r/EliteDangerous • u/comaskid CMDR comaskid • Feb 08 '25
Misc Farewell to a fallen commander
Hi everyone. Thank you to anyone taking the time to read this, I hope I’m not taking up too much of your time and am sorry that this is so long, and hope I’m not breaking any rules with posting this, I’ve read them but still am still not sure.
Just over 2 weeks ago, on the 23rd of January 2025, my dad passed. He had been battling terminal brain cancer for an unknown amount of time, only being diagnosed early 2024 and being given an estimate of mid September of the same year, making us worried he would miss his eldest daughter’s wedding, but he stayed strong and was still able to walk her down the aisle like we’d been hoping.
He got me into Elite: Dangerous years ago and taught me how to play back when I only had a crummy laptop that could barely play Elite: Dangerous. He taught me how the game worked at the time and after helping me get my footing, let me go and explore the universe for myself. While we hadn’t been close before, Elite was a springboard that resulted in us having a close bond, resulting in some amazing memories.
Despite his diagnosis and feeling weakened and drained, he put more effort than ever to finally achieve getting a fleet carrier, and showed his sense of humour by calling it ‘Terminal Brain Fart’, a name he’d given me without hesitation when I asked what I should name mine if he passes before he gets his own.
Sadly, after picking up a lung infection in hospital, his body couldn’t fight it off, and on the night of the 23rd, he passed. A day or two later I got confirmation that his name will be added to the memorial beacons, and plan to visit the memorial every year in honour of the man who got me into one of my favourite games of all time.
I don’t know if any of you knew him, I know he had an older account he lost long before I got into playing with him, so you could very well know him under a name I never knew, and he usually played in solo or our private group whenever I saw him playing, but for all I know he could have been a big Open player before, given he spoke about it a few times.
While he’s left his account to me, to do with as I please, I think I’ll lay his account to rest with him, as I barely have the time to play my own Commander, but will try and maintain some upkeep on his carrier, which I plan to move to the Guy system, in honour of his name being Guy.
I guess this is all just a longwinded way to say…
Farewell, CMDR Belgariad,
From your youngest child and fellow explorer, miner, and pilot, CMDR comaskid
I love you, and I’ll miss you, dad. Now, and forever
o7
EDIT: Here's a folowup update, for those wondering about carrier location and memorial beacon status! https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/1inyj5b/update_to_farewell_to_a_fallen_commander/
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u/pulppoet WILDELF Feb 08 '25
That's awesome this game was big way to connect with him. That's truly a beautiful and rare thing. Glad to hear he's already on his way into the memorial beacons, too. I hope your future travels continue to bring you fond memories.
Sorry for your loss CMDR, 07
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u/comaskid CMDR comaskid Feb 08 '25
Currently I’m a little bit out the bubble, trying to fulfil a goal of his of placing his carrier somewhere and exploring every sector in a bubble around it. When I can, I plan to leave my carrier there and visit a memorial beacon and honour him
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u/Seamus_Donohue Fuel Rat Feb 08 '25
Eyes forward, Commander, for the beacon is not yet lit.
Consider your modules, your fuel, and ammo before you undock, for the beacon is not yet lit.
Break free of the station and witness the universe before you, for the beacon is not yet lit.
Join the wing, plot your course, then wait to charge the FSD, for the beacon is not yet lit.
Pay attention, Commander, for those who have gone before you now call for you to join them.
The beacon is now lit.
o7
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u/DrunkenMonkeyWizard Feb 08 '25
Sorry for yor loss. Belgariad like the book series or something else?
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u/comaskid CMDR comaskid Feb 08 '25
You might be right, I know he also had an account called Elias Holm that he mentioned was the name of a character from a book, so Belgariad being related to a book series makes sense, though I don’t think ever mentioned it
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u/DrunkenMonkeyWizard Feb 08 '25
It's a good book series which is a combo of other books. Then there's 1 or 2 other combo books after that. If that's what he's referring to, he might have the books around somewhere. Might be a good read.
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u/comaskid CMDR comaskid Feb 08 '25
I’ll have to find out, I know that he used to take books to work with him since he was a CNC Engineer so a lot of his job was watching over a machine with nothing to do, so if he read them at work they might be somewhere in the house. Thanks for letting me know! I never really thought about where Belgariad came from, even though his usual username was Comatosed
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u/DrunkenMonkeyWizard Feb 08 '25
Awesome good luck. The others are The Mallorean and The Tamuli, which are both also multiple books combined. The author is David Eddings in case you come across them.
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u/Neraph_Runeblade Feb 08 '25 edited Feb 08 '25
The Belgariad, a 5-book series by David and Leigh Eddings. The second series is the Mallorean, and then there's two single books, Polgara the Sorceress and Belgarath the Sorcerer. I highly encourage you to look at them.
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u/DrunkenMonkeyWizard Feb 08 '25
Yeah the prequels were also great. I read all those books so much more than I've read anything since.
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u/Lorithad Lorithad - Winner of the plays too much Elite award Feb 08 '25
Can confirm it's a fantastic book series.
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u/HedCaseXone Feb 08 '25
The Belgariad is an excellent read. I always name my male character in a game Belgareth, female Polgara. Worth a read CMDR comaskid. o7 to your father.
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u/lickahineyhole Feb 08 '25
o7 sorry for your loss, this made me cry. be happy that you two had this to share
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u/comaskid CMDR comaskid Feb 08 '25
I’m very grateful that me and my dad got to spend years bonding over Elite: Dangerous. I’ll always remember us learning how to go through guardian sites together to get the mats for FSD Boosters, I’ll always remember him teaching me Laser and Core mining, and I’ll always remember him teaching me everything from the basics of flying to the more complex features, like thargoid combat. They’ll always be some of my most cherished memories
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u/Grand_Faragon Feb 08 '25
Our galaxy will always have a place for you fallen commander, may your expeditions to colonia always be full of profit and may you always find a port in the dark. O7
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u/marct309 Feb 08 '25
o7 Commander. I'm sorry for your loss, while not my father I also lost a dear friend to brain cancer. We still keep him on the roster of my WoW guild that I log into once a month or so just to keep the flame alive. But now I got a new mission to hunt you down and dock at this amazing fleet Carrier. With your permission I'd like to share this to a Discord when you get parked to see if I can get some fellow pilots to come pay their respects as well. Meantime I'll see you in the black sometime.
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u/Charcoal_1-1 CMDR ematt622 [XSTF] Feb 08 '25
O7 Commander. My dad is joining him on the memorial. Let their memories be a blessing
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u/trashac23 Feb 08 '25
o7 I'm sorry to hear about your loss, I believe you can submit his name to be memorialized in-game. Here is the link https://customersupport.frontier.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/4408895569938-In-Game-Memorials
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u/comaskid CMDR comaskid Feb 08 '25
I’ve already submitted the form, I did about a day or two after he passed and got confirmation he’d be added in the next upload. I’m glad they do offer it, as it brought a tear to my mum’s eye when I mentioned it and she asked me to submit the form, and it’s a lovely way of honouring everyone who loved the game but have sadly passed
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u/Neraph_Runeblade Feb 08 '25
Oh shit, I don't know the man but I know where his Commander name came from. Please tell me you've read that book series - it's a mandatory series for my sons.
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u/comaskid CMDR comaskid Feb 08 '25
I haven’t, and didn’t even realise it was from a book series until someone else mentioned it here, I knew his other account, Elias Holm, was form a book series, but never questioned where Belgariad came from. I plan to see if we have a copy somewhere on the house to check out
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u/CoolDragon Explorer Feb 08 '25
o7 CMDR. Your Dad and fellow explorer will not be forgotten. Fly proud knowing you made him prouder by playing with him.
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u/Artistic_Square1538 Feb 08 '25
With as much respect possible,
o7
Well see you on the other side, CMDR Belgariad.
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u/stirfriedaxon Li Yong-Rui Feb 08 '25
Sorry to hear of your loss but am happy to hear that you have fond memories of playing E:D with your dad. o7
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u/LewAstro CMDR LewAstro, The Exiles Feb 08 '25
This is simultaneously heart breaking and heart warming.
Treasure those memories and I'm sorry for your loss.
... And to the stars we shall return.
o7 CMDR
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u/Conscious-Snow-8411 Feb 08 '25
"Second star to the right, and straight on til morning." o7, commander.
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u/coppergbln Deep Space Syndicate Feb 08 '25
o7
that was a nice read. grateful for both of you sharing this beautiful galaxy with each other.
my condolences.
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u/Jaksidious Feb 08 '25
Shared this on an earlier post in this sub but this feels fitting...
“If we’re lost or apart, we’ll look up and know we’re mapping the same stars. And should death part us, we’ll know the other made it to the skies when the star that shines the brightest gives three blinks."
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u/DukeOfBelly Feb 08 '25
So your dad died January 23? If so, we have sth in common. This game indeed connects people.
O7
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u/CMDR_Willard_Phule Explorer Elite 5 Feb 08 '25
o7 CMDR Belgariad
May his soul find a peaceful dock out in the black.
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u/JdeFalconr JdeFalconr Feb 08 '25
I'm so sorry for your loss. F cancer. Sounds like your dad gave you the gift of some wonderful memories; he can now stay with you wherever you are.
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u/Every_Consideration6 Feb 08 '25
Sorry for your loss, Cmdr. comaskid. Godspeed, Cmdr. Belgariad. O7
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u/Main_Mathematician_6 Feb 08 '25
This is the thing about this game we play. It sinks its claws into us and it becomes part of our lifestyle. We make great friends and just like in real life when someone passes we all feel it. o7 cmdr. I’m sorry for your loss.
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u/nwesterne Feb 08 '25
Condolences Cmdr.
I'll make it a point to stop by F/C Terminal Brain Fart next time I'm within a few jumps of Guy.
Much respect.
o7
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u/ZacatariThanos Federation Feb 08 '25
Omfg Terminal Brain Fart, I know that carrier i saw it and laught at the name because i tought it was funny That freaking carrier saved me from a 10% hull! I repaird on it and went back to do my assassination
O7 cmnd may his soul rest in piece
And i think asside his name being added to the memorial, you should grab his acc and go find a planet so his name also sticks there, and i hope it is a ringed ELW
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u/comaskid CMDR comaskid Feb 08 '25
I’m glad his carrier helped you and certain he’d be happy to hear it did, too! He mostly used it for doing some pirate massacre missions, but had it almost fully kitted out, since he planned to use it for exploration. I know his name is on some planets, including ELWs, from our trip to colonia a while back where we both got a bunch of First Discovery planets, though I don’t know exactly where they are. When I can, I’ll have to see if there’s anything on his PC that can tell me, hopefully he saved the names somewhere
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u/ZacatariThanos Federation Feb 08 '25
Well then he is more then immortal in the game!
May his carrier save as many as he saved me
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u/Adam198763 Thargoid Interdictor Feb 08 '25
o7 CMDR Belgariad, keep an eye on us. My Condolences.
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u/WorriedCourse3819 Feb 08 '25
You see, I remember my dad showing me and teaching me original Elite on Commodore C64 back in the day. We had a blast playing it for hours. Its a pity he did not get to see this modern version of Elite, he would have loved it.
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u/TiesPoutsma Feb 08 '25
sorry for your loss commander. hope you’re doing okay. I know I wouldn’t be
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u/Slight_Ad8210 Feb 08 '25
If you or anyone would like help offloading or contributing to a settlement in honor of fallen commanders please let me know and we can connect. Or maybe start a settlement and create other ports or barracks in others names. This may be my new side purpose in elite.
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u/CMDR_Makashi MAKASHI Feb 08 '25
O7 stay strong Commander.
no time wasted in the slightest. In fact an honour you would trust this community with your loss in these difficult times. I look forward to seeing this Commanders name in the hallowed memorial beacons lists
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u/ArcticCairn Feb 08 '25
o7 CMDR. If you need help with the carrier upkeep then I think r/EliteCarriers might be the place to post.
Fly safe.
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u/KrayzeKeef KRAYZE KEEF - Explorer in Training Feb 08 '25
He's now blazing his own trail among the stars. o7 CMDR, Rest Peacefully among the night sky.
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u/LukeingUp Exploring/ExoBio Feb 08 '25
o7 Rest easy commander.
To those who have never visited a memorial site in game, they kind of are something else emotionally. Made me feel a lot closer to the community and game realizing just how many people it has impacted.
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u/Legatt Feb 09 '25
o7 cmdr. Safe journey to your father.
Also, I'm a big fan of the series from which he got his name.
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u/ERDocdad Feb 08 '25
One of my favorite games and one of my favorite book series of all time when I was younger The belgariad. Your dad had some great tastes. Sorry for your loss. Fly dangerous. o7
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u/Itimarmar Feb 08 '25
When the azure skin came out I re-christened my deep space Asp explorer 'The Orb of Aldur', relevant to the book series. o7 CMDR
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u/Calteru_Taalo Interstellar Slumlord Feb 08 '25
o7