There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Fimbria
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 - Fimbria
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 visiting the remote, jungle world of Fimbria. Fimbria and its star, Vel Fimbriam, rest in the outermost fringe of the LIU Galaxy, just inside the Blattarius Halo. In fact, Vel Fimbriam is generally considered to be the galaxy’s most distant star, at least, from the galactic center. What will we find out here in the fringes of the galaxy? Let’s find out. ”
Doog: “Alright folks, I’ve been dropped off in a small city on the shoreline of a large lake. It’s certainly a jungle world. It’s hot, humid, and overgrown in foliage. It even smells like a jungle world - like an old, sweat filled tennis shoe that’s been sprayed with flowery air freshener. Or better yet, like my hotel room after that mermaid adventure on Malicanum. Or perhaps, like that one time on Pravus…well, you get the point. It doesn’t smell great.”
Doog: “This lakeside village is known as Arbuste Vivant. It one of several small villages on the shore of this massive lake. The town houses the native Fimbrian race. The Fimbrians are a sentient plant species. They’ve evolved from one of the planet’s carnivorous plants. It’s rare that a plant species reaches this level of sentience, considering that most plants lack brains, but somehow the Fimbrian managed it. I’d like to find out more, but my guide does not seem to want to come down these stairs. We’ve been having a ten minute stand-off, literally. I guess I’ll be the bigger man…after I wait another ten minutes.”
Doog: “Hey, I’m Doog, the guys that’s been waiting for you down on the dock for the last twenty minutes.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “I am Ya-Te-Veo. I apologize for my tardiness. My biology requires momentary pauses to re-energize.”
Doog: “Re-energize?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Like all living creatures classified as plants, my body utilizes photosynthesis to make energy. Therefore, I must cease movement on occasion to allow my energy reserves to be restored. Photosynthesis is an efficient power system for many living things, but it is not well suited for quick movements.”
Doog: “It’s not well suited for talking quickly either, apparently. I have a feeling I’m going to be here for a while.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “I am Ya-Te-Veo. I apologize for my tardiness. My biology requires momentary pauses to re-energize.”
Doog: “Re-energize?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Like all living creatures classified as plants, my body utilizes photosynthesis to make energy. Therefore, I must cease movement on occasion to allow my energy reserves to be restored. Photosynthesis is an efficient power system for many living things, but it is not well suited for quick movements.”
Doog: “It’s not well suited for talking quickly either, apparently. I have a feeling I’m going to be here for a while.”
Doog: “So, the members of your species are walking, talking plants. How did that come about?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Fimbria is abundant in water and sunlight, but its soil lacks sufficient amounts of nutrients. Competition for the rare nutrients led to an outbreak of evolution that we call the Great Fimbrian Arms Race.”
Doog: “Arms race? Like a war?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “An evolutionary war, I suppose. The winners of this war were species that could derive nutrients from alternative sources, mostly via predation. Some species evolved the ability to make fast motions to capture prey. Others utilized deadly chemicals to kill prey that came too close.”
Doog: “Where did your species fall on this spectrum? I’m guessing you’re not the fast movement sort, given how slow you seem to talk. Wait, does that mean you're poisonous? Am I in danger?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “No need to worry. I am not poisonous. My species developed a third alternative. We became mobile. We were not as fast as the quick strike species, but deadly in our own right. This course of action led to many of our current adaptations. Light sensitive cells developed into more advanced eyes, allowing us to plot courses to our prey. Our moving roots and branches slowly changed into legs and arms. Of course, the coordination of these new features required the development of a brain. It was a simple brain at first, but over the millennia, it has evolved to be quite large.”
Doog: “If your head size is any indication of this brain, then I concur.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Fimbria is abundant in water and sunlight, but its soil lacks sufficient amounts of nutrients. Competition for the rare nutrients led to an outbreak of evolution that we call the Great Fimbrian Arms Race.”
Doog: “Arms race? Like a war?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “An evolutionary war, I suppose. The winners of this war were species that could derive nutrients from alternative sources, mostly via predation. Some species evolved the ability to make fast motions to capture prey. Others utilized deadly chemicals to kill prey that came too close.”
Doog: “Where did your species fall on this spectrum? I’m guessing you’re not the fast movement sort, given how slow you seem to talk. Wait, does that mean you're poisonous? Am I in danger?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “No need to worry. I am not poisonous. My species developed a third alternative. We became mobile. We were not as fast as the quick strike species, but deadly in our own right. This course of action led to many of our current adaptations. Light sensitive cells developed into more advanced eyes, allowing us to plot courses to our prey. Our moving roots and branches slowly changed into legs and arms. Of course, the coordination of these new features required the development of a brain. It was a simple brain at first, but over the millennia, it has evolved to be quite large.”
Doog: “If your head size is any indication of this brain, then I concur.”
Doog: “So, you’re plants that actually eat stuff?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Eating may not be the proper term. We do not derive energy from the prey we catch, only minerals and nutrients. We get all our energy from photosynthesis. Animals are captured, killed, and then left to decay. We then ingest their rotten, putrefied mineral soup.”
Doog: “Well, I guess that’s where the smell is coming from.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Eating may not be the proper term. We do not derive energy from the prey we catch, only minerals and nutrients. We get all our energy from photosynthesis. Animals are captured, killed, and then left to decay. We then ingest their rotten, putrefied mineral soup.”
Doog: “Well, I guess that’s where the smell is coming from.”
Doog: “Do you eat any of the plants?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Again we do not eat. Even if we could eat, we would still avoid most of the plant species here. While we have developed some immunities to their poisons, they can still be dangerous.”
Doog: “Well, that’s comforting to know…since, you know, I have zero immunities.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Again we do not eat. Even if we could eat, we would still avoid most of the plant species here. While we have developed some immunities to their poisons, they can still be dangerous.”
Doog: “Well, that’s comforting to know…since, you know, I have zero immunities.”
Doog: “Well, shall we continue on?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “…”
Doog: “Uh, hello?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “…”
Doog: “Oh great, recharging again.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “…”
Doog: “Uh, hello?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “…”
Doog: “Oh great, recharging again.”
Doog: “Alright, the plant-man finally woke up and rejoined us. We’ve descended the platform and we’re now riding on a catamaran. Water travel is preferred here. It allows the Fimbrians to avoid unnecessary encounters with the planet’s poisonous plants.”
Doog: “So where are we headed? To another village?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “We will pass through a village as we head towards our destination, but it is not our intended target. We are heading south towards the science station.”
Doog: “Science station, huh? Is that your economy?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “I wouldn’t say it is really ‘our’ economy. My people have a cooperative, resource sharing economic system. We work for the survival and benefit of our species and society. The science station was installed by the LIU.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “We will pass through a village as we head towards our destination, but it is not our intended target. We are heading south towards the science station.”
Doog: “Science station, huh? Is that your economy?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “I wouldn’t say it is really ‘our’ economy. My people have a cooperative, resource sharing economic system. We work for the survival and benefit of our species and society. The science station was installed by the LIU.”
Doog: “Whoa, whoa. Slow it down their buddy. Don’t talk too much. Last thing I need is for you to space out for a re-energizing session in the middle of this boat ride. Who knows where we’ll end up? I mean, I don’t know how to steer this thing.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Relax. This is where the boat ride ends.”
Doog: “Ends? Here? I don’t see anything.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Yes. That’s because we’ll have to continue on foot for a few miles.”
Doog: “On foot? Through the poisonous stuff? I thought you said that was dangerous.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “It is. Stay on the path. Avoid contact with any plants.”
Doog: “Oh great…”
Doog: “Ends? Here? I don’t see anything.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Yes. That’s because we’ll have to continue on foot for a few miles.”
Doog: “On foot? Through the poisonous stuff? I thought you said that was dangerous.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “It is. Stay on the path. Avoid contact with any plants.”
Doog: “Oh great…”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Take particular care near these red plants. My people know them as Endolori, but their name in basic is Pain Fingers. Their long finger-like appendages are capable of quick movements, and they can deliver painful, poisonous strikes.”
Doog: “Oh, you mean the wriggling red fingers of pain all around the path? That should be easy to avoid…”
Ya-Te-Veo: “They are not that difficult to avoid. They strike when movement is detected. Move slow.”
Doog: “I’m going to die here, aren’t I?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Their poison is not deadly, but the painful, itchy rashes they give you will make you wish you were dead.”
Doog: “Oh, very comforting. Thanks.”
Doog: “Oh, you mean the wriggling red fingers of pain all around the path? That should be easy to avoid…”
Ya-Te-Veo: “They are not that difficult to avoid. They strike when movement is detected. Move slow.”
Doog: “I’m going to die here, aren’t I?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Their poison is not deadly, but the painful, itchy rashes they give you will make you wish you were dead.”
Doog: “Oh, very comforting. Thanks.”
Doog: “I can’t believe I actually made it to the Science Station without getting fingered…uh…that came out wrong. Sooo…changing the subject…what do you guys do in this station?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Come inside. There is much to see.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Come inside. There is much to see.”
Doog: “Bio W. Danger. Wait…is this a biological weapons lab?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Yes. In fact, it is.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Yes. In fact, it is.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “As you have discovered throughout our journey, many of the plant species here have advanced chemical defense systems. The LIU harvests the more promising species to cultivate their poisons. The Endolori’s poison is used in area denial situations, like riot suppression.”
Doog: “Sounds brutal.”
Doog: “Sounds brutal.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Some of the planet’s other plant species are even more brutal, but the exact species and their capabilities are classified.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Let’s just say that the LIU has weaponized over forty Fimbrian plant species. They range from military-grade defoliants to irritants to mass-casualty bombs.”
Doog: “Are they legal?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Yes. Many are illegal to sell or use, but perfectly legal to stockpile. You never know when they will come in handy.”
Doog: “Are they legal?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Yes. Many are illegal to sell or use, but perfectly legal to stockpile. You never know when they will come in handy.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Of course, the LIU is still experimenting. There are thousands of poisonous plants on Fimbria. The LIU has just scratched the surface.”
Doog: “Experimenting on people!”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Prisoners, mostly. In the LIU’s eyes, they are not necessarily people.”
Doog: “Experimenting on people!”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Prisoners, mostly. In the LIU’s eyes, they are not necessarily people.”
Doog: “Hey! Prisoners and former prisoners are people too.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Perhaps. It is not for me to decide. We generally only test non-lethal poisons on prisoners, if that eases your worries.”
Doog: “Except for the part where you said ‘generally’.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Perhaps. It is not for me to decide. We generally only test non-lethal poisons on prisoners, if that eases your worries.”
Doog: “Except for the part where you said ‘generally’.”
Doog: “More WMD crops?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Not entirely. These are Éclator, or Bursters. When ripe, their fruiting bodies explode, spreading their genetic material in all directions.”
Doog: “How is that useful outside the porn industry?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “The what?”
Doog: “Never mind. What are Bursters used for?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Not entirely. These are Éclator, or Bursters. When ripe, their fruiting bodies explode, spreading their genetic material in all directions.”
Doog: “How is that useful outside the porn industry?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “The what?”
Doog: “Never mind. What are Bursters used for?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “The Éclator’s genetic material doesn’t always find other Éclator, but it doesn’t matter. The Éclator seed has strong mutagenic properties. If it lands on another plant, the mutagens begin to convert the plant into a genetically acceptable mating partner.”
Doog: “Huh?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “The Éclator plant temporarily converts the reproduction systems of other plants so they are capable of hybridization with the Éclator. Essentially, every plant species on Fimbria has an infusion of Éclator genetics. It also means that new plant species and hybrids are always being created. Along with resource competition, this rampant hybridization is responsible for the diverse plant life here. It is a remarkable organism.”
Doog: “Huh?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “The Éclator plant temporarily converts the reproduction systems of other plants so they are capable of hybridization with the Éclator. Essentially, every plant species on Fimbria has an infusion of Éclator genetics. It also means that new plant species and hybrids are always being created. Along with resource competition, this rampant hybridization is responsible for the diverse plant life here. It is a remarkable organism.”
Doog: “Don’t tell me…more experimentation…”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Yes. The Éclator mutagens have been discovered to be compatible with human genetics.”
Doog: “So you’re making mutants!? Why?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Yes. The Éclator mutagens have been discovered to be compatible with human genetics.”
Doog: “So you’re making mutants!? Why?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “The humans, like the plants, are only temporarily mutated by the Bursters. Just long enough to breed Human-Éclator hybrids.”
Doog: “I’ve been involved in some pretty weird ‘hybrids’, but this is just crazy.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Not crazy. Imagine the possibilities. They would share the characteristics of both species. Imagine hybrid soldiers with immense strength and speed with plant-like regenerative abilities. Imagine hybrids that can breathe both oxygen and carbon dioxide. Imagine hybrid soldiers with both photosynthetic and metabolic energy production that would never weaken or tire.”
Doog: “This sounds like some fringe science here. Hybrid soldiers? Really?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “It is not fringe. It has already began.”
Doog: “Then why do you keep saying ‘imagine’?”
Doog: “I’ve been involved in some pretty weird ‘hybrids’, but this is just crazy.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Not crazy. Imagine the possibilities. They would share the characteristics of both species. Imagine hybrid soldiers with immense strength and speed with plant-like regenerative abilities. Imagine hybrids that can breathe both oxygen and carbon dioxide. Imagine hybrid soldiers with both photosynthetic and metabolic energy production that would never weaken or tire.”
Doog: “This sounds like some fringe science here. Hybrid soldiers? Really?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “It is not fringe. It has already began.”
Doog: “Then why do you keep saying ‘imagine’?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Because so far, the hybrids have been less than desirable. The hybridization needs tweaking.”
Doog: “What’s wrong with them? They look fine to me. I mean, they’re creepy plant people, no offense, but they seem to be alive and healthy.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “It appears the hybrids inherit genes from the Éclator that make them highly violent towards un-hybridized species.”
Doog: “Like me and you.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Not me, but definitely you. At some point, my species must have inherited some Éclator genes. The hybrids have killed several non-Fimbrian researchers. Now they can never leave these cells.”
Doog: “What’s wrong with them? They look fine to me. I mean, they’re creepy plant people, no offense, but they seem to be alive and healthy.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “It appears the hybrids inherit genes from the Éclator that make them highly violent towards un-hybridized species.”
Doog: “Like me and you.”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Not me, but definitely you. At some point, my species must have inherited some Éclator genes. The hybrids have killed several non-Fimbrian researchers. Now they can never leave these cells.”
Doog: “You don’t look so bad.”
Hybrid: “HOLLOW BAG OF MEAT AND FAT, IT SICKENS ME TO LOOK AT YOU. PLEASE REMOVE YOUR REPULSIVE, STRUCTURELESS BODY FROM MY SIGHT.”
Doog: “Ok. Maybe a little bad.”
Hybrid: “I CAN SEE YOUR BLOATED FAT TISSUES WIGGLE WITH YOUR EVERY MOVEMENT - LIKE SACKS OF CONGEALED SAP. IT IS A WONDER YOUR SPECIES HAS SURVIVED THIS LONG. YOU ARE FAR FROM SUPERIOR. RELEASE ME AND I WILL END YOUR SUFFERING. I PROMISE YOUR FAT WILL FEEL NO PAIN.”
Doog: “Gee, you’re going a little strong on the fat shaming. Maybe’s there’s a market for you guys as life coaches or personal trainers. I mean, you’d have to stay in some sort of cage to avoid the murdering, but you might be helpful. What do you think, Ya-Te-Veo?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “It would not be safe. The hybrids could produce more hybrids and spread across the galaxy. We must not let that occur. These samples will be incinerated after being studied.”
Hybrid: “HOLLOW BAG OF MEAT AND FAT, IT SICKENS ME TO LOOK AT YOU. PLEASE REMOVE YOUR REPULSIVE, STRUCTURELESS BODY FROM MY SIGHT.”
Doog: “Ok. Maybe a little bad.”
Hybrid: “I CAN SEE YOUR BLOATED FAT TISSUES WIGGLE WITH YOUR EVERY MOVEMENT - LIKE SACKS OF CONGEALED SAP. IT IS A WONDER YOUR SPECIES HAS SURVIVED THIS LONG. YOU ARE FAR FROM SUPERIOR. RELEASE ME AND I WILL END YOUR SUFFERING. I PROMISE YOUR FAT WILL FEEL NO PAIN.”
Doog: “Gee, you’re going a little strong on the fat shaming. Maybe’s there’s a market for you guys as life coaches or personal trainers. I mean, you’d have to stay in some sort of cage to avoid the murdering, but you might be helpful. What do you think, Ya-Te-Veo?”
Ya-Te-Veo: “It would not be safe. The hybrids could produce more hybrids and spread across the galaxy. We must not let that occur. These samples will be incinerated after being studied.”
Doog: “Well folks, Fimbria is a pretty interesting place. There’s lots of interesting plant-life here, including the sentient Fimbrian race. Most of these unique plants are highly poisonous and dangerous; some have even been weaponized by the LIU. The freakiest thing here has to be these Éclator plants that force other species into hybridization. They’re even compatible with human DNA, so they’re being used to create a Human/Éclator hybrid. Seriously creepy stuff. Let’s just say that some fringe science is being conducted here in the fringes of the galaxy. See ya!”
Ya-Te-Veo: “Doog, I understand that you wanted an interesting last shot, but you should use caution. You are standing in a Endolori patch.”
Doog: “Totally worth it. Journalism always comes first.”
Note:
Ya-Te-Veo: “Doog, I understand that you wanted an interesting last shot, but you should use caution. You are standing in a Endolori patch.”
Doog: “Totally worth it. Journalism always comes first.”
Note:
Doog: “Totally not worth it. More calamine lotion, pronto.”
Mike: “You have like five layers on.”
Doog: “Well, I guess I need ten layers cause this really hurts.”
Oldie: “Could you at least put some pants on? You weren’t ever exposed to the plants there.”
Doog: "I did some scratching Oldie, especially in my favorite scratching place. I spread it everywhere...."
Mike: “You have like five layers on.”
Doog: “Well, I guess I need ten layers cause this really hurts.”
Oldie: “Could you at least put some pants on? You weren’t ever exposed to the plants there.”
Doog: "I did some scratching Oldie, especially in my favorite scratching place. I spread it everywhere...."
