Commander's Log – UGT 18/12/3311 23:30

It has been nearly a week since my last entry, most of which I have spent buried in the library at Chamberlain's Rest. Without a formal education, much of what I once believed about the galaxy came from the stories of passing pilots and the half-remembered tales of starports. Sitting down with proper histories has been eye-opening. Learning how humanity spread among the stars, and how each superpower shaped its own path, has only clarified my own sense of belonging. The Empire’s foundations seem as flawed as its present, and the Federation’s noble beginnings have long since been overshadowed by corruption. I am grateful that my childhood was spent in the Alliance. One day I hope to visit Earth and see where it all began, but for now I have spent enough time watching documentaries. It is time to return to practical training.

I launched from Chamberlain's Rest with the goal of improving my scanning skills. Every planet in this system has already been charted, so I focused on signal sources instead. Most were unremarkable, but then a distress call appeared on my scanner. There were no signs of combat, only a lone plea for help. My pulse quickened as I set a course toward the signal. After a short flight through supercruise, I found a stranded hauler. The pilot explained that he had run out of fuel. I quickly learned that I lacked the equipment needed to transfer fuel myself. All I could do was reassure him and head for Hoffman Installation to request assistance from someone properly outfitted. It was frustrating to be unable to help directly, but the encounter reminded me how much I still need to learn, and how thin my credit balance has become.

Even so, it felt good to play a small part in helping someone in need. Tomorrow I will return to courier work to build up some funds. Once I can afford an Artemis suit and a surface scanner, I will finally be able to begin real exploration.

Commander's Log – Amended

It turns out my recent trip to prison and back yielded more than embarrassment. The data I gathered along the way sold for nearly two hundred thousand credits. My wealth has tripled and my exploration rank has risen. I did not expect that outcome, but I will take it.

Cmdr. Alexander Fahren

Commander's Log – UGT 10/12/3311 14:51 I’ve rested long enough here in HIP 104045. It’s time to consider my options and see if I can plot a way out of here. Yesterday taught me that I have much to learn—from piloting my ship, to navigating a starbase, to basic scanning and targeting. I had been avoiding reading through the Pilot’s Handbook up to this point, but perhaps it will help me with my current predicament of returning to HIP 97950.

Cmdr. Alexander Fahren

Commander's Log – UGT 10/12/3311 20:13 Reading is a chore, but I’m glad I did it. Reviewing the Pilot’s Handbook has given me much to think about, including the regulations regarding openly carrying weapons. I’m never going to live that one down.

My fear yesterday of not being able to fly back home may have been unfounded. I don’t fully know what changed, but when I loaded my galaxy map this morning, it revealed a usable route back. My theory is that I simply didn’t have enough fuel, and the map didn’t show the full path. Lesson learned—the more you know. I’m a greenhorn in this galaxy, but I guess everyone starts that way.

I’ve begun my series of jumps back to my starter system. Hopefully, this journey will go smoothly.

Cmdr. Alexander Fahren

Commander's Log – UGT 10/12/3311 22:42 I’m relieved to say that I’ve made it back to Chamberlain’s Rest and am now safe. To celebrate, I gave my Sidewinder a fresh paint job and installed a fuel scoop, so I won’t have to worry about running out of fuel while traversing the galaxy—like I almost did today. Trusting my ship’s computer, I had plotted a route to a system as far as my fuel reserves would allow. By the time I began docking with the station, I kept receiving notifications that I was out of fuel. I feared I’d already have to call the Fuel Rats this early in my career. Thankfully, that didn’t happen, and I hope I’ve learned enough to prevent it in the future.

I’ll rest easy tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll begin exploring this system to the best of my ability, while continuing to study the areas I’m still uncertain about.

Cmdr. Alexander Fahren

Commander's Log – UGT 10/12/3311 04:45

Today was my first day as a licensed pilot. I have high hopes for where I might go and what I might discover in this galaxy, with its mysteries now at my fingertips. I want to explore the cosmos, to see and do things I have only dreamed of until now. Unfortunately, my first day in a Sidewinder did not go as planned.

I started out from Chamberlain’s Rest, located on HIP 97950 ABC 2 k in the HIP 97950 system. Flying is expensive, so I knew I would need to start earning credits immediately—especially if I want to upgrade to a better ship for exploration. After outfitting myself with a proper suit, I accepted a courier mission to deliver schematics to another base in the same system. I struggled with my ship’s controls and damaged a few subsystems, but I eventually made it and landed safely. That’s when things truly went wrong.

After disembarking, I began searching for my contact. Not knowing where to go, I encountered the base’s security forces. Miscommunication followed, and one thing led to another. At one point, I mistakenly drew my weapon, thinking they wanted to inspect it. As you might expect, I was quickly gunned down in the confusion.

When I awoke, I was many systems away, held at The Armoured Saint—a massive spaceborne detention facility in Capricorni Sector FM-V b2-0. After speaking with the warden, we managed to clear up some of the misunderstanding. I paid a fine but was allowed to keep my ship. Humiliating, yes—but at least a lesson learned.

The rest of my day was spent trying to find a way back to HIP 97950. The security forces there are top-notch, and they usually treat new pilots well, though I may have been the exception on this day. While I long to eventually explore the stars, I realize I must first earn my own trust before venturing too far from safety.

After two hyperspace jumps on my route home, I discovered my frame-shift drive was only rated for 7.5 lightyears, when I needed one capable of nearly 12. I docked at Reed Installation in HIP 104045 to rest and plan my next steps. Perhaps necessity will force me to begin exploring beyond my comfort zone sooner than expected.

Cmdr. Alexander Fahren