DiD: When you can't do it your way... do it the Yaki way. (Pt.II Ch.2)(Open to ALL!)

[dragondream]

Tip Of The Day 2

So we all know how to work out what the cheapest station is to buy goods is when we have the Trading Command Software. But what if we don't? Don't panic yet! It's true we cannot see the exact prices when we are not docked to a station and docking at each and every one to check the prices is not "convenient". However, when we go to Station info we will see a percentage bar with a few ?'s where the price would normally show. We can judge the price if we are familiar with them by looking at how full the bar is next to the specific product or good.

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By comparing it this way we can easily determine the cheapest station without having to dock with it. If it's empty, we can naturally assume the prices will be high. If it's full we can expect bottom prices and make our fortune. Looking at the two images above we can see that the Distillery in image 2 is obviously going to be cheaper than the Distillery in image 1.

Remember though, you may get the goods cheap... but make sure you have some place to sell it to!

[EmperorJon]

One question, why didn't you just leave it docked at the shipyard? Then it can't be attacked and you can sell it an your leisure.

[dragondream]

One question, why didn't you just leave it docked at the shipyard? Then it can't be attacked and you can sell it an your leisure.

Um - ehhh - *cough*... TBH I never thought of that.

[dragondream]

XUN - X Universe News - presented to you by Charlene Hudson

'Paranoid Paranid: Today a Paranid Military Officer in charge of a routine patrol fleet shot down what he described as a "weird alien-like craft coming through the gate". Only what he described as alien turned out to be a top secret Paranid prototype for a new type of fighter. The paranoid Paranid shot down the ship before he could identify it for he feared it may be Xenon. The prototype cost the Paranid Military billions of credits worth of investment in the craft and the poor Paranid is now being charged with high-risk assault and unintentional damage to the prototype's invention.

'Election Finals: Yes, the election for the new Argon president has reached its climax, with billions of voters tuned into the radio and televisions to see if their hero has won the campaign. Both candidates have given a speech in Public Square located on Argon Prime. President Mac Donald keyed out main points in his speech particularly displaying his gratitude for all the voters, even if they didn't vote for him. He thanks the Military, the Senate and all Argon Citizens for their loyal cooperation during his ten year reign.

'Senator Toff E. Noze's speech went more like this: "If we can get rid of this lazy bag of couch potato of a president off his oh-so-precious throne over innocent citizens who have fallen victim to his lack of authority, then we have made a historic accomplishment indeed. It's time to say goodbye to your history and welcome your future. And the first thing I will do as president to ensure a pleasant future is to once and for all scrapping the Top 20 Most Wanted list - by killing them all. Ladies, gentlemen, infants, this list has caused us most pain and suffering during the past ten years. Pirates, conmen, ex-military and Paranid imbeciles have tortured us for years and we must put an end to it all. The top three on list is as follows.

'"Number One: Kalamanjarotop, a Paranid mercenary who has assualted countless Patrols and killed hundreds of pilots over the course of a decade.

'"Number Two: Gobanis Gustiosanis IV. The Yaki Prince. His deceivingly friendly appearance conceals his deadly actions with Argon Military and countless assasinations across the entire Commonwealth region. He has proved to be the second biggest threat to the empire in an entire century. He must be eliminated at all costs. And finally

'"Number Three: Derrik Dream aka "the Dragon". His intelligence, combat skills, knowledge of the entire Argon structure and no man better knows our weaknesses than him. Once the pride of the Argon Federation but now a Galactic embarrassment. We don't know where he is, or what he's doing. But we know this: if Dragon could fool us once, he can do it again. Derrik Dream...must...die."'

[dragondream]

Is anyone still actually reading this DiD??

[EmperorJon]

*Whoooooo... whoosh... howl...

Tumbleweed blows across browser...*



I am!

[Buck_Rogers]

now, now. you should know by now Dragon, that of course we're reading it. . thought you had more patience than that?

[dragondream]

now, now. you should know by now Dragon, that of course we're reading it. . thought you had more patience than that?

lol, okay. Just checking, that's all.

[RyuKazuha]

You know the readers are shy and quite. ^^ But they are there.

[Trigger1112]

I'm not going to post a response just to fufill a perverse, sadistic need for viewer feedback.
...
Wait, I just did. Arrrrrrgh![ external image ]

P.S.Can you hurry up with the next chapter, I almost decided to stop checking at one point.

[X1000]

P.S.Can you hurry up with the next chapter, I almost decided to stop checking at one point.

Apparently, he has "Real Life" Stuff to do.

Also, you cant rush quality.

[dragondream]

P.S.Can you hurry up with the next chapter, I almost decided to stop checking at one point.

Apparently, he has "Real Life" Stuff to do.

Also, you cant rush quality.

Yeah, sorry guys. Real life sometimes "takes over". Anyway, I can promise you I'm doing this as best as possible and I apologize if it is coming a bit slow. I will, however, promise to keep posting. So if I haven't posted in a while just be a patient and I'll give myself a kick in the butt and finish the next chapter.

[Patt3r2]

What the hell!?
i've spent the whole evening readin from start to finish and it stops here???
i mean i know you can't rush quality but 4 months is just taking the P**s!

You should be ashamed of yourself.

[stealthhammer]

Well, real life and sometimes fun don't co-inside well. I still like to know what happens though

[ZOMBO6F]

Please continue when and however you can

[TylerEvarts]

I love it!

[dragondream]

Great news! Things have kind of quieted down a bit my side. I have only recently been able to play X3TC again and rekindled my addiction and love for the game again. I know it's been while (okay, a looong while) since I last posted, but I have some more spare time and I still have the old save. Just need some time to take out some scripts and mods I got lying in my folder to make it a clean vanilla install.

I have also discovered a great money-making strategy that fits in nicely with Derrik's adventures. So expect some big things!

First though, I need to know if there's obviously still an interest in this or else it would be pointless proceeding any further with zero readers. Votes anyone? Ideas or feedback would be most welcome on how to continue and I'm sorry it's taken sooo long.

What the hell!?
i've spent the whole evening readin from start to finish and it stops here???
i mean i know you can't rush quality but 4 months is just taking the P**s!

You should be ashamed of yourself.

This had nothing to do with quality. I haven't had a proper chance to play in the game in about 4 months. However I am glad to know that I still got some readers sticking around and are willing to read more.

PS. Does anyone think it would be a good idea to register for the STEAM DiD mode? I don't know what it will do to the game once I register and if my Save will still be valid...

EDIT: Please also any feedback on whether using XTC would be a good idea when it is finally released. I am a personal fan of the mod.

[dragondream]

Part II

Chapter 1 – Bitter Dreams, and Close Encounters…

A Revelation

Derrik woke up in a cold sweat. His sheets had been tossed on the ground and he was running a high fever. The only thing to cool him down was a chilling thought that had been implanted into him during his dream. It tore him up in half. It burnt him on the inside. It ripped him open. A single thought, riddled with emotion and memories, sliced through his mind until there was no escape. He tumbled out of bed and crawled drowsily along the floor. He pulled himself up to his desk and opened the drawer. Out of it, he slid out a single piece of paper that for a long time he had treasured. He studied the writing on it. He felt the aged paper in his hand. He ran his finger along the dried ink. With a single motion of his hands he tore the page up into insignificant pieces and threw them over his shoulder. He slid out a new blank page and began writing profusely. An hour ticked by. Then two. Finally, he had completed his set task and smiled appreciatively at his own work. This time, he no longer had a plan. This time, it was no longer a vague goal. This time, he had made a promise – a promise to himself. He had been sidetracked for too long, and now…

Duty calls.

Role-playing

‘Grab your drink, we’re going.’

The bar was almost empty other than Derrik and Alex, the latter being soaked to his bones with Argon Whisky. His droopy eyes glazed upwards, and his body was sprawled over the surface of the table. Derrik hauled him out of his chair and dragged him towards the exit. Alex drunkenly fought back and tried to make it back to the drink he had left behind. However, being sober, Derrik managed to grab him by his collar and lead him out the bar.

When they got back to the ship Alex attempted to take the driver’s seat, but Derrik refused.

‘There’s no way you’re flying this thing,’ he ordered. ‘I’ve seen many drunk fliers in my days, and you don’t want end up like they did.’

Alex couldn’t reply in his state and was merely dragged away to his cot. Taking the wheel of the spacecraft, Derrik undocked from the Trading Station and veered towards the East Gate. Where he planned to go, it would not be very long journey from Herron’s Nebulae. Of course, it would go much quicker with a jumpdrive. A jumpdrive, that was what he needed, yes. No, stick to the plan, he thought, it was not time yet. He checked the map. Split Fire. That is where he was going, to the modern day no-man’s land of space. The junction between the feared and the fiercesome. The home of pirates and the land of no-gooders. First though, he would need to check on Ian, not for any personal want, but merely to keep the image professional looking.

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Encounters in a Lift

The small fighter safely docked to the Trading Station in The Wall. Derrik opened the doors of the small ship and told Alex, who was now suffering a severe hangover, that he was going to look for Ian. Alex, barely able to stand, got up and shuffled along the ship towards the exit.

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‘What do you want me to do?’ he muttered under his alcohol-fragrant breathe.

‘I want you to find me a mechanic,’ Derrik replied. ‘Get him to look at the ship and pay him for engine tuning. Tell him to max it out. I expect that to be done when I get back.’

Alex rubbed his forehead in agony. ‘But that’s almost every cent we got.’

‘I know that. Just do what you’re told.’ With that Derrik strode off the ship and along the passageways of the enormous space structure.

The lift he took went up several hundred floors and he had to rack his brain to remember which floor the bar was on. He stared at the hundreds of tiny buttons on the lift panel. An Argon Police officer stepped onto the lift and stood next to him. Subtly hiding his face from the officer in utter paranoia of being recognized, his finger remained hovering over the many buttons.

‘Do you know where the bar is?’ Derrik asked mildly, while putting on a peculiar accent.

The police officer stared questioningly at the strange man. ‘Eighty-eighth floor.’ The officer became even more puzzled. ‘What’s the matter with you?’

Derrik realized that he was holding his coat collar over the side of his face and pretended to cough. ‘Got a bit of a cold. You know, gets quite chilly out there,’ he nervously joked.

Feeling obligated, he lowered his collar and then pressed the button for the eighty-eighth floor. ‘And you?’

‘Same here,’ the police officer said smilingly. ‘Just a nightcap for an old enforcer like me.’

The doors closed and there was a sudden jerk in motion as the lift shot up. There was an awkward silence between the two and Derrik wished for someone else to stop the lift and get in on the way up. The officer keenly watched Derrik and suddenly his focus shifted to Derrik’s face.

‘Goodness sake!’ the officer exclaimed, making Derrik all of a sudden feeling very uneasy.

‘What is it?’ Derrik stammered back.

‘How did you get so pale?’ he asked intriguingly.

A silent sigh of relief passed through Derrik’s lips. ‘Oh, uh, did a lot of space travel. After a lot of time out there where there’s hardly any sun, you get kind of pale after a while.’

‘How much time you spent out there in the void?’

An almost unnoticeable smirk came over Derrik’s face. ‘Oh, I’d say at least good few years without being on the surface.’

The police officer widened his eyes in surprise. ‘Well, ain’t that a long time to be out here, off planet.’

‘Feels like minutes,’ Derrik admitted truthfully.

The lift stopped and the doors slid open. The officer stepped out and gave one last quick glance over his shoulder. ‘Funny what space does to you, kid. You meet too many people out there. You know, for a minute there I almost thought I knew you.’

‘Now wouldn’t that be absurd.’

Assets:

1 x Raijin – Derrik “the Dragon” Dream & Alexander Costorphine
1 x Fujin “Fudge” – Ian “Luckshot” Oldrin

Credits: 37,992cr
Game Time: 14:56:57

[dragondream]

Anyone tried the STEAM DiD mode? I'm contemplating using that for my DiD, but I don't know how it works and whether it will affect my saves and gamefiles. Please can someone tell me who has tried it yet.

[EmperorJon]

Derrik is back!


And no, DON'T use Steam DID.