Am Rande Der Realität

You arrive sometime between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. (because you were booked on the first ship, otherwise you would have longer), grab your suitcase from your car parked on the associated parking lot and enter the building „Am Rande der Realität – Die Akademie“ (german for "At the Edge of Reality - The Academy")

There are some seats and six counters like in the airport. At five counters you can see the name of a ship - the C.U.U. Elanwi on which you are booked is one of them - at the sixth counter you can see personnel numbers who are allowed to register there. (You don't know that these are the VIPs).

 

 

At check-in, you show your ID and boarding pass - which includes your name, quarters, assignment and ship, as well as your personnel number - and you get a wristband. You may be asked a few more questions because you forgot to complete your registration beforehand. You will also receive a map of the space station and your training ship - with the location of your quarters.

 

Then you look for your booth behind the counter - luckily, the last four digits of your personnel number are above the door, as a helpful person from security tells you. When you find it, the door magically opens and you enter a 2x2 meter room. Oh wait, you booked a double room, so you and your companion enter a 2x4 meter room with an exit directly across from you and a large commode-like plastic box next to each door. There is also a changing cabinet in one corner with two seats next to it and a monitor across from them. The logo of "Am Rande der Realität" is emblazoned on it. The entrance door closes behind you and your suitcases as a video begins to play on the monitor. A pleasant voice says:

 

"Welcome to the Edge of Reality! Please take a seat, this room will be yours alone for the next 30 minutes. You will see a brief introduction and explanation of the upcoming experience."

(A short promotional teaser can be seen.)

(This is followed by images of children playing in costume.)

"Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were a kid? Maybe a doctor, superhero or spaceman? At least you're getting close to that last wish."

(Pictures of our spaceship bridge follow.)

 

"You will be part of the crew of a spaceship. So you're not only taking a vacation from home, but also a little bit from yourself! During your stay, you will play the role of a "spaceman in training" and will be assigned to the position of commander, chief engineer, engineer, communications officer, science officer, arming officer or helmsman on a spaceship. Your boarding pass will indicate which position you are assigned to. You may also be fortunate enough to attend advanced training, allowing you to learn another position. In any case, stay in the role of a future spaceman until the end of your stay, this is the only way to make your stay a real experience. And do your best to complete your tasks, because otherwise the ship will sink. Above all, teamwork is required and the better you know your job the more fun you will have! So listen carefully during your training and be sure to follow your instructors' instructions."

(Images matching the text appear here: MoCoSch, uniform, ship bag, shuttle, space station, console, spaceship.)

"The training consists of several parts. In this room the first two parts take place: Here you will learn to handle the MoCoSch and pack your ship bag. Afterwards, a shuttle will take you to the space station. There you will receive your uniform and learn how your console works on the bridge or in the engine room. Finally, the flight to the spaceship follows"

(An ARDR style exclamation mark will be displayed.)

"Here's an important note that you really need to know:"

(Again, there are pictures to go with the text).

"You have been fitted with a wristband that will allow you to move through the spaceship. If a door does not open for you, then you are prohibited from entering - at least at this time. It also allows you to operate your MoCoSch, but more on that in a moment. It is important that you do not damage it or even remove it. Don't worry, it is water proof.

Please try your wristband on the dresser now, if it doesn't open, you're facing the wrong one."

(The two plastic commodes open when the right person holds their wristband in front of it, by flipping the lid and part of the front up. Inside each is a uniform with name tag, a bag, a MoCoSch and any clothing that has been ordered in addition. In this time the screen shows the timer of the announced 30 minutes, the video continues as soon as both commodes are opened). 

"First, I will explain to you how the MoCoSch works. Please take it to your seat and leave everything else in the commode.

(There are matching pictures of the menus of the MoCoSch.)

The MoCoSch - the abbreviation for Mobile Computer System Interface - is your constant companion during your stay. Take good care of it, because it contains all the information that is important to you and is your connection to the on-board computer. It is programmed to your wristband, so no one can accidentally access or change your data. 

You book through the MoCoSch your duty times - the heart of your stay. You are guaranteed one duty time in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. On the day of arrival - that is today - there is only one duty time in the evening and on the day of departure only one in the morning. However, you may also book less duty time if you want to have more "free" time....

Please book your first duty time now. On the MoCoSch, tap the ARDR logo at the top and then select "Duty Times". Select a free shift for tonight.

(The video will pause while guests are booking. If it doesn't work after a certain amount of time, security will be called to help.)

Only two duty shifts can be booked in advance at a time. From 17:55, you can then book the shift for tomorrow morning.

In addition, you can set under "Extra shifts" whether you want to participate in so-called emergencies. Such an emergency arises if a duty time on your position has not been booked. You will then be asked shortly beforehand and can thus have more than three duty times in one day. If you have been given the chance of further training and have made use of it, you will also be shown emergencies on the newly learned position. However, if you think too long, someone else will probably accept faster.

 

Also, you can book shore leave with the MoCoSch and spend a few hours in a tropical paradise or on the space station. In doing so, you will then probably miss one or even two of the duty times guaranteed to you. Try it out right now and book "shore leave to test". Tap the ARDR logo at the top and then select "shore leave." Then find the appropriate entry and book the one for 5:30pm. Don't worry, I'll cancel it after your training.

(The video pauses while guests book. If it doesn't work after a certain amount of time, security will be called to help.)

Great, in the same way you can order your food and drinks, just select the "Mess" entry after tapping the ARDR logo. Again, you can choose the time for it or get it immediately. You then just need to confirm it on your MoCoSch while you are at the mess. Unlike shore leave, you can also do this in advance for your whole stay, but you can decide it just as spontaneously.

If you get stuck, you can also select "Help" after tapping on the ARDR logo and then select the item you would like to have information about. This can also be done comfortably on the computer in your quarters, it works just like the MoCoSch. If that can't help either, please contact the deck officer, he will be the first to welcome you on board the spaceship.

 

Now for the second part:

We will provide you with a ship's bag, please pack everything you need for your stay on board in there and leave everything else - especially your suitcase or bag, lighters and valuables, such as your car keys - in the dresser reserved for you. It will remain locked during your entire stay. If you are not yet wearing your ship's clothing, please change now!

(The video pauses briefly, the monitor says "Please put on your ship's clothes and pack your ship's bag now" and continues after a brief pause).

When repacking, make sure that you have put everything important for your stay on board in the ship's bag and everything else in the commode and that no personal belongings have been left elsewhere - except, of course, the MoCoSch and your packed ship's bag. Also, don't forget to take the site plan with you! Close your commode as soon as you are done, just flip down the lid to do so. When both commodes are closed, the exit will open automatically for you."

(The timer again shows the remaining time of the announced 30 minutes, the monitor says "Put everything you don't need on board in your commode and close it." Upon reaching 0 or opening the exit:)

"You have done the hardest part, from now on you are part of the crew, we wish you a good time!"

 

You both follow the corridor behind the exit a bit excitedly and then reach a waiting area similar to the entrance. After only 5 minutes you are already asked to board a shuttle that will take you and some other guests to the space station. During the short flight the pilot encourages you to ask questions and to talk. Maybe he has a little tip for your stay on the station, for example how to get prisms, the currency on the station. 

 

On the space station you can expect some stores in the lower outer area, a two-story bar in the center and offices and training rooms in the upper outer area.  After a few minutes of strolling, a message flashes on your MoCoSch, asking you to please report to room 42 in five minutes, where your instructor is waiting for you. Fortunately, you received a map at the check-in desk, so you can quickly find the room.

The instructor will lead you each to your individual training room where you will learn how your console works on the ship. After about 15 minutes, you have completed the training - congratulations! Now you can enjoy your free time on the station until your shuttle takes off for your training ship. But who knows what adventure awaits you before that?

So while you continue to look around the space station and have already bought a souvenir or two, your MoCoSch flashes again.

 

"Chief Engineer, are you interested in continuing your education to become a communications officer? You have 10 seconds to accept."

 

You now have two buttons to choose from, yes or no? (All guests who are on the space station are asked one after the other until either one accepts or all cancel). You find this interesting and choose yes.

 

"Then please report immediately to Room 15 for further training."

 

During this time, your companion can then continue to stroll, have a drink, be offered further training themselves, ...

(The training is the same as for the guests who have the position from the beginning and it allows you - as already described - to "hop" to free positions in the simulation. If you're lucky and up for it, you could learn all of the 7 different positions and be the universal second-stringer, so to speak.)

Sometime around 15:00 the MoCoSch will flash with the following message:

 

"Chief Engineer, you have been assigned a seat on the shuttle to the C.U.U. Elanwi. Report to docking bay A immediately."

 

Your companion has also been asked to go there. So you immediately RUN to the docking bay and report to the pilot of the shuttle, completely out of breath. He smiles and says, "It's nice to see cadets hurry up like this, but I would have waited a few minutes for you, too." and winks at both of you. "Take your seats, as soon as the other eight passengers are here, we're off!"

 

Let's assume that the other passengers all arrive in good order and the pilot doesn't have to report a loss. He closes the shuttle - you already know this - and takes his seat.

You can see from the windows how the shuttle undocks and approaches a spaceship. Maybe the pilot flies another round so you can enjoy the view, maybe not.

 

You exit the shuttle after docking and a friendly gentleman introduces himself as today's deck officer. He welcomes you on board and points out that he will be here in the shuttle hangar until 17:30. After that he will be on the bridge to help the new cadets with their first mission. The first thing you do is go to your quarters to put your bag down. There is a double bed, a sitting area, several shelves, a desk with computer and a bathroom with shower and toilet.

You stroll through the ship, take a look at the two gardens and try to order a drink and snacks with the MoCoSch in the mess - it's included in the price. In theory, you learned how to do this during the tutorial before flying to the space station, but now you can finally try it out!

Your MoCoSch flashes soon after, reminding you that your duty time begins at 19:00. So you go back to your quarters and use the "wet cell".

2 minutes early you stand in front of the bridge door - luckily it says so in big letters - and it actually opens for you!  

 

You high-five with the previous shift and will now hold the fate of the crew in your hands for about 60 minutes.