Season 5 - Behind the Scenes - The Trip

LIU Atlas - Behind the Scenes - The Trip

Another behind the scenes look at LIU Atlas.


                                                             Behind the Scenes - The Trip

The Ludgonian Industrial Union is proud to present another behind the scenes look at LIU Atlas.

Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.

Onboard Doog's ship, the Magellan:

Oldie: “Sorry guys, I just got off the com with the producers. They want us to get right back to work.”
Mike: “This is a bunch of bull!”
Doog: “Yeah! We usually get two weeks off between seasons, Oldie! Two glorious weeks! Two weeks away from you weirdos! Two weeks off this smelly, cramped ship! And you’re telling me the LIU is cancelling that? And putting us right back to work?”
Oldie: “Well, technically, we won’t be working. And we won‘t be paid…”
Doog: “What! That’s even worse!”
Oldie: “Look, our next destination is an exclave planet called Arcem. It’s going to take us a while to get there.”
Doog: “What’s an exclave planet?”
Oldie: “It’s a LIU controlled planet outside the LIU galaxy. It’s far, far away…like 16.5 mega-parsecs or 53.8 million light years away.”
Mike: “Is this some sort of joke? There’s no way the Magellan can make it there, and it would take us twenty years if it could.”

Oldie: “That’s why Hugo has taken us back to Mercor. The producers have purchased us tickets aboard an intergalactic transport called the Gryllus. It will have us there in two weeks.”

Doog: “So, wait…we’re getting an all expenses paid trip aboard a fancy starship for the next two weeks? With free food and beds and other things we usually do without?”
Oldie: “Well…uh…yeah. Yeah, that’s right.”
Doog: “Well why didn’t you say that earlier old man! This is great news! It’s better than living in some slum for two weeks!”
Crew: “Yeah!!!”




Onboard the Mercor Docking Ring:

Mike: “Ah, here it is, Grasshopper Airlines, Mercor Terminal.”
Doog: “The flight to Arcem is already boarding. We’re late.”
Cam: “We wouldn’t be so late if you would have helped carry some gear! I‘m lugging around all of our camera equipment.”

Mike: “Yeah, I’ve got fifty pounds of audio gear on my back. It would be nice if I could have used the dolly instead of you. Why do you have four suitcases?”
Doog: “Hey, everybody is carrying the gear associated with their job. My job is to look good on camera, so I’m carrying my full wardrobe. Besides, I have six suitcases, not four. Timbo has the two that wouldn’t fit on the dolly.”
Timbo: “…”

Doog: “You know it’s bad when Oldie beats us to the ticket desk. I don’t hear anyone complaining that Oldie isn’t carrying anything!”
Mike: “Oldie’s like a hundred and twelve years old. We don’t need him to stroke out on us. He’s made all the ticket arrangements. We’d be stuck on the docking ring for two weeks without him.”
Doog: “That’s what I’m worried about. Do you think it was wise to trust Oldie with all the arrangements?”

Female: “Alright. It looks like everything is in order. You boys can leave your gear here. I’ll see that it makes it to your living quarters. The Gryllus departs in about two minutes. You better hurry!”

Doog: “RUN!”

Female#2: Hurry up! We’re about to seal the airlock!”

Volare: “Welcome! I’m Volare, Captain of the Gryllus.”
Doog: “Shouldn’t you been in the cockpit? I think we’re ready to take off.”
Volare: “Nah, this thing pretty much flies itself. There’s nothing but a vast empty space between Mercor and Arcem. Besides, I figured I’d give you guys a personal tour of the ship.”
Doog: “Because we’re famous?”
Volare: “Uh, not so much. Mostly because my bosses want some good press for Grasshopper Airlines. It’s why we gave you guys such a good deal on the tickets.”
Doog: “Same difference. So what’s first? I want to get this over with so I can get to relaxing.”

Volare: “Well, this is the lobby. The living quarters are upstairs, and the cargo holds are downstairs. I figured we’d head upstairs first.”
Doog: “I thought this ship had all the amenities? And you’re telling me I have to use  stairs? I’m disappointed Volare. Not a good start.”
Volare: “But they’re spiral stairs…sort of fancy…right?”

Volare: “Intergalactic travel is long and boring. We couldn’t have guests sitting in rows of chairs watching in-flight movies for weeks and weeks. Instead, the Gryllus was designed to be more like a flying hotel. It has rooms and accommodations for nearly one hundred thousand people. The rooms are small, but comfy. Let’s take a look inside one.”

Female#3: Ahhh! What are you sickos doing! Get out!
Volare: “Sorry ma’am. I wasn’t aware this room was occupied.”

Doog: “You didn’t know the room was occupied? They’re all occupied right? Did you do that on purpose?”
Volare: “Haha. Let’s just say that being the Captain has its perks. Anyway, this is one of our living quarters. Nice, huh?”
Doog: “Not bad, although, that last room had a better view.”
Volare: “Indeed. These single rooms have a bed, a dresser, and a fully stocked mini-bar. Some of the outer rooms, like this one, have a window. Not much to see for most of the trip though.”
Doog: “No bathroom?”
Volare: “Nope. The Gryllus has communal bathrooms and dining areas spread amongst the rooms. I figured we‘d skip the communal bathrooms, they’re pretty gross, and take a look at one of the communal dining areas.”
Doog: “Sounds good.”

Volare: “The communal dining rooms serve two meals a day: lunch and dinner.”
Doog: “TWO meals a day…”
Volare: “Yes, the meals are served buffet style, but there is a limit of one trip per customer. Additional items, meals, breakfast, et cetera, can be purchased from one of the ship’s retail outlets.”

Doog: “And...and…and we have access to this buffet?”
Volare: “Yes, all passengers do. It’s included in your ticket price.”
Doog: “Let’s dig in boys!”

Volare: “HEY, you heathens! We have plates and forks! Don’t put half eaten food back! Doog! Quit rubbing your face in the chicken!”

Doog: “Nom, nom, nom!”
Volare: “Limit one per customer! The sign is right there! Don’t think this won’t be charged to your account! Security!”

Volare: “That was one of the most pathetic scenes I’ve ever witnessed. You guys act like you haven’t eaten in weeks.”
Doog: “That’s pretty close to the truth Volare. There’s not a lot of money for food in this line of work. So, where are we now?”
Volare: “This is the Gryllus’ bridge. Not a lot of guests get to come up here, but I figured I’d give you guys a peek.”

Volare: “Mapping and plotting are important aspects of intergalactic flight. A fraction of a degree off could really add up 20 mega-parsecs down the road. An officer constantly takes readings and makes course corrections. We wouldn’t want to accidentally end up in hostile territory. The mapping screen also shows other ships in the area. This route is highly trafficked, mostly by LIU cargo vessels shipping products to other galaxies. Anything that gets within a parsec most be considered a threat.”

Doog: “Is that a ship’s wheel? Not very high-tech.”
Volare: “Yes. Most of the flight controls are handled by computers. I only use the wheel in port for minor corrections. I guess it’s a throwback to old school navigation.”

First-Mate: “Captain Volare, sir, we’ll be leaving the LIU Galaxy in thirty minutes.”
Volare: “Excellent. I should be back by then, but if not, go ahead and engage the intergalactic engines.”
First-Mate: “Aye, aye sir.”

Doog: “Do you think I could steer for a minute?”
Volare: “Does a priest make a good babysitter?”
Doog: “Aw, come on. Just a little turn. I want to add starship pilot to my résumé.”
Volare: “Sigh. Just one tiny, tiny, tiny turn.”
Doog: “You won’t regret it…”

Volare: “DOOG! One tiny turn! You spun it around like eight times!”
Doog: “Whoops!”

Volare: “Well, I was going to take you guys through engineering, but after the buffet and steering incidents, I think we’ll just skip that. The last thing we need to do is disable the ship.”
Doog: “Understandable. So, what’s next?”
Volare: “The lower half of the ship holds cargo. We are transporting supplies to Arcem in addition to passengers. I figured we’d head down and take a look.”

Volare: “The LIU has modified the front section of the Gryllus’ cargo bay into a hangar. The Gryllus holds twenty small fighters that provide the ship safety outside the LIU Galaxy. You never know what you’ll run into out in the galactic voids: space pirates, the LIU’s enemies, etc.” 

Volare: “These small fighters run escort patrols to help detect other ships. They’re pretty small, but can easily swarm enemy ships and buy the Gryllus time to escape.”
Doog: “Do you…”
Volare: “No. You can’t fly one. I don’t care about your résumé.”
Doog: “Fine.”

Volare: “Arcem, being an exclave planet, is totally dependent on cargo shipments to survive. While moving personnel to the planet is important, our real priority is getting supplies there.”
Doog: “Not a lot to see. Just some cargo boxes. What’s next?”
Volare: “Actually, that about wraps it up.”
Doog: “So, shall we head back up to our rooms?”
Volare: “Actually, you guys are in your room. Oldie didn’t tell you? You guys are booked cargo class.”
Doog: “Cargo class! You mean we have to sleep on the floor near these boxes?”

Volare: “Actually, you’d be in the way over there. I was thinking about putting you guys here next to the pig pen.”
Doog: “Pig pen!”
Volare: “Yes, we’re transporting live pigs to Arcem.”
Doog: “Oldie! Did you know about this?!”
Oldie: “Well, I didn’t have the heart to tell you. You guys seemed so excited.”
Doog: “Well, at least we have the buffet.”
Volare: “Unfortunately, after the incident today, I think I’ll just have a worker bring you down a plate each day. Besides, you’re going to start to smell pretty rough after a few days with the pigs.”
Crew: “OLDIE!”

Doog: “Well folks, it looks like my crew and I are spending our vacation in a cargo bay surrounded by pigs. Could it get any better? See ya.”


Note: 
Doog: “No Buffet, but we have fresh bacon!”
Cam: “You’re sick…”
Mike: “I’m in!”


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