When fortune calls, offer her a chair (and a drink)...
05 May 2019Urania Minora
Today started off pretty much as bad as it can get Woke up to a message notification that my ship had been impounded due to outstanding fees and fines...Ship isn't even worth 10% of what I owe. Screw it, I'll let the dock scrap it, and borrow yet another loaner.
Not that good of a pilot, but I'm getting pretty comfortable with a Sidewinder. Makes sense since that's all I've flown since college.
The dock is congested, and swarming with pirates. Seems every other time I try to be a data courier, they jack my cargo and destroy the ship.
Can't wait to get a decent exploration ship, and leave this godsforsaken bubble. No need for guns out in the black, or so I hope...
Took what little cash I had on hand, and hit the bar to start my day. Good thing I only got one drink in when a rich tourist started asking about transportation.
Figured nothing ventured, nothing gained. Put on a smile, a little charm, and convinced the tourist that I'd get them where they needed to go.
The look on that person's face when they saw that janky loaner Sidewinder on the pad worried me for a minute, until they said:
"Huh, looks a lot like the first ship I ever flew. Dad made me buy my first ship... Damn thing spent more time torn apart in a hangar bay than in space."
After clearing space dock they made some more small talk and asked how someone like me ended up in the "ass end" of space.
Of course, everything made sense to them after explaining I recently completed a master's degree in Planetary Geology, and a PhD in Astrophysics.
"Book nerd" they said after I was done. Yeah, just about.... Space docks and stellar shipping lanes are definitely not the place for me.
As luck would have it, my passenger made billions of credits in market speculation. Guess that's what you do with advanced degrees in mathematics and finance.
Must have felt sorry for me or something, brilliant scientist stuck in a low rent Sidewinder, barely scratching out a living hauling people and goods.
Shortly after dropping off the passenger, an inbox indicator popped up:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[New Message]
Subject: Exploration Opportunites Await You!
Sender: Anonymous
"Minora,
You deserve better. Get out of that shithole system. Go explore!
Attached is the title of ownership for my old ship, The Opulentia. I recently upgraded to a larger cruise vessel.
The ship is en route to your space dock. Present the attached title of ownership to the dock master, you will recveive assistance with transferring command codes, and renaming/re-registering the ship.
I've wired ten million credits to your account, and sent you the locations of a few trusted engineers I know who can help tune the ship for exploration.
Some useful data and materials are in the cargo hold for you too.
The least I can do after reaching the top, is to send the elevator back down. Be safe in your journeys, and I hope to hear about your discoveries on the Galnet!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well.... looks like I'm the owner of a lightly used Dolphin. A bit flashy for exploration, but it's FAST and NIMBLE.
Plenty of room for exploration modules. Plus, it's equipped with the latest navigational aids, auto docking computer, supercruise assist, and the biggest FSD I've ever seen stuffed into an engineering bay.
Even has that "new ship smell", which I've only ever read about.
The credits will help for sure. Pay off the 300k in fines and dock fees I owe, and FINALLY afford the Canonn research group application fee.
Maybe I'll "donate" a little to the local administrator and see if I can get them to put a good word in for me with the other space dock administrators.
Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning!
Bartender! One Aldebaran Whiskey, neat, and a Kamitra cigar... Hell, maybe I'll try that top shelf Centauri Mega Gin next.