The Shoulder Of Orion
A Distant Worlds 3 Colonization Event
Fellow Pilots,
for a community event as big as a Distant Worlds expedition we want to make sure you, as the adventurous players that you are, acquaint yourselves with fellow rovers, gallivanters and entrepreneurs old and new. It's been what? Six years? So let's get to know each other and this time, sky isn't necessarily the limit.
On the contrary: For a number of years we also learned with big eyes and open mouths (or the other way round) that with each planetary landing there is a whole world beneath our feet worth exploring - and now worth taking. You just need to put your boots on the ground and have a pocketful of CMMs.
As part of our multi-event schedule this year, we are happy to announce our very first Distant Worlds 3 Pre-Event: "The Shoulder of Orion”.
The goal is to establish an Expedition Launch Site far outside the Bubble, in the general direction of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex (OMC). We will do this using the unique colonization mechanics the Trailblazers update made available. This is going to be the foundational step for DW3: An opportunity for explorers to contribute to the creation of a colony site beyond Bubble borders, which will serve as the departure point for the Distant Worlds 3 Expedition next year.
Ex Nihilo Ad Astra - From nothingness to the stars!
In other words: The DW3 Expedition will begin at the very place we create together. So let’s make it happen! This initiative will begin on Sunday, 30th March and run from 13:00 until 21:00 UTC. The start location for our colonization efforts will be given shortly and we aim to construct a chain of outposts in suitable locations.
Sounds great? Fine, here’s what you need to do and to consider:
1 - All coordination and communication will be handled on the Fleetcomm Discord (Access via this Link)
2 - The event will last for one month, after which we'll assess the progress made and decide whether to extend the project for another month.
3 - All participants will receive a special mention on the DW3 Fleet Roster, provided you register under the same CMDR name for this colonization initiative and the DW3 Fleet Roster itself (which opens in May).
4. REMINDER: The official Sign-up for the DW3 Expedition will begin in May. Your registration for "The Shoulder of Orion" will NOT be transferred to the later Fleet Roster. Different pair of shoes.
Mission Specifics
Candidate Region: Orion Molecular Cloud Complex
The Orion Molecular Cloud Complex offers a unique opportunity to establish a science-focused colony. This expansive region, brimming with a variety of nebulae and star clusters, provides an exceptional setting for scientific exploration. Its stunning cosmic landscape also makes it an ideal place to call home, with a breathtaking visual backdrop unlike any other in the galaxy.For the interested among you there is a downloadable article (PDF) on the wonders of Barnard's Loop and the greater Orion Nebula area featured in the Sagittarius Eye Magazine (4/3305). You access it here in the SAGi Archives.
Colony Theme and Purpose
The proposed colony will focus on being a launch site for specific Deep Space Expeditionary missions of scientific discovery, aligning with DW3's primary goal: the Discovery & Science Survey set to launch early next year. This focus will enhance the colony's integration into DW3's narrative.Strategic Role and Infrastructure
In addition to science, the colony will feature:- A Manufacturing Hub: The initial priority will be to develop a strong manufacturing base to supply the essential materials needed for expanding colonization efforts into nearby star clusters.
The Colony will host the DSEV Sulaco Carrier, operated by the Colonial Marines Squadron, a remnant of the Colonia Citizens Network (CCN). The Colonial Marines, a PMF whose HQ is based in the Pallanei system, will begin a recruitment campaign later this year with the new forces establishing a military outpost nearby.Their prime role will be based around BGS initiatives.
Timeline and Future Prospects
Construction must be completed by December 3311 to prepare for DW3's expedition launch in early 3312. After DW3's departure, the colony will continue evolving, with potential to become a hub of civilization, similar to Colonia, fostering new ambitions, politics, and emergent gameplay.Collinder 285 Sector, 3311 AD (Prologue)
“Are we sure we want to go through with this?” the man in the grey suit asked without taking his eyes from the view outside. He had sharp facial features, hawkish even, and his slim, wiry frame only added to his somewhat intimidating persona.
Ships upon ships were assembled outside, neatly organised on their landing pads, lights blinking. And every now and then one of the ships vanished in the Gargantuan belly of a hangar of the Trailblazer Megaship. And every once in a while, another one came forth, took off and disappeared in a wake of light and soot. The man in grey followed every departing ship with a strangely interested gaze.
“If we do this, the galaxy won’t be the same after,” the woman said. She wore a unique blend of a toga and a jumpsuit. A platinum emblem on her toga had the letters DSS engraved, making her a senior executive of Deep Space Surveys, an exploration NGO that was funding and executing deep space expeditions of all kinds and sizes. Her gaze was also fixed on the scenery outside. The megaship, the bustling activity and the calm, serene orange star shining above it all. It was almost ceremonial. Almost.
“They always say that. And after that it’s back to square one. It has been like that for how long? Years? Decades?” The other man was old; no, ancient. These days he rarely took an active part in operational matters. But this was too important. So they had brought him out of stasis. For whatever reason he chose to wear a pair of tinted glasses and while he also looked outside, he also on occasion looked at the ceiling of the ready room as if impatiently waiting for … for what exactly?
“Explorers’ Anchorage was a big success, you will remember. And it has only been six years,” the woman said. She looked to the side, eyeing the old man with a keen interest. And a little bit of awe, it seemed.
“Distant Worlds 3305 was huge,” she continued. “And to remind you, it was accomplished without any governmental meddling. Deep Space Surveys took care of the Anchorage and along with our friends from Transorbital Dynamics we made sure it stayed that way.” She politely nodded towards the man in the grey suit.
“Indeed,” he said. “Miss Delarue made sure that whatever was researched in this … new environment … stayed in the Explorers Association and their partners. Back then we were already impressed that the Distant Worlds expedition three years earlier managed to ‘divert’ the accumulated exploration data from prying Federation eyes and instead made it available to … unaffiliated parties.”
“I remember. They called the Explorers’ Association a bunch of nostalgic amateurs and fernweh enthusiasts,” the woman sighed. “You don’t do this to free spirits. Next thing the Feds knew was more than a thousand amateurs scrounging the galaxy. And what did they find? Yes, Triniobiumpolyarsenic-whatnot: ‘Jumponium’. They found it, not the Feds, not the Imps and surprisingly, not even the Turners on Alioth.”
“We can do this again? Even in such times?” the old man asked.
The woman and the man in the grey suit exchanged looks, silently nodded and turned to the old man.
“Yes, it can be done. Maybe especially in such times. However, we recommend killing the proverbial two birds with one stone and direct expansion towards Orion at first. To be sure a certain situation in that area is under watchful eyes.”
“So, no overcrowded space bars in Pallaeni anymore?”
“No. They already upped their system security forces. Next year it’ll be ten years since Distant Worlds first started. They remember it not too fondly if sources are to be believed. We would advise against it.”
“All right then, Orion it is. Show them the way,” the old man answered. He, too, now exchanged looks (and a frown) with the others. “The sooner, the better. You will find the necessary incentives for this endeavour on the Cheung Clan Dredger once it arrives from Lave. Now leave me and see to it.”
With a nod the man in the suit and the woman left the room. A few minutes later the ready room’s door buzzed.
“Come in, dear!”
Another woman entered the room. She wore a tech uniform and had her blonde ponytail tucked away under a service cap.
“So?” was her only question. The old man did not move.
“It’s decided. We make for Orion as far as we can and deploy a base from which we can mount the expedition … and also monitor the situation around Collinder 70 and all adjacent sectors.”
“Combat ships, John?”
“No. But I can guess once the word is out some free riders will want to take advantage and exert their influence over those new systems. That cannot happen and you need to allocate the necessary assets to deter them.”
“I best get to work then.”
“Yes, and chose a team according to the task. Now be so kind and have my Lanner readied. I need to see someone.”
T Tauri System, 3311 AD (Distant Grudges)
The two men sat at a conference table in one of the larger briefing rooms somewhere inside a scientific outpost. They sat opposite to each other while through a broad window the slow station rotation conjured a dim, moving star against an equally dim nebula outside. It looked a bit like a distant sunset.
One of them wore a red and black suit, custom tailored of course, and his white and grey hair and goatee were neatly trimmed. He eyed the other man intensely with his bright green eyes.
“These days I’m merely a bystander with a bit of pragmatic field experience, my friend,” he said matter-of-factly. A brief smile, barely more than an itching in the corner of his mouth.
“As if,” the old man with the tinted glasses chuckled.
He had arrived only a few hours ago in an odd anachronism of a spaceship, which had the senior flight control officer raise the alarm. Then, only twenty minutes later, they were sitting together here.
“And here I was,” the suit answered. “Thinking you wanted to curse me for all I did and did not in the past. You actually had us worried a bit when my aide told me a Lanner was approaching the station. I never thought I’d see one of those again.”
“I still prefer levers and buttons over second guessing COVAS jackasses. They are prone to be … manipulated, especially when you absolutely need to rely on them.” The old man eyed the suit keenly.
“Very well. So why even make the trip out here? You must be in dire straits to come to the proverbial lion’s den.”
“On the contrary,” the old man mused. “As odd as it might seem, I have a proposition for you.”
“Kill myself?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I’ll be blunt. You have heard of the plans to mount another Distant Worlds Expedition and you will know that a number of outposts will be built to support the expected magnitude of that endeavour.”
“Will I?” Again, eyebrows.
The old man ignored the question.
“We will push quite deeply towards Orion. And it’s simple: We bring the resources and the manpower. You on the other hand have known that stretch of space longer than anyone. Well, almost anyone. That being said, I hate to admit it but there could be a window for cooperation. Our goals have rarely aligned, not after what has happened and what you did. But I’ll consider laying grudges aside for a while, because this is just bigger. Bigger even than the sh** show you guys pulled off back then.”
“We had no option.”
“You had three and you idiots chose the bad one.”
“Bad for whom?”
“Bad for us all. It’s not like anything has changed, has it? Only the years.”
“John, seriously. This whole situation, you and I meeting and trading barbs… Why me? With your contacts you could easily have asked the P.F.” He shot the old man a doubting look, eyebrows raised and all, but left it at that. Old wounds…
“The Pilots Federation!” he spat. “They aren’t GalCop, they aren’t the Bank of Zaonce and they sure as hell aren’t…” he instinctively looked around. “They aren’t the others…”
“So what do you want, John?” The man in the suit seemed to lose his composure just for a second.
“Is this so hard to understand? We will focus on building a number of outposts. Much like chaining the Pleiades to the Bubble ten years ago. A lot of the sectors are still locked because of some Sirius shenanigans but you…” he hesitated. “Your organisation probably understands what lies beyond better than anybody else. And we want to pool our resources to, well, keep an eye on things. For science, naturally…”
“An eye? On things?” The man in the suit seemed amused at that statement.
“I don’t f***ing believe it.” He continued. “Again, with all your contacts and owed favors, of all people, you come to me asking to join forces? And even if I’d say yes things just aren’t the same anymore. You said it yourself: The years. Buttons and levers instead of a babbling, sometimes spiteful docking computer?” Now he laughed out loud.
“We are two undead in this day and age, my friend. You died at least once and so did I. We made them all believe so we could live the rest of our pretty unnatural life spans unmolested by reporters and attention seekers - and lawyers and hitmen.”
He let that sink in for a moment, then added: “Just no.”
The old man leaned back and eyed his “friend” for what must have been a small eternity.
“Unmolested, you say? Your recent stunt wasn’t really a covert ops, you know?. So how did that go for you? You used to be discreet behind the scenes back then, I give you that. But in bright, media fueled daylight you are just a disappointment with a nuke in each hand.”
“Then why trust me? You have absolutely no reason.”
“Like I said, we have many resources for the operation. You mentioned my contacts and yes, the Turners were quite cooperative when I approached them. They have some very special equipment that will facilitate scouting large stretches of space.”
“And?”
“It’s tech as ancient as we are: GalCop tech. No one will understand it today,” the old man said. He then chuckled and looked at the man in the suit: “Just two undead and maybe a few more. And no lawyers.”
They turned their gazes towards and out of the window where the dim star still seemed to rotate to the unseen commands of the station’s rotation.
Finally, the man in the suit broke the silence: “Okay, so who else?
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Already building a couple systems and gonna head out to help with this once called LOL
