The Orange Wasteland...

[Chel]

NOTE: PHOTOS ARE LINKED FOR EASIER VIEWING AS EMBEDDING CAUSES ISSUES

CHAPTER 1:

K.S.S Valiant

The EVA From Hell

The Mystery Of Monban Station, Or How Jeb Wasted Millions In Five Minutes

Icy Ike, But Catla Wants Ike-Cream

The Duna Descent

Work, Work, Work

Home Away From Home

Exploration, Part 1

Exploration, Part 2

Shuttling All The Way

Icy Ike, But Catla Gets Ike-Cream

A Grey Turn Of Events

CHAPTER 2:

Hello To Nowhere, Part 1

Hello To Nowhere, Part 2

 

It all happened one day...

Jeb, Nacy, Catla, and Jonlong set out for the 'big orange thingy' in the sky. Boarding the 'Vixen', they soared through the atmosphere and into space, leaving Kerbin behind. It was going to be a long time...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KEjxauXMc7oocOSi1

 

'Yippee! I'm going to space!' Jonlong blurted out. It had been his first time in space. In no time, they had reached a stable, 97 - 103km orbit, and could rest for a few hours.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CLJcLdsa3r6mIVig1

 

'Hold on, we need to dock with KerbPort to resupply and refuel', Nacy, who was the mission commander, instructed them. 'But until them, we can float around in here, if you want'. 'Yay!' Jonlong enthusiastically replied. Soon, they broke out the cans of Jool-Aid, Crater-Cookies, and of course, snacks, and were floating around the crew cabin. After what seemed like five minutes (it was really five hours), Nacy informed them to get ready for docking. 'Docking in 1 minute, open port'. '30 seconds, Jeb, engage RCS'. Jeb engaged the RCS, and small white puffs came from the thrusters. 'And....we're docked!'.

 https://photos.app.goo.gl/tpTYwoLMwNJZqvYP2

Now, they would refuel and re-supply, switch to another craft (The 'Valiant'), and be on their way to Duna.

Edited August 11, 2017 by The_Cat_In_Space
Updating image links, at viewers request

[Chel]

'K.S.S Valiant'

 

'Right, transferring to the Valiant now. The probe core will take our ship home, and we'll set a course for Duna' Nacy, who was studying the mission portfolio, told them all once they had gone inside the 'Waiting Bay' on KerbPort. 'Look at it! It's arriving now! It's big!' Catla, apparently the silent one up until now, had told them. Indeed, it was big.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qwDl2sGOZ1k05cG72

The K.S.S Valiant would be their 'mothership', taking them to Duna and back. It had everything that they needed: rovers in the cargo bay, a ground base that could be assembled once landed, small space probes to orbit Duna and relay communications, and of course, eight years worth of snacks and Jool-Aid. Since it was too big to dock, the crew had to instead EVA into the vessel. Jeb went first, of course.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VFfZWAzXJODsYnUS2

'Right, opening the hatch now!' Jeb entered through the EVA hatch, and was enveloped in the cargo bay. 'They're not lying when they say that it's big!'

Then, within five minutes, they were all onboard. 'It even has a cup holder!' 'Ooh! Viewing gallery! Telescope!' Indeed, when Space Command told them that they would be in maximum comfort for the roughly 8 months journey to Duna, they meant it.

After the crew had become accustomed to their new home, Catla throttled up the engines and they were off.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/crOEM23fgA5NcuAr2

Edited July 27, 2017 by The_Cat_In_Space
Updating image links, at viewers request

[Chel]

'Eight Months, Eight Days...'

It seemed like forever. First, they had done the check of everything. Then, they were going to Duna. Then, they were orbiting Kerbol. 'Why are we orbitng Kerbol! The Drive engine was to take us to Duna!' Jonlong asked repeatedly to Nacy and Jeb. 'If we do a slingshot manoeuvre around Kerbol, we can gain enough velocity to arrive at Duna in as little as three months' Nacy responded. 'But what about the heat! I don't wanna fry!' 'The heat tiles can protect us from 7000 degrees of heat, so we're perfectly safe'.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2Lr6oH7mwhnfEnEe2

It had worked, and the velocity gained had covered 2 thirds of the journey. 'KSC, we're on our way to Duna, and the idea by Kimry Kerman helped us a lot'.

Now, they just had to wait. Jeb went to the bathroom. Nacy read a book. Jonlong started making a map of the area, so his family could know where he went each day. Catla alternated between playing games and writing in her journal, which she guarded ferociously.

Edited August 10, 2017 by The_Cat_In_Space
Updating image links, at viewers request

[DeltaDizzy]

[REDACTED]

Edited July 25, 2017 by DeltaDizzy

[Chel]

18 hours ago, DeltaDizzy said:

All the pictures are like this.

The picture isn't showing up just to let you know, so I can't see what the picture is

[Chel]

'The EVA From Hell'

Jeb, who had now finished his 'business' in the toilet, went to the onboard viewing gallery. Looking at the distant stars, he noticed one that seemed to be getting closer. 'Nacy, could you come down here and look at this?' Nacy burst through the door, apparently unhappy at Jeb's interruption of her reading. 'I think I can see something getting closer'. 'You're right, Jeb. Something is definitely getting closer. I'm going to inform the KSC about it'. Nacy then ran back up to the bridge, and told the KSC of Jeb's findings.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QdpdZu3Xnmp5Dgdz2

'Yes, he's in the viewing gallery now. I'm going to get him up here righ-' Nacy suddenly heard a noise of metal scraping against metal, and glass being shattered. Alarms went off. The lights went red. 'Hull breached. Hull breached. Hull breached. Emergency pressurization system active.' the in-flight computer said over the alarm system. 'KSC, the ship's been breached! Repeat, hull is breached!'

As was standard procedure, all the crew were to meet at the bridge in an emergency. Jonlong and Catla ran into the room, with Jonlong narrowly avoiding a collision with the door. 'Where's Jeb?' Nacy remembered: Jeb was in the viewing gallery. 'Jeb was in the viewing gallery. I'll go check if he's alright' Catla said.

The door to the viewing gallery was sealed. The window, which Catla peered through, revealed a grim sight. Glass strewn, particles floating around, and empty space. 'Nacy, I think that Jeb's out there. The viewing gallery's like a warzone'. Jeb, as it had seemed, was propelled into space by the impact. His suit was leaking, and his life support was critical.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/H7XJtTvE0pFhTaow1

He eventually worked his way into the cargo bay, by using small amounts of EVA fuel and bodily motion.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oWOZnqcjkFaa0XDq1

He neared the ladder and platform of the bay, and pulled himself upwards to safety.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FkMatitJUpwFhvuw1

He entered the crew area, and, to everyone's surprise, was alive. 'Jeb! You're alive! What happened!'. And he explained the story, sitting down in the lounge with a drink and some snacks.

Edited July 27, 2017 by The_Cat_In_Space
Updating image links, at viewers request

[Chel]

'The Mystery Of Monban Station, or how Jebediah wasted millions of dollars in five minutes'

After Jeb's incident, the viewing gallery was restored, but the crew was hunting to find what had smashed into the ship. Jeb, as well as Nacy, had seen the bright object getting close to them. Jonlong was resting, and Catla had been writing in her journal, so they could count them out from the situation. 'I saw it hurtling towards me, and it hit the glass and shattered everywhere. I briefly saw what looked like a command pod, but it could've been anything, really' Jeb said, as he was talking in the lounge. 'Catla, is there any known stations or ships near us?' Nacy asked, and Catla went to the charts to see. 'Yes, there's Monban Station'. 'Monban Station? It can't be! What!' The reason for Nacy's sudden surprise was that Monban Station had been in orbit of Ike. They were roughly 150 kms from Ike, but the journey was suppost to be three months with Jeb's solar trick.

'Well, we're getting close to Monban Station now. It's only 90 km out'. Jonlong informed them. 'Now 80, now 75' '75 km? or 75 meters?' Catla asked him, with a slightly worried expression. '70 km now' 'We're heading at roughly 5 km every 3 seconds!' Nacy and Jeb ran to the  bridge, and turned the ship round, firing the engines to slow down.

They slowed down enough, and were to dock with the station in roughly an hour, at their speed.

'Look at it! Monban Station'

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9ndfvkyv6XQ2BxzO2

Monban Station was a ring station in Ike orbit, and would provide communications from other ships to the KSC, as most other ships were out of range from Kerbin. 'Let's have a look, shall we?' Jeb headed to the airlock, after the docking port seemingly didn't open. He opened the hatch, and transferred across to the station.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YrMCXTESmTRHYE4J3

'Hello? Anyone there?' He tried and tried again, but got no answer. 'The lights are on, but nobody's answering'. With that, he went inside the station. What seemed like a modern communications ring station outside, was an utter mess inside. Snacks everywhere, things scribbled on walls, the odd bit of feces here and there, and that was only the airlock bay. 'Jeb to Valiant, Nothing's here. I'm going back now'. Then, he heard a creaking noise. A pipe burst. Jeb noticed that he was now floating, that the gravity must've been deactivated or something. 'Valiant, can you come near the airlock? I'm noticing something about the station'. More pipes burst. The electricity failed. The lights went out. And then, a horrible cracking noise, of metal being smashed and broken. The airlock, to Jeb's horror, looked like it was being disconnected from the rings. 'Jeb to Valiant, emergency! I think the stations falling apart! Help!' But Jeb couldn't get back. His way was trapped, with floating bits of metal and pipe. He found an 'Emergency Disconnect Core' button, and pressed it. At once, the rings were severed, and the core was jettisoned. With a small 'boom', the rings fell into the moon below.

Jeb then EVA'd over to the Valiant, having once again survived an emergency.

Edited July 27, 2017 by The_Cat_In_Space
Updating image links, at viewers request

[DeltaDizzy]

The pictures are back!

[Chel]

39 minutes ago, DeltaDizzy said:

The pictures are back!

[Chel]

'Icy Ike, But Catla Wants Ike-Cream'

'KSC, we're starting phase 2 of the mission now. Deploying satellites' Nacy contacted the KSC from the lone communications dish in the core of Monban Station, and opened the cargo bay.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2uJVUcWsbViKc4ti2

Jonlong controlled the main probe as it went out of the bay, and once away from the ship, deployed satellites that had been packed into the probe. 'Activating landing protocol now'. The engines throttled up, and took the probe on a suborbital trajectory.

'Landing now, touching down....now!' Jonlong exclaimed as the probe landed on Ike, sending pictures back to the Valiant, which was transmitting them to the KSC and Kerbin.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CplGZJ4H9oySjN0Z2

Catla wanted to go down to the surface, but they didn't have any landing craft. The Valiant was designed for landing on Duna, not Ike, and it wasn't part of the schedule anyway. So, after relaxing and having a break, Nacy plotted a course for Duna orbit.

Edited July 27, 2017 by The_Cat_In_Space
Updating image links, at viewers request

[Chel]

'The Duna Descent'

It was time. Time to land on Duna. Time to be the first Kerbals to visit the orange planet, and give the people back home actual pictures of the surface, and take some scientific readings and all. 'Coming into Duna orbit now, firing engines to circularise' Jeb said, as he engaged the throttle. 'And...we are now in a stable orbit of Duna'.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Zayyym7sNrysecgg1

The crew recorded footage and pictures, taking scientific readings here and there. They would wait for some time before beginning the landing, so the KSC could establish a video feed of the whole thing. 'It looks different than the pictures. I can see a canyon, and some mountains, and a giant crater!' Jonlong excitedly mentioned to the rest of the crew. 'KSC to Valiant, you can begin the landing procedure now, but just watch your speed and height. Go in slowly, and keep the nose up. We don't want you slamming into a mountain'. And with all of Kerbalkind watching, they descended into the orange planet.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/629vbcfjXEouWYK52

'Entering atmosphere now, doing turns to bleat off speed'.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/y2F7eOR1FtwIVrgo2

'Here we go! Keep the nose up!'

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UGyLz6UuTkK4dkFJ2

'And.....we're through!' 'KSC to Valiant, congratulations. Open the airbrakes and parachutes, and try to find a large but reasonably flat space to put it down'.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/i2NznrrncoEo5vHD3

With a slight 'thump', the wheels touched the ground. Nacy activated the airbrakes, and the drogue parachutes to slow it down, and the craft came to a halt. 'Well, we've done it! We've landed on Duna!' Nacy exclaimed, seeing her fellow crewmates happy faces. 'We can celebrate for now, but in the morning we'll have to start work, getting the rovers up and running, building the base, those sorts of things'.

'Well Jeb, what do you think?' Catla asked him, while they were relaxing in the lounge. 'It's certainly different, and I can feel the gravity, but apart from that, I don't know'. With that, Jeb nodded off, and Catla went to write in her journal.

 

 

 

Edited July 27, 2017 by The_Cat_In_Space
Updating image links, at viewers request

[DeltaDizzy]

1 hour ago, The_Cat_In_Space said:

'Icy Ike, But Catla Wants Ike-Cream'

'KSC, we're starting phase 2 of the mission now. Deploying satellites' Nacy contacted the KSC from the lone communications dish in the core of Monban Station, and opened the cargo bay.

Jonlong controlled the main probe as it went out of the bay, and once away from the ship, deployed satellites that had been packed into the probe. 'Activating landing protocol now'. The engines throttled up, and took the probe on a suborbital trajectory.

'Landing now, touching down....now!' Jonlong exclaimed as the probe landed on Ike, sending pictures back to the Valiant, which was transmitting them to the KSC and Kerbin.

Catla wanted to go down to the surface, but they didn't have any landing craft. The Valiant was designed for landing on Duna, not Ike, and it wasn't part of the schedule anyway. So, after relaxing and having a break, Nacy plotted a course for Duna orbit.

Not again! I'm desperate to see! The pictures of the landing are good, though.

[Chel]

'Work, Work, Work'

When the crew had woken from their sleep after the previous day's events, Nacy handed out clipboards with the day's schedule on them. 'You'll need these, or else the KSC staff won't be happy, so don't lose them!' After eating breakfast and washing, they donned their spacesuits and headed out. The first thing was to take some samples from the surface, test the air, and walk around for a bit. 'I'm going on the surface now!' Nacy called out as the others watched inside the cargo bay.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/OgbXCAmwKl2565Js2

Nacy Kerman had become the first Kerbal to set foot on Duna, and she promptly planted the flag. Soon, the others joined her, and they started taking readings and following their schedule. When it came to 'Test The Air', Jeb took off his helmet. For about three seconds, he was a bit cautious, and then started coughing. With that, he put his helmet back on. 'The air, or at least for now, isn't really breathable'. 'Right. Now we have to unpack the rovers. Jeb and me will drive one, and you two drive the other' Nacy said, pointing at Jonlong and Catla. The rovers were capable of piloting themselves, but Nacy only let them drive out of the cargo bay, to test their capability on the surface. If something went wrong, then the rover would be the only casualty.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cxtBO0eiY0qLfSDr2

The wheels gripped the terrain, with the stability system keeping it level in the Duna gravity, which was slightly lighter than Kerbin's.

'All right, we can start travelling now', Nacy said, after watching the rover's performance. Named 'Nova-1' and 'Nova-2', or N1 and N2 for short, the group entered the seats. Soon, they were driving across the orange-red surface, being cautious not to lose sight of the ship. Not that it would've mattered, as the rovers could activate their guidance systems to automatically drive back to the ship.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9Jl4BxwBDwoBwBYk2

After all that driving, the group met up and took a short break, ticking off things that they had completed, and eating their EVA rations. They talked for a bit, but then had to resume their mission. Having been driving for so long, it was nearly night when they started heading back. The headlights turned on automatically, and Jeb activated the guidance system to head back for the ship.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kvmx1EGDhDCg11cl2

Upon reaching the ship, they settled in for the night. In the morning, they would have to assemble the base, which would be their new home for the length of the mission.

Edited July 27, 2017 by The_Cat_In_Space
Updating image links, at viewers request

[Chel]

'Home Away From Home'

Officially now situated on Duna, the crew had to build a base on the planet. 'So, where are the base pieces? I can't see them' Jonlong asked Nacy, as they ventured out to the cargo bay. 'Here'. She was pointing to a couple of crates. 'How can bits of a base fit in those crates? Their tiny!' Jonlong was starting to think that Nacy was joking. 'You're a fool, Jonlong. The crates are filled with packs. Those packs are different modules and parts, which can be inflated' Nacy responded. 'So, shutup, and get to work'. They opened the crates, and put the packs on the rovers, for easy transportation.

The four Kerbals found a reasonably flat area not too far from the Valiant, and Jeb took out the map of the base, showing what modules go where, how high the communications array is to be, the storage zone for the rovers, and everything else with construction.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JA8qEatIxsoY0XZE2

Opening a pack, labelled 'BASE FOUNDATION: 01', Catla inflated it. What was a small lightweight container, soon became a solid base, designed for the placement of a module on it. She then got out her multipurpose drill, and connected '01' to '02', and '02' to '03', and so on.

To make construction easy, each base foundation had a small centrepiece that was designed for a 'BASE MODULE' piece to simply be slotted in, and inflated. Jonlong put the 'COMMAND CORE' module in, and once inflated, it became a two-story building. Jeb inflated the 'GREENHOUSE' module, and connected it to the core hub module. Then, they repeated the sequence, putting the different modules together. In as little as 30 minutes, they had a liveable base. 'Hey Nacy, what about the inside? I can just see empty space. How are we supposed to sit down or do activities or sleep inside, if it's just a big empty space?' Catla asked her. 'Good thing that they come with inflatable furniture as well!', and with that, Nacy went inside the 'CREW QUARTERS' module, and inflated a couch, followed by a couple of chairs, beds, and tables. The engineers had really thought of compactness!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UmSKGLG2lm80xVRm1

They were soon exploring their new home, finding their workstations, choosing beds, putting supplies in cupboards and drawers, and planting seeds to grow in the greenhouse. Jeb turned on the TV (Why the engineers added a TV to the list of items for the base remains a mystery), and was met with an unwelcome screen.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VgwCk89YkOdGfGN52

'Why would they add a TV if there's no channels to watch on it?' He then got a book, and read on his bunk. That night the crew enjoyed a good meal in their new home, with ice cream from Minmus that Catla had smuggled onboard (Catla was a bit of a sweet hoarder) to top it off. Jonlong went outside to 'walk off' his sweet treat, and noticed that there weren't any clouds on Duna, unlike Kerbin.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6sFwh55KjQq9DnMj1

He then went back inside, and climbed into bed.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qDbDpweeOHduyrrJ2

Over the next few days, they would properly explore Duna, taking different samples, analysing them, studying how they reacted to certain conditions or things, and then send the information back to the KSC.

Edited July 27, 2017 by The_Cat_In_Space
Updating image links, at viewers request

[Wallygator]

It appears that @The_Cat_In_Space does not realise that images are best loaded into an imgur album (and then linked) link rather than a private google account THAT NO ONE HAS PERMISSION TO VIEW.

(Sigh... at least @DeltaDizzy understands)

 

Edited July 24, 2017 by Wallygator

[DeltaDizzy]

Well, at least now @The_Cat_In_Space understands, and will hopefully fix it.

[Chel]

13 hours ago, Wallygator said:

It appears that @The_Cat_In_Space does not realise that images are best loaded into an imgur album (and then linked) link rather than a private google account THAT NO ONE HAS PERMISSION TO VIEW.

Imgur's blocked by my admin, and I'm changing my google photo thing to public now.

Edited July 24, 2017 by The_Cat_In_Space

[DeltaDizzy]

Well, we can't do that. I just right clicked a picture, selected copy Image address, and will now paste it.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KrTUy2cJbSEpHEnf2yEzQeFcAGmyMP2N7nX0VtKP3LTWCqXdXT-VOhkzakle6yUUJjU-OkLaIoXmh6aON6bAUNihJpdbtWUYsSaj5JF0kzpX4XsaO_njIquK6D2zMVzXvz6b3pb97H4gFtiIY1-Ge4kqLPHmR_HOaU1ySDo3l1FcSE9BXUCnMyX3pRfmrhxXmikKzWHqzrwhFspd4NtBVSjHK1P7amxRu8LfBO4ljgYSfDsv9xQzK3MAnSThuw_Qh5SLCeWSoVQUWIRYQNfxarqcEY3Eq-SZsHrL-hGN6rGaJjFe38jY8dd1nDvWiXC-g9hHaLaCVEgKQZB7p9Mnsiklrs_nU8y-sp-3ZD6_2ar7TwUrs62HvN1bobE7xp6xRn8gvtHsXVBCCWcqXhJMM0NJkJlOOR68jerGv29LdRGBYZ3WC_NseH3xy7K9w4FhsECLVVcRhletP2pHqr8PKN9wSECUoG4cqj0kIwBGkjwt41P0c6rKm7vMOSYQPX73lVTDh6HHfVkIqo9QKVuwBciawaiDbLkQtjTucFhr0dngLBf2mcKdfxaqyLRrDAVi7t54f1Tes-k=s1198-w1198-h673-no

Edited July 24, 2017 by DeltaDizzy

[Chel]

2 minutes ago, DeltaDizzy said:

Well, we can't do that. I just right clicked a picture, selected copy Image address, and will now paste it.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KrTUy2cJbSEpHEnf2yEzQeFcAGmyMP2N7nX0VtKP3LTWCqXdXT-VOhkzakle6yUUJjU-OkLaIoXmh6aON6bAUNihJpdbtWUYsSaj5JF0kzpX4XsaO_njIquK6D2zMVzXvz6b3pb97H4gFtiIY1-Ge4kqLPHmR_HOaU1ySDo3l1FcSE9BXUCnMyX3pRfmrhxXmikKzWHqzrwhFspd4NtBVSjHK1P7amxRu8LfBO4ljgYSfDsv9xQzK3MAnSThuw_Qh5SLCeWSoVQUWIRYQNfxarqcEY3Eq-SZsHrL-hGN6rGaJjFe38jY8dd1nDvWiXC-g9hHaLaCVEgKQZB7p9Mnsiklrs_nU8y-sp-3ZD6_2ar7TwUrs62HvN1bobE7xp6xRn8gvtHsXVBCCWcqXhJMM0NJkJlOOR68jerGv29LdRGBYZ3WC_NseH3xy7K9w4FhsECLVVcRhletP2pHqr8PKN9wSECUoG4cqj0kIwBGkjwt41P0c6rKm7vMOSYQPX73lVTDh6HHfVkIqo9QKVuwBciawaiDbLkQtjTucFhr0dngLBf2mcKdfxaqyLRrDAVi7t54f1Tes-k=s1198-w1198-h673-no

is the picture the grey circle with the white rectangle?

[DeltaDizzy]

Yep

All of the pictures here are like that.

[Chel]

5 minutes ago, DeltaDizzy said:

Yep

So I replace all the images in the story with the google photos link?

[DeltaDizzy]

If that will make them visible to everyone, yes.

[Wallygator]

1 hour ago, The_Cat_In_Space said:

Imgur's blocked by my admin, and I'm changing my google photo thing to public now.

(Steps into cockpit door) I just want you to know we are all counting on you...  

 

[Chel]

3 hours ago, DeltaDizzy said:

If that will make them visible to everyone, yes.

Done!

[Chel]

'Exploration, Part 1'

Nacy let the crew sleep in for an extra half hour before rousing them for breakfast, because they didn't really have anything to do today. Nevertheless, when Jonlong fell off of his bunk with Catla sleeping beneath it, it caused a large racket, which woke up Jeb and Catla as well. 'Now that you're all here, you can sit around until we go out. The Mission Control staff have told us to start exploring Duna, doing day to day rover trips on the surface'. Nacy said to the sleepy crew.

One by one, they funnelled out into the Duna sun. It was supposed to be Winter on Duna, but their climate-controlled suits had internal heating packs, so they kept warm (unlike me, who is currently freezing while writing this!). Boarding the rovers, Catla read her book, while Jonlong drove to the designated spot, a canyon.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/N3yT24z2kIjwCDWq1

'We're coming up on it now' Jonlong said to Nacy through the rover's communicator. 'Ok. Pull up next to us, and we'll take a break before heading down there'

Jonlong then went to engage the rover's throttle, but it wouldn't start. 'Oh no, not now!' he said. 'What? What's wrong?' Catla said, looking up from her book. 'Throttle's jammed, so we can't move' Jonlong anxiously replied. 'I'll contact Nacy and Jeb'. Catla then proceeded to tell the other crew of their problem, and informed Jonlong that they would be able to travel on the other rover.

Soon, Nacy and Jeb arrived, and they hopped onboard the rover. 'Thanks for doing this, we would've been stuck without you two' Jonlong gratefully said to Jeb. 'We had no plan to leave you behind, you know!' Jeb replied.

They drove to the edge of the canyon, before it went downhill, and inspected the area beneath them.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bcGcpKaot1LOAmtm2

'Look! See that there?' Catla exclaimed, looking through her EVA-binoculars. 'What? What is it? I don't see anything' Nacy replied. 'Over here. Where that white speck is!' Then the whole group were looking at Catla's find. 'We'll go down and get a better view' Jeb said, and they all got back in the rover and headed down.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ioEaUN8NjFZ2BkbI2

Once safely down the Canyon's slope, Jeb stopped the rover, and looked through his binoculars. 'Seems to be some sort of base'. 'Base?' Jonlong said, looking a little scared. 'Yep, a base. Has a communications tower, storage zones or something, and even a couple of rovers from what I can see'.

'Let's go inspect it. I'll report to the KSC' Nacy said, and the rest of them headed off to the mysterious structure.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tKopCqjdRJjAThfv1

What will they find? What dangers will they face? Stay tuned for part 2 of this chapter!

 

Edited July 27, 2017 by The_Cat_In_Space
Editing dialogue for more fluency