The Journey Begins

[IndigoWyrd]

After much experimenting, tinkering, and blowing a fortune in beta-credits, I have began my sojourn - to circumnavigate the galaxy. Now with new and improved tools, this is no longer the daunting prospect of a mind-numbing trip across a sea of endless repetition - but a real venture into exploration and discovery, as I seek out parts unknown.

My ship, a trusty Beluga, originally built to be an explorer craft.
My companion, an easy-on-the-eyes, eager young fighter pilot.
My destination: out there.

And me? Stick around, maybe you'll learn something if you're not careful.

I don't recall where I met Sai, but she wanted to work, I wanted a fighter pilot I could stand to look at - it was a perfect match.
Now, to be honest, I really don't know if Sai can fly in a straight line or not. She boasts well though. Since this is an exploratory trip, I suppose it really doesn't matter anyways. But you never know what could be lurking out in the dark.

As for me, I fly the ship, and I look for things that catch my interest. I don't know what I'll find out here, or if the galactic rim is even worth exploring, but it gets me away from the hustle and bustle of the bubble, the boisterous turmoil of the Fringe, and who knows - may even make me long for all those things at some point. For all the unknowns, there is at least one known constant - my ship. A sturdy Saud Kruger Beluga I'd had customized quite some time ago, when the notion of exploration teased at me, and that panderous sot, Ishmael Palin insisted I take a trip out some 5,000 light years to prove myself. So I went, and The Naked Singularity took me there and brought me home, safe and sound.

I have been asked, more than once, about the name of my ship. Clearly by those with either little sense of humor, little knowledge of astrophysics, or a little of both. For those who don't know, a Naked Singularity is something of an impossible anomaly - a black hole without an event horizon. It is, at least among theorists, a possibility on paper, much like time travel. The reality is though, it just doesn't happen.

The same holds true for my ship. Built as a ship of exploration, I found it to be uncanny in combat situations. While occasionally hauling well-paying passengers in it, I had more than a few opportunities to find out first hand, just how well she handled in combat. For a time, I even used her for cleaning up some of the crustier parts of the Bubble, often surprising other Commanders. But none of that matters, except perhaps in that this is just one of many reasons I'm making this trip.

I am only just beginning, but I have already happened upon at least one curiosity - the legendary world of Raxxla:

Nah, just kidding, that's in the complete opposite direction I'm heading. This is just a lovely ringed water planet, with polar ice caps.

Not a bad first Interesting Thing, and I've no doubt there will be many, many more along the way, but for now the hour is late. Stay tuned, there will be much more to follow.

 

[Rafe Zetter]

Does K know about the "easy on the eyes" companion joining you?

Good luck anyway, try not to get abducted or anything while skimming the rim. (fnar)

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Does K know about the "easy on the eyes" companion joining you?

Good luck anyway, try not to get abducted or anything while skimming the rim. (fnar)

Yep. And I’m pretty sure if there’s any abducting to be done, I’ll be the one doing it.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Day Two:

I've made it into the Sanguineous Rim. So far, the journey has been quite peaceful. A few interesting sights along the way, but first, I had to stop and wash off the Inner Orion Spur:

With that out of the way, I happened upon this gas giant teeming with water-based life:

Right next to this gas giant, teeming with ammonia-based life:

Should make for a very interesting neighborhood in a few million years.

This ringed ammonia world absolutely insisted I stop for a picture. Who am I to deny my fans?

Made a brief stop among the frozen geysers to take in the view, and a meal.

And finally pressed on until I simply had to get some sleep.

For some reason the vibration of these eruptions is so soothing.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Day Three:

Ball of rock, ball of ice. Ball of ice, ball of rock. I've covered some distance through a region that is quite, all things considered, rather unremarkable. Granted I knew full well that this would very well be the majority of my trip - ball of rock, ball of ice. These are the most common planetary formations, but by no means does this not mean each system isn't a wonder in and of itself. The formation of the galaxy, that planets even exist, is nothing short of incredible. The odds are staggering really. And then something like this happens:

An entire planet of water, with an atmosphere that could readily be transformed into something capable of supporting human life, far, far off in some distant part of the galaxy. It makes think of the mariners of ancient times, long before people looked to the stars for anything more than a means of finding their way on a tiny little world, that to them, seemed to stretch on forever. I recall tales of these ancient sailors, traveling for months on end without sighting land. I can't help but wonder what they would think if they knew how small these worlds really are.

Ever since people began looking to the stars, wondering if anyone else might be out there they wondered, sometimes without even realizing, they wondered if there were other worlds like their own. The Earth, third planet of the Sol system, origin of the human race. Birthplace of The Federation - birthplace of the Empire, the Alliance - all of humanity, even if they've forgotten that fact. I've never been there. I wasn't born there. In fact, I wasn't born anywhere. I never knew my real parents, though I've since come to learn a great deal about them. My father was pilot, flew for the Imperial Intelligence Service. My mother was a noble on some far-flung, backwater system. Only days before I would have been born, while they were traveling to someplace where they'd wanted me to be born their ship was attacked. My mother was cut nearly in half by a shattered bulk-head, and their I lay, on the deck, battle-born.

My father gave his life getting me into an escape pod, before his ship was destroyed. I never knew how long I drifted before a search and rescue ship recovered my pod. The wreckage of my parents ship had been completed raided, and even the flight recorder was taken. With no identification, I went into the system, and was adopted by a couple who lived and worked in the tungsten mines of Achenar 3. I spent a majority of my life there, and even took up the family trade. It wasn't until much later that my father's ring, a signet, given to him by my mother's house, came into my possession. It had been found in the escape pod in which I'd been found. But the crest and seal, according to the Imperial Heraldry Registrar, was what was known as a "lost house", meaning none of that lineage was known to be living for some period of time and the holding of that house had since been awarded to some other house or houses.

I didn't really understand it back then, and even now, I don't really have any sense of connection to any of it. I'd never really thought much about venturing into space, or flying ships. I was good working loaders, and operating sifters. It wasn't until war broke out and our mining camp had come under attack, when I'd stolen a fighter - from a dead pilot mind you, that I'd really flown anything. But I felt, I knew, I had to defend my home. So I did, and rather than be imprisoned, I was rewarded. I was fined as well, but wound up with enough to actually study as a pilot. Awhile later, I'd been awarded a license by the Pilot's Federation, given a dusty old sidewinder, and told to seek my fortune and fate in the stars.

I'd thought of returning to Achenar, but spent my time wandering a bit instead. I did odd jobs, salvaged lost cargo, and eventually settled on Ceres Tarn. The gravity wasn't as high as I'd grown up with on Achenar 3, but it was comfortable. I might have stayed there as well, but I got to thinking about where I'd really come from, and curiosity got the better of me. Before long, I was jobbing across space, listening to rumors, chasing shadows. I may have come into being of an Imperial line, but I didn't feel it. I spent some time in Alliance space, but other than spending too much on imported goods, I didn't really feel like I belonged there either. I'd crossed Federation space more times than I could count, and found out their money was just as good as anyone else's. Bought a few more and bigger ships, hauled more goods, made more deals, and came to realize it didn't really matter where I went - Federation, Empire, Alliance, Independent systems - in the end, one bunch of people really weren't all that different than any other. They all have the same basic needs, the same basic wants, the same basic feelings - just different accents.

It wasn't until just a few years ago I'd actually seen The Earth for myself. Strange little blue-green-and-crud colored ball in space. We'd trashed the placed, poisoned the place, nearly wiped ourselves out in wars over things no one really seemed to remember. Then we took off into space, spread ourselves out, and pretty much resumed trying to do in space what we'd nearly done on Earth so long ago - wipe ourselves out. Federation warred with Empire warred with Alliance, warred with anyone else. It's insane really. And little wonder why I don't really think of any of these places as "home."

Space is my home, it's where I came into being. It's likely where I'll leave this existence as well. Perhaps some day someone will happen upon the unpowered husk of my ship, and find my petrified remains, probably at the helm, still searching for... I have no idea, except that I'll know it when I find it.

But I ramble. It's funny though, how seeing something like this:

Some ball of dirt and water, so much like the Earth I've never really known, can bring on such waves of memory. I've tried talking to Sai, but she's not much for philosophical matters. Practical, certainly, and not bad in the kitchen, even though she does over-season frittatas. But I didn't hire her as a chef, though it was a nice gesture. Though anybody who wakes up that early... makes me wonder.

Again, I ramble. It could be that it is, once again, quite late. Or it might just be something about these earth-like worlds that just gets me agitated. It's not the planet itself. It's the actions of the people. For such a world to be such a distance out in the void, proving Earth to be little more than the fortunate, or unfortunate, birthing place of such a strange race, and not nearly as special as so many have claimed for so long, I can't help but wonder myself - could there well be other worlds like this one, that have birthed their own space-faring people like us? So far, we don't know of any - but given the endless vastness of space itself, the odds, well, they've got be better than zero, right? Perhaps that's what I'm looking for out here. Something that says "We're not as special as we think." Though I think there have been near countless others before me that have sought out the same, and likely just as many after me as well.

Definitely getting tired, just tried to drink coffee with my helmet's visor still closed.

And that's when it happened, while I was looking for a safe place to set down and get some much needed sleep - the sensors on the Singularity snapped me out of my daze.
Life. I'd spent so much time comtempating it, even berating it, that I wasn't expecting it. What I found...

Towering cities, crystalline and pristine, built over who knows how long, nestled in a valley on some little ball of ice, home to countless micro-organisms. Might there be territorial wars going on within these crystal spires? Or did these things live in harmony with each other? I longed for even better equipment, to peer into their microcosm, to see it as they saw it, on their macroscopic scale, while I existed in the megascopic - were they even aware something like me might exist?

Xenology would have to wait until I've rested.

 

[M00ka]

Fair trails and good winds intrepid explorer, may the next star always be scoopable

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Day 4 : Dawn in the valley of the crystal

A vast mega-continent for the micro-dwellers of these crystalline skyscrapers, reaching feet up from the ground. Or perhaps these are not unlike the corals of varied oceans - simple creatures raising protective structures around themselves, with little awareness of anything beyond their own instincts. A truly detailed study would take far longer and far more equipment than I have. I also shiver to think how other researchers might treat these as well. Would they cut off samples? Or perhaps harvest an entire structure? Xenology, the study of aliens. We know for sure of at least two species, other than our own. The long-extinct Guardians, and the enigmatic and potentially highly dangerous Thargoids.

We don't have any history that we know of with The Guardians, but we've quite a history with the Thargoids, having gone to war once, and routed them with biological weaponry. Their recent resurgence has left more than a few questioning both the past and the future. I've done my own studies of them as well, at least, as much as I am able. For now, I am content to leave them be, as long as they leave me be. The galaxy is, after all, a very big place.

And it's not getting any smaller as long as I sit here.

Pretty sure I found the galaxy's supply of strawberry-flavored water here. Pretty sure I've never before seen a water world this color.

It would be a while until the next Interesting Thing came along, this time in the form of a silica magma lava spout, spewing fury on a distant world.

Just a few short hops away, I happened upon this:

Not particularly spectacular to see, but a world with an atmosphere of 100% pure ammonia. And just how badly the Singularity was going to need a paint job when I get back.

And while an ammonia atmosphere might be interesting, what is, perhaps, more interesting is how atmospheres are born.

Here, water vapor escapes from fumaroles. If there is enough gravity, these vapors will, with any luck, form at atmosphere in the distant future. Quite impressive, really. Of course, it takes the right conditions, and the right mixture of gasses to form a breathable atmosphere, as well as some microbial help. The complexity of it is staggering.

Speaking of staggering, Sai found one of the cases of Bast Snake Gin I keep in the main galley, for those times I transport exclusive passengers, and has been insisting we commemorate this trip with a toast. One does not typically toast Bast Snake Gin. One gets toasted on Bast Snake Gin. But it's been a long day, and a good drink does sound good. I insist we find a place to land first.

So we don't end up like that. Turns out, that was quite a good spot to land.

Whatever made this impact crater had to be massive, and/or traveling at a pretty impressive velocity. Of equally impressive velocity was the velocity that the gin hit Sai, almost rivaling her velocity hitting the floor shortly after we'd opened the second bottle. Getting her to the infirmary was easy, and fortunately no lasting damage was done. It was also quite clear to me she was a spacer. She certainly wasn't prepared for the gravity this world had to offer. Though not quite a third of Achenar 3, this nameless ball of rock boasted a respectable gravity, which made putting the Singularity down a matter of finesse, Sai was clearly not use to anything more than perhaps station gravity. While she rested, I opted to do a little scouting around, after I'd gathered the gin and found a new storage place for it.

Spouts of iron magma erupted, like the knot on Sai's head, while around the edge of this one, a fine crystalline formation grew. I pressed on a while longer, surveying, studying, and that's when it began to dawn on me - I believe I knew what it was I was looking for out here.

It wasn't picturesque gas giants, nor their rings.

Nor was it the wealth of resources or even knowledge that abounded.

Nor was it the answer to "What is making that rattling sound?"

It was peace.

Peace, tranquility, and rest. Wealth I had, but peace, peace of mind, peace of heart, peace of spirit... these things could not be purchased. Absolutely no one was waiting for me to deliver something to them, or to deliver them to somewhere. No one has sent me a message requesting me to perform some deed, some task, some favor. In fact, no one knew where I was - I didn't even know where I was. Or perhaps it was just the gin. Either way, it was peace I was seeking, and perhaps I was finally on its trail.

 

[Hacker#451563]

I like this little story.

[up]

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Day 5 : Elysian Shore

Sai has recovered from her little run-in with gravity and gin. I've pressed onward into a new sector of the galaxy. Aside from the lines on the map, I can't say it's notably different that the last, however...

A water-world with a pure ammonia atmosphere really makes me wish I were equipped for atmospheric operations. I'm wagering a planet like this has to have some amazing, terrible but amazing, weather patterns.

And the ice caps of this water-world rival continents is scale, and likely feature some truly inspiring peaks.

The icy fumerols of this moon were inspiring as well, though the geological instability inspired me not to overstay my welcome.

The contrasting colors made this a nice place to set down a while and have lunch.

Rising torrents of methane ice in one of the spectacular canyons of this world made me think about those maniacs who like risking their ships and their lives to see how fast they can fly through uneven and irregular terrain. The force of this jet stream was enough to lift the Singularity, so I could only imagine how it would hit one of those paper-and-pastic racers.

Speaking of life...

This otherwise featureless water-world is simply teaming with active, carbon/water-based life. Without a means of really getting down there to see what this life is, I can only assume this to be the myriad forms of familiar sea life I've seen on display at preserves and in holo-vids. It seems a bit strange, really, to think about how something like a fish from a planet in one sector is really not any different than the same kind of fish on another planet, thousands of light years away. Sure, there are differences in patterns, colors, an odd spot here or there, but generally speaking, biologically speaking, they're pretty much the same. I suppose in many ways it does make sense. There are only so many ways to mix up DNA and still wind up with a fish. Swap an adenine here for a guanine there and suddenly it's not a fish any more, it's a mollusk. Take a thymine from there, swap it with a cytosine there, and it's not a mollusk any more, but a flowering fruit tree. Swap the whole thing around and you've got Federal Flight Control agent. At least, on paper. In practice it's a bit more complex than that, though from my time studying the Guardians, probably not all that much more.

An entire system of ringed worlds, not exactly unusual, but certainly uncommon. Of course, the untouched rare resources hidden here I would certainly call uncommon. Quite a haul for the average mining expedition, but I know a few deep space miners who would give their left mining laser for these coordinates. Not sure what that says about them, except perhaps they're alright.

Moving on... decided to try something a little different this time, and let Sai take the helm of the Singularity while I took a fighter down to the surface to check out some interesting geology.

It really give a sense of scale seeing some of these formations from this perspective. It also really makes me long for more and better equipment for research work. A non-combat small craft like this could be outfitted with such an array of scientific equipment in lieu of weapons systems, because space is definitely at a premium here.

 

[Zoltah-Talion]

Prof. Palin is a 'panderous sot'? I think there must be a story there you haven't told CMDR! But I appreciate the work you're putting into this, it's inspiring and imaginative.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Alright canyon-jumpers, pack your bags, because this is a BIG one.

It was so big in fact I had to fly down into it to see the bottom of it.

And before you say "I've seen bigger." I've got a subspace frequency I can call to reach someone who will agree with that, so don't.

For the first time in a long time, I find myself in a particularly good mood. I believe this is what I've heard people call "vacationing". Nowhere in particular to go, nothing in particular to do, and no one to answer to... it's rather nice actually. I mean, granted, I haven't made a single credit in days, but I haven't spent one either. Plenty of stars to keep my fuel tank full, plenty enough limpets to fix any dings or dents. Would be nice to have a Paint limpet - the Singularity looks like a derelict, at least on the outside, and in a certain hired pilot's room. Although, I will take my share of blame too... there are three pairs of socks floating around the bridge belonging to yours truly - but it is my bridge, so there is that. I'll catch them eventually.

Certainly more than a few water-worlds out this way, and this one is completely unfit for terraforming, or much of anything. I wonder if this is where the water goes when the galaxy flushes. The 100% ammonia atmosphere supports that notion.

The ice caps of this water-world are a spectacular sight - reminds me of a confection I once tried... somewhere. Odd, I can't quite seem to remember where.

Watching the clouds swirl here is nearly hypontic. Can't say I ever saw any patterns, though if you look hard enough... nah.

Speaking of fuel...

A curious trinary sytem with plenty to offer - plenty of hot that is. Manged to corona surf the primary, slingshot around the secondary, and skim the tertiary to finish topping off here.

Counted at least 11 massive hurricanes as I circled around this world. I've never actually seen a hurricane, but Sai said they were not uncommon on her home planet. She explained them as disaster-level storms of high wind and torrential rains. I've never seen either. Achenar 3 is a dry, airless world, and I grew up entirely indoors. On some occasions, we'd take trips in a patrol rover, and even when I did my formal pilot training, it was all out of a station.

Perhaps that's a part of why these water-worlds are so interesting to me, that and their level of astronomic anomaly. While they do boast submerged terrain, the absence of any surface terrain, mixed with the extreme weather all but defies the probability that worlds like this would form and remain cohesive. That they don't tear themselves apart, or boil off into space is impressive. Trying to calculate what keeps them intact is a mental exercise boarding on masochism.

Equally impressive are the free-standing, uncontained nuclear reactions that we call stars. Birthplace of matter and free energy, these reactions maintain themselves for billions of years. Coronal mass ejections and solar flares ravage unprotected worlds, and can be devastating to ships that venture too close. Of course, they are also some of the most spectacular displays one might see, and I can't help but think what a stellar tourist would pay for a visit to something like this. I guess I haven't been gone long enough yet.

Of course, no trip would be complete without a fly-by of a picturesque gas giant, complete with rings. Ring-skimming has always been entertaining to me, as well as something of a challenge - getting close enough to the ring to kick up motes of dust in my wake, but not close enough to be pulled in by the local gravity that holds these rings together. I certainly know my way around them though, having spent more than a good bit of time mining precious resources and capitalizing on my finds.

Speaking of spectacular, few things rival massive A-class stars, especially those deep in the white end of the spectrum.

Of course, equally spectacular, as it so happens, is an entire system like this.

Starting with this high-metal world, and its fields of sulpher-dioxide fumaroles.

This world, despite searing surface temperatures of 441 K, boasts some very impressive vents spewing silicate vapors.

Which. as dust from these vents settles on the surface, give the appearance of a frozen wasteland, despite temperatures hot enough to boil water.

Next door, this colorful world also boasts some fantastic geological structures.

Among these towering spires of hot silicates, it's easy to forget the hazards just beyond the canopy, yet I still can't help but to want to feel the texture of the stone, feel the tremors beneath my feet, as these monuments of geothermal activity begin to blast the molten innards of the planet towards the stars.

Moving along the system, I found this pastel world.

Wrapped in thick clouds, the surface of this world tempts the imagination.

Even more enigmatic, this world boasts even denser cloud cover than its neighbor.

And just a short distance away, another cloud-wrapped mystery.

Hidden among these gems, is a real jewel, the crowning glory of the system - a world capable of supporting human life, populated with its own life forms. I find myself wondering, might there be a population here already in some early state of development? I long to look closer, but my instruments only allow me to see so much.

The night side of this world lacks the tell-tale signs of any sort of advanced civilizations - namely the oceans of lights of man-made cities. While it is entirely likely there is nothing more advanced here than insects or fish, it is not impossible for there to be more advanced forms of life as well, including primates, or hominids. Currently no protocols exist among the powers, nor the pilot's federation regarding contact with primitive cultures, though I strongly believe there should. I can only imagine what unregulated contact would mean - the slave trade alone would decimate such populations.

Slavery... there's a subject for a whole different day....

If this shining Earth-like world wasn't enough, this system turns out to hold yet another type of jewel.

This ammonia-world boasts life of its own - neighboring the Earth-like world and its inhabitants. I have to admit, it would be fascinating to watch a time-lapse of life on these worlds. I wonder if I could find sponsors among any of the scientific communities to have observation satellites placed in this system? Of course, this would become the observation project of many, many lifetimes - the human race may well go the way of the Guardians before anything really interesting happens here, but still, it would make for some fantastic research.

This ammonia-world does boast one potential advantage - its own moon, which means tidal forces stirring up the oceans. This moon also has a nitrogen atmosphere as well. Again, a very worthy system to study.

And finally, at the tail end of this most fascinating system:

A very striking gas giant, rich with resources, and one of the most colorful and impressive I've seen so far.

Time is funny thing, it has a way of getting away from you, until it comes, banging upside your head, or the door of the bridge in my case, as Sai informs me I should get some sleep before I pass out at the helm. She's right, of course, and with no suitable place to set down, I'll let her take the helm a while, while I rest.

 

[Bob McBobblehead]

I took my exploration Imperial Clipper out for a few days test run to the Jellyfish Nebula and back. Because the new DSS, I have been landing on planets more often and I've decided not to use large ships for exploration because of difficulties landing at some POI. I'll be going with the ASPx or Krait Phantom.

Best of luck on your journey around the galaxy.

 

[Patrick_68000]

Alright canyon-jumpers, pack your bags, because this is a BIG one.



It was so big in fact I had to fly down into it to see the bottom of it.



And before you say "I've seen bigger." I've got a subspace frequency I can call to reach someone who will agree with that, so don't.

For the first time in a long time, I find myself in a particularly good mood. I believe this is what I've heard people call "vacationing". Nowhere in particular to go, nothing in particular to do, and no one to answer to... it's rather nice actually. I mean, granted, I haven't made a single credit in days, but I haven't spent one either. Plenty of stars to keep my fuel tank full, plenty enough limpets to fix any dings or dents. Would be nice to have a Paint limpet - the Singularity looks like a derelict, at least on the outside, and in a certain hired pilot's room. Although, I will take my share of blame too... there are three pairs of socks floating around the bridge belonging to yours truly - but it is my bridge, so there is that. I'll catch them eventually.



Certainly more than a few water-worlds out this way, and this one is completely unfit for terraforming, or much of anything. I wonder if this is where the water goes when the galaxy flushes. The 100% ammonia atmosphere supports that notion.



The ice caps of this water-world are a spectacular sight - reminds me of a confection I once tried... somewhere. Odd, I can't quite seem to remember where.



Watching the clouds swirl here is nearly hypontic. Can't say I ever saw any patterns, though if you look hard enough... nah.

Speaking of fuel...



A curious trinary sytem with plenty to offer - plenty of hot that is. Manged to corona surf the primary, slingshot around the secondary, and skim the tertiary to finish topping off here.



Counted at least 11 massive hurricanes as I circled around this world. I've never actually seen a hurricane, but Sai said they were not uncommon on her home planet. She explained them as disaster-level storms of high wind and torrential rains. I've never seen either. Achenar 3 is a dry, airless world, and I grew up entirely indoors. On some occasions, we'd take trips in a patrol rover, and even when I did my formal pilot training, it was all out of a station.



Perhaps that's a part of why these water-worlds are so interesting to me, that and their level of astronomic anomaly. While they do boast submerged terrain, the absence of any surface terrain, mixed with the extreme weather all but defies the probability that worlds like this would form and remain cohesive. That they don't tear themselves apart, or boil off into space is impressive. Trying to calculate what keeps them intact is a mental exercise boarding on masochism.



Equally impressive are the free-standing, uncontained nuclear reactions that we call stars. Birthplace of matter and free energy, these reactions maintain themselves for billions of years. Coronal mass ejections and solar flares ravage unprotected worlds, and can be devastating to ships that venture too close. Of course, they are also some of the most spectacular displays one might see, and I can't help but think what a stellar tourist would pay for a visit to something like this. I guess I haven't been gone long enough yet.



Of course, no trip would be complete without a fly-by of a picturesque gas giant, complete with rings. Ring-skimming has always been entertaining to me, as well as something of a challenge - getting close enough to the ring to kick up motes of dust in my wake, but not close enough to be pulled in by the local gravity that holds these rings together. I certainly know my way around them though, having spent more than a good bit of time mining precious resources and capitalizing on my finds.



Speaking of spectacular, few things rival massive A-class stars, especially those deep in the white end of the spectrum.

Of course, equally spectacular, as it so happens, is an entire system like this.



Starting with this high-metal world, and its fields of sulpher-dioxide fumaroles.



This world, despite searing surface temperatures of 441 K, boasts some very impressive vents spewing silicate vapors.



Which. as dust from these vents settles on the surface, give the appearance of a frozen wasteland, despite temperatures hot enough to boil water.



Next door, this colorful world also boasts some fantastic geological structures.



Among these towering spires of hot silicates, it's easy to forget the hazards just beyond the canopy, yet I still can't help but to want to feel the texture of the stone, feel the tremors beneath my feet, as these monuments of geothermal activity begin to blast the molten innards of the planet towards the stars.




Moving along the system, I found this pastel world.



Wrapped in thick clouds, the surface of this world tempts the imagination.



Even more enigmatic, this world boasts even denser cloud cover than its neighbor.



And just a short distance away, another cloud-wrapped mystery.



Hidden among these gems, is a real jewel, the crowning glory of the system - a world capable of supporting human life, populated with its own life forms. I find myself wondering, might there be a population here already in some early state of development? I long to look closer, but my instruments only allow me to see so much.



The night side of this world lacks the tell-tale signs of any sort of advanced civilizations - namely the oceans of lights of man-made cities. While it is entirely likely there is nothing more advanced here than insects or fish, it is not impossible for there to be more advanced forms of life as well, including primates, or hominids. Currently no protocols exist among the powers, nor the pilot's federation regarding contact with primitive cultures, though I strongly believe there should. I can only imagine what unregulated contact would mean - the slave trade alone would decimate such populations.

Slavery... there's a subject for a whole different day....

If this shining Earth-like world wasn't enough, this system turns out to hold yet another type of jewel.



This ammonia-world boasts life of its own - neighboring the Earth-like world and its inhabitants. I have to admit, it would be fascinating to watch a time-lapse of life on these worlds. I wonder if I could find sponsors among any of the scientific communities to have observation satellites placed in this system? Of course, this would become the observation project of many, many lifetimes - the human race may well go the way of the Guardians before anything really interesting happens here, but still, it would make for some fantastic research.

This ammonia-world does boast one potential advantage - its own moon, which means tidal forces stirring up the oceans. This moon also has a nitrogen atmosphere as well. Again, a very worthy system to study.



And finally, at the tail end of this most fascinating system:



A very striking gas giant, rich with resources, and one of the most colorful and impressive I've seen so far.

Time is funny thing, it has a way of getting away from you, until it comes, banging upside your head, or the door of the bridge in my case, as Sai informs me I should get some sleep before I pass out at the helm. She's right, of course, and with no suitable place to set down, I'll let her take the helm a while, while I rest.

Nice series. +1

 

[Zoltah-Talion]

Socks on the bridge CMDR?! Tell Sai from me not to go picking them up for you!

Great reporting btw, 07.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Day 7:

I have no idea how long I slept, but it was quite restful, and Sai managed not to kill us, so there may be hope for her as a pilot yet. I took the opportunity to wash and change my Remlok and myself. I've always liked zero-g bathing. Not quite sure why, but the gel-like behavior of water in micro-gravity has a both entertaining and refreshing quality that is quite different than the showers in the pilot's locker rooms at planetary installations or centrifugal seam-baths on the nicer stations. I've tried the zero-g baths in the recreation center locker rooms onboard as well, but they remind me of being slowly swallowed alive by a giant amoeba. I also managed to catch 5 out of 6 stray socks when I returned to the bridge. I haven't written the other one off just yet, so I'm reluctant to call the one I have captured a right sock yet. Yes, if you have an odd number of socks, the odd-sock is always a right sock, because the other one was left somewhere.

Sai didn't laugh either.

But we did spot this:

A nice, wine-colored water-world, suitable for terraforming, already supporting its own diverse ecosystem. No indications of advanced life or technology, and I am starting to wonder if this isn't the wet side of the galaxy, as I've seen more water worlds here than anywhere else I've been. Admittedly, I've really not ventured out all that far, mainly just because I've always been too busy doing other things for other people. I have to admit, it's been nice only doing things for myself lately.

At first, I wasn't so sure I wanted to check out the readings I was getting from this planet:

But it turned out to be quite a view as silicate fumaroles and vents spewed hot clouds of vapors and dust, making for a rather nice show.
Speaking of doing things for myself, I sent Sai out to run some routine maneuvers while I scoured the bridge for what I was convinced was going to wind up being a left sock. During my search I noticed one of the water pressure gauges was decidedly low. Usually this indicated a slow leak somewhere, probably a bad gasket, so I put together a maintenance checklist. I was going to give it to Sai - she still had quite a bit to learn, but I also happened to enjoy doing a bit of my own maintenance as well. I opted to wait and see how she did with her maneuvers first.

I decided to give this star a close pass. Few commanders do, as we have yet to devise a way of harnessing any of emissions of these types of stars as either a fuel or power source. But they certainly are an interesting sight. But this does compare to the sight of Sai's face - I suspect the image will be etched into my memory forever. She was doing so well on her maneuvers, and having such a good time of it, I decided to let her improvise a while, and track down the source of the water pressure drop. As I suspected, it was leak, a bad backflow gasket in the laundry facility. A simple fix, really, just a matter of loosening the connection and seating a new gasket. Or it should have been, had there not been a power drop in the lateral thruster array. I rushed back to the bridge and recalled Sai. I needed her to check the array for damage. No signs of damage she reported, and sighed with relief. More than likely it was just a power cough caused by some stray matter drawn in from that dwarf star. There are reasons most commanders give them a fair berth. I knew it would work itself out of the system soon enough, and decided to get moving. There was still a lot of galaxy to see.

Like this happy couple:

A bightly colored planet and its brilliant moon. Decided to set down here for a bit while the odd particles worked themselves out of the system and make some food. I had nearly finished chopping the shallots when Sai came into the galley. Her body language told me something had upset her, long before her tone. Her attire told me she decided to take up my offer to use the ship's facilities, as she stood there, still slightly damp from the sauna, wrapped in one of heavy robes from storage. But the flush on her skin was not just the flush of heat and moisture of the sauna. Then she began.

"Look," she said harshly, "I don't know why you really asked me on this trip. I'm a fighter pilot, not a scientist, not a researcher, and certainly not..."
She held up a rubber ring, exactly 6.985 cm in diameter, with a 5 mil membrane in the center, small nodules around the outer perimeter. For just the slightest moment, I recognized it the way she had mistaken it, and I couldn't help but to smirk, the tinted glass of my helmet sparing her my expression.

"It's a backflow gasket.", I interrupted. My words, with their slight amplification of the helmet's processor made them echo slightly in the galley. They hit her with the force of an emergency FTL stop. Her hand shook for a moment, as it grasped her face, the gasket falling to the floor slowly in the planet's weak gravity. Her angered flush replaced with a new, deeper shade of embarrassed.

"I noted a drop in water pressure and tracked it to the laundry. The backflow gasket for the water line was leaking, so I replaced it. While I was replacing it there was a power drop. That's when I had you check the thruster array."

"I... oh... oh my...", Sai could only stutter.

"Honestly, I don't know if I should be embarrassed or flattered, but either way it's quite alright. I brought you on this trip for a few reasons. First, because neither of us have been out this far, and you'll have stories to tell your son, and your grandchildren some day, possibly even this one. Second, because trips like this alone are unhealthy. This much seclusion and solitude take a toll on the mind. And third, I do enjoy your company. You're young, and experiencing many things for the first time, things I never did when I was your age. Things I wish now that I had, and through your experiences, in a way, I get to now."

Sai bent slightly forward, resting her hand on the edge of the island, forgetting for a moment that all she was wearing was a robe.

"You have no idea how embarrassed I am right now, and relieved, and...."

"And there's no need to be. It's an honest mistake, and one I will remind you of at some future point in time, when both most and least appropriate. And not to add to your embarrassment, but you might want to secure your robe, before I suspect you meant to leave it open like that.". I laughed, and it quickly became contagious. Sai also laughed, even though she blushed fully as she wound the robe around her. I won't deny she was attractive, but to admit it would be inappropriate.

"Lunch will be ready in about 45 minutes.", I called as she left the galley.

"I suppose you'll be eating in your quarters?" she called back.

"Well, I hadn't really thought about it...", this time it was Sai that interrupted me, and she leaned back around the corner into the galley.

"I know, you like your privacy, and your secrets, which is why you never take off that helmet. It's ok, I get it."

"It's not that at all," I began, and released the locks on my helmet.

"You don't have to do that." Sai said.

"Actually, I do. I can't tell if the souffle is done with it on, and I've certainly seen more of you than you probably wanted me to see, so it's only fair."

I set my helmet down, and I could feel Sai's eyes on my every feature. Her expression was kind.

"Well, certainly not what I'd expected." She said with a slight smile.

"Worse?", I questioned with a smirk.

"Just not what I'd imagined. You sound older with the helmet on. But if you don't mind my asking, why do you wear it all the time?"

"Two reasons. One, I'm prone to misplacing things, and two, because space is unpredictable. You never know when something might happen. Best to be prepared then caught unaware."

"Practical, I suppose, but not terribly personable."

"I don't usually have to be all that personable. I fly the ship. Passengers rarely want to say much to the pilot, other than the occasional 'Can you pick me up some coffee at the next station?' or 'Can you make a detour?'"

"Fair enough, I suppose. But what about the rest of the time? When you're not working?"

"You're looking at it. This is my first vacation since I graduated the pilot's academy, and I'd wager at that time you were probably...."

"A refugee, or a prisoner. I know you read my file."

"Fair enough, and yes I did. You made some mistakes, you paid for them. I've made my fair share too. Trusted the wrong people, took bad advice. You've made amends. I'd like to think I've worked off mine. That's why I hired you, and that's why I brought you. You're a good pilot, with a lot of potential to be a great pilot. Hitting low-level runners is a whole lot different than facing down former special operatives, trust me, I know. The potential is in you. I can see it, and when the time comes the rest of the galaxy will too."

Sai was silent for a long moment.

"That's possibly the nicest, kindest thing anyone has ever said to me. I won't let you down."
"I know. Now go get dressed and let me finish cooking, or it will be dinner time before we've had lunch."
"Alright. And you're welcome to join me. I was thinking about trying out the dining hall. You know I could never afford a trip on one of these."
I laughed a little as I resumed chopping the shallots.
"I sign you pay checks, I know what you can afford." I teased as Sai disappeared down the hall.

I didn't realize it then, and wouldn't for quite a while, but something profound has happened.

Lunch was excellent, if I say so myself. Sai and I traded stories, and neither of us realized just how much time had passed, until the sunlight outside the ship began to filter in through the windows of the dining hall. Sai agreed to clean up after lunch, and I started back towards the bridge, when I heard her call.

"Hey, you forgetting something?" she called down the hall as I waited for the lift. It wasn't until she lobbed my helmet towards me that I realized I'd left it in the galley.

"See, I told you, I'm prone to misplacing things. Thank you."

I returned my helmet to its proper position and took the lift to the bridge.

A close fly-by of a tiny ice cap on another water world.

Tiny is relative, compared to the rest of the planet, this ice continent accounts for only a fraction of the total area, yet measures larger than space station or megaship serveral times over.

And while relatively rare, the neighboring water world shared a similar icy continent.

As we cruised, I couldn't help but to wonder what colonies on worlds like this would be like. Domes of metal and poly-glass, solar arrays, tidal generators nestled into the ice. Certainly more scenic than the biodomes and dusty expanses where I grew up - though not entirely different either, a sort of different kind of expanse, one of cold and ice rather than dust and rock.

A close binary pair jump, most pilot's worst nightmare. Between the gravitational sheering forces and the extreme heat, many pilots have either lost or badly damaged their ships dropping from hyperspace this way. I learned a long time ago the easy way to deal with these. Come in tight and close to the primary, full throttle, and let the sheer of the secondary accelerate you away from the primary and throw you clear.

A greenhouse world of water, with an atmosphere so thick, nearly 13 atmospheres of pressure, and surface temperatures of nearly 450 K, and yet it features an active ecosystem. What cannot be seen from here has to be spectacular - either amazing or disappointing. I try to imagine what sort of fantastical creatures might dwell on such a world - or how thick colonies of bacterium must be. Either way, I find myself again longing for better instruments to study such things.

I park atop this steamy world, nestled high in the uppermost edge of the atmosphere. This will make a good place to call it an evening. So much has happened, so much more is yet to come.

 

[Zoltah-Talion]

*chuckle*
Sounds to me like you're gonna lose your head over that girl CMDR. You better watch out, could all end in tears! Anyway she must have been having you on about that, er... backflow gasket, lol. Or maybe your imagination is just running away with you!

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Sai's Diary

Excerpts from Sai's Dairy

Entry 33041120

It's been ten days since I arrived at this station. Hundreds of ships have come and gone, as have dozens of pilots. I'm starting to think they're going to wind up naming this lounge after me. If I don't find work soon, I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't afford to stay here much longer.

Entry 3041122

The chief doesn't even say hello any more. I know I'm on borrowed time. Six more pilots have been hired on, and I'm still here. A Beluga came in a while ago. First one of those I've seen here in the past two weeks. I find myself fantasizing, imagining what it must be like to be one of those rich tourists who can afford to cruise away on one of those things. I've got 14 credits to my name, not even enough for a room tonight. They let me sleep in the lounge last night, but that isn't going to fly for long.

I must have been daydreaming, because I didn't even hear the pilot in the black suit call me at first. A tallish fellow, wearing his helmet too, must have been in a real hurry, but he was offering me a job, and I couldn't say no.

Entry 33041123

I have to admit, I was completely stunned. Not only did this pilot hire me, but he's the pilot of the Beluga that was sitting around most of yesterday. Been easy work so far, just on standby to take the controls of a fighter. I didn't know Belugas carried fighters, but I suppose it shouldn't really surprise me. They seem like they'd be very tempting targets.

Entry 33041125

It's been a couple days, and all we've done has been shuttle around some cargo. Medicines mostly. I have to say, this is turning out to be a great job. Still haven't really met my boss. I mean, I know he's busy flying the ship, but you'd have think he'd have said something by now. Haven't seen any action, but I have seen a couple paychecks. He certainly know his trade though! I've made more in the past few days sitting here on standby than I have in the past two years. Over 3 million just to stand ready? It's amazing.

Entry 33041126

My boss dropped me off at Jameson Memorial. I've heard about this place, but honestly never thought I'd actually see it. Truth be told, as stations go, it's just alright, pretty average. But there is a certain prestige here. I mean, they don't just let anybody in here. Boss said I'd be on furlough for a while, whatever that means. I saw him leave in an Orca. A pilot with a Beluga AND an Orca? I think I've hit paydirt here.

Entry 33041127

I've met a couple other pilots in the lounge, both with the same boss as I. A master mercenary pilot named Roxana Larsen, and a legendary Elite pilot, Christiana Lynch. Neither could really tell me much about our boss, other than his name, Indigo. An unusual name to be sure. Roxana said it's probably just a call-sign. Lots of pilots, especially former military pilots, just go by call-signs. I suppose it doesn't really matter if he's military, or ex-military, as long as he keeps paying me like this.

Entry 33041211

Indigo returned to Shinrarta. From the lounge I could see him haggling with yard master. Roxy said some new ships had just been delivered, so I figured he was probably making a deal on one. Must have been quite a session, because he was down there for what seemed like ever, before he finally came up to the lounge, nodded to Christi and Roxy, and told me to get whatever I needed to take, and send any messages I needed to send. I have to admit, the tone seemed rather chilling. Would this be my last trip out? It's something every fighter pilot asks themselves at one point or another, but the first time I actually found myself asking this question.

Entry 33041212

I have no idea where we're going, but we've been going almost non-stop. On the plus side, I finally got to spend a little time with Indigo. A bit reserved, and a little quirky, but he seems nice enough. I've been brought along on some sort of expeditionary mission. He didn't say where to, only that we would be gone for quite some time. I know we've covered a pretty good distance, and Indgo's done some pretty impressive stunt flying, including a slow trip through a geyser stream. 'Washing the windows' he called it. There doesn't seem to be any other crew onboard, or passengers, so this isn't a luxury trip. Ship seems to be outfitted for research, though all the rest of the facilities are still onboard. I guess if your cruising off for the middle of nowhere and can take it all with you, why not? Also turns out Indigo is a pretty good cook, as he's been preparing meals for us on a fairly regular schedule - plus or minus a planetary fly-by.

Entry 33041213

We've made a few close fly-bys of some very pretty water worlds. I haven't been to one since the incident that led me to spend 18 months in a penal colony. I didn't know those guys were Federation agents, and all I was doing was flirting for some free drinks and a souvenir or two. Well, I got one. Federal Penal colony tattoo. Some people have bad luck, some people have no luck. I have Sai luck. I'm really hoping this trip doesn't keep up that trend.

Entry 33041214

Sai-luck. I still have it. While rummaging around I found a case of liquor, and not just any liquor, Bast Snake Gin. There's top-shelf stuff, and then there's this. I turned on the charms, and got Indigo to open a bottle. Called it 'commemorating our journey'. I admit, there was some part of me that just wanted to see the face behind the helmet. I'll be darned if he didn't drink through a straw just to keep his visor down. Turns out Bast Snake Gin more than lives up to its reputation. I distinctly remember the first drink. Barely remember the second, and woke up in the ship's infirmary with a lump on my head the size of my fist. Seems whatever planet we put down on had a pretty decent gravity, and mixed with that gin, well that's why I get for pressing my luck. I'll probably get fired, but I've still made a good bit of credits, seen some interesting places, some manner of crystal-alien-life, and had some of the finest gin in the galaxy. Might almost be worth it. Indigo left a note in the infirmary. There's food in galley, and I am to get some rest.

Entry 33041215

We've crossed into a region of the galaxy known as the Elysian Shore. That means we're headed for the galactic rim. Indigo confirmed that today, and he actually let me take the helm of the ship while he took a fighter out to survey some geology on some planet. I can't say my heart didn't skip a few beats, and I'm probably still wearing a stupid grin, but taking the controls of a ship like this for the first time, it's pretty exciting. I'm still trying to figure Indigo out. He seems nice enough, but he doesn't talk much, never takes off his helmet that I know of, and seems to keep a sort of cool, professional distance. He's a really good cook, but always seems to eat in his quarters. Maybe he is military, or ex-military after all. Maybe this is a actually a recon mission to find somewhere to build a secret outpost. I guess I'll find out at some point.

Entry 33041216

Today was an interesting day. Indigo had me on the bridge for quite a while while we surveyed a number of water worlds. Turns out he's from Achenar 3, an extremely high-gravity Imperial world. He doesn't seem to have an Imperial accent though. He doesn't seem to have any particular accent at all. He's also a bit messy, and has at least two pairs of socks floating around on the bridge. I'm really hoping he doesn't put me on laundry duty. But he did tell me to make use of the ship's facilities. I will definitely spend some time checking them out. This is shaping up to be more like a working vacation than a work assignment. Indigo seems to have some fascination with water planets. I guess living on a dry rock like that, it's understandable. He actually asked a lot of questions about weather. He said he's never really experienced anything like it. After Achenar 3, he said he moved out to someplace called Ceres Tarn. Never heard of it. I did get to thinking though, if he's from a high-gravity world, he has to be incredibly strong, especially in lower gravity environments. We also spent some time orbiting a nice garden world. Made me think of home for a while. I'm starting to believe we really are going to be out here for a long time. It was close to midnight, standard time, when I came back up to the bridge. Indigo was exhausted from flying, and I suggested he get some rest. He didn't argue, but told me to take the helm, fly us straight. I took the time to do a little research myself. Achenar 3 has six times gravity! I had a hard enough time on a planet with 2 time gravity, but my head doesn't hurt any more. I can't imagine what six times gravity would be like, and to grow up in that? Wow.

Entry 33041217

I am SUCH an idiot! Ok, so I've never done any kind of ship repair, I admit it, so I really had NO IDEA what a backflow gasket was. But it certainly LOOKED like... I'm not going to even think about it. Except, I did think about it. When I first saw it, look, I've heard all sorts of stories. I was scared. I was intimidated. This man I barely know, and the size of that... gasket. I'm such an idiot! I can't believe I yelled at my boss that way. But he didn't seem angry. He actually laughed. I was so embarrassed. I can only imagine he had to be embarrassed too. And then, he took off his helmet. Thinking about it now, I can't really describe him. He looks younger than he sounds, but I suppose that's mostly due to the helmet's voice processor. He's not at all bad looking, but it's hard to really say what he looks like. Just guy? I do remember though, he has a slightly strange eye, maybe a replacement or an augment? I'm not really sure, it's just different. And after all that, he was so nice, so kind, after I'd accused him of being the creepiest creeper in the galaxy. I wouldn't have blamed him if he'd fired me right then and there, but no. He praised me, told me I was good pilot with a lot of potential, and that he wanted to see me reach that potential. We talked quite a bit that night, person to person. I'm starting to understand him. He's a workaholic, driven by some need to make amends for his past. I can certainly understand that. Maybe my luck is changing?

Entry 33041218

Indigo had me running the ship's external cameras today. We got a few interesting photos, and we've entered a region called Kepler's Crest. It really is the very edge of the galaxy. The stars are so few and thin out here.

A world of water, witha an ammonia atmosphere.

Twin moons, and near opposites of each other.

A water planet with a massive ice cap.

A pretty, red, rocky planet.

Sunrise on a pretty, red, rocky planet, with geysers in the distance. And I got to fly the red fighter for a while too!

Another water planet. Indigo seems to have a knack for finding these.

"Washing the windows." Ok, it is pretty funny, and it makes for a pretty neat show. I bet Indigo's tour trips are amazing. Maybe he'll take me with him on one sometime.

I wasn't kidding, Indigo really does have a thing for water planets!

The void - looking past the edge of the galaxy itself. Beyond there, vast, interstellar space. It's kind of frightening actually. There's literally nothing there. I may move my quarters, just so that's not out my window when I'm trying to sleep.

Tomorrow is a new day, and a new adventure. Indigo's back inside his helmet. I hope he's not planning to seal himself away in there again. It was really nice talking to him, to anyone really. Wow. I didn't really realize it, but being so far out here, it's pretty lonely, but at least I'm not alone. I think I'd lose it if I were alone. Actually, I wouldn't be out here alone. I probably wouldn't be out here at all.

Goodnight boss, goodnight diary.

`Sai

 

[Zoltah-Talion]

I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train.
Oscar Wilde

Today was an interesting day. Indigo had me on the bridge for quite a while...

07 CMDR

 

[Vedmo]

Thanks IndigoWyrd, I enjoy reading people's diaries, and this is a good one.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Day 8

We've reached the edge of the galaxy, at least, as close to the edge as we can get. Stars are very few and far between out here, as expected. However, there are still plenty of incredible sights to be seen.

I am convinced, at least to this point, that this is the wettest part of the galaxy, with more water worlds in the region than any other region I have been in so far.

As well as more than just a few gas giants boasting their own forms of life. These are mostly simple organisms, so I've read, proto-lichens or something to that effect. But that still does not keep me from wanting to see such things myself.

The same for these water planets, boasting their own forms of life - great aquariums in space, full of mystery and wonder.

At least, I'd hope so, for as many and as varied as they are out here.

Washing the windows never gets old. It never seems to help, or at least not for long. I'd always been under the impression that ship shields were designed, at least initially, with the intention of deflecting micro-particles away from our ships - to keep sand-sized fragments from ripping through our hulls at relativistic speeds. Instead, we wind up with canopies that look like we've dug our ships out of the ground after decades. I wonder if Lei Cheung could rig up something to keep all the filth off our canopies - or at least off of mine.

"Earth-like" they call these, and while I've never been there, I've been catching up on a lot of history. "Earth-Should-Be-Like" would make for a far more accurate description. These worlds lack things like radiation zones, pollution, smog, ancient landfills, or any of the wanton damage humans have caused to their ancient home. Granted, they've certainly gotten better, but it only took them nearly wiping themselves out of existence to wise up.

I let Sai go out for a while. She's getting much better with operating the fighters. I'm starting to think her dossier is accurate describing her skills in Ceti. She's also done fine handling the Singularity so far. It's kind of amusing when I let her take the helm. She gets so excited.

The ejecta of a fairly massive B-class star is an impressive sight as well. The heat of these makes refueling a bit slow, but gives plenty of time to watch the spectacular show.

I can just hear Sai now. "Oh, another water planet." I know, she doesn't share quite my enthusiasm, but when you've spent most of your life drinking, cooking, bathing in, and flushing the same recycled water over and over, well... I don't know. Maybe it's just me, but I simply do not get tired of seeing these.

I also don't get tired of seeing these. "Hell Worlds" I've heard some pilots call them. Mostly molten, surfaces like freshly poured brittle. Eruptions of molten rock and metal all over. I think they're awesome sights. All that raw, natural energy, seismic force. They're almost alive.

My ears are still ringing. It's almost impossible to believe a human being could emit such a loud, shrill sound. But Sai was absolutely thrilled at the sight of this. She likes red, I get it. I don't think I could forget it with a lobotomy. Her squeal is still ringing in my ears. But I suppose it was worth it.

Oohh, I'm definitely going down to the infirmary. Seems Sai's fond of pink too. My head feels like someone drove a piton through both sides of it, and I'm not sure if that feeling on my neck is a little sweat, or my ears bleeding. But the giant silly grin on her face almost makes the pain tolerable.

"Surprise me.", I said as I went down to the infirmary. I let Sai take the helm, and she surprised me alright. In an attempt to ring-surf, she managed to get just a little too close. I almost poked myself in my good eye when we stopped. And she found the ship intercom too, and shouted into the mic "Sorry!" I couldn't help but think 'Not yet, but you will be.' as I downed a couple tablets for my head. But I have to admit, Sai did find a rather impressive planet to photograph, so I suppose I can let her mishap slide, this time.

High Metal Worlds aren't usually all that special to look at, except when shrouded in an atmosphere, and surrounded by nicely contrasting rings. Then they're pretty darn neat.

And then it happened again. That peculiar sensor sound, that most curious of all signals.

Life. The same sort of crystalline micro-life, only this time in vastly larger swatch. I'd guess a population in the trillions, in all these crystalline towers, mostly nestled up against carbon dioxide vents. The wonders out here, so far removed from that tiny little swath so many fight and argue over. I've said it so many times, to so many people, how pointless it is to fight over space, in space. I still think they're just too small-thinking to really comprehend just how amazingly, mind-bogglingly big space actually is. And to be honest, I'm really starting to appreciate it myself. In the past 8 days, I've only really traveled 9,030.75 light years from where I started. Granted that's about a thousand farther than any other trip I'd taken so far, and probably less than a fraction of a fraction of a single percent of the trip I plan to make.

I do have one other trip I need to make as well - to my quarters. I can hear my bed calling to me. I thought I heard Sai calling to me as well, but she didn't answer when I knocked at her door. I can only assume she's asleep. We're in low-power mode until morning, so I couldn't imagine what else she'd be doing, especially at this hour.