Running the Gauntlet
06 May 2016NickTheGrey
I've made literally hundreds of hyperspace jumps since earning the Chair on my first ship and this is the first time I've had this happen. I mean, I've heard other pilots describe the phenomenon but have never actually experienced it.Until now.
This shot was taken after I'd retreated to a safe distance from my point of entry in to the system. No sooner had the ship dropped out of hyperspace than the fuel scoop kicked in. That seemed very strange as I normally drop out at a good distance from the star and have to move into position to start the scooping. Then the alarms started blaring. VERITY started going positively nuts.
I was looking straight out the window when it happened and for a moment caught a glimpse of an orange star. Then it disappeared and was replaced by a brighter yellow star and heat damage reports on the flight deck.
The heat levels on the hull shot up to 100% and kept going. They hit 110, 120, 130% and kept going. By this time I had angled away from the visible star but still had no idea where the second star was. By now, the heat was up to 140%.
Thankfully, mercifully, when it hit 145% it stayed there for a second or two and then dropped right off. I kept on, watching the levels dip to safe numbers. The stars don't look so bad from here but damned if that wasn't the scariest entrance I've ever made in to a system.
Next time I go exploring I am definitely investing in better heat dissipation equipment!