Before going
down to the planet, John wanted a couple of volunteers to go undercover
and investigate the dissidents. "Hey, I'm all for that," chimed in
Krystal. "Undercover work, my specialty, heh heh," added Venor with a
sinister laugh (though it was probably just a normal Betelgeusan
chortle). Once on the ground, the main party split up into two teams,
the laid-back Gonar and the hyperexuberant Jon, who mentioned that he
had a secret plan to stop this whole uprising thing. No, can't mention
it to you sir, but just give me the word and trust me it will work.
John and Clancy were the third team, John wanting to keep the suddenly
loose-cannon Clancy in sight at all times.
The first day was spent doing busy-work. Jon and Gonar were stuck in
the sidelines. John and Clancy helped set up better security in New
Farpoint Station in preparation for the orderly evacuation scheduled
for the next day. Seismic sensors were set up and the pattern enhancers
were bugged and left alone for vandals to abuse. Meanwhile, Krystal saw
lots of graffiti about The Providers, which made her ask questions and
come to the attention of some local cultists. Venor decided to blend in
by commiting acts of vandalism and spouting anti-Federation slogans.
This also resulted in contact with one of the more militant dissidents.
The following morning Venor learned that his splinter group was going
to kidnap Gropler Zorn in a daring raid. He was able to warn John, who
had Gropler Zorn evacuated to the Discovery, though not before Gropler
Zorn warned the planetary police. Krystal was invited to a Provider
seminar, held in the Underground of the city. A dimly lit chapel held
dozens of faithful as a hologram of a giant jellyfish creature
proclaimed that a new age was about to begin and that all the faithful
should be ready to act. Jon and Gonar had security duty and not much
was going on.
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Meanwhile, the
seismic sensors picked up significant movement, so John and Clancy
transported to the sewer system and looked around. A band of rebels
rounded the corner and a brief firefight ensued, wherein John requested
an emergency beamout and they dematerialized as all but one rebel fell.
Clancy immediately ordered the transported tech to beam him back and
John followed. Unfortunately, the tech, in a hurry and also handling
normal evacuation loads, missed a button and almost killed John, who
materialized disoriented as Clancy was cuffing the rebels.
An explosion shook the base. Gonar went to investigate. Venor and his
rebels rushed the government building. The hologram gone, the dissident
leader proclaimed that the time was now to rise and attack their
oppressors. Clancy ordered a beam in to the governor's office, where he
was subdued by a police SWAT team before John had him transported back
to the ship. Venor waited for the rebels to engage the police, then
shot in the back, ending that threat. Krystal had the dissident leader
transported to the ship, then used her oratory to calm the parish.
And so disaster was averted. After that SWAT team encounter, Clancy was
almost back to normal. John on the other hand sought counseling. But
who was really behind the rebellion? Later investigation discovered the
holographic projector and the control room. Was it Gropler Zorn? Or was
it some mysterious third party manipulating the Bandi? Questions to be
answered in a future episode.
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