Shout-outs that don't spoil The Reveal
- As noted on the main page, the TNF universe apparently has a game called Buzz Kerman's Race Into Space. Which is their equivalent of Kerbal Space Program, and Jeb is apparently a fan. That's... quite meta, really.
- One of the blog entries discusses an SF novel Jeb read once about a method of detecting intelligent life. It's actually a reference to Nemesis by Isaac Asimov, in which the interplanetary EEG thing was crucial to the plot.
- The dwarf planet shaped like a female kerbal's... something reproductivenote is lifted more or less directly from Red Dwarf.
- Original Characters Scott Kerbley and Kurt McKerjel are named for popular KSP Let's Play makers Scott Manley and Kurt J Mac.
- The computer-generated voice calling the Kerbals to the cockpit when dropping out of warp is a reference to the computer from Dark Star. This was supposed to be more than a one-scene gag but the story's direction precluded that.
- The way the Kerbals developed their Faster Than Light Drive (launching a probe into a mysterious gravitational anomaly, accidentally accelerating it past lightspeed and developing things from there) is taken directly from one of Danny2462's KSP videos.
Shout-outs that do spoil The Reveal, so scroll down at your own risk.
- Captain Derek Tarrant, right down to a physical description that fits Steven Pacey. They don't act much alike though.
- The asteroid the Starfarer 1 orbits is called K-78356-Jessenstein, in reference to a Terraria Let's Play... possibly. (It was suggested by a reader on the Spacebattles forums, and the author never got around to asking for details.)
- The IAV Fredricksson's Chief of The Boat is Master CPO Hemry, named after the SF writer John G. Hemry... better known as Jack Campbell, author of The Lost Fleet series.
- Jeb's "I Come in Peace" speech makes references to the fact that Bob apparently "came here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and he ran out of gum back in the Oort Cloud."
- While talking with Jeb in the wardroom, Admiral Liu lifts a glass and says, "Here's to swimmin' with bow-legged women."
