LIU Atlas - Attonitus
There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Attonitus
The Ludgonian Industrial Union's galaxy contains billions of stars and billions of planets. Unfortunately, most residents of the LIU could only name a handful of these worlds. In order to improve astronomy grades across the LIU, TV2 has started a new program called LIU Atlas. Follow our host, Terrance McDoogal, as he takes you on a tour across the LIU and some of its more obscure worlds.
Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.
LIU Atlas - Attonitus
The Ludgonian Industrial Union's galaxy contains billions of stars and billions of planets. Unfortunately, most residents of the LIU could only name a handful of these worlds. In order to improve astronomy grades across the LIU, TV2 has started a new program called LIU Atlas. Follow our host, Terrance McDoogal, as he takes you on a tour across the LIU and some of its more obscure worlds.
Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.
Doog: “Welcome to another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today we’re continuing our tour of the Ferox Cluster and visiting the planet Attonitus. Attonitus is probably the most known world in the cluster, at least, indirectly. People might not know about the actual planet itself, but many people know its most famous export, Space Spice. Attonitus is home to the strain of spice known as Awe. I was really psyched to visit here, but then I found out that Attonitus’ native race were arachnids. I‘m terrified of spiders, but very fond of drugs. Uh, completely legal drugs…yeah. Anyway, this should be interesting.”
Doog: “Trebax, our guide for this cluster, has insisted upon meeting me aboard my ship before we start the tour. Trebax, good to see you again.”
Trebax: “Yeah. Looks like you got my message. I see you’re wearing your space suit.”
Doog: “Yeah, I am. What’s up with that? I mean, all our sensors show that Attonitus’ atmosphere is breathable.”
Trebax: “It’s breathable. You’re just not allowed to breathe it.”
Doog: “What did I do that they won‘t even let me breathe their air?”
Trebax: “Not just you. No one, but the natives, are allowed to breathe the air. Awe is a spore based plant. These spores are blowing through the air. If you breathe the air, you’re breathing in their product. Essentially you’re stealing from them.”
Doog: “What about you?”
Trebax: “My hood has a built-in face mask.”
Trebax: “Yeah. Looks like you got my message. I see you’re wearing your space suit.”
Doog: “Yeah, I am. What’s up with that? I mean, all our sensors show that Attonitus’ atmosphere is breathable.”
Trebax: “It’s breathable. You’re just not allowed to breathe it.”
Doog: “What did I do that they won‘t even let me breathe their air?”
Trebax: “Not just you. No one, but the natives, are allowed to breathe the air. Awe is a spore based plant. These spores are blowing through the air. If you breathe the air, you’re breathing in their product. Essentially you’re stealing from them.”
Doog: “What about you?”
Trebax: “My hood has a built-in face mask.”
Doog: “That’s a terrifying, but awesome facemask.”
Trebax: “Thanks. Intimidation goes a long way in this cluster.”
Doog: “I bet. Probably helps having me walk next to you.”
Trebax: “Oh yeah. You’re super scary.”
Doog: “Uh, let’s change the subject. So, if I were to take my helmet off, I’d be getting high right now?”
Trebax: “A little. There’s enough spice swirling through the air to give someone like you a little buzz. It’s a phenomenon known as, ‘shooting the breeze’. It really threw the first visitors for a loop.”
Doog: “Think I could pop this visor up for a bit? Just enough to feel the breeze on my face?”
Trebax: “The penalty is death, so I wouldn’t recommend it. Besides, here comes one of the Attonitusians.”
Trebax: “Thanks. Intimidation goes a long way in this cluster.”
Doog: “I bet. Probably helps having me walk next to you.”
Trebax: “Oh yeah. You’re super scary.”
Doog: “Uh, let’s change the subject. So, if I were to take my helmet off, I’d be getting high right now?”
Trebax: “A little. There’s enough spice swirling through the air to give someone like you a little buzz. It’s a phenomenon known as, ‘shooting the breeze’. It really threw the first visitors for a loop.”
Doog: “Think I could pop this visor up for a bit? Just enough to feel the breeze on my face?”
Trebax: “The penalty is death, so I wouldn’t recommend it. Besides, here comes one of the Attonitusians.”
Doog: “Ok, I wasn’t quite prepared for this. This guy is a lot bigger than I imagined. I’m just going to stand over here with my mic pointed in your general direction.”
Trebax: “You better get used to the whole spider thing. Due to Panspermia, this cluster is full of arachnid species. They all evolved from the same progenitor species. Besides, the Attonitusian species is only aggressive if you mess with their spice.”
Doog: “Noted. So why is this guy just standing here?”
Trebax: “The Attonitusians don’t speak basic. They communicate telepathically.”
Doog: “I hate telepaths.”
Trebax: “Don’t worry. Without command of basic, he won’t get much from your brain. I’m communicating to him with pictographs. I’m trying to get us access to the spice operation.”
Doog: “But if you’re not a telepath, how do you know what his answer is?”
Trebax: “Well, in a few moments, he’s either going to kill us or lead us to the field.”
Doog: “I don’t like those odds Trebax!”
Trebax: “Relax, I’ve dealt with the Attonitusians on several occasions.”
Trebax: “You better get used to the whole spider thing. Due to Panspermia, this cluster is full of arachnid species. They all evolved from the same progenitor species. Besides, the Attonitusian species is only aggressive if you mess with their spice.”
Doog: “Noted. So why is this guy just standing here?”
Trebax: “The Attonitusians don’t speak basic. They communicate telepathically.”
Doog: “I hate telepaths.”
Trebax: “Don’t worry. Without command of basic, he won’t get much from your brain. I’m communicating to him with pictographs. I’m trying to get us access to the spice operation.”
Doog: “But if you’re not a telepath, how do you know what his answer is?”
Trebax: “Well, in a few moments, he’s either going to kill us or lead us to the field.”
Doog: “I don’t like those odds Trebax!”
Trebax: “Relax, I’ve dealt with the Attonitusians on several occasions.”
Doog: “I guess he said yes. Otherwise, the afterlife is not what I expected.”
Trebax: “Yeah. This is one of the spice fields.”
Doog: “It looks like a creek bed of some kind.”
Trebax: “Awe only grows in the planet’s uniquely acidic creek waters. That’s why it is only found here.”
Trebax: “Yeah. This is one of the spice fields.”
Doog: “It looks like a creek bed of some kind.”
Trebax: “Awe only grows in the planet’s uniquely acidic creek waters. That’s why it is only found here.”
Doog: “So what can you tell us about Awe? Or space spice in general?”
Trebax: “Every galaxy has its ‘space spice’. It is just a general term. In the LIU, spice generally refers to various intoxicating plant seeds. There are four forms of spice that originate in the LIU Galaxy, three of which, originate from within this cluster.”
Doog: “And Awe?”
Trebax: “Awe is one of the most popular of the four spices. It’s the seed of the Attonitusian Vine. The seeds form in those brown seed pods. If left to mature, the pods burst and spray the seeds into the air.”
Doog: “So the Attonitusians harvest them before they burst?”
Trebax: “They don’t harvest it themselves…”
Trebax: “Every galaxy has its ‘space spice’. It is just a general term. In the LIU, spice generally refers to various intoxicating plant seeds. There are four forms of spice that originate in the LIU Galaxy, three of which, originate from within this cluster.”
Doog: “And Awe?”
Trebax: “Awe is one of the most popular of the four spices. It’s the seed of the Attonitusian Vine. The seeds form in those brown seed pods. If left to mature, the pods burst and spray the seeds into the air.”
Doog: “So the Attonitusians harvest them before they burst?”
Trebax: “They don’t harvest it themselves…”
Trebax: “…they use slaves.”
Doog: “Slaves…I forgot that went on around here.”
Trebax: “The LIU doesn’t officially sanction it, but they don’t do anything about it either. Attonitus is one of the largest slave markets in the galaxy. Slavers bring hundreds of slaves here every month.”
Doog: “Slaves…I forgot that went on around here.”
Trebax: “The LIU doesn’t officially sanction it, but they don’t do anything about it either. Attonitus is one of the largest slave markets in the galaxy. Slavers bring hundreds of slaves here every month.”
Doog: “What are they wearing?”
Trebax: “Upon arrival to Attonitus, all slaves are locked into these suits. It prevents them from escaping, communicating, and, most importantly, breathing the spice. The suits are all computer controlled.”
Trebax: “Upon arrival to Attonitus, all slaves are locked into these suits. It prevents them from escaping, communicating, and, most importantly, breathing the spice. The suits are all computer controlled.”
Doog: “You said earlier they receive hundreds of slaves a month. Why do they need so many?”
Trebax: “Well, spice is in huge demand, especially Awe. They are constantly increasing their fields. The turnover rate is pretty high too. Lots of slaves get killed, usually by the Attonitusians themselves.”
Doog: “They kill them?”
Trebax: “As I said earlier, the Attonitusians get defensive around the spice. It’s instinct. Even now, you can see them swarming around the slaves as they work. Sometimes, they just lose control, I guess.”
Doog: “That’s harsh.”
Trebax: “Very, and it‘s getting worse. The Attonitusians used to only use Awe for religious purposes. Now, it’s a huge product and they‘re making more than ever before.”
Trebax: “Well, spice is in huge demand, especially Awe. They are constantly increasing their fields. The turnover rate is pretty high too. Lots of slaves get killed, usually by the Attonitusians themselves.”
Doog: “They kill them?”
Trebax: “As I said earlier, the Attonitusians get defensive around the spice. It’s instinct. Even now, you can see them swarming around the slaves as they work. Sometimes, they just lose control, I guess.”
Doog: “That’s harsh.”
Trebax: “Very, and it‘s getting worse. The Attonitusians used to only use Awe for religious purposes. Now, it’s a huge product and they‘re making more than ever before.”
Doog: “This must be where it is processed.”
Trebax: “Not in bulk. This is processing for religious purposes. The seed pods are cooked and prepared according to ancient standards.”
Trebax: “Not in bulk. This is processing for religious purposes. The seed pods are cooked and prepared according to ancient standards.”
Trebax: “The ancient standards aren’t really up to par with modern production methods. The stuff you get on the streets in about 99% pure. This religious stuff is only about 60%.”
Doog: “Is religion important among the Attonitusians?”
Trebax: “It once was. As their economy and technology advances, it plays less and less of a role. Altars are being replaced with factories. Priests are becoming foreman. The drug trade is really taking over.”
Doog: “I guess I didn‘t realize how big the market was.”
Trebax: “The market is massive, especially for Awe. It’s sold both legally and illegally.”
Doog: “Wait, I though all space spice was illegal?”
Trebax: “Not all forms. Let’s head to processing.”
Trebax: “It once was. As their economy and technology advances, it plays less and less of a role. Altars are being replaced with factories. Priests are becoming foreman. The drug trade is really taking over.”
Doog: “I guess I didn‘t realize how big the market was.”
Trebax: “The market is massive, especially for Awe. It’s sold both legally and illegally.”
Doog: “Wait, I though all space spice was illegal?”
Trebax: “Not all forms. Let’s head to processing.”
Doog: “This looks a little more modern than the other architecture.”
Trebax: “Yes, this is the processing center installed by the LIU.”
Doog: “The LIU installed a center for processing space spice? Something doesn’t make sense.”
Trebax: “Well, like I said earlier, there are some legal forms of Awe. The spice actually acts as a stimulant. It increases reaction time and focus.”
Trebax: “Yes, this is the processing center installed by the LIU.”
Doog: “The LIU installed a center for processing space spice? Something doesn’t make sense.”
Trebax: “Well, like I said earlier, there are some legal forms of Awe. The spice actually acts as a stimulant. It increases reaction time and focus.”
Trebax: “The LIU dilutes the spice and sells it as a ‘stim’. They’re popular among athletes, soldiers, and pilots.”
Trebax: “Of course, the Attonitusians sell five pounds of Awe on the black market for every ounce they sell to the LIU. The black market stuff is ten times more powerful too.”
Trebax: “Shipments to the LIU are packaged into shipping containers, but the black market stuff goes into small boxes. It makes it easier to smuggle into the rest of the galaxy.”
Doog: “I can’t believe the LIU doesn’t stop this.”
Trebax: “The LIU stops it, just farther along in the supply line. Think about it. It’s much more profitable to let spice into the galaxy. For one, it creates more law enforcement jobs. More law enforcement means more guns, ships, armor, prisons, et cetera. Then there’s the criminal side. They need more guns and better ships too. An entire economy is created around spice.”
Doog: “It makes sense, I guess….in a galaxy revolving around profit.”
Trebax: “Hey, I don‘t know this for sure, but I‘d bet the LIU controls a large portion of the black market. It‘s a massive corporation that does anything imaginable to make money. I wouldn‘t put anything past them.”
Trebax: “The LIU stops it, just farther along in the supply line. Think about it. It’s much more profitable to let spice into the galaxy. For one, it creates more law enforcement jobs. More law enforcement means more guns, ships, armor, prisons, et cetera. Then there’s the criminal side. They need more guns and better ships too. An entire economy is created around spice.”
Doog: “It makes sense, I guess….in a galaxy revolving around profit.”
Trebax: “Hey, I don‘t know this for sure, but I‘d bet the LIU controls a large portion of the black market. It‘s a massive corporation that does anything imaginable to make money. I wouldn‘t put anything past them.”
Doog: “So that was Attonitus, huh? It’s not the greatest place, but I never really felt it was all that dangerous.”
Trebax: “Paying customers are never in any real danger.”
Doog: “Hey! What are you doing!? I thought you couldn’t breathe the air!”
Doog: “Hey! What are you doing!? I thought you couldn’t breathe the air!”
Trebax: “Take it easy. We’re getting ready to leave. Besides, I can’t snort Awe through my mask.”
Doog: “You’re going to snort spice in the middle of our tour? We still have several planets to get to.”
Trebax: “Hey, there’s no way I go to Tantibus without a boost. I don’t want to die.”
Doog: “Wait, what about me? I might need a boost too!”
Trebax: “Nice try. You’re under my protection. I’m the only one that needs a boost. See you there.”
Doog: “You’re going to snort spice in the middle of our tour? We still have several planets to get to.”
Trebax: “Hey, there’s no way I go to Tantibus without a boost. I don’t want to die.”
Doog: “Wait, what about me? I might need a boost too!”
Trebax: “Nice try. You’re under my protection. I’m the only one that needs a boost. See you there.”
Doog: “Well folks, I survived Attonitus, the home of the space spice, Awe. The arachnid Attonitusians manufacture this stimulant in small doses to aid the LIU’s soldiers and pilots, but they also produce the drug in huge quantities to feed the spice addicts around the galaxy. Well, on to the next world in the Ferox Cluster. See ya.”
Note:
In small volumes, Awe increases reaction time and focus, but in large quantities, it creates a huge sense of awe and euphoria. Abusers use the spice for both properties.
CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 7 - Episode 4 - Tantibus
Note:
In small volumes, Awe increases reaction time and focus, but in large quantities, it creates a huge sense of awe and euphoria. Abusers use the spice for both properties.
CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 7 - Episode 4 - Tantibus
