A Journey Across

Book 1 - A Journey Across

Chapter 1 - A new beginning and the final end

Situational Report:

Ship Class: ILR Titan Mk.II/Model 7-F214 (Exp.)

Weight: 45.7 tons / 126.9 tons

Engines: 2x R.A.P.I.E.R. Mk.II , 1x EX0-Radio-Thermic Model 2 "Exo"

Thrust: 2x 1290 kN , unknown

Crew: Jebediah Kerman

Fuel: AB: Hydrogen, CS: HydrOxy, 1200 kg antimatter/matter mix

Orbit: H: 2 452 220m, ECC: 0.001331, INC: 0.00012°, VSP: 0.0012cm/s

MET: 12h 02m 34s

Mission:

The Craft is equipped with the new EX0 Radio-Thermic engine. This new engine will revolutionize the space industry if it works. It is based on the Radio-Thermic Exchange Heater (Glowing Uranium Rod) that we used to make athmospheric engines, but the main fuel was exchanged with a Anti-Matter Bomb contained inside a self-sustaining force-field and the design adapted from the Mk.I Rapiers. The Bomb has a total reaction mass of 1.2 tons (~ 27 Gigatons TNT)  and was detonated 22 minutes before launch.

The Rapiers in the craft are new test models (Iteration 5 without explosion) by V10-Aerospace. They can be feed throught heat exchange from the Exo.

The EX0-engine has to be tested on acceleration and behaviour. Crew expendable as usual.

If the engine works correctly, secondary mission is to fly a short resupply flight to Jool Deep Space Station (JDSS).

Audio Log:

*crackling*

Mission Control to Jebediah Kerman, radio test complete. Please confirm altitude and engine status

Jebediah Kerman, altitude is 2 452 220 meters ASL above Kerbin. Radar not functional due to height. Experimental Testengine EX0 and all systems on go.

Mission Control to Jeb. Ignition in T-3 minutes. Please confirm computer functionality and destination lock.

Computer gives OK for start and Jool is locked on. ETA for arrival: 18 hours after engine ignition.

Mission Control to Jeb. Your ship was assigned the name "Clara" last minute. Voted ended 5 minutes ago.

'Clara' to Mission Control. Understood. Tell Bob he can have his 20 bucks, but he still is an idiot to suggest this name. Clear for ignition.

* 2 minutes and 49 seconds later *

Mission Control to Clara. Ignition in 10 seconds. Please confirm program on computer. Also Bob says the bet was 30 bucks, if he doesn't get them he said "You know what happens!"

Clara to Mission Control. Just give him money and tell him to shut up. Program 42 is selected and active. Countdown for ignition on 4 seconds.

T minus 2 seconds. 1. IGNITION!

Clara to Mission Control. Engine running at 1%. Shock absorbers at 10%. External Acceleration is 567 m/s squared. All systems normal. Computer gives okay for encounter course with Jool.

Mission Control to Clara. Confirmed. Computers on our side give okay for 100% thrust.

You sure?

Mission Control to Clara. Yes. Please put thrust to 100%

Okay....

...

Clara to Mission Control. Acceleration beyond all boundaries. Visual measuring by computer results in 2399 km/s squared.

Mission Control to Clara. Unbelievable but confirmed.

I am seeing strange effects here. There are lightning bolts shooting from the nosecone and it seems like space is bending in front of us.

Miss....trol to Cl... Confi..... top........ Dange......

Clara to Mission Control. Message not understood. Please repeat. Speed is now 93% light speed.  We seem to accelerate even faster.

.... *static* ....

Oh shit. We just passed light speed. This is so cool! Mission Control, can you hear me?

...

Mission Control, please respond.

*static*

Can anybody hear me?

*crackling*

Mission Control, ... are you out there? Engine is still running, it can't be shut down. Speed is registered with 134% lightspeed. Please respond...

*crackling*

Mission Control, I'm scared. The ship is about to collapse. CAN YOU HEAR ME?

*static*

--.- --.- .-. -..- --.-

* Contact to on-board computer of the Clara was lost T+82 seconds after ignition *

* Contact yet to be re established *

* 23 hours, 2 minutes later *

This is the last message of mission control on Kerbin. A huge explosion caused the planetary magnetosphere being wiped. Our atmosphere is vanishing and the Mün was knocked out of orbit, leaving us forever. Our planet is doomed to be a lifeless desert of sand and bones. If anyone hears this, you are the only ones left. Don't come home. End of transmission.

* Total Powerloss in 37 minutes. Autmatic shutdown now. *