Federation Commander

Skexis lies down but keeps his ears open.

"Rokerig, we need to talk... Any idea who would want what X' al Fen had? Any idea why he was killed?" Captain Jack asks Rokering.

Rokerig is pretty shocked that anyone would kill X'al Fen. He's even more shocked that someone would kill his grandfather. He doesn't appear to be stupid, though and asks you lots of perceptive questions. He's not sure what to do about all of this, right off.

Conversation shifts temporarily to talk of the day's hunt. From the what you can pick up, the party has taken down a gigantic sand worm. It takes so long to kill one, you actually have to shoot it with tracking marker. Rokerig points out an over-long rifle that leans against a nearby rock. He explains that it can firmly affix a marker even at incredibly long ranges. A party of nomads can end up following a sand worm for days!

[Counters from left to right: Marcus, lizard-girl, Captain Jack, Rokerig, Fred Mercury, and Skexis. There are no trees here-- they represent depressions in the ground. The green underbrush represents uneven ground.]

"I think we also need to know, was X' al Fen an archeologist?" Captain Jack asks. He also decided to tell him about the Red Stripped Hilidarian to see why he would want us to bring Rokerig back to that red stripped Hilidarian.

a brief flashback from page 17 of this thread wrote:

Captain Jack wrote: "Yes, the weather today was pleasant. I'm certain that I know you from somewhere, were you Keldek from the archeological dig on Klardon a few years back?"

Hildarian wrote: "No... but I know him. He comes from a good egg, Keldek doesss. Sso... are you archeologists?" He looks askance at Marcus Kane. "You don't quite... seem like the sssort for that...."

...

"You sssmell allright... but maybe not so much like a cold blooded killer. I'll tell you what. Another asssociate of mine appears to have skipped town. I trust him even less than I trust you. He might know ssomething. Bring him to me... here. He's a local; a nomad. He goes by the name... Rocky.

"If you do that, we can talk more about this offer of yours...."

Okay... so...

You talk with Rocky some more.

It's pretty clear he's swapped artifacts off and on with X'al Fen for a while... at least he's clearly aware that X'al Fen is a radiation poisoned Cromarg without you giving that away. But he claims to have not had any direct dealings with any Hilidarians....

"So... What do you think? Think this Hilidarian sent us out here to find you to set you up? Maybe lead them right to you as a trap? This whole thing feels like a huge trap for both of us..." asks Captain Jack.

"Well now seems like it would be a good time to spring it, right? Or when we got to camp and Marcus was with us. But nothing's happened. Does anyone remember seeing anyplace that would be good for an ambush on the way out here? How bout a place to take cover if they bring vehicles or out gun us?"

Skexis switches his tail nervously. He notices the depression to his right and starts walking towards it, listening intently.

Skexis cocks his ears and listens intently:

[Acute hearing... 15 or less... unknown bonus/penalty... (3d6=11)]

He hears some sounds to the east where the riding lizards are tied up. Sounds like a couple of guys muttering: "No... not yet," says one in a hushed voice, "wait for the signal."

[The riding lizards are just barely off map tied up by some rocks on the right side of the map pictured above.]

paul wrote: OOC: what is the terrain like? Hilly? Flat? Is there some high ground where they can hold up if they get attacked? where is the most likely location for an ambush to happen? Basically he is looking to use the terrain to his advantage. Are there enough rocks to stack up to provide cover for people to squat or lie behind that he and perhaps 2 others can start gathering to make small walls?

OOC: you never answered my questions so I can't tell you waht I wnat him to do. What does my tactics roll do for me?

Marcus is in the most defensible location. He has good cover and the rocks could likely even protect him from explosions maybe.... He also is unlikely to go into tempory shock if anything frightening happens.

The people around the campfire are exposed and (apart from Skexis) are not as likely to react quickly. (Captain Jack and Fred are busy connecting the dots....)

OOC: My intention was to get everyone into a more defensible spot. Marcus would've told everyone that they are exposed.

(Nothing's happened, yet. Skexis has heard something... you probably have time to figure something out-- and Captain Jack seems to be pretty suspicious, too. Feel free to tactical-ize as you see fit.)

(We can assume Skexis can signal you silently that something is going down and that Captain Jack and Fred aren't going to automatically do anything silly right now. Somehow... you guys are aware that you need to coordinate and somehow you manage to work things out-- so feel free to work out the best moves based on your "OOC" collective knowledge without working out how you all know what everyone else knows. The appearance of simultaneous action is largely a multi-player gaming convenience to allow the plot to move forward while multiple players act both collectively and independently as needed. A movie would pace things differently, of course....)

Captain Jack notices the signal from Skexis.

Calmly, he explains: "we may have unwanted company... remain calm, look for cover, and prepare to use it..." and discretely draws his phaser and turns towards the direction that Skexis signaled, and stands ready.

Marcus finishes surveying the area to hold up in and calls Captain Jack on his communicator (I assume everyone has one...they are a staple in the Star Trek Universe) "Marcus here I've found an area in the rocks to the west that looks like a good place to hold up for a bit incase there is something a foot...I got a bad feeling ever since I was in town with the Reptile lady.....I suggest you guys bring your conversation in here ASAP...."


OOC: Is it day or night?

Captain Jack responds to his communicator chirp: "Understood, moving your way."

Captain Jack addresses the group: "Ok, we should calmly move towards Marcus, since his position provides us with cover."

While watching the direction that Skexis pointing out, he starts to carefully move towards Marcus, Phaser in hand.