There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas. 


                                                            LIU Atlas - Cicatrix
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 small, outer-rim planet of Cicatrix. Cicatrix, the innermost planet in its star system, is tidally locked. This means the same side of the planet is always facing the sun. As you can see, Cicatrix has been heavily cratered by thousands of small impact events. Meteors and comets, disturbed and flung inward by the system’s seven gas planets, continuously bombarded Cicatrix during its formation. One of these impact events created Craith, a massive impact crater. The impact event that created Craith threw millions of tons of ejecta and debris into the planet’s atmosphere, which settled near the crater. The browner coloration of this ejecta is still visible on Cicatrix’s surface.”

Doog: “Cicatrix has a thin atmosphere with an average atmospheric pressure of 50.2 kilopascals. This is well below standard pressure. However, in the deep depths of Craith Crater, atmospheric pressure rises to about 87.4 kilopascals. This is still much lower than standard, but it did allow a race of beings to evolve here. They live and work in Craith Crater. That’s where we’re headed.”

Doog: “Craith Crater holds the huge city of Craith. The city, which is built around the crater’s western wall, is home to over twenty million people. Despite being on the planet’s tidally locked “day -side”, Craith is always dark. It’s trapped in the crater’s shadow. This is beneficial though. Cicatrix’s thin atmosphere filters out very little radiation, so direct sunlight could be deadly. Let’s just say, I won’t be working on my tan while I’m here. Ah, I think I see my guide.”

Balafre: “Hey Doog. Welcome to Cicatrix. I’m Walter Balafre. Nice to meet you.”
Doog: “Yeah. Nice to meet you too. So, you’re one of the natives?”
Balafre: “Uh no, I’m human.”
Doog: “Oh…my bad. Sometimes this red visor makes species identification a little tricky. Besides, you have some weird thing going on with you right eye. It’s sort of puffy and it’s not even looking at me.”
Balafre: “Ah, yes. My right eye is artificial. Decompression accident in one of Cicatrix’s mines. There are some dangers of living in a city, like Craith. It’s not easy for humans here.”
Doog: “So, why come here?”
Balafre: “Economic opportunity, I guess. Cicatrix houses some large LIU companies. There’s money to be made here.”

Balafre: “The natives are much better suited for this environment. Here’s some now. We call them the Cica.”
Doog: “What makes them better suited?”
Balafre: “Their darker skin coloration prevents burning when they venture into the sun. Their eyes are suited for seeing in the dark shadows, but can function in the blinding plains as well. Obviously, their bodies can handle the lower atmospheric pressures. You see they are not wearing environmental suits like you or I.”
Doog: “Indeed, but it looks like I’m seeing two species here. Are the Cica the mean, scary looking people or the angry people with long hair?”  
Balafre: “Both. The Cica race exhibits sexual dimorphism.”
Doog: “I’m a big fan of exhibiting anything sexual, but I’ve never heard of dimorphism? And, you’re talking to a guy that’s been to the red light district on Malicanum. Is dimorphism a weird position or something?”
Balafre: “What! No! Sexual dimorphism means that the males and females of the species have different features. The males can be distinguished by their brow markings and bigger eyes. The females have longer hair and more pointed ears.”
Doog: “Ah. Gotcha. Makes sense. I could really get behind this dimorphism thing. No more surprises in the brothel.”

Balafre: “Perhaps we should change the subject.”
Doog: “Yeah, good idea. I don’t want to relive that brothel surprise anyway. So, you said earlier that Cicatrix houses some big LIU companies. Anything I know?”
Balafre: “Well, after our previous discussion, I’m not sure I care to guess what you know or don’t know. But, they are some pretty big companies, so I’m sure you heard of them. Cicatrix is home to Augmented Utilities and Trans-Steel.”
Doog: “I actually have heard of those. I mean, who hasn’t? They’re some of the biggest companies in the galaxy.”
Balafre: “Yes. Both are large and highly successful. They are known across the universe. Their economic success has transformed Craith from a small farming village into the high-tech city it is today.”

Balafre: “Both companies are headquartered on the far end of the city, closer to the mineral rich ejecta fields. In order to tour these areas, we’ll need to catch a maglev tram. They’re the best way to get around on Craith.”
Doog: “Sounds better than walking.”
Balafre: “A lot better. Craith is a multi-tiered city that stretches for over fifty miles. It could take us days to get there otherwise.”
Doog: “Did I mention, I love trams?”

Doog: “Alright, let’s hop on. What are we waiting for?”
Balafre: “We need to purchase tickets first, besides, I’m not sure this is the right train.”
Doog: “Did I catch the word ’purchase’ in there? I’m fresh out of credits.”
Balafre: “Sigh. I guess I meant, ‘I have to purchase some tickets’.”

Balafre: “I should be able to get us taken care of at this ticket kiosk.”
Doog: “Ah cool, holographic glass. I’ve always been a fan of this stuff.”
Balafre: “Yeah, it’s pretty neat. It’s made by Augmented Utilities, one of the companies here. They specialize in making computerized glass. It’s useful for interactive screens and heads-up displays.”
Doog: “Now, if they could just figure out how to write basic, they’d be set. I can’t read any of the gibberish on here.” 
Balafre: “It’s not gibberish, it’s Presciant. Like many outer-rim worlds, the Cica adopted the Presciant script instead of Basic. That’s why the Augmented Utilities’ logo looks the way it does. It’s written in both Basic and Presciant.”

Doog: “Alright folks, Balafre and myself have secured passage on a tram so we can cross the enormous city of Craith. As we’ve journeyed through the city, I’ve notice a few odd things, like this crowded plaza here. What’s going on here Balafre?”
Balafre: “Craith is famous for its barzas. Barza is just a portmanteau of bar and plaza. These barzas are communal gathering places where residents meet for drinks and food. They’re found every couple blocks.”
Doog: “Sounds like we should get a barza crawl going. Forget this tram.”
Balafre: “A crawl does sound good. The Cica’s moss wine is galaxy renowned, but there’s a problem.”
Doog: “You don’t have enough credits for the both of us?”

Balafre: “Well, that. But you’re forgetting one thing…you can’t drink in your environmental suit.”
Doog: “Dang. Forgot about that. Wait, I see lots of people drinking in their suits.”
Balafre: “Many of the non-native races that live here have made modifications to their suits. It’s a must when living in this type of environment for an extended period of time.”
Doog: “Fine. I guess we should carry on…sober.”


Forty Minutes Later…

Balafre: “Ah, finally. The end of the line.”
Doog: “It’s a lot brighter here.”
Balafre: “Yes. This section of the city experiences direct sunlight. It can be bright.”
Doog: “Are we in danger?”
Balafre: “No. Our suits are designed to handle these levels of radiation.”
Doog: “Well, the sign says danger.”
Balafre: “It’s referring to the areas beyond fields.  It’s also a warning about atmospheric pressure, not the sunlight. You really ought to learn Presciant...especially in your line of work.”
Doog: “Beyond the fields? Like agriculture fields?”

Balafre: “Yes. The Cica grow a moss-like crop. It’s the only native, natural food here. It only grows in this region of the crater, where there is ample light and air concentrations. Prior to the LIU’s arrival, the Cica relied solely on this crop for survival, but now they import other foods from around the galaxy. This crop is mostly used to make moss wine.”
Doog: “Wine that I can not taste…”
Balafre: “Why don’t you whine about it? Ha, ha… I couldn’t resist.”

Doog: “Bad jokes aside, what’s next? Are we touring the moss fields? Are we spending lot’s of time with this agriculture? Am I doing some sort of jumping maneuver to get down there? If so, do you have a noose I can borrow before I jump?”

Balafre: “You can get the general idea from here. I think we can skip the agriculture.  Let’s head up to the ejecta fields.”

Balafre: “Remember, Cicatrix has very low atmospheric pressures. As we ascend, the pressure drops even further. It’s only about 50 kilopascals up there.”
Doog: “I’ve got a suit on. I’ll be fine, right?”
Balafre: “Yes, of course, but be wary. We’re entering an industrial zone. Suit punctures or other wardrobe malfunctions could be deadly.”
Doog: “Got it.”

Balafre: “The impactor that struck Cicatrix was composed of various silicate alloys, mostly silicon dioxide. When combined with the natural minerals of Cicatrix, the silicates can be formed into various forms of glass. The first step of the process involves mining the silicates and additives from the ejecta fields.”
Doog: “The ejecta fields are where the debris landed from the Craith impact, correct?”
Balafre: “Yes.”

Balafre: “The Cica developed several powerful mining mechs to make ore retrieval easier and safer.”
Doog: “I see the Cica can survive the low pressure, even up here.”
Balafre: “Yes, but for limited periods. Too much exposure at these pressures can even be dangerous for the Cica. That’s why the mechs make mining easier and safer.”

Balafre: “The LIU Quad Driller weakens the crater walls by drilling in targeted spots. Larger Chipper Mechs collapse weakened sections of walls. The smaller Loader Mechs break up the debris further and load it into trains.”

Doog: “Seems standard enough. Well, except this big guy. Why’s he called a stripper mech? Does he run on single credits or what?”
Balafre: “Sigh…I said chipper, not stripper.”
Doog: “Ah, makes a bit more sense that way.”

Doog: “Whatever the mech’s called, it sure has a cool sword.”
Balafre: “Not a sword. It’s a vibrator blade.”
Doog: “Vibrator? Wait, are really you sure this thing isn’t a Stripper Mech?”
Balafre: “Yes, I’m sure! It’s a chipper mech. The blades called a vibrator blade because it vibrates at a super-high frequency. It can cut through anything. It would cut through you like butter.”
Doog: “If it cut through me, it would be more like lard then butter. Anyway, anything else to see in the ejecta fields?”
Balafre: “No. Let’s head to where the collected minerals are processed.”

Balafre: “Trans-Steel is one of the largest LIU companies. They make hardened glass products that are used in spaceship canopies and space station windows. They have terrestrial uses as well, mostly in armored glass. Essentially, you’ll find trans-steel anywhere you want a window, but you don’t want the risk of a traditional window, if that makes sense.”
Doog: “Yeah, I guess. How’s it made?”
Balafre: “The exact specifications are a closely guarded secret. Trans-Steel is sold and shipped to other galaxies. We wouldn’t want to give up its secrets. We’ve only been given access to this section of the factory for a few minutes. There’s more to see at AU’s factory, if you’d like to move on.”

Balafre: “Augmented Utilities, or AU, makes holographic glass used in interactive screens and heads-up-displays. Cicatrix’s natural metallic minerals are combined with advanced silicate glass to form these holographic window panels. They are in use all around the galaxy.”

Balafre: “Most of the factory is automated, but it does employ a few of the native Cica as well. It pumps out hundreds of panels everyday.”

Doog: “I can’t help but to be a little bit nervous here.”
Balafre: “Why’s that?”
Doog: “I’m one of the galaxy’s clumsiest citizens, and I’m standing in the middle of a glass factory…”
Balafre: “Well, maybe we should leave then.”
Doog: “Must resist urge to touch things. Must not pick up and throw random items. Must…”
Balafre: “Yeah, it’s time to go.”

Doog: “Well folks, Cicatrix is a pretty interesting place. A race of beings, called the Cica, live in one of the planet’s large impact craters. The crater offers shade, higher atmospheric pressure, and an abundant source of minerals. These minerals are used to produce advanced forms of glass, like Trans-Steel and Holo-Glass. They have some cool plaza bars too, so I’m contemplating making some alterations to my suit so I can indulge. Decompression…psst…who worries about that. Well, see ya.”



Note: Doog spent the remainder of his stay on Cicatrix in a hyperbaric chamber with minor injuries due to suit decompression. Turns out he’s allergic to moss wine too. Not his best decision. 

There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas. 


                                                            LIU Atlas - Fluitantis
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 icy world of Fluitantis. Fluitantis orbits retrograde to the other planets in its system, indicating that it is a captured body. In fact, it was once much icier, but its new location in the system has warmed it considerably. Now, its ice is only situated near its poles. Some of this ice occasionally calves off the polar masses and forms relatively stable icebergs that float around the planet.”

Doog: “Several of these icebergs are inhabited, including this larger iceberg, called Cikuq. Cikuq is a LIU settlement. It acts as a liaison point between the LIU and the native race, the Ukiuk.”

Doog: “The iceberg, Cikuq, has been stable for over fifty years. It currently drifts on the Anyu East Current, which takes the iceberg on a circumpolar route around the planet.”

Doog: “Cikuq is home to a large spaceport that imports and exports cargo to and from the planet. That’s where we are headed.”

Tinny: “Hey, welcome to Fluitantis. I’m Export Specialist Theo Tinsdale. Everyone calls me Tinny.”
Doog: “Thanks, Tinny. It’s a little too cold here for my tastes, but I guess it could be worse.”
Tinny: “Actually, it could be a lot worse. Cikuq meanders north and south as it floats around the planet. We’re in a southern portion of this meander right now, so it’s a bit warmer. Of course, we wouldn’t want to stay down here too long, or we may experience some melting.”
Doog: “Yeah, I guess that wouldn’t be good. It must be strange living on an iceberg.”
Tinny: “It’s not all that strange. It’s pretty similar to living on any landmass, I suppose. This one is just made of ice.”

Doog: “Yeah, but I’ve never lived on a landmass that could melt at any moment.”
Tinny: “Cikuq won’t melt anytime soon. It’s pretty stable. We lose a few centimeters every year, but this thing is massive. It will be around several more centuries. The only true danger is striking another iceberg.”
Doog: “Well, that’s comforting.”
Tinny: “Relax, we’re monitoring everything closely. You’ll be in no danger while you’re here. I mean, the Ukiuk evolved on icebergs similar to this over a period of millions of years. That should lead some credence on the stability of these icebergs.”
Doog: “I suppose. So, when do I get to meet one of these Ucky Yucks? They sound gross.”
Tinny: “Looks like you’ll be meeting one soon. Here comes your guide.”
Doog: “Wait, you’re not my guide?”

Tinny: “No, this guy is.”
Agloolik: “HEEEEY!”
Doog: “What the @&%$! Run! Everyone run!”

Tinny: “I probably should have gave him a description first.”
Agloolik: “Yeah, typical human response. I guess it didn’t help when I screamed. I have to remember to clear my throat first.”
Tinny: “Should we stop him?”
Agloolik: “Nah, it looks like he’s about to pass out already. I don’t think he’s getting all that far.”

Agloolik: “Sorry if I frightened you.”
Doog: “What? That? I wasn’t scared. I just…uh…was exercising. Yeah, exercising. You know how important exercising is to me. So, uh…you’re a native, huh?”
Agloolik: “Yes. My name is Agloolik. I am a trade specialist for my tribe. I interact with Tinny, and trade my tribe’s goods to the LIU."
Doog: “Trade? Do you guys produce goods?”
Agloolik: “Lots of goods. Come on, follow me.”

Agloolik: “This is Cikuq City, a trade town. My people trade our wares to various stores in the city in return for various LIU goods.”
Doog: “Apparently, some of these goods are wieners.”
Agloolik: “What can I say, we’re are a food driven species.”

Doog: “Can’t fault you for that? So, what do you guys trade for wieners?
Agloolik: “Lots of things, but mostly animal products. Fluitantis is home to several unique species that we farm or harvest. If you’re up for a journey, I can show some of the operations to you.”
Doog: “It depends. How much a journey are we talking about? I blew most of my energy reserves running in fear earlier…I mean exercising.”

Agloolik: “Don’t worry, most of our operations are on other icebergs. We’ll be riding on a boat for most of the journey.”
Doog: “I can handle that. Wait, I’m not rowing, am I?”

Agloolik: “No, we used to row, which made traveling a bit more challenging, but we use portable motors now. Thanks, in part, to trades with the LIU.”

Agloolik: “ My people, the Ukiuk, were originally more detached and disconnected. Each tribe had settled its own iceberg. Interactions were rare. Under the LIU, things have changed. Communication and travel upgrades have united our people. We now have common grounds, like Cikuq, to interact. And, thanks to LIU policies, each tribe has become more specialized in its various industry. We are more productive then ever.”
Doog: “It’s refreshing to meet a race that actual welcomes the changes brought about by the LIU.”
Agloolik: “I’m not going to lie, those wieners play a large part in our happiness. Have you had one? Man, they’re like little cylinders of heaven.”

Doog: “Whoa! What’s that!?”
Agloolik: “It’s an Oogrooq. It’s more commonly known as the Fluitanten Walrus.”
Doog: “It’s huge!”
Agloolik: “Yes. The Oogrooq is one of the largest aquatic mammals in the galaxy.”
Doog: “You farm these?”

Agloolik: “No, we hunt them. The Oogrooq have not been tamed. It’s a dangerous business, but well worth the pay off.”

Doog: “What do you get from walruses?”
Agloolik: “Lots of stuff: meat, leather, blubber, and even bones. They are all used as food and building materials. The Oogrooq is a staple of life on Fluitantis.”
Doog: “The LIU trades for this stuff? I’ve never seen a restaurant with walrus meat on their menu.”
Agloolik: “No, most of the materials obtained from the Oogrooq are of no use to the LIU. We hunt them mostly for our own benefit, but there is one thing of interest to the LIU.”
Doog: “What’s that?”

Agloolik: “Ivory, from the Oogrooq’s tusk.”
Doog: “Ivory?”
Agloolik: “Yes. It’s used in many items, particularly jewelry. There are, of course, other sources of ivory in the galaxy, but we are one of the largest exporters. We hunt and kill almost twice the amount of Oogrooq these days, mostly for the ivory.”
Doog: “Are the populations sturdy enough for this type of production?”
Agloolik: “For now. We may need to slow down production in a few years.”
Doog: “Fun stuff. Who doesn’t like slaughtering animals for jewelry. So, what’s next?”

Agloolik: “This iceberg, Desna Kaskae, is my homeland.”

Doog: “It’s a beautiful iceberg, Agloolik. Lots of scenery…” 
Agloolik: “It may not be much to look at, but Desna Kaskae has been the home to my tribe for thousands of years. This iceberg is more stable due to its northern position. It actually grows a few inches each year.”

Doog: “I’ve definitely lived in worse places, but this place looks a little barren.”
Agloolik: “We don’t need much shelter to survive. Our thick fur keeps us protected. Towns like these serve more as communal gathering places, where we store and process goods. We also raise various native creatures here.”
Doog: “Raise?”
Agloolik: “Yes, many of the animals native to Fluitantis are raised and then sold to the LIU.”
Doog: “For food?”
Agloolik: “No, as working animals. For instance, the Amaguq over there. It is a large powerful creature that can easily survive in colder temperatures. We breed this species for sale to the LIU. It‘s a beast of burden.”
Doog: “Looks like some sort of wolf-deer.”
Agloolik: “Yes, I have heard that comparison before. The Amaguq are not similar to deer though. They are carnivorous; they too eat the meat of the Oogrooq.”
Doog: “Seems dangerous to have a beast of burden that could eat you at any moment.”
Agloolik: “It’s no more dangerous than owning dogs. The Amaguq are pack animals, and they’re very loyal and tame when raised correctly.”

Agloolik: “Besides the Amaguq, we also raise Denigii. They too are carnivores. They use the fleshy organ on their snout to smell out small rodents that burrow into the ice.”
Doog: “They look a little fragile to be beast of burden.”
Agloolik: “Yes. The Denigii are used differently. Their advanced olfactory sense make them a useful animal to the LIU. They can be trained to be detection animals.”
Doog: “You don’t mean…like…drug-sniffers, do you?”
Agloolik: “I suppose they could be used for that, if trained properly. However, the LIU puts more weight on their ability to sniff out hidden rodents. Denigii are often used to scan food exports before departure. That way, there’s no stowaway rodents.”
Doog: “They could probably use a few of those on Foetida.”
Agloolik: “Where?”
Doog: “Never mind.  So, do you guys raise anything else?”
Agloolik: “No, but we have a few more exports worth seeing. We need to head north.”

 Agloolik: “This is the northern iceberg, Kinguyakkii. It rests permanently at the planet’s north pole. It is fully stable and grows several feet each year. Kinguyakkii is sometimes referred to as the mother, as it gave birth to many of the icebergs via calving.”
Doog: “It’s certainly much colder and snowier.”
Agloolik: “Yes. Warmer, more humid air, from the equator, falls as snow when it cools over Kinguyakkii. It helps add to the iceberg’s mass.”
Doog: “What exactly do you produce here? Snowballs? Snowman?”
Agloolik: “No, with the help of the LIU, we produce various gases.”
Doog: “Gases?”

Agloolik: “Yes. The northern iceberg is made primarily of clathrate hydrates which trap valuable gases.”
Doog: “Made of what?”
Agloolik: “Clathrate hydrates. I know, it sounds fancy, but it’s a pretty simple concept. In laymen’s terms, the ice freezes into a lattice structure and traps various atoms of gas. Pretty much just means that there are gases trapped in the ice.”

Doog: “And you harvest this gas?”
Agloolik: “Yes. The majority of the gases collected are lighter, noble gases like Helium, Neon, and Argon. They usually escape a planet’s atmosphere after creation due to their light weight, but here, on Fluitantis, they were trapped in the rapidly formed ice.”

Agloolik: “We can climb to the top of the rig, if you want to see how the whole process works.”
Doog: “Pass.”
Agloolik: “Whew. Glad you said that. Well, if we’re not headed up, then we need to head down to reach our final industry.”
Doog: “Down?”

Agloolik: “Yes, down. The clathrate hydrate extraction leaves pockets and tunnels in the ice mass. They’re spread all throughout the iceberg. The extraction also leaves behind something else.”

Doog: “Crystals?”
Agloolik: “Sort of. Under the right conditions, clathrate hydrates can form a more exotic form of ice, called super-ionic ice. It is similar in structure to the basic hydrate, but much more energetic. In essence, the ices in the deepest regions of the iceberg are under enough pressures that the oxygen crystallizes, and the hydrogen atoms float freely within this oxygen lattice.”
Doog: “What?”

Agloolik: “It’s a solid hydrogen-based fuel. It remains relatively stable until disturbed. At that point, the oxygen lattice fails and super-ionic ice will instantly decompress and explode, releasing lots of energy.”
Doog: “Why would anyone want that?”
Agloolik: “It’s used primarily as an emergency fuel. If kept under sufficient temperatures or at proper pressures, the crystals are like little packets of energy.”
Doog: “Like an icy charcoal?”
Agloolik: “Err…sort of. Lot more energetic though. You don’t want to barbecue with this stuff. It’s often stored in emergency batteries inside large capital ships.”
Doog: “And this is the only planet where you can obtain these crystals?”
Agloolik: “Oh, no. It’s pretty abundant, but most super-ionic ice is located in the crushing depths of ice giant planets. Fluitantis is rare in that the super-ionic ice is located in a readily accessible area.”
Doog: “Fair enough.”

Doog: “Well folks, Fluitantis is an interesting place. All activity here takes place on large floating icebergs. The native Ukiuk race calls these icebergs home. They trade the natural goods of Fluitantis, like walrus ivory and beasts of burden, in return from various goods from the LIU. More importantly, they produce noble gases and solid fuels that are in high demand across the galaxy. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go back to Cikuq and try one of those wieners. Apparently, they are quite delicious. See ya!”


Note: Fluitantis’ moon, Fluito, orbits retrograde to Fluitantis’ spin, meaning it was captured by Fluitantis around the same time Fluitantis was captured by its star. Fluito’s gravitational pull, increased by its retrograde motion, creates the strong ocean currents on Fluitantis that keeps the icebergs moving continuously. 

There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas. 


                                                            LIU Atlas - Invenit Servus

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 planet, Invenit Servus. Invenit Servus is volcanically active, and it’s large calderas are home to many geothermal features. Oh yeah…and it’s also home to a LIU prison labor camp, my new home for the next few weeks.”

Doog: “That’s right, the crew and I have been sentenced to hard labor for our little incident with the Progenitors. I guess it could be worse though. We could have been sentenced to actual jail time. At least this way, we all get to suffer together.”

Mike: “Yeah, this is way better… did you forget about the whole labor part?”
Cam: “Let’s find Doog they said. Let’s lie to the LIU. What could possibly go wrong?” 
Timbo: “The worst part is, we never found Doog. He found us. We could have done almost anything other than what we did, and everything would have been fine. But nooo…I listened to you guys.”
Oldie: “I don’t know why you guys are complaining. Sentencing me to hard labor is practically a death sentence. I’m too old for labor…even the easy kind.”
Doog: “Alright fine, you babies. It’s not ideal, but it’s still better…”

ZAP!
Doog: “Ouch!”
SL4V3DR1V3R: “Silence. This portion of your sentence does not require speaking.”
Oldie: “Hehe. That cheered me up a bit.”

ZAP!
SL4V3DR1V3R: “Silence. This portion of your sentence does not require speaking.”
Oldie: “And…the cheer is gone.”

Warden: “Listen up. I am Warden Dangolin. My Productivity Bots and myself will be your overseers while you complete your sentences. You will follow all commands we issue. Escape attempts, violence, or poor work ethic will not be tolerated. Don’t make this any harder than it needs to be. Fall into line and follow me.”

Warden: “This is Cell #2, your home during your sentence. You will be locked inside this communal structure when you are not working in the field.”
Mike: “What exactly will we be doing?”

Warden: “Invenit Servus is home to several thousand super-heated caldera pools like this. Several different types of extremophile bacteria call these pools home. Some of these bacteria are useful to the LIU. You will be harvesting these useful extremophile bacteria for the duration of your sentence.”
Oldie: “Sounds easy enough.”
Doog: “Yeah. You guys should have no problem with that.”
Mike: “What do you mean, ‘you guys‘? You’re a part of this too. Don’t think your getting out of work.”
Cam: “Besides, you’re the best at catching weird bacteria, if your history is any indication.”

Warden: “He didn’t tell ya, did he?”
Oldie: “Tell us what?”
Doog: “Um…well, I’ve been instructed to film an episode while we’re here. So, I won’t be in on the labor, at least, for right now.”
Mike: “WHAT! It’s YOUR fault we’re here!”
Cam: “I guess that’s why they call it justice, because it‘s just us.”
Warden: “Don’t get too flustered. You’re here for a few weeks. I don’t imagine this will take more than a day. Your buddy, Doog, will be joining you shortly. Now, let’s get to work.”

Doog: “So, tell me about this bacteria.”
Warden: “There are several species that call these pools home. They’re extremophiles, specifically, thermophiles. They have the ability to live in extreme temperatures. As you can see, the water in the middle of these pools is still clear. It’s just too hot. But, as you move outward, the bacteria become more prevalent. The water is slightly cooler there.”
Doog: “What makes these rings?”
Warden: “Each species is specialized for varying degrees of water temperature. Each ring is a different colony of bacteria. Each, has colonized a specific temperature range within the pool.”

Doog: “And you just go around and suck the bacteria up?”
Warden: “Well, I don’t, but the prisoners do. A track was installed that runs alongside a chain of these caldera pools. Prisoners drag a collection cart down this track and pump the bacteria into the tank.”
Doog: “All the bacteria?”
Warden: “Not all. Only the yellow and orange-colored bacteria is of any use to us. Of course, some of the other bacteria is inadvertently collected too, but it doesn’t hurt anything.”

Doog: “It doesn’t look super fun, but it definitely doesn’t look like it is all that hard. Couldn’t the LIU think of something more demanding for hard labor? Not that I’m complaining or anything.”
Warden: “You’re right. As far as labor camps go, this is one of the easier ones. There’s not anything too physically demanding. It is, however, very dangerous work. You won’t find anyone volunteering to do this job. That’s why we force prisoners to do it.”
Doog: “What makes it so dangerous? The hot water?”
Warden: “Partially. This whole labor camp is on volcanic grounds. There’s the dangers associated with that, like boiling water and noxious gases, but the true danger lies in the bacteria being collected.”
Doog: “Does it cause disease?”
Warden: “No, nothing like that. I’ll explain on the way. Follow me.”

Warden: “The prisoners eventually push the cart to the end of the track here. They then pump their collection of bacteria down into an underground tank. It’s processed in an underground laboratory.”

Warden: “Come on, follow me.”

Doog: “We come to it at last…the hard labor.”
Warden: “Huh?”
Doog: “It’s a stair joke.”
Warden: “Oh…”

Warden: “This is the laboratory. The bacteria and its byproduct are processed here.”
Doog: “Byproduct?”
Warden: “Yes. The bacteria’s byproduct is what makes them so valuable; it’s also what makes this job so dangerous. The orange and yellow-colored bacteria produce a powerful mutagen that helps stave off the other species of bacteria. If you remember, these bacteria are in the middle rings. They are fighting off invasions from the other bacterial colonies from both sides. They must protect their territory.”
Doog: “And these mute gems help fight off the other bacteria?”
Warden: “It’s mutagens, but yes. This chemical causes mutations to the other bacteria’s reproductive organs. It essentially stops them from reproducing in its territory.”
Doog: “Why in the heck would you want to collect that….unless…oh man, it works on people. Doesn't it?”

Warden: “Yes. These mutagens work on all types of reproductive cells, from nearly every species. It’s a universal contraceptive.”
Doog: “That’s why no one wants to collect it! No one wants to be permanently sterilized.”
Warden: “Now, now…don’t get all worked up.  I mean, sure, there's an insanely high risk of exposure for the prisoners collecting the bacteria, but no one said anything about it being permanent. If you are exposed to the mutagen, it will wear off…in a few years.”
Doog: “A few years!?”
Warden: “Yes. It’s a non-surgical, long-term contraceptive.”

Warden: “The mutagen is separated, bottled up, and then shipped to off-world factories, where it is converted into a pill. Like I said before, it works on males and females of almost all known species.”
Doog: “I’m sorry, but I can’t think about anything else right now. What’s my exposure level so far? How many years are we talking about? Will everything still work? I need to get out of here!”

Doog: “I get it now! That’s why this place is called a penal colony! You come here and your penal system never works again!”
Warden: “Actually, that’s not what penal means. It’s a form of the word penalty.”
Doog: “Whatever! Oh…and hard labor! Another one of your play on words! This is cruel and unusual punishment!”
Warden: “If you don’t relax, I’m going to call down a Productivity Bot.”
Doog: “Don’t you mean a Re-productivity Bot!”
Warden: “Well, I’ve had enough. Time for you to get to work. The tour is over.”

Warden: “Don’t go and get everyone else worked up. It’s better if they don’t know what’s going on here.”
Doog: “So your throwing me and my future children out into the mutagen fields? Thanks a lot, Warden.”
Warden: “Don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time.”

Doog: “Well folks, Invenit Servus is a lot worse than I thought. They collect some sort of super-contraceptive from the bacteria that live in the planet’s geothermal pools. It’s dangerous to collect because it exposes the collectors to high doses of the contraceptive. That’s why they force prisoners, like my crew and I, to do the collecting. I’m going to have to find a way to get out of this! Well, see ya!”
ZAP! 
SL4V3DR1V3R: “Your summation has ended. Return to work, immediately.”

Note:

Doog: “Guys! We got to get out of here!”
Oldie: “In case you didn’t notice, we’re in prison. I don’t think we can leave anytime we want.”
Mike: “Yeah. Besides, I’m having a ball. Doing actual physical work is really rewarding.”
Doog: “No Mike, you’re not having a ball. In fact, it’s quite the opposite….”


Bonus Note:


Day #2 of Sentence

Mike: “Doog seems in better spirits today.”
Cam: “Yeah. I guess.”

Cam: “So good, in fact, that he’s not even flinching when he gets shocked by that productivity prod.”
Mike: “Yeah…what’s up with that? Wait a minute…that’s not Doog, is it?”
Cam: “I’m guessing the Doog Dummy is finally getting used for its intended purpose.”
Mike: “That @#%&*@$! He’s going to get away with it, isn’t he?”
Cam: “Always does…”

There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but only one man, Terrance "Doog" McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.


                                                     LIU Atlas - The Progenitors


The Ludgonian Industrial Union’s galaxy contains billions of stars and 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 Season Eight of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. If you watched the season finale of Season Seven, then you know I disappeared for a bit. I activated a ancient device, by accident, apparently, which transported me by unknown means to another world.”

Magistrate: “Why are you talking like that? Just tell us what happened.”
Doog: “I am, I am. But I’m also trying to make a TV Show, you know, for efficiency and stuff. The people are going to want to hear about the Progenitors.”
Magistrate: “If we don’t like what we hear, no one is ever going to see this. We’ll insure that you disappear for real this time… if you know what I mean.”
Doog: “Indeed. May I continue?”

Doog: “The travel I underwent in the device is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, at least, while I‘ve been sober. I’ve traveled via wormhole on a few occasions, like on Ignea Avis and Saccer Numos, but this was totally different. It was almost like I was standing still and the galaxy was expanding around me. Like a pocket of the galaxy had been locked away and finally opened. A bright star was the last to unfold. I was later told this star is called Primus Sidus. The Progenitors say it was the galaxy’s first star.”

Doog: “After the star emerged into existence, I started to move forward, but I didn’t see any planets. Before I knew what has happening, space began to unfold further. I was now in some sort of room, standing before a council of strange beings. They turned out to be the Progenitors.”

Doog: “Being the superb journalist that I am, I deflected their initial questions to buy myself time…”

Magistrate: “You ordered tacos. We saw that bit of footage. Not exactly first contact material.”
Doog: “Ok, fine…I panicked. Tacos were the first thing that came to mind. When you work a job that barely allows you to afford food, it’s hard not to have tacos on the mind. Speaking of which, where were we on the whole taco thing? Are there tacos coming or what?”
Magistrate: “There’s a bullet coming, if you say the word taco one more time. Please continue.”

Doog: “Ok, where was I? Oh yeah, so, my deflection worked. The Progenitors agreed that my travels may have caused some physical stresses. They were unsure how other beings, specifically, corporeal beings, would handle their transportation process. They took me into this amazing room.”
Magistrate: “What made it so amazing?”

Doog: “Practically anything I dreamed up sprang into existence. All my favorite foods and drinks just suddenly appeared right before me. It was a miraculous feast. I began to wonder what other things were possible in this magical room…”

Doog: “…but the Progenitors started to draw the line.”

Doog: “As I recovered from a food coma, I finally had to face some questions from the Progenitors. They were interested in how I solved their device. It was apparently left behind as some sort of test. Only a truly advanced race could have figured it out. Judging by how much the Progenitors talked up this device, I started to have doubts that my whole ‘look at it sideways’ approach was right. I tried to explain things as vaguely as possible.”

Progenitor: “I don’t understand. Perhaps some of your language’s syntax is being mistranslated. You said that you solved it by looking through different perspectives? Are you referring to dimensional perspectives?” 
Doog: “Uh, yeah. Totally. My race likes to speak in metaphors and stuff. You probably can‘t translate those…or something.”

Doog: “Anyway, after deflecting more questions, I finally turned the tables on the Progenitors. It was time for this journalist to get some information of my own.”

Doog: “Can I get your taco recipe? How did you make those appear like that? Can you make that happen on my ship?”

Magistrate: “Of all the questions you could have asked…you asked for a taco recipe!?”
Doog: “Relax, relax. I had other questions eventually. I found out a lot about the Progenitors.”
Magistrate: “Like what?”

Doog: “Well, I guess I should start at the beginning. The Progenitors is just the name we gave them. They refer to themselves as the Primum, which means ‘first’ in their language. They were the first sentient beings to emerge in this galaxy. They know this to be true, as their star, Primus Sidus, was one of the first stars to form in the fledgling galaxy.”

Doog: “Their homeworld, known as Vita Fons, was the system’s only planet. The stars of this age contained very few heavy elements or metals, so a planet like Vita Fons was extremely rare. The Primum evolved over the course of hundreds of millions of years, from single cell organisms, to sea-creatures, to land animals, to upright sentient beings. Pretty standard evolution stuff, or so I’m told. I may have missed a few parts of that whole process.”

Doog: “The Progenitors…excuse me…the Primum, were quick to master the basics of civilization: language, art, science, law, et cetera. Their culture quickly advanced. Violence, war, and resource competition were never part of this culture. It wasn’t in their genes. It allowed for a cooperative society that focused on survival, science, and satisfaction.” 

Doog: “With this mindset, the Primum advanced exponentially. They made great strides in science and technology. Eventually, they set their sights off world and became the galaxy’s first interstellar explorers.”

Doog: “As their technology advanced, the Primum explored more and more of the actively forming galaxy. However, at this point in galactic history, there were no other sentient beings to be found. Most of the worlds they encountered were too new or still too hostile for life. The Primum realized that the galaxy was a pretty lonely place.” 

Doog: “The Primum abandoned their hope of finding companionship in the stars, at least, for a while. This started a new age on Vita Fons, known as the Era of Self…or something like that. Food coma hit hard for a bit, and I did a bit of intermittent napping. Anyway, the Primum began focusing more on bettering themselves. I guess you can call it a period of introspection. The Primum would emerge from this era, which lasted millions of years, completely different than before.” 

Doog: “The Primum underwent many further forms of evolution during this period. Many of these were purposeful, physical manipulations of the body. Cybernetics and nanotechnology transformed the Primum from the corporeal beings they once were, to the energy beings they are now. Things got really deep from there. They were getting all philosophical and stuff. They said that all life is made from energy. Sometimes it is trapped in a physical restraint, like a body. They had only freed themselves from their physical restraints…or something like that.”

Doog: “Anywho, I was getting a bit sluggish. So, we stopped for a bit of dessert.”
Magistrate: “Feel free to cut out these impertinent segments of information.”
Doog: “Excuse me sir, but dessert is never irrelevant.”

Doog: “With millions of years passing, the Primum once gain set their eyes on exploration. Life, it seems, was now prevalent in the galaxy. Thousands of cultures of all imaginable forms had emerged during the Primum’s absence. Most were not very advanced.”

Doog: “The Primum’s energy bodies were not very viable away from Primus Sidus, their star, so they used advanced exo-suits when exploring. The primitive cultures at that time were mesmerized by the mechanical suits, often misinterpreting…”

Doog: “…the Primum as gods. The Primum found that it was difficult to have meaningful interaction with these lesser evolved species. I guess it is like finding an ant for the first time and trying to discuss poetry with it.”

Doog: “Many of the interactions between the Primum and other species led to negative changes to the latter. These species developed varying religions and mythology based on the Primum. This slowed their progress in science and technology. Varying religious views led to infighting and war. The Primum were dejected to have caused such a ripple in these species’ development. They agreed to once again retreat for a period of introspection.”

Doog: “Before retreating though, they made one last disturbing discovery. They had been too eager to explore the stars before the Era of Self. They had failed to take appropriate precautions during their explorations. They had, in fact, spread microorganisms from their homeworld to the millions of worlds they had visited. Many of these organisms evolved to cope with these new environments. The Primum had inadvertently seeded the galaxy with life."

Magistrate: “Are you saying that the Progenitor created all the races of the galaxy?”
Doog: “Not intentionally, and not every species. But you’ll note that many of the species in this galaxy have very similar features. Bi-pedal, eyes, mouth, vocal structures, and so on. The reason we are so similar, is because many of us evolved from a common microorganism. In fact, the Tironians and the Hiemiens, are just two of the millions of species that evolved from the microorganisms, that just so happen to have evolved similarly to the Primum.”
Magistrate: “So it’s more a convergent evolution thing?”
Doog: “I guess it’s a little bit of both. We are very similar at the core, but also very different. At this point, we share very little in common genetically, but at one point, we were all practically the same.”
Magistrate: “This is, of course, what you recollect from the Progenitors. You may be remembering incorrectly. We’ve seen your record, everything you’ve said here must be taken with a grain of salt.”
Doog: “I’m pretty sure I got that part right, but you can believe what you believe.”
Magistrate: “Noted. And where are these Progenitors now?”

Doog: “They have returned to introspection. They’re afraid their return will cause more damage. They do interact with us through various means though. They left behind clues to their existence that only advanced races could solve, including the star gardens and the temple on Euripus.”
Magistrate: “Yes, but, physically, where are they? Where is Primus Sidus and Vita Fons?”

Doog: “I honestly have no idea. According to the Primum, they have hidden their world from the rest of the galaxy until more species truly awaken, whatever that means.”
Magistrate: “Have we not awakened? We have reversed engineered many of the Progenitors’ technologies. Do they fear us?”
Doog: “I’m not sure, but I don’t think they necessarily mean technologically. I think they are looking for intellectual equals. I’m sure the LIU doesn’t care what I think, but I think the science behind the temple on Euripus is the key to finding the Progenitors.”
Magistrate: “So, you don’t know how to find them again?”
Doog: “I don’t know how I found them in the first place. I think they figured that out after a while. They began pressing the issue on solving the Euripus device. They asked how many levels of space we’ve found. I could only name three: hyperspace, subspace, and real space. That apparently was the nail in the coffin.”
Magistrate: “So there is more?”
Doog: “You’re asking the wrong guy.”
Magistrate: “Very well.”

Magistrate: “We appreciate you being so forthcoming. Of course, we’ll need to re-interview you a few hundred times to make sure we have all the information.”
Doog: “Then I’m free? What about my crew?”
Magistrate: “Free? Nope. You guys will, at the least, being doing some hard labor for your actions. After that, well, the LIU Executives will decide.”
Doog: “Hmm...and the taco situation? How will that be resolved?”
Magistrate: “I told you I was going to shoot you in the face if you continued with these taco requests…”
Doog: “Well yeah, but that was before the whole hard labor thing. I thought I’d risk it. Face shot might be better than labor.”

Doog: “Well folks, the Primum were pretty interesting. They are much more advanced than I could ever explain. They are rightfully referred to as the Progenitors, as it is evident that they are a common ancestor to almost all advanced races in the galaxy. Besides that, they have also been ingrained in galactic culture. They are worshiped by some. Their technology helps others. Even their language, and the names they gave all the planets, play important roles in the galaxy. I wish I had more time to figure out even more. Maybe we will advance enough to visit them in a official capacity next time. Who knows. See ya!”



Note: Most of the stars and planets in the LIU Galaxy have names derived from the Progenitor’s language. This language is often referred to as the Ancient Language. Some inhabitants of the galaxy received these names from the Progenitors themselves, others were derived from recovered Progenitor maps.

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 8 - Episode 2 - Invenit Servus

Magistrate #1: “What are we going to do with these morons? It’s evident that they have no idea where Mr. McDoogal is.”
Magistrate #2: “They did try to lie to the LIU. We can’t let that go unpunished.”
Magistrate #1: “Prison camp? Execution?”

Doog: “Who is that? Timbo? I’d go with life imprisonment. But I hate him, so you know, I may be biased.”
Magistrate #1: “Who said that!? Who’s in here?!

Magistrate #2: “Well, by the Emperor‘s Grace, it’s Mr. McDoogal!”
Doog: “Please, call me Doog.”
Magistrate #1: “How did you get in here?”
Magistrate #2: “Maybe he really is invisible!”
Magistrate #1: “You better explain yourself quickly!”
Doog: “Uh sure, but first, let’s talk tacos. I’m starving.”
Magistrate #1: “I’m going to shoot you in the face if you don’t explain yourself in the next thirty seconds.”
Doog: “So...that’s a ‘no’ on the tacos?”

Doog: “Well, it all started when I …”

There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. And he's MISSING!


                                                LIU Atlas - The Doog Mystery Pt. 2

The Ludgonian Industrial Union’s galaxy contains billions of stars and 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.

Mike: “Selfie!”
Cam: “Tell me this is the last one.”
Oldie: “No one likes taking selfies, Cam, but we have to do it. We have to maintain the illusion that Doog is still with us.”
Mike: “Who doesn’t like taking selfies?”

Timbo: “How much longer is this charade going to last? If we don’t shoot an episode soon, they’re going to figure it out.”
Cam: “Yeah. It’s been almost two weeks, and we’ve made no progress.”

Mike: “I wouldn’t say that. I feel like we’re narrowing in on the hover cam’s signal.”
Cam: “We’re going in circles. The hover cam position keeps shifting. It’s like we keep passing it. Like it’s invisible or something.”
Oldie: “Oh man…what if Doog is invisible! He’s probably in here messing with us. DOOG! Stop being invisible right now!”
Cam: “Doog being invisible might be even scarier than the Doog Dummy. If that’s possible. Looks like I’m showering in my underwear from here on out.”

Timbo: “So we’re leaning towards the invisible Doog theory again?”
Mike: “Well, I have a theory, if you’ll hear me out. I’ve been crunching the numbers a bit, and I found something interesting. The camera’s signal seems to shift in the same area every time. This area corresponds with a gravity shift. This gravity shift is likely caused by a large star. Doog may be in or around this star.”
Cam: “Except there’s no stars here. We would have seen a large star the dozens of times we searched this area."
Mike: “I’m telling you. There’s a star out there somewhere.”
Cam: “Hugo! Can you come down here a minute?”

Hugo: “What’s up?”
Cam: “Are you blind?”
Hugo: “Uh, no.”
Cam: “Have you been continuously flying past a massive star and not reporting it?”
Hugo: “No.”
Cam: “I rest my case.”
Mike: “I’m telling you, this gravitational anomaly has something to do with the shifting camera signal.”
Oldie: “Yeah….so…invisible Doog theory it is. Someone get some powder to mark the floor. We’ll see his footprints.”

Oldie: “Uh oh.”
Mike: “Who set off the alarm? Hugo’s down here…”
Hugo: “It must have been the computer.”
Cam: “Or it was invisible Doog!”

Speaker: “This is the LIU flagship Eternally Indebted. Maintain current course and speed. Your ship is being brought aboard. Any threatening acts will trigger the use of lethal force.” 
Mike: “Looks like the charade is finally over…”


Two Hours Later…

Magistrate #1: “What’s our status?”
Magistrate #2: “Our person of interest, Terrance McDoogal, never came back. These morons have been passing off some disturbing, man-made doll as Mr. McDoogal this whole time. They’re a bunch of weirdoes.”
Magistrate #1: “Do they know anything?”
Magistrate #2: “No. Nothing of use. Apparently, they’re leaning towards some type of invisible theory. Spectral analysis indicates that the theory is bogus.”
Magistrate #1: How can we be sure they are telling the whole truth?”

Magistrate #2: “Because they’re telling us everything…”
Mike: “Then this one time in second grade, I cheated on my astronomy test. Unfortunately, I cheated off Doog, so I ended up failing anyway. Not my best move. Um…oh yeah, I jaywalked in fourth grade…if my memory serves me right… 

There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. And he's MISSING!

                                                        LIU Atlas - The Doog Mystery Pt. 1

The Ludgonian Industrial Union’s galaxy contains billions of stars and 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.

Oldie: “Well, it’s official. Doog’s dead.”
Mike: “What! That’s not official! We saw the recovered coverage. He was still alive.”
Oldie: “Alive, but for how long? We lost coverage after the portal closed.  It’s Doog we’re talking about here. He’s probably gone and got himself killed by now.“
Mike: “Never! He’s a moron, but somehow he always survives. I know he’s still alive!”
Oldie: “Ok, fine. You’re right there, but we have to ask ourselves, will he ever come back? We don’t even know where he went. What if he’s gone forever?”

Mike: “Stop talking so negative! Can’t you see the tears in Cam’s eyes? And look at poor Timbo. He’s been in bed for hours.”
Cam: “Uh…yeah. Look at my tears. They’re totally for Doog.”
Timbo: “To be honest, I’m actually doing great. If I have any tears, they’re tears of happiness. Doog never let me have the bed more than thirty minutes. I afraid to get up. I want to soak up all the time I can.”

Oldie: “You guys better start taking this more seriously!”
Mike: “Yeah! Don’t you get the implications? No Doog equals no LIU Atlas. No LIU Atlas equals us all getting split up.”
Oldie: “We find Doog, or we find new jobs…”
Cam: “Alright. Alright. What should we do?”
Oldie: “We need to stall the TV2 Executives. They want answers. We need to make them think Doog is still here. Any ideas?”
Mike: “…The Doog Dummy. We can use the DOOG DUMMY!”
Cam: “The Doog Dummy? Do I want to know?”
Oldie: “Is that the game we play where we give ourselves beer bellies by shoving pillows under our shirts?”
Mike: “No, that’s Doog Tummy. I’m talking about the Doog Dummy.”

Mike: “Look, it’s there under the bed. Help me pull it out!”

Cam: “What in the heck am I looking at here? I’m getting a bit uncomfortable. Is that a life-size dummy of Doog?”
Mike: “Yeah. I kept telling Doog he was crazy for making it. He thought he could pass it off for himself on an episode and take a little break. I told him it would never work.”
Oldie: “Is that MY shirt!”

Cam: “Is that real hair?”
Mike: “Straight from the shower drains.”
Cam: “Barf.”
Oldie: “Are those arms made of my Tupperware Containers!?!”

Mike: “Calm down, Oldie. I think we can make this work. We’ll shoot a little video of us with the Doog Dummy out of focus. We’ll say we found Doog, and everything’s on schedule. That should buy us a few weeks to really find Doog.”
Oldie: “Ok, it’s worth a shot. Cam, get the Hover Cam ready. We need to send unfocused video to TV2 ASAP.”
Cam: Sob…Sniff… “Didn’t I tell you? The Hover Camera followed Doog into the portal. It’s gone too. That’s reason for my tears earlier, not Doog.”
Mike: “Wait. If the Hover Cam’s with Doog, I might be able to track it.”

Mike: “The signal is faint, but readable. Huh? That’s weird…”
Oldie: “What? Where is he?”
Mike: “He’s still in the galaxy. In fact, he’s not too far from here. I think we can track him down. We’ll home in on the Hover Cam’s signal.”

Cam: “Alright, I’ll get the ol’ shoulder mounted camera out. We’ll shoot a video for TV2 and then start homing in on the signal. Let’s shoot the video first, though. I don’t want to be around the freaking Doog Doll any longer than necessary.”



Two Hours Later:

Cam: “Aw, come on! Who put this in here!?!” 

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 8 - Special Feature - Doog Mystery Pt. 2

There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.


                                                            LIU Atlas - Euripus System

The Ludgonian Industrial Union’s galaxy contains billions of stars and 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 the season finale of Season Seven of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today, we’re visiting the Euripus System, which consists of the star, Euripus, its thick gas torus, and the gas planet, Fumi. Euripus is a Magnetar, or a neutron star with an extremely powerful magnetic field. This strong magnetic field has trapped a ring of gas around the star called a gas torus. The torus is millions of miles thick. Most of it, especially near the edges, is too thin to be habitable. However, deep in the center of the torus, gas concentrations are thick and air pressure is consistent with that of a planet. This portion of the torus is habitable. That’s where we are headed.”

Doog: “The gas torus is habitable, at least, to some species. The composition of gases here, mostly hydrogen, helium, and ammonia, make it unsuitable for humans. Many species that thrive in these conditions have been relocated here, including the Fossa Race and the Lacertae Race.“

Doog: “Several small asteroids float in the gas torus, allowing the inhabitants to build various structures. Some of these asteroids are connected via bridges, but many are free floating. The spaces between these floating bodies are treated as canals. Hover Gondolas move through these ‘canals’ transporting residents and goods through the torus.”

Doog: “My guide today is a member of the Fossa race. Coincidentally, his name is Doog also.”
Grimani: “That‘s completely wrong. My name is Grimani, not Doog. I have no idea where you heard otherwise.”
Doog: “I don’t know. I was told you were the Doog of the Euripus System. I was going to be like, ‘Hey Doog of the Euripus System. I’m Doog of the Cunabula System’. It was going to be so cool.”
Grimani: “Yeah, sorry to disappoint. I am the Doge of the Euripus System, not the Doog. Doge is my title. Doge means leader.”
Doog: “So you’re the big boss around here?”
Grimani: “Big boss might be stretching it. I’m in charge of the little city here. I keep things in order for the LIU.”
Doog: “The city’s not that big? I thought this ring stretches for millions of miles?”
Grimani: “Indeed it does, but much of it is uninhabited. The city is restricted to a small cluster of asteroids, which are trapped in the Lagrangian Point between Euripus and the nearby gas planet of Fumi. This point of gravitational equilibrium stabilizes the asteroids allowing them to be colonized.”

Doog: “I can’t help to notice this clock tower. It looks cool and all, but you messed up the numbering system something fierce. The eleven is at the bottom. Shouldn’t that be a six?”
Grimani: “Keeping time in a gas torus is a much different affair than keeping time on a planet. There’s no traditional time markers here, like rotational periods or day/night cycles.  Euripus is always visible and it is always day time.”
Doog: “Always day? How do the ladies of the night know to come out? When do you know when to go seek them? I would never survive here.”
Grimani: “It’s not typically an issue for normal people like myself. But, if you ever move here, we’ve devised our own time system, based off star rotations, to make things easier for you.”
Doog: “Star rotations?
Grimani: “Yes. Magnetars, like other neutron stars, spin at a precise rate. By measuring Euripus’ rotations, we can measure time. Euripus spins about 6 times a second or 22,000 times per hour. Eleven, as shown on the clock, is at the half hour mark because it denotes 11,000 star rotations.”
Doog: “How many star rotations did we just waste staring at a clock? Maybe we should just move on.”
Grimani: “ Indeed. To venture further into the village, we’ll need to take a Hover Gondola. Follow me.”

Doog: “This is a little precarious. What happens if I fall? Can I fall out of the gas torus?”
Grimani: “It is possible I suppose, if you have enough escape velocity. These little asteroids have very little gravity.”
Doog: “So...avoid high velocities? Shouldn’t be an issue. I’m not typically a fast mover. Anyone you know ever fall?”
Grimani: “Very few. My people have become accustomed to these low gravity environments, so there’s few accidents. It’s a tad more dangerous for us than it would be for you. I mean, at least you have a environment suit on. If one of my species would get pushed out of the gas torus, they would suffocate and freeze to death. Anyway, you shouldn‘t worry. You‘re plenty safe here.”
Doog: “Oh, I’m not worried. I’m as tough as they get. I’m 100% manly man.”

Doog: “Should we hold hands?”
Grimani: “What?! No. Why would we hold hands?”
Doog: “You know…for safety. Ok, fine…because it’s a romantic gondola ride through beautiful sky city. I got caught up in the moment.”
Grimani: “100% man, huh?”

Grimani: “There are hundreds of habitable asteroids in this cluster. Many have several buildings on their surface. Because real estate in the ring is so precious, many buildings are designed to maximize available space.”

Doog: “You even farm in the ring?”
Grimani: “We try. It’s difficult. There’s a few crop species from our homeworld that can survive in the atmosphere, but the other conditions aren‘t great. There’s no real soil, too much sunlight, and little water. We import most of our food.”

Grimani: “Water is rare in the torus. Condensation farms, run by the Lacertae, produce some water, but again, we have to rely on imports.”
Doog: “Ugh, stay clear of the Lacertae. They’re always trying to force their wieners on me.”
Grimani: “Alrighty then. That was weird. Anyway, we’ve also tried relocating various cattle species here with mixed results.”
Doog: “Is that a camel with an oxygen tank on its back?!”
Grimani: “Like I said, we’re experimenting.”
Doog: “What is your economy then? Everything you’ve pointed out seems to be failing. You can’t farm, there’s little water being produced, and the whole camel thing has failure written all over it.”
Grimani: “My people are mostly scientists for the Meditor Institute. The others are support staff for the researchers . They take care of things like food and water, so the research staff can focus on their finds.”
Doog: “I know the Meditor Institute. They’re the research division of the LIU that focuses on historical studies, like archeology. Did they find something here?”

Grimani: “They did. This large temple was located here as the gas torus was being explored. It’s the reason we have all been relocated here.”
Doog: “Wow, cool. Who built it?”
Grimani: “We believe it was built by the Progenitors themselves.”
Doog: “The Progenitors? I’ve heard about them a few times.”
Grimani: “Yes, evidence of their existence is spread around the galaxy. They’ve left technology behind and even seeded certain portions of the galaxy with genetic material. This temple, though, is one of our greatest sources of Progenitor knowledge.”
Doog: “Can we go inside?”
Grimani: “Sure.”

Grimani: “They temple consists of several floors and several rooms. Researchers with the Meditor Institute have explored them thoroughly. We’ve been able gather massive amounts of information about the Progenitors, but there’s a lot more to learn. We’ve just began to decipher some of their written language, so I‘d say the best discoveries are still to come”
Doog: “Maybe. In my experience, reading stuff doesn’t really do anything for me. Maybe give me a headache.”

Doog: “There appears to be some highly armed soldiers mixed in with the researchers. What’s up with that?”
Grimani: “The information in this temple is priceless. It must be protected at all costs. Researchers work under close guard.”
Doog: “Why I am allowed in here then?”
Grimani: “Well, I guess they are certain you won’t be able to glean anything from your visit. You did say you had “little use for reading’.”

Grimani: “We’ve only just started to explore this portion of the temple, but it holds some of the most promising components of the research here. Especially, the room beyond the golden gate. Follow me.”

Doog: “What in the world is this?”
Grimani: “Exactly. That’s what we are trying to find out. We’ve gotten some strange readings from these pillars, and the written language on the wall is much older than any other text we located. They are some interesting anomalies.”

Doog: “What kind of reading are you getting from the pillars?”
Grimani: “Energy readings. The pillars are still emitting power after all these years. Their power source must be something truly amazing.”

Doog: “You guys can’t translate this?”
Grimani: “No, not yet anyway.”
Doog: “Mind if I give it a shot?”
Grimani: “Haha. Go for it. This should be good. What can your little TV Host brain decipher that the hundreds of brilliant scientists could not?”

Doog: “Seems simple enough to me.”
Grimani: “Haha. Figured it out already? Hahaha. Well, spit it out. What does it say, Mr. Genius?
Doog: “It doesn’t say anything…at least, not in words I know. But I think it’s a picture. I know pictures, trust me.”
Grimani: “Well, mystery solved. It’s a Progenitor art project. Haha. Great work Doog.”
Doog: “No, really. Look at it sideways. There’s three sets of pictures representing the three columns behind us. The middle one shows something on the center column. I think that something is a person.”
Grimani: “Are you crazy? Does that suit have a leak?”

Grimani: “Hey! What the heck are you doing! That’s thousands of years old. Get off there! The joke’s over!!”

Doog: “Oh man! This feels weird!”
Grimani: “What have you DONE!”

Grimani: “Doog! Doog! What’s happening!”

Scientist: “Where did he go?”
Grimani: “I…I don’t know. Get a hold of everyone from the Institute. I want everyone here right now!”


Note:

Being: “Are you the appointed one? Do you represent your galaxy?”

Doog: “Uh sure. But first, let’s talk tacos. I’m starving.

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 8 - Special Feature - Doog Mystery Pt.1

There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.



                                                             LIU Atlas - Aequora

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 ocean world of Aequora. Aequora was originally uninhabited, but now it’s home to a Haima colony. The Haima are an advanced race that have colonized a dozen or so water worlds in the LIU Galaxy. The Haima have always been friendly…and subservient…to the LIU, so they have been granted limited amounts of autonomy on these colony worlds.”

Doog: “Aequora has no land masses that penetrate the surface, so we won’t be landing directly on the planet. The Magellan doesn’t float, and I don’t think I could tread water more than thirty seconds. Instead, we’re landing on one of the Haima’s massive ships called the Balaena. Hopefully, we’ll find my guide inside.”

Zinon: “Welcome aboard. I am Zinon, a Haima diplomat.”
Doog: “Oh, so this is what the Haima look like. I’ve seen you guys around the galaxy before, but I never really knew the name of your race. You should drop the whole Haima thing and go with something more descriptive, like the Green Face Wieners or something.”
Zinon: “They’re sensory organs, not wieners, but I will make the suggestion at council next week. I thank you for your kind suggestion. Well, with that settled, perhaps we can begin.”

Doog: “Yeah, I guess all we need to do is wait for this ship to take us to the colony.”
Zinon: “Actually, this ship is the colony.”
Doog: “The whole ship?”
Zinon: “Yes. The Balaena holds several hundred thousand of my Haima brethren. We have no structures on the planet itself, just this ship.”

Zinon: “My people have long feared extermination. We split up our populace into several smaller colonies to increases our chance of survival. Each colony ship was built to be self-sufficient and have ability to continue on our legacy if the others fell. Of course, we fear extermination slightly less now that the LIU has taken us under their wing. We keep them happy, and they keep us alive.”
Doog: “No offense, but you guys seem sort of cowardly.”
Zinon: “Oh! No offense taken at all, kind sir! You speak the truth! Our gelatinous mollusk bodies are weak and vulnerable. We know this all too well. We have good reasons to be cowardly, it is one of the defense mechanisms that have kept us alive all this time.”
Doog: “Well, at least you’ve embraced it….Whoa! What was that?””
Zinon: “I believe we are descending into the safe zone. Nothing to worry about, just some mild turbulence. In fact, we are probably even safer than before.”
Doog: “Descending? Down to the planet?”

Zinon: “Yes, descending deep into the waters. We are much safer here. There’s no space pirates or enemies or comets or other dangerous things. Hidden in the depths, just the way we like it.”
Doog: “Your spaceship can go underwater?”
Zinon: “Sure. All spacecraft should be able to. Spaceship hulls are designed to withstand various pressure levels. They must be able to withstand the change from the vacuum of space to the air pressure of an atmosphere.”
Doog: “Then, how is it safer?”
Zinon: “Because our ship can go deeper and faster. The Balaena is specifically designed for underwater use. We stay down here for months at a time. We only surface when summoned by the LIU.”
Doog: “Why would the LIU summon you?”
Zinon: “To transfer goods. We give many goods to the LIU in return for our safety.”
Doog: “Like what?”
Zinon: “Follow me.”

Zinon: “This is the Balaena’s Archive Room. Each colony ship possesses one of these rooms. It helps to insure that my race’s knowledge and culture are retained if a catastrophe befalls our homeworld.”
Doog: “Is this related to the goods you trade the LIU? Do you give them information?”
Zinon: “No. But using the archive room’s holo-projector is the easiest…and safest…way to show you our economy.”

Zinon: “My people transported several species of our native zooplankton to Aequora. Chief among these, are creatures called Bice. These microscopic creatures can be fished easily, and they can be turned into many useful products.”
Doog: “They sort of look like jellyfish.”
Zinon: “JELLY FISH! Where!?! Sound the alarms!”
Doog: “No, relax, I said the Bice looks like a jellyfish.”
Zinon: “Oh. Phew. Please don’t scare me like that. My weak heart can’t handle episodes like that. The Bice may resemble jellyfish in some regards, they are actually closer to the mollusk family, like myself.”
Doog: “Gotcha. So how do you catch them? You did say they were microscopic, right?”

Zinon: “Yes, let’s move on to the next holo-slide. This is the Balaena. If you pay attention to the front of the ship you’ll note that…”
Doog: “Wait. Are we spending the rest of the episode in here watching holo-slides?”
Zinon: “Yes, it’s much safer this way.”
Doog: “Safer and easier. I can just take a nap. You play the presentation. This is going to work out great. I mean, the TV Executives might not be all that happy with it, but technically, I did my job.”
Zinon: “Wait. I must reassess. I didn’t think of offending executives with my slide show. Executives equal LIU. Yes. This won’t do at all. My apologies. Let’s see the Balaena in person.”
Doog: “Darn it. Had to open my mouth…”

Zinon: “The Balaena is over a mile long. We are near the middle of the ship, but the Bice fishing industry is located near the front of the ship. We’ll need to take a tram.”
Doog: “I am absolutely in favor of taking the tram. No need for a hike. I think the LIU will like it.”
Zinon: “Very good. I strive to make the LIU happy. I’ll discuss Bice fishing while we’re in route. That will be efficient. The LIU will like that too.”
Doog: “The LIU and I are in agreement in that regard.”

Zinon: “Bice flourishes in the upper levels of the ocean where sunlight still penetrates. Smaller photosynthetic algal species live here, and the Bice feed off them. We simply navigate the Balaena through these waters, picking up the Bice with the large collector scoop on the front of our ship.”
Doog: “Sort of like a giant whale?”
Zinon: “GIANT WHALE! Sound the alarm!”
Doog: “Sigh.”

Zinon: “The scoop collects thousands of gallons of water as the Balaena navigates these waters. Our filtration system removes the small zooplankton from these waters.”

Zinon: “We’ve relocated several species of zooplankton to Aequora. Some are used as food, others to make fuel, but, as I said before, Bice is the only zooplankton of interest to the LIU.”

Doog: “Why does the LIU find Bice so appealing? Is it a foodstuff or something?”
Zinon: “It was once a foodstuff to my people, but it’s too valuable to the LIU for us to eat it anymore. The LIU needs their blood.”
Doog: “Blood? Is their blood made of gold or something?”
Zinon: “No, but it contains Hemocyanin, a protein that transports oxygen. It’s found in the blood of several mollusk and arthropod species, but not in the concentrations we see in the Bice. They are a huge source of Hemocyanin.”
Doog: “What is Hemi-Sai-Anna used for?”
Zinon: “Hemocyanin is similar to hemoglobin except it utilizes copper to bond to oxygen instead of iron. It can be used as a medicine for several species across the universe. Not humans though, I’m afraid. Please don’t be mad.”
Doog: “I’ll let it go this time, Zinon…”

Zinon: “We deliver millions of liters of pure Hemocyanin to the LIU every few months. I’m told they do quite well selling it to various alien species. Not that we are asking for any share of that profit. We would never ask for anything from the LIU. Please don’t hurt us LIU.”

Zinon: “Not all Hemocyanin is used for the production of medicine though. Because it contains a large amounts of copper, Hemocyanin is a great liquid conductor. Some Hemocyanin is processed and sold to the LIU for this purpose as well.”

Zinon: “One of Hemocyanin’s greatest uses, though, is in the production of atmosphere scrubbers.  Because Hemocyanin easily bonds with various gases, it is used to scrub ships’ atmospheres of carbon dioxide, excess oxygen, and other pollutants.”
Doog: “How do they work on farts?”
Zinon: “Please do not be angry, but I have not tested the scrubbers for this. I shall remedy that as soon as possible. A thousand apologies.”

Doog: “Maybe I should take one for testing on my ship.”
Zinon: “I’m not sure if that is allowed…”
Doog: “It is.”
Zinon: “You say that great sir, but then the LIU might come and begin with the hurting and yelling. I…”
Doog: “I SAID that it is ok.”
Zinon: “Yes, yes. Take it. Take it.”

Doog: “Well folks, Aequora is an interesting place. It is home to one of the hidden colonies of the cowardly Haima race. They seem to be scared of just about everything. They have a cool ship though. It sort of acts like a giant whale that scoops out millions of tons of zooplankton from the ocean. One of these zooplankton, called Bice, is used for medicine, power conductors, and atmosphere scrubbers. Speaking of scrubbers, I’m going to take this baby back to my ship. See ya!


Note: 

Mike: “What is that? How did you get t? Am I an accessory to a crime by standing next to it?”
Doog: “No, some weakling guy gave it to me down on the planet. It’s an air scrubber.”
Mike: “Does it work on farts?”
Doog: “Only one way to find out.”

Mike: “Is testing it on Cam after burrito night really a fair first test?”

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 7 - Episode 20 - Euripus System