Entry#: 001
Date: 12 - 06 - 817 AS @ 15:04 SUT
Title: First entry!
Well, I've never had one of these before but I figure now that I have a proper transporter to fly it would be a good, idea in case this log and some charred remains end up being all that's left of me.
I decided to name the ship "Alsatia", which means "a place where law cannot reach". I think it fits quite well, considering both the people I bought it from and what I intend to do with it.
I'm going to be heading out into the Omicron Border worlds with a supply of Superconductors for the Outcasts. I've had plenty of dealings with them before but only once in their sovereign territory - I hope they don't take offence. I'll be smuggling cardamine back into Liberty space on the return, which I've been told is pretty dangerous if you're not careful. I'll probably end up paying for an escort or something, I'm not up to shooting things down when I can barely manage the basic controls by myself.
I've set this log to record everything in standardised universe time, too. No point recording to Manhattan days if I'm in Omega-whatever.
Entry#: 002
Date: 25 - 06 - 817 AS @ 08:34 SUT
Title: Land!
It's been almost 2 weeks without setting foot on solid ground. I've made it to the Outcast home world and thankfully they are appreciative of my cargo. It was actually a very quiet trip - to the point of being boring. I did encounter IMG vigilantes as I'd feared, but they seem only to be interested in the Outcasts themselves. I was warned if I came back with "spice" I'd get the same treatment - that just means a little detour is in order.
I've been told by some Outcast higher-ups that I'm welcome to become a regular shipper for their cause. Although I'm not terribly fond of criminal gangs the opportunity is simply outstanding. If I work regular trips I can have the ship paid for in under a year... and that's a pretty big chunk of credits.
I'll be taking the detour through Kusari space. I've heard of the Hogosha and their ties to the Kusari navy and police, but if I keep off the trade lanes I should be fine.
Entry#: 003
Date: 27 - 06 - 817 AS @ 23:42 SUT
Title: Things just got really messed up
Things have gone terribly wrong for me now - I'm not sure what to say first - I'll just type everything out and sort it later.
I was flying through the Kusari system of Kyushu. I was way outside the civilised areas inside a heavy gas cloud which messed up my scanners pretty well. It had been a quiet flight up till then, no sign of the IMG that had pestered me earlier. I had stopped the ship to plot a course into the computer when out of nowhere a Kusari navy patrol showed up. I just about had a heart attack - my ship was sitting there, completely vulnerable and I had no way of defending myself.
The navy ships opened the comms. and told me to sit still, I replied saying that I was surrendering and I had no intention of running or fighting. The navy commander told me to open the cargo bay and eject the cardamine canisters I was carrying. At this point I didn't think I had a choice so I obliged. Sure, it was bad that I had lost most of my earnings for the month, but the officers seemed reasonable.
The cardamine was sent into space and I was told to leave immediately. I had begun to manoeuvre my ship when, out of the blue haze, a large train-like ship emerged. I watched the ship collect the contraband I had dropped seconds ago. I thought that strange, as usually contraband is destroyed on site.
I was about to ask what was going on when, over the comms; I heard "kill her", emanating from the unknown ship. I immediately panicked, hit the thrusters and tried to slink into the haze as quickly as possible. But it was no good. The agile fighters the navy possessed easily caught up with me and begun pelting my ship with cannon fire.
Although I had powerful shield generators on board I knew they wouldn't last forever. I aimed my ship in the direction of the sun, which I knew would lead me close to the planet Kyushu. I set the autopilot and jumped to the fore control station. I had never actually used it before, but thankfully I had learnt the theory behind its' use during my spare time.
I had opened fire on the navy ships, and although my accuracy was shocking, I was, at least, intimidating them to the point of backing off a bit. The unknown ship had vanished, presumably taking my cardamine somewhere safe.
I noticed something about my ship at that time - the shield generator and weapons power generator are one and the same. If I fired, I lost shields, and vice-versa. I was running out of batteries when, to the starboard side of my ship, a barrage of laser fire poured down onto the navy ships. Quickly checking my scanners revealed a total of 9 new ships, all seemingly on my side. With the attention of the navy ships turned from me I could afford to fire my own weapons liberally. In the next 10 minutes all 3 of the navy vessels would be destroyed.
The cardamine was gone, but I was still alive and - more importantly - my ship had not so much as a scratch on it. The extra credits I had laid down for that generator seemed totally worth it now.
The comms. flared up again, and a female voice enquired if I was OK. To that I replied something along the lines of "I am fine", but using far more colourful language. The other pilot identified herself as being a member of a group called the 'Golden Chrysanthemums', who I had only vaguely heard of in the occasional news report. She offered me an escort to their base, which I accepted.
Before leaving the site, I, by chance, looked over the scanners again and found an escape pod belonging to the pilot of one of the navy ships. My panicked state gave way to a want of revenge, so I decided collecting this man and returning with him to the GC base was a good way of getting it.
I'm writing all this from the docking bays of Ainu Depot, a small station run by the GC in Hokkaido. I think I'll be staying here for a few days - I feel like giving a bit back to these Kusari "lawfuls" who stole my cardamine.
Entry#: 004
Date: 28 - 06 - 817 AS @ 02:14 SUT
Title: Revenge
After getting everything back in order it was time to get my revenge on the Kusari state. Myself and a handful of GC fighter pilots left Ainu and headed for Sapporo station. It was there we would perform the good old smash-and-grab, that being the GC wreak as much havoc as possible and I would scavenge any useful items left behind and high-tail it back to Ainu.
The target station was completely enveloped in the same gas cloud that obscured Ainu, and as such we were basically invisible to electronics until we were just about on top of the station. The GC ships targeted and quickly destroyed a transport which was moored at the station, some of its cargo was destroyed but there were two intact containers left, which I picked up whilst the GC dealt with the escorts. Another transport stumbled into scanner range, the GC pilots disengaging and quickly disposing of that ship too.
I noticed that, although the cabin and engines of the second transport were destroyed, the main chassis was intact. Thinking quickly I hooked it up with the tractor beam and towed the hulk into the purple mist as fast as the ship would manage. I shouted over our private comms to disengage since I had already a full cargo bay and excellent loot. Together myself and the GC ships fled into the gas cloud and set course for Ainu base. We returned with close to 350 tons of useful cargo in my bays, and a heavily damaged Albatross-class transport complete with its own full load. The GC congratulated me very well that day, and I was now accepted as one of their own - despite my having blonde hair. I actually think they liked me a bit too much - some of their clan are getting awfully friendly.