There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Praeuro
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 Galaxy, TV2 has started a new program called LIU Atlas. Follow our host, Terrance McDoogal, as he takes you on a tour across the LIU and some of its more obscure worlds.
Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.
Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.
Doog: “Welcome to another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today, we’re visiting the frozen world of Praeuro. Praeuro sits far from its parent star, making it cold and dim. Despite these setbacks, the planet still offers some economic opportunities. Most of these opportunities involve mining exotic ice. Let’s head down and check it out.”
Doog: “Alright folks. I’ve been dropped off on some type of loading platform. It is colder than I thought. The suit I’m wearing contains artificial heating conduits that keep my core warm. They don’t do much for my face though. I’ll certainly be thawing the ice out of my beard at the end of this episode. Speaking of ice, the surface of Praeuro is covered in it. It’s not the type of ice I’m accustomed to. It’s not white, for starters. Instead, it is various shades of violet. This must be the exotic ice that is being mined.”
Albert: “Come over here by the heater, and I’ll tell you about the ice.”
Albert: “Come over here by the heater, and I’ll tell you about the ice.”
Doog: “You had me at heater.”
Albert: “It’s too cold to discuss exotic ices in the wide-open. I’m Albert, by the way. I’ll be your guide while you’re on Praeuro.”
Doog: “You’re already doing great work. Guiding me to this heater was amazing.”
Albert: “The cold can be a nuisance, but you start to appreciate it when dealing with acidic ices. Heat is our enemy.”
Doog: “This ice is frozen acid?”
Albert: “Yes and no. It’s difficult to explain, but I’ll try to keep it simple. When the planet was warmer, it was covered in a sea of hydroiodic acid. It even rained hydroiodic acid. As the planet migrated outward, the sea began to freeze and the acid rain turned to acid snow.”
Doog: “I’m following so far.”
Albert: “Hydroiodic acid is just hydrogen iodide dissolved into water. When it freezes, it crystalizes separately. There’s water ice and hydrogen iodide ice.”
Doog: “So, while frozen, it’s no longer an acid.”
Albert: “Yes. There’s another thing that helps too. Over the years, a lot of the water ice has sublimated leaving pure hydrogen iodide.”
Albert: “It’s too cold to discuss exotic ices in the wide-open. I’m Albert, by the way. I’ll be your guide while you’re on Praeuro.”
Doog: “You’re already doing great work. Guiding me to this heater was amazing.”
Albert: “The cold can be a nuisance, but you start to appreciate it when dealing with acidic ices. Heat is our enemy.”
Doog: “This ice is frozen acid?”
Albert: “Yes and no. It’s difficult to explain, but I’ll try to keep it simple. When the planet was warmer, it was covered in a sea of hydroiodic acid. It even rained hydroiodic acid. As the planet migrated outward, the sea began to freeze and the acid rain turned to acid snow.”
Doog: “I’m following so far.”
Albert: “Hydroiodic acid is just hydrogen iodide dissolved into water. When it freezes, it crystalizes separately. There’s water ice and hydrogen iodide ice.”
Doog: “So, while frozen, it’s no longer an acid.”
Albert: “Yes. There’s another thing that helps too. Over the years, a lot of the water ice has sublimated leaving pure hydrogen iodide.”
Albert: “The company I work for, Kupisa, mines hydrogen iodide ice and ships it out to the rest of the galaxy.”
Doog: “Mining this stuff must be dangerous. If I’m understanding everything correctly, you don’t want this stuff to melt back into acid.”
Albert: “There’s certainly a risk. There is some water ice remaining. If it were to thaw and reform with the hydrogen iodide, it could be bad. Hydroiodic acid has a pH lower than zero. It’s quite reactive. Oh, and let’s not forget another factor, the reintroduction of water into the system from outside sources. Warm sweat or saliva can melt and reactivate the acid. Burns could happen from little mistakes like that.”
Doog: “Oh great. Send the fat sweaty guy to tour the acid-ice world.”
Doog: “Mining this stuff must be dangerous. If I’m understanding everything correctly, you don’t want this stuff to melt back into acid.”
Albert: “There’s certainly a risk. There is some water ice remaining. If it were to thaw and reform with the hydrogen iodide, it could be bad. Hydroiodic acid has a pH lower than zero. It’s quite reactive. Oh, and let’s not forget another factor, the reintroduction of water into the system from outside sources. Warm sweat or saliva can melt and reactivate the acid. Burns could happen from little mistakes like that.”
Doog: “Oh great. Send the fat sweaty guy to tour the acid-ice world.”
Doog: “I guess it can’t be too bad. There’s people skiing around on it.”
Albert: “The surface it almost perfectly safe. Water sublimates much easier on the surface where Praeuro’s weak sun has an effect. The risk of acid burns up here is almost zero. It’s just a safe as being inside the facility. However, it is warmer inside, so let’s head in for a bit.”
Doog: “I won’t argue with that.”
Albert: “The surface it almost perfectly safe. Water sublimates much easier on the surface where Praeuro’s weak sun has an effect. The risk of acid burns up here is almost zero. It’s just a safe as being inside the facility. However, it is warmer inside, so let’s head in for a bit.”
Doog: “I won’t argue with that.”
Doog: “It’s warmer, but I don’t know about safer. Who are these creepy guys?”
Albert: “They’re Zvacaipa, an imported alien race. They have resistance to both cold temperatures and acid burns. They’re perfect laborers for this situation. The LIU brought thousands of them here to work the mines.”
Doog: “The LIU needs a better dental plan…yikes!”
Albert: “Ahem. The Zvacaipa primarily speak Presciant, but they can understand a good deal of basic. You might want to watch what you say.”
Doog: “Well, I don’t want to watch what they’re saying. Not with teeth like those!”
Albert: “Uhh…let’s move on.”
Albert: “They’re Zvacaipa, an imported alien race. They have resistance to both cold temperatures and acid burns. They’re perfect laborers for this situation. The LIU brought thousands of them here to work the mines.”
Doog: “The LIU needs a better dental plan…yikes!”
Albert: “Ahem. The Zvacaipa primarily speak Presciant, but they can understand a good deal of basic. You might want to watch what you say.”
Doog: “Well, I don’t want to watch what they’re saying. Not with teeth like those!”
Albert: “Uhh…let’s move on.”
Albert: “Hydrogen iodide ice has many uses. The most obvious is to make hydroiodic acid. In a tightly controlled environment, hydrogen iodide is melted and re-dissolved into water.”
Doog: “What is the acid used for?”
Albert: “It’s mostly used as a reducing agent and as a catalyst for the production of other materials.”
Doog: “Reducing agent, huh? Would it work on my waistline?”
Albert: “It would reduce it alright. Not in the way you’re imaging. It would be a lot more painful.”
Doog: “What is the acid used for?”
Albert: “It’s mostly used as a reducing agent and as a catalyst for the production of other materials.”
Doog: “Reducing agent, huh? Would it work on my waistline?”
Albert: “It would reduce it alright. Not in the way you’re imaging. It would be a lot more painful.”
Doog: “You said many uses. What else is it good for?”
Albert: “Other than making acid, hydrogen iodide ice is primarily used to make iodine. When melted into a gas, hydrogen iodide easily reacts with oxygen, producing water and iodine.”
Doog: “Iodine. I guess that’s good. Remind me why?”
Albert: “It’s an antiseptic and an essential biological compound. It’s used to make various dyes and pigments. It’s used in cloud seeding. It’s…”
Doog: “Ok. Ok. Lot’s of stuff. Let’s move on.”
Albert: “Other than making acid, hydrogen iodide ice is primarily used to make iodine. When melted into a gas, hydrogen iodide easily reacts with oxygen, producing water and iodine.”
Doog: “Iodine. I guess that’s good. Remind me why?”
Albert: “It’s an antiseptic and an essential biological compound. It’s used to make various dyes and pigments. It’s used in cloud seeding. It’s…”
Doog: “Ok. Ok. Lot’s of stuff. Let’s move on.”
Albert: “Shipping hydrogen iodide ice off-world isn’t easy.”
Doog: “Why is that?”
Albert: “Well, it needs to stay frozen. Otherwise, it becomes the reactive gas we’ve been talking about all afternoon.”
Doog: “Oh yeah. The whole ‘acid’ thing. I remember now.”
Albert: “I would hope so. Anyway, we also need to make sure that doesn’t get wet. If it gets exposed to water…”
Doog: “…we’re in the acid situation again.”
Albert: “You’re catching on.”
Doog: “Why is that?”
Albert: “Well, it needs to stay frozen. Otherwise, it becomes the reactive gas we’ve been talking about all afternoon.”
Doog: “Oh yeah. The whole ‘acid’ thing. I remember now.”
Albert: “I would hope so. Anyway, we also need to make sure that doesn’t get wet. If it gets exposed to water…”
Doog: “…we’re in the acid situation again.”
Albert: “You’re catching on.”
Albert: “Specifically designed shipping containers keep the ice cold and dry. There are multiple layers of protection too. We always keep our customers’ safety in mind. Kupisa, we do acid right.”
Doog: “Yeah, ok. Are we making a show or a commercial?”
Albert: “Sorry. I thought a harmless plug wouldn’t hurt.”
Doog: “Well, it does hurt. LIU Atlas is an educational show, not an infomercial. I’m thinking about the youth. We’re enhancing minds, not selling products. That reminds me, I’d like to thanks our sponsors, TV2 and Bulla Shipping. Bulla Shipping, we bring the Grex Cluster to you!”
Albert: “Hey! That’s the same thing I just did.”
Doog: “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let’s move on.”
Doog: “Yeah, ok. Are we making a show or a commercial?”
Albert: “Sorry. I thought a harmless plug wouldn’t hurt.”
Doog: “Well, it does hurt. LIU Atlas is an educational show, not an infomercial. I’m thinking about the youth. We’re enhancing minds, not selling products. That reminds me, I’d like to thanks our sponsors, TV2 and Bulla Shipping. Bulla Shipping, we bring the Grex Cluster to you!”
Albert: “Hey! That’s the same thing I just did.”
Doog: “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let’s move on.”
Albert: “I figured we’d check out some of the mining operations next. That is, if you’re sure you can handle a modified hoverbike.”
Doog: “I’ve handled a hoverbike a few times…and only crashed once. This should be even easier with these front skis.”
Doog: “I’ve handled a hoverbike a few times…and only crashed once. This should be even easier with these front skis.”
Albert: “The skis do add stability on this terrain. Keep in mind that it might take longer to stop, though.”
Doog: “Oh, I plan on taking it extra slow out there. I imagine fiery crashes on the acid ice don’t feel great. It is safe to be on this ice, right?”
Albert: “Yep. Like I mentioned before. Sublimation has removed all the water from the surface layers of the ice crust. No solvent means no acid.”
Doog: “What are we waiting for then?”
Doog: “Oh, I plan on taking it extra slow out there. I imagine fiery crashes on the acid ice don’t feel great. It is safe to be on this ice, right?”
Albert: “Yep. Like I mentioned before. Sublimation has removed all the water from the surface layers of the ice crust. No solvent means no acid.”
Doog: “What are we waiting for then?”
Doog: “Feel free to ride in front of me. I might get some warmth from your thruster.”
Albert: “That wouldn’t be wise. To experience any warmth from these thrusters, you’d have to ride right on my rear. If I stop too quick, you won’t be able to react in time.”
Doog: “The risk of a catastrophic crash might be worth it if it saves my face from freezing off.”
Albert: “The mine entrance isn’t far. You’ll be fine.”
Albert: “That wouldn’t be wise. To experience any warmth from these thrusters, you’d have to ride right on my rear. If I stop too quick, you won’t be able to react in time.”
Doog: “The risk of a catastrophic crash might be worth it if it saves my face from freezing off.”
Albert: “The mine entrance isn’t far. You’ll be fine.”
Albert: “See. It wasn’t that bad.”
Doog: “Do I have a face still? It doesn’t feel like it.”
Albert: “Your face is fine. Let’s head inside.”
Doog: “N-n-no arguments here.”
Doog: “Do I have a face still? It doesn’t feel like it.”
Albert: “Your face is fine. Let’s head inside.”
Doog: “N-n-no arguments here.”
Doog: “This is the entrance to the mine? How do you fit stuff down here?”
Albert: “It’s a ventilation shaft actually. The mine chamber extends for miles. The true entrance is miles from here. If you’re up for another ride, we can see it too.”
Doog: “Nope. This will do.”
Albert: “It’s a ventilation shaft actually. The mine chamber extends for miles. The true entrance is miles from here. If you’re up for another ride, we can see it too.”
Doog: “Nope. This will do.”
Doog: “It’s less windy, but still freezing down here.”
Albert: “Yes. Luckily for us.”
Doog: “Luckily? You like freezing half to death.”
Albert: “Ahem. The acidic ice.”
Doog: “Ah, yes. I keep forgetting about that.”
Albert: “Yes. Luckily for us.”
Doog: “Luckily? You like freezing half to death.”
Albert: “Ahem. The acidic ice.”
Doog: “Ah, yes. I keep forgetting about that.”
Doog: “Wow, it’s kind of beautiful down here.”
Albert: “Yeah, I guess it is. I’ve never really taken in all in. I usually too concerned with the acid.”
Doog: “But, it’s safe, right? It’s cold and the water is all gone.”
Albert: “Yes, it is cold, but far less water has sublimated from these depths. Little sunlight penetrates this deep.”
Doog: “So, there’s still a chance it could melt into acid.”
Albert: “Exactly.”
Doog: “But it’s cold enough that it won’t melt.”
Albert: “It’s much too cold, even with these heaters, for the ice to melt naturally. However, the process of extracting the ice creates significant heat.”
Doog: “Is that what that machine is doing? Extracting?”
Albert: “Yeah, I guess it is. I’ve never really taken in all in. I usually too concerned with the acid.”
Doog: “But, it’s safe, right? It’s cold and the water is all gone.”
Albert: “Yes, it is cold, but far less water has sublimated from these depths. Little sunlight penetrates this deep.”
Doog: “So, there’s still a chance it could melt into acid.”
Albert: “Exactly.”
Doog: “But it’s cold enough that it won’t melt.”
Albert: “It’s much too cold, even with these heaters, for the ice to melt naturally. However, the process of extracting the ice creates significant heat.”
Doog: “Is that what that machine is doing? Extracting?”
Albert: “No. That’s a Sublimator Mech. It’s actually used to remove more of the moisture from the ice. Hydrogen iodide ice then hand extracted. It’s safer that way.”
Doog: “I wouldn’t want that job.”
Albert: “Me neither. That’s why we brought in these Zvacaipa guys. They’re slightly resistant to this type of acid. Although, they’ll still experience a few burns each shift.”
Doog: “Alright, the acid ice is getting me nervous now. Nervousness means sweating. Sweating not good on acid ice.”
Albert: “No, it’s not. Let’s start heading out.”
Doog: “I wouldn’t want that job.”
Albert: “Me neither. That’s why we brought in these Zvacaipa guys. They’re slightly resistant to this type of acid. Although, they’ll still experience a few burns each shift.”
Doog: “Alright, the acid ice is getting me nervous now. Nervousness means sweating. Sweating not good on acid ice.”
Albert: “No, it’s not. Let’s start heading out.”
Doog: “Well folks, Praeuro is an interesting, but terrifying place. The planet is covered in acidic ice. It’s mostly safe, as long as it stays frozen. However, its hard to keep things frozen when you’re mining them with cutting tools. These brave souls down here are tasked with the dangerous extraction of this ice so we can have industrial-grade acid and iodine. Oh well, I better go and get warmed up. These freezing temperatures have already given me the sniffles. See ya!”
Note:
Note:
Doog: “A-a-a-achooo!”
Albert: “Don’t sneeze on the ice, Doog!”
Albert: “Don’t sneeze on the ice, Doog!”
Guy: “Ahhh! My face!”
Doog: “Uh-oh, better run!”
Doog: “Uh-oh, better run!”
