Diary Entry 1

The damn war credits feel like they're burning a hole in my pocket, even digitally. Spent the last few cycles haggling, arguing, and downright threatening (a little) to get my five frigates. Five! They're not gleaming warships, mind you, more like angry wasps with a bit of rust, but they're mine. Each chugs and groans like it’s got a bad case of space-cough, but they can fight. Light machine guns – gotta have those for shielded bastards – and missiles. Sweet, beautiful missiles for everything else. I’ve named them, of course. Couldn't just call them "Frigate One" through five. There's "Sting", "Bite", "Claw", and "Rip" – my little escorts, they'll be fierce. Then there's "Fang," the fifth. She'll guard the rear. She'll be last line of defense.

"Hydra" – my main cargo ship, a real workhorse, and "The Mule" my smaller cargo ship. She’ll be doing the short runs. No pretty paint job – only function matters. And "Tanker" – the unsung hero, full of the black gold that keeps this whole show going. Their point defense systems are…adequate. They’ll keep the worst of it off, but that’s where my frigates come in. Two frigates for me. Sting and Claw. They’ll peel off anyone getting too close to my engine block while I concentrate on the front. This is going to work. I can feel it.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Diary Entry 2

Today’s agenda: the black market. Time to dredge up some shadows for a shield generator. Not a fancy military grade one, of course. Those are locked down tighter than a vault on Titan. No, I'm looking for something... cobbled together. Something that will kick on if I find myself suddenly on the wrong end of a pirate ambush or a territorial squabble between traders. Just enough to give me time to get the heck out of dodge. I’ve heard rumors of a tech-priest who tinkers with salvaged components out near the Rim. Hopefully, he's not asking for an arm and a leg or I'm walking out.

I actually enjoyed the haggle. Not because of the price, but to see how much I can get for less. These guys are worse than the war council when it comes to haggling. But I got it, not pretty, but it works. And that’s what matters.

Diary Entry 4 - Cycle 78, Day 23

Tested the shield generator today. It’s a patchwork Frankenstein’s monster, but it held against a few short bursts from Sting and Bite. It’s not going to stand against sustained fire, but it did give me a window to power up the engines. It’ll do. Right now I’m loading up fuel on Tanker. She is going to be my bread and butter for the foreseeable future. I'll be making a run to the outer colonies soon. The demand was high, and the credit is good. Just have to keep my little fleet running smooth and fast. I’m no longer a soldier. I’m a damn space trucker. And I’m damn good at it.