I come from a little spaceport called Forward Horizons. It's not far from Zaonce, but it's definitely another world. My parents both worked in the limpet factory, until the Code arrived. We had a plan to get out and it involved them spending their savings on pilot's lessons for me. I worked hard at it, and finally passed my exams in March 3304. But while I was in Eravate my parents changed their minds. I don't understand why, but after things settled down a bit they decided to stay. I decided not to, not when I could be out in the black.

I was going to be one of the good guys, a defender of the innocent. But, black and white as space may appear from the ground, things are awfully grey out here. I try to fight the good fight for freedom and safety but sometimes that means choosing pirates over slavers, or some exploitative corporation over a self-styled king or president-for-life. I think.

I've certainly made mistakes. I helped Lave Radio Network during the revolution, fell totally for the propaganda. But my last mission for them involved flying to Zaonce for some "wetwork". I should have abandoned the mission when I discovered what they wanted. But if they'd pay someone to murder all those protesters, what would they do to a deserter? I've been trying to make amends for my cowardice ever since.

Even back home things seem grey now. A lot of my old friends work for the Code now, a couple of cousins too. I made my first millions taking them out sightseeing in a Cobra. Used the money to buy my Diamondback, still one of my favourite ships. Even if it does have some strange quirks, I've been through a lot with it. Tens of thousands of lightyears taking researchers out beyond Colonia and exploring on the way made me my first hundreds of millions. That seems a lifetime ago.

Since then I've served in dozens of wars; discovered dozens of Neutron stars; joined an expedition to the Outer Rim stations; explored ancient ruins; battled alien monstrosities; and even given guidance to new pilots. As if I'm one of the old timers. I still have a lot to learn myself, like how to pass a huge mountain without stopping to speed my SRV down it, or how to stay out of wars that don't concern me.

My ever-expanding collection of spacecraft include:

• a Diamondback Explorer for science and exploration,
• a Type-9 for trade and resupply missions,
• a Viper Mk3 for mercenary work,
• an Orca for sightseeing
• a Beluga for long-range tourism
• a Challenger for fighting Thargoids
• an Asp scout for fighting Thargons as part of an AX wing
• a Gutamaya Eagle with little practical value - a ridiculously fast fighter
• a Crusader for ground assault
• a Fer-de-Lance for surgical strikes and seek-and-destroy missions
• and my grandmother's duelling Sidewinder that I'm fixing up and updating