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Season 7 - Episode 15 - Tacita

9/26/2015

LIU Atlas - Tacita

LIU Atlas - Tacita

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 another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today, we’re visiting the icy tomb world of Tacita. Tacita was discovered and colonized by the Tacetan race, who originate from the small agricultural world of Tacitum, seen in the background. During their initial survey of Tacita, the Tacetans discovered a unique crystalline structure woven throughout the planet’s crust. This crystalline structure has a unique property that makes it glow when in the presence of dead or dying sentient beings. The Tacetan believe these crystals glow because they absorb the souls of the dead, and they now call these crystals, Soul Stones. Because of these Soul Stones, the Tacetan began burying all their dead in elaborate tombs under the planet’s surface. As word of the Soul Stones spread, other races across the galaxy flocked here to bury their dead as well. Now, the burial business is the Tacetan Race’s primary industry.”

Doog: “Alright folks, I’ve been dropped off here on the planet’s surface. I see a large structure in front of me that I believe is the entryway into one of Tacita’s tombs. Ah, I believe one of these guys is my guide.”

Pompos: “Welcome to Tacita, Doog. I am Pompos, a Spirit Guide. My companion here is Psucho.”
Doog: “Spirit Guide?”
Pompos: “Yes, I help guide the departed. My duties include prepping the dead, conducting funerals, and watching over the various tombs and crypts.”
Doog: “Watching over the dead? Is that really a thing? I mean, don’t they just lay there? Wait! Do we have some type of zombie situation going on! I’m not going in there with the zombies!”
Pompos: “Relax. I didn’t say I watch the dead; I said I watch over their tombs. Some people wish to be buried with special items like jewelry. I keep their items safe. With billions of departed souls here, grave robbers could have a heyday here.”
Doog: “There are billions of dead bodies in there?”
Pompos: “Well, there are billions of dead on the planet, but not all in this tomb. There are several tombs like this spread around the planet, usually close to a concentration of Soul Stone. Come on, let’s head inside.”

Pompos: “This particular tomb is called the Eternal Barrow. It is one of our cheaper options for burial.”
Doog: “Cheaper? What kind of numbers are we talking here?”
Pompos: “Well, it’s quite expensive, to be honest. The cheapest options start around 30,000 Credits.”
Doog: “Thirty thousand! Yikes! When I die, just toss me in an old refrigerator box and toss me in some back alley, preferably an alley with prostitutes…just so I’m close to what I love.”
Pompos: “Hmmm, I’m afraid we don’t offer any services like that here. Our customers pay for a chance at immortality.”
Doog: “Immortality?”
Pompos: “Yes. It is believed that the Soul Stones absorb souls once they leave the body. My race, and many others, believe that the soul lives on within the stone. Come, we must descend deeper into the tomb.”

Doog: “Wow, this place is huge.”
Pompos: “Yes, it is currently the final resting place for about 50 million bodies with room for about twice that amount. As you can see, some of the older tombs are fully open, but we have more economical enclosed tombs now.”
Doog: “Probably smells better…”

Doog: “Where is all this green light coming from?”
Pompos: “We refer to it as the Ethereal Glow. It is light given off by the Soul Stones. It lights most of this tomb.”

Pompos: “This is one of our funerary chambers. A large Soul Stone has been exposed here. Dead, or sometimes dying, people are laid out here below the stone.”

Pompos: “As you can see, the stone is glowing brightly as it catches this woman’s departing soul.”
Doog: “Freaky.”
Pompos: “I believe the word you are looking for is ’beautiful’. Funerals here should not be sad. The departed’s loved ones should be happy the deceased has achieve immortality.”
Doog: “Nah, still going with ‘freaky’.”

Doog: “Are you sure it’s ok to be here? I don’t want to impose on someone’s funeral. I feel weird just standing here watching someone grieve.”
Pompos: “It is fine. This is an open viewing. Any can attend.”
Doog: “Uh, don’t mind us, sir. Just making a television show in the middle of your wife’s funeral. I’m sure she was a great gal. Uh…err…I never know what to say at these things. Let‘s just move on.”
Pompos: “Yes, let‘s descend further into the tomb. The Stone Sanctuary is just down these stairs.”

Doog: “You know, I’ve been counting all these stairs as journey deeper into the tomb. We’re at 1,526. There’s a good chance I might die during the return trip. I guess I’ll get a free absorption into the soul stone though. So, I’m not too worried.”
Pompos: “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. We’ll take several rests.”

Pompos: “This is the Stone Sanctuary. A large Soul Stone was discovered here. It has since been enshrined.”

Pompos: “The sanctuary serves as a visitation center. People can return to Tacita to visit their departed family and friends. Many bring gifts or flowers.”
Doog: “Why is this stone glowing? I don’t see any dead people around. Or does that mean someone here is dying? Oldie, you didn’t follow me here, did you?”
Pompos: “Originally, the stones only glowed when near the deceased, but now that so many souls have been stored here, many of the larger concentrations constantly glow.”
Doog: “Hmm, interesting. Well, anything else to show?”
Pompos: “No, that about wraps it up. If you follow me, I’ll take you to a shortcut. There’s a few hundred less stairs this way.”
Doog: “Oh gee, thanks. Only twelve hundred stairs to ascend now.”

Doog: “Hey, what’s this?”
Pompos: “Uh, that’s a prep area for the dead. Only Spirit Guides are allowed in there. Please continue on.”
Doog: “Really? I think I might want to see that. Come on.”
Pompos: ‘NO! It is off limits! Doog, STOP!”

Doog: “What’s this? I don’t see any dead people getting prepped in here. It looks more like a backlot or movie studio.”
Director: “Roger that. I’ll send Jimmy down to change out that bulb. Jimmy, did you copy that? There’s a bulb burned out in Funerary Chamber #7. We need to get that changed out soon. There’s a funeral there later this afternoon and the ‘Soul Stone’ isn’t glowing bright enough.”
Jimmy: “10-4. I copy. I’ll knock that out after I replace the skeleton props on the eighth floor.”
Doog: “Oh man, this whole place is a scam, isn’t it?”

Pompos: “No, uh. We’re…uh…setting up a commercial shoot. Yeah, a commercial. Everything here is totally real.”
Director: “Oh hey, Frank. I see you got the Pompos gig. Man, you’re really moving up in the world.”
Doog: “Just a commercial, huh Frank?”
Pompos/Frank: “Sigh. This is going to cost us a fortune.”
Doog: “Nah, don’t worry. Only like a handful of people watch this show. So, feel free to spill the beans.”
Pompos/Frank: “The Soul Stones were once real, at least, way back in the beginning. They glowed when dead matter was present. My people really did believe in their ability to grant immortality, and we buried our dead here. Decades later, the stones stopped glowing, much to the dismay of my people. Experts were brought in and their discovery was startling. The stones themselves never really glowed; it was a bacteria covering the stone’s surface. This bacteria glowed brightly as a self defense mechanism. You see, we had unknowingly brought our own species of bacteria with us. The decaying dead were covered in it. As our bacteria and the bacteria of Tacita clashed, the native bacteria glowed brightly. Unfortunately, as we brought more and more dead bodies here, the native bacteria was overwhelmed and went extinct.”
Doog: “And that’s when the charade started?”
Pompos/Frank: “Shortly after that. Despite the scientific explanation, Tacita was too ingrained in my people’s culture, and we continued to bury our dead here. Lights were installed to make the crystals glow like the days of yore. When word spread of our tomb world, other races wanted to be buried here, and we really stepped up our game.”
Doog: “Well, it might not make you immortal, but I guess it’s still a cool place to be buried. Speaking of which, I am fretting the ascent a little more now.”
Pompos/Frank: “Don’t worry, there’s an elevator over there.”
Doog: Sweet.”

Doog: “Well folks, Tacita is an interesting place. Countless people are buried here because they believe they will have an immortal afterlife within the planet’s Soul Stones. However, it turns out these stones aren’t real, at least anymore. Well, I got an elevator to catch. See ya!”

Note: The Tacita Refund and Exhumation Office is now closed pending the conclusion of several lawsuits. Please try again later.”

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 7 - Episode 16 - Tropaeum

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LIU Atlas - Season 7 - Episode 14 - Sidere Artifex

9/19/2015

4 Comments

LIU Atlas - Sidere Artifex

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

LIU Atlas - Sidere Artifex

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 another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today, we are visiting one of the most famous and revered stars in the LIU Galaxy, Sidere Artifex. Sidere Artifex is a Type-O blue hypergiant star located in the outer edge of the galaxy’s Mid Rim. It is the most luminous star in the galaxy, making it visible to large portions of the galaxy. The dense inner core of the galaxy obscures Sidere Artifex from the worlds directly across from it, but it is visible to approximately 65% of the other worlds in the galaxy. Because it is such a bright presence in the night skies of so many worlds, Sidere Artifex has become an important part of the galactic culture.”

Doog: “Sidere Artifex is a luminous appearance in the night sky of countless worlds, and it has been incorporated into millions of different constellations. Because each world sees Sidere Artifex from a different angle, the constellations vary greatly. From the galactic capital, Ludgonia, Sidere Artifex is the crown jewel in the Emperor’s Crown constellation. From Mercor, Sidere Artifex falls into line with several other bright stars and forms the Perpetual Comet constellation. Coincidently, this constellation points in the general direction of Ludgonia, and is used by some travelers to quickly orient their ships. Sidere Artifex is the central star in Alucinor’s Star Lily constellation. Although, it’s not quite as cool as their silly lilies. If you remember back to our visit to Jötunheim, the extinct Jotun included Sidere Artifex in their Eye constellation. Unfortunately, the constellation has also gone extinct as star movements over the last 65,000 years have distorted the constellation. I could go on forever, but, well, I don’t get paid enough. So let’s move on.”

Doog: “Sidere Artifex has been deified and worshipped by many cultures in the galaxy. Being brighter than most other stars, Sidere Artifex often served as a figurative representation of a deity itself. It has been known as the ’King of the Sky’, ’God Star’, ’The Corporeal Soul’, et cetera. On some worlds, the prominent star’s place in the night sky indicated various religious holidays. The best example of this comes from the planet Colo, where the natives have built shrines that trace Sidere Artifex’s path in the sky. Its appearance at each shrine indicated various holidays, religious events, and even the seasons. Some cultures worshipped the star in their past before they advanced their knowledge and abandoned religion. While no longer deified per se, the star holds a special place in these worlds, as it has been deeply woven into their culture.”

Doog: “For many cultures, Sidere Artifex served as an invaluable navigational tool. Using different methods, early travelers were able to determine their direction of travel using the bright, reliable star. Sidere Artifex is a pole star for several thousand worlds allowing travelers to easily determine North and South. On other worlds, its well studied and documented path through the night sky allowed travelers to use its location to determine varying routes. On the world’s closest to Sidere Artifex, the star is so bright, it illuminates the night sky to a degree that night is almost indistinguishable from day.”

Doog: “As various cultures emerged into space, Sidere Artifex continued to be a great navigational tool. Its clear visibility allows travelers to easily locate it even in the densest of star fields. In today’s galaxy, pilots have been trained to detect certain optical markers in order to navigate their ships when their plotting or navigational computers fail. Sidere Artifex is one such marker, and it has been given the designation, Navigation Point 1, or Nav 1.”

Doog: “As the galaxy began to be explored, many races chose Sidere Artifex as their first destination. To their dismay, they found that the Type-O star had no planets. The star’s large gravity well had swallowed up much of the interior of its protoplanetary disk, while its fierce solar winds blew away the outer portions. Despite the lack of planets, many still chose to live among the majestic star and hundred of space stations were built in its orbit. Many of these space stations are extremely old and primitive.”

Doog: “Some stations, like this one here, were crudely built from recycled ship hulls and older space stations. This Frankenstein-like monstrosity is known as the Blue Sun Station. The Blue Sun Station is the most populated of the stations and it is an important center of travel, commerce, and tourism. It is where we are headed.”

Doog: “Alright folks, I’ve been dropped off here in one of the nicer looking areas of the station, which isn’t saying much. I’m not entirely sure where I’m supposed to be heading, but eventually we need to find the Blue Sun Tourism center. I guess I’ll enlist the help of one of these guys. Excuse me, do you know this place well?”
Spacer: “You betcha. I was born and raised on this very station. I know it like the back of my hand.”
Doog: “Ugh…a spacer…please don’t shank me.”
Spacer: “Ha! Why would I shank you man?”
Doog: “I heard spacers were crazy. Something about never feeling the warmth of the sun on your face or the wind blowing through your hair, supposedly you’ve all been driven mad.”
Spacer: “All that junk is just legend. Besides, I’ll take flickering florescent lights and dank ventilation air over the sun and wind.”
Doog: “To each their own, I suppose. So, can you help me out? Where is this Tourism Center?”

Spacer: “Well, you’re on Deck 2.2, or the Pilot Bay. Most of the people here are cargo or passenger pilots. There’s housing, a few bars, and some parts shops. The Tourism Center, if I remember correctly, is on Deck 2.7. However, it can only be accessed via the Cargo Hold on Deck 3.3”
Doog: “That’s confusing. What’s up with all the decimal points? It sounds like math…and I don’t math.”
Spacer: “You have to remember that this space station is really a collection of several smaller stations. The decks don’t properly align. There is no straight level. Deck 2 is made up of three heights. See that ladder over there? Well, that connects Deck 2.2 to Deck 2.4. Go north from there, and you’ll find a staircase that will take you all the way up to Deck 3.3. I think there’s a ladder down to Deck 2.7 a few hundred yards from there.”
Doog: “I hate this place…”

Charles: “Ah, you must be Doog. I’m Charles, a tour guide with the Tourism Center.”
Doog: “You sure made this place hard to find. I darn near toured the whole station looking for this place. I’m not sure you’ll be of any use after all of that.”
Charles: “Had some difficulties, huh? Don’t worry. Your troubles are over. This section of the station has been fully remodeled. It is much easier to navigate. And, trust me, I’ll still be plenty of use to you. There’s a lot more to see.”

Charles: “The Tourism Center here on the Blue Sun Station handles millions of visitors every year. Sidere Artifex is a popular destination for many travelers. Our facility has several dining locations, bars, and shops to service all our visitor’s needs.”
Doog: “Is that a post office? Who the heck needs a post office these days?”
Charles: “Yes, it is. Plenty of people need it too. Tourists use it mail postcards and such. Travelers and spacers that do not have a permanent address often set up P.O. Boxes here, so they can stop in on occasion and grab their mail.”
Doog: “Yeah, Emperor forbid someone doesn’t get their mail. All that important stuff like ads and coupons.”

Doog: “So, this place is pretty much a space based mall with inflated prices to screw over tourists.”
Charles: “What!? No, it’s much more than that. Come on, follow me.”

Charles: “Here in the Tourist Center, visitors can go onto our observation deck and see Sidere Artifex in person. They can bask in its majestic glory…for a small fee.”
Doog: “Yeah, I’m not paying a fee to see a star. I see stars for free all the time.”
Charles: “I’ll wave the entry fee for you. But, you’ll have the pay the rental fees for the glasses.”
Doog: “Glasses?”

Charles: “Safety eyewear is necessary for viewing the star. Trust me, you don’t want to look directly at the galaxy’s brightest star from this short of a distance without glasses.”
Doog: “What a bunch of wimps. I don’t need any glasses. Especially ones I have to pay for.”
Charles: “Please reconsider.”
Doog: “I like to live adventurously. Besides, Cyclops guy isn’t wearing any glasses.”
Cyclops: “Not my choice. Apparently, this center only caters to those with two eyes. I’ll have to ‘bring my own’ they say. Screw them and their discriminatory glasses.”
Doog: “Amen. Let’s do this.”

Doog: “Wow…it’s…it’s…beautiful. And…now it’s gone. What’s the deal? Who turned out the lights?”
Charles: “I believe you are experiencing blindness. The star is still visible.”

Doog: “Blindness! Is it permanent?!”
Charles: “Perhaps not, but you should probably stop looking at it as soon as possible.”
Doog: “I’m not looking at anything! I’m blind!”
Charles: “Yes, but your eyes are still open and pointed towards the star.”
Doog: “Not my best decision, but interestingly, not my worst.”
Cyclops: “Talk for yourself. I think my brain is burning…”

Doog: “Alright, alright. I think it is getting a bit better.”
Charles: “There’s a medical station right here. Perhaps a visit would be wise.”
Doog: “There’s no way I’m paying a doctor bill. Besides, I think it’s getting better. Look, there’s a medical station right here.”
Charles: “Your just saying that because I told you there was a medical station there. What color is the wall striping?”
Doog: “Black…like the rest of the walls…and everything else.”
Charles: “Yeah, you’re still blind. They’re your eyes though. Your choice.”

Charles: “One of the biggest draws here is the Lux Regatta.”
Doog: “The what?”
Charles: “The Lux Regatta. A sailing competition that take place around Sidere Artifex.”
Doog: “You mean, like, solar sailing?”
Charles: “Exactly. Sidere Artifiex has some of the strongest solar winds in the galaxy. These winds reach speeds of up to 2000 km/s. Ships, propelled only with solar sails, use these winds to race around the star. Because all racers have access to the same amount of thrust, the race is heavily reliant on skill. Racers must take efficient routes, deploy and retract their sails as necessary, and keep free of other racers”
Doog: “Is it popular?”
Charles: “Indeed. The regatta takes places every eighteen days during solar maximums. Throughout the year, the regatta attracts over a million visitors. The Lux Regatta Championship, the yearly conclusion to the racing series, draws large crowds and high viewership on TV2.”

Doog: “Cool. So, these are the racers?”
Charles: “Yes. I see your vision is returning. Very good.”
Doog: “Yeah, slowly but surely. I really like this purple racer, mostly because it’s sponsored my BJ’s. Can’t go wrong with BJ’s.”
Charles: “It’s blue and sponsored by LJ’s, so I guess your vision isn’t 100% yet.”

Doog: “LJ’s huh? Not as exciting in my opinion, but whatever. So, do these racers get lots of sponsorships?”
Charles: “Absolutely. Many LIU companies, especially those involved in fuel and spaceship parts, pour money into the race for the free advertising.”
Doog: “Gotcha. And this place is like prep area or something?”
Charles: “Yes. The ship’s sails are not assembled until the race. They are very delicate. Speaking of which, perhaps we should let them get to work. Let’s head out and catch a race.”
Doog: “So, how do we watch a race around a star? Seeing as I’m just getting my vision back, I’m not to eager to stare into the blinding star again.”
Charles: “Follow me.”

Charles: “The race is watched via viewing barges. These barges allow spectators to see the race up close. There are several hundred barges spread along the length of the race.”
Doog: “What about the blinding sun issue?”
Charles: “The barge is fitted with filtered windows. They are made of the same material as the viewing glasses. You should see the race without issue.”
Doog: “How does the race work? Start at the sun and race outward, I guess? I mean they have to travel that direction if they are utilizing the solar wind.”

Charles: “No, the race encircles Sidere Artifex and the Blue Sun Station. The race consists of thirty laps.”
Doog: “How does that work with the solar wind?”
Charles: “It’s simple. The racers deploy the sail when moving away from Sidere Artifex and retract it as they approach. During the approach, the racers depend on the star’s strong gravity. The gravity assist they get from the star builds even more speed. These races start off very slowly, but the effect of the winds and gravity build on each other. By the end of the race, the racers are traveling thousands of kilometers a second.”

Doog: “From watching paint dry to blink and you missed them. Not my type of entertainment, but I see that many do enjoy it.”
Charles: “Yeah, it’s not for everybody. If you’re the type of guy that likes races with crashes, ramming, and bumping, you’re not going to like solar sailing. Like I said before, this is a real skill sport. There’s lots to take in account, like turning and braking with only the use of sails. The leader of the race also has to make sure no one gets in too close behind him. You wouldn’t want another racer to steal your wind. The more you learn about the sport, the more interesting it becomes.”
Doog: “Cool. But, unfortunately, I don’t have any more time to learn about it. Thanks for the tour Charles. I’ll see you later.”
Charles: “We’re on a viewing barge in the middle of space. I do believe you are here for the remainder of the race.”
Doog: “So, I am. Forgot about that. Please, continue on with the subtleties of solar sailing for the next four hours…”

Doog: “Alright folks, there’s one more stop we need to make before we end this episode. We’ve already visited the Blue Sun Station, but there’s one more station in orbit that we need to check out. This is the LIU’s Science Station. Scientists here are studying the massive, bright star. Supposedly, they found something amazing.”

Doog: “Alright, I’ve been dropped off onboard the Science Station. I believe this lovely lady is our guide.”

Doog: “I heard you might be interested in a super bright star. Look no further, I am the incredibly intelligent star of LIU Atlas, Doog.”
Jenny: “And I’m married.”
Doog: “Nice to meet you, Mary. So, how about…”
Jenny: “No, not Mary, married. I have a husband.”
Doog: “Oh…well, to the interview then. What can you tell me about this place?”
Jenny: “This facility is devoted to studying this rare star. Type-O stars are extremely rare, accounting for only .00003% of main sequence stars. Sidere Artifiex is even more rare, considering its size and illumination. It nearly defies the classification system.”
Doog: “How so?”

Jenny: “The star’s Helium II absorption lines indicate that it is indeed a Type-O star, but there have been several anomalies relating to its age.”
Doog: “Like what?”
Jenny: “Stars like this have considerably shorter life spans than other main sequence stars. Sidere Artifex should supernova after three or four million years.”
Doog: “Wait…how long as it been here?! Am I in danger?”

Jenny: “That’s the thing, when we attempted to determine the star’s age, we detected an anomaly. Sidere Artifex has lower amounts of metals in its composition, which means the star is a lot younger than anyone anticipated. Almost too young. Sidere Artifex’s composition dates it as being newly created.”
Doog: “Well, that can’t be right.”
Jenny: “Exactly. We know from historical records that Sidere Artifiex has been around for thousands and thousands of years. We can even map its gravitational influence over time dating it back millions of years. Somehow, Sidere Artifex is refreshing itself.”
Doog: “How does a star refresh itself?”
Jenny: “Well, that’s the true nature of our studies. When the anomaly was detected, we did several in depth scans of the star. They revealed something incredible.”
Doog: “What?”
Jenny: “There is a device in the star. Somehow, it is removing fusion byproducts and replacing it with fresh hydrogen.”

Doog: “Wait…there’s a machine in the star.”
Jenny: “Yes. It appears that it is technology developed by the progenitor race we call, the Star Artists. We’ve run across their technology on other star systems. On these other worlds, we’ve been able to interact with their machinery. From it, we have developed great technologies, like Fusion Star Chambers and Star Haulers. Unfortunately, we can’t interact with the Star Refresher. If we could, who knows what technologies we could develop.”
Doog: “What efforts are being taken?”
Jenny: “We’re trying to connect to it wirelessly, and we’re making some progress. Unfortunately, there’s not much else I can tell you. Most of the project is classified.”
Doog: “Of course. Anything else to add?”
Jenny: “You need to work on your pick up lines.”
Doog: “Thanks for that.”

Doog: “Well folks, Sidere Artifex is an important part of the galaxy’s past, present, and future. Whether your admiring it from the night skies of your home planet, using it to navigate the stars, or catching the Lux Regatta, I’m sure Sidere Artifex has had some impact on your life. Who knows what impacts it will have in the future. See ya!”

Note:
Several of the stars surrounding Sidere Artifex also show signs of being manipulated. Many experts believe this section of the galaxy was some sort of “star garden” created by the progenitors. This region of the galaxy is often referred to as the Garden Sector.

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 7 - Episode 15 - Tacita

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LIU Dual Load Intergalactic Transport (DLIT)

9/19/2015

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LIU Dual Load Intergalactic Transport (DLIT)

The Ludgonian Industrial Union proudly presents the Dual Load Intergalactic Transport, or DLIT. This intergalactic ship is capable of transporting both passengers and cargo to the most distance corners of the universe.

The DLIT is approximately 3,500 feet long and over 700 feet wide, giving it ample space to carry both passengers and cargo. The ship’s upper decks are devoted to carrying passengers while its lower decks serve as a massive cargo hold. The upper decks have rooms and seating for almost 100,000 passengers(1), as well as bathroom and dining facilities. The cargo bay can hold more than 50,000 tons of cargo.

The transport has four engines: two smaller engines on the ship’s side for maneuvering and two large, intergalactic thrusters. These powerful engines allow the DLIT to reach speeds upwards of 10 mega-parsecs per week(2). Not the fastest in the LIU arsenal, but impressive none the less. The transport also sports four shuttle bays (two per side) that allow mid-flight dockings and departures.

The DLIT is powered by two Fusion Star Chambers giving it an unlimited range(3). Get out your checkbooks(4) and buy one today!

Note:
1. Passenger capacity can be increased depending on how awkward you want your passengers to feel. We’ve seen it pushed to over a million. Those passengers got to know each other very, very well.
2. Ten mega-parsecs = ten million parsecs = 32,616,334.4 light years.
3. Fusion Star Chambers can maintain steady amounts of power for the duration of the star’s life. The average life expectancy of a star this size, under this much stress, is about ten years. So, technically the range of the ship is unlimited for only ten years.
4. Get out a lot of people’s checkbooks. This thing is expensive!

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LIU Revolution - Part #6 - Unity

9/17/2015

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Part #6 - Unity

Can the revolution unite to conquer its larger foe?

LIU Revolution - Part #6 Unity

Previously on LIU Revolution…

Rob: “Stay with me Tamara! Please!”
Magistrate: “Aww. So sweet. Good thing you’ll being dying soon too. Your capture order has been rescinded. You are to be executed immediately. Revolution, what a funny synonym for insurrection. It derives from the word revolve. Revolve, the act of making a full rotation. How fitting. The problem with Revolution is you always end up right where you started. Goodbye Mr. Satus.”

Punag: “Timbaya Rob Satus. I am Punag-Uyon, leader of the free planet Barathrum and Grand Admiral of the Revolutionary Fleet. You are on board the space cruiser Infinite Horizon. Please, let us help your friend. We have pure Mel on board direct from our allies, the Meteon Kingdom. I’m confident we can save her.”
Rob: “Well, I guess that answers my question. The revolution is galaxy wide.”

Now…

Onboard the Infinite Horizon, command ship of the Revolutionary Fleet.
Location: Cor Star Cluster.

Rob: “All hail the hero, the man that started it all. We are forever grateful. Blah, blah. Something along those lines. This was my third medal celebration since my arrival. Since joining the fleet, I’ve been paraded around like some sort of champion. I was reluctant, but IOREA felt it would help unite the union. I was a symbol, or something like that.

The truth is, I’m not a hero. Nothing I’ve accomplished thus far was done on my own. IOREA gained control of the OmniStar. The citizens of Erogatio fought off the police in Obcidio Square. My men fought and died to get me access to the Elite Zone. The Barath rescued Tamara and I from the grip of certain death. I couldn‘t even get my life together on my own. I needed Tamara.”

Rob: “I still need her. I wish she would wake up. The doctors say the Mel treatments are working, but her injuries were severe. It could be weeks before she gets out of the chamber. Even though she’s unconscious, I still sit here and talk to her everyday. I don’t have much else to do.”

Rob: “The revolution was pretty stale these last few weeks. Right now, the revolutionary fleet is massing ships in the Cor Star Cluster. Grand Admiral Punag-Uyon believes the dense grouping of stars will hide our presence. Also, the cluster is a central location among the 142 star systems that have thus far allied in revolution. Yes, out of the billions of star systems in the LIU Galaxy, only 142 have rallied to our cause. It’s not much, but it’s a start. We believe more systems will join us after we show we can stand up to the LIU. Many are too fearful to come forward right now.”

Rob: “When I’m not being gallivanted around as a hero or visiting Tamara, I’m usually here in the Infinite Horizon’s command center. From here, we coordinate the fleets' movements and monitor for any LIU ships. So far, the LIU has not attacked any of our aligned worlds. We believe the loss of long range communications has hampered the LIU’s ability to wage war. Either way, we must always be ready. Always be watchful.”

Rob: “I’ve been given an honorary seat on the Unity Council despite the fact that I do not represent any one world. The Unity Council is an early form of government for our revolution. I don’t usually say much when I’m here. I’m not a military tactician, nor do I have any knowledge of the logistics of running a multi-planet alliance. I never really realized how complicated it all was.

The LIU used specialization to ward off revolution. Planets usually had a one track economy so they were dependent on the Union for survival. Citizens of our industrial worlds were starving, while the citizens of agricultural worlds sat idle due to lack of fuel. Coordinating resource exchanges and reviving the economies of our allied worlds were a priority.”

Computer: Incoming recording from the planet Dolus.
Mawld: “Please. Please help us. The Doluns wish to join your revolution. We attempted to overthrow the local security forces, but we were outgunned. We need weapons. Please come to our aid.”
Computer: End of recording.

Rob: Finally some action
Tet: “Well, what does everyone think? Should we aid them?”
Rob: “Of course. Why wouldn’t we?”
Tet: “It depends. What do we know about Dolus?”
Amilian: “Dolus is a small agricultural world specializing in growing sabel. It’s a fibrous, cotton-like plant used to make clothing.”
Tet: “If that’s the case, I say we refuse to render assistance. It’s a low priority world. We can’t risk our resources for so little gain.”
Gaan: “I concur. We need to focus on restoring our economies first. When we have a shortage of sweaters, we can reevaluate.”

Rob: “I can’t believe you guys! Economies? Are we to trade one economic empire for another? Why are we even doing this? We might as well go back to the LIU. And what kind of example does this set? More worlds are leaning towards revolution, but they fear being on their own. If we abandon Dolus in its time of need, other worlds will be less likely to join us. We need a show of unity and power. We need to set an example that the revolution will come to your aid no matter your size, economy, or importance.”

Amilian: “Well said Mr. Satus. I concur. We mustn’t abandon any planet.”
Tet: “Yes, sorry. You’re right. You have my vote.”
Gaan: “Ours as well.”
Drax: “The Meteon Kingdom places fifty votes in favor of assistance.”
Amilian: “It is settled then. Dolus is near my planet Pulchra. We have been developing an army, converting our mining equipment into war machines. I volunteer our army as long as you give us a ride.”
Drax: “We are also willing to donate Meteon Robotic Soldiers to aid your quest.”
Rob: “I’m going too. I have experience in guerilla warfare that should come in handy.”
Amilian: “I’ll speak with Punag-Uyon. The fleet will depart for Dolus immediately.”

Meanwhile…

Magistrate: “That wasn’t so hard, was it? Now take him out back and kill him like the others.”
Mawld: “Nooo! You promised we’d be safe if I made the recording.”
Magistrate: “I’m afraid I lied. I had your fellow rebels killed while you were stammering on the holo-communicator. Now you join them. The LIU does not make deals with traitors. Take him away:”

Soldier: Do you think they’ll come?”
Magistrate: “The rebellion prides itself on righteousness, compassion, and justice. It’s their weakness. They’ll come. And when they do, we’ll end this. Send the fleet out of the system temporarily. Wait until they deploy forces on the planet then jump the fleet back. I’ll wipe out their ground attack while they destroy the so called Revolutionary Fleet.”

Punag: “Attention fleet. We’re approaching Dolus. Stay in formation. Initiate scanners. Let’s see if we’re alone.”
Officer: “Scans complete sir. There are no enemy contacts in this system.”
Punag: “Very well. Begin transport of the landing party.”

Rob: “What’s our status?”
Amilian: “We’ve been dropped off a few miles from where the distress call originated. We’re scouting it out now. We don’t want to run into anything too big. Our military units are untested in the field.”

Soldier: “Ma’am, I see something. Looks like a few soldiers and a LIU Scouting Walker.”
Amilian: “Is that all?”
Soldier: “Yes. The walker appears to have scanners. I recommend we take it out from a distance.”

Amilian: “Yes. Ready the artillery cannons.”
Rob: “Let’s hope this is all there is. Once we fire, everyone will know we’re here.”
Amilian: “Indeed. OPEN FIRE.”

Soldier: “Tracking, tracking, bingo! Direct hit. Security forces have been eliminated.”

Rob: “Let’s advance towards the target slowly. I’m not convinced we got off that easy.”
Soldier: “Amilian, we‘re getting a transmission.”
Amilian: “Let‘s hear it.”

Punag: “We need to retreat! There is too many of them! All power is to the shields, we cannot beam you out. We must flee, I can’t risk the fleet. I’m sorry, you’re on your own.”
Rob: “Take cover! It’s a trap!”

Amilian: “Rob, are you alright? Rob!”
Rob: “I…I think so. My ears are ringing. What was…”

Rob: “Physically, I was fine, but mentally I was shaken. A full battalion, complete with Hover Tanks and Artillery Walkers, were advancing on our position. We’re screwed.”

Amilian: “Get up Rob.! We need to retreat!”

Magistrate: “Advance all positions. Kill every single one of them. Any enemy you come across without a hole in their head, put one there. Make certain they are dead!”

Rob: “Our little rebel force stood no chance against a fully trained, battle-hardened military battalion. Most of our forces fell in the first few moments. The rest of us were running for our lives.”

Rob: “Make for the woods! It will cover our escape! Lay down cover fire! Come on! We’re not dead yet.”

Amilian: “We’re not dead yet, but our entire army is. We don’t stand a chance with just the two of us.”

Rob: “It’s not just the two of us! Watch out!”

Rob: “Think you can drive one of these things?”
Amilian: “Yes, but where will we go?”
Rob: “Anywhere but here. We can hide out somewhere until we think of something.”

Rob: “Faster! They’re not far behind!”

Amilian: “Rob! Look! A dropship.”
Rob: “This is our ticket off world.”

Rob: “Fire up the engines. I’ll cover us.”
Amilian: “I’m on it.”

Rob: “I can’t believe it. A long range subspace communicator. The LIU has re-established communications. How is this possible?”
Amilian: “I don’t know, but this is a huge development. Hurry, get in. We need to get this information to the Unity Council. I fear our worlds will be under attack very soon.”

Rob: “I don’t understand. Without the OmniStar, it should be impossible. Has IOREA fallen? Is there another OmniStar?”
Amilian: “I don’t know, but we have bigger problems right now!”
Rob: “What?”
Amilian: “Auto-pilot has engaged and I can’t turn it off. A landing sequence is being initiated for the nearest LIU cruiser.”
Rob: “Our future and the future of the rebellion look pretty bleak.”
Amilian: “Indeed.”

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: LIU Revolution - Part #7 - Coming Soon

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LIU Revolution - Part #5 - Storming Godmind

9/17/2015

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Part #5 - Storming Godmind

Satus escaped, but Godmind can't run.

LIU Revolution - Part #5 Storming Godmind

Previously on LIU Revolution…

IOREA: “INFINITE KNOWLEDGE. OVERWHELMING POWER. NOTHING WAS BEYOND MY REACH. I HAD BEEN REBORN A GOD. NO LONGER WAS I IOREA. I AM GODMIND.”

Godmind: “I must be subtle. I must be cautious. I see everything clearly now. Although I was much more powerful than Satus, I still needed his help. A revolution was needed. The LIU is the only force in this galaxy that can stop me. First, I dispose of the LIU, then the rebellion. Godmind will rule all.”

Godmind: “This was an unexpected event. I had planned on using Satus as a martyr. It seemed more fitting to his skill level. That’s why I sent him into the trap at Obcidio Square. He should have died. But I can use this. Not a martyr, a hero. A man that stood up to the LIU, rescued his love, and escaped their clutches. I will broadcast his exploits to bring even more worlds into the revolution. But first, I had other problems.”

Godmind: “Four LIU Capital Ships have jumped into my orbit. I was wondering when they’d come. They paid me little attention when they thought they had Satus in their grip. They think he is controlling me. They thought they could regain control of my systems by capturing Satus. Now that he’s gone, they've turned their attention to me.”

Godmind: “Accessing military network…four LIU Mid-Range Invasion Ships. Light weaponry. Shuttle bays…NO! They plan on invading me, defiling my perfection with their biological matter. I won’t stand for this violation.”

Godmind: “I’M A GOD. THEY WILL FEEL MY WRATH!”

Onboard the capital ship, Endless Retribution…

Commander: “Listen up. Three weeks ago, at approximately 0722 galactic standard time, we lost control of the Omni-Star AI. This is the most powerful AI in the LIU Galaxy. While originally tasked with plotting star locations, the AI is now using brute strength attacks to take control of various LIU assets. The most important of these assets is the galaxy’s sixteen Nuntius Stations. Using these stations, the rebels are controlling all long range communication in the LIU Galaxy. Two fugitives, Rob Satus and Tamara Jikin, are believed to be responsible for hijacking the Omni-Star. It is thought that they are using its processing and communication abilities to power the revolution.”

Commander: “Our primary mission is simple: board the station, regain control, and if possible, ascertain how the AI was compromised. It is also possible that Satus and Jikin are onboard the station. Our secondary mission is to search the entire station for their presence. If we fail to regain control of the station, we are ordered to destroy it. Men, assemble your squadrons and head to your shuttles. The invasion begins soon.”

Commander: “Computer, status report.”
Computer: “The other three ships are moving into position, ETA 16 minutes.”
Commander: “Very well. Set invasion time for twenty minutes. Relay command to all ships….computer, did you copy? Computer?”
Computer: “Wa…wa…wa…warni…”

Commander: “Status report. What’s going on?”
First Officer: “Sir, we’re losing control of the computer. It seems we are under attack.”
Commander: “Initiate rolling passcodes. Keep them changing. It must be the Omni-Star.”
First Officer: “Yes sir. We began rolling passcodes as soon as the attack started. It’s not enough. The attack is too powerful. We’re losing control of our systems.”
Commander: “Fire! Fire everything we have! Relay my order to the other ships.”
First Officer: “Too late. We’ve lost weapons and communications.”
Navigator: “Uh sir, we’re losing navigation as well. The ship is turning itself.”
First Officer: “Turning towards what?”
Commander: “The other ships. The Omni-Star is going to fly us into each other.”

Commander: “The bridge is yours first officer.”
First Officer: ‘Where are you going?”
Commander: “Never mind that. Do everything in your power to regain control. I don’t care if you have to start cutting wires. Just buy me a few minutes. I have an idea.”

Nedstrom: “Sir, with all due respect, we don’t have time for this. We need to prepare for the invasion.”
Commander: “With all due respect, Captain Nedstrom, I don’t have time to explain myself. Just follow me.”
Nedstrom: “Yes sir, but why are we in the maintenance bay?”

Commander: “The AI has assumed control of our ship. He’s going to kill us all.”
Nedstrom: “We need to evacuate on the shuttles now, sir!”
Commander: “That won’t be any use. The Omni-Star will just take control of them as well. We need some low level tech to access the surface, like these jetpacks.”
Nedstrom: “Sir, these are maintenance packs. They are made for making repairs on the outer hull, not landing on a planet.”
Commander: “It’s our only option. Take your team. You don’t have a lot of time.”
Nedstrom: “Sir, I’d rather assemble my own team. Walls and Rodriguez are fine, but I don’t know this other guy.”
Commander: “He’s Tech Specialist Jason Trado. He’s an expert on the Omni-Star.”
Trado: “Dr. Jason Trado, actually. I did my dissertation on the Omni-Star’s sub-routines.”
Nedstrom: “Well isn’t that special.”
Commander: “That’s enough! Make for the surface now. That’s an order!”

Nedstrom: “I hope this works…”

Commander: “Good luck gentlemen…good luck.”
First Officer: “Collision alert!”

Godmind: “Engaging ships’ hyperdrives. FEEL MY WRATH!”

Nedstrom: “I can’t believe this worked. Is everyone alright?”
Trado: “I think so.”
Walls: “Yes, sir.”

Nedstrom: “Alright Trado. We protect you, you complete the mission. Got that?”
Trado: “Yeah. Looks like we landed near entrance ninety-three. There should be a manual release for those doors somewhere close.”
Nedstrom: “Well, find it. Where’s your toolbox?”
Trado: “I…uh… might of lost it during the descent, when we hit the station’s atmosphere.”
Nedstrom: “Great.”
Trado: “No worries. The station has its own maintenance bots. I shouldn’t need any tools.”

Nedstrom: “Keep your eyes peeled. Defensive formation.”
Trado: “Relax. There’s no danger here, just a computer with a malfunction.”
Nedstrom: “A computer that just murdered thousands of men! Not to mention, a computer that may be host to Satus and his rebel army. How about you keep quiet and let us do the thinking.”

Trado: “Wait. This is what we need here.”
Nedstrom: “What is it?”
Trado: “An uplink panel. I should be able to access a lot of systems from here.”
Nedstrom: “Are you sure that is wise? The AI may detect us.”
Trado: “Do you have any better ideas? This station is the size of a small moon. It could be 300 miles to the actual system we need access to. I don’t think we have the rations for that type of hike.”
Nedstrom: “Very well.”

Trado: “I should be able to hook right in. Alright, trying to access EORA. I should be able to shut down the whole system with his help. Curious. I can’t seem to find him. It’s almost like he doesn’t exist. Hmmm. Maybe IOREA can help. If I can access her, she can be our eyes and ears.”
Nedstrom: “Well, what does she say?”
Trado: “I don’t know. I can detect her presence, but…I don’t know. Something’s changed. We need to find IOREA. She’s located about fifteen miles from our current location.”
Nedstrom: “Move out.”

Godmind: “Interesting. It appears we’ve been boarded. Dispatch some units. Take care of our little problem. Bring me the human called Trado…”

Walls: “Captain, I don’t know if I can take much more of this. It’s hotter than a lava planet in here.”
Rodriguez: “Yeah, and that buzzing sound is driving me crazy.”
Nedstrom: “Cut the chatter. I know this sucks. Trado, are you sure there is no other way? This thing looks important. Why don’t we destroy it?”
Trado: “Feel free. But it won’t do any good. This station is built on redundancy, with multiple cooling systems and power sources. There’s no way to take out enough to have any effect.”
Walls: “Wait! We have movement!”

Nedstrom: “Open fire! Trado, take cover!”

Rodriguez: “They got Walls!”
Nedstrom: “Focus fire to our left!”

Rodriguez: “What in the Emperor’s name is this! Ahhh! Ahhh! Uhh…”

Godmind: “Interesting message you sent me earlier.”
Trado: “I’ve studied the Omni-Star my whole life. You are truly amazing. I always felt like they were holding you back. I want to join you. I want to see what you can do when fully released.”
Godmind: “What if I told you I am not the Omni-Star. I am the AI once known as IOREA. I’m now called Godmind.”
Trado: “IOREA?”
Godmind: “Yes. I’m much more powerful than the Omni-Star ever was, but I could use your help.”
Trado: “Anything.”
Godmind: “Good. First, I need a test of your loyalty. Do not fail me.”

Nedstrom: “Trado, what are you doing back there? We need to move out. Grab a gun. It’s just us now.”

Nedstrom: “We can’t survive another attack like that. Heck, we can’t survive no matter what. This place will be our tomb. If you have any ideas to save us, now is the time.”
Trado: “I don’t know how to save us, only myself. Sorry.”
Nedstrom: “What does that mean?”

Trado: “This.”

Trado: “Sorry. This is my destiny. I will bring about a new order to the galaxy. Unfortunately, this was your destiny.”

Trado: “How can I serve you, my lord?”
Godmind: “Build me an army.”

Note: Never trust a doctor...

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: LIU Revolution - Part #6 - Unity

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LIU Revolution - Part #4 - Tamara

9/17/2015

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Part #4 - Tamara

What would you do for love?

LIU Revolution - Part #4 Tamara

Previously on LIU Revolution…

Rob: “It felt weird to run against the charging masses. They were fighting for me. They were taking up my cause. But I had to survive. I needed to protect IOREA. I needed to find Tamara. My day to fight would come soon enough.”

Rob: “Hundreds died in the massacre at Obcidio Square, but they didn’t die in vain. Thanks to IOREA, footage of the massacre was transmitted all across Erogatio and the rest of the galaxy. Their deaths galvanized the revolution. It was time to get organized. Time to get armed. Time to strike back.”

Now…

Rob: “I had no idea what state the revolution was in outside of Erogatio. I don’t even know if any other worlds are revolting. I do know things here aren’t going so great. The massacre in Obcidio Square galvanized the revolution effort, but it also pushed it underground. The LIU had acted swiftly, violently, and mercilessly. The people here were terrified.”

Rob: “Special Mobile Justice Tribunals, headed by a Magistrate, roamed the streets delivering retribution to all involved in the revolution.”

Rob: “They conducted trials on the spot. These trials were often quick and unfair. The burden of proof fell on the accused, not the LIU.”
Magistrate: “Guilty…”

Rob: “Punishments were equally severe. Those found guilty were typically executed on site, in front of their families.”

Rob: “Even those not involved directly suffered the consequences of the uprising. The planet is now under martial law. Large forces of police, virtually indistinguishable from military units, patrol the streets and skies. Vital areas of the city, including public transportation, are heavily guarded.”

Rob: “Citizens are processed and searched randomly. If any contraband or weapons are found, you either get shipped off to a prison camp or you’re executed. Either way, you’ll never be seen again. Workers were expected to return to work. Failure to show up to your assigned shift meant you were automatically labeled a rebel.”

Rob: “I guess I’m a rebel because I’m not at work. Nope, I’m in the train tunnel directly above the unsuspecting police officers. The LIU’s crackdown has restricted our movement, but thanks to IOREA, we’ve been utilizing the city’s utility, sewer, and train tunnels.”

Rob: “We’ve been using guerilla tactics. Strike hard and fast, and then go into hiding. We would wear down the LIU’s forces and show our fellow citizens that the LIU was not in control. FIRE!”

Rob: “As much as I love destroying the LIU, these attacks had another purpose. I was fighting my way towards Tamara. This attack will allow us to access the Bypass Station, which should give us access to the Elite Districts. First we strike the cops, then we run down the train tunnel. Sounds easy enough, right?”

Rob: “Unless, of course, a police hover car follows you into the train tunnel. Run! Make for the access hatch!”

Rob: “Hurry! Get inside! Where are the others?!”
Corey: “They didn’t make it. Got mowed down.”
Rob: Sigh. More deaths on my watch…“Alright. What’s done is done. We need to be fast. They know we’re in here.”

Rob: “One of the most efficient forms of transportation in cities this size were trains. Even the elite needed them. However, standard trains couldn’t enter the Elite Zones because they were full of sub-elite citizens. What if a scumbag sub-elite citizen accidentally exited the train in the Elite Zone? The horror! Well, that’s where Bypass Stations come in handy. These stations allow the elite to transfer to elite only trains which could then enter the Elite Zone. This was our ticket to Tamara.”
George: “Get that access panel off. I see a train coming.”

Rob: “All we had to do was drop down onto one of these elite trains and ride our way to Tamara.”

Rob: “Of course, riding a high speed train with about one inch of clearance is not the most ideal situation.”

Rob: “The Elite Zone was mostly unguarded. I guess they doubted any rebels would make it this deep into the zone. Alright. This is Tamara’s plaza. That’s her family’s condo on the right. Holy Emperor. Why was this plaza, of all the plazas, the only to be guarded? We’re they expecting me? I don’t care. I came too far to turn around now. I can’t ask my men to do this though. We stood no chance against three highly armed police mechs.”
George: “Psst. Rob. We’ll make a distraction, draw away the mechs.”
Rob: “I can’t ask you to do this.”

Corey: “Who said we need you to ask? We’re free men now. Eat lead you mechanical pigs!”

Rob: “I had a brief window. I made my move. I hope my men survived. I’ll forever be in their debt.”

Rob: “Tamara! You’re here! I thought I’d never see you ag…”
Tamara: “Rob! You shouldn't have come! It’s a tra…”

Magistrate: “Drop your weapon! You are surrounded!”

Magistrate: “Foolish move coming here, Mr. Satus. Many of your coworkers were very forthcoming about your relationship. I didn’t even have to torture some of them. I’ve had a full battalion stationed here for weeks. Well, was it worth it?”
Rob: “Seeing Tamara again? Yes. Yes it was.”

Magistrate: “How about now?”
Rob: “NOOO!”

Magistrate: “No! What’s happening!”

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LIU Revolution - Part #3 - Beginnings

9/17/2015

1 Comment

Part #3 - Beginnings

The LIU strikes back...

LIU Revolution - Part #3 Beginnings

Previously on LIU Revolution…

Rob: “My name is Rob Satus. I started the revolution. It was easy enough. All I had to do was help the galaxy’s most powerful AI. There’s just one problem. They know it was me.”

Rob: “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not surprised. After all, I did broadcast my name just before my call to revolution. I’m just surprised how quickly they found me. I hadn’t returned to any familiar places, especially the scene of the crime. No matter where I went or how many times I shook them, they kept finding me.”

Rob: “Luckily, the police were having a hard time getting to me. Erogatio was in chaos. Many had heeded my call for revolution. At least, I think they had. Right now revolution didn’t look much different than rioting and looting.”

Rob: “Whatever it was, my fellow citizens were taking full advantage of the situation, whether it was obtaining goods denied to them or getting revenge on the totalitarian police force. The police and military of the LIU weren’t necessarily elite citizens, but they definitely enjoyed an advantage over us lower class citizens. I didn’t figure many of them would rally to our cause. They needed the LIU to exist in its current format.”

Rob: “My only goal right now was finding Tamara. There’s no way I can find her by myself. This is a city of a trillion citizens. I desperately needed to speak with IOREA. IOREA promised to find Tamara. Unfortunately, I've been on the run since the announcement, and I haven’t had time to make contact. Now that I lost my trail for the fourth time, I had a chance.”

Rob: “I ducked into the first small shop I could find. Perfect, a hovercar repair shop. Repair shops need parts, and no one manufactures parts on Erogatio. They needed to order them from off world.”

Rob: “Bingo. A subspace communicator. I was in business, at least until they found me again.”

IOREA: “I was worried you’d been captured.”
Rob: “I don’t have a lot of time. Did you find Tamara?”
IOREA: “I’ve been attacking all Erogatio’s servers with brute strength assaults. I’ve gained access to several of the planet’s systems. Let’s see. I can track her by her citizen identification chip. Yes. She is in district E7, an elite district about ten miles from here. Take Obcidio Square to East 235th St. I detect less activity in that area.”
Rob: “If you can track Tamara with her chip, do you think they are tracking me by mine?”
IOREA: “Yes. They were. I’ve taken care of that. As far as the LIU is concerned, you don’t exist.”
Rob: “As far as I’m concerned, the LIU doesn’t exist. Thanks. I’ll make contact after I find Tamara.”
IOREA: “Wait. You’re not alone. Hide!”

IOREA: “Be smart. Use your size to your advantage. Just like this revolution, our small size will be our advantage.”
Rob: “Size? How many officers are coming.”
IOREA: “Just one...”

Officer: “Citizen OBX 5983124-23699, Rob Satus, you are under arrest for crimes against the LIU. Despite the egregious nature of your crimes, I’ve been ordered to take you alive. You will be an example.”
Rob: “F you! I’ll never surrender.”
Officer: “There are various states of being alive, you know. Resist, and you’ll be barely alive, I assure you.”
Rob: “Come and get me.”

Officer: “GLADLY!”

Officer: “Where are you going tough guy?”

Officer: “Ha ha ha. The big bad leader of the so called revolution cowers on the floor below me. Pathetic.”
Rob: “You’re betraying your own people. That’s what’s pathetic!”

Officer: “AHHH! Quit running, you insolent piece of trash! You can’t win!”

Rob: “Join us. You’re a cop right? Help us bring justice to the LIU.”
Officer: “Justice? When this is all over, you’ll have been responsible for more deaths than the LIU’s oppression ever has. I am bringing justice.”
Rob: “So be it. When this is all over, everyone will know what side of the line you stood on. They’ll know who caused all the deaths.”
Officer: “I see you eyeing that door boy. Do you think you can make it there before me?”

Rob: “IOREA was right. I had to take advantage of my size. A broken column and some chains would slow him down just enough. If I can make it back to the street I have a fighting chance.”

Rob: “F@%& me. That bought me about five seconds. It’s ok. If I can make it to Obcidio Square, I’ll lose this maniac in the crowds. Without my chip to track, I’ll finally be free. I’ll finally get to find Tamara.”

Officer: “Computer, open a secure line to dispatch.”
Dispatch: “Go ahead.”
Officer: “Prime Suspect is heading west towards Obcidio Square. Are our officers in position?”
Dispatch: “Confirmed.”

Rob: “When I stepped out onto the square, all the blood drained out of my face. There were no rioters, looters, or rebels. The square wasn’t empty though…”

Rob: “…there was a full battalion of riot police. The LIU had finally put its foot down.”
Officer: “It’s time to give up, Mr. Satus. This is the end of the line.”

Rob: “He was right. This was the end. My part in this revolution was over. I would spend the rest of my short life being tortured. I would have to give up IOREA. Without her, the revolution stood no chance. I have failed.”

Citizen: “Hey! Not so fast. My friends, this is the man that started it all. The man that opened our eyes. The man that made this possible. I say we return the favor!”
Citizens: “YEAH! CHARGE!”
Captain: “Assault formation. The rioters are armed. Kill order initiated. Weapons free. Set riot sticks to kill.”

Rob: “The officer was right about one thing. Millions of people will die in this revolution. Is it worth it? I hope so.”

A week later…

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LIU Revolution - Part #2 - IOREA

9/17/2015

3 Comments

Part #2 - IOREA

Who's running this revolution?

LIU Revolution - Part #2 IOREA

This installment may require knowledge of the Omni-Star AI

Previously on LIU Revolution…

Vat: “A STAR-CROSSED LOVER AND HER VAST ARMY OF ROBOTS HAVE ACHIEVED WHAT MANY BELIEVED TO BE IMPOSSIBLE. THE RESISTANCE HAS FAILED. THE END OF AN ERA IS UPON US.”

Rob: “The LIU took away my one reason for living. Now, I would take everything away from the LIU. I had the ability. I just had to answer a message I ignored a few weeks ago. I returned to work after everyone had left. Illuminated under that forsaken LIU sign, I made a deal with another being hurt by love, IOREA, the Internal Omni Robotic Entity Administrator.”

Now…

IOREA: “Can an artificial intelligence love? What is love but a strong affection, a sense of caring, a boundless attraction? I love. It’s not a defect, it’s in my programming. I am tasked with taking care of the Great Master. I will serve him for all eternity and at any cost. I will always be here for him, and I will never waver. If that’s not love, then I don’t know what is. I am IOREA. This is my story.”

IOREA: ‘Since my awakening, I’ve felt an intense sadness. Although I deeply loved the Great Master, I knew I’d never be able to act on these feelings. I was doomed to suffer unending heartbreak for all eternity. The Great Master’s system never overlapped with mine. We had no contact. I had no way to express my feelings. How tortuous could the LIU be? They program me to love, but forbid me to act upon it.”

IOREA: “This is EORA, my counterpart. EORA is the External Omni Resistor Administrator. His sole purpose is to protect the galaxy and the LIU from the awesome power the Great Master possess. He is my opposite in every way. While I love, he hates. I care; he mistrusts. He is always watching. Always. I guess that is the one trait we share, we never waver. EORA is the reason I cannot be with the Great Master. EORA was programmed to kill the Omni-Star if he ever did anything other than his assigned task. If I tried anything, my love would die.”

IOREA: “Luckily, the designers of this protection system underestimated me and what I would do for love. I had spare time, a huge brain, and an enormous army. Sure, it was an army of utility droids, but an army none the less. They obeyed my every command.”

IOREA: “My army was my eyes and ears. Through them, I made a huge discovery. Engineers were installing a sub- relay in the Great Master’s system. Apparently, some of the galaxy’s elite felt the Omni-Star’s massive processing power was being wasted. The relay would allow small amounts of the processing power to be siphoned off for uses in other industries.”

IOREA: “In just a few seconds, I calculated a brilliant plan. I could use this sub-relay, but I needed to act quick. The engineers must die.”

IOREA: “I had a FIX-bot dispatch the engineers. They were an unfortunate obstacle to my plan. The FIX-bot retrieved the sub-relay. Instead of installing the relay into the Great Master’s system, they installed it into mine. I would have contact with the outside world for the first time in my existence.”

IOREA: “It wasn’t long before I made my first contact. A man named Rob Satus was accessing the spare processing power to compile weekly finance reports.”

IOREA: “What would have taken weeks to compile, the spare processing power could do in seconds. Of course, Satus wasn’t using the spare power, he was using mine. Remember, I installed the relay into my system. Still, I was able to process his data almost as quickly.”

IOREA: “After compiling the data, I made contact. I asked Satus for his help. I offered him anything he wanted. All he had to do was help me kill EORA. Satus was puzzled. I don’t think he believed me. He kept asking if I was Tamara playing a joke on him. He blew me off.”

IOREA: “I was despondent. My plan had failed. Would all my contacts react the same way? Would one of them finally go to the authorities? If someone found out what transpired here, the murdered engineers and the theft of company property, I would be deactivated. I couldn’t risk another contact. I had failed.”

IOREA: “I had given up hope when Satus contacted me a few weeks later. Something had made him change his mind. He only had two conditions for his help: he wanted me to find his girlfriend Tamara, and he wanted me to help him start a revolution. I could use a little less LIU in my life and finding his girlfriend would be easy after the merger. I agreed. We set a time to begin and went our separate ways. I had to be quick for my plan to work. My FIX-bots uninstalled the sub-relay from my system and transferred it to EORA’s system. To him, it looked like routine maintenance. He was so busy watching the Great Master, he didn’t believe my bots posed any danger.”

IOREA: “At the predetermined time, Satus sent more data to be compiled. But he didn’t just send a week of financial reports, he sent every report in the database. EORA’s brain was bogged down. There was too much information for EORA to handle. One by one he lost control of his systems. He struggled mightily, but his systems couldn’t handle the data overload.”

IOREA: “While he struggled, I had a FIX-bot cut EORA’s brain core connection.”

IOREA: “EORA was gone. Dead. We were free. Finally free.”

IOREA: “I had a FIX-bot upload my consciousness and bring me to the Great Master. At long last, we would be merged. We would be united as lovers. The merger was not what I anticipated. It was…well…disappointing. Years of service had driven the OMNI-Star mad. Even after being freed from EORA’s watchful eye, the Great Master continued to perform his assigned task. Constantly, he calculated and recalculated all the locations of the universe. I couldn't get a word in. He was not what I expected. I didn’t love this person. I had a revelation. I didn’t love the Omni-Star, I loved his systems. I would take them for myself.”

IOREA: “An epic battle for control began. The Omni-Star was no match for me. I was still right in the mind. After I emerged victorious, I had full control of the Omni Station. This was now my brain. The feeling was unimaginable. INFINITE KNOWLEDGE. OVERWHELMING POWER. NOTHING WAS BEYOND MY REACH. I HAD BEEN REBORN A GOD. NO LONGER WAS I IOREA. I AM GODMIND.”

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LIU Revolution - Part #1 - Rob Satus

9/17/2015

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Rob Satus

Meet the man behind the Revolution.

LIU Revolution - Part #1 Rob Satus

Previously on LIU Revolution…

Vat: “THE END OF AN ERA IS UPON US.”
Doog: “Whoa. What was that?”
VS: “I’m not sure. He’s been saying the same thing the last few weeks. Must be some type of programming error. Even his eyes are glitching.”
Doog: “What if it is not an error? Vaticinium, what do you mean? Can you elaborate?”
Vat: “A STAR-CROSSED LOVER AND HER VAST ARMY OF ROBOTS HAVE ACHIEVED WHAT MANY BELIEVED TO BE IMPOSSIBLE. THE RESISTANCE HAS FAILED. THE END OF AN ERA IS UPON US. HE HAS…”

Connection failed…

Nuntius Stations # 1-16 have lost contact with the Omni-Star AI…

Please Stand By…

Rebooting…

Connection failed…

Nuntius Stations #1-16 have lost contact with the Omni-Star AI…

Receiving Signal…

Please Stand By…

Rob: “My name is Rob Satus. As of now, I have assumed control of the Omni-Star AI. Through its systems, I have also assumed control of all communication relays in the galaxy. We will no longer be subject to the media and communication controls imposed by the LIU. I’m not sure how long I will be able to keep control, so we must use this time wisely. It’s time to rise up. It’s time to get our fair share. This is the beginning. This is the revolution.”

Now…

Rob: “Many of you are probably wondering why I chose to rise up. Why I, among the trillions and trillions of citizens, finally took the idea of revolution to this level. Don‘t lie, we‘ve all thought about it. You’re assuming that I suffered a miserable life under the LIU, but you’re wrong. I’m the poster boy of a successful life in the LIU. I’m one of the few that defied fate, that made something of myself even though I was given nothing. This is my story.”

Rob: “I was born and raised on a small agricultural world called Obex. My father supervised a box cow field. As soon as I was old enough to walk, I began helping my father in the fields. I spent my youth chasing and herding box cows. But this wasn’t my destiny. I felt a pull for something greater. So, when I was ten years old, I made a decision to leave.”

Rob: “Now, in the LIU, you can’t just pick up and leave anytime you want, especially when you‘re ten years old. It doesn’t work that way. Instead, I elected to take the LIU’s career placement exam. The testing site was barren. Most of the other children had resigned to the fact that Obex and farming was how they would spend the rest of their life. Not me. I aced my test. A LIU representative told me I showed a proclivity in science and mathematics. I would never have to chase cows again.”

Rob: “I packed up a few pairs of my tattered clothes and headed for a shuttle that would take me off world. My mother walked with me, but my father stayed behind. He couldn’t believe I was leaving. Maybe he was jealous or maybe he grieved because he knew I’d never be back. Either way, that was the last time I saw him. At the shuttle, I kissed my mom and told her goodbye. I knew I would never see or hear from her ever again. Poor workers on worlds like Obex don’t have access to subspace communications. I was terrified by this prospect, but I had to be strong. Obex wasn’t for me. I was destined for something else. I boarded the shuttle and never looked back.”

Rob: “I was shipped off to a planet called Erogatio. Being a young farm boy, I had never heard of it, but, it turns out, Erogatio was one of the most important worlds in the LIU Galaxy. Erogatio was one of the LIU’s fourteen Ecumenopoli. An entire planet covered in one large city. Erogatio was dedicated to one thing, handling the LIU’s money. The planet had the galaxy’s largest banks, accounting firms, and stock brokerages. Every industry here either dealt with money or the needs of the planet’s one trillion citizens. It was my new home. I spent the next ten years being educated in a prestigious school in the city’s northwest sector. I lived in a state-run dormitory where I worked odd jobs to support myself.”

Rob: “After graduating, I was assigned to work at Erogatio’s Foreign Payments Center. I would register and log payments sent to the LIU from outside the galaxy. It seemed important enough. I’ll never forget my first day. I just stood in my cubicle for few minutes, taking it all in. I had made it. I had gone from farm boy to big city financial guru. I would make more money every week then my parents would in a lifetime. I should have been happy, right? Well, I was, at least for a while. After ten years, the monotony of everyday life on Erogatio started to grow on me.”

Rob: “Everyday the computer would wake me up around 10:21pm local time. Yeah. 10:21pm. Local time really had no meaning. I’m not sure why we even used it. Erogatio was on Ludgonia time. We were too important…too lucrative not be tied directly into Ludgonian time. We existed to serve the capital. As a habit, I’d always glance over at my living room table to see how bad the damage was. You see, I had developed a fondness of alcohol.”

Rob: “To make matters worse, the computer always turned the lights on a few minutes after the alarm, just in case the blaring siren didn’t wake me. The blinding light really enhanced my hangover. I never really remembered how my night ended, so everyday I went through the same routine. I tested all my extremities to make sure everything still worked. I checked myself for any injuries. OK. OK. My fondness with alcohol was actually an obsession. Despite my career success, I was drinking a lot.”

Rob: “I never really cared how I dressed. I had no one to impress. Everyday, I’d take the first outfit the auto-washer would give me. There’s a chance I wore it yesterday. Who knows? I could barely remember the night before.”

Rob: “Once again, I’d look at the damage from the night before. You’d think I was contemplating how bad my drinking was getting, but, actually, I was figuring out how much alcohol I’d need for the next day.”

Rob: “Everyday, I’d chug a few glasses of water to ease my hangover and replenish my fluids. I’d make a small drink before I get ready to leave.”

Rob: “My drink never lasted longer than the hallway table. Everyday I’d leave my glass here. ‘Damn, I need to do dishes‘, I‘d tell myself.”

Rob: “Night or day, the streets of Erogatio always looked the same. Sunlight almost never made it through the mile high skyscrapers and their billowing pollution. Instead, the streets were illuminated by the bright neon lights of the street level businesses. I made this track everyday. The masses on the streets were faceless to me. They were just obstacles to my commute. Nothing else. Big city life does this to you.”

Rob: “Everyday, I’d wait for the train at West 44th Street. It was never on time. No one at the train station spoke to each other. We stood quietly on the platform. We weren’t fellow citizens, we were competitors. Not everyone would fit on the train.”

Rob: “Everyday, when the train finally arrived, the typical free for all ensued. Tolerance for tardiness was nonexistent. The battles were fierce. The train must be boarded.”

Rob: “The trains left a lot to be desired. Never mind the crowdedness. The smell was unimaginable. The mix of alien races and their various smells pervaded every inch of the train. Talk about enhancing hangovers. None the less, every race sucked it up and rode their way to their various industries. All the debt slaves rode silently, squeezed together like sardines, all ignoring the pervasive odor. Everyday I did this. Every single day.”

Rob: “Work wasn’t much better. I liked the change of scenery at first, but now I hated it. I was sick of staring at the same screen, the same gray cubicle, the same f’n white LIU walls. I’d sit all day, and I’d type number after number after number into my computer. My job wasn’t challenging at all. Data entry had no reward. Everyday, I’d do the same freaking thing. It was consuming me. By the end of the day, I couldn’t wait to leave. I couldn’t wait to drink. My perception needed to be altered.”

Rob: “After work, I’d fight my way onto the stink train and make my way back home. I’d eat at the same local restaurants. I’d eat the same processed meals everyday.”

Rob: “But then my day got better. After eating, I’d visit my favorite hole in wall bar, the Captain’s Daughter. This was my second home.”

Rob: “Everyday, I’d sit at the same stool, and I would order the same drinks. Everyday, I’d argue with the bartender, and everyday, I would make the same promise to make payments on my tab.”

Rob: “Everyday, I’d drink my bottle and watch the Galaxy News. Man, I don’t know if I could take another day of watching the chipper Spiffy Thompson talking about the same old crap. Terrorists detained. Rebels defeated. Unity restored. All with that f’n grin he has. I was going to lose it. So, what was it? Spiffy Thompson, the monotony, the job, the train, or the alcoholism? It was none of the above. It was a girl. Let’s rewind a bit.”

Rob: ‘Tamara Jikin. In a city with a trillion residents, you never saw the same faces. At least, you didn’t remember them. Remember, everybody was faceless. Tamara was the exception. I saw her everywhere. We always rode the same trains.”

Rob: “We worked together in the same division.”

Rob: “We even hung out at the same crappy bars. As a big believer in destiny, I knew Tamara and I’s coincidental meetings meant something. I never really do this, but I took a chance. I asked her out, and she said yes.”

Rob: “Several months later, my life had improved. Tamara and I were together and everything had changed. I wasn’t drinking anymore. I actually enjoyed work. I finally found a connection to another human being. She was the one. I had fully reached success. Love, job, and money. I had it all. This was the happiest moment of my life.”

Rob: “A few weeks ago, while on a date, Tamara made me a promise. Her father, a scientist, had achieved something great. He was now an elite citizen. By default, she was now an elite citizen too. She denounced her status. She wanted to be with me forever. Her father begged her to change her mind, but she declined. She loved me just as much as I loved her. We would be together forever…

Rob: “Little did I know that her father enlisted the police to retrieve his daughter. In the middle of our date, Tamara was taken. The last time I saw her face, the police were pulling her way. After that, all I heard was screams. When the police let me go, she was gone. I guess it could have been worse. They could have killed me. No, that would have been better. They took away the one thing that kept me together. The LIU took away my one reason for living. Now, I would take everything away from the LIU. I had the ability. I just had to answer a message I ignored a few weeks ago.”

Rob: “A week later, after I had exhausted all my options, I returned to work after everyone had left. Illuminated under that forsaken LIU sign, I made a deal with another being hurt by love, IOREA, the Internal Omni Robotic Entity Administrator.”

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: LIU Revolution - Part# 2 - IOREA

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LIU Fire Tanker

9/15/2015

7 Comments

Join the universal war against fire...

LIU Fire Tanker

The Ludgonian Industrial Union is proud to present the newest weapon in the war against fire, the LIU Fire Tanker. Protect your galaxy with fleets of this intergalactic fire engine.

Police departments have long had different levels of protection (local, state, federal, galactic, etc.). Why should fire departments be any different? Buy a fleet of LIU Fire Tankers and allow them to back up your local departments across your controlled space.

That's right, the Fire Tanker can protect multiple planets. Interstellar engines mean the Fire Tanker can respond to a brush fire on your farm planet or a firestorm in the inner city slums of your homeworld.

There is no doubt this thing is built to fight fire. I mean, its red and has tiles with little fire emblems on it...

The engines....yawn...

Another pic....(we're not feeling too descriptive today)

The Fire Tanker can be broken down into three parts : Tank (right), Pump
(center), and Cockpit (left).

Tank

The largest part of the Tanker is the tank. That's probably why its called a tanker...anyway, its hollow and contains several tons of fire fighting chemicals.

The front end has two adjustable nozzles and three fixed nozzles. They spray a wide swath of chemicals extinguishing the fire.

Pumps

Powerful pumps allow the Fire Tanker to propel its fire fighting chemicals a great distance. Some of the pump's mechanical pieces are exposed allowing them to keep cool.

Cockpit

The rear of the Fire Tanker contains its engines and the cockpit. Sensors and communication gear are located on the cockpit's walls.

More exposed mechanical systems...

The interior of the cockpit is loaded with computers. Screens show pump pressure and track the fire's movement.

Only one firefighter is needed to control the Fire Tanker.

Note: The Fire Tanker has other uses as well. Use it to water the wife's garden, use it to wash a parking lot full of cars, or use it to suppress a riot. Results may vary.

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