Entry 1 - Cycle 742.12
The market's been as stagnant as a zero-G pool for months. Another cycle of buying low, selling... slightly higher, barely enough to keep the maintenance bots humming. The margins are razor thin, the competition cutthroat – even if “cutthroat” means haggling over fractions of a cred. It’s like squeezing water from a dried-out sponge. I’m starting to feel like one myself. There’s no real trade happening anymore, it’s all just shuffling goods according to some algorithm set by the council. Where’s the risk? Where’s the reward? Where’s the spark?
Entry 2 - Cycle 743.03
I finally had enough. I liquidated most of my inventory. No more chasing decimal points. Instead, I leveraged something I did have: my reputation. I’ve spent cycles making contacts, building trust. It turns out, that’s valuable, even in this tepid economic climate. I’ve moved out of “trader” and into “delivery specialist”, as they call it. No more price fluctuations, no more sitting on stock hoping for a surge. The trade is set – a fixed commission for getting cargo from A to B. It’s…stable. At least I'm making a consistent income, but I can't help long for the feeling of speculation, even if I was losing credits on it before.
Entry 3 - Cycle 743.27
My first few runs went smoothly. Hauling industrial polymers to sector Gamma-9, nutrient paste to the research outpost on Kepler-4. The ships I use are owned by the companies, I’m merely a pilot now. It felt… unsatisfyingly efficient. Like a cog in a machine. No haggling, no clever barters, just pick up, fly, drop off, collect payment. I find myself longing for the messiness of actual trading, even the frustration. Still, the money is reliable and I'm able to sustain myself.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Entry 4 - Cycle 744.18
I’ve been spending my downtime in the sim. Running scenarios, pushing the Phoenix and a few frigates through asteroid fields, gravity wells, and simulated pirate skirmishes. The Phoenix… she's got power, a real beast in a straight line, but lacks bite in a tangle. Turning radius is atrocious. The frigates have the manuverability but are lackluster in their cargo and shielding. I can see why they're commonly used for escort. I need to dig into the schematics, see if I can find some way to squeeze more maneuverability out of her, maybe some adjustments to the thruster arrays. It’s a bit of a pet project now, but the idea of pushing the limits of these craft is a welcome distraction from the monotony.
Entry 5 - Cycle 744.32
The deeper I go into the schematics, the more potential I see. The Phoenix’s core thrusters are powerful, yes, but they’re optimized for long, straight-line thrust, not the kind of sudden bursts needed for quick maneuvers. I started sketching out ideas for auxiliary thruster placements. It won't be easy. It requires refitting. The risk is high, but the possible rewards of an edge above the others. I wonder if I can get the time off from deliveries to experiment. Maybe some of the smaller companies would be willing to test some modifications. This has sparked a fire in me, I haven't felt this engaged in a while. Let's see where this leads.