my journeys have shown untold mysteries, travelling where few have dared before. To go where I have gone needs a stardrive of the highest order, a full load of fuel, and a great deal of tenacity and patience. Thus far I have traveled a mere 195 parsecs from home into the unknown (well, system m241), and found countless planets without name, some with evidence of previous higher intelligence (space stations), but little civilisation - none to barter or trade, at least.
In the books of days gone by, cartographers wrote "here there be monsters". Monsters I disbeleive, but mechanical glitches were plentiful. My autopilot became sullen and sluggish in unknown regions, and failed to recognise clearly visible stations. It appears that "hit that unknown peice of rotating tin" is not an adequate command for an autopilot. Landing on planets is perilous - the gravity is such that a ship may become stranded in orbit, forever attempting to land, but never reaching its goal.
I came close, so close to reaching that bizzarely mysterious entity, known as the M1 - system M1 that is - fuel was plentiful, but alas, that place is a mere .75 parsec out of range. Stories I have heard speak of nighmarish problems - high density and civilisation (but nowhere near as bad as M25....).
Oh to discover the reality of those entities! Imagine my delight if I were able to reach the fabled "Franzen's Folly", and discover its hidden foolishness.
many will ask, why did I do this? Why would I want to continue?
as great earth explorers once said "because it is there!" the learning and the joy are in the journey, not the arrival!
My journey ends at m241, and I must infimp back to civilisation, not for lack of an adventurous spirit, but other systems i see are out of reach, for now.
any chance of a L30 stardrive????
the ravings of a space weary traveller
)
Since my last report (which I see is written under a pseudonym - the reason for which escapes me), I have spent a great deal of time in many different systems, and much has changed.
The invention (which far surpassed my dreams) of a Level 40 stardrive added a great deal to my travels and trade. New industries abounded as lifeforms travelled from all over the galaxy, making travel not only challenging, but profitable at the highest degrees.
Firstly – to address the problems mentioned in my previous reports. Autopilot has been repaired, its targeting is much smoother, although until recently it was often failing to differentiate between the sun and a planet – to machines there is no difference between a ball of superheated gasses and a ball of rock & water. Unfortunately my particular biology likes to keep the distinctions between the two clear and distant…
Planetary landing systems have also been rectified – my ship has been modified so that it merely bounces off the atmosphere of planets without life. An amazing technological feat! Thanks be to the gods
But enough of the past – to my journeys since we were able to communicate last:
The discovery of a transport tunnel in deepest space opened up a new sector – vast and previously unexplored. My autopilot has finally been trained to recognise this magical feature, and the journey is smooth and swift. Regions previously inaccessible, even with such a powerful stardrive, are now mere seconds away. Trade in this region is good, though heavy in time and uridium supplies. Profits far in excess of dream or desire have been found, at a cost of conscience. Trades in military supplies and new technologies are by far the most profitable, but such things always leave me with a silent dread – sadly it is not only a human failing that we profit most in our fear of others, or our willingness to destroy (or help others to do so) rather than build. Of this, my own guilt is implicit in the balance of my credits. (30k for 30mins work
).
The recent discovery of yet more of these wondrous gates in space have opened the galaxy even further. Trade opportunities and alliances have not yet been explored, but my cartography skills increase and my records improve with each journey. I have visited the fabled centre of the universe (M-0), which many believe contains the first planet of the Gods (although other records would claim this to be Magrathea, a planet much closer to home), visited systems named Jemrada and Carrick 01 (each over 400 parsecs from Tau Ceti), and from the M60 system have stared, literally, at the very edges of space. A view not to be missed, unlike the view of M11, which seems to be full of static internal combustion-powered vehicles and irate travellers!
For now, Franzen's Folly remains outwith my reach.....
One confusion remains – planets move, and names appear and disappear. Signs of life, and occasionally intelligence, appear for a short while, and then, in a flash it is gone, or moved to a different system. Ariya, Salt, Paint’s Plaza have all moved several times since initially mapped. The creators of these universes seem to enjoy playing tricks on poor traders and cartographers. Or is it a comedy of the gods?
It may simply be that so long deep space has dulled my sanity and my senses – I hear rumours of previously unseen aliens, preparing to encounter we explorers and traders in the depths of space. Do they come in peace, or shoot to kill?
Sonro Lyan Oldcynic Trading inc.
The invention (which far surpassed my dreams) of a Level 40 stardrive added a great deal to my travels and trade. New industries abounded as lifeforms travelled from all over the galaxy, making travel not only challenging, but profitable at the highest degrees.
Firstly – to address the problems mentioned in my previous reports. Autopilot has been repaired, its targeting is much smoother, although until recently it was often failing to differentiate between the sun and a planet – to machines there is no difference between a ball of superheated gasses and a ball of rock & water. Unfortunately my particular biology likes to keep the distinctions between the two clear and distant…
Planetary landing systems have also been rectified – my ship has been modified so that it merely bounces off the atmosphere of planets without life. An amazing technological feat! Thanks be to the gods
But enough of the past – to my journeys since we were able to communicate last:
The discovery of a transport tunnel in deepest space opened up a new sector – vast and previously unexplored. My autopilot has finally been trained to recognise this magical feature, and the journey is smooth and swift. Regions previously inaccessible, even with such a powerful stardrive, are now mere seconds away. Trade in this region is good, though heavy in time and uridium supplies. Profits far in excess of dream or desire have been found, at a cost of conscience. Trades in military supplies and new technologies are by far the most profitable, but such things always leave me with a silent dread – sadly it is not only a human failing that we profit most in our fear of others, or our willingness to destroy (or help others to do so) rather than build. Of this, my own guilt is implicit in the balance of my credits. (30k for 30mins work
). The recent discovery of yet more of these wondrous gates in space have opened the galaxy even further. Trade opportunities and alliances have not yet been explored, but my cartography skills increase and my records improve with each journey. I have visited the fabled centre of the universe (M-0), which many believe contains the first planet of the Gods (although other records would claim this to be Magrathea, a planet much closer to home), visited systems named Jemrada and Carrick 01 (each over 400 parsecs from Tau Ceti), and from the M60 system have stared, literally, at the very edges of space. A view not to be missed, unlike the view of M11, which seems to be full of static internal combustion-powered vehicles and irate travellers!
For now, Franzen's Folly remains outwith my reach.....
One confusion remains – planets move, and names appear and disappear. Signs of life, and occasionally intelligence, appear for a short while, and then, in a flash it is gone, or moved to a different system. Ariya, Salt, Paint’s Plaza have all moved several times since initially mapped. The creators of these universes seem to enjoy playing tricks on poor traders and cartographers. Or is it a comedy of the gods?
It may simply be that so long deep space has dulled my sanity and my senses – I hear rumours of previously unseen aliens, preparing to encounter we explorers and traders in the depths of space. Do they come in peace, or shoot to kill?
Sonro Lyan Oldcynic Trading inc.
Last edited by Sonro on Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:10 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Why me...GrrrMagicfinger wrote:Moderated: Please do not continue to make posts off topic. - Magicfinger
FINE! Nice STORY!
There you happy?!
I always get called out...
Story 10/10!
I like Story!
Last edited by djaj88 on Sat Mar 04, 2006 4:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
