Chapter 3: Red dwarf and purple planet

One advantage that we probably have is that pirates tend not to be loyal to one another so they won't be as willing to stick their neck out for someone else. If only a few are above ground is it possible to jam their comms so they cannot contact those underground which is probably not great reception anyway.

ChiHiRu lean forward on a few tentacles to observe the aerial photo in greater details. One more of his appendage works on the tablet, adding new informations to his own.

Its hard to tell if he is even listening to the conversation but you can notice that the personal device keep translating everything said in a combination of smells and symbols.

"I’m small and inoffensive," Dotty says quietly, "people tend to ignore me because of it, I also know a thing or two about security systems."

She looks at the list of captives the pirates have, "Do any of them have a daughter?" She shrugs, "In case I need a cover story, someone clever who’s not going to blow the whole thing up if I get spotted. Someone who’s not a hugger or a kisser, don’t ask, long story."

Dr. Salmberg furrows her eyebrows as she looks at the photo.
Did ya get it from Jerry? This brickhead nearly startled the pirates with his stupid drone flights... she says to Scott

Anyways, it is useful now. she continues and turns to Derek Well if you have some device to jam the communications with, this is certainly a possibility. If you don't you could visit our workshop. We usually do repairs there but maybe the guys there can help you to craft a niftly little jammer

Then she adresses Dotty Are you gonna come with the others? Aren't you too young to go with the adults? If they allow it you could try to pretend to be the granddaughter of Professor Aldritch. He's not hugging anyone or anything except his research journal and his tobacco pipe.

Dr. Salmberg leans back in her chair and crosses her arm in front of her chest.
However you do it. I don't want to endanger our people there. If it helps: We'd have another food delivery tomorrow. I could try to delay it to the day after tomorrow if you need more time or if you want to execute your plan before the delivery.

Scott smiles "my informator wishes to stay anonymous". Few fingers of his cyber hand jams "bloody hell". He pulls small screw driver from on of his pockets and adjust. "Yeah we could get you through some pawnshops and workshops"

Adonis turns to the defensive acting colony leader and says, "She's a lot older than she looks. I trusted her on our ship to get us here. She can certainly hold her own against a handful of pirates. So, let's approach things this way. Dotty and Derek can go to the workshop and see about a jammer and what can be done about any security systems they may have in place at that temple. In the mean time I can discuss an incursion method with whoever you have as fighters. We can all get back together in a couple of hours to decide whether or not we need an extra day."

ChiHiRu central pod turns to look in Adonis's direction. The tablet translate only :"ChiHiRu is strong." in low volume.

Delaying the food delivery might alert them that something is up. It seems to be safer to keep everything on schedule. Besides, if they are getting desperate, then a team ready to act might be just the thing to upset their situation.

Jeff looks around to gauge the commitment level of the others, realizing he may have just volunteered to walk into this thing.

Dotty stares at the map for a while and then asks with a shrug, "Have they ever traded a hostage? Might be a way to get one of us in and someone with inside information out."

Derek goes to their shop and works on making a communication jammer.

Pirx will try to help Derek in any possible way.

I fear not. You could try to negotiate an hostage exchange but I guess you'd need a good reason for that. Dr. Salmberg answers.

After listening to everyone she stands up Okay it seems like a plan is forming. A glimmer of hope for us. I will inform the driver of the electric car that the next food delivery may be his last. You can use my office for planning. You can also use this terminal to link your hand-computers into the local communication network. This way you can always talk to each other and you can use it during the execution of your plan.
If you need to rest you can use the housing containers 356 to 360. They have two bedrooms each
If you need anything else just call me.
Then Dr. Salmberg leaves her office.
Derek heads to the workshop that's run by a man called Anu. After listening to Dereks proposition of building a communications jammer he shows Derek where he can find parts for communications equipment.
After a few hours Derek constructs a device that can make communications impossible by sending out a broadband jamming signal.
Unfortunatly this also jams your own comm devices and it drains the battery really fast. In its current state you can run it for a mere ten minutes
Maybe Scott can make some improvements to it.

Scott tries to think about all the hacks he had to do to equipment on field research

(add 3 to that roll)

"Is there someone who can take me for a peek at the camp and crash site?" Dotty asks the gangster mol inflection is back in her speech now that she's not using most of her brain to suppress it, "I assume there's some kind of secret back trail or something that the pirates are unaware of. Also how dangerous are the forests about here? I'd really rather not get eaten."

Scott takes the jammer that Derek constructed and works on it with a few tools he picks up from around the workshop.
After half an hour of concentrated work he optimizes the design considerably. The jammer can now work for 30 minutes straight and you can leave out a few frequencies so that your own communication devices still work.

"Forest will not eat you unless you are winter already. I can walk you there."

So it seems like Dotty found someone who is willing to accompany to the camp and/or the crash site.
Derek was able to build a communications jammer with the help of Scott
Do the others want to do any preparation work? Or maybe join Dotty on her scouting trip?
@Dotty Where does Dotty want to go first?

ChiHiRu leads Dotty out of the compound and into the wildernis surrounding the area. The plantlife is plenty outside the paths and it is tricky to not get entangled in the woods. But ChiHiRu skillfully clears a path so that Dotty has little problems to follow him.
After about half an hour of marching you arrive at a small hill, northeast of the wreck. We are here ChiHiRu's translating device says.
Dotty has no problem to spot the crash site. In front of here is the wreck of a ship, about twice the size of the Sycorax II. It carved a swath of destruction through the wilderniss during its crash but it wasn't completely destroyed. You can see that the ship is shaped a bit like a wedge or a chisel. It is completely painted in black. A large part on the left side is missing; this must be where the defense gun hit the ship. There are no markings of any kind on the ship but it looks very new. Dotty doesn't recognize the type of the ship.

---

Meanwhile at the camp Scott and Derek completed the construction of the jammer.
Anu, the man responsible for the workshop, looks at the jammer in an appreciating way.
Nice work, want to construct something else? A grenade launcher? A Jetpack? A Teleport-Pirates-Into-Space device? he says in a joking way.

A man comes into the workshop and he bumps Scott's shoulder with his fist.
Scott recognizes the man as Jerry, the guy who gave him the aerial photos of the pirate camp.
Eyey, Scotty. Thought I'd pay you a visit. Listen I think we should make another drone flight before you make you move don't you want to? We shouldn't go into this without a full picture. Know a good drone pilot? I mean obviously I'm one but I'm not that good in flying my drone in stealth mode. I usually don't have to avoid criminals during my survey flights