The Ultimate Jool-5 Challenge- Flight of the Taurus

[Mr.Rocket]

This is a story for my favorite challenge, posted by Ziv, the Jool-5 challenge (check it out): http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/57197-The-ultimate-Jool-5-challenge-land-Kerbals-on-all-moons-and-return-in-one-big-misson

I have done much of the mission already, so these chapters should be coming in pretty quickly, but no guarantees

I'd be happy to hear your comments

Mods used: Kerbal engineer redux, Void, Kerbal Alarm Clock, Haystack, AIES Aerospace, RLA Stockalike, KAS, EVA light orb, Kerbpaint and i think that's it

*racks brain trying to remember*

Crew:

Jeb- the commander of the crew, smart, fearless

Bill- Jebs friend since the old days, somewhat cocky, scared of the dark

Bob- Jeb and Bills loyal teammate since along time ago, very smart, shy, cousin of Hans and Tom

Hans- cousin of Bob, brother of Tom, quiet, secretly good at flying, scared of the Kraken

Tom- cousin of Bob, brother of Hans, obnoxiously loud, talkative, somewhat on the dim side got a 61% in flight school on the final

Kelhat: Head of Mission Control, has been there since before Jeb started flying

Neilburry: Head builder (no, he doesn't build heads, he's in charge)

Chapter 1: the idea

Location: mission control

Governer Sonman: Yes, hello Jebidiah Kerman. Can I have a second?

Jeb: Yes, governer?

Governer: Well, have you seen Kerbin lately? It’s a busy place, we have a lot of need to stay here. The cities, they need money. The schools, they need money. Everybody needs money. But money isn’t unlimited, is it?

Jeb: No, no sir

Governer: You see, the interest isn’t in space anymore, people are more content, well, right where they are.

Jeb: what do you mean?

Governer: ……..

Governer: I’m afraid I have to cut funding on your space program.

Jeb: WAIT, WHAT? You can’t do this. I’ve invested so much time, and money, and work……

Governer: I know, but I can’t do anything about it.

Jeb: Yes you can.

Governer: Well, I can’t think of anything that would make people invest in your space program….

Jeb: I CAN!

Governer: Alright then, give it a go..

Jeb: We need one money for one mission. It has to be an inspiring one, a dangerous one, a successful one.

Governer: Well, what do you suggest?

Jeb: …….

Governer: ….

Jeb: Hmm, got to get back to you on that one, I had an idea and lost it.

Governer: Hate it when that happens.

Jeb: Yeah, I’ll talk with the rest of the space program, maybe they have ideas.

Governer: I’ll be waiting…….. in a non creepy way of course.

Location: VAB

Jeb: Team, I have to talk to you about something.

Neilburry: Like what?

Jeb: Well, the Kerbin government has decided to cut our funding.

*various gasps amongst the crowd*

Jeb: Yes, I know exactly how you guys feel. But…

Bill: But, but what?

Jeb: Governer Sonman offered some help. He said he would fund us for one more mission. If we could convince the public, with this mission, that our space program was worth funding, maybe we could get funding once again. It will have to be an inspiring, dangerous mission, worthy of being funded. Any ideas?

Bob: Land tourists on the Mun?

Tom: Land tourists on Minmus

Bob: That’s what I just said.

Tom: You said Mun, I said Minmus.

Bob: *sigh*

Bill: How about we do an Eve landing and ascent?

Neilburry: Go to both Eeloo and Moho in one mission?

Hans: How about a grand tour….. of all of Jool's moons?

Jeb: Bingo, that’s a good one.

Bill: Personally, I think Eve ascent would be a good idea, but what EVEr.

Jeb: But, this will take lots of time, and work and effort, and money too. Are we up to the challenge. All in favor say YAY!

*Most of the random Kerbals walking around* “YAYâ€Â

Jeb: Well then, we have a mission. Get to work.

Location: Mission Control

Governer Sonman: Any luck?

Jeb: Yes…. A grand tour of all of Jools moons.

Governer: Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Jeb: …………

Governer: Sounds good. Good luck. I’ll fund this mission, and any refueling you need.

Jeb: Thank you so much! You’re my favori-

Governer: - But who will be brave enough, for a mission like this?

Jeb: Well, Jool has five moons, so we’ll need five kerbals. I’m one.

Bill: I’m going too.

Jeb: Where did you come from?

Bill: ….

Jeb: I made sure to lock the main door, the other main door, the side door, the back door, and even the ventilation pipes.

Bill: *whispers* You forgot to lock the window.

Jeb: *facepalms* Oh well, yeah, sure you can go.

Bob: That means I can go too?

Jeb: Wait, what?

*Jeb stands up and walks to the hallway, to see Hans giving Tom a boost through the window*

*Jeb walks back into the room, and sits down*

Jeb: It seems as if I have my team.

Governer: *chuckles* Well then, get working.

To Be Continued............

(spoiler alert!)

Edited February 8, 2014 by Mr.Rocket

[Mr.Rocket]

And now, what you've all been waiting for, CHAPTER 2! (insert cricket sounds here) With and added bonus, CHAPTER 3!

Chapter 2: The Ship

Location: Vehicle Assembly Building

Jeb: Anything done yet Neil?

Neilburry: Well, we did some telescoping watching, and decided that the Tylo lander will need to be massive.

Jeb: Yeah, I know, I’ve been doing some research too. Any prototypes?

Neilburry: Yes, we’ve come up with this:

Jeb: Hmmm. I don’t believe that will work. It needs moar boosters

Neilburry: But it has nearly a solid 5000m/s of delta-v?

Jeb: From what I’ve found, Tylo landing and returning to a low orbit can take anywhere from 6 to 7 km/s of delta-v.

Neilburry: Ok boss, will do.

1 day later

Neilburry: Howabout this?

Jeb: Looks good. We need a name for it now, something with a good ring, something different, something specia-

Neilburry: -howabout “Tylo Landerâ€Â

Jeb: Exactly. I love it.

Neilburry: Oh, I wasn’t being serious, but if you say so.

Jeb: Now that’s done. Now I had a thought. We obviously need a separate lander for Laythe, but what about the other moons. My idea is that since the Tylo lander weighs a lot, we do Tylo first. Then we have one lander for Vall, Bop, and Pol, which will refuel at the mothership after each moon, and we leave the mothership in Tylo orbit.

Neilburry: On it.

5 slightly longer than usual days later

Neilburry: Got a Laythe lander done, along with the smaller moon lander. Also, I built a separate module for return, just in case something happens to the main engines. The main engines are also built…. Sir.

Jeb: Good, good And I like that “sirâ€Â. Keep it up. But how will you get that thing to orbit?

Neilburry: Boosters

Jeb: Good thinking

(writers note: sorry for a such serious chapter, I couldn’t think of anything funny. And thank you to fellow forum members for your actual input on my vehicles )

Chapter 3: And so it begins

Location: Launch Pad

*Mission control, do you hear me?*

Jeb: Yes, why?

Kelhat: Because we’re launching the main engine segment in 5 hours.

Jeb: Wait what, a Jool window doesn’t open up for another *checks notepad* 47ish days

Kelhat: But the public needs something to entertain them while we wait.

Jeb: Oh, right. Forgot this was for popularity and not for discovery.

Kelhat: You seem down Jeb, anything wrong?

Jeb: It’s just, I haven’t flown in a while, I hope I don’t make any mistakes.

Kelhat: I’m sure you’ll be fine as soon as you jump in that cockpit. Plus, that’s why we’re launching you so early, you’ll be able to get used to the gravity.

4 hours, 47 minutes, and 36 seconds later…

Jeb: When is lunch?

Kelhat: Lunch, that was 5 hours ago?

Jeb: I mean launch, wow, I must be hungry.

Kelhat: Ha. Now get to mission control, this rocket is so big, it’ll knock your socks off.

Jeb: I’m pretty sure someone tested that and found out it isn’t possible, but I get the point.

Kelhat: Yeah, but launch is now in 10 minutes, you better hurr-

*loud announcing machines* : THE FIRST LAUNCH FOR THE JOOL-5 MISSION WILL COMMENCE IN 10 MINUTES, CLEAR THE LAUNCHPAD!

Jeb: Let’s go

10 minutes later

10……9……….8…………..6………….5……..4……..3………..2…………..1…… LIFTOFF!

Jeb: I swear this program is so underfunded that they forgot 7.

Kelhat: Yeah, I know, hopefully we can change that.

Jeb: That rocket is really a beauty.

*knock on the door*

Jeb: come in!

*Bill, Bob, Hans, and Tom hobble through the door*

Tom: SOOOOO COOOOOL! DID YOU SEE THAT?!

Jeb: Yeah, I was watching the whole thing.

Hans: It was like 3…2…1.. and then whooooshhhhhhh, popopwopowpowpwopwop, fwooooshhhhh bashhofhgheodhfk, AND WE HAVE

LIFTOFFFFFF!!!!!!!

Jeb: Surprised you didn’t hurt your ears. Where were you?

Bob: They snuck on top of the VAB

Bill: I’ll proudly admit that was my idea.

Jeb: Oh bother, how long am I going to be stuck with these, *looks at Hans, Bob, Bill, and Tom* eggheaded green guys?

Kelhat: * laughs* Probably somewhere between 4 and 10 years.

Jeb: While that’s a h*** of a range

Kelhat: Yep, it depends if you’ll need refueling or not………. And how good they do *gestures to the others*

Announcer: The main engines have reached 10 kilometers, preparing for gravity turn!

Bob: Seems like Neil’s crazy plan worked.

Jeb: Crazy plan?

Bob: Yeah, instead of putting the payload on top of the lifter, he built the lifter around the payload.

Jeb: So that’s where all of our money went.

Kelhat: We’re trying to get a higher orbit, so when it comes time to do the burns, they are more accurate.

Jeb: Ahh, wait, why did no-one go up with it?

Bill: It’s unmanned, Hans and Tom go up with the next launch tomorrow.

Jeb: They’re together? This should be interesting.

One Day lateeeeeeeeeer

Location: Main habitation/ return section on launchpad

Tom: Hey, look Hans, I can see KSC from here.

Hans: I don’t really know how to respond to that.

Tom: Well you just did, so don’t worry about it.

Tom: Uh oh

Hans: What?

Tom: Did you hear that bang?

Hans: Um, no, that’s probably not a good thing.

Tom: Just kidding. Oooh, lets press this red button

*presses the big red irresistible button*

Hans: Good thing they put that there to entertain you.

Tom: Put what where?

Hans: Nevermind.

Announcer: Launch commencing in 5 minutes, clear the area.

Tom: We should really leave now.

Hans: How, just how, did you pass the test?

Tom: I cheated off you.

Hans: *sigh* Well let’s hope you know what you’re doing

10…….9…….8…….6……5……4……3…….2………………………………….

Hans: The suspense is killing me

……..1 !!!! Lift off

*The force of the rocket pushed Hans and Tom deeper into their seats *

Tom:THIS IS BETTER THAN A ROLLER COASTER!!!!!!

Hans: YOU’VE NEVER BEEN ON A ROLLER COASTER!!!!!!!

Tom:WELL, NO, BUT IF I DID THIS WOULD SURELY BE BETTER THAN ONE!!!!! *looking smug*

Hans: Approaching 10 kilometers

Tom: How many more to go, like, to space?

Hans: 59 more, actually now 58……57

Tom: Stop counting, it makes me anxious

Hans: Sorry

5 and a half somewhat quiet and stress full minutes later

Tom: Are we there yet?

Hans: Annnnnnnnnd, now we’re in space, welcome

Tom: I remember one thing from flight school *reaches over and grabs microphone*

STARTING CIRCULARIZATION BURN!

Kelhat: I think I just fractured my eardrum

Tom: SORRY!

Hans: Tom, just quiet down for a few mintutes

Tom: …….

Hans: Good, just like that

1 minute of burning later

Hans: And orbit, a nice one too, good to dock with the engines

Tom: Wait, we have to dock?

Hans: Yes, do you remember how?

Tom: No

Hans: I got this then

…....................

Hans: Approaching, getting closer

Tom: You know what would be really bad right now?

Hans: What?

Tom: If your hand fell asleep

Hans: ……

Hans: Annnnnnnnnd, docked

Tom: Now what?

Hans: We voted, you have to go out and strut the ships together

Tom: Who is we?

Hans: We is me, now go get your suit on, and don’t forget your helmet

Tom: Whoooaaaa! Im flying!

Hans: Just do your job

…………………….

Hans: So how was it?

Tom: Great, what’s next?

Jeb: *on radio* I’ll be coming up in the Tylo lander

Hans: We’ll be here, you know that.

( if you find any spelling errors please inform me )

To BE Continued......