Episode 2.02: Rivulets of Copper, Eyes Aflame

[Patrick Goodman]

Turning his head towards T'Kiri, but still not opening his eyes, he asked, "Investigator, do we know if the collapse was natural or artificially induced?"

[Davy, aka GM]

The Vulcan raises an eyebrow in thought, then begins to thumb through her padd. "I do not know if that was relayed to us," she says. T'Kiri is quiet for a moment as she scans the information before her, then mouths a silent "A-ha," before looking up.

"It is not specifically said, but unintended collapses in that mine are not unknown, and are sometimes a response to activity near or elsewhere in the mine," she reports. "We can inquire if a cause has been determined."

[Patrick Goodman]

He's a science officer, but he's also an Andorian. How proficient a combatant is Thadis, and would Treyva know this?

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Treyva has seen Thadis practice his sword arts on the cargo deck, and his service jacket notes a Class 2 rating in close combat. (Class 2 is basic professional level of competence and is the minimum qualification for security department personnel.)

Treyva fights like a scientist. Thadis does not.

[Renny]

"T'Pak's cause of death was later determined to be heart seizure due to perforation by a foreign object," she says. "Her fatal wound was consistent with a blade of 30 to 70 centimeters in length."

T'Kiri pauses a moment to consult her padd. "The subaltern was decapitated, but any one of a half-dozen deep lacerations on her torso would have otherwise been fatal."

"Investigator, is it your hypothesis that the fatal wounds were inflicted by Thadis' duelling blade? If so, has the weapon in question been recovered and investigated by the forensics team?"

[Patrick Goodman]

Wrong Andorian weapon. Hrisal, not chaka.

[Renny]

OOC: I think I meant the ushaan-tor anyway. The duelling weapon. I'll amend the text to be more generic so Davy can go with whatever he thinks it should be. Thanks Patrick.

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: It was called the chaka in LUG's Among the Clans, and then adapted by the ST:Enterprise production team to become the ushaan-tor, a former mining instrument turned into a dueling weapon. As the two weapons do look a bit different (the chaka has serrations on the back edge the blades on either side of the handle, and a triangular blade for punching, and the ushaan-tor has a serrated curved blade around a central handle), we'll say both exist as dueling implements in our canon. (And, to be honest, Andorian combat sports and dueling codes allow for all sorts of traditional weapons to be used; the hrisal is not an uncommon choice.)

That said, you've only seen Thadis carry and practice with a hrisal, which is a long blade akin to the medieval Persian shamshir (although it's about 10-12cm shorter). (For reference, the blade itself is just about 2 feet long from hilt to point.) You've never seen him with anything else.

On that note, Cole can quickly find out what blades Thadis owns, since security department would require an inventory of all personal weapons aboard the ship. I'd even allow for Cole to attempt a gratuitous Reason + Conn task vs. Difficulty 0.

"It has not," she responds, her eyes falling squarely on Thadis.

"I don't have to help you find it, either. I know my rights," the lieutenant responds defiantly. "I'm not going to contribute to my own public lynching."

T'Kiri, still looking at the Andorian, tilts her head slightly and arches an eyebrow. Sorak has seen this expression many times, and thankfully in response to something he said only once.

Editor's Note: This is her "you've got to be kidding me" look.

[Patrick Goodman]

Treyva opened his eyes at that remark, and fixed a stern gaze on the Andorian. "Do you believe that's why we're here,  Lieutenant?" he asked sharply. "Why I'm here?"

[Renny]

On that note, Cole can quickly find out what blades Thadis owns, since security department would require an inventory of all personal weapons aboard the ship. I'd even allow for Cole to attempt a gratuitous Reason + Conn task vs. Difficulty 0.

OOC: Can I clarify, that's a Reason + Conn task?

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Yes, I chose Conn, because that's the closest thing to an "administrative" discipline. Since this is a personnel records thing, and not really performance of actual security procedures and knowledge thing. The roll is only to see if Cole remembers it off the top of his head, instead of having to wait 'til you're outside of the facility to contact the ship.

[Renny]

OOC: Got it

Reason ( + Conn (3) vs Difficulty 0

Rolled 2d20 : 6, 6, total 12

[Davy, aka GM]

Cole remembers personally inspecting Thadis' weapons collection when he took over as security chief. In addition to his hrisal, the lieutenant also has his maternal grandfather's ushaan-tor in an ornate shadow box that he keeps on his desk in his quarters. Thadis also has a plaque with a pair of ceremonial daggers mounted and crossed, which he explained was a trophy from a combat tournament in his pre-Academy days. Cole has never seen Thadis carry the daggers or the dueling weapon.

[Renny]

"I don't have to help you find it, either. I know my rights," the lieutenant responds defiantly. "I'm not going to contribute to my own public lynching."
Treyva opened his eyes at that remark, and fixed a stern gaze on the Andorian. "Do you believe that's why we're here,  Lieutenant?" he asked sharply. "Why I'm here?"

"Captain, if I may?" Cole interjects. "Lieutenant, it would seem to me that it will only aid your defense to locate the hypothesised murder weapon and have it forensically examined. By not co-operating with our investigation, you are not helping your case. I'm aware that these items have sentimental value for you. You have my personal assurance that they will be treated with the utmost respect. I'm asking that you assist us willingly."

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: I think this calls for a Presence + Command task vs. Difficulty 2. Because Thadis respects Cole as a warrior, Cole will receive an additional d20 to roll on his task.

Oh, and Cole did generate 2 Momentum on his last task. It's available for him to spend.