trans_9 | Galileo's Burden, Phase OMG: Comfortably Numb

Entry tags:

Galileo's Burden, Phase OMG: Comfortably Numb

All the torches in the village were lit, and the smell of cooked meat wafted through the air. The village center was the site of a tremendous bonfire, surrounded by cushions for the guests of honor. The Oryans performed a ceremonial dance to kick off the festivities, and then came the food. Piles of it, magnificently colored and all lovingly prepared for the so-called sky people.

As the bonfire settled down into cinders and the night wore down, the local brewmaster passed around a jug of banni, the fermented fruit of a local tree. Banni, as he explained to the visitors, was carefully brewed in wooden casks made from the tree's bark. It took a brewmaster to create the mix, however, due to certain special properties in the bark.

The Oryans didn't really explain what those were.

But as the liquor (or tea, an alternative for those who prefer not to drink) was served out, there was a feeling of peace in the village.

(OOC: SUBTHREADS ARE FINE!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A message patched through Stacy's communication systems, broadcasted on the Obs Deck as before.

"I want to speak with those in charge," said a voice, scrambled by some kind of device. "Quickly. Or your crew may not be returning in one piece."

The camera scanned over the familiar silhouettes of Stacy's crew members, tied up and lying around the floor of a dark cave.

Zedd wasn't feeling too bright. He was still recovering from his attack by Signum and, despite the reassurances of making sure things will be solved, he wasn't too trustworthy over it all.

It was by pure luck that he was in the Obs Deck when the message came up. He didn't care much about this threat, but when he saw those captured...

...all Zedd could do was laugh.

Hmm. If this was a joke, it was in incredibly poor taste. He didn't know everyone depicted in the transmission, but it was easy enough to pick out familiar faces -- Dr. Jackson, Sofia, that odd Science Department Head who'd almost gotten himself eaten by that giant plant... what was his name again? Lewis?

Something like that.

Zouichi fished his Omnicomm out of one pocket, tapping out a quick message.

"Really?" Trudy said, her eyebrows shooting up at the ransom message. "They're kidding right?"

She'd seen it on the screen just the same as everyone else, and mad didn't even begin to describe the place she was in right now. She needed to put her head together with some of the people who had been on the surface and figure out the best plan.

"General," he said, nodding politely. "I take it we'll be planning a rescue mission?"

Of course this wouldn't be some simple humanitarian deal. Leon stepped forward to deal with this situation.

"I'm Leon S. Kennedy, Captain of this ship. Identify yourself."

"The goddess Avani has spoken. She is angered by the unclean ones who have come to Her land. She has sent Her wrath down to punish those who have turned away from Her... and the answer has finally come. The source of this blight are the nonbelievers. The infidels who have come to poison Orya away from the knowledge of their one true creator."

Reda steps into the light, and her Chosen soldiers, wielding rifles, standing back near the kidnapped scientists.

“Captain Kennedy,” Reda says, as stoic and calm as always, “The great goddess Avani has spoken. She demands a donation from the nonbelievers who have poisoned her island with their presence. They are the source of the sickness that destroys my people’s faith... the sickness of knowledge that turns their eyes from Avani and towards false idols. They must be purged from this place, and Avani demands penance for their sins...”

"Avani has spoken. “If you pay a tithe of 10 million credits in Her name, she will forgive their transgressions, and I will liberate your crew.”

...well, its not like Leon hasn't seen this plan before. Its like she copied half of Saddler's notes. Leon managed to refrain from rolling his eyes, and instead made himself look a little worried.

"That's a rather large donation. It's going to take us some time to come up with that many credits..."

Base tactics in hostage negotiations. Stall; see what kind of kind of time frame they give you.

"I am sure you will be able to work quickly if it means the ongoing safety of your crew," she replies.

"There is a full moon three days from today. The villagers believe that a sacrifice on that most holy of nights will please Her, enough for Her to lift the Burden from the dying."

She glances back over her shoulder at the kidnapped victims.

"I am not sure if I'll be able to convince them to wait much longer."

"I understand. We'll work on gathering the credits. We'll be in contact soon."

Leon tapped the screen, terminating the feed. Alright, that gave them a good amount of time to work with. Time to get the plans started.

"And Captain?"

Reda smiled serenely at the camera. "Do not try anything daring. It would be a shame if anything happened to them."

The feed flickered out.

Yeah, even if Leon weren't in charge, this was the absolute wrong crew to say something like that to.

"Idiot," he stated, once the feed was closed.

"Stacy, calculate the amount of time we have until the full moon rises." He'd need a slightly more precise clock than 'three days' to work with. "And see if you can calculate the signal's exact point of origin."

Jalith had watched and listened through the entirety of the message, the Vindicare once again suited out in his full gear. They had thought to Ransom the crew on the planet, a thought that brought amusement to the otherwise cold assassin. Many cultists, heretics or otherwise had attempted ransoms, very few succeeded and none where he was involved.

While he didn't overly care about the crew on the planet, the potential to put his skills to use took his interest. "Fools," Pushing back from the wall, taking a step toward the Captain, "Perhaps my skills could be of use in this matter,"

Leon regarded him with a slight eyebrow raise. "Jalith, right?"

They had never been formally introduced, but Leon was the Captain. He made it a point to know at least the names and faces of everyone on the ship.

The assassin dipped his head the slightest bit in acknowledgment, "Officio Assassinorum Agent Jalith of the Temple Vindicare, at your service, Captain," For the moment at least. If Cargn decided otherwise so be it.

"I have infiltrated many worlds and facilities undetected. Reaching the prisoners undetected would be relatively simple, dealing with those who would get in the way is something of a specialty," He commented before adding with a nod toward where the transmission had come from "Should you require a target taken out, you need only give the word and consider it done,"

The Farseer happened to merely be in the right place at the right time, a small basket of berries tucked under one arm.

She frowned, full lips curving down at the message and its delivery.

"Not so friendly now, I see."

Alastirra hurried off to make her delivery, hooves clicking.

"Oh. Great."

This was going to get interesting.

Mindy raised her head to the message, scribbling idly on a notepad. When she heard the message, she scoffed.

"Well someone has a high opinion of themselves. So much for a nice diplomatic mission."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Galileo's Burden, Phase OMG: Comfortably Numb

Shipside - Ransom Message/Reactions

Re: Shipside - Ransom Message/Reactions

Re: Shipside - Ransom Message/Reactions

Re: Shipside - Ransom Message/Reactions

Re: Shipside - Ransom Message/Reactions

Re: Shipside - Ransom Message/Reactions

RANSOM

Re: RANSOM

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Re: Shipside - Ransom Message/Reactions

Re: Shipside - Ransom Message/Reactions

Re: Shipside - Ransom Message/Reactions

Re: Shipside - Ransom Message/Reactions

Re: Shipside - Ransom Message/Reactions

Re: Shipside - Ransom Message/Reactions