Big Sal Posted June 7, 2015 (edited) Flickr uploader isn't working, so I've resorted to Brickshelf. Haven't used it in a while, so hopefully everything comes out ok EDIT: Changed the second photo to one showing the cockpit and driver. Added a picture of the lab inside the spoiler. EDIT 2: Switched all the photos to Flickr links - hopefully they'll stay put now! Excerpt from the lab book of Big Sal: Date: 5 Junali 3815. Location:Barnius. Expedition Code: MRV1B04. Expedition Leader: Big Sal. Expedition Vessel: M.A.N.T.I.S. Research Vessel 1 Aims: Conduct hydrological, geological and biomass survey of Barnius's oceans. Excerpt ends. ...but Sal, it’s larvae Friday in the cafeterias today, why do we have to eat bananas? Because every single one of these crates has bananas in. Those idiots in logistics must have misread the requisition form again! C’mon Smith, we’re stuck in the middle of this ocean until the boffins are done, so just chillax. I don’t know how you can relax with all the noise from that water drill, or whatever it is. I can barely hear myself think! Water drill? Seriously? I’m no scientist, but even I know it isn’t a water drill. How would that even work?! Water drill at 80% power, over. GETTING A BIT LOUD DOWN HERE JONES, OVER. WHAT?? Sal, these rocks are incredible! The hydrophobic crystalline structure is unlike anything I’ve ever- Damn it Kowalski, you’re so boring. Do you ever talk about anything other than rocks? Well… I am the mission geologist… Whatever. Come and help us pull up the nets, we might have caught something interesting by now. I hope we’ve got some different seaweed species since last time! Ugh, seaweed this, seaweed that. Don’t you ever talk about anything other than plants, Lafevre? Well…I am the mission botanist… In fact, what exactly is your specialty Sal? … … … Let’s get these nets up! Ooh, this is a new species. Oh, joy. Get it to the lab Lafevre, Kowalski and I can handle the other net. Now this is more like it! Let’s get it on board! Lafevre, forget the seaweed, come look at this! Wow, looks like it made its home around the skeleton. Or around the corpse when it was fresh and a source of food. Ewwww. Grow up Kowalski. Wait, is it moving…? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Did you hear something? Nah, it’s just the ‘drill’. Man, Smith, how would you even drill water? What is wrong with you? JONES, THE DRILL CAN’T HANDLE MUCH MORE OF THIS. NO MORE POWER, OVER! WHAT?? NO MORE POWER, OVER! MORE POWER, GOT IT! OVER! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! *splash* … … Well, I guess it could be worse… Oh... Ok, that was a bit long, so thanks for reading if you made it to the end! Comments and criticism welcome! Excerpt recovered from M.A.N.T.I.S. IM server, logistics division: logguy2: boss, you seen big sals requisition form? logboss: no, why? logguy2: he's put that he wants 100 bunches of bananas. reckon its a typo and he wants 10? logboss: dunno, knowing him, he might want it for some weird experiment logguy2: should i msg him and check? logboss: no, i did that last week when he wanted a ridiculous amount of frog food and just got a logboss: load of abuse, like 'how dare you question me, if I say I want 20 barrels of frog food i want 20 barrels." logboss: so just do whatever it says on the form. logguy2: righto! Excerpt ends. Forgot to get a shot of the lab interior into the story, so here it is: Edited June 8, 2015 by Big Sal Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ferdinando Posted June 7, 2015 Excellent work colleague! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boxerlego Posted June 7, 2015 Wow, Excellent build! Awesome work on the story! I like that you spelled M.A.N.T.I.S on the base platform. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheUtilityBelt Posted June 7, 2015 Haha! The humor is so... humorous! The rocks are great and the ship as well! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Gidman Posted June 7, 2015 Wow, what a build! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LittleJohn Posted June 7, 2015 Hilarious story and fantastic build to go with it! I love the waves and ship Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shmails Posted June 7, 2015 That last photo is absolutely fantastic. Great work on the build and the story! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soccerkid6 Posted June 7, 2015 Hilarious storyline Lovely ship, you made of that boat hull, and I like the addition of nets on the side Excellent waves and rockwork too Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mccoyed Posted June 7, 2015 One of the best story and build combos so far on AG. I love how big and detailed the boat is, and how you so effectively featured different parts of it for the story. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LucasLaughing Posted June 7, 2015 Great work - I love the dialogue and banter, and the front of your research ship looks very cool. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark of Falworth Posted June 8, 2015 AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! Lol! This is great! Awesome work Sal! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NuckElBerg Posted June 8, 2015 I have no idea how you have the time to put up such excellent builds every week, but I'm not the one to complain! Great work, and awsome story/humor as always! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpacerSteve Posted June 8, 2015 I look forward to your post every week. They are extremely well done and humorous! I love how your science seems to end with an unfortunate accident learning opportunity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Sal Posted June 8, 2015 (edited) Thanks for the kind comments everyone! Now that Flickr's working again I managed to include a better shot of the cockpit (second photo) and lab (in the spoiler). Edited June 8, 2015 by Big Sal Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zaael Posted June 8, 2015 What a fun story haha! And a very nice ship! Good work Sal! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Commander Turtle Posted June 8, 2015 Saw this last night, lovely build- aaaand Brickshelf is down! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kai NRG Posted June 8, 2015 Another super funny story, The boat looks terrific and the water is also really well done with that light blue underneath! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rodiziorobs Posted June 8, 2015 (edited) Everything about this build is superb--the story, the dialogue, and the techniques. I love the boat, but the choppy water is very good; I will have to steal that sometime. Another amazing build for M.A.N.T.I.S.! it’s larvae Friday in the cafeterias I was not expecting this, it cracked me up! Edited June 8, 2015 by rodiziorobs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MassEditor Posted June 8, 2015 Oh man, this was just too funny! What a hilarious episode in MANTIS' B04 saga. Though it does seem as if we take one step back for every step forward! I do have to wonder, what's that all over Kowalski's shirt? Excellent dialogue, the use of the little avatars is great and does a nice job of illustrating the story. The build itself is awesome and, like some of the other recent MANTIS builds, very inspiring for me. I'm really digging the color scheme of this vessel and all the nice little details inside and out. The choppy water is also flawlessly done. Really great stuff Big Sal! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David FNJ Posted June 8, 2015 Haha, that story is just great! That ship is awesome, and the waves are masterfully done! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Umbra-Manis Posted June 8, 2015 Very impressive yet again! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mediumsnowman Posted June 8, 2015 Haha great build and story! Love it! The waves, the drill, the humor, it's all great! I do see your spies have uncovered Octan's secret plan... "Taco Tuesday!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew JN Posted June 8, 2015 (edited) Nice ship! Cool wave effect as well! Poor Lafevre.... Edited June 8, 2015 by Andrew JN Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dannylonglegs Posted June 8, 2015 Once again, you fail to disappoint! Wonderful craft, and excellent use for the massive ship part from that set I could never afford! it's gorgeous! It's funny! Bravo! Mantiseptic seems to have a robust (if not eccentric and generally hazardous) scientific community! ~Insectoid Aristocrat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pombe Posted June 9, 2015 Beautiful MOC! I love the ship and the waves! HIlarous story! M.A.N.T.I.S. needs to hire more scientists at the rate Big Sal is losing colleagues! And...and...seaweed is an algae... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
