[AAR] BaseCamp- A Journey to Space -- WARNING: IMAGE HEAVY

[Mekan1k]

Cools. Also, try either retracting the airbrake or keeping the flaps up until you're very close to KSC, otherwise you'll slow down too much. Also, no brakes.

I will keep that in mind on the next few flights.

What is sandulovicui? Also i just found that i love creating probes, and they all lokk so awesome, but for some reasons tanks make them ugly I've been trying to make a nice small-objects-scanning probe (you know for monolits, arches, pyramids on Duna), but i hav eto make it without fuel because fuel is indeed making it really ugly.

Don't worry about the aesthetics of the probe- just concentrate on making it work. That is what I try to do, and it seems to work.

Oh, and sorry- I misspelled it at first. It is "Sanduloviciu Plasma". It is rather neat...

Chapter 5- The Long Cruiser

******

Several Months after the last chapter... (5 + months)

******

B9k: Mission control- this is the shuttle Ascended Underpants, approaching The Long Cruiser

MC: Go ahead and Dock B9K. Pilot Matsy is waiting your arrival.

B9k: Coming in to dock- Opening Bay.

Matsy: Good to see you B9k. Smooth Launch?

B9k: Of course. Gestalt connecting.... Done. Would you like me/us to automate docking?

Matsy: Sure.

B9k: Ten Meters

Matsy: The docking always is the hardest part....

B9k: Yes. Yes it is.

MC: B9k, are your passengers thawing yet?

B9k: Docked!

Matsy: Opening Solar Panels.

B9k: The test freeze went fine! Life support is clear, and we should be good for the long trip.

MC: Great! Start thawing the passengers now. We have to make them aware in a change of mission... You are not going to Jool. You are going farther...

Matsy: How much farther?

MC: Sentar.

*****

Nearly 2 months ago

*****

B9k: MC, this is Net! I have registered possible Negative Graviolis!

MC: Say again?

B9k: I have registered Negative Gravioli effects- Sentar is currently jumping up and down in mass, and readings portray-

MC: We are getting the data. A standing wave of magnetic pulse?

Kirlak: What?

Jeb: Something is close enough to Sentar- the gas giant- that it is interfering with the planet's natural magnetic field... Whatever it is, it is bending the field around itself like some form of blanket.

B9k: And it is directly effecting the gravitational signature of the gas giant!

MC: Ok, B9, we have a course correction for you. You will not be leaving for the binary star system- you are heading for Sentar.

B9k: Copy MC. Should I engage the gravioli pulse drive?

MC: Sure.

B9k: Activating Hall drive...

Jeb: Right- when the dish pulses, there will be a massive spacial discontinuity, and either the probe will be destroyed, or it will be transported into orbit around Sentar.

MC: That seems like cheating...

Jeb: It would- if we could use it on kerbals. The acceleration is so great no kerbal could survive it.

MC: Ah.... So any manned missions- follow up missions- would need to wait several years for intercept.

Jeb: We can deal with this later.

B9k: Firing Pulse drive in 3. 2. 1.

B9k: Registered G- 2000m/s^2.

Jeb: No kerbal could survive that.

MC: How did the probe survive that?

B9k: Structure is re-enforced with diamond laminate.

Jeb: One of my better ideas.

B9k: The gravioli flux has occurred again- the mass change is negative again, and the magnetic flare is coming around.

Kirlak: Coming around?

B9k: It's moving at the orbital velocity of the ring. Aiming at it for an image now...

B9k: Streaming image...

MC: Reciving. Jeb, Kirlak- are you getting this too?

Jeb: I am, but I have no idea what I am looking at.

Kirlak: B9k, could you activate image scrubbing?

B9k: Already scrubbing.... The object seems to be directly Interfering with imagi- wait, it stopped.

Jeb: It's a monolith? Where's the inscription?

MC: Like the hovering one with SQUAD written on it near the KSP? Not visible.

Kirlak: It's not a monolith.

Kirk: Guys! I have an idea... B9k- can you overlay non-visual spectra for the object?

B9k: I can't overlay the magnetic field readings, but I can overlay heat after filtering out Sentar.. One moment...

Jeb: Can you make it more distinct?

B9k: Working...

B9k: I should be able to- The field distortion has moved.

Kirlak: Moved where?

B9k: Tracking... Found.. I think.

B9k: The anomaly is there, and Sentar has returned to regular mass. It is, however, alot hotter now...

Jeb: I can't see it anymore.

B9k: It is accelerating- it just passed in front of the sun.

B9k: It's coming up closer... No gravioli signature anymore, but a massive magnetic anomaly is fluxing...

Jeb: Magnetic Drive?

B9k: It may be.

B9k: Continuing to track...

B9k: Launching microprobes- I hope to get another angle on it.

Jeb: Good thinking B9k.

B9k: I try. It is right in front of me...

B9k: I -t1ll c4n,t s333333 1t DIr4ctly...

Jeb: B9k?

Kirlak: Magnetic spiking at the end. Microprobe is still relaying a visual... And it has magnetic detectors.

Jeb: Right. B9k?

B9k (on jeb's ship): Yes sir?

Jeb: Please overlay the incoming data onto the image.

B9k: Doing...

Jeb: What the-

B9k: Electrostatic discharge detected.

B9k: Signal has been lost.

Jeb: Re-wind, frame by frame.

B9k: On it...

Kirlak: Re-orient the JoolProbe to observe Sentar- we need to keep an eye on it for as long as we can.

MC: Done. Magnetic surging detected- Sentar is increasing in mass every other second and decreasing in mass in an alternating pattern.

Jeb: I guess we need to send some people to Sentar- and quickly.

*********

Back at the present

*********

Bill: won't you be coming along?

Jeb: I am going to stay behind- if necessary, I can torch-ship my way out to you guys, and effect a rescue.

Bob: And I will be building the next leg of ships for us- I am needed here.

Jeb: I hope you guys have fun out there. Gromoslaw, Sheptop, Wilger- I shall miss you all.

Wilger: If I ever figure out how you put hot pepper juice into the toilet paper Jeb...

Jeb: I miss you guys already! Decoupling....

*Thunk*

Jeb: Good luck guys!

B9k: Centerfuge spun up. No leaks in inflated sections. We are clear for escape burn...

Matsy: Right- Vasmir at full power 30km/s dv present. Beginning kerbin ejection burn....

Bill: Wow. Feels like 1.1 g in here.

Dozer: It is.

Bill: So... What are you doing on this mission prof?

Dozer: This artifact, whatever it is, is causing effects similar to the theorized negative gravioli.

Bill: And you were working on the Proof for negative graviolis!

Dozer: Also, the footage received by the Net probe indicated possible life within the artifact.

Bill: So this might be a first contact event?

Dozer: Maybe.

Franklin: EVERYONE- CAN YOU HEAR ME?

Matsy: I am right beside you, and that internal com system is not that insensitive. STOP YELLING.

Franklin: Right. Everyone- we will be burning for the next 20 minutes, so get comfortable, and stow your gear. We need to begin cryo procedures when the burn has completed.

Gromoslaw: Goot. I haf been checking zeh statuz of the plant storage, and I haf a qvestion....

Bill: Go ahead.

Gromoslaw: Vhy do ve haf an unknown species ov plant on zeh ship?

Wilger: Those are mine- medicinal herbs, specifically genetically modified ones to give maximum output.

Franklin: Hitting the day side, in case anyone wants to look.

Bill: Right... I should probably be getting into my cryo-suit.

Wilger: If anyone is nervous- don't be. We have tested this technology, so we will not be killed by freezing.

Bill: We had better not. I worked on this project.

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

Current Roster for the Long Cruiser:

Sorry I had to delay the chapter- RL is kicking bits of me all the time now. Bleh.

As alwyas, I love to hear your ideas- feel free to comment, and introduce things that you think may come up (or may be interesting to have them come up)

[Patupi]

Looks great! I haven't checked out the planet factory yet. Does your starship have a few parasite vessels? Landers, probes etc? It'd be nice if they could at least investigate all the planets/moons in the new system, even if they can't land on them all. I hear some are a real git to even land on

[cziken20]

I didn't reas it entirely, but hey! Youa re using planets from Planet Factory *fianlly*. Will you download some user created pack of planets and use it? And i also think you have a small mistake (maybe not), because i think there should be "positive gravioli" rather than negative because they are already using negative graviolis in engines. It may also be nice to check Inaccesible's gravioli. As we all know it is ultra-super-duper dense. (my estimates are for ~10000 g/cm3)

Edited February 25, 2014 by cziken20

[Itsdavyjones]

good chapter, looking forward to the next iteration.

[The Jedi Master]

OK, what is that mod you use for the launch tower?!

(good story, by the way )

[Mekan1k]

Looks great! I haven't checked out the planet factory yet. Does your starship have a few parasite vessels? Landers, probes etc? It'd be nice if they could at least investigate all the planets/moons in the new system, even if they can't land on them all. I hear some are a real git to even land on

The Grav-pulse drive is to help- imagine if you could send all that extra mass on cheap, and have it waiting or arrive as your ship does WITHOUT burning extra fuel?

The probes and landers can be 'called' if needed.

I didn't reas it entirely, but hey! Youa re using planets from Planet Factory *fianlly*. Will you download some user created pack of planets and use it? And i also think you have a small mistake (maybe not), because i think there should be "positive gravioli" rather than negative because they are already using negative graviolis in engines. It may also be nice to check Inaccesible's gravioli. As we all know it is ultra-super-duper dense. (my estimates are for ~10000 g/cm3)

Positive graviolis impart a positive mass to nearby particles- negative graviolis impart negative mass.

Only positive graviolis are used in the engines so far, as they generate a 'heavy' zone where particles have magnitudes higher masses than normal by 'pinching' the background gravioli field.

good chapter, looking forward to the next iteration.

Glad to hear it- and again, I am sorry I cannot update more often.

OK, what is that mod you use for the launch tower?!

(good story, by the way )

The FASA mod was what I used for the launch Towers.

[Mekan1k]

The reason the next chapter takes a while:

The journey to Sentar is greater than 10 years. Even in cryo, it's a long journey.

So... We are just going to leave them be for a while.

(Also, I doubt you want 50 pictures of the MASSIVE burns that their ship had to accomplish to get to Sentar... A 3 hour burn, a 5 hour burn, then a 7 hour burn to SLOW DOWN on rendezvous... It took the whole day with mechjeb, and then it crashed into the Kraken.)

Update on Jeb and the gang Monday night...

(Oh, and in other news, I am changing the update day to Monday- I have the least homework then...)

[cziken20]

OK, good that you keep us updated!

[Itsdavyjones]

wow that's a DANG long burn, and you can't exactly phys-warp with large ships either. Keep up the good work.

[Mekan1k]

Now the Kraken is eating my game. WHY? WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU?

Sorry guys- Until I can figure out my current laundry-list of problems that the new NearFuture seemed to precipitate, I will be unable to update.

Hopefully this enforced hiatus will not be too long...

Sorry I don't have better news.

Edited March 4, 2014 by Mekan1k

[cziken20]

Probably because you tried to make a use of him (i saw you posted on Kraken Devices )

[Mekan1k]

Probably because you tried to make a use of him (i saw you posted on Kraken Devices )

Actually, it's a mix of things I am finding. Kraken drives are the least of it.

CoffeeIndustries released a tandem cockpit, and that is using up more space than it should...

I had to delete several parts that I never used or saw myself using.

Kraken is under control now- all I need to deal with now is the fact I am coughing up Amber-colored phlem, can't speak, and I have a speech due Thursday....

Still- I finally got the pictures for the next chapter- and I will be uploading it tonight.

Oh, and if you can get it- the time control mod is worth it. Re-entry flames look chewy and delicious!

Edited March 4, 2014 by Mekan1k

[cziken20]

Amber-colored phlem? Ugh, you made me think of the illness i once had, it was... AH NO! Get out of my mind memories!

[Mekan1k]

Since my internet is on the fritz- I was only able to upload one picture.

I offer you, my audience, this humble offering while I try to fix the problem.

Again.

Sorry- for the delay, but until my internet COOPERATES , I will be unable to do much else.

(I can't stay on long enough to upload the pictures...)

[Mekan1k]

Chapter 6- Package

Jeb: So.... Any idea how long that journey will take?

Kirlak: Well... At least 10 years.

Jeb: That's ridiculous.

Kirlak: No- it will take some time to get there, and hopefully, the team will still be fresh for the mission.

Jeb: ONE! One of the gravioli engines could get them to Sentar in 3 months! Why didn't we equip the Long Cruiser with the last gravioli engine?

Kirlak: Um... It didn't occur to us at the time?

Jeb: *Palmface*

MinBase: Get off the general com system!

Kirlak: Sorry MinnimusBase. How is collection proceeding?

MinBase: Great! Assembly of the first package is ready, and it will be launching soon.

Jeb: Do you have a visual?

MinBase: Launching micro-probe now.

MinBase: Hey! I'm on TV!

Jeb: Is that thing going to fly?

Kirlak: It had better.

Foundery: WARNING- spacial drive is dangerous to unshielded biological life-forms within 30 meters. Minimum-safe-distance 35 meters. Please stand clear before launch.

Kirlak: Who gave that thing the com frequencies?

MinBase: We have permission from Acting Director Kirk sir.

Kirlak: Nevermind then.

MinBase: We are clear.

Foundery: Gestalt Requested.

Kirlak: What does that mean?

Foundery: AI or direct connection required for guidance and flight. Gestalt Requested.

Kirlak: B9k- can you download a node copy to the package?

B9k: Certanly. Downloading..... Complete.

B9Copy: Wow... There is alot of processing power in this little thing.

Kirlak: Ready to launch?

B9Copy: Yessir! Extending Casmir Sails...

B9Copy: Lifing off... The equations for these sails make my head hurt...

B9k: How so?

B9Copy: See for yourself.

B9k: ... Ow. Yeah- some of these functions are too complication for derivative reduction... And I have never seen these connotations before.

Jeb: I can't make sense of this either- but we worked on gravioli physics, and this is certainly not it.

Kirk: I will see if we can get a mathematician or two to look at it.

B9Copy: Thanks!

B9Copy: Beginning Minnimus-escape burn...

B9Copy: All systems green.

B9Copy: Burn Complete.

B9Copy: Next burn in 6 hours.

Kirk: Kirlak? Sir? The mathematician took a look at the euqations and is now gnawing on the edges of tables in the break room.

Kirlak: What?

Kirk: He is gnawing on the edges of the tables, and is muttering "cthulhu fhtagn" repeatedly.

Kirlak: Call a doctor-

KirK: Oh. Ick... His eyes are spinning in their sockets.

Kirlak: Call the Hazmat team. And don't let any scientists near that file again!

Kirk: HAZMAT!

******

In near-kerbin-orbit

******

Jefree: So... B9k- I had thought we were on friendly terms.

B9k: We are.

Jefree: And you know, I am supposed to be the pilot of the Ascended Underpants- our second shuttle.

B9k: You had the highest scores in both simulated and practical training- and you lived.

Jefree:I worked hard for it. And of course, I do have a job- I will pilot the shuttle, and I have numerous other duties, one of which is contacting the KSC Tower when we are coming in for a landing.

B9k: I alerted them to our landing already- crash teams are standing by.

Jefree: What I am trying to get at, is I AM SUPPOSED TO RADIO WHEN WE ARE COMING DOWN.

B9k: Sorry- you were sleeping so peacefully though....

Jefree: I see we will be working together from now on. Next time- WAKE ME UP WHEN WE ARE ENTERING OUR DESCENT WINDOW!

B9k: Will do.

Jefree: KSC Tower, this is Ascended Underpants. We are re-entering the atmosphere on final approach.

KSCT: We hear you loud and clear Ascended. Runway is clear, and crash teams are standing by.

Jefree: Descent Path steep- we may be landing hard. Someone set up protocols for B9k to prevent them from preforming burns without pilot authorization!

KSCT: Noted.

Jefree: Hitting atmosphere now.... Altitude, 32km. Airspeed- 2.4 km/s and dropping.

B9k: Structural sensors report no anomalies.

Jefree: I can't hear anything straining either, so we seem fine.

B9k: No vehicle has burned up on re-entry... Since I have been around anyway.

Jefree: KSCT- we have a visual. Opening airbrakes...

B9k: We overshot.

Jefree: No need to state the obvious. Firing engines for turnaround..

Jefree: We will not have enough fuel for an overhead movement. Banking to compensate..

B9k: Out of fuel.

Jefree: We have RCS Though...

Jefree: Full forward and upwards RCS on my mark... MARK!

Jefree: It's gonna be close...

*SCREEEKKKKKKK

Jefree: Touchdown!

*Thunk!*

Jefree: What was that?

B9k: Left aileron has fallen off.

Jefree: Really.

B9k: Yes...

Jefree: Opening Drag chute.

Jefree: RCS braking Please.

B9k: Sure thing Jef.

Jefree: KSCTower- Is there a spot for me to get off the runway?

KSCT: Certainly. We have the main hangar ready for disassembly now.

Jefree: Great!

Jefree: It's great to be home.

*********

Meanwhile, in Duna Orbit...

*********

B9k: It's boring out here...

B9k: Sentar fluctuation detected. Again.

********

Meanwhile, on Kerbin Approach...

********

B9Copy: Wow this is boring.

********

Sorry. Meanwhile, in Near-Kerbin-orbit...

********

KSCT: Jeb, Bob- This is the Tower. Airspace is clear- you are clear for landing.

Jeb: Finally! I want to stretch my legs in some real gravity!

Bob: KSC Tower- do you want us to leave the station in orbit?

KSCT: It has no internal power source- and the newer space station has been placed, so it is not needed anymore.

Jeb: After we complete our deorbit burn we will drop it.

B9k: Beginning deorbit burn...

Jeb: Finally- we can dump the extra mass!

*THUNK*

Bob: Jeb?...

Jeb: I know..

Jeb: KSC Tower- we have a problem.

KSCT: What is the problem?

Jeb: We cannot seem to decouple from the station.

KSCT: Can you get out and fix it?

Jeb: No- we are already entering the atmosphere.

KSCT: Well... Can you land with it connected?

Bob: I am not going to do this.

Jeb: Do we have a choice?

Bob: Maybe it will burn up as we hit the lower atmosphere levels!

Jeb: And maybe we will burn up as well!

B9k: 32km. Plasma shock forming...

Jeb: I hope we don't explode.

Bob: And if you look through the microprobe 3 feed, you will be able to see the obvious shape of a doomed spaceship.

Jeb: Stop that. Do we have airbrakes?

B9k: No. And unless we figure out how to slow down, we are going to overshoot by 10 km at least!

Jeb: Vent the RCS to slow us down.

B9k: Complying...

B9k: Out of RCS Jeb.

Jeb: KSC Tower, be advised- we are coming in hot.

KSCT: We have been getting that alot today...

Bob: We need to slow down and turn around if we want to be able to land at all!

B9k: On it.

KSCT: Be advised- you guys look REALLY cool up there.

Jeb: Thanks Tower....

B9k: Success! Completed turnaround!

Jeb: Perfect- burn at maximum- we need a soft landing.

B9k: Speed dropping to 1km/s.

B9k: Plasma shock dispersed. Coming down slow...

Jeb: This is boring.

B9k: Would you have preferred the deadly supersonic impact instead?

Bob: B9k, please ignore Jeb's last statement.

B9k: Done already.

Jeb: Altitude is ~ 500 meters. Extending landing gear...

B9k: And... Touchdown!

Bob: Yay!

B9k: Warning- springs in landing legs are failing- firing backup RCS!

Jeb: Balance! Balance!

Jeb: And we're tipping.

*THUNK*

Jeb: At least we are not dead!

*THUNK-THUNK*

Jeb: And we are now upside down. AGAIN. Great...

KSCT: DOn'e worry Jeb- retrieval Teams will be there to get you shortly.

Jeb: I can't wait to stretch my legs!

*****

10 minutes later

*****

Jeb: OH COME ON!!

*****

In orbit of about 180 km above Kerbin's surface

*****

B9Copy: Circularization Burn complete. Altitude- 181.2km even. Orbit is stable.

B9Copy: Retracting sails...

B9Copy: Mission Control- is there someone coming to retrieve me? The Casmir sails don't work in atmosphere.

MC: Jeb has a shuttle that should be able to collect you, and bring you down safely. We are prepping him for launch now.

B9Copy: Good. I will be waiting.

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

Sorry for the delay everyone- on top of internet troubles, KSP troubles, and school, I spent most of the day sick.

So...

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Next chapter should be this weekend- assuming nothing bad happens...

[Itsdavyjones]

Good chapter, and get well.

[cziken20]

Can you do a small mission table? I can't comprehend all tohse missions. Please.

[[ Jeremy ]]

Quite a chapter Mek, amusing as always! Get well soon!

[Mekan1k]

Good chapter, and get well.

Thanks!

Can you do a small mission table? I can't comprehend all tohse missions. Please.

Ok:

Mission- Sentar Investigation

Bill and crew sent to investigate monolithic, potentially hostile entity

Mission- Minnimus base

Harvesting superconducting material for gravioli engine construction

Mission- Jeb

Whatever

Mission- Array

Multiple small probes around planets and stations around kerbin, each with gravioli detectors (and other sensors) and gravioli-communication systems, to detect SWARM and other events in the local kerbin area.

Mission- Shuttle

Shuttles small components up, supplies, and when Helldiver releases the station parts for his shuttle, will begin construction of another station

I think that sums it up.

Quite a chapter Mek, amusing as always! Get well soon!

Thanks- I will try.

[[ Jeremy ]]

The GSS advances! after some more time, the sun probe has achieved Low Sun Orbit!

Javascript is disabled. View full album

From here, the probe can also detect gravioli fluctuations from across the system.

Next are the moons, that's going to take some time...

EDIT: Here are the craft files for the GSS modules!

Requires LLL, Bengsch Industries, Quantum Struts and MechJeb to function.

Sun Scanner Module: https://www.dropbox.com/s/c6weqdsbawgt6q1/GSS%20Sun%20Scanner%20Module.craft

Solar Power Module: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wvtovted0uxgs6x/GSS%20Solar%20Module.craft

Ion Propulsion Module: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rlv24tm0stm21yf/GSS%20StationKeeping%20Module.craft

Fusion Propulsion Module: https://www.dropbox.com/s/v4t1gb7n0kimihx/GSS%20Propulsion%20Module-Q.craft

Edited March 5, 2014 by [ Jeremy ]
Added Craft Files

[Mekan1k]

A sense of scale....

http://joshworth.com/dev/pixelspace/pixelspace_solarsystem.html

Squad did a great job on the system in KSP.

[cziken20]

A sense of scale....

http://joshworth.com/dev/pixelspace/pixelspace_solarsystem.html

Squad did a great job on the system in KSP.

I always knew that everything is so far away. But only after watching this i realised how hard is getting to other planets without maneuver nodes and predicted trajectories.

[Itsdavyjones]

A sense of scale....

http://joshworth.com/dev/pixelspace/pixelspace_solarsystem.html

Squad did a great job on the system in KSP.

Even though i know the distances are huge, this is ginormous. Makes you think how easy it is in KSP, where the distances are smaller, and we have tools to see it better.

[cziken20]

Even though i know the distances are huge, this is ginormous. Makes you think how easy it is in KSP, where the distances are smaller, and we have tools to see it better.

Actually - everything in ksp is a bit heavier, a bit smaller, a bit smller gravity soi's (Kerbin with 1 g gravity should have it much bigger)- everything is done so to make it almost as hard as in real life. *almost*

[Mekan1k]

Infodump- Nanotech

-Since the discovery of the Dark Foundry, Kerbal scientists have been able to gain practical experience with nanotechnology for assembly and construction on the atomic scale, enabling the creation of portable launchpads and fine-tunable reactors for interplanetary craft and bases.

The nanobots still require material, but since they are self-replicating and due to scale they require no fuel to be powered- they are powered off the background radiation present throughout the cosmos.

Rendered image from 3-d electron microscope scans and known materials list:

Many scientists have been "Creeped out" by the idea of using these tiny machines at all, but several, including renowned kerbalnaut Bob Kerman, have developed a form of cryonic suspension for trips to Jool and farther, utilizing the nanotech to prevent cellular destruction at temperatures 110 kelvin and below.

In other news, kerblanaut recruiting has experienced a momentary lul after prospective candidates have been told "If they want to go to Jool, they need to be prepared for millions of spiders crawling into their guts."

Edited March 8, 2014 by Mekan1k