Two Birds with One Plasma Accelerator: Federal Navy Progression Mission

Having got a little tired of trading I decided to take some time out performing some Naval Duties. After all I am supposed to be a Lieutenant in the Federal Navy (albeit an itinerant one not on any regular duty roster).

I selected all the courier missions I could (3 in fact) and set off to deliver the data.

After completing them I immediately got a Hunting mission Naval Progression opportunity.

I finished off delivering my cargo and then accepted another similar black ops mission.

Both were in the same star system and I wondered if I would progress two ranks if I completed both.

As it happened after investigating only a couple of unidentified signal sources (not Weak or strong ones) I found an un-named federal dropship which started firing on me.

I took it out in short order using my current loadout :
Three 3C Gimballed Beam lasers
One 2F Multi-Cannon
One large Plasma accelerator

Both missions then were updated (even though they were for target with different names!).

I went back to the two different stations and was able to cash in both missions with different resulting influence.

I only progressed the one rank to Lieutenant Commander so I can only conclude that the targets in question were co-piloting the dropship.

Two Birds with One Plasma Accelerator!!!!

HOT planet & Golden Balls

Here is an image of my python flying past one really hot planet in the Rotanev star system

!

Trading towards A7 thrusters

I now have an A5 frameshift drive which I found by looking for a 25M population High Tech system.

I had 3 C3 gimballed beam lasers but sold them in favour of a A7 power coupling. I just need now to get some decent thrusters and this C3 beams or possibly a plasma accelerator and 2 C3 beams.

I traded the beams in because:

I MUST NOT FLY WITHOUT INSURANCE

Anyway I've left Bacon Port and Giese 868 because I can't face those arms after what they did to my Python.

I'm now trading Palladium and Progenitor Cells netting around CR2300 per tonne per round trip.

My method for finding this route is find:
High Tech (for progenitor cells) and to sell Palladium
Agriculture & Extraction Economies with height population and looking for the port that exports Coltan / bauxite... rather than the agricultural port.

I am in love with Mike from the insurance company

For legal reasons I cannot go into I can't tell you why but I have to say that the insurance company  have really come through.


The previous blog entry I have now removed is now a SERIOUS WARNING (but not as disastrous as it could have been):




<DELETED>
I have suffered probably the most disappointing experience I have ever had.<EDIT - exact opposite now>.


I lost my Python and all the investment in it just after buying a new paint job for it too.
To be honest I am not sure I'm ready to get back in the cockpit at this stage because I put such a hard slog of my (very rare) time my family commitments allow me.


I was excited about being able to get the Python upgraded and seeing if I could take on some other commanders in similar kit but alas this is not to be.

The woeful tale started when a player ground down my finances by 2 interdictions and destructions of my Python in one session leaving me with barely enough to trade.
After this I went into solo mode to avoid commanders because I needed to re-stock my funds.


I replenished my finances up to about 8 Mill and decided to try out some new thrusters worth 5M to see if my top speed could be improved to get away from players so I could go back to Open Play & play with wing-mates I had made.

They seemed to work well so I decided to keep them even though it only left 3M odd to play with.

Lessons learnt:

1. My first fateful mistake was to assume that I only had to worry about interdictions and I risked a palladium run from Bacon port without enough for a full rebuy. The evil arms of Bacon port hit me and destroyed my last 2 months of playing in 3 seconds.

2. My second error was to think I'd be able to take out a loan to help me reclaim my Python. The max loan I was offered was 600k.


In summary for such an important an potentially devastating impact I wish the insurance companies were clearer up front about the loan value you can expect.

And here is the beauty in question:

Python

With 51M creds and 20M assets in the form of my T7 I finally caved in and flew to a High Tech word start port Zehn dock to see if they had a Python in stock!!

I had planned to keep going with the T7 until I had the full purchase price of the Python (around 56M) so that I would have decent money to spend on outfitting the new beast.

I only made it to 51M before I got too bored / excited about flying a decent ship for a change.

So in the end I only had 14M in cash left over after the part exchange on my T7. It was at least enough to get a 5M Frameshift Drive to give me a decent range but I'm going to need to save up for some serious armament. In the end I was glad I did because after down-grading my shields I have 274 Cargo which is earning me 500K per round trip between Ra & Gliese 868.

 

I am really impressed with the bridge on the Python take a look:

 

 Really nice wood finish on the dashboard too:

 

Wings!

So the last couple of days I have been running Palladium and Mineral extractors between Ra & Gliese 868 with a 5M Frameshift Drive (FSD) meaning I only need 1 jump.


I have been sharing trade vouchers with a couple of German speaking brothers one of whom can afford a Python now. In addition CMDR Patricus who only had a hauler initially now has a Cobra & 2 Mil CR partly due to getting 20K vouchers each time I trade palladium.


My trading profits are around 380k for the palladium run & 88k with the reverse.


I've done so much trading I'm now a Broker trade rank and the Feds don't hate me anymore (I was "Unfriendly" but now "Neutral").


I'm up to 20M cash & 40M in assets but I'm going to pretend I don't have any assets (i.e. keep 20M aside) because when I part Ex my Type 7 I will need money for:

• Ship insurance (I think the python may end up being up to 8M after I've added some useful bits)
• Trading capital (I need at least 3M for palladium)
• A better FSD - by all accounts the Python's default one is hopeless
• Better weapons