04-17-2025, 05:30 AM
With the captain’s agreement, the ambassador nodded and squeezed past the away team, leading them out of the cramped office and onto the street where a gust of cold wind greeted them. He moved with purpose, occasionally glancing over his shoulder to ensure that the away team remained in tow. At the end of the second block from the embassy, he turned sharply into an alley.
This street was noticeably grimier and more dilapidated than the area where the team had materialized. A handful of shops lined either side of the narrow corridor, including a clinic that advertised affordable cyberware. The door’s power system was malfunctioning, causing it to twitch in a slightly ajar position. Passersby in this area were more brazen in their gawking at the group. Some openly sneered and whispered to each other as they passed.
“Stay close, not too much further now,” the Ambassador muttered. His tone was relaxed. Empaths among the group could detect that he was not imminently worried for their safety or his own.
After a tense walk, the group arrived at their destination. The restaurant entrance was marked by a fabric divider, reminiscent of a Japanese noren. On either side of the entrance stood a golden statue depicting some kind of bovine animal with a ridged horn. An odd (yet not altogether unappetizing) aroma wafted from the building.
Inside, the restaurant was abuzz with the din of patrons. The lights were a dim scarlet color, which glinted against the ornate decor. A violet-skinned Riani greeted them from behind a counter. The host's sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, showing off a pair of silver-colored implants running along each arm.
“Mister Weisbrantz, it’s so wonderful to see you again,” The host crooned. “Will your friends be joining us tonight?”
“Glad you’re feeling better, Yully. We’ll take the usual room, if you don’t mind,” Weisbrantz replied.
The host nodded, shooting a curious glance at the group before leading them into a private dining room at the back of the restaurant. A waiter brought glasses for each member of the party, then set down a bottle of strong-smelling clear liquor on the table and slid the door shut behind him as he left.
“Now we should be able to speak openly,” Weisbrantz said, sliding into a seat. He left the head of the table open for the captain to sit down.
“Let’s get to the point: our first priority is to find Saida Gebrezghi. I believe that she’s somewhere on Riani, possibly even here in Tanndi. I can’t prove it, but my contacts in the government are spooked. Nobody will meet with me, and there are rumors that something was shot down a couple of days ago." Jonas ran his hands through his red hair, looking tired.
“Concealing life signs is easy, but you can start by looking for the shuttle. It’ll be picked clean by now, but there could be some evidence left behind. Still, even if you find the shuttle, you’ll need to be careful. You’ve seen how overzealous the military can be.
"Please, if you have any questions for me, I’ll do my best to answer honestly.” The ambassador looked at the crew expectantly, taking a long sip from his glass.
This street was noticeably grimier and more dilapidated than the area where the team had materialized. A handful of shops lined either side of the narrow corridor, including a clinic that advertised affordable cyberware. The door’s power system was malfunctioning, causing it to twitch in a slightly ajar position. Passersby in this area were more brazen in their gawking at the group. Some openly sneered and whispered to each other as they passed.
“Stay close, not too much further now,” the Ambassador muttered. His tone was relaxed. Empaths among the group could detect that he was not imminently worried for their safety or his own.
After a tense walk, the group arrived at their destination. The restaurant entrance was marked by a fabric divider, reminiscent of a Japanese noren. On either side of the entrance stood a golden statue depicting some kind of bovine animal with a ridged horn. An odd (yet not altogether unappetizing) aroma wafted from the building.
Inside, the restaurant was abuzz with the din of patrons. The lights were a dim scarlet color, which glinted against the ornate decor. A violet-skinned Riani greeted them from behind a counter. The host's sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, showing off a pair of silver-colored implants running along each arm.
“Mister Weisbrantz, it’s so wonderful to see you again,” The host crooned. “Will your friends be joining us tonight?”
“Glad you’re feeling better, Yully. We’ll take the usual room, if you don’t mind,” Weisbrantz replied.
The host nodded, shooting a curious glance at the group before leading them into a private dining room at the back of the restaurant. A waiter brought glasses for each member of the party, then set down a bottle of strong-smelling clear liquor on the table and slid the door shut behind him as he left.
“Now we should be able to speak openly,” Weisbrantz said, sliding into a seat. He left the head of the table open for the captain to sit down.
“Let’s get to the point: our first priority is to find Saida Gebrezghi. I believe that she’s somewhere on Riani, possibly even here in Tanndi. I can’t prove it, but my contacts in the government are spooked. Nobody will meet with me, and there are rumors that something was shot down a couple of days ago." Jonas ran his hands through his red hair, looking tired.
“Concealing life signs is easy, but you can start by looking for the shuttle. It’ll be picked clean by now, but there could be some evidence left behind. Still, even if you find the shuttle, you’ll need to be careful. You’ve seen how overzealous the military can be.
"Please, if you have any questions for me, I’ll do my best to answer honestly.” The ambassador looked at the crew expectantly, taking a long sip from his glass.