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Coxa II: Out on the savanna
Stardate 2271.3.22: 1830h

The party is now fast approaching the pocketed herds of strange, lumbering bearlike beasts. At closer inspection it appears that they are digging holes in the ground near the trees; one or two have already finished and nestled themselves inside, almost invisible in the twilight. If the landing party wishes to attempt to circumnavigate the creatures, they will probably have to do so now—travelling straight through will force the party to within 20 meters of two herds. The creatures were described by the Coxans as quite slow, but equally dangerous.
Nadix's remark produces a dismissive scoff from Fantor. "You Star Fleet types, policing the galaxy with your Directives, forcing others to accept your 'goodwill'. You won't find any remorse from me, Edosian, I stopped believing in the sanctity of the Prime Directive a long time ago." The prisoner seems to open up despite himself, adopting a pose of self-righteous. "The Prime Directive was produced by xenophobic humans to help them feel morally superior in the galaxy. It is a prime example of what humans do best." Here he puffs up his chest and adopts a rather impressive caricatured stereotype of a haughty fleet admiral. " 'The morally enlightened beings of the Federation believe unconditionally in preserving the inherent moral right of all life in the galaxy to fulfill its own evolutionary ends without obstruction.' "

"But tell me, Edosian, how does the Prime Directive explain the moral superiority of allowing an entire world of people to die of plague, or watching an whole species eradicated in insensible violence, simply because some long-dead group of puritanical, isolationist fleet commanders were scared that one of those rescued people might have a temper tantrum over discovering the possibilities of space travel? I'll tell you how it explains it: control—pride—greed, pure and simple."

"James, stop. Don't say things like that," Dr. Leigh Moore responds, clutching his arm in a manner that suggests that they've had this argument before.

"Why, Leigh?" he responds, "It's true, only you and these Star Fleet officers can't see it. The Federation uses the Prime Directive like a tool, suspending or enforcing it for its own gain, using it as an excuse to police the galaxy."

The conversation continues as the party moves against the biting wind. Fantor, now identified as Dr James Silliphant, refuses to accept the moral superiority of Prime Directive. "This whole charade was Leigh's idea in the first place—I had no intention of deceiving the Coxans," he explains. Leigh, of course, finds his remarks offensive and wilfully misrepresentative. "A wonderful couple, wouldn't you say? I'd almost prefer a night in the brig to another night with these two," mocks Stirling, the youngest and severest of the captured spacers, with his typical dour cynicism. The tipsy spacer Norman gestures toward Stirling as he speaks to the officers, "Would you believe they assigned him to pose as Tabban, the God of Joy?"


Current statuses

• Abbot: 5 CT
• All others at full health

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

Starbeard wrote: "But tell me, Edosian, how does the Prime Directive explain the moral superiority of allowing an entire world of people to die of plague, or watching an whole species eradicated in insensible violence, simply because some long-dead group of puritanical, isolationist fleet commanders were scared that one of those rescued people might have a temper tantrum over discovering the possibilities of space travel? I'll tell you how it explains it: control—pride—greed, pure and simple."

Pleased with his harvest, the Edosian calmly kept sowing. “And that is what you were doing, noble sir? You and your selfless group of missionaries? Stopping the savage, war-like Coxans from committing insensible genocide?“

As much as the adherent of the Prime Directive would enjoy an intellectual debate of its philosophy and merits, such pleasurable pastimes would have to wait. The disciplined officer focused instead on reaping more information from the detainees.

He also scanned the surroundings with his tricorder and awaited the Captain's orders regarding their path by the native fauna ahead.

Nice NPC thread, Starbeard!

Captain Wyse (NPC'ed until a replacement can be found) stops the party, looks over the beasts, and hesitates over whether to push through close to the herds, to take a roundabout way that could catch them in the middle of the wind-whipped savanna in the dark. "Gentlemen, it appears we are at a crossroads. I don't like the idea of getting close to those creatures, but if this wind chill doesn't let up, I doubt the savanna itself would be any friendlier." He plants his foot on a loose stone and leans forward on his knee, eyes squinting in the increasing wind. "Suggestions welcome."

Dr. Ryerson:

"Well it looks like the native beast are settling down for the night. Perhaps we can find a suitable place ourselves. We have been walking a while and I'd like for Ensign Abbot to have a rest. He sustain quite a blow to the head and as his physician I recommend some rest. Commander (Nadix Ar Eth) have you come across any nature shelters in your scans?"

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

"Gentlemen, a word, please." the Edosian calmly says to the captain, Dr. Ryerson and Mr. Collins.

He moves out of earshot of the detainees but not eyeshot. While watching them, he serenely murmurs to the officers, "Tricorder readings show life forms to the east; an indeterminate number of humanoids coming from the direction of the village. They are still beyond visible range. If we assume they are trailing us then, at their current speed, their estimated time of arrival would be approximately 15 minutes.

"Ahead, there are sporadic pockets of ursunoid life signs for the next 200 meters, then a clear stretch of savanna to the jungle edge."

Ensigns Costello and Abbot

"Those animals, they remind me of bears back home," says Abbot to Costello as the officers talk privately away from the ensigns.

"Yeah, I guess they look like bears," says Costello.

"I was on a camping trip and got attacked by one. It was the damnest thing. I shipped out to Star Fleet the next week."

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

The calm Edosian continued, "The natives are moving with haste, and fanning out to flank our sides.

"Conjecture: They are either coming to free their false gods, or exact revenge upon them."

LCDR Dale Collins, Helmsman


Dale fidgets a bit; looking behind for the approaching natives and then forward at the hunkering down animals. "It's your call Captain, but I think we've got make a decision quick."

Dr. Ryerson:

The Dr. uses his tricorder to scan the area for lifeforms moving around them.

Captain Wyse strains his eyes, searching behind them for the pursuers. "I was hoping we could do the same, Needles, but it looks like we won't be getting much sleep tonight. If Nadix's hypothesis is correct, we're unlikely to experience peaceful discussion once that group gets here. Every minute we have will count, since they'll have the advantage once we enter the jungle." He pauses to strike one last thoughtful pose in the wind, cursing in frustration. "You're right Dale, we've wasted enough time as it is. Damn it, we'll just have to go straight through. Let's hope those things are as slow as they look. Mr. Costello!" he orders while nonchalantly pulling out his phaser, "it appears you are our resident expert with ursanoids. You take the lead. Everyone else, let's take this single file: Costello in the lead, then Mr. Gareb. I'll follow third. Mr. Abbot, if you're feeling well enough, you guard the rear."

He thumbs the settings switch on his phaser heroically before motioning the party forward. "I'm temporarily lifting our phaser restrictions; you may set your phasers to disrupt or dematerialize as you see fit, but don't waste too much energy." Dr. Ryerson examines his medical tricorder to confirms Nadix's report:
Current statuses

• Abbot: 5 CT
• All others at full health

Dr. Ryerson:

DadsAngry wrote:Dr. Ryerson:

MN of 7 [3d6-5] = 11-5 = 6

Dr. Ryerson's medically attuned tricorder is unable to determine the exact number of figures in the pursuing group, but it is certainly more than 10 and certainly less than 30. Coxan-native and Earth-human life signs are present.

No life signs are detected ahead of them other than the purple bear-creatures, in groups of 4-8 per pack. The forest is unfortunately too far away to pick up any solid readings beyond the wild static of abundant life.

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

"Aye, aye, captain," says the Edosian as he sets his phaser on disrupt, in case the giant ursonoids need to be encouraged away from the party.

Excited with the opportunity, Ensign Costello sets his phaser on disrupt and moves ahead.

Captain Dillon Wyse

After checking that his weapon is also set to disrupt, the good captain nods his chiseled head.

Well gentleman... he tips his head forward and looks out of the tops of his eyes at Leigh, and.....lady, we will really need to go hard here. If everyone is ready......lets engage!

Leigh Moore raises a coy eyebrow at the Captain and smiles. "I was accompanying my father on archaeological expeditions when most of your crew were still nursing bottles. I'll keep up." James Silliphant does not seem to appreciate the exchange.

The party begins to move through the herds with an eager Ensign Costello at the lead. He leads them between two large herds with 25 meters of room on either side. The creatures slowly lift their heads as they pass, the younger animals chewing on whatever carcass lay protected under the trees. Two adults from the left slowly begin to wander closer, their outstretched heads sniffing the air alertly. Their massive legs move with glacial patience.



Costello presses the party forward, turning back to the right to pass between another herd, this time spaced much closer together. The herds all around now begin to take note of the intruders. The party is amazed to hear the nervous high-pitched whines of the cubs being carried across the plain over the howling wind. Ahead and to the right the Ensign notices two more adults beginning to trot toward them—he diverts to the left, but the way is blocked by another pack of five animals, twenty meters distant. The two adults continue to advance, their languid investigation turning into rapt wariness, and then territorial aggression.

The creatures seem incredibly ponderous even at a trot, but nevertheless the way ahead is almost cut off!

Party actions?
Please roll 1D6+DX modifier for initiative.
If you are attacking, please roll 1D6 +ST modifier (melee) or +DX modifier (ranged).
Notes: the black creature symbols are staying put, monitoring the party. The red ones are moving toward them with what appears to be territorial aggression.

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

The Edosian explorer calmly continues, watching the detainees as closely as the Ursonoids.
Nadix will hold his fire until the Captain gives the order.

What significance do the red ursines have on your sweet map, SB?

Captain Dillon Wyse

The captain shouts in the direction of Costello.

Make for that gap in the trees up ahead, Ensign! Perhaps that will slow the creatures down enough for us to pass through without having to use our phasers!

If any of them get too close, don't be afraid to fire!!!

[1d6+1] = 1+1 = 2

"Aye aye, Captain." Ensign Costello continues straight west, making for the space between the trees. He readies his phaser.

Ensign Abbot in the back gets nervous and sets his phaser to dematerialize.

Initiative - Costello [1d6] = 1, Abbot [1d6] = 4

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

With the Captain's order given, the peaceful Edosian will regretfully fire upon any creature that threatens the away team, or their detainees. He will attempt to humanely prod the local fauna from the away team's path.

Initiative: [1d6+4] = 5+4 = 9, Fire Phaser: [1d6+4] = 5+4 = 9