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When we arrive at Deviagorsk (just past Alatyr),Gen decides to let us in on his plan. Sorta.

: Very good. Alik and I will disembark here. We have some business to attend to on this planet, you see.

: Huh? But what about the dispute?

: You'll see, you'll see. Now, no matter what happens, I don't want you to go meddling with the Alatyr or Driutesk forces, do you understand me? You can come back here and fetch us after some time has passed.

: okay...

*Gen and Alik turn and walk away*

Dunno what they want to do here. This planet is incredibly dull, just a tavern and no jobs. Not even a shipyard! Ugh, whatever. I'll be back later.

Suddenly!



A lone Novik flies through the void...towards us!

: Novgorod Pirate ship approaching at twelve o'clock.

: Aw, it's just one destroyer. It's no biggie. I'm sure we'll have it cleared up in no time!

: Wait a minute. Something's odd here.

Destroyer Captain: Hold your fire. We don't have any beef with you.

Damn straight

Destroyer Captain: I repeat. Hold your fire!

: Huh? What's up with that?

: I have no idea. Kira, patch me through. I want to talk to them.

: Roger.

: This is Yuri, captain of the RUSALKA. You're a Novgorod Pirate ship without hostile intentions? Explain yourself. Do you read me?

Destroyer Captain: Yeah, we read ya. We already said good-bye to the pirating business! Now we're on our way to join up with the Driutesk forces. Ya get me?

: The Driutesk forces, eh?

: All right. I understand your situation. And I don't see any reason for us to fight, either.

Destroyer Captain: Roger. Hey, why don't you come join up with Driutesk yourself? If you got your own ship, you won't believe the bonus they're givin' out just for signing up!

: Yeah, maybe. I'll think about it. Safe travels to you.

Destroyer Captain: Yeah, right back at ya.



: Looks like Driutesk is doing just about anything it can right now to build itself up. And once the balance of power tips in its favor...It's not gonna be a pretty sight!

: Yeah, I think you're right.

Welp, it looks like we're running out of time. Since we haven't had any word from Gen, perhaps we should check in with Galkin on Nerekhta?



Before I do so however, I drop a pretty chunk of change on making sure the RUSALKA is modded properly. It's important to note that despite using almost every type of mod we have access to right now, the RUSALKA still has plenty of space. It is awesome

Sadly, Galkin isn't here. However...

*Some rough-looking men group together around the monitor screen in a corner of the tavern*

Voice from the monitor: This is a message to all brave spacefarers everywhere. The mighty Driutesk Forces are currently looking for courageous new recruits who will help us fight in our battle for justice. If you are selected, all living expenses will of course be covered for you. In addition, you will receive a Dangerous Duty Bonus, as well as a Travel Allowance. We're looking for brave, young, strong, healthy men and women just like you! So call the Driutesk Recruiting Office today! Join Driutesk! When you're ready, we're waiting for you!

: ...

: ...

: Wow, they're really reaching to get anyone they can to join, aren't they?

: Grus! If this keeps up, the Driutesk side is just gonna get stronger and stronger! I can't take it anymore! Let's go find that Gen guy and get him movin' on this!

Smartest thing I've heard him say today. Gen's had enough time, we need to stop this dispute, and fast!

We find Gen. Where? In the tavern of course, where else?

: Ah! I'm over here.

: This is no time to be relaxin' and havin' a drink, old man! The Driutesk forces are rampin' up a huge army as we speak!

: Exactly according to plan.

Anyone else picture the Gendo Ikari pose at lines like these?

: "When too much food is cooked in the pot, the pot will crack."

: Huuuh?!

: What do you mean by that, sir?

: Alik and I have used every means possible to spread the rumor that the Driutesk Forces are recruiting soldiers. Thanks to our efforts, pirates and ruffians of every description have flowed into Driutesk in droves. And as a result, there has been a constant string of disturbances and even looting within the forces.

: Yeah, I can just imagine what a hard time they must be havin' with the whole "military discipline" thing! Heh.

: Yes, now that the Driutesk Forces have taken these ruffians on as allies, they have their hands full keeping them in check. And if it gets so bad that Driutesk needs outside help to keep them under control...

: Oh, now I get it! the CEF will have no choice but to step in, right?

: Precisely.

: A-ha! Very clever!

: Heh heh. This wasn't my idea, actually. Alik came up with the plan.

: Really? Alik?

: (fidgets)

: As young as he is, Alik has done an exceptionaly job at taking in everything I have to teach him. This boy is going to be a tactician famed throughout the galaxies one day!

: Alik, huh? Well, whaddya know?

: (fidgets)

: Now, then. Shall we go?

: Go? Go where?

: Go to provoke the ruffian element of the Driutesk forces into battle, of course. If it can be made to look like these ruffians are attacking private citizens, then the CEF will have no choice but to get involved. That is our strategy.

: Okay. I get it now.

: The Driutesk forces are moving from their home planet toward the Buzhsk Star System as we speak. You must target only the Novgorod Pirate Ships among them. A Driutesk regular forces ship will be leading each fleet as the flagship. Be very, very certain you do not attack or harm this Driutesk lead ship in any way. Have you got that, my boy?

: Yes, sir.

: Very good. Alik and I will come along and do anything we can to help.

Gen and Alik have decided to accompany your crew! Gen can now be used as a crew member!

Ok, we have Gen in our crew! Considering his age, he should be given a low-stress job. Perhaps accountant, or researcher, or...





Change of plans. I will open his placement to vote like normal after this update, but for the upcoming battle I will make an executive descision.

Gen will replace Nia as 1st Officer, thanks to his superior Leadership skill and one of his abilities, which will come in handy very soon. Nia's best skills are in artillery and combat, but we won't be doing any combat today. Thus, she will become Artillery Chief and Torlo will become her second-in-command.

Druitesk is right next door to Deviagorsk, though this is our first opportunity to go there. Time to put Gen's plan into action!



In case you didn't understand, the idea is that we're gonna attack several Driutesk fleets filled with bandits. However, we aren't gonna touch the fleet leaders, which are official military vessels. That can be a bit of a problem, as the leaders are flying Loc-class ships, which are upgraded versions of Central Elgavan ships.

At least, they'd be a problem if it weren't for the RUSALKA. I blow both of the pirates out of the water, leaving the military vessel dumbfounded in my wake.

When we arrive at Driutesk, I take the opportunity to rest the crew. The bartender here has a mission for us, to eliminate a small pirate group hanging between Nerekhta and Ostrog. I'll do it later, because right now we've got a war to prevent. Onward towards Buzhsk!



In an empty sector along the way, we run into the PANSY's evil twin. The LOTUS takes quite a beating thanks to crew weariness, but it pulls through. Victory!

Meanwhile, at the CEF Headquarters...

: You sent for me, Defense Minister Fomich, sir?

: Ah, Captain. Yes, I'm sending your 117th Fleet to the Buzhsk Star System. Prepare to have it ship out.

: We don't have to worry about infringing upon their right of self-government, sir?

: Our objective is to bring a certain element of the Driutesk forces under control, only. We are not interfering with the dispute. If either side chooses to view the operation as a threat of further action from Central, well, so be it.

: ...

: That will be all. Get moving, man!

: Y-Yes, sir!

Hmm, looks like something's up. Nothing we can do about it right now however. I make a quick detour to Alatyr for rest and repairs, and then approach Buzhsk.



This one's slightly more tricky. Still, not much of a threat, except this time...the military ship is in front! We aren't allowed to touch it, and it'll be much harder to damage the pirate ships behind it. So what's the secret to this fight? Gen's special skill, of course! Formation Foe renders the defensive abilities of the enemy positions moot for a short time, allowing us to target the pirate ships as if they were in the front row.

: Whew. Do you think the Central Forces are getting ready to move yet?

: Yuri, there's a large number of ships approaching! It's--

: So they're finally here, huh?



I wanna slap whoever thought that yellow was a good background color for this scene



: This is Rudak Fomich, Defense Minister of the Interplanetary Union of Elgava. The purpose of our fleet's presence is only to bring a certain unruly element of the Driutesk Forces under control. All other ships of both nations, please withdraw from this sector immediately. I repeat. All other ships--

Fadeout

*As the huge fleet moves in, Alatyr and Driutesk do indeed view the operation as a threat of further action from the CEF, and immediately agree to mediation. This results in the signing of a second Buzhsk Star System division agreement by the two nations. And so the dispute is solved peaceably, without harm to either nation*

Wait, what?! Sega, you jerks!
Well, at least Yuri managed to prevent a war.

: Whew! Looks like that worked out all right.

: Yes. You did a fine job, Yuri.

: I didn't do that much.

: You're too modest. I do look forward to seeing what you'll become one day. As a reward, allow me to teach you a skill. I'm sure it will help you in your journey.

Yuri was taught the Special Skill, "Final Roar Lv. 1"!

Final Roar is an enhanced version of the Barrage attack, with the crit rate greatly increased. Of course, it's still nearly useless against a dodging target.

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!