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. Orion 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. Orion 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. Orion 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. Orion.

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. Orion's daughter. Celeste I think is her name." Well, my mind was made up. I would definitely be seeing Mr. Orion 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 Orion 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. Orion 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.

1/13/3304 - Made it back to Maia finally. Got a few million for all my exploration data. Not bad. But my home station, Obsidian Orbital, was a wreck! Attacked while I was gone by the Thargoids. Checked-in to see what I could do to help. Was told to look for Gold, Silver, Building Fabricators and Power Generators. Made a bunch of trips to other systems to collect the materials needed. It helped a little but there's much more to do. Gotta get back out in the Black for more supplies and get my home back up and running. Afterward, I'll head over to a couple of the Engineers. My fleet is in need of some fine tuning.

12/8/3303 - So much for my break. Couldn't wait to get back out into the Black. I'll start my break tomorrow.

19 systems scanned today. Think it's a record for Galactic Explorer! First to discover another three systems for EDSM. Taking my total for newly discovered systems up to five. Not much in the way of special planets though. Mostly high metal content or rock/icy bodies. Will be getting back to the plotted course once the holidays are over. I'll be spending some time on Praea Euq VT-Z b13-5 B 5 until the new year; 3304! Stay Shiny!!

12/6/3303 - 9 systems scanned today. I have yet to be the first Frontier pilot to discover a system or planet, I have discovered two new systems for EDSM so far. Today's report contains mostly icy bodies, but there are a few high metal content, gas giant, and even a couple water world scans. Lots of beautiful scenes as I travel through the Black. Everything's Shiny. 99 jumps left in the journey. Can't wait to find out what else is out there. Going to need a break from the vastness though. Going to sit here on Lupus Dark Region B Sector XT-R b4-6 B 5 a for a while. Take a few buggy rides maybe. Don't know when I'll get back out there. When I do head back out, see you in the Verse...

12/5/3303 - Wasn't able to complete 10 jumps today as I had hoped. Due to a couple of systems with multiple stars over 200,000 ls apart and the huge number of objects to be scanned, I only made 7 jumps. One system had over 60 objects including the belt clusters. Oh well. It's a good thing I'm an independent explorer. I decide when it's time to shut down for the night. Did find a couple of interesting gas giants. One with water based life and another with ammonia based life. Still have 108 jumps to my destination. Then the quicker trip back to submit my data and sell a few items I've collected along the way. Will try to make 10 jumps today. We'll see. Still enjoying the amazing diversity this Verse has to offer.

12/4/3303 - 110 jumps to go in my 1000ly journey. Thought I'd continue surveying systems today before shutting down for the night. Surveyed a terraformable waterworld today - Praea Euq HG-Y d63 A 9. Great!! Seems to be a lot of belt clusters in this region of the Verse though. Takes a lot of time to survey these types of systems. But, I'm on a mission to survey as much of the Black as I can see before I complete my journey. Won't pay to much when I turn in my survey records, but every credits going to count. I'll try to get through 10 systems tomorrow. Gotta close my eyes for a little while.