What Do You Mean I'm The Captain Of A Yandere Mercenary Company? Chapter 4 Hacking And Ship Class

Luckily, I discovered the SC hidden next to the pilot's seat, designed as a wristband you could strap on. Once turned on, it projects a holographic display that allows touch-based interaction.

I poked around with the SC's features for a bit and realized that, apart from the typical game menu options which were absent, nearly every other capability remained available.

That works for me.

I fastened it onto my wrist and returned to the pirate vessel, connecting the gadget to their console to pull down their mapping information.

Then it hit me that I had to breach their network and bypass the safeguards to retrieve that info.

Oh damn… If this requires coding skills, I'm in trouble.

Yet fortune seemed to favor me still, as the Codex display shifted to mimic the hacking mini-game I knew from the game.

Across the display, various words and digits were jumbled, with the target word and number shown at the top. To succeed in the mini-game, I simply had to locate the matching word and number amid the clutter to gain access.

[Data Download Successful]

The SC beeped, urging me to disconnect the line from the pirate ship's console.

It didn't even require a full minute. Simple enough~

Next, I brought up the map view, and a stellar system materialized in holographic form before me in the air.

Apparently, the pirates possessed only a chart of the nearby system, depicting one star orbited by four planets.

None of the four planets appeared suitable for life, but a station circled the second planet from the star, labeled 'Keyes Orbital Mining Station.'

By the fourth planet lay an asteroid belt, marked similarly with 'Home Base.' That's probably their pirate lair.

Naturally, I had no intention of attacking it solo, but this detail could prove handy down the line, so I jotted it down mentally for the moment.

Right now, though, the spot marked Keyes Orbital Mining Station caught my attention more.

A mining station in orbit implied inhabitants, and non-pirate folks could provide intel to orient myself. Maybe I'd snag a fuller map to confirm if I remained in the game's world, since I didn't recall this station from the original.

This further suggested I was likely in a different universe altogether, not the game's.

No point in guessing wildly at present, so I figured I'd steer toward the station first.

I activated my SC and synced the pirate ship's controls with mine, turning them into one combined 'vessel' while tethered together.

This method served to move a ship elsewhere, often for towing when one craft malfunctioned. It applied mainly to compact vessels like these.

For my part, I typically employed this to drag damaged foe ships to a base for a fast sale and profit.

And indeed, that was my plan for this pirate craft at the moment.

Having arrived here penniless too, this ought to resolve my cash woes handily.

I wasn't certain if classifications matched the game's, but there ships ranged from A Class (smallest) to F Class.

Subdivisions like A1, A2, or A3 existed for precision, but broadly, these indicated landing space needs.

My ride was a B Class Heavy Fighter, and the pirate one seemed B Class as well, though its exact model escaped me.

I settled into the cockpit and used the fresh pirate map data to plot a route to the habitat station.

The drives hummed to life on both ships, thrusting us toward the station as stars blurred into light trails around us.

I held off until we hit optimal velocity, then fired the engines to accelerate to sub-light. Still, it would take an hour to arrive.

No issue, as that left time to tidy the corpses and strip the pirate ship of valuables.

I stashed the bodies in a spare room, thinking they might carry bounties; I'd have station security scan them for payouts, unlike the game's instant rewards on kills.

As for the ship's contents… Their galley held rations, but… Eh, let's say they lacked flavor.

It was like the grub existed purely for survival, not enjoyment, or perhaps space dulled my palate—I couldn't tell.

Setting that aside, I hunted for onboard cash and was startled to find they used the game's currency.

I grabbed a flat, stick-like gadget reminiscent of outdated thumb drives from my old world, complete with a connector port.

This was a Credit Chip, essentially a drive that held funds.

I never pondered the lore reason everyone used these chips while players kept money on their SC digitally. No need back then…

Perhaps I'd research the backstory later, particularly since my Spacer Codex might be exclusive to me and spark curiosity ahead.

I inserted the Credit Chip into my SC and selected the option to shift the credits directly to my device.

Confirming it succeeded, I scoured the ship for additional chips, draining their contents into my SC.

I pocketed the depleted chips too, unsure of other uses but figuring extras couldn't hurt.

After ransacking the whole vessel, I'd amassed a grand total of two thousand credits!

…

Pathetic, really, with ship upkeep and supplies to consider… It might cover refueling and rearming, but that'd wipe me out.

Ugh, fine… Selling the pirate ship should net enough to offset costs.

With the interior plundered, one spot remained unchecked: their cargo hold.

I'd overlooked it initially, the access panel concealed beneath a heap of tossed garments in the mess area's corner. I stumbled on it purely by chance after tripping and nudging the pile in frustration.

Gripping my blaster and rifle anew, I readied to unseal the cargo hatch, wary of lurking pirates inside.

I wrenched it open and peered down with weapon raised, finding instead a tidy chamber with crates and containers shoved against the walls.

Exhaling in relief at the empty space, I climbed down the ladder to inspect the goods.

The containers weren't secured, so popping them open revealed the cargo easily.

A handful of spare engine power cells… Extra gun rounds… A food crate… Whatever.

These could fetch a few hundred credits, I supposed, better than zilch given my broke state.

I'd hoped pirates meant stolen treasures stashed away, but evidently, my fortune fell short.

I transferred portions of the food, ammo, and cells to my ship for safekeeping, planning to vend the surplus.

With preparations complete, all that stayed was awaiting docking at the mining station.

This interval let me examine the gadget that preserved my life.

I lifted the box into the light, now certain it was a personal shield generator.

It wasn't in the game, unnecessary there with hit points letting you shrug off direct rocket hits if your bar held.

But reality differed… A precise shot to the head could end you. No bars to absorb blows, hence these shield units, I reckoned.

They probably cost a fortune, seeing as only one of five pirates carried it—likely the boss. Or maybe they couldn't buy legit and he looted it? Beats me.

The field absorbed roughly half a magazine from an assault rifle, decent enough, but it warned against soaking endless fire.

Now, did it block close-quarters strikes? Would a fist penetrate, or repel it entirely?

No way I'd test by slugging myself… I'd query it online later if it crossed my mind.

I was securing the shield back to my belt when the cockpit panel chimed, announcing our approach to the orbital mining station.

Hold on… Do they accept outsiders? Do I have any ID?

Damn…

Maybe I ought to log a ship's journal to seem more official… Too late? Screw it, I'll start now.