The following are records from the Combat Journal of John Hawke, Independent captain...

July 5th, 2258
Zaxted Starport

Richard Mead, a good friend of mine, often remarked that I should always keep a journal of my combats. Though Rick is a good man, he has never been in combat, having been a ranking offical in the Merchant's Guild and a top liaison to Griffin Freeport. His advice however has proven useful in many ways, so I've recently taken this advice to heart and purchased an old leather bound journal with a hundred or so pages here on Zaxted Starport to jot down such things. Hard to believe that this thing cost eighty credits.

Well anyway, I'm John Hawke, Captain and only crewer of the Kali, a modified Vertigo. I was born on Ursa Minor Beta in the lower middle class family who worked for Starbound Shipping. I grew up in space aboard an first model Kestrel-class frigate, the Frenzo. That design has long been out of commission, yet you can find one or two old models in scrap yards and such. Atinoda has since remodeled the Kestrel, making it stronger and better, as well as adding a bit a grace. I learned everything onboard the Frenzo, thanks to the teachers and even the passengers we were ferrying from time to time. In time, I struck out on my own, becoming an officer onboard a UGE courier before striking out on my own.

Enough of my past for now. I'm a reputable merchant and I run my own small business based from Zaxted Starport. I'm founder and only member of Hawke Salvage and Messenger; I do jobs from running messages to salvaging starships for those who wish to hire people like me. I've made enough credits to get by three times over. The reason why I'm not broke is because I do business out of my ship rather then renting a small office on Zaxted. Too high for someone like me to pay it; that, and I don't feel like paying rent beyond docking space.

I tend to do a lot of business in salvaging old ships; this fact has been due to a little thing called war. Some six years ago, the Weave Alliance was crushed in the Battle of Satori, causing the mighty Alliance of the Brox, Calan, Hunn'sta, Sauridian, and even humans to fall. Those who survived and such disappeared without a trace. Rumors hold that the Weave remnants have been secretly building up, but to me its just that: rumors. Five years prior to that battle, a fierce war had raged, and because of this, business has been good these days. It's amazing to find how old derelicts survive for nearly a decade only to be salvaged by people like me. Although the Scavengers tend to corner the market, I have made some major credits recovering this old Tavora Cruiser or that ruined Armada battleship. Granted, some were in great disarray where some weapons systems were all but damaged and had to be replaced and others had the dead of those who had served on it; yet there have been some cases when I've found unique weapons' schematics that I quickly copied to my own databases.

Most of my ventures have been mostly with small-time companies like Nollman Shipping or Terren Transports, who want such ships for escort duty or heavy transports, and sometimes I do work with factions like Lethe or Griffin Tech, who pay very well. A few times I've done salvages for a few individuals of incredible wealth, though I dare not write them here. The reason why I don't get into trouble when salvaging ships like Empire warships is because of one simple spacer's rule: Finder's keepers, loser's whine all they want. In the Salvage accord, any captain or person of wealth can claim rights to any vessel that has been disabled and unclaimed for more then three weeks. The Scavs jump on this, and make a profit in doing so. But we two have an understanding; stay out of my way and I won't roast you to bits. The Kali may be nothing more then an upgraded Vertigo, but I've a battle-proven record for sending nigh a dozen pirate Kestrels and two Tyrant Cruisers to hell's gates.

Well this is all I have to say for now, and considering the Silent Deal, a popular tavern, is closing for the night, I'm off for bed and another day of business tomorrow.

Capt. John Hawke

(This message has been edited by moderator (edited 12-10-2001).)