Character Journal -- DSV-Dauntless; Liberty Navy. Commissioned research vessel currently mapping all known Sirius sector systems.
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Captain's Journal - Entry 1
This is Meiun Hazashiken, captain of the Dauntless. I've been hired to lead a group of scientists and navigators on a mission of peaceful exploration of the entire known Sirius sector. No doubt our presence will cause commotion amongst the locals. Hopefully we can show by our actions that we intend no harm.
My commission was reinstated for this occasion. I've been retired from the Kusari Navy for some time, after successful tours in the early days of the Nomad wars. In the recent years my time as both a freelance pilot, a bounty hunter, and owner of a space trucking company have added greatly to my resume toward Captain of just such an expidition as this.
I've flown to New York system to meet up with my crew, and to be escorted to the Dauntless for her commissioning ceremony. No doubt the obligatory testing of skills and signing of waivers will follow my introduction to the Admiral in charge. No bother... I'm used to the questioning, and capable of the lead.
The first week of tests and preparation are over. I was sent back to boot camp, it seems, for flying a heavy fighter. Refreshers and scenarios galore. Good pilots in Liberty space. Those LSF boys handled themselves admirably. Then a quick rundown of the Gunboats manuevering and offensive capabilities... and, we're all set.
First run of the system scans was conducted in Virginia, of course. The plan worked flawlessly... in a relatively controlled environment. My crew are sharp, attentive and professional at their tasks. Here's a rundown of those onboard:
Meiun - Captain, pilot
Matuok - my First Officer and gunman, also quite the mechanic.
Jene - Chief, navigational control and mapping, also quite the cook.
Robin - Scientist, a nice fellow, but don't know him well.
Casey - Another Navy fellow. He's our second gunman and sees to the supplies/ammo
Harold - Our chief mechanic, in charge of nuts and bolts full time
and two other scientists; Nancy and Jared, both performing various experiments, of which I have little involvement.
Eight total. Dinner conversations and commentaries ought to be quite the fluff.
After our first run in Virginia, we were set to go with the standard outfitting of a Liberty Gunboat, except for the shielding. So, off we went to California System for our first live run. Mapping went well. Waypoints were set, and cleared one by one as the system revealed its secrets. No new information to speak of, and the jump holes were phase aligned providing access if need be to the nearby systems.
We faced stiff barrage of Outcasts, Rogues and a few Lane Hackers during our run. The crew was nervous at first, but once they witnessed the power of the gunboat's main weapon, and the skill of our gunner team, they quickly went back to their monitoring of systems and tests. All told our team took out over 130 pirate ships, including two Rogue Gunboats during our scans of California. Quite impressive.
However, I reminded the crew, especially Matuok, that this is a peaceful mission of exploration and that we ought to conduct our comms as such. In light of that I contacted a local Liberty Rogue representative and arranged for the pilots of the vessels we had destroyed to be readmitted to Rogue custody as a show of good faith. Those boys were surprised and relieved to not have to face justice at the hands of Liberty Police or LSF. I hope the news of this act spreads across the sector and that we are greeted with open arms as we move forward with the mission.
The ship is good. The crew is exceptional. I look forward to this journey.
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Captain's Journal - Entry 3
Damn the luck. 2 weeks into this mission and we're forced to port for an undetermined amount of time. Systems completed:
New York
Texas
Virginia
California
Ontario
Kepler
Cassini
Magellan
Cortez
Colorado
Inverness
In the early hours of day 12 of the mission, we were finalizing our cross of California. It was late for me, time for my break and so I handed control over to Matuok. The boy engaged a GC pirate while I was sleeping! The sound of the thuds against the hull woke me and just in time.
After rushing to the bridge and yelling commands all along the way, I popped the shield battery control and had our shields fully operational once again. Screamed at Matuok to get to the guns, and had him comm me as to the sit-stat.
The edgy fool decided we were going to act on behalf of the Liberty Navy and apprehend a known criminal, and damn fine pilot, of the GC. Well, there's a reason she hadn't been caught. Upon catching a glimpse of the Rheinland bomber I knew it was Mariko. I tried to get her on comms, but she continued to engage.
The ship was left bleedin' from the hull and I barely made the run back to LA for repairs. The Dauntless is a research vessel, not a combat juggernaut. Matuok is reprimanded, and has been sent back to Virginia for Court Martial. The Dauntless will require extensive repairs; and extensive funds to resume her mission. Since it was I (YES, Myself!) who forwarded a lot of the commissioning funds, and am now left with this scrap heap, we're going to have to find another source for repairs.
Our science crew is very disheartened. That was a big scare for them all, and brought home a bit of reality, space is no cake walk. I suppose that's why the Liberty Navy chose a Zoner to pilot the ship, to keep the rogue engagements to a minimal. But, alas, the damage is done.