Flying down the coast I couldn't believe how beautiful everything was. I would stop occasionally to rest, this gave me a little time to get a breath of fresh air. The air was so much cleaner than back home. My only conclusion was either the people here had found a much cleaner power source, or they had found a way to get their pollution off of Terra Durom.
I stopped off in Myrtle Beach to get some food supplies and sleep the night. The sun rise the next morning was incredible, so peaceful.
I didn't have much time to waste so I took off yet again. I found it hard to believe that the fuel cell was empty when I found this chopper. Up till now I'd barely used up an eighth of the cell and I had already come a long way.
I was starting to get close, I had just passed Jacksonville. I would be getting there within an hour.
Still no sight of anyone.
I approached the thin body of land at the north end of Dummit Grove. I was getting really close to the secret hanger we had been using to develop the new space craft. But as I got closer I could see that it wasn't there. Didn't seem too strange considering the differences I had already observed.
I decided to come in for landing on the landing strip used for the space shuttle program back home. But as I got closer I found the strip wasn't there. At least not the super long runway I was accustomed to. There was a small commercial sized air strip.
As I came in and landed on the south end of the strip I found that I couldn't see the Vehicle Assembly building used to build the Apollo rockets and the Space Shuttle. That thing was huge and dominated the horizon, I should have been able to see it.
Maybe this wasn't such a good place to come.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Chapter 13 - Take Off
After take off I had to try and keep the chopper really low, amazingly the engine was very quiet. I had to get out of the area before gaining altitude, otherwise the crew would notice me.
Unfortunately they were due south of me, and so was Florida. I had to fly due east a ways before turning south. The chopper seemed to have a GPS system, but it would go on the fritz regularly. This meant there must have been working satellites in orbit. From our early orbits we thought that they were all space junk, but of course we didn't have time to check all of them, there must be hundreds up there. The GPS must have been getting partial readings.
This could be a big problem, I had to pay really good attention to my bearings if I was going to be able to return in time for our take off in 10 days. I thought it would probably be easiest if I flew to the east coast and then followed it straight south. That way I could take note of my northern position when I intersected the coast, then use this to return to Washington in a few days. Seems like a plan.
I never thought I would be a stow away and a thief at 55. In the end I think I would regret it more if I hadn't come, but I had to wonder about the repercussions after my return. I'd probably go to jail or something.
It didn't take me long and I was at the coast. I was right above Chesapeake Bay.
Judging by the fuel gauge I had barely touched my supply. So far so good.
Unfortunately they were due south of me, and so was Florida. I had to fly due east a ways before turning south. The chopper seemed to have a GPS system, but it would go on the fritz regularly. This meant there must have been working satellites in orbit. From our early orbits we thought that they were all space junk, but of course we didn't have time to check all of them, there must be hundreds up there. The GPS must have been getting partial readings.
This could be a big problem, I had to pay really good attention to my bearings if I was going to be able to return in time for our take off in 10 days. I thought it would probably be easiest if I flew to the east coast and then followed it straight south. That way I could take note of my northern position when I intersected the coast, then use this to return to Washington in a few days. Seems like a plan.
I never thought I would be a stow away and a thief at 55. In the end I think I would regret it more if I hadn't come, but I had to wonder about the repercussions after my return. I'd probably go to jail or something.
It didn't take me long and I was at the coast. I was right above Chesapeake Bay.
Judging by the fuel gauge I had barely touched my supply. So far so good.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Chapter 12 - Chopper
In the back I was able to find something that resembled a Bell 204 chopper. I figured I had the duration of the 10 day mission to get around a bit before I had to get back to the craft and return home one way or another. Luckily for me communication through the rift wasn't possible yet, and the crew wouldn't have received word that I was missing.
I decided to head south to Florida. I wanted to know where the people went and why they left, and I figured if they had something like NASA then that might be a good place to start. First I had to get this helicopter running. It was on a pad so it looks like it was used regularly when there were people here. Hopefully there was some sort of fuel on board.
Upon crawling into the cockpit I found the instrumentation was similar to what we used back home. I guess if they are developing their technology in a similar environment in parallel to our own, then there is no reason that they wouldn't come to some of the same conclusions. Especially since it appears that our world's began from a similar starting point.
The fuel gauge seemed to indicate it was empty. I wonder where I could find something to get this sucker flying. The technology seemed slightly more advanced then our own, and the exterior of the chopper seemed close to a docking station of some sort. I figured if it was electrical, I may not need to find a fuel truck.
I climbed out and to look at the control panel by the widest part of the tail. Seemed to still have power. I wondered how their electrical infrastructure could still be working after all of this time. I started playing with some of the keys. The unit appeared to be some sort of battery swap unit. Simultaneously a panel opened on the side of the chopper and on the side of the box I was working at.
What I could only assume was a fuel cell slid forward out of the chopper, an electric arm reached out and clasped it, retracted then replace it with a new fuel cell from somewhere inside the box.
I wonder what kind of range this will get me?
I decided to head south to Florida. I wanted to know where the people went and why they left, and I figured if they had something like NASA then that might be a good place to start. First I had to get this helicopter running. It was on a pad so it looks like it was used regularly when there were people here. Hopefully there was some sort of fuel on board.
Upon crawling into the cockpit I found the instrumentation was similar to what we used back home. I guess if they are developing their technology in a similar environment in parallel to our own, then there is no reason that they wouldn't come to some of the same conclusions. Especially since it appears that our world's began from a similar starting point.
The fuel gauge seemed to indicate it was empty. I wonder where I could find something to get this sucker flying. The technology seemed slightly more advanced then our own, and the exterior of the chopper seemed close to a docking station of some sort. I figured if it was electrical, I may not need to find a fuel truck.
I climbed out and to look at the control panel by the widest part of the tail. Seemed to still have power. I wondered how their electrical infrastructure could still be working after all of this time. I started playing with some of the keys. The unit appeared to be some sort of battery swap unit. Simultaneously a panel opened on the side of the chopper and on the side of the box I was working at.
What I could only assume was a fuel cell slid forward out of the chopper, an electric arm reached out and clasped it, retracted then replace it with a new fuel cell from somewhere inside the box.
I wonder what kind of range this will get me?
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Chapter 11 - Smithsonian
There were still vehicles parked on the street. They weren't a brand I could recognize. Similar to our design but still different. It was so strange, this place made me feel like I was looking at an evolutionary tree. Like our world and this one shared a not too old common ancestor.
I decided to "borrow" a truck from the street. Strangely enough there was no spot for a key. There was merely a button to start the engine. It seems that the people here weren't too concerned with theft.
I took off north and crossed the river. I wanted to see something I would be familiar with, propulsion. So I headed towards the Smithsonian museum.
As always there wasn't a person in sight. It was very eerie. There was something else rather strange. I didn't smell any exhaust from the truck I was driving. I wonder if that is was one of the reasons we detected so few pollutants in the atmosphere.
After parking the truck. I headed in through the lobby and straight through to the planes that they had displayed inside. I couldn't recognize any of them. At least not anything that looked like it would been made after 1940s. Similar design elements, but nothing combined into anything that would looked familiar.
It seems around 1940 there was some sort of change that made their world develop differently from our own.
I decided to "borrow" a truck from the street. Strangely enough there was no spot for a key. There was merely a button to start the engine. It seems that the people here weren't too concerned with theft.
I took off north and crossed the river. I wanted to see something I would be familiar with, propulsion. So I headed towards the Smithsonian museum.
As always there wasn't a person in sight. It was very eerie. There was something else rather strange. I didn't smell any exhaust from the truck I was driving. I wonder if that is was one of the reasons we detected so few pollutants in the atmosphere.
After parking the truck. I headed in through the lobby and straight through to the planes that they had displayed inside. I couldn't recognize any of them. At least not anything that looked like it would been made after 1940s. Similar design elements, but nothing combined into anything that would looked familiar.
It seems around 1940 there was some sort of change that made their world develop differently from our own.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Chapter 10 - Escape
We touched down at the Ronald Reagan airport near the river. At first I calmed down because I thought it was done, but then I realized I had to get off of this ship without being spotted by the crew, or else they would surely detain me which would completely defeat the purpose of stowing away in the first place.
During NASA's past voyages to the moon preparation to exit the space craft took several hours. I can't imagine the amount of self control those astronauts had. It must have been difficult not to rush through procedure so that you could walk on the moon already. But here it was just like earth. You could exit the craft immediately and take a look around. Past missions here had already established that the air was safe to breath, otherwise we wouldn't be preparing to colonize this place.
So when the crew ran out to get a look at their surroundings I manage to sneak off as well. The crew was staying fairly close to the ship so I hid behind one of the terrestrial trucks we found here. It kind of looked like a baggage trailer.
While the crew was assembling their ground transport vehicle I took the liberty to disappear into the airport.
I could finally let my guard down just a little. It was like all the reports said, this place had everything that a city should, except the people.
I exited out the front door of the airport. I couldn't believe how clean the air smelt.
During NASA's past voyages to the moon preparation to exit the space craft took several hours. I can't imagine the amount of self control those astronauts had. It must have been difficult not to rush through procedure so that you could walk on the moon already. But here it was just like earth. You could exit the craft immediately and take a look around. Past missions here had already established that the air was safe to breath, otherwise we wouldn't be preparing to colonize this place.
So when the crew ran out to get a look at their surroundings I manage to sneak off as well. The crew was staying fairly close to the ship so I hid behind one of the terrestrial trucks we found here. It kind of looked like a baggage trailer.
While the crew was assembling their ground transport vehicle I took the liberty to disappear into the airport.
I could finally let my guard down just a little. It was like all the reports said, this place had everything that a city should, except the people.
I exited out the front door of the airport. I couldn't believe how clean the air smelt.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Chapter 9 - Landing
There was a sudden decrease in pressure and everything went black.
I could see little pin pricks of light. The blackness drifted away from my sight like dark clouds moving away in all directions.
I looked down and my leg was all wet, I must have pissed myself when I lost consciousness, and to think I wasn't uncomfortable enough already. I really wanted to cut myself loose, but I was so out of the loop I didn't dare. I had no idea when we would be making our approach to land on Terra Durom, and I couldn't take any chances, especially with the crew not knowing that I was on board. I had to wait.
Gradually at first I started to feel the pull of the Terra Duorum's gravity, then we started to come in. I always hated reentry, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the ride through the rift, I never thought this would feel like a walk in the park.
If everything was going according to plan we were going to try and land near their equivalent of Washington D.C. We had already mapped out Terra Durom on previous missions and found that it was almost identical to ours. Major cites were located in the same places, and everything had a very similar look to it. This mission was intended to delve into their archives to learn more about them.
The mission itself was a bit of an afterthought. Back home they were already making a big push with the Earth Claim Program to build larger transport ships so that they could start colonizing this Terra Durom. This mission was to see if there was any record of anything that caused these people to disappear.
Kind of funny, the people in control had already moved things so far along back home, I bet that even if they did find something dangerous, they wouldn't stop the colonization procedure.
It's like the new world all over again, who can say no to discovery.
I could see little pin pricks of light. The blackness drifted away from my sight like dark clouds moving away in all directions.
I looked down and my leg was all wet, I must have pissed myself when I lost consciousness, and to think I wasn't uncomfortable enough already. I really wanted to cut myself loose, but I was so out of the loop I didn't dare. I had no idea when we would be making our approach to land on Terra Durom, and I couldn't take any chances, especially with the crew not knowing that I was on board. I had to wait.
Gradually at first I started to feel the pull of the Terra Duorum's gravity, then we started to come in. I always hated reentry, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the ride through the rift, I never thought this would feel like a walk in the park.
If everything was going according to plan we were going to try and land near their equivalent of Washington D.C. We had already mapped out Terra Durom on previous missions and found that it was almost identical to ours. Major cites were located in the same places, and everything had a very similar look to it. This mission was intended to delve into their archives to learn more about them.
The mission itself was a bit of an afterthought. Back home they were already making a big push with the Earth Claim Program to build larger transport ships so that they could start colonizing this Terra Durom. This mission was to see if there was any record of anything that caused these people to disappear.
Kind of funny, the people in control had already moved things so far along back home, I bet that even if they did find something dangerous, they wouldn't stop the colonization procedure.
It's like the new world all over again, who can say no to discovery.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Chapter 8 - Colours
I could hear the station crew talking to the ships crew in muffled radio speak. They were going through the go/no go checklist. This was it!
There was a minute long silence before a sudden increase in momentum due to the acceleration ring boost. All I heard was "fifty kilometers till entry", I'd hear numbers here and there as we go closer. 37 kilometers, 21 kilometers, 10 kilometers, 2 kilometers.
The ship was shaking really hard now. It was so different being here in person. I had always assumed from the data that my ship design had made the ride so much smoother, I can't imagine what this journey would have been like if my team hadn't been formed.
I wish I could have been looking out a window, but they didn't build the storage area with that in mind. The make shift seat belt was cutting into my shoulders and hips, but the ship was shaking so much I was tempted to ratchet them a little tighter anyway.
I started to see shifts in the colours of my surroundings. I was trying to figure out if I was hallucinating or if this was really happening. I could hear little bends and creaks all around me from the intense gravity of the rift. I was sweating so much and I wanted to wipe it from eyes, but the forces all around me made it almost impossible to make my limbs respond the way I wanted.
The colours intensified. Was my brain going to get pulled out of my skull, this was too much for me to handle. I need to go home, but it was too late for that.
There was a minute long silence before a sudden increase in momentum due to the acceleration ring boost. All I heard was "fifty kilometers till entry", I'd hear numbers here and there as we go closer. 37 kilometers, 21 kilometers, 10 kilometers, 2 kilometers.
The ship was shaking really hard now. It was so different being here in person. I had always assumed from the data that my ship design had made the ride so much smoother, I can't imagine what this journey would have been like if my team hadn't been formed.
I wish I could have been looking out a window, but they didn't build the storage area with that in mind. The make shift seat belt was cutting into my shoulders and hips, but the ship was shaking so much I was tempted to ratchet them a little tighter anyway.
I started to see shifts in the colours of my surroundings. I was trying to figure out if I was hallucinating or if this was really happening. I could hear little bends and creaks all around me from the intense gravity of the rift. I was sweating so much and I wanted to wipe it from eyes, but the forces all around me made it almost impossible to make my limbs respond the way I wanted.
The colours intensified. Was my brain going to get pulled out of my skull, this was too much for me to handle. I need to go home, but it was too late for that.
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