Scarlet Marie Sharp: Freebird's Diary

[thisDerius]

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Log Date: 3/1/835.A.S. - Norfolk Shipyard.

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It feels… easier. Much easier to be here than in the 5th or under the command of the Secondary Fleet. I no longer feel bound by rigid constraints, nor am I constantly caught in the tide of bureaucracy and senseless orders. Here, in the 46th, it doesn't feel like I’ve made a compromise—it feels like I’ve made a choice. And for the first time in a long while, I’m truly happy with where I am.

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Pirate hunting, ironically, is peaceful in its own way. Out there, it’s just me, my ship, and the enemy. No overcomplicated politics, no second-guessing whether the chain of command will actually have my back. Just the mission, clear and straightforward. The comms with command are direct, efficient, and more than anything—built on mutual respect. I can see it, feel it, in the way they talk to me. Orders aren't barked without thought, and I don’t feel like I’m being forced into things just because a superior said so. Here, my skills matter. My choices matter.

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I know I’m not the best pilot in the fleet. That’s the price of being self-taught in both flight and combat. I don’t have the refined precision that some of these veteran snub pilots possess, but I can hold my own. I can take down my fair share of targets when the situation calls for it. I won’t lie—dogfighting in snubs is still something I struggle with. Fast engagements, sharp maneuvering, the relentless pressure of an opponent dancing just out of reach... I need to be better. And I will be. Giving up isn’t an option.

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I was promoted to Lieutenant First Class recently. Another step forward. Another confirmation that I belong here. With the rank came bomber access, and that alone opens a new world of possibilities. The power, the resilience, the strategic advantage—I’m eager to prove myself in a heavier craft. But my sights are set beyond that. I can feel it. Battlecruisers are within reach. It’s just a matter of time, skill, and persistence.

Until then, I keep flying. Keep improving. Keep proving myself.

End log.