//------------------------------// // Prologue: Probe Sent // Story: My Little Kerbals: Space is Magic // by Volgar The Mighty //------------------------------// My Little Kerbals: Space is Magic Prologue: Probe Sent <=K=S=P=€<33 Space. Some call it the final frontier, and with good reason. The universe has so much to explore, more than anyone could ever hope to discover. And the first step out into this vast world is the solar system. But what is to be done once that system is explored? Once all the challenges it once held are no more? Unable to explore further out, the kerbals, short green men with tall cylindrical heads, have run into this very situation. That is, until the universe gave them a new challenge. A wormhole, named Byss, opened up outside the orbit of Jool. What will they discover on the other side? New planets to explore? New lifeforms to study? And could there be intelligent life to meet with, trade with, and become friends with? And who better to reach beyond the stars and answer these questions than Kerbin's three greatest heroes? Of course, it wouldn't be a challenge without some problems... <=K=S=P=€<33 "Launching two-probe payload in five... Four... Three... Two... One...Main engine start...We have liftoff!" Several green hands flew into the air and clapped against each other. The kerbals sitting in the control room were all excited for the new mission to Byss, a wormhole that recently opened past the orbit of Jool. It possessed a gravity well about twice the size of the Mun's and was half the size of Minmus. The mission was to send two probes to Byss, one to stay outside for telecommunications into the wormhole and held gravity and radiation sensors, and the other held ground-to-space communication systems along with interplanetary communication equipment, scientific sensors, and a surface mapper to find a preferable landing site for future manned missions. Over the next few minutes mission control guided the probes into orbit and planned out the mission's path with the maneuver nodes system. A kerbal with spiky blonde hair and a white polo shirt and blue jeans walked out the door and down the hall. After walking down several flights of stairs, he found the Director's office. He knocked on the door three times. "Come in," a gruff voice said. He opened the door and walked in. After closing the door, he walked over to the desk. On its wooden surface was a computer monitor, pictures of friends and family, and knick-knacks including a Newton's cradle and silver ringed globe. Filing cabinets lined some of the walls with more pictures, knick-knacks, and a college degree hanging off the walls above. The Director wore a red polo shirt and blue jeans. His hair was slicked back and colored brown with streaks of gray spread throughout. From his mouth hung a large cigar. He removed a pair of large sunglasses and set them on the desk, leaving behind his normal prescription glasses. "Hello, Director," the scientist said, only to receive a glare. "I mean, Mr. Director, sir!" The Director grunted. "Go on." "The launch was successful, sir." "Good." The Director flicked the cigar against an ash tray, then put it back in his mouth where it hung to his right. "I need you to tell Relay to send a message to Explorer Team One. Bring them home, I've got a new mission for them." The scientist's eyes shot open. "B-but sir! They're still on Laythe testing ground conditions for R. E. F.'s and--" The Director ground his teeth. "I don't care!" He stood up, his muscles bulging out. "They've been there for two months! Just bring them home now." The other kerbal started hyperventilating and nodded his head fast enough to blur. "Yes, sir! Sorry I doubted you, sir!" He sprinted out of the office, flailing his arms around and screaming his head off. <=K=S=P=€<33 A large sandy beach sat next to a large ocean. On a red beach chair lay a kerbal without a shirt, tanning with a foil sheet and protecting his eyes with sunglasses. The small sun in the sky became blocked by a shadow. He sat up and looked behind him to find another kerbal wearing the body half of a spacesuit. "What do you want now, Bob?" he whined while removing his sunglasses. "Come on, Jeb. Mission Control is calling us home early," he said in his soft voice. Jeb facepalmed while giving a sigh. He stood and started packing his tanning equipment. "How many times do I have to tell you 'if you want to say my awesome name, say it correctly?'" "Fine, Jebediah, just go get ready. I'll go get Bill." He walked over to the top of a nearby sand dune. At the peak, a two and a half meter tall antenna stuck out of a half-buried metal box. Standing next to said box stood Bill who gazed at the rising Jool. "Good news, Bill. We're going home early." "Did they tell us what beauty we're visiting next?" he asked as he jogged back to the ship. Bob ran to keep up with his athletic partner. "No, just that we're about to go farther than ever before." They both climbed the ladder into the capsule. They all dressed in their spacesuits and sat down to perform pre-flight checks. They ignited the engines and launched back into orbit. <=K=S=P=€<33 About One Year Later The wormhole was in orbit around a planet covered in blue oceans, green forests, and brown deserts. Closer to the planet orbited a gray moon. Outside of the planet's gravity well orbited a star, despite having more mass and therefore a larger gravity well. From the wormhole came a probe. It fired its ion engine and slowly brought itself into a polar orbit at a height good for surface mapping. It gathered and sent back data on the geocentric system and the planet's lack of rotation.  Mission Control sent back instructions to alter its orbit to cover the entire surface. <=K=S=P=€<33 A blue pony with both wings and a horn stood looking at the moon. Classical music and the sounds of conversations floated up the walls of the castle. Her dark mane and tail bellowed in a non-existent wind. She wore a dark crown atop her head, a black necklace with a crescent moon, and silver hoof shoes. She sighed as she turned her head left. Looking south, she noticed something was off about her night sky. She narrowed her eyes as she found a faint star moving north. She watched it crawl across the sky. "Somepony is changing my night. Whoever they are, they must be punished for this crime," she whispered to herself. There was a knock on her chamber's door. She walked over and opened it to find a hoofmaiden. The smaller pony bowed to the alicorn. "Sorry to bother you, your highness, but Princess Celestia wanted to make sure you were okay spending your night alone instead of joining her greeting guests for the Gala," the pony asked with her Canterlot accent. The princess turned around and walked back to the balcony. She looked out at the flying star, now almost overhead. The wind blew into the quiet room. The hoofmaiden, with a concerned face, asked "Princess Luna? Is everything alright?" Luna turned around, saying "I don't know, Feather Duster. I need you to inform my sister to meet me here upon her earliest convenience." Feather Duster bowed again. "Of course, your highne--" The castle rumbled and the sounds of crumbling stone and screams drifted through the hallways. As hoofmaiden and princess galloped down the hallways, they both shared the same thought. This will be an exciting Grand Galloping Gala.