Space Truck'n Episode 9: Treasure Hunt part 1

[SPOILER WARNING: I started the treasure hunt. I've left off some of the exact details of this mission, but there are some spoilers here.]

Alright, I decided that it is time to get some satellites out. I had sent one of my Rapiers out, to get some, only to realize later that it didn't have M sized cargo containers. Fine, I'll send my Buster out to get the job done. I did some other management with my ships, then decided to check out a few gaps on my universe map.

First, I had to take a quick shortcut through a Xenon Sector. I wanted get some revenge, but after losing almost all my shields, I decided to just keep moving on.

I hate Xenon, soooooo much.

I also took a quick trip across a pirate sector where I noticed one of the stations nearby had an "offer" posted. When I contacted the station, a Teladi offered me some info on a missing ship. It would cost me 50,000 cr, but I had the funds.

He told me that a Yaki ship with some precious cargo had been spotted in a remote sector. I hadn't been there before, and wanted to do some exploring.

This sector has a lot of rocks!

When I got to the sector I found a ship hanging out. I tried to hail, but didn't get any response. I decided to take a bit more aggressive approach to get him to reply.

Hello? Anyone home?

He had deployed a satellite in the area, so I blew it to dust. Then I took out one of the laser towers. After that, he decided that I was worth talking to.

He said that he had seen a ship pass through the area, but I'd have to replace his satellite before he'd tell me. I didn't have one one me, so I had to jump to Argon Prime, pick it up and more energy cells, then jump back.

It seems that the Yaki ship had passed this way, and the owner wanted to sell off his precious cargo. To find the seller, I'd have to decipher a set of clues.

Oh, boy....

I figured out where the clue was pointing me, and I jumped there. It also seemed that the next clue was going to be hidden inside an asteroid. I picked up a mineral scanner and began checking them.

So I searched and searched.

Found it, but my weapons have no effect!

After finding it, I didn't have any weapons that could crack this rock. So, I called in my Miner-1 and jumped over to it real quick.

Turret is in the back, have to turn.

BOOM!

A data storage device was hidden inside. I grabbed it and found the next clue. This one was a bit more difficult. I'd have to try and figure out what it means by "Foundation Guild HQ". I hope this is going to be worth the headache....

Where to now?

Space Truck'n Episode 8:

[SPOILER WARNING: Several parts of the X3:TC Goner Plot are detailed below.]

So I take a look at my ships again. I set up my Vulture Tanker as a sector trader in Scale Plate Green. I still need to get a ship out to get the explorer software and get some satellites set up around here. I send one of my Rapiers off to Teladi space to get some software.

In Elysium of Light, the Goner tell me that they need 2000 units of ore to help get their temple construction project back on track. I'd need some transport ships. Since my Vulture was already set up for a sector trader I leave it, and jump to my Caiman Tanker I left in Split space.

Goner Oziam (wonder if I can cap it?)

I make sure it has shields and some other base equipment, but then have it follow me back. I don't want to have it autopilot into Xenon space. So we take the long way through some sectors I haven't explored before.

On the way I find another Caiman Tanker for sell. I buy it and have it follow me too. With a quick pit stop to make sure that ship also had some shields, then we pass into Mines of Fortune. I have both load up on ore.

Just then I get a message that a Xenon Q had destroyed my ship in Scale Plate Green. Arg! Are these Xenon attacks increasing? I'm going to have to go hunting...

I also get a message about an Argon convoy that was attacked by the Yaki. Not sure what that is about, so I ignore it and keep going on.

Finally I make it back to Elysium of Light and drop off the Ore. So I have all the ships dock at a nearby station and move over to one of the tankers. Now I take the two ships south to get more ore.

Ah, back to hauling ore... there is something nice about getting back how you started out. After the next trip all the ore is delivered, but now they need silicon wafers. Just 200, so that should fit on just one ship, I haul it and get my pay.

Haul'n Ore

After the ore and silicon they now need some teladianium. This is just a quick jump, buy, jump back and another paycheck. They didn't have any immediate work for me, so I decided to head out to Scale Plate Green for revenge.

Die Xenon!

After blowing the Xenon Q to scrap, I get a call back from the Goner. They ordered some teladianium plating from Bright Profit. I switch back to my Caiman, but then realize I don't know where Bright Profit is. I jump to the sector that I think might link close to it, but that ends up being a bit off. Then I guess right on the second attempt and get the plating.

Next, they needed some TS ships. I could give over my Caimans, but I think three cheap Mercs will do for what they need.

Mercs!

The Goner were pleased, but had decided that to move forward they need their own teladianium foundry. This was a routine buy/ship/setup for a station. Teladi station transport ships are so slow, so there was a lot of waiting. It is a good thing that I had taken out that Q in SPG, or that might have been an issue.

My second station... no, it belongs to the Goner.

After this was built, I collected my pay and then saw a quick job to transport some workers. It was just one sector away, and over 2 million credits. I took the Vidar, in case any trouble cropped up, but none did. Easy money.

While I was docking to drop off the workers, I got a call that a ship with the Goner council was under attack. I jumped over and shot down the Yaki pirates that were attacking. Then another attack on a station... then another. Each time I took out the pirates, but it seems this was a distraction.

Help help!

The Yaki captured the council ship while I was away, I got it back, but Jani Hall (the Goner Beholder) had been taken. I found the ship and had to follow it, keeping my distance, across several large sectors.

Lots of this.

I had a few pirates attack me on the way, but there were no match for the Vidar's fire power. Eventually it docked at a base, but Hall managed to get a spacesuit and jump out into space (a popular options it seems). I pick him up and head out.

On the way back I got a message from the other Goner council members. They thanked me for saving them, and as a reward gave me their ship, the Truelight Seeker.

After getting Hall back, he told me that the only option was to destroy the pirate base. Well, I guess he's all for getting to the root of the matter. Well, when I get there I'm told to hold off. It seems that an Argon spy is on the station. In order to save him and blow the base I need to dock and deliver some space weed with a squash mine hidden in it, and get him off. then blow the thing remotely.

Well, that would be fine except I couldn't find anyone with squash mines. Even the two factories that produce them that I knew about were all out and lacking in resources. I got one of my trucks to buy up some Nostrop Oil and bring it to one of the mine factories, and I got some warheads. Back and forth for awhile while I let the stock pile up some. After 15 were produced, I had my truck pick them up, but kept on supplying the base to get them made.

It took awhile, but I got the 60 mines, then went to a Teladi sector that had space weed for sale. I got that and then jumped back to the pirate sector. I docked with the base, to got the Argon, and got out of there. Once we were clear I activated the mines.

The lessen here: don't mess with the Goner.

Unfortunately, I had used up most of my energy cells and couldn't jump back... it was another long flight across huge empty sectors before I got back where I could buy some energy cells and jump back to the Elysium of Light.

As a reward, the Goner gave me an "Unfocused Jumpdrive" I don't know how to use it yet, or what it does, but I have a feeling that this is going to be interesting.

Taking stock after this adventure, I found that I had lost two more of my trucks. My first Universe Trader was gone and I couldn't fine the message of what happened to it. I messed up on one of my sector traders. Scale Plate Green is right next to a Xenon sector, and I set up a trader to go up to 3 jumps out. Looks like I need to take a break from missions and just get my ships in order.

Space Truck'n Episode 7: To Aldrin

[SPOILER WARNING: This post continues on the Terran Plot quest]

I arrived at the Terran Shipyard in Mars and was told that a man named Winters was behind the Transformer attacks. They had an idea of where he might be, but before heading out they wanted me to practice deploying a boarding party.

A Scabbard full of Marines... there's a joke in there somewhere.

I guess Terrans like crash courses in advance military tactics. They gave me a Scabbard full of Marines ready to board a Vidar. The boarding party was deployed, but didn't have much success the first go around. Eventually the ship was taken and we were ready to head out.

Then I realized, they were giving me this Scabbard and the Vidar! This ship is an M6, a corvette! It can hold five 200 MJ shields, has four turrets (2 up, 2 down) and ten laser bays! The turrets can only house Electro-Magnetic Plasma Cannons, and the laser bays can have EMPC or Mater/Anti-Mater Launchers. It's a bit slower than what I was use to, but I am not complaining! Now I just need to find a station that has some shields in stock. And guns... lots and lots of guns!

Oh, you sexy thing!

Damn! I can get the shields, but my reputation with the Terrans isn't high enough to get buy any weapons yet. I could send one of my trucks out here and make a bit of a name for myself, but that'll take too long.

Helping the Terran AGI Task Force has gained me some rep, but they don't run the equipment docks. Still, the ships that they've given me have some EMPC. I'll have to strip them off the Cutlass, Saber, and every Rapier I've gotten.

Need more guns!

After getting my Vidar (mostly) geared up, I jumped to the Moon sector to meet up with the Terrans and we all jumped to a remote sector called Aldran.

Leaving Earth orbit.

Aldran is a rocky mess. There is a huge asteroid or planetoid in the in the middle. We find a few stations and as we get close a ship takes off. It seems that this is a lost Earth colony cut off since the Terraformer war. I won't get into all the boring details, but it seems that these folks have had Terraformers for since they were cut off, but their's never rebelled. Then Winters was found the gate network, the Commonwealth, and Earth. He fooled the Aldran people into giving him control of the Terraformers, and then took off.

The Terrans agree to help capture and turn over control of the CPU ship back to the Aldran people. First we had to clear out a Xenon attack. After the CPU ship was boarded and control handed back over.

CPU

Then I was asked to take a representatives from Aldran to Earth, reuniting the two people. I don't want to sound bitter but when Earth learned about the Argon, they all but told us to stay the hell away. Then they find a colony that still uses Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and they welcome them with open arms, as lost brothers!? What the hell?

So I drop off the rep, and am rewarded with a Claymore. Still no sign of Winters, no clue to what he was really up to. But I have had it. I just don't understand Terrans.

Earth's Torus Station.

Space Truck'n Episode 6: Taking Stock

It was time to take stock of my assets, manage my ships, and reflect on everything that had happened.

My wheat farm was still moving along, making a bit of money. I bought another Merc to sell the wheat. My Merc Tanker was a "Universe Trader" and jumping all over. I also found another cheap Caiman and set it up to be a sector trader in Ore Belt. Hopefully that sector would be as good for this Caiman (Space Truck 2) as it was for my Merc, and I would have a second Universe Trader soon.

I sent the "Disco-1" to set up more satellites. I now have coverage all around the main Argon, Boron, Teladi, and Paranid sectors. When I sent it to start a network near the Argon/Terran boarder, it flew through a Xenon sector and was destroyed. Damn, I liked that little ship. I should have been paying more attention to it.

You will be missed.

Then there were my ships I had acquired while helping the Terrans: three Rapiers, an Adv. Disco, and the Vulture and Caiman I had captured. I wanted to one of the Rapiers to set up satellites in the area, but it was several gates back to Teladi space to get more of the Explorer Command Software. I was also not sure where to get the Trader Mk 3 software this side of the galaxy for the trade ships. After losing the Disco-1 I didn't want to send ships all over without tracking them closely.  I decided to just let these sit for a bit more... maybe sell them off if I can't find a use for them.

While doing all this I was contacted by the Terrans with a new mission. I ignored them for a bit to make sure and set up all my ships how I wanted.

Once again I considered just flying off and forgetting the whole mess. I didn't become a pilot to chase down Transformers, break out Terran spies from Argon bases, attack the Split, or any of the other things that I've done lately. But I knew I wouldn't. The Terrans were getting close, and I hate to leave things unresolved.

Flying through Elysium of Light, I saw a message from an Osamu Avens. It seems the Goner (Argon religious group that revere Nathan R. Gunn, the captain that led the Xenon away from Earth), are looking to build a new temple. They needed ore, lots of ore. I told him I'd take the job but I had some things I needed to handle first.

I took a look at the message from the Terrans. They wanted me to head to the Mars sector....

Space Truck'n Episode 5

[SPOILER WARNING: This post continues on the Terran Plot quest]

No, no, no. Things just keep getting worse!

The Terrans wanted me to get a tracking device on the ship before it jumped out of the sector, but there was no way that I was going to head over there without max shields and some form of defensive weapons.  I was going to transfer my jump-drive over and head out, leaving my Buster there to monitor the area (safely docked, as I was not going to sent it to patrol while that Q was still roaming about).

While transferring everything, my ship computer messaged me that one of my stations was under attack! I checked and sure enough, the Solar Energy Factory that I found was surrounded by pirates! I didn't think that anyone would go explore into that sector, and hadn't moved any ships there to defend it. I thought quickly. What if I ordered some Terran ships, and sent them to the Argon Equipment Dock, and.... No. Nothing I could do was going to be able to save it in time. The station was lost.

Nooooooooo!

Uh, why did I get tied in in this whole mess? Part of me just wanted to jump out of there and forget the Terrans, Terraformers, and everything to do with them. I checked my account. Over six and a half million. I could be buying up factories, setting up more sector traders, exploring the stars.... Instead I am doing the dirty work for people that might very well be the greatest threat to my home systems.

Will I live to enjoy it?

Still, there was a problem and I was so close to getting some real answers. I set my jumpdrive to the nearest sector with a medium shield factory and was off.

A few jumps later I returned with 4 25 MJ shields and a dozen fighter drones. With this I could take some fire and prevent destruction from missile fire... at least that was my hope.

Geared up, and ready to go.

We flew in close to the ship, a Split Elephant. This thing could cut me to pieces. I was ordered to plant a tracking device on the ship, so I had to get in close. As soon as I got the go ahead, I took off for the nearest gate, expecting a massive attack. Instead the ship just jumped away. Hm, I guess I was lucky.

Er... don't mind me.

In the next sector I signaled for my Buster to follow, then switched back into it. Next, I met back up with the Terran fleet and I was given a new ship. The Terran Cutlass isn't a half bad. I transferred everything over from my Buster and got ready to follow the fleet in to the unknown sector where the the ship had jumped to.

Could use a paint job, but it'll do.

Next I joined the fleet in an unknown sector and we attacked the Split. During the chaos, one of the Split bailed out, and I was sent in to pick him up. Then it was to the Moon with him.

Need to get one of those!

I don't want to know what the Terrans are likely to do to that poor Split, so I took off. They'd be contacting me soon enough. It was about time I put this whole mess to bed.

Space Truck'n Episode 4

[SPOILER WARNING: This post continues on the Terran Plot quest]
[Also, sorry for the lack of pics this time, I forgot to set fraps up to keep taking shots.]

Back in Terran space, I learned that relations have further deteriorated between the Argon and Terrans. Things were going from bad to worse, and I was caught right in the middle. In fact, I might just be on the wrong side if hostilities start. Still, if there was anyway out of this it was to get to the bottom of what is going on.

The wreckage of the ship was being shiped to Venus, and I was asked to escort. On the way a Terraformer jump beacon appeared in Mars orbit, but I kept with the ship and got it safely escorted.

At this point the Terrans started treating me more like one of their own. I think that some of them might have started to feel that I was some sort of defector. They even gave me an "advanced" Discoverer that the Terrans had modified.

"Advanced"?

Now they wanted me to make contact with a spy undercover in Argon space (!?!). Do they want me to start spying on my own people? What have I got myself into?

When I arrived, the spy informed me that her partner had been captured but she had a Teladi contact that could help us get him back. I almost turned my ship around then, but I had come this far, and without her help I might not get to the bottom of who was really behind these Terraformers.

We met the Teladi, but (as is always the case when dealing with the Teladi) there was a price to pay. We needed to hunt down smugglers in a nearby sector. I didn't have much issue with this, and took out the ships. The last one bailed, so I claimed that ship and sent it to a nearby dock to get some work done.

This ended up being fortunate, because the cover that the Teladi had set up for us was to deliver some Teladianium to the Argon Military Base where my spy's pal was held. I loaded up the ship, but decided to have my Buster follow just in case anything went wrong. Again, a fortunate choice as some Kha'ak scouts were paroling in the sector before the Argon base.

We got to the base and I while I had the ship unloaded, I was contacted that there was some issue with the plan. I got back into my Buster and had both ships undock. Then I learned that that crazy ... she blew the both of them out of the airlock! I panicked for a moment, what was I going to do? Then I remembered that when I parked my ship at that pirate base earlier, I had bought a cargo life support system for my Buster. I scooped them up and got the hell out of there.

I took them back, and didn't have any new mission. I checked on my funds, and found that I had over 3.5 million credits in my account, and another half-million at my wheat farm. It might be time to look into setting up some more factories or getting a larger ship.

But as soon as a stared pricing things at the shipyard, I was asked to come back to the asteroid belt for another mission. Well, who knows, maybe there might be a new ship in it for me. Off to the 'belt.

It seems as thought the Terraformers are being built by one of the Split factions. I decided to keep helping the Terrans in hopes that discovering who is really behind this will perhaps forge alliances between our people.

I was sent to drop some satellites in various Split sectors and then monitor for ships jumping in. We found one, but there was another problem. A Xenon Q was roaming around the sector. I don't know what this ship's plan was, or if its AI had gone bonkers but it just seemed to roam aimlessly around and fire at whatever came close.

Right as I got the pilot of the ship to eject, the Q caught a glimpse of me, and unloaded, I fled as fast I I could, and managed to make it behind a station. The Q then found something else to shoot at, and wondered off. I meekly made it back to the ship, only to find that it had caught most of the Q's fire.

I was in bad shape. I did some quick repairs, just enough to get it moving (barely) and got it back behind the same station I had hid from the Q. There I got out again and began some long repairs.

The source of the jumps was another ship, and we were going to use this one to sneak in close and get a scan. Hopefully this would give us a lock on where the ships were jumping from. But this tub wasn't going to do in it's current shape. Even after fixing the hull, there were no shields and no weapons if they learned of what we were doing. I told my "allies" that before I went any further I needed to outfit this ship with some new equipment.

Space Truck'n Episode 3

[SPOILER WARNING: This is one of the main plots, and since I am writing this from an in-character perspective, much of this will revile some of the Terran plot story. You have been warned.]

Before heading out, I outfitted my Buster with some Particle Accelerator Cannons, and maxed its shields (3 5 MJ Shields). I followed the guidance across the galaxy past pirate sectors, till I found ... a big empty sector with a solar power plant and a crazy message. Well at least I got a plant out of it, but without a crystal fab near it wasn't going to be much use.

It's all mine ... but what am I going to do with it?

The plant and sector would have to wait till I had the funds to build up some infrastructure.

I decided to head back home. But I didn't get far when I was asked if I could help escort some Terran Diplomats. Sure, I thought. I was in no rush and and this might help with gain a bit of Terran recognition. If I were to build some more plants in the area, trading with the Terrans could be very profitable.

I joined up with a few other Argon pilots and we escorted an Erin Iovis back into Terran Space. All did not go well.

We were attacked by Xenon ships, and I learned two things: My Buster cannot outrun missiles, and 6 PACs drain my energy way too fast. Still I was able to destroy several ships and the escort continued.

Terran Stations are huge (Overcompensate much?)

Afterward I had to park and repair my hull which had been reduced to less than 40%. If I was to continue to help the Terrans against the Xenon I might need a new ride.

And helping is exactly what the Terrans asked for. Despite their general attitude towards Argon people, I decided I would help them. The Xenon were a shared enemy, so I joined up.

I patrolled through the area, fought, nearly got blown to bits (again!), and saw some non-Xenon ship flying in after words. It seems that there was something more than typical Xenon attacks going on here.

After reporting back and was given a Terran Rapier. This is a small scout ship with low shields and weapons, but might be what was needed for what came next. Still, I liked my Buster and didn't want to trade 15 MJ worth of shields for a bit more speed.

You looking at me?

The Terrans wanted me to find out what was going on with this strange ship that showed up after the attacks. They believed that it was Argon, and that could spell disaster for both our people. I went back into the Commonwealth to find out what was behind all this.

I was asked to find and follow the non-Xenon back to its base and see if I could scan it. I had a feeling that this was going to be harder than it sounded.

I found the ship without much issue, and kept my distance so I didn't spook him. He took a gate to an unknown sector that looked like a pirate's haven. I followed him a bit, then saw him dock at a pirate base. As soon as he undocked, the ship jumped. I was asked to scan the base, but that is when everything went to hell.

The base released several ships including several Xenon. I was no match for them, but decided to take a gamble and flew back towards one of the other pirate bases. I docked there to let my shield recharge, and then set out again, and as luck would have it the Xenon were being engaged by other ships in the area. I was able to pick off the ships one by one since they were now spread out, then I scanned the base and headed back with what I had found.

This whole situation was a mess, and I was starting to regret ever getting involved. Still, it was a bit late to back out now. I reported what I had found and received my next mission. I was to take three other pilots with me to patrol the area.

After a couple of skirmishes (one of which lead to one of the Rapiers smashing into me and destroying itself), we found that the last attack group was not Xenon, but of old Terraformer design. Something was up.

There was a lot of this going on.

...and a bit of this.