Duna: The Founding of Baldwin Base.

[stephensmat]

Founder's Log: Day One.

Contracted by KSP to found a proper base on Duna, So far, the ScanSat, in Polar Orbit for our whole flight here, has located several Ore deposits of 7.8% concentration, but to build a base needs more than that. It needs a flat surface. Nature doesn't draw in straight lines. For that, someone has to actually go and do some prospecting.

(Supplemental)

My original crew of three went through the snacks by the third week of the flight, and we hummed all the songs we knew soon after. Keeping in touch from Mission Control, General Baldwin recounted stories of his early days on the Mun, with only one episode of Bob Kerbhart to keep his trio entertained. We decided to humor the old man, and played cards for the next 200 sols.

Note to future Colonists: Do not wager naming rights on anything when you're holding less than trip nines. I lost my chance to get the Base named after me. To prevent a mutiny, Mission Control overrode us. They will decide the name of any Base we construct.

Founder's Log: Year 2. Landing.

Our Main duty here is to survive, and find place to found the Base. To do that, we have to land. General Baldwin promises that if we crash, the crater will be named for me, which isn't much... but it did provide the others an incentive to live through landing.

Wile-E-Coyote, our patron saint, gave us his blessing and he parachutes opened right on cue.

Having landed intact, give or take some scuffs on the paint, we began prospecting. Morale's a lot better now that we've got something to do. Nobody's threatened to eat the cards for five whole days.

(Supplemental)

We've been rolling for days, taking measurements here and there. We've also been collecting Scientific measurements in various biomes.

Mission Control has been eager for our reports, but we aren't transmitting them. Everyone knows the real prizes come when you run the data through a laboratory; but we don't have a lab in the rover.

We are, however, getting a tour of some of the historical sites of Duna. I remember as a kid, seeing the news talking about The Little Rovers That Could. They were only mean to last for a few weeks, and went for decades. It's thrilling to see it with my own eyes. The rest of my crew agrees. We were all that space-mad kid.

(Supplemental)

My science officer tells me that the Rover had one last message stored in its memory, waiting for the power to transmit: "Can I Come Home Now?"

We have voted, unanimously, not to mention this to Mission Control.

Founder's Log: Year 2. Jackpot.

After several months of driving, making our way across the planet at an average speed of 15m/s; we've found a likely spot for a Colony. It was my Engineer's turn to name something. He's dubbed it: 'Clear Spot'.

He's a five star wrench turner, but he's not creative.

With the site selected, and the Flag (and built in homing beacon) planted, Kerbin launched the Construction Fleet.

Huge heavy boosters were launched into orbit, and four different craft was docked, one per booster. This is the most expensive part of the mission, given what it takes to get these things off Kerbin. A Heavy Construction Workshop, a supply pod full of Specialist Parts, and of course the Construction Kit are all on their way

Founder's Log: Year 3. Miscalculation.

Our Construction Rover, (the only part of the fleet with Kerbalnauts aboard) came in far faster than was expected. As a result, the Rover landed a full week away from the landing site. Even longer, when you consider that the Construction Rover is ten times the weight of our explorer.

After conversations with Mission Control, they've decided that the Construction Crew are 'perfectly capable' of making the trek. They're probably right, but nobody likes driving through a sandstorm on Duna. Especially when you have to go around mountains and hills, rather than over them.

(Supplemental)

The decision was made to continue landing our supplies while the Workshop makes its way over her.

But while landing, there was a sudden wave of darkness. While the DIY Kit landed safely, we are making an effort not to be superstitious.

Turns out we chose the craziest time for a landing approach. There was an eclipse over 'Clear Spot'

Founder's Log, Year 5: Third Miscalculation.

The Workshop arrived safely at base camp this morning. We landed the supply pod, and began the work of constructing our new home. But we experienced a technical flaw. Half the reason we were able to get this Base Plan approved was because we were farmed out the job of construction to a "Miscellaneous Operations Department". The Mod in this case was Global Construction. Their DIY Kits are wildly versatile, but there's far less practical experience with their equipment than we have with all the regular KSP equipment. 

As a result, we apparently forgot a few parts. Small parts. But as with everything in space, the smallest details are the ones that wreck your mission plan.

Mission Control's position on the matter is that this is the perfect opportunity to send General Baldwin's brother-in-law, who apparently 'has a fine career ahead of him'. I'm glad the resupply has a Probe Core, so he doesn't have to touch anything.

As leader of the 'Founding' phase of the plan, my job is to keep morale up. Fortunately, while we may have forgotten things like supply couplers, I managed to pack my golf clubs.

Duna gravity is a third of Kerbin's. I bet I broke a couple of records with that swing.

Founder's Log, Year 7: Prospectors to Colonists

We were told that building the Duna Base in a complete piece would take 6000 Specialists parts, all of which were included in my supply pod. Apparently, someone misread the manifest. There were other material kits required.

Mission Control has done the math and decided that we can absolutely finish construction if we cannibalize all the landers, debris, and our own Return Vehicle. My original Trio protested... vigorously. But apparently the schedule can't be overruled again. Which means for my Prospecting Team to return to Kerbin, we'll have to wait for another craft to come, or for one to be Duna-Built.

So we just got promoted from Explorers to Pioneering Colonists. At least, temporary ones. I can live with that for now.

(Supplemental)

Construction was completed overnight. We took a few wheels off the Construction Rover to polish the chrome and turn on all the lights.

The Construction Teams have already claimed their bunks and fought over jobs, while we run the 'shakedown' of the new Base. I've already earmarked a few notes for the revised prototype on the next landing site, or even the next planet. Small outposts have been the norm on the Mun and Minmus, but if this base can properly construct it own parts and craft, odds are most of our construction will be moved off Kerbin. The politicians won't like it, but they can build their own base if they don't like it.

The last order of business as the crew made its way inside our new home: A Naming Ceremony. We have to officially open it, and for that we need to know what name to put on the reports.

While we've been working on all this, Old Man Baldwin has been taking advice and getting input from hundreds of people. Schoolkids, Government Committees, Newscasters, famous authors... Everyone has an idea of what our first permanent home on another planet should be named.

After very careful consideration, General Baldwin has decided which of the millions of potential names will be chosen.

Baldwin Base was declared fully operational and open for business this morning.

End of Report.