IC

    Payne turning to Bud, "I do not need medical attention at this time.
While Kah'Liss tends to the wounded I am going to look for some real
weapons. These doze gernades are fine if your a pacifist. I am not a
pacifist. With that Payne walks off to what is left of the dead Vrusk.
    BudRREEPboopboopboop squeaks.  His polyvox translates: "Hmph.  Seems to be a
lot of that going around, I should say."
    Telgar speaks to Bud, "Hey Bud, Brenon says to gather the Kurabandai
together and let them know we will be leaving shortly." With that, Telgar
reports to Brenon.
    Bud nods his pseudopate and turns to meet the Kurabanda.  He approaches the
leader, and bows low to him.  He speaks to him in the same broken PanGal that
the Kurabanda speak, but with his own touch of blubbering stutter:
    "Venberable mabaster, bibig hubumaban sabay webe lebeave sooboon."

    Stepping into the first corridor, TJ checks the laser rifles, takes the one that looks like it is
in the best condition, also any ammo for it as well.  TJ does the same
with the gyrojet pistols. Selecting the one in the best condition and
snatching some ammo for it as well.
    Once that is done, TJ announces to who ever is still in the room
at that point "I am going to investigate the lab.  Hopefully he will
soon catch up to Brennon to see how he can be of service.
    Brenon speaks into his ChronoComm, "Kah'liss ,see if you can get Raliegh up on his toes....I could really use him right now in the computer room."
    Brenon then looks to Telgar, "Stay here until we get word from Kah'liss on Raliegh's condition. See if you can figure anything else about it until our hacker gets here. I need to try an shoot off a message to Pale......."
     Brenon will then leave and try to make a broadcast via their subspace radio. Here is the message he will try to send. "Streel Corp, this is exploration expedition led by Brenon Moroue.....we are in need of immediate evac. Mission is fubared. Planet occupied by a superior force of pirates calling themselves the Star Devils."
    Payne turns to Brennon, "I recomend you do not scrub any mission,
sir. A mission charged to you is yours until it is completed, or you are
killed trying to complete it. There is no such thing as quitting a
mission because the odds are not in your favor. If you quit now, you
turn your back on a sacred brotherhood, and opportunity for glory. Do
not run away from glory because of a few stinking pirates."
    Zhirrzh suggests that Brenon go ahead and send the message. Just because we're informing Streel that the mission has FUBARed doesn't mean that we are abandoning the mission.       Next, we can spend the time waiting for Streel by checking out Slave City One, gathering our environmental data, and continuing with the general duties of this mission. After all, it will take 7 days for the message to reach Streel, an unknown amount of time for them to get a task force together, and 7 days to get back. We still have a minimum of half a month on this planet. We don't have to seek out combat with the pirate base, but we should gather as much information as possible for the task force, and do anything else that might be helpful to the enslaved Edestekai.
    "Who said anything about quitting?" Brenon responds. "I'm simply letting my employer know that the main purpose of this mission has been mucked up. I expect they will send us a transport ship, but it'll be quite some time before that happens. Weeks I imagine. Don't worry, you'll get your revenge. I expect we'll probably head to Slave City One within the week......"
       Brenon sends the message 4 times. He'll then hand Zhirrzh the battery for recharging.

    Raleigh lifted his head slowly, squinting at the bright flourecent lights that beamed down on him. He noticed Kahliss watching him with concern, and then saw Brennon and Telgar looking at him strangely. Despite the pounding in his head and the piercing pain that shot through his torso, he managed a smile and a weak "Bet you guys thought you got ridda me that time eh?"
    Sitting up fully, he listened as Brennon described the events after he was knocked out leading up to the computer. Trying unsuccesfully to shake the cobwebs from his head, he gave the thumbs up and winced in pain as he was slowly helped to his feet. Raleigh was no stranger to pain. In that little bar back on Gollywog, he had been punched through a plate glass window by an angry dralasite, this hurt just slightly less.
    Making his way, with Telgar under one shoulder and Brennon the other, Raleigh found the computer room and sat down. He took a moment to collect himself before squinting at the terminal monitor. "Let's just hope this unit wasnt made by the same folks that made that door lock back there," he joked.
    Raleigh is placed gingerly in front of the computer, with Brenon,
     Telgar, and Kah'liss nearby. The two humans are more concerned with
     the screen before them, while the vrusk's attention lies solely with
     the wounded Raleigh.
        Blinking his eyes several times, trying to wash the blurred screen
     into a crisper picture, Raleigh finally succeeds. "Okay," he mumbles.
     "But you gotta promise me a nap if I get in."
        He begins tapping at the keys, doing what he can to break into the
     locked system.
 
     [DieRoll Raleigh]
     Computers: Defeat Security (Lvl 1)
     Base +3
        - 3CS Computer Level
        - 3CS Wounds
     Adjusted -2CS
 
     Roll = 68  FAIL
     Roll = 12  PASS
 
        The time passes. On one occasion everyone watched the typing
     Raleigh do his work. Then, all typing stopped. Sufficient time for
     pondering the next strokes having passed, Telgar glances down at the
     Techex and realizes he had dozed off, or either passed out. A gentle
     nudge rekindled the hacker, and Raleigh continued again.
        Forty minutes later, Raleigh breathes a sigh of relief. "You're
     in."
        The computer screen displays the GUI interface of the
     Frontier-standard Operating System, Galaxy 4000, and Telgar beams.
     "Just what we needed, Raleigh. Thanks." Raleigh rises from the chair
     and is replaced by the eager Telgar. Double-clicking through several
     applications, the enforcer reports what he finds.
        "A lot of stuff isn't encrypted, free for the taking. Reports on
     the mineral and geographical content of the area down here...expenses
     on building this place, supplies, etc."
        He looks through more files. "Here we go. They're hiding something
     here. It's encrypted. Let me try my hand. As he rips a clean sheet of
     paper from the nearby notepad, Telgar explains. "Back in the service I
     was trained in Cryptology. Usually this involved encrypted messages
     that involved logorithmic cracks. However, we were trained in Computer
     encryption to some degree, and I may be able to crack this code.
     Raleigh got me into the system, and let's see if I can decrypt this
     data..."
 
     [DieRoll Telgar]
     Cryptology (Lvl 1)
     Base +1
        Adjusted +1
 
     Roll = 34  YELLOW  PASS
 
 
        Another twenty minutes pass (bringing the time to about 6am - other
     work can be done by others while Telgar does this) before Telgar
     shouts out his success. As the others come in and crowd around the
     computer terminal, Telgar proudly displays the information.
        "A lot of the same stuff Kah'liss has already
     discovered...vibrillium and tomarillium deposits in the hills...race
     of intelligent locals called the Edestekai which they are using for
     slaves.... here's something... a list of prisoners who were being held
     here...and will you look at this.. The following report was dated 10
     months ago (02.24.FY65).
 
        FREIGHTER MERDEC shot down and captured orbiting Volturnus. Crew
     killed in crash except a Lt. Col. Jameson (Human) and Grod
     (Dralasite), who were taken prisoner. Sent from Truane's Star
     government to recon Volturnus for potential exploration and
     colonization. Should expect Truane's Star interest in Volturnus
     increasing.
           - Held at Slave City One 2 months.
           - Moved to Outpost (04.15.FY65)
           - Escaped Outpost (04.24.FY65)
           - Both Jameson and Grod re-captured (09.06.FY65) during raid on
             nearby Kurabanda tribe. Both returned to Slave City One.
 
 
        The report goes on to catalogue a list of prisoners, who in all
     total perhaps 60 in all. Some are listed as being killed during escape
     attempts, 5 who succumbed to disease and/or exhaustion, but the
     remainder are all being held at Slave City One.
 
          The computer also has a map of the Pirate operations, showing the
     location of the outpost and Slave City One, which lies about 500 miles
     to the North East.
 
     Telgar looks around the room, searching for a diskette to save the newly aquired information onto. He also checks the PC unit to see if it has printing capability.
    "Brenon, I'm going to save this data to disk and print out the maps. I'll do one last check on the system to see if they're hiding anything else. After that, unless you need me for something, I think I'm going to get a couple hours of shut-eye."
 
    Payne turning to Brennon. "If you have no objections I will drop your friends off at their village." Turning to whoever else is
around, "Anyone want to tag along?" Not waiting for a response, Payne slings his laser rifle over his shoulder and makes his way toward the explorer and readies it for his trip.
    BudRREEPboopboopboop turns and follows TJ.  He squeals, "Geeeeeek."  His polyvox translates, "I shall accompany you, old chap.  This harsh world is dangerous.  I think it would be best if you did not make the return trip alone."
    Bud then turns toward the rest of the group and says, "Gurble WEEEEZ."  His polyvox translates, "We shall return promptly ... I do hope."
    'Boy, this new guy has no idea how annoying these Kurabadai are', Brenon thought/smiled to himself. "Absolutely Payne, prep the new explorer and get the Kurabandai loaded up but don't leave just yet. I want us all to travel together. "
     "Kay'liss, grab a few cots or matresses from rooms to make Raliegh's travels a little more restful. Zhirrzh, pack up those batteries, we're getting the hell outta Dodge. Also I'd like our tracks to be pretty much gone for about half a click(Km), everyone that's able will give you a hand. Telgar, pack up the SubSpace radio and fire up Explorer 1. We dont' want to leave the enemy an Intel, so make sure you have left anything behind revealing" with that said, Brenon will gather up Lstayric's things from his body. He'll also drag Lstayric's body out back and bury it in a shallow grave.
    Having sent the message to Streel, with Telgar adding the agreed   upon encryption codes, the team prepares both Explorers for the return to the Kurabanda tribe. Kah'liss enlists help to secure a cot for the wounded Raleigh, while the others secure any equipment which may be usefull; food, ammunition, power packs. With two explorers for the return trip, there is much more room and the team isn't as cramped as before. Even still, the Kurabanda's smell in small, enclosed places continually urge the drivers onward.
    An hour later, having watched the sun rise before them during the trip, both explorers drive to the outskirts of the great Bachanda tree forest, the closest the vehicles can get before the undergrowth of the forest becomes impassable. A party of Kurabanda guards welcome the team and their returning warriors, growing excited when shown the heads of the slain pirates they took as trophy. You also notice that a considerable amount of your gear, especially rations, have been plundered through by the curious Kurabanda, but after a quick tally you determine there is no total loss of supplies, as the spoils from the outpost make up for any loss.
    The mile hike into the forest and to the village is an arduous one, especially for Raleigh, who needs help the entire way. The village welcomes the party back and Ermorada, the head Kurabanda on the expedition, informs the tribe leaders that all Demons from the Sky have been killed, save for the one prisoner your team took. The village erupts into cheer and a festival is called on behalf of the victors. A great hunt will be held, with the party as the guests of honor. It is plain to all that everyone needs rest, even the Kurabanda warriors, and you are offered huts to rest in. The hunt will take place at the first moon's rising (Kah'liss informs you that will be 3pm), giving you about 7 hours to rest, if you wish to join the hunt.
 
 
     OOC
       Kah'liss will perform Wounds II on Raleigh after the rest - his body
     will accept the medication then. The decision is yours if you want to
     join the hunt.
 
       If anyone wants to fill Payne in on who the Kurabanda are (either
     during the ride back or now), they can tell him everything they know -
     which is here:
 The Kurabanda
 
IC
Brenon sat back, taking his first break in what seemed days. He found
himself dozing off occasionally but bumps and rocks along the way made it
impossible to sleep hard. He suddenly envied the cot they requisitioned for
Raliegh.
    As the day became night, the two Explorers trudged on through the
desert, a light wind pushed  tumble weed gingerly accross the terrain. Sand
lightly patted the windows accompanied by a high pitched howl. The ride was
quiet but passed quickly.
    Brenon decided to break the silence and radioed in to the other Explorer
to see how things were with the Kurabanda. He silently smiled to himself,
thankful to not be couped up in the other explorer with all those Kurabanda.

    That evening they were received as heroes at the Kurabanda village and
were told of the honor of the hunt that would proceed on the morrow. "Thank
you Chief", Brenon said with a bow, "We'd be honored to join you in your
hunt."
    When Brenon and his team are alone he will speak to them privately:
    "Those of you that are able, try to attend the hunt tomorrow, I don't
want to offend them and sounds like it may actually be a little fun. Feel
free to bring any ranged weapons with you if you wish, I for one am going to
give a go at using their weapons for the hunt."
        The Hunt:
    Brenon will decide to go primitive and take off his shirt and resort to
the weapons used by the Kurabanda for the hunt. He will follow their lead.
 
    Raleigh remembers little of the events of the next day or so. He had opened his eyes for a moment to a worried Kahliss. After a tiring walk to the computer room, he helped Brennon and Telgar break through the cpu's security...using the last of his energy in the process. No sooner had he hit the cot than his eyes closed and a dark wash rolled over him.
    He remembered opening his eyes and seeing Kahliss checking in on him. Later, he rose for a drink of water and saw a strange man talking to the dralasite Bud. Had he had the energy he would have gone and said hi, but he was still tired. Awakened again, this time he was being carried over Telgar's shoulder. He tried to speak but even that was nearly impossible...so tired.
    Next thing Raleigh knew he was back in the Kurabundai camp on a soft bed. Kahliss, always over concerned, looked down on him and smiled. "I thought I may lose you after all," the Vrusk said between injections of pain killers.
    "Na," Raleigh croaked, his voice alien to even him now. "Youre not that lucky." Looking around, he didnt see any of the others but could hear a great deal of commotion outside. "What's going on, where are the others?"
    Kahliss only shook his head, a look of disapproval ebbing in. "Getting ready to head out on a glory hunt with the Kurabundai...I don't approve." Raleigh tried to get up but still his body screamed in agony, despite the painkillers. Kahliss put a hand on the tech's chest, urging him to lay back down.
    "And where do you think youre going friend?" Raleigh smacked feebly at the Vrusk's hand, trying to get up but knowing he couldnt overcome a wet blanket right now.
    "I gotta go with them...theyll need me." Raleigh muttered through clenched teeth. The vrusk only laughed, as if this was the funniest thing he had heard in weeks. "The only thing you would be good for," Kahliss went on through chortles, "is as a glider folder. You my friend are in no condition."
    Raleigh nodded and lay back, succumbing to the fact that the Vrusk was undoubtedly correct. "Well then," he asked the Vrusk, "can I at least go out there and wish them off?" Kahliss agreed and the two went outside to send the others off on their hunt.
 
OOC: Jeff, hope you dont mind the use of Kahliss in my post. I wanted to at least contribute something to the game from my bed! J I'll be out here till Sunday and then Im back to the states and can keep up with the game full time again.

Before retiring to the large guest hut, the Kurabanda tell you the
     hunt will be for the great Rollers. They describe the animal, show you
     hides from past hunts, and children act out the hunt amongst
     themselves. It seems these 'Rollers' greatly resemble Elephants, with
     a mass of cartilage and bone in the place of the snout. This
     cylindrical mass, the creature's obvious namesake, is used to crush
     shard grass, which the creature feeds upon. (You have seen some of the
     shard plains, a high, thickly grown area. The shard grass grows to a
     height of 1- 1.5 meters and has a glass-like sheath around the main
     stalk. It can be sharp, thorn-like, so be sure to wear your skeinsuits
     for protection). Shard Plains are sharp and travel through them is
     impossible without a machete or other knife to clear a path. The
     Rollers flatten the plains into large paths as they graze through the
     plains, eating the crumpled stalks they crush. Rollers are herbivores
     and are not hostile. However, the Kurabanda say they travel in herds
     and being caught in a stampede can be deadly. They explain how the
     hunt takes place:
        The hunting party travels south to the edge of the shard plains and
     the Bachanda Forests. Everyone will be equipped with a special hang
     glider. Many Kurabanda retreive their gliders from their huts and show
     them off proudly. They greatly resemble glijets, but are nothing more
     than tied sticks and bark. The gliders are decorated with an array of
     colors and ornaments, and it is apparrent each Kurabanda takes pride
     in his own glider.
        Once a Roller herd is spotted, groups will leap from the trees,
     gliding over the Roller paths and attacking the creatures. As their
     altitude falls, they veer back and land in the lower branches of the
     forest. The primary weapon is bows and spears.
        In the event downdrafts occur, or a glider becomes out of control,
     there is a group of Kurabanda on the forest edge manning safety nets
     to catch wayward flyers. The Kurabanda obviously take great humor at
     this; you are then told of a recent hunt, when two overzealous
     Kurabanda collided chasing their prey, and plummeted safely into the
     nets below. The crowd of Kurabanda around you erupt in laughter and
     cheers at the re-telling of the story - the two stars of the tale grin
     and bow to the audience. In the event some one lands in a roller path,
     the Kurabanda in the air will do everything they can to redirect the
     herd away from the downed hunter.
 
       The straw mats the Kurabanda offered were to date the most
     comfortable beds you've slept on since crash landing on Volturnus.
     That, coupled with the fact that you've been in two firefights, hiked
     a few miles through the forests, and all in one day, causes everyone
     to sink into sleep before your head hits the pillow. A good six hours
     should refresh everyone.
        Brenon is awakened to a sharp pinch on his neck. He reaches to his
     neck and swats off a small bug, probably a flea off of one of the damn
     Kurabanda, he muses. He glances at his chronometer and sees that the
     small flea was actually a perfect wake-up call. It was about an hour
     until the hunt - the Kurabanda would be preparing gliders for those
     that said they would join (Kah'liss is remaining behind, so is the
     upset Raleigh (doctor's orders)). BudReeep, who is a veteran of these
     hunts, knows that they Kurabanda cannot make a suitable glider for
     him, and he is assigned to the ground crews with the nets.
        "Damn!" Brenon curses again as another flea bites him. This time on
     his shoulder. Slapping at the bug through his shirt, he hopes he
     killed the beast. Another bite. Another. They were all over him.
        "I'm getting attacked!" Telgar howls as he leaps from his bed,
     fleas biting him on all parts. Zhirrzh too suffers from the frenzied
     insects. The others in the room watch in interest as the three punch
     at the tiny bugs. Soon the area explodes with laughing Kurabanda, who
     were watching from the outside of the hut. BudReeep gets a good
     chuckle out of it too. "Don't worry," he speaks through the PolyVox,
     "That means they like you."
 
 
     OOC
 
       Let me know who goes on the hunt and what you take with you, knowing
     the circumstances. I will dieroll the hunt, but there won't be much
     interaction I need from you unless things really get sticky (like
     someone does end up in a stampede). Everyone will be able to use the
     gliders, Zhirrzh will have an extra bonus for doing so, but I will
     roll for crashes or any of that, so you could suffer damage on this
     trip. If it gets sticky at all, I'll slow it down, but I should be
     able to post the hunt in one turn. The hunt is actually part of this
     module, although in the module this occurred before your excursion to
     the outpost....
 
 

fin.