<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lt Colonel Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Cockpit</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td>Amber</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Rolling out</td></tr></tbody></table><br/><hr/><br/>"Ah there you are." Louise smiled at her copilot. "Weather reports are so bloody changeable on Mars, we could run into a major blow and have to abort, or we could have clear air all the way there. I've always wanted to do this..." She flipped the intercom on. "Good morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome aboard Mars Air flight zero zero one to Mount Olympus. The weather report says we may have some small bumps on the way, but for the most part the weather is clear. We will be flying at an altitude of fifteen hundred metres above mean ground level, and will be taking off in a few minutes. Cabin crew, doors to manual!"<br/><br/>She paused and then added, "Sorry, I always wanted to say that ever since seeing it on a documentary about air travel. Anyway, I hope everyone is comfortable, because it's going to be a long flight. Closing the read door".<br/><br/>She left the intercom on and watched from an external camera as the ramp at the back levered itself up and closed with a thud. The tell-tale on the dash turned green and she nodded. "Rear door is sealed. Cabin pressure nominal. Closing internal pressure doors." The double airlock doors between the cargo bay and the passenger cabin slid into place and sealed, followed by the pressure door between the passenger cabin and cockpit. The latter was merely a precaution and she would open it again as soon as they were in the air.<br/><br/>"MA-001 to tower, request permission to exit airlock?" She spoke over the radio, for formality's sake.<br/><br/>"This is New Sydney control, Mars Air One you are clear to roll. We have no other traffic in your vicinity" The reply came back. Louise chuckled. Clearly the guy on the radio had the same sense of humour and sense of history as herself!<br/><br/>"Opening inner door". The massive hanger door slid upwards and she eased electricity into the wheel motors, trundling the vehicle forwards. "Closing inner door". The door slid shut and locked. "De-pressurising main lock". Pumping out that much air took a while, and it was a good five minutes before the flashing amber light above the outer door finally turned green. "Pressure equalised to surface. Opening outer door". The door slid up soundlessly, and Louise eased the ship forward, driving it up the slight incline and out onto the Martian surface... (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=148806.msg7737692#msg7737692)