Chapter One: Deep Space Music

[Akirapryde]

Deep Space Music
Perimeter of the Gum Nebula
Deep Periphery (250 Light years from boarder of Federated Suns Space)
Date: January 1st, 3161

The Invader Class Jumpship, Kellington hung high above the red dwarf like a specter. Beyond the red dwarf and its system was the massive Gum Nebula. Its bright clouds casts a wide spectrum of colors over the Kellington and penetrated the windows. Its large solar sail extended far below the ship and created a barrier between the ship and the star. The sail spans just over nine hundred meters in diameter. The sail was a vital part of any Jumpship. This massive sail is used to recharge the Kearny-Fuchida Drive or KF Drive which is the heart of the ship and enables it to traverse interstellar space in 30 light-year "jumps". Because the heart of the Kellington is a very fragile system. This massive sail is the best way to slowly charge the drive.

Created from a high strength polymer, a Jump Sail is coated in an extremely efficient photochemical that absorbs visible light, infrared, ultraviolet, and microwave radiation. This radiation is converted into electrical power and fed into the KF drive. One byproduct of the photochemical's efficiency is that all jump sails are invisible to most deep space radar systems.

Since the jump sail must be so large to capture enough energy to fuel the KF Drive, the polymer is very thin and easily torn by micrometeorites, interstellar dust, and rough handling. As a result, the crew of a Kellington takes almost two hours to extend or retrieve the sail. In addition, like all jump sails, the Kellington’s sail has a large hole in the center which allows the exhaust from the JumpShip's fusion engine to pass from the ship without damaging the delicate sail.

What made the Kellington and ships like her so special was her hardpoints. All Jumpships have hardpoints which dropships hook up to. But it is the Kearny-Fuchida Field Conducting (KFFC) Booms that make jump travel possible. Known as the K-F Boom, is described as a magnetic claw which extends the Jumpships K-F field to a Dropship. This allows Jumpships to carry docked Dropships without needing to house them in internal bays. Modern K-F Booms are integrated into the DropShip's docking collar. Essentially the ship with the K-F Boom plugs into the JumpShip's computers so the computer knows to calculate for the DropShip/Station/etc and its contents when making the Jump into Hyperspace.

Just over a kilometer away from the Kellington hung the massive Orion Observatory Station. Like the Kellington, the station had its own sail fully deployed. However this station didn’t have a KF Drive. Instead the sail was used to power the station. Small specks of lights flashed as construction crews placed the last touches on the massive complex. These were the signs that the station was still under construction. The Kellington arrived just over a week ago and deployed the construction teams. It was part of the two year mission that the Kellington was hired to carry out.

The other part of the Kellington’s mission was to deliver two seventy five thousand ton modules to the station and fifty eager scientists. It was assumed that the scientist would be able to travel over to their new home, but flews in the station prevented its occupation. The Schicksal, a Buccaneer Class dropship, was taking on the role of cruise ship for the construction teams and the scientists. However due to the setback tensions were clearly high. Unlike the modules and the Scientists, the Shcicksal would be returning to the Inner Sphere with the Kellington. The Sckicksal would be carrying the construction teams back to the Inner Sphere.

From almost any window aboard the Jumpship or the Sckicksal, the image of the massive Orion Observatory station could easily be seen. Cast in the multicolor spectrum on the Gum Nebula. This close, the Gum Nebula was truly a sight to behold. It is believed that the Gum Nebula is still expanding. It is the remains of a supernova that took place about a million years ago. It contains the smaller and younger Vela Supernova Remnant, along with the Vela Pulsar. The Vela Pulsar acts like a beacon for the Orion Observatory Station as it’s white multi spectrum light illuminates both the station and the Kellington.

Professor Angsoth, the led scientists of the mission hung motionless in the lounge of the Sckicksal. He looked out the window as he took in a sip of his drink. Life in Zero G has its challenges, but it was a small price to be pay for this remarkable opportunity. Unlike the Grav Deck aboard the Kellington, the lounge of the Sckicksal had no gravity. Lost in the image of the station with the nebula as a perfect backdrop, he didn't turn to face the new arrivals to the lounge.

"I am told that the final components will be installed tomorrow, Professor" Captain Elliot Mosconi said as he drifted through the thick doorway. “After the teams sign off on the station, you and your people can travel over there and move in.” Captain Mosconi ensured that the thick door was sealed before drifting over to the Professor. Unlike the science fiction novels, space travel still had its dangers. Because of this, ships were designed to seal themselves off in to section in the event of decompression. Better to loss a few lives then the entire crew. Captain Mosconi drifted next to Professor Angsoth and came to a stop, "I will give you this that is one large station."

"Aye" the old professor said with a nod. "It took five Starlords making seven trips to bring all the pieces here. Once the construction is complete, the observatory will be completely self-sufficient. We designed the station to house over three hundred scientists and support staff." There was a matter of pride in his voice as he spoke. "This time next year, the station will be completely manned and we will be starting our official mission.”

“When I first heard of this mission, I will admit I was a disbeliever. But your vision is…well something else.” Captain Mosconi added.

The Professor shook his head, “no not my vision. This was the vision and dream of my mentor. He had long envisioned this project. His whole life was dedicated to making this a reality. And now I have the honor of seeing his dream become a reality. Soon the secrets of universe will be ours to study. For so many decades and centuries, we drifted across the Inner Sphere never really stopping to listen to what the universe was trying to tell us. Now we will be devoted to just that, listening."

The captain nodded as he pointed to the massive module attached to the Kellington, "so what is with the last module? Why did you have to escort it here?"

Professor Angsoth turned to face the seasoned Jumpship captain, "that is the soul of this project. Along with listening to the sounds of the universe. That module is the ark. A repository of everything we are as a race. Art, science, history, literature and much more. Our victories and our defeats. The things that made us laugh and thigs that made us cry. All of this is stored within the ark’s vast data bases. Once the project is completed, we will send the Ark back to the Inner Sphere like a time capsule. Traveling at sub-light speeds, it will take the Ark over three thousand years to reach home. Once it does, they will be able to open it and see who we were. How we lived. They will see our hopes, our dreams. The Ark will become a window back through time. They will be able to see the mistakes we made and allow history to judge us for those mistakes.” It was common knowledge that the old Professor had deep routed feelings about the era that had become known as the Dark Ages of Humanity.

There was a broad smile on his face as he turned and looked at the last module. “Image Captain, what would it be like to know the inner most thoughts, the hopes and dreams of the first Astronaut, Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin. Twelve thousand years ago, he boarded a rocket ship and blasted in to history. Look at where we are now thanks to his courage. We,” he said turning to face the Captain, “you owe everything you are to him.” Professor Angsoth took another drink from his Zero-G mug, “As I said Captain, we are in the mists of the dream and the dawn of a wondrous experiment."

(OOC: Characters my post as being part of this conversation or anywhere else within the Sckicksal. If you need help or would like to ask me a question about what there is to do or explore, KIK me for details. You may ask the Professor any question you wish. If there are things you feel your character should already know, KIK me the question and I will confirm this information.

So without further ado, GAME ON! END OOC: )