Sidewinder Mk. I Galactic Circumnavigation Attempt

[Satsuma]

What a fantastic adventure, Commander! I started out exploring in a Sidewinder, but I moved out of it into the comparative luxury of an Eagle long before I learned to explore properly. I have to say, it's making me think wistfully back on those days.

Good luck, and I'd love to run into you sometime in the black!

 

[Commander William Diffin]

What a fantastic adventure, Commander! I started out exploring in a Sidewinder, but I moved out of it into the comparative luxury of an Eagle long before I learned to explore properly. I have to say, it's making me think wistfully back on those days.

Good luck, and I'd love to run into you sometime in the black!

Thanks. I started in the Cobra Daedalus, realized I needed something with more range and upgraded to the Asp Abeona, and after doing Beagle Point graduated to the Anaconda Pourquoi pas ? Finally I returned to the starting Sidewinder Enterprise for a challenge.

Incidentally she's not named after the fictional starship, but after the Royal Naval survey ship HMS Enterprise (A71), sold in 1985 and used for a time as a pirate radio station for Northern Irish youth to broadcast on.

 

[Commander William Diffin]

Day Thirty-one:

Stage Two: The Formidine Rift

Waypoint №9 - 832.01 - 9,129.61 - Formidine Rift Abandoned Settlements, Eafots LZ-H b10-0 D1: -23.08, -174.89

Whilst the Farsight Base Traffic Report showed five ships having passed through in the last 24 hours, three Asp Explorers, a Beluga and an Anaconda, there was no one docked at the station when I came to leave. Perhaps that was just as well; other ships are the biggest threat to an unarmed Sidewinder, but soon I'll be well away from all of them. Now to begin the short 39-jump journey to investigate the Formidine Rift Abandoned Settlements at Eafots LZ-H b10-0 D1.

(Enterprise leaving Farsight Expedition Base)

At Heart Sector XJ-A d47, 1D was the first body I had encountered since leaving Farsight that had not been discovered previously. It also had a high surface concentration of Tungsten (1.2%), and since I had only one unit of that material left and could do with some for Premium SRV Repair. I decided to take my ship in and land.

(Enterprise landed at Heart Sector XJ-A d47 1D, planet 1 in the background and the Heart Nebula filling the sky)

After landing and disembarking the SRV Herbie, it didn't take long to find a few units of Tungsten. I also managed to collect enough Arsenic, Cadmium and Vanadium to bring the total numbers of available Basic/Standard/Premium FSD injections to 21/26/12. A useful stop.

(SRV Herbie returning to the Enterprise after prospecting for Tungsten)

Later on in my journey a rare find of mild interest was the eleventh planet of the Eafots VH-Q b33-0 system, a Gas Giant with Water-Based Life:

(Enterprise approaching Eafots VH-Q b33-0 11, a Gas Giant with Water-Based Life)

At Eafots CP-Y c14-0, with 29 jumps still to go to the Formidine Rift Abandoned Settlements, tiring of investigating so many relatively dull M-class systems, I decided to take M-class stars out of the star class filter on Galaxy Map, just as I had already removed unscoopable L- T- Y- Proto and Carbon Stars in order to avoid running out of fuel what with the Sidewinder's tiny 2-jump basic range. This lengthened my route by four jumps, but I hoped it would make for more interesting systems along my route. As it turned out, every system I passed through had already been visited. It appears that I am on quite a thoroughfare.

I sped on through the well-charted systems without stopping and soon reached the Formidine Rift Abandoned Settlements. It turns out that the settlement on my itinerary is only one of four abandoned settlements yet discovered in the Formidine Rift, set up as part of the mysterious Dynasty Expedition. These settlements were discovered by decoding transmissions from Unregistered Comms Beacons discovered in the Formidine Rift last year in 3302. At that time I was on a mission to search for the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant, that had apparently disappeared, in connection with the Formidine Rift Mystery, and happened to be in exactly the right area to be one of the first pilots to investigate the first Unregistered Comms Beacon discovered, in my very capable armed exploration Anaconda, the Pourquoi pas ? But I had never visited the actual settlements themselves before.

(Enterprise landed at Formidine Rift Beta Site)

(SRV Herbie entering the Formidine Rift Beta Site)

(Habitation module at Formidine Rift Beta Site)

(Data Point at Formidine Rift Beta Site)

(SRV Herbie returning to Enterprise)

Six Comms Log Uplink points at the Site revealed a story of uninformed settlers being disturbed by strange signals and suffering repeated equipment and hyperdrive malfunctions, before finally abandoning the settlement and disappearing altogether.

The next stage in the journey will take me to another system with multiple ammonia worlds, again to look for signs of Thargoid activity. Whilst the Triptych in Bronze System looks ideal for Thargoid settlement, hitherto no technological activity has been discovered there. But in any case, I am now well and truly in the Formidine Rift.

 

[Commander William Diffin]

Day Thirty-six:

Waypoint №10 - 1,945.84 - 11,075.45 - Triptych in Bronze, Myoideau JI-K d8-4

Immediately after setting off from Formidine Beta, I realized that navigating to the next Waypoint might be tricky, the Galactic Map being unable to plot a direct route.

(Enterprise leaving Formidine Beta Site, note the Engine Colour Orange, chosen to disguise the engine exhaust by flying towards stars)

Navigating sometimes system-by-system, I encountered no more than three systems which had not already been visited. At Eafots IL-Y d3 I even discovered another wreck, this time what looked like a Diamondback Explorer, although there was not much left of it.

(Enterprise investigating wreckage of Diamondback )

Soon after that I found an Earth-Like World at Hypoae Aim AG-A c-1 A1, but this had already been discovered. It may be some time before I enter entirely uncharted space yet.

(System Map of Hypoae Aim AG-A c-1)

After reaching a point some 150L-y below Myoideau JI-K d8-4, I had to use two Basic FSD Injections to finally get to the Waypoint. This leaves me with enough Jumponium for 19 Basic, 16 Standard and 12 Premium FSD Injections.

(Ammonia World Myoideau JI-K d8-4 5, Heart and Soul Nebulae in the background)

(Enterprise passing Ammonia World Myoideau JI-K d8-4 5)

(Enterprise at Ammonia World Myoideau JI-K d8-4 6)

(Enterprise at Ammonia World Myoideau JI-K d8-4 7)

(Myoideau JI-K d8-4 7, Myoideau JI-K d8-4 6 in the background)

(An unusual large desert island of Myoideau JI-K d8-4 7)

As expected, there was no evidence of Thargoid activity, nor of any technology at all in the system. But with recent events in the Pleiades, it is probably best to check. Next Waypoint is the Formidine Rift Depot, where I hope to stock up on Jumponium before heading deeper into the Rift...

---

Waypoint №11 - 714.38 - 11,789.83 - Formidine Rift Depot, Phrio Hypa TF-L d9-0

Heading for the Formidine Rift 'Depot' (a so-called 'green' system where every kind of FSD Injection Material may be found by a Commander whose ship is equipped with a Planetary Vehicle Hangar and SRV) proved to be trickier than reaching the last Waypoint. Pretty soon it became clear that I would be using FSD Injection Synthesis nearly every other jump. Even so, nearly every system I passed through had already been explored. After using three Basic and two Premium Injections, I encountered the Earth-Like World at Phoi Aescs HU-Q c18-0 6, which had already been discovered.

(System Map of Phoi Aescs HU-Q c18-0)

Another two Basic and four Standard Injections later, I discovered a Gas Giant with Water-Based Life at Phrio Hypa BY-S c20-0 1.

(Phrio Hypa BY-S c20-0 1, a Gas Giant with Water-Based Life)

Finally getting to the Formidine Rift Depot needed three Basic, one Standard and three Premium FSD Injections, but at least it was gratifying to see a Sidewinder Mk. I jumping 50ly+. If only I could keep enough Materials handy to use Premium FSD Injections all the time.

(Enterprise's maximum range showing as 56.26ly)

(Enterprise making a 50ly+ jump)

As it was, I arrived in the Phrio Hypa TF-L d9-0 with only enough Jumponium for 8 Basic, 13 Standard and 7 Premium FSD Injections left.

(Approaching Phrio Hypa TF-L d9-0 3, Vanadium- and Germanium-rich High Metal Content world. Note the night-side approach, having just arrived from scanning Ice World Phrio Hypa TF-L d9-0 4A for materials)

Spent an hour on the third planet, gathering mainly Vanadium and Germanium.

(Landed on Phrio Hypa TF-L d9-0 3)

(SRV Herbie returns to the Enterprise after gathering asstons Vanadium and Germanium)

Then spent two hours on the second planet, also a High Metal Content world, this time prospecting for Cadmium, Niobium and Polonium.

(Landed on Phrio Hypa TF-L d9-0 2, with Heart and Soul Nebulae in remote background)

Had a very hairy moment after an hour and a half of reckless driving, by which time Herbie's Hull Integrity was already down to 52%. Whilst speeding in bumpy terrain I flew straight into a hillside taking what I thought was a minor bump, but which suddenly took Hull Integrity right down to 1%.

(SRV Herbie at Hull Integrity 1%)

I did not fancy retracing my steps back to Farsight to pick up a replacement SRV, and immediately gave Herbie the Premium SRV Repair Synthesis.

(Premium SRV Repair Activating)

Finally I needed to gather some Arsenic from the Rocky world orbiting Phrio Hypa TF-L d9-0 2.

(Enterprise leaving Phrio Hypa TF-L d9-0 2 for its moon)

Coming down to land on Phrio Hypa TF-L d9-0 2A with the sun directly behind me, the shadow of the Sidewinder Mk. I looked very much like that of an ancient 'Flying Saucer':

('Flying Saucer' shadow)

(Enterprise casting 'Flying Saucer' shadow)

After spending another hour prospecting on 2A I now have 46 Basic, 46 Standard and 22 Premium FSD Injections, and materials storage is nearly full, even after ditching a lot of Engineers materials that are no good to me at all whilst circumnavigating the Galaxy.

(SRV Herbie about to mine a prized Metallic Meteorite, Phrio Hypa TF-L d9-0 2 in the sky above)

(Jumponium happiness)

The huge load of Jumponium gathered here from the Formidine Rift Depot should see me across 1,500ly of sparsely-populated Formidine Rift to my rendezvous with the Zurara at the next Waypoint; it looks like I'm going to need it...

 

[Commander William Diffin]

Day Forty-nine:

Waypoint №12 - 1,459.56 - 13,240.39 - Zurara, Syreadiae JX-F c0

Heading straight for the Zurara from the Formidine Rift Depot I immediately encountered a huge void of stars, with an initial leap of over 110ly just to enter it, and possibly larger leaps beyond, requiring an engineered Anaconda with FSD Injection to traverse. The Sidewinder Mk. I has no chance. None at all. So I set to work trying to circumvent this unusually sparse patch, typical of the Formidine Rift.

After using 14 Basic, 9 Standard and 2 Premium FSD injections, still travelling through largely explored space, I finally found myself in a navigable region of space in the same sector as my next Waypoint, at Syreadiae VS-E b49-0. The stars are slightly denser here, I can go five or six jumps without having to use Jumponium.

Skirting the northern border of the Syreadiae Sector with the Qiedia Sector the star density increased again, and after two more Basic and one Standard FSD injections I could navigate tortuously without Jumponium. At this point I was about 1,100ly north and slightly west of the Zurara. My plan was to head far enough west to be able to begin heading southeast through the denser star fields and then across to the Zurara. I found most of the systems in this region have been discovered by Cmdr JC-Lowkey, or else Cmdr Shpingalet.

Finally, after three more Basic and one Standard FSD injections I hit a starfield dense enough to navigate fairly comfortably directly towards the Zurara, 1,300ly from it and on the other side of it from the last Waypoint. Also I finally chanced on a system of interest, with an Earth-Like World, discovered beforehand of course, by Cmdr JC-Lowkey of course, at Phrae Hypoo VZ-M d8-2 2.

(System map of Phrae Hypoo VZ-M d8-2)

Arriving at Syreadiae VA-U d4-2, within 500ly of the Zurara, I discovered a system with a good number of unexplored landable moons, and since all of the planets of the system had already been scanned, I decided to scan all of the moons of the planet with the largest system of moons, the Metal Rich ringed Class III Gas Giant Syreadiae VA-U d4-2 2.

(Enterprise passing Syreadiae VA-U d4-2 2)

At this point I was down to just 16 Basic, 16 Standard and 20 Premium FSD injections, with Jumponium reserves as follows:

V:53 Ge:16 Ca:71 Nb:76 As:21 Y:39 Po:20

Since I still had plenty of the rarer Jumponium elements, I could rectify the dicey situation of running out of FSD injections in the middle of the Formidine Rift in a Sidewinder Mk. I simply by collecting Vanadium and Germanium alone. Moon 2f has 4.7% V and 5.6% Ge, so I went in to land and restock on these basic Jumponium elements, just for a change deciding to land in a large walled plain, instead of simply landing on the flattest expanse I could find.

(Enterprise approaching Syreadiae VA-U d4-2 2f)

(Walled plain prospecting site)

(Enterprise landed in the walled plain)

(SRV Herbie disembarked with Syreadiae VA-U d4-2 2 in background)

After a good prospecting session I gathered enough Vanadium and Germanium to bring my FSD injections back up to 43 Basic, 37 Standard, and 21 Premium, having collected 33×V, 39×Ge, 1×Ca and 2×Po.

(SRV Herbie investigating one of many Metallic Meteorites discovered in the plain)

Finding a couple of bits of Cadmium and Polonium, and what with Arsenic and Yttrium also detected on other moons orbiting this Gas Giant, I decided to scan all landable moons in the rest of the system to see if there was any Niobium to be found too, which would make the system a 'green' system, that is to say a system where all Jumponium elements may be collected.

(Enterprise en route to scan Syreadiae VA-U d4-2 4da to scan for Niobium, Class I Gas Giant Syreadiae VA-U d4-2 4 in the background)

Having scanned all of the landable moons of Syreadiae VA-U d4-2 1 and found them as devoid of Niobium as the moons of Syreadiae VA-U d4-2 2, I scanned the remaining moons of the system, those of Syreadiae VA-U d4-2 4. 4a, b, and c were all devoid of Niobium. But 4d and her moon 4da both turned out to have small quantities of Niobium present, so the system is indeed a 'green' Depot system. The Jumponium concentrations in the system are as follows:

1d :— V :5.1% As:2.7%
1f :— Ge:5.5%
1g :— V: 4.7% Ge:5.5% Ca:1.5%

2a :— Ca:1.4%
2b :— Ge:5.7% As:2.6% Y :1.2%
2c :— V :4.8% Ca:1.5%
2d :— Ca:1.5%
2e :— V :4.8%
2f :— V :4.7% Ge:5.6% Ca:1.5% Po:0.5%
2g :— Ge:5.5%
2h :— V :4.7% Y :1.1%

4a :— V :3.5% Ge:3.0%
4b :— Ge:3.5% Ca:0.9%
4c :— V: 2.9%
4d :— Nb:0.8%
4da:— As:1.4% Nb:0.7%

After the heavy use of Jumponium to get here, this is a very useful stop indeed for anyone making their way to Syreadiae JX-F c0 and the Zurara. In fact I'm calling this system the Zurara Depot when I submit it as a System of Interest to the Galactic Mapping Project, after cashing in the exploration data of course.

Three more Basic and one Standard FSD injections after the Zurara Depot, and I finally had a clear route to the Zurara with no gaps. I am now out of the void. I had to make a huge detour from the Formidine Rift Depot and consumed a total of 22 Basic, 12 Standard and 2 Premium FSD injections in the process. I dare say that Enterprise is not the first Sidewinder Mk. I Scout to make it to the Zurara, but there can't have been many before her.


(Enterprise's route from the Formidine Rift Depot to the Zurara)

Arriving at the Zurara, I guided my tiny Scout very carefully around the huge Megaship with Landing Gear deployed to prevent any unpleasant surprises with accidental boosts. Several Ship Log Uplinks mounted around the outside of the ship revealed the grim fate of her luckless crew.

(Enterprise investigating the Zurara)

The Zurara represents the last human infrastructure on the itinerary until I have travelled another 275,000ly right around the entire Galaxy, to Station X in the Perseus Fade. The next Waypoint is New Vista.

 

[Macros Black]

Looks like an awesome journey, CMDR.

Good luck on your circumnavigation.

 

[Maia Posidana]

This is very reminiscent of MY first attempt (also in a Sidewinder). I will be keeping an eye on this one CMDR.

 

[Commander William Diffin]

Day Seventy-seven:

Waypoint №13 - 3,555.65 - 16,796.04 - New Vista, Glufoa HE-P b19-0
Quite a trek to the next Waypoint for a little Sidewinder, and typical of the sort of distances between most of the remaining Waypoints, although some passages between Waypoints are much longer, adventures all in themselves.

Still disappointed to find almost every system I pass through has been discovered before, even though I am now over 12,000ly from Sol. Was pleasantly surprised then, scanning the large, unexplored muddy-coloured gas giant Pha Aeb TX-L c7-0 1, to discover that it harboured Ammonia-Based Life. I took the ship in as close as I could, to an interesting storm feature. The system of five orbiting moons I leave to future visitors.

(Pha Aeb TX-L c7-0 1, a Gas Giant with Ammonia-Based Life)

Immediately following my visit to Pha Aeb TX-L c7, I found that I required the use of Jumponium again. Some five Basic FSD Injections later I finally hit a huge plane of stars rich enough for me to plot a 1,000ly-route for the first time since the Formidine Rift Depot.

A few hundred light-years into the richer star fields I found I was retracing my steps. At Phrae Hypoo WN-R b38-0 I found an explored Type M star with a belt and a single ringed gas giant orbited by two icy moons. The gas giant had already been discovered by Cmdr Jonuss, a former colleague on the Cassiopeia Expedition of 3302. I decided to scan the two icy moons, and discovering Selenium deposits on the first moon went down to collect some for synthesizing SRV Premium Ammunition.

(Passing Phrae Hypoo WN-R b38-0 1 en route to Phrae Hypoo WN-R b38-0 1a)

(Enterprise landed on Phrae Hypoo WN-R b38-0 1a)

Soon after leaving Phrae Hypoo sector the stars began to thin out again. After using another four Basic and three Standard FSD Injections I found I was badly veering off course due east following the richer starfields. I was also some distance below the Galactic plane, so I decided to ascend and then attempt to veer west from Eafotls UM-W d1-4. I soon found myself among stars that no one had ever visited before....

(Enterprise with most systems powered down to save fuel whilst plotting course from Eafotls UM-W d1-4 A, with coronal mass ejection)

Another two Basic and a Standard FSD Injections later, and I was still no closer to a starfield rich enough to be able to navigate without using Jumponium. By now I was down to 26 Basic FSD Injections left. Also once more I found myself passing through systems that had already been discovered. At Eafotls XS-U d2-3 I scanned the Unexplored Metal Rich world Eafotls XS-U d2-3 1, and finding it had 8.1% Vanadium on the surface, flew down to deploy the SRV and collect some and thereby replenish my supply of Basic FSD Injections.

(Enterprise landed at Eafotls XS-U d2-3 1, Eafotls XS-U d2-3 AB overhead)

After collecting 21× Vanadium, I was left with 36 Basic, 32 Standard and 21 Premium FSD Injections.

Another six Basic and a Standard FSD Injection later and I arrived at Qiedaea IY-E b45-0, and finally was able to plot a direct route to the Waypoint. Closing in on the Waypoint at Glufoa HE-P b19-0, and disappointed to find that every star on my route had apparently already been discovered by Cmdr JC-Lowkey, I took a small detour to investigate some Type B stars. One of these had tertiary and quaternary components that were less than 0.01AU apart.

(Enterprise as close to being between Hypheeg SO-Z e3 CD without getting roasted)

Also there was a single landable Metal-Rich world orbiting the binary CD, which was the only planet in the system. Since it has fair concentrations of Nb (2.2%) and Po (0.9%) I took the ship in to land.

(Heading for Hypheeg SO-Z e3 CD1)

(Enterprise landed on Hypheeg SO-Z e3 CD1)

It didn't take long in the SRV to bring my stock of Niobium back up to 94, and Polonium to 32, having just collected 24×Nb and 6×Po. Now I am only a little light on Vanadium, Germanium and Arsenic.

After detouring to explore most of the Type B stars on the approach to Glufoa HE-P b19-0, at last I arrived in the system and headed straight for New Vista. These twin tidally-locked ringed worlds are expected to become a tourist attraction in future.

(Enterprise at Glufoa HE-P b19-0 1&2, 'New Vista')

The journey to New Vista from the Zurara covered over 3,500ly and consumed seventeen Basic and five Standard FSD Injections. The journey from New Vista to the next Waypoint at the Far Bridge will cover more like nearly 9,000ly, but at least there is a direct route with no need to use Jumponium at all.

 

[Commander William Diffin]

Day One Hundred and Sixty-four:

Waypoint №14 - 8,869.72 - 25,665.76 - The Far Bridge, Pria Eup TD-T d3-8

This was the first really long range Waypoint, and for the first half of the journey there was practically nothing to do but jump, honk, check System Map, rinse and repeat. After hitting a massive cloud of dull red dwarfs, I decided to take the Type 'M's out of the route filter. So doing added some 20 or 30 jumps to the few hundred jumps I was having to make, but at least I would be guaranteed to land on a system that possibly contained some Earth-like Worlds, and avoid the seemingly endless pageant of red dwarfs.

It wasn't long after that I discovered two new Earth-like Worlds in the same system, orbiting the secondary star of the Outotl WE-R d4-14 system, at a distance of nearly 300,000 light-seconds from the arrival point:

(Enterprise approaches Earth-Like World Outotl WE-R d4-14 2)

(and Earth-Like World Outotl WE-R d4-14 3 in the same system; note the larger polar ice cap due to this world's greater separation from the parent star)

And then later on I discovered another Earth-Like at Pria Thoi IC-D d12-84 3:

(One of the Earth-like Worlds discovered en route to the Far Bridge; note the condition of Enterprise's paintwork)

I was finally approaching the beginning of the Far Bridge, the proven Sidewinder-friendly route across the far end of the Formidine Rift to reach the Outer Arm, when a Galaxy-wide software update now necessitated my collecting Carbon in order to be able to continue to use Jumponium. I stopped at Pleia Eup VL-L c21-0 A1a, a Rocky World orbiting a Water World, and only left when I had 59 units, allowing me to make 59 Basic, 59 Standard, or 21 Premium jumps, Premium being limited on Arsenic.

(Enterprise stocked with Carbon and leaving Pleia Eup VL-L c21-0 A1a)

Later I jumped into an interesting quaternary system at Synuedee TR-H d11-22:

(Enterprise at Synuedee TR-H d11-22)

Nearing the Far Bridge I investigated a nebulous T Tauri star at Proo Dryue ZE-A g2, but found it had already been discovered.

(Preparing to jump to Proo Dryue ZE-A g2)

I also discovered another two Earth-Likes in the Pria Eup sector: Pria Eup ZA-A c1 B1 and Pria Eup DY-U c2-6 1. It will be some time before I cash in the data.

(Earth-Like World Pria Eup ZA-A c1 B1)

(Earth-Like World Pria Eup DY-U c2-6 1)

Having finally reached Pria Eup TD-T d3-8, the Formidine Rift has been travelled and Stage Two of the Expedition is now completed. The start of the Far Bridge is an unremarkable system, a simple F-G binary with no orbiting bodies, but it is a landmark system marking the edge of a high-density star region at the end of the Formidine Rift, which enables an easy crossing from the Perseus Arm to the Outer Arm, which comprises the immense Third Stage of the Expedition, through remote uncharted reaches of the Galaxy beyond the Formidine Rift....

 

[Commander William Diffin]

Day Three Hundred and Twenty:

Stage Three: The Outer Arm

Waypoint №15 - 5,180.75 - 30,846.51 - Meridian West Depot, Preou Thoe RK-Y c1-0

First thing heading out across the Far Bridge, with Route Filter set to avoid Type 'M' and Proto- stars, entered a Type 'F' system with an Earth-Like which had already been discovered, by Cmdr Nixon_86D. Immediately decided to include all star types on the Route Filter, and reduced my number of jumps to the next Waypoint by about 60.

At Pria Eup FQ-F b11-0 ABC1, discovered a Large Gas Giant with Water-Based Life, but did not stay to reconnoitre the entire system.

(Gas giant with Water-Based Life Pria Eup FQ-F b11-0 ABC1)

At Pria Eup FB-X b1-0, found the discovery tags of Cmdr =HGLM= Limp Cucumber, and tagged three HMC worlds for myself. Discovery tags are becoming quite rare out here, even on a recognized highway between spiral arms.

Discovered another Commander tag at Wredgoae YU-J b50-0, a red dwarf star with four orbiting gas giants, all scanned by Commander Picker. Scanned the first (landable) moon of the second planet to establish a tag in the system, it turned out to have Carbon, Vanadium and Niobium.

(Enterprise approaching Wredgoae YU-J b50-0 2a eclipsing Wredgoae YU-J b50-0 2)

Well into Angustia, discovered my seventh uncharted Earth-like world on this expedition, in the ternary system Wredgoae PI-K d8-0, the third planet of the primary star. There are no gas giants or landable bodies in the system.

(Enterprise at uncharted Earth-Like World Wredgoae PI-K d8-0 A3)

Type 'M' stars are rarely of any interest, but it's best to leave them on the Waypoint Filter if you're travelling through sparsely populated parts of the Galaxy; you can always just jump into the system, scan it whilst fuel scooping and leave for the next system without carrying out detailed scans. But the Wredgoae QU-U b30-0 Type 'M' system revealed 40 objects, so I hung around there for a while. It turns out that there are two Water Worlds, a Gas Giant with Water-Based Life, and another with a metal-rich ring in the system. All Jumponium elements are present in the system, making this another 'green' system, and as such after completing my reconnaissance of the system I landed on the second planet to collect Arsenic.

(Wredgoae QU-U b30-0 9, a Gas Giant with Water-Based Life)

(Enterprise cruising over the pole of Wredgoae QU-U b30-0 9)

(Approaching Wredgoae QU-U b30-0 2 to prospect for Jumponium)

(Enterprise landed on a huge lava plain of QU-U b30-0 2, the Andromeda Galaxy on the horizon)

(Finding the Polonium motherlode in SRV Herbie)

Again, at Plae Euhm KO-K c8-1 2e I came down in a huge ray crater of a Moon-analogue world, and successfully brought my Jumponium stocks up to C-119 V-118 Ge-131 Ca-107 Nb-151 As-45 Y-69 Po-44, giving me access to 118-107-44 Basic-Standard-Premium Boosted jumps. I shan't be needing them yet.

(Approaching Plae Euhm KO-K c8-1 2e)

(SRV Herbie deploys on the lava plain of the great ray crater of Plae Euhm KO-K c8-1 2e; apparent patches of volcanic sulphur in the foreground)

On the home stretch to the Outer Arm, discovered an undistinguished neutron star system:

(Neutron star at Plae Euhm EQ-Y d2)

(Enterprise in low power state to save fuel, minimal systems powered)

At Praei Thoe SD-M b49-0 was surprised to see a Class IV Gas Giant very close to the primary Type M star. The giant planet turned out to be 0.01AU from the star, with an orbital period of 0.3 days, so it wasn't a record breaker.

(Praei Thoe SD-M b49-0 A1 orbiting Praei Thoe SD-M b49-0 A, Praei Thoe SD-M b49-0 B in the background)

Later used a Standard Boosted Jump to cross a gap above the plane of the Galaxy between Praei Thoe XE-H d10-1 and Praei Thoe XE-H d10-6 to reach another unexplored neutron star on the Far Bridge route at Praei Thoe WJ-H d10-1.

(Enterprise at Praei Thoe WJ-H d10-1)

Soon afterwards investigated another neutron star on the route at Praei Thoe JW-N d6-12, but it turned out that the discovery of this system had already been claimed by Commander Alex-KS.

(Neutron star Praei Thoe JW-N d6-12 A)

Finally had to use a Basic Boosted Jump to reach the waypoint at Preou Thoe RK-Y c1-0, the Meridian West Depot. Was somewhat disappointed to find the discovery tags of Commander May attached to every last body in the system, but will tag some of the surrounding systems to mark my passing through this remote corner of the Galaxy. Briefly stocked up on Polonium from A1, and Arsenic from A6, leaving me with 50 Premium Jumps by the time I had finished.

(Approaching Preou Thoe RK-Y c1-0 A1)

(Approaching canyon system at Preou Thoe RK-Y c1-0 A1)

(Enterprise navigating canyon system at Preou Thoe RK-Y c1-0 A1)

(Enterprise landed at Preou Thoe RK-Y c1-0 A6)

Nearly 31,000 light-years into her circumnavigation of the Galaxy, the Enterprise is now looking somewhat worse for wear, and she has only just achieved the outskirts of the Galaxy, beginning her circumnavigation proper.

The next Waypoint is over 18,000 light-years away, only 5,000 light-years nearer than Sol, and the longest Waypoint on the entire itinerary. It is not certain that I will be able to survive this journey.

Welcome to the Outer Arm.

 

[Deluvian]

Fly safe Commander, this is really a challenge.. best of luck

 

[TheOriginalB]

This is awesome. Keep it up. Godspeed, CMDR!

 

[Commander William Diffin]

Day Three hundred and Seventy-six:

Waypoint №16 - 18,290.16 - 49,136.67 - Banded Azane, Lyruewry BK-R d4-12

The longest Waypoint on the entire Circumnavigation, the lack of interesting objects between Meridian West Depot and Banded Azane which might have made for more Waypoints must surely be because few explorers have yet been out here to discover any. If I am to make this trek I must break it up into more manageable journeys with waypoints of my own choosing. I decided to use any nebulous or non-sequence or otherwise outlandish stars as such waypoints.

So immediately after departing Meridian West then, I was obliged to use a Basic Boosted Jump to return to the more densely populated plane of the Galaxy. Then I decided to head for the Sidgoir Sector, a permit-locked sector last reconnoitred by the Federal Corvette Pierre Aronnax, during the Aronnax Expedition. I took in a number of B-Type blue stars and neutron stars along the way to Sidgoir.

On the way to the first neutron star on the route, discovered the eighth Earth-Like World of the Expedition, the fourth planet orbiting the A-Type star Preou Thoe VC-V d2-6.

(Enterprise at Preou Thoe VC-V d2-6 4, the parent star some 4.21AU in the background)

Arriving at the neutron star at Preou Thoe HQ-P d5-8 soon afterwards, was disappointed to find that the star had been visited before by Commander Paulfreeze. At least he had left one of the only two planets in the system unexplored, and I remained in the system long enough to scan it, a High Metal Content world.

The next neutron star system had also already been explored, at Preou Thoe VJ-I d9-17, by Commander Jamie Rush. I scanned the secondary star in this ternary system. Commander Jamie Rush had also discovered the next neutron star I encountered at Preoe Thoe BL-P e5-0, the only body in the system.

At Preoe Thoe JR-P a101-0 I found myself in my second brown dwarf system in as many jumps, and what was more in a brown dwarf field. Fortunately there were a number of scoopable stars still within range of my dwindling fuel supply.

A little further on at Ootots YY-U a98-0, I achieved a landmark as I surpassed 500,000 light-years total distance travelled. The system I arrived in was a dull T-Type brown dwarf with a typical belt and handful of icy worlds.

I had elected to drop on the edge of the Sidgoir Sector on the G-Type star at Ootots AY-F d12-18, hoping the system might contain an Earth-Like World. Having studied the Aronnax Expedition, I noted that Commander Edelgard von Rhein, commanding the Federal Corvette Pierre Aronnax, had selected a system with an Earth-Like World as a forward base for operations around Sidgoir that is over 900 light-years from the Sector, and hoped to find an Earth-Like right on the doorstep that would serve better as a base. I found that Commander Edelgard von Rhein had already discovered the system, which had no Earth-Like Worlds. I scanned two of the three remaining undiscovered worlds in the system.

The next neutron star on the route from Sidgoir Sector to the Banded Azane system was 4,800 light-years away, and so I headed for it with some determination to make some good headway for the next Waypoint. At Ootots GU-Q a114-0, curiously I found the discovery tag of Commander Sapporo on the first world, although the primary F-Type star had not been scanned before I scanned it. A number of commanders must have been drawn to the permit-locked Sidgoir Sector before me. But I am fast leaving that behind me and entering the unexplored far reaches of the Outer Arm.

 

[Commander William Diffin]

At this point in the expedition, on 30 October 3304, the Pilots Federation broadcast its exploration firmware Beta update to all ships in the Galaxy, and RV Enterprise was no exception. The interference with her onboard systems was initially so vexatious to me that I was prompted to enter hibernation for nearly nine months rather than come to terms with it. But come to terms with it I did. In the end.

 

[Commander William Diffin]

Day Six Hundred and Forty-one:

Soon after resuming my voyage, at Rifee LW-E d11-18, forgetting I was still in Supercruise, as I was shutting down systems to save fuel I carelessly shut off Thrusters, dropping my ship out of Supercruise and doing damage to some systems.

However it was not long after emerging from hibernation that I mastered the operation of the new FSS system to the point where I no longer found it vexatious. Only Commander Iolair Uaine now vexed me somewhat with his prior discoveries in the more interesting systems I found myself passing through at this time.

Rifee LW-E d11-6 C6 from the nearby moon C6a.

Now mastering the new Detailed Surface Scanner firmware, I began exploring surface geological features.

Iron magma lava spouts at Proo Drya OE-E d13-0 C1.

Soon afterwards, I discovered the ninth Earth-Like World since leaving Moni's Hub. Blaea Thio ZY-S d3-39 A4 is double with the Water World A3, and A5 is also a Water World. Any further discoveries to be made in this system I leave to future explorers.

(Enterprise at Blaea Thio ZY-S d3-39 A4)

Arriving at Fojie CA-A d2, a neutron star on the route, found it had already been visited by Commander Big L Fritz. The other two stars of the system (both class M) which were automatically scanned by the new scanning firmware, were unexplored, so presumably Cmdr Big L Fritz visited this system before the 3.4 update.

At Eullogh LD-M b7-1, being out of practice with fuel scooping with a Class 2A fuel scoop, I managed to force an Emergency Stop in the atmosphere of the primary star, the second such stop since resuming the expedition. Also I used all of my Heat Sinks and so have now synthesized new Premium Heat Sinks.

Arriving at neutron star Byooe Eun CA-A d12 A, found it had already been discovered by Cmdr Hasselthehoff. Probably all of the neutron star systems I intend to pass through on my way to the next waypoint will have already been visited. So much for the unexplored Outer Arm.

Finally, the next neutron star only a few hundred light-years further along the route, at Byae Eun ZJ-I d9-16, was completely undisturbed. I claimed discovery of the primary star, and left the seven orbiting high metal content worlds and rocky bodies for future explorers to tag.

Soon afterwards, at Byae Eun LI-N b48-1, I suffered yet another Emergency Stop. It seems that they are happening only at the smaller M-type stars, when I cruise through the richest part of the atmosphere and suddenly find that I have cut into a deeper layer and my temperature suddenly flies up. But in any case, the rate at which I am taking damage is totally unsupportable. RV Enterprise is now in the following condition:

Hull: 95%
Thrusters◊: 91%
Planetary Vehicle Hangar: 95%
Cargo Hatch: 85%
Fuel Scoop: 90%
Power Distributor◊: 92%
Frame Shift Drive◊: 93%
Life Support◊: 88%
Heatsink Launcher◊ [1/2]↑: 90%
Sensors◊: 67%
Cockpit Canopy: 97%
Power Plant◊: 95%
Detailed Surface Scanner [3]: 97%
Engine Colour Orange: 100%
Data Link Scanner: 100%
Composition Scanner: 100%
Discovery Scanner: 100%

Sensors are especially worrying, having taken 33% damage, and the expedition is only 14% complete. There is no way that Enterprise can complete this circumnavigation without using the Reboot/Repair function, and it is not clear if she can complete it even so.

However, since the firmware update of December 3304 has rendered my Advanced Discovery Scanner completely worthless, its internal module slot is now free to take a new Class 1 module. This means that I can now install an Auto Field Maintenance Unit, thereby enabling onboard ship repairs of accumulated damage caused by incidents like these, and also enabling FSD repairs following neutron-jumping. But only if I can reach a starport.

Obviously I can't return to the Bubble, but a detour to the Colonia Region may be feasible. Following arrival at Waypoint 17 El Dorado, RV Enterprise could take a detour to Einheriar for servicing, repairs, and the installation of a Class 1D AFMU. Following that, the fully-overhauled ship could head straight to Waypoint 18 Outer Arm Depot. The circumnavigation could then continue from there. This detour would add nearly 30,000ly to the journey, but at least it would make it far more likely that the journey can actually be completed, and the re-enabling of neutron jumping will compensate to some extent. Assuming Enterprise even makes it to Einheriar that is. I will put off making the final decision until after reaching Waypoint 17 El Dorado.

Moving on then to the Thraikio IK-A d9 system, an A-K binary system slightly off my route by only a few hundred light-years. Since resuming the circumnavigation, checking on other expeditions in the Galaxy I noticed that the Pegasus Run 3305 Circumnavigation Expedition, due to embark on 28 September of this year, follows a similar route to my own, but using waypoints that are roughly 10,000ly equidistant from each other. As such I signed up for it, although I will not be backtracking to visit the earlier waypoints, only hooking up with the Expedition at selected waypoints, most likely Beagle Point. Thraikio IK-A d9 is the fifth waypoint of this expedition, and as it was not far off the route I thought I would investigate it to see what made it an interesting choice for a waypoint.

At first sight the Thraikio IK-A d9 system consisted of an undiscovered A-type primary, and a K-type secondary some 38,000 light-seconds from the entry point, with some sort of planetary system including two unlandable High Metal Content Worlds and a Water World, all of which had been discovered by Cmdr Sgt Stubby, the organizer of the Pegasus Run 3305 Circumnavigation Expedition. It would appear that he has only conducted the most cursory reconnaissance of the system and not picked out any kind of landing site. I scanned the planetless primary, all of the planets of the secondary star, and the icy moons of the first of the three gas giants of the system. The system is revealed to be a 'green' system containing all Jumponium elements, something which Cmdr Sgt Stubby could not have known. Maybe I'll mention it to him as his expedition heads off for it.

Then spent some time scanning the four innermost planets, finding nothing more exciting than sulphur fumaroles on the first planet, and harvesting polonium from a needle cluster in the SRV Herbie. I now have jumponium for 115 Basic, or 115 Standard, or 51 Premium injections. Also scanned the ninth planet, a Gas Giant With Ammonia-Based Life. The pristine rings include Grandidierite, Alexandrite, Void Opal and two Low Temperature Diamond hotspots.

(Enterprise passing Thraikio IK-A d9 B9, a Gas Giant with Ammonia-Based Life)

Discovered another Earth-Like at Auzopy YJ-I d9-11, an otherwise unremarkable system with two other terraformables and an Ice World with a large pristine ring containing Void Opals and Low Temperature Diamonds.

(Approaching Earth-Like World Auzopy YJ-I d9-11 3)

A good steady run all the way to the neutron star at Ewrobb JG-Y d18 found the entire system scanned by Commander Sirrus Tamus. Disappointing.

However, the next neutron star on the route, Ewrobb HX-L d7-13 had never been visited before. A secondary M-type star makes the system scoopable. Scanned everything, fuel scooped the secondary, then landed on Ewrobb HX-L d7-13 B2 to collect Arsenic. After spending some time in the SRV, collected enough elements to allow for 137 Basic, 136 Standard, or 53 Premium FSD Injections. Could really do with some Polonium.

(Enterprise landed on a wide barren plain of Ewrobb HX-L d7-13 B2)

Again, another unscanned neutron star at Eofairld PO-Z d13-28, this one all alone in this remote region. Approaching the end of this epic journey to the next Waypoint at Banded Azane, just 2,091ly away now. Another three neutron stars before then.

(Enterprise at Eofairld PO-Z d13-28)

The next neutron star at Crookue UY-S d3-35 is also undisturbed, and accompanied by a brace of High Metal Content Worlds.

Only three more jumps to the next one, Crookue UY-S d3-30, also unexplored. This one has a Water World and three High Metal Content Worlds. The HMCWs I left for someone else to tag.

Nearly there. Neutron star at Blu Phlai OC-D d12-47 and two toasty rocky bodies all discovered by Commander D'Burg. Bluarsed Phlai Sector. OC-D.

[continued...]

 

[Commander William Diffin]

Day Six Hundred and Forty-one [continued]:

Finally. I am at Lyruewry BK-R d4-12, home of the world known as Banded Azane. The single most exciting thing out here for thousands of light-years. It's an Ammonia World, with a black-and-white stripy ring system. Judge for yourself:

(Enterprise at Banded Azane montage)

Every body in the system has been discovered by Commander Dkay, whilst Banded Azane herself (Lyruewry BK-R d4-12 7) has been mapped by Commander Guy de Lombard. I took it upon myself to make my mark in this system by mapping the only High Metal Content World, Lyruewry BK-R d4-12 6, which has an extensive ring system of her own.

(Enterprise at Lyruewry BK-R d4-12 6 montage)

Finally I landed in a mountain range on the planet's only small moon, to take stock. I actually lost 2% hull trying to land in the mountains; the landing HUD was cyan cool but the landing gear just wasn't engaging. Hull is now at 93%.

(Landed at Lyruewry BK-R d4-12 6a)

That was an immense journey for such a small ship, and the longest distance between waypoints on the entire circumnavigation. The next Waypoint is only a quarter as far, but the destination is nothing but a jumponium depot. And then when I get there, I shall have to decide whether or not to take a 19,000ly detour to Colonia, to fit an AFMU in the spare module slot left vacant by the redundant Advanced Discovery Scanner, before heading to the next Waypoint. If I do, I will want to use a LOT of Jumponium to speed up the journey. Or else I could skip Colonia, and risk continuing with the circumnavigation with dangerously accruing heat damage to Sensors. No need to make my mind up yet though.

Just one more thing, as an afterthought to the completion of this momentous phase of the Expedition....

I have to be honest. The Outer Arm is dull. There's nothing here. Just the odd Earth-Like and Neutron. No humans. No xenos. No wrecks. No megaships. No ruins. No nebulae. No anomalies. No Lagrange clouds. No mechazillas. No dwarf helpers. No cherries. No nothing. Dull.

But hey, Papi's still paying me for this. So. ¡P'alante! Onwards. Into the bumfunnel of destiny.

 

[Commander William Diffin]

Day Six Hundred and Fifty-one:

Waypoint №17 - 4,401.37 - 53,538.04 - El Dorado, Upper Angustia Depot, Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6

Didn't spend long rested up at Lyruewry BK-R d4-12 6a, before heading straight on for the Upper Angustia Depot, breaking up the journey by visiting any of the more exotic stars along the route.

However, there aren't many exotic stars out in the Outer Arm. The first stop was a cluster of Type 'B' blue stars beginning at Lyruewry SS-U e2-6. I had hoped that I might find a Notable Stellar Phenomenon in one of them. But the first four B-Type stars were all unary with no planets or belts. The rest contained nothing of special interest.

Moving on, I found that there was a trail of B-Types leading me along the route, although each system was so disappointingly dull that I eventually abandoned following the trail of B-Types in favour of longer legs along the route between neutron stars. These also turned out to be either planetless or otherwise dull. The odd Water World was the only thing out of the ordinary. I didn't even bother scanning anything.

And so I continued. On to another neutron star. With an M-Type secondary. No planets. Previously discovered by Commander Nilton. Three other neutrons in the vicinity, one also discovered by Commander Nilton, the other two previously undiscovered.

For the last 1,500 light-years of the journey to Waypoint №17, the going became particularly tedious as I hit a field of red dwarf systems, which I hardly ever bother to scan in any case. The odd blue or white star with no planets did little to relieve the monotony.

Finally after this uninspiring journey I reached the Upper Angustia Depot, a large quaternary system with a total of 52 bodies, most of them barren little worlds, from which all jumponium elements may be mined. The system seemed eerily deserted, as well it might being over 32,000L-y from Sol, but according to EDSM an Anaconda had passed this way in the last 24 hours since my arrival. Even so, Enterprise is still only the sixth vessel ever to arrive here. The primary star and its two orbiting planets, and the secondary star were discovered by Commander GT3IceHouse. The four non-landable moons of the Class III Gas Giant AB2 were discovered by Commander Soweli. Everything else in the system was somewhat greedily claimed by Commander Turkwinif. No one has yet mapped any of the planets. I hoped that this large system would be interesting enough to make up for the tedious journey to reach it, and I wasn't disappointed.

My first port of call was the landable Metal-Rich Body Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 A1, with a surface Polonium concentration of 1.1%. I mapped this little world before landing on it. It didn't take too long for me to find 30 Polonium in the SRV Herbie. I now have 83 Polonium.

(Polonium mother lode)

So now I have 137-136-69 Basic-Standard-Premium jumps. The Premium jumps are limited by my Yttrium collection, so now I'm off to Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 C1, where the surface Yttrium concentration is 2.3%.

(Enterprise leaving Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 A1)

Again, I made a point of mapping the planet C1 before landing on it. I also mapped its small moon C1a.

(Approaching Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 C1-C1a system)

(Herbie leaving Enterprise to collect yttrium at Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 C1)

It took a little while to collect 12 Yttrium, so now I have 72 Premium jumps, limited on Arsenic. 12 Arsenic would be handy. AB2d has 2.5% surface concentration of it. Off there next then.

(Approaching Blooe Phroo AB2d)

It took quite some time to find 9 Arsenic. Didn't find a single Metallic Meteorite. Then whilst speeding across a plain towards a ridge, was surprised when the ground suddenly fell away exposing the ridge as being the other side of a wide chasm. Thoughts of losing the SRV presented themselves briefly. But judicious use of thrusters and the moon's low gravity enabled SRV Herbie to only just make it across the chasm without falling and bouncing to its floor.

(Chasm on Blooe Phroo AB2D, SRV Herbie on the left, Class III Gas Giant Blooe Phroo AB2 in background)

A little further on I encountered another chasm. I was able to drive down an incline at one section to its floor, whilst further down the chasm the same side became a sheer wall.

(Chasm on Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 AB2D 6.6499°N 44.9659°E, Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 A in foreground on left, Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 B System in background above, SRV Herbie in foreground, Class III Gas Giant Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 AB2 on horizon)

After reaching the chasm floor, I decided to recall the ship and take off. I now have 83 Polonium, 81 Yttrium and 81 Arsenic, for 81 Premium jumps.

Finally for this Waypoint, I headed out for Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 CD1a, a landable Rocky Body orbiting a Gas Giant With Water-Based Life, to map it and explore the Biological signals which the FSS had detected in my initial scan of the system.

(Approaching Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 CD1-2 double gas giant planetary system, tertiary star Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 C in distance on left, Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 CD2 in foreground, Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 CD1 in background, with Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 CD1a to right of ring system)

After scanning the ring systems of both gas giants, the moon Blooe Phroo VO-P d6-6 CD1a was mapped. Coming in to land on this only satellite of the gas giant, I approached one of the Biological Signal Sources. It turned out to be a small field of Crystalline Shards, colonies of micro-organisms living off silicate vapour fumaroles. Mining Crystalline Clusters from these with the SRV's plasma cannon unfailingly yielded collectable Yttrium, and I gratefully filled Enterprise's Yttrium storage to its full capacity of 150. A very useful find. The system's nickname 'El Dorado' is well-chosen.

(SRV Herbie in Crystalline Shard field)

And so now. Decision time. Do I detour to the Colonia Region? Since rejoining the circumnavigation, after a number of emergency stops whilst fuel scooping, Enterprise was accruing slight damage, significantly to Sensors. I had the idea of detouring to Colonia and installing an AFMU in the module slot freed up by my redundant Advanced Discovery Scanner, and had put off making the decision of whether to go or not until reaching the Upper Angustia Depot. And now I am here.

Now that I have been travelling again for a while, my fuel scooping is back in practise, and even the smallest red dwarfs are scooped without any danger of emergency stops. I am back in the saddle. It is unlikely that Sensors will be rendered irreparably damaged before the next spaceport about 250,000 light-years hence if there are no more breaks.

However, RV Enterprise's useless empty module slot is galling. As an explorer, I should make full use of every tiny advantage the ship, my experience, my fortune, and contemporary engineering can provide, and a whole unused module slot is totally unacceptable. With an AFMU, in-flight repairs are no longer an issue, and neutron jumping is re-enabled. Even if these facilities might be unnecessary to complete the circumnavigation, they are still excellent to have. But what has really swung it for me, was the intelligence that an Anaconda had passed through the Upper Angustia Depot within 24 hours of me. The planets of this system have not yet been mapped, and I now have mapping data for the richest bodies in the system. Doubtless the Anaconda that preceded me must have mapped them too. I must try to submit my mapping data to Universal Cartographics before her. So I shall head for Einheriar in the Colonia Region now.

At Einheriar there are more decisions to make. Enterprise's engineering upgrades are dated by today's standards. Before resuming the circumnavigation, I may have my Anaconda CV Pourquoi pas ? delivered to Colonia, fly her back to the Bubble, max out all Jumponium materials, have Enterprise delivered to the Bubble, re-engineer her entirely, fly back to Colonia in the Pourquoi pas ? then have the all-new Enterprise re-delivered to Colonia ready to resume the circumnavigation. But that is a decision to make at Einheriar, 19,494.45 light-years away. At least I have plenty of Jumponium, and the option to neutron jump knowing that any FSD damage can be repaired at Einheriar.

(Resting in RV Enterprise after completing activities in the 'El Dorado' system)

 

[Commander William Diffin]

Day Six Hundred and Sixty-two

[Waypoint №18 Detour - 19,494.45Ly from Waypoint №17 - n/a - Einheriar]

This detour is an even longer slog than the Waypoint №15-16 journey was. At least there will be more interesting nebulae and star systems closer to the Galactic Centre.

Only 500ly out from El Dorado, navigating between Type B blue stars, finally discovered such a system with something of interest in it: a double Earth-Like World at Phoadao DR-V e2-0 A5-6.

Made a point of mapping both worlds, and mapped the only landable body in the system, Phoadao DR-V e2-0 A3a, which has 0.8% surface Polonium. I left the Water World at Phoadao DR-V e2-0 B3 alone.

(Enterprise at double Earth-Like World Phoadao DR-V e2-0 A5, with A6 at bottom left)

Upon crossing from the Errant Marches to Vulcan Gate, the much-heralded Codex began updating with first discoveries of common objects like Type M stars and Non-Terraformable HMCWs. I continue to ignore the Codex for now. I am an Elite explorer and an early 65,000ly from Sol Club Member, who has been in the Outer Arm Errant Marches since the Codex was introduced. But according to the Codex, apart from the discoveries I have made since crossing into Vulcan Gate, I have made no discoveries at all. It means nothing to me.

At Blooe Eaeb SQ-K d9-1, used the plasma cone to make my first neutron jump since Enterprise's last refit at Farsight Expedition Base, to Blooe Eaeb LM-L b40-0, 113.80Ly away. FSD took 2% damage, leaving this crucial system's integrity at 91%. Had used a single Premium jump earlier to see how practical a run of such jumps might be to speed up the journey. With the way the Galactic Map works for boosted jumps, it's probably quicker to jump and scoop without boosting, and save jumponium for the sparser parts of the Galaxy.

Only 2,500ly or so out of El Dorado, the sky is becoming a lot more starry as I re-enter the Perseus Arm of the Galaxy after over 20 months in the Outer Arm. It makes you realize just how sparse and remote the Outer Arm is.

(Starrier skies re-entering the Perseus Arm at Blooe Eaeb RO-Z b46-1)

At Blooe Eaeb SO-Q e5-7 discovered a HMCW with Biological Signal Sources, but the only Jumponium on the planet was Vanadium, of which I'm already stocked 226/250. I'm not going to have a jumponium spree mining the Biologicals here. Arsenic or Polonium is what I want.

First nebula I've seen for over a year, the Floagh AA-A h56 Nebula, is in the remote distance now.

So. On to Bloo Eaeb DO-F d12-12, a lone neutron star. Went for another jet cone boost here, reducing FSD integrity to 88%.

(inside the jet cone of Bloo Eaeb DO-F d12-12)

Another jet cone boost took the FSD down to 86%. But I'm making good distance.

At the double Type B blue star system at Boernt UD-B e1, investigated Biological Signal Sources at the HMCW B2, with 2.3% surface Arsenic, hoping for an Arsenic motherlode. After travelling 108,995 light-seconds from the arrival point, was disappointed to find that the Blatteum Bioluminescent Anemones populating the planet would only yield the rare element Technetium.

(SRV Herbie amongst the Blatteum Bioluminescent Anemones of Boernt UD-B e1 B2)

Soon afterwards had another similar experience with the Anemones of Boernt UD-B e6-5 only yielding Ruthenium.

Then at Boernt VD-B e11 5, finally managed to collect 15 Arsenic. Yttrium was yielded as a rare element, although on this planet the surface concentration of Arsenic is lower than any other element.

(SRV Herbie prospecting for Arsenic amongst the Blatteum Bioluminescent Anemones of Boernt VD-B e11 5)

(RV Enterprise returning to collect SRV)

Oho. Neutron star Graei Phroo ES-A d1-22 and the two accompanying M-Type stars have all already been discovered by Commander Romney-76. Feels like I'm approaching civilization already. Not using the jet cone here; but will use a Premium Boost to reach the next neutron star Graei Phroo ES-A d1-57 with a single jump of 49.18ly. Curiously Commander Romney-76 had missed this next system which was entirely undiscovered, and I scanned every body in it, before supercharging the FSD from the neutron primary's jet cone, losing another 1% of FSD integrity, leaving 85%.

After jet cone boosting, just one 25ly jump to the previously unknown Black Hole at Graei Phroo UO-A f2.

(RV Enterprise at singularity Graei Phroo UO-A f2 A with gravitational lensing of the Large Magellanic Cloud, Small Magellanic Cloud to right, Floagh AA-A h56 Nebula underneath Enterprise)

Another neutron jet cone boost at Graei Phroo BQ-V d3-191 left FSD integrity at 84%. I think that maybe flying into the very end of the cone does less FSD damage than flying into the last third of it. The star was undiscovered.

Lost another 2% FSD integrity at Boerdy KA-H c13-10. Down to 82%.

At Boerdy CJ-P a60-0, was distracted whilst fuel scooping and managed to Emergency Stop again, using a Heat Sink. Systems are now as follows:

Hull: 90%
Thrusters◊: 91%
Planetary Vehicle Hangar: 95%
Cargo Hatch: 81%
Fuel Scoop: 87%
Power Distributor◊: 91%
Frame Shift Drive◊: 81%
Life Support◊: 88%
Heatsink Launcher [1/1]◊↑: 90%
Sensors◊: 62%
Cockpit Canopy: 99%
Power Plant◊: 93%
Detailed Surface Scanner [3]: 95%
Engine Colour Orange: 100%
Data Link Scanner: 100%
Composition Scanner: 100%
Discovery Scanner: 100%

At neutron star Iowhaid TX-L d7-163 A, I managed to reduce my FSD integrity to 79% whilst jet cone boosting and achieve an FSD malfunction. Will stop jet cone boosting now until I see how frequent the FSD malfunctions are. It's 37 jumps from here to the next neutron star anyway.

Next neutron star: Iowhaivsky UD-K d8-8. 4 FSD malfunctions in the 37 jumps it took to get here. Have to get the ship serviced now. Just under 12,000ly to the station at Einheriar. Will lay off the jet cones for the next few thousand light-years. Another neutron star coming up two jumps away at Iowhaivsky VD-K d8-46 to complete the crossing of the Perseus Arm.

Now I must cross the gulf between the Perseus and the Orion-Cygnus Arm, known as The Fallows. It's not so sparse as to give my Sidewinder any difficulty, but there are no interesting stars until I hit a Black Hole on the near side of the Orion-Cygnus Arm which I'm using as a marker, 2,335.65ly and 90 jumps distant. I am now about to pass by the Floagh AA-A h56 Nebula, which I first spotted over 5,000ly back, some 1,500ly below me. Visiting it will take a lot of Jumponium if it is even possible, so I'm passing it by.

(RV Enterprise at Iowhaivsky VD-K d8-46, Floagh AA-A h56 Nebula beneath)

[continued...]

 

[Commander William Diffin]

Day Six Hundred and Sixty-two [continued]:

About half-way into The Fallows, I leave the Vulcan Gate Universal Cartographics region, and enter the Orion-Cygnus Arm region, whereupon the Codex starts updating all of my discoveries of common stars again. I suppose it's meant to do that.

Received an invitation to the Witch-Head Nebula from Engineer Chloe Sedesi, offering to improve my jump range. Turns out she only goes as far as Grade 1 though.

Soon arrived at the Black Hole at Byae Ail OS-U f2-3, which had been already discovered by Commander Leon Fibbor. Automatically scanned the other two stars in the system. And now to cross the Carina-Sagittarius Arm.

Again, soon after leaving the singularity, took a short detour to investigate two nebulous stars on the Galaxy map. The first, Oephaiscs BA-A g4, turned out to be a Type O star with a moderately interesting planetary system including an orbiting T Tauri star. Biological Signals were found on two moons orbiting separate gas giants, both turned out to be Prasinum Bioluminescent Anemones. I might have collected Niobium or Yttrium, but my stocks of these rare elements are already full. The system was previously unexplored. Took a slight bump landing on 9a, and Hull Integrity is now down to 89%. Not a problem.

(SRV Herbie investigating Prasinum Bioluminescent Anemone at sunset on Oephaiscs BA-A g4 9a, RV Enterprise behind)

On the way to the second nebulous star, discovered another Earth-Like World at Oephaiscs US-S c4-2 A6.

(RV Enterprise at Earth-Like World Oephaiscs US-S c4-2 A6)

The other nebulous star turned out to be a dull binary with no other bodies; Oephaiscs BA-A g0 A is B-Type, the secondary Oephaiscs BA-A g0 B is A-Type.

Explored another nebulous O-Type at Oephaiscs BA-A g1, but this turned out to be unary and already discovered by Commander Opal Haze.

From Oephaiscs BA-A g1, set off for a rare Wolf-Rayet star at Oephaiwsy AA-A h-21, and had yet another Emergency Stop whilst absent-mindedly looking up the pronunciation of 'Wolf-Rayet', using another Heat Sink. Systems are now as follows:

Hull: 88%
Thrusters◊: 90%
Planetary Vehicle Hangar: 95%
Cargo Hatch: 80%
Fuel Scoop: 86%
Power Distributor◊: 90%
Frame Shift Drive◊: 79%
Life Support◊: 86%
Heatsink Launcher [1/0]◊↑: 88%
Sensors◊: 61%
Cockpit Canopy: 98%
Power Plant◊: 92%
Detailed Surface Scanner [3]: 95%
Engine Colour Orange: 100%
Data Link Scanner: 100%
Composition Scanner: 100%
Discovery Scanner: 100%

Soon after that, discovered the first Earth-Like World I have ever discovered orbiting another planet, a non-landable High Metal Content World, Oephaiwsy JS-K d8-59 6. The HMCW is somewhat larger than Earth but not terraformable, whilst the orbiting moon 6A is somewhat larger than Mars and supports a terrestrial-type ecosystem. Two other worlds in the system are terraformable.

(Earth-Like World Oephaiwsy JS-K d8-59 6A, orbiting Non-Terraformable High Metal Content World Oephaiwsy JS-K d8-59 6 in the background)

(The view of Oephaiwsy JS-K d8-59 6A from Oephaiwsy JS-K d8-59 6)

The Wolf-Rayet star at Oephaiwsy AA-A h-21 turned out to be accompanied by a Type B supergiant star, but was otherwise uninteresting. Both had previously been discovered by Commander Mistress Lilith.

Similarly, the next nebulous Type O star I encountered at Oephaic EG-Y g2 was accompanied by a Type B star, both having been discovered by Commander Sternenschleicher.

At Oephaic OI-B d13-39, with 5,452ly left to go until reaching a spaceport, decided to use a neutron jump to get a head start on my next leg. FSD integrity down to 77% now, but the occasional FSD Malfunctions are not really troubling yet. The system was previously unexplored.

The next neutron star, Dryae Flyoae NO-X d2-103, was also unexplored and I discovered quite a large system here for a neutron primary, with nine planets spread between the four stars of this quaternary system. All the planets are landable, and between them contain all jumponium elements. From here I decided to head for the Dryaea Flee AA-A h89 Nebula, about 1,500ly on my way to Einheriar.

(RV Enterprise shortly after entering the Inner Scutum-Centaurus Arm Sector at Dryae Flyoae NO-X d2-103, heading for the Dryaea Flee AA-A h89 Nebula)

Another interesting neutron system on the way to the Nebula, at Dryae Flyoae ZU-X e1-315, a neutron with two other stars and a total of 80 other bodies; it took me nearly half an hour to scan it all, with a break to refuel from the secondary star as Supercruising to use the Full Spectrum System Scanner had burned nearly half of my fuel. Scanning for Geological Signals took the most time. The system has all jumponium elements, although Polonium is only to be found on one small moon at 0.4% surface concentration.

Stopped at the neutron star at Mylaifoi UL-J d10-107 just outside the Dryaea Flee AA-A h89 Nebula before entering it. The star had previously been discovered by Commander Artyvee, and three or more planets by Commander Igor Zakusov. I scanned another planet and three moons just to discovery tag the system, leaving most of the bodies for future visitors. The system is one of only two neutron stars in the vicinity of the nebula.

(Enterprise at Neutron Star Mylaifoi UL-J d10-107, about to head into the Dryaea Flee AA-A h89 Nebula)

Inside the nebula at the Dryaea Flee EG-Y g1184 system, primary and secondary O-Type stars both discovered by Commander Elusiveink, the tertiary B-type by Commander Orvidius, and a Type V Gas Giant orbiting the secondary by Blarg1714. Must look for somewhere else to make my mark in this nebula.

Scanned the L-Type Brown Dwarf at Dryaea Flee JA-S a100-4, and the HMCW 8, on the way to the O-Type at Dryaea Flee EG-Y g1907. Again the O-Type was discovered by Commander Elusiveink. The orbiting Class V Gas Giant was discovered by Commander Challenger R A. It appears Commander Elusiveink had the same idea as me, to survey all of the O-Types in the nebula. I continue my own survey anyway to see if he has missed anything. During my survey I scanned a few nondescript stars in transit, and encountered the names of Commanders Ancla, Omwinter, Szelag, Tootiny, Ranzul, and Philip Lynx. Not one body was left undiscovered in an O-Type system.

Settled on discovering the first B-Type in the nebula I visited, a simple binary at Dryaea Flee BL-P e5-195.

(RV Enterprise at Dryaea Flee BL-P e5-195, a B-Type at the top of the Dryaea Flee AA-A h89 Nebula)

Discovered another couple of B-Types in the nebula on the way out of it, although others had already been discovered. Didn't find any interesting planets, but didn't look very hard. I need to press on straight to Einheriar, less than 3,000ly distant now, without being sidetracked.

Discovered a Black Hole at Mylaifaa CL-Y g50, accompanied by a Type B star. A little over 2,000ly to Einheriar now.

Discovered another Black Hole at Eorgh Prou VO-A f5289, in fact I absently-mindedly flew into it and suffered another Emergency Stop. Systems integrity are now as follows:

Hull: 87%
Thrusters◊: 89%
Planetary Vehicle Hangar: 93%
Cargo Hatch: 80%
Fuel Scoop: 84%
Power Distributor◊: 90%
Frame Shift Drive◊: 77%
Life Support◊: 85%
Heatsink Launcher [1/0]◊↑: 87%
Sensors◊: 60%
Cockpit Canopy: 97%
Power Plant◊: 92%
Detailed Surface Scanner [3]: 93%
Engine Colour Orange: 100%
Data Link Scanner: 100%
Composition Scanner: 100%
Discovery Scanner: 100%

(RV Enterprise just outside Black Hole at Eorgh Prou VO-A f5289; note gravitational lensing of the Eol Prou AA-A h89 Nebula and the Large Magellanic Cloud)

Used another jet cone boost at unary neutron star Eorgh Prou KC-C d969, discovered by Commander Sp3c7er. This took FSD integrity down to 75%. Then neutron-jumped straight to the Black Hole system at Eorgh Prou YJ-A f2372, discovered by Commander Spacetronaut. Discovered the secondary Type B star for myself.

Very soon after managed to Emergency Stop yet again whilst fuel-scooping the A-Type primary at Eorgh Prou SD-A d1-2599. I am becoming very careless with the prospect of imminent repairs and servicing for the first time in nearly two years. Had to use my last Heat Sink and synthesize three more Premium Heat Sinks. Systems integrity are now as follows:

Hull: 85%
Thrusters◊: 88%
Planetary Vehicle Hangar: 92%
Cargo Hatch: 76%
Fuel Scoop: 84%
Power Distributor◊: 88%
Frame Shift Drive◊: 75%
Life Support◊: 84%
Heatsink Launcher [1/2]◊↑: 86%
Sensors◊: 54%
Cockpit Canopy: 95%
Power Plant◊: 90%
Detailed Surface Scanner [3]: 93%
Engine Colour Orange: 100%
Data Link Scanner: 100%
Composition Scanner: 100%
Discovery Scanner: 100%

Jet cone boosted again at Eorgh Prou GA-Y d1-193, discovered by Commander Sp3c7er again, with all other bodies in the fairly large tenary system discovered by Commander Isaac Hunt. FSD integrity now down to 73%. Less than 1,000ly to Einheriar now.

Stopped by at a nebulous O-Type star system at Eorgh Prou BA-A d12. All three bodies discovered by Commander Defaultusername.

Jet cone boosted again at Eol Prou UU-X d1-2614, this time discovered by Commander Evoflash, with other bodies in the binary system discovered by Commanders Evoflash, Endcancer, Hyb60 and LoneR@nger. FSD integrity is now at 71%. The first planet had been mapped by Commander Wamboz, and after jet cone boosting I decided to add my name to the system by mapping the only landable body, the Rocky Body moon 2a.

Another jet cone boost at the lone Neutron Star at Eol Prou YP-X d1-973, discovered again by Commander Evoflash, taking my FSD integrity down to 70%. These sectors are rich in neutron stars and other unusual systems.

Passed by the Black Hole at Eol Prou ZE-A f252, discovered by Commander Alex-KS, and Eol Prou ZE-A f1920, discovered by Commander Javme, with eleven other bodies discovered by Commander Squirts Macintosh.

And finally arrived at Einheriar, with only one interdiction attempt, easily outrun in the fast and manoevrable little Sidewinder.

(RV Enterprise approaching Pilkington Dock)

[continued...]

 

[Lightspeed]

Chloe is up to level 3 FSD (she probably won't go higher in the near future) and passing through Level 4 for Thrusters, moving towards level 5, i.e. a copy of Pailin.