Creeping crap and some weird random(?) environmental effects

[Poobah Gorg]

Twice (or maybe once but it turned up twice?) I found a red object in the training mission called "Creeping Crap." Lots of the red items in this mission are loot that I've already got, but this one can't be controlled with the tractor beam nor can it be shot with weapons. I wonder what would happen if I try running it over.

At one point in my game there seemed to be an explosion somewhere (I didn't see it, everything just shook). No messages came up that I could see. Another point in the same mission (the one where you can mine asteroids after doing a few basic tasks for the mercenary guy) something happened where I briefly saw static on the screen. It was definitely part of the game, not something with my computer.

Neat stuff, is there a HUD in there where I might have gotten more information? Or some kind of advanced sensors? Did I accidentally drift into something bad? It would've told me about radioactive 'roids.

[sɹɐʎA xɘlA]

It's easy to miss, but icons for detrimental effects should be shown in the upper right corner while they're active. There is also some fleeting scrolling combat text.

There's really not much to do about the Creeping Crap other than avoid it -- it's a menace. The lore of the Creeping Crap is expanded on in a few later mission lines, including an experimental measure to deal with it.

The radioactive asteroids can be mined and harvested (requires a mining laser).

[Poobah Gorg]

Ah, mining laser. I had assumed that the spawn of resources when I clicked the various sorts of asteroids, planetoids and clumps of junk were as far as mining went! I should probably visit another system where those can be bought? I can't seem to find a station in this system (quests are given on the merc's ship). I'm liking this system for its "build up your gear and slowly/safely build up resource stockpiles" aspect. I also don't mind busy-work if it's entirely voluntary.

At the rate I'm going, I might want to stray from the quest and go into more of a crafting bent. I'm funny like that.