First Small Trip Draws To A Close

Exploration...I headed straight up from Shinratra Dezra for a few hundred light years until I started finding unexplored and unclaimed systems.  Explored about 25 systems about 400 light years up from Sol, then I started to move around until I found myself near Spica.  Yes, the summer star I used to find by following the handle of the saucepan in Ursa Major through to Arcturus and beyond down to the horion.

I must admit that I bricked it when I got within 40 ly of Spica. I looked it up on Wikipedia the two blue binaries orbit over a 4-day period.  This sounds so pretty but is also like the perfect trap to jump in between the pair of them and crisp. Another time - may try it with a Sidey first instead of my expensive Asp - not on this first trip anyway.

One stop before the final hop back to the limited civilisation of Blair Relay, and I was interdicted while scooping.  Couldn't escape and I fought it rather than submitting as I don't like doing combat that close to a star.  

Dropped out with 2% hull damage.  It was a Competent Python spamming missiles at me.

Crap.  

Maybe if I was in open space I'd have been able to take on the Python with my 4 pulse lasers and 2 multi cannons but I was too close to the star to put up a fight.

Crystiara nearly got my shields down while I waited for the FSD to recover.  Unfortunately I was 1.32 LS from the star and way too close for comfort. I started charging the FSD, trying to align along the escape vector whilst still trying evasive manoeuvres to evade the missiles - but the FSD charge paused on three wedges due to the Python's mass all the while my heat was growing past 170%, 180% heat - I was taking heat damage.  My heart was pounding - would I make it out of this with the data? Would I actually die in the game? 

I cancelled charging the FSD - all it was doing was causing heat damage.  I boosted and ran, boosted and ran - keeping the Python in my rear.   At 7k distance from the Python I risked charging the FSD again making sure I was aligned 180 degrees with the star behind - i.e. the escape vector - and took a few more % hull damage and then I finally escaped with hull at 87%.

My next jump was into the first inhabited world I had seen since Tuesday.   At 130 LS from the outpost I was interdicted yet again.  These NPCs really seem to want to stop you selling data! But after submitting it was a Harmless Sidewinder who flew straight at me - not one shot was fired but after the impact his shield less ship was down to 19% hull.  I had to laugh at that - serves him right for trying to ram me.  So onto the outpost station.

Now I can't sell the data or even view it without crashing to desktop.  Hurry up Frontier and patch this bug as Blair Relay is really the end of Known Space and boring as hell.