Stardate 2350.013

Well, the logs don’t lie. Enough credits banked to choke a grox. Funny, just thinking about those hydroponics bays makes my back ache. Phoenix has been good to me. She’s earned her keep tenfold. Time to give her some love. Been running diagnostics all day, pinpointing the areas that are… adequate, but could be so much more. The primary thrusters are pushing the line, and the navigational array is definitely showing its age. Today's the day I start the transformation. The idea of fresh paneling, more efficient energy conduits... it's making me itch to get my hands dirty. No more dirt under my nails, just maybe the occasional grease stain.

Stardate 2350.014

The marketplace on Xylos was a cacophony of lights, chatter, and the distinct metallic clang of vendors hawking worn parts. I went in hunting for high-efficiency heat sinks for the thrusters. And boy, did I find 'em, just not at the price I wanted! The first vendor, a shifty-eyed creature with more scales than a kalari, quoted a ludicrous rate. But I’ve been out on the rim long enough to know the game. Half an hour of back and forth, with me walking away twice, and I finally got them for a price that didn't feel like highway robbery. Found some decent dampeners as well that should smooth out the ride a bit. I can practically hear the Phoenix sighing with relief already.

Stardate 2350.015

Swapped out the old heat sinks today. It was hotter than a star forge inside the engine room. But the feeling of slotting the new ones in… that was something else. The old ones were practically dust and corroded in places. The new ones are gleaming metal. I tested the thrusters afterwards. The difference was immediate. She's responding like a dream. I can feel the power humming through the Phoenix now, more controlled, more alive. The dampeners too have made a difference. The vibrations are almost unnoticeable. It’s amazing what a little TLC can do. I feel like this ship is part of me now. A weird concept considering she's just metal and circuits.

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Stardate 2350.016

Traded some salvaged parts – a few rare pre-Collapse capacitors I found on my travels – for an upgraded communications array today. The old one was barely reaching the next sector, let alone back home. The bloke I dealt with was a grizzled old human with a cybernetic arm, clearly seen better days, but knew his tech. He actually seemed impressed with the capacitors. He said they were "museum pieces", heh, but a good trade none the less. After install, I can now reach a wider band of signals. I even managed to catch a news broadcast from the core worlds. The world feels massive. And I'm out here, making my own way.

Stardate 2350.017

Spent the day rewiring the navigation system. It was a tangled mess of wires, some almost brittle with age. I had to reroute the power conduits and install a new data matrix. It was painstaking work, but it’s also incredibly satisfying. The ship feels like it’s mine in a way it never was before. It's not just a vessel anymore, it's an evolving project and that's a feeling I've never experienced before. I feel like I'm building a part of the universe, one component at a time. The old hydrophonics farm feels further away each day.

Stardate 2350.018

I treated myself to a proper meal today. Found a small cafe run by a family of T’zara on a small asteroid station. Their food was incredible, a taste of home I haven’t experienced in what feels like forever. I think I was so involved in the Phoenix, I forgot to think about myself. Being out here, it’s easy to just focus on survival. I needed a reminder of why I was doing this. I think the Phoenix needs some comfort, too. Maybe not a T'zara dinner, but something to keep her clean and polished for those longer trips. Time to look into the latest cleaning solutions and protective coatings coming out from the manufacturing planets.

Stardate 2350.019

Finished installing the new protective coating and cleaning everything. The Phoenix is shimmering now, almost like she has a new lease on life. I can see myself and what I've worked for in the reflection, and that's the best feeling in the world. Looking at her now, she feels like much more than a ship. She feels like my home, my workshop, my partner in this crazy adventure. No more back-breaking labor in the hydroponics bays. I'm a spacefarer now, and the stars are beckoning. Time to plot my next course, and see what else the galaxy has to offer. The Phoenix is ready for it, and so am I.