[IC] My name is Taylor Vauban

[pippo]

This log is now on Wordpress, divided by chapters.
All the pictures have been deleted from FD's forum to make room and the full content is on Wordpress. Thanks for checking it out.
https://taylorvauban.wordpress.com
It's not quite there yet, visually speaking, but I'm working on it

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20th December 3300 - 8.58

My name is Taylor, after my grandfather who passed away this last week. I was born and raised on Dalton Gateway, a Starport orbiting the LHS 3447 A5 planet and where Taylor senior, peace be upon him, was originally from.
According to him, our family is a long line of settlers. Once slaves, we were freed two centuries ago to terraform and call home this now blue planet that I always stared at through Dalton’s glass sky without ever setting foot on it. My father would rather say that slaves we once were and slaves we are still, only working for Faulcon DeLacy now, assembling fuel tanks for a miserable pay.
I didn’t always work there, though. Younger, I was desperate to join the Federation Navy and even spent a few years preparing to be a pilot. They never told me why I couldn’t pursue my dream but it was short after we started to train on combat simulation that my contract was ended.
I’m now heading to Trevithick Dock, following the instructions of my grandfather’s will, sitting in the cargo hold of a shady looking yet charitable trader who accepted to take me there for a small sum.

Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

23rd December 3300 - 14:13

I would never have thought my grandfather to be such a secretive man.

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A fully operational Sidewinder was waiting for me at Trevithick Dock, assembled from spare parts during his early years. I suppose he too dreamt of leaving Dalton Gateway some day. This is my inheritance it seems, and it would be a shame to just bring it back to Dalton's.
I understand now why my mother was so sad to see me go and why my father looked so proud. With the frame shift drive's capability, I really cannot see the point of turning back. I think I'll head outside LHS 3447 and see what else is out there.

Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

5th January 3301 - 13:28

It has been two weeks and I've made more credits than my father ever made in a year. I cannot believe where this Sidewinder has brought me so far, only by shifting scraps from one system to another, selling the few discoveries made along the way.
I also made some new friends at Kempston Hardwick in the Frog System, two retired miners I've been drinking beers with who were telling me how profitable their trade used to be. It didn't strike me at the time but I did fly by several mineral and metallic rings on my travels. Now this all is behind them and they would rather spend the rest of their time sharing stories.
The nearby planet Thea reminds me of home, only this place is a lot brighter. I am liking it here and I could stay for a while, far from all this political nonsense…

Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

3rd February 3301 - 00:31

Hauling cargo and selling the old data could only get me so far. A bit of luck and some rare goods allowed me to leave the Frog System in a new ship a couple of weeks ago, for the Pand System, on the fringe of inhabited space - the starting line of my first expedition.
This Cobra MkIII is a fine piece of machinery, and even if it might not be in the best condition or outfitted with the best equipment, it got me here today, on the first stage of my first journey, just a few light years away from the R CRA Nebula.

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This Nebula caught my eye as there is only one single star within it, BRSO 14. Unlike most Nebulae that I know of, it is only visible from a few light years away. It felt worth investigating…

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Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

3rd February 3301 - 14:18

Simply stunning.

Not one, but two Class B stars after all. Nothing else I could spot, probably due to the limited capability of my scanner. It feels so peaceful here.

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My first thought was that all this place was missing was an Earth-Like World so I could have settled in this heaven, but once again, all that humanity brings is chaos and suffering wherever it reaches. Has Hengist Duval died yet? Has war finally sparked between the Federation and the Empire? I do not know, and as much as I miss the comfort of gravity and the presence of my friends, I do not want to find out just yet.
So I guess I'll head a little further out for now, the Corona Austrina Dark Region isn't too far, and I spotted a dying star that happens to be on the way there.

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Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

4th February 3301 - 20:50

I have to admit I felt intimidated closing in this giant black dust cloud, only to realize that after visiting a few Star Systems, I was already moving away from it. I did although find some serious candidates for life supporting planets, a shame my equipment won't allow me to go down on the surface in order to bring samples back home.

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It feels that I am traveling in the right direction, just the right distance away from the Galactic Bulge. So I'm going to carry on, I can faintly see my next stop toward the Veil Sector. It is quite a leap, but hopefully I will make some interesting discoveries along the way that I am sure Universal Cartographic will pay good money for.

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Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

7th February 3301 - 19:02

COL 359 Sector,
I have officially left the Dark Region of Coronae Austrinae. It might only be a hundred light years behind me but something weird makes it feel like a million.
I haven't seen a soul in quite a while now. Although it was never going to be as loaded with traffic as around Dalton Gateway, this journey so far was always met with the odd Adder or Asp. I even submitted to a Federal Security Vessel routine check, right outside the R CRA Nebula.
Not carrying any weapon or shield generator never failed to leave me uneasy at the occasional interdiction, but I have to say, this feeling of loneliness is something else.
I have to admit I felt like turning back until I saw the contour of the Veil West Nebula in the distance.
Deep breath, Taylor. I still have plenty of supply to see me there and back.

Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

9th February 3301 - 15:37

It seems this journey has come to an end. I'm running around in circles as my Frame Shift Drive capability is starting to show its limits. The Veil West Nebula, once proving extremely difficult to spot with the naked eye, is now appearing everywhere I look, taunting me, as a reminder of my own failure. Not only have I come to realize I am never going to reach my destination, at least with this equipment, I couldn't even make any significant discovery to justify those last few days of going back and forth, looking for a viable route to the Veil Sector.
So I turned my ship back, toward the Pand System, and the first signal that my scanner picked up after the first jump back to the civilized world was this Earth Like Planet...

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I will do my best to see in it a sign of destiny and keep my focus to get back to Pand in one piece.

Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

10th February 3301 - 15:43

Contact! And the first interdiction attempt in a long time now. I must be getting closer as I'm beginning to see more and more ships.
I fiddled with my Communication System and picked up a faint music broadcast. Radio Sidewinder it seems. A newsflash confirmed that humanity was exactly as I left it, granted I wasn't gone for too long.
Never since I've made the decision to turn back have I felt the urge to dock and feel the ground as much as today. This comforting music will help me reaching my destination while keeping me from restlessness.

Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

13th February 3301 - 19:46

COL 285 Sector, the home stretch of my mission to reach populated space turned out to be a real hornet's nest. Not only it is a field of brown and red dwarves that I cannot refuel at, it is infested with pirate ships too. I've lost count of how many times I've been interdicted. Even though I managed to escape most of them, the last time saw my canopy's integrity compromised and a sudden change of plan… rush to Pand.
In a panic, I deviated from my original route in order to refuel one last time. Praying for no contact to show up on my sensors.

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I couldn't afford to loiter any longer scanning for planets and stars. Once my fuel tanks were full enough to see me to the Pand System, I punched the Frame Shift Drive on full throttle, considering any contacts as a potential death. My heart was pounding all along the way and I could not tell if I was getting any closer until…

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I have never been so grateful to be alive. I will leave the Cobra in the hangar for some necessary repairs and will be on my way to the first bar to get drunk.
Universal Cartographic can wait another day.

Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

14th February 3301 - 17:08

I woke up in my cargo hold just an hour ago, with sore hands and what feels to be a chipped tooth. I have no recollection of what happened last night but it can't have been anything good I'm afraid.
I think it is time for me to take off and head back to more friendly ground. I have set the Navigation System to Kempston Hardwick in the Frog System and will sell my exploration data there.
I am not too sure I should be getting in a cockpit at this point but I don't want to find out what havoc I've created in Raliegh Point. I will not be coming back here anytime soon.

Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

15th February 3301 - 10:26

I must have seriously upset someone back at Raliegh Point. I got interdicted in the Vistobici System by a much larger ship while refueling, my hull was already melting when I had to drop out of supercruise. This guy knew what he was doing and was determined to destroy me. It was no pirate attack and he made it perfectly clear to me.

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Fortunately, it didn't take me too long to extend my lead and eventually being able to jump away, but keeping this Anaconda behind me for even a short time resulted in some heavy damages to my ship.
I'm only a few light years away from the Frog System and hope I'm no longer being followed.

Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

17th February 3301 - 22:54

I've been laying low at Kempston Hardwick for a couple of days now. The Cobra MkIII is in a hangar after some heavy repairs and will stay there until I can get my hand on a top of the line Frame Shift Drive. Trick is, such a piece of equipment is going to cost three times the value of the ship itself. Even though Universal Cartographic have transferred a hefty sum in my account for my last trip, the next journey will have to wait for a while.
I also got the opportunity to meet up with Henck, one of the retired miners I met last month. His friend had lost his life while I was away. He was attacked by a pirate ship on a short trade run between here and Rochester. Apparently, his ejection capsule malfunctioned and no search party was dispatched. I could only empathize after the relentless pirates interdictions I suffered on my way back.
We got talking with some men from Frog Commodities about the rising of pirate activity in the System, and their angle on this was that any help was welcome. Now I am no bounty hunter, and I certainly won't be cleansing the galaxy from all parasites, but I can start cleaning my own backyard... and if I managed to survive without any shield or weapon so far, I believe I should be able to defend myself just enough in my Sidewinder.
I will sleep on the idea tonight.

Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

19th February 3301 - 13:22

The guys from maintenance have done a fantastic job fitting some weaponry and reinforcing my Sidewinder's hull with a new alloy. The shield generator is holding on just brilliantly too. I have performed several exits since yesterday, patrolling the Frog System and bringing fair reprisal on pirate scum.
The Sidey is performing better than expected, as long as I keep boxing in my own category. The people of Frog Commodities and their local security office are paying well too, so well in fact that greed is getting to me. I'm beginning to understand why the Federation Navy kicked me out of the academy as I'm showing, exactly like I did back then, some very unwise and hot headed initiative.
I don't know what pushed me to bring this wanted Python out of supercruise but greed and sheer adrenaline…

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I suppose I was only lucky to find its pilot to be more of a burning head than I was. As good and fearsome as the Python may be, I cannot understand why anyone would bring his ship into a fight without any shield…

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Why this wanted man never attempted to flee while I was struggling to bring his Frame Shift Drive down is a mystery. I am grateful this encounter didn't turn out to be just a massive waste of ammo in the end. I have learnt a valuable lesson today and will stick with smaller ships in the future.
I'm approaching Kempston Hardwick for docking now, and will call it a day.

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Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

1st March 3301 - 19:18

A lot as happened this last week.
I have been blasting wanted intruders on behalf of Frog Commodities for the last few days, so much so that I gave up carving crosses on my Sidey's hull. On my way back from the last exit, I was shocked to discover that my benefactor was no longer in charge of Kempston Hardwick, and the entire Frog System for that matter. The much more authoritarian people from Frog Autocracy had gain control over night. Although it didn't turn out to be a great surprise to the locals, I was a little uncomfortable requesting docking permission to a no longer allied faction.

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It didn't take long for these guys to get in touch with me. They said they couldn't help but notice the work I'd been doing for Frog Commodities and the Frog community in general, that they would happily help to see me continue securing the System alongside their Security Forces.
And by help, they meant making a brand new Core Dynamics Eagle available to me.

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As long as I would bear the cost of the ship's up keeping, it was mine to dispose of from now on.
If only I had known what was coming, I wouldn't have spent so much on outfitting my Sidewinder and would have probably focused on my next expedition, still in need of a new Frame Shift Drive for the Cobra MkIII.

Even though nothing seems to be radically different from before around here, I couldn't help but notice a new breed of traders coming and going, dealing in a very specific commodity…

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I am not too sure how to feel about this.

Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

4th March 3301 - 20:54

Although I was extremely excited to get my hands on the Eagle provided by Frog Autocracy, I quickly understood while giving the old test fly around Kempston Hardwick that despite its incredible maneuverability, this ship was not going to be an improvement as Core Dynamics had done a pretty poor job on its Power Generator and Distribution Systems. On my return inside the station, a Federal Viper pilot told me that even if the Eagle was renown for its overheating issues, it remained a very lethal ship if only I was prepared to invest in a better Power Coupling.
I think I will still keep saving my credits for the Cobra's Frame Shift Drive and the expedition.
So it was in the Sidewinder's Cockpit that I carried on securing the immediate area. I was quite surprise to see a wanted freighter pilot trying to make his way to Rasch Dock and did not think twice before intervening…

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I think this Lakon Type 6 pilot believed to be victim of a pirate attack as he initially dropped an awful lot of his cargo behind him. I'm sure he had understood his mistake by the time he had to eject. Granted I did not waste any time with useless warnings or any form of discussion since I believe his wanted status and the bounty on his head was enough to justify my action.
Only when I turned around to check the nature of his cargo did I understand how much he valued his life.

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Would I have let him go knowing what he was bargaining with? Most probably not.
Will I be picking up some of these Pavonis Ear Grubs' Canisters to get an idea of how much it is worth on the black market? Most probably yes.

Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[pippo]

9th March 3301 - 17:38

Days go by and the Frog Autocracy are gaining influence at an incredible rate. The only downside to this is that Kempston Hardwick is no longer selling the Frame Shift Drive I was after. I guess it goes in hand with a not so corporate government in charge.
That being said, I have made an obscene amount of money patrolling around the Nav Beacon and I'll stick around a little while longer, time for me to equip whatever Kempston Hardwick has to offer at the moment for the Cobra MkIII. Only then I will head out through High Tech worlds looking for the Frame Shift Drive.
Since it is now out of question to leave from Pand, I thought of New Yembo as a starting base for my trip. I hear they finished building a brand new station there. Might be worth checking it out as it turn out New Yembo is actually quite remote.

Taylor Vauban, logging out

 

[mmikem]

Love it. Great story, enjoying the adventure.

 

[pippo]

Love it. Great story, enjoying the adventure.

Thanks.
Wish I had more time to play.

 

[pippo]

13th March 3301 - 11:24

It is time.
There is nothing more for me to get from Kempston Hardwick or even Rochester for the Cobra MkIII, so I have set the Navigation Systems to New Yembo. It's over 200Ly away and will allow me to visit several High Technology Systems on the way. I have high hopes that I will find the equipment needed before reaching Unity, in New Yembo.
LHS 3564 is quite close and known within the Frog System for their precision work and high quality products.

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Unfortunately, Frog's main exports are, for most, illegal in LHS 3564, and there are no metals or minerals in the vicinity worth bringing over. No doubt a full hold of Cobalt would have been the perfect ice breaker when getting to deal with the local merchants, but I opted for a load of pharmaceuticals instead. Surely basic medicines are always welcome.

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So this is a goodbye to the Frog System. I'm hoping the final pre-flight check won't be the last time I set foot on Kempston Hardwick's platform.

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Taylor Vauban, logging out