The Trouble with Tiddlets, Part 3: Difference between revisions

== Story ==

At the start of the conversation, Dr. Swanson informs the player that [[Professor Toppingbury]] has taken a leave of absence due to work-related stress.

Following the player’s help in Part 2 of this contract series, the Institute confirmed how Tiddlets reproduce. While it was already known that [[Hyperspace Shock]] exposure is fatal, a new discovery reveals that in their final moments, Tiddlets form small crystals—objects of great value to the Institute.

Dr. Swanson explains that the Short Hopper is essential for the next research phase, as Tiddlets also reproduce during hops. Due to its high cost, he urges the player to negotiate the price and offers a bonus for successful bargaining.

=== Consequences ===

| Immediate Rescue

| Dr. Martinez is pleased to hear from the player and speaks about his and his brother's recovery. [[Marcus Martinez]] also personally thanks the player. As a gesture of gratitude, Dr. Martinez immediately offers a 50% discount on the ship — no bargaining required or possible.

Right after the ship is purchased, Dr. Swanson contacts the player, amazed by the success. He rewards the player with a $100,000 bonus and expects them to return to the Institute.

| $100,000

| Partial Data

| Dr. Martinez isn’t particularly happy to see the player and explains that things have been tough. His brother has suffered severe radiation burns and has been in and out of the hospital. He subtly implies that the player is responsible for this. Since the player helped build the Hop Drive, Dr. Martinez offers a 20% discount — no bargaining required or possible.

Right after the ship is purchased, Dr. Swanson contacts the player to congratulate them on the good work. He rewards the player with a $40,000 bonus and expects them to return to the Institute.

| $40,000

| Full Data

| Dr. Martinez does not respond to the first or second hail attempts. On the third hail, he answers rather rudely and asks why the player is there. He tells the player that his brother died of radiation poisoning and describes the process in gruesome detail before abruptly ending the call. On the fourth hail, he quickly ends the conversation, stating that the ship is for sale at a price of $1,000,000.

After this, the player may attempt to hail him again, but each unsuccessful hail increases the ship’s price by $100,000, up to a maximum of $1,500,000. Once the price reaches this limit, the player can no longer hail Dr. Martinez.

Right after the ship is purchased — regardless of whether it costs $1,000,000 or $1,500,000 — Dr. Swanson contacts the player, expressing his disappointment. He offers no bonus and expects the player to return to the Institute.

| $0

=== Resolution ===

After acquiring the ship, the player is tasked with pairing it with the Institute’s Tiddlet farm and performing several hops. The player must continue jumping until there are 500 Tiddlets on the farm. At this point, the modified FTL drive is fried, but Dr. Swanson is confident his engineers can repair it. He wants the repaired drive installed directly on the farm ship. The FTL drive on the Short Hopper is then replaced with a conventional FTL drive.

Dr. Swanson then discusses how many crystals can now be produced from a single jump and requests a series of very long-range jumps. The Tiddlet bodies are to be returned to him.

Just then, Professor Toppingbury contacts the player. He insists that the ongoing experiments are morally wrong and that the Tiddlets deserve better than being farmed and slaughtered. He reveals that he was shut out completely and all his clearances have been revoked. He urges the player to make the right choice and tells them where he is hiding, expressing his intention to free all the Tiddlets.

The player is then faced with a crucial choice.

== Paths ==

The player must choose whether to follow through with the Institute’s and Dr. Swanson’s plan, or to side with Professor Toppingbury and help free the Tiddlets.

=== Dr. Magnus Swanson ===

When the ships are lined up for the first jump, Professor Toppingbury hails the player one final time in a desperate attempt to stop them.

If the FTL jump is long enough, half of the Tiddlets die during each jump. Two jumps are sufficient—the second can even be a direct return to the Institute.

Upon delivery of both the dead and surviving Tiddlets, Dr. Swanson contacts the player to congratulate them on a successful operation. He notes that his engineers will soon automate the process.

The player retains the Short Hopper — though without the Hop Drive, as it is being repaired and permanently installed on the Tiddlet farm ship. Finally, Dr. Swanson states that he will be in touch.

As a reward, the player receives $300,000.

=== Prof. Artemis Toppingbury ===

If the player flies to Professor Toppingbury’s hiding place, the professor is relieved and grateful that the Tiddlets have been saved. Together with the player, he helps release all remaining Tiddlets from the farm ship.

Shortly afterward, Dr. Swanson hails the player. Initially concerned by the sudden loss of contact, he becomes horrified when he realizes what the player has done. He threatens serious consequences for both the player and Professor Toppingbury.

Toppingbury, however, remains calm. He assures the player that Swanson is operating entirely outside legal boundaries and holds no official authority. He promises to do his best to keep the Tiddlets safe — even if Swanson attempts to capture more.

The player keeps the Short Hopper — though without the Hop Drive, which remains under Institute control. Before parting ways, Professor Toppingbury tells the player he’ll be in touch if he ever needs help.

No monetary reward is given for this path.

* Even if Dr. Martinez’s ship is destroyed after negotiations fail, the Institute is still required to pay $1,500,000 for the Short Hopper.

* Damaging Dr. Martinez’s ship or the Short Hopper during the breakdown of negotiations has no effect on the outcome.

==See Also==