Commander's Log: 22 August, 3302: Playing Chicken
22 Aug 2016Cartlidge1000
I have been spending the past week working with the Authorities in Arque, hunting down criminals working in the area. At the time this log was written, I have earned roughly three million in bounty vouchers. The Ballista has served me well these past few days, though she has had some close calls.One particular day, I was struggling with a Python that had interdicted me. The fight ended in my favor, but not before the cur had dropped my shields and shattered my cockpit canopy. Luckily I had planned for this, and with a sufficient life support system I was able to return to the station for repairs. While I was waiting for the dockworkers to replace the plating on my ship, I found myself recalling the day I was given my scar.
When I first started my career as a novice bounty hunter, I flew an Asp Scout. She was an unpopular ship, considering the large supply of other fighters that did the job just as well, and the fact that her price range was extremely close to the Vulture, but for my needs the ship suited me just fine.
I was guarding a high REZ site one fateful day when an Imperial Clipper jumped in. Naturally I only felt glee when I saw the bright red WANTED appear on its signature. Much like the Python I underestimated my opponent, and the battle was closer than I wanted it to be. After a few rounds, my shields had dropped, but not before the enemy's shields had gone and their hull had dropped to less than 50%. I figured the battle was still in my favor, so I continued. Unfortunately the pilot did something I hadn't expected until then.
At roughly 10% hull, the ship turned towards me. I figured at first that the NPC was simply doing their typical "Jousting" technique, and I followed suit. My hull was at roughly 80% at this point, so I would easily outlive them. At only 5%, the Clipper kept coming, and I quickly realized what was about to happen. I tried to strafe out of the way, but to no avail. Our two ships collided, my cockpit canopy against the clipper's port-side nacelle. Instantly my hull dropped to zero, and my canopy crumpled around me. One particular piece of glass was thrown forward from the wing's impact, and embedded itself in my helmet, splitting my eye down the middle. Luckily for me the ship's automatic eject protocols kicked in, and I was placed in my cryogenic escape pod before my helmet could shatter and subject me to the void of space. The last thing I remember was my poor asp detonating.
When I woke up, the doctors at the nearby station had finished replacing my eye with a prosthetic one and the Pilot's Federation officials were processing my insurance claim. To this day I have no idea what happened to the Clipper.
I know that I could've gotten the scar healed and the prosthetic eye colored to match my real one, but I decided to keep it this way to remind myself how cautious a pilot has to be out there, and to never play "chicken" with an NPC pilot.
--Commander Cartlidge