Chief Engineer Nellis
Chief Engineer Nellis is a Command officer who maintains the station’s machinery from the Lower Levels and drops by for food, beer and snacks. The game files hold four visits for him, scheduled for days 21, 25, 29 and 33, but the 0.46D code never calls the routine that starts them, so he may not show up in play.
Who is Nellis?
He introduces himself as “The Chief Engineer” and says you can just call him Nellis. He is glad to see the shop open again, since he struggled to find snacks after the previous shopkeeper vanished. He explains that most of the station’s essential machinery is in the Lower Levels, and he has little patience for Corporate Representatives and Upper-Level Councilors. He is a Lower Level Citizen for faction purposes and cannot be shot.
When does Nellis visit?
The code defines a fixed schedule, with the storyline starting on day 21:
| Day | He wants | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Food and treats | 120 credits |
| 25 | Treats and alcohol | 140 credits |
| 29 | Sells you broken modules | none (he sells) |
| 33 | Treats and alcohol | 160 credits |
The method that queues these four visits exists in the game’s customer manager, but nothing in the 0.46D code calls it. We could not confirm in play that the visits happen. If they do, they are fixed to those days and do not depend on your choices.
What does Nellis buy and sell?
- Buys: snacks, drinks and treats. On his second visit he asks for “beer or snacks”.
- Sells (day 29): three Corrupted Module and two Ruined Module items, which he replaced during repairs. They are placed on the counter for you to buy.
Nothing in his visits records a reward, a reputation change or a branching choice. His dialogue is background: on day 25 he defends the Captain, saying quality of life has improved and there have been no major armed conflicts since the Captain took command; on day 33 he complains about the Upper Level Councilors after a meeting with Command.
FAQ
Is Nellis a story character with a quest?
No. His four visits are shopping scenes with background dialogue. There is no choice or ending tied to him in the code.
Why have I never seen Nellis?
In version 0.46D the routine that schedules his visits is never called, so the visits may simply not trigger.
What do the modules he sells do?
See the modules guide for how modules work.