Log Entry 1 - Date: 2347.08.12 - Location: Orbiting Xylo Prime
Phoenix Log
Entry One. Xylo Prime, still as dusty and frustrating as ever. The sensors are picking up heavy port traffic, mostly mining freighters. Good. That means demand. I’ve made a pass, scanned the listings. They’re desperate for refined lithium, just like last cycle. Managed to make a small profit at Proxima station but not much. The Hydra is already on approach, full of the stuff. God bless my renovations, she can haul more than that old bucket her blueprints said. She should be docking now, autopilot handling everything.
Now, the haggling starts. Time to put on the charm and convince these rock grinders that even I deserve a decent cut. It''s going to be a long day, but a profitable one, hopefully. Log is signed off, heading down to the trading docks, get me a bottle of that Xylo whiskey, I will need it.
Log Entry 2 - Date: 2347.08.15 - Location: Transit to Veridian Belt
Phoenix Log
Entry Two. Xylo was a slog, but worth it. Played the desperation card well and managed to get 15% over the standard price. Had to endure the local’s incessant drone of mining tales, but that’s the cost of doing business. My next stop is the Veridian Belt. The Hydra is heading there as well, I’ve set her course for a small moon for a scheduled drop off at the local market. I’m taking the Phoenix on the scenic route.
I am also carrying extra, unscheduled cargo. A small container, tucked away in a specially shielded compartment. Let’s just say it’s something the Veridians like but the Authority doesn’t. It was handed to me after the whiskey with a wink and a fat wad of credits. Risky, but the profit margin is too good to pass up. The Tanker is behind me on auto-pilot, nothing but good fuel in her tanks, she''s set for a mid route refuel, nothing out of the ordinary, I hope.
Log Entry 3 - Date: 2347.08.19 - Location: Veridian Belt Outpost Sigma
Phoenix Log
Entry Three. Veridian Belt, a chaotic mess of asteroid fields and shady outposts. Made contact with the client at Outpost Sigma, a dingy, lawless place even by belt standards. The sale went smoothly, no questions about the origins of the “rare minerals”. They paid in unmarked credits, exactly as agreed. Those credits will go a long way to paying for some of my new upgrades I am planning for the Phoenix.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
I am now heading to Veridian’s main station, I have some legitimate cargo to trade, for now, just to be safe. The Hydra will meet me there to transfer a portion of her payload to the main station. I am going to need to sweet talk the station clerk to get a decent price.
Log Entry 4 - Date: 2347.08.22 - Location: Orbiting Veridian Station Prime
Phoenix Log
Entry Four. The Veridian Station Prime was a hard nut to crack. The local station clerk was a tough negotiator, almost as bad as me, but in the end I managed to make a profit. My upgrades for the Phoenix will need to wait, for now. Got a good price on some medical supplies and some light weaponry, I needed both, and have loaded the Phoenix. The Hydra was in the process of docking as I left and finished loading the refined metals I sold there. I had to sell low just to move product.
I am now back into the fringes with the Tanker trailing close behind. Heading back to Xylo Prime. A new station has contacted me asking for some rare minerals. I am now officially on a schedule. I am keeping a close eye on my sensors and making sure every system is running at peak performance, no one gets to intercept the Phoenix.
Log Entry 5 - Date: 2347.08.26 - Location: Approaching Xylo Prime
Phoenix Log
Entry Five. Back to Xylo, another slog. This time though I have my next deal lined up. The new station, Station Kilos, needs rare minerals, the kind from the edges of the belt. Another trip to Sigma is looming. After that I am going to take her into deep space and see what''s out there, I have the fuel for it. The sensors are picking up a different kind of port traffic. Not mining freighters but something more militaristic. Maybe they have found out what I have been up to.
The Phoenix is ready if it comes to that, the weapons are armed and charged. Let them try. If it’s a trap I have left some surprises for them. The Hydra is being sent to the scheduled drop off point, the Station will not know she is coming, I hope.
Log Entry 6 - Date: 2347.08.28 - Location: Docking at Station Kilos
Phoenix Log
Entry Six. Docked at Station Kilos. The deal for rare minerals went well, no questions asked. The militaristic ships are still around, though it''s looking less like a trap. I am going to call it a fleet training exercise. I managed to get more than the standard rates for these minerals, the station offered it straight up. After trading, I had a chat with a few of the locals, they all know the same gossip, the Authority is looking for smugglers. Looks like I need to sit low for a bit. Time to head into deep space. I will have the Hydra and Tanker follow me once I get a safe distance.