NationStates Jolt Archive

New Dornalia City (People's Daily)- Today, the Commissar for Science announced that after a period of construction marked by supply runs using Soyuz craft, Initial Construction on the Che Guevara Station was finished.

The Station, about 15,000-30,000 habitable cubic feet in size, is a massive undertaking dedicated to providing New Dornalia with orbital research facilities, and as well, areas for future upgrades, such as orbital spacedocks and shipyards, which have been commenced as we speak.

Speaking with pride, the Commissar said, "This is a glorious step for the Workers' State. We have a foothold in the stars, soon, the People shall see glory."

A holiday has been declared all over ND, and parades (http://www.aviapress.com/book/art/oth223/oth223_8.jpg) have been held in celebration. The first crew of cosmonauts is expected to arrive in 72 hours.

UPDATE:

The first series of five Soyuz craft, carrying the 50 cosmonauts that will help keep the station running, have arrived.

Mission Leader Carl Langlois said, upon reaching the station: "Well, it was tough, but the People's Will pulled us through. We're here, and we rock."

He then added: "CHEWBACCA!"

Further supply launches and crew deployment missions are expected. Meanwhile, it is reported that the Commissariat has begun work on a new reusable transport craft in order to more efficently serve the station, to be dubbed the Gagarin.

SIC:

Meanwhile....

Ling Tsu-kai said, "How's the FTL drives from that TIE?"

One of the crew said, "Well, since we got the specs for them, we're seeing if we can make our own. It's hard going, sir- the superconductors we have to use are insane, and I'm not sure if Kobayashi's Hydrogen fuel engines will come in time. But, I think we can do it-you did want a working FTL drive for the Gagarin, right?"

Ling said, "Very well.....keep going. I'll get Kobayashi to move it."

Construction moved slowly but surely on the Gagarin's new Hydrogen Fuel drive, and on the Gagarin itself.

Kobayashi stood in front of the engine, telling people: "No, don't do that......I need those to be clean....can youget me a better filter?" and other such exhortations. He was on a tight schedule; the Commissariat wanted him to deliver the engine in two months. That was no way to make an engine. Heck, most of the engine was reverse engineered from the TIE Defender models purchased from the nation of Huntaer, only supersized.

Still he sighed, he had to go on. Tests with the fuel proved promising; keeping it cooled and mixing it with other heavier compounds to help it stay together ensured that the fuel broke down much more slowly, with no change in burning. Now, he had to find a design that wouldn't guzzle this stuff like a fat man with a glass of water in front of him.

As Kobayashi was debating what to do, Langlois was having an easier time.

"Whoowee!!!!"

He was floating around in space, holding the handrails and moving towards the Command Module. Upon arrival, he opened the door, and was greeted by a smiling crew, full of Taster's Choice Coffee and somewhat amped for the day ahead.

"Okay guys, our first order of business is to inspect the station, make sure the electricity is working, blah, blah...and also, we are to begin spacewalking at 1450, we are to begin installing Artificial Gravity Spinners on the station modules, so we don't have to do the whole flying act every day. Got it?"

The crew said, "Yes!"

The crew, surprisingly, had no questions. They began floating around, doing matenance.....

Kobayashi ultimately figured out a solution to his crisis. He didn't have time to play around, like the cosmonauts.

In the interim, he would use locally made versions of the TIE Defender engines. HE didn't like the idea; it was cheap, and bland. But, it would have to do for now, considering his message had recieved no takers.

The Hydrogen Engine he was making was put on hold, and many of the resources were being shifted to copy the SFS P-sz9.7 Twin Ion Engines in the TIE Defenders. He witnessed them begin to assemble the reactors and machine the parts together. This would be quicker, and within the two month limit.

HE still felt dirty though. But, like the Soviets did with the B-29 in those distant years before the Apocalypse, they would get a leg up by copying too.

Anyway, the design itself was made locally, based on pre-Apocalypse concepts modified for the needs of now. He stared at the CGI-made model, which looked like this:

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/space-plane-venturestar1.jpg

He mumbled, "Humph," before sipping his coffee.

OOC: Imagine that plane with TIE wings, like on the TIE Bomber. Yes, I'm lazy.

The Gagarin project was moving on schedule. The engines made, it was now a matter of putting them on the body, and testing the spaceplane.

This was done within a day, with workers working at a frantic pace to try and put the titanium-aluminum-steel construct together. The scene resembled a shot from the show Monster Garage; people were running around, tools were clattering, people were shouting, and men could be seen placing parts into place in tandem, like a squad of Amish barn-raisers.

In the end, it was finished.

The Gagarin rolled out of the factory, and bottles of whiskey and champaigne were opened. Soon, the real tests would begin, as an An-225 was wheeled into place to begin the process of piggybacking the Gagarin into space....

The Gagarin was placed onto the An-225, dubbed Mashenka, or "Mary." The workers at the plant eagerly watched the plane as it began taxing onto the runway.

The tower gave the signal, and soon, Mashenka was on her way.

The pilots cranked up the song "Baba O'Riley" by The Who. Rock music was not forbidden in New Dornalia, and in fact, it was a sort of national art form. But blaring it out while performing a dangerous job was certainly odd.

Mashenka soon began climbing higher into the air. 5,000 feet, then 10,000, then eventually 20,000 feet. They climbed higher and higher until they could go no more.

Then, Mashenka's crew signaled Gagarin:

"Okay boys, here goes nothin'. We're gonna let go now. Be safe, and have a great day kids."

The Gagarin crew radioed back:

"Okay pops."

Mashenka's crew released the clamps that bound her and Gagarin together. As Mashenka dove downwards, Gagarin activated her thrusters, and began climbing.

The crew aboard was anxious, furiously gripping their parachutes, praying they would not need to be used. Some began praying to God, others to Marx, the Greatest Hero of the People of the Patriotic Church-New Dornalia's eventual deification of Communism's finest.

The Gagarin soon climbed higher and higher, approaching near space altitudes. Finally, at the edge of space, the last bit of booster was kicked in, and the Gagarin was sent into low orbit.

The Mission LEader radioed the Griffin Observatory:

"Mission Control, this is Gagarin. We have made it into space! The stars are Red! All Glory to the Soviets!"

At Mission Control, the controllers jumped for joy. Whiskey was brought out, and loud music blared in celebration.

MacIntyre was pleased with the news. First, his nation made first contact. Now, he had a space station and a working resuable vehicle, albeit one that was not that big. By intergalatic standards, a 9 meter long, 5 meter wide ship carrying 5-10 crewmen and 3-6 metric tons of supplies was not much, but it was a start.

He wondered what to do now. He had gotten Veritech Fighters and Robotech Tanks from Megas. And, his man Tartakovsky had invented a very useful lasgun.

Would he go and conquer? The Neckers were out in force, certainly. His refusal to pay tribute to Murasaki-hime, his old enemy, had ticked her off- spies reported movements in the San Bernadino Valley, with Necker tribes being assembled even from Indian Country and Nevada. Some estiamted the army was at 50,000-100,000 people, set to raid and pillage.

Still, Mac's advanced technology gave him an advantage over the Neckers and their reliance on horse cavalry and Winchester rifles. And it could wait-he had entrusted the situation to his man-or woman rather-Nomura. He had to attend to this matter.

For his array of thoughts were soon interrupted by a crewman shouting, "Comrade, we're live!"

Mac said, "Sorry."

He then spoke to the Gagarin crew, which by now was at the Che Guevara station. He said, "How's it going? How was the flight?"

A crew member said, "It's great. She handles like a dream. Those TIE engines are a godsend-where'd ya get em!? I'll say this much-I wanna ride it again!"

Mac said, "In time. How's the station?"

"Great," another said. "These guys are installing artificial gravity systems, and we're gonna do some other stuff, like bring up the docking upgrades you wanted. We have 'em onboard."

Mac smield, and said, "Good. I want a report in the next 72 hours."