Jac5 Celestial Journey- Log 2 Aspiring the Galactic Centre
15 Nov 2020mariedess
“ Warning! Heat levels critical!” Archer, my cockpit assistant warned as I dropped out of witch-space into a unknown black hole.“ This wasn’t supposed to happen!” I panicked to myself as I felt the Celesta begin to heat up at increasing rates. The black hole was sucking me towards the center, as if I belonged inside.
I had just left the system with Cmdr Nico, on a newly plotted route, towards a twin earth system. We had experienced some plotting failures on our last stretch of space, and decided to go with a (safer route) but somehow, this ended up happening to me right after. As I slowly drifted towards the black hole, I began to switch the systems pips, on my ship and try to boost away. The more I tried, the more it sucked me into the exclusion zone.
I knew that the only way I was going to be able to get out of this mess was to remain calm and focussed. I regained control of my fears as I watched the black hole suck me in unwillingly. Determined to not make a death of the situation, I began to veer away the best I could. My next jumping destination happened to be on the back side of this black hole, so I could not just hyperdrive out of this scenario. I began to thumb through my options on the navigation panel, certain hyper spacing would be the only way to save myself and the Celesta.
I found a start that lined up with the Celesta and engaged my drives. “ Here we go!” I shouted to my dash as I steadied the Celesta while the black hole relentlessly continued to draw me in.
“ Warning, take damage!” Archer Recalled.
“ I know I know!” I yelled at Archer as if he could understand my commands.
No sooner had I lined up with my escape vector, had I noticed system failure across my dash! “ Oh this is not going to go well at all! No!” I yelled as I began to panic, watching as the black hole began to suck me further into its vortex. I was quickly losing this battle with the black hole, and feared this would be the end of the line for me and the Celesta.
Determined to not let that be the end, I continued to launch all my heat sinks, continued to stay my course, and try to evade the gravitational force. It was as if an invisible hand reached out and grabbed the side of my ship, destined to make this the end of the line for me. Fear quickly dissipated into sudden awareness.
“ Not Today!” I yelled as I watched the paint shed from the side of my ship
“ Warning! Taking internal damage! Warning! Shields offline!” Archer Reported repeatedly.
“ Almost there! Almost there! Come on baby you can do it!” I screeched as I watched the sparks come flying off my interface window. I held on to the controls with a steady grip as sparks went flying right by my face. “I knew this was either the final moment of my life, or going to be a hell of a story to tell my friends later!” I kept filling my mind with the principal of survival.
And Just like that, I was free and moving on! The Celesta was almost as badly damaged as the Pathfinder just a while ago! It appeared that I had fried almost every internal module that existed aboard my craft. I began to do systems checks and engaged my repair limpet drones. It took awhile for my auto field maintenance unit to work its processes, so I began to assess the cockpit canopy for possible damages, and cracks. I started with the intention to not miss a spot in my investigation. I knew that a cracked cockpit canopy would be the end of my life, after such a disaster.
“Repair Complete” Archer called out repeatedly as the drones made quick work of the damage.
“ Well that wasn’t so bad.” I said to myself, as I finished my final checks on the Celesta. Sweat still poured from my brow down the side of my cheek. The internal temperature was finally starting to go down, and I was starting to feel exhausted. I needed a break after a scare like that.
I went over to the lavatory to freshen up a bit, and that was when it hit me. The duradrive! I quickly finished my business and returned to my cabin room and opened the drawer where I left the duradrive profusely sounding. To my surprise, it was still making that noise! “ Bloop, Bleep, Bloop, Bleep!” the vibrations matched the second tone in unison.
I took another look at the position of the light. It was still flashing green. “ How do I work this thing?” I frustratedly tried to push every corner of the chunky tablet, and to no surprise, my situation remained the same. It was truly beyond my technical abilities. I would have to arrange a meeting with Cmdr Nico, the technician of ancient technology. I slid the device back into the drawer and returned to the cockpit. The view was breathtaking. I had never seen a star of this style, and I knew, something so pretty, is always dangerous.
I double checked my contacts list to see if any commanders had sent out informational reports regarding their progress on the way. The comms were silent, for now. Not a word from Cmdr Troop in days, and Cmdr Rob has suddenly gone off the grid, shortly after the departure of Colonia. Cmdr Nico, is somewhere just behind, and for now, the only thing that was puzzling my mind was this duradrive that Cmdr Rob had given me.
I popped open my star map, and decided to start to scout for a system with possible planets to land on. It was time to regroup, and see if Cmdr Nico could help me with this device situation. I knew he had his own duradrive, because he used to tease me about needing one, back when we were headed towards Colonia. I had gone to Colonia, and on my last day there, mayhem was breaking loose in the system.
There was a small shopping list of materials I wanted to acquire in Colonia before departure, but I was also wanted, for crimes I did not commit, and I needed to evacuate without obtaining the proper materials. Cmdr Rob, Cmdr Nico and myself camped out on a secluded moon in Colonia and conducted minor business regarding the Waters of Shintara, I had previously requested from Cmdr Rob, upon the beginning of our quest. I was explaining the other things I wanted to try to obtain, when Cmdr Rob suggested the used duradrive, that he had picked up from ship salvage in deep space of a system called Rhea.
I gladly accepted the device, not fully aware of its functions, much beyond being an excellent secondary navigational tool, as well as long distance communication back to the bubble, from anywhere within the milky way. The transmissions of this device follow a different pattern of unknown technology. I was intrigued to have one, especially with the chaos happening back on the homefront.
I should maybe have asked how to use it because now, it sits vibrating profusely with the same tone over and over, and for the last day. I don’t understand this technology. And although it is three years old, it is out of my expertise without a guide book, or reference. I cannot even figure out how to get it to stop making noise, let alone figure out how to transmit a signal, nor shut it off. It was by far becoming the most frustrating thing to think on as I become exhausted from all the travel
“Eventually I am going to have to sleep,” I said to myself as I plotted for a flyby around an oddly shaped moon.
I engaged my glide mechanism, and contacted Cmdr Nico.
“ Hey I am sending you the coordinates of my location. I am going to rest here for the night, but could you come meet up with me? I have a question about this device.” I tried to be brief with my message, because I didn’t want to lose focus on my glide.
Immediately I got a response back, “On my way Cmdr Meri.” from Cmdr Nico, and the simple gesture reassured my mind that I would be able to get some rest tonight hopefully.
Upon arriving at the surface, I noticed blue clouds coming from the geological site. “ This place is pretty!” I thought to myself as I marveled at the landscape. I spent a lengthy amount of time landing here, and strolling through the canyon, before I noticed Cmdr Nico’s signal up ahead.
Just over the next ridge he had landed 22mm from me, and I decided to head out towards him to see what his views of the canyon were looking like from over there. Luckily the planet had low gravity, and worked with my tiredness as well as my poor driving. Today had just been rough with the black holes and Dc stars along the way.
At last!
I popped into view of Cmdr Nico, just as his ship was dismissing from the canyon. I could see him faintly on the ground, and Pathfinder hovering above. I quickly landed with ease, and launched my srv into the canyon to get a closer read on the geological samples.
The whole time I was watching the sun set, I kept thinking of the duradrive, and patiently collected my samples before addressing the situation. I knew the matter could wait, as long as it was handled today. I think all would be well. I was a little bit embarrassed at my inability to figure out the screen of a three year old model duradrive. I figured it would be best to take in the view for a while and save myself the embarrassment for just a while longer. I snacked on a small amount of Deuringas Truffles that Cmdr Nico had given me as a thank you for repairing his supercruise module, a few hours prior.
I finished up my rounds and headed back to the Celesta. Cmdr Nico, was launching in his small condor, when I finally got word out to him.
“ Don’t go! I need your help Cmdr!” I screeched in the comm’s as I watched him prepare for takeoff.
“ What did you need? I am just taking a stroll of the canyon from the aerial. If there is any way I can assist, let me know” Cmdr Nico zipped through the sky in his golden fighter.
“ As a matter of fact, I do need your help figuring out how to get my duradrive to stop making a noise” I was not sure how to address the subject. I thought maybe I should describe the noise, but I left the detail out.
“ Noise? What kind of noise? Did you try tapping the center of the duradrive?” Cmdr Nico started to question, because he could not understand what I was describing.
“ What do you mean by center?” I asked, because I clearly thought I had touched every inch of my duradrive.
“ Lay it down on the table flat. Bottom on the table, and smooth flat surface facing up. If there are any notifications, or transmissions active, all you have to do is tap the center of the screen four times in unison with the tone. It will unlock the device and send your message. From there you will be in an interphase window, where you can view files, navigation, research or even make your own notebook.”
“Also, the reason I brought mine was just in case I need to make a transmission back home. The green light, means that the duradrive has uploaded a file. The red light means the duradrive failed to upload the file correctly, and the blue light means that the duradrive is full of memory and must be wiped. I have had my duradrive for three years, and never filled the storage. If you see the blue light, that would be the first time I have heard of it. Beyond the owner's manual that is.” Cmdr Nico explained thoroughly all he knew of his device.
“ Thank you for the details, so I just tap the center of the screen?” I confirmed just to be sure.
“ Yes, that is correct, now if you have any more issues, just let me know. I am going to pack up for the night myself.” Cmdr Nico stated, and then we said our goodbyes.
I watched out my window as he sipped past the front of my ship, and headed off into the sky sprinkled with pink mist from the heavens and into the Pathfinder. I shut down all systems, and headed down the hallway to my cabin. I was hopeful to get a good night rest, with the input I was given.
I headed down the corridor and entered my cabin. I ran my hand along the wall as I neared the doorway to my room. I removed my rust turncoat, and laid it on the bed as I reached down for the duradrive in the cabinet. I was so tired before I came to my room, but now, solving this device was on my mind. Sleep was no longer a factor for me as I placed the duradrive on the countertop and watched as the green light flashed in unison with the tone.
“ Bloop, Bleep, Bloop, Bleep” I tapped in the center of the device four times in unison, and it suddenly stopped making noise. Right before my eyes the screen folded out into a miniature size human woman hologram.
“ This is the property of Commander Lochannon. Please verify who you are”
I looked at the hologram, as it repeated, and stuck my finger through the center of the shape. The woman appeared to still be transmitting on a loop unphased by my poking. After her third repeat the words changed...
“ Failure to authenticize processing code…
Safety feature activated...
beacon transmitting…
Stand by… “
Before I could fully register the message in my mind the screen went blank and the hologram disappeared. The duradrive appeared to be motionless, no sounds, no vibration, no hologram. “ what the?” I thought, puzzled by what just happened. I tried to tap on the center of the screen four times, just as I had before. The screen suddenly popped open a menu of options. There were so many settings to go through, it seemed to be endless with folders and files. In the top right corner, a small star symbol. I pushed on the star and nothing appeared to happen. Confused by it, I started to investigate the options. I made my way to the reset section, and right before I clicked the function the device started its “Bloop, Bleep, Bloop, Bleep!”
I tapped on the screen four times and the same human woman hologram appeared. “ Greetings commander! My name is Tara Lochannon and I am pleased to announce that you have located my missing duradrive! Well, actually it is my brothers. However we thought it was lost forever you see… Turns out you have somehow located the distress beacon attached to the duradrive, and we have your position. Please respond, Tara out.” as soon as the lady finished speaking the hologram faded back into the screen.
“Well, now what?” I thought to myself as I looked at the menu options on the screen. It had been a while since I corresponded with any strangers, and this woman looked like she stepped right out of Empire boot camp! I could not be more nervous about the confrontation. What if she was a bounty hunter? I scrolled down and began the transmission procedure. I followed the steps, and then transmitted a brief message.
“ Greetings commander Tara! My name is commander Meri, and I have acquired your duradrive from a simple trader! However, it is very nice to meet you, how may I help you? I am quite far to return your lost device. I can assure you I had no idea this was stolen or lost. Where are you reporting from?” I clicked the send button, totally confused if I had even sent out the transmission correctly. I wasn’t really sure what to say to the commander because I did not technically steal or salvage the device. I figured, keep it simple and find out what she wants. I didn’t want to give away my affiliation to the Federation.
“ Oh commander, by no means do I intend on confiscating that device from you! I have the duradrive 3305 model! I just thought it curious to see my old device reconnect with the platform! Very nice to meet you! Where are you headed? See me and my brother, we are thinking of taking a trip down to Colonia, but I can tell, he is a little hesitant about the expedition. I have noticed you are pretty far out there. Where are you headed if you don’t mind me asking?” Cmdr Tara responded in a bubbly, playful way, almost as if she were excited that she had a new contact to conduct business with.
I replied in kind, “ I am headed out to Beagle Point! Just taking a stroll through the galaxy, and catching some pretty views! I have a crew with me as well, Cmdr Rob, Cmdr Nico, and Cmdr Troop. We are all headed for the center of the galaxy as we speak. I am actually resting on a planet tonight. It has been a long day. My goal is to make it to a rumored system of two earth worlds orbiting a black hole! Anyways it has been nice to meet you Cmdr Tara! I will keep in touch, For now, I must rest, fly safe commander!” I finished up and sent the transmission. I was sure that if she was aware of my crew, perhaps the bounty hunter would not come after me, with my crew. I was not sure what she wanted, but I did know that I don’t want any business with an Empire bounty hunter. That was the last thing I needed right now.
Tomorrow, I will see what she responds to and handle it from there. After successfully figuring out the basic functions of the duradrive, I was wiped out. I laid my head down on the pillow, and closed my eyes in minutes, I was fast asleep, content with the day's adventures.
It has been a pleasure.
-Mariedess