On the way to Ariel Nova and her crew do come across a thing most strange.
An unindentified probe unlike any ship we did encounter so far. It is not hostile. After she does fly by a few times Nova does return to the matter at hand. She will have to evade the Ariellian fleet as she does not intend to pay the toll. With the Ariellian fleet hot on her heels it is actually easier to do so than it was on Ciberan. She does lead them in a merry chase and then does land in the planet they did leave undefended.
Once in the floating city she does proceed straight to the secure elevator she did previously discover. Presently she does have the magnetic card to unlock it.
Beyond does lie the city's command center. Yet only a few soldiers are there, and they are little obstacle for Nova. The party does explore without impediment, and as they do so Amaro does raise in level. His Aptitude we do raise to 20 and his Firearms to 10.
Eventually Nova does find a friendly face among the dead soldiers and the surveyance equipment.
Do please explain why do you feel the need to reveal this to me.
Because you were about to fry my ass, that's why!
I do need a new manager.
Besides, this is the first time anyone's come in here firing blasters. You're just the thing we need to bring down Damien Altron.
How many of you rebels are there?
Only a handful. But we've been fighting for a long time. We have spies in a number of places. We have information that can help you. And that will help us.
Do share.
I can't help you. I'm only one small part of the rebel forces. Go to our base and they can help you. It's at coords (1571,0546). Talk to Jared. Good luck.
If what you do say is true you should accompany us.
She does gesture towards the fallen Ariellian soldiers.
No, I have to stay here.
I'll just say you killed him. Good luck.
As you do wish. Yet do keep in mind we will find you if you did lie to us.
The doubts of our heroine do prove to be without foundation. At the coordinates the spy did provide we do come across an old weather station the rebels do use as their base. Yet they do not seem to be very good at this. There are only a few guards and barely any defenses. If we did want to do so we could end this rebel movement without too much trouble.
May I ask how long have you fought against Damien Altron's rule?
Me, personally? About three weeks.
Do allow me to say this does not reinforce my faith in your little rebellion.
But the movement has been fighting Damien for years. Now hurry up. Jared's waiting.
We do wander the rebel base until we do come across their leader. It is not easy as he did not even receive his own portrait.
I do what I am paid to do. When I do feel gracious I may even throw in a little extra.
And I'm sure Sebastian is paying you well. But I hope you are here fighting Damien for more than just money.
That does depend on whether or not you do hide a few designer bags in this place. And who is this Sebastian you do speak of?
I admire your discretion, if not your motivation. I suppose it doesn't matter as long as the job gets done.
Your not very brave spy did indicate you would be able to share with us information that would be of some use on our quest.
Indeed we do. You'll find the coords (1411,0426) extremely helpful. Go to those coords and you'll find Damien Altron.
I do assume next you will tell me there is no huge rebel army to accompany us.
I'm affraid not. But we can help you in another way. Once you fight your way to Damien, he'll summon more troops. We'll keep them occupied so they don't interfere with your work.
Sigh. I am sure you will.
Good luck, Starkiller. We'll see you after the nightmare is over.
We do leave the rebel base and go straight to the coordinates he did give us. Ariellian patrols are in the area yet they are able to do little to stop us.
There are two elevators near the hoverdock. One of them, the northernmost one, is under control of a computer system elsewhere. The leftmost one we can open with one of the cards we do already have.
There is not much to do here. The equipment to be found there is not very useful to us. We can see a great number of Ariellian soldiers in a different section of the base yet there is none to stop us here. We do advance to the point in which both sections of the base do find each other. There is an elevator that I do asume does take to Damien Altron near that point but I do ignore it and, instead, do advance to the section of the base on which the troops are.
This section is several times as big as the empty one. It is also full to the brim with Ariellian soldiers. At the end of it is another elevator. By its position I do assume this one does correspond to the one we couldn't use before. Nova is short on ammunition after killing so many soldiers. Both Nova and Amaro did level up several times.
We do return to the elevator we did pass by on our way to the murderous rampage, the one that did promise to take us to Damien.
As they do take the hand drifting under the coat as a sign of evil intent the party does shoot him several times. The wall behind him does suffer heavy damage. Damien Altron does seem unhurt.
I usually enjoy this trick, but it's not the same when Camede is dead.
Nova does tilt her head to the side. She does blink a few times. Then a sudden burst of realization does come to her eyes. She does close her left hand into a fist and does raise it close to her lips, does extend the index and middle fingers so that they barely touch her mouth. Her gun does still trail Damien.
Akuryou Taisen! Akuryou Taisen!
Several more bursts does the party fire on him. No effect they have. Nova does look intrigued for a short while.
I should have brought the Ofuda.
You really are stupid.
It is not my fault! Who would expect to come face to face with an evil spirit on a Space Western?
Can't you recognize a hologram when you shoot through one?
Oh...
Nova does put all of her Aegyo on the next line.
Oppaaaaa! Would you be so kind as to tell me where do you transmit from?
I'm right here. I'm all around you.
Never before did I meet an Egregore who did like to play with holograms.
I am a highly sophisticated computer system. A complex electronic lifeform, if you will.
My version was more original.
That's why Camede's death is so distressing. She created me. Then she put me in charge of Ariel Administration, and she went out to gain military control of the four systems.
It was fun to kill her. Did you even ponder the reason why these guns are known as Thermocasters?
You'll find I'm not easily goaded into hasty action, Starkiller.
It would be nice if you were to realize I am here to kill you.
Yes.
And you must realize that the only way to kill me is to destroy this planet. I have systems everywhere. Or are you going to shoot my hologram again?
Uhm... Everything I do say is but a lie!
So what? You're human. You've been watching too many old programs on the holo. It would take something a lot more sophisticated than that to trick me. It can't be done.
This would be much harder if you were an actual egregore. I do believe I have just the thing I need for this job.
Enough of this posturing. The past is gone and can't be changed. Maybe we can help each other.
Do tell.
I know Max Sebastian has hired you to kill me. I'll double his price. How much did he promise you?
One hundred thousand.
That's a lie, but I'll still double that if you go kill Max for me instead. Considering you'll never kill me to collect from him, mine is the better deal.
We do have a most dealie deal. Do consider it done.
Good. I'm sure you will. And don't come back and talk to me until you have killed Max, or you'll regret it for as long as it takes for me to peel the skin from your bones.
The party does leave back to the main floor.
*intercomm* I do expect you not to be as foolish as to trust him.
I do not. Yet this is a situation from which we can't but win.
I am unsure about your reasoning.
Even if we do not get paid we do still get to take out the Ciberan slimeball. And it is not like Damien's troopers can do much against us if this does turn out to be a trap.
*intercomm* I do hope you are right. If I am not mistaken the elevator you did use to reach this level from the hoverdock is now under lockdown. You will have to use the other one. And I am affraid...
... they did replace the troopers we did kill earlier with new ones, am I right?
*intercomm* You are indeed. I do also have to say...
... we are short on ammunition.
*intercomm* That's it. Very good.
It was about time we did face a little challenge.
The away team does move forward. Many Ariellian troopers do find a messy dead...
... before Nova does find herself out of ammunition for her Thermocaster. Yet many Ariellian soldiers do still stand between the party and the elevator. Enough in fact as to make these she did kill so far little more than an entrée.
Nova and her companions do retreat from the area occupied by the Ariellian forces. She does check the loot she did ignore earlier. The only barely passable gun she does find is a MIII Laser and a few magazines for it. In this way she does come with a plan: She will give the MIII Laser to Amaro and herself use Amaro's M23-30AR as they do have quite a bit of ammunition for it.
In this way equipped the team does carve a bloody path through the Ariellian forces. Yet the M23-30AR is much weaker than Nova's Thermocaster. She is unable to kill enemies as rapidly as she did with the thermocaster, and her companions are not good enough to take the extra pressure. There is also the fact there are simply too many enemy soldiers coming from all directions. Corridors and rooms are both literally flooded by them.
Before long does Nova find herself alone. Dozens of enemy soldiers do remain between her and the elevator. And for the first time she does find herself taking vast amounts of damage as her current gun is unable to take out enemies before her AMD's regeneration rate is ever so slowly overwhelmed. Is this the end of our beautiful, charming, elegant, and adorable heroine?
Yo A O, Hom Var Ray...
*intercomm* That's far too geeky.
The dead do not... geek.
What does follow can only be told by means of several paragraphs worth of pew pew, ka-boom, aieee, I have fifteen children, no please no, ratatata, bang bang, and the like. They do say an image is worth more than a thousand words so I will take the easy way out.
Much carnage later...
Tch. My hair is a mess.
*intercomm* Holy...
What does the scouter have to say, Punch?
*intercomm* I do believe you did just break it.
Once in the hovercraft she does return to the ship. From there she goes straight to the floating city's bar. There is someone she does need to meet.
Would you believe me if I were to tell you I did find a computer not even you would be able to defeat?
There isn't a computer made that I can't turn upside down just by talking to it.
The most clever and powerful computer in all of the four systems it is. You did never face an opponent such as this. Do you want to meet it?
No thanks. It isn't worth my while. Besides, I'm getting old. I don't like to get off the planet much.
Are you sure you do want to let this opportunity slip you by? This is your chance to make it to the history books. The computer I do speak of is none other than Damien Altron.
Damien Altron? A computer? You're kidding.
I am not. Do you want to give it a go?
No. You're crazy. Why would I want to go with you to talk to a computer that doesn't exist?
Because we will bet on it. This computer does exist, and it is my will to bet you a thousand credits you will be unable to defeat it.
A thousand? It's a bet. Where are we going?
Damien's not far from here. Yet there is something else we do need to do first. And we should get you some body armor as well. His fortress is not the easiest place to get in without an appointment.
Wait, body armor? Wait a minute...
Back in the starship I do set Waldro and Denner as Nova's new away team.
Requiescat in pace, us.
Each does receive a Rush AMD and a kevlar suit but no gun. Their inventory is full of nothing but ammo for Nova's thermocaster.
Now we do only need to give the both of you some tribal paraphernalia and we are ready for business.
We do travel back to Mastassini to run a contraband cargo to take to Ciberan. I do not remember where did we come across a Gravblocker but we did indeed come across one as we did travel the four systems. It may have been on Ariel. Before we do travel to Ciberan we do make a stop to give the armor to Galejay.
Indeed I am.
Good. Give it to me.
There you are.
Nova does give him the Gravblocker.
The armor fits perfectly. But then it should, since all Darcator are all genetically identical, or nearly so.
Do allow me to ask why is then that you are the only one in here who does want to become a mercenary.
They say I am insane. I say they are full of crap.
Maybe you are both right.
Where is our first destination?
Ciberan.
The Darcator silently floats up toward the ceiling, testing his new armor. He follows you.
His stealth is quite high. The rest of his character sheet is pretty weak. I do not longer expect my companions to do anything but carry two full bags of extra ammunition so I do not really care.
We do arrive to Ciberan before long. We do go straight to Max Sebastion.
What if I were to decide to start with you?
He stares into your eyes, trying to gauge if you are serious.
I'm the one paying you, smart-ass. Now get out of here and finish the work I hired you to do.
Nova does raise her thermocaster.
There are not enough credits on the four systems as to make to put up with your whining and your lack of manners worth my while.
A single shot does kill Max. The Ciberan soldiers do not try to stop nova. They do let us leave without trouble.
Which does nothing but to evidence how much of an asshole he was.
I do return to Mastassini for a contraband run to Ariel. Before long I am back at Damien Altron's place.
The side elevator is completely dead. To return to Damien I do have to run the gauntlet once again. Yet this time I do have more than enough ammunition for the thermocaster. Most soldiers do die before they can raise their guns. The few who are able to shoot do still die too fast to overwhelm Nova's AMD.
Max Sebastion is dead.
That's probably a lie, but it doesn't matter if it's true. Did you really think I would pay you if you killed Max?
It was worth a shot.
I doubt that. I have a little surprise for you. You are gonna like it, but you won't have time to enjoy it. You'll see.
Nova does roll her eyes.
If all were as honest as you are my love life would be much less disappointing.
Let's just say it's a long way back to the front door. I doubt you'll make it.
Do please look forward to our next meeting, Damien. I do have a surprise of my own for you.
I'm through talking with you. Goodbye, Starkiller.
Nova did clear the entire level to get in. Nova does clear the entire level to get out.
Yawn.
Back in the ship she does switch Waldro for the Lanta. She does return to Damien's fortress.
A new batch of soldiers does wait for her.
More yawn.
Do impress me, Lanta.
I don't appreciate your bringing that reptile in here, Starkiller. You're going to pay for this.
One thousand credits in fact.
The Lanta walks up to the hologram and introduces himself. The two begin to talk.
The conversation sounds simple enough, even random and pointless. It drags on for five minutes, then ten. They talk about things from central heating to citizen surveillance.
You wonder what you're doing here listening to this Lanta discuss weather stations with his captive audience. Then you see the holo of Altron flicker.
The holo of Altron is steady again, but it's expressionless. Sometimes when Altron talks, the lips of the holo don't synch with teh words. The talk continues.
Skreed seems to be talking about trivial things, but as he does, he starts backing away from Altron. The hologram is almost motionless.
Get down!
The Lanta yells. You hit the floor and the lights dim. The image of Damien Altron stands frozen above you.
What the-
The room shakes and the east wall explodes outward with a sound of grinding concrete and twisting steel. You lay on the floor and cover your head.
The roar slowly fades to a low rumble, and then silence. As the dust settles, the lights come back n stronger than before. You stand up.
That must have been a most convincing argument.
He tries futilely to brush himself off.
It's rather complicated. Let's just say he got his priorities confused.
Do share.
It's hard to describe. Every computer has priorities. By talking to Damien, I learned it was complex enough to have equal priorities.
I am unsure I do follow you.
So I thought up a scenario that set two critical and equal priorities in direct conflict. They each started drawing power from the other. When each priority sensed the drain, it tried to draw more power from the other. The whole process fed on itself. And I used high priorities, so the safety priority was overriden.
This is a bet I am more than happy to lose.
That's right. One thousand was the wager. And I must say, it was the most impressive thing I ever did. Look, there's a hole in the wall over there.
The image of Damien Altron flickers, fades, and then disappears.
We do follow the corridor.
Let us check the message.
Received last message. Invasion proceeding as planned. Report on progress soon.
I do feel this <air quotes>Typhon Fleetmaster</air quotes> may be related to the strange ships we did see earlier as we did travel through Ariellian space. Yet what invasion does he refer to?
The Ciberan invasion. What else could it be?
We were there just now. No unknown ships were to be seen.
*intercomm* This may have a connection to whatever did happen on the Rouyn system.
I did completely forget about that. We should go take a look.
*intercomm* I can but hope someone able to pay us did manage to survive this long.
Do excuse my impertinence but I have to ask what do you mean when you do say I am not fair. I do believe you might need to have a profesional check on your eyesight, sir. Wait... Did my hair got into a mess? Did my make up run off? Lord in heav- I'll be back in a minute! *does run off to the toilet with her bag in hand*
(add a few sobs here so that you feel very mean because you did not notice) On the other topic I am a LARPer at heart. 
I did not add that to my old persona as it is not well seen in this place but I guess I just can't help it when I do a let's play.
Carry on Mercenary.
gentleman's motion and ask for 
