I stayed orbiting the Green Giant at Blua Hypa HT-F d12-1226 for 4 days before the fleet carriers reached the system, boarded the PDES Cloudbase 2 where I have the rest of my ships, I ended up staying on the carrier until today, we reached Evelyn's Light I only then realized that I had missed a checkpoint in the expedition Eord Flyuae VP-W d2-2699, aka. The Diamond Necklace Nebula. So I loaded up my Diamondback Explorer and did a quick Neutron fueled trip to it, just ~3000LY away and another 3000LY back. In the bubble such a trip would seem daunting but with the experience of the expedition it's a nice and quick trip, just to get a checkmark on my travel map.

I do realize that it was a risky trip however, my FSD took heavy damage and malfunctioned a dozen times at least, I was able to bring it back up every time but in the case I hadn't I would have to rely on my squadron to save me. An AFMU is a mandatory purchase for sure. Provided Colonia has one for sale, I am considering returning back to the bubble via the Neutron highway, it would take roughly 170 Jumps but is doable and would be a nice adventure before settling down for a while.

Speaking of settling down, I am fairly certain I will go with a Krait MKII for my mining ship, it's a three-seater with the pilot's chair in the middle just the way I like it, might hire some crew, been cruising on my own for too long and would be nice getting some companionship as well as having someone I can rely on in the thick of it. It also has the ability to fit a Ship launched fighter hangar, that sounds fun.

I am out of the Inner Orion Spur for a while now, but the thought is just now settling in, so far away from home, makes me think of the Generation ships, before the advent of warp travel, meant to house entire generations before they reach their destination a mere 100LY away. I know there are a few still around, would be interesting to visit some of them.

Logged: 3306-12-20 20:00:13

While on the carrier I downloaded the latest news from the bubble, seems tensions between the Federation and the Empire are ramping up, hope I don't get dragged into that since I am technically part of the Federation. But know what makes more waves than war? A new game that will be released in a few days, apparently it's set back in 2077, so long ago it's hard to imagine, it's before the first Generation Ship and before the first permanent colonies become viable.

I've only sneakily played a game one or two times back before uncle took me with him. The station had machines you could rent and they were really popular with the kids, but I never had enough credits.

On Skaudai AM-B d14-138 I visited two Guardian ruins, the terrain around them was shaped in peculiar ways almost like something was buried underneath. There was less to see from what I expected, mostly some solid rectangular objects protruding a few meters from the ground made of a strange metal. However there were some pylons that unearthed themselves when I approached, I scanned them but nothing much came out of it, maybe I am missing something. I've heard of an engineer that is said to be an expert on guardian tech, maybe he or she could shed some light into it.

I then headed to Skaude AL-X e1-28 in the Rusty Net Nebula and Skaude AA-A h294 aka Collection of Wonders straight after, now that was an impressive system: two black holes and 3 ringed stars, it was the first time I've seen a ringed star. Visited the Tourist beacon nearby, a lonely Beluga Liner was around, no doubt carrying some too rich for their own good VIPs.

Some Neutron Jumps later and I am a few thousand light years away at the next expedition waypoint, Blua Hypa HT-F d12-1226. I had heard about the green glowing gas giant in the system but it's something else seeing it. I've gotten the hang of Neutron Jumping but my FSD is once again in poor condition and without the expedition fleet "nearby" it would be almost suicidal. I should get an Auto Field-Maintenance Unit for sure because manually repairing the FSD every couple of days is getting quickly old and as much as I want to toot my own horn I am not a great engineer, never got any education for it, it's just experience from living in space for so long.

I'll wait for the Fleet Carriers here, I've set an orbit around the glowing giant, perfect view to do some reading.

PS. Seems like the onboard clock was out of whack for a few days, should be fixed now.

Logged: 3306-12-08 19:08:36

I did it! I actually did it!

I am back at Omega Sector on board of the SWS//Cosmic Sonata and I Neutron Jumped my way here! A scary experience for sure, the jet from the star throws the entire ship around, no autopilot or skill is enough to counteract that, you're at it's mercy for the most part. If you enter the jet at a shallow angle it will most likely throw you out shortly after supercharging the FSD.

It cut down my travel time massively and I don't think seeing a Neutron star with your own two eyes can ever get old. My FSD got more of a beating than I thought however, I'll need to work on it overnight if I want it to be safe for the Guardian Ruins.

Logged: 3306-12-07 system:time-error

I've received word from Omega Sector VE-Q b5-15 that the FC SWS//Cosmic Sonata will be jumping to Skaudai AM-B d14-138. Apparently some Guardian ruins have been reported there, never seen ancient ruins myself, with the exception of that Thargoid site Felicity Farseer tipped me off about, after getting pulled out of hyperspace by that Thargoid Interceptor I can see why she didn't go there herself. It disabled all my systems and I thought I was a goner, not even the redundant escape-pod systems worked. But it didn't fire at me, maybe leaving that tech behind saved me even if I left it behind for the wrong reasons.

I've also come up with a mining layout for the Krait MK.II for when I get back in the bubble, I am going to need a hefty 125.000.000 Credits, but it's doable.

That's if I return to the bubble, I am thinking of attempting Neutron Jumping back to Omega Sector it's a risky but essential skill for anyone that considers himself an explorer. Not even sure if that's what I'll continue doing, after uncle died I just got in a Sidewinder and got as far as I could with that measly ~10LY jump range, even got to visit the cradle of Humanity, Earth on the Sol system, of course spacers like me aren't allowed to land there. However mining and cargo transporting still call to me.

Logged: 3306-12-06 system:time-error

The inmates in Eagle's Landing seem to have an almost symbiotic relationship with the security forces in the system, although they have the most influence and outnumbering the security by a vast amount they stick to playing their "role". In a way they're all prisoners that far out the bubble.

When this expedition is over I am thinking of buying a proper mining vessel, my Cobra MK.III just doesn't cut it and I am not a fan of the flight seat being on the side, maybe there is a retrofit to bring it in the middle of the cockpit? The new ship might be a Python, Krait MK.II or maybe another Lakon Spaceways ship, the Diamondback Explorer is the best ship I've flown, my uncle had a Type-7 and I've been around plenty of Type-6s all of them reliable machines.

Logged: 3306-12-05 system:time-error

Today I landed on Eagle Sector IR-W d1-117 (Eagle's Landing) since I have some free time I decided to try out writing a Commander's Log.

Even though this is my second exploration expedition, I just now begin to understand the process and get satisfaction out of it. The previous expedition had it's issues but I also didn't really get it.

I must have discovered a dozen systems and a few hundred planets on my way here, there is something peculiar going somewhere that no human has gone before. I almost crash landed on a high G planet, well higher G than what I am used to in any case, but my DBX held up. I've lived almost all my life in freight ships, stations and asteroid belts. Heard of commanders that have landed on planets with about 9Gs, don't think I can ever attempt that.

Since I am ahead of the main expedition fleet, I plan on staying here for a few days, although some commanders have already reached Colonia.

Logged: 3306-12-04 system:time-error