2. Digging in Sand

"It wouldn't hurt to do some more digging. See if anyone can give us more details. Offer some insight on this Byron person. Then we question Byron."

Rooks radar zeroes in on Byron being a key piece of the heist puzzle.

"What does this Byron look like? Any distinguishing features. A scar or something obvious? I'm thinking that if we question people, they might not know his name."

He describes Byron as having short, curly black hair and a thin beard, with pale cracked skin.

Let's make this a Difficulty 4 test for gathering information, so all three of you can roll and see if you accumulate 4 successes between you. Choose your Drive and skill (I'd suggest Communicate) and any relevant focuses, and roll.

Momentum: 6
Threat: 3

Together you manage to sort through the locals, finding those who may have been present to witness the attack. Despite everything to the contrary, none of them admit to seeing anything.

Until Rook applies his special method of intimidation.

The man huddles against the wall, cowering in fear of the promise in Rook's eyes. A promise that no matter what happens, Rook wouldn't lose a wink of sleep.

"They were Fremen, but only, their eyes were wrong. Not blue. Stillsuits, yes, under desert cloaks. All authentic, but I swear, they were offworlders."

Questioning him farther, Marcus recognizes a description. A man with a unibrow and a blue tattoo of a spiral on his temple.

Marcus confides in the others the description and identification of the mercenary. He adds, "This is an organization with deep pockets and the resources to pull off such a heist. Not the type to be shy about using lasguns either." He tries to recall if he saw any of the assailants outside the Parato fitting that description.

"It seems they wanted people to think they were Fremen, I wonder if there is some motive there beyond just concealing their own identities. I agree the group must have access to a wealth of resources to pull this off as quietly and quickly as they did. My guess, is this Byron with Star Kobra's group will have some answers to these questions."

"A vendetta perhaps against the Fremen? Kill two birds with one stone? But I agree, this group must have very powerful friends and really, how many groups like that are there, with so much power and bottomless pockets, and a beef to pick with the Fremen?"

Rook turns back to the man huddled against the wall. "Shall we let him go now. I think we have enough."

Hural nods, "Yes, we've tormented the man enough." He stares icy daggers into the man's eyes, "But not a word of this interaction to anyone. Do you understand?"

To put emphasis on Hural's demands, Marcus slides his sword out of his hilt just enough for the man to see it.

The man nods of course. He knows that the more anyone thinks he knows the more danger he's in.

You've found out much of what you needed to investigate further. How do you proceed?

Marcus asks Artemi and the others, "Knowing what we do, should we go interrogate Byron now?"

"We should do that, yes. Presuming the information we got is accurate." Torture often elicited false results.

Hural nods in agreement. Once their captive is far enough away to not overhear, he speaks. "Seems the next logical place to look, though I am confident he is complicit. I'd like to learn more of the man first, if we can - anything we can use as leverage to pull the truth from him. We should find out if he has family in the city. Perhaps we speak to Star Cobra first, tell him of our concerns and plans to speak to Byron, find out what we can there."

What's the plan? Back to Star Cobra then interrogate Byron?