JOURNEY OF A COMMANDER PART 21
18 Sep 2022Ni6h70wl
14.11.3307 - Novara Expedition Day 52
Only 500 light years away from Sagittarius A* is the system Myrielk KJ-X c28-5871. The system is special in that, planet A2 is an Earth-like planet.
"Let's begin our exploration of the system - COVAS all sensors to full power."
---Confirm, all sensors at maximum range---
"Does that mean you want to land on the planet?"
"No, not this time, a surface scan will suffice, besides we are almost at our destination and everyone is already looking forward to Explorer's Anchorage, myself included. Besides, then we have to think about how to continue, with the journey I mean. But we can discuss that in the station."
"As you say, what I don't quite understand is the large crew numbers on board, are all these people really necessary to keep this ship running?"
"Yes, not necessarily but many facilities on board require regular maintenance and the crew are handpicked. There is no one on board who has any dubious behaviour."
"That's true, they all have manners and are very helpful. It's probably because they're all from Cubeo 3."
Cubeo 3 - after leaving our birth and home planet Vanir A5, we landed at the starport Chelomey Orbital on 18.07.3307.
The entire system belongs to the Prismatic Empire and is their home system, it is the faction of Her Royal Highness Princess Aisling Duval and a confederation of various groups united in their support for Aisling Duval for the Imperial Throne.
The group includes factions from the People's Media organisation, the Thirteenth Legion, a military organisation and the Navigator's Guild. This alliance of factions was founded by Count Jeffrey Alexander Ryan of Ugain, but is now led by his younger brother, Lord Corwin Ryan. Their aim is to produce material and support Aisling Duval's candidacy for Empress."
Since the princess's goals appealed to me too, I assured her of my support and in return was allowed to choose people from Cubeo 3 as crew members.
The result is 408 people whose CVs and attitudes match the interests of the princess and me. Troublemakers and delinquents were weeded out in advance, when you are travelling in space for so long, such weak spirits can only cause trouble.
---Systemscan complete ---
No intelligent life form, corresponding to the Kardashow scale , could be found. Too bad, but we've got to keep moving, only 10 more jumps and we're there.
---Frame shift drive charging...---
Finally, there it is. The supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*, an inactive galactic nucleus and centre of the Milky Way.
Our astronomers will take some measurements and afterwards we will go on to Explorer's Anchorage in the system Stuemeae FG-Y d7561.
Sagittarius A* is a popular destination for explorers and travellers. It is a supermassive black hole, like those found in most spiral and elliptical galaxies. Radio transmissions indicating its existence were first discovered by Karl Jansky in 1932. The diameter of its event horizon, at 24.5 million km or just under 82 ls, is about 21% of the orbital diameter of Mercury in its orbit around the Sun.
Sagittarius A*, officially abbreviated as Sgr A* and colloquially as SagA*, is the system in the Galactic Centre region that is considered the exact centre of the Milky Way Galaxy. It is 25,899.99 light years from Sol. The system hosts the only known supermassive black hole, as well as a white type B star called Source 2. Dedicated explorers are traditionally expected to visit Sagittarius A* at least once in their careers because of its importance, but any pilot can make the trip as long as they prepare their ship for long-distance flights.
Just 3.66 ly from Sagittarius A* is the system Stuemeae FG-Y d7561, where Explorer's Anchorage is located. Explorer's Anchorage is both the closest starport to Sagittarius A* and Beagle Point, and the furthest starport from Sol. It is a convenient resting place for visitors to Sagittarius A* and other travellers passing through the Galactic Centre.
Sagittarius A* was documented at some point by Universal Cartographics, but remained unexplored until 1 December 3300, when CMDR Zulu Romeo, pilot of the Cobra MkIII "Useless Reptile", became the first human to enter and scan the system while scouting a route for the First Grand Expedition.
A wave of visitors followed, beginning on 8 January 3301 with CMDR Erimus Kamzel, and in a short time Sagittarius A* became a major port of call for explorers and independent expeditions. Its importance was recognised on 25 October 3302 with the erection of the tourist beacon 0082 "The Centre", which remains the only permanent man-made structure in the system.
During the Distant Worlds II expedition in 3305, expedition members constructed Explorer's Anchorage, an Orbis starport, in the nearby system Stuemeae FG-Y d7561 to serve as a research centre and rest stop for visitors to Sagittarius A*.
After the measurements were completed, we set off for the starport Explorer's Anchorage, 3.66ly away.
Explorer's Anchorage is an Ocellus starport established by the Distant Worlds II Expedition and began operations on 21 February 3305. It is the furthest station from Sol and also the closest station to Sagittarius A* and Beagle Point.
Sagittarius A* in the heart of the Milky Way is the only supermassive black hole to which humanity has access. At a distance of about 23,000 light years, it is easily accessible to science today. Scientific exploration of the supermassive black hole at close range is an opportunity that humanity would like to seize.
The construction of a scientific facility near the event horizon of Sag A* would be an endeavour we believe humanity would undertake as soon as it would be possible to travel to the galactic core in relatively short periods of time, and combined with the manpower the DW2 expedition can muster, we now believe it is logistically feasible to begin construction of a scientific outpost at this unique location.
- Erimus Kamzel, DW2 Project Manager
On 14 January 3304, about four months after the announcement of the Distant Worlds II expedition and the start of the planning phase, the first ideas for a scientific facility in the galactic core were proposed. The construction of this facility was eventually included in the main objectives of the expedition.
After launching from Pallaeni on 13 January 3305, the Distant Worlds II set course for its first official waypoint in Omega sector VE-Q b5-15, which included the asteroid base Omega Mining Operation. On 17 January, a Community Goal began at Omega Mining Operation, requesting the delivery of certain minerals and metals for the construction of a starport to be stationed near Sagittarius A* and dedicated to the exploration of the supermassive black hole. On 24 January, the joint objective was successfully completed after collecting 3,000,000 tonnes of material mined by 5,198 independent pilots, and Stuemeae FG-Y d7561 was announced as the future location of the starport.
On 21 February 3305, the completed docking point of the new starport reached its final destination in orbit of Stuemeae FG-Y d7561 CD 4, an Earth-like world, and its name was revealed: Explorer's Anchorage. This marked the completion of the first of five phases of construction of the starport, which would take place over five weeks in February and March 3305.
When it was first commissioned, Explorer's Anchorage was equipped with only the most basic services. Distant Worlds II organisers planned to hold a Community Goal to draw additional resources from local systems to expand the station's available services so that it could become a convenient hub for explorers. The organisers decided to divert the CG's resources into the construction of a megaship and installation in Stuemeae FG-Y d7561 to facilitate the exploration of Sagittarius A*. The opening of the CG lasted from 7 to 14 March, with 2,812 pilots contributing a total of 2,367,428 tonnes of material.
The first starport to be built in the Galactic Centre region has officially opened its doors.
Explorer's Anchorage, a starport of Orbis, was built in the Stuemeae FG-Y d7561 system as part of the Distant Worlds II expedition.
Councillor Magnolia Gill, the administrator of the starport, announced its operational readiness:
"Over the past four weeks we have watched our new home take shape from the materials supplied by many hardworking pilots. Now it spins in the heart of the galaxy, a monument to human ingenuity."
"Explorer's Anchorage serves not only as a safe haven for future explorers, but also as a scientific research facility. We hope to learn more about the supermassive black hole in Sagittarius A* and other astronomical phenomena at the galactic centre."
The Distant Worlds II exploration fleet continues its journey through the galaxy towards Beagle Point.
- Galnet