Vall Exploration Challenge - "Done with Duna, we're volitant on Vall!"

[Death Engineering]

See the Vall Exploration Challenge for more details...

[Prologue]

Jeb, Bill and Bob, along with a cast of other rising star space adventurers, recently wrapped up the

Duna Space Program

. Many good times and snacks were shared by all, but the most important thing was the discovery of a face on Duna! This face had a mysterious carving which led kerbal scientists to believe that something mysterious is on Vall, and a new space program was born...

[Mission Report 1 - Vall Lander First Look]

Jeb and Bill were staring alternately at the grainy photo of Vall from the space telescope and the letter with the blacked out words. Bill and Jeb passed the photo and the letter back and forth and talked about patterns and shapes on Vall and tried to guess what the blacked out words were. They did not notice Bob approach them quietly from behind.

"Geez, Jeb, what do you think is on Vall?", Bill said quietly in almost a whisper.

Jeb replied back, trying to be equally quiet but failing in that regard because of his ongoing inability to contain his excitement. "I don't know, but we need to get some answers out of Bob!"

Bob, having heard enough from Bill and Jeb to realize that they didn't know anything about what was really going on in regards to Vall, put his hands on their shoulders from behind and said loudly, "Bob's not likely to tell you guys anything!"

Bill and Jeb let out shrill screams from the shock of Bob grabbing their shoulders. They both dropped what they were holding and spun around to see Bob's glaring, expressionless face.

"Since you guys aren't supposed to have those sheets, I'm guessing you found them. And, since the last time I had my copies was just before I saw you two in the hallway after the Vall briefing, I will further guess that you have my copies. Hypothesizing even further, I'm certain that you were both on your way to my office so you can return them, right?"

After re-gaining his komposure (and ignoring Bob's question), Jeb exclaimed, "Hey Bob! Just they guy we were looking for! What can you tell us about the Vall mission and what the scientists found with the space telescope?"

"Jeb, old buddy, you know I'd tell you anything if I could. But so far, things are pretty hush-hush about Vall. Actually, though, there is something you might want to check out: Ludlong is out on the pad right now and he needs another test pilot to....."

Before Bob could finish, Jeb interrupted "You got it, Bob! I'll go show Ludlong the ropes. See you kerbs later!"

As Bob watched Jeb run furiously towards the pad, Bob said to Bill "I didn't think he'd be so excited to observe an engine test."

Bill replied, "So, Jeb's not going out there to do a test flight? He's out there doing the work of a trainee? He's not going to like that."

"Well, he should have listened to what I was going to ask him. You guys know the new trainees better than I do, so I was going to ask him if he could recommend a trainee crazy enough to stand under the engine while Ludlong fires it. But if he's so eager to watch Ludlong test the Vall lander, he can go for it."

Jeb watching Ludlong test fire the Vall lander

The Vall Lander Mk.1 was on the launch pad, with Ludlong in the command pod. It was a Munar lander that was modified to carry some extra fuel to accomodate Vall's gravity which was slightly higher than Mun. It was capable of delivering four kerbals down to Vall's surface and was equipped with enough science to make the trip worthwhile. For Kerbin tests, the main descent engine was replaced with an uprated engine to allow short flight tests around the KSC.

"Please don't let me kerb up.." Ludlong said to himself, but out loud, not realizing his helmet mic was still on.

"Vall Lander 1, this is mission control. Can you say that again?", chirped Ludlong's cabin speaker.

"I said, 'everything's a-ok'!" Ludlong replied quickly.

"That's what I thought you said", replied mission control. "By the way, Ludlong, Jeb is on the pad right now to observe the engine test. Go ahead whenever you're ready."

'Why would Jeb, of all kerbals, be watching the engine test', Ludlong wondered. 'Was Jeb out there to make sure I don't blow something up? Wait a minute, he blows up more stuff that anyone so that can't be it.'

Ludlong was a little uncomfortable with Jebediah Kerman, test-pilot and hero to all Kerbin, out there watching this simple engine test. Ludlong recalled that if the test looks good when the engine fires, he can take the Vall Lander for a short hop.. as long as he sets it down without breaking it.

Ludlong started a countdown but got too excited at "3" and hit the staging button in the command pod. Instantly, the engine aboard the Vall lander roared to life! Ludlong burned the engine for five seconds then shut it down.

"Whoo hoo! Engine burn test successful, mission control!" Ludlong exclaimed gleefully.

"Roger that, Vall Lander 1. The report down here says that thrust was sufficient for a short flight if you think you can manage it without crashing. Are you going to fly it around a bit, Ludlong?"

"I sure am, mission control!" Ludlong replied enthusiastically.

Bob had taken Ludlong under his wing and had been very kind to him, but ever since becoming a test pilot with the Kerbal Space Center, Ludlong had been looking for acceptance from Jeb and Bill, too. Ludlong wondered if Jeb would be nice enough to fulfill a little fanstasy of his and give him a test-pilot's 'thumbs-up' from the launch pad.

Ludlong climbed out of the command pod and called down to Jeb who was standing on the pad, "Hey Jeb, how did the engine test look from down there?"

Jeb, a little confused as to why the test seemed to be starting without him, replied to Ludlong who was perched on the ladder outside his command pod, "The engine looked good, but don't you want an experienced pilot to do the test flight?"

"No thanks, Jeb! I got it from here. You might want to stand back!"

Ludlong climbed back into his command pad and announced to mission control that he was about to launch. On the launch pad, Jeb could hear the engine re-pressurizing as Ludlong prepared to take off.

"Hey, Ludlong, wait up! I want to..." Jeb yelled towards the Vall Lander as he started to run towards it. A moment later, the engine re-lit and the launch clamps released, and the Vall Lander took to the clear blue sky. With a long, forlorn expression, Jeb watched the lander ascend without him. Without even a glance to see how the craft flew, he turned slowly and began walking back to the kerbalnaut complex.

A saddened Jeb watches the Vall Lander test depart the launch pad

Aboard the Vall Lander, Ludlong was grinning from one green ear to the other. The spacecraft was performing flawlessly! He flew it over the research and development building, then out past the tower, then started lining up for a landing. However, when he looked down at the fuel guage, he became a little concerned: he was almost out of fuel!

"Uh, mission control, this is Ludlong. Is this engine.. is there a fuel.. what's the rate of... I'M CRASHING!"

With no fuel left for the descent engine, Ludlong's choices were very limited: crash and burn or drop the ascent stage and test out the chutes.

"Mission control, I'm dropping the descent stage and using the chutes to come down. Tell Bob I'm sorry I broke the lander."

"That's not a problem, Lud, things blow up around here all the time.. welcome to the test pilot programme!"

Vall Lander Test

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In the next episode...

• Bob and Ludlong fly to the Mun
  
• Jeb and Bill sneak around
  
• The first official Vall Mission launch heads to orbit
  

Edited December 29, 2013 by Death Engineering

[briansun1]

I think you got jeb perfect...

[panzerknoef]

This is sooooo nice! Keep up the good work! (and if you need some help designing spacecraft, I would be more than happy to help)

[Death Engineering]

I think you got jeb perfect...

Thanks.

This is sooooo nice! Keep up the good work! (and if you need some help designing spacecraft, I would be more than happy to help)

Thank you! And, appreciate the offer but the crafts for this challenge are pretty much done.

[Death Engineering]

Excerpts from the book "In the Shadow of the Mun", a historical overview of the missions that unlocked the secrets of space travel.

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[Death Engineering]

[Mission Report 2 - Kerson Kerman Arrives on the Scene]

"Good morning. I am Kerson Kerman and most of you haven't met me. Once you get to know me, you probably aren't going to like me very much. The rest of you whom I've met, already don't like me. This is fine. This is efficient." After a brief pause, he continued in a proud voice and looking up at nothing in particular, "I am efficient."

Kerson Kerman arrived at KSC early that day and had spent the entire day inspecting every production room, every design station, every test result and every storage room. However, until now, he not spoken to anyone. He was addressing the entire workforce at KSC, from Bob the director down to the kerbal who paints the little marks on the side of the Astronaut Complex for every explosion on the launch pad; Kerson had to make an appointment long in advance to talk to him.

Kerson was an efficiency expert who was to play a key role in the Vall Space Program. He would have executive control on all design decisions, all pilot assignments, and all mission objectives. He was even going along on the mission to Vall to ensure that everything is carried out with the highest level of efficiency. Jeb and Bill were suspiciously absent from the meeting, however.

After pacing back and forth several times, with every kerbal's silent gaze following him in unison, he said quietly, "On Duna, there was..." his voice raising in pitch and volume, "..considerable.." then finishing off in a shrill scream, "..WASTE!"

He paced back and forth several times agin then resumed in a slow, quiet voice, "I read the crew reports. In the end.." voice raising in pitch and volume again, "..you destroyed.." back into a shrill scream, "..THREE SHIPS!"

"This.. must not.. happen.. AGAIN! Lights!" Instantly, the lights went off. "Slide one!" Kerson yelled to a hidden operator obscured by a curtain.

On the screen behind Kerson was the image of the proposed Vall lander jettisoning its booster stage. Clearly visible were pieces of the fairing, which surrounded the decoupler and protected the ascent avionics package, being ejected in all directions into space.

As the KSC staff looked at the image, various quiet comments could be heard about the new lander and its ability, the new science parts added to it, and the recent loss of the prototype when Ludlong ran it out of fuel and crashed it into the grass outside the VAB. However, more notably, a 'gasp' was heard from the back of the room.

Kerson continued, "Look at this lander. It is not efficient! It is massive, has many unneeded parts, probably isn't stable on anything but a perfectly flat landing site, and its incredibly ugly! This lander must be scrapped and redesigned immediately. It must be efficient! It must be more stable than this monstrosity, and don't let Ludlong do the test flight! Next slide!"

The next slide showed the deployment of the Vall Station from its booster stage, again pieces of the protective fairing could be seen floating away from the station after the booster stage was jettisoned. And again, from the back of the room in a dark corner, everyone could hear a loud 'gasp' from an unseen kerbal, followed by a quiet, "Why.. why.. why.."

Kerson began, "Now, bring your attention to.. who is that back there? Who is interrupting my efficient discussion of inefficiency? Lights!" As the lights came on, everyone turned to see who was causing the interruption. In the back of the room, one of the junior engineers could be seen holding his head in his hands and shaking his head slowly.

As Kerson addressed him, the clearly distraught kerbal looked up and replied, "I'm Kessler.. Kessler Kerman."

"Alright Kessler Kerman, why are you interrupting my efficient discussion of inefficiency? Come on, speak up," Kerson said with a harsh glaring stare towards Kessler.

Kessler stood up and pointed towards the slide image still faintly visible on the screen. "Look at that debris! All those little fairing parts, the decoupler, they're all still up there in orbit above us right now! Even though the booster stage is de-orbited and crashed into the sea, all those small parts are up there in our standard orbital path travelling at almost 2.5 km per second.. if they were to hit something we're launching or is already in orbit, a collision could be katastrophic!"

Silence fell in the conference room. Kerson appeared to turn a slightly lighter shade of green, then spoke, "That would not be efficient." After a short pause he regained his normal green color then said quickly and loudly, "Meeting adjurned early! You, Kessler, you're with me! We have a new lifter to design!"

Without waiting to see if Kessler followed, Kerson walked out of the room. Kessler, not sure if he was really supposed to follow, shrugged his shoulders and had a confused look on his face as he sat back down. A moment later, Kerson popped his head back into the room and said loudly, "I don't like to repeat myself! That is not efficient! Kessler, you are in charge of the new debris-free lifter for the Vall Space Program. Let's go meet with Bob to get the ball rolling."

Kessler stood up with a prideful smile and followed Kerson out of the room. The rest of the KSC staff slowly dispersed back to their normal routines, except for the kerbal who was operating the lights and projector; instead, he quietly ducked out the back door without anyone seeing who he was.

[Vall Lander Mk.2 Mun Landing Test]

After working furiously hard over the next two days, the Vall Lander Mk.2 was ready for testing. Ludlong was not chosen to test it on the ground. Instead, the lander was launched, untested on the ground, into Kerbin orbit. Unfortunately, the new debris-free lifter was not ready for this launch causing Kessler Kerman to shift uncomfortably in his seat when the lander was deployed in orbit, sending fragments of its launch fairing into space.

On board the lander was Bob and Ludlong, both experienced pilots, but neither had been in space since returning from their trip to Duna. After the lander was safely in orbit, they both went on EVA to inspect the lander for damage. Being on EVA put them outside radio range of mission control, giving them a few minutes to talk privately.

"Hey, Bob! Everything looking good from here!" Ludlong chirped in his typically cheerful way as he inspected the landers science equipment.

Bob, who was inspecting the landing legs and fuel lines replied, "Thank you Ludlong. Say what do you think of this new efficiency expert, Kerson?"

"Well, Bob, he seems a little uptight. But, I guess that's how he is good at his job. How do the fuel lines look, Bob?"

"That Kerson.. there's something about him I don't trust. Fuel lines check out."

"Awww, remember when you and I met? You didn't think much of me, either. Now look at us! We're space buddies!"

"Yeah, I guess so. Legs check out. Lets go take this thing to the Mun."

"Sure thing, Bob!"

The Vall Lander Mk. 2 made a successful landing on the Mun and because it carried enough delta-v to land on Vall it was able to easily land on the Mun and have enough to spare in order to reach Mun orbit and back to Kerbin's surface. When Bob and Ludlong returned, Bob asked a few other senior staff around the KSC if they found anything usual about Kerson Kerman, besides his obsession with efficiency, but no one else felt suspicious about Kerson.

However, Bob trusted his own ability to sense when things were wrong, and he sensed something very wrong with Kerson. But what could it be, he wondered?

Vall Station and Vall Lander

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Edited November 28, 2013 by Death Engineering

[Death Engineering]

Vall Station leaving LKO

[Mission Report Three]

"The Vall mission is underway!"

The news of the first two Vall mission vessels leaving LKO was announced over the KSC loudspeaker. In every lab and office all the way out to the VAB, cheers and applause rang out in celebration of the biggest undertaking the KSC had ever taken on. The Vall Station, with eight science crew and one pilot and would also serve as the Kerbin return vehicle for the landing teams, would arrive at Jool in 250 days. The dual Vall landers, docked together for the trip out, would arrive 14 days later. Aboard each lander was a crew of five science experts and one pilot.

However, one room was not celebrating: the Uncrewed Science Robotics engineering room. Due to a shortage of Kerbal engineers, the robotic components of the Vall mission were not ready for this launch window. The Vall orbiting science crew and landing teams were prepared for this and were happy to wait for the probes to arrive from the next window, but Kerson Kerman, efficiency expert, was furious!

When Kerson heard that the landing team and orbiting science team were heading to Vall without their robotic science probes, he called Bob into his office and demanded answers.

"Well, Kerson, you know.. it's the holidays. We didn't have time to finish the robotic components of the mission. We were thinking that the orbiting team could look around for anything interesting for the landing teams to investigate and then when the probes are ready we would just sent them out on the next window," was Bob's explanation.

"The holidays? You think you get holidays?!? Holidays are.. NOT.. EFFICIENT!" Kerson yelled. "How did we ever make it to Mun?" Kerson asked rhetorically. "It is a good thing I'm going on this mission. You are going on the mission, too, Bob. You are on the landing team. Bill will pilot the other lander. Jebediah will pilot the Vall Station craft. I will be keeping an eye on you, Bob. You don't seem very efficient for the Director of the Kerbal Space Center."

Eventually, Kerson agreed to let the orbiting team and landing teams head to Vall before the science probes were ready. All the crew members were boarded on their crafts and waited in LKO for the Jool window. After 4 burns arounds LKO to gain advantages from the Oberth effect, both craft were set for an encounter with Jool where they would aerocapture into Vall's orbit.

During the launch of the Vall station, Jebediah looked rather exhausted like he'd been running around KSC all morning. Bill, who arrived late to the launch of his Vall lander and almost missed it, also looked rather disheveled. Kerson boarded his lander very early and was continually barking orders through the radio all morning right up until launch. He would not be denied his efficient launch.

As Bob ascended to LKO he had some time to reflect and noted that he had never seen Kerson talking to Jeb or Bill but instead always gave Jeb's and Bill's orders to Bob so he could relay them. As Bob's lander achieved orbit and waited for Bill's lander to dock to it prior to leaving for Vall, Bob developed a theory: could Kerson Kerman really be Jeb in disguise?

Vall Landers leaving LKO

In the next mission report...

• Bob confronts Jeb during deep space trip to Jool
  
• Kerson makes an inefficient mistake
  
• Arrival at Jool
  

Edited December 24, 2013 by Death Engineering

[Death Engineering]

Vall Station after Aerocapture around Jool

[Mission Report 4]

The Vall landing team was more than half-way out to Jool before Bob had time to confront Jeb. Bob's theory that Jeb was pretending to be Kerson Kerman had started when Bob noticed that Jeb was absent for every meeting where Kerson was. But, what really made Bob believe this theory was how excited Jeb was when he was handed the mission to fly the Vall Station.

The Vall Station mission would be the first to arrive at Vall and perform high-orbit science around Vall until the landing team arrived. When the landing team was ready, Vall Station would fly to a low Vall orbit after which the landing team would launch from the surface and dock to the station. Vall Station was crewed with 8 science experts, so all Jeb had to do was fly. He didn't even question his assignment when he heard that Bob and Bill were leading the landing teams. As far as missions go, this was little more than a bus-driver job!

While in deep space still some 45 days away from Jool, the landing team vessel and Vall Station were scheduled to perform some deep space communication tests. The Vall station pilot and the lead pilots from both landers were to EVA and fly 1000m from their craft then perform EVA communication tests between each other to make sure a pilot on EVA could still communicate over long distances without the need for a spacecraft.

"Lander 1, this is Lander 1 pilot Bob. Can you hear me Lander 1."

"Sure thing, Bob!", replied Ludlong. Ludlong and Bob were inseparable ever since the Duna mission where they spent 174 days together on Duna's dusty red surface. Bob taught Ludlong to fly and helped Ludlong join the KSC Test Pilot program, and Ludlong helped keep Bob from being too sarcastic and dry-witted.

"Thanks, Lander 1. Can you let Jeb on Vall Station know that I'm on EVA and ask him to EVA as well so we can test our EVA to EVA communication?"

"Sure thing, Bob!" Apparently that was Ludlong's favourite thing to say.

A few minutes later, Bob could hear Jeb's voice over his communication link. "Hey Bob, Jeb here. What's up, old man?"

"Hello Jeb, this is Bob. And I am not an old man, in fact I'm younger than you", replied Bob.

"I guess you just look old", added Jeb sardonically.

"Ha-ha, Jeb. I bet you think you're pretty smart. But you know what? I know your secret..I know your secret", Bob taunted Jeb.

After a pause where Bob could only hear Jeb breathing and muttering something inaudible, Jeb replied hesitantly, "Which secret..I have many?"

"Jeb, I'm just going to ask you straight-out: are you pretending to be the efficiency expert Kerson Kerman?", Bob asked earnestly.

"Bob! You think I'm Kerson Kerman? Nothing could be farther from the truth. I have "Moar Boosters!" tattooed on my arm.. how efficient is that?"

Bob had forgotten about the tattoo and realized he could have just checked Kerson for the tattoo.

"Well, Jeb, why is it that whenever Kerson is around you seem to be suspiciously absent?", Bob asked, wholly puzzled now.

"Kerson? I can't stand that guy!", Jeb exclaimed. "He's as interesting as a kase of dirt and just about as smart! You know me, Bob. I'm not about efficiency; I'm about going fast and making big explosions! Now that I think of it, that's probably why I'm not on the landing team...", replied Jeb, his voice trailing off at the end as he pondered his philosophikal views on 'moar boosters' and 'moar struts', and that maybe less extreme positions on boosters and struts was in order. Luckily, that idea went out of his very quickly.

Jeb continued, "Besides, Bob, you should know I'm not Kerson since you hired the guy."

"What are you talking about? I didn't hire him.. he just showed up one day. I assumed he was hired by you, the lead test pilot."

"I don't hire people! I fire things.. boosters, fuel tanks, anything that makes an unnecessarilty loud noise, but I don't hire and fire people. Look Bob, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over. I'm going back inside now. Switching to main comms. See you around Vall.... OLD MAN! Hehehe..." answered Jeb, laughing as he closed his comm link.

So, Bob wondered, if I didn't hire him and the lead test pilot didn't hire him.. who hired Kerson?!?

Vall Station in high orbit around Vall

Since Vall Station was to arrive at Jool first, it's aerobraking maneuver was watched by the entire Kerbal population. As flames engulfed the station while passing at a periapsis of 117400km through Jool's thick green atmosphere, everyone gasped and awed at the thick flames surrounding the delicately assembled spacecraft.

Somehow, know one asked how, it came through on the other side in a near perfect orbit parallel to Vall's. After several orbits around Jool, Jeb found an encounter window with Vall and the station entered into a steep inclination orbit, allowing for scans of the surface from many angles.

Problems occurred when 14 days later, the landing teams arrived docked together with their interplanetary transport stage. Just as the landing team entered Jool's SOI, Kerson took control of the spacecraft and raised their aerobraking periapsis. And, because he was the efficiency expert, no one asked what he was doing or why. But, when they came out the other side of Jools atmosphere, their orbit was far too high and was almost into Tylo's orbit.

As the landers crept up toward their apoapsis, they had a brief encounter with Tylo. During the Tylo encounter, Kerson used a device he brought aboard and furtively pressed keys on the device while peering out his window at Tylo. During this time, no one spoke to him, and he spoke to no one. It was very mysterious.

Eventually, they were able to bring their orbit back down and a few orbits later descended further into Vall's orbit for an encounter. As they burned their transfer engines to establish Vall orbit, Bob glared at Kerson.

Thanks to Kerson's unneeded and detrimental last minute course correction, they had to burn their engines for far longer than they planned to and their fuel supply was getting low. No one aboard the landers was sure they were going to make Vall orbit or if they were going to be stuck in an orbit around Jool. It was going to be very close..

Vall Landers attempting to burn into Vall's orbit

In the next report...

• Orbital activities aboard Vall Station
  
• The landers try to get into Vall orbit
  
• Kerson's mysterious device is revealed
  

[Jug head]

I need more

[Death Engineering]

Two Landers around Vall

[Mission Report 5]

"Three.. two.. one.. engines off!" exclaimed Ludlong as the landing teams completed their Vall orbital insertion burn.

"Thank you Ludlong," replied Bob, "How close were we on fuel, Lud?"

"Hey Bob! We have point-two percent fuel remaining in the transfer stage!", Ludlong replied cheerfully, apparently either unaware or unconcerned about how close they came to getting stuck in Jool orbit and blowing their whole part of the mission.

"Roger that, Lud, thanks. Two percent isn't as close as we thought. Should even be enough to push the transfer stage into a Jool escape orbit. Alright, lets link up with Vall Station and get our landing coordinates", Bob said.

"That's a negative, Bob, on the two percent fuel. I said zero point two percent fuel remaining. There isn't even enough to push the transfer stage out of Vall orbit", advised Ludlong.

Bob looked over at Kerson and with a stoic, disapproving glare asked, "We nearly failed our mission because of your 'detour' out to Tylo's orbit. Now we have to leave the interplanetary transfer stage in Vall orbit instead of pushing it into deep space. What were you thinking?"

"I am the effienciency expert and the commander of this mission. You must not question my actions. That is not efficient!", replied Kerson without remorse over his near mission-ending mistake.

"You may be the commander of this mission, but I am the director of the Kerbal Space Center and if I want to know why you almost caused this landing mission to fail, you're going to tell me. Now.", Bob said sternly, although realizing that he had no real recourse if Kerson didn't respond to his inquiry.

Kerson snorted and clutched furtively at the mysterious device in his pocket that he used when they were near Tylo, but did not respond to Bob's question. But as Kerson turned his head back towards his window, the small device fell from his pocket. Bob noticed the writing on it: "Scan-o-Tron 2000". Bob quickly and quietly pushed the device under his seat and decided he would have to have a look at that when they landed, whether Kerson approved or not.

After performing some last minute checks with the landers, the interplanetary drive stage was ditched. Its tiny amount of remaining fuel burned the stage into a slightly ellilptical orbit, but would remain in orbit around Vall as a permanent reminder of Kerson Kerman's unexpected and unexplained "mistake".

The landers, which had been docked together since just before leaving Kerbin, undocked in low Vall orbit and opened communication with the science team on Vall Station to get their landing coordinates.

Geographic Survey Vall Landing Team

"Lander 1 calling Vall Station. This is Ludlong.. how you guys doing!", exclaimed Ludlong while calling Vall Station on their comm system.

"Hey Ludlong. This is Jeb. I'm bored", replied Jeb slowly, his voice faint and sounding tired.

"Hi Jeb! How's the Vall Station mission going so far?"

Ludlong could hear Jeb breathing, but it took almost a minute before Jeb finally responded, "Yeah... it's alright. We found some weird things on Vall down near the south pole. They are at the same place where that image was taken that was floating around at KSC before we left. Some kind of <yawn> pyramids or something. I don't know. I'm transmitting exact coordinates now. You guys should head down there and have a <yawn> look. You know, Ludlong, I need a nap. Catch you later."

Jeb closed the communication channel and a moment later, Ludlong's navigation system lit up with the exact coordinates for landing. Aboard the second Vall lander, Bill called up to Vall Station for their landing coordinates. When Jeb didn't answer after numerous hails, Bill called Lander 1 and asked Ludlong if he was able to reach Jeb.

Ludlong confirmed that he got the landing site information, but that Jeb mentioned he was going to take a nap.

"A nap?", Bill asked. "Jeb doesn't take naps. I don't think I've ever seen Jeb sleep. This can't be good."

Bill then used their onboard equipment to select a landing site with a low elevation and a nearby mountain with a high elevation. Without wasting any more time, both landers made their descent burns and commenced the first Kerbal landings on Vall. The Geographic Survey Landing Team was first to land and images of their success were beamed across Kerbin with pride.

As Bob and Ludlong's lander approached their target, they could see the pyramids that Jeb told Ludlong about. The pattern of the pyramids on the surface reminded Bob of something, but he couldn't think of what it was. He would have to check the database for something that looked like the pattern the pyramids formed.

He was also very curious about the device that Kerson had dropped. After they landed, Bob had some investigating to do.

Lander 1 coming in over the pyramids

Geographic Survey Landing Team

Edited December 29, 2013 by Death Engineering

[Death Engineering]

[Mission Report 6 - Vall Henge]

Bob and Ludlong's lander was still descending towards the pyramids when Bill's report of their landing on one of Vall's equatorial basins was transmitted. The engines were burning with a light thrust to maintain altitude while they approached the landing site, less than 100m from the pyramids.

Ludlong watched the altitude radar intently while Bob was observing the landing zone from his window. No one spoke as the lander got closer to the pyramids. It was difficult to see the structures with any detail; that would have to wait until morning. But, Bob could see enough detail to make out that there was a ring of rectangular blocks that surrounded the five pyramids, and not all the pyramids were the same size.

The shape, a circle with a bisecting line, was a pattern he saw.. recently.. just before they boarded. "What was it?!" he thought.

Just then, Kerson looked at Bob and asked, "What's our status, Bob?"

And then, Bob knew. He recognized that pattern! Just before they left the KSC, there was a small group of zealots handing out pamphlets to onlookers; something they called "Tylotology". Bob recalled one of them stuffing a pamphlet into his hand instead of shaking it as they met supporters before leaving. It was Kerson! He was a Tylotologist!

Did he throw it away, or did he just leave it in his pocket? That question would have to wait until they boarded Vall Station after their landing mission. Until then, he would be keeping a very close eye on Kerson.

Bob knew a little bit about the Tylotologists and their belief that all life on Kerbin originated from a volcanic eruption that occured millions of years ago on Tylo. It was their understanding that life-carrying pyroclastic debris was ejected into space and landed on Kerbin, spawning all known life.

They were obviously crazy, he thought. However, someone built the structure he was looking at, and it was in the exact shape of the icon for the Tylotologists.

"Landing complete, Bob!" exclaimed Ludlong.

Bob could also recall something about a science fiction book he'd read as a child, written by the founder of Tylotology, which stated that another volcano would erupt, but this time on Kerbin, and would then become the space seed for another planet while at the same time destroying all life on Kerbin.

"Landing complete, Bob!" exclaimed Ludlong, again.

Bob had totally missed the landing, he was so deep in thought!

"Roger that, Ludlong. Smooth landing; I didn't even feel a bump. Lock us down and let's head out for a walk, shall we? Kerson?" Bob asked while glaring at Kerson.

With the engines off and thanks to a safe landing from Ludlong, the crew departed their craft to EVA near the structure. There was so much tension from the landing, and a sense of awe and wonder surrounding the pyramids, that no one spoke a word as they exited for their surface mission.

Just as Bob turned to tell the team that he was about to plant the flag, Kerson appeared immediately in front of him.

With a solid unblinking stare, Kerson said quietly "I know you tried to hide my scanner, Bob. I'm not worried about your accusations and your suspicions. There's nothing you can do, now, anyways." Kerson then walked towards the others and took his place for the group photo.

After planting a flag and taking a photo of the team near their lander, the science experts starting taking measurements around the blocks. Ludlong and Bill followed Kerson, closely. Kerson's job, besides efficiency expert, was to take surface seismic readings. Bob noticed that Kerson was brazenly brandishing his Scan-o-Tron, apparently the device Kerson used for seismic readings.

After taking only two readings, Kerson filed his report and headed back to the lander. While the other science crew members continued their research, Bob and Ludlong also returned to the lander. On the way, Bob suddenly had an idea to have a look at the structure from its highest point: the top of the tallest pyramid.

With a long, careful burn of his EVA pack, Bob ascended to the top of the pyramid. From this height he had a unique perspective of the structure and took a moment to ponder the Tylotologist's ideas about life from volcanoes. Pyramids did look a little like volcanoes, he thought.

Then he saw Ludlong at the base. Was he.. could he be..

"Ludlong, stop trying to taste it!"

"Sure thing, Bob!"

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Edited February 7, 2014 by Death Engineering

[Death Engineering]

Flying around Vall Henge

Mission Report 7 - Going Home

Ludlong could barely contain his excitement when the Hoppah Droppah flew overhead with it's delivery of two short-range Vall Hoppers. He saw the engineering diagrams that were on the design team's drawing board before they left Kerbin and knew that he had to try one of these out, and soon. Bob watched Ludlong's eyes grow bigger and rounder and became immediately concerned that Ludlong would see the hoppers as some kind of sports bike and want to take them for a spin. And, knowing Ludlong, it would be a wild spin.

"Bob! Bob! You know what we should do?", exclaimed Ludlong after the Hoppah Droppah landed near them.

"We're not going to race them, Ludlong", Bob replied without raising his eyes from the report he was writing.

"Yes! We should race them! That's a great idea, Bob!"

Bob slowly shook his head in silence while Ludlong, muttering quietly to himself, could be heard saying things like "probably get up to 40 or 50 meters per second" and "enough fuel to get into orbit".

After the two hoppers were released from the Hoppah Droppah, Ludlong flew it remotely away from their landing site and enabled it's SMART science equipment. Readings started showing up from its final resting place and finally, after making Ludlong wait until daylight, Bob told Ludlong it was time to try out the hoppers.

"You're not going on that thing alone, Lud. It's not balanced for a single pilot. I'll join you and we can take it up for a look at Vall Henge from above. I want to have a look at something."

Bob wanted to have a look at the shape of the stones at Vall Henge and compare them to the pattern that the Tylotologists use as their emblem. He was pretty sure it was the same, but was certain of it when he noticed that Kerson had placed a Tylotology sticker on the hoppers' seats.

"That Kerson!" exclaimed Bob, "Now he's vandalizing our equipment!"

"Don't worry, Bob. It won't affect handling.. watch this!" Ludlong said gleefully as he launched the hopper into a steep climb.

"Ludlong...! Slow down!"

"Sure thing Bob.. as soon as we land!"

While Ludlong tormented Bob with some skilled, but decidedly dangerous flying, the last of the two latest Vall science vessels were slowing down through Jool's thick atmosphere. This was a science lab, only recently added to the KSC equipment roster, and would be docked to Vall Station to assist the science team. Once the Vall mission is complete, the science lab will remain uncrewed in Vall orbit.

Science Lab docked to Vall Station

Finally, the Kerbin return launch window was near! First into orbit from their landing site was the Vall Henge landing team. Of course, Ludlong was at the controls and grinning madly as he flew the ascent stage into orbit and docked it to Vall Station. Once the crew had settled in for their long trip home, the science team moved from the new Science Lab back into Vall Station. Shortly afterwards, Jeb released the docking clamp on the Science Lab and gently maneuvered Vall Station away from the Science Lab.

While waiting for the second landing team to ascend from the surface to Vall Station, Bob decided he was going to confront Kerson again. Bob was very concerned with having someone on board he considered to be a saboteur. However, when Bob went to Kerson's cabin, there was no one there.

Bob picked up the radio and said, "This is Bob to Kerson.. where are you, Kerson?"

No reply.

And then, Ludlong came over to Bob and whispered in his ear.

"He what?!?!", Bob screamed.

Bob could hardly believe his ears when Ludlong told him that Kerson had just EVA'd and was last seen flying towards the abandoned Science Lab. He was too far away now for anyone to try and go get him, so Jeb adjusted the Vall Station orbit so that they would encounter the Science Lab on the next orbit.

Bob was pacing and muttering and looking very angry for the entire orbit. When they finally made it back to where they could re-dock to the Science Lab and find out what Kerson was up to, everyone was shocked to see that the Science Lab was gone.

And then Kerson radioed in from the Science Lab. "Nice try, Bob. But like I already told you, you're not going to stop us!"

Kerson paused, cleared his throat, then proclaimed loudly, "I claim this Science Lab in the name of Tylotology!" He then immediately cut the transmission and could be seen flying out of Vall orbit and towards Tylo. That night, Bob had an uncomfortable discussion with mission control back on Kerbin trying to explain how he let Kerson highjack and steal the Science Lab.

When the second landing team flew near Vall Station in preparation for docking, Bill radioed over asked where the Science Lab was. Jeb quickly advised him to drop the subject and not ask Bob about it.

Meanwhile, back on Kerbin, Tylotologists celebrated their new zealot hero.. Kerson Kerman.

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Edited February 16, 2014 by Death Engineering

[Death Engineering]

Vall Station has Returned!

[Mission Report 8 - Conclusion]

After a successful Kerbin aerocapture, Bob sat back and enjoyed the look of his home world. Vall was an amazing experience, but the cold blue landscape had made him miss the green grass and blue water of home. As he peered through his small window, KSC passed below and he felt as though he could see his office from space.

He reminisced about the travels he'd had and all the foreign places he'd visited. He remembered the time that he and Bob spent 100 days on the Mun's surface, without a single EVA, just to say they did it. And when they returned even their own offices seemed like mansions for the first few days back at work.

He recalled fondly how he had flown to Duna with Ludlong, making a good friend in the process, and how they'd just flown out to Vall and back. What would their discovery of Vall Henge bring to his fellow kerbals? It wouldn't be up to him to learn the rest of the secrets; he was just a pilot who brought back the science for others to study. He was a pilot, he realized, who was ready to retire.

When Bob informed Ludlong that this would be his last mission, Ludlong insisted that Bob fly them back to Kerbin's surface. It was too late to make a formal flight plan change, so at the last moment Ludlong switched the pilot controls over to Bob's seat, and Bob flew the landing team back to Kerbin's warm oceans for the last time.

When the second landing team missed their landing zone and had a hard ground landing far off course, Bob and Ludlong shared a nod of acknowledgement. Bob still had "pretty good stuff".

At Bob's retirement party, the new KSC Director was announced. To no one's surprise, Ludlong gladly accepted the position stating that he could never replace Bob; he could only succeed him. Afterwards, off the record, Ludlong told Bob about a new, secretly developed space program. One that was meant to land not on Tylo, as Bob had expected, but on Jools last moon: Bop. Ludlong hadn't learned, yet, why there was a secret space program to visit Bop, but he promised Bob that when he figured it out, he would tell Bob everything.

For months, Bob awaited some kind of announcement regarding what he and Ludlong had seen on Vall. He expected to hear about some kind of connection between Vall and Tylo and even, perhaps, the extreme ideas propagated by the Tylotologists. But no such announcement from KSC ever came.

Instead, KSC released details diagrams about how such formations like Vall Henge form though natural planetary development and erosion processes. They claimed that the Vall pyramids were natural formations, and no one questioned it. Soon, it was all but forgotten and seen as an expensive waste of money sending so many kerbals so far from home, only to look at some pointy rocks in the sand.

But Bob, and Ludlong, and everyone else who walked amongst the Vall pyramids, knew that there was nothing natural about the formations. But without any proof no one would take them any more seriously than the Tylotology zealots.

And then on a warm Kerbin morning almost a year after returning from Vall, Ludlong appeared at Bob's home unannounced. After a sincere and warm greeting, Bob invited Ludlong in for koffee.

Ludlong had acquired, and told Bob not to ask from where, a photo taken of Bop's surface. It seemed that Kerson had only used Tylo as a slingshot and had really highjacked the Science Lab to fly to Bop. The photo, probably stolen from the Tylotologists Bob thought, showed a very strange looking shape on Bop's surface.

"Bob," Ludlong said, in a serious tone possibly for the first time Bob had ever heard, "..there's something on Bop."

"Yeah, Lud, I see that. What is it?"

"I don't know, Bob, but I'm going on the mission. This mission is off the books, quite dangerous and definitely illegal since me and some others are planning on stealing the Bop spacecraft." After a long pause while Bob absorbed Ludlong's news, he continued, "And Bob, there's an extra seat. Do you still have your orange space suit?"

"It's already packed, Ludlong. I've been waiting for this moment for months." Bob shook Ludlong's hand and within the hour, they were orbiting Kerbin and, with Jeb's and Bill's help, had stolen the secret spacecraft designed to land on Bop.

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Edited February 17, 2014 by Death Engineering

[panzerknoef]

Once more it's sublime! I can't even reach this level of writing if I tried really hard! You always keep me excited about what's coming next! +reputation

[Death Engineering]

Thanks! Was a fun mission, even though not everyone made it back. Since I've never been to Bop, there might be a third installation..