NationStates Jolt Archive

After and hour and a half of work, engineers at the ship factories finished removing the temporary roofing of the two plants, revealing the two massive Green Noa-Class ships to many helicopters and aircraft flying above. Saftey teams made their final runs around the two plants, making sure everyone had cleared out of the buildings.

Operators at the Victoria Air Traffic Control tower began ordering all aircraft in the area of the plants to maintain 2 mile distance from the airspace above as the clearance for the two new ships to launch came.

"Green Noa 01 & Green Noa 02, this is Victoria Control. You've been given clearance to begin launch sequence by Fleet Admiral Greenwood. The airspace is clear." called an operator.

The captains of the two vessels issued the orders for their bridge crews to prepare the ships for launching. Officers scurried around to their posts and started their tasks that they had spent the last year training for.

"Generators 1 through 6 online. All power systems operating normally."

"Main communcations, long-range sensors, internal gravity systems, and life support online. All systems green."

"Navigation systems online. Gravity Drive System powering up. Main engines on standby for ignition once we're clear of the factory."

The captains, satisfied with the reports from their officers, gave the orders to launch. The loud roar of the Gravity Drive System lifting the ships off the supports that held them during construction echoed off the inner walls of the factory. From the control tower, the command decks of the two ships became visible as they slowly ascended. The rest of the ships soon became visible and once clear of the factory they rose higher into the sky, faster than when they first lifted off. After five minutes they vanished within the clouds as the made their way into space to join with their escorts: the Self-Defense Forces Space Fleet.

-=<Sneaky B News: Long Range Exploration Ships Launch>=-

After several long years of hard work and construction, the two massive Green Noa-Class exploration ships finally launched today, beginning their journey into space. Originally designed for long range colonization missions, the two ships were redesignated as exploration vessels after the Deep Space Colonization Project was cancelled. The first mission for the two ships will send them off to the asteroid belt past Mars and then back to Earth. Engineers stated that this first mission is to test some of the new systems that had been developed for the ship. We here at Sneaky B News would like to wish the crews of Green Noa 01 and Green Noa 02 good luck on their first mission.

-=<Sneaky B News: End Transmission>=-

Our congratulations on the successful launch of the two new ships! If you need any assistance, don't hesitate to call on the Tengai or Amatsu fleets. As always, our allies are welcome at Tengoku station!

~Tiffany Celta
~Secretary of Defense
~Immortal Shogunate of Reploid Productions

Thank you! We'll gladly take you up your offer should we need it. Your ships, civilian and military, are more than welcome to drop by the colony cluster at L3 if they need anything.

Major Ayane Kojima
Secretary of Defense
The Rogue Nation of Sneaky Bastards
The Space Colonies of Lordinum

Edge of the Asteroid Belt...

The Bladewood held its position with the rest of the three defense fleets around Green Noa 01 and Green Noa 02 as the two massive ships scanned the belt, searching for a suitable asteroid to drag back home with them. Captain Allen reclined back into his seat, watching the two ships on the main monitor.

"We've been here three days and they still haven't found one... I wish they'd just pick one already. Sitting here watching them poking around out there is boring me to death."

"We'll be out of here soon, captain. Green Noa 02 is reporting that they've found a suitable one with what scans show to be a good supply of minerals, ore, and other materials. They say they are prepared to launch their grappling anchors to it. They are requesting other ships to launch their anchors and for power suit assistance to secure the anchors once on the asteroid." reported the technical operator.

"About time. All power suit teams are to launch when ready. Command of the teams will be temprarially transfered to Green Noa 01 & Green Noa 02. Relay that order to the other ships." ordered Captain Allen as he sat upright in his seat.

Green Noa 01 and Green Noa 02 transmitted the coordinates of the asteroid to the three command ships that accompanied them on the journey. The three ships launched their power suits as the two massive ships turned themselves around, preparing their grappling anchor turrets.
The Kusanagi-Class and Kodachi-Class ships that also came along on the journey moved into anchor range and prepared their turrets as well.

"Captain Allen, power suit teams are in position and the ships taking part in towing the asteroid are ready to launch anchors. Launch of anchors in 30 seconds, sir." reported the technical operator.

Captain Allen watched the clock on his armrest monitor, watching the seconds countdown. The moment the 30 seconds passed grappling anchors were launched towards the massive asteroid chosen by the two exploration vessels. As the anchors impacted into the surface of the asteroid, power suits moved in to secure them, making sure the anchors wouldn't come free. After their task was finished, the suits returned to their respective ships from which they launched.

"Captain, all suits returned and secured in the hangars. All tow ships report that they are ready to depart." came another report from the technical operator.

"Very well. Reply to the fleet. "All ships move out. Set course for Earth." he ordered.

The three command carriers turned themselves around and took positions around the fleet which was pulling behind them a large asteroid. They began their journey back home.

Earth Orbit above Sneaky B...

"Captain! The asteroid and its escort fleet are comming into sensor range now. Putting it up on the main monitor." said Lieutenant Scott as he watched the signals appear on the radar screen.

Captain Edwards looked up at the main monitor as images of the asteroid and fleet that was sent to retrieve it made their way back into Earth orbit.

"Sir, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Defense Fleets are breaking away from their escort formations. Green Noa 01 & Green Noa 02 are moving out of the asteroid's path as well." added Lieutenant Scott.

The asteroid continued on its path towards the planet, slowing down as thrusters, which had been attached to the asteroid's surface during the long journey to Earth, fired. Other thrusters around the asteroid fired, preparing it for entering into a geosynchronous orbit above the nation on the planet below. It continued to slow down until it seemed to stop moving.

"The asteroid has slowed down and is now entering an orbital position over the planet. Asteroid orbit speeds matching planetary rotation speeds. Its in a geosynchronous orbit, sir." the techical operator reported.

"Very good. Now that its here, I wonder how long it'll take for the Sneaky B Mineral & Ore guys to get up here to pick it clean." the captain said, watching the asteroid on the main monitor.

Green Noa 01 & Green Noa 02 de-orbited shortly after and returned to the surface of the planet. The two ships slowly descended to the surface and set down in sea off the shores of Victoria Spaceport. The crews of the two vessels gathered on the upper deck of the ship, taking in the fresh air and open space, which they had lived without during the long period in space. Shuttlecraft launched from the nearby mass driver facility, sending up the first of many mining teams and equipment to the asteroid above.