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[RFC][Story] Project Stargazer - HRogge - 01-13-2011
Okay, here is my first attempt to write something within the fenspace universe. It's an idea I have been thinking about for the last days, it's not finished but it's more text (for one evening) that I would have estimated. I have decided to write it as a "diary", so let me know if I managed to bore you to death with it *G*.
January 1st, 2010, just after midnight
New Year's Day.
I am starting this diary because I want to document my project for the new year. If you are reading this diary without my knowledge, please tell this guys from TrueCrypt that their software stinks!
I have been sitting on my ass for the last two years, looking up into the sky watching the stars while the rest of the world is going mad... and into space. Astronomy and space flight has always been a hobby of mine, maybe that is the reason I am still here. I know it's cold out there, or very hot in the sun. There is no air to breath, no water to drink and nothing to eat out there, just a few hostile planets and stars shining in the endless night. How could someone with a small car or a truck survive there for more than a few months ? They should have been all gone now.
But they are not, and the government back home on Earth are just going crazy instead of embracing this new era... a bunch of Trekkies build a base on MARS and the ESA is still using chemical rockets, what the hell is wrong with all of them ? I think they just fear it... it's not NASA with billions of dollars anymore that pushes the frontier, it's can be everyone.
I have been looking at this pot of strange gray liquid for two years without doing doing anything with it ? Time to try something new this year.
January 2nd, 2010
I heard that some of the Fen as they call themselves built their spacecrafts within days or weeks, but I don't think I can do it this way. I have to think things through before I do them, I am not a mad scientist in a web comic.
It took me two hours of browsing through Warez forums to track down a copy of a good 3D CAD program for my project. Have to buy a larger monitor on Monday, and maybe a second harddisk. I already have a name for my personal (slightly mad) project...
Project Stargazer... sounds great I think, it's a folder on my encrypted drive now.
... an empty one.
Okay, have to hunt down all available files on Fen and handwavium tomorrow, and decide what I could use as a template for my private spaceship. I know everything about the Honorverse and have lots of Star Gate DVDs, there should be enough inspiration there.
January 5th, 2010
Honorverse and Star Gate, bad choice.
The smallest spacecraft in the Honorverse is a LAC, a light assault craft... ten thousands tons of battlesteel and molecular circuits. I will never get enough stuff together to build something like this without a friendly cop at my door, asking what this huge metal beast is doing behind my garage.
And Star Gate ? The only thing small enough to even think about building it would be a X302 or a Puddle Jumper. I would need an old jet to start building an X302, absolutely impossible to get something here in Europe with my money. The Puddle Jumper looked better, especially building a smaller one, but after reading through some files about Fen and their crazy spaceships I recognized something... a Jumper has no visible machines, no mechanism, nothing which could help the Handwavium to form it.
Have to think about this again tomorrow, getting sleepy.
January 6th, 2010
I have finally decided to go the classic way, after watching the whole evening out of the window on the parking lot. I cannot built a spaceship from scratch, but I can convert my car into one! It sounds crazy, but lot's of Fen have been doing it, so it's feasible! Just have to make a checklist what I will need to change or build in for a spaceship.
Just a final game of HALO, then bedtime. Have to go back to work tomorrow.
January 12th, 2010
The amount of Handwavium in the canister in my cellar is growing nicely from the metal I got from the scrap yard. I diluted the rest in the can with some water two days ago, but it does not look much different now, just again a small can full of Handwavium.
My 3D model of my car is making progress, I think I have hundreds of pictures of the car from all different angles now. Just have to integrate them into the model later.
My checklist is also growing... air-condition as life support, motor as spaceship engine... but car radio for communication ? That sounds really bad, I need to think about something else. Reinforcing the outer hull of the car against micro meteorites and air friction, making it airtight.
Lot's of things to do when I have enough gray goo...
January 16th, 2010
Damn, the 8 Gig or ram are not enough anymore to hold my 3D model and all the photos at the same time. Why do this CAD thing eating up memory like breathing air ? I don't want to spent that much money for special server hardware with more RAM, what can I do ?
Will have a short break from working on Stargazer tomorrow and play some games, maybe I get a good idea.
January 18th, 2010
I am an official idiot... I have stuff that transforms ships into space cruisers and I am thinking about not being able to buy a better computer ! I have already backed up my files and disassembled my computer, now it is nicely soaking in some good amount of handwavium... I just hope I will get something powerful enough to finish my project. Working with Handwavium is fun, you just have to remember to wash your hands afterwards.
January 20th, 2010
Okay, the handwavium has been absorbed by my computer, or maybe the other way around. It has shrunken by at least 40% in the last two days and it has some strange new plugs on the back I don't recognize. At least the USB ports and the Ethernet plug is still there... and the DVD burner can handle bluray now according to the sticker.
Booting up was a funny experience, the BIOS memory test justs stops with a memory size of "enough" and the truecrypt password screen has been replaced by some stylish 'speak passphrase' one. Worked like a charm, but I was a little bit shocked that my dual boot manager was gone. Linux looks nice as ever, even the windows CAD program is there. I have no clue what the system is doing, but WINE was never be able to run this damned thing. All data is still there and finally NO OUT OF MEMORY error anymore.
Will test the rest of the system tomorrow.
January 24th, 2010... Sunday... DAMN
Okay, this was my worst and best day combined into one. I am really not a 'morning person', I like to sleep long at the weekend.
Being yelled to get up by your own computer is not fun, especially not at 9am in the morning on Sunday! My thoughts were racing at ludicrous speed... the cops, the military, my friends with a surprise party...
I tried to jump up in bed... I think I got entangled in my blanket, because the next thing I remember is laying on the ground besides my bed with a light headache, the voice in the background still shouting.
In retrospect I should have uninstalled HALO before applying the Handwavium, having a computer with an insane and genocidal 343 Guilty Spark inside would not have been fun at all.
Getting yelled by Cortana until I plugged in my webcam and apologized for not connecting the computer to any network was not that much better this early in the morning, at least until I recognized the great thing that happened. Together we could do this, much better than I ever would have been able to do it alone.
It took some talking to Cortana to explain the situation, the really stupid plans on her computer (hey, it's mine !) and a lot of things. Connecting her to the internet and telling her about wikipedia, google and some good news sites helped a lot. I just hope she will be careful while surfing in the web, I told her that the cops wont like what we are doing here, so no hacking for now. She told me to take the day off while she would be thinking about the situation.
Late in the evening I told her about my dream of a self made spaceship to leave Earth and to boldly go, where lot's of Fen has gone before. I think she likes the idea.
January 31th, 2010
Out planning is progressing very well I think.
The computer model of my car is finished and we are starting a list of other things I want to buy for the project. Cortana wanted a CB radio and my Android smartphone for communication, but I told her about something much nicer. Just a week, then we should get our two USRP2s. I am already curious what to waved software defined radios will be able to do when controlled by someone as clever as my new friend. The dozen webcams will make a good way to look out of the car later, especially to the top and to the bottom. I just hope I will not run out of money before we lift off.
February 14th, 2010
I have beginning to reinforce the structure with gray handwavium to allow it to withstand the stress of space travel, heat and micro meteorites. The surface of my car looks different now, but it is difficult to say how it looks like. One of the windows have become some kind of glass clear crystal, and the integration of the cameras is going great. Cortana is a great assistant, especially since she use my waved Android smartphone as a small remote for her computer.
The longer I work with the Handwavium on my car, the easier it is. Small flashes of insight, inspiration, it is just great what you can do with this stuff. This is really the stuff to make dreams become reality, just forming it with my own hands.
- robkelk - 01-14-2011
Looks good to me, so far. I'm looking forward to reading more.
I was a bit worried when I saw the 3D CAD references, but then I realized you were going to use them as plans to build a ship (rather than have the 'wavium make a ship for you from the plans). That's something that I wish more folks would do...
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."
- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012
- M Fnord - 01-14-2011
Quote:Why do this CAD thing eating up memory like breathing air ?
Because it's a CAD program, and Autodesk & everybody who follows their lead are a pack of bastards.
Interesting, pray continue.
Mr. Fnord interdimensional man of mystery
FenWiki - Your One-Stop Shop for Fenspace Information
"I. Drink. Your. NERDRAGE!"
- Rod.H - 01-14-2011
Nice.
I should really add to my bit - ideas aplenty, urge to write present, willingness to output text: gone for years.
And yes, everyone goes for cars as they're easyish to come by and goop, as for me I'd rather goop something intended to fly in the first place. There's just a small problem of locating such a craft in a location where you can goop it with little disturbance.
Hmm, ya CAD programs, 3D renders, Photoshop, iTunes, Civ5 are all infamous RAM eaters.....
- HRogge - 01-15-2011
Thank you for all the positive feedback, here is the second part of the story... I think the final third part should be up tomorrow.
March 2nd, 2010
Damn, I forgot our bi-weekly Shadowrun group... and their call got nowhere because my android phone became Cortana's remote and the sim card is laying on my desk. Promised them to replace the 'broken' phone soon and asked why they didn't sent an email.
But at least the waving (still strange to use this word) of the main structure of the car is finished. I cannot dent either the metal or the windows with anything I have, I think they should be okay for our big adventure. Our new radio system has replaced the old car radio and we have been designing the necessary antenna arrays for this little beast. Even Cortana and her computer have got a good place in the car and as long as I do keep her connected to my DSL line, she promised not to hack the local 3G mobile network, at least not too much.
I confirmed that the car is airtight and now we are working on life support. As soon as this finished we will get to the engine to awake my little baby.
March 16th, 2010
Life support is working fine, the air stays clean and fresh inside and oxygen levels seem to be normal. Did some tests by taking some of the air in a glass container and burning a piece of paper inside, no difference to normal air.
The Handwavium for the machine conversion has been growing well, mixed with science fiction books about cool spaceships and their engines and some printouts Cortana produced about the engine. I even sacrificed my LEGO model of the Puddle Jumper, I hope the will go the right way. If I get a high powered engine without an inertial compensator, I might instantly die the moment I push the throttle to the max. But I have a good feeling about it.
I plan to launch in April, so I quit my job today and took vacation for the rest of the month. There should be enough money left to buy anything I need and pay all bills for the rest of the year.
March 23th, 2010
YEAH... WE ROCK!
After six days of nearly constantly waving engine and control panels inside the car, both the engine, the fuel tank and the controls have stabilized. My gear shift lever has only four settings left, "G", "A" and "S". I think they mean ground, air, space... but Cortana says it's gratuitous, acceptable and superb. There are even two small buttons for reverse driving (or flying ?) and one for parking.
It was a great feeling sitting in my car, shifting to 'air' gear and press the start button. There was some electricity in the air as the new engine started for the first time and I heard some new background noise... for a moment I thought nothing had happened, but then I noticed that the car slowly drifted backwards. I hit the parking button hard and jumped out of the car... and there it was... I would have never thought that this small finger wide gap of air below the wheels would be that exciting. I still remember laughing like mad about my triumph over Newton until Cortana got me back onto the ground.
I christened the new spaceship on the name 'Stargazer' on the same evening. It's no longer a car like thousands of other cars, it's something special now so it earned a name.
March 24th, 2010
I am pretty sure the car top was not transparent yesterday.
The car tank is now filled with some strange black crystal, definitely a solid type of Handwavium and no liquid anymore. I am not sure what to do if I need a refill, I hope the crystal is able to replicate as easily as the normal Handwavium.
Cortana and me are now planing on the fine details we will need for the Launch and our journey into space. I bought a combined microwave oven, it's already waved and in the back of the car. I just have to find out whats the macro setting on it. Instead of getting a refrigerator, I waved three rolls of plastic wrap and aluminum foil, both waved with the same Handwavium I used for life support. I hope it will keep eatable things fresh for a good amount of time. I have bought food for the next month to test it in my kitchen.
Had some talking with my Shadowrun group. Told them I would have to leave the group, not enough time to get there the next months. The sessions sucked anyway since our old gamemaster left the town last year. Damn... there goes another nice character to play. Cathy I will miss you.
Still have to get a new smartphone.
March 25th, 2010
Today I surprised Cortana with a small beamer I got for the Stargazer. Soaking it in Handwavium and mounted it at the top of the interior of the ship, pointing forward towards the front window. Should not be difficult for Cortana to project an image on the window, just like a good head up display.
She has been downloading lot's of stuff from the Internet to her local hard disk the last days, both scientific data about Earth, the solar system and all star catalogs she were able to track down. I am not sure what she wants to do with the star catalogs, the Stargazer will not leave the solar system...
at least I think so.
March 30th, 2010
Started working on a collapsable bathroom as I call it. A ground plate with several large compartments in it that I will use as tanks, one for waste being filtered by a well waved cat box granulate. I build in a plastic sack around it that you can draw up to the ceiling of the car to use it to wash yourself and as a shower. Will be a short shower because the water tank is just too small, even with the additional canister in the back of the car. Waved the plastic sack that keeps the water from sprinkling all around in the car with some dilluted Handwavium I used to reinforce the hull. Just have to get some fresh water from time to time.
April 2th, 2010
One of the guys from the RP group appeared today, asked a lot of strange questions what I am doing and what is wrong with me. Hope he did not see the small cup with Handwavium in the kitchen.
My bathroom is working well, I just wish I had enough space for something much larger. Water filtration takes some hours, but it is working much better than a better anything hardtech. I think I am nearly ready to launch, maybe next week. Just have to buy new food and drinks, and maybe somthing to trade stuff after I am up in space. Or maybe exchanging it for Australian Dollar, it seems to be one of the only countries that seems to be staying calm in this insane world.
April 5th, 2010
Damn, I thought about lauching tomorrow evening, but Cortana wrecked this plan with an innocent question.
"Do you own a spacesuit" is really something I have not thought about. Damn... I knew I had forgot something important. I think I need a spacesuit, without it I have no chance to do some repairs when something happens in space. But where should I get one ? Maybe I can mod some suit for driving a motorcycle, but I would like a completely transparent helmet. Let's google for some good shops to buy stuff like this. I think we will start in April, so I have money left to burn.
Memo to myself, buy some Duct tape and wave it for emergency repairs.
I have been feeling sick the last days, I hope I didn't got something serious... maybe just working too much, too much excitement.
- Black Aeronaut - 01-15-2011
Oh dear. Simply washing your hands after handling Gray Goo doesn't cut it. One must use the proper PPE.
- HRogge - 01-15-2011
Final part of this story... comment below the story.
###################################
April 7th, 2010
Finally being well again... at least I hope so. Oh my god, I messed it up completely. Most likely I did not clean up the remaining Handwavium well enough from one of my aluminum foils. That or I just was a little bit to careless when applying all the Wavium to the systems of the Stargazer.
Did I say I would miss Cathy, the Shadowrun rpg character I have played the last three years ? My nice poor little catgirl changeling ? Let's just say I wont miss her anymore... the bad thing is no one else will miss her too. Damn...
How shall I get more food for the launch now, going into the next supermarket sounds like a good way to be put in a hospital... and in jail afterwards when they find the Stargazer.
And HOW ON EARTH shall I construct a fitting spacesuit now ?
Cortana is still laughing about the whole thing, but I have to admit laying in my bed in the morning with the sun shining through the window and purring was great.
April 8th, 2010
Have been getting out of the bed late again. Cortana demands that I close the curtain before I go to sleep. I think as an AI she cannot understand that I need a little bit stress relieve.
I decided to order a final batch of stuff in online shops and ask my neighbor to take some of the parcels for me because I am 'out of the house' for a few days. I will get the rest of the packets from packstation in the night.
Ordered a replica of an astronaut space helmet, some solid looking boots, an climbing belt and a catsuit... the name is fitting (I need a space-suit for a cat) and it's should be easier to get airtight that normal clothing. I will have to wave a little bit more to get the tail problem solved, but I think I can do it. The new smartphone, two small flashlights and bluetooth headset should complete the spacesuit well.
I have started packing all the stuff I want to take with me into my car and setting up some other batches of Handwavium for the spacesuit. I hope the pages from Webers Apocalypse Troll book about the cool spacesuit and the other printouts of advanced concepts for spacesuits will help too.
Now I just need an idea how to get that grin off Cortana's face.
April 11th, 2010
The spacesuit is ready, all praise the mighty Handwavium when applied by creative hands. Washed the whole suit from the outside with some dilluted version of the strain I used for the reinforcement of the car and the inside with the same strain I used in my life support wavings. For the helmet I just added some sun cream to it, I don't want to get my head burned of by the unfiltered sun. The phone has integrated itself on the left wrist, my flashlights on the right one and at the neck ring of the helmet. Even the belt and the boots are now directly attached to the suit, the two spare lithium ion batteries have vanished below the belt.
I will wait until tomorrow to give the Wavium time to stabilize the whole thing.
April 12th, 2010
Strange feeling wearing my new spacesuit, especially because it widens when it's not worn so that I can get in easily... but constricts as soon as the fastener is closed. The smartphone even gives me a nice summary about the status of the suit, including air supply and button to lock and unlock the helmet. It seems to be a compromise between NASAs soft suits and these BioSuit designed by the MIT. Wearing it for a few hours showed up no problems with sweating or breathing.
Leaving Earth tonight, it's not necessary to wait any longer. Let's the adventure begin!
April 13th, 2010, 0:30 am
Damn, the engine is not starting anymore. Not a single noise, just an error number in the display. What the hell is going on here, it worked perfectly on all earlier tests.
Cortana says that I AM the problem, not the Stargazer. Because the captain of the Stargazer (me) is a cat, the car wants some fitting decoration.
After cursing for a few minutes I managed to organize a ball of wool from my flat, which I knot to the inside mirror.
I am sure this is just a damned joke by this pesky AI. Yes of course, the CAR wants this. Sure. Really.
April 13th, 2010, 0:45 am
*start of audio recording*
{Cathy} So is this audio transcription working Cortana? Perfectly...
{Cathy} We are on our way, on the street towards the coast. I want to climb to orbit over the water, less chance that something will go wrong and I will kill someone when I fall to the ground.
{Cathy} It's nearly 4am in the morning, I should have started my journey earlier. We switched to air mode and left the coast behind us, slowly climbing higher while we race over the water.
*MEEP* *MEEP* *MEEP*
{Cathy} What the hell ? Cortana, why is the parking slot sensor beeping ?
{Cortana} I am detecting a pair of jet fighters closing quickly on our position.
{Cathy} Okay ? Lets increase speed and climbing rate, we are far enough away from land I think.
{Cathy} I already like my new parking lot radar system, took this jets some time to reach the Stargazer. Being escorted by two Eurofighters looks really nice. Cortana, see if you can get me a radio connection.
*static noise*
{Radio Voice 1} Yes airbase, it is a small car, flying at 800 kilometers per hour at 9000 feet and rising. I will try signal the pilot to turn around and land.
{Cathy} Good morning both of you, nice to have an escort for my maiden flight.
{Radio Voice 2} Who is this, identify yourself ?
{Radio Voice 1} How do you got on this frequency ?
{Cathy} Sorry, from the sound of your discussion I assumed you want to talk, right ? Just look at my car, I am waving at you at the moment.
{Radio Voice 2} Unknown... flying car. You are in violation of national airspace and are suspected having broken several laws regarding a substance called Handwavium. You are ordered to turn around and land at a military airbase. This is for your own safety.
{Cathy} Again I am sorry sir, but I don't think that would be a good idea for me. I am aware that the government does not like Handwaved stuff and persons, all thats down there for me is a hospital or quarantine. Just do yourself a favor and spare the money for a missile. The police should already have got an email with the address where I built my spacecraft, so you can clean it up without much fuss.
{Radio Voice 2} You will turn around at once. This is you final warning.
{Cathy} Sir, you should really invest in something with a reactionless drive... you can really do interesting things with it like breaking hard in the air... and flying straight up. Oh, and ask the government for more money for better encrypted radios!
{Radio Voice 1} Sir, the car suddenly stopped movement and is now raising very fast. We are trying to get back to it. *bzzz*
{Cathy} Enough of these guys. Cortana, we have to reach the maximum ceiling of this birds as quick as possible. Switching to space mode, full thrust, get us out of here.
*end of audio recording*
April 13th, 2010, 11:00 am, low earth orbit
The jets never caught up with me again, maybe they agreed that it makes more sense let me get into the orbit than contaminate the ocean below me with several strains of Handwavium. I like the idea that the military back home has some common sense.
We raced higher and higher until the sky became dark and the first stars were shining down on us. I pulled the Stargazer back horizontal from our vertical climb, turned my seat back and stared out of the transparent ceiling. I was pretty tired and as soon as the excitement was over I fell asleep.
Waking up with a sky full of stars hours later was the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced.
###############################
feel free to comment...
yes I know, not really unique... but I have some ideas how to built upon it and I think there are some good chances to get involved with the other players. On midterm stories live from input from multiple sources I think.
I will think about writing some stuff down for the about Cathy and the Stargazer...
- Dartz - 01-15-2011
Catgirls.
I'm almost dissapointed in a way, but it kinda makes sense that they're so common, even early on. When people think of biomods, the first thing they think of is a catgirlm because of Shuko. The association between biomod and catgirl is made. Which is the first thing the handwavium that mods them to run into is the idea that a biomod consists of a 'catgirl' or anthromorph of some sort. And so mods them to be an anthromorphic cat. Which feeds the idea.
It might also explain jokers. A person is afraid of getting a nasty quirky Joker mod, and thinks about it constantly, thereby ensuring they get a nasty quirky Joker biomod.
It's got to be a self-feeding prophecy.
Should look up Aoi Shatsu's papers on this stuff, from within the Daestrom Institute.
Edit: that's Aoi Shatsu. Akai Shatsu's with Starfleet Security.
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?
- HRogge - 01-15-2011
Interesting question, could Handwavium have access to the collective ideas and dreams of a group to make some wavings easier and some harder ?
- Foxboy - 01-15-2011
Well, it's like someone's sig on here says about the transhumanist future having catgirls. If Japan exists, there will be catgirls.
Hm. Should probably be a fenwiki article on the ubiquitous little darlings...
''We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat
them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.''
-- James Nicoll
- HRogge - 01-15-2011
Hope it did not wreck the story too much...
- Dartz - 01-15-2011
Never said it did. Just a comment remarking on how common our furry friends are canonically.
Also. Forum gone weird. Might be FF4 going odd with it.
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?
- robkelk - 01-15-2011
HRogge Wrote:Interesting question, could Handwavium have access to the collective ideas and dreams of a group to make some wavings easier and some harder ?
Good question... Some of the older meta discussion that hasn't made it onto the FenWiki yet hints that handwavium pays attention to the subconscious and unconscious desires of the people that use it. We never came to any agreements about whether the Jungian concept of the "collective unconsciousness" exists in Fenspace, but a majority of the writers tend to think that either it does or the wavium has created something functionally identical for its own use.
So, yes, it is easier to do some things than it is to do other things. But (there's always a "but") handwavium reacts differently for each person, so two people can't do exactly the same things with it.
Foxboy Wrote:Well, it's like someone's sig on here says about the transhumanist future having catgirls. If Japan exists, there will be catgirls.
Hm. Should probably be a fenwiki article on the ubiquitous little darlings...
Yes, there should be. And I believe you already have a FenWiki account.
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."
- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012
Some text about the Stargazer - HRogge - 01-19-2011
Stargazer
Spacecraft Characteristics
Nationality: Fenspace Convention
Base Hull: 2007 Skoda Fabia Kombi
Length (mm): 4247
Width (mm): 1642
Height (mm): 1498
Drive Type: Ellipsoide reactionless field-engine
Drive Rating: Max velocity 0.1c, less while pulling other things
Owner: Cathy
Launched: April 2010
Purpose: Exploration, transportation
Primary Crew: Cathy
Cortana (AI)
Operational Status: Active
»So we were just flying through the lower atmosphere, testing all components for our first real spaceflight... and then two of these outdates scrap metal jets were approaching, happily chatting with some friend on the ground about us without even saying a nice hello! Oh these guys had really a bad day, we just joined their nice little chat because they were talking about us and they were instantly angry about something. I was just about telling them what I think of their attitude when my little cat joined their discussion. The thing got out of control really quickly and we had to get out of there really quickly. That are the funny things that happen when you have a cat as a captain... but please don’t tell this Cathy.«
Cortana, chatting with another car AI over radio during CrystalCon
History (up to April 2010)
The Stargazer is a waved Scoda Fabia Combi modified by [[Cathy] to escape the gravity well of Earth and join Fenspace in 2010. The car is controlled by Cortana, an [[Artificial Intelligence] which developed in Cathys computer during the design phase of Stargazer.
Known Vehicle Quirks
* I can hear you! Stargazer use a waved dual software defined radio for communication. The radio is directly controlled by Cortana and can listen and respond to nearly any kind of radio communication, encrypted or not.
* Its full of stars. The ceiling of the Stargazer is transparent. Trying to load some luggage or cargo on top of the cars roof seems to shut the engine down.
* Do you have a tow hitch? Stargazer has a tow hitch mounted at the back. If an object with a maximum size three times as long as Stargazer is mounted or bound to the tow hitch, the engine field of Stargazer expands around the object and pulls it along. The mound or cables do not need to hold the whole mass of the object, but without them it doesn’t work. Speed is reduced during towing other things.
* Just a few toys. The engine would not start without a small cat toy put visible into the cockpit. It is unknown If this is a quirk of the engine or a joke of Cortana about Cathys biomod.
Crew Quirks:
* Just chatting. Just after awaking Cortana only had an internet connection to keep herself from becoming bored. She is still know to tattle with people in communication range a lot of time.
* Mine! Mine! Mine! Cortana considers the Stargazer HER ship. Cathy is ‘her cat’ she got as a captain. Don’t argue this with her.
* No Smoking! Cortana does not like the interior of the Stargazer being polluted by smoke and threatens to pump out the air if necessary to stop it. Cathy tends to agree with the first part, but not with the second one.
* Never deal with a dragon. Cortana occasionally enjoys a game of PBEM chess with someone using the handle "The Big D"
Trivia
* Cortanas ability to listen and respond to encrypted radio signals does only work on genuine radio encryption (doesn’t work on files just copied to the internal memory)
* The stargazer has three gears, G(round), A(ir) and S(pace). In ground mode the engine field is switched off and the Stargazer us its wheels to move around.
* The engine field doubles as a light deflector shield against objects and heat (mostly micro meteorites and reentry heat)
* Has a microwave and compact WC. Can be used by up to five persons, but get cramped with more than two or three persons after a few hours.
* Asking about the ball of wool at the inner mirror might cause Cathy to sigh and Cortana to giggle.
* Parking the Stargazer besides World Watch One is considered a minor denial of service against both the radios and Cortana
- Dartz - 01-19-2011
So... Cortana considers Cathy *her* cat. I just twigged that. Quite funny actually, and a nice little dynamic.
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?
- Black Aeronaut - 01-20-2011
'The Big D'? Like, Bwa?
- M Fnord - 01-20-2011
Quote:Never deal with a dragon. Cortana occasionally enjoys a game of PBEM chess with someone using the handle "The Big D"
*golfclap*
Mr. Fnord interdimensional man of mystery
FenWiki - Your One-Stop Shop for Fenspace Information
"I. Drink. Your. NERDRAGE!"
- Bob Schroeck - 01-20-2011
It certainly wasn't going to be Dudley Dursley...
ETA: Hmmm. http://www.fenspace.net/index.php5?title=Glossary#D]Dursleys...
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
- HRogge - 01-20-2011
Do you think the writeup is okay ? (except the obvious joke)
- Bob Schroeck - 01-20-2011
Looks okay to me at first glance.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
- HRogge - 01-20-2011
Bob Schroeck Wrote:http://www.fenspace.net/index.php5?title=Glossary#D]Dursleys...
Nice idea.
- robkelk - 01-21-2011
HRogge Wrote:Do you think the writeup is okay ? (except the obvious joke)What do you mean, "except for"?
(Honestly, there are enough over-serious FenWiki pages as it is. Adding a bit of levity to yours just helps it stand out... and it wouldn't be the only page with a joke on it.)
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."
- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012
- HRogge - 01-21-2011
robkelk Wrote:What do you mean, "except for"?I will make it a little bit less obvious for the wiki version... but it wouldn't be a good story if you cannot get people laughing about it.
(Honestly, there are enough over-serious FenWiki pages as it is. Adding a bit of levity to yours just helps it stand out... and it wouldn't be the only page with a joke on it.)
- Black Aeronaut - 01-21-2011
heh. Dursleys. Nice one, Bob. That can apply to a lot of people I see on the news these days. (^_^)
HRogge, I don't see any problem myself. Go ahead and stick it up in there. (^_^)
BTW: The Big D would happen to be a reference to the 1980's fantasy movie, Legend, would it?
- M Fnord - 01-21-2011
Nope! But keep guessing; it's amusing.
Mr. Fnord interdimensional man of mystery
FenWiki - Your One-Stop Shop for Fenspace Information
"I. Drink. Your. NERDRAGE!"