Axis Nova
29-08-2004, 10:58
At a major airbase in Axis Nova, modifications are being carried out to a Lucifer Class air dreadnought. The craft appears to have been fixed to be more airtight, and it appears that the ducted fans have all been replaced with fusion thrusters. The massive cargo bay has been converted into a storage area for reaction mass.
In a briefing room nearby, a captain in the Axis Nova Air Navy is talking to his bridge crew and engineering chief.
"OK... the eggheads say this 'spindizzy' thing should pretty much work just the same as the small test platforms they've been launching for the past few months, except on a larger scale. Except, one small thing: We gotta take off first, so that we don't take a chunk of the runway along with us when we engage the drive field."
He activates a projector, showing the Morningstar on the runway, as it is prepped for launch.
"As soon as we take off, we'll climb to an altitude of 1000 meters. Normally, this would take a while, but since we've recieved a thruster refit, it'll go a bit quicker than usual."
The image changes to show the projected takeoff course and altitude gain.
"Once we reach 1000 meters, the eggheads will activate the spindizzy drive, and at that point, we will follow the test course. This is basically a test to see how well we can handle the thing. The helm controls have been modified a bit so that we can control things."
The next image shows a course that proceeds in several wild maneuvers through the air, down under the ocean, up into space, around NS-Earth, out to the Moon, and finally, back to Axis Nova again. There are mutterings and exclamation from the officers at the breadth of the ship's plotted course.
"While I realize this looks... impressive, just remember: An underpowered test rig put a man in ORBIT. The Morningstar is a military vessel with MUCH more power than it needs for this, so things should be well within our capabilities. Dismissed!"
----------
Shortly thereafter, the preparations on the runway are finished, and the Morningstar begins to roll, belching fusion flame behind it as it accelerates sharply. The refitted thruster system shows it's power, letting the massive craft heave itself into the sky in half the runway space it did before (though, of course, consuming large amounts of hydrogen in the process).
As soon as the massive airship reaches 1000 meters, it levels out, and the characteristic spherical drive field surrounds it as the fusion thrusters wink out. The Morningstar immediately accelerates, performing a series of maneuvers that should tear a craft it's size apart, before changing course and heading towards the ocean at high speed.
The massive craft's drive field dips into the water before it does, sending large waves into the sky as it slips beneath the sea. Under the water, it remains in a bubble of air as it moves, the spindizzy drive field keeping out the liquid. Soon enough, it goes into a vertical ascent, headed straight up.
In less than two minutes, the Morningstar is in orbit, and still moving. It circles the planet under power, still performing strange maneuvers. Finally, it zips off towards the moon, accelerating so quickly that little more can be seen but a streak. It orbits the moon at the same furious speed, before hurtling back towards Earth.
Once it begins to re-enter the atmosphere, the Morningstar's speed drops to more reasonable levels, and it slowly begins to descend sedately towards Axis Nova and the airbase it has left scarcely an hour before. As it reaches 1000 meters above the ground again, the drive thrusters reactivate as the spindizzy field winks out, and it makes a standard landing.
In a briefing room nearby, a captain in the Axis Nova Air Navy is talking to his bridge crew and engineering chief.
"OK... the eggheads say this 'spindizzy' thing should pretty much work just the same as the small test platforms they've been launching for the past few months, except on a larger scale. Except, one small thing: We gotta take off first, so that we don't take a chunk of the runway along with us when we engage the drive field."
He activates a projector, showing the Morningstar on the runway, as it is prepped for launch.
"As soon as we take off, we'll climb to an altitude of 1000 meters. Normally, this would take a while, but since we've recieved a thruster refit, it'll go a bit quicker than usual."
The image changes to show the projected takeoff course and altitude gain.
"Once we reach 1000 meters, the eggheads will activate the spindizzy drive, and at that point, we will follow the test course. This is basically a test to see how well we can handle the thing. The helm controls have been modified a bit so that we can control things."
The next image shows a course that proceeds in several wild maneuvers through the air, down under the ocean, up into space, around NS-Earth, out to the Moon, and finally, back to Axis Nova again. There are mutterings and exclamation from the officers at the breadth of the ship's plotted course.
"While I realize this looks... impressive, just remember: An underpowered test rig put a man in ORBIT. The Morningstar is a military vessel with MUCH more power than it needs for this, so things should be well within our capabilities. Dismissed!"
----------
Shortly thereafter, the preparations on the runway are finished, and the Morningstar begins to roll, belching fusion flame behind it as it accelerates sharply. The refitted thruster system shows it's power, letting the massive craft heave itself into the sky in half the runway space it did before (though, of course, consuming large amounts of hydrogen in the process).
As soon as the massive airship reaches 1000 meters, it levels out, and the characteristic spherical drive field surrounds it as the fusion thrusters wink out. The Morningstar immediately accelerates, performing a series of maneuvers that should tear a craft it's size apart, before changing course and heading towards the ocean at high speed.
The massive craft's drive field dips into the water before it does, sending large waves into the sky as it slips beneath the sea. Under the water, it remains in a bubble of air as it moves, the spindizzy drive field keeping out the liquid. Soon enough, it goes into a vertical ascent, headed straight up.
In less than two minutes, the Morningstar is in orbit, and still moving. It circles the planet under power, still performing strange maneuvers. Finally, it zips off towards the moon, accelerating so quickly that little more can be seen but a streak. It orbits the moon at the same furious speed, before hurtling back towards Earth.
Once it begins to re-enter the atmosphere, the Morningstar's speed drops to more reasonable levels, and it slowly begins to descend sedately towards Axis Nova and the airbase it has left scarcely an hour before. As it reaches 1000 meters above the ground again, the drive thrusters reactivate as the spindizzy field winks out, and it makes a standard landing.