Thunderstruck, Whilst Repairing The Old Girl

31st May 3302

Nothing like parking on an ice planet in your SRV, in deep space, knowing that you're the first human to land there, with 20th Century Music playing at full blast through the sound system.....

Thunderstruck, Thunderstruck, Thunderstruck, Thunderstruck
It's alright, we're doin' fine
It's alright, we're doin' fine, fine, fine

"In Coming Voice Comms Commander"

Thunderstruck, yeah, yeah, yeah
Thunderstruck, Thunderstruck
Thunderstruck, baby, baby

"In Coming Voice Comms Commander , A Commander Bod The Mad is Calling"

Thunderstruck, you've been Thunderstruck
Thunderstruck, Thunderstruck.....

"COMMANDER INCOMING VOICE COMMS, A COMMANDER BOD THE MAD IS CALLING"

"OK OK No need to shout, Patch him through",

"Connecting you now"

"Bod, hi how you doing"
"What the hell you doing all the way out there", A filmier voice crackled through the speakers.
"Oh you know just thought id see what's over here, as you do"
"I was going to ask if you wanting to run Robigo with us but I doubt very much that will happen"
"Nope properly not for a few weeks mate, once I get back no worries"
"Where are you going?"
"The Sagittarius A"
"Wow you got more patience than me, well I wish you luck"
"Cheers Bod, ill give you holler at my next stop"
"Look forward to it Bye Sparkey"
"Catch you on the flip side Bod"

With that my only communication I have had with another human was over, It was great to hear a voice, I checked the Galaxy Map and found him to be just under 2000 light years away. Although tempting his offer, the unknown beckoned me onwards.....

"Life Support system fully repaired commander"

"Thanks, Verity"
"Heading back to the ship now"

My trip here was quite eventful, I came across an undiscovered Earth-like planet, in fact, I found three but the first two someones had already tagged them.

So hopefully when I get back that one will be my first ever earth like.
One planet I came across had orange canyons... it looked really cool....

I did land on this one but I forgot to take a shot of the terrain. I have logged where it was and if I get a chance ill pop back to it.

The planet I am on right now is just a barren ice waste no features, except for the odd rocks scattered about. and now the tracks of my SRV, there's nothing of real interest. I suppose that's the part of this exploring you never know what the next system is going to contain, I mean take the trip to here, gone through over 100 systems. Most of which contained 1 star and one lifeless rock, but the view was nice.

Well, thats it, for now, I'm going to catch some ZZZ's before continuing on.

Opp's. That May Have Melted The Paintwork Slightly.....

28th May 3302

"WARNING TAKING HEAT DAMAGE","WARNING TEMPERATURE CRITICAL","WARNING TAKING HEAT DAMAGE", "WARN........."

"OK OK I get the message","Deploy Heat-sinks, Emergency Stop"

"Heat sinks Deployed, Emergency Stop Protocol activated"

"Deactivating Frame Shift Drive, Landing Gear Deployed, Cargo Scoop Open, Thruster to full reverse"

With a sigh of relief, I watch as the temperature gauge plummets from redonkulous to 0% in seconds, and the forward motion of the ship slows to a nothing. My sigh is then a look of worry as I hear the cockpit glass crack as ice forms, A cracked cockpit at this distance isn't going to end pretty.

"Lesson learned don't go for a Coffee until after the jump is complete"

"All Stop Commander"

Looking out I see my problem three stars in close proximity and I dropped into the middle of them. OK let's back out of here and see what I'm dealing with...

Maneuvering the ship around I'm faced with Two large stars orbiting each other and these are also orbiting the main star of the system.

"Ok, Verity let's fuel up and get out of here.... I will repair what I can in Shapley 1..."

With 62% hull left things are not looking good, Its one of many close calls I have had so far, but I'm sure it will be Ok after all, it was only the paintwork melted a bit. I have not been out this far before always remaining in the bubble of controlled space, out here it is not for the faint-heated out here its do or die.

"Fuel scooping, complete"

"Thank you, ok Verity Target Shapley 1 and get us out of here....."

"Frame Shift Drive Engaging",

"Ready to Engage"  

"Verity - Engage"

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Engage."

A few short seconds later I arrived at my first waypoint. Shapley 1, the first thing I noticed was the cockpit had turned a purple colour. From the light of the star, I was faced with.

It's only 1000ly away but it was worth the visit now to repair what I can.... And have that Coffee, and a bacon sandwich, not the synthetic rubbish, the real deal.... the only thing it looks purple.

The Cockpit turned Purple

Well worth the visit

Well onwards to my next waypoint..... hmm I better have a think on that one... I haven't really planned this trip. except for the supplies....

My Journey Begins.....

25th May 3302

Well, here I am docked at Abraham Lincoln, a station high above the Earth, in the system of Sol, home to humanity.

I look out the window, into the vast darkness of the universe, knowing that today I would be turning my back on civilization, to embark on an epic journey, to the center of the Galaxy. With a deep breath, I turned and walked to docking bay 37 to make sure that everything was ready.

"Ok Verity, let's do this", I say as I walk up the gangplank,

"Unknown Command, Please explain let's do this" a rather mono-toned feminine voice replied,

"Ok, start the Pre-flight checks",

"Affirmative Commander".

With that the old girl started to wake up as if yawning after a slumber, Consoles began their sequenced dance to lights and beeps, My Cobra MKIII is a sturdy ship, has got me through a load of tight scrapes, with pirates, security ships, Docking bay openings, but somehow Verity always pulled me through. 

My Cobra MKIII is a sturdy ship

"Pre-flight checks complete Commander, ready to launch at your command"

"Thank you, Hunny"

"Your Welcome"

Sitting down in the flight chair, it suddenly dawns on me, this trip is the biggest thing I have ever embarked on, oh yeah I been to the Pleiades Cluster in search of those Barnacle thingy-me whatsits, and that's it normally I'm trading in my T7 with Imperial slaves, and domestic appliances.... But this was different, a journey to the core of the galaxy. It has been done many times before but not by me.

The Barnacle thingy-me whatsits, in the Pleiades Cluster.

"Verity opening up communications channel to docking control, request launch sequence, plot a course for Sharply 1"

"Affirmative Commander", 

"Comms Channel open",

"Requesting Launch sequence",

"Plotting Course"

A rather regimented voice suddenly breaks through the comms speaker,

"Good Evening Commander, request for launch granted, please exit the station safely"

"Thank you, Abraham Control, pleasure as always"

"Thank you, Abraham Control, pleasure as always"

With a steady hand, I take the controls and head out into the galaxy, leaving home behind, well actually I am not, I am at home, my ship is my home now as it has been for over 30 years.

"Verity let's do this"

"Unknown Command, Please explain let's do this"

"Prepare Frame Shift Drive for Jump"

"Frame Shift Drive Engaging",

Now the old girl really comes to life, the sound of the massive, F.S.D.
engines warming up give the old bucket a heart beat, a throbbing and when it hits the peak you just open up, then boom you're gone.

"Ready to Engage"  

"Engage"

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Engage."

Boom Your Gone.