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The stalwart officers and crewmen of the United Federation race across the alien savanna, thousands of parsecs from home. High above them, tall, sinuous trees flail across the darkening sky in the unrelenting winds.

At the head of the column, Captain Dillon Wyse tosses Costello's saber to Nadix, who pockets his own and checks that it is set to stun. The Captain continues to pulverize the marauding ursinoid (6). The beast emits a weak groan and collapses to the ground, its great ribcage heaving in the steady rhythm of unconsciousness.

Comfortable that the party is safe from immediate harm, Nadix calibrates his tricorder and examines it. Ship's Doctor Ned Ryerson picks up the pace and moves ahead, showing everyone else what a real run looks like.

Behind them, chaos erupts as Stirling runs fugitive from the group. The wounded beast that was attacking him (5) opts for survival and turns tail, no longer interested in Stirling or the crew. Dale Collins, Abbot and Gareb all open fire on stun setting in an attempt to subdue him, but the athletic spacer is too quick. Before anyone can get a good bead on him, he disappears through an overgrowth of shimmering tall-grass, quite close to a nest of ursinoids. The wind howls and the tall grass sways violently: were those growls, was that a death-scream, or is it just the wind? None can tell.

Alarmed by Stirling's sudden sprint, more bear-beasts stir in the distance.
Action report rolls:
Crew Status:
CAPT Dillon Wyse — CT 11/11, phaser energy 3/9
CDR Gareb Endilev — CT 15/15, phaser energy 7/9
CDR Nadix Ar Eth — CT 12/12, phaser A energy 5/9, phaser B energy 9/9
LCDR Dale Collins — CT 11/11, phaser energy 6/9
LT Dr. Ned Ryerson — CT 12/12, phaser energy 9/9
ENS Lou Abbot — CT 7/15 (-2 DX), phaser energy 4/9
ENS Bud Costello — CT 3/8 (4 from poison, -1 DX, unconscious)

Current prisoners:
Dr. Leigh Moore — CT 9/9
Dr. James Silliphant — CT 6/10 (-1 DX)
Norman Meston — CT 14/14

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

The Edosian officer quietly reports the findings of his tricorder to Captain Wyse, Dr. Ryerson and Mr. Costello: "Our pursuers have failed to gain on us. They are spreading out, forming a line. Humans are among their number; in the line and in a smaller group heading northwest."

Nadix joins Gareb and the prisoners (moving 0 or 1 hexes forward, depending on their pace).
Ignoring the escaped detainee, he calmly asks, "Dr. Moore, Dr. Silliphant, who are these other humans among the Coxans? More false gods?
"I need not remind you, any cooperation you provide will be duly reported to the Federation."

LCDR Dale Collins; Helmsman


Dale lets out a curse as everyone misses the fleeing Stirling and then shrugs his shoulders at the sight/sound of his possible demise. "Oh well, he made his choice. Alright people; let's take the opportunity to fall back....move, move, move!"

With that, the helmsman will fall back, keeping an eye on Ensign Abbot to make sure he sticks with the plan; until they are very close but still behind Gareb and the other prisoners...

Captain Wyse looks around intently, making sure that no more of the native creatures are threatening his landing party. He pauses momentarily in the safety of the tall trees to let the others catch up. After hearing what might have been Stirlings demise, Wyse looks at each of the remaining group.

Anyone else care to make a run for it?

He waves the doctor back to the main group and points to the ailing Ensign. After Nadix makes his report, the captain waits to hear if the captives have anything else to say for themselves.

Well done Commander! Now, out with it! Unless you would like to face the same fate as your friend Stirling?

Dr. Ryerson:

The doctor by command rejoins the party. He move quickly to examine Ensign Costello.

Ensign Abbot takes a few steps forward to chase Stirling, but then thinks better of it and stays with the group.

The wind continues to howl and groan about the party, continuing to play tricks on their ears. "Foolish boy," Norman Meston laments, now sobering up.

Dale Collins leads the way back toward the group, keeping a close watch over young ensign Lou Abbot as he strives to keep up. The two take note of the ursinoid creature far to the southeast of them as it trots toward the thicket where Stirling disappeared. They watch the mesmerizing strands tall grass swaying, wondering if they can just make out Stirling's escaping silhouette, or if their eyes are playing tricks too.

The main group pauses under the protection of the tall trees. Long branches sway wildly in the wind high above them, causing what little daylight there is left to flicker about them erratically. Nadix and Captain Wyse take the opportunity to interrogate the prisoners more. "Those life signs you read must be from the other three members of the expedition," Dr. Silliphant shouts over the din of the winds, cutting off Dr. Moore before she can speak. "We all had to adopt an identity in order to explain our presence. They must be helping to lead a search for us, but there's no telling whether the posse is intending to come to our rescue or to capture us all; the Coxans were divided in their acceptance of us even from the beginning."

As they converse, Dr. Ryerson looks over Costello with his medical tricorder. He quickly retrieves his hypospray and stabilizes the poison with a general application, bringing the ensign back to a fragile state of consciousness (+1 CT). The doctor continues to examine his patient with his tricorder, attempting to isolate the poison and adjust for an antidote solution.
Crew Status:
CAPT Dillon Wyse — CT 11/11, phaser energy 8/9
CDR Gareb Endilev — CT 15/15, phaser energy 9/9
CDR Nadix Ar Eth — CT 12/12, phaser A energy 9/9, phaser B energy 9/9
LCDR Dale Collins — CT 11/11, phaser energy 9/9
LT Dr. Ned Ryerson — CT 12/12, phaser energy 9/9
ENS Lou Abbot — CT 7/15 (-2 DX), phaser energy 9/9
ENS Bud Costello — CT 4/8 (-4 CT from poison) (-1 DX)

Current prisoners:
Dr. Leigh Moore — CT 9/9
Dr. James Silliphant — CT 6/10 (-1 DX)
Norman Meston — CT 14/14

Dr. Ryerson:

"Just relax there ensign. I'll have you fixed up in not time. Just sit still while I examine you." Needles goes into his bed side manner to help the ensign take his mind off his injury. "So ensign, what brought you to Starfleet?"

The good Captain Wyse notices the obvious fact that Dr. Silliphant didn't seem to want Dr. Moore to respond. He directs his next questions to the female only, ignoring the man altogether.

Tell me then Docter, did you think it was a good idea to keep this information from us? It seems odd that you would simply forget the fact that there were others in your group. Should I assume that those now following us are the ones who the Coxans have grown to accept?

The captain gives the female his steely eyed look.

Why don't you tell me your thoughts on this current situation, Leigh?

Commander Nadix, how long before this posse is upon us?

Coxa II: Out on the savanna
Stardate 2271.3.22: 1840h

Dr. Leigh Moore glances at her partner James, who sets his jaw and looks sullenly off to the distance. "There are others in the expedition. Just hired hands, to help with the manual work and operate the shuttlecraft. Norman here is first mate of ship, and Stirling is… was… ship's engineer. Anyway, the village elder Watrius had a great row with the high priest over whether to accept our story. The believers have sided under Watrius and the disbelievers under Lodanius, the priest." She raises her voice to shout over the wind, one hand holding her hair out of her face. "It's a long story, I can explain the rest once we get to safety." Off to the side, Norman hiccups the last of his drunkenness away and Dr. James Silliphant balls his hands into fists.

Nadix interrupts the inquiry with an urgent report. "If we stay here, the pursuers will be upon us in ten minutes, Captain," he says, using two hands to twist knobs on his tricorder and one hand to scratch his chin. Suddenly his alien eyes grow wide with interest. "Most unexpected! I am picking up human life signs close by, roughly 50 meters south-southeast, moving directly away: Stirling must be alive! He continues to run, probably trying to make his way back to the pursuers. The signal is weak, I expect he is wounded and should be easily overtaken." The prisoners Leigh and Norman show a great deal of interest and relief in hearing that their comrade might have survived his escape.

Dr. Ryerson analyses the ensign's life signs, easing his nerves with a professional level of small talk. His tricorder spits out a detailed description of the ursinoid's defenses: the deadly needles are covered in a mildly corrosive poison that causes mild burns on contact, but once absorbed or injected into the body quickly causes numbness and retardation of the nervous system. The poison's molecular structure is quite primitive, and the doctor calibrates his hypospray easily to create an antidote solution. Ensign Costello, delirious and sweating, is treated with the antidote. He comes to, but can't seem to feel his limbs. Ryerson notes that the antidote is working, but much more slowly than it should be. To the rear and either side, the bear-things continue to monitor their presence, but make no motions to engage. More pockets of ursinoids are scattered about the savannah to the west, but they are distant enough that the group can follow a relatively safe path directly to the jungle edge within ten minutes at a standard hike.


Crew Status:
CAPT Dillon Wyse — CT 11/11, phaser energy 8/9
CDR Gareb Endilev — CT 15/15, phaser energy 9/9
CDR Nadix Ar Eth — CT 12/12, phaser A energy 9/9, phaser B energy 9/9
LCDR Dale Collins — CT 11/11, phaser energy 9/9
LT Dr. Ned Ryerson — CT 12/12, phaser energy 9/9
ENS Lou Abbot — CT 7/15 (-2 DX), phaser energy 9/9
ENS Bud Costello — CT 4/8 (poisoned: -4 CT, 0% move; 25% healed every 15 minutes) (-1 DX)

Current prisoners:
Dr. Leigh Moore — CT 9/9
Dr. James Silliphant — CT 6/10 (-1 DX)
Norman Meston — CT 14/14[/quote]

LCDR Dale Collins; Helmsman


Dale will continue to 'walk the drag'; serving as rearguard for the column as they make their way through the creatures. He will awkwardly tell Ensign Abbott; "Nice job out there Ensign, keep up the good work".

Captain Dillon Wyse looks at Dr. James Silliphant with a stern stare.

Are you planning on doing something with those fists, Dr.? I strongly suggest you rethink it if you are. He looks to the others still holding their phasers and nods his thoughts of keeping a closer eye on the now volatile doctor.

To his crewmen, he states.
I think we still need to get to the relative safety of the shuttle craft. I don't think we will get that chance if we wait around here. I know that one man is still running around out there but, it doesn't sound like he is the only one left here that we will have to deal with. I say we continue to the jungle but I am open to hear other suggestions as we do so.

After allowing the others to catch up, the captain is content to help the Ensign up and continue on with the original plan.

max_vale wrote:LCDR Dale Collins; Helmsman


Dale will continue to 'walk the drag'; serving as rearguard for the column as they make their way through the creatures. He will awkwardly tell Ensign Abbott; "Nice job out there Ensign, keep up the good work".

"Thank you sir," replies Ensign Abbot.

He kneels down next to Costello. "How you doing buddy?"

"It looks like I'll live," Ensign Costello answers with a weak smile.

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

The orange Edosian concurred softly, "Aye, Captain. The shuttlecraft seems our most defensible position,"

Nadix operated his tricorder and said calmly: "Perhaps Stirling will encounter our Coxan pursuers. What happens then might enlighten us as to their intentions toward us."

Tricorder Scan: Mental: (14): [3d6-5] = 9-5 = 4

Abbot and Dale have made their way back to the ground; everyone is now huddled under the "protection" of the wildly swaying trees.

The Captain helps Costello to his feet, but will need help carrying him if they hope to move without being slowed down considerably. At the moment the three prisoners are being guarded primarily by Commander Gareb.

Dr. Silliphant carefully avoids the Captain's stare, nor does he respond. His posture loosens a little, but keeps his fists half-balled as though to make a point.

edit:

Captain Dillon Wyse

If there are no objections or better ideas, I think we should continue on to the landing zone. Someone give me a hand with Costello here so we can keep moving.

The captain looks around at his crew and also at the captives. He waits to hear what the others have to say before moving on.

Dr. Ryerson:

The doctor helps the captain carry Ensign Costello. He continues his bedside manner rhetoric.
"So ensign did you every participate in the Parrises Squares tournament while at the academy?"

"Why yes Doctor, I played second mallet on the Trekkers in the Academy league," answers Ensign Costello. "We got to the finals but lost to the vulcans."

Nadix continues to track Stirling's life signs with his tricorder.