Ramblings of an Argon Nephew (Page 2 of 35)

Written by TTD



Please feel free to contact TTD about this story. One of the easiest way is to PM him via the egosoft forums, under the name TTD. All comments welcomed, additionally a comment section will be added to the last page once the whole story has been converted on this site.

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Introduction to a new beginning

Let me introduce myself... My name is Norman Fudge For many generations it was Fiesty, but some great granddad of mine fudged his way through astrophysics and managed to get his spaceship licence. When the authorities found out,they changed the family name as a reminder to the rest of Argon Prime to study properly if we are to be of any "real" use to society. I am hoping I can prove my worth and get it reversed....Well, how I managed to get this far with that name I'll never know. I have inherited the remains of my uncle's business ... well,what's left after the Teladi called in all debts. All that hard work for all those years. I warned him not to listen to the Teladi.

"Would you like to makes profitsess with us?" NO I said to my uncle,but he was older and knew better,or so he said.

Well all that is history now. This time I will show those Teladi a few tricks I learned myself. Let's see what I have been left..


All waiting for me in Herron's Nebula. Well, If I want to make any money,I'd better dump that Disco and self pilot the Merc for a while. I can't afford to pay another pilot. I'll keep what little equipment there is for now.

So,first off we'll dock at the trading station and grab it. Then I'll send the disco down into argon Prime and get some credits for it. Probably not worth a lot,but it will help me start trading.

OK,so I get 2 x 1 mj shields from the disco,plus the single 5 mj in the Merc.

I spot my old flight school instructor flying around offering a few cheap lessons. I remembered how "take it or leave it " he can be,so I just left it. Guess he's making a few credits,but I don't think I want to do that when I stop trading.

I still remember my father saying to me,"If you don't learn to fly when you're young,you may never fly", so I went to Flight School. The instructor was known by my dad,but he gave me strict orders. "DON'T FUDGE IT SON." So I worked hard. It was a steep learning curve, but the instructor said "It is easier than it used to be. Old Ban Danna...now that was a guy!..." And then he'd go into his famous story mode about the Kha'ak invasions and some guy called Julian...some sort of protegee of his.

Now where's this shipyard? Nothing ever seems to be where you left it,does it? Ah, I remember...somewhere south of the North Gate. Aim for the north gate. loop up and back...ah, there it is. oh how beautiful home looks from up here!

Now let's see what that ship is worth... 27,321 credits...bare half price! oh well."Beggar's can't be chooser's...but winner's can be losers" as my uncle said when he paid those last credits to the Teladi. CURSES..I'll show them yet!

Well at least they upgraded my passport to Federation Member. If I gave them the ship for nothing would they have increased my rank higher still?

Just noticed a message come up. Got an invitation to help with the Terrans in Omicron Lyrea...where ever that is. Oh, It's way over to the middle of the universe. Luckily I have some old star charts my uncle left me,cause his computer was wiped clean by the Teladi Receivers before they condescended to give him his ship back. I'll pop over to the EQ dock, see if hey have anything I can use and then drop in on Terracorp HQ. Apparently that Julian feller has family ties there. Don't know much about it. And nor did he until he met Ban Danna, and then not straight away. Guess he had to prove his worth first.

Now let's see....Full engine Tuning for 10550.That will help me beat the other traders to a station. That's all the ship upgrade I need for now. Now down to Home of Light for a visit to Julian's Cafe and get some other equipment.

I'm told that out here in space no station is safe. You find a nice cabin on a station in some remote part of the universe and when you return it's no longer there. So I won't worry about mapping every station yet.

Wow have you seen the size of that HQ? My uncle said it was just an old converted shipyard in his day. Guess they must make a few billion credits! Well out here in space you loose all sense of time. The guy at the coffee bar tells me the guy next door does an excellent chocolate drink if I need to get some sleep, so off I trot, taking the hint as good friendly advice.