Bases Are Opening Up...and I Don't Care
11 Jun 2021Scubadog
I'm a ship commander. Period. For as long as I can remember, only sanctioned bases, stations and outposts would let you off your ship. Now, it seems virtually every Tom, Dick and Harry installation will let you roam around. And do stupid things. Often things that can get you shot or arrested. And it seems more and more "commanders" are turning into grunt mercenaries. Hell, a growing number of grunts aren't even commanders. I'm not sure which type I have less respect for.I was born on a ship, out in the black. I'm actually a might proud of that. When I had the chance, I got my license and bought my own ship. And that one ship got me all the way to my what would become my home in the Colonia region. And on my ships is where I'm gonna live and die. I'm not hankering in the least bit to go roaming around stations or installations. Those landers can keep'em. There's nothing romantic or exciting about runnin' and gunnin'. Hell, there's nothing exciting about climbing out of the comfy seat of my SRV just to point a scanner at some sort of vegetation. When I set my ship down on a planet or moon, it sure as hell ain't for any sport or for landlubbing sight seeing. It's for getting materials I need to keep my ship going. I'd much rather be doing all my sight seeing from my command deck cruising over the surface or, better, in orbit.
"Oh, but you can meet more people and go on exciting adventures with them, then maybe celebrate at a bar". To that, I say bullshit. Other than Dead Man's Delay to meet up with some of my fellow Silverbacks, the only time I set foot in a bar is to meet up with someone I need something from for my ship. The reason I moved to Colonia in the first place was to pretty much avoid most people. To my mind, as a general rule, I think the best interaction you can have with someone else is over ship-to-ship comms. A flash of the running lights and a cockpit salute as I pass are as intimate as I like to get. On the rare occasion I take on another person on crew--and some of you more sensitive types are gonna hate me for this, but screw you--it's gonna be skilled female and the understanding is going to be we will be crew-with-benefits. And, yep, there are enough female commander-wannabe types out there who are willing to take that contract. Means to an end.
So, you can keep your jarheads and your fancy suits and pew-pew pistols. You can keep your stupid taxi rides to steal some document from some hapless feeb. I want no part of that life.
I'm a frickin' commander, damnit.