Geartopia : The Case of the Assassination Plot

[cityship]

||Attention, Attention. Would the following personnel please report to the Observation Deck. Please bring with you any weapons and tools you might need. Attention, Attention. would the following personnel please report to the Observation Deck:

Allenby Beardsley
Maridian Gladespring
Ellyn Vitner
Red Robin
Sam Winchester
Dean Winchester
Kanoe Zouichi

Attention, Attention, would the following personnel...||

Stacy's voiced called the entire crew, until all of them were gathered at the Obs Deck. Then, a dossier appeared on the screens, along with the image of a rotating planet.

Planet Designation: Geartopia
Status: Terrestrial, H-class.
Non-sentient life: Extensive flora and fauna.
Semi-Sentient Life: Yes.
Sentient Life: Homo Sapiens, Homo Animalia, Machina Erectus.
Water: 20.6% of the planet's surface.
Climate: Earth-like, Arid desert
Landscape: 70% Desert..
Air: Normoxic concentration.
Air Pressure: 101.3 kPa (kilopascals) = 14.7 psi (pounds per square inch)
Sky: Blue
Sun: A class G2V, yellow star.
Warnings: Wildlife, humanoids and plant-life can be hazardous.
Mission: Find out of town mayoress Nomalanga's suspicions of foul play are correct. Full shore leave will initiate once this is problem is resolved.

Once the entire team was ready, they were whisked of to the planet with little fanfare, their ship landing close to a town, where a woman...well not quite a woman, but a cross between a woman and a hyena dressed in a strange outfit, greeted them along with three other figures behind her. They had arrived near the end of the day, and the sun was beginning to set behind them, staining the sky a deep orange color.

She greeted them with a bow and a wave.

"I think you for coming 'ere just barely an 'our after I send out my distress signal." She mentioned for them to follow her, while the three other figures remained behind.

"I will make this quick, as we are short on time. My name is Nomalanga, and I'm mayoress of Utorian, 'ave been for the past five years. We have asked for a small team to aid us cause some of Snidley's damn dogs have been trying to upsurge the town from my grasp. "e's was the mayor before me, but was removed for having no 'onor. He still has control of some sections of the town due to loyalty and fear, and some townsmen still suspects I threw 'im out to get more power. Now 'e's trying to regain it all, but I have no proof except for a tip I was given by one of my own that says the attack's in two days and there's enough clues stuffed in the 'aunted cave to get the entire town behind me."

She pointed to a cavern on the far left, covered by the dunes of soil and desert sand.

" 'Alf the townsfolk believe the place to be filled with ghosts at night so no one enters unless they have to. But during the day we go in and get our supplies of underground water. The entire place is a maze. I wish I could 'ave send the distress beckon sooner, but we had problems with space pirates recently."

"There is also another problem...the tip also told me one of my own three is a spy. If you could also find out which one, we could end the terrible man's grasp on the town and myself. I am pretty sure they already suspect that I have doubts, but you may find clues inside the cavern. You can also speak to them and ask a few questions, but you should get into the cavern as soon as possible, as not to get too many ghosts attacking you. And there are also men-eating bears spotted inside. My people are strong, but our technology is nothing compared to yours. Once we have more time I can explain to you how I was able to contact you at all. But for now, I can supply you with guns and torches, if you don't have any."

She seemed like a truthful woman, even if her speech was strange and spoke of someone who had lived a harsh life, despite the clothing she wore.

"My three don't trust you at all, due to our stance with outsiders and our last distress signal falling into pirate ears. I understand if you refuse, but if you accept I will make it worth your while, and the rest of your comrades on your ship will be welcomed with open arms one justice and truth is brought to light. My people do not have much but we can offer clothing and animals from our lands in exchange for your services."

[And done! There is no posting order, feel free to all start you own threads to ask questions, or butt in each other's threads while they talk back and forth]

Comments

[battorch]

"So you have the utmost trust in each of them?" Tim pressed, watching her closely. "Do you believe any of them might have motivations for turning against you? Or else something that may be exploited to force them into the position?" He was thinking particularly of the family she had mentioned-- he knew first hand what kind of motivator danger to family could be.

[cityship]

"A very good point," she replied, thinking about it. "I cannot think of any reasons for them to turn against me, apart if Snidley 'as promised them more money or status. 'owever, as my Three, they are already quite powerful in the eyes of the town, there is not much more Snidley could offer them there. As for exploiting, Mekaisto has a son, who I am Chosen Watcher to. It is a special ceremony preformed after childbirth. If she dies, 'er son becomes my son. It is not a ceremony that is preformed lightly. 'e has no father, Mekaisto tells me it was someone who she only saw for a day." The grin from Nomalanga radiated, remembering their days when they ran around, capturing every poor man's hearts.

"Allard has 'is children I uh...I always forget how many 'e 'as, they always seem to sprout up every time I see them, but they are quite adorable. He prefers not to mix his private life with 'is work. When 'e is not working with me, 'e is with 'is mate."

"Taworri...'mm I am unsure about his status, but we used to date before. 'e 'as no children."

[battorch]

Tim nodded, thoughtfully. For now, he'd press her for more on those subjects.

"So you'd say that Mekaisto has a close, personal stake with you." And the woman certainly seemed fond of her. And Tim would avoid assuming the cliche, for now, though he filed it away for the moment. "And perhaps Taworri as well?

"Do you feel that Allard's children could be at risk, in this situation? And as for Taworri, how did the two of your part-- was there anything unresolved?"

[cityship]

"No. 'e was disappointed that we ended our relationship, but I knew 'e wasn't qutie the man for me. But there was nothing but good words between us since then. If 'e was wanting to do something, that would sure be a damn long time to stay angry. Allard's children stay with his wife all day, and I have my men regularly visit each night. "er wife is currently pregnant. Since knowing about the plot, I have a man guarding 'er every night and we moved the entire family to another location. Did the same for Mekaisto 's child, along with 'er pa and ma as well."

Nomalanga was a woman of action. Once she had found out what had happened, she'd made sure that her three's families were safe.

[battorch]

Tim nodded. "And nothing less volatile left unresolved, either? Unanswered feelings?" Just to explore another potential angle.

He did respect her sure action, and how much she had done for the families right away. That was a necessary thing. "You're sure you can trust the guards set to defend the families?" he asked.

[cityship]

"Definitely," she answered with a positive nod. "I'd tell you where they are, but if there is a traitor in our mist, better not too. Each family only knows where their own is, but I trust the people guarding them."

"As for Taworri, I have not noticed anything of the sort, and 'e's not the type to be secretive. I always found 'im to be a very open book."

[battorch]

Tim nodded. "No, I understand. We don't want to put them at risk."

Alright, so that eliminated that as a likely motivator. "So you trust him fully, as well?"

[cityship]

"'E is my bodyguard. If 'e 'ad wanted to eliminate me, 'e could have done so a long time ago." Nomalanga's big problem seemed to be that she trusted all three of them a lot.

[battorch]

"Alright," Tim said. "One last question then. Obviously you trust each of them a great deal, but is there any reason at all you might be suspicious of any of them as being behind this betrayal?" Simply getting her opinion could be useful.

[cityship]

She look down, thinking.

"'mmmm. None 'ave really broken my trust before so it is 'ard to say...I would suspect of there is any motive, it would be money and power but it is 'ard to see what more 'e can offer than me."

[battorch]

"Alright. Thank you for your time and help. I'll return if I have any further questions to be addressed."

[cityship]

"Good luck!"

[notadamnangel.livejournal.com]

Nearby, Dean was quietly listening, and taking notes. He likewise knew well about how family ties can be exploited. It had been a weakness for his family that many have taken advantage. Especially for him and his brother. Still the one had an unknown father somewhere. There could be something there.