Ray Hoffman Journal Entry #021: April 1st 815A.S. Loc: Planet Malta age: 19
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Another day, another cycle in this boring routine called life. Why bother writing this stupid journal anymore? Everyday is the same thing; I play with friends and help with the family plantation. My parents see this as the good life but I see this as a reoccurring hell. Everyday my genius is wasted on such trivial matters such as a game of catch, what I really should be doing is commanding a squadron of fighters or even a capital ship. Alas, my poor familys status ruins any chance I have of such an honor.
Sometimes I wish I could just run away from it all
Ray Hoffman Journal Entry #022: April 2nd 815A.S. Loc: Planet Malta age: 19
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Today was the last straw, those idiots dont deserve to call someone as ingenious as me, friend. While I was reading they decided to entertain themselves by running through my familys plantation playing a game of tag. Tag!? Running!? These are not things a genius would partake in, let alone be associated with the simpletons that do.
I believe I will get more reading done tomorrow.
Ray Hoffman Journal Entry #023: April 3rd 815A.S. Loc: Planet Malta age: 19
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I never thought the day would come, but it has! A Maltese Naval Ship codenamed the MNS-Calamity has docked near this plantation. While reading and cursing the ever-boring grey skies of this planet I was granted my wish, almost godlike, the grey ceilings of my world were shattered by the docking procedure of the aforementioned ship. Apparently the ship is a dreadnaught class capital with a crew of 500, which means I might possibly be able to sneak onboard.
This is it, if I can make it aboard this ship I can cast off the bonds of this routine life and live my dream! Tomorrow morning I will take only the clothes on my back and board the ship unnoticed and when we undock and are in the midst of battle, dazzle them with my tactile genius!
Ray Hoffman Journal Entry #024: April 4th 815A.S. Loc: MNS-Calamity age: 19
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I cant believe it, my genius surprises even me. When trying to sneak aboard the ship I noticed the loading dock crew was using photo ID keycards to move belongings on and off the ship, yet soldiers were able to come and go. So I pretended to be a local loading crew member and stole a soldiers trunk off of the loading dock. I then proceeded to change into the soldiers uniform and walk onboard the Calamity without a single incident.
These idiots wont survive without my help if this is the extent of their defense.
Ray Hoffman Journal Entry #025: April 5th 815A.S. Loc: MNS-Calamity , jail age: 19
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I was sloppy today. While wandering around looking for a room to sleep I stumbled upon the captains quarters. I should have known better but my thirst for knowledge got the better of me, I entered the room. While looking around I saw, on the captains desk, a pile of commendations and medals. Sadly, while I was enthralled at the sight of such prestigious medals, the captain came back and caught me red handed, I panicked and put the medals in my pocket. After they captured me they took me in for questioning when I couldnt produce any ID.
The captain was a lot quicker than I expected, he managed to see through my lies almost instantly. When the truth of the matter finally came out and I told the captain I wished to be a tactician on his ship he gave me a quick response.
An escorted trip to the jail.
Ray Hoffman Journal Entry #026: April 6th 815A.S. Loc: MNS-Calamity , bunks age: 19
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Everything went as I planned; the captain knew that if word got out of a civilian sneaking aboard his capital ship he would get in trouble. In the morning he came to my cell and offered me work and sleeping accommodations aboard the ship for my silence, I gladly accepted. Tomorrow morning I will get to work, I wonder what I get to do
Tactician Squad commanderOh there are too many possibilities, I cannot sleep.
Ray Hoffman Journal Entry #027: April 7th 815A.S. Loc: MNS-Calamity , bunks age: 19
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That captain thinks he is so smart. Today was a great insult to my genius. I dont even know where to begin. Upon waking I was told to go to the control room for debriefing, little did I know I was going to get debriefed personally by the captain. When I entered the control room the captain walked up to me and handed me a bucket and mop then proceeded to explain how to tactically defeat grime, does he know who he is messing with? He thinks that he is smart? He thinks that he is funny? HA! Little did he know that by insulting me I was going to make him squirm.
Although the task of cleaning was humiliating enough I made sure to clean every inch of the hanger to gain a clue as to how I am going to humiliate that man back. I was afraid being so thorough would be a tip off to the captain but upon inspecting my work he made a crack about how I should be a doctor since I sterilized the area and gave me the notably clever nickname Doc Hoff.
Little did that simpleton know I had actually stumbled across 2 very interesting pieces of literature. A decommissioned fighters list and a Sabre control manual. Tomorrow I will show the captain who the smart one is. My plan is to steal the broken sabre in hanger 2, it is missing a breather but according to specs it still has oxygen so I dont see what is wrong with it. Let us see that funny captain joke his way out of explaining a missing fighter. Maybe when they notice my genius in the flawless execution of this plan they will let me be in the crew.
Ray Doc Hoff Journal Entry #028: April 8th 815A.S. Loc: Stolen Sabre, tau-37 age: 19
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I wish I could see the look on that idiots face. He dared clash heads with me and for that I showed him total defeat. I am currently in tau-37, surveillance of the area shows a jump hole to tau-23 but right now I am laying low in an ice belt to avoid any outcast patrols. Hopefully tomorrow I can find an Outcast base to land on and look to sign up for a squadron, this way I have a chance to show off my brilliant tactical prowess.
Ray Doc Hoff Journal Entry #029: April 9th 815A.S. Loc: Stolen Sabre, tau-23 age: 19
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Today was anexciting day. When I woke up this morning I felt ill. I had a bed headache and I couldnt keep my rations down. On top of that I had to run to the tau-23 system because while trying to eat I noticed an Outcast patrol on my scanners. I think they are looking for me because they searching every inch of the ice fields. I cant believe I never thought of that. Of course they are going to search for me, I stole an Outcast military ship. I saw a jump gate to Tau-31 so I will make sure to plot that just in case I need to run and lay low. I have stopped in the asteroid belt beside the gate, brilliantly tactful idea if I do say so myself.
Ray Doc Hoff Journal Entry #030: April 10th 815A.S. Loc: Holman Outpost, tau-31 age: 19
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I have been so blind. Why did I focus upon intellect, no one is all knowing. I gave up friends because I felt they insulted my intellect when really my intellect insulted them. As you can tell today has been a day to make me reflect. While hiding in the asteroid field near the Tau-31 jump gate I noticed the same Outcast patrol from yesterday was coming at me through the fields. I had to run. I managed to gain some distance and get through the Tau-31 jump gate. Upon entering the system I docked at the nearest station, Holman Outpost. Good thing I did too, this mysterious illness was starting to affect my flying skills and Holman Outpost just happens to sell medication, perfect! Oh, upon consuming the medicine I realized I had no credits, while furiously digging through my pockets I found some medals. I believe they were the captains. Managed to sell them for about 100,000 credits profit by the time you deduct the medicines cost and the H-fuel for my ship.
Tonight I am sleeping in the Holman Outpost hanger, I have a feeling the patrols arent too far away yet so I will play it safe. Very smart idea, if I do say so myself.
Ray Doc Hoff Journal Entry #031: April 11th 815A.S. Loc: Leeds? age: 19
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The medicine.It doesnt workThis illness might be the death of me. How ironic that my death will be my birthday. I wish I could see my family one last timewish I could take all the mean things I said backI at least wish I could have told them I loved them. I left without so much as a warning, the least I could have done was told themAre they worried about me? Are they relieved I am gone?...hmmmAll the things in life become so clear when your life is fleeting. If I live I am going to be nice and honorableI will be a great tacticianI will work for my dream, instead of just trying to force my way into it.
I can barely fly anymore so right now the ship is navigating me to the nearest friendly base, I hope it brings me to some place well equipped for illnesses, unlike HolmanI dont want to dieI cant dieI must at least return back to Malta I cant leave things the way I left them.im sorry everyone.im sorry.
Ray Doc Hoff Journal Entry #032: April 12th 815A.S. Loc: Magellan age: 20
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Shipautopilotwhere, where am I? I seefightingis that a Lane Hacker ship?fighting Bounty Hunters?...am I going to die here?...hmph..some birthday.unidentified ship coming closer.comm channel open?I cant see his faceeverything is going blackplease help me
Everyone.
I...am.sorry
Ray Doc Hoff Journal Entry #033: April 15th 815A.S. Loc: Mactan Base age: 20
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Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I woke up on a base called Mactan surrounded by machines containing a nostalgic orange chemical. I didnt notice it right away, but those machines were attached to me. After rejoicing about being alive I was joined in the medical room by a man named John Petrucci. He told me about everything that happened, how my body was suffering from cardamine withdrawal and how I was rescued from my ship, almost dead and clenching a journal. Turns out he was the one who saved me. After we finished our chat I was pondering what I was going to do with my life, I didnt want to return to Malta until I became someone to be proud of, someone respectable. Just then John did something that will forever be etched into my mind. He handed me my journal and said, The Vagrant Raiders could always use a genius tactician, if you are interested Doc Hoff.
For the first time in years I truly laughed.
I have accepted his proposal upon learning what the VR is, it is an organization of Outcasts that work very close with planet Malta and Lane Hackers.
I believe if I stick close to these guys I will be able to proudly visit home.
A computer scientist is someone who, when told to "Go to Hell," sees the "go to," rather than the destination, as harmful.