Author: Vladimir Korff

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The Elder War Tour – Mekhios Graveyard

Empress Jamyl I: Sword of the Righteous
Domain Region – Maddam Constellation
Sarum Prime System – Mekhios Graveyard

12 October YC 123

Our first stop in the Elder War Tour was Mekhios Graveyard in Sarum Prime system. The place was awestriking. Bathed in golden rays of Sarum Prime sun, the regal Amarr colour, and filled with wrecks of Minmatar Elder Fleet, it was dominated by an enormous statue of Empress Jamyl I between whose outstretched arms fit a life-size holographic projection of Amarr fleet that participated in the battle. As we approached the statue, the local radio channel started transmitting celestial music which reached to your soul and made you feel an insignificant sand grain in the endless universe whose fate was decided by the giants, like Empress Jamyl.

After what seemed a long, long time, I awakened from my reverie with a start caused by lack of oxygen in my blood – I realised that I was holding my breath all that time. The return to reality was completed when I heard Aura ask me in a rather bored voice, “So what actually happened here?” Continue reading “The Elder War Tour – Mekhios Graveyard”

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A Touring 911 Operator

Region G-R00031 – Constellation G-C00324
Thera System – The Sanctuary Institute of Paleocybernetics Station

12 October YC 123

After finishing the Stubborn Dwarf doctrine test, I decided that I needed a change. So far, I had done ESR cache tending and Thera scanning, both of them solitary activities which required little interaction with other pilots. Maintaining caches in space was an important job but it was useless without Signal Cartel’s 911 operators who directed stranded pilots to those caches. I decided that that should be my next occupation in the corp.

Since this activity involved human interaction, it was not surprising that aspiring 911 operators were required to undergo a specialised training. I requested it from the Signal Cartel Academy and was pleased to learn that the training would be facilitated by Xalyar. Xalyar was an experienced rescue operator, ESR Assistant Manager, and an all-round nice person. She was so popular that even veteran corp members joined her lectures. I was looking forward to educational and fun pastime and I was not disappointed. There were instructions, but there were also stories, jokes and general banter. By the end of the course, I felt energised and eager to start my first 911 shift, when suddenly Xalyar’s tone and facial expression changed from jovial to dead serious. Continue reading “A Touring 911 Operator”

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Stubborn Dwarf Test Results

Region B-R00007 – Constellation B-C00057
System J104515

22 September YC 123

I have finished scanning the last signature in the system – it turned out to be another wormhole – and cheered.

“What are you so happy about?” asked Aura. “This is the second system that we have tried to explore today and it is as empty as the first one – no relic sites, no data sites, no nothing!”

“You are wrong – it’s not a second system, it’s fiftieth. And this is exactly why I am so happy.”

Aura frowned, “Fiftieth from what?” Continue reading “Stubborn Dwarf Test Results”

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Entitled

Region C-R00011 – Constellation C-C00097
System J172751

1 September YC 123

I had finished hacking a Ruined Serpentis Science Outpost and was heading back to base in Thera. The pickings were pretty slim – about 15 million ISK. I sighed, closed Evepraisal window and started browsing a corp chat. Aura immediately turned her attention to the screen. Unlike Allison, she was not allowed to participate in the chat, but was always eager to read.

“Hey, what’s that?” exclaimed Aura, pointing at the list of active users.

“What’s what?”

Name with antenna“That… thingy… attached to your name. Looks like a dunce cap.” Continue reading “Entitled”

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Twice Rescued

Region A-R00001 – Constellation A-C00312
System J105711

17 May YC 123

There was a lot of mirth and banter when I announced in the Discord channel that I got stuck in a wormhole. There were memes, there were jokes and much merriment. There were also serious questions from 911 Operators who ran me through the checklist, asking if there was a freeport (no), if I had a probe launcher (no!), or if I had a mobile depot (NO!). Then through the general hubbub came a voice of Xalyar.

“Why don’t you use the Noise filament?” Continue reading “Twice Rescued”

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Choosing My Poison

Region Region G-R00031 – Constellation G-C00324
Thera System

17 May YC 123

It started like another day on the tools.  I woke up in the comfortable bed in my Buzzard, took a shower, had a breakfast, and then went to the capsule and submerged myself in the pod goo. The corp mates, as always, did a great job keeping Thera map up to date and there were only a couple of unexplored signatures. I quickly added them to TripWire – one was a high-sec connection and another was a relic site; not very interesting for exploration as I don’t hack sites in Thera. I then checked the existing connections and found one leading to a C1 system. It still had 3 hours of life in it, so why not, thought I and dived through. Continue reading “Choosing My Poison”

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Stubborn Dwarf

Region G-R00031 – Constellation G-C00324
Thera System

6 April YC 123

It took me three months to return to Thera and resume my scanning activities. The start was a bit slow as all the steps were not in my muscle memory yet, but at least I didn’t have to go through the whole video again. Now, the previous sentence might have implied that by the end of the day I was knocking off the signatures at a champion speed, but the reality is my work finished almost as soon as it started. The members of Signal Cartel do not leave new signatures in Thera unattended for too long so they are always in short supply. That day I managed to scan down just three new wormholes. The last one led to a Class 2 system, so instead of returning to Thera I decided to check for abandoned pirate sites.

“What’s the point?” snorted Aura. “You don’t have any Analyzers fitted.”

“Well,” said I zeroing in on a Central Guristas Data Mining Site, “not on this ship.”

“You don’t have another ship. Not in Thera, at least.”

I just winked and smiled mysteriously in response. Continue reading “Stubborn Dwarf”

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How to Become a Better AI Using Non-programmatic Methods

Genesis Region – Mih Constellation
Zoohen System – Planet III
Theology Council Tribunal Station – Signal Cartel Base

1 January YC 123

“Happy New Year, Aura!”

“Happy New Year, Vlad!”

Aura and I raised and clinked virtual glasses – virtual because in Aura’s world everything was virtual, and I was floating in a pod which was not the best place to drink wine from real glassware.

“Have you got any New Year resolutions?” asked I.

Aura looked at me sarcastically, “You mean, apart from plans to infiltrate a certain corp which pays for copy-pasting and earn enough money for a Nestor?” Continue reading “How to Become a Better AI Using Non-programmatic Methods”

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Thera Scanning Fit

The Forge Region – Anttanen Constellation
Nomaa System – Planet I
Expert Housing Production Plant Station

14 December YC 122

“Good morning, Captain! Always a pleasure to see you,” said Aura, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice, responding to my call.

“Um, hello,” replied I.

We looked at each other silently for a while.

“Well?” said Aura.

“Well…” said I.

Aura made an impatient grimace, “Are you going to say anything?”

I stepped back from the commlink, puffed my chest and slightly turned my head to the right, all the while maintaining eye contact with Aura. Trying to do it all at once, I nearly lost my balance but quickly restored the pose.

I guess, my awkward manoeuvres looked pretty funny from Aura’s point of view, as she snorted and said, “Why are you shuffling like a shy kid?” Then her eyes grew wide and she exclaimed, “Hold on! What’s that?” pointing at my chest.

I blushed, “It’s… a medal. I mean medals?”

“I see they are medals. I mean what are they for? Or did you buy them at a second-hand, or,” she giggled, “rather a second-chest auction?” Continue reading “Thera Scanning Fit”

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