Diary of an Egg Jockey

Return and redemption

2009-03-23T08:59:00.006Z

Sharley and I woke to find Jamira still fast asleep on my couch. We decided to left her rest while we prepped our ships. She went off to her Raven and me to my Thorax. I gave it a good check over and checked the condition of my 5 Hammerhead II's as well. These little guys do a lot of work for me. Next step was making sure I had enough ammunition. I just had a large supply of antimatter charges roll off the assembly line. I loaded 3,000 of the mid-size charges into the cargo hold. Most likely more than what I will need, but it's better than running out. I noticed there was something new in my hangar, those cases of Quafe Ultra Special Edition I ordered. I kept one case for myself, then contacted Sharley. "I'm sending some things to your hangar."

"Oh? What kind of things?" She asked.

"A dozen exotic dancers and boosters!" I told her.

She laughed. "Sounds fun."

Along with the Quafe, I sent her an assortment of missiles I had been collecting from various missions - Paradise Furys, Caldari Navy Issue Devestators, and Caldari Navy Issue Wraths. She contacted me right after she recieved them. "And where are the drugged up dancing girls?"

"They are not there? Did the other stuffs make it there OK?"

"I'm not even going to ask where these cruise missiles came from, but I will make better use of them than the last person that had them. And how did you know I needed a Quafe?"

With the ships ready we returned to my quarters for Jamira. She was awake when we got there and wondering where we had disappeared to.

"Ready to go back home?" I asked.

"Do I get to see you blow up those pirates first?"

"Absolutely not, but I will set up an uplink so you can watch friom the safety of the station. If my ship gets destroyed and I cannot escape, I'll just come back as a clone. Been there, done that. You don't have that option."

She looked disapointed.

"It's for your own good." I told her. Almost feel like I'm her mother or something. "But if you decide to become a capsuleer, you can fight alongside me and Sharley. The more the better."

"I don't think my father would approve."

"Mine didn't. I'm not saying that to encourage you to go against him, but only you can decide what is right for you. It's a hard life we live. Not everyone is as nice. Most are not."

"I understand." She sighed, still quite disappointed from the look on her face.

"You are going to be riding in my Thorax." I brought up an image of it on the terminal in my quarters. "Good looking ship, don't ya think?"

Jamira stared at it with a bit of an embarassed look on her face.

"I call him The Phighting Phallus, I think it's obvious why."

She giggled."It does look like one."

Sharley added with a laugh. "I call it the Penis of Death!"

"OK, so it's not just my dirty mind at work." I was laughing with her. "Get your things, don't want to keep daddy waiting."

"Sharley what are you flying?"

I switched the view to Sharley's Europae, Caldari Navy Issue Raven. I forgot for a moment that she was very self concious about her ships. She looked at Jamira sadly, "It's not as pretty as anything she has."

"But if it absolutely, positively, has to be destroyed right now, it's perfect." I quickly added.

Jamira looked at the angular and asymetrical battleship on the screen that totally dwarfed my cruiser. "That's just scary."

"I knew you wouldn't like it."

"I didn't mean it that way. It's just so big."

"And ugly." Sharley frowned.

"Stop it. You know you love the destruction it makes."

With Jamira in the passenger hold of my Thorax we set off for Dodixie. Only 3 jumps from here so the ride was quite short. It was a happy reunion for her and her extended family from the mining colony. I have to admit, I almost cried. I got to thinking what it might be like if I ever returned home to my native Intaki. I'd need a Domi or a 'thron at least to do it though. It's not that I'm looking to impress anyone, but there's not much in the way of security there.

And just like that we were off to Stetille. The mining colony was swarming with Serpentis. Frigates of all types, several cruisers and 2 battleships. Modified Megathron class battleships at that. I'm not sure what they were after here, but what ever it is has to be more that just ore. We both locked the 'throns with Sharley firing volleys of cruise misiles and me providing traget painting. A wall of frigates charged toward us. As they came they met heavy fire from my drones as I moved in close for a few quick dogfights. Too bad I couldn't see the looks on their faces as they were being run down by a cruiser. I may have rammed a few of them as I chased others. I think I exceeded my calculations. I've been critized by other pilots for flying a speed tanked Thorax, but it gets the job done.

Another wave of frigates soon followed with more warping in. My drones and I chewed through them. There had to be something more going on here than mining for the Serps to want it so bad. I'm no stranger to encountering large numbers of Serps. On a good day this is exactly what I go hunting for, but this is just insane. And why isn't the Navy doing something about this big of a presence? It's their mining outpost. I may have to do some further investigating. Somethings up, I just know it.

There's one drawback to a good speed tank and I was starting to feel it. More like my ship was starting to feel it. What the frigates lacked in firepower they made up for in sheer numbers. I took off from the fray and let my drones finish them off while I activated my armor repair systems. I hear Sharley on the comms. "Where do you think you are running off to?"

"Just getting out of range so I can repair my armor. I'm taking a beating here."

Just then a cruiser nailed me hard with a missile. There goes more armor. I really wish I could fit a launcher or two. I would like to know how they are doing it. I jammed the cruiser to prevent any further damage.

With the frigates wasted and no mare warping in, my drones moved in on the cruiser I was jamming. Shortly after, mysheilds and armor were back up and I rejoined the fray against the other cruisers. Sharley was still trading fire with the 'throns. Was almost a stalemate as they were tanking nearly everything the other was dealing out. I didn't have that issue with the cruisers. Too close and moving too fast to be tracked. They were, however more work to take down than the frigates. A few rounds with a blaster and a frigate becomes scrap, these cruisers were another story. I ran into another problem. The Serps had taken control of the outpost's sentry guns. Or maybe they brought their own. What ever the case, my ship did take a few hits from them. I quickly commanded my drones to return fire. Those had to be Serpentis sentries considering the time my drones took to waste each one. I'm sure the miners would have loved to have kept those.

As the last of the cruiser went up in smoke and flames, I knew what I had to do next. There was hardly a scratch on either 'thron or Sharleys Raven. Time for me to make this fight really unfair. I got in close to one of the 'throns, opened fire with all 5 blasters and sicked all 5 drones on it. Now it was starting to suffer. Then something I did not expect happened. The other one stopped firing at Sharley and started firing at me! I can move fast enough to escape most of the damage from the rails, but not the missiles. My ECM was not blinding it enough either. I sent my drones to it and contacted Sharley. "I'm taking heavy fire here, anything you can do?" I asked as I brought my armor repairer online and cut off 3 of my blasters.

"Already working on it!"

Now all her lauchers were on the other 'thron. Between that and my drones, it was gone rather quick. I felt the shockwave from it's explosion. One down, one to go. That was the good news, the bad part is by that time I was taking structural damage.

"Sweetie, your ass is on fire!" Called Sharley over the comms. "Do you think you can hang on a little longer? A few more volleys and this one is a goner."

"Yeah, but try to make it quick."

And it was. No more Serps, just shattered remains.

Meet the father

2009-03-05T03:14:00.009Z

Dockarde looked frightened. I could tell all kinds of thoughts were racing through his mind. I'm sure to a Federation Navy miner, a decorated Caldari Navy officer has got to be a shock to him. Even if she was not in active duty.

"What business does the Caldari have with this?" He asked.

"This is not State business. I'm doing this on my own to help. Nothing annoys me more than pirates attacking miners, especially Serpentis. And that includes those who mine in the Federation." Fired back Sharley.

"I see." He responded. "What is it that you need of me?"

"If I'm going to rid your outpost of Serpentis, I need to know what I'm going to be up against. What ships did you see?" She asked.

"A swarm of frigates, a few cruisers and a battleship." He answered. "I think there was just one battleship. We were trying to get out so fast."

"We if that's all, I've got a solution to your pirate problem." She stated with a grin.

I broke in at this point. "You bring your Raven?"

"The Navy Issue."

"Oooh! Nice!" That ship is just awesome. "I'll be taking my Thorax. Been dying to test the upgrades I made to it. So what do you think? I'll take out the small stuff with my blasters and drones while you play 'catch the missile' with the battleship? I've got a target painter to help you." I may have been getting far too excited.

Sharley smiled at me. "I love you. I taught you well, but the Thorax? Are you sure?"

"With the new upgrades it should run right along side their frigates. Which given the range of my blasters is about how close I need to get."

Sharley rolled her eyes, "You Gallenteans and your blasters."

I laughed, "Yeah I know, I might as well open an airlock and fling the charges out myself."

Doc broke in. "Will you two listen to yourselves? Could you possibly be more eager for a kill? I know they are pirates, but you sound just as bad and I'm not sure if my daughter should be around you."

Before either of us could say anything, Jamira piped up. "Daddy, Persephone saved my life, she's been very protective of me since. Please don't think anything bad of her or Sharley."

"I've been dealing with capsuleers long enough to know how they can be. Immortality does things to humans, makes them think they are gods. With the admiration and idol status that so many of them have, they get so full of themselves." Doc then turned to me, "Please bring her back safe."

"And that's all I will do. How long do you think it will take the Navy to get a fleet out there?"

"Regrettably, I am at your mercy."

"No, I think I'm too full of myself to do anything."

"My apollogies, I've had some bad experiences. What do you require from me?"

"We will just take loot, salvage and bounties from the pirates."

"That's all?"

"Unless you can work me a deal on some mining equipment, maybe a barge." I figured it was worth a try.

"I knew there had to be a catch." Doc sighed.

"No, I would help you anyway. I am in the market for a barge, though." I do want a barge, actually I want a Hulk. I'm not going to press my luck in anyway though.

"I'm not making any promises, but I'll see what I can do for you when we rebuild the outpost." Well that was good enough for me.

"Sounds good Doc. We are going to get some rest now, as I said, it's been a long day. See you in the morning!" And on that connection terminated.

"I'm going to do another shot before I retire. Anyone else?" I knew I was going to be alone. Both Sharley and Jamira declined.

Jamira turned to Sharley as I was pouring myself a shot. "She drinks a lot of that stuff, doesn't she?"

Sharley just smiled. "She can handle it. One time she put down a few guys twice her size in a drinking contest. It hit her pretty hard later though."

I remember that night, well some of it. "Yeah, I don't remember much after you got me back here, except for waking up naked with a few bite marks that I don't remember getting." I said, glaring at Sharley.

"I'm innocent!" She shouted back at me. We all laughed, then I took Sharley by the hand.

"Jamira, that couch over there is quite comfortable, I've passed out on it a few times. We are going to curl up now. Big day starting in the morning, get some rest"

Saving the dancer.

2009-02-20T10:25:00.007Z

“Is that her?” Sharley asked.

“Yes” I answered, then turned my attention toward Jamira. She looked a bit shocked. Maybe she never seen two girls kiss before, well not like that anyway. “Jamira, this is Sharley.” Turning back to Sharley, “Sharley, this is Jamira.”

Sharley sauntered over to the couch and sat beside her. Jamira was looking a little scared at this point. “Don't be afraid,” Sharley told the girl, “I only bite her.” She smiled in my direction.

"Ummm, I don't know what to say.” Jamira nervously spoke up. “My family told me so many awful things about the Caldari.”

“So,” responded Sharley, “I was told some pretty bad things about the Gallente and I know it's not true about all of them. If I was as awful as you were told my people are, would I be extending my hand to help you?”

I'm sure Sharley must have been quite the intimidating sight. Full dress Caldari Navy uniform and a rather large blaster on her hip will make most anyone think twice about who they are dealing with. Though I do have to say, that skirt looks a little shorter than navy issue. Jamira just sat there petrified. She had this confused look about her. I decided to break the silence. "Round of Quafe Ultra's?"

"Please!" Both said nearly in unison. I had a feeling, if this stuff can ease tensions between the Gallente and Amarr, it can ease the scared girl on my couch. Sharley turned back to her. "See, we are not that much different. Now, what's troubling you?"

She started crying, "The mining colony I lived on was invaded by Serpentis pirates. My family left in escape pods but mine got separated. I have no idea where they are and everyone except Persephone has been trying to take advantage of me. I just want to find my family and get off this station. The habitation module was the only home I have ever known and it's gone. I'm scared and I want my father!" She just broke into tears after that.

Sharley hugged her and started rubbing her back while Jamira's head rested on her shoulder. "I understand. We are going to find him. We are going to take you to him. Then we are going after the pirates."

I set the bottles of Quafe down on the table, along with a shot for me. Then I embraced Jamira around her waist from behind. "We will do what we can for you." I told her. "You are in good hands here, literally even."

Jamira's sobbing stopped. She sat herself up as we both let go. By this point her eye makeup had streaked down her face. She looked like Minmatar war tattoos gone wrong. She took a drink to compose herself. "But how do I pay you?"

"Don't worry about it" Said Sharley. "I'm sure those pirates have some nice bounties"

"They are usually good for looting too" I added. "Why don't you gone get yourself cleaned up while we try to track down your folks. You look like you are about the same size as me, so if you want to borrow something more comfortable from my closet, you can. Just make sure I get it back clean and undamaged."

"Thank you so much, you are far too kind." She said as she excused herself.

After she left I turned to Sharley. "I feel so badly for her. Honestly though, at first I had no idea. I just thought she needed a friend and a sense of guidance. Explains why she was such an awful dancer. She was doing it because she needed money and couldn't do much else."

"Dancer?" Sharley asked.

"Yeah, I picked her up at the bar. She was getting hassled by some big dumb Brutor that wouldn't take 'no' for an answer."

"Sounds like she has all kinds of problems."

"Yeah. Think the agents you work with can find her folks?" I asked Sharley. "I was going to check the contracts and see if there was one put out on her. Her family has to be worried sick."

"I'll get on the comm terminal and see what I can find. Any idea where she's from?"

I thought for a minute. "She never said"

"That's going to make it a little harder."

Sharley and I went to work at the comms. While she contacted agents that specialize in tracking, I went looking for contracts. We were not coming up with anything. Jamira stepped in, wearing an outfit similar to mine. "Good choice, we could be sisters." I complimented her.

She smiled, "So it's OK that I'm wearing this?"

"Sure, as long as I get it back" I answered.

"May I ask why you have Amarr robes in there?"

Sharley and I couldn't help but laugh. "Those were from one of my more blasphemous performances. I almost started a war with those." That's really all she needed to know, then I moved back to the task at hand. "Jamira, where was your mining colony and where was your escape pod supposed to be headed?"

"The colony was in the Stetille system, I don't know where we were going."

"I know Stetille, there is quite a bit of Serpentis activity there." That's a help, but I'm going to need more. "What are your parent's names?"

"Dockarde and Jarella."

"Hmmm, that helps a lot." And it does, now we have names and places. "Sharley, can you think of anything else we need?"

"Did your family mine for a corporation?" She asked. "I've given your name and your parents names to my agents, but the more information we have, the better."

"I think he mines for the Federation Navy. I know he is always running ore to the assembly plant in Dodixie. I've gone with him a few times." Jamira looked down, "I wish I could be more help."

"That might have been enough." I told her, "Let's see what we can find."

I contacted the Federation Navy plant in Dodixie. If he deals with them maybe they heard from him. To my surprise, that's where he was. I told them I had urgent news concerning his daughter. They put me through to him. As he appeared on the screen his voice came through.

"This is Dockarde Quayze, what information do you have about my daughter?"

Before I could say anything, Jamira got up from the couch and ran to the comm. "Daddy!" she screamed, nearly knocking me over.

"Is that news enough?" I added.

"Jamira, we thought the worst had happened. Are you alright?" He asked as a tear shed from his eye.

"I am now. Persephone and Sharley have done so much for me." She seemed elated.

"When can you return her? We miss her so much." Her father asked with much relief.

"How does morning sound? It's been a really long day for us." I asked him. I'd take her now, but I'm really tired.

"That's fine, now that I know she's O.K."

Sharley approached us. "May I speak to him?"

"Mr. Quayze, my partner, Sharley would like to speak to you."

A sense of fear over took him as the young Caldari sat down in front of the comm.

From one dancer to another

2009-02-09T10:46:00.003Z

"Where are we going" asked Jamira.

"To my quarters, if you don't mind". She seemed pretty shaken over my actions. I can only believe I was doing the right thing. I couldn't just let her get fired over some bloke or the scene I made saving her.

"Thank you for your help again, but you didn't have to. He's a creep and I didn't like working for him."

I was a bit shocked, I thought I was helping her. "I was not going to let you get pushed around and I didn't like the way he was treating you. And no one calls me a trollup and gets away with it."

"You have no idea. He's been making advances on me as long as I have been here." She explained. "I'm in a bad situation. I needed a place to stay and money to get out of here and he is try to take advantage of me for all I got." She was crying again.

I gave her a hug to comfort her. There's something more going on here. This is not your typical troubled girl or working student. What could I do? I've come this far. I don't know how much help I can be. I started to wonder if I could get Sharley to help her as well, she's been so wonderful to me. At this point we were near the door to my quarters. "Come inside. Let's talk, I want to help you."

"Why? You have done so much." Jamira nervously questioned.

"Life has not been as easy for me as you may think. And it would have been a lot harder if I didn't have someone to help me along the way. I've been on my own since I was 16 years and left my family. I know what it's like. Besides, it's kind of a thing with me. I've been helped. So I need to help someone and you need all the help you can get."

"I really can't argue there"

I opened the door to my quarters. She hesitated. "You coming inside or do you have somewhere else to go?" She followed me inside and the door closed behind us. "Make yourself at home. I wasn't expecting any visitors so I'm sorry if I'm not totally accomodating." She just sat down and started to look around. I went to the refridgeration unit. "Want something to drink? I have a nice vintage of an Amarrian wine, Quaffe Ultra, a pretty good local ale and I just got in a bottle of special rum from my folks on the homeworld."

"Quaffe Ultra, please."

How did I know? I don't think Sharley will mind me giving a bottle to a guest. I always keep a case or 2 here. It's her favorite. Besides, I have some Special Edition on the way. I took a bottle for myself and poured a shot of rum. "Would you like some?" I asked her, I think she needed it.

"I've never had it."

"I'll pour you half of a shot then, you can have more if you like." Awful innocent for a dancer. Good girl gone bad? I really want to know what is going on with her. I took her drinks to her and sat down with mine. I held up the shot glass. "To your long life and happiness." She smiled and we threw down.

She twitched. "How do you drink that stuff?"

"I guess it's an acquired taste. So, whats your story?" I really wanted to know what happened here.

"What do you mean?"

"Look, you are acting all too sweet and innocent. You were scared out of your mind on stage and that was before you got grabbed. You don't strike me as the kind of girl that would willingly be in that kind of place and believe me, I would know. So what happened?"

Jamira paused, took a sip of Quaffe. "I lived on a mining colony. I was born there. It was invaded by Serpentsis. Everyone in my family left in escape pods but mine got separated and I ended up here. I'm so scared. I haven't had a chance to contact my family. I don't know if they are alive or dead. I came here with not even one ISK to my name. Everyone wants money before they do anything. I didn't even have a place to stay. That bar manager was letting me sleep in the dressing room and taking what little I was making. You are the first person to be nice to me and be helpful with out wanting anything out of me first." She started to sob.

I hugged her. "It's ok. You can stay here for now. Let me see what I can do about contacting your family." Just then the com system buzzed. I looked up at the screen, it was Sharley. "Jamira, that's my girlfriend, just hold yourself."

I went over to the console. "Hey gorgeous."

Sharley appeared on the screen, looking like she usually does. Her long straight black hair pulled back. Her Caldari Navy uniform was neat and pressed, like she was ready for an inspection at any moment. And she wasn't even active duty anymore. I must say, I love a girl in uniform. "Not me." She said with a pout.

"Yes you. I only date pretty girls, you know that. How are you?"

"Pretty good. Sweetie, who's that on your couch?"

"Her name is Jamira Quayze. I can explain. She's in trouble. I picked her up in the bar. She needs help locating her family. The mining colony she lived on was attacked by Serpentsis." I really hope she can help. Sharley has some pretty amazing skills and some mean ships.

"I was already on my way over, I'll see what I can do."

"We will be waiting for you, how far away are you?" I was really happy that she would try to help Jamira, more so that she was coming over.

"Just got into your system, I'll be there in a few." She happily answered.

I was ecstatic at that moment. I turned my attention back to Jamira. "Well looks like you get the help you need and you get to met Sharley. She is so wonderful."

Jamira seemed startled. "Was that her? On the screen?"

"Mmm-hmmm"

"Why was she in a Caldari Navy uniform?" She nervously asked.

"She was in the Navy, but left during the last war between the Caldari and Gallente. She did that for me. That's how much she loves me, she gave up her military career for us." I always get a little choked up when I think about that. I drank more of my Quaffe and contemplated another shot.

"So when you said she's your girlfriend you meant that you and her are....." She was trying to find the right words.

"We're lovers, we are in a relationship. She was my biggest fan back in my days on the border zone."

Just then the door slid open. There's only one person that has access to my quarters. I got up off the couch. Sharley walked in and right into my arms. We embraced and kissed. As I held her in my arms I asked, "So is there anything you can do for her?"

I needed a break

2009-02-07T07:09:00.000Z

Decided to spend my night at a bar. Needed to relax, unwind a bit. Like I can really get away from work. I keep watching the market and looking about for potential clients. It's a regular hangout for pilots. There's got to be someone here that needs something that I sell. I know I can just put my wares on the open market, but it's nice to have regular customers. I just can't help it. Got my mind on my ISK and my ISK on my mind.

But I came here to take a break, not to work. I had the barkeep make me another rum and Quaffe. A double this time. Last one was kinda light, this one is just right. I was just enjoying it, watching a dancer that must have been new. She wasn't very good and looked a little uncomfortable. Then work came to me. Adelair, spotted me from across the bar. Adelair pilots frigates and does a lot of combat. He burns through a pretty insane amount of antimatter charges. I'm not about to complain about that, where do you think he gets them from? He made his way to me.

“Fancy meeting you here, to what do I owe the pleasure?” I greeted him.
“Just relaxing after a long day. Yourself?”
“About the same.” I pointed out the dancer to him. “She must be new.”
“I've never seen her before.” He would have known, he's here quite often. “She's quite pretty.”
“She's not bad. And before you ask, I've got ten thousand small antimatter charges in production. They're waiting behind a 6 hour job though.”
“How did you know?” He asked.
“Just a guess.”

Our conversation was broken by screams from the dancer. A young Brutor and from the looks of him a recently freed slave was pulling her off stage. Security didn't appear to be doing anything about it. I looked at Adelair ,“Unless this place has become a brothel without my knowledge, I'm going to help her.”

“It hasn't” he said, “I know you can handle yourself, but I'll be ready just in case.”

I rushed the stage, readied sidearm in hand. With one hand I aimed the small blaster at the Brutor's head and grabbed the dancer with the other. “Get your hands off my girlfriend!” I shouted. The look of confusion on his face was priceless. I kissed her on the lips right in front of him, and the crowd for that matter. Looked like all eyes were on us at that moment. Then I took the frightened girl back stage and set her down in the dressing area. She looked up at me, trembling.

“Thank you for saving me, I'm not that kind of girl. I'm just trying to make myself some cash.” she whimpered between tears.
“I didn't think you were.” I told her as I placed my blaster back in it's holster and adjusted my skirt in the mirror to cover it. “Been a while since I was back here. You got a name, kid?”
“Jamira, Jamira Quayze. You were a dancer?” She asked.
“Yep. That I was. And a singer, well musician. You may have heard of me. I'm Persephone 66. I did enjoy some popularity in hubs in The Caldari Border Zone.”
She was starting to compose herself. “I don't think I ever heard of you. I hope you are not offended”
“Not at all, I was only locally famous at best.” I paused, remembering what happened to me when I started. “I could teach you a few things, if you are interested that is.”
Jamira smiled. “I bet you could. That was a good act you put on earlier.”
“What act?” I was making like I was totally serious. Jamira just started to look scared and confused. “I'm just messing with you, besides I have someone.”
“I bet he feels like he's a lucky guy.”
“Girl, actually.” I corrected her.
“Oh my.” She seemed surprised.
“So when do you have time for me to instruct you? I make my own schedule, I'm kinda my own boss. So you tell me when is good for you.” I offered to her.
“Well that was my last performance for tonight. Do you have time?”

Before I could answer her, the bar manager stepped in. He had been near us quite some time. “That was your last performance here. Pack your things and get out of my sight.” He barked at her. He may have been a Galentean, but there was just something creepy about him.
I just looked him dead in the eye and told him, “I'm taking her under my wing, training her properly and you are giving her a second chance.”

“Who the hell are you?” You could just feel the disgust in his voice.
“Persephone 66, singer, dancer and recording artist from the Caldari Border Zone turned capsuleer. If you have ever been there, you've heard of me.”
“Capsuleer or not, I'm not about to take orders from some Intaki trolup.” He growled.

I swear this guy has some Brutor in him. I can't believe he just called me that. I opened the slit in my skirt and clutched my sidearm, I'll make this scumbag bow down and beg me not to kill him if I have to. “You seem to think this is up for discussion, it's not. You are giving her a second chance. She deserves it and you know it. Understand? I know the owner and I supply arms to the corporation that owns this station. No one here will care if I fire on you.” I was tense at that point. His next choice in words could very well be his last. I may have been exaggerating a little, but I doubt he was going to take that chance.

“Well since you put it that way, what choice do I have? But if there's another scene like that, she's gone.”
“I can agree with that. Now was that so hard?” Then I paused for a second. “One other thing-” No sooner my fist went between his eyes followed by my high-heeled boot to his crotch. He fell to the floor writhing in pain. “If you ever call me a trolup again, you will wish that was all I do to you.”

I turned my attention toward Jamira. “Come one, I'll show you how it's done.”

So much for my break.

Well I thought I had skills

2009-01-23T22:35:00.000Z

And really I do, but not enough. Yes I did go to the best schools ISK could pay for. All the while I was at those school I did encounter a certain level of animosity. I was surrounded by students from aristocratic families. Many of them knew what I did to pay for my education. This only made me work harder. I felt I had something to prove. That I was just as good if not better than them.

However, life as a capsuleer is something that school can prepare you for only so much. I'm finding myself having to learn things they do not teach in engineering school. Things that are better taught in military academies. I had to take time away from refining my skills as an engineer to make myself more skilled in combat. I do have to say, having a sexy Caldari girlfriend that has seen much combat does have it's benefits.

I've now returned my focus to refining my mining, manufacturing and production skills. It's going to take me about 70 or so days. A long time, but when I'm done I should be able to make more ISK. I mean that is what it is all about.

Manufacturing Madness

2009-01-22T14:28:00.000Z

Being an engineer, I build stuff. Ships, drones, weapons, ammunition. Some stuff I use, other stuff I sell. I do make a pretty good score of ISK. I could make more if I had a mining barge. More mining, more stuff built, more ISK. I'm having a problem lately. It used to be I could always get an open assembly line. Now I have to wait. Today I have jobs waiting in queue for 12 hours. Yesterday it was 8 hours. Thats more time it takes me to get stuff made. That's longer I have to wait to get paid!

Well there is a pleasure hub at the station I live in.

Field testing Scavenger 2.0

2009-01-20T09:08:00.002Z

I took Scavenger 2.0 to the Contested Gallente Comet Skeleton in Deltole. There's always a large number of drug dealers to be found there. Drug dealers means bounty prizes. Sometimes I can score some good loot too. There was a few others there hunting like I was, so my score was not as big as it could have been. I only made about 100k ISK. That's not really much and I didn't score any loot. My shields and armor took a beating. I had to warp out twice to repair my armor.

I did see some places for improvement. As suggested to me by other pilots, the shield flux coil has to go. It's not helping my shields enough and using too much from my capacitor. A shield hardener might be better. Or a shield booster. I need more or stronger shields. I might get rid of the webber too. I'm not looking to do close range with this ship. Was kinda silly for me to install a device that has a range of 5km. I need to be within 40km to control my drones. That's a pretty safe distance. I do, however need to get in the 20km range for my tractors to pull in the wrecks for looting and salvaging. That does increase the level of danger.

As I am working with a ship that is dependent on it's drones for firepower, I'm going to go with more in the way of shield and armor tanking. I like my electronic warfare toys, but they work in a closer range than what I'm comfortable with. At least for a ship with no guns. I'm expecting to get shot at. I'm OK with that. My drones deal out a lot of damage. I just need to be able to keep my ship intact while they do the work.

Ore thieves

2009-01-17T04:17:00.003Z

If there is one thing I can not stand, it's a thief. And I got to encounter one earlier.

Not cool.

And a cowardly one too. Warped away right when I got a target lock. Was out of the system in a rush. Didn't get to watch my drones blow him up and I was out 8k units of Plagioclase. I'm not sure which annoys me more. I had my cargo can right there next to my ship and he just raided it. And not even man enough to stand his ground when targeted.

I'm not one of these capsuleers that mines all day in high sec and never sees combat. I like a battle. Mining is easy, mining is boring. Nothing against it, but I'm looking to do more.

I've got a plan. I've got something for the next time someone tries to be so brazen. As it is, I want revenge on tonight's thief. I'll have it too.

Showing off my goods.

2009-01-15T13:53:00.010Z

Well my ships any way. I've been through a few, but here's what currently lives in my hangar.

Screamer.

Screamer is an Atron class frigate. I built it specifically for a mission against an Amarr slaver. I needed a frigate to get through the acceleration gates. It's small and quite fast. I outfitted it with a pair of blasters, a radar jammer, and an overdrive. I also used a Hornet II drone for a little added firepower. Not the toughest ship I have flown, but it gets the job done.

Gallente Navy Issue Comet

This was a birthday present from Sharley. For a frigate, it packs a bit of a punch. It's fitting is like a Tristan class I owned – 2 blasters, 2 launchers, jammer, painter, webber, mag field stab and an overdrive. Great for a long range snipe or a close dogfight. And far prettier than the Tristan.

The Microbus.

Named after an ancient civilian transport, this Exequror is my mining machine. It's not the Hulk I have dreams of calling my own, but 4 XECL mining lasers do make pretty quick work of asteroids. It has a compliment of 4 medium drones to keep it protected.

The Phighting Phallus.

Is it just my dirty, perverted, mind at work here, or does the Thorax look a lot like a certain organ that the boys have? Raunchy humor aside, this ship was built for combat. If the 5 neutron blasters are not enough, there's 3 Hammerhead II and 2 Vespa II drones that assist in dealing out the damage. It's got a pair of Overdrive II's and an inertia stabilizer to make it fast and nimble. Well for a cruiser.

Gallente Navy Issue Vexor

Another birthday gift from Sharley (She's just the best girlfriend ever!). I have yet to outfit it, but when I do, expect tech II drones, rails, and much in the way of electronic warfare toys.

Scavenger 2.0

When flying combat missions with my Thorax, I noticed something. The drones were doing most of the fighting and the ship was more the distraction and support. I thought a ship that relied on drones for firepower and was outfitted with salvaging equipment was a good idea. The original Scavenger was based off an Exequror for it's large cargo area. This was a mistake and it wasn't long before I found myself floating around in my pod. If you are going to do drone warfare with a cruiser, a Vexor is the only way to fly. I carefully planned this out to be a strong, supporting combat vessel for tech II drones.

Mutha Trucka

It's big. It's ugly. It's slow. It does one thing really well though, it hauls my stuff. As an industrial class, that really is about all it is good for. This is an Iteron Mark II. As I bring up my skills I will eventually have a Mark V.

That is all I have so far.

Hello, my name is Persephone.

2009-01-12T14:19:00.002Z

I'm an Intaki, my people were one of the founding members of the Gallente Federation. I was born into a family of entertainers. I'm kind of the odd one of my family. I always had a talent for building and repairing things. My family wanted me to take the same path they took, I rebelled by going to engineering school. My family refused to cover the cost, so I put myself through school by doing what I was raised to do. Dancing and singing in pleasure hubs across the Federation has paid for my education in the best schools money can pay for. I had heard of dancers using their earnings to pay for their education, but never met one, not one that was successful anyway. I did it. My final graduation and by becoming a capsuleer was a very proud time.

Working in pleasure hubs did something else for me, it introduced me to the love of my life – Sharley, a beautiful young Achura. Yes, you read that right, I'm in love with a Caldari. I guess one could say I'm sleeping with the enemy. I never considered her my enemy. Sharley is nothing less than a soldier and a well accomplished one at that. I had always admired capsuleers, but spending time with Sharley made me want to get into the egg myself. We met in a hub near the Border Zone in a time of relative peace. She was a fan of my unique music. Or maybe it was my dancing. She came to see me every chance she got. Being quite social it was normal for me mingle with the crowd after performing. I recognized the young, ever present, Achura sitting alone. She seemed quite shy, odd for the obviously decorated soldier she was. She was always in her navy uniform. I made my way to her table and sat down across from her. She looked petrified. I called a waitress over. “Give me my usual and get her whatever she wants. She needs something.” I turned to her, looked into her dark, beautiful eyes and said, “Calm down, I don't bite.” She broke from her stillness and fired back with “I do.”

I asked her what brings her out so often. So many visitors are in one day, out the next. She told me it was because of my performance. That felt pretty good. She went on to say she couldn't do what I did. So I asked her what did she do. That question was more loaded than the launchers on her ship. She went on and on about her military career. I found myself totally lost in her stories and in her eyes. One thing lead to another with us. I have no regrets. Why should I? I love her.

That brings us pretty close to now. I'm a pilot. A capsuleer. I've been one for a year now. I spend my time flying combat missions, salvaging, mining and building ships. I decided to start keeping a public chronicle of my adventures. I'm hoping that in doing this I can obtain advice and help those new to this life.

Still getting things in place

2009-01-12T10:08:00.001Z

This is going to be told from the perspective of my EVE Online character. Give me a little time here, I'm still working on it.