005 - First trip to lowsec

The Adirain gate transmitted a warning message to my Atron's computer, I was about to enter a section of space that was not patrolled by the local authorities. Ignoring the warning I initiated the jump.

Arriving in Adirain only 2 other pilots registered on the local communications channel, one disappearing almost immediately. I instructed my ship to make a jump to the nearest asteroid belt as I opened the directional scanner and began to familiarise myself with its controls.

Landing in the belt I activated my afterburner and hurtled towards the two serpentis rats, orbited, locked and fired. Pulling up the information on the other pilot still in system I discovered that Seth Godan had a positive security status and had been granted his pilots license only a few days before me. 

I had come to lowsec expecting nothing but grizzled veterans fitted out in tech2 ships, instantly blasting any young pilot into a cloning bay. My purpose for being here was only to survive as long as I could, attempt to evade any pod pilot combat and practice using my scanner in a more hostile environment. At best I hoped to learn a few things, at worst I would be cashing in the insurance on this little ship.

The first serpentis frigate quickly became a pile of wreckage floating in space, I trained my weapons onto the remaining ship and plotted an orbit around the small craft. Suddenly my directional scanner picked up a Vexor cruiser near my location, I quickly instructed my navigation computer to align to the closest planet as the Vexor landed a distance away from me in the centre of the belt. My overview indicated he had begun locking onto my ship, the Vexor spat a small flight of drones into space. I hit the warp button and was out of there before a single shot was fired.

While in warp I noticed two more pod pilots had registered on the local comms, both from a corporation called The Tuskers, Ka Jolo and Aldour Larrt. Their security rating leaving no doubt they were pirates. Warping to 100KM off the Aeschee gate my overview began flashing red, alerting me to Ka Jolo sitting on the gate.

"Ooo blinky" I announced stupidly into local, burning away from the gate and watching the distance between our ships. Without a word Ka Jolo warped off, I sat there for several moments before aligning back to the Arnon gate. This was probably not the best place to sit, I thought as I started adjusting the settings on my directional scanner with growing apprehension. My overview blinked madly, Ka Jolo and Aldour Larrt had warped straight on top of my position.

Warp drive active.

Without firing a shot I'd had two of my most exciting encounters since getting my pilots license. I jumped into Arnon and made my way through several highsec systems before jumping back into lowsec at Lisbaetanne. I spent the next 20 minutes jumping around the various lowsec systems nearby practicing with my scanner, looking at the locals names and even saw a shootout between a large group of ships at a gate in Old Man Star.

Eventually I found myself in Hervice, a small system bordering highsec. Aldour Larrt registered on local and it occured to me that I'd paid no attention at all to what ship types he and Ka Jolo had been flying earlier. Warping into the single asteroid belt that was far from everything else in the solar system, I engaged the serpentis and began scanning again. 

It wasn't long before my computer detected a Rifter approaching, I started aligning to make my escape. The serpentis had taken my shields and I was already well into armor, I knew I wouldn't be able to put up a fight against this experienced pirate even if he gave me a headstart into his structure. The rifter shot into the belt as I engaged my engines.

Warp drive active.

Your capacitor is empty.

My atron lurched into warp for the shortest jump on record, I had left my armor repairer on for too long and completely drained my capacitor, damnit!. I had made it just far enough away from the Rifter that he could warp right on top of me, yet not so far away that I was out of range of his overview. Within seconds I was locked and my warp engines were scrambled. 

Mdih Lihu > uhoh

Aldour Larrt > :)

It only took a few seconds for his autocannons to reduce my ship to scrap, my pod making it safetly into warp.

Aldour Larrt > gf

Mdih Lihu > haha wasnt much of a fight really but I do like explosions, even if they are my own :D

Mdih Lihu > seeya

Aldour Larrt > o/

I will defintly be spending more time in this strange place called lowsec, hopefully I can make something beside myself blow up. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go buy a new ship.