| Greetings, and welcome everyone! Today we have with us Captain PJ MacLupus of the Apollo 9. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview, PJ. | |
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No problem! |
| Let's start out with a general question. What is it you do on the Apollo 9? | |
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Well, I'm the captain, so I'm in charge of everything that goes on on board the ship. I plot the general course, manage the time scheduals, take stock of supplies, negotiate with the brass back home and alien diplomats, solve problems on a daily basis, and oversee the quality of everyone's job. Most of all, I try to keep my crew healthy and happy. |
| Thank you. Now, let's take some reader questions. This first one is from Seth C. Triggs, and he asks: "How do you keep from going crazy with such long periods of time in space? Nothing around butstars and stuff like that... | |
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We try not to look out the windows! *laughs* Seriously though, boredom is more a luxury than anything. We're so busy when we're on duty, we don't have time to get stir crazy. After hours, we all have our hobbies, and we have a rec room and gym on board for anyone to use. And when we land on planets, we go out and do the usual touristy stuff when we get the chance. It's a little hard being away from home sometimes, but often a crew becomes like a surrogate family, so it all works out. |
| Amy Johnson asks: What's your favorite flavor of ice-cream? | |
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I'd have to say Faraxian Sinberry. It has some really *interesting* side effects when you eat it. Heh heh heh! |
| Amy asks: If you could be any kind of celestial body in the universe, what would it be and why? | |
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I'd have to be the sun, because people say I'm HOT! Ok, so maybe my jokes aren't, but I still think I would be a sun. |
| PJs_Grrl asks: Did you have plushies when you were a cub and if so, how many and which was your favorite? | |
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Yeah, I did, I'm not ashamed to admit it! I didn't like sleeping alone in the bed as a pup, so I had several stuffed animals and lots of pillows. My favorite was a toy dog named Noodle. My mom still has him packed away, I think. I still don't like sleeping alone in bed, but the soft and cuddly things I sleep with are a lot bigger now, "PJ's_Grrl." *winks* |
| Robert asks: Why does Colonel Crawford seem to have it in for you?What exactly did you do to get on her bad side, exactly? | |
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That's kind of a long story, but basically, we used to date. It was terrific at first, but after a while we started getting on each other's nerves. I'm a pretty laid back guy, and she's got serious control issues, you know? We had some miscommunications and I thought that was the end of it and it was water under the bridge. I guess I was wrong, but didn't think it was so bad she would mess with my career over it. |
| A_billing asks: Captain, which member of your crew would you be most likely to take out on a date? I'd say your navigator would be someone who'd be delighted to have you for company for an evening. | |
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Cirini? I dunno, she's never shown an interest in me. I'm sure she's got a lot more guys than she knows what to do with. But I wouldn't ask any of my crew out on a date. I could get into serious trouble for that, and who needs to date their boss, right? |
| Purrzah asks: Do you like captaining a big ship, or would you rather be out in a single-man craft or a sleek explorer? | |
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It's always been my dream to captain a large ship, but I started out doing patrol missions in a single-craft when I was a starman. Those were the days! Since then I've been on lots of different kinds of ships. I was hoping for an explorer, but captaining a mid-sized transport like the Apollo 9 isn't bad. |
| Meow Tuna asks: Well, couple of questions mate. One, name your favourite brew, and two, what's your taste in music? | |
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I like lot of different brew, but I'm always up for a good European lager. Aktien Gold is one of my favs. On other planets, they don't exactly have "beer" as we know it, but they have some brew-like concoctions that will give you twice the buzz twice as long in just a shotglass! And as for music, gimme some good ol' fashioned rock n' roll! Something to speed through space on a fast ship with an equally fast woman. Mostly stuff from about 100 years ago, from the 1980's on back. |
| Not A Senior NASA Official Really. Honest. asks: Captain, did you get cleared by the NASA Public Affairs Office before agreeing to this interview? | |
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Of course I did. Honest. |
| What made you choose to enter NASA? | |
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Ever since I was a pup, I always had an interest in ships. I briefly considered doing commercial galactic freight, but I didn't have the money for college. I started getting interested in the space corps when I was 18 and fell in love with it. Never regretted it since. |
| C_Henry asks: What would you say is the most clever prank you have had played on you by your crew? | |
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Setting me up with the Easter Bunny. Tequila and jellybeans don't mix. |
| Andy Balew asks: What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment at NASA before taking command of the Apollo 9? | |
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I think it would be being put in a position of command helping rebuild a colony on Gaxa that was hit pretty hard in the last intergalactic war about six years ago. People running on the barest of conditions with equipment too broken, old, or worn out to be much use, and rationing out all their water and food. I was able to get them the supplies they needed much faster than it would have. That felt good. |
| Cassandra asks: Do you have any brothers or sisters? Where did you grow up? | |
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I was born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia. I have one little sister named Kathryn who is about five years younger than I am. She's married and has a couple of boys. |
| James Goode: Good morning. I am James Goode of the legal firm of Weill, Getcha, and Goode, representing Miss Soyled Dove of Lonely Port, Ganymede. Captain, I have been instructed by my client that she will agree to drop her ongoing Breach Of Promise suit against you if you will agree to return the video disc in question and further agree to never, ever, darken her doorway again, unless you happen to be in the neighborhood. Respectfully Yours, James Goode Weill, Getcha, and Goode, LLC | |
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[WARNING: Interuption of interview feed] Good afternoon, I'm Will Skrewem, of Dewey, Skrewem, and Howe. I was hired by both NASA and the editorial staff of this comic to represent one Captain Peter James MacLupus. My client has been instructed not to discuss ongoing cases in the spanse of this interview, and it is requested all questions regarding said cases be handled privately. However, my client would like to extend that if Miss Dove wishes to have aforementioned video disc returned, my client is happy to do so in event that Miss Dove return his Classic Santana discs, and an RSVP to an invitation to dinner. Sincerely, Will Skrewem, of Dewey, Skrewem, and Howe, LLC. [Interview Feed: Resumed] |
| Lady of the Masque asks: Is that your natural hair color? | |
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Yes, yes it is. You can come to my quarters and check my bathroom cabinates for hair dye if you don't believe me. |
| Seth C. Triggs asks: What's the lamest mission you've ever done? | |
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You mean aside from taking intergalactic surveys? Probably doing scouting missions over a couple of desert planets when I was a starman. Booooooooooring! We got pretty creative on those missions. 1001 uses for sand you never want to know about. |
| Seth C. Triggs asks: Is the job as dangerous as it looks, being hurtled through space at incredible speed? | |
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Not so much. Space travel is quite a bit more advanced...ok, not SO advanced in our case, but it's pretty safe. Besides, the danger is part of the fun. |
| Chakat Silkpaws asks: Hello Captain Maclupus. I'm a friend of shir Sunstreak and i noticed that you were holding an interview. i am curious of a few things. first how do you feel about being on board a starship such as yours? next how do you feel on the idea of working with chakats on board? and lastly, anything new you have planned to visit while your flying around the cosmos? | |
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Whoa, lot to answer there! Nice to meet you, Chakat Silkpaws, always good to meet friends of friends. For your first question, well, I can't say that Apollo was quite what I expected to be put in command of after all these years, but he kind of grows on you after a while, so it's not so bad. Zooey does a great job keeping him in shape, so my main concern about...uh...antiquated equipment isn't so much of a worry as it once was. On your next question concerning the chakats, I'm honored to be able to work with two very fine, fun, and intelligent people. 'Taur forms on Earth are a minority, but not that uncommon, so all buildings, ships, and public use areas are built to accomodate them. Same with hermaphrodites. You don't often get them, but they happen frequently enough it's not a big deal. All I can really say about working with them as a species is that they are really handy to have around when you need an extra set of paws, and never get into an argument on gender views with them...you WILL NOT WIN. And for your final question, I'm always up for something new, and I never know what's going to happen with this crew. But I'm hoping to hit the planet Frith again on the way...the ladies love me. Heh heh heh! |
| Ted asks: Replicated or "real" food? | |
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All our food is real food. We have a stasis locker we keep all our food in, so it's never frozen and never goes bad. We do have a small replicator on board that could be used in an emergancy. Hopefully. It's got a few bugs in it that Zooey is trying to fix. All it can replicate is oatmeal. At least, we THINK that's oatmeal... |
| Swansong asks: What do you guys do about food allergies? | |
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Food allergies are not common very much these days, due to genetic advancements available to eliminate problems like that before you're even born. But if somebody does have them, pills are available that can be taken at mealtimes to prevent problems, or there are items available in the cafeteria without the trigger ingredient. |
| Firesquirrel asks: Do the hamsters eat their bedding? | |
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Not that I know of...not that I'd ever WANT to know. |
| Rockinhare asks: Ahoy, Captain MacLupus! Are ye scurvy bilge rats (bilge hamsters? bilge rodents?) be a-celebratin' September 19, "Talk Like A Pirate" Day aboard the dread ship Apollo 9? | |
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Arr, that they be, ye planet lubbin' gravity bouncer! And thank ye's for remindin' me to make shore they don't go a makin' Commander Updike walk the plank. Arr. |
| Zwokkie of House Bluepaw, Child of Softpaw and Jester asks: Hello captain PJ, I am wondering. Have you had any experiences with us Kin, and how were they? | |
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Judging by your name, I'm assuming you mean the Chakat Kin. I've never actually worked with one, but they look like interesting folk. I wouldn't mind sitting down and having a drink with one. |
| Artemis 6. Greetings I am the Artemis 6. An outdated ship as simillarly recomissioned as apollo 9 is. Statement: Being a newly installed A.I. I have quickly gained a litle aprihension about the crew, and sympathy for the captain trying to make this crew work. She has not had much sucess. The engineers hypochondria for one. Query: If you have any tips that may help I her she would apreciate it. | |
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Hello Artemis, nice to meet you. It really boils down to knowing people. People need a personal reason to do whatever it is they are doing, so you need to help them find that reason that gets them up and going to work everyday. I mean, seriously, if you are going to be spending most of your time working, you had better like your job, right? Don't sweat the small stuff, exert your power only when you really need it, and remember to keep a cold one in the fridge for when you get off work! |
| McClaw asks: Do you consider your ship's armaments and security adequate for your current assignment? | |
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For collecting a bunch of multiple choice questions around the universe, what kind of armaments would you need? A crate of pre-sharpened pencils? For the assignment yes, it's our OFF-TIME I'm worried about! |
| Chip Mitchell: Do you use all computers for the work or pen and paper? | |
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We use computers for most everything, but some things we still have to print out and keep in paper filing systems. The government is pretty much the only one that still uses paper these days. |
| Barney Lawrinson: What's the deal with Updike, anyway? | |
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What can I say? Updike is Updike. Some guys are just really into the whole military thing. |
| Falbert asks: Captain, what is your educational background? i.e., which school(s) did you attend? | |
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I pretty much went into the service right out of high school. I didn't have the cash to go to college, so I went to the Imbrium Space Academy in the Alpha dome on Earth's moon (that's on the northern half). It's a small academy, but it's got several good programs. I got my BS in Astronautical Engineering, which also includes my requirements for test pilot, flight test navigator, and flight test engineer, plus officers training in four years. Ok, so it took me a year longer than everyone else, but I still got it and graduated with high marks! |
| Allright, I think that concludes our interview with Captain PJ MacLupus. Thanks for joining us, PJ! | |
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You're welcome! I enjoyed myself. Tail high, everyone! *salutes* |