Stardate: 2348

Phoenix’s hum is starting to feel… monotonous. The jumps between systems, the careful negotiations, the endless checking of market fluctuations… it's all become so bloody routine. Trade's been stagnant for weeks, credits barely trickling in. I could practically set the automated systems and take a year off. But then I'd go mad with boredom. So, I decided to dig into the Phoenix’s database – literally, as it turns out.

Pulled up the records from past owners. Seems this old girl saw more time hauling ore than exotic spices. I found a whole archive on mining operations. Fascinating stuff, actually. I always thought it was just ‘point laser, blast rock, collect shiny things.’ Turns out it’s… complex. Different kinds of impactor lasers, designed for various asteroid compositions. Some pulverize, others vaporize, some even use focused sonic vibrations. Then there are the gravity harvesters – huge, imposing things that literally rip chunks off asteroids. Never imagined there was so much sheer mechanical ingenuity involved just to get at rocks.

I've been browsing schematics and simulation videos for hours. The Phoenix even has a small, outdated mineral scanner tucked away in a storage locker. Never knew that existed. It's surprisingly sensitive, showing different mineral compositions through a holographic overlay. I could be sitting on a small gold mine myself if I knew what I was doing. Maybe this trade lull is a sign. Time to learn something new.

Stardate: 2348

Spent half the day in the simulation suite, running scenarios. Asteroid mining is nothing like I imagined from those old vids. It’s not just about hitting things. You need to choose the right tool for the job, analyze the rock composition, plan the blast pattern, and even manage the debris. I was laughing at my own incompetence, watching simulated chunks of rock go flying in every direction, the virtual debris field expanding around me like a chaotic nebula. I feel like a kid playing with a new toy.

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Turns out there are also various magnetic storage units. Some are designed to hold raw ore, others are sophisticated enough to hold refined minerals in compressed form. Its whole delicate, dangerous and fascinating world of engineering and planning! No wonder they’re called “miners.” It's an art form, apparently, not just brute force. The Phoenix even has two small magnetic claws tucked away, I wonder If i could ever use them.

I’ve started cross-referencing the database with current resource prices. Even with the stagnant markets, certain rare minerals are still fetching a decent return. Maybe I could use the smaller impactor attachments I saw in the Phoenix's archives. I might not get rich, but the change of pace… it’s genuinely appealing. I am actually contemplating heading towards the belt between Xylos and Cygnus to see what I can find.

Stardate: 2348

The jump point to that asteroid belt is only a few jumps away. I’ve been tinkering with the Phoenix, getting familiar with the mining tools I found and running more simulations. It’s a little like learning to fly again, but instead of piloting a spaceship, I'm piloting blasts of energy and magnetic fields. I even started cleaning off the dust from that old mineral scanner, gave it a once-over. I found a few old calibration logs, and now it seems to be working better than I expected.

I feel a different kind of anticipation now. Not the hurried, anxious feeling of finding the best deals, but a calm, methodical excitement. I am not going for a big pay day, I want to learn something new! I am a trader, but I am curious. I'm eager to dig into the heart of an asteroid and find out what lies hidden within. It's strange. For the first time in a long time, I am genuinely excited about what the next solar cycle might bring. Perhaps this little detour into mining is exactly what I needed.