Created by Captain Michael Turlogh Kane on Aug 16, 2016 @ 3:36pm

JAMES BARTON'S SPACE JUMP

On stardate 2.160627 - the summer of 2431 - Lieutenant James Barton, Chief Security and Tactical officer aboard the starship Phoenix, made history by becoming the first Human to jump from outer space down to the surface of the Earth. In doing so, Barton shattered several freefall records that had stood for over four centuries. He became the first Human to travel at twice the speed of sound without vehicular assistance, and proved that it was possible for a properly-equipped astronaut to survive re-entry into a planetary atmosphere.

Forced to consider alternative methods of deploying personnel to the Earth's surface that negated the Aegis shield, the Engineering department of the Phoenix, led by Commander Jake Crichton, designed and built a pressure suit that could withstand the enormous heat friction and shearing forces of atmospheric re-entry. After extensive simulated testing, it was determined that there was no way that the jump could be made risk-free. The Aegis shield, heat friction, and terminal velocities would all play their part in making this one of the most hazardous feats ever undertaken by a Human being.

Following deployment from the shuttlecraft Tigris, Barton began his fall to Earth from two million feet above the surface of the eastern coast of North America. As he fell, he passed through the wide lattices of the Aegis shield and into the exosphere, where he achieved a a freefall speed of almost 2500mph. As Barton continued to fall through the thermosphere, solar radiation and molecular friction superheated his suit to over 4000 degrees Fahrenheit.

In the mesosphere, the suit's mounted thrusters activated to slow his descent so that he could deploy a parachute, but the jump entered dangerous territory when the parachute disintegrated on deployment. Fortunately, the suit's thrusters and initial chute opening had slowed Barton's descent enough so that, when he deployed the reserve parachute, it held.

James Barton splashed down in the waters of San Francisco Bay twenty-two minutes after jumping from the orbiting shuttle. There was no-one to greet him or to acknowledge the enormity of his achievement, but high above thousands of people were cheering. It was the first cry of victory in the Battle of Earth.