Since the Pilots' Federation lifted its embargo on transporting passengers, and the Beluga luxury liner became available for public ownership, the tourism industry has boomed. I was lucky enough to join a once-in-a-lifetime record-breaking holiday trip to the far side of the galaxy, aboard the "Endeavour X", piloted by seasoned explorer CMDR Duck of Death.



This yacht was truly top of the range, it was clear that the commander had cut no corners to ensure this vessel was capable of taking its patrons on a remarkable journey. Hand-finished by some of the most talented workshops in the galaxy, this craft was engineered to perfection. "I started preparing for this trip some time ago with the Cutter and Anaconda", explained the commander, "components have been tailored to maximise jump range and also for the best possible defensive capabilities, including prismatic shields and fully engineered pulse lasers." We were certainly safe from hazards both astronomical and anthropomorphic.



However all was not always rosy in the recent life of our captain, "My original home, Laksak, was thrown into that civil unrest plague which seems to have befallen a lot of systems recently", so regretfully, "I relocated to Procyon and eventually sold enough tickets to make this trip possible."



The trip visited The Black in Green Nebula, Sagittarius A* and the Red and Green Glory Nebula, three fantastic locations, but that was not all. We soon learnt that our commander had a surprise for us "I've planned to go to Beagle Point for a few months, as I haven't yet completed the Distant Worlds Expedition", we listened over dinner one night, the nebula colours lending a mystical air to proceedings. "I went back to the bubble after waypoint 17 of 23, as I had lost contact with 'the peloton'. Since I am on the original roster, I still feel I have a duty to complete the expedition," explained our host, then "Who's with me?". You could have heard a pin drop!



Needless to say we weren't immediately sure about this turn of events. Did we have a choice? After all, we had no way to refuse. However, the commander's contagious spirit of adventure and the manner of the journey so far meant that we responded unanimously "yes!", with one caveat, we had to get back before one fellow passenger's mothers' birthday. "I love a challenge!" laughed the commander!



The next few days we traversed the Styx, the Bleak Lands, the Abyss and finally entered the Solitude Void. All this time spirits remained high, though one could sense the primordial fear building; we were a long way from home and the bright lights of the core were far behind us. Finally we arrived at Beagle Point and set down at the final basecamp of that renowned expedition. I have to say that it was initially an anti-climax, this little rocky world is no stunner. But then it revealed its majesty to us. Before us was the Milky Way as we'd never seen it before, smaller and further away than ever; and behind us, the rest of the universe. We were truly standing on the edge of infinity.



The tourism distance from Sol was not the only record set. On our return trip CMDR Duck of Death also found the widest ring ever seen at a staggering 54 million km radius. After a brief sojourn at The Neon Lights we made it back home with time to spare and without a dent on the beautiful ship.



Morris Cowley, freelance researcher, Elite Travel Writers’ Cooperative​

Since the Pilots' Federation lifted its embargo on transporting passengers and the Beluga luxury liner became available for public ownership, the tourism industry has boomed. Seasoned explorer, CMDR Duck of Death led us on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the far side of the galaxy.



We visited The Black in Green Nebula, Sagittarius A* and the Red and Green Glory Nebula, three fantastic locations, as well as the widest ring ever seen at a staggering 54 million km radius. But that was not all. “I've planned to go to Beagle Point for a few months,” we heard over dinner one night, “Since I am on the original roster, I still feel I have a duty to complete the expedition” explained our host, then “Who's with me?”!



As we traversed the Abyss and finally entered the Solitude Void spirits remained high, though one could sense the primordial fear building as we got further from home and the bright lights of the core disappeared. Finally we arrived at Beagle Point. Before us was the entire Milky Way, somehow smaller and further away than ever; and behind us, the rest of the universe. We were truly standing on the edge of infinity.​

Title: Record breaking tourist tripLocation: Galnet, otherwise Procyon, Laksak, Wolf 1453, Shinrarta Dezhra, Kocab and HIP 72043Unfortunately this is too long, the new submissions form rejects it. So I submitted a much shorter version with a link to here: