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Friday, June 29, 2012

Chapter 6 – The Launch

The night passes uneventfully. Many of you find it difficult to sleep. Anticipation of the flight and rescue has your minds racing. On top of that, the manor is old and full of strange noises.
Morning and the promised breakfast come sooner than you realize. Once you have dressed and eaten you are escorted onto the grounds where the Daedalus is hovering. The ramp is extended revealing red interior illumination. The exterior of the ship seems to glow with a eerie green light without any obvious source.
Mr. Dirks walks around the craft and addresses Bear, “She is all packed and prepared for launch Mr. Grissom. Once you are at the controls, I will remove the mooring lines. The course has been plotted in the onboard navigation. After that, the rest is up to you. Good luck to you all!”
Vance Mercury continues, “Well said. I expect that you will do your best to return my uncle and his crew to us safely. They are your first priority. If you can salvage any of the Icarus, please do. Trust the people from Project Legacy. They are the closest we have to experts about this mysterious and dangerous island.”
Once everyone is aboard, Mr. Grissom closes the ramp and heads to the cockpit and starts the launch checklist. The craft bobs slightly as the mooring lines are removed. Dirks moves to where he can be seen from the cockpit and waves. Once Grissom acknowledges him, he gives the thumbs up sign.
After completing the checklist, Grissom lets out his breath and opens the throttle and pulls back the yolk. The Daedalus takes to the sky in a fluid leap. The passengers can feel the acceleration as it presses them back into their seats. It is strong but not as jarring as anticipated.
The expedition is underway.

14 comments:

  1. As the expedition team makes its way to the tarmac, Bear stretches, his neck making audible cracking noises as he turns his head left and right.

    He follows Dirks' instructions with a sober expression, making the preparations and going through the checklist with professional detachment.

    Once the Daedalus lifts off, though, the cabin echoes with a cheery bellow.

    "WAHOOO!" yells Bear happily. "This baby is as smooth as old Irish whiskey!"

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  2. Jock eagerly looks out the window as it is the first flight he has ever been on. After awhile he asks "How many hours till we land? Probably be a good notion ta catch some shut eye and arrive all rested up, so knowing how long we got would help in figgerin out when to try ta rest."

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    1. Based upon the documentation on the Icarus he has read and the flight plan, Bear estimates that the trip will take between 18 to 20 hours. The plan is for a non-stop flight. It should be early afternoon local time when you arrive.

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    2. "You got plenty of time to catch up on your beauty sleep, bub," Bear cheerfully reports.

      OOC: What information do we have regarding our arrival? Does the Daedalus have water-landing capability to allow us to dock with the ship?]

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    3. The Daedalus is capable of "landing" on any solid or significantly dense liquid surface as it never really touches down. The only issue is having a suitable anchor to avoid the craft from drifting from where you left it.

      Bear expects to make the rendezvous with the expedition at sea. Whether or not he can "land" on a ship will have to be seen when he gets there.

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  3. Mr. Tempest will take a seat near the middle of the craft and sit white-knuckled, eyes closed, as the aircraft takes to the sky. his posture will change only briefly, just long enough to take a drink from his flask, then his hands will return to their firm grip on the armrest.

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  4. "Well I guess we should avoid eating unless this...craft...has a...what do ya call it, head. If'n it does, I hope it is simple or has good directions. I hear tell ships sometimes gotta pump water an such fer their outhouses." Jock mentions.

    Jock plans to arrange his naps so that he arrives well rested.

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  5. Justin stares out the windows and eventually makes his way to the cockpit. He looks out to the horizon and grins back at Bear. "That's a helluva thing, mister," he breathes. "Helluva thing."

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    1. Bear grins as he sits back, the autopilot keeping the airship on course.

      "Ain't it just?" he replies agreeably. "It's like for a while, all the troubles in the world can't touch you up here."

      Bear raises his arms and stretches, joints cracking audibly. "I know some pilots live for the time they spend up in the air," he muses philosophically. "It's like a drug for them. Damnedest thing."

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    2. "Perhaps a little less Drug, and a little more Hands on the Stick might be in order Mr. Grissom!" Mr. Tempest snaps sharply, his eyes still pressed quite shut.

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    3. Startled out of his reverie and irritated by the outburst, Justin drawls, "Aw, come on, Moneybags! I bet this beauty could fly itself!" He finds the lever for the door lock, and makes the loudest CLICK-CLACK noise he can. "Hey Bear, this lever"--CLICK CLACK--"labeled 'Altitude Decelerator.' What's it do?"
      CLICK-CLACK. CLICK. CLACK...

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    4. Justin finds his ear in the firm grasp of Bear's ham-like fist gently but firmly pulling him back to his seat.

      "Not to worry, Boss," he drawls as he gives the young man a meaningful look, "I got everything under control."

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  6. ooc - did i have time to "alter" that bottle of bourbon i mentioned OC?

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    Replies
    1. Yes. You could do that. We need to work out the particulars. Send me an e-mail with what you had in mind.

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