Diary Entry #1: The Gamble
Stardate: 7.12.2347
The datapad feels heavy in my hand. Like my gut. I just did it. I used almost every single credit I’ve saved over five frustrating years at the hydroponics farm. Every. Single. One. For what? A floating pile of space scrap called the Stardust Drifter.
I know, I know. Everyone on Level 3 thinks I’ve lost it. Even my maintenance unit, MU-7, gave me a long, concerned beep before trundling back to its charging station. But I’m tired of the same routine, the recycled air, the endless rows of glowing lettuce. I want to see actual stars. Not pictures projected onto the hydroponics bay ceiling.
The Drifter… well, she’s a mess. Her hull’s a patchwork quilt of mismatched plating, there are more dents than smooth surfaces, and the comms panel looks like it’s been chewed by a space rat. The broker all but laughed when I handed over the access codes. Called her a “reliable rust bucket.” But I saw something in her, a spark maybe, amidst all the peeling paint and exposed wiring. She feels… right. I know it sounds crazy. But this is happening. Tomorrow, the real work begins. No more lettuce, just grit and grease. Wish me luck, or at least, send spare parts.
Diary Entry #2: Initial Inspection - A Disasterpiece
Stardate: 7.15.2347
Today was… revealing. I spent most of the day trying to navigate the Drifter’s cramped interior. The living quarters are barely habitable. The sleep cubicle smells faintly of burnt circuits and something vaguely…pickle-like. The galley unit looks like it hasn't been cleaned in cycles. I’m pretty sure I saw a small, bioluminescent organism living in the nutrient dispenser.
The engines, thankfully, seem salvageable, though they’re caked in some kind of space grime that may be sentient, for all I know. The navigation system is older than me and has a fondness for flashing a rainbow of error codes. I swear, it tried to communicate with me in binary at one point.
MU-7, who I brought along despite its initial reservations, seems less than thrilled. It keeps whirring disapprovingly and shining its diagnostic beam on things I haven’t even touched yet. Still, its little manipulator arms are proving incredibly useful at getting into those hard-to-reach places. We’re going to need a lot of supplies. Today's shopping list: industrial cleaner, replacement wiring, a new nutrient synthesiser, and maybe a hazmat suit. This is going to be a long, long process. But I’ve committed. Time to start stripping her down.
Diary Entry #3: The Great Deconstruction
Stardate: 7.22.2347
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Hands aching, covered in grease, and smelling vaguely of space-corrosion, I’ve made progress. Almost all of the old, broken components have been ripped out. It was like peeling away layers of the Drifter’s past; each removed panel, each freed wire, felt like a step towards a new beginning.
I found a data chip hidden beneath the floor plating. It’s an old log, from what I could decode. The Drifter wasn’t always a rust bucket. She had a crew, a life, adventures. Reading their stories made me feel…connected to her. It fueled the fire.
MU-7 finally started to warm up today. It seems to enjoy disassembling things. We discovered a structural weakness near the main thruster unit but managed to stabilize it. The old nav-system is completely unsalvageable though, it is just refusing to communicate. I’ve started looking for replacements online. Those are going to be costly. I need to find a side hustle to keep the credits flowing. Maybe I can sell some hydroponically grown lettuce… ironic.
Diary Entry #4: Sparks Fly - Literally
Stardate: 8.01.2347
Today involved a lot of sparks. And a small fire. Mostly my fault, attempting to install a new power converter. I think I may have wired something backwards. But hey, learning by doing, right? MU-7 was very helpful in extinguishing the flames. I think I spotted a hint of amusement in its blinking sensor.
I managed to get the life support system mostly functional. The air is cleaner, the temperature regulated, and thankfully, no more pickle-scent. I’ve started to feel like I’m making the ship my own. I’ve found some old datapads with basic ship design schematics, and I’m spending my evenings sketching out what I want the Drifter to look like. Better storage, a proper workstation, and a dedicated stargazing viewport are top of my list. I feel a surge of possibility, a rush. This is more than just a ship now, it’s… it’s hope. Even though it nearly fried me.
Diary Entry #5: The Core is Reborn
Stardate: 8.15.2347
The new navigation system arrived today! It was hideously expensive, but I managed to cobble together an emergency delivery service contract transporting medical supplies to Level 8 to cover the cost. MU-7 and I installed it, and after a few tense moments, the system sprang to life. I cannot explain the sheer joy I felt when the star charts appeared on the main display. I spent hours just gazing at them, dreaming of where the Drifter and I will go.
We also finished rebuilding the secondary power core. It hums like a sleeping beast, steady and strong. It's like the heart of the ship has begun to beat again. The living quarters, while still compact, feel more comfortable now. I even managed to stitch together some old synth-fabric I found into new curtains. Progress may be slow but it all feels very personal. I can't wait to see what she'll do.
Diary Entry #6: Ready for Launch
Stardate: 9.01.2347
The Stardust Drifter is ALMOST ready. The final touches are being applied: diagnostics, polish, and a fresh coat of paint that isn't peeling. I’ve even given her a proper name: the “Phoenix.” It feels right. From rust to rebirth.
I’ve checked and re-checked all the systems, calibrating every little dial and gauge until my eyes are crossing. MU-7 is buzzing with excitement, its manipulators tapping rhythmically on the control console. We’re ready. We’ve put a lot of blood, sweat, and yes, space-pickle smell into this ship. It’s a huge step, leaving the only life I’ve ever known. But I know there’s more out there, waiting for us.
Tomorrow, we leave. The Phoenix and I. Wish us speed and safe journey. I can’t wait to see what the universe has in store for us. This is just the beginning.