Intelligence Summary #8: Rescue on Gadnek Island, Part 4

Mutants in pursuit.

Situation:  1100 hours.

Within minutes of setting-out for the Bongolaanian basecamp, the party was assaulted by scores of mutants.  The creatures attacked from all directions, even dropping out of trees and leaping out of spider holes. 

Barely maintaining the lead.

While traversing the southern hills, mutants threw rocks and even rolled down boulders in an attempt to stop the party.

Situation:  1200 hours.

When the party reached the crest of the southern hills, they discovered the primitively-armed mutants were the least of their problems.  From their impromptu observation point, the party watched several Lambda-Class shuttles air-dropping cargo containers onto the island's central valley.  These containers were identical to the one they came across earlier (see Gadnek Island AAR #2).

Lambda-Class shuttles dropping cargo containers.

The Lambdas sped off as soon as the containers hit the ground.  However, two vessels circled-back and landed near the Ruins of Mumbak (located at the "M" on the map).  The ships appeared to be Sith Infiltrators.  One member of the team mananged to keep his electro-binoculars during the pursuit and observed the activity near the Infiltrators.  Within minuts of landing, over a dozen rifle-armed mutants in red battle armor, disembarked from the ships.

"I have a bad feeling about this."

Situation: 1500 hours.

At this point the party faced a tough choice:  Make a run for it in the open valley, gaining speed, over cover and concealment?  Or, continue to hack their way through the hills and jungle, mainting their concealment against the new arrivals?

Ambush!

Breaking through the trap.

After fighting through a major ambush near the treeline, the party made a break for it, on to the open plains. 

Situation: 1600 hours.

The mutants harried the party for 13 kilometers.

In sight of the eastern hills.

Through the mountain pass.

Outrunning the mutants.

By the time the party stumbled into the basecamp, everyone was suffering from some level of exhaustion.  Damathon collapsed and was dragged into the small compound. 

The Bongolaanian basecamp.

Everyone else took a moment to catch their breath and take stock of their situation.  Looking around, they realized the camp was ransacked--probably by the mutants, while Naguza and his battledroids went off to search for Damathon.  Everyone had lost, or expended, half their blaster power packs and hand grenades.  Sian Squnn and Jad Jo Dop had lost their weapons during the final run to the camp.

The roar and howls of the approaching mutants meant the party only had several minutes, at most, to establish a defensive perimeter and attempt to radio for help.

To be continued in Intelligence Brief #9: Rescue on Gadnek Island, Part 5.

Intelligence Summary #7: Rescue on Gadnek Island, Pt 3

Situation: 0900 hours.

The sound of blaster fire grew louder as the party moved northwest.  In less then an hour, the party came across a clearing, 200 meters wide.  On the north side of the clearing, a pack of mutants were advancing against several battledroids trapped against the cliff.

Mutants in the treeline.

The mutants were unaware of the party's approach and continued their assault against the droids.  The party spread out in two-being teams and approached the edge of the southern treeline.  Once in position, they steadied their weapons and took careful aim.

Sneaking up on the mutants.

Once everyone had a target in sight, they unleashed a volley of blaster fire into the backs of the mutants.  Several of the creatures were killed in the fusillade, but the surviving mutants pressed on with their attack against the battledroids.

Mutant vs droid melee.

Half the party sprinted across the clearing, while their remaining teammates covered them with their blasters.  Once the northern treeline was cleared of mutants, the rest of the team entered the jungle.  As they approached the cliff, they discovered two humans, in partial cover, among the rocks.

A battledroid falls victim to a rampaging mutant.

One of the humans was dressed in an Imperial officer's uniform, while the other wore the remains of a flight suit and binder cuffs.  The party found Damathon Cohaine.

"Meezah Zak Tenko.  Meezah here to rescue you!"

The Tau Tau warrior, Zak Tenko was the first to reach Damathon and began unfastening the binder cuffs.  The Imperial officer turned and aimed his blaster pistol at Zak.  However, before he could fire, Thege Kli 'Klotaz burst through the foliage.  Leveling his heavy blaster rifle at the surpirsed officer, the Durosian soldier demanded the Imperial's surrender.  The officer immediately dropped his pistol.

The rescue of Damathon Cohaine.

The party then spent the next hour consildating and securing their postion.  None of the droids survived the battle, while Damathon and the Imperial officer appeared to be suffering from shock.  The officer turned out to be Lieutenant Onjo Naguza of the 7th Cohort, 599th Droid Infantry Legion, from Bongolaan. 

After some questioning Lt. Naguza confirmed the location of the Bongolaanian basecamp and his mission to find and apprehend Damathon.  More importantly, Naguza informed the party, the basecamp contained a radio capable of signalling for help.  While the lieutenant talked, Sei'do Avari noticed a code cylinder in his brest pocket and removed it.

Before the team could question Naguza any further, the silent jungle erupted with roars and howls of mutants--hundreds of them--converging on the party's position.

Mutants in hot pursuit of the rescue party.

To be continued in Intelligence Brief #8:  Rescue Gadnek Island, Pt 4.

Intelligence Summary #6: Rescue on Gadnek Island, Pt 2

Situation: 0600 hours

Once the team entered the jungle, the Tau Taus noticed it was quiet.  Too quiet.  Other than the sound buzzing insects, there were no indications of the wildlife normally present in such an environment.

The rescue party enters the jungle.

After travelling 3 kilometers (km) northwest, the team, discovered a cargo container in a clearing, along piles of animal bones strewn about the field.  After a careful search, the team determined the cargo container was airdropped, sometime within the past two weeks. 

Discovering the bone field.

All the bones were broken in several places and hollow.  Every bone examined were scarred with deep gouge marks, as if a carnivore gnawed on them and sucked out its marrow.

Situation: 0700 hours

Scouting ahead, Cad So Billes spotted a dozen, large red-skinned creatures hiding along the path the party was following.  The creatures, wearing animal skins and wielding simple weapons, appeared to be a deformed, possibly mutated version, of a Gunganoid race, like the Tau Taus. 

Avoiding a mutant ambush

Cad backed away from the mutant pack and briefed the rest of the team.  They spent the next hour navigating around the ambush site.

Situation: 0800 hours

After traveling 2 kms northeast the team discovered the remains of six battle droids. 

Destroyed battledroids

Every battle droid was bashed to pieces and their parts scattered over the jungle floor.   Sei'do Avari and Sian Squnn examined two droids that still had their heads intact.  Sei'do noticed the number "7/599" stenciled on both heads.  Cad recalled the battle droids they encountered during their escape from Bongolaan had the numbers "4/599" stenciled on their heads, which stood for 4th Cohort/599th Droid Infantry Legion (DIL).

They surmised then, the destroyed droids were part of the 7th Cohort/599 DIL, from Bongolaan.

Examing the battledroids

Sei'do and Sian extracted the memory chips of the two droids and installed them into Sei'do's data pad.   He played back the droid's memory and discovered the following details--

--The droids were part of a squad consisting of ten droids, led by a Bongolaanian/Imperial Reserve officer, from the 7/599th DIL.

--Their mission was to find Damathon Cohain, but no reason given as to why.

--They were activated at a small basecamp on the eastern tip of the island, less than 15 kms northeast of their current position. 

--The squad found Damathon and four crewmen of the Ivory Bantha less than three days ago.  Two of the crewmen were killed by the battledroids in the encounter.

--Two days ago, while on their way back to the base camp, the squad was attacked and overrun by the mutants. 

--The last two crewmen from Damathon's ship were killed--and devoured--by the pack of mutants.

The team decided to head towards the basecamp to see if they could pick up the survivors trail.

After travelling another kilometer, the party was startled by the sound of blaster fire echoing through the jungle...

To be continued in Intelligence Brief #7: Rescue on Gadnek Island, Pt 3.

Intelligence Summary #5: Rescue on Gadnek Island, Part 1

Stardate:  Fiday, 069-130ABY/Tarsan Intelligence Service (TIS)

Subsector:  Shannekam

DST-3's Mission to Zenya, After Action Report (AAR) 

On Senday, 057-130 ABY, Diplomatic Security Team Three (DST-3) dodged a harrassing flight of TIE fighters from the Zenyan Restricted Zone and landed safely on Pierson Station.  Based on the information from the Ivory Bantha's flight recorder, the team determined Damathon Cohain and several crewmembers escaped the destruction of the ship and landed somewhere on Zenya-3. 

Pierson Station's location in the Tau Tau Archipelago

Within hours, Penelope Pelletin, director of TAg Facilities on Zenya and Adoko, Pierson Station administrator, organized search and rescue (SAR) effort to find the Ivory Bantha's crew.

On Tuday, 059-130 ABY, DST-3 joined the operation and was assigned to search Gadnek Island.  King Gethen and Force Mystic, Gobar Been, joined the planning session.  The Tau Tau king informed the group they have been unable to contact the inhabitants of the island for the past several weeks.  Communications have gone unanswered and teams have been sent to investigate, but none have checked-in, let alone returned from Gadnek.  (The island serves as an historical, spiritual and nature park).  The Tau Taus were reluctant to discuss this matter with offworlders until they had more information on this strange occurrence.

Situation: 2300 hours, 060-130 ABY--the team is selected

The members of DST-3 selected to lead the Gadnek Island search party, were:  Sei'do Avari, Thege Kli 'Klotaz and Cad So Billes.  King Gethen assigned some of the best warriors of his bodyguard to augment the team.  These were: Seleq Seel (Knight of the Guard), Lah To Ceel, Zak Tenko and Jad Jo Dop.  The Royal Engineer, Sian Squnn (a Sullustan), would also join the group.  The remaining members of DST-3, Rican Vranos and Coden were re-assigned to lead a search party on Tandek Island, 500 kilometers to the northeast.

Gadnek Island's location, just below the Zenyan Equator

Despite filing several complaints with the Zenyan Drylander Government, aerial harassment and electronic jamming continued throughout the Tau Tau Archipelago.  Drylander officials claimed these actions were caused by pirates and swoop gangs.

Because of this ongoing threat, the team decided to ingress via waterspeeder.  (Undersea transport was available, but deemed far too slow).

Using the islands for cover, the team sailed through the archipelago and arrived at the northern tip of Gadnek Island at 0200 hours, local time, Forday, 061-130 ABY.

Northern view of Gadnek Island

Southern view of Gadnek Island and crash site

Within several minutes, the speeder's sensors picked up a faint signal from the escape pod's distress beacon.

Situation 0230 hours--Ivory Bantha's escape pod discovered

The search party discovered the escape pod, submerged in 60 meters of water, one kilometer south of the island.  Once over the crash site, the Tau Tau warriors dove into the sea to investigate.  Within minutes, they resurfaced to report the escape pod was empty.

Situation: 0300 hours--search party attacked

As soon as the Tau Taus dried off from their swim, the waterspeeder's alarm klaxons blared to life.  Sensors indicated an approaching air speeder--with weapons systems activated.

The airspeeder turned out to be a droid Hunter-Killer Assault Vehicle (H-KAV).  The airspeeder opened fire as soon as it was in range.

Situation: 0400 hours--waterspeeder is destroyed and the team swims to shore

Piloting the waterspeeder, Cad So Billes led the H-KAV on a high-speed chase through the barrier islands.  However, the droid craft re-acquired the waterspeeder at every turn and repeatedly hit the waterspeeder with blaster fire and concussion missiles.  Within minutes, the starboard-fore and port-aft repulsor fans were destroyed and the port-fore fan was on the verge of failing. 

Throughout this pursuit, everyone else wrapped as many weapons and as much gear as they could into waterproof bags.  Once everything was wrapped, the bags were dropped at the points selected by the Tau Taus.  After all the equipment was jettisoned, Cad locked-in a course for Gadnek Island's southern beach.  As the flaming waterspeeder careened towards the shore, each Tau Tau grabbed an offworld team member and dove into the sea--just seconds before the waterspeeder crashed onto the beach. 

The H-KAV strafed the wrecked waterspeeder one final time and then veered off to the northeast.  The team swam to shore, once they determined the H-KAV was gone for good.  Sian Squnn could not swim and was pulled ashore by Jad Jo Dop.  When everyone flopped onto the beach, Thege Kli 'Klotaz revived the Sullustan engineer, while the Tau Taus swam back into the sea to retrieve their weapons and gear. 

Most of the bags were recovered.  Once their equipment was checked and cleaned, they set out to into the southern jungle in the hopes of finding the Ivory Bantha's crew--and transportation off the island.

Continued in Intelligence Brief #6: Rescue on Gadnek Island, Part 2.

Gamemaster's (GM's) Notes:

The planet map of Zenya, was derived from the world of Lefiguura, found on page 76 of Smash & Grab, Traveller:  The New Era, by GDW (1994).

The Pierson Station map was derived from Elinore's Realm, on page 78 of Smash & Grab.

The map of Gadnek Island was derived from the map included in Rescue On Galatea, by Mark Lawerence, FASA (1982).

The characters, Damathon Cohaine, Thasallah Cohaine, King Gethen and Seleq, were also derived from Rescue on Galatea.

News Brief #10: CEO's Son Found

Stardate: Forday, 068-130 ABY/Fringe Info Network (FIN)--Tarsus Bureau

Subsector:  Shannekam

"All the news that's fit to transmit."

TAg Market Heir Found on Zenya

Damathon Cohain, son of TAg Market CEO Thasallah Cohain, was found several days ago, on the planet Zenya--five parsecs coreward from Tarsus.  He is seen in the image above, taken at Pierson Station, being assisted off of a shuttle by an unidentified Durosian of the Tarsan Diplomatic Security Force and a Tau Tau (Gunganoid) warrior. 

As a company vice president in charge of operations, Damathon was scheduled to visit TAg (Tarsan Agricultural) Market's seafood processing facilities in the Tau Tau Archipelago.  However, his ship, the Ivory Bantha, was listed as overdue, two weeks ago.

The Cohain family spokesbeing declined to comment on this incident. 

Damathon landed, by way of express boat, at Newland Down Starport today, amidst heavy security. 

The fate of the Ivory Bantha and her crew of six, remains unknown at this time.

Abstract Chase Scenes

After a 6 month hiatus, I resumed my Star Wars RPG (Role Playing Game) campaign this past Saturday.  For this adventure, the PCs (Player Characters) and several NPCs (Non-Player Characters) were sent on a search and rescue mission.  However, this turned into a desperate battle for survival, when our heroes found themselves stranded on an island overrun by Sith Mutant Cannibals. The mutant horde pursued the party for 13 kilometers, to an abandoned base camp. A Rorke's Drift-style battle ensued, with the rescue shuttle arriving to pluck our heroes off the roof of a prefab building--just as the first wave of mutants scaled the walls.

I was planning to use Hot Pursuit, to run The Big Chase Scene.  However, one of the players was attending a concert later in the evening and had to leave by 4 PM.   This put me under a time-crunch, so it was time to improvise.

With the help of the players, here's what we came up with, based on the D20 System--

--The pursuit was conducted using a map of the island, with the usual wargame hex-grid.  Each hex equaled 1 kilometer. 

--Each movement turn was an hour. 

--Movement rate (on foot):  6 hexes/hour in open terrain, 3 hexes/hour in jungle and hill terrain.

--At the end of each turn, every PC and NPC had to roll d20 (a twenty sided die) and make a Difficulty Check (DC) against their Willpower.

--The Task Difficulty normally would start at Easy (roll 5, or greater), unless the party was in difficult terrain, or was in some other disadvantage condition. 

--If successful, the PC or NPC, suffered no ill effects.

--If the character failed, he moved one step down on the Condition Track.

--For each failure, the PC or NPC moved another step down the Condition Track until he fell unconscious.

--In addition to moving down one level on the Condition Track, he lost one item.  PCs got to choose what item to discard; while a random die, usually a d6, was rolled for NPCs.  (Representing an item was dropped, or powerpacks and grenades being expended).

--If the player rolled a natural "20," a critical success, he was able to negate another PC or NPC's failure.  (He encouraged a nearby companion to keep going).

--If, however, a player rolled a natural "1," a fumble, he caused another PC or NPC, selected at random, to go down one step on the Condition Track.  (The other character had to drag him along, or lug his gear).

--If 51%, or more of the party failed to make their DCs, then the next turn's DC would be made at one level harder.

--If 50% or more of the party succeeded in making their DCs, then the next turn's DC would be made at one level easier.

In our adventure, our heroes were beset by a horde of Sith Mutants while in the jungle, so the Task Difficulty started off at Medium.  Everyone then had to roll a 10, or higher, adding any Willpower modifiers. 

Over half the party promptly failed, which set the trend for the rest of the pursuit.

Mercifully, this death spiral only lasted a few turns.  The party outdistanced the pursuing Sith Mutants when they reached the hills and stumbled into the abandoned base camp.

I wouldn't be so bold to say these rules worked "well"--but they certainly had the desired effect of simulating a desperate chase:  Every PC and NPC suffered from some level of exhaustion.  One NPC fell unconscious at the gate of the base camp, two players lost, or more likely, expended several hand grenades; while two NPCs lost their weapons.

(Image:  Sith Mutants in hot pursuit of our heroes.  Photo by Adrian)

Optional Rule for Devious & Cruel Gamemasters:

I came across my pursuit notes after the game ended, which was a stroke of luck for the players.

Here's what I wrote down for PCs and NPCs loosing items--

--If the PC or NPC fails his Willpower die roll, he loses 1d3 (a d6/2) items on his first failure.

--On his second failure, he loses 1d4 items.

--On the third failure, 1d6 items are lost.

--By his fourth failure, he loses 1d8 items.

One final note:  Beware of wily players.  The clothing the PCs are wearing does not constitute "an item."

Intelligence Summary #4: Presidential Profile

Stardate: Thirday, 067-130 ABY/Tarsan Intelligence Service (TIS)

Subsector: Shannekam

Personality Profile on Bunda Akhtar

With the possibility of the Bongolaanian-Tarsan Trade Dispute heating up, TIS has compiled data on Bongolaan's current president-for-life, Bunda Akhtar.

Most of the material gathered for this report was obtained through TIS's contacts with the group known as the Bongolaanian Armed Resistance Cadre, or BARC.  Since very little is known about this new-found resistance movement, the information in this report may be sketchy at best.

Bunda, son of gabaki vendor Kunda Akhtar, was born during The Great Food Riot that ravaged the capital city, Ratankiri in ABY-090.  Nothing is known of Bunda's mother and her current wherabouts are unknown.  She may have been a prostitute employed by his uncle Zunda Akhtar.  Regardless of his mother's fate or occupation, Bunda has shown no desire to locate her.

Bunda was apprenticed to his uncle, the family's patriarch, to work in the Mynock Roost, the family-owned cantina and brothel, near Ratankiri's waterfront disctrict.  Despite their business dealings--legitimate and otherwise--life among the Akhtar men was not a harmonious one.  Kunda had two fingers severed as punishment for 'crimes against the family,' when it was discovered he was skimming off the profits from gabaki shipments.  Some say it was Bunda who tipped off his uncle and was forced--or volunteered--to cut off his father's fingers.

Due to his above-average size, Bunda was promoted from bus-boy to bouncer and soon became involved his uncle's numerous illegal activities. He took over the Mynock Roost immediately after his uncle and father were killed under mysterious circumstances in ABY-11.  Once again, stories differ:  The sibling rivalry between his father and uncle re-ignited, Bunda had them assassinated, they were killed during one of Bongolaan's frequent coups, or died in a vehicular accident--possibly arranged by rival family, or by Bunda himself.

Bunda's exact appearance is unknown and may be a result of his violent upbringing. His face is always shrouded by a keffiyeh. Stories vary as to the reason for this: He was disfigured from a childhood illness, a vehicular accident, an assassination attempt, or is the result of one of his uncle's disciplinary measures. It could merely be that the headdress renders his appearance mysterious and intimidating.

(Image: Bunda Akhtar and bodyguard droids enter a command post, somewhere on Bongolaan)

Based on the above information, Bunda Akhtar has exhibited a lust for power throughout his turbulent life.  In personal dealings he is described as aloof, self-centered and vengeful.  Now he is president of a hostile planet, with a legion of battledroids, along with several squadrons of warships and starfighters at his disposal.  And this doesn't take into account any financial direct military support Bongolaan may receive from the Fel Empire. 

This almost garuantees he will be difficult, if not impossible to negotiate with.  Therefore, the possibility of a peaceful resolution to the current trade dispute, or "Bantha-Gabaki War," as the media calls it, is highly unlikely.

(Images: Provided by the BARC)

Star Wars Roleplaying Gamemaster's Notes: 

Bunda Akhtar's background was generated using Central Casting: Heroes for Tomorrow, by Paul Jaquays (1989).

Bunda Akhtar is a modified crime lord, found on page 25 of Star Wars Roleplaying Game:  Threats of the Galaxy. 

His specific stats are:

Medium noble 7/scoundrel 2/crime lord 3

Force 2; Dark Side 14

Init +7; Senses Perception +18

Languages Basic, High Galactic, Rodese, 6 others (specifically for Bunda these will be:  Bothese, Durese, Gamorrean, Huttese, Ryl, Sullustese)

Defenses Ref 26 (flat-footed 25), Fort 22, Will 29

Hit Points: 47; Threshold 29

Speed 6 squares

Melee vibroblade +9 (2d6+6)

Ranged blaster pistol +9 (3d6+6)--for a "normal" crime lord, this would be a sporting blaster

Base Atk +8; Grp +9

Atk Options Improved Disarm, Melee Defense, Point Blank Shot, Sneak Attack +1d6

Special Actions Born Leader

Abilities Str 10, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 15, Wis 13, Cha 16

(normal crime lord stats:  S-10, D-12, C-8, I-16, W-14, Cha-18)

Special Qualities command cover

Talents Attract Minion, Born Leader, Connections, Distant Command, Educated Inspire Fear I, Notorious, Sneak Attack +1d6

Feats Improved Defenses, Improved Disarm, Linguist, Melee Defense, Point Blank Shot, Skill Focus:  Deception, Skill Focus, Weapon Focus (advanced melee weapons), Weapon Proficiency (advanced melee weapons, pistols, simple weapons)

Skills Deception +20, Gather Information +20, Knowledge (bureaucracy) +14, Knowledge (Galactic Lore) +14, Perception +18, Pilot +12, Persuasion +20 (can reroll when intimidating, must take second result),

Ride +12, Use Computer +14

Possessions blaster pistol, vibroblade, datapad, encrypted comlink, enforcers (including several thugs and an 8th-level minion).

Intelligence Summary #3: Pursuit of the Ivory Bantha

Stardate: Wonday, 065-130 ABY/Tarsan Intelligence Service (TIS)

Subsector: Shannekam

DST-3's Mission to Zenya, Preliminary Situation Report (Sitrep)

After the Merantan Affair, three new members joined DST-3:  Rican Vranos and Coden (both human), along with Thege Kli'Klotaz (a Durosian).  Ambassador Eleonora Heraud ordered the team to locate Damathon Cohain, son of TAg Market's CEO, Thasallah Cohain.  Damathon was reported to be on the planet Zenya, inspecting TAg Market's sea food processing facilities in the Tau Tau Archipelago. 

The team made a hasty lift-off from the Stedmonton Starport on 052-130 ABY.  (See Intel Brief #2, for the reason of the rushed departure). 

On Senday, 057-130 ABY, Shuttle #147 dropped out of hyperspace and entered the Zenyan System.  Within a few hours, the team discovered the wreck of the Ivory Bantha, a YT-1300 transport, owned by the Cohain family.  The ship was dead-in-space and tumbling within a small asteroid field near the 4th planet.  After after detatching from the hyperdrive ring, Cad So Billes successfully piloted the shuttle through the field and tethered their vessel to the hulk.

The team's soldiers, Vranos, Coden and Klotaz donned vacc suits and boarded the Ivory Bantha, via the tether.  While one member was stricken with space sickness due to the zero gravity conditions, they managed to engage and neutralize "two dozen" battle droids found on board.  Once the team reactivated the ship's power plant, they downloaded part of the ship's log. 

According to the partial data recovery, the Ivory Bantha was attacked by an armed, but unmarked, Type-A merchant vessel.  (The origin of this vessel is unknown since it did not emit a transponder signal).  After the  Ivory Bantha was crippled by a salvo of heavy blaster fire, battle droids stormed aboard, intent on capturing the crew.  Damathon and the surviving crew members activated self-destruct charges as they made their way to the escape pod. 

DST-3 determined the escape pod's course was set for a return to Zenya-3, the only habitable planet in the system.

Note:  According to TIS analysts, it is highly unlikely the members of DST-3 encountered two dozen battle droids they claim were on board the Ivory Bantha.  A more accurate account of this incident will be made, once the team returns to Tarsus and is debriefed.

As Shuttle #147 began it's final approach to Pierson Station, it was nearly intercepted by a flight of TIE fighters from the Zenyan Restricted Zone.  The TIEs were driven off by a flight of X-Wing fighters from the Pierson Station Security Force, before an actual interception with the shuttle could be made.  No weapons fire was exchanged during the encounter.

When the team made planetfall, they were met at the landing pad by Penelope Pelletin and Adoko, the administrators to TAg Market facilities and Pierson Station's starport, respectively.  Due to jamming activities originating from the Zenyan Restricted Zone, the early warning systems on Pierson Station did not receive any distress signal from the Ivory Bantha, nor detect the escape pod landing within the Tau Tau Archipelago.  After the team briefed the administrators on the situation, a search was quickly organized.

Two days later, with search and rescue (SAR) assets fully committed, Ms. Pelletin asked the team to conduct a search of Gadnek Island.  Since the island is considered sacred to the Tau Taus and is home to dangerous wildlife, a member of King Gethen's bodyguard was assigned to the team as a guide. 

Note:  DST-3's sitrep was transmitted via subspace radio, prior to their departure for Gadnek Island.  Since these signals take five days to reach Tarsus from Zenya, the results of the search efforts on Zenya are unknown at this time...