ca_lazerdwarf Posted February 18, 2015 Posted February 18, 2015 Dragonid shook his head, turning his back on the departing Mohnak as he tried to compose himself. Finally, to the question he responded, "That was utter foolishness. On his part and on mine. Disarming a situtation is not one of my talents. But I did not think allowing you to force him to march off would have defused things either. An unfortunate situation, but for now it is contained." With a last deep breath, he headed off to follow the peacekeepers. "We need to find the source of this assassination attempt as soon as possible, before this alliance goes up in flames."
RobRX Posted February 20, 2015 Author Posted February 20, 2015 GM "Greetings. You must be the Praetorian. I am the expert you have requested." Said the newly arrived Delaztri, nodding his head, before approaching the half-broken body of the cybernetic assassin, still where it was left and still presumably 'alive' but damaged and unable to move. "I suppose you have questions for me, so I will do my best to ensure they are answered. So I will presume this is our assassin. Fascinating, I have never seen a being so radically altered. The inter-weaving of organic and synthetic components is fascinating. Simply fascinating. But also crude, I will admit. You can see here that the implants have been..." The Delaztri paused, realizing he was rambling. "Well I am just saying this being has been cut apart and rebuilt nearly entirely, rather than simply having it's primary organs installed in a cybernetic shell. Not that such procedures are commonplace or easy to perform."
ca_lazerdwarf Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 Dragonid watched the expert point out all the technical features of the cyborg. He didn't understand any of it, but he tried to look attentive. This pile of junk was his only lead. There must be something here that would take them to the next step. "If this is not the usual way to make a cyborg, do you know who would do it like this? Who could do it? Or why? Relations with the Za'akis are dependent on finding the source of this assassin, and stopping any further attacks." He picked up a fallen implant and looked it over. "Is there some way to tell who built these parts?"
RobRX Posted February 22, 2015 Author Posted February 22, 2015 GM "I suppose there is. I would recommend dissasembling some of them. This is fortunate, as I need to asses his level of damage. We don't know for sure how long he has, since I have noticed he has a crushed torso. I'm not sure what hit him so hard but that must have crushed some of his inner components. If I did a wild guess I would say the damage is most severe here..." The expert gestured at one area of the cyborg's torso, then moved to another. The cyborg's body was caved in and the plating fractured, with a few tubes poking out and leaking. "...and here." "Did you do any of this damage? If so, care to tell me what hapenned to this cyborg? Oh and one last thing; there is one last resort option. We could attempt to extract information directly from the cybernetic components of this being's brain. Some people find that...disgusting, althought I am not sure how much of a mind this being has at this point. It is so surgically altered I cannot even tell the species at first glance, let alone it's gender."
ca_lazerdwarf Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 "No it was not me," Dragonid shook his head, "Kharag, King of the Za'akis did most of this damage with his bare fists, a mighty blow, filled with righteous fury. If I had not stopped him he would have torn this cyborg even further apart and wrecked any chance we might have of getting information from it." He looked with disgust at the cyborg, almost regretting that he had takent he effort to save it. "If there's any way to pull information from what is left of its brain, we should try it. That may save more lives, and it will help save this alliance."
RobRX Posted February 25, 2015 Author Posted February 25, 2015 (edited) GM "It is your descision, Praetorian, althought I will admit it is still quite disturbing to extract the information from a brain, even when cybernetically altered and augmented. I have to wonder if the surgical procedures this being endured were willing or not, however given how extensive they are and given how they were not performed to extend it's life following deadly injuries, I have to assume this being was turned into a machine against it's will. I can't fathom anyone mutilating themselves as such willingly." The Delaztri shook his head, before taking out a few tools from his belt. "I will attempt to patch myself directly into his databanks. Assuming it has one but given it's mostly cybernetic brain it logically must have them. It's only a matter of finding where. Now take this..." He said, handing over some stretchable and shapeable black eye-mask, designed to resize and reshape as to be worn by many species. "Once I patch myself in you will be able to see the flow of information as I see it. Hmm, now could you hold the cyborg as it might begin to flail from unwanted simulation of it's limbs." "I am sorry, whoever you might have been." The specialist said, looking at the wretched creature. Edited February 25, 2015 by RobRX
ca_lazerdwarf Posted February 27, 2015 Posted February 27, 2015 Dragonid shook his head, he could feel nothing but contempt for this murderous cyborg. "Whatever it was before, it seemed intent on nothing but killing now. Only the assassin remained." He took the mask and looked it over curiously. He stretched it over his head the best he could, pushing the lense over his brow so he could see as he restrained the body. He grunted as he shifted the cyborg to an easier position to hold, then waited for the specialist to do his job. "How much of its mind will we be able to see? All its memories? Or just since the implants were installed."
RobRX Posted February 27, 2015 Author Posted February 27, 2015 GM "I feel this will not be a pleasant experience...for any of us." The specialist said, as he started plugging himself into the cyborg's braincase. The tip of the tool, a set of glowing needles, lodged itself inside a nook of the creature's strange head, made of overlapping plates and moving optics. "Initating connection." -- A flash of light. An alien cover his face with a blue-grey hand, blinded by the bright light. Screaming. The sound of rasping metal and tools and the scraping of metal and bone. Sharp pain. Tubes of liquid. Grim-faced surgeons. More bodies in tubes. Then cold. The face of another alien, one of a different tace. A targeting reticule. People running. More targetting reticules. The alien lift his arm, now a mass of metal which unfurl into weapons. The sound of weapons firing. The sound of more surgical instruments. An alien bar. Shady-people talking. Someone with a green-blue humanoid hand, under a cloak, hand over a slate containing vital information. The alien's hand is still metal, but overlapping with it is an hologram used for disguise. "This...metal tablet...contain all the information you need." The cloaked alien says. "The arrangements of this alliance are, after all, problematic to us." says another figure, next to the cloaked one, this one a Delaztri. Another flash. Screaming. Drilling sounds. "We have come to an agreement which would benefit us. The Za'akis integration into the empire will not happen as planned. The empire will remain as it is. We will still use them as mercenaries, however." The second alien says, looking at the first one, now with his hood removed, showing a Za'akis. "And you will be Emperor of Za'ak." The Za'akis smile. "Excellent. This...metal man's abilities will be perfect. The Za'akis empire will be in shamble. Once Kharag is out of the picture, we can engineer the ideal situation. My people will be angry at first but once I am control of them, we will be able to 'mend' the relationships. It will be a long arduous process but it will pay off in the end." "Good. Your people would destabilize the empire if integrated as citizen and they would be ashamed. They would become assimilated and I understand why you wish to avoid this." The Delaztri spoke again. Another flash. Za'akis being vaporized. "It is a small price to pay." "Payment must be discussed." The cyborg says. Another flash. "Of course. Here are some star-chart and information about a world suitable to the Technoassassin League. This species will be most suitably to be altered into ruthless killers. They call themselves the Dragonid." Another flash. More drilling noises and bone breaking. The Za'akis speaking to the cyborg, now alone. "Of course I have lied to that Delaztri. I have no interrest in serving him. Which is why I offer you and your master and additional prize if you sow chaos and completely breaking the alliance. All men and women loyal to Kharag will be exiled from our people and sent to you. They are traitors to Za'ak. Death would be too kind to them." Loud machine noises. Needles. Lots of needles. Getting closer. -- "Agh! Aah! No! No I can't have any more of this!" The alien screamed, unplugging himself from the cyborg.
ca_lazerdwarf Posted February 27, 2015 Posted February 27, 2015 Dragonid unhooked himself and reeled for a minute from the whirl of sensations and noise. And the revelations found within them. He needed to remember that face. Had he seen it in the mess hall? No, it had been too dark, if he was there Dragonid had not seen him clearly. One sentence lingered in his mind the longest. They would convert his people to these... things? He had thought his race left behind him, but he could not dismiss the fear of seeing one of them enhanced with such radical technology. Or did he feel anger that his people would be treated that way? He was not sure. "Your warning." he was finally able to say, "I should have heeded it." It took him a few more moments to collect his thoughts, "But, no. Those visions were vital. I needed to see them. Kharag needs to see them. Can they be recorded? The faces and words pulled out? I need to find out who that Za'aki was who hired these Technoassassins."
RobRX Posted February 28, 2015 Author Posted February 28, 2015 GM "The information was damaged. That thing was probably designed to fry the data in it's head the moment we tried to access it." The alien said, grunting and passing a hand on his face, having been clearly displeased by the horrific experience of being inside the cyborg's mind. "I'll see what I can recover but I'm willing to bet that creature is now nothing but a nearly empty shell. You'll have to work with the information we've got, I'm afraid."
ca_lazerdwarf Posted February 28, 2015 Posted February 28, 2015 "We have the name Technoassassin League, at least." Dragonid said, disappointed that none of what he saw could be preserved for replay. The Za'akis were already distrustful of him and the Delzatri, they would not take his word for it if he explained what he saw. He would need to track down this traitor and get a confession. "There must be records of the Za'akis who have been moved here. While my memory is fresh I want to look over those records, to see if I can recognize the traitor from those visions."
RobRX Posted February 28, 2015 Author Posted February 28, 2015 GM "Well whoever he was, he's certainly set his goal to become the new leader of these Za'ak aliens. And he certainly seem ruthless in his means to achieve his goals, so no doubt he's someone important. Some political figure. In any case, the information we have acquired today will remain confidential for now, unless you allow me to report it. The problem is....well, it seems people inside the Empire are involved. I'm just a cybernetic expert, this is far above my role." Still in shock from the information, the alien was packing his things while speaking in a hushed voice.
ca_lazerdwarf Posted February 28, 2015 Posted February 28, 2015 Dragonid nodded, "Yes, thank you for your assistance. I did not realize how hard this would be, for either of us, but you have done a great service for the empire. Keep this quiet until we have the situation under control. Then I will apply for a commendation for you. After I am sure it is safe, of course. What is your name?" After dismissing the specialist, Dragonid went looking for the records office, somewhere he could find pictures to put a name to that face.
RobRX Posted March 1, 2015 Author Posted March 1, 2015 GM "What did you species name was? Zokis? Zaki?" Says the Delaztri, at his desk. The thing is rather spartan and simple, a sleek desk with a deployable slate to acces the information. Once, there had been scribes doing such a task but now the empire had better means to input and access it's data. Being a Praetorian, Dragonid had absolutely no problem in accessing the office in order to find the information he needed. "Ah. Za'akis. Those newly found savages, correct? Newly incorporated into the empire. Scheduled for a final meeting to discuss the terms of their loyalty to our empire. Correct? And you desire access to the database?"
ca_lazerdwarf Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 "The Za'aki, yes." Dragonid said, somewhat annoyed by the slow progress (completely unaware of how slow getting access to records could have been if not for his status as Praetorian), and bristled at the word 'savages'. No doubt he and his own people word also earn the description from this clerk. Probably rightly for his people, but it still hurt somewhat. "I need lists of the Za'akis who were transferred to this planet. I am trying to identify possible witnesses in an investigation and must not be delayed here long"
RobRX Posted March 1, 2015 Author Posted March 1, 2015 GM "Yes, I have it; a list of officials meant to help integrate these primitives in the empire." Replied the alien in an disinterrested voice, clearly bored to tear by it's dataclerk job that would be better-suited to some sort of droid than a living being. "There seem to be around fifty of them currently on this planet. They stay at a certain habitation complex, under tight security. Hmm, political and religious officials. I assume you want the complete and detailed, sir Praetorian? It contain all the basic information and identification data you might need for an investigation." The alien clerk handed over a device containing the data. "There. Have a good my lord and glory to the empire." He said, still sounding incredibly bored, before lifting his neck and looking behind Dragonid's large jetpack wings. "Next."
ca_lazerdwarf Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 Dragonid took the device, "This will be very helpful, thank you." he walked out of the datacenter. He sought out a private place to look over the files. He scanned through the pictures, trying to put a name to the face in those visions. The Za'aki who had hired the assassins. There was obvious discontent among the Za'akis. It was going to be difficult to accuse one of them of attempted regicide without cause further problems, which would only disrupt the alliance plans more. The Delaztri traitor, this Za'aki was working with knew this, no doubt. Dragonid growled quietly. He was a warrior, not a diplomat.
RobRX Posted March 5, 2015 Author Posted March 5, 2015 (edited) GM The list of Za'akis currently on the planet come with names and basic information such as height, weight and a picture. Unfortunately for Dragonid, telling apart each of these aliens turns out to be much harder than expected, being somewhat unfamilliar with them combined with the fact he's more used to recognise saurian faces. The tone of their skins, varying through any shade of blue and green somewhat narrows it down alongside cranial ridges and scars but not enough. The images he saw from the damaged cyborg's brain were blurry and damaged. Going down the list, he recognise Mohnak, Kharag and....Vohl. So that was the name of the unnamed warrior who was with that ugly brute Mohnak. Upon some further pondering and inspection, Dragonid somewhat narrows it down to what are presumably Za'akis of what he'd assume to be the same ethnic group as Kharag, as what he recall of the hooded figure had the same blue-green skin on it's hand, which he saw when it handed over the data to the assassin. That instantly removed any alien whose color didn't match. Narrowing it further down, the figure was seemingly male, althought that was also hard to tell based on the females Dragonid had seen on the table, since they didn't particularly differ from their male counterparts, at least from a distance. One last detail was the implication the hooded figure was someone in a position of power. Reviewing the list, he narrowed it down to six likely canditate, plus Kharag who matched the description too. Could the alien king been lying all this time? Edited March 5, 2015 by RobRX
ca_lazerdwarf Posted March 13, 2015 Posted March 13, 2015 Dragonid flipped through he records with concern. He had accepted Kharag as his brother, as he had the other Praetorians. He had thought he knew him, at least in part. He knew Kharag bristled at surrendering power under the alliance, but this plot was as likely to oust him as King as kill the peace with the Delaztri.The other faces, he knew nothing of. He would need to ask about them to determine who might have ambitions to rival Kharag. The other Za'aki did not trust Dragonid enough for them to ever give him straight answers. For now he put the suspicion of Kharag aside, and went looking for the King.
RobRX Posted March 18, 2015 Author Posted March 18, 2015 Perhaps not so oddly enough, Kharag could be found near the habitation complex of the Za'akis, the one which had just been attacked what was mere hours ago. The alien was sitting on the ground, reciting...prayers? Seemingly it was prayers, at least that what was Dragonid could make out of all this. Several others were sitting next to him, also on the ground. "And so on the fourth sunrise we offer our regards and look to the dawn once more, for at the fifth sunrise you will be behind us for good. Let us honor your memory but not be held down by it, for- " Pausing, he turned to Dragonid. Briefly, he stared at him, before returning to the prayer "-for we are honoring your memory, not bearing the weight of it." Once more, the alien paused. "You are the first of us to pass away upon a soil other than our own. May your souls join the boldest of explorers, even if that was not the path you had chosen." The other recited in what seemd like gibberish to Dragonid, With the ritual done, the others simply wandered off. "I see you are back." Was the only thing Kharag said to Dragonid, presumably waiting on the other saurian's words.
ca_lazerdwarf Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 Dragonid remained silent as Kharag continued his ritual, reminded that this investigation was begun by these deaths of innocents. When Kharag addressed him, he pulled out the record tablet. "I have learned much about this Technoassassin League that the cyborgs belonged to. The technician put allowed me to briefly touch the assassin's mind and see what hired it. It was arranged by a member of the Delaztri and one of your own. They planned to kill you and stop the Za'aki from joining the Empire." He pulled up the list of suspects he had compiled, "The Za'aki conspirator, of course, saw himself taking your place as King. I took the opportunity to visit the records department to try to place a name to the face I saw. It was only a brief glimpse, but I believe it was one of these. Would you suspect any of these as plotting against you?"
RobRX Posted March 21, 2015 Author Posted March 21, 2015 Kharag groaned, taking the data tablet. For a moment he fiddled with it, trying to find the right angle to hold the thing, being unfamilliar with it. "Six possible candidates, you say? Utterly preposterous. None would ever defy the order I have imposed upon the Za'akis. My rule is just and not to be questionned. None would dare." He handed back the tablet at Dragonid, having only briefly glanced at the faces on it. "And yet..." His expression changed, looking more weary and tired. "What if I am wrong? These assassins did not come from nowhere, someone must have hired them. Silvar Drash, I appreciate your help, you have more than earned my respect in this life and the next but I can't ask you to become involved more in this. If there is insurrection brewing within the ranks of my people, it is mine and mine alone as their King to handle. I cannot ask a stranger to become involved in what does not concern him."
ca_lazerdwarf Posted March 24, 2015 Posted March 24, 2015 Dragonid shook his head, "I am afraid I must remain involved. I learned something else from the assassin. The traitors spoke of a new race for the Technoassassin League to transform in to these cyborg killers. They mentioned my people by name." He curled his lip in disgust, "I did not leave my homeworld on good terms, but I can not stand by and allow them to be turned in to these monstrous things. For the sake of the galaxy if not their own. Helping you find your traitor will help me put and end to that." As an afterthought, he added "Besides, I challenged an uncooperative and very drunk Za'aki name Mohnak to a duel, I cannot leave until that is finished." he looked away embarrassed that it had come to that.
RobRX Posted March 24, 2015 Author Posted March 24, 2015 (edited) "Hrm, Mohnak. Not a very gifted mind. Strong warrior, surprisingly skilled for someone so lacking in intellect. Very good instincts but little to no self control. He probably shouldn't have agreed to come, but my best guess is that he desired to taste alien wine and perhaps frolick with women.." Coldly stated Kharag, assessing one of the member of his retinue. He then smirked, showing he could have a sense of humour. "I saw one with barb-tipped tentacles and nine eyes on this planet, perhaps I should arrange a marriage with it and Mohnak. I have the authority to do so, after all." Was he serious? Who knows. The alien king turned his back to Dragonid and walked for a moment. "In any case, finding the culprit will not be easy. Despite how I can pry into my subject's minds it...it is a taboo for myself. It is a despicable measure and I would rather cut off my own head than do so. Not to mention it might not even work; many of my kind are training as what you might call psychic monks. The very least amount of training beyond physical mastery is often learning to shield one's mind. It would be dishonorable for me to break the mental walls of my greatest warriors and advisors." Turning his head around to look at Dragonid, he added: "As for your people, do not burden your mind with it for now. Once the assassins are stopped and dealt with, we will crush their plans just as I crushed their monstrous metallic bodies. You have my word that not a single drop of your species' blood will be spilled." Edited March 24, 2015 by RobRX
ca_lazerdwarf Posted March 26, 2015 Posted March 26, 2015 "I do not think Mohnak is alone in being unhappy with your rule and this alliance." Dragonid said, "The traitor may be spreading discontent among your people to help his plans." "Mohnak had a friend, Vohl, who seemed more reasonable. Still unhappy with the Delaztri, but he might talk, tell us who has been filling Mohnak's head with these thoughts. We may find at least some of the traitors without needing mental probes." Dragonid did not like the idea of going back to talk to the disgruntled Za'aki, but it might be their best lead.
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