4620-01-01:01
I'm at the port of Arth as usual; I've been assigned to my ship - a single engine freighter with a bare minimum of cargo and rigged with an ATV explorer. I've named the ship the (ISS) Optiplex and equipped it with the maximum cargo the ship will hold. The engines will take a hit, but I intend to do some mining in the home system so it won't matter. I've equipped the ATV with extra cargo and turbo chargers for the obvious - this thing is going to be a beast when I get done with it.
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I've logged the oxygen/co2 planet in the system. It is an iced world. Hopefully it pans out.
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4620-01-01:20
I'm mining on the closest rock to the star in the home system. Nothing but calm weather here. It is largely uninteresting and I can't say I'm enjoying it all that much. I intend to mine enough to fill my cargo hold, sell and repeat until I can get a better mineral scanner - so far minerals are too few far and between.
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4620-01-02:09
One day in on this planet mining; turns out the "Flat Device" teleports my ship. I'm not impressed by sending my ATV underwater; I'll get some pontoons later - the mineral scanner takes priority. I find I'm having to move further and further from the ship to get minerals. I could move the ship, but I'm stingy when it comes to fuel. I'll just have to keep moving further and further until I make no progress and must move the ship.
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4620-01-03:13
I've used five units of fuel of my ship to arrive and land; the ATV has left the ship I don't know how many times, but the ship has otherwise remained stationary. I'd like to think I've done well with a full cargo hold after just two days. My booty includes Antimony, Copper, Silver and Platinum. My first thoughts about mining for the first time are that forests are good for richer material minerals, but mountains provide the best surface bounty and best areas for digging. Plains are a given, they are random; I've toyed with the idea of moving the ship in and out of water, having fun with it, but I really need pontoons. I won't risk the ship sinking.
I still cannot scan the planet I'm on. I find it strange the weather is so calm.
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4620-01-04:02
Arth postings include possible sun damage; our sun is having instabilities in radiation and will flare possibly killing all life in the system. Colonization efforts will be stepped up - I'll make some money off of this for sure. My recommendation for the third planet in the system has proven suitable for colonization and I've been rewarded accordingly. Other ship postings include reports of Androids 20 sectors coreward from here. I'll give it a look when I have a fully rigged ship - I'm not going to play fool's errand here.
As I understand my ship hsa been equipped with a flare meter which detects when a star will flare. I'll need to stay out of the system when this happens.
I have no idea what the Whining Orb in my cargo hold does; I figured it'd make a nice knicknack on the ship's dash. It makes a weird whining sound.
I'm off to the first planet for mining again.
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4620-01-07:23
I've spent almost four days on this mudball; I picked a very bad spot, but due to my stigma towards moving the ship, I made do. The ATV was sent out on day one and spent all kinds of time exploring the area; I made good and hit the jackpot in overground minerals. The next two days were largely avoiding water filled areas, trudging along and gathering minerals. I've concluded that east and south of here is best for mineral hunting, anything to the north and west is either water or barely any minerals. I remember going out on at least two trips with almost nothing to return in tow. That was not a good thing. I almost had a heartattack when trudging in water too long; I made it out in time. I do not know how much time the ATV can spend underwater.
I should have enough money for my mineral scanner. I will most likely invest in some science training - it's my favorite subject.
I'll be blasting off shortly.
[Update] I've bought my mineral scanner and equipped the ATV with pontoons. I'm going to pillage the inner most planet shortly. I've maxed my skills as far as science training. I'll see what it turns up by scanning the inner most planet when I arrive.
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4620-01-09:22
Currently in orbit around Arth; forgot to update my log. I landed on the innermost planet as before and the new mineral scanner paid off. I found minerals within just a few jumps of the ship and they were plentiful to boot. One mountain range of interest just west of here was loaded to the gills with platinum. I will not have to worry about mineral hunting, to say the least. I blasted off, and had to turn back to get my scan. This planet is .3Gs, inferno temperature all around and composed of helium and hydrogen. Not bad for a rock mudball; it's more like a giant fireball in space. I'll be investigating the other planets for better mineral finds. I figure I need to start exploring.
Signing out and blasting off.
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4620-01-10:11
I've chosen to test check out the planets in order; this time I'll be moving to the oxygen planet I logged earlier. It's composed of all ice, but my scans show that it has temperate regions; it also has life forms below. I'll pick some up for investigation and sale back at Arth.
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[Update] I wasn't expecting the Gs of the planet (1.6Gs) to be so strong and pull my ship so rapidly, I had to hit the ground thrusters to avoid crashing. On the way down I heard some strong winds - this planet probably has turbulence. More importantly, I moved a bit off course due to my bad landing. I've actually landed near what appear to be standing ruins. I'm not sure if this was fluke or fate. I'll be investigating further.
[Update] Found lifeforms, and investigate ruins further; the ruins have a trail of sorts, but I've found nothing of use in them. I'm retreating to the ship due to an earthquake.
[Update] Ruins all around. Investigations have proven mostly empty structures half abandoned with nothing to report. I've had to retreat to the ship at least once due to a quake; I had to teleport via the Flat Device by using all of my fuel for a safe return. I'll be moving the ship shortly to investigate ruins further to the east. I have gotten lost and lost my bearing on multiple occasions, I know what skills I'm learning next. I'll further investigate the ruins while mining.
[Update] I can't believe the strong winds on this planet; the earthquakes made it worse. Still, I was surrounded by civilization, no matter how dead and I had wildlife all around me. What more could I want? Maybe some booty from the ruins - I didn't find anything and my investigation turned up empty. I'm returning to port to sell my booty.
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4620-01-14:09
Another ship must have been in the area, the message directory lists confirmation of the ruins. Another message indicates that the radiation increases in our star are theorized to be external. Other races may have the answer. I figure the Androids towards the core of the system might have information - if they're friendly. I'll rig my ship as best as I can before I get there. I'm off to learn navigational skills and get some equipment. Ciao.
[Update] ATV is fully equipped with the best money can buy.
[Update] The ship has been equipped with a Pulse Cannon and Three-Way Cannon (Tri-Cannon). I'm equipping class one shields and some actual armor. Engines will remain the way they are while I investigate the home system; I intend to visit neighboring systems and want to be ready. None of my equips have to do with a venture with the Androids. I'm not stupid.
[Update] Heading to the fourth planet.
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4620-01-14:22
This planet's mineral content is a joke; I also crash landed which makes the situation worse. Earthquakes are plentiful. I'm blasting off and cutting my losses.
[Update] Flew by the mother star; wonderful. 5x10 solar masses to the twenty forth power. That is big. But how big to other stars? /grin
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4620-01-15:05
Fifth planet, currently in orbit. 1.6Gs, with sub-arctic to arctic. This thing is going to be tundra all over. Scanners show it is moderate with weather and has minimal mineral traces. I may just chance blasting off to the next system.
[Update] Blasting off.
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4620-01-15:22
Checking in to report something weird. I've landed (by fluke I suppose) next to some ruins again. This one is a strange pyramid. No idea why it is here or what it is for. This planet is also an Oxygen/C02 class with moderate weather and suitable gravity; I've recommenced it for colonization. Life forms surround me also. I've landed on the ice world at the edge of the system with nothing to report. There is one gas giant that I orbited briefly; I can't land due to the crushing gravity. I will continue investigating the rest of the system and then move to the neighboring one before depositing my booty.
[Update] It wasn't pure fluke, there was some more ruins south-west of here. They had nothing as usual. I did a brief underpass of the atmosphere to see if there was anything of interest before blasting off.
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4620-01-17:21
Blasting off from this system to the next. My starmap indicates four systems close proximity to this. I may explore them briefly before investigating the so-called Androids. However, I have one close to home I must investigate first.
[Update] This system has two magma worlds; the third planet has about 14.5Gs of gravity where as the star has 16.6Gs. I'm surprised they don't orbit each other or something.
[Update] Back at home system. Sensors read 282 days until system flares. The clock is ticking.
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5620-01-18
Blablabla, flux locations in message directory. I saw a flux on the way back to Arth; maybe later. I'm looking at buying an Android before rigging my ship up.
[Update] Bought a laser blaster (Lance) for the ship; equipped it with upgraded shields and armor and went two full classes of engine ahead of what I just had. I'll be exploring the neighboring systems shortly before taking on the Androids to the east. I've bought an Android in anticipation; he's been assigned to engineering - I've named him Max. Quaint, to say the least.
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5620-01-18:20
The first system that I jumped to was a dud, no planets at all.
[Update] Landed through a continuum flux by accident into an area with multiple stars and other fluxes.
[Update] Sensors report an object outside the ship; investigating revealed it was a lifeform that communicates without sending a transmission. They were sending a message about space, crystals, comedy and other such musings. It appears to be history of some sort, but beyond that...
[Update] Warped back out from the flux, entered the intended star system and ran into more objects. They are ships; when hailed we were greeted to a slimy blob with weird satellites in its antenna; it communicated weird and I couldn't begin to translate it. I cut the com and warped out just as quickly.
[Update] This system has something strange; the star has less gravity than one of the orbiting gas giants. In fact, the gas giant also has more mass. How is the gas giant not a star with planets in orbit? Why is it in orbit around a weaker body for that matter? Maybe it just worked out that way and it will change due to gravity wave sin the future.
[Update] I logged a planet in this system and the neighboring system. A ship was present around that star. This time I waited; I got some weird gibberish onscreen. I decided to simply warp out. The galaxy is more crowded than I thought. I intend to check out three star systems just north of here; I see this as my exploreable home territory of sorts. After this I will be depositing my loot to Arth for upgrades; then those Androids...
[Update] Ran into more lifeforms; planets I explored in the far neighboring systems were duds. One of the planets appears to be guarded by a probe; I couldn't establish orbit without it intercepting and trying to communicate. I'm the stranger here, so I warped out again. One thing of note was that the last star I went to investigate wasn't even there. I'm not sure if my star chart was wrong or if something was up... I intercepted a continuum flux on the way to said star and promptly warped back. I'll be heading back to Starport now.
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4620-01-21:23
I arrived back at starport with 1.2 units of fuel; that was cutting it close. All three planets I reported for colonization were deemed suitable and I was rewarded accordingly. I have sold my spoils consisting mostly of Tin with some Rhodnium on the side. I'm going to have the ship retrofitted with the best engines, shields and armor this space station has to offer while I get myself skilled up with the best training they have to offer. I've equipped the ship with twin bomb launchers or so-called Buzz Bombs; this is anticipating of any hostilities, but I should be more than equipped for these so-called 'Androids' at least I hope. I've purchased enough fuel to fill half of my cargo-hold; I should be good to go for anything else out there. In the meantime I have new knowledge in my head and an Android companion to keep me company. Wish me luck, I'm sure I'll need it.
See you later,
David.
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Log Ends