Groombridge [1/10]

[J.D. Frazer]

Taken from MIND LINK! on Tue Mar 8 08:01:53 1994

Mon Mar 7 23:25:37 1994
Letter : 1415249 From: Nick Janow [684]
Subject : GROOM1.TXT

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Groombridge Survey Mission RCESC SURV#10800F/E
Mission Report

04/06/2150

Location: Colony One (Royal Colonial Exploration and Survey Commission HQ)

0900 - RCESC officers are called from their normal routines to attend a
meeting. Mission Specialist Nordin Felsche presents the findings of First
Survey Mission #10800F of the system Groombridge 1618.

The star was a G3; no obvious anomalies. Planet I was a rocky inner
planet.
Planet II was still accreting. Planet three had an oxygen-nitrogen
atmosphere...and life. The survey ship went into orbit around Planet III
and
began the initial survey. The planet was a mess of anomalies.

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ENCLOSED GEOSCAN DATA, FIRST SURVEY MISSION #10800F
SUBJECT: GROOMBRIDGE 1618, PLANET III

RCESC Geophysical/Geochemical Scan
Scanning Vessel: RSS Hofstadt
Sensor Personnel: Spec/2 Tannenbaum, Len T.
Analysis Personnel: Spec/1 Sorbonne, Genevieve R.

PLANET III:

Mass: 0.925 Earth masses
Density: 5.424 gm/cc
G: 9.46 m/s^2
Escape velocity: 10.87 km/sec
Equatorial radius: 6243.8 km
Rotation: 6.51 hrs mean (near the limit of coming apart)
Axial tilt: 48 degrees
Distance from Groombridge 1618: 0.722 AU
Eccentricity of orbit: 0.050
Length of year: 212.72 days

Atmosphere
N2: 31.05%
O2: 46.65%
O3: 6.82%
CO2: 9.15%
H2SO4: 7.08%
Molecular weight retained: 6.72 and above

Surface pressure: 6.047 atm
Boiling point of water: 197.2 degrees Celsius (470.2 K)
Hydrosphere %: Undeterminable at this time
Cloud cover percentage: 67.33
Wind Velocity: up to 410 kmh (possibly higher)
Mean planetary albedo: 0.496 (extremes range from 0.221 to 1.00!)
Temperature: 140K to 425K (396K avg) with rapid fluctuations.
Beginning stages of a greenhouse effect noted.

The surface consists of large, distinct sections of the following
environments:
Hot/Arid
Boreal
Boreal Alpine
Jungle/Biological Soup
Veldt/Savannah
Tundra
Ice

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The survey team could not come up with an explanation for the distinct
sectioning of environments. They couldn't explain the winds and weather
patterns. They couldn't explain the high oxygen and ozone content of the
atmosphere. They couldn't explain the readings of elemental (reactive)
metals
on the surface in that corrosive atmosphere. Nothing could be explained by
normal theories. When the supply ship came, the survey ship returned to
base
with it to call for a full exploration mission.

A meeting was called to set up that mission. The most experienced
personnel
available at the time were called together.

Chief Specialist (First Survey) Gregori Naboatov was given the captaincy of
the
Survey vessel.

Mission Specialist (First Survey) Nordin Felsche, the commander of the
initial
survey, was made the ship's XO. Total ship's crew: 10.

Mission Specialist (Planetary Analysis) Dr. Katrina Lund (Zoology, Biology)
was
assigned as the mission co-ordinator and director of the science team. Dr.
MacIntaggart (Geology, Chemistry), Dr. Tache (Astrophysics, Geophysics) and
Dr.
DeWitt (Biochemistry, Genetics) were the directors for their sections.
Total
science team personnel: 17.

Commander Robert Rasczak was the Hazards Platoon Leader. Subaltern Tiq
Parana
was the platoon XO. Subaltern Albert Lloyd was placed in command of the
platoon transport detachment. Total Hazards personnel: 35.

Captain Jean Burton (Royal Army Engineers) is in charge of the support
detachment (defense, construction, logistics, communications, medical).
Total
Army support personnel: 6.

Following the meeting, the teams started preparing for the mission.
Equipment
lists were drawn up; equipment had to be tested for the highly corrosive
atmosphere and suspected rapid temperature changes. The science teams
tried to
predict possible conditions and equipment requirements based on the (scant)
available information. The requesting, demanding, pleading, bribing, etc
of
supplies and equipment from base supply officers went as usual. We
received
some of the equipment we wanted, though not everything and not enough (it's
never enough). By the third day, we were ready to depart.

There was some concern about possible interest in the system by the Asian
Coalition. To make matters worse, Captain Naboatov detected what appeared
to
be illegal surveillance aboard the ship while he was doing his inspection.
A
squad of Hazards was sent to secure the vessel, but found no trace of spies
or
saboteurs. The Royal Navy assigned a task force (led by the carrier RSS
_Victorious_) to escort us into the Groombridge 1618 system.

Captain Burton, a mild Burn (think Crack 2150) addict, disrupted a staff
meeting (an army Captain pulling out a pistol and trying to shoot imaginary
purple bugs on a wall is considered somewhat...unexpected). Dr. Lourenco
(Army
M.D.) took Burton away and planned a detox program for him, to start once
the
mission was underway. Dr. Lourenco reported that it was merely a reaction
to a
treatment Captain Burton was undergoing and that it would not affect his
performance.

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PERSONAL LOG, Captain Jean Lawrence Burton, Royal Army Combat Engineers
07/06/2150:1100 Hours

My misgivings about this mission are clear; I have already informed Dr.
Lund
that my intuition is telling me we shouldn't go anywhere near Groombridge
1618.

The dramatic display I put on in the boardroom three days ago seems all but
forgotten. Dr. Lourenco was kind enough to give me a non-addictive
substitute
for that infernal drug. If I ever see that corporal who sold me the first
batch again, I'll have him thrown in the stockade.

It's possible that this bad feeling I'm getting is a side effect of taking
burn
for a few weeks. I'll be glad when I break the habit completely.

Dr. Lourenco has promised me he would not report my indiscretion to the
battalion commander. Something about a "promising career".

Then again, I'm his designated CO for this mission. He may be a captain as
well, but he isn't a line officer. I'll have to look into this further.

END PERSONAL ENTRY

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07/06/2150

1200 - The members of the survey mission took the time to enjoy the last
real
meals, local entertainment, etc, that they'd see for the next year or so.
After
checking over the mission's supplies (freeze-dried turnips?), Captain
Naboatov
ordered a personal supply of food and drink.

1340 - During the loading of the ship, Subaltern Lloyd spotted two (Royal
Guardsmen?) in full powered armour (extremely unusual!). Their presence
was
denied by base officials and the maintenance crew that were in the bay at
the
time.

1700 - Dr. Lund made a nice gesture (everyone makes mistakes) and threw a
pre-flight party for all mission personnel. The Hazards and Army personnel
rapidly deployed themselves among the beer kegs. The science personnel
found
quieter places to hold heated discussions, while partaking of tea,
coffee...and
other substances. One scientist--after partaking in those other
substances--started digging out his old chemistry set, mumbling about
morphine,
acid and the "good old college days...". Subaltern Parana preferred the
mellowing effects of marijuana, and passed a few tokes around. All in all,
it
was a pretty relaxing party!

08/06/2150

1800 - The survey personnel, aboard the RSS _Augustus_ (a Republic class
Survey
vessel), left for the jump point, accompanied by the light cruiser RSS
_Achilles_, commanded by Commander Ayres. The _Achilles_ was to provide
protection from Asian Coalition ships or any other space-based threat (the
Augustus is slow and has no defensive capability) while in the Groombridge
system.

They are escorted to the jump point by the carrier RSS _Victorious_ (and
it's
flotilla of 7 escort vessels). They rendezvous with the Jumpship RSS
_Trinity_, the heavy cruisers RSS _Canterbury_ and RSS _Torrent_, and jump
outsystem.

{end of chapter one}

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Memorable comments:

Hazards trooper Doug Feenan, C Squad (after several beers): "So what's the
scoop sir, babysitting scientists or..._Bug Hunt_!"

Captain Burton (during a staff meeting): "Bug! Bug!" <staring wild-eyed
and
pointing at a blank wall>

Captain Naboatov (on being handed a pile of paperwork): "Felsche! Here,
take
care of this."

--
J.D. Frazer j...@parasun.com