AMICITAS FLIGHT THREE – MISSION DAY 96
ARES III SOL 97
[7:49] JPL: Good morning, Mark and friends. This is Venkat Kapoor. JPL is relaying my messages from Houston.
First, regarding the message Dragonfly sent towards the end of our window yesterday: Theodore Sanders, the chief administrator of NASA, asked me to tell you that he understood your message perfectly. For my part, I add: hello to you too, Princess Twilight Sparkle. We hope to meet your subjects in person soon, and yourself as soon as possible.
Mark, you’ll find in your email the detailed procedure for attaching a suit antenna to the communications mast, including the modifications required to step down the transmitter power to a safe level. We anticipate this will require a two-hour EVA assuming the electronics are pre-assembled in the Hab. Once that’s done we’d like you to put together a full report on your farming methods.
The upgrade to the rover’s communications app should be complete. Please install that and respond once the rover computer is rebooted. If reboot fails, leave a message in the ASCII array around Pathfinder. If we don’t hear from you by rover-chat we’ll have Pathfinder run a panoramic at 10:00 your time.
Assuming the upgrade works, please prepare up to six images for transmission to Earth this afternoon, all 200 Kb in size or smaller. For today we want photos of your current farming setup to go with your written report.
Our primary concern is to get a firm estimate of how long you can feed yourselves. The earliest we can get any resupply to you is Sol 500. The positions of Earth and Mars and the limitations of our available boosters make earlier resupply absolutely impossible. We would prefer to target a date not earlier than Sol 580 so we can send enough supplies to be worth the launch. Also, right now we have only one booster available, with two more coming on line in another seventy sols.
We’ve been planning resupply probes since we first learned you were alive, but we’ve just barely begun the actual assembly. One of the delays has been planning for food and other supplies for your guests. With that in mind, we want to spend the rest of the morning talking with Dragonfly or whichever of your guests is available. Please let us know once you’ve finished installing the software update.
[08:09] WATNEY: No small talk? How have you been? Did you sleep well? How’s the wife and kids? My, some weather we’re having, isn’t it?
I’ve copied the basics of the procedure you sent to a whiteboard so I can assemble the transformer. I think I can be done before midday; it’s all commonsense stuff, nice and simple. Once this is done and tested I want to give priority to testing to see if you can receive transmissions from the alien ship’s radio. If so, that gives us a parallel or backup communications channel for when Pathfinder is running data dumps or if it breaks down.
As I said before, I’m a bit reluctant to give firm numbers, but I’m hoping for harvests every fifty-five to sixty sols. Each harvest in the cave farm should produce, in round numbers, about 300 kilograms of alfalfa (about 100 days of food for the ponies) and/or 1800 average-size potatoes (130 days of food for me). Plans to revive the farm in the Hab and re-seed it would produce 15 kilograms of alfalfa (5 days of food for the ponies) and 720 average-size potatoes (50 days of food for me). The Hab farm would have alfalfa primarily for nitrogen fixation; the soil we’ve cultivated in the Hab is too shallow for alfalfa to develop a healthy root system.
The Hab farm won’t be long-term sustainable- not enough soil for rotation. Too soon to know if the larger cave farm can be sustained. I’ll go into more detail in my report.
Starting software update and reboot now. I’ll send Dragonfly out to talk to you once I verify that the update is good, and then I’ll get to work on the radio procedure.
[8:23] WATNEY: Hello! Dragonfly here! Before we talk, our bosses from home have another message for you. This one isn’t so strange. It was short enough that I can remember it all.
“Hello again from (don’t know how to say our home’s name in English). This is Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Being Friends, and Chrysalis, Queen of the Bug-Ponies. Thank you for taking care of our people. We’re sorry we can’t come get them yet, but we’re working on it. Please continue to be their friends. Great things can be done if we work together.”
They also want to know how soon you can rescue us. They want to know all the parts.
Okay, message delivered. What do you want to know?
[8:42] JPL: Hello, Dragonfly. Please thank your bosses for us. We’ll try to set a time aside for direct contact another day. Right now there are two things I want to ask you about today. The first thing I wanted to ask was: how soon can your people come to rescue you? From your message, it doesn’t sound like they’re coming any time soon.
[8:55] WATNEY: We don’t know when rescue comes. I will ask Starlight to contact home so I can give more answer.
[09:07] JPL: How do you talk with home? Mark says you come from a parallel dimension- a different universe.
[09:21] WATNEY: Our air and water comes from home. They are connected by magic. We use a code to turn water on and off and watch the splashes for replies. It’s slow and it makes a mess. We tried many other things but nothing else works.
[09:33] JPL: Did you say your air and water comes from your home? Is there a limit to how much air or water you get?
[09:59] WATNEY: Each life support system has two crystals in it- one for air and one for water. Magic in the crystal connects them to a larger crystal back home- makes them like one crystal. Water is pumped from a tank; air makes a circle back and forth from the air at home. If air pressure on this end drops too low too fast, or if water runs too long, the crystals back home shut off, must be start again by ponies at home. But: main ship life support is made for always-run water flow as we need it. Danger: if life support magic shut off, our space suits do not work. Can’t get more suits.
Starlight has speak with home now. Home builds a big rescue ship now. Twice as big as our ship. Home tests a new engine that can jump from one world to another like how we got here. The first test robot ship did not come back. They also work on a signal a ship can use to find the way back to home. But even if new engine works, home can’t rescue yet because home does not know where we are. They need to know very very good the place or else get wrong world, maybe not get back home again. Until they can find us, can’t rescue.
[10:15] JPL: I understand your answer. We did not think it was possible to travel between worlds as you have done before. We understand that doing it safely and on purpose requires a lot of testing. Tell your people that if we can do anything to help, we will. It will be many hundreds of sols (Mars days) before we can send our own rescue ship. We would be very happy if you could rescue Mark sooner.
[10:18] WATNEY: We would be happy to save Mark too. We don’t know if we could take him straight to Earth. Space in your world has no magic, so it might be danger to stay in your world too long. Home works on it.
[10:30] JPL: I understand. Now for my second question. We want to send more food and other things in case the farm doesn’t work. What kind of food do you eat? Mark mentions alfalfa. Do you have other Earth foods? What can or can’t you eat? Do you eat meat, or only plants?
[10:56] WATNEY: I don’t know all the words. Mark tells us all our food is the same as Earth food he knows. But I will do my best.
The ponies are Cherry Berry, Starlight Glimmer, and Spitfire. Spitfire says they can eat meat if need to, but most ponies get sick think about it. Much like better plants. Spitfire says also eat milk, eggs, but these are not plants.
Fireball is a dragon. Dragons eat almost anything. Can eat meat, but think eat talking people or smart animals is wrong. Can eat some plants, but hay is no good for dragons. Need eat gems, gold at least a little for health. Fireball eats only gems from the cave; cave has gems for very very long time.
I am do not know the word, say bug-pony. Bug-ponies do not need food except very very small bit sometimes. Can use food to make goo, pods, other things. We eat power from good emotions, especially love. Also drink water.
If you send food, send only for Mark and three ponies. Fireball has much food, and I don’t need food. Also please send meals with not so much bean. Cherry doesn’t complain (had to ask Starlight for the word), but Starlight and Spitfire tired of nothing but bean, bean, bean, bean. Spitfire wants to try meat so long as it tastes different than bean and doesn’t come from any person she knows. (Not a joke. She says that.) But Mark is afraid meat might hurt us or make us angry.
[11:08] JPL: You say you eat emotions?
[11:19] WATNEY: Yes, I say that.
[11:30] JPL: Stay there a little while. I need to talk to someone here.
[11:41] WATNEY: OK!
[11:46] JPL: Can you feel the emotions you eat? How is everybody feeling? How is Mark feeling in particular?
[11:59] WATNEY: It is not good to talk about feelings if you don’t need to. It makes people angry. Angry is not an emotion I can eat.
[12:11] JPL: I know, but I am responsible for Mark. I need to know so I can do what I can to make him happy and relaxed and alert.
[12:23] WATNEY: Antenna procedure complete. Mark Watney used to be very happy and relaxed and alert, Venkat, but right now I’m a little annoyed with you. What did Dr. Shields say when you asked her about this?
[12:35] JPL: I apologize, Mark. Dr. Shields was against it, but I overruled her. We’re all very worried about you. You’ve spent almost three months cut off from all human contact, and that has effects. We need to know if something is wrong so we can try to find ways of improving things. Our resources are limited, but we need to at least know what’s wrong if we’re going to do anything.
[12:48] WATNEY: Yeah, I get that. But this is still damn intrusive, and bringing a third party into it crosses a line. I’d be even angrier, but Dragonfly talked me down a bit. By the way, this little chat better not be live to the whole fucking world, understand? Because you and Dr. Shields are one thing, but I don’t want my emotional state in the National Enquirer, and I’m sure the ponies don’t either.
[13:00] JPL: I shut the public feed of your chat off during the rover software update. The entire chat with Dragonfly is confidential for now. Anything about your emotional state will remain confidential permanently. You have my word and Teddy Sanders’ word on it.
[13:11] WATNEY: Good. I just told Dragonfly she has permission to tell you the truth about me. I’m going to go cool off some more. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Stand by for Dragonfly.
[13:26] WATNEY: Okay. Mark is still really upset. Before he was really happy to talk to you. He likes all of us very much. He thinks we are cute. He looks forward to be rescued.
Mark always feels better when he makes things. He likes making plans. He likes it when things work. He likes it less when he has nothing to do. He hates the music disco, but he listens to it because it makes him not think about doing nothing.
I typed more things about my crew, but it got too bad so I deleted it. I don’t have permission from the others and they will be angry if I do it. I will talk with Cherry about it before I do it. You are responsible for Mark but she is responsible for us.
[13:38] JPL: I understand. Please tell Mark I’m sorry again. I won’t ask again about your friends, but please tell us if you think it’s important. Thank you for your help. Please clear this channel and ask Mark to begin the upload. Kapoor out.
[13:49] WATNEY: Okay. Dragonfly out.
Mark needs to tell them about Earth Pony magic affecting the crops. It will make them much more relaxed and increase his food production.
Nasa would also want to send him stuff to grow on Mars instead of just food. More crops, maybe some really high grade fertilizer. Would be pretty good.
As for food for Fireball, how long until jewlery companies want to send him free gems as a publicity stunt? Would be hilarious to see him rift about how tiny they are.
8762392
Anyone who doesn't, is a monster.
I wonder how much of NASA is convinced 'magic' is a translation error/code for sufficiently advanced tech.
I don't know what you mean. The subject never changed from the food situation.
This is my daily fix now.
this come to mind to the earth about the gems
This just gets better and better. Can't wait to see the conversation between NASA/JPL and ESA/CSP.
Also, #NosyNASA.
Hope we get to see Earth's initial reaction to the pics of the Equestrians.
I imagine some hundred sols from now "so yeah, do you know those potatoes and alfalfa? Add cherries to that. Yes, cherries. Don't ask, it's pony magic, but we're growing cherries in a Martian cave. Should I take some back home?"
8762430
it will be something along the lines of this
8762392
After they get pics, NASA, and anyone else on Earth will be hard pressed to want anything else.
Entire chapter of our favorite cuddle bug talking to nasa? I like it! Also you need to somehow make merchandise for this story because i would love a plushie of dragonfly...
8762430
Two words INSTANT DIABEETUS
Someone needs to punch Venkat for that.
If word of what he tried to do got out, no amount of "good intentions" would stop Venkat, and NASA at large, from being burned at the stake. He'd be ten kinds of fired it he tried to pull that crap with a therapist, much less an alien empath. This isn't even in the same ballpark as withholding non-mission-critical information from Hermes. If there are not consequences for this, I'll be extremely disappointed.
8762439
Prunus equestria becomes the most popular new cultivar of the 2040s.
8762402
8762413
Yes, yes, all in good time, but Earth Pony magic has been described to them. It won't be a shock.
"We basically just take turns riding Cherry around in the dirt. She hated it at first but things have gotten better. Haven't needed the spurs in weeks, and my bruises have all healed perfectly. Bonus: kept Spitfire busy."
Yeah... and they're aren't even offering to buy you dinner for over a year. Those nerds at NASA just don't understand romance at all.
*mic drop*
Half an hour well spent.
As a man of science his powers of observation are keen, indeed.
I love the contrast between NASA's calm messages and the total freakout they must be having at some of this news. Every time they think they've gotten used to the insanity it sinks to fresh depths.
Though I'm surprised that they didn't have some kind of message from the UN or some such. Seems odd that all the governments are just sitting back and letting NASA have complete authority over first contact. Especially now that it's clear that the aliens definitely do have some very nice (totally useless to them but they don't know that yet) technology.
8762406 In many ways it really is. Magic as Equestria knows it is a science in just about every regard, including the depth of its study by experts in the field. So considering it a translation error for some advanced tech isn't all that inaccurate.
Well, Dragonfly doing good work. Talking to Earth like that is the one instance where I'd fully trust a changeling like her to be the best possible option. By nessesity she's a much better psychologist and diplomat than anyone available, even Spitfire.
8762558
No
8762558
Nope. There are references to CSP and spoilers. But you could start reading this without any real problems. I do recommend CSP though.
Hmm... not sure if Chekhov's gun.
Did it make it into the correct universe? And if so, how close did it get to Mars? Was it programmed to do anything else aside from attempting to return home?
What are the odds of it somehow finding its way to Watney and gang?
Wonder how this will effect those religious nuts (There are a lot of them) who follow that bible quote that man is to rule over all animals that crawl on the ground. Will they see the ponies as just more animals that man are supposed to rule over.
Sadly, a large chuck of mankind will look down on them because they'll just see them as nothing more than animals, and not equal (or better than) to humans.
8762608
In before it crash-lands into NASA HQ
Dammit, now I want to go to Mars.
If anything good become out of this the new toy line will make sure they have all the money they need oh earth and again video games from this
"get the survival on mars with the voice of the real-life alines and mark as they try to stay alive until the ship comes to save them, build new base dig for lost gear and keep everyone fed and happy and while doing this listen to the disco music they all dance!"
and don't get me started on the book and movie deals, i can see them in a huge ass home with all the things they can ever have from those sales
8762402
Whoever said 'diamonds are forever' has obviously never met a dragon.
8762635
Think of the celebrity status they'll have.
Starlight Glimmer for president.
If Trump can do it...
8762558
Considering CSP isn't even complete yet, no.
8762618
religious people, in fact, will accept the idea of aliens being out there if there's real proof of them and will rework there books to match up with the alines.
the pope has said something along the lines of this "if there is life out there and if there are aliens then they follow the laws of our God and to its rights"
8762647
How will they react if they actually meet the ponies God(dess)....
Think we're going to see a lot of humans switch religions?
8762618
There are some castle sized doom lizards who could probably make a persuasive argument that we should all just be friends and equals. (Also the Ponies of Mass Destruction, and the incarnations of Chaos, just to name a few.)
8762657
I cant wait to see if that gets revealed, that would be amazing.
8762661
Yeah..
Our Gods can make move the sun and moon anywhere at anytime they wants. Can yours do that?
You know... screw magic. Let's watch the Earths scientists heads explode when they hear about this.
8762649
No wait, better idea. They send him D&D digital rulebook to and campaign packs of his favored edition to foster even better team building and problem solving skills that they will need, and inadvertently give dragonfly the name for her species here.
I don't remember if it was mentioned in this, but where's Discord? Couldn't Fluttershy ask him nicely to open a portal to this dimension. It's not like he hasn't done so before.
8762713
Not enough magic.
8762715
Thank you. Couldn't remember if it was mentioned.
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man kinda fallen for the most dumbest things on this world..... what you think.
also starlight being presint..... nah too muchs work and almost no play i can see them on a poolside enjoying top of the line food iteams as they enjoy all the earnings they gotten over the weeks from there deals as fireball eating the rarest of gems and gold silver and other rock-like things! as he take a bite of a 10k$ ring he say
"so how was that vocie acting deal with that game fireball?" as fireball as "boy it was hard at times and the game suck so much goo that it just want me to just jump off to the nearest tnt block from that block game"
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I agree to both this and music. After all being able to send pics and such clearly allows for more
Still more good chapters. And I'm still finding so many things to look forward to in future ones!
8762643
You'd have to been born in the US to do that. Maybe a senator or governor?
What timeline is this? Did Starswirl already return? He could easily open dimensional door to Mars or make a new mirror portal. He is evidently an expert on jumping dimensions.
WAIT CHANGELING SPACE PROGRAM HAD A SEQUEL ALL THIS TIME AND I DIDN'T KNOW?????
Part of me is upset about this but the other part of me is freaking thrilled because I HAVE LIKE 63 NEW CHAPTERS TO READ THIS IS A GOOD DAY
8762464
I am fairly certain every one of the 1,235 people who track this (looked at the story stat page for that number) want a Dragonfly plushie...
I WANT MY CUDDLEBUG!
I. Just have to say I’m enjoying your work. Doing chapter a day must be exciting to do. Good luck to you and all that. Look forward to more