08/21/3304 - Daedalus Station, Sol. Assignment from Mother Gaia has been active for almost two weeks now. Not completely sure what's going on but, there's been a lot of action. Decided to leave the fighting to more experienced pilots. With my Broker/Pioneer ranking, I've been taking missions as a courier and light trader. Moving intelligence and supplies as fast as Galactic Discovery is able. Operation Commander has noticed my sustained success. No losses...yet. Sent me on a few planetary scan missions as well. A couple of close calls but my escape skills improve with each one. Collected some pretty valuable data for Mother Gaia. As long as I'm needed I'll stay on with the Federation. If I don't deserve a promotion for this action, I might stay with Mother Gaia until I do. We'll see what the future holds.

8/8/3304 - Departed Galitini a few days ago headed to Sol hoping to do some work for the Federation for a while. Worked for them a few months back and earned a promotion to Lieutenant Commander. Thought that might get me access to some better paying assignments. Took a day to get back in the swing of things but so far, things are looking good. So good in fact, I picked up one of the newly updated Kraits. A Krait Mark II. Named her Galactic Discovery (BDH-06). Had to canibalize Galactic Explorer II a bit to get her running the way I like. With the module transfer I'm pretty happy with her. Quick and agile with plenty of space for the modules I'm familiar with. Excellent fuel management and she'll boost every two seconds. Came with a new AI as well. Carina. Still trying to figure out her programming though. Seems pretty bored with it all sometimes. That brings me to a total of four AIs. Sometimes gets chatty in the cockpit between them all.

Started Federation service with Mother Gaia out of Daedalus Starport running a few courier and haulage missions first establishing some profitable contacts in several systems near Sol. When I returned, there was an All Hands called by Starport Operations. All pilots were to report to the Starport Readyroom at 0700, 8/9.

Parked Galactic Discovery for the night. Will report as ordered in the morning. Scuttlebutt from the other pilots is that this is a big deal and will require support from fighters and transports. Looks like I might be here a while transporting messages and supplies for Mother Gaia. Maybe a promotion in it for me if I don't die. For now, to the bar for a couple then my room. Going to be an early start tomorrow.

8/3/3304 - Despite the terrible news I received as I made my approach back to Wafer Outpost, I was glad to be back. Had logged an additional 2000 LYs out into the Black that took me 3000 LYs from Galitini. Was beginning to think space monkeys were real. Have more than 50 new systems for Mr. Emberson. Or rather, whomever has taken over the company. Mr. Emberson passed away while I was gone. His daughter by his side.

After verifying system shutdown and downloading my exploration data into the Outposts System Registry, I headed to my room and straight for the beautiful bottle of 18 year old I'd hidden away. Poured a tall glass, sat down on the nearest cushioned object, drank, and passed out.

BREEP..BREEP... What's that? It's the room's intercom. An AI I don't recognize saying my presence is requested in Ms. Emberson's office. I was to report no later than 0900. I didn't even know where I was for a moment. Or what time it was. Or what day it was. Slowly I began to collect my whereabouts. It was the morning of 8/4. 0835. Then it dawned on me, "Ms." Emberson's office. Well, now I know who had taken over the company.

Jumped into the shower, shaved, dressed and headed up to "her" office. Walked in the door at 0905. Almost made it. Ms. Emberson showed me in and asked to to take a seat. She'd received my exploration data from the Outpost. I didn't get the feeling that my trip made an impression though by the look on her face. Probably due to her father's passing I told myself.

"Mr. Verse," she started, "I'm sure you've heard about my father?" I nodded. "He was a very proud and honest man." I nodded. "But, this company, which he struggled to create, spending his entire life building from scratch, just couldn't compete with the other mega-corporations in the Black. I'm sorry to say that be've decided it's best to shut down operations." I began to wonder if I was going to get paid. "However," she started, "my father did take care of a few items in his will. The Python and 10 million credits, payment for the two jobs you took for him, have been set aside in a private account unknown to his creditors. I have downloaded the payment into Galactic Explorer II's databank and she is waiting for you in Hangar Bay 21. Transponder codes have been re-coded. I have a meeting with my father's creditors this evening. They are due to arrive in the system this afternoon. My recommendation to you is to take yourself, the credits, and the Python, off this outpost and out of this system before they arrive. They will have their lawyers in tow and you know they have a knack for freezing and seizing assets. Thank you for your dedication to my father in his last days. I'm sorry we couldn't work together longer. I wish you much success in the Black, Mr. Verse. Goodbye." She turned and left the office through the back exit.

Well...that's that then. Not how I had invisioned this turning out when I signed up a few weeks back. Guess I'm leaving in a hurry...again. I left the office and started back to my room to pack. Going to have to come up with a new way to Keep Flyin'.

7/20/3304 Praea Euq MB-D b16-0 Finally made it to my destination in the Orion Spur of the Orion-Cygnus Arm. Where I ended up on my first trip for Mr. Emberson. Have begun the trip out toward Centaurus Reach in the Sagittarius-Carina Arm. Making pretty good progress so far. Now to stick with it. Gets pretty lonely out here. No one around for hundreds of light years. If it weren't for my AI crew, I think I'd have gone space mad a long time ago. My "crew" consists of Vega, Archer and Eden. They are programed to keep me focused and on task. Remind me to lower the gear or give power to shields as I'm landing the ship after a long day exploring. Vega and Eden have a very useful feature programmed into their data banks. Information from basic planetary motion to advanced quantum theory. Keeps me fresh for my next Federation license exams. Just wish they could bring me a cup of tea sometimes. Eden is keen to discuss her future as a real human. Vega is simply fascinated with everything science. Archer just wants to sing. I wish he'd quit apologizing and sing a complete song. Anyway, I've discovered over 100 systems so far for Mr. Emberson. Have a couple thousand lightyears to go on this trip. We'll see how I do at the end. If I don't wind up doing a faceplant on a planet or burning up getting to close to a star.

Two days later, dressed in a clean, less wrinkled, flight suit, I went up to see Mr. Emberson. I hoped he hadn't found another pilot for his needs and had prepared my excuses as to why I failed him on my first mission, just in case. But, amazingly, I could tell when I walked in that I wasn't going to need them. Mr. Emberson greeted me like I was a long lost best friend. Told me to "Sit down, take it easy. Here, have some breakfast." There was quite a spread. Everything you'd expect and even some local favorites. I dived in. I hadn't had "real" food in years.

I had just finished my fourth plate when Mr. Emberson asked me to take a seat in his office. He shut the door behind me. "I have a very special offer I'd like to discuss with you," he said. "This time, do right by me, and I'll give you the Python you named Galactic Explorer II. I'll even throw in a year's insurance." Sounded too good to be true. What was he going to ask me to do? Kill someone? I thought, okay, sure! Sounds like a great deal to me. But, I should probably hear what the offer is first. Then do whatever he says.

Turns out, the offer was exactly the same as the first mission he'd sent me out to do before. Only, this time, make sure the first discoveries are true first discoveries. Get out there, 2000ly plus. Bring him the data and the ship would be mine. This time I did't hesitate. "Yes, sir! I'm your man. I'll be back with a ship load of exploration data filled with first discoveries quicker than you can engineer an A-rated Conda."

No time to rest when I returned. Got back from the 1,100ly trip. As soon as I touched down and wearily climbed down the ladder way, I was handed a message to check in with Mr. Emberson immediately. Quickly made my way up to his office to give him the good news. Thought I did pretty good for the old man. Made 739 first discoveries on this trip. When I downloaded the exploration data it came to 25,965,259 credits. Seemed great to me. I'd have been happy with half that. I worked hard for that information. But, something was wrong. I could see that Mr. Emberson wasn't impressed at all. Seems that, even though I was first to scan a large number of the celestial bodies, most of my data came from systems that had been discovered before I arrived. This was "not the job you were given" he said. After a minute to cool down, he sat me down to "explain it again." "What I want is first discovery data of complete systems that I can claim and exploit alone." Told me to get out of his sight. Suggested that I get some rest. He wants to see me again in a day or two. He'll have more work for me then. He'll explain the job again and I better get it right next time.

Crap! I had walked into the meeting feeling like the job went better than expected, then left the meeting feeling like the worst pilot in the quadrant.

Not how I was expecting this to go. Made my way down to the hangar bar to contemplate whether I was going to see Mr. Emberson again over a pitcher of synthetic margaritas. Maybe there's another way to stay alive and out of sight at the same time. But, what happened when I finally made it to the bar changed my mind toward Mr. Emberson.

I walked in and scoped out a seat out of the way in the corner. Sat down and looked up for the waitress. Standing at the bar, talking to the barkeep was a stunningly beautiful young woman. I almost rushed over to introduce myself then remembered, I was in hiding. Remember, assassins? So I stayed quiet and ordered the pitcher when the waitress finally got to me. She returned with the pitcher just as the beautiful woman was leaving the bar. I poured my first glass and drank it in one go. Poured the second and did the same. Man was she gorgeous. I gotta know who she is. So I motion for the barkeep to come over to my table. "Who was that?" I asked. "Who? The pretty lady?" he says. "That was Mr. Emberson's daughter. Celeste I think is her name." Well, my mind was made up. I would definitely be seeing Mr. Emberson again. And this time I was going to fulfill his greatest expectations.

7/13/3304 Praea Euq MB-D b16-0

Been awhile. Had some trouble getting to Wolf 397. Seems the Impire sent some assasins out looking for me. Well, they found me. Wasn't able to out run them. Couldn't beat them. One against three. Lost my ship, Galactic Cutlass. Almost lost my life.

When I woke up, I was light years away at a med facility. An Independent miner found my escape pod and took me to Wafer Outpost in the Galitini System. Was unconcious for weeks. Doc said it was bad. Fixed me up as good as he could. Time will fix the rest. So, there I was, no ship, no job. The Impire even confiscated my Asp Explorer. My future was bleak.

The pilot who saved me talked to the Outfitting shop. I was able to get a job installing modules in the hangar. Learned quite a lot while I was there. Got pretty good at it. Fast and accurate installs were my thing. Shop foreman came to me one day. Said someone in the Outpost business office wanted to see me. Was worried it might be a trick. Never know how an Imperial assasin operates. I cautiously headed into the main offices of the Outpost and turned into the door with the Business Office sign.

I was taken into a small conference room and told to have a seat. Someone would be in shortly. After what seemed like hours, hoping this wasn't an ambush, an older gentlemen calmly came in and slowly sat down across from me at table. I don't know what it was, but there was an aura of kindness and friendship coming from the man. He introduced himself. Perseus Emberson was his name. He owned a mining company and was in need of an explorer. He had heard of me. My earlier trip into the Black finding new systems. He knew I was being monitored. Thought a solo trip into the Verse might help me lose my foes.

He was looking for new territory. Out away from the Bubble. Less competition out there. Pirates might be less of a problem in undiscovered space. He wanted to provide me with a ship and foot the bill to have her outfitted as a decent exploration vessel. I could even install the modules myself if I wanted. Took me a while to process everything he was saying. I guess I was quiet too long. At one point he started to get up thinking I didn't want the job. WAIT!! I'll take it!

So, now I'm on my way into the far reaches of the Black. Mr. Emberson provided me with a Python which I kitted out for exploration. He even let me name her. In honor of my Asp, Galactic Explorer, I named her Galactic Explorer II (BDH-04). I'm currently halfway to my first objective. Taking a break from the monotony of space travel. Sitting on Praea Euq MB-D b16-0, an icy moon. Have found a few small objects for Mr. Orion. I'll keep looking. Monotony can sometimes be a safe place to hide.

2/8/3304 - Have been invited to visit two more engineers and think I'll pay them a visit with Galactic Cutlass, BDH-03. Tod "the Blaster" McQuinn at Trophy Camp in the Wolf 397 system and The Dweller at Black Hide in the Wyrd system. My Vulture is the only ship I have with weapons so she would benefit from these upgrades more I think. Will update the Journal when I head out to their systems in the Black.

2/7/3304 - Made the trip out to visit with Felicity Farseer at Farseer Inc. in the Deciat system. Engineered some upgrades to my sensors, scanners and FSDs. Took a lot of work and materials. She got me some decent specs on my gear. Next I'm headed out to Khun to visit with Elvira Martuuk at Long Sight Base. Just going to work on my Shield Generators this time. First had to make the trip to the shipyard on Ballard Survey in the Suhte system so I could transfer the fleet within one jump. One more ship, my Vulture, Galactic Cutlass, to work on. Missing some significant materials this time though. Might have to wait while I search for and collect the needed materials.

2/1/3304 - Was honored with a position within the Federation today. Signed up as a Midshipman. Training and experience to follow. Contractors with the Federation gave me a tour of one of the Federal Dropships after the ceremony. Not sure if the rank was given for my abilities or if it was given due to my credit account. Whatever the reason, feels good to have a goal on the horizon. Have my eye, like most of the new Ensigns, on a Federal Gunship. Nice weapons array! I know, not very maneuverable, not very fast, but it sure does look mean.

Time to dream later. Need to get back in my Asp Explorer and gather more equipment for Obsidian Orbital. She's looking a little better but there's lots more to do.

Damn Thargoids!! What is it that they want from us? I've had a few encounters with them as they scavenged their new kills in the Pleiades sectors. Seems if you don't deploy hardpoints, or in my case don't have weapons, they scan you and leave you alone. Albeit with a scary warning. Was able once to snatch an escape pod and jump into supercruise before my shields went down. That was hairy. All the other encounters were spent collecting what was left once the Thargoid jump out. They don't leave many escape pods, damaged or not. One day, those of us that survive, will know what they really want.