Docking clamps lock around the Wayward Star with three heavy impacts. Beyond the hull, station traffic hums through the structure as vessels cycle toward their assigned berths.
Serai joins Damon in engineering, keeping her borrowed dark clothes clear of exposed machinery. The isolated conduits hang behind a scorched panel, and the depleted emergency cell rests beside the diagnostic console.
Serai
The damage appears consistent with a power fault, but the copied readings are not ordinary cargo telemetry. If they ask, say the system rejected your interface during isolation.
She studies the readings without touching them. A narrow band of repeating symbols pulses beneath the container’s recorded power signature, silent but stubbornly present.
Serai
Do not let them connect station equipment directly to the hold. A passive visual inspection is survivable. An active diagnostic may wake the locator architecture.
Serai
He brought me here instead of hiding behind distance or surrendering me. Trust remains dangerous, but it is no longer impossible.
A chime sounds from the internal intercom: station inspectors have reached docking arm seven and request access. Serai looks toward the service corridor, waiting for Damon’s direction.
“Damon tells Serai to return to the unused crew cabin and remain there until he personally comes for her. Before answering the airlock, he closes the engineering panel and leaves the damaged systems exactly as they are, preserving the appearance of an isolated power fault. He then meets the inspectors at the airlock, grants them access, and cooperates normally with the routine inspection. If they ask about the damaged cargo hold, he repeats that its interface rejected his diagnostic connection during isolation and warns that directly connecting external equipment could destabilize the damaged circuitry. He does not volunteer additional information or draw unnecessary attention to the hold.”
SUCCESS (Great Willpower, rolled -1)
Damon Ryder
Return to the unused crew cabin and stay there until I come for you.
Serai
Understood. I will remain hidden and wait for you.
Serai slips into the service corridor. Damon closes the engineering panel, leaves the damaged conduits and depleted cell untouched, and preserves the fault's appearance.
At the airlock, two station inspectors arrive: a middle-aged woman in a gray utility uniform and a broad-shouldered middle-aged man carrying a passive scanner. Damon grants access.
station inspectors
Captain Ryder, routine inspection. We will verify the manifest, life-support status, and reported cargo-hold damage.
The inspectors move through the Wayward Star methodically. Their scanner confirms stable atmosphere, ordinary ship systems, and no hazardous cargo beyond the isolated section.
Damon Ryder
The hold interface rejected my diagnostic connection during isolation. Connecting external equipment could destabilize the damaged circuitry, so I left it untouched.
✓ Quest Accepted
Get the inspectors to accept the reported cargo fault
Director's notewhole tale
Damon is trying to make this inspection as routine and unremarkable as possible. He will not voluntarily reveal Serai, the alien container technology, or the locator signal. If the inspectors want to examine the damaged hold more closely, he will use the genuine electrical damage and risk of re-ener
“Damon remains cooperative and matter-of-fact, walking the inspectors through the damaged systems. “The hold interface rejected my diagnostic connection. I isolated the circuit before the feedback could spread any further. You’re welcome to review the manifest and my diagnostic logs.” He provides the legitimate records they request and answers their routine questions without volunteering unnecessary information.”
SUCCESS (Good Spacer's Instinct, rolled -2)
Damon Ryder
The hold interface rejected my diagnostic connection during isolation. I isolated the circuit before feedback spread. You’re welcome to review the manifest and diagnostic logs.
Damon guides them through the legitimate cargo manifest, maintenance timestamps, and recorded power fluctuations. The station scanner remains passive, its display confirming each ordinary system he identifies.
station inspectors
The records are consistent. No hazardous cargo is declared, and the life-support readings match your report.
The woman checks the manifest against her tablet while her partner examines the sealed access panel from a careful distance. Neither connects equipment to the damaged circuit.
station inspectors
We will mark the hold as restricted pending repair. Keep the panel closed, and submit the repair notice before departure.
A small inspection fee is deducted from the Wayward Star’s docking account, and the station copies Damon’s diagnostic logs. The cost is irritating, but the inspection remains routine.
station inspectors
That completes clearance, Captain Ryder. You may access the station once the airlock cycles.
Submit the repair notice
Quest Complete
Get the inspectors to accept the reported cargo fault
Quest Complete
Keep Serai hidden from whoever detected the power signature
Attribute Upgrade: Willpower Great→Superb