Colonia resident's records - Federal exercises and ship naming
28 Mar 2021Al Loiz [ICU]
More, than four years passed since Al visited Colonia the first time. Many youngsters from his company are naming him Oldtimer, or Resident. Of course, Al is not too old, however, today reminding of empty Jaques Station market in November 3303 is looking far ago indeed. Sometimes Al think, that maybe these youngsters are right, and he is really an oldtimer… Men’s age should be measured not only by date of birth, but by density and importance of the events, happened during life. And it was enough important events during these four years indeed. The first visit of Colonia. The first Community Goal, creating of the first surface stations, future growth. Another community goals, engineers, carriers… Expansions, retreats and conflicts, which are more important, than in the old bubble due to limited number of star systems, may be controlled. Colonia is larger, than 4 years ago, but still remaining a small village in faraway. As every first days resident and oldtimer in a small village Al knows local history, places, stories… And he is learning newcomers from his company, arriving from old bubble not only to help, but to see faraway places and establish relations with local engineers. Everything was fine, during approximately 3.5 years, however... Nearly half a year ago Al found, that his bounty hunting result is getting smaller, than shown by guests. The cause was clear enough – Al’s federal rank struck at 100% Lieutenant, more, than four years ago. Cutter is really good as a trader ship, however Federal Corvette is much more effective during hunting. And why these stupid men around are whimpering, that purchase of federal or imperial ships is getting impossible in Colonia? For me it’s impossible anyway, because I need to fly in old bubble and do blasted federal rank exercises. And is it difficult now to transfer each ship by carrier? Where are the good old days, when reaching Colonia required personal skills, not payments or friendly relations with carrier owner? These carrier beasts are flying regularly, due to this huge number of various robbers arrived to the place. Result is predictable indeed, much more bounty hunting required – bloody civilization came, enjoy… However, it’s not a time to think, as real oldtimer – the situation must be changed. This means, that visiting the old bubble will be needed…
As every village resident, preparing faraway city visit, Al planned his route as exact, as possible. Of course, there is no way to plan each future mission, however, the starting place must be selected very well. Comrades in bubble advised Al about several possible points. After deep thinking star system with six federal factions was selected and Al sat in his Colonia-Bubble ship. OK, my Neutron Stranger, let’s move me to the old bubble. Route is prepared, time… 16.35, let’s go! I must return as soon, as possible.
2,5 hours later Al purchased Python in Shinrarta and performed quick remote engineering. No time to visit engineers personally, let’s do this as-is. Time is more important now, than several percents added to jump range. After five jumps Al arrived to his starting point. Quick missions review, many funds donations... Lucky am I!!! let’s pay them and improve federal reputation. After doing this mission for the new rank was given in 10 minutes and quickly completed. OK, next rank progress… 28%. I was really advancing four-five years ago. It’s needed to sleep and prepare for really long tomorrow flight….
The next day was really busy, but Al already received basic info about missions provided. The results were improving each turnaround. Courier delivery missions to nearby system? - reputation improvement looks poor, but needed to have in mind, that all factions in destination system are federal too. Two-side effect is twice better and other delivery missions to already targeted destinations may be taken. What are incoming mission patterns and where are the goods, needed to purchase? How often donations required? During learning progress was getting faster and approximately at 15:00 needed federal rank was achieved. Al quickly returned to Shinrarta. Corvette was purchased, and the happy owner hesitated. Of course, I have enough money to transfer the new ship to Colonia. But with new guardian module and additional fuel tank… OK, let’s show these youngsters, how old-style community goal was completed. Several lightweight modules were purchased for longer jump range and Al visited the old grandmother Felicity for making top jump drive improvement. He often thought, that grandmother disliked the stupid boy, he was several years ago. Engineering was random during previous years and his command of rebuilding the drive, adding 4 light years to jump of fully loaded Cutter… Hmm, it was not vise indeed. Maybe, she was not doing the best for me after this – four years ago Al’s Anaconda was jumping not more, than 50 light years after too many improvement attempts. With this trash he made seven turnarounds between bubble and Colonia, 32 Light years loaded, 50- empty… Now I have 41.19 - much better indeed! Less than 24 hours after his departure from Colonia region, Al began his way back home
Large ship was flying through neutron jets mostly easy and straightly, like Anaconda. Four years passed from the first Colonia delivery community goal, but now it’s looking as yesterday. Maybe, my ships are jumping too far now… By the way, how to name the new ship? Sometimes naming is easy, sometimes – not. Al’s first Cutter, White Spirit was named months before ship painting kits and naming plates became available in stock. Several ships were named immediately after applying painting, like black and white Python, named “Fading To Grey”, the color, it’s actually fading to in space.
And “A Quick Brown Fox”, which was named not only according to the color, but reminding about ancient testing method. Who knows now, for what the phrase “A quick brown fox jump over the lazy dog” was used millennium ago? QBF test pattern... But how to name this battleship? Of course, there are too many well-known Russian battles, but everybody may see many ships, already named accordingly… It should be something less known, but really hard. How to name… And Al reminded his voyage to old Sol…
After watching the Kremlin in Moscow, group of men, interested in war history, asked the guide about nearest fortresses. Ten minutes of flying and they landed on a hilltop. After going around the flyer, Al was astonished. Where is the fortress!?? It a monastery! Seems, that his reaction was usual, because guide advised all to look on the walls Hmm, these walls are looking really perfect, especially having in mind nearly two millenniums of standing, as was said by the guide. Interested Al began to listen attentively…
Beginning of XVII century. Royal mess in Russia. Various foreign troops, traitors, throne pretenders etc. Monastery, which may control nearly all trade routes to Moscow from the North, is besieged. Of course, no radio or other modern distant communication, lack of exact information from outside. Whole country may be already captured. But outnumbered defenders are not giving up and fighting. And it’s really active defense, not only sitting behind the walls, but making sorties. Approximate number of the sorties astonished Al. Defenders were attacking many times indeed, capturing not only food. Of course, lack of food is killing, but winter frost in Russia may do the same quicker – firewood needed too. How much willpower and courage required for attacking surrounding and outnumbering enemy? And needed not only attacking with following retreat, but capturing and delivering the life supporting goods under counterattack. Leaving behind men, for which sortie became the last. And captured food or wood was if not poured, but exactly paid by blood…
The monastery was not taken after more, than 1 year siege. Defenders were fighting until alive and many died before help finally came. Have we at least ten percents of courage, willpower and patience, comparing to the great ancestors? Al thought, that there is no way to check exactly – lucky we are. However… Centuries of various wars are forever imprinted in every Russian mind. Speeches about readiness to the worse and to the actions, must be done in such situation are not needed for our company indeed. Fight without giving up, do everything, what you must and let the following be. And the new ship… Let’s name it according to city, where the monastery is standing now. Sergiev Posad.
