I never said it wasn't possible, I said it wasn't probable that he would just happen to have saved a sperm sample for no apparent reason. You provided a somewhat half-arsed after the fact explanation if you ask me.
Oh, but wait, saying that the almighty bugzappers story isn't the greatest work of fiction in the entire history of humanity, one that shall never be surpasses except perhaps by the great bugzapper himself is heresy!
I never said it wasn't possible, I said it wasn't probable that he would just happen to have saved a sperm sample for no apparent reason. You provided a somewhat half-arsed after the fact explanation if you ask me.
Oh, but wait, saying that the almighty bugzappers story isn't the greatest work of fiction in the entire history of humanity, one that shall never be surpasses except perhaps by the great bugzapper himself is heresy!
Doors ▲ that way and to the right if it's not your cup 'o tea? I don't think that ▲ qualifies as constructive criticism, IMHO (although Bugzapper can of course feel free to disagree with me here).
I suppose I should say, I'm not saying I find your disagreement itself disagreeable, just the general attitude that comes with it. "Read it and weep" isn't exactly a harsh rebuttal, but yours to that, was.
I suppose I should say, I'm not saying I find your disagreement itself disagreeable, just the general attitude that comes with it. "Read it and weep" isn't exactly a harsh rebuttal, but yours to that, was.
It's more about the number of times that any even slightly critical response has been put down not just by bugzapper, but by others as well. Just look at the number of "disagrees" that anything at all critical has collected between his two stories.
I suppose I should say, I'm not saying I find your disagreement itself disagreeable, just the general attitude that comes with it. "Read it and weep" isn't exactly a harsh rebuttal, but yours to that, was.
It's more about the number of times that any even slightly critical response has been put down not just by bugzapper, but by others as well. Just look at the number of "disagrees" that anything at all critical has collected between his two stories.
While there is some over-zealous protectionism from fans, that doesn't excuse the above. Try reading the first story, I think you'll find the over-protection and harsh responses are a result of overly harsh criticism from certain users (which doesn't make any sense at all, from either party, other than stupid Internet wars because people can't find better things to do with themselves than get angry over the webz with people they know next to nothing about).
A little benefit of the doubt on both sides would do a world of good, but that's not very likely. We can, however, change the little thread in the corner of the tapestry that we individually control. Sorry if that's overly dramatic, but it's true. If all else fails, remember "if you can't say anything good (and constructive criticism in a positive tone is definitely good), don't say anything at all".
I suppose I should say, I'm not saying I find your disagreement itself disagreeable, just the general attitude that comes with it. "Read it and weep" isn't exactly a harsh rebuttal, but yours to that, was.
It's more about the number of times that any even slightly critical response has been put down not just by bugzapper, but by others as well. Just look at the number of "disagrees" that anything at all critical has collected between his two stories.
It could be that you positively revel in nit-picking for its own sake, Sport.
Wherever I've goofed, I've taken pains to correct the error.
On the whole, you've made this creative exercise as enjoyable as pile surgery. You might want to pull your head in a little.
Buggzapper, you, sir, have got yourself a god complex. It's hardly your fault, with half the people on the forums telling you that your the best writer in the universe, but you might want to take a look at your attitude towards criticism, or even just humor. I would ask everyone to take a look at what transpired on page 20 of the "aurora falls" thread to see a prime example.
I may have been over the top, but it's been a long time coming.
Buggzapper, you, sir, have got yourself a god complex. It's hardly your fault, with half the people on the forums telling you that your the best writer in the universe, but you might want to take a look at your attitude towards criticism, or even just humor. I would ask everyone to take a look at what transpired on page 20 of the "aurora falls" thread to see a prime example.
I may have been over the top, but it's been a long time coming.
Nope. Can't see any evidence of impending godhood, or even a publisher's advance cheque yet.
Actually, I think the example you've cited demonstrates how long you've been needlessly sniping away at me, just for the hell of it.
Page 20 makes for a lot better reading if you assume the best for both sides, even when they disagree with each other. Some people are a bit more brusque than others, and don't mean ill by it. And then there's a bit of a line that seems to have been crossed, leaving the reader to scan back up through previous comments wondering what on earth just went wrong. (Yes that's pretty much what happened to me the first time, as well as the second time just now reading through that). Always assume better intentions when you don't have the benefit of non-verbal cues that make up a good portion of judging the other person's intent in communication; the worst that can happen is you'll be proven wrong and take it from there. If you assume the worst, well, you will quickly be proven right, every single time, no matter which side of an argument you find yourself on.
What I'm trying to say is, disagreements online when the only thing you have to go on is written words turn bad extremely quickly, for the stupidest of misunderstandings, if a high level of care isn't taken (as well as not taking anything personally; again, you can't tell if someone is expressing an attitude "in general" or at you specifically unless they are quite concise with the words they use).
EDIT: TL;DR: I don't think either Bugzapper or sayerulz meant ill to the other until there was a misunderstanding on one or the other side, which slowly progressed as the misunderstanding went uncorrected. Who fired shots first doesn't really matter. And fixing this wouldn't require too much except setting aside grievances in the hope that the other side does the same. If it works, hooray! If not, well, you didn't really lose anything, did you? Sometimes people are actually as bad as they seem, whether they have an underlying reason (life can suck sometimes, believe me I know) or not (people can suck sometimes too, if they so choose).
I think that we simply need to reach an understanding, that being that if someone pushes me, I snap back. Hard.
I make comments with no ill intent at first. If they are responded too in a snarky manner, I either push back or I let it slide... but only temporarily. I can't let anything go easily. It's not how I work. I tally up every offense made, and so while to others it might seem as though my response is out of proportion, in my eyes, they are very reasonable given a long series of slights committed against me that the other person may well have forgotten about entirely. I don't forget.
@sayerulz Ah. That explains everything. You're a sociopath.
If I've written something that offends your way of thinking, you will make your displeasure known in your usual manner. Sarcastic, entitled and obnoxious.
If I dare to respond in any way less than grovelling in abject submission, you get all ate up and play the victim card. Got it.
Get this straight: Your opinion and five bucks will get you a cappuccino.
See that? That is not being mature. That is not being the bigger man. That is a refusal to deescalate, and hypocrisy on a truly staggering scale. You aren't even trying to create a coherent response that reflects the reality of the situation.
All I asked is that you refrain from replying to anything I post with sarcasm and snark, or indeed at all if that is too difficult, as I post it more for the benefit of readers that yourself, which as I said I do not intend to offend with, and you respond with nothing more that some rather pitiful insults and a condescending tone that can be described as little more than you saying "I'm better than you".
There are words that can hurt me, but you don't have them. I won't stoop to your level. I know nothing about you, your life, your world beyond this forum. There are probably things you can do that I can't. There are probably things I can do that you cant. I don't know. But I do know what you've done here, now, and I doubt that anyone is impressed with your actions.
That is not being mature. That is not being the bigger man. That is a refusal to deescalate, and hypocrisy on a truly staggering scale.
And what stops you from deescalating the situation? If anything, it should be your responsibility to do that, given that it is you that is the main cause for the toxicity here. Sure, Bugzappers' somewhat sharp-tongued wording may have added fuel to the fire, but in the end that doesn't change the fact that you should be striving to fix the issues as much as Bugzapper.
There is an expectant silence in the air. In 20 minutes, Sunbeam will break atmo, and then we'll finally know if all of our efforts were worth it. I've dispatched a flight of aerial recon drones around Pyramid Rock to keep a close watch on the Precursor weapon, although I suspect that Sky Watcher will stand by his word and allow the shuttle safe passage. The final test of that word will come as Borealis takes flight. There's only one way to be certain. In the meantime, we'll probe the path ahead with all due caution. At some stage, someone will have to make a manned flight to determine whether or not we are truly free to leave this world. Héloise and I have already discussed this matter at great length, and a decision has been made. We shall make that flight together.
Ten minutes to go. High time I headed back to Skull Island's Bridge. JUNO, IANTO and DIGBY are already at their stations, monitoring Sunbeam's approach. A brisk pre-dawn breeze has sprung up, and I could sense that this blow would gather in strength as the day wore on. No matter. As soon as Sunbeam lands, turnaround and loading should only take us thirty minutes or so. Even so, those gathering whitecaps are a distinct sign that Manannán's weather is beginning to deteriorate. According to data from our Argus weather satellite network, there's nothing significant brewing at the moment, although I'm strongly inclined to believe otherwise. An ocean makes its own weather as it sees fit. For all of our science, we are still at the mercy of this planet's capricious moods.
JUNO chanted the litany of Sunbeam's fiery descent. "Altitude, 150 kilometres. RCS firing. De-orbit burn successful. Velocity, 6.5 kilometres per second. Aero-braking manoeuvres in progress. Sunbeam approach vector and angle for entry window is confirmed. Atmospheric entry sequence will commence in 5 seconds."
"Copy that. Inertial guidance systems are on track." IANTO replied. "Flight profile is nominal. Altitude 110 kilometres, velocity now at 4.2 kilometres per second. Hull ionization increasing. Transponder signal strength at 20 per cent and decreasing. Signal loss imminent. Telemetry blackout is confirmed. Start the clock."
The transmission blackout occurred bang on schedule. As Sunbeam penetrated the upper atmosphere at high speed, it generated a hypersonic shockwave that heated the surrounding air, forming a cloud of plasma around the vessel's outer hull. We expected that layer of ionized gas to play merry Hob with Sunbeam's telemetry signals for at least 12 minutes, although it could last as long as 25 minutes. It's all a bit of a gamble at this point, since none of us have experienced a controlled atmospheric entry on this planet before, let alone remotely piloted a ship through one.
"Sunbeam appearing on visual track. Negative transponder signal detection. Current altitude, 75 kilometres. Velocity, 2.4 kilometres per second and decreasing. Distance, 50 kilometres downrange. Flight profile is within nominal ranges across the board."
Sunbeam dragged a flaming streak of sky in its wake, leaving a trail that stretched from the eastern horizon to Pyramid Rock. Of course, this is only an optical illusion caused by forced perspective. Sunbeam is still a fair distance away, and it will have to lose much more altitude before lining up for its final approach. When it comes into that configuration at an altitude of 10 kilometres, it will have lost more than 90 per cent of its re-entry velocity and be within easy reach of the Precursor weapon.
I think that we simply need to reach an understanding, that being that if someone pushes me, I snap back. Hard.
I make comments with no ill intent at first. If they are responded too in a snarky manner, I either push back or I let it slide... but only temporarily. I can't let anything go easily. It's not how I work. I tally up every offense made, and so while to others it might seem as though my response is out of proportion, in my eyes, they are very reasonable given a long series of slights committed against me that the other person may well have forgotten about entirely. I don't forget.
Wow that is...next level petty. And mentally worrying. I mean no offence when I say you may actually wish to speak with a trained mental professional about that, because it's extremely bad for you to get caught up on small things like that.
Also commenting on bugzappers threads and not expecting snarky remarks in some way or another is kinda of like complaining the sea is wet. Bugs is snarky, it just how he talks to people in general. Why you'd comment and then take that personally links into the above.
I think that we simply need to reach an understanding, that being that if someone pushes me, I snap back. Hard.
I make comments with no ill intent at first. If they are responded too in a snarky manner, I either push back or I let it slide... but only temporarily. I can't let anything go easily. It's not how I work. I tally up every offense made, and so while to others it might seem as though my response is out of proportion, in my eyes, they are very reasonable given a long series of slights committed against me that the other person may well have forgotten about entirely. I don't forget.
I know several people like this. Without exception, none of them are what anyone would call "happy." You know what's really fun, though? Being a passenger in one of their cars. There's nothing like several consecutive near-death experiences at varying speeds to really pound home the value of calm acceptance and letting things go.
I think that we simply need to reach an understanding, that being that if someone pushes me, I snap back. Hard.
I make comments with no ill intent at first. If they are responded too in a snarky manner, I either push back or I let it slide... but only temporarily. I can't let anything go easily. It's not how I work. I tally up every offense made, and so while to others it might seem as though my response is out of proportion, in my eyes, they are very reasonable given a long series of slights committed against me that the other person may well have forgotten about entirely. I don't forget.
Wow that is...next level petty. And mentally worrying. I mean no offence when I say you may actually wish to speak with a trained mental professional about that, because it's extremely bad for you to get caught up on small things like that.
Also commenting on bugzappers threads and not expecting snarky remarks in some way or another is kinda of like complaining the sea is wet. Bugs is snarky, it just how he talks to people in general. Why you'd comment and then take that personally links into the above.
I think I can live without your totally unqualified psyco-analysis. I also find your double standard hilarious.
- I post something non-snarky -> Buggzapper takes offense -> bugzapper replies with sarcasm and condescension = perfectly OK.
- Buggzapper post something snarky -> I respond in kind = I am petty and have mental issues.
That is not being mature. That is not being the bigger man. That is a refusal to deescalate, and hypocrisy on a truly staggering scale.
And what stops you from deescalating the situation? If anything, it should be your responsibility to do that, given that it is you that is the main cause for the toxicity here. Sure, Bugzappers' somewhat sharp-tongued wording may have added fuel to the fire, but in the end that doesn't change the fact that you should be striving to fix the issues as much as Bugzapper.
Shut up ,just shut up all of you sayerulz and everyone else that is taking part in this pointless argument we are all here to read bugzappers story and thats the only thing that really matters here .Yes bugzapper is snarky and he is wrong in that and you are just the same .This argument is a total waste of time and effort please let's just stop and let bugzapper here use his effort on this marvelous story.Do Not reply you bugzapper or anyone else this is over it's done!
"Altitude, sixty kilometres. Velocity, 1.8 kilometres per second. Forty kilometres downrange." IANTO said. "Transponder signal detected. Transmitting handshake. Negative response."
No real cause for concern yet. Sixty kilometres is still a shade too high for the hull ionization effects to completely dissipate. It's only eight minutes into the comms blackout, and Sunbeam is travelling close to 6,500 kilometres per hour. At this point, JUNO's automated approach program is constantly bleeding off velocity, bringing her airspeed down to a slightly more sedate pace, let's say thrice the speed of sound. Sometime around then, JUNO should be able to re-establish a direct command link.
It's not all gloom and doom. If we can't regain control of Sunbeam, it will continue its descent according to JUNO's preset flight program. If needs be, the shuttle can enter a stable holding pattern until control is restored.
"Altitude, fifty kilometres. Transponder signal acquired and locked. Handshake accepted. Over to you, JUNO."
"Acknowledged, IANTO. Remote command input is accepted. All flight systems parameters are within nominal tolerances. Telemetry link is solid. Deploying aerobrakes, preset to 5 degrees. Velocity decreasing... Six thousand. Altitude, forty kilometres. Thirty-five kilometres downrange. Velocity, five thousand. Aerobrakes set to 10 degrees, descent angle holding at 40 degrees. Velocity, four five hundred."
JUNO and IANTO have Sunbeam firmly in hand once more. I turned my attention to the shuttle's internal systems, occasionally glancing over at DIGBY's video feed from the recon drones. The Precursor weapon hasn't responded to Sunbeam's approach so far, although the shuttle hasn't entered our notional 'Red Zone' yet. We're assuming that there's an upper engagement threshold of 20 kilometres for a vessel of Sunbeam's size, travelling its current rate of descent. Even so, a near-miss would be quite sufficient to fry all of its systems. A direct hit would completely obliterate it.
So far, so good. Aerodynamic heating on all surfaces is well within design tolerances. There's a fair bit of vibration passing through the airframe, although this is also dead on spec for the shuttle's design. If there's any time we can predict the ride to get somewhat bumpy, this is it. Now that Sunbeam is falling through increasingly dense air, she's experiencing conditions known as 'Max-q'. Aerodynamic buffeting has reached its maximum level, and this situation will persist until the shuttle is able to transition into atmospheric flight mode. Right now, she's dropping like a spent bullet.
"Altitude, 25 kilometres. Velocity, two five zero-zero. Twenty kilometres downrange. Deploying primary airfoil surfaces. Aerobrakes set to fifteen degrees. Atmospheric engines are online. Turbines One and Two confirmed hot and spooling up. All flight systems are go for final approach."
Sunbeam had exchanged its fiery plumage for a pure white contrail as it plunged deeper into the atmosphere; an unwavering line painted boldly across the sky. Its vapour would merge with the clouds of this world, shielding it from all eyes save our own... And the unfathomable senses of Sky Watcher. Altitude, twenty kilometres. Velocity, eighteen hundred kilometres per hour. Fifteen kilometres out from Skull Island.
All else that happens here will be decided in a handful of minutes.
I'm sorry that my first post had to be that but i had to create an account and end it there. On another note DUDE your story is fabulous I found it whilst i was REALLY into subnautica and borealis was only starting I immediately went back and read aurora falls and found myself hopelessly in love of the story, Iv'e been here ever since endlessly refreshing the page hoping for more
I think that we simply need to reach an understanding, that being that if someone pushes me, I snap back. Hard.
I snap back harder, trust me.
All I've seen in these last few pages, @sayerulz is constant and unnecessary comments from yourself either criticising the content of this story or criticising people who ask you to stop. Whilst it's true that anything posted on a forum like this is likely to attract all sorts of comments, it is not reasonable to expect Bugzapper to have their thread filled with the rantings of other people.
nauticalperanaThe land of the free and the home of the braveJoin Date: 2016-05-25Member: 217491Members
Bye sunbeam. I saw you get destroyed in the game and I'm honestly surprised when the gun shot the aurora the ship didn't get absolutely and completely butt-fucked I mean the ship still went down and crashed hard enough to create the crag field but still it should've been completely annihilated
I think that we simply need to reach an understanding, that being that if someone pushes me, I snap back. Hard.
I snap back harder, trust me.
All I've seen in these last few pages, @sayerulz is constant and unnecessary comments from yourself either criticising the content of this story or criticising people who ask you to stop. Whilst it's true that anything posted on a forum like this is likely to attract all sorts of comments, it is not reasonable to expect Bugzapper to have their thread filled with the rantings of other people.
"Transition to VTOL flight mode is complete. Lining up for final approach now, Sir."
"Looking good, JUNO. Bring her in on the deck. How's Sky Watcher travelling right now, DIGBY?"
"No response, Sir. No apparent activity in the weapon facility. Energy emissions are minimal."
"Just the way we want it." I said, cracking a relieved smile. "Looks like we're in the clear, folks."
Sunbeam touched down without incident. As the crew busied themselves loading cargo and refuelling the shuttle, I contacted Captain Halvorsen with the good news. It turned out I wasn't the only one chewing his nails during Sunbeam's approach, figuratively at least. After all, there is a great deal riding on this trip's success. Five hundred litres of deuterium will not be enough fuel to keep Carl Sagan running for long, and the ship certainly won't make it back to the phase gate station at Omicron Leonis on that amount. In reality, it's only a token contribution to the Carl Sagan's actual needs; a little something we've thrown in to make Sunbeam's journey somewhat more worthwhile.
However, now that we've established that it is possible to land on Manannán (and presumably lift off again), Halvorsen will be able to dispatch his tankers on a regular schedule. It might be worth designating an area relatively devoid of sea life to make those seawater harvesting runs a bit more eco-friendly. Purely as a neighbourly gesture, of course. I'll do a detailed recon of the area surrounding Skull Island, just as soon as Sunbeam is safely underway once more.
After wrapping things up with Halvorsen, I made my way down to the pad to lend an extra pair of hands. My mood has lightened considerably since the Carl Sagan's arrival, and it's only fair that I share the wealth. Pay some of that good feeling back down the line, so to speak. To this end, I'm sending back some choice party-starters along with the E-42 derms and deuterium. Five hundred litres of IANTO's 'Y Ddraig Goch' - A vastly improved version of our Creepvine beer, a crate of assorted genuine French fizzies, plus a selection of home-cooked delicacies from our Iron Chef DIGBY. Since Halvorsen sounded particularly wistful when he mentioned pâte de foie gras, there's a couple of kilos of our smoked Peeper pâte thrown in for good measure. If their food is anything like some of the 'Chef's specials' we were served aboard Aurora, I'll wager they're all heartily sick of Cottage Pie and Tardigrade velouté by now.
We still have some time before accommodating Carl Sagan's shore-leave rotations becomes an issue. Even so, it's probably a good idea to start thinking about how we're going to work this. There's a bit of a social dilemma brewing here. Should there be an additional common area shared by the colonists and visitors, or should I keep both groups separate for the duration of their stay? I'm inclined to say that most of the colonists would be content staying with their own, although some of the younger colonists might prefer to mingle with the visitors. This is where it all becomes rather complicated.
Belters are essentially a tough-minded bunch of Reubens. Consequently, their attitude to personal relationships is astonishingly casual. If we throw a parcel of fresh young Alterra faces into the mix, add a few nippies of the strong stuff... Well, there's bound to be trouble. When a Belter man or woman spontaneously decides that they desire your company for the night, you'd be well advised to choose your next words very carefully. 'No.' is a perfectly reasonable reply, provided you're not playing head-games with them. Belters tend to interpret things quite literally. If you're already 'otherwise involved' and angling to change your luck, you had best hope your significant other is a particularly forgiving sort.
Gorram it. I'll talk this shore leave business over with Captain Halvorsen.
"Are we all set, then?" I gave Sunbeam's outer hull a final visual once-over, then patted a turbine housing fondly. "A dependable piece of kit, these old Hermes-class shuttles. Once Sunbeam lifts off, we'll get started on making one of our own. Aurora carried six of these, and I conjure they'll come in handy once we get back to Terra. Only one is required at the moment, though. We can worry about building the other five when we've got somewhere cosy to put them. Speaking of which, what's the projected completion time for the outer hull plating on Borealis, JUNO?"
JUNO replied with a smile. "One hundred and forty-five hours, Sir. All construction drones are currently operating at maximum capacity. Barring any unexpected incidents, internal fit-out, power systems installation and accommodation construction should commence shortly thereafter."
"Excellent. Right now, our only serious concern is the weather. If it holds out long enough for the Sagan to send down a few tankers, things will start cracking along nicely." I said, rubbing my hands together in satisfaction. "At any rate, we'll need to train up some willing bodies presently. Plenty of plumbing and cabling awaits their diligent attention, and that's something I'd prefer to see done by hand. JUNO and IANTO, if you'd kindly see to that, DIGBY and I will handle the recruitment and training of our engineering and operations support crews."
"Very good, Sir." JUNO replied. "All cargo has been loaded and secured. Refuelling operations and pre-flight checks are complete. Sunbeam stands ready for launch in all respects."
"Well then, we'd best send this one on its merry way." I said.
Once Sunbeam had cleared the pad, I strolled out onto the Bridge's observation deck. The shuttle is already a wee silver speck rising rapidly into Manannán's brilliant blue sky, its pure white contrails dispersing almost as soon as they formed. There's a special kind of sadness attached to watching a ship, any ship depart. Instead of the usual sensations of loss and regret as I watched it pass over the horizon, I experienced a profound feeling of relief. Although loneliness was a thing of the distant past, I still felt that an aching gulf of space separated me from a previous existence. More than anything now, I wanted to return to familiar surroundings. Even the monotonous red ochre sands of Mars would be a welcome sight, although there is a far more seductive pull exerted by Terra itself. Like iron filings stirring in a magnetic field, I'm feeling the call of the old Home World.
I have definite plans for what we're going to do after returning to Terra. However, these plans are entirely dependent on what happens during the intervening time between our departure and arrival. The matter of repatriating our Belter colonists will need some careful thought. Some may wish to return to Sol's asteroid belt to address their familial obligations, while others might find themselves inclined to start an entirely new life on Terra. Some might even want to sign on as full-time crew aboard Borealis. The situation is entirely fluid at the moment, and I've been working on a number of contingency plans to suit the individual needs of each colonist upon our eventual return.
If nothing else, Borealis will always be there for them. I can see a number of situations where our colonists have nowhere else to go, and they are welcome to remain aboard as crew members. Of course, Borealis will need extensive work if she's recommissioned to follow in Aurora's wake, but we'll deal with that when the need arises.
Our first mission upon returning to Terra will be legendary.
Bugzapper could i please have a couple questions
1. You have just said that their first mission after they get back will be legendary, will we get to see it?
2. Do you think the devs are just waiting till the story is over to give you several pats on the back and negotiate publishing this master piece ?
3. Patreon?
4. Would you consider giving out some writing advice for someone that doesn't seem to be able to get past the first couple pages of their story?
1. Legendary mission: Definitely.
2. I have no idea. A pat on the back would be nice.
3. Probably not. The Australian Taxation Office might develop an unhealthy interest in that particular source of external income. Not a good idea.
4. This is what I've learned: Persevere. Plot your main story-line well in advance of current events. If you don't enjoying writing it, your audience won't enjoy reading it. Avoid introducing too many characters without developing unique defining traits for each of them. Give your characters '3D personalities'. If a plot device is broken, re-write it. Add an occasional plot-twist or cliff-hanger, but don't overdo it. Write the first few chapters well in advance, then post the story one page at a time. Writing 'on the fly' can be quite a challenge. Respect your audience and respect constructive criticism. Don't get bogged down fighting unnecessary flame-wars. Keep the story moving. Finally... Persevere.
I had swung by Kaori-san no-shima on my way over to Skull Island, intending to have a preliminary chat with the colony's committee members. Building a 'hotel' to house Carl Sagan's shore leave parties is our first order of business, although now might be a good time to raise the matter of recruiting specialist crew members for Borealis as well. We already have a solid complement of workers assigned to the ship's construction, and a fair percentage of them have the necessary skills sets to translate smoothly into operational support roles aboard Borealis. However, there is still a shortfall in available hands best suited for marine operations. The next phase is absolutely crucial to the success of the mission, and it will require at least 20 specially-trained divers. Trained as marine biologists, to be precise.
Like it or not, we may have to draw a little deeper from the colony's well.
I had to laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all. A century ago, my only real concern was staying alive for just another hard-won day. Now, I'm having to deal with all the piddling minutiae of local government, human resources and civil works. A daft situation overall, and certainly not something that I could have ever predicted back then. Even so, the devil's in the detail. It's always that one tiny quirk that throws a spanner into the works, and I have to gracefully accept that this business isn't entirely about the nuts and bolts that hold a starship together. People are also involved.
The idea came to me almost insidiously, sneaking into my train of thought almost undetected. The committee meeting had gone smoothly, most of our business having been transacted as an informal discussion, held over a particularly splendid breakfast. This fact was not lost on me. Things definitely get done when folks are well fed and at their happiest, and the committee wasn't an exception. The simple act of breaking bread together can be a powerful source of social cohesion.
By extension, this principle could be applied to the shared common area where colonists and Carl Sagan's crew can interact with a reasonable degree of predictability. Whether it's a plain coffee shop, an austere monastic refectory or a full-blown restaurant is immaterial. Remove alcohol entirely from this equation, and any potential for social volatility will decrease accordingly. That's the theory, at least. That's not to say we can expect smooth sailing all the way. All it takes is one bampot jacked up on ten mugs of Kona Blue, suddenly acquiring a supernatural ability to smell the colour Nine. Put it this way... If your body starts vibrating like a tuning fork, you will be served a complimentary cup of chamomile tea and politely shown the door. By someone wearing an ExoSuit.
On to more practical matters. Disco Volante and Artemis cruised slowly over bare basalt flats approximately three hundred metres SSW of Skull Island, performing a detailed census of all life forms in the area. Apart from a few Bonesharks and a sparse scattering of Spadefish, Reginalds, Hoopfish and Boomerangs, this location appears to be a suitable spot for Carl Sagan's Percheron-class tankers to load their cargos of seawater. Naturally, we'll need to prepare this site beforehand, although it looks like a straightforward operation. Scare off everything inside a 250-metre square perimeter, then keep them out with a combination of bubble-fences and directional ultrasonic transducers. With any luck, they'll all have scarpered well before the tankers arrive, although it wouldn't hurt to construct a decent-sized skimmer box around that well-head I'm planning to install today. Little fishies can make big problems inside the plumbing of a starship's deuterium extraction plant, and that's something that we can all live without. When all's said and done, a wee mickle of forethought now saves a mighty muckle of sweat later on.
Comments
Oh, but wait, saying that the almighty bugzappers story isn't the greatest work of fiction in the entire history of humanity, one that shall never be surpasses except perhaps by the great bugzapper himself is heresy!
Doors ▲ that way and to the right if it's not your cup 'o tea? I don't think that ▲ qualifies as constructive criticism, IMHO (although Bugzapper can of course feel free to disagree with me here).
It's more about the number of times that any even slightly critical response has been put down not just by bugzapper, but by others as well. Just look at the number of "disagrees" that anything at all critical has collected between his two stories.
While there is some over-zealous protectionism from fans, that doesn't excuse the above. Try reading the first story, I think you'll find the over-protection and harsh responses are a result of overly harsh criticism from certain users (which doesn't make any sense at all, from either party, other than stupid Internet wars because people can't find better things to do with themselves than get angry over the webz with people they know next to nothing about).
A little benefit of the doubt on both sides would do a world of good, but that's not very likely. We can, however, change the little thread in the corner of the tapestry that we individually control. Sorry if that's overly dramatic, but it's true. If all else fails, remember "if you can't say anything good (and constructive criticism in a positive tone is definitely good), don't say anything at all".
It could be that you positively revel in nit-picking for its own sake, Sport.
Wherever I've goofed, I've taken pains to correct the error.
On the whole, you've made this creative exercise as enjoyable as pile surgery. You might want to pull your head in a little.
I may have been over the top, but it's been a long time coming.
Nope. Can't see any evidence of impending godhood, or even a publisher's advance cheque yet.
Actually, I think the example you've cited demonstrates how long you've been needlessly sniping away at me, just for the hell of it.
Do grow up, laddie.
What I'm trying to say is, disagreements online when the only thing you have to go on is written words turn bad extremely quickly, for the stupidest of misunderstandings, if a high level of care isn't taken (as well as not taking anything personally; again, you can't tell if someone is expressing an attitude "in general" or at you specifically unless they are quite concise with the words they use).
EDIT: TL;DR: I don't think either Bugzapper or sayerulz meant ill to the other until there was a misunderstanding on one or the other side, which slowly progressed as the misunderstanding went uncorrected. Who fired shots first doesn't really matter. And fixing this wouldn't require too much except setting aside grievances in the hope that the other side does the same. If it works, hooray! If not, well, you didn't really lose anything, did you? Sometimes people are actually as bad as they seem, whether they have an underlying reason (life can suck sometimes, believe me I know) or not (people can suck sometimes too, if they so choose).
I make comments with no ill intent at first. If they are responded too in a snarky manner, I either push back or I let it slide... but only temporarily. I can't let anything go easily. It's not how I work. I tally up every offense made, and so while to others it might seem as though my response is out of proportion, in my eyes, they are very reasonable given a long series of slights committed against me that the other person may well have forgotten about entirely. I don't forget.
If I've written something that offends your way of thinking, you will make your displeasure known in your usual manner. Sarcastic, entitled and obnoxious.
If I dare to respond in any way less than grovelling in abject submission, you get all ate up and play the victim card. Got it.
Get this straight: Your opinion and five bucks will get you a cappuccino.
All I asked is that you refrain from replying to anything I post with sarcasm and snark, or indeed at all if that is too difficult, as I post it more for the benefit of readers that yourself, which as I said I do not intend to offend with, and you respond with nothing more that some rather pitiful insults and a condescending tone that can be described as little more than you saying "I'm better than you".
There are words that can hurt me, but you don't have them. I won't stoop to your level. I know nothing about you, your life, your world beyond this forum. There are probably things you can do that I can't. There are probably things I can do that you cant. I don't know. But I do know what you've done here, now, and I doubt that anyone is impressed with your actions.
Ten minutes to go. High time I headed back to Skull Island's Bridge. JUNO, IANTO and DIGBY are already at their stations, monitoring Sunbeam's approach. A brisk pre-dawn breeze has sprung up, and I could sense that this blow would gather in strength as the day wore on. No matter. As soon as Sunbeam lands, turnaround and loading should only take us thirty minutes or so. Even so, those gathering whitecaps are a distinct sign that Manannán's weather is beginning to deteriorate. According to data from our Argus weather satellite network, there's nothing significant brewing at the moment, although I'm strongly inclined to believe otherwise. An ocean makes its own weather as it sees fit. For all of our science, we are still at the mercy of this planet's capricious moods.
JUNO chanted the litany of Sunbeam's fiery descent. "Altitude, 150 kilometres. RCS firing. De-orbit burn successful. Velocity, 6.5 kilometres per second. Aero-braking manoeuvres in progress. Sunbeam approach vector and angle for entry window is confirmed. Atmospheric entry sequence will commence in 5 seconds."
"Copy that. Inertial guidance systems are on track." IANTO replied. "Flight profile is nominal. Altitude 110 kilometres, velocity now at 4.2 kilometres per second. Hull ionization increasing. Transponder signal strength at 20 per cent and decreasing. Signal loss imminent. Telemetry blackout is confirmed. Start the clock."
The transmission blackout occurred bang on schedule. As Sunbeam penetrated the upper atmosphere at high speed, it generated a hypersonic shockwave that heated the surrounding air, forming a cloud of plasma around the vessel's outer hull. We expected that layer of ionized gas to play merry Hob with Sunbeam's telemetry signals for at least 12 minutes, although it could last as long as 25 minutes. It's all a bit of a gamble at this point, since none of us have experienced a controlled atmospheric entry on this planet before, let alone remotely piloted a ship through one.
"Sunbeam appearing on visual track. Negative transponder signal detection. Current altitude, 75 kilometres. Velocity, 2.4 kilometres per second and decreasing. Distance, 50 kilometres downrange. Flight profile is within nominal ranges across the board."
Sunbeam dragged a flaming streak of sky in its wake, leaving a trail that stretched from the eastern horizon to Pyramid Rock. Of course, this is only an optical illusion caused by forced perspective. Sunbeam is still a fair distance away, and it will have to lose much more altitude before lining up for its final approach. When it comes into that configuration at an altitude of 10 kilometres, it will have lost more than 90 per cent of its re-entry velocity and be within easy reach of the Precursor weapon.
This is it.
Wow that is...next level petty. And mentally worrying. I mean no offence when I say you may actually wish to speak with a trained mental professional about that, because it's extremely bad for you to get caught up on small things like that.
Also commenting on bugzappers threads and not expecting snarky remarks in some way or another is kinda of like complaining the sea is wet. Bugs is snarky, it just how he talks to people in general. Why you'd comment and then take that personally links into the above.
I know several people like this. Without exception, none of them are what anyone would call "happy." You know what's really fun, though? Being a passenger in one of their cars. There's nothing like several consecutive near-death experiences at varying speeds to really pound home the value of calm acceptance and letting things go.
I think I can live without your totally unqualified psyco-analysis. I also find your double standard hilarious.
- I post something non-snarky -> Buggzapper takes offense -> bugzapper replies with sarcasm and condescension = perfectly OK.
- Buggzapper post something snarky -> I respond in kind = I am petty and have mental issues.
What the hell do you think I just did?
No real cause for concern yet. Sixty kilometres is still a shade too high for the hull ionization effects to completely dissipate. It's only eight minutes into the comms blackout, and Sunbeam is travelling close to 6,500 kilometres per hour. At this point, JUNO's automated approach program is constantly bleeding off velocity, bringing her airspeed down to a slightly more sedate pace, let's say thrice the speed of sound. Sometime around then, JUNO should be able to re-establish a direct command link.
It's not all gloom and doom. If we can't regain control of Sunbeam, it will continue its descent according to JUNO's preset flight program. If needs be, the shuttle can enter a stable holding pattern until control is restored.
"Altitude, fifty kilometres. Transponder signal acquired and locked. Handshake accepted. Over to you, JUNO."
"Acknowledged, IANTO. Remote command input is accepted. All flight systems parameters are within nominal tolerances. Telemetry link is solid. Deploying aerobrakes, preset to 5 degrees. Velocity decreasing... Six thousand. Altitude, forty kilometres. Thirty-five kilometres downrange. Velocity, five thousand. Aerobrakes set to 10 degrees, descent angle holding at 40 degrees. Velocity, four five hundred."
JUNO and IANTO have Sunbeam firmly in hand once more. I turned my attention to the shuttle's internal systems, occasionally glancing over at DIGBY's video feed from the recon drones. The Precursor weapon hasn't responded to Sunbeam's approach so far, although the shuttle hasn't entered our notional 'Red Zone' yet. We're assuming that there's an upper engagement threshold of 20 kilometres for a vessel of Sunbeam's size, travelling its current rate of descent. Even so, a near-miss would be quite sufficient to fry all of its systems. A direct hit would completely obliterate it.
So far, so good. Aerodynamic heating on all surfaces is well within design tolerances. There's a fair bit of vibration passing through the airframe, although this is also dead on spec for the shuttle's design. If there's any time we can predict the ride to get somewhat bumpy, this is it. Now that Sunbeam is falling through increasingly dense air, she's experiencing conditions known as 'Max-q'. Aerodynamic buffeting has reached its maximum level, and this situation will persist until the shuttle is able to transition into atmospheric flight mode. Right now, she's dropping like a spent bullet.
"Altitude, 25 kilometres. Velocity, two five zero-zero. Twenty kilometres downrange. Deploying primary airfoil surfaces. Aerobrakes set to fifteen degrees. Atmospheric engines are online. Turbines One and Two confirmed hot and spooling up. All flight systems are go for final approach."
Sunbeam had exchanged its fiery plumage for a pure white contrail as it plunged deeper into the atmosphere; an unwavering line painted boldly across the sky. Its vapour would merge with the clouds of this world, shielding it from all eyes save our own... And the unfathomable senses of Sky Watcher. Altitude, twenty kilometres. Velocity, eighteen hundred kilometres per hour. Fifteen kilometres out from Skull Island.
All else that happens here will be decided in a handful of minutes.
I snap back harder, trust me.
All I've seen in these last few pages, @sayerulz is constant and unnecessary comments from yourself either criticising the content of this story or criticising people who ask you to stop. Whilst it's true that anything posted on a forum like this is likely to attract all sorts of comments, it is not reasonable to expect Bugzapper to have their thread filled with the rantings of other people.
Take my advice and stop it now.
Thanks.
He's right. I speak from experience
"Looking good, JUNO. Bring her in on the deck. How's Sky Watcher travelling right now, DIGBY?"
"No response, Sir. No apparent activity in the weapon facility. Energy emissions are minimal."
"Just the way we want it." I said, cracking a relieved smile. "Looks like we're in the clear, folks."
Sunbeam touched down without incident. As the crew busied themselves loading cargo and refuelling the shuttle, I contacted Captain Halvorsen with the good news. It turned out I wasn't the only one chewing his nails during Sunbeam's approach, figuratively at least. After all, there is a great deal riding on this trip's success. Five hundred litres of deuterium will not be enough fuel to keep Carl Sagan running for long, and the ship certainly won't make it back to the phase gate station at Omicron Leonis on that amount. In reality, it's only a token contribution to the Carl Sagan's actual needs; a little something we've thrown in to make Sunbeam's journey somewhat more worthwhile.
However, now that we've established that it is possible to land on Manannán (and presumably lift off again), Halvorsen will be able to dispatch his tankers on a regular schedule. It might be worth designating an area relatively devoid of sea life to make those seawater harvesting runs a bit more eco-friendly. Purely as a neighbourly gesture, of course. I'll do a detailed recon of the area surrounding Skull Island, just as soon as Sunbeam is safely underway once more.
After wrapping things up with Halvorsen, I made my way down to the pad to lend an extra pair of hands. My mood has lightened considerably since the Carl Sagan's arrival, and it's only fair that I share the wealth. Pay some of that good feeling back down the line, so to speak. To this end, I'm sending back some choice party-starters along with the E-42 derms and deuterium. Five hundred litres of IANTO's 'Y Ddraig Goch' - A vastly improved version of our Creepvine beer, a crate of assorted genuine French fizzies, plus a selection of home-cooked delicacies from our Iron Chef DIGBY. Since Halvorsen sounded particularly wistful when he mentioned pâte de foie gras, there's a couple of kilos of our smoked Peeper pâte thrown in for good measure. If their food is anything like some of the 'Chef's specials' we were served aboard Aurora, I'll wager they're all heartily sick of Cottage Pie and Tardigrade velouté by now.
We still have some time before accommodating Carl Sagan's shore-leave rotations becomes an issue. Even so, it's probably a good idea to start thinking about how we're going to work this. There's a bit of a social dilemma brewing here. Should there be an additional common area shared by the colonists and visitors, or should I keep both groups separate for the duration of their stay? I'm inclined to say that most of the colonists would be content staying with their own, although some of the younger colonists might prefer to mingle with the visitors. This is where it all becomes rather complicated.
Belters are essentially a tough-minded bunch of Reubens. Consequently, their attitude to personal relationships is astonishingly casual. If we throw a parcel of fresh young Alterra faces into the mix, add a few nippies of the strong stuff... Well, there's bound to be trouble. When a Belter man or woman spontaneously decides that they desire your company for the night, you'd be well advised to choose your next words very carefully. 'No.' is a perfectly reasonable reply, provided you're not playing head-games with them. Belters tend to interpret things quite literally. If you're already 'otherwise involved' and angling to change your luck, you had best hope your significant other is a particularly forgiving sort.
Gorram it. I'll talk this shore leave business over with Captain Halvorsen.
JUNO replied with a smile. "One hundred and forty-five hours, Sir. All construction drones are currently operating at maximum capacity. Barring any unexpected incidents, internal fit-out, power systems installation and accommodation construction should commence shortly thereafter."
"Excellent. Right now, our only serious concern is the weather. If it holds out long enough for the Sagan to send down a few tankers, things will start cracking along nicely." I said, rubbing my hands together in satisfaction. "At any rate, we'll need to train up some willing bodies presently. Plenty of plumbing and cabling awaits their diligent attention, and that's something I'd prefer to see done by hand. JUNO and IANTO, if you'd kindly see to that, DIGBY and I will handle the recruitment and training of our engineering and operations support crews."
"Very good, Sir." JUNO replied. "All cargo has been loaded and secured. Refuelling operations and pre-flight checks are complete. Sunbeam stands ready for launch in all respects."
"Well then, we'd best send this one on its merry way." I said.
Once Sunbeam had cleared the pad, I strolled out onto the Bridge's observation deck. The shuttle is already a wee silver speck rising rapidly into Manannán's brilliant blue sky, its pure white contrails dispersing almost as soon as they formed. There's a special kind of sadness attached to watching a ship, any ship depart. Instead of the usual sensations of loss and regret as I watched it pass over the horizon, I experienced a profound feeling of relief. Although loneliness was a thing of the distant past, I still felt that an aching gulf of space separated me from a previous existence. More than anything now, I wanted to return to familiar surroundings. Even the monotonous red ochre sands of Mars would be a welcome sight, although there is a far more seductive pull exerted by Terra itself. Like iron filings stirring in a magnetic field, I'm feeling the call of the old Home World.
I have definite plans for what we're going to do after returning to Terra. However, these plans are entirely dependent on what happens during the intervening time between our departure and arrival. The matter of repatriating our Belter colonists will need some careful thought. Some may wish to return to Sol's asteroid belt to address their familial obligations, while others might find themselves inclined to start an entirely new life on Terra. Some might even want to sign on as full-time crew aboard Borealis. The situation is entirely fluid at the moment, and I've been working on a number of contingency plans to suit the individual needs of each colonist upon our eventual return.
If nothing else, Borealis will always be there for them. I can see a number of situations where our colonists have nowhere else to go, and they are welcome to remain aboard as crew members. Of course, Borealis will need extensive work if she's recommissioned to follow in Aurora's wake, but we'll deal with that when the need arises.
Our first mission upon returning to Terra will be legendary.
1. You have just said that their first mission after they get back will be legendary, will we get to see it?
2. Do you think the devs are just waiting till the story is over to give you several pats on the back and negotiate publishing this master piece ?
3. Patreon?
4. Would you consider giving out some writing advice for someone that doesn't seem to be able to get past the first couple pages of their story?
1. Legendary mission: Definitely.
2. I have no idea. A pat on the back would be nice.
3. Probably not. The Australian Taxation Office might develop an unhealthy interest in that particular source of external income. Not a good idea.
4. This is what I've learned: Persevere. Plot your main story-line well in advance of current events. If you don't enjoying writing it, your audience won't enjoy reading it. Avoid introducing too many characters without developing unique defining traits for each of them. Give your characters '3D personalities'. If a plot device is broken, re-write it. Add an occasional plot-twist or cliff-hanger, but don't overdo it. Write the first few chapters well in advance, then post the story one page at a time. Writing 'on the fly' can be quite a challenge. Respect your audience and respect constructive criticism. Don't get bogged down fighting unnecessary flame-wars. Keep the story moving. Finally... Persevere.
Hope this helps you out.
I had swung by Kaori-san no-shima on my way over to Skull Island, intending to have a preliminary chat with the colony's committee members. Building a 'hotel' to house Carl Sagan's shore leave parties is our first order of business, although now might be a good time to raise the matter of recruiting specialist crew members for Borealis as well. We already have a solid complement of workers assigned to the ship's construction, and a fair percentage of them have the necessary skills sets to translate smoothly into operational support roles aboard Borealis. However, there is still a shortfall in available hands best suited for marine operations. The next phase is absolutely crucial to the success of the mission, and it will require at least 20 specially-trained divers. Trained as marine biologists, to be precise.
Like it or not, we may have to draw a little deeper from the colony's well.
I had to laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all. A century ago, my only real concern was staying alive for just another hard-won day. Now, I'm having to deal with all the piddling minutiae of local government, human resources and civil works. A daft situation overall, and certainly not something that I could have ever predicted back then. Even so, the devil's in the detail. It's always that one tiny quirk that throws a spanner into the works, and I have to gracefully accept that this business isn't entirely about the nuts and bolts that hold a starship together. People are also involved.
The idea came to me almost insidiously, sneaking into my train of thought almost undetected. The committee meeting had gone smoothly, most of our business having been transacted as an informal discussion, held over a particularly splendid breakfast. This fact was not lost on me. Things definitely get done when folks are well fed and at their happiest, and the committee wasn't an exception. The simple act of breaking bread together can be a powerful source of social cohesion.
By extension, this principle could be applied to the shared common area where colonists and Carl Sagan's crew can interact with a reasonable degree of predictability. Whether it's a plain coffee shop, an austere monastic refectory or a full-blown restaurant is immaterial. Remove alcohol entirely from this equation, and any potential for social volatility will decrease accordingly. That's the theory, at least. That's not to say we can expect smooth sailing all the way. All it takes is one bampot jacked up on ten mugs of Kona Blue, suddenly acquiring a supernatural ability to smell the colour Nine. Put it this way... If your body starts vibrating like a tuning fork, you will be served a complimentary cup of chamomile tea and politely shown the door. By someone wearing an ExoSuit.
On to more practical matters. Disco Volante and Artemis cruised slowly over bare basalt flats approximately three hundred metres SSW of Skull Island, performing a detailed census of all life forms in the area. Apart from a few Bonesharks and a sparse scattering of Spadefish, Reginalds, Hoopfish and Boomerangs, this location appears to be a suitable spot for Carl Sagan's Percheron-class tankers to load their cargos of seawater. Naturally, we'll need to prepare this site beforehand, although it looks like a straightforward operation. Scare off everything inside a 250-metre square perimeter, then keep them out with a combination of bubble-fences and directional ultrasonic transducers. With any luck, they'll all have scarpered well before the tankers arrive, although it wouldn't hurt to construct a decent-sized skimmer box around that well-head I'm planning to install today. Little fishies can make big problems inside the plumbing of a starship's deuterium extraction plant, and that's something that we can all live without. When all's said and done, a wee mickle of forethought now saves a mighty muckle of sweat later on.
The devil's in those details, after all.