Chapter Two
A/N: So I was quite surprised by the response to this story. Thus, I am continuing it for the time being. Since I am basically making this story up as I go along, if you have any ideas for the direction you would like to see this take, shoot me a review and I'll consider it. Again, I have no idea how long this story will be but continue to expect chapters of less then 2000 words. Don't expect weekly updates. This chapter just surprising came together within the last two hours or so but prior to tonight, I hadn't worked on it at all since the first posting. I hope you enjoy this chapter and thanks for reading!
From: Sanders (Director, NASA)
To: Montrose (Media Relations)
CC: Kapoor, Henderson,
Subject: RE: Press Inquiries
09:30
For the last time Annie, we can't just turn the HERMES around. It's too dangerous. I don't care if the Press keeps asking the same questions. It's not going to happen.
Teddy
From: Montrose (Media Relations)
To: Sanders (Director, NASA)
CC: Kapoor, Henderson
Subject: RE: Press Inquiries
09:35
There is nothing around them for 50 million miles, how fucking dangerous can it be? It's not like they are pulling a u-ey during rush-hour in LA for Christ's sakes.
Annie
From: Kapoor (Director, Mars Missions)
To: Sanders (Director, NASA)
CC: Henderson, Ng, Montrose
Subject: HERMES U-Turn
10:15
I've spent the few days discussing the possibility with Bruce Ng and he says it is doable but it wouldn't be an instantaneous thing. It would take a couple months to pull it off.
Venkat
From: Ng (Director, JPL)
To: Sanders (Director, NASA)
CC: Kapoor, Henderson, Montrose
Subject: RE: HERMES U-Turn
10:22
The main issue is that we need to slow them down first before we can alter their course so drastically. They are already one-third of the way to the HERMES top speed. It will take them at least a month to slow down enough for the turn. Once that is done, we will have to constantly monitor their speed as they return to Mars. I still have a team trying to work out how to get the HERMES back as fast as possible. Obviously we can't get too much speed going or we won't be able to slow down in time to enter orbit. The HERMES will basically have to crawl back to Mars. Preliminary estimates suggest we can get them back to Mars by Sol 115 at the earliest.
We think Watney has enough food to last as long as Sol 220 or so; provided he rations. However, once the HERMES is back in orbit around Mars we still have to get Watney to the HERMES. Still don't know if that can even be done.
Bruce
From: Sanders (Director, NASA)
To: Ng (Director, JPL)
CC: Kapoor, Henderson, Montrose
Subject: RE: HERMES U-Turn
10:28
There is no point in sending the HERMES back just to orbit Mars until Mark dies. That is both a waste of time and needlessly extends the burden of stress on the HERMES and potentially reduces its service life.
Teddy
From: Henderson (HERMES Flight Director)
To: Sanders (Director, NASA)
CC: Kapoor, Ng, Montrose
Subject: RE: HERMES U-Turn
10:36
What the fuck are you talking about? The HERMES was designed to last all five ARES missions. Not to mention, ARES III's mission was abandoned after just six Sols. It was supposed to orbit Mars for another 25 Sols on this mission alone. You're just being a chicken shit coward. Send the HERMES back and I'm sure JPL can come up with some kind of plan by the time they arrive. If not, we just bring them home later.
Mitch
From: Kapoor
To: Henderson
CC: Sanders, Ng, Montrose
Subject: RE: HERMES U-Turn
10:44
But consider the emotional trauma this could put the rest of the crew under. They've already left Mars once thinking Mark was dead. If they return to Mars only to listen to him slowly starve and then have to lose and leave him again… it would devastate them. If JPL can come up with a way of getting Mark to the HERMES once it's in orbit, then I'd be more than willing to agree with this plan. Until then, I don't think the U-Turn should be performed. It's unnecessarily risky.
Venkat
From: Montrose (Media Relations)
To: Henderson (HERMES Flight Director)
CC: Sanders, Kapoor, Ng
Subject: Need better name
10:49
If we do go ahead and do this, we need a better name for it. I'm not going before the Press and calling this Operation: HERMES U-Turn. Sounds like something a couple of rednecks would come up with.
Annie
From: Park (SatCon)
To: Kapoor (Director, Mars Missions)
Subject: Daily Watney Report
12:00
I think Mark is getting pretty bored. Today's EVA consisted of him driving Rover 2 around for a few hours… I think until it ran out of battery. He then did some work on the Rover before driving it around some more.
Mindy
From: Kapoor (Director, Mars Missions)
To: Park (SatCon)
Subject: RE: Daily Watney Report
12:05
Maybe he's testing the battery life to see how far he can get with it. He probably scavenged the batteries form Rover 1 and hooked them up after the first one died.
Venkat
From: Park (SatCon)
To: Kapoor (Director, Mars Missions)
Subject: RE: Daily Watney Report
12:10
I guess it's possible, but… Sir I think he's getting really bored up there by himself.
Mindy
From: Kapoor (Director, Mars Missions)
To: Park (SatCon)
Subject: RE: Daily Watney Report
12:12
Why do you say that?
Venkat
From: Park (SatCon)
To: Kapoor (Director, Mars Missions)
Subject: RE: Daily Watney Report
12:15
Because he spent the entire second battery doing donuts outside the HAB… that's 4 hours' worth of donuts sir.
Mindy
From: Kapoor (Director, Mars Missions)
To: Watney (Lonely Martian)
Subject: Today's EVAs
13:12
Mark, we've had a request from JPL that you go easier on Rover 2's tires. They were not designed with the intent that an astronaut would be doing donuts with them. We are worried that they might become damaged with the extreme excess use.
Venkat
PS- Also, Annie Montrose has asked that you please change back your designation title to "Biologist/Engineer". She says it's implications of your mental state are bad for PR. The Press have not yet picked up on your sense of humor. We would change it from here, but it seems that whatever you did locked us out.
From: Watney (Supreme Ruler of Mars)
To: Kapoor (Director, Mars Missions)
Sol 22
13:30
Am I not warranted a little entertainment? All I got here is seventies TV, Disco music (courtesy of Commander Lewis), and Vogel's weird German movies (which I can't understand) to keep my attention. I really wasn't thinking when I only packed ten movies to bring with me. I knew I should have brought all twenty-two seasons of Walking Dead but noooooo. "Too violent" the shrinks said. "Bring something fun and light-hearted" they said. As awesome as Disney movies are, a guy can only watch Lion King and Frozen so many times. I swear, if I have to listen to 'Let it go' one more time I'm saying Akuna Mutata and walking out of the HAB without my helmet on. Watching people hack up zombies or get eaten alive never gets old!
As for the rover wheels, we got two rovers. If the tires on one pop, I just steal them from Rover 1. It's not like I need two functioning rovers up here. Besides, they'll be fine. Tell those worrywarts over at JPL these tanks can survive a little Martian road rage.
Mark
PS- I request that Rover 2 be henceforth called 'the General Lee'.
From: Montrose (Media Relations)
To: Kapoor (Director, Mars Missions)
Subject: Watney's Antics
13:50
Supreme Ruler of Mars? Supreme Ruler of Mars!
Tonight's Press conference is going to be a fucking disaster. Between the hillbilly driving, Mark's Anti-Disney rant, the pop culture references, and his new egotistical moniker. Arrghh! Why couldn't Johanssen been left behind. We would barely have gotten ten words a message out her. I'd rather be dealing with too little information then all this bullshit!
Annie
From Kapoor (Director, Mars Missions)
To: Montrose (Media Relations)
Subject: RE: Watney's Antics
14:00
Well, you did want him to change his designation. What did you expect from him? Honestly, I thought he'd just ignore the request altogether. And look on the bright side, at least he keeps your job interesting.
Venkat