After stopping by in Java Station and getting a shield installed, I managed to make it to Provence.
Just as a warning for other Starfliers: Be aware that the jumpgate between Tau-23 and Languedoc is mined on the Gallic side. The trade lanes are present but restricted, I chose to fly parallel to the lanes without actually using them, thus avoiding the mines. I did not get into trouble, but I think I might have been questioned had the police forces or military been around.
While in Languedoc, I encountered a GMS ship that was friendly and helped me find my way to the racetrack. It seems that the... Umm... Gallics? Gallians? Gauls? Would love for us to come and race there.
I found the racetrack just behind Planet Marsailles in Provence. It was not too hard to find the starting point on top of a large, partially mined, asteroid. After receiving clearance from the Planet Authorities, I took a slow tour of the track first to acclimate myself to the layout.
This is a very short hot-shot track, it's a single run, no laps, no mistakes. There is one ring that is backwards to all the other rings, I included a picture from my ship's cameras. I did enquire and it appears to be a construction flaw, rather than a need to suddenly zip around in a loop at high speed.
There are a couple of spots where the next nav-ring is partially obscured, but on learning where they are it's a minor issue. The biggest issue with this track is the mines...
What is it with Gallia and mines? Why is a racetrack mined, anyway? This adds to the whole "No Mistakes" thing.
After a slow tour, I powered up my cruise engines and did the track at full speed. It took me about 02:11.29, that's just a bit over two minutes. I feel that I could reduce the time a bit, but there's only so much optimizing you can do on such a short hot-shot track. This track is not bendy or winding enough to warrant dropping cruise at any point.
Either when the Gall... locals set up this track, they had slower ships? Or they rely on multiple races running constantly.
Starflier engines are high efficiency, being able to travel further on our H-fuel than other vessels of our size, but the whole track barely consumed 1% of my fuel at full burn. I feel that if we want to demonstrate the strengths of our engines, an endurance race would be a better choice.
I must admit though, the planet is breathtakingly beautiful, space here is stunning and I would love to race here more often if it weren't for the mines.
Reminds me of the time Halpie went through Gallia with me... Still, I'll park up here for a bit till I can't afford it anymore, or till I get new instructions.
Fly Safely, especially around mines! Muliah Taana, out.
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Code:
[02.09.2024 11:02:31] GMS|Gallia.Big.Waves: Bonjour !
[02.09.2024 11:03:02] '\S/'CEV-Pyxis: M: Hello! I'm looking to find my way to Provence. Apparently there's a race track out that way?
[02.09.2024 11:03:45] GMS|Gallia.Big.Waves: the jump gate your looking for is on C-3-2 of you navmap
[02.09.2024 11:03:53] GMS|Gallia.Big.Waves: just folow the lane
[02.09.2024 11:04:04] '\S/'CEV-Pyxis: M: Many thanks! Take care.
[02.09.2024 11:04:10] GMS|Gallia.Big.Waves: and you
[02.09.2024 11:08:16] GMS|Gallia.Big.Waves: and yes they have a race track in provence a very nice one .
[02.09.2024 11:08:52] GMS|Gallia.Big.Waves: good way to test your flying skills
[02.09.2024 11:09:31] '\S/'CEV-Pyxis: M: Thanks! I'm in training for the company's racing team. Starfliers want to prove that our engines can make the grade.
[02.09.2024 11:11:43] GMS|Gallia.Big.Waves: racing team very nice well i hope you win some race.
[02.09.2024 11:12:33] GMS|Gallia.Big.Waves: and ofcause it fun to look at for others
[02.09.2024 11:12:59] GMS|Gallia.Big.Waves: day of at the race track is fun for the familys
[02.09.2024 11:13:08] '\S/'CEV-Pyxis: M: If you can call just Me and a couple of techs a "team". But the Boss seems keen on the idea and he's paying us.
[02.09.2024 11:15:51] GMS|Gallia.Big.Waves: i see ,anyway have a nice day .
A man once said you need to run, before you can walk.
Seems a ridiculous notion, yet here I am, volunteering to get a much needed resupply out to the Edge Worlds. From having never even seen a Jump Hole in-person, to plotting a course that will take me through, goodness gracious, !sixteen! of them...
Naturally, I've spent every ounce of time over the last 3 weeks re-learning all I can about these anomalies. During the briefing at Starflier Research Station, I was shown access to the incredible repository of knowledge which has assured every concern and every ingrained misconception from the AG doctrine. Now armed with knowledge, and heartened to see recent information about the path I am to take, I review my flight plan:
Stay in the upper quadrants of Inverness, don't go past the sun. Find the opening in the oxygen cloud in Tau-29. Rest up at FP10, then a straight shot to Omicron-Delta, take no breaks, do not stop by any station nor planets until FP11 is in sights.
...time to make space tracks...
Omicron-Delta. The halfway mark in this supply run. I've heard rumors of rift anomalies in this area, and was able to see one up-close myself. Such a harmless shred of beauty, as its blue-shift radiation waxes and wanes against the shielding; craftily hiding its tremendous power if you were read the auto-scan appendices.
And that beauty, soon in fierce juxtaposition against the sights at Freeport 11.
Nomads, sending wave after wave of torpedoes against its bulwark. The auto-cannons firing unceasingly. Defense fighters launching out of every port with a coordination that shows every second of response counts for what comes next. In that fire-fight, I realized truly how little I knew of the Sirius sector; how could news reels or third-hand interviews ever hope to capture or explain...this...?
For what seemed like hours, the port weathered the assault. Soon, repair craft are dispatched to assess damages, and clean-up the scraps...until the comms fell quiet once again; the unknown urgency of this haul, now crystallized. Business as usual I suppose, out in the frontiers of Sirius.
On the last leg of my journey I met a welcome sight. A Civil Servant, en route through Coronado also heading into Inverness. They gave me a system update past the final jump, Liberty Navy is at work in the area, best to wait to avoid getting in the way. After some time passes, the comms quiet down and we part ways. Time for the last jump...truly I need to find some Dramamine until I get used to the traversal...
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Code:
[07.09.2024 21:04:42] (=)"C:S": Greeting piloten. I hope we're fairing well?
Albert McKenzie Ship: '\S/'SRV-Sol Location: Inverness System
With the majority of our teams occupied with our current major project, Vector, we are making progress in establishing a core ship for our own cartography pilots to fly. We had intended to build in the Nexus Beacon within the ship itself, however due to the logistics and pricing of such a device, it would have increased the cost 10-fold. Our financials do not accommodate for such a cost, so I have decided to remove that requirement from the vessel's design.
What is leftover is a rendition of the Deep Space Explorer, miniaturized into a freighter-tier ship. One that would take on all characteristics of the Starfliers. The plan is to not mass manufacture these vessels, only to have enough built to replace our current CEV fleet. I have initiated contact with Deep Space Engineering in regards to this project. Once the plans are finalized, we intend to pass onto them what we produce to have the vessel's schematic brought into the material world.
Outside of Project Vector, one of our lesser teams have been focused on developing a new kind of container. They have not shared the specifics with me as of yet, I am waiting until a prepared proposal is sent my way. All I know so far is that this container is meant to allow better security with our research information, and that it will be developed exclusively for our Albatross trade ships.
I know I am not the greatest in putting into words my appreciation, Leon was much better equipped to handle these type of announcements. Just know that we do value your hard work.
Halpert Kennedy Location: Provence System Subject: Racing Rings
You guys aren't too bad! Thought I'd get a few laps in myself to show Orbital who is boss, but this is good. The new guy Weatherly and... Moose? The hell kind of name is Moose? Doesn't matter, all I can say is that these guys can race. Guess Albert shelled out for a couple Arrows for the other guys to have fun with. Probably the best decision he's made to be honest.
Wanted to leave a record of a good time we three had at the tracks in Provence. Ideally, would have loved to have Orbital shit themselves with how good we are, but haven't seen their faces since I challenged them. This new guy Weatherly seems pretty solid, already a competent racer. Can't say the same about Moose though, almost ruined the ship he was flying by kissing the rings twice too many times. All in all, a good time. Those never come around, especially with other Starfliers pilots.
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