Maxilica

Hi. So I've been playing career mode again and as usual I got quite a few tourist contracts. You know, those ones where you have to transport tourists to where they want to go. I let these pile up until they got to about four, and then I just threw them all onto one big ship I call the Commuter Train. Its job was to transport all the kerbals to Minmus, then to the Mun where it would dock with a lander I had there. The kerbals who wanted to land on the Mun would transfer to the lander, go down and come back up again and then redock with Commuter Train which would take all of them back home to Kerbin. Something so perfect sounded really good in my head, but in reality quite hard. I got them all to Minmus alright, but now something's happened to the complicated maneuver nodes I had saved with Kerbal Alarm Clock and I'm not sure what to do. Which is why I came here to ask you guys this: do the boxes I've already ticked in their contracts get saved when I land so I can send them up again? Or do they just disappear and I have to start over again? Any help is appreciated, Max

1 - THE KERBAL SPACE CENTRE Hi, me again. After my prologue, I can say that things have been going great. This could lead to be the best era of Kerbalkind! All the guys in the lab are very happy. There is a problem though. My company is gonna have to be looked after by someone, as my schedule's going to get busy from here on out. My dad's too old now, and my wife is a journalist, so I might shut it down. A few months after I wrote the first entry, the KSA re-organized itself. First of all, it's now going to be called the KSP, which stands for "Kerbal Space Program". I think it's a better name. Obviously, the new black water-powered mechanisms (that we've christened "rockets") are going to be launched from a space harbour, or centre. We've decided to place it near the equator of the planet, because we save BW and money that way. The government is going to provide our new homes, thankfully. It's going to be a long time before the first bricks are laid, but we'll gonna get there. Some time after that, we decided what we were gonna do, exactly. We decided upon the fact that we were gonna have to send someone up in those rockets to control them, after all. They chose me as the prime candidate, due to my x-treme piloting skillz. There were gonna be another four guys in the group, but they haven't been chosen yet. We also started preparations for the KSC. It was going better than I'd expected. But I spoke too soon. Just when the construction workers started building, the government said "no" and cut our budget big time. It was supposed to look like this: Nice, isn't it? Well, we're not gonna see it anytime soon. I was infuriated. My friends to just go with the flow, but... We had to redo the whole plan to fit with the new budget. At least we came up with the new plan relatively quickly. Three months, that's all. I visited the site with the fellow scientists bi-monthly, and every time we went our smiles got a little bigger. The building that was completed was the Astronaut Complex. Why it's called "astronaut" complex, I don't know. I thought we had agreed upon "kerbonaut"! Anyway, that's the place where I'm going to do my training and such. I started a week after its completion. The tests were simple, seeing as I'd done some of them when I was in flight school. A new one was one where I had to fly around on an experimental jetpack. Don' ask me why I had to do that. Here's a picture: The rest of the buildings were finished some time after that. It coincided with the new update, so everyone came. 0.7.2 Today two of the remaining four kerbonauts were announced: Bill and Bob. Here's to a good career with them. I know that Bill is an engineer and that Bob is a scientist, so it's good to have people in different fields. Gene, a guy called "flight director" held a speech about the future. I didn't get featured in it, but that's not so bad, because I'd forgotten about it. Here's a transcript: "Mhpphm, yes, yes. Is this on? Ye- Ok, then. So. Greetings, ladies and gentlekerbs. We are gathered here today to celebrate a very important step of our history: the opening of the Kerbal Space Center. This place will help us reach places previously thought unreachable. It will act as a major transport hub, and even a military base if the need arises. It will create motivation and jobs for those wanting to help us out, and it is the biggest and most important project ever carried out ever. It would not be possible if it wouldn't have been for the architects, builders and mathematicians that spent hours upon hours of their time working on the project. Please, let's applaud them. Of course, I have plenty of time for your questions. Fire away." "What was the total cost of the project?" "Approximately 2,000,000 funds." "Mr. Gene! Is this part of a military cover-up to destroy the Maxinimalists?" "Of course not. It will only be used as a military base in emergencies, and the current facilities do not support very big planes." "Will a terminal building be built?" "Eventually, if the passenger numbers rise to a certain point. Currently, the building substituted as the airport is a segregated section of the Space Plane Hangar. "Will other centres be built similar to this around the planet?" "That is inevitable, but they will of course be much smaller than the KSC. That'll be all, thank you." At the beginning of 0.7.3, the other two kerbonauts were announced: Dindroock and Chuck, they're both pilots. Around that time, the launch crew were getting the first mission ready. We were all very excited, especially me, because I would be the one who'd be commanding it. I launched a few months later after the announcement. It was definitely the most exhilarating experience of my life.

***PROLOGUE*** It's been years. Decades, centuries, even. I don't know. I'm just so happy. We've finally done it. Sorry, I seem to have gotten ahead of myself here. Okay. So, I am one of millions of specimens of Kerbals. We live on a planet in the Kerbol system called Kerbin. As far as we know, it's the only world that can support life. But I (and quite a few other) believe otherwise. Our history is very, very faded. We know pretty much nothing about it. There are several theories accepted by the Kerbin Science Academy, the main two are: being created by a supreme being known as Kod or evolving from some proto-Kerbal. The other somewhat accepted theory is that our origins lie above us. It seems absurd, but hear me out. We believe that out of all the planets in the Universe, there must be more than one that can support life. Think about it; it seems logical, right? Now, this ridiculous theory has only ever been accepted by a few, possibly because of the lack of evidence. But its popularity has increased recently, due to some not-so good reasons. Nobody wants to admit it, but life on this planet is hard. And I mean hard. Our recent technological advancements have lead to predictions, and none of them look good. We are losing land every year due to its composure. We no longer breathe air due to its lethalness, and have instead developed a substance that keeps us alive, called polyjuice. It has replaced most of our old systems, and is passed on to our descendants. However, due to a never-precedented phenomenon, our soil decrease rate is growing, and it's not showing any sign of stopping. We cannot pinpoint when exactly we will run out of land, but it is coming. Us kerbals are an optimistic race, though. We know that we will find a way to survive, but then there are those who worry and start thinking about continuing our existence. They've tried all sorts of things; from building outposts in the desert to building a network of caves underneath the ground. These only showed minor success, unfortunately. Recently, the KSA has hired these people to team up with them and together find a way of solving the problem. They already know the solution: the absurd theory I was talking about earlier. They just need a way of getting there. This is where I come in. My father used to own a parts company (I do now) and he used to sell them to architects and builders. My mother always had to take care of my sister, leaving me all alone in the house. You can imagine that I wasn't just going to leave my dad's things untouched. I began to build pointy contraptions (because pointy things go faster) powered by black water that could reach incredible heights. I began to build these things for cash, and they became popular around my area. Things like these can't go unnoticed for long, and a few years ago the KSA started questioning me about these things. I thought that I was going to go to prison, but they took a liking to me. They hired me as a mathematician for their company, wanting to be one step closer to finding the solution. We worked I don't know how long on that chalkboard. Our schedule used to be wake up, koffee, equations, sandwich, equations, smaller sandwich, bed. I went out with my friends every once in a while to make sure that I was still sane. It sounds ludicrous, but I don't regret one moment. Not one. Because today we've done it. The whole lab and I have came up with an answer that everyone can agree on. No one in particular discovered it, because we work as a team. It has been named "the Tsiolkov equation", after Dad's old boss that started it all. It is actually quite simple, but our minds were lured down a different path than the one needed, which is why it took us so damn long. We've done it. We're going to do it. We will do it. We will carry this species onwards and we will find life other than ours. It's gonna be awesome. Upwards! - 0.7.0 KD, KSA HQ

This seems promising. Let's see where it goes!

Yes, this is an existing save. Ok, say I want to start clean, but not entirely, as in I get up to where I was and then start playing again. Before contracts, all you did was give yourself amounts of science and power through the tech tree until you got to where you where. But I don't want to do all of the contracts again, so do you think you could help me out?

Hi! I've been playing KSP for ages, but I've been really busy in the last couple of months, and only now have I gotten round to upgrading my install to 0.25. The Patcher did its work and I hopped in. Everything was fine until I entered the VAB. Every single part was doubled, and the funds indicator had a "(+ 9,8 %)" next to the number. I couldn't understand anything. My old ships would load up just fine, but it was still annoying and confusing. Same story in the SPH. I checked out the R&D Facility: Same story. Every tab showed that I had unlocked double the amount of parts that I previously had. For example, when the next unlock involved two parts, it would show me four, the doubles of the previous. I am running a few mods, but in this it must be something the upgrade has caused. I will however note that 'Firespitter' doesn't work. Help? - Max

Ah, this takes me back, man! Awesome btw. I had a good laugh

Looks good. Subbed!

Buy a sea lion, then kill it and make Swedish sounds. How to diagnose Kessler Syndrome?

IMPOSSIBRU! No, seriously. We are talking about someone who has absolutely no life here.

Nice to see that my country is investing in space travel. However, I'm not sure when the spaceport and manned program will happen. We're already spending quite enough (*cough*HighSpeedTwo*cough*).

So, his parachutes exploded on re-entry.

Forcing me to keep Jeb happy?! CHEATER!!!!

We'd have to reconsider what we mean by Centigrade. What if the Earth suddenly flipped 90 degrees?

Aha... Very well, then. Well, I guess I'll be resorting to Sci-Fi for this one. Thanks for all your help!

A few months ago I started an AAR that I named "Redder: Mission to Duna". I only bothered writing the prologue and then got too busy to continue it. Now that I have more free time I have made it up to chapter four but I won't be in town for two weeks so I can't continue the mission in KSP (you know, it's a story based on a mission). Until then, however, I've got plenty of time to correct existing science stuff, most importantly cryotubes. I don't know much about them, but they're a plot point in my story. So here are my questions about them: 1) Can you be awoken by force by Mission Control? 2) What effects would it have, physically and mentally? 3) Is there a set number of times a tube can be used? 4) After the tube is deactivated, how long will it take you to wake up? Sorry if these questions seem a little obvious and that some people may facepalm and say "Damn! What is wrong with him!?", but I don't start chemistry till next year Thanks in advance, Max

Thanks a bunch, guys! I'll take it as a personal challenge to find it

If you go on the wiki to the version update page, scroll down to v0.14.3, you'll find the line "Removed KSC on the Mun". Go to the Mun page, scroll down to Trivia, find the same thing. I know it says "don't ask", but... That wasn't there before! I checked the wiki a few weeks ago and I certainly don't recall seeing such a phrase. Does anyone know anything about this KSC3 (I'm aiming this question at veterans, if possible)? Any pics? Why was it removed? What did it look like? Any information would be appreciated! - Max

Well, I guess so, but you know what they say: never be afraid to ask! Anyway, let's see what Ziv has to say on the matter.

Hi! I've been intrigued by this challenge and I'm currently planning a mission. I have read the rules, but something is still unclear: Can I launch fuel containers to one of the moons for refuelling before the main mission is launched/if the ship's fuel supplies aren't empty? To give you an example, let's say that I'm at Laythe and I have some fuel, but to be safe I decide to refuel using the container I sent up earlier. I refuel and continue with the mission. Thank you, Max

Damn! This thing is good! Can't wait for chapter three!

I bet all of my unsuccessful rockets thanks to FAR!

I don't know how, but somehow this has turned less into a grand tour and more into a fight for survival. I remember the days when everyone was optimistic, you know... The grand tour! Every planet and back! When they were still alive! But now more than 50% of the crew is gone, Proteus is standing on its last legs, their pilot's got warrior's guilt, turned into a maniac, and now the AI just came back online and, as far as he's concerned, could potentially kill all of them before (if) they reach Kerbin. And Eeloo, by the looks of things...

Wait... Is Rozer gone? Or is it just me? Also, if anyone would like to, check out my AAR called "Redder: Mission to Duna". It's written in a style simmilar to The Grand Tour, and obviously inspired by this. Czok, if it wouldn't have been for you, my writing skills wouldn't be nearly as good as they are, and I wouldn't have something to look forward to when coming home from school. Thank you for everything!

REDDER PROLOGUE It has been ten years since the greatest Solar flare of our time. It had disastrous consequences, wiping out the entire satellite network, leaving entire continents without power for weeks, and, worst of all, it created large radioactive belts around Kerbin (that people named "Van Kallen") meaning that until new science was researched, kerbalkind would be stuck in LKO. So that's what they did. They sent unmanned probes to other worlds, collecting as much science as possible from Jool and its moons, Eve and Dres. Using this new science, they got more funds from the government to research better, more safer technologies. After a couple of months, they launched the core of the first geostationary space station: Qwetmee. Initially, the public was skeptical about the project, because it could endanger the crew and even them. Also, the letter "Kwuh" was abolished in 20 KD, so people were not sure how to pronounce the name. However, after a brief lecture on the letter "kwuh", the public began to like this new letter, eventually replacing the letter "c". Nowadays it is only used in writing old names and words borrowed from the Krussians. And so, the core of Qwetmee was launched! It didn't go too well. The second launch however, was a complete success! The bad news is that there are no on orbit photographs of Qwetmee. Shame, too... Looked quite nice. The second module to be launched was an experimental scientific research lab. The third module was an observation module, to do !!!SCIENCE!!! with the Sun. It was nicknamed Oopsy, because that would be the first thing you'd say if you detected an incoming solar flare/storm. It was noted however that the crew would use much ruder words, but this was not taken into consideration when the module was given a designation. Qwetmee did OK, but one day... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi35XQjFV_A KERLORF: KSC, Kerlorf here. We have just woken up and we are receiving a ridiculously large amount of radiation. If we don't leave in the next half hour we're not going to make it! KSC: Roger. Our sensors indicate that as well... Pack your stuff and get into the escape pod. Stand-by. We'll let you know if you are go for abort. KERLORF: OK, I'll tell the crew. Guys! Pack you're things, we're leaving! We've gotta go now! DOGEE: But Kerlorf! Look! KERLORF: I don't have time now! Clean up your quarter! Fredvin, you do the same! FREDVIN: But... KERLORF: Shut up! If we stay here any longer we'll die! DOGEE: But Kerlorf! We've got incoming debris! KERLORF: Shu-- What? DOGEE: I detected it as soon as I woke up. I looked out the window and saw some twinkling stars. And it's broad daylight outside. KERLORF: Oh dammit... Will it impact? DOGEE: It's too small and too far away, I can't run any calculations. But the chances ar--- FREDVIN: It already has. I went to the Science lab to get my research equipment but when I got there there was a two centimetre hole in the wall. That's how the radiation's getting in. KERLORF: Qesus Krist! We're standing in its path... Wait. From where is this debris coming from? DOGEE: I can't tell, but our best choice is from the Mim rescue mission. FREDVIN: When Shepcal and the lads got stranded in Munar orbit? DOGEE: Yup. But here's a question: why aren't the alarms doing anything? KERLORF: Well, the radiation alarm is already going off, but the radiation level's so high that it's causing everything to cease function. So are the other alarms. Anyway, we're wasting air and time. Get to the escape pod! Meanwhile, back on Kerbin... SONNEY: It's too high. They're contaminated. We can't bring them back. SHEPNEY: Pff... Kod... I just... SONNEY: It's not your fault. They went up there knowing the risk that they might not come back. SHEPNEY: What, so it's their fault that they went up there in the first place?! SONNEY: Shep, calm down! This won't solve anything. SHEPNEY: But what are we gonna tell them? SONNEY: I don't know. I'll ask their status. Sonney turns to the monitor and turns the radio on. SONNEY: Qwetmee, Sonney here. What's your status? DOGEE: Chaotic, to say the least. We've been hit by a piece of debris from what we assume to be from Mim, making a hole in the lab. We're not quite sure if the entire debris field will hit us, but better safe than sorry. Are we go for abort and re-entry? SONNEY: Roger... Stand-by. DOGEE: Oh come ON! Sonney turns the radio off. SONNEY: Did you hear that? SHEPNEY: I'm not sure if I should be happy or sad. SONNEY: It's the only thing to do. Sonney turns on the intercom and his voice is heard across Mission Control. SONNEY: Lads, I'd like a go-no go for abort. The whole room spits out just two words: ALL: NO GO! SHEPNEY: There you have it. We have to tell them. SONNEY: But how? How will we tell their families? SHEPNEY: I'll contact the FSA (Federal Security Agency). You just tell them that it was a fun ride, but it must come to an end. Say that... I dunno! Just say the truth! SONNEY: I think I know what to say. Sonny turns the radio on. SONNEY: Qwetmee this is KSC. We have some not-so-good news for you... KERLORF: Oh Kod... How long have we got?? Tell my wife and kids I love them!! Oh Kod, oh Kod, oh Kod... SONNEY: You are no-go for abort. The escape pod is already contaminated. Even if you were to leave now, you're still contaminated beyond cure. We're not sure if the debris field will hit you or not, but it won't matter. Kerlorf, I'm so sorry, but... You guys aren't going home. Kerlorf started crying. Having heard him, Dogee and Fredvin stopped transporting supplies into the escape pod. They had understood why he was crying. Dogee spoke in a quiet voice: DOGEE: Put Charon on the line. While you're at it put Jessika and Krystol on too. Fredvin looked out the window. They had company. Oxygen was now down to 30%. FREDVIN: KSC, this is Fredvin. Visual of the Mim debris field confirmed. KERLORF: Hey KSC... Do we have permission to go out for a sneaky EVA? You know? 'Cos... SONNEY: Be my guest. The crew of Qwetmee smiled at each other. They used explosive decompression to get out. They weren't exactly planning on going back inside. KERLORF: I don't care... Debris struck Qwetmee. Spinning at a phenomenal rate, pieces flung off of it into the distance. Dogee was the first to go. He was hit by the remains of the science lab. Kerlorf followed soon after. He was struck by the remains of a solar panel while looking at mother Kerbin. Fredvin was the last one to leave. He saw his friends die and, knowing that comms were down, there was nobody to talk to. He shut his eyes, took a deep breath, after which he opened his helmet, killing him instantly. Their bodies are still there to this very day, but with literally no chance of recovery. A national day of mourning was held the following day. The official reason though was just "DEBRIS STRIKE" and not because of radiation. Well, it wasn't technically a lie, because it was the debris strike that caused the radiation to get in. But still, the audio transcripts weren't published to keep the program going. The Maxinimal Space Agency lost lives and money because of Qwetmee. They launched a little satellite (Qwetmee 2) to replace the station. They needed a comeback. They needed something big. They needed a manned mission to Duna. It was the only way to gain public interest. There were already plans for such a mission, but it involved nuclear reactors, and after the recent incident, it wasn't worth the risk. They came up with a mission that was around twice as big as Qwetmee, could land on Duna and Ike, and could leave a part of it in Duna orbit for a potential future space station. They came up with the most ambitious, expensive and impressive mission ever designed. They came up with Redder.