DESCENT TO JETSOM

The shuttle you take is the last one in the Snobol shuttle dock (area S4). It is fully automated and cannot be piloted manually, except to choose the destination. The options are Jetsom", "Snobol" and "Low orbit, EMERGENCY ONLY". The last option was fitted by Ellen Coopermann on Day 75 (i.e., last night). There is also a small panel of indicator lights, a radio, a radar screen and two
view ports.

Prior to departure, the shuttle has a huge block of ice fitted to its front end as a heat-shield. The shuttle has ten couches for passengers, and room to stow equipment. There is also a rack for tanks of crude bio-chemicals from Jetsom.  This shuttle was used by the returning Beta team on Day 38.

Early on Day 76, you are taken to the shuttle dock (area S4). Your equipment is already stowed, and the shuttle leaves promptly at 0500 hrs. The descent to Jetsom takes 2 hours. During this time, the shuttle's computer is occupied in guiding the ship, and you are unable to consult any files.

So long as the shuttle is inside Venturi's atmosphere, no radio communication with Moneyspider is possible.

When the shuttle is deep inside Venturi's atmosphere and has slowed down sufficiently, the remains of the heat-shield are ejected and you are able to use the view ports as the craft files towards Jetsom.  The shuttle is on the daylight side of the planet and you see the scudding clouds of Venturi by the feeble light of Belnafaer.

Half an hour before it reaches Jetsom, the shuttle passes through a small electromagnetic storm.  You feel a strange prickling sensation as there is a rapid build-up of static electricity inside the shuttle and the electronic equipment suddenly stops working!

Your heart starts to skip as the electronic equipment is suddenly not working and you are on a slow descent.  Just as your panic spreads and you get up to see what you can do, the electronic equipment comes back on and everything returns to normal.

Minutes later, the Jetsom platform comes into view. The shuttle approaches it quite quickly, but you are able to see the shuttle in the other dock (area D3) and catch a glimpse of some sort of damage caused to it.

After your shuttle docks, a light on the panel labeled "Warning: Auto-refueling Malfunction" begins to flash.

I post the map again below, but it is permanently found in the maps and information thread for your easy reference.  You have just docked at the area marked D3 and are free to leave the shuttle, although you cannot fly in the shuttle again until it has been refueled.

 As the aged Vrusk's skin prikles from the electromagnetic storm the doctor lets out a sharp gasp. "Ho my!"
 Once things return to normal he settles down but is still a bit jumpy for the remainder of the trip.

"Auto-refueling malfunction!" grumbles Yagrith. "Barely started and we're already in trouble."

He will attempt to access the shuttle's computer to determine what damage has been done to the refueling and other systems, and whether or not it may be repaired.

Chance, who had been happily playing a game of solitaire (and cheating), looks up at the automated warning.  "That doesn't sound good."

S'Krllk looks at his compatriots with curiosity, "If the systems were functioning in the proper manner, would not the other shuttle have returned? A malfunction is to be expected."

Looking at S'Krllk, Parson replies, "Depends on the problem.  But the thing that worries me is that this particular malfunction could stop us from getting back off this hulk.   I'll have a quick look at the fuel system but if you see me running, you may want to do the same."

Parson will grab one of the tech kits and see if he can isolate the nature of the malfunction while Yagrith checks the shuttle's control system.

S"Krllk stands and stretches while saying "Not to be a pain, but it's more likely the malfunction is on Jetsom, and the shuttle is just relaying the warning."

"All likely and true," rasps Yagrith, "but I'll not pass up an opportunity to learn more if I can." He contines tapping away on the keyboard.

Chance smiles to S'Krllk, "Well then, seeing as how it's just our means back off this station, lets assume the shuttle is hunky dory and go see if the crew has any fun activities planned for us."

He frowns, and moves off to continue his physical check to see what might be causing the malfunction.  Including, checking the physical connections and the refueling couplings between shuttle and station.  (Assuming they do not require donning a space suit.)
This message was last edited by the player at 19:21, Wed 16 Sept 2009.

"Usually never is," Desiraye says to chance as she goes over to see if Yagrith can find out any information.

She turns to the others, "OK, looks like we're at our new temporary home.  Let's get the gear off-loaded in case we've got really something to worry about!  Any idea what's going on there Yagrith?"

CORRECTION!!

I mistakenly said you are at area D3.  You are actually at area A1.  Those more percipient probably noticed the note on the map stating that is where your shuttle docks.

Yagrith makes an unfortunate discovery.  As you will recall, part of the equipment you received was entitled:

quote:

The shuttle computer will be provided with a
data file containing technical specifications of
Jetsom and other relevant information. The file
will be being compiled right up to the time that
the shuttle leaves.

Most of this data file has been erased in the electrical storm!  Some of it remains, but not much.  It will take Yagrith awhile to figure out if anything else is actually lost, or if the answers are deeper within Jetsom.

But you see part of the problem by just looking out the front windows of your shuttle.  This airlock connects with the hatch in the nose of your shuttlecraft. (Area A1 is the airlock, and a long tunnel leads to the main facility.)  You see that the tunnel back has been damaged by what appears to have been some kind of explosion.  (See picture at A2 on map.)  You imagine at least some of the errors you're facing have to do with that damaged tunnel and the pipes that connect it to the airlock where your shuttle is.

Only red emergency lights illuminte the tunnel (A2).  You will have to approach closer to examine the explosion and damage in the tunnel.

Right now, all of you are still safely on the shuttle.  No one has engaged the airlock to exit out the shuttle's nose yet.  Before you do, let me know what you will be taking with you.

As the shuttle docks and you start to get a feel for things, you notice Jetsom's gravity is a little greater than normal (1.25g).

Yagrith relays the information to the team, then sets about extracting whatever snippets of data he can from the computer.

Parson has no further then too look out the porthole and then curses under his breath.  Then turning to the others, "Well, it doesn't take a starship engineer to figure this one out, the docking bay looks like swiss cheese.  I'm not real sure about using this dock."

"Well the fun never ends for us now does it!" The doctors comment seems to be focused at his older teammates mostly. Looking out the front viewport the doctor sees the damage to Jetsom and says, "Yep I'm no starship engineer, and even I can tell we are in some real pretty shit now!"
 "Do we have pressure on the other side?" Kri'lik points to the airlock, referring to breathable air outside the shuttle.

Desiraye just rolls her eyes when she hears the assessment that they're stranded.  "This seems to be getting to be like an annoying pattern with getting stranded on planet's and now, in space.  I should've joined the damn fire department!

OK everyone, assessments?  We're going to have to leave the ship eventually so we need to know what we're dealing with out there as far as if we need to suit up before we go out, etc.."

"Perhaps in the interest of safety we could begin by sending the CRL-E1 out to repair enough damage that the atmosphere would hold for us. It also appears that there is more gravity than there should be. Speculation would suggest an electrical storm similar to the one we passed through could have damaged the regulating mechanisms for the mining operation, resulting in the tanks becoming over-pressurized and exploding. I would suggest the first thing we do is ascertain if this is a possibility. This could be another duty for the robot, assuming we can find a way in, of course."

"All good ideas. But before we open that airlock we should all be fully equipped, ready to go, and chill suits on. I have a funny feeling that once we open that door there's no going back, so if it's dangerous out there we'd better be ready.

Perhaps we can put a toxy-rad gauge on the maintennace robot and send him out to assess the damage?" he says, continuing to furiously tap away at the computer to get any information he can.