I've been inspired by Macey Deans "Spirit Wolf" saga, and decided to follow in that vein. If you're unfamiliar with KSP, check out here: http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/15/27445 (this thread is what sparked my intrest in KSP), and if you wondered who Macey Dean is and what the Spirirt Wolf saga is check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJYAyx91N5s (and this is what hooked me).

Anyway.
I've been through some teething problems, as evidenced in the above thread, but I think I have a handle on things now, and Kerbelle Heavy Industries (KHI) is ready to face the dangers of the black.

First and foremost. KHI owes no small part of its success to the Courage and Stupidity of many loyal employees who have spent their lives, quite literally, in service to KHI. Unfortunatly, due to a recent lab accident, all previous employee records have been sucked through a TurboJet engine, and so we are unable to publicly honour their sacrifice. Henceforth, all posthumous honour shall be listed here:

::Honour Roll::

No deaths recorded

[placeholder] Bill Kerman. He's not actually dead, but given the antipathy towards him from other members of the crew at Serendipity, it won't be long...

----------------------

Anyway, on to better news. KHI is please to announce the successful launch of our new Space Station, [KHI SS] High Angel. High Angel has already proven to be a superb base for orbital craft, having acted as a fuel depo and staging post for smaller craft.

Here it is, sedately holding a 275,000m orbit around Kerbin.


Currently docked in the above image is the first of the new model fighters, the [KHI LF] Stanger. The Stanger class light fighter features a small dock on the front, as well as a standard dock on the rear. KHI are currently developing a range of re-armable torpedoes to equip them with, though this is proving more complex than initially planned.

Also docked is High Angels own defense system, the [KHI SM] Kazi smart missile. This missile has proven an effective deterrent, and since the implementation of what is now come to be called "The Big Stick" policy, KHI has detected no credible threat to our assets to date. Of course, there were no credible threats before implementing the Big Stick policy, but hey...

Current R&D Projects:
Military Division: Development of (redacted) systems. Status: Ongoing. Outcome: Pending.
Military Division: Development of Rescue Shuttle Craft. Status: Completed. Outcome: Success.
Military Division: Development of "Modular Capital Ship" (MCS) Status: Ongoing. Outcome: Pending.

Science Division: Development of permanent Mun base. Status: Completed. Outcome: Success.
Science Division: Development of Astro-drone utility craft. Status: Aborted. Outcome: Failure.
Science Division: Development of off-world refueling technology. Status: Ongoing. Outcome: Pending.
Science Division: Development of long range scout probe. Status: Ongoing. Outcome: Pending.

Logistics Division: Development of Orbital Silo storage system. Status: Completed. Outcome: Success.
Logistics Division: Development of Tanker mobile resupply craft. Status: Completed. Outcome: Success.
Logistics Division: Development of Interplanetary Booster Module. Status: Ongoing. Outcome: Pending.

Current Assets:
[KHI SS] Space Station MkII "High Angel" (Kerbin Orbit)
--docked @ High Angel: [KHI LF] Stanger MkI "Gilwell"
--docked @ High Angel: [KHI IF] Stanger X MkI "Edden"
--docked @ High Angel: [KHI SM] Kazi Smart Missile

[KHI MB] Oops Mun Base (abandoned) (Munar surface)
[KHI KS] Kolony Ship MkIII "Serendipity" (Munar Surface)
--docked @ Serendipity: [KHI SR] Service Rover "Donkey"

[KHI CS] ComSat 1 (Kerbin Orbit)

[KHI CR] Vanguard Cruiser MkII "Fortuitous" (Kerbin Orbit)

[KHI DS] Gambit Destroyer MkI "Persistance" (Kerbin Orbit)

[KHI LC] Daedalus Carrier "Haxxor" (Kerbin Orbit)
--docked @ Haxxor: [KHI IF] Stanger X MkII ""Rogue Leader"
--docked @ Haxxor: [KHI IF] Stanger X MkII ""Rogue 2"

[KHI SC] Tanker MkII "Mule" (Landed @ KSC)

Footnote: KHI has also discovered two other craft, in orbits matching High Angels, a light craft and what seems to be an abandoned Space Station. Neither appear to be manned, and did not respond to comms. To prevent any risk of industrial espionage, both have been destroyed. To date, there have been no repercussions.

KHI CEO Faille Kerbelle.

lol, awesome :D

::: MISSION REPORT :::

Mission: High Angel Initial Upgrade.

- MISSION OVERVIEW -
Launch and deployment of two additions to High Angel Station, the Pilot Berth Module (PBM), and the Utility Astro-Drone Prototype, as well as resuplying the Stanger deployed there. Deployment of the PBM will greatly expand High Angels defensive capabilities, as well as provide additional storage space for personnel and supplies, while the Astro-Drone is a prototype undergoing testing.

- MISSION OBJECTIVES - - STATUS -
1. Rendezvous with High Angel Station. Completed.
2. Dock and make fast PBM. Pending...
3. Resupply "Rogue 1" with Torpedoes Completed... ...sort of.
4. Dock with High Angel Station. Pending...

- MISSION FAILED -
Crew Lost: Nil
Craft Lost: Nil

- MISSION DEBRIEF -
The rendezvous went smoothly, closing to a 3.6km separation, at which point it became readily apparent "Proto 1" lacked the power to move a load the mass of the PBM. Proto 1 de-coupled the PBM, with the intent to at least resupply Rogue 1, but lacked the fuel, having expended it attempting to halt the PBMs drift relative to High Angel. Rogue 1 figured he may as well go get his own damn torpedoes, and rescue Proto while he was at it. Well... strange things happen when you try to fly two craft, facing each other, joined by 4 torpedoes. Rogue 1 described it as "trying to push a Dartmouth* up a cliff". Long story short, he got stranded with no thruster fuel too. He has about 1/3 of a tank of rocket fuel, but will need resupply before he can dock. Rogue 1 is, however, currently combat effective. Assuming we let him out again.

Rogue 1 and Proto 1. What happens in space...


PBM. Last seen in a stable orbit, from an unstable position.


Tactical Map. (Labels seem to have fallen off. I'll get the good postik notes next time, I promise).


*Dartmouth: A very long, thing snakelike creature native to wherever the hell Rouge 1 grew up. They are known to be the bendiest of all snakelike creatures native to wherever the hell Rogue 1 grew up.

--- Press Release ---

-----------------------------------------------
XXX--PRODUCT RECALL NOTICE--XXX
KHI has issued a recall notice on all Porter class craft. Initial tests indicate inadequate anti-strandedization devices were fitted, resulting in a high risk of strandedization occurring during even routine flights.
------------------------------------------------

Kerbelle Heavy Industries is proud the announce the successful launch and deployment of our new model utility craft, the [KHI MT] Porter MkI, pictured below, docked with High Angel station.



The Porter class features a nose-mounted docking clamp, and pylon mounted RCS thrusters, to allow better maneuverability while hauling heavy loads. Fitted to the pylons are both long range and wide beam Illuminators, making light work of night-side operations.

[KHI MT] Porter class craft are now available for pre-order. See your nearest licensed KHI dealer for prices in your area.

KHI PR Div. Chief,
B. Kerman.

Faille's Log... Kerbdate: 1506.2013

The Porter MkII rolled off the assembly line today. Upgrades include visual orientation panels, and a larger tank, to which supplementary radial engines have been fitted. This should give it the oomph it needs to move station and cap-ship modules around, and in fact, collecting the Pilot Berth Module for High Angel station is it's first planned mission. The larger tank also allows the MkII to act as a fuel shuttle.

Also, I've begun preparing for larger craft, having put 3 Orbital Silos into parking orbit, each with stores of rocket fuel, as well as Xenon and Monopropellant. I've ordered all launch craft with fuel remaining to dock and top up these silo's before ditching the craft. No need to waste fuel that's already been dragged up, after all. All told, KHI can currently store over 30,000 units of rocket fuel in orbit, and stores are at about 30% capacity.

I decided to decommission the Astro-drone, and have the range redesigned. While the prototype had some design flaws, the drones will be invaluable once KHI has Capital ships, and in fact, are proving useful for "drudge-work". The KHI science guys have done well with the new range of AI, with 2 of the Orbital Silos crew-less (and the third with a very bored and lonely crew of 1).

Additional: It seems RCS storage on all classes will need to be increased. The Porter MkII testing has not gone well. Due to low levels of thruster fuel, the MkII rendezvoused with High Angel to resupply. Upon arrival, no berths were available, so the MkI undocked, freeing a berth, but did so with no on-board RCS fuel of its own. I've updated the employee pre-flight checklist to ensure no repeat of this over-site. Meanwhile, while botching this very simple operation, the MkII was left with both RCS and SAS active, causing it to expend the remainder of its RCS fuel pointlessly.

Running out of RCS fuel mid flight has become a common occurrence, and steps will need to be taken. I've even considered introducing some sort of competency test, but that just doesn't seem the Kerbal Way.

Failles Log... Kerbdate: 1506.2013

Well, we took the Porter class back to the drawing board. A redesign from the cockpit down meant a new designation, and the Raptor class has been introduced to replace the Porter wing.

The Raptor follows the same design principles as the Porters, as they will fill the same role, but the Raptors have traded efficiency for not getting stranded. The much larger tanks also allows for a larger engine, though docking heavy loads is always going to be a slow, delicate process.

The Raptors first mission, the recovery of the PBM went smoothly, and High Angel now has 3 more medium ports, and 3 more small ones.

Sneak peek...

Out-kerbal'd by a newb......

/me throws himself out the airlock

What kind of monster have we created...

Correction: What kind of monster have you created...
:P

--- Press Release ---

Kerbelle Heavy Industries is proud to announce the introduction of the [KHI FG] Vanguard class Frigate. After a long and arduous testing phase, the Vanguard class frigate is now entering full scale production, with the first of the MkII line due to roll out of the KHI Shipyards in 2 days.

Powered by 6 Atomic Rocket engines, the [KHI FG] Vanguard MkII is intended to act as a forward base during interplanetary missions, prior to deployment of a Space Station or Surface Base. It houses up to 4 permanent crew, (Captain, Pilot, Engineer and Communications) although, thanks to KHI's standing policy of multiple redundant systems, can function with only a single crew member, allowing the remaining crew to preform away missions without the need for additional personnel. Should the need arise (even without the standard passenger module fitted) up to 5 additional personnel can be housed, making the Vanguard an ideal first stop for rescue craft.

The [KHI FG] Vanguard MkII in all her glory...


Recharging...


Here we see the MkI model, showing a good view of the standard Passenger compartment.


The Vanguard class features 6 regular docking clamps, to which smaller support craft can dock, such as the newest Stanger MkIII Ion Fighter, or the newly developed (and still in the test phase) Autonomous Rover. Two small docking clamps allow for additional storage of ammo for the Stanger class fighters, and two large docking clamps (one at the rear of the vessel, and one underneath the engine pylons) allows for a number of supplementary modules to further specialize the Vanguard for a specific role. The Vanguard comes stock with additional passenger cabins and an observation deck fitted to the under-slung clamp, while the first of these optional modules is the Interplanetary Booster Module (IPBM), allowing the Vanguard to arrive at distant planets, while still maintaining enough fuel to be combat effective, should the need arise.

KHI PR Div. Chief,
B. Kerman.

Faille is awesome.

Another sneak peek...

The Dunan Colony Mission (DCM) Training Centre


The selected crew, comprising 4 ships crew, and 24 mission specialists.


[EDIT] Due to the proximity to the frequent debris fallout from testing experimental designs, the Training Centre has been relocated underground. Risk of debris impacting with the Training Centre was deemed to great to leave the Centre exposed.

Faille's Log... Kerbdate 2506.2013

So I test launched a Kolony ship today, and accidentally got it into LKO with about 1/3 full tanks. This thing simply should not be in space, but since it is, I've named it "Serendipity".



Question is... no that I have it in orbit, what do I do with it? It has none of the crew aboard, just some poor sap I promised a hot meal too when he got back (I guess I can de-prioritize that, at least). I estimate 5-6 trips to refuel Serendipity, but I'd need to shuttle all her crew too. The Mun is tempting though, as it prolly has enough fuel on board already, and Jeb's been there for 80-odd days now, but "planet-fall" with no atmo could be fun...

Land it at KSC. Test its re-entry survivability.

I'd try to land it on the crater island, personally.

I've tested it on Kerbin, the Training center tested its "flyability" should I need to move it, and it underwent several "landing" tests. I ended up sending it to the Mun. It's currently in a Munar orbit (after the "simulation" indicated more landing practice was needed).

Failles Log, Kerbdate: 2906.2013

Well, Serendipity Base is safely down on the Mun, a mere 30km from Jeb and Bill. Now it needs a Rover to go and collect Jeb and Bill and bring them back to Serendipity. To that end, KHI engineers have developed this: the [KHI SR] Recovery Rover.


Carrying up to 4 Kerbals at up to 60kph (so the engineers tell me... I have my doubts about the practical speeds achievable on the Mun), the Recovery Rover should be able to collect Jeb and Bill and ferry them to Serendipty in short order.

I've also had the engineers hard at work designing a litgh Carrier, but so far simulations indicate terminal ascent instabilities inherent in all designs. None-the-less, in the interest of posterity, I've included some shots of the latest experimental design.

Nearing completion...


View of the hanger bay...


Testing the engines and fuel lines...

::: Transmission Recieved:::

Decrypting..... Error Decrypting data (file corrupt).

Data recovered:

[text missing]... ..ill and Jebedi... [text missing]... returned to Serendi... [text missing]


::: End Transmission :::