*Prologue*
Who am I? Does it really matter? Does it matter how I ended up here, flying a wreck of an Octopus with barely a credit to my name and a couple jugs of space fuel in the cargo hold?
Ah well, if only for posterity, I am called Bana Bi. Born into a family of small time smugglers who could never seem to hit that one run that could catapault them into prosperity. If it weren't for bad luck, my family would have no luck at all so, it was probably for the best they accepted that contract to run 255 space fuel from Nyana's Hideout to the pirate base in Mi Ton's Refuge. Of course that meant making the dangerous trip through Xenon Sector 347.
The delivery never arrived and I had to make good on the contract. Of course, my family was paid in advance and after spending every credit I had filling the contract, this is what I am left with.
Is this my fate? Can ones fate be changed? Or am I doomed to repeat the same mistakes and continue the legacy left by my ancestors?
_____________
This DiD will be the Suicidal Squid start, Vanilla 3.0 with Bonus pack and a vanilla safe mod that removes the visible piping in complexes.
The ultimate goal will be to complete all achievements and in the process complete all plots. Secondary goals will be to dominate the illegal wares market (space fuel, spaceweed, squash mines, etc)
Rules to follow in next post.
Cutting the threads of Fate
Moderators: TheElf, Moderators for English X Forum
-
Sunrayn
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Tue, 14. Oct 08, 00:59
The Rules:
My standard rules:
No new ship buying
(I consider it somewhat of a cheat to throw money at something to make it easier)
Special Rules for this DiD:
Can personally fly only Boron ships. Only Boron ships are designed for Boron pilots.
I am not exactly an upstanding Boron citizen so I am only welcome to sell ships, repair, buy equipment from Pirate bases and a special contact in the black market at Ceo's Sprite.
With the exception of Teladi 'illegal' factories (Spaceweed), all other illegal race factories will require a TL of that race to buy the factory.
I.E: To buy an Argon Spacefuel and Wheat factory, I will have to dock an Argon TL at the shipyard to buy. Renting a TL to buy an illegal factory is not allowed as I couldnt trust them not to turn me in to the authorities.
With the exception of the Boron Skate Prototype in Menolaus Oasis next door to the starting sector, I will have to stumble on the other abandoned ships and cant go purposely to collect them.
Missions can be taken from anyone but, I am a smuggler, not an assassin or crack fighter pilot so patrol, defend, assassinate missions are not allowed, except for plot missions (see below) Build missions are allowed unless they are for an illegal factory. Illegals are my territory.
Wingmen will be required for plot missions involving combat, I am not an ace combat pilot.
Second hand ship buying is allowed since deals like that are considered 'under the table'.
Since capping ships will be required to complete goals, I will need to 'bring an army' and completely overpower my opponent. No heroic M2 capping with a disco and a TP.
My standard rules:
No new ship buying
(I consider it somewhat of a cheat to throw money at something to make it easier)
Special Rules for this DiD:
Can personally fly only Boron ships. Only Boron ships are designed for Boron pilots.
I am not exactly an upstanding Boron citizen so I am only welcome to sell ships, repair, buy equipment from Pirate bases and a special contact in the black market at Ceo's Sprite.
With the exception of Teladi 'illegal' factories (Spaceweed), all other illegal race factories will require a TL of that race to buy the factory.
I.E: To buy an Argon Spacefuel and Wheat factory, I will have to dock an Argon TL at the shipyard to buy. Renting a TL to buy an illegal factory is not allowed as I couldnt trust them not to turn me in to the authorities.
With the exception of the Boron Skate Prototype in Menolaus Oasis next door to the starting sector, I will have to stumble on the other abandoned ships and cant go purposely to collect them.
Missions can be taken from anyone but, I am a smuggler, not an assassin or crack fighter pilot so patrol, defend, assassinate missions are not allowed, except for plot missions (see below) Build missions are allowed unless they are for an illegal factory. Illegals are my territory.
Wingmen will be required for plot missions involving combat, I am not an ace combat pilot.
Second hand ship buying is allowed since deals like that are considered 'under the table'.
Since capping ships will be required to complete goals, I will need to 'bring an army' and completely overpower my opponent. No heroic M2 capping with a disco and a TP.
-
Sunrayn
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Tue, 14. Oct 08, 00:59
*chapter 1, New Horizons*
__________________________
Queen's Harbour. 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life'. Now who said that? Probably made up by someone not sitting in a stripped down Octopus with no weapons, a single 1mj shield, no computer equipment, 1000 credits to his name and, 2 units of very illegal space fuel sitting in his hold.
I take solace in the fact there doesnt seem to be any police or customs in the area. Of course, my area is very small as I dont even own a duplex scanner.
Well Mister 'First Day', I will take your advice and get on with my new life. Provided I can survive it. Judging from the animosity shown by a passing Paranid freighter, I have to guess the Split hate me even more. Ah well, 2 out 4 known races hating me isnt as bad as it could be. Hope the Argon tolerate me as I will have to go through their territory to reach Ceo's Sprite and my Teladi contact, unless I can find a pirate base in the area.
In any case, I'm not going to find it sitting around here so, engage full engines to the north gate.
Well, luck is in. I am at the north gate and nobody is ordering me to eject my cargo. Passing through the north gate however flips my luck like the gate in my target monitor.
'We are scanned'
'Sigh'
'We have scanned your ship and found illegal cargo aboard...'
Can you just pretend you didnt see it? or me for that matt..
'Eject your cargo or we will be forced to do bad things to you'
'Sigh'
I cant outrun them all so kick the fuel out the door and watch as they blow it up. To add insult to injury, they actually thank me for my cooperation. Yes, thank you sir and may your ship be infested with Boron eating phiranas.
One of the cops was kind enough to clue me in on a ship sitting in Menolaus' Oasis, ownerless, because, according to the cop, the pilot was now cooling his heels in a boron prison ship.
Spending considerable time searching Menolaus' Oasis because the coordinates 'NE Quadrant' is as much info as they are willing to impart for free, I find this
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00005.jpg
Nice.
Docking both ships in Menolaus' Oasis, I transfer the only usable piece of equipment the Skate has to the Octopus, Vid goggles. My options are fairly limited for the missions I can take on my way to Ceo's Sprite. No CLS, so no taxi. No mineral scanner, the Skate does have 3 25mj shields, 2 HEPTS, 2 PRG and two banshee missiles, but with no fight command, I cant hit the broadside of a Phoenix. The banshees aren't useable on the Octopus and neither are any of the guns so they stay on the skate.
This means I am pretty much limited to retrieve ship missions and with the octopus having 171ms speed compared to the Skate's 100ms I can get to a ship that much faster.
Entering Queen's Harbour, I can see a few stations with missions. There are also a couple Strong Arms military escorts in the sector but, I leave them alone and they dont seem inclined to bother me. Hailing the Atreus HQ, I get a bite
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00006.jpg
It turns out to be a cakewalk, a Buster in the next sector, Queens Retribution.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00007.jpg
Taking a minute or two to repair it up adds 20+ speed and I send it on it's way.
By the time I am entering Company Strength, it is docking at Atreus HQ and I am 7500cr richer. No missions in here so I head north to Bright Profit.
Bright Profit is one of those sectors that isnt pea-soupy but it is pea-hazy and visibility is slightly hampered. I head straight north looking for any sign of a line of ships that could lead me to the pirate base that was rumored to be here. By the time the north gate came into view, I still hadn't had a sign of any pirate base mainly because shipping in this sector was limited to 3 ships going from the north gate to the south. Using the vid gogs brought no results.
Now, I have two choices. I can go south at Grand Exchange into pirate territory and look for a pirate base but, as of yet, I havent seen a single pirate so have no idea what their disposition is toward me and I would rather not fly into pirate home worlds to find out.
That leaves option 2. Hope I find a base before I get to Scale Plate Green so I can upgrade the speed on New Horizons for a speedy trip across Xenon Sector 347. I dont fancy crossing it at 171ms.
Assets:
Octopus, New Horizons
1mj shield
Skate Prototype
3 25mj shields
2 HEPTS, 2 PRG
2 banshee missiles
8510cr
__________________________
Queen's Harbour. 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life'. Now who said that? Probably made up by someone not sitting in a stripped down Octopus with no weapons, a single 1mj shield, no computer equipment, 1000 credits to his name and, 2 units of very illegal space fuel sitting in his hold.
I take solace in the fact there doesnt seem to be any police or customs in the area. Of course, my area is very small as I dont even own a duplex scanner.
Well Mister 'First Day', I will take your advice and get on with my new life. Provided I can survive it. Judging from the animosity shown by a passing Paranid freighter, I have to guess the Split hate me even more. Ah well, 2 out 4 known races hating me isnt as bad as it could be. Hope the Argon tolerate me as I will have to go through their territory to reach Ceo's Sprite and my Teladi contact, unless I can find a pirate base in the area.
In any case, I'm not going to find it sitting around here so, engage full engines to the north gate.
Well, luck is in. I am at the north gate and nobody is ordering me to eject my cargo. Passing through the north gate however flips my luck like the gate in my target monitor.
'We are scanned'
'Sigh'
'We have scanned your ship and found illegal cargo aboard...'
Can you just pretend you didnt see it? or me for that matt..
'Eject your cargo or we will be forced to do bad things to you'
'Sigh'
I cant outrun them all so kick the fuel out the door and watch as they blow it up. To add insult to injury, they actually thank me for my cooperation. Yes, thank you sir and may your ship be infested with Boron eating phiranas.
One of the cops was kind enough to clue me in on a ship sitting in Menolaus' Oasis, ownerless, because, according to the cop, the pilot was now cooling his heels in a boron prison ship.
Spending considerable time searching Menolaus' Oasis because the coordinates 'NE Quadrant' is as much info as they are willing to impart for free, I find this
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00005.jpg
Nice.
Docking both ships in Menolaus' Oasis, I transfer the only usable piece of equipment the Skate has to the Octopus, Vid goggles. My options are fairly limited for the missions I can take on my way to Ceo's Sprite. No CLS, so no taxi. No mineral scanner, the Skate does have 3 25mj shields, 2 HEPTS, 2 PRG and two banshee missiles, but with no fight command, I cant hit the broadside of a Phoenix. The banshees aren't useable on the Octopus and neither are any of the guns so they stay on the skate.
This means I am pretty much limited to retrieve ship missions and with the octopus having 171ms speed compared to the Skate's 100ms I can get to a ship that much faster.
Entering Queen's Harbour, I can see a few stations with missions. There are also a couple Strong Arms military escorts in the sector but, I leave them alone and they dont seem inclined to bother me. Hailing the Atreus HQ, I get a bite
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00006.jpg
It turns out to be a cakewalk, a Buster in the next sector, Queens Retribution.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00007.jpg
Taking a minute or two to repair it up adds 20+ speed and I send it on it's way.
By the time I am entering Company Strength, it is docking at Atreus HQ and I am 7500cr richer. No missions in here so I head north to Bright Profit.
Bright Profit is one of those sectors that isnt pea-soupy but it is pea-hazy and visibility is slightly hampered. I head straight north looking for any sign of a line of ships that could lead me to the pirate base that was rumored to be here. By the time the north gate came into view, I still hadn't had a sign of any pirate base mainly because shipping in this sector was limited to 3 ships going from the north gate to the south. Using the vid gogs brought no results.
Now, I have two choices. I can go south at Grand Exchange into pirate territory and look for a pirate base but, as of yet, I havent seen a single pirate so have no idea what their disposition is toward me and I would rather not fly into pirate home worlds to find out.
That leaves option 2. Hope I find a base before I get to Scale Plate Green so I can upgrade the speed on New Horizons for a speedy trip across Xenon Sector 347. I dont fancy crossing it at 171ms.
Assets:
Octopus, New Horizons
1mj shield
Skate Prototype
3 25mj shields
2 HEPTS, 2 PRG
2 banshee missiles
8510cr
-
kgkosio
- Posts: 602
- Joined: Sun, 8. Feb 04, 07:47
-
Sunrayn
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Tue, 14. Oct 08, 00:59
Chapter 2, Job Hunting
______________________
Hoping to find a pirate base, I explored west through argon territory. Stopping in Wastelands, I picked up another retrieve ship mission.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00008.jpg
Turned out to be another simple one, an M5 in Midnight Star and added another 1100cr to my bank account.
Split seem to travel Argon space freely and arent interested in lil ol me.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00009.jpg
Which is good because I seem to attract them.
Blackhole Sun brings another retrieve ship mission, this time from a Split. Since my Split reputation is one rank above kill with extreme prejudice until dead, I accept it as it is easy with a one hour time limit and only 2 sectors away.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00010.jpg
Boron say 'Split are cold-hearted bastards'
Aborting the mission drops my rep with them to Split Enemy of Rhonkar. I dont think they will be offering me any more missions.
*Safe Haven*
____________
This is..fortunate
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00012.jpg
And there is a Rehab Facility next door, red now, but maybe eventually I can get a hack.
Spending most of my cash on upgrading speed, cargo and rudder, I have now a whopping 11 units of cargo space and a top speed of 285ms. I think I will hang around the area for a while and pick up a few missions for the pirate base and the teladi next door in PTNI Headquarters.
*Its Time*
_________
Running return ship missions between Nyana's Hideout and Nathan's Voyage nets me another 5k credits, enough to bring my speed up to 328ms.
With my Skate docked up in Nyana's, its time to make the run through X-347.
Assets
Octopus, New Horizons
1mj shield
2 Microchips
Skate Prototype
3 25mj shields
2 HEPTS, 2 PRG
2 banshee missiles
570cr
______________________
Hoping to find a pirate base, I explored west through argon territory. Stopping in Wastelands, I picked up another retrieve ship mission.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00008.jpg
Turned out to be another simple one, an M5 in Midnight Star and added another 1100cr to my bank account.
Split seem to travel Argon space freely and arent interested in lil ol me.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00009.jpg
Which is good because I seem to attract them.
Blackhole Sun brings another retrieve ship mission, this time from a Split. Since my Split reputation is one rank above kill with extreme prejudice until dead, I accept it as it is easy with a one hour time limit and only 2 sectors away.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00010.jpg
Boron say 'Split are cold-hearted bastards'
Aborting the mission drops my rep with them to Split Enemy of Rhonkar. I dont think they will be offering me any more missions.
*Safe Haven*
____________
This is..fortunate
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00012.jpg
And there is a Rehab Facility next door, red now, but maybe eventually I can get a hack.
Spending most of my cash on upgrading speed, cargo and rudder, I have now a whopping 11 units of cargo space and a top speed of 285ms. I think I will hang around the area for a while and pick up a few missions for the pirate base and the teladi next door in PTNI Headquarters.
*Its Time*
_________
Running return ship missions between Nyana's Hideout and Nathan's Voyage nets me another 5k credits, enough to bring my speed up to 328ms.
With my Skate docked up in Nyana's, its time to make the run through X-347.
Assets
Octopus, New Horizons
1mj shield
2 Microchips
Skate Prototype
3 25mj shields
2 HEPTS, 2 PRG
2 banshee missiles
570cr
-
Sunrayn
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Tue, 14. Oct 08, 00:59
Chapter 3, Escorts or Fodder
Sitting at the south gate of Scale Plate Green, I decide patience is mandatory. I have no idea what is on the other side of that gate. What I need right now is a hero, preferably an entire Teladi Military fleet of heroes.
The gods, in a fit of humor send me this and I decide this is as good as it is going to get since I didnt pass but about 2 ships in this sector since I got here.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00013.jpg
Well, ok. off you go then, guns and shields before beauty and all
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00014.jpg
Jumping in behind the brave Teladi pilot, I expect to find nothing but debris floating and a Xenon armada waiting for the next fool to follow.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00015.jpg
A touch anticlimatic.
The west gate however, seems to be a little more guarded.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00018.jpg
In a fit of bravery or stupidity, take your pick, I decide to have my Skate follow me as this is a good chance to get both of my ships through Xenon territory.
Keeping the Q's occupied by leading them into every passing ship I can find, I try to buy my Skate more time.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00019.jpg
Leaving the Q's about 30km south of the west gate and exiting to Eighteen Billion, my Skate is in X-347 and looks like he may make it.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00020.jpg
Aha, here are my heroes.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00021.jpg
Best of all, they are on course for the gate to X-347
Ok, he wasnt there just a minute ago.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00022.jpg
This is a major setback.
Assets
Octopus--New Horizons
1mj shield
2 microchips
570cr
Sitting at the south gate of Scale Plate Green, I decide patience is mandatory. I have no idea what is on the other side of that gate. What I need right now is a hero, preferably an entire Teladi Military fleet of heroes.
The gods, in a fit of humor send me this and I decide this is as good as it is going to get since I didnt pass but about 2 ships in this sector since I got here.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00013.jpg
Well, ok. off you go then, guns and shields before beauty and all
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00014.jpg
Jumping in behind the brave Teladi pilot, I expect to find nothing but debris floating and a Xenon armada waiting for the next fool to follow.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00015.jpg
A touch anticlimatic.
The west gate however, seems to be a little more guarded.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00018.jpg
In a fit of bravery or stupidity, take your pick, I decide to have my Skate follow me as this is a good chance to get both of my ships through Xenon territory.
Keeping the Q's occupied by leading them into every passing ship I can find, I try to buy my Skate more time.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00019.jpg
Leaving the Q's about 30km south of the west gate and exiting to Eighteen Billion, my Skate is in X-347 and looks like he may make it.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00020.jpg
Aha, here are my heroes.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00021.jpg
Best of all, they are on course for the gate to X-347
Ok, he wasnt there just a minute ago.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00022.jpg
This is a major setback.
Assets
Octopus--New Horizons
1mj shield
2 microchips
570cr
-
you_rebel_scum
- Posts: 702
- Joined: Tue, 6. Jul 10, 13:05
good luck your in for one hell of a ride
Die-Hard...Suicidal Squid DiD
I was born free, but now I'm expensive!
I was born free, but now I'm expensive!
-
kgkosio
- Posts: 602
- Joined: Sun, 8. Feb 04, 07:47
Enemy ships seem to move faster OOS, don't they?
The LX probably fired a missile, instant hit OOS, if you were in sector the Skate may have shot it down.
Thanks for the lesson, sorry it was at your expense.
The LX probably fired a missile, instant hit OOS, if you were in sector the Skate may have shot it down.
Thanks for the lesson, sorry it was at your expense.
Fan of the save game manager by badger
Best Steam DiD death: Fly into a TL repeatatly while repairing it
Best Steam DiD death: Fly into a TL repeatatly while repairing it
-
Sunrayn
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Tue, 14. Oct 08, 00:59
Chapter 4, Deja Vu
After the loss of my Skate, I am back to square one, albeit with a faster ship and 2 microchips in the cargo bay. What I need now is a plan. Not just any old plan, but a daring plan, a devious plan, a plan that will work.
I need a ship and I am broke and still weaponless. That means I need a recover ship mission but, first, I need some intel. Heading south and west from Eighteen Billion, I move into Great Trench. Pirates are hitting the sector and there isnt much resistance despite there being a Military Outpost right in the center of the sector. Nearing the west gate, I see the calvary has arrived.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00024.jpg
A few goodies are floating around so I zip around grabbing what I can before leaving them to mop up the pirate forces. I cut north in Rolk's Legacy, mostly because I am shoot on sight in paranid space and so I can hit all but one of the pirate sectors to find what I am looking for.
Brennan's Triumph has what I need. A blue pirate base surrounded by laser towers. All good plans have a backup so continuing north, I find my backup in Olmancketslat's Treaty.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00025.jpg
From there, I zig into Farnham's Legend and zag my way to Argon Prime looking for a return ship mission. Seems the Return Ship Mission gods are on to my plan though I can't find a single one.
Phase two of 'Operation I'll Borrow This One' continues tomorrow and will probably result in another race wanting to shoot my face off.
After the loss of my Skate, I am back to square one, albeit with a faster ship and 2 microchips in the cargo bay. What I need now is a plan. Not just any old plan, but a daring plan, a devious plan, a plan that will work.
I need a ship and I am broke and still weaponless. That means I need a recover ship mission but, first, I need some intel. Heading south and west from Eighteen Billion, I move into Great Trench. Pirates are hitting the sector and there isnt much resistance despite there being a Military Outpost right in the center of the sector. Nearing the west gate, I see the calvary has arrived.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00024.jpg
A few goodies are floating around so I zip around grabbing what I can before leaving them to mop up the pirate forces. I cut north in Rolk's Legacy, mostly because I am shoot on sight in paranid space and so I can hit all but one of the pirate sectors to find what I am looking for.
Brennan's Triumph has what I need. A blue pirate base surrounded by laser towers. All good plans have a backup so continuing north, I find my backup in Olmancketslat's Treaty.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h192/ ... n00025.jpg
From there, I zig into Farnham's Legend and zag my way to Argon Prime looking for a return ship mission. Seems the Return Ship Mission gods are on to my plan though I can't find a single one.
Phase two of 'Operation I'll Borrow This One' continues tomorrow and will probably result in another race wanting to shoot my face off.