Move 6 (Chapter 1.6)

[yhlee]

Time: 361
Place: out-rift near Station Moongray

The Wasp's cockpit/command center
The Naxorian Rosemallow ship continues to hold position. Kaliyan notices it's now scanning the Wasp with some primitive [handwave] scan technology, focusing especially on the mothdrive.

The Wasp's Engineering room
Presuming a short interval of time has passed while Alaric consults as to moths' feelings about the hexarchate, the Wasp's moth repeats its query: the six hexarchate emblems in space ASCII, followed by the "1 / 0" for "???" Then after another short pause, it adds the Liozh emblem, followed by "1 / 0" for "???"

Meanwhile, Sasha's luck and guesswork regarding the Naxarat ship's encryption bear fruit. It appears that the Naxorians are discussing navigational difficulties. They've been trying to get information out of the Nirai station so they can find their way back home, but the Nirai are being closemouthed about what they've discovered about the rifts so far. There's also a brief mention of personnel shortages.

The Wasp's airlock, welcoming party
Andan Bokali still hasn't touched any of the edible fidget spinners, although Pavn is munching away on a third. "If you're ready, we'd like to invite you back to Station Moongray. Rii, you and your assistants"--Bokali's eyes flicker as they try to figure out just which people are "assistants"--"can see the space we have available for artistic displays, and as for the rest of you, surely we can offer you the conveniences of station while you dock with us. Honored inquisitors, I'm sure our station administrator would like to meet you as soon as convenient."

Bokali coughs delicately, then adds, with a glance at Ankat for being the only one in the airlock with a remotely military bearing, "The station will insist that all firearms be left behind."

[The GM would like to note in Ankat's direction that a calendrical sword is sufficiently future-tech that it probably will only show up as "weird device" on Moongray's scanners, not as "lightsabre-alike weapon."]

[Tentatively, I'd like to get y'all onto the station next turn (Move 7) unless something happens to cause y'all to abort. :p ]

Comments

[pengwern]

Mikodez says cheerily, “It's lucky that Andan Rii’s projects require nothing like a gravity tractor, this time. I’m sure there won’t be any irreversible changes to the room. But just in case,” nodding at the still monumental pile of edible fidget spinner snacks, “We can offer them some of these.” The plate gets sealed in a half meter tall presentation box. Unfortunately it was made using the matter printer, and glitter spangled words are still visible against the night blue sides from an angle.

[If anyone cared to make the stanza out, it's not actually in cipher, just an near unreadable font of the high language, and recognizable with space internet as something by a famous poet from about a century before this time. “He visits my town once a year/He fills my mouth with kisses and nectar/I spend all my money on him/Who, girl, your man?”

With apologies to Amir Khusrow. The punchline is, of course, "A Mango." (\o/ links 1, 2!]

[yhlee]

Pavn looks happy at the thought of a continued supply of edible fidget spinners. "I hope you don't mind us asking for the recipe? They would liven up some of our meetings. As for the room, well, you'll have to talk to whoever's in charge of the dance studio at the moment. I don't dance myself--"

Bokali interrupts. "Unless there was some kind of bloody coup over the space, it's Nirai Alissa. Older woman, absolutely ravishing dancer, and very lackadaisical about scheduling. Not that I would know."

[Heh, that's adorable! I love riddles and that's one I hadn't heard.]

[smokedetective]

"I'll talk to Nirai Alissa," says Ashari. "I would be honored if she decided to... if not clear out, then cooperate with the project. The dance could add... an exciting twist to the presentation."

[yhlee]

Bokali brightens. "Do you dance? It will make her much more positively disposed toward you if you do. But either way, I will be happy to make the introductions once we're on station."

[smokedetective]

"I know... one or two dances," says Ashari carefully. "I'm generally a quick learner, and I've found that movement always adds a certain something to an exhibit."

[yhlee]

"Then that's settled," Bokali says. Their smile turns sly. "I'm sure some of the dancers would be charmed to get to know you better. It's a limited dating pool on the station, after all."

[smokedetective]

"Here on the ship too," Ashari says wistfully. "If everyone on the station is as charming as you and your friend, I'm sure it'll be a delightful time."