TUELLER: “So. I’m up next, I guess.”
ALEJO: Alejo agrees. “But we need to keep this non-confrontational. So, you’ve got to keep shit in check. Right?”
TUELLER: “Strong, non-confrontational, not arrogant. Got it.”
ALEJO: “I mean. . . . unless it goes south. Then confront the hell out of everything in sight.”
TUELLER: “Thank you for clarifying that for me Ejo, I don’t know what I’d do without your counsel.”
TUELLER: “Captain.”
ALEJO: He smiles broadly. “This is fun.”
TUELLER: “Yes, we will indeed enjoy this. I can’t see any way for it to go wrong.”
MILLICENT: Millie just follows behind worriedly
ALEJO: “Never does.” Alejo walks side by side with Tueller towards our almost certain disaster.
MILLICENT: “Run that last crew by me again, please.”
MILLICENT: Images, dossiers, flashed on the screen in front of Millie. A rundown of convicts, most-wanted and usual suspects.
MILLICENT: “Too violent, I think. Do you have anyone, I don’t know less, I don’t know, loud?”
MILLICENT: Noma’s voice echoed in Millie’s small office. “I’m afraid that this exhausts the Erde Maris records of known criminals.”
MILLICENT: Millie brightened. “What we need,” she said slowly, leaning forward, “is criminals _who haven’t been caught yet_.”
MILLICENT: A beat. Noma’s voice. “Yet?”
—
STORY: When last we visited the intrepid mercenary company, Alejo and Millie were going to find some xenosociologists to get information on the Maitri and what they might be doing onboard.
STORY: Tueller, any plans on your side?
TUELLER: No, not in particular.
TUELLER: Tueller goes back to the gym with the possibility of fighting Maitri again.
TUELLER: I mean, Tueller will come with them, but in his downtime, return to the gym.
STORY: All right, Millie, who are you going to see that can help you?
MILLICENT: There’s a xenosociologist that Three-Sing-Flowers recommended who has been cataloguing information about the Kith.
MILLICENT: She’s a Materan from Arawath. Her name is Dr. Malka Sil.
STORY: Aha! So you go to visit Dr. Sil at Three’s offices, which have expanded considerably in the year that they have posted up on the Ark.
STORY: Alejo, tell me about Three’s digs.
ALEJO: The offices now span five or six rooms (we can’t see everything). We walk into a large entry area, with a comfortable seating space, obviously designed for entertaining or holding ambassadorial meetings. A central hub, with a high, clear dome allows for a view of an open area of the Ark outside. Large, low-cost translucent displays line the back wall, with news feeds and information streaming over them.
ALEJO: It is big, but not amazingly posh.
STORY: They’re not -quite- an ambassador yet, so it’s mostly for show, but they have finally gained official status as the local representative for the Kith. Kind of like how Washington, DC sends someone to congress who just gets to sit there and not vote.
STORY: You arrive and wait a few minutes in the front room, when Three comes out to greet you warmly. “My friends!” They come in and give Alejo a hug.
ALEJO: Alejo smiles and returns the hug.
ALEJO: “Thanks for seeing us.”
STORY: They look behind you, and look disappointed. To Alejo: “No Kahn?”
TUELLER: Tueller hangs back, in bodyguard mode.
STORY: They drop their voice. “Tariq speaks of him often. I wish they would reconcile.”
ALEJO: “Working, I’m afraid. But yeah. I wish too.”
ALEJO: Alejo steps back and allows Millie to join the conversation. “I think that the Doctor has filled you in?”
MILLICENT: Millie waves as she sees Three
MILLICENT: “Thanks for setting this up. Should we have brought something? I feel like we should have brought something.”
MILLICENT: “Wine? How does one celebrate new offices among the Kith?”
STORY: They shake their head. “Of course not, Millie. Oh!” They hold out a finger and quickly dart out, returning with a data disc.
TUELLER: How long after the restaurant attack is this?
STORY: A couple hours.
TUELLER: “We have leftover tiramisu, Doc?”
ALEJO: Alejo produces a small box of chocolates, which he knows Three adores. They are not expensive, but Three has a taste for sweets.
STORY: Three puts a hand on their chest, bashful. “Alejo, you shouldn’t have. Thank you.” They immediately open it and eat one, and while chewing, point to the disc in Millie’s hands.
STORY: “Cleaned data sets on our cloning processes, per our agreement. I apologize for how long it took to gather everything together.”
STORY: “Have you decided on… a destination for our information?”
MILLICENT: Millie accepts the disc and sleeves it carefully, then pockets it. “I think we’ve got a screaming match about just that topic scheduled for later this evening.”
MILLICENT: “Seriously, Three, we are taking this responsibility very seriously.”
TUELLER: Tueller’s face twitches minutely.
STORY: They nod. “I will trust you.”
ALEJO: Alejo nods, solemnly.
STORY: They offer everyone a chocolate, then gesture to one of the back rooms. “Please, let me introduce you to Dr. Sil.”
ALEJO: Alejo subtly wards Millie and Tueller off the of the chocolates, knowing that they’ll be snobby about them.
ALEJO: “Hello,” Alejo stretches out a hand, warmly. “Thank you for taking time to speak with us.”
STORY: Dr. Sil rises immediately, a broad smile on her face. “You must be Dr. Breedlove!”
STORY: She shakes Alejo’s hand eagerly.
MILLICENT: Millie smiles politely, “I am, thank you very much for seeing us Dr. Sil.”
ALEJO: He steps back, quickly, letting Millie take the lead.
STORY:
STORY: She inhales quickly and flushes. “I’m so sorry. I have so much trouble with human dimorphism.”
TUELLER: “Humans have the same issue.”
STORY: “Dr. Breedlove, very nice to meet you.” She shakes Millie’s hand. “Please, sit.”
MILLICENT: Millie nods, “Not at all, not at all.” Millie sits across from Dr. Sil.
MILLICENT: “Three says just the nicest things about you, Doctor.”
TUELLER: Tueller stands at the door as a bouncer. He’s so incredibly still that you can tell he’s edgy.
STORY: “So.” She sits. “What can I help you with?”
ALEJO: Alejo sits, but he is clearly hanging back during this exchange, mostly keeping watch with Tueller.
MILLICENT: “Well, we thought you might be able to help us out with an issue that touches on your specialty. Are you aware that there is something of an influx of Maitri on the Ark at the moment?”
STORY: She looks surprised. “You don’t say! Fascinating. Maitri tend only to make landfall in raiding parties, preferring to remain onboard their own vessels.”
TUELLER: Tueller shifts his weight at the word “maitri.”
STORY: “Why are they here?”
MILLICENT: Millie’s face falls. “We. Ah. We were hoping you might be able to shed some light on that question, actually.”
ALEJO: Alejo’s eyes raise at this.
STORY: She rubs her chin. “Hm.”
STORY: Alejo, it smells kind of harsh in here. Like a rancid oil?
STORY: She holds up a finger. “Excuse me one moment.”
STORY: She steps to the farthest corner of the room, takes an ornate lighter out of her pocket, and flicks it, holding it up to her opposite hand.
STORY: Her entire body erupts in a fireball.
ALEJO: Alejo jumps to his feet, in an instant.
TUELLER: Tueller drops down into a defensive crouch when that happens.
MILLICENT: Millie jumps to her feet, slower
STORY: Just as quickly, the fire is out, and she is flipping the switch on the wall to turn on the fan.
STORY: “Sorry about that.” She returns to her seat.
TUELLER: Tueller’s’s remaining like that for the moment.
ALEJO: Alejo’s standing there, stunned, clearly ready for action, but not clear what to do.
MILLICENT: Millie’s head angle asks a lot of questions
STORY: “Oh, there’s nothing to worry about, my friends. A curiosity of my race, is all.”
STORY: She sits down. “You really must be new to the Ark.”
ALEJO: Alejo nods. Obviously very confused, and embarrassed, and sits again. He’s now hyper vigilant.
MILLICENT: Millie slowly sits back down. “Please forgive our reaction, Doctor. We weren’t anticipating. Open flame to consume your entire body?”
STORY: She moves her hand in a circle, explaining in a rote way. “We secrete flammable oils through special glands in our skin; it helped us keep warm on our homeworld. Here, there is no need, and we must occasionally cleanse ourselves.”
ALEJO: Alejo is nodding, trying way too hard to be casual about it all.
STORY: “Now. Tell me what you know about these Maitri. When did they arrive?”
ALEJO: The question brings him back to his senses and he relaxes a bit.
MILLICENT: “Fascinating.” Millie is staring, rudely. She blinks, shakes her head. “Sorry. They started coming about a month ago.”
TUELLER: “They’ve arrived in force and are extra aggressive.”
STORY: She clucks a laugh. “I doubt that.”
TUELLER: “Going after a friend of ours.”
STORY: “If they were more aggressive than typical Maitri, we would have evacuated the station. The fact that they’ve stayed under my radar means they’re practically under cover.”
TUELLER: “They have a jihad against the Maraas now, at least.”
STORY: She purses her lips. “Tell me what happened.”
MILLICENT: “They just openly tried to kill our friend, and us, at a restaurant.”
ALEJO: “Our friend. No indication they were after us, I don’t think?” Alejo looks to Millie, questioning.
MILLICENT: “Well, when we interfered I got the impression that they weren’t pleased, but you’re correct, I doubt we were the primary target.”
MILLICENT: Millie checks her watch, “An hour ago we were dining…” and fills her in.
STORY: She nods, listening carefully.
STORY: After you finish: “I see your confusion. The Maitri didn’t try to kill your friend.”
STORY: “They would never send an assassin. It sounds like this man simply took it upon himself for some reason.”
STORY: “Maitri would consider it unacceptable weakness to send another into battle in their stead.”
MILLICENT: “We were told that the assailant came to kill our friend on behalf of the Antaam.”
STORY: “Have you gone to speak with the Antaam?”
TUELLER: “Not yet. We like to do at least _some_ research before we take on a potentially hostile entrenched force.”
ALEJO: “Well . . . sometimes we do,” Alejo smiles and says this quietly, almost under his breath.
TUELLER: “Even friendly Maitri can come across pretty hostile. I used to date one.”
STORY: “Well, you must go meet with them at once! How fascinating. I wonder what they will make of someone attempting to kill on their behalf.”
ALEJO: “Yeah, so you have no sense of how that might go? Us stopping by for a chat?”
STORY: “Oh, well. You’ll need to show strength.”
STORY: “But not challenge them.”
TUELLER: “Hmph.”
STORY: “You’ll have to be clear, confident, but not arrogant.”
ALEJO: Alejo looks back to Tueller and gives a little nod.
MILLICENT: “Can you clarify what actions may be construed as a challenge?”
STORY: “Oh, you know. Weapons. Confrontational language. Insults.”
MILLICENT: Millie nods.
STORY: “Let’s see. How many are occupying this hotel?”
ALEJO: “About three hundred.”
STORY: “Three hundred, interesting. Larger than a raiding party but not enough for a colony ship. I wonder what they’re doing here!”
STORY: “You will find out for me, yes?”
MILLICENT: Millie smiles weakly. “If we find out we’ll certainly let you know.”
STORY: She claps happily. “Fantastic.”
ALEJO: Alejo rubs his face. “Well, we’ll do our best. Is there anything else you can tell us about how we might be strong but not confrontational?”
STORY: “I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it out. Just don’t give them any reason to kill you!”
TUELLER: “Hmph.”
MILLICENT: Millie laughs nervously
MILLICENT: “Good advice!”
ALEJO: “Yeah. Okay. Nobody ever wants to do that.” He trails off.
TUELLER: “I’ll see what we can do.”
TUELLER: “No promises, though.”
STORY: “Excellent. Best of luck to you! Do report back, will you? I’m absolutely fascinated with their presence here.”
ALEJO: Alejo stands and thanks her again before heading back towards the front office.
TUELLER: “Thanks Doc Sil.”
STORY: She nods happily to you, then goes back to her notes.
TUELLER: “So. I’m up next, I guess.”
ALEJO: Alejo agrees. “But we need to keep this non-confrontational. So, you’ve got to keep shit in check. Right?”
TUELLER: “Strong, non-confrontational, not arrogant. Got it.”
ALEJO: “I mean. . . . unless it goes south. Then confront the hell out of everything in sight.”
TUELLER: “Thank you for clarifying that for me Ejo, I don’t know what I’d do without your counsel.”
TUELLER: “Captain.”
ALEJO: He smiles broadly. “This is fun.”
TUELLER: “Yes, we will indeed enjoy this. I can’t see any way for it to go wrong.”
MILLICENT: Millie just follows behind worriedly
ALEJO: “Never does.” Alejo walks side by side with Tueller towards our almost certain disaster.
STORY: You approach the Siglight Hotel, and are stopped outside the building by an A-Sec barricade.
STORY: Tueller, how do the cops attempt to shoo you?
TUELLER: There is a barricade made up of little armored golf-cart looking police vehicles in a half moon around the front of the hotel–vehicles suitable for the roads or even the pedestrian walkways of the station. There is a handful of armored A-Sec officers milling around, all wearing serious but informal body armor (they’re armored but doing their best not to look armored), vaping and chatting with each other.
TUELLER: They put their hands up and literally try to wave us off in another direction as we approach, but do not draw on us.
STORY: Officer Madsen, the nicer of the cops on Sergio’s payroll, approaches you, looking unhappy. “Come on, Tueller. No.”
STORY: “Why d’you want to go up there?”
STORY: She tilts her head.
STORY: Gives you a “you should know better than this” look.
TUELLER: “What’d you do to pull this duty, Maddy?”
STORY: “I just knew you three would show up eventually.”
STORY: “C’mon, shoo. This is trouble.”
ALEJO: Alejo shrugs, faux bashful.
MILLICENT: Millie waves from behind the fellas
STORY: She waves back, not really happy to see you.
TUELLER: “Yeah, it is, but we’re not here to make it worse. Not this time.”
STORY: “If I let three civilians go in there and get killed, this awkward diplomatic situation suddenly becomes a very different situation.”
STORY: “One we can’t wait for the diplomats to figure out.”
STORY: “You really want to make me put on riot gear and fight a giant bug?”
ALEJO: “Nah, way too much work. We’re not gonna make you work that hard.”
TUELLER: “Everyone should give it a try at some point. It’s exhilirating.”
STORY: She’s a little charmed.
STORY: She’s still not moving.
TUELLER: “We’re not here for a fight, though. I swear.”
ALEJO: Alejo acknowledges this as a good point.
STORY: “Oh? You just wanted to try out the pool?”
MILLICENT: From the back, “They have a pool?”
ALEJO: “Hear it’s beautiful.”
TUELLER: “We’re here on company business, really. Need to have a conversation with the Maitri about people acting in their name.”
ALEJO: “Annnd. That.”
STORY: Tueller, give me a Face Adversity + Influence please!
TUELLER: /roll 2d6
STORY: chris.stuart rolled 2
STORY: Madsen smiles and shakes her head. “Fine, let me check in with Sergio. Wait.” She holds out a finger, then takes out her walkie.
STORY: Wanders off for a minute.
ALEJO: “Guess we do this the hard way.” Alejo looks for the easiest way to make a distraction that will let them slip in before she gets back.
STORY: Alejo, Face Adversity + Mettle to put together a plan
ALEJO: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: ablair01 rolled 5 + 2 = 7
TUELLER: —What’s the point of bribing the local cops if they won’t let you get away with shit?
STORY: — Just having a friendly face to tell you to buzz off!
STORY: All right, so you figure a way in, but there’s some cost. What happens?
ALEJO: Alejo approaches one of the A-sec officers who is vaping. He’s able to get that officer and the other three who are talking with her into a very heated and passionate exchange about a local Hexes game (a sport played on the Ark). He offers a bet that the others just don’t believe and then gets them distracted long enough for Tueller and Millie to slip past and into the building. Alejo then commits to a huge (and terrible) bet, pretending to be a bit drunk. He stumbles off and then uses his speed to enter the building without anyone else seeing. But as he does, he inadvertently hits a building security wire, so as soon as he’s in the lobby with Millie and Tueller, feeling quite pleased with himself, the hotel security alarms begin to go off.
ALEJO: So the two costs — alarm and terrible bet.
STORY: You see the cops outside turn to the three of you and start to rush the doors.
STORY: What do you do?
ALEJO: “Can nothing be easy!” Alejo shouts and heads for the elevator, shepherding Millie with him.
MILLICENT: Millie takes a step so she’s out of sight of the cops and pulls the automatic door panel, then activates the safety close feature
MILLICENT: She very poorly mimes surprise and dismay
STORY: The lobby doors slam closed in front of you, Millie, as you shrug unconvincingly.
STORY: It’s now silent in the lobby, eerily so. There appear to be no staff on site.
STORY: And no Maitri here either. The building must have been evacuated when the most recent group of guests arrived.
TUELLER: “Well, shit. Let’s go try not to die.”
MILLICENT: Millie catches up to the boys in the elevator
ALEJO: “This is gonna go so great.” Alejo mutters. Unconvincingly.
STORY: Where to? There are 22 floors.
TUELLER: “They were in the top three floors, correct?”
ALEJO: Alejo nods. Looks to Millie for confirmation. Then presses the top floor.
TUELLER: “Let’s go straight to the top.”
MILLICENT: Millie nods. Swallows. Nods.
TUELLER: “You’re going to want to stand behind me.”
MILLICENT: Millie gratefully steps behind Tueller
ALEJO: Alejo stands back, letting Tueller take the front. He stands beside Mille.
STORY: Penthouse it is. Oh. The button won’t light up. Or rather, it does, then it un-lights up. There’s a keyhole next to that button.
TUELLER: “Also I think there are roughly a hundred times more Maitri here than I’m capable of taking in a straight fight so I AM NOT STARTING ONE.”
ALEJO: “See, that counsel is helping.”
TUELLER: Tueller presses the second highest floor. Then the one after that until a floor lights up.
ALEJO: “What would you do without me.”
TUELLER: “Ejo, your counsel is useful, but I’ve lived in an milieu where I’ve been completely and totally outgunned my entire life. This is not my first rodeo.”
STORY: The elevator isn’t moving.
MILLICENT: Millie takes a look at the panel
ALEJO: Alejo sort of bounces. Then frowns. “Well that was anti-climatic.”
STORY: Millie, it’s an old fashioned style panel. With actual buttons and a real keyhole.
MILLICENT: Millie frowns at it.
ALEJO: “Gotta work on our pre-game banter, buddy.” Alejo gives him a friendly pat on his very large shoulder.
TUELLER: Tueller checks for security cameras.
STORY: Tueller, there’s one in the corner.
MILLICENT: Takes a pin from her pocket and tries to pick it.
ALEJO: “Hi.” Alejo waives at the camera once Tueller has noticed it.
STORY: Millie! Face Adversity + Mettle, please
TUELLER: Tueller looks at it and raises his hands out to his side. “May we come up and speak with you? We have information you may find useful.”
MILLICENT: /roll 2d6
STORY: josh rolled 10
MILLICENT: +2, that’s 12
STORY: Aha! After a few moments, you get that key slot turned.
MILLICENT: I don’t activate the elevator while they’re talking
STORY: Tueller and Alejo address the camera, then sit there for about twenty seconds looking dumb as there is no response.
MILLICENT: Millie looks to the other two for a nod
ALEJO: Alejo nods for Millie to give it a “push.”
ALEJO: “Now that’s strength.” Alejo gives Millie a low-key high-five.
MILLICENT: Millie pushes
MILLICENT: Top floor
STORY: It lights up and the elevator starts moving!
TUELLER: “Don’t make a fist from here on out.”
STORY: You have a little time to wait and make small talk.
STORY: Maybe someone heard some good gossip lately.
STORY: Maybe you’re all afraid you’re gonna die.
STORY: That sort of conversation.
MILLICENT: Millie opens her palms, flexes them
MILLICENT: “I know we just ate, but I’m feeling peckish.”
ALEJO: “Yeah, you know, me too.” Alejo agrees.
MILLICENT: “I think it’s the” Millie’s voice drops out and she mouthes “gut-wrenching fear”
TUELLER: “What happened with Kahn and Tariq, anyway?”
ALEJO: “Love. You know.” Alejo looks down at his shoes now.
TUELLER: “Probably a longer conversation than we have. Sorry. Just sprung to mind.”
TUELLER: “He didn’t confide in me. Neither of them, really. Never quite knew why.”
MILLICENT: Millie raises her hand
MILLICENT: “Pretty sure that’s on me.”
TUELLER: “Sudden movements like that would also be a good idea to avoid coming up, Doc.”
ALEJO: Alejo shakes his head. “No. It’s really not.”
ALEJO: He gently reaches out and lowers her arm.
MILLICENT: “Kahn wouldn’t leave the ship like Tariq wanted when they found out about my” Millie mouthes the next bit “potential genocide risk”
TUELLER: “This is the world’s most lopsided Mexican standoff.”
MILLICENT: Millie smiles sadly at Alejo. “I’m afraid it is, but thank you.”
ALEJO: “Ahh, fuck that. I put my money on you any day.” Alejo smiles broadly. “But, you know . . . I’m broke, so . . . ”
STORY: Ding!
STORY: The elevator doors open.
STORY: They slide open and you see three Maitri soldiers, in full battle armor, standing in the atrium.
TUELLER: Tueller prepares to step out, slowly, with hands neutral by his side.
STORY: They look genuinely confused.
MILLICENT: Millie smiles.
STORY: None of them move for a weapon. None of them move at all, really.
TUELLER: “Good evening. We come to speak to those who would be interested in what we have to say.”
ALEJO: Alejo lets him lead, following close beside Millie. He’s neutral as well, though clearly ready to spring into action.
TUELLER: “We were attacked by a Aect who believed himself to be acting on the Maitri’s behalf. He believed it was his duty to kill Maraas.”
TUELLER: “We wish to speak to the Antaam.”
ALEJO: Alejo gives a small nod of confidence, looking at Millie approvingly, as if to say, “yeah, this is going well.”
STORY: One Maitri looks at the other two. It’s hard to read their body language with the big masks, but they all look absolutely dumbstruck.
MILLICENT: Millie smiles back
STORY: That one walks away, abruptly. The other two just keep staring at you.
TUELLER: Tueller stands confidently, orienting himself how he has seen Loll standing at the beginning of sparring sessions.
ALEJO: Alejo notices the shift. He grimaces a little, but then tries to, with a lot less size and mass, sort of duplicate the stance. Then he decides that isn’t gonna cut it. So he goes back to standing neutral and loose, ready for action.
TUELLER: his hands are studiously at his side. Not gesturing at all during his awkward speech.
STORY: After an excruciatingly long wait, the third Maitri returns and gestures to the three of you to follow.
TUELLER: Tueller does not look back at all at Alejo or Millie.
TUELLER: Tueller walks confidently forward.
MILLICENT: Millie follows Tueller
ALEJO: Alejo lets Tueller lead the way, but follows firmly with Millie.
STORY: He leads you through a series of rooms. The penthouse is gorgeous, and spartan in furnishings. The view is the best you’ve ever seen on the Ark, showing the fountains of the promenade below and the Ring in the distance.
ALEJO: “Damn,” Alejo cannot help but exclaim, almost inaudibly.
MILLICENT: Millie lets out an appreciative breath
STORY: He takes you up a long, rail-less set of floating stairs to a small landing at the top. A table is there, with three chairs around it.
STORY: After walking you up the stairs, he takes a post alongside two other Maitri and adjusts his stance back to Standard Guard.
STORY: Oh, also, you’ve walked past easily a hundred Maitri on your way here. They stand silently in every corner of the room, watching the three of you.
STORY: All in battle armor, all unmoving.
STORY: What do you do?
TUELLER: Tueller confidently takes a seat.
MILLICENT: Millie takes a different seat
ALEJO: Alejo walks up behind one of the chairs. He too sits.
TUELLER: Tueller is making no effort to be on his guard. He takes a seat with his back to Maitri, signaling that he is not afraid of being attacked from any side.
TUELLER: He sits with the best posture he’s ever had.
STORY: Okay, let’s do the Face Adversity + Influence roll first, and use the result to know which way to point the conversation
ALEJO: Who?
STORY: Tueller!
TUELLER: I’m going to use my bonus point here, I hope.
STORY: Close up!
STORY: Do it!
TUELLER: /roll 2d6+1
STORY: chris.stuart rolled 6 + 1 = 7
STORY: Tueller, you hear a deep voice clear their throat behind you, from above.
TUELLER: “Hello,” Tueller says, looking towards the throat clearing.
STORY: It’s an eight foot tall Maitri, one in less severe armor than the others, with only a half-mask over her eyes. She has a large scar going across her mouth and long black hair.
TUELLER: Tueller has steeled himself so he hasn’t jumped at all.
STORY: “Who are you?”
TUELLER: “I am Tueller, a representative of Ndrangheta Enterprises, and a human from the Sol system.”
TUELLER: “I am, among other things, a warrior approaching you with respect and honor.”
STORY: She doesn’t react. “Why have you come, human?”
TUELLER: “I have come because an Aect attempted to kill a member of my crew. The Aect fought without honor or respect, but declared himself to be working on behalf of the Maitri. I do not believe him, because no Maitri I have ever fought has ever acted in such a cowardly fashion.”
STORY: “Mm.” She makes a sound of recognition, takes three steps backwards, and leans back to sit down. There is no chair there.
TUELLER: “The member of my crew is a Maraas.”
STORY: A Maitri guard scrambles quicker than you’ve ever seen one move to place a chair under her before she falls.
TUELLER: Is she sitting behind me?
TUELLER: Or across from us?
STORY: Behind you. It’s awkward to look at her from where you’re sitting.
STORY: “Interesting. You travel with a true grey.”
STORY: “And they are not here, why? Cowardice?”
ALEJO: Alejo stiffens a little in his chair and looks cautiously at Tueller.
TUELLER: “They do not know we are here, ahhhh…what may I call you?”
STORY: “Antaam.”
TUELLER: “Antaam, they do not know we are here. We did not need to ask their permission to come speak with you; your permission is all that we asked for.”
TUELLER: “They understand their place outside of your society, and that they will not see the hallowed lands. But we are all surprised by non-Maitri believing the act for the Maitri.”
STORY: “We are not all surprised, human.”
TUELLER: Tueller nods in acceptance of the mild rebuke.
STORY: “An Aect wants something from me. I believe he thought this might… what is your saying. Soften the pot.”
TUELLER: “Sweeten it. Aects like sweets the way Maitri like spice.”
STORY: “Ah. Disgusting.”
TUELLER: “as you say.”
STORY: “You are quite large, for a human.”
TUELLER: “I am.”
TUELLER: “I am a warrior. For a human.”
STORY: She cocks her head.
ALEJO: Alejo nods, once, respectfully.
STORY: “Mm.”
STORY: “Perhaps you would be willing to do me a service.”
STORY: One of her guards leans in, whispers to her.
STORY: “A favor,” she clarifies.
ALEJO: Alejo smiles, quickly, almost imperceptibly.
TUELLER: “Perhaps I would be willing.”
STORY: “This Aect who attacked your grey, was he scarred? Missing limbs?”
TUELLER: “No. He had all eight limbs, and if there were scars he had covered them up.”
TUELLER: “He is, of course, now scarred beyond repair.”
STORY: She nods. “Then it was not Proog. Find him, and let him know we will not be selling him our weapons, and my answer is final. His pathetic attempts to impress me have only diminished him in my view.”
STORY: “Tell him that exactly.”
STORY: “It is important that he knows he is pathetic.”
STORY: “Do this for me, and I will not ask you the whereabouts of your Maraas.”
TUELLER: “Do you wish him to be able to continue to know he is pathetic after we speak to him? Should I leave him capable of knowing things at all?”
STORY: “That is not my concern.”
TUELLER: “Indeed, Antaam.”
TUELLER: “We shall do so.”
STORY: “Good.”
TUELLER: “When it is done, should we return here, or communicate in some other fashion?”
STORY: “I have no further need of you, human.”
TUELLER: “Well met, then, and may your hunt continue on, Antaam,” Tueller says, a Maitri phrase he knows from certain sources.
STORY: She nods, stands, and leaves.
STORY: You are left with a hundred terrifying soldiers staring at you.
TUELLER: Tueller stands. “We should leave.”
MILLICENT: Millie stands
MILLICENT: Nods
ALEJO: Alejo stands, agrees, and then waits for Tueller to lead them out.
MILLICENT: Smiles at all the terrifying soldiers and nods again
TUELLER: Tueller does so.
STORY: It smells like sweat in the elevator ride on the way back down.
TUELLER: Tueller exhales in the elevator like he was holding his breath the entire time.
MILLICENT: “That went.”
ALEJO: On the elevator: “Shit, T! You nailed that!” He is genuinely impressed. “Seriously, so well done.” He then pauses. “You know, other than whatever that god-awful mess was with Maddy.” He shakes his head, as if trying to dispel something horrible. “Besides that. You know. Really well done!”
TUELLER: “We are still in Maitri territory, Ejo.”
ALEJO: He nods and straightens up in the elevator. “Fair.”
TUELLER: “Let’s try not to get shot stepping out of the building, either.”
MILLICENT: “You know, we still don’t know why they’re here.”
MILLICENT: “I just realized.”
TUELLER: “Yes. I realized that too.”
ALEJO: “Gods, I hope Maddy has forgotten what happened.” Alejo winches and smiles.
TUELLER: “That didn’t go…great. But we are not dead, so that’s a plus.”
MILLICENT: “Also, can we make a stop at the powder room before we let the fuzz in?”
ALEJO: “Bug plus.”
MILLICENT: “Did I use that correctly? The fuzz?”
ALEJO: Alejo taps his nose in approval.
TUELLER: “We might as well stop at the bar on the way out.”
TUELLER: “I could use all the tequila.”
ALEJO: Alejo opens his arms, approvingly. “Be a shame not to.”
STORY: Tueller, you and Alejo wait at the bar while Millie goes to the bathroom.
STORY: It’s deserted, so you’re going to have to serve yourselves.
TUELLER: Tueller does so. “One for you?”
TUELLER: Tueller grabs three lowball glasses.
ALEJO: “Two. Please.”
MILLICENT: I have no plan here, I just figured Millie would need to pee after that.
TUELLER: He pours four shots worth of tequila in two of the glasses, and a single shot in the third.
STORY: Alejo, you hear someone approaching from the lobby. It’s Madsen.
STORY: She doesn’t have her weapon out, but she’s moving briskly toward you.
ALEJO: “We need another,” he stands, gets another glass and pours her a drink.
TUELLER: Tueller drains his glass.
TUELLER: “Maddy.”
STORY: As you’re pouring, Alejo, she grabs you by the ear and starts to haul you out of the room.
STORY: “Are you kidding me you absolute prick what do you think you’re doing would you risk the peace of this ENTIRE STATION for whatever cockamamie–”
ALEJO: “Hey. Ouch.”
STORY: She’s just lecturing as she pulls you to the front door.
ALEJO: Alejo reaches for his glass, swiping it quickly with his uber fast reflexes before she has gotten him too far away.
TUELLER: Tueller reaches out and grabs her arm.
TUELLER: “None of that.”
STORY: Now it’s Madsen, holding Alejo’s ear and hauling full force against Tueller’s arm, going nowhere but working really hard at it.
ALEJO: “HEY! Ouch!” Alejo reaches up and pries her fingers.
STORY: She grunts. “Let me go.”
TUELLER: “Let him go.”
TUELLER: “That’s how this works.”
STORY: She scowls at you, Tueller, and releases Alejo’s ear.
ALEJO: Once he’s free, he drains his drink. “Thanks,” he says to Tueller. “We’re not dead. No armoring up to kill stuff,” he says to her.
TUELLER: “Do you know an Aect named Proog?”
STORY: She looks annoyed. “Captain Proog, sure. Can we please get the heck out of this ACTIVELY OCCUPIED LOCATION before I help you with whatever favor you’re about to ask me for?”
TUELLER: “Sure. Captain of what?”
STORY: She points at the door.
ALEJO: “Gotta wait for Millie.” Alejo gestures to the restroom.
MILLICENT: Millie comes back out. “Oh, hi!”
STORY: She crosses her arms and waits.
MILLICENT: “Are we doing shots?”
STORY: Then points at the door. “No!”
TUELLER: Tueller hands Millie her filled glass.
STORY: “EXCUSE ME.”
TUELLER: “Chin chin” raising his own.
STORY: “LEAVE THIS AREA NOW.”
MILLICENT: Millie frowns, drains her glass and hands it back to Tueller.
TUELLER: “We’re moving.”
STORY: She’s standing with her hands on her hips.
MILLICENT: Low voice, “This is kind of a tense area, officer.”
ALEJO: Alejo frowns.
MILLICENT: “We’re trying to keep a calm vibe here.”
ALEJO: Alejo looks back, longingly, at the high-priced bottle of Tequila back on the bar. He hesitates for a moment before heading to the door.
MILLICENT: Millie follows
STORY: She pushes you out the door.
TUELLER: “You first, so we don’t get taken out by a sniper.”
STORY: She leads you out, waving off the rather larger than you remember police presence.
TUELLER: Tueller follows.
STORY: Takes you to the barricade, then mutters to you a ward number and general location. “Ask around for Proog there.”
STORY: “Now get out of here before they disappear me like Metz.”
ALEJO: Alejo makes eye contact with the four guards that he made the improvident bet with. He gives them a little waive and keeps walking.
TUELLER: “Oh, Metz didn’t make it? That’s a fucking shame.”
TUELLER: “See you Maddy.”
STORY: She shakes her head.
ALEJO: Alejo gives her an ear-to-ear smile.
ALEJO: Then he leaves.
ALEJO: “That went so well.”
TUELLER: When she’s out of earshot, “I got the distinct impression our target might be a cop.”
ALEJO: Alejo nods, more seriously now, not wanting to be serious, but realizing that the mood calls for it.
TUELLER: When they get out of the sightlines of everyone, Tueller’s going to take a moment.
TUELLER: Lean down on his knees, and just kind of…breathe in, breathe out.
TUELLER: “That was probably not something we should do again if we can possibly avoid it.”
ALEJO: Alejo gives him space. “Seriously, Tueller. You were fantastic.”
ALEJO: “For sure. But you killed it.”
MILLICENT: Millie claps him on the back
TUELLER: “Among other things, my ex is going to be pissed at us.”
ALEJO: “So, so pissed.”
MILLICENT: “That settles it, though, I’d follow you idiots onto the surface of a dwarf star.”
ALEJO: “HEY! I’m the only idiot here.”
ALEJO: He smiles softly.
MILLICENT: “A-Sec was scared to do what we did and they’re wearing full body armor with overly large weapons!”
ALEJO: “Exhibit one. Idiot.”
MILLICENT: “We’re all three certifiable!” She grins big and lets out a little “whoop”
ALEJO: “Idiots. Okay.”
TUELLER: “Confidence without provocation. Well, at least I got something out of that relationship.”
ALEJO: “So, so good. Didn’t know you had it in you, buddy.”
ALEJO: He smiles. “But now that we’ve had this sweet moment. Shall we go get killed finding this asshole?”
TUELLER: “lay on MacDuff.”
STORY: Okay! Tueller, tell me about the ward you’re traveling to.
STORY: What’s the general steez?
TUELLER: The ward is a very recently gentrified party district. It has a main thoroughfare made out of the garden deck of one of the original generation ships that made up the core of the Ark, which had turned into something of a slum for awhile, but has recently been rediscovered and valued for the vintage spacecraft feel. As a result, it is in the process of being comidified. It’s basically Bourbon Street now. Very happening, with lots of money being thrown around by rich people who want to feel like they’re slumming it.
STORY: Oooo. I bet it’s just popular enough for rich assholes to show up and ruin it.
STORY: Speaking of, Proog.
STORY: How are you going to find a scarred and dangerous Aect on Space Bourbon Street?
TUELLER: “How do we find a scarred and dangerous Aect on this deck, Doc?”
TUELLER: “You got an urchin on this level, Ejo?”
TUELLER: “I normally wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this.”
MILLICENT: Millie frowns and ponders
ALEJO: “Every level.” Alejo strides confidently to the shittiest dive bar in sight, looking for a particular low-life contact.
STORY: Who do you find, Alejo?
ALEJO: And by “dive bar,” I mean the worst party bar around. We find Vilifex. A party-animal. Literally. He is a six legged alien with a fedora. He’s The Worst. But he has a crowd around him, as he tells some bullshit story at a bar. He’s horrible, but he has a magnetism to him. It’s unnatural, almost, how compelling, this fellow is.
ALEJO: “Vil.” Alejo says, handing him a shot of whiskey he’s just ordered from the bar.
STORY: He’s mid-sentence, halfway through a story about his exploits, but is used to hearing his name while he’s talking, and turns whatever vowel he was currently saying into a rising “eeeeEEEEEYYYYY! SOTO!”
STORY: And pulls you in for a big hug with four of his legs.
ALEJO: Alejo endures this, trying not to spill the drink offering he’s brought.
ALEJO: “Heeeyyy.” He says. A little unenthusiastically.
ALEJO: He slips the shot into one of Vil’s hands.
STORY: Vil drinks it without stopping his story, now including some of your exploits in his explanation to the onlookers.
STORY: Everyone is very rapt. You’re suddenly quite a public figure.
ALEJO: Alejo endures this as well, smiling and toasting at appropriate points, until he can find an opening to ask Vil for a private moment.
TUELLER: Tueller is taking a moment to stand at the bar nearby acting like he’s not part of this at all.
STORY: What’s Millie up to?
TUELLER: Tueller’s also keeping a lazy eye out for assassins who might be interested in them, but no more than the usual amount he has to on the Ark these days.
MILLICENT: Millie is listening, enthralled, to exploits that now include Alejo
MILLICENT: She is a good audience
MILLICENT: Laughing at the right bits, leaning forward, occasionally clapping and elbowing Alejo
STORY: Alejo, you eventually do find your opportunity, and Vil finds a corner with you.
ALEJO: Alejo is a bit embarrassed by this, but he does enjoy having a more relaxed time with Millie, giving her a friendly smile back from time to time and being rightfully bashful when it’s called for.
STORY: Give me a Face Adversity + Influence pls
ALEJO: “Thanks for, you know, taking a break for me.” He smiles.
ALEJO: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: ablair01 rolled 12 + 2 = 14
STORY: Well, damn.
STORY: A 2 and a 14 tonight.
STORY: Not only does Vil know Proog and is willing to tell you where he is, he’ll make the introduction.
STORY: “C’mon!” he says, grabbing your hand and leading you out the door and down the street.
ALEJO: Alejo follows, a bit overwhelmed, gesturing to Millie and Tueller to come along but keep a little distance.
MILLICENT: Oh Millie’s RIGHT there
TUELLER: Tueller’s trailing.
TUELLER: He got the signal.
STORY: Millie, tell me about where Vil takes you, and Proog’s setup. Who’s there, where is it, what kind of defensese have they got in there?
TUELLER: He’s a tueller drill’s length away. 7 meters.
MILLICENT: Proog has posted up at a police station that’s more like a parking attendant’s booth than a full station house. There’s a walk-up window and all the public cameras in the area feed to a viewing room. Perfect for observing and “managing” other officers without having to put in too much legwork.
MILLICENT: It’s two rooms, the monitor room and the civilian approach window room.
MILLICENT: Oh, and a bathroom with alien comfort facilities.
MILLICENT: The defenses are the ability to call in reinforcements and being on one of the most traveled corners in the district.
MILLICENT: There are two cops there with Proog, one watching monitors and the other taking a complaint from a local about someone taking too many animals for a walk
STORY: And how do you approach?
MILLICENT: There’s not a lot of options available to us. We stride confidently forward and approach the window after the local busybody has been given some cop homework paperwork to satisfy them.
STORY: Proog’s the available officer, so Vil strides right up, smiling, and offers one of his hands for Proog to shake.
STORY: After a brief greeting, he slaps you heavily on the back, Alejo. “This is my friend Soto! He’s looking to have a chat with ya, Proog.”
STORY: Captain Proog nods, suspicious. He stands. “Help you?”
ALEJO: Alejo is half walking and half being dragged along by Vil, though he keeps peeking back over his shoulder, Millie very close, only a few steps back and Tueller, wisely hanging back more strategically.
TUELLER: Tueller is hanging back, waiting for a signal from Alejo; a fact Alejo knows very well.
ALEJO: Alejo sighs a bit, as he gets free of Vil’s arms. “Hiya,” he says brightly.
MILLICENT: Millie smiles big
TUELLER: “We spoke to Antaam. She declared you Maraas yourself and you’re not to bug her anymore.”
TUELLER: “No pun intended.”