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Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shadowdancer" data-source="post: 1698140" data-attributes="member: 515">After the search of the smuggling hold turns up no intruder, Swann and Ian thumb the safeties of their pistols to on and holster their weapons. Looking at Ian, Swann shakes his head and says, "Looks like we’ve been visited by a Wraith." Swann then keys his comm unit. "Bridge, this is Swann. No intruder here, but whoever visited us left some calling cards. Can you ask Doc to come down here — there’s some blood around the fuel processor I’d like him to take a look at. Also, inform Vasilii our visitor left him a love letter. But Doc might want to take a look at it first — it’s got some sort of liquid on it. "I’m going to go outside and help Kevin search, although I don’t expect us to find anything or anyone. Swann out." -----Vargas hits the switch for the common group frequency. "Before we leap to too many conclusions, we may want to search the ship. There’s nothing to indicate whoever was in the processing bay isn’t still aboard." "Good idea," Ian chimes in. "Let’s try to coordinate our efforts, though. Less chance of the intruder slipping around our search." Martha kicks in, "I have nothing on internal sensors that isn’t supposed to be here, and no sign of system intrusion. Do you guys need me to join in the search?" Vasilii sits watching the iris valve, his emotions running high with the aftermath of the mine. Listening to the conversation, he activates his mic and speaks shakily into it. "No one has come past me. I’ll stay here and make sure no one heads out this way." Saro pipes up, "Since Mr. Vargas and I are already here on the bridge, perhaps we can monitor the screens as the rest of you move throughout the ship. As you clear a section, lock it down behind you, if we want to capture this person. If we just want him or her to leave, why don’t we secure our critical areas and clear a path to the airlock?" "I don’t know about you, Doc, but I think I’d like to talk to whoever broke in rather than give them a free pass out of here. Just to know what the heck they’re up to," Vargas says. Ian flips his comm unit on. "I also don’t think we should be giving the intruder a free pass off the ship. If apprehended, I’ve got a few questions I’d like answered — like how the hell it got in our ship undetected for one!" "Yeah, but only after we kick his ass for waking me up," Kevon quips as he continues his search. -----Swann goes to check the starport concourse outside the personnel berth door. He doesn’t spot anything or anyone immediately outside the berth door, though there is some unloading activity a few berths down. The unloading isn’t unsual even at this time of night since ships arrive and depart at all hours. After a moment, he goes back inside to help Kevon. Kevon checks the top of the far trader by using a nearby work platform and doesn’t spot anything unusual. Swann and Kevon then search the rest of the berth and don’t find anything out of the ordinary. After 10 minutes of searching, Swann and Kevon have covered all of the berth a couple of times and haven’t found anything of note, though it’s possible the "wraith" could have moved from one part of the berth to another while they were searching. -----The search inside the ship by Ian and Martha also discovers no intruder. -----"Whatever it was you saw, Ms. Smythe, it’s gone now," Kevon states over the comm. "What’s the damage to the fuel processor? And I suggest we have a pair of eyes open the rest of the night tonight, in case this ‘wraith’ of yours decides to make a return visit," he says. "I’ll take the first watch." "And maybe figure out why someone wanted to explode something in a fuel processor, on a ship with it’s fuel scoops sealed," he adds mentally. Swann keys his comm unit. "Maybe we should all gather in the lounge for a meeting first," he says. "What is it with these people? Frelling civilians," Kevon thinks as he rolls his eyes. "I’m on my way," he adds over the comms. "Holland out." -----Vasilii speaks over the comm, "OK, on my way." Making his way to the lounge, Vasilii drops his combo mask on the table and runs some water over his face. Grabbing a drink from the dispenser, he sits at the table and waits for the others. -----When everyone has entered the lounge, Ian stands up. Looking in Martha’s direction, "Martha, I’d like to thank you for your help. Your quick thinking to use the gravity adjustment was great." Ian turns and looks around the table. "The crew did a great job during this emergency. Thank you for the teamwork." Martha nods, a tired smile on her face. "I picked it up from my training days a few years back. The Chief Engineer used the technique to throw some ‘unwelcome visitors’ an unexpected curve while the crew prepared for their arrival further into the ship." Stifling her yawns, Martha asks, "Does anyone have any ideas about who or what happened here? Could have been a Sydite from the size, but that whole ‘wraith’ thing sounds like a bad Third Frontier War holo." Someone mentions the envelope Vasilii perks up and says, "I forgot about that, what was in it?" Taking the envelope from Ian, Vasilii looks at the writing and then opens it. The envelope is of a cream–colored paper with lettering in an elegantly flowing dark blue cursive. Opening the envolope reveals a notecard and four Cr1,000 bills. The envolope, bills, and notecard are damp with water (presumably from the hydroponic banks which used to contain the bonsai'd Star Flower trees). The note (in the same elegantly flowing, dark blue cursive), reads: Mr. Kugiikishshi, I’m sorry that we could not come to a simpler and mutually beneficial agreement. An honorarium for your trouble is enclosed. Perhaps we shall meet again under better circumstances. L. PS: Naturally, I won’t be making our lunch date.</blockquote>

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