>>6181599
Command wants your input on where should we take the colony ship:

> Ceryneia Prime (Resource-Rich World) A mineral-rich planet orbiting a sunlike star, teeming with untapped resources critical for further expansion—platinum, rare-earth metals, and liquid water. Automated factories from an independent mining corporation were discovered here years ago but have since gone silent. It's suspected that corporate pirates may have seized the facilities and are plundering the planet for their own profit. The likelihood of pirate activity is high, as corporate pirates may target the colony ship for its supplies or outright claim it as a prize. Automated drones and orbital defenses could also pose challenges. However, the economic potential of securing this world is tremendous, though the risk of encountering well-armed, entrenched pirate forces or malfunctioning corporate security systems is significant.
> Vallis Onera (Mars-Claimed World) A habitable planet in the neighboring Tau Ceti system, well within range of Mars’ influence. The red planet’s terraformed civilization has declared Vallis Onera as its “sovereign expansion territory.” Earth’s colony effort here is considered provocative, but the world’s mild climate, abundance of fertile land, and proximity to Earth make it an ideal settlement. The likelihood of threats is moderate, with a risk of Mars-backed agents or sympathizers attempting to infiltrate the colony or sabotage the mission. Political tensions could escalate into open conflict if Mars deploys a fleet. Despite these challenges, Vallis Onera’s strategic location and potential for agricultural and urban development make it a strong candidate. However, diplomatic repercussions and sabotage attempts are likely.
> Edenis VI (Alien Contested World) A planet so perfect it’s almost suspicious. Edenis VI boasts temperate climates, abundant vegetation, and nearly Earth-like conditions. While scans reveal no advanced settlements, strange energy signatures and sporadic sightings suggest alien activity. The potential to colonize such an ideal world is unparalleled—but the risks are enormous. The likelihood of alien presence is high, with a strong possibility of encountering advanced alien forces or even accidentally triggering a first-contact event that turns hostile. This world offers a flawless environment for long-term human habitation with minimal terraforming needed, but any attempt to settle here risks confrontation with aliens who may already claim the planet as theirs—or view colonization as an act of war.

>>6181599
> EFS Tempest (Short-Range Interceptor) A compact, agile ship designed for close-quarters engagements. It’s outfitted with cutting-edge antimatter cannons, capable of obliterating enemy ships in moments, but with limited ammunition due to the volatile nature of antimatter.
> Ceryneia Prime (Resource-Rich World) A mineral-rich planet orbiting a sunlike star, teeming with untapped resources critical for further expansion—platinum, rare-earth metals, and liquid water. Automated factories from an independent mining corporation were discovered here years ago but have since gone silent. It's suspected that corporate pirates may have seized the facilities and are plundering the planet for their own profit. The likelihood of pirate activity is high, as corporate pirates may target the colony ship for its supplies or outright claim it as a prize. Automated drones and orbital defenses could also pose challenges. However, the economic potential of securing this world is tremendous, though the risk of encountering well-armed, entrenched pirate forces or malfunctioning corporate security systems is significant.

>>6181599
> EFS Tempest (Short-Range Interceptor) A compact, agile ship designed for close-quarters engagements. It’s outfitted with cutting-edge antimatter cannons, capable of obliterating enemy ships in moments, but with limited ammunition due to the volatile nature of antimatter.
> Vallis Onera (Mars-Claimed World) A habitable planet in the neighboring Tau Ceti system, well within range of Mars’ influence. The red planet’s terraformed civilization has declared Vallis Onera as its “sovereign expansion territory.” Earth’s colony effort here is considered provocative, but the world’s mild climate, abundance of fertile land, and proximity to Earth make it an ideal settlement. The likelihood of threats is moderate, with a risk of Mars-backed agents or sympathizers attempting to infiltrate the colony or sabotage the mission. Political tensions could escalate into open conflict if Mars deploys a fleet. Despite these challenges, Vallis Onera’s strategic location and potential for agricultural and urban development make it a strong candidate. However, diplomatic repercussions and sabotage attempts are likely.

Fuck the little gray men. Mars is for gays.

>>6181599
> EFS Aegis (Mid-Range Drone Carrier) A balanced ship equipped with autonomous combat drones and medium-caliber railguns. The drones can handle both offensive and defensive operations, making the Aegis versatile in a variety of combat scenarios.

> Ceryneia Prime (Resource-Rich World) A mineral-rich planet orbiting a sunlike star, teeming with untapped resources critical for further expansion—platinum, rare-earth metals, and liquid water. Automated factories from an independent mining corporation were discovered here years ago but have since gone silent. It's suspected that corporate pirates may have seized the facilities and are plundering the planet for their own profit. The likelihood of pirate activity is high, as corporate pirates may target the colony ship for its supplies or outright claim it as a prize. Automated drones and orbital defenses could also pose challenges. However, the economic potential of securing this world is tremendous, though the risk of encountering well-armed, entrenched pirate forces or malfunctioning corporate security systems is significant.

> EFS Aegis (Mid-Range Drone Carrier) A balanced ship equipped with autonomous combat drones and medium-caliber railguns. The drones can handle both offensive and defensive operations, making the Aegis versatile in a variety of combat scenarios.
Drone spam please.
> Ceryneia Prime (Resource-Rich World) A mineral-rich planet orbiting a sunlike star, teeming with untapped resources critical for further expansion—platinum, rare-earth metals, and liquid water. Automated factories from an independent mining corporation were discovered here years ago but have since gone silent. It's suspected that corporate pirates may have seized the facilities and are plundering the planet for their own profit. The likelihood of pirate activity is high, as corporate pirates may target the colony ship for its supplies or outright claim it as a prize. Automated drones and orbital defenses could also pose challenges. However, the economic potential of securing this world is tremendous, though the risk of encountering well-armed, entrenched pirate forces or malfunctioning corporate security systems is significant.
Let's go kill some pirates.

EFS Aegis (Mid-Range Drone Carrier) A balanced ship equipped with autonomous combat drones and medium-caliber railguns. The drones can handle both offensive and defensive operations, making the Aegis versatile in a variety of combat scenarios.
> Edenis VI (Alien Contested World) A planet so perfect it’s almost suspicious. Edenis VI boasts temperate climates, abundant vegetation, and nearly Earth-like conditions. While scans reveal no advanced settlements, strange energy signatures and sporadic sightings suggest alien activity. The potential to colonize such an ideal world is unparalleled—but the risks are enormous. The likelihood of alien presence is high, with a strong possibility of encountering advanced alien forces or even accidentally triggering a first-contact event that turns hostile. This world offers a flawless environment for long-term human habitation with minimal terraforming needed, but any attempt to settle here risks confrontation with aliens who may already claim the planet as theirs—or view colonization as an act of war.

>>6181599
>> EFS Lancebreaker (Long-Range Destroyer) A sturdy, heavily-armed ship equipped with nuclear missile silos capable of delivering devastating payloads from extreme distances. It’s designed to hold its ground and deliver decisive strikes before enemies can approach.
> Ceryneia Prime (Resource-Rich World) A mineral-rich planet orbiting a sunlike star, teeming with untapped resources critical for further expansion—platinum, rare-earth metals, and liquid water. Automated factories from an independent mining corporation were discovered here years ago but have since gone silent. It's suspected that corporate pirates may have seized the facilities and are plundering the planet for their own profit. The likelihood of pirate activity is high, as corporate pirates may target the colony ship for its supplies or outright claim it as a prize. Automated drones and orbital defenses could also pose challenges. However, the economic potential of securing this world is tremendous, though the risk of encountering well-armed, entrenched pirate forces or malfunctioning corporate security systems is significant.
nuke them till they cease to exist.

>>6181599
> EFS Aegis (Mid-Range Drone Carrier) A balanced ship equipped with autonomous combat drones and medium-caliber railguns. The drones can handle both offensive and defensive operations, making the Aegis versatile in a variety of combat scenarios

> Ceryneia Prime (Resource-Rich World) A mineral-rich planet orbiting a sunlike star, teeming with untapped resources critical for further expansion—platinum, rare-earth metals, and liquid water. Automated factories from an independent mining corporation were discovered here years ago but have since gone silent. It's suspected that corporate pirates may have seized the facilities and are plundering the planet for their own profit. The likelihood of pirate activity is high, as corporate pirates may target the colony ship for its supplies or outright claim it as a prize. Automated drones and orbital defenses could also pose challenges. However, the economic potential of securing this world is tremendous, though the risk of encountering well-armed, entrenched pirate forces or malfunctioning corporate security systems is significant

I wanna loot pirates with Scavenger Drones.

>>6181599
> EFS Aegis (Mid-Range Drone Carrier) A balanced ship equipped with autonomous combat drones and medium-caliber railguns. The drones can handle both offensive and defensive operations, making the Aegis versatile in a variety of combat scenarios
> Ceryneia Prime (Resource-Rich World) A mineral-rich planet orbiting a sunlike star, teeming with untapped resources critical for further expansion—platinum, rare-earth metals, and liquid water. Automated factories from an independent mining corporation were discovered here years ago but have since gone silent. It's suspected that corporate pirates may have seized the facilities and are plundering the planet for their own profit. The likelihood of pirate activity is high, as corporate pirates may target the colony ship for its supplies or outright claim it as a prize. Automated drones and orbital defenses could also pose challenges. However, the economic potential of securing this world is tremendous, though the risk of encountering well-armed, entrenched pirate forces or malfunctioning corporate security systems is significant
fuck the pirates.

>>6181904
Hell yeah I want to fuck some pirate waifus too!

>>6181599
>> EFS Aegis (Mid-Range Drone Carrier) A balanced ship equipped with autonomous combat drones and medium-caliber railguns. The drones can handle both offensive and defensive operations, making the Aegis versatile in a variety of combat scenarios.

>> Edenis VI (Alien Contested World) A planet so perfect it’s almost suspicious. Edenis VI boasts temperate climates, abundant vegetation, and nearly Earth-like conditions. While scans reveal no advanced settlements, strange energy signatures and sporadic sightings suggest alien activity. The potential to colonize such an ideal world is unparalleled—but the risks are enormous. The likelihood of alien presence is high, with a strong possibility of encountering advanced alien forces or even accidentally triggering a first-contact event that turns hostile. This world offers a flawless environment for long-term human habitation with minimal terraforming needed, but any attempt to settle here risks confrontation with aliens who may already claim the planet as theirs—or view colonization as an act of war.

>>6181609
>>6181620
>>6181625
>>6181632
>>6181691
>>6181727
>>6181733
>>6181904
>>6182010
EFS Tempest 2

EFS Lancebreaker 1

EFS Aegis 6

-

Ceryneia Prime 6

Vallis Onera 1

Edenis VI 2

-

Alright, so it is the Aegis at Ceryneia Prime. Writing.

>>6182104
Do we have free looting right to everything the Pirates have? Like if we take one of their production bases intact or find schematics for their fighters can we keep them?

>>6182104

"These babies", says Samsara, our proud chief engineer, looking at the massive orbital space station housing the second generation spike drive, "are hooked up to state of the art fusion reactors, they charge up the supercapacitor banks over... uh... three or four weeks. In the meantime, the six supercomputers onboard calculate the trajectory. Once everything is done, what usually takes a month or so, then the whole thing is ready to jump! It goes a hefty 0.1 to 0.2 AU per second! This is over fifty times the speed of light! So after we get into jump, if nothing horrible happens, it should take three to six months to arrive! Before these drives, the trip would have taken hundreds of years!"

"Once we arrive at destination, the colony ship and the combat vessel untether from the orbital station, which will remain parked there recharging the capacitor banks."

"Once we're out of jump, the ark itself accelerates slowly in space, it is powered by fusion engines so it can keep on that pace. The EFS Aegis is equipped with experimental micro spike drives, it can accelerate to speeds of over one kilometer per second very quickly or jump up to 100 AU at a time. However, it takes several weeks to recharge the supercapacitors."

"None of that would have been possible without the Alien Shield Technology. Trying to fly at those speeds with the shields down is asking to have your ship destroyed by space debris. And with the shield down, we can't really activate the spike drive either. The shield insulates people inside the ship from the effects of high acceleration. Turning on the spike drive with the shields offline is an excelent way to end very dead."

"So, where exactly you wanna deploy the ark, chief?"

> Deploy the ark on the outskirts of the system. The safest option, but it will delay the actual landing at least an extra couple months as the capacitors recharge for a short jump. This is our most predictable move though, if there are hostiles in the area they might have prepared something...
> Deploy the ark in the asteroid field. With the shields on, we have nothing to fear in there, and the asteroids should hide our presence and allow us to scout the system. Still, it is a gamble that we will manage to stay hidden long enough to recharge the capacitors...
> Deploy the ark in orbit of the planet. The most direct approach, ensures that we can land on the planet even if the ark is attacked, though we might suffer heavy losses...
> Write in

>>6182122
> Deploy the ark in the asteroid field. With the shields on, we have nothing to fear in there, and the asteroids should hide our presence and allow us to scout the system. Still, it is a gamble that we will manage to stay hidden long enough to recharge the capacitors...

>>6182122
>> Deploy the ark in the asteroid field. With the shields on, we have nothing to fear in there, and the asteroids should hide our presence and allow us to scout the system. Still, it is a gamble that we will manage to stay hidden long enough to recharge the capacitors...

Ha, Asteroid Fields are where Pirates and Corporations keep their blacksites so that's the place we're likeliest to get some fighting and looting done!

>>6182122
> Deploy the ark in the asteroid field. With the shields on, we have nothing to fear in there, and the asteroids should hide our presence and allow us to scout the system. Still, it is a gamble that we will manage to stay hidden long enough to recharge the capacitors...

>>6182122
> Deploy the ark in the asteroid field. With the shields on, we have nothing to fear in there, and the asteroids should hide our presence and allow us to scout the system. Still, it is a gamble that we will manage to stay hidden long enough to recharge the capacitors...

>>6182122
>> Deploy the ark in the asteroid field. With the shields on, we have nothing to fear in there, and the asteroids should hide our presence and allow us to scout the system. Still, it is a gamble that we will manage to stay hidden long enough to recharge the capacitors...

>>6182122
> Deploy the ark in orbit of the planet. The most direct approach, ensures that we can land on the planet even if the ark is attacked, though we might suffer heavy losses...
Go in drones blazing.

>>6182122
Do we have fabricators on our droneship to make more drones? Does the Ark ship have more Fabricators to make more gear? How big is the Colony Ship and why are they only sending one small ship to assist it? Couldn't they have shoved some interceptors or more drones onto the Colony Ship for more protection if they couldn't send in more ships?

Does this guy just repackages the failed quests he makes?
>>6172787

>>6182323
Shush. we'll see were this one goes.

>>6182320

> Do we have fabricators on our droneship to make more drones?

Your ship has a single fabricator for emergency purposes (in case you get stranded and need to make a new beacon to ask for help or something like that). Whereas it could be used to make drones, you don't have resources to make a significant amount of them.

You only have about ten thousand small drones and a dozen fighter drones. Your ship is not intended to make more drones.

> Does the Ark ship have more Fabricators to make more gear?

The Ark has plenty of fabricators, but the resources onboard are limited and they are supposed to be deployed upon landing to build the colony, not used in space. The ship is really only supposed to carry people from one star system to the next.

> How big is the Colony Ship and why are they only sending one small ship to assist it?

The colony ship is about one kilometer long. Though we expect problems, a single escort vessel should be more than enough to deal with them, considering it is a state of the art vessel.

> Couldn't they have shoved some interceptors or more drones onto the Colony Ship for more protection if they couldn't send in more ships?

Yes, but it would drive up the costs and the mission is already too expensive as it is. The colony ship does have some drones, but they aren't armed, they are used for probing planets and investigating local conditions to find the best landing spot and locate resources.

"To the asteroid field we go."

"Alright, captain. Kick back and relax, because plotting the course will take awhile."

You spend your days practicing on the simulator and occasionally chatting with people from the colony ship.

"Here is the captain of the EFS Aegis, I'm here to ensure the safety of this mission! We are currently plotting a course to our destination, when we are about to depart you all will be warned to take your seats. In the meantime, enjoy the facilities, I heard there are plenty of training stations in your ship for practicing for your assigned roles in the colony."

You’re in the common area of the EFS Aegis when you overhear a conversation between two colonists about ESS. One of them, a stocky man with a thick accent, seems particularly boastful.

“Yeah, ESS is sending its best,” he says, leaning back in his chair. “We’re the backbone of this whole operation, you know? Can’t set up a colony without logistics experts.”

You decide to join in, curious about the heavy presence of ESS personnel. “Seems like a lot of you made it on this trip. What’s the story there? ESS have a stake in the colony?”

The man perks up, clearly eager to talk about it. “Stake? You could say that. ESS practically is the colony. We’ve been prepping for this for years. Shipping goods, managing resources, training crews. It’s all ESS tech that’s gonna keep things running out there.”

Another colonist, a younger woman sitting nearby, chimes in. “It’s more than just logistics, though. They’ve got engineers, architects, even medics on board. Feels like half the colony ship works for ESS. I’m surprised they didn’t slap their logo on the hull.”

This strikes you as odd. “That’s a lot of influence for one company,” you say, keeping your tone neutral. “Doesn’t it bother anyone that a single corporation has so much control?”

The man shrugs. “Listen, Captain, we’re the best at what we do. If you want a colony to succeed, you don’t leave it in the hands of amateurs. Besides, ESS is just here to help. No strings attached.”

The younger woman scoffs quietly but doesn’t say more.

As you mull this over, your ship’s AI chimes in through your earpiece. “Captain, I’ve cross-referenced personnel logs with corporate affiliations. Approximately 37% of the colonists aboard the CS Ascendant are ESS employees or contractors. This is unusually high compared to other colonies.”

That figure sticks with you. 37%. You knew large corporations had their fingers in just about every aspect of interstellar expansion, but this? It felt... excessive.

Later, you find yourself chatting with the Aegis crew. Specialist Quinn Jax, your drone operator, is leaning against a console, fidgeting with a tool. “You notice anything weird about this colony mission?”

“Like what?” you ask.

>>6182472


“Like the ESS folks,” Quinn replies. “I mean, sure, they’re good at logistics or whatever, but they’re everywhere. Feels like they’re running the show. I don’t trust megacorps, Captain. Not when they start acting like governments.”

Selene Fischer, the ship’s systems analyst, overhears and smirks. “If ESS wanted to take over a colony, this would be the way to do it. Staff it with their people, control the supply lines, and suddenly they’ve got a monopoly on survival. Just a thought.”

You glance out the viewport at the looming asteroid field ahead. The course is almost plotted, but now you’ve got another problem brewing in the back of your mind. If this mission isn’t just about survival but about control, what role are you and the Aegis really here to play?

“Keep an eye on them,” you tell your crew. “Something about this feels off.”

The ESS (Earth Shippin Services) is one of the largest business conglomerates on the planet. The asteroid field, once just a waypoint on your mission, suddenly seems a lot more dangerous.

The day of departure arrives with a buzz of activity aboard the CS Ascendant and the EFS Aegis. Final system checks are underway, and colonists are guided to their assigned seats by automated announcements and crew members.

You stand on the bridge of the Aegis, overlooking the enormous hull of the Ascendant through the viewport. The sleek lines of the colony ship gleam under the distant light of the sun, the massive spike drive engines primed for the journey ahead.

The calculations are complete. A calm chime echoes through the bridge of the EFS Aegis.

“FTL coordinates locked,” Samsara announces, their fingers hovering over the console. "The CS Ascendant is synced with our drive, Captain. We’re good to go."

You activate the comms one last time. "This is the captain of the EFS Aegis. All personnel aboard both vessels, prepare for FTL jump. Secure yourselves and ensure all equipment is stowed. The spike drive will engage in sixty seconds."

On the other side of the comms, Commander Marcus of the CS Ascendant replies with his calm, steady voice. "Acknowledged, Captain. My crew and I are ready. Let’s make history."

The bridge crew moves with practiced precision, locking in final commands and monitoring the display screens. Outside, the asteroid field sparkles like a sea of frozen stars, fading into irrelevance as the spike drive warms up. The faint hum of the engines grows into a deep, resonant vibration that you can feel through your seat.

“Engines charged,” Samsara says, a flicker of excitement in their voice.

The timer on your display ticks down.

10 seconds. You grip the armrests of your chair as the vibration intensifies.

5 seconds. The light outside the viewport begins to distort, stretching into strange patterns as the spike drive prepares to tear through spacetime.

1 second.

“Spike drive engaged,” Samsara calls out.

>>6182474


The Aegis lurches forward, and the view outside explodes into a dazzling kaleidoscope of colors. The familiar starscape twists and bends into an endless tunnel of warped light. It’s as if the universe itself is being pulled around you, rushing past at unimaginable speeds.

For a few disorienting seconds, you feel the crushing weight of the FTL transition—a strange pressure that seems to press inward on every cell of your body. Then it’s gone, replaced by a smooth, almost serene sensation.

“FTL travel stabilized,” Samsara reports, his voice steady.

“Both vessels are in sync,” he adds. “The Ascendant is holding formation perfectly.”

You lean back in your chair and let out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding. The CS Ascendant glides alongside your ship, its massive form shimmering faintly as it rides the same corridor of warped spac, both vessels firmly strapped to the spike drive orbital station.

You glance at the navigation display. The destination is still months away, but for now, everything seems to be going smoothly. Still, the quiet hum of the spike drive and the distorted view outside the viewport remind you that this is no ordinary journey.

“This is it,” you say, mostly to yourself. “We’ve left the cradle of the solar system for good.”

"Yeah," Samsara says, overhearing you. "No turning back now, Captain."

On the comms, Commander Marcus’s voice cuts through. “We’ve got faith in you, Aegis. Lead the way, and we’ll bring the future to life on the other side.”

No turning back, indeed. Whatever awaits at the other end of this journey, you’ll face it together—with the Aegis leading the way.

The next few months are a blur of constant training and preparation. But you still have time to check on the files of the people onboard the CS Ascendant.

"By God! What is this?"

You notice that the records have been heavily tampered with. You have no idea who many of these people you're taking to the new colony are! Worse still, there is a large shielded cache of god knows what aboard the colony ship.

> Confront Commander Marcus about his vessel's tampered records
> Contact your own people within the colony ship to investigate
> Wait until you're out of FTL travel to voice your concerns
> Write in

>>6182476
> Contact your own people within the colony ship to investigate

>>6182476
>> Contact your own people within the colony ship to investigate

>>6182476
> Contact your own people within the colony ship to investigate

Ahh shit the corpos are about to fuck everything up again. We gotta find their blacksite and download all their illegal shit so we have blackmail we can send command later;

>>6182476
> Contact your own people within the colony ship to investigate

>>6182511
>>6182528
>>6182549
>>6182615


The weight of this discovery presses on your chest. It’s not just tampered records—it’s the realization that you might be escorting an unknown and potentially dangerous element to the new colony. You decide to act, though subtly. Confronting Commander Marcus directly could tip your hand too soon.

You activate your private comm channel and patch into a secure line connected to a trusted ally embedded aboard the CS Ascendant.

"Sergeant Rook," you begin, keeping your voice calm but firm. "I need you to quietly investigate something for me. The records for the Ascendant have been tampered with, and there’s a shielded cache aboard that ship. I don’t know what’s in it, but I need answers. Discreetly."

There’s a pause before her voice comes through, tinged with concern. "Understood, Captain. I’ll dig around and see what I can find without raising any alarms. But if someone’s covering something up, it might take time to get the truth."

"Take all the time you need, but stay safe," you reply. "If you suspect danger, you pull out immediately. Report back as soon as you find anything."

You end the call and lean back in your chair, staring out at the warped light of FTL travel. Questions race through your mind. Who tampered with the records? What’s in that cache? And why wasn’t this brought to your attention before the mission began?

For now, you can only wait and hope Rook uncovers the truth before it’s too late.

***

>>6183179


(You are now Sergeant Rook, third class special operator)

You stand in the dimly lit corridor of the CS Ascendant, Captain Ace’s encrypted message still lingering on your device. The coordinates of the shielded cache glow on the small screen—a location buried deep within the ship, far from the usual storage areas. Whoever placed it there clearly didn’t want it found. The captain’s orders were clear: investigate discreetly and find out what’s being hidden aboard this colony ship. But the how is entirely up to you. Each option carries its own risks, and the wrong move could tip someone off—or worse.

You could start by snooping around the area where the shielded cache is stored. It’s risky, but observing the layout and checking for guards could give you a clearer idea of what you’re up against. If it’s being watched or secured, that’s a sign the cache holds something significant—or dangerous.

Alternatively, you could contact Mirella, your old friend and skilled hacker. With her expertise, she could crack into the ship’s systems, giving you access to restricted areas, security logs, or even the cache itself. Of course, reaching out to her comes with its own risks—encrypted or not, any external communications could draw attention if someone’s monitoring.

If you need more direct tools, you could liberate a portable scanner from the ship’s warehouses. A scanner could help you analyze the contents of the cache from a distance, giving you a sense of what’s inside without needing to physically open it. It’s subtle but might not provide enough detail to satisfy the captain’s orders.

If subtlety isn’t an option, you could always liberate a portable laser drill from the same warehouse. With it, you could burn straight through the wall of the cache. It’s loud, it’s obvious, and it’ll likely set off alarms, but if you need to access the contents quickly, this would get the job done.

Finally, you could liberate a high-clearance ESS ID card and have Mirella tamper with it. If she can spoof the credentials, you might be able to gain legitimate access to the cache without raising suspicion. It’s a delicate play, but one that could get you closer to the truth without blowing your cover.

The coordinates glow faintly on your comm as you consider your approach. Whatever’s hidden in that cache is important enough to shield and hide—and that means it could pose a serious threat to the mission. You take a deep breath, knowing that this decision could change everything.

> Snoop around the secret cache to see if there are guards.
> Contact your friend Mirella, who is a hacker, to give you system access.
> Liberate a portable scanner from the ship’s warehouses.
> Liberate a portable laser drill from the ship’s warehouse to burst the wall of the shielded cache.
> Liberate a high-clearance ESS ID card and have Mirella tamper with it to see if you can gain access.
> Write in

>>6183181
>> Contact your friend Mirella, who is a hacker, to give you system access.

>>6183181
> Liberate a high-clearance ESS ID card and have Mirella tamper with it to see if you can gain access.

>>6183181
> Liberate a high-clearance ESS ID card and have Mirella tamper with it to see if you can gain access.

>>6183181
> Liberate a high-clearance ESS ID card and have Mirella tamper with it to see if you can gain access.

>>6183181
> Liberate a high-clearance ESS ID card and have Mirella tamper with it to see if you can gain access.

>>6183195
>>6183211
>>6183277
>>6183346


You sit in the cafeteria, sipping on a bland cup of synth-coffee while your mind races. Two weeks ago, you passed Mirella the datachip with everything you knew about the shielded cache and the suspicious tampered records aboard the CS Ascendant. Now, two weeks later, she discreetly slips the chip back to you while the two of you exchange pleasantries about shipboard gossip. Once she’s gone, you retreat to your quarters to examine the data.

The file she left for you contains detailed notes, schematics, and several potential options for bypassing the system’s security. It’s a treasure trove of intelligence, but it also highlights the stakes. There are 15 ESS employees aboard who possess system access level 7, just high enough to poke around the cache without tripping any obvious alarms. If you can locate one of them and either convince or steal their credentials, you might be able to slip in quietly.

Then there’s the nuclear option: spoofing the ship into thinking it has returned to Earth. Mirella’s provided you with the viruses to trick the system into rebooting in "Earth maintenance mode," granting access level 9 to all maintenance crew profiles. She’s even included a list of 20 maintenance crew members aboard who could serve as viable targets for acquiring a credential. The downside? When the system reboots, everyone aboard will get a notification that the Ascendant has arrived at Earth. You’d only have 15 minutes to act before everything resets—and no doubt, the odd reboot would raise questions among the crew.

Finally, there’s Mirella’s pièce de résistance: a virus capable of creating a new identity for you with any clearance level you choose. You could assign yourself an absurdly high clearance level—like 999—and potentially uncover every secret hidden in the ship’s systems. However, this option is far from subtle. The new identity would appear plainly in the system’s records, raising red flags for anyone who checks. If you go this route, you’ll need to work fast to avoid being caught.

>>6183407


You decide to try first the subtle approach and find someone from the ESS list provided by Mirella. It doesn’t take long to spot a target: a socially awkward data analyst who seems to fit the profile perfectly. Thin, glasses, always carrying a datapad, and nervously avoiding eye contact with anyone who walks past. His ID badge dangles from his neck, and the title "Cryptography Expert" almost glows with promise.

You strike up a casual conversation in the mess hall, mentioning your love of classic spaceship series. His eyes light up with surprise, and before long, you’ve reeled him in. It’s clear he’s not used to attention, and when you casually suggest watching some reruns together in your pod, he nearly drops his tray.

The two of you settle in, awkward at first but quickly bonding over the old shows. He’s surprisingly knowledgeable, quoting obscure lines and sharing behind-the-scenes trivia. You feign interest, nodding and laughing in all the right places. By the time the third episode is over, he’s practically beaming.

As he leaves your pod, you make sure he “accidentally” forgets his ID card. You wait until the door shuts behind him before snatching it up and inspecting it. Sure enough, the clearance level reads 7, and his title confirms it: Cryptography Expert. A smug grin spreads across your face. Who would’ve guessed this nerd would be the perfect key to the ship’s secrets?

Now, with his ID in hand, you’re ready to access the ship’s restricted systems. The question is, how far can you push this clearance before someone notices?

> Run the virus on his ESS credential and attempt to get around with clearance level 7.
> Find a maintenance crew credential and go for the "pretend we’re on Earth" option to get maximum clearance level 9.
> Create a new bogus identity with an arbitrarily large clearance level like 999 and see what you can discover before being caught.
> Write in

>>6183408
> Run the virus on his ESS credential and attempt to get around with clearance level 7.

>>6183408
> Run the virus on his ESS credential and attempt to get around with clearance level 7.

>>6183408
> Run the virus on his ESS credential and attempt to get around with clearance level 7.

>>6183408
> Run the virus on his ESS credential and attempt to get around with clearance level 7.

>>6183408
> Run the virus on his ESS credential and attempt to get around with clearance level 7.