Elite: Dangerous
Commander's Log
Beginnings Novel
[Log Entry #1]
Today I'm very excited! Today is the day I got my very first, own starship.
It's a Cobra MKIII, everything is stock, except for an Onionhead paintjob with decals.
I bought it from an older man living on Mars, it was probably his son's or something.
He seemed to be happy to have "finally sold it". I just had it checked at the Mars Security Office,
they said that everything was done according to law and that the paperwork checked out.
So here I am. Commander of my very own ship.
The "Comba Cobra".
The only Problem now is to get a Job.
[Log End #1]
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[Log Entry #2]
A friend at the Federal Navy Public Service Office helped me to get a service contract in the Navy Auxiliary.
It's a simple Job; Haul 100 small crates from a navy depot on Mars to a medium operations platform in close orbit around earth once a week for 100.000cr per run.
And since I was in the Federal Navy as a pilot I don't have to learn any new protocols.
But the best thing is that I can use a navy priority corridor, so I don't have to float in the mess that is mars air and space traffick.
[Log End #2]
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[Log Entry #3]
Wow.
I'm baffled by what happend to me today. I didn't think that after what happend to me the last few weeks, that I can be- so happy by just meeting one person.
The day started pretty normal, I went to Mars, landed at the depot, filled the paper work and left an hour later with the crates.
After ten minutes I arrived at the operations platform and to my surprise someone with a friendly, calm and young male sounding voice greeted me on comms.
"Greetings Commander, you are on time and clear for approach. Please note that you are not allowed to land on the hull of this platform and therefore need to position your ship on the marked side of the platform, facing away from the planet."
As I flew towards the marked area I noticed that the platform had what appeared to be multiple landing zones on its left hull, judging by the size of them they seemed to be for smaller craft but big enough for a Cobra nonetheless.
But probably just for a wing of Condors or something.
As I was in position the voice said:
"Thank you Commander, unfortunately our small cargo limpets are defect and I'm the only one on this platform. I would really appreciate it if you could help me transferring the cargo onto the platform."
I agreed, put my EVA gear and helmet on, depressurized the ship and opened the main airlock in the back.
At the same time an airlock opened on the platform and someone with a standard navy EVA suite came out and greeted me by waving his arm.
We established communication between our suites and he came over to help me unload the crates.
The glass on his helmet was black, so I couldn't see his face.
But that was probably a good thing or I would have probably been distracted the whole time.
It took us about 3hours and 41minutes to transfer all of the crates and to store them in 0g.
During the time we both didn't talk that much besides some "over here" and "that way".
Afterwards he invited me into the pressurized living quarter's section of the platform to fill out the paperwork and to thank me for my help.
I accepted since it was already a long day and It was a nice idea to breathe some -hopefully- clean air.
I followed him and immediatly took off my helmet once we were in the pressurized part of the platform. He however kept his on- and did go to the above deck.
I enjoyed the air for a few more seconds and then followed him.
As I moved upwards through the hole in the floor, I saw him taking of his helmet and the second he looked at me, I was completely blown away by what I saw.
I tried to speak but couldn't say a thing. I tried to move but my entire body was frozen.
I probably looked like a complete idiot, just staring at him.
And he just smiled, turned away and walked with his mag-boots towards the table on the other side of the room.
2 seconds later I was able to move again, I turned my boots on and walked towards him, thinking about how embarassing that moment was, shaking.
He then turned around, looked at me and asked me with a smile:
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I- I- I just... ähm, how are you?" I replied.
"Im fine, how about you?" he said.
"Yes, I'm- I'm okay." I said, trying hard to speak clearly.
I was completely overwehlmed by my feelings, I was nervous as and full of joy as I was never before, I- tried to act normal but for some reason couldn't.
Just looking at his face made me feel weird but happy, nervous and all of that at the same time was just... amazing.
We then sat down and started to talk a bit while he was filling out the paper work;
"Why are you so nervous, are you sure everything is okay?"
"Yes, I- I just..." I tried to speak but couldn't, as if something was blocking my throat.
"Is it because of me?" he said while finishing the sentence with a smile.
"Ähhhh. I really- I think you... äh look, look... good" I said while trying to concentrate as best as I could.
He seemed amused, smiled and said:
"Well if it is like that, we can maybe meet another time. Are you coming next week too?"
My heart stood still and I cought upon hearing his words, breathing a bit heavier afterwards.
But for some reason I felt reliefed and with far more confidence but still nervous I said:
"Sure, I come here every week for the next six. We can meet if you'd like."
"Great! I'm looking forward to it. See you next week."
While saying that he gave me the finished paperwork and I tried, as best as I could, to get to my ship and leave.
I guess I'm, for the first time in my life, in love with someone... It feels great but... uncertain.
[Log End #3]
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[Log Entry #4]
It's been two days now since I met him. And I just can't sleep or do anything without thinking about him.
His voice, his white hair and skin and his crimson eyes that together give him such a beautiful and amazing face. But I can't help but to think about; what if I only love him for his looks and not for who he might be.
Would I feel the same if he had average pigmentation?
I guess its wait and see now.
[Log End #4]
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[Log Entry #5]
A week has passed, I met him again and I have to say: Im conflicted.
I picked up the stuff from Mars, went to the platform and got directed to the station by a different voice this time.
I wondered has he been stationed somewhere else?
During my approach I saw that on the landing zones 3 Condors were parked. So he probably had to do something else.
The voice ordered me to open the cargo hatch and to wait for the small limpets to do their job.
I acknowledged and waited.
After just 10 minutes the limpets were done, shortly after the voice said:
"Thank you for your cooperation, please open your main airlock to recieve your passenger."
I was surprised since there was no mention of any passengers in the mission description.
I followed the order and waited in anticipation on the other side of the airlock for the passenger.
As I had hoped, It turned out that he was the passenger. He greeted me friendly after removing his helmet and I welcomed him very happely on my ship.
"Where do you need to go?" I asked.
And he replied:
"Wherever you like to go, afterall this is pretty much our first date." He smiled and headed for the cockpit leaving me baffled at the airlock.
I was amazingly happy after he said that "our first date". That means that he also has feelings for me.
Eventually we decided to visit Héng Shān in the north of the Chinese Region. We mostly walked and talked. He told me things about him and I told him things about me. At one point we talked about my past in the Federal Navy and why I left after just a year.
I told him that I left because I felt betrayed after it turned out that my commander was involved in bribery and other faces of corruption. After all he was one of thousands of officers in Sol that where involved in such crimes.
But then he told me that he really loves me and that he thinks that we should share our lives with each other but that would only be possible if I would be to join the Federal Navy again.
A said that the chances are small that I will be assigned to the same station or ship as him and he just replied with;
"Don't worry, my mother has some influence in the Federal Navy, she'll get us two together."
As he said that my love for him at that moment weakend. And was replaced with anger and sadness. I got this once in a livetime chance to be together with the one person that I truly love and that would only be possible by being involved in the one thing that is tearing the Federation apart; Corruption.
One of the things I hate since it costs many lives just because some people want to have it easy.
After that I we got pack to the ship and I brought him back to the platform.
And now I need to make one of the biggest decisions in my live.
Do I sacrifice my true and only love for my personal fight against corruption or do I look away just this one time?
[Log End #5]