Outer Rim Stations Tour photo journal 4: Orion Nebula to Seagull Nebula
08 Jul 2018Thunktone
3304 July 07, Saturday18:41
Been taking stock a little, looking back to where I've been. On this map you can see the row of stations damaged by the thargoids. That leads from the bubble out to the Pleiades. You can see why people think that the thargoids come from Barnard's Loop. The two bookmarks to the right of the Loop are the start and end of the "tunnel" we had to take between two large permit-locked regions. We're definitely being kept away from something. Personally though, I think the thargoids are from the permit locked region to the right of this tunnel, seeing Barnard's Loop from the other side to us.
The bookmark to the left of the Loop is the Witch Head Science Centre. And the ship marker is the stock Sidewinder I left behind at the Orion Tourist Centre. The bookmark further to the right is the famous "Sagan Research Centre" beside Thor's Helmet, my current location.
18:51
The last leg of the journey was the longest so far, by quite some distance. I hadn't anticipated that when I decided to "nip back to the core". But this leg was much shorter. I could have done it in just six jumps.
Instead I decided to go around the other side of Seagull Nebula, nine jumps. This may be the most attractive nebula we've visited yet.
19:07
19:13
19:17
Then I flew right into the heart of the nebula.
19:28
Before finishing the journey to "Hell Port", a notorious pirate haunt.
19:40
Another shipyard. The new Krait has been available at both shipyards we've visited. But it's another stock sidewinder for me.
Since there's no Nav beacon or resource extraction site here I had the brainwave of "baiting the hook" before I went out looking for pirates.
Just as I was typing up a report on the lack of pirate activity in the area I was interdicted by an Eagle. The pilot was rated Expert, with me only Competent. I nearly had him though, got him down to about 40% hull before he finished me. I wonder if carrying only one tonne of Gold would have made the difference?
Still I have to admit that one was a failure. Instead of reducing the number of pirates threatening the tour I have boosted their wealth. Sorry guys.