Diary Entry 1 – Kepler Station

Just offloaded a shipment of refined plasteel at Kepler. Got a decent price, thankfully, and that should keep us in fuel and repairs for a cycle or two. The marketplace is bustling, as always, but I can't shake the feeling of eyes on me. That last pirate engagement…those scumbags knew exactly where we were, and specifically for the valuable metals I was transporting. The intel I salvaged from their escape pods confirms my suspicions – a leak. Someone on the black market is selling information, and it cost some good men their lives. I interrogated the survivors, they seemed to indicate they were told to attack a trader that looked like me flying the phoenix with a light escort of only five frigates. I need to adapt, and fast. My crew is loyal, and the pilots of Claw, Bite, Fang, Tear, and Rip are all fine warriors, but I cant bring them into a fight ill prepared. I need a plan. Three plans if possible. I have a few ideas. Diversify my trades, disguise my operations, and build up my firepower. I know the pirates will be back. I need to be ready for them, but also not paint myself as a target.

Diary Entry 2 – Deep Space Transit

I’ve started implementing the first phase – diversification. I sold the rest of the plasteel and some hyperdense alloys at Kepler, then picked up a medley of smaller, less conspicuous goods: synth-silk from Xantus, some rare fungal spores from a backwater colony, and a small haul of precision micro-circuits. I need to spread the appearance of my wealth out, instead of having large amounts of concentrated resources. It's a logistical nightmare, constantly juggling cargo manifests, but it should make me less of a target, at least on the surface. The Phoenix is a beauty, but she's too recognizable. I'm thinking of getting her hull refitted with some camouflage plating. A subtle modification in the hull and silhouette, at least enough to throw off casual observation. The Hydra and Mule are still doing a great job as cargo carriers, but I might need to bring in more. I need cargo to become a constant thing, and not a "get it and run" sort of feel. I can also use the cargo carriers to keep track of trade, and act as a data point.

Diary Entry 3 – Abandoned Mining Facility near the Eridanus Nebula

The second part of my plan has begun. I've found an old, disused mining facility out in the black. It’s perfect for a secondary loading bay. The outer doors are still operable, we can use them as temporary docking bays. We've been working like beavers, carving out a new, hidden port bay inside the facility. We’ll be able to load and unload cargo here under the cover of darkness. The pirates might be expecting my next big haul at a well-known station, I need to keep them guessing. It's painstaking work, and we’re doing it away from prying eyes, but it will be worth it. I've started practicing some less noticeable routes, and I believe there will be some extra space in the facility for my fleet. The Frigates also need some time to perform maintenance. I can also try and come up with some code names for the pilots. It might be helpful to keep comms clear. I am also thinking of looking at the black market myself and see if someone has more info.

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Diary Entry 4 – Black Market Hub – Unnamed Sector

Risked a trip to an unnamed black market hub. Not my usual haunts, too dangerous, but I needed more insight into who’s selling my information. The place is a cesspool of smugglers, mercenaries, and information brokers. I paid a hefty sum for some data, and it seems the trail leads back to someone with connections to the corporate sector. They are likely selling information on anyone with a large amount of resources, to keep the market unstable. That's good to know. I need to be more careful. My anonymity is now paramount. The person selling knows my name, and my ships. I went under the guise of an old man, with a raspy voice and a fake set of implants. I need to be more creative. The information broker I was speaking to seemed like he was having a hard time remembering who I was talking about. That gives me some insight. I don't have a name I can stick too, I need to go by something else. The broker kept calling me Old Man, maybe Old Man is a good name for the time being. I also bought some jamming tech for the short-range comms as well, just in case.

Diary Entry 5 – Returning to the Mining Facility

We successfully tested the new loading bay and have created a blind spot on the sector map. Unloading went off without a hitch, and we got the goods safely inside. The camouflage was surprisingly effective – the Phoenix looks like a completely different ship. The altered hull and some well-placed paint are blending in with the asteroid fields. I need a better call sign though; Old Man won't work long term, I am going to need something more permanent. I am going to need a call sign to help with communication, with the increase of black market traders I need a "name". I believe I'll go by "Shadow". It fits with my need for secrecy, and will help the comms. The Frigate pilots have taken to their task like fish to water. They are eager for action, and their call signs seem appropriate. Claw is now Razor, Bite is now Viper, Fang is now Talon, Tear is now Shade and Rip is now Phantom. We look like a proper crew now.