We have taken a turn for the worst.

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=916859722

This is it. The 5th sector is within our grasp, and what could be the worst that could happen?

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=919745115

The choice of the 5th sector lies here. Avoided the Rebel controlled one like the plague, leaving us to no choice but to approach the Zoltan one...

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=925130547

With a low supply of fuel, we forged ahead downwards hoping to speed though the sector. We should be home by Christmas, and be heros of the Federation!

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=927779226

*kHhHht* MAYDAY MAYDAY *kHhHht* OXYGEN BREACH WE ARE DYING *kHhHht* I REPEAT WE ARE *kHhHhtkHhHhtkHhHhtkHhHht*

[TRANSMISSION END]

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=927779375

THIS IS THE AUTOMATED AUTOPILOT - OUR FUEL CELLS ARE ZERO ZERO FIVE PERCENT - WE HAVE GONE OFF COURSE - DEPLOYING EMERGENCY BEACON - THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY

It has been a while, but here is a recap of what happened.

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=907215843

Those rebel ships weren't all that bad, but they were a constant thorn at our side, and there will always be more down the road.

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=908969661

Realizing that our ship really did take a beating, we redirected our course, and parked near a dainty little shop.

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/profiles/76561198294558453/screenshots/?appid=212680

There wasn't much at store, but the mechanics were willing to fix up the Defiance's leaking air supply, as well as the ship itself.

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=913697700

Now with a beefier air supply and nailing wood planks over the holes, we dart straight ahead, and encountered an overly zealous Zoltan frigate. Its shield took time to erase, and its choice of laser weaponry was an absolute joke, but Miss Creep once again had the wonderful idea of aggressively mangling the dashboard, losing the steering wheel and the mini-microwave in the process. At least the little timer it had still works.

Shattering the lil' Zoltan ship to pieces, we then zoom off, and bump into a Slug cruiser. Oh dear, not again. Kyno was in the process of loading the missles in the wrong way! Practice Dummy barged in to intervene, and it took a while for his evil-looking swirly eyes to give way.

After re-reloading the missile launcher, we then smash nearly every subsystem in the Slug cruiser's ship, and we accepted a nice bribe from them. Some scrap, a couple fuel cells, and a roll of TP! Good luck so far.

And now we are met at a multi-branched crossroads. Just any one of them could lead to our doom, or delay it a little further. Choose wisely.

It has been a while since I've posted these screenshots, and so far my memory has been a little hazy with them. But without further ado, here they be.

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=902728321

Auto scouts, love them or like them. Punching holes in them was easy, but when we noticed an unappreciative scent of melting, burning metal, the crew knew something was dreadfully wrong. Wasn't all that bad in the end, though. We only lost a toaster and some important documents in the blaze, and the toaster was because of the fuse...

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=902908626

Cruising in the admittively serene emptiness of space, our sightseeing tour was unexpectedly aborted, when we noticed a bright guiding light where it shouldn't be... A space station was going up in flames!... Or however fire works in space... Regardless, we approached the station, deciding that it wasn't worth the risk to quell the flames, instead gathering as many survivors as we can.

Good news: We got some scrap. Bad news: There we no survivors in it all, as an explosion destroyed the landing bay, killing them all and scratching our ship a bit. Nasty little thing.

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=903265057

After the disencouraging incident, we then crossed paths with a warring ship with a hidden little secret...

For no reason at all, Kyno thought it would be a mighty good idea to dismantle the weapon systems! Just as we were about to toss him out of the airlock however, he then lost his suspicious boggling swirly eyes and monotone voice and begged to be let go... They were using mind control on him, those numbskulls!

The battle raged on, and then Miss Creep had the bright idea of tearing apart the navigational computer just as our shields were giving up. Here we go again, this time we just kept her pinned down to the ground until the swirly eyes gave way. We eventually won the battle, but some grudges were formed.

Now we are met at a crossroads. The rebels are gaining ground, and there is much we have to do to prepare for the end of it all. What will have to be done?

It has been a while since the latest recap, but here is what happened between now and then...

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=899559344

The Engi wasn't as peaceful or even as apathetic as we thought, considering our ship expendable for their little virus problem! It was decided that we shouldn't bother negotiating with them, smashing their ship into pieces instead.

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=900181138

The Defiance did sustain notable damage however, prompting the autopilot (clever way of passing off my 'emergency decisions' as a personification) to make a suggestion to make a bee-line towards the nearest auto repair shop.

Shutting the autopilot off momentarily due to its naggy comments, the crew made a decision to spend the money on repairs, and a second shield layer and some reactor upgrades later.

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=901062947

Now the Eternal Defiance is starting to win its battles. At first, we were rudely interrupted by a a bored pirate scout looking for trouble, a Zoltan ship out for blood, and an Engi ship with literally heated intentions.

Boom! Whatever it was, our sensors were all burned up for some time, and if it wasn't for the heroic efforts of Practice Dummy, that would also go for the doors, and we were trying to flush out a Mantis invader at the same time... At least supper was fairly good. It was very well done.

After then, we encountered a shieldless auto scout, and later picked up a modest donation from a Federation charity fundraiser.

But then the rebels were hot on our tail, and then we jumped to the (thankfully) adjacent sector exit. Either we head straight into Engi lands again, or familar ourselves with the (supposedly) peace loving Zoltan.

Continuing from our latest misadventure involving a dangerously close fleet of rebels, the Eternal Defiance hasn't exactly been by bounds and leaps so far, but we cannot lose hope yet!

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=898408177

At last, the Eternal Defiance jumps out of Sector 1 and into Engi territory. Robots are generally friendly beings, right?

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=899185393

And now the Defiance is met at a three forked road. Hmm, tough choice! But it wasn't really all that hard, as one lead to a store well known for its fine desserts, and we just about ran out!

http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=899283987

Though with little scrap to spare, the crew may have to choose wisely what to buy, and perhaps what to sell... That missile launcher looks starved.