Thread: writing a book, and need some help with translations

Yes, Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston was also called Mission Control, later named Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center ("JSC").
Probably if we threw in American in front of that it would work.

Thanx

I searched in google and found about 400 results for "Центр пилотируемых полетов" and 1 for
"Центр Пилотируемых Космических Аппаратов" (this forum). So the first version is accepted in my translation.

We are talking about science fiction novel here, about imaginary objects and events so it’s not a big deal if the MSC or ЦПКА for that matter does not really exist; Star Fleet, Federation of Planets and the like don’t exist either but nobody’s too sorry about it. As for four words instead of three English Spacecraft is two words if you look at it closer Spase+Craft = Космический Аппарат.
The bottom line is - much ado about nothing, whatever of the three is your option it’ll be OK.

It's details that make a book, any book, interesting to read.

Yes and I am afraid that I have wasted everyone's time. Another friend of mine just pointed out that the whole idea is wasted anyway, as the Soviet commander would jam the frequency with noise anyway so his men couldn't hear it.

I will have to discard this whole idea because it it not technically possible for the Americans to communicate with the Soviet pilots for more than perhaps thirty seconds before the transmission is lost to noise.

Well, nothing is really wasted. Had some good exchange of ideas, made some friends and feel like I understand Russians a little better than two weeks ago.

I will work a little longer on your translation, Ramil, before I start rewriting my chapter and get my head so far in my book writing that I think of nothing else.

Thanx

The translations I asked for earlier were based on my poor understanding of Soviet military.

Please translate this...

Back up and leave the exact way that we came in. Once we are five kilometers due east, we will halt and I will lead you to the front line

Thank You

From what I figure out here goes:
“Повернём и выйдем назад той же дорогой, по которой попали сюда. В пяти километрах к востоку сделаем остановку, и оттуда я вас выведу к линии фронта”.
More picturesque version of the second sentence - В пяти километрах к востоку отсюда передохнем, а там уже до линии фронта рукой подать.

I think I need to explain what is going on just before the statement.

Here goes...
The Soviet military escort providing protection for fifteen artillery guns, (ten hover tanks in all) has just run into a minefield and has lost two tanks and one artillery piece in explosions. The ranking officer is telling his men to back out carefully, and regroup five kilometers behind them so they can go another way.

it is similar to walking up to a viper who is showing his fangs, you stop, back up slowly and go around this area

A Russian fellow I know caused m abandon my previous story plot saying that only Americans would believe it. So... my change of direction is for more realism.

Thanx

That’s what I thought was the case except for the hover tanks of course. You may take this one if you like.
Отойдём назад след в след по дороге, выведшей нас сюда. В пяти километрах к востоку сделаем остановку, и оттуда я вас выведу к линии фронта.

I am curious. Exact what does Отойдёмly translate as?

Thanx

let's back up

Originally Posted by kahless

I think I need to explain what is going on just before the statement.
Here goes...
The Soviet military escort providing protection for fifteen artillery guns, (ten hover tanks in all) has just run into a minefield and has lost two tanks and one artillery piece in explosions. The ranking officer is telling his men to back out carefully, and regroup five kilometers behind them so they can go another way.

Err... But where is it going on? If it's Moon or Mars and "hover" means "air-cushioned", IMHO using hovercraft without atmosphere (Moon) or almost without atmosphere (Mars) is a very, very bad idea from the technical point of view. Not to say it is completely impossible, but insanely ineffective.

Originally Posted by it-ogo

Err... But where is it going on? If it's Moon or Mars and "hover" means "air-cushioned", IMHO using hovercraft without atmosphere (Moon) or almost without atmosphere (Mars) is a very, very bad idea from the technical point of view. Not to say it is completely impossible, but insanely ineffective.

Haven’t you played computer games? Those tanks are plenty there and the technology used is science fictiony, so they don’t necessarily need air to operate.

Originally Posted by alexB

Haven’t you played computer games? Those tanks are plenty there and the technology used is science fictiony, so they don’t necessarily need air to operate.

In computer games they usully mean antigravitation technologies for hovercrafts. It's a Sci-fi cliche for the very far future (or extraterrestrial technology like in "X-COM"). Khaless describes 1970-s. Hovercrafts from 70-s up to now are air-cushioned crafts. It is hardly possible without atmosphere. While antigravitation in 70-s is rather fantasy than Sci-fi IMHO.

The technology used is from an alien spacecraft recovered from a crash site in the 1950's, so we can assume we can do some things beyond what is available. I also spin into the book how alien technology, computers, fiber optics, chip and software technology, and more has been reverse-engineered and slowly released into world markets as 'new inventions' to finance the war effort.

And 'hover' doesn't mean air cushioned, although all Earth hover vehicles are. Hover simply means it is above and not in contact with the ground, hovering. And yes, it is based on a computer game.

Originally Posted by kahless

The technology used is from an alien spacecraft...

Than it's OK. Still criticizeable but not more than most traditional "star wars" Sci-Fi.

Hi again. I need some help translating a couple of phrases. The chapter I was working on is complete.

need translated into Russian.

This is COL Glaskov. To all boards, break off the attack and regroup where we started.

Thank you in advance, Kahless

Originally Posted by kahless

Hi again. I need some help translating a couple of phrases. The chapter I was working on is complete.

need translated into Russian.

This is COL Glaskov. To all boards, break off the attack and regroup where we started.

Thank you in advance, Kahless

Говорит полковник Глазков. Всем бортам прекратить атаку и вернуться на стартовые позиции.

Thank You.
Kahless