Captains Log #1 - Stardates 1 - 13

Stardate 0: 23;4692 (after the arrival of Vargr)

Captain Dhatszarrou on Rargaegnal Arrasag (human: ASS Outbound)

It's the first day of the great journey.

Morning was clear, no clouds, but still only moderately hot (62c). Very nice weather for departure. Most of the people of the planet were present to see our glorious trip beginning.

We got clear signal from air traffic control. We'll be the only manmade flying thingy, today. Let's hope that we don't meet any of the Garmuzgub's, the flying lizards (~10t each) today...

Jose started the engines precisely at noon.

'Air traffic control to Rargaegnal Arrasag Jr., you're clear to go!'

After couple of very looooooooong minutes, the ship will majestetically move to the blue sky of our home planet, Arrasag. Within less than hour we're ready to dock to our mothership. Docking went perfectly. Embarking to Rargaegnal Arrasag.

As usual there's absolutely no gravity in our ship. The whole ship is extremely full of stuff, as we have prepared for long journey.

'Arrasag Space Control, this is Dhatszarrou in Rargaegnal Arrasag. We're ready to proceed. Glory and Victory for the co-operation of Vargr-Human exploration.'

'Arrasag Space Control ... No other activity observed. We are ready to proceed.

Captain starts the engines, but Jose yells: 'No, wait! We are not ready yet!'

Scrhss scrhs krrthsps.

Captain discreetly switches off the communications. C: How long? Jose: 5 min! C: 2 min!

After Jose gets ready, Captain tells blatant lies to ground control.

'There were, er, sunspots so we had to wait a little.'

'Rarrgaegnal Arrasag is now out. Estimated arrival to Gungthae in 84 hours 17 min.'

(Gungthae = the innermost gaseous giant in our solar system)

Ground control will call every 4 hours. Captain teaches Jose and Dick sensory op basics (barely enough to sit at the cockpit and watch if anything happens).

When passing orbit 2, we experimentally sample the small rock planet Khaerar.

At halfway to Gungthae, we turn around and start braking.

'Estimated arrival to Gungthae in 41 hours 48 min.'

As we are approaching the asteroid belt, Captain gives an alert, everybody must be seated within 1 minute. Jose comes in late, receives a punishment.

This is Dhatszarrou to Space Traffic Control. We have some slight problems with the asteroid belt, 677 objects of noticeable size. We require your permission to alter our course. (3 s) Thank you for the permission. We will now proceed with the altered course.

C alters course to avoid the asteroid belt. (No reply from STC) Then proceeds towards Gungthae. Gungthae is also sampled, turns out to be ice (frozen gases) only.

Stardate 4: 27;4692

STC, STC, we seem to have a slight problem. Gungthae consists of solid ice. We will not land there, and will not take fuel. Expedition proceeds to Enga.

(Enga = second gaseous giant)

Before proceeding, we orbit Gungthae, and make a map. Will transmit the map to Arrasag later.

Stardate 6: 29;4692

Arrive at Enga, turns out to be a good small gas giant. Inform STC. Will refuel.

Before landing, Captain commands a 2-hour training cycle session to all crew members. All succeed to actually do that.

Plan: destination star 2303 (Akgzon) via 2402 (Faghodh).

Jose successfully refuels both ships and re-docks. Purifying the fuel will take 12 hours. Meanwhile, we proceed the expedition slowly.

Stardate 7: 30;4692

Attempt jump (first ever) to 2503 (empty).

STC, STC, we are ready to proceed. ... Engaged!

All SMG sensors give wild results. Captain sends a message somewhere.

Captain commands two half-hour training cycle sessions. After that, we have a meal.

Normal daily routine: 2 persons sleep 4 hours. Other 2: 1 in control for 2 hours, the other free. Then the other way.

Shift 2 Dick, Jose: Jose complains about a leg muscle pain. Mediscan reveals a slight inflammation. Doctor commands leg rest, and 10 days of antibiotics.

Shift 3 Captain, Urrgae: Nothing. Shift 4 Captain, Urrgae: Urrgae complains about pain in general.

Shift 5 H: Urrgae reports leg pain to the doctor. No medical problems found (X-ray image, stethoscope). Doctor reports this to Captain.

Shift 6 Captain, Urrgae: Urrgae continues complaining.

Shift 7, Captain, Doctor: Agree to take psychological tests on all crew members. Doctor reads medical library and plans tests.

Shift 8, Doctor, Urrgae: Urrgae's test.

Shift 9: Doctor, Jose: Jose's test. Considerable intelligence observed, but unstability, depression. Some fears, cannot say exactly what he fears. Engine room seems to be more comfortable than the deck.

Shift 10, Urrgae, Jose: Jose gives an alarm. Everybody on deck. The gray matter outside is wobbling. Jose is panicking, doctor commands him asleep, gives drugs.

Captain's observation: Weak individuals face mental instability in hyperspace.

Shift 11, Captain, Dick: Gray matter stops wobbling. Captain's mental test.

Shift 12: Captain, Urrgae: Nothing. Shift 13: Urrgae, Jose: Nothing. Shift 14: Dick, Jose: Nothing.

Shift 15-18: Nothing. Shift 19-22: Nothing.

Shift 23, Captain, Dick: Create a plan for crew's mental health: Agree to command that Jose, Urrgae will start scientific work (create 3D model of Gungthae), must report results on shift 30. Captain analyses obtained star data. Dick studies his library, observes medical data, etc.

...

Shift 30: Jose and Urrgae have created a wonderful visual 3D model of Gungthae, with interactive computer graphics. Considerable celebration (0.5 litres of alcohol consumed).

Change in physical training: Every other training session will be, instead of muscle strength, zero-G acrobatics and brawling. Demo: Everybody to attack Captain simultaneously, in the lounge. Dick misses, lands to opposite wall. Jose also misses. Urrgae misses badly, hits his head to staircase, goes unconscious, taken to med bay. Mild concussion diagnosed, 12 hours rest from all physical training. Captain continues training with Jose.

Shift 31, Captain, Dick: Zero-G brawl training, kevlars on, with grapnel guns. Successful combat training performed. Dick is somewhat stunned, but unhurt. Both use grapnels for motion.

Shift 32, Captain, Urrgae: Similar training. Urrgae: not bad. Shift 33, Urrgae, Jose: No training. Jose does maintenance work. Urrgae reads something. Shift 34, Dick, Jose: Training. Shift 35, Captain, Dick: Training. Shift 36, Captain, Urrgae: Training.

Shift 37, Urrgae, Jose: Captain pretends to go to sleep. Catches Urrgae by surprise, sitting at deck console, instead of doing training. Studying politics. Captain talks to him: training must proceed.

Shift 38, Dick, Jose: Ship shakes somewhat. Jose at machine room. Dick at bridge, sees gray matter tear open. Ship slows down very quickly, Dick gets a little hurt.

Ship at empty space, near intended jump location. Home star seen 1 parsec away.

Stardate 13, noon.

We're unable to tell homeworld that we're ok, as our communicators are only stellar, not interstellar.