Move 20 (Chapter 1.20)

[yhlee]

[Sorry for the delay!]

EDITED ONE MORE TIME: the escape plan, for easy reference.

Move 20

Year 361, Month Three, Day Seventeen (Monday), ~05:75

Just outside of Medical
The mothling Crowned-with-Eyes is continuing to purr rapturously from within Mikodez's pack, which is in Alaric's possession. Fluffy has finally piped down--maybe napping, who knows what her sleep cycles are? Mikodez is currently under Alaric's watch (so to speak). [The GM strongly suggests that players cooperate to keep Mikodez from escaping yet again as I'd like to get y'all off this station! *g* ]

Sulen gets to check their lokwor, which contains an updated message from Ashari reiterating that everyone should return to the Wasp ASAP. Ashari adds, rather ominously, that they authorize Sulen to "use any necessary force" to round up crew members; they would like Sulen and Virmad to contact the administrator from the Wasp once the two of them are on the moth again.

A thoroughly exasperated-looking male nurse (the one Alaric spoke to earlier) wheels Istradez (NPC) out on a float chair, accompanied by Iawa, whom the nurse has entrusted with further instructions for Istradez's care. Istradez looks like he's seen better days, and Iawa notices that his mind seems to be wandering again--a lingering concussion effect? It's too bad that the nurse seems thoroughly determined to get rid of them all and heads back into Medical at the first opportunity.

Sasha, accompanied by Ankat (NPC), can meet our merry adventurers just outside Medical, if she likes.

"Bumblebee" status
Kaliyan (NPC) is manning the cockpit. Ashari (NPC) has left the office [edit, continuity, sorry about that]. Yehan (NPC) is currently manning comms as well. The Wasp itself is currently quiescent, no doubt chewing away on magic squares (which Sasha gave it to think about in Move 19). Gerae is contained (for the moment) in his makeshift cell; video surveillance will reveal that he is slowly drinking his Space Nescafe, making everything last and looking as if it's the best coffee he's ever had.

After giving orders to crew members on the station, Ashari seeks out Virmad in the galley and tells him that they expect him and Sulen to prepare to call the administrator on the station so they can get the hell out of here as per the plan as soon as Sulen and the rest of the crew is back. Ashari suggests that Virmad draft the communication for Sulen's approval and adds, "Did you find out anything useful from Teo? Don't be shy, darling, every little bit helps."

Comments

time to go for broke on drama

[venndaai]

"Only major heresy," Sulen says, gesturing at the mothling. Then they slam the.... uh... thing with the data [cube? disk? lokwor? if this was mentioned I'm sorry I'm an idiot] down on the probably-not-cloudwood desk, and stifles a wince when the meditation focus falls over. "One of your scientists is using alien creatures to destabilize the local calendar. With the collaboration of your magistrate. What we haven't determined yet is your level of complicity." They lean over the desk, eyes burning gold.

Re: time to go for broke on drama

[yhlee]

[Call it a cube. There are bunches of Space USB Stick types, probably even including novelty ones in the shape of your favorite star duelist.]

Shan's eyes narrow. She stands up and meets Sulen's eyes with an effort, then pointedly picks the meditation focus back up and weighs in it her hands. "I'm sorry, Magistrate," she shoots back, "but this is a research station. I'm sure you're mistaken as to the nature of the research in question. This mothling is a legitimate subject of inquiry."

Sulen can tell from scrying that Shan is determined to protect her researchers, but is worried that one of them has hared off into not-quite-orthodox territory; she's trying to stall for time.

[It would be entirely legitimate for Sulen or Virmad to escalate since Shan isn't folding. Have fun!]

Re: time to go for broke on drama

[lleullawgyffes]

“So, Administrator,” Virmad says, his eyes turning gold to match Sulen’s, “you are saying that you were aware of the destablizing effect of the mothlings on the calendar? Or are you admitting that the Inquisitor” — a slight emphasis on the word, just to remind Shan that she’s not dealing with a sedentary, complacent backwater station magistrate anymore, but with agents of Doctrinal order in the middle of an active investigation; arguably a demotion, but, he thinks, worth it — “and I have been more attentive to the research being done under your authority than you yourself? It is important that we clearly establish whether you are directly complicit in this heretical research or simply incompetent.”

Re: time to go for broke on drama

[yhlee]

Shan's hand, cupping the meditation focus, is shaking. But she still doesn't back down. "Please present your evidence, Inquisitors," she says, "so I know who to discipline."

(Still stalling. Virmad and Sulen are pretty sure she recognizes the mothling's provenance.)

Re: time to go for broke on drama

[venndaai]

"It's on your desk. But I think you know this goes beyond discipline."

Re: time to go for broke on drama

[yhlee]

It's like metal fatigue: Shan crumples all at once. It's pretty clear that she realizes that she can't shield her people. "All right," she says, very quiet. "What do you require of me, Magistrates?"

Re: time to go for broke on drama

[venndaai]

"Removing the heretic and his materials from the station needs to be the first priority, before the heresy can spread," Sulen says. "Sign Nirai Remi and his 'test subjects' over to our custody and we can unburden you of this situation."

Sulen's starting to feel a bit bad about this. They try to look stern but sympathetic.