Prometheus-III

Prometheus-III
General Information
Nicknames:	Listening Station Zulu
Status:	Stagnant
Function:	Communications and Reconnaissance
Location Information
Location:	Space
Societal Information

Prometheus-III, Prometheus-III Listening Station, or Listening Station Zulu, is a space station created by the United States Space Administration in coordination with the United States Army, Poseidon Energy, and ArcJet Systems. It was connected and part of the United States Orbital Reconnaissance Network. Constructed with the purpose of long-range communications and reconnaissance for the U.S Army during the fighting at Anchorage, it is now a lone space station orbiting Earth, now stagnant and quietly drifting in Earth's orbit, in space.

Background

In order to gain more intelligence against the Communist Chinese during the Sino-American War, in 2057, the United States Army had coordinated with the United States Space Administration to build and create Project Artemis, the secret codename of Prometheus-III during it's construction. Intended by the U.S Army to be a reconnaissance station, it was also designated as a long-range communications relay station, relaying information all the way to the Moon. Aimed to be finished before 2064, the USSA, struggling to meet the deadline employed the help of the bright minds at Poseidon Energy and ArcJet Systems, as well as involvement from West Tek. Poseidon Energy worked on the Prometheus-III's electrical systems, whilst ArcJet Systems developed small-scale lightweight booster engines, to relocate the station if needed. Project Artemis was finished a month earlier, thanks to the help of the companies. Prometheus-III's space modules were launched in Delta VIII rockets, with the main module being launched on October 24, 2064, with the last station module arriving at the station on July 4th, 2067, coinciding with the 4th of July.

Mission Brief - PROMETHEUS-III Reconnaissance Mission

The Prometheus-III Listening Station's crew's main goal was the reconnaissance and espionage operations as well as long-range communication operations, with a maximum operating range that extends to the Moon. In case of an all-out nuclear war between America and any other foe (most likely China), it was fitted with the P.A.N.D.S, also known as the Prometheus Advanced Nuclear missile Detection System, which boasts advanced sensors that detected the missile's infrared emissions, as well as specialized space-based radars for nuclear missile/ICBM detection and tracking.

Unbeknownst to the participants and the crew, this was a long-term mission extending for over 5 years, with the purpose of observing the effects of prolonged stay in space. In case of a injury or fatality during the mission, the autonomous robots would assume control of Prometheus-III, with remote supervision from their commanders in the U.S Army Headquarters.

Due to the crew going on a long-term mission, the Station would be stocked with 4 years worth of freeze-dried rations and other forms of space rations.

Prometheus III - Propaganda Machine

Prometheus-III, unlike other U.S Army projects, was kept under tight wraps during the initial construction phase. However, the U.S Army would slowly hype up the launch of Prometheus-III. This would prove effective, as this would also give the American government large amounts of support at the launch of the station. With high hopes and a high success rate at hand - would be successfully completed in mid-2068.

First Weeks of Operation

During the first weeks of operation, the designated crew were gradually sent up to the space station of Prometheus-III. 15 fully-autonomous robots along with 3 supervising army astronauts were sent up in 2 separate Delta VIII rockets, the predecessor of the Delta IX rockets.

At arrival, four members of the human crew arrived onto the Docking Module, where they awaited the other Delta VIII crew to dock in. Shortly after 16 hours, the second Delta VIII rocket of which composed of the rest of the 14 robots along with First Lieutenant Christopher Rodriguez. With the arrival of the crew all on television, with it appearing as a success, the Army's propaganda campaign to boost support would be a success. Testing the satellite relay and other ship modules and features, all would be operational, and Prometheus-III's crew mission was about to go into high gear.

Operation 'LIBERATING THUNDER'

Operation Liberating Thunder was the first large operation the crew of Prometheus-III had faced, with the task of large-scale espionage operations in coordination with other stations within the United States Orbital Reconnaissance Network. Not much is known about the operation as it was highly classified to prevent Chinese intelligence and espionage units from launching counter-espionage programs to thwart American operations.

This program however, was highly successful, and it's success was hyped up immediately by propaganda. The crew, renowned by the American people and their commanders - received new equipment for their main missions, as well as the transfer of more personnel to observe and boost operations.

The Great War

On the day before the Great War, the United States Orbital Reconnaissance Network satellites and stations would detect 12 probable launches, only 4 of which were fully confirmed by those down on Earth. The Prometheus Advanced Nuclear Detection and Interception System on-board the station would detect the 4 launched ICBMs, and would immediately inform NORAD and the JCS about it. By then, however, multiple intercontinental ballistic missles had already touched down on America, and the Prometheus-III crew could only stare in utter devastation, watching the mushroom clouds from high above.

Assessing the Situation

Lt. Christopher Rodriguez, the officer with the highest position in the station would begin assessing the situation, and would attempt to contact emergency U.S government contacts. However, their attempts to contact any remnant of the United States government from the nuclear blast were futile and of no use, the crew assumed, and would assume themselves as the only living remnants of the now-former U.S government. With this they would assess their food and water supplies, with their current food supplies being predicted to be able to last 6 years with strict rationing, with their water supplies virtually being "infinite" to an extent, mostly because of their urine-reclaiming systems on-board.

The crew, as well as the robots to an extent, were devastated, seeing the mushroom clouds over America, imagining the helpless lives unable to save themselves from the disaster. Nonetheless, Rodriguez was determined to contact any human remnant on Earth if possible - and took executive control over the ship, reprioritizing the robot's goals and missions to the following:

• A. Attempt to contact any form of human remnants on Earth, and establish stable communications with them.
• B. Attempt to contact any remnant of the United States government or other foreign governments,
• C. If successful contact with any government remnant, use all possible resources to support their efforts (exception being the Chinese or the Soviets).

With this in mind, the crew had nothing else to do but play the waiting game; their fingers crossed, hoping to contact someone on Earth, now ravaged by radiation and nuclear fire.

The Waiting Game

The human crew of the ship, still hoping for contact with anyone down on Earth were waiting day by day, night by night, but to no avail. Their hysteria grows every day, and their rations grow shorter. There would be small periods of "contact" with someone down on Earth, but would usually be all static.

The crew, now mentally damaged and going insane day by day, as well as the implementation of strict rationing would lead to everyone falling into the depths of insanity and depression, going through intense and rapid mood swings, as well as episodes. They would have suicidal thoughts, with Lt. Rodriguez unable to keep the crew's integrity together. The human crew were slowly being torn apart, with the crew members refusing to communicate with any other crew member, increasing insanity day by day.

In the midst of all the chaos within the human crew, the robot crew were spotless. Unaffected by the situation around them, they would continue their duty as usual, attempting to establish contact with U.S ground stations and others, but to no avail.

Last Rations

The main rations were completely depleted. The crew's food source was now relying on the emergency ration compartment, however it was draining fast. The human crew fought over these remaining rations, with Lt. Rodriguez managing to hoard most of the rations in a secret compartment. While Lt. Rodriguez could keep his sanity together, at least for now, his crew could not. The human crew would be in complete insanity, frequently robbing others' hoarded rations, as well as constantly get into conflicts with each other.

It was now 2081 and the last rations were depleted. Almost everyone is in complete sanity and at each other. Lt. Rodriguez, wanting to put his crew out of their misery would use the emergency laser pistol and kill all of the human crew and disposing of them before ending his own life. The robots, under Directive US672/b would take control of the space station and would continue their attempts at contacting someone on Earth.

Station Hibernation

Due to lack of activity and failure to contact anyone on Earth, the station would start hibernating to preserve energy and lower maintenance, with most of the robotic crew returning to their pods and recharging stations, with a miniscule skeletal crew remaining with them taking 'shifts' on occasion, continuing their efforts of contacting someone down on Earth. Prometheus-III was mostly silent during the hibernation period, No actual contact would be achieved until 2238.

First Contact

In 2238, The Enclave, residing in the Oil Rig, had dug out old pre-War files and discovered confidential files and the mission brief of Prometheus-III. Prometheus-III, predicted to last over 200 years if properly maintained, would be attempted to contact the station via PoseidoNet and other means of connecting with the station, with the Enclave seeing the station as a 'potential' strategic post, due to lots of collected pre-War and post-War data.

In the station itself, these attempts to contact would be heard as the robotic crew would scramble to respond to the Enclave and would establish a weak contact with the Enclave, however strong enough to establish communications. After a small and brief talk, the robotic crew recognIzed the Enclave as the successor of the U.S government and would transfer as much collected data as they can.