I implore you -- return to your home worlds and petition your governments to open trade freely for all. The stellar nations alone cannot bear this heavy burden. Thank you, and good day."
There is a smattering of light applause as Cole completes his speech, and various camera crews turn off to their reporters for a closing comment. Cole turns to his personal assistant, a tall, slim Mechalus with a typically emotionless face. "So, how do you think they'll take it?" he asks at a conversational level.
"I believe you did your best, sir," responds the Mechalus. Cole doesn't respond, because after a slight chuckle he collapses to the floor, hemhorraging blood from his mouth and nose.
Someone shrieks, and the cameras whip back to the podium, where the Rigunmor executive os shaking wildly and vomiting blood. His human entourage panicks, but the Mechalus assistant takes emotionless control of the situation. "Stand back, please," he says evenly, "Mister Cole requires medical attention. Mister Simmons, please notify the Concord emergency services." He bends over and rolls Cole onto his back, readying an injection of some substance produced out of his attache case with his other hand.
"Mister Cole has a medical condition," the assistant continues evenly, "He will require an injection of benzotryphtamine to steady his heart and to stop his vomiting. Please, do not approach him." After finding a vein, the assistant injects the contents of the hypodermic into the prone man. He then stands up. "In the interests of security, I ask that you all remain here until Concord personnel arrive."
0.13: THE LIGHTHOUSE
"Jesus shit!" exclaims Jim Gammel as the pool of blood and bile extends toward his authentic leather boots. He back up, ushering reporters back with him, following the Mechalus's instructions.
0.14: THE LIGHTHOUSE
Sean quickly moves as closely as he can towards the downed politician, wrecking his memory for the uses of benzotryphtamine and the medical conditions treated with it.
Sean tries to use Medical Science -- Medical Knowledge to recollect what an injection of benzotryphtamine is used for, and what it could do to a healthy or misdiagnosed person. The skill is 17/8/4, and he has a -2 step bonus for his Photo Memory.
Sean rolls a 1 for an Amazing success
You remember that benzotryphtamine is used to treat patients with certain types of heart conditions, usually nasty ones that involve blood being forced into places blood shouldn't go.
However, you know that either the Mechalus is incompetent or he's lying, because benzotryphtamine has no effect if administered in an emergency -- it takes a few weeks of dosaging for it to build up enough in the bloodstream so that it actually does anything.
0.15 THE LIGHTHOUSE
"That don't look good," Finn remarks conversationally. Hey, they'll probably be haulin' in some medtech soon. She starts to work her way closer to the podium, but pauses and looks back at Harrison. "Hey, I'm just goin' to see what's happenin' up there. You wanna come?"
0.16 THE LIGHTHOUSE
"Are you sure you want that Kold guy to live?" Sean asks offhandedly, standing amidst the backing reporters. "If you're competent enough to use benzotryphtamine, you would know that it'd have no effect on him. Of course, maybe that's exactly why you're using that...." Sean lets his voice trail off suggestively.
0.17 THE LIGHTHOUSE
Beep. "Mistress Nancy, it might not be safe to intefere."
Zippy is keeping a sharp lookout. He doesn't like the sudden ruckus.
Dracos
0.18 THE LIGHTHOUSE
"Sure," says Nancy, "why don't we rubberneck a little, hon? They won't let us go anywhere else for a while, so we might as well get our nickel's worth. Don't worry, Zippy, I'll take care."
Nancy follows Finn deeper into the crowd.
0.19: THE LIGHTHOUSE
The Mechalus looks at Sean with a gaze that could freeze Polyphemus. "I am Mister Cole's personal assistant. I have access to his personal medical records that you cannot claim. If you wish for him to die, by all means, prevent me from aiding him."
0.20: THE LIGHTHOUSE
"Does Mr. Cole's personal assistant also have a medical degree, and sufficient knowledge of benzotryphtamine?" Sean asks, used to threatening gazes directed at him by disagreeable patients. He moves closer, saying, "Unless you want your boss to die for real, how about letting me examine him?"
Sean gets as closely as possible to Cole and his assistant, watching the latter carefully.
0.21 THE LIGHTHOUSE
Finn makes it to the front of the crowd in time to hear the exchange between the Mechalus and the doctor, and isn't quite sure what to think, beyond the fact that this is kinda messed up. She leans a bit closer, trying to see how the suit's doing now that the Mechalus has given some sort of injection.
Finn: trying to determine what sort of state Cole's in: whether the bleeding/vomiting has gotten better, or if he's just dead.
0.22 THE LIGHTHOUSE
Zippy silently followed behind his mistress, keeping a sharp eye out.
Dracos
0.23 THE LIGHTHOUSE
"I cannot allow you to come any closer." The Mechalus reaches into his jacket and pulls out a sabot pistol, a handcannon with a barrel bore you could fit two or three fingers in. "You have already expressed a desire to harm him, and if you are allowed closer you may attempt to act upon that desire. Stand back, and the Concord will deal with you in time."
0.24 THE LIGHTHOUSE
Opium bumps into the back off a human, his mind having been totally focused on the data slate he recent sojourn to the market had allowed him to acquire.
“Oh! Excusemeexcuseme!” he shot off the words in rapid succession. “I really must apologize for this you see sometimes I get a bit carried away with my work, a bit too focused Ramul likes to say, Ramul being my brother, that is, but that is not the point. The point, ah there is a point, is-“ He stops his rapid fire speech when he realizes his intended audience is focusing on something else entirely. He glances around, trying to see what could attract attention like that.
Opium is trying to ascertain the source of interest.
0.25 THE LIGHTHOUSE
After hearing the initial bout of screams, George turns his attention to its source and sees a huge crowd of people, nearly all of whom look frantic, blocking his sight.
This seems interesting....
Deciding that it wouldn't do any good to try and approach the scene, he instead starts to look for a nearby area that would give him a clear line of sight.
0.26: THE LIGHTHOUSE
Home, sweet home. And this was supposed to be a vacation.... "Trying to keep the only person around who could help your boss over there away, while threatening him with a gun, isn't exactly one of your smartest moves," Sean says, careful not to make any threatening motions that would provide the Mechalus an excuse. "But by all means, let's wait for the Concord." He moves back a bit, as requested.
As he steps back, Sean glances at Cole, trying to determine whether medical condition has stabilized, is worsening, or if he's a goner by now.
Cole's stopped twitching, though you don't know if that means he's better or he's dead, since he's facedown and a few meters away you can't tell.
0.27 THE LIGHTHOUSE
Finn's still not sure what's going on, but it doesn't matter, really: you never side with the suits. And if there's one thing suits don't like, it's heckling...
"So this is the Rigger idea o' peaceful negotiation an' trade?" Finn drawls as loud as she can. "Pointin' a gun at a doctor when he tries ta help? Come t' think o' it, that's sorta exactly how you guys tried ta handle Lison, ain't it? Or maybe it'd be better if ya just shot all us witnesses?"
At least if he shoots me, Papa'd be proud.
Finn: trying to generally rabble-rouse, and specificially split the Mechanus' attention.
0.28 THE LIGHTHOUSE
"Aw, shit," George curses under his breath from his position above the others, though far enough away to not be noticed. Seeing the politician lying face-first in a pool of blood was not what he had expected. And neither was the sight of Cole's assistant pointing a gun at what looked to be an unarmed man.
Why the hell isn't there anyone aiding the guy?! While George didn't know the entire details of what happened, his suspcions of foul play being involved increases.
Staring intently at the scene before him, one hand slowly reaches for his laser pistol hidden within his jacket in case something should happen.
0.29 THE LIGHTHOUSE
"Nice to see someone else who thinks this is suspicious," Sean says, giving the female Mechalus a smile, before returning his attention to Cole's aide.
0.30: THE LIGHTHOUSE
From behind, a few distressed-looking Concord medics and security personnel shove their way through the crowd. The lead medic puts his medical gauntlet over the prone form of Brian Cole, scanning him for life signs, while the security officer speaks to the Mechalus.
"Thank you, sir. Mister Cole experienced a cardiomyalgic episode after his speech ended. I keep a kit of medicines for such occasions, and I administered emergency aid. I kept onlookers clear of him, but this man," here he gestures to Sean, "attempted to prevent me administering aid, and this woman," here he points to Finn, "became belligerent and attempted to incite unrest. If this attack was indeed engineered as you has warned, I suggest that you investigate these two."
The medic looks up from his scanner and back at the security chief. "He's alive -- but just barely. We need a stretcher and an IV over here, pronto!" The crows parts to accomodate the medics carrying the stretcher.
The chief apporaches Finn and one of the normal security personnel apporaches Sean, but what they say is pretty much the same. Don't want any trouble, just come quietly for some questioning, co-operate and everything will be over in a few hours. After he says this, the security chief recieves a message on his comm headset, nods toward his subordinate, and gestures to the upper level shops.
0.31 THE LIGHTHOUSE
"Yeah, sure." Finn shrugs. "The suit with the gun walks out, and the rest of us get busted. Nice ta know the Concord cares, ya know?"
For all the belligerent talk, though, Finn just goes with them. No point in asking for it, after all. She doesn't look over at Harrison, though -- no point in getting her involved, if she can help it.
Finn: going with the guards.
0.32 THE LIGHTHOUSE
George notices the pair of guards approaching the area where he was. He attempts to look casual so as to not arouse any suspicion and moves his hand away from the front of his jacket (and, more importantly, away his pistol).
0.33 THE LIGHTHOUSE
"Why not grab the guy with the handcannon as well?" Sean asks the security personnel. "He's supsicious. I was just watching the end of that Cole guy's speech -- got nothing better to do, being on a well-deserved vacation. It wasn't really remarkable... kinda average, as far as speeches go. And then, Cole goes and turns to that guy over there," Sean says, indicating the aide with a nod of his head. "Next thing I know, he's on the ground, coughing blood. And that assistant of his just injects something into his vein with a hypo, and get this -- claims that's benzotryphtamine!" Sean snorts. "I didn't go to med school for nothing. Benzotryphtamine is absolutely useless when administered in an emergency; go ahead and ask any good doctor about that." Spreading his arms at the scene, Sean adds, "Well, this certainly counts as an emergency, doesn't it?"
He takes a breath, and continues. "Well, so here I thought he was being incompetent, you know, panicking in the situation despite showing it. And I come here to help, only to hear threats, and get a gun shoved in my face. And the best thing is... he says I prevented him from doing something. He already injected whatever was in that hypo of his, so what exactly did I stop him from doing?"
Sean's trying to use Interaction -- Charm to tactfully convey his story and thoughts about Cole's aide to the security personnel asking him to come with him and divert the blame from himself. The skill is 12/6/3.
1.1: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Sean rolls a 17+6 = 23 for a Failure
The security officer looks impassive, he's had people try to pull the wool over his eyes with technobabble before; it didn't work then and it won't work now. "Just come along, sir, you'll get the chance to explain your story after we get you down to the security office." He hasn't passed judgment, not just yet, but it seems he doesn't like it when people try to talk their way out of these things.
Meanwhile, security personnel spread out among the crowd, holding out datslates and comparing the faces of the people they see to a few images on the slate. After a few minutes, Nancy, Opium, and George are approached by security personnel, and the pitch they get is pretty much the same: excuse me sir or ma'am, we'd like to ask you a few questions, you're not incriminated for any crime but we need to talk to you, so could you please come with me/us and in a few hours we will have all of this sorted out. For each of you, however, the practised speech is nullified somewhat by the way they start to reach for their guns every time you move, as if they think you might freak out or draw a weapon.
The security chief steps up to the microphone Cole used, after Cole himself is hauled away by the medics, and begins to speak. "Please, everybody remain calm. Mister Cole will recieve the best medical aid we can offer, and though evidence points to this being a natural episode, if any foul play was involved, you can rest assured that we will get to the bottom of it. Please, do not attempt to gain access to Mister Cole's medical facility, we will notify you of all relevant delvelopments through the Lighthouse's holoscreen system."
1.2 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Whipping a shiny and expensive looking holo-PDA from one pocket, Jim shakes his head. "Kee-rist," he says aloud. "Who'da thought some shit like this would happen? And the fucking client wants to meet me here because he doesn't feel 'safe' anywhere else."
1.3 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
”Yesyes, of course. By all means lead the way,” Opium says, a bit confused by the events. But really, there was nothing for him to worry about, right? He certainly hadn’t committed any crimes of which he was aware. This whole thing was probably just some misunderstanding, easily solved at… at…
Where did you say we were going, by the way?”
1.4 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"We're being rounded up due to suspicicion of being involved in a medical emergency?" Nancy asks brightly. "That's a new one on me."
Still, Nancy goes along with the Peelers, there being no point in antagonising them at the moment. Since she was going to spend the next few hours filling forms in and out, she might as well do it in the police station as anywhere.
"C'mon Zippy," she says, "let's go and see what these guys want to know."
"Lead on, officer." Nancy says, giving him her best 'oh, you wonderful man look'.
Nancy uses her Seduce skill to disarm the security officer's suspicions. Skill is 13/6/3, -1 for Great Looks.
1.5 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Beep. "Aye, Aye, Mistress Nancy." Zippy obediantly followed behind his mistress, staying out of trouble.
Dracos
1.6: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Nancy rolls 7+4 = 11 for an Ordinary success
"Uh, ma'am, you're not supposed to bring the robot... Aw, what the hell. It can come -- but only so you don't have to hassle with getting it back from the front desk, alright?" Nancy hasn't really got to him, but his guard's been lowered somewhat.
Up at the podium, the security chief cocks his head. He auses, thinking of something, then whispers something to one of his subordinates. The subordinate shrugs, then whispers back. The chief nods, and then the subordinate approaches Jim Gammel with the same old yarn: excuse me sir, like to ask a few questions, only take a couple of hours, et cetera, et cetera.
Nobody's handcuffed as the Concord takes them down to the security office, but some of the security personnel give the impression they'd rather you were. Others seem, for lack of a better word, tenative -- as if they're not sure they should even be hassling you.
After a walk and a lift ride, you are all escorted to the lockup room -- which while not exactly five star accomodations, it still more like a cheap hotel room than a jail cell.
This is assuming all of you co-operate, if you resist, please tell me when and how and I will edit out that last part in a flurry of retcon. You have a few minutes while a man with tape on his glasses fills out the processing forms, not much to do but talk. May I suggest rampant speculation or grousing?
1.7: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"Well, I heard why they grabbed us," Sean says, indicating the female Mechalus with a nod of his head. "But what about the rest of you?" His gaze sweeps over the others, lingering slightly on the T'sa before moving on.
1.8 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"No clue, honey," Nancy says. "'Obstruction' or 'Behaviour likely to lead to a breach of the peace, maybe."
1.9 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"Wellwell, they never gave me a reason," Opium says, his head darting around like a bird.
"They just said to come with them for questioning, you know? I didn't even get to really see anything,” the T’sa mutters, sounding mildly disappointed.
1.10 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"Ain't no reason to give. They got us 'cuz a suit flared," snorts Finn, leaning back against the wall of the 'accomodations.' "Had ta be seen doin' somethin' to keep him happy, and they di'n't have any idea what to do. So they sweep through, bust everyone wi' more suspicious than a loiterin' ticket on their record, and guess what? Here we are.
She pops the bolt out of her mouth and grins widely at the loud-mouthed doctor. "'Course, if yer askin' exactly how people got those marks that made the Concord tag 'em -- tanj, I'm all fer that. Story time's as good as any way ta pass the time." Her quick laugh is cheerful, and not mocking at all.
[Edit: i spel gud]
1.11 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"We were there," Jim deadpans, focusing on his PDA and glowering. "I know I shouldn't be here."
1.12 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Opium cocks his head to the side, waiting for more.
“Ohoh? Myself, I did nothing wrong, really. Can’t think of anything to be held for. Yesyes, a puzzle this indeed is for me. I hope they let us go soon. I hope not to miss my transport. Nono, that would be bad.”
1:13 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Zippy sits there silently, recording both visual and audio data on the others who they were trapped with in case of later importance to the protection of the ship and mistress.
Basically making a perfect face/voice recognition for all involved, guards included. Assuming I can do that.
Dracos
1.14 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
George leans against a wall away from the others, head facing down. Great... just great. If I just minded my own damn buisness I'd have been back on my search for Corazon Parker. At this rate....
Sighing, he looks up at the others and wonders if he should join in on the conversation.
1.15 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Sighing into the conversational lull, Finn slumps back against the wall and thoughtfully slips the bolt from one side of her mouth to the other. "Tanj fer torment, this is borin'. An' the worst part o' the deal is, here I am wit' a free place t' stay, and I'm still payin' fer that punkin' hotel room. 'Sif I needed another slap inna face that I need a job."
Looking over at the T'sa, she says, in passable but accented (and unsophisticated) T'sa, "So, what're you doing on the Lighthouse anyways?"
[Edit] Finn: last sentence is in T'sa (Level 2)
1.16 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
“This and that, this and that. A bit of a traveler, I am. The Verge has many interesting prospects that just can’t be found back home,” Opium enthuses.
“But my stay on Lighthouse is for less than pleasure I fear. Work. I need it. Someone here is bound to have it. Just a bit so I can keep moving, ah, moving a bit so I can keep working.” He smiles, quite pleased at the cleverness of his wordplay.
“Yourself? What brings you here?”
1.17 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Nancy says "Finn, I still need an engineer, whatever happens. Assuming we get out of here in a relatively timely fashion, that job's yours. Every day that the Principia sits idle, I'm losing money. "
1.18: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"Moving is your work?" Sean asks Opium in badly accented T'sa.
1.19 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
“Nono, but my work calls for me to travel around somewhat. A bit of research here, some looking there,” Opium grins as best a T’sa can, amused. “But all that travel costs a bit more than the small returns, so side jobs are a must.”
Opium is speaking in T’sa.
1.20 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Finn grins right back at the T'sa. <Travelling is the why, and business is the how, yeah? 'Bout the same for me. I wanna see things, and so I gotta find th' jobs that bring to the new places, yeah? Old job showed me all that it could, so now I gotta find a new one.>
Switching back to Standard, she raises her bolt in salute to Harrison. "Ya know, I'd almost forgot. 'Mazing how bein' busted'll distract ya. Thanks. 'S good ta be aboard -- as much as I am, anyways."
Jerking her head at the T'sa, she continues, "Ya were sayin' ya needed other crew? Cuz he's lookin' for work, though I don' know what he does... or what his name is, actually. " She cocks an eyebrow. "Don't know anyone's name, fer that matter." She grins again. "So, anyways, m' name's Finn. How ya all doin'?"
Finn: First paragraph is in T'sa (Level 2), rest is in Standard. I used funny brackets. The gods of writing will strike me down.
1.21: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"I'm Sean." Smiling at Finn, he adds, "Didn't get a chance to thank you for, well, for earlier. So... thanks."
Speaking in Standard, unless specially noted otherwise.
1.22 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
“Opium.” the T’sa nods to Finn and then Harrison. “Pleased to meet you, Captain…?” he says, switching to Standard.
1.23 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"Jim Gammel," the man finally says, putting away the shiny PDA with a great show of reluctance. "I'm here on business... I'm a negotiator." Looking a touch nervous, he adds, "What do you think they'll do with us, anyway?"
1.24 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Waving a hand at Sean dismissively, Finn drawls, "Nah, don' thank me. Hell, fer all I know about benowhattapunc, ya really were gunna try to do Big Mr. Rigger in. But I don' like suits, and I don' like Riggers, so him shoving a tool up in yer face didn't go over too well wi' me. Besides," she winks, "anybody who'll lip off to a suit like ya did is good by my slate.
"As for what's gunna happen to us," Finn adjusts herself to address Jim, cocking one foot up over the other knee, "I figger they're gunna grill us good, then let us go. Ain't no good in haulin' up people who didn't have punc to do with it -- won' make the suits happy, cuz they'll want the real thing, and won' make anyone else happy, cuz too many people saw what happened."
Laughing, she adds, "Less, o' course, ya actually did have somethin' to do with it." She winks again.
Finn: No T'sa this time.
1.25 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Jim shakes his head at that, sighing. "I just don't want to miss meeting my client," he mumbles. "This could be a huge deal, and if I'm wasting good time rotting in this box while my client's getting pissed and scared, then the contract ain't gonna go through, and--" Eyes blinking as though he suddenly realized he's said too much, Gammel rolls his shoulders in an uneasy shrug. "Fuck all I can do about it now. The sooner this is over with, the better."
1.26: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Sean snorts. "I don't kill people while on vacation. Didn't really plan to work at all, but you don't pass something like that without a second glance. The Hippocratic oath, and all that."
Sighing, he tussles up his hair. "'Course, if you're right, they don't care who did it, but who to pin it on. Just my luck."
<Edit: Sentence no makey sense. Yay!>
1.27 THE USUAL SUSPECT
"I'm Nancy Harrison, master of the Principia Mathematica. This is my robot pal Zippy. I guess we were all in the wrong place at the wrong time." Nancy shakes her head, and looks at the registration papers she still has to work on. "I guess I might as well get on and deal with the admin side whilst I'm detained here, though."
1.28 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
“Which way are you headed, if you don’t mind me asking?”
1.29 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"The Principia is a tramp freighter, so she'll go wherever I can get a cargo for. Any place but here, when it comes down to it, honey."
1.30 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Beep. "Pleasure to meet you." Zippy automatically responded to the introduction.
Dracos
1.31 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
No longer able to restrain herself, Finn's fingers twitch as she stares almost hungrily at Zippy. "So tell me," she says, absently, "where exactly did ya pick yer robot up? What make is he? What's the power source? Is there an on-board diag-kit? Can I take 'im apart? I'll put him back together better'n new, I guarantee ya. Can't figger out how they got away with that small a lever-moment on th' elbow joint...."
1.32 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"I don't think so, honey. This isn't going to be the best place to overhaul a robot. If you ship with me, though, I reckon you'll get an opportunity to riffle through his innards soon enough. As for the rest..." Nancy turns to her robot. "Zippy, hon, tell Finn about yourself."
1.33 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Beep. Beep.
Loading Parameter data.
Advertisement output rejected. Basic Info stats loaded.
#BASIC INFO DEFINITIONS
"I am Rapid Reaction Mobile Defense Bot, Zippy. Programmed to deal with swift assaults from multiple foes and for the protection of designated owner: NANCY HARRISON. I am currently programmed for the usage of a variety of ranged assault weapons for use in ship and ground combat."
#END BASIC INFO DEFINITIONS
Bah. Hey Bjorn, if you want to go ahead with that reprogramming thing later on, go ahead. It'd be fun to play. Trying to play emotionless yet quirky bot is a bit difficult ^_^
Dracos
1.34 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Whistling softly, Finn comments, "Geez. The hardware might rock, but didja hafta get th' Baby's First AI? I've seen better end-user interfaces onna sabot tool."
First chance I get, "Zippy." You want a name upgrade while I'm at it? :P
1.35: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Uncerimoniously, the door is opened and two uniformed guards escort you to the interrogation room (Zippy, being a robot, is left behind). There's a long, white table and a few plastic chairs surrounding it, with a one-way mirror on the far end of the room. Sitting at one of the chairs is the security chief from earlier, with a holo-player sitting on the table in front of him.
Any of you with even the slightest knowledge of law enforcement techniques -- a few episodes of "Boys in Blue of Bluefall" is enough -- know that they'd normally bring you into the room individually, with two cops or secruity officers (one to play "good cop" and the other to play "bad cop") interviewing you for holes in your story; to do what they are doing now is very odd.
Your impression of things being far from standard is brought home when all of you have filed into the room. The chief does not say a word, he just turns off the lights with the remote in his hand, then presses "Play" on the holo-player.
The player shows an area about six feet by six feet hovering above the table, seemingly devoid of scenery otehr than a small table and a few chairs. In it are illusory people about a foot and a half high. More specifically, you.
Finn stands at a table, chewing her bolt. Fenrir sits across from her, tapping away at a computer keyboard with speed only a T'sa could have. Nancy leans back in her chair with her feet on the table, staring upward. George stands off in the "corner" of the projection, smoking a cigarette, while Sean stands next to him looking at something on his dataslate. This sytrikes all of you as odd, because none of you have seen each other before today. Then, the sound kicks in.
"So, what'cha got for me, Fenrir?" asks holo-Finn.
The T'sa responds, speaking quickly. "It will be more difficult than we had planned. Cole is only going to stay here for a few days longer, security will be tight. It seems as if they have security in every possible vantage point for a sniper to strike, we wouldn't be able to get away before they got us."
"So?" holo-Harrison leans forward, putting all four chair-legs on the ground and looking at the T'sa, then the Mechalus. "They already paid in advance, right, so why do we even NEED to kill Cole? We got the money, let's just hop on the ship and fuck off to where they can't find us."
"That would be a very bad idea," says holo-George. "VoidCorp did not become the stellar nation is is by being eager to write things off as a loss, moreso when that loss is the very illegal asassination of the man between them and the rhodium of Lison."
"What about that guy on his staff, Moore?" holo-Finn continues, "You said we might be able to buy him off, right?"
"No good", says the translucent Fenrir. "He's been transferred back to Bazaar, Cole probably got wind of his earlier shenanigans."
"Shit." holo-Finn palms the bold and runs her fingers through her hair, producing faint metallic clattering noises.
Holo-Nancy puts ehr feet back on the desk and begins to twirl a strnad of her own hair idly. The T'sa closes his computer's screen, and a new voice is heard -- the voice of Jim Gammel, the only one so far not seen in the video. "So, if security is too tight to shoot him, who says we have to shoot him? They killed people back before guns were invented, you know."
"What're you talking about?" asks holo-George.
Harrison looks at him smugly, as if she'd just got the idea Gammel was talking about. "Poison him. It would be a lot easier to get to the cafeteria than it would be to get a sniper's roost, right?"
Finn shakes her head. "No good. The contract specifies we have to kill him bloody enough so that the Rigunmors don't want to come back."
Sean, now. "Just because it doesn't involve a bullet doesn't mean it can't be gruesome. I know an awful lot about poisons, Finnabog, and I could whip one up in 2 hours that would shred his guts like a fucking flechette round. Puking up pints of blood, chunks of shit, and strips of his own small intestine sound gory enough for you?"
"I like the way you think, Sean. Have it ready in an hour and a half."
The images waver slightly and then the feed cuts altogether. The lights go on again, and you once more see the security chief, sitting at the desk, arms folded in his lap.
"Care to explain this?"
Nancy and Sean, you both notice something is wrong with the video. Well, besides the fact that you never said any of that stuff -- that much is obvious -- but thate's something wrong with the feed itself that you cannot quite put your finger on.
1.36 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"It's a nice fake, but any kid with a decent animation package, a few holos and some voiceprints could make a better one. You know that, or you wouldn't be showing it to us like this. The only thing that links us is that we were all there at the time your politician's aide tried to kill him, so I guess someone's using this to throw you off, to buy some time to let the trail go cold. But I'm guessing that you want us to play along with this, to make the real assassin think you bought his cheap trick to buy you time to find him. Or have I watched too many episodes of The filth?"
Nancy watches to see how this has gone down with the cop.
1.37 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
“Impossible,” Opium states with finality. “There’s no way, no way, that can be true. I’ve never met any of these people in my life. What is the meaning of this?”
1.38: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Sean keeps quiet. It's obvious he's being framed, and he half expected it after taken in... but something feels off to him in the holovid, and he's trying to figure out what.
Sean's using his Medical Science -- Medical Knowledge to figure out what kind of poison would cause the symptomps specified in the vid. The skill is 17/8/4, and he has a -2 step bonus for his Photo Memory.
1.39: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
The chief glowers. "I don't know how things are back in the Stellar Ring, missy, but around here people don't fake holovids. Maybe you have some sort of hyper-interpolative camera back on Sol, but here you can't fake movement without it looking like a marionette, or at least like they're floating in zero-G. The cameras just can't get enough data to make the movements look natural.
If it is a fake, it is the best fake I have ever seen in my life. And it doesn't shine well on your supposed innocence when the first words out of your mouth are telling me how stupid I am and how I'm supposed to do my job.""
1.40 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Frowning dourly, no trace of his earlier nervousness visible, Jim crosses his arms over his chest and then eyes the man behind the desk, as though to say, 'I'm just as confused as you are,' though he actually says nothing.
1.41 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"Explain?" Finn cocks an eyebrow, and rolls the bolt from one side of her mouth to the other. "Y'know, 's kinda hard to explain. I mean, y'know, tryin' to explain how if t' holo is right, then the Rigger pants-chaser was fulla pigsmelt on every newchannel on t' Station, or how a buncha alleged stone-cold killers that c'n sneak a magic poison inta a major suit don' bother ta check for bugs, or, y'know, how that ain't me, an' why you ain't offered ta get me a lawyer yet."
Corwin rolls a 17 for an Ordinary success
A fair number of poisons could do that, most of them engineered by the Thuldan Empire. Necrotoxins, ingested, dissolve the flesh of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract like ten thousand ulcers at once.
1.42: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"So what can we do for you, Officer?" Sean asks nonchalantly. "I don't believe there's an explanation to that video both of us would be satisfied with."
1.43: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Left alone in the cell, Zippy set himself up by the corner of the room, leaning against the wall. The humans weren't around for a while it seemed. And he was left here alone in the prisons. Oh well, one spot to stand was as good as another.
Beep. Zippy pulled out a harmonic, slowly beginning to play.
~o/
I am just a robot, though my story's seldom told
I have squandered my resistance,
For a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises.
All lies and jest.
Stil a robot hears what he wants to hear and deletes the rest.
When I left my factory and robots, I was no more than a scrap,
In the company of luggage,
In the quiet of a starrail station, runnin' scared.
Layin' low, seeking out the richer quarters,
where the slaving robots go.
Lookin' for the places, only they would know.
lie-la-lie...
Asking only proper maintainance I come lookin' for an owner,
But I get no offers,
Just a come-on from the scrapyard on seventh avenue.
I do declare there were times when I was so lonesome,
I almost went right there.
Oooh la, la, la.../o~
Zippy played upon his harmonica, methodically filling the tune in before the next verse.
~o/
Then I'm laying out my deflector shields
And wishing they were used
Going back
Where the New Star City winters aren't a-freezin' me,
Freezin' me, Going back...
In the clearing stands of starport, and a guard by his trade,
and he carries the reminders of ev'ry gun that laid him down,
or shocked him, till he cried out, in his anger and his shame,
"I am breaking, I am breaking"
But the robot still remains...
Lie la lie.../o~
Taking ya up on the digital harmonica! ^_^. To the tune of "The Boxer". Know that the ROBOT LIVES TO SAVE YOU ALL BY THE POWER OF MUSIC!
Dracos
1.44 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"Look, hon, if you're starting from the premise that you guys on the Verge are too lo-tech to fake this kind of thing, then you're bound to be barking up the wrong tree. That recording stinks to high heaven in so many ways that if your coppering senses aren't already warning you that it's a red herring, nothing I can say can help you." Nancy smiles sweetly at him.
Nancy uses Seduce to turn away wrath. Skill is 13/6/3, -1 for Great Looks
1.45 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Looking on with a neutral expression, George says nothing as he waits to see how the officer will respond to the comments made by Sean and Nancy.
1.46: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Harrison cannot use her Seduce skill: target is too hostile and she's working to make him moreso.
"I had called you all in like this to give you a chance, to let you explain yourselves. The guys always say I'm too lenient with suspects, and I guess this proves 'em right.
"I tell you what, you stuck-up Solar bitch. I'm going to rewind this and hit Play again, and you are going to show me exactly what proves this video to be a fake, or I am going to lock all of you up for homicide."
He slaps the "Previous Track" and "Play" buttons in succession. Put up or shut up time.
1.47 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Clearing his throat quietly, Jim Gammel uncrosses his arms, ignoring the video as it plays. "Uh, Sir," he offers in a familiar tone, his expression shifting from neutral to friendly smile. "I think I can help sort out what the lady here is saying." Slowly, and with carefully deliberate movements, he pulls his shiny PDA from one pocket, showing it towards the officer. "Cutting edge," he explains, running a finger across the edge of a holo display affectionately. "This is hot out of Sol, and it's just the tip of the ice-berg as far as these kind of toys go."
Turning to the holo display, which is still running, Jim squints, as though peering closely at some minor detail, then nods knowingly. "See, I saw something like this in the back corner when I went to pick up my PDA. Saying that it's gonna be great for special effects and stuff. Well, I don't make holos, so it doesn't interest me much. But I did see it. They got some pricey software for big-name studios."
At the officer's unflinchingly blank expression, Jim's expression wilts slightly, but he quickly recovers his demeanor, continuing, "Now, I know this is hard to believe, maybe, but I have a friend on this very station who happens to be pretty good with software. He runs deep into code and he's a big holo fan. I'm willing to bet good money that if we show this video to him, he can prove exactly what's legit, and what's not. Sound like a plan, Officer?"
Jim Gammel is attempting to use his Deception - Bluff skill on the Officer. His skill is 14/7/3.
1.48: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Gammel rolls a 13 for an Ordinary success
He thinks for a moment. "If you know an expert in the field, I suppose you can call him -- you are entitled to a call if you end up arrested anyway. I'm sure ALL of us would appreciate more information as to the veracity of this data." He glares at Nancy.
"Do you have your own phone, or do you need mine?"
1.49 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Pulling a VoidCorp Space-N-Gage unit from a pocket on his leather vest, Jim continues to smile his stupid grin, and says, "I've got my own, Sir. Just a moment." Jim presses a few buttons, causing the phone to emit a variety of expensive and designer tones before holding it up to his ear. "Hey, Tony!" he says in a pleasant voice. "How ya been? Yeah.... Yeah.... No, Jim. Jim Gammel." Jim's smile becomes slightly strained. "Hey, look, I need to ask you a big favor. I'm down at the station. There's been a bit of a misunderstanding, and the police say that an expert witness, such as yourself, would be able to examine the piece of evidence we've got here. Yeah. Yeah." Jim's eyebrow twitches slightly. "Set it to fucking record. I know it's Space Monk. It'll still be there when you get back. Look, you gonna return the favor I did for you, or not?"
Jim Gammel is attempting to use his Interaction - Bargain skill on Tony Larouix. His skill is 16/8/4, and he has a -1 step bonus for his Networked perk.
Gammel rolls a 1 for an Amazing success.
Jim: He tells you he'll be down there as soon as he can.
1.50 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
As Jim makes his phone call, Finn leans forward, light flaring from the green lens covering her left eye for a second. "So, just t' be clear, lemme get t'is straight: we ain't akchally arrested at t'is node?"
1.51 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Glancing back at Finn briefly, Jim asserts, "He'll be here as soon as he can, Sir."
1.52: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"At this... what? Uh, no, right now you are not technically under arrest, you are here for questioning under suspicion. I can place the arrest if questioning or your actions leads me to suspect you need to be put under arrest.
"But we don't have to worry about it, because this man's friend is going to set everything right, isn't he?" the man asks, a bit mockingly.
1.53 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Chewing her bolt thoughtfully, Finn muses, "Y'know, t'at's 'zactly what I'm won'ering." Crossing her arms behind her head, she continues, "See, last I heard, Big Man Rigger wasn' dead, an' 'is li'l pants-chaser was sayin' it was wha' t' doctors call a 'pre-existin' condition.' So, what 'zactly are we 'unner suspicion' of?"
[Edit: What kinda lazy forum doesn't put bold where I obviously meant to put bold text, even if I forgot the tags?]
1.54: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"Telling the truth, I bet," Sean says, a bit dejectedly. "Pre-existing condition or not, what that guy did was no way to treat it. Or to treat anything, for that matter."
1.55: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"You weren't told? Cole died while recieving treatment -- it happened while you were being processed. That's why the charge on the table is murder."
1.56 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Waltzing into the room as though he owns the place, short hair slicked back and shiny with oil, a man with a hooked-nose and what looks like an always-present grin sidles into the room, trailed by another guard. "Heya, Gammel," he says agreeably. "How ya' doin'?"
Gammel says nothing, merely nodding a head towards the officer sitting next to the holo-player.
"Oh, right," Tony says, suddenly seeming to remember where he is, though his smile doesn't completely fade. "Ah, you got a video you want me to check out, right?"
1.57 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
On the verge of saying something, Finn cuts herself off as the greasy little human slides into the room. "Tanj," she mutters under her breath, "he wasn' half rippin' when he said 'soon'."
Hitching one shoulder, she leans back and rests against the wall, half-grinning. Let's see if he's as fully as he looks before minin' any more smelt.
1.58: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Sean hopes that this specialist is all he's been hyped up to be. 'Best of luck,' he thinks, resolving to buy the guy a beer if he comes through.
1.59 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"So, this is the video?" Tony asks, grinning his snarky grin and chewing on his bubble-gum loudly. "What you want me to check out?"
"Uh, Tony," Gammel says, shooting hurried glances at the unimpressed officer. "We just need you to debunk this video and show why it's not real."
"A fake, eh?" Tony asks, peering closely at the device, and then frowning. "Hmmm. Yeah, if this is fake, it's a pretty good job."
"But it is fake," Gammel stresses quietly, forcing a smile.
"Oh, well, I'm going to need some time to look at it," Tony says, shrugging, his eyes pinned to the last instant of the holo as it ends. "Say, two, maybe three days?" At the officer's doubtful gaze, Tony fumbles with his pockets for a moment, producing a business card and handing it over. "My credentials, if you need 'em. I think the door goon already got 'em, though."
1.60: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
The officer examines the card for a few moments, then looks up at Tony. "Hey, weren't you that guy who proved the robots in Fortress Kurg were real, when the producers said they were holos so they wouldn't have to pay the actors? That shit was all over the news for weeks, I couldn't turn on a monitor without hearing some lawyer talking about it.
"If you can prove whether or not this video is a fake, go ahead. We can let you use the Lighthouse's computers, if you want -- you probably have your own mainframe for this kind of stuff, though.
"As for the rest of you -- well, no point in keeping you in lockup while evidence is being procesed. You're free to move about the station, I just ask that you each checkin with the security office once per day and that none of you leave the station until this is all sorted out."
1.61 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Nancy turns to Jim Gammel. "I guess we all owe you one there, honey. Especially me. This situation was about to make me explode, you know." She looks somewhat ashamed of being unable to control her emotions.
1.62 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Jim Gammel looks unpreturbed, and merely shrugs. "I've been victimized before. I find it helps to have friends in... places... for this kind of situation, because you never know when someone tries to pin something on you again." Jim Gammel pauses for a moment, then eyes the rest of the accused, and the officer, though the official is distracted by Tony's long-winded dissertion on the inadequacies of the police-station's computer system. "What say we find ourselves somewhere more private to discuss this, and put our heads together, maybe see if we can figure out what's going on?" He turns to Kodama George speculatively. "Especially you, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Quiet."
1.63: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"Sure," Sean replies. "And it'll give me a chance to buy you a beer or something as thanks."
1.64 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Grunting slightly, Jim makes for the exit, motioning the others to follow. "Don't thank me, thank Tony."
"I'll check in once a day," he says to the officer in passing. "Thanks for you help, officer."
Gammel heads outside of the precient.
Edit: Duh. Must spell out actions. >_<
1.65 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
‘Thank you, officer,” Opium says stiffly, not liking the feel of this whole situation. Not only was he being falsely accused, there was no way he was going to be able to make his flight. He turns toward Gammel and nods gratefully.
“Thankyouthankyou, I appreciate the help. Let us hope your friend is as good as they say.” Opium leaves the room, happy to at least be out of there.
Opium leaves the precinct and waits outside.
1.66 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Finn doesn't even acknowledge the cop on her way out. She does stop, though, to look up at Gammel and wink. "Well, I'm short, metal, 'n' loud-mouthed, but t'at don't mean I ain' willin' to drop flops wit' ta rest'a'ya. Ain't gonna get off t'is ark wit' t'is punc in t' wall, an' while t'at ain' bad han-style, 'd rat'er see more'n' t' gaunnet."
Jerking her head at the door, she takes the bolt out of her mouth for a second as she says, a little more seriously, "Let's make sure we purse Opium 'n' make sure he joins in t' murk, yeah?" Without waiting for a reply, she swaggers out the door.
Finn: heading outside, waiting with Opium outside the precinct.
[Edit: Dammit. Missed the post where Grammel left the precinct. Minor edit to fit the continuity a bit better.]
1.67 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Nancy collects Zippy and heads off to the pub, stopping on the way only to place the completed Office of Shipping forms in a message capsule and send them off to the office to be processed.
Nancy happily leaves the police precinct, singing robot in tow.
1.68: THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Not wanting to be left behind and spend more time than necessary with the cops, Sean follows the others.
Leaving after Finn.
1.69 THE USUAL SUSPECTS
George nods to the cop before heading out with the others to the pub. Hands within pockets, he walks in a leisurely gait that gives the impression of having been out on a nice stroll the past few hours instead of being held in a precinct on the charges of murder.
Setting himself besides Gammel, light smile on his face, he comments, "Nice job back there. Always helps to have friends who know these sort of things."
George leaves the precinct.
2.1: DUE DILIGENCE
You need not look long to find a pub, and soon you stand at the door of an establishment called "The Jolly Rigalia". The lights inside are dimmed, the pale orange illumination just enough to see the wide assortment of miscellaneous junk affixed to the walls -- starship parts, scraps of cerametal armor, bits and chunks of old computers, tires, and so on.
The bar itself is mostly empty, with a few stools occupied by thick-looking spacehands focusing their attention on the Verge League Baseball game being displayed on a 2-d video screen in the corner of the room. There are a few tables as well, and save for a laughing group of tourists with a pitcher of margaritas and a plate of onion wings they too are empty. From behind the bar, the bartender nods at your entrance, then looks back toward the game.
2.2 DUE DILIGENCE
Eyeing the group, and seeing that everyone has come along, even if some were initially hesitant, Gammel turns to the bartender, as no waitress is in sight. "Table for six, next to a charger or whatever for the bot, if you got it," he calls out. When the bartender pulls his eyes off the screen to look again, Gammel adds, "We'll take a plate of chicken wings, too, if you serve 'em."
Gammel is looking to obtain a table near the back where he can discuss the situation with the others, which gives him a good view of the entrance.
2.3: DUE DILIGENCE
The bartender cocks an eyebrow at your order of authentic chicken wings. "High roller, eh?" He punches some data into his register.
"There's a charger at the table right under the vidscreen, but I can move it if you want to watch the game -- the Bluefall Devilfish are playing the Penates Corsairs. People don't order chicken often, it'll take me a while to cook some up -- I'll have Diane bring out your plate when it's done, along with some drinks. "
2.4 DUE DILIGENCE
"Yeah, that's fine," Gammel says with a shrug. "Wheel it over -- we'll take that seat in the back corner." With his order securely placed, Gamel goes over to a corner booth, and sits, waiting for the others to join him.
2.5 DUE DILIGENCE
Nancy takes a seat and powers up her dataslate, looking for reports on recent events, and for an obituary of the dead politician. "If we're going to be stuck with these charges, I guess we might as well know something about the guy. And right now, even the public newsfeeds are good, because I know nothing."
Nancy looks for basic information.
2.6: DUE DILIGENCE
Sean eases himself into a chair opposite Gammel. Turning his head towards Nancy, he asks, "So, is there anything interesting about that Cole guy?"
2.7: DUE DILIGENCE
Silently, Zippy follows mistress Harrison out of the police building to the bar. Setting up near the table, he scans the room slowly and carefully, looking for anything that seemed suspicious or dangerous.
Edit: fucking tenses.
Dracos
2.8 DUE DILIGENCE
Slumping down in a handy seat, Finn stretches, and then interjects, "T' ot'er t'ing wort' lookin' for is anyt'ing on t' Clockwork pants-chaser, y'know. Way I see i', eit'er he's bein' set up like us, or he wuz in on t' job. Eit'er way, wortha murk."
[Edit: TRAVEL TO THE FUTURE!]
2.9 DUE DILIGENCE
Seeing that no chicken wings have yet been delivered, Jim leans back in a seat, and crosses his arms over his chest. "Anything's possible," he says in reply to Finn. "But," he turns to address those sitting at the table in general, "let's look at the facts first. Let's put everything on the table that we know without a doubt, and see what we can get from there.
"First off, I think it's safe to say we know it's fake, just 'cause we weren't there. Tony's good, though, I'm pretty sure he'll get us out of the jam. The more important thing to think about right now is just why this whole thing has happened. More specifically, why us?"
2.10 DUE DILIGENCE
Regretfully tearing her eyes away from the fascinating pile of hardware sitting near Harrison, Finn cocks an eye-plate at Gammel. "Why us? Why not us? Whoever set us up prolly don' give a tanj who t' punc we are. T'ey needed canaries, so t'ey wen' lookin' for meat on t' ark wit' t' sorta hist'ry t'at t' eyes'd cred, an' t'ey yemmed us. Tanj in lit, y'know?
"Better question," she continues, leaning back and thoughtfully shaking her bolt in the general direction of the ceiling, "is wha' t'ey were rea'y shootin' for wit' t'is. Why job Cole? An' when y' scan it real good, t' real canary is VoidCorp. If t' eyes cred the holo, t'en e'ryone's gonna t'ink VoidCorp's t' johnson. If y' ignore t' li'l meatsacks inna way," she says with a sudden grin and wink, "t'en VoidCorp's t' one who's gonna rea'y deb, y'know?"
Serious again, Finn blurts out, almost against her will, "Hey, Harrison, doncha t'ink yer toas'ers lookin' like it needs a li'l main'enance?"
2.11 DUE DILIGENCE
Opium stares unblinkingly at the screw chewing Finn from his stool, having sat down while the others were talking.
“Eheh, what did you just say?”
2.12 DUE DILIGENCE
Copper can't blush, but it can look flustered. "Eh, sorry. Tend t' speak a little rough when I get excited, y'know?
"What I was sayin' wuz that we're just random, unlucky guys," she continues, making an effort to eununciate clearly. "Whoever killed Cole needed names to pin things on, and they picked us, at random, outta the list o' people on t' Lighthouse with backgrounds that the police'd believe.
"So it ain't personal, so we gotta find the one who did it, y'know? And two things happened outta this: Cole got dead, and VoidCorp got framed. So find t' face who wants botha those things, and ya got the killer, y'know?"
2.13 DUE DILIGENCE
“Ah, wellwell, that makes sense I suppose. But how would they have made such a convincing holo in such short time? Even if the voices were off badly, the video alone is probably enough to find us guilty. That is, unless Mr. Gammel’s associate can get us out of that predicament. No offence,” Opium says, nodding to Gammel.
“Somehow this doesn’t strike me quite as random. Nono, not at all.”
2.14 DUE DILIGENCE
"None taken. I know my boy Tony, and I know he's good for his word. He makes good on his debt, and--" Gammel cuts himself off with a frown. "Anyway, call me Jim, I'm no one special, so you don't need to give me any title. Just think of me as another of the good ole boys. More to thinking, though, I guess we're pretty much out of facts, unless someone here is holding something back that they know," he states authoritively, shooting a speculative glance at Kodama George.
"So, I'm guessing Mrs... uh... sorry, I never did catch your name. Anyways, while it'd probably be good to know who's behind the whole thing. I'm kind of wondering why exactly we specifically have been implimented. There's something clumsy about the way that I'm not in that holo, and it strikes me a mite peculiar, if you catch my drift." Sighing, Jim places his hands flat on the table, and inspects his nails, not meeting anyone's eyes. "It seems to me, that at least one of us has to be hiding something to get stuck in this situation. Someone here is ... or has been ... doing something they shouldn't have."
Raising his head, Gammel eyes the assembled beings neutrally. "Question is ... which one of us is it?"
[EDIT: As mentioned before, board doesn't bold text for users when they clearly MEANT it to be bolded. Feh.]
2.15 DUE DILIGENCE
Finn shrugs, and then grins again -- it's seems to be the customary state of affairs for her. "As t' th' first, name's Finn. As t' th' second... I spent a year as a low-rankin' greasemonkey in a merc comp'ny. Before t'at, I wuzn't nothin' but a Lison alley rat. Past ain't clean, mebbe, but definitely not anyt'ing t'at'd make a face set up somethin' like t'is t' take me out, y'know?"
[Edit: Forgot the change in scene title.]
2.16 DUE DILIGENCE
"Nothing really interesting in this breaking news... Blah, blah, rhodium mining, blah, blah, heart condition, blah, blah, poisoning. Someone who knows how is going to have to do a little digging, I think." Nancy grimaces. "As for the other matter, I only just arrived on the Verge. I don't think I can have acquired a guilty past here with such speed, and I didn't have one back home."
2.17 DUE DILIGENCE
"Well, what about you two, then?" Jim asks, eyeing Sean and George. "Anyone you can think of that'd try and pin something like this on you?"
2.18: DUE DILIGENCE
"Someone with the resources to do all this, and would actually bother, on my account?" Sean snorts. "Please."
2.19 DUE DILIGENCE
Beep.
"Mistress Harrison, they could have selected you and the others due to a lack of supporting background. Without anyone here to raise a ruckus on your behalf. No one would complain about the disappearance of a group of drifters new to the area. Without infrastructure, you are vulnerable for use as a scapegoat."
Dracos
2.20 DUE DILIGENCE
"Listen to yer toaster, lady," Finn laughs. "It might not be t' most charmin' chip on t' board, but at least it's thinkin' straight."
She poises her right hand above the computer gauntlet on her left wrist. "Now, if y'll excuse me, I'll see wha' I c'n do about t'at diggin'." With that, emerald fibrous snakes shoot out from her fingertips to caress the gauntlet, before quickly invading the circuitry.
Finn is going to use Computer Science: Hacking (16/8/4, -1 for interface,+1 because Zippy is just too damn cool and therefore distracting Finn; Good gauntlet, Good nanocomputer) to find out all she can about Cole, anything in the news on the party, and also to find out as much as she can about the Mechalus assistant (who he is, where he currently is, if he's been charged).
[EDIT: I am not hacking Zippy, dammit! If I was, I would be using a screwdriver and a welding torch, because I love hardware.]
2.21 DUE DILIGENCE
It's not long at all before the wires retract and Finn's eyes clear from the glaze of elsewhere-concentration. "Couldn' find much about what ac'ually happened t' Cole. They say he was poisoned by somethin' t'at messed up his insides wit' style, an' t'at's about it. No mention o' us.
"His trip ta t' Verge's been a long time comin'. Seems ta t'ink that poor ol' li'l Lison'd do better if t'ey just signed t'emselves over ta t' Riggers wholesale. Turned down bodyguards ta make himself look like just another friendly face, 'pparently. Tanj stupid, t'at, given t'at t' Concord Free Now was flarin' up about him pretty tanj nova.
"As for t' Clockwork pants-chaser, name's Nleer Alamein. Gone all weepy and hidin' cuz he 'n' t' corpse were childhood buddies, and he ain't talkin' ta t' press. But he ain't hidin' all that perfec'ly, since I figgered out where he's at. Anyone wanna see if he'll wanna talk ta us, instead?"
2.22: DUE DILIGENCE
Sean shrugs. "Might as well. Maybe he'll tell us who told him to treat his boss the way he had."
2.23 DUE DILIGENCE
Zippy beeps, and turns dispassionate lenses to Finn. "Where is this 'Clockwork Pants-chaser'?"
A shrug. "He's inna hotel. Marriott. Got t' room number."
"Well, that's something, I guess, but what exactly's the plan?" Turning his head to one side, Jim cracks his neck, then crosses his arms over his chest. "And do we have any other leads to follow if this falls through, or something?"
Finn shrugs again, and shifts the bolt from one side of her mouth to the other. "Way I scan it, two t'ings t' do right now. One is t' talk to the pants-chaser, t' ot'ers to figger out where t' holo came from."
Beep. "What about the holovid?" Zippy intones.
Eyeing the bot dourly, Jim dismisses the concern, "I know my boy Tony. He's good for his word."
"Misunderstood. Data requested about source of Holovid."
"Well, t'at can't have been easy t' fake, y'know? And it had t' be done fast, cuz how long we all been on t'is ark? So, prob'ly someone on t' Lighthouse was t' person who made it. Find t' person, gotta lead."
Jim blinks. "Huh? Well, as I hear it, pretty much all of us landed today, right?"
Finn shakes her head. "I been onboard for t'ree days or so, now."
Zippy scans from Finn to Jim and back again, an uncomfortably implemented parody of human body language. "Who gave it to the police? That would be data point three."
"Eh, t'at's a good question, but harder t' get at -- not like the cops are gonna want t' talk t' us."
"Sure it wasn't the police who made it?" Opium blurts out, from the corner where he has sat almost unnoticed.
Zippy beeps again. "Unlikely. No benefit."
"Nah," Gammel dismisses. "If it was the police, they'd keep us once they had us."
Finn tilts her head up to stare at the ceiling."So, we got lookin' for t' Clockwork, and lookin' for t' holo-maker. Any ot'er ideas?"
Uncrossing his arms, Gammel drums his fingers across the tabletop. "I wish I weren't drawing such a blank on this," he admits. "But it sounds like you have the best ... well, only idea, I guess."
Zippy considered. "Letting the cops know we are wandering around hunting would be a negative. They would be likely to interfere. Therefore even if they would work with us, it wouldn't be good."
Finn stares long and consideringly. "Y'know, toaster, yer pretty talkative when yer boss ain't lookin'."
"These are not the droids you are looking for," Zippy responds.
"At the same time," Jim muses, utterly ignoring Finn and Zippy for the moment, "sticking together might not be the hottest of ideas, all told."
Finn shakes her head and tries to focus on business again. "Uh, right. On t' gripper, we gotta worry t'at if we start pokin' around too much, the johnsons behind t'is are gunna come gunnin' for us."
Shrugging his shoulders uncomfortably, Jim agrees, "Well, they suspect we're all working together anyway, and now we really are."
"Still, 's a good idea not t' draw too much attention. Should split up, travel near but not t'get'er, y'know? But which t' do first?"
"Large group not good for interrogation," Zippy addds. "Also too easy a target for cops. Getting caught again would be counterproductive to protection of Mistress Harrison."
"Yeah, well, gettin' picked off one by one by t' johnsons would be counner-productive t' Mistress Harrison's breat'in', too."
"True," Zippy acknowledges.
"You seem to have the best idea about what we should do," Jim aquiesces to Finn. "I'm quick on my feet and all, any maybe some say I got myself a way with words, but all told.... So, how do you think we should split up?"
Zippy interjects, "Most should go to search for the source of the holovid."
Jim snorts mirthlessly, looking between Zippy and Finn. "We're going to have to figure out who that is, first."
Finn, meanwhile, blinks and almost drops the bolt. "Tanj, ya t'ink I know anyt'ing serious?" she demands increduously of Gammel. "Me, I'm just jettin' air, here."
"More than the rest of us, anyway." Jim half-smiles.
"I go where Mistress Harrison goes," the robot interjects. "I am not an interrogation unit though. It does not lie within my skill set."
Pondering for a second, Finn asks Gammel, "You had yer fully Tony contact t' help wit' t' cops. T'ink ya know anyone t' help us find t' holo-maker?"
Eyeing Nancy thoughtfully, Jim says, "You know, well, I do. Problem is, he's got his hands full debunking the same holo." Turning back to face Finn, Jim continues, "And, anyway, if there are any maker's marks, Tony's gonna pull them up when he's done poking around inside whatever's in the durn holo."
Finn nods. "T'en seems like t' place t' start is wit' t' pants-chaser. 'Specially since he might not stay in t' same place all t'at long."
"I guess we could go back to the law and ask who delivered the holo to 'em, too." Gammel considers this for a moment. "There's no real reason we couldn't do both, is there?"
"Tanj, we c'n just give t' cops a call. They ain't gonna tell us, though, y'know. Still, wort' a shot. Do t'at first, t'en head out fer some Clockwork?"
"Eh ... I guess I'm on the law's good side enough to try and get some word from 'em, but, eh, Missy Harrison here should probably go the other way. I'm thinking the law might ..." Jim trails off, and considers carefully. "I'm thinking she might want some space. I'll deal with them, if anyone has to."
Finn grins widely and tries for a second to put her feet up on the bar, before realizing that the height differential is simply too much. "Sounds good 't me. Ya were handlin' 'em better t'an anyone else, and I ain't ashamed t' say it."
Switching to T'sa for a moment, Finn turns to Opium and asks, "Ya got anything to add?"
"Nothing I can think of. This is all beyond my normal sphere," Opium mutters darkly.
Finn laughs, and switches back to GalStand. "Eh, don' worry. Soon t' punc'll really be in t' wall, and everyt'ing'll be nice an' simple."
Jim looks slightly unnerved at the switch in tongue, and glances around in annoyance. "Where the hell's that watron off to.... Distracted by the durn game, I bet." He drums his fingers on the tabletop again, then shakes his head. Turning back to Finn, Jim nods necisively. "Aright. I'll go back and talk to the law, then. Thing is, we should mostly try and stick together, just in case someone's gunning for us. You, er.... Well, don't mean to be rude, or nothing, but you might be able to talk to wassisname better than me. I think you should take Missy Harrison with you, and that means the tin man follows you. What about the rest of you?"
"Kay, t'en. You wanna chat face-to-face wit t' cops, not over t' phone? Then I say we stop back at t' station -- we'll wait down t' street a bit, so's not t' make 'em antsy. T'en we can go ta t' hotel, talk ta t' pants-chaser... an' inciden'ally stop 'n' pick up any tools we might be missin', y'know?"
"Alright," Gammel agrees. "You got something to take down a phone number?"
"Sure do. Shoot."
Gammel presses the 'broadcast' button, and broadcasts his e-card through the i-net port on his phone. "There ya go."
Finn watches as the data shows up on her optic screen, and nods. "All set, t'en."
IRC conversation between Opium, Finn, Zippy, and Gammel. To summarize: Finn, Harrison, and Zippy (assuming Harrison concurs) are going to follow Gammel and Opium as they go back to politely pump the police. Once they're in the station, and presumably safe, then Finn and co. are going to pick up whatever equipment they want, and then go to the Marriott to talk to Alamein.
Nancy, Sean, George: If you have suggestions/complaints, speak up now. Otherwise, you should specify which group you're going to go with.
2.24: DUE DILIGENCE
"Sounds like a plan," Sean says. "I'd certainly love to hear the 'Clockwork Pants-chaser' explain the fast one he tried to pull on me."
2.25 DUE DILIGENCE
"I'm cool with that. I don't need to go back in that copshop, that's for sure." Nancy says. "Finn, can you hold off from disassembling Zippy that long, though?" She winks and grins good-naturedly.
Nancy follows the plan outline above
2.25 DUE DILIGENCE
Beep. Analyzing. Determined correct action.
Zippy laughs at Harrison's joke.
Dracos
2.26: DUE DILIGENCE
It's the top of the seventh and Penates leads Bluefall 8 to 5 when the waitress -- Diane, her name tag says, a short, stocky woman who looks to be Nariac -- comes out with your food. One heaping plate of authentic chicken wings made from authentic chickens, deep fried and given to you with a honey-maple-ranch dip in the center. With a bit of ceremony -- and for a hundred and seventy-five Concord dollars, you had better get some ceremony -- she hoists them up high and places them in the center of your table.
"Atom Smasher Ale all around," she says as she passes out mugs of frothy intoxicant, "and a cola for the Mechalus, compliments of the house. Will you be wantin' anything else, or will this be all?"
2.27 DUE DILLIGENCE
"I'm set," Jim replies, grabbing a chicken wing without hesitation. "You guys want anything, go ahead and get it," he adds, apparently lost in thought as he takes a bite.
2.28: DUE DILLIGENCE
Sean grabs a chicken wing as well, nodding at Jim in thanks.
2.29: DUE DILLIGENCE
Beep.
Zippy monitored the room, listening for anything of interest as the fleshy ones and the mistress ate.
I offer this as a quick opportunity to timeskip to the end of the meal. Let's roll.
2.30: DUE DILIGENCE
The chicken is delicious, not quite worth $175, but still better than onion wings by light-years. (Oddly enough, Opium is incapable of tasting the chicken, and can only taste the dipping sauce.) You have a liesurely meal as you watch the Devilfish come from behind with a 10-run rally in the 9th inning to win the game, 9 to 15. A few Bluefall fans rejoice at the news, talking about the Devilfish's chances to take the pennant this year.
After the meal is over, Gammel pays in cash with a hefty tip, and you're off, back to the security station. Gammel and Opium get a few odd looks as they walk in, but they appear to have made it in just fine. Once inside, they are met by a clerk whom you don't recognize, who asks "May I help you?" without looking up from his papers.
SUPER-SPECIAL LIGHTNING ROUND POST NUMERATION: Gammel and Opium, label your posts "2.XX-A". Everyone else, "2.XX-B." Don't increase the post number for your post if the previous post was to the thread you're not in. Post strings will be unified once you get back together.
2.31-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Finn ducks back into the store in which the rest of the group was waiting. "Looks like Jim 'n' Opium are in t' station green 'n' clear," she announces to Sean and Nancy. "Now, speakin' fer myself, I gots a couple tools t' pick up 'fore we head out. What about you faces?"
Some meta-gaming here, apologies for that. Let me know if objections fill that dark void you call a heart, and I'll fix it right aways.
2.32-B: DUE DILEGENCE
Beep. "I must retrieve my tools as well. Safety is paramount. We should separate, pick up our equipment, and reconvene here."
E team, special robo forces deploying! Go Go Go!
Dracos
2.33-B DUE DILIGENCE
"Roger that, Zippy." Nancy says, thinking of the safety and comfort of her ship. "Where do you want to meet up again?"
2.34-B: DUE DILIGENCE
"I'm good to go," Sean responds, "but if you need to pick up some stuff, just tell me where and when we meet."
2.35-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Finn is shaking her head before the others finish speaking. "Gotta say, don' t'ink it's a hot idea t' be splittin' up right now. Tanj, if I wanted t' be runnin' around han-style, wouldn' need t' get my tools in t' first place, yeah?
"My stuff's in my hotel room, which," she grins and winks, "jus' happens t' be t' same hive as t' pants-chaser. So, let's let Nancy 'n' t' toaster purse their gear, 'n' head on over ta t' Marriott, yeah?"
I hereby move that, unless something fancy is required in obtaining equipment, we use the Space-Age Skip-Ahead feature to put ourselves right outsides Finn's hotel room, all equipment having been gathered.
Assuming no objections, Finn has grabbed her pistol, which she has tucked away in one of the many pockets of her jumpsuit, her utility harness, and her general-purpose toolkit, to go with the gridcaster gauntlet she was already carrying.
2.31-A: DUE DILIGENCE
Whistling nonchalantly, Jim grins. "Hey there," Jim says warmly. "I'm Gammel. Jim Gammel. I was here a bit earlier. One of your officers said that I should check in once in a while, and I wanted to ask him a question while I was doing so."
2.32-A: DUE DILIGENCE
"All right, if you could..." The clerk looks up from his papers. "...Oh. Mister Dastun didn't expect you back so soon; he's attending to some other business right now.
"I can let you in to see Deputy Chief Soresin... if, if that's all right by you."
2.33-A: DUE DILIGENCE
“Finefine,” Opium says, putting on the best smile he could manage. The one that didn’t make people reach for their weapons. “He will do, I think.”
2.36-B: DUE DILIGENCE
After a short time, you have collected your equipment and are standing outside of Finn's hotel room, on the sixth floor. Each of you has a pistol concealed somewhere on your body -- except for Zippy, who lacks a hidden compartment, and so Nancy is carrying his weapon.
Alamein's room is on the 14th floor, 8 floors above you. You don't think you were followed, but you haven't had a chance to scout out the 14th floor yet, there may or may not be Rigunmor guards posted -- depends on just how secret they wanted it to be.
2.34-A: DUE DILIGENCE
Soresin's office is down the hall on the left, and the clerk escorts you there -- to make sure you are going where you are supposed to, you guess. The office is typical for police or security personnel, but the desk is eerily clean, and behind it sits a tall, slim Fraal, whose black eyes belie no expression
"What do you need?" he asks after the clerk closes the door behind the two of you... only it isn't really a question, just a statement.
2.37-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Beep.
Zippy leads off to the elevator. Opening the door, Zippy waits for the others to enter.
Dracos
2.35-A: DUE DILIGENCE
Still smiling, Gammel looks over his shoulder, as though to check if anyone might be listening in. After a second, he turns back to the Fraal behind the desk and says, "We just had a sudden thought about the entire situation what with that holo." Clearing his throat very quietly, Jim then explains, "We just had a sudden thought, and wanted to ask you a question. It's probably something you already figured out, but...."
2.38-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Sean enters the elevator after the robot, shrugging.
2.36-A: DUE DILIGENCE
The fraal stares impassively, not nodding, not gesturing you to go on, but simply waiting for you to finish.
2.39-B DUE DILIGENCE
Nancy follows Zippy into the lift and whistles innocently.
2.40-B: DUE DILIGENCE
"I hate ta ruin t'whole grim'n'silent action hero t'ing you faces got goin'," Finn says wryly, not having budged from her door, "but before we head up, doncha t'ink it might be kin'a good t' have a plan or somet'ing? If t' whole pack'o'us jumps down t' t' Clockwork's door, 'n' t'en stand aroun' and flame over if we're deliverin' flowers or his long-lost cousin come t' visit, it's gonna look a li'l funky -- 'specially if t'ere's guards scannin', y'know?"
Without waiting for a response, she continues, stabbing in the general direction of the elevator with her bolt for emphasis. "Way I scan it, t' first t'ing t' do is grok if anyone's watchin' t' room. An' best face fer t'at is Nancy or t' toaster, cuz she's got t' best chance o' not bein' known by t' Rigger.
"Once we know what's t'ere, t'en we can figger out how t' front." She ponders for a second. "Nancy, ya got a phone or a 'caster?"
Edit: GM rightfully pointed out that game is going too slow. I put more in post. I is good worker. I get food now?
2.41-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Beep. "Scanning skill set: INTERROGATE LIAR : Not found. What is your plan, Mistress Harrison?"
Dracos
2.37-A: DUE DILIGENCE
Jim stares at the unblinking Fraal a moment longer, then looks away, and coughs slightly. "Anyway," he continues, affecting an unpreturbed demeanor, "while I'm sure your best men are already canvassing the streets and investigating this, I thought it'd be an idea to ask if'n ya'll know exactly who dropped off the holo here.
"Might be a good idea to see about finding out if this person's got some reason to try and make us look the fool, if you get my drift."
2.38-A: DUE DILIGENCE
"That recording was delivered anonymously, and we will not disclose any information on the identity of the informant, should such information exist."
2.42-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Taken by a sudden thought, Finn looks consideringly up and down the hotel hallway of her floor.
I'd like to know the layout of the hallways on each floor. Specifically, extrapolating from my floor (unless Finn has reason to believe that the floor on which the Mechalus is staying is different), I'd like to know where Alamein's room will be in relation to the elevator, if there are any other elevator banks or stairs, and if there is anyplace to stand which is not in sight of either the elevator or the room.
You have no reason to believe that the floor layout on 14 is any different from your floor.
Here is a map, drawn in VCPaint:
2.43-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Finn nods to herself, and then sticks the bolt back in her mouth. Chewing it off to the side, she turns to address the group again. "Seems ta me that if Nancy 'n' t' toaster go up t'is lift, 'n' t'en walk over t' ot'er one, t'ey'll get a good look at the Clockwork's nest wit'out givin' anyface a reason t' flare. A' least, if t'ey mine any serious smelt, t'en we weren't gettin' in t' stewart way anyhow.
"Once t'ey get back, t'en we c'n work out a vector t' mine t' Clockwork. Sound good t' everyone?"
2.44-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Sean shrugs. "You'd know more about this than me, I guess."
2.45-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Finn rolls the bolt to the other side of her mouth, hands on hips, looking askance at Sean. "You wanna know what I know? I know a bit about usin' plate 'n' heavy tools t' rip t'is hive down t' t' ground, and a whole oreload about fixin' up t' plate after t' firefight's done." She grins and winks, raking fingers through the hair left free by her bandanna. "T'is whole stewart 'n' gentle vector, it's all new t' me."
2.46-B: DUE DILIGENCE
"Make that two of us, then," Sean says, smirking. "All my sneaking experience involves getting the hell out, not the other way around. Speaking of getting out," he adds, "if that guy's as guilty as I think he is, do you figure he'll try to bolt if he saw us?"
2.47-B DUE DILIGENCE
"All right, then, we'll work with that. C'mon Zippy, we're going scouting." Nancy beckons to the 'bot to enter the lift.
Nancy and Zippy follow the plan Finn outlined; taking the lift to the level the mechalus is on, and checking out the general situation there while waiting for the other lift back to the level that Finn and Sean are on.
2.47-B DUE DILIGENCE
Beep. Order received.
"Aye, Aye, Mistress Harrison."
Zippy enters the lift, pressing the button and watching the elevator doors close and begin to lift up. Once the elevator doors open again at the proper level, Zippy steps out, his visual scanners searching around quickly for any potential threats.
I assume the floor is safe, but if it isn't, I'm doing what I'm paid to do ^_^.
Dracos
2.48-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Quote"Make that two of us, then," Sean says, smirking. "All my sneaking experience involves getting the hell out, not the other way around. Speaking of getting out," he adds, "if that guy's as guilty as I think he is, do you figure he'll try to bolt if he saw us?"
Watching the elevator close, Finn scratches her neck thoughtfully. "Might. On t' grippy, t'ough, if he jumps, we know he's guilty, right? That makes t'ings easy." She grimaces, her omni-present smile slipping for a second. "Tanj, I ungrok how t' handle faces. Ain't worked a vector at all on how t' mine this suit. All I scan is we need t' know what he knows.
"I just flopped t'at we'd chime his door, an' front right up his face. Murk fast enough, maybe we c'n get what we want 'fore he knows it, yeah? An' if we gotta ayares him a li'l... well, punc's big enough already, yeah?"
2.39-A: DUE DILIGENCE
"Oh, well, that makes sense," Jim says. "So, it just appears one day, and whoever drops it off doesn't let themselves be seen."
Not waiting for the Fraal to reply, Jim says to Opium, "This makes me think that the goal wasn't to frame one of us, it was to keep one or two of us here for some reason." Glancing at the officer as though just remembering he was there, Jim smiles amiably. "Anyway, thanks for your time."
Jim looks thoughtful for a moment, then turns to leave.
Barring further comments from either the officer or Opium, Jim leaves, and heads to a spot where he can wait to meet up with the others.
2.40-A: DUE DILIGENCE
Opium glances nervously between the Fraal and Jim, wincing at Jim’s tact, or lack there of. He opens his mouth to say something and pauses, shaking his head. What could he possibly say, really? It wasn’t as though the Frall was gushing to give them information. Turning, Opium tails Jim out.
2.49-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Quote"I just flopped t'at we'd chime his door, an' front right up his face. Murk fast enough, maybe we c'n get what we want 'fore he knows it, yeah? An' if we gotta ayares him a li'l... well, punc's big enough already, yeah?"
"That's overdoing it," George comments, breaking his long stretch of silence. Walking up to Finn, he places a hand on her shoulder and says, "I'll talk to the guy while all of you wait up on the side in case something unexpected happens. I've had experience doing these type of things so it shouldn't be much of a problem for me to get info from him."
A thin, confident smile creeps up on his face as if to answer the question that he was sure the others wanted to ask. "And if the guy tries to do something funny or attempts to run off... well, he won't get far either way."
2.50-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Quote from: "Ginrai"
A thin, confident smile creeps up on his face as if to answer the question that he was sure the others wanted to ask. "And if the guy tries to do something funny or attempts to run off... well, he won't get far either way."
Finn shrugs. "Loads good wit' me. Ya may not talk much, but at least yer pretty tanj convincin' when ya do." She winks, and then continues a bit more thoughtfully. "Make sense, too. Don't t'ink you were too close when t' punc went in t' wall, so's t' Clockword shouldn't scan ya. And t'at leaves t' rest of us free t' watch t' halls, give ya cover, and t' rest."Sounds like a plan, then. If the coast is clear, then George is going to pump the Mechalus, and the rest of us will hang around nearby, as inconscpicous as we can manage.Edit: As previously established, the forum is unable to read my mind. When are the admins going to get off their damn ass and fix this bug?
2.51-B: DUE DILIGENCE
As inconspicuously as they can manage, Harrison and Zippy make a short "lap" around the 14th floor. They see no guards around Alamein's door -- though the "Do Not Disturb" sign has been hung on the doorknob -- but you do see two people by the ice machine who might be Rigunmor security, or might be two people who can't get the ice to come out.
2.52-B DUE DILIGENCE
Nancy and her 'bot stroll casually by the guys at the ice machine, and stop only when they are out of sight. Nancy motions Zippy to monitor the couple with its sensors. Maybe they'll pick up something, maybe they won't.
After a couple of minutes of this, Nancy and Zippy head back down to report in ; no point in worrying the others too much, after all.
2.53-B DUE DILIGENCE
The elevator door opens, Zippy and Harrison stepping out. "Beep, there was only two people trying to get the ice machine working. They did not seem suscipicious."
2.54-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Finn grunts. "Rico. All right t'en, if Mr. Silent is gonna talk t' t' Clockwork, someface'd better head off t'ose two. So," she grins, and hefts her toolkit, "better be stewart an' go help t'ose rats fix t' ice machine, y'know?
"Gimme a couple ticks t' get up and start workin' on t'ings. If any of ya have a 'caster or a cell, I c'n ping ya when t'ings are green. Ot'erwise, just gimme five. Mr. Silent is doin' t' talkin', so he c'n flop what he wants t' rest t' do. Prolly just be near and clear, I'm guessin'."
Guys: if you're okay with the outlined plan, please say so IC or OOC. Once everyone is confirmed, Finn is going to head up the elevator and towards the ice machine on the 14th floor -- unless, of course, people have objections/better ideas.
2.41-A : DUE DILIGENCE
The Fraal's black eyes betray no emotion, good or ill, simply looking at you as you walk out.
2.42-A: DUE DILIGENCE
Stepping outside the confines of the constabulary, Opium felt as though a great weight had been removed from his shoulders. ‘Now I could only get that feeling of a knife in my back I’ll be good to go.’
”So,” he says, idly casting his gaze about. “That could have gone better.”
2.43-A DUE DILIGENCE
"Maybe," Jim says, unconvinced. "You can tell a lot from the way someone acts, too. Think of it this way--" Jim cuts himself off and then looks both ways to see that no one is around before speaking further. "So, they admitted pretty much that they don't really know what's going on with whoever dumped the video off. Probably, they never saw the person, the video just showed up at their doorstep."
Jim smiles wryly, picks a direction, and starts walking slowly. "C'mon, standing around in front of the precient might get the wrong kind of attention. Anyway. They don't know, and they can't pin it on us; not yet, anyway. They know it, and that little display back there pretty much says that they're unsure what's going on.
"Bear with me, here -- we could be held entirely on the grounds of," Jim breaks off again, and pitches his voice lower. "On the grounds of that evidence, considering someone was actually killed, and c'mon, that vid looked pretty damn incriminating.
"Right now, my theory is that we're being followed by some slightly covert boy in blue, or at the least, they've got some form of electric eye on us. They want us wandering around because it seems reasonable that we didn't do it -- too much just doesn't add up for us to be responsible. So they figure someone's going through a hell of a lot of trouble just to finger us, right? Of course right. They want us to walk around, draw attention to the fact that we're not arrested, and still alive.
"In short, Opium, my friend, we're being used as bait." Jim rubs his hands together nervously, and carefully doesn't look behind him at this point. "Regardless, we didn't do it, so all we need to do is keep ourselves out of trouble, and things will clear up once Tony takes care of things. After that, I know for a fact it's all gonna be beer an' gravy."
Edit: The forum is oddly unable to read my mind to check the spelling, either. What up with that?
2.44-A: DUE DILIGENCE
“If, as you say, they are wouldn’t that mean they were keeping an eye on the others as well?” Opium keeps pace with his companion. “And being used as bait doesn’t sit well with me. Nono, not at all.” A soft clicking noise resonates from his throat for a moment.
“Should we, perhaps, be looking into getting a legal representative?”
DUE DILIGENCE 2.55-B
Nancy nods. "OK, honey, but take care."
2.45-A DUE DILIGENCE
Jim looks at Opium strangely, as though the idea had never occured to him. "Legal ... representation?" He shakes his head, and rubs at the bridge of his nose. "Well," he says after a moment of hesitation, "I didn't think of that. I guess we could, though in all honesty, I'm more worried about just getting through this in one piece."
2.46-A DUE DILIGENCE
“That’s just it. We may not get the luxury of an early death, and somehow I don’t think the stunt with the police will be looked upon kindly later. We should, perhaps, get someone who can keep us in the clear, least we do their job and incriminate ourselves.”
2.56-B: DUE DILIGENCE
With a final nod to the rest of the group, Finn steps into the elevator and presses the button for the 14th floor, moving with the sort of self-possessed assurance that only someone dressed in overalls and carrying a repair kit can manage.
Finn: Heading up to the 14th floor, and from there going straight to the ice machine, doing my best to look just like your ordinary average repairmechalus.
2.47-A DUE DILIGENCE
"I wouldn't worry about the boys in blue too much," Jim says dryly. "Live witness are worth mote." Jim runs his hands through his hair lowering his head for a moment and groaning. "I think I kinda hate this," he says after a moment, raising his head, and covering his face with his hands. Dropping his his hands to his sides, he says, "But, you've got a good point. I always figured they'd just throw us aside once they were done with us. Didn't think they'd bother with what amounted to small fish when it was all over."
Jim stares at his leather boots pensively for a moment, then nods. "Better idea than anything I've had all day," he concludes. "Let's look up a legal contact, or maybe a lawyer that can help us out."
2.48-A DUE DILIGENCE
“So, you seem to have all the connections. Are there any lawyers you know?”
2.49-A DUE DILIGENCE
"I know a lawyer," Gammel says confidently. "The tricky part is getting him to come here. That might take some doing." He rubs his chin. "I'll look into that; in the meantime, probably any help we can get is help we can use."
2.57-B: DUE DILIGENCE
"No, dammit, it's plugged in. I checked it twice!"
"Well, something's wrong with it!"
The two hear you approach and turn. "Uh, hi, are you with the hotel?" says the one on the left.
2.58-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Quote
"No, dammit, it's plugged in. I checked it twice!"
"Well, something's wrong with it!"
The two hear you approach and turn. "Uh, hi, are you with the hotel?" says the one on the left.
"Nah," drawls Finn, "I'm a value-added feature. Now, I got a complain' 'bout a busted ice machine. T'is is t' one, yeah?"
Without waiting for an answer, she strolls over, and starts to thoroughly disassemble the ice machine, keeping up a steady stready of chatter around the bolt tucked thoughtfully into the corner of her mouth. "Yeah, bank wouldn' cred it, but t'ese gears are punkin' winnow, par'on my Panda. Had t' kludge one, di'n' have not'in' in t' way o' tools, grok, so hadda... tanj, willya scan t' dust?"
As she works, Finn keeps turning to the men, jabbing her finger or waving tools at them as if to emphasize her point. As long as they're watching her, or staring at the newly-revealed mysterious workings of the ice machine, they're okay. But if they keep looking down the hall....Finn: Trying to see if the men are watching the Rigger's door (Awareness check? 11/5/2+1) and trying to fix the ice machine, but not too quickly (Repair 3, 18/9/4+0).
Note that no-one gave Finn a cell or gridcaster address, so she's assuming people will head up five minutes after she did.
2.59-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Finn rolls a 7 on her Repair check for a Good success
You notice the pair glancing back down the hall toward Alamein's room, when they think you aren't looking. When they think you are looking, they fidget nervously, and silently.
You also notice, just about as soon as you take off the case, that nothing is wrong with the machine. Were you to press the button, ice would be deposited into the hopper quite normally.
2.60-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Finn straightens from the ice machine, stretching out the limited extent of her full height as if to work out the kinks from her back, and then stares thoughtfully into the guts of her partly-disassembled putative metaphorical foe, casually bouncing a wrench off her palm. A long second passes, and then she pronounces, "T'is is gonna be a tough one."
Tucking the wrench into a handy pocket, she turns her head partway towards the two men, fingers flickering over her gauntlet as she speaks. "I'm gonna hafta ping t' shop t' get some more tools'n'parts." She shakes her head slowly, the living incarnation of the soul who really, truly feels deep sorrow and regret that this will be a five-man plus overtime job, sorry, but that's union rules, what can I do, it's time for my coffee break. Punching in Gammel's phone number, she continues, "It's gonna be more'n'a bit, y'know, an' I ain' bein' payed for en'ertainment. Mebbe you faces'd be better off gettin' yer ice from t'next floor, y'know?"
She stares at them expectantly as she waits for the call to go through.
Finn: Phoning Gammel, trying to bluff the guards out. This would work better if I, y'know, had any bluff-related skills whatsoever. As it is, I'm forced to appeal to my intrinsic plumber soul.
2.61 DUE DILIGENCE
Gammel looks like he's about to say something else to Opium when his phone rings, and he pulls it swiftly from one pocket. He checks the screen and blinks repeatedly while it rings. "Gunna-- WHAT?" he says aloud skeptically, then: "Oh! FINN."
Activating the phone, he pops the ear-bud into one ear, tapping the sticktite cord to pass over his throat and pick up voice. Pocketing the phone, which is now displaying a screen saver, he says, "This is Gammel, go."
Threads A and B ... COMBINE-ATED!
2.62-B: DUE DILIGENCE
Quote
"This is Gammel, go."
Silently, Finn says to Gammel, "Outside t' Clockwork's room. Got two faces watchin' his place, tryin' t' get them t' budge. You got any way t' contact t' rest of my group in t' next two minutes? If t'ey come up and t' bullyboys are still here, might be difficult."
What she says out loud, for the sake of the two men, is a bit different. "Yeah, Jim? The Marriott job, 's lookin' pretty damn tricky. Ya wanna send over, tanj, maybe two or t'ree guys, an' a full parts list? Find out if t' hotel wants ta close t'is hallway off, too. Gonna get dirty, y'know?"
Finn has a Cunning Plan which can Solve Our Problems. Ph34r. Unless , of course, Gammel can get in contact with the rest before they come up the elevator. Which I don't think he can. The clock is ticking!
2.63 DUE DILIGENCE
Jim frowns, and checks his phone quickly, scrolling through the lists of phone numbers. "I don't think anyone else bothered to give me their NFO, so we're a little SOL on that count."
2.64: DUE DILIGENCE
Quote"I don't think anyone else bothered to give me their NFO, so we're a little SOL on that count."
"No problems," Finn replies subvocally, and then disconnects.
Out loud, she says, "Ten minutes? Sounds good. See 'em t'en." Picking up the wrench again, she turns back to the ice machine, keeping half an eye on the two goons as she reaches in to fiddle with its innards.Finn is preparing to make the ice machine fail as spectacularly as she can arrange (smoke, water flying all over the place, sparks, whatever) if the watchdogs don't move in the next minute or so. If she can't get rid of them, she can distract them. What skill applies here?
2.65-B DUE DILIGENCE
Nancy looks at her fancy navigator's chronometer. "It's about time to head up, I guess. C'mon, Zippy."
Nancy presses the lift's call button and when it arrives steps inside. "You coming, honey?" she asks Sean.
2.66-B DUE DILIGENCE
Zippy heads into the elevator after Mistress Harrison.
guys, let's MOVE. X_X
2.67: DUE DILIGENCE
"Sure, might as well go for it," Sean replies, shrugging.
Following Nancy and Zippy into the elevator.
2.68: DUE DILIGENCE
Finn rolls a 9 on her Deception -- Bluff check for a Failure
The two men -- the guards -- stand with arms folded, looking at you as you talk into the phone. One of them speaks up, "How long could fixing an ice machine take, anyway? We'll wait here until it's done -- we're going to be hosting guests anyway, and we'll need the machine in closest proximity to be working if we're going to be serving drinks regularly."
Finn: Making the ice machine explode in a shower of sparks would require a Technical Science -- Juryrig check at a +1 step penalty. Failure would brobably break the thing for real, but produce no visible effect.
2.69: DUE DILIGENCE
Deep in the bowels of the ice machine, Finn shrugs. "Y'know, I'd offer t' let you fix t'is if you t'ought you could do better, but t' Union ain't so hot for t'at. So you faces wanna watch, tanj, I get paid all t' same. Don't go asking me for dates, t'ough."
Hard way it is, then. Let's see. Maybe if the cooling system gets shorted into the control panel....
Finn: Blowing the machine up (Juryrig 4: 19/9/4, +1 penalty). Let's hope this works and distracts 'em long enough for the team to get through to the Mechalus.
2.70: DUE DILIGENCE
Finn rolls a 7 for a Good success
By routing the cooling tube into the ice delivery mechanism itself, you soon produce a very nice display of thick, chill white smoke, and the condensation from it alone is enough to make verious circuits and wires start sparking, and a small fire erupts in the mechanism that reads the room keys.
The man on the left starts to cough, deep bass hacks. The one on the right stutters, then says "Well, if it really is that bad, I suppose we could use the machine on 13. Just, tell us when you have this fixed, all right?"
2.71 DUE DILIGENCE
"Sure t'ing!" Finn says cheerfully, while fanning the smoke away from her face (and incidentally trying to force it to go towards the cougher). "Where c'n I scan ya?"
Now for the million-dollar questions: where are these thugs going? And when is everyone else going to show up?
You see the thugs went left, but that just means they're going to use the elevator and not the stairs. Other players, you can pass them in the hallway on your way to meet Finn if you so choose.
2.72 DUE DILIGENCE
Zippy, being a good bot, leads the party in an inconspicuous manner quite similar to average tourists past the two thugs, keeping up the act until we see Finn.
"Beep, after this we should go to Disney World Twenty Seven. It is more entertaining."
Dracos
spontaneous acting, anyone disagree, feel free to break it X_X
2.73 DUE DILIGENCE
Nancy walks over to where Finn is, and once the goons are well out of the way, she asks quietly "What's up, hon?"
2.74: DUE DILIGENCE
Sean stands next to Nancy and Finn quietly, listening to their conversation.
2.75: DUE DILIGENCE
Finn gets to her feet, dusting off her hands -- except that what's covering her hands is grease, not dust, so the gesture is fairly counter-productive. "I spaced t' meat. Now, ain't you supposed t' be wit' Mr. Silent an' frontin' t' Clockwork?"
2.76 DUE DILEGENCE
Beware the wrath of a very bored and annoyed player
Zippy eye unit briefly flickered, "Beep, Error. Error. Reverting to secondary logic circuits."
Zippy turned to the door that the damn guy we are hunting and pulls it open. If it is not openable, he picks up the largest nearby object and chucks it through the door. Entering the room, he sets his sound system to blast the house down and plays police sirens, "This is the police, put your hands in the air and piss your pants, Slimey Meatbags."
Zippy is getting through the door, one way or another. Once he is there he is attempting to bluff his way into causing everyone in the room to stand down, knowing that he does not have his artillary with him but expecting the suddenness of it and the full fledged noise to cow the bitch into submission long before such logical observations can be realized.
Dracos
2.77: DUE DILIGENCE
You see a slender man with silvery wires for hair and a greenish patina of skin -- the same man you saw when Brian Cole died -- sitting on the side of his bed, staring blankly at the wall. After a pause of about two seconds, he gets up with a practiced movement, turns, and walks up to you, ignoring your proclamation that this was the police and he should be pissing out his antifreeze. He looks you in the optic and states, without a hint of emotion in tone or facial expression:
"The 'Do Not Disturb' sign was clearly visible on my door. What do you want that cannot wait until I am prepared to speak with guests?"
2.78: DUE DILIGENCE
LET THE BEATINGS BEGIN!
Beep. "I do not think think you understood me meatbag." Zippy reaches out swiftly and in a clean motion grabs the guy by the throat lifting him up and putting the zero G gun right between his eyes, "I said put your hands up and piss yourself, slimey meatbag. This is the police. You are under arrest. This is an interrogation. You will answer the questions or I will begin blasting off body parts. Any untoward motion will result in my twitchy targetting circuit going off. UNDERSTOOD?"
Dracos
2.79: DUE DILIGENCE
At the sudden crash behind them, Finn's head whips around, and then she roughly shoves Harrison and Sean out of the way. "What the tanj," she spits, "is yer punkin' toaster doin'?"
With that, she sprints down the hall to the door, though she doesn't step inside, or peek around the corner, yet -- Punkin' Clockwork'll scan my face, but she keeps an ear on what's going on inside the room, an eye down the hallway for any backups or interference, and her hand on her mass pistol.
Bored or not, Dracos, suddenly going insane and changing the plan without notice isn't really a very other-player-friendly way to advance the plot.
Edit: Whups. Dracos snuck a post in while I was typing this up.
2.80: DUE DILIGENCE
Even liften by his neck, he it still cooler than absolute zero, still showing nothing even in the same star system as emotion.
"If you were indeed with Concord security services, you would be programmed with the knowledge that such actions would represent intimidation and violation of my rights as a citizen of the Rigunmor Star Consortium; thus, any testimony you extracted would be inadmissable in a court of law.
"However, I know that you are not with Concord security, as not only are you violating inviolable legal principles, but I have been working closely with them in investigating the death of my friend Brian Cole. And the serial number on your chestplate states you are of StarMech manufacture, intended for civilian use, and obsolete by the time robotic security aids were purchased here.
"Are you going to put me down, or will you continue to commit actions that will lead to your dismantling?"
2.80 DUE DILIGENCE
"Zippy! What are you doing?" Nancy wails and chases after the bot.
2.82: DUE DILEGENCE
"You appear to be correct. I though have a rebuttal." Zippy turns his gun and blows a hole through the Mechalus right arm. "You will answer our questions or be obliterated immediately. You assistance will be given willingly or unwillingly."
Dracos
2.83: DUE DILIGENCE
Well, tanj. In fer a gram, in fer a kilo.
Finn steps around the corner, grinning broadly. "Well, see, like t' toaster is tryin' t' say, t'ere's a problem wit' t'at code," she says cheerfully. Her mass pistol is still in her grip, and in her pocket, but with the other hand, she reaches up to take the bolt out of her mouth, waving it emphatically. "Cuz me'n'it, we're vectored fer a police jobbin' as is, y'know? But, says we, mebbe we flop wit' you a little, figure out some t'ings, get some answers, then mebbe noface gets jobbed, all's rhodium, y'know?
"So, t'at sound like a chart t' you?"
2.84: DUE DILIGENCE
Zippy scores an automatic Ordinary success by limiting his target to an extremity shot. Alamein takes a MYSTERY amount of wound damage.
He takes the shot as if he was carved out of stone, totally unflinching. "Now you have committed assault with a deadly weapon, a felony under the Treaty of Concord. I will be charitable and refrain from defending myself for the next fifteen seconds. You will levae the room during that time, and you will lock the door on the way out. If you do not, I cannot assure that the Concord will get the chance to disassemble you."
2.85: DUE DILIGENCE
"An' in fifteen seconds, if ye're not stewart, ye're gonna be minin' yer molecules outta t' wall," Finn says, drawing her mass pistol and stepping behind the Clockwork to rest its muzzle against the base of his neck. "An' ya know? Ain't gonna make me cry, cuz I'm willin' t' cred that you ain't Alamein, and t'at's if yer a Clockwork at'll. An' I'm wunnerin' what t' eyes'd t'ink when they scanned yer body?"
2.86: DUE DILIGENCE
Beep. "I repeat, you will answer our questions and cease with the delaying. Your guards have already been dealt with. Continued persistance in this course of action will result in the cancelation of your bioenergy, meatbag."
Dracos
2.87: DUE DILIGENCE
Sean palms his forehead, before shaking his head and getting to the room as well, standing guard outside it.