There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Tomenta
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.
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 planet, Tomenta. While Tomenta is home to a wide range of ecosystems, it is primarily dominated by grasslands and swamps. These ecosystems support unique lifeforms that are of particular value to the LIU. Let’s head down and check it out.”
Doog: “Well folks, I’ve been dropped off at a small spaceport. Unless my eyes deceive me, I think we’re in the grasslands. There’s not much else to describe – there’s a building, some fueling supplies, and a collection of random tools scattered about. Oh, and there’s also a guy arguing with a robot behind me.”
Renn: “Dang it, Lightning Rod! Why are you over here when I have a tub of feathers blowing across the tarmac?! Remind me why I keep you around!”
LR: “It shall be done.”
Renn: “It should have been done as soon as the drone landed with ‘em, you no good pinata holder! If those tubs didn’t weigh so much, I would have replaced you with a ladder years ago.”
LR: “Query: what is a ladder, sir?”
Renn: “Grr.”
LR: “It shall be done.”
Renn: “It should have been done as soon as the drone landed with ‘em, you no good pinata holder! If those tubs didn’t weigh so much, I would have replaced you with a ladder years ago.”
LR: “Query: what is a ladder, sir?”
Renn: “Grr.”
Renn: “The names Renn. Tell me you’re the replacement for the defective flagpole-bot back there.”
Doog: “I’m afraid not. I’m Doog, a TV reporter doing a show about Tomenta.”
Renn: “Figures. I’ve been begging corporate for some help around here, so why wouldn’t they send me a TV reporter.”
Doog: “What kind of help do you need? I’m always looking for a better job.”
Renn: “I’ll literally take anything right now. I keep telling the bosses I’m running a regional port and a whole fleet of drones by myself. What do they send me? A robotic toll booth barrier with a hook on the end.”
Doog: “That does seem rather useless.”
Renn: “Little Crane Jr. ain’t good for nothing but storing plumage. I have fifty Pluckers depending on me, but it can’t help with fixing or fueling the drones. That’s the MOST vital part of this operation.”
Doog: “Drones? You’ve mentioned that a few times now.”
Renn: “The whole operation on Tomenta depends on ‘em. Without the drones, I don’t get the feathers from the Pluckers, and they don’t get supplies from me.”
Doog: “That only raises more questions. Pluckers? Feathers?”
Doog: “I’m afraid not. I’m Doog, a TV reporter doing a show about Tomenta.”
Renn: “Figures. I’ve been begging corporate for some help around here, so why wouldn’t they send me a TV reporter.”
Doog: “What kind of help do you need? I’m always looking for a better job.”
Renn: “I’ll literally take anything right now. I keep telling the bosses I’m running a regional port and a whole fleet of drones by myself. What do they send me? A robotic toll booth barrier with a hook on the end.”
Doog: “That does seem rather useless.”
Renn: “Little Crane Jr. ain’t good for nothing but storing plumage. I have fifty Pluckers depending on me, but it can’t help with fixing or fueling the drones. That’s the MOST vital part of this operation.”
Doog: “Drones? You’ve mentioned that a few times now.”
Renn: “The whole operation on Tomenta depends on ‘em. Without the drones, I don’t get the feathers from the Pluckers, and they don’t get supplies from me.”
Doog: “That only raises more questions. Pluckers? Feathers?”
Renn: “We collect and export feathers from a local species.”
Doog: “I think I see one now. Maybe I can shoot it for you – how much does it pay, and where’s the gun?”
Renn: “Hold up, Doog. We don’t go around shooting the birds, and even if we did, we aren’t interested in the Grass Cranes.”
Doog: “Are you sure? They have feathers.”
Renn: “Of course, I’m sure. The Grass Cranes just have regular feathers. We ain’t collecting for quills and boas. On Tomenta, we’re only interested in the Pillowed Crane, a water fowl. They have that soft, fluffy down that’s in high demand.”
Doog: “Point me to one of those, then. I’d be glad to shoot it, if the price is right.”
Renn: “Again, we don’t shoot them. Also, you won’t find the Pillowed Crane in the grasslands. That’s a swamp bird.”
Doog: “So, the Pluckers aren’t in the grasslands?”
Renn: “Nope, they’re deep in the swamps.”
Doog: “That’s why the drones are so important.”
Doog: “I think I see one now. Maybe I can shoot it for you – how much does it pay, and where’s the gun?”
Renn: “Hold up, Doog. We don’t go around shooting the birds, and even if we did, we aren’t interested in the Grass Cranes.”
Doog: “Are you sure? They have feathers.”
Renn: “Of course, I’m sure. The Grass Cranes just have regular feathers. We ain’t collecting for quills and boas. On Tomenta, we’re only interested in the Pillowed Crane, a water fowl. They have that soft, fluffy down that’s in high demand.”
Doog: “Point me to one of those, then. I’d be glad to shoot it, if the price is right.”
Renn: “Again, we don’t shoot them. Also, you won’t find the Pillowed Crane in the grasslands. That’s a swamp bird.”
Doog: “So, the Pluckers aren’t in the grasslands?”
Renn: “Nope, they’re deep in the swamps.”
Doog: “That’s why the drones are so important.”
Renn: “Watch out! We got one incoming!”
Doog: “Dang, that’s a big drone.”
Renn: “A big pain in the butt. Sure, they can lift a few hundred pounds and fly hundreds of miles, but they’re high-maintenance gals. I’m always working on ‘em.”
Doog: “So, they fly your supplies to the Pluckers…”
Renn: “Food, water, and energy.”
Doog: “…and in return, the Pluckers send Pillowed Crane feathers?”
Renn: “Down feathers – but yeah.”
Doog: “I see. So, how do I get to these Pluckers? I want to see their side of the operation.”
Renn: “The Pluckers roam freely about the swamps looking for cranes. They’re never in the same spot for long.”
Doog: “Meaning?”
Renn: “The only way you’re getting to a Plucker is via drone. They track the Pluckers’ location data.”
Doog: “How does one ride a drone meant for tubs?”
Doog: “Dang, that’s a big drone.”
Renn: “A big pain in the butt. Sure, they can lift a few hundred pounds and fly hundreds of miles, but they’re high-maintenance gals. I’m always working on ‘em.”
Doog: “So, they fly your supplies to the Pluckers…”
Renn: “Food, water, and energy.”
Doog: “…and in return, the Pluckers send Pillowed Crane feathers?”
Renn: “Down feathers – but yeah.”
Doog: “I see. So, how do I get to these Pluckers? I want to see their side of the operation.”
Renn: “The Pluckers roam freely about the swamps looking for cranes. They’re never in the same spot for long.”
Doog: “Meaning?”
Renn: “The only way you’re getting to a Plucker is via drone. They track the Pluckers’ location data.”
Doog: “How does one ride a drone meant for tubs?”
Renn: “Well, it’s been about a decade since I’ve put the employee transfer harness into operation…but it looks like it’s still working’!”
Doog: “I don’t like this, Renn! I can’t see forward, and everything’s vibrating!”
Renn: “You’ll be fine! Have fun!”
Doog: “AHHH!!!!”
Doog: “I don’t like this, Renn! I can’t see forward, and everything’s vibrating!”
Renn: “You’ll be fine! Have fun!”
Doog: “AHHH!!!!”
Doog: “If there’s any consolation for this uncomfortable, disorienting flight, it’s that I’m making all the flightless cranes on Tomenta jealous. A small victory…suck it, giant birds!”
Caleb: “What did you order us now, Maris?! How many cycles have you set us back this time?!”
Maris: “You still crying about that! I was trying to make our Walker-House a Walker-Home!”
Caleb: “I ain’t fussing about them throw pillows – I’m wondering why a drone dropped off some random guy.”
Maris: “Maybe, I decided to upgrade…ever so slightly…very, very ever so slightly. Possibly downgraded.”
Doog: “Thanks for that, lady. However, no one ordered me. I’m a TV host. I was sent here by Renn to learn about your operation.”
Maris: “You’d think ol’ man Renn would have beamed us a text about something like that.”
Caleb: “Now that you say that, I do recall something about that. Except, I thought he was sending a dog.”
Maris: “Say what now?! Why didn’t you tell me?!”
Caleb: “Like I was about to explain a talking dog TV Host to you.”
Doog: “Not dog. Doog. My name is Doog.”
Maris: “You’ll have to excuse my illiterate husband, Doog. Caleb’s been plucking since he was a kid. Didn’t have any time for school.”
Caleb: “You ain’t no college grad yourself, Maris.”
Maris: “Smarter than you.”
Caleb: “Just because I let you drive the house, don’t mean you’re smarter!”
Maris: “You still crying about that! I was trying to make our Walker-House a Walker-Home!”
Caleb: “I ain’t fussing about them throw pillows – I’m wondering why a drone dropped off some random guy.”
Maris: “Maybe, I decided to upgrade…ever so slightly…very, very ever so slightly. Possibly downgraded.”
Doog: “Thanks for that, lady. However, no one ordered me. I’m a TV host. I was sent here by Renn to learn about your operation.”
Maris: “You’d think ol’ man Renn would have beamed us a text about something like that.”
Caleb: “Now that you say that, I do recall something about that. Except, I thought he was sending a dog.”
Maris: “Say what now?! Why didn’t you tell me?!”
Caleb: “Like I was about to explain a talking dog TV Host to you.”
Doog: “Not dog. Doog. My name is Doog.”
Maris: “You’ll have to excuse my illiterate husband, Doog. Caleb’s been plucking since he was a kid. Didn’t have any time for school.”
Caleb: “You ain’t no college grad yourself, Maris.”
Maris: “Smarter than you.”
Caleb: “Just because I let you drive the house, don’t mean you’re smarter!”
Doog: “Maris and Caleb. Got it. Well, that’s the first step. Now that we know each other, perhaps I can ask some questions.”
Caleb: “Shoot.”
Doog: “Totally unrelated to the episode, but why are you washing your dishes in the swamp water?”
Caleb: “Why not? The algae helps scrape off the food.”
Maris: “Cheaper than splurging for soap and sponges.”
Doog: “So, you’re on a tight budget?”
Maris: “We earn a lot trading the Pillowed Cranes’ down, but we spend a lot to make it happen.”
Caleb: “Walker rent, walker fuel, walker parts…”
Maris: “Not to mention our food and supplies.”
Caleb: “And…ahem…décor costs.”
Maris: “I bought one set of throw pillows!”
Doog: “Please don’t go back to bickering.”
Caleb: “No promises.”
Doog: “So, how do you get this bird down?”
Caleb: “We have our ways.”
Caleb: “Shoot.”
Doog: “Totally unrelated to the episode, but why are you washing your dishes in the swamp water?”
Caleb: “Why not? The algae helps scrape off the food.”
Maris: “Cheaper than splurging for soap and sponges.”
Doog: “So, you’re on a tight budget?”
Maris: “We earn a lot trading the Pillowed Cranes’ down, but we spend a lot to make it happen.”
Caleb: “Walker rent, walker fuel, walker parts…”
Maris: “Not to mention our food and supplies.”
Caleb: “And…ahem…décor costs.”
Maris: “I bought one set of throw pillows!”
Doog: “Please don’t go back to bickering.”
Caleb: “No promises.”
Doog: “So, how do you get this bird down?”
Caleb: “We have our ways.”
Caleb: “First rule: stay mobile. We stop from time to time, but it’s rare. That’s why we’re living in a walking house.”
Maris: “If we don’t move, we’re collecting from the same birds again and again.”
Caleb: “And there ain’t anything worth collecting from birds we just harvested.”
Maris: “So, we cover a range spanning dozens of miles.”
Caleb: “New birds daily.”
Doog: “Makes sense. The motion sickness from your walking house, not so much.”
Maris: “If we don’t move, we’re collecting from the same birds again and again.”
Caleb: “And there ain’t anything worth collecting from birds we just harvested.”
Maris: “So, we cover a range spanning dozens of miles.”
Caleb: “New birds daily.”
Doog: “Makes sense. The motion sickness from your walking house, not so much.”
Caleb: “Second rule: stay noisy.”
Doog: “That shouldn’t be hard for a constantly arguing couple.”
Caleb: “Maris’ screechy voice does carry, especially when she’s mad. But, that’s not what I mean. We got a loud speaker on the front of our house-walker that blasts Pillowed Crane calls on repeat.”
Maris: “We draw them towards us.”
Doog: “Doesn’t that attract the one’s you just harvested?”
Caleb: “Let’s just say, the harvested cranes aren’t so open to contact after a run-in with us.”
Doog: “What does that mean?”
Caleb: “Things will start to make more sense in a bit. I see a crane on the horizon. Swing her to the left, Maris! No, your other left!”
Doog: “That shouldn’t be hard for a constantly arguing couple.”
Caleb: “Maris’ screechy voice does carry, especially when she’s mad. But, that’s not what I mean. We got a loud speaker on the front of our house-walker that blasts Pillowed Crane calls on repeat.”
Maris: “We draw them towards us.”
Doog: “Doesn’t that attract the one’s you just harvested?”
Caleb: “Let’s just say, the harvested cranes aren’t so open to contact after a run-in with us.”
Doog: “What does that mean?”
Caleb: “Things will start to make more sense in a bit. I see a crane on the horizon. Swing her to the left, Maris! No, your other left!”
Doog: “Is that a syringe strapped to the end of a pole?”
Caleb: “It is. In order to make the down collection painless – for both us and the birds – we administer an opiate.”
Doog: “You drug them?”
Caleb: “Well, yeah. I surely ain’t plucking down feathers off a six-hundred-pound bird without loosening it up a bit.”
Maris: “Without a little ‘relaxation juice’, you’d likely get kicked, pecked, and squashed.”
Caleb: “And not always in that order.”
Caleb: “It is. In order to make the down collection painless – for both us and the birds – we administer an opiate.”
Doog: “You drug them?”
Caleb: “Well, yeah. I surely ain’t plucking down feathers off a six-hundred-pound bird without loosening it up a bit.”
Maris: “Without a little ‘relaxation juice’, you’d likely get kicked, pecked, and squashed.”
Caleb: “And not always in that order.”
Doog: “So, earlier when you mentioned that the cranes don’t bother following you after a collection – is it because they’re high?”
Caleb: “Yep. They’ll stand in the same spot for hours after a collecting.”
Doog: “Doesn’t that put them in danger?”
Maris: “They won’t starve in a few hours, and there’s nothing on Tomenta big enough to challenge a Pillowed Crane. They’re fine.”
Doog: “As a connoisseur of galactic pharmaceuticals, I think I know that answer to this, but aren’t opiates addictive?”
Caleb: “Yep, that’s one of the perks of using it on the cranes.”
Doog: “Perks? How so?”
Caleb: “Let’s just put it this way – the sound we play over our speaker isn’t important anymore. Sure, we blast some lousy crane calls we recorded, but we could play anything – morning hymns, Maddie and the Soap Buckets, or Maris’ snoring, and still draw in a crane.”
Maris: “The cranes associate our speaker sounds with drugs. They come to us because they want drugs, not because we tricked them into thinking another crane is around.”
Doog: “Just a brief recap here…you got birds addicted to drugs so they’ll seek you out for more drugs, just so you can steal their downy feathers?”
Caleb: “More or less.”
Caleb: “Yep. They’ll stand in the same spot for hours after a collecting.”
Doog: “Doesn’t that put them in danger?”
Maris: “They won’t starve in a few hours, and there’s nothing on Tomenta big enough to challenge a Pillowed Crane. They’re fine.”
Doog: “As a connoisseur of galactic pharmaceuticals, I think I know that answer to this, but aren’t opiates addictive?”
Caleb: “Yep, that’s one of the perks of using it on the cranes.”
Doog: “Perks? How so?”
Caleb: “Let’s just put it this way – the sound we play over our speaker isn’t important anymore. Sure, we blast some lousy crane calls we recorded, but we could play anything – morning hymns, Maddie and the Soap Buckets, or Maris’ snoring, and still draw in a crane.”
Maris: “The cranes associate our speaker sounds with drugs. They come to us because they want drugs, not because we tricked them into thinking another crane is around.”
Doog: “Just a brief recap here…you got birds addicted to drugs so they’ll seek you out for more drugs, just so you can steal their downy feathers?”
Caleb: “More or less.”
Doog: “Hypothetical question, do your bird drugs work on people?”
Maris: “If this syringe puts a six-hundred-pound bird into an hours-long stupor, I’d say it would probably put you into a permanent slumber.”
Doog: “I wasn’t asking for me!”
Maris: “Sure you weren’t.”
Doog: “But, yeah. No thanks.”
Maris: “If this syringe puts a six-hundred-pound bird into an hours-long stupor, I’d say it would probably put you into a permanent slumber.”
Doog: “I wasn’t asking for me!”
Maris: “Sure you weren’t.”
Doog: “But, yeah. No thanks.”
Caleb: “The opiate makes the cranes lethargic, but it also acts as a muscle relaxant. Watch, you can see the tension release from their guard feathers as the drug makes its way through their body. That’s what we want. It allows us access to the soft, pillowy down underneath.”
Maris: “We only get paid for the soft stuff. Shear too early, you’re contaminating your haul with the wrong types of feathers.”
Caleb: “Maris ain’t getting her throw pillow money if we do that too often.”
Maris: “You had to bring that up again, huh?!”
Doog: “Speaking of pillows, isn’t that what down is used for?”
Caleb: “Pillows, coats, blankets, executive desk chairs, sleep cocoons for the elite, a…”
Maris: “Simply put – any product rich folks want to stay warm and cozy.”
Doog: “So, it’s a luxury good.”
Maris: “It is. The cost of collection is high – walkers, opiates, Pluckers, drones, etc. – and the supply is low. Pillowed Crane down is worth a lot.”
Doog: “It must be nice having access to it then. I bet your walker-house has the best pillows.”
Caleb: “Ha!”
Maris: “It makes more sense for us to sell every ounce of down. It’s worth more on the galactic market than it would ever be to us.”
Caleb: “I’d rather sleep on a pillow stuffed with rocks and get more credits than I would want this luxury stuff.”
Maris: “Now you see why he hates my throw pillows so much.”
Maris: “We only get paid for the soft stuff. Shear too early, you’re contaminating your haul with the wrong types of feathers.”
Caleb: “Maris ain’t getting her throw pillow money if we do that too often.”
Maris: “You had to bring that up again, huh?!”
Doog: “Speaking of pillows, isn’t that what down is used for?”
Caleb: “Pillows, coats, blankets, executive desk chairs, sleep cocoons for the elite, a…”
Maris: “Simply put – any product rich folks want to stay warm and cozy.”
Doog: “So, it’s a luxury good.”
Maris: “It is. The cost of collection is high – walkers, opiates, Pluckers, drones, etc. – and the supply is low. Pillowed Crane down is worth a lot.”
Doog: “It must be nice having access to it then. I bet your walker-house has the best pillows.”
Caleb: “Ha!”
Maris: “It makes more sense for us to sell every ounce of down. It’s worth more on the galactic market than it would ever be to us.”
Caleb: “I’d rather sleep on a pillow stuffed with rocks and get more credits than I would want this luxury stuff.”
Maris: “Now you see why he hates my throw pillows so much.”
Doog: “Well folks, that’s Tomenta. This planet has giant birds with fancy down feathers that can be used to make luxury goods. That’s not even the craziest part. Workers, called Pluckers, travel the countryside in walking-houses getting these birds addicted to opiates so they can collect their luxury feathers. Never thought I’d say that exact sentence in my life. Oh well, see ya!”
Note:
Note:
Name: Verdant Skimmer
Species: Tomenta minoris
Height: 8 – 10 ft.
Weight: 90 – 110 lbs.
Description: The Verdant Skimmer is a smaller wading bird commonly found in both the grasslands and the wetlands. Agile and highly vocal, Skimmers feed on invertebrates disturbed by Pillowed and Grass Cranes. Their feathers lack commercial value, but their presence often signals larger cranes are nearby.
Species: Tomenta minoris
Height: 8 – 10 ft.
Weight: 90 – 110 lbs.
Description: The Verdant Skimmer is a smaller wading bird commonly found in both the grasslands and the wetlands. Agile and highly vocal, Skimmers feed on invertebrates disturbed by Pillowed and Grass Cranes. Their feathers lack commercial value, but their presence often signals larger cranes are nearby.
Name: Grass Crane
Species: Tomenta tasteless
Height: 12 – 15 ft.
Weight: 200 – 300 lbs.
Description: The Grass Crane inhabits the open grasslands bordering Tomenta’s swamps. Smaller and lighter than the Pillowed Crane, it possesses white feathers with minimal insulating down. Grass Cranes are skittish and migratory, relying on speed and awareness rather than physical dominance. Unlike their larger swamp-dwelling relatives, they are of little commercial interest due to the inferior quality of their plumage. Also, they don’t taste good.
Species: Tomenta tasteless
Height: 12 – 15 ft.
Weight: 200 – 300 lbs.
Description: The Grass Crane inhabits the open grasslands bordering Tomenta’s swamps. Smaller and lighter than the Pillowed Crane, it possesses white feathers with minimal insulating down. Grass Cranes are skittish and migratory, relying on speed and awareness rather than physical dominance. Unlike their larger swamp-dwelling relatives, they are of little commercial interest due to the inferior quality of their plumage. Also, they don’t taste good.
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Name: Pillowed Crane
Species: Tomenta addictus
Height: 18 – 20 ft.
Weight: 500 – 650 lbs.
Description: The Pillowed Crane is a massive wading bird native to the swamps of Tomenta. As the largest terrestrial animal on the planet, it dominates its marshland territory through size and intimidation rather than speed. Its distinctive blue and turquoise plumage conceals a dense layer of soft insulating down, highly prized in galactic luxury markets. Pillowed Cranes feed primarily on aquatic vegetation and small invertebrates. Though generally territorial and defensive, repeated exposure to certain human-administered substances has significantly altered their behavioral patterns in regions of active harvesting.
Species: Tomenta addictus
Height: 18 – 20 ft.
Weight: 500 – 650 lbs.
Description: The Pillowed Crane is a massive wading bird native to the swamps of Tomenta. As the largest terrestrial animal on the planet, it dominates its marshland territory through size and intimidation rather than speed. Its distinctive blue and turquoise plumage conceals a dense layer of soft insulating down, highly prized in galactic luxury markets. Pillowed Cranes feed primarily on aquatic vegetation and small invertebrates. Though generally territorial and defensive, repeated exposure to certain human-administered substances has significantly altered their behavioral patterns in regions of active harvesting.
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