.:j:.Tyber's-Rig

[Tyber.Zann]

We ran the ship through all the checks again and everything's workin. I picked up a load of manifolds at Culebra to run out to Rocheser. I made it there without incident and turned my first profit with her. I like the way she handles and the extra cargo is fantastic! On the way back I stopped by Manhattan to pick up some basic alloys for the return trip.

After docking I was told to stop for a cargo scan. I'm used to it, especially in the New York system. Seems there's more police and navy around than you can shake a stick at. You'd think there wouldn't be pirates at all this part o' space, but said law is so busy writing parking tickets and scanning folks who fly right by em you're no less likely to get robbed as anywhere else.

So anyway, I'm good and told I can go. The transmitter is still keyed on the police ship and I overhear another asking him if I'm illegal. He says no, just legal cargo. Then I get a transmission saying to stop again. They proceed to tell me the ship itself is illegal! I'm not haulin anything restricted and my registration is up to date. I explain briefly how I come by the ship and that perhaps they're thinkin I was the other guy what used to own her. They explain that just because some pirates have similar vessels mine is not legal.

While they debated whether it matters who's flyin one or not and what should be done if there's no pirates aboard and such I just eased on over to the tradelane and docked. I expect they were still debatin it when I jumped into Texas. I did manage to get out with a full load of cargo so it wasn't a loss, just an inconvenience. Don't really matter what they decided; I like her quite a bit and'll be flying her wherever I darn well please. I'll just be discreet when travelin in Liberty.

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I'd made several profitable runs out to Coronado and was feeling pretty good about my new vessel. Starting to feel a bit like a big shot really. Proud owner of a beautiful Salvager and now this here money maker. I even got used to the burnt wire smell... for the most part. Still hate how you seem to taste it in your food, but there's worse things.

We were returning to Puerto Rico for some well deserved rest when a couple of Xenos cross my path. They ran rabbit once they saw the size o' craft they were dealing with, but I figured to have some fun and turned my cannons on em. The first volley hit hard and put one of em to sucking space right off. His buddy dodged the second volley, but just barely. I laughed at first when we held off another to make him sweat a bit. He started gaining distance and I said to go ahead and finish him off... Nothing. I took my eyes off the viewport and looked back at the tactical station. "He's gettin away! Shoot him down!" I hollered. Nothing. The guns weren't responding at all. I walked over to the console to see for myself. In frustration I slammed my fist into the console. The screen cracked and sparks crackled and popped causing me to jump back. Next thing I know smoke's billowing out the back. Not Again!

Sure enough, crew looked it over at Vieques and the whole dang thing's fried again. This time I opted for a whole different model turret to replace the ones lost. Wow, at this rate I'm barely breakin even. I took em out for a test run and darned if they fired a couple times and quit working. Taking em back to get a refund was another unpleasant surprise. Sorry, he says, but these are used now. Less than half the price back for an hour! That was before we learned they were fried. Fine, I'll just put a coupl'a mining turrets on her for salvaging and rely on my good nature and conversational skills to keep me out of trouble. Let's hope she doesn't become Tyber's Run me outta money.

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I'd made a couple of close runs so if something went wrong help wouldn't be too far away. Things were going well. I decided we could take her a bit farther out. I made a run of premium to Alpha without incident. I ended up making the run a couple times, making money each time. I'd just about paid for the repairs when I ran into a couple of Xenos in Colorado. We exchanged some choice words and I decided my unarmed transport would be no match for the two bombers so in the middle of saying something I hit cruise and started running. We ran all out dodging and weaving as fire peppered the shields and filled the sky around us. I made it to the jump gate first and once in New York. I hit cruise and headed for Rochester full on.

I'd escaped with only minor damage and the crew and I were celebrating our victory when the ship jolted to a stop. I urgently scanned the skies for attackers, but there were none to be seen. Cloaked ships are unable to fire and nothing showed on scanners. We attempted cruise again and a shudder went through the whole vessel before stopping us dead again. We began limping to Rochester when along came the two bombers from Colorado. Unarmed and unable to run we found ourselves at the mercy of our enemies. They let us go with our lives, but our cargo was lost completely.

At the base we discovered the drive was shot. The ship dealer offered to take her off my hands with the intent to piece her out for scrap. I was tempted, but I have to admit I've grown quite fond of her trouble and all. I ended up paying to have her towed back to Vieques instead.

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It's at the point now where I have to decide to cut my losses on this boat or basically rebuild her from the inside out. I can't afford to be caught short with hostiles breathing down my neck, or to miss deliveries because I'm being towed in for maintenance... again. I've been patching and working around everything I can but I need to be able to rely on her. To now it's been superficial, but the risk to my crew is real. Space is dangerous.

I could easily buy a brand new vessel, several actually, for what it's gonna cost to rebuild this tub. I've grown very fond of her though. With the decision made I took her in to Vieques and set the crew to making her truly spaceworthy. A hundred million credits and a whole lotta work later I'm ready to put my "new" ship to work. It seems like a new start for the old girl should be marked with a new name. I've got a vision to expand my interests and build on my success; this ship will be a large part of those plans. A real workhorse.

With a clean new .:j:. painted on her hull I'm ready to put Tyber's-Rig into service.