Author: John

Immediately after the landing on Mars, the crew of the Plungerprize set about converting their starship into the martian land base from which their explorations will commence – Mars Base Alpha. In one of the three HMMWVs (Hummers) brought along for planetary exploration, Derik Jarnesgaard set out on the first official Mars exploratory journey. Slowly…

“I tink I voould like to land derr!” Pieter Torkelsen pointed to a plateau between the two major canyons of Vallis Marineris as he presented his landing site proposal to the crew of the Plungerprize. Willem Knutesen made his way to the projection screen in the Plungerprize’s main conference room. “Sven, vill yoo shoow der…

“Yumpin’ Yiminee! Vill yoo loook at dat!” exclaimed Willem Knutesen as he observed the red planet growing ever larger in the Plungerprize’s forward view screen. “I tink I vill build a hoose in der Chryse Planitia!” Willem gazed at the beautiful sight for a few moments then turned to speak to the Hulga 9000 computer,…

“Oopen der pood bay doors, please, Hoolga. … Oopen der pood bay dooors, please, Hoolga. … Helloo, Hoolga, doo yoo read me? … Helloo, Hoolga, doo yoo read me? … Doo yoo read me, Hoolga? … Doo yoo read me, Hoolga? … Helloo, Hoolga, doo yoo read me? Helloo, Hoolga, doo yoo read me? Doo…

As the trip to Mars progresses, the crew of the Starship Plungerprize finds different ways to pass the time. Some study, some read, some compose e-mail to send back to loved ones on earth. When he is not tending to his duties as the tour guide, Knute Willemsen likes to engage crew members in a…

“In a cafern, In a canyoon, Escoovating foor a mine, Dvelt a minoor, Foorty-ninoor, And hiss dooghter, Clementine. Oo mah darling, Oo mah darling, Oo mah darling, Clementine. Yoou are loost and goone fooreffer…” Sven is leading the crew and passengers of the Starship Plungerprize in a sing-along as the ship passes by the moon…

“Oh Gott, Who made der heavens and der eart and all dey contain, vee give Yoou tanks on dis Tanksgifing Day!” were the words of the Plungerprize Chaplain, Dr. Bob L. Thumper, as the ship accelerated to escape velocity and transmartian insertion, placing it on a trajectory to Mars. Below we see the passenger compartment…