Community Spotlight: Rook7425 of The Pirate Hub

Note: If you're looking to get in touch with travelers from the Pirate Hub, please contact them here. As for myself, I'm currently an independent traveler ambling his way through the stars :P

{P/H} Stark Interstellar Blacksite Lowellu

• As we were scanning through news on the FB "No Man's Sky Over 30s Club" we happened across a wonderful base post by fellow Traveler Rook7425.
• Rook7425's recording of their base was quite charming and we swiftly made efforts to arrange a visit!

• After a pleasant correspondence and a few terminus and portal jumps we made it back to the Euclid Galaxy.
• For coordinates to Rook7425's base, please refer to the bottom left of the screenshots, thank you!

• As night fell and the planets of the system drifted into the hazy nebulae in the sky, we sat on the local bio-luminescent mushrooms to take in the arresting view. 
• Online discovery services rewarded us with units for scanning some of the local wildlife.

• Having lingered a while, we finally summoned Excalibur and lifted off for Rook7425's base.

• With the base waypoint locked in, Excalibur punched through the clouds and into orbit above the planet Lowellu.
• In our communications, Rook7425 had pointed out that the planet Lowellu was now the capital of the infamous Pirate Hub.
• Many other travelers belonging to the faction had bases dotting the temperate world.

• As we floated above Lowellu, we pulled up sensor and log readings to gather more information on the system and its planets.
• We were quite surprised to see that the Pirate Hub capital was situated so far away from Euclid's galactic core - for some reason, we had always assumed that the factions of Euclid had established themselves closer to the center of the galaxy.
• Nested on the fringe of the 0300 spiral of Euclid, the Aychyeg VII system was an easy destination to reach for newer travelers starting out their journeys on this side of Euclid! :)

• Scanners indicated that the Korvax system had an alarming level of conflict - plenty of opportunity to run down pirates!
• Sporting a mid-level nano-construction economy, travelers look to make a decent profit selling technology based commodities.

• Quite young for a paradise planet! Plenty of eons to enjoy yet :D
• If your ears pop, it's probably because of the "high atmospheric pressure" 
• Thankfully there was no need for ion batteries - no storm systems were detected!
• Sentinels were basically a non-issue too! 

• After gliding through the atmosphere on thrusters, we were surprised to discover that Rook7425's base, "{P/H} Stark Interstellar Blacksite" rested atop a Colossal Korvax Archive!
• Excalibur gingerly touched down on the landing pad, which sat cradled by the roof of the base.

• Nestled between three arrays of power generators and solar power units, the Stark Interstellar Blacksite featured several neatly arranged floors of varying degrees of technology.

• Stepping down from the Excalibur we approached what appeared to be a "techno-grotto" of some sort.
• It was clear that the travelers of the Pirate Hub had great reverence for the Atlas!
• A gleaming bust of the figure of the Atlas sat adorned in flames, wreathed in red foliage and flanked by flowing banners.
• Atop the mantle was a lone figure of some unknown traveler, itself surrounded by miniature Atlas figures - what could the precise placement mean?

• As Aychyeg VII's sun sank into the watermelon horizon of Lowellu, we returned to the roof of the base and sat on the edge of one of its outstretched pylons to ponder the meaning behind these things.
• We hadn't even gone inside the base yet! :P

• It still boggled our senses that a base could be constructed so thoughtfully atop an alien archive. 
• Imagine the level of influence a traveler could have over the region, if not the entire planet, should their base ownership extend to the archive itself... what about space stations? Dear Atlas...
• We put these thoughts aside for the moment as we spotted twin hopper-class explorers landed on the bottom landing pads of the archive.

• We swooped onto the landing pads and examined the twin starships, before heading back through the merchant concourse.

• Intrepid explorers seeking fighters with a long-nose, bowie and dorsal fins won't be disappointed here!

• The merchant concourse was bustling with busy korvax.
• It's easy to forget how lively these inhabited outposts can be when traveling through the stars - what is it like for the travelers of the Pirate Hub?

• The short-range teleporter leading back to the main base of Stark Interstellar was tucked behind the main archive data banks.
• Well-placed!

• The teleporter landed us in what we could describe as the "lobby" of Stark Interstellar.
• We surmised we were directly under the landing pad.

• Another grotto to the Atlas sat between the teleporter and the terminus of the base.
• This Atlas figure appeared more "stone-like" than the golden figure next to the landing pad - again the reverence was palpable.

• The rest of the base lay behind a thick power door, but where was the switch to activate it?

• After a few moments of searching around the lobby, revealed a power switch that we promptly activated.
• The power door hissed and whirred open.

• Walking tepidly through the entryway, something grasped our attention from the left side.

• Some kind of infestation was sealed within the room on our left.
• Mounds of globules stretched across the walls and the floors of the room.
• A bio-hazard symbol plastered the floor to what would have been the entryway into the room.
• Whatever was cordoned off in this room resembled a lot of the infestations we had come across in derelict freighters.
• What could the Rook7425 be experimenting with??

• Large, unlabeled canisters sat next to the quarantined room, each clearly filled; but with what?

• Two sets of computing stations lined the opposite walls of this wing of Stark Interstellar.
• Floating computational droids flitted back and forth seemingly parsing the data scrawling on the amply lit displays.
• What extraordinary secrets were the Pirate Hub uncovering here?

• On the right side of the entryway sat a small room.
• This one appeared to be arranged like a diagnostic med-bay, fitted with a bed and corner observation/workstation.

• We turned our attention back to the galaxy map across the "med-bay", our thoughts wandering about what Rook7425 could have uncovered here on Lowellu.
• Perhaps the map display could reveal something.

• Before we could interact with the map interface, a red column of light whirred toward us.
• Transfixed by the humming light, we stumbled towards it source.

• Regaining our senses, we found ourselves stood in front of a massive cyclonic lathe next to a running science & technology station.
• Power generators hissed at the base of the wall which backed the massive machinery.
• Accessing the data display next to the cyclonic lathe, reams of information flashed over and over.
• Could Rook7425 be working on another form of teleportation or terminus travel here?

• We continued to the second floor of the base, climbing the stairs from the technology wing.

• As we passed through the second floor entryway, we came across an observation station overlooking the lobby area of Stark Interstellar.
• The switch in between the two stations controlled the power door that lead to this upper floor.

• This second floor stood in stark contrast to the lower R&D floor.
• Whereas the first floor was laden with mystery and eerie technological wonder, a distinct sense of comfort and ease featured warmly on this second floor.
• A third grotto flanked by banners and glowing, floating pillars held a smaller figure of the Atlas - the figure cushioned by fluffy foliage.
• We decided to rest on the plush rug swept before the display; very nice!

• Across the grotto sat a comfortable and lavish entertainment center, complete with holographic light table & globe display.
• A comfortable sofa punctuated the middle of the room - impeccable taste!

• Rows of unknown, but tasty looking beverages sat on the food preparation counter next the the entertainment center.
• Hmmm... one wonders what the Pirate Hub Special is? :D

• Opposite the food preparation corner and next to the grotto was a neatly arranged storage area.
• On the counter sat models of fighters and canisters.
• Perhaps Rook7425 uses this corner to think up new projects?

• Two light tables with holographic displays sat on either side of the spacious bed at the back of the room.
• We dusted ourselves off before taking a comfy seat on the bed :P

• We weren't able to rest for long, because one more power door urged us forward.
• We activated the door switch and we weren't disappointed...

• Easily our favorite aspect of Stark Interstellar Blacksite, we dove into the watermelon sunset of Lowellu!

• As another Lowellu sunset rolled into a nebula-filled evening sky, we returned to the roof of Stark Interstellar and sat atop the outstretched pylon of the base.
• Our minds wandered as we took in the sights of the wondrous Pirate Hub capital planet.
• Thank you for making our visit one to remember Rook7425! :D