Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

[PeZook]

CHAPTER 3: WE CANNOT ALLOW AN [INSERT] GAP!
Time is: Spring 1959

MURCA
THE CAPE

Ah, spring. The smell of love and blooming in the air! The fumes of rocket fuel the astronauts were huffing as part of their training! The freshly delivered morning paper that said Murcan science nerds were disheartened and demoralized by bureaucratic inefficiency which reminded them of COMMUNIST PLANNING!

And the sound of ambulance sirens and random screaming, as Fax Modem Jr. collapsed from rocket fuel fume poisoning during the morning run, and was taken to the base's brand new hospital.

Director von Braun had trouble registering it all, though, as he was just now recovering from his terrifying hangover. The last two months were terrible, terrible ordeals, taking abuse from everyone who blamed him for Zenobia's success. Senator McSwarthy accused him of being a secret communist infiltrator ; President Ironhowler just threw more and more inventive expletives at him and demanded a success ; The press were even worse, naturally.

But it would change. Oh, how it would change. COLON assured the Director the Zenobians were merely lucky, that their rockets were still not very reliable. But he, Johnny von Braun, had something to show for that last year spent quarelling with the contractors over rockets.




Oh he'd show the bastards. He'd show them so much they'd have to squirm to take it all in and they'd beg for more!

Code: Select all

Current funds: 60 megabucks

Current astronaut roster: 
MODEMJR (WASHOUT, INJURED)
FLASHHEART - CAP 1, LM 0, EVA 2, DOCK 1, END 1
CUNTSER - CAP 3, LM 1, EVA 1, DOCK 0, END 1 
MCCAIN - CAP 4, LM 1, EVA 1, DOCK 0, END 1 
KELLY - CAP 3, LM 0, EVA 0, DOCK 2, END 2 
HARDBEEF - CAP 3, LM 0, EVA 0, DOCK 0, END 2
OHJESUS - CAP 3, LM 1, EVA 0, DOCK 1, END 1

Programs running: Explorer, Atlas

Launch pads: 2

Scheduled missions: Launch pad A, orbital satellite
                            Launch pad B, orbital satellite

ZENOBIA
BAIKONUREK

Gone was the suspicion, the anger, the everpresent surveillance. Even the incriminating photographs were stowed away (not thrown away, of course, since the need to have the Director removed might still appear) and wouldn't bother doctor von Evilstein for a while.

Instead, a veritable shower of awards descended upon the crew of the Baikonurek Cosmodrome. Hero of Zenobian Onion awards were given away like candy, dachas were assigned, cash rewards and lesser medals were too many to count.

Their chests heavy with metal and their spirits lifted by their latest successes, the crew got to work with renewed socialist vigor. The General Secretary didn't stop at mere awards - he credited the space program with an additional 15 megabucks to use!

One would be well within one's rights to say things were looking really good. Until one looked into the progress reports and saw that what happened was really luck, more than anything else.




The Semyorka was still a very, very VERY imperfect rocket, and launching it would pose significant risks. The race was still far from over. Even now the vile Murcan capitalists pig-dogs were preparing their satellites for launch. In search for an edge, Syrgyl Pavyllych had requested additional reports on some other potential programs. He had to fight a little war with the archive people to have them prepared, but he'd won that one. Somehow. It was an epic feat - one didn't usually fight the archivists and expect to come out alive.

Code: Select all

Current funds: 75 megabucks

Current astronaut roster:
KARZANOVSKI - CAP 4, LM 0, EVA 0, DOCK 1, END 2
IVANOV - CAP 4, LM 2, EVA 0, DOCK 1, END 1
FAAABIO  - CAP 2, LM 0, EVA 2, DOCK 0, END 3
DOSTAROVASKI - CAP 2, LM 0, EVA 1, DOCK 1, END 3
IVANOVICH - CAP 2, LM 1, EVA 2, DOCK 2, END 3
NIKOV - CAP 4, LM 0, EVA 1, DOCK 0, END 2
TITOV - CAP 3, LM 1, EVA 1, DOCK 0, END 1

Programs running: Sputnik, A-Series

Launch pads: 2

Scheduled missions: Launch pad A, orbital satellite
                            Launch pad B, orbital satellite

Notes: as you can see, prestige is a really nice thing to have. Zenobians are clearly in thelead, though any launch is a gamble for them, as the Murcans have way more reliable rockets.

I will now stop outlining decisions as clear issues to address ; You can start making your own plans. If they're bad, they WILL be implemented anyway, with full in-game consequences.

Also, the good comissar would be wise to remember that HE can be sent to Zyberia as well, since his job is to ensure the program runs smoothly. Constant failures will get HIM recalled alongside with anybody else more involved in the technical aspects of the space race.

[doom3607]

Initiate the Vostok program and go to full research on it. Kill all Sputnik research, they're fine. Go to full on Series A and get a couple of astronauts (the Ivans) ready to go for an ASAP manned non-orbital. As soon as that's done, they get full orbital.

[Eternal_Freedom]

"It looks like that year spent researching the rockets is going to pay off. Begin Mercury Project research at once, maximum possible R&D. Continue research on Atlas rockets, 2 teams. I want those rockets as reliable as possible!"

[OmegaChief]

Oh the Commissar is aware of this, I just thought it was more fun like that, as was the revelation that I'm effectivly a tie breaker if the directors ever disagree...

[noncredible]

Spoiler

Wow, this thread is going way faster than Scramming Up and Team LAME. It's going a bit too fast for me, so I won't join. My character really hasn't done anything, so Doom and Simon can just ignore him.

[MKSheppard]

Werhner von Shapp reporting for duty as a ROCKKIT INJUNEER. You may use me as a totally ruthless amoral bastard who pushes for ever bigger phallic penetration devices.

Atlas? Pfah. I demand MILLION POUND THRUST SATURN.

I also have a dog; Maximillian von Shapp. The dog makes a surprisingly large amount of decisions for me as well.

[OOC, run with this concept; I just dropped by after Vehrec told me of this new LP game -- you can use WvS and MvS without my input.

Stepping back out now.]

[Simon_Jester]

Spoiler

You don't have to be involved every turn, fajner. I have magnificent ideas about what to set you to work on later!

Syrgy Pavylyvych reviews the Vostok research plan. He reviews the many, many unsolved engineering problems involved.

Rather than bicker senselessly, Syrgy Pavylyvych simply labors like a Strakhanovite, spending every waking hour directing operations- which, at the moment, consists almost entirely of research and development work. He struggles to improve the capsule and rocket design. He engages with every project team, becoming involved and offering as many useful suggestions as possible.

He keeps a rigorous schedule of where he is and what he's doing. He documents all outstanding issues with the rocket design and submits regular reports to von Evilstein, containing 'just the facts.' Everything must be documented, every technical issue described in writing, and its solution spelled out clearly, for the benefit of those to come!

[noncredible]

Spoiler

It's not acting on everything that would be hard, it's reading everything. But I suppose that if my character was only working with you and a few other people, then I could basically ignore all posts except for yours and PeZook's, especially the Murcan posts.

[Simon_Jester]

Spoiler

That works. Worry about doomy, me, and PeZook; read the rest if and only if you have the leisure. Don't worry too much about keeping up with the latest events.

[doom3607]

Spoiler

Yeah, what he said. If you want summaries of what's going on on the Murcan side, I can probably find the time to jot some down for you.

[noncredible]

Spoiler

Well, if you could give me a summary of the past seven pages, I would really appreciate it. Once I'm up-to-date, I may be able to keep up with everything.

[fnord]

Cowardly Brave cosmonaut Nikov wishes to volunteer for advanced docking training, since it will keep him the hell away from the first manned attempts ensure he can properly dock the property of the People of Zenobia while in orbit, rather than wrapping the two capsules around each other.

[Simon_Jester]

In 1957, both powers rushed attempts at satellite launch.

Doom von Evilstein rushed harder, and thus failed harder, expending more funds on building launch infrastructure to launch unreliable rockets, whereas the Murcans spent the money researching better rockets.

In Spring 1958, von Evilstein was in great trouble for his failures, and planned launches were scrapped in favor of extensive work on the rockets' reliability. This work finally bore fruit in Fall 1958 when after one failure and one success we launched a Sputnik (yay us!)

The reason the Murcans did not exploit our weakness was because their own rocket production program was deadlined during the year 1958 due to a random event, which I credit to the heroic sabotage of Comrade Boris Badenov.

At the moment, both sides have begun recruitment of an astronaut corps and research into a manned space program, or plan to start work in early 1959.

So far the only major milestone achieved is the first satellite launch, firmly in Zenobian hands. You, Comrade Vaclav, have done heroic work on improving the technical reliability of the Sputnik satellite, without which this might have been impossible. However, our boosters are still most unreliable, and it was largely a matter of luck that we succeeded, even on the fourth attempt.

We have much to do, and the Murcans are now recovering.

[Simon_Jester]

Hmmms.

Comrade Nikov, you and Comrade Karzanovski would both be almost ideally suited to flying the early capsules. Neither of you shows any particular aptitude at docking, however, and there is little point in trying to improve on skills you do not possess.

Meanwhile, Comrade Ivan Ivan Ivanovich is poorly suited to Vostok capsule flight relative to the rest of the current roster, as he lacks high aptitude for capsule piloting and emergency recovery. Whereas Comrade Ivan Ivanovitch Ivanov is well suited indeed.

I would recommend that Comrade Nikov, who has so kindly drawn attention to himself, is the best possible man to fly the first Vostok capsule, giving the mission the highest possible chance of success.

Comrade Karzanovski is a close second.

Comrade I. I. Ivanov (as opposed to Comrade I. I. Ivanovich) is third.

I am unsure as to whether to recommend anyone for advanced training at this time.

EDIT: Comrade Ivanov is played by Scottish Ninja; Comrade Ivanovitch is played by Akhlut. Basically, Scottish Ninja/Ivanov has better BADASS SPACE PILOT credentials than Akhlut/Ivanovitch, enough to significantly reduce the probability of capsule failure... in a well-designed capsule, anyway.

[fnord]

Well, given the Zenobian track record, I can only come to the following conclusion:

that's me good and proper fucked.

[Simon_Jester]

Syrgy Pavylyvych assures Comrade Nikov that he is doing all that he can to ensure that the capsule and rocket are survivable.

From the evidence of the very deep, dark circles under his eyes and the way he lurches slightly when he walks, this is credible. That, or he is very very hung over.

Or, this being Zenobia, both.

[RecklessPrudence]

Gday, Mum! Owyergoin, orright? I got good news - me and the rest of us astronauts've finally got the high muckity-mucks convinced to build a trainin' facility, and we've 'ad some good times. Some bloke called Fax Modem Jr passed out 'coz of rocket fuel fumes or sumthin'. Not to call the Murcans useless, but those fumes were nuthin' compared to wot we get back home from makin' our own booze.

The rest of us 'ave finished our first lot of trainin', and I actually found someone who can keep up wiv me in the joke they call an endurance testing suite. Tank 'Ardbeef's 'is name, and e's a good enough bloke. Bit obsessed wiv religion though. The only bloke better than me at drivin' one've the tin cans they're sending us up in is called Biff McCain, but that only makes sense, considerin' he used'ta fly Murcan jets fer a livin.

I'm the best at dockin', which all'o these fellers seem to like makin' jokes about... or at least I bloody well 'ope they're jokes. If not... listen Mum, d'ya mind sending Bruce over? I think I need to show some've these jokers what's what, and Bruce should scare them good an' proper.
Spoiler

Bruce, of course, being the nebulously defined 'pet' mentioned in my first post.

[PeZook]

A couple several mechanical notes:

- Astronauts are formed into crews (which for the Mercury and Vostok are one man each), and you need to have backup and primary crews formed before you can plan a flight.

- Astronauts that don't fly, train or those who are assigned to obsolete programs start getting dissatisfied and might leave. I will let you know when someone's satisfaction drops

- Both Zenobian and Murcan astronaut classes will graduate training in fall 1959 ; If you want to plan a manned mission for the fall, you need to yank at least two men out of training early. If you don't declare that, you don't get to fly in the fall

- You don't need EVA suits unless you are doing EVA missions

- Your basic satellite reliability counts for all hardware power-up stages, so it pays to fly unmanned satellites from time to time to max them out

And finally, unless you declare a planned mission as scrubbed, I will assume you want to fly it as planned.

[HMS Sophia]

Sam calls the Director
"Sir, we are going to have the gear to run manned missions by the fall. Should we be setting up any missions with them? Or will we wait until it matures, risking the Zenobians beating us too the punch again?"

Our apparent mission for Murican space flight, based on half heard comments from the director:
(Note: No launch schedules are included until the director approves them. Enough money has been left out to schedule 2 mercury-atlas launches.)

Spring 1959:
-Begin project: Mercury
-assign 5 research teams
--cost: 25MB
-Continue project: Atlas
-Assign 2 research teams
--Cost: 4MB

Fall 1959:
-Continue project: Mercury
-assign 5 research teams
--cost: 5MB
-Continue project: Atlas
-Assign 5 research teams
--Cost: 10MB

[HMS Sophia]

Also, I just downloaded this game. Squeee!!

[Karza]

Comrade Karzanovski has recently learned that he is the second best choice to fly the early capsule missions. This is good. In Zenobia, being second best is actually the best as far as chances of survival go.

[PeZook]

It seems that comrade Nikov should've volunteered for advanced capsule or endurance training

Now...I have failed miserably in transferring saved games from my home computer to my laptop, so no update just yet. On the other hand, I thought I had LOST the saves for a minute there, which was pretty scary

So, anyways, the game will slow down now: since the stakes are way higher with manned launches, I will give both teams a chance each season to review their safety ratings and delay any eventual launch should they so chose.

Also, when you plan things, do try to be precise. If you're yanking people out of training, tell me who it is. When planning launches, say who's the backup and who's the primary crew etc.

EDIT: I also find it funny that Zenobians have such high endurance ratings compared to the soft and flaccid Murcan astronauts

[Shroom Man 777]

ASTRONAUT BIFF MCCAIN does not want to be SOFT or FLACCID

The horrible times in the HANGOI HELLTON have taken a toll on BIFF MCCAIN's body

But he was nonetheless able to PASS MASA's STRINGENT PHYSICALS

BIFF MCCAIN goes into his LOCKER and REVEALS HIS FILTHY SECRET

STEROID SYRINGES

WHICH HE STABS INTO HIS ORGANS

THE WARPED MUSCLE BULGES AS THOUGH BIFF MCCAIN'S FORM HAS NEVER BEEN MOLESTED BY THE FILTHY ZENOBIAN TORTURERS

ONE DAY HE WOULD MEET THE ZENOBIANS AGAIN, ON THIS WORLD OR NOT

YES

HE WILL HAVE HIS REVENGE

[fnord]

FUCKED, I tell you, PROPER FUCKED!

On upside, will have chance to have dinner with Nicholas and the latter can then make preparations towards Nick Nikov nicking off. (ba-dum-tish!)

[Karza]

EDIT: I also find it funny that Zenobians have such high endurance ratings compared to the soft and flaccid Murcan astronauts

While the capitalist pigdogs were stuffing their faces with McArnold's fast food, the hard men of the Zenobian cosmonaut cadre were skiing to school in a snowstorm. And it was uphill both ways!