Rome relaunches their space program [Archive]

RomeW

19-01-2005, 09:09

(OOC: Note: this is the sequel to this thread:

http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=312594 )

IC:

In the year that Rodin Hartain took over the Roman Empire, Rome has went through a lot of positive changes. They set up the Roman Confederacy, they doubled their economic production and have made a bigger name for themselves on the international stage. However, according to University of Rome Astronomy Professor Urani Proletta, there was still one thing the Romans failed to do that they promised they would: reopen the Space Program.

Early in Paul XII's second term as Emperor, the Space Program managed to establish communications with several cosmic nations but never flowered beyond that. The Romans did buy a small ship during the early days of the program, but somehow it got lost and never made it to Rome.

Proletta's current project, Project Omicron, entails studying interstellar travel, with the hopes that one day Rome will realize its dreams and advance into interstellar space. There, the Romans could build an Empire that not even Julius Caesar or Augustus could dream of, with Rome not just metaphorically dominating worlds but actually doing so physically. Then there would be the diplomacy- the Empire, instead of being bound to a single planet would be connected to an even greater system of planets and galaxies, able to plumb the depths of the Universe for trade and allies. Rome outlived Earth: now was the time for it to branch out.

Of course, he can't do it without government support. Until that comes, the best he can do is to reopen communcation lines and send another signal to the depths. He's kept in touch with the nations that contacted him before and will continue to do so, in the hopes that he can gain valuable research for Project Omicron and maintain the allies Rome so desperately needs if it is to really succeed on an intergalactic level.

However, what to make of this lack of funding? He decided he'd approach the Emperor again, reminding him of his electoral campaign promise. In the meantime, he'll slave away at crunching numbers, and keep in touch with his intergalactic friends. He may not be able to build anything, but he can still design them.

OOC: EDIT- For technical purposes, my nation is based on Earth II. This doesn't mean it's closed off for everyone else- I'm just saying that when I define "Earth" I mean "Earth II". The other Earths will be seperate planets- and, who knows? Maybe I'll visit :D .

Khrrck

20-01-2005, 03:40

[OOC: Khrrck is an Earth V nation, so I suppose I'm on a different planet.]

Morth sighed as he settled down in front of his computer terminal. The last week had been frustrating. Khrrck City, while fascinating, seemed confining after a life of piloting. His friends were all too busy. Pheonix had been complaining about being grounded, and today had finally gotten fed up and gone for a flight by himself, leaving Morth with no one to talk to.

Morth absently scanned the headers. Most of his usual haunts were marked UNAVAILABLE or UNDERGOING REPAIRS, but a New Message icon blinked at the bottom of the screen. He selected it.

****************************

FROM: scree@KDC.khr
RECP: morth@KMIL.khr; pheonixgold3@KMIL.khr
SUBJ: Bored?
BODY: I know you two haven't had anything to do lately. You interested in doing me a favor? Someone called Professor Urani Proletta from Rome is interested in re-establishing diplomatic ties, and I can't spare anyone to talk to him.

He seems to want to discuss starship design. You two know a good deal about aerospace; perhaps you could help. Feel free to try and contact the Augs and get them in on the discussion; last I heard they were fighting a war in Aurora Prima. Haven't been able to get hold of them, but maybe you can.

Oh, and Kinsong is interested in actually building the thing if you come up with a feasible design. You can contact Sk'mak if you want to talk to them. Fido can help with the computing side of things; he's busy right now, but should be able to spare some time later.

Attached is Proletta's contact information.

****************************

Morth smiled and called Pheonix. Pheonix?

Pheonix's voice was irritated. What?

Check your messages.

There was a pause. Oh.

Morth chuckled. Something to do, isn't it? Want me to call the guy?

Do it.

****************************

FROM: morth@KMIL.khr
RECP: uproletta@romeU.rome
SUBJ: Greetings.
BODY: Allow me to introduce myself. I am Morth Steelfang, pilot and officer. I and Pheonix Gold Three have been assigned to talk with you. I hope we will both learn something from the exchange.

Enough for the formalities. I'm glad to finally have someone to talk to. I must say that I am not extremely knowledgeable about spacecraft design and other such galactic matters, but between Pheonix and the other people I can contact I think we can manage to work things out.

If you don't like message blips as communication, I could arrange IM, voice, or a physical visit. An actual physical visit might be a little difficult, but Pheonix could probably handle it. Travelling sure would be better than sitting around in a Khrrck City hangar all the time.

So, I've introduced myself. What do you have to say?

RomeW

20-01-2005, 07:45

[OOC: Khrrck is an Earth V nation, so I suppose I'm on a different planet.]

OOC: That would be correct. I've actually hypothesized that the Universe can actually be divided into different segments, all of which are almost identical to each other (meaning that there could be as many as 50 Earths, but each with their own histories).

I also want to say that someone in Khrrck should know Proletta already because he has been regularly talking to the people who visited him before (I think one of them was named "Ss'rak" or something), but he wouldn't know any government officials. Can I also ask how your nation refers to its people (e.g. Khrrckian, Khrrckite, etc.)?

IC:

FROM: uproletta@romeU.rome
RECP: morth@KMIL.khr
SUBJ: Greetings.
BODY:

Hello Mr. Steelfang. How are you? I'm fine.

I am Astronomy Professor Emeritus Urani Proletta of the University of Rome. I have been studying intergalactic travel for the past forty years, ever since I saw my first episode of "Star Trek".

Anyway, I'm glad to have reached you. As you probably already know, I am in the process of restarting the Space Program and will probably need your nation's help.

As of now- since I have to secure funding- message blips are okay for communication, as are IM's and voice, if you are okay with that too. I won't request a visit just yet, but I will once I get the funding I need.

In the meantime, though, I would like to keep in touch, and, if you want, I can forward a message to the Emperor so that our nations can establish ties.

Have a good day.

Urani Proletta
Professor Emeritus,
Astronomy Department
University of Rome

--------------------------Morth Steelfang wrote--------------------------
>Allow me to introduce myself. I am Morth Steelfang, pilot and officer. I and
>Pheonix Gold Three have been assigned to talk with you. I hope we will both
>learn something from the exchange.
>
>Enough for the formalities. I'm glad to finally have someone to talk to. I must
>say that I am not extremely knowledgeable about spacecraft design and
>other such galactic matters, but between Pheonix and the other people I can
>contact I think we can manage to work things out.

>If you don't like message blips as communication, I could arrange IM, voice,
>or a physical visit. An actual physical visit might be a little difficult, but
>Pheonix could probably handle it. Travelling sure would be better than sitting
>around in a Khrrck City hangar all the time.

>So, I've introduced myself. What do you have to say?

RomeW

23-01-2005, 09:20

*bump*

Khrrck

24-01-2005, 17:20

[OOC: I often can't post on weekends, and classwork sometimes prevents me at other times. So please allow me a little delay.

Citizens are referred to according to their clans; for example, Morth is a Steelfang.]

FROM: morth@KMIL.khr
RECP: uproletta@romeU.rome
SUBJ: RE: Greetings
BODY

> Hello Mr. Steelfang. How are you? I'm fine.
Doing all right, doing all right... Address me as Morth, if you don't mind. "Steelfang" is just my clan title.

I'm glad to meet you. The original contact team is off on its own buisness right now; perhaps I can get ahold of them later.

We have a few people who are available on this side, though. Kinsong Aerospace is interested in producing anything we come up with, and I have a friend who has considerable processing power at his command; he'd be willing to do simulations. And then we have Pheonix. Quite an interesting character; knows more about flying than anyone I've ever met. I've worked with him for ten years.

I'll ask Diplomacy if they have anything to pass on. In the meantime, Pheonix wants to introduce himself.

-Morth Steelfang

*************************************

FROM: pheonix@KMIL.khr
RECP: uproletta@romeU.rome
SUBJ: Introductions
BODY:

Hello, Professor. I am Pheonix Machine, formerly Pheonix Gold Three KSPROTO12-98C-7. Greetings.

RomeW

24-01-2005, 20:20

[OOC: I often can't post on weekends, and classwork sometimes prevents me at other times. So please allow me a little delay.

Citizens are referred to according to their clans; for example, Morth is a Steelfang.]

OOC: That's okay. No worries then. Thanks for the clan information- I wanted to make sure my professor knew a little bit about Khrrck.

EDIT- Will post later.

Cotland

24-01-2005, 21:05

Tag

RomeW

02-02-2005, 11:09

OOC: I apologize for the extremely late reply...I had two essays to do for this week.

IC:

FROM: uproletta@romeU.rome
RECP: morth@KMIL.khr

SUBJ: RE: Greetings
BODY

Hello Morth...my apologies, it's been a crazy week.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear from you again. I won't be needing the original contact team just yet, but could you at least pass along to them that I say 'hi'? Thanks.

I am quite interested in this Kinsong Aerospace plan, and we will gladly donate our time and energy to the project. Has Kinsong formulated any ideas yet? If so, I'd like to see what they have been proposing. As of now we don't have any firm ideas at the moment, but once we get some we'll pass it along to you for your opinions.

Anyway, have a good day and say hello to the Pheonix Machine for me.
----------------------Morth Steelfang Wrote------------------------------
> Hello Mr. Steelfang. How are you? I'm fine.
Doing all right, doing all right... Address me as Morth, if you don't mind. "Steelfang" is just my clan title.

I'm glad to meet you. The original contact team is off on its own buisness right now; perhaps I can get ahold of them later.

We have a few people who are available on this side, though. Kinsong Aerospace is interested in producing anything we come up with, and I have a friend who has considerable processing power at his command; he'd be willing to do simulations. And then we have Pheonix. Quite an interesting character; knows more about flying than anyone I've ever met. I've worked with him for ten years.

I'll ask Diplomacy if they have anything to pass on. In the meantime, Pheonix wants to introduce himself.

-Morth Steelfang

*************************************

FROM: pheonix@KMIL.khr
RECP: uproletta@romeU.rome
SUBJ: Introductions
BODY:

Hello, Professor. I am Pheonix Machine, formerly Pheonix Gold Three KSPROTO12-98C-7. Greetings.

Khrrck

05-02-2005, 20:50

FROM: morth@KMHIL.khr
RECP: uproletta@romeU.rome
SUBJ: Kinsong
BODY:

Sorry for the delay. Took a while to get through to Kinsong.

I have a few ideas from them. Most of them are really vague, though. Give me a few minutes to hash them together... really busy right now...

[OOC: Eep. Must get going; will finish this later.]

Khrrck

09-02-2005, 05:56

FROM: morth@KMIL.khr
RECP: uproletta@romeU.rome
SUBJ: Kinsong part II
BODY:

Okay... seems like we'll need to decide just what kind of ship we want. I have concepts here for everything from a one-man scout to some kind of battlewagon. I think all of these need serious work. Some of them aren't even worth sending. Arclight seems the most sensible so far, so it's the one I'm sending. I still think we can't use the concept as-is.

Design 1: Arclight
Engine: Gaseous Core Fission/EC-88 Hyperdrive Shunt
Crew: 15
Concept: Exploration on a budget: requires orbital launch

Arclight is one of the cheapest designs I was given. It's a simple ship, basically a crew cabin and engine on opposite ends of a long girder. Cargo can be strapped to the outside. The catch is that the thing runs on a gaseous core fission drive, which means that landing the thing would not only be impossible, but also ruinious. It also requires some rather exotic propellant: uranium hexaflouride (!) and hydrogen. I'll send more designs if you want them, but most of them seem like pie-in-the-sky delusions to me.

RomeW

09-02-2005, 06:38

FROM: uproletta@romeU.rome
RECP: morth@KMIL.khr
SUBJ: Re: Kinsong part II
BODY:

Sounds good. You'll have to send it at night and in the field right beside the University. We don't want anybody to get "suspicious".

Khrrck

11-02-2005, 02:14

FROM: morth@KMIL.khr
RECP: uproletta@romeU.rome
SUBJ: RE: Re: Kinsong part II
BODY:

??? I did send the concept. See previous message. I hate message blips sometimes. It's so hard to say what you mean. Pheonix is happy with them, but he's...different. He's used to them.

Are you sure there's no possibility of a visit? Pheonix tells me he could make the trip with no funding except for fuel costs. I have sufficient privelege to make the trip: being a war hero hath its advantages...

*****************

FROM: kineto@KMIL.khr
RECP: uproletta@romeU.rome
SUBJ: ARCLIGHT
BODY: BEGIN MESSAGE STOP HV READ ARCLIGHT CONCEPT FILE STOP OPINION IS DESIGN IS UNUSABLE STOP RECCOMEND TRY YOUR DESIGNERS FOR GENERAL CONCEPT STOP KINSONG HANDLES DETAILS STOP YOU PROVIDE ELEGANCE COMMA WE PROVIDE STRENGTH STOP KINETO MACHINE STOP ENDIT

RomeW

11-02-2005, 09:25

OOC: I had thought they didn't arrive yet...I was just directing them as to where they should go upon arrival.

FROM: uproletta@romeU.rome
RECP: morth@KMIL.khr
SUBJ: RE: Re: Re: Kinsong part II
BODY:

My mistake. I'll check them out. As for a vist, sure- I'd be happy if you came. I'm just saying that we'll have to be discreet about everything- I don't want the Emperor believing I'm creating secret weapons.

Whenever you can, come visit. We need to discuss the design.

Khrrck

18-02-2005, 19:27

[OOC: I'm fighting off a severe illness and am in no position to post. Sorry.]

RomeW

18-02-2005, 20:33

[OOC: I'm fighting off a severe illness and am in no position to post. Sorry.]

OOC: Get well soon.

Khrrck

22-02-2005, 03:02

FROM: morth@KMIL.khr
RECP: uproletta@romeU.rome
SUBJ: RE: Re: RE: Re: Kinsong part II
BODY:
Understood. We've dealt with secrecy before. Pheonix says once we get the fuel he can make the trip in 3-4 days. I estimate getting the fuel and preparing will take another two days.

Would you mind providing an appropriate time and lat/long for our first meeting?

Liebermonk

22-02-2005, 03:40

OOC: as with me, Earth will be Earth II

As Ida made its daytime orbit around Luna, the moon of Earth, Queen Lerathen landed The Capital Ship on I-Base Alpha. She slowly rode through the Alpha City's street in her Royal transport glider. Staring upward, she was still in awe on how much Bryn Shander had helped her nation develop this dream come true of a home. The glass bubble which contained the human-friendly air glowed a slight purple as the sun shone through it. Far in the distance she saw Earth. She chuckled a bit at the iron.
"Wow, to think that one day long ago, we could only look up at the stars and dream. Now we look down upon the Earth from the stars and cheer."
The television in her glider flickered to an image of a leader she immediately recognized. The Emporer of Rome, a close ally of Liebermonk, was giving a speech on his nation's new goals for a space program.
"Well, it appears that our neighboor is looking up as we did. Let's help them. What do you think of that James?"
Her servant James gave a slight nod, "My Queen, this is a great opportunity for their nation. We recieved much help when we moved here, its only right that we help others as well."
"Then it's settled, we shall help them."
When they arrived at her office, Queen Lerathen dictated a letter to James to send to Rome.

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Dr. Urani Proletta,
Professor Emeritus,
University of Rome

In recent years, our nations have grown closely together. We would like to help a fellow nation of the Roman Confederacy and provide you with much of our recent research done for space research and travel. We would even be willing to organize a trade deal so that you may purchase some of our more advanced technologies that we are not as ready to give away. Either way, we will provide help if need be. Simply let us know what we can do.

Liebermonk

RomeW

22-02-2005, 06:08

OOC: Khrrck: Feeling better? I'm happy you're back.

Liebermonk: at this stage, this isn't government-sanctioned- Rome has initiated a Space Program but so far it's just my Professor who's involved. He did send out messages in the past, and you would probably be able to receive them. I'll just assume you sent a message to Proletta and not Emperor Rodin Hartian.

FROM: uproletta@romeU.rome RECP: morth@KMIL.khr

SUBJ: RE: Re: RE: Re: Kinsong part II, meeting time/place
BODY:

Location: University of Rome, Faculty of Astronomy, Rome, Roman Republic, Co-ordinates: 41° 48' N 12° 36' E
Time: After 12AM (local time)

******To Liebermonk Queen Lerathen******

Hello there. It is nice to hear from you. Of course you are allowed to send a team to swing by and talk with us. We'll just need to know when your team is available.

Signed,
Dr. Urani Proletta,
Professor Emeritus,
University of Rome

Khrrck

01-03-2005, 04:27

How are you doing, Morth?
Got the power crystals you need... sending them up now. Still checking on the graphite.

...

Power crystals just arrived. I'm starting shaping now.
Roger, Pheonix. Petroleum wax and oxidizer were tough, but they're on their way... along with the graphite. Whew.

...

All right. Orbiter motor should be done in a few minutes... Do you have the fuel for the insystem drive?
Do you know how hard it is to get depleted uranium at this time of night?
I'm assuming you did?
Hmph. Yes.
All right. Starting work on drive. Come on up. We should be ready to go by tomorrow... all we need to do is to load a fresh set of crystals after I'm done shaping the insystem drive and my airfoils.

Khrrck

03-03-2005, 04:19

"Are you ready?"
"Ready, Morth."

Morth gazed down the runway ahead of Pheonix's delta-winged form. He took a deep breath.

"Go for it."
"Hold onto your hats!"

Pheonix's single jet engine roared into life. The massive aircraft rocketed down the runway and pulled up into a near-vertical ascent.

Morth eyed the engine's fuel gauge. It was dropping at an alarming rate.

"Phoenix, are you supposed to be burning this fast?"
"All according to plan. We'll run out just as we reach the point where air-breathing engines aphyxiate." A thump of unexpected turbulence shook the plane. "Oh, and that was Mach One going by."

Eighteen minutes later, Phoenix's engine burned out at Mach 1.3 and the edge of the breathable atmosphere.

"First engine burnout. Firing the hybrid now."

Oxidizer mixed with wax and burned. The Pheonix leapt further upwards on a fresh jet of flame.

"Two-thirds burnt. Low-Earth orbital velocity reached. Killing the hybrid. Done. Welcome to orbit. Plotting course to fueling stop."

************************

[i]"This is Pheonix Machine, KSF-X-G-3, outbound on standard transit vector seven to the Proxima stress area. Request you file given flight plan.
Roger, Pheonix. Plan filed. Request exhaust type and dispersion for traffic safety purposes.
Exhaust type NERVA PLUS working fluid at 1200 Celsius. Velocity is approximately 300 klicks per second. Dispersion cone is point three percent.
Roger, Pheonix, your flight plan is valid. Have a safe voyage.
Thanks, Control. Pheonix out.

RomeW

05-03-2005, 00:31

Urani Proletta stood outside in a field near the University of Rome. It was a pleasent night- roughly 10C and clear- perfect conditions for receiving a spacecraft.

He then sent a message to the incoming Steelfangs:

"This is Urani Proletta. You have been cleared to land. Proceed when ready."

Khrrck

09-03-2005, 05:56

[OOC: Bah! Down with Microsoft Smart Quotes, I say! Down with them!]

Stress area reached. Departing.

Phoenix Machine pulsed a complex narrow-band transmitter underneath the hull, emitting a precisely tuned burst of microwaves.

Tensioned space/time shimmered with translucent rainbows and jerked like a exotic trampoline, sending Phoenix along a complex five-dimensional arc out of the Sol Epsilon system. A immeasurable fraction of a second later, Phoenix crashed back into normal space around Proxima Centauri.

*********************

"Five minutes to next stress area."

Morth was staring, stunned, at the dim red sun of Proxima.

"Um, roger. Phoenix… that was bloody amazing."
"Phoenix Transportation. Miracles performed on a daily basis. Rates available upon request. Hold on, we’re jumping to Antares…"

Jump.

"This is a short stop. Enjoy the uncomfortably close view of the red giant star Antares before we jump again…"

Jump.
Jump.
Jump.

*********************

"What is this place?"
"KSS-24872C. It’s unnamed. Transit in eight minutes."

Attention unidentified vehicle! This is the Eighth House Army! You have failed to respond on standard Cog quantum bands, and if you do not respond you will be assumed to be an agent of the Shadoo Empire.

Eighth House, this is Phoenix Machine. We’re on no side. We’re just passing through. Please don’t fire.

There was a flash off Phoenix’s left wing.

"What was that?"
"A stone artillery shell. Let’s get out of here."

Jump.
Jump.
Jump.

*********************

"…and we’ve arrived. Receiving signal."

Roger, Proletta. We'll be coming in quiet-like. Expect us in about an hour.

RomeW

09-03-2005, 09:03

OOC: Smart Quotes? Never come across them before- I'm guessing they're not as good as advertized.

Also, I'll let you RP your landing.

IC:

Roger, Proletta. We'll be coming in quiet-like. Expect us in about an hour.

"Roger. Your landing area is clear."

Khrrck

14-03-2005, 06:08

Phoenix drifted on a parabolic arc towards low Earth II orbit.

"Deorbit point reached. RCS orienting and burning engine at 80% power for 12.3 seconds. Hold on, we're starting... NOW."

The Machine flipped lazily through 180 degrees and fired his hybrid wax rocket. Petroleum flared like a giant blowtorch. 10.3 seconds later, Pheonix dropped below orbital velocity.

A moment later, the engine shut off. Pheonix spun again, so as to enter the atmosphere nose-first. To an outside observer, he dropped like a rock. It was only a few minutes before the first red flickers of superheated atmosphere showed around the edges of his wings.

Phoenix dropped for twelve minutes. By the time he reached atomosphere that his engines could breathe, his wingtips were white-hot and the Mach meter read 13.2.

"Igniting in ramjet mode."

Phoenix leveled out almost 1.5 thousand miles from Rome University. Losing velocity rapidly, it dropped from the hypersonic to the supersonic at 700 miles away. At 200 miles, it dropped to subsonic speeds and turbojet propulsion.

Proletta, we're at 75 miles from the site. We're running full stealth except for a few sonic booms about a hundred miles back. Expect us to land in a few minutes.

****************************

True to Pheonix's word, the rumble of unseen engines was soon heard above the field. It circled the field once, then hovered above the center of the field.

The glare of a sudden spotlight bathed the area, and Phoenix Machine descended slowly on the final leg of his journey.

Landing gear touched grass with a quiet thump.

RomeW

14-03-2005, 08:56

As soon as the Pheonix settled on the ground, Proletta walked up to the spacecraft to greet the passengers.

"Morth, Pheonix, how are you? Don't worry about the noise- it's Pub Night on campus. They probably wouldn't hear you anyway. Come out, make yourselves feel at home. We've got a lot to discuss."

Khrrck

18-03-2005, 00:51

Phoenix's delta-winged form sank with a hiss as his landing gear adjusted to the terrain. His thick canopy unsealed with a clunk, then whirred back to expose the cockpit. Small sections of the fuselage recessed inwards to form footholds.

Morth emerged from the cockpit, climbing carefully down Pheonix's side and dropping to the ground.

*****************************

"I'm sure we do."

Morth looked up at Proletta. Being a Wyrm (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Wyrm), he was considerably closer to ground level, but his stainless-steel smile and considerable length more than made up for his height.

"Hello, Proletta. I'm Morth. Sorry, but I can't shake hands. This is Pheonix, of the Machine clan-"

"Greetings. You've got a nice planet here." said a speaker mounted on Phoenix's side.

"-who also can't shake hands. Sorry."

RomeW

18-03-2005, 01:04

"It's okay. I won't take offence. Still, it is nice to meet you both; and thank you Pheonix for your compliment, although I don't really agree. I mean, our area is nice but the south side...let's just say that it isn't pretty. Us humans really are destroying our own planet, and it's such a pity."

Proletta sighed. Then he decided to keep talking.

"Oh well. That will be another debate. We have a lot to discuss, so let's get to it. Is it okay if I look around a bit, Pheonix?"

Khrrck

18-03-2005, 01:27

"Feel free. Watch out for the exhaust nozzles, though. They're still hot, and you might get a few rems if you stand behind them for too long."

RomeW

18-03-2005, 01:45

"Feel free. Watch out for the exhaust nozzles, though. They're still hot, and you might get a few rems if you stand behind them for too long."
"Will do." Proletta then proceeded to look around, inspecting every inch of the spacecraft.

OOC: I'm going to have to make this short because I have to go. Just to clarify, it's a triangular spacecraft, correct?

Khrrck

18-03-2005, 01:50

[OOC: Yes.]

Khrrck

21-03-2005, 04:38

Phoenix appears suprisingly anachronistic for a spacecraft. He seems to have more F-16 than Space Shuttle in his ancestry, with swept-back delta wings, twin tails, and a pair of what look suspiciously like weapon ports underneath the fuselage. Its attitude control jets are oversized, and the two jet engines are equipped with thrust-vectoring nozzles. On the nose is written two runic characters and the English words "PHOENIX, MACHINE CLAN".

Pheonix has two jet engines, fed by intakes on each side of the cockpit. The intakes have panels to close them during reentry. Molded into the underside of the fuselage is a third, more bulbous engine which lacks a air intake and feeds to a third nozzle between the twin jet nozzles. The engine is labeled with six more runic characters, the English legend "CAUTION: THIS ROCKET CONTAINS RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL", and the international warning symbol for radiation.

*********************************

"Don't expect to use me as a model," commented Phoenix. "I'm expensive to build conventionally and impossible to perform external maintenance on. See the hull seams? No, you don't. There aren't any. I've got a one-piece hull, and you'd have to cut me open to get at my internals."

RomeW

22-03-2005, 20:08

Proletta finished his inspection and was thoroughly pleased. He replied to Pheonix, "yeah, well...I think we're not at that stage yet. Although I am interested in learning more about your technology," said Proletta.

He then turned to Morth. "Morth, to my understanding the designs you sent me are similar to Pheonix. I want to ask you if it's possible to alter the designs a little bit to fit what we can handle- namely hydrogen and maybe oil- and so that we'd be able to fly and land the spacecraft. Or if there are any other Kinsong spacecraft that we could buy and use."

Khrrck

24-03-2005, 18:05

RomeW

24-03-2005, 18:38

Morth frowned. "Well, we've got a problem there. The design I sent you was a concept. If you take a closer look at it you'll see that the general idea is all worked out, but the actual technical details aren't finished. I was hoping we could work on it together to make something that your country or Kinsong could build. Kinsong's only ever made one spacecraft... and it wasn't a spacecraft when they built it. Phoenix here was originally an aerobatic prototype retrofitted to carry weapons. Everything since then he did himself, and we don't have the manufacturing technology to replicate what he does." He paused.

"I was hoping we could contact the Augs. They're the only ones I know of that have successfully built a space presence and who might be willing to sell tech or ships. I managed to figure out their current location, but there isn't a transmitter in Khrrck powerful enough to reach it. I was hoping the old contact transmitter you built would have the range we needed. If it doesn't, we'll have to build everything ourselves."

"Well, we can try. There's no harm in that. We're not sure of its power but our old transmitter seemed to have far-reaching potential. As for the concept, we can still look it over and improve upon it- this is why we're here. Come then, let's go into the building and take a closer look at the concept."

With that, Proletta and Morth both walked into the adjacent building, the Roman Centre for Astronomy. There was the concept Morth had sent Proletta, as well as the old transmitter. "Here's hoping it works..." Proletta thought to himself as he walked in.

Khrrck

30-03-2005, 04:34

Morth looked around the inside of the building with some trepidation.

“I thought we were trying to not be noticed. Isn’t taking us inside the buildings
a bit of a risk?”

*******************************

Outside, Phoenix retracted his landing gear and rested the bottom of his hull on
the ground. The craft sunk halfway into the ground, then shimmered, chameleon-like, to match the color of the ground.

RomeW

30-03-2005, 05:42

Morth looked around the inside of the building with some trepidation.

“I thought we were trying to not be noticed. Isn’t taking us inside the buildings
a bit of a risk?”

"Don't worry, there's no one here. They've all gone home," said Proletta. "Besides, I've locked the premises and I'm the only one with the key."

With that, Proletta and Morth eventually reached the Professor's office, where the concept was being stored. He fired up his computer and loaded the concept.

"There it is. The Kinsong design." Proletta smiled. "I like the design personally. Now, to my understanding, it's similar to Pheonix only that it does not have sentient abilities and it can't land on a planet. Correct?"

Khrrck

06-04-2005, 03:11

Morth looked, dumbfounded, at the screen for a moment, then ground his teeth.

"I'm such an idiot. This isn't Arclight, this is the Demon prototype's design schematic.
I must have gotten your file mixed up with someone else's. Do you have a standard
data cable? Thanks."

Morth jacked one end of the cable into Proletta's computer, then slid the other end
into something concealed under his wrist. He closed his eyes for a moment.

"Okay. This is what Phoenix originally was. No sentience, no EMP shielding, no weapons,
and most importantly, no spacedrive. This isn't any use to us. Let me download the
Arclight concept..."

The Demon schematic disappeared, replaced by a long, thin spar with clusters of modules
at either end.

"This is Arclight. On this end-" (the smaller cluster flashed) "-are the crew quarters,
life support systems, etc. On the other end is the reactor, fuel, radiators, spacedrive,
and main engine. This spar in the middle is your cargo area. There's hardpoints along
its length for you to attach cargo containers, additional fuel tanks, weapons and
defenses, et cetera. Very versatile. The real problem is that this thing is not only
entirely the wrong shape to land on a planet, but the main engine's exhaust is not
something you want on a planet. It's highly radioactive. But I think there's a lander
somewhere in the schematics."

RomeW

06-04-2005, 05:14

OOC: Khrrck, I appreciate your patience. I seem to screw up on your ship designs too often... :S Can I just ask for clarity: does it have a space shuttle-like design, or is it another delta ship? The wording in the original E-Mail on Post #10 has confused me a little.

IC:

"Hmmnn...and I liked that model", Proletta thought to himself as Morth downloaded the correct file. As Morth was talking, he took careful note of the design- all the fuel tanks, the cargo area, the weapons. It looked really impressive. He just worried how he was going to fuel it, especially after Rome sold Niger just the other day. However, he was determined to find uranium hexafloride, because he knew that the Romans could build this ship.

"Morth, what kind of metal does this ship need for construction? Because I'm confident that the Romans are capable of building this ship." Proletta smiled big- so big, he couldn't remember the last time he smiled that much. For this Star Trek fan, the dream of finally escaping this planet seemed to become reality.

Khrrck

07-04-2005, 03:56

[OOC: I apologize for the diagram. Made it in Paint: didn't have time for better.

http://tinypic.com/2lx7iq

That help? Will post later AKA tomorrow.]

RomeW

07-04-2005, 04:28

[OOC: I apologize for the diagram. Made it in Paint: didn't have time for better.

http://tinypic.com/2lx7iq

That help? Will post later AKA tomorrow.]

OOC: Okay. That will do for now.

Khrrck

08-04-2005, 03:28

RomeW

08-04-2005, 09:46

"Let's see..." muttered Morth. "List of materials... Ah. Here we are. Nothing too exotic. Remember, we can try and mess with the design if we can't get certain things."

Text scrolled by.

MAJOR MATERIALS

Titanium
Carbon-fiber reinforced plastic
Duralumin (95% aluminum 4% copper ~1% magnesium <1% maganese)
Flexceram (see appended formula & process)

"Doesn't look like a problem... Wait. There is a problem."

Morth frowned.

"How are we going to get all the components into orbit? We can't launch it from the ground without leaving a glowing crater."

"Does it *need* uranium hexafloride exclusively or could we attach some more fuel modules that take petroleum? We could build a ship with rotating thrusters, or four of them- two would take uranium and the other two would take oil, with an alternator switch being used to adjust between the thrusters when needed."

NationStates Jolt Archive

Rome relaunches their space program