Diary Entry 1: The Routine Grind

Another cycle, another jump. The Phoenix hums beneath my boots, a familiar vibration that’s become the background music of my life. The Hydra and Mule, always dependable, are latched on like overgrown barnacles, their holds brimming with processed ore. Tanker, bless its heart, is the ever-present fuel hound, keeping us all topped off. The vast emptiness outside the viewport feels both comforting and suffocating. I suppose that's the dichotomy of deep space.

I spent the morning reviewing cargo manifests. Tedious, but necessary. Then came the comms check-in with Viper and Kai on Sting and Fang. They were practically buzzing to recount their little pirate scuffle. Good for them. Fresh blood needs a taste of action. Glad I spent a little extra on that training module. They’ve gone from trembling rookies to… well, slightly less trembling rookies. At least they hit something.

The frigates remain on autopilot escort duty. A waste of good firepower, I know, but they’re insurance. Peace of mind comes at a price, and I can afford the pilots to watch the stars and twiddle their thumbs. Tomorrow, we’ll reach the extraction point. Time to unload and do it all over again.

The Hydra and Mule are loaded with ore and processed metals. Heading to the Hegemony next; they've been paying top credit for alloys recently. The Tanker is topped off and ready.

Entry 2 - Rixian Orbital Marketplace

Haggling here is always a pain. Tried to offload some processed fuel I had, they kept pushing for lower prices, claiming they had multiple offers from other prospectors. I held firm and eventually got my price. A little extra in my coffers is always useful. Those Rixians think they're clever, but I've been doing this far longer.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

I’ve been looking over three potential pilot candidates for Bite, Claw, and Rip. Found some profiles online.

* Jara: A veteran of various border skirmishes, she knows how to handle a ship in a fight and is described as 'unpredictable'. Lots of kill confirms, a bit too much about her ‘glory days.' Seems competent. Might be useful if I need a more aggressive patrol.

* Zane: A young man, fresh out of some academy. He has good marks in simulators, but I'm not convinced that translates to real-world combat. However, his piloting is described as ‘precise' and ‘methodical', very practical. Good for boring long-distance escort work.

* Lyra: The most interesting. She doesn’t have much experience in military combat, more of a freighter pilot but her description speaks of her "intuitive piloting". Claims she's "bored by the grind of the same trade route and seeks excitement and more challenges." Perhaps a wildcard that may prove valuable.

I'll have to make a selection soon. I need them in the coming weeks once we enter the nebula region.

Entry 3 - En Route to the Hegemony

I’ve settled on Jara, Zane and Lyra for the frigates. Jara has the experience, Zane will fit the autopilot role perfectly, and Lyra might shake things up. I don't expect them to excel in the escort role, but their presence is an insurance policy. I have the credits for pilots, and having armed ships around is a practical measure.

Viper and Kai have developed quite the reputation. The new recruits were certainly impressed, almost reverent actually. It must be nice to be the local heroes, but I do not expect them to get complacent. The pilots can talk about their “heroic acts” later, right now I must focus on my trade routes and my credits.