A few days ago, I was cruising through Metropolis low security systems in a Stabber, looking for organised non-capusleer pirates to kill (an activity knwn as belt ratting, or more accurately in this case, tag ratting).
I've written why, and will post soon, but the result is this: I landed in a belt with a Venture mining frigate.
I locked, and with a moments pause, pulled the trigger. His shields dropped in a instant, and his drones started to tickle my shields.
I hammered off the guns, and for a few tense seconds, just orbited locked in indecision.
It was a civilian.
It was an unprovoked attack.
It was a non-combatant.
The loss of ship wouldn't gain me any profit. I'd be lucky to get some ore.
It was not a fighting vessel.
The Venture just sat there, as confused as me.
Why couldn't I finish it off?
Eventually it remembered it had overpowered warp coils, and flew off to the relative safety of Hi-security space. I tried to open communications, but after a quick inquiry, asking if it was his first time in low sec, I received the brief reply of 'nope'. And then he cut communication.
He had only been a capsuleer for a week or two, and made the brave decision to mine in low security space.
I began to write him a message, complimenting him on leaving the shelter of CONCORD space, and was about to write some advice, but... I couldn't.
I still can't believe what I have done.
I wish I had the excuse that I didn't know it was a rookie capsuleer. But I did. He still had his ships name set to default, i.e. the pilot's name. I tracked him down using my superior knowledge of the Directional scanner. It wasn't even that hard. There was no challenge or value in the combat, and I sought it anyway.
I remember back in the early days of my career... almost like another life. I took a Stabber to low sec to hunt the belt pirates there. I lost that Stabber to a capsuleer pilot. It was even in the Metropolis region.
Before, I wrote about things coming full circle. I didn't realize how wide a circle that was.
I'm not sure I'm cut out for this kind of life...
No kill mail or official review. Now is a time for reflection.
I've written why, and will post soon, but the result is this: I landed in a belt with a Venture mining frigate.
I locked, and with a moments pause, pulled the trigger. His shields dropped in a instant, and his drones started to tickle my shields.
I hammered off the guns, and for a few tense seconds, just orbited locked in indecision.
It was a civilian.
It was an unprovoked attack.
It was a non-combatant.
The loss of ship wouldn't gain me any profit. I'd be lucky to get some ore.
It was not a fighting vessel.
The Venture just sat there, as confused as me.
Why couldn't I finish it off?
Eventually it remembered it had overpowered warp coils, and flew off to the relative safety of Hi-security space. I tried to open communications, but after a quick inquiry, asking if it was his first time in low sec, I received the brief reply of 'nope'. And then he cut communication.
He had only been a capsuleer for a week or two, and made the brave decision to mine in low security space.
I began to write him a message, complimenting him on leaving the shelter of CONCORD space, and was about to write some advice, but... I couldn't.
I still can't believe what I have done.
I wish I had the excuse that I didn't know it was a rookie capsuleer. But I did. He still had his ships name set to default, i.e. the pilot's name. I tracked him down using my superior knowledge of the Directional scanner. It wasn't even that hard. There was no challenge or value in the combat, and I sought it anyway.
I remember back in the early days of my career... almost like another life. I took a Stabber to low sec to hunt the belt pirates there. I lost that Stabber to a capsuleer pilot. It was even in the Metropolis region.
Before, I wrote about things coming full circle. I didn't realize how wide a circle that was.
I'm not sure I'm cut out for this kind of life...
No kill mail or official review. Now is a time for reflection.
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