A merchant's log

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Computer, record my speech!

Log, yes. Must keep log of profits for efficiency, yes indeed. But where to start? Such busy times, and so many expenses, oh dear oh dear. But yes, thoughts mustn't wander.

My name is Velcros Bubblewrapos Pantos II of the Teladi, that is. This is my first log entry and one day I will look back to this day as the start of my empire, vast empire, vast and rich. I will look back to this day and remember and therefore I must explain all about this day, mm. It has been a most expensive and busy day, oh yes. Tragic loss of profit but Teladi must not falter.

Yesterday standard time my former guild issued me the most horrendous fines for no reason whatsoever, ridiculous really, mm. Minor infractions if that, seriously. Anyway, all in the past now, yes. Not without terrible loss of profit, though, terrible. Had to use all of Teladi sense of profit to survive without them burning my beautiful, expensive ship. My ship, worthy of profits! Such sin, no sense.

I made good deals and some unfortunately mediocre deals today, traded a thousand different goods and didn't sleep a wink, mm. I got a grey scale or two on my head today, I swear.

Ships, oil, computer chips...I even had to risk my own scales defending someone elses station from pirate attacks, just because they weren't smart enough to make profits with pirates and instead fight them. My own skin, in a tiny ship with skin as weak as a Split sense of profits! Of course I did not actually engage the enemy when there were suitably thick-skinned and -headed argon gung ho's around, yes.

Never will I understand the way of the Argon, no no. Why fight pirates when you can profit from them? Strange, yes indeed.

Finally I found some Argons who were selling their ships, as I desperately needed more cargo carriers for the profit margins to grow, power in volume as my old auntie used to say, bless her soul, hmm. Spent countless times in the cold of space repairing them, I did. Not pleasant for poor Teladi, but no alternative either. Convinced the pilots to choose servitude over freedom on a pirate station and sold them for pirates. Harsh times, regrettable, yes, but necessary, mm.

Flew around in a Discoverer, Argon design, myself. Good for passenger transport, fast ship but wicked humans paid terribly badly, was cutting my own scaled throat hauling those clumsy creatures with strange body temperatures around. Ship controls were far and wide for poor Teladi too, hurt my poor neck trying to see out, I did.

Almost ran out of time, nearly lost my beautiful Kepler Omega. 2 250 000 credits, so little time, oh! Teladi had to sell all her ships before the guild was satisfied, all the profit makers. Still, no options, had to do it for the greater profits. Success, goal reached hmm.

Autopilot! Continue through the gate, to Lucky Planets!

Where was I? Ah yes, yes. It was with joy I soared away from the guild station on my blessed ship, indeed. Much space for gargo, thick skin of metal scales to protect soft Teladi skin and speed for profits, 187 meters each second! It warms my heart to sit on the bow of Kepler Omega again, hmm. But time is of essence, I continue.

I will re-establish the glory and profits of my family and I must make haste, hmm. Must plan steps, yes. Important. Very much so, important. Manual trading ships, I have two and one, three together, yes. Handy but much work, too inefficient to expand and expand I must, no profit in hatchlings' games,no.

One of the Argon soldiers I transported told interesting things, hmm. Played cards with him as we flew. Silly still-temperature, so blind and honest, most profitable. After losing his credits he started telling stories of men called Yaki. Outlaws and vicious protectors of their sectors. Gave me ideas, hmm. These Yaki sound useful, potentially useful in most profitable ways indeed, hmm. I must find out more, formulate a plan.

Computer, take us through the West Gate and to Shore of Infinity, yes and make haste.

I must hurry, there is no time to waste and my profits are slim, life is short and profits favor the quick Teladi, yes indeed.

Computer, log assets, no matter how small yet.

Ships - M3

Enhanced Kea "Kepler Omega"

Ships - TS

Mercury Super Freighter "Profit Granted"
Mercury Hauler "Henry Ford"

Ships - TP

Express Hauler "Pareto Optimal"

Game status: not modified
Ships: 4
Stations: 0
Game time: 1d 00:01:59
Player cash: 3,668,645 Cr
Total ship value: 10,272,689 Cr
Total station value: 0 Cr
Total station cash: 0 Cr
Total cash: 3,668,645 Cr
Total asset value: 10,272,689 Cr

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[Snowship]

It'll be nice to see a trader DiD, hope it all goes well.
Any rules? (races to limit trade with etc?, free-for-all? implementing various trading goals throughout?)

Good luck

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I'm not super-experienced with TC so I'm thought I'm not going to do too many conditions.

-DiD unless something completely non-skill rated comes up, computer dies in a fire or something, this includes sudden and vicious girlfriend rage attacks but I'll try not to let that happen
-not using abandoned ships
-no nvidium mining apart from plot line
-no cloning
-vanilla game(might put the no-tubes mod in later, but no game-changing mods)
-no apology

I'm not sure what to do with ships, some insight would be great. I mean, the intention is to be a teladi merchant with profits in mind, she'd do business with the Khaak if she could. To make things interesting I could make it such that due to her history she's got some trade restrictions in place, for example:

-only aquire ships through capture or second-hand ship purchase full stop(this seems a bit harsh and not really ideal)
-only aquire Teladi ships via purchase, otherwise cap/2nd hand
-only aquire certain Teladi ship classes via purchase, otherwise cap/2nd hand

Ideas welcome. I wouldn't be opposed to having to get larger ships by capture, but then again the whole merchant thing kind of means I would probably be in relatively ok relations with the races.

My first goal is to establish a stable and growing trading company, aquire a TL and start floating around with it as my personal ship and do heaps of barter and opportunity trading.

I'm not going to set too huge challenges at first as this is primarily a log of an opportunistic, greedy Teladi trader more than the most epic battle grandeur story you've ever read. I'll just try to make my plotting and undertakings as interesting as I can and play the cunning Teladi to my best skill.

That said, any great ideas are really welcome! Especially merchant-based ones. Not promising to take everything in as I'm not super-experienced, at the same time I do enjoy challenges.

Thank you for your support,

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Wrist pad, start recording.

Copy recording to ship computer log as well, hmm.

This is Velcros Bubblewrapos Pantos II of the Teladi again, yes. This cursed space station has no profit opportunities but I am stuck here for now, it appears someone from the Guild must have had their greedy claws about my beautiful ship, unacceptable! Parts missing, hmm, small but important. Ship computer is replicating missing servo controllers in the onboard copy-o-maticos but it is a slow process, too slow for profits. Most unfortunate, yes.

I must formulate a plan soon, for no profit comes to Teladi without goals, ambition, deals, indeed!

Waiter! A space whisky, the cheaper kind. Put in half an ice cube, yes, do not waste time.

Now, plan...of utmost importance indeed, mm. Much profit to be made. Minions needed, company helpers. Hard to find good employees these days, days of unfortunate greed, hard for honest Teladi to make living, hmm oh yes indeed.

Waiter! this whisky is terrible, oh terrible! No way will I pay more than 2 credits and even that is a crime against profit, gain and all that is pure, hmm disgrace. Away you go, out of my sight!!

Ridiculous, hm, hm. Employees, then. Teladi needs pilots, good ones, with sense of profit, mm. Will have to seek around for candidates. Can't let them risk profits at once, though, oh no no. Must aquire cheap ships and let the minions fail until they learn better. Priority, mm.

Also need a big ship for Teladi. Space for profit, space for opportunity. Good quarters for Velcros too, suitable for company manager, greatness hmm. Must look into that, oh yes. Hangar essential for precious cargo, some races so unreasonable these days, oh woe.

All great plans have pictures, so I must have pictures. Hmm. No ship camera available, must draw. Hard to draw with claws, oh well, hmm.

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[eldyranx3]

All great plans have pictures, so I must have pictures. Hmm.

You made me spill my beer, laughing. That Sir, is alcohol abuse.

Quite simply, one of the funniest DiD's out there. And am I to surmise this is a 'join in' DiD?

[kgkosio]

Nice to see a Teladi story. The possibilities are endless. Live long!

[Sp@c3Ch!mp]

lol this seems to be quite the interesting story.
*shivers at the girlfriend rage part*
That line made me (was imagining a girl raging and throwing with various items (keyboard, mouse, joystick) because of some thing they find important and you don't really care about xD)

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Ship computer! Record speech!

Hmm, lovely holiday at Ianamus Zura, now back to work, mm. Plans! Great plans! Must coordinate and profit. Much has happened since last recording, Teladi must not slack with reporting like this any longer.

Velcros has aquired a pen, pretty pink, it must suffice. Plans will be pink, then. Pink rhymes with profits, yes.



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Next plan has to include pie charts, Teladi likes pie charts, oh yes. Perhaps less pink as well, hurts eyes, hm.

Ad-hoc second hand ships are sold now, must streamline processes and clarify company structure!

Hired two pilots already, I did. Zipping around Argon space in Teladi designs now, they will learn the ropes and then take Velcros to profits, indeed!

New personal ship also, useful Pelican with a proper office, ah yes. Space for paperwork. Aquired a personal Kestrel as well, nothing like 605m/s of speed to accelerate the inevitable profits, hm, hm. Kepler Omega has true claws now too, fire-breathing fists of death, oh yes!

Inventory must be done later tonight, list possessions of humble Teladi!

Volume is everything, hmm. I must make a name for myself, for right now poor Velcros has to work her scaly tail off for next to no profit! Pitiful creatures, keeping honest Teladi from becoming wealthy, hsss.

More ships, more pilots needed and decisions as well! What kind of cargo ship is best for Velcros to use? Pelicans fast and safe but less goods aboard...but destroyed profits are no profits, are they now? Must contemplate. So little time, so much to do, oh dear.

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Okay, back at it. Life's busy so updates might be a bit unreliable, but I'm going to try to be good.

As to the question asked back in November, if someone does wish to join, do feel free to do so. I don't expect anything super exciting to happen in the very near future when I'm finding my place still, but once Velcros gets over the initial shock of almost losing his ship, I'm sure things will get a bit more exciting.

If you do wish to join, it's the usual from other, better DiD's:
-name and race
-ship name and preference (or other role, should you wish that)
-equipment preference(if you are a space marine, it's standard kit, no fancy special sights or extra mags for you I'm sorry)
-anything you'd like to tell about your character

I don't really expect for much interest as this will be primarily a trader's log to start with but as the question was asked, there you are.

Cheers,

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Ship! Computer! Voice record!

Early evening and much to remember, yes yes. Most taxing, a poor Teladi's life is, just to get by, hmm.

Crazy times, I had to danger my own delicate scales in a situation most hazardous, even! For a moment Velcros thought her final moment had come, skies black with angry sentient espresso machines and seemingly no escape! Oh burning scales, Velcros had to truly put her beloved ship to the test, mmm.

There I was, getting my beauty sleep in the controls of Kepler Omega when a terrible screech was heard, oh, the horror! Spilled a mug of tea all over my scales I did, the mess! Velcros was about to clean himself up when he glanced out of the ship window and what did she see? Machines, angry machines, hundreds of them! Perhaps thousands, mmm. A hundred thousand bloodthirsty monsters pouring down on poor little Teladi, would ruin anyones day it would, yes!

And lasers, dreadful beams surrounding the ship, eerie reflections of red and green all over the cockpit, and the deafening noise! Everything beeping and screeching and oh deary deary me, terrified I was.

Being the skillful pilot she is, Velcros put the tincans' name to the test! She dodged, she turned, despite the slippery tea and the danger, yes yes! Like an angel of destruction she flew, to glory and profits!

Truth be told, yes? Velcros should keep her day job, yes.If it weren't for my trusted bird, I wouldn't be here to tell the story, thick skin indeed, mm!

The Teladi breathes yet and not without profits either, ha! A machine soul fled and left it's vessel behind, valuable metals there undoubtedly, hmm, worthy of profits. Evil-looking black thing it is. Perhaps there is use for it later, yes.

Despite the horrors of combat, Teladi must not stop, there's money to be earned, trades to be made, thick-headed fools to be rid of their possessions, hmm!

More pilots, hired from here and there, worthless eggheads every one of them, oh yes. Tricks of the trade they must learn, to haggle and drive a bargain like a good Teladi! Ten of them I've hired now, clueless ones, oh dear. Best ones poor Velcros could find but the brightest of them could't tell a bargain from a ripoff if it bit their tail off on a good day, burn my scales.

Velcros must aquire a bigger ship, mmm. More goods, more bargains, profits to be gained and kept, yes. Very dear, they are. Too expensive for poor innocent Teladi, unreasonable and foolish! Must be another way.

Tea spilled all over Velcros still, miserable hmm. I remember a comfortable bar, haven't visited a while, hmm. A training facility of sorts, if Teladi's memory does not fail, yes. Shady characters, very shifty, oh yes, but knowledge to be found. Weed and fuel too, yes. Need fuel for ideas, plans.

Setting course, mm. Best hurry, yes.

Computer, assets log, print out, hmm.

Ships - M3

PM31 Enhanced Kea "Kepler Omega"

Ships - M4

M41 Xenon M "Black Monday"

Ships - M5

CAG/CLS Trainer ships

M51 Kestler "Demand Spike"
M52 Kestler "Spot Price"
M53 Kestler "Trendline"
M54 Kestler "Wall Street"
M55 Kestler "Exchange"
M56 Kestler "Currency"
M57 Kestler "Market"
M58 Kestler "Buyer"
M59 Kestler "Fluctuation"
M510 Kestler "Tariff"

PM51 Kestler

Ships - TP

PTM1 Pelican "John Keynes"

Game status: not modified
Ships: 14
Stations: 0
Game time: 2d 03:12:03
Player cash: 2,525,521 Cr
Total ship value: 16,780,780 Cr
Total station value: 0 Cr
Total station cash: 0 Cr
Total cash: 2,525,521 Cr
Total asset value: 16,780,780 Cr

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Date 768-05-04
Pelican-class Transport vessel "John Keynes"

Velcros Bubblewrapos Pantos II listened to the low, steady hum of the Pelican's engines as she went through the plan once more. It was late, but the Teladi wasn't going to waste time sleeping. She would have time to rest when the Empire was big enough to keep the profits flowing in without her assistance, but she wasn't there yet.

"John Keynes" wasn't a large ship and the limited space inside meant Velcros only had a little converted storage cabin for her quarters, barely large enough to fit a bunk bed, a small desk and her filing cabinet. Velcros didn't mind; she wasn't after luxory, not yet anyway. The transporter's shields, cargo space and hangar for fighters meant increased security and greater trading opportunities for the eager reptile.

She climbed the narrow staircase up to the bridge and quickly went through the ship's systems. Everything was in order, more or less. A couple of yellow reminder lights in the secondary systems panel were lit and a general systems status screen reminded the Teladi that the starboard sensor array was still offline due to an encounter with a suicidal Paranid fighter jock.

Muttering to herself impatiently, Velcros plotted a course towards PTNI Headquarters. She needed more capable pilots to join her trader fleet.


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