1960s: Engagements and Explosions
With an engagement in the family, Hazel takes it on herself to invite the entire family over for lunch, giving everyone a chance to meet Claudia and the two little girls who will soon be joining the family. It's a sunny winters day and in the desert, even winter time is a good time to soak up some sun on the veranda before heading inside.
Hazel has prepared sandwiches and everyone gathers in the kitchen to eat and talk and toast the newly engaged couple. For Hazel it is an uncharacteristically informal event but everyone has fun and the girls get introduced to all the new people they are expected to view as family soon. It's a little overwhelming for a little toddler, but everyone is nice.
While the meet and greet with his family went exceptionally well, Arthur's work life is heading into deeper waters. The X15 has flown, successfully, on a few occasions, but they have yet to test it with the new XLR99 rocket engine. On the first try, the trial was aborted, due to an unexpected drop of pressure, but the issue has been fixed - or so they hope - and now it's time to see if they're right.
A ground test has been scheduled, and Arthur and the others crowd into the control room to monitor the attempt. At first it goes well, the first burn is perfect, pressure seems to holds...but then everything goes wrong. There is a fuel system malfunction, and next they know the engine is in flames. They rush out to help to put out the fire. Luckily, no human is injured, but the engine is another story.
The crew gathers in the meeting room, going over what went wrong, which readings were correct, which readings indicated the failure. The next scheduled flight with the XLR99 is soon, and they need to fix the rocket before then. There is no way they can send someone up with an unstable engine. Arthur is soon back tinkering with the engine again, trying to fix the problem.
While Arthur is working, his sisters and sister-in-law, are taking Claudia to Del Sol Valley for some pre wedding shopping and make overs. The drive is long, but spirits are high as they shop for everything from flowers to dresses.
"Get some new clothes for other occasions, as well," Hazel urges. "Arthur will appreciate it and when was the last time you got to treat yourself?" she adds when Claudia hesitates. Of course when Claudia sees all the new fashion in the store, it's hard not to want it all.
Once they've gotten new outfits for the wedding, and some everyday outfits as well, it's time to hit the salon. Supposedly one of the best in the country, Claudia both get her nails and her hair done.
When they are finished, the women head to the Builtmore, which Claudia and Arthur has chosen as the location for their wedding. It's more beautiful than Claudia could have imagined, and she is wide eyed as the four women sit down for a cup of coffee in the bar section of the hotel.
The next day it's time for Arthur to meet Claudia's parents. She spends the day cooking and cleaning the house, knowing her mother will find any excuse to beat down on her housework, and get both the girls and herself ready. Now she is happy for the new clothes, as she can dress up for Arthur and her parents at the same time. Not that they'll approve of such modernity, but Claudia likes her new outfit and has decided that she'll wear it anyway. Dinner goes over surprisingly well. For some reason her parents seem to approve much more of Arthur than they ever did of Kirk.
But that night, after Claudia's parents have left and the girls are asleep and Arthur is lingering and pushing up the time when he needs to return to his own place, he is flabbergasted by what he sees on the news. Sure, they have all heard about the weather plane that was shot down over Russia, but here, on TV is pictures of the pilot, Francis Gary Powers.
For Arthur, this is a shock. Not that he hasn't heard the rumors of a high altitude plane being developed further inland, but it was never more than that, security around that project was enormous. But mostly he's shocked that such a plane could be shot down, and that the US is caught with such an obvious lie. Even though his work place has nothing to do with this incident, he can't help but to think it will have repercussions. Most likely he and Claudia will have to postpone any idea of a honeymoon. There is no way he can take a vacation now.
The crash is the only thing they talk about when they next day meet at Thomas' to celebrate Steven's aging up. Everyone seems to think Arthur should know more than them, and when he doesn't they are disappointed, as if he knows and are not telling them. It's as if they have a hard time believing that he just doesn't know all that much.
Either way, the birthday party is a success, and everyone is happy, if tired when it's over. For Arthur, however, he's making sure he takes an early night. Tomorrow is the big day when he'll become a husband and father.
Hazel has prepared sandwiches and everyone gathers in the kitchen to eat and talk and toast the newly engaged couple. For Hazel it is an uncharacteristically informal event but everyone has fun and the girls get introduced to all the new people they are expected to view as family soon. It's a little overwhelming for a little toddler, but everyone is nice.
While the meet and greet with his family went exceptionally well, Arthur's work life is heading into deeper waters. The X15 has flown, successfully, on a few occasions, but they have yet to test it with the new XLR99 rocket engine. On the first try, the trial was aborted, due to an unexpected drop of pressure, but the issue has been fixed - or so they hope - and now it's time to see if they're right.
A ground test has been scheduled, and Arthur and the others crowd into the control room to monitor the attempt. At first it goes well, the first burn is perfect, pressure seems to holds...but then everything goes wrong. There is a fuel system malfunction, and next they know the engine is in flames. They rush out to help to put out the fire. Luckily, no human is injured, but the engine is another story.
The crew gathers in the meeting room, going over what went wrong, which readings were correct, which readings indicated the failure. The next scheduled flight with the XLR99 is soon, and they need to fix the rocket before then. There is no way they can send someone up with an unstable engine. Arthur is soon back tinkering with the engine again, trying to fix the problem.
While Arthur is working, his sisters and sister-in-law, are taking Claudia to Del Sol Valley for some pre wedding shopping and make overs. The drive is long, but spirits are high as they shop for everything from flowers to dresses.
"Get some new clothes for other occasions, as well," Hazel urges. "Arthur will appreciate it and when was the last time you got to treat yourself?" she adds when Claudia hesitates. Of course when Claudia sees all the new fashion in the store, it's hard not to want it all.
Once they've gotten new outfits for the wedding, and some everyday outfits as well, it's time to hit the salon. Supposedly one of the best in the country, Claudia both get her nails and her hair done.
When they are finished, the women head to the Builtmore, which Claudia and Arthur has chosen as the location for their wedding. It's more beautiful than Claudia could have imagined, and she is wide eyed as the four women sit down for a cup of coffee in the bar section of the hotel.
The next day it's time for Arthur to meet Claudia's parents. She spends the day cooking and cleaning the house, knowing her mother will find any excuse to beat down on her housework, and get both the girls and herself ready. Now she is happy for the new clothes, as she can dress up for Arthur and her parents at the same time. Not that they'll approve of such modernity, but Claudia likes her new outfit and has decided that she'll wear it anyway. Dinner goes over surprisingly well. For some reason her parents seem to approve much more of Arthur than they ever did of Kirk.
But that night, after Claudia's parents have left and the girls are asleep and Arthur is lingering and pushing up the time when he needs to return to his own place, he is flabbergasted by what he sees on the news. Sure, they have all heard about the weather plane that was shot down over Russia, but here, on TV is pictures of the pilot, Francis Gary Powers.
For Arthur, this is a shock. Not that he hasn't heard the rumors of a high altitude plane being developed further inland, but it was never more than that, security around that project was enormous. But mostly he's shocked that such a plane could be shot down, and that the US is caught with such an obvious lie. Even though his work place has nothing to do with this incident, he can't help but to think it will have repercussions. Most likely he and Claudia will have to postpone any idea of a honeymoon. There is no way he can take a vacation now.
The crash is the only thing they talk about when they next day meet at Thomas' to celebrate Steven's aging up. Everyone seems to think Arthur should know more than them, and when he doesn't they are disappointed, as if he knows and are not telling them. It's as if they have a hard time believing that he just doesn't know all that much.
Either way, the birthday party is a success, and everyone is happy, if tired when it's over. For Arthur, however, he's making sure he takes an early night. Tomorrow is the big day when he'll become a husband and father.
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