Galactic Pathways 8: Smugglers Path.
08 Apr 2017Tarm Wallunga
What an adventurous week! Plenty of stuff to compile for this week's progress report on the GHP. We are fully and deeply into the Abyss and it has taken some careful considerations in order to keep moving forward, as it will be evident in the log entries below. Overall distance hasn't gone up a lot, but I did cross the 60,000 light year barrier this past week as well.For more information on the Smuggler's Path, please visit Smuggler's Path Elite: Dangerous Forums.
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1st April, 3303
Region: GAP
En route to BP-39, 960 light years distant. I checked the location of the entry point to the Smuggler's Path for its distance from my present location - ends up being about 3000 light years away. I'll proceed with my current flight plan, and divert only if I end up getting stuck once I cross into the Abyss.
--Addendum: It appears that the Prya Eop sector is either locked or, far more likely, I have no viable route into it from BP-40. Given this I am setting up a "Smuggler's Bypass" to the start of the Smuggler's Path. The first waypoint along the Bypass is 900 light years distant, but ends up being 45(!) jumps.
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2nd April, 3303
Region: GAP
Enroute to SB-1, 500 light years distant. Continuing onwards to this waypoint, but once there, I intend to strike "north" to find my own way on towards Beagle Point. As ever, the idea of Smuggler's Path being there as a safety net backup is nice, but I want to blaze my own trail, or fail at it first, before relying on another's efforts.
--Addendum: Best I could do was plot a course about 500 light years or so before the navcomp couldn't find a viable route. I may just have to swallow my pride and take the Smuggler's Path, after all. Beginning of the Path is 970 light years away from SB-1, and will take 43 jumps to get to it.
An earth-like world found along the Smugglers Bypass
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3rd April, 3303
Region: GAP
Enroute to Beagle Point, 6800 light years distant, by way of Smuggler's Path, or a crude bastardization / modification. Smuggler's Path will be the yardstick from my route across the Abyss, but I think I will work my own way - or perhaps a combination of the Path and my way - across this major obstacle. First Leg plotted to Pyroo Eohn RJ-L B14-0, about 845 light years up the Path. We'll see how close the navcomp follows the Smuggler's Path route with this first plot.
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4th April, 3303
Enroute to Beagle Point, 5570 light years. Still looking fro route through this empty stretch of the Deep. Plotting a route beyond more than even a couple hundred light years has become problematic - thankful for information regarding the Smuggler's Path. It's kept me sane and able to keep pressing on. Otherwise, I might have given up, and not have accomplished another major milestone - crossing the 60,000 light years from home.
60,000 done and down
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5th April, 3303
Region: Abyss (Day 2)
Day 3 along the Smugglers Path, en route to Beagle Point and about 5300 light years distant. Continuing to plot virtually system by system.
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6th April, 3303
Region Abyss
Still on Smuggler's Path, en route to Beagle Point, 4900 light years distant. Very tedious and methodical process, plotting these jumps one at a time since the navcomp has become generally unreliable for anything more than a few jumps ahead. As much as I wanted to plod ahead on a path of my own choice, it seems better to use a somewhat established route until I am past the Abyss.
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7th April, 3303
Region: Abyss
Still working my way through Smuggler's Path, en route to Beagle Point 4200 light years distant. Covered some 700 light years yesterday at a tediously slow rate; hoping to cover the same today.
Floating against the galactic core lies a darker Class I Gas Giant.