Kibwe Ikande

Commander Kibwe Ikande is a commander in the UC Navy, head of the Systems Defense division. Along with Lieutenant Jillian Toft he oversees the active operations of UC SysDef.

Background[]

Commander Ikande abhors Crimson Fleet pirates and his whole unit is dedicated to bringing them down.

Interactions[]

Deep Cover[]

Join UC SysDef.

Rook Meets King[]

Infiltrate the Crimson Fleet.

Echoes of the Past[]

Report on the Crimson Fleet after they bring you to The Lock.

Breaking the Bank[]

Report in after a Crimson Fleet operation on the Siren of the Stars.

The Best There Is[]

Report in over the Crimson Fleet stealing research from SY-920.

Eye of the Storm[]

Retrieve the lost GalBank transport in Bannoc.

Legacy's End[]

Put down the Crimson Fleet.

Dialogue[]

Show: Deep Cover
"Ah, there you are. Commander Kibwe Ikande, UC SysDef. Glad to have you aboard. I was beginning to think you were having second thoughts about Commander Tuala's offer." UC SysDef? Is that another division of the UC military? "UC SysDef is a division of the UC Navy. While they handle the big-picture stuff, we deal specifically with pirates. Since you're already involved with the Vanguard, I don't have to underline how important your contribution will be to the security of our spaceways." I still don't quite understand why I'm here. "Yes, I know. I was intentionally vague when I advised MAST of my needs. But rest assured, I'll answer all your questions in due time." Well, I'm not entirely sold on the idea yet. "Well then, let's just see what we can do about that, eh?" Tuala convinced me it would be for the greater good, so, here I am. "It appears he's certainly picked the right person for the job." [United Colonies Native] I'm here to do my part for the United Colonies. "Excellent. Then let's get right to it, shall we?" "So, now that you're a part of the team, allow me to introduce you to your new home. This is the Operations Center of the UC Vigilance, SysDef's nerve center dedicated to the destruction of the Crimson Fleet." What exactly is the Crimson Fleet? "Hm, that's strange. According to your file, you've encountered them before... on Vectera, specifically. They were the pirates that attacked your mining outpost? I'm surprised you don't remember." Where is the Vigilance located right now? "We're currently in the Sol System in deep orbit around Phobos. As to why, I'll explain momentarily." Impressive ship, but I don't see where I fit in. "Whether this ship is impressive or not, you're the key element that we've been lacking." You're going to need more than one ship to eliminate an entire fleet. "Which is precisely why we're taking a more clandestine approach." "We need eyes and ears inside the Crimson Fleet. Someone who can feed us information, evidence and expose their weaknesses. The catch is that you can't just knock on their front door and ask for an application. Getting inside is going to take some finesse." I assume you've chosen me because I'm expendable? "Let's get one thing straight right now, soldier. I don't care if you're from the Vanguard, the Navy or the technician that scrapes the carbon-scoring off the engine nozzles. In my eyes, your past service no longer matters. You're now an agent of SysDef, meaning that it's my job to keep you alive."' "Let's get one thing straight right now. While you're working for me, I'm going to treat you like one of my own. Whatever crimes you've committed in the past no longer matter. You're now an agent of SysDef, meaning that it's my job to keep you alive." I prefer a more direct approach. "Then you're going to get yourself killed. So listen up, because my advice might just keep you alive." It takes more than finesse to catch the attention of a pirate. "It certainly does, so listen up." I assume you already have a plan in mind. "I do." [Persuasion] Get me in a room with them, and I'll talk them into anything. "Good, I have just the right place for you start." "Our intelligence has managed to find a possible opening into the Crimson Fleet through Saoirse Bowden, one of their contacts. She works for the Trade Authority in Cydonia, so you'll be using a container of Aurora we've loaded on your ship to get her attention." Aurora? "Aurora is a Class-A controlled substance that's illegal to transport outside of Neon, a city on Volii." Where did you get the contraband? "That's classified. Suffice to say that the smuggler who was previously hauling it will be spending the rest of their life in prison." She can probably sniff out a narc from a sector away. "That's right, so it'll be your job to convince this person that you're the real deal." That doesn't sound like an ironclad plan to me. "Well, it's the best we've got." Sounds simple enough. "You'd better hope so. Saoirse won't be easy to dupe." "Once you bluff your way into the Crimson Fleet, then the operation proceeds to evidence gathering. That's where my second-in-command, Lieutenant Jillian Toft comes into the picture. She'll explain everything you need to know." Why bother gathering evidence? "Let's just say my superiors need proof that engaging the Crimson Fleet is a larger priority than they're willing to admit. If we shove enough concrete evidence under their noses, they'll have no choice but to allocate the resources that I've requested. At the same time, we can use the evidence to arrest members of the Crimson Fleet, weakening them enough to strike a fatal blow." If this is the best plan you've got, we're both in trouble. "Well then, I suppose you'll just have to take your chances. In the meantime, I expect you to follow my orders. To the letter. You must have quite a bit of confidence in my abilities. "If I didn't have confidence in your abilities, I would have told Commander Tuala to send someone else." "If I didn't have confidence in your abilities, we wouldn't be having this conversation." That's a lot to absorb. "We move quick around here. Better get used to it." Point the way and I'll get it done. "Eager to get going? Good." "Remember, this entire operation rests on your ability to infiltrate the Crimson Fleet and bring us the evidence we need to take them down." What if I get in over my head? "Then you better learn to swim, because you're diving right into the deep end on this one. I've studied your profile. I know you can do this. I'm not about to throw away someone's life on a whim or a prayer. Just use your best judgment, trust your instincts and watch your back." I'm guessing it's too late to back out of the deal. "At this point, whether you like it or not, you're working for me." I'm just doing this for the money. "Fine. Whatever gets the job done." I'll do my best. "I wouldn't expect any less." "Look, before you begin, I want to make something perfectly clear. As an undercover operative for UC SysDef, you'll be expected to follow our code of conduct and ethics. Allow yourself to stray too far off the path, and you stand a good chance of spiraling out of control." What do you mean "stray too far off the path"? "The Crimson Fleet doesn't follow the rules. They only abide by one thing: money. All of their morals and social graces fall by the wayside in pursuit of their greed. At first glance, this can appear quite enticing, so I'm warning you not to get lured into their trap. Think you can handle that?" Can you explain SysDef's code of conduct and ethics? "To put it simply, you can't go into every situation with guns blazing. Think before you act, calculate what you're doing, and pull the trigger only when it's absolutely necessary. At the end of the day, your primary goal is taking down the Crimson Fleet. That's the greater good." I don't exactly do well following rules and regulations. "Well, you better learn quick, otherwise I'll start looking for someone to take your place." I can't make any promises. "I don't want promises. I'm just asking you to think." I can stay the course. "That's what I wanted to hear." "Anyway, it's time to hand you over to Lt. Toft. She'll brief you about the details of the evidence gathering portion of the operation. Now, get out of here. And... good luck." How will I maintain contact with you? "That's easy to answer. You don't. We'll be monitoring your activities from the Vigilance and attempting to keep it within your vicinity. When you feel you've gathered enough evidence, and at the completion of your assignments, head back here for a debrief. Beyond that, you're completely on your own." Do you have any other information about Saoirse Bowden? "All we know is that she's been with the Trade Authority for years, which means she's been privy to some seriously shady deals. She's shrewd and she's diligent. The only reason we were able to connect her with the Crimson Fleet at all was thanks to an informant. I'm afraid she's the best lead we've got." What happens if I get arrested while I'm undercover? "For your own safety, nobody but myself and the crew of the Vigilance will be aware that you're working for the United Colonies. Basically, if you land in jail, you're going to have to deal with the fines." Can you tell me more about my expected behavior as an agent? "While you're running with the Crimson Fleet, you're undoubtedly going to be faced with some... morally gray decisions. It's going to be difficult for you to weigh the consequences of pulling the trigger while maintaining your cover. Do what you have to do, but remember why you're out there in the first place." What if I don't have a choice? "Then you do what you have to do. The Crimson Fleet has the potential to kill hundreds... even thousands of people per year. If it takes a few deaths to maintain your cover, then so be it... but only as an absolutely final resort. This is not a licensed killing spree. Understood?" I refuse to kill innocent people. "I'm not advocating violence. I'm merely urging you to weigh the consequences before you open fire." Maintaining my cover as a pirate and abiding by the law won't mix. "That's why I expect you to constantly seek alternative means to overcome your obstacles rather then blowing holes in them." [Neon Street Rat] I've never had a problem doing what I had to do to survive. "As long as you can distinguish between "surviving" and "thriving" you'll do just fine." [Gangster] Morally gray decisions are my specialty. "On this mission, you need to be better than that. You can't let the experiences of your past guide your actions." "Look, I can see that you're struggling with this, so let me simplify this for you. If there's a route to your goal which doesn't involve killing innocent people, I'm urging you to follow that path. Use your instincts. I'm certain you'll do the right thing." "Look, your past stumbles aside, I still believe you can do this job while upholding that standard. But make no mistake, the next time you harm an innocent life, you are off this operation for good." - If one was taken prisoner instead: - "I hope you're comfortable. We have a lot to discuss." Who are you? "I'm your ticket out of the mess you've gotten yourself into. That's all you need to know for now." This doesn't look like the local jail. "Hm, highly perceptive. Let me add that to your list of skills. Speaking of which, let's see what we're working with here." There's nothing to discuss. "Well, we'll see about that. First, let me see what we're working with here." Just let me pay my fine so I can get out of here. "Not this time. So, let me see what we're working with here." [Gangster] Yeah, yeah. I know the drill. "If you knew the drill, you'd keep your mouth shut. Now, let's see what we're working with here." "Hm. Pretty unremarkable past. Not much to speak of there. I also see that you've mined on Vectera, and now you're with Constellation. You've certainly been quite busy. Oh, and look at that. Right at the bottom of this list is the criminal incident that landed you in my crosshairs." I bet my shoe size isn't in your records. "Huh. You're absolutely right. Well, I'll have my people get right on that." Let's just get to the point. "I will. When I'm ready." That pretty much covers it. "Good. You'll find that I'm a stickler for details, and I'd hate to discover that your file is incomplete." "Now that we have that out of the way, let me introduce myself. My name is Commander Kibwe Ikande and I'm in charge of this operation for UC SysDef. Are you familiar with what we do?" Could you start by telling me what "UC SysDef" means? "United Colonies System Defense. Does that help you figure out exactly what it is that we do?" Well, I know you kidnap people. "Actually, that's something new we're trying. I figured we needed to branch out a bit. Broaden our horizons." I honestly don't care. "Yes, well, this is your only opportunity to keep yourself out of jail, so I suggest you change your attitude." Why don't you tell me. [United Colonies Native] Nope, wasn't part of the UC propaganda I got bombarded with since birth. "Actually, we send those out with the Age Fifteen Welcome Packet, but you must have overlooked it." "UC SysDef is a division of the UC Navy. While they handle the big-picture stuff, we deal with a very particular problem... the Crimson Fleet. That, Convict, is where you enter the picture." What type of "big-picture stuff" does the UC Navy handle? "On the books? They "maintain combat-ready spaceborne forces to deter aggression and ensure the safety of the United Colonies." What all that fancy claptrap means is that they're the ones who fight in the wars to keep our territory secure." What's the Crimson Fleet? "Are we really playing this game? The pirates... like the ones you tangled with on Vectera? Please, stop pretending you have no idea what I'm talking about." If whatever you're selling lets me off the hook, then I'm listening. "Smart decision." I don't like where this is going. "I don't remember asking how you felt about anything." I have nothing to do with the Crimson Fleet. "No, no you don't. Not yet, anyway." "We've been prodding at the Crimson Fleet for years... trying to take them down one ship at a time, but we've barely scratched the surface. If we can get someone on the inside, we'd have a shot at finding a loose thread we can pull to bring it all down." Why can't the UC send in their armada to wipe out the Crimson Fleet? "If the military rolls in and attacks the Crimson Fleet, we'd have a full-scale war on our hands. That means losses, heavy losses, that the United Colonies can't afford." Maybe you should give up. "That's where you and I differ. As a citizen of the United Colonies, I accept my responsibilities. You, on the other hand, clearly couldn't give a damn." This sounds personal. "It doesn't matter how I feel. I'm simply doing what's best for the security of the United Colonies." You want me to risk my neck and go undercover for you. "Not for me. For yourself." "Look. I'm going to make this simple. Agree to work for UC SysDef, and together, we take down the Crimson Fleet. Refuse, and I tell these guys to throw you into the nearest lockup. Might even tack on a extra few hundred credits to your fine." If I work with SysDef, what's in it for me? "Well, first of all, we'll forget about the infraction that landed you on the Vigilance. Wipe the slate clean. Better still, depending on how well you do your job, we'll even kick in a few extra credits to offset any costs that the operation will incur. Or, you can throw all that away and end up back in jail with a hefty fine attached." I didn't realize coercion was a part of UC SysDef's Code of Ethics. "I'm not coercing you into doing anything. I'm simply giving you a chance to redeem yourself." You can't get away with that. "When you broke the law, you forfeited your rights. So, basically, I can do whatever the hell I want." Doesn't sound like I have much of a choice. "Of course you have a choice. It's just stacked in my favor." "So, what do you say? You going to work with me, or should I find someone else?" How do you know I can even handle this type of operation? "If I didn't think you had a chance, I would have left you in lockup. You're just going to have to follow your instincts and trust me." Do I have to decide right now? "You aren't leaving until I have an answer." [Refuse Offer] Forget it. I'd rather take my chances in jail. "Suit yourself. You know, I have to admit, I'm a bit surprised. My instincts told me you were the right person, but I suppose I was wrong. All right. Send this one to the lock-up on Cydonia. Let them deal with the problem." [Accept Offer] Fine, I'm in. "Smart choice. I'm going to have one of my men escort you to the Operations Center. I strongly suggest that you don't give him any trouble. And don't bother trying to leave the ship. I think you'll find all access to the docking area is fully restricted." - If one originally refused, but later approaches again: - "You're back. Good. I presume that means you're willing to join the team?" What was this about? "I was hoping you'd agree to work for UC SysDef, and together, we take down the Crimson Fleet. Last time we met, I was trying to force you to join, but now that you're free from prison, I have a lot less to hold over your head. All I can do now is appeal to your sense of justice and implore you to take this step to help rid the Settled Systems of these cutthroat pirates." I don't think I should join UC SysDef right now. "I respect your decision. All I can do at this point is implore you to reconsider. Anyway, I'm sure you'll understand if I have to say goodbye for now... I have some prisoner records to analyze." I'm still not sure what I should do. "I understand your concern. What I'm asking you to do is a very dangerous task, and at this point, you should think about it carefully." Yes, I'd like to join UC SysDef. "Excellent. I had a hunch you'd be the right person for the job. Let's get started, shall we?" - If approached again after getting the mission: - "You have permission to speak freely." What is the primary directive of SysDef? "Our directive is simple. We are tasked with the eradication of space piracy in the Settled Systems. As the chief source of pirate activity, the Crimson Fleet is our primary target."

Show: Rook Meets King
"We got the message from the Ragana about Austin Rake. We had him dropped off at a separate port, off the books. Suffice to say he's got a lot to answer for." Any point in trying to get Rake to give up information about the Fleet? "That's something we're looking into, but it doesn't seem like he knows much. He might be better served as bait. For now, we'll keep him in the brig. Perhaps you could pay him a visit there sometime? I'm sure he'll be pleased to see you." I risked my cover to do it, so you better appreciate it. "I do. I know it's a delicate tightrope, and it doesn't go unnoticed that you're risking your own life to walk it." I would've been fine killing Rake myself. But I didn't want to traumatize the crew. "That was quick thinking on your part. Selfless and creative. Our regular agents can be a little too rigid, because they're trained to follow orders." I'm glad he surrendered. I didn't want to kill anyone, innocent or otherwise. "That's a smart line to follow. Part of this role you're playing means having to make hard choices. Just remember not to lose yourself in the part." "Oh, one more thing before we move on. For transparency's sake, you should know we were the ones that hired Ecliptic to attack Naeva's ship. There was concern after what happened with the Ragana that you might have trouble earning Naeva's trust. Coming to her "rescue" ensured that would not be a problem." Ecliptic doesn't have a problem with attacking the Crimson Fleet? "They're mercenaries for hire. If they were paid enough money, Ecliptic would attack the Vigilance. It wasn't terribly difficult to convince them to attack an isolated Crimson Fleet ship, just expensive." I could've died out there! "You weren't Ecliptic's primary target. Besides, I had every confidence that you'd be able to handle the situation. It was either that or Naeva possibly denying you entry into the Crimson Fleet for coming back without killing Rake." That was a clever way to ensure Naeva's trust. "Ah, so I take it you have good news? Were you able to join the Fleet?" That was a risky move. "But a gamble that hopefully paid off. On that note, how did things go with Naeva? Were you able to join the Fleet?" [Bounty Hunter] You sent them, knowing they'd be outgunned. Ecliptic is going to remember that. "Let them remember. They have no idea who actually hired them. I'd suggest you spend less time worrying about us, and more time being concerned with the task at hand. On that note, how did things go with Naeva? Were you able to join the Fleet?" It's a miracle that the whole thing worked. "No miracle. Just calculated and careful planning, courtesy of UC SysDef. You should learn to be more confident of our abilities... and your own." It was a clever plan, the Fleet doesn't suspect a thing. "It's a dangerous plan, and you came awfully close to killing an innocent crew. Luckily, you have a good head on your shoulders and did the right thing." It does seem like I passed their initial test. "Then it worked. You're in. Sounds like everything is going as expected." "Now it's time for the next phase of the mission." - If the Ragana was destroyed: - "There you are. I want answers, and I want them right now! We intercepted your exchange with the Ragana. What the hell possessed you to kill those innocent people?" What the hell did you expect me to do? "I expected you to find another way. Part of being an effective SysDef agent is weighing all your options and then choosing the path of least resistance while minimizing loss of life. What you've done is use a... a shortcut to get the job done without accounting for any of the ramifications! That's unacceptable!" I'm the one risking my neck out there! "Yes, but not at the expense of others. Even if our end goal is noble, we have no right to murder innocent people!" A few lives is a small price to pay to bring down the entire Fleet. "Wrong! It's a huge price. I want to take down the Fleet as badly as you do, but murdering innocent people is unacceptable." I had no choice. "You represent UC SysDef, which means you always have a choice! I realize you have a role to play, but you have to be better than those pirates." [Wanted] You knew who I was when you brought me on. Don't act surprised now. "I understand you are used to getting your hands dirty. That's partly why we chose you. But the moment you agreed to work with us, you agreed to abide by our rules!" "Sigh. Now I have to waste precious time smoothing this over with MAST... make up excuses, perhaps even lie on my reports. Let me make this crystal clear. You do what you can to stay in the Fleet, but it's not a license to kill. That is where we draw the line. Do something like this again, and you're out. I'll hang the goddamn wanted posters myself. Understood? As I said before, we expect a certain amount of illegal activity in order for you to maintain your cover." "But that doesn't mean what you did to Rake or Karl Fielding is acceptable behavior." "But that doesn't mean what you did to Karl Fielding is acceptable behavior." "But that doesn't mean having Rake killed is acceptable behavior." "You don't have a license to execute civilians, regardless of their past transgressions. Is that understood?" Can you remind me of the code of conduct and ethics? "You're going to make me go through this again? Fine. I'll make it short and simple. Think before you act. Assess the situation, and pull the trigger only when it's absolutely necessary. That's it." What if not doing what the Fleet wants blows my cover? "The Crimson Fleet is motivated purely by material wealth. Bloodshed is typically a side effect of getting what they want. I believe you're fully capable of avoiding the need to take a life, but if it jeopardizes the mission, we'll evaluate when the time comes." I heard you the first time. "Hearing and comprehending are two different things. Let's hope for both our sakes that you fully understand the situation." I'll do everything in my power to avoid taking innocent lives. "Well said. Let's hope the next time your actions match the integrity of your words." "Spoken like a member of UC SysDef." Understood. "Good." "All this ugliness aside, were you at least able to join the Fleet?" "Now I want to make this crystal clear. You do what you can to stay in the Fleet, but there is an ethical line we cannot cross. Do something like this again, and you're out. Permanently. Sigh, but for now, we will continue with the briefing. Were you at least able to join the Fleet?" We'll find out when I see them next. "You should be fine. As terrible as your actions were, they probably assuaged any concerns the Fleet had." Of course. I did exactly what they asked of me. "Yes. If nothing else, your actions, while reprehensible, will put to bed any suspicions they may have had." It looks like I passed their test. "Then there is one positive to come out of this senseless tragedy." "Let's focus on that and move forward with the mission." - Regardless of previous actions: - (Toft:) "Our intel on Saoirse was correct. After we received reports on your interaction with Adler Kemp, we picked up on your rendezvous with Naeva Mora." "Our files indicate she's second in command, so getting on her good side will ensure you get into the Crimson Fleet." What do you know about Naeva? "The woman has a record that could stretch across Sol and back. She started young as one of Neon's "street rats" and worked her way up to second in command. She's a force to be reckoned with, so don't underestimate her." Those idiots don't suspect a thing. "That's where you're wrong. You can believe in honor among thieves, but I'd venture they suspect everyone until proven otherwise. You just need to make sure you allay any suspicions they have. Staying within the proper moral boundaries, of course. Do what you have to, but not what you can't do." (Toft:) "The Crimson Fleet has yet to leave us enough hard evidence to build a solid case against them. Be careful not to underestimate their intelligence." Everything's going according to plan. "Yes, you passed your first test and you're still alive. But before we get too confident, that either means she suspects nothing, or she intends to make an example of you later. Just remember, these are ruthless criminals, so don't let your guard down." (Toft:) "And their ruthlessness is only surpassed by their cunning. You should proceed with caution regardless of how well you think you've ingratiated yourself." "So what's next for you on Naeva's agenda?" Shouldn't I get off of the Vigilance before my cover's blown? "The Vigilance is equipped with one of the most advanced intelligence suites in the UC fleet. Nothing slips through. You can rest assured, if the Crimson Fleet had any access to our whereabouts or have infiltrated our security, we'd know. As long as you're here, your identity is safe." [Lie] Naeva wanted to meet near Europa again. "Strange. She must want to vet you some more. Still, it should only be a matter of time before they invite you to the Key. That's likely where you'll meet Delgado." I got coordinates to the Crimson Fleet base. "Excellent. If you're heading to the Key, I assume you'll be meeting Delgado soon." I was told to meet Naeva at the Key. "Where you'll meet Delgado, no doubt." (Toft:) "Delgado is the leader of the Crimson Fleet. I have a profile here with some information on his background. You'll want to know the individual cadences of every member of the Fleet, but Delgado's most of all." "In any case, now that you're with the Fleet, you'll be operating independently. We will shadow you eventually, but we'll need to maintain our distance for now. Especially while you're on the Key. This will also give us time to bolster our defenses, should we need to engage with the Fleet in the future." *(Toft:) "Sir, on that note, should we begin implementing the upgrade to our shields?"* "Immediately, Lieutenant. Notify the engineers and relay the information to the crew. I hope your entry into the Fleet has overcome any doubts you may have had regarding your mission. It's certainly increased my estimates on success. Keep up the good work. We'll expect further reports. Dismissed." - If approached again: - "Be careful. Don't underestimate the Crimson Fleet." Why are you so determined to destroy the Crimson Fleet? "They're a menace to civilized society. They attack supply ships, terrorize systems, and kill innocents all under a banner of greed. But it's not just that. I strongly believe that the UC has a duty to destroy the Crimson Fleet. After all, it was our fault that the Crimson Fleet was unleashed upon the Settled Systems in the first place." How is the UC responsible for the origin of the Crimson Fleet? "I'm not at liberty to explain the origin of the Crimson Fleet right now, but suffice to say it's a massive embarrassment to the UC. All I can tell you is that the Key and the planet that it's orbiting once belonged to the United Colonies... and they were lost to those pirates. The Crimson Fleet is a product of our negligence, and I aim to rectify that mistake." Why doesn't the UC send a fleet to attack the Key? "I've asked my superiors the same thing. But the Council is resistant to the notion that the Crimson Fleet is a serious threat. They perceive the pirates as simple opportunists and thieves, willing to betray each other the moment a better offer arrives. In actuality, I believe the Fleet is a massive threat, one that's growing more and more organized as the years pass." [Return Supplies] I'd like to return the medical supplies I got from the Ragana. "Thank you. I wasn't sure what you were planning to do with them, or if you still needed them for your cover. We'll make sure they get transported to their original destination." How critical was the cargo being delivered to New Homestead? "Extremely critical. It's unfortunate the Ragana caught itself in the crossfire of Naeva Mora's personal vendetta." "Worse still, because of your recklessness, we had to send the Council a request for a new batch of supplies. We'll be able to source what we need from Reliant Medical, but it's going to be quite expensive. Fortunately, the UC realizes that the cost of the goods pales in comparison to the cost of human lives." "Fortunately, your actions allowed the Ragana to reach New Homestead with its cargo intact." "And you even returned the extra supplies that were jettisoned. We'll make sure they find the right home."

Show: Echoes of the Past
"You're... back. So, how did it go?" Why are you so surprised to see me? "Frankly, it's because we've never gotten this far before. The last agent that I sent to infiltrate the Crimson Fleet ended up in a morgue on New Atlantis." I thought you've been monitoring me? "Even with our best intelligence equipment, we can monitor very little from the Vigilance. We can pick up local communications chatter and use long-range scans to see where you travel, but when you're on the ground, you're on your own. If we get too close, we not only expose ourselves to an attack, but we might blow your cover... and that could get everyone killed." I'm through with this charade and I want out. "Excuse me? That doesn't sound like someone who's concerned about serving the United Colonies." (Toft:) "I thought UC Vanguard graduates were supposed to be tough." "Excuse me? I don't remember you having much of a choice in the matter." (Toft:) "You committed a crime, and we gave you a second chance. Don't throw it all away." "I understand that you're under a lot of pressure, but I'm afraid there's no turning back. That being said, I believe you should be proud of what you've accomplished." I've successfully infiltrated the Crimson Fleet, but I'm having second thoughts. "You stop now, Delgado will make it his life's work to hunt you down and kill you." (Toft:) "Not to mention the fact that you could potentially jeopardize the intelligence operatives we have in the field." "Lieutenant Toft is correct. I'm sorry, but there's no turning back. That being said, I believe you should be proud of what you've accomplished." I've successfully infiltrated the Crimson Fleet. I'm confident this plan is going to work. "Then things are moving forward. Perfect." (Toft:) "Nice job, "rook."" "I was certain we'd fool Delgado, but Naeva... she's a sharp one. Overcoming her scrutiny is no small matter. Did you discover anything worth reporting yet?" How did you know you'd be able to fool Delgado? "If the intelligence I've read is accurate, Delgado is a charismatic leader, but a bit short on judgment. That's why you want to stay on his good side... and stay away from Naeva. She's shrewd, and she's sniffed out everything we've thrown her way." Are you sure it's safe if I pass you this information? "I understand your concern, but you can rest assured that every member of this crew has been thoroughly vetted by both myself and Lt. Toft. Any information that you turn over will not be leaving this ship until it's fully encrypted and encoded. I give you my word." Delgado is searching for a GalBank ship named "Legacy" that was carrying some type of lost fortune. "Legacy... hmm. Why does that sound familiar? Wait a moment. Are you telling me Delgado may have actually located "Kryx's Legacy?"" (Toft:) "I suppose it's possible, sir. Intelligence picked up a bit of chatter on that subject recently. We assumed it was some sort of tall tale or a story to attract recruits to their cause." I believe it's real. (Toft:) "Well, we can solve that little mystery in about ten seconds." Story or not, Delgado believes it's real. (Toft:) "Well, let's find out if Delgado's chasing ghosts or he's smarter than we suspect." Trust me, I've already been through all this with Delgado. (Toft:) "All right, take it easy. We prefer to check our own sources, if you don't mind." (Toft:) "Let me see what we have here... Nope. There are no records of a GalBank Transport named the "Legacy" in the database. I think Delgado's trying to manipulate you. What do think, sir?" "I think there's no record because GalBank is hiding something. Delgado's no fool. If he risked his own neck to get that information, then he must be onto something. We have to take this seriously. What's your next move?" How did you know Delgado was with us at the Lock? "That one's simple. We monitored your ships heading down to the surface of Suvorov. In fact, when he returned to the Key, and you didn't immediately follow... well, we almost thought our operation was terminated." Why do you think GalBank is hiding something? "Can you imagine the amount of embarrassment GalBank would have to endure if they listed a lost transport in the ship registry? Doesn't matter if that ship went down five or five hundred years ago. If news gets out that a bank has misplaced money, it would tank their value." I'm supposed to board a starliner to steal GalBank Archive credentials. "Clever, Delgado. Very clever. If I were in your place, I'd be trying to do the exact same thing." "We can't let Delgado get his hands on what could potentially turn out to be the largest haul of credits the Crimson Fleet's ever seen." (Toft:) "Maybe I should head out to New Atlantis, sir? I could press the GalBank execs for information. Get ahead of everything." "No. Let's allow this to run its course. We have our agent here feeding us information. I think that's good enough for now. There's more to this then just finding the location of the transport. Jasper Kryx was clever... and for some reason, he never got there." How do you know Jasper Kryx never found the Legacy? "Because the Crimson Fleet would be a totally different adversary and Kryx wouldn't have disappeared years ago. Even if they hid the money with that damn human computer, Shinya Voss, our forensic accounting people would have found that data. No, the Crimson Fleet are in dire shape right now. They haven't seen that much currency... well, ever." Shouldn't I put a stop to this by killing Delgado? "And let Naeva Mora take his place? Or Shinya Voss? Or any one of a number of pirates already gunning for his position? No. The solution is to stick to the undercover operation, and determine how much of this is truly a credible threat." I'll proceed as planned, then. "It's imperative that you do." "If the Crimson Fleet gets its hands on a transport full of currency, it would be disastrous for the Settled Systems. I need you to do whatever you can to bring us more information. And for god's sake, don't kill anyone on that starliner. You're both dismissed."

Show: Breaking the Bank
"

Show: The Best There Is
"

Show: Eye of the Storm
"

Show: Legacy's End
"

Show: Post-Legacy's End
"With the Fleet gone, I briefly considered retirement. But this work is my passion, and I won't leave it just yet." What happens to the Crimson Fleet now? "Their remnants are still scattered across the galaxy, including Naeva Mora. And beyond the Crimson Fleet, piracy will always be an issue, so long as ships traverse unregulated space. In other words, it's not time to retire just yet. There is still plenty of work to do." Are you going to take any time to celebrate this victory? "I will likely take a moment for myself, and drink to those we lost in this fight. If not for them... well, we would not have made it this far. This is their victory as much as it is ours." How is everything with the Legacy? "Still on hold until we can get the politics sorted. Some of the officials at MAST have brought up concerns about returning the Legacy to a collective we were just at war with. And to be fair, their point is not without merit. Should we go to war, funds from the Legacy could lead directly to the death of our soldiers. There is also talk that the Legacy could be a bargaining chip in any future peace talks, and simply handing it over could cost us leverage. But regardless, two things will always be true. We will return the Legacy to its rightful owners, and MAST will dictate the terms." "Dismissed."

Quotes[]

"You're back. Anything to report?"
"Do you have anything to report?"
"At ease, soldier."
"You have permission to speak freely."
"As you were."
"Good luck."

Show: Deep Cover
"I believe we have something important to discuss?" "Can we try and focus on the matter at hand, please?" "I'd like to brief you on the mission, so please pay attention." "Lieutenant Toft will continue the briefing." "I thought it was clear that Lieutenant Toft should be your next stop." "Is there anything else I can answer before you proceed to the next phase of your mission?" "If you have any questions, now's the time to ask." "Excuse me! This briefing hasn't concluded. Get back here, now." "Hm. It appears you have a bit of background as a homesteader. Good. Your self-sufficiency will certainly prove useful." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Homesteader "Hm. Looks like you spent some time as a professor. Having that sort of educational aptitude makes you an ideal candidate for our operation." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: "Hm. I'm impressed. You have quite the criminal history. That will definitely fall in line with our needs." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Professor "Hm. I'm impressed. You have quite the criminal history. That will definitely fall in line with our needs." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Gangster "Hm. Seems you spent quite a few years as a sculptor. It's quite a long way from an artist to a criminal, wouldn't you say?" - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Sculptor "Hm. Says here you spent some time as a diplomat. That isn't quite what we do around here, but still... having a way with words might prove useful." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Diplomat "Hm. Seems like you have a bit of background as a... chef. That's an interesting vocation to have abandoned. One poor review too many, perhaps?" - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Chef "Hm. It appears you spent several years as a bounty hunter. That type of background will get you quite far around here." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Bounty Hunter "Hm. Looks like you spent several years dabbling in industry and finance. That's a far cry from where you are now." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Industrialist "Hm. Says here you started out as a bouncer for a pretty rough establishment. Oh, that's absolutely perfect." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Bouncer "Hm. It appears you spent some time as a combat medic. Good to know that you can take care of yourself under fire." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Combat Medic "Hm. Looks like you spent some time as a cyberneticist. I bet you have quite the analytical head on your shoulders. Good." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Cyberneticist "Hm. Says here that you spent several years as a soldier. That means you understand how to respect the chain of command. Good." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Soldier "Hm. It appears that you have a background in cyber running. Perfect. Information gathering is one of our top priorities around here." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Cyber Runner "Hm. Looks like you spent some time dabbling in xenobiology. That's pretty far from what we deal with around here, but you'll fall in line." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Xenobiologist "Hm. It appears you have a bit of a background in big game hunting. Perfect. We'll be certain to put those skills to good use." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Beast Hunter "Hm. Looks like you spent your younger years undergoing quite an extensive pilgrimage. I hope you found what you were looking for." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Pilgrim "Hm. Seems you fancied yourself a bit of an explorer in the past. That lines up with where you are now." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Explorer "Hm. Your background seems to indicate you were a notorious "sword for hire." Well, perhaps we can put that to good use." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Ronin "Hm. Seems like you have a bit of background in deep space hauling. I'm sure we can put that to good use." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Long Hauler "Hm. Seems you had a bit of a reckless past. Always fancied yourself as a wild one, eh? We can work with that." - During prisoner interrogation, based on background trait: Space Scoundrel

Show: Rook Meets King
"This is just the beginning. But it's an important first step." "We've been trying for years to get someone on the inside, and now we have it." "Be careful. Don't underestimate the Crimson Fleet." "Stay vigilant." "Report back when you're done." "Best of luck. You're headed into a snake pit. Be sure to watch your step." "We received word you boarded the Ragana. I don't care if Rake was with the Fleet. The pilot and his crew weren't. What you did was uncalled for." "We intercepted your exchange with the Ragana. We're trying to confirm if the pilot really did kill Rake. But if so, what you did was uncalled for." "You're lucky we intercepted your exchange with the Ragana. We were able to get a second shipment of supplies arranged. I take it the rest of your mission went as planned?" "Now that we've cleared that up -- back to the mission." "" "" ""

Show: Echoes of the Past
"

Show: Breaking the Bank
"

Show: The Best There Is
"

Show: Eye of the Storm
"

Show: Legacy's End
"

Show: Post-Legacy's End
"The Crimson Fleet is no more. On behalf of the entire galaxy, I thank you." "You deserve a nice, long break. However, if you are so inclined, Lieutenant Toft can supply you with additional work."