It has been easy to ignore the small planet’s approach. More and more eyes have sought it out in the twirling skies, and it has been growing.
The ungainly interplanetary vessel spins on, apparently unconcerned with the growing nearness, but in the control facilities, patient observers have been watching the chronometers.
This particular dance has been very thoroughly choreographed.
The notices go out to secure for thrust maneuvers, and to evacuate the Zero Gee facility.
The shimmering pool of floating water is vacuumed away, by the equivalent of an ordinary wet/dry vacuum. Other areas of the central spike at the axis of rotation are also secured.
Work areas and recreational areas are placed in a warning status. It would not be the appropriate time, for instance, for a walk in the forest.
All habitats have been brought to alert status. Even though two will remain in orbit, all will have to maneuver.
The procedure will be as follows:
The newly positioned Gas-Cooled Nuclear Reactor/Rocket Motors will be brought up to partial thrust, along with strategically located units on the Thrust Ring and other habitats.
While under thrust, the Flying Castle will be brought back to center axis, and Habitats A and B will be repositioned to a bilateral symmetry in preparation for separation of the Castle from the Group.
This will leave Habitats A and B rotating around the common axis once more, but in a binary formation, attached to the Thrust Ring.
Once that new stability is established, the Flying Castle can separate, still under thrust, to be directed to the planet Mars itself, and continue decelerating all the way down to the surface, landing precisely and exactly in its chosen crater.
Perhaps we should remind our passengers that the reason we are landing in a crater is because the castle has a rounded hull exterior, and no “landing legs.”
So we picked out a crater in our desired landing area, finding one that should fit us as well as our distant, fondly remembered Lake Fate. (
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/1163131/posts?page=64896#64896)
Once landed, we will immediately begin replenishing our reaction propellant by compressing Martian atmosphere.
The next stages of our exploration must wait for that to be completed. It is, of course, a safety issue. We need to be able to take off again if we must dodge an incoming meteor.