[AAR] The Grand Tour - Voyage To The Planets

[BostLabs]

Well, what can I say - it ain't the best laptop you know Though it's caused by the dozens of mods and plugins too; when KSP will use multithreading I expect much better performance.

My desktop is a 6 core with a (now) 2 Gb video card and 16 GB of RAM. If KSP could use all my cores and available memory I would be just fine. I don't have nearly the mods that czokletmuss has but every time I use Colossus, KSP will eventually crash. Error report shows an exception in mono and out of memory but only using 39% of my memory.

I'm on .21 as well. May have something to do with it.

Sorry for the wandering czokletmuss.

[czokletmuss]

CHAPTER 19

DUNA TRANSFER BURN

***

Personal log, entry 1 (32). I didn't write anything for a long time, but since I'm stuck in the LAMGML until they finish fuel transfer I thought I'll kill some time. Four months – a lot have changed. Technically this is my first entry, not a commander anymore. And not a pilot apparently. But I understand him, he didn't have a choice – I did ignore his order. Still, there are months before we get to Kerbin or Duna, so I hope he'll get over it. Unless KSC decides otherwise. They recommended additional sessions with psychiatrist for me – old survivor syndrome from the days of “Kadmosâ€Â, guilt about Bob's death, this kind of things. What a load of crap. They sent 18 people inside of a giant can to drift through space for months and they expect us to not go loony. I didn't breath the real air and drink something else than a processed urine for almost a year. The last time I walked was on the arid surface of Moho, tiny dead planet almost lost in the flames of the Sun. One of us died. And now we are here, floating aimlessly above yet another lifeless rock. But they insist on “psychological evaluations†and “uplifting the team's spiritâ€Â. Pathetic.

Personal log, entry 2 (33). Done. My last flight for a long time, I suppose; maybe the last one. I don't care – it was the right decision. They can say whatever they want, but with additional fuel our error margin is much bigger. Safety above all, right?

Personal log, entry 3 (34). Today the Dres exploration team has returned. I hope that Ned and his men will repair the AMU without which our mission is doomed. Ned's still angry at me, he thinks it was stupid to take such risk. He'll understand, in time.

Personal log, entry 4 (35). After long deliberation they decided to leave it. “Broken beyond repairâ€Â, “safe randez-vous impossibleâ€Â, yadda yadda. Fools. So all that was for nothing – we can't continue the mission. They want us to go to Duna however and then decide – abort or send supplies. I don't think I care anymore.

Personal log, entry 5 (36). Now this is crazy. To save fuel and make sure that there won't be more accidents the Dres exploration is suspended until further notice. We sacrificed four months to get here and now, with this cursed dwarf planet 200 kilometers below us, we have to cease all activities. What is even worse, they decided to execute transfer burn earlier, so we will spend here only 41 more days instead of 72 and THEN it'll took us SEVEN MONTHS before we get to Duna! I don't understand it at all. Don't they want these samples? Why are we here if not to explore the asteroid? If they are content with the orbital scanning, why did they send us here? And do they really think that ONE YEAR of almost complete inactivity after his death won't screw us all over completely? Why? What's the purpose of this madness?

Personal log, entry 6 (37). Another long brake. I couldn't find strength to write. Every day is the same, mundane activities, artificial light, drinking piss. They have answer for everything. Microgravity and bone loss? Physical exercise and special diet. Isolation and loneliness? Full schedule and meetings in the social room. Stress? Loads of music, movies, manuals – Sid is even trying to learn his third language. But they can't hide us from the space and they can't give us a purpose, not after weeks of doing nothing important. 6 months and 40 days to Duna. It's not the emptiness behind the hull that makes us all anxious. It's the void inside.

Personal log, entry 7 (38). Tonight's the night. Transfer burn. And 365 day of our journey. We're organizing kind of a little New Year's Eve, but no alcohol, burn is scheduled 8 hours after “midnightâ€Â. One year… We even have a torte. There's something really funny in this weird parody of a normal live but nobody's smiling.

Personal log, entry 8 (39). And that's about it. We're leaving Dres for good. Tiny planet has a new satellite though – such a waste. So, we're on course and there's only 217 days left. Every time I think about it my hands are shaking. Seven months of NOTHING…

Personal log, entry 9 (40). Last “night†I couldn't sleep. I was drifting through the main module when I heard voices. A lot of folks followed Sid's example. Three or four of the eggheads talking silently with BERTY, each of them in their sleeping station, each of them in another language. And he was conversing with all of them with this kind, optimistic voice he has. Why they even bothered with us in the first place? He's perfect in a way no kerbal can ever be. I talk with him a lot recently. He's in complete control of all the ship's subsystems, he can feel the space radiation hitting the hull and the hellish temperature inside the fusion cores. He's practically the “Proteus†itself, changing terminals, taking care of every vessel, keeping us alive. Like a ghost. A talking, sentient ship. And we all live inside him.

Personal log, entry 10 (41). 125 day. First course correction. Successful. Next in a few weeks.

Personal log, entry 11 (42). Nothing.

Personal log, entry 12 (43). I watched the last movie we have on board. Now what?

Personal log, entry 13 (44). â€ÂProteus†is very quiet lately. It freaks me out.

Personal log, entry 14 (45). 153 days after the transfer burn. I think. Every day is the same.

Personal log, entry 15 (46). Second course correction. BERTY is incredibly precise – 70 km from the planet, inclination 49 degrees. 45 days left.

Personal log, entry 16 (47). It 's weird but as soon as we hit 30 days mark, suddenly it seems that blood starts flowing in our veins again. Maybe it's the mystery – of course we STILL don't know what exactly are we supposed to do there. I've heard some crazy theories recently and Ned is still joking about Sid's idea. But, what is more probable, it's because we all can feel that this is probably our last stop before coming back to Kerbin. The grand tour of the solar system aborted, the most advanced ship ever built ordered surrender – and all of that caused by the few tiny RCS thrusters.

Personal log, entry 17 (48). Only two weeks left. We still can't see Duna with a naked eye but it's a matter of days before we do. Tiny red dot in a dark sea.

Personal log, entry 18 (49). One week, one week, one week.

Personal log, entry 19 (50). 6 days left. I can't even imagine how uplifting…

BILL: Attention all personnel. Your presence is required on the flight deck immediately.

JEB: Hmm? BERTY, what is it?

BERTY v.2.0.8: It appears that there is an impending failure of the secondary cooling system of the fusion core A.

JEB: What?! Are you sure?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Yes. The system is still operational but it will fail within 72 hours.

JEB: Can we fix it?

BERTY v.2.0.8: I don't know, Jeb.

[

***

MISSION STATUS

***

Edited August 12, 2013 by czokletmuss

[BostLabs]

Eek! That's not good! It's game over, game over man!

<SMACK!>

Thanks.... I..... I needed that.

Oh this is exciting!

[Mr. Pseudonym]

-snip-

BILL: Attention all personnel. Your presence is required on the flight deck immediately.

JEB: Hmm? BERTY, what is it?

BERTY v.2.0.8: It appears that there is an impending failure of the secondary cooling system of the fusion core A.

JEB: What?! Are you sure?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Yes. The system is still operational but it will fail within 72 hours.

JEB: Can we fix it?

BERTY v.2.0.8: I don't know, Jeb.

-snip-

That just sums up the mood at that point. If you haven't played the original Halo, then it's the song when you escape the giant ship. It's really epic.

Keep up the good work!

[Tyber]

Hnnnng, my feels weren't ready. Just in case I blame everything on the new guys. I BET someone will die trying to fix the cooling system.

Edited August 12, 2013 by Tyber

[RocketPilot573]

Oh snap! Next chapter will be interesting!

[silentdragon]

Stop life for a minute, have to read the new chapter of a really amazing story!

*reads*

Aww man i hate cliffhangers, need to know what will happen next! Hopefully Jeb doesn't do anything stupid with that reactor...

[RogueMason]

Uh-oh, this isn't good.

I mean, the chapter is good, but the fusion reactor is bad. Things aren't looking up at all for Proteus and her crew.

[czokletmuss]

Things aren't looking up at all for Proteus and her crew.

Interesting thingy - in Polish "ship" and "spacecraft" are masculine, not feminine. I still can't force myself to refer to the ship as to the female It's confusing, 'cause in English saying to the ship "Come on, ol'buddy!" is as weird as "Proteus and her crew" to someone for whom Polish is the first language.

[RogueMason]

Interesting thingy - in Polish "ship" and "spacecraft" are masculine, not feminine. I still can't force myself to refer to the ship as to the female It's confusing, 'cause in English saying to the ship "Come on, ol'buddy!" is as weird as "Proteus and her crew" to someone for whom Polish is the first language.

Oh right, that's interesting. I just thought it was a generally accepted concept that ships are referred to as 'her' and 'she', but you've proven me wrong, it would seem. I guess you learn something new every day

[Designer225]

My laptop already lags and crying. I guess without a dedicated graphics my PC could take more than probably 20 or so parts, but not very at its best. But it is not sick yet, as it managed to launch a ship prototype.

[czokletmuss]

CHAPTER 20

EVA OPERATIONS: SECONDARY COOLING SYSTEM

***

NED: Jetpack is okay, everything's fine. BERTY, check me please.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Manned Maneuvering Unit fully operational. Oxium level 98%. Radiation level 1,4 millisieverts per hour.

BILL: Doctor Corald?

CORALD: Heartbeat slightly too high, that's all. Radiation is nominal.

BILL: Alright, good. Move to the fusion cores, Ned.

NED: Copy that.

ORSEN: Remember to be careful while unscrewing the panels.

NED: Chill out, Orsey, you're forgetting that I'm a nuclear propulsion specialist too. Man, it's so good to finally leave the ship.

BILL: Concentrate, you have job to do. Without the not functional secondary cooling…

NED: …we may be unable to perform orbit insertion, I know.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Oxium level 98%.

NED: Okay, approaching the fusion core.

ORSEN: And?

NED: It looks normally, no signs of external damage. Is BERTY sure about it?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Absolutely, Ned. The critical failure of the secondary cooling system will happen in the next 28 hours unless we find the source of the problem.

ORSEN: We talked about it Ned. If we can exclude micrometeorites as the cause, it means it must be one of the circuits

NED: :sigh: So, it's checking every motherboard than, right?

ORSEN: I'm afraid it is. Don't worry pal, you're not on your own, I'll change you soon.

NED: I still think we all would be better off if we work together.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Ned, according to the EVA safety protocol…

BILL: Thank you BERTY. Enough with the chit-chat, get to work.

NED: Well okay, I'm opening the first panel.

***

BERTY v.2.0.8: Oxium level 43%.

BILL: You are doing good, Ned, only 7 more to go.

CORALD: Try to breath slower though, you're using your O2 too quickly.

NED: :heavy breathing: It ain't that easy, you know. In space even something as simple as unscrewing is… oh crap!

ORSEN: What is it Ned?

NED: I lost my screwdriver!

BILL: :sigh: Use the spare. Doctor Orsen, please tell him as his supervisor to never do this again.

ORSEN: Yes sir. Err, Ned? Save the alarmism for the important things, would you?

***

BERTY v.2.0.8: Oxium level 13%.

NED: Okay, that was the last one. “Proteusâ€Â, I checked all 14 motherboards on this side, no fried circuits here.

BILL: Damn it!

ORSEN: Commander?

BILL: It's enough. Ned, get back here. You need some rest after these 5 hours, plus it appears that it'll probably take longer than we would like to. Doctor ORSEN will change you.

NED: Okay, I'm going back, just give me a minute.

BILL: Ekhm.

ORSEN: Come on Ned, it's enough sight-seeing for a one day.

NED: I know, but after all these months inside the ship… it's just amazing. So many stars, so much space…

BERTY v.2.0.8: Oxium level 12%.

ORSEN: Ned.

NED: Okay, okay.

NED: I'm in, close the airlock BERTY.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Airlock secured. Decontamination in progress.

NED: Bill? What if we won't find anything?

BILL: We better do.

NED: But what if we won't? I mean, will we abort the mission? It's completely possible to use only the primary cooling system, after all we need the engines only for a few minutes during the burn, then while on orbit we won't have to hurry and with enough time…

BILL: We'll wait for the instructions from Kerbin.

NED: Err… do we have time for that?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Decontamination completed. Equalizing pressure. Repressurization in 10 minutes.

BILL: I tell you what, you concentrate on this little problem and leave the big picture to me. Hurry up, we need you to supervise doctor ORSEN.

NED: :sigh: Roger that.

***

ORSEN: Lights on. BERTY?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Manned Maneuvering Unit fully operational. Oxium level 99%. Radiation level 1,2 millisieverts per hour.

NED: Okay, Orsey, move to the fusion core – slowly. Don't hit anything on your way there, alright?

ORSEN: Copy that.

ROZER: By the way, doctor, please check the TAV.

ORSEN: Err, of course captain Rozer.

NED: What are you doing here?

ROZER: Helping.

ORSEN: Uhm, Tylo Lander seems to be intact, if that's what…

ROZER: Yes. Please, carry on.

ORSEN: I'm at the fusion core.

CORALD: Try to breath normally, doctor. Relax, we're with you.

ORSEN: Sorry, I'm just a little excited. There, err, there seems to be some minor damage to one of the panels.

NED: Micrometeorites?

ORSEN: Not really… it's bended, like there is some pressure buildup underneath it.

NED: Coolant?

ORSEN: Probably. I'll try to ###

NED: Orsey? Come in.

ORSEN: ###

NED: What the…?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Contact with the EVA/08 lost.

BILL: What is going on?!

NED: I don't know, communication just…

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Contact with the EVA/08 lost. Searching emergency frequencies.

BILL: Doctor?

CORALD: I lost him too, I'm not getting any…

BERTY v.2.0.8: Connection established.

ORSEN: ###

NED: Orsen?!

ORSEN: :quick breathing: …eus, do you copy?! I'm loosing ###

NED: What the hell happened?!

ORSEN: :quick breathing: There was ### gases, explosion ### …my glove is ###

BILL: BERTY, report!

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Manned Maneuvering Unit not responsive operational. Oxium level 67% and falling.

CORALD: My Kod, he's loosing the pressure! There is a rupture in the suit!

ORSEN: :quick breathing: I can't ### spinning, it's ### oxiu###…

NED: I'm coming for you! BERTY, prepare the airlock for depressurization!

BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. Oxium level 58%.

ROZER: No.

NED: What do you mea…?!

ROZER: BERTY, what's his relative velocity?

BERTY v.2.0.8: 8,8 m/s. Oxium level 49%.

NED: I can save him! BERTY, prepare the airlock!

ROZER: No! You need 10 minutes to depressurize, by the time you get there, he'd…

NED: We can blow up the hatch! There is no time, I can do this! Bill, say something!

BILL: I… I…

ORSEN: :quick breathing: …lp me, pleas###…

BERTY v.2.0.8: Oxium level 37%.

ROZER: I said no! You are our only propulsion specialist left, I can't let you do this!

NED: You are not in command here!

CORALD: Whatever you want to do, do it quickly!

ROZER: Commander, back me up!

NED: Bill, for the love of Kod…!

BILL: I… I'm sorry Ned…

NED: NO!

ROZER: BERTY, we won't use the airlock! Is there enough power to stabilize the connection?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. Securing connection. Oxium level 26%.

NED: I'm gonna frakin kill you! Let me go!

BERTY v.2.0.8: Connection secured. Oxium level 18%.

ORSEN: :quick breathing: ###ear me? Can you hear me?

NED: Orsey!

ROZER: Yes, we copy you doctor.

ORSEN: :quick breathing: Oh thanks Kod! I'm drifting away, the jetpack is not working, my suit is not responding and I can feel that the pressure is dropping! How… how bad it is?

ROZER: BERTY?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Oxium level 16%. Critical level will be reached in 2 minutes.

ROZER: It's pretty bad, doctor. You have few minutes left.

ORSEN: :gasping: …

ROZER: Doctor?

ORSEN: :gasping: I… understand. Kod, I'm – I'm gone.

ROZER: I'm sorry, doctor.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Oxium level 12%.

ORSEN: :gasping: : Is – is Ned there?

NED: :sobs: Yes, ahem, I'm here Orsey.

ORSEN: :gasping: Listen to me Ned. There was a leak, the coolant… has leaked and somehow was heated. This – this created the gas buildup. It's not… the circuit. Do you understand?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Oxium level 9%.

NED: Yes. Orsey…

ORSEN: :gasping: Don't… worry, Ned. Just – just complete… the repair. Can you… promise me that?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Oxium level 6%.

NED: I promise.

ORSEN: :gasps:

NED: Orsen?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Oxium level 3%.

NED: Orsey, buddy…

ORSEN: :gasping: I c-can't see, I can't see… I can't…

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Oxium level 1%.

ORSEN: …stars… can't see the…

NED: Orsen? Orsen?! ORSEN!

ORSEN: …

***

***

MISSION STATUS

***

Edited August 12, 2013 by czokletmuss

[Tyber]

Second chapter today....I'M LOSING IT MAN, I'M LOSING IT.

[RogueMason]

Oh no, Orsen...

This mission is going very badly.

[Designer225]

Not Orsen! He didn't deserve to die!

This reminds me of the ill-fated Kerbin lithobraking in Jool mission...

[RocketPilot573]

That went well... RIP Orsen. Who's next, Dr. Cambo? (He's the only one left on Team Charlie)

Edited August 12, 2013 by RocketPilot573

[Itsdavyjones]

ummmmm...... so much death..... this mission is going much worse..... Some how this will benefit Jeb in the long run, with all the crew being killed off.

[BostLabs]

What a roller coaster! Damn you write well.

[Designer225]

ummmmm...... so much death..... this mission is going much worse..... Some how this will benefit Jeb in the long run, with all the crew being killed off.

Not sure about Bill, Johndon, Sid, and Ned, though...

[The Error]

Jeb's about to snap and check Rozer in the equivalent of a brig, then he'll fly PROTEUS back to Kerbin himself.

[czokletmuss]

Second chapter today....I'M LOSING IT MAN, I'M LOSING IT.

Sorrry

Oh no, Orsen...

This mission is going very badly.

Well, there were some small problems but what's important is optimistic approach to the situation, right? Right?!

Not Orsen! He didn't deserve to die!

This reminds me of the ill-fated Kerbin lithobraking in Jool mission...

I guess you can say it was REACTORbraking.

That went well... RIP Orsen. Who's next, Dr. Cambo? (He's the only one left on Team Charlie)

I can't tell obviously but in space nobody is safe.

ummmmm...... so much death..... this mission is going much worse..... Some how this will benefit Jeb in the long run, with all the crew being killed off.

Not sure about Bill, Johndon, Sid, and Ned, though...

Come on, I'm not THAT cruel!

What a roller coaster! Damn you write well.

Thank you

Jeb's about to snap and check Rozer in the equivalent of a brig, then he'll fly PROTEUS back to Kerbin himself.

Pirates...IN SPACE?

***

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you unique set of spacesuits made by Nutt007 for the Grand Tour!

All crew members of the IMV "Proteus" will be using them from this moment on. Thank you, Nutt007!

Edited August 13, 2013 by czokletmuss

[Scorpi15]

Woah! That's awesome!

[Patupi]

Love the personalized mission patches. Cute touch! Oh and very good work on the story. It's getting better Or worse from the point of view of some of the crew I suppose. *starts playing violin sadly*

[LaydeeDem]

Thanks for using the suits! Just a quick suggestion, the newest version on Universe Replacer changed some things so rename the stuff to EVASuit1 and EVAHelmet1.

[Raptor831]

You, sir, have a knack for the dramatic. I get mad every time something goes wrong with the Proteus' crew, which is a good sign for any story!

But why the death!?! They're supposed to make it back ok! Ok, sorry... Need to remain calm.

Thanks for the great story, and I'm looking forward to finishing it!