Hillary Depot...And I Miss My Sky
12 Mar 2018Scubadog
Why is it that the closer you get to your destination that progress seems to incrementally slow down...even if the distance is shorter? The leg to Hillary was definitely faster, at least by number of jumps. For my woefully under-powered Anaconda, that was 190 jumps at a theoretical limit of 17ly per jump. But, gorram, if I didn't feel like it took me a whole piece longer. Which doesn't settle my mind too much for what's ahead on my final leg to the cradle of Humanity. And my nav computer is telling me I only have 159 jumps to Wolf 397. Never the matter, I'm far too anxious to flash tail to this rock and get to upgrading my ship to let me get distracted at this point.
Gravity's really low at Hillary Depot, and normally gees that are in the middle between space (and my ship) or a regular planet mess with my sleep something powerful. Not this time. Maybe it's because this leg exhausted me so much. My appetite never suffers, though, so running across a little hole-in-the-hull foodery with an appreciation for preparing some seriously earthy cuisine was a very welcome surprise. I overindulged. I even had them snap-freeze some so I'd have a treat or two as I started on the final push to the Core. If I don't opt for the straight-ish shot from the Core back to Colonia, I'll make sure to stop by here again on my way home.
In the morning I'll do my final walk around and move on. And it just occurred to me why I might be feeling like it's taking longer at this point. There's nothing to see. Well, that ain't exactly true. There's a whole lot less to see. We all say that phrase, "see ya in the black". For all it's civilized occupation, I have to say there's just a whole mess of inky nothingness out here in the galactic arms. I really do miss my sky around Colonia. It's bright, dense, alive. Out here? Well, frankly, it's just depressing. I don't think I was ready to be struck up side the brain pan with that thought. For years I've been a might proud of being very comfortable, thank you, to be out in the deepest, darkest reaches, away from everything with a heartbeat. And, believe me, I spent most of my life closer to the Bubble before I was ready to finally push out, so it ain't like I'd never been around civilized folk. But this is different. I know I'm in for a lot more hustle and bustle and...well, people. But I don't think it ever hit me until just now how anxious I'm going to be to go home. I don't think I like this sky. I miss my sky. As I prepare to lift off on the last piece to the Core, I miss my sky.
I've got 159 jumps to make a more specific plan to get my Chieftain, get my upgrades, get engineered and start my way home as soon as possible. Before, I thought it would be more because I want nothing to do with this crap with the Thargoids. And I'm sure enough concerned about that. But now it's about being in my sky. So, me and Eden have got some work to do. She may be an odd AI at times, but there's certain things she does well. Time to get my plan worked out in detail, no more flying by the seat of my pants.