The JHC Drive

[Zeppy]

An hour later the Icarus is once again in a (relatively) stable Geostationary orbit around the Privas cluster, above Privas two. Jack looks up from the controls, “how long until the probe is in position?’

“It will be on the surface and aimed correctly within two minutes”, George replies without looking up from his console.

“Excellent, I’m ready for it”, as Jack finishes speaking his bionic eyes begin to glow brighter, taking on a slight orange tinge, and a humming sound comes from the underside of the Icarus as the cargo bay opens.

One minute and 47 seconds later the probe launches a small metal cylinder into space; the cylinder contains only two things, a small sensor beacon that Jack would use to track its progress and the battery crystal from the DGM on Privas two. Jack’s eyes, linked to the Icarus’s and probe’s sensors, feed him data on the constantly changing course of the small metal cylinder as it is buffeted by the gravitational fluctuations around Privas. Jack’s hands settle in the air in front of him as he slowly adjusts the Icarus’s tractor beam using his HUD.

George looks up from his console, “Careful, the gravitational fluctuations are dispersing the gravitons in the tractor beam much faster than normal and reducing its range, you will have to try latching on to it when its much closer than normal.

Jack nods and doesn’t respond, the cylinder had decelerated during its ascent but was still traveling very fast. “Ok its close enough to get clear data now, target is at a distance of thirty kilometres and closing at five hundred metres per second. Time until impact, one minute”, George interjects.

Jack adjusts the tractor beam to account for this new information, “shunting power to tractor beam, attempting target lock”.

“Beacon confirms target lock; graviton dispersal patterns suggest optimal firing distance of 1.5 kilometres.”
Jack nods again and his brow furrows in concentration; his hands constantly shift in front of him as he adjusts the tractor beam using his HUD.

George speaks up again, “optimal firing range in 10 seconds… 5 seconds, 3, 2, 1, now!”

The ship shudders slightly as the tractor beam fires, for a split second the beam seems to flow around and past the cylinder; Jack quickly adjusts the beam however and it snaps into place, holding the cylinder firmly.
“I have it!”, Jack says excitedly, “I can’t believe that actually worked”, he adds in a muttered tone.

George looks up from his console and smiles, “one down, three to go”.

Jack sighs and stabs at his HUD with his hand, the cargo bay doors hum as they close, “head back there and secure the cylinder; I’ll get us in position for the next one.”

George gets up and walks towards the back of the ship, “It’s going to be a long day”, he mutters.

---

Reseach into the Kansas sector

Research into the Privas Planetary Cluster

Research into Alien "Trade Lanes"

A new ship, Jack Denton's time on Freeport 11

The JHC Drive

An Unscheduled Vacation of Sorts

The above are meant to be read in order, if you jump in at "A new ship" you are going to be lost.

RP feedback thread