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So here are the options:
>disassemble and reverse engineer the courier drone: you lose the ship but you are guaranteed DRONE FLEET completion next turn.
You wonder if this may leave you vulnerable to accusations of intellectual property violation later... but perhaps by then you can just dispatch your shiny new drone fleet to disassemble them
>send some emissary to purchase / bid for access to drone technology openly at an exhibition or consortium gathering of hypercorporation buyers.
This is a slower, but legitimate route. The Isonomy would not challenge this. The bid process may be long and convoluted. There is the drawback that rival commercial entities will be aware and compete against you. It is potentially quite expensive. You think you would be best advised to hire a lot of accompanying support (QM: consider appropriate assets you might need...) to scrutinise any offered contract... It may also be advisable to project an appearance of tremendous wealth and stature, to communicate the merit of your bid. It is also very important to send an appropriate delegation on your side... of sufficient rank to seem that this is a serious undertaking and consideration, but not so high ranking that it appears you are desperate for access etc. They should also possess the technical expertise to evaluate the capability provided. What sort of functionary within Archonal Grid Systems might oversee this...? (QM: happy for you to invent an NPC etc)
of course, there is the option to
>dispatch ZEALOTS
>covertly purchase drone fleet tech via black market traders
This is fast and surprisingly cheaper route, and if done correctly cannot be traced back to you, as the trader acts as an intermediary for technologies unauthorised by the Isonomy. To others it will appear that the tech was legitimately sanctioned and developed, but it may carry its own complications... as the black market traders may demand some form of unusual recompense. You strongly suspect it involves bribes paid towards various bureaucratic entities involved in technology approval.
QM: meanwhile... let us also see how our favourite space druid is getting along...
