Melp Discussion

The Mesbin Space Center senior staff hold a meeting.

"Alright ladies and gentlemen. We have a situation on our hands," said Director Hubert Alfonso Kermanov II, "I assume you've all been briefed on the FUCKIN... help" message observed on Kerbmun? The rest of the staff nodded.

The chief rocket scientist, Billybobdin Kerman, chirped up: "Aye, we got a big job ahead of us."

Hubert stood up and said, sternly, "I need options, people!"

"I wonder if the crew of the station could signal Melp-Base," said the Chief of Ops, Annie Lan Mesman, "Somehow reflect sunlight down there during an opportune pass."

"They'd have to know that the crew of the base are watching," said Billybobdin.

Mandrake sat up, followed swiftly by Rutherford, "The station would be quite obvious going overhead."

Rutherford continued, "Right, if they did it pass after pass, eventually they'd see it."

Mandrake, "They could use the solar panels on the station. Rotate them and signal in morse using reflected sunlight."

Rutherford: "That's uh, *if they're watching*, of course."

Mandrake: "You know we would if we were up there."

Bailey Kerman, laying back in her chair and with her legs on the table, spoke up, "by now they're probably flipping off the station every night when it goes overhead."

"You know I would if I were there," said the Operations officer, Annie Lan Mesman.

"You forget, Rutherford. The solar power module hasn't been launched yet due to the mission hold," said Hubert.

"The fuel truck's still up there. Maybe they could use those solar panels," said Billybobdin.

Mandrake: "Put the fuel truck in a low orbit, send it rotating regularly."

"That's good thinking," said Hubert, "I want a plan for communicating with them ASAP."

"Failing that, something could be re-entered directly overhead, although that might be received poorly," suggested Billybobdin, "Oh hey look, Rescue! Oh shit, it exploded! In fact nevermind, this is a bad idea."

"We should send down a radio transmitter," said Annie, "Something uncrewed, cheap. Just enough to get them in contact. We can try those other plans while we put together the robotic lander."

Rutherford: "I dunno maybe they could pulse their RCS thrusters to talk back?"

Billybobdin: "They wouldn't have enough propellant and it wouldn't be bright enough to see anyway, hell, we don't even know if they have working RCS."

Bailey: "Well they've found plenty enough rocks to write with anyway so..."

Hubert: "How are you going to spin this, PR-wise?"

Bailey stared out blankly across the room and held her hands out, gesturing an arch, "FIRST COLONY ESTABLISHED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE."

Hubert: "Well, it *does* seem a little risky to outright say 'we're going to rescue them.'"