[M - B04] Expedition MRV1B04

[Big Sal]

Flickr uploader isn't working, so I've resorted to Brickshelf. Haven't used it in a while, so hopefully everything comes out ok

EDIT: Changed the second photo to one showing the cockpit and driver. Added a picture of the lab inside the spoiler.

EDIT 2: Switched all the photos to Flickr links - hopefully they'll stay put now!

Excerpt from the lab book of Big Sal:

Date: 5 Junali 3815.

Location:Barnius.

Expedition Code: MRV1B04.

Expedition Leader: Big Sal.

Expedition Vessel: M.A.N.T.I.S. Research Vessel 1

Aims: Conduct hydrological, geological and biomass survey of Barnius's oceans.

Excerpt ends.

...but Sal, it’s larvae Friday in the cafeterias today, why do we have to eat bananas?

Because every single one of these crates has bananas in. Those idiots in logistics must have misread the requisition form again!

C’mon Smith, we’re stuck in the middle of this ocean until the boffins are done, so just chillax.

I don’t know how you can relax with all the noise from that water drill, or whatever it is. I can barely hear myself think!

Water drill? Seriously? I’m no scientist, but even I know it isn’t a water drill. How would that even work?!

Water drill at 80% power, over.

GETTING A BIT LOUD DOWN HERE JONES, OVER.

WHAT??

Sal, these rocks are incredible! The hydrophobic crystalline structure is unlike anything I’ve ever-

Damn it Kowalski, you’re so boring. Do you ever talk about anything other than rocks?

Well… I am the mission geologist…

Whatever. Come and help us pull up the nets, we might have caught something interesting by now.

I hope we’ve got some different seaweed species since last time!

Ugh, seaweed this, seaweed that. Don’t you ever talk about anything other than plants, Lafevre?

Well…I am the mission botanist… In fact, what exactly is your specialty Sal?

…

…

…

Let’s get these nets up!

Ooh, this is a new species.

Oh, joy. Get it to the lab Lafevre, Kowalski and I can handle the other net.

Now this is more like it! Let’s get it on board! Lafevre, forget the seaweed, come look at this!

Wow, looks like it made its home around the skeleton.

Or around the corpse when it was fresh and a source of food.

Ewwww.

Grow up Kowalski. Wait, is it moving…?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Did you hear something?

Nah, it’s just the ‘drill’. Man, Smith, how would you even drill water? What is wrong with you?

JONES, THE DRILL CAN’T HANDLE MUCH MORE OF THIS. NO MORE POWER, OVER!

WHAT??

NO MORE POWER, OVER!

MORE POWER, GOT IT! OVER!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

*splash*

…

…

Well, I guess it could be worse…

Oh...

Ok, that was a bit long, so thanks for reading if you made it to the end! Comments and criticism welcome!

Excerpt recovered from M.A.N.T.I.S. IM server, logistics division:

logguy2: boss, you seen big sals requisition form?

logboss: no, why?

logguy2: he's put that he wants 100 bunches of bananas. reckon its a typo and he wants 10?

logboss: dunno, knowing him, he might want it for some weird experiment

logguy2: should i msg him and check?

logboss: no, i did that last week when he wanted a ridiculous amount of frog food and just got a

logboss: load of abuse, like 'how dare you question me, if I say I want 20 barrels of frog food i want 20 barrels."

logboss: so just do whatever it says on the form.

logguy2: righto!

Excerpt ends.

Forgot to get a shot of the lab interior into the story, so here it is:

Edited June 8, 2015 by Big Sal

[Ferdinando]

Excellent work colleague!

[Boxerlego]

Wow, Excellent build! Awesome work on the story! I like that you spelled M.A.N.T.I.S on the base platform.

[TheUtilityBelt]

Haha! The humor is so... humorous! The rocks are great and the ship as well!

[Graham Gidman]

Wow, what a build!

[LittleJohn]

Hilarious story and fantastic build to go with it! I love the waves and ship

[shmails]

That last photo is absolutely fantastic. Great work on the build and the story!

[soccerkid6]

Hilarious storyline Lovely ship, you made of that boat hull, and I like the addition of nets on the side

Excellent waves and rockwork too

[mccoyed]

One of the best story and build combos so far on AG. I love how big and detailed the boat is, and how you so effectively featured different parts of it for the story.

[LucasLaughing]

Great work - I love the dialogue and banter, and the front of your research ship looks very cool.

[Mark of Falworth]

AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Lol! This is great! Awesome work Sal!

[NuckElBerg]

I have no idea how you have the time to put up such excellent builds every week, but I'm not the one to complain! Great work, and awsome story/humor as always!

[SpacerSteve]

I look forward to your post every week. They are extremely well done and humorous! I love how your science seems to end with an unfortunate accident learning opportunity.

[Big Sal]

Thanks for the kind comments everyone!

Now that Flickr's working again I managed to include a better shot of the cockpit (second photo) and lab (in the spoiler).

Edited June 8, 2015 by Big Sal

[Zaael]

What a fun story haha! And a very nice ship! Good work Sal!

[Commander Turtle]

Saw this last night, lovely build- aaaand Brickshelf is down!

[Kai NRG]

Another super funny story, The boat looks terrific and the water is also really well done with that light blue underneath!

[rodiziorobs]

Everything about this build is superb--the story, the dialogue, and the techniques. I love the boat, but the choppy water is very good; I will have to steal that sometime.

Another amazing build for M.A.N.T.I.S.!

it’s larvae Friday in the cafeterias

I was not expecting this, it cracked me up!

Edited June 8, 2015 by rodiziorobs

[MassEditor]

Oh man, this was just too funny! What a hilarious episode in MANTIS' B04 saga. Though it does seem as if we take one step back for every step forward! I do have to wonder, what's that all over Kowalski's shirt?

Excellent dialogue, the use of the little avatars is great and does a nice job of illustrating the story. The build itself is awesome and, like some of the other recent MANTIS builds, very inspiring for me. I'm really digging the color scheme of this vessel and all the nice little details inside and out. The choppy water is also flawlessly done. Really great stuff Big Sal!

[David FNJ]

Haha, that story is just great!

That ship is awesome, and the waves are masterfully done!

[Umbra-Manis]

Very impressive yet again!

[mediumsnowman]

Haha great build and story! Love it! The waves, the drill, the humor, it's all great! I do see your spies have uncovered Octan's secret plan... "Taco Tuesday!"

[Andrew JN]

Nice ship! Cool wave effect as well! Poor Lafevre....

Edited June 8, 2015 by Andrew JN

[Dannylonglegs]

Once again, you fail to disappoint! Wonderful craft, and excellent use for the massive ship part from that set I could never afford! it's gorgeous! It's funny! Bravo! Mantiseptic seems to have a robust (if not eccentric and generally hazardous) scientific community!

~Insectoid Aristocrat

[pombe]

Beautiful MOC! I love the ship and the waves! HIlarous story! M.A.N.T.I.S. needs to hire more scientists at the rate Big Sal is losing colleagues!

And...and...seaweed is an algae...