Another stereotypical afternoon in New Eden. Not unlike any other I have experienced since I undocked for the first time almost a year ago.
My alt sits alone in his hulk mining out a mission field of omber in high sec. The cycles click off painfully slow.. like watching paint dry. I am flying a mission one system away. After farming the omber field for 3 days with out event leaving the cans to pile up for a bit don’t worry me much.
The last npc falls and it’s time to check in on my mining operation. A quick flip of the screen and the day is no longer boring. 25k off the hulks port bow lies a Gallentean heavy assault ship. Instantly the realization of my lazy mistake kicks in. Four full cans of omber are floating about ready to give my visitor the agro I’m sure she’s looking for. I can only hope she is viable for me to fight. A quick profile check confirms I am in a bad position. I am faced with a 4 year old pure combat pilot. The rush of adrenaline has sent me to my hanger for my new Command ship. I leave the hulk idol in the field as not to alert the intruder a combat ship is on the way. As I’m inbound I hit a friendly channel and look for assistance. Every one is over 10 jumps out. I confide in a trusted friend to confirm that rushing in with my new nighthawk will probably just make the intruders conquest that much more sweet. This is fact because I know where the holes in my training are. I have trained the right skills but not as high as this situation calls for. Reality creeps back in now.. 2au from the field I calm down and prep for the encounter. I fall out of warp to find my foe flashy red with her drones deployed and ready. Three months ago I would have come in weapons hot and hell bent. Not any more… the costly lessons of the past have taught me well. A quick look at the field reveals only 2 of my 4 cans have been flipped. With out a nano second of delay I target & destroy both of the remaining cans and send the hulk pilot home. Two left now and both yellow. My intruder has now moved into scram range and has me targeted. I once again consider my chances of a stand up fight. The thought of giving up a 2 day old Command ship with 6 faction launchers is not an option. Either is giving up a total of 4 full cans and a field with 3 days left. I have a bad taste in my mouth but I do know my place…. and it’s not fighting this pilot alone. I aline out and flip to local. “grats on your score” I say as my ship exits.
The trip back to my HQ is agonizing. I dock up and look over my hanger and pause.. Sitting alone perched is my Eagle. A quick smile hits my lips. Back out of the station I go. I set course for the field and run each step of my plan in my head over and again. I warm the 250mm Dread Guristas rail guns and flip on my sensor booster. 3AU to the field and wepons hot. The course plotted lands me 100k off the field, witch will put the intruder and my cans 120k or so out. As I slide out of warp my calculations where correct. Both remaining cans are locked up & the exit alignment is set. The Iskur pilot can only watch as her bounty vaporise before her eyes. As my eagle disappears in local she is reminded there are no hand outs in New Eden. A futile chase ensues but I am to fast and will not be caught.
The day may have been a loss but knowing your limitations and keeping a cool head will grant a bit of satisfaction & you will live to fight another day.
proteusmaximus