Month: January 2019

Back in the swing of logistics and economics, I was moving cargo when an agent of my organization approached me. I should note that I’m abnormally cagey about revealing who I work for since I have enemies, they have enemies and I’d would behoove me to avoid openly discussing their habits using pronouns and titles. Suffice it to say, I met with a person and they offered me some work.

Seems a group of pirates, not necessarily aligned with each other, had taken to harassing a nearby system and my name came up in conversation. While the technicians looked over the ‘Augur I carefully considered the contract. I’d done a minor refit two stations back so while my jump range wasn’t as robust as it usually is, my defensive measures were more than adequate. Loaders heaved 70 tons of Gold out onto the dock and with a resounding clunk completed their task. With little else on my plate I accepted all the contracts and set course.

The fight itself was almost boring. Two of the would-be assassins jumped me almost immediately. As though working in tandem they arrived at the Nav Beacon just after me and began their campaign of harassment. My shields, reinforced with some unusual tech I picked up along the way, repelled their attack with such ease I hardly noticed. “Weapons Hot” I called out. Alix, my smart agent and COVAS responded by allocating power from engines to defenses and weapons in equal measure. Laser-fire flared out and railguns hammered one target then the other and amidst the fray transports, explorers and other travellers near the beacon gave us wide berth. Within a minute it was over. Normally I’d feel accomplished but these targets were too easy. So bad at their job they were barely pirates. I noted the idea that this was a setup as I conducted a short-range scan for my other targets.

In all I think I was in-system less than 20 minutes. Quiet work, relative ease and minimal danger. I collected my bounty and loaded more cargo for another hop out-system. Keeping on my toes and moving, keeping trouble a step behind me.

Deep Space is quiet. Treacherous and exciting. Preparing for an expedition beyond the reach of Humanity requires careful planning. No laser will fight off the boredom, no shields will deflect the feelings of loneliness or isolation. You’ve got to prepare your mind. Pack sufficient distractions and enough trappings of home. You’re likely to be out there a while. ~14,000 light-years to the Heart and Soul Nebula. I went, I charted some worlds and scanned many systems. Through this I achieved Elite Exploration and learned a thing or two about myself.

Firstly, I’m no explorer. Too many hours in deep space, too long away from a station with cold beer and a warm bed.

Second, I’m a Python guy. The Krait is a fine ship. Thrusters amenable to landings, adequate maneuverability for asteroid fields. No, there’s nothing wrong with the Krait Mk II. I’m a Python guy.

So once I returned to the bubble I put a word in with a guy I know and trust. He arranged for me to buy a fresh Python in exchange for this well used Krait I was looking to get rid of. I paid a premium for fresh tags and identification codes. Overly cautious but I’m doing everything I can do discourage my pursuers.