System Highlight: Scolluzer

Introducing a new segment-- System Highlight.  I'm dealing with skills and assets in high sec atm, so I figured i'd thoroughly explore a random high sec system and see everything it has to offer.  Turned out to be pretty fun.  It's been a while since I looked closely at anything besides J-Space.

Scolluzer is a 0.8 security system in Gallente space.

First thing I noticed was a small mining fleet from a 7-person industrial corp called "Mani Corp", consisting of an Orca and 2 Hulks.  3/4 asteroid belts had been cleared and they were working on the last one.

There is one POS in system, active and owned by Hidden Agenda, a 200+ member corp in the Deep Space Engineering alliance.  

While researching the available industry facilities, I discovered that a couple are owned by an NPC corp called "X-Sense", which is part of the Jove Empire faction.  I didn't realize the Jovians had active corporations in known space.  Are they run by AI or something?  There is also a Jove Observatory with seekers in system.

I noticed a member of Dropbears in local who had participated in last weekend's defense of their home, Nova, against the QEX Russians eviction.  I've been following that fight on Reddit.

Only other consistent local members belonged to small-time indy corps.  But having 4 gates, there was quite a bit of traffic.

There was one signature, which turned out to be a C2 wormhole.  It had one active POS with a few ships in space, including a Chimera and active Stratios from the Vox Populi alliance.  After I exitted, I saw a Brave Newbies member enter in a Hound.  Based on his killboard, it looks like he hunts for unsuspecting wh miners.  Wish i had my flycatcher in system.

The only anomolie was a Serpentis Refuge combat site, which was eventually run by a Dominix.

Pretty amazing how much content a sleepy little indy high sec system can hold in an hour or two.

Aim High,

-Smitty

Free Agent

Today I freed myself from a dead corp and toxic community.  I managed to get out of there with my Domination Control Tower that has sentimental value to me-- I found the blueprint in a J-Space Data Site and built it myself, using it as my corp's Officer POS.  It's my pride and joy.

Smitty is officially a free agent.  I'm not sure where I want to go next, but I might wait until i'm done with my initial stage of pilot training coming up at the end of October, which lasts a month.  Don't want to join a corp and then have their first impression be me being gone for a month.

Over the course of the extraction from our home hole, I talked to a few wh corps/alliances, Low-Class, No Vacancies, and they were recruiting and offered me a spot.  I joined their public chats as potential candidates.

But I might want to try out Null-Sec.  Not sure yet.  

Anyway, enjoy some screenshots.

Steel and Ice 

 So much hauling.

 There she is -- being taken down in our Pulsar home.

 What do you call a water spout in the desert? Sand spout?

 Love the weather in Witcher 3. And sailing on the tiny ships.

[SPOILER] This is Keira Metz.  You fuck her and then kill her.  And that is when I realized that this is in fact a Witcher game.  Good stuff.

Aim High,

-Smitty

Story Time

Gather 'round, it's story time.  I was doing my usual chain scanning and got a chat invite from a random dude, Eki Jo.  He must have been cloaked up in our C3, saw me pass by in my Helios, poked some fun.  We talked for a while about his alliance, the EOL null connection, etc.  After I found the connection to his home, a C5 Wolf-Rayet, I decided to reship and poke around for a fight.  Came back with my Ishkur and he proposed an honor 1v1.  Of course I said yes.

He says he doesn't have a suitable ship, so he'll send one of his corp mates.  I wait 160+ km off their hole in the C3 waiting for this mystery challenger, and he (Conquest) comes in with a Garmur.  Well shit.  I say fuck it, I'll give it a try.  Kitey vs. Kitey.  Turns out I was able to kite the hell out of him with some micro-managing, get him down to 1/3 shield, he warps away once, puts a ":P" face in local, I respond with "TWO MEN ENTER ONE MAN LEAVES". Maybe this dude will harden the fuck up because this is THUNDERDOME .  We engage again, I almost break his shields, burn out my hardener and DC, am down to 2 more pastes, and the bitch warps back to hole.  I didn't think my point was necessary due to the THUNDERDOME nature, but I shouldn't have trusted him after he warped away once.  Oh well.

I tell Eki Jo to call him a bitch for me.  For fun, I engage Eki's Arazu, he goes back home, comes back with a polarized gun Brutix and blaps me.

Gained a space friend, and he pretty much invited us to his alliance, which I'll keep in mind.

Aim High,
-Smitty

Magnum Opus

Upgraded my graphics card and have been playing some awesome games.  Here's a little sampling, including some of my latest EVE adventures.

 Early Morning POCO Bashing

 J-Space is great

 Spectre Fleet Caracal Roam- Fight with Cruiser Crew

 Getting ready to drop isk on some T2 cruisers soon. Wormhole savings plan

Damn FTL is tough.  Made it to the flagship once, couldn't crack it. 

Mad Max -- in what used to be an underwater ocean reef.  Beautiful game. 

Witcher 3 -- incredible. Max settings (besides Nvidia Hairworks, but fuck that shit)