Run Down
02 Jun 2016Asagao
It is said that the Universe is a solemn creature; but if you wish to hear it laugh, make plans.I made plans. A gruelling fortnight followed.
Having been profitably running rares in a Cobra, a break for repairs at a large station tipped me off to the existence of a new trading opportunity in 63 G. Capricorni. It fit in well with my plans; I could take a cargo of rares, travel to a nearby industrial system, swap the Cobra for Type-6, the rares for narcotics, and bring the future Asp a little closer, a little faster - and perhaps gain a little merit from assisting someone else's celebration.
That was the plan.
Unfortunately, along with the information I also picked up some kind of virus. For most of that week there was nothing could be done; most of it was spent, tucked in an out-of-the-way uninhabited system, trying to get well. (This is a good thing to do in a Type-6, and would be even better in an Asp, given the expanse of the canopy; assuming the Asp's canopy can be similarly altered. It's possible, by changing the electronics, to disable some of the canopy shield - wouldn't recommend this for a particularly high-UV star, but with a standard Earth-type star it will increase the amount of vitamin D the skin can produce, and raise the internal temperature of the cabin a few degrees. Part of me thinks the extra UV irradiating the virus particles in the cabin can't hurt, either.)
The virus was routed before the Diamond Frogs stopped paying for Legal-but-Dubious substances, and I was back in the area when the aftermath of the party resulted in another cry for trading assistance from the Frogs. In the interim, I'd put the time (and money) to good use, having improved a number of the Type-6's modules.
It didn't help much. Two trading bonanzas in such a short time mean rich pickings for the more unsavoury elements of the nearby systems. I hung on long enough to add to the Asp fund, then headed out, away from the carnage. From some of the feedback from the attackers, I was seen as easy meat for having a reputation in system as "just a trader". Well, that will have to change. The Type-6 was sold, modules and all, and traded for a Vulture. At some point, I intend to rack up enough exploration data that it will be worth protecting. Best start training for that now.