[AAR] The Grand Tour - Voyage To The Planets

[Patupi]

Yeah, it's a pity; though it's my fault that there is one chapter per few weeks recently so it's not like I can blame anyone for this. Compatibility with all mods and testing will eat a lot of time, so I guess I will stay with the latest version of 0.20 for now.

Well, I wish you luck with that. Certainly looks good so far. I forget to catch up on your thread for one week and VOOM all this! Good work! I like the way this story is going.

Thank you for all the kind words and yeah, I could've add "who is who" earlier. I don't write that much though during the years I earned some money by writing all sorts of stuff. However this is the first time when I write not only a story but also in a foreign language. Maybe I should write more but seeing how my deadlines for this story fail again and again I'm not so sure about that

You're doing good, trust me. I can barely tell. I think there were one or two pointers. Damn, forget what it was now. It was a quote that was backwards. Still made perfect sense, just not the way round it usually is. I'll edit this in when I re-read and find it. (EDIT: Chapter 10 Eve encounter. You say 'Wrong time in the wrong place' rather than 'Wrong place at the wrong time'. Perhaps you meant it to be ironic, but it somehow doesn't come across as more than a mistake. *Shrugs* English is weird in what sounds right and what sounds wrong)

Doing GT on stock parts is possible but you need decent computer (high parts count will eat your RAM alive). Is this your final version of the GT ship? There were some interesting ideas on the forum before April which alas are mostly lost now - one which I remember included basically overpowered Eve Lander/miner and extra fuel tanks on orbit. I'm not sure how good approach this is when trying to land on Gilly or some other tiny rock (you need 20-25m/s acceleration to lift off from Eve).

It's not my final version, and unfortunately my Grand Tour is currently on hold. Right now I've got relatives staying over and limiting computer access, overtime at work, plus I'm heavily involved in the Duna Architectural challenge. Though I've recently been using the Spherical Fuel Tanks mod. That might make things a little easier. Larger parts means fewer parts overall. Maybe when I get back to my Grand Tour I'll use them. Heck, I'll likely be using 0.21.1 as well... if they get the ASAS a little more stable. From what I've tested seems to work well, just not too good for long term drift. I've also been considering using the deadly re-entry mod off and on for a while. I just find the current lax system so useful I've resisted. Sooner or later I'll try it.

Edited August 1, 2013 by Patupi
Data found

[czokletmuss]

Well, I wish you luck with that. Certainly looks good so far. I forget to catch up on your thread for one week and VOOM all this! Good work! I like the way this story is going.

Thank you. I would like to update to 0.21 (or 0.22 at some moment) but alas with such huge number of mods (some of which are from 0.18 and modified by myself) it would be pretty tough challenge. I prefer to write/play than spend hours testing once again all the vehicles and downloading mods again and again.

You're doing good, trust me. I can barely tell. I think there were one or two pointers. Damn, forget what it was now. It was a quote that was backwards. Still made perfect sense, just not the way round it usually is. I'll edit this in when I re-read and find it. (EDIT: Chapter 10 Eve encounter. You say 'Wrong time in the wrong place' rather than 'Wrong place at the wrong time'. Perhaps you meant it to be ironic, but it somehow doesn't come across as more than a mistake. *Shrugs* English is weird in what sounds right and what sounds wrong)

Ahem, this was actually just a silly mistake considering that even in Polish there is the very same phrase. And yeah, English is weird sometimes but believe me, it's nothing compared to Polish - in this language rules are only for the sake of making exceptions of them, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that the majority of Poles make a lot of mistakes in their one language (!). Although in case of English I always wonder, is it really necessary to have so many tenses?

It's not my final version, and unfortunately my Grand Tour is currently on hold. Right now I've got relatives staying over and limiting computer access, overtime at work, plus I'm heavily involved in the Duna Architectural challenge. Though I've recently been using the Spherical Fuel Tanks mod. That might make things a little easier. Larger parts means fewer parts overall. Maybe when I get back to my Grand Tour I'll use them. Heck, I'll likely be using 0.21.1 as well... if they get the ASAS a little more stable. From what I've tested seems to work well, just not too good for long term drift. I've also been considering using the deadly re-entry mod off and on for a while. I just find the current lax system so useful I've resisted. Sooner or later I'll try it.

New Duna challenge? Sounds interesting. I was also considering DeadlyReentry as a mod for the Grand Tour but as the tests showed, it wasn't the best idea

[Patupi]

It's not exactly a new challenge, been out a few months. Me, I only noticed it recently, but that's mainly because I haven't checked out the challenges much till now. Now I've got more KSP piloting and engineering experience under my belt I feel I can take on some challenges

Oh, and here's a quick link for the Duna challenge in case you didn't feel like searching (though it's pretty high in the challenge forum anyway.)

Duna Architecture Challenge

[sal_vager]

Very creative czokletmuss

More people should read this, so I am happy to announce that your thread is August's Thread Of The Month, thanks for all the work you have put into this

[ChrisWill]

Wow this is amazing not just the mission but the writing and work put into it. Good job.

[BostLabs]

Wow! Thread of the month! Congrats!

[czokletmuss]

Very creative czokletmuss

More people should read this, so I am happy to announce that your thread is August's Thread Of The Month, thanks for all the work you have put into this

August's Thread Of The Month? Sticky thread?

Wow. I'm really honoured by that decision - thank you very much. I guess I have no other choice but to write better and more frequently now

And of course I would like to thank all of you who read this story - positive reinforcment always helps in the creative process!

Edited August 1, 2013 by czokletmuss

[Patupi]

Definitely congratulations are in order, and well deserved too (Hey, I didn't notice this was my 100th post too! )

Edited August 2, 2013 by Patupi

[Itsdavyjones]

gratz on thread of the month, well earned.

[RocketPilot573]

Congratulations on getting the Thread of the Month!

[KSK]

A well deserved sticky - congratulations!

[Rhyunix]

Congratuuuuulaaaaaatioooonnnnnnnnnns!

[Rainbowtrout]

Congrats on being Thread of the Month!

(100th post!)

[czokletmuss]

CHAPTER 14

EVE LANDING

***

BOB: Visual inspection completed, no damage detected. You got that BERTY?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. Eve Lander is fully operational and ready for landing.

BOB: Good. I'm boarding the lander.

ROZER: Sir, with all due respect, maybe you should consider changing your mind about the subject which we discussed recently.

BOB: I told you already that I don't believe in superstitions, Rozer.

JOHNDON: But there are o-other reasons as well, sir.

BOB: :sigh: Listen doctor, I appreciate your work with the rover, but…

JOHNDON: What about the h-history books, sir?

BOB: What about them?

JOHNDON: I just would like to point out that some more f-fancy name than the “Eve Lander†certainly will sound b-better.

BOB: Huh. You've actually make a very good point. Alright then, what do you propose, Johndon?

JOHNDON: I was thinking, uhm, maybe something from the mythology? Like the Orpheus, f-for example?

BERTY v.2.0.8: All systems online. Shall the Eve Lander undock now, director Bob?

BOB: Yes, yes. Huh. Frankly I don't really understand why guy who slew some monster with hair problem should give a name to my lander, I mean, the Eve Lander.

JOHNDON: N-no sir, you're thinking about Perseus. Orpheus was the mythic hero who descended to the u-underworld to save his belove…

BOB: Oh, I get it. Descending to hell. Smart.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Undocking completed. Eve Lander separated from the transfer module.

JOHNDON: It's just an idea b-but…

BOB: No, this is good, I like it. Gentlemen, lo and behold - “Orpheusâ€Â, the first manned lander on Eve.

***

BOB: Damn, this heavy duty EVA suit isn't really comfortable. Alright BERTY, how much time do we have before the burn?

BERTY v.2.0.8: 17 minutes. Double-checking of all the systems advised.

BOB: Yes. Begin then.

BERTY v.2.0.8: SAS operational. RCS operational. Engines operational. Solar panels operational. Autopilot system online. Initiating the Smart Eve Suit test.

STEVE v.1.0.2: Smart Eve Suit test initiated. Synchronizing with on-board computer. Suit temperature – 20 °C. External pressure – 1 atm. Acceleration – zero g. Exoskeleton operational. Life support operational. AutoDoc operational. Recording equipment operational. Oxium level 99,77%.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Smart Eve Suit test completed. All systems operational.

BOB: Splendid.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Please be advised that the communication between “Orpheus†and any other spacecraft will cease during the aerobraking.

BOB: Alright.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Please be advised that the Smart Eve Suit is the experimental suit and as such it shouldn't be overloaded or exposed to the extreme conditions longer than it is included in the mission plan.

BOB: Believe me BERTY, I know better than anyone how hard was it to implement this whole exoskeleton and other cutting-edge technology in the suit. Is that all?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative.

BOB: Great. So in the meantime…

BERTY v.2.0.8: Incoming transmission from commander Jebediah.

BOB: Patch him through. Well hello Jeb, what can I do for you?

JEB: Listen Bob, I know that you probably won't change your decision…

BOB: Indeed I won't.

JEB: I understand. If you want to risk everything for some illusion of glory or to take revenge on me, then go ahead.

BOB: Oh don't worry about me, old friend. Today I'm going down in history.

JEB: Yeah, you're going down alright… Just remember – as soon as you touch the atmosphere, you're on your own. You better know what you are doing, 'cause nobody can help you once you're down there.

BOB: I understand that. Now will you excuse me, I have one giant leap to make. BERTY, execute the deorbit burn as soon as you can.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Deorbiting completed. “Orpheus†is on course. Decoupling the Orbital Engine Module.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Decoupling successful. Inflating the heat shield. Entering the atmosphere in 11 minutes. Predicted maximum g-force – 11,5 gees.

BOB: You heard it. Everything is all right, communication will cease in, 11 minutes and will be resumed after the aerobraking.

ROZER: Copy that.

JOHNDON: G-good luck, sir.

BOB: Luck has nothing to do with it. Hey, Johndon?

JOHNDON: Yes sir?

BOB: I can't remember – what happened to this mythical Orpheus? Did he get what he wanted?

JOHNDON: Almost, sir.

BOB: Almost?

JOHNDON: He saved his b-beloved but then he lost her. She stayed in h-hell forever. Ahem.

BOB: Well, wasn't that uplifting? I bet this story will have different ending if only he has technology on his side. Okay, enough with this – next transmission scheduled in 35 minutes. Over.

***

BERTY v.2.0.8: Entering the atmosphere in 10 seconds. Cease of communication in 30 seconds,

BOB: Here we go.

BERTY v.2.0.8: â€ÂOrpheus†has entered the atmosphere. Cease of communication in 15 seconds.

BOB: Ugh!

STEVE v.1.0.2: Acceleration – 6 G.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Weather anomaly detected. Prepare for turbulences. Cease of communication in 10 seconds.

BOB: Argh! At this height?!

STEVE v.1.0.2: Acceleration – 8 G.

BOB: What was that!?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Alert. Critical failure of communication and solar power module. Cease of communica#########

BOB: BERTY!

STEVE v.1.0.2: Acceleration – 11,6 G.

BERTY v.2.0.8: ...###...

BOB: Oh frak!

STEVE v.1.0.2: Acceleration – 9 G.

BOB: Focus, focus! You can do it!

STEVE v.1.0.2: Acceleration – 8 G.

BOB: Good! Okay, aerobraking is almost finished. Preparing to decouple the heat shield.

STEVE v.1.0.2: Acceleration – 7 G.

BOB: Releasing the heat shield in five, four, three, two and shield released!

BOB: Inflating the envelopes! SAS online, altitude 7954 meters.

STEVE v.1.0.2: Acceleration – 5 G.

BOB: Ship's stable, slow descent in progress. Oh my Kod… I think I can see the surface. There's, uhm, a large body of liquid, probably liquid sulphur? This is incredible.

STEVE v.1.0.2: Acceleration – 3 G.

BOB: Damage assessment. It appears that the, uhm, solar panels of the ascent module are completely destroyed. Communication isn't working. I guess you'll find out about all this from the recording, not sooner. Continuing descent.

STEVE v.1.0.2: Acceleration – 1,7 G.

BOB: Touchdown! Touchdown, touchdown! “Orpheus†has landed! Yes!

STEVE v.1.0.2: Acceleration – 1,7 G.

BOB: Okay, turning this off… It's quite dark in here, kinda creepy. I'm prepping the EVA, checking the situation right now. I hope all the sensors are still working.

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 20 °C. External temperature – 467 °C. External pressure – 5 atm. Acceleration – 1,7 g. Exoskeleton operational. Life support operational. AutoDoc operational. Recording equipment operational. Oxium level 93,45%.

BOB: Alright. I don't have much time, I better do it quickly.

***

BOB: And so the son of Kerbin sets his foot on this planet – as the first of the many who will come. Ha! You hear me, Jeb!? I did it!

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 21 °C.

BOB: I will try to make a few steps further away from the ship.

BOB: It's really hard to move, the air is incredibly dense. It's like swimming, but with superheated carbon dioxide instead of water. I can't see much, the distortions… wow, this was a thunder I believe. And again. I better move quickly.

BOB: Done. I'm getting tired and it was what, 10 minutes maybe. I'm really glad I have this exoskeleton helping me. Everything's weirdly heavy.

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 22 °C.

BOB: Alright, I'm gonna go get some samples.

STEVE v.1.0.2: WARNING – HIGH RADIATION LEVEL.

BOB: What? I'm getting – wow, 879 milisiverts per hour! That's really strange.

STEVE v.1.0.2: WARNING – HIGH RADIATION LEVEL.

BOB: Now it's 884 msv. It appears to be rising as I move towards the, uhm, lake. I guess it's not sulphur after all. Why our rovers didn't detect anything?

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 23 °C.

BOB: Alright, I better move.

***

STEVE v.1.0.2: Sample 14 secured. You have space for – one – more sample. Suit temperature – 20 °C.

BOB: O…okay, one more to go. Whew, it's getting really uncomfortable here. I'll just get this one last sample and – argh!

BOB: Holy frak, I tripped over! STEVE, status report!

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 27 °C. External temperature – 475 °C. External pressure – 5 atm. Acceleration – 1,7 g. Exoskeleton operational. Life support operational. AutoDoc operational. Recording equipment operational. Oxium level 78,35%.

BOB: Screw this, for a moment I thought…

STEVE v.1.0.2: Warning. Critical failure of the cooling system detected.

BOB: NO!

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 30 °C. Please return to the vehicle immediately.

BOB: No, no, no, no!

BOB: :gasping:

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 34°C. Warning. Quickened heartbeat and high blood pressure detected. Please breath normally.

BOB: :gasping:

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 41°C. Warning. Dangerously high temperature. Tissue damage imminent.

BOB: No, no! :gasping:

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 44°C. Please return to the vehicle immediately.

BOB: AARGH!

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 46°C. Warning. Crew member's life endangered. Initiating emergency protocol.

BOB: FRAK MEE!

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 48°C. Adrenaline injected. Sedative injected. Analgesic injected. Please touch the ladder.

BOB: AARGHH!!

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 50°C. Increasing the dose of the analgesic. Exoskeleton operational. Automatic return to the ascent module initiated.

BOB: MY FACE!!

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 52°C. Increasing the dose of the analgesic and sedative.

BOB: :screaming:

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 52°C. Initiating psychological support protocol. We're almost there. You can do it. Everything's gonna be alright. We're almost there.

BOB: :unintelligible:

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 55°C. Warning. Permanent damage to the tissue. Increasing the dose of analgesic. Increasing the dose of analgesic. Everything's gonna be alright.

BOB: …

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 57°C. Warning. Crew member non responsive. Emergency depressurizing. Automatic liftoff initiated.

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 59°C. Warning. Manual course correction required. Adrenaline injected. Adrenaline injected. Adrenaline injected.

BOB: …? What? I can't feel…

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 59°C. Acceleration – 2g. Warning. Manual course correction required.

BOB: I… I can't…

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 59°C. Acceleration – 2g. Warning. Analgesic injected. Adrenaline injected. Sedative injected. Manual course correction required.

BOB: …ugh…

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 59°C. Acceleration – 2g. Course correction completed. Initiated powered ascent.

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 59°C. Acceleration – 3g. First stage separation.

BOB: :unintelligible:

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 58°C. Acceleration – 3,7g. Second stage separation.

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 57°C. Acceleration – zero g. Booster separation.

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 56°C. Acceleration – zero g. Establishing stable orbit.

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 56°C. Stable orbit achieved. Autopilot online. Surface operations completed. Warning. Please contact with the medical personal immediately. Smart Eve Suit switching to standby mode.

***

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 13°C. Executing braking burn.

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 12°C. Safe distance to the mothership achieved. Autopilot offline. Warning. Crew member's life endangered. Initiating SOS protocol. Warning. Critical failure in executing the SOS protocol, reason – short range antenna non responsive. Warning. Critical power level. Error. Rebooting imminent. Warning. Crew member's life endangered. Adrenaline injected. Sedative injected. Adrenaline injected. Sedative injected.

BOB: :unintelligible:

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 12°C. Safe distance to the mothership achieved. Please proceed. Error. Rebooting in 3, 2, 1, 1,1, 111111111111…

BOB: …uhm?

BOB: …steve?

STEVE v.1.0.2: …###…

BOB: …berty?

BERTY v.2.0.8: …###…

BOB: I can't feel anything… I…

STEVE v.1.0.2: Rebooting completed. Basic functions reestablished. Please proceed to the nearest emergency hatch. Suit temperature – 12°C. External pressure – 0 atm. Distance – 99 m.

BOB: …come on… you're so close…

BOB: …I can't move…

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – 5°C. External pressure – 0 atm. Distance – 113 m.

BOB: …jetpack… if only…

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – minus 7°C. External pressure – 0 atm. Distance – 47 m.

BOB: …BERTY…

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – minus 13°C. External pressure – 0 atm. Distance – 23 m.

BOB: …BERTY…

STEVE v.1.0.2: Suit temperature – minus 13°C. External pressure – 0 atm. Distance – 4 m.

BOB: …help.

MISSION STATUS

***

CREW ASSIGNMENTS

LAMGML “Alfaâ€Â

1. Cpt. Rozer (pilot)

2. Dr Johndon (engineer)

LAMGML “Betaâ€Â

1. Cpt. Patlie (pilot)

2. Prof. Sidely (scientist)

3. Prof. Mallock (scientist)

Edited December 6, 2013 by czokletmuss

[Patupi]

Wow, very good czokletmuss! On the edge of my seat here. Well, guess Jeb was wrong. Bob did have someone to help him down there. Steve! Needed it too.

[czokletmuss]

Definitely congratulations are in order, and well deserved too (Hey, I didn't notice this was my 100th post too! )

gratz on thread of the month, well earned.

Congratulations on getting the Thread of the Month!

A well deserved sticky - congratulations!

Congratuuuuulaaaaaatioooonnnnnnnnnns!

Congrats on being Thread of the Month!

Thank you very much

Wow, very good czokletmuss! On the edge of my seat here. Well, guess Jeb was wrong. Bob did have someone to help him down there. Steve! Needed it too.

Suspense! I'm glad you like it though I wonder isn't it slightly too long and with too many pictures. On the other hand, this was a very emotional landing, so I can't imagine spliting it into two parts. But don't expect the next chapter to be that long as the last two

By the way: the new AAR has its own emblem thanks to NuclearWarfare!

Edited August 2, 2013 by czokletmuss

[Patupi]

Hey, you converted them from png to jpg which is a huge help in loading so I don't think it's too much of a problem. Besides, it was very atmospheric (Eek, air pun!) to see Bob struggling back to the lander. Keep it up!

[Rhyunix]

Your just to awesome!

FORGET THE LAST SECOND

[Itsdavyjones]

Well Bob got what he deserved, very close to what I was hopping for too (that was death, but this is still great). And an amazing chapter.

[Patupi]

You can't kill Bob! Besides, he'd respawn

[Itsdavyjones]

You can't kill Bob! Besides, he'd respawn

not with 21

[Patupi]

OK, I admit I haven't played with 0.21 much yet (I'm doing the Duna Architectural Challenge and don't want to change midstream), but from what I heard the main three guys DO respawn. They just take a while in 'MIA'. Am I misunderstanding things?

[Guest]

I knew it.

I knew something would go wrong. Not in the way I imagined, which ended with his death, but it still went wrong.

[Designer225]

Great chapter Czo! I wonder what would Jeb and the Medic tell to Bob, risking his life operating the mission alone... (Not that I overlooked his "assistants"...)

Edited August 3, 2013 by Designer225

[czokletmuss]

Thank you guys; next chapter is coming probably today

Hey, you converted them from png to jpg which is a huge help in loading so I don't think it's too much of a problem. Besides, it was very atmospheric (Eek, air pun!) to see Bob struggling back to the lander. Keep it up!

Speaking of graphics - I'm proud to anounce that the Grand Tour will be from now one using the awesome mod Universe Replacer which changes the vanilla skybox for a real life photo of our solar system's night sky:

Check it out, it's definitely worth installing!

Edited August 3, 2013 by czokletmuss