Back to our Chaotic Lives
01 Jan 2025DK-Ardok
It was short-lived, but inevitable. Humanity triumphed over the Thargoids. It's been interesting being a relatively new pilot, fighting alongside seasoned veterans. The Second Thargoid War gave me something to aspire to. Not that I cannot grow anymore, mind you. I became more familiar with how the Krait Mk II and Python Mk II operate. My Krait has been used in Spires and general AX combat, and is built to be a stealth bomber when diving into the Maelstrom to do some damage to a Thargoid Titan. I became a pilot in the middle of this blasted war. Started out as nothing more than a simple guy that had no business having a pilot's license.Eventually, I aspired to collect ships and get better ships. I went from the sidewinder to my beloved Chieftain, which I still have. I may not use her a lot, but she saw growth in my skill. Eventually, I got a Challenger, which began as an AX Combat ship. I knew absolutely nothing about AX Combat, but thanks to Commander Icepaw, and my squadron, Brutal Deluxe, things started sinking in. At this point, I already saw standard combat, and have lived through being ambushed by multiple enemies. The tasks at first were absolutely daunting. I knew almost nothing about getting Grade 5 access to engineers, let alone unlocking them. Still, somehow, I had access to Felicity Farseer and a few others, by the time I piloted my Challenger.
As time went on, I worked hard with trade and became a billionaire, and got the Fleet Carrier Nidhogg and she is a magnificent carrier, might I add. She's served as my main base of operations, and temporary staging points for my squadron, my friends and I. This includes AX Combat. My colleagues who went on an expedition towards "Hawking's Gap" all agreed to call the trip "Nidhogg's Migration". I felt honored. The expedition was cut short, thanks to the Thargoid War and now I had a fleet of ships I could do whatever I wanted with it. However, getting materials always seemed to be an issue.
After Cocijo went down, and I had contributed to Cocijo's downfall as well, I decided since then to hunt for materials. My beloved Clipper, at this moment, is retired as my main ship. The Magellan has served me well and will likely serve me in the future. However, she is not built for long range travel and exploration, like my Mandalay is.
The unity displayed through AX Combat and sewing chaos in the Maelstroms that were home to Thargoid Titans, was only temporary. What I saw was beautiful. Humans of all allegiances banding together to defend ourselves. It no longer mattered when fighting the damn bugs, if you were of the Federation, Empire, Alliance or otherwise; our goals were pretty damn the same. Defend humanity or die trying. I lost millions of credits putting in my efforts, but always bounced back with a billion or so credits from trade. I am proud to have contributed in the efforts against the Thargoids. Like Jameson, I never wished for mass genocide. Just to protect humanity. I've done some horrible things to the Thargoids and I will not lie that I murdered some of them bastards. If they weren't bent on eradicating us, I might not feel this way; justifying murder.
Now that the war is over, we're back to screwing each other over. Even I'm guilty of this. I've served Emperor Arissa Levigny-Duval, Archon Delaine, Li Yong Rui, Aisling Duval and I think some others. The only reason I pledged to these people in power, is because of the modules and weaponry. I never really felt like I belonged with any of these people ever. I prefer to do my own thing, as a lot of pilots out there do. Some have gotten way into serving the people in power. I prefer exploring and doing my own thing. I like being a part of a squadron that prefers being independent and any of us can flip-flop allegiances whenever we want, or to pledge to no one.
I feel more comfortable in the black or trading, even though I felt the most alive defending humanity from the bugs. A part of me misses it, because it no longer mattered because we were all human, in the end.
Commander DK-Ardok out.