Inside the long corridor that circles the entire Ashira_29's wheel.
All of you foil the weapon-detectors. Then, you don't seem to notice anything unusual about security measures. Just the few cameras, safety doors for emergency cases, etc., that you would expect onboard a space station.
Per Collins' direction, Jay Purr accompanies Tobermory & Forbes and keeps his eyes peeled for the opportunity to do some independent exploration. In particular he takes note of power conduits or other external mechanisms or fixtures that might provide a clue as to the activities taking place inside the segments rented by our four target companies using Knowledge (physical science) and Knowledge (technology) as applicable. If needed, Bluff checks to make it look like he is instead simply seeking the rest room or some such innocuous location.
Jay Purr notices that, of the four suspicious companies, only
Shabu-Avindranath Corp has obviously made heavy installations and rents two segments. The others seem to have more like simple offices (which makes sense for
Shemezgan & Balmers for example). However, don't forget that in the 22nd century, there is much less offices (that is: physical buildings) that there was in the 20th or 21st century. So, the need for a place like this in space probably denotes concerns for being out of legal reach. On the other hand, the desire to have a "temple" in space, can make sense for the
Church of the Scientific Revelation. By the way, Jay notices that they appear to be open to visitors and would-be followers… After all, they could only be glad to have some of the scientists onboard Ashira_29 join their ranks.
Caine Freerover hoping to get some useful information out of the cybershell: "Our ideas are innovative and we are concerned about industrial espionage. We've heard good things about this station, but what kinds of measures do you have in place to prevent people from gaining access to our segment? Are we allowed to install our own security measures as well?"
During the tour Vincent Collins tries to ask a few questions to add to the cover story: "Yes espionage is a concern for our company, have the backgrounds of the other organizations been thoroughly examined?"
The cybershell, replies to you with his emotionless mechanical voice.
- "Don't worry sir, we do have the latest of security measures, especially where electronic espionage is concerned. The station itself being in space is easy to watch over, and has appropriate defenses just in case. You are of course allowed to install additional security measures in your own segment. The other companies have been, indeed, thoroughly examined, and present no danger. Suspicious applicants are rebutted, as it happened once."
Then, the cybershell lets you visit the segment you are supposed to rent. There is nothing really interesting for you to see there. You could install some laboratory, but nothing of real industrial facilities.
Vincent Collins waits until the restaurant to do any interviews with candidates. At an appropriate moment, he pulls the science team members aside: "Perhaps you three should start with the companies involved in nanotechnology and cloning. Find out as much as you can about their work and possible connections to antimatter or plasma related research. I'm sure I don't need to tell you to be discreet."
Once in the restaurant, it's difficult to tell apart who works for which company. You only notice a table with what, probably (where their rather odd garbs are concerned), must be three priests of the
Church of the Scientific Revelation with two visiting followers. Nonetheless, Caine and Christopher recognize a guy whose head they saw once in a biotech congress. It's not a far-fetched idea to think he could work for
Shabu-Avindranath Corp.
What do you do?
