Log #007: "Neutron Stars, Fuel Rats, and Beagle Dreams"
16 Nov 2024Alpha Panda
[Audio Log Start]Alpha Panda: Alright, Log number seven, and… where do I even begin? Today was the day I finally made it to Beagle Point, but let me tell you, it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. Strap in, folks, because this one’s a rollercoaster.
The day started off strong. I’m in Syriae Thua UX-L d7-1, scooping a Neutron Star like a pro. Feeling good, feeling charged, ready to hit the final stretch… and then—bam! I glance at the fuel gauge. Zero. Nada. Completely dry. [mock sigh of despair] That’s when I realized I had a big, big problem.
Checked the map, hoping for a scoopable star nearby. Nope. Nothing. Every viable star was just out of reach. So, there I was, drifting helplessly in the black, staring at my dwindling fuel reserves and realizing my journey could very well be over. I aimed for the first planet in the system, thinking, “Well, if this is the end, at least let me crash somewhere memorable.”
Then, a lifeline: I put out the call to the Fuel Rats. And let me tell you, those folks are legends. They got back to me quickly, said they’d send someone out. But here’s the kicker—Commander Leonid Brezhnev, my would-be savior, was 70 jumps away. Seventy. [laughs nervously] Let’s just say I had some time to think about my life choices.
As I approached the planet, I noticed it had significant gravity. Could this be it? Would Alpha Panda meet his end splattered across some high-G wasteland? But no, I managed to land safely. Shut down all my modules, conserving every last drop of oxygen. Then came the waiting game.
Time crawled by. Oxygen reserves dwindled. At 20 minutes left, I got the update—Leonid was just 7 jumps away. I’d never been so happy to hear someone else’s name. I scrambled to power up my ship, got the wing beacon online, and headed back into space. It was touch and go; every second felt like an eternity.
Then, just as my oxygen reserves were about to hit empty, I heard the sweetest words in the galaxy: “Fuel Limpet received.” My ship roared back to life. I turned slowly, using minimal thrusters to conserve what little power I had left, and there it was—an Anaconda, shining like a beacon of hope. A few messages back and forth with my hero, and just like that, I was back in business.
Reflecting on the whole ordeal, I realized two things: First, this was the closest I’ve come to death out here. And second, this was the first human contact I’d had in over a year. Leonid didn’t just save my ship; he reminded me that even in the vast emptiness of space, we’re never truly alone.
With my tanks full, I hit the final 40 jumps to Beagle Point. By the time I arrived, I was buzzing with a mix of exhaustion and triumph. Turned my ship to see the galaxy behind me—65,000 light-years from Sol. Incredible. Just… incredible.
I landed on the DSSA Distant Worlds Fleet Carrier, my final stop for the day. The flight crew didn’t even blink at the state of my ship—scorched, battered, and held together by sheer willpower. They patched her up, gave her a fresh coat of paint, and sent me on my way like it was just another Tuesday.
And now here I am, at the edge of the galaxy, with a repaired ship, a full tank, and a story to tell. Beagle Point… we made it.
Alright, that’s enough excitement for one day. Panda out.
[Audio Log End]