With a space ship and newly acquired notoriety, Yiris, Bratrizik and Nict decide the most prudent thing to do is to transport the little gear they left at Duravor Kreel's apartment since their arrival on Absalom Station into the Sunrise Maiden. They manage to leave the admiring crowd behind, and head into Absalom Station's transportation system. Once at the apartment, they quickly pack.
At nearly the same time, both Yiris and Nict receive incoming calls on their communication units. Yiris is contacted by Ambassador Nor of the Eoxian Embassy. The Ambassador had sent them on a fact-finding mission to explore the Drift Rock so he could mediate the dispute between Astral Extractions and the Hardscrabble Collective, and though he had a video feed of the events, he wanted a first hand report. Nict, meanwhile, is contacted by Chiskisk, their shirren contact with the Starfinder Society, who would also like to debrief their mission and ask them questions about what they encountered. After a quick discussion, the party agrees to meet Nor at 15:00, and Chiskisk at 17:00 at the Bugsolutley, a trendy shirren restaurant in one of the arms of station.
Abandoning the dwarf's apartment, they return to the Sunrise Maiden, they take turns catching a well deserved rest and repairing some of the ship's most-in-need of maintenance systems.
After the Gap - February 27, 317 @ 15:00
After securing the ship, Yiris, Bratrizik and Nict head to the Embassy. They are greeted by Ambassador Nor, who thanks them for successfully complete their mission, and also for bringing back his cargo unopened. Yiris warns him that it is possible that akatas might have infiltrated it, so he should be careful when he opens it. Nor tells the android not to worry, his crew carefully inspected the cargo before opening and and were able to retrieve its content undamaged. He provides them with credsticks worth 1,000 credits each as their promised reward. He then discusses the mission.
The Vesk mentions that he believes that the Drift Rock was at some point part of something larger. He observes that thought Nor does not react to the statement, he has in fact noticed this but chose not to talk about it. Bratrizik questions the Ambassador about the language. Nor replies that he's not familiar with it, but that it is possible the Starfinder Society might know more about it. Though Yiris at first doubts Nor's replies, she is soon convinced that he in fact tells the truth.
Yiris takes the occasion to ask why they were attacked by two necrogliders and whether anyone from Eox would wish them ill. Nor answers that unfortunately necrogliders are some of the best-selling fighters due to their bare-bones systems and as a result are cheap enough for most space forces and pirates unconcerned with life-support systems to purchase and use. He seriously doubts that the presence of a necroglider was due to some grand conspiracy and that it most likely was nothing more than an attempt to smear his good names by making it look like his people were involved. He tells them that because of this unprovoked attack on his delegates he will rule in favor of the Hardscrabble Collective and will inform both them and Astral Extractions of the result of his mediation.
To thank them again for a job well done, Nor provides with with an Eoxian badge, an item he states may hold sway with those who have honor among the dead.
After the Gap - February 27, 317 @ 17:00
Following their meeting with Nor, the party travels to Bugsolutely. They informe the head shirren maitre d' of their appointment with CHiskisk. The waiter brings them to Chiskisk's private table in an isolated corner of the otherwise busy restaurant. As they look at the menu, Chiskisk makes several recommendations. Yiris orders some nanite lattice hard candies, while Nict is thrilled to eat some home delicacies. Bratrizik is nonplused by the eclectic style of foods, but manage to find something pleasing to his palate.
Yiris tells Chiskisk about DT43 and that Ambassador Nor will rule in favor of the Hardscrabble Collective. Chiskisk is not surprised at Nor's conclusions.
Bratrizik then asks Chiskisk what else they should know. They reply that the information is potentially compromised, for it was documented by a very unreliable individual, Halkueem Zan, a daredevil explorer with a very healthy ego who reportedly discovered and documented the temple of the Twelve and its surrounding areas, including its strange language about 300 years ago.. Following his exploration of Ukulam, a series of scandals forced the explorer to depart Castrovel in a hurry. The party agrees to pursue this investigation on behalf of the Starfinder Society.
After the Gap - February 27, 317 @ 20:34
Preparing the Sunrise Maiden for their trip to Castrovel, Bratrizik downloads a copy of the video of their exploration of the Drift Rock. He also purchases a copy of Halkueem Zan's Pyramid People of Ukulam, a tawdry travelogue that lauds Zan's bravery as much as it describes the culture that built thes sites using ample nonacademic language such as "exotic", "savages," and "time immemorial."
Yiris secures supplies two weeks' worth of food and other general adventuring gear for 700 credits. Nict goes shopping and purchases a shock grenade II and five smoke grenades for a total of 690 credits.
Taking off from Absalom Station, Nict sets up the autopilot. During the trip Nict and Yiris set up security cameras throughout the ship that can connect to the infosphere and communicate directly with their compads.
After the Gap - March 5, 317 @ 5:43
The Sunrise Maiden emerges out of the Drift in range of Castrovel. They are soon contacted by Qabarat's aviation authorities requesting identification. Bratrizik provides them with the Sunrise Maiden's immatriculation as well as their personal information and advises them they are here to meet Whaloss. They are told to land at the city's spaceport, Ship's End, at docking bay 9.
Following their landing, they are met by a customs official and a guard. After questioning and inspection they are given travel papers allowing them to remain in Qarabat for up to one month. Once cleared of customs, Nict calls Whaloss. The doctoral student just woke up, but he tells the shirren that he will be there in roughly thirty minutes.
After the Gap - March 5, 317 @ 6:13
Ponctual, Whaloss shows up at the Spaceport and heartily greets them and welcomes them to Qarabat. The lashunta is happy to show them around the city. Whaloss' old hovercraft is uncomfortable but can fit them all as tour the old lashunta city of Qarabat. They stop for a quick breakfast, then finally drive to the University. They find parking nearby, then walk to the Department of Xenoanthropology.
After the Gap - March 5, 317 @ 9:46
A crowd of journalists is camped by the department's reception desk, clamoring the attention of the evidently overwhelmed receptionist. The journalists are interested in obtaining a statement from the University regarding a provocative statement made by one of their professors. Seeing the crowd, Whaloss mentions that they might want to come back later. Bratrizik steps in the journalists' midst, and mentions the Drift Rock recently in the news at Absalom Station. A few of the journalists make the connection between the Vesk and the recent broadcast, and begin questioning him about his recent exploits, attracting the attention of the remaining journalists.
With the journalists now distracted, Whaloss is able to secure an appointment with Professor Muhali, a female damaya lashunta and dean of the department.
Meeting Professor Muhali in her spacious office on the 6th floor, the party introduce themselves as adventurers with the Starfinder Society looking for assistance in decyphering an advanced alien language. Muhali confirms she could help them, but now is not a good time as she is dealing with a crisis that could undermine her entire department. Bratrizik inquires whether they can help her with her problem. Muhali confesses that one of her colleagues, Professor Ailabiens 21:2, presented a public lecture last night where he seemed to be advocating that had the entire formian species that occupies one of Castrovel's continent been eliminated during a particularly violent war a thousand years ago, the planet's development would have proceeded quicker and less resources overall would have been wasted. These conclusions, delivered under the argument of pure logic, have been portrayed by some as once again fomenting hate crimes against formians. The University is now being questioned for employing such an incendiary individual. Muhali needs Ailabiens 21:2 to publicly denies he advocates for current genocide and issue an apology for the poor conclusions drawn by his presentation. In the meantime, he's been placed on academic leave and his access to university resources has been restricted.
The party takes the elevator down to the 5th floor, and quickly locate Professor Ailabiens 21:2's messy office. After some highly logical argumentation back and forth between the Professor and Yiris, he agrees that issuing a public apology is better than being deprived of his access to the University's resources, and he agrees to do so provided that Professor Muhali agrees in return to cancelling his suspension, restoring his access, and erase the whole incident from his tenure review file so it will not be held against him. If they are able to obtain these concessions from Muhali, Ailabiens 21:2 will be more than happy to help the party with identifying their alien language.
Returning to Muhali's office, Nict summarizes their encounter with the contemplative and offer his requirements for issuing an apology. After much discussion, Muhali agrees to Ailabiens 21:2's demands.
With his access restored, Ailabiens 21:2 gives Yiris his apology vid. He thanks them for helping him navigate over-emotional behaviors, and agrees to compile information about Zan. He will begin right away, and will have answers for them in eight hours.
They trek once more to the 7th floor, where they deliver the professor's apologies. Professor Muhali thanks them for helping her solve a major public relations problem. She will distribute Ailabiens 21:2's apologies to the journalists still waiting for a statement from the University. Pleased at the results of the party's intervention, she gives them a mk 1 ring of resistance that was intended for an expedition Ailabeans 21:2 was to lead.
With these two issues resolved, the party is now waiting for Ailabeans 21:2's research.
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