Fit the 8th: Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes

[Spider Domi, Dominix]

Drone Damage Amplifier II
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Armor Explosive Hardener II
Damage Control II

Peripheral Weapon Navigation Diameter
Cap Recharger II
Cap Recharger II
Cap Recharger II
Cap Recharger II

Drone Link Augmentor II
Large Remote Capacitor Transmitter II
Large Remote Capacitor Transmitter II
Large Remote Armor Repairer II
Large Remote Armor Repairer II
Large Remote Armor Repairer II

5x Warrior II
5x Hobgoblin II
5x Salvage Drones
5x Hammerhead II
5x Calari Navy Warden
5x Federation Navy Garde

Mobile Tractor Unit
A winning personality

~~*****~***~*****~~

Well readers a lot has been happening. We have three of the 7 POCOs replaced and things are getting into a good rhytem in the hole. AND I know what you are going to say, and you would be right so  consider this my apology for not keeping you up to date on my activities. Over the last two weeks thing have picked up and I've made and spent almost a billion isk. I flew then bought and fit my first battleship, and it is interesting because it wasn't a Matari ship. I feel sort of conflicted over that. I mean I can fly every races ships. At several points I've flown frigates or cruisers from the various races. AND I admit to having had a Drake period in my past. But I always thought Matari would be my first battleship, so went our fleet doctrine for C5 sites was set as RR Rattlesnake or Domi, I had very few options. Now I am not saying I don't like it but I always feel like I need to roam in Bandersnatch afterwards. Bandersnatch has still been very useful in the C1. For our C5 sites though we have been running small fleets of 4 or 5 and these Domis seem to be very good at getting the job done. Though admittedly we went to the Domis after we had 3 rattlesnakes stolen.

Readers, after a purging of the corp with glorious fire and pain our membership is much more active and trustworthy. We have brought in a few new members and they seem to be good additions to a band of misfits. Now my own solo past still persists and I tends to run sites alone when I can and jealously guard my safes and bm's to lucrative sites in our statics. I also get inpatient while waiting for everyone to get organized for fleet ops in the C5. I can only image the pains a FC in a 20 man fleet must feel, let alone a 70 man fleet. I am not sure I want to move into a larger corp. But I suppose if I have more time I wouldn't feel that way, maybe.

The other night we had a fleet enter our space and start running our gas sites! Now at this they must have thought we would roll over and let them have our resources since we where a small 10 man corp and they were... a force that dwarfed our entire seatable fleet. A corp mate moved his cloaky scan ship in to watch them, but noobed it and bumped a gas cloud and was popped. He and myself  grabbed our stealth bomber and got to show them what a red giant effect does for bombs. They all got out and ran, rolling the hole they had used to enter as quickly as they could... I was inclined to let them because I'd only had 2 bombs at the time, but the funny bit was the absolute horror in their reaction as they realized each bomb incoming would do 17k+ in damage. This was perhaps the moment that I realized I could never truly return to K-space. Well not for any real amount of time.

Anyway readers, I am alive and doing well. And for these two reason I am so very very scared. Bob only knows what horrors the future has planned for me now.

The Broken, the Beaten and the Damned

Well readers, it has been a while since I updated you on my misadventures. I found a corp that wanted to move into wormholes and they invited me to join them. I accepted and was foolishly given directors rights. Now I know what you're thinking reader, potential billions of isk at my finger, well yes there is that but I had to help run things too... also the billions was actually only hundreds of thousands of isk. We moved into a C1 with three other corps and set up a small pos. I don't think I need to tell you that this was a very bad call. The other corps wanted us to help in fleet engagements and security. We were okay with that... and well, I'm not sure I get it. Everyone in the alliance wanted to hunt for other pilots rather than run sites. They do industry and trading and I'm hemorrhaging isk like I had a massive head wound in this C1. I actually lost half a billion in equipment, fuel and BPs in our first three weeks.

Just as an example we have been roaming low and null in frigate fleets, cheep fits mind you, but every time "engage" is called by the FC, I confirm target, close and engage ... BUT the rest of the fleet jumps away because things get too hot before they even start to fight back. As a result I've lost A LOT of ships in a very short time, and my income is not keeping up. Lots of cheep ships when you lose them add up fast.

Well after some pushing the CEO finally saw reason, (I couldn't spot him another days worth of Fuel and the POS went off line,) So we scouted out and he found an "abandoned" C5. Our corp is mostly young players... point in fact I am the ONLY capsulteer in the corp that can fly a HAC, HAF, CovOP... any T2 ship, let alone a BS or T3. BUT C5 it is,. While moving in the CEO loses a hauler full of BPs and other equipment I've ended up "donating" to the corp... well that was the rest of my half billion. Now I'm back to 20 million in my wallet, a Mammoth and my Cheetara 2. I have a Rupture sitting in a hanger in highsec but I'm not sure I am ready to lose that one just yet.

So now still bleeding isk like a gusher, we have a large tower, 20 site, C1 static, a few new recruits, and no one to run content... Oh and I forgot to add the system has seven POCO at 100% tax. I wonder if I can solo bash a POCO in a Tornado or a Hound.

I think I am gonna have to take some "me" time soon and simply explore down the chain and leave everyone else to the fleets for a while. I guess readers the good news is that I am not desperate enough to just mine yet.

Falling Down

Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand
Workin' in the dark against your fellow man
But as sure as Bob made black and white
What's done in the dark will be brought to the light

You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later Bob'll cut you down
Sooner or later Bob'll cut you down

Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell 'em that Bob's gonna cut 'em down
Tell 'em that Bob's gonna cut 'em down

Readers, I am not proud of myself. I have no joy in this admission to you and know that you will sit in rapt horror and disgust of my actions. I ask you not to judge me for my sins. A few days ago as I flew a L4 in highsec another pilot jumped in and started to shoot my MTU. I know that this is common baiting. But I'd had enough, readers, so I convo'ed him and politely asked that he find someone else to annoy. This seemed not to have the desired affect, he blew up my MTU then stole my loot. Obviously he though that since he was flying a HAC and I was in a Hurricane that he could take me. I started for my wrecks that had not been pulled to the MTU... this was a feint, I admit. I could not hope to catch him with an AB and autocannon fit. He took my bait and rushed to the wreck that I was slowboating to, only 8km away. He suddenly understood his mistake, I had him in scram and web, my AB was now on and he couldn't get out of my guns range. He started firing, I did let him have the first shot, it felt like the sporting thing to do. I launched drones and lay into him with my AC. My tank not even broken, he was in his pod, and I locked him to finish him off... but I stayed my hand and let him warp off. I felt vindicated, dear readers. I jumped away and grabbed my Noctus and looted his ship and finished cleaning up my wrecks. I had only lost 10 million isk in loot and MTU, but he had lost 150 million. I am not proud of this, dear readers, I have looked into the depths of my soul and seen the beast that lurks there waiting to come out and destroy all.

Readers, if one of you are my victim, I apologize for my out burst, you should have known better, you should have known that you had no hope once I had locked on. You should have asked forgiveness and mercy rather than persisted, but that is the past and now we must live with our decisions. Again I apologize, that is not who I am, that is not who I want to be, please do not make me become that again, for I will reaper the frozen corpses from your twisted remains and sacrifice them to Bob should you push me again!

In other news readers I joined a small WH corp, and have move permanently into wspace. It is a small group and looking to grow, but I think we will find new and industrious ways to fail, so stay tuned. Things promise to become more interesting.

In Loving Memory of Cheetara

When you're weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
I'm on your side. When times get rough
And friends just can't be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.

When you're down and out,
When you're on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
I'll take your part.
When darkness comes
And pain is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.

Sail on silvergirl,
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine.
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.

~~*****~***~*****~~

More that a Frigate. More than a hull and modules with no tank but stealth. Metal and wires and electronics, these where not your soul. They call you TechII, I called you friend. Against the revenges of hostile cruel wspace you kept me safe and warm in your embrace. New Eden is just a little dark now without your cloaked shimmer, we both looked forward to Oceanus, now I must face it without you. May you skies forever more be Rokh and Smartbomb
free.

Important to remember - Capsulteers are Mean.

Readers, last night I lost a dear friend. We have been together so long that I am finding it hard to even admit that she has passed on. It is hard to find the words to express the depth of this loss. We have been through so much together and to have her ripped away from me so violently, well readers it has left me with questions. Why did I make it and she didn't, how could someone so causally and cruelly rip someone so precious away form another?

Readers, last night on my way home from Jita a low sec gate disco turned ugly and my precious Cheetara what gone, I landed on the gate and she was gone! I was suddenly in my pod with only 25% hull. She wasn't fancy, she wasn't high class like some other ships, but she was mine. I have literally had her with me since I came back to New Eden. My lose cannot be measured in isk this time my readers, she was not a ship was a friend, only an hour earlier we had ninjaed a relic sight together. She was so sexy in that cloak getting right up on those cans and hacking them then warping off before sleepers or the site runner could realized we where there. Our gains weren't worth the risks but it was fun, we laughed and sighed panting at our ss and went back two more times. I thought nothing could take her from me... I thought I would never need to say good bye.

We knew that the run to Jita to sell our loot was risky, but the night had been one of adrenaline and high risk already. This part of the night seemed so trivial as to be laughable, there is a low sec leg that saved us 10 jump. We dressed down taking only what was needed, cloak, mwd, cargo mods (in case I found a good deal.) We got there without trouble, sold everything for about 5 million  hardly worth the trip. I'd left a Large Shield Extender II in the hanger there the last time because of space issues in my hauler, I'd literally filled it up with other things the time before, not even 10m3  to spare, so I left that behind. Last night we were running bare bones, just in case, though I thought we would be safe I mean I saw the disco camp and made it through on the way there, I knew where on the gate they were... but they where having their party right on the gate when we showed up on the way back, and I lost my dear Cheetara. One minute we were in warp to 0 on the gate, next she is gone and I only have my pod a head ache and the taste of cooper in my mouth.

I've tried to move on, dear readers, but it isn't the same. I have her twin sister in my hanger, she can wear all the same outfits. She can play all the same games, make the same moves, but dear readers, she is not my lost Cheetara. I say again my readers, she IS not.

I ask you readers that we all observe a moment of silence for a fallen friend and faithful companion. I should never have taken her back there, we should have take the time to go around, enjoyed the evening together on a leisurely stroll though so many lovely high sec neighborhoods, rather than take that stinking urine stained low sec back alley.

CHEETARA NO, What have I done!!! I will avenge you, I will try to find some way, I promise... although maybe I'll just be happy I made it with my pod and head full of implants, Cheetara would want that for me after all.

Oh by the way readers, last night I went into a C1 and while scanning down sites I found a relic site with a Stratios pew-pewing the sleepers. I snuck in and hacked the cans and looted some of the wrecks before he noticed me. I got about 5 million out of it. It was a fun bit of ninjaing and worth the risk from a fun standpoint. Had I been in my Bandersnatch II (or maybe it XXI I cannot remember anymore) I might have tried to jump him. But readers I thought that the time it would take to go back get my BC and get back would have been too long and I would have lost the Stratios totally. So I think I am starting to get this wspace thing.

An update on the 7th Fit

Well dear readers, I'm calling it a win. 

True I lost a hurricane and a hound, but I pulled 108m isk out of that C1 before was jumped and viciously brutalized. And I want you to know readers, I bare those callous heartless thugs no ill will, no malice, just the promise of violence should we meet again in w-space, but violence without malice! 

I replaced and slightly upgraded my Hound-dog and Bandersnatch! And readers, I still have 2.5m isk left over, that is a surplus not a deficit. In my books that is a solid win. So I shall not hang my head and mope. Bandersnatch is back and flying again, a bit slower now and I admittedly have had to reset my radio presets, seat height and other adjustment; but that is all incidental, My fuzzy dice are gone, and I am not sure how to rectify that without blood, but still it wasn't a total loss, I have that new ship smell again. I am also still down the ammo and MTU and Mobile Depot but those are incidentals also and would have eventually been lost to me anyway, so they don't count. And besides readers, what good is a Noctis if all it does is sit in my hanger because I am using my salvage drones and MTU all the time to cleanup as I go? Sure in w-space fast and quick is the way to go, and I really don't want to risk an asset like my Hoover, at least not until I have a corporation or group of like-minded individuals to help protect it.

So, that is that readers. I won hurrah for me.

And now a public service announcement for the NESPCD 

Capsulteers, remember to get your drones spay and neutered. It is easy and inexpensive and will help to cut down on an epidemic scaled out breaks of rogue drone hives and feral drone packs. Not only are these a health and safety hazard they often result in the slaughter of many innocent and potentially rehabilitate drones. Your corporate agents and Concord aren't to be blamed for sending capsulteers to slaughter colonies and hives of these machines, originally the ones to blame are you, the capsulteers who lost a drone here or there carelessly warping away without recalling or bm'ing the location so you could return and pick them back up. Your poor lost drones wander without purpose or directing, eventually falling in with a "bad crowd," getting graffittied up to look more street and then going to some cut rate drone hacker to have its subroutines rerouted to numb the pain of your betrayal. They find another feral drone and get her replicating and suddenly you have new a hive forming, and none of this would have happened if you had been a responsible drone owner and had your drones spay or neutered before hand. A spay or neutered drone cannot cause or produce replications.

Paid for by the New Eden Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Drones.

Bob is good.

Our Bob is an awesome Bob, much more awesome than some other Bobs out there.

So dear readers, with only the loot I'd taken from that C1 and with one million in the bank, I make my way to Jita tonight. "Here I go to Jita, Jita. I want to make my life all betta', beda'."

By Rens I was up 31.5 million. Now I don't mean to brag dear readers, or say that I am more blessed by Bod than others because he prefers my cakes to what ever it is the others they call their sacrifices. But I think it's obvious what Bob prefers, don't you? Needless to say readers, by Jita my account balance skyrocketed to just under 110 million isk. Over 100 million in isk. The nanofibers were my big winner on this trip (netting me about 70 million alone), but I must say the T2 and faction drones that I found just floating lost and alone while looking for other capsulteers in w-space helped my totals considerable also. Plus I cannot stand to see the poor defenseless drones left alone and scared to suffer what ever fate awaits them because their former owners couldn't take care of them. Honestly readers, the local shelters are packed with abandoned or unwanted drones. You should adopt some, sometimes capsulteers invest in expensive breeds of these wonderful pets and then just leave them without a care to fend for themselves out in the vast oceans of space. Its a crime, really it is. No wonder there are some many packs of feral drones wondering w-space making it unsafe.

Well now readers, I am a lazy seller when it comes to the market. I know I could maybe increase my returns by at lest another quarter, but I just don't waste my time with sell orders. It doesn't appeal to me. Trader PvPers you win against me, it is almost unfair. I know I should follow my favorite Kilrathi saying and "fight back, there is no honor in slaughter!" But meh, The most I do is I set up a small spreadsheet that tracks my loot and the highest buy orders and quantities in the hubs and plan a run to Jita, stopping off  here or there along the way. If my sheet says something will sell higher there I stop and off load it, so I had an idea that I would come close to 100 million isk this trip.

Readers, by now I think you know me well enough to know that I do not have that dark part of the human soul that is required to be able to  sell the brighter happier bits to an Anti-Bob in order to Plex every weekend, and make other scream "my ship! Why Bob, why! Those supplies where for the orphans! Those poor mutant orphan freaks will never get another chance at to hunt for the colorful and deadly Bobsmas eggs delivered and hidden like landmines by Old Saint Andta Claws during the Reign of Deers, the Great Red Slayer!" I care about the orphans of Eve, and want them to find the eggs that do not hiss or tick menacingly. Does this make me a bad capsulteer? Inferior in skills and style to those depraved monsters that would see the return of INFOD and the Church, I say thee nay. Isk is merely a matrix by which we may keep score. I accept that I am not in the top percentiles, or even the top bottom percentiles of capsulteers. Many younger pilots make much more than me on a trial account. BUT as a solo pilot I know my income is limited to what I can handle alone, and I put a greater percentage of my personal wealth on the line than others in larger corporations and alliances. I know dear readers, that I will lose, often and more... and often more than I can afford, but somehow I say afloat. I make just enough to replace what I have lost and maybe upgrade a bit. I am able to indulge in some expensive habits aswell, (Quafe Zero how can I not keep a case or two in my hanger to enjoy after I find my hands and toes no longer feel like they fit quite right in that new clone I find myself in.) And for all this I am content.

All I am saying is dear readers is that Bob watches out for the soloist it seems, and he keeps us flying. Fly safe or fly dangerous... just don't forget that I fly scared.

Fit the Seventh - Bob giveth and Bob rippith away in violent fire and pain

[You Ain't nothin but a , Hound]
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Co-Processor II

Phased Muon Sensor Disruptor I, Targeting Range Dampening Script
Phased Muon Sensor Disruptor I, Targeting Range Dampening Script
Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I

Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Prototype 'Arbalest' Torpedo Launcher, Nova Torpedo
Prototype 'Arbalest' Torpedo Launcher, Nova Torpedo
Prototype 'Arbalest' Torpedo Launcher, Nova Torpedo
Expanded Probe Launcher I (off-line)

Small Bay Loading Accelerator I
Small Bay Loading Accelerator I

450x Nova Torpedo
8x Sisters Combat Scanner Probe
Mobile Depot

~~*****~***~*****~~

Last night, dear readers, I  found a lovely Wrabbit-Hole. It was full of luminous glory and no one I could see. Half an hour of scanning found me every POS and anomaly. I noted location and makeup for each. Ships sat docked but no one seemed to be about, I scanned I checked, I set warp away bm. All was ready. I was ready, so away I jumped to get my Bandersnatch.

All was fire and isk, readers. My sacrifice to Bob was the first spawn's top wreck, destroyed unlooted and unsalvaged, and there was also a cake. If you are interested in this ancient Minmatar recipe it is very simple, and quite healthy too. You take one Quafe, whatever flavor you like, I use Zero because it seems to be Bob's favorite; one unit of wheat, ground in to a fine powder; one unit of dairy product, I prefer to get it fresh, but the freeze dried is just as good in a pinch; mix the ingredients together well using a Khumaak and place all into a jetcan and cook at the sun. Make sure to use Inferno Missiles or phases plasma, laser or hybrids will only char the cake leaving a carbony aftertaste.

Happily, readers, did I cleared sites for almost two hours! My cargo wasn't nearly full and I had about 70 million in blue loot and nanoribbons. Though I am sure you know, that higher class holes yield much more and faster than a lowly C1, but in all it beats mission running hands down. And readers, I was doing it, I was soloing a hole all by myself. Watching my d-scan and ready to jump at a moments notice. I took my loot back to my station in k-space because I had other things requiring my attention, but planned to return afterwards.

Two hours passed and I was back in EVE. I when back to the same hole, checked it briefly, no activity is seemed.  But while cleaning up my first sites wrecks, only worth a miserly 7 million, I suddenly noticed was jump by a Stratios with ogre II's and trinity tackle and Nemesis as back up.

Now readers, you know me, I own my mistakes. I am not one to cast blame and cry that i was caught unfairly, or subject crippling lag, such terrible awful lag slowing my ability to react! I was caught with two of my guns offline and the Ogres ripped up my poor Bandersnatch. 

Now my day started with me earning enough to replace my poor BC, but, dear readers, I am sad to admit that I wasn't satisfied. Fire burnt within my heart and the blood of my Matari ancestors demanded vengeance. Back I raced in my pod to grab another ship. My hound-dog I thought would do the job. In it, I rushed back silent and sure. To my wreck I jumped. I had hurt the Stratios earlier and he'd needed to repair, I had hit his hull before he finished mine. I jumped in too close though, and as I landed so did the Stratios, with his insta-lock he grabbed my Bandersnatch's defiled wreck pulling it unwittingly into my hound-dog. Suddenly there I sit dear reader, in my glass cannon, no time to lock and fire, though I tried. I was soon in my pod and running. At my wormhole back home sat a camp of his mates, but I had bm'ed off far enough to see them before they could come for me and I kept moving. They should have bubbled the hole, but they didn't. I survived. 

You see dear readers, this tail of woe is not because of cursed lag, but one of deeper and darker stuff. The human heart is seems is a terrible place full of greed. I should have been satisfied  with what i had, but instead my losses ended up greater than my gains. Bob has shown me the errors of my ways yet again, readers, dear readers, I was blinded and wrong. But now I know, Now I see. There is but one truth, I must be more vigilant against the darkness. I must burn all I see just as the wheat that I so loving add to my cakes so to must I mix the blood of those I see white their own ashes so to purge their greed from them... Or at least that is the lesson I think Bob wanted to teach me, readers, so pray you see me before I see you next time.

A message to you.

Dearest Reader, this is a letter to you. You are pleased I know, you always secretly wanted to be the topic of a blog post and now you are.

I am writing this blog for you, and so I must let you know that this blog and Justice Shallow, myself, are trying to find our voice. It isn't easy to write in verse every post, harder still to write in really good bad verse, to stagger the thought flow and make the reader, you, wince with my pain. But you keep ready anyway. Why? You are my friends, or enemies, I really cannot tell from here, you all have such a vaguely human shapes it is hard to tell really.

Bare with me, help me to know when you hear one you like. I hear so many so often I should  be able  to pick one.

Fit the sixth - Praise Bob

[Banersnatch, Hurricane]

Damage Control II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Tracking Enhancer II

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Large Shield Extender II
Relic Analyzer I

425mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
Improved Cloaking Device II

Medium Anti-Thermal Screen Reinforcer I
Medium Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Medium Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I

1x Warrior II
5x Salvage Drones

Mobile Depot
Mobile Tractor Unit
Medium Armor Repairer II
Large Shield Booster II
Large Shield Extender II
2x Salvager II
'Arbalest' Heavy Missile Launcher
500x Nova Heavy Missiles
10,000x Republic Fleet EMP M
(No Sacrifice for Bob! Whatever was I thinking)

~~*****~***~*****~~

I, dear reader, must apologize. It has been so long you must have thought me dead, or at there least infected with maladies to numerous to survive. Neither is the case reader, I yet live unaffected. My absence  was not truly voluntary, life it seem has been tag teaming with fate to make difficult  my time spent in EVE.

Late last night I was able to creep back though. I scanned  and found in my home system a C1. I ventured in for some recon and found many sites to run to my liking.

I prepared my Hurricane, Bandersnatch, and jumped in. Direct to the first site I flew, it was a relic site so the hardest first I thought. Sleeper went pop wave after wave, only once did I jump away on the final wave to let my cap restore from their neuting of me. Through all this I had my MTU gathering the wreck with a BM so I could just away then straight to it if the need raised. Always I watch D-scan and my PvP overview for others, nothing at all was seen. I quickly salvaged the wrecks with my drones and my salvagers (more savings, more doing that's the power of the Mobile Depot,) And I turn my attention to the relic cans. Now in the past these have lead to my dark demise, I cannot count the ships or pods that low-sec has claimed from this action, and you have already read of my misfortunes in w-space during such attempts (unnamed Tengu and Logi how I loath your surprise attack! My fist I shake at you for vexing me!) But this night I was lucky, not a blip or peep, all was silent as sheep. Three cans for me to loot.

Then as I opened the final can, tragedy most foul, my cargo hold was full. I had brought too much with me and the hour was already late, and my day starts so early... I admit, dear reader, even now as I scribe my woes to you my eyes droop and my head nods. The phone from my hand nearly drops. I knew then and accept now that that would be my only site that night, my only trip to and from. Forgive me Bob, I forgot to appease you! But in his wisdom and mercy he let me take my keep. In His loving way he reminded my who gives, and requires blood so that we may receive, 30m3 of Republic Fleet EMP was jettisoned and sacrificed in electrical fire from their brother.

So my loot was blue and plentiful, though not overly grand (it was a C1 after all) and the lose equaled the gain. Last night I was reborn and must continue to dive into w-space. Sink or float in that ocean of stars I will never know, but with luck and Bob maybe one day, dear readers, I will find a way to leave k-space behind and bloody myself upon the shores of the unknown.  

Fit the Fifth - Lessen on the same.

[Fit the Same as before... such a silly mistake, Hurricane]
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Damage Control II
Medium Armor Repairer II

Experimental 10MN Afterburner I
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Medium Ld-Acid Capacitor Battery I

425mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
Core Probe Launcher I, Sisters Scanner Probe

Medium Capacitor Control Circuit I
Medium Projectile Burst Aerator I
Medium Projectile Ambit Extension I

3x Warrior II
3x Salvage Drones
(Cake - 1x Quafe, 1xWheat, 1xDairy Product, mix well, jetcan and cook at the sun)

~~*****~***~*****~~

Apologies first, second and third. I have been away quite a bit as of late. Traveling here and journeying there and time for EVE not a bit. SO my exploits and fancies as I cut though the stars has been on unwanted hiatus.

Towards the end of last month while trying to hone my combat ready skills. When on a whim I scanned down a hole and went in. This tail I've related to others, though uneventful as it was, I will recount it here before more woeful disasters I share.

A day-trip and a little recon was my goal. Hoping to find those who lived in a hole and perhaps share a nice cake to Bob.

I jump in flying my COVOP and First thing I see is a BC just sitting there camping the hole. I BM the hole (so I could make it home unless it got rolled,) launch probes, hit MWD and cloak. Jump to 100km off the nearest anom and start scanning down every sig I could find. The system was big (10 Planets with moons, 20 POS in all (5 or 6 were more than just a tower), 7 Sigs, and another 10 or so Anoms, I though all that took close to an hour.)

I'd scanned for some time not a sight of another soul but some ships parked at their POSes. And in all that time that BC has just sat there, hadn't moved, not eve a twitch. The BC has me nervous, my COVOP had not tank, nor offense or defense. It was little more than a Styrofoam shell with enough to be speedy if I needed it. I have the skills trained, I have the bling, but I don't have the instinct I guess. Because I stat watch him do nothing at all ans wondered what I should do next.

I warp to a 250km BM off the WH back to Kspace, aligned to a 1000km BM at max (non-mwd) speed so I could away jump fast if I needed. I check his pilot info and corp, I uncloak and waited then waited some more. I cam within 30km of him sitting there. From him I got nothing, no response, not a move.

I'm considering jump out, y own Hurricane(though unhappy with it since I lost its twin a few days ago on a day-trip to a cloaky SC with Logi support.) I had this gnawing feeling like Ackbar before me, and "its a trap!" just rung in my head. But my uncloaked baiting for response got me so close and I saw nothing and was able to cloak back up without trouble.

So away I jumped, saying next time I will try it in a bomber should the situation present itself  again.

So on to last night and my embarrassing plight, gas farming I thought could be fun. In jumped the sleeps, out jumped my Venture, and I come back with the Hurricane for some fun. But to my surprise I was neuted, scammed and totally out gunned. The sleepers made quick work of my little BC, a chance I never did have. That was when I realized I was in a C4.

 So always remember to check the systems level before you start to run the sites!

Fit the Forth - the Storm on the Waves

[Fit the Forth, Hurricane]
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Damage Control II
Medium Armor Repairer II

Experimental 10MN Afterburner I
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Medium Ld-Acid Capacitor Battery I

425mm AutoCannon II, EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, EMP M
Core Probe Launcher I

Medium Capacitor Control Circuit I
Medium Projectile Burst Aerator I
Medium Projectile Ambit Extension I

~~*****~***~*****~~

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

I had scanned many days, I have scan many weeks. Seven days to a week I allow. But still I was never able to lovingly gaze on the isk these trek should be making me.

It was last week in a whole I though vacant I took my Hurricane to pop sleepers for my first time. A C2 relic site was my goal, and I though I might find some loot worth while. I've oft heard talk of "blue-loot" so I drop my MTU and started shooting. 6 then 7 million in CONCORD research was my reward then, the double BS spawn had took me the longest. I jump away to fit salvages but should have expected a back-stabbing.

A Loki and his mate decided to take my spoils and my ship. Though sleeper BS I'd easily dealt with, I barely damaged their shields. And in my pod again I was forced to run. Jumping home with more lost than I'd been able earn even on the loot if I'd had it.

And this brings us to the present day, I sneak through every Wrabbit-Hole I may find. I am scannign down POS's and POCO's and ships, deducing threats as I go. Never quite sure how to address, asking fora job in their pocket of w-space.

Fit the third - O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!... no perhaps not

[Fit the Third, Venture]
Shield Power Relay II

Medium Shield Extender II
Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I
Survey Scanner II

Gas Cloud Harvester I
Gas Cloud Harvester I
Improved Cloaking Device II

Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Small Anti-Thermal Screen Reinforcer I

~~*****~***~*****~~

Upon my third venture into the place between waking and dream, I scanned and sought out clouds. I has check it quite thoroughly, just me with bell to toll, no one around all was safe and sound. I proceeded to net the green candy floss that floated in whiffs about me. As I filled my Venture's hold I caught sight of sleeper's arriving in my little site. So I simply jumped away.
So back to my station I ran, with unknown bounty in my hold. I though would bring me some solace, a few pretty thing it should buy. I had finally succeeded, even though I'd retreated...

Three week have I waited, and still none have shown interest in buying the stuff. So I now tell you, what you take has small value if you cannot get it to sell.

Fit the Second - Gimbling in the wabe

[Fit the Second, Rupture]
650mm Artillery Cannon II, EMP M
650mm Artillery Cannon II, EMP M
650mm Artillery Cannon II, EMP M
650mm Artillery Cannon II, EMP M
Core Probe Launcher, Sisters Core Scanner Probe

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Large Shield Extender II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field I
Medium Neutron Saturation Injector I

Damage Control II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II

Medium Ancillary Current Router I
Medium Projectile Collision Accelerator I
Medium Projectile Metastasis Adjuster I

~~*****~***~*****~~

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

On my second trek in to the great unknown of the places behind the looking glass, I found a quiet C2 with an empty POS and several sites. Noone to be seen, not a pilot in sight, so I though to myself it would do. I bookmarked my exit, then proceeded to scan what I could.

A relic site to gimble was my 'splorer's delight, but when I brought in my Ruppie to clear it, sleepers out at 80 km brought tears too my eyes. I had barely the time to flee them. Asleep or awake, I really cannot say, but they are deadly foes. I had to run, which wasn't much fun, but at least I still had my hull.

The moral of this is - never to miss, jump to the range of your guns, give 'em all barrels, avoiding such perils and having to turn and GTFO. Also... know you rats!

Fit the First - Down the first Rabbit-Hole

[Fit the First, Probe] 

Improved Cloaking Device II
Expanded Probe Launcher I, Sisters Core Scanner Probe
[empty high slot]

Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I 

Data Analyzer I
Relic Analyzer I
Cargo Scanner II

Co-Processor II
Co-Processor II
Small Armor Repairer II

Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I 

Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I

[empty rig slot]

3x Hobgoblin I, 3x Warrior I

~~*****~***~*****~~

I am a simple Bellman, all praised to the skies-- such a carriage, such ease and such grace! Such solemnity, too! One can see I am wise, the moment one looked in my face! I have but one notion for crossing the oceans, and that is to tingle my bell.

I have little care for, or more accurately I have little knowledge of the good of Mercator's, North Poles, Equators, Tropics, Zones, and Meridian Lines. So I sail with a map I well understand, a complete and absolute blank.

A few weeks ago, four weeks and a day if you must pry, I discovered the art of exploration. 20 million sp seemed quiet enough to me, so I dove into Rabbit-Hole exploitation.

I scanned half the hour, many systems I searched, from hisec C2's  are easily found.  So down in that Rabbit-Hole I slipped, to take a quick look about. I'd not read a guide or wiki or some other source, I simple jump through on a whim,  and found a small paradise, a scanner delight, I  launched probes and sat 20 km the first planet I saw, though bookmark my out I did forget. As I scanned I had forgot to activate my cloak, a rookie mistake I admit. I sat just off the planet not bothering to orbit or fly and before I knew it a Tengu came by with blood in his eyes and I was locked and couldn't jumped away from my position. The frumious Tengu was faster than me and pop went my Probe before drones could engage. Spamming my jump button for the sun, my pod and I jumped safety away. Lost in that starry ocean, no knowing whither to go. I tried to d-scan down my exit... but in only my pod I'd that point was moot I had no idea how to get back now. I suppose I had one option, though I can honestly say since I've rarely had cause to use it, self destruction of my pod just never came to my thoughts, so on the sun I just waited... and back in a clone vat I was.

GF the Tengu did eve-mail, though trite as it was, I must say, I was never a threat after all, but whatever my losses were reasonably small, the venture was not a total loss.

By way of further explanation

First. I am not an expert player in EVE, though I have played EVE since 2006. Perhaps though that in itself is misleading. For I in truth have only around 20 million skill points and a wallet that rarely peaks above 90 million isk. Perhaps I am the oldest and boldest of noobs, or simply a beamish boy unprepared for what whiffles through the tulgey wood.

My PvP experience  laughable at best, (one could argue that all EVE is PvP and so I should qualify such, but to you I say the argument of semantics is trite and all know I refer commonly to PvP combat as such,) and though podded only a handful of times in engagements against others, I have won not once. It is not for lack of skills, my build is primarily combat groomed, but I think it is easy to see killer instinct I have not at all. I lack the will to lock and fire first, and so often find that after the Alpha I am next to lost and tackled. I won't say I do not expect or see it coming. I fly solo, so everyone... no let me rephrase that, EVERYONE else is a target or a threat, mainly the latter.


So lacking the vorpal sword of a fighters spirit, I find myself asking what I am doing in EVE? The game in spite of my current loathing of PvP, (please stop, your inane babble, we know what is meant,) has hooks in me. I love the building and testing of kits, the planning how to skill myself so that I can fly them, they are perhaps not the common or optimal fit, but I like to test them, mayhaps it is why I cry little about a loss that means I must ice mine several hours to replace.

Lately I find thought at the PvE of agent missions bore me. The LP are nice, and some claim I can make more if I pay the skill tax, but I ask why, all are the same, though I may increase the supposed reward the gain in the game is truly small. I have tried to make it more interesting, truly, an L4 in a Wolf is possible, not advised and with good reason... more boring that doing it fast, and hardly worth the resources in ammo.

So I decided to start Wormholing -- only I feel more like Alice with each trip being curiousor and curiousor. But more than Alice, I feel as if I where the Bellman, truly unfit to sail yet the captain none the less. So I Justice Shallow dive into the ocean of stars known as New Eden, to see just how deep the Rabbit Hole goes, and when I find the snark that I hunt if the snark be true... or if I share the Baker's fate and find a Boojum.

Introduction

If-and the thing is wildly possible-the charge of writing nonsense were ever brought against the author of this brief but instructive work, it would be based, I feel convinced, on the authors surreptitious use of the writing of Lewis Caroll, namely the forms and styles of his poems. In view of this painful possibility, I will not (as I might) appeal indignantly to my other writings as a proof that I am incapable of such a deed: I will not (as I might) point to the strong moral purpose of this work itself, to the arithmetical principles so cautiously inculcated in it, or to its noble teachings in Natural History--I will take the more prosaic course of simply explaining how it happened. Reading Mr. Caroll’s works lends itself well to the delve into the Wrabbitholes of space, only so often as not, to silently and suddenly vanish away in the presents of the Boojum, Bandersatch with frumious bites, and red queens’ call for my head, and all manor of other manxome foe therein do we deal with, and I only with my bell to toll must tell the Baker’s tail.

This however could be meet with uffish response of foul or dire disagreement. And so with the cry of “Rilchiam!" I dive into the wrabbithole as their Pistols' cries for my Bezonian blood.