Fallen behind in keeping this up todate.
30 Dec 2020Lex Sedgwick
<Date:> 30 DEC 3306 <Location:> LP 255-11
Conflict drives the economy, the economy drives politics.. politics drives conflict. It's a never-ending cycle and most just don't really care long as those credits keep rolling in. I've been flying Conflict zones for the past few days, barely making it out of most of them honestly. As much as I've learned and grown as a pilot, Conflict zones are something I'm just not suited for yet.
I lost my canopy yesterday against a Python. It was one of the most fear-inducing and awe-inspiring things I've ever faced. Watching as the multi cannon rounds puckered the hard impact-resistant screen, then the cracks started. Pressure pushing heavy against it as I slowed my breathing and instinct kicked in to prepare to go onto rescue reserves for oxygen and pointed my ASPX's nose towards the nearest station I could get to and slapped as much power as I could to the engines and shields.
To be literally in the black nothing between me and it but a pressure rescue suit and my reserve oxygen tank. My ship flying at super-cruise speed pushing it to redline trying to reach the station as swiftly as possible. That horrid red counter working its way down second by second.
Fighting to keep my breathing as shallow and slow as possible.. Seven minutes.
Its at that moment that most people find out what they are truly made of. Panic, Fear, Anger, Rage its all emotions that flow through you like a rabid beast. Andrenaline starts flowing like the overpowering drug it is. Some have said they see more clearly and react quicker in such situations. Others become lethargic and slow their responses.
I start singing. Stupid I know but it is what it is.
Saddly I can't say I sing very well or sing anything worth listening to.
Five Minutes.
At one point I realized that likely I wasn't going to make it to the station before my oxygen reserves ran out. I wondered what runs through a person's mind when they realize that likely they won't survive the next four minutes and twenty-five seconds.
Myself.. I didn't honestly have much running through my mind other then trying to keep my ship on the flight path and drag out any last bit of speed I can get from the hulled wreckage that is wrapped around me. Oh I suppose I was a bit pissed off.
Mostly at myself of course, I took the mission to hunt down a known pirate not reading the fine print to realize he never ever flies with less then two wingmates and is typically always in a Python. I'd managed to take out the viper and sidewinder wing man, but that Python even knocking his shields completely out and getting a few solid cannon shots on it, just didn't make a difference I was limping away into Super-Cruise leaking everything from holes all over my hull.
It made you have to either laugh or cry honestly and I didn't feel like doing either so I sang.
The stars blurred and fly past as the lyrics of the song passed my lips. I should honestly be saving my breath literally and figuratively but it just struck me as appropriate.
"Would you like to swing on a start..."
30 Seconds. Docking procedures granted. Huh I may just make it.
Nope. Search and Rescue didn't have to work hard on this one. Nor did the station salvage teams. And I just had the paint job redone on my ASPX dammit it all to hell.