So they tell me its a good thing to write stuff down when you need to work things out. Well things have been real crazy. Lets see how did I end up here. Well with everything that has gone wrong in the last year you can take your pick. Actually lets set the stage.
My name is Szerath Blackstone. I was born and raised on the Planet Curacao in the Cortez system. My parents ran a small shop for the tourists and a general store for the locals. Life was not too bad, but its not like we were living high on the hog either. I helped in both stores when I was not going to school. My last year was rough. School did not interest me and the group I was running with, well lets say they were not always doing the right thing. Mom got pretty pissed and Dad just ignored me during that time.
Once I was out of school things changed. I realized that I needed to do something with my life and decided a trade school would be a good idea. I got an appenticeship with the local mechanics guild. I leaned how to maintain small ship engines. I seemed to do well and soon found a job with a small time freighter running supplies to the Spa and cruise site from out-system. I assisted the full time wrench keeping his Firefly in running order.
Now we were a small crew, the owner and pilot Mr. Crasse. My mentor Hanz Shutze and myself. I helped Hanz take care of the ship and with loading / unloading the shipments. Half of the time we only ran stuff to Curacao, so the trips back out were easy. Occasionally we had a passenger or three headed back with us. I got to play cabin boy then. It was nice. The pay was ok. I got to get off world and still saw my parents every few weeks. On the trips into Bretonia or Liberty for cargo I continued my training with Hanz and also learned about trading from Mr. Crasse. He even let me take the helm a few times and taught me about piloting a ship and how to read the star charts. Life was good.
After working for Mr. C for a little over a year I got a message that something had happened to my folks. Seems those stinking Eco-terrorists the Gaians planted several bombs around the settlement. Supposedly to teach those who help the evil cruise and spa folks a lesson. Both my parents were killed in the blast. Our general store was nothing but a hole in the ground. Needless to say I took the news rather badly.
When I got back home I arranged for my parents to be put to rest. Their lawer, called me up after the funeral and told me that they had a will and had left everything to me. He informed me that they had sold the other store earlier on in the year and put all the money in an account that was now mine. I told him I was leaving and wanted to get rid of all of my ties to Curacao. He said he would take care of it. I told him I would contact him once I got where I was going.
Even then I was not real sure where that was going to be. I hopped back aboard with Mr. C and headed back out into Liberty space. We grabbed some luxury good in Cali and then headed off to New York.
As you can see I jumped ship here in Manhattan. I gave my best to Hanz and MR. C but told them it was time for me to move on. I called the lawyer, got my money and decided to consume as much of it in alcohol as I could. Did a pretty good job of it to. I went on a bender that lasted months. Towards the end of it after trying to take on a couple of Gaian sympathizers in a port bar they threw me in jail for a few days to sober up. That when thing went from bad to worse. I got the crap kick out'a me several times and decided that it was all done. A rough edge of a drinking cup and I though it would all soon be over.
As you can see that was not the case. Into the ward for me. I guess I needed it. I do feel better and not a drop of alcohol in over 6 months. They say I am a lot better. Which is true. I still want to see those Eco bastards burn but its not as all consuming as it was. So here I am on Manhattan. I have enough money to buy me a small ship. I think its time to start living again. Who knows where Ill land, or what I will do. I guess tomorrow we find out. Tomorrow the discharge me and Ill head over to the ship dealer, then to the bar, not for a drink but for a job. After that the skys the limit.
So lets see, it's been a few weeks since I have writen anything down. I got out of the "facility" and found myself a cheep place to stay. The next day it was off to the ship dealer to get a starflier. They are not the best but they are the cheapest. A quick hop over to the equipment dealer and then to a terminal to check the job boards. I see I will be trying to hold off the Rogue menace for a while. My main goal it to save up for a trip back to Bretonia and grab a Firefly for some good trade runs. For now it's time to go scare off some rogues.
~break~
Well that was a pain. This Flier is just not gonna cut it. Ok revise my plan and I'll get a better ship to run these missions with. After 3 runs in the last few days only having 3 guns is crap. And why do they always have to hang out in the ice fields or the junk flows. It's hard enough dodging laser fire without being worried about slamming into an Ice riod. Oh well, on more run and I'll be able to upgrade to a Liberty Pat. 4 guns should do alot better against these rogues then just two. Well time for some shut eye before back into space.
~break~
So the Pat seems to do a whole lot better then the Flier. Took me down a few groups out in colorado this week. I also ran into (literally) a nice trader named Eagle Eye. Looks like he was running a Clyde trader, Not a bad ship. I may work my way through one of those on my way to the FF. Yeah I bumped the poor guy trying to get into a lane. We were both trying to get out the of wat from some pirates that seemed to be asking for donations between West point and Manhattan. Thankfully we were too small a fish to bother with. Remind me to get out of New York before I start trading. The Security aournd here is horrible. Maybe I'll scout over in Bretonia before I start running goods. Man I need to start working with some of the trading guilds. While the Liberty police love me, I need to get out there and start working for some of the other Corps. Get my name out there and on the books. Maybe I'll get deals later on. Mr C always said that hlf of trading was networking. Someone will buy alot more from you if you knew them. Oh well need to run down to the equipment dealer. Hopefully my new thruster is in. I need that before I can head back out again. Will check in later and write some more when I get back.
Another set of Rogues downed and another bounty in the bank. Although I found out that trying to get their pilots back for incarceration is a no, no. I got stopped by the Lib Police and told to drop them. Seems the Bounty Hunter Guild is the only folks allowed to tractor in pods. Dang man thats another 1k+ credits. Seems it's gonna take longer then I thought to get that freighter.
~break~
Well got an interesting tip by listening to the system wide com net. Seems there is a silver field in Colorado. After I collect my payment on this newest mission I may have to check that out. Write more later
~Break~
Man mining at Silverton can be rough. Dodgin Xeno's, who can peel the shields right off my ship. Twice I had to duck back into the station there to let the Navy handle them. Thank God they keep a few Cap ships in the area. Once the Xenos were gone I filled up my hold and headed off to Cali system. Not a bad haul but not sure if it is worth heading out there for an extra 100 credits. Think the next run I'll drop it at Manhattan instead.
~Break~
Alright! Nice quick runs between Silverton and Manhattan and I almost have enough to get my Rhino and out fit it. Athough I think I'm gonna save a tad bit more for a heavy thruster. I think I'll need it. One side note I was over at Cali minor a bit ago and wandered into the ship dealer to see what they had in stock. Some nice transports that I may want to think about, but man that Arrow was sweet. Sleek and mean looking. It only mounts 2 guns but since it's a new design it can mount the hight class stuff. Grab one of those head over to BS Missouri and get a two of the top end lasers and man you could rack up some nice bounties with that. I wonder if they would allow me to take it for a test flight.
Oh well back to reality. Time to go make the last few runs so I can get my freighter and start making some real cash. Been looking at trade routs. Thinking of heading back into Bretonia space. Looks like the run from New london to the old home planet would be fairly safe and turn a profit untill I can get bigger and better ship.
Wow talk about a few luck breaks. I picked up my Rhino and decided to head back over to the Silverton fields. Those hauls quickly filled the coffers. Within a few days I have enough money to buy a Clydesdale.
Time to head out to New London and see what fortunes I can make.
~break~
Well I am finally in New London. I have a nice shiny new Clydesdale and a hold full of goods. Funny how things are comming full circle. I am making the same run MR C would make from here to Curacao. It's not a bad run and the profit is pretty good for a short 3 system hop. Well off I go.
~break~
Wow this place has changed since I have been gone. All new faces. The cruise loved my cargo and I made a nice tidy bit. Time to head back to London and restock and come back.
~break~
ARRGGGG! Fracken outcasts!. Trashed everything. Thank god I have insurance but I still lost over 30K in cargo and 75K in profits. I'm thinking I may need to buy a fighter that I can take out every once in a while. Wonder if I should run part time for the BHG or go freelance. Speaking of guilds I need to make some contacts here soon. Running without affiliation can cause issues, being good friends for the Libery Police will not help me out here in Bretonia and the Indi systems.
These systems are just not as protected as I thought they were. Today I almost got killed trying to launch from New London. Mollys were every where and not one Police or Navy ship so be seen. My ship was lost and 125k worth of cargo. It's no wonder the bounty hunters guild has such a strong following. Cruising through the Indi wsystems I can understand but right at New London. These criminals are getting realy bad on these runs. I'm thinking I may want to get into the protection end of these situations. You can not fight back in a freighter. The guns are more like an after thought and you are in no way gonna survive an encounter if you try to fight back. Your better off spending your money on better thrusters.
After almost gettng killed at launch I only had enough money for a cheeper Luxary food run to Manahttan to try and recoup some cash. I think I'll be saving for a fighter and need to start looking into the BHG. Atleast then i can fight back and make a differance. I spotted the Sea serpent on Curocao last time I was there. Was a sharp little fighter. May have to investigate it more. Well off I go to Manhattan. hope this goes well this is the last of my cash.
Whew finally back. Man those were some good runs. 4 back to back runs made for a long set of trips but a very profitable. A few more sets like that and I can see having to rent a storage berth for a new fighter. This way I can atleast get some retirbution on some of these dang system rats. I need to also start thinking about what the next trader I want is going to be. Those Fireflys are nice but 38 mil is pricey...thats gonna take a while to do with my Clydesdale. I may want to move into a an intyerum ship or two instead of trying to shot from a Clyde to a Firefly. I'll have to think on that.
Side note I am really glad they taught me about keeping these journals. Also keeping busy has kept me out of the bars. *Uness ofcourse I am looking for work. Maybe I got luck and that self destructive streak is gone.
I'm still trying to work on gaining a better rep with the shipping companies. It's not easy to do. Since I d onot have a fighter I can't go hunting for it...so I have to use credits ...that takes more doing. Oh well time for some dinner then off to bed. Gotta hit the Broker tomoorw to see what he's got and then it's off on another set of runs.
Well a brand new Camara is mine. Not all that cheep but well worth it. That hold down there is big enough to park a Rhino. Now I can make some nive profitable runs. Think I may have hit on a few new routs too. They are on the longer side but well worth the credits. I also need to pick a few crew members now. This ship is much bigger then my old Clyde.
It's also time to start speading the wealth a bit as it were so I can inprove my rep around the systems. I need to start looking really hard on who I want to work for. Being a free agent is all nice and good, but you have to pick and scratch real hard. If I'm in with one of the bigger corps then I can get some inside help and have access to the more profitable runs.
Well time to test this baby out. She even still has that new ship smell...ahhh. We'll see how she handles the run from hamburg back to New london.