Episode 16
928 Returns
It was late at night that 928 was able to return to the moonbase. Everyone else had gone to bed, but the techs, Maintenance Coordinator, and Flight Coordinator stayed up very late to welcome them back.
928 made a safe touch down in difficult conditions.
The next morning, the crew gave Flight Coordinator a quick summary of how their exploration mission went and all the important data they collected. And now that they were back, there was much to be done.
The techs needed to get looking at the propulsion systems. The crew reported some problems on the return leg, so the techs were concerned.
Vehicles and stores had to be unloaded.
Purplespacegirl and Green Guy were very happy that their friends had returned safely from such a long and difficult mission and took a moment to celebrate.
The crew of 928 took a moment to consider all the amazing things they had done on their mission to Pluto, and what an incredible journey it had been. While the mission was fun and exciting for the crew, they had also been away for quite some time. The experience had given them cause to reflect.
But regardless of all the wonderful things they had seen and the excitement they had felt in deep space, this base was where all their friends were. No matter where we go and the amazing things we see, there is still no place quite like home.
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” T.S. Elliot.
Episode 17
Spacewalk
Maintenance Coordinator was telling Green Guy how the systems log showed that for a brief moment on the far side of Neptune, both port engines briefly went off line, so the techs were pulling both of them to give them a going over.
While that is going on, the crew are installing the new instrument panels for the co-pilot.
Taking a break for steeped tea and buttered toast.
And the crew of 6980 are re-docking the command module to free up room on the landing pads in anticipation of 497’s return.
The open cockpit guys are practicing flying top cover missions for the moonbase, so they can get some hours on type.
Post flight maintenance continues on 928, downloading the telemetry data and refuelling.
And the crew has the new avionics installed. Now they just need the techs to sign off on the installation, and make sure they didn’t do any silly pilot things.
Green Guy is checking with Flight to confirm that the return of 497 is still on schedule.
“Who just parks their service truck in the middle of the landing pad like this? Don’t they get a ticket or anything?”
The techs are still pulling wrenches on 928…
And so far, the crew of 924 hasn’t broken anything at least.
Purplespacegirl is expounding on her grand vision for moonbase parking enforcement while Green Guy stands there, baffled and bewildered.
Cosmobot heard that his friends on 497 will be back soon, so he has the caffeination on stand-by.
To Be Continued...
And the crew of 929 in high orbit is undertaking a spacewalk to get to the shuttle for a crew rotation.
Episode 18
A Visitor Arrives Part I
The techs finished the overhaul of the rear port engine on 928 and reinstalled it.
But then had to explain to the crew that they aren’t able to get to the bottom of the issues with the forward engine on the port side. There are just too many other things they have to get done, and they can’t spend all of their time on just one ship.
The refuelling guy explained to Purplespacegirl that his system is 40 years old. It won’t handle the gaseous pandemonium blend fuel. They only had fantastium back when it was designed. He will need an upgrade.
Drillbot has become part of the team out at the mine site. Still no sign of Exo Guy though.
The crew of 924 seems to have finished the cockpit upgrades. Now they just need the techs to go over it and approve.
And the techs found a pair of compatible servos in their parts storage, so they installed articulating elbows on Exo Guy’s mech.
Kenny has successfully reached the shuttle and is ready to head back to base for crew rotation.
And Mission Control is telling Green Guy that Åstvej Station (their senior headquarters, a large space station orbiting just outside the Asteroid Belt) is sending some Mr Oz guy here on 497. He wants to see the moonbase for some reason. Green Guy wasn’t particularly enthused to hear that.
Purplespacegirl went to see Exo Guy. While he’s pretty happy about the upgrades to his mech, he still can’t see a thing through that massive helmet and still has no idea where drillbot is.
497 came back in from their first long flight after their crash, safe and sound. All systems functioned perfectly and they are happy to be back.
Purplespacegirl and Cosmo were also part of the welcoming committee.
It was a pretty big deal.
Green Guy and Flight went to the back to greet this VIP coming from Åstvej.
The airlock door is opening!
Who the heck is THIS???
“Dude thinks he’s some kind of Time Lord or something.”
“Good day, Mr Oz. Welcome to the moonbase.”
“You may address me as Dr. Oz.”
“I thought it was Mr Oz.”
“Uh huh…”
“It is Doctor.”
"And then I got my second PhD in gravitational gooigagitronomy, when the university chancellor sought my advice on blah blah blabbity blah blah…”
*thinking*: “I haven’t known this guy for even ten minutes and I’m already planning to shoot him.”
“I want to see your Business Manager, Space Sue. Where is she located?”
“She’s right over there. When you’re done, Purplespacegirl and I will brief you in the Command Base. It’s just behind me here, beside the rocket pad.”
“Yes, of course. You may go now.”
*thinking*: “Maybe Purplespacegirl should do all the talking. I don’t have the patience for this crap.”
To Be Continued...
Episode 18
A Visitor Arrives Part II
Space Sue: “So yeah, that’s how I met DeadMau5. Crazy story, eh? Someone’s coming, so I should let you go. Anyways, I’ll get that Swedish House Mafia playlist to you as soon as I can.”
“Good day Space Sue. I am Dr. Oz.”
“I thought it was Mr Oz.”
“It is DOCTOR.”
“Uh-huh…”
“I would like to ask you some questions. Have there been any strange goings on here of late?”
“No, like the occurrence of unexplained phenomenon.”
“What do you mean strange, like the Edmonton Elks making the playoffs strange?”
“Oh Doc, you have no idea how much unexplained stuff goes on around here.”
“Have you heard anything about strange, unidentified signals being detected on this moon?”
“Nope, not a thing.” (Thinking): “This guy has the worst case of helmet hair I have ever seen.”
“Hmmmm, very curious.”
“What do you know about beef chow mein?”
“That’s it’s not as good as green onion cakes or dry pork ribs. I’m pretty sure you didn’t come all this way to talk about the take-away menu, so why don’t you just cut to the chase?”
“Very well, I have sealed instructions here for this base, to be opened only on my direct instructions. They are Top Secret.”
“Then I’ll just put them here in my handy-dandy safe. How’s that?”
“That will be acceptable.
“Splendid. Well, this has been... memorable, but you’ll have to excuse me. I have things to do. Don’t the door hit you and all that.”
“Some days, coffee is just not enough…”
Meanwhile, the shuttle from 929 came back in from orbit for crew rotation, escorted by one of the scout ships.
It’s all part of the Flight Coordinator’s No Fly Alone policy, after 924 got attacked by an unknown spacecraft back on Moonbase 1.0.
Once he has landed, Kenny will be able to get a rest, a shower, and unbeknownst to him, a wonderful surprise!
Cosmobot has been chomping at the bit to give refreshing beverages to his original shipmates on 497!
Out at the mine site, Drillbot has been working hard, but still can’t find Exo Guy anywhere.
“Has Exo Guy forgotten me?”
Episode 19
Briefing Dr Oz
With 497 back at base, the maintenance crews got right to work.
They wanted to make sure all the problems were properly fixed the previous time, and nothing was overlooked.
Cosmobot was there to make sure the Legonauts had refreshments for their breaks.
Checking the rear engines…
And checking the outboard engines too.
Are you able to give the briefing to this Oz guy? If I have to talk to him, I’ll just end up shooting him."
"What are you talking about? Why would you shoot him?"
"Because he really needs to be shot. And I brought guns."
"You can't shoot him!"
"But I brought lots of guns..."
"Put those away! Just sit in the back and let me do the talking."
"Here he comes."
(whispering) "What’s with the Time Lord get up?"
"Welcome to our little moonbase Mr Oz. There are some..."
"It’s Doctor Oz"
(Sarcastic pause) "…Of course it is."
"I‘d like to discuss with you some of the challenges the base faces in carrying out its’ assigned missions. I have a list here…"
"Yes, yes, yes. Just file it with your regular reports."
"What?? But, these are important..."
"No, they are not. I have come here on other business."
"You filed some reports recently about picking up signals of an unknown type from an unknown source."
"Yeah, a little while ago, two reports."
"What more can you tell me about these signals?"
"What else did you do?"
"The operator on our 894 unit first picked them up. He was just doing a bandwidth scan as part of routine maintenance when he picked them up. He tried to isolate them, but he couldn’t nail them down."
"We didn’t really worry about it at first. We thought it was system error actually. 894 is our oldest piece of equipment. It was the very first unit back on moonbase 1.0, and frankly, it’s kind of obsolete. But when he picked them up again, we thought we should take a closer look."
"Go on."
"None of our newer units could even detect the signals. Only the whirly thing on 894 could. Strangely enough, our 889 unit, which is also kind of obsolete, also picked up the signals but couldn’t get a fix either. We sent 894 and 889 out to a new location to try again, but as soon as they used active measures, the signals stopped. The two do regular scans now to reacquire them, but with no success."
"I see. Tell me, when was the last time your dining facility served beef chow mein?"
"I'm not sure. It’s been a while, at least 3 bricks ago."
"3 bricks ago? Hmmmm... Wasn’t that right before 894 first picked up the signals?"
"Do you think there is a connection?"
"I don't know. Just to be certain, do not serve beef chow mein again without talking to me first. That is all for now. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must return to Åstvej."
"Oh good! I mean, ok. We’ll get 497 ready to take you back."
As soon as her meeting with Dr Oz was done, Purplespacegirl and the Flight Coordinator presented Kenny with a blue space suit, so he could look just like Benny.
Meanwhile, out at the mine site, Drillbot is still looking for exo guy.
To Be Continued...
Episode 20
A New Helmet
Kenny was thrilled to put on his new blue space suit and came up from the living quarters to show the Flight Coordinator and Purplespacegirl.
With the quick turnaround of 497, it was ready to shuttle Dr Oz back to Åstvej Station near the asteroid belt. Because it was only a transport flight, they didn’t need the whole crew. Two members stayed behind to assist the rest of the base.
With 497 ready to launch, PSG and Green Guy saw off Dr Oz and wished him a safe journey home. They promised to let him know immediately if any strange new signals were detected.
Since Purplespacegirl knew that exo guy was having a hard time moving around in his super-bulky space suit and heavy helmet, she arranged for him to get a new helmet and oxygen system.
Having so many spaceships on the base and so few techs, it’s difficult to keep up with the maintenance. With 497 launched, the techs could finally get back to finding the fault in the outboard engine on 928, much to the relief of the crew.
And Flight Coordinator gave a briefing to Kenny, before he takes the shuttle back up to 929 so Jenny can come back to base.
Green Guy still didn’t have a clue what they were talking about, but he felt he had to keep up appearances.
And Exo Guy was able to show PSG his snazzy new look. He’s happy now, because he can finally see what he is doing.
Exo Guy was back on the move, searching for drillbot.
With another load of concentrated amazium on board, 6929 returned to base with 917 in escort. A very pleasant, if uneventful, flight.
And Kenny took the shuttle back up to 929 in orbit, where he will trade places with Jenny. She will then take the shuttle back down to the moonbase for some time off.
Now it was Jenny's turn for a spacewalk. She and Kenny successfully switched places and Jenny took over the shuttle to fly back down to the moonbase. Benny pretended to be too busy to notice, but everyone knew that he did.