Colonization: Chapter two-Lalock Valley (AAR) [pic heavy]

[Asiakid]

I love your series!

ANd Jedwig is really...yeah you all know

And I love Jeb! This is how I want his personality to be, it fits him PERFECTLY!

Cant wait for the next update!

[Patupi]

Honestly, these stories have been a quicker run for me than I expected. I have a habit of delaying on stuff and leaving things for the last minute. I also have a hard Sci Fi novel about half written. It's been half written for about nine years now (and is the first in a trilogy at that!).

Edited November 14, 2013 by Patupi
terrible grammar!

[Patupi]

Exit Duna, Stage Left

With a thunderous roar Duna One blasted free of the red soil and screamed into the rarefied air. Jedwig was not into the thrill of such maneuvers simply for their own sake as Jeb was, but the experience did still get to him and he was grinning all the way up. A minute before reaching orbit he jettisoned the Second stage boosters and watched them sink behind him, vanishing into the red glare of Duna.

"I'm in orbit and setting up my transfer run." Jedwig said over the comms. Now if he could just keep those MC officers off his back for a few more seconds he could get this burn underway.

"Uh, Jedwig." Came Caldin's worried tones. "I'm going over the data you sent us.... this course is a bit extreme isn't it?"

This must have gone out from KSC half way through his launch given the time delay. He sighed and went through the final orientation prior to burn.

"There is no way to get a Hohmann transfer at this orbit, so I improvised."

"I mean," Caldin continued, almost cutting Jedwig off. He'd have been irritated if he didn't know it wasn't intentional. Couldn't have been given Caldin couldn't have heard Jedwig's statement yet. "... this is... I can't believe you're going for a slingshot! This is the first time we've done a manned mission to another planet and you're trying to pull a fancy maneuver?"

"It's a simple slingshot around Ike, using it's gravity during a double burn to make best use of my remaining delta V. This way I'll be home in fifty nine days by my calculations. Feel free to double check that Caldin."

Idiot! 'Fancy maneuver'? It was basic orbital mechanics. If Telemetry couldn't hack it he should get another job!

"First stage burn to leave Duna orbit in... ten seconds." He stated, as calmly as he could.

Counting down in his head he watched the figures scroll by on his controls. Bit of an odd reading from the nav computer. Have to check that later. Finally it was time and the engine cut in with a roar and he was catapulted out of orbit.

 

"First stage burn complete. ETA on second stage burn is... thirty seven minutes. I'll be sure to take some fantastic pictures of Ike on the way past. Save some space on the bulletin board for me. Ha!"

Oh this was the life. The whole world's attention on him, an entire battalion of (semi-useless) personnel back at KSC backing him up, him streaking out into the depths of space where no Kerbal had been before! Incredible!

***

"Well, the moron's got our attention now!" Bob said, scowling at the monitor that plotted Jedwig's close approach to Ike. "At least he could have used us to check his figures. As it is we didn't even have time to do that before he left Duna orbit!"

"He does at least strike a good figure." Gene said. "Unfortunately the council is making posters, T-shirts and Kod knows what else out of those images of him on Duna."

"Oh you're kidding me?" Bob said, disgust written all over his face. "I know they talked about using the photos... but I figured they were going for magazine advertising or something."

"Nothing so mundane. The council is after popular opinion, not advertising money. Though I understand the T-shirts are selling well." Gene shook his head, then sighed. "Oh, and I'd stay out of Jeb's way for a while. He heard about it a few hours ago and... well, lets say the Gort Cola machine in the hallway? It's gonna need to be replaced... and maybe pried out of the wall first."

"Heh, yeah, Jeb always did have a good right hook. Though it always took a lot to get him riled up. Seems Jedwig is up to that task too huh?"

On the screen numbers flashed by and Jedwig's smarmy face grinned back into the camera.

"Ike slingshot complete. I'm on course and headed out of the Duna system. Once I leave it's SOI I'll finalize the rendezvous with Kerbin to get a perfect aerobrake."

"Gah, somebody shut him up!" Bob muttered, getting a smirk from Gene.

"Get used to it. We now have nearly two months of him recounting his tales of adventure on Duna. I'm told at least four TV stations want to interview him en-route, despite the time delay. His face is going to be everywhere Bob. We might need a straight jacket for Jeb."

"If anyone can find one strong enough to hold him!"

Edited March 2, 2016 by Patupi
Have's and have nots

[ramnrmeul]

Uh..Your fifth photo isn't working for me.

[briansun1]

...jedwig...I hope he burns up on rentrey...he diservs it...

[Patupi]

Uh..Your fifth photo isn't working for me.

Sorry about that. Got a extra space in the filename for some reason. Fixed now.

And Briansun1? That's really mean! Reasonable, but mean

[briansun1]

....but but hes such a....

[Patupi]

"Fine figure of a Kerbal"? That's what you were going to say, I just know it! At least that's Jedwig's opinion.

[briansun1]

...looks like there going to need more than one stratejaket...

[Patupi]

Ooooh, I don't know what you're talking about.... ALBATROSS!... Ooh look a squirrel! *Left eye twitches uncontrollably*

[briansun1]

...beatings with continue until jedwig is gone...

[Commander Zoom]

Why do I suspect that once Jedwig clears Duna's SOI, the projected orbit is going to be very different from what he imagined?

[briansun1]

...because it is and then he will die/ jeb will save him and he will learn a lesson...(please be 1 please be 1...)

[Patupi]

Oh, he's real careful to reduce the timewarp... er... I mean to avoid shifting things when he leaves an SOI so it doesn't change.

As to what happens to him Briansun1? That's already planned out, even if I haven't written it yet

[Patupi]

Journey Home.

"And with the tenuous wind whipping against my helmet I valiantly slugged across the red soil towards the goal, Duna One! Home away from home on that desolate land."

Mission control were, mostly, sitting with their mouths hanging open in shock. Jedwig's first interview, ten days into his fall back towards Kerbin, had been an eyeopener. Jedwig had hardly ever been known as... well, verbose. Now he was positively eloquent!

"I still say he's a clone!" Jeb whispered to Bob as they watched Jedwig wax lyrical about his adventures on the monitor. "Or a robot... or an alien!"

"No," Gene interrupted finally, "unfortunately he isn't. Apparently it's on his record. He's not good in social situations... except alone in front of a camera. It seems it's the only time he feels free enough to say what's on his mind."

Jeb blinked.

"You mean he doesn't say what's on his mind normally? Eeek, I dread to think what he's held back!"

On the screen the reporter was nodding enthusiastically to Jedwig's long performance.

"Oh I see, and once that last stage was gone you still had enough fuel to return to Kerbin? I've seen the pictures and it seems awfully small after those tanks are ejected."

"A common misconception Frank." Jedwig happily responded. "Space ships can travel huge distances with an efficient engine. It all depends on the difference in mass between the ship full of fuel, and the ship empty. If that ratio is large it can go on mind bogglingly long journeys. This ship could have gone to Jool from there if the orbits were right. But that's planned for another day I think, and another vessel!"

"And another pilot I hope!" Bob said sullenly.

Gene shook his head.

"Look, I know he's a... jerk." Gene said quietly. Even he was attempting to watch what he said now the reporters were buzzing around KSC. "But he does know his stuff. Plus the Jool mission is on hold until the Munbase is fully operational. I think that's going to take some time."

"Well, I'm just waiting for him to screw up on global television!" Jeb said, swinging his legs up on the control console.

Unfortunately Jeb would have been waiting a long time. Jedwig's reports went flawlessly...

... Of course.

***

"I have to admit, " Jedwig said into his mike, "Kerbin looks mighty inviting after all this time with only stars to gaze at."

Staring out the window he could now see the blue green marble in the night with the naked eye, just. Before it had just been pictures on a monitor. Somehow this made it more... real.

"Always looks good." Jeb's voice came over the speaker.

Jedwig was uneasy with Jeb on the radio. Why they'd let that crazy man stand in as 'Flight' Jedwig couldn't say. Bob he could understand. He was at least level headed. Jeb's brand of 'going with his instincts' (or sheer munacy as far as Jedwig was concerned) should have been far different from what was needed from a flight director.

"Yeeees." Jedwig said slowly "I'm sure it does."

"You think he's jealous of all the orbital and Munar flights I've done guys?" Jeb's voice stunned Jedwig for a moment. "Oh hey, is this thing on? Sorry Jedwig. Forgot to hit the button."

No... No he didn't forget. That was on purpose. Obviously. He didn't rise to the bait and respond. No, not Jedwig! He wouldn't stoop so low... today.

Busy on his console he went over his aerobrake calculations. Nothing here really to write home about, merely timing the brief slide into the atmosphere to slow his descent, then arc him around the globe to come in for a final re-entry at KSC. He wanted to get the numbers just right. Show Jeb it was possible to land back at KSC itself using instruments alone. Hah! Seat of the pants flying my a...

"Hey Jedwig." Jeb interrupted Jedwig's train of thought."How're you hanging up there huh?"

Oh kod. He was trying to be friendly! Why? Ugh, the thought of attempting to 'chat' with that annoying Kerbal was just ridiculous. However, he had asked.

"I'm fine Jeb. Just fine tuning the flight down. Be back at KSC in a few hours."

"Get it all lined up from now on in huh?"

Jedwig sighed.

"No Jeb, just close. With random perturbations in the atmosphere you can't predict exactly how you'll come out of the aerobrake. Small variations can get magnified on the last loop around Kerbin and make huge differences in position for final re-entry. I'll still be making course corrections before hitting the air that final time."

He input the last string of numbers into the system and locked the nav comp's plot for the last burn in a few minutes. It'd be a short one, he was already pretty much spot on. Pretty good if he did say so himself, plotting to within a few kilometers all the way out from Duna.

"Look, Jedwig." Jeb said carefully. He seemed a little strained. Jedwig wondered if he was getting enough sleep? "Perhaps you can work with me, huh? I've done this a time or two before. Maybe I can help out?"

Jedwig snorted. Oh sure!

"Yeah, you've been to Duna and back huh? Nipped out while I wasn't looking?"

"LOOK YOU LITTLE JACKASS I'M TRYING TO BE FRIENDLY HERE!" screamed over Jedwig's headset and the whistle of feedback made him shy his head furthest away from the speakers.

"Yeah, I can tell. REAL friendly!" Jedwig said sarcastically.

Gene's familiar, calm tones came on the line a few moments later, a little weak perhaps.

"Duna One *pant* I think you may need to hold off on *gasp* your sarcasm. It's not *pant* helping."

"GENE! "Jeb's voice filled with genuine concern echoed faintly, as if he'd run away from the mike. "What are you doing up? The doc said two more days in bed. Hey! Someone help him back to bed. Who let him in here?"

"Duna One." Gene's faint voice said "Mark my words. You need to work with others. *gasp* More than that, you need to TRUST others. If you can't do that, sooner or later you're going to wind up dead!"

Jedwig sat stunned in his seat as noises of Gene being carried back out of Mission Control came across the line. If it had been anyone else he would have been angry, angry that anyone dared to question him on things like this. But Gene had been someone he looked up to throughout his training at KSC. He'd been a calm, logical rock to lock onto. A beacon to guide his aspirations and he'd flown true... at least he thought he had.

A worried frown puckered Jedwig's forehead as he pondered things while sliding closer to Kerbin's delicate blues and greens.

Edited November 19, 2013 by Patupi
KSP and Dune cross purposes.

[Patupi]

Sorry about the slight delay. The last few days I've been struggling at a... problem in playing through the AAR on KSP. First quite a few computer crashes, second... well, lets say there might be some problems up ahead for our intrepid explorers, but I won't say how far ahead of the story it is. It's resolved anyway (won't say if it resolved happily or not ) so I'm back to writing stuff down about it. Hope I got enough pictures this time.

[KSK]

To quote another work on this forum - Geepers...

That was quite a chapter - hope Gene is OK.

Jedwig - this is a team game - always has been. Each flight is as much a learning curve for the folks behind the consoles as the folks in the capsule. Help them do their thing, let them help you do your thing and then, when the Kraken does hit the grav-field, you'll have a whole lot of friends watching your back and busting a gut to bring you home.

[Patupi]

Journey's End

"Er, Jedwig? Don't you think that's a little low for an aerobrake?" Caldin said into the mike whilst starting to run the numbers.

"Hey Telemetry." Jedwig responded, a bit more jovially than usual. "It's aligned to get approximately a 200km apoapsis. Remember, I'm coming faster than planned. I need to bleed off a lot of kinetic energy."

Caldin rolled his eyes. 'Yes, go on, teach me physics why don't you Jedwig?' he thought to himself. He almost had said that out loud.

"Understood Jedwig," He said instead, "and thank you for leaving me enough time to run it through the simulators before you dive into the atmosphere."

Jedwig's annoyingly calm tones came back a moment later.

"Oh it's right on. Don't worry, the instruments are reading fine. As long as I have the right numbers everything will be good."

Everyone was pretty quiet for the next couple of minutes as he coasted in, then muttered words went back and forth between several staff, Jeb shaking his head.

"Duna One, this is Flight." Jeb said, a fixed look on his face and in an overly neutral tone. "We're tracking considerable debris in your current orbit. Advise you reconsider current heading. Break north by about five degrees and you can adjust it back down after the aerobrake."

"The chances of hitting anything out here are astronomically small. HA!" he responded.

Jeb gritted his teeth.

"Right now there are fifteen separate contacts in your current orbital path, three of which have negligable phase angle relative to you at some point during your flight. And those are just the ones we can see!" Jeb's tones lost their calmness a little now. He bit his lip and looked like he was eating something unpleasant. "Look, we all know you can calculate these things perfectly. That's not the point. This is about things you can't predict. It's best to be safe and shift your orbit enough to skip ninety percent of the debris here in the orbital plane."

Jedwig actually paused.

"I appreciate the sentiment Jeb, but there isn't a problem. I can see the three contacts you're talking about. My orbit won't hit them. Anything smaller I can spot on nav radar before it gets too close and make minor adjustments. Heck, as light as this crate is now I can flip it around pretty fast on inertials and burn in any direction I need to. I don't need any fancy RCS upgrades."

Jeb closed his eyes and counted to ten, his fingers almost blue white on the mike stand he was holding it so tight.

"Er, Jeb?" Caldin's voice whispered in his headset. "I think it may be a bit late anyway. Given his fuel supply I don't think he has enough to shift orbital inclination, then shift back after aerobrake."

"Of course. He probably kept us talking until that was true." Jeb got out through grating teeth.

Another count of ten and he got himself more under control

"We'll keep what ground stations we can pointed your way and attempt to track what we can, as well as the orbital radar sats. Right now I think most ground stations are on the other side of Kerbin and Kodderal Bank is soon going to be out of direct line of sight. The sat's resolution isn't that good on smaller objects. You're going to be coming in with little to no support Jedwig!"

"Heh, so what else is new?" he muttered.

Perhaps, Jeb thought attempting to be diplomatic, Jedwig didn't think that low a voice would carry over the mike.

"Um, Flight?" Caldin said quietly. "I think you're going to need another mike."

Jeb looked down and saw he'd splintered the stand of the microphone in his anger, his grip was so tight. With a sigh he let go and tried not to get any blood on the panel.

"Anyone have a Band-Kaid?" He said, using a tissue to soak up what he could. He hardly wanted Gene to wonder what all the green stains on his board were when he came back!

***

Jedwig grinned as he watched the blue green gem that was Kerbin grow in front of him. Wouldn't be long now. He watched the readouts from the radar and admitted it would be close, in astronomical terms at least. One piece slid past him getting within ten kilometers. At the speeds he was doing that was a hairs breadth.

"I'm past the worst of the debris." He said nonchalantly. "I'll be hitting atmosphere in about twenty minutes."

Oh yes, soon to be home with the accolades of all...

*BANG!*

*Wootwootwoot*

"Warning, structural failure in section three, subsection two rear hull subassembly. Warning, structural failure in..." The computer intoned.

Jedwig froze. Oh Kod, he'd been hit. But there'd been nothing on radar, nothing at all!

"Duna One," Jeb said, obviously worried, "we read a stress plate alarm from just fore of the engine mount on the port side. Likely from micrometeorite or low mass debris. What do you read up there? Is there any pressure loss we aren't reading on your data?"

Jedwig scanned the instruments frantically, then realized Jeb could read all of that. The idiot was getting him doing double duty!

"You have my data idiot! You can read it as well as I can!"

"I mean can you hear any pressure loss in the cabin." Jeb said with obviously strained voice.

Jedwig blinked. Oh...

"Er, no. I don't read any... I mean I can't hear anything and the manual instruments in here read goo...."

Slowly, one by one, his panel flickered and died. After a couple of seconds only about a third of his board was still lit.

"I'm... blind." Jedwig said, panic starting to set in. "All inertial readings and most telemetry is down. I... HOW THE HECK CAN I PLOT MY RE-ENTRY WITHOUT SENSORS!"

In panic he started flipping switches on the dead panels, hoping he could get something working.

"Jedwig, JEDWIG! Stop it. You just vented five pounds of oxidizer! Get ahold of yourself! You're fine for now, you're on ballistic on your perfect plot for aerobraking and we read your control systems working fine. It's just a control linkage for the data relays that's fried. We'll figure out what's up after you get thr..."

"How the heck can I keep straight during the aerobrake without instruments?" Jediwg interupted, at least not shouting now."If I slide too far off mark I'll tumble. It could wreck what little instruments I have from rattling!"

"It's easy, I'll walk you through it. Trust me, you don't need no steenkin instruments."

Jeb seemed amazingly calm?... Oh Kod.

"You want me to burn up! You b..."

"SHUT THE CARP UP!" Jeb yelled, and Jedwig winced, again trying to get away from the speakers in his helmet. "Don't you EVER say that again! I may not like you Jedwig but I'd never let you down. Believe it!"

The sincerity in Jeb's voice seemed to calm Jedwig and he took a few deep breaths.

"I... I'm sorry Jebediah. I... I've never... I'm calm. T... tell me what to do."

***

The next few minutes were very quiet, low tones spoken by both Jeb and Jedwig as the nervous pilot was talked through manually aligning himself during the aerobrake.

"As a rough guide, when you hit air align yourself at about fifteen degrees above the horizon. Your nav ball is still working right?"

"Y... yes, for now. But it's vibrating. I don't think I trust it to be very accurate. So far I don't see any permanent drift."

"Good. That's good. It's all you need. In fact you can get by without even that, but it'd be harder."

"How do you know that?" Jedwig said, more frustrated sounding than angry now.

" 'Cos I've done it. True, my instruments hadn't failed, I was just seeing if I could do without them. But it worked. Heh, the service guys hated me though. Took them hours to scrub all the space tape glue from the displays!"

"You taped over your instruments?" Came the incredulous response.

"Yep. Did a three point landing too. True, that was suborbital, not orbital, but I've been tempted to do that aswell, but Gene would kill me if I tried it again. Heh."

"OK, so start at fifteen." Jedwig said, the sweat on his forehead visible inside his helmet on the big screen in Mission Control. Amazing that the cameras were still working!

"For this orbit, yeah, fifteen sounds right."

"Wait, sounds right? You haven't calculated it?"

Jeb sighed.

"No, I haven't calculated it. Jedwig, I've been flying a good deal longer than you. Flying spaceships longer than you too. Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

"Um, OK." he said, though didn't sound convinced.

"Fifteen degrees won't align you retrograde when you first hit air, it'll be about what you need when you dig in enough to need to start adjusting your course. About forty kilometers altitude. Slide down with it till you're level over.. for this speed? Hmm, I'd say fifteen seconds. Should be level with your horizon by then. Plus you should be able to fine tune it with the re-entry flames. Keep them ahead and you'll be fine."

Caldin watched Jeb and Jedwig talking and smiled. This was the first sane conversation the two had had since they met. True, most of that was due to Jedwig, but Jeb was known to be a bit fractious too. Caldin was just amazed they weren't still shouting at each other.

"Watch the jitter." Jeb added "The LY-5 controller has a habit of drifting without feedback from the instruments. It was built to tie into the inertials and doesn't function well without them."

"OK." Jedwig said, then looked up at the camera with wan smile on his face. "Thanks Jeb."

"You're welcome. Now just come down here safe so I can kick your butt for not listening to me in the first place!"

For a moment Jedwig looked stunned, then a screwy sort of smile spread on his face. It looked he didn't know if he should laugh or not.

Caldin leaned towards Jeb and whispered into the mike.

"Keep it up. He might wind up being nearly Kerbal!"

***

The whole craft shuddered and Jedwig tried not to think of what might happen if the damage in the rear let plasma in and burned through a critical structural component. He could crumple and fall apart before he even knew something was wrong!

Deep breaths! Calm, calm!

Jedwig had never been in a situation like this before and he was terrified. Not knowing was the worst thing of all. How did Jeb deal with this all the time? It sounded like he relished not knowing what was happening.

Following Jeb's advice did seem to be working. The re-entry flames were stable and he hadn't flipped end for end. Coming out of the atmosphere now he was lined up pretty well... as far as he could tell. Soon the flames died away and the rattling subsided. Thankfully he hadn't disintegrated!

 

 

"Thank you Kod!" he whispered once he was sure he was clear... as sure as he could be without a working altimeter. Wait... working altimeter?!?

"You're welcome." Jeb's voice came through. "And for my next tri..."

"Jeb! I don't have an altimeter. How the hell can I land this thing? What if the chutes don't slow it enough? I'll need the engines... but if I push too hard... the chutes'll fail! And if I do it too early I'll run out of fuel and..."

"Hold it! First, there's ways around that, but for now focus on the course adjustment. I'm going to go through a manual adjustment on your vector while we still have you on Kodderal Bank screens. With a few basic adjustments we can get your course close to on track."

"I think I've got the prograde and retrograde markers good on my navball, but like I said, it's not accurate. You'll need to corroborate my course adjustment. Plus most of it will be at apoapsis. Will Kodderal Bank still track me on that side of the planet?"

"No, no it won't." Jeb said calmly. "But don't worry. We've enough orbital scan sats to cover that at this range, plus it'll be back in scan range about five minutes before you hit air. You should have enough fuel for minor course corrections before you hit atmosphere."

Jedwig wasn't that optimistic, but he kept his comments to himself and managed a weak smile for the camera.

***

"Four minutes till re-entry." Caldin murmured.

Mission Control was quieter than usual, everyone focused on their screens, trying to make sure Jedwig got back in one piece. It was still up in the air as to whether he'd make it.

"Kodderal Bank has tracking on you." Jeb said into the quiet. "You'll need to use almost all your fuel for a burn prograde. You're falling short of KSC's Katara Plains. You don't want to come down in the mountains."

"Will that be enough?" Jedwig said, also rather quietly. He seemed to still be in shock, even almost an hour later.

"Well, nearly. You'll definitely be in the foothills, hopefully if you angle it right you can make the edge of the plains. Don't worry, you'll make it Jedwig. We'll make sure of it!"

"I... I believe you Jeb. Thanks."

More calm descended as they watched Jedwig maneouver, then the flames start to lick outside the port window, visible in the camera-shot. Jeb looked at Caldin once Jedwig was committed to descent, but Caldin's look back did not seem promising.

"I think he's going to be a few kilometers short." Caldin said. "There are some flats there, but it's going to be tricky to hit one."

Jeb managed to keep the worry from his face and instead focused on what he could do to save Jedwig.

"Flames dying. How high am I?" Jedwig said anxiously.

"If re-entry heat's gone probably about ten kilometers." Jeb said, then glanced at Caldin.

"Eleven by Kodderal's reckoning..." Caldin said softly, "...and now he's below their horizon. Sorry Jedwig."

"It's OK. Jeb'll save me." Jedwig said with another weak grin.

'Yeah,' Jeb thought. 'No pressure.'

The tiny metal capsule slammed through the air at hundreds of meters a second, slowly shedding it's speed down to something more reasonable.

"Chutes Jedwig. Time to pop them."

With a nod he flicked the switch and then gave a thankful sigh as they unfurled high above him, in drogue configuration, and the little ships shuddered as it slowed considerably.

"OK, now we get set for landing." Jeb said.

"And how will I know when to fire braking rockets?"

"Well," Jeb paused, watching the plot on the main screen, "normally I'd say use your shadow with your rear view mirrors on the side windows... but you're coming in close to the terminator. Sorry Jedwig. Now if you look east you will see it, but you're in rough terrain. It's going to be tricky to judge distance as you come down. Use your rear views to find the smoothest landing spot, then tip the craft on torque wheels, rocking it back and forth, then use the engines to slide you that way, slowly. You don't want to slow down too much just yet, you could loose the chutes."

"G... got it." Jedwig said, sweat beading his forehead once more.

The next minute as he descended was tense, Jedwig doing what he could with what little fuel he had left, but it didn't look good.

"I'm not clear of the slope." he said dejectedly. "I'm not going to make it!"

"Nonsense! We build those things tough. It'll survive, you just have strap in tight and use your last bit of fuel to slow you just before touchdown. Can you see your shadow yet?"

"Er..." Jedwig paused, glancing out his windows nervously. "I... *UNGH!* Oh, the chutes fully deployed. I can't be far above the ground."

"Concentrate. Where is your shadow?"

Jeb watched as Jedwig squinted out the window.

"I... I think I see it. Oh kod it's coming in fast... I..."

"Wait till it's... about a hundred yards from you. It's a steep angle, but even then it should be good. You don't have enough fuel for a long burn anyway. I'd say quarter throttle only."

"OK... I got it." Jedwig said nervously.

About a minute passed before Jedwig took a visible breath, then flicked a switch.

"Firing."

The rumble of the rocket came across the radio link as he slowed himself.

"I... looks like I..."

*Thump CRASH!*

The shot suddenly jerked to the side and Jedwig screamed... then the picture cut out.

"Where's the chopper!" Jeb nearly shouted.

Now they had to see if Jedwig had made it down intact.

***

Aldner gripped the side of the open window as the chopper slewed across the terrain. Up ahead they could see the crashed space capsule, the segments broken apart under the strain. It had come to rest on a light slope halfway down a sharp hill. Not a good place to land.

As Aldner peered out into the dim morning light he could see something moving. An arm?

"Jedwig is OK, he's..." Then Aldner stopped as he realized the arm was all he could see.

The capsule's hatch was open, but Jedwig hadn't come out, but just was waving out the open hatchway.

"... I guess either the straps won't release or he's injured. He's still in the capsule at any rate. Heh, come on Flight, get me down there!"

The chopper touched down close to the wreck, but they couldn't put down right by it. The ground wasn't flat enough. If they tipped the rotors would drag them sideways over the edge.

With a leap Aldner jumped clear, watching his head as the rotors were still at nearly full speed above him.

"Jedwig, you OK?"

When he rushed up to the open capsule hatch he saw a grinning Kerbal with a leg that seemed to be bending the wrong way. Aldner winced, but Jedwig seemed not to even notice.

"OK? I'm fantastic! Tell Jeb I owe him... um, something. I guess." He paused, winced himself at his injury, then grinned again. "I'm sure I'll work something out. Come on, help me up here. I wanna see the sunrise."

Aldner chuckled and helped the crazy pilot up onto the edge of his hatch where he could watch the golden wake of Kerbol as it washed across the horizon.

What an end to a very long day!

Edited March 2, 2016 by Patupi
wordage

[briansun1]

this is one of those things that seem to have become cliche... however it is still written very well( still want to slap jedwig)

[Danish_Savage]

Your writing has really evolved a lot. This last chapter was very pleasing, and held me on the edge of my seat. Bravo and well done. Looking forward to the 4th installment.

[Patupi]

Thanks, there's a few loose ends to tie up in this, but that was the last pic I had of LVDM-1. Coming up the various stages of the Munar Base. Scouting the base site, getting early semi-reusable vessels to ferry personnel to LKO, testing Kethane refueling, and finally the base itself.

As to my writing style, I think it's more me getting back in the swing of it. I haven't written much for years and it showed. Sometimes it also depends on the mood I'm in and I was in a good mood for this bit!

Edited November 20, 2013 by Patupi

[Danish_Savage]

I just found out I could rep you again, neato.

Also, can you lift the wail about the location of the next mission?

[Patupi]

Dang, seems I can't rep you back. I guess I repped you too recently

As to the next mission it's ECMM4, Jeb's fourth mission to the Mun (Not all shown in AARs) that's checking out an automated rescue vessel and scouting the landing site in East Crater for the proposed Munbase.

[Patupi]

(This one's for you Briansun1 )

Epilogue

Slowly Jedwig opened his eyes. Pain from his broken leg seeped into his mind before the image of the room. At least it had been set properly it seemed and the pain wasn't too bad. He didn't remember passing out, but then it had been a hectic helicopter ride. Sitting up he realized the white walls, simplistic beds and charts on the beds meant one thing.

"I'm in a hospital?" He muttered.

"Ahh, genius is awake?" Came the calm, serious tones of Gene. "Well done Jackass, you figured that out by yourself?"

Jedwig was about to answer... but then froze. Wait, what had Gene said?

"You... what?" Jedwig stared, open mouthed at the clean-cut, serious Gene who grinned back at him from his own hospital bed "What did you say Flight?"

"I'm not on duty right now, so you don't have to call me 'Flight'. Plus you aren't on a mission, oh, and also since I'm not 'Flight'," he said, making quote marks in the air with his fingers, "I also don't have to be polite to you any more moron."

Jedwig stared. He still sounded as calm and sincere as always, and insulted him in the dead same, level manner. Was he dreaming?

"What's the matter Gene? What did I do?"

Gene rolled his eyes.

"What DIDN'T you do? Come on, seriously? You've been thoroughly idiotic the whole time..." Gene stared while Jedwig's mouth dropped in shock. "Oh dear, you thought I liked you didn't you? Just because I didn't insult you? *Sigh* Jedwig, when on duty I have to be polite. It's part of the job. As Flight director I have to mediate between a number of Kerbals and organize them. If I showed any favoritism or any like or dislike of individuals things would spiral out of control pretty quickly."

Jedwig was still trying to wrap his mind around his mentor hating him when a noise came from the other side of the room.

"Hey, you're awake!" Came from the door.

Jedwig turned and saw Jeb striding in grinning. He pulled up a chair to the side of Jedwig's bed and sat down.

"How are you doing you kerbonut you?" Jeb certainly seemed cheerful. "The guys are wondering how you're doing. Want me to give them a message from you Jedwig?"

Still a little confused by Gene's speech he just mouthed something for a second.

"Cat got your tongue?" Jeb said, raising an eyebrow.

"What? No. Look forget the guys, I want to know wha..."

*SLAP*

Jedwig jerked back as Jeb calmly brought his hand down.

"Wha.. Hey! What was that for?"

"Being an idiot."

Jedwig looked back and forth trying to get his sleepy brain around what was happening.

"Gene? He can't do that? I'm in hospital!"

"Oh, I am surely not stopping him. Heck, I love it!" Gene said, then grabbed a bowl of grapes and continued grinning at Jedwig while he ate.

This was a nightmare.

"OK, just don't do that!" he said, turning back to the pilot. "That darned hurt!"

"Well, it was supposed to. Stop being an idiot and I'll stop slapping you."

He blinked, furrowed his brow. OK, he was trapped in a hospital bed with a broken leg and Jeb was threatening him.

"OK... what did I do?" He managed.

Jeb's eyebrows went up.

"Oooh, progress!" He said, twisting the chair round and leaning his chin on the backrest. "OK, I asked if you wanted to give the people from Mission Control a message, a word, something to let them know you're OK. You said 'forget them'. That's stupid. Also insulting and moronic."

"I'll tell you what it is. It's Jedwig." Gene said happily from his bed. Jedwig tried to ignore Gene for the moment.

"But I just wanted to know what was going on."

"And to ignore those people who helped you."

Jedwig blinked.

"Helped me? You got me down, they didn't do anything fo..."

*SLAP*

"CUT IT OUT!" Jedwig gasped as the shock of the unexpected slap caught him again.

"Just as soon as you stop being an idiot." Jeb said calmly, then offered a bowl of fruit from the side table. "Grape?"

This really was a nightmare!

Jeb sighed when Jedwig ignored the fruit bowl and he put it back on the side table.

"OK, you seem to think I'm the only one who helped you. That is technically what we in the space business call 'WRONG'. You might need to look up that word I know, but I think you'll catch on."

Jedwig just blinked back, and Jeb sighed once more.

"Right... look those guys out there have been busting their butts, working ten and twelve hour shifts, all to keep you up to date, relaying information to you, plotting your courses, and checking that everything is going right. All this solidly for the past four months! I think they deserve more than that."

"But I plotted my own course, I don't owe them fo..."

*SLAP*

"GAAAH!" Jedwig said, trying to crawl up away from Jeb, but his head bumped against the headboard of the bed.

"Sure you don't want a grape?" Jeb said calmly.

"You hate me, you just HATE me!"

Jeb frowned.

"Actually, no. Up till today I didn't really like you, but I didn't hate you. I thought you were an idiotic, self obsessed, unnerving, isolationist moron, but I didn't hate you." He then stopped and grinned. "But now, I've decided to like you."

"You've decided to like me?" Jedwig parroted. "What, on the wall?"

They looked at each other then suddenly both of them burst into laughter. Gene's grin faded.

"Oh dear. You two bonding? This I don't need! HEY NURSE! I NEED TO BE MOVED TO ANOTHER ROOM BEFORE I THROW UP!"

When the laughter subsided (And Gene's bed had been wheeled out to another room by an orderly) Jedwig looked oddly at Jeb.

"So, what. What do you want?" He managed.

"First, you're going to apologize to the Mission Control officers."

Jedwig almost said 'What for?', but instead brought his hand up to his purpling cheek.

"Um, and then?"

"As I said, I think I'm going to like you. But I don't like idiots, so I'm going to have to train you be a real Kerbal."

"Hey, I am a real Kerbal!" Jedwig said, then suddenly clenched his eyes shut. When no slap happened he opened one eye a slit to see if Jeb was waiting to slap him. He wasn't.

"Oh, you're allowed to think things like that if you want. It's not true... yet, but you're allowed. No, right now I've taken you on as a mission. I aim to make you... 'Liked'."

"But I have friends!"

"Really? Name one." Jeb said.

Jedwig opened his mouth, then turned to where Gene had left on his bed. Slowly he closed it again.

"Like I said," Jeb continued, "I'm going to make you 'liked'."

"What, you're going to get people to be my friend? That's nice, I guess."

"No no, you're not getting it. Look, Jedwig, you turn people away almost instinctively. Everything you say or do insults those around you. You get away with it because you ARE a genius. But that only goes so far and helps not a jot in making friends. Soooo... I'm going to train you in the art of being friendly and not insulting people."

"This is going to involve a lot of slapping isn't it?" Jedwig said cautiously.

"Only when you're an idiot." Jeb said, grinning as he stood up. "Look, I'll leave you to your convalescence, but when the Doc releases you, assuming I'm not on a rocket heading somewhere, I'll start working on you."

"Hmmm, that sounds delightful!" Jedwig said sarcastically, but curiously he couldn't stop a faint smile crossing his face. What was up with him?

"Glad you think so. Take care Jedwig, glad you made it back alive."

Jeb was halfway out the door when Jedwig spoke up once more.

"Thanks Jeb. I owe you."

Jeb looked back, his grin getting even wider.

"Heh, guess there's hope for you yet 'Captain Jedwig'. See you later!"

With an over the top salute Jeb left, whistling as he strode down the corridor.

For some strange reason Jedwig couldn't stop himself from grinning.

Edited November 21, 2013 by Patupi
identity confirmatio

[Patupi]

And NOW LVDN-1 is officially over. Might be a day or two before I start on the Munbase Chapter. It's going to be a long one, definitely way longer than any of these so far. Primarily because involves... um... lets see... about six missions I think. Actually I think it's seven.

Edited November 21, 2013 by Patupi