Entry #005 - The Clock is Ticking!
11 Mar 2017Zinnsei
Commander's Log, 11. March 3303 (Updated)This has become a race against time. We've just left Eagle's Landing at 09:23 UST, heading for a string of Neutron Stars aligned with the Core. I went out in the SRV, as this has become a sort of ritual for me, whenever we visit a new base. I found some deposits, a few kilometers out from the base, including some rather nice deposits of Germanium. I was very excited and that's where things went south. Having found a promising outcrop, I used the onboard plasma repeaters to crack the outer layer of the deposit and that's when the warning hit me like a slap across the face. I had opened fire in the no-fire zone of Eagle's Landing. I cursed my own stupidity and started back towards the port, meaning to talk it over with the local authorities. Alas the local magistrate informed me that these matters would have to be squared with the authorities in Colonia and that I would have to make my way there, to correct the mistake. Damnit!
We now face a choice: Continue on our journey towards the Core or change our plans and head for Colonia before venturing forth. I would hate to run into unnecessary trouble at Jaques Station, because of a silly 150 Cr. fine gone past due but it does seem like an irritatingly long detour, considering what we've agreed on, Napoleon and I.
We talked it over while making final preparations, but Napoleon and I are of one mind on this. We've come too far to be set back by the threat of possible hostilities from Colonia. Besides we do have 6 days before the fine goes past due. If we follow the neutron highway - and the rumors of super charged FSD's are true, of course -, we'll actually make it to Colonia sooner than if we'd have followed the usual route, past Sacaqawea Space Port and Gigarin Gate.
The first 1000 LY are plotted into the nav computer and we're making record time - jumping and honking, as the saying goes. We've decided to focus on Neutron Stars now and the occasional water world or Earth like planet. Otherwise sharp is the word and quick is the action. The race is on!
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Commander's log, supplemental.
Success! At around 14:00 we finally reached a vital sub-target for this trek: We found a White Dwarf! I'm over the moon, so to speak, with joy and excitement! Not only is it the very first White Dwarf, I've ever seen, but it was also previously undiscovered. Marvellous!
After having scanned the system - a few dead planets orbiting the dwarf - we ventured forth and took a bold step: We pointed the Zenith at one of the plumes, jetting out from the star, and flew into the center of it. From my talk with the young lady, who pointed me towards Clookie, I understood that by flying through the jets, one can supercharge one's FSD and attain previously unheard of distances. This proved accurate!
We lost control of the ship for a brief period of time, with klaxons going off and numerable warnings pertaining to the jumpdrive, but after a few seconds a short message read:
"FSD Supercharged". Needless to say both Napoleon and I were very anxious to try it out and truly the Nav Computer calculated a theoretical jump range of now almost 30 LY. This is an increase of 33 percent, give or take. The only issue we've discovered so far, is that apparently the Nav Computer seems to have difficulties calculating more than one jump, with the FSD supercharged. Interesting.
We moved forward with the experiment and plotted a course for a Class M star, roughly 28 LY away. I issued a shipwide announcement and sounded the collision alert. As the jump countdown initiated, we both looked at each other and I swear I could see the manic thrill in Napoleon's eyes. I wonder what he saw in mine.
Seconds later we exited Witch Space and found ourselves exactly where we wanted to be: At the M-class star, 28 LY away from the White Dwarf. As the announcement went out across the ship, I could hear cheers over the comms. We'd made it! Napoleon and I shook hands and congratulated each other. This was indeed a fine achievement!
After having confirmed that the Zenith had not suffered any damage from the jump, we proceeded to land on a small moon, overlooking a beautiful, ringed Class 1 gas giant. This will make a fine piece of scenery for afternoon tea. I know not whether we'll proceed on course today. It seems we have a lot to analyse and discuss. Perhaps later we'll continue. Otherwise this will be it for today's travels.
We've made wonderful progress and with still 6 days to spare before the clock runs out. What a wonderful time to be alive!
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Commander's log, final entry for the day.
I am sitting at my desk in my quarters now, contemplating the last 2 hours. At around 19:30 a few select crew along side Napoleon and myself opted to go back on duty to try to reach the nearest Neutron Star. The rest of the crew were given the night off. It turned out that we were in luck, as the nearest Neutron Star was only 200 LY away.
My god, what a sight.
If the White Dwarf was a spectacle, imagine my utter disbelief of the sheer beauty of my first ever Neutron Star. So bright, so small and yet so massively dense. What a wonder indeed!
As planned, Napoleon took the ship into the plume, as we already tried with the White Dwarf. I issued the necessary announcements over the con and engaged the collision alert.
I must say, the turbulence of a Neutron Star is vastly different to that of a White Dwarf. We were thrown about quite a bit, but the ship held fast and no damage report was filed from any part of the ship afterwards, although I suspect I will be hearing from the galley tomorrow. As long as there's still enough cups for the tea, I dare say everything will be alright. Great news issued by the Nav Computer: Not only is the turbulence increased, but our theoretical jump range has been boosted to 81 LY. Simply fantastic!!
We continued mapping and jumping from Netron Star to Neutron Star for around 90 minutes. Another great discovery pertaining to the supercharged drive is that it takes less fuel to jump 60 LY on a charged drive than it takes to jump 20 LY on a normal drive. Imagine the possibilities if this technological advance could be harnessed for commercial use! We would be able to travel the galaxy in a matter of days. By the stars, we would be able to get from the bubble to Beagle Point in a theoretical 620 jumps, given the right drive and the right craft! Is this the future? I dare say again, this is a wonderful time to be alive.
At this time the Zenith has touched down on a rocky body in a system with a few other landables and a Netron Star at the center. The star is barely visible through the tinted glass of the ship, but outside it is as bright as day. Marvelous. The crew and Napoleon are off duty until tomorrow and I am looking forward to some much needed sleep. I think we've all deserved it today.
Calling it a night, here's CMDR Zinnsei,
Signing off.