Equipped with the latest landing equipment upgrades and surface suits, looks I'll be having lots to look at. I just hope this new demand for biological materials doesn't go badly...

One did try to make a living in the bubble, one seriously did. It was fun at first and lucrative but, inevitably, one needs to head back out. This time, however, I left my trusty Asp X South Notos at home and brought Njord Odda, my most recent acquisition, a Diamondback Explorer, kited for some fine traveling. Let's see where we end up...

Still going on tour in the bubble, catching up with reported sightings of interesting features either in space or ground.

In the process, am breaking in the Njord Odda for its role in exploration. Today, went after Q-type anomalies (whatever they may be) over at HIP 15310 and Alaunus.

Have a feeling good old South Notos, my good old trusty AspX, might be taking an extended rest from its long exploration flight duties. The DBX sounds clunky when you're inside but that small size sure does have advantages in getting up close and personal to things.

This meant I could get close to the anomalies themselves.

Mind you, getting close to these anomalies is not recommended as they get active. In this case, the AspX would have probably fared better. All things to consider when taking a new ship out.

During a break of a few days, decided to take the new toy for a spin, just to see how it fares to the old AspX. Booted up my codex and decided to see what was around.

A quick trip led me to Col 285 Sector GG-N c7-34 where it I got to witness my first viewing of metalic crystals mentioned in the codex. It is funny to think I've gone through my career without ever seeing them.

Still had a bit of money to the side when I went past a local shipyard. There was a Lakon thing there, a Diamondback Explorer who was just blinking her eye at me. The AspX had already gotten my attention so I figured, why not?

Having returned from that long trip, I felt I had to make use of my pilot's license in a different way. So, I bought a Dolphin (not too expensive) and have been carrying people across Mankind's worlds.

Pay isn't great but I still have a comfortable amount set aside. Besides, you get to know different people. Granted, some are very uptight, others stuck up but, from time to time, you get a nice customer or group come along and you have fun taking them places.

Uff, I thought this was it. Had a few controller issues. The ship wouldn't behave as expected. Had to shut the whole thing down while trying to determine what was happening. Left me in the middle of nowhere while I looked into it. In the end, there was a switch that was flipped somehow (probably during a jump) that switched the whole electronics behaviour. Will need to keep that in mind while returning to the bubble. Will have to spend some money with maintenance.

Have started to make my way back to mankind's pocket of the galaxy but there is no need to rush it. As such, due to curiosity, have decided to scout the Formidine Rift Dinasty sites.

After this experience, I am not sure it was a good option. The fours camps were void of life as was expected but reading the log entries that details the arrival of people who thought they had hit the jackpot to then be abandoned, forgotten, discarded. A sobering experience indeed, not made better by the darkness in which I visited most of the sites.

After my visit to the Zurara, progress returning to humanity has been slow. Have spent a little over a month in hibernation with all systems powered down. I just needed the break. The wonders of space not always keep one going.

Have landed at Hypiae Aim AA-A d3 for a bit of resource gathering. The planet is volcanologically active.

Have finally reached the Zurara.

Navigating the Poseidal Wall proved a much tougher challenge than antecipated. Many times I had to retrace my jumps and attempt to take a different path. Fortunately, I had ample stocks of material available to me (tally a good decision in my favour).

The megaship is still in surprisingly good shape.

Engines are still operational, keeping the ship in position above Syreadiae JX-F c0 1. Got a bit too close and burned off some systems but nothing particularly dangerous. May this lesson be leaned.

Data scanned the ship to uncover the already infamous last log entry on the ship's systems. Even if I had already heard them before, hearing those words first-hand is daunting. Had to land the ship to fully give it my full attention.

I picked up the also famous log entry that played a major part in uncovering the conspiracy of Project Dinasty. Again, the implications of it left me in a grave enough mood that I took another breather just resting on the ship's stern.

After this, it is time to start heading back.