The Saga of Emiko Station - Complete

[Just Jim]

9 hours ago, Draconiator said:

You're making me want to do my own story...but mine will be pretty tame by comparison, I'm almost finished building a HUMONGOUS plane and I'm almost finished with it, so I'm thinking my story is going to revolve around the building of the Titania, an attempt at breaking the record for the largest plane...EVER.

Go for it!  In fact, building the biggest plane also sounds like a good idea for a challenge.  if it isn't already out there... I'm not sure.  Double check if you do it.

 

9 hours ago, AccidentsHappen said:

If you have the time @Just Jim, you should download BD Armoury and and make a short story (maybe around 10-20 chapters) about an interplanetary war in the Joolian system (you could have battles in orbit, ambushes on Tylo and shelling and air skirmishes on Laythe!)!

Then again, maybe I should do that...

I won't have time to take on another story until Emiko is finished... if it's ever finished.... lol. 

Go for it!

 

2 hours ago, Crystal_Mace said:

"Somehow I doubt the twins; parents will be so very pleased with how the twins running away was handled.  Never mind the aborting of a multi-million mission.....Jandolin's going to want her kids right NOW if I know moms....:)

Things are looking very scary for Piper and Emiko.....

Yes.... in fact, no-one is happy with the decision.  But they had no choice.  And as upset as she is, Jandolin, being a scientist, knows physics just doesn't work that way. The Diamondback simply does not have enough fuel to do an unplanned adjustment burn and still have enough to be able to re-circularize an orbit around Kerbin.  Like it or not, there is no way she can order them back right now..... and this has her even more upset.  

 

8 hours ago, max_creative said:

Wow! sounds interesting! Could you tell use about it?

I've said too much already.  

 

9 hours ago, max_creative said:

Just looked back and still don't get it. 

 

OK, what we were talking about, in a nutshell, is a battle where a handful of little American destroyers and carrier escorts stood up against a Japanese fleet many times bigger..... way bigger.  The American fleet was outgunned, out sized, out numbered.... but they stood their ground.

One thing a Destroyer had back then that larger cruisers and battleships didn't is torpedoes.  Like a more modern PT boat.  And these crazy destroyer captains, knowing they had no other choice, ordered their ships right down the Japanese fleets throat so they could get close enough to launch the torpedoes, even though it was suicide.

While this was happening, what few planes the Americans had began harassing the big Japanese ships, again, with little chance of success.... but they went.

The Americans got pounded, bad.  But they kept at it, and did some really serious damage to the bigger Japanese ships.... so much that the Japanese admiral in charge thought he was facing a much larger fleet, and ended up turning and heading back home!

This little handful of ships turned back a fleet ten times bigger than it was.

 

Now, how this relates to the story... or fan-fiction stories in general.  Some of the captains, especially the one in the lead destroyer, were crazy.  But in a way his crew loved, and respected.  So much they were willing to die for him, if ordered.  This is a special kind of crazy, a Captain Kirk kind of crazy.  I've seen it, and it's real.  It makes a captain seem larger than life, almost invincible... and sometimes it does really seem the crazier they are, the more the people they command love them for it.

And if someone, myself or anyone else, is writing about a ships captain, this is something they should understand and consider when giving the character a personality. 

Edited March 19, 2016 by Just Jim

[max_creative]

3 hours ago, Just Jim said:

Go for it!  In fact, building the biggest plane also sounds like a good idea for a challenge.  if OK, what we were talking about, in a nutshell, is a battle where a handful of little American destroyers and carrier escorts stood up against a Japanese fleet many times bigger..... way bigger.  The American fleet was outgunned, out sized, out numbered.... but they stood their ground.

One thing a Destroyer had back then that larger cruisers and battleships didn't is torpedoes.  Like a more modern PT boat.  And these crazy destroyer captains, knowing they had no other choice, ordered their ships right down the Japanese fleets throat so they could get close enough to launch the torpedoes, even though it was suicide.

While this was happening, what few planes the Americans had began harassing the big Japanese ships, again, with little chance of success.... but they went.

The Americans got pounded, bad.  But they kept at it, and did some really serious damage to the bigger Japanese ships.... so much that the Japanese admiral in charge thought he was facing a much larger fleet, and ended up turning and heading back home!

This little handful of ships turned back a fleet ten times bigger than it was.

 

Now, how this relates to the story... or fan-fiction stories in general.  Some of the captains, especially the one in the lead destroyer, were crazy.  But in a way his crew loved, and respected.  So much they were willing to die for him, if ordered.  This is a special kind of crazy, a Captain Kirk kind of crazy.  I've seen it, and it's real.  It makes a captain seem larger than life, almost invincible... and sometimes it does really seem the crazier they are, the more the people they command love them for it.

And if someone, myself or anyone else, is writing about a ships captain, this is something they should understand and consider when giving the character a personality. 

Ok, now I sorta get it.

[Just Jim]

14 minutes ago, max_creative said:

Ok, now I sorta get it.

[RocketSquid]

5 hours ago, Crystal_Mace said:

"Since you're about to die anyway, I see no reason why I should,'t reveal to you the fatal weakness in my plans..."  

Whenever you're tempted to monologue.....just remember the evil geniuses brought down by this very action.....:)

Oh, the solution to this is very simple: "Reveal" a fatal (for the heroes, of course) "weakness" in your plans. They never think that their sworn enemy would even dare lie to them. It's almost too easy...

[Just Jim]

18 minutes ago, RocketSquid said:

Oh, the solution to this is very simple: "Reveal" a fatal (for the heroes, of course) "weakness" in your plans. They never think that their sworn enemy would even dare lie to them. It's almost too easy...

Which is something I will avoid doing at all costs... 

[max_creative]

And... you didn't fall for it.

[insert_name]

I believe what rocket squid is saying is that the villain should give a monolouge revealing the fatal flaw in his plan that's actually a trap for the heroes

[Just Jim]

2 hours ago, RocketSquid said:

Oh, the solution to this is very simple: "Reveal" a fatal (for the heroes, of course) "weakness" in your plans. They never think that their sworn enemy would even dare lie to them. It's almost too easy...

 

1 hour ago, insert_name said:

I believe what rocket squid is saying is that the villain should give a monolouge revealing the fatal flaw in his plan that's actually a trap for the heroes

 

Oh... the "trap".... yes.  I get where you're going. 
That is always a possibility, yes.

But you have to understand something. 
From the author's POV, I have to keep you all guessing as long as possible as to what is going on, or what this fatal flaw, or trap... if there is one... might be. 

So while I do promise a lot of evil mono-logging here soon... and I do mean a lot...  I may or may not reveal a flaw, or a trap, during the ranting... or if I do seem to let something slip, there is the possibility I may be completely bluffing just to throw everyone off course... I make no promises... 

Now, having said that... I have all the screenshots I need for the next chapter.
I need to go make a late lunch and some coffee, sort and upload them and I'll get the next chapter done. 
Definitely today sometime.

Edited March 19, 2016 by Just Jim

[max_creative]

Yes!!!

[Andem]

SoonTM!!

[Kekkie]

Hey Just Jim, could you consider a table of contents? Your story has an epic length and I'm having trouble keeping up!

 

Happy launches!

Kekkie

[Just Jim]

It's quiet.... too quiet... perfect....
Sit back, relax...
And prepare to enter:

 

Chapter 38
     The Pit of the Kraken  

 

It was late, the shadows were growing long, and Gene Kerman stood alone atop the vehicle assembly building, watching the sun set behind the western mountains

How often in the last few weeks had he escaped up here to find a moments peace he could not count. Too often, perhaps. But it was the only place he knew of to get away... and he used to love coming up here with... with... her.

And now he sought a moments peace before the big event. He knew the press had already gathered below his feet. Ahhhh, the press. How he had come to hate facing them and their endless questions. And tonight... tonight, they would be relentless. Tonight history would be made.Tonight, at long last, the Diamondback was making her final burn into orbit high over Duna.

Duna.... he had come to both love and hate the word..... and the planet. They had huge successes with the arrival of the fleet of robotic parts ships, and the assembly of their new station over Duna, as well as a mining colony on Ike. But what should have been their crowning achievement had turned into an endless headache, all because of the twins, Gem and Theo, and their little "prank".

Luckily the Diamondback crew seemed to get a handle on them, more or less, and the flight to Duna went without too many problems.... again, more or less. There was one incident, the first, last, and only time the twins were allowed in the cockpit together. Within minutes of strapping themselves in, Theo had bet Gem she couldn't roll the mighty ship as fast as a doodlebug, a bet she absolutely couldn't refuse.... and didn't.

Thankfully Jeb was able to stop the ship before any serious damage was done, and once Bill had stopped heaving into a space-sickness bag, he went out and replaced the solar panel they had managed to rip free.

After the panel had been repaired, the twins were never allowed up front again, and things managed to go fairly smoothly until the reached Duna's SOI. 

But back at home things were anything but smooth for Gene. Despite the PR departments best efforts, there had still been a rash of runaway children showing up at KASA's front gate, their angry parents not far behind. Then the near insurgency amongst his own cadet corps by those that felt cheated and slighted at the children being chosen before them. That was something Gene had to quell as well, before they lost half their experienced cadets.

And the twins parents, Jandolin and Harfield.... Harfield had always been the strong one, and seemed to be taking the situation fairly well. But Jandolin, the twins mother... she was a wreck, and Gene worried the stress was seriously splitting her in two. On one side there was Jandolin the scientist, who knew and understood that the laws of physics just couldn't not be broken, and no matter how she felt about it, she would have to be patient and wait two more years to see her children.

One the other side, Jandolin the mother didn't care. She felt it was all a load of kraken crap, and wanted them home now.

It was getting late, and Gene knew he would be summoned to the briefing room soon, but he stayed to the last possible moment and continued to think of his people. Besides Jandolin and Harfield and the twins, there was the issue of Piper, the commander of Emiko Station..... if there was an issue. He really wasn't sure. All knew he know was after Piper's collapse on the Mun, she had changed... somehow. It was hard for him to pin down.... just something about her was different. It was as if she had become even harder than she already was.... and this hardness was now somehow sharpened.... and this also worried him. But he knew she spent most of her off time talking with her best friend Kerenna, and this seemed to help.

Kerenna.... Kerenna..... Gene tried so very hard not to think about her. The first few days after she had left he was too busy to think about much of anything. But once things had died down to the usual routine, he realized he missed his friend... a lot. Every time he thought of her big beautiful buggly eyes, her cute emerald dimples, her gorgeous stumpy legs... and mostly her adorable laugh... it felt as if a piece of his heart was missing, and he wasn't sure how to handle it. He couldn't ever imagine someone as beautiful as his emerald cheeked Kerenna ever loving him, but deep inside, he couldn't lie to himself anymore.

He truly did love her.

Behind him a voice broke the silence. "Sir, they're ready..."

 

*          *          *

 

High about Duna Kerenna Kerman sat in the cockpit of the Diamondback and counted down, "Three, two, one... burn." And with a savage grin her might she pushed the throttle of the Diamondback to full.

Next to Kerenna, Gem, acting as co-pilot, read the display and calmly announced, "All systems looking good, temperatures normal, estimated burn time 90 seconds... mark."

"Mark," Kerenna replied, eyes never leaving her instrument panel. And for the next 90 seconds, everyone held their breath and hoped the fuel calculations had been correct. 

Finally the agonizing silence was broken my Gem's calm voice, "...and.... 5... 4... 3... 2.... throttle down." 

Kerenna pulled back on the throttle, checked her instruments, and to everyone's relief announced, "Engines all reading in the green, fuel levels higher than estimated.... KASA, we are in orbit over Duna!"

Once the cheering and celebrating died down, the crew sat back, relaxed, and waited on a new Duna raptor, already in orbit, and heading out to rendezvous with Diamondback and take the crew on their last leg to the awaiting Duna Station.

This newest raptor was the most modern yet, and had the added feature of a small ore drill and fuel processor, making it capable of refueling itself on Ike and much more independent than previous raptors. But it came at the sacrifice by only seating five, so it was decided Jeb and Bob would remain behind for now to oversee the Diamondback's refueling, and join up with the rest later.

Aboard the Duna Raptor, Val took the helm, targeted Duna Station, and plotted an intercept course, while everyone in back enjoyed the view of Duna growing larger and larger in the side windows.

But as much in awe as they were of the great red planet, the real gasps came when Duna Station loomed into view, and the crew saw their temporary new home up close for the first time.

The station was beautiful, and huge, even larger than Emiko Tower, but similar in design. This was a masterpiece, and even though Val and the others had seen the blueprints, the real thing was still staggering. 

Once docked, the Raptor was topped off and the crew prepared to separate again. 

This time Val and Bill would be remaining onboard and begin the final phases of bringing the massive station online while Kerenna and the twins proceeded to Ike and begin bringing the colony base online, and exploring the surrounding region. It had been planned originally for Kerenna herself to proceed to Ike, but after much deliberation it was decided the twins should accompany her for a couple reasons. 

First, the area really did need exploring, and having the twins take up the responsibility could greatly accelerate this process. 

Second, the simple fact was there was no better doodlebug pilot in the fleet than Gem, and with the new doodlebug-II's onboard science equipment, they should be able to gather a lot of very important data other pilots might not be able to acquire.

Third, it was hoped letting them lose on the surface with something to do might help keep the twins occupied and out of too much trouble.

And so Kerenna took the Raptor onto mysterious Ike, and was soon plotting the ships final decent and landing.

But as they made their final pass, Theo called out, "What.... what is that? Aunty-K, roll 60 degrees to starboard. What is that near the landing zone?"

As the ship rolled, the small strange area came into better view... and appeared to be a weird dark patch of... something dark.... something black, maybe a kilometer north of the colony. And as they came in for their landing, it just seemed to get darker, blacker, and more mysterious. It was like a patch of deepest blackness, so dark it was hard to distinguish if it was a mark on the surface, or some vast pit. And the readings coming in were like nothing Kerenna or the rest had ever seen... it was almost as if something down there did, but also did not, exist, depending on which reading you looked at. It was very different than anything they had encountered to this point, but didn't seem threatening in any real way. 

It was just... weird.

As Kerenna began her final roll into landing position, dr. von Kerman's voice came over her intercom speaker.

"Mission control to Duna Raptor, we are monitoring your situation. Be advised, our satellite imaging does not... repeat, does NOT show this dark area in previous passes. Proceed with caution"

"Understood," Kerenna answered, looking down at her panel. The reading were still erratic, to say the least, and she prayed her navigation didn't go out on her until they were firmly on the ground.

In the back, Gem reached over and poked Theo with her elbow and said, "Betcha there's a Kraken living down there."

Theo poked her back. "No way... Kraken's aren't real."

Gem laughed and looked back out the window, "Sure they are... betcha there's one living in that pit right now. That's a Kraken pit for sure..."

Up front Kerenna called back, "Would you two stop until we land, please?"

And such was their curiosity with the weird black area, they actually did stop and behave. But then, with less than a kilometer to go, Gem called out called out calmly bit firmly, "Aunty-K, I need you to roll 70 degrees to starboard and translate 20 more meters north, please."

"Confirmed," Kerenna acknowledged, and then asked, "What's the problem, dear?"

"Oh, no problem now, but we were about to crash into a giant boulder floating next to the base."

"What?" Kerenna gasped, unable to see from her position in the cockpit, "Floating, are you sure?"

"Yes, ma'am, definitely... I can tell from it's shadow.  And Aunty-K... it's really, really huge. Be careful and maintain this course... wait, no, translate 10 more meters north... OK, that's better. We should clear it fine now"

And with Gem acting as a second pair of eyes, they did land safely along side the colony... and the huge floating rock that hovered next to it.

Gem hadn't misspoke, the floating rock was huge, nearly as tall as the Raptor itself, and clearly hovering more than a meter from the surface. Inside the ship, Kerenna told the twins to stay put, geared up and climbed down to the surface, and switched her radio over to her private Emiko Station frequency.

"Piper, this is Kere.... are you reading?"

After a few seconds delay Piper Kerman replied, "Yes, dear, I'm reading. What is your situation? Are you and the children alright?"

"Yes, dear, we're fine. Mission has been a complete success so far. But look, we've encountered something odd. Two something's, actually.The first I'm not even sure how to put into words. But the second..."

"Yes?"

"Piper, we've encountered a floating boulder, right along side the base... and it's.. it's massive! As tall as the colony base, maybe taller. How should I proceed?"

Piper was quiet for a second, the replied, "Of course..... why is this not unexpected??? Kere, listen, do not, I repeat, do not touch or disturb it in any way. And do not let the children too close, either. And under no circumstances let either of them touch it.. this is vital, understood? Do not touch it!"

Kerenna looked up at the massive floating rocked and whispered, "Oh, don't worry, dear.... I'm not getting any closer to that thing than I am now."

Quietly she stood and watched the mighty rock.... but then looking up, Kerenna realized that the sun was close to setting, and the Ike nights were notorious long. So she hurried the twins into the colony base with the promise they could examine the floating rock from the safety of the science lab to their hearts content in the morning.

Once the children were secure inside, Kerenna climbed onto the top of the colony command copula and gazed out at the weird black patch..... the Kraken Pit, as Gem had named it... in wonder and curiosity.

And as the sun set over the western Ike mountains, she whispered softly to herself, "Gene... my love.... I wish you were to here with me to see this..."

 

 

The Saga of Emiko Station is far, far from over.....

Go to Chapter 39
Return to Index

Edited December 7, 2019 by Just Jim

[Geschosskopf]

2 hours ago, Just Jim said:

Chapter 37
     The Pit of the Kraken  

Ominouser and ominiouser

 

[Andem]

Suspence is brewing! 

[max_creative]

Yes!!!

[kookoo_gr]

Dang it, i hate that squad removed the magic boulder, i can only wonder what you could do with that in your story. Also Jim you HAVE to read the saga of the seven suns, the last two chapters were amazingly similar to the books. I can't wait what you come up with the story (Apollo 18 maybe?)

[max_creative]

Wait! If they have a gravioli rock next to there house, and Thompberry uses gravioli, will there house get exploded too or- WAIT! He will use gravioli rocks all over the system to focus his aim and increase his power!  everyone get in the raptor! Run! Or get kerbfleet Bill to come and put the magic boulder back in and throw it at Thompberry! I mean, nova said that the magic boulder was just sort of turned off not removed.

[Just Jim]

7 hours ago, kookoo_gr said:

Dang it, i hate that squad removed the magic boulder, i can only wonder what you could do with that in your story. Also Jim you HAVE to read the saga of the seven suns, the last two chapters were amazingly similar to the books. I can't wait what you come up with the story (Apollo 18 maybe?)

I'm going to read them eventually, yes.

 

7 hours ago, max_creative said:

Wait! If they have a gravioli rock next to there house, and Thompberry uses gravioli, will there house get exploded too or- WAIT! He will use gravioli rocks all over the system to focus his aim and increase his power!  everyone get in the raptor! Run! Or get kerbfleet Bill to come and put the magic boulder back in and throw it at Thompberry! I mean, nova said that the magic boulder was just sort of turned off not removed.

This not the real "Magic Boulder" of legend... so to speak.  Not the Easter egg magic boulder.

In terms of the actual game, I believe these floating boulders are a glitch I keep running across.  And I pray they never, ever fix it.  What's really wild is I keep stumbling across them right where I can use them in the story.  This Ike one was the biggest by far, and right by the pit!  I was overjoyed when I spotted it. 

 

14 hours ago, Kekkie said:

Hey Just Jim, could you consider a table of contents? Your story has an epic length and I'm having trouble keeping up!

 

Happy launches!

Kekkie

I never expected it to get so long.... and if people stay interested, I'm not sure how far I'm going to go.... quite a ways further.  In terms of my grand master plot ... we're only just getting to somewhere in the middle right now. 
And I have to admit, even I'm getting where I have to go back and check every now and then to see how I wrote something a dozen chapters ago....

So yes.... I can make a table of contents.  At this point, I think it's a good idea.  I should be able to edit something into the first page of the thread.  Maybe also add a brief list of the key main characters as well.

I'm going to be gone most of the day... I'm house and dog sitting this afternoon for some friends.  But I can take my tablet and get started on that.  I'll see what I can do.

 

9 hours ago, Geschosskopf said:

Ominouser and ominiouser

 

 

9 hours ago, Andem said:

Suspence is brewing! 

 

Dun Dun Dunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Oh, I've been thinking about it, and the next three chapters will be coming rapid-fire back-to-back. 
I'm gonna be really mean about these next chapters and not give y'all time to pause and catch your breath... hehehe.  

I still have to do a couple explody things, but other than that most of the ships and such are already in place, so it will only be a few days, promise.

Edited March 20, 2016 by Just Jim
forgot an emoticon

[RocketSquid]

Wait! This base hasn't been sabotaged yet! Thompberry shall be found!!! Unless they mistake it for radio chatter with one of the other Chariots.

[max_creative]

1 hour ago, RocketSquid said:

Wait! This base hasn't been sabotaged yet! Thompberry shall be found!!! Unless they mistake it for radio chatter with one of the other Chariots.

Good point. Wait... Oh great... And there even closer... RUN!!!

[kookoo_gr]

Jim, i am spit-balling here but here's a thought about the magic boulder. Would it be possible to transfer one of your ships or a probe at a version that has the magic boulder eg 0.18, 0.19 and do some storytelling? (this is your story with your ideas and i didn't want to interfere at your storytelling). I believe you would have to transfer the necessary parts to the older version and use the male kerbals if you used a manned mission.

 

#BringBacktheMagicBoulder

[Just Jim]

2 minutes ago, kookoo_gr said:

Jim, i am spit-balling here but here's a thought about the magic boulder. Would it be possible to transfer one of your ships or a probe at a version that has the magic boulder eg 0.18, 0.19 and do some storytelling? (this is your story with your ideas and i didn't want to interfere at your storytelling). I believe you would have to transfer the necessary parts to the older version and use the male kerbals if you used a manned mission.

 

#BringBacktheMagicBoulder

I actually could fit something in using the original magic boulder.  Make it another vision or something down the road, and I am curious what the real magic boulder looked like up close, but I'm not sure it would work. 
Also I didn't start playing until version 0.9-ish or so, and I'm not sure how I could even get a copy of 0.18 or 0.19

[GDJ]

10 minutes ago, Just Jim said:

Also I didn't start playing until version 0.9-ish or so, and I'm not sure how I could even get a copy of 0.18 or 0.19

You use Mac OS or Windows?

[Just Jim]

Just now, GDJ said:

You use Mac OS or Windows?

Windows 7

[GDJ]

Just now, Just Jim said:

Windows 7

Damn! I have 0.18.4, but it's for Mac OS.