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LIU Revolution - Part #4 - Tamara

9/17/2015

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!”

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.”

Magistrate: “No! What’s happening!”

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.”

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: LIU Revolution - Part #5 - Storming Godmind

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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.”

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.”

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: LIU Revolution - Part #3 - Beginnings

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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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Hover Camera

9/15/2015

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LIU Plasma Cutter

9/15/2015

2 Comments

Fixing big ships requires big tools...

LIU Plasma Cutter

The Ludgonian Industrial Union is proud to present the newest product in its new line of construction ships, the Plasma Cutter. Bringing your capital ships or space stations back to the surface for repairs is expensive, time consuming, and sometimes impossible. Don't fret, now you don't have to.

The Plasma Cutter was designed to make precise cuts in your ships' and space stations' hulls. Its cheaper to remove damaged pieces and replace them.

Note the long plasma blade on the front of the ship. It does the slicing and dicing...

The Plasma Cutter is loaded with thrusters that allow it to make the precise movements required to make precise cuts.

In case your color blind, it's yellow with hints of black. Yep, it doesn't get more contructiony than that....

This rear view exposes the three rear thrusters. The two side thrusters are for turning, while the larger center thruster is for power and speed.

Various hoses, compartments, and thrusters line the sides of the Plasma Cutter.

This view shows off the top mounted cockpit and the two main reverse thrusters.

A closer view of the aforementioned cockpit reveals the pilot and computer. We tearfully admit that there is only one....yes....only one, computer panel in this thing. We wanted more, but cutting chunks out of ships isn't complicated enough for more.

This pic probably should have been higher up, as it shows the main tool of the ship. But here it is, the Plasma Cutter's plasma cutter. New ionic technology is used to superheat the blade, allowing it to cut through your ship like a hot knife through butter.

Note: The Plasma Cutter costs a small fortune, but we promise you'll end up saving in the long run. Yep, a decade or two down the road, when its finally paid off, you'll see all the savings. Just be patient.

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LIU Deep Space Repair Ship

9/15/2015

2 Comments

There are no tow trucks in deep space.

LIU Deep Space Repair Ship

The Ludgonian Industrial Union knows how frustrating it is when your ship breaks down in deep space (not that any of our high quality LIU products ever break down...) We also know that towing your ship to the nearest mechanic is expensive and time consuming. That's why we're introducing the LIU Deep Space Repair Ship (DSRS). Fly your mechanics to the scene and repair your ship in deep space.

The DSRS is as durable as they come, but even if it does break down, you have mechanics on board to fix it.

Two short stabilizer wings give the DSRS some atmospheric flight capabilities, but we recommend you only use it in deep space.

A small airlock allows your mechanics to exit the DSRS. Most repairs require spacewalks, and if they don't, the ship you are repairing better have its own airlock for the mechanic to enter. The DSRS's mechanic platform prevents it from directly connecting to your airlock.

The DSRS's three small engines don't provide much speed, but they are extreme Ely efficient.

Here, a mechanic shows off his Nut Wrencher 5000 while standing on the DSRS's mechanic platform.

A DSRS docks at Space Station M31-P5. Join Doog later this month for LIU Atlas - M31-P5.

Note: The Nut Wrencher 5000 is intended for mechanical purposes only. Due to an ongoing lawsuit, we can no longer sell the Nut Wrencher 5000 to angry housewives.

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Season 7 - Episode 12 - Messae

8/25/2015

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LIU Atlas - Messae

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

LIU Atlas - Messae

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 unique planet of Messae. Messae is tidally locked, meaning that it rotates at the same speed as it orbits its parent star. One side of the planet is trapped in a hot, unending day, while its counterpart is trapped in a cool, perpetual night. Now, we’ve visited a planet like this before, where a settlement had been established in the thin twilight band between day and night sides of the planet. Messae is unique in that a race evolved that lives on the planet’s night side. This is possible because of Messae’s two moons. These icy moons have a high albedo, and they reflect sunlight onto the planet’s darker hemisphere. The natives here live in the moonlight.”

Doog: “Alright folks, I’ve been dropped off in a small village on the planet’s night side. Other than the dark sky, it’s almost hard to tell that it is technically night time. The bright moonlight here illuminates everything. The natives seem to be primitive, at least technologically. Hold on a sec, there‘s a guy approaching me with an axe…”

Doog: “Hey, what a big axe you have. I hope you are my guide because I don’t want to die.”
Iah: “Yes, I am Iah, High Elder of my tribe."
Doog: “Why are you carrying a halberd?”
Iah: “Protection from predators mostly, but don’t worry, they usually only come out at night.”
Doog: “Wait, isn’t it night?”

Iah: “Of course not, Venator and Atterit are high in the sky. Full too. You’ve come at a good time.”
Doog: “So daytime for you is when the moons are up?”
Iah: “Yeah, I guess. At least, that’s the easiest way to explain it in Basic. In our language, we have different names depending on which moon is up. Manli is the period when only Venator has risen. Femin is the period when only Atterit graces the sky. Nuptia, which we are experiencing now, is the period when both moons share the sky. Tristitia is the sorrowful time when both moons are set at the same time. Tristitia is true night.”
Doog: “Sounds complicated. So, I noticed that you used words that sort of personified the moons. Do you perhaps worship these moons?”
Iah: “Indeed. Let’s head to the temple.”

Iah: “Venator and Atterit are my race’s gods. The larger of the moons is Venator, the huntsman. He burns brighter, is larger, and moves quicker than Atterit. You will notice his pedestal is taller and closer. Atterit is the mother. Slower, but around more often. She is generous and more giving of light, even if it is a bit dimmer. Her arrival and departure closely match the reproductive cycles of my species, further cementing her personification of a mother. Both are revered as they bring light, warmth, and sustenance. When they are together, or Nuptia, they symbolize marriage.”
Doog: “You still believe in all of this?”

Iah: “Not like we did before the LIU. We had no sense of moons or suns or stars. We held fast to our beliefs. It wasn’t until the LIU flew members of our society into space that our belief system was crushed. It was a hard blow. Our gods were just icy spherical ‘moons‘. While Atterit is smaller in our sky, the moon is actually larger than Venator. But, alas, maybe they are just moons, but they still provide us all the things I mentioned before. We still worship them in that manner.”
Doog: “Sorry to hear that. If it makes you feel any better, I used to believe in a magical pixie that gave me money for my teeth.”
Iah: “That’s just weird man.”
Doog: “That’s culture. One man’s normalcy is another’s insanity.”

Doog: “So, you were saying earlier that the moons bring sustenance. How is that?”
Iah: “Well, for one, without light, none of these plants would exist.”
Doog: “You guys eat these plants?”
Iah: “Ew, no. Plants are gross.”
Doog: “Good point. So, why are plants important then?”

Iah: “Well, besides recycling the air we breath, they also provide food to our animals. The Chenla, or, as the LIU calls them, Night Chickens, eat the short grasses. We then eat them.”
Doog: “Can’t go wrong with chicken, day or night varieties.”
Iah: “Yeah, I guess. Our mounts, the Putri, eat larger shrubs and flowers. Our mounts allow us to herd Chenla, travel great distances, and transport food.”

Iah: “Another form of sustenance the moons provide is water. I’m sure you noticed these moon pools as we’ve walked around?”
Doog: “Yeah. Why are they called moon pools?”
Iah: “The pools are actually ground water. They are only pulled to the surface by the combined gravitational pull of Venator and Atterit. When the moons leave the sky, their gravitational effect diminishes, and the water seeps back into the ground. Speaking of which, Venator is departing us now. It will get darker, and the water will begin to drop.”

Doog: “Wow, that drained quickly. So you guys only get water when both moons are in the sky?”
Iah: “Yes. We store extra in barrels so we have rations during moonless periods. But, when the moons take away, they also give.”

Doog: “How so?”
Iah: “Pool Worms are drawn to the surface when the pool is filled, but they retreat to wetter depths when the water falls. If we act quickly, we can harvest several of these worms.”
Doog: “Do you run a bait shop or something?”
Iah: “A what?”
Doog: “What do you use the worms for?”
Iah: “Food. Nothing on this planet is more nutritious or delicious than a Pool Worm.”
Doog: “Do you sell them to the LIU?”

Iah: “No, but there are other creatures in pools of interest to the LIU.”
Doog: “Clams?”
Iah: “Yes.”

Iah: “The LIU weren’t interested in the clams as a foodstuff, but for the golden pearls found within. My race has long utilized these pearls for decorations and jewelry, and now, the LIU does the same. Their rarity make them extremely
valuable.”
Doog: “So that’s your contribution to the LIU?”
Iah: “For now. There is interest in expanding our Chenla farming, but, so far, nothing has been set in motion.”

Doog: “Is it just me, or is it getting darker?”
Iah: “It’s not just you. Atterit is setting. Tristitia will be upon us soon. We need to hurry back to the village. Predators lurk in the darkness.”

Worm: “GWAAAAAR!”
Iah: “Form a perimeter! Protect the women! Protect the Chenla!”
Doog: “Protect the Doog too! What is that thing?!?”
Iah: “A Decapede, the largest predator on Messae.”
Doog: “What are the odds of me dying via Decapede?”
Iah: “Low. It won’t risk injury from our weapons. I’m more worried about the unarmed women and our animals.”

Iah: “Cursed beast! It got one of our Chenla. Oh well, it will buy us time. Hurry, retreat while the Decapede is distracted!”

Doog: “That was close, too close.”
Iah: “Yeah. We need to get back to the village quickly. The last rays of Atterit are leaving us. More Decapedes will be awakening.”

Doog: “What happens when it sets! We won’t be able to see them in just starlight!”
Iah: “No worries. My race and I have adaptations to the dark. We’ll see just fine.”
Doog: “Well, I’m glad your special eyes will be able to see. I’ll just stumble around blindly like some dolt.”
Iah: “It’s not an adaptation of our eyes…”

Iah: “…it is our skin.”
Doog: “Your face glows? Awesome.”
Iah: “Our whole head glows actually. The adaptation was once useful for finding mates during the Tristitia, but now, we use it for illumination. Our special helmets were built to focus this light in front of us.”
Doog: “A flashlight for a head. Cool. I feel a strong urge to make shadow puppets with your face. Just look down at the ground for a bit.”
Iah: “Maybe later. Don’t forget the massive Decapedes awakening all around us.”

Doog: “Alright, Iah has offered me sanctity in his home until Venator rises again in a few hours. He’s even offered to feed me. I quickly accepted, being that I never usually have enough money to eat. Then I remember these people eat worms. I guess I’m stuck now.”

Doog: “Ok. Ok. This drink isn’t too bad. What is this Iah?”
Iah: “Water, I believe.”
Doog: “Ah yes. It did seem familiar. Alright, time for the worm stew. How does one eat this ‘delicious’ entrée?”
Iah: “Pick up the bowl and slurp away.”
Doog: “Ok, here goes nothing…”

Doog: “BAAAAARF!! Oh for emperor’s sake! BLAHH! Holy Kaadu…that was…uh…very nice. Yes. Thanks Mrs. Flashlight Head. That was very refreshing…BAAAARF! “

Doog: “Well folks, I hope I didn’t offend my hosts too much. Worm stew is…well…worm stew. I won’t elaborate further. Despite their culinary tastes, Messae and its people are pretty interesting. They live in a world illuminated by moonlight. They share it with Night Chickens, giant Decapedes, and jewelry producing clams. Well, I better get to cleaning up because I don’t want to be tossed out into the dark. See ya!”

Note:
The Messaen race has an elaborate calendar system revolving around their two moons. You’ve already learned a little about the various phases of the day (Manli, Femin, Nuptia, and Tristitia), but after that it only gets more complicated. The Messaen have names for various forms of the moon’s crescents, lunar eclipses, and alignments. If you have a few spare months, you can learn all about it. Click the TV2 app on your LIUPad!

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 7 - Episode 13 - Nux

46 Comments

Season 7 - Episode 13 - Nux

8/25/2015

1 Comment

LIU Atlas - Nux

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

LIU Atlas - Nux

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 hot desert world of Nux. The blazing hot planet sits close to its star, regularly reaching daytime surface temperatures in excess of 200°F. Despite the warm weather, Nux is actually an agricultural world.”

Doog: “The surface of the dry world is covered in a cracked, desiccated soil. These cracks, which open into large canyons, are actually inhabited. We’ll need to descend further.”

Doog: “The Nuxen race, which call this planet home, live in large cities built into the canyon walls. By living on the underside of the canyon walls, they avoid direct sunlight and therefore stay cooler. These canyons are almost a hundred degrees cooler than the surface. There is also small amounts of liquid water in the shadowed soil. Well, I guess it’s time to head inside.”

Nucifera: “Welcome to Nux, Doog. I am Nucifera.”
Doog: “Whoa, what big eyes you have. They’re looking a little bloodshot too. Been hitting the pipe before my arrival?”
Nucifera: “No. As you can probably tell, my biology differs from yours. My eyes evolved to be larger to see in the low light levels of the canyons. The blood vessels help expand and contract my enlarged iris. And…before you ask, yes, I have a large mouth and sharp teeth. They are adaptations for eating the planet’s only native plant, the Dacrima Nut Tree.”
Doog: “Dacrima Nut Tree?”
Nucifera: “Yes. The nut trees used to grow sparsely due to the harsh environment, but now we grow them in bulk. Dacrima Nuts are our largest export.”
Doog: “How did you solve the environmental issues?”
Nucifera: “Follow me into the factory.”

Doog: “The factory?”
Nucifera: “Yes, here on Nux, we’ve taken factory farming to a whole new level.”

Nucifera: “In order to meet the high demands of the LIU, we decided that we would have to automate our farming operation. Factory farming usually involves animals, but here, we use the concept to grow mass amounts of Dacrima Nut Trees.”
Doog: “Gotcha. So what’s this?”
Nucifera: “This is the very beginning of our operation. The first robot stacks the assembly line with growth pots. The next fills each pot with fertilized soil.”

Nucifera: “The final robot then injects each pot with a seed. The pots are then transported upstairs into a growing room.”

Nucifera: “After four days in the growing room, the seeds sprout. They are then lowered into this room. Up to this point, the nut sprouts have been growing in there own containers, but now, they must be removed.”
Doog: “Nut sprouts…had those once after an especially seedy brothel. Get it? Seedy…sprouts…man, do I have jokes or what?”

Nucifera: “Uh...yeah. Anyway, the sprouts are watered to loosen up their roots and then pulled from the container by a robot.”

Nucifera: “He then hands the sprout to that robot on the track over there.”

Nucifera: “Several sprouts are planted together in a floating platform.”
Doog: “Floating?”
Nucifera: “Yes.”

Nucifera: “The platform is removed when full and taken to the growing canals.”

Doog: “Canals?”
Nucifera: “Yes. From this point on, the nut trees are grown with hydroponics.”

Nucifera: “The platforms float slowly in a liquid mixture that contains nutrients and pesticides.”
Doog: “Don’t the nuts get wet? That’s the worst.”
Nucifera: “At this stage, the plants have not matured and bear no nuts.”
Doog: “Might I suggest that we name this period of nutlessness as Timbo?”
Nucifera: “Uh, sure. Whatever that is.”

Nucifera: “The slow moving platforms float in the canals under growth lights for thirty days before maturing. All the while being tended by one of our quality control bots. They search for diseased or dying plants that could ruin the crop.”

Nucifera: “Once matured, the trees are removed from the canals. They are now ready to be moved to the nut picking room.”

Doog: “Is this where the nuts are fondled? Excuse me…I mean handled.”
Nucifera: “Picked, actually. And yes. Our picking robots remove the fully formed Dacrima Nuts as they are formed. They make quick work of it actually.”

Nucifera: “Each tree produces about a hundred or so nuts during its yearlong lifespan.”
Doog: “That’s a lot of nuts.”
Nucifera: “Yes. Everyday we produce millions of nuts. It is an enormous operation.”

Doog: “I guess people eat these?”
Nucifera: “Sort of. But not in the way you think. Follow me.”

Nucifera: “As we head between the factory farm and the mill, you’ll see a small bit of our town.”
Doog: “Finally, a bit of culture. I was going nuts with all the factory talk. I was wondering if this episode was turning into a version of ‘How it’s Made’ with bad nut jokes.”
Nucifera: “Bad jokes indeed.”
Doog: “So, this is it? It’s not very crowded.”
Nucifera: “Well, it’s midday, so most people are at work, but we don’t have a large population, at least on this world. The automation of the factory has taken away many of the jobs here. Other than a few foreman positions, mechanics, and some support staff, there really isn’t much here. Come on, let’s continue on to the mill.”

Doog: “So this is the mill?”
Nucifera: “Yes, we process Dacrima Nuts here.”
Doog: “Process? Into what?”
Nucifera: “The nut’s oils are valuable. Mills crush and press the oils out of the nuts.”
Doog: “So this thing milks all the juice out of the nuts?”
Nucifera: “Poor choice of words, but yes.”

Nucifera: “The mills are powered by light wheels. Light pressure from our strong sun turns the wheel.”

Nucifera: “The oils are collected and then pumped into containers. The remaining nutmeat is also collected. Most is consumed by my species, but some is shipped off world as well.”
Doog: “Nutmeat…I don‘t even have to touch that one. It speaks for itself.”
Nucifera: “It‘s a real word. Look it up.”

Doog: “So, what is this oil used for?”
Nucifera: “Dacrima Oil is a food additive. It has a earthy, meaty flavor. It is added to artificial meats to make it taste real. It also acts as an emulsifier to bind and stabilize these artificial meat products. It is shipped in bulk to worlds like Foetida.”
Doog: “Making protein sludge taste better. I can get behind that. Well, thanks for having me Nucifera.”

Doog: “Well folks, Nux is an interesting place. They’ve taken factory farming to the next level. Nuts are grown in methods more reminiscent of ship construction or electronics production. Robots have replace most of the farmers. All this to make tasty, meat flavored nut juice. Never thought I’d use those words in conjunction. Well, see ya.”

Note:
That’s factory farming in a nutshell.

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 7 - Episode 14 - Sidere Artifex

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