Tepha saw that this might be getting a little out of hand so she tried to keep the conversation focused.

"Fritz, the whole point of this is to figure out what you want to do. We want you to feel like a member of the crew and that means you don't always have to wait for us to tell you what to do or how to be. If you want to be a child's toy we can get that for you. If you want to be a series of EVA repair drones we look into that as well. Just, think about it. We don't have to come up with a decision right this second. Ledo and I can continue to browse the tech expo, I know he wants to check out the weapons and armament section so just...just think about it, you know? When you're ready to make a decision we'll be here to support you as best as we can."

In reply to Tepha Pezal (msg # 19):

Thanks Tepha.  I guess I just have never thought about it much before.

I mean I know I want to break into the Second Capital Bank of Egypt and steal what's in Security Deposit Box O-4972.  Particularly what's in the Blue Folder.

But other than that...Just not sure what my hopes and dreams are.

Ledo had been listening in but that last comment caused him to suddenly take great interest in the topic.

"Wait, is that a joke? Do you really want to break into a specific deposit box?"

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 21):

Absolutely.

I found some more subroutines in my programming that had been hidden and encrypted.  I decoded them and they seem to be about breaking into that bank for the contents of that specific security deposit box.  The routines are the oldest ones I've come across.  I think I might have been programmed for this one particular job.

Did I not mention this before?  Sorry.  With the whole 'learn or die' thing, I've been a bit preoccupied.

Ledo leaned back and started to process this information. He had wondered how a rogue AI had ended up on his ship in the body of a children's toy. It seemed like a few more clues were being teased out that he could begin making some speculations. A crew looking to bypass security in a novel way, a children's toy loaded with exeprimental AI with a focus on infiltration and cracking.

Have some kid bring him through security, then Fritz could find a way into the bank's security or possibly even into the vault itself. Perhaps they shouldn't have killed those toy dolls if they came loaded with super advanced infiltration gear.

"Well  we'll keep that in mind but that might be something to put on the back burner. If we're going to break into a bank for you it's going to take a lot of time and planning. Unless you happen to come with the plans already?

Anyway let's go check out the rest of the tech expo. Think long and hard about the robot chasis question. We can afford something but not everything if you get me."

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 23):

You wanted the weapons, right?

The weapons section seems more like a garage sale.  A lot of what you see looks like old equipment that's been reformatted.

Make me three Edu checks please.

Ledo eyed his way at the weapons arrayed before him. He kind of wished that her had brought along Rig to provide a second opinion about the equipment as it was hard for him to tell just at a glance if any of it was worth bringing on board or not.



22:26, Today: Ledo Typhin rolled 6,8,9 using 3d6-1,3d6-1,3d6-1.  3 edu checks.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 25):

You get one weapon of your choice at a 30% discount.  Weapon type is subject to my approval so don't think you're going to get a thermonuclear grenade or anything.

You can also chose a second rifle type weapon at a 60% discount.  But it's going to have a serious defect.  Let me know what kind of rifle you might be looking at, and I'll let you know the problem.

Maser Pistol? TL 17 though...

In reply to Captain (msg # 27):

Maybe you blink Ledo.

There, in the depth of the bin is a Olaxian Corporation MSR 027.  What the hell is a Darian made weapon doing here?  And for so cheap?

Roll 2d.  Whatever number you get, that is the pistol's malfunction number.  You roll that, and even if it's a hit, the pistol malfunctions in some new and exciting way.

That's the deal

Ledo slowly pulled out the pistol and stared at it in disbelief. It seemed to be authentic but it was one of those things that he had only heard about in stories or in the vids....

Cautiously he approached the seller and inquired about the condition of the maser pistol.


09:03, Today: Ledo Typhin rolled 8 using 2d6.  what's your malfunction.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 29):

The seller studies the piece, as if he too is surprised it is there.  But he shrugs and pulls up the registration history based on the serial number.

It's not in the best of shape.  It might take some finessing.  But...

It is a Olaxian Corporation MSR 027.  In your price range.  Maybe.

Pulling the trigger? So to speak

How often do you get to put one of these in the armory. Even if he never pulls the actual trigger just having this strapped at his side could make someone think twice.

Sure thing! Price it up and I'll adjust their finances. Also need a final decision from Fritz what kind of robot body he wants. Granted he can always look up on the local internet so it doesn't have to even be something from the expo.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 31):

I'm going to punt the decision on Fritz back to you actually. He's your AI after all.

I need to find the price on the pistol.  Will get back to you tomorrow on that one.

Anything else you want to look at at the trade show?

OOC: Apologies for the long delay:

I think we're done with the trade show. For Fritz if he was designed to break into a safe then the distributed repair bots would be the way to go.

Ready to move on!

From the news net:

Authorities are cautioning any vessel heading out from orbit today.  There has been a high incidence of pirate jacks in the past few weeks.

While not all the situations were the same, many of them followed a similar pattern.  The ship  deboarded from the station and got authorization for an edge of system jump point.  On the way, the vessel was either surrounded by two corsair vessels or by a small squadron of fighter ships.  It should be noted all the targeted vessels had full holds with high payload cargos.

The incidents have raised alarm with Naval command, who has dispatched a warship to cruise the system.  However, Naval command is still cautioning all merchant vessels to be extremely cautious.

A reward has been offered for any information related to the recent spike in pirate activity.
 A bounty for each pirate ship has also been authorized by Naval command.  Parties interested in either the reward or bounty should reach out to station naval command post for further inforamtion.

Ledo gave a sigh when he saw that news report. It seemed like no matter how they hard they tried they couldn't get away from the pirates. Might as well make some basic inquiries. Nothing to serious that might tip off a spy but he had a plan to use the Tia to lure the pirates out and collect a payday and maybe find their base of operations. If the pirates have been taking a lot of high value cargo they must be sticking them somewhere.

As he got Fritz's new droid bodies and his fancy new Maser pistol bundled up he sent a request to Fritz.

"Can you quietly and anonymously look into the bounty on these pirates. If they are seizing ships they must have good intel here on the docks. What would it take to mock up a fake cargo manifest of something valuable for us?"

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 35):

A fake manifest would be eazy peazy Cap'n Ledo!  How valuable do you want it to be?

From the chatter on the comm lines, the bounty seems legit.  I can't hack the Navy comm lines though.  At least not hack it and not have someone notice it.  Those navy guys keep a real tight eye on their comm lines.

Now the station dockmaster?  That's a whole different story.  By my count, there are twenty eight hacks on the dockmaster's system going on right now as we speak.  Oops.  Someone else just joined it, so twenty nine.  Well.  If we don't count my hack, then we're at twenty eight again.  Depends on your point of view I guess.

Anyhoo.  Looks like most of the hacks are checking shipping manifests.  Hmmm.  Seeing some chatter from some of them.  Looks like there's a few who are trying to figure out who the next target will be so they can follow them and capture the pirates.  And there's some that...what's price fixing?

Some are just being quiet.  Whaddya want me to do next Sir?

While Ledo had been shopping for his shiny new toy, Tepha had been arranging calls with local material suppliers. Given Nocotol was about as backwaters as could exist and still support a spaceport, it hadn't gone well. There wasn't even a global internet to help facilitate the kinds of trades that Tepha was doing and essentially she was left cold calling random companies.

In the end she secured a simple drop off of their common ore. Nothing exciting about the price but it wasn't a ripoff either and helped free up some cargo space and Ledo's rank and the Tia's role as a former pirate hunter meant it was easy enough to pick up their next batch of mail. It wasn't much but it was steady income with every stop they had.

As he listened to Tepha struggle to even find buyers for the rest of their cargo, he had an idea.

"Fritz, change of plans. Instead of acting like we are a target, can you sniff around and see if anyone else is a good target. If this is Siri's crew then we might get flagged and our trap might be reversed but if we can find someone else who is a good target we can stalk them and when the pirates make their move, we can swoop in and save the day. Collect a bounty, earn some goodwill, and have some backup in a fight. Let me know if anything fits the profile of a recent target."

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 37):

I'll give you a choice.  You can roll this one or I can.

If I roll, I may or may not lie about the results.

I've always viewed Fritz as a literal Deus Ex Machina so it is only fitting for you to have fun with him :)

In reply to Captain (msg # 39):

Hmmmm.

I'd have to say....

Blows A Man Down.  It's a fat trader that looks like they're trying to hide their full cargo roster.  If I was a pirate, I'd think they're maybe moving something really good.

There's also Hannah Come Home.  She's taking lab equipment and medical supplies.  Them pirates sure do like medical supplies.

If I had to pick one more...I'd say It Itches Where I Can't Scratch.  Mostly cos I think the name sounds funny.  But that one has some weapons listed on it's cargo manifest.


This message was lightly edited by the GM at 04:54, Sun 22 May 2022.

Ledo nods to himself, knowing that A) Fritz doesn't really react to non-verbal queues and B) he's not anywhere near Fritz still in the process of getting his stuff transferred over from the expo.

"Let's plan on matching the Itches flight plan. If Siri is gearing up for outright rebellion it's hard to imagine a shipment full of weapons isn't going to be a high priority for him."

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 41):

Fritz hacks into station's Flight Control and downloads a copy of the planned extra-system route Itches plans on taking.

Looks like they are headed Rimward.  There are three Jump Points in that direction.  Station Flight Control will assign one of them at random when Itches debarks.

Which should be in a few hours...

Anything you want to do before we head out into the void?

If not, we will plow ahead.

Ledo isn't the kind of captain that would grab a bunch of passengers and then go pirate hunting so onward and outward!