[DRAFT] Between A Rock And A Hard Space

[Kaschovia]

It's been a while since I drafted an issue, but I remember it being rather fun so I'm gonna get back into it.

[DRAFT] Between A Rock And A Hard Space

[VAL] Technologically advanced, spacefaring...

[DESC] After space debris blew a hole in the side of @@DEMONYMNOUNPLURAL@@ prized space station, several astronauts are believed to be aboard the station in and air locked safe room, with their condition currently unknown.

[1] "We have to go and save them!" cries @@RANDOMFEMALENAME@@, mother to one of the astronauts. "That's my son out there! You can't just let him die! I don't care how much you spend getting them back, for all I care use the entire national budget!" She climbs onto your desk and brandishes a sharpened spatula, but one of your security guards is quick to act and escorts her from your office in hysterics, "Damn your chances, they might still be alive! isn't that enough reason, @@LEADER@@?!"

[1 outcome] the nation's economy has taken a hit after several billion @@CURRENCYPLURAL@@ were spent saving stranded astronauts.

[2] "What tragic news... But there's nothing we can do," dismays @@RANDOMFEMALENAME@@, leading scientist and researcher at the @@DEMONYM@@ Space Institute, a pained streak in her eyes as she looks up from her laptop, "it is likely those astronauts are long gone, and by looking at the data here, even if we did launch a rescue mission ASAP, the use of time and resources, not to mention the danger of such a mission... I just don't see how we can save them now."

[2 outcome] the word hope has lost its meaning as the nation mourns their lost astronauts.

[DRAFT] Astronauts On Ice

[VAL] Technologically advanced, spacefaring...

[DESC] After space debris blew a hole in the side of @@NAME@@ prized space station, several astronauts, including @@RANDOMNAME@@, @@NAME@@'s most famous astronaut, are believed to be aboard the station in the airlocked safe room, with their condition currently unknown. After public outcry to immediately launch a rescue mission, the issue has landed at your desk.

[1] "We have to go and save them!" Cries @@RANDOMFEMALENAME@@, mother to one of the astronauts, "That's my son out there! You can't just let him die up there! I don't care how much you spend getting them back, for all I care use the entire national budget," @@HE@@ climbs onto your desk and brandishes a sharpened spatula, but one of your security guards escort @@HIM from your office in hysterics, "They might still be alive... isn't that enough reason?!"

[1 outcome] The nation's economy has taken a hit after several billion @@CURRENCY@@ were spent saving stranded astronauts.

[2] "Pshhh..." snares @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister for Not Making Hasty Financial Decisions, a rather concieted look on @@HIS@@ face, "perhaps we could reach a compromise here, eh?" @@HE@@ points to the cieling and furrows @@HIS@@ brows, "They're gone. Wooosh. There is no way of rescuing all of them, and even if they find a way to survive on the station, think of the negative press... it's a PR disaster! Imagine the Bigtopians laughing at our terrible space program if this gets too big," @@HE@@ corrects @@HIS@@ thousand-@@CURRENCY@@ suit and strolls towards the door, stopping at the last moment to mutter "I say we just tell the public they've been confirmed dead, and there was no way to save them." before slinking from the room.

[2 outcome] Fatal accidents in the service industry are seen as inevitable.

[3] "@@HE@@ is right," croaks @@RANDOMMALENAME@@, one of your oldest military advisors, drooling from behind @@HIS@@ Zimmer-frame, "when I was your age, I was fighting Bigtopian rebels in the Mountains of Death during the Second Civil War, and if we lost a man, we lost 'em. No point saving a dead man, @@LEADER@@." He takes half an hour to clear the mucus from his throat, before waddling towards the window with a painful look of reminiscence on his face, "I've seen wrath from soldiers I didn't know was possible, and in that wrath, a great determination... let the military take control of the national space program, and they'd be glad to die in the name of progress."

[3 outcome] The war on space has officially begun in @@NAME@@

[4] "All I'm hearing is a PR loon saving face and an old man farting about a war that never happened," snaps @@RANDOMFEMALENAME@@, leading scientist and researcher at the @@DEMONYM@@ Space Institute, looking up from her mini-laptop, "the fact of the matter is, those astronauts are dead now, but that doesn't mean we should lose hope. If we could rescue them, or recover the debris from the space station, we could learn a lot about how the space debris made contact with the station, and how the astronauts initially responded," her face turns suddenly and unexpectedly mischevious, "and once the bodies are recovered, why don't send some more people out there, you know, into the void... just to see what happens?"

[4 outcome] Due to pioneering research in @@NAME@@, the effects of the endless void on the body are very well-known

[DRAFT] Astronauts On Ice

[VAL] Technologically advanced, spacefaring...

[DESC] After space debris blew a hole in the side of @@NAME@@ prized space station, several astronauts, including @@RANDOMNAME@@, @@NAME@@'s most famous astronaut, were sent barreling out of the vessel into orbit on varying chunks of the ship. After public outcry to immediately launch a rescue mission, the issue has landed at your desk.

[1] "We have to go and save them!" Cries @@RANDOMFEMALENAME@@, mother to one of the astronauts, "That's my son out there! You can't just let him float away! I don't care how much you spend getting them back, for all I care use the entire national budget," @@HE@@ climbs onto your desk and brandishes a sharpened spatula, but one of your security guards escort @@HIM from your office in hysterics, "They might still be alive... isn't that enough reason?!"

[1 outcome] The nation's economy has taken a hit after several billion @@CURRENCY@@ were spent saving stranded spacewalkers.

[2] "Pshhh..." snares @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister for Not Making Hasty Financial Decisions, a rather concieted look on @@HIS@@ face, "perhaps we could reach a compromise here, eh?" @@HE@@ points to the cieling and furrows @@HIS@@ brows, "They're gone. Wooosh. There is no way of rescuing all of them, and even if all of their week of extra oxygen runs out, we can't exactly prioritize one life over another... that's a PR disaster! Imagine all the negative press." @@HE@@ corrects @@HIS@@ thousand-@@CURRENCY@@ suit and strolls towards the door, stopping at the last moment to mutter "I say we just act like it never happened," before slinking from the room.

[2 outcome] Fatal accidents in the service industry are seen as inevitable.

[3] "@@HE@@ is right," croaks @@RANDOMMALENAME@@, one of your oldest military advisors, drooling from behind @@HIS@@ Zimmer-frame, "when I was your age, I was fighting Bigtopian rebels in the Mountains of Death during the Second Civil War, and if we lost a man, we lost 'em. No point saving a dead man, @@LEADER@@." He takes half an hour to clear the mucus from his throat, before waddling towards the window with a painful look of reminiscence on his face, "I've seen wrath from soldiers I didn't know was possible, and in that wrath, a great determination... let the military take control of the national space program, and they'd be glad to die in the name of progress."

[3 outcome] The war on space has officially begun in @@NAME@@

[4] "All I'm hearing is a PR loon saving face and an old man farting about a war that never happened," snaps @@RANDOMFEMALENAME@@, leading scientist and researcher at the @@DEMONYM@@ Space Institute, looking up from her mini-laptop, "the fact of the matter is, those astronauts are dead now, but that doesn't mean we should lose hope. If we could rescue them, or recover the debris from the space station, we could learn a lot about how the space debris made contact with the station, and how the astronauts initially responded," her face turns suddenly and unexpectedly mischevious, "and once the bodies are recovered, why don't send some more people out there, you know, into the void... just to see what happens?"

[4 outcome] Due to pioneering research in @@NAME@@, the effects of the endless void on the body are very well-known

[Australian rePublic]

If they're dead, you're not rescuing them, you're recovering the bodies. Also, why is this an issue for leader instead of the astronomical department?

[Kaschovia]

If they're dead, you're not rescuing them, you're recovering the bodies. Also, why is this an issue for leader instead of the astronomical department?

They have extra oxygen reserves, so there is a chance they are alive. The guy who says they're dead is a PR guy and is trying to convince the leader to tone down the severity of the accident so the public doesn't think negatively of the space program.

It goes to the leader because it is a high profile issue, and after all, the leader would be in charge of any high profile public decisions made by the space department.

[Lelscrep]

Just for information, a google search tells me that astronauts who are space walking carry two tanks that last 6 - 8.5 hours each.

I think to clear confusion, make it more clear that the parent is being irrational. Maybe something simple along the lines of "They could still be alive! Isn't that enough?!"

[Kaschovia]

Just for information, a google search tells me that astronauts who are space walking carry two tanks that last 6 - 8.5 hours each.

I think to clear confusion, make it more clear that the parent is being irrational. Maybe something simple along the lines of "They could still be alive! Isn't that enough?!"

Yeah. That would make sense. I'll see how I can implement that.

I'm not literally saying that astronauts have that much in oxygen reserves. I'm trying to emphasize the fact that the PR guy is a bit stupid, and cares more about preserving the reputation of the government than actually listening to the people who know what they're talking about.

[Trotterdam]

They have extra oxygen reserves,

Where?

Astronauts don't constantly wear spacesuits during their daily life aboard a space station. They only put them on when they need to, due to planning a spacewalk or anticipating imminent trouble.

If the astronauts did see the debris coming before it hit, then they would be more likely to try to either (A) maneuver the space station out of its path (despite the name, space stations aren't truly stationary - they don't move around much, but they do have engines for countering orbital decay and for dealing with this exact situation), or (B) failing that, take shelter in an airtight safe room deep inside the space station, not in their spacesuits.

Furthermore, as the previous poster pointed out, spacesuits only carry a few hours of oxygen, maybe a day tops. For that matter, if you're stranded in a spacesuit for much longer than a day, you're going to die of thirst even if you still have enough oxygen, and after a week or three hunger would kill you too. Carrying an entire month of oxygen, as you claim right now, is completely pointless even if it were physically feasible (it's not).

Finally, if you puncture a hole in a space station, it's not going to toss the astronauts out of the station like an exploding balloon. The air isn't going to be escaping at hurricane-force speeds, so the astronauts should be able to easily resist it, leaving them still inside the space station just without any air. For that matter, even if the astronauts were tossed out of the station (let's not concern ourselves with how it happened and just say it was magic), if they're wearing their spacesuits then they should also have their spacesuits' maneuvering systems, and so probably have enough fuel to be able to fly back to the station and wait there together. So the astronauts will still all be in the same place and can all be rescued at the same time.

[Kaschovia]

They have extra oxygen reserves,

Where?

Astronauts don't constantly wear spacesuits during their daily life aboard a space station. They only put them on when they need to, due to planning a spacewalk or anticipating imminent trouble.

If the astronauts did see the debris coming before it hit, then they would be more likely to try to either (A) maneuver the space station out of its path (despite the name, space stations aren't truly stationary - they don't move around much, but they do have engines for countering orbital decay and for dealing with this exact situation), or (B) failing that, take shelter in an airtight safe room deep inside the space station, not in their spacesuits.

Okay, so let's presume that instead of them being flung out, they have regrouped after the hit in an airtight safe room, but the technology required to contact the government or the space department is too damaged, so nobody knows if they are alive.

Furthermore, as the previous poster pointed out, spacesuits only carry a few hours of oxygen, maybe a day tops. For that matter, if you're stranded in a spacesuit for much longer than a day, you're going to die of thirst even if you still have enough oxygen, and after a week or three hunger would kill you too. Carrying an entire month of oxygen, as you claim right now, is completely pointless even if it were physically feasible (it's not).

As I have said, I know this to be false. The PR guy doesn't. Or if he does, he's just a bit evil or stupid... or both.

Finally, if you puncture a hole in a space station, it's not going to toss the astronauts out of the station like an exploding balloon. The air isn't going to be escaping at hurricane-force speeds, so the astronauts should be able to easily resist it, leaving them still inside the space station just without any air. For that matter, even if the astronauts were tossed out of the station (let's not concern ourselves with how it happened and just say it was magic), if they're wearing their spacesuits then they should also have their spacesuits' maneuvering systems, and so probably have enough fuel to be able to fly back to the station and wait there together. So the astronauts will still all be in the same place and can all be rescued at the same time.

So I'm going to rewrite it so they regroup in an airtight room on a relatively undamaged part of the station, but due to damage, they can't contact their nation.

[Lelscrep]

So I'm going to rewrite it so they regroup in an airtight room on a relatively undamaged part of the station, but due to damage, they can't contact their nation.

This sounds like a good solution.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

The whole premise seems unlikely to me.

If a rescue mission has a decent chance of success, then a rescue mission is going to happen, save in the most extreme and callous nations.

You can't have some characters asserting that they're "dead already" and others asserting that you need to launch a rescue mission.

I suggest reframing things with some numbers, have experts estimate it be 98.5% likely the astronauts are dead already, and have relatives demanding that you launch a rescue mission to stop that being 100%.

[Kaschovia]

The whole premise seems unlikely to me.

If a rescue mission has a decent chance of success, then a rescue mission is going to happen, save in the most extreme and callous nations.

You can't have some characters asserting that they're "dead already" and others asserting that you need to launch a rescue mission.

I suggest reframing things with some numbers, have experts estimate it be 98.5% likely the astronauts are dead already, and have relatives demanding that you launch a rescue mission to stop that being 100%.

Space debris is actually a huge unsolved issue right now for a lot of big space programs. It is completely likely that, for all the nations answering issues in NS, a vessel containing humans could be hit by a piece of space debris that could cause considerable damage to their communications systems, leaving them stranded in space to survive.

The issue doesn't necessarily take place in a situation where they know if they have a good chance at rescue or not, because it's more of a 'respond as its happening' type thing, so early speculation can still happen and there is no guarantee that any rescue mission would be successful.

But it does make sense to make use of figures, so I will see how I can implement that.

[Trotterdam]

Okay, so let's presume that instead of them being flung out, they have regrouped after the hit in an airtight safe room, but the technology required to contact the government or the space department is too damaged, so nobody knows if they are alive.

I think that's plausible.

Communications systems do seem like they'd be important enough that you'd want to have redundant backups, but it might be hard to reach if you're really stranded inside one room, though that would require pretty severe damage to the station.

Space debris is actually a huge unsolved issue right now for a lot of big space programs.

That issue, of course, mostly being space agencies realizing there is a problem and being smart enough to think ahead and have backup plans for when things go wrong, rather than it having actually happened yet. For example, I'm pretty sure the ISS has a policy of always having a "lifeboat" rocket docked to the station (which also has its own separate communication systems), so astronauts would be expected to use that and immediately return to Earth if the station gets really badly wrecked. Of course, if you're really unlucky, it's possible that the lifeboat got damaged by the debris too.

[Kaschovia]

Okay, so let's presume that instead of them being flung out, they have regrouped after the hit in an airtight safe room, but the technology required to contact the government or the space department is too damaged, so nobody knows if they are alive.

I think that's plausible.

Communications systems do seem like they'd be important enough that you'd want to have redundant backups, but it might be hard to reach if you're really stranded inside one room, though that would require pretty severe damage to the station.

Space debris is actually a huge unsolved issue right now for a lot of big space programs.

That issue, of course, mostly being space agencies realizing there is a problem and being smart enough to think ahead and have backup plans for when things go wrong, rather than it having actually happened yet. For example, I'm pretty sure the ISS has a policy of always having a "lifeboat" rocket docked to the station (which also has its own separate communication systems), so astronauts would be expected to use that and immediately return to Earth if the station gets really badly wrecked. Of course, if you're really unlucky, it's possible that the lifeboat got damaged by the debris too.

Yeah. It's not impossibly unlikely, but I think with the number of nations in NS with developed space programs far outnumbering Earth, that probability is increased to a level where we can address it like it has actually happened.

[Trotterdam]

Yeah. It's not impossibly unlikely, but I think with the number of nations in NS with developed space programs far outnumbering Earth, that probability is increased to a level where we can address it like it has actually happened.

I don't think the number of nations in the game matters, unless you plan for your issue to only be given to one nation ever and then retired

[The JELLEAIN Republic]

Exactly how far in the future are we talking, what are their capabilities ...

Exosuits that are flexible and store days of oxygen ? Hyper ionized engines ? How quick could a rocket get there etc,..

Or is it like soviet style bulkheads and all that ...

[Kaschovia]

Exactly how far in the future are we talking, what are their capabilities ...

Exosuits that are flexible and store days of oxygen ? Hyper ionized engines ? How quick could a rocket get there etc,..

Or is it like soviet style bulkheads and all that ...

The timeframe is subjective to the nation reading the issue. The basic requirement to recieve the issue is to have an active, advanced space program. Different nations will have different timeframes within which to situate their contextual interpretation of the issue.

We've also corrected the issue of the oxygen reserves, instead opting to write it so that the surviving astronuats regroup and locate themselves within an airtight safe room aboard the station.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Space debris is actually a huge unsolved issue right now for a lot of big space programs. It is completely likely that, for all the nations answering issues in NS, a vessel containing humans could be hit by a piece of space debris that could cause considerable damage to their communications systems, leaving them stranded in space to survive.

Sorry, I don't mean that space debris or damage to space vehicles from them is implausible. I meant that there being a dilemma is implausible unless it's made clear that the chances of survival are very low. No nation is going to abandon astronauts that have a 50% or 90% chance of having survived. It's only if we're talking about a 1 or 2% chance of survival does any sort of dilemma emerge.

[Kaschovia]

Sorry, I don't mean that space debris or damage to space vehicles from them is implausible. I meant that there being a dilemma is implausible unless it's made clear that the chances of survival are very low. No nation is going to abandon astronauts that have a 50% or 90% chance of having survived. It's only if we're talking about a 1 or 2% chance of survival does any sort of dilemma emerge.

I've obscured, to some degree, the chances within the options of survival and implied that there is a serious chance they could run out of oxygen or die by some other means such as faulting technology or machinery aboard the station, so I hope that suffices.

[Sacara]

[DESC] After space debris blew a hole in the side of @@NAME@@ prized space station, several astronauts, including @@RANDOMNAME@@, @@NAME@@'s most famous astronaut, are believed to be aboard the station in the airlocked safe room, with their condition currently unknown. After public outcry to immediately launch a rescue mission, the issue has landed at your desk.

First, feel free to remove the last sentence of the description. We know the issue landed on the @@LEADER@@'s desk by virtue of receiving the issue and it doesn't add anything to the story. Second, a minor thing, I believe it should be "air locked" rather than "airlocked". Also, I think the first sentence comes off as a little clunky with all the commas. I way to fix that could be to remove the @@RANDOMNAME@@ of the astronaut; it also doesn't add anything other than cluttering that first sentence. If you do wish to name the astronaut, which by all means you do not have to do, you should find a real life astronaut and do a play off of their name (Legstrong, Armweak, etc.).

Now, looking at the options, I'm just not sold on them. Option one is the normal "lets go get them." Then, option two attempts a compromise, I think. But it's not really a compromise; it's just lying to the public. Option three suggests giving the space program to the military? I don't see what that has to do with anything, and you're also referencing a war which may have never happened to @@NAME@@. The final option is saying we should send a mission up there even though they probably are dead for research. Isn't that the same as option one? Why not just send a rescue mission up there and put scientists on it to do research whether or not they are dead.

I love space themed issues, and I wish there were more in the game. There are some bright spots in this draft, but I think there needs to be an overhaul in the options. Perhaps re-frame to look something like this:

[desc] same description you have now
[option] having someone rational declare the chances will be low
[option] having the mother say damn the chances, we have to go

Honestly, I can see this being a two option issue, with each of the options being a tad longer to lay out each respective argument. I think that would work great.

[Socio Polor]

After space debris blew a hole in the side of @@NAME@@ prized space station,

@@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ would be a better macro to use here.

Ccries @@RANDOMFEMALENAME@@, mother to one of the astronauts,.

for all I care use the entire national budget,!

@@HE@@ climbs onto your desk and brandishes a sharpened spatula, but one of your security guards escort @@HIM from your office in hysterics,

The @@HE@@ and @@HIM@@ macros are not needed since you specified the speaker is female. Just use "She" and "her" in non-macro form

several billion @@CURRENCY@@

It's @@CURRENCYPLURAL@@ here

a rather concieted look on @@HIS@@ face,

This should end with a period, not a comma

[2] "Pshhh..." snares @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister for Not Making Hasty Financial Decisions, a rather concieted look on @@HIS@@ face, "perhaps we could reach a compromise here, eh?" @@HE@@ points to the cieling and furrows @@HIS@@ brows, "They're gone. Wooosh. There is no way of rescuing all of them, and even if they find a way to survive on the station, think of the negative press... it's a PR disaster! Imagine the Bigtopians laughing at our terrible space program if this gets too big," @@HE@@ corrects @@HIS@@ thousand-@@CURRENCY@@ suit and strolls towards the door, stopping at the last moment to mutter "I say we just tell the public they've been confirmed dead, and there was no way to save them." before slinking from the room.

I don't see how this option is much of a compromise.

drooling from behind @@HIS@@ Zimmer-frame,

This needs to end in a period

"when I was your age,

capitalize the w

The war on space has officially begun in @@NAME@@

I don't think this is effect line fits the option, it sounds like you started a space race or an actual war in space.

leading scientist and researcher at the @@DEMONYM@@ Space Institute, looking up from her mini-laptop

It should be @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ and the sentence should end in a period

"the fact of the matter is,

capitalize the t

[4] "All I'm hearing is a PR loon saving face and an old man farting about a war that never happened," snaps @@RANDOMFEMALENAME@@, leading scientist and researcher at the @@DEMONYM@@ Space Institute, looking up from her mini-laptop, "the fact of the matter is, those astronauts are dead now, but that doesn't mean we should lose hope. If we could rescue them, or recover the debris from the space station, we could learn a lot about how the space debris made contact with the station, and how the astronauts initially responded," her face turns suddenly and unexpectedly mischevious, "and once the bodies are recovered, why don't send some more people out there, you know, into the void... just to see what happens?"

Why is the speaker assuming the astronauts are dead?

[Kaschovia]

After space debris blew a hole in the side of @@NAME@@ prized space station,

@@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ would be a better macro to use here.

Ccries @@RANDOMFEMALENAME@@, mother to one of the astronauts,.

for all I care use the entire national budget,!

@@HE@@ climbs onto your desk and brandishes a sharpened spatula, but one of your security guards escort @@HIM from your office in hysterics,

The @@HE@@ and @@HIM@@ macros are not needed since you specified the speaker is female. Just use "She" and "her" in non-macro form

several billion @@CURRENCY@@

It's @@CURRENCYPLURAL@@ here

a rather concieted look on @@HIS@@ face,

This should end with a period, not a comma

[2] "Pshhh..." snares @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister for Not Making Hasty Financial Decisions, a rather concieted look on @@HIS@@ face, "perhaps we could reach a compromise here, eh?" @@HE@@ points to the cieling and furrows @@HIS@@ brows, "They're gone. Wooosh. There is no way of rescuing all of them, and even if they find a way to survive on the station, think of the negative press... it's a PR disaster! Imagine the Bigtopians laughing at our terrible space program if this gets too big," @@HE@@ corrects @@HIS@@ thousand-@@CURRENCY@@ suit and strolls towards the door, stopping at the last moment to mutter "I say we just tell the public they've been confirmed dead, and there was no way to save them." before slinking from the room.

I don't see how this option is much of a compromise.

drooling from behind @@HIS@@ Zimmer-frame,

This needs to end in a period

"when I was your age,

capitalize the w

The war on space has officially begun in @@NAME@@

I don't think this is effect line fits the option, it sounds like you started a space race or an actual war in space.

leading scientist and researcher at the @@DEMONYM@@ Space Institute, looking up from her mini-laptop

It should be @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ and the sentence should end in a period

"the fact of the matter is,

capitalize the t

[4] "All I'm hearing is a PR loon saving face and an old man farting about a war that never happened," snaps @@RANDOMFEMALENAME@@, leading scientist and researcher at the @@DEMONYM@@ Space Institute, looking up from her mini-laptop, "the fact of the matter is, those astronauts are dead now, but that doesn't mean we should lose hope. If we could rescue them, or recover the debris from the space station, we could learn a lot about how the space debris made contact with the station, and how the astronauts initially responded," her face turns suddenly and unexpectedly mischevious, "and once the bodies are recovered, why don't send some more people out there, you know, into the void... just to see what happens?"

Why is the speaker assuming the astronauts are dead?

[DESC] After space debris blew a hole in the side of @@NAME@@ prized space station, several astronauts, including @@RANDOMNAME@@, @@NAME@@'s most famous astronaut, are believed to be aboard the station in the airlocked safe room, with their condition currently unknown. After public outcry to immediately launch a rescue mission, the issue has landed at your desk.

First, feel free to remove the last sentence of the description. We know the issue landed on the @@LEADER@@'s desk by virtue of receiving the issue and it doesn't add anything to the story. Second, a minor thing, I believe it should be "air locked" rather than "airlocked". Also, I think the first sentence comes off as a little clunky with all the commas. I way to fix that could be to remove the @@RANDOMNAME@@ of the astronaut; it also doesn't add anything other than cluttering that first sentence. If you do wish to name the astronaut, which by all means you do not have to do, you should find a real life astronaut and do a play off of their name (Legstrong, Armweak, etc.).

Now, looking at the options, I'm just not sold on them. Option one is the normal "lets go get them." Then, option two attempts a compromise, I think. But it's not really a compromise; it's just lying to the public. Option three suggests giving the space program to the military? I don't see what that has to do with anything, and you're also referencing a war which may have never happened to @@NAME@@. The final option is saying we should send a mission up there even though they probably are dead for research. Isn't that the same as option one? Why not just send a rescue mission up there and put scientists on it to do research whether or not they are dead.

I love space themed issues, and I wish there were more in the game. There are some bright spots in this draft, but I think there needs to be an overhaul in the options. Perhaps re-frame to look something like this:

[desc] same description you have now
[option] having someone rational declare the chances will be low
[option] having the mother say damn the chances, we have to go

Honestly, I can see this being a two option issue, with each of the options being a tad longer to lay out each respective argument. I think that would work great.

To address both of you, all of the minor fixes have been implemented, and I liked Sacara's idea of making this a two option issue, so I have removed two of the options and extended the remaining two. It creates a real dilemma and sense of choice that I would personally enjoy going through if I had to answer the issue.

Now, one issue we might have, is that option 1 doesn't actually call a nation to act, so what could we include that means the nation doesn't immediately go and try to save them, using up loads of resources, but still makes a change to policy, or does something at all?

[Sacara]

Upon closer inspection, I think it would be better to switch options one and two around to make it flow a little better. I do like the two option dilemma presented here. Also, I think if you add something along the lines of @@LEADER@@ giving a speech to the public about the astronauts to the rational option I think it would be fine.

[Kaschovia]

Upon closer inspection, I think it would be better to switch options one and two around to make it flow a little better. I do like the two option dilemma presented here. Also, I think if you add something along the lines of @@LEADER@@ giving a speech to the public about the astronauts to the rational option I think it would be fine.

I've swapped around the order of the issues, and I agree that it flows better.

And I'll see how I can implement the idea of a speech being given by the leader.

[Kaschovia]

Made some minor fixes to both options.

Does anyone else have a better idea for a title?

[Kaschovia]

I've changed the title to 'Between A Rock And A Hard Space'.

It's just a space pun, really, but I think it's better.