Footman's Logg; Feb 14th, 18XX :..........

I sadly had to cut my visit to the moon short, having still never found Selenites, or really getting anywhere's with my lunar research, but it was a pleasant, if somewhat quiet, visit.

the skeleton crew up here keeping mostly scarce aside from repeatedly asking me if I had authorization to use the laboratory (usually a flat out lie telling them I was there on navy business would make them go away, but if that didn't work, informing them I worked for the hospital back in babbage seemed to grant me access, as well as a laundry list of typically overhyped ailments that particular person was suffering, why he never seemed to remember I'd been in the lab using it already, I haven't the foggiest), or to repair the steamrover.

My supply of serum # 14 was running low as well, I had used the last bit on the head (fortunatly the one peice of information my research had shown, the moon is relatively safer from zombies, they'd move even more slow if not freeze solid, much like escapees at the Harbor Landing facility), so I would need to return to earth for more supplies.

After seeing to the automotons packing my equiptment, I had made my way to where my rocket was docked,  Only to be stopped by a young man in a ridiculous uniform, it appeared to have been some form of military dress uniform at one point, but with much gold colored material incorporated into it, and some badge that seemed to take over a good quarter of his chest, resembling a moon with a fairly inaccurate rocket orbiting it.  He claimed to be one of the autorities of the base, though I had never seen any mention of him, or that particular uniform on any of the occasional crew I'd already met. And tried to bar me from boarding my own rocket!

He said I had no clearance for take off, it's a private aethercraft and I told him I was well withing rights to launch it when and where I required, especially on the moon.  He babbled on about some 'federation' and, finally annoyed, I had the lunar automoton accompanying me let loose it's teslarod  on him.  Once I was assured he was out cold, I stepped over and returned to my rocket.

Sitting in the control seat, I started activating switches, making sure all systems were on, and there was plenty of air and we were pressurized before I removed my helmet.  Once all gauges were at 100%, I hit the ignition button, and so we left the lunar surface.

I set course to earth, planning on re-entry coming  down in the Vernian, and got up to make a pot of coffee.  




As I was taking my fifth cup of coffee, I immediatly spit it out as warning klaxons sounded, rushing back to the cockpit, I saw the gauges were all off by 70%, and we were soon to be in re-entry, and the systems for closing the heat sheilds were only at 10%.
How this happened, I had no time to figure out, I had to get the heat sheilds up at the very least.

This involved prying up one of the floor panels, and crawling into the workings of the rocket, where it was already very hot.  I found the cogwork for the heat sheilds and saw immediatly, one of my canes was in the works, how that happened, again, no time to work out.

I set to work extracting it, as I felt the vessel shuddering, and the klaxons sounding, as well as a new klaxon, as the automoton had decided to be helpful by following me and sounding a warning klaxon in my ear in rythm with the ship's.

Eventually, coated in sweat and with a pounding headache, I managed to force out the cane, and the cogs turned again.

Getting back to the controls in a hurry, I pulled the lever to manually close the heatshields, watching the glass of the viewscreen begin to melt, as I braced my foot against the control unit and pulled.  Eventually it slammed down with a click, as the heavy metal sheild slammed shut.


It still wasn't a relaxing ride, As I'm trying to buckle myself to the seat, and failing as I'm tossed around like a ragdoll while the rocket tumbled from the sky. It finally ended abruptly with a loud crashing sound as the rocket slammed hard and I was whacked into the side of the hull.


The klaxons were still sounding, this time the cause was obvious, water was pouring into the hull.  I retreated to the rear of the rocket, and standing in the bronze diving bell in back, activated the terrestrian escape system.

The diving bell was ejected from the rear of the rocket, high enough, I could see from the window, landmarks that looked unfamiliar, plus the fact the rocket was quickly descending to the depths, before the bell reached the end of it's arc, and splashed down into the sea, the rafts around the circumferance activating as they kept it afloat.


I should of just taken the portal back.

Footman's Logg; Feb 13th, 18XX :Further research on the Moon

I've been at the moon base, preforming some research of my own while taking vacation.

Fist was testing the Tesla Field Generator, wich utilizes the human body as a tesla coil to generate a field, I needed to see how it reacts to the lack of an atmosphere, unfortunatly, it also causes 3rd degree burns.

Afterwards, I took one of the steamrovers out to continue my search for moon men, so far, not even a Selenite.  I took a few rocks for further work, 

Partially out of boredom, and partially for my research into the Immortalis serum, I had broght the head of a corpse, taken from the mourge.  Bringing it outside to the lunar surface with me, I prepared a dose of serum formula 14, and injected it in the head's left nostril.

Freezing temperatures do not seem to sit well with the newly reanimated dead, it gnashed it's teeth much more sluggish than it would on Terra Firma.  Eventually it vomited (I have no idea where the vomit came from, seeing as there was no stomache) in a cloud of frozen particles, and I drop-kicked it.  The lower gravity gave it quite an arc.  I soon lst the head over the horizon.

After returning to the station, I helped myself to a cup of coffee and reviewed my notes, so far little of my research here was coming to fruition.

Unfortunatly I will have to return to Earth eventually, as after the last experiment, my personal supplies of serum were running low, and I was not about to attempt the balm as a substitute after last time.

 

Footman's Logg; Feb 7th, 18XX :Holiday on the Moon

I have returned breifly to New Babbage, where I learned of the moon base.

Determined to visit as part of my vacation, I first constructed a rocket to transport myself, it unfortunatly did not survive it's first launch and nosedived back into the earth spectacularly , sadly the test automoton did not survive.

So, I reconfigured a base rocket used in early experiment's breaking out of the atmosphere, and loaded it with more powerful rockets.

That seemed to do the trick, as it held together much better. So, setting a temporary launch pad in the Academy, fitted my pressure suit from when I visited Miss Static's orbital station over my winter coat, and the launch was soon underway.

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It landed a little roughly, bending the base stand in the rear slightly on moon rocks, but otherwise handeled well.

I soon made my way to the base. Entering first, posing for the camera automoton by the Babbage flag, as any self respecting tourist would do.

The station itself is fairly impressive, and I see the Clockhaven power plant's portal technology has been linked already (had I realized, I might have save myself the hassle of aquiring a working rocket).

The living quarters were fairly nice, resembling some hotel, though the bed in one room wasn't made, they may want to see about either hiring a maid, or getting some sort of automotons (wich I'd happily make a deal on behalf of Footman Industries for)

I found the observatory first, the telescope give a very vivid picture of the heavens, including a detailed look at Mars, sadly, the camera drone had wound down at that point and dropped like a somewhat light rock (the moon appears to have a low gravity).

After a quick windup, and some time in the bar, (a true sign of civilization if I've ever seen one), I managed to locate the simulation room, which appears to utilize some sort of new technology to create a 3 dimensional representation of the stars.

After some searching, I finally located the lab, very basic, but has all the nessecities, I may borrow it during my stay for my own research.

After exploring the base, I donned my helmet again and stepped out to walk the surface, No sign of moon men so far, but the view is impressive, Earth seems about the size of a golfball from here, New Babbage is not even visible.

All in all, I may spend a while up here, as the research oppertunities are many. Sadly, there's no fishing here, I will have to make do.