[IC] My name is Taylor Vauban
- Thread starter pippo
- Start date
1st August 3301 - 9:43
First contact…
View attachment 53082
… and the first reminder of what to expect in these parts.
Pressure is kicking in. I've been alone and relatively safe for so long I almost forgot what an interdiction feels like. I'm now rehearsing evasive protocols in my head, over and over, hoping to make it to Watson Port as quickly as possible.
I'm not too far now, and should hopefully be docking tonight.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
First contact…
View attachment 53082
… and the first reminder of what to expect in these parts.
Pressure is kicking in. I've been alone and relatively safe for so long I almost forgot what an interdiction feels like. I'm now rehearsing evasive protocols in my head, over and over, hoping to make it to Watson Port as quickly as possible.
I'm not too far now, and should hopefully be docking tonight.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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1st August 3301 - 20:01
Almost forgot what an interdiction felt like… Right! So much so that it only took five seconds to the first contact from my radar to drop me out of supercruise.
I was still trying to figure out how to deploy my weapons when the voice comms activated…
View attachment 53168
---Voice Comms Transcript---
"Greeting Cmdr. My name is Matzov, I have been looking for you. We have a mutual acquaintance - Hugh Caplin. He may have mentioned me, although by another name. I'm sorry to have to tell you, Caplin is missing, and you are in grave danger. I know you will have questions, but I can't say much here. There's a quiet system not far from here. We can go there and talk, if you wish to know more."
View attachment 53169
---Voice Comms Transcript---
"Your ship has a tracker beacon and has done since the start. It is not pinpoint correct at such huge distances, but allows those who are following the mission to know where you are. It becomes more accurate the closer you are to home. It has allowed me to track you down to the Swoilz system, after which I had to jump around to discover your exact location."
This was unexpected. I knew the ship was being tracked, but if this man was telling the truth and Caplin had indeed gone missing… tracked by whom?
That would explain why Hugh Caplin had gone quiet for so long, and let's face it… If this commander Matzov had come to me with killing intentions, he would have fried my beat up Cobra already, most likely during my clumsy attempt to retract my discovery scanner.
I decided to follow him, even though I couldn't recall Caplin making any mention of his name.
View attachment 53172View attachment 53173
I locked onto his drive and followed his course to the Ngulungbara System.
First sign of a trap and I'm out of here…
Taylor Vauban, logging out
Almost forgot what an interdiction felt like… Right! So much so that it only took five seconds to the first contact from my radar to drop me out of supercruise.
I was still trying to figure out how to deploy my weapons when the voice comms activated…
View attachment 53168
---Voice Comms Transcript---
"Greeting Cmdr. My name is Matzov, I have been looking for you. We have a mutual acquaintance - Hugh Caplin. He may have mentioned me, although by another name. I'm sorry to have to tell you, Caplin is missing, and you are in grave danger. I know you will have questions, but I can't say much here. There's a quiet system not far from here. We can go there and talk, if you wish to know more."
View attachment 53169
---Voice Comms Transcript---
"Your ship has a tracker beacon and has done since the start. It is not pinpoint correct at such huge distances, but allows those who are following the mission to know where you are. It becomes more accurate the closer you are to home. It has allowed me to track you down to the Swoilz system, after which I had to jump around to discover your exact location."
This was unexpected. I knew the ship was being tracked, but if this man was telling the truth and Caplin had indeed gone missing… tracked by whom?
That would explain why Hugh Caplin had gone quiet for so long, and let's face it… If this commander Matzov had come to me with killing intentions, he would have fried my beat up Cobra already, most likely during my clumsy attempt to retract my discovery scanner.
I decided to follow him, even though I couldn't recall Caplin making any mention of his name.
View attachment 53172View attachment 53173
I locked onto his drive and followed his course to the Ngulungbara System.
First sign of a trap and I'm out of here…
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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1st August 3301 - 21:20
View attachment 53184
We entered Imperial space about an hour later. Commander Matzov seemed uneasy in these parts and would still not go into much detail, convinced that my communication systems were being monitored too.
A few jumps later, we finally reached Ngulungbara and Filippenko Dock where we were to meet one of his contact who would provide with a runaway ship and escort us to a safer location.
View attachment 53188
I had been away from civilization for so long, I lost all composure when asking for docking permission…
View attachment 53189View attachment 53190
Thankfully, Ivan Matzov was on hand to walk me through the entire docking procedure and saw me safely to my docking pad.
View attachment 53191
Safe and sound… and sweating like a pig.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
View attachment 53184
We entered Imperial space about an hour later. Commander Matzov seemed uneasy in these parts and would still not go into much detail, convinced that my communication systems were being monitored too.
A few jumps later, we finally reached Ngulungbara and Filippenko Dock where we were to meet one of his contact who would provide with a runaway ship and escort us to a safer location.
View attachment 53188
I had been away from civilization for so long, I lost all composure when asking for docking permission…
View attachment 53189View attachment 53190
Thankfully, Ivan Matzov was on hand to walk me through the entire docking procedure and saw me safely to my docking pad.
View attachment 53191
Safe and sound… and sweating like a pig.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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3rd August 3301 - 16:28
I woke up this morning completely disorientated. It took me quite a while to understand that I wasn't in the Cobra MkIII's bunk bed anymore and even longer to realize what was actually waking me up. It was Ivan Matzov over the intercom pressing me to get up and ready. I had slept over 30 hours and his contact had now arrived at Filippenko Dock.
We walked down to the shipyard where a commander going by the name of Nosscar was waiting for us. Two men, apparently crew members, were standing next to him and stood still as he walked up to me and Matzov. He pointed at an old Viper MkIII and said: "This is your ride, it's been knocked around a few times but will do the job just fine"
View attachment 53391
It had been confiscated by the local authorities several years ago and Nosscar seemed confident nobody would even notice its disappearance.
We loaded the black box we had taken from the Cobra MkIII on board the new ship and left Filippenko Dock.
View attachment 53396
Taylor Vauban, logging out
I woke up this morning completely disorientated. It took me quite a while to understand that I wasn't in the Cobra MkIII's bunk bed anymore and even longer to realize what was actually waking me up. It was Ivan Matzov over the intercom pressing me to get up and ready. I had slept over 30 hours and his contact had now arrived at Filippenko Dock.
We walked down to the shipyard where a commander going by the name of Nosscar was waiting for us. Two men, apparently crew members, were standing next to him and stood still as he walked up to me and Matzov. He pointed at an old Viper MkIII and said: "This is your ride, it's been knocked around a few times but will do the job just fine"
View attachment 53391
It had been confiscated by the local authorities several years ago and Nosscar seemed confident nobody would even notice its disappearance.
We loaded the black box we had taken from the Cobra MkIII on board the new ship and left Filippenko Dock.
View attachment 53396
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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3rd August 3301 - 22:47
Just three days ago, and immediately after we had docked at Filippenko Dock, Matzov had insisted on treating me to my first proper meal in nearly three months. He was a man of fine taste but as incredibly tasteful as the Witchhaul Kobe Beef steak was… without a doubt, far better than any food cartridge I ever had… I must admit it was probably wasted on me. He had spent the entire dinner trying to shed light on what was going on, and quite unsuccessfully I must say. I understood how he had been involved in smuggling very sensitive materials into LHS 3564 in order for Caplin to work on the probe. I understood that the mission I had just completed wasn't an Imperial exclusive operation, but a much larger project involving several corporations, yet so many questions were still going around in my head, unanswered.
Even up until now and while cruising to an unknown location, escorted by two battleships…
View attachment 53472
I still can't understand why anybody would want to have me killed. Oh yes, Caplin is missing… or most likely dead, according to Nosscar… but me? I just dumped some fancy tech 25 Kylies from here.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
Just three days ago, and immediately after we had docked at Filippenko Dock, Matzov had insisted on treating me to my first proper meal in nearly three months. He was a man of fine taste but as incredibly tasteful as the Witchhaul Kobe Beef steak was… without a doubt, far better than any food cartridge I ever had… I must admit it was probably wasted on me. He had spent the entire dinner trying to shed light on what was going on, and quite unsuccessfully I must say. I understood how he had been involved in smuggling very sensitive materials into LHS 3564 in order for Caplin to work on the probe. I understood that the mission I had just completed wasn't an Imperial exclusive operation, but a much larger project involving several corporations, yet so many questions were still going around in my head, unanswered.
Even up until now and while cruising to an unknown location, escorted by two battleships…
View attachment 53472
I still can't understand why anybody would want to have me killed. Oh yes, Caplin is missing… or most likely dead, according to Nosscar… but me? I just dumped some fancy tech 25 Kylies from here.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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4th August 3301 - 11:31
We cruised the entire night, avoiding high security systems like plague. Not even one contact attempted to line up an interdiction and still, I couldn't lift my eyes from the radar. While Nosscar's communication officer, Jarret, was ID'ing every single ship in our vicinity, Matzov rightfully reminded us that it would take a madman to interdict a wing like ours.
A fair comment, yet I couldn't help but feeling like bait during the countless and interminable refueling stops.
These last hours spent with Nosscar and Matzov cleared up quite a few questions as to why I had to runaway.
While Matzov seemed genuinely worried for my life, especially now Caplin had gone missing, Nosscar was convinced that the Cobra MkIII's black box I was carrying was the key of all my trouble…
View attachment 53552
His sources linked no less than the Emperor's son himself, Harold Duval, to an assassination contract on my head and the retrieval of my ship's data.
In spite of being kept in the dark about our final destination, it was clear that each and every jump were taking us further away from Imperial controlled space.
We all lined up for a jump to the Dinda system when commander Nosscar said: "Last jump. We're here."
View attachment 53561
I followed Matzov to Ravenclan's Astro Lab while Nosscar was closing the convoy.
View attachment 53562
I requested docking permission and nervously made my way to the docking pad. I heard Nosscar's Anaconda counterthrusts kicking in, he was following right behind me.
View attachment 53566View attachment 53563
Once I had disembarked the Viper, Matzov advised me to remain station side for the time being and to wait for a man called Mukesh Premji who would get in contact with me shortly. He would be taking care of things from here on.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
We cruised the entire night, avoiding high security systems like plague. Not even one contact attempted to line up an interdiction and still, I couldn't lift my eyes from the radar. While Nosscar's communication officer, Jarret, was ID'ing every single ship in our vicinity, Matzov rightfully reminded us that it would take a madman to interdict a wing like ours.
A fair comment, yet I couldn't help but feeling like bait during the countless and interminable refueling stops.
These last hours spent with Nosscar and Matzov cleared up quite a few questions as to why I had to runaway.
While Matzov seemed genuinely worried for my life, especially now Caplin had gone missing, Nosscar was convinced that the Cobra MkIII's black box I was carrying was the key of all my trouble…
View attachment 53552
His sources linked no less than the Emperor's son himself, Harold Duval, to an assassination contract on my head and the retrieval of my ship's data.
In spite of being kept in the dark about our final destination, it was clear that each and every jump were taking us further away from Imperial controlled space.
We all lined up for a jump to the Dinda system when commander Nosscar said: "Last jump. We're here."
View attachment 53561
I followed Matzov to Ravenclan's Astro Lab while Nosscar was closing the convoy.
View attachment 53562
I requested docking permission and nervously made my way to the docking pad. I heard Nosscar's Anaconda counterthrusts kicking in, he was following right behind me.
View attachment 53566View attachment 53563
Once I had disembarked the Viper, Matzov advised me to remain station side for the time being and to wait for a man called Mukesh Premji who would get in contact with me shortly. He would be taking care of things from here on.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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Cmdr Matzov kneaded his temples with his knuckles. It had been a stressful few days and the last remnants of a migraine lingered.
The process itself had been simple enough, the trick had been locating Vauban precisely in the first place, and then making sure he followed. Persuasion had been enough, and for that, Matzov was eternally grateful. Threats were a sign of a proposal lacking the validity to stand on its own merits. Thereafter, the unquantifiable fear of interception had made for tense and nervy travel.
Matzov regretted the loss of Nosscar to The Company. He'd once again shown his talent. The man had a gift for sniffing out money, and was more than handy in a tightspot. The ideal man for this job, even if he'd set up his own shop and was no longer on 'the inside'. Business was business afterall; favours and networks led to deals. It was good to work with Nosscar one more time, and Matzov hoped it would not be the last, despite Nosscar having stepped out alone.
Just a couple of t's to cross, and i's to dot now, and this business would be concluded.
--
Matzov tapped out the code and the video connect sprang into life.
"Greetings Colonel, I understand everything went smoothly." Once again, that stern faced young man.
"Yes indeed. The delivery is made, and I leave Vauban in doctor Mukesh's care."
"Excellent. How did the Cmdr seem to you? Does he know much?"
"Nothing, I'm sure. At least not of consequence. I tried to fill in some of the gaps for him, but his mind was swimming. Perhaps he doesn't know what he knows."
"Indeed. We shall see. You've done well Matzov. You have shown your gift for connecting people and things. Even those that don't realise they need connecting."
"My thanks..." Matzov was cut off as the screen went dead. As usual, what was said was said, and the stern faced young man had simply hung up.
Matzov chuckled, 'high praise indeed' he thought, 'coming from him'.
--
He sat back in his chair and stretched. Vauban had been, not quite an innocent abroad, but certainly he came across as no world weary cynic. He wondered how he would get along with Mukesh Premji. Mukesh was lot like Caplin in many ways, in Matzov's experience. Clever; enthusiastic; eccentric. And Caplin, what had become of his old client? Matzov made a mental note to put out some feelers. Discreetly. If Nosscar was right, then poking his nose into that little mystery too far was not a wise thing to do. Still, he'd like to know. Knowledge was a currency all of its own in business négociations.
'Ahh yes' he wondered aloud, 'business'. He turned his head to look at the neat stack of contracts on the side. It had not reduced whilst he was away. New deals had continued to flow, and more contract review naturally followed.
Matzov kneaded his temples again and sighed. Opening the first binder, he took up his pen. Time to move on.
The process itself had been simple enough, the trick had been locating Vauban precisely in the first place, and then making sure he followed. Persuasion had been enough, and for that, Matzov was eternally grateful. Threats were a sign of a proposal lacking the validity to stand on its own merits. Thereafter, the unquantifiable fear of interception had made for tense and nervy travel.
Matzov regretted the loss of Nosscar to The Company. He'd once again shown his talent. The man had a gift for sniffing out money, and was more than handy in a tightspot. The ideal man for this job, even if he'd set up his own shop and was no longer on 'the inside'. Business was business afterall; favours and networks led to deals. It was good to work with Nosscar one more time, and Matzov hoped it would not be the last, despite Nosscar having stepped out alone.
Just a couple of t's to cross, and i's to dot now, and this business would be concluded.
--
Matzov tapped out the code and the video connect sprang into life.
"Greetings Colonel, I understand everything went smoothly." Once again, that stern faced young man.
"Yes indeed. The delivery is made, and I leave Vauban in doctor Mukesh's care."
"Excellent. How did the Cmdr seem to you? Does he know much?"
"Nothing, I'm sure. At least not of consequence. I tried to fill in some of the gaps for him, but his mind was swimming. Perhaps he doesn't know what he knows."
"Indeed. We shall see. You've done well Matzov. You have shown your gift for connecting people and things. Even those that don't realise they need connecting."
"My thanks..." Matzov was cut off as the screen went dead. As usual, what was said was said, and the stern faced young man had simply hung up.
Matzov chuckled, 'high praise indeed' he thought, 'coming from him'.
--
He sat back in his chair and stretched. Vauban had been, not quite an innocent abroad, but certainly he came across as no world weary cynic. He wondered how he would get along with Mukesh Premji. Mukesh was lot like Caplin in many ways, in Matzov's experience. Clever; enthusiastic; eccentric. And Caplin, what had become of his old client? Matzov made a mental note to put out some feelers. Discreetly. If Nosscar was right, then poking his nose into that little mystery too far was not a wise thing to do. Still, he'd like to know. Knowledge was a currency all of its own in business négociations.
'Ahh yes' he wondered aloud, 'business'. He turned his head to look at the neat stack of contracts on the side. It had not reduced whilst he was away. New deals had continued to flow, and more contract review naturally followed.
Matzov kneaded his temples again and sighed. Opening the first binder, he took up his pen. Time to move on.
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6th August 3301 - 10:37
Commander Nosscar had left us almost immediately after having docked at Ravenclan's Astro Lab but not before having reminded me to not sell the data contained in the CobraMkIII's black box.
"This is exactly what they're after… You sell it to Universal Cartographic and we might as well have let you dock at Watson Port and go straight to them" he said.
Commander Matzov had handed me over to Mr. Premji's assistant, Shiv.
While walking us to what was going to be my quarters for the next few days, I noticed Shiv kept addressing Matzov as "colonel". Funny how Ivan Matzov didn't strike me to be the military type however the name was ringing a bell.
All I needed at this point was somewhere to put my head down and rest. I was quite shocked to see what my quarters turned out to be, a rather large and luxurious penthouse, with a stunning view outside the starport…
View attachment 53838
Mr Premji was on a business trip and would be meeting me on his return. Meanwhile, he had left in the penthouse new clothes and an array of fruits I had never seen before.
I plugged the black box into the room's computer and browsed through the hundreds of systems I had visited in the past months. There was probably millions worth of credits in there. I picked up one of the fruits and bit a large chunk out of it… It was bitter as hell.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
Commander Nosscar had left us almost immediately after having docked at Ravenclan's Astro Lab but not before having reminded me to not sell the data contained in the CobraMkIII's black box.
"This is exactly what they're after… You sell it to Universal Cartographic and we might as well have let you dock at Watson Port and go straight to them" he said.
Commander Matzov had handed me over to Mr. Premji's assistant, Shiv.
While walking us to what was going to be my quarters for the next few days, I noticed Shiv kept addressing Matzov as "colonel". Funny how Ivan Matzov didn't strike me to be the military type however the name was ringing a bell.
All I needed at this point was somewhere to put my head down and rest. I was quite shocked to see what my quarters turned out to be, a rather large and luxurious penthouse, with a stunning view outside the starport…
View attachment 53838
Mr Premji was on a business trip and would be meeting me on his return. Meanwhile, he had left in the penthouse new clothes and an array of fruits I had never seen before.
I plugged the black box into the room's computer and browsed through the hundreds of systems I had visited in the past months. There was probably millions worth of credits in there. I picked up one of the fruits and bit a large chunk out of it… It was bitter as hell.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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Truly stunning! So much so that I've added it to my list of favourite threads: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=173123&p=2653899#post2653899
Thank you Kung Fu! And Thanks for the plug!
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7th August 3301 - 15:15
I received a call from Shiv this morning asking me to meet him at the starport's docking bay 32.
I quickly made my way down to the platform and saw Shiv. He was standing in line with a dozen of other men and women and discreetly signaled to me to come and stand beside him. It seemed to me that they were waiting for someone important and I felt that I was probably about to finally meet Mukesh Premji.
Everybody was staring at the station's entrance when a huge cruise liner appeared and maneuvered towards the docking pad…
View attachment 54081View attachment 54083
The ship touched down on the platform and Shiv said to me: "He's here"
View attachment 54091
Taylor Vauban, logging out
I received a call from Shiv this morning asking me to meet him at the starport's docking bay 32.
I quickly made my way down to the platform and saw Shiv. He was standing in line with a dozen of other men and women and discreetly signaled to me to come and stand beside him. It seemed to me that they were waiting for someone important and I felt that I was probably about to finally meet Mukesh Premji.
Everybody was staring at the station's entrance when a huge cruise liner appeared and maneuvered towards the docking pad…
View attachment 54081View attachment 54083
The ship touched down on the platform and Shiv said to me: "He's here"
View attachment 54091
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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7th August 3301 - 21:04
A flock of suits disembarked the Saud Kruger Liner and amongst them was a short, young looking man… visibly in charge.
When the organized line I was standing with broke out and rushed towards the young man with frantic reports and numbers, Shiv rested his hand on my shoulder and told me to wait. The young dignitary walked straight to us, shook my hand and said: "When they first told me about Taylor Vauban, I thought I'd get to meet a lady… Ah, anyway… I hope Shiv treated you well…"
The bold young man invited us to his office where he introduced himself: "Mukesh Premji, chairman of Dinda Universal Industry, and I understand you have painted yourself into a corner…"
We spent the most part of the afternoon talking about him and his company. He described, at unbearable length, how he first took a low key mining company into the multi-billion business that it was today. Although he did say that I wouldn't have been the first man that the Sirius Corporation would have asked him to protect. If I was prepared to follow his rules, I would surely be safe… unlike their last protege, who thought it would be wiser to start a bar fight and get himself locked up in Williams Reformatory.
Williams Reformatory… The Gangbetae System… It can't just be a coincidence.
Could it be that the man I had once found, bound and gagged, in my cargo hold and delivered to Froude Enterprise was the very same man Premji was referring to? According to him, as if I really needed to know, it turns out that the man is indeed dead.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
A flock of suits disembarked the Saud Kruger Liner and amongst them was a short, young looking man… visibly in charge.
When the organized line I was standing with broke out and rushed towards the young man with frantic reports and numbers, Shiv rested his hand on my shoulder and told me to wait. The young dignitary walked straight to us, shook my hand and said: "When they first told me about Taylor Vauban, I thought I'd get to meet a lady… Ah, anyway… I hope Shiv treated you well…"
The bold young man invited us to his office where he introduced himself: "Mukesh Premji, chairman of Dinda Universal Industry, and I understand you have painted yourself into a corner…"
We spent the most part of the afternoon talking about him and his company. He described, at unbearable length, how he first took a low key mining company into the multi-billion business that it was today. Although he did say that I wouldn't have been the first man that the Sirius Corporation would have asked him to protect. If I was prepared to follow his rules, I would surely be safe… unlike their last protege, who thought it would be wiser to start a bar fight and get himself locked up in Williams Reformatory.
Williams Reformatory… The Gangbetae System… It can't just be a coincidence.
Could it be that the man I had once found, bound and gagged, in my cargo hold and delivered to Froude Enterprise was the very same man Premji was referring to? According to him, as if I really needed to know, it turns out that the man is indeed dead.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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11th August 3301 - 12:04
I've been finding my way around Ravenclan's Astro Lab for a few days now and I'm getting quite a peculiar feeling wandering through the different levels of the station. After having spent so long craving for a return to populated space, I have curiously ended up enjoying my own company a lot more than expected. My little excursions inside Ravenclan's, more often than not, wind up in slight panic attacks and a walk back to the condo where I usually find peace staring at distant stars.
I haven't seen or heard from Mr Premji since our first and last meeting. All I know is that I am working for him and Dinda Universal Industry now, and to some extend, for the Sirius Corporation who is paying me a weekly salary for staying put. Premji had made it perfectly clear that I wasn't to venture out too far and certainly not to any system where my face was already known, including my own home. However he did promise to look after my family through monthly payments.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
I've been finding my way around Ravenclan's Astro Lab for a few days now and I'm getting quite a peculiar feeling wandering through the different levels of the station. After having spent so long craving for a return to populated space, I have curiously ended up enjoying my own company a lot more than expected. My little excursions inside Ravenclan's, more often than not, wind up in slight panic attacks and a walk back to the condo where I usually find peace staring at distant stars.
I haven't seen or heard from Mr Premji since our first and last meeting. All I know is that I am working for him and Dinda Universal Industry now, and to some extend, for the Sirius Corporation who is paying me a weekly salary for staying put. Premji had made it perfectly clear that I wasn't to venture out too far and certainly not to any system where my face was already known, including my own home. However he did promise to look after my family through monthly payments.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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14th August 3301 - 13:49
I finally received a call from Shiv this morning. I was beginning to think that the job Mr Premji had in mind would only consist in remaining hidden in Ravenclan's while enjoying the comfortable penthouse he had provided.
Thankfully I was wrong. Shiv told me to get to the Viper MkIII where the mission specifics had been uploaded.
I boarded the ship and initiated the startup sequence…
View attachment 55378
This is just terrific. I felt like back at Trevithick Dock, where I first boarded my grandfather' Sidewinder and hauled my first few tones of scrap, minus the excitement.
This is still work I suppose, and if they need me to keep a low profile, I guess this is ideal work.
In a matter of minutes, I was already in Witchhaul and was requesting docking permission…
View attachment 55576
I delivered the goods, refueled, and set course back to Dinda.
It might not have been the most thrilling job I've had in long time but it felt good to be back in a cockpit.
I jumped back into the Dinda System and lined up with Ravenclan's Astro Lab. I thought I was done for the day when I received a new transmission from Dinda Universal Industry…
View attachment 55385
… I might get some excitement here after all, I just hope I'm not too rusty.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
I finally received a call from Shiv this morning. I was beginning to think that the job Mr Premji had in mind would only consist in remaining hidden in Ravenclan's while enjoying the comfortable penthouse he had provided.
Thankfully I was wrong. Shiv told me to get to the Viper MkIII where the mission specifics had been uploaded.
I boarded the ship and initiated the startup sequence…
View attachment 55378
This is just terrific. I felt like back at Trevithick Dock, where I first boarded my grandfather' Sidewinder and hauled my first few tones of scrap, minus the excitement.
This is still work I suppose, and if they need me to keep a low profile, I guess this is ideal work.
In a matter of minutes, I was already in Witchhaul and was requesting docking permission…
View attachment 55576
I delivered the goods, refueled, and set course back to Dinda.
It might not have been the most thrilling job I've had in long time but it felt good to be back in a cockpit.
I jumped back into the Dinda System and lined up with Ravenclan's Astro Lab. I thought I was done for the day when I received a new transmission from Dinda Universal Industry…
View attachment 55385
… I might get some excitement here after all, I just hope I'm not too rusty.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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14th August 3301 - 22:31
I patrolled the Yimakuapa system for hours. Sure, there were a lot of wanted pilots cruising in the system, but I did not want to create havoc around me by racking up these guys' bounties unnecessarily.
I was about to turn back to base when I picked up a new signature… "Bureau of Yimakuapa First".
So, this is the group that has been poisoning Dinda Universal Industry's trading routes?
View attachment 55468
We're back in business.
I am indeed rusty, without a shadow of a doubt, but I did blast this ship non the less…
And the next one… and the next…
View attachment 55469View attachment 55470
The Viper MkIII might not be as nimble as my old Sidewinder and I might still need to loosen up a bit on the stick, but it sure packs a punch.
After a fair few wreckages left behind, I decided to head back to Ravenclan's before attracting to big of a fish.
View attachment 55475
Job's done.
It's good to be back.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
I patrolled the Yimakuapa system for hours. Sure, there were a lot of wanted pilots cruising in the system, but I did not want to create havoc around me by racking up these guys' bounties unnecessarily.
I was about to turn back to base when I picked up a new signature… "Bureau of Yimakuapa First".
So, this is the group that has been poisoning Dinda Universal Industry's trading routes?
View attachment 55468
We're back in business.
I am indeed rusty, without a shadow of a doubt, but I did blast this ship non the less…
And the next one… and the next…
View attachment 55469View attachment 55470
The Viper MkIII might not be as nimble as my old Sidewinder and I might still need to loosen up a bit on the stick, but it sure packs a punch.
After a fair few wreckages left behind, I decided to head back to Ravenclan's before attracting to big of a fish.
View attachment 55475
Job's done.
It's good to be back.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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27th August 3301 - 23:45
Mukesh Premji, who had presented himself to be my ticket to a new life, had turned out to be a rather elusive man.
I'd been shifting cargo from several stations to the Dinda system and disrupting pirate activity for quite a while now without ever getting a pat on the back… let alone a single word from Mr Premji himself.
Lately, I was sent to pick up some lost trade data… not so big a deal, until I jumped back into Dinda and realized I was shifting illicit cargo…
View attachment 57895
All I did was pick up some lost trade data from a nearby wreckage, only to find myself having to sneak it back into Ravenclan's like a dirty Onion Head smuggler.
View attachment 57898View attachment 57899
True, nobody had come for me so far but I couldn't help thinking I was sitting on the wrong end of the law.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
Mukesh Premji, who had presented himself to be my ticket to a new life, had turned out to be a rather elusive man.
I'd been shifting cargo from several stations to the Dinda system and disrupting pirate activity for quite a while now without ever getting a pat on the back… let alone a single word from Mr Premji himself.
Lately, I was sent to pick up some lost trade data… not so big a deal, until I jumped back into Dinda and realized I was shifting illicit cargo…
View attachment 57895
All I did was pick up some lost trade data from a nearby wreckage, only to find myself having to sneak it back into Ravenclan's like a dirty Onion Head smuggler.
View attachment 57898View attachment 57899
True, nobody had come for me so far but I couldn't help thinking I was sitting on the wrong end of the law.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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1st September 3301 - 15:33
Keeping a low profile can be a bit tricky when your mentor constantly asks of you to smuggle goods in and out of your hiding place or to steal trading informations from the competitors… at least I have learnt how to make good use of heat sinks.
This morning was a very different story, though.
While I was going through Dinda Universal Industry's bulletin board on the computer, getting myself ready for the next dodgy task to come, the condo's intercom activated. It was Shiv informing me to hurry down to the docking bays. Mr Premji was to leave imminently for Lembava onboard the Melville, his personal cruise liner and needed an escort out of the system.
I rushed to the Viper MkIII, powered it up and waited for the Melville to take off…
View attachment 59153View attachment 59154
When Mr Premji's Orca safely jumped outside Dinda, Shiv contacted me again through the voice comms system. I was now expected in Barba Hub in the LTT 11478 system, about 40Ly from here, where I would receive further instructions…
Taylor Vauban, logging out
Keeping a low profile can be a bit tricky when your mentor constantly asks of you to smuggle goods in and out of your hiding place or to steal trading informations from the competitors… at least I have learnt how to make good use of heat sinks.
This morning was a very different story, though.
While I was going through Dinda Universal Industry's bulletin board on the computer, getting myself ready for the next dodgy task to come, the condo's intercom activated. It was Shiv informing me to hurry down to the docking bays. Mr Premji was to leave imminently for Lembava onboard the Melville, his personal cruise liner and needed an escort out of the system.
I rushed to the Viper MkIII, powered it up and waited for the Melville to take off…
View attachment 59153View attachment 59154
When Mr Premji's Orca safely jumped outside Dinda, Shiv contacted me again through the voice comms system. I was now expected in Barba Hub in the LTT 11478 system, about 40Ly from here, where I would receive further instructions…
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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2nd September 3301 - 19:01
Whilst on approach to Barba Hub in the LTT 11478 system, the onboard computer brought up an unexpected warning… "Illicit Cargo".
Now this is new… I'm transporting cargo?
View attachment 59463
I guess I'll have to thank Shiv for this.
I checked the informations I had on LTT 11478 in my Navigation Systems and was only half surprised to see that conflicts had sparked around nearly every single station and outpost in the area.
After docking, I was greeted by men in uniforms and thanked for the precious data.
But the final nail in the coffin was to be thanked for joining the war effort.
I am now to travel to Chaudhary Enterprise to appropriately outfit my Viper and meet with my wingman.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
Whilst on approach to Barba Hub in the LTT 11478 system, the onboard computer brought up an unexpected warning… "Illicit Cargo".
Now this is new… I'm transporting cargo?
View attachment 59463
I guess I'll have to thank Shiv for this.
I checked the informations I had on LTT 11478 in my Navigation Systems and was only half surprised to see that conflicts had sparked around nearly every single station and outpost in the area.
After docking, I was greeted by men in uniforms and thanked for the precious data.
But the final nail in the coffin was to be thanked for joining the war effort.
I am now to travel to Chaudhary Enterprise to appropriately outfit my Viper and meet with my wingman.
Taylor Vauban, logging out
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I see you're not doing too well.. Oh well, at least you get some rep from me for the great writing!