001 - First Combat Zone
17 Jul 2020FerrousFox
A Combat Zone; it was my first time venturing close to one.I was actually here for a mission, one that sounded simple enough.
All I had to do was destroy 8 faction ships.
It even registered as a low combat rank mission.
I arrived at the low intensity zone, not knowing truly what to expect.
It was empty at the drop point; utterly quiet on the scanner.
It was unsettling actually; I wasn't sure when or where enemy ships would jump in.
So, I did the only thing I could think of: I picked a direction and throttled up.
It took a bit, but I eventually spied contacts on the edge of my sensor range.
I certainly wasn't expecting a full blown dogfight between dozens of ships, with hardly any being of similar models.
Federal Gunships, Cobras, Adders, Eagles... I even saw a Type-9 for the first time.
I was a bit blown away by what I was seeing actually, until I saw the HUD show that it was really a faction fight, with one side being my target.
I sat back a bit, surveying the fight.
I didn't want to just blindly jump in.
I chose my first target: a ship that just lost shields, engaged in a 1-on-1 with my soon-to-be ally.
I chose, and struck.
It's all a blur now, what with the melee that ensued, and my inexperience with combat outside of the occasional lone pirate.
All I know is that it didn't go favorably, because I woke up here in a local station, being told I was picked up in an escape pod.
Now I get to call Jill from Space Farm and let her know I'll be using that ship replacement policy I paid for.
Maybe she'll be impressed by my new scar...