Stepping out of Character: My Return to the Bubble.
14 Dec 2016NickTheGrey
I was stacking data delivery and courier missions in around Colonia space when I lost the Hrafnkel in battle. I wasn't worried - I'd learned from my previous mistake and had more than enough funds to cover buying the ship back if necessary.That was before the Imperial Clipper of Doom set its sights on me. The ship was destroyed outright in minutes. I paid the rebuy cost and ended up back at Jaques with a bloodied nose but able to carry on. I took the ship out again, on a shorter run this time. Just a couple of LS out from the station I was interdicted and attacked again. This time I managed to fight my way out but ended up at 3% hull remaining and a big CMDR-sized hole in the canopy. I managed to dock the ship well within the Life Support window and this time, I spent a while deciding if I really wanted to stay out here.
The missions I'd been flying had been quiet and reasonably good for my bank balance and local reputation but they had now shown one thing: I was vulnerable without decent armour / shields / power systems and could just as easily end up right back where I was. I still didn't know how long it was going to take to get those needed modules out here so I made the decision to return to the Bubble.
Rather than make the trip in the usual way (which given free time for play would take close to a couple of months) I decided instead to sell the Hrafnkel, buy a Sidewinder and take it just outside the station and activate the self destruct. I chose to pick up a Sidewinder back in the Bubble at Asellus Prime, taking the easy - and much quicker - route back.