X3: Terran Conflict

 X3: Terran Conflict

So lately I’ve been playing A LOT of FTL (Faster Than Light).  FTL is a great space exploration RPG/RTS type of game J but it is also very random and the graphics….aren’t super immersive lol – but still great.  Unfortunately your play on FTL is usually only about a half-hour and then you are dead or have won (so I here…).   So I decided to fire up X3: Terran Conflict in an attempt for a longer more immersive experience.   Now X games have a VERY steep learning curve but with the help of some squeaky voiced kids and some German dudes on Youtube making tutorial videos and a couple of well written guides I at least have a start into X3: Terran Conflict.

Basically X3: Terran Conflict is space exploration / sandbox type of game.  It has a very developed and deep trading / economy  (similar apparently to EVE Online which I have never played….but have always wanted to).  In addition to that it is a competent space flight sim – where you can boogie around in your spaceship exploring and getting into fights.  You can play the game the way you want.  A lot of people like to go in and try and build an empire through buying and selling of commodities.  You can run all kinds of missions (escort, trading, fighting, etc.) for money.

I’ve started out as a Terran Defender.  Basically I’m in the army lol  I’m patrolling around running some story missions.  Really I’m looking to gain some combat experience, learn the lay of the land (or space as it may be) and make some credits so I can beef up my ship….or get a better ship.

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Humble beginnings….

Enlisted.  Shit.  Tukker had never really wanted to join the Terran Defenders but with no money, no ship and a relatively weak skill set – he had no choice.  Join the army!

Even after 3 months of living in a ship training everyday – he still wasn’t totally comfortable with it.  The master of moving from A to B but anything more than that…was questionable...even docking on some of the massive stations caused him great stress.   

‘I guess that’s why I’m on patrol duty,’ Tukker thought.  ‘Flying around the sector looking for any ships that are double parked *sigh* Not exactly a glorious or proud start to my military career.’

The Sabre was an M4 Interceptor ship.  This version of the M4 was decently fast ship that clips along at a fairly impressive 275 meters per second.  Tukker thought the cockpit attached to the long white fuselage looked like a bird of prey.  It was a fun ship to zip around the sector in.  In training it had been a fun ship to fire the dual Electro-Magnetic Plasma Cannon and Poltergeist Missiles at target crates floating around.   It was nerve racking to Tukker to think that at some point in his military career he would have to do battle with more than some crates floating around in space.  To be honest, the crates were hard enough to hit….and they didn’t fight back!

“Private Tukker, this is Lieutenant Samuel Plinter, please check in with me in quadrant U3 – we will be patrolling together today,”   crackled a voice in Tukker’s military issued helmet.

“We’ll do.”  Tukker called back.

“We’ll do? Private?”  Ahhh shit.

“I mean yes sir, yes Lt. Plinter sir….immediately sir.”

“That’s better Private Tukker.  You’re learning already.”

Damn.  Tukker hated “reporting” to people and hated all the stuffy rules of conduct.  It made him uncomfortable and irritated.   Having been on his own for so many years he was not accustomed to being told what to do and how to do it.

Tukker slowed his M4 Sabre down to 40 meters per second and then performed the 180 maneuver he had learned in training.  He pulled back on the controls and was able to perform a nice quick turn to get him facing in the right direction.  Impressed with himself he located the U3 quadrant on his flight nav and locked on to it and set his Sabre’s autopilot mode.  It would take about 20 minutes for his M4 to reach Lt. Plinter’s location.

"Tukker! Tukker!  Xenon are attacking the Sol System." Plinter blasted into Tukkers headset.

Tukker gripped the ship controls tightly and he had to catch his breath.  He could hear his breathing echoing in his helmet and with every breath he became more and more panicked.

"Tukker - we have Xenon in the Uranus sector!  Keep your eyes open and report back any and all suspicious activity!"  instructed Lt.  Plinter.  Shit was hitting the proverbial fan. 

What is that?

.....Tukker squinted looking out the left side of his cockpit view port......he released his death grip from the flight controls and tapped the tiny unknown object on his flight Nav computer....the computer responded with it's warm female voice.....

"Xenon Interceptor 16 kilometers"

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I'll blog more X3: Terran Conflict adventures tomorrow!  Peace!