A few hours ago the ANDRONIUS suffered catastrophic failure with the expected loss of 150 mil. of research data and value of codeces. Additional loss of xenobiological data is at this point unknown but believed to be even higher as it contained research from original departure from the bubble several months ago.

Despite this tremendous setback, the mission is resumed albeit with a heavy heart. The trip has been reset from Achilles Heel and once again navigation has plotted a course into Lyra's Song.

The event itself came from a chain of events, including a high speed race between canyons on a 1.5g planet. Amazing topology. After the Andronius suffered minor hull damage we decided to try out the repair limpets and the AFMU. While still hovering 1km above the surface. In a post-race delirium the thrusters was selected for minor repairs. The thrusters deactivated and the ship plummeted towards the surface. Shields offline. We tried in a few panic induced seconds to restart the thrusters but failed. Catastrophe imminent.

Today we arrived in The ANDRONIUS, Dolphin class exploration fitted vessel at Engopr YH-L b14-2. A total data value of 150 mil. CR allowing advancement to explorer rank ELITE 1.

We will stay here for a couple of nights before moving further out into the far reaches of the galaxy.

For the last couple of weeks I have been doing minor combat duty around the Fire Fade system and its surrounding neighbors. Improving general standing with the local factions and the Empire.

My main ships have been my trusty Vulture, a combat fitted Krait Mk. II and a passenger fitted Python.

With the reputation at an all high-level my travels now takes me to gathering the materials necessary to outfit my Orca for deep-space travel.

We are taking the newly outfitted DARK EXPRESS a 60 LY capable exploration Dolphin to the Heart Nebulae cirka 7k LY away from SOL.

Some findings:

• The Dolphin is an excellent explorer. It runs cold enough to frameshift while orbiting a star. This makes for excellent speed for long voyages.

• It is quick to land and easy to find a landing spot

• It is sometimes a bit a fidgety with jumping range when 3tons of cargo is loaded. I picked up occupied escape pods from a crash site and this upset the navigation (Odessey)

• No Artemis suits available for purchase in the deep outposts in Heart or Soul Nebulae.

RESCUE ONE has arrived in the PLEIADES SECTOR and are currently evacuating the damaged stations. Currently concentrating the efforts around Arc's Faith.

This trip has been accident prone and there has been more than one slipup and in the latest canyon flight the DEEP SARGASSO II hull was brought down to 45%.

I have a bad feeling about this. We are now heading back towards the bubble for repairs and potentially getting prepared for the Odysey DLC hitting next week. I've already slowly begun my return voyage so only 10k LY remains.

...and there we were 14K LY from Sol, deep in the Formidine Rift. A large deposit rich planet with a rather high gravity compared to our usual planetfalls. We plunged towards the surface and instead of levelling out, the DEEP SARGASSO II continued loosing altitude. I did what any self-respecting commander would do, aim the ship towards the sky and boost.

It stopped the descent but instead of remaining cool-headed I banked the ship around towards the designated geological loctation and that caused the ship to slip hard down to the surface. The shields broke the fall but clumsy maneuvering shredded alost half the hull before regaining control.

and DEEP SARGASSO II is not equipped with a repair limpet...

After several thousands of LY heading southwards into Kepler's Crest, we have turned the DEEP SARGASSO II eastward into the Formidine Rift. The star view out here is beautiful as you can see most of the core to your side. In my current route I have bumped into a very high number of Water planets but so far no ELW or Black Hole.

We will not return to the bubble before having discovered at least one ELW, Biological signal or a Black Hole.

I try to stay in the bubble, taking care of business, working on my combat rating and general cash flow. It lasts for a few weeks and then the urge to go out into the black again resurfaces.

I've just finished the initial planning of a voyage into the galactic south. This time with the goal to penetrate Keppler's Crest roughly 10k LY to start. Not sure what to expect from there but I aim to navigate to one of the Deep Space Carriers floating around out there for resupplies and repairs.

After spending several weeks in the bubble working on improving combat rating in an engineered Vulture it is time to go out into the void. This time it is a more unplanned voyage simply drifting further away from the core systems. This time it is taking me westbound.

I've just passed 1000 LY below the California Nebula where the stars are scarce and the void is present. Aiming for 2k LY westward...