The Beast of Bacrana

Matey's head rotates a little bit prior to his body, and he turns around as Reynar opens the door. If it's in a droid's nature to feign emotion, you think this droid is feigning surprise...

"Ah! Reynar! Am I needed inside!?"

He walks past the Skip Tracer without waiting for an answer.

Kitichik, professionally ignored the droid's entrance, as he listened to the doctor's professional assessment of the situation and confirmed the miner's grievances were founded. With that information in hand he turned and entered the director's office, his response direct and to the point as he bluntly asked how the operations manager would be addressing his employees concerns in a tone that an answer would be forthcoming.

Before the Director could respond, the Gand Jedi was overcome by a sudden chill, the discomfort and unease he had been sensing nearly overwhelming, a subtle vibration felt in his feet that the droid, whose sensors were probably more in tune with such things, confirming what was more than a disturbance in the Force.

Matey, accepting the invitation to join the impromptu meeting within the administration office, stalked through the door just as the Gand was confronting the operations manager. Before he could take stock of what had transpired before his arrival the sensors and servomotors in his lower appendages began to pick up the beginnings of some subtle seismic activity.

Matey's stabilizers click and whir as the ground rumbles and he adjusts his stance. Internally he checks the fuel level on his jetpack, externally he processes out loud, unburdened by biological inhibitors that create feelings of awkwardness...

"Director, it seems you are in need of help. Either in redressing the demands of your laborers, or in suppressing the demands of your laborers.

If you would like to requisition such help...

We are helpers!"

The droid gestures mechanically-performative and broadly across those gathered in the room.

"All you need to do is tell us the nature of the help you require - and provide proper remuneration.

But I urge you to make a decision soon before the revolt of either the earth or the laborers escalates."

The Director was the last to react to the slight tremor, noticing the responses of the others in the room before the vibration, that started as a barely noticeable tremor, that was increasingly building in intensity. The first thoughts of everyone was a mining accident, a collapse of some kind, though only the Director Dorell, and Deng once he calmed and rationally thought through the situation, would know that the mines were to far away for any sort of accident to be felt in the work camp.

Nervously, concern evident on the Director's suddenly weary appearing face, Marnis eyes darted around the room, painfully aware of the increasing vibrations felt and the Jedi's scrutinous gaze before reluctantly meeting the Gand's eyes. It was clear that there was little he could do, that the miners must continue to work or others that were willing to would be found. Resignation, a dejected stoop of the shoulders, a hesitant and shaky exhalation of breath, indicated that while progress must continue that concessions might be had. Any further discussion however would have to wait as what had started as a subtle vibration was now a steady and intense tremor.

Outside, the gathered mob, who remained in anticipation of what might come of their spokesman's meeting with the Jedi and administration, now finally seemed to notice the growing tremor, all turning as one towards the camp's outskirts, pointing in confusion and dismay, the vibrations now heard as well as felt, sounding like sustained thunder.

---

Matey's processors kick into over-time. Something's approaching.

The most likely scenario seemed to be if the Director called in some large number of ground vehicles - tanks!? - to suppress the revolt, or perhaps flighted vessels.

The rumble could then be ascribed to either the large numbers or large engines of those vehicles.

Observing the Director though revealed he was as in-the-dark on the source as they all were...

And if it wasn't an earthquake or wasn't a collapse??

That left precious few other options...

The droid - not knowing the social norms of the situation, but aware that some high level biologicals required physical deference - bows a couple times as he backs away toward the door, "Excuse me, everyone. I just require...", he kind of broadly gestures outside, "... There's something I wish to, eh...", he opens the door, "I need some fresh air!"

That was something the biologicals could identify with wasn't it!?

And he steps outside, looking to the sky, both trying to make sure there's nothing imminently crashing down on them from the atmosphere, and also to see if he could use his jetpack to gain some elevation here, and perhaps see what's approaching.

More familiar with the day-to-day workings of the work camp and mining operations, and having been stationed planetside for many, many months, Deng confirmed that the quake was not caused by any sort of mining mishap.

Awkwardly struggling with his social graces, M8-T excused his self from the cramped office trailer. Looking to the horizon he did not identify any airborne threats. The massive cloud of dust rising in the air, the high pitched whine carried on the wind, could indicate some sort of approaching ground craft and certainly a cheap ...er, way of ridding the corporation of bothersome workers who, currently, refused to work.

---

Marnis Dorell who, like the doctor, was quickly tiring of the backwoods nature of his assignment wilted under the Gand Jedi's scrutiny, his mouth moving noiselessly and clearly nervous of the rumble that seemed to be fast approaching. Perhaps losing a bit of patience, Kitichik followed the departing droid, the mine foreman and mob spokesman in tow.

The woman's weathered face widened in surprise at being addressed, her eyes betraying her fears that she had no guess at the source of the sustained quake and desperation at wishing she had some sort of desperation. He eyes shifted to the approaching cloud of dust, the gathered mob nervously pointing and starting to disperse. A droning buzz could faintly be made out, drifting ahead of the dusty haze.

---

Without a word M8-T activated his jetpack, launching into the air with a cloud of exhaust and startling those below. The higher vantage point, not only clearing the droid from the obstructions provided by the makeshift work camp structures, but allowed greater viewing of the horizon. Matey could see the approaching cloud, the dark shapes at its head clearly not mechanical but instead the undulating shapes of a significant mass of biologicals. Away from the din of the work camp activity, the droid could also make out the agitated lowing of the beasts, who now were surging through the landing fields, a ship listing, it's landing gear clearly compromised by the thundering herd.