Project Farpoint: The Leap to Eeloo

[Mr. Pseudonym]

Whoo! New chapter! MECHANI-KRAKEN ONLINE.

[RogueMason]

...

I feel like the mission is going to end prematurely when the lazors hit the centrifuge.

Nonsense, there's plenty of space there! Those lasers will never, ever, hit the centrif--- oh. Oh dear...

No, seriously, there is enough space. Maybe 2 metres of clearance between where the beams would be and the outer edge of the centrifuge

[Mekan1k]

Every time I see you have put up another chapter, it makes my AAR's look worse by comparison.

Nice work!

[Mekan1k]

Nonsense, there's plenty of space there! Those lasers will never, ever, hit the centrif--- oh. Oh dear...

No, seriously, there is enough space. Maybe 2 metres of clearance between where the beams would be and the outer edge of the centrifuge

Oh, and I meant when they fire. The ideal range of fire for lazors in that configuration would be looking straight down the nose of the ship. The centrifuge is right in front of the lazors.

If the lazors need to fire they will probably hit it.

[Captain_Doug]

Two things:

Firstly I laughed when jeb told bill not to worry about the fusion rocket

Secondly I can barley see the lasers on the ship. I got confused when Jeb talked about them.

[RogueMason]

CHAPTER 2: DUNA

A few days later...

Bill: “Jeb, the course is plotted, we're ready for transfer.â€Â

Jeb: “And so it begins... Buckle up everyone, we're going for a ride!â€Â

Bob: “You said that on the way to Jool with Odysseus. Catchphrase or something?â€Â

Jeb: “Just seemed appropriate.â€Â

Handorf: “As long as you don't say 'Yeehaw!' or something. That'd make it really bad.â€Â

Jeb: “Who do you think I am, a cowboy?â€Â

*Awkward silence*

Jeb: “Oh gee, thanks guys.â€Â

Bill: “That is sort of your reputation.â€Â

Jeb: “No, I'm the badass fighter pilot who wears aviators all the time, not some tobacco-chewing gunslinger who rides a horse all day!â€Â

Bill: “Ok, ok, I'm sorry!â€Â

Jeb: “No, it's... it's fine. Listen, we can't let ourselves get like this. We're going to be out there for a long time and we don't want to bicker with each other.â€Â

Handorf: “Absolutely. Speaking as the doctor of the ship, I don't want any bickering. At the very least, it affects mental health. At worst, well, I'd expect killings...â€Â

Jeb: “Well said, Handorf, even if it was a bit, umm, morbid. Anyway, let's get this transfer done.â€Â

Bill: “Burn complete, Duna encounter in 66 days and 6 hours.â€Â

Jeb: “Awesome. Now, we can actually have proper board game sessions in the centrifuge, so is anyone up for--â€Â

Bob: “I say no to Skrabble.â€Â

Jeb: “...Damn. Alright, what about Baggle [Kerbal Boggle]?â€Â

Malrick: “Only if we can use the ship's on-board computer for the dictionary.â€Â

Raygas: “Agreed.â€Â

Jeb: “Ok then, Baggle it is!â€Â

2 months later...

Bob: “External cameras have Duna and Ike in view.â€Â

Jeb: “Ah, beautiful. A shame there isn't another moon here, that would make Duna the most stunning place in the system, in my opinion. It already is a beautiful place, I reckon.â€Â

Bill: “We'll enter the SOI in a few days, so you can marvel as much as you want for now.â€Â

Jeb: “And I think I will.â€Â

A few days later...

Jeb: “Ok, back to business. Bob, retract the solar panels.â€Â

Bob: “Roger that, solar panels are now folding up.â€Â

Handorf: “What about the centrifuge?â€Â

Malrick: “That will be fine; Bobcat's resilient materials, remember?â€Â

Handorf: “I mustn't have been there for that one...â€Â

Jeb: “Alright, we aerobrake in a few minutes, so strap yourselves in.â€Â

A few minutes later...

Bob: “Structural integrity is holding perfectly at 100%, temperatures are not high enough for plasma formation, and we aren't even pulling a whole G, so we'll be fine.â€Â

Bill: “We're nearly done now, we're past periapsis and we have an apoapsis.â€Â

Jeb: “All good news. How're things back there?â€Â

Malrick: “Just fine. Handorf has hiccups but he'll recover.â€Â

Jeb: “Hiccups in space, now there's something I've never seen before... Malrick, record it!â€Â

Handorf: “-hic- WHAT? That's comple -hic- completely unfair! -hic-â€Â

Jeb: “We need something to raise morale, especially if that morale takes a sudden dip.â€Â

Handorf: “Oh -hic- alright then...â€Â

Malrick: “Where's the camera?â€Â

Bob: “Should be in the 'Not Food' compartment'.â€Â

Malrick: “Ah, that's the other side of the cabin... I think I'll wait until aerobraking is complete.â€Â

Handorf: “Good to -hic- know.â€Â

30 minutes later...

Jeb: “We're actually perfectly aligned with the Hypersoar? Wow, not even a hundredth of a degree out?â€Â

Bill: “I've been practicing inclination alignment in the simulator on Kerbin, but I doubt I'll be able to pull something like this off again though.â€Â

Jeb: “Well, for this once, well done on a flawless job.â€Â

Bill: “Thanks Jeb, not that I needed it...â€Â

Jeb: “Ok, when to circularise?â€Â

Bill: “At periapsis.â€Â

Jeb: “Fair enough. How are the hiccups Handorf?â€Â

Handorf: “Gone, thankfully. Being a doctor has its perks sometimes.â€Â

Jeb: “I can imagine. Then again, being a badass pilot has its perks too. You get paid a lot, you get to fly dangerous and awesome missions, and all the ladies, well...â€Â

Bob: “Yes, you've explained that last one a lot ever since we got back from Jool aboard Odysseus.â€Â

45 minutes later, at periapsis...

Bill: “Burn complete, we're in a circular orbit.â€Â

Jeb: “Now to wait for our mystery crew member...â€Â

[Captain_Doug]

Hiccups in space and jebs great little badass speach. Great so far and going to get better.

[Mr. Pseudonym]

Lol, hiccups in space. More likely he would just puke.

[Scotius]

*stares dreamily at the screenshot of Duna* I agree with Jeb, after Kerbin Duna is prettiest planet in the system - even if it's arid, barren wasteland with a atmosphere that is not even worth joking about.

[RogueMason]

CHAPTER 3: THE CREW SWAP

Several hours earlier...

Lengun: “Hypersoar 2, you are clear for take-off.â€Â

Lengas: “Copy that, beginning take-off. Thanks for having me.â€Â

Lengun: “No problem, friend, and thanks for the new flag!â€Â

Lengas: “Outreach, I am airborne.â€Â

Lengun: “Congratulations on being the first person to fly a ship off the surface of Duna, and good luck with the rest of the mission. Outreach out.â€Â

Lengas: “Right, orbit achieved, now for refuelling...â€Â

1 hour later...

Lengas: “Duna Orbital Outpost, this is Hypersoar 2, permission to dock and refuel?â€Â

DOO: “Granted, bring yourself in nice and carefully.â€Â

Lengas: “Fuelling complete, undocking now.â€Â

KSC: “Lengas, I assume you know you're heading to the Lonestar now?â€Â

Lengas: “Lengun mentioned it while I was at Outreach. What about the Hypersoar?â€Â

KSC: “Crew swap. Raygas is waiting aboard the Lonestar, and he'll take over the Hypersoar in your place while you take his place.â€Â

Lengas: “Oh, ok then.â€Â

1½ hours later...

Lengas: “Wow, big ship. Anyway... Lonestar, you read?â€Â

Bob: “We read you Hypersoar. Close your distance to about 50 metres and then we'll initiate the swap.â€Â

Lengas: “I know that voice... Bob? Bob Kerman?â€Â

Bob: “Wha...? Who is this?â€Â

Lengas: “Ok, I'm surprised you haven't been briefed on who your replacement for Raygas is, and I'm also surprised you don't recognise my voice.â€Â

Bob: “Hold on a second... Lengas?!â€Â

Lengas: “That's better.â€Â

Jeb: “Lengas?! What are you doing out here?â€Â

Lengas: “What am I doing? I'm hoping to come aboard your ship at the moment!â€Â

Jeb: “Oh right, yeah, umm, one moment... There, you can come across now, there's room for you to come aboard.â€Â

Lengas: “Alright then. Goodbye, Hypersoar, you're a great ship.â€Â

Lengas: “They actually installed a centrifuge on this thing?â€Â

Jeb: “Astonishingly, yes. Makes it easier to play board games at least.â€Â

Lengas: “Ah Jeb, you and your board games...â€Â

Lengas: “Ok, I'm in. Nice and roomy in here.â€Â

Bill: “Well, when you have two Mk1-2 capsules, a hitchhiker crew tank, and a centrifuge, there's going to be a luxurious amount of space.â€Â

Lengas: “And I thought Odysseus was spacious...â€Â

Raygas: “Alright guys, I'll see you some other time. Have fun out there.â€Â

Handorf: “And you, be safe.â€Â

Jeb: “See you around, Raygas, and good luck.â€Â

Raygas: “Thanks Jeb, you too.â€Â

Lengas: “Sooo, what's next on the agenda?â€Â

Jeb: “Eeloo, quite simply. Also, if I see you go and meddle with the seat warmer circuits again, I'm throwing you out of the airlock!â€Â

Lengas: "Just because I saved your hides after that aerobrake!"

Jeb: "That you did, Lengas..."

[Captain_Doug]

Now I remember who Lengas is. When he mentioned the seat Warmer's I got a light bubble.

[Mr. Pseudonym]

WHOOP WHOOP! New chapter is awesome! Good, consistently made chapters!

Keep it up!

[Mekan1k]

Why I think this AAR is better than mine?

I have 4 guys bickering in a munar RV.

You have a fusion-engine spaceship in Duna Orbit.

Make a guess

[RogueMason]

Why I think this AAR is better than mine?

I have 4 guys bickering in a munar RV.

You have a fusion-engine spaceship in Duna Orbit.

Make a guess

Be that as it may, your story is still really good and has plenty of humour too, so don't lower yourself, you're great

[RogueMason]

CHAPTER 4: THE LEAP

Bill: “We have our transfer window, Jeb.â€Â

Jeb: “Ok, prepare for the burn, guys. Lengas, how's the engine looking?â€Â

Lengas: “Looks good. I only ever heard the guys at Outreach talking about these designs for a fusion engine that they dug up. I never thought I'd be seeing one in action!â€Â

Jeb: “Most of us here didn't think we would either. Anyway, burn in one minute.â€Â

Bill: “Burn complete, we are now on a Duna escape trajectory. We'll obviously need to compensate for Eeloo's inclination, so...â€Â

Jeb: “We'll have to wait until the descending node to do anything, otherwise we're wasting fuel.â€Â

Lengas: “I don't think we'll have any reason to worry about fuel with this ship. We haven't even used half of the stores yet.â€Â

Jeb: “I still think a fuelling vessel might be a good idea once we're out there, just to be on the safe side.â€Â

Malrick: “HA.â€Â

Jeb: “What?â€Â

Malrick: “Jebediah Kerman; on the safe side. That's a contrast if ever I heard one.â€Â

Jeb: “Hmm...â€Â

Bob: “He has a point.â€Â

Jeb: “True, true, but still, I don't exactly want to be stranded in interplanetary space if we run out of fuel halfway through a Kerbin transfer, and I'm sure none of you want that either.â€Â

Jeb: “So long, Duna, it was nice to see you again.â€Â

Lengas: “You know, there's a theory about you and you're liking of Duna, Jeb.â€Â

Jeb: “Oh?â€Â

Lengas: “The colour of Duna's surface is practically the same colour as an explosion.â€Â

Jeb: “Maybe it was some subconcious part of me that came up with that, but I've never actively thought of it until now...â€Â

Bob: “As long as you don't cause any explosions here to get the same result, I'll be fine.â€Â

Handorf: “As will I. I don't really want to have to deal with a couple of severely wounded crew just because you decided to blow something up.â€Â

Jeb: “Oh please, I'm not a fool. Besides, how else will I blow anything up other than with the lasers we have?â€Â

Lengas: “We have lasers?â€Â

Jeb: “Long story. Anyway, how would I blow something up?â€Â

Bill: “Crash the ship?â€Â

Jeb: “Without crashing the ship.â€Â

*Thoughtful silence*

Bob: “Self-destruct? That's not crashing the ship.â€Â

Jeb: “We have a self-destruct system?â€Â

Lengas: “...â€Â

Bob: “Well, if you count pointing the laser cannons at ourselves, then yes, we have a self-destruct system.â€Â

Jeb: “Oh. That doesn't count either.â€Â

A few weeks later...

Bill: “Jeb, we're approaching the burn point, can you get over here please?â€Â

Jeb: “One minute, just snacking.â€Â

Bob: “Can't interrupt a Kerbal who's snacking, Bill.â€Â

Lengas: “Against the Law, that is.â€Â

Bill: “I think a trajectory change is more important than eating a chocolate bar.â€Â

*Several gasps*

Malrick: “BLASPHEMER.â€Â

Bill: “Admittedly, snacking is good and we need it, but we won't be reaching Eeloo if JEB DOESN'T GET OVER HERE AND PILOT THE SHIP.â€Â

Jeb: “Alright, alright, I'm coming, but I'm bringing my snack with me!â€Â

Bill: “Don't get crumbs anywhere near the guidance systems, please.â€Â

Jeb: “Dude, the crumbs will just float away from us.â€Â

Bill: “In which case they become a breathing hazard.â€Â

Handorf: “True story, that.â€Â

Jeb: “Oh whatever, you fools. It's a chocolate bar, anyway, so I doubt that there will be many signifcant crumbs to worry about. Now, about this transfer, let me just strap in, and get this over with.â€Â

Bill: “Thank Kerbin for that!â€Â

Jeb: “There, done. How long until we get there now?â€Â

Bill: “A long time...â€Â

Jeb: “How long?!â€Â

Bill: “2 years and 47 days.â€Â

Lengas: “Wow, I really hope we brought enough to keep us occupied.â€Â

Handorf: “At least we can all stay healthy with the centrifuge.â€Â

Jeb: “So, anyone up for a game?â€Â

Malrick: “You're on.â€Â

Over 2 years later...

*Beeping*

Bill: *Sleepy* “Huh...? Oh, err, Jeb, wake up.â€Â

Jeb: “In a minute...â€Â

Bill: “Jeb, now!â€Â

Jeb: “What?â€Â

Bill: “We've entered the SOI of Eeloo.â€Â

Jeb: “Oh. At last...â€Â

[Captain_Doug]

I agree with Malrick about Jeb and safety.

[RocketPilot573]

I always thought that Bill was an intelligent Kerbal, but executing a maneuver being more important than snacks?! I guess I was wrong. Looks like I'm not sending Bill to Eve then!

[Rainbowtrout]

Wow I missed this appearing. But yay, it's here!

[Mr. Pseudonym]

Lol. Someone should tell Harv that kerbals should die without snacks to eat.

[RogueMason]

CHAPTER 5: EELOO

Jeb: “Deceleration burn is under way, it should only be a few minutes now until we're in orbit.â€Â

Lengas: “The first manned mission to Eeloo.â€Â

Jeb: “Hell yeah!â€Â

Bill: “Trajectory is looking good.â€Â

Lengas: “The engine's fine, and hull integrity is still remarkably at 100%.â€Â

Bob: “Might be because of the improved EM shields we can operate thanks to the fusion reactor.â€Â

Lengas: “I'd have expected stony micrometeorites to have got through. Then again, there probably aren't any this far out.â€Â

Bill: “Almost there...â€Â

Malrick: “Ooh, this is going to be good.â€Â

Handorf: “As long as no-one gets too excited...â€Â

Jeb: “Oh relax Handorf, nobody will get hurt.â€Â

Bill: “ORBIT ACHIEVED!â€Â

Jeb: “Yes! Well done everyone!â€Â

Lengas: “Well done to you to for your once again professional piloting.â€Â

Jeb: “What can I say? I am a professional after all.â€Â

Bob: “Yeah, umm, Mr. Professional, don't forget the inclination change.â€Â

Jeb: “Oh right, yeah, but we're still in orbit of Eeloo!â€Â

Bob: “Yes, yes we are.â€Â

A few minutes later...

Jeb: “There, we're done. So, who fancies scouting out a landing site?â€Â

Lengas: “I spotted a good one on the way in, close to a rocky surface, along the equator, and within range of the Plan-Ex rover.â€Â

Malrick: “What about that crater?â€Â

Lengas: “Not really much we can do there, it's shallow and there aren't any rock surfaces.â€Â

Bob: “I think that site Lengas mentioned is good, actually. Sensors are reading all sorts of weird anomalous forces on the surface, and the spot we're looking at has minimal activity.â€Â

Jeb: “Forces eh? Like those forces on Duna and Pol?â€Â

Bob: “Presumably, yes.â€Â

Jeb: “Well then, Bill, you'd best get to it. Take Lengas and Handorf with you.â€Â

Bill: “What, me? Take the lander down?â€Â

Jeb: “Yes... problem?â€Â

Bill: “Why me? Surely you want to go down there?â€Â

Jeb: “Oh believe me, I do, but you didn't get to land anywhere in the Jool system while we were aboard Odysseus, so it's only fair that you go down to Eeloo and take those first steps.â€Â

Bill: “Well, I guess that's one way of looking at it, thanks.â€Â

Jeb: “No need for thanks, it's only right.â€Â

Handorf: “Are we going to go then, or what?â€Â

Bill: “Come on then, into the lander!â€Â

Bill: “Ok, you two sorted...?â€Â

Lengas: “Strapped in and ready to rock.â€Â

Handorf: “As ready as I'll ever be.â€Â

Bill: “Alright then. Jeb, I'm undocking now.â€Â

Jeb: “You're clear, fly safe Bill.â€Â

Bill: “You too, Jeb, I'll see you in a year or so.â€Â

Jeb: “Aye, that you will.â€Â

Lengas: “Fuel's looking a little low for this point in the mission.â€Â

Bill: “We're fine, I'm just taking it easy, making sure we don't crash. We'll be ok on the ascent.â€Â

Handorf: “He says hopefully...â€Â

Bill: “Look, we're near the surface now, so brace yourselves.â€Â

Bill: “Touchdown! Engine cut-off. Lengas, how are we looking?â€Â

Lengas: “Just under half our fuel remains, structural integrity is at 98.3%, and all other systems are nominal.â€Â

Handorf: “I daresay that went well.â€Â

Bill: “Because it did go well! Lonestar, do you read?â€Â

Jeb: “We read you, and we see you've touched down. Congratulations guys, you're the first Kerbals on Eeloo. Control will probably be chiming in on the comms in a few minutes. Time lag, and all.â€Â

Lengas: “6 minutes of time lag between here and Kerbin. Actually, might have been 12 minutes, ugh... So, Bill, you gonna step outside?â€Â

Bill: “Yep, here goes...â€Â

Bill: “I stand here on Eeloo as the symbol of Kerbal bravery and ingenuity, and I shall not be the last to set foot on this cold, dark planet so very far from home.â€Â

Lengas: “Technically, Eeloo is a planetoid, but other than that, nice speech.â€Â

Bill: “Oh, you're getting all technical on me, are you? Well, I think I'll – WHOA!â€Â

*Bill slips on ice*

Handorf: “Bill, are you alright?â€Â

Bill: “I... I think I'm fine, and I think my suit is too.â€Â

Lengas: “What happened?!â€Â

Bill: “The ice melted a bit under the lander. The engine did that, no doubt. So, err, watch your step as you come out.â€Â

Handorf: “Will do...â€Â

[Mr. Pseudonym]

WOO! New chapter rocks!

[Mekan1k]

Well done with simulating the reaction of the environment to their engine. Well done.

[Captain_Doug]

that would be interesting if the engines melted on normal Eeloo especially with that fusion engine.

[Scotius]

Nice 'Hello' from Eeloo I'm so jealous - best i got to Eeloo was a small exploration ship that could not land. But one day...

[Mekan1k]

that would be interesting if the engines melted on normal Eeloo especially with that fusion engine.

With that fusion engine, I would not be surprised if the escape-burn caused atmosphere to form on the planet.