#fivemilesout — Public Fediverse posts

There are two fictional radio transmissions that always chill me to the bone.

People who know me will know exactly what I am talking about, and can switch channels now. :)

One is from the cover of a science fiction game, the other from a song.

Let's talk about the game first.

Traveller is the granddaddy of all science fiction role-playing games. Influenced heavily by Andre Norton and the Golden Age of SciFi, it was first published as three little black books that came in a little black box.

On the cover with "Traveller" in red, and "Science-Fiction Adventure in the Far Future" beneath it in white.

Above that though, was one of the most attention-grabbing fragments of text ever. It was a radio transmission:
"This is Free Trader Beowulf, calling anyone...
Mayday Mayday... we are under attack... main drive is gone... turret number one is not responding... Mayday... losing cabin pressure fast.. calling anyone..please help... This is Free Trader Beowulf... Mayday"

It paints a bleak picture of a lone ship in the depths of space, out of luck and out of time. Does the crew have any chance at all? Even after decades, this chokes my throat and brings tears to my eyes.

The second is from the Mike Oldfield song Five Miles out. It is also a mayday call. But this time it is the weather that is the enemy. "Mayday mayday mayday
Calling all stations
This is Golf Mike Oscar Victor Juliet
IMC cu nimb icing
In great difficulty
Over"

Here we have a little Beechcraft 18 caught up in a thunderstorm it has almost no chance of dealing with. But the pilot is going to do his best to try and get help from the ground.

The ATC is doing their best, too, but it is not looking good "Victor Juliet your identity I have lost in the violent storm. Communicate or squawk emergency."
Telling the pilot that they only got part of the message, and asking for more information - or for the plane to switch its transponder to the emergency channel 7700.

Again, someone alone in an untenable position, doing their best to get help and to hang on as long as they can.

And yes, they have been inspirations for me.

So folks, are there any fictional radio transmissions that always get to you? Or have inspired your own writing?

#TravellerRPG #MikeOldfield #FiveMilesOut #Music #SciFi #RadioMessages #Writing #Gaming #TTRPG

There are two fictional radio transmissions that always chill me to the bone.

People who know me will know exactly what I am talking about, and can switch channels now. :)

One is from the cover of a science fiction game, the other from a song.

Let's talk about the game first.

Traveller is the granddaddy of all science fiction role-playing games. Influenced heavily by Andre Norton and the Golden Age of SciFi, it was first published as three little black books that came in a little black box.

On the cover with "Traveller" in red, and "Science-Fiction Adventure in the Far Future" beneath it in white.

Above that though, was one of the most attention-grabbing fragments of text ever. It was a radio transmission:
"This is Free Trader Beowulf, calling anyone...
Mayday Mayday... we are under attack... main drive is gone... turret number one is not responding... Mayday... losing cabin pressure fast.. calling anyone..please help... This is Free Trader Beowulf... Mayday"

It paints a bleak picture of a lone ship in the depths of space, out of luck and out of time. Does the crew have any chance at all? Even after decades, this chokes my throat and brings tears to my eyes.

The second is from the Mike Oldfield song Five Miles out. It is also a mayday call. But this time it is the weather that is the enemy. "Mayday mayday mayday
Calling all stations
This is Golf Mike Oscar Victor Juliet
IMC cu nimb icing
In great difficulty
Over"

Here we have a little Beechcraft 18 caught up in a thunderstorm it has almost no chance of dealing with. But the pilot is going to do his best to try and get help from the ground.

The ATC is doing their best, too, but it is not looking good "Victor Juliet your identity I have lost in the violent storm. Communicate or squawk emergency."
Telling the pilot that they only got part of the message, and asking for more information - or for the plane to switch its transponder to the emergency channel 7700.

Again, someone alone in an untenable position, doing their best to get help and to hang on as long as they can.

And yes, they have been inspirations for me.

So folks, are there any fictional radio transmissions that always get to you? Or have inspired your own writing?

#TravellerRPG #MikeOldfield #FiveMilesOut #Music #SciFi #RadioMessages #Writing #Gaming #TTRPG