Day 6: The Dangers of space

*Log activated*

There is an old Earth saying that has been passed down for generations among my people. "Space is big. Really big." For the most part I would tend to agree. It would take me my whole natural life to fully explore and chart each and every system within the EVE cluster. What people failed to note however, is that space is also very dangerous.

There were a suprising number of sectors that had problems with rogue drones disrupting the area. Why Concord or even the local security forces could not deal with these occurrences was quite a surprise. Nevertheless, as I was in the area I felt it would not hurt help plus the bounty for the drones was substantial.

I flew my Navitas, good ship that she was, to the area where the drones were spotted. There were several medium threat-level drones in the mix which, while more dangerous than their light-drone brethren, were still manageable. The drones were guarding a Drone Silo which I heard was the main source of the problems in the sector. I flew towards them, 'guns blazing' so to speak, eager to get this mission over with.

However, I did not anticipate that a Drone battery contained missiles. My days in the Navy Academy had made me associate 'battery' with gun emplacements. I was sadly mistaken as missiles tore into my hull, easily piercing the civilian shields the Magellan had. I tried to warp to safety but the combined damage output of the drones and the missile battery tore through my defenses and blew up my ship.

Thankfully, Gallente engineering proved to be as reliable as I'd hoped it to be, my pod ejecting at the last moment as ion blasts and explosive warheads reduced what was left of my ship into so much space dust. How warp technology could be fitted to such a small pod still amazes me but I was not one to complain. I set course back to the nearest station. As I arrived, I was surprise to find that I had a new Velator waiting for me; a 'gift' from my insurance company since I lost my ship in battle.

Still, I was not one to pass a free ship. I took the ship back to my home station where I purchased a new Navitas. Equiping her with heavier weapons, I returned to the sector and proceeded to unleash divine retribution on the drones (this time keeping well clear of the missile battery).

Sector cleared and lesson learned. I am thankful my ship did not carry any crew. Had this been one of the relics from the last great war, I am sure many would have perished in the fight.

*Log deactivated*

Day 2: The Flying Goldfish

*Log Activated*

While my Velator served me well, it was becoming apparent that it could not continue to do so for very long. Spare ISK which I happened to come across allowed me to acquire a more sturdy vessel.

Still, the Maya was of sentimental value so I docked her in the Starbase while I purchased my new Navitas.

At the time, I had believed it to be quite the ship. She was tougher than the Maya in both defense and offense and had a larger cargo hold.

Later on it would remind me of the little goldfish I used to keep as a child.

Gallente and their ship designs...

*Log Deactivated*

Day 1: Additional entry.

*Log Activated*
No matter how self-sufficient I desire to be, I am still confined within the regions of the Federation. Swallowing my pride, I contacted an agent in the Oursalert System. She seemed fairly cold at my presence. How unlike the typical friendliness I had come to expect from Gallenteans.

In any case, after much 'wooing' and quite a number of Spiced Wine bottles later, I was finally able to gain her trust enough for her to allow me to run some missions. Simple courier runs were the norm, as I raced back and forth between systems delivering whatever papers or items she deemed worthy. While it was not as 'glorious' an existence as I had hoped it would be, it would suffice for now. For the most part, it kept me fed and confortably clothed. In due time, I would be able to afford more luxurious accomodations.

I had resigned myself to this mundane activity for several days when I heard some rather news on the GalNet. Rogue drones, which for the most part were used to frighten little children, had begun terrorrizing a small mining operation in the system. The miners in turn refused to work under such conditions, and rightly so. If the training drones were any indication, civilian ships stood no chance against the robotic fighters.

Deciding this was more of a challenge than watching the mating habits of Veldspar, I decided to clear the deadspace area where the drones resided. While some might have believed this was an entirely altruistic endeavor, I am not one to correct them. The truth of the matter was the bounty and the materials the drones were made of would add significantly to my funds.

Upon entering the area, I encountered the drones in question. Believing them to be as 'easy' as their training brethren, I was painfully made aware of the difference. While majority of the drones proved just as fragile as I'd believed, there was one particular drone which made the experience all the more harrowing. I believe it was a Render Drone.

Before I left the station, I had thought it prudent to upgrade my civilian blaster into a Dual Light Laser. This proved to be a blessing as I think my old weapon would have had little effect on this foe. The dogfight lasted quite some time; each of us circling the other. Throughout the battle, I had failed to notice the Drone Missile Battery nearby. Apparently the machines had started to build defenses to hold the area. Already I could see the drone silo it guarded, small sparks flying about as it appeared to be building new drones.

Needless to say, my shields and armor took a beating as my course took me too close to the battery. I tried to put as much distance as I could between me and the missile battery while continuing to fire on the Render drone. Thankfully the drone succumbed to my attacks, leaving me to deal with the lone defender.

It was curious though. As I let my shields rechagre, I failed to notice one last missile headed towards me. Unsure if the remaining hull could take the impact, I had resigned to becoming one with the void. It was then the missile simply exploded a few meters away from my hull.

Checking my sensors at this strange twist of events, I discovered that while the machine could track me well outside my own firing range, it's missiles could not. At 10km, I was fairly safe as the missile's failsafe simply detonated it once fuel ran out. Orbiting it at that range, I proceeded to slowly but surely whittle away at its shields and armor. Aside from the rare missile which hit when my orbit deviated slightly, I was able to take down the annoying platform.

Which allowed me to turn my attention to the drone silo.

The drones themselves were my only concern as they were the ones with the bounty. However, while the silo remained, travel in the area would become more and more dangerous. It took quite a bit of time and effort but eventually the silo was nothing more than a memory.

Arriving back to the station, I was greeted by several miners who congratulated me on saving their business. I gave them a customary nod and proceeded to the bar, the day's events had been somewhat tiring. There, I was surprised to encounter my agent who gave me a not so simple smile. I could swear it was almost predatory. But no matter. She told me that there was a mission bounty on whoever could take out the drone infestation and as I was the only one to do it, she had given me quite the reward. The ISK was also appreciated.

Although I am quite unsure what to do with the small arms she had given me.

*Log deactivated*

Day 1: The Exodus

*Log activated*

Today was the start of a new life for me. Living for so long under the Federation had made me blind to the corruption which polluted the empire. For now, I cannot write about them for I may be being watched. Their eyes are everywhere.

But I digress. This new life for me is certainly a most challenging and more than likely dangerous choice. I had liquidated all my asssets and belongings with nothing but a small suitcase to my name and purchased a small Velator frigate. However flimsy it looked, it would take me into the sea of stars and perhaps my own destiny.

Climbing into the pod was never a pleasant experience. Having been in the Federal Navy, I had witnessed my own captain as he was inserted into his pod. Disgusting to look at but the efficiency gained could not be denied. A direct neural link between pilot and ship was much faster than human reflexes could possibly match. However, I still dislike the idea.

Christening her the Maya, after a small bird native to my own homeland, I proceeded to link with the ship as per Aura's intructions. Aura, my ever present ship A.I., instructed me in the basic use of the ship's systems. As each system came online it was if it became a part of me, an extension of my will.

Her little tutorial finished, I finally left space dock and the site absolutely amazed me. The sheer beauty of space can never be described to landlings. Even myself, who had served aboard several ships before had never experienced it as the captain would have.

Deciding to test my wings, so to speak, I headed to one of the Deadspace areas in Duripant. Several drones were kept here for training purposes and it would serve as a test of my own resolve.

Flying into the area was straightforward, my warp drive taking me as far as the warp gate which would take me to the combat zone. Why we could not simply fly straight to the area is unknown to me but I choose not to dwell on it. Activating the gate, I feel the familiar warp effect take hold as I am transported to the designated area. Upon arrival I see the drones become alive as they notice my presence.

Activating my ship's single gun, I engaged them with gusto, taking down each drone methodically. However, they swarm on me and would have done serious damage had I not purchased the shield booster earlier.

The mission itself was fairly straightforward. One of the drones dropped a passkey which allowed me to use the second warp gate. A 'boss' was at the other end, which was somewhat more difficult than its regular brethren. Nothing which I couldn't handle, naturally.

In the end, I was able to acquire an Overseer module and a basic implant. They would provide several thousand ISK which would allow me to upgrade my ship further. But aside from that, other means fo surving in the sea of stars would have to be found soon.

*Log deactivated*