Day 2 | Afternoon | Captain Lanville, I Presume?

[Kannon]

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Sinsei's lead through the jungle pathways had clearly demonstrated that the rainforest wasn't an unforgiving place for those who knew how to traverse it. Even with her injury and shaky legs, she had been able to lead them out in less time than it had taken them before.

"Camouflaging something with jungle material in an otherwise open space still says to any onlooker from above there is something purposefully hidden underneath, don't you think?" Sinsei said seeing the work they had done for the thopter. She looked at what was underneath. "Mobula avianis got you good."

[The thread may accomplish two things: convincing Sinsei that you are indeed the good guys AND convincing her that you are indeed capable of and determined to deal with the ailar operation. Razar's authority seems instrumental to both, but it's a collective discursive effort. Then she'll open up on intel crucial to you.]

[Bernard Martikova]

"Desperate times, ma'am. We needed to get it out of sight quickly before anyone sent their own thopters out here. Hoping to have this bird up with the spare parts from the other thopter soon. After that, we can hide it better."

It was clear that she was in her element as she spoke...and likely she did a lot of that on the way here.

[Kannon]

"If I were you I wouldn't risk staying with the thopter for another night unless you can fix it quickly and fly out of here. Your excuses are their opportunities, Sergeant." She seemed uncomfortable walking out into the open, looking up warily.

[Cuyler Gray]

"I'm curious about how long you and your father have been out here and what discoveries you've made." Cuyler said. "Is there a connection between the electrical phenomina in this area and quantum botany?"

[Kannon]

"That's the hypothesis!" Sinsei got distracted by the scientific question. "Normally, quantum cohesion is very limited in plants, reserved for photosynthesis and analogous processes. Here, however, due to conducive condition of a strong magnetic field coupled with a diverse ecosystem many plants seem to have evolved to possess properties for fast an efficient ion transmission and electron circulation which extend throughout their metabolic system, roots included. Their self-optimisation of growth parameters and specimen adaptability are astounding, including the buildup of microtubular structures enabling further superposition. I wouldn't call it intelligence or neural networks just yet, but there are some strong correlates." The question about her father and the length of stay was not addressed.

[Cuyler Gray]

"And, the fauna here have evolved to adapt, as well." She nodded. "That explains a lot. My name is Cuyler Gray, chef of House Mutelli. As was explained earlier, this team was assembled quickly. I was visiting Caladan and was included as a witness of sorts."

[Lydia Storm]

Lydia had remained to the side after returning. While she wasn't standing close or looking threatening, she still had her gun in her hands.

[Kannon]

It was quite a brow-raising revelation from the so far rather taciturn fellow young woman.

"Mutelli? Chef? A witness? It sounds so ridiculous it must be true. I wish we had acquainted in different circumstances, Ms Gray. And yes, you are correct. The fauna here is mind-blowingly intelligent, both by our measures and ther intrinsic ones, pertaining to quantum sensing and field manipulation." She glanced up to the sky again. "It teaches humility. I see you have some interest in life sciences?"

[Cuyler Gray]

"The threat of the Ailar isn't taken seriously by many beyond Caladan." She explained. "My meager studies in life-science and planetology are fairly recent. But, my time on Arrakis inspired many new interests."

[Kannon]

"You've been to Arrakis?" Sinsei immediately lit up despite her injury. "I've always wanted to go there! Have you met dr Kynes?"

[Razar Lanville]

"We'll need to see if we can get the thopter repaired ASAP then," Razar says, focused more in Bernards direction so as to not interrupt the discussion about flora and fauna.

[Kannon]

The appearance of the commanding officer trumped other considerations.

"I am Sinsei Vim, a doctoral candidate in the Imperial School of Planetology. I think we should talk."

[Razar Lanville]

"Certainly. Glad to listen to whatever you have to say since our biggest issues since arriving in the area have been caused by the natural world rather than people," Razar says with a nod.

[Kannon]

"That may quickly change, Captain, but I suppose you want to hear your Sergeant's report first?" It was interesting to her as well how Martikova would cover what had happened.

[Bernard Martikova]

Bernard will take a long, deep breath. "We were on the way to the point of contact, sir, when we ran across Miss Vim here. Unfortunately, we could not immediately determine if she was Friend or Foe upon starting the chase, so we perused to prevent potentially giving our location away to hostile forces. In the heat of that moment, Storm made the decision to open fire to prevent that risk from spreading. Fortunately, she was also able to catch up, only for us to discover that she was, in fact Miss Vim. I did not give the order to fire, but I do recognize that Storm's actions were under my purview and I should have clarified to not open fire at the start of the chase and accept that failure as leader of this squad." He nodded to Sinsei and to the others. "Fortunately for us, she survived the attack and we have managed to heal her wounds to some success and convinced her to come meet you as a potential resource for our mission. She is not yet aware of why we are here, as I felt that I did not have the proper clearance to speak them."

His eyes turned to Ambrose and Storm. "There are other issues involving today's expedition that need to be discussed, but that can be done privately."

[Kannon]

Sinsei nodded with a bit of reluctance, indicating that she didn't have major issues with this account. She didn't treat Razar's authority as a way to attain some personal vindication over people who had wronged her. But her bandaged arm with a bloody blot, on a sling, spoke for itself.

"I ran because I didn't know who the group was. Heavily armed, they constituted potential danger. Their actions taken toward me immediately after weren't allaying my worry."

[Bernard Martikova]

"Yeah, I can imagine that they wouldn't." Bern said with a long, defeated sigh.

[Razar Lanville]

Razar thinks on it for a moment before speaking up. "An unfortunate situation for you Miss Vim. Or is it Doctor? I hope that we can be of assistance to each other. Let's see if there are any better medical supplies and change your bandages. I imagine you are aware of the dangerous elements in the area, including both human and nature?"

He looks to Bernard, "I'm guessing there's more to the story if we need a private discussion. We can address that after our guest has said her piece and we learn how we can help each other."

He looks to Lydia for a moment and then looks back at Bernard, "I imagine that Lydia's competency is a bit disarming. Her skills may be more survival and combat oriented, and she may not be in the same need of oversight as Miss Gray for protection, but she has a similar status on this team. She is not military and doesn't fall in the chain in the same way."

I look at Sinsei, "And you can feel free to file a complaint through myself, the Lanvilles or the Atreides to seek to make yourself whole. I will support and corroborate where I can. I imagine that the incident has been quite unacceptable from your perspective."

Throughout the entire monologue there is a clear and intentional lack of apology or acceptance of responsibility, likely for legal reasons, but an obvious interest in resolving it through official channels to Miss Vim's satisfaction and no denial of responsibility either.

[Kannon]

Sinsei listened carefully to the end, though there were moments her composure was challenged.

"Well then, Captain Lanville, like mentioned, it's not doctor yet, though it doesn't change the fact that I am an approved member of a planetological research mission mandated by the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV. I have yet to decide how to address the occurrence, but I am not sure the postulated intricacies of your chain of command for whatever you've arrived here to accomplish as a group are going to be appreciated in light of this rather visible harm done and the fact that it wasn't the gunner alone who has treated my as a captive and participated in abuse. I shall make my decision on all this once I am within reach of proper channels." She glanced at the thopter with scepticism. "You are likely correct assessing there is an asymmetry between my awareness of the area and that of your team, but for that to be determined particular issues would need to be broached. I haven't been convinced that they should, however, given the obscurity of your purpose as well as the recent circumstances and your reluctance to take responsibility for them and offer genuine assistance."

[Razar Lanville]

"It is not out of an unwillingness to assist. We have yet to get our thopter flying again, and the local fauna can bring them out of commission quickly as well. So we have to fix that problem before we can go anywhere. It is on the top of our priority list. When we can fly, we will evacuate you to a proper medical facility as soon as possible," Razar replies.