[AAR] The Grand Tour - Voyage To The Planets

[czokletmuss]

CHAPTER 49

BOP LANDING

***

BERTY v.2.0.8b: Transfer burn in 5 seconds. Four. Three. Two. One. Transfer burn in progress.

DANREY: Uh, I have an RCS alert here BERTY.

BERTY v.2.0.8b: Checking.

MALLOCK: Oh boy.

BERTY v.2.0.8b: Several errors in LAMGML autodocking software detected. Patching in progress.

DANREY: Copy that.

MALLOCK: Uh!

DANREY: It won't take long.

MALLOCK: I'm not worried about our transfer burn, if that's what you mean.

BERTY v.2.0.8b: Patching completed. Transfer burn in progress.

DANREY: Have you detected any other errors besides this one?

BERTY v.2.0.8b: No, captain Danrey. However, due to the increased frequency of malfunctions it's advised to perform complete system check-ups every 12 hours.

MALLOCK: :sigh:

DANREY: We will, BERTY.

BERTY v.2.0.8b: Transfer burn completed. Escape velocity achieved.

DANREY: And we will leave Tylo's SOI in, let me see... 4 hours. Good.

MALLOCK: :sigh:

DANREY: What is it, Mal?

MALLOCK: It's nothing.

DANREY: Hey, I know it will take a while before we get to Pol but after Tylo you can't really complain about some short vacations, can you?

MALLOCK: Yeah. But still, almost 2 weeks is quite long and I don't even have access to the samples nor the “Proteus†science lab.

DANREY: Cheer up. We will be in a perfect position to observe Jool and hey, it'll be the second landing on Pol ever – I'm sure there's much more to discover.

MALLOCK: There surely is. What “Kadmos†brought was just a several decragams of regolith and small rocks.

DANREY: See? Nothing to be upset about. I'm sure you'll make some interesting observations as a geologist.

MALLOCK: To be honest, I'm mostly worried about our equipment. Since... the accident we don't have the missions specialist to take care of the LAMGMLs. I know Ned is a great engineer but he didn't design the damn things. And these malfunctions and errors-

DANREY: Don't forget that BERTY may patch the software as long as we have a connection with “Proteusâ€Â.

MALLOCK: I know. But it also limits our landing sites to those from which we can establish one. I don't know, it's just... I have a bad feeling about all this.

DANREY: You? After Tylo? Come on, you've been through the most dangerous landing during the entire mission and you're good.

MALLOCK: Eve?

DANREY: Second most dangerous.

MALLOCK: And we still have practically no contact with Laythe Lander.

DANREY: Err, actually we do have contact, we just can't transfer much data through the satellite.

MALLOCK: What's the difference? It's not like we're going to send them our collective “hello†or something. What if they need some assistance? The on-board computer-

DANREY: Look Mal, it's something BERTY and guys from “Proteus†will have to handle. We can't do anything about it. We can't, really. So I think we should-

MALLOCK: Mhm, BERTY and Jeb will surely take care of it.

DANREY: Not again...

MALLOCK: I'm just saying that-

DANREY: I know, Mal, I remember your conspiracy theories too well.

MALLOCK: Rozer would never-

DANREY: Oh right, great commander Rozer. What is it that makes you so confident in him?

MALLOCK: Say whatever you want about him, but he doesn't hide behind the AI. He takes the responsibility for whatever he does.

DANREY: Yeah, sure. If you were with him on a mission like me you would change your mind.

MALLOCK: We're all on a mission with him. But I understand that you don't like him – he wasn't too fond about you, was he? This whole docking to the Payload from the side of the nuclear engine-

DANREY: It was an accident!

MALLOCK: Decent pilot don't have accidents.

DANREY: Okey, that's enough. Why don't you go to the habitation module and take a look at Jool, hmm? I have some piloting stuff to do and I have to consult BERTY about it – you know, being bad pilot and so on.

MALLOCK: Great. I'll be in the hab module than.

DANREY: Great.

MALLOCK: Good luck with the calculations. You may need it.

DANREY: Well thanks. And have fun looking at the damn clouds! Fraking egghead...

MALLOCK: Captain?

DANREY: What is it, professor?

MALLOCK: Well, I was wondering how long-

DANREY: Six days to the transfer burn and five days after that before we get to Pol.

MALLOCK: I see.

DANREY: Do you have any more questions? I'm quite busy with the repairs.

MALLOCK: No.

DANREY: Good.

MALLOCK: I'll be in my cabin.

DANREY: And close the hatch behind you.

***

BILL: Separation confirmed.

BERTY v.2.0.8b: Please proceed to the visual confirmation.

BILL: Roger that.

BILL: “Proteusâ€Â, I confirm flawless separation. Habitation module solar panels are intact, everything seems to be- damn!

GENANAND: What is it?

BILL: I've lost the visual from the external camera.

GENANAND: Again? Could we land without it?

BILL: Sure, we still have radar and in microgravity we can abort at any moment. “Proteusâ€Â, are we go for landing?

GENANAND: I don't know about it. Maybe we should wait until we repair it?

BILL: In case you didn't notice we've been orbiting this rock for days – hell, it's been almost 20 days since we left Vall. We've gathered all the data we need for a safe landing. Every minute we spend here is a minute less exploring the asteroid – we don't have unlimited supplies and we have a long way ahead of us before we rendez-vous with “Proteusâ€Â.

GENANAND: I know. But can we land safely?

BILL: Well, I my days we landed on the Mun decades ago without this fancy gadgets and with much more primitive spacecraft, not to mention higher gravity.

GENANAND: I'm the last person who would question your experience, I'm just asking whether-

BERTY v.2.0.8b: Yes, captain Bill. You may proceed. Remember that for the communication with IMV “Proteus†to be maintained you need to land in the landing zone C.

BILL: Copy that. The signal delay is getting more and more annoying with every day...

GENANAND: So we're landing, right?

BILL: Yup. We're gonna land on this rock today, doc.

***

GENANAND: Err... Bill? Aren't we coming too fast?

BILL: Nope.

GENANAND: I'm pretty sure we are coming too fast.

BILL: Hey, who's the pilot here?

GENANAND: Since the deorbit burn you didn't fire the engines even once.

BILL: No need to.

GENANAND: We're falling faster than 160 meters per second now.

BILL: So?

GENANAND: Isn't the whole point of landing slowing down so that we can perform slow touchdown?

BILL: More or less.

GENANAND: So why don't you slow down for the love of Kod?! We're gonna crash!

BILL: Well, there is one more method of landing about which you may not have heard of.

GENANAND: Which is?

BILL: Suicide burn!

GENANAND: Aaa!

BILL: Nice and easy! Five, four, three-

GENANAND: Oh my Kod!

BILL: -two, one and touchdown! The “Beta†has landed. You may open your eyes now, doc.

GENANAND: Are we on the surface?

BILL: According to the altimeter, yes. By the way, you can see this for yourself.

GENANAND: How? Camera is broken.

BILL: The window on your left.

GENANAND: Huh? We – we really landed.

BILL: Sure we did.

GENANAND: Oh my Kod, we've landed! We are here! First landing on Bop!

BILL: I told you, after Mun it's easy-peasy. I'll let “Proteus†know that we're fine and in the meantime you can prepare for the EVA.

GENANAND: Me?

BILL: You're the scientist, doc. I'm just a taxi driver.

GENANAND: And so kerbality has set a foot on the surface of the last unexplored body in the Jool system, to expand our knowledge of the Universe and to secure prosperity of future generations.

BILL: Ahem.

GENANAND: What? Too pompous?

BILL: A little, yes.

GENANAND: Whatever. I can't believe we're really here!

BILL: Be careful, it's not Vall – you don't want to trip over in microgravity.

GENANAND: I know. And Jool – wow, it looks so small from here.

BILL: This very interesting observation will certainly help kerbality expanding its knowledge about the Universe, doc. According to schedule we should rest now before the exploration begins, so please take some samples and come back to the pod. We have work to do here.

GENANAND: Yes sir! Requesting permition to board the spacecraft, sir!

BILL: What's gotten into you, doc?

GENANAND: I don't know Bill but I love this rock – I can't wait until we explore it thoroughly!

***

GENANAND: What are we waiting for? We've rested, it's time to go and get more samples. There's a whole unexplored world out there!

BILL: I'm trying to fix the camera, in case you didn't notice. It would be better if we get it working before the rendez-vous with the habitation module and it would really help to supervise one another during the EVA, just in- hey, it's working!

GENANAND: Really?

BILL: Yes! Damn, just look at this.

GENANAND: Extraordinary. This is Tylo, right? And Laythe.

BILL: I'll magnify it, hold on.

GENANAND: It's really weird when you think about it. In orbit or on the surface of both this dots there are living, intelligent beings, for the first time since the beginning of time.

BILL: You're forgetting “Kadmosâ€Â, doc. We we're that stupid, you know. There – how's it looking now?

GENANAND: Completely astounding. I can see the reflection in Laythe global ocean. And the clouds, I think.

BILL: Yes, it really is a terrific view. Who would've thought thousands of years ago that there is a small world so far from ours yet so similar to it.

GENANAND: Actually Laythe and Kerbin don't have much in common.

BILL: Besides things like ocean, thick atmosphere and oxium?

GENANAND: It takes more than that for a place to be habitable – there are subtleties in characteristics of each celestial body that made every one of it unique. And oxium – well, Sid and Rozer are working on it. Maybe they'll find an answer?

BILL: Sid and Rozer... Yes. I hope everything is alright down there.

GENANAND: Problems with communication caused by radiation were to be expected. Still, I hope you are right and they don't need any help from us. Because the only spacecraft capable of landing there is the one they have.

***

ROZER: Take it easy, just a few more steps. That's right. One more – there. Glad to be on the surface?

SID: Glad? Are you kidding me? This is the crowning moment of my entire career as a planetologist! I'm standing on a frakin Laythe!

ROZER: You should concentrate or you're going to lie on a frakin Laythe – the slush is slippery. You must balance every step.

SID: Dear Kod, it's amazing! I would love to just take the helmet off and breathe, you know? Smell the mun.

ROZER: This isn't the best idea.

SID: I know that! But still, what a feeling that would be.

ROZER: Short and painful?

SID: :sigh:

ROZER: I understand your excitement but we have a lot of hard manual labour ahead of us, so let's stop enjoying the view and start working.

SID: Mhm.

ROZER: I'll take the second experiment, you can double-check the atmospheric characteristics and your spacesuit in the meantime.

SID: Alright, alright. Ahem. Order: EVA-2 check up.

LAYTHE LANDER: Affirmative. Suit temperature – 20 °C. External temperature – minus 82,6 °C. External pressure – 0.8 atm. Oxium level – 98,12%. All systems nominal.

SID: Hmm. Order: EVA-1 check up.

LAYTHE LANDER: Affirmative. Suit temperature – 20 °C. External temperature – minus 82,6 °C. External pressure – 0.8 atm. Oxium level – 97,58%. All systems nominal.

SID: Okay, so the suit heating system has been fixed. Good to know.

ROZER: And?

SID: Oh. It really looks heavy

ROZER: It is. So, do we have a green light for a long EVA?

SID: Local weather forecast for today – clear sky with a slight chance of light ammonia snowfall. The temperature will be quite mild ranging from minus 80 to minus 70 degrees Celsius. With a high average humidity and unbreathable atmosphere it's always advised to take a spacesuit with you when leaving-

ROZER: Very funny. I'm going to deploy the second experiment now, you may take your samples nearby the lander.

SID: :sigh:

ROZER: Do you copy?

SID: Yes, I copy.

***

ROZER: I think I'm far enough from the lander and the first experiment. I'm going to deploy the experiment now.

SID: Good.

ROZER: Uh! Okay, it's on the surface. Preparing the second device for deployment.

SID: Rozer? May I ask you a question?

ROZER: Does it concern the mission?

SID: Well...

ROZER: In that case no.

SID: ...partially.

ROZER: You're taking advantage from the fact that I can't cut you off right now, don't you?

SID: Yes, actually.

ROZER: Ask then.

SID: What's your problem with Jeb?

ROZER: I don't have any problem with him.

SID: You tased him and he removed you from your position as the commander. I mean sweet Kod, you even broke his leg.

ROZER: Yes, I did. It's not like he was that gentle trying to interrogate me about your finding above Ike.

SID: You said that he was dangerous for the mission, that he's cowboy-style approach to the structure of command and his duties were disastrous and that he generally is a misaimed hero-wannabe, blinded by his own ego.

ROZER: I wouldn't put it better myself.

SID: But then he released you from the, hmm, your cabin.

ROZER: Arrest, Sid. There's no point to use euphemisms.

SID: Alright. But he released you. I don't really know why he did this nor I know why he decided to ignore the result of the voting he himself ordered, but he did this. And I thought, foolishly as it seems, that you two, well-

ROZER: That we forgave each other? Learned from past mistakes and rose above petty differences to achieve common goal?

SID: Something like this. But... he still doesn't trust you, does he? And you still despise him. I mean, it doesn't make sense. So what's going on between both of you?

ROZER: Done. The second experiment is deployed and operational.

SID: Don't change the subject! What is it, Rozer? Why you two hate each other so much?

ROZER: Hate? I don't hate him, Sid.

SID: So what is it then?

ROZER: I think you may say that although our goals may be similar, our methods are quite... different. I'm going for the third experiment.

***

SID: ...your methods. I think you genuinely care about the mission and the crew, nobody will dismiss that. I understand that the mission goals are important for you but they are important for all of us, Jeb included. So why don't you try to reconcile with him? I'm sure in the long term it would be only beneficial for you, for the morale and for the mission itself. I mean, I've been with him on “Kadmos†- I know him, I really do. He can be harsh sometimes and, well, he may ignore the rules sometimes but it's only because he would do anything for his crew. He may act like a tough guy but he's just like Ned – deep inside he really cares, you know what I mean? It's like-

ROZER: Sid?

SID: Yes?

ROZER: Would you please shut up?

SID: What? No! This is important issue which neither of you want to face – and you need to do this if this mission is going to succeed. There's still Eeloo ahead of us and then the journey back to home – that's what, two more years? And we already have lost some good man, not to mention problems with the equipment. We need to stick together.

ROZER: We are all stuck together on the same ship. If every crew member does his job-

SID: Oh, for the love of Kod! Why are you always so cold and distant to everyone and everything? How did you even pass the psychological tests to get to this mission in the first place?

ROZER: It's not your concern. Deploying the third experiment.

SID: Of course it is! How can you be so detached? And even if you don't like Jeb, a normal person would try to pretend or something – he's the commander! He decides what are we going to do. And you ignore even that and instead of trying to convince him, explain that we should do something in a different way for the good of the mission, you just-

ROZER: First of all, accusing me of psychological issues isn't really helpful if you want to convince me to reconcile with Jeb. Second of all, he doesn't decide about anything anymore.

SID: What? Of course he does, he's the commander! What do you mean by that?

ROZER: Nothing, forget about it. Third experiment deployed.

SID: What is it, Rozer? Are you hiding something? Do we have contact with KSC? Do they issue all the orders directly now? And if so, why Jeb didn't tell us? Why didn't he tell me?

ROZER: I said forget about it.

SID: Oh my Kod – you really are hiding something. What is it? Is Jeb alright?

ROZER: Listen, even if I wanted to tell you, I can't.

SID: Holy crap, so it's true! What do you mean you can't tell? Why? What's going on?

ROZER: We shouldn't talk about this. If he...

SID: Rozer?

ROZER: Hmm. Actually...

SID: Actually what? You have to tell me if it concerns Jeb!

ROZER: It concerns everyone. Tell me, if Jeb and the crew were – potentially – in danger...

SID: Yes? Yes?

ROZER: …would you help me to get rid of this danger?

SID: Help you? My Kod, they are in danger? We're in danger?!

ROZER: Perhaps. Would you?

SID: But what danger is it? Is there something contagious on board “Proteus� Some malfunction?

ROZER: Would you or not?

SID: I- I think I would. But what is it?!

ROZER: Hmm.

SID: Rozer? Talk to me!

ROZER: Yes, this may work. He have no idea what are we doing as long as we are here.

SID: Who? What may work? For the love of Kod, what are you talking about?!

ROZER: I'm coming back. I hope you've collected all the samples you wanted to.

SID: Why?

ROZER: There's something we need to talk about.

***

MISSION STATUS

***

[czokletmuss]

Crew status:

Grand Tour postcard:

Edited December 22, 2013 by czokletmuss

[Daddy Cecil]

MOAR!

Can't wait till next chapter!

[czokletmuss]

MOAR!

Can't wait till next chapter!

There will be MOAR - I have quite a lot of free time in the next week

Oh and all of you who enjoy my Crusader Kings 2 AAR - there is a sale on Steam right now and you can buy CK2 for $10!

[meve12]

Mutiny mk.2?

[czokletmuss]

Mutiny mk.2?

Or is?

Take a look at the sneak-peak screenshot from the upcoming chapter 50(!):

[silentdragon]

Woah, is Rozer really finally going to tell someone what is really going on or is that just another one of his tricks to manipulate the crew?

[KyleofKerbin]

Darn the cliffhangers!!! XD

EXCELLENT STORY!! 10 Kerbals out of 10!

[halocon720]

There will be MOAR - I have quite a lot of free time in the next week

Oh and all of you who enjoy my Crusader Kings 2 AAR - there is a sale on Steam right now and you can buy CK2 for $10!

1. HOW LONG IS THE SALE?

2. When will we see the Duna Base team again?

Other than that, fantastic AARs in both CK2 and KSP.

[iDan122]

Other than a handful of grammatical mistakes, well done! A good read!

[czokletmuss]

Woah, is Rozer really finally going to tell someone what is really going on or is that just another one of his tricks to manipulate the crew?

IS HE?!

Darn the cliffhangers!!! XD

EXCELLENT STORY!! 10 Kerbals out of 10!

Thank you

1. HOW LONG IS THE SALE?

2. When will we see the Duna Base team again?

Other than that, fantastic AARs in both CK2 and KSP.

1. 32 hours left.

2. :dun dun dun:

Other than a handful of grammatical mistakes, well done! A good read!

:sigh: Where? Please tell me, I need to keep improving my English.

QUESTION

Would you be interested in some tips and advices about how to write AAR? Not that I'm an expert or something but maybe some of you find this interesting and it would be a nice Christmas gift I think

[Danish_Savage]

Yes, that sounds awesome Czo

[team.leit]

-snip-

QUESTION

Would you be interested in some tips and advices about how to write AAR? Not that I'm an expert or something but maybe some of you find this interesting and it would be a nice Christmas gift I think

Yes please

[czokletmuss]

Okay then, expect this mini-guide to show up during this week; it won't be ready for 25th though, Grand Tour chapters have higher priority

And one more sneak-peak screenshot:

[Rhyunix]

My face is missing and I have been blinded by awesomeness- MOAR!

[iDan122]

Note: you don't say " I'm on a faking Laythe", you say "I'm on fraking Laythe" because you never use a/an before the names of celestial bodies.

[czokletmuss]

Note: you don't say " I'm on a faking Laythe", you say "I'm on fraking Laythe" because you never use a/an before the names of celestial bodies.

Oh, I didn't know that. Thanks

[zxczxczbfg]

GENANAND: Err... Bill? Aren't we coming too fast?

BILL: Nope.

GENANAND: I'm pretty sure we are coming too fast.

BILL: Hey, who's the pilot here?

GENANAND: Since the deorbit burn you didn't fire the engines even once.

BILL: No need to.

GENANAND: We're falling faster than 160 meters per second now.

BILL: So?

GENANAND: Isn't the whole point of landing slowing down so that we can perform slow touchdown?

BILL: More or less.

GENANAND: So why don't you slow down for the love of Kod?! We're gonna crash!

BILL: Well, there is one more method of landing about which you may not have heard of.

GENANAND: Which is?

BILL: Suicide burn!

Suicide burns, hurrah!

[czokletmuss]

CHAPTER 50

POL LANDING

***

10 DAYS LATER

DANREY: “Proteusâ€Â, we've entered the sphere of influence of the asteroid. Orbit insertion burn scheduled in 1 hour and 24 minutes. Awaiting for confirmation, over.

MALLOCK: Captain Danrey.

DANREY: Yes, professor?

MALLOCK: Are all systems operational? Fully operational, that is? No problems with RCS or-

DANREY: They are fine. I've spent the last week fixing whatever I can with BERTY supervising me and, if it was needed, patching the software. Yes, LAMGML is fully operational.

MALLOCK: Great, great.

DANREY: And before you ask yes, we will land immediately. We won't have much time scheduled for the exploration so we need to hurry.

MALLOCK: Didn't the other LAMGML spent several days mapping the whole asteroid before landing was attempted?

DANREY: Yes but we don't have to do this – it was done by “Kadmosâ€Â.

DANREY: Of course, the technology wasn't that advanced back then as it is now, but they spent quite a long time in low Pol orbit.

MALLOCK: It's hard to imagine that they actually managed to get there 27 years ago.

DANREY: Indeed. Not to mention that commander actually landed on Pol – not only he didn't have all benefits of the modern systems but also the lander was actually kethane miner unit. It was bulky, it was big and it was heavy, much heavier than LAMGML is. And it was using four small NERVAs as its propulsion. Yeah, it's really amazing that he managed to land on such difficult terrain despite all of this and with so primitive spacecraft.

BERTY v.2.0.8b: Orbit insertion burn confirmed. Permission to execute the maneuver granted. Awaiting for the next status report after successful orbit insertion.

MALLOCK: We still have more than one hour, right?

DANREY: Yes. So if there are still some things you want to transport to the pod from the hab module , do it now. We will stay on the surface as long as we can.

DANREY: …four, three, ignition, one and orbit insertion burn is in progress.

MALLOCK: Uh! :sigh: How long will it take? The acceleration is-

DANREY: Painful? After Tylo?

MALLOCK: -annoying. I can already see the months of rehabilitation which we'll have to endure after our return to Kerbin.

DANREY: I'm sorry to disappoint you, but it'll take a while. Currently we're on a retrograde orbit, so we effectively have to stop completely and then accelerate to stay on proper prograde orbit.

MALLOCK: Wasteful.

DANREY: But necessary. Do you want to try to land on the surface while traveling with relative speed equal to 200-250 meters per second?

MALLOCK: Well...

DANREY: Exactly. It's better to kill this velocity now.

***

DANREY: Separation confirmed. All systems nominal, we're go for landing. Awaiting for confirmation.

MALLOCK: We won't need the external camera during the descent, right?

DANREY: What? No, of course we need it – the asteroid has been mapped but the terrain is even more hazardous than this on Bop.

MALLOCK: Good that it's working than.

DANREY: It didn't fix itself, you know.

MALLOCK: Why-

BERTY v.2.0.8b: Descent profile confirmed. Permission for landing granted.

BERTY v.2.0.8b: Captain Danrey, please remember that reestablishing communication with IMV “Proteus†while on surface is of the vital importance for the mission. Awaiting for the next status report after successful landing.

DANREY: Roger that. LAMGML “Alfa†preparing for deorbit burn. Get ready, Mal – we're landing.

***

MALLOCK: Incredible. Can you see these geological features? It's just like it was described in the “Kadmos†report – giant stalagmite-like formations everywhere.

DANREY: Shush. Not now.

MALLOCK: Hmm. Shouldn't you turn on the engines by now?

DANREY: In microgravity? Landing has more in common with drowning than powered descent. I will fire them when we're low enough, I don't want to waste more fuel than we already used for changing orbit from retro to pro.

MALLOCK: It's really dark in here. Would our solar panels get enough sunlight?

DANREY: So far we're good. Alright, prepare for the suicide burn on my mark.

MALLOCK: Suicide...?

DANREY: It's just a name. Okay... mark!

DANREY: Five, four, three, two, one, engines cutoff. Touchdown! Visual confirmation?

MALLOCK: Positive. We've landed!

DANREY: Finally, after all these days... Okay, we need to double-check all the systems, especially the solar panels, send a status report, check the communication with “Proteus†and-

MALLOCK: And do a first EVA. I'm on it.

DANREY: Good. In case anything malfunctions again, we'll have at least couple of samples.

***

MALLOCK: Wow.

DANREY: Could you elaborate, professor?

MALLOCK: Lots of quasi-stalagmites everywhere, very uneven terrain. Dark, long shadows. It really is a very, hmm... creepy place.

DANREY: Could you please proceed according to the schedule? We don't have much time here.

MALLOCK: Copy that. I'm going down. Ha!

DANREY: What?

MALLOCK: Microgravity. Free fall is so slow here, the shadows so deep on this small frozen rock. It's like time's just stopped here, millions of kilometers from the Sun.

MALLOCK: And there is the galaxy disk – billions of billions of stars and planets we will never explore.

DANREY: Who knows? Maybe one day we will.

MALLOCK: Not in our lifetime. Not in the lifetime of our children or their children. So far away. And yet the seem to be so close, like you need to just make one step...

MALLOCK: …to reach to the distant stars.

DANREY: Damn it Mal, I didn't know you can be so... poetic.

MALLOCK: Every scientist is a poet of sort. The Universe is like a book, an endless poem we're trying to understand. And knowing so little we can only guess what's hidden on the next page.

DANREY: Well, I don't wont to spoil the moment but according to our schedule you should be taking samples right now. BERTY-

MALLOCK: Yes, of course. I'm sorry about that. I've just arrived in a geological heaven – for the second time. And Tylo is nothing like Pol. I'm going to plant the flag and I'll start taking samples right away.

DANREY: Start with those more distant ones, just in case. If you EMU malfunctions-

MALLOCK: I understand. I'm planting the flag now. There – how's it looking?

DANREY: Very good. And to think we've come back after almost 30 years... Okay, we have work to do – go get those samples.

MALLOCK: Copy that.

***

DUNA LAB: Attention. No crew activity in the Lab Module had been detected for the last: FIVE DAYS. Initiating automatic emergency protocol.

DUNA LAB: Emergency radio beacon online. Initiating emergency transmission to following targets: DUNA SPACE STATION. KERBAL SPACE CENTER. KERBIN SPACE STATION EPSILON-5. IMV PROTEUS. Transmission in progress. Initiating classified data transfer to following targets: DUNA SPACE STATION. KERBAL SPACE CENTER. Data transfer in progress. Switching all non-essential systems to stand-by mode. Attention. The emergency transmission and emergency radio beacon may be deactivated manually if needed. Classified data transfer in progress. Transmission in progress.

***

MISSION STATUS

***

[czokletmuss]

And one more Grand Tour postcard:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[Daddy Cecil]

Oh crap! Something happened at Duna base! DUN DUN DUUN

[czokletmuss]

Oh crap! Something happened at Duna base! DUN DUN DUUN

OH NOES! Another cliffhanger!

[tntristan12]

Well hot damn! I just binge-read this entire story from back to front in one sitting over a period of about 24 hours, and though I am tired beyond what words can express I must say it was worth every minute! Fantastic writing, fantastic setup, and fantastic music to go with it. When I'm more well rested I plan on giving lots of rep.

That said, I am nursing slight disappointment in not having seen the tale through to its conclusion, but now at least I get the joy of seeing it wrap up at the same time as the rest of my fellow kerbonauts. Keep up the good work!

[silentdragon]

Wow, just... Wow. I really wonder what happened at Duna there, I hope we will find out!

And, merry Christmas everyone! Czo, I donated you a few bucks. Keep up the amazing work!

Edited December 24, 2013 by silentdragon

[Rainbowtrout]

Ok, I have FINALLY finished reading what is out so far, and it's amazing. Will the new chapter be out on Christmas? Or today? Or the 26th?