Part 1
You know, people just don't realize how desolate space is until you go out to where you don't see stars anymore...turn off everything except life support...and realize you can't go anywhere, even IF you turned everything back on.
He realized it was all his own fault, of course. The wanting to show the known population of countless worlds.. well, maybe someone DID count them, just sat down one day and said, yep, let's find out the number of how many planets are populated. (*sigh*) Would have been a easier goal, he thought.
He had a theory, head out to the galactic rim and make use of all those neutron stars, use them to create a spacial highway by using the super-jump boost, 300% more than a normal jump. Just head to the else... 3500ly away from known space. What could be simpler?
Well, he pondered, you don't really think this kind of thing through. I mean, there are scoop stars for fuel all over and I'm always within jump range. But THAT, that is the issue right there. I didn't plan on THAT simple point... I am NOT in jump range.
Hours earlier.....
..Whoo! Got me a whole chain of those neutron's out here, like a pearl necklace!!! I maybe a old history disco dance hall? There are some gaps in there but I'll just sail over them! I'll shave 1000 light years in minutes!!! I'll make the headlines of GalNet with this plan!!! Now we just ease into that neutron jet, just like that, and here we .....
...WOAH!!!! That was fantastic! 2 in a row, I'm cooking! 175ly in 2 jumps!!! Now's let's see "Ship. Where is the nearest scoopable star?"
The dulcet tones of my ship's voice answered, "23ly rimward. Shall I plot the jump?"
Just as I was saying, there's the fuel! "Please do, and set in scoop angle."
The ship calmly said, "Aye Commander. Jump in 4..3..2.."
The star was very basic, nothing really to bring this system up. A bunch of bland planets of rocks or ice. I'd seen dozens of these pointless systems. Sure they still need mapped, but DULL. I didn't give it any more thought, "Ship. Plot us a path to the next neutron star."
The ship's reply was a bit distressing, "Unable to find route."
That wasn't that odd, but still somewhat annoying. It meant I would have to dodge through some fringe systems, but hey, that's why they call it exploring. So, "Ship. Plot to the next scoopaable star."
The ship's reply was now a concerning, "Unable to find route."
I quickly replied, "Ship." a edge to my voice as the possibilities crawled through my brain, "Assuming I burn off all main fuel and attempt a maximum jump, plot me a path to any other scoopable star."
The ship's reply made my blood run cold, like the space outside my cockpit, "Unable to find route."
I bring up the galaxy map manually, just in case the ship is trying to play games with me.
10 minutes later.....
.."Ship. Calculate the distance to those twin suns if I can gravity slingsho..."
The ship immediately popped in with her cheerfully hated, "Your ship can't withstand the stress of a slingshot manouvre"
"What CAN I do?"
The ship paused, which was unusual in itself, "I recommend calling for help."
There it was, the worst thing I could do. My plans already disproved and to top it off I have to call for help. Indignity on top of failure. I just can't do this, I'll check the systems I CAN reach, there might be something.. I can always get fuel from the one beacon of survival...
Hours Later.....
...and that brings me down to another dead ship, floating with a corpse. Another testament to a pilot caught by this pit of hell. I checked a few over, older designs, no food in storage, before wider ranger tight-beams. I find one or two now an then, but this was over 20 in this system alone! Is this this where bad planners go to die?
Well, that settles it, die or admit I'm stuck. Only one group know the whole Galaxy to actually be listening for idiots like me, on a preset tight-beam I should be able to boost the signal near that metal rich husk I came across earlier...
"Ship."
"yes?"
"Call the Fuel Rats."
After a bit of fine-tuning I managed to grab the VoiComms to a relay that barely managed to get a Rat on patrol, and my goes was I glad to hear the next words, "Hello there Commander. This is the Fuel Rats! Where are you?"
My heart was pounding, someone knew I was out there, "This is Commander Hardy! I'm a bit off the beaten path about 3500 light years down-rimward at system BLAA EORK KS-B D13-0!"
"Heh heh, you don't need the Fuel Rats Commander, there's a scoopable right there. I've run across people that forget to scan the system star so don't feel too bad about it."
I understood his response, but, "I know, I got all the feel I need, see, thing is... I am stuck, I don't have the jump range to get out of the local systems. I got dumped in here by a neutron boost!"
The silence screamed in my mind, long painful seconds ticked off, then, "Look, Commander, we only do fuel. I got fuel, and limpets. That's it. You gotta mine for stuff and systhesis it into jomp-boosting."
I didn't know how to say this, it hurt, it was embarrassing. "I don't have a mining laser." I stuttered out.
His reply, altho a bit tight, was a less worried than I might have expected, "That's ok, there are some mineable planets out that way. It will take a lot longer, but ..."
I cut him off, rather more violently than was fair to him, "I don't HAVE a SRV!"
Another long pause, me listening to the pounding of my heart, and he came back with, "So when did you start having these feeling of suicide?"
"LOOK!" I exclaimed, "I've a scientist, ok? I do some deep space work and this time I needed to prove a theory, and my theory was good, and the concept was good, and the testing was good..."I trailed off.
"*forced chuckle* Doesn't look like that from my seat." My heart sank, they couldn't help me.
I knew a final way out. "Sorry to bother you Fuel Rats. Tell someone there are lots of dead pilots out here, when they come for my body I'll leave a detailed report. I try a escape pod but you haven't seen what I have here."
"Hey there Commander?! Don't give in that easy. I can relay to the Pilot's Federation and they will alert S.A.R.. You got the Fuel Rats here, we DON'T leave you high and dry or Stranded. Now you just hang out, you have fuel so you have power. Just stay relaxed, watch a few movies. I have your name as Commander Hardy, and BLAA EORK KS-B D13-0 as you system. You good with that?"
I sat dumbfounded, but quickly replied, "Yes!" the desperation clear, "Yes, and thank you, thank you so much!" The slight quaver of fear added by the random effect of light across the face of the desiccated pilot corpse making it look like it was laughing at me.
"Not a problem, now just keep scanner your stars, never know, maybe some jump planning. Just relax, I'll get back to you. Fuel Rats pliot 67 out."
(Part 2 Soon...)
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