I am NOT lunch!

I've just been having an amazing week so far. Most of my runs have finally been turning up something useful and I have been able to get some of my tools back in shape, hopefully soon I'll be able to do more but I'm doing my best to go slow and take my time, when I rush I tend to lose more than I want to. Anyway, yesterday was no different from the last few days, I head out and shortly find myself getting a claim large enough to make me excited. But what was different yesterday was where I was mining was full of atrax and armax and later a few other things, but the atrax and the armax seemed to be very hungry or pissed off because I had to run away from a few of them that decided I looked threatening or like a good meal. Luckily my Sleipnir gets me out of a bad situation pretty well, otherwise I would have been spending a good portion of my time trying to get them far enough from my claims to not come after me again. After the first few good claims were up I moved beyond their territory, freeing me to go about my business in relative peace, though I was extra caution for the rest of my runs. Lucky for me, beyond their range was some better mining. So in the end all I have to say to these blasted creatures is, "I am not lunch! But thank you for pointing me in the right direction."

Gone Fishing

The other day I did something a little different. Recently I followed the people who took me in and taught me how to survive here to a new society. Since then I have been slowly learning who the other people are, which is difficult when you spend most of your time out on your own looking for resources. But as I was listening to them talk from their remote location I decided I wanted to see their activities first hand. So, using my hover pod I took a trip from Fort Cayuze out to the middle of nowhere in the water where they were hunting Leviathan. I've seen these fish before, but it never ceases to amaze me at how big they actually are. I'm surprised anyone can fight them as they should just be able to gobble them down in one swift motion. However, the fish seem to be unaware of that and instead try to kill you before thinking about eating you. Luckily the revive system keeps them from actually making a meal of us, or else I'd think they'd stop fighting and just swallow us whole as they might actually like our taste. Anyway, I watched them kill a few and thought, that looks like fun, but I opted to continue my normal activities and went off to a land area filled with those giant spiders that live on this planet. The run went poorly and I thought again about joining the hunt. Since my runs had been so bad lately I decided that would be a good idea and went back to Fort Cayuze to prepare.

Now, handling a weapon of any type is rare for me, especially guns. Plus, with a limited budget, I couldn't afford much. So with my little Kiwio and some ammo I found my soc mates again and started shooting with them. My pathetic gun didn't do much, but every little bit helps I'm told, so when we (them mostly) killed the big fish we were shooting at and activated the processing function of our handhelds I was pleasantly surprised that I got a small share of the fish. Those around me were quite excited, so I figured we must have gotten a much fatter one than they had been getting before. They equaled out the oils that were extracted from this behemoth really quick, giving me a little extra for my pathetic effort and then we continued on. It didn't take me long to see that the first fish had been quite good compared to the normal ones, but we got at least one more good one before it was time to head in. It was definitely a bit different fishing in this way, but it was quite enjoyable and I got to relieve some loneliness for a change. I'm back to my normal task of mining now, but I'm thinking some more fishing trips with the guys will be in my future.

The New Rig

There are just so many robot conflicts that have happened over the years on Calypso. Some areas you just avoid because of the robot activity, at least I do. Without proper weapons and armor against them I have to make sure I don't encounter them while I mine up the resources we need to continue the fight. One area in particular was burnt up by the robots, which is a shame. The black burning scar that once had other life living on it was pretty nice, if you could avoid the wildlife. I mined that area a few times, but once it had been destroyed I stopped going. It was the fear of getting shot down by the robots, which I know isn't a huge deal with the revival system in place, but it still hurts like you wouldn't believe. Recently, however, it came to my attention that the robots in the area had been wiped out and in their place we found a nice reserve of oil, much like the one in the middle of the desert, though not quite as rich. They placed a pump on this one as well and if you're lucky enough to be there at the right time you might find a few barrels that didn't get sent to the right place. These barrels can sure help in getting through some rough times. The only problem with the arrival of the new rig is that they no longer patrol the area to keep you safe. It seems they know they can't stop the conflict and so they don't even try. So when there you are competing with others to get what little you can and some of them won't hesitate to shoot you down, knowing full well it isn't murder if you're going to revive again shortly after they take you out. So the new rig isn't much different than the old except in that the new one drops so much less than the old that less people will spend a lot of time there defending it, so I have a much better chance of getting a few drops once in awhile when I need them.

First Space Fight

So many years spent on Calypso and I've never taken the time to fight the greatest threat we have, at least not directly. I know my work has contributed to the weapons we use against them and I have been with someone who was shooting them, keeping them alive, but never had I been so closely involved that I felt like I was doing my part. So finally I got the chance, and how do you think I started my campaign? Big.

One of the friends I've made here has a ship, not the largest out there, but much bigger than my quad. He took a handful of people with him into the depths of space to show us a secret spot he had found. I had heard of his love of hunting in space, but I never knew what he hunted, and I knew there were dangerous things up here, but I had always avoided them. I also knew that what I've seen isn't much of a secret, so if he had a secret spot then I knew it was something special, and I also knew it was likely dangerous. I was to meet up with the group on Next Island, this was where they were currently stationed and my trip here was non-eventful, though I did take my time to look at a couple of strange things in space, a green pulsating light and a grouping of space rocks. I have plans to get a closer look at these things in the future, but I didn't have the fuel to waste too much time out there this time. My few days on the planet were spent unsuccessfully trying to make a living, but it just wasn't happening. I've felt off lately, which is why I agreed to go on this trip.

When the time finally came to leave there was little time spent in preparation, all of us had what we needed and anything else could be purchased from the ships on-board trade terminal. The inside of the ship was amazing, I had never been in one of the bigger ships. I walked around for a bit familiarizing myself with where things were and imagined that this thing could work just as well as an apartment to live in, though I'm quite sure I couldn't afford it at this point. As we got ready to jump to our location I was offered a seat by our pilot so I could see what it was like. As I sat there the ship rumbled and the computer's voice spoke of what was going on, but the synthesized feminine informant faded into the background as the swirling portal opened before us. In moments the ship lurched forward with great speed and I watched as countless stars sped by. Of course they weren't moving, we were, but from my perspective they were lines, not dots, so they seemed to be the ones going at great speeds past us. Seconds later the ship left the jump and we were close to our destination. I left my seat and made my way to the lower section of the ship to do my job, which would be to keep the ship from exploding.

After some time doing light work I made my way up to see what exactly was causing the damage and saw quickly that I was finally participating in the war against the machines. Before me were several dropships, though most did not seem to be moving or have noticed us. I watched them for a moment as my fellow crew members shot a couple down and then made my way below again to ensure we survived our ordeal. A little while later our pilot asked if I'd like to take control of the ship for a bit. By the time I could word the reply that I would enjoy it I had stumbled up the stairs and was standing beside him as he got up. He wished me luck and I sat in the captain's seat. The ship was much larger than anything I had piloted before, so I took a moment getting used to how it handled and then followed the instructions of our leader to find the next ship to shoot down. When we found a ship I made my approach and quickly saw the shots being fired from our guns at it. The ship fired back, missing quite a few shots and landing others, but in the end we were victorious and I was in love with piloting. I steered the ship around some more, putting us in position to take out several of these massive ships and imagined how many robots we were destroying in the process, though I knew it paled in comparison to their real numbers, I was just proud to be finally helping. In the end the ship had never reached any point of danger from the damage it took and we reduced the stress of the Calypso military by a bit. I knew that if I got the opportunity again to go on this hunt that I would readily accept, especially if it meant I could steer the ship once more.

Whole Once More

Darkness, that's all there is here, darkness. Why is it so dark? At least the temperature is... wait, I can feel the temperature!? It must have worked! But where am I? There, that feels like a door, but where's the handle? How do I get out of here? It's small, it must be a holding chamber. But why can't I open the door? Wait, I hear something, it sounds like voices. Yes, I must be in the ship somewhere, it's Ambrilestri and Niracina, that's whose voices I hear. They sound like they're working on something. I hope it's... yes! Light! Wow, that is bright, I suppose it makes sense that it's so bright, these eyes have never experienced it before. They're looking at me strangely, maybe they expect me to say something? But not now, I feel that emptiness in my head, I need to get those memories back, I long to be complete.

Of course they followed me, why wouldn't they? The surprised look on their faces as I move deeper into this facility is amusing at least, they keep asking me how I know all these puzzles and then gave me an even more comical look when I said it is because I made this place. They want to know how, but that answer can wait, I'm sure I'll have a better understanding of it when I am whole. It is obvious no one else ever got through any of these puzzles, everything is as I had left it. Just a few more doors and I can finally sit in that chair I made oh so many lifetimes ago. Ah, yes, the suit, I'm sure I will bring that back into use shortly, plus I have plenty of ideas on how to improve the design, though I do wonder if it has any power left, but that doesn't matter, just one more door. Ah yes, dread, in all my excitement I forgot about dread, this is going to be painful, but it must be done.

Did I black out? No, no additional time has passed, but it feels like I've been gone for so... wait! I have been gone! And yet, I've been here. All these memories flowing together. Ambri! Nira! Oh! I am finally home! Here are my friends and this is my body, at least the one for this life. How many lives have I... wow, that is a lot. So many things I've done, so many personalities. So many faces, but none so dear to me as these two. But now here's the puzzle, if I built this facility so long ago using a body from my future, how did I get to the past in the first place? I didn't build a time machine and there is no technology here that has been modified. Something else intervened and it wasn't my doing. Someone is keeping track of me and interfering in my doings, but who is it and where are they? I suppose that question will be answered in time, but for now I have so much to talk about, but not here, I've spent too many long years in dark places, I long for light and to be in something natural.

Taking it Easy

Sleeping on a floor in a place I own has been everything I dreamed it would be so far. I know it isn't luxurious, but before this I was sleeping outside when I felt safe enough or sleeping beside a terminal hoping that someone wouldn't start using it and wake me up. To me, the new apartment is luxury! That being said, I do wish I could furnish it, but until I can start making some PED again doing my mining it'll be tough. I've invested quite a bit in trying to understand the higher end tools but in the end have had to sell them off to afford to live a little better, so back to the basics for me. One thing I've noticed so far with these tools is that they aren't so difficult to use but what makes them complicated is their sensitivity, trying to lock on to a signal of a worthwhile resource is much harder when you see so many more signals. Those deep depths are so full of random stuff that you lock on to the smaller stuff too often thinking it could be the big one. It'll take some time, but I'm sure with going back to the basics and working my way through the tools again I'll have a better understanding in the long run. As it is, I sure am starting to look at how this all works a lot more closely, it is so much more complicated as you understand it better, but I'm confident that I will reach the point of understanding eventually, maybe even be able to distinguish the signals better and lock in on the ones I actually want a little more. I've also started to gather some of the small resources again in hopes of staying ahead. Stones look more and more like gold to me as I try my best to locate a good find. I'm sure I'll get it again, it just feels like I'm a little off lately and that has negatively impacted my returns.

One thing that has been interesting is using that fishing pole I bought, it was an impulse buy but using it has been a hoot. There isn't a darn thing worth catching, not that I even get any bites, but the act of just sitting there along the shore and casting out my line once in awhile and letting my mind wander has been the best meditation lately, I can see why it was so popular on Earth at one point. I know my time would be more profitable if I went looking for stones, but taking some time to enjoy life here is important too, keeps me from going too crazy. Plus, the time I get to sit and contemplate could be fruitful in the end, perhaps I'll come up with another way of making a living here, though I don't make that the focus of my outings, instead I just take in the fresh air, warm sunshine, feel the sand between my toes and listen to the waves lap against the shores. Of course, I always have to watch the radar as well, you never know when a stray Atrox will come along and decide you might make a good meal. Not that it happens often, but I must say thank goodness for the revival network. I could just imagine how small our population here would be if we didn't have that thing running all the time.

Mini-GOAL: Level 25 Prospector/Surveyor

One of those last little goals I threw up on my list towards the end of last month, I wasn't sure if returns would be good enough or not so I wanted to have the goal up there and that was to reach level 25 in prospector and surveyor so I could use a TK320 (with SIB, yes, I know maxed finders are best, but I have a goal to reach!). Unfortunately, to reach that goal I was trying my best not to deposit and I got all the way to about 2.5% left when the PED finally was depleted past the point of squeezing out a run. I had already sold the TK320 I had bought earlier so I could keep going (can't use it, why keep it, right?), and had burned through that PED, so sadly to reach my goal I had to put in my $10 deposit for the month. Shortly after I had hit level 25 in surveyor and had reached my goal and then shortly after that had once again run out of PED. So I did my best to squeeze some more because I didn't want to give up for the month yet and so when I had sold something I could afford to be without I went on another few runs. Luckily I finally got something back, 444 PED HoF, woohoo! I used that to get the tools I had sold back and to get started on my next runs. So far they've been okay, but I could sure use some more of those globals to get me back to where I think I should be. Anyway, I am already over 25% to level 26 prospector, so maybe, if returns can stay non-horrendous I can reach my goal of level 30 sometime in the near future (my hope is by the end of summer, but that depends a lot on returns, at least I have SIB now to give me a hand).