We take a quick trip to Alatyr for rest. Next up, we have some pirates to deal with! The most obvious place to check is the empty sector in between Nerekhta and Ostrog, so of course that's where they are.
: Yuri, there're two small pirate ships!
: The pirates we were hired to get rid of?
: I'm positive that's them.
: Heh. They look like total pushovers to me. Let's swat 'em down like gnats!
Feel free to laugh. Oh, and just for further humiliation, I decided to test Final Roar. Enjoy the ownage (with sound!).
After a detour to pick up our reward (a cool 850G), we've got an opportunity to spend it. See, a new location opens up on Alatyr now that the conflict is over: a module shop! All sorts of useful things here: Elgava Bridge Lv3, Fire Control Room Lv3, Radar Room Lv3, Engine Room Lv2, War Room Lv1, and most importantly - Deflector Lv1. The wisest course of action is, of course, to buy all of them. War Rooms boost the effectiveness of your fleet, while Deflectors boost Armor, and are required to pass through that meteor storm without taking damage.
Checking back at previously-visited systems also yields fruit. The bartender on Ostrog has a request to go to the National Science Research lab on Alatyr to deliver an employee back here. The pay is a pittance, but Yuri's doing this for !!SCIENCE!!
Slight catch though. She probably won't come unless we show her a piece of rare metal, which the bartender provides for us. Back to Alatyr! Wish there was a more direct route back, because this is a four-waypoint trip!
Anyway, another new location opens up on Alatyr, the Science Lab. Please refrain from pulling unmarked levers.
: So the xenotide isolation rate is thirty-four percent, is it? Hm. That won't be enough to restore the mephormium.
*Inside the lab, a serious-looking woman works feverishly, surrounded by enormous stacks of technical-looking documents*
: Excuse me.
: The sublimation of the mephormium was...let's see...over 5,000 degrees. But that's not going to help in this case.
: Um, excuse us!
: In order to refine the crystallization of the vigconia...No, this value is still lacking.
: Hello?! You've got visitors, lady!
: Hm?! What is the meaning of this? Can't you see for yourselves? I'm extremely busy right now.
: Yes, we're very sorry to bother you. I'm Yuri, captain of RUSALKA. We were asked to transport you to Ostrog. They said you'd come with us if we showed you this.
: Hmph. Does somebody really think I can be bought with this pitiful little hunk of rock? Thanks, but no thanks.
D:: Now wait just one minute! If you don't come, we don't get paid! Are you gonna come, or are we gonna have to make you?
: (sighs) Are you sure this is legitimate? How do I know you aren't just going to abduct me or something?
: They just told us to come get you and bring you back, that's all.
: ...
All right, fine. Go find me some benocyte, then.: Huh?
:
You'll find it in the Buzhsk Star System. It's a rare superconductor metal. It's known to give off a magnetic field when in proximity to laser light. I find myself suddenly needing it for the research I'm conducting now, but my staff and I are too busy to get it ourselves.
: Yeah, uh, sure. I guess we could do that for you.
: So if we get this beno, uh, whatever rock thing for you, you're gonna come quietly with us, right?
: Yes, I suppose I could, as long as it doesn't take too long.
: Um, how exactly do we get this benocyte?
:
When you get to the Buzhsk Star System, fire off a laser cannon. Then just use this detector probe to find minerals that give off a magnetic field. Simple, right? That probe also measures heat and radiation as well, so make sure you're looking at the correct value.: All right. But you have to promise to come with us if we get some benocyte for you.
: Yes, yes. You have my word. Now go!
Why does science have to be such a pain? 
Anyway, the task literaly takes two minutes, so I'm not sure how the designers expected you to forget so quickly. All that happens if you have short-term memory loss is Musin bitching you out and sending you back. Get it right, and she agrees to come along. Back to Ostrog!*Just as the party enters the tavern, a maser blaster goes off, barely missing Yuri's nose!*
: What the Grus?!
: Hey!
Voice: Aw, crap!
*The man frantically takes aim again, pointing the blaster directly at Musin this time*
: Hmph!
*fighting noises*
Man: Oof!
: Raaagh!
*more fighting*
Man: Gah!
*Thanks to Torlo's brave and quick action, the shooter is subdued in a flash*
Man: Oh, Grus!
: Hmph. It's a good thing this guy's a lousy marksman.
: ...This school ID...You're a Driutesk National University student, aren't you?
Man: Son of a--! If it weren't for you, all those rare metals...all that benocyte...would belong to our nation!
Well, Grus. Guess the feud will continue, even if war was averted.: ...(sighs) I wish I could say scientific research has nothing to do with politics. But I know in my heart it isn't true.
Man: ...
: ...Hey, kid.
: Who, me?
: What do you think about letting me stay on your ship for a while? I really don't want to stop doing my current line of research. But who knows how many crazy people like this are out there waiting for me? I need to have a place where I can just relax and concentrate on my work. Of course, I don't expect you to put up with me for free or anything like that. I'll use whatever skills I have to help out your crew. What do you say?
: Hm...
The correct answer, Yuri, is yes. Give up on a skilled scientist just because some nationalists want her dead? Pft!
Oh, and the bartender feels bad about what almost happened in his tavern, so he pays us double as an apology, in exchange for not bad-mouthing his place. Score!
Anyway, here are her stats. Place her wisely! 
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Topic: Let's Play Infinite Space! (DS) - We got Fightercraft! (Read 61543 times)