I slowly raised myself off of my back. Once I achieved sitting, I looked around to find a large cuboid room, made out of some sort of metal. The room, which I can only guess to be a warehouse of some sort, had numerous crates and boxes stacked and secured in blocks around the room. Standing up carefully, just in case I had any lingering effects from the concussion, I walked cautiously towards the nearest wall, on guard against being noticed by anyone. Luckily, other than myself, there doesn’t seem to be anyone here. Not that I’m going to take that as leeway to make a bunch of noise.

On this wall there appears to be a couple of storage lockers. I wonder if this is where the gear I used points to get from the screen could be. I hope so. Running about in the nude until I meet someone doesn’t seem like a good idea to me. Opening the first locker I found what appeared to be a suit bag hanging from one hook and a set of undergarments on the other. There was also a pair of glasses and a belt with an odd looking buckle on the top shelf, and a pair of basic black boots on the bottom shelf.

First up I put on the underwear. A pair of stretchy, fitted shorts and a sports bra. Opening the suit bag I found a pair of slacks, a white button-down shirt, and a light jacket that matched the slacks. I wonder if these are mine, or if I’m stealing from whomever this locker belongs to. Oh right! I have that Inspect ability now. No better time to find out how it works.

Concentrating on the clothes in front of me I think about “inspecting” them.

Spy’s Shipboard Uniform

Spy clothing designed to appear to be a uniform for a Naval NCO

Provides no additional defense.

Good, good. This is mine. Also judging by the description, I seem to be aboard a naval ship, or in a navy storage warehouse of some sort. That could be a problem. I don’t know much navy slang. Heck I don’t even think I’ll be able to salute properly. Hopefully my skills and abilities can come into play when I meet someone. Clothes on now, I’ll inspect the lockers and the other items.

Spy’s Clothes Locker

A standard clothes locker. What did you expect?

Spy’s Shipboard Boots

Boots designed to look like Navy Basic boots. Provides additional mobility when worn. DEX +1

Spy’s Glasses

Glasses. Provides constant inspect function when worn. Does not use AP. Provides no benefit to skills related to inspect

Spy’s Basic Storage Belt

A belt. Keeps your pants up. The buckle contains a small pocket dimension capable of storing up to one cubic meter of gear and items. Does not use AP. (Empty)

To store an item touch the item you wish to store against the buckle. To withdraw it, touch one hand to the buckle while holding your other hand palm up.

Sweet! Item storage and free inspection. Wait, does that mean I used AP each time I inspected an item? Current Status?

Name: Keiren Ignis Path Spy Race: Doppel Level: 1 Gender: Indeterminate EXP: 5(250) HP: 43(350) AP: 26/30 ST: 100(100) Current Status: Amnesia (semi-permanent), Concussion (Healing) Titles: Awakened to Pain, Subverter, LOCKED Attributes STR: 15 WIS: 15 DEX: 25 (+1) INT: 25 CON: 35 CHA: 40 PER: 30 LUCK: 55 Abilities Inspect Silent Kill Read Mind Mingle

Yes it does. Looks like 1 AP each time I use it. While that is a minor issue right now, it shouldn’t be a problem once I get stronger and can increase my pool. I wonder if that cost will be the same for all abilities, or if they cost more/less depending on the ability, or if there is some other manner of scaling?

Now that the clothes locker is empty, on to the other one. If the pattern continues, it should be my weapons.

Opening up the locker, I find that my expectations were correct.

SW XMP95N

A common semi-automatic pistol used by Naval forces as their standard sidearm. 2 spare magazines, holster and magazines pouches

HK 919SR

Semi-Automatic Rifle. This model has been specifically designed for Sniper use. Equipped with removable suppressor and 10X scope.

LightSteel Sabre

A lightweight sabre designed for quick thrust and slash attacking. Parrying and blocking opponents strikes not recommended.

LightSteel Naval Stiletto

A basic dagger designed for tight quarters fighting. This particular model comes with a few extra utility functions designed into the haft, ricasso and pommel.

MCX Micro Dart Pistol

A palm sized breech loading pistol. Uses compressed air to launch hypodermic darts.

Ammo Pack

9.5mm ammunition- 250 rounds.

7.62x51mm ammunition- 150 rounds

Sedative Dart- 25 – High-efficiency sedative, takes effect within 3 minutes

Paralytic Dart- 25 – High-efficiency paralytic, takes effect within 3 seconds

Ooooooooh. A weapon for almost all occasions. And additional ammo for the guns. I’ll keep the pistol and dagger on my belt. The others, I will store in my belt.

Dressed and armed, it’s now time for some exploration and discovery. Looking at one of the storage crates with my glasses on to try and get information from it.

Naval munitions crate

Crate containing slugs for ship-mounted railguns

That does me no good. Looks like everything in here is ammo. Alright, well let’s find an exit and try to sneak around a bit. After walking around the room twice, just to make sure I didn’t miss anything, I find that there is only one door. Aaaand it’s locked. Great. Maybe this lever on the right side…? The resounding clang of the latches receding should mean it can be opened now. I just hope no one was nearby to hear it happen.

Stepping out I find an empty corridor.

*THUD*

Or not as I trip over something and face plant on the metal floor. That something is a body. Seems to be a male, wearing a uniform similar to what I have.

Corpse

A dead body - Male

Wow, real helpful there inspect. Taking off my glasses and looking around, I see 3 other corpses. There doesn’t seem to be any wounds on them. I wonder what happened here. I’m pretty sure this is a ship of some sort. I should head to the command center and see if there is any information to be had. Also if there are any survivors of whatever happened?

Traversing 5 decks of dead bodies, I finally find my way to something other than storage or crew compartments. With my pistol at the ready, I step into the room labeled “Navigation and Communication”

More bodies, these ones clearly of a higher rank than the others in the corridors. The main terminal seems to be active. I’ll just move this corpse out of the way. Now how do I access this? I’ll just try tapping on the terminal screen, as I don’t see any other place for input

SYSTEMS RESTARTING

UNKNOWN USER ATTEMPTING ACCESS

SHIPWIDE SCANS SHOW 1 LIFE-SIGN AND 493 DEAD BODIES

BIOMETRICS ACTIVATED

UNKNOWN USER NOT LISTED IN LOCAL DATABASE

ATTEMPTING ACCESS OF COSN NETWORK

FAILURE – COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS OFFLINE

RESOLVING ………….. UNABLE TO INITIALIZE COMMUNICATIONS

CHECKING SHIP LOGS

RECORD FOUND – CREW CHANGE AT LAST PORT 5 STANDARD DAYS AGO

CREW MANIFEST NOT UPDATED POST CREW CHANGE

ADDING USER – SETTING ACCESS LEVEL TO PO

USER – VOCALIZE NAME AND RANK TO COMPLETE REGISTRATION

Well, I’m kind of glad that the Captain or the officer in charge didn’t update the crew manifest after the change-over. Though I slightly worry about this COSN and how well followed their protocols appear to have been. Also the comms seem to be down, preventing the system from determining who I am. I wonder if I can fool the system into giving me higher clearance.

“Keiren Ignis” I state authoritatively. “Lieutenant, COSN Intelligence, Internal Affairs”

USER RANK DOES NOT MATCH CURRENT UNIFORM

NO RECORD OF IA PERSONNEL DEPLOYED TO THIS VESSEL

REQUEST CLARIFICATION

“On covert assignment to investigate the officers of this ship. There have been numerous inconsistencies in their reports from the last few assignments. I have noted their failure to update crew manifest since the current deployment.”

USER UPDATED

ACCESS LEVEL SET TO COMMAND 1 PER COSN IA REGULATIONS

“Very good. Now, since everyone is dead, and I was locked, naked and unconscious, in the munitions supply room, I would like to go over the logs, as well as any video and sensor records from the last 2 days up until current. Also please provide me with the complete results of shipwide scans, and compare to crew manifests. Highlight all inconsistencies. I am heading to the Officer’s mess as I am in dire need of food. Please display results on the holo’s there.” I marveled as I spouted off words and designations that until I said them, I didn’t realize I knew. Thankfully, the computer did not question me further.

UNDERSTOOD

REQUESTING PERMISSION TO RUN SERIES 7 DIAGNOSTICS TO ASCERTAIN SYSTEM STATUS

“Granted. I would have forgot and wasted time otherwise. Thanks” Did… did I just thank the computer system. Well, seeing as it is the only thing of any level of intelligence here, I may as well get along with it. “Also, if you could provide me with our current coordinates, as well as maps and the ships intended deployment route, it would be appreciated. If you need to, delay until after diagnostics on required systems are complete to ensure correct information.”

UNDERSTOOD

With that taken care of I headed down to the Officer’s mess. I dragged the body of what was the former Commander of the ship out of the mess hall, then dragged the body of the cook out as well. Rifling through the cupboards, I found some noodles, so I put a pot on to boil. Then I pulled some meat and vegetables from the refrigerators, diced them, and started to fry them up. Once the noodles were done, I mixed them with the meat and veg, and gave them a quick stir-fry. Filling a couple bowls, I walked out of the kitchen to the mess. As soon as I sat down, the ships computer started to open holo screens with the records and logs I had requested. So while I ate I began to inform myself as to the current situation.

It seems that I am aboard the COSN Biltegan Class Combat Support and Supply ship, Adavaris. It’s basically a large freighter for navy armament supplies to the rest of the fleet. Crewed by 500 souls, 493 of whom are now dead. COSN standing for Confederated Orion Systems Navy. Browsing the crew manifests, I see that roughly 70% of the crew was human, while the remaining 30% was a mix of Lodrian, Darvali, and Karm.

Human

Homeworld- Sol III. The most populous sentient species in known space. Humanity’s only true proficiency is their ability to assimilate knowledge and technology and alter it to suit their needs. Generally seen as average in all things.

Lodrian

Homeworld- Muara IV. Lodrians have higher intellectual abilities than any other species in known space. While not the most populous species in the COS, they are the most sought after for command and tactical roles.

Darvali

Homeworld- Cala II-B. Darvali are highly resistant to radiation and gravity fluctuations. This is due to their homeworld orbiting a brown dwarf, in orbit of a main sequence star.

Karm

Homeworld- Erd III. Karm are a large reptilian humanoid species, known for their reaction speed. Within the COS they are well respected as both pilots and gunners.

The COS appear to be at war with a group of xenophobic humans, known as the United Terran Alliance, that colonized a number of systems near the edges of known space towards the tail end of the Orion Spur. This war has been ongoing for the past 20 standard years, though it hasn’t amounted to more than the occasional skirmish on the border from the COSN point of view.

Logs and video records cut off roughly 18 hours prior to my awakening. Sensors during that period show ship atmosphere being flooded with Boron trifluoride. With the exception of sealed compartments like the storage room I was in. This seems to have caused asphyxiation and death of the crew in less than 5 minutes. The atmosphere was then normalized. At this point sensors went offline along with all ship systems. Time to ask a couple questions

“Computer”

To my surprise, rather than the typeface display as seen earlier, the computer appears in humanoid form via the holographic projectors.

“Yes, Lieutenant Ignis, how may I assist you?”

“Hmmm, I see you have holo interaction protocols enabled” That Universal Knowledge skill is getting a workout today. “What is your designation? I shouldn’t call you computer seeing as you are likely much more than that.”

“Correct, Lieutenant. I am the Adavaris’ AI, designation Adietsu. While I did not have overt permission to activate holo interaction protocols, I judged that it would be best to enable them for your mental wellbeing once my diagnostics completed.”

Great. The ship AI is worried about my mental wellbeing. That means that the diagnostics it did found problems. Problems that don’t bode well for me in the near future.

“Very well. Please hold off on going further in depth on that worrisome statement for now. I assume that you have completed shipwide scans? Please have some drones move the bodies of the crew into an empty storage compartment and then vent the atmosphere from the compartment to reduce decomposition.” I’m really not looking forward to what it is going to tell me. “Please report on inconsistencies between crew manifest and the corpses of the former crew.”

“Yes, Lieutenant. The former Captain, as well as the Marine Commandant, are not among the dead. There are 14 dead NCO’s that are not listed in the manifest. On display now. Secondary display showing the crew on the manifest that are not found among the dead. As you can see, other than the Captain and Major, they are all low level NCO’s that were scheduled for retraining or had completed their primary service period and were returning to their citizenship.”

So we can assume that the Captain, Commandant, and another 4 or 5 people attacked the ship from within. To what end though?

“Adietsu, what supplies missing from the stores?”

“One moment Lieutenant. I have not completed inventory yet.”

I’ll bet that there are a large number of weapons missing.

“Lieutenant, all small arms are missing. As are 45% of the torpedos and 62% of the missiles.”

“As I thought. Looks like the good Captain and the Major turned pirate and traitor. Mystery one solved. Now on to what we are going to do now. Please report on the results of your diagnostics and the current status of the ship.”

“Understood Lieutenant. Current location according to navigational systems, roughly 3.85 light years from the nearest known friendly system. Diagnostics have been run on all primary and secondary systems. Current battery power levels are at 75% of peak operation levels. Current drain is at 0.134% per day. Life support is operating on secondary systems only. Primaries offline and unrecoverable. For a crew of 1 the secondaries can provide nearly 3 years of breathable air and heat to captains quarters, mess and the bridge. All other areas of the ship will require sealing and decompression for this to be effective. Escape pods and small craft are all destroyed. Unable to repair”

Oh, well 3 years of livable heat and air aboard the ship that’s good. Reading between the lines; if I don’t mind only living for another 3 years that is. Which I do mind. I’m not dying here. I still need to get my memories back.

“Main engines, and thrusters scrammed. Unable to repair. FTL drive still functional,” There is hope. “however its use requires functional engines.” Dashed on the rocks. Adietsu, you're cold and cruel.

"Alright Adietsu. I get it. We're stranded with next to no hope of rescue, and likely waiting for the pirates to return to take the remainder of the stocks. At which point they will notice systems being back online, and seek to kill me, and likely delete or reprogram you. I'm still recovering from a concussion, and the headache leaves me no room to consider our exit strategy at the moment. Could you guide me to the nearest quarters that didn't play host to a dead man?"

"As you wish Lieutenant. Once you exit the mess, please follow the lit panels along the corridor wall. Do you have any orders for me to deal with while you are resting?"

"Please forward navigational information to the quarters. I'd like to memorize the charts before I sleep. As for you, please compile a listing of all items in storage for me. Have it ready by morning. Beyond that, you may do as you wish, provided it doesn't endanger us or the ship."

I exit the mess, and walk down the corridor, following the lights that Adietsu has lit for me. Reaching what is almost certain to have been either the Captain's, or the Commander's quarters. I plop down onto the bunk, and pull up the nav data on the portable terminal I found bedside to look over. Just as I am about to nod off for the night the Screen decides to say hello.

Skill Level Increase Negotiation +2 levels Acting

+4 levels

For reaching level 5 in Acting you have been awarded +1 WIS

Universal Knowledge +2 levels Analysis +1 level Etiquette +1 level

Skill growth, huh? That's good to know.