I decided to try exploring when it was announced that our names would be recorded against first discoveries. I liked the idea of leaving my mark on the galaxy. I saved up a few million more credits to afford an Asp and kit it out. I left with my new ship doing 33+ Ly jumps, and no Auto-Repair or Heat Sinks.
I had no particular destination in mind except for heading to the core. I headed out aiming high, leaving the plane of the galactic ecliptic. I soon found undiscovered systems, and began my scanning. It turned out I really enjoyed leaving human space behind and exploring the big black. I learnt as I went, deciding what to scan and what to skip. How to efficiently fuel-scoop.
I found myself passing through some nearby nebulas, came across my first black holes and earth-likes. The views can be stunning, and the relaxed play-style fits me well for now. However, after a few miss-timed scoops and the odd binary system fry-up, it was time to come home. The thought of losing any scanned data to a crash, or worse - interdiction! - on the way home had me a lot more tense than I anticipated. At the end of my looping path I was around 8000 Ly from home - not all that far compared to other exploring Commanders, but enough for me on my first outing.
Over the next few days the distance to human space shrank and I became more cautious, checked my radar more frequently. I maintained my normal pattern of jumping in, firing the scanner, targeting the star and scooping, then checking the System Map for any worthwhile bodies to scan further. Still cruising, I'm getting closer. 2000 Ly out, then 1000 to Sol. I set my path on the galactic map by selecting a distant target and then checking to see if I'm passing any interesting stars. I often pick out the HR and HIP stars as their names jump out at you in the vast swathes of stars with the same names, just different numbers.
So I notice one on my way, pick it, and jump. A bright white star appears and I trigger the scanner, target the star to begin the local scan. No stellar bodies found, and the star won't scan either. "That's strange", I think, "Must have not fired the ADS for long enough." Try again. Still no result. I'm looking at the star, checking my instruments, and I can't figure out what's wrong.
That's when it dawns on me; this star has a name, 17 Draconis, and there are 3 other stars in the system, along with 5 planets.
Named planets. Not 17 Draconis A or B, but names. Limbo, Eo, Icemir, Shepherd, and Paradiso.
Paradiso has a little grey symbol next to it. I sit, stunned. It's a station. "Paradiso Outpost."
It's 275 Ly from Sol, and way out on its own. No other nearby colonised systems, and I certainly wasn't expecting this one! Once I get my head around the idea that I've found the very fringe of human space, I grin. I'm relieved. Tense, too - but there are no ships on the radar. I target the station and head over. I fly up, slowly, and drop out of SC. ("What's the control for that again.. oh yeah.") The station blossoms into view and I just about recoiled from the screen. I haven't been this close to anything in ages.
Not since I dropped into an icy ring around an anonymous gas giant in some unnamed system. I was just starting to find it a little lonely out there in the black. I'd flown past a few planets up close just to have a look, and then one time dropped out of SC into an ice asteroid field. A touch nervous in case I screwed it up (I didn't) and then flew about and sat watching a few asteroids sparkle in the sunlight.. It was the first time I had a strong urge to go on an EVA and walk around somewhere other than inside the cockpit and carve my name in the ice. Space Cabin Fever. Definite sign to go home.
So I fly very carefully around the station. It's beautiful. I fly towards the entrance, begin lining up. I remember how, but even so it takes a second. I suddenly remember to ask for docking clearance, and do so just in time. I don't think I've flown into a station this carefully before, not even the very first time when I was getting used to the controls. I ease through the gap, align with the pad. Remember to drop landing gear, and touch down. Ever so carefully.
The relief washes over me. I'm back, safely home. I repair the ship, integrity was down to 80 something percent, not bad. I sell some scanning data. First few systems aren't worth much, then get a nice 26k Cr, followed by a system worth 33k Cr, plus bonus for being first. My name is recorded. It's a nice feeling.
My top three system sales were 112k, 153k, and 171k Credits. Seeing those bonus credits, and the "you were first to discover.." rolling in is great. I earned just shy of 7 million credits. a total of just over 900 systems scanned. Around 18,000 Light Years travelled. My explorer ranks rose higher than my combat or trade ones.
After a few days of aimless wandering, then moving my Type 6 and Cobra all to the same system, I tried a bit of bounty hunting in my Cobra, but found I didn't really get into it. The black is calling me. I will kit out my Asp with some Auto Repair Units and Heat Sinks, then point her at the stars. The far ones.
See you in the black, Commanders. Thanks for reading.
I had no particular destination in mind except for heading to the core. I headed out aiming high, leaving the plane of the galactic ecliptic. I soon found undiscovered systems, and began my scanning. It turned out I really enjoyed leaving human space behind and exploring the big black. I learnt as I went, deciding what to scan and what to skip. How to efficiently fuel-scoop.
I found myself passing through some nearby nebulas, came across my first black holes and earth-likes. The views can be stunning, and the relaxed play-style fits me well for now. However, after a few miss-timed scoops and the odd binary system fry-up, it was time to come home. The thought of losing any scanned data to a crash, or worse - interdiction! - on the way home had me a lot more tense than I anticipated. At the end of my looping path I was around 8000 Ly from home - not all that far compared to other exploring Commanders, but enough for me on my first outing.
Over the next few days the distance to human space shrank and I became more cautious, checked my radar more frequently. I maintained my normal pattern of jumping in, firing the scanner, targeting the star and scooping, then checking the System Map for any worthwhile bodies to scan further. Still cruising, I'm getting closer. 2000 Ly out, then 1000 to Sol. I set my path on the galactic map by selecting a distant target and then checking to see if I'm passing any interesting stars. I often pick out the HR and HIP stars as their names jump out at you in the vast swathes of stars with the same names, just different numbers.
So I notice one on my way, pick it, and jump. A bright white star appears and I trigger the scanner, target the star to begin the local scan. No stellar bodies found, and the star won't scan either. "That's strange", I think, "Must have not fired the ADS for long enough." Try again. Still no result. I'm looking at the star, checking my instruments, and I can't figure out what's wrong.
That's when it dawns on me; this star has a name, 17 Draconis, and there are 3 other stars in the system, along with 5 planets.
Named planets. Not 17 Draconis A or B, but names. Limbo, Eo, Icemir, Shepherd, and Paradiso.
Paradiso has a little grey symbol next to it. I sit, stunned. It's a station. "Paradiso Outpost."
It's 275 Ly from Sol, and way out on its own. No other nearby colonised systems, and I certainly wasn't expecting this one! Once I get my head around the idea that I've found the very fringe of human space, I grin. I'm relieved. Tense, too - but there are no ships on the radar. I target the station and head over. I fly up, slowly, and drop out of SC. ("What's the control for that again.. oh yeah.") The station blossoms into view and I just about recoiled from the screen. I haven't been this close to anything in ages.
Not since I dropped into an icy ring around an anonymous gas giant in some unnamed system. I was just starting to find it a little lonely out there in the black. I'd flown past a few planets up close just to have a look, and then one time dropped out of SC into an ice asteroid field. A touch nervous in case I screwed it up (I didn't) and then flew about and sat watching a few asteroids sparkle in the sunlight.. It was the first time I had a strong urge to go on an EVA and walk around somewhere other than inside the cockpit and carve my name in the ice. Space Cabin Fever. Definite sign to go home.
So I fly very carefully around the station. It's beautiful. I fly towards the entrance, begin lining up. I remember how, but even so it takes a second. I suddenly remember to ask for docking clearance, and do so just in time. I don't think I've flown into a station this carefully before, not even the very first time when I was getting used to the controls. I ease through the gap, align with the pad. Remember to drop landing gear, and touch down. Ever so carefully.
The relief washes over me. I'm back, safely home. I repair the ship, integrity was down to 80 something percent, not bad. I sell some scanning data. First few systems aren't worth much, then get a nice 26k Cr, followed by a system worth 33k Cr, plus bonus for being first. My name is recorded. It's a nice feeling.
My top three system sales were 112k, 153k, and 171k Credits. Seeing those bonus credits, and the "you were first to discover.." rolling in is great. I earned just shy of 7 million credits. a total of just over 900 systems scanned. Around 18,000 Light Years travelled. My explorer ranks rose higher than my combat or trade ones.
After a few days of aimless wandering, then moving my Type 6 and Cobra all to the same system, I tried a bit of bounty hunting in my Cobra, but found I didn't really get into it. The black is calling me. I will kit out my Asp with some Auto Repair Units and Heat Sinks, then point her at the stars. The far ones.
See you in the black, Commanders. Thanks for reading.
