[AAR] Vengeance: A Journey To Space -- WARNING: IMAGE HEAVY

[Railgunner2160]

So, any word on when your internet my be fixed?? Looking forward to the next part!!!!!

[Mekan1k]

Internet in my apartment is supposed to be fixed by the 18th.

I am in Washington state now, and the computer that I use to play ksp is in Arizona, so I can't update it, or post pictures.

The next update, assuming no issues, will be January 8th- I return to AZ on the 6th, so that is the soonest I can update.

I apologize, but circumstances that I am working within are unrelenting.

Enjoy your Christmas/holidays.

[team.leit]

Internet in my apartment is supposed to be fixed by the 18th.

I am in Washington state now, and the computer that I use to play ksp is in Arizona, so I can't update it, or post pictures.

The next update, assuming no issues, will be January 8th- I return to AZ on the 6th, so that is the soonest I can update.

I apologize, but circumstances that I am working within are unrelenting.

Enjoy your Christmas/holidays.

Enjoy your holidays as well and thanks for the heads up

[Mr. Pseudonym]

WASHINGTON STATE I MISS YOU TEXAS IS SO COLD

But all whining aside, I remember when we got 5 or 6 inches of snow. No one bothered to bury the powerlines because in a state with large amounts of annual rain, and very cold temperatures, and also TREES! there would be no possibility that the branches get hung over with to much snow, collapse, and then fall onto powerlines. NO POSSIBILTY. AT ALL. Needless to say, power was out for a week, and of course, I lived on a hill, so you couldn't really get down. But the snow provided entertainment. That was the only good part.

[/rant ]

I am now posting in eurositle from now on.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Mr. Pseudonym

[Railgunner2160]

Good to hear from you Mekan1k, Was just curious for an update. Happy Holidays, and here's to enjoying them!!!!

[nianor]

Internet in my apartment is supposed to be fixed by the 18th.

I am in Washington state now, and the computer that I use to play ksp is in Arizona, so I can't update it, or post pictures.

The next update, assuming no issues, will be January 8th- I return to AZ on the 6th, so that is the soonest I can update.

I apologize, but circumstances that I am working within are unrelenting.

Enjoy your Christmas/holidays.

Hey, sheer curiosity, east or west washington?

[Mr. Cookie]

Loving this story! I've registered just to be able to comment

[Mekan1k]

Good to hear from you Mekan1k, Was just curious for an update. Happy Holidays, and here's to enjoying them!!!!

Happy holidays!

Hey, sheer curiosity, east or west washington?

Middling-west Washington. I am within spitting distance of Seattle.

Loving this story! I've registered just to be able to comment

Thanks! I hope you enjoy the forums.

[Mekan1k]

WASHINGTON STATE I MISS YOU TEXAS IS SO COLD

But all whining aside, I remember when we got 5 or 6 inches of snow. No one bothered to bury the powerlines because in a state with large amounts of annual rain, and very cold temperatures, and also TREES! there would be no possibility that the branches get hung over with to much snow, collapse, and then fall onto powerlines. NO POSSIBILTY. AT ALL. Needless to say, power was out for a week, and of course, I lived on a hill, so you couldn't really get down. But the snow provided entertainment. That was the only good part.

[/rant ]

I am now posting in eurositle from now on.

We rarely get snow, and this year has been unusually cold...

I wonder....

Check this out- it might be of interest.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/06/110614-sun-hibernation-solar-cycle-sunspots-space-science/

[nianor]

Middling-west Washington. I am within spitting distance of Seattle.

How do you feel about the rain? ;P

[Mekan1k]

How do you feel about the rain? ;P

To quote the grinch: "Hate hate hate, hate hate hate, double hate, LOATH ENTIRELY."

[Mr. Pseudonym]

To quote the grinch: "Hate hate hate, hate hate hate, double hate, LOATH ENTIRELY."

So you were in Arizona? Why do you hate the rain? It is nice and refreshing to have rain after lots of heat. I live in Texas now, and it is really nice.

But the best part about Texas is:

I live in the very edge of Austin, and it's a really nice neighborhood. So I might be getting Google Fiber.

Don't be jealous, I MIGHT. Doesn't mean I will. Though it would be cool.

What town do you live in Mek? I used to live in Woodinville, which was close to Redmond, more than Seattle, but it's close enough.

Edited January 1, 2014 by Mr. Pseudonym

[Mekan1k]

So you were in Arizona? Why do you hate the rain? It is nice and refreshing to have rain after lots of heat. I live in Texas now, and it is really nice.

But the best part about Texas is:

I live in the very edge of Austin, and it's a really nice neighborhood. So I might be getting Google Fiber.

Don't be jealous, I MIGHT. Doesn't mean I will. Though it would be cool.

What town do you live in Mek? I used to live in Woodinville, which was close to Redmond, more than Seattle, but it's close enough.

Currently, I am living in Sammamish, with my family, in WA, but in AZ, I live in a small town called Prescott.

Oh, and I hate the rain because I have really sensitive allergies to mold. When it rains, my allergies briefly got better, than much much worse.

In the desert, there is little water, and a lot of sunlight, so little mold.

[Mr. Pseudonym]

Currently, I am living in Sammamish, with my family, in WA, but in AZ, I live in a small town called Prescott.

Oh, and I hate the rain because I have really sensitive allergies to mold. When it rains, my allergies briefly got better, than much much worse.

In the desert, there is little water, and a lot of sunlight, so little mold.

Yeah. Mold sucks. But it's really odd, because in Washington, fruit would go moldy but it would take a lot longer, but in Texas, it just rots, but it happens a lot faster. Maybe 3X phys warp speed

[nianor]

Currently, I am living in Sammamish, with my family, in WA, but in AZ, I live in a small town called Prescott.

Oh, and I hate the rain because I have really sensitive allergies to mold. When it rains, my allergies briefly got better, than much much worse.

In the desert, there is little water, and a lot of sunlight, so little mold.

Look at it this way. You could be allergic to evergreen trees!

[Mekan1k]

Hello everyone! I'M BACK!!!

Look at it this way. You could be allergic to evergreen trees!

I am. As well as most deciduous that are native there.

Onto the new chapter!

Chapter 10: Reunions of all flavors

*In the Mission control, in the month before the MunShot 1 mission and test-flight of the Waverider*

Bill: Oooohhhhh.... I'm so excited.

Bob: *Facepalm*

Jeb: Well, for a mission to Duna, this is a decent ship.

Kirlak: Decent? Jeb, Bill there managed to cut the cost of this mission in HALF with the upgrades.

Jeb: I know. I know.

Bill: Can I do the honors?

Kirlak: Sure.

Bill: 10. 9. 8. 7.

Jeb: 12!

Bill: 11. 10. 9. 8. 7.

Jeb: 2.

Bill: 2. 1. Zero. LAUNCH!

Bill: KSP, and Kerbin, it looks like a clean launch!

Jeb: Ascent Stage looks clean.

Kirlak: Anything else?

Jeb: Yes. I would like to go back and work on the spacecraft that will be keeping me from asphyxiating in munar orbit.

Kirlak: Alright. Get out of here Jeb.

Bob: I.. Oh, stage separation.

Bill: It's clean.

Bob: I need to check on the Waverider. We have been having trouble with the left-ramjet control circuit.

Kirlak: I wish I knew how you got all these advancements to work.

Bill: We are from the future.

Kirlak:Yeah right!

Bob: I really need to go.

Kirlak: One sec.

*Kirlak switched on the speaker system to the complex*

Kirlak: Everyone, the Duna mission has reached orbit, with nothing but green lights across the board! ETA to touchdown, one month, and 3 days.

*Kirlak turned off the speaker system*

Bill: Systems are green. Launch window open!

Bill: Permission to press the button?

Kirlak: Go ahead Bill- you earned it.

*Beep*

Bill: The probe is now burning for Duna! Staging in 3. 2. 1.

Bill: Perfect burn! Now we have nothing to do but wait...

Bob: BILL!!!! HELP!!! THE ENGINE IS-

*BANG*

Bob: NEVERMIND.

*******

When the probe got to Duna

*******

*Circularized. Sending progress report home..... Done.

*Deploying Probes 1 & 2. Mapping beginning.

*Dropping orbit for secondary deployment. Aerobraking for effect.

*Retracting Solar panels.

*Periapsis reached.

*Atmosphere cleared. Extending Solar Panels.

*Re-orienting

*Prepping Probes for release.

*Releasing Probes 3 & 4

*Communication lines open. Landing location selected. Deorbit burn... Complete!

*Releasing lander in 3. 2.

*1.

*Releasing Parachute

*Activating airbags

*Touchdown

*Stabilized. Deflating and opening containment.

*Opening Rover

*Sunrise... Sending Back pictures!

*********

Back in Munar orbit, Jeb is dying of boredom.

*********

Jeb: Can this be any more boring....

Bill: Probably. We got confirmation that out Duna probe has recently entered orbit, and is deploying it's orbital probes!

Jeb: Sounds... Exciting. I am setting this vehicle into autopilot, and going to sleep. B9k! Let's see how good you are.

B9k: Jeb, you are safe in my... Subroutines.

Jeb: Great. 'Night!

*Rumbling*

Jeb: What...?? AHHHHH!!!!!

B9k: Calm down Jeb- we are just re-entering the atmosphere.

Jeb: ITS GETTING WORSE!!!!!

B9k: Fuel temperature in tanks is approaching critical levels. Decoupling extra fuel tanks.

Jeb: Nice lightshow.

B9k: It's my pleasure. We are going to drop below supersonic in 3. 2. 1.

*THUMP*

Jeb: That is never an easy transition.

B9k: Burning for control of landing.

B9k: Dropping emergency stage.

Jeb: The ground is coming up rather fast.

B9k: I know. Releasing Parachutes... Now.

Jeb: The mun was a nice place to visit, but I don't think I want to live there.

*Splash!*

Jeb: I hope someone comes to get us soon...

B9k: We can only hope.

***********

After being picked up by a sea-plane, Jeb, Bill, and Bob all re-unite in the Mission Command, with Kirlak and a number of other kerbals working the instruments.

***********

Bill: So... How was your mission?

Jeb: Boring.

Bob:... Oh well. We are getting pictures back!

Jeb: Can we activate the AI?

Kirlak: WHAT.

Jeb: Oh- we three have been working on a packaged AI system that should be able to increase the expected lifespan of any probe. It can run on the rover!

Kirlak: Is it safe?

Bill: We put it through rigorous ethical testing, and it will do it's best to fulfill the mission, protect itself, and protect the crew of a mission- in opposite order of priority, of course.

Kirlak: I guess it cannot hurt. Activate it.

Bill: B9k, activate Audacity Rover.

AR: Activated. Sending pictures now.

Bob: What's with the white space above the image?

Jeb: I don't know... Maybe interference? But how?

Bill: We are using a gravioli projection communicator- only a.. Gravioli... Signature.... Could....

Jeb: OHCRAP.

Kirlak: What now?

Jeb: We don't think the transmission system is working as expected. We need to scrub the signal. *whispers to Bill and Bob* SCRUB THE SIGNAL SCRUB THE SIGNAL!!!

AR: Mission Control, all exploratory diagnostic suites are ready. Can I begin scientific testing?

Kirlak: Go ahead!

Bill: THERE! The signal has been scrubbed.

Jeb: Great.

Kirlak: Seems Promising. I know what we will be doing for the next mission.

Bill: What?

Kirlak: We are sending a manned mission to Duna!

Jeb: Not it.

*****************

Three months later

*****************

Jeb: Alright- I am going back to work on the spacial-distortion engine. Maybe we will be able to use it this time.

Bill: You put so much work into this rocket! Why don't you want to see it launch?

Jeb: It's... Too conventional. I want the feeling of being grabbed by the seat of my pants and have G-forces crush me to the limits of kerbal endurance!

Bob: Ah. Well, go on then.

*after Jeb goes back to the VAB*

Kirlak: Adrenalin Junkie.

Bill: He has earned it. Do you realize that most of these modifications came from him?

Kirlak: I know... He seems distant though.

Bill: I know.

Bob: Hey Seewise! Sigbro! You ready for launch?

See: Affermative MC.

Sig: Yup control. We are ready.

Bill: On your count, Kirlak.

Kirlak: 3. 2. 1. LAUNCH!

*THOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM*

See: Boosters have run out. Jettisoning now.

Sig: Activating first liquid stage.

See: Nothing quite feels like rocket-powered ascension, does it?

Sig: Nope.

Sig: Liquid stage one is nearly empty. Switching to stage two now.

See: Drifting to apostaisis.

Bill: Keep your engine temperature down- it is a vital part.

See: Got it.

Sig: Circularizing....

Sig: Done circularization. Expanding living quarters now.

Bill: Warning- this altitude is too low for safe change in trajectory to Duna.

See: Your suggestion, MC? We are at 80 KM.

Bill: Ascend to 2000, then wait a few hours- it will make the burn safer.

Sig: How much safer?

Bill: You will not collide with the Mun at planetary escape velocity.

Sig: That is alot safer. Burning for higher orbit.

See: Second Liquid stage is empty. Jettisoning.

Sig: Activating nuclear engine.

Sig: Was this ship named?

Bill: Yup. DuneDancer.

See: That is a very... Pretty name.

Bill: I thought so.

See: Duna trajectory locked in. Increasing Burn to full.

Sig: Burn almost done. I hope we don't need to wait more than a month before we get there.

Bill: Hop into the cryo-pods in the centrifuge- you can sleep the trip away, and we will wake you when you get there.

See: Alright. We will call after we get a good night's sleep!

Sig: Yeah. We need it.

***************

Next chapter will be tomorrow. I need sleep- after all, I just changed my major, and I am taking classes this semester.

As always, feel free to mention any thoughts or ideas that you like.

Oh, and if you think this chapter is a little ominous so far- you are probably right!

[team.leit]

Glad to see you are back! It was a good chapter, can't wait for more!

[ramnrmeul]

Damn it! SWARM must have managed to develop time-travel. My guess is that SWARM modified a spatial-distortion drive into a temporal-distortion drive. Not that big of a leap, if you're an AI with a lot of processing power and knowledge of the theory of relativity (and all other theories related to time-travel).

[Mekan1k]

Chapter 11.5: Reunion of foes

Over a month later...

See/Sig: Wow....

B9k: I know. It looks so beautiful...

B9k: Guys- I need to activate the comm array to contact mission control. We may be having a situation here...

See: I don't-

B9k: Check the gravioli scanner.

Sig: ... That is a blinking dot.

B9k: Yes, yes it is.

MC: Hey guys! How is Duna?

See: It's gorgeous!

B9k: MC, I am sending you gravioli scanner data now. We have a bogey, decelerating relative to us, directly aft.

MC: Get eyes on target DuneDancer.

Sig: I can barely see it!

See: It's really dark.

B9k: It has next-to-no heat signature, and active scanning on bands other than gravioli shows nothing. It seems to have near-perfect insulation...

MC: Well then, approach and-

Jeb: NO! DO NOT APPROACH! DO NOTHING! Shutdown exterior lights, and deactivate all non-essential systems.

See: Jeb?

B9k: Why?

Jeb: You know why B9k. Just... Observe it.

B9k: Complying....

MC: Jeb, we need to talk. You are behaving more and more irrationally.

Jeb: Myself, Bill, and Bob have reason to belive this object may be-

See: It's moving!

Jeb: -hostile...

Sig: It's glowing....

See: This can't be good.

*THWUMP*

B9k: Spacial ripple! SBBBBBBWBAiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq...... Ok, I'm fine.

See: Sig, check all systems-

Sig: B9k, could you run a system diagnostic?

B9k: Primary computing systems offline. All exterior sensors other than the gravioli scanner is offline. Gravioli communication systems are working- 3/4 of the detectors are damaged and non-functional.

See: Can it get any worse?

B9k: Yes. RTG's are venting gas. Nuclear engine containment is damaged- I doubt the engine will work properly anymore. RCS control systems are malfunctioning, and there is worse news.

See: HOW CAN THIS

*BLAM*

Sig: Oww.... Good thing he has a glass jaw. Right, B9k, life-support is fine, right? Centrifuge is still spun up?

B9k: Yes.

Sig: Alright. What's the worse news?

B9k: The object is on a re-entry path down to near where the rover is.

Sig: That's great! Can we set up an uplink with the rover?

B9k: Already Patching it through. Give me a minute.

MC: ***** Is **ery on** allr**t?

B9k: We are still here. No injuries, but we are dead in the water until the damage to the nuclear engine has been checked.

See: WhAt happened?...

Sig: You were beginning to panic and jinx us all.

See: Ah.

B9k: Pictures are coming in now.

Sig: Isn't there supposed to be something?

B9k: Overlaying infrared visuals now.

Sig: Turn us toward the estimated landing location.

B9k: I am in communication with the AI in the probe.

AR: Hey up there! Something came down hard here- I want to go look at it. Can I?

Sig: ...

See: ...

MC: Go ahead AR.

AR: YAY!

AR: I will send you the gravioli sensor readings- it is very pretty.

B9k: The gravioli readings are so high that this vehicle is probably powered by a gravioli acceleration engine.

See: Why don't we have one of these?

Jeb: I have been working on it for a month- the distortions the engines causes are hard to control. Every engine needs to be tuned to ship, and that is a very touchy job.

AR: I am getting closer! I am tuning out weaker gravioli signals.

AR: I see it!

AR: Is that it?

AR: That's it! What is that?

See: It's a flying saucer.

Sig: I don't think this is a good thing...

AR: IT BURNS!!!!

SWARM: WE KNOW THIS TECHNOLOGY. WE RECOGNIZE THIS GRAVIOLI TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGY. CAN YOU HEAR US?

MC: Yes, we can hear you. We hope to-

SWARM: QUIET.

MC: Excuse me?

SWARM: BE QUIET. WE ARE SEARCHING FOR AN AUTONOMOUS VESSEL, CAPABLE OF 1/3RD LIGHTSPEED, KNOWN AS NOSTALGIA FOR INFINITY.

MC: We know of no such vessel. However, we wish to open channels of communication and trade with you and your people, as well as -

SWARM: WE NEED FOR NOTHING OF YOURS. WE WILL TAKE WHAT WE WANT, AND CONTINUE OUR SEARCH. STAY GROUNDED FLESHLINGS, OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE TARGETED.

MC: We will not cave to your demands!

SWARM: IT DOES NOT MATTER. GOODBYE.

AR: HELp me......

B9k: Signal is degrading...

See: Can you get the signal back?

B9k: No.

Sig: Guys?

See: I am going to get suited up for an EVA- we need to get out of here ASAP.

Sig: GUYS?!?!

See: What?

Sig: Our sats are going dark.

See: That is a horrifying thing to say.

Sig: Look- here is the map of out orbits 20 minutes ago.

See: Close orbit and much farther orbit. Yes, and?

Sig: Here is a map when the probe was taken out. ALL the sats went dark at the same time.

See: Oh *****.

***************

I hope everyone is enjoying the story! NfI is coming back, and so is the SWARM.

I love reading your speculations!

Next post will be on the weekend.

[nianor]

Hello everyone! I'M BACK!!!

I am. As well as most deciduous that are native there.

God, now I feel awful...

[Mekan1k]

God, now I feel awful...

It's all good. My allergies are rather nasty, but I am allergic to both weed and tobacco, so I will probably never smoke.

There are upsides and downsides.

Oh, and listen to this song when appropriate. You will know when. (sorry, I have no idea how to imbed the video.)

Chapter 12- Wanderlust

***On Kerbin***

Jeb: Ok- Kirlak, can you connect to this server and splice it into the radar grid?

Kirlak: What is it?

Jeb: A Gravioli sensor array.

Kirlak: That technology is over 5 years away!

Jeb: We built one on our own time over the last couple days. We-

Kirlak: Who's we?

Bob: Me.

Bill: Me.

Jeb: And me. Now, we hypothesized that the gravioli might be able to be detected by it's interaction with other particles, IE cause them to gain or lose mass depending upon the distance between the material and the particles, and we found that graviolis can be harmonized, like we would use a lazer, when passed through a rare element mix- xenon-kerbinium crystals are perfect for this. The harmonized particles begin to gather into a field effect, which can be be used to measure the direction and 'charge' of the gravioli.

Kirlak: Why not use light?

Jeb: Graviolis can travel some 80x faster than lightspeed, making them a tachion, due to the fact that they have negative mass.

Kirlak: What were you using them to do?

Jeb: Change the mass of xenon for an impossibly more powerful and efficient ion engine.

Kirlak: And after your group figured this out, you build a small array-

Jeb: a 4000 component array, spread out over the continent.

Kirlak: -a large array just in case someone else used this?

Jeb: We wanted to map the Kerbal system with it- massive objects like planets 'emit' a constant pulse of graviolis, and the 'flavor' or the gravioli is unique for each planet, star, and piece of mass in the universe. We just needed to find out what flavor each body was so we could map it.

Kirlak: And so you needed the array- to pinpoint the source of the graviolis, and make your map.

Jeb: Right.

*Radio crackles*

See: Jeb- we have a problem. There is another blip on that weird radar thing...

Jeb: Where is it?

See: Right on top of us. It decelerated way too fast to be one of ours, and it has a massive signal.

Sig: Dropping a microprobe. In orbit around us- returning signal now.

See: Oh sweet krakennuggets...

Sig: Mission control, please advise.

Kirlak: Don't do anything.

Sig: We will be rotating to see it in a few seconds...

See: Stop it from rotating!

Sig: I can't- not unless we want to make an obvious action.

Sig: I don't know what that is...

See: It's glowing...

Jeb: 10 bucks says targeting lazor.

Bill: I'll take that action.

See: Wait, what?

Jeb: Oh, damn. Guys- you need to distract it somehow.

Bill: You still owe me 10 bucks Jeb.

Sig: Jettisoning external fuel tanks... Now.

See: OHKOD OHKOD WE'RE GOING TO DIE!!!!

Sig: Don't freak out See!

See: WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!

*BANG*

Jeb: DuneDancer! Respond! Respond!

See: ................

Sig: Sorry sir, he was freaking out, and I had to change his thinking.

See: ...........

Sig: And I broke his mike. Give him a second.

See: ...orry MC. I am fine now. It looks like the ship is locking on to the tanks.

Jeb: Right- turn around, and fire your engine full-force towards the ship.

Kirlak: Why?

Jeb: Without proper shielding, the xenon-gravioli engine will overload if hit by a high-energy stream of particles- as those fired from the engine of your ship!

Sig: I just checked the engine specs- we can't run it at full burn for too long. The radioactive core will begin eroding...

Jeb: I know. But you need to do it, now, otherwise that thing is going to kill you all.

*THUD*

See: It's firing on the debris! Kod help us...

Sig: I have turned. It's locked onto us again!

Jeb: Come-on-come-on-come-on...

Sig: It worked! We are registering electromagnetic disturbances- it has stopped moving.

Jeb: Right guys- get out of there!

See: We have a problem MC- the radioactive core has been depleted slightly by the burn- the containment system is showing multiple breaches.

Jeb: Right- we will get a rescue ship out there ASAP.

See: No need. That lazor ship is still out there.

Sig: I understand. SLEWING FOR TURNAROUND!

Jeb: Wait... What?

See: We know of two of these ships- one on Duna, next to the dissipating ruins of the rover.

Sig: We need to take this one out- whatever they are, these ships are small, and this one is currently paralized. The reactor core of our nuclear engine is overloading anyway, so we may as well do as much damage as possible!

See: Ramming speed?

Sig: You can yell it.

See: RAMMING SPEED!

SWARM: YOU CANNOT STAND AGAINST OUR BLADE-

Sig: Shove it.

*BAM*

DuneDancer: **************************

Jeb: Sig? See? Can you hear me!

DuneDancer: **************************

DuneDancer: ***********************es*

Jeb: Guys?

DuneDancer: *e c*n hea* J*b***.

Jeb: Bill! Bob! Everyone! Start pulling all the information you can off the gravioli radio. NOW!

Bill: On it.

DuneDancer: W* are*fine. Most*y.

Jeb: Please clarify.

See: Reactor containment is gone- we are venting radioactive gas.

Jeb: Can you get it locked down?

See: Maybe. But from the microprobe we left near the SWARM vessel, there is not much left of it right now.

Sig: It's turning....

See: MASSIVE GRAVIOLI PULSE! BRACE FOR IMPACT!!!

Sig: It... Missed...

See: We are still tumbling... I am trying to get this leak locked down from the inside- we have lost a bit of air, but not enough to worry. The centrifuge was not damaged at all!

Sig: I am firing RCS- we should stop rotating soon.

Sig: Right. See- you stay in here and try to get that AI back online. I am heading outside to see what the damage is.

*******

15 minutes and several curse-words later...

********

See: You know that swearing does not make the suit fit better, right?

Sig: It is more comforting. Right- I am outside now. Airlock is sealed.

Sig: Starting survey of the ship.

Sig: It's leaking alright.

See: Anything I can do in here?

Sig: No. The engine has at least one hole in it, and there are stress-fractures throughout the rest of the lower assembly.

Sig: The gas is congregating around the exit.

Jeb: It should. The gas is actually a very fine dust- and now it's magnetized.

Sig: It's magnetized- to us?

Jeb: Afraid so.

Sig: Right- I am heading back into the vehicle before this crap gets onto my suit.

See: If the engine explodes-

Sig: Yeah, we die. But, and correct me Jeb, if that happens, the engine is designed to rupture in a disk around the center-line, so that we have no risk of being damaged in the living quarters?

Jeb: That is how I built it to fail, yes.

See: Can't we drop the engine?

Sig: Nope. No decouplers or docking nodes hold the engine in place.

See: Well then- we need to face Kerbal-north.

Jeb: Oh....

Kirlak: Why the long face Jeb?

Jeb: If the engine goes, it would create the equivalent of a mine-field made of radioactive, magnetic sand-grains. Pointing up means that if the engine explodes, it will have a very narrow cross-section on the plane we usually fly.

Kirlak: Good job See. Good job Sig.

*Kirlak leans close to Jeb*

Kirlak: Jeb- listen closely. We need those two back- they are the only Kerbals to get in Duna orbit. We need them back.

Jeb: I can't sir. The new engines are still months away from completion, and it will be at least 6 months before we can get another ship in working order.

See: Our food will have run out by then. Air too.

Sig: And the radioactive cloud will destroy our ship before then.

Jeb:... I guess this is goodbye.

Sig: Not yet! We have many, many things we can still do before that time is up. We have 4 months of food, 4.5 months of air, and enough power for 1 cryopod to still work.

Jeb: If one of you-

See: The cloud will envelop this ship within 2 weeks, and it will eat it's way through the hull in 3.

Jeb: Oh.

Sig: We will be fine- plenty of morphene in the medi*al bay*.

See: *ur commun*cati*ns are gett**g worse.

Jeb: Send data on the alpha-channel: open radio!

Sig: No ***od. W* l*st the *ntene.

Jeb: We will always remember your heroic actions.

Kirlak: Your names will be remembered for all of time. Sigbro, and Seewise, you will not be forgotten.

See: *ye guys********

Sig: Bye ************

Jeb:....

Bill:....

Bob:....

Kirlak: We will never forget the brave kerbalnaughts that we have lost on this day. Our ships, in the future, will have defenses so that this never happens again. We will never again be taken by an outside enemy, and we will colonize this system. Jeb. Bill. Bob. You three are now in charge of getting us everywhere. I want to see a Duna mission ready in time for the next Duna Launch window, and I want to make sure we have redundancies in place. WE WILL NOT KNEEL TO THOSE... MACHINES.

*After a couple seconds of silence, everyone starts clapping.*

Jeb: Right away, SIR!

********************

On Duna, near a fresh smoking crater where a rover used to be...

********************

SWARM Wanderer: WELL, THAT COULD HAVE GONE BETTER. BLADE- WHAT IS YOUR STATUS?

SWARM Blade: DAMAGED. REACTOR IS OVERLOADING. KARBON-BASED LIFE IS DANGEROUS. RIFT HAS CLOSED- WE HAVE NO WAY BACK.

SWARM Wanderer: TRANSMIT GESTALT, AND DETONATE. WE CAN HIDE OUT ON A SMALL PLANETOID UNTIL THERE IS SUFFICIENT MATERIAL TO BUILD A GATE OUT, AND IF WE ARE STUCK HERE, SO MUST NOSTALGIA BE STUCK HERE AS WELL.

SWARM Blade: TRANSMITTED. DETONATING....

SWARM Wanderer: KARBON-BASED LIFE... SO MEDDLESOME.

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

This is the end of the third of my AAR's, Vengeance, and I hope you have all enjoyed it.

I will be writing another story of A Journey To Space soon- "Basecamp".

As always, I look forward to your comments, and ideas for the next series.

I plan on a bit less of the SWARM, and more of the science and exploration bit.

Take it easy guys!

Edited January 14, 2014 by Mekan1k

[The Error]

Yay!

Kind of a fitting end, but poor Seewise and Sigbro.

[Itsdavyjones]

wow i get back after a short hiatus, and have several great chapters to read. wow. Keep up the good work, and can't wait for the next series.

[cziken20]

I will surely check when it comes! Great series! You have talent.

[cziken20]

And are you accepting new organizations still? Because i wanted to create one that focses mostly on science and a bit on supplying too. Can i?