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Yellow Fire Bubbles
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"No such thing," I say. Shirm come from a tropical planet, so I'm fine with heat. It's a bit dry, but I'll live. "Layers are actually important in the desert. It keeps in the cold."
"That makes no sense," says the Captain, "but of course you were not talking to me because you didn't say 'sir', so I apologize for butting in on your conversation with Belding. Belding, quit making idle chit chat with the Recruit. That's a demerit for both of you."
"Yes sir," says Belding.
"Now that we have pleasantries out of the way, I need to talk to you about mission number one for you. So there's this planet..." he leans back and presses a button on his CO Console and a 3D projection of a desert world flickers into existence behind him, "...called Faro 8. Or Giter if you're the natives. Belding. Give Halaris the spiel you gave me, only less annoying."
"Yes sir," says Belding, standing up. "These are the Dreimians." He pulls up an image showing a pair of happy-looking aliens. "Their civilization measures around .83 on the Kardashev scale, but Alliance vessels already made contact with them in order to aid in the defense of their planet during the Sult incursion around 63 years ago. The Dreimians are a mostly pacifist species, with a strong agrarian bent and an optimistic, welcoming demeanor. A warrior caste exists, but it is small."
"And pretty much all male," says the Captain. "Sorry, recruit. No amazonian bug babes for you."
"We traced pirate communications to lands belonging to the Volitathis Dreimians," says Belding. "The Volitathis, like most Dreimians, are usually more than willing to shelter any extraterrestrial travelers. It's likely that a pirate stronghold exists on or near their tribal holdings."
"So I am going to go and blow the shit out of it," says the Captain. "Your job is to go to their village or town or tribal pow wow or whatever and convince them that the pirates are not their friends and that we are. We want them to turn over any that my retinue and I don't get. If you see any straggling pirates there, waste them."
"With extreme prejudice, sir," I say.
"Just try not to shoot any Dreimians," says the Captain. "They have no respawners, so if one dies, that's it. He or she is gone forever. Oh. Also. Pirate communications mentioned something about a buried trove of cash and weaponry in or near their village. If you could convince them to let us do some excavation and find it that would be great.
"I'm going to be taking a group down to hit the pirates where they live, but I think we can spare you someone to serve as bodyguard for you in the likely event you get into a firefight or two while you're there. Do you want..."
((Listing each companion's best stat and best skills))
"Sgt. Pribicevic, (Stamina, Heavy Wpns, Logic)
Specialist Talia, (Strength, Blades, Engineering)
Sgt. Killian, (Speed, Rifles, Diplomacy)
or, what the hell, why not
Lt. Belding, (Smarts, Shotguns, Erudition) I don't need him."
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