Entry 1
The Phoenix hummed a familiar tune under my feet as I docked at the Rim Station. The same old grime, the same flickering neon signs. Felt like coming home, if "home" was a place where you could buy bootleg synth-whiskey and questionable cybernetics. I spent most of the day bartering for spare parts; the ship needs an oxygen regulator – a cheap repair, but important. Found a vendor with some decent coils for half-price, said they fell off a cargo hauler. I didn't ask too many questions. Later, I made a couple of small trades with a few shady types down in the lower levels – selling a few vials of the stardust I synthesized last cycle. Just enough to cover some extra fuel, and a decent meal. Nothing flashy, just smart. The key is to not be greedy. A large haul screams for attention, these small deals slip by unnoticed.
Entry 2
The jump to Xylos was rough, gravity was screwy when we emerged into realspace. Took a few tumbles and my cargo of nutrient paste ended up on the ceiling. At least it was contained, I guess? The Xylos market was buzzing, though. The local constables were clearly having a bad day, so I kept a low profile. I heard rumors of a crackdown on synthetics, so I didn't even bother trying to move the stardust. Instead, I focused on a few pieces of salvaged tech I'd picked up from the asteroid belt a few cycles ago - some kind of data storage unit, I think. A contact in the trading pit took one for a good price, saying it might unlock some old software. A quick win, made enough to pay for some proper Xylos spice coffee. That was worth it alone. I had a look at the market prices for stardust though, it was a bit low. I’ll wait for a better opportunity.
Day 159, Cycle 3
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Back in the void. It's peaceful here, in a way. The quiet hum, the stars outside. I spent the day making some adjustments to the stardust synthesizer, pushing it to produce a slightly higher grade. The last batch was okay, but I can do better. I also re-routed the sensor array to hide the machine from casual scans - better safe than sorry. I got a message from an old contact on Faelan – they need some rare flora for some kind of ceremony. I’ve got something tucked away from a few cycles back. A quick detour, and if the price is right, it’ll be easy credits. No stardust this trip; it's not worth the risk when I have something profitable already in the hold. I'm learning the rhythm of the routes, the ebb and flow of desire, so to speak. Knowing when to hold tight, when to sell a little, when to avoid.
Day 165, Cycle 3
Faelan was a mess - the city felt like a humid maze. The contact was waiting, though, and the price was indeed right. They didn’t even haggle, just handed over the credits. The rare flora was gone, a quick and clean deal. On the way back to dock, I noticed a discarded crate, probably dumped by a freighter. It was a bit of a mess, but I looked and pulled out some old, but working, sensor jammers. Not exactly a gold mine, but worth something to the right type, and free. Good salvage. I also overheard two traders talking about a shortage of processed minerals on the next system over. That’s something I can definitely find in the asteroids around the next system. No stardust this trip neither, but I have something.
Day 172, Cycle 3
The small haul of minerals was worth it. I made a pretty good profit, more than I would have for a small stardust haul. I traded in a system where I was pretty sure no one was looking in my direction and went back into the void. The Phoenix is getting a bit creaky, I need to sort out some of the engine sounds, and maybe put in better life support filters soon. These are small things, but they matter, they keep me going. I spent some time checking the market data, looking for the next opportunity. No rush. I don't chase riches, I just take what's given if it makes sense. A few small wins, and you can live well, and stay one step ahead of anyone looking for trouble.