Cracking heads and cutting rocks
06 May 2021Chase Quinnell
May 6th, 3307Finney Dock, Bilongo system
It has been a little over a month since we returned from our deep space expedition on the Serenity. Aide McCormick informed us of several outstanding orders for raw materials to help with trade and infrastructure development for the Federal Constitutionalists. Working with Commander Macwillie and Digitalmind, we've been fulfilling orders for methanol monohydrate, lithium hydroxide, and even low-temperature diamonds. I have commissioned a new mining vessel with more capacity than the Britton's Claw. With my new mining python (Meteroic Profit), I was able to cut a larger quantity of chunks before having to return to Finney Dock.
A Federal freelancer has been helping with the pirate problem in the system. He's been defending the research megaships which are passing thru the system. I recently made some incursions into neighboring systems to acquire data from some hostile factions' installations. The first one was hairy and resulted in the loss of an SRV. Subsequent missions have gone smoothly, though I have had to deal with bounties from the offended factions.
News from the core
News from the core systems continues to trickle in. Hudson's invasive surveillance measures have been widely supported by the Pilot's Federation community. I cannot fathom what is going thru my fellow commanders' heads... why would they support such dystopian and authoritarian measures? This flies in the face of the free-loving nature of most commanders out there. I cannot help but wonder if greed was a significant driving factor in this; Hudson was far more generous with his rewards than Winters. I must say I am surprised to find myself in such alignment with the Liberal party, but it's becoming clear to me that Hudson's agenda is increasingly antithetical to freedom and democracy. I can only hope there's a reckoning in the next election before too much damage is caused.
The NMLA, which is the alleged focus of the surveillance effort, continues to be a thorn in Bubble politics. A Federal faction has gone to war with the isolationist Imperial faction Nova Imperium. I am concerned that this will be viewed as an act of war against the Empire. If the Imperial government initiates a retaliatory response, I fear for the security and stability of the Federation. I have no love for the Empire, but open war with them is not going to be good for anyone involved. Some Constitutionalist I talked with at the pub in the Finney Dock concourse were saying that Aide McCormick has dispatched observers to the battlegrounds. As of right now, he's apparently maintaining a purely observational stance. I hope he chooses not to get directly involved. Better to leave this to the warmongers at the League of Mandu. Best to avoid more Federal factions getting involved.. we're far enough from Empire space to make the conflict a minor concern for now.
o7