So, the current Community Goal at LP 128-32 is not, as Commander Altsain first thought, based on hauling vast quantities of cargo – despite having upgraded the Type-10 known as the Heffalump to do just that. It is, instead, based on mining. You know, getting valuable stuff out of rocks and selling it.

Always one to make a problem an opportunity, Commander Altsain fulfilled a wish that had been bubbling away for a while, and bought a mining/refinery ship, a converted Type-7 which was promptly called Antimony Sun (the first idea for a name was Rockbreaker, which is terribly cliched…).

A nice, drab colour scheme was added, as we really don’t want this ship looking too clean, and then the Antimony Sun launched on its maiden voyage to mine stuff from the rings of LP 128-32’s gas giant.

The ship quickly returned when Commander Altsain realised no limpets had been purchased.

That done, the Antimony Sun launched on her official maiden voyage to mine stuff.

The trip did not go well, it has to be said.

Commander Altsain found some rocks, blasted away at them, and refined five tons of goods, only one of which was suitable for the Community Goal (Lithium Hydroxide). Then a wandering Adder came along and demanded the cargo, which Commander Altsain promptly refused, having already gone through too much just to get what little was rattling around in the cargo bay.

Commander Altsain had also forgotten just how bad a Type-7 is in combat.

The shields failed quickly, and Antimony Sun’s new hull was soon scored by many laser blasts. As Commander Altsain started to wonder just where the police were in this low risk resource site, the thrusters of Antimony Sun failed, sending the ship spinning perilously between the rocks of the ring system.

The Adder was finally diverted by the tardy arrival of the security forces, but not in time to stop the Antimony Sun from ploughing into the biggest rock in the ring.

With hull strength reduced to 9%, Commander Altsain set course for Bulychev Hub at the other end of the star system for repairs (which ended up costing a lot more than the value of the mined rock, it has to be said).

A new approach is clearly needed. The two little turreted pulse lasers that had been added for defence are utterly useless – Commander Altsain would have done better by leaving the Antimony Sun, floating across space, and hitting the Adder on the side with a hammer.

Efforts must be doubled…