The trouble with Tiddlets
The trouble with Tiddlets is a story contract that becomes available when the player enters the second sector.
Story
The player is hailed by a Tiddlet Breeder looking to transport 8 Tiddlets and their transport crates to the end of the sector. The breeder has had trouble finding a ship to transport them as the Tiddlets are sensitive and prone to dying of shock when traveling through Hyperspace for longer than 12 seconds.
The breeder claims the Tiddlets are supposed to be female, but that isn't true. During the first Hyperspace jump after accepting the mission, they multiply and continue to do so until the end of the mission. Tiddlets reproduce telepathically, so there is no known way of keeping them from multiplying.
Paths
Humanitarian
If the player delivers the Tiddlets to the sanctuary, they are rewarded with $400,000. If the player delivers a significant amount of Tiddlets, they will also receive two long-range Hyperspace Sensors.
Criminal
A second contract appears after the first jump. If not accepted, the player receives a hail from a Shady Buyer after the second jump. The buyer offers to buy the Tiddlets for a higher price.
If they player delivers to the buyer, they're informed that the Tiddlets are being farmed for food. The breeder will still hail the player in the final system and express their disappointment.
Notes
The route through the sector may require many jumps, resulting in an ever-increasing Tiddlet population. When the player arrives at the last sector of the system, the ship will likely be overrun with Tiddlets. Since each must be delivered to the shuttle separately, delivering this contract can take a significant amount of time. It is advised to ensure sufficient resources are available to keep from becoming stranded or losing passengers and crew.
During the contract, the Sector Map is updated with a green circle around the ship representing the safe jump distance. The number of Tiddlets born after each jump appears to be randomized.