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ximilialog2023-05-09 09:27 pm
MISSION: A MATTER OF IMPORT, PART 2
● ● ● M I S S I O N 1 3 . 2
For a few days after the fateful meeting between the two mercenaries working with Zandr and the two Orbers posing as mercenaries, the atmosphere is tense and thick with waiting — but sooner rather than later, Fyna gets the message to Yelena to pass on to those who might be able to aid in the making of anti-matter that Zandr has been immersed in; instructions for how to get to his hidden laboratory amidst the peaceful idyll of Nuhiri. While access to the lab is restricted to “necessary personnel”, as Fyna puts it (with air quotations included, making it clear she is quoting Zandr on this), those going can be accompanied up until the entrance… just in case they need to get there later.
So, at a time so early even the birds are only just waking up, you may find yourself following Fyna’s deft footsteps after landing the aircraft in a clearing in one of the quiet forests towards the mountains.
1.0 As you trek through the dense, lush forest, the sounds of birds and wildlife fill the air. Sunlight filters through the thick canopy of leaves overhead, dappling the forest floor with soft, warm light. A gentle breeze carries the scent of wildflowers and fresh earth, and the path winds its way through the forest at a steady incline, twisting and turning around ancient trees and over babbling brooks. The rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig are the only sounds that break the serene silence of the forest.
As you continue on, the sound of rushing water grows louder, and though the path Fyna leads you on becomes steeper, almost blending into the surroundings (as a path to a hidden place should), but the beauty around you only intensifies. Vibrant green ferns and exotic flowers dot the sides of the path, their bright colors popping against the rich, earthy tones of the forest.
Finally, you reach a clearing, and there they are — the Cymmera Falls. The water cascades down the rocks in a torrent of white foam, plunging into a pool below. The mist rises high into the air, creating a rainbow that dances across the surface of the pool. And then, you notice it: a small stream running beneath the waterfall, leading to a hidden laboratory beyond.
2.0 Access to the laboratory is only possible by wading through a small stream that runs beneath the waterfall. The water is icy cold and rushes by at a furious pace,
making it difficult to maintain footing. Once inside, the true nature of the laboratory is revealed. The walls are made of cold, grey metal, and you notice that the crashing sounds of the waterfall cleverly drown out any noise that might escape from within. The laboratory consists of many — adjoining rooms, connected to what seems to be Zandr’s living space. From the half-open door, Zandr sticks his head out, hair messy but face split with a grin.
And indeed, it is only some five seconds before he’s pushing through the doorway, hand running through his hair as he comes to greet those who are to help him with getting rid of ghost matter once and for all. There is an easy charm to him, a kind of gravitas to his presence that speaks in part to why the Federation might find him such a threat.
There is no doubt to his voice, only a steely certainty — that he will succeed, be it in ten days’ time or then thousand days’ time.
3.0 Little time is wasted on chit-chat, however — anti-matter is the most pressing issue, of course, and you get to work as soon as possible. Zandr explains that he has been trying to create it through
a process called particle acceleration, in order to create high-energy protons that can then be split up into subatomic particles, including anti-protons. However, the process of extracting anti-protons is a delicate one, as the negatively charged particles are attracted to anything positively charged in the surrounding space. Once isolated, the particles must be chilled to absolute zero, in order to stabilise them. The part Zandr is stuck on is combining this stabilised particles with positrons, the idea being for the two anti-particles together to create something that would attach to ghost matter upon being released into the atmosphere, changing its particle structure enough to neutralise its effects.
However, even with the lack of success with the last part of the process, the entire research is a dangerous one to go through — any deviation from the exacting parameters
could result in catastrophic failure, causing the anti-protons to destabilize and potentially trigger a catastrophic explosion. So caution is of the essence — and so is all the knowledge the Orbers possess in helping make the process a success.
Meanwhile, the planet Naephus is abuzz with a different kind of energy. Today, businesses are either closed or close early as Federation employees and civilians alike observe one of the few government holidays of the year: Foundation Day, commemorating the day the leaders of the planetary systems of the Zeta Alatheia galaxy united to create the Interstellar Federation. While the citizens enjoy an extra day of rest and relaxation, all those associated with the Federation are looking forward to the evening’s gala. Equal parts fundraiser and celebration, as one of the Federation’s biggest parties of the year, there is sure to be plenty of fun to be had.
4.0 Of course, not everyone is so lucky to receive an invitation. Despite the planet being largely Federation-run, there are still quite a number of private citizens who have never even set foot into a Federation building, let alone have any business with them. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the forgery business sees a considerable uptick around the time of Foundation Day, and if you so happen to be one of the unlucky ones without a way into the gala, your best bet is consulting one of the better known forgers of the underground market. Perhaps you even meet a fellow Orber during your visit, prompting your forger to proclaim your good fortune — as it turns out, it’s far easier and less suspect to forge an invitation for a couple than several separate individuals.
If being part of the guestlist doesn’t sound as enticing, why not consider being part of the gala itself? A party of this scale requires many moving parts, from the catering to the waitstaff to the entertainment.
5.0 Speaking of entertainment, it’s obvious that this year the Federation spared no expenses. There is the usual lineup: a menagerie of exotic animals from the outer corners of the Zeta Alatheia galaxy, each held in individual gilded cages that line the expansive ballroom’s walls; a live 12-piece orchestra that only ever seems to play the same song over and over (though if a local is questioned about this, they’ll make no complaints about it; apparently classical music in Ndiera is Just Like That); and a performance from famous pop star Tula, singing her big hit, “Lunar Halo,” while accompanying herself on her musical ribs. Yes, her ribs.
On top of all that, there is a special performance involving masked or veiled dancers, who all flit among the crowd to coax bystanders to join them in their deeply evocative, sensual dance.
6.0 But if you find yourself more of a wallflower, there are plenty of refreshments available for sampling. Long buffet tables filled with foods both savory and sweet flank the front and back of the ballroom and round tables line the perimeter for guests to sit and eat or take a rest from all the dancing. Floating around the room is a seemingly never-ending chorus of waitstaff with trays filled with every kind of drink imaginable.
(CW: mind-altering alcohol) Be wary of one drink in particular, known by the locals as a Citali’s Revenge. While those local to Ndiera only feel the potency of its alcohol content, foreigners like all orbers will find themselves either extremely susceptible to suggestion or quick to aggression.
But the gala is not all drinking and merriment. At around the second hour mark, the ballroom will fall into a sudden hush as Commander Brennan of the Federation suddenly takes a stand in the middle of the stage.
In order to make our Galaxy even safer, I have the great honour of announcing the Harvester Initiation Protocol — an initiative to protect all of our other Complexes from the dangers of ghost matter. Our scientists have found signs that ghost matter is migrating slowly outside of the Ndiera atmosphere, but we are prepared, and through this program, we will build harvesters in every Complex to prevent ghost matter from spreading, or at least slow it down.
There is a ripple of gasps among the crowd. Should any orbers be paying attention in that moment, they might notice a genuine look of alarm on both Kaeya's and Emerton’s faces.
As the crowd erupts into applause and Brennan reclaims his spot on the floor beside his Chief of Security and Science Department Head, you — and every other orber with access to the network — hear it loud and clear: the sirens in Zandr’s lab going off in warning.
The sirens are sharp and loud, shattering the initial tension of what had been a time crunch and quickly replacing it with panic. The alarms blaring through the sterile space behind Cymmera Falls are joined by blinking red lights that fill the lab as the regular power immediately shuts down and switches to the emergency back-up systems. It drowns out the sound of the falls just past the fortified concrete and steel structure. It might even drown out the sound of ship engines not far away, hovering just above the atmosphere as Federation ships move in to land.
7.0 Wherever you might have been stationed if you’ve decided to help to develop the anti-matter, you’ll be familiar by now with the layout of the lab, and the research developed here. You’ll also know that the Federation drawing near to this place could mean the end of anti-matter, the wrongful arrest of a scientist deemed a dangerous criminal, and the possible doom of the Zeta Alatheia galaxy. Before you can be buried in your panicked thoughts, or you decide to do something rash, you hear Zandr’s voice breaking through the cacophony.
He can be seen moving between rooms, gathering what he can from shelves and drawers, nothing big, nothing that seems to have any value — aside from a blaster gun he hooks onto his hip — and saves data files into chip-sized drives.
At this point, you’ll have no choice but to do as Zandr suggested. Through your communications devices and signals sent between other members of your team, you’ll want to call for help — and execute your exit strategy from the lab too. Whether that’s concluding the work you’ve done here with a hike past the falls to some safe shelter on Nuhiri, finding a flight off the planet entirely, or more importantly: continuing your task on Deumia for the harvester codes, you won’t be able to do it on your own.
8.0 Perhaps you get the call from Nuhiri to come to your fellow orbers’ aid. As it turns out, it isn’t as easy as flying by and picking up your teammate like a space-taxi. Those of you with piloting skills and access to a flight-craft of some sort will find your skills and abilities have become invaluable. Better yet if you’re familiar with space and battle, your ability to yield weapons and defend your ship and others will help keep some of the Federation ships at bay. And with the way they’re starting to surround the planet of Nuhiri, your teammates will need all the help they can get.
If you’re coming in from Naephus, there are many ways to acquire a spacecraft. Being a Federation employee is the easiest, of course, but knowing one is an option as well. It might be best now to go as pairs or small groups to hijack as many ships as you can while the chaos and adrenaline from the alarms has most of the Federation distracted from the excitement.
Even before you’ve made your way past Naephus’ atmosphere and crested above it, you may already have noticed the exchange happening across the Federation’s comms systems. Shouts between commanders and pilots, captains and traffic control indicate that they’ve caught on to the Ximilia crew’s sudden shift in alliance. Words such as ‘traitor’ and ‘arrest’ and ‘Zandr’ can be picked out through the anger and orders to bring you down. Blooms of red and bright white fill the sky amongst specks of stars and the backdrop of the magnificent blue and green planet of Nuhiri as Federation soldiers in their fighter jets begin their pursuit. Their mission is to stop you from entering Nuhiri’s atmosphere — and yours: well, what will you do now?
It becomes clear that the only way to stop the ghost matter from dooming the galaxy is to put an end to it at its source — and Zandr’s access codes for the harvesters in Deumia will be key in doing so. If you happen to be one of the last ones to leave the lab, its sirens still blaring their alarms, you may come across Bracken who determinedly heads towards the main space.
He may meet your eyes without any expression as you pass by but he doesn’t stop to chat. And if you decide at the last minute to follow him back into the main room, you may catch a glimpse of Zandr and Bracken as they seem to fade out of existence, particle by particle. Zandr glances at you, offers a salute, and the two of them teleport away.
You have your orders. It’s time to put an end to this.
F Y I
• If you have questions about any of the prompts or the mission in general, please direct them HERE.
• A voting post regarding the conclusion will go up on May 23. The voting will include for example the access codes, the harvesters, gala distraction, anti-matter.
• And finally, your soundtrack for this log: ♪ ♪ ♪
a.
By the time Natasha caught his eye though he had changed into something a little more fitting for an invited guest and begun to blend in. He flashed her a smile from across the floor.]
Crazy, right? Who knew ribs could make such a sound... other than a psychopath.
[It's not that funny, he knows, but he's also not sorry. He tilts his head towards the dance floor in silent question.]
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She's not that put off by the joke.]
I have the feeling most people's ribs don't.
She's just especially talented.
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[If she's going to play along he's going to keep going. It was one of the things he liked about her.]
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We could always check next time we spar? A few punches and see what sounds come out?
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And your willingness to take a beating?
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Zhao chuckled on the other side of the room, eliciting a strange look from someone nearby, which only cause the gangster to laugh hard and longer. He certainly didn't care if any of these pompous people though he was a bit crazy.
I've done worse in the name of pseudo science. Hell, usually without the pretense of science, pseudo or otherwise.
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[Not the least serious about that.
She doesn't expect any of them will need these jobs tomorrow, one way or the other.]
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Right back where I started: petty thievery and selling specialty items on the black market for a hefty sum. Not bad all things considered.
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