Diary entry 1

The comms chatter finally died down for the night, and the hum of the Phoenix was a comforting lullaby. Another day of hauling rare metals past the Outer Rim, another profit margin squeezed just right. The Hydra and Mule are humming happily, their holds full, and even old Tanker managed not to spring a leak. My five little frigates are tucked in tight, their weapons systems powered down but ready. It’s good to know the fleet is sound. But it's the Phoenix that's been on my mind all day. I spent the evening buried in schematic databases, scrolling through hull modifications. So many options, all screaming for my attention. I saw the usual: enhanced missile targeting, a must-have, really. More responsive maneuver thrusters, a little more zip out of a tight spot. Then there’s the armour plating, designed for different types of weapons. It’s a bewildering choice of protection. Even better sensors, a small investment with long repercussions. Or automated targeting, allowing me to spread my fire. But nothing felt quite… right. It's late now. Gotta get up early.

Diary entry 2

Another run, another sector secured with not too much trouble. Docked at a bustling space station, the lights painting streaks across the Phoenix’s hull. I reviewed the data again tonight. Range improvements on my current weapons – that one is really tempting. A few extra kilometers could make all the difference in a hostile encounter. There was one interesting option, though, solar shielding specifically against those nasty X-Ray bursts in the Zylth Nebula. That could be incredibly useful for my next few runs. I also looked at expanding my survey capabilities. Mapping uncharted asteroid fields is risky but holds massive potential for new mineral veins. But still… the Phoenix is more than just a cargo hauler. I want something that feels, well, like me. Nothing on this list screams, "that's it". So, I’m still holding on. Sleep beckons.

Diary entry 3

The third day always feels like the hump of the week. I spent most of the day overseeing the transfer of rare gasses to Tanker. Staring at the hull in the viewport made me think about the mods again. I decided to look at the more expensive, more complex modifications. Auto-loaders for the cannons, a definite plus for firepower, or a full overhaul of the power grid to support more energy weapons. And then I saw it. Buried deep in the “experimental” section. A converted hangar bay. Not for more frigates, mind you. This one is designed for… drones. Little mining drones with lasers that can chew through rock, haul salvage from derelicts, or even act as point defense against incoming missiles. And the schematics showed the option for replacing those with some heavier-hitting fighters. I nearly choked on my ration bar. That option screams versatility. I need to look into this more. Still no decision.

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Diaey entry 4

I spent half the day going back and forth through the drone hangar proposal. The potential is incredible. Automated mining – I could double my resource gathering output while I’m focused on trade runs. The salvage potential… well, that’s practically free money if I find some ancient wrecks in the right sectors. And for tough situations, a swarm of fighters could really help me hold my own. It's perfect! Okay, maybe not perfect. The refit is expensive. It’ll take time. And I’d have to retrain some of the crew to handle the drones. The whole logistics of maintaining them, repairs, replacing them all needs to be factored in. And would they be better than just upgrading my current weapons and fleet? Still, the image of them buzzing around the Phoenix is compelling. I can't shake the feeling that's the answer i've been looking for. More research needed.

Diary entry 5

A quiet day today, thankfully. The fleet settled down nicely on the edge of a nebula. I spent the afternoon studying the drone technology. The power requirements, the maintenance protocols, the programming… it’s complex, but I think I can handle it with a couple of crew updates and more spare parts. I started looking into the different drone models available. Some have stronger mining lasers, others are more robust and can withstand more damage, The fighter versions are a mix of missile drones and hard hitting laser drones. It’s almost like building a small fleet within my fleet. I’m getting closer, I can feel it. I think I might actually be ready to make a decision. Still, the weight of it feels heavy, with so many options to consider.

Diary entry 6

The final run for this cycle. I find myself constantly looking at the Phoenix, thinking about its future. I ran simulations all day, putting the drone bay in every conceivable scenario. Mining, combat, even emergency repairs. It's not foolproof, but it gives me an edge in a wide variety of situations. The converted hangar bay is expensive and will require constant maintenance which is going to be frustrating and time consuming. But that flexibility, that adaptability is something I have always looked for and I think this might give me that extra advantage. I reviewed the other options one last time, the weapons upgrades, the sensor packages, the various shields. They are all good upgrades, very useful, but ultimately just a slight increase to my current capabilities. The hangar bay, the drones...they change everything.

Diary entry 7

I did it. I sent the requisition forms. The Phoenix will be getting a full hangar bay conversion. It feels like I’ve made a monumental decision. This isn’t just a mod; it’s a shift in how I’ll operate. I'm going to have to learn a new way of doing things. But I’ve got this. The Phoenix isn’t just a ship; she’s a part of me. And I feel good about this. I can’t wait to see those little drones buzzing around her like busy wasps, ready for anything. Time to sleep. This is the start of something new.