Mission Statement for the launch of Procyon - Mission Genesis

Author: Mike Pantazi

Edited by: Don W. Gibbs

Mission Statement

Code: Genesis

To: Lt. Kara Smythe, Commander, & Cpl. Trevor Blake, Officer, Assigned C1 E. (GGI Registration 01/149).

From: Global Governing Initiative, Explorer High Command Council (Clearance Omega/ Zero-One) Commissioned by General D. Waquer (Classified Alpha-Six-Four-Zero). Approved commission (Delta-Ray-Two-Zero) Admiral K. Dumet, Commander/ Lt. L. Muskov, Intelligence.

Mission Objectives

1. Launch EVU (Extra Vehicular Unit Codename Genesis – GGI Registration 01/090) into high orbit of Procyon 1.

2. Complete trajectory maneuver to interplanetary orbit of Procyon 2.

3. Insert EVU into Procyon 1-return trajectory.

4. Survey Procyon 2 and refer to further instruction.

Command Instructions

We realize you may not be fully updated on the situation. Keep your head down and your eyes open. Follow these instructions carefully and you should be fine, but make no mistake – this is going to be a rough ride at best folks. You will be pleased to hear, however, that if all goes as planned you’ll be in orbit of a new world before you have to make any kind of decision or use more than an ounce of the vehicle’s on board fuel. Navigation, Engineering, Communications, Astronomy – they’re all taken care of, we just need people at the helm. And here’s how it’s going to happen.

1.

Of course, you must know that our EVU cannot possibly reach escape velocity under it’s own power. That’s why we’re going to use the Cosmos instead. We’ve re-configured one of her plasma engines for a fifteen-second, full-power, burn.

Of course, this is a vast amount of power usage. The Cosmos will have to get by on minimal support systems for months, but that’s the least of our worries. The resulting shock of the engine burn will actually move the Explorer! Studies of the local geography suggest that it should only amount to a few hundred feet, but it’s hard to tell what that’s going to do to the old ship. Suffice to say it won’t be pretty.

No need for you to worry about that though, because your EVU will be sitting in the engine housing during the burn. We know how it sounds. Every precaution has been taken. The vehicle will be attached to a rig and held in place, ready for launch. It will have to bear up to the burn until full power is reached – that will be about ten seconds. The rig has been fitted with heat shields that also cover the EVU and these can easily bear the burn for up to a minute. There should be minimal risk. No question – it will not be comfortable.

The engine of the Explorer has been appreciably vectored for launch and the EVU will reach speeds needed to break this world’s hold on man with room to spare. We have done everything we can to buffer the crew from the EVU’s rapid acceleration after release. Your seating arrangement has been re-designed and modifications made to the hull integrity. However, we have re-invented the cannon, ladies and gentlemen, and you are inside the ball. You will almost certainly black out, but for what it’s worth, try to remain calm.

2.

If we’ve all made the right calculations, and if the on-board computer has made the appropriate vector adjustments, you will find yourself in an unstable orbit of Procyon 1 – don’t worry, that’s deliberate. You will be in Zero-gravity conditions and maneuvering thrusters will not be used to steady the EVU at this time. You will have to find your space legs quickly – rely fully on the instrumentation. Everything has been pre-programmed into the EVU, but you will be required to monitor progress at all times for the next 112 minutes. The thrusters will begin to make automatic adjustments every second as you circle our captive planet, but you have to be prepared to step in if necessary. You will be at the mercy of two forces here – which we intend to use to get us to Procyon 2.

The EVU will follow the trajectory of a prominent field in Procyon 1’s magnetosphere, which the scientists have dubbed the ‘River of Zeus’. It is extremely highly charged and will carry the EVU to some extent, along with the vehicle’s own impetus. The EVU will twice circle Procyon 1 in its degrading orbit, before reaching perigee precisely between Procyon 1’s day-lit face and Procyon A and B. The windows of the EVU have been treated for glare.

Here, – the gravitational shift, and resulting slingshot, will assure that the EVU is directed on its course with a wide margin for error. This momentum alone, however, would not be enough to reach Procyon 2, and back again, before supplies and fuel were used to the point of failure. So, seconds later, the on-board computer will activate our “ace in the hole”. Essentially a device outfitted to the EVU allowing the generation of a powerful negatively charged magnetic field. Once this is active, the EVU will be launched – repulsed, if you like - by the River of Zeus with fantastic speed. Ever wondered how much more powerful magnetism is than gravity? You’re going to get a fine demonstration. It is the most critical moment in the mission – be ready for manual interception. This will be another burst of acceleration for which you must be prepared.

Note – once you are launched clear of Procyon 1, we cannot guarantee the full functionality of all on-board systems. Precautions have been taken to guard all electrical equipment, but our knowledge of the River of Zeus is limited. We know this is not what you want to hear, but it’s the reason you should expect to resort to manual operation as and when circumstance demands.

3.

Your transit time to Procyon 2 is around thirty days. You will intercept it at aphelion to Procyon A – so the magnitude of the star shouldn’t cause you too much trouble. Once more, if calculations are correct, the EVU will maneuver itself into distant orbit of Procyon 2. It will, again, be a collapsing orbit, designed to reach apogee for Procyon 1-return trajectory in three days.

* * * * *

4.

You have two days to conduct every possible surveillance of Procyon 2 from high orbit. Of particular interest: the possible source of an intermittent, and unknown, energy spike (Clearance Delta-Two-Five).

* * * * *

The EVU’s orbit will pass three times over the region in which this phenomenon has been recorded before the return-launch window arrives. What happens next is crucial.

It is highly suspect that we will be able to maintain communications once the EVU is clear of Procyon 1. If we’re lucky, some signals may have a chance of getting through, but we can’t rely on that.

At this point, you are hereby given full command of the mission by the authority of all GGI EHCC members.

We can only give you your options: If there is nothing found to suggest further action, the Genesis mission should be aborted and the EVU put on its return course to Procyon 1. You will find instructions for your journey, re-insertion into the upper atmosphere, and landing on Procyon 1 in the computer banks. No need to tell you it will not be a soft landing.

If, however, by some small miracle there appears to be life on Procyon 2, then you are strongly urged to consider a landing there. If there is intelligent life on the world we missed so narrowly, then it is – according to the will of the EHCC – of the utmost importance for mankind to establish communications.

We cannot indefinitely maintain on Procyon 1.

That will be little comfort to you – if you decide to land – because once you set down on Procyon 2, as you have probably guessed by now, there may not be a way of getting you back. For that we are truly sorry, though in retrospect the two of you may be getting the better part of the bargain. Everything else is out of our hands. As a precaution, we have also retro-fitted one of the repaired plasma engines to the EVU, for your return if needed. Although this may only be possible if you do not land on Procyon 2, depending on the gravitational pull of the planet. You will have to know the gravity situation of Procyon 2, and judge accordingly. Our greatest hopes go with you.

Crew

Lieutenant Kara S., Commander (special ops).

Corporal Trevor B., Officer (Status pending).

End of Mission Statement.