"So this is Combrzalite," Adam said as he inspected the strange mineral that was both light and extremely tough.
[Whostolemyduck (Earth): Is it because Combrzalite is rare, or because the Nogitsune race limits how much people can buy?]
[Phoenixempress (Fenix Nest): Both. Since it's only found in the Reynard Galaxy, it's already an extremely rare mineral.
Add on to that the fact that the Nogitsune race keeps the price high by only selling a specific amount each year.]
[Beinglittleisnotadisadvantage (Strathorp 7): It's also strange that it's bricks of Combrzalite. Could Flamyre have the production facilities to make use of it?]
[Whitehorn (Darah 5): She could be the middle woman and it's actually being sent to the secret organisation.]
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): That does seem more reasonable.]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): How has the Nogitsune race even managed to retain exclusivity of the Combrzalite?
Surely a mineral so valuable would be fought over?]
[OracleRomy (Elysium): Because of their exclusive access to Combrzalite and the fact that they are a long-lived race, the Nogitsune race is one of the most advanced races in the universe.
Multiple races have attempted to seize control of the area of space where the Combrzalite is located in the past. Unfortunately, however, they were seriously outmatched and their attempts failed.
Afterwards, the Nogitsune race no longer agreed to sell them any Combrzalite.]
[HackerSu (Angels Mercy): Their only means of getting Combrzalite now is to steal it or purchase it from another race for a much higher price.]
[Whostolemyduck (Earth): Where is it even mined from? A planet? An asteroid?]
[LadyErkath (Aqua Primus): There is a large asteroid belt a short FTL jump from Reginhart Alpha, the Nogitsune homeworld. It's mined from there.]
"Doesn't that mean there is only a finite amount of Combrzalite then?" Adam suddenly asked as he had been reading the chat.
[LadyErkath (Aqua Primus): You're correct. Sooner or later, the Combrzalite will run out; that's why many of the different races are so eager to explore the universe: they hope to find a new source of Combrzalite.]
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): Then there is also the fact that each race is researching and looking for a Combrzalite alternative.]
"Any idea how much Combrzalite is left in the asteroid belt?" Adam asked.
[LadyErkath (Aqua Primus): No one's sure since theNogitsune race has never answered that question when asked. Even Arisu Kasai skirted around giving a direct answer when asked in the senate.]
[Celebrityhunter69 (Earth): Well, we have a Nogitsune in chat, so why don't we just ask @OfficialKasumi?]
[OfficialKasumi (Aqua Primus): I don't have anything to do with the mining of Combrzalite, so unfortunately, I will not be able to answer your question.]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): The streamer should just steal that crate of Combrzalite.]
[Superherofangirl (Earth): You want to turn him into a criminal?]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Is it a crime if you're stealing from someone who stole it?]
[Superherofangirl (Earth): We don't know if it's stolen; it could have been purchased legitimately for all we know.]
[OfficialAphrodite (Spector): A crate of Combrzalite could be sold for a hefty amount of credits.]
[OrangeeyedStace (Spector): I'm with Gunlovergirl and Aphrodite on this one, babe. You should acquire that crate of Combrzalite.]
[OfficialRowena (Spector): I agree, we need the credits after all.]
[LadyErkath (Aqua Primus): Need the credits?]
[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): Hahaha, the streamers broke. Kekeke]
"I agree, but how?" Adam asked before adding, "I can't exactly transport the crate on the hoverbike."
[OfficialRowena (Spector): Use one of the hover cargo lifts.]
"The what?" Adam asked while looking around.
[OfficialRowena (Spector): Look at the third shelf up on the wall behind you. There are some small, half-cylinder-shaped items with curved tops.]
Adam nodded before turning around and approaching the wall behind him, where he found the items Rowena had indicated.
After picking one up, he examined it while asking, "you mean these?"
[OfficialRowena (Spector): Yes. Grab four of them and have Spector sync them to your uniband before attaching one to each side of the crate.]
[Thewhitesoverign (Spector): Wait, what if there is more Combrzalite in the other crates?]
[CEOHopkins (Spector): Tephe makes a good point. Adam, can you scan the other crates for Combrzalite?]
"Spector?" Adam asked.
[[Negative. I was failing to detect any Combrzalite before you opened that crate.]]
"How's that possible?" Adam asked in surprise.
[[Several of the crates appear to be made of Vibranium, making them impervious to my sensors.]]
"Vibranium?" Adam asked.
[[Vibranium is an alloy that is famous for its ability to absorb all kinetic energy; it also has incredible sound and sensor-dampening properties. Because it absorbs vibrations and certain frequencies of radiation, it is notoriously difficult for scanners to ping.
I, as well as other stealth ships, tend to have it incorporated into our hull.]]
[SciFifanboy (Earth): That's so Sci-fi.]
"Surely something like that is expensive?" Adam asked in surprise.
[[Affirmative, however, it is highly effective and a favourite when smuggling contraband.]]
[OrangeeyedStace (Spector): Spector's right, babe. I often smuggled things in Vibranium cases to hide them from scanners. That dark matter back on Trillion, for example.]
"Oh! That explains why you failed to detect the dark matter even when it was aboard you," Adam remarked.
[[Affirmative.]]
"I guess we need to find a manifest then," Adam replied before asking, "Can you sync these to my uniband then?"
[[Affirmative, synching now.]]
[[Synching complete.]]
After the syncing was complete, Adam closed the crate back up before attaching one hover cargo lift to each side.
"Now what?" Adam asked.
[OfficialRowena (Spector): Stipulate a destination with your uniband and the hover cargo lifts will transport the crate there.]
"Got it," Adam replied before walking towards another crate.
Adam pressed the button on the side and after a small hiss, the crate opened to reveal an assortment of military clothing.
"I guess here will do," Adam stated before walking back to the unconscious dockworker, whom he picked up before dumping him in the crate and closing it.
"Right, time to find an access panel," Adam mumbled before he walked out from behind the crates and into the main docking area.
As he walked, Adam scanned around the docking bay until his HUD indicated the location of an access panel that was on the far wall.
[Noobkiller9000 (Earth): That HUD is so fucking cool. I love how it highlights things like their objectives in a game.]
Adam turned and headed towards the indicated control panel while the other dockworkers didn't take a second look at him, as most of them focused on their work, although that didn't stop them from chatting.
"Why are we so busy today? It's never normally this bad."
"Haven't you heard? The boss has some important guests visiting her."
"Who?"
"No idea, some bigshot senator or something."
"And that makes us busy, why?"
"Because a lot of this stuff is leaving with the senator and we need to get it ready."
[OfficialLorelie (Spector): Big shot senator? Do you think they could mean Arisu Kasai?]
[LadyErkath (Aqua Primus): Seems likely, considering what we know.]
[OfficialKasumi (Aqua Primus): Damn Kasai.]
Adam continued to eavesdrop on the conversation as he approached the access panel and just as he passed it, he ran his uniband over it.
[[Access Panel detected.]]
[[Hacking into Flamyre mainframe.]]
[[Standby.]]
As Adam continued to walk on while waiting for Spector to hack the mainframe, a shout came from behind.
"HEY SLACKER, GET OVER HERE."
Adam turned and looked behind him to see a gruff-faced man glaring in his direction.
[OfficialMuriel (Aqua Primus): Oh no, do you think he was discovered?]
[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): Mission failed, Agent 69. Kekeke.]
"You mean me?" Adam asked while pointing to himself.
"Of course, I mean you, dumbass. I sent a request for more help over an hour ago and you only just turned up?"
[Noobkiller9000 (Earth): No way! He actually thinks he's there to help them?]
[Whostolemyduck (Earth): Talk about cliché.]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Well, if they really are that busy like those other two mentioned earlier, then it's possible that they asked for extra help.]
"Sorry," Adam replied before adding, "I only just got given my gear and was told to come find the boss."
"Well, you found him; now get over here," the Dockworker boss ordered.
Adam nodded before approaching as the dockworker boss asked, "You got a name, slacker?"
"Adam," Adam replied instinctively.
[AlamoMatador4thewin (Earth): HAHAHA, he totally just gave him his real name.]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Oh gods.]
[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): What a rookie.]
[Lizziethetruepower (Palaxia): This is why people prep before going undercover.]
"Adam? What sort of weird name is that?" the dockworker boss asked in surprise.
"You'll have to ask my parents that," Adam replied.
"Ha, fair enough," the dockworker boss laughed and replied before adding, "the names, Hunas, and I'm in charge of this dock."
"Pleasure," Adam replied.
"Stow your pleasantries, kid; they won't get us back on schedule," Hunas snapped before asking, "Which department sent you over?"
"Catering," Adam replied.
"Catering?" Hunas repeated with a frown before grumbling, "I asked for help and they sent me a fucking waiter?"