Mara Venn slaps both palms to the containment glass, then jerks back to the console built into the far wall. Her fingers fly over the locked override, frantic and precise, but the field stays bright and sealed.
Abby Stone stands on the other side of the barrier, huge in the cramped bay, while Arthur Blues and Victoria hold position behind her with the display still feeding Mara’s route data.
Mara Venn
Wait. Abby, listen. I can make this right. Don’t turn me over yet.
Mara Venn
I was coerced. Someone higher up pushed the whole operation, and I had no clean exit.
She points sharply toward the sealed hatch, then to the live map on the handheld display, as if the proof itself might bargain for her.
Mara Venn
Give me a minute with the system, and I’ll hand you the names, the paths, everything.
“I break through the glass, grabbing Mara by her collar and demanding she starts talking.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Strength, rolled +3)
The glass gives under Abby’s strike, a white crack racing through the containment field as Mara reels back from the console.
Abby’s hand comes through the broken pane and clamps Mara by the collar, hauling her close enough to rattle the wall-mounted override.
Mara Venn
Wait, listen, I can still make this right.
A slice of the route map flips across the handheld display in Arthur’s grip, and a hidden admin layer blooms behind Mara’s access paths.
Arthur Blues
Abby, that overlay is real. She has clearance codes tied to the maintenance spine.
Mara Venn
I was boxed in. Give me access, and I give you the names.
Mara swallows hard in Abby’s fist, then glances to the exposed overlay like it just offered her a lifeline.
The collar tag is a secure service badge, not a front-office pass.
“I hand Mara to Arthur and press for answers”
SUCCESS (Superb Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Abby eases her grip and turns Mara toward Arthur, the broken field hissing between them.
Arthur Blues
I’ve got her. Talk.
Arthur takes Mara by the shoulder, steadying her while Abby keeps the lane clear.
Mara Venn
Fine. I was using the maintenance spine because I had to. The executive fed me routes, then burned my access when the vault job turned hot.
Mara Venn
He still has the relay keys. If you want the whole chain, I can name the handoff point and who signed off on it.
Victoria’s eyes flick from the live location readout to Mara’s face, and Arthur’s jaw tightens at the confirmation.
Arthur Blues
Start with the handoff point. Abby, your call, do you want her tied to the chair or talking free?
“Just tell me who's ass i need to kick so i can get it over with and go home!”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +0)
Abby Stone
Just tell me who I need to hit so this is done.
Mara Venn
The executive is Keir Dalm. He handed me the relay keys, then cut me loose when the vault started to burn.
Mara Venn
And the handoff point was the south archive annex service lift, level three. He used a maintenance account signed under Voss Logistics.
Arthur Blues
So it was never just Mara. There’s a name, a route, and a shell company.
Mara Venn
That’s the chain. Keir Dalm, Voss Logistics, relay keys through the service lift. If you want the rest, I can point at the people who made me do it.
Arthur loosens one hand from Mara’s shoulder and checks the live readout, then looks back to Abby like he is waiting on her verdict.
Arthur Blues
You’ve got the names now. What do you want to do with her?
✓ Quest Accepted
Confront Keir Dalm
“I have what i needed. Victoria, turn her in to the cops”
SUCCESS (Superb Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Abby Stone
I have what I needed. Victoria, turn her over to the cops.
Victoria straightens at the terminal, already reading the legal handoff options across Mara’s file. Arthur lets his grip loosen, but he keeps close enough to catch any sudden move.
Victoria
Understood. I am flagging the transfer now.
Mara exhales, shoulders dropping as the fight drains out of her posture. The service lift route still glows on the handheld display, next to Keir Dalm’s name like a fresh bruise.
Mara Venn
That is fair. I gave you the chain, now let the authorities pull on it.
Victoria keys in the secure alert, and the bay’s status light shifts to inbound custody request. Arthur watches Abby instead of Mara now, waiting to see if she wants any more questions answered before the transfer locks in.
Arthur Blues
If you want to press her for anything else, now is the time.
“Im done with her. Im going after Dalm now.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled -2)