Spoiler:
Two possibilities exist:
Either we are alone in the universe
or we are not.
Both are equally terrifying.
-Arthur C. Clarke
Day One
Today was our launch day. Sitting atop over 50 tons of rocket fuel, I began to question the wisdom of the colony project. Waiting for the countdown, I flicked through the ops manual one last time, set the throttle, activated the guidance systems, and waited.
I must admit, when the rockets activate for the first time you forget all your little problems and worry about the big one of "Will if blend?". I swear the thing flew up, down sideways, and once backwards. Some Kerbonaut I am. Next thing I know, we're in orbit. Ronfey is laughing so hard he can't breathe, and a quick check confirmed Munnie was grinning madly too. Oh, well.
After some laughs and thrown flight plans, myself and Munnie went EVA to check our newly commissioned vessel. So far, so good. I radioed to KSC that we were go, and was sent our first set of orders- and some other details besides. The brand-new Kerbal Duna Explorer was to wait in orbit for 5 days, refuelling and taking crew, before departure.
Day Two
Our new crew flew up today aboard the Horizon II shuttle. Bill, Fredory, and Bob were to join us for the mission. However, they brought up something I've yet to explore, or even learn of it's existence. Bob cited "Ops Protocol, Page 2177" as their reasoning, but KSC is silent as to why they sent up a Raven-II Orbital Defense Interceptor. Do they know something I don't?
Day Three
Our last crew load came up today. Jedrie flew up the Horizon-II for it's last operational flight. Accompanied by a box full of science and a new recruit named Cambles, we set out to increase our altitude to 300*300.
After a successful burn and circularization, Cambles began the required orbital calculations. He said if we left on T+ 4d 10h 22m, we could catch a Minmus gravity assist and get to Duna with 2% more fuel. We set up for the burn and bid au revoir to the last refueling tanker, then made like a cat and napped.
Day Four
Success! With a Periapsis of 5km, we were to swing past Minmus and head for Dunan orbit. One slight hitch: Bob manuvered the ship via RCS to point along our line of flight, but reduced our periapsis to less than 1,000m. Cambles began mad calculations, but Jedrie saved us from becoming a crater. He pointed at the Sun and launched the Raven-II towards it. The launch automatically kicked in the fighter's engines, pushing us up to a 3km periapsis. Regardless, KSC was unamused and launched a carrier rocket to try and bring the Raven-III to us at Duna. I wonder why?
Either we are alone in the universe
or we are not.
Both are equally terrifying.
-Arthur C. Clarke
Day One
Today was our launch day. Sitting atop over 50 tons of rocket fuel, I began to question the wisdom of the colony project. Waiting for the countdown, I flicked through the ops manual one last time, set the throttle, activated the guidance systems, and waited.
I must admit, when the rockets activate for the first time you forget all your little problems and worry about the big one of "Will if blend?". I swear the thing flew up, down sideways, and once backwards. Some Kerbonaut I am. Next thing I know, we're in orbit. Ronfey is laughing so hard he can't breathe, and a quick check confirmed Munnie was grinning madly too. Oh, well.
After some laughs and thrown flight plans, myself and Munnie went EVA to check our newly commissioned vessel. So far, so good. I radioed to KSC that we were go, and was sent our first set of orders- and some other details besides. The brand-new Kerbal Duna Explorer was to wait in orbit for 5 days, refuelling and taking crew, before departure.
Day Two
Our new crew flew up today aboard the Horizon II shuttle. Bill, Fredory, and Bob were to join us for the mission. However, they brought up something I've yet to explore, or even learn of it's existence. Bob cited "Ops Protocol, Page 2177" as their reasoning, but KSC is silent as to why they sent up a Raven-II Orbital Defense Interceptor. Do they know something I don't?
Day Three
Our last crew load came up today. Jedrie flew up the Horizon-II for it's last operational flight. Accompanied by a box full of science and a new recruit named Cambles, we set out to increase our altitude to 300*300.
After a successful burn and circularization, Cambles began the required orbital calculations. He said if we left on T+ 4d 10h 22m, we could catch a Minmus gravity assist and get to Duna with 2% more fuel. We set up for the burn and bid au revoir to the last refueling tanker, then made like a cat and napped.
Day Four
Success! With a Periapsis of 5km, we were to swing past Minmus and head for Dunan orbit. One slight hitch: Bob manuvered the ship via RCS to point along our line of flight, but reduced our periapsis to less than 1,000m. Cambles began mad calculations, but Jedrie saved us from becoming a crater. He pointed at the Sun and launched the Raven-II towards it. The launch automatically kicked in the fighter's engines, pushing us up to a 3km periapsis. Regardless, KSC was unamused and launched a carrier rocket to try and bring the Raven-III to us at Duna. I wonder why?
[/spoiler]