Star Emperor

This information changed everything.

Andrew used this argument for convenience, but it turned out to be exactly like in the game and if that was the case, then it would only be a matter of time before the pirates started attacking stations.

-Let's get the shopping done and see what kind of new modules are available.

He said to Lan, getting her out of her shocked state.

Right now he hoped that they could buy everything they needed and had enough left for some more armaments.

The first ten modules they bought emptied almost half of their budget but they were essential for further developing the station.

There were two research modules along with two computer core modules.

Both were needed to start the research on more advanced technologies and the more of them they had the faster the research would go.

The other four were the hydroponics modules, which would provide them with some fresh food once they were operational, and two cryogenic storage modules to keep their harvested food fresh at all times.

Additionally, they also bought 32 additional storage modules, tripling their storage capacity, 4 Drone recharging modules which increased the number of drones to 91 but there would soon be many more of them, the two armory modules, 9 shield generation modules, which doubled their shields, 20 solar power modules, to power it all, and 6-point defense cannons modules, to bolster their defenses, last but not least, they bought a basic education module as Andrew wanted to continue with his education since he didn't even graduate from high school before all this happened.

After that, they pretty much bought all tier 1 modules that were available and for now, they didn't need any more so they moved on to the upgrades and other items.

They still had over 10 million credits available to them and they were not planning to save any of it if there was something that they needed.

To Andrew's delight, plans for three new drones were available, and he didn't waste any time getting them. Next on their list was the internal communication upgrade for the station, as right now, there was no way for them to communicate if they were in different parts of the station. The internal sensors upgrade was also on their list.

Other than that, they had already purchased all the available upgrades and for the rest, they would need the research.

The last on their shopping list were the items they needed or wanted to get if they had enough money left.

Both of them wanted more clothes, and after that they bought all kinds of seeds for the hydroponic modules, mostly concentrating on things that could be eaten raw.

They also resupplied their food reserves just in case they would need it.

The last essential thing they bought was more plastic and rubber parts required for drone production.

After all that shopping they were still left with over 4 million credits to spare.

-Let's leave them for the next time.

Lanarine said, as there was nothing more that was essential for them right now, and with any luck they would need a lot more credits next time to start buying the tier two modules and upgrades.

Andrew nodded and pressed the payment button.

The moment he did there was the usual procession of droids bringing their stuff and informing them that the modules would arrive within an hour.

-Can you tell me, what class was the ship that attacked you?

Andrew asked before the droids went back.

-It was an armed civilian vessel.

The droid answered after a moment.

-I have one more Question.

The human added quickly.

-Is this whole thing set up exactly as in the Star Emperor?

-This information would cost you two million credits, do you wish to purchase it?

The droid informed him.

Andrew looked at Lan and she only nodded as she also wanted to know.

-Yes I want the information.

-This event is around 99% accurate with the game, the only differences are the player's irreversible deaths and the participation of all species.

The droid answered and left.

This information left Andrew stunned, he suspected as much after they heard of the pirates, but now he knew for sure.

With that, he also knew that they were in deep trouble and needed to get the research started as soon as possible if they were to stand a chance of surviving and staying independent.

-Help me install these upgrades.

He said to her and moved to start the work.

Lanarine was surprised at his change but decided that it was not the right time to ask and moved to help him.

While Andrew installed the internal sensors and internal communication upgrades, he sent her to upload the new drone blueprints and start the production of the new drones.

The blueprints were for the repair drones, the construction drones, and the scout drones.

He told her to order 10 of each to be produced and to send their drones to gather resources as soon as possible.

Additionally, she was also asked to produce another 20 mining drones and 30 resource-gathering drones.

Andrew would like to order more but right now their resources were almost depleted after being sold to the merchant, who had just left after repairing his ship and getting the resources from their storage modules.

He came back to the command center just as she finished setting the targets for the drones to gather resources from.

-This is for you.

He said offering her a small bracelet that looked like jewelry.

This made her blush as in her culture, offering a bracelet to a female was the same as proposing to her.

Andrew was surprised by her reaction and could not figure it out as he knew next to nothing about the customs of her people.

-It's a communicator, we will be able to stay in touch at all times now.

He explained seeing her hesitation to accept the device.

Only then did she realize that she was overthinking things and accepted it.

After she took the device, Andrew went to the sensor control station and activated the internal sensors to see if they worked as they should, and there didn't seem to be any problems since they displayed both of them in the command center.

-Why the rush to get everything done?

Lanarine asked, seizing the opportunity.

-Since this whole thing is almost identical to the game, we can expect some pirates to visit fairly soon.

He answered.

-Additionally, there is a possibility of another station master, trying to do the same thing that happened in your previous system.

I don't want to get killed or become a slave so the only option we have right now is to get everything ready as soon as possible and start the research to unlock the upper-tier modules and upgrades.

He explained.

-Ok I understand that, but why do you need the scouting drones since we have the sensor array?

She asked it was a question that bugged her from the moment he told her that he wanted them built as a priority.

-Did you ever find an item box or an extra module in the game?

He asked surprised.

-No, were there such things available in the game?

-Yes and the scouting drones were the only way to locate them and if you were extremely lucky then you could find much more than that.

He said, now understanding that she had never used the scouting drones before.

-Wait, did no one in your world use them?

He asked suddenly, as it was suspicious that nobody used them or never revealed the information about their use.

-As far as I know, there was no one using them since there was no apparent need and we all relied on sensors.

Lanarine said, confirming his suspicions.

Andrew had no idea whether he should laugh or cry as it meant that her people would be left behind by any race that knew about it.

-Just how did you people play the game?

These drones are essential for not only locating hidden treasures but also for getting information on your enemies' stations and fleets.

The human asked, not really sure if he wanted to know the answer.

-We never used them because we never fought with one another and we had no idea there even were any hidden treasures, beyond what we got from destroying the pirates and even then we didn't have much in the way of defenses.

We mostly relied on our numerical advantage.

She answered.

-Then what happened when some of you got destroyed by pirates?

He asked, almost certain that he already guessed the answer.

-Everyone else helped them rebuild.

Lan said, not believing that she had to answer such simple questions.

Andrew was at a loss for words.

If all the Dranix had the same mindset, then there was a high chance of them getting exterminated or becoming a slave race for others to be exploited.