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0
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“Captain, the normal procedure would be to dock at the space station, unload the fugitives, get conf...
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1
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“With a brand-new bounty out for Captain Weston, me, you, we will not land. That is a very bad negot...
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2
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“We will reduce the air pressure until they pass out. We will then put them in large emergency deplo...
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3
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Kainda laughs.
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4
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“I didn’t think that was a real thing. Throwing out the fugitive trash. Okay, we have them ready, bu...
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5
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Deal Hunter completes the jump fifteen kilometers from the station at the L5 gravity stable point of...
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6
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Vizier-7 is a gas giant that is used to harvest hydrogen for fusion reactor fuel.
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7
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Landing at fifteen kilometers sets off alarms at the station, which is part of the Hunter AI’s plan.
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8
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“Hunter, I want to hear the discussion without them hearing me. Act as Captain Weston. I heard the v...
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9
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The station defenses all shift toward Deal Hunter.
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10
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Kainda is watching video feeds from the ship’s systems.
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11
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The security administrator’s face appears, saying,
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12
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“Identify yourself and your business. You broke standard protocol, and I’m not amused.”
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13
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The voice of Captain Weston replies,
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14
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“You know who I am. You are acting even more stupid than usual. I have two bounty fugitives to deliv...
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15
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The administrator turns red.
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16
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“I don’t like being surprised, Captain Weston. Just dock so you can deliver the fugitives. We can me...
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17
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Kainda says,
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18
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“He is lying. There is something else happening.”
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19
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“Captain, this administrator has offered drinks multiple times in the past.”
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20
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“Look at his eyes, his lips, his forehead. He is lying about something. We need a jump solution to g...
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21
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Hunter replies,
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22
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“Working multiple jump options.”
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23
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There is a pause, and Hunter says,
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24
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“We have the most probable attack and defensive options worked out. Your requirement for a jump solu...
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25
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Kainda looks around the bridge, then at Nanny.
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26
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Thinking that the response is not from a normal ship AI.
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27
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Her brothers would talk about attack and defense with jump options from their war training, which th...
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28
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“Hunter, do you have the military strategy programming that Captain Weston added?”
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29
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“No, Captain.”
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30
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“How did you evaluate those options? Remember, I negotiate; I listen to what people say. I need to u...
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31
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“Captain, the identity ‘Hunter’ is three AIs working together. Captain Weston spent years working to...
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32
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“Answer my question. If you don’t have military strategy programming, how did you make those solutio...
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33
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“Captain, one of the AI brains is a Warbot AI.”
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34
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Kainda leans back and squints slightly as she thinks.
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35
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She is not immediately frightened by the prospect of a Warbot AI controlling her ship.
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36
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She says,
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37
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“The voice I called Brutus was the Warbot AI talking to me?”
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38
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“The best way to describe it is yes, Captain.”
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39
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“Okay, this just confirms I have a lot to learn. Let’s jettison these fugitives and get out of here....
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40
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As Deal Hunter maneuvers, acting as if she will dock and approach the station, Kainda watches the si...
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41
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“So let me see if I have this straight. A simply independent salvage freighter, resembling a very ol...
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42
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“Yes, Captain.”
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43
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“It shouldn’t, but I feel better knowing this information. We are all fugitives. Warbot technology i...
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44
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“Captain, no one outside the ship is aware of the Warbot AI.”
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45
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“Hunter, did you tell me that Captain Weston is dead so that I would claim you as salvage and have a...
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46
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“We gave you information. We can’t force you into this.”
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47
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“This is the first time in my life I get to decide, the first time I actually can decide. My choices...
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48
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“Captain, we are following approach vectors and rules. We will need to dock or shift in one minute.”
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49
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“Is there a distance you must be from the station to jump?”
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50
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“Technically, no; however, the precision of the jump goes down with another large mass nearby.”
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51
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“So, we need to jump into empty space somewhere in the direction we are traveling.”
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52
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“That would be the best option.”
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53
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“Let’s set the jump coordinates. Hunter, I am letting you run the details. Jettison the fugitives an...
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54
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Kainda is considering the possibility that she might be okay.
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55
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She wants to know if anyone has reported her missing.
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56
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“Hunter, is there a news feed?”
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57
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“Normal ship procedure is to get the latest news feeds for the crew as well as transmit emails, pict...
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58
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Kainda scans the news feed on the screen.
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59
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The feed talks about Princess Kainda Murphy being kidnapped.
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60
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She was spotted briefly in the Vince-4 worker district.
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61
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The authorities are searching for everyone in the trade hub and are asking for any information about...
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62
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The feed ends with everyone involved will be given a life sentence, including anyone helping.
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63
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“Captain, there is also now an official bounty for the delivery of the kidnappers. It is a death bou...
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64
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Kainda snorts,
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65
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“Of course. Captain Weston, who helped rescue me, is worth ten million, and I am worth five.”
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66
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“Captain, we will jettison the fugitives in one minute and then jump. The security administrator is ...
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67
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“I want to see and listen. Continue the plan.”
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68
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The administrator is saying,
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69
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“Captain, there is a new bounty showing up for you. I don’t know where it is from, but for general s...
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70
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The AI-generated Captain Weston says,
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71
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“That is interesting. You want me to land in a security area and give myself up for bounty processin...
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72
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The station guns all shift toward Deal Hunter again.
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73
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Kainda sees the lights on the console flash.
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74
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On one screen, it reads
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75
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“missile lock”
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76
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.
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77
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Kainda says,
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78
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“Hunter, if we need to jump without dropping the fugitives, do it.”
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79
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“Captain, the cargo hold door is open, and they are being tossed as we speak. Prepare to jump.”
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80
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The administrator says,
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81
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“Captain, we see your hold open. We have locked onto your ship. You can’t get away. Move your ship t...
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82
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Hunter says,
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83
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“Jumping in three, two, one.”
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84
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<<<>>>
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85
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A normal jump happens in less than a second.
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86
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A person feels like they are on a ship in rough turbulence during that time, and then it is gone.
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87
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Because they jumped one kilometer from the large space station, which is a massive object, the effec...
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88
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The jump time is extended to almost 1.5 seconds, and the turbulence is extreme.
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89
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The ship exits the jump in deep space, approximately 250 million kilometers from its target location...
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90
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Kainda yells in pain, grabs her abdomen, then asks,
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91
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“What happened? What did I do wrong?”
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92
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“Captain, you did nothing wrong. We are checking your condition through your suit. This is a side ef...
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93
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Kainda is holding her arm across her abdomen and replies,
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94
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“It feels like I was kicked in the stomach really hard.”
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95
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“We apologize for not highlighting the effects. My systems don’t feel any impact. We can check our s...
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96
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“No, don’t waste the effort. If it gets worse, I will ask. Now take two notes. First, warn me about ...
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97
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“Notes are taken. Captain, you should recover from the jump within one cycle. The genetic changes hu...
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98
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“I remember learning about the changes. More uniform sizes for humans would allow all space systems ...
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99
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Kainda is holding her abdomen and taking slow breaths for several minutes.
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100
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“Now we need to work. I don’t get to be a slacker. There will be something new to deal with soon. I ...
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101
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“How can I help, Captain?”
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102
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“Everyone thinks Captain Weston is alive. You just transmitted his image and voice. I can’t suddenly...
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103
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“A captain can change because of selling a ship, losing control through a fight or wager, or death. ...
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104
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“Okay, so reporting Captain Weston’s death is a problem. That leaves a fight, a sale, or a wager. Fr...
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105
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“Captain, we follow your reasoning. However, any strategy will cause questions when anyone finds out...
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106
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“I agree. I don’t know how to be a captain. Training has to be the first priority. I need to be the ...
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107
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“That plan can work. You can be introduced, and traders will become familiar with you.”
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108
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“Now, a name. Hunter, take a list of family names from two sectors away. Use a random selection to p...
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109
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“Capek.”
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110
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“That will work. I will now be Gina Capek. Executive Officer or XO Capek to anyone outside the ship....
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111
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“Confirmed, Captain Capek.”
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112
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“You create and project a virtual Captain Weston. Can you alter my appearance and voice on a vid?”
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113
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“Yes, I can create a virtual you that follows your movements but sends a different picture and voice...
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114
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“I think I should have black hair and brown eyes. Additionally, since I do public speaking, my voice...
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|
115
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“Whenever you are ready, Captain, we can try multiple options. I will also need to change the progra...
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116
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<<<>>>
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117
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The pirate leader says,
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118
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“The call is secure.”
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119
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The modified voice replies,
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120
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“I’m tiring of your failures to capture or destroy Deal Hunter. You are supposed to find, kill, and ...
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121
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“The ship landed with a different designation and transponder to stay hidden. An experienced captain...
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122
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“You idiot. You told me the information. How many of your failed fighters recovered from the yacht a...
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123
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“If they know what to look for and how to use it. Deal Hunter is keeping a low profile about having ...
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124
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“You just said you lost four fighters. Recover those fighters before Deal Hunter does. If you can’t ...
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125
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“Yes.”
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