Day 2 | Evening | Fate Games

[Kannon]

When they finally arrived at the spot of yet another crashed Atreides thopter deeper in the jungle, Sinsei was exhausted. The day had been a nightmare, she was in all kinds of pain. She chose to seek support against a harmless tree and just dropped, feeling like she'd die soon. Her arm dressing was soaked, and the jungle's insects were getting very interested.

"I can't tell how far this thopter is from being fixed. This is where they had crashed and kept coming back for the night. I guess there are still supplies inside, could you find the medpac for me, Ms Gray?"

[Cuyler Gray]

"Of course." She nodded.

She studied the thopter as she approached, glancing around. Knowing who it likely belonged to, she needed to be careful. The medpac should be easy enough to find, though.

[Kannon]

And it was. However, some of its contents, especially the bandages, had already been used.

This thopter was of a finer grade than theirs, having the ducal red hawk emblazoned in prominent places, so there wasn't much guessing left. It still carried the telltale marks of being electro-mauled by the manta birds and the wings were also in the glider configuration. It looked like that in terms of emergency jungle landings her mission was just retreading an established path. Some repairs had already been done, but it didn't look like the thopter was fully operational. She could nevertheless see where the parts cannibalisation was heading with what had already been done.

[Cuyler Gray]

She salvaged what she could of the medpac and other supplies returned to Sinsei.

"I got what I could. They've had to use the medpac. Do you know who this thopter belongs to?"

[Kannon]

"I have some wild guesses but in the end, no. They seem to be Atreides though. This gave me the idea you have been looking for them."

She perused the medical supplies, sighing. She took the disinfectant and started unwwrapping the bandage with clenched teeth.

"The cute teen and I saw each other once. But I fled then befote we could speak. Given today's experiences, it didn't seem to be a bad decision, though he at least didn't chase or shoot at me. If they come back, we can perhaps reason with them with regard to my father. It's a fool's hope, but perhaps they are more about that Atreides honour and less about soulless procedures. It's not I have much to lose."

She moaned from pain when the clot was disturbed.

"When you found me I was lying low along the route cartel had obviously been using. They had a clearing not far ahead from that spot they had landed their thopter in before. I wanted to see if they would bring out my father's body to dispose of, and perhaps steal their thopter. But this plan was already crazy when I had both arms to use."

She closed eyes to weather the unwrapping.

"I want to thank you, Ms Gray. House Mutelli has ever been a loyal servant of the Corrino Imperium, and your actions speak of it. I can only hope that these Atreides won't doubt the identity of at least one of us."

[Lydia Storm]

"So that's how it is."

Moving out from the nearby bushes, eyes narrowed, was Lydia. While her gun was drawn it wasn't pointing at anyone, simply resting on her shoulder as she approached.

"I turn my back for one single moment assuming higher command at least had a shred of competency and then find you've ran away with the chef. Not even sensible enough to hide her own tracks not that either of you could hide it from me anyway. What did I say? As long as you don't try to flee or attack you will come to no harm, I even put that corrupt idiot Ambrose in his place and my repayment is you scurry away instantly."

[Kannon]

Sinsei's heart sank. On the other hand, she should have seen this coming. She replied despite being midway through a rather messy attempt to re-dress the wound, so Lydia could see her doing.

"...Portray me desperate to not be held captive, at a mercy of people who think the worst of me. It's not like you had rank to pull there for my sake, did you?"

[Cuyler Gray]

"We couldn't convince Lanville to think outside of policies and procedures." Cuyler said as she helped Sinsei change her dressing. He kept reminding us that this was a military operation and that we were civilians. Of.course, that means we don't have to follow orders."

She didn't seem entirely surprised to see Lydia. "And, if we found this thopter and were followed, it would resolve a number of issues."

[Lydia Storm]

"So management sucks and won't listen to...whatever it is you were saying to them, I wasn't there because I'm only the civilian carrying this entire operation. The answer is to run away, hope you can deal with whatever without being caught yourselves? Or wait for another rescue mission?"

Lydia frowned.

"I had you both down as smarter than that. Wanna tell me what this is actually all about?"

[Kannon]

"I've been living in these jungles for a month, and it's my second research expedition here. I can survive well enough and escape most dangers. I have friends among the local tribes. I might not have a big rifle like yours, nor do I deal random harm in other ways, because I am here for fucking actual research for my dissertation, but in most circumstances I can do just fine. Being shot by a wanton gunwoman, berated by some self-righteous prick and then held against my will and mandate by some self-important officer has never been a part of this. And since my father is now in the hands of the cartel and they will overdose him soon I have very little patience for anyone who impedes me in finding solution to this predicament! This is what it is actually about!"

Sinsei flared up, and her hair helped in the general impression, perhaps with the last vestiges of inner strength.

[Cuyler Gray]

"I'm not going to pretend to have skills that compare to either of you." Cuyler admitted. "But, I was asked to come out here to help with this mission and to learn about the cartel. Sinsei is an asset that can help with both."

[Lydia Storm]

The frown grew.

"...I see. And you told management your father was captured, and they what dismissed it? And now you're going to deal with the cartel somehow."

She looked at Cuyler, then at Sinsei. Finally, she sighed.

"Idiots. All of you, management and you two. Where are they?"

[Kannon]

"Captain Lanville 'graciously' included saving an Imperial Planetologist in his to-do list, excluding me from all hows and whens."

Sinsei flopped against the tree, feeling the danger of being shot again had waned.

"Two joyous Atreides hunters? They've been coming back here, to their thopter."

[Cuyler Gray]

"The Captain said that rescuing Dr. Vim would be added to the mission objectives, but reiterated that until he could definitely verify Sinsei's identity, he had no reason to trust anything she said or to allow her to learn anything about the mission. Sinsei had already told me about this crash site, but had made it clear that she would keep its location to herself until she felt safe." she explained. She glanced at the thopter. "They've definitely been here. You could probably get a better idea of how recently than we could. They could be watching us now."

[Lydia Storm]

"So the Captain wants to increase the amount of people we are rescuing without any idea of where they are? Lovely. And no, not the Atreides hunters. The cartel, unless you're saying they are one and the same? Base location, even a vague idea? I can scout it out myself but an idea will save me time."

Lydia shrugged.

"The sooner I get an idea of location and numbers the sooner I can locate living or not living fathers."

[Kannon]

Sinsei felt stupid for a moment.

"It's quite the distance. They're coming from between the mountain ranges. There's one pass but it's heavily guarded, probably fortified, and camouflaged. Otherwise, there's a steep climb. Probably impossible. I guess they are prepared for anyone coming airborne too. Not that there are any working thopters around anyway, except theirs. Which is why I stayed along their trail, counting on luck to pouch one when they would arrive. I didn't know that their eyes had probably already been on your Atreides mission."

[Kannon]

[Optional: Vigilance at Daunting w/ 3 Challenge and 2 Setback. Cuyler can have a Boost.]

[Cuyler Gray]

Cuyler was looking around carefully, but noticed nothing.

- - -
Day 2 | Evening | Fate Games, Daunting Vigilance (Willpower), with Boost, Uncanny Reactions: 1eA+1eP+2eB+1eD+3eC+2eS 0 successes

[Lydia Storm]

"So it's a long distance away, well guarded, likely to be bloody rescue assuming even possible."

Lydia frowned more.

"Can you lead me to the pass?"

(Not attempting the roll)

[Kannon]

Sinsei nodded.

"Though the closer you'll get the more likely you'll be ambushed, and share my father's fate."