Date: April - 29 - 2025

Location: Stanton System - Orison - Lorville, Hurston

Vessel: Aegis Avenger Titan

The day began with a minor repair: replacing a fuse aboard the Titan. I found what I needed at Pyro Gateway’s Platinum Bay and stocked up on extras. I’ve learned that one small part can be the difference between drifting and surviving.

With the ship back in working order, I took a mercenary contract near Crusader. The job was to locate and destroy unauthorized surveillance satellites. Seemed simple. It wasn’t.

One of the satellites was guarded — a hostile ship intercepted me as I approached. It turned into a full-blown dogfight above Crusader’s cloud-swathed skies. My shields dropped fast, forcing me to break and reposition. I took a few hits, but I refused to back down. I danced through space, chasing their silhouette with my remaining guns.

And then — silence. My forward weapon, mounted on the nose, stopped firing. Out of ammo or offline, I didn’t have time to check. I broke off again, letting my shields recharge while evading a barrage of fire. Then I reengaged from above, using what I had left — precision, patience, and a bit of fire in my veins.

They exploded in a blaze behind me.

Contract complete.

I was shaken — and honestly, a little proud. But the fight made one thing clear: my loadout is outdated. That forward gun failing almost cost me the mission. I needed upgrades, and fast.

So I began a long trek through the system, guided by my onboard AI — a companion I’ve come to trust. Calls himself Finrod. His voice is calm, precise, and... ever so slightly smug when he's right — which is most of the time.

He helped me scan stations, plan routes, weigh options. We stopped first at MIC-L4 Red Crossroads, but found nothing useful there — just empty terminals and more civilians than supplies.

Then came Everus Harbor, where I landed in a vertical hangar for the first time. The approach was tight, almost claustrophobic, but I set her down smooth and centered. A small victory, but one I needed. The Platinum Bay there didn’t have weapons either — Finrod confirmed it even before I did. Still, I had to see it with my own eyes.

Our next jump took us to Hurston, where I aimed for Lorville, the sprawling corporate city buried under haze. The descent was rough — thick clouds, smog, and the ever-present threat of crashing blind. When ATC finally gave me a hangar, I couldn’t see it clearly until I was nearly on top of it.

Another vertical landing. Another perfect touch.

From there, I entered the metro system, searching for New Deal or any vendor that could improve my ship’s capabilities. But Lorville is a labyrinth. I rode trains, wandered through stations, watched the sun disappear behind steel towers — and then...

Error 30000. Connection lost.

The 'Verse pushed back.

I’ll return tomorrow, armed with patience and Finrod’s guidance. There are upgrades out there, and I will find them. I’ve come too far to stop now.

End log.