Log Entry 147 - Cycle 1, Orbiting Junkyard Alpha-7

The hum of the thermal laser is a constant now. Like a heartbeat in this metal tomb. Been here…cycles? I lost count, to be honest. Time blurs when you’re knee-deep in corroded hull plates and the stench of burnt alloys. Officially designated "Scrapper Unit 734," but I’ve started going by "Rusty" in my head. Fits the circumstances, I guess. They gave me a bunk, something that vaguely resembles protein paste three times a day, and a suit that’s patched more times than a quilt. It's not pretty, but it keeps me alive. They call it a work contract. I call it the bottom of the barrel. My criminal history did not leave me many choices I guess. The irony of government sanctioned Slavery. If you squint at the small print, it’s all there. But what else could they give me? The work isn't terrible. It's a nice distraction for the mind.

Log Entry 312 - Cycle 2, Salvage Bay 4

I’m… surprisingly good at this. The laser dances in my hands, parting metal like butter. I can practically feel the composition of a ship just by the way its layers react to the heat. The AI in the suit does the sorting, of course—precious metals here, polymers there, hazardous waste down the chute. It sucks, every single piece is tracked, every credit from it goes straight to the company. I don’t see a dime. Not a single credit that I personally can spend. I pay for my lodging, for my meals, for my medical and “insurance”. The company calls it “continued service.” I call it indentured servitude with a fancy digital ledger. Still, I’ve learned to see the flow of things, find how to improve efficiency, and work my way around this system. I know why I am here.

Log Entry 588 - Cycle 3, Maintenance Bay Gamma-1

The other scrappers are… interesting. Some are broken, some just don’t care. Some, though, have that spark of something. We help each other out. When the workload piles up, we cover each other’s shifts. I’ve picked up a few favours, a few debts. Small things, like moving a heavy reactor core without reporting it or skipping a scan on a non-essential component. The company doesn’t seem to notice. They only care about the bottom line and my continued service. Makes you wonder what you could get away with. Its always been in my blood.

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Log Entry 721 - Cycle 4, Personal Log – Secure Partition

I’ve started collecting. Small things, at first. A high-output capacitor, a couple of micro-fusion cells, a navigation module… all marked as “damaged” or “unusable”. I tucked them away in an old utility locker. The AI is easy to fool if you know its patterns. I call it my “personal savings”. I still do not have money. This stuff is just... there. Its a matter of time before I have to pay this place what it owes me.

Log Entry 915 - Cycle 5, Salvage Bay 2

New ship today. An old freighter, beat to hell, but with a sturdy frame. I recognize the design. It was a popular runabout back in the day. Had more than enough capacity for what I need. That’s it. The missing puzzle. I worked the ship myself today, made sure to take the key components myself. The company AI flagged it as “high-risk salvage” which I personally find amusing. I did my best to remove anything that I will need. The last piece is just around the corner.

Log Entry 984 - Cycle 5, Secure Partition

I have the final piece. A high-grade stealth cloak emitter, tucked away in a scrapped military vessel. It was a risk, but it paid off. Tonight, I start the refit. My locker is packed, the freighter is prepped, and my crew is ready. By "crew" I mean three other scrappers who owe me, and each equally pissed with the company. We been working in hiding on this for some time now.

Log Entry 985 - Cycle 5, Secure Partition

It is done. The freighter is reborn. The engine was a bitch to get working, but she is a beauty. My own personal rocket ship. The company won't miss her, she is not even on their manifest. We are ready to take off at the next shift change. I also left a little gift for the company, not like it matters. An anonymous data file containing proof of their… “unique” employment practices. A little gift to the government. I look forward to the chaos it is going to cause. Its time for me to go home. Been a while.

Log Entry 986 - Cycle 5, Personal Log - Departure

Goodbye, Junkyard Alpha-7. It was… an experience. I learnt a lot. I do not regret my time here. It was worth it. Earth is calling, and I’ve got a score to settle on my own terms. Time for "Rusty" to start a new chapter… Maybe this time with more schemes, and less metal. The universe is vast and full of possibilities.