Log #014: The Sol Evacuation Part 1 - Into the Fire
30 Nov 2024Bobby Brightside
(The audio log begins with the faint sound of a long, weary exhale. Bobby’s voice comes through, tinged with frustration but still reflective.)
Bobby (grizzled, contemplative):
Commander Bobby Brightside here. Log number fourteen… and this one truly lived up to the chaos you’d expect from that number. What a day.
Spent the last couple of days focused on getting access to engineers and upgrades for The Red Razor. Was in the Procyon system when news broke—final Thargoid Titan heading straight for Sol, the cradle of humanity.
Now, I’m no Federation loyalist, and I don’t feel much for Earth as the birthplace of our species. But there was something about the call for evacuation that stirred something in me. Maybe curiosity, maybe a hint of empathy. Either way, I decided to see what I could do.
Headed to V886 Centauri, the staging area for evacuees. My DBX wasn’t going to cut it for mass passenger work, so I docked at Tanner City to see what ships were available. With my bank balance, the best I could pick up was a Keelback—not ideal, but it’d do for a start.
[Beat]
Spoke to some fellow pilots there, and they suggested heading to LFT 926 for a Type 8. Not the flashiest ship, but it could carry enough passengers to make a difference. With the FSD pulled from The Wanderer, I could get a jump range of around 30 LY, enough to manage the 58 LY to Sol. Flew without shields—reckless, maybe, but sometimes you’ve got to take risks.
Outfitted the Type 8, plotted a course, and set out for Sol. My first time in the system. The tension in the stations and systems around it was palpable—everyone on edge. Sol permits were waived for the crisis, so I finally got a chance to see Earth’s home system.
As I jumped in, my radar lit up like a damn fireworks display. Ships everywhere. Barely got my bearings on the way to Abraham Lincoln starport. Still, managed to dock, take on passengers, and head to the next port for more.
Things got dicey there. One passenger turned out to be a fugitive, and I had to boost through the mail slot to avoid a scan. Ended up clipping the station—great way to scuff up a brand-new ship. After that, I made every passenger declare their status before boarding.
Loaded up 168 souls and set course for the rescue ship Cornwallis in V886 Centauri. On the way, I experienced something I’d only heard about a Thargoid interdiction.
[Transition Sound: Static and Alarms]
They ripped me out of Witch Space, and I reacted on instinct—boosted hard, but there was no outrunning them. The sound… chilling. My passengers were screaming in the back, and eight panicked enough to eject in escape pods. Fools. Eventually, my FSD came back online, and I made the jump, shaken but alive.
Dropped off the remaining 160 evacuees and met a grizzled pilot—well, younger than me, but war had aged him. Gave me tips on handling Thargoid interdictions: heat sinks, tight turns, and silent running to drop my thermal signature.
[Beat]
Tried going to multiple ports in Sol, but more fugitives in my passenger list got me denied docking. Frustrating. Got pulled out of Witch Space again by another Thargoid. Followed the advice this time—heat sinks, tight turns, everything. Still couldn’t escape fast enough. Took heavy damage, and my canopy blew. Emergency oxygen kicked in.
Two systems out from safety, with just five minutes of air. By the time I reached Cornwallis, I was down to a single minute. Tried to land but passed out as my timer hit zero. Woke up to the news: I’d crashed into the rescue ship, racked up a hefty bill, and lost all my passengers. Damn.
Clearly, the Type 8 wasn’t ready for this. Docked at Dobrovolskiy Enterprise in WISE 1506+7027 to upgrade the ship—better thrusters, power plant, and countermeasures. Also stopped at Al-Din Prospect in Alpha Centauri to clear some fines and bounties I received from carrying the fugitives.
[Beat]
Went back to Sol, better prepared this time. Still got interdicted but handled it smoother. Took damage, sure, but I got away faster. Loaded up passengers across multiple ports, and brought them back to Cornwallis. Landed with 63% hull integrity, but everyone made it. Shaken, but alive.
This evacuation is proving to be one of the toughest challenges I’ve faced. Between the Thargoids, the criminal passengers, and the sheer chaos of Sol, it’s been a trial. But I’ll keep going. These people need help, and someone’s got to do it.
Commander Bobby Brightside, signing off.
(The audio fades, the faint hum of the ship’s systems lingering as Bobby ends the log.)