Before I even get started, I want to make clear... I know this is a stretch. But still.

Shara's ability says:

When another friendly ship at Range 1-2 is attacking, it may treat your blue target lock tokens as its own.

Could you argue that this counts as acquiring a target lock the moment you commence your attack? Could you then trigger Dutch or Weapons Engineer?

No.You don't aquire a target lock, you just get to use it.

Using something isn't the same as aquiring something.

If Dutch didn't use the TL then Shara would clearly be the one holding onto it so Dutch never "acquired" anything. I mean the TL is still with Shara even if someone else happens to be able to use it.

I understand the difference between acquiring and using. But the specific wording of the card is interesting. You may treat Shara's blue target lock tokens as your own. It doesn't say that other ships may simply use your locks. Therefore, you may play the game as if the blue token is on Dutch - in a virtual sense, he has acquired the blue token, or at least you play the game and treat all aspects of ot as if he had the lock.

Unless "acquire" is formally defined somewhere (I can't read the rules at present since I'm on my phone) then I'm not sure by what rule it wouldn't work.

FWIW, rules as intended, I think you're both right. Rules as written though, it seems ambiguous to me.

Dutch's ability only triggers when he acquires a target lock and the steps for acquiring a lock are well defined on page 3 of the rules. And he didn't acquire the target lock if it's already in play (on Shara's ship). Being able to treat it as his own during an attack does not mean he acquired it.

He hasn't acquired the blue token. It's not even assigned to him. It's just available for him to use when he's attacking, either to launch ordnance or to reroll dice during his modify attack dice step.

Looked again - turns out acquiring is pretty well defined.

Oh well, I knew it was a long shot.

Sometimes, Rules As Intended and Rules As Written actually agree. Who knew?

Sometimes, Rules As Intended and Rules As Written actually agree. Who knew?

Its the number of times that they don't that spurs questions like this.