Most of the text Karoff scrolls past is gibberish, but a few of the messages are partially deciphered. Even these prove frustrating however as even the ones where you can make out sentences are delicately phrased with deliberate obliqueness. But as the messages near the end, they suddenly start dropping the pretense.

"Ah, here we go. Well that's right to the point, isn't it?"

You peer over Karoff's shoulder at the screen.

^ou've al%ead^ killed ove% this. It's too late to back out now. ^ou can take ^ou% mone^ o% a hole th%ough the skull--we'%e coming fo% the package eithe% way, so ^ou'd do well to think twice befo%e ^ou do anything ^ou'll %eg%et.

As to ^ou% question, it ain't nothing but sweet %evenge, Ma%kie bab^. The^ tu%ned us back du%ing the evacuations. We couldn't 'p%ove' we we%en't infected and what we%e we to them but a bunch of shitkicking fa%mers and %anchers? Well we didn't have Hunge% but we got hung%^ ENOUGH limping a%ound the %im to find a new home and plent^ of us died of infection all %ight--just plain o%dina%y bo%ing Old Ea%th influenza that could've been cu%ed if we'd had even the most p%imitive aid. My wife and daughte% among them.

The o%ganization ^ou wo%k fo% has blood on its hands, and don't even think it stops the%e. A lot of ou% people ma^ have gotten complacent once the^ %esettled, all this talk of 'moving on', but that's just not fo% me and m^ f%iends. We won't fo%get and we won't allow them too eithe%. And I've made man^ mo%e f%iends %ecentl^. We'%e getting ou% %evenge, and I think ^ou know exactly how.

See ^a soon, Ma%k.

--W. Ho%seman


"So we've definitely got pirates coming this way." Hinsman says with a rueful shake of his head. "Or terrorists, anyway. Even better, right? And so much for your theory on Matti, Zee."

"Any theories on what the package is?" you ask after a moment's silence.

"Carst is from Galton Station, isn't he?" Karoff asks. "I think I saw it in his file. I've been there once or twice, and don't ask for what. But they all but advertise they're a black market."

Hinsman nods, looking grim. "Most likely blueprints for illegal weapons tech, or an ethics-stripped AI. Something small Carst could easily smuggle back over here the last time he was on leave. And something valuable and risky enough he'd kill anybody who got in his way."

Karoff taps around on the screen some more. "Too bad he didn't survive," he finally says with a sigh. "Because I'd sure like to kill him myself right now. Scans found the probe by the way. Way out there on the edge of the system."

"Oh really? That's something at least. Although it'll take time to get to and disable, and I'm not sure we can spare that right now. We need to start thinking of how to defend ourselves."

"The sooner we get a distress call out the sooner we can put an end to all this," Karoff says. "We're nothing but a target right now, with the defenses down and if there's enough of them they can wear us down eventually without much risk to themselves."

"Can the defenses be repaired?"

Karoff winces. "I was afraid you were gonna ask that. And technically yes, but it's a big job. The turrets are in every arm of the station and we'll need to get power to all of them, which means cutting back here in the central area."

They both sink into a grim silence for a bit, before Hinsman finally looks over. "All right Zee, I guess you get the tiebreaker. What are you most in the mood for right now?"

You repair defenses

Hinsman and Karoff have already ripped out most of the EPNs that were so recently installed by the time you finish suiting up. Your sleek one piece outfit is in the Order colors of dark blue and grey, and more than just a uniform. With the addition of your helmet with its built in breathing mask it serves as well in combat as any armor, and protects you in any climate and even for a time in open space. It feels good to be back in it. Between the detour through the Camarov system and then the stop here you've been running around without it for an unusually long time.

Hinsman charges by with a load of power cables draped over one arm, and you have to jog after him a short ways to get his attention and instructions.

You get to work!

You both drag piles of equipment about while Karoff diverts more power from the ship, as much as can be spared, and even sacrifices most of the shuttles. Before long the equipment is in place and the three of you begin rigging up cables, energy cells, power nodes and anything you can find that can produce or transfer a charge down each of the station's splayed arms to the laser and torpedo turrets mounted at their tips.

Finally, the heavily damaged medical wing is the last that needs attention. That's all on you.

"Think we can get by without that one?" Hinsman asks.

Karoff shakes his head. "Without the turrets that's a biiiig area where they can get in close and freely maneuver and we can't touch them."

"Figured. All right then Zee, off you go. Just hook up these cables and don't slip and go floating off into space, it'll be a pain in the ass to collect you again. One of us will keep in voice contact while you're there."


You stand in the airlock, the minutes ticking by while you wait for the atmosphere to slowly equalize with that of the absent one in the medical wing. You know you're getting close when you begin to float in place.

Once the door opens and you drift into the entrance to the medical wing, you search for the panel Karoff told you about. It's about the only one here that hasn't had its conduits fried, and you remove a connector you'll need. That and the EPN loaded with an energy canister you have strapped to your back should be all you need to power the turrets. After checking in on your wrist comm you start to make your way on down to the hall.

You carry a cable as well, meant to be attached to your suit. If you were following safety recommendations, one of the two clips along the length should always be anchored to something. You're not entirely sure you need it however. The sides of this section have blown out in some places but you can just avoid getting too near the edge of those gaps. Using the tethered cable is fine when working in one place, but tediously slow when trying to move.