Deceleration
robertbogdon
I've uploaded two "maps", one of the outer system and one of the inner
system. The outer system has a white dot and an arrow (sorry for the
low quality) to indicate the current location of the Bellerophon
approximately 9 AU from Ceti Alpha. The inner system has a grid to
better judge distances, each block on the grid is approximately 1/3 AU
wide. The red lines are trails indicating where the planets have
been, the shorter the line the slower the planet is moving. These are
the best I can do at the moment. If you have any questions, just let
me know.
I also wanted to start a new thread since the title of the old one
didn't really match what was going on anymore.
Xander Szabo
JC Demers
IC: Emma Pope
Location: Control Center
Emma transmitted directly to Jorgensen. She understood the advantages of text message, but preferred to speak directly. Hearing someone’s voice always made things more concrete.
“Jorgensen…” she started, thinking quickly if she had any additional orders for him “Just do you best and fix this lady. We’ve got an entire specie to safeguard.”
Emma started to chew on her lower lip, only then becoming aware of how thirsty she actually felt. After all, she hadn’t had a drink of water for the past 15 years. Her eyes became two slits as she watched the main view screen. Deciding which planet to head for wasn’t her call, at least not technically. She had been barely briefed on the Ceti system. She had standing mission orders, but nothing that included this sort of situation. Her mission was to protect what little was left of the human race. The Bellerophon specs started to roll around in her head as she bit more on her lower lip.
She took a sharp breath in.
“Fido.” she stated blankly. Fuck it, drive on.
Emma turned to Carter.
“Keep us steady towards Alpha Ceti 2 and 3.”
She looked back towards the map of the system on the main view screen. Sure, at their current speed, they wouldn’t reach any of the planets soon. She had time to think, they all had time to think. But then again, Emma was just a grunt. Deep down, she had no real grasp of how space travel worked. Her training for Operation Diaspora had covered zero g movement and tactics… not planet ecology. She had to buy them a bit of time.
“Tell me Carter, just how fubar is the magsail? Can we fix it?”
Tom nodded and started punching away on the console, which froze up.
Tom mutters under his breath, "Strewth, bloody jumbuck fucker of computer..."
Emma felt like frowning, but she kept any emotions she had in check… not an easy task for her. She knew very little about Carter, but the fact he was the only engineer with a regular heartbeat, for the time, made him the only expert she had. Until further notice, she had to consider that the magsail was a total lost. Again, she took a deep breath in.
“Keep yourself together Carter. And that’s a fucking order.”
She turned to him, grabbing a hold of one of his shoulder with her strong hand. Even through her glove and his suit, the grip felt tight.
“Right now, you’re the most important person alive on this ship. I need you tip top fuckin’ shape, aye?” she said in a voice much softer than before.
Emma knew that the only fact she was a woman, and more than just a decent looking one, meant she could put people a bit more at ease.
“If you can’t fix the magsail, I need you to slow us down a bit. We need some time to get some intel. I don’t need you to put the breaks on, just tap it a few time ok?”
She let go of his shoulder, activating her smartphone and contacting Doctor Canada.
“Doctor, I’ve got a few requests for you. I need you to get me someone who knows about planets. Whomever ranks highest amongst our biologist and ecologist. I also need you to get me a flight crew, on the double. There’s a lot of empty consoles up here Doctor; fill them up.” she stated, matter of factly.
Emma was about to turn her attention back to Carter when she caught herself.
“Oh and Doctor… find me Captain Cheatham or Commander Masten.”
Finally, she turned her attention back to Carter.
“Now, about this ruptured fuel tank; how stable is it? We can’t afford the thing to come apart during deceleration and shower us with debris.”
JC Demers
IC: Emma Pope
Location: Control Room
As Carter punched away at keys on his console, Emma began to drift slowly towards the ceiling of the control room. She listened carefully to Canada’s report. Nine extra warm bodies. She breathed out a heavy sigh; a mix of both unease and relief. She would have nine extra people whom could be put to work. That was nine extra pairs of hands and eyes to get things moving. But it was also nine civilians. Nine new lives Emma was now responsible for. These were nine men and women she couldn’t anticipate. Nine civilians who might not take it gladly to receive orders from a somewhat rough and tumble Marine Staff Sergeant.
When Canada informed her that neither the Captain nor the Commander had survived, Emma felt something tightened itself in the back of her throat. Her mouth suddenly felt even drier than before.
Damn it! God damnit!
She only became aware of how loudly she had cursed when her words echoed in the almost empty Control Room. In a single moment, her unit had just lost not only its two highest ranking officers, but also their most experienced and capable leaders. They wouldn’t be last casualties, that, Emma knew. Nevertheless, it was a harder blow than she had expected. Her thoughts immediately went to the members of her squad, and for a moment, she almost gave into the urge of asking Canada about their status. They were soldiers. Their lives were expendable, for the greater good. She would have to wait. Pressing issues were at hand.
Emma took a deep breath, letting go of her lower lip she had been biting on.
“Good job Doctor. I’ll send Jorgensen your way when he’s available to check on Keri Ratliff’s pod. When the other wake up, do a quick check up on them. If any are too sick to perform their duties, assign them a cabin to rest. Have the others report directly to me. And get me Major Foss out of the freeze, asap.”
She took a small pause, weighing her options rapidly.
“Tell me Doctor, how many people would you need to assist you in case a medical emergency arose?”
Rev. Ryan A. Rush
Canada replied to Pope: “There’s no one answer to that. I’d say at a minimum another doctor and at least two nurses, but that’s assuming no major disasters happen. Then again, with a maximum sustainable capacity of 100, I understand if other personnel take priority depending on the mission profile. It’ll still be a few minutes before these nine here are awake enough for me to check them for space sickness. But that brings our total awake crew to 14, if I’m adding right.”
Hesitating, Canada added: “Sergeant, I know this is a very trying situation, but you have to make sure you manage your stress. We need you thinking clearly. When things calm down a little, I’m going to need to give you a physical. It’s no hurry, but in the meantime remember that you’ve been through something the human body was never meant to withstand. Don’t push any harder than you have to.”
JC Demers
Over the comms, Emma’s voice sounded somewhat snappish.
“Your concern is noted, Doctor.”
She held her piece for a few seconds, feeling somewhat insulted by the Doctor’s comment. Of course he would say so: she was a woman. Naturally, he wanted to protect and safe keep her. She had yet to meet him face to face, but when she did, she’d make sure he’d never ask her that question again.
“Get yourself an extra doctor and two nurses. We need to be ready in case something happens with those coming out of cryo.”
Emma pushed herself on the Control Room’s ceiling, slowly heading back down towards Carter.
“You are not allowed to lose anyone. Not one. Am I crystal clear Doctor?”
Rev. Ryan A. Rush
“More importantly, the Hippocratic Oath is clear, Sergeant. If it can be done, I’ll do it.”
From:
tdcg...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tdcg...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of JC
Demers
Sent: Friday, April 09, 2010 10:13 PM
To: tdcg...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Deceleration
Over the comms, Emma’s voice sounded somewhat snappish.
JC Demers
Orr, Michael J
From: tdcg...@googlegroups.com [tdcg...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of JC Demers [deme...@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, April 09, 2010 11:24 PM
Robert Bogdon
---
Robert Bogdon
Sr. Systems Engineer, DivX
http://www.blah.net
Orr, Michael J
From: tdcg...@googlegroups.com [tdcg...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Robert Bogdon [robert...@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 6:13 PM
Robert Bogdon
Yes, the translation program provides varied results, it would be a Computer Operation check to get it started on your phone since it's not a standard thing. The last I remember, Jorgensen was wearing a Vacc Suit which would generally provide protection from the cold, as long as he's still wearing it, and wearing the helmet, he should be able to get a good look at the problem with no ill effects.
[ic]
The pod has gone into failsafe mode and shut itself down due to lack of coolant. The person inside the pod appears to be panicking, the pod is remaining closed and locked due to the unhealthy conditions in the hibernation room.
Orr, Michael J
Robert Bogdon
Emergency override for the lock is likely to be easy to find and operate, even if the other functions of the pod are not. We'll call it a straight Computer Operations check.
Rev. Ryan A. Rush
Canada received Jorgensen’s call from across the deck and came running. The crewmembers he’d just revived had left for the bridge, but there was no rest for the weary.
[If Jorgensen succeeded?]
Keri Ratliff was lying prone on the cold floor in front of her pod. Canada opened his doctor’s bag and took out his analyzer. He administered some minor treatments to her, but overall, she was going to be okay. Canada gently awakened her saying, “Keri? Listen to me. I’m a doctor. You’ve been through a lot, but I’m afraid we’re in something of an emergency right now. I need you to report to Sgt. Emma Pope in the command center. She’ll make sure you’re debriefed. No, no … No time for questions, I’m afraid. You’re going to be fine. It’ll take a bit to get used to the gravity problems, but you’ll be okay.”
Canada then searched out the pods of Stevie Compton, physician assistant; Lou Donovan, nurse; Wilma Cook, surgical nurse; and Kenneth Fields, biomedical equipment specialist. The pods, though troublesome due to the extremity of the circumstances, nonetheless all opened properly.
[If Jorgensen didn’t succeed?]
Canada freed the medical personnel and assigned Kenneth Fields to attend to Keri Ratliff’s malfunctioning pod.
Robert Bogdon
Jorgensen is unable to locate the correct commands for overriding the lock, however the person in the pod appears to be calming down (and not in the about to die sort of way). At this point Kenneth Fields shows up outside the room. With no protective clothing or other equipment, all he can do is stand in the hall and yell to Jorgensen the proper set of commands for overriding the lock.
[ooc]
Make another computer operations roll, but having a set of instructions will give you a +5 to your effective skill on this roll.
Orr, Michael J
Robert Bogdon
Rev. Ryan A. Rush
Canada replies: “Great work, Fields. Join me and the rest of the medical team on Habitat 5, Deck 2. We need to set up the surgery and first aid sickbays.” Canada then leads the rest of the medical team to Hab 5 Deck 2, First Aid Sickbay, to await the arrival of Fields.
Robert Bogdon
Orr, Michael J
JC Demers
IC: Emma Pope
Location: Control Center
All Emma could think of, hearing the crew’s chatter was: great, more civilians. But they were her doing. She had ordered them brought around, and for a good reason. No matter how fussy or fragile they may be, she needed them. She needed a crew.
Emma came flying over the rows of console, heading for the planning table. The ease with which she moved through zero gravity spoke loudly of a mix of training and natural grace.
“That would be me, Miss.”
When she came to the table, she grabbed the edges and pulled herself down, the tip of her toes barely touching the floor.
“And who might you be?” said Riggs, frowning a bit.
Emma’s eyes were riveted on the table. When she spoke she didn’t lift them up. Her forehead was slightly creased as she absorbed new information.
“Staff Sergeant Pope, USMC.” she stated in her usual matter of fact tone, giving the assembled skeleton crew a nod.
Her eyes peered up at the men and women assembled around her. Even though they could probably glean all the information they needed from the planning table, Emma nonetheless gave them a rapid debriefing on the situation. Current status of the ship, the damage they had suffered, their current position, the issue of Gary Larson, etc…
She straightened herself up as best as she could, speaking in a confident tone that left very little room for discussion.
“Now, some of you might not take kindly to being ordered around. Frankly, I don’t give a damn right now. If you’re not happy with things, you’re welcome to go back to the freeze, aye?”
Emma, now convinced she had everyone’s attention, and that she had clearly established who was calling the shots, continued.
“Carter; I want you to jettison the broken tank. Now. We can’t afford to have additional debris hit the hull, or the other tanks.”
“Riggs; I need to know if the magsail is a total lost, and how much of a hazard it can become. If we can salvage it, how risky would it be, and what would you need?”
“Ferguson; once we’ve jettisons the broken tank, and if the magsail doesn’t prove to be a hazard, I need you to slow us down a bit. Keep a general heading towards Ceti Alpha 2 and 3. Check the fuel levels, and give me a rough estimate of our manoeuvring capabilities.
“Taylor; I need you to run a full diagnostic on all our comm gear. We’ve suffered some damage… I want to know what work and what doesn’t.”
“Holt; start drawing us approach courses for Ceti Alpha 2, 3 and 4.”
“Rojas; I need you to get us detailed scans of all three habitable planets.”
“Ratliff and Sharon; I need the two of your to analyze the data we’ve collected from our previous scans of the Alpha Ceti system, as well as any data Rojas will have. I need to know which of the three planets would be best suited for colonisation.”
Emma was about to turn her attention away from the two scientist when she stopped.
“And I need those reports yesterday. Clear?”
She continued.
“McCarty and Hanson; I need you two to start prepping the living quarters. Once you’re done with that, feel free to prep the kitchen and mess hall. We’ve all got jobs to do, but I bet someone will get hungry at some point.” She added, without a single hint of playfulness in her voice.
Grabbing the smartphone attached to her tactival vest, Emma contacted Jorgensen.
“Good job Jorgensen. Start prepping one of the Kobold Work Bug for a space sortie. I’m sending Cohen to give you a hand. Get in touch with him.”
Finally, Emma contacted Dr. Canada.
“Doctor, I need a status report. Have you located Major Foss?”
Robert Bogdon
Ferguson: "Hold on, I'm going to override the autopilot and cut off the engines until we're in a better state." Ferguson deactivates the automatic pilot and it's pre-programmed course. The engines cut out, and the ship returns to a zero-g environment.
Taylor: "Yes ma'am, I'll get started but it's going to take a few hours to certify everything."
The rest of the crew gets started on their assigned tasks without another word.
Robert Bogdon
I've uploaded a new copy of the collected data sheet for the Ceti Alpha system, but it's basically summarized in this post.
[ic]
Ratliff: "We've finished looking at the sensor data we have so far. I'm beginning to think that blast of coolant from the hibernation pod was a sign. All three of the worlds we're looking at could potentially have life on them. Liquid water is certainly a possibility. Our best bet is Ceti Alpha II, it's the warmest of the three, but even there it's going to be on the cool side. It doesn't appear to be holding on to a lot of heat. I believe it likely has extensive ice caps and/or a thin atmosphere. Ceti Alpha III may have liquid water on the surface near the equator, possibly seasonally. Ceti Alpha IV might have liquid water underground, but none of us will ever set foot on the surface without protective gear. I would suggest focusing out efforts on Ceti Alpha II unless additional information points us elsewhere."
JC Demers
IC: Emma Pope
Location: Control Center
Emma did her best to hide her surprise when everyone took in their assignments, and got to work. She had expected at least some mumbling, if not some actual talk back. But everyone had kept their mouth shut. Maybe they weren’t so bad. At least, not yet.
Riggs was the first one to report back.
"If we jettison the tank while the magsail is still deployed, we could tear the entire sail and part of the engine room off of the ship. I can deploy the robotic crawlers to find and repair the breaks in the sail, but they're going to take at least a couple of days if there's only one break. We could try retracting the sail, but without knowing literally what shape it's in, we could make things worse."
Immediately, Emma shouted across the Control Center.
“Carter, put your orders on hold.”
She turned her attention back to Riggs. Emma started to chew on her lower lip, cogs turning in her head. The broken fuel tank could damage the ship at any time, but to jettison it would put the magsail in danger of complete tearing. Retracting it posed the same problem.
“What if we put the ship in a central axis spin, and jettison the tank then?”
This time around, it was Bonnie Ferguson who answered.
“Theoretically, the tank would follow the ship’s momentum and drift away from the ship but…” she paused a moment “… but we would run the risk of tangling the magsail at the same time.”
“What if we simply cut it loose” added Emma
“Given it’s location, it would drift away from us.” replied Riggs.
Emma started to tap her knuckles on the planning table, drumming a constant rhythm as she thought.
“Riggs; how crucial is the magsail?”
“Well, without it, the ship has limited manoeuvrability options. As long as we have power, the magsail can essentially operate with no fuel. The fusion rockets have limited delta-v, and no immediate options to replenish them. With the magsail and the fusion rocket, we've got the propulsion needed to turn the ship around and go home if necessary, but just barely.”
Emma lifted her head from the planning table.
“Carter; what sort of damage could we anticipate if the tank detached itself?”
“Assuming the ship is decelerating tail first into the system, it could damage up to three of the fuel tanks, mam’. It's unlikely, but it may cause damage to the spine of the ship or the engine room depending on whether or not it picks up some rotation when it detaches. It could also miss everything.”
Nothing the crew said was making Emma’s decision any easier. Right now, the ship was in constant danger from the damaged fuel tank. Odds were, it could come loose at any time and cripple the ship. Getting rid of it also meant getting rid of the magsail… which meant dooming the ship to rely on its already dwindling fuel reserve. If anything went wrong with the rockets, they’d find themselves dead in the water. Emma felt like cursing. She felt like banging her fist on the planning table. She felt like just telling anyone else to make the call. But she couldn’t. The burden of command was hers. Lives depended on her, and her alone.
“Carter; I want you to coordinate repairs on the tank with Jorgensen via smartphone. Get yourself in protective gear and see if you can do something with the leak in hibernation on deck 4. Once you’re done with that, I need you to check what’s wrong with the spin gravity system.”
“Riggs; deploy the crawlers now.”
Emma activated her smartphone, contacting Jorgensen again. Even thought it had been only a few minutes since she had talked to him, her impatience showed clearly through her tone of voice.
“Jorgensen; get that damn work bug out into space before I get there myself and push it off!”
Following Ratliff’s report, Emma simply nodded once, without a thank, and turn to Holt.
“Navigator Holt, get us a course for Ceti Alpha 2. Coordinate with Fergusson when you’re done, and get me an ETA.”
By the looks of things, Ceti Alpha 2 was set to become their new home. Their new Earth. Emma exhaled sharply, feeling some of the weight coming off her shoulders. Sure; some of the decisions she had taken might not be the best, or even correct ones. But she had set herself a course of action, and followed with it. Now, as far as she was concerned, things were out of her hands.
Orr, Michael J
IC: Emma Pope
Location: Control Center
<snip>
Robert Bogdon
Riggs heads to the elevator and leaves the control room, headed to the Engine Room.
Rojas: "I'd like to launch a sensor probe towards Ceti Alpha II. We'll start getting detailed information from Ceti Alpha II in about two months if we launch a probe now. We'll also get a pass by Ceti Alpha IV before the probe starts passing back into the outer system."
JC Demers
[ooc]Does this come in after the Kobold is unloaded, or while the unloading is still in process?
[OOC: It would probably come in while they are unloading it ;-) ]
Robert Bogdon
Let's assume it's just as you're finishing.
JC Demers
JC Demers
IC: Emma Pope
Location: Control Center
Holt: "We're lined up almost perfectly for Ceti Alpha II. If we coast in the rest of the way and don't decelerate until we're almost there, we can be in orbit in just under 125 days. III and IV are both going to be on the far side of Ceti Alpha when we arrive in the inner system unless we burn some delta-v and get there sooner, or draw things out and get there later."
“Perfect” said Emma “Steady as she goes.”
Rojas: "I'd like to launch a sensor probe towards Ceti Alpha II. We'll start getting detailed information from Ceti Alpha II in about two months if we launch a probe now. We'll also get a pass by Ceti Alpha IV before the probe starts passing back into the outer system."
“Agreed. Do what you need to.”
Robert Bogdon
A small airlock opens in Hangar Bay 3 and a sensor drone accelerates away from the ship, it's small chemical rocket engine giving it a 5G kick in the pants. For almost eleven minutes the rocket engine of the probe can be seen on the main display as the sensors follow it away from the ship. When the probe reaches 20 miles per second relative to the Bellerophon, it's engine cuts out and it continues unpowered for the rest of it's journey.
Ryan Rush
Sent from my iPhone
Robert Bogdon
Rev. Ryan A. Rush
Dr. Canada and the medical team set up the first aid sickbay on Hab 6 Deck 2 and get it ready to roll. They move next door to the surgery sickbay to set it up.
From:
tdcg...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tdcg...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of JC
Demers
Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2010 12:38 PM
To: tdcg...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Deceleration
IC: Emma Pope
Rev. Ryan A. Rush
Having ascertained from the computer that Major Foss is in room 6-605, Pod 3, Canada leaves the rest of the medical team to set up the surgery sickbay and heads to 6-605.
Once he arrives at 6-605 and locates Foss in Pod 3, Canada opens Foss’ pod with ease. As Foss begins to come around, Canada says: “Major Foss – welcome back. Take it easy now – are you experiencing any kind of space sickness?
From: tdcg...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:tdcg...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Robert Bogdon
Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2010 10:22 PM
To: tdcg...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Deceleration
Major Foss is in room 6-605, Pod 3.
Robert Bogdon
Major Foss looks around to get his bearings. "No... thanks doc I'm fine. Where is Dr. Oneil?"
[ooc]
Dr. Oneil (I'll fill in the details later) was the ships' Chief Medical Officer.
Rev. Ryan A. Rush
[ic]
Canada looked away from Foss’ eyes, then back. “I’m afraid Dr. Oneil didn’t make the trip successfully. Neither did the captain or the first officer, I’m afraid. I’m the Deputy Chief Medical Officer. For now, we’ve got Staff Sergeant Emma Pope in charge – she was the one who sent me after you. In fact, I need to contact her.”
He calls Pope. “Sgt. Pope, this is Dr. Canada. Major Foss has been successfully revived. Shall I send him to you?”
JC Demers
"Yes Doctor. How is sickbay coming along?"
Robert Bogdon
Rev. Ryan A. Rush
“The Habitat 6 sickbays should be in order by now. I’m about to take the team to Habitat 5 to set those up. Major Foss is on his way. He seems hella pissed. So you know.”
Canada contacts Compton, Donovan, Cook, and Fields. “If the Habitat 6 sickbays are all set up, meet me on Habitat 5 Deck 2 first aid sickbay.” He then heads to 5-2 to meet the team.
From:
tdcg...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tdcg...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of JC
Demers
Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2010 11:59 PM
To: tdcg...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Deceleration
Back in the Control Center, Emma almost sighed in relief as
she heard Doctor Canada's voice in her ear. She almost sighed, but not quite...
catching herself back at the last second. Showing relief would have shown
weakness. It would have made those around her doubt her command capabilities.
The young woman just couldn't help it but be glad she wasn't the only soldier
awake now.
Robert Bogdon
Rev. Ryan A. Rush
“OK, only one more to check: surgery next door. Let’s get to it.”
Robert Bogdon
Rev. Ryan A. Rush
“Major Foss, this is Doctor Canada. I’ve got all 4 medical personnel standing by in Habitat 5, Deck 2 sickbay. Without further personnel, there’s nothing more for us to do than to stand by.”
Canada said to his personnel: “Alright, we’re understaffed but for the moment we’re it. Sgt. Pope is doing some EVA right now, so let’s optimize the bays for treating vacuum decompression, burns, and radiation.”