>>27625217
We shall use up our budget and launch the mission at the end of the turn.

Turn 16 Budget:
1RP Build MiniVAC for mission
40RP Improve Hecate Lander 10/15
10RP Build Titan
9RP remaining

>>27625374
As for the 9RP remaining, we can bring up the Meteor-3 since we want to use it for refueling and docking test missions.

8RP Improve Meteor-3 14/16
1RP Improve Grenefeld Engineering +1

>>27625374
>>27625431
Confirm budget?

>>27625217
Sometime near the end of next turn? I presume that means we need to launch by the end of this turn, since next turn's budget won't be all that clearly divided into pre-storm and post-storm.
I support >>27625374
We can use the remaining 9 points to build parts we need for the docking practice mission and store them in the bunkers.
>>27625431
This works, I suppose, but the Meteor is at 14/15 already. I'd rather spend those 8RP building a Trailblazer for the docking mission.

>>27625452
Confirm both.

>>27625455
>I'd rather spend those 8RP building a Trailblazer for the docking mission.
The docking mission will need to be postponed until the end of Typhoon Season, or until the end of Turn 19 at the earliest (assuming that the approaching storm passes the island by the end of Turn 17 and we can rebuild at the beginning of Turn 18, and there's no storm expected for Turn 19.

>>27625455
Next turn the launch window will be different. The lander would be arriving during a new moon and landing at night.
Granted that won't effect the radar altimeters, but it's something to consider. And it would be cutting things close.

The bunkers are also not that big. You can store mass 1 parts, but not whole modules. Moving the Meteor would require either launching it, or arranging for the navy or air force to carry it out.

>>27625506
Yes, but we have a number of reinforced storage bunkers to put parts in, and unlike construction, we can do a certain amount of research away from the island.

>>27625525
>You can store mass 1 parts, but not whole modules
... Oh. Well, never mind, then. I guess we go with
>>27625374
>>27625431

>>27625374
>Turn 16 Budget:
>1RP Build MiniVAC for mission
>40RP Improve Hecate Lander 10/15
>10RP Build Titan
>8RP Improve Meteor-3 14/16
>1RP Improve Grenefeld Engineering +1

Confirming budget updating wiki.

All of the modules we're using have a Failure of 10, and a Boom of 13 to 15.

We're really pushing our luck.

>>27625598
Yes, but remember we can't improve any of these above 10/15 until they're tested. Also remember that we don't really have the time and budget to boost everything to 19/20.

>>27625627
The Titan and the Trailblazer are already tested, so they can be improved above 10/15.
We don't need to get everything to 19/20, but 15/17 would be a lot safer than what we have right now.

>>27625598
The time for hesitation has past. You could have invested more points earlier, but now a storm is threatening your launch date.

Hectate LM (10/15)
>MiniVAC (19/20)
>Television camera (19/20)
>RTG (19/20)
>Reserve Fuel
>Reserve Fuel
>Landing Fuel
>Landing Fuel
Titan Engine (10/15)
>Reserve Fuel
>Capture Fuel
>Capture Fuel
>Injection Fuel 2
>Injection Fuel 2
>Injection Fuel 1
>Injection Fuel 1
>Launch Fuel
>Launch Fuel
Seraph (10/13)

Launch now or push the date back one day. Keep in mind that you should save at least 8 points to move the Meteor.

>>27625663
Launch now. Even if the storm arrived at the end of next turn allowing us to still launch, the launch window will have closed for an optimum landing.

File: 1381169701444.jpg-(9 KB, 291x480, n1nite.jpg)

9 KB JPG

Rolled 3, 4 - 2 = 5

>>27625687
As the the rocket's preparations are finished, all nonessential personnel are evacuated. They'll need to be gone by the time the storms hit, and it's better in case something goes wrong. Apparently the explosive power of the Seraph is second only to a radio reactive device.

You begin counting down.

>>27626001
>the explosive power of the Seraph is second only to a radio reactive device.
>all the explosive power, none of the radiation
Could we weaponize the Seraph into an N2 Mine?

Rolled 7, 7 - 2 = 12

>>27626069
It also costs a lot more than a radio reactive device, and is just about impossible to deploy. it's only this explosive when standing on the launch pad, by the time it gets anywhere most of the fuel will have been spent. The only thing it can effectively destroy is your island.

At any rate the rocket lifts off the ground without issue. If it weren't for the rocket's roar outside, it would be deathly quiet in the blockhouse, just about everyone was holding there breath.

>>27626105
However during the ascent the rocket experiences heavy vibrations, causing a warning light to come on in the titan upper stage.

>Circularize roll 12, Fail. Fuel is spent but no burn occurs.
>Burn may be re-attempted immediately, 1 burn worth of reserve fuel remains.
>Alternately you have 1 luck point to re-roll.
>If you do nothing the spacecraft will crash harmlessly into the ocean.

>>27626150

Burn the reserve fuel. That's what it's there for.

>>27626150
Re-attempt the burn.
We'll save the reroll for later in the mission.

Rolled 6, 6 - 2 = 10

>>27626150
You re-attempt the insertion burn, hoping it works this time.

>>27626105
>>27626224

Double doubles. At least 10 is a success.

>>27626272
The spacecraft finishes it's burn and enters orbit.

You may transfer extra reserve fuel from the lander to the injection stage. There are two units of Reserve fuel remaining, enough for two re-attempted burns, or 1 re-attempted landing.

Transfer fuel Y/N

>>27626332

I'm not sure what the consequences might be, but sure, transfer it.

>>27626332
Can the Reserve Fuel be transferred back to the Lander if it's not used?

Rolled 10, 2 - 2 = 10

>>27626392
Yes.

The Lunar Injection Burn begins.

Rolled 8, 3 - 2 = 9

>>27626433
Part 2.

>>27626453
Hectate LM (10/15)
>MiniVAC (19/20)
>Television camera (19/20)
>RTG (19/20)
>Landing Fuel
>Landing Fuel
>Empty Space
>Empty Space
Titan Engine (10/15)
>Reserve Fuel
>Reserve Fuel
>Capture Fuel
>Capture Fuel
>Empty Space
>Empty Space
>Empty Space
>Empty Space
>Empty Space

Lunar injection burn complete. The probe is on it's way and will arrive next turn.

Now what will you do? Spend one more turn in Tannhauser or evacuate now? Stonefield will take up mission control for the remainder of the mission.

>>27626534
We shall stay for one more turn, to oversee the launching of the Meteor-3 and its return to Fort Adler, as well as completing more research, and evacuating ahead of the storm.

>>27626589

It is now turn 17, you have 60 RnD points to spend, you have one luck point. The storm hits this turn.

>>27626730

Hecate and Titan works! Time to burn RnD on them again.

27 for 13/15 Titan.
28 for 12/17 Hecate.

5 points left for...?

>>27626730
Turn 17 Budget:
12RP Cheribum Rocket for Meteor-3 Launch
1RP Build Color Camera
1RP Build RCS
40RP Improve Titan 12/17
1RP Improve Grenefeld Engineering +1
1RP Improve Palmer Engineering +1
4RP Improve Lunar Buggy 10/15

>>27626973
No, wait, if we don't load the Meteor-3 with a full payload we can launch it with a much smaller rocket.

Turn 17 Budget:
6RP Build Archangel Rocket for Meteor-3 Launch
1RP Build RCS
40RP Improve Titan 12/17
16RP Trailblazer 11/16
1RP Improve Grenefeld Engineering +1
1RP Improve Palmer Engineering +1
1RP Improve Lunar Buggy 10/12
Meteor-3
- RCS
- Pilot (Cobham)
- Trainer (Harker)
- Co-Pilot (Orion)
= Mass 6
Archangel Rocket
= Mass 6 Thrust

>>27626973
Evacuating on the Meteor?

Meteor3
>Pilot
>Passenger
>Passenger
>Camera
>Buggy
>RCS

>>27627065
Could we not evacuate on the seaplane?

>>27627088
You can, but the Meteor should be launched. Putting it on an Archangel would be cheaper than what the Navy would charge.

>>27627125
Has Cobham been certified on the Meteor-3 already?
If so, then I'd like to have her replaced with a Camera Module so that Harker and Orion can take some color photos of the Earth for propaganda purposes.

>>27627154
Yes she has, all of the original Pathfinder 3 have been on it by now IIRC. Alternately you could replace the RCS with the camera. You could also try sending yourself if you want to risk that although It's still technically the most dangerous space capsule in common use, it's crew are very qualified.

>>27627188
>Pathfinder 3
Is that Cobham, Harker, and Orion?

>>27627234
Yes. Not to be confused with the third pathfinder mission which was just Orion. The Pathfinder 3 refers to the first three people in space.

>>27627276
Turn 17 Budget:
6RP Build Archangel Rocket for Meteor-3 Launch
1RP Build Camera Module
40RP Improve Titan 12/17
16RP Trailblazer 11/16
3RP Improve Lunar Buggy 10/14
Meteor-3
- Camera Module
- Pilot (Palmer)
- Trainer (Harker)
- Co-Pilot/Engineer (Grenefeld)
= Mass 6
Archangel Rocket
= Mass 6 Thrust

>>27627373
>>27627063
>>27626973
>>27626960

Budget confirmation needed.

Also I'm going to dash off to the store for a moment, I'll be right back.

>>27627417
Well, this budget is clearly wrong, so I don't understand by it's even being considered >>27626960

>>27627373
This is currently the only real budget, so let's just go with this.
We need to get the Meteor-3 out before the storm arrives, and using an Archangel rocket is cheaper than having the Navy act as a courier service.

>>27627373
>>27627671
>Turn 17 Budget:
>6RP Build Archangel Rocket for Meteor-3 Launch
>1RP Build Camera Module
>40RP Improve Titan 12/17
>16RP Trailblazer 11/16
>3RP Improve Lunar Buggy 10/14

Aaaand, back, confirming budget, updating wiki.

File: 1381178315397.jpg-(163 KB, 704x944, Dyna-Soar_on_Titan_booster.jpg)

163 KB JPG

Rolled 6, 8 - 2 = 12

>>27627895
A Skeleton crew prepares the Meteor for Liftoff.

File: 1381179927268.jpg-(83 KB, 600x409, NASA_Color_Dyna_Soar.jpg)

83 KB JPG

Rolled 2, 7 - 2 = 7

>>27627971
And begins gliding back to earth in a sub-orbtial arc.

>>27628359
And don't forget to take pictures!

Rolled 3, 5 - 2 = 6

>>27628388
After an 8 minute spaceflight, with several full color photographs taken. The Meteor begins to glide down towards Fort Adler.

>>27628519
You arrive home by the time the storm hits the island, having made two successful launches just in the nick of time. With the elated feeling of success you gain another luck point.

In other news, the SSC has launched there largest spacecraft, a mass 14 automated space tug, to resupply there space station, and a new foe star has appeared.

What will you do for the rest of the turn?

>>27628839

Not much. Talk to Mother, maybe, and discuss the previous meeting with the society.

>>27628839
Read up on the news about the conflict in the West, to see if Clay will have further clout to interfere with our program.

Also, take a look at the color photographs that were taken, and see if they can be distributed to bolster support for the program.
Is there a Public Relations ministry or agency that we could avail ourselves of?

>>27628998
The PBA has been launching more rockets as well, one every turn it seems. So far they've put two into orbit and had two failures.

>Turn 14: Failed to reach orbit, claimed to be a sub-orbital test, although intelligence suggests the second stage simply failed to ignite.
>Turn 15: Reached orbit successfully, transmitted radio signals until it's batteries ran out.
>Turn 16: Reached orbit successfully but has been silent since.
>Turn 17: Failed to reach orbit, no official comment on the cause of the problem.

Clay has seemed to calm down, however there is a Naval Review scheduled for the Fall equinox next turn to take place in the straight between Westrin and Knosia. Naturally you are expected to attend, you'll even be able to see your brother again.

All non sensitive photographs from space are published in the Royal Astrological Journals. Things are looking good for public opinion right now.

>>27629322
Direct the Stonefield Array at the Foe Star and have it record everything from it.

We shall then speak with Mother about using some of our ancestral lands to accommodate a larger, more robust, launch facility.

Rolled 1, 4 - 2 = 3

>>27629677
Currently stonefield is monitoring the lunar probe. You can have it observe the foe star while the moon is below the horizon, but it's attention will be divided. Having more radio telescopes would be nice.

>Rolling lunar orbit capture burn.

>>27629759
Ah, yes, the Taurus Array is not yet active.
Then have the Stonefield Array concentrate on the lunar mission and the Hecate.

Rolled 2, 9 = 11

>>27629784
Tarus island is not yet completed, doing so would add more possible points of failure.

>>27629759
The Probe enters lunar orbit and the remaining fuel is transferred to the lander. In the event of a fail roll the probe may re-attempt using the reserve fuel, in the event of a boom roll it just crashes.

>>27629817
>Rolled 11, fail, the lunar lander is coming in with too much horizontal velocity. Use the remaining fuel to break, or spend luck and re-roll?

>>27629846
Use the fuel.

Rolled 9, 3 = 12

The Hecate burns the rest of it's fuel as it desperately tries to shred it's lateral velocity.

Rolled 9, 7 = 16

>>27629989
>Rolled 12, fail, the lunar lander has killed it's horizontal velocity, but the ground is uneven, spend luck to re-roll?

>>27630006
Dammit. Yes, reroll. This is not a loss we can easily afford.

Rolled 2, 2 = 4

>>27630105
Re-rolling.

Keep in mind that even if the landing is a failure, the Seraph and the titan have been successfully tested and can be man rated soon.

>>27630131
The probe signals back to base that it has made a soft landing with barely seconds worth of fuel left. The first still images from it's cameras reveal that the probe has landed precariously close to the edge of a large crater. It came very close to rolling down the slope and being destroyed.

>>27630190
Well, this should be another victory for Midland and the RRC. Hopefully the SSC will make some more successes in near-earth orbit to keep the race entertaining for the masses, and to keep the funding coming in.

>>27630311
Why don't you contact them and find out?

>We shall talk to Mother about using the ancestral lands to launch giant exploding things.
>We shall talk to Ms Kenaway about her plans.
>We shall talk to Clay about Piccolo's company.
>We shall look for a manufacturer of portable satellite radio terminals.

>>27630465
>We shall talk to Ms Kenaway about her plans.
>We shall look for a manufacturer of portable satellite radio terminals.
The talk with Ms. Kenaway will tell us if her program is having any funding trouble. We may be in a race, but at least one if us must get to the moon, and we should not have all of our hopes pinned solely on the RRC.

>>27630465
>>We shall talk to Clay about Piccolo's company.

>>27630530
>>27630761
Consensus required.

>>27630530
We need to chat to Ms Kenaway, definitely. She's going to want to congratulate us, at the very least. First pictures of the surface of the moon.
And we kinda could do with that money, too.

>>27630888
Consensus achieved to talk with Ms Kenaway.

>>27631113
You decide to relax and chat with Ms Kenaway over MVAC, setting up a secure video channel. Arglos answers the screen, blinking at you a few times with her pale blue eyes before turning and calling for Jakisan in Suthish. Something queer about that girl.

"Congratulations you Highness!" Ms Kenaway says as she enters the frame before shooing Arglos off. "I hope you don't think this is the end of our race." She adds as a joke.

>>27631294
((...Uh?))

"Of course not, Jakisan. It's not truly over until the two of us are walking together on the surface of the moon.""

>>27631617
((Ok, so it's not my 4chan being broken. Never mind. Where's everyone gone?))

>>27631294

"The race just received another participant. The final line has not even begun yet."

>>27631617
"Well, you may have pictures of the surface of the moon, but I plan on getting pictures from under the surface." She says. "You mean Mr Piccolo? By the time he get to the moon we will be on Ishtar enjoying tea. I sold him some old A4s and he's only gotten half of them into orbit."

>>27631633
Well it's that time when people go to get dinner.

>>27631769
"Under the surface? Oh, please elaborate; that sounds intriguing."

Would anyone be kind enough to share the archives? For reasons.

>>27631948
You mean the ones that are on the wiki, as linked in >>27625217? Just look under "Chapters".

>>27631769
"Oh yes, we are going to try radar. Normally Radar can't penetrate deep under the ground because of water, but there shouldn't be any on the moon. We will be sending the next, how you say? Usafari, Journey? Probe with a large radar array. it should be able to make a topographic map of the entire planet..." She looks around suspiciously before leaning forward and whispering into the mic. "And even underground...Of course, if you help us compile all the data with your automatic computer, it will help keep everything secret." She winks.

>>27632097
"The proposal has merit. We shall have our machine computational resources made available, then."

That data must be encrypted; if there's a city, there's no telling what underground facilities exist.

>>27632168
"Also." She says as she leans back and takes a cup of tea from Arglos who enters the frame from the side. "What about the latest visitor. Have you been looking at the data coming in from your interplanetary probe?" She asks.

>>27632376
"Unfortunately, we have not yet; we were too busy with the evacuation of Tannhauser Island and of the Hecate's landing.
"Is there anything that you have noticed, Ms. Kenaway?"

>>27632600
"The visitor has been sending it radar pings!" She says almost spilling her tea. "I thought you were keeping track of that! The aliens recognize it as another space traveler!"

>>27632726

"oops"

>>27632726
Call Stonefield immediately and tell them to make a connection to the Voyager probe.

"WHAT?! Have you been able to crack the Foe Star's transmissions? Have they attempted any transmission beyond simple pings?"

>>27633317
Unfortunately with only one terminal, and can only do one thing at once. And most of the terminals are offline because of the storm in Tanhauser island.

"Ahh, no, just some beeps, I think they are just tracking it now." Ms Kenaway says. "But we might have to consider making more serious attempts to contact them. It could be they have ignore us because we don't seem interesting to them." She says with a quizzical look on her face.

>>27633526
If we invest in the new integrated circuit technology, will new MultiVAC Cores be the same price as the old version?

"Perhaps they were uninterested so long as our satellites and probes stayed within the orbit of the Moon?
"Putting aside the matter of the City and our current race to the Moon, would you be interested in a joint project for another interplanetary probe? Perhaps with the radio equipment to act as a relay between our radio telescope arrays and the Foe Stars? Assuming, of course, that they do not come to burn us to cinders."

>>27633612
>If we invest in the new integrated circuit technology, will new MultiVAC Cores be the same price as the old version?
Yes, but much more powerful. You will need a strong energy source if you wish to get the most out of them however.

"Perhaps, The Usafari is the ideal platform for this mission, it has high delta-v and can carry a large payload in a single launch." Ms Kenaway says bragging, clearly very proud of her new toy. "We'll send one to the moon and one to talk to the visitors."

>>27633804
"How much mass can it hold? We are currently about to start research into a more powerful version of our machine computer, but we will need a more powerful energy source. Would you be willing to make room for this?"

>>27633948
Arglos stares at you through the video screen as Ms Kenaway steps away to telifax you the schematics. The Usafari is a mass 14 space tug with 12 mass worth of internal space which could be either cargo or fuel. It can't carry people, but it is capable of semi-autonomous flight. Bigger and Smarter than the Titan, but also more expensive.

Usafari probe
Type: Upgraded upper stage, Mass 2/14, Capacity 12, Reliability 10/15
>Photovoltaic panels
>Photovoltaic panels
>Radar
>Radar
>Reserve Fuel
>Plane Change Fuel
>Capture Fuel
>Injection Fuel 2
>Injection Fuel 1
>Injection Fuel 1
>Launch Fuel
>Launch Fuel

>>27634294
So she made a Capsule and Upper Stage into one module?
Can it carry more than the Trailblazer and Hecate combined?

>>27634294
Does this kind of combined Upper Stage-Capsule have advantages over the traditional separate upper stage and capsule?

>>27634375
Slightly less, the total payload of the Titan+Hecate is 16 mass. But only 7 of that can be cargo. And the launch cost is less. For the purpose of transporting another spacecraft it's probably less efficient, but as a stand alone probe or resupply vehicle it's flexibility makes it ideal.

>>27634575
The Titan+Hecate and Titan+Trailblazer, once docked together, can have more combined cargo space than the Usafari, right?

Trailblazer+Hecate have a combined Cargo Capacity of 14.
Since the Titan is meant to do all of the lifting, insertion, and injection burns for both, AND the attached Titan stages can be refueled in orbit, excepting the 3 Mass on the Hecate that needs to be used for landing and then lifting off from the lunar surface. So 11 Mass for crew and payload, while the Usafari can only use 4 Mass for any actual payload.

Could we provide some kind of more efficient radar system and computer, as well as better photovoltaic panels, or a powerful RTG?

>>27634294
"Interesting, Ms. Kenaway. And you plan on sending one to attempt contact with the Foe Stars? Shouldn't we at least wait to see what they do with the Voyager as they examine it?"

>>27634791
The only advantage energy wise RTGs is that they work all the time. Other than that they are just slightly more expensive.

Now if you were to develop a radio-reactor that could generate electricity in space, you would be able to provide power for many applications. You think you've heard Klaus and Minerva talking about more efficient engines that use electric or radio reactive power instead of an oxidizer.

Minerva's idea used radio reactions to heat hydrogen propellant, and Klaus' idea used electricity to ionize a non reactive gas for propulsion. Minerva's idea produces more thrust but would also be larger and more complex. Klaus idea produces a miniscule amount of thrust but is much more efficient.

>>27635067
Minerva's would be best for a manned mission, and Klaus' idea for an unmanned probe.
Since we need to do manned missions, we'll probably start with Minerva's idea.

>>27635094
Keep in mind the only reactor Minerva has been able to make takes up a whole room, it would require a lot of work before this idea could be practical.

>>27635158
Would work on the Radio-Reactive Turbine help?

>>27635190
Yes.

>>27635209
Alright. Then let's ask this question >>27634945

I think Kenaway is prepared to send her probe to make First Contact on her own, possibly as soon as next turn.

>>27635246
The Foe Star will be gone by then most likely. Also remember you could try using a ground based radio transmitter to contact them.

>>27635372
I think we should wait until after we search the City on the Moon before contacting the Foe Stars.
Besides possibly finding a cipher or key to their transmissions, the City may also tell us if the Foe Stars are our former brethren, or if they are our jailers.

>>27635372
So is Kenaway still considering working together on a joint First Contact mission? Or is she going to try to upstage us by doing it first?

>>27635372
God mother, this might be a bit off topic, but i just got here late. is it possable if you can have a twitter account to give us heads up when a thread is going to start?

>>27635513
i truely hope she isn't reckless to try to go say hi to someone who just might kill us all for reasons we may never know.

>>27635659
Given that her attitude is FULL PUBLIC DISCLOSURE for everything we've found so far, about the City on the Moon and the Foe Stars, I think that's exactly what she plans to do.

>>27635513
She suggested it, but is currently attempting to map the Lunar Surface with radar.

>>27635635
Sadly no. I try to run every Monday starting at noon or in the morning.

>>27635742
Alright, let's get to finishing up the turn.
"Well, Ms. Kenaway, if you wish to have a joint interplanetary probe mission, do call upon us.
"And once your topographic data arrives, we shall assist in deciphering it."

>>27635742
it's 12:45 at night here. were are you at anyway?
>>27635689
we can't reel her in. but what CAN we do to keep her from opening up this can of horrors from beyond the stars over us all due to her derpyness?

>>27635804
Pacific time. Which I have determined is more or less the worst time zone to run a quest from. It's almost 10 for me so I'm calling it a night. The next plot event happens next turn so I don't want to start it at this hour.

File: 1381208172909.jpg-(135 KB, 1280x960, Kharak_Burning_Painting.jpg)

135 KB JPG

>>27635804
Win the Race to the Moon, get a mission to the City, find evidence that we were actually placed on this planet as punishment and that the Foe Stars are our jailers, and that they intend to make sure that we do not leave the Moon's orbit.

Just wanted to add good stuff, sorry I missed it but I was, ironically, trying to steer a few thousand tons of iron across nine time zones.

Grenefeld's stats haven't been updated on the wiki yet.
He should be currently:
Stamina = 3
Piloting = 3
Engineering = 1

>>27642325
Thank you, I forget, has he been in orbit yet or just sub-orbital meteor flights?

>>27643192
Grenefeld is just sub-orbital flights so far.
We started training him up when it became apparent that we'll need more active Void Knights because of the longer missions and for multiple refueling missions.