The Quest for 1,000,000ly - Log #1
28 Sep 2020Stellas Incola
I've been aware recently that the personal milestone of 750,000ly travelled was fast approaching and my thoughts drifted to the next major one of 1,000,000ly and how best to achieve this.Over the last few weeks , whilst engaging in some combat practice against both pirates and Thargoids, I decided that a circumnavigation of our Galaxy would be the most fitting and as the 'odometer' ticked ever closer to 750kly I headed home to ready a ship for the trip. I'm fortunate to have four that would be more than capable of making the journey, a Dolphin, a DBX, a Phantom and of course an Anaconda. I felt that the Dolphin was more of a relatively local luxury yacht than a deep space, self sufficient vessel so discounted that first. The DBX, whilst being the ship that I cut my exploration teeth on, felt a little too light on modules and, yes... that scoop just wasn't quick enough either. This brought me to the Phantom and the Anaconda. The Phantom is the ship I have spent the most time exploring in, being a veteran of the Distant Worlds 2 and Lost Souls 2 expeditions, but the Anaconda has recently returned from a 65kly reconnaissance trip for a future expedition I'm planning. Decisions decisions.
In the end I chose the Anaconda, fitted with a couple of big AFMUs, repair limpet controller, SRV and the clincher, the ability to install an SLF too for some planetary canyon flying and general risk free hooliganism. She still does a smidge over 70ly and scoops fast enough to do fly by top ups with ease. Decision made.
My initial course is set for the Monkey Head nebula 6200ly 'south' of the Bubble and from there I'll continue to the edge of the rim, before turning towards the end of the Perseus Arm. I have a good inventory of Jumponium materials with over 80 premium injections available at the moment, and of course the opportunity to surface prospect in the SRV should I need to top up. I'm sure the legendary CMDR Chiggy Vonrictofen would berate me for my lack of mining laser however...
I left Jameson Memorial and paid a quick visit to Marco Qwent in Sirius to tweak my power plant just a little more then plotted my course and set off, nervous at the enormity of the undertaking and my resolve to complete it, but also quietly confident given my experience thus far. I smiled as the 'odometer' hit 750kly as I left the Bubble and wondered what I might find out there and when I'd return.
Time and date of journey start: 13:10 UTC, September 27th 3306.
Total Hyperspace distance travelled: 750,803ly