Novels2Search

Trading

Entry 1 - Sector Zeta-9

The Phoenix hums a familiar tune beneath me. It’s been a long cycle since the last log, a blur of hyperspace jumps and hurried deals. I’ve been operating under the moniker "Silas" this time, peddling refurbished mining drills on the outer rim of this sector. The Hydra and Mule are full to the brim with them, thankfully. It’s not exactly glamorous work, but it pays, and more importantly, it doesn't raise any flags. The old Tanker is holding up well, I’m glad I spent those credits to fix it. Fuel is a constant concern for the fleet. We’ve been moving so much cargo that I’m almost breaking even with fuel cost and maintenance. The frigates are running well, Claw, Bite, Fang, Tear, and Rip all reported in fine, their pilots content. It’s good to be moving, but it's also good when we can just chill and relax for some time.

Entry 2 - Uncharted Nebula Xylo

This nebula… it’s beautiful but unnerving. I’m operating under “Jax” this time - feels like a name straight out of an old data-feed. We jumped into Xylo under the guise of a botanical research expedition, using a forged manifest of exotic flora being transported. Honestly, I almost believed it myself. Had to be careful not to use actual flower names when selling. The reality is we're lugging a huge harvest of "unconventional" protein sources, grown on repurposed asteroids. It’s a gamble, but I’ve seen a demand for alternative food supplies here. The Phoenix has a small crew of chefs that make wonders with these. The price should be right if the locals bite. I am starting to see why the other larger factions purchase ships, but I don't see the need, I barely make the profits I need with my fleet, more ships only means more upkeep cost and more fuel cost and well more repairs.

Entry 3 - Trade Hub Nexus-7

Nexus-7 is a chaotic mess, as always. I was "Captain Thorne" this time, arriving with a hold full of specialized construction materials, nothing too illegal, just hard to come by. The bargaining was brutal, the sort that makes you grind your teeth to dust, but I got a decent price for the load. It’s the small margins that keep us afloat. The constant fuel costs combined with the wear and tear on every system, it really adds up. I swear, sometimes I think I'm just working to keep my fleet flying. It would be easy to slip a few extra weapons systems for a small fee, but my crew is against it, and well, I kind of am as well.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Entry 4 - The Shifting Sands System

Operating as "Leif," I made a discreet delivery to a small colony on one of the outer planets of this system. They needed a specific grade of hyper-alloy for their defense shields. The price was high, and I drove a hard bargain. It helped that I had a good feeling about the people I traded with. This time I was trying one specific colony's food, its not bad I have to admit. Hydra and Mule are due for a complete system diagnostic, but hopefully, it can wait, we are getting close to another trading hub.

Entry 5 - The Obsidian Belt

This region is a bit dicey, too many scavengers for my liking, but the price I received here made it worth the risk. I’ve been using the name “Reynard” here – a bit more of a sophisticated feel this time. My cargo was a mixed load of medical supplies and advanced sensor arrays, all carefully documented and approved (more or less). I’ve made sure to make different stops this time, to better disperse my jumps, and to see if there are any better areas to trade. I saw another dreadnought go by today, but this time it was far off in the distance. I’m glad I don’t have to pay the fuel bill for that. Bite and Fang had a training exercise today, just to stretch their thrusters and get some practice in.

Entry 6 - The Ghost Star Cluster

This system is eerily silent. I’m going by "Kaelen" for this deal. It’s a risky place to be. But I came here with a shipment of raw, unprocessed minerals, the type that makes everything look pretty when it is refined. I managed a good trade with an independent refinery and walked out with a good haul. I picked up some local spices here. I can't believe that the pilots haven't gotten tired of the food yet. I'm getting tired of it. I think I might start stocking more kinds of food when we get to the next trading hub. The constant travel really gets to you sometimes, I wish that there were more places where we could all rest.

Entry 7 - Returning to Zeta-9

After all this cycle, we are finally back at Zeta-9. The cycle has been quite long, I have been going by "Silas" again. The cargo space is empty. The credits are decent, we have made the profit we needed to. It's been a long few cycles of constant trading and haggling. This cycle has also had some new food changes and a new dish that was a hit for the crew. We refueled. Restocked on provisions and are ready for the next cycle. Hopefully it will be more rewarding with a shorter travel time.