Hope. That's all any of us ever have. But hope is a cruel mistress. Ever since that first eclipse, Papa had hoped to go to space, but the taco had taken it from him... damn it, Papa, I told you that eating glowing things that had been left out too close to the Klutonium was a bad idea!
My name is Genelock Kerman.
I had received a chance to complete Papa's dream. To go to space. But it came with a cost. One I wasn't sure I would be able to pay. The esteemed Wernher von Kerman has seen fit to include me in his 'Space Program for Kerbals', but it came with a price tag. Science.
The old Kerbal was hooked on it. Addicted. Always needing more, and who did you think was going to have to provide it? Yup. This schmuck. Don't let that picture fool you. The smile, the hair, it all belied a monster who craved science the way a Keth addict craved his next hit. But I could use that. The previous spacejocks had been cowboys. All thrust and no science. That was where I came in. All I had to do was take some readings. Do some experiments. Upper atmosphere, low orbit, high orbit. Then bring the results home safe. It sounded easy. Too easy.
Oh yeah. Did I mention I had to design my own rocket? Luckily I had some new toys to work with based on the science gained from the previous cowboy's trip to Mun.
Here she is. Only the best stuff I salvaged off the scrapheap went into making her.
I named her the Eclipsia 1, in honour of Papa and his dream. She would carry me true. I knew it. She carried Papa's love inside her.
The launch goes well. She holds up like I thought she would. Sweet Eclipsia 1. She starts to spin, but after I shake off the empty boosters and start the gravity turn, she recovers. We're on our way to orbit now.
A picture of the Kappalachian Mountains from way up. Flight computer tells me we reached apoapsis of 80km. Good. That means I can start the next step. Orbit. My radio crackles. Mission control picked up some anomalies from the equipment. Maybe some things had shaken loose during ascent. Damn. I had to go outside to check it out.
Its... its beautiful. But deadly. Hard vacuum, radiation, no gravity... If it wasn't for the view I would have called this hell. I try to describe its beauty to the guys back on Kerbin, but they aren't interested. All they want is details. Scientific details. Damn that Wernher.
Is that high enough for you Wernher? Is it?
Sunrise, from my capsule. How can a place this deadly be so beautiful? Papa, I wish you could see this. I'm not crying. There is just a bit of dust in my eye.
No time for staring slackjawed at the sun. It makes me see spots. I was up here to do a job and I had limited time to do it. Time to collect more damned science for Wernher's addiction.
Now for the most dangerous part. Phase 3. Coming back down. Wernher's science was still stuck in the labs and goo canisters. Those wouldn't survive reentry. I would have to go get the data. And that meant using the rocket pack. In space. With no safety line. If I screwed up here, I would die a cold, lonely death in the depths of space. The urge to get back in the (relative) safety of the pod was almost overwhelming.
Careful, Genelock, careful, gently does it... I make it back inside with all the precious science. I hope Wernher chokes on it. The vultures at the KSC immediately press me for details. How was the EVA? Did the joints function as they should have? Did the rocket pack work? Of course it worked. Would I be here if it hadn't?
I detach the capsule. Goodbye, sweet Eclipsia 1. You did your task well. Rest well, old girl. You earned it. Now I just hope the parachute works.
Reentry is... bumpy. But the pod holds.
Touchdown is in the highlands of Kerbin. The parachute worked.
Now I just wait for rescue. But I know it will come. Wernher wants the science. He needs it. And I have it. Come get it, Wernher. This has been for you, Papa.
Total Science Earned: 175
Next guy can pick how to use it. I got, goo, crew report and science junior for upper atmosphere, close orbit and high orbit. Also got a few EVAs in space near water, grassland, desert, highland, mountain and shores, as well as EVAs in upper atmosphere and high orbit. Got Surface sample, EVA and crew report from highlands.
Savegame:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwBQlGCc5WocX28xRzNmU0NKQjA&usp=sharing
Poll
