Agent T: Terran Super Spy and Master of Disguises (DiD, Spoilers assured)

[Tiedyeguy]

I have decided to start my own DiD storyline. My aim is to include the X community as much as possible. My character will accept "missions" from the audience via a new email account I just created: tdgx3missions AT gmail DOT com. Missions could include things like "Kill a Boron Military M6 in a Boron Core sector and blame it on the Paranid", "Disrupt the Paranid economy by destroying 10 Paranid Energy Transporters in the Clarity's End to Perdition's End sector chain and blame it on the Split", or "Help OTAS contact by destroying competition's Ore mines within 5 jumps of OTAS HQ and blame it on Pirates." If I still have the rep/credits for it at the time I can also accept "anti-competitive" trade missions for example, buying all the Silicon from Teladi mines in the Ianamus Zura area to give the Boron next door a leg-up in the market. Any wares bought this way have to be "fenced" through ship sales at Saturn. No direct turn around sales.

RULES:

1. Terran Defender Start.

2. DiD no reloads due to player error. BS/bug/hardware based death reloads are OK just because they aren't part of the "story."

3. Trading only with Outer System Terrans, Pirates, and "Under The Table" bartering and private party 2nd hand ships. Outer System Terrans does not include buying new ships from the Saturn Shipyard, only selling ships there. Also, if I still have the rep/credits for it, 'secret' mission based buys are OK as long as I don't directly sell the goods.

4. 'Secret' missions have to be carried out using a cover identity and Race ships 'acquired' from the 'fall guys'. IE: If I am blaming the Boron, I would change my name to a Boron name (assuming a cover ID) and use a Boron ship such as a Barracuda M3.

5. No plot/corp missions or non-Terran general missions. Exception being 2nd hand ship sales for use on Ops.

6. Any ships 'acquired' through 2nd hand sales or 'aggressive negotiations' have to be sent to Saturn Shipyard where my contact will 'clean' the registry.

7. No shipyard repairs. If it's broke, I gotta fix it the hard way.

8. Nuklear's Slave -> Merc system.

9. No Anti-Terran missions.

BACK STORY: My name is Agent T. I'd tell you my real name except I don't know what it is. I used to work as an Agent Provocateur for a super secret branch of the USC and part of the 'fine print' I didn't read was that 'The Boss' got to erase my memory.

I am a master of disguises. I can change my identity with the snap of my fingers. I got the jobs you heard about in the news and thought were just 'accidents' or 'border skirmishes'.

You remember that 'idiot' who 'accidentally' crashed his Mercury full of Firestorm Torpedoes into the SPP XL Beta in Ceo's Doubt sending the whole lot into oblivion last week? I rigged his auto-pilot and drugged his cahoonas while he was busy yelling at the longshoremen during loading. Yes, I am the reason why your Energy Cells cost 18 a pop.

What about that Ray that tore through Duke's Domain a few months back? The captain had tentacles but it wasn't no squidy! Naturally, nobody paid any attention the "Paranid Police Pegasus" flying away from the wreckage after I crashed it into the Trade Station.

Well, it looks like at some point I did something that The Boss didn't like and was forced into an 'early retirement'. Supposedly, an 'early retirement' meant that they would fry my brain and sell me as dumb muscle to the nearest pirate base. That was also probably in the "fine print." Why the hell didn't I read the fine print? I wish I could tell you but that got erased as well.

Luckily for me, I had a few debts I could call up at MEI, Mind Erasers Inc. Long story short I got to keep my mind, The Boss still thinks I am drooling all over my self, and some poor SOB got the "Double Whammy Treatment." Do you know what happens when somebody gets the 'DWT'? It is not pretty, trust me.

Journal Entry: 1. Brewed Awakening

Looks like I screwed up. That is what I get for taking the cheap route and letting a Yaki 'clean' a ship's registry. I guess it is sort of a dead give-away when a Split Military Chimera licensed to one 'Agent T.' takes out an Argon convoy.

I am supposed to think I am a BoFu patty. My accounts and assets are frozen. Most of my contacts have cut me off. On top of it all, the 'cleaning crew' broke the urn containing my brother, Steve's, ashes when they ransacked my place. There is also dead body in my kitchen with brains splattered all over my new coffee maker. It looks like I will have to hit a cafe on the way out. That is assuming I can find the 85 credits to buy a cup.

I check all my hiding places for anything of use. Nothing. That means no coffee for me. No coffee means people will likely die very horrible deaths in the very near future.

Wait, one more place. I always forget behind the Hull Plating behind the toilet. Rushing to bathroom I find the panel is already opened. Crap. But there is something inside! Reaching inside I find a credit chit for 1,085 Cr, the keys to Steve's old Sabre M4 'Sabre Tooth', and a note:

"T: Sorry about Steve. As you can see I took care of the situation already. I left you this to help out. Good luck. Signed A. PS: The coffee is on me."

Apricot, you cheeky bastard. I guess "The Devil You Know" is better than not, right?

Walking down to the hanger I stopped a few times to check for tails. Twice I caught a glimpse of somebody that looked familiar. Twice they disappeared back into the crowd.

Continuing on my way, I grabbed a cup at Thrace's Coffee. MMmmmm... Coffee always makes things better.

I get to the hanger without any further troubles. Inserting the keys into Sabre Tooth, the reactor kicks right up. Steve always maintained his ship. He had never finished building it up before he joined a Merc gang to loot and pillage in the lawless fringes of the universe.

I heard the leader of the gang, some Split fellow by the name of Mak something, had gotten ballsy and decided to take a few Terran capitols. Word is that Mak succeeded losing only one recently 'acquired' cap ship in the raid. Sure enough, Steve and his team had just taken that particular Terran M2 seconds before the rest of the fleet made sure Mak didn't get his prize. Steve didn't make it to the escape pods in time.

Taking 'Sabre Tooth' out on its first voyage in over a year was rough. The engines could use a tuneup, the steering was slow and clunky, and Steve had never gotten around to maxing out the cargo bay compression. Pulling up the status window on the OBC (On Board Computer) I took an inventory of what Steve had done and found an attached "To Do" list.

4* 5MJ shields (Get a 5th)
2* EMPC (Could use 2 more)
3* Poltergeist Missiles
Duplex Scanner (Triplex would be better)
SETA
Boost Extension
Video Enhancement Goggles

Still To Do:
Fight Command Software for targeting assistance
Freight Scanner
Bio Scanner
Transporter Device
Jump Drive
Special Command Software
Trading System Extension
Cargo Bay Life Support System


Well it is better than punching things in a space suit! Off we go!

[Venarti]

Good luck. Let's hope Steve's brother is as characterful as he was!

[Tiedyeguy]

I broke my hand (right/mouse hand) story delayed indefinitely.

[Venarti]

You should take more care punching things in a Space Suit, then

Seriously, though. Sorry to hear of the injury, just get better quick so you can inspire me to do a DID game!

[Tiedyeguy]

You should take more care punching things in a Space Suit, then

Actually, I was throwing a log at a rock to break it into firewood for a beach fire and it bounced back and whacked/snapped my palm bones. Hydrocodone is my friend right now. My very floaty, cloudy friend... Wait, I am the one floaty/cloudy...

[Tiedyeguy]

Hand is much better again so I shall pick this story up again.

I still haven't gotten any "Missions" so please send some to tdgx3missions (AT) gmail (DOT) com !

[Tiedyeguy]

Journal Entry: 2. Getting Back On My Feet

After a shaky test run I aim Sabre Tooth out into the void past the East Gate. After I confirm that I am out of scanner range of any nearby ships I put Sabre Tooth into Standby Mode. Looking through my collection of ID chips, I finally decide to assume the life of Pok Keppel.

Keppel is a boring trader sort of fellow. He grew up as an only child in Saturn 2 with his parents before they were both killed in a TOA accident many years before. Pok had always been "The Good Kid" on the block. He never got into any trouble, not even a speeding violation. Then again, he wasn't that great at anything either. Always there but never really noticed. He was content with his simple life of moving small amounts of common wares from station to station. Never raking in the profits, just making enough to get by. He was just another random sod trying to pay the bills. He was... Perfect.

After inserting Pok's ID chip into Sabre Tooth's computer I started the reboot process and headed back towards the Uranus Orbital Defence Station.

Just as 'Pok' was lining of with the docking lights, the Comms screen lit up. Some USC guy wants me to help him go save the universe or something. I respectfully declined saying that I didn't have the stomach to be a fighter. He seemed to accept my humble state and before cutting the Comm, he suggested I take a look at the Water market. I thanked him for the advice and cut the line just as Sabre Tooth made contact with the docking clamps.

Having only 1,000 credits wasn't going to work. Pulling one of my four 5MJ Shields and my missiles and sold them off. Using that money I got Sabre Tooth's engines tuned up to max and expanded the cargo hold by 30 units.

Running water is no fun. Back and forth... Back and forth... All for a few hundred credits profit each time. After a while it seemed to be paying off. 7,716 Credits. Unfortunately, the Uranus Prime water market has just dried up. No pun intended.

Time to go check on the neighboring sectors to see what can be found. Lots of stations needing Ice which is great... Except Ice is huge and heavy. Way too big for an Interceptor like Sabre Tooth.

Hitting a local bar I ask the bar tender if he knows of anybody that needs anything done. He just grunted while pointing to the end of the bar where a sobbing lass who had already had more than her fair share of Argon Whiskey was sitting. After listening for a few hours to her story about how she found her husband in bed with another woman she finally got to the point. She wants to get away. Unfortunately, she also want to use her own ship. Unfortunately, she doesn't have her own ship and she also doesn't have a flying permit. That's where the job comes in. She wants to pay me 250 credits to find her an M5. Trying not to laugh I told her I didn't have one, but that I would keep my eye out for one.

Can you believe the nerve of her? A measly 250 + "market value" to give her a ship. Even if I found a junker somewhere I would STILL lose money on it. And too think I listened to her tear-jerker story for 4 whole hours.

Ah crap! I had only registered for 3 hours of parking.

Assets:
1* Sabre M4 "Sabre Tooth"
3* 5MJ Shields
2* EMPC
Top Speed: 275 m/s
Cargo Bay: 80/90 M

7,716 Credits.

Journeyman 0%
Harmless 0%

Terran Regional Rep. 17%

[Venarti]

Tried an e-mail, it failed. (Hey, that rhymes)

Suggestion:

Sour relations between Split and Paranid by destroying a patrol in each of their sectors within two standerd (in-game) days whilst laying the blame on the other one.

[Tiedyeguy]

Sour relations between Split and Paranid by destroying a patrol in each of their sectors within two standerd (in-game) days whilst laying the blame on the other one.

Accepted. Currently 2:10 into the game so my deadline is 2-2:10.

:EDIT: I just sent an email via cell-phone text to my mission email and it got through just fine. Still the only thing that account has received though.

[Tiedyeguy]

Journal Entry: 3. Operation 'Find Teeth'

Getting back to my Sabre Tooth I was not too shocked to find a parking ticket. Well there goes Pok Keppel's cover...

What I found UNDER the parking ticket was a bit more shocking. A note addressed to me from an old BIII contact I had and an unmarked ID Chip.

We would be most gracious if you would be so kind as to sour relations between Split and Paranid by destroying a patrol in each of their sectors within two standard days whilst laying the blame on the other one. Such an action would cause disruption within the Split Military giving our Border Patrols a well deserved break.

That meant going to Commonwealth space. That meant I needed a new ship capable of using Commonwealth technology. That meant it was Hunting Season !

A single parking ticket wasn't going to cause any troubles for Pok Keppel for the time being. Setting course for Asteroid Belt, I firewalled Sabre Tooth's thrusters.

The trip was boring. VERY BORING. Did you know that Sabre Tooth's Captain's chair has 6,297 stitches in it? Neither did I, until now.

The lack excitement was gone the instant I hit Circle Of Labor and officially entered Commonwealth space. Just as I came shooting out of the North Gate, Sabre Tooth's Threat Detector started to sound. Pirates. 3 of them. 2 Nova Raiders and an Elite M4+. AND THEY ARE ABOUT TO CRASH INTO ME!

Yanking the controls I pulled Sabre Tooth into a tight rolling turn. That was close. Way too close. And somebody else agrees.

The Comms screen lights up to show a very spikey Split fellow: "YOU LOSE SHIP OR YOU LOSE LIFE! SPLIT TAKE ALL!" The Comms dies down just as a large burst of green plasma flies over my nose. Being much faster than them I could have just run away. But A. I need their ships for my new mission and B. That would be no fun.

Killing my engines and giving the controls a light nudge to turn my ship in the direct of my attackers, I opened my Comms with the Spikey Split who's ID chip says is one Ho T'Sht. That can't be his real name...
Ho T'Sht: "SPLIT GIVE LAST CHANCE!"
Me: "OK, OK! Take it! Just give me a second to put on my space suit!" Just then the boresights line up on the Elite.
ME: "AND BLOW UP YOUR WINGMAN!"

Simultaneously, hitting the Boost Extension at the same time as pulling the trigger unleashing blobs of Electro-Magnetic Plasma at the Elite who dodges a split second too late... NO! He survived! YES! He gave up!

One ship down in the first burst isn't too bad. Ho T'Sht got lucky though. As just as the Elite's IFF changed from Foe to Neutral, Sabre Tooth got rocked with heavy burst of green.

[Venarti]

OH NO!

Cliffhanger! Run AWAY!!

[zackinger]

If it´s green it´s harmless... if it´s orange flame RUUUUN

[Tiedyeguy]

Journal Entry: 3.5. Operation 'Find Teeth - Continued'

Ho T'Sht may have been been lucky getting a few good hits on me right away but my luck was obviously stronger. Sabre Tooth pulled out of the green plasma stream with only 4% shields, superior dodging skills netted me Ho T'Sht's PNR and the death of his wingman.

Newly named PNR-01 and P Elite-01 didn't have anything on them unfortunately. I have acquired Commonwealth ships to begin my Op with but still no guns beyond my 2* EMPCs. That is a problem.

Luckily, I am sure the Paranid wouldn't mind too much if I borrowed some of theirs. With that in mind I set course for Interworlds where the locals wouldn't interfere if I chose to "requisition" some Paranid goods.

Along the way, I found out that my command console has a total of 178 buttons, 84 switches, 91 knobs, and 23 screens.

I also found a patrol of Pirates that were down in the dumps. The leader was flying a Chimera with a PNR and a Kestrel on his wings. Diving in with my sights on the Kestrel, EMPCs spitting, drives the wing into chaos. In the chaos the Kestrel's pilot gives in and punches out. Unfortunately, also in the chaos the PNR launches a missile at me that impacts the unshielded Kestral turning my future M5+ into dust.

A good burst of EMPC later the Chimera is also floating pilotless. With full shielding still installed no less!

With his leader ejected and wingman dead, the PNR chose to make a run for it. But being a PNR vs a Sabre, he didn't make it very far before Sabre Tooth's EMPCs were locked on and tickling his shields.

This one proved to have a lot more fight in him than his former wing had. He dodged. He banked. He spammed Banshees. He flew through clusters of rocks to shake me off. He spammed my comms with threats. In the end though, he bailed out and gave me his PNR with another full load of shields! AND a single IRE!

I HAVE MY FIRST COMMONWEALTH WEAPON! REJOICE!

Too bad I couldn't kill a spacefly with it.

After a successful day in Interworlds causing trouble for the Paranid traders and Pirates in the area. The last ship of the day was quite a good bit of luck. A Hermes TP with a single 25MJ shield, a Docking Computer, and a Jump Drive intact. I brought up my property list to see my spoils of war. Not bad at all... Except still only 2 EMPCs and a single IRE for offensive weapons...

This shark is on the prowl. Unfortunately, this shark only has 2 teeth.

Assets:
237,442 Cr
Journeyman 0%
Sharpshooter 98%
Hulls:
Sabre Tooth M4
1* Chimera M3+
2* Pirate Nova Raiders M3
1* Pirate Elite M4+
1* Raijin Sentinel M4
1* Hermes TP
1* Caiman TS
1* Demeter Hauler TS
Shields:
3*5MJ
7*25MJ
Weapons
2* EMPC
1* IRE

[Tiedyeguy]

So I have died a total of 6 times since my last post. The first one I would call BS as it would appear that an NPC Hammerhead (not fired at me) hit another NPC and I died in the shock wave. There weren't even any "reds" in the area.

Nonetheless, it is obvious that DiD is not my style for right now. Should I continue to tell the story with a minimum of deaths but keeping continuity of the story? Should I just let this sink? Thoughts?

[Venarti]

Well, my view would be dead is dead. Of course, what you will do is up to you. (I'm pretty good at this rhyming thing.)

If you think you want to continue, great. If not, tell us your best death and get on with something else. Your choice.

[Tiedyeguy]

Either way I plan to continue with the same rules except not DiD... I am just not nearly good enough to play that.

My question is should I continue to document my progress in story form? I mean only 2 people have replied to the thread so far.

I did finally receive your email (at least I assume it is you since the objectives are the same) on my missions account.

[Venarti]

Well, I will keep checking back.

That said, DiD is what gives these stories the interest factor...

Like I said, if it ends in a flash of glory, I don't care whether or not you continue thereafter.

You could impose a penalty on yourself after each death, with a time delay on so they don't stack up. Sortof like - Split killed me, be carefull not to steal their ships for a while or something.

[Makarius]

when you change the rules in significant places you should start over. DiD or no DiD is significant.

Greetings:


Makarius

[Tiedyeguy]

I guess the way I would look at it now is like a paperback novel... The main character may die at some point near the end but it is highly unlikely to be in the first 3 pages no matter how many crazy things they do.

[Kapakio]

I just found this today and there's one thing in your introduction that bothered me a little. How your character knew he had a broder if his memory was deleted when he accepted the job?