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TangledSyntax — Investigation.

#soviet #gromov #spacecolony #spacecraft #bernalsphere
Published: 2015-07-22 07:39:13 +0000 UTC; Views: 4215; Favourites: 68; Downloads: 62
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Description     Gav watched the planet, an argon-rich gas giant in the 86 G. Sagittarii system, growing steadily larger. The large windows of the rec deck provided an excellent view of the surrounding space, and the absence of enlisted personnel at the moment calmed her.

    It had been several days since they arrived in system. Disembarking from the rack had proceeded perfectly, as it had the hundred times before. Say what you will about Soviet engineering, but it preformed the tasks it was designed for. Gav chuckled to herself quietly.

    Five days of low velocity thrust makes for a long, boring journey, but it's cheap, and doesn't light up the enemy's sensors. The dull thuds of the IMP retrograde thrusters echoed through the recreation deck. The task force had finaly arived at their destination.

    Strelets-37, an old Bernal Sphere and home to eight thousand fellow Soviet citizens.  Gav had bribed the communications officer with a pack of Belomorkanals to reveal the name of their destination.

    Yet the simple fact remained. Two Gromov assault craft, each carrying two hundred fifty highly trained troops, had been dispatched to a lonely colony in a system twenty-two light years from the nearest military installation. As far as she was able to determine, this system was useless, no other factions had ever tried to make a claim for it. The presence of this Bernal Spehere, and its true purpose remained unknown. The unknown didn't frighten Gav, but it did make her uneasy.

    Ringing of metal on metal. The pressure in the recreation deck subtly shifted. The door had opened, and two enlisted soldiers walked through. Gav immediately recognized them as members of the squad under her command.

"I'll bet it's a rebellion." Val, her second in command.

"Horsedick.  Their reactors crapped out." Kiska, the Tuvan grenadier.

"Sir, final preparations are underway. Everyone is heading to the shuttles now."

    Val and Kiska argued while Gav followed them toward the shuttles.  Gav shook her head and ordered a radio check just to shut them up.  As the members of her squad checked in, their voices chirping in through her environment suit microphone, Gav continued to think to herself. Whatever they found on Strelets-37, she had a feeling it would keep her up at night for some time to come.

Thanks to for the excellent 3D models of the Gromov as well as the Bernal Sphere, references worth their weight in rhodium.  Visit his page or the Zampolit will have a word with you.
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Comments: 18

cullyferg2010 [2017-02-01 02:49:13 +0000 UTC]

Belomorkanals?  Candy or smokes?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

TangledSyntax In reply to cullyferg2010 [2017-02-01 09:35:48 +0000 UTC]

It's a Soviet brand of "papirosi", a type of filterless cigarette with a short section of tobacco and a long, hollow cardboard tube that's pinched before smoking.

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cullyferg2010 In reply to TangledSyntax [2017-02-02 02:43:27 +0000 UTC]

That's what I thought.  When my older brother was in the Coast Guard back in the early 1960s his cutter had just left Seattle and had to tow a Russian trawler in because of engine failure.  He and some of his mates exchanged cigarettes with some of the Russian crew.  When he came home on leave not long after he offered our father one of them.  Thought the old man was going to choke to death on it.  Smelled like hell, too.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

TangledSyntax In reply to cullyferg2010 [2017-02-02 04:36:44 +0000 UTC]

Haha, I've heard tales of their harshness.

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blacklion68 [2015-08-06 13:15:23 +0000 UTC]

"Command, this is red one actual. We have found the corporate HQ of DeviantArt! Request instructions."

"Red one force, all ships... Terminate all DeviantArt board members with extreme prejudice. Destroy all Google Chrome bots on sight."

    

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RemorseC0de [2015-07-23 03:20:33 +0000 UTC]

This is that other kind of eye candy  

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TangledSyntax In reply to RemorseC0de [2017-01-31 09:59:48 +0000 UTC]

Yes.  This is Reese's Pieces!

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OhMyGoshItJosh [2015-07-22 14:05:11 +0000 UTC]

This is amazing. 

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TangledSyntax In reply to OhMyGoshItJosh [2015-07-30 17:46:46 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

OhMyGoshItJosh In reply to TangledSyntax [2015-07-30 19:07:22 +0000 UTC]

anytime man!

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RecklessCharge [2015-07-22 12:59:53 +0000 UTC]

Damn fine work! Good to see you update man! 

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

TangledSyntax In reply to RecklessCharge [2015-07-30 17:46:07 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!  Going to try and post more often.

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RecklessCharge In reply to TangledSyntax [2015-07-30 18:26:33 +0000 UTC]

Would certainly love to see that man, good luck eh?

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Walking-Maelstrom [2015-07-22 10:09:20 +0000 UTC]

Love it already...and given the opportunity I could write just that?

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

fxboxing-fan [2015-07-22 08:56:13 +0000 UTC]

Your sci-fi work is fantastic... almost as good as that other subject matter you've been known to draw.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

TangledSyntax In reply to fxboxing-fan [2015-07-30 17:52:23 +0000 UTC]

Something for everyone!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

goeliath [2015-07-22 08:07:10 +0000 UTC]

Holy shit.... this is.... wow

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

TangledSyntax In reply to goeliath [2015-07-30 17:46:35 +0000 UTC]

Thank you.  Sure took long enough for me to draw it, haha.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0