Contract: Difference between revisions

=== The Trouble with Tiddlets ===

{{Main|The Trouble with Tiddlets}}

The Trouble with Tiddlets is a four-part story contract arc centered around the discovery, research, and ethical controversy of a mysterious lifeform known as the [[Tiddlet]]s. In Parts 1 and 2, the player assists with initial tests and containment efforts. In Part 3, it is revealed that Tiddlets produce valuable crystals when exposed to [[Hyperspace Shock]], prompting the [[Institute for Interstellar Lifeforms]] to establish a farm ship and request the player’s help acquiring a [[Short Hopper]] — a vessel equipped with a [[Hop Drive]]. The player’s choices directly influence the ship’s price and the outcome. After collecting hundreds of Tiddlets, the player must make a crucial moral decision: support Dr. Swanson’s exploitation plan or assist Professor Toppingbury in freeing the creatures. In Part 4, the Tiddlet farm suffers a catastrophic failure, and the player rescues surviving scientists before the ship is destroyed. Regardless of prior decisions, two Tiddlets remain aboard the player’s ship — a permanent reminder of the choices made and the unresolved ethical questions surrounding their treatment.