Just finished welding up a breach in the outer containment hull of the ship. We were given a nice bit of leave as the Captain bartered for what scrap was left inside, although personally I'd say she is better of selling the bits that fell off the ship itself. She probably won't even have enough left over to give us our weeks wage again, that alone back pay us for what she already owes.
Bloody tart.
Still, Trafalgar was more of a home than that floating wreck and I had a bit left in a bottle of scotch behind the counter to polish off with no better way to waste my night. After a few, I got to talking with a Corsair pilot who was refueling before heading back out to Cambridge. He was bragging about the haul he'd brought in, sounded like some big hot-shot badass. Tried to con me into getting him a better price with the equipment dealer on station. I don't know if it was the booze talking or the thought of having to go back aboard that rusted dingy but I gave him a counter offer. He accepted.
With his loan, I could afford my very own CSF. Means slim pickings compared to what one of the bigger ships can pull in, but at least the profits will be mine, along with the freedom to go anywhere I like, deal with anyone I like, with any cargo I like. I hear Liberty is a good place to find like-minded folks looking for mutual profit. I'll miss Bretonia, especially with the war so close to my place in Leeds, but better to lose a tiny rundown apartment than my life. With this money, I can start a new life. I'll ask around, see what sells well around there and pack my hold full of it.
P.S- Not long after writing this entry, I was able to get what salary was owed from my former captain and got word that I don't need to repay my loan after all. My benefactor ran afoul of some Bounty Hunters. They took him alive, but the poor bugger got shiv'd in prison by an Outcast inmate. Lucky me, eh? May the poor bugger rest in peace.
------------------ Encrypted accounting records
[color=#000000]Loan:
$5,000,000
Combat Service Freighter:
-$2,700,000
Patrol path waypoints from Corsair ship:
-$50,000
Tip off to local Bounty Hunters:
$3,000
Wages received:
$300
Accounts owing to Malta Waste Disposal, Texas office:
Dear Journal,
It's been a few months since I've come to Liberty. Been scavenging the wrecks left by the constant skirmishes with the local pirates, police, bounty hunters and navy, selling what I can over in Texas. Good honest work, the pirates leave me alone and I can knock off whenever I like. My bank account has improved dramatically too. Only physical threat around these parts would be the Xeno's, and I've been able to avoid them for the most part. Nobody wants to bother with a tiny freighter full of scrap.
All in all, life has been pretty good. So imagine my surprise when I see my old boat, the Junkers Bargain, float on into port. Seems word spread back home about my success and it looked like they were here to cash in on my hard work. Turns out she was in the system to sell her ship, recover some of her loses. I bought the ship for well under market value for a quick sale, on the condition that I take on her debt with the crew and keep them on. All up, it still ended up being cheaper in the long run. At least I know this crew to be loyal. I mean, why else would they stick with a no talent like her?
The CSF has been mothballed for now. If I can find a trustworthy pilot I might contract it out as a wreck sweeper out in the edge worlds. Never know what top secret goodies the navy or those Nomad things leave floating out there. High risk, but with a skilled enough pilot, it has the potential to make quite a pretty penny.
Tobias Banks: That's the third time this week you've bulldozed through my scrapping sector, luv. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was intentional.
Captain <Data Error>: I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about Mr. Banks. For someone to do that, they'd need to, say, pay off the station crew to slice into your nav logs. You know, I heard about something similar happening back home. Shortly before you left in fact. The Corsairs would sure like to find out who robbed them of an ace pilot.
Tobias Banks: Careful luv. This ain't Liberty. I'd hate for somethin' to cause us ta be all unfriendly like.
------------------------------
Captain <Data Error>: What've you done Banks.
Tobias: Hello Captain. How goes your operation?
Captain <Data Error>: You know damn well how it goes Banks. You had someone smuggle that Cardamine onto my ship.
Tobias: I can't take the blame for the fact some of your crew have a dependency, 'Captain'. Perhaps you'll be more thorough about what cargo you take on in future. I should note, the Liberty police have been alerted to increased Xeno activity along my scavenging paths. It'd be a real shame if you were to get caught smuggling again while trying to shoulder in on my turf. Do I make myself clear?
Captain <Data Error>: Crystal.
------------------------------
Tobias: Seems you've made quite a mess of things, 'Captain'. Liberty has a price on your head, it seems. Break one too many rules eh? Gives Junkers a bad name, it does.
Captain <Data Error>: If I get my hands on you Banks, I swear to God-
Tobias: Now now, is that any way to talk to an old friend? Especially one in a position to help you out.
Captain <Data Error>: And why would you do that? What's your angle?
Tobias: No angle. I wanted you out of my turf. Mission accomplished. Anything more would just be petty and worse, bad business. But tell you what; I've got a counter offer. I stow you away in with my cargo, fly you back to Bretonia where you belong, and when we arrive you sign over the rights to your ship. It's not like you'll get it out of the system alive anyway.
Captain <Data Error>: What use do you have for a wanted ship?
Tobias: I think it's a matter of public record by now that if I were to acquire that ship, you certainly wouldn't still be connected to it. I didn't do anything illegal, and they'd be hard pressed to prove anything against the crew. I'd just need you to sign the paperwork, make it all legal. In return, you get out of here safely. Sure, Bretonia might have an extradition order with Liberty, but you know the ropes over there. Just lay low 'til it blows over. What do ya say, is it a deal?
Captain <Data Error>: '¦ agreed.
--------------------------------- Encrypted Comms log: Trafalgar, New London
Tobias: Alright, you're safe aboard Trafalgar. Now for your end of the bargain, or the Bounty Hunters get a tip off.
(Ex) Captain: Codes sent. Enjoy my ship, you <CENSORED>.
Tobias: Pleasure doing business with ya luv. Oh, and one small thing. In the interest of keepin' you far away from Liberty and those Corsairs you were bragging about, I pressurized the cargo hold with clean crisp Maltese air. Not to mention the food and drink. You may want to pick up a ventilator before the withdrawals kick in; we did take an awful long time gettin' here. Good thing its legal for personal use, eh? All the best.
