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[Sirus]

Part 18: The Enemy Emerges

Welcome back! Last time, Yuri went to the hospital, Kira did something badass, and two trained doctors joined the crew. Let us continue...

Spoiler: A Traitor's Reward (click to show/hide)

As per the vote, Dr. Kuchin becomes Chief Physician (sorry, Kira), and Larissa becomes the Nurse. Kira becomes ICU Head, and the Sick Bay is fully staffed!

Now, if you remember from the huge walls-o-text that I have the gall to call "updates", Vladykin told us about a probe that disappeared somewhere around the Volodarev Sector. Since it was trying to find information on Epitaphs, it makes sense for Yuri to go looking for it.






Just a minor problem; Volodarev is a fairly long voyage without a rest stop. Temporarily reassigning Kira to the Head Chef position will go a long way to alleviating crew fatigue thanks to her Amateur Chef skill, but I'll still want to avoid fights if possible.

The first waypoint is reached without incident. Upon arrival at the second point, however, Kira pipes up. Gotta admire how she handles ICU, cooking, AND sensors all at the same time. Girl's a multitasking extraordinaire.

: Yuri, there are several ships ahead. They look like regional Elgavan Forces.

: Regional forces, huh? Even if they are, they're kinda hanging around a weird spot, don't you think?





Suddenly, the Elgavan ships unleash a flurry of hard-to-screenshot lasers at Yuri's fleet! What treachery is this?!

: What the--?! They're firin' at us?!

: What are they thinking?! Patch me through--

: Ah ha ha ha ha! I've been waiting for you, Yuri. I knew you'd be coming this way.

: You! Let's see. Your name was...

: Excuse me, but who are you?

Ouch.

: The commander of the Lutsk Base, Tefed Mudakov, of course! Don't tell me you've forgotten already!

: Oh, yeah! The officer that was in bed with Balik! I forgot all about him!

OUCH.

: Fine! You may have forgotten me, but I certainly haven't forgotten you. Thanks to you, I lost my position and am now on the run, constantly having to look over my shoulder.

: You brought that on yourself, taking bribes from pirates when you were supposed to be running a base!

: Enough! Silence! Destroy him!

Have it your way, Muda--



Oh.

The enemy fleet is made of 2 Derzky-Locs, 2 Orfey-Locs, and a new type of ship called the Askold-Loc cruiser. Tis a lot of firepower! Shame they don't have the toughness to match!



The two Derzky-Locs go down to a single Normal attack each. Afterwards, Mudakov foolishly decides to target the RUSALKA, ignoring the fact that it's in the back of the fleet and is built like a very fancy brick.



As one might expect, the Orfey-Locs are slightly tougher, requiring two Normal attacks each to destroy.

Mudakov lands his first decent hit after the first Orfey-Loc goes down, knocking around 200HP off the PANSY. It still has 700 though, so I'm not worried.

Or at least I wasn't until I accidentally closed the game



Round two goes somewhat worse. The Derzky-Locs are tougher somehow, and the LOTUS takes a brutal hit. Just goes to show that you can't be overly-complacent when battling traitors.

Anyway, the two Orfey-Locs go down, leaving Mudakov himself in his flagship. I wait until he charges a Barrage, Dodge the attack, and Unleash Final Roar.
Maybe that Eudora-thing could survive, but a simple Elgavan ship didn't stand a chance.
 


Victory!

Shortly afterwards, on the bridge of the RUSALKA:

: It looks like the rat bastard managed to survive, Yuri.

: Ow. Ow! Try not to be so rough!

: You give one more order, "Commander", and I'll knock ya into Grus!

: Hmph.

: Mudakov, we're taking you to Zvenigorod and handing you over to Commander Vladykin. And I bet you know what happened to the Epitaph probe ship, too, don't you?

: What are you talking about? I was just hiding out here from the Central Forces.

: Are you sure about that?

: Yes, quite sure.

: Hm. It looks like he's telling the truth for a change.

: Okay, Mudakov, I hope you like cramped quarters, because you're goin into the storeroom.

: All right, you! The storeroom's that-a way!

: Hey! I can walk just fine without your boot in my rear, thank you very much!

And so ends the role of - what's his name? - in our tale. I think. Onward, to Volodarev!

Spoiler: Life in the Country (click to show/hide)

As far as Central Elgavan planets tend to go, Volodarev is pretty quiet. First, we shall visit the local Module shop, where I purchase a Hold Lvl2, a Crew Cabin Lvl3, a Mess Hall, and an Accounting Office Lvl2. You should know what the others do, but the Mess Hall helps increase Livability. 70G for the lot is a pittance, but Volodarev doesn't have a shipyard to install our new parts.

Let's go to the Tavern, see if anyone has information for us. There is an oddly-dressed man, so that seems like a good place to start.

: Wait a minute...Semias? Semias, is that you?!

: Ah! Lady Nia! It's been quite a while, hasn't it?

: You know this man, Nia?

: What? Oh, yeah!

: Semias Alastar, jack of all trades, at your service!

: So what in Grus are you doing here, Semias?

: Well, actually...I've been looking for you, Lady Nia. There's something I thought you should be aware of.

: Oh, yeah?

: The void gate that leads to the Alzenia Sector appears to have been reactivated.

: What?! No...How could that happen? I thought that gate was dead!

: It was. But that doesn't change the fact that it is now reactivated and fully functioning.

: So do you think they...?

: I went to the gate to check on that very thing, and I'm sorry to say that they have already begun to invade.

Wait, what?! Who's they? Who's invading?

: No way! I can't believe it!

: Nia, what's going on?

: Huh? Oh, sorry, kid. I have a few things to discuss with my old pal Semias here. Would ya mind leaving us be and coming back later?

: Huh? Oh, okay. Sure.

: Thanks. I just need a little time. Why don't you guys go for a walk or something? Get some fresh air, okay?

: Okay, fine.

Yes, MOM.

Well, like I said this is practically a farming community to other Elgavan planets. Let's check out some of the wilderness. There's a nearby meadow that looks nice.



Apparently, they farm "panmolo" here. Panmolos are the furry animals you can see above, as evidenced by the workers milking them.

Farmer: Would you two folks like to try some?

: Really?

: Thank you, mister!

There's also a nice forest to wander through. This must be a nice vacation after so much time on ships and space stations.

: Mmm, it smells so good in the forest.

: Yeah. It kind of reminds me of the forests we had back on Ropesk.

: Come on, Yuri! It's so pretty here! Let's just go for a little walk, just you and me.

: Huh? Yeah, okay.

During the walk, Kira talks about how she'd like to live in a place like this one day. Yuri, of course, goes on about exploring as far as he can. Good thing these two are brother and sister, otherwise this scene would be REALLY weird.
Wait...it still kinda is.

Well, Nia and Semias are probably done by now, so let's check in on them.

: Oh, hey, kiddo. We just got done talking.

*Nia hands Yuri a thin plate*

: What's this?

: It's a voyage record. It's from the Epitaph probe ship.

: What?!

: I salvaged it from the wreckage I found near the void gate in the Alzenia Sector. I'm sorry to say that they had already stolen the Epitaph the probe ship apparently had found.

Dammit!

: Wait, back up a minute. What are you guys talking about? Who is this "they" you keep talking about? Are you trying to tell me that "they" destroyed the probe ship?

: Well...

: Instead of trying to explain it here, I think we'd better take that voyage recorder to Zvenigorod and have it looked at there. Once they suss it out, we'll be able to see their recorded images right up to the moment of the attack.

: Okay, then let's go!

But before we do, I want to get some of those panmolos! Their milk was delicious!

*On a corner of the farm, an elderly farmer is standing, seemingly lost in thought*

Elderly Farmer: Oh, Ratai! I always knew you'd come back!

: What? Uh, I think you've mistaken me for somebody else.

Elderly Farmer: Huh? Oh...Oh, yeah. I guess so. Ratai's a lot taller than you. You're kind of runty.

: Um...Who's Ratai?

Elderly Farmer: He's my son. Said something about goin' off and studyin' the stars. He left this planet about three years ago now. Wonder what he's up to these days...

Probably been killed by pirates. Oh...now I feel sad
Let's just get back to Zvenigorod.

Spoiler: Stuff Happens (click to show/hide)

: Nia, before we ship out, can I ask you something?

: Go ahead, kid.

: Where is this Alzenia Sector that Semias mentioned? I never heard of any place like that in the SMC.

: That's no surprise. If you tried to get there without using void gates, it'd take you five years at warp speed, one way.

: Wow. So it's in another galaxy?

: Yup, a galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars XD

: In fact, it's the galaxy where I'm from.



The RUSALKA pulls out of dock, and the fleet begins its journey back to Headquarters. Upon entering the first waypointhhabojn***U* IUI89%%%

Spoiler: ??? (click to show/hide)

??: Tracker's continued resistance to accepting control confirmed.

??: Measures must be taken at once.

??: Setting Tracker to auto-adjust to thought control and cooperation at the next observation checkpoint.

Spoiler: Crazy Scientist Dude (click to show/hide)

Wow, what a crazy trip! I lost count of how many pirates I shot down and how many amazing jokes were told! Hahahahaha!
Oh hey, we're at Zvenigorod! Awesome.

As we pull in, we see a dude wearing hair that went out of style several dozen thousand years ago.

: All I need is one more day, just until I can get some results for the cosmic microwave background radiation I've been observing!

Soldier: You need to get a permit to do stuff like that on public property. No exceptions! Now pack up and hit the road!

: B-B-But...

: Is there a problem here?

Soldier: Yeah, he's illegally camped out here. This is a spaceport, not a campground. Do you know him?

: No. No I don't.

: Please! All I want to do is finish my research on cosmic background--

Soldier: Will you shut up about that already? I've got my own work to do, you know! I'll let it slide today, but if I catch you here again, I'm going to haul you off to jail! You got that?

*The soldier storms off with an irritated look on his face*

: ...

: Excuse me.

: I'm not sure I really wanna know, but still, I gotta ask. What are ya doing here at the spaceport like this?

: I'm researching cosmic background radiation on this planet. I can't measure it on the ground, so that's why I'm doing it here. The name's Ratai Faustov, by the way.

: In that case, I've got an even better idea. You should join us on our ship.

: Do you mean it? I can? I can come with you?! I've always dreamed of performing my observation experiments in space!

: Of course, nobody gets a free ride. You're gonna have to work for your keep, ya know.

: Yes, of course!

Ratai Faustov joined your crew!



This guy is an odd one. On the one hand, he has decent science skill. On the other, his special skill, All-Seeing, gives bonuses to Attack Range if placed in a Radar position (Control Skill). I guess it depends if we want an immediate boost to research or a long-term boost in attack range and control. Or he could go somewhere else altogether. Vote carefully!

Alright, now it is time to turn over that probe report. Let's go visit Vladykin.

: You found out something about the Epitaph probe ship?

: Yeah. Check this out.

*Yuri hands over the voyage recorder*

: But this is...So the probe ship is done for, is that it?

: It looks like it. I didn't see it myself, but we talked to somebody who salvaged that recorder from the wreckage.

: Hm...All right, thank you. We'll get this analyzed, and then we'll be able to see what happened to the probe ship for ourselves.

: And could you get that Mudakov guy out of our storeroom?

: Mudakov? Don't tell me you apprehended him as well!

: Yeah. Heh heh. We ran into him on our way to Volodarev, so we just picked him up.

: Oh please! Quit trying to show off in front of Commander Vladykin!

: Ha ha! You people surprise me more and more at every turn.

That's because we're awesome

: I'd like to thank you, and there's that Epitaph information we spoke of as well. Please meet me at Headquarters later. I'll be waiting for you.

Spoiler: Exposition (click to show/hide)

Presents! Presents! Presents! To Headquarters!

: Ah, I've been waiting for you! First of all, about the voyage recorder from the probe ship...

: You're finally done analyzing it?

: No, I'm afraid it was badly damaged and we're still trying to deal with it. I don't think we should get our hopes up.



: That figures.

: Now, about the Epitaph information you asked for. Do you know what dead gates are?

: Dead gates?

: They're similar to void gates, except that they're not functional anymore. You won't see many of them in the Interplanetary Union of Elgava, but you can sometimes find them in remote sectors.

: Huh. Okay, but what do they have to do with Epitaphs?

: Well, according to some old information we've got in our military database, there have been two instances of Epitaphs being found in the vicinity of dead gates. Professor Gavriil Minas has said in his research reports that the composition of Epitaphs and dead gates are quite similar.

: So if I find out more about dead gates, I might be able to solve the mysteries of the Epitaphs. Is that it?

: Well, I'm not sure about that, but your best bet is to go see Professor Minas and ask him for yourself. I've already contacted him for you, so he'll be expecting you. You'll find him on the planet of Heraklion in the Kalymnos Cluster.

: Heraklion in the Kalymnos Cluster, huh?

: Is that where we're gonna go next, Yuri?

: Of course. That's what this is all about, why I even went into space in the first place.

: Yeah! So we're really gonna blow this taco stand! Good-bye, Interplanetary Union of Elgava! Man, this is gonna be great!

: And I'd like to give you this, as a personal thank you. This is a company that creates ship designs for the military, so I think it would be well worth your time to visit.

You got a letter of introduction to the ship design company on Chernesk!

: I've done all that I can do for you now. I wish you safe travels!

Spoiler: New Ships (click to show/hide)

Well, before we go visiting any new clusters, we've got ships to buy! Let's go!

: You wanted to see me, Defense Minister Fomich?

: Yes. You settled the dispute between Alatyr and Driutesk, and even managed to preserve the dignity of both nations. President Vlaso Saburov would like to get the entire report from you directly, if you wouldn't mind.

: President Saburov, sir?!

: Yes. Please go there at once.

: Yes, sir!

: Sir, what is the meaning of this? If the president would like a report, it is only fitting that I, Vladykin's superior officer, would--

: Are you saying you're unhappy with the president's decision, Captain?

: What?! N-No, of course not, sir!

: Let me give you a piece of advice, Novikov. The president wants people here in Zvenigorod who can get results, people who can bring prosperity to the area. Be they Conservative Faction or Reform Faction...You'd do well to remember that and step up your game, Novikov.

: Y-Yes sir!

I can't be the only one who thinks Fomich is slimy, right?

Anyway, Chernesk has three ship blueprints for sale:



First is the Derzky-class destroyer. This was the option we didn't take from Vladykin, choosing the Orfey instead. It's not a great ship at this point in the game, but it is cheap (we can afford better).



Next up is the Skorry-class destroyer. It's a heavier version of the Orfey, with slightly better armor and weapons but weaker engines. It'd be a good partner for the PANSY.



And finally, we have the Askold-class cruiser. This might be a good choice to add to the fleet, as it's reasonably fast and powerful for the price. It also has fighter launch capability, though we still don't have hangers to install or fighters to load, and we won't be getting them for some time yet. It'll still be a fine combat ship, should you choose to get it.

Spoiler: Wrapping Up (click to show/hide)

There are a couple of new jobs for us to complete for extra money and exp before moving on. We go now to Driutesk, where the bartender wants us to deliver a package to Paozero...way the hell on the other end of the sector (facepalm). Well, 450G is nothing to sneeze at. The assignment is completed without a hitch, despite best efforts by roving pirate gangs.

And so, as we approach Deviagorsk, the last planet before the void gate to Kalymnos...

: May I have a word with you, Yuri? It looks as if everything has been wrapped up nicely for now. As such, Alik and I will be disembarking.

: Can't we convince you to come with us?

: I'm not the type who enjoys being cooped up on one ship for long periods of time. But we'll be continuing our travels through the SMC. I am sure we will run into each other again someday. Farewell, my boy.

: G-Good-bye.

: Good-bye. Thanks for everything, and take care.

Gen and Alik left your crew!

Nooooooooo

: (sighs) Well, there they go!

: What a pity. I think we all could have learned quite a lot from that man.

: What about you, Ian? Aren't you gonna be kickin' off too, now?

: Huh?

: I mean, you already did what you got paid to do, yeah?

: Yes, well, at first I thought it was just going to be a short assignment. But now that I see how ignorant you all are about space travel, I thought maybe I should stay on a little longer, to help you out.

: Well, well! I don't recall any of us askin' you for more help.

: I see.

: Hey, don't let us hold ya back! We ain't beggin' for ya to stay or nothing! Huh...? What...? Ouch!

: Stop being such a bully, Torlo!

: We need all the hands we can get, Ian. We're glad to have more crew members. Right, kiddo?

: That's right. I'd be happy to have you stay, Ian.

: Oh...very well, Yuri. Thank you.

Ian became an official crew member!

Well, I think that's enough for today (and my fingers wholeheartedly agree). Be sure to make all needed choices regarding crew and stuff.

Next time: Kalymnos Cluster! See you then!

[Sirus]

I noticed that some images aren't displaying correctly, and I have no idea why 

I also got some video of the start of the ambush. It's only about 8 seconds long, but it can be uploaded if people want to see lots of lasers.

[Frumple]

Stick longface in radar, I say.

... also, did chubby just go tsun-tsun on four-eyes? There's a match made in slash hell if there ever was one

[Jarod Cain]

I vote radar as well.

Also, remember that even though there is no water you're still on a ship. It's not gay, it's bros.
-J-

[Sirus]

Part 19: I Like This Place Already

Welcome back! Last time, Yuri brought a traitor to justice, discovered the fate of the Epitaph probe, scored a bunch of new ship blueprints, and brought a Beatles impersonator onboard. Sadly, Gen has left the crew, leaving the bridge a bit shorthanded. Let us continue...

Spoiler: This is troubling... (click to show/hide)

As per voting, Ratai is assigned Radar Chief. His Control may suck now, but it'll get better with a few levels and we have his special skill in the meantime.

Afterwards, our heroes set out for new lands!

: All we gotta do is go through the gate and we'll be in another country!

: That's right. (I wonder what Kalymnos is going to be like.)



And so, we as we pass through the gate--



Oh shit, what happened?

: Ngh...Unh...

: Hey, Yuri! Something's wrong with Kira!

: What?!



: Agh...Gah...!

: Kira! Are you okay?! Kira!



: Gaaagh! (panting)

: Kira...

: I-I'm okay now. Don't worry about me...I'll be okay, as long as I'm by your side, Yuri.

: You're all right now. I want you to rest for a while, okay?

: Okay.

Oh dear.

Spoiler: So much to do! (click to show/hide)

Well, the moment got kinda ruined, but...



Welcome to Kalymnos Junction!
This place, is, to put it mildly, massive. 10 named sectors, 9 empty sectors, 2 active void gates and one dead gate. That is our eventual target, but right now we have other things to do. The game starts heating up here. There's more to do, more to see, more stuff to blow up.
First however, we need to go to Chios. It's the closest planet to the void gate, and Kira needs rest.

In Kira's room...

: Kira, how are you feeling?

: I'm fine now. I'm sorry, Yuri. I don't want you to have to worry about me.

: Of course I'm going to worry! You're my little sister. You're the only family I've got.

: Thank you, Yuri. I'm fine now, though. Really. Please don't make me get off the ship. I want to stay by your side, no matter what, okay?

: All right, Kira. If that's what you really want to do, I'm glad to have you with me.

: Good.

In the hallway outside...

: So how's she doin'?

: Oh, hi, Nia. She seems all right now. Her color's a lot better.

: Well, as long as it isn't anything serious...

: What? You sound like you have something else you want to say.

: Traveling through space is a rough life. I just wonder how she's gonna hold up, over time.

: I'm worried about her too, of course. But she said herself that she wants to come with me.

: Well, of course that's what she's gonna say, kiddo! Haven't you noticed the way she looks at you? That's not just sisterly love you've got there, shinin' in those eyes of hers.

: What do you mean?!

: I'm goin' to the bridge now, kiddo. The IP communication system is acting up. I'm gonna try to fix it.

: ...(Nia's crazy. I don't think she gets what siblings are all about. She must be an only child.)

Alright, enough of that nonsense. We've got planets to explore! To the tavern!
Yuri starts fussing over Kira again, which leads to this gem of a conversation:

: For a brother and sister, you two sure do get along really well. I'm just sayin'.

: I love my brother too, but we never acted as, uh...close...as you two do.

: Huh?

: Ya know, you guys don't really look alike, now that I think about it. You seem more like boyfriend and girlfriend than brother and sister.

: Boyfriend and--?! What the Grus are you talking about, Torlo?!

: ...

Y'know, with Torlo's bromance towards Ian and Yuri's connection to his sister, not to mention the vast number of single characters that could conceivably be paired, I'm kinda surprised this game wasn't more popular with shippers. Or maybe it was; I try to avoid those discussions :-/

Anyway, the bartender has some information on local politics. Seems two pirates, an old dude named Kreios and a woman called Celina (aka the Merciless Night Queen) have been feuding for years. Nia seems to know Celina, or at least is aware of her. The leader of the Kreios pirates got locked away a year ago, but the rest of them are still active.
He also has a job for us. A mine on Dodecanese is looking for extra workers. The pay is 500G for some honest manual labor. Maybe Ian can put some muscles on his bones.

That's pretty much it for Chios, though. Next stop: Heraklion!



Of course, with new opportunities and planets come new dangers. Back in Elgava, a single-cruiser-two-destroyer fleet would be a miniboss that you couldn't escape from. Here? Par for the course. They're armed with a mix of lasers and missiles, though they aren't very strong.



These Themis K destroyers are reasonably tough. They take two Normal attacks from the fleet, though with enough crits a single round can be enough.
I'm not sure how much damage the Ilithyia K cruiser can take, but a single Barrage was enough, so whatever.

Heralkion is home to a module shop, which I plunder and pillage. They have a crapton of stuff:

• Antiair Control Room Lv1: AA Accuracy + 2, Attack + 5
• Engine Room Lv3: Cruise and Battle Speed + 16
• Sick Bay Lv3: Med Tech + 10, Livability + 8
• Nav Sim Room Lv1: Navigation and Control Exp + 2
• Science Lab Lv1: Science Exp + 2
• Shop Lv1: Livability + 10, Cash Income + 5
• Deflector Lv2: Armor + 12

A good haul, all for 320G. It makes a tiny dent in our wallet.

The tavern here is pretty useless, but there is a nice scene here where Larissa reassures Kira that her headaches aren't indicative of a serious problem

Spoiler: Another Cool Old Guy (click to show/hide)

Finally, the primary purpose for us being in this sector: Professor Minas! His lab is located here on Heraklion, and we need to go see him.

: Ah, welcome! I am Gavriil Minas. Commander Vladykin of the Interplanetary Union of Elgava told me all about you. He says you're interested in Epitaphs, is that it?

: That's right, sir. We were hoping you could help us find out more about them.

: Hm. Without any specimens to investigate, my Epitaph research has been particularly slow going. What I do know, however, is that Epitaphs are composed of a diamond-like substance, similar to silicon nitride Si3N4.

Fadeout

: And from there, the possibility of structural phase transition, due to composition activation and some other conditions, as well as poly-crystallization growth, can be hypothesized. Therefore, what can be seen through an abstraction test performed according to Izoma's Law...

Another fadeout. Dear god, he's still going

: And that is what is known as this point. Do you have any questions?

: ...

: Um...Let's see...

: You can just put a big question mark over my head, man!

: So, there are some ruins on the planet Mytilene, near a dead gate, that appear to have once held an Epitaph. And so you'd like to go there to investigate the relationship between dead gates and Epitaphs. Is that what you're saying, Professor?

Someone took notes!

: Yes, that's it precisely.

: O-Oh, okay.

: You followed that well, Kira.

: Those were the only parts I understood.

: In that case, we're going to Mytilene. Would you like to come with us, Professor?

: Yes. I would like that very much. Thank you.

Gavriil Minas joined your crew as a temporary crew member!

: However, there is one, slight problem.

: What's that, sir?

: A band of pirates called the Kreios Pirates roam this sector, you see. Because of them, the Kalymnos Sector Security Agency has sealed this sector off. Sadly, I'm afraid we won't get anywhere unless the pirates have been taken care of.

Well, they weren't so tough. What's the big deal? Darn railroading
Well, here are Minas' stats...



HOLY GRUS LOOK AT THAT SCIENCE SKILL

Spoiler: Hi ho, hi ho... (click to show/hide)

Well, until we have a plan, let's go to Dodecanese to complete that mining job. A little extra G never hurt.



Along the way, we find the Tethys Nebula and earn a whopping 10 fame
Looks pretty, though.

Anyway, Dodecanese has a Ship Blueprint Company! I swing in and grab the blueprints to non-pirated versions of the ships we fought earlier:



The Themis-class destroyer is a weaker, less versatile Orfey; two small missiles that cannot be upgraded, one medium laser. It does have a decent anti-air stat, but since most anti-air weapons are small and the anti-ship missiles cannot be swapped out, that doesn't help much. Probably meant for people who are on a budget, but we have money to spend. Looks pretty cool though.



As far as cruisers go, the Ilithyia is pretty sub-par. It's stats are weaker in every single category than the Askold we got last chapter, and it has no special abilities or tricks to make up for it. A decent amount of module space and two medium weapon slots, but that's about it. And again, it looks pretty cool.

Anyway, enough ship browsing. We have some mining to do! Sadly, we aren't met by any dwarves.

: Ah, thanks for comin'! I'm Loukas Barberis, the foreman of the site. You can just call me Loukas.

Loukas here goes right up to the edge of the bottom screen on the DS

: Now, then. Jezelmite ore is highly magnetic. Because of that, we can't use regular mining equipment. Getting down and dirty is the only way to get the job done here.

: What?! Are you kiddin' me?!

: All right. That's enough chatter for now. Get to your stations, boys! I want you over here. And I want you two over there!

: Yes, sir!

: Got it!

: What, me too?



Fadeout

: All right, then! That's enough for today. Good job, boys!

: (groans) Oh, my back...

: Hey Yuri, you're pretty tough for being such a scrawny little guy.

: I'm used to hard labor, from back in the days when I worked at that repair shop on Ropesk.

: I guess that explains it.

(loucas): All right, boys. Here's your pay. Nothin's better than money you earn by the sweat of your own brow, huh?

500G for us! There's also a tavern here, but I'm guessing Ian just wants to go back to his room to rest. We'll come back later.

Spoiler: Almost forgot about her, huh? (click to show/hide)

Our next stop is Veroia, a major planet in the cluster. This place has a shipyard, Module shop, and a special location called the Security Agency. First, we'll hit the module shop, see if it can compete with the one on Chios.

• Elgava Bridge Lv4: Gauge Speed + 4, Captain Bonus + 2
• Navigating Bridge Lv2: Battle Speed and Mobility + 4
• Antiship Control Room Lv2: Antiship Accuracy + 5, Attack + 15
• Briefing Room Lv1: Fleet Bonus + 3, Captain Bonus + 1
• Study Hall Lv1: Management and Medical Exp + 2
• Shield Generator Lv1: Anti-Beam + 8

The answer is yes. Yes, it can.

Ok, that worked well. Shame that there's nothing going on in the Tavern or the Security Agency yet. However, we do learn one interesting fact: While the Security Agency battles pirates, the military spends its time preparing for a possible war with another nation called Nova Nacio. Remember that name, we'll be seeing a lot of it before long.

One more planet to go to tonight, because it's a fun one featuring a character we haven't seen lately: Volos, which is sadly not inhabited by mercantile short guys in environment suits. Volos is home to a defense post, which we'll be visiting next time. Today, however, we go to the tavern.

Cheers and whistles can be heard as we step inside...

Bar Patron: Yeah, Otis! Get 'im!

*Sounds of fighting*

Bar Patron: Kick him good! Kick him low, Otis!

*Two men are fighting on a stage at the back of the tavern. The fist of the larger man connects with his opponent's chin, and the smaller man crumbles to the floor, knocked out cold*

Bar Patron: Wow! Did you see that?! He didn't stand a chance!

Bar Patron: Aw, Grus! I shoulda bet on Otis! Man, I never learn.

: Wow. Who is that guy?

: Just some random barbarian, I'm sure.

: ...

Bartender: That guy Otis is famous around here. Never been beat, they say. How about you guys? Want to try your luck against him? There's prize money involved.

: No, we're not--

: Sounds like fun. I'll give it a try. I can win us that prize money, Captain.

: G-Gadina?!

: You're seriously gonna do this?!

: Just you watch me!

*Gadina strolls casually onto the stage, as if she doesn't have a care in the world. The large man bellows derisively*

: Hey, wait a minute! What's with this gorilla lady?!

: Gorilla lady?!

*With Otis's words, Gadina's expression suddenly darkens.

Nice knowing you, Otis

: Raaaaagh!

: *PUNCH!* Gah! *SMACK!* Oof! *BAM!* Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

*In a flash, Gadina knocks the large man out with only three swift blows*

: Who's a gorilla lady now, huh?! How do you like that?!

: Wow...

: (She really is a gorilla lady!)

: (She really is a gorilla lady!)

: (She really is a gorilla lady!)

*Gadina accepts the prize money from the bartender and triumphantly hands it over to Yuri. The party welcomes Gadina back with strained smiles*

You got 500G in prize money!

I remember busting a rib over that scene first time I saw it

One last thing before calling it a night. The bartender has another mining job for us, this time on a world called Zante. Huzzah, manual labor!

Spoiler: Putting mah foot down (click to show/hide)

Alright y'all, no more subtle hints. We've got almost 26kG in the bank, a Ropesk ship that's past its expiration date, and a whole bunch of new mods to upgrade everything with, plus weapons to upgrade. Time to spend some major dough. There won't be any more updates until I get some input on this.
First, we must decide what ship to replace the LOTUS with. We can either sell the LOTUS, or keep it as a memento. Either way, its time in the fleet is done. Here are the stats of every ship (aside from the ones we own) up to this point:


The Perekop destroyer. Older and worse than the LOTUS. No, just no.


The Derzky destroyer. Better than the LOTUS, inferior to the PANSY. Probably not the best choice, but would be an acceptable ship for a little while.


The Rurik cruiser. Not a bad choice, but it's average. It does have great anti-air stats. Remember, cruisers are a middle ground between a destroyer's mobility and a battleship's tankiness.


The Novik destroyer. Lots of anti-ship firepower, not much else.


The Gnevny destroyer. Sub-par in most stats, but can carry fighters. If you're really desperate for fighters (ignoring the fact that we won't have access to them until later in this chapter), this might be the choice for you.


The Skoryy destroyer. If you want to stick to having two destroyers, this might be your best bet. Heavily armed and armored, but a little slow.


The Askold cruiser. Probably our best choice as far as cruisers go for now, it has decent stats and fighter capacity. It's only real weakness is a lack of module space.


The Themis destroyer. It has decent anti-air capability, but other than that it's not great. In particular, it's attack range is the lowest of any ship we have so far. Yes, even the LOTUS. Hell, even the DAISY has better attack range.


And finally, the Ilithyia cruiser. If you want a cruiser, this might not be your best bet. Like the Themis, it has crappy attack range and downright horrible speed. It does look pretty awesome and futuristic, which is good if you want a break from the flying bricks we have.


Secondly, I'll probably have some money left over after purchasing and outfitting the new ship. What should it primarily be used for; upgrading our weapons, or upgrading modules? I'll be doing both if cash permits, but I'm looking for something to concentrate on.

Alright, enough lecture/infodump from me. Get to deciding!

Tune in next time for more adventures in the Kalymnos Cluster! See you soon!

[monk12]

Mad science is best science- the stats back that up!

I'd say take the Askold and focus on modules. Because why the hell not.

[Burnt Pies]

I agree, the Askold looks like a solid choice.

[Frumple]

Tritto Askold, but go with weapons. Dakka is always the answer, except when utility means more dakka.

[Itnetlolor]

Askolds will last you a decent amount of time (had mine for much of the game). I suggest mods first, and at least when fighters come around, equip it with an AA until you can supply your own.

[Felius]

Tritto Askold, but go with weapons. Dakka is always the answer, except when utility means more dakka.

Indeed. You always need more dakka.

Edit: Wait, wait, I was playing the game on my own, and just noticed one thing... Kira is 14... And Yuri 16... Not only there's some brother/sister action happening, they're both minors on top. She's barely a teen and already had to blow a bastard head off... 

[Sirus]

Tritto Askold, but go with weapons. Dakka is always the answer, except when utility means more dakka.

Indeed. You always need more dakka.

Edit: Wait, wait, I was playing the game on my own, and just noticed one thing... Kira is 14... And Yuri 16... Not only there's some brother/sister action happening, they're both minors on top. She's barely a teen and already had to blow a bastard head off... 

Technically, there's no "action", it's just implied that they care about each other...a lot
Okay, it's mostly Kira's feelings towards Yuri, and I'm pretty sure nothing is going on. Shippers would disagree, but then again shippers can make any pairing work if they try enough

[Itnetlolor]

Tritto Askold, but go with weapons. Dakka is always the answer, except when utility means more dakka.

Indeed. You always need more dakka.

Edit: Wait, wait, I was playing the game on my own, and just noticed one thing... Kira is 14... And Yuri 16... Not only there's some brother/sister action happening, they're both minors on top. She's barely a teen and already had to blow a bastard head off... 

Technically, there's no "action", it's just implied that they care about each other...a lot
Okay, it's mostly Kira's feelings towards Yuri, and I'm pretty sure nothing is going on. Shippers would disagree, but then again shippers can make any pairing work if they try enough

I think this happens within the game's canon sometimes. Nia was the first to mention shipping them both after first meeting Kira.

[Jarod Cain]

Go with the Askold and modules, upgrading those always brings more bang for your buck compared to just weapons.

As far as Yuri/Kira goes, especially right now, I always thought that Yuri probably realized how Kira felt about him and is pointedly ignoring it or playing the fool in front of the crew. Then again he probably feels similar but doesn't want to believe he does. Any other comments I'll reserve for later in the game.
-J-

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Edit: As for the good Doctor, of course put him in R&D. We should probably get HELP as soon as is convenient as well.

[Sirus]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

We should probably get [REDACTED] as soon as is convenient as well.

Dude, spoilers! 

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Though to be honest, I'm not sure how I'm going to introduce that...thing. Probably should have talked about that system earlier 

[Jarod Cain]

Sorry, figured that was vague enough that it didn't need a tag. Spoilered for posterity anyway. I will say that whole sequence scared the hell out of me when it first happened.
-J-