AfterShock - UN Mars Team (IC)
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: ryanmcallister80 on 04-07-2012, 18:08:44</h2>
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				Title: <strong>AfterShock - UN Mars Team (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ryanmcallister80</strong> on <strong>04-07-2012, 18:08:44</strong>
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				<div align="center"><em>Space, the final frontier... <br>- attributed to 20th century sci-fi show</em></div><br><br><strong>+++++ Main Concourse, 'Tranquillity Base' Lunar Station, January 21st&nbsp; 2052 +++++</strong><br><br>"... And for each of you I know this will be a moment you remember for the rest of your lives. Your families and the people of the nations you represent can look back upon your endeavour and sacrifice with pride. You may never return to planet Earth again, but know that when we look up to the night sky and the distant light of Mars, we will always remember you, the pioneers of Mars." Secretary General Alexandr Kerensky of the United Nations addressed the crew of the UNS Pioneer in a live broadcast watched by billions around the world as they prepared to board the shuttle that would take them to the waiting ship. The end of his speech was met with rapturous applause from the gathered crowd and the hundreds of flash bulbs from the words media that had come to record this momentous event.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>The crew sat by the podium used by the elderly Polish politician, elected as head of the UN a few years after the establishment of the Moon base, a mission he himself had commanded. The spotlight of the whole world's media was on everyone today, but hopefully after a while you would be able to get down to doing the job you all signed up to do: To be the first humans to set foot on Mars and herald a new era of Mankind's history, a Golden Age of space exploration and scientific discovery. Though, the announcement a few days earlier that there would be a live 24 hour feed on board the UNS Pioneer and that everyone will have streaming feed from their helmet camera once on Mars did cause a little consternation among some of the crew. <br><br>Once this showpiece was over and you'd all endured the politicians photo opportunities and shook the hands of all the people seeking to gain some publicity from their association with the project, the hard and doubtless monotonous work would begin. A 44 day journey from here to Mars orbit followed by another few weeks preparing the habitation modules would follow before the mission could be deemed a success and the 200 colonists could be woken from their cryo sleep and their work of medical and technological research on Mars could begin. After that your mission would change to one of mere caretakers and occasionally guides if anyone needed babysitting while they explored the dangerous Martian surface.<br><br>In preparation for your arrival a number of automated craft had set off just over a month ago carrying the larger modules for the colony, prefabricated elements of the structure too bulky for the Pioneer to carry. The more delicate cargo, such as the sleeping scientists, doctors and researchers as well as electrical equipment, a small number of Martian adapted vehicles and the initial quota of air, water and food supplies were in your care aboard the Pioneer, the first ship capable of making the long journey to Mars.<br><br>The Secretary General ends his speech wishing you all god-speed and favourable winds, harking back to the days of old and the explorers of Earth's ancient history. The hubbub dies down eventually and you are able to extricate yourselves to the relative peace of the ready room of the shuttle launch bay. Here you are able to don your bespoke skin suits that will be your constant attire while in space. Designed to fit each of you like a glove it functions as a flight suit, helping you stay conscious during high G manoeuvres and interfacing with your modified STARS suits when you arrive on Mars. <br><br>While you ready yourselves you are afforded a glimpse of the Pioneer, your home for the next 44 days...<br><br>(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSBm7xZ9JoVDmYS3gnUYH-VLi4viUyAB_l_vvmIi1pC58uyCvxYfZenNKm)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>A chime sounds in the ready room and over the intercom a voice announces the shuttle is ready for you to embark. Its is a functional, angular looking craft, more like a brick with wings than any atmospheric craft used in Earth orbit. Once on-board and strapped into your flight seats the pilot's voice fills the cramped passenger cabin announcing the small craft's imminent departure. Looking around you see the familiar faces of the people you have trained with for the last year. <br><br>With a slight shudder to announce its departure the shuttle slowly manoeuvres its way from the bay on the lunar base up to the orbiting docking frame to which the UNS Pioneer is currently tethered.&nbsp; 
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				Title: <strong>Re: AfterShock - UN Mars Team (iC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Isobel</strong> on <strong>05-07-2012, 00:39:30</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3c/Hoshi_Kimura.jpg) </div><strong>Name:</strong> Dr Hoshi Kimura<br><strong>Occupation:</strong> Civil Engineer<br><strong>Location:</strong> Lunar Shuttle<br><strong>Date:</strong> January 21st 2052<br><hr><span style="font-family: verdana;" class="bbc_font">Hoshi couldn’t believe she was FINALLY on her way to MARS!!&nbsp; She couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t desperately wanted to go there, and now here she was!&nbsp; In her skinsuit (which looked quite sexy, she thought) sitting in her sleeper seat, next to Sumalee who was SUCH a girl.&nbsp; Not her girlfriend exactly but someone she really respected.&nbsp; And fancied! </span><br><br><span style="font-family: verdana;" class="bbc_font">And had had a fair bit of sex with, actually.&nbsp; In a slightly competitive way, like they did everything…it had even started in judo practice, when a hold had led to the hint of a caress, that had been returned, and in a flash things had snowlballed…&nbsp; </span><br><br><span style="font-family: verdana;" class="bbc_font">In fact 44 days with the sodding camera feed – not to mention the skinsuit – preventing any sex was the one big downside that Hoshi could see ahead.&nbsp; Well, hopefully the loo or somewhere would at least big enough to get yourself off once in a while.</span><br><br><span style="font-family: verdana;" class="bbc_font">Then once they were there and at long last assembling buildings she’d have to see if she could finally shake the role of being the youngest and smallest of the team, and be their Civil Engineer.&nbsp; Not that everyone wasn’t respectful.&nbsp; But she’d never known such a tough lot.&nbsp; It was great to be part of it; just not so easy to get your own way!!&nbsp; </span>
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				Title: <strong>Re: AfterShock - UN Mars Team (iC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Celede</strong> on <strong>05-07-2012, 02:03:12</strong>
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				Sumalee spied the wide smile on her associate's face and couldn't help but share in her jubilee.&nbsp; They were going to Mars...MARS!&nbsp; This was going to be so bad ass!<br><br>Hoshi was brilliant, the Civil Engineer of the crew, and her sparring partner on enough occasions due to their mutual love for Martial Arts...and the release they got from hard fighting.&nbsp; They'd bonded further through their close age and similar cultures, and over sex and their competitive natures.&nbsp; But when it came down to it, the team had a mission and they had each others back through many of the simulations during training.&nbsp; <br><br>Sumalee dropped her head back as she felt the shuttle take a turn and her eyes glanced around at the others.&nbsp; They were an attractive crew no doubt.&nbsp; If the fate of mankind rested on this bunch, there would at least be a great gene pool to draw from.&nbsp; The men were Caucasian which if she was honest, were the type of men she was most attracted to.&nbsp; Maybe that old adage that women go after men like their father was true.&nbsp; Her's being Australian, she was drawn to fairer men. <br><br>Her eyes drifted over to Caitlin, their main pilot who Sumalee would be co-pilot for when needed or relief for when Caitlin had to rest.&nbsp; An American who was pretty bad ass too and looked like she could kick your ass but in a beautiful way.&nbsp; They had all trained together, should know how each other will react in different scenarios and who would do what when the time came to make that final landing on Mars and the hard work began.&nbsp; But in a sense, she didn't know them all that well at all.&nbsp; Their primary focus, their lives were completely consumed to culminate to this day.&nbsp; Guess 44 days of open space with few other companions would lead to some more familiarity with each other.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: AfterShock - UN Mars Team (iC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>05-07-2012, 02:07:52</strong>
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				As she strode towards the craft, Caitlin was the very image of dedicated professionalism. Save for a little swagger in her step, she seemed calm, level-headed, professional and determined. Inside was another matter; the pilot practically bubbling over with hysterical, girlish glee.<br><br>She couldn’t help it, and it was all she could do to put a lid on it. Caitlin knew that she was the best of pilot on the face of the planet, able to handle any aircraft that she sat behind the wheel of with amazing grace and ability. Being selected for the Mars mission was merely the proof of that. The UN knew that it would take an incredibly skilled pilot to pull this off, which was why they’d turned to her.<br><br>And Caitlin was going to be the one who would take them to mars. Her! She could see it now, her name in the History books alongside other great explorers… <em>Marco Polo; Christopher Columbus; James Cook; Neil Armstrong… Cailtin Powers. Awesome ring to it.</em> It was almost like the world was going out of its way to acknowledge her awesomeness.<br><br>The only downside? She’d have nothing to do for fourty-four days. Still, it’d be worth it for just the excitement of that one moment.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: AfterShock - UN Mars Team (iC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Frelance</strong> on <strong>05-07-2012, 04:28:19</strong>
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				<strong>Name:</strong> Dureke<br><strong>Occupation:</strong> Medic / Biologist<br><strong>Location:</strong> Lunar shuttle on route to Pioneer<br><strong>Date:</strong> January 21<sup>st</sup>, 2052<br><hr><br>Dureke stood watching the Pioneer as they waited for the shuttle that would take them to their new home was prepped. He had finished studying it a few minutes before and had turned his mind back to the photo shoot they had just endured. He had not been surprised to see a representative from Russia there, what had surprised him was that it was someone he had fought with when they both were young. He was sure that luck had nothing to do with them meeting just before he left earth.<br><br>His thoughts were interrupted as the intercom chimed and they were informed that the shuttle was ready. He followed the others into the craft and after strapping himself in he looked over at the other crew before closing his eyes. He took a moment then let himself relax before opening his eyes and leaning his head back against the seat. He tried to think of a loop hole that would allow him to get out of having a live feed back to earth all the time.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: AfterShock - UN Mars Team (iC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Napanee</strong> on <strong>05-07-2012, 22:19:18</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://www.whatsonxiamen.com/ent_images/6565_5.jpg)</div><strong>Name: </strong>James Braithwaite<br><strong>Occupation:</strong>Engineer<br><strong>Location: </strong>Shuttle en-route to Pioneer / Pioneer main cabin.<br><strong>Date:&nbsp; </strong><br><hr><br>He was happy that the dog and pony show was done with. Now they could get down to business. Well, start to get down to business. 95% of the launch was down to Tranquility Control. Powers just had to confirm they were pointed in the right direction for TMI (Trans Mars Injection), hit the Main Engine Start button, and they were on their way. A none-interruptible six hour burn that would be their ticket to Mars. Any problems with the burn and they were already out of the range of outside help. They, or at least Pioneer, would be going to Mars come what may.<br><br>As it happened, he was the last out of the shuttle. He waited for some of the others to take their assigned stations and he took his behind, and to the right, of Powers. His Ops Board was all green. The engines were spun up to pre-firing levels, and all other systems were nominal.<br><br>He leaned over to Powers. "OK ? Now this is all as we discussed and trained for. No heroics, no unnecessary manual control, no 'loop the loops', just boring old TMI. You good with that ?" he knew she was. She might be a little headstrong, but in a pinch he'd take headstrong to indecisive. He briefly laid his hand on her shoulder. Just gently, an indication he had every faith in her. They all did.<br><br>"Give Tranquility two minutes to fuss some more, and then what do you say we quit this town ?"<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: AfterShock - UN Mars Team (iC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Celede</strong> on <strong>05-07-2012, 22:44:35</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v137/Celede_sd/Sumalee2.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Sumalee Voclain<br><strong>Occupation:</strong> Weapons/Security/Co-pilot<br><strong>Location:</strong> Bridge of Pioneer<br><strong>Date:</strong> January 21st, 2052<br><hr><br>Sliding into the co-pilot seat, Sumalee carefully ran through her checks.&nbsp; They'd gone through this hundreds of times in simulations, different scenarios, preparing for anything but the expectation was that everything would go off without a hitch.&nbsp; The technology was there that when everything fired up and all the coordinates laid in, they really didn't have to do much but sit back and let it all happen.&nbsp; There were a few more minutes until they would enter the optimal window for launch.&nbsp; She heard Braithwaite words and looked over at Caitlin for a moment.&nbsp; Then she turned back to her own control panel.&nbsp; <br><br>No doubt everyone's adrenaline was running high.&nbsp; Sumalee took a steadying breath and shifted in her STARS suit before tugging on the harness of her seat.&nbsp; She looked out at the vast space before them and said a silent prayer.&nbsp; Couldn't hurt.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: AfterShock - UN Mars Team (iC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>06-07-2012, 16:25:16</strong>
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				<strong>Name:</strong> Cailtin Powers<br><strong>Occupation:</strong> Pilot<br><strong>Location:</strong> <em>Pioneer</em> Main Cabin<br><strong>Date:</strong> January 21, 2052<br><hr><br>Cailtin was half-listening to James as he gave her the zillionth run-down on what <strong>not</strong> to do when they pulled out of dock. She could tell that he was trying to be reassuring and that he just wanted what was best for the mission as a whole, and the funny thing was that she didn’t mind. <em>Fact is, he knows what I could do with this thing,</em> she told herself, which was a strange reassurance in and of itself. <em>He knows what I can do and just how awesome I am. And besides, he’s cute, so it’s a good enough reason to let him do it.</em><br><br>“See thing is, James.” She offered as she stepped into her acceleration couch, looking over the control layout. “Pulling out like this? It’s at the ‘trained monkey’ stage of easy job. I could do this in my sleep.” She smirked. “Fun part is, though, that I could make this ship sing. I could make it sit up and beg for its supper. I could do all that and more without even trying.” She grinned. “Buuut I won’t, because there’s going to be a lot of people who would not be amused if I did, saying the least.”<br><br>“Besides, I don’t wanna do anything that would jeprodise the real fun.” Her grin now had an anticipatory hunger to it. “And that’s landing on Mars. Nobody’s taking that from me.”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: AfterShock - UN Mars Team (iC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Frelance</strong> on <strong>06-07-2012, 19:07:11</strong>
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				<strong>Name:</strong> Dureke<br><strong>Occupation:</strong> Medic / Biologist<br><strong>Location:</strong> Pioneer Bridge<br><strong>Date:</strong> January 21<sup>st</sup>, 2052<br><hr><br>Once the shuttle had docked with Pathfinder Dureke grinned and released the straps holding him in place before kicking off into the null gravity. He kept his movements clipped and simple as he made his way to the bridge. In other circumstances he would have relaxed and had a bit more fun but he knew the schedule they were on so he held back.<br><br>He studied the read outs displayed at life support as he grabbed the top of the acceleration couch and pulled himself into it. Once he was strapped in he checked a few of the readings to make sure the computer had not glitched up before he spoke up. "Life supports green across the boards, we are good to go on my end." He was dreading this leg of the trip because of how ruetine it would be but he had planned to spend it reading whenever he had free time but now that didn't seem like it would happen with thousands of people watching live feed from his cam. HE shook his head and turned his attention back to the displays in front of him.&nbsp; 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: AfterShock - UN Mars Team (iC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Napanee</strong> on <strong>06-07-2012, 23:31:00</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://www.whatsonxiamen.com/ent_images/6565_5.jpg)</div><strong>Name: </strong>James Braithwaite<br><strong>Occupation:</strong>Engineer<br><strong>Location: </strong>Shuttle en-route to Pioneer / Pioneer main cabin.<br><strong>Date:&nbsp; </strong><br><hr><br>Braithwaite grinned. He knew she was egging him on, just trying to needle him into some sort of Ill considered outburst that would make him angry and embarrassed at the same time. She knew he knew that she knew as well, and yet she still did it. That was all part of this potentially dangerous little game they were playing. He knew he shouldn't play it, just as she did, yet here they were.<br><br>"OK," he said, "Just don't waste any photon torpedoes on the Klingons. They are meant to be our friends now."<br><br>He called for a systems readiness check. All lights were green, but he wanted everyone else to confirm it once more. He 'pinged' Tranquility Control as well, and all was good on their end too. They were ready for the off.<br><br>He pulled up his prepared launch speech. It had been written by a committee and yet was meant to sound inspirational and natural. Seventeen lawyers and twice as many politicians had had to sign off on it, so there was no chance of it sounding at all natural. He was in overall command though, and so he did his duty. He cleared his throat, pressed the intercom channel that would broadcast his words to Tranquility and to Earth, and he began.<br><br>"Not so long ago, our ancient ancestors emerged from a blue ocean onto the land. A little while later others of our kin emerged from the trees. Still later some stood up to walk on their back legs. For all that time, we have called an unimportant blue-green planet home. Not so long ago, a hundred years or so after the first of us gained powered flight, we sent men to the moon on a rocket ship. Then as well as blue-green, we could call a grey airless place home. Today we take another Giant Leap. Towards another planet, this time red. We happy few will blaze a trail that others of our kind will soon follow. We are the first of a long line of people who will come to call the red planet home. To our brothers on Earth, and on the Moon we say 'Thank you' for the trust you have placed in us. We will not let you down."<br><br>The rest of the speech droned off his tongue. Making sure to thank all the major stakeholder groups and nations not represented on Pioneer or the 200. Yada Yada, blah blah. Eventually, thankfully, he came to an end and CapCom on Tranquility gave them the go-ahead for launch.<br><br>"Powers." he said, all business now. "You are on. Light 'Em up."<br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: AfterShock - UN Mars Team (iC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ryanmcallister80</strong> on <strong>09-07-2012, 14:38:24</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSBm7xZ9JoVDmYS3gnUYH-VLi4viUyAB_l_vvmIi1pC58uyCvxYfZenNKm)</div><strong>Name(s): Caitlin Powers, James Braitwaite, Dr Hoshi Kimura, Sumalee Voclain, Dureke Sokolov.</strong><br><strong>Location: UNS-Pioneer</strong><br><strong>Date: January 21st 2052</strong><br><hr><br>As the crew settled into their stations aboard the UNS-Pioneer those aboard the orbital dock went about their work unseen by the billions watching the stars of the show. Their work had begun almost a decade ago, constructing first the orbital shipyard that was to become the launch facility, then building Earth's first true spacecraft, designed to do more than visit its own orbiting moon. <br><br>Dozens of men and women watched their assigned monitoring stations, silently observing the ship and its crew with a critical eyes. More interested in the flow of oxygen across its decks or the heart rate of its pilot than how good the crew looked in their shiny new skin suits or STARS suits. Once everyone was strapped in and the final check's done on the cyro chambers and engines the green light was given and one of the watching engineers pressed a small button on his console. <br><br>Around the orbiting dock that surrounded the Pioneer the hundreds of flexible power cables and pipes that had been continually supplying power and air and water were turned off and one by one, with puffs of air and crystals of frozen water vapour they detached and drifted away from the ship's hull. The shuttle detached from the port side airlock and slowly manoeuvred away from the Pioneer giving it unimpeded access to open space beyond the dock. Lunar Command came on the intercom "UNS-Pioneer. All systems are green, you are cleared for departure. Godspeed ladies and gentlemen."&nbsp; &nbsp;
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: AfterShock - UN Mars Team (iC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>09-07-2012, 15:22:28</strong>
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				<strong>Name:</strong> Cailtin Powers<br><strong>Occupation:</strong> Pilot<br><strong>Location:</strong> <em>Pioneer</em> Main Cabin<br><strong>Date:</strong> January 21, 2052<br><hr>“Roger that” Caitlin replied, an eager, almost hungry tone in her voice. “<em>Pioneer</em> ready for ignition… now.” She shot a quick grin to James, and then flipped a single, frighteningly simple trigger on her master control. There was the smallest of shudders as the engines ignited, and then nothing but the smoothest and slightest jolt of acceleration as the ship slipped into motion, Caitlin gently maneuvering the ship free of the station, just as she had done so a trillion times in the simulators.<br><br>“easy.” She quietly quipped to James, sparing him a glance before activating the intercom. “This is Commander Powers to all crew. We are now free from the station, and will commence main burn in T-minus two minutes.” <em>Be ready for the awesomeness</em>, she mentally added. Despite her words to James, she was fighting the urge to cut loose and tear up space with the <em>Pioneer</em>, just because she could. Bit no, she would be good, and she would do what was asked for her.<br><br>After all, she knew she was the best for the job.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: AfterShock - UN Mars Team (iC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Isobel</strong> on <strong>09-07-2012, 20:43:11</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3c/Hoshi_Kimura.jpg) </div><strong>Name:</strong> Dr Hoshi Kimura<br><strong>Occupation:</strong> Civil Engineer<br><strong>Location:</strong> Pioneer<br><strong>Date:</strong> January 21st, 2052<br><hr><br><span style="font-family: verdana;" class="bbc_font">Hoshi floated over to her seat, enjoying being back in microgravity again where the finest touch paid off and her agile little body was an advantage.&nbsp; She was pleased to find she’d judged it well, landing softly in her chair behind Sumalee.&nbsp; She grinned at Dureke and James as she strapped in, then checked her screens.&nbsp; All clear.</span><br><br><span style="font-family: verdana;" class="bbc_font">She waited for the acceleration to start.&nbsp; It was going to be MEGA.</span><br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: AfterShock - UN Mars Team (IC)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ryanmcallister80</strong> on <strong>12-07-2012, 18:32:58</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSBm7xZ9JoVDmYS3gnUYH-VLi4viUyAB_l_vvmIi1pC58uyCvxYfZenNKm)</div><strong>Name(s): Caitlin Powers, James Braitwaite, Dr Hoshi Kimura, Sumalee Voclain, Dureke Sokolov.</strong><br><strong>Location: UNS-Pioneer</strong><br><strong>Date: January 24th 2052</strong><br><hr><br>Once free of the orbital dock Powers is able to engage the main drive and the Pioneer starts its acceleration away from the gravitational pull of the moon and Earth. Setting a pre determined course to minimise power usage and avoid the worst of the asteroid strikes the ship slowly pulls away from its birthplace and heads out into space. <br><br>For the next two and a half days the UNS-Pioneer powers away from the gravity well of Earth and the crew maintain a round the clock vigil of its vital systems. The maiden voyage of the ship was a first not only for Mankind, but also the crew and perhaps more critically, the ship itself. This was the first time it had flown under its own power. The crew had only ever piloted the simulator and the ship had only ever journeyed out of Earth orbit in ultra realistic computer simulations of the trip to Mars. <br><br>The crew rarely left their stations in this critical phase of the journey, sleeping and eating in their seats. Stimulants and high energy, low fat foods were used to keep them alert and able to operate with a minimum of sleep. Such a stressful time was bound to take its toll, regardless of any amount of training and fortunately the ship made progress as planned and the crew were able to engage the vessels sophisticated automatic systems on the third day of the journey.&nbsp; <br><br>This freed the crew to take some much needed R &amp; R, making use of the artificial gravity created by the spin of the crew habitation wheel at the rear of the ship. The cramped crew quarters were situated here and while it was travelling under its own power the Pioneer's crew module had the equivalent of full Earth gravity. There were enough sleeping quarters to easily accommodate the crew with some to spare, should some of the expertise of the cryo-sleepers be needed (some of those aboard included those involved in the design of the ship). The whole of the inner wall of the wheel was a running track and there were other gymnasium equipment in the crew module to help combat the effects of prolonged weightlessness the crew may experience while in the main command centre of the ship.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>---<br><br>11:45 <br><br>"Captain Powers, Commander Braitwaite. This is Tranquillity Control, its time for your first probe launch." The voice came over the intercom loud and clear despite the vast distance now separating the moon base and ship. As planned, the Pioneer was to launch a small satellite that was designed to speed off ahead of the Pioneer and enter orbit of Mars a week or so before the ship. Its primary function was to locate the cargo pods that had been launched previously and confirm their position and the integrity of them and their payloads. The window to achieve such a launch was however limited by the orbit of Mars around the sun and the relative speed of the Pioneer - the performance of their pilot in leaving the dock and the precision with which they initiated and controlled the acceleration of the ship would have a huge effect on how much time they had to launch the probe. They and the commander between them would set the probe in its launch bay in the ventral cargo bay of the Pioneer and then initiate the launch and amount of fuel the probe would be equipped with for its journey.&nbsp; <br><br>For a short while the probe could be controlled remotely, the pilot able to determine the amount of thrust applied and the heading given to the probe. The uncertainty came from the potential presence of asteroids that had broken off from the main belt heading toward earth, adding to the enormously complex calculation and split second timing required for a successful launch. 
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