Funny USS I encountered

Queebatron · Aug 20, 2014

I can't remember what system I was in, but it was probably an anarchy one. Anyway, I lock on to a USS and when I come out of Supercruise, I see a bunch of white dots on the radar and a lone NPC Cobra. Keeping an eye on the Cobra in case it should go hostile I see that the containers are all of toxic waste. Then I see that the radar blip for the Cobra has disappeared. I get in close for a visual and the Cobra has apparently gone into silent running mode because sure enough, it's there, but not on my radar at all.

I sit there and look at it for a bit when suddenly it explodes (I presume due to heat buildup). I guess he really didn't want me to see him dumping the toxic waste, eh?

Rhaedas · Aug 20, 2014

Guess the NPC didn't read the threads on running silent and know to kill his drive as well.

Hermit · Aug 20, 2014

LOL! I've never seen that one. Is there a Greenpeace in Elite that we can contact?

ConquerorUK · Aug 20, 2014

I've seen this twice. 1st time i shot the cobra & destroyed it

2nd time yesterday, i just jump out. I'm guessing the radioactivity from the toxic waste ate away at the hull of the cobra killed the Pilot & caused the ship to explode

Jackie Silver · Aug 20, 2014

If you scoop the cans, you'll find it's as nasty as you'd expect. Though some people want the stuff...

Tempered · Aug 20, 2014

If you pick up the toxic waste, you will find out what happened to the cobra. Incidentally, you can sell the toxic waste to the Dangerous Waste hauler that you find at some USS's. He buys them for around 96 credits I believe.

Queebatron · Aug 21, 2014

Tempered said:
If you pick up the toxic waste, you will find out what happened to the cobra. Incidentally, you can sell the toxic waste to the Dangerous Waste hauler that you find at some USS's. He buys them for around 96 credits I believe.

Yeah, I've run into that guy... 96cr per can doesn't really seem worth the hassle.

floher · Aug 21, 2014

Looks like that:

I actually assumed it's supposed to be a derelict cobra. Didn't notice any signs of silent running.

Queebatron · Aug 21, 2014

floher said:
Looks like that:

I actually assumed it's supposed to be a derelict cobra. Didn't notice any signs of silent running.

What signs would those be? And if it's just a derelict, why would it just blow up like that--too long in the proximity of the toxic waste or something?

Rog · Aug 21, 2014

This scenario behave differently now too...

If you shoot the Cobra, you get a bounty penalty for 'ASSAULT OF NO PILOT - DERELICT'. Destroying the Cobra gets you a penalty for 'MURDER OF NO PILOT - DERELICT'.

After that, I had to log off and meditate on the deep existential question of whether a 'no pilot' can be harmed or not.

Reminded me of the 'no tea' in the Hitchhikers game.