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Ramblings of an Argon Nephew (Page 4 of 35)
Written by TTD
Well, overnight services at Argon Prime ain't so good as I was getting used to at Terracorp, but if I'm only selling 2nd hand ships t'ain't important.
I am not even halfway across Home of Light ,when I spot a Discoverer Raider for 37,599 cr. So I try my luck again. Not bad...60955 cr. That was 23,399 cr. profit.
Now to try again. Back into Home of light and I'm just adjusting my eyes from the warp tunnel when I'm offered a Caimen Tanker for 57,700 cr. Now me thinking if I made good money on the Paranid TS, then this 'ere TS from the talking straw-crofts as my uncle called them. You know the ones called Split? Well Maybe this beaten up old husk might fetch me a little bit too.
Nowhere near a dock to exchange shields, so I risk just repairing and sending back to Argon Prime Shipyard. Repaired from 55% hull integrity. My laser was so hot I was worried it would melt my suit! Followed it back in my Merc,...just to be sure,like. Oh what a gift !!! 337,404 cr. THAT'S 279,704 profit.
Now I have bought a few maps and it leaves me with 569,056 credits. Time to dock somewhere safe before I get hammered by something. Si have made my way to the Trading station in CBSW being unable to find any lucrative deals on the way. Looks like I'll be trading in ore again for a while.
Well I travelled about and got 21 more LY side arms in the hold. Ore still does not sell so well as when I first went there..But most of the profit from those ships paid for rudder tuning and cargo space. Now I have just got another TS. Well beat up this time and for about 28,000.
As you can see,it would cost a bit to pay for repairs, and the profit as it is, is quite good. But look what happened when I did a manual repair with my repair-laser.
This is why I like to repair my ships if I am going to sell them. Oh,back to finding more profit...
Norman is nearly ready to set his ship up on sector trading ,while he has some other ideas running through his head.
It's a funny universe.
One minute you are dead set against a race of sentients for what they have done to your relative and the next thing you know ,you here rumours at the bar about how much profit you can make from them.
However, their sectors,along with many others, were removed from my computer charts and I have only my uncle's scribbled star-charts to go on,so I just make a few notes and look them up when I am not busy.
The Teladi can wait until I have earned credits while doing other things....which reminds me... I need some more software and that last bit of storage added...
Back to work. I have lingered over breakfast too long and the market prices change too quickly when the trade lanes get busy.
OK, so I have a full load of ore for 50 cr and still those 21 LY side arms. I head off to CBSE and get my final bit of cargo storage space. Hmmm....seems I have quite a bit of credit left. Nay as well get the rest of the software that's here.
Some I am not allowed to purchase yet. Seems my passport status is not high enough yet...or they don't trust me.... "but governor,I'm only a poor trader who wants to protect his merchandise..."
I just got a black look from a guy twice my size,so I decide not to plead my case any further. Guess they know what I really want to do eventually. I'll just have to earn trust by subterfuge.
I was going to try the "But look ,I have three times more credit than you need ..." type of approach, but I thought better of it and walked out thanking them for an "excellent service", not that I meant it.
Just a few more things to get and I can find a pilot willing to learn a trade for me,while I sort out a little problem that's building up...
There is one problem with the Best Sells software. It only shows the best prices, not what else is available if silos are full at Plutarch's.
So if that happens, you have to manually go to each station's info screen.
I sold what I could at Plutarch and sold the rest at the LY-side arms fab. Checking around on Best Buys, I see that E-cells are down to 12 cr each at last. That may give a good return on a full load. So I go, fill up and check Best Sell:
I can't resist this one. Only 1 cr below Max!
I make a quick sell and back for more e-cells while the price is low. On the way I grab another Merc Super Freighter for repair. I tell it to dock where I just came from and it will be there when I go back to repair it.
There is one problem if you are not the only trader in a sector. Sometimes another trader beats you to the bargain and the price goes up.
That was annoying. I feel like chasing him down and taking his cargo...
Can't do that as I have a poorly equipped ship for any form of battle ,"legitimate " or otherwise. My uncle would say there is only one difference between unlawful and illegal....one's against the law and the other's a sick Earth bird. Still, with a smile on my face and a friendly warning to my competitor, I go back for the SF to repair.
I am getting close to letting my Merc loose but it needs Trade Software MK3 and at least 25 mj of shielding. I check the on board encyclopedia accessible via the menu. 9 I have mine mapped to my joystick).
There is where I can find some...if they are in stock.
Having repaired my MSF I send equipped wit a bit of shielding and send it to the shipyard in CBSE. I just need to get some Ore at 50 cr to make my trip there a little more profitable.
Well I made a good profit on Ore,selling at 179 cr and got over 300,for the MSF. They had 4 x 25 mj shields in stock, which I bought. So I now have 2x 1mj ,1x 5 mj and 1x 25 mj spare if I need them. I still have the 21 LY side arms which I will now sell.
Sold my side arms and went to Terracorp HQ.
Bought all the software left except the Trading Software MK3. I have just under 300,00 and need over 500.000 cr for that. Well, I am nearly ready now to get another ship to keep,but first we need that Trading Software MK3.
A few trades with ore,e-cells and Flail Barrage Missiles and I'm on my way back to Terracorp,when I see another ship captain with something to offer. This time it's a Mercury Tanker.
I bought it. Repaired it. Now I'm in a quandary. ...should I keep it or sell it? I really need a small fighter or scout-ship for phase two.
I send it back to CBSE Shipyard ,loaded with some shielding and continue on my way. Something might turn up before I get to the shipyard, so I won't decide just yet.
The new Merc T is to the left. As you can see from the stats,I have improved my ranks a bit more and have enough to buy the Software I need.
I buy the software and proceed to Ore belt when I hear explosions again. I slow down. Scan the area and see a little skirmish going on. Border control caught some smugglers.
Now as every smuggler, pirate, Teladi or Argon will tell you,Space fuel is illegal in Argon space except if you get special licence to process it. And you ain't gonna get one of those!
But as my uncle would say "you don't look an Argon'orse in't mouth" do ya? Quick decisions...my ship ain't that fast but if they are pre occupied with the battle, these border patrols might not notice me quickly nip in and pinch a bit.
For "medicinal" purposes,...you understand ? So off I go to the Marine Training and sell them some "medicine".
I'll let you do the sums while I continue with my journey.
Since then I have been tailed by 4x border controls and 3 customs,and been scanned three times. Now I can't think why, cause I did not keep any for myself.
Got the shipyard after a bi more trading and decided to keep the Tanker. Now to set the first Mercury free to good pilot... as long as he works well and gives me profit.
And the final STATS ?....
