Awesome! We've completed both of our difficult objectives and wiped out most of the Novgorod Pirates! Let's check in with Vladykin.
Inside his lodgings, something seems to be afoot.Soldier: All right. We'll keep looking, sir.
: Yes, please do that.
: We came to report on our missions, Commander.
: Ah, Yuri! I've already gotten word from my men. They tell me you've restored peace to the Central Sector. You have my deepest gratitude. Thank you so much!
: Yeah, no problem.
: Hey, what's with all your soldier pals? Is something else going on?
: Oh, that...Well, I suppose I can tell you. Here's the situation.
: A government probe ship was sent outside the SMC, but all communication with it has been lost.
It was sent out to investigate Epitaphs, but after crossing the Volodarev Sector, there's been no trace of its movements. We're doing the best that we can do to find it, but so far, we've had no luck.
: (An Epitaph probe ship is missing, huh? If we could find it, we might find out something about Epitaphs.)
Sneaky plan, Yuri. I like it! But before we go probe hunting, we have some other things to do. First, the RUSALKA is due for a research upgrade. I choose in increase Durability, since having more health (+50) is always a good thing.
Now, you probably don't remember the planet Zarub, not that I can blame you. However, the bartender here has a mission for us: a transport ship has been lost near Ostrog, and we need to find and salvage it. It might be a bit of a pain to find, but the reward is 1,100G, and thus worth it.
I found it right away XD
Hey, we should also visit that Medic Organization.
: What did ya wanna come here for, Yuri?
: Those people who saved my life work for this organization. If they're here, I'd like to thank them for what they did for me.
: Well, ain't you the polite one.
*Yuri gives his name at the desk, and asks for the people who treated him. The receptionist calls the people down to meet Yuri*
: Ah, you're that boy, Yuri! I remember you!
: Oh yeah, I remember you, too. You look like you're doing pretty good now!
: I'm Yuri. You saved my life that time. I wanted to come here and thank you for that.
: Ha ha ha! Oh, there's no need to thank us. That's what the Medic Organization is here for, you see. But we're glad you came by to say hello. I'm Feodor Kuchin. And this is my daughter.
: Hi. I'm Larissa. How are you healing up? Do you still have any pain anywhere?
: I'm completely fine now, thanks to you two.
: That's really good to hear. If you ever get hurt again, you come right on back. Between my dad and me, we can fix just about anything!
: Larissa, that makes it sound like you're hoping that the poor boy gets hurt again!
: Oh, right. Sorry!
: Well, I really appreciate your stopping by, Yuri. We'll be heading off to Ruza soon, so we have to get going. But safe travels to you, and always take care of your health.
And so they leave. Two skilled, highly trained physicians, working in sub-optimal conditions with limited resources, treating everything from combat wounds to illness.
...wait. what. Yuri, what the hell, WHY DIDN'T YOU INVITE THEM ON YOUR SHIP?!
Dammit. Well, back to flying around some more-
: Yuri! Take a look at this!
*Ian, watching the news on the data monitor, suddenly shouts out. Yuri quickly runs to Ian's side*
: What is it?
: Look at this news report. "A medic ship that was operating near Ruza was attacked by pirates and is now missing."
: Uh oh.
: Didn't that Dr. Kuchin say he was heading to Ruza?
: I hope that wasn't his ship.
I ain't taking that chance. To Ruza!
Upon entering port, Kira manages to locate the dock where the MO ship is located. They arrive at the dock to see the ship...or what's left of it.: This is bad...
: I can't believe they even made it back to port!
: What about the doctor and his daughter?
: ...
Hmm...they probably couldn't have made it off-world. Let's check the taverns.??: Well, well! If it isn't Yuri! And the whole gang!
: Huh?
: What are you doing here?
: Are you here on some kind of business?
: Dr. Kuchin! And Larissa!
: I'm surprised to see you're still breathing!
: Huh?
*A brief fadeout to explain our prescence*
: Ha ha ha! So that's why you're here?
: You came all this way to see how we were doing, did you? I'm really touched! But you don't have to worry about us. We've got a lot of experience surviving in strife-ridden lands. No piddling little pirate attack is ever going to kill us off.
: I'm glad you're all right.
: But what are you guys gonna do now? Your ship was pretty much done for the last time I laid eyes on it.
: You're right on that count. I contacted the head office and asked them to send me a replacement but they didn't seem very enthusiastic about it.
: That's no surprise, is it? You've been on their blacklist for ages!
: Blacklist? What for?
: Dad's work always centers around poor, remote planets. The head office says that what he does isn't high-profile enough to draw in the really big donations.
: Come now, Larissa.
: What? It's true, isn't it? Oh sure. The Medic Organization was great at first, full of good intentions and all that. But now a bunch of stuffed-shirt bureaucrat types have taken it over and ruined it. And they have to pay these guys such huge salaries, everybody's scrambling to rake in the donations. I say we just quit!
: Larissa...
: Hey Yuri, you know what you should do? You ought to hire us as part of your crew! That would be so sweet! You can't have too many good people on your medical staff, if you ask me!
: Actually, that would be really great. What do you think, Dr. Kuchin?
: ...
: Come on, Dad! You're always complaining about how much the Medic Organization has changed!
: Well...In any case, without a replacement ship, I don't see how I could possibly continue my work.
: Then let's do it!
: All right, Larissa. You win. Yuri, please allow us the honor of working on your ship.
: Gladly. Welcome aboard!
Fedor and Larissa Kuchin have joined your crew!
Kuchin has the best medical stats of the crew by far, as to be expected. Larissa's Medicine stat is actually lower than Kira's, thanks to that medical kit I gave her a few updates ago, but it's still her best placement.
One last thing before I end this update. I have it on good authority that we'll be picking up some new ship blueprints before much longer, so it might be smart to hold off on picking up a replacement for the LOTUS until then (money isn't an issue, I've almost got enough for another Borodino). On the other hand, we'll be entering some tough fights before that time, and the LOTUS is rapidly becoming a meatshield.
So you have two things to figure out by Monday my time:- Place our two new members (shouldn't be hard to do), and
- Decide if we should upgrade now, or wait for new designs. If we upgrade now, what class should we use?
That's about it. Tune for the next update! 
I just hope my ex doesn't show up 
: No...No!
: Yuri! Yuri! Noooooo!
: Yuri...