Arcova Scout Frigate Captain's Log » Forum Post by deathbyhornet

Captain's Log

TEC WaltariASF001 (The Jackal)

The Trader Emergency Coalition (TEC) determined that the Acrux Sector would be a key strategic location in any future conflicts. Unfortunately it was also discovered that a rouge faction from Earth, known as the Trade Coalition (TC), had also decided to establish a presence in the Acrux Sector. The stage was set for a civil war.

October 14th, 2286 (10.14.2286.1)

The expeditionary force sent to the Acrux Sector has completed the construction of a Frigate Factory in orbit around Waltari III, a Class M planet in the Waltari system. Two LEV Construction Frigates are available for further orbital construction.

10.19.2286.7

General Watson, commander of the Acrux Expeditionary Force (AEF), has ordered the construction of two Arcova Scout Frigates (ASF) for the purpose of exploring the Acrux Sector. The estimated build time is one week per frigate.

10.22.2286.9

General Watson has ordered the construction of two more ASFs bringing the total to four.

10.26.2286.5

The first Arcova Scout Frigate (TEC WaltariASF001) has rolled off the construction lines slightly ahead of schedule. It will be commanded by myself, Captain Kenji. The ship has been christened "The Jackal". We will have a total crew complement of 75 people and are anxious to begin our mission.

11.2.2286.8

The construction of TEC WaltariASF002 is complete.

11.9.2286.7

The construction of TEC WaltariASF003 is complete.

11.12.2286.5

General Watson has issued orders for The Jackal to begin its mission of exploration. The crew has had over a week to prepare for the mission and get their personal affairs in order and they are anxious to set out, as am I. We have been ordered to explore the Hercynia system.

11.16.2286.7

The construction of TEC WaltariASF004 is presumed to be complete.

11.22.2286.8

The Jackal is approaching the outer limits of the Waltari system's gravity well and is making a phase jump to the Hercynia system.

11.26.2286.7

After a four day phase jump we have arrived in the Hercynia system. We are the first TEC to have ever visited this system and likely the first humans. The crew is very excited to finally be performing the duties they have trained so hard to master.

12.5.2286.0

We have located the planet with the most potential for colonization or incorporation in this inhospitable system. Hercynia VI is a class P planet with significant crystal resources. We are continuing our exploration of the rest of the system.

12.11.2286.2

Today we experienced our first taste of stellar combat. We are not eager to experience it again. The ASF is not designed for combat and that much was readily apparent in today's battle. We were attacked by two Cobalt Light Frigates (CLF) associated with an unsavory group known as the Dallmoor Bandits. The CLF is easily twice our size with a sturdier hull, thicker armor, stronger shields, and more fire power. The two CLFs ambushed us and raked our ship with their forward linked pulse lasers. The battle only lasted about four minutes and we eventually managed to escape due to our more powerful engines. The engines are one blessed advantage we have over most adversaries. The battle left our shields at 64% and current shield technology recharges shields very slowly. It may take weeks to get them back to full power.

1.9.2287.8

More combat with the Dalmoor Bandits. We were attacked by a Garda Flak Frigate (GFF). Although normally used to combat strike craft, their light auto cannons can still prove deadly to larger ships. We were close to escaping when eight minutes into the battle the two CLFs from weeks earlier arrived, cutting off our escape. Fortunately we were already outside the gravity well of the system and after a ten minute shoot out we were able to outrun them and escape with a phase jump towards the Liguria system. The damage report placed our shields at 49%.

1.11.2287.2

We have arrived in the Liguria system after a short day and a half phase jump from the Hercynia system. We have been informed that a TEC ASF is already in system and have been ordered to quickly survey Liguria IV, a class M planet in the system, and then depart to explore the Faerra system via the Hercynia system. I will follow the orders despite my misgivings about returning to Hercynia.

1.24.2287.4

We are now phase jumping back to Hercynia.

1.25.2287.8

We have arrived in the Hercynia system. Our last intel on the system is over two weeks old and we were the ones to provide it. We are making our way carefully to the Waltari phase lane. We hope to avoid any confrontation with the Dalmoor Bandits.

2.14.2287.6

After carefully traversing the Hercynia system for the past three weeks we are ready to depart for Waltari.

2.19.2287.1

We are glad to be returning to the Waltari system. The chances of encountering hostile forces are preacticly nil in our TEC systems. After a quick stop at Waltari III we will depart for the briefly explored Faerra system at the edge of the Acrux Sector.

3.11.2287.4

We are prepared to phase jump to the Faerra system.

3.15.2287.3

We have arrived in the Faerra system. The last intel on the system is over two months old and the AEF is anxious to get more up to date information. They have expressed a keen interest in this system for future incorporation into the TEC.

4.21.2287.3

After spending over a month exploring the Faerra system we have made an important discovery. The Faerra system is rich in resources yet devoid of planets, although there are many asteroids orbiting the Faerra star. The most likely place to settle is a large class D planetoid known as Faerra J73. More importantly the Faerra system contains elements of the Stostra Militia, a force hostile to the TEC. We were attacked by a Stostra Militia CLF. After attempting to evade it for over fourteen minutes we decided to turn and engage it. Twenty six minutes later (40 minutes into the battle) we were forced to disengage and retreat due to heavy damage, our shields were gone and our hull integrity was at 94%. The enemy's shields had barely been scratched by our forward pulse laser and were at 99%. Thirteen minutes later a Krosov Siege Frigate (KSF) belonging to the Stostra joined the battle. The KSF is usually used in planetary sieges to bombard an enemy from orbit, but they are also armed with a forward heavy pulse laser. They opened up on our already damaged ship. Fortunately they arrived one minute before we phase jumped back to Waltari, the entire battle lasted fifty eight minutes. The final damage report showed our shields to be down and our hull integrity to be at 77%. We learned an important lesson about the ASF's combat worthiness today; it has none.

4.25.2287.1

We have arrived in the Waltari system again. I'd like to linger here for a while and repair our ship, but the AEF general has other plans for us. We have been ordered to the Liguria system after a short stopover at the newly constructed base on Waltari V.

5.13.2287.9

We are now phase jumping to the Liguria system.

5.25.2287.4

After over a week in phase space we have made our arrival in the Liguria system. We have heard that the newly constructed capital ship of the AEF TEC fleet is in system. Apparently they have been sent here to wipe out some rebels. It's about time, space is a dangerous enough place without rebels and pirates chasing you down. Apparently the capital ship is a Kol Battleship, known as the TDN Aegia or the Aegia for short. The Aegia has a crew of 2500 and enough firepower to make it a fleet unto itself. I almost feel a touch of envy for its captain.

6.24.2287.0

It has been an interesting month. We had the chance to view the Aegia and it is every bit as impressive as I thought it would be. Although today is our day to leave. We will be phase jumping to the Cygania system. Just before we leave we are informed over subspace communications by the captain of the Aegia that Faerra has joined the TEC. We hope that our exploration of the system two months ago aided the process.

7.18.2287.5

We have arrived in the Cygania system. The system was last visited just over two weeks ago. It's primary planet is a harsh class P world know as Cygania IX.

7.27.2287.2

Our orders were briefly changed and then quickly rescinded. We were ordered to the distant Jitka system and then shortly thereafter told to maintain our original course to the Aurelia system.

8.4.2287.1

We had our second encounter with the Stostra Militia. We were attacked by one of their CLFs. The battle only lasted seven minutes. Eventually we just outran them. Fortunately the damage did not penetrate our shields, they remained at 5%. Our hull has been completely repaired after our last adventure and is still at 100% integrity.

8.10.2287.7

We are leaving Cygania and en route to the Aurelia system. I am slightly concerned as I have heard this system is notoriously dangerous and may be home to a fleet of interstellar pirates.

9.1.2287.2

We have arrived in the Aurelia system after a phase jump of over 3 weeks. The system appears to be devoid of planets and contains a large asteroid belt. We have located a fairly large class D planetoid and are heading to investigate.

9.8.2287.9

We have discovered that the largest planetoid known as Aurelia N22 is home to a den of pirates and thieves. We have been spotted by a Pirate Corsair and it has engaged us. It is a large heavily armed and armored ship, possibly a converted Kodiak Heavy Crusier (KHC). After a three minute engagement we managed to outrun the lumbering ship. Although in that short span of time it's three forward mounted heavy auto cannons have ripped through our shields and reduced our hull integrity to 86%.

9.16.2287.3

Apparently the pirates have been out in force over the past week searching for us. We were unaware until we were ambushed in what has been our largest battle to date and our closest brush with destruction.It all began when we were ambushed by a Pirate Rogue, which is a converted CLF. One minute later it was joined by a Pirate Reaper, which being a converted GFF is the pirates answer to enemy strike craft. One minute later our intended avenue of escape between two large asteroids was blocked by a Pirate Corsair, a Pirate Pillager (the Pirate's version of the KSF), and a Pirate Cutthroat. The Pirate Cutthroat is an entirely unique cruiser design built exclusively by the pirates and rebels. It is inferior to TEC crusiers, yet it is still dangerous. The ship was rocked by a heavy salvo from these new enemies. Three minutes later another Pirate Reaper appeared and just prior to escaping eight minutes into the battle a second Pirate Corsair arrived and devastated our hull with a withering blast of auto cannon fire. We were barely able to escape and hid behind a large asteroid when we were out of sensor range. Our hull integrity was at 24% after the battle and I was surprised our ship was still in one piece. We lost nine crew members in the battle and barely escaped total destruction.

9.18.2287.0

We are phase jumping out of the Aurelia system after two days of hide and seek with the Pirates. We are headed to the Maresjev system which, although not entirely safe, is certainly safer than remaining here. Unfortunately this was our only option because the pirates were watching the entrances to the other phase lanes.

9.27.2287.7

We have arrived in the Maresjev system and are the first to explore it in over a month. We are making for Maresjev VII an icy class P planet.

10.3.2287.1

We were briefly attacked by a CLF from the Raider Union. Our already severely damaged hull is now at 22% after a short three minute engagement.

10.10.2287.6

We have received communication from TEC scientists and have picked up a package left for us on Maresjev VII. The communication contained technical information and the package equipment. Our little scout frigate is now equipped with Class 1 sensor probes. We should be able to launch one every sixty days and they should provide remote sensor information on the entire system for approximately ten months.

10.12.2287.5

We were attacked by a Raider Union KSF, yet after a two minute chase we had lost it. Our hull integrity is at an all time low of 21% and we are still unable to get our shields working.

10.13.2287.1

We managed to launch our first Class 1 probe today and are receiving communications from it. The Maresjev system should be under remote observation for the next 10 months.

10.26.2287.8

We are leaving the Maresjev system and phase jumping to the Cesaro Magnetic Cloud.

11.12.2287.2

After nearly a year exploring the Acrux Sector we have arrived in the Cesaro Magnetic Cloud. The magnetic cloud tends to interfere with many ship systems involving antimatter, fortunately our ship has no systems that rely on the use of antimatter. Another TEC ASF is in system.

11.23.2287.9

Prior to phase jumping to the unexplored Rezia system we received some updated data from the other ASF in the area. It transmitted some new coding for our sensor probe's systems. The information was somehow garbled in transit though and my crew is working on reconstructing the transmission.

12.1.2287.7

After a week of study we have worked out the new systems on our probe. We are now able to launch a Class 2 sensor probe that will have an extended operating life of approximately fifteen months! We are anxious to launch one of these upgraded probes. We should be coming out of phase space in the Rezia system in a few weeks.

12.16.2287.3

We have arrived in the uncharted Rezia system. We have immediately identified a promising class H desert planet know as Rezia IV. We will be investigating it over the coming weeks.

12.21.2287.2

We have been attacked by a GFF belonging to an unknown faction called the Briute Nationals. The battle was quick and we escaped after three minutes with our shields intact at 2%. Unfortunately repairs have been slow on our hull and it is still only at 33% strength.

12.31.2287.1

We have been found by the Briute National GFF again. After seven minutes of battle and auto cannon fire we have managed to escape again. Our shields are down and our hull integrity is at 28%. I don't know how much more this ship can take and we are far from home.

1.1.2288.9

Happy New Year. On the first day of 2288 we have phase jumped out of the Rezia system and are headed to the uncharted Vietoris system.

1.10.2288.4

After over a week in phase space we have arrived in the Vietoris system.

1.14.2288.5

We have launched our first Class 2 probe at a class D planetoid known as Vietoris L19. This system appears to be another one without planets.

1.18.2288.7

We had a brief three minute confrontation with a Raider Union KSF. Laser fire has reduced our hull integrity to 27%.

1.28.2288.5

Word has reached us that the terran planet of Liguria IV and the rest of the system have joined the TEC. I wonder if the Aegia is still in orbit.

1.31.2288.9

We had a brief six minute battle with a Raider Union CLF. Our shields were back up in time for the battle and are actually holding at 1%. Slight repairs to our hull over the past two weeks have hardly improved its integrity to 28%.

2.2.2288.6

We are phase jumping to the Nihondaira system. By the time we arrive it will have been unexplored for nearly half a year. I am nervous about approaching a system so close to TC space in a ship that is about to fall apart, but I must be brave for my crew.

2.22.2288.4

We have arrived in the Nihondaira system. Immediately upon entering the system we recognize something is wrong. The class D planetoid Nihondaria is transmitting information that reveals it has recently joined the TC. We are now in enemy territory.

3.1.2288.2

Over a week after entering the Nihondaira system and mere hours from our jump point to the Cesaro Magnetic Cloud we are spotted by the enemy. A TC capital ship the Sova Carrier TDN Proteus launched a broadside at us from it's four starboard pulse laser batteries. The ship felt as if it was about to be torn in two, so this is what it is like fighting a capital ship. If only the Aegia were here now. Strangely enough thirteen minutes after the engagement began the Proteus disengaged and left us nearly dead in the water with no shields, hull integrity of 7%, and another six dead crewmen.

3.1.2288.5

We are phase jumping to the Cesaro Magnetic Cloud. A remote sensor in the area has revealed that the cloud does not contain any enemy craft. We plan to rest and recuperate once we reach the cloud.

3.13.2288.6

We have received some very disturbing readings from the remote sensor in the Cesaro Magnetic Cloud while we are still in phase space, mere hours from arrival. It would appear that the Proteus disengaged us on orders to travel to the Cesaro Magnetic Cloud and we must have phase jumped towards the cloud approximately twelve hours after it did. With such a short amount of time between jumps the risk is very real that the Proteus may still be in the area when we arrive.

3.14.2288.2

We have arrived in the Cesaro Magnetic Cloud and are relieved to see no sign of the Proteus in the immediate vicinity. Yet the remote sensor is still reporting it to be in the area.

3.16.2288.1

We have found the Proteus. Or more accurately the Proteus has found us. We won't be able to hold out f...

End of Log

+1

Successfully updated karma reason!

I hope that comes out all right on monitors with poor resolution.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Nope, I can not read it. Too small for me.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Way too small for me buddy...

Successfully updated karma reason!

Now new and improved with larger text and 50% more space ponies.

+1

Successfully updated karma reason!

easy to read, text is nice and big here.

I only read the first little portion, but I noticed, you said "Unfortunately it was also discovered that a rouge faction from Earth, known as the Trade Coalition (TC), had also decided to establish a presence in the Acrux Sector. The stage was set for a civil war."

It wouldn't be civil war unless it was from the same faction, right?

Successfully updated karma reason!

I counted each planet as its own solar system with its own star and I considered the central star just to be the center of the system

That is how I imagine it when I play this game...the way it is seems odd to me.

Successfully updated karma reason!

The smaller ships never get any love in this game, pretty interesting reading about a scout ship's adventures. You should do some other ships like the Cobalt Light Frigate or maybe a Protev.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Sinperium

Join Date 02/2010

+219

I skipped to the end first to see how it died Nice tale captain...rest in peace.

Successfully updated karma reason!

That was a good read. thank you...

Successfully updated karma reason!

Very very nice! Very well told and interesting. I especially like your breaking things down into hours, days and weeks. It makes it very very nice. I wish the game did this, but well... the focus is on battle, not story there. But you have done well. I would suggest new entries for the scouts. And perhaps their communication with the main home world or other battles, but mostly concentrate as you have here on the single scout mostly.

Thank you for an enjoyable read!

-Teal

Successfully updated karma reason!