Fishies and why coffee is such a bad idea (DiD)

[Raithen]

It's her daughter, and yes, that daughter is.

6 - Fishies don't like lasers

Well, I think I don't have to worry about that princess anymore. Heard that she was supposed to be hereabouts. Though I suspect that she's rather regretting her.. whatever it was.
Diced royalty, anyone?

Nice lightshow, mind.
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/1659/x ... 00013i.png

And I think I'll just quietly leave..

So, that's a bit of a bummer. I heard about Getsu Fune with all these equipment docks for all these races. I was hoping for something to deck my angel with, but while I did manage to run from Xenon, CPUs don't really have beams of insta-death.

Although those spiraling arms of the Kha'ak really are cool. I want one for my personal collection, provided they don't poke holes in me.

So, here I am running like a pansy. Again.

Now, I have actually been keeping tabs on that Shark we've got up here, but it really doesn't seem to be doing much. Even when I tell them that there's an invasion of Kha'ak, they just shrug and say that it's an issue for immigration officials and nothing to do with them.

Oh, and they like dominating traffic too. So I planted a bug on them, which I think they haven't noticed yet. Most they've done is run into split territory once or twice and ignored the Kha'ak.

Of course, this leaves a bit of a scary thought as to when the Kha'ak will finish obliterating the sector and move on, probably starting south.

Myself being paranoid of mishaps now, I've deployed a large number of satellites all over the places I travel. Just so I can see when I should drop everything and run.

Of course, despite running goods over these sectors and being able to buy mercury freighters now, they still don't trust me enough to sell me 25 mj shields. Or most things.

Which kinda sucks because I picked up a dolphin for 72K credits without shields.

Of course, not being able to access lots of upgrades also is pretty bad.

I've heard of Teladi sectors to the northwest though. Those snakeish people really like naming their sectors in similar ways. I mean, if the sector name has something to do with credits or profit? Bound to be Teladi.

Though I'm a little bit apprehensive of the Split at the moment. They don't like Boron, see?

Still, compared to possible death in front of me and certain death behind me, I think I'll risk the ire of the Split instead of the laser-beam roasting banzai going on in Menelaus' Cookout (Formerly Paradise).

Assets:
1x Angel "Lifesaver"
1x Dolphin

Credits: 1640931

[Prutz0r]

Funny fish

Menelaus' Cooking? Or is it just a sushi bar?

[Epiphany]

This is a good read, let's hope you live a long and entertaining life

[Raithen]

Hopefully. And I decided to rename the sector in honour of the Kha'ak invasion, considering that they really only know how to share
BAAEMS of death kinda thing.

7 - A fishy does not look back.

The split actually weren't all that bad. Short of giving me and my well travelled ship some hostile glances.
And an abundance of overzealous scanning. They still let me pass easily through.

The first thing that crossed my mind was that it was a very rocky sector, and that the buildings near my exit
included an orbital defense station within firing distance of a pirate base.

Wait, what?

Sure enough, there was a pirate base ridiculously close to the orbital defense station. The fact that it still
stood implied that at least a few split on the defense station were getting a cut of whatever those pirates were selling.
Well, the pirates aren't exactly hostile to me, so hey, may as well grab me a few things including refurbishing
the life-support cargo bay.
Ms. Ex-princess certainly knew how to throw a tantrum.

Further exploration finally got me to the Teladi sector I'd heard about. Pretty simplistic, but it satisfied my needs of
wanting to buy stuff. Teladi don't turn their noses up at profit, and I wanted stuff.

Well, mind you, those Paranid were making me a little bit uneasy. Blame it on them calling me a foe.

Maybe, if I get a ship which can hurt people, I'll pay them a little visit.

My orders complete, including a couple of 25 mj shields that I'd been so looking forward to, I prepared to return
back to Ocean of Fantasy when I happened to look at the sector map.

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/1079 ... n00016.png

Not one, but two Xenon Qs. Needless to say, I still have nightmares about that stupid Xenon ship.
Currently they had free reign in the sector, exploding everything of fancy, being it civilians or traders or what have you.
But I also noticed something else. That Shark which I had been keeping tabs on, seemed prepped and ready to deal with
that threat, for once!

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/4492 ... n00017.png

I watched gleefully as it deployed all of its fighters, and was prepared to see a Q disappear from the screen, having been stomped on by my boron friends.
Except that it drove right on by.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3038 ... n00024.png

Surely they had enough firepower to take down the thing! I swear, they avoided danger at every turn..

Well, Xenon and Kha'ak, I've had enough of that in one day. Certainly, if a Kha'ak invasion and a Xenon invasion happen in near the same area,
someone or thing is telling you to stay out. Or get out, whichever.

So I turned my ship around and headed north, further into Teladi space.

Assets:
1x Angel "Lifesaver"
1x Dolphin

Credits: 1230402

[baric]

Don't you just love the Military forces of the Xuniverse. They never defend their sectors anymore only themselves if attacked. lol

[Nanook]

Don't you just love the Military forces of the Xuniverse. They never defend their sectors anymore only themselves if attacked. lol

They do, if they're tasked to. But it looks like that Boron Shark captain had other orders. Probably something to do with the Split next door. And he wasn't going to bother with a mere Q or two along the way.

[Raithen]

8 - A fishy & lasers, round 2.

It was pretty calm going up the Teladi sectors. Of course, considering that I don't have enough credits to actually
purchase anything that would put a serious dent into anything, I took advantage of a few opportunities that I came across.

Primarily I wanted to get to a boron sector so I could get something with teeth, for once.
While I love my little lifesaver, I also am getting a bit tired of having to turn tail and run every couple of hours.

Soon I passed through Teladi space into more Split space. Of course, those ingrates wouldn't let me dock at their core sectors despite the fact that they were advertising the fact they wanted cargo of that sort.
What do they think I'd do, put a couple of nukes in the cargo?

Well, actually I would do that, given the chance. So maybe their paranoia is warranted.

Heading south now, I finally find a place to drop off of cargo, some random Split sector who I didn't even bother to take the name in. Oddly, they let me dock at border sectors. Well, when I deal with my more immediate problems, I'm sure that they'll regret it.

As I was undocking, I noted something which was terribly familiar, oh yes.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8242 ... n00027.png

More Kha'ak. Again.
Did I have a great big beacon planted on my face labeled "FREE CANDY" or something?
First the Xenon followed by Kha'ak, then more Xenon, then more Kha'ak.
If this keeps up, I'm going to run into a Xenon fleet in a little while.

Time to start running again..

Just before I exit the sector, I pause and turn to snap a few photos to sell.
So I could tell people "Yes, I DID happen to escape two Kha'ak invasions. And all your grandfather did was burp in the wrong place?"

http://img9.imageshack.us/i/x3screen00029.png/

Of course, when I actually used the goggles to zoom in, I just realized how many little Kha'ak fighters there were.
There were a lot. Actually, I couldn't even count them all.

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/5348 ... n00032.png

So instead I took a couple pictures of them blowing up a station.
Tourist impulse satisfied, I fled further south before becoming cooked Boron ala Laser.

By the way, remember that Shark that I mentioned earlier? Well, apparently it went into Menelaus' Cookout & BBQ. The Kha'ak weren't impressed with the selection of fish they brought, apparently.

RIP, Shark. You never did a thing worth mentioning.

Assets:

1x Angel "Lifesaver"
1x Dolphin "Trapped"
Credits:
1268866

[Raithen]

9 - A fishy learns to bite

And so, I continue my trek to find another Boron sector. However, there is a slight problem. I believe that there's quite a few Argon sectors between me and the nearest Boron sector. And let's face it, the Argons don't like me much.
Well, most people don't to be fair. Especially those Paranid.

Just before I trek out of Split space I decide that I really need some type of firepower, at least.
So I dock with the friendly drone faculty and am promptly rejected in attempting to buy some fighter drones, since most likely I'd sic 'em on the nearest thing (True fact).

However, the owner looks at me slyly and says that he wouldn't mind seeing a few of the more advanced and deadly and most-certainly-not-a-toy-like-the-mk-I fighter drone MK II.

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/7923/x3screen00034.png

Nudge-nudge wink wink, know what I mean?

Personally, I think the Split like watching big explosions.

So, off I run with some newly acquired fighter drones. I feel much safer with those on board, for obvious reasons. Certainly would give me some time to run like a pansy, again.

Through a couple of gates and voila, Argon space. Except they hate me to the point where they won't let me dock, period.
Well. Curses. There goes my plan of bribing/seducing my way through Argon space. Unfortunately, this thing isn't fast enough either to just run it. Running out of a Xenon sector is one thing. Running into a potentially hostile sector with lots of people who'd happily kill you is another.

Figuring out how to solve my dilemna, I spot a paranid freighter randomly walk into the sector.

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/7965 ... n00036.png

Well well well.. The Argon don't like the Paranid, right?

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/686/ ... n00038.png

A couple of exploded Paranid later, and my sincere apologies to the nearest official who is not at all upset (Not to mention greasing his palm with credits), I can finally dock. Granted, I can't buy anything at all, but hey. Progress.

Of course, blowing up the Paranid just feels appropriate. They decided to declare me an enemy, after all. May as well play the part.

Another bunch of exploded Paranid later, I still haven't managed to improve my relations with the Argon sufficiently to pass through. And I'm running out of fighter drones..

Lucky for me that I got a taxi mission to Akeela's beacon. Having ducked in there to chase down a freighter, I thought that it'd be a piece of cake. Twenty-seven odd minutes to get to a rather close solar power plant? No problem!

So starting the mission, I happily leave my fighter drones munching on some unlucky paranid while I cross over into the beacon.

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/776/ ... n00039.png

Then I realized that the patron wanted to go to a different SPP. Much, much farther away. Well, time to break out the coffe-.. Lemonade.

After a messy cleanup and the passenger continually complaining about how long it was taking, we arrived.
Seriously, next time I'll dump the sucker out the airlock. See how much faster you can fly that way!

Apparently, this was a really important mission to the Argons. Considering that I suddenly was a respected member and oh of course they'd let me through their home sectors.

Oh, and they wanted me to take care of a diplomatic incident between them and the Terrans.
No thanks. I've had enough of you paranoid humans. For you to call your own species paranoid, they've got to be something special.

Time to run past those Argons now, and possibly chew on a couple more Paranid transporters.

Assets:
1x Angel "Lifesaver"
1x Dolphin "Trapped"

Credits:
1092952

[Raithen]

Fie on you people making me triple-post.

10 - A fishy feeds

Now being in the new Boron sectors, I manage to get my trapped Dolphin up in Hila's joy sold. Thankfully it managed to stay away from the couple of Xenon Qs wandering around. Of course, the local military isn't doing a thing.

After all the Kha'ak and Xenon, this looks like a veritable paradise.
Granted, I'm not exactly certain of the trading opportunities here, but that's what discovery is for, yes?

Of course, the locals are friendly.

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/8099/x3screen00042.png

Except for them!

I rather don't want to get caught by that thing. This ship isn't meant for combat, and I don't have a fleet.

Lucky for me though, it only seems to make a couple passes through. So, avoiding it is simple.

But then again, lots of Paranid freighters are present in this area. It does make me nervous, but traders usually don't pick fights.

But I am appreciative of the locals here. They like selling stuff, see. Picking up a couple of freighters makes controlling the local economy a piece of cake. Except that the economy is pretty horrid.

There's approximately ten Biogas fabs, and two Bofu. Of the same size.

Needless to say, there's a bit of a Bofu shortage. Maybe, if the Paranid military doesn't object, I should build a station or two here.

Time does fly, but within a short period of time swapping goods, a friendly Boron pilot wants to sell me his Mako fighter. Complete with shields and guns.

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/7541/x3screen00046.png

Well, hey. I don't mind learning how to fly a fighter.
And there's plenty of targets.

A short time afterwards, I lurch in the cockpit seat somewhat sick. The Mako has incredible turning and acceleration. Hitting the afterburners feels like I'm becoming a smear with the chair behind me.

Well, thinking about it, those freighters really don't pack much of a punch, right?
Right?

Another short period, I'm running like a pansy away from one of the freighters which decided to spew fighter drones like no tomorrow. Not packing a punch, right...

Granted, the thing did drop its cargo. Except that the local Boron military object to this. Probably because of a trade agreement with the Paranid or something.

So, my new hurl-mobile set and ready, I pop over to Argon space to take out my new enemies, the Paranid.

One by one, o' course.
And one day, I'll be ready to take on that Deimos. Just you wait!

Assets:
1x Mako "Silence"
1x Angel "Lifesaver"

1x Dolphin Tanker
1x Dolphin Super-Freighter

Credits: 1020334

[Gold Dragon]

Famous Last Words: One Day.....





Nice story.

[Gorium]

Will definately follow this story. Different style, but so much entertainment. Keep it up, it's a nice twist to DiD. Nice post size as well, very interesting so far.

[Prutz0r]

Ah, excellent, you're still alive.

[Killjaeden]

Nice story and very entertaining keep it up

[Troubleshooter11]

Yup, i like this DiD, nice work.

[Raithen]

11 - Fishy goes back to roots

Okay, I lied. I'm back to transporting people. Not my fault that they dangle a hell of a lot more money than the Boron royalty!

The mako is fun and all, but way too fast for my likes. Perhaps as a scouting and light combat thing, yeah. Or whenever I decide that I don't like my lunch.

However, there was this one paranid who wanted a pegasus vanguard, which I had picked up and was going to sell. I was considering just letting him have it and then shoot his face when he left (No shields and stuff on it, see?), except that when I handed it over, he felt that I was such a swell guy that he'd immediately smooth over everything I done to the Paranid and was looking to continue.

I guess killing a bunch of paranid isn't such a great deal..?

Oh yes, I also decided to fix the Bofu shortage in the area.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/5690 ... n00054.png

I think that until I have enough defenses to hold the Paranid out of the sectors I'm in (Read: Keep 'em out of their own border sector), I think I'll settle for a one-sided friendship.

Makes it all the easier when I decide to get serious and start recruiting marines.

Of course, in the middle of running all these missions, I found a pirate Carrack, just blasting away in Rolk's legacy. It's friendly, too!

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/79/x3screen00052.png

Of course it didn't last long, but hey! More cargo stuff for me.

And thinking about it, I just picked up a Barracuda Vanguard..

Assets:

1x Mako "Silence"
1x Barracuda Vanguard
1x Angel "Lifesaver"

1x Octopus
1x Dolphin Superfreighter
1x Dolphin Tanker
1x Dolphin Hauler

1x Bofu chemical plant

Credits: 834,414

[Raithen]

12 - Fishy and the Carrack.

The Vanguard is a nice little ship, powerful and sleek. Currently decided to have a simple loadout (Provided at the end for those who like to nitpick), and away we go!

Now, I was a bit hesitant on who or what to take advantage of until the thought crossed my mind: Split don't like Boron, and thus this Boron will turn on the Split.

Of course, there's also this convenient pirate sector right next to them. This also happens to be one of their main trade routes.

The traders have yet to figure out that this is a stupid thing to do.

A couple of roasted Split traders later, I spotted another Carrack. Now, I'm lucky that pirates like me. Being able to boast about supposedly kidnapping the Princess of the Boron or a relative does apparently count a lot in their circles.

Never mind that it was a complete accident and I was running like a pansy. Delivery is all that matters. And apparently this pirate Carrack likes the ability to tell a whopper with a gleam in the eye.

Having acquired a new friend, I promptly followed him all over the sector while he rampaged without a single retribution. Picking up loot, of course. And the occasional assist. Of course, I did start wondering about the nuke I picked up. That amount of firepower makes me nervous.

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9785/x3screen00076.png

He even took on an Argon military heavy Centaur and sent it packing. I was disappointed that it jumped before dying, though.

And so the Carrack merrily rampaged without a care in the world, singing songs about a pirate's life and all sorts of fun stuff like that. Likeable guy, when they're not trying to kill you.

But all good things must come to an end, and eventually..

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/7115 ... n00085.png

It suddenly isn't looking all that good for the Carrack.

Now, he may have managed to pull it off, just barely. Except then this happened:

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/5870/x3screen00086.png

Screaming "MON CANARD EST EN FEU!", he plowed straight ahead and managed to make a couple hundred meters before the inevitable.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/117/x3screen00087.png

I almost feel sorry for the guy. At least he's been more useful to me than the military.

But witnessing the carnage makes me delirious. I need to get me something like that. And so I head straight back to where I came, looking to expand my economic prowess and reputation. In other words, trying to find some sucker to get me a M7.

Assets:
1x Barracuda V. "No More Traders"
1x Mako "Silence"
1x Angel "Lifesaver"

1x Octopus
1x Dolphin Superfreighter
1x Dolphin Tanker
1x Dolphin Hauler

1x Bofu chemical plant

Credits: 834,414

Vanguard loadout:
2x IRE
2x PAC
2x HEPT
2x 25 MJ shields

Mako:
3x IRE
3x PAC
2x 5 MJ shields

[Chealec]

How many days in are you now? I've been doing this start and my outcome, so far (2 days in) has been massively different - which makes this quite an interesting read.

I've done a lot of passenger transport missions (rather a lot in pirate sectors since they seem to like you as a Lost Lar) and blown the crap out of quite a few Paranid... and I've never yet left the Angel you start with.

I did buy a cheap, beat up Nova second hand - which I just repaired and sold - used the money to buy more missiles and a second hand Mercury which is now MORTing its way around Argon space to complement the Vulture Hauler I've got as a sector trader in Blue Profit.

The Angel has a decent cargo space for missiles which means your fishy can have teeth even in a TP!

[Raithen]

Under two days, that I can tell you. I think.

13 - A fishy does not fare well against speeding destroyers

The goal, simple.
Get enough funds to outfit myself a Thresher class M7. Or steal one.
At that point, I don't know afterwards. Probably find some marines for happy fun time.

Unfortunately, I simply don't have enough capital to even consider that just yet. So possibly building a complex or a larger one in the sector north of Shore of Infinity or whassis is starting to appeal to me. I'm not quite certain what exactly to build mind you - I've still to decide on that. The Boron shipyard here is a bit limited, but hey!
Which reminds me, I still have yet to get a jump capable ship. That needs to be fixed at some point.

However, I'm getting hesitant again.
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3134/x3screen00088.png
More Kha'ak. Granted, these suckers are just scouts but I saw two invasions within a short period of time. Thankfully, they aren't near me or my group, but I really don't want to see more sectors cut off because of the Kha'ak.

Well, on second thought, that'd help my traders a lot. Less competition, see?

But I don't think the Kha'ak particularly trade much other than LAZAH BAEMS of DEATH.

And I don't want to become like the late daughter of Menelaus. Cooked ala lazer pate.

So on my quest to fund a Thresher, I start scouring the local area for possible payment, including a few transport missions, and one very odd mission.

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6892 ... n00089.png

In the same sector as the shipyard. Which sold the very thing needed.
In other words, this one was prepared to pay me double the price of the thing.
Well, I don't hate easy money.

However, this also funded a couple other acquisitions, including a Manta and another Mako. Which is starting to give me ideas.
I just need a target that's easy enough.

Switching back to my Angel, I happily hum a tune as I start heading into Great Trench with thoughts of acquiring a ship in not exactly a legal fashion.

OH CRAP. DIV-

[baric]

OH CRAP. DIV-

Uh OH...

[5c0rch!]

I DO NOT LIKE CLIFF HANGERS!

Seriously, I want to know now whether he got killed or not, the anticipation is killing me (no pun intended).