John Barleycorn's Revenge

The following is a brief summary and an explanation of what requirements you need to meet in order to get the event to fire. This event's requirements are spoiler tagged as they involve a decision being made in another Freakshow event in order for this one to occur. Further details are provided but they contain spoilers. Don't read them unless you really want to know exactly what happens in the event.

Summary:

An old crew member says hello.

Event Trigger Requirements:

WARNING: SPOILERS

• Freakshow was fired during the event "Seeing Pink Elephants"
• Mech Tech skill at least 3
• The Argo is in a system controlled by the Local Government faction
• A MechWarrior in your crew has the Lucky tag and is uninjured

Event Details:

WARNING: SPOILERS

Blaring klaxons interrupt an otherwise quiet morning routine as several fast-moving ships appear, pacing the Argo. Darius broadcasts their hail to the bridge.

"Hello again, <First Name>. This is Freakshow, remember me? You fired me. Tossed me out like garbage. Well now you're flying through my space, and you'll have to pay. Don't try anything, pay up, and no one gets hurt. I know full well that Sumire is itching to try a last-minute rapid fire-up of the Leopard, so don't even try it. I'll be just as happy to collect 'mechs from your debris cloud as I will collecting c-bills from your account. Your call commander."

While you consider your options, Sumire pipes up. "Commander, I'm still willing to try the rapid fire-up of the Leopard. Just say the word."

SERIOUSLY, MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD. CLICK HERE FOR FULL BREAKDOWN OF EVENT OPTIONS

Option A - (Requirement: Company has at least 250,000 C-Bills) "Pay them off.":

Swallowing your pride, you approve the payment to Freakshow. The look of disappointment on Sumire's face echoes that of the rest of the bridge crew.

Adding insult to injury, Freakshow's voice over the bridge speaker drips with satisfaction. "A pleasure doing business with you, <First Name>. Don't be a stranger."

As Freakshow's ships disappear into the starry distance, it's not the first time you find yourself wishing that the Argo was a battleship...

Result:

• Company C-Bills reduced by 200,000
• Morale reduced by 2

Option B - "Stall until the Leopard is ready.":

You try to talk Freakshow down, stalling while Sumire gets the Leopard warmed up. Just as promised, he is ready when the Leopard leaps free from its docking collar on the side of the Argo and the pirate ships open fire immediately with lasers and PPCs, inflicting heavy damage. Within seconds, Sumire is able to acquire a firing solution and several LRM salvos impact Freakshow's ramshackle fleet, destroying them utterly.

As the damage control teams call in, Yang reports heavy damage to the MechBay that will cost a pretty penny to repair and Doc reports a few casualties in the MedBay, including <MechWarrior>, who is suffering from severe burns and decompression sickness.

Result:

• MechWarrior with pilot tag: Lucky gains 2 injuries
• Company Mech Tech skill reduced by 4 for 21 days
• Company C-Bills reduced by 50,000

Option C - (Requirement: Reputation 40 (Friendly) or higher with Local Government) "Broadcast for help from the system authorities.":

Darius sends an SOS, and you set about buying time until help arrives.

Just as Freakshow begins to lose patience, several interceptors bearing the colors of the local authorities arrive on the scene. Without even broadcasting a hail, they open fire on the little flotilla. Soon, nothing but a silently expanding debris field is left to commemorate a MechWarrior named Freakshow.

It was always going to end like this.

Result: None