4/24/23:
And now for your first good look at the locals!

Comments from the Tagboard:

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04/24/23 12:42 PM
BrickVoid: Dale should have a moment of brilliance, and have himself beamed aboard the Intrepid, to avoid being taken hostage! :D Of course there's bound to be interference from the ring system, Dale could see that he can escape, if he's thinking things rthrough properly! :D

Transcript
Panel 1:
Rat (aside): Squeak!
Commander Dale Zurkett: Yeah, great plan, Dale. Charge alone into a narrow alley on a strange planet after a guy who just tried to assassinate a man who probably deserves it.
    This can only end well.

Panel 2:
SFX: *Pow Pow!*
    *Zap Zap!*
    *(And Other Gunfire Noises!)*
Dale: Hm... or I just ran down the wrong alley entirely. That sounds a few blocks away.
    So many twists... which way did I come from, exactly...?
SFX: *Creak...!*

Panel 3:
Dale: Uh, hello... don't be alarmed. I got separated from my group.
Stickleback: Human! Why do you help the bad point-ears?
Dale: Um, it's less "help" and more "chat fruitlessly with."
    And actually, we're really here to help YOU.

Panel 4:
SFX: *Clatter!*
Stickleback: Mandeltot! Are you well? We heard shooting.
Dale (aside): Getting a little surrounded now... great.
Mandeltot: Cobblewonk drew them away, Stickleback. I am well!
    But who is this? Wait...
    This human was with the one who saved the Advisor!
Stickleback: Yes, but he's alone. And he says he wants to help us.

Panel 5:
Dale: That's the idea. See, we have this treaty...
Stickleback: This is not a good place for talking.
    You will come with us, human.
Dale: Um, no, see, I need to--

Panel 6:
Dale: Come along with you. Sure.