cmdrkilroy

[cmdrkilroy]

Still Rusty

Dateline: Mar 08 3311

I made the trip to the Glorious Nebula, Hen 2-23, with great pace. However, I slammed the Runaway into the dark side of Hen 2-23 1 a a because... I lacked the attention that should be placed on the dark-side landing of a body. I slammed into it. That was a mistake. Luckily, the DSSA Artemis Rest was able to repair me without taking me too far out of my way. I have attached some images of the trip so far, minus anything that would show my incompetence.

[cmdrkilroy]

Run Away

Dateline: Mar 06 3311

It all worked out. I ranked in the top 75% for delivery protection, and managed the top 25% for shipments of materials to Starlace Station. I didn’t expect to participate in the cargo trade, but it seemed to work out in my favor. With the credits I gained from the experience, and the knowledge that the bubble is in a good place, it’s time for me to set out eastward. I’ve planned out an expedition which should take me to the northernmost point of the Perseus arm, and the first stop is the Glorious Nebula. It’s a known tourist trap, famous mainly for its inaccessibility back in 3303 and Wolf-Rayet star. Regardless of the rumors, it’s still up to me, as an explorer, to give it a once over.

To make the trip, I have finished outfitting the DSS Runaway, ID CS-545. It’s a Mandalay with a jump range of 83.81 LY, and it maneuvers like a leaf in a storm. The turn speed is the best in the fleet, and the enhanced SCO function is a dream. In this ship I feel as if I could fly across the galaxy in a minute, and be in Andromeda tomorrow. It is the ship of my dreams.

[cmdrkilroy]

The Plan, As It Stands

Dateline: Feb 27 3311

I’ve been taking it all in while engineering my new exploration ship: the expansion projects, the material highways. It all seems incredible to me that we are finally beginning to branch out from the bubble of humanity that we’ve known for so long. That’s why I need to do my part. Here’s my plan:

I’m going to head to the Minerva system and take on bounties to help protect the deliveries to Brewer— expansion will be accelerated by a lot if we can get these megaships out there, and the best way I know to help is to do what I’m good at. Once expansion is safely under way, I can retrieve the materials from the fallen Titan Cocijo to engineer a new type of Frame Shift Drive. Once I have that, it’s off to the Eastern quadrant of the galaxy. The ship should be able to get me there fairly quickly, and I’m curious about some stellar phenomena reported in the region. I think I have some more hope for the future than last month, and am ready to do my part once more.

[cmdrkilroy]

Return To Duty

Dateline: Feb 26 3311

My return from the Crab Nebula coincided with the Titan incursion on Sol. While I did participate in standard AX activities, I did not engage the Titan directly. The war seems to be over, and the figures that gained power during it seem to have taken a step into the background for the time being. I have been monitoring the situation, but decided that I needed some time station-side.

After nearly 4 months of minimal duty, I have returned to help where I'm needed. Right now, that means taking out the pirates taking advantage of a war-torn bubble. and preparing for my next big excursion into the galaxy. I'm looking into locations to visit, and have been outfitting one of the new Zorgon Peterson ships. Early tests are promising. I've attached some images from my trip to the Crab Pulsar.

[cmdrkilroy]

Green Gas Giants

Dateline: Oct 24 3310

With the near destruction of Titan Raijin by AXI and independent pilot forces, I have left civilized space once more. I have seen enough destruction for now, and need to get back to my roots. With that, I have set out to Kepler's Crest.

My first item of intrigue was Gongae QW-L C24-0 B, a Class III Gas Giant with an odd green glow. Only a handful of these have been discovered throughout the galaxy, so it is quite a rarity that I wanted to learn about. Of course, I couldn't learn anything not already known by other explorers, but it was still a worthy sight, of which I have attached photos of to this log entry.

My next destination is the Crab Pulsar, another well-known sight in the galaxy. After that I'll check out the rest of the nebula on the way back to the bubble, and then I might plan an expedition toward the Galactic Center.

[cmdrkilroy]

The Truth

Dateline: Oct 08 3310

I have continued cooperating with the Anti-Xeno Initiative with the caveat that I refuse to go after Thargoids that are not actively attacking a human settlement or ship. I don’t believe that Thargoids are an inherent threat, like many of my compatriots, but I do believe that I can help people this way. I am not a pacifist by any means, but there has to be a line between defense and genocide. That is the truth that I am after, an objective response to the universe. I have outfitted an Anaconda with Guardian Gauss Cannons, modified heat sinks and a maxed out shield array and named it the Truth, ID code: AX-636.

I have also upgraded the Howler. Now outfitted with a fuel scoop for long distance missions and a few Guardian Gauss Cannons. It’s nowhere near as strong as the Truth but is versatile, especially good for defense operations at outpost stations.

[cmdrkilroy]

I Don't Want to Burn

Dateline: Sep 22 3310

The defense effort on Shinrarta Dezhra has been moving along at a steady pace. Rescue efforts are still ongoing as most independent pilots, myself included, are focused on anti-xeno efforts. The Howler has proven a formidable ship against even larger Thargoid vessels now that I understand their inner-workings a little better. After all, the true strength of the Howler is its pilot.

I am currently in the top 25% of contributors to the rescue effort, and have reaped some significant financial benefits from it. I don't enjoy being allied with the likes of Azimuth Biotech, and have a small fear that this attack wasn't entirely a Thargoid decision. They have been manipulated to attack stations and ships before, and if Azimuth can reignite the fires of hatred for the Thargoids, then perhaps their unique brand of “victory at all costs” could be reintroduced. A flame that could burn through the Thargoids would surely be turned on humanity just as well. Should that situation arise, I will do whatever I can to stop them, even if it means becoming a criminal myself.

[cmdrkilroy]

The Howling Ire

Dateline: Sep 19 3310

Just as suspected by Aegis intelligence, a Thargoid counterattack has begun in Shinrarta Dezhra. I was aboard the Proposition at a planetary outpost not far from the system and moved quickly to V886 Centauri to do what I could. I have not acted in the war effort until this point, but I now believe it to be warranted and more. I have seen the damage caused by these incursions first hand years ago, and I cannot stand idly by when innocent people are killed. With the help of a faction of pilots known as the Anti-Xeno Initiative, I have outfitted a ship capable of destroying Thargoid vessels known as the Howler. Its damage output is minimal, but I don't have time to obtain guardian materials for higher grade weapons, nor search for optimized ship internals. The time to act is now.

[cmdrkilroy]

Promoted

Dateline: Sep 5 3310

I bought another ship. I know that it sounds like reckless spending on my part, but I've been putting it to good use. An Alliance Chieftain named “Proposition” ID R-5206. It’s a medium combat ship, and has currently been put to use eliminating pirates in LHS 369 on behalf of the Federal Navy. Since this is a personal log, I should note my objections to some of the Federation’s practices, however some of my plans require a high rank and a Corvette would be a formidable ally. Fighting pirates seems like a worthy compromise for the time being. I have obtained the rank of Chief Petty Officer with the Federal Navy, and a combat rank of Novice. I hope to be able to advance both of these and perhaps introduce some change to populated space.

[cmdrkilroy]

Multifacted Pilot: Supplemental

While in the LHS 3531 system I suffered a complete hull failure aboard the Tarkus J-512. The canopy was destroyed, but my flight suit's life support protected me and I was given medical treatment at Bellegrade Botanics. Pilots Federation Rescue Rangers were dispatched to my recovery beacon, and the Tarkus has since been restored.

It has been years since I suffered an accident that bad, and while it is embarrassing I hope I can come out of it a better pilot.

Multifaceted Pilot

Dateline: Sep 3 3310

I have a handle on Exobiology now. I didn't finish out the Billionaire's Boulevard, not even close, but I instead was distracted by something I've been putting off: Engineering. I have plans to do more than just exploration, and with the announcement from Zorgon Peterson last week about their prototype explorer ship coming out sometime soonish I figured I would start down a fun new path for a while. Unfortunately I only had a working relationship with one engineer, and if I wanted more than jump range I had to do some networking. I talked to some guys back at Jameson and they gave me some tips on getting in with the engineers, and how to get them the materials they need.

I now have a new ship, a Type-9 cargo hauler called the “Nightfly” (working title), and I refitted the Tarkus for hunting down raw, encoded, and manufactured materials as well as doing minimal cargo runs. The Sleepless is still my dedicated explorer vessel, which came in handy for a trip to the West Veil nebula, pictures attached after log entry, and a brief stop at the North America nebula which warranted no pictures. To give a status report of my engineering progress: I have grade 5 access with Farseer, grade 3 with Martuuk, and am currently working on improving my reputation with the Sirius corporation to gain access to Marco Qwent's workshop.

[cmdrkilroy]

Multifaceted Pilot

Dateline: Sep 3 3310

I have a handle on Exobiology now. I didn't finish out the Billionaire's Boulevard, not even close, but I instead was distracted by something I've been putting off: Engineering. I have plans to do more than just exploration, and with the announcement from Zorgon Peterson last week about their prototype explorer ship coming out sometime soonish I figured I would start down a fun new path for a while. Unfortunately I only had a working relationship with one engineer, and if I wanted more than jump range I had to do some networking. I talked to some guys back at Jameson and they gave me some tips on getting in with the engineers, and how to get them the materials they need.

I now have a new ship, a Type-9 cargo hauler called the “Nightfly” (working title), and I refitted the Tarkus for hunting down raw, encoded, and manufactured materials as well as doing minimal cargo runs. The Sleepless is still my dedicated explorer vessel, which came in handy for a trip to the West Veil nebula, pictures attached after log entry, and a brief stop at the North America nebula which warranted no pictures. To give a status report of my engineering progress: I have grade 5 access with Farseer, grade 3 with Martuuk, and am currently working on improving my reputation with the Sirius corporation to gain access to Marco Qwent's workshop.

[cmdrkilroy]

Explorer, Xenobiologist, Crash Dummy

Dateline: Aug 26 3310

I returned from my last expedition a few days ago and decided to check another thing off the list of skills to learn, exobiology. I bought the gear from Jameson and found a resource on the Deep Space Network that provided me with some discovered planets rife with exobio samples. The plan is to finish the list, make some money, and shoot myself off into deep space again to do a more proper expedition. 

Outside of that I’ve been using the time to practice my flight skills. I’m pretty rusty but the Sleepless is kitted out with 5D shields and three boosters. If I ever commit to getting it engineered I'll be indestructible, but probably still a bad pilot. I remember, back before I had any money or any engineering I was a pretty good pilot. On the way back from Sag A in the Arcadia I could fly around rocky planets like nobody's business, but I’m out of practice and the Sleepless is always surprisingly wide. Krait’s are shaped like a board, but facing the wrong way. I never felt the need to goof off in planetary flight while I commanded the Tarkus, so I don’t know if it flies any better. I’m rambling, but let it be known that if I don’t make a log in the next month, look for a blue Krait Phantom along the Billionaire’s Boulevard that’s got one half stuck in a cliff face and the other at the bottom of a chasm, actively on fire. I’m including some photos from my trip back to the bubble.

[cmdrkilroy]

Stellar Phenomena is not a Myth! I have seen it!

Dateline: Aug 18 3310

Last night (relatively speaking) I learned how to use the neutron highway. Surprisingly easy, and really cut down on travel time to what EDAstro calls the Eodgorsts Anomaly Clusters. I had never seen stellar phenomena before so it was interesting to finally  check it out, even if the Q05-Type almost turned my ship into a molten pile of metal goo and azure paint. I’m almost out of heatsinks despite the fact that I only left the bubble yesterday, but that’s mostly my fault. Turns out that SCO is even more experimental than I was told, since I overshot my target by 33,000 ly and had to use one of my three precious heatsinks. I wonder if the Type-8 can handle it a little better, not that I would fly a Type-8 for exploration. 

Up next on the learning list: The Codex is offering me money and I don’t know how to get it. I also, generally, don’t know how the codex works. It was new just before I retired so I never figured it out, and I think it would benefit me so I don’t have to check EDAstro for POIs. I’ll check GalNet to see if there’s any guides in between watching shows from literally one thousand years ago. What can I say, I’m a history buff.

[cmdrkilroy]

My New Car

Dateline: Aug 16 3310

I made it back to the Eranin system last night. One of the sadder forms of catharsis related to exploring is that by the time you get to your destination your brain has turned into a fine paste and no longer feels anything. Which is to say that I gave a half-hearted woo before turning in my data from the expedition, which I was very satisfied to see included all my data from before my retirement. One system of note was “Bleethue KC-L D8-67” in the Izanami region which has around 111 bodies, all of which were discovered by me. I just wanted to brag about that.

I just realized I never said what my expedition was before my retirement. The plan was to pop by Colonia to check on the Arcadia,  then go to Beagle Point and anything else I could reach to the north, and then go south through Ryker’s and back to the Bubble, all while staying just to the east of the Galactic Center. You already know that I only made it to Ryker’s Hope, but that's a whole thing.

Getting away from all that, my immediate plan is to finish engineering my new Krait, the ‘Sleepless’ (working title). I’m almost done and the SCO FSD is maxed out already which matters the most to me on a personal level. After that I’m gonna kit it out for exobiology which took off while I was indisposed of, and finally learn how to get a neutron star boost without almost getting blown to bits across the interstellar medium.

This log is getting a little long, but I’m sure you can understand since I’ve been alone almost all the time in the middle of nowhere space for the past 3 years. This is guilt. I’m guilting my own ship log.