Entry 1

The clang of metal on metal is finally starting to fade. The repair crews—bless their greasy, tireless souls—have done a remarkable job. Phoenix, my old girl, is patched up and purring like a contented space-cat. They even managed to salvage some of the targeting systems that took a hit during that…incident. Hydra and Mule, blessedly, came out unscathed. It’s a good thing they’re built like space-turtles. The tanker, we’re just calling it ‘The Tanker’ at the moment, is full to the brim, thank the gods. And even the Light frigates are back in fighting trim, all their little laser cannons looking sharp.

We've finally given the Carrier-class its name: Wraith. Feels right, somehow. A silent, deadly presence, watching over us. The Sentinel fighters are all snug in their bays, fueled and ready. I swear I can feel the energy crackling off them.

We've been through… a lot, lately. It’s hard sometimes to believe what we’ve faced and survived. So many close calls, so much combat. The adrenaline still courses through me some nights, even though we're back to the relative calm of deep space. It's made me think. All this combat experience…it’s actually worth something. A lot, maybe.

Entry 2

The idea has taken hold now. Bounty hunting. I just want to browse, see how much credits can be made from this sort of thing. I started digging through the network tonight, reading everything I could find. Holo-books, old forums, even some encrypted channels. There’s a whole world out there, a completely different kind of ‘game’.

The intricacies are fascinating. Tracking down skips, deciphering encrypted comms, learning alien languages to understand local gossip…and the risk! It’s a high-stakes dance with danger. One wrong move, and you’re not just losing a cargo shipment, you're losing everything. And the pay… it varies wildly. One day you’re hauling in enough credits for a half-dozen starships, the next you're chasing shadows for weeks, only to come up empty.

Entry 3

I spent most of the day in the sim pods, trying out some combat maneuvers I’d seen in those bounty hunter videos. They’re… impressive. Aggressive, calculated. Nothing like the defensive tactics we’ve been using. I even tried a few of those ‘trick’ maneuvers, using gravity wells to dodge fire. Crashed into a simulated asteroid field twice. Still, I can see myself… being good at it. Dangerous.

But the more I read, the more I see the pitfalls. The betrayal, the backstabbing, the constant looking over your shoulder. It’s not like trading, where things are relatively predictable. It’s chaotic. It’s a life where you’re constantly on the edge. I’ve seen what that does to people.

Okay. I’ve decided. Bounty Hunting is… out, for now. Maybe someday, when I’m old and grey and have nothing to lose, I’ll revisit the idea. But not now. Not while I have a crew to look after, and a trade route to keep running. There’s a good solid future in the lanes, and I can still make a life for myself, a good life.

I do however, have a craving to watch some the other bounty hunters on the hologram.

Entry 4

I'm glued to the holo-wall, though. The Red Wolves are in action again. It's the Stardust Drifter, that scarred-up bucket of bolts they call a ship, against some poor sod in a freighter. No shields. None. Not for years. It's a dance of angles and thrust, precise burns that make you think they’ve pre-calculated the whole thing in their heads. The Drifter dances around the freighter like a predator, all sharp edges and hidden maneuvering thrusters. They don't even bother with energy weapons. Kinetic rounds, railgun slugs, that's their style. Raw power. It's brutal, beautiful, and makes you feel every impact on the holographic projection.

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

The way they move, they work as one. Like, well, a pack of wolves. No grandstanding, no wasted movements. Three ships, each with its own role: one to distract, one to flank, the Drifter to deliver the kill shot. They move with a kind of savage grace that's mesmerizing. I keep wondering what it's like inside those ships, the level of awareness, the telepathic bond that must exist. They’re not just pilots; they’re extensions of the machines. It’s a terrifying and intoxicating thought all at once. I need to study their maneuvers. Maybe there's a formula behind their madness.

Entry 5

Spent the cycle obsessing over the Drifter. I've got access to the historical schematics – old tech, really, even back in its day – but they've modified it beyond recognition. Razor-thin armor, almost no sensors, all the internal space dedicated to a massive power core for their weapons and thrusters. It's like they’ve stripped it down to the bone, making it faster, more agile, more deadly. The other two are similar, but less heavily armed. They move like escorts, herding the prey into the Drifter’s jaws.

Then there's the Night Howler, the second ship of the Red Wolves, a smaller and faster variant with long, spindly arms that extend forward, like a praying mantis. I suspect those are for grappling and disabling drives. It gives me chills to think of being on the receiving end of one of those. Pure, cold efficiency. It's not flashy, it's just effective. The third ship, The Shadow, is almost impossible to track, constantly blinking in and out of our system's scanner. No armour, just speed and stealth. It feels like watching ghosts.

I saw a close up today showing how that kinetic weaponry actually works. No laser beams. Just slugs of hardened metal travelling at ridiculous speeds. They hit like a sledgehammer. It’s a reminder that in this era, the laws of physics are the only laws that truly matter.

Entry 6

My access to the holofeed is limited now as their actions are getting too violent for general public viewing. I can however still access old archive footage. I watched them take down a rogue corporate transport. The ferocity was breathtaking. They didn't just disable the ship; they systematically dismantled it. Piece by piece, module by module, the Drifter’s kinetic rounds punched through the hull, crippling systems one after another until the whole thing was a floating wreck.

I'm starting to understand their philosophy. Shields made people complacent. The reliance on energy and deflections made for soft targets. By going without, by embracing the kinetic, they’ve forced themselves, and their enemies, to get better, to be faster, more agile, more brutal. The holographic projection doesn't just show the battle; it teaches a lesson. A harsh, violent lesson that feels like it’s written in blood and fire. I am starting to feel they are no longer just bounty hunters anymore. They’re teachers of a new fighting style. A dangerous one.

The holofeed cuts to a static screen now, followed by a mandatory corporate announcement, something about keeping order. Order, in this galaxy? I'd much rather watch the Wolves. I’m going to have to get my own holoscreen. Maybe find a way to get some more detailed information. This is more than just a spectacle, it’s… it’s a revolution. I need to understand it.

Entry 7

I’ve managed to get a private feed now. No corporate oversight. The images are sharper, the sound… visceral. I saw the lead of the pack. The pilot of the Drifter, known only as “Runa”. She moved like a wraith, adjusting the ship with small movements, the entire machine an extension of her will. Her face was hidden in the cockpit glare, but I saw her eyes, cold and calculating, even on the scan. In that moment, I understood that this wasn't just a job for them. It was a way of life.

I’m starting to design my own… well, not a ship, but rather a simulator. I want to see if I can replicate the Wolves’ movements. Learn their methods. I’ve been using my new holodisplay and have managed to load in all the data I could find on their ships. I'm mapping their trajectories, the way they utilize their thrust and momentum. I can almost feel the way they move and in the darkness of my own space. Phoenix could use some extra thrusters though.