Decommissioned.

Due to illness, my gameplay has been cut short, Therefore, the blog will halt here. I'll miss the game.

Maeven Hall hit the comm button to talk to the docking authorities, if one could call them that, on Hawk’s Hideout. She looked over the docking bay of the decrepit station skeptically. “This is Siren’s Song. Our manifest number is 8541, units of cargo for delivery 21.”

She waited patiently. “You’re cleared for docking in Bay 40. Have a nice visit, Captain.” There was probably laughing throughout the control room each time they said that. The station barely held together. She bet the place had been overloaded with quantum tech to make room for all the outlaws it held these days. If you left alive, it would be a nice visit.

The Siren’s automatic docking AI was up now, so Maeven left the AI to it. She’d emptied most of the hold back in Ethan. Her footsteps rang out on the titanium flooring as she moved through each of the self-contained vaults within the hold looking for Grimm. Her new mechanic seemed nothing if not diligent. He worked on the ship non-stop. He’d be doing something in the hold to prepare for dock.

Maeven steadied herself as the clamps caught the ship. It always created a sensation like sailing on choppy seas. She knew the little things about her ship already, but it wouldn’t be long at this rate and the Siren would get a makeover. They needed hull and armor improvements, as well as a larger hold, if she intended to obtain security.

She intended to be safe. She’d never again have anyone uproot her life by force and plant her where she didn’t belong. Once she had enough credits and security, maybe some power, any galaxy was hers for the taking. She would head out to the Anvil for good and set up shop, but that wouldn’t happen tomorrow. She roughly pulled her mind back to the tasks at hand.

“Grimm!” Metallic banging followed by Anvillian cursing let her know Grimm was in vault 4. “You ready to disembark?”

“I’m not going anywhere”, he replied. She rolled her eyes. He hadn’t left the ship yet, not in the three weeks he’d been on the Siren.

“Grimm, you’re going to go crazy on this ship. Get off. Now.”

His sandy-blond, traditionally braided head poked out with a sour look aimed in her direction, or at least where he’d thought she was. He corrected himself quickly. She smiled. “I don’t think getting off on an outlaw station is taking time off.”

“We won’t be here that long. I need some help collecting from these idiots anyway. You remember the last time I had to collect the Asher fees from a pirate?”

Grimm looked amused as he wiped his hands on his greasy rag. “Now, that was a good time!”

“I had to shoot him, Grimm. It took hours to outrun that idiot’s marauder.” She put her hands on her hips sternly. “Come on. I don’t want to order you off this ship but I will.”

Grimm sighed forlornly and gathered his gear. He kept things neat no matter what. “All right, but I’m back on as soon as the payment’s collected.” She knew something about leaving the ship made Grimm uneasy, and that made Maeven uneasy. She was pretty sure he hadn’t told her something, but out here, in the Sphere, people didn’t share their life stories. In fact, most didn’t talk about how they got here or what they had been before they crossed the almighty Core government. It was an unspoken law, and therefore Grimm had the right to keep his secrets. She just hoped they weren’t dangerous.

****


Walking through Hawk’s felt like balancing on a high wire. You didn’t want to look anyone directly in the eye, but you couldn’t look like you avoided it either. Mainly, she looked at Grimm as they headed for the Asher office on the promenade. Every planet and station had a central promenade to receive offworlders. Some were just safer than others.

The Asher office sat dead center of the small station and filled to overflowing with disreputable captains waiting on payment. She and Grimm found seats next to the wall with a possibility of cover. One never knew when one needed cover in a crowd like this.

“Krushak, I want off this station. You transfer my payment now, or I’ll fire your brother and he can work for you!” The boisterous pirate at the desk looked chastened, even afraid. Must be some brother, she thought.

“Jack. Come on. You know how slow these transactions can go.” Krushak didn’t seem to believe his own lie.

“You guarantee the payment. Pay me!” Maeven could only see the broad back of the man, but it was obvious he was an outlaw from his appearance. He tried to blend far too much. In the variety to be found out in the Sphere, culture defined everything. People clung desperately to their pasts, probably because most had them ripped away by one faction or another. So they dressed as they had. Spoke as they had. Everyone she’d met appeared to live in some before-time, as if now wasn’t happening to them.

The pirate got his payment. As he turned, Maeven met his gaze by accident. Her breath caught because for a moment she thought Jax stood before her. Slowly, she realized there were differences, subtle ones. His nose was too long. His jaw too square, but so much like Jax!

“You know me, Candy?” His voice lowered as he approached. Maeven shook her head because she couldn’t talk.21

“You”. She nearly choked on the word. “You look like someone.” He narrowed his gray blue eyes to look at her more closely. She felt Grimm tensing beside her.

“Who, Candy?” He reached a hand up to slide it sensuously around her neck. Maeven should have pulled away, but she felt like she’d been hit with a numbing beam. “Let me guess. A husband? A lover?” He growled the last word and pulled her lips to his own. Maeven finally reacted, only a split second after a passionate kiss from a stranger. She pushed hard at the big man, and Grimm pulled his pistol. The hissing sound of the charge caused the room to go silent.

The pirate touched his tongue to his lower lip. “A lover then.”

“You’ll want to go on, Crah-ling. Your ship awaits.” Grimm’s voice caused shivers down her back. He sounded so. . . bored. Underneath was the obvious belief that no challenge could be found in any of the men in the Asher office. That was more frightening than all the posturing in the world.

“Certainly.” The man lifted a hand to his brow in mocking salute. “I hope to see you again soon, Candy.”

“Not if I see you first, Candy”, she said to him. Gods, she hated that name. Candy, as in a piece of it. It was the equivalent to Sweet Thing out here in the Sphere. She might just shoot the next man to call her that.

He left, but the tension in the office didn’t lift one bit. In fact, the others sort of shuffled around until Maeven and Grimm were next. The locals would feel better when they concluded their business, she assumed. Her transaction went ridiculously smoothly, almost as if some beneficent soul had overseen and rushed the whole thing. She and Grimm made their way cautiously back to the Siren.

“Thanks, Grimm.” He sealed the hatches and turned back toward the now empty hold.

“Next time, I stay on the ship.” With that, he headed for his bunk. He’d been up most of the shift.

“You got it. Next time, I’ll stay on the ship too.”


----------------------------


Mae!" Grimm's voice rang out through the Corsair's empty passenger unit. She stopped working on the food synthesizer and looked up. His braids flopped in his face as he headed toward her with a comm. "You really need to see this."

"If it's not a manifest for my commercial brews, I don't want to see it. Did Luke send any update at all?" Maeven wiped her hands on an already nasty rag from the floor. She'd have to clean up shortly and check the collection point again. They'd docked at their home base nearly a week ago. H.O.I. hovered in orbit over Cranmore and gave her the resources she needed to get the business up and running.

"It's really not,"Grimm said. She took the comm from his hand. It was an intel report from the guild. They'd had a query come through on her. She read on feeling tension prick her temples. The last thing she needed was a pounding headache. Gal-Fed had run a check on her, again.

"It's just another security check. They're beating the bushes again. It'll pass, Grimm." Maeven sounded so very confident. She couldn't imagine Grimm would be fooled. He knew her better than that.

"You know there's some purpose to it", he said irritated. "The Fed does nothing without purpose."

"That's not entirely true. They broke up a riot of approximately ten people on our promenade just last shift."

Still, she knew he was correct. This was the second security run through in as many months. That was when Maeven noticed the query request submission line and date. Security queries couldn't be anonymous, though there were ways to get around it by setting up corporations and identities within corporations. Her heart slammed in her chest as she read the name. Grimm must have noticed something. The man could read body language like no one she'd ever met.

"What's wrong", he asked.

"Jack Hardcourt. If that is his real name. . ."

Grimm whistled. "That must have been some kiss." He should have been teasing, but neither of them were likely to laugh over this. Hardcourt wasn't a ribblez, cute and furry little hitchhikers that multiplied in the hull. The man was dangerous.

"What do you think he wants?" Maeven hated the shake in her fingers as she asked the question and the quake in her tone. Grimm looked at her like she needed a doctor. "He can't be running a security check because he liked a kiss. There's more to it than that."

"He's not on our side of the law, Mae. What could he want?"

"I don't know, Grimm, but we have to find out."

"You sure this isn't best left alone?" Grimm took the comm from her.

"I'm positive. There's no way I'm sitting here waiting for the other shoe to drop. He's docked at Cinq Port according to the manifest on his ship."

Grimm's eyebrows shot up. "You're tracking his dock manifest."

"Hell, yes", she said without elaborating. "I'll go check his departure time and you can prepare the ship to go. Oh, and call Luke about those damn brews. The shop is almost empty." As she walked away, she barely heard Grimm's grumbles.

Jack Hardcourt had an agenda. She was sure of it.

******
Cinq Port smelled like canned oxygen because that was exactly what you got; the air was canned. He was here, Maeven knew, and she would find him. His manifest quoted his docking bay number as 100. She rounded the darkened hallway to see a large hulking man lift a locked crate and shove it into a loader. His shirt off, the man's muscles played with the movement. His dark unkempt hair had been pulled back up under a Bolosian kerchief of the desert regions.

Maeven braced herself. "Hardcourt." When he turned, the immediate impression of Jax's face on this outlaw took her breath away.

"Well, Captain Hall, to what do I owe the intrusion?"

"I could ask you the same thing. What do you want to know?"

"About what in particular?" His smirk made her forget his uncanny resemblance to her fiance back on her home planet. Jax had never once worn that cynical, hard expression on his face. She moved closer to him keeping the loader carefully between them.

"I was born on a farm. My parents were simple folk who taught me to work hard from a very young age. They also taught me to recognize a liar. We rode to school on old-fashioned fossil fuels. Anything else you need?" Her voice rose on the last sentence to speak over the release of a neighboring ship. Docking clamps let out a terrible hiss.

"Oh, I need quite a few things." His gaze ran hotly over her body in a border-line insult of male interest. One she was sure he handed out in equal measure to every woman he met. "But specifically, Jax Lemand. You were going to marry him, no?"

"No." Her voice sounded flat even to her own ears. "I was going to come here. My plan had been to marry him and live happy ever after. What possible business is it of yours?" Hostility flashed through her. She wasn't talking to him about Jax. Absolutely, no way.

He nodded. "I wondered. You see, I knew him back before my exile began."

"How?" Her skepticism showed plainly on her face.

"We worked together." She noticed he'd paused. That lie hadn't tripped easily off his tongue.

"Jax worked with a lot of people. He headed the Institute of Science for the Core Federation. But you knew that because you had a look at my file. What do you want?"

"I simply need a second hauler for a run to the Verec. You seem to fit the bill. Your kills are adding up."

"The Verec Per galaxy is a bit out of the way. Surely you have access to haulers."

He smiled leaning on the stack of crates. " I have plenty of access to haulers, but I need a gunner. And a conscience. You don't strike me as the nefarious type, Captain Hall."

Now it was her turn to smile with hard humor. "So the thief doesn't want to be a victim of theft? You want a bodyguard?"

"I want a second hauler. Are you interested?" He quoted the figure making Maeven's heart beat faster. That was some hauling job.

Hiding the temptation she felt to snap up the offer, she said impassively, "I'll have to talk to Grimm. He has a vote. I'd also need to inspect the cargo." There was the off chance that what he wanted was someone to blame if it went to hell.

"You don't trust me?" Maeven merely rolled her eyes and walked back to the Siren's bay. Only an idiot would trust a pirate.

SHIP PROFILE

Our new Siren is faster and moderately better equipped. When considering a new ship, think specials. A lot can be done with those slots and the equipment they hold. Armour and hull buffs can be the difference in a shoot out.

Chassis : Falcon	Armour : 800	Hull : 700	Energy : 800	Cargo : 85
Speed : 7	Specials : 4	Pods : 2	Level Req : 23	Type : Entry Level

Siren's Song Upgrade

Image via Wikipedia

Grimm and I traded in the Corsair yesterday at Jerris Outpost. The new ship is small, but she's new. It's a Saturn.

At my Captain level, this ship was the most logical step. Income had stalled, and we needed a better hunter in order to start pulling in some pirate loot. All in all, I'm happy with the results.

Fan Fiction

Maeven Hall hit the comm button to talk to the docking authorities, if one could call them that, on Hawk’s Hideout. She looked over the docking bay of the decrepit station skeptically. “This is Siren’s Song. Our manifest number is 8541, units of cargo for delivery 21.”1

She waited patiently. “You’re cleared for docking in Bay 40. Have a nice visit, Captain.” There was probably laughing throughout the control room each time they said that. The station barely held together. She bet the place had been overloaded with quantum tech to make room for all the outlaws it held these days. If you left alive, it would be a nice visit.2

The Siren’s automatic docking AI was up now, so Maeven left the AI to it. She’d emptied most of the hold back in Ethan. Her footsteps rang out on the titanium flooring as she moved through each of the self-contained vaults within the hold looking for Grimm. Her new mechanic seemed nothing if not diligent. He worked on the ship non-stop. He’d be doing something in the hold to prepare for dock.3

Maeven steadied herself as the clamps caught the ship. It always created a sensation like sailing on choppy seas. She knew the little things about her ship already, but it wouldn’t be long at this rate and the Siren would get a makeover. They needed hull and armor improvements, as well as a larger hold, if she intended to obtain security. 4

She intended to be safe. She’d never again have anyone uproot her life by force and plant her where she didn’t belong. Once she had enough credits and security, maybe some power, any galaxy was hers for the taking. She would head out to the Anvil for good and set up shop, but that wouldn’t happen tomorrow. She roughly pulled her mind back to the tasks at hand.5

“Grimm!” Metallic banging followed by Anvillian cursing let her know Grimm was in vault 4. “You ready to disembark?”6

“I’m not going anywhere”, he replied. She rolled her eyes. He hadn’t left the ship yet, not in the three weeks he’d been on the Siren.7

“Grimm, you’re going to go crazy on this ship. Get off. Now.”8

His sandy-blond, traditionally braided head poked out with a sour look aimed in her direction, or at least where he’d thought she was. He corrected himself quickly. She smiled. “I don’t think getting off on an outlaw station is taking time off.”9

“We won’t be here that long. I need some help collecting from these idiots anyway. You remember the last time I had to collect the Asher fees from a pirate?”10

Grimm looked amused as he wiped his hands on his greasy rag. “Now, that was a good time!”11

“I had to shoot him, Grimm. It took hours to outrun that idiot’s marauder.” She put her hands on her hips sternly. “Come on. I don’t want to order you off this ship but I will.”12

Grimm sighed forlornly and gathered his gear. He kept things neat no matter what. “All right, but I’m back on as soon as the payment’s collected.” She knew something about leaving the ship made Grimm uneasy, and that made Maeven uneasy. She was pretty sure he hadn’t told her something, but out here, in the Sphere, people didn’t share their life stories. In fact, most didn’t talk about how they got here or what they had been before they crossed the almighty Core government. It was an unspoken law, and therefore Grimm had the right to keep his secrets. She just hoped they weren’t dangerous.13

****14


Walking through Hawk’s felt like balancing on a high wire. You didn’t want to look anyone directly in the eye, but you couldn’t look like you avoided it either. Mainly, she looked at Grimm as they headed for the Asher office on the promenade. Every planet and station had a central promenade to receive offworlders. Some were just safer than others.15

The Asher office sat dead center of the small station and filled to overflowing with disreputable captains waiting on payment. She and Grimm found seats next to the wall with a possibility of cover. One never knew when one needed cover in a crowd like this.16

“Krushak, I want off this station. You transfer my payment now, or I’ll fire your brother and he can work for you!” The boisterous pirate at the desk looked chastened, even afraid. Must be some brother, she thought. 17

“Jack. Come on. You know how slow these transactions can go.” Krushak didn’t seem to believe his own lie.18

“You guarantee the payment. Pay me!” Maeven could only see the broad back of the man, but it was obvious he was an outlaw from his appearance. He tried to blend far too much. In the variety to be found out in the Sphere, culture defined everything. People clung desperately to their pasts, probably because most had them ripped away by one faction or another. So they dressed as they had. Spoke as they had. Everyone she’d met appeared to live in some before-time, as if now wasn’t happening to them.19

The pirate got his payment. As he turned, Maeven met his gaze by accident. Her breath caught because for a moment she thought Jax stood before her. Slowly, she realized there were differences, subtle ones. His nose was too long. His jaw too square, but so much like Jax!20

“You know me, Candy?” His voice lowered as he approached. Maeven shook her head because she couldn’t talk.21

“You”. She nearly choked on the word. “You look like someone.” He narrowed his gray blue eyes to look at her more closely. She felt Grimm tensing beside her. 22

“Who, Candy?” He reached a hand up to slide it sensuously around her neck. Maeven should have pulled away, but she felt like she’d been hit with a numbing beam. “Let me guess. A husband? A lover?” He growled the last word and pulled her lips to his own. Maeven finally reacted, only a split second after a passionate kiss from a stranger. She pushed hard at the big man, and Grimm pulled his pistol. The hissing sound of the charge caused the room to go silent.23

The pirate licked his lips. “A lover then.”24

“You’ll want to go on, Crah-ling. Your ship awaits.” Grimm’s voice caused shivers down her back. He sounded so. . . bored. Underneath was the obvious belief that no challenge could be found in any of the men in the Asher office. That was more frightening than all the posturing in the world. 25

“Certainly.” The man lifted a hand to his brow in mocking salute. “I hope to see you again soon, Candy.”26

“Not if I see you first, Candy”, she said to him. Gods, she hated that name. Candy, as in a piece of it. It was the equivalent to Sweet Thing out here in the Sphere. She might just shoot the next man to call her that. 27

He left, but the tension in the office didn’t lift one bit. In fact, the others sort of shuffled around until Maeven and Grimm were next. The locals would feel better when they concluded their business, she assumed. Her transaction went ridiculously smoothly, almost as if some beneficent soul had overseen and rushed the whole thing. She and Grimm made their way cautiously back to the Siren. 28

“Thanks, Grimm.” He sealed the hatches and turned back toward the now empty hold. 29

“Next time, I stay on the ship.” With that, he headed for his bunk. He’d been up most of the shift. 30

“You got it. Next time, I’ll stay on the ship too.”31

Informational Forum

Intelliquest Guild Forum

I strongly recommend the guild for it's willingness to grow its' members.

The Gaming Escape

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

So today, I gave this a lot of thought. What is it about a game that helps to balance an abnormal life like mine? I'm an adult female of advancing years with three kids, one of them special needs and plenty of volunteer work to keep me occupied.

What is it about the game? I've decided it's the escape. When I'm playing the game, I can focus on facts and needs that have nothing to do with my normal life. Nothing whatever.

Oh, that feels good. Beyond that, the decisions I make, what I do in the game doesn't really do much. It takes off so much pressure to make choices that affect nothing. One of these days I may need a Life Escape from my gaming, but, at this moment, it's helping me cope. LOL

Choosing Equipment for your Core Exiles Future

Passenger Cabin Module Rev 2- This passenger cabin seats 2 of each class passenger and has a low device requirement. Your cost can be recouped after only a few runs out of system.

Remote Mining Drone (Hera)- Get schematics and make these! The benefit of refining your own ore far exceeds the cost. They also make a pretty penny on the player market as well.

Storm Reactor Rev 1- A good beginner reactor is a must have. Energy production will be your first major obstacle.

Frontiersman Shield Rev 2- Many will disagree, but I believe defense is a priority. This shield is the most attainable for a new player. It's specs are:
Max Shield HP: 750 units
Energy Requirement: 800

Min Skill: (Reflective) 35
Captain Level: 10

Core Exiles map of the Anvil

Every good navigator needs a map.

Stuck here in the Anvil with you. . .

Image via Wikipedia

Stuck is exactly the right word. I just can't afford to upgrade my engine right now, so here I sit in Kobe waiting to refuel.

I thought today would be as good a time as any to discuss ships. Right now, I'm in a Corsair. It's entry level. I needed cargo space and an energy upgrade, but it's important to know what you need before you buy a ship.

I'm not a big fan of the haulers. Hull and armor strength on those puppies strikes me as just this side of suicidal. Privateer class seems well balanced. However, it's also true that at the right device levels you can install things to your ship to make them safer in a fight.

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Market Watch

The GBM today reports wood has fallen off in value over the last 24 hours. Water remains steady, as do several heavy metals this afternoon.

Fanfiction Begins

Maeven Hall pulled her plasteel-cuffed hands away from the Core Enforcer holding her. His eyes flashed momentary pity at the council decision to exile her for moving refugees from Bastek to the rim of Core space where they could hide. She'd known she was as good as dead, but exile?

The word was that no one returned from the Sphere, that men and women who got sent out there didn't last long or didn't stay sane. It was true frontier.

She walked carefully down the elevated walk in front of the grey-clad officer. The bucket of rust they called a transport shuttle sat docked up ahead. She flipped her long, blond curls from her face once again because her hands were restrained. There was also the concern of how much movement Brutus back there would tolerate from his prisoner. She looked around Council Station wistfully. She'd grown up in the rim, but this place had become a home of sorts.

The Siren's Song sat docked on the other side of the bay. That made her eyes well up with unshed tears. That ship was her life. Now there it sat confiscated by the Core and shiny like a new credit chip.

The Marauder shuttle was squat and stank inside of oil and ore residue. It had obviously begun its' life as a mining tub. The guard affixed her cuffs to the hydro-railing system for transport and roughly belted her into the restraints at waist and hips.

She sat quietly trying not to think about her upcoming sentence and the life she left behind with Jax. He'd been so very angry. Gods, she couldn't think about him without a lump in her chest. Her shuttle ride took far too long for peace of mind.

Finally, the docking ring hissed as the Marauder pulled even with the bay. "Starbase 51", the tall guard announced with his face grim. He hit the controls and released her cuffs.

She walked out to a dark bay obviously on a station loaded with beat-up shuttles and a sign over the middle of the massive space that said "Processing". Her escort pointed that way as Maeven rubbed the stiffness from wrists and fingers.

"You're to get in line over there." He turned away.

"Do I need anything?" She asked it over the mass of conversation.

"The blessing of the Gods, little girl." He grimaced. "It's the only thing that could help you now."

Maeven cringed. Of course. She was an exile now. Nothing could be worse except death, she thought. At that moment a fancy cloaked cortisan strode by on the arm of a client. She revised her thought. Maybe that could be worse. Wordlessly, she watched the scantily clad woman and the grotesquely fat man walk away. She promised herself she would survive this and began to walk into her future as a core exile.

Core Exiles- Building Your Fortune.

Starting right at the bottom is what every exile does in this game. It's one of the appealing factors. It's also one of the major challenges, especially, if you can't sit in front of your computer for days at a time. What are the best ways to make credits? I haven't found a magic bullet, but I thought I'd do a run down for beginners.

Mining- Using drones, mining and refining ore for sale is lucrative. Refined ore can run in the range of 200 to 300 CPU. CPU is the in game equivalent of US dollars. However, it lacks some excitement and challenge. Your refining skill has an effect on how much refined ore you net.

Hauling- This is one of my faves. Passengers are willing to pay for out-of-sphere destinations. Combining trade runs with passenger runs can add up.

Combat- Okay, loot is good. I like loot, but combat doesn't make me much given the time and money put into it. It's great for experience and releasing pent-up aggression, but it's not my favorite money-maker.

Manufacturing- That is how I spend a large amount of my in-game time. Mainly, it's fun for me. I like making the goods and hauling them to market. I like retail. What can I say? It may make more credits in future, but right now it's not my most lucrative business. Maybe I'm not doing it right . . . yet.

Piracy- I am very anti-pirate, so be warned! It's been said that crime does pay. I'm unconvinced because hunting criminals hasn't worked out for me yet. If they had loot, wouldn't I have it?

Extraction- Okay, here's my money maker. If I put my mind to it, this turns a hefty profit. Look for the winners and go extracting. May I suggest: water, wood and oats. There always seem to be contracts out for these resources. Many of them. It also leads me to the next money machine.

Crafting- A large portion of my largess (if it can be called that) comes from building things. Drones, extractors, and ship accessories are my best things. My method here is to buy all the coordinating schems for certain items, specialize.

Okay, I'm out of time. Let me know how you make your fortune!

Core Exiles Implants

I've added two. Of course, my implants are at level 1, and I like the minor boost they give me. Implants boost Skill points in the game. However, would I spend a lot of time and money on these? Probably not. Maybe I'll feel differently as my level goes up, but, for now, they don't appear worth the effort. Leveling is still the most important thing.

Combat Operations

Image by Smithsonian Institution via Flickr

Hello from Iribis,

This is Captain Maeven Hall. Every now and again I get bored and take a Gal-fed contract. Today we're hunting Spectres.

Combat isn't my strong suit, but loot is good. Invest in good shielding for your ship early on. It's not something you'll regret later. A properly outfitted ship is important in all aspects of Core Exiles, but nothing is more annoying than getting towed back planetside with an empty hold and a bruised ego.

Once the contract is finished, I'll be pointing the Siren back out to the Anvil for some more passengers. See you all soon!

A Word From Your Captain

Image via Wikipedia

Once again, it's time to refuel. Today's docking will be Kobe in Lucifer. Tomorrow we'll deliver our Asher hauls and count the money. I'll try and approximate the benefit of the trip for the trainees out in the Sphere. Minimum 100k for a run to the Anvil if done correctly. Probably more if you load the ship completely.

Picked up schems for implants that I can't wait to try out, so look for the discussion on implants in the game very soon.

Habitat 86- Verec Per

We've stopped to refuel. Several Asher stores are scattered throughout the Verec Per, and I've picked up about three loads to take back to the Sphere. The schematic store on 86 is full of some great level one implant schems. Entering the Anvil tomorrow.

Everyone loves a Wiki.

A Word From Your Captain

Image by Smithsonian Institution via Flickr

This week I stopped all production in my factories, pulled up my extractors and hit the road. It's my first trip through the Verec Per!

At the moment, we are docked here in Mostony at the HOI annex. This is the beginning of our trip, and I intend to take us down through the Anvil and back up to my headquarters. The Annex here has a plethora of shops for crafters and haulers. Prices at these shops are high, but you pay for convenience. Otherwise, you'll be waiting for the GBM to produce your massive order. It's also somewhat worth it to buy small quantities instead of the 100 GBM requirement.

There only a few ship-board rules. 1. Don't mess with the Ribblez. They bite. 2. Nobody touches the teleportation device but the captain. NOBODY. 3. I determine the tunes. Otherwise, make yourself comfortable. This could be a long, long trip.

The Hauler's Guide to the Universe- Torc

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Torc is located in a galaxy known as the Forge and hauling passengers there is good pay. It borders on the Verec Per galaxy which is a standing rating for all of us. I'd suggest a road trip each time. Yes, it costs fuel, but you gain experience, standing and plenty of coin for your time.

To Guild, or Not to Guild

Guilding has been a positive experience for me. The link to my guild's site is in the links list to the right, but that plug aside. . . you have to decide if you're a joiner.

Some guilds have requirements of level or activity. Tagon's Toughs focuses on a mercenary lifestyle within the Universe of the game. Get to know your guild before you commit time and funds to it. Ask around. Reputations in this game get around.

I also recommend finding the guild that suits your game play. For example, I wanted a team oriented group of buddies in the game and found that in Intelliquest. Plus, there was the funky alien mascot.

The Hauler's Guide to the Universe- The Anvil

Image via Wikipedia

This week I intend to thoroughly explore outside the Sphere. Sphere planets are safe, but the real money is out there. The Anvil is the first stop.

That first jump is a doozy, so save up your fuel, maybe stop off in Vesesia for a bit. Have a brew and relax because the real work is ahead of you. Taking Union passengers from Sphere planets to Kobe in Lucifer is big money.

Now, I prefer the Anvil so far because of it's proximity to my home base, but also the relative safety of it. Yes, it's risky out there and newbies should never head out there looking for a fight, but it's a hauler's paradise. Two things you'll possibly need are a minimum six passenger cabin or a nice size cargo hold. Ship size matters. I've waited to explore until I upgraded my ship and developed the necessary survival skills to make it outside the Sphere.

In my explorations, I've discovered only one thing about the Anvil. Passengers, passengers, passengers. The fuel cost is very large 216 units from Vesesia to Lucifer, but you can park in the Anvil and load up while you wait. It would be simple to make 100,000 on return passengers alone! So the Anvil Galaxy gets my five-star Union endorsement.

Happy Hauling!

The Hauler's Guide to the Universe- Installment 1

Like any other ship's captain, I've struggled with scheduling. The most important thing you can do is set up a route, and, as in any other business, you must know where you're going and what you need to do when you get there. Here's an example:

Multi-tasking is essential. Any given morning, I plan my route around the bulk of my business. That business is in Ghoulshroud and Cranmore where I extract precious resources, sometimes for sale and sometimes for production. When I pick up an Ashar or Wesbec haul, I focus on those systems first because that's where I'm headed this morning first thing. Same thing with Union passengers. Passengers can be profitable, especially if you were headed there anyway. Over the course of a morning's haul you can watch you ship account grow steadily, if you think to look for things to ship.

Happy Hauling!

New NPC on Meltram

The addition of the courier faction to Core Exiles this week has led to the addition of a courier NPC on Meltram in the Ethan system. Carole Charmaine

Carole is the NPC that gains courier faction for beginners. Courier careers begin on Meltram.

Gal-Fed Bulletin

The most trusted source for Sphere news!


Settlement News

Name	Type	Discount
Commercial Store Transport	C.S.T.S	N/A
Halo Certification	Certificate Store	10%
Commercial Storage	Commercial Storage	N/A
Joes Supplies	Commodities Market	N/A
Engineering Processing Station	Engineering	N/A
Gleso Industries	Gleso Industries	N/A
JR Galactic	Settlement Construction	10%
Hoathlan Enterprises	Settlement Systems	6%
Svens Barter Store	Svens Barter	N/A
Wesbec Haulage	Wesbec Trade Office	N/A

House of Intelliquest gets a triple A rating for availability of services. It's located in Franklyn over Cranmore and serves as the base of operations for the Intelliquest Guild and Siren Industries.

In other news, Roger Olfart's newest settlement was attacked by pirates this week. The finance mogul vows to repair the damage and open for business immediately.

Business News

The GBM shows demand for Electronic Components is still high, topping the market at 350 CPU. Water and Wood are both starting around 50 CPU today.

Political News

The government came under criticism today for their denials of heavy reports of alien activity despite evidence to the contrary. No one has been available for contact. Though the Alien Justice League issued a statement asking the public not to over-react to the reports.

The Manufacturing Sector as a Career

Image by wvs via Flickr

Core Exiles has a multitude of careers to choose from, but the best aspect of the game is the ability to pick up and change careers on a dime. With careful thought, you can earn or purchase IP resets to change your skill levels. The choice we're focused on for this article is Manufacturing and Crafting, since that is my field.

Purchasing factories to produce goods can be profitable, but you absolutely need to know the market. For instance, as a beginner, I lucked out and chose well. Ready meals are cheap to make requiring only rice, water and cereal; all very inexpensive resources. They are also in moderate, yet constant, demand due to several NPC missions. Other good choices, for the same reason, are commercial brews, frozen meats, and things like games, sports goods and children's goods. These are all NPC items of good value. Before you buy your factory, spend some time doing these missions with an eye toward the goods you intend to manufacture.

Crafting can be at once risky and profitable. The risk involves the cost of the materials like biogenetic goods or refined metal. Once you buy them, you're going to have to make something you can sell on the player market to other players. Schematics also cost a pretty penny.

My advice is to specialize. All players need EBKs, so that's a good place to start. These are found under the heading engineering and repair your ship after a fight. It's a consumable. Find out what's used most. Make that. There will be stops and starts. You can expect to make things that don't sell right at that moment. Just move to the next thing, something will sell.

The final thing to remember is that if you don't like making commodities or crafting, stop. There are tons of other professions for a Core Exiles player, and it's all about the fun.

Gal-Fed Bulletin

The Commodity Report

Anvil Valacite and Bio-enzymes are both reporting strong on the GBM today. Producers of Electronic Components are being asked to step up production due to a rise in demand this quarter.

In business news, settlements report difficulties in getting staff indicating that unemployment is at an all time low among the exile systems.

The Travel Section

The Iribis System cannot be called much of a tourist attraction. It boasts six planets, some of which are over-run with outlaws. Joes Market is located on Polymus II, but that's about it. For those of you in the mining business, Iribis does contain one Asteroid field rich in resources and a conveniently located refinery.

It's location in contested space bordering the busy Franklyn system makes Iribis a critical stop off point for outbound passengers, so ferry services may find Iribis a lucrative opportunity.

Settlement News

Tagon's Tunnel- Cranmore in Franklyn

Commercial Store Transport	C.S.T.S	N/A
Diluco Corporation	Cargo Store	15%
U-Haul Technologies	Cargo Store	18%
Commercial Storage	Commercial Storage	N/A
Joes Supplies	Commodities Market	N/A
Sec-Gen	Energy Store	12%
Sonar Solutions	System Store	15%
Hi-Tek Arms	Weapons Store	8%
Lock-N-Load	Weapons Store	35%

Ribblez

This creature can be found in the cargo hold of your ship, multiplying. A game event will give you one of these guys and they just keep growing in population. The best thing to do is control that population by bartering the spares to your local Svens. Too many result in damage to your ship, but the right amount can be a profitable sideline.

The Siren's Song in dock
Captain Maeven Hall received her ship allotment in 2009 at Starbase 51. The marauder is the ship given to each exile off the shuttle. She has recently been upgraded to Corsair.

NPC Missions

Got word of another NPC list this week.

Jocelyn System on Eagles Ledge:

NPC requires 10 ROFl fragments Number 1, 10 ROFL fragments number 3, 5 green crystals, 8 blue crystals, 5 battered research satellites, 7 damaged solar arrays, 10 ROFL fragments number 6, 2 damaged leaky reactors, 2 red crystals and 9 ruptured passenger cabins. The only mission confirmed is the first. The rest is only hearsay, until I have a chance to work the missions.

Captain Maeven Hall

We're currently parked in San Gallen waiting for the Siren to refuel, so I thought I'd take a few to update the log. We took the Siren for some short hauls this time out and ran a combat mission on the side. The haul was nice.

We've discovered that conserving fuel is handled easily by taking Ashar runs to the same system and filling up the hold. We did three separate runs in Lorat today for some nice change, and ended the run with some combat in our home system. It's a strategy that seems to be working for us.

I've come to realize that Siren Industries will take some getting used to. It's not the same as tooling around the galaxy in an old hauler. It takes strategy and planning. Extracting requires a central hub to send units of resources back to storage. There, on the settlement, the ingredients can be turned into Ready Meals to ship out to the market. It's 100% profit though, and will get this old boat replaced much faster.

The chain runs this way: Extract resources to transport back to hub (in our case, House of Inelliquest settlement). Our factory, which produces the ready meals, produces 5 units per hour. That stock is transferred to storage and then to market. It is possible to send those commodities to a mall kiosk or store. Siren Industries isn't there yet.

Siren Industries
Manufacturing the Future!

Captain Maeven Hall

Image via Wikipedia

Today Siren Inc. Begins. . .

The operation incorporated today. I have become a guilded member of Intelliquest as a new exile from the core. The new factory operation for Siren Inc. has been located at the house of intelliquest settlement in the Franklyn system.

The production line is working to keep up with demand. I'm happy with developments.

Core Exiles NPC list continued

FRANKLYN

Elise Bujold is found in Franklyn system on Yeltsim. She is mainly going to ask for children's goods and toys, then festive goods and musical instruments.

LORAT

Trudy Delmar is found on Lorat's Hold in the Lorat system.

Also, in Lorat, you can find Drake Starshot. He resides on Wimbourne.

Jason Brite on Akar Institute.

Fieron

Arty on Jerris Outpost has several missions perfect for beginners. He wants alcoholic beverages and Commercial Brews.

Important Locations
Jimmy Fingers / Descarte/ San Miguel
Jimmy opens anything you find that's locked, for a fee.

San Gallan is the Galactic Market. Just talk to the NPC.

Guild HQs are also on Jerris Outpost.

NPC Missions

New captains can level quickly and learn the ropes through Non-Player Character missions, or NPC Missions. These serve as tutorials as well in the beginning.

Feris System:

Jonas Hawke - Starbase 51

Gunny - New Orion

Tomar Stubbs - New Jerusalem

Mr Hopodoplus - Eden

Justin Brite - Georgetown

From there, you can travel to Cinq Port in the Kelsey system. Winston Harper is the NPC there. Typically, he will want goods like animal pelts. Be careful when taking these missions that you have the cargo room to deliver the goods. Early in the game you will be limited to around 50 units of any given commodity.

Captain Maeven Hall

Scheduled today to deliver organs to Julian Somebody. He is located in Antioch. Cannot find final 5 units. Cargo delivered safely to Starbase 51 for Ashar Industries.

Sorties today with two Lancer MK1s, took no real damage. Completed Gal-fed contract on Cobra MK2s yesterday.

Our extractors are currently producing rice, water, cereal, wheat and corn. The return is slower than I would like because of the high investment. Gaining skill and experience in order to enter the high return market is essential to my goal of getting a new ship. Honestly, I'd rather shoot something out than negotiate a price. Crew is given two day furlough on the planet.

Captain Maeven Hall

During continuous combat the logs can fall behind, and it's been that kind of week. We've been sticking to Gal-fed space for bounties. Pirates and Raiders fill the sector like cockroaches. However, goods looted from their holds have paid for a new scanner and extractor for water. The extractor was deployed today on Georgetown.

Thanks to our schematics purchase , EBKs can be homemade from now on, and that will save us credits in the long run. I'm finding the basic supplies pop up in cargo every now and again. Steel, ore, plasteel and the like seem to fall from the sky when we go hunting pirates for Mr. Stubbs.

Paradise is a great base of operations. The facility is really excellent and has everything the crew needs, but we'll have to start looking for secondary manufacturing and commercial bases farther out, particularly in Alliance territory. I'm betting the high-credit bounty can be found out there.

Captain Maeven Hall

Took possession of my new Marauder today. Her name is Siren's Song, and she's small. The guns are useless. The bay is tiny, but she's all mine.

My first goal is to get her upgraded, and it's going to take some credit. I plan to spend the first week out in Farpoint1 mining until I can afford a few things.

I received a communication this morning from a Captain Olfart. I don't think that's his real name, but he owns half the galaxy apparently. He's looking for Data Cubes and wants suppliers. Frankly, I'm prepared to do anything to get my girl going. Fortunately, he seems decent enough right now.

For the moment, I intend to make this ship self-reliant by making my own EBKs in dock. Plasteel is damn hard to come by though. I'll be working out of Paradise, until Siren is ready to head out into contested space. The crowded settlement isn't helping my sunny disposition at all. It will be good to see the back of civilization one of these days.

My New Life

I've never been much of the gaming kind. There were things to do, but, recently all that changed when I found a game out of Great Britain called Core Exiles. It's addicting. It's complicated, and it's fun.

You get a ship and take off to be whatever you want in the galaxy; privateer, pirate, or entrepreneur. The game steers you in the right direction, while still allowing you to pick your own direction. It's right up my alley since I hate to be told what to do, especially in my leisure time.

In fact, the game is so good that I thought I'd blog it. My reasons are partly selfish, as there's a lot to remember and writing something helps me remember it, but I'd also like to show off this involved piece of work that's floating around out there. It's really good work.

Just for fun, I'll write my captain's log. I know it's not original or anything, but it's my blog after all.