Hello, Hooray!

Ohai!!!  Nice to see you!  I feel like I should greet you properly since it’s been so long.

Please won’t you be my neighbor?

How’s that?  Good?

Well, now that we’re all situated, I just wanted to say that I’m not done in the blogosphere.  I’m not!  I realize it’s been a while since y’all have heard from good ol’ Sin, but I have a perfectly good reason for that.

I’m lazy.  Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally lazy.  Like, the reason there’s so many “e”s in “really” over there is because I was too lazy to get my finger off the key.  Sad, huh?  I think there’s a pill for that.  Or maybe I should smoke some pot so I have a good excuse for sitting around like a damn scrub all the time.  Hmmmm. . . this might actu– Oh.  Shit.  Back to the “lazy” argument.  I am.

. . .

Well, that’s not the entirety of it.  I have a real life, just like you.  But with kids.  And laundry.  I also have a job.  So here’s what happens on any given day: I go to work, help kids with schoolwork, do a lot of chores, cook meals.  I’m planning my wedding to dear, sweet bagehi.  Sometimes I shower.  You get the idea.  I’m relatively busy and I’m always tired.  At the end of the day, I can either spend three hours playing Eve or three hours writing about it.  Unfortunately, I’ve been choosing to play.

. . .

Don’t look at me like that!  I can’t take your judgmental stare.  It’s just that TEST is deployed and I like killing things.

I want to write, I do.  I wish I could just talk and record stuff, then have it transcribed for me.  Oh, I’m sure that’s possible… but I’m technologically retarded.  I’ll give you an example:

I signed up with Blue Host to upgrade my blog.  I want pages and a photo gallery, kinda like this one.  Fancy, huh?  Anyhoo, I picked this particular host because it said “Easy drag and drop website building.  One step WordPress hosting.  So easy, a kindergartner can do it.”

…

Forty minutes later, I’m curled up in a ball on my couch, bawling my eyes out on the phone with Blue Host, asking for a refund.

“May I ask why you want to cancel today?”

“Because you fucking lie!  I couldn’t figure out your stupid site.  I even asked my six-year-old.  HE couldn’t figure it out, either.  So a kindergartner CAN’T do it.  Give me my damn money back.”

They did.  My tears are like kryptonite to tech support.  Or maybe they were worried about me shorting my keyboard with the salt-flavored liquid representation of my failure.  Anyhoo.  Score.

But I’m still left without a site.  There’s a whole damn lot nothing wrong with this one at all, but I have a vision for what I want to do and where I want to go in New Eden and I’m afraid that can’t be captured with a regular WordPress site.  I have been offered outside assistance, which I’m considering, but I don’t want someone to just DO the site for me.  There’s nothing gratifying about making someone else do your work for you.  It’s even worse if someone does something for you and you take credit for it.

I’ll just… leave this here.

Man. How does that keep popping up in here?!?!?!  Weird.

Before I take off for my trip around the universe, though, I’d like a place to stick my photos.  And my adventures.

So, if there’s anyone out there who wants to show my how to effectively host a WordPress blog, and who doesn’t mind spending ample amounts of time with me on Skype, drop me an Eve mail and we’ll talk.  In the meantime, I’m going to begin writing my deployment diaries and a couple other posts to fill you in on the last couple of months.

. . . I missed you, too.  Nice shirt, btw.

An Open Letter to Razer

All right, y’all, I know it’s been awhile since you’ve seen anything from me.  That will be changing soon, I promise.  I think I just got a little overwhelmed with everything: CSM Elections, Fanfest, Mittani-gate.  There are some things I’d like to say about all three of those things– I’d also like to announce my in-game plans for the near future– but that is for another time.

Today, I want to cause a little trouble.

Not “trouble” in the “Oh, fuck, Sindel’s gonna talk about people who blew up her Cheetah in hopes someone will go all locator-agent and pod their ass” sense.  We’ve all seen what happens when someone goads others into doing their dirty work.

Ha.

No, today’s “trouble” is more of an “Avon calling!” to my dear, sweet friends at Razer.  I’m not being sarcastic when I say that, either; I genuinely love their products. Hell, their Megalodon headset is resting comfortably on my cranium as I type.  Every time I go to Best Buy, I have to be escorted out by security who are none-too-fond of me licking Razer keyboards and mice, but you know what?  It’s worth a little public humiliation to get my saliva on those things because they’re FUCKING. SEXY.  And, truth be told, I kinda like licking things.

. . .

*cough*

Sooooooooooooooo, back to Razer.  For those of you who don’t care about such things as gaming headsets, keyboards and laptops . . . oh, who the fuck am I kidding??!?!  You wouldn’t be playing Eve Online if you weren’t all super tech-geeks.

Don’t look at me like that.  You know it’s true.

I’ll rephrase, though.  For those of you who are rocking Logitech, Turtle Beach, SteelSeries or Saitek accessories and thinking you’re the shit, you’re wrong.  Razer was founded over a decade ago by dedicated gamers who thought the market needed to be dominated by dedicated gamers, not marketing people and regular engineers.  I agree.  Their products are purdy, high-quality and have passed my three-point structural-integrity test (which, loosely translated, means I gave my Razer stuff to each of my three kids and watched them NOT break it.  Win.)

But enough love for them.  I’m not going to write about how wonderful they are and how I can’t live without them and how I’d looooooooooooooooooooove a new Black Widow Ultimate Stealth keyboard for my birthday.  Nope.  No more love for you, Razer.

Neener.  Neener.

Instead, with these lovely readers as my witnesses, I’d like to address you personally and express my distaste at your blatant oversight of my universe and the shameless favoritism I see of other games on your website and in your product line.

This will not stand.

If you know anything about our game, you know that it is one of the most complex, active and enthralling gaming worlds EVER.  MADE.

Fun!

It is vast and beautiful, breathtaking and terrifying all rolled into one giant freaking pile of pixels and ever-present explosions.

Anher

The art of the game is insanely good . . . and it’s not even the best part.

Cloud Ring

That would be us.

Sindel Pellion

The Capsuleers.  We are diverse, passionate and 300,000 strong.  Between space above and the planets below, we are a force to be reckoned with– most definitely worth watching.  And, mark my words, the world will watch; for you see, dear Razer, we’re about to make history.

. . .

So will one of you fools please explain to me why you have licensed PC gaming equipment for vastly inferior and disappointing games?  Where the fuck is MY Eve Online keyboard?  MY Eve Online mousepad?  Why is there no Eve skin for MY mouse when there’s one of these:

WTF? Battlefield 3?!?!

And, for fuck’s sake, one of these:

BUMBLEBEE?!?!?! Really, Razer?

Starcraft.  DragonAge.  SWTOR.  ME3.  League of MOTHER-FUCKING-LEGENDS but no Eve Online?!?!?!?  Are you fucking kidding me?!?!?!?  It’s a slight to our community, CCP Games, Sony Computer Entertainment and anyone who knows anything about Eve and the amazing roller coaster ride they’ve provided their subscribers for the last nine years.

Shame on you, Razer.  Shame. shame.

Now, I’m sure you’ve got some lame reasonable defense for your lack of Eve products.  “We tried to talk to them.”  “They weren’t interested.”  “It didn’t seem like a good idea at the time.”  “It’s not you, it’s me.”

. . .

Nothing a girl like me hasn’t heard before, guys.

I don’t buy it.  As a matter of fact, when I tweeted about it, CCP_Manifest said they have talked to you in the past and nothing has come of it.  So guess what?  We’re going to try again.  They want to talk to you.  They are interested.  It’s a good idea now.  And if you don’t pounce on this before Dust 514 launches, we will all know that it is indeed you, and not CCP.  They’re very approachable.  Trust me.  You can walk right up and lick their faces and they don’t even care!

So here’s where we go from here.  This isn’t just some mindless rant where a lame-ass bitch whines about something ridiculous but does nothing to see it through.  This is a pledge from me, Sindel Pellion, to you, Razer.  I will write to you every single day until either 1) you have some law enforcement agency tell me to stop or 2) I see Eve Online products like this appear on your website.  You decide.  Capsuleers have taken a beautifully rendered, blank slate of a universe and turned it into a thriving playground of murder, intrigue, propaganda, espionage and all-out chaos.  We deserve this, at the very least.  Don’t believe me?  You don’t have to respond, of course.  You don’t know me.  I don’t matter.  But trust me– this is a good idea.

Surely, this is a business venture that warrants exploration?  If anything, just to shut me up?

I await your reply with bated breath and, in the meantime, I’m going to get on comms with my lovely Razer Megalodon headset and shoot the fuck out of people in the most fantastic game I’ve ever had the privilege of playing.  Until we meet . . .

Love,

Sin

TEST Alliance Goodwill Ambadassador

This will be the first of several Fanfest blog posts.  I decided to start with this one because 1) it’s the easiest to put together and 2) it’s more entertaining.  Also, in light of recent events, it’s better that I just post pictures instead of writing a wandering commentary about the state of the game and the insanity of basement-dwelling neckbeards when I’m supposed to be showing y’all the fun we had over the last weekend.  There’s a time and place for politics.  There’s a time and place for my opinion about the situation with our (grudgingly) beloved (ex-) chairman.

This is neither the time, nor the place.  This is a post for joy, saliva and massive quantities of alcohol.

_____

As many of you know, I am a notoriously happy drunk.  I’m also a friendly one.  Over the course of the last weekend, dear, sweet bagehi decided that I should become an unofficial diplomat for TEST, creating and cultivating relationships with some of Eve Online’s most influential figures.  At least that’s how he put it.  What actually happened was that I got really drunk on multiple occasions and licked . . . just about everyone.

So– without further adieu– I present to you the Sindel Pellion TEST Ambadassador Goodwill Visit to Iceland.  Like the United Nations, but geekier and more inappropriate!

_____

The trip started innocently enough.  First, I made friends with CCP Soundwave.

Then, I met CCP Grayscale.

After getting swept off my feet by CCP Xhagen, I decided this could be more fun than I’d hoped for . . .

CCP Punkturis.  Undoubtedly, more attractive in person than in print.  It’s true.

Cuddling CCP Diagoras, Stats Guru.  He deserves a snuggling, for serious.

Michael Bolton III and I molesting CCP Flying Scotsman.  It went downhill from here, folks.  I blame MB.

Getting carried away with the men from F-Con.

RocWieler from Ushra’Khan

Raiden.

-A- (and ex-BoB)

Eve-University.  They print business cards for their directors, btw . . .

UAxDEATH, Legion of xXDEATHXx

Moar Tears

Meissa, Rooks and Kings

(I voted for him for CSM7.  Not ashamed.  Fucking brilliant man.)

My new secret boyfriend, Seleene of Pandemic Legion

Pandemic Legion‘s Karaoke Star!

Wanna make sure you’re on Goonswarm Federation logi’s watch list in fleet?  Lick your FC!

Or kiss the GSF Leader.  That works, too.  The Mittani, CSM Chairman and proud wearer of utterly unyielding hair.

It doesn’t just stop with influential alliance members, though.  I also managed to find other fun and exciting people to lick!

DianaLynn ETC of Eve Time Code

Artemis Septem, interwebz pirate and avid twitterer

Mandrill, organizer of the #tweetfleetmeet and winner of the Dust 514 tournament . . . also a wearer of utterly unyielding hair.

Seismic Stan and Bagehi, Space Journalists and Leg Connoisseurs

Nothing was safe!!!!!  I even molested statues!!!!!

_____

So there you have it.  Sindel spread her love all over Reykjavik– not to mention all through space.  Did I neglect your alliance?  Next year, make sure to send a representative to Fanfest 2013 with the express purpose of finding me so I can lick them.  As long as the cameras keep flashing (and the drinks keep flowing), I’m not gonna stop.

<3

Keep Your Hans to Yourself!!!!

There are some opportunities that present themselves that I really should ignore.  When dear, sweet bagehi asked if I wanted to interview all the CSM candidates for EveNews24, I should have put my headset on, turned up the volume and pretended I didn’t hear him.

. . .

Now, before you get all offended and shit, I don’t necessarily mean that in a bad way.  It’s just that . . . fuck.  You’re not gonna believe me if I say it.  *deep breath*  Here goes:  I hate attention.  I really do.  I hate drawing attention to myself and it’s really easy to embarrass me.

Sindel.  Puh-lease.  You post pictures of your legs, like, weekly.

My legs don’t have to talk, though.  They kinda– “speak” for themselves.  Ha.

I’ve reiterated time and again that I feel like I know abso-fucking-lutely nothing about Eve.  I’m constantly learning, sure, but I don’t know enough to speak in any sort of public forum, for fear of making a complete ass of myself . . .

Cut to me, agreeing to conduct audio interviews with EVERY.  INTERESTED.  CSM.  CANDIDATE.  No pressure, Sin.

After researching past CSMs, candidates and compiling a list of pertinent questions, I felt ready to make my move and conduct my first interview.  First victim?  Hans Jagerblitzen.  All things considered, I think it went well.

Jesus, Sindel, it’s just an interview.  What kind of “drama” can you have during a fucking interview about  fucking spaceships?

I’m so glad you asked.  There was alcohol.  Blood.  Fecal matter.  Cats.  You know– a typical night in Eve Online.

So.  Hans Jagerblitzen.

Faction Warfare enthusiast.  Production junkie.  New Player advocate.  Just DON’T call him a carebear.  His goals are impressive, as is his drive.  And after three years in New Eden, he’s decided to kiss his anonymity goodbye and use his experience to run for the CSM and try to influence CCP to pay more attention to other aspects of the game besides Null Sec changes and ship nerfs.  Regardless of what people are saying (mud-slinging: it ain’t just for Republicans anymore), he knows his shit.  He’s passionate about the game and has done his research.  He has been in constant contact with the current CSM and talks to devs and other players.  His presence is undeniable.

I enjoyed my talks with him, on Skype and Twitter.  He loves the game, but he does other things.  He’s got a sense of humor and is pretty damn smart.  If anyone is going to come out of nowhere and earn a seat on the seventh Council of Stellar Management, it’s this guy.  But don’t take my word for it.  To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here.

I actually had fun and, surprisingly, I sounded like I knew WTF I was talking about.  I’m looking forward to doing more of these and will be posting them here and on EveNews24 as they are recorded.  Happy listening and remember to vote!

2012- New Year’s Convolution

I have, like, nine drafts covering various topics, but none of them seemed appropriate for my first post of 2012 so I decided to write a new one.

Hi, by the way.  Nice to see you again.

. . . Didja miss me?  Cuz . . . uhhhhhhhhhhh . . .

*awkward silence*

Hi.

Anyhoo.

convolution (\ˌkän-və-ˈlü-shən\): a form or shape that is folded in curved or tortuous windings

Does that describe my blogs, or what? HA!

Awwwwww.  That’s sad cuz it’s true.

What better way to start a new year than with a list of grandiose expectations of myself that I’ll never in a million years accomplish?  At the very least, it’s entertainment for those who read this so you can keep track while I fail miserably and fall on my face repeatedly!  You wanna know what they are?  Too bad.

__________

HERE. HAVE A LIST.

1.  I’m training to fly logistics because I’m tired of hearing we never have enough.  I’m currently training Long Range Targeting V.  In 2 days, I can do Signature Analysis V, then Logistics I.  Then, I’ll be able to fly– though not yet adequately fit– a Scimitar.

Huh.

Maybe I’ll manage to actually accomplish that one.  Score.

2.  I began training carriers, stopped to train logi, but will begin wrapping up that tasty skill as soon as I can.  We move/deploy a lot and I’m tired of waiting for people to move my stuff for me.  I’m an independent person so this “relying on others” thing cramps my style. Only 117 days to train for Nidhoggur.  That’s not bad, right? RIGHT?!?!?!?!

3.  I told my friend, Poetic Stanziel, that I was gonna write 366 blog posts this year.  So far, I’ve done . . . yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah.

4.  I want to kill shit.  I did a little PvP last year but I’d like to do more.  I’m particularly interested in The G0dfathers.  It’s personal.

5.  Learning more about this game is high on my list of priorities.  Every few weeks, a new patch rolls out for Crucible and Twitter is all abuzz about the new features . . . and I have no idea what they’re talking about.  I realize this game is vast and I’m not going to learn everything all at once.  But I’d LOVE to have a conversation about elements in Eve and know what-the-fuck I’m talking about.  You know, without having someone write a script for me, then passing it off as my own.  We’ll leave that schtick for . . . someone else.

. . .

No, I’m not stupid.  Yes, I actually play.  It’s been eleven months and a lot of the changes that are being implemented affect things that were changed, removed or nerfed before I started playing.  I don’t know the difference.

Well, except with the dramiel.  Oh, trust me– I KNOW the difference there.  Fucking nerf my perfect, perfect ship.

. . . Give me a minute.

. . .

. . .

*sniff* All right, where was I?

6.  I want to make enough isk to support my shiny gun habit without having to get quarterly donations from dear, sweet bagehi.  Not that I mind, but I’m independent.  Don’t believe me?  See item 2.

7.  I wanna blog from Fanfest. And, oh, I’m gonna.  Blue Lagoon leg pics?  Don’t mind if I do!

8.  We all have opinions about, well, EVERYTHING.  I’ve been inundated with a shit-ton of images and opinions as of late because I’m an American and this is an election year.  It’s taking a toll on me, influencing me in ways that only filthy, money-grubbing liars can.  So I’m gonna air my dirty laundry, let my readers know how I feel about people, places and things in-game.  Eve Nouns.  NO ONE IS FUCKING SAFE!!!!!!  Especially the dumb people!!!!!!!!!1111one

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

*cough* Sorry.

9.  Negative. Security. Status.  Pirates are cool!

. . . Nah, I think I’m still too scared for that one.  I’d settle for a decent pilot efficiency %.  Little things.

10.  I love my corp and I love playing Eve with my boyfriend, but sometimes I feel like I don’t really belong there.  I haven’t found my niche yet.  Isn’t that what this sandbox is all about?  Finding a home and throwing sand at anyone who tries to infringe on it?

__________

So that’s it.  A small list of things I need to accomplish in the next 356 days.  Wish me luck.  Send me flowers.  Give my corpse back.  Whatever.  Think I’ll do it?  Probably not.  But check your calendars, folks; I hear 2012 is the Year of the Sindel– and only good things are allowed to happen while I’m here.

That’s because I shoot bad things.

‘Twas the Night Before Crucible

Hey, guys!  Here’s a little something that’s been on my mind ALL. DAY. LONG.

<3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘Twas the night before Crucible, when all through the sky
not a pilot was sleeping and we all knew why.
The monocles were hung in our CQs with care
in hopes the expansion soon would be there.

My corp-mates were nestled all snug in their pods
while visions of nebulae stiffened their rods.
And Bag in his Wyvern and I in my ‘Cane
had fitted our ships to inflict some pain.

When out of the station there arose such a clatter,
I undocked my ship to see what was the matter.
Away from the station I warped in a flash,
flying so fast my clone got whiplash!

The stars twinkled at me, their lights all aglow,
gave lustre of mid-day to rat wrecks below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
but four shiny new BCs of a new, higher tier.

With bright engine trails I could see from afar,
I knew in a moment it must be Hilmar!
More rapid than Dramiels (not really, for shame)
He whistled and shouted and called them by name.

“Now Oracle!  Now Talos!  Now ‘Nado and Naga!
Come usher away the Incarna saga!
To the Vale of the Silent! To the top of Venal!
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
When they meet with an obstacle mount up to the sky.
So up to the challenge, the devs, how they flew
with a launch full of goodies (and sad nerfings too).

And then in a twinkling, I saw in a tweet, the patch notes were ready
and DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN it looked sweet!
As I pulled up the website, began looking around,
down went Incarna with nary a sound.

My eyes, how they twinkled, inside I was giddy.
The expansion had come! It was gonna be pretty!
My soft, girly mouth was drawn up like a bow,
I needed this download– CCP, LET’S GO!!!!

We were ready for Crucible, an expansion so big,
it was gonna take hours at 1.2 gigs.
With the click of my mouse, after hours of waiting,
the download had begun– anticipation abating.

Hilmar and the devs had finished their works,
Had re-done New Eden, fixed a lot of the quirks.
They could finally breathe easy and relax a bit
So I thanked them profusely for this winter hit.

Hilmar jumped in his ‘Geddon, to his devs gave a whistle
and away they all warped like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim ‘ere he guzzled a Quafe:
“Happy Crucible to all and to all please fly safe!”

I Will Survive

Sooooooo, I think I’ve figured out my apprehension about blogging lately. It’s a culmination of I’d rather play Eve than write about it right now, I can’t blog on my computer, my medication makes me apathetic and . . .

I can’t say it. You wouldn’t believe me even if I did.

. . .

Fine. I’ll just come out and tell you.

I quit dying.

. . . I KNOW, I KNOW!!! I feel like I’m disappointing my readers. They don’t even know who I AM anymore. So. So. Sorry.

Whew. I feel better now, getting that off my chest.

I should probably clarify: I still die. Sometimes. It’s just that every story doesn’t end that way. I guess that’s a good thing? Fuck– I had to learn eventually. Right?

I feel like, after nine months, I can no longer say I’m new. I am, however, impatient, rash and temperamental, which makes me somewhat dangerous. Therefore, I cannot claim to be experienced because vets know better. Most of them, anyway. You know, the ones who didn’t throw their mouse and suck their thumb like a spoiled fucking toddler after ship-spinning got taken away from them. 

*cough* Sorry.  Back to me.

So I’ll be going back and cataloging everything I’ve done over the last couple of weeks that’s of any interest, but to get back into the swing of things, I’ll just tell you about what I did last week.

The day in question started out like any other in Eve, just a little earlier. Staying at home mid-week is win, especially when you’re getting paid.  I logged in to TS (since we all know how much I like talking on comms), then in to the game and joined standing fleet where, of course, there was jack shit going on.  Our little piece of space is pretty safe, you know.  We’re in a back pocket in Fountain and you have to go through TEST and Goons to get there.  People give them a lot of shit, but there’s not a whole lot of them who want to fly through there.

Oh, go ahead and leave a snarky comment.  You know it’s true.

So, since I was the only person in corp and fleet was just fucking around, I decided to get in my cane and just . . . fly.  Not far, mind you; I’m not an idiot, but I needed to do something.  There are some things that only a spaceship and open space can cure.  Flying just makes everything . . . less painful.

 . . .

Sorry.  Girl moment.

I undocked and warped the usual route from TEG to 6VDT.  About three jumps in, I noticed Godfathers were actually out of their janky station in Serpentis space and flying about.  I chalked it up to boredom and the need to fly.  Hell– made sense to me.  You know what else made sense?  Getting. The fuck.  Outta there.  Just me in a cane wasn’t going to do much but make them itchy for pew pew.  So, like a good girl, I turned tail and headed home.

Two jumps away from home, I paused on a gate and started practicing D-scans.  I was at it for a lot longer than I thought because, apparently, I looked afk.  A GF Domi came up behind me and was slow-boating towards me.  That’s when I saw this in alliance chat:

“Uhhhh, Sindel?”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“What a time to go afk with that Domi riding your ass!”

“I wasn’t afk.  I’ve been watching to see what he’s doing.  I’m currently yellow-boxed.”

I sat there for another minute or two watching the blinky yellow box on my ship before I finally decided to jump through the gate.  I still hadn’t figured out what he was doing.

As I warped to my next gate, curiosity got the better of me.  If I went back, would he try it again?  Would any other GFs in the system join him?  I had to know; I was DYING to know!!!!!  So, I turned around and went back. 

Damn it.  Domi wasn’t on the gate.  In retrospect, I should have warped back to TEG and gone to do my laundry.  But I didn’t.

I’m ME, okay?!?!?!?  I HAVE to be dumb every once in a while!!!!

I jumped into the NPC pocket.  Who was on the other side?  Domi, two Drams and a Navy Slicer.  Fuck.  Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.  I immediately started warping the out-gate.  They immediately tried to scramble me.  I flew safely away, taking the time it took to warp 40 AU to read my jb map to figure out how to get home. 

Of course, they were all waiting at the out-gate.  Dramiels: fast little fuckers.  I made it through but was going the opposite direction from home.  AND the four ships had called their friends because there were now SEVEN GF in local with me.  Panic made it impossible for me to read the map– I was scared to pull up the window because I needed to see my screen!

What’s a girl to do?

 . . .

*hangs head*

I cleared comms.

“Check, check.  I have seven reds on my tail.  Could use a little help if you’re not busy.”

Spartan.  Thank fucking God for Spartan.  A few of the men on comms were caught a little off-guard because I’m a night flyer so our daytime Euro alliance-mates haven’t met me yet.  Blahblahblahgirl’svoicewhatever.  But Spartan flies with me every night, along with the other four girls in alliance.  He was blessedly unaffected by my voice.

“Where are you?”

I told him.

“Okay, turn around and head back to TEG, we’re undocking now; let’s see if you can bring them to us.”

I wasn’t okay with this plan.  But how do you tell a group of guys . . . that you’re scared?  I didn’t say anything.  Instead, I kept going the direction I was headed hoping that, eventually, I’d find a system with a jb bookmarked in it. 

Good plan?  Sure.  Until . . .

“Uhhhhhhh, girl who’s dying?  What is your location?  And are you still alive?”

Damn it all.  I told them my new location.

“Shit, you’re going the wrong way.  You need to turn around.”

Yeah, I knew he was going to say that.

I remembered then that, just the night before, dear, sweet Bagehi had given me a full set of implants that I had gleefully plugged in.  Damn it.  I was going to lose everything.  He was gonna kill me . . .  My CEO was gonna kill me for venturing out alone.  So help me God, the next time I get bored, I’m gonna spin my ship.

Inevitable death.  It brings clarity.

I turned around and began warping the 6 jumps back to TEG.  Jumps one and two, I cross-warped my persuers.  Jump three, I landed with the Drams and the Slicer.  Jump four, they landed before me.

I wasn’t scared anymore.  My fleet was one jump away.  If I got tackled, they’d come save me.  If I made it through, they’d be waiting.  I jumped.  GF jumped.  I warped to my out-gate.

Alone.

They dropped the chase.  Fucking spais.

I was relieved.  My fleet?  Pissed as fuck.  They were ready for a fight.  I should have thanked them and continued back to TEG.  Instead, I let them talk me into chasing the GF fleet.  Holy. Shit.  Sindel wants to die!!!!!

We went straight to Serpentis Prime and engaged the first ship we saw.  It docked.  A different one undocked.  We engaged it.  It docked.  The first one undocked.

 . . . You see the pattern?  Typical GF style.  If they have a ridiculously unfair advantage, they’re all about it.  The second you level the playing field, they scatter.  And if you clearly have the upper-hand, they sit in station and talk shit in local. 

Vermin.  Pests.  That’s the best description I have for those guys.

Spartan decided that station games weren’t on the agenda for the day.  We went home.  I docked and turned off the game.  I thanked the guys in TS for rescuing me and was answered with, “No problem.  Any time you want to play bait for us again, let us know.” 

I responded with, “I never intend to be bait, that’s just usually how I roll.”

I disconnected, removed my headset and thanked my lucky stars that today wasn’t my day to die.  But then, I’m getting hard-pressed to find my day to die any more.  Sindel’s getting pretty decent at flying in space.  Now if I could just get the hang of blogging on my computer instead of on my phone, I’d be set.