Armin Petrosyan grew up with his brother. They were the grand grandsons of Garo Petrosyan, a former guard of The Lock on Suvorov. Garo was considered a hero because he saved many other guards lives during Jasper Kryx riot and breakout. However, he probably also was part of the prisoners misery and agony during their stay. Together with his brother he often played a game called "prisoner's run", where one of them would try to cross a line drawn on the ground and the other one tried to prevent this.
However, in 2297, at the age of ten years, his brother found a box at the attic with their grand grandfathers old uniform, baton and a medal for his actions during the riot. They played another round of prisoners run and the winner should get the box. However, the rest of their family found them and Garo was filled with shame when he saw his old equipment. The adults never talked with the boys about this incident, but at the next day, the box was gone and never appeared again. About a week later, Garo Petrosyan passed away.
Armin never forgot the reaction of his grand grandfather and when he later joined the UC-SysDef, he was driven by the goal to uncover the truth about what has happened on Suvorov. His family name, strict following of orders and ambition allowed him to raise up the ranks fast and by the time of 2330, he was in charge of the holding cells of the UC Vigilance, the most powerful ship in the United Colonies. However, he also grew to become a workaholic, up to a point where his own health sufferd visibly. His strictness and accuracy in terms of rules and even hygienic regulations sometimes confuse his subordinates, but they still respect him when he explains his point of view.
He gets along very well with his superior, Commander Kibwe Ikande. In fact, he considers him to be an ideal officer who cared for his subordinates. In his time as a workaholic, Ikande noticed his worsening condition but instead of looking away and let him work like other officers did in the past, Ikande told him he had 15 minutes to join him in the mess hall for a break or he would be fired.
Armin takes his job very seriously and prevents every abuse of power against any of the prisoners. He is aware that his subordinates dislike or even hate the captured pirates and would gladly accept any reason to worsen their punishment. But his adherence to the rules as well as his knowledge or suspicions about the events at The Lock make him prevent this.
Interactions[]
Armin's Activity[]
This activity requires finding information about the conditions on The Lock for Armin. This requires obtaining the SSNN Kryx Interview Part 04 slate.
Dialogue[]
Show: First Encounter
"Welcome to the brig. As a member of SysDef, you may talk with the prisoners, as long as you are mindful of Operation security. As a personal rule, I simply ask that you adhere to UC Navy standards of cleanliness at all times. That means no mud on your boots, your hands are washed, and you are free of any contagious diseases."
Why the focus on cleanliness?"Besides the fact that it's healthier, a sanitary brig is important for station security. In my experience, a prisoner will hide a shiv under a flake of dust if you let them. The cleaner a space is, the easier it is to spot irregularities. Both inside a cell, and out."
Seems a bit excessive, but I'll try my best."Normally, I'd say trying isn't good enough. But you're Commander Ikande's mole, aren't you? In that case, I'm not going to ask you to blow your cover just for me. I understand being a slob is part of the job. But try not to abuse the privilege."
I keep things neat and tidy, so it won't be a problem."Excellent. And all that being said, I understand your mission directive might call for flexibility on my part. So if you need to be a rum-drinking, swash-buckling pirate to do your job, then I will do my best to clean up after you."
Sorry to tell you, but I'm kind of a slob."Sigh. I trust you're Commander Ikande's undercover mole. I understand a "lack of hygiene" is part of the cover. So, lucky for you, you're an exception to my usual rule. But try not to abuse the privilege."
How do you handle treatment of the prisoners?"That's a loaded question. We err on the side of caution here, short of any physical abuse. But with the Crimson Fleet, you have to be very careful. If you give them an inch, they'll take a parsec, and find a way to stab you with it."
Do the guards get into it with the prisoners?"Verbally, yes. There's a lot of bad blood with the Fleet, stretching across generations. Myself included. Sometimes that blood spills over. As long as there's no actual fighting, I tend to let both sides dish it out."
That's a good mindset. Security should be the top priority."That's the idea. We will always err on the side of security, given the choice."
Security aside, we should try to keep things as humane as possible."Yes, although it's always a balance. At the end of the day, these are ruthless pirates, and they will take advantage of any weakness you show."
Do what you have to do. Pirates don't deserve any mercy."True, the rules for P.O.W. 's technically don't apply to pirates. It's more of an ethical line we have to be mindful of."
"But I'll be the first to admit it's not an exact science. And we've made mistakes in the past, with both the carrot and the stick. As chief officer of this brig, my worst fear is that we'll someday repeat them."
What kind of prisoners end up in the brig?"The cells you see here are for captured pirates and prisoners of war. If you apprehend any pirates during the course of your missions, they'll be detained here."
What if the prisoners tried to escape? What kind of defenses do we have?"We have multiple turrets attached to the ceiling. If you've met Ensign Bedi, she's personally calibrated them to ensure they cover the entire area. That being said, firing the turrets should be considered a last resort."
What are your throughs on Commander Ikande?"He's a good man. Singularly focused when it comes to the Fleet, but that's not to say he doesn't care about his crew. I can tell you a story as an example, if you'd like to hear it."
Go ahead. I've got time."So, I'm a bit of a workaholic, and I forget to take breaks. One day, Commander Ikande passes by the brig, and sees me at my desk. He takes one look at my haggard face and says, "Officer, I'm headed to the Mess Hall. If you're not with me in fifteen minutes, your services will no longer be required on my ship." I tried to protest, but he was dead serious. So, I went. We had lunch, talked about old times, and I went back to the brig refreshed and ready to work. It's little things like that. You can see he pays attention, and that he cares about the people, not just the work."
I don't have time for that. Let's change topics."Fair enough."
Does the Commander visit the brig often?"Usually only when he has business here. But pretty much everyone passes by the brig on their way to other parts of the ship. Given he sees barely a glance of me most days, you'd think he wasn't paying attention. Hence the story, if you got time."
Were there any problems securing Austin Rake?"No, the prisoner surrendered willingly, as per the terms of your deal. This is probably the safest place for him, if the Fleet want him dead. You can chat with him, if you haven't already. I'm sure he has a lot to say."
"Be sure to keep the brig clean and tidy during your stay."
I've been to Suvorov as part of my undercover work."Really? I know you were headed to the Key, but I didn't realize you'd actually get a chance to visit the Lock. I almost respect the Fleet for doing that. They're trying to pass down their history, or their version of it, anyway."
You respect the fact they take new recruits to the Lock?"I respect the principle of teaching one's history. It makes me think Delgado wants the Fleet to be more than just space pirates. When you connect the past with the future, you're trying to create a culture. A throughline between you and Jasper Kryx."
I did feel the weight of history as I walked through it."Incredible. I think at SysDef, we all feel that weight every time we wear the uniform. But to be there, where it started, I can't imagine."
You seem almost excited that I went down there."Ah, my apologies. I didn't mean to be unprofessional. It's just rare to talk to someone who got to witness that history up close."
I don't think it was that deep. Delgado's just looking for a lost treasure."And how many times has he done that previously, with other recruits? No, I'd say this was one part scavenger hunt, three parts history lesson."
[Space Scoundrel] I wasn't there for the history lesson, professor. I was there to do a job."Ah, my apologies. I didn't mean to be unprofessional. It's just rare to talk to someone who got to witness that history up close."
"But all that aside, give me your honest opinion. What were the conditions like?"
It was creepy and old. I felt like the ghosts of the past were looming over me."I can understand that. Sometimes I feel those ghosts come to haunt me in my sleep."
It was rough, but what I'd expect for a maximum security prison.
It was basically a resort. If I was on shore leave I'd stay there on purpose."That's actually quite the relief. I always assumed the worst, and maybe in my mind, I'd built it into something more scandalous than it was. Leave it to pirates to exaggerate everything, haha."
Brutal. With how they were treated, it's no wonder the inmates revolted."I was afraid of that. I think I'm starting to fully realize the hand we played in all this."
"Truth be told, my ancestor was a guard on Suvorov. Part of the reason I joined SysDef was to find out more about his experience. And whether the history books told the whole story."
"Which is why I'd like to hear Kryx's side of it, as biased as it may be."
"And coupled with Kryx's testimony, it paints a damning picture."
"That doesn't really jive with what Kryx said on his interview. But it's not like we can trust the word of a pirate. Leave it to pirates to exaggerate everything, haha."
"Which is why I'd like to hear Kryx's side of it, if just to confirm what you saw."
Why the fascination with the Fleet's history?"The Fleet and the UC are intertwined. And I've always felt knowing that past is an important part of what we do. In life, history can be a guide, a warning, or at times, a reflection. And if you want to know which one it is, you have to stare it in the face, regardless of how ugly it is."
Show: Armin's Activity
"Be sure to keep the brig clean and tidy during your stay."
As the brig officer, is there anything you need from me?"As a matter of fact, I have a favor to ask. I understand that part of your undercover work involves going to the Fleet headquarters. Namely, the Key. While you're there, if you find anything pertaining to the history of the Fleet, I'd be interested in learning about it."
Commander Ikande didn't mention this being part of the job."It's not, and purely voluntary. As a jailer and student of history, call it professional curiosity."
This is a highly unusual request, officer."I apologize, but no one from our side has been to the Key in ages. The history buff in me wants to learn more."
There's a lot we can both learn, I'm sure."I agree. Just keep in mind this is a favor, and you're free to ignore it. I only ask because this is such a rare opportunity, and I'd hate to pass it up."
I'll keep an eye out for you."I appreciate it. I've actually heard rumors about there being audio logs for an interview the founder of the Fleet, Jasper Kryx, did on the Key."
I'm going to have to decline."I understand. Thinking about it now, digging for information might make you look suspicious. I shouldn't have brought it up."
I can't make any promises. There's a lot of heat on me as it is."Of course. Maintaining your cover takes precedence."
"I'm interested in anything he had to say regarding his time in prison, and how the prisoners were treated. If you find anything like that, bring it back here, and we'll take a listen."
-
After finding the SSNN Kryx Interview Part 04:
-
"What can I do for you, officer?"
I found this slate where Kryx says the prisoners on the Lock were tortured."So it's true. All my life I've been led to believe the guards on the Lock were heroes. But there was part of me that always doubted the story, even as a child learning about the history from the slates. Thank you for bringing me this. I get that Kryx is about as unreliable a witness as they come, but... I believe him."
Why is the history of the Lock so important to you?"Because it isn't just any history. It's my family's. If you open a history slate and look up the name Garo Petrosyan, you'll find a hero decorated in medals. Medals he earned for escaping the riots on Suvorov."
Why was he awarded medals?"For helping his fellow guards escape the riots. And maybe that part is true. But it conveniently skips everything that happened before that point. No one ever asks what prompted the riots. It was just criminals being criminals, and that was explanation enough."
Petrosyan. As in, your ancestor?"My great-grandfather, to be exact. He lived until the year 2297. Ten years after I was born."
So he was one of the guards who tortured prisoners."Maybe. I don't know for certain. But what I do know is when I remember the look on his face, it's never one of pride."
I hadn't heard of him."It's been almost a century, so that doesn't surprise me. But in some circles, it carries weight."
[Professor] I know of Garo Petrosyan. I didn't know he was your ancestor."It's a source of pride for many in my family. I don't think they ever bothered to learn the truth of it."
"The thing is, even as my family rode the coattails of our name, I always felt like something wasn't right about the story. And it always came back to that day in the yard, playing games with my brother. It's the only memory I have of my great-grandfather that sticks."
Did you get this position because of your name?"I'd like to say no. But how can that be true? Pursuing a military career, the name could only help."
You may be misremembering. Childhood memories aren't that reliable."I disagree. I can still picture everything about that day. The sun, the porch, and the yard where my brother and I played "Prisoner's Run.""
Tell me about this memory."It was about a week before he passed. Me and my brother had the house to ourselves, and were playing a game we called "Prisoner's Run.""
"It was a simple game. We drew a line in the dirt, and the object was for the "guard" to keep the "prisoner" from crossing it. But on that day, my brother came to the yard with an added surprise. He found a chest in the attic, filled with goodies. A baton, a uniform, and a medal to serve as prize for the winner."
If it was in the attic, it couldn't have been valuable."That was what we thought. We could tell it was old, but we didn't think it was actually important."
The uniform from his work as a prison guard."Most likely. But given how unceremonious the boxes were, how could we have known?"
The medal he got from escaping the riots."Indeed. But as boys, we didn't connect the dots. After all, why would something so precious be stuffed in the attic?"
"But when our family returned, I knew something was wrong. My great-grandfather didn't say a word, but behind his eyes, I could see it -- the shame. No one said anything to either of us. But the next day, the uniform and the medal were gone. At the time, I never understood why he kept those things buried in the attic. Now, it all seems so clear."
Whoever your ancestor was, it doesn't matter. You're not him."I appreciate the kind words. I suppose that's the lesson I need to take from this, even though right now, it's hard to feel anything but shame."
Your ancestor was at best a fraud, at worst a torturer."As much as it stings to hear, your version is probably closer to the truth. God knows after years of praise and confetti, the Petrosyan name deserves a kick in the rear."
This doesn't mean your ancestor was a bad man. He could've still been a hero."Maybe not a bad man, but a hero? Hard to say."
"Either way, thanks for talking this through with me. I don't know if I'll ever know what really happened on Suvorov, but at least now I have something beyond the family myth."
"Your work may be done, but mine's just beginning."
What happens to Delgado now?"Delgado will likely stand trial to answer for his crimes. Given his record, I can't imagine he'll be standing for very long. I'm sure some of the others we'll interrogate. My job is to make sure none of them intimidate each other into staying quiet. Once we get planetside, we need to make sure the transport of these prisoners goes smoothly. The job's not truly done until their asses are parked in a maximum security prison."
"You're dismissed."
Conversations[]
SysDef Petty Officer:"Sir, if I may speak freely, is there reason for the harsh reprimand? As far as I know I just tracked a little mud into the brig." Armin:"Soldier, have you ever heard of Trench Foot?" SysDef Petty Officer:"Can't say that I have, sir." Armin:"Well, they say guards on Suvorov would sometimes trudge through cold, frost-wet trenches on their daily patrols. Prolonged wetness led to circulation and nerve damage, aka, Trench Foot. Unable to perform, those guards were taken off duty -- and security suffered -- all because they didn't take the time to properly dry their feet. You see where I'm going with this, don't you?" SysDef Petty Officer:"I do. But if I may, I would argue that we're not on some frozen planet, sir." Armin:"But you tracked in mud from your last mission. You brought in any number of microbial lifeforms, known and unknown, into my brig. These are direct threats to the health and safety of this crew, and by extension, the security of this brig. On my brig, cleanliness is a duty, and I suggest you take this duty seriously. And if not, I will have the Commander relieve you of it. " SysDef Petty Officer:"Yes sir, understood sir."
Quotes[]
"Some of the guards don't take kindly to the prisoners. But we should try to maintain some decorum."
"What can I do for you, officer?"
"Be sure to keep the brig clean and tidy during your stay."
"Until next time."
"As you were."
"Keep the floors and your nose clean and you can stay as long as you like."
"Thanks again for the talk. My family history is complicated, so it's nice to talk about it with someone."
"I appreciate you bringing me that audio log. Kryx may be biased, but that doesn't mean he's a liar." -After completing his quest
"Still can't believe you got Delgado into the brig." -After defeating the Crimson Fleet
"Congratulations on defeating the Fleet. Now you can pass the baton to us here in the brig." -After defeating the Crimson Fleet
"Now that the Fleet has been dealt with, you have full access to the facility." - After defeating the Crimson Fleet
