[IC] Commander's log, Federation Mercenary Pilot

[OOC Note]This is the first log entry in a series that will reference galactic events from my Commander's POV, alongside any personal activities I get up to. I have also tried to incorporate some story elements to cover why there is not yet the ability to land planetside as part of the in-universe lore, again from my Commander's POV.

Discussion thread for anyone interested is right over here.[/OOC]


Biography of Cmdr Leland Jason Fox said:
Commander Leland Jason Fox. Some call me Lee, some call me other names. Doesn't matter to me.

My story is a little boring compared to most. I grew up in a trade convoy. Both my folks were lifelong traders, having both gotten original Iron A$s Cobras from the Cowell and McGrath days. They still fly those ships from time to time, even though they've long since traded up to a Python.

That ship was my home for most of my life. They named it 'The Reorte Arrowhead'...

They were never particularly original, my folks.

Anyway, I finally got my own ship after I decided that my parents scraping together enough to buy me one was taking too long. Since about the age of 17, I started hoarding unallocated credit chits. It took me six years, but I scraped together thirty-four thousand credits, enough to travel to pick up a new ship, apply for my piloting licence, and then to register as an independent pilot.

So I took off from my folks' Python next time they put in to Trevithick Dock and decided to make a name for myself. The credits I needed for a 'new' Sidewinder had been paid, and I was loaned a couple of pulse lasers to start out with, plus a few other bits of standard equipment. Then I got a message from Charlie, my 'uncle', a friend of the family, telling me that my folks had managed to find an old Eagle belonging to one of their old convoy escorts. The old pilot couldn't fly it any more, and it wouldn't get much on the market, so they said I could have it.

Not bad. It even came with weapons. All I had to do was fly and pick it up and the transfer documents would be prepped and ready for me to sign once I docked at Dalton Gateway.

So here I am, docked at Dalton, with two ships to my name. I haven't decided what to do with the Eagle yet, whether to keep it for combat or sell it and put the credits into my Sidewinder, but the Sidey is pretty rough, and while the Eagle is old, it has been treated well, with no damaged or worn systems, and I could get replacement parts as easily as I can for my Sidey, even though Eagles aren't built any more.

Maybe I'll keep it. It has some use as a combat fighter if I need one, and the Sidey has better cargo ability, so I could switch it up if I need to.

That's something for me to think about. For now, time for me to catch up on galactic news. My ship needs to fuel before I can jump out again.

Personal Journal, 06:33 GMT, 24 Dec 3300
Ship location: Akiyama Market

Harmless Penniless Aimless
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

Today was an early start for me. I normally work on planet-side time back home, but now I'm re-acclimatising to Galactic Mean Time so I can work with the rest of the galaxy more effectively. It's a new experience for me.

My ship needs to be calibrated more effectively. The joker who configured my Sidewinder did a poor job of it, and my controls are out of alignment. Roll and pitch are acceptable, but my yaw controls are off, as are my vertical thrusters.

Lousy mechanics.

I've put in for a minimal service here, but my credit balance is still minimal. It's likely to take hours to get fixed. Looks like I'll need to find something to do on the station. Maybe I can get a trip to the surface. Odd thing was I tried to get clearance to land directly there earlier, but was advised by STC that only the orbital stations in the system were accepting ships at this time, and that any attempt to approach the surface of any planet in the system would be met with a lethal response. I need to find out why later.

Lee signing off.

SUPPLEMENTAL: 06:45 GMT

Clearance to depart the station for the surface denied. That hacked me off so much I demanded to know why. STC routed my call through to Union of Brani's public relations office, who told me that all ships were being walled off from planetary landings for the forseeable future unless special dispensation was granted by top-level Federation representatives. No explanation was given other than that it wasn't because of anything I can control or have acted upon in the past.

So I'm stuck on the station. While I was waiting for the rep to connect my call, I browsed GalNet for news. Typical Empire posturing, as usual, although comments made about the Duvals and the abolitionist principles of Hengist's granddaughter is news to me.

I bet there's going to be an "accident" soon.

There are a few Fed missions for me on the boards. I'll probably take two of them that I can see. They're within jump range, assuming my control interface can be re-calibrated in time for my mission deadlines.

Signing off.
 
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Personal Journal, 03:50 GMT, 26 Dec 3300
Ship location: Littlewood Terminal [V1688 Aquilae]

Harmless Penniless Aimless
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

Two mission opportunities came up yesterday with the Federal Military. I took them both as soon as they were available, which has given me the "rank" of Cadet. I'm now in the same position as a mercenary pilot as I would have ben had Federation Navy recruiters accepted my application at the beginning of the year, only instead of training with other Cadets in a Federation-sanctioned facility, I am teaching myself how to fight, and instead of flying those Condors and military specced ships they use, I'm flying in an indefinitely-loaned Sidewinder that is falling to bits around me, and for which I am footing all the bills.

Lucky for me, I'm making enough money to cover the repairs and keep eating into the bargain.

Federation Military Rank: Cadet

Both of the missions I discovered were milk runs. I was asked to deliver Personal Weapons to the Brani system (I didn't bother asking why), and became a successful merc recruit. Following that, I was given a mission to take non-lethals to another system I can't even remember the name of (it was some Federal Agri-world I didn't think much of), which got me in as a Cadet.

I know I'll have to do more milk runs before I get another change in status and a rank progression that will allow me to do something more challenging. That's fine.

Today was real slow in all other respects, however. Everyone is celebrating consumer-style in the Federation and the Alliance, and only a few Independent worlds are still doing much of anything, so I've parked up my ship and decided to go through GalNet looking at the news.

Imperial Senator Torval decided to "free" 10,000 slaves, did she? I noticed she didn't "free" any of the Imperial slaves that are routinely trafficked in Imperial space. Looks like her emancipation only extends to those who are not part of the Empire. I suspect that those slaves aren't actually free, but are being re-purposed to function as slaves for Imperial worlds.

Scuttlebutt throughout neighbouring independent worlds is that Imperial slaves are given certain rights. It's never clearly stated what those rights are, of course, but one right they are not given is the right to self-determination. There's none of that in the Empire.

It's also a cynical move to accuse the Federation of advocating slavery through inference by suggesting that these slaves were in Federation space, as though the Federal Government is responsible for this problem.

On the subject of cynical moves, President Halsey stated that she did not authorise the bombing of civilians on Panem[Kappa Fornacis]. I hope that's true, but why would an Admiral go off and bomb civilian targets on Panem and not be in the middle of a Federation stand-off if he was acting alone, and not according to Presidential mandate?

Something doesn't seem right about this. I sure hope I'm wrong, though.

Lee signing off.
 
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Personal Journal, 21:36 GMT, 28 Dec 3300
Ship location: Crown Enterprise [V1688 Aquilae]

Harmless Penniless Aimless
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

So my ship was docked for an overhaul for the past two days, and I got in contact with my folks. The whole Christmas thing they do would have been fun if I could get there, but I've been stuck out here with a beat-up old ship and a repair yard that just tried to rip me off.

Finally took off about 3 hours ago to measure the control system response. The control column is still not giving me accurate yaw response, so I'm stuck with switch-based controls routed to my control stick until I can get it replaced. What a pile of junk!

While I was here, I decided to take on a few trades, and some missions for cargo delivery. I had to remove my weapons and shields to replace them with an additional cargo rack and get some jump range, but my weapons were useless anyway. Having two loaned pea-shooters in space is only going to have pirates laughing at you, so I decided to trash them. I'll leave the weapons for a bigger and more capable ship.

While I was hauling cargo back to V1688 Aquilae, I had to traverse an Anarchy system. Naturally, I got interdicted as soon as I started charging my FSD for the next jump in the sequence, but the pilot wasn't as good as he or she thought they were, so they were tossed out of cruise without me. It was a little hairy for a moment there, because my ship had no shields, no weapons, and the pilot seemed to have a slippery ship.

Finally came in to dock at Crown Enterprise about twenty minutes ago. There's no way I'm stepping off this ship though. This place is falling apart as it is, and I don't want to get sucked out into space if a hull panel falls away and they spring a leak. It's in worse shape here than my ship is, and that's saying a lot!

Caught up with the GalNet feeds as well. Looks like Hudson is agitating against President Halsey now, as well. What a bunch of morons! How we ended up with these two jokers in government power I'll never figure out. Voters can't be that stupid, can they? And to cap it all off, now Hudson wants to institute conscription into the Marines and the Navy.

Hey, Hudson. Where were you when my application to the Navy was rejected, huh? Jack-off!

And now Imperial Senator Torval is blaming the Federali's for the rebellion in the Sorbago system. But I thought the Feds were allowing slavery? These people need to make up their minds what they're looking to accuse the Federation of.

I don't really want to see that kind of stuff in the news feeds though, so I hope the ship is in better shape soon. For now, I need to try and find the credits I need to get her ship-shape and Bristol fashion.

To hell with that... I'm going to get some rack time.

Lee signing out.
 
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Personal Journal, 22:07 GMT, 29 Dec 3300
Ship location: Dalton Gateway [LHS 3447]

Harmless Penniless Mostly Aimless
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

So I've made a stop-over at Dalton Gateway for refuelling. Today I managed to contact Universal Cartographics, turned over a bunch of data I picked up while flying through less well populated systems over the last few days, and made enough to carry out some much needed hull maintenance.

About an hour ago, I departed the Vanayequi system with four tonnes of Ceratomorpha fur. The vendor selling the goods on the market told me that they were rare, worth little in the system, and not much more in the neighbourhood, but if I was willing to fly farther away, I could find systems where they were sought after.

I have no idea if he was trying to pull a fast one or not, but I thought I would take the risk given that I had the hold space, the credits, and I was planning to go deeper into Federation space anyway. I just hope I didn't just waste the just-shy-of-3000 credits I paid out for them.

Something odd happened with GalNet today. There's a news entry about [Senator] Torval and the Sorbago rebellion, dated a month from today. Someone messed up with GalNet somewhere, but it looks like a news entry from a few days ago, so it was probably a data error of some kind.

Whatever...

So now it looks like [Shadow President] Hudson was just playing political shenanigans after all. His support of [Admiral] Vincent's bombing campaign in Kappa Fornacis is not only a disgrace to both the government and the Navy, but it reeks of an attempt to court the political conservatives who would vote for what they think is the hard line against the "shiftless" and "indigent" (or as I prefer to call them, the down-on-their-luck poor who are seduced by criminality because their lives are already difficult).

Unfortunately, approval ratings for [President] Halsey have tanked.

Hudson's comments were pretty disgusting at the time, with him claiming that military matters shouldn't be meddled in by government. I always thought that military forces answered to the civilian government, and acting without orders was not acceptable. Hudson shouldn't make any comments about the Navy if he thinks that telling the President not to distance herself from a member of Admiralty (you know, those guys who report directly to the President via the chain of command) is "out of order".

Hey... Hudson. The government proposes, and the military disposes. Unless there's been a military coup that the galaxy missed.

Anyway, I've spent far too much time on this political joker, and I have to get these pelts to Epsilon Indi and then jump to Altair. I've been meaning to check out this part of Federation space for a while.

Lee signing off.
 
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Personal Journal, 23:23 GMT, 29 Dec 3300
Ship location: Gupta City [Lacaille 9352]

Harmless Penniless Mostly Aimless
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

Alright, so I docked at Mansfield [Orbiter, Epsilon Indi] at approx. 23:00 and unloaded my cargo. A buyer took it off of my hands for a total profit of about 68,000 credits. Not a bad haul for such a long distance trip.

Then I took off for Lacaille 9352 so I could get an idea of the shipping that I can obtain. A higher capacity hold would be useful to me right now, until I can afford a combat-capable ship. Once I got a look at the Shipyard, I took a brief tour of a Zorgon Peterson Hauler. It's useless in combat, but then so was my beat-up old Sidewinder, so I traded her in for the Hauler, swapped out the two 4 tonne cargo racks for 8 tonne versions, and upgraded the FSD to give me 11LY jumps.

At least I can carry more goods, and I'm in a relatively secure sector of space. Hopefully, there are some good trades to find while I raise the credits to pick up a better ship for combat.

Anyway, this ship's going to take hours to re-fit with my changes, so I'm off to the bar to see what's going on.

Lee signing off.
 
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Personal Journal, 00:32 GMT, 31 Dec 3300
Ship location: Gupta City [Lacaille 9352]

Harmless Penniless Mostly Aimless
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

Finally, my ship is ready to launch. The night I put my new ship in for outfitting, I got drunk at some tiny little cubby hole near my ships' hangar. It was a pretty lousy place, all kinds of dark, seedy, and more than once I had a two-bit scam artist tried to sell me data modules containing movies and adult material.

The rest of the night didn't go much better. Some heavy-set guy from a high gravity world (at least I assume that's where he came from given his stature) gut even drunker and belligerent, and tried to incite a bar fight. Lucky for everyone there that Federal Security maintain a presence on station. I know they're not doing it for passenger safety, but because they're paid to protect station inventory.

The station is a high-tech hub, after all, but still... It saved me from a few hours with a medical unit and tissue re-generation.

I checked out GalNet again a few moments ago, looks like Aisling Duval and Senator Torval are being catty with one another, although I agree with Duval on the comments she made about Torval's slaves and her comments about lack of poverty in the Synteini system.

The Sanna system might be seceding from the Federation soon. [Congressman Marcus] Albertson managed to rouse the locals with a rallying cry, denouncing the proposal for increased Federal taxation. I'm just pleased I managed to avoid being resident on a Federation world. That's one thing that full-time independent pilots can benefit from, is that by using their ships as their residences, they avoid having to reside in any one system or region of space. We don't have to pay property or land taxes on anything.

Still, it doesn't look good for the President. Not much else worth reporting on the news at the moment.

I'm about ready to depart, so I'm going to do pre-flight and then take my ship back to Epsilon Indi.

Lee signing off.
 
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Personal Journal, 01:12 GMT, 31 Dec 3300
Ship location: [REDACTED]

Harmless Penniless Mostly Aimless
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

I've just put in for a new Fuel Scoop at the Founder's World. There are a collection of monuments on the station that I have been told to go look at, but I don't have time for that right now. There are some crates of something called the Waters of Shintara to pick up here, and I'm going to see if I can off-load them somewhere in Imperial space. I need to break in the FSD a little, so this was the best way I could come up with while making a little credit.

Soon as my scoop is fitted to the hull, I'm leaving. Maybe one day I'll get down to the planet surface to take a look around. The HQ for the Elite Federation of Pilots is down there, and they deal with all the combat ratings that are given out to pilots.

My paperwork for them is going to be extremely light for the near future.

Lee signing off.
 
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Personal Journal, 04:22 GMT, 31 Dec 3300
Ship location: Meredith City [LFT 926]

Harmless Peddler Mostly Aimless
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

I made a run from [REDACTED] to Delta Phoenicis to deliver some Waters of Shintara, then picked up some Phoenicis Palms for the return journey. I stopped over in Kappa Fornacis to drop them off and pick up some [REDACTED] for transit back to [REDACTED].

That got me enough credit to trade in my Hauler for a second-hand Cobra Mk.III, and got me an increased rating of... Heh... Peddler.

The ship is in good condition, having only been in service for six weeks, so it's almost new. The hit on my credit balance was a lot, though. Paid out over 350,000 Credits for it, but it was worth it. Now I have a ship with teeth, and I'm deciding what to do next.

While trying to decide what to upgrade, I decided to take off to Meredith to deliver several cans of excrement [Auto-Tag: Biowaste] to the processing facilities they have there. The handlers assured me that the canisters were hermetically sealed so that the contents would not contaminate the cargo bay, but when I performed an inspection a few minutes ago, I swear it stank like a million farts in there.

Eugh...

Maybe I should vent the cargo bay a few times out in space. Hopefully that will deal with any residual stink. [Command issued REDACTED]

For now, I'm getting some rack.

Lee signing off.
 
Personal Journal, 22:05 GMT, 31 Dec 3300
Ship location: [REDACTED]

Harmless Peddler Mostly Aimless
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

My cargo hold is relatively empty at the moment. My ship has had a few changes made to it with the little credit balance I have left after the purchase, and I committed some of the rest in buying 5 tonnes of Shintara Waters. Before I leave the Founder's world, I'm going to check out the bulletin boards to see if anything is needed on the way back, before I depart for Delta Phoenicis.

While I was waiting for my ship to be outfitted, I checked out GalNet again. The only one making even the remotest bit of sense is Arissa Lavigny, who is calling for the Imperials to stop their infighting and to work together. I suspect they'll hate her suggestion given she was not inbred like the rest of those sisters' mothers, but she has a point they ought to listen to.

Problem is, I can't see her going in any other direction than yet another Marlin Duval, and history remembers what happened to her. I bet most of the Imperial leadership had apoplexy over there being a female Duval in the first place, what with the standard practice being to prevent them using genetic tinkering, as has been publicised for centuries.

Personally, I hope both women can arrange protection against potential traitors, and that there's a sea change within Imperial leadership. The Empire the way it is now is not something I'm keen upon dealing with beyond what is necessary.

Looks like [Federation Shadow President] Hudson is droning on again. Now he's claiming that the Federation should lower taxes... Bleating on about they're hard working and productive. Funny how he was complaining that the youth of today were lazy and indigent, and how Federal Naval conscription was a good idea.

Are you able to make up your mind at all, Hudson? I guess I can't say I'm surprised, given how he doesn't even seem to know that military forces are supposed to answer to a civilian government in a Federation, especially one that is intended to be a democracy.

Although "it is understood that a Federal Battlecruiser will be deployed some time in the New Year to provide a venue for discussions, and to help Sanna remain within the Federation", I can't help feeling that this means that Sanna will be "helped" to stay within the Federation by means of the use of firepower and the threat of destruction.

Damn, and I was hoping to make progress through the ranks and get access to the perks of being a ranking officer, without a commission of course.

Now I'm not so sure if it's the right thing to do. I'll see how this Sanna situation plays out.

Lee signing off.
 
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Personal Journal, 23:02 GMT, 01 Jan 3301
Ship location: Lundwall City [LTT 1349]

Harmless Peddler Mostly Aimless
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

While I am on layover at Lundwall City, I decided to update the Log, as well as read the news feeds. Looks like the Empire is commenting on the Sanna situation.

What are they going to do, send an Interdictor over to Sanna to face off against the Federal Battlecruiser that Halsey said might be deployed sometime in the New Year? Typical Imperial posturing all over again.

My own situation has changed very little so far, I sold of my Waters of Shintara at Kappa Fornacis before coming here to refit my ship, and I sold off some cartographic data to UC from the scans I did on the way from the Founder's World. My ship will be ready to take off once I've fitted some Pulse Lasers and Railguns to the hardpoints. I'm outfitting for combat as of now. The Federation might be engaging in questionable practices, but I'll be damned to Factory Central if I stand by while the Empire tries to take advantage of the situation.

Interestingly enough, Torval was heard making some comments about Aisling Duval while she was drunk at a party. As if that's going to make any difference to her principles and standing in Imperial society... Although while I think about it, they might, given how decadent and superficial most of them are. I'm going to keep an eye on the Sanna system to see if any moves are made to defect to the Empire, and I'll be fighting on behalf of the Federation while I'm there.

I just hope it's not a decision I'll come to regret down the line.

Lee signing off.

SUPPLEMENTAL: 23:51 GMT

Combat rank: MOSTLY HARMLESS

Joined up with a Federal Task Force in the Kappa Fornacis system to protect the capital ships from anyone who sought to attack them. While the blockade is in force, the ships will stay, so any attempt to attack them must be repelled. That's why I went.

The fight was going well. I had managed to rack up about 10 takedowns before I went and did something stupid. My shields were depleted by continual flak from an Anaconda I was killing (along with other Federal fighters). I had boosted to close the gap, underestimated my velocity, and subsequently ploughed into the side of it.

Lucky for me, the escape pod was fully functional so I was ejected... Otherwise I wouldn't be here to write this embarrassing supplemental entry. One of the Federal ships towed me aboard the capital ship, where an emergency shuttle was sent to take me to Harvestport (that being the nearest civilian station). From there, I was offered transit to Lundwell City to await the delivery of my replacement Cobra (which should be in the hangar awaiting refitting to my previous specs as I write this).

I really need to be more careful in combat. Next time, I might not be so lucky.

At least my combat rating is no longer completely [HARMLESS] now.

Signing off.
 
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Personal Journal, 13:28 GMT, 06 Jan 3301
Ship location: Wolszczan Orbital [Giltine]

Mostly Harmless Dealer Mostly Aimless
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

Five days ago, I took on a few sorties for the Federation. They were limited to defending their capital ships from in-system combat vessels (Asps, Cobras, Vipers and the occasional Anaconda). The job paid reasonably well, and allowed me enough cash to upgrade my power distribution system slightly, as well as add some cargo space.

I've decided to put that extra space to use ferrying goods around known space. I took some [REDACTED] from Kappa Fornacis to Delta Phoenicis. From there, I travelled to a few other systems, ferrying a few goods, and my last trip is taking Tobacco from Hyperborea to Giltine. I have just arrived, and sold my cargo.

From here, I might jump to Delta Phoenicis and carry some goods elsewhere in the galaxy. It sure does bore the hell out of me, though. I just hope that I can upgrade my combat systems a bit more so I can engage in more combat missions and make my credits that way instead.

The news hasn't been spectacular on GalNet lately, just some more posturing from the Imperials about Sanna's planned secession. The Dulos system has also decided to break away from the Federation, but nothing else has been announced by Federal leadership yet.

However, Emperor Duval is reportedly now laid up in a hospital bed. I suspect there's going to be a power grab soon.

If only I had a long range FSD, decent scanning equipment, and a better food dispenser, I would set a course in a random direction and travel in a straight line for a few weeks, get away from it all, do some scans, then come back and make a bit of credit.

Looks like I'm going to waste credits at a bar instead...

Lee signing off.
 
Personal Journal, 04:37 GMT, 08 Jan 3301
Ship location: Wolszczan Orbital [Giltine]

Mostly Harmless Dealer Mostly Aimless
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

Eugh... My head still hurts after that night at the bar. I had far too much whisky all night, and it wasn't even decent bourbon or scotch.

I still can't remember much, but there was some muscle-bound jock and a couple of girls at the bar. I think one of them slipped me a calling card; I woke up with one tucked into my flight suit with the name Kelsczata on it. I doubt I'll be calling though, I was really out of it, and I suspect most of us were.

She did excite me though... Feisty and hot looking!

When I got out of my rack this morning, I checked my credit balance and realised I spent over two thousand credits last night. What the hell costs two thousand credits in a drinking establishment? Did I buy gold-plated fizz bottles?

Yesterday's news was equally depressing. The Federation is going to have a bit of a crisis soon. I can see it now. Senators are getting antsy over the Onionhead situation, and President Halsey's public comments on the whole matter have apparently made it very popular, driving its' price up and making traders a lot of money into the deal. It doesn't matter that it's been declared illegal in Federation space. The system itself is independent, and many traders are selling the stuff in independent systems.

Even some Federation colonies are buying up the stuff despite it being illegal.

So much for cracking down on it.

The Durius system is experiencing difficulties still, with Senator Patreus still posturing in the news and sending Imperial ships to continue threatening them.

[EXPLETIVE CENSORED]

And now the Empire has to deal with a slave revolt in the Ongkuma system. Serves them right for sanctioning slavery in the Empire. It's a shame that the Imperials don't see that "Imperial Slavery" and unsanctioned slavery are still... Slavery... As in the taking of people's right to self-determination away from themselves.

Yes, corporate wage-slavery in the Federation is a serious problem which needs to be tackled thank you very much Senator Torval, but that doesn't mean it's acceptable to continue trading in slaves oneself while claiming to "free" non-imperial slaves that are allegedly in Federation space.

They're all as bad as each other.

Anyway, I need some seriously-strong coffee, and then I better get this ship out into space so I can make back that money I blew last night.

Lee signing off.
 
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Personal Journal, 10:14 GMT, 10 Jan 3301
Ship location: Sharon Lee Free Market [Orrere]

Mostly Harmless Dealer Mostly Aimless
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

Boring trade runs as usual, although taking on rare goods between major trade hubs helps to bring in the cash a little. I've got just over half a million credits balance, which would make any ground-sider comfortable for life. However, for a private-sector pilot, it's merely a means to an end, as in I could get myself a surface scanner, an upgraded Discovery Scanner, or maybe upgrade a couple of my existing components.

To get a new ship like an Asp Explorer would cost me many times the amount of credits I have saved plus the trade-in investment in my ship at the moment.

I'll be doing this trade run for a little while longer until I can spec this ship out properly for some other task.

Meanwhile, GalNet has some more updates on what's happening in the galaxy.

Kappa Fornacis is getting the short straw again when it comes to the Federation. [Admiral] Vincent has resumed his bombing campaign of Panem. The news states that this time he is using specially-tailored gene-bombs (what he called genetically-engineered biocides) that target only the genetic strain that identifies Onionhead crops, while leaving everything else untouched.

I can't even begin to describe why this troubles me, aside from the fact that the risks associated with genetic tinkering are not to be understated. There's a reason why the Federation has traditionally relied on robotic technologies rather than genetic tinkering, and that's because mutations are a fact of life. Who knows what would happen if the biocides happen to mutate sufficiently that they can affect other life? We could be looking at a major pandemic... Or worse.

I'm starting to regret supporting the Federation.

Hopefully I can continue climbing the ranks of the Federation mercenary division until I can get clearance to purchase a Dropship, but after that, I'm cutting loose from them for good.

I'm hoping the Alliance sets up a similar outsourcing capability for their military, so I can work for them instead.

In other news, looks like the Emperor's wedding plans are being stepped up. I have no idea what to think of that, except that he's supposed to be on death's door, which makes me suspicious of the motives of everyone involved.

I recently saw an advertisment for the Fer De Lance on some billboard near a boutique in the station here, today. The FdL ships have always been impressive and well-sought-after. Now another model looks set to be released, I'm considering saving for one to serve as a secondary ship. I'm planning to have a few ships on hand for multiple jobs.

I also got a holofac from Kelsczata a few hours before I woke up. Says she enjoyed our chat (I don't remember much of it) and would like to see me again soon. Funny... It's only now I remember I gave her my card as well as her giving me the card I mentioned before. At least she'll be a nice diversion any time I'm near the Giltine system.

I should get back to her... Actually I'll do it now.
[COMMS INSTRUCTION REDACTED][AUTO-SIGN-OFF]
 
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Personal Journal, 18:04 GMT, 17 Jan 3301
Ship location: Snyder Terminal [Rajukru]

Mostly Harmless Dealer Scout
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

Since the last log, not much has happened. Kelsczata is apparently part of a cargo escort from Giltine to Kappa Fornacis, flying a short-range Sidewinder and escorting a Type 9 alongside a bunch of other Sidewinders and Eagles. I've never carried out escort work before, so I don't know how it is, but it's apparently slow going having to wait for everyone's ships to get in sync for simultaneous jumps at short-range distances, and not every ship has a fuel scoop so some of them have to dock at a space station to top up.

I think I would lose the will to live if I were doing that. I feel sorry for her.

Despite that, and despite looking tired last time I saw her, she was pleased to hear from me, and we had a nice exchange of messages [REF: Why real-time two-way comms is impossible outside star systems].

GalNet reports that Onionhead has been wiped out. I haven't been near Kappa Fornacis for a week or so, and I'm not near there for several weeks more on my current planned trade route, so I won't know if that's true or not. I suspect it's true if the Federation are involved. At least when it comes to taking out a target, they see it through to its' end.

No change in my rank, and no offers of promotion either. I wonder if we've got intelligence agents spying on people's comms or pulling their logs from onboard computers now? I've taken all the precautions I can to encrypt the data on my black box processor, and redacted sensitive information before it's copied to the box, but who knows? Maybe I'm just being paranoid?

Anyway, I'm moving on soon, with a cargo of Rajukru multi-stoves. Some of these rare cargoes are just... Weird. Multi-stoves, bee drones, wax? Come on!

Emperor Duval's wedding plans might be in trouble, given GalNet's latest news report... Not because Aisling Duval has lodged a protest (although she has), but because his health has reportedly deteriorated again. If this continues, there may be no wedding at all.

I'm also convinced that Vice President Smeaton was murdered. There are far too many coincidences for the event, and now it appears that large amounts of data concerning the events have now gone missing, allegedly due to system failures.

System failures my [EXPLETIVE DELETED]. There are redundancies built into even the most basic of shipside equipment. I find it hard to believe that there are systems in use at high levels of Federation governance that do not include some sort of protection in case of equipment failures. This just has to be a targeted attempt to derail the investigation which has now been reported as inconclusive.

I may have to change my plans again. I want no part of this fiasco, no matter how distantly.

Anyway, I better get my ship prepped for departure so I can sell my cargo and increase my credit balance for my future upgrade plans.

Lee signing off.
 
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Personal Journal, 00:07 GMT, 18 Jan 3301
Ship location: Godwin Vision [Kamorin]

Mostly Harmless Dealer Scout
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

I just docked here, and already I have to put in for some hull repairs. I did something stupid and got too close to a supergiant star on the way here while scooping to top up my tanks.

Ah well... I wanted to change my paint job anyway.

Nothing else to report today. I'm going to the bar to drink a few while I wait for the call from the repair dock so I can get back aboard my ship and get some rack. A few more trade runs and I should have enough to upgrade my scanners so I can take off and explore for a while.

Signing off.
 
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Personal Journal, 22:28 GMT, 18 Jan 3301
Ship location: Shajn Terminal [Eshu]

Mostly Harmless Dealer Scout
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

Imperial space... It's a little strange being here. I don't know what it is about these places, but my nerves are on edge. I feel like I might be sneered at for not dressing correctly. I'm staying aboard my ship until I get out of here.

Speaking of Imperials, looks like Emperor Hengist Duval has lapsed into a coma. Looks like the wedding's off.

I had a far more interesting time on my journey here. The usual jump sequence had me flitting from one star to the next in a sequence, until I reached the Siliwarisu system and encountered two closely-orbiting stars, They weren't quite contact-binary, but they were getting close. Who knows what will happen in a few hundred thousand years?

I would have preferred to stay and look at the sight. It was something different, that's for sure... But my ship isn't equipped to handle those kinds of temperatures.

Few ships are.

The odd thing was I found yet another close-orbiting binary in the Ladakhi system. That was slightly different, in that one star was a main-sequence yellow star of considerable size compared to its' companion, a small orange star. Again, they weren't contact binary, but it was a sight to behold.

And this time I managed to get up close and personal, as it was a fuel stop for my tanks.

For now, I'm going to clean up, order some station food delivered to the dock, and relax for the evening.

Signing off.
 
[OOC note: I'm re-posting the link to the discussion thread in case anyone wants to comment on this log as it stands now. I'm interested in comments from others on my writing style, and the reputation system no longer allows people to add comments, hence the discussion thread. Essentially my message is: Don't be afraid to speak out.

Additionally, I'm going to start updating the 1st post with stats that I can retrieve from the game as I progress. This may not be as complete as the information I can provide as I play, but I don't remember half the things I did last month in-game, unfortunately.

Any other comments I wish to make will be left on the discussion thread.

Another Commander's Personal Log will be posted next time I play (hopefully tonight).]
 
Personal Journal, 01:14 GMT, 24 Jan 3301
Ship location: Gustav Sporer Port [Goman]

Mostly Harmless Dealer Scout
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

I got some real bad news back in Eshu.

While I was nursing the mother of all hangovers and throwing up the previous night's excesses, I got a Holofac from my mother. My father was badly injured while transporting goods in what was supposed to be secure Federation space. His spacecraft was destroyed after an engagement that lasted over ten minutes, and he had ejected, but whoever it was that attacked his vessel decided to attack his escape pod as well. No-one came to his assistance despite his emergency transponder being active and his crime reporter being enabled.

The worst part about it was that there's been no investigation since the attack. I know... I checked in last night with mom.

I haven't touched a drop since that morning. I need to be in full command if I'm going to be of any use to anyone.

I'm determined to contact the Federation when I'm out of Imperial space. I don't want to do it here, because I don't trust the Empire not to arrest me as an enemy combatant for communicating with them, but I'm angry enough to start going after these people if I don't get the answers I want.

And I want to know why the hell the Federation isn't investigating this assault in secure space.

As for my father's injuries, I don't know if he can recover from them. I can't get my mother to send the medical reports to me. That's something else I'm going to have to try and find out when I get out of Imperial space.

Frankly, GalNet reports about the Imperial wedding being called off, and slave emancipation don't concern me at all right now. I just want to know if dad's alright.

Hold it, I'm getting an incoming Holofac...
[MESSAGE PLAYBACK REDACTED]

I just got a message from Kel... Hope she doesn't take it personally if I don't send her a response right now. I don't want her to feel the force of my bad mood.

[EXPLETIVE REDACTED] this... Sign off.
 
Personal Journal, 14:34 GMT, 24 Jan 3301
Ship location:
[REDACTED]
Mostly Harmless Dealer Scout
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

I got out of Imperial space in the early hours of the morning. First thing I did was to contact the Federal Security Service to find out if there was an investigation into the attack on my dad's ship. They told me by reply that they don't discuss individual cases over Holofac. I sent back a response that I had just left Imperial space and will be coming to Federation space to find out what was going on, at which point they stopped replying altogether. I've gotten nothing back since.

So I contacted the local Congressman where my father was attacked. A response is pending, I'm told.

That was getting me nowhere.

I've decided to change my plans again, and now I'm forced to get closer to the Federation to find out what happened to my dad, why he was attacked, and who was responsible. I'll be leaving here in a few days to sign up for more navy missions with the Federation in the hope that I might be able to find out more from classified channels.

I haven't checked any of the news feeds yet, but I've only been getting galactic-wide news coverage. No local stories have been reported in any of the systems I've docked at in the last several weeks, most likely because there is nothing to report...

Or because local news reports are being stopped by the respective powers. I can't tell which right now until I can dig for more information.

All I know is something
[EXPLETIVE DELETED] up is going on, because my ship refuses to approach a planetary body of any kind. It immediately drops out of cruise the second I get close enough to enter low orbit, and refuses to allow control authority to approach the planet beyond that point. I also can't override the systems as whatever is causing the failure seems to be hardwired.

Kel reports the same thing on every single ship in her convoy. None of them can approach any planetary surface. She says it's been that way for weeks. I don't know how long it's been, but even the oldest ships flying in space all seem to have this problem.

About the only good thing to come out of this is that Kel has been doing her best to make me feel better. After I told her what had happened and why I'd been out of contact, she even offered to do some digging of her own, even though she is serving as an escort pilot and has no pull with any authorities.

I still appreciate the offer. She's in convoy through the Ackandso system, so we're pretty far apart, but I'm hoping I can meet her in person again soon. It just depends on when I can get to a system that coincides with her convoy's route.

Signing off.
 
Personal Journal, 03:45 GMT, 26 Jan 3301
Ship Location: Deep space, en-route to Wolszczan Orbital

Mostly Harmless
Dealer Scout
Cmdr Leland Jason Fox

This is a quick entry as I have to depart ship as soon as I make the pad. I received a comms transmission from Mikhail Kovacs, an escort pilot who worked with Kel on the last escort run she did in the Giltine system. He tells me he has a message to deliver to her and it's urgent, but he can't do it himself.

Whatever it's about, I'll find out in a few minutes when I reach the station.

Signing off.
 
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