My ship is named the NEUTRON surfer!! That should be a dead giveaway that I use NEUTRON star boosting! Did the people behind this new routing algorithm even consider that? No, of course not! Whatever course I plot seems to actively avoid neutron stars!

Of course I can’t go back to the old algorithm because that old software would be considered a “Security risk” by DeLacy!

I’ve set down while I think about my next move. Do I go back to Jacques station and wait for another software update to fix this, or do I press on and hope I can get said update at a fleet carrier? Downloading it remotely is out of the question, it would be made back in the sol bubble and then exported via docked ships. We haven’t figured out FTL data transfer yet as far as I am aware.

It’s like what they would call a “worm” back in the late 20th century. There’s all kinds of safeguards to prevent abuse. But once a software update is authenticated by the computers on ship and station, it’s there for good until a newer update is delivered.

I couldn’t find the E class anomaly, but I did get 50,000 credits for discovering these huge spike balls floating in a clump in that system, so that diversion was not a complete waste of time.

I managed to get the computer going through ship loadouts and of course it provided a higher jump range configuration. I’m heading back to Colonia to get that outfitting done. Then I’m going to pick a random system between there and beagle point and beeline to it. No more detours. I’ve set down on a moon to let the AFMU fix the artificial gravity. Turns out I’m well out of practice when it comes to white dwarf jet cone boosting. Those things are toasty.

This is it. Beagle point is happening. I hit 5,000 light years away from Colonia today. I got reports of an E type anomaly in this sector of the Galaxy so that system will be my first waypoint. If the reports are true, it’ll be something to see. But if they’re not it’s no big deal. A trip of over 45,000 light years can handle a small detour. I am glad I called in at Colonia, having the AFMU redundancy means that should push come to shove one can repair the other. And having the SRV means I can get minerals for FSD boosts and AFMU refills.

Did I mention that this ships synthesis unit makes a hell of a coffee from a bit of carbon? Apparently it uses that as a universal food base it combines with hydrogen and assorted chemicals the ship picks up along the way. And it even recaptures some of the carbon and hydrogen from the life support and waste disposal.

I know this because I have a splitting headache and spent the afternoon listening to ship manuals.

I made record time between the bubbles with the obscene jump range this engineered anaconda gets. I’ve toned it down a bit by adding weight, but I still get 45ly jump range. The run to beagle point will be much less tedious compared to my Krait’s 23ly range. Especially with neutron star boosts, which are so much easier in this huge ship. I am the disruptive mass now!

I’m writing this from Jacques Station. The tourist traffic is obscene. I saw 5 belugas waiting as I pulled in through the mail slot.

Hopefully the bar isn’t too crowded. I’d love to have a chat with Jacques to lift my spirits before heading out.

I found an earth like today. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the scanner showed it, but the adaptive zoom showed it clear as day. I hope my mapping probes didn’t disrupt any life on there

Just 34 jumps today. Typing this from Polo 'Harbour' enjoying actual planetary gravity for the first time in a while. It's only 0.28G but that just means less pressure points for the bed. I used some of my exploration data to get myself a luxury room for the night. I deserve it. (And it comes with all you can drink tea and coffee!)

Taking a break today. I pushed myself too hard yesterday, need a day to recover. Will stick to smaller distances per day from now on.

Silver lining: Fresh coffee.

Managed over 9000 LY today. Typing this from Vihara Gate. Tired. Next stop is Polo harbor only a couple thousand LY away. Might even just skip to Gagarin Gate about 5000 LY away to make decent headway. I need to start helping Obsidian Orbital come back online ASAP.

Note to self: You have a LOT of space in space, pull over for rest stops more often.

I just got the word from the Ant Hill Mob (Long story) - Obsidian Orbital has been hit by Thargoids and is undergoing repairs, but requires a shitload of everything to get back up and running. I'm officially aborting my Beagle Point run, ditching my AspX and picking up a freighter to help get supplies in.

First step; get back to the bubble. I could just self-destruct and follow the CCH from Jaques, but I have a lot of exploration data that would be lost, so that option is out.

Silver lining, I can replenish my coffee stores along the way.

Only knocked out a few jumps today. Hit about 5 neutrons, have about 300 jumps to go to what I call "Waypoint 1" - a system near the back of Sag A* about 19kLY from Colonia. I am glad that I decided to pick up a decent coffee machine, it's a valuable asset out here. I packed 4 standard units of coffee with the other 4 being used by the 4 repair limpets I decided to haul along just in case. I won't be near a repair depot for months, so I need to be certain that I don't suffer a major failure out in deep space.

God, I hope I bought enough coffee!