Élite Dangereuse - Brookes Galactic Tours

Brookes Galactic Tours

Adventure summary:

This adventure involves scanning a series of beacons to discover a tribute to Mr. Michael Brookes, who passed away in June 2023 (3309). Within the systems, you'll find a beacon containing information about Brookes' life and work, as well as astronomical features to see. It's a kind of pilgrimage in the footsteps of a person who contributed greatly to the game, its mechanics and its lore.

The recap

Ship:

Exploration

Surface scanner

Difficulty: Beginner

Duration

2h00

Max distance

2000 LY

Brookes Galactic Tours

ByCMDR ED Trip
13 September 3310
250 points
1 badge
Made with

This adventure is brought to you by your ED Trip agency. Find out more with this article. Have a good flight CMDR!

Michael Brookes was present from the launch of Elite Dangerous (Kickstarter) and worked as Executive Producer and Chief Lore Officer. He was also an author and dedicated a novel to Elite dangerous, Elite Legacy (2014, English only).

All set? Let's go ! We're going to follow the 5 beacons and take advantage, in each system where they're found, to look at what's around us. Make sure you stay until the end, because the last message sounds like a call to discover a mythical place!

Artemis

Here you are in the Artemis system, where this adventure begins. The first of the five beacons to be scanned is near a megaship and an asteroid base. The megaship is called Legacy, the title of the Elite Dangerous novel by Michaël Brookes. You can settle down there, and even go and get some strength from the bar!

Scan beacon: "Freeholm Victory".

Tribute to Brookes - tag 1/5

"Every journey begins somewhere, and Michael Brookes' was born of a passion for storytelling and a desire to share his experiences. Passionate about games, literature and the collections that flow from them, he drew his inspiration from authors and creators of worlds from all horizons, contemporary or from more classical eras. This passion remains deeply rooted in Michael's work, and is reflected in every one of his books, from fantasy to science fiction to mythology. However, when Michael looked up at the night sky, he knew that his journey would one day be written among the stars."

Once you've finished, go to the Beta Sculptoris system.

Once you've completed this step, move on to the next.

Beta Sculptoris

Make your way to this vast and remarkable system, with its many stars: a B-type main star, two M-type stars, an L, a T and a Y. But above all, the beacon is close to an A-type giant and a neutron star! Be careful when approaching the beacon on its periphery not to go too fast and get caught out.

Scanning beacon: "A Brilliant Pairing".

Brookes Memorial Series – Beacon 2/5

"The year is 3301. Star maps are drawn. Planets recorded. A galaxy of endless possibility brought within reach. For the first time, thousands of new pilots would strap themselves into a Commander’s chair and fire up their engines. Millions more would follow, drawn into a shifting spacescape of intrigue, conflict, and discovery. Michael’s joy in helping bring this experience to so many was inherent in the colour of the text. Emperors, presidents, heroes and villains acquired depth and character. Alliances, federations and empires alike grew inspired by his imagination, added textures and shades to an epic saga. Michael’s contributions would guide others through the years, as a foundation to maintain the epic saga he helped develop."

Once you've finished, you can go to the Synuefe CI-J b42-3 system.

Once you've completed this step, move on to the next.

Synuefe CI-J b42-3

In this third system, you'll find the beacon to be scanned, but you'll also be able to see two remarkable stellar phenomena. These are Lagrange clouds containing Metallic Crystals. To see them, target them and enter the cloud (without danger), then approach the crystals to about 200m to scan them with your composition detector (don't forget to assign a weapon group to this module, installed by default on your ship). There are two types: Rumeum and Prasinium. If this is the first time you've seen one, you'll be creating an entry in your Codex! You'll also earn a few credits for this discovery or scan. You'll also find a telluric world in this system, which you can scan for your exploration data!

Scan beacon: "Life beyond Earth".

Brookes Memorial Series – Beacon 3/5

"While Michael’s creative aspirations were interstellar, his personal joys were closer to home. Those who knew him recall a larger-than-life personality, touched by kindness and empathy. He maintained friendships with colleagues and Commanders, bonding over the worlds they loved. Michael enjoyed discussing these mutual interests with anybody willing to share a drink at the same time, which often revealed a mischievous sense of humour. It was well known that Michael cared deeply about animal welfare, an example of the compassion with which he is remembered."

Once the beacon is scanned and you've collected your crystal scans, you can head to the Taygeta system.

Once you've completed this step, move on to the next.

Taygeta

This system welcomes you with a splendid B-type star projecting the most intense blue-white light on the beacon nearby.
You'll also find in this system a listening post that allows you to retrieve a mysterious message. If you wish to follow this trail, it will lead you to a research base named "LV 87" located in the HIP 17403 system (planet A4). This base contains 4 newspapers to listen to about a Thargoid attack. Don't hesitate to have a look when you return (Canonn Group on LV 87). On this planet you'll find not only the base, but also a scanner beacon and a Thargoid ship crash site!

Scanner beacon: "A Rare Warmth".

Brookes Memorial Series – Beacon 4/5

"Many who knew Michael followed an old spacer tradition to honour his legacy. They filled an empty escape pod with small tokens, each symbolising a memory which made them smile. For Michael, these included military insignia, sci-fi memorabilia, carved figurines, and snapshots of rescued animals. Hand-written cards containing fond recollections of times gone and fans of Michael’s endeavours were plenty. The centrepiece was a huge axe, hand-crafted for him in recent years, which was proudly presented at every opportunity."

Have you retrieved the message and listened to the listening post? Perfect, then it's off on a journey to over 1000 Al, rendezvous at PMD2009 48, but...
Warning the route is not easy to trace directly from this system.
Due to numerous forbidden systems in the sector, it's not possible to trace a direct line from Taygeta. You could try targeting V1924 Orionis, for example, before reaching your destination.

Once you've completed this step, move on to the next.

PMD2009 48

You're in the Orion Nebula! Once you've arrived in the system, head for the Orion Nebula tourist center and find the beacon to scan. Here you can read the latest testimonial. It also evokes a most mythical place, a kind of Grail for a great many pilots in the Galaxy!

What if...

What if Michaël Brooks, before leaving us for good, left us a legacy, a path to follow, a last mischievous wink...

Scanning beacon: "Surrounded by Wonder".

Brookes Memorial Series – Beacon 5/5

"Where Michael rests now is a matter of rumour. To say his spirit quietly rests is at odds with the person many knew. There was also a new experience to pursue. The next frontier to discover. Many discussions of Michael’s legacy turn, inevitably, towards one such undiscovered entity: Raxxla. A mythological something that stirs wonder among every spacer, this undefined myth remains elusive. But experienced pilots will tell you: If anybody knows the way to Raxxla, Michael Brookes does. And fast by, hanging in a golden chain, This pendant world, in bigness as a star Of smallest magnitude, close by the moon.

Your adventure is now over, but before you set off again, don't hesitate to land in the asteroid station next door to toast the memory of Mr Brookes!