With morning came new day and new things to do. I downloaded schematics from game to my computer and started to work on them. I send my bots to look for materials I would need. In the end it took me three days to finish it. All I needed was some nanobots to start it.

I looked around scrapyard for something which could contain them but didn’t find anything. Next I looked on network for how much couple of them would cost. They cost too much for my limited finances.

I let bots search for them and went back into game.

There I was greeted by Eleanora who immediately asked me, “Where have you been so long?”

“I worked on replicator but I have problem with nanobots. I can’t get my hands on any.” I said to her.

“Sorry it’s just I don’t like to be alone and well that’s problem. Didn’t you find any on your scrapyard?” she asked.

“No I looked but couldn’t find any. Without them I can’t finish my ship.” I said frustrated.

“What if you call them to you?” asked Eleanor then explained, “I can send you device which would connect to nanobots. It would work only on some with lower encryption but with some you can make more and better.”

“Yes send me schematics. For now I’m going to look at my weapons and do some work on them.”

“Ok I’ll go work on it then.” Said Eleanor while I was on my way to cargo hold.

There I could see Rock and Lee working on some explosives.

“Hey don’t blow up my ship. Take it outside if you’re experimenting on something.” I said to them.

“Hi to you to and for your information we already tested it outside. We’re just making more now.” Said Lee.

“Yes we’re not stupid.” Said Rock.

“Sorry. I’m just not in good mood right now.” I said to them angrily.

They instantly let go of their work and came to me, ”What happened? Do you have some problem?”

“No nothing serious. I just wanted to build something but I don’t have one crucial part of it. Without it I can’t make it.” I said while kicking something, away then I looked at them and realized something, “Lee you stayed.”

He smiled, “Yes. What would you do when you get there and found closed door.”

“Of course wait for you. What else?” I said jokingly.

“I’m going to build new weapons and armor for me. Do you have already new or should I make something for you too?” I asked them.

They looked at each other than both grinned, „Yes. Make us something.”

“Ok I’ll make yours first than start work on mine. Place me somewhere here your weapons and I’ll move onto them.” I said while moving to parts I picked from scrapyard. After I picked some which I thought would be good for them I moved to their weapons.

First I took Rocks Laser machine gun. I took it apart and inspected it. I think usage of laser in machine gun is stupid. It’s good for cooling chambers but it lack firepower and no one picks machine gun for cooling.

I picked it bare and scanned it. I made small adjustments and placed order into replicator. As it was making new frame I started to work on equipment from Directors chamber. One by one I took them apart and studied them. They were better in most ways from our equipment. Batteries were smaller with better output then ours. They’re sensors were better and one weapon I found was too stronger than ours. I scanned them and started to incorporate them into machine gun.

For start I place there three new power packs instead of two. That should give him more power. Next I made plasma containers with small pump. That would enable to hook it into armor and take plasma from it. Then I worked on options for shooting.

There were three options. Once was concentrated fire where most of the plasma would fall into one place. Second options was scatter which would fire in cone and last one was to fire simultaneously from all barrels. Last option could be used only for brief moment as it would overheat weapon.

First two options I made by adjustable length of barrel. Last one could be used only in spread mode as with longer barrel it would instantly overheat. This should be all for Rocks Machine gun.

Dancing Jack (Plasma)Damage:300 - 500Rarity:SuperiorMunition:Plasma clipMagazine:300 + shotsMachine gun isn’t weapon used for precision. It’s used for its firepower. But this machine gun combines precision with firepower. It’s made by exceptional crafter. It can work in three different modes.

Spread mode:

- 30 % damage

+ 50 % spread

Precision mode:

+ 40 % accuracy

Annihilation mode:

+50% damage

+100% overheat

Next came weapon for Lee. I saw him use one pistol but he’s more demolition guy then point and shot. I thought about ideal weapon for him and came up with grenade launcher. He could make his own ordnance and it would broaden his functionality in battle.

For times when he would be alone I’ll made him small smg. I started to work first on smg as it would be easier to make. I took basic template from database and started to tinker with it little. Like in Rocks weapon I Made adjustable barrel but this one I’ll let control small computer which I would build into it. It would automatically adjust length based on distance from target.

I used technology from Director and made two smaller containers for plasma. They could be changed independently on one another. With enough practice he could change one while shooting from another. As he wasn’t best shooter I made him laser sight and tactical sight. Finally I put it together and moved to grenade launcher.

Last defence (Plasma)Damage:600 - 1000Rarity:SuperiorMunition:Plasma clipMagazine:45 shotsThis SMG was built by skilled crafter. It’s accurate but with enough stopping power. This weapon was made for spacer last defence. If it came to close quarter battle this smg is small enough to use.

+ 15% armor for 15 sec after pulling it from case

+ 40% damage if used for defence

Can be triggered once in 10 minutes

+ 20% damage against shields

I leveled once this time so I was on advanced 2 in weapon making.

Now I moved to my last weapon for them, Grenade launcher. I never worked on one so it would be more difficult to work it out. I studied plans for different type of launchers. I liked most one where you could use different types of grenades and switch them into chamber either mechanically or calling by voice.

I printed this one but changed some parts. There were bigger than they had to be. I asked Lee if grenades had to be so big and he told me that it was only for standard munition. He made his own so I could make it smaller.

I wanted to make it smaller just to place there more tubes for grenades types. He could use more variety in attacks. In the end it grenade launcher contained one tube with eight rotating tubes around it. Each of this tube would contain ten grenades that would be load into middle one and shot from it. I tried to make tubes so they could be reloaded in batches rather by one grenade at a time.

Variety (Mixed)Damage:Based on granadesRarity:SuperiorMunition:GrenadesMagazine:10 x 8 shotsThis is highly tactical weapon which could be used in almost all situation. Most of it depends on user and ammunition use in it. Best advantage of this weapons is when used while protected in group.

+ 25 % to aoe damage

+ 100 % faster reload

I even got one more level for making it but in reality it gave me around 50% progress in skill as I already had 57% before. If it goes like this I’ll be master in no time.

With this done last thing would be to test them and tinker with them. That I could do after I made my own. For now I can let them test them for problems.

“Hey guys you can take your weapons. Go out and test them. If there are problems write it down and I’ll look at it after I work on my weapons.” I called to them.

They came to me eager to look at them, “Finally I’ll see what you can do. Did you know that while you work you move really fast? And by fast I mean your hand were just blurs sometimes.” Said Rock.

“Yeah I know. I even got trait corresponding with it.” I explained.

“Ok ok you can talk about it next time but can we see our weapons now?” said eagerly Lee.

I laughed at them because they looked like kids in sweet store, “Of course SMG and Grenade launcher are for Lee and Machine gun is for Rock. Now go and test them.”

“Yes mom.” Said with laugh Rock and picked his machine gun then stared as he looked at it once more. “Now this is more like it.” He said and with dreamy eyes walked out of cargo hold.

“I knew you don’t like to fight Lee so I tried to made weapons corresponding with it.” I said to him.

He picked them up and investigated them properly. Then he looked up at me and smiled. “They’re perfect. This grenade launcher is even better than I thought.”

I was happy that they liked them but it was time to build my own weapons and armor. I shushed him away and placed my weapons and armor before me. First would be best to work on my pistols then armor and lastly riffle as it would need complete overhaul.

I started to take apart both pistols. I’ll go with same configuration. One laser and one plasma. First I started to work on my plasma pistol. From experience I didn’t wanted to build just weapon. I wanted it to be tool. For this I would need to upgrade plasma container and barrel.

I worked on barrel to make adjustable width. I wanted to be able to constrict it for plasma cutter or welder. It proved very useful on my last mission so I wanted to incorporate it. I made same reloading from armor as before with option to just change clip.

I used all my skills to build it into damage. It would be my weapon for quick or special situations. For normal use I’ll just use my laser pistol. That was next thing on my list. I’ll made it little different. I made three small power sources and four crystals. Three of them focused power from sources to last one which fired it from barrel. This should produce more powerful laser than normal. It was little tricky to adjust all crystal to right frequency and focus but in the end it should prove much stronger.

As third came armor. I stripped it bare and started from scratch. I look at how sensors were hooked into it, then studied other types of armors. This armor would be used for combat. I didn’t want to build armor for utility. I wanted to build it for combat only. I can wear my clothes from Eleanora in normal situation. I’ll just build some shield emitters in them and I can use them in non-combat mission.

I had to thank Director for these smaller design. I could make different approach in making this armor. Armor plates I made from same material as ship. It was more durable and flexible than normal alloys. I used many small power sources to power it. They were redundant to one another. This would prevent ending me with lucky hit.

Plasma container I placed behind thicker armor on back. I used six computer cores across armor. Each has its own function. One was on each limb with last two placed in chest and helmet. Each controlled some function of armor. In right arm I placed small grenade launcher for two grenades. In left I incorporated nanoblade which I could control with my mind or with computer.

Two computers on legs controlled small thrusters on my armor. I wanted to have some redundancy there as I didn’t want to tumble from somewhere and die. Chest piece controlled hydraulic in armor. It enhanced my strength while letting me have my agility.

Last computer in helmet controlled sensors and my heads-up display. It evaluate information from sensors and send me useful information about environment and enemies. Like what was their weakness and where could I find good advantageous positions.

For my last piece I left my assault rifle. I wanted to change it from projectile weapon to laser but with different approach. This was my weapon for taking down enemies on medium or medium-long distance.

My old rifle I used for replicator as it was useless to me now. I didn’t want automatic rifle. I wanted to build one for damage. For this I looked longest at scrapyard. I needed to have bigger focus crystals.

Now that I had smaller technology I could experiment with it. I build power source about same size as normal but with four time the output. This I used as power for my clips. They were attached to my rifle along barrel. I knew that with this output I couldn’t hold trigger so I made it into shots. Single powerful laser shots. I still didn’t know if it would function but in my mind it looked powerful.

On top of rifle I placed scope with low zoom. With this it should be finished. I wasn’t too complex design so portability of breaking was low.

I was exhausted after all work I’ve done. I didn’t know how long I was in my trance but at the same time I was calm once more after my failure with nanobots. I looked first at my weapons and armor as I was curious what did I build.

Punch (Plasma)Damage:2500 - 4000Rarity:ExoticMunition:Plasma clipMagazine:4 shotsPistol build for purpose of stopping enemy with one shot. It could be used as devastating weapon or as tool after small changes. It’s very versatile tool or weapon to bring death to your enemies. To make something like this engineer had to be exceptional in weapon crafting.

+50 % to armor penetration

Deals 40% more damage to shields

Special function: Plasma torch

Can be used for cutting or welding

Pat (Laser)Damage:2500 / secRarity:ExoticMunition:Power clipMagazine:1 minLaser pistol build for accuracy. What differs it from others laser pistols is unconventional way in making laser. Instead of one crystal it incorporates four of them. It’s exceptional feat of engineering and could be used as material for newbie engineers to increase their proficiency with weapon crafting.

+ 50 % to accuracy

Special function: Laser cutter

Can be used for cutting

Fist (Laser)Damage:3500cRarity:ExoticMunition:Power clipMagazine:15 shotsOnce more unconventional weapon from new engineer. Instead of constant fire this rifle fire short burst of concentrated laser with every shot. It’s new approach to this long used technology.

+50% to armor penetration

Chance to set target on fire

+20 % accuracy

Special action: Override

Can use concentrated fire for 10 sec then it’s overheated and had to be cooled before firing again

Leyas combat armorArmor:1000Rarity:ExoticShield:5000Shield regen:100/SecLaser clip recharge:2 mag / minPlasma tank:2 lArmor made from new technology specialized for combat. It contains full sensors suit for combat. From night vision, thermal to motion sensors. It incorporates computer cores into its design which helps user operates armor with greater efficiency.

(Chest) Doubles user strength

(Legs) Can use thrusters for speed up or short flight

(Right hand) Can shots grenade from right hand ( container for two grenades )

(Left hand) Can be transformed into Nanoblade

(Head) Sensor suite and tactical computer

It was even more powerful than I expected. First I went to eat and drink as I was famished and thirsty. Then I went out in my new armor and weapons. It moved smoothly and I couldn’t see and problems with it.

As I got out I could see Rock and Lee sitting before ship and talking.

“It’s perfect I don’t know how she knew but it fits me like a glove.” Said Lee.

“Yes I know what you’re talking about. I never thought about aiming with my machine gun but now that I had more options I think to myself why I didn’t think about it. I always just hold trigger till everything is dead.” Agreed Rock.

“Hi so you like your new weapons?” I asked them embarrassed.

“Yes they’re great I already used all my grenades.” said Lee as they turned to me.

“But looked at you. You look downright dangerous in that armor.” Whistled Rock.

I laughed, “I’m going to test it for bugs and problems.”

“Ok. We’ll just enjoy the show. Try not to hurt yourself.” Caution me Rock.

If he could see my face he would see me roll my eyes. I turned back to cave and hooked into sensors. I let computers feed me information. I stood there looking around and making something like first pre-flight control. I activated every system to control its function.

Only problems was with thrusters but with quick command from leg computers it was solved. I looked back at Lee and Rock who were grinning at me. They wanted show so I’ll give them one. I used Adrenalin rush to speed up my perception.

With quick burst from thrusters I was running across cave at fast run. I equipped Pat and Punch and fired as I run. From punch came condensate plasma which make holes into rock walls. With pat I criss-crossed lines along it. When I came almost to wall I holstered my pistols and equipped Fist.

I jumped at wall and started to run up with thrusters. Most of the work done my computers. About ten meters in air I flipped and landed on ground. There I sighted rock about 100 meters from me. I fired three time into it. Even from my position I could see red-hot holes across it.

I ended Adrenalin rush and turn to guys. They were staring at me with open mouth. I smiled for myself and went to them. We talked about our equipment and changes they did to it. They had new armor so they didn’t want to change it right now but told me in future they’ll definitely come to me for equipment.

• • •

I logged out after that and went to look for schmatics that Eleanor send me. This control scener was very simple and it didn’t require me to build something new just small changes on my old one. With it I found small traces of nanobots. I let my bots in scrapyard dig them and place them in replicator.

I woke next day with feeling of urgency. I don’t know why but I felt I had to finish my ship as soon as I can. Like before I didn’t log this day. First I started to work on more bots. They would be ones to build outer hull and most of the weapons. I needed to build only delicate things in ship.

First I started to work on computer core. With plans and replicator it was easy. Halfway through day I had prepared it for AI insertion. What I needed now was to transfer Eleanor. For that I would need to invent some interface. I worked till night on interface so I could connect to Video, Data and Audio feed from game.

I commanded bots to continue with work while I would be in game. If everything goes as planned ship will be finished in two weeks. As I had most already done it shouldn’t be that hard. I have most of cables and panels done. What I needed to do is to build both engines and power source. That would be hard but doable with replicator. Harder than putting it together would be to jumpstart them.

• • •

With this done I ley on bed and logged into game. There I met with rest of the team. They all had new equipment. Anna had pistol on her side and sniper rifle across her back. Even her armor changed from starting recon to more advanced. Her weapons looked like mine in some aspects. They to use this smaller technology.

John had new assault rifle. It looked normal but I could hear slight hum from it. That means it had really powerful source. On his hip was too pistol and behind his back was wicked looking knife.

“Hi so you too got new equipment? Can I look at it?” I said to them.

“Hi” said both of them then Anna continued, “Why do you want to look at it?”

“Oh it’s just engineering thing. We always love to look at new things and maybe glean some new way to improve our designs.” I said with smile.

They look at me like I was weird but handed me their weapons. Anna’s weapon was indeed similar to mine. They had good design but still there was room for improvement. As for John’s weapons. They were cruder but in a way they were powerful. With their simple design they have lesser chance to fail in combat. I wouldn’t probably make designs like these but they’ll get job done.

I returned them their weapon and thanked them. I called Eleanor on Com.

“So how’s situation with Director. Did he stop already or is he still on the road?” I asked.

“He’s still going but he should be stopping soon. He didn’t stop anywhere so he probably didn’t fuel his ship. With full tank in that type of ship he can go about one or two more days before he has to fuel it or is forced to stop.”

“Ok so we have around two days for our battle exercises. Did you already planned something for us?” I asked Eleanor and looked at others.

“Yes I’m putting it on monitor for you to see. First you should learn some gestures for silent communication then move outside into tunnels and start practising.”

“Ok you heard her we should at last learn something in these two days.” I said to them.

“Yes we should learn quickly to communicate silently so we can move to field exercise.” Said excited Rock.

“Ok go I have something to do before that. I’ll catch up to you.” I told them.

After that they moved to they’re consoles to learn gestures. I moved to my cabin to speak with Eleanor.

“Eleanor I made link with data, video and sound to my ship AI core. Do you think it would be enough?” I asked her when I get to my room.

There was silence then she answered, “It shouldn’t be problem. I pinged it and there was instant response. Problem is we can’t do it while you are in game as I’ll take all data channels. So best course would be to do it while in transit.”

“Ok we’ll do it like that.” I said lost in the thought.

“What are you thinking about?” asked Eleanor.

“Just some personal things.” I said still thinking what to do about my problem. I’ll prepare as much as I can and then I’ll see. That would I hope be enough.

I went to others and started to learn gestures. It took me longer than others. Then for remainder of two days we trained ourselves. We focused on teamwork and at the end of these two days could at last move together. We weren’t very good team players but at last we didn’t hinder one another.

Then Eleanor called us into ship and told us she found where he’s hiding. It would take us one and half in-game week to get there. I made final preparation and said good bye to Greg.

Last thing I did was pilot ship into orbit and went through wormhole. When we were in transit I told them I wouldn’t be available for some time. I have personal problems which I needed to take care of.

They grumbled about it but in the end they had to accept it. Most nervous about me was Anna. She told she feared for me as my personal problems sometimes required siren. I calmed her and told her it’s nothing like that.

I logged out and Eleanor started to download herself into new core. In the meant time I worked on power source and engines. I had little time to build it. I didn’t know why I was so nervous about it but I knew I needed to finish it before we get into Directors base.