[M - H03] Rescue (The fleet arrives)

[woofmcmoose]

Location: H03 - Kaalin

Tags: Spaceshsip

Previously on Andromeda’s Gates...

Somewhere in the Kaalin system, close to the H-03 Anomaly.

“Moose, you awake?”

“Uhhhh....my head is killing me, did we go out drinking?”

“C'mon moose get it together. The headache is from the stimulants the suit injected to bring you out of hibernation. The long-range scanners have picked something up; I'm activating the distress beacon.”

“So the explosion, the exposure to vacuum, it wasn't just some alcohol fuelled nightmare?”

“No. there was some sort of GATE malfunction; lousy Octan drive tech! Most of the ship jumped, but not all of it. Thankfully our suits stayed with us, I initiated hibernation mode to preserve power. I figured that, being close the the Anomaly, another ship must come by sooner or later."

“How much later?”

“Chronometer says two weeks.”

“Wow. Shouldn't MANTIS have rescued us by now.”

“Moose, given it was a spy mission no one knows we were here. Or at least those that do would assume we failed, or were captured.”

“So who is coming for us?.”

“I don't know; but whoever it is, let me do the talking.”

Tadpole class survey vessel, MSS Omicron.

"Sir! Picking up a distress beacon, ident is unknown."

"Probably Octan; they have a lot of operations on Kaalin. Any life signs?"

"Can't tell at this range sir, though the beacon only began pinging a few minutes after we made the jump. It would suggest someone triggered it after seeing us arrive."

"OK, I'll get us closer, but keep a good eye on the sensors, it may be a trap."

“We're in luck, the vessel appears to have a MANTIS transponder code, perhaps the fleet is finally on it's way.”

“So wait, are we now MANTIS again or still pretending to be Octan?”

“This is why I said let me do the talking! MANTIS vessel this survey team echo-six-alpha, requesting assistance.”

"Echo-six-alpha this is the MSS Omicron, what the hell are you doing here? We are supposed to be the first in system."

"Sir, scans indicate two suits, that's it, no ship, nothing!"

“MSS Omicron, we suffered a GATE malfunction jumping from Sorn and our ship disintegrated as we came out of the jump, we have been floating here for two weeks and could really use a ride.”

"A GATE malfunction bringing a ship all the way here from Sorn? Something doesnt sound right, but I suppose it could be possible given the increase in space-time disturbances."

"It's possible Sir. The suits do appear to be MANTIS type."

"Ok, lets pick them up, will hand them over to security division to sort out what's, what when the fleet arrives. Echo-six-alpha this is the MSS Omicron, on our way to you now."

“Thankyou. Looks like a tadpole class to me Moose so there must be a command carrier not too far behind, looks like the fleet is arriving after all.”

“Looks like empty space to me.”

“Well, don't blame me for designing a spacesuit with an umbilical stud on the back, just be thankful I didn't let you float off into space.”

"Within visual range sir, targets at 11 o'clock low."

"Visual. Echo-six-alpha we are holding station, Airlock is topside on the spine."

“Roger. OK Moose, you go in first..."

“... in case they decide to shoot."

“What?”

Fortuitously I went AWOL from Andromeda for the exact same time it took the MANTIS fleet to catch up to where I last built. I decided to play on Moose being out of action for the same amount of time I was away.

A few views of the 'Tadpole' class; as a survey ship she is bristling with sensors, but carries a pair of laser cannon just in case:

I've been wanting to do a cocupit like this ever since I got the Ultra Agents boat HQ, which uses some similar techniques. Getting the cockpit floor the right way up was a challenge, in fact very little of the front section is built with studs in the same direction.

Unfortunately the midship section is a bit bare, but I ran out of time. I'm reasonably happy with the corridor between the cockpit and midships though.

And at the back of the mid section there is a window into the drive core:

I also had a lot of fun building the drive section. The only downside is I couldn't find an alternative trans colour in which I had sufficient parts so the drive glow/exhaust is the same colour as the windows. The drive section also proved rather heavy requiring the external as well as internal Technic bracing between the drive and the ship to stop it acting like a real tadpole:

Edited November 21, 2015 by woofmcmoose

[StarHawk3]

The Tadpole has a nice shape to it. The wrap around front window is really cool.

[Garmadon]

"In case they decide to shoot" Very nice ship and funny story, and I really do like the large SNOTted wind-shield in front!

[Kodan Black]

I like the ship a lot. Some nice detailing in the cockpit and love all the sensors. Nice shape and detailing overall. Good to see you back too!

[Jody Meyer]

THis is a great looking ship, I really like the use of the glass for the cockpit. Sadly the Ultras agents were pulled out in Canada store...

[SpacerSteve]

The tadpole is really cool. I really like the engine segment and how you used the car spoilers.

[pombe]

I've always loved the shape of tadpoles. They...

STOP!!! JUST STOP!!!

[goatman461]

awesome shaping on the cockpit and engine. I will steal a version of that windshield design eventually

[woofmcmoose]

THis is a great looking ship, I really like the use of the glass for the cockpit. Sadly the Ultras agents were pulled out in Canada store...

Thanks! Some of the Ultra Agents wave two sets, including the Ocean HQ, were pulled from the UK too; I got lucky and picked up the last one in the Philly Lego store whilst on a business trip. A shame really as the sets had some great techniques and sci fi parts!

Edited November 24, 2015 by woofmcmoose

[Andromedas Gates]

The judges awarded you 5 points.