Search & Rescue
26 Jan 2021Elkyri
NSC Boundless, Tir3307.01.21
Maybe rescuing spacefarers is becoming my thing. First it was evacuating refugees from Hanna Enterprise after the thargoid incursion in Shenve. Then it was picking up a stranded T7 pilot near Tir. Then today it was rescuing crew and passengers from a distressed mega-ship in Luchtaine.
I was passing through Luchtaine when Yalena picked up a frantic distress call. A bulk cargo hauler had suffered a catastrophic series of system failures and was adrift in space, on fire and losing containment of her internal atmosphere. Most of the crew had managed to get off the ship but control circuits on the doors for Rescue Bay Three -- the one nearest the bridge -- were damaged and non-operational leaving some escape pods trapped inside. Fortunately there were still a few limpets aboard Yalena so after hacking into the escape hatch we were able to get the doors open and retrieve the remaining escape pods. Some of the pilots on this expedition -- true explorers in purpose built exploration vessels -- have chided me for still carrying so many cargo racks but they sure came in handy today.
It still bothers me at some level to have people stored in a cargo rack like so much bauxite so I was quick to arrange with Search & Rescue to get them out of Yalena's cargo hold. Once they were safely delivered I set a course for Tir and rendezvous with Boundless, hoping that getting there early for her departure would get us a good berth. Next stop is Explorer's Anchorage near Sagittarius A*. That * is an important part of the name they tell me, denoting its position at the center of our galaxy.
Hicks is anxious to get there, to see the massive blackhole in person. Frankly I think I'm content to see the holo-vids of it but I'll probably visit just to check the block and be able to say I've been there. I'm more interested in exploring systems there at the core. What are they like? Do they differ in some way from the systems out on the arms? Is the core normal and our place out nearer to the rim the abnormal? I'm sure the scientists and deep space explorers have done lots of poking around but with so many stars in such a small space there still may be something new and unique for someone to discover. I wouldn't mind being that someone.
In other news, I think the cat is finally warming up to me. I woke this morning to a thrumming noise I at first took to be something out of alignment and vibrating. It turned out to be the cat, purring while asleep on the foot of the bed. I've been putting its food down closer and closer to where I sit, forcing it to get nearer to me and demonstrating that it is safe to be that close. I still haven't managed to touch it but we can now be at ease in the same space together and it at least pretends to pay attention when I speak to it. It also seems to be getting used to the jumps into hyperspace, no longer scurrying for cover when the FSD spools up. I guess getting used to that is a big part of it starting to relax.