Dara Kesh has a more serious job this time. Contraband that needs to cross an empire border — from Nebula space into Solarian territory. The customs ships will be watching.
Dialog
Offer
Last time was a warmup. This time, we cross a line — literally.
I need void dust delivered to Sol. Confederacy Central Command, right in the heart of Solarian space. The research departments there pay triple for it, but the customs patrols at the border make it difficult to deliver through... official channels.
Every empire has customs ships watching their borders. They scan incoming traffic, and if they find contraband, they seize it and fine you. The Solarians are thorough. The Voidborn are unsettling. The Nebula are bureaucratic. The Crimson are blunt.
But here's the thing — there's a way into every empire if you know where to look. Every empire except the Crimson Pact. Nobody gets past the Rampart. Not through normal channels, anyway.
For Sol, your best bet is to study the patrol patterns. Customs ships can only be in one system at a time. A fast ship helps. Some ships resist scans better than others. And your own skill at evading detection improves with practice.
Or you could find a back door. Epsilon Eridani, for instance — nobody watches that crossing too closely.