That First Docking Was Tricky

Not since I was a cadet flying a beat up old sidewinder have I followed a docking checklist. Two days ago I did exactly that.

I dropped out of supercruise some 9 kilometres from my first entry point back into the civilised world, Haldeman II Enterprise in HIP 101760. Being out in the black for so long, I forget how quickly I can close that gap, and how fast the station grows in my vision.

1. Shield engaged with full pips

2. Contact station and request docking permission

3. Slow down to under 100 m/s

Whut?! Blinked twice at this new entry in the docking procedures. Speed limits now? Anyway, I will quiz the station management another time. I lined up on the docking slot from approximately 3km out and slowed down.

4. Lower landing gear at 2km

6. Match station rotation

Right now 100m/s felt too fast. I've not been doing anything as accurate as docking for some time, gear down and throttle in the blue zone put me at a more agreeable 75 m/s as I passed through into the station. My pad straight ahead I did a final systems check and fired my landing thrusters.

Missing the centre of the pad by a fair margin. Twice.

On the third occasion I docked successfully. The journey is over.

I will leave one picture here

 I landed here as it is a high technology system that allowed me to refit my vessel for the final journey to Lembava where I sold my data. The journey is only 8 jumps, but reports suggested there would be heavy piracy in my destination system.

My Imperial Clipper can fight her way out of many a situation, but while loaded down with exploration data I decided I would use her party trick if interdicted. Nothing that can catch her can kill her.

As it happened there was no situation, and my second docking since arriving back in populated space saw me right on the centre first time in.

Eight hours later, I had sold all my data. My rank is now 'Pioneer'

My Imperial Clipper may look a little rough around the edges, but she is a fine exploration vessel and we shall be venturing out again in the not too distant future.

Commander Rikk, stocking up on coffee and ale.

Nearly Home!

I am now mere footstep from being home, in explorers terms at least. I am currently under 4000 light years from Sol.

From taking the decision to head directly home, from only a few thousand light years along the Sagittarius Arm, travelling has been harsh. I have had more emergency stops from taking fuel onboard quickly in the past 10 days than my entire journey prior to this. But I have still seen some wonderful sights.

Multiple pretty and untouched Earth Like worlds

A few black holes. You can see here just how much of a battering my ship has taken on her maiden exploration voyage.

Ammonia worlds a plenty, and these made me very nervous. I always got the feeling I was being observed, yet there was nothing on sensors.

I will write separately about that time when I nearly ran into a planet while fuel scooping. Yes you read that right. For now, there are really two views that are important to the explorer.

Where we have been. I have for months been out in the black, and one thing that has been ever present on my journey is the galactic ring. It has been all around me. Strong in one direction, not so in the other, but ever present. As I left the Sagittarius Arm behind and skipped over to the Orion spur I took a moment to reflect.

The bright bit, that's the centre of the galaxy. I've been there. I've been beyond there.

And ahead

And then I look the other way, for the first time I can see one of our 'local' landmarks. Barnards Loop. This tells me I am very close to home, and also makes me think.

When I set out I was a tourist. A galactic photographer. Yet I have never really looked beyond the next star while bumbling around our little corner of the galaxy. I have never noticed Barnards Loop. Yet now I see it as a shining beacon lighting my way home.

I left as an tourist. I will return as an Explorer.

Commander Rikk, Signing Off.

A Chance Encounter

The past few days I have been heading home.

Since leaving that rather stunning nebula I pointed my bows towards Achenar and have been burning in a straight line since then. I have hardly even stopped to marvel at the scenery I have been passing, such is my desire to be back home.

However I found that my journey took me on a route that intersected with a commander on his outward leg, so with a little detour we arranged to meet up and exchange stories. The system we stopped off at has a single solar body, a cool M class star.

Greetings, CMDR Engadine!

We closed to range gently, as neither of us have flown near another vessel for quite some time. Indeed I lowered my landing gear to ensure my boost function was disabled and my throttle less sensitive.

I did not want to risk getting any closer. While I fly with full shield and armaments I know this is not the norm for other explorers, where a scratch could be fatal. Especially with the ASP canopy right at the front.

Caution wins out. I did shuffle round for a sideways shot, very careful thruster use here!

It is normally my family empire family tradition to approach all strangers with my hardpoints deployed, as a sign of trust and power. However I am also part of the explorer family now, who I know will be somewhat nervous when meeting a combat vessel many thousands of light years from home. I keep with tradition, but instead I depart with my hardpoints deployed.

An absolute pleasure to met up with CMDR Engadine so far from our homes. May your voyages be safe and filled with exciting finds sir!

One more for the road. The eagle eyed among you will notice the paintwork, including the emblems. This man bears symbols which earned him as much respect as meeting me so far from home.

Commander Rikk, Signing off., 17,000 ly from home.

The Beautiful Nebula

It probably has a name, but I'm not going to ruin it's majesty by even mentioning some otherwordly number numbers and letters the map calls a name. This nebula was stunning. Beyond words.

Bet let us first rewind to my approach. I have been tracking G & F type stars on my approach to this nebula, as I once again climb well above the galactic plane. This was done purely in the vague hope of getting a photograph of a pretty world with the nebula as a backdrop.

Well my wish was granted, as high above the nebula (some 2000Ly above the galactic plane) I dropped across this stunning little earth like.

I love how this nebula seems to be a bowl for the earth like world in this shot, but I needed to get in closer for another look.

No bowl here, but mesmerising none the less. I can honestly say this is the first galactic object that caused an emergency drop because I was too busy marvelling at it's beauty. So i decided to head inside

Closer to being enveloped by beauty (or the beast?)

Inside it was like a maelstrom of hell's own fires. No light other than the deep red gases of the cloud, mystifying at best. Stopping off in this belt did nothing to ease the forboding mood.

It seems like no time at all before I was away from the clutches of this alluring nebula, and back on my route home. She drew me in with her malevolent beauty and threatened to imprison me with marvel and intrigue.

Fortunately I fly the hand crafted splendour that is the mighty Imperial Clipper so I have a higher tolerance for such things. My escape was swift and (if I may be so bolt) also rather stunning.

In my sights is another nebula. Typically also well above the galactic plane. This one, however, is different. She is purple. I know, what could possibly go wrong.

CMRD Rikk, Signing out.
(I need to get back to civilisation, I think deep space is out to get me)

The Journey Home

I am now ready to be back home.

I understand that things are afoot back in the empire and the powers we have known for years are being questioned. I have been following of Aisling Duval since well before she stepped out in defence of her father, but I am not yes sure I am ready to throw myself into war in my beloved empire just yet. I have a wanderlust that will never be satisfied.

Out here, it may seem like many systems are alike, but then out of the blue something beautiful is thrown in.

It wasn't in this particular ring, but I decided to set my vessel down on an asteroid yesterday. There was no real reasoning behind it, I have been in space so long now that the feeling of solid rock under my landing gear was welcome.

This will certainly class as one of the furthest landings from the empire!

I have also been fortunate enough to discover many more worlds which strongly resemble the earth of our ancestors. While travelling to the galactic ceiling I dropped across this one, as you can see from the photo we are well above the galaxy here (upside-down, I know...).

And as I now track the Sagittarius arm back towards out little corner of the galaxy I am dropping across more worlds. The earth likes are fascinating, but moreso are the Ammonia worlds which could easily hold 'other' life forms.

The even look menacing.

Onwards, my trek home takes me. The next sight to see is this rather pretty looking nebula about 1800ly away. It is very high above the galaxy, hopefully I can reach it.

My next entry will hopefully be from the edge, or even inside, this galactic beauty.

Rikk, signing off.