Strip 753 -- First Seen: 2011-07-25
Escape From Terra is updated with new pages every Monday through Friday.

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The Not-Safe-Space 2 Kickstarter Campaign has ended successfully. Thanks to all who pledged!

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All of this should show up in June.

The Transcript For This Page

Panel 1
Large square panel (or round panel or vignette): The cloud yacht Novo Argo. Mostly, she looks like a 15th-century carrack (like one of Columbus' ships), scaled down to 16 meters long and 5 meters across the beam, running down to 4 meters below the gunnels and 3 above, with an elevated poop deck (no mizzen mast) a lower middle section from which rises the main mast (with spars and simple rigging) extending to 10 meters above the main deck. Forward of the main deck is another elevated deck, from which the foremast rises between 5 and 6 meters. (Both the foremast and mainmast sit slightly farther aft than they would on a proper carrack, adjusting for the lack of a mizzen mast.)
Forming a seam around the hull just a few centimeters below the gunwale is a transparent, blimp-shaped airskin 12x14 meters in widest cross-section and 21 meters long envelops the decks and interior with a breathable Terran-like atmosphere which also serves as the lifting gas. At the front of the boat, the bowsprit protrudes 2.5 meters out forward from its base just below the airskin seam.
At the rear-end, an engine positioned below the mid-line in the rear drives a twin pair of encased drive trains out to twin propellers (each about 2.5 meters diameter) mounted on small nacelles which are attached to the hull via pylons extending laterally from just below the gunwale, near the stern of the boat.
The lower hull is round-bottomed, like the old carracks, but the keel is rudimentary, hardly more than a beam running down the center length.
The boat is currently in her berth, which consists of a U-shaped platform (dock) whose legs runs along the sides of the boat, one sideclose enough that one can step across from the platform to the boat deck. The boat's airskin is merged with the berth's airskin where they intersect, allowing egress. Reggie and Babbette are standing on the dock next to the boat, looking it over.
Caption: Their rented yacht, Novo Argo, was an odd amalgam of fantasy and technology with a dash of whimsy.
Caption: The gas inside the bag was a breathable mixture of nitrogen and oxygen, which also served as the craft's lifting gas.
Panel 2
Medium shot of Babbette and Reggie. Reggie is gazing at the boat admiringly. Babbette is looking up in the direction of the mast.
Babbette: How come mast and sails are inside the airskin?

Panel 3
Closer 2-shot of Reggie and Babbette. Reggie is rolling his eyes. Babbette looks at him, annoyed.
Babbette: What?
Babbette: We're here in the wind, why not use it?