>>5437189
>>5437139

You hear a bang against the door, followed by someone muttering "Shit!" under their breath.
She really wasn't joking.

"That's it, then?" You ask.

"Yes. As it stands, there's not much else i can do for them, besides keeping the brothel running. Without that work, they'd quickly fall into debt... or more debt, in some cases, and be forced to sell themselves."

"I'd say they're already selling themselves, wouldn't you?"

"True... but at least they still have their freedom. If ever they see an opportunity, they at least have the chance to grasp at it. A slave has no choices. No hope."

"Yeah... i guess. Still, the situation's pretty shitty, isn't it? I can smell the drugs in the air. And some of the girls, i see that glazed-over look in their eyes. Are you not planning on doing anything about that?"

"It would be difficult." She answers honestly. "Some of them need it for their work. Others use them to cope with their situation... and many are simply addicted. Whether they can stop or not depends more on them than me."

"No help for junkies down here, huh? Just like the kids, nobody cares... or at least, nobody with the power to do something about it."

"I'm afraid so. At least now that i'm in control of the brothel's funds, i can use the revenue we generate to pay for the girls' medical needs and possibly the occasional flight out of here. That's enough for me."

>Alright, i think i've heard enough. You don't seem like you'll be a problem after all, so we'll leave you alone for now.
>Just so you know, nobody operates down here without giving Clark his cut. I won't ask for much, but nobody's exempt.
>How would you feel about working for us? You and your girls provide us with detailed information on your clientele, and you'll receive funding and protection in exchange.

>>5437190
>How would you feel about working for us? You and your girls provide us with detailed information on your clientele, and you'll receive funding and protection in exchange.

Also bring up our comprehensive health-care package! With drug use so rampant and the diseases/injuries they must be constantly exposed to, we'd probably do better getting her on our and Clank's side by making free medical care a part of the deal, maybe even potentially offering a ride out to xebric station for any that need/want one once we've got it conquered, considering the "occasional flight out of here" comment?

>>5437190
>Just so you know, nobody operates down here without giving Clark his cut. I won't ask for much, but nobody's exempt.

>and with payment comes protection and we'll let you run the show

>>5437198
To be clear, I know we don't exactly have any real doctors, but we DO have a medical fab and I'm sure Clank has both access to another and the ability to download pretty much any medical text that might be needed.

>>5437190
>How would you feel about working for us? You and your girls provide us with detailed information on your clientele, and you'll receive funding and protection in exchange.

with how things are going right now i still believe we no longer need to attack xebric. with enough time we'll basically have everything that we want and need here

>>5437190
>>How would you feel about working for us? You and your girls provide us with detailed information on your clientele, and you'll receive funding and protection in exchange.
Yeah sure, this is another thing for Clank to focus on. I hope our cogga can multi task efficiently

>>5437190
>Alright, i think i've heard enough. You don't seem like you'll be a problem after all, so we'll leave you alone for now.
I don't think she would be too keen on living under one crime lord after having JUST extricated herself from another.

>>5437230
leaving her alone is not an option either. she still has a bounty on her head and we're here to collect if she doesn't fall in line like with the weapons dealer

>>5437190
>How would you feel about working for us? You and your girls provide us with detailed information on your clientele, and you'll receive funding and protection in exchange.
But first consult our crew to get their opinions. Clank, Kyla, not Cylia since shes asleep, Sanig, SHODAN, hell even our cabin boy.

>>5437198
That is something to consider, but we'd need to have a doctor first that can prescribe meds for them, and we wont always be here so promising health care is kinda iffy, because that requires the Metal Gear to be here to help them.

>>5437233
That's true. Maybe we can work something out where we collect her bounty, but she remains in charge. Like faking her death or something?

>>5437240
>Maybe we can work something out where we collect her bounty, but she remains in charge. Like faking her death or something?
ok, here is the thing; we need the money because we want to attack xebric, but we don't need to attack them because clank is the defacto ruler of the underworld, giving us all the advantages we wanted on xebric with literally zero drawbacks. so lets just wait a bit until clank begins to make cash from his new contacts; that will make us WAY MORE than the bounties in the long term

>>5437190
>Just so you know, nobody operates down here without giving Clark his cut. I won't ask for much, but nobody's exempt.
>How would you feel about working for us? You and your girls provide us with detailed information on your clientele, and you'll receive funding and protection in exchange.
Give her some options but make it clear that she'll have to contribute in some way.

>>5437190
>Just so you know, nobody operates down here without giving Clark his cut. I won't ask for much, but nobody's exempt.
>How would you feel about working for us? You and your girls provide us with detailed information on your clientele, and you'll receive funding and protection in exchange.

>>5437190
>How would you feel about working for us? You and your girls provide us with detailed information on your clientele, and you'll receive funding and protection in exchange.

>>5437220
Gron and Dark Star want Xebric it's not for us.

>>5437240
>But first consult our crew to get their opinions. Clank, Kyla, not Cylia since shes asleep, Sanig, SHODAN, hell even our cabin boy.
Why? We're wearing the captain's braid and this isn't even remotely a democracy.

>>5437190

>How would you feel about working for us? You and your girls provide us with detailed information on your clientele, and you'll receive funding and protection in exchange. We're also looking for manpower and maybe some of your girls could fit the bill for a career change with some training.

>>5437190
acquire cat bussy

>>5437749
but anon, we're already fucking cylia

>>5437190
>How would you feel about working for us? You and your girls provide us with detailed information on your clientele, and you'll receive funding and protection in exchange.

As much as I’d like to bring in some fast cash with bounties I think this is the best play

>>5437190
>Just so you know, nobody operates down here without giving Clark his cut. I won't ask for much, but nobody's exempt.
>How would you feel about working for us? You and your girls provide us with detailed information on your clientele, and you'll receive funding and protection in exchange.
Both.

>>5437837
+1

>>5437190
>>5437837
Both. Both is good.

>>5437365
Any small NGO is by necessity something of a democracy. Pirates and mercenary bands are no exception. Even if it's as simple as stating 'we are doing this' and giving people a chance to speak up about it.

>>5437190

You don't sense a trace of falsehood in this woman's words. If she's acting, she's damned good at it.
This place likely does make a decent bit of money considering how popular it seems to be, but it's hardly anything in the grand scheme of things.

Not that you couldn't use it right now, but the good will you could create with the people of this station by protecting these girls is infinitely more valuable.
And besides that, they can provide you with something else that's more valuable than money as well. Dirt. Dirt on anyone and everyone who comes in here.

You've made your decision.

"How would you feel about working for us?" You ask her. "You and your girls provide us with detailed information on your clientele, and you'll receive funding and protection in exchange."

"...Work for you how, exactly? What kind of information are you looking for?"

"Anything, really. Doesn't matter who it is or what they do, anything they say could have some value. People slip up with they get comfortable, say things that maybe they shouldn't. You feel me?"

"You want us to blackmail our customers? We can't do that. If we get caught, then..."

"No, no. We'll be doing the blackmailing. You'll just be listening. Always. And if anyone has a problem with that, well, we'll take care of them. And if we happen to make something off of what you give us then you'll get a cut, simple as that."

"I really don't want to put the girls in danger, though... can you really protect us? I'm sorry, but i really don't know anything about you."

"I understand. We're new in town after all, so maybe word hasn't spread yet. That's fine, you don't have to answer us right away... but keep your eyes on the news. And ask Silus just how much good her mercs did her against me and my girl."

You stand up tall, adjusting your jacket and stretching your shoulders for a moment. Just enough that Civis can see the weapons strapped to your body.

"Ahhh... maybe we'll install a few laser turrets in here too." You continue. "If that'll make you feel better."

"Laser... turrets?" She asks, sounding confused. "You mean phasers?"

"Nope."

Refusing to elaborate further, you start to make your way out. However, you pause as you place your hand on the doorknob and turn back to Civis.

"Oh, and one more thing. Nobody operates down here without giving Clark his cut. All things considered, i won't ask for much. Say, a hundred credits a month? More symbolic than anything. Take care, Civis."

You continue on through the door, but in your way are the three canid men from before. Now that they're standing in front of you, it's clear that one of them is much larger than the other two.
They clearly intend to block your path. They seem to be sizing you up. Trying to see how strong you really are, maybe? As if you'd walk in here alone on a bluff.

They aren't saying anything. They're just staring you down.

>>5438139

>Just push past them. You don't care what their issue is.
>If they want a scrap, you're happy to give them one.
>Just threaten them, see how they react.
>Tell Civis to deal with her pets.
>Write-In?

>>5438141
>Just stare back till they shit or get off the pot.
Maybe a "what" if they take too long, but otherwise, seriously, no need to shove past or throw a punch, just look at them completely unimpressed.
Actually, just occurred to me, they might be eyeing us up trying to figure out how to go about asking for workout tips from a guy they thought they might have to try and throw out three minutes ago. After all, David is insanely jacked.

>>5438141
>Just stare back till they shit or get off the pot.

>>5438141
>Just push past them. You don't care what their issue is.

>>5438139
>Tell them they can scrap outside if they want. No sense tossing them through a wall when you settled this peacefully with Civis.

>>5438141
>Just push past them. You don't care what their issue is.

>>5438141
>Just stare back till they shit or get off the pot.

>>5438141
>Just stare back till they shit or get off the pot.

>>5438141
>Just stare back till they shit or get off the pot.
>Write-In?
Channel your inner ape. Your friends mentioned something about you giving off a menacing aura. See if you can channel that for shits and giggles.

If they actually shit themselves give them a pocket phaser as an apology for the laughs. You got more phasers than you know what to do with.

>>5438141
>If they want a scrap, you're happy to give them one.
>>5438173
+1 if they start shit take it outside

>>5438141
>Just push past them. You don't care what their issue is.

Mog the dogs

>>5438150
+1

>>5438141

It could be that they're trying to see if you'll attack first, but you don't plan on it.
Instead, you return the big guy's stare and simply wait, unblinking. You don't even get ready to fight, just ready enough to dodge the first blow, should it come.

It doesn't. A few moment pass in silence, which the big man breaks.

"Not going to say anything?" He asks.

"No need." You reply tersely.

"...Yeah, i guess not." He agrees.

He turns to walk away, giving you a long glance as he turns. The two smaller canids watch him go, but don't seem satisfied.

"Big brother, you're gonna let him get away with that?!" One of them says, voicing his displeasure.

"Yeah! This guy's just using the mistress as he pleases! I don't like his damned attitude either!" The other complains.

Both of them move to close the gap left by their larger partner. They still don't seem intent on letting you pass.

"If you two want to try it, feel free. I know you won't be satisfied otherwise..." The big guy tells them "...But don't expect me to pull your asses out of the fire."

"We can take this punk!"

"And we're not letting him leave without at least a few bruises!"

"Suit yourselves."

The big guy steps back and crosses his arms, intending just to watch.

"You should keep your pups on a shorter leash." You say, raising your voice slightly and smirking.

Tweedle-dum and tweedle-dumber immediately lose their shit at that comment and start growling.

"They aren't my pups." The big guy replies. "They can learn their own lessons."

"I wasn't talking to you." You clarify.

That was the last straw for one of them. Tweedle-dum lunges forwards and tries to punch you, but you just tilt you head and dodge without even moving your body.
In response, you grab his outstretched arm and twist it almost all the way around, then strike at his elbow. You hear a crack as it breaks, and watch as the man's eyes practically bug out of his head from the pain.

He's down almost immediately, dropping to his knees as he holds his broken joint. Props to him though, he holds it together and doesn't scream. Or howl, you guess.

Tweedle-dumber watches this happen, and surprisingly manages to calm himself down.
He doesn't back down, however. Instead, he takes an actual fighting stance - albeit one you don't recognize, and seems to plan on using his claws.

He stabs at you with all five fingers, and this time you dodge by turning your torso to the side.
At the same time, you throw an uppercut at his jaw with your left arm. To your surprise, he actually manages to dodge by throwing his head back. However, he doesn't have any other response, and now he's off balance.

With a quick shift of your weight, you throw a right straight that lands like a bomb against his stomach, throwing his feet out from under him and sending him sliding across the floor on his back.
These guys might actually make decent fighters, with some training, if the second guy was any indication.

>>5438139
>"How would you feel about working for us?" You ask her. "You and your girls provide us with detailed information on your clientele, and you'll receive funding and protection in exchange."

But make this clear. WHORES DON'T ASK QUESTIONS. THEY JUST LISTEN. If they get nosy with their clients, shit will hit the fan real quick

>>5438828
You're doing it wrong on a few different levels, anon.

>>5438796
Tell 'em that they need to learn, but that they have potential, and give advice pertinent to them.

>>5438828
Dude the fuck? No. We're beating their asses. They definitely do not want to work directly under us, plus the brothel needs these three stooges to protect the people here.

>>5438828
>WHORES DON'T ASK QUESTIONS
How do they make sure the food on the menu isn't made with something they're allergic to then? Checkmate.

>>5438897
Honestly this guy has a point, we cant take away the only muscle they have

>>5438980
We could offer to give them some pointers and send them a sample of our gear down the line.
Sure, they'll probably spit in our faces if we give them tips after smoking them, but once they calm down and reflect on this beating, they'll probably take our advice to heart and become stronger for it.

>>5438991
why? they are not allies; if anything, the one that should get the pointers is the dog that was smart enough to not fight

>>5438991
How about no.

Come on anons, is my ESL acting up again? What I mean is that the clients will notice something is off if the whores are awfully interested in the inane bullshit they go through day to day. Another situation would be the whore snooping around in the client's holopad to find out information and of course getting caught.

>>5439196
No, you're right. All they gotta do is smile and nod, same as getting information from most people really

>>5439196
that's literally what david told civis here >>5438139

>>5439217
It is very well documented that people will talk if you just let them. Most people absolutely detest open silence for some reason.

>>5439257
Silence means something's wrong in nature.

All the birds shut up because something's in the bushes.

If there's no wind, you don't get warning of fire, or rotting things.

If everything's quiet, nothing's alive.

Sorry boys, no update tonight.
Been doing some extremely exhausting, stressful shit for a few days and i just don't have it in my tonight.

Gonna go crash now.

>>5440003
Get well soon.

>>5440003
hard stuff's cool shit

>>5440003
Enjoy your rest, mang.

>>5438796

Both men are on the ground now, groaning in pain. The larger man just sighs and shakes his head.
Of course, the commotion brought Civis running out to see what's happening, phaser in hand even. However, when she sees the situation, she also seems more annoyed than angry.

Civis does keep her composure though, and seeing that the fight was over before she could even arrive, she puts her phaser away and tends to the one with the broken arm, walking past you as if you weren't even there.
She looks his injury over with a discerning eye before speaking to him.

"You're lucky, Vik. The break seems to be extremely clean, so it should heal well. Come now, stand up... gently."

Civis uses her shoulder to help Vik brace himself as he stands, although you're certain he didn't need it.

"We'll get you a doctor and some bone gel this time, but i won't help you again if you keep challenging people needlessly." She warns him.

"Mistress... we can't just let anyone come in and walk all over you." He argues.

"Vik's right. You deserve better! He's shown you nothing but disrespect!" The other one adds.

"That's enough, both of you!" The big brother barks. "You both should know better. You could smell it on him too, after all. I have half a mind to beat you myself."

Both of them lay their ears flat and tuck their tails at the big one's reprimand, but still protest their innocence.

"S-So maybe we just wanted to test him a little, sure... but it's still true, he was really rude to the Mistress..."

Civis gently rubs Vik's head... which he seems to enjoy a little too much. His tail goes from being tucked to wagging in a hurry.

"Thank you for your concern, Vik. But i've been treated much more roughly than this before, and i'm not made of glass. Regardless though, you should understand our position here. We have no power or support to speak of, now do we?"

Civis pauses to contemplate something before continuing.

"I'm certain that if some thug came in here to steal money or try to take one of the girls, you three could handle it just fine. But this man is no ordinary thug, nor are his demands so simple.
Please, don't put yourself in harm's way unnecessarily. I have to count on you even now, but how can i do that if you're injured or worse?"

Huh. You wonder if that's how your crew feels whenever you're throwing yourself headfirst at something dangerous.
It's not really the same though, is it? You can take it, after all. Up to a point, anyways. It's not like you're suicidal or anything.

"...You're right. I'm sorry, Mistress. I was wrong." Vik says apologetically. He hangs his head, and his tail ceases to wag even though she's still petting him.

"Good, then. Never again, yes?"

"...Never again, mistress."

"Good boy."

Well, you did the damage so you might as well help out a bit. Medical bills aren't all that expensive here, at least from your perspective.

"Here." You say, tossing the big guy a latinum bar. "For the medical bill".

>>5440405
Ask for the race of the dog like aliens. They are hilariously like some native animals from our world, specifically dogs. I mean the head scratches and the tail wagging? Absolutely adorable.

>>5440405
I take offense at the pup's accusations, I think David's been the very picture of politeness and civility to Civis...maybe not to them or to the manwhore that made a move, but with the boss we've been nothing but understanding and friendly.

Still, can't hold it against them. I guess no matter where in the cosmos you are, a dog's loyalty is matched only by its immeasurable stupidity. That being said, hopefully paying for his medical bills smooths any ruffled feathers over this nonsense, and at least the big'un seems reasonable...though I am curious what it is they could smell on us...

>>5440463
+1 this but

>>5440405
Ask if we can pet him on the head too. Also ask if the aliens enjoy chewing on bones for the calcium and the marrow, and dare I suggest....ask them if they enjoy long walks around the station. I wanna see how much we can get away with comparing them to dogs (pets) before they're any wiser.

>>5440515
thats just weird. at least when we tried that with cylia she was already our friend, but these are the hired muscles of a mark we're trying to bring into our budding criminal empire. its just not a good idea

>>5440515
Eh, no need to antagonize 'em.

>>5440515
I mean, isn't Gildur a dog man?
Although he gets it kinda rough sometimes in the first place, I'd hate to actually degrade him. Beside we don't bond with our janitor enough to be like that.

>>5440895
That man cleans up dodo shit and wraith blood without a single protest. He deserves nothing but respect.

>>5440927
the dodo shit and wraith blood are just part of him paying his debt off for being a pirate. The part I respect him for is venturing into the captain's quarters after the marathon sessions where kitty and gobbo are left bruised and breathless in a comatose state. Janitor or no, that's not on ANYONE'S contract

>>5440405
who's a good boy? who's a good boy? You are! Yes you are!

>>5440895
More like a large rodent

>>5441095
Unusually large rodents? I don't believe they exist *gets sucker punched by Gildur*

>>5440927
Didn't we give him some maintenance bots to help with all that? I remember salvaging them after the first combat droid encounter.

>>5440405

He seems surprised at the gesture, but accepts it without question.

"The three of you might actually have some potential." You tell him. "Speak with Clark about a training regimen and tell him Gunny sent you. He'll set you up."

"Training? Like, physical training? Okay... but how are we supposed to get hold of him?"

"Combat training. And as for how to find him... ask around. The local kids are a good place to start."

You wave them off casually as you walk away, but you stop just before leaving to say one last thing.

"...Just don't try anything funny. Those kids are under my protection." You warn.

You don't think it'll be a problem for them, but by sending people to clank through the kids, you can get a good read on them before they even arrive.
How people treat children is a good indicator of what kind of person they are. If they get violent or aggressive at all, then they just need to be dealt with.

If they try to pressure or manipulate them, then they need to be taught a lesson. It's still possible for them to overcome their own ignorance.
And if they treat the children well, then you might be a little more lenient with them. Everyone has their own issues, after all.

But that is just an indicator, and it certainly doesn't tell you the whole story. No matter how they act at first, you still need to keep an eye on them.
Unfortunately, unfettered access to the local intranet just isn't possible without access to the main network hub, which is controlled by the local government in the upper city.

The children are one thing, but they can't be everywhere all the time. You need eyes and ears on every corner, if you can help it.
Those are problems for later, though. Right now you have one more immediate target left, but before that you should go ahead and update Clank on the situation.

...

One phone call later, you've finished explaining the situation.
Clank seems interested in the concept of blackmailing targets via the brothel, and says that supporting the girls there won't be a major investment.

Not that he won't support them, but that it won't cost all that much. Medical shit isn't really regulated down here, so there are a lot of scammers and price-gougers that drive things up.
Apparently, proper clinics in the upper city don't accept patients from the lower city for one reason or another. They often wave them off as addicts or people trying to sell the medicine they're given, etc.

If you could open up a proper clinic down here, that would help support the population quite a bit, you think.

It could be that you're about to send a lot of people to the clinic, though. The homeless encampment is just up ahead now, and you can already smell it.
Burning garbage, faeces, filthy people in general... almost smells like the big city.

Some people do pay attention to your entrance into the camp, but few seem to care.
There are tents, lean-to shelters and sleeping bags scattered around, many of which are occupied.

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>>5441995
Alright, first thing's first when fighting hobos.
Taunt to build up your heat gauge.

>>5442016
>>5441995
https://youtu.be/FDt690OlJkk
Dont forget, David should be careful not to kill anyone. Everyone knows humans dont kill people.

>>5442016
Too bad David doesn't smoke. I'd love to EX-taunt and spit a cig into someone's face.

Maybe David is a Chewing tobacco kinda guy?

>>5441995
>There are tents, lean-to shelters and sleeping bags scattered around, many of which are occupied.
Gimme some of the good shit Cochrane. I wanna feel like a piece of shit. Gimme some kids turning tricks for food money, people crying over slowly dying loved ones. I want some real heart wrenching action. I wanna eat depression and piss sadness.

>>5442099
This is HFY quest, not your life quest anon.

>>5442148
It's a homeless encampment what else is there to expect from the place? Oh probably gonna be some hazards like used needles all over the ground and nasty hobo sex.

>>5441518
I am certain the bots are already up and running.

>>5442099
>>5442148
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqXZ2eRqHds
I support I want to feel LIKE SHIT and QM better feels likeit too

>>5441995

Honestly, it's hard to say exactly where the encampment really begins or ends. You thought it would be smaller than this, but it looks like a significant population of people live here.
That might make this a lot more difficult, especially if everyone here is involved in the muggings, but you can't really say that for sure without gathering some information.

As you're walking, the smell of something cooking draws you in... and it actually smells pretty good, although you can't quite put a finger on what it is.
You follow your nose a short distance to find some extremely thin and rough-looking gentlemen cooking something over a garbage fire. It looks like some kind of meat, but you can't tell what it is, exactly.

All you know is that it's too big to be from a rat or something. It even has large tendons sticking out of it.
...On second thought, you don't like how those fellows are looking at you. Or the fact that everyone else seems to be avoiding them. Maybe best to leave them be.

Walking through the camp, you see a lot of emaciated individuals. This is pretty shocking, considering how cheap nutrient paste is. Can they really not get their hands on just a few credits for a meal?
One person, a woman, you think... although it's hard to tell, she's so thin... but this woman looks particularly bad. Literally just skin and bones.

"Miss?" You call out to her. But she doesn't respond. She just sits there, eyes staring forwards, unblinking.

Then you notice, she isn't actually breathing. You've seen a lot of different kinds of aliens, but none of them didn't need to breathe. She's dead.
You're not sure whether no-one's noticed or they simply don't care, but she must have been here for a while. Her skin is already cold to the touch.

You lay her down where she sat, crossing her arms and closing her eyes.

"I will inform corpse disposal, Captain." SHODAN tells you.

"...Nowhere to bury her on a station. Will she be cremated?"

"All biological waste is repurposed for the sake of efficiency, Captain. Corpses are broken down into their component elements via matter furnace, then used where needed."

Great. Instead of returning to the earth, you get turned into printer filament and nutrient paste.
Space really is just wonderful. And here you thought earth was savage.

Leaving the girl there, you take a short walk to get your mind off of that. Those thoughts don't lead anywhere you want to go.
Now, you need a lead. One way or another.

>Just ask around. You can probably buy the information for cheap if nothing else.
>Try to act muggable. Desperate people don't always think things through, so they might go for it.
>Just hang around. See if you can find anyone acting suspicious... or at least, more suspicious than the others.
>Write-In?

>>5442654
>Just ask around. You can probably buy the information for cheap if nothing else.
These guys are so desperate and without options that I'd honestly feel bad baiting them into mugging David.

>>5442656
+1 honestly some of these guys, if they're not gonna burn their cash on drugs, need the money.
Plus I'm 100% sure that one guy was cooking another alien. Brutal.

>>5442654
>Great. Instead of returning to the earth, you get turned into printer filament and nutrient paste.
to be fair, this is the same process as being buried, just way faster

>Just ask around. You can probably buy the information for cheap if nothing else.

>>5442654
>Just ask around. You can probably buy the information for cheap if nothing else.

>>5442654
>>Just hang around. See if you can find anyone acting suspicious... or at least, more suspicious than the others.

>>5442654
>Write-In: Go find the guy who everybody leaves their important shit with when they go somewhere. That's probably the most trustworthy guy. A good start anyways.

>>5442654
>>Just hang around. See if you can find anyone acting suspicious... or at least, more suspicious than the others.
Sorry, but giving cash to hobos is not morally right. For me

>>5442919
Why?

>>5443006
He doesn't tip at restaurants either.

>>5442919
Good man. Most just get high and hurt people anyways.

>>5443022
to be absolutely fair, tipping just perpetuates the bullshit wages that make it necessary for a worker to actually make a living.

>>5443022
>homeless peeps
>having enough money to tip
Bruh

>>5442654

You decide that rather than causing a commotion, it may be better to just hang around for a while and see what's what.
To that end, you make your way to a sort of rest area where people have set up some old couches and chairs in a circle around a fire.

As soon as you arrive and sit down on a couch that's in slightly better shape than the others, everyone looks at you like you're crazy. But you don't say anything, and you mind your own business.
So eventually, they start to ignore you as well. You just sit there and browse the web on your holopad, like several others are.

Occasionally you do look around, and you discover that most of what people are burning in that pile seems to be plastic, actually.
However, the plastic just melts and burns cleanly, without any sort of smoke. It's almost like an alcohol flame. You guess most disposable products are made from clean-burning plastics for this reason.

About an hour passes before someone else comes along and sits down beside you. A humanoid man with wrinkly beige skin, a long, scraggly beard and four elongated fingers on each hand.
He's wearing something like a trench coat and bell-bottom pants, but all of his clothes are in pretty bad condition. You recognize the instrument on his back as some kind of guitar.

"Mind if i take a seat?" He asks, his voice raspy but his tone rather upbeat.

"Not at all." You reply.

The older-looking man sighs as he takes a load off, setting himself down on the far side of the otherwise empty couch from you. He places his bag between you, and leans his guitar against the side of the couch.

"Nice weather we're having today, huh? Heehee." The man chuckles. He begins sifting through his duffle bag and pulls out something resembling a sandwich, wrapped in clingfilm.

Unwrapping his meal, he tears it in half and offers you a bite.

"Want a bite? Cuisine from my homeworld, just like mom used to make!"

You shake your head and turn him down.

"Sorry, i don't accept food or drink from others. Kind of you to offer, though."

"Ah, no worries, friend! You look well-fed enough, anyhow."

He doesn't seem bothered at all and takes a bite of his sandwich before continuing with a slight mouthful of food.

"You new around here?" He asks.

"You could say that, yeah."

"I could tell. The way you look at folks, all that pity, all that care. Nobody here has that kind of feeling in them anymore."

You'd have to agree with him. A lot of the people here just look dead inside.
There's not exactly a lot of people helping eachother out here, either.

"...What's your name?" You ask, curious.

The man chews and swallows his food before answering.

"Ahhh... The name's Joe. People do call me a lot of things, but mostly i'm just Joe."

"Well, that's an oddly familiar name to hear this far out. Nice to meet you, Joe. I'm David, but folk here call me Gunny."

"Nice to meet you too, Dave! But what brings a man like you to a place like this?"

>>5443109
Would you believe I got kidnapped?

>>5443109
>Would you believe I got kidnapped?
>but right now im here for business reasons

>>5443115
+1

>>5443115
this

>>5443115
+1

>>5443115
Its the technical truth. Sure.

>>5443698
It's not even a technical truth, it's literally what happened.

>>5443698
First thread we were literally kidnapped by aayys and probed.

Do you think aliens lose there baby teeth?

>>5443752
,,,yeah, why not?

>>5443720
yeah, but joe is asking why are we in the hobo zone, not why are we in space

>>5443917
Well he didn't specify that now did he? Shane on Joe Smoe.

>>5444069
well, he doesn't expect us to be retarded enough to tell him our whole adventure instead of the immediate reason for why we're there though

>>5444211
You're right. Let's just cut right to the chase. First we were born..

>>5443109

"Would you believe i got kidnapped?" You tell him.

Joe bursts out in phlem-filled laughter, which quickly devolves into a fit of coughing.

"Geh-heh! A guy like you, kidnapped? Ahh, that's hilarious! But, i've seen crazier things. Way crazier than that."

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

Just for a moment, Joe's carefree expression turns serious.

"You wouldn't believe me if i told you, friend. But, i'm not one to dwell on the past. Why are you really here? You're clearly a man on a mission, all strapped up like that."

You lean over and whisper to him, making sure no-one around is close enough to overhear.

"I've heard tale of a string of muggings out here, and i'm trying to find the one responsible. A man named Ollia. Only problem is, i have no real information on him."

"Ollia?" He asks, whispering back. "Yeah, i know that fella. He's a real prick, him and his buddy both."

"You know him? Can you point me in the right direction, then?"

Joe smiles and rubs at his beard thoughtfully.

"I dunno, Dave. What's it worth to you?"

"...How does a latinum coin sound?"

"Like i'm eating good this week!"

You hand over a latinum coin worth a hundred credits, which Joe immediately bites down on, nearly chipping his tooth in the process.
He shoves the coin down into his boot with a satisfied look on his face.

"Alright... you want to know where Ollia is?"

"Yes, i would like to know."

"He's over by the spigot, charging people for water."

Joe points out in the distance towards a small group of people. They're tightly-packed and a bit far away, so you can't see much detail from here.

"Do you know what he looks like?" You ask.

"Sure, you can't miss him. He's big, fat, ugly, hairy, smelly and loud. Everything you're looking for in a boyfriend! Gah-hah!"

"Well that does narrow it down, but i meant more like, his skin color, his race, hair color, that sort of thing..."

"His race? Who knows. His skin's probably the same color as mine, but he's so dirty it's hard to tell. Don't think the man's ever taken a shower in his life! Not even in a fast-food bathroom, for christ's sake."

"And his hair?"

"Black as coal, my friend! Like i said, you can't miss him! Now, if you'll excuse me, i have a little tune to play."

"Alright. Thanks for the info, Joe."

"Not a problem, friend! Thanks for the meals!"

Having finished his sandwich in the midst of eating, Joe cleans up his wrapper by tossing it into the fire and picks up his instrument.
You stand up from the oddly comfortable couch and stretch out your legs. As you're walking away, you listen to Joe's dulcet tune and find it oddly familiar, though you can't quite place your finger on it.

Approaching the area Joe pointed out, you find the crowd looking a bit bigger than you first imagined, and they seem to be rather upset.

"This is robbery!" One man yells.

"Water is free! You can't just claim ownership of a public water pipe!" Another woman yells.

The crowd quickly gets even more riled up, until...

>>5444221
......wait....is this Space Boxcar Joe, with a fairly nice couch an guitar?

>>5444221
Man, Joe is such a swell guy. Before we leave trade you contact info with him. If he lacks the creds for a phone, get him a coin or two to buy one.

>>5444221
This guy we're going to rough up. Should be a good, guilt free stress reliever that gets Clank some goodwill with the local homeless.

>>5444221
Get Joe's number, then beat the shit out of Ollia, but don't kill him. He might know a few things and might be useful alive. Then like disrupt his money to all the hobos to get them to like us, and possibly supply us with info. Maybe we can get some homeless informants?

>>5444221
Stay safe cotton eyed joe

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>>5444361
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOYZaiDZ7BM

I say we waterboard the fucker.
It's one of America's favorite pastimes after all.

>>5444395
He did mention that Ollia needs a bath...

>>5444398
let's not posion the water supply. they have very little down here.

>>5444409
I know he said waterboarding but any liquid will do, really.

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>>5444414
we're not pissing on him.

>>5444454
Sewage it is.

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>>5444454
I never said anything about piss.

can't we just crush his windpipe between two fingers?

>>5444747
We did promise Cylia we'd ease up on the killing.

>>5444747
lol no. he's probably worth a bounty, no matter how small it is.

>>5444818
>>5444822
no no no, this is a reversible injury I swear

>>5444818
Let's bathe this filthy fuck! Unsexy shower scene take 2.

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>>5444221

One of the men in the crowd gets a little too riled up and takes a step forward, yelling and pointing at Ollia aggressively.
Ollia motions to the man beside him, who draws a phaser and fires it straight into the man's forehead.

You swear you see the phaser blow a little crater of flesh out of his forehead, and the man falls over instantly, as if he'd been shot.
When he falls, his head slams against the hard, rocky floor and makes a sound similar to a ripe watermelon busting. A few moments pass in silence, until you see blood trickling from underneath his head.

No way the phaser was that powerful. You recognize that model, and it's middle of the pack in terms of power at best.
Was the guy he shot really that weak? Before you get a chance to think on it, the crowd falls into an uproar which is quickly suppressed when Ollia also pulls out a phaser of his own.

"Yeah, that's right." He says, waving his phaser at the crowd. "You fuckin' leaf-munchers better fall in line if you don't want to end up like him! HAHAHA!"

Ah, come to think of it, most of the people here do seem to be prey species, unlike Ollia himself. He's small and dense-looking, like most of the top predator species you know including yourself.
However, he seems to be lacking muscle and has pretty big spare tire. Could be he's still strong enough to get what he wants, so he doesn't bother to train.

What's more interesting though is that he honest to god looks like a pig. Same snout, tusks, ears and everything.
And you've killed over less than a slice of bacon before.

Not that you would really consider eating a sentient species, but... fuck man, if you were going to it'd be this one.

Ollia's ranting about something, but you aren't sure what. You're too busy thinking about the last time you had a nice pig's ear or some hog trotters. Bacon, pork chops, a rack of ribs... oh man.
You almost don't notice as someone in the crowd tried to ambush Ollia's partner from behind. A yak-man, by the looks of him. Weaker than you'd have expected given their looks.

The yak-man grabs Ollia's partner from behind and grapples with him, trying to steal his phaser away. But the man, another pig-like fucker, just flips the yak-man over his head and slams him back-first against the ground.
Ollia unloads his phaser into him, causing the yak-man to convulse violently with each shot. There are no visible craters in this guy's flesh, but his fur is still smoking at the points of impact.

Then he starts having a seizure.

"See that? Even big bastards like him are no match, so either pay up or fuck off!" Ollia yells.

>>5444913

>Yeah, this is pretty cut and dry. Just kill him.
>Kill him, but make a show out of it. Let people know what happens when they start shit in your territory.
>Actually, this would be the perfect opportunity for a little mob justice. All you have to do it break his legs and hand him over.
>He might have a bounty, however small. And bounties are always twice as high if you bring them in alive, for whatever reason.
>Write-In?

>>5444914
Call shodan, see what she can find on him. Depending on the bounty size either break his legs and let the crowd lynch him or drag him kicking and screaming to the bounty office.

>>5444914
>Kill him, but make a show out of it. Let people know what happens when they start shit in your territory.
>Don't forget to announce that the water pipe is free for public usage, courtesy of Mr. Clark.

>>5444914
>He might have a bounty, however small. And bounties are always twice as high if you bring them in alive, for whatever reason.
>Write-In?
But that doesnt mean he has to be in one piece. Break his and his buddy's knees, let the crowd wail on the pair, then take then away before they die. We can turn them both in for bounties and drain both their accounts. The crowd can keep the phasers.
We can also interrogate him.

>>5444926
Money is still money. Why not let them beak hin half to death then take hin away?

>>5444926
Hey, he's still worth a penny dead or alive. I say we make the compromise between cash in the short term and reputation in the long term.
People will be a lot more hesitant to pull this kinda shit in the future if they see a piggy get his head kicked off for it.
I really just wanna see exactly what the difference is between David at 100% and the average predator species.

>>5444931
+1

>>5444914
>Actually, this would be the perfect opportunity for a little mob justice. All you have to do it break his legs and hand him over.
>Don't forget to announce that the water pipe is free for public usage, courtesy of Mr. Clark.

>>5444914
>He might have a bounty, however small. And bounties are always twice as high if you bring them in alive, for whatever reason.

>>5444933
We can cripple the knees of the pig goon so the crowd can lynch him, then we knock out Ollia to be turned in for a live bounty. Before we leave we could state that the water is free, but if anyone tries this racketeering shit again in Clark's territory, there will be trouble.

>>5444943
What about the money?

>>5444914
>He might have a bounty, however small. And bounties are always twice as high if you bring them in alive, for whatever reason.
>that doesn't mean the crowd can't have some fun before you deliver him to the bounty hunters

Have we told the crew of the horrors of hogs back home? Not even getting into the unimaginable girth of hogzillas.

>>5444914
>He might have a bounty, however small. And bounties are always twice as high if you bring them in alive, for whatever reason.
That being said, we can absolutely make a show out of beating them both down and cleaning up "Mr. Clark's territory". So, I guess it'd be:
>Beat him down for the bounty, but make a show of it. Let people know what happens when they start shit in Clank's territory.

>>5444926
>Support

>>5444914
>He might have a bounty, however small. And bounties are always twice as high if you bring them in alive, for whatever reason.
Take all his credits and metal money.

>>5444914
>Walk up too him
>"I'm hungry."
>"You will be tasty."

>>5444914
>>He might have a bounty, however small. And bounties are always twice as high if you bring them in alive, for whatever reason.

break his arms and legs before we turn him in.

>>5444914
>>Actually, this would be the perfect opportunity for a little mob justice. All you have to do it break his legs and hand him over.
But let's get his attention first. Even if he doesn't deserve a fair fight, it's a better show for our/Clark's rep if he shoots us to no effect before we turn him into bacon strips.
>>5444954
I love using giant pigs as encounters in my games. A lot of people don't know how much danger they're in, the first time.

>>5444913
Supporting >>5444926

>>5445070
A lot of people make the same mistake with hogs as they do with hippos. They think it's just some funny round thing but don't understand just how much muscle and unfounded hatred they have in their bodies.

>>5444914
>Kill him, but make a show out of it. Let people know what happens when they start shit in your territory.

>>5445092
Hippos are fucking evil and I put forth the motion to exterminate any spaceborn variant of them we find.

>>5444914
>>Write-In?
It's swinetime baby, time to show 'em how we do it down in Ol' Bama. Slow-roast the minion as a whole hog, preferably glazed. The other gets turned in for the bounty as soon as we've removed his limbs, ears, snout, and big sections of his torso, which should be carved up and frozen for future bbq purposes as soon as we find some trees that'll pass for hickory or mesquite analogs.

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>>5445267

>>5444914
>Yeah, this is pretty cut and dry. Just kill him.
I dont care about the money let's just be done here

>>5445285
dude, the money is literally the reason we're doing these hunts. we just haven't turned everyone in because keeping them under our leash is more profitable

>>5445285
>pure unadulterated autism

>>5444914
>>He might have a bounty, however small. And bounties are always twice as high if you bring them in alive, for whatever reason.
mmmm mmonnneey

>>5444913

The crowd begrudgingly begins to give in, starting with one person walking up and offering whatever they have.
There's no latinum or credits being transferred here, just jewelry, electronics or whatever else they may happen to have.

Ollia doesn't even bother to check what it is, he just laughs as it starts to pile up.
People bring their containers over to fill them up, be it water bottles, small pots or whatever else.

One couple tries to go up there together, but Ollia's man stops the woman in her tracks.

"Ah ah ah. She has to pay, too." He grins.

"B-But i already...!" The man begins to stammer, only to be cut off.

"No excuses! Two people, two payments! You got a problem with that, we can take care of it right now."

While he's bullying the hell out of people, you contact SHODAN to see if you can find anything on him.

"Got any matches?" You ask her.

"One match, under the name 'Olliander'. 99.9% probability. Wanted for petty theft, assault, robbery, grand theft auto and forgery. Bounty: 15,000 credits."

"And his friend?"

"Facial scan matches one 'Gorra Heel', wanted for assault, petty theft and bribery. Bounty: 7,000 credits."

Huh, that's more than you expected out of the two of them.
Well, you have some upcoming bills to pay. Might as well clean up the streets and spread your name a little while you do it.

Pushing your way through the crowd, you make your way to the front of the line.

"Hey man, don't push! It's not like he's gonna turn the spigot off..." Someone whines as you push past.

As you break through the front, Gorra taps Ollia's shoulder to get his attention and nods in your direction to point him your way.

"Do i know you?" He asks.

"No." You answer. "But you will."

Gorra steps between the two of you as you continue to stride forward and puts his arm out, as if he intended to stop you by placing his hand on your chest.
One quick backhand knocks him out of your way, and the spit out of his mouth. But it doesn't knock him off his feet, nor does it knock him unconscious. He's left holding his cheek in pain.

Ollia suddenly looks a lot more nervous, but tries to mask it with confidence.

"What, you got a problem with me? You think you're hot shit, huh? Tell you what, you work for me and i'll give you a cut of what we make. How's 5% sound?"

Unholstering your 1911, you draw a bead on his right knee.

"W-Wait, ten percent! Fifteen!"

You fire. A spray of blood blows out the back of Ollia's right knee, and is followed shortly by his left. He begins screaming as he drops to the ground.
You can hear Gorra snorting angrily as he charges you from behind, so you quickly holster your weapon and turn to face him, just in time to take a phaser shot right to your unprotected forehead.

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>>5445448
I imagine taking a powerful phaser shot will end up with a Lichtenberg mark. People blasted by lightning get it and the cool looking scar disappears in a day or two

>>5445448
Oh the Piggies will make good fucking bacon.

>>5445448
Regular phasers sting without the skin suit, so the juiced up one is going to give us some burns I guess. 2nd or 3rd degree?

>>5445448
Oh no, a phaser, whatever will we do?
Cripple him, destroy his spine. Maybe even do something savage like tear a chunk of meat out of him with your teeth. He does look like bacon.....mmmmm pork.

>>5445458
Nor stronger predators? Maybe? But for David, and considering these are one of the low end phasers, AT THE VERY MOST it will singe the hair on his skin.

>>5445498
It's not even juiced up. Normal herbivore aliens are just that weak and full of air, while other predators...are slightly tougher but still weak. We are literally built different.

>>5445618
To be fair to these aliens specifically, they are also malnourished and disease riddled most likely as well.

>>5445458
As far as we've seen, these phasers aren't really any more powerful then those bootleg lasers people sell on eBay as tattoo removal kits.
So, at worst might have a slight burn mark on his forehead.

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>>5445672
>>5445618
How about a really small lichtenburg?

>>5445766
Those fucking toenails gad damn

>>5445772
That big toe looks like it's aspiring to become a thumb.

>>5445766
why are the toes so... finger like wtf

>>5445448
Is it Ash Wednesday already?

>>5445448

You groan as your vision goes white for an instant, feeling the electric shock pass through your body. It causes your muscles to tense up for a second.
There's a slight sizzle as a whisp of smoke trails from your forehead, a small pockmark left on your skin at the point of impact.

Gorra slams into you a moment later, intending to tackle you off your feet. He expected you to be stunned, which you suppose you were. Enough not to immediately knock him out, anyways.
But instead of knocking you over, all he manages is to slide you back on your feet. You quickly come to a stop as you dig your feet into the rough, rocky surface.

As your brain comes back on-line, you're immediately pissed.
You plant your feet and roar, twisting at the hip and slamming your left fist deep into Gorra's ribcage, shattering it.

Gorra reels from the blow, but you grab his shirt with your right hand, pulling him towards you as hard as you can. You slam your forehead into his skull, crushing his nose and right orbital.
Blood sprays from his snout and his right eye pops nearly out of his head. He stumbles backwards, clearly unconscious on his feet. But you're not satisfied, you gotta let him have one more.

You take a step back just so that you can step into this one, cocking your fist back and really putting everything you've got into this right straight.
Even in his unconscious state, Gorra recognizes the danger and manages to feebly put up something like a cross-arm block just in time to save himself.

Both of his arms snap like twigs, and he's blown backwards into the crowd by the force of your strike. Nobody even tries to catch him, and they all back away from where he landed.

Gorra's down for the count, and Ollia's still screaming behind you. Looks like it's more or less taken care of.
You take a moment to calm down. Breathe in through the nose, and out through the mouth... there, that's good.

...And of course, that's when Ollia, face full of snot and tears, chooses to shoot you in the back. Repeatedly.
And continues to shoot you in the side and front as you turn around, but his panicked shots all dissipate against your clothes and skinsuit.

Of course, to the crowd it just looks like you're eating them.

Casually, you walk up to him and grasp his phaser with your entire hand, then crush it's thin plastic frame in your grip, tossing it aside just in time for it's internal capacitor to short and catch fire.
Ollia, now somehow even more terrified, tried his damndest to scoot away from you on his ass. You don't let him, of course, and reach down to grab him by his throat.

Fatass that he is, it might be difficult to hold him like this in earth's gravity. But here on the station he barely weighs anything by comparison.
You're able to hold him up in the air, gorilla grip locked on his airpipe as he struggles to breathe, or even peel away a single one of your fingers.

Anyone else had the Robocop theme clanging in their head ever since we started shoving through the crowd? That beatdown was straight up some "Dead or alive, you're coming with me" shit.

>>5446137
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x47NYUbtYb0
my neighbor is playing this so idk anon

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>>5446131
>Hewwo mister officer here I have bounty

>>5446131
Temptation to eat alien, growing stronger.
Hey wait what the fuck kind of phasers were these? Wasn't David's personal shield supposed to absorb the first shot?

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>>5446131
These are the moments I enjoy the most.
Not the spaceship combat, not the power armor fuelled raids.
No, it's just standing there and looking like a Terminator.
>>5446137
I had something different in mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnQm2_cAZvo

>>5446302
Only if it's turned on, I guess. It doesn't have infinite battery, right?

>>5446386
I don't think so, but it should generally be on right now. It at least lasts longer than the hardlight shields. Speaking of, seeing what the headlight tech can do in combat me think it would be especially useful against laser and plasma based weapons. It's like a two folds shield: it can absorb energy attacks, and can be used to tank shots instead of trying to dodge them.

>>5446131
In fact hardlight tech will play an interesting roll in the next ship we build, or our retrofit of the Metal Gear. It would go great on bigger, slower, and tonkier ships.

>>5446131
>Adopt stray alien child as team mascot and cabin boy/girl when
Cochrane will we ever see that adorable birb girl? I wish to do nice things for her, like get her a toy, and a knife.

>>5446945
>"David, you can't just keep giving knives to every orphan you meet!"
>"Why not?!"
>"It's not safe for anybody!"
>"I gave you that revolver when I knew you for like a week and you didn't have anything to say about that!"
>"I'M NOT A KID DAVID!"
>"God! Fine! I'll just start giving out phasers then..."

>>5447075
God Bless America

>>5447075
>phasers arguably being safer than knives
lol, lmao even.

>>5446131

He's not calm at all, so it doesn't even take a full two minutes before he's unconscious. You let him drop to the ground in front of his little chair and move to drag Gorra over as well.

Looking around, the crowd is absolutely transfixed on you, as if they're all waiting on you to say something. So you do.

"This city belongs to Clark, now. If anyone else like this prick shows up, spread the word. We'll take care of it."

"D-Does that mean we don't have to pay anymore?" Someone asks.

You sigh, dropping Gorra next to Ollia so that you can rub your eyes in frustration.

"Yes, the spigot is free for all to use. You can collect your belongings as well."

You see the crowd almost immediately try to rush the pile, but stop them.

"AH! Stop! One at a time. Get your shit back, and nothing else. If anyone tries to steal anything, speak up. And if you lie about it, i'll break your fucking arms."

The crowd quickly forms an orderly line, and they collected their items one after another without issue. Not a single person tries anything, that you're aware of anyways.
A woman, the one from that couple earlier, you recognize, stops and asks you something after picking up her holopad.

"Does that not hurt...?"

"What, this?"

You rub the little burn on your forehead, but it cauterized as it was made, so it's not even bleeding.

"Can't even feel it." You tell her. "It'll be mostly healed in a few days."

You can hear her whispering "Wow..." under her breath as her (you assume) boyfriend pulls her away. He chastises her for speaking with you as they leave, saying it's dangerous.

Several people don't even bother to fill up their water after getting their items back. They just immediately leave, along with several others in the crowd.
Looks like they're avoiding you. They'll probably come back after you've left.

After a quick check to make sure that you yourself don't have any particular bounties on your head... and you don't, for the moment at least... you call up clank and inform him of the situation.

["Brilliant work, Captain. However, the issue is not yet resolved. Ollia may have been leading the muggings, but those under him have not yet been caught."]

"I got him and his boyfriend, at least. Want me to bring them to you for "questioning" before we turn them in?"

["That would be ideal, Captain. I'll wire the funds to you after they've been turned in for their bounties."]

"Sounds good. I'll send you whatever information is on their holopads, too. Good luck out there, Clank. I know you've got a lot more on your plate now than you did this morning."

["I will be fine, Captain. It serves as an interesting challenge."]

...

Ollia and Gorra are both in pretty bad shape, so after applying some quick-clot to Ollia's kneecaps you hog-tie the both of them together and drag them behind you with a length of paracord, all the way back to the arena.
On the way there, pretty much everyone on the streets gets a good look at them and the condition they're in.

>>5447780
We should be singing what to do with a drunken spacer(Whaler) and scar the shit out of em.

>>5447801
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGyPuey-1Jw
Agreed

>>5447780
So that means David or Clank can earn even more credits by turning in the bounties on the small time muggers. Nice.

>>5448094
we could do that from the start, but we usually went for the higher bounties

>>5447801
Seconding this.

>>5447801
+1 sounds fun

>>5447780
With the money from these goons, I think we have enough to pay back Cylia. Man bounty hunting can sure be real profitable.

File: Beran the Torturer.jpg (241 KB, 1809x1233)

241 KB JPG

>>5447780

The both of them trail blood behind you as you drag them, Ollia from his knees and Gorra from one of him arms, which has a fractured radius poking out through the skin, as well as his badly broken nose.
Neither of them are going to die, but they look admittedly awful. Considering how weak most species are, the people around you could be forgiven for thinking they're dead already.

You don't know why exactly, maybe it's the fact that these lads have been misbehaving, but you get the sudden urge to whistle an old tune. Slowly, almost somberly.''
After whistling your way through that old song a once, you even start to mumble the lyrics to yourself.

"Oh, what will we do with a drunken sailor, what will we do with a drunken sailor, what will we do with a drunken sailor ear-ligh in the morn'in..."

The oddest thing begins to happen as you do, though

"Shave his belly with a rusty razor, shave his belly with a rusty razon..."

Whereas people stared at the spectacle in morbid curiosity before, now you see people running inside to get away from you almost as soon as they hear you singing.

"Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter, put him in the bed with the captain's daughter..."

"What the hell are you singing?" Ourg asks. She's standing outside the arena's back door, waiting for you.

"It's an old sea shanty, about punishing a drunken sailor." You answer.

"...I don't understand half of what you just said. Either way, stop it. It's creepy as hell."

"What? No it's not! It's supposed to be an upbeat song! I just don't have a chorus singing along with me."

"Whatever." Ourg dismisses, rolling her eyes. "...What happened to these two?" She wonders.

"I took this one out at the knees, and that one shot me in the head with a phaser. I didn't like that very much."

"Yeah, i see you got a little burn there. Might want to get that looked at, before it become infected."

"Nah, this station is basically sterile from my perspective. It'll heal on it's own in a few days if i put some petroleum jelly on it."

"Petroleum jelly?"

"Crude oil byproduct. Clean it up a little and it's great at creating a moisture barrier. The old oil rig workers used to call the unrefined stuff "rod wax" and used it straight out of the ground."

"What."

"Anyways, let's get these guys inside."

Ourg helps you drag the two of them up and into the building, then down the hall past Lupu and Lobo.
Both of them suck through their teeth painfully at the sight of the men you're dragging, but quickly mind their own business.

Having reached Baal's office, you knock on the door before announcing yourself.

"Special delivery for mister Clank!"

"Thank you, Captain. Mister Beran, if you will?"

Sitting in the room is a thin-looking man wearing what you can only describe as an ornate gimp suit. His face is covered by a helmet, and there are a pair of knives attached to his forearms.
He doesn't speak, but he does nod in agreement before walking past you out into the hall.

>I just don't have a chorus singing along with me.

That's it, next time we're out travelling the space we gotta get the crew in for it. Speaking of which, what's music like in space? Wish we could have heard that old bard's music. Are chord structures still the same and pleasing to the ear across species?

I've been learning the concertina and now I feel a little inspired.

>>5448575
Neat, a space torturer. Let's watch him work his stuff and see if hes better or worse than us. Maybe we could do something funny like a good cop bad cop routine. Worse comes to worse? We take over the torturing.

>>5448936
eh, we have better things to do

>>5448936
On the topic of torture, I imagine Beran here has a much different idea of it than David might.
As we've seen, most aliens out here have glass bones and paper skin. It stands to reason that the common methodology employed in spaceborn torture is a fair bit more tame than what might be seen on Earth.
Conversely, any methods David might be familiar with would have to be toned down quite a bit lest they kill the subject immediately.
Another hypothesis I have is that given how fragile most aliens are physically, those who specialize in torture might prefer to focus on psychological methods as opposed to the physical.

>>5448929
>what's music like in space?
AI generated of course

>>5448575

As Beran passes you, he stops and turns around. You turn to face him as well, because you're definitely not showing this freak your back.

Every last one of his movements is jerky and jittery. He looks you up and down, cocking his head sideways like a curious dog.
But then he reaches out slowly towards your face, and tries to place his hand against your cheek. Now that's a step too far.

You grab his hand out of the air, preventing him from touching your face... but at the same time, you feel a... 'flash', for lack of a better term.
Visions of people screaming, being tortured both mentally and physically. Images of Beran without his little gimp suit, looking like pinhead fucked freddy kreuger.

It only lasts an instant, though, because you let go of his hand almost as soon as it happens.

"...What the fuck are you?" You growl, staring down at Beran.

He simply stands there for a moment, hand held in the air as if it were stuck there before managing to pull it back.
He stares at his own hand, turning it over once or twice before turning away from you without a word, grabbing hold of your prey's ropes and dragging them away.

'WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!" You demand.

"Gah, my ear! What the fuck was what?!" Baal replies, looking up from her paperwork.

"That was Beran, the Torturer." Clank replies, monotone as usual. "He is a well-known information expert, with a reputation for being particularly effective. We are fortunate that he is currently residing on this station, Captain."

"Yeah, real fuckin' lucky..." You grumble as you wipe your hand off on your pants.

It seems like nobody else saw what you did. Maybe he didn't touch them, or maybe it didn't matter, you don't know.
Either way, that guy ain't normal. ...You guess you aren't either, but you still don't like it.

You could have gone your whole life without this occult bullshit, but no. You just had to fuck around in the depths of space. Good job, Gunny.

"Captain?"

"Huh? What is it, Clank?"

"There are no other immediate issue which need taking care of. And perhaps it is best not to stir up too much interest in a single day, regardless."

"What, you tellin' me to get lost?"

"Certainly not, Captain. However, we do have clients waiting to meet with us."

"Fine..." You sigh. "Sorry, i'm just a little worked up is all. Keep holding it down, Clank."

"Of course, Captain."

...

You head back into the arena hall and try to calm down for a second. That Beran fucker got your heart racing for some reason.
Ourg is already halfway down the hall, headed back to her little station by the entrance.

Well, now what?
Baal and Ourg are both here, so nothing interesting must be going on in the arena. Sanig's off playing around, and there's nothing but busywork back at the ship...

>>5449252

>Kyla would probably appreciate the help. At the very least, you could print parts for her.
>Maybe now would be a good time to turn in some of those bounties you captured from the fed ships.
>There's a black market down here. Maybe you'll find something interesting if you take a look around?

>>5449253
>Maybe now would be a good time to turn in some of those bounties you captured from the fed ships.
Wait did those alien haulers already deliver the ships to the station, or did SHODAN make some of the drone shops follow us back? If that's the case then this could be a good opportunity to both recruit some people, AND turn in the bounties for actual assholes.

>>5449259

The functional ones came back with you. The remainder have to be hauled back by other ships.

>>5449261
What happened to the frog man who's nuts we destroyed? Is he recruitable?

>>5449266

He's still sitting in cryostasis on your ship.
You could try, if you wanted. He probably doesn't like you very much, though.

>>5449253
>>Maybe now would be a good time to turn in some of those bounties you captured from the fed ships.

>>5449252
>Maybe now would be a good time to turn in some of those bounties you captured from the fed ships.

>>5449253
>>There's a black market down here. Maybe you'll find something interesting if you take a look around?
maybe we can meet someone interesting... or recruit people to speed up the refitting of the ships? there are so many things we could fin

>>5449253
I can not recall but did the ship AIs report their captures? Because if they did we have som things to consider. perhaps we might want to cash it in somewhere else to not draw attention here. On the other hand here we do have some backing in case they want to not pay and have us detained for questioning. It might take some work but we can be imobolized.

>>5449252
>Maybe now would be a good time to turn in some of those bounties you captured from the fed ships.

>>5449379
>>5449340
>>5449332
>>5449259
Wait. How will we even turn in some of the bounties without the guys mentioning that they were initially captured by space police, not us? Wont that seem kinda suspicious?

>>5449253
>Maybe now would be a good time to turn in some of those bounties you captured from the fed ships.

>>5449253
>Maybe now would be a good time to turn in some of those bounties you captured from the fed ships.
>There's a black market down here. Maybe you'll find something interesting if you take a look around?

>>5449253
>Maybe now would be a good time to turn in some of those bounties you captured from the fed ships.

>>5449253
>Maybe now would be a good time to turn in some of those bounties you captured from the fed ships.
>Call Gron on a secure channel and see if he can vouch for some of the "criminals"
>Get SHODAN to help us go through the list of criminals we got to determine who we should keep with us, and who is complete barrel scum that needs to go to jail.

>>5449426
Cause said space police ships never updated the capture logs? The bounties wouldn't be open if they did

>>5449426
"Heads up, I heard them planning on lying about who captured them to spite me, wanted to let you know they're full of shit."

>>5449252

Actually, now that you think of it, this might be a good time to deal with some of the more unsavory fellows in the cryostasis pods.
Nothing better for a quick buck than unloading some unwanted cargo, right?

With that in mind, you set off for the ship again. Really, really getting sick of climbing that goddamned ladder. It's starting to remind you of basic.

When you get back, you see Kyla harnessed to the side of the ship. She has a panel off and her face is stuffed inside of it.
You see welding sparks flying out, so she must be doing something important. You wait for her to finish.

It takes her a minute, but eventually she's satisfied with her work and lets out a long sigh.
When she pokes her head back out, you see her wearing what would ordinarily be silly, oversized welding goggles... but they actually look kind of good on her.

She pulls them up to her forehead and closes the panel back up, then presses a button on her harness.
The cable that was holding her in place begins to extend, and she drop back down to the ground.

"Hey, babe." You greet her. "She in any shape to fly?"

"Depends on who you ask, i guess. But she'll hold together, yeah."

"Good. We need to make a quick little trip..."

...

You quickly rounded up the crew that happened to be around. They being Kyla, Cylia and Gildur, and take off towards an empty patch of space near (but not too near) the station.
There sit four drone ships, ready and waiting to go. Of course, they're not in the best condition, but they are at least still functional enough to fly, even if they don't all hold air.

Right now though, they have the very important task of supplying power to the many cryostasis pods that have been shoved into them, through jury-rigged cables and tubing.
These guys in particular, for the most part, are the ones with the worst records. Rape, serial murder, arson and so-on.

Donning your power armor, you hop across the gap and enter the drone ships, then hop back across carrying a pod on either shoulder.
After doing that three times, you reckon you've got enough and make your way back to the station.

You don't have access to their full, detailed records, but these guys are all listed as "particularly reprehensible" or worse.
Of course, you might be as well if people knew the half of what you've been doing, but that doesn't seem to have happened so far. Maybe these guys were just lacking tact.

Either way, they're about to be cash for your various little projects.
Each one of these men has a bounty higher than €50,000, but not much over. It seems like 50 is some kind of trigger, and if your bounty goes over that the fed AIs get dispatched to deal with you.

That means Gron has a bounty higher than €50,000 too, huh? Probably a lot higher, since they tried to dogpile him.

Oh well. Now out of your suit, you drag the pod into the medical bay and look for a familiar vial of bright blue liquid, which you load into a hypo-stim.

>>5450295
oh man the suspense!!!

>>5450295
Fascinating, kind of a ranking system by way of how much you're head is worse...with how much we know of the fact Warp Cores are demon fuckery...how much would we be worth if the fed finds out?

>>5450295
If there's an automatic trigger to send out a bounty hunter fleet, that's crazy exploitable. We ought to look into what the regulations surrounding these fleets are.

>>5450295
Is this €50,000 before or after accounting for the double pay out for if they're captured alive?
Before anything, do a quick background search of their races for any hidden surprises like the gross slime guy, and make sure they're restrained. Interview them, get a feel for them.

>>5450533
>Interview them, get a feel for them.
why though?

>>5450538
Well if Gron has labels like mass murderer and super anarchist by the feds, some of them can't all be bad. I mean David has done worse than most of these bounty goons.

>>5450543
>I mean David has done worse than most of these bounty goons.
>cue yakuza-esque "david has never killed anyone" montage

>>5450556
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQmpBXoIJOU

>>5450561
It's a good thing Kiryu splattered that slime disguised as a human all over the place. Who knows what that monster would have done if left to its own devices.

>>5450561
The human body wouldn’t react like that to being punched, so obviously whatever that adversary was wasn’t human.

>>5450295

After putting the guy inside through a rapid defrost, the lid of the capsule pops open and you immediately jab him straight in the neck with the sedatives.
Having been defrosted, he begins to wake up, clearly feeling extremely groggy and confused... only to almost immediately close his eyes again as the drugs take effect.

You pull his naked form out of the capsule and toss him into the chemical burn shower to hose him off before slapping a pair of cuffs on his hands and feet, just to be safe.
Next up, you strap a carrier harness onto him for ease of transport and dump him onto the hovercart like a sack of potatoes. One more pair of handcuffs binds him to the cart itself.

"Man, you really don't give a shit about these guys, huh?" Kyla notes.

"The only reason he's not dead is because he's worth some credits." You admit. "He's lucky i'm not the one who caught him."

"Fair enough, i guess. Need any help loading the others up, sweetie?" She offers.

"Nah, you've been working hard all day. Why don't you take yourself a break? I left some icecream cake in the freezer for you."

"Aww, are you trying to butter me up? Because it's working."

"Oh, not really. It's just... we wouldn't want you losing that nice, plump figure of yours, now would we?"

"I'm not just plump, i'm ripe for the picking..." Kyla growls.

"Get a freaking room, you two!" Cylia yells, busting into the room.

"Cyl, you're up already? How are you feeling?" You ask.

"Fine... i guess. I smelled someone else on the ship and it woke me up. What's this?"

Cylia waves her hand in the general direction of a sleeping, naked man chained up and strapped to a hovercart.

"A present?" You offer.

"Cute, but he's not my type."

"I'm just turning in some bounties for the cash. Guys from the fed ships."

"Oh, them. I still don't know about that. Won't the feds realize what's up when someone else delivers the bounty?"

"Maybe, maybe not. I mean, does it really matter? If a whole fleet couldn't take me out, what are they gonna do? I'm probably not even worth the resources."

"Unless they want to stamp out trouble before it gets too big... and you're right, you did take out a whole fleet. That's enough to get their attention for sure. Plus, i don't think the Metal Gear could handle another fight like that..."

"Gee, way to poop on the party, Cyl. Look at all this money, hey? Isn't that nice?"

You grab the chained-up man by his harness handle and shake him around a bit for emphasis.

"David..."

"...Look, what's done is done. If they come after us, we just gotta deal with them. We'll get the Metal Gear fixed up too, but you're right. She can't handle big fights like that. I'm working on something for that, alright? We got this."

Cylia sighs.

"Always so confident. If it was anyone else i'd say you're crazy, but..."

She wraps both of her hands around the back of your neck and pulls you down to her height for a kiss.

"I believe in you."

...

"Get a room, you two!" Kyla yells.

>>5451182
Get a room you three!

"Gee, way to poop on the party, Cyl. Look at all this money, hey? Isn't that nice?"

Heh, poopy stinky

>>5451182

"Why don't all three of you get a room, and get the hell out of my medical bay. This place is supposed to be sterile, so don't go getting your stink all over it."

The three of you turn to see Sanig standing in the doorway, clutching his head with a pained expression.

"Finally had enough?" You ask him.

"Hardly. Just gotta rest these old bones for a minute..."

Sanig leans heavily against the wall, looking tired.

"Where have you been all day?" Kyla asks. "I could have used your help a few times, here. You know the flight computer is on the fritz, right? I need someone at the console while i check the gimble hydraulics."

"Yeah, yeah. Not right now. I uh... i need some water."

"You did wash up before you came back, didn't you? Don't want you getting your stink all over everything, after all." You joke.

"You want to find out? Smell my finger." He grins.

"Ugh. Anyways, if you're done with shore leave, can you please help Kyla with printing parts and whatnot? I've got some bounties to turn in."

"Fine, Kid. Just don't ask for anything too complicated. My head's killing me right now."

"Thanks, you two." Kyla grins. She gives your leg a hug before dragging Sanig off towards the fab.

You, meanwhile, start dragging another guy out of his pod. A quick dose of sedatives and he should be good to go.

"Yuck. What's that goo all over them?" Cylia asks.

"Nutrient gel, supposedly. Absorbs into the skin, keeps them alive. Their metabolism is slowed way down, but technically they're still breathing and everything. These aren't like our cryo-pods." You explain.

"So that's what the mask is for, huh?"

"Yep. They still need air. Not a lot, but some..."

This guy starts waking up a little too much, and seems to realize the situation he's in. He's still too weak to do much more than kick and squirm a bit before the sedatives start taking effect, though.
You toss him into the shower and rinse him off with warm water, which helps bring his temperature back up a bit more. Then on go the cuffs, and then he's further cuffed to the cart.

The next two go easily as well, and now you've got three naked guys chained up in front of you.

"I mean, i already knew, but they really just don't compare, huh? Down there, i mean." Cylia comments.

"Yeah, no kidding." You agree. "I've got a hammer myself, but even compared to most humans... well, i wouldn't be showing it off if i were them. Especially him."

"Why is it shaped like that?" Cylia asks, tilting her head.

"Well, if he's anything like a duck... i guess that's half of why he's got that kind of bounty."

Turning away from the pile for a moment, you look over your own cryo-pods. You still have a single wraith in there and Randall, as you've taken to calling him.
Everyone else has either been sold off or dumped on some moon for potential future use.

>>5452097

Ol' Randall's been in there for a while now. He doesn't have a bounty as far as you can tell, but he did try to assassinate you.
Your feud with Dark Star is long over by now though, and Randall definitely isn't getting paid either. That leaves the question of what to do with him.

>You hate sneaky bastards like him, and he's probably not worth the trouble. All you really want is his skin, and that would fit in a medical crate...
>He's just taking up space, and you're not really the stealthy type anyways, so his skin's not that useful to you. Might as well just let him go.
>Sneaky bastards may be annoying to deal with, but they can also be useful. You could make him an indentured servant like Gildur.
>Write-In?

>>5452097
*four naked guys

>>5452098
>Sneaky bastards may be annoying to deal with, but they can also be useful. You could make him an indentured servant like Gildur.

>>5452098
>You hate sneaky bastards like him, and he's probably not worth the trouble. All you really want is his skin, and that would fit in a medical crate...
they aren't people if they piss us up

>>5452098
>Have a chat with him first. You can decide what to do with him afterwards, depending on how the chat goes.

>>5452098
>>You hate sneaky bastards like him, and he's probably not worth the trouble. All you really want is his skin, and that would fit in a medical crate...

>>5452098
>You hate sneaky bastards like him, and he's probably not worth the trouble. All you really want is his skin, and that would fit in a medical crate...

>>5452098
>>5452129
Actually, I want to switch to
>>5452120
this

>>5452120
This

>>5452098
The dude was literally pancake by gravity. Is he even still alive at this point?

>>5452098
>>You hate sneaky bastards like him, and he's probably not worth the trouble. All you really want is his skin, and that would fit in a medical crate...
might as well

>>5452097
Wake him up and hand him over to gron.

>>5452098
>You hate sneaky bastards like him, and he's probably not worth the trouble. All you really want is his skin, and that would fit in a medical crate...
He was hired to assassinate us. I want him dead or his skin.

>>5452098
>You hate sneaky bastards like him, and he's probably not worth the trouble. All you really want is his skin, and that would fit in a medical crate...
His skin is more valuable than his life

changing >>5452106 to
>Have a chat with him first. You can decide what to do with him afterwards, depending on how the chat goes

>>5452098
>You hate sneaky bastards like him, and he's probably not worth the trouble. All you really want is his skin, and that would fit in a medical crate...
We'd probably make better use of it than he would anyways.

>>5452098
>>You hate sneaky bastards like him, and he's probably not worth the trouble. All you really want is his skin, and that would fit in a medical crate...

>>5452120
+1

>>5452098
>Have a chat with him first. You can decide what to do with him afterwards, depending on how the chat goes.

>>5452098

You decide that Randall's probably more trouble than he's worth. He's probably got a grudge against you after you tortured him all night.
And besides, he's still got some serious injuries from being crushed by the weight of your gravity generator. He probably needs real medical care.

But most of all, he tried to kill you. For money. You can never really trust a piece of shit like that, and you'd know because you're basically the same damned thing.

Having given it some thought, you pull two phials out of the medicine cabinet and plug them directly into Randall's Cryo-pod, allowing the machine to directly disperse them into his body through his circulatory system.
One is an entire phial of sedative, and the other is a dilute phial of cyanide. Since they're both dispersed pretty evenly and thoroughly, he should slip away peacefully without even knowing what happened to him.

"What was that?" Cylia asks.

"A peaceful death." You answer honestly. "This guy would have been a problem no matter what we did with him, all things considered."

"...Was that really necessary?"

"Yes. People have a bad habit of forgiving and forgetting, especially over time. It may not have happened yesterday, but he did try to kill me. And now he's probably got a grudge against me as well."

"Probably...?"

"Well, i did torture some information out of him after all. Not only that, he's badly wounded because of me. It'd take a lot of rehab to get back in shape, and he won't forget that. I know i wouldn't."

Cylia places her hand against the frosty glass, looking closely at Randall's pained expression for a while.

"...I don't think you needed to do that, David. You could have let him go."

"He'd just be a threat. Better to get rid of him before he causes us a problem, Cyl."

"Look at him! His legs are broken! His arm is broken! He's covered in cuts and burns! He's not a threat to anyone, no less you or me! If you let him go... i think he'd just try to get as far away from you as possible..."

"He's a murderer, Cyl. An assassin for hire, and a good one at that. I still don't know how he got onto the ship without anyone noticing, and he can turn himself invisible. He can even hide from the ship's sensors. He's dangerous."

Cylia turns pouts, giving you a look. Goddamnit, you know that look, too. She's not gonna let this go.

"...I'll think it over, alright? The drugs won't take effect until we thaw him out, we can still flush them out of his system."

"Thank you, David. I know you have... problems... leaving people alive. But you don't need to kill everyone, okay?"

"I do when they try to stab me with a poisoned needle."

"David..."

"What? Are you gonna try and say i'm wrong? Because i'm not. Nobody stabs me and gets away with it."

"Correct me if i'm wrong, but he never actually stabbed you, right?"

"Yeah, but he tried. Hell, even if he just thought about it, he'd still be guilty. Fuck him."

"But-"

"FUCK! HIM! Fuck that motherfucker, and his whole family too!"

>>5453007
Not literally of course, that would be kinda gay.

>>5453007
>Fuck that motherfucker, and his whole family too!"
Yup that is the usual attempt at translating some of the spicier curses of Arabs and Eastern euros.
Things like damn your entire line and fuck your mother's dead people.

>>5453064
+1

>>5453007

"Okay, okay! Calm, please... calm. Breathe, David."

You take a single sharp inhale through your nose, and exhale it right back out through your nose.

"You know how i feel about 'em, Cyl. They shoot at me, they're supposed to be fuckin' dead." You insist, staring off in front of you towards nothing in particular, tilting your head and shaking your knife hand for emphasis.

"Yes, that's fair. That's absolutely fair, okay? But you don't have to do it, do you? You can let them go sometimes, can't you? Just sometimes?"

You're really trying to agree with her here, but you literally just can't. The words "I guess" linger at the tip of your tongue, but all you can do is shake your head "no".

"Alright..." She sighs, patting your chest and sounding defeated. "You can go. We can talk later."

You walk out of the room, grabbing onto the hovercart as you go. You can be heard grumbling under your breath while you leave.

"Motherfucker, him and his fucking needle. Lucky i didn't rip his goddamn head off right then and there."

You try to calm yourself down on your way to the bounty office, but between your angry muttering and the cart full of naked guys, you attract more than a few stares.
A bunch of people even snap pictures of you looking pissed off next to the cart.

When you arrive, the lady at the front desk just raises her eyebrow at you.

"I'm here to drop off some bounties." You announce.

"I see that. What's your handle?"

"Gunny."

"Alright, let's see..."

She quickly searches you up in her database, and once she's convinced it's you, she walks around to your side of the counter with a little scanning tool.
It looks almost like a barcode reader, but she uses it to scan their faces in an instant.

She then walks back around, sits down at her computer and types a few things in... and her eyes go wide.

"Something wrong?" You ask.

"S-Sir, these are all high-value targets..."

"Yeah, that's the idea."

"Well, it's just, their bounties weren't even issued in this system... actually, none of them were issued in the same systems..."

"Yeah? I have cryopods on my ship. Whenever i need cash, i turn a few of 'em in. Been sittin' on these guys for a while."

She looks like she wants to argue, but decides better of it. You can literally see the moment she gives up on asking questions.

"Okay." She sighs. "Your bounty comes out to €233,000. Please escort them to the holding facility, and you'll receive your payout on the way out."

"Thank you kindly, miss."

One of the men makes a burbling sound and rolls over, falling off the cart with a groan. Rather than heft his naked ass back up, you just drag him along the floor into the holding area.
The guard at the door watches him with pity-filled eyes. He then escorts you to the holding area, literally just a series of jail cells, and you toss each of them into a cell by themselves.

"You want to keep the cuffs, or..?"

"I uh... i guess? How do we get them off?" The guard asks.

>>5453994
Best damn cuffs they will ever have. They better not lose them.

>>5453994
"I uh... i guess? How do we get them off?" The guard asks.
God damn numb nuts. You know what? Let's keep the cuffs.

>>5454100
To be fair, if someone has never seen handcuffs before they might not see how to take them off right away. The only identifying feature being one hole in the middle and since this is le advanced space he might think they're remote controlled.

This is one of the few situations in which it is reasonable for someone not to know how something works.

>>5454100
this>>5454384
they all about those electronic locks, even out here in the boonies.

Nah, leave the cuffs on their person. Give the shitty sheriff a chore to do.

You know, I am against Cylia's softness. Something like that will get David injured. And it's not like David will soften up and slip, but rather Cyl will do a fuck up and put her furry perky ass in danger.

>>5453994

You toss the guard a pair of handcuff keys on a ring, which he just barely manages to catch.

"One size fits all."

The man looks down at the keys and back up at you as if he's expecting further instructions, but instead you walk off back to the front desk to collect your pay.
You collect your money without issue and stop just outside the bounty office with a sigh as you divide up the cash between your active crew and the ship's fund.

"Fuck, man. I need a bottle of bourbon and a stogie." You grumble to yourself.

...

The next few days pass without incident. Word spreads quickly about your actions down in the lower city, and most of the residents come to know your name and face, regardless of their feelings on the matter.
There's actually an uptick in crime and general violence down in the lower city, almost as if they're testing the waters. Clank calls you in a couple of times to deal with some minor upstarts, but little of interest happens.

You, Kyla and Sanig all work together on getting the Metal Gear repaired, eventually taking it down to the lower city's dock where it can be worked on in earnest.
The damage was about as severe as Kyla told you, with the whole frame of the ship being twisted and many important parts having burned out or been damaged.

You ended up hiring a small crew to assist with repairs, and together with material costs it came out to around €20,000. Fortunately, the ship's fund is flush with cash again.

The maneuvering thrusters that burned out unfortunately couldn't be repaired, but they were at least replaced with your new prototype Arcjet Engines.
The whole ship would need to be retrofitted to pipe them all up properly, so as it stands each thruster just has it's own individual propellant tank. That actually makes them more redundant, albeit heavier overall.

Your cockpit canopy was replaced with heavily armored bulletproof glass, and the cockpit itself was fitted with monitors and cameras that allow you a decent view around ship even if it, and it's HUD, should be destroyed.
Many circuits and conduits had to be stripped out and replaced entirely, during the process of which Kyla took the liberty of over-speccing them such that they should never burn out on you again.

The ship, however, just wasn't the same in the end. With some of it's parts missing, the automated computers threw fit after fit, and some functionality was lost. Nothing important, but you do notice she rides rougher than she once did.
At least Kyla and SHODAN were able to get things working again in the end. And like that, the days turn into a couple of weeks.

You've been thinking a lot about the future lately. If the feds come after you again, the Metal Gear is going to have a rough time of it to say the least. You need something that can take them on in a head-on fight.
So you've spent a lot of time considering a from-scratch design. One without any patented equipment that you can't replace.

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And now, dear readers, is the part i haven't been looking forwards to. I expect it to be an absolute shitshow, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

It's time to design your future ship! We'll be taking it slow, in parts. One section at a time, maybe a couple different votes a day depending on how quickly this thing goes.
The first thing you'll be voting on is what *kind* of ship you're looking to build. Is it a corvette, capable of housing just your crew, albeit comfortably? Is it a battleship, capable of housing many more but still crewed by a few essential individuals?

Or maybe you're thinking bigger, along the lines of a Destroyer or Carrier-class ship? The size and scale of the ship will determine everything else, from the cost and time it takes to build, to what you can actually equip it with and how much it'll cost to run.
A small ship like the Metal Gear costs basically nothing to keep running, but a Carrier-Class would require a sizeable investment in fuel every time you make a jump to a different system. Likewise, electricity costs would also be a concern if you only equip it with antimatter reactors.

It's an important vote, so a lot of discussion and consideration would probably be a good idea.
Why do you want one type of ship over the other? What are the benefits and drawbacks you expect, and in the case of a big ship, what do you actually plan to do with it?

Remember, this is a quest that isn't based on any pre-existing series. There are references all over the place, but the reality is that we're flying by the seat of our pants here.
If you're going to make something, there needs to be a good reason for it. It needs to have an actual use, besides being big and therefore cool.

So take your time, consider things carefully, and discuss it with your fellow anons. I'll be here to answer any questions and clarify as much as possible. We'll get through it together in the end.

Now, here's the question.
What kind of ship do you want to build?

>A corvette. Small and light, but armed to the teeth. Built for speed and agility, just like the metal gear... but also meant for combat, and not just stealth. It'll be tougher and well-built.
>A battleship. Something medium-sized, well armed and armored. Not just a glass cannon, it can take a hit or two without flinching. You'll have room to grow your crew and live comfortably.
>A destroyer. Big, slow and heavy, made to take it's punches and dish them right back out. It'll be expensive to move, but it'll also have room inside for a smaller ship or two, like the Metal Gear.
>A carrier. Again, big and slow. Still well armed and armored, but not specifically designed to fight by itself. Instead, it carries a number of corvettes which can react more flexibly to any situation. Lots of living space.
>Something else? (Please explain in detail, and give your reasoning for it)

>>5455186
>Something else? (Please explain in detail, and give your reasoning for it)
>Take something from the Federation's book - a modular ship that seamlessly attach to other ships that also have modular natures, allowing you to add or remove sections as you please. You can start out small and work your way up to a true Outer Haven with it, and if you ever get truly big enough you can swap out your ship composition to suit the situations you're expecting to go into.
Think about it. On one mission, we're armed to the fuckin teeth on every component...and on another, we've got maximum storage space for hauling shit. If we need to do a stealth or solo mission, we just take a single ship from the pool...and if we need to move the entire damn thing, we just attach every ship to each other and move out slowly but surely.
And it's easier to fix in some regards. If a section gets damaged beyond repair you can just scrap the ship that got damaged and swap it with a new one.
Bonus points: Also lets us use the multiple AI we have.

>>5455186
>A battleship. Something medium-sized, well armed and armored. Not just a glass cannon, it can take a hit or two without flinching. You'll have room to grow your crew and live comfortably

>>5455186
I'll put my vote into battleship