The long arm of Perseus

[Azriphail]

10.05.3301

Today was a very exciting day. I made the final 3 jumps to my target waypoint. Preia EOQ ZE-A g0 A weak planetary nebular. Its the result of two T Tauri stars orbiting a Black Hole! As I jump in the system map displays this system as yet to be recorded to Universal Cartographics!

Even this far into the black the marks of other explorers can been found on some of the more exotic stellar bodies such as the Neutron Stars I have been using as my journeys way markers.

I am amazed this system has not been tagged already. If I can return the information to the bubble before any other explorers this would be my first Black Hole to be recorded as the first discoverer. Black Holes are really rare out here on towards the rim, so this would be a wonderful achievement for my trip.

Stoked!

 

[Azriphail]

Finding Felicity

It has been some time since the trip journaled here took place and reached a rather unfortunate end...

In fact since this failed trip I have failed in a second 20KLy trip onto the Perseus arm, it seems this area of space truly is my nemesis...

However I have been playing around in the bubble running missions and chasing some stories linked to the engineers. Rather than open a new thread I thought I would kick of the new fiction here.

This first entry picks up from the tail of this trip. Tagging A Carbon Star of my Own

Finding Felicity
===========

Aziraphale drew a deep breath through his nose, making in the acrid smell of his surroundings. The unmistakeable odour of hydrogen fuel mixed with industrial lubricant. Having spent many nights sleeping in his asp explorer Az could always tell when he was docked at a station. Gradually the high pitched ringing in Aziraphale’s ears slipped into the background as he tuned to the constant grind and hum of the station machines and engines.

A broad smile began to creep across Aziraphale’s features as his mind flittered with flash backs of his latest exhibition. Unlike previous journeys he had returned successful in his ambition. A targeted adventure to a rare MS Class Carbon Star on the edge of the Orion Spur. The trip had been a meagre 20Kly jaunt to recover some of the lost credits, and accreditation of an earlier failed mission.
The earnings from this recent expedition had afforded Aziraphale a well deserved holiday and loaded his accounts to a point where he could retire comfortably. Of course, retirement was not on the cards any time soon, but it pleasing to know it was an option if he so desired.

Aziraphale’s head throbbed, providing a potent reminder of the excesses he has enjoyed since his return to the “civilised” space and the fringes of the bubble. It would be a number of hours before Az would be ready to fly without the recent indulgence in Lavian Brandy dulling his judgment. His judgment was not exemplary at the best of times, no good would come of strapping into the pilots chair too early.

“Never sleep in a neutron system and never fly when standing is a challenge.”

Aziraphale closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep with the contented feeling of someone without financial concerns, and only a raging hangover to over come as his immediate goal.

 

[Azriphail]

An uncommon sound echoed through stella relievers hull speakers from the cockpit waking Aziraphale from his toxin induced hibernation with a piercing start. A priority message? Who in the frag could be contacting him on the priority channel. Any thoughts that bubbled into his head were not positive…
Unpaid fines, bounties, unpaid bills.
Dragging himself from his quarters sleeping couch took some effort, his half pickled muscles fighting against the impact gell as he flailed to get vertical.
Had he got in a fight at the bar, was he being requisitioned for damages, medical insurance?
Stumbling and mumbling as he made his fore to the cockpit. He hadn’t left station for close to a month, and his credit balance must be able to cover any level of reimbursement for drunken misdemeanours he might have got himself engaged in. Halfway to the front of the ship and Aziraphale was still dragging his flight fatigues up is bare ɑrse x sorry, potty mouth). He was mostly presentable as he slumped down into the pilots seat and raised the coms log.

“Invitation from Felicity Farseer”

Azriphale stared for a moment in disbelief. He had been hearing stories in the bars of Felicity for some time but had always assumed them myths, urban legends. There was talk she was some legendary explorer and engineer who had designed and created her own modifications to her Asp Explorer. But she had fallen off the grid, vanished decades ago. Yet here was Aziraphale staring at what would appear to be a message from her.
Aziraphale dragged is hands across is face a few times, wiped is eyes thoroughly and slapped his cheeks to make sure he was actually awake. Then he opened the coms in front of him.

“Hello Azriphale

I’m always happy to help a fellow explorer. A marker for
my location has been added to your galaxy map, so come
and see me and let’s see how I can help you.

Felicity Farseer”

Adrenaline surged through Aziraphales body and with in moments he was more awake that he had been for a long time. His hands a blur over the ships computers as he brought up the galaxy map eyes scouring for the signal that would become the target of his next journey.

There it was. A small purple marker sitting above the Deciat system.

In no time Aziraphale was plotting a course, checking his fuel reserves, ammo and ships repair status in preparation for his next adventure.

“I’m gonna go pimp my drives, Oh mamma, im’ma coming for ya F’licity, WooooHoooo”!