2. Digging in Sand

"That's good thinking, keeping one weapon back. We should examine that lasgun first, then be shown the location of the attack."

Once the information had been shared, Rook was comfortable adding his opinion all the while scanning the ruined factory for any threats.

Marcus nods in agreement, curious to know if the thieves were the same ones that were behind the attack outside the Parato Parlor.

He has the lasgun produced, Marcus' friend bringing it out. You each have a chance to examine it.

Let's have each of you make an Understand test, choosing an appropriate Drive for your character. I don't think any of you have a relevant Focus, but convince me if I'm wrong. This will be D4, so between you, four successes will be needed to obtain revealing information from the lasgun.

Momentum: 5
Threat: 3

Rook takes the weapons and holds it in his open hand, turns it over, then switches it to his other hand. He feels the heft of it and examines it more closely, looking for any obvious markings or identifications.

Marcus examines the weapon. Lasguns always struck him as powerful, yet crude, weapons. They were impersonal and simple. You didn't really need to know your opponent; you just pointed and pulled the trigger.

Hural looks over the weapon.

Five successes, succeeding and adding a Momentum to the bank.

You go back and forth, putting together subtle clues, discern that the lasgun is marked with a technical sigil that indicates it was made for House Bakhtiar.

"Hmm." Rook frowns. "I've never heard of House Bakhtiar. Have any of you? Has to be a minor house. A very obscure one."

"Yes, the Lady Sina informed us the other day about them. She stated that House Bakhtiar sought an alliance to obtain House Heslin's water processes for their own micro-hydroponics holdings. She rejected them, fearing that if they learned of her family's intentions, House Harkonnen would be told forthwith. And you know what would happen then."

"So the guns were intended to go to House Bakhtiar, but were intercepted by these mystery thieves before you could deliver them to House Martel. It may be prudent to learn how House Martel knew of the shipment in the first place, but first let's investigate the site of the attack."

The Attack Site

Marcus' friend Artemi leads you to the place where their band was ambushed. When you arrive, you find a quiet side street, but there are people going about their business before the days heat gets too oppressive.

He points say a side alley. "Best we can tell, they emerged from that alley, and ambushed the ground car with the weapons." He does not say lasguns, as he doesn't know who is all listening. "They took out our men, and then drove off with the car and the ... cargo. No one here claims to have seen anything."

Marcus tries to recall if this is the same alley where he pursued the attackers after the incident at the Parato Parlor.

Marcus realizes it's too hard to tell. These alleys are mazes and it may or may not lead to the same spot he chased those people. You're likely a half kilometer away from the Parato Parlor.

"I do," Rook replies to Marcus, when he jogs his memory about House Bakhtiar.

Later, when Artemi leads the group to the ambush site, Rook does he usual surveillance of the area and sees if he recognizes any of the other people going about their day.

Hural scans the area carefully. Why here? he asks himself, trying to gleam what he can from the location. "This wouldn't have been a random attack. They picked this location for a reason."

He looks to their guide, "What time of day this occur?"

Artemi frowns and looks up at the sky, shielding his eyes. "Three in the afternoon, the hottest part of the day. Why do you ask?" By his own vocalization pattern, you think he's putting that together as well. "The crew travelled then to avoid the crowds, less people would see them pass."

"Did your crew lift the weapons at that time and immediately transport them until the ambush? Or did you obtain the weapons earlier in the day, then wait to transport them?"

"They waited. It was Byron's idea, to wait until the streets were empty. He wasn't on the run, though. He came with me to secure the hideout."

"I see," Hural says with an even tone. He looks into the sky a moment, then closes his eyes, feeling the warmth bear down on his face. Eventually he levels his eyes back on Artemi. "They knew your crew took the weapons, they knew where you'd be and at what time. They came prepared enough to overwhelm your crew, so they had an idea of your numbers. Tell me, it was Byron's idea to also to join you in securing the hideout, wasn't it?"

"Not positive, but I wouldn't be surprised." He gestures at the area. "We can question him later but he's not here, so anyone else you want to talk to while we're here? Maybe some of the locals will answer to you when they wouldn't say 'boo' to us."