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+--- Thread: In search of Von Rohe's ship (/showthread.php?tid=67806)
In search of Von Rohe's ship - Cris - 04-21-2012
Bauer noticed the sudden rush in the planning.
We will need to adapt the the platforms, as the currents in the planet will be our hardest...
What about hovercraft?
Gustav interrupted.
Like the ones used at Holstein in the poles.
Bauer looked at Gustav for a few seconds, his idea seemed like a good one actually. He started feeling slightly embarrased.
Well Herr Gustav...
Come on, platforms? They will be destroyed, adapting them will take months. Deidus is closing in. You heard herr Maister. The best plan is using the hover crafts, cover them in silicon shielding like the Hegemons in the Cobalt cloud in seven.
Bauer stared at Gustav, without saying a word. He felt his face getting warm.
The hover crafts were specifically designed to be hauled on Titanics. I don't see the problem Bauer, diamond plates will never be approved by the board, and...
Bauer stopped for a few seconds and then leaned over Bauer to whisper.
For god's sake stop spilling out industrial research all over the place.
Bauer felt his face burning, it had taken a reddish color. He nodded and looked down for a few seconds. Then he looked at the expedition crew.
Right, so, we want to keep things simple.
He smiled nervously.
Silicon shielding is a special cover developed to prevent particles from getting in our Hegemons when mining inside the cobalt fields in O7. Hegemons are "spray painted", and the particles stick to the silicon which is later washed with Co2, dry ice pellets. I was looking for a more permanent solution, but guess we'll take speed over quality.
Bauer smiled again, still feeling awkward after Woelffen ridiculized him he decided to take his datapad and simulate looking for something.
In search of Von Rohe's ship - Karst - 04-23-2012
Katherine stared intently at the map of Omega-11 and the little green blip that indicated the position of the planned base of operations as she listened to the others talk
Am I in over my head here? These are real experts in their respective fields....silicon shielding spray paint?.....
"Gentlemen, there is no doubt you have far greater expertise than I do when it comes to operation vehicles in hazardous environments, and I have nothing to add when it comes to the technical aspects of dust shielding....
My concern on this matter is primarily what the plans are for the eventuality of an engine failure on a hovercraft.
Due to the environment any evacuation would be very problematic indeed.
She paused briefly to gauge her listener's reactions.
"There is something I have been playing around with in my head....I admit it may sound ridiculous, but what about the use of an airship?
Filled with a suitably dense lifting gas, it could remain at the desired height in the atmosphere without being dependent on an exposed propulsion system.
In fact, a crude solid-fuel rocket could be used to power it, which has no moving parts or other components that may be influenced by the dust....
Forgive me if this idea is too silly, I just thought it amusing how ancient technology can theoretically be used to solve modern problems with simplicity.
She smiles at the group.
I wonder if they think that idea is as funny as I do.
One more thing I would like to say: The location of a proposed base of operations would certainly be suitable, and no doubt we could get permission from the Rheinland government, but it must be said that the area is under de facto control of the Red Hessians.
To be honest, I can't see how this endeavor can be successful if they do not at least tolerate it."
I really hope they have a plan for that, if the Hessians get wind of a Daumann operation behind their lines....
She tensed up briefly and opened her mouth as if to add something more, but quickly relaxed and resumed staring at the map.
In search of Von Rohe's ship - Strichev - 04-24-2012
An airship?
Maister was quite surprised to hear that. On the other side of the incredibly thick wall of glass like material planet Schultz slowly rotated, dotted with volcanoes spewing ashes and dust high into the thin atmosphere. In the giant clouds of unprecedented dimensions lightnings would, from time to time, perform a dazzling display of static electricity's power. The slightly dimmed lighting of the bar, its cold metallic tables and walls created a seemingly dark, melancholic ambient. There were people there. Laughing, drinking. Some of them kept intently watching a news report that was being projected in the far corner of the bar. Maister glanced at it.
Interspace commerce pulling out of Rhenland?
He quickly focused on the conversation.
I'm not exactly sure about the airship. The low density of planetoid's atmosphere may create challenging environment for an airship. Its mass would have to kept as low as possible and the contraption needed to extract the object from the sands, about which we've been pondering about, may well prove too heavy.
He wasn't quite sure if the things he was saying were true. Especially because he didn't bother with airships and physics since his younger years. If he gained something in the years he spent in the field of archaeology it was an ability that many described as an ice cold authority look and style. In many cases he was able to seemingly know exactly what he was doing despite of a black twisting uncertainty in his inside.
However we won't beg Hessians, those blood thirsty terrorists for anything. Actually the planets will align themselves in our favour. When Deidus is close to Schultz the Hessians won't dare to bother us. At least the battle I've seen demonstrates that our friends of the DHC are more than capable of defending their base and the space around it.
Karl seemed to agree.
Indeed, however we will be working in a narrow time frame of just a few weeks. The depot idea is rendered useless by that. A transport in orbit would be sufficient.
He went through short moustache, paused for a moment or two, then continued.
At least so it seems.
In search of Von Rohe's ship - Daumann Heavy Construction - 04-25-2012
Bauer and Gustav looked at the news report. Every second the noise from all workers talking, laughing and joking at the same time dimmed, as more looked at the news report until the bar was almost silent.
They looked at each other but didn't say anything.
Ermm, anyway. It seems that we are thinking on different approaches to the situation here, Herr Woelffen is a bit more practical when it comes to quick fixes, but I agree that if we took hovercraft down there, we will need aditional crews to maintain it, plust the specialists to use silicon shielding, well maybe...
If you are going to tell us about one of your awesome ideas, it better be public knowledge.
Bauer made a dissaproving look at Gustav.
Why not using x shuttles? cheaper to spray, if they need it at all. And we dont need specialist crews except for the pilots, which can be ourselves.
Bauer smiled at the rest of the team, waiting for an answer.
In search of Von Rohe's ship - Karst - 04-25-2012
They seem awfully confident the Hessians won't pose a problem....And they're planning to defend themselves?
Hessians are going to stop this if they really want to.
Katherine furrowed her brow as she listened to the others. Her gaze remained fixed on the glowing map.
"Gentlemen, I'm sure you have very extensive first hand experience with the....political climate in this system.
Although obviously, I don't work here, I've made a number of flights through the Omegas, including this system.
I have noticed congregations of Hessians, often considerable numbers, including capital ships.
I can't help but shake the feeling that a somewhat diplomatic approach should be used. In my experience travelling as a researcher, many...questionable parties were easy to deal with once they understood what we were doing..."
She takes a hefty gulp of beer and sighs before continuing.
"All I am saying is that we are bound to attract attention when sitting around Deidus for an extended period of time.
When we are confronted by Hessians, we should first and foremost make it clear to them that this is a scientific operation, and not a mining venture.
We should defend ourselves by force only if absolutely necessary, in fact my Explorer only has a single turret for extracting mineral samples.
I have asked my brother to fly my yacht to Baden-Baden, so that's available for support if necessary."
Katherine smiles at Bauer.
"In any case, I consider the use of X-shuttles a very good idea, we've used one as a support vessel before and they excel at this sort of thing, good cargo hold, comfortable crew area that can easily be adapted for various scientific work, and very good flight characteristics as well.
I've flown ours in atmospheric flights several times, although obviously I never had to deal with conditions as on Deidus....
They are definitely capable ships, and I could have ours brought here, wouldn't be a problem, though it may take some time."
Seemingly content, she smiles as she gazes at the hellish surface of planet Schutz outside the window.
In search of Von Rohe's ship - Daumann Heavy Construction - 04-27-2012
Hessians are blind fanatics mein Frau. They call themselves revolutionaries but all they do is piracy. Say they fight against oppression, but will kill you if you don't support them. They call us capitalist pigs, but they built an ore facility right in the middle of the Diamond field, yes the one with the highest yields. Do you see anything wrong? Hessians don't make sense at all, if you try to negotiate with them and mention Daumann, they will send a battleship or two to kill you.
Gustav smiled with pride, perhaps feeling he had scored a point against the Hessians.
Then again, the Hessians don't need to know we are involved.
Bauer smiled at the rest of the group.
The only place were Daumann uses X-Shuttles is Holstein and Nuremberg. Hessians will never know we are with the team. You could contact them and say you are are on your own. We will simply hide one of our cargo vessels among the asteroids to serve as our supply ship. And hire bounty hunters as security.
In search of Von Rohe's ship - Strichev - 05-03-2012
That may be the solution, yes. However, I wouldn't trust the Hessians to tolerate us. After all, what guarantees successful negotiations? They may very well turn us down. What will we do then?
Anyhow, if one doesn't try, he doesn't achieve anything. Contact the Hessians if you will. You have my support, Frau Pennybrooke.
Maister didn't quite believe that the Hessians would allow them to burrow around on Deidus. Except if...
What will the Hessians ask for? What would they have to gain from letting us roam around the star free?
And what will the Daumann demand in return for their assistance?
Maister kept his thoughts unspoken. Everything at its time...
In search of Von Rohe's ship - Karst - 05-04-2012
After staring intently out the window for an extended period of time, seemingly deeply lost in thought, Katherine turns back to address the others.
"I'm confident we can work something out with the Hessians, and I'd gladly handle the negotiations.
Politics aside, I've found Hessians to generally be reasonable to deal with...
I will open a negotiating channel as soon as I know precisely how much I should reveal.
Most likely, they will want to know exactly who's involved in the project. I can't imagine they would object to the museum's involvement, however with Daumann it's another matter.
As Bauer noted, we could probably get away with denying Daumann involvement, as long as we make very sure they can't trace it somehow. Your shuttles could carry independent IDs, perhaps registered to a small private company....."
She pauses briefly for a sip of beer.
"It's not an easy decision, though. If they do detect Daumann's involvement, the entire mission may be jeopardized. Perhaps it would in fact be best to admit to it from the beginning, stressing the non-profit nature of the endeavor....
When I do open negotiations, I will attempt to slowly test the waters, mentioning only the very basics at first to test their general attitude towards the project. I would simply state that it's a scientific venture in the vicinity of planet Deidus.
If their initial reaction is something along the lines of we don't care, do your science stuff, just stay away from our bases, then we wouldn't have to worry about the whole thing in the first place.
As for what they might want from us....I cannot say, though it likely won't be too unreasonable.
They may want us to share our results with them, though from what I understand they would be publicly accessible via the museum anyway.
If they want some sort of material support, that may be a more....contentious matter. We'll discuss that when the time comes I suppose...."
In search of Von Rohe's ship - Strichev - 05-07-2012
"Very well then. Only one aspect remains unclear. How will we reach down to the object through hundreds of metres of sand? As a matter of fact we do have an idea."
With a tilt of his head Maister indicated to Karl that it's his turn to speak.
"Of course we are by no means experts and this plan, so to speak, may be unacceptable from both practical and technical viewpoints. Anyway, on with the subject. A caisson of sorts could be used in the upper layers, where sand is unsuitable for normal methods. The caisson would be connected to the surface by a shaft. On the surface, as the excavation of material would progress additional elements could be added, ensuring the access point wouldn't sink. The object may then be cut into pieces small enough to be transported to the surface by the existing access shaft."
He paused, cleared his throat, then continued.
"As an archaeologist, I find the act of cutting a precious artefact in small pieces somewhat abominable. Any idea that would involve high power cutting tools is highly welcome."
Maister felt a headache looming. How could he had been so careless to not see the bulkhead?
"I do believe that the decision whether to inform the Hessians of Daumann presence should be made after we see their first reaction. So, do contact them as soon as possible. "
In search of Von Rohe's ship - Daumann Heavy Construction - 05-10-2012
Bauer looked around, as if looking for inspiration coming from the dark-green walls of the bar. He had done planetary mining plans, he had intercepted big asteroids to laser cut them into smaller pieces, and he was one of the first surveyors of Omega-15, something his descendants would be proud of for the coming centuries; but Deidus, this was something never done before. Permanent shifting sands, radiation, micro-dust, a permanent storm... He had no idea how would they manage to extract the rest of the ship, but the board tasked him with recovering it, so unless he wanted to end up working at Solarius or Leipzig he knew he had to find a way to get to the rest of the ship.
Guess that's our best plan so far, any of you know if the same microdust found in the surface is found in the lower levels? We could use a grappler but if the sand is too fine the mechanism...
No, there you go again, fantasizing. The grappler was an over-complex concept, tried out once, inside a volcano, and it was a prototype. Deidus is closing in, we don't have time to do more tests, besides, Deidus is not molten.
Bauer seemed angry at Gustav, he had interrupted him again, taking down his idea again.
But the basic concept, is what we are looking for. The grappler uses a magnetic mechanism to attract metal passing through the cooler zones of lava, where metals still retained magnetic properties, but the process produced more expenses than profits, and consumed a lot of energy so it was basically unprofitable. The point is, once we reach the lower levels we could deploy structures similar to grapplers, wait for the right time and fetch the ship, lower currents move the ship as it was inside molten lava; we just have to intercept it. What do you think?
Bauer looked more confident, perhaps he wasnt aware that his idea was a bit too complex, or he didnt want to look like he was spilling out nonsense