There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Vorago
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 ringed, ice-world of Vorago. Vorago suffered an impact event a few hundred years ago. The resulting ejecta formed the planet’s rings. The asteroid strike also started an ‘impact winter’ on Vorago. Ash, dust, and debris, from the impact, blocked enough sunlight to cool global temperatures. This gave rise to large ice sheets, which reflect back solar radiation, causing temperatures to drop even further. As the temperature drops, more ice forms, and more sunlight gets reflected. Vorago has an endless feedback scenario going on. It doesn’t look like winter is ending anytime soon.”
Doog: “Alright folks, I’m down here on the surface of Vorago. It looks like I’ve been dropped off in a small village next to a half-frozen lake. I have no idea how the lake isn’t completely frozen. It’s pretty cold.”
Doog: “The natives look…interesting. I guess surviving an unrelenting winter has taken its toll.”
Supik: “I am Supik, Supreme of Clan Mal’uk. State your business.”
Doog: “My business is making a sub-par, purportedly educational, TV show about the galaxy.”
Supik: “Huh? Oh, you’re that guy that wants a tour. I remember now. Doggy or Dodgy was your name, right?”
Doog: “Doog, actually. But dodgy works too. I do have a reputation.”
Supik: “I see. Well, dodgy Doog, welcome to Pinga’an, my people’s village.”
Doog: “It’s good to be here.”
Doog: “My business is making a sub-par, purportedly educational, TV show about the galaxy.”
Supik: “Huh? Oh, you’re that guy that wants a tour. I remember now. Doggy or Dodgy was your name, right?”
Doog: “Doog, actually. But dodgy works too. I do have a reputation.”
Supik: “I see. Well, dodgy Doog, welcome to Pinga’an, my people’s village.”
Doog: “It’s good to be here.”
Doog: “So, tell me about Pinga’an. It looks like a quaint, lake-side village.”
Supik: “Quaint? You spit in our faces!”
Doog: “Whoa, I meant no offense! It just looks like everything is built of simple materials like stones and wood.”
Supik: “The Calamity took everything but the stones. Even wood is rare. Our village is not quaint. It is testament to our ingenuity, resourcefulness, and drive to survive. The Calamity took everything, even the weak.”
Doog: “Alright, I see that now. This calamity you speak of, is that the impact event?”
Supik: “No, not the impact itself. The Calamity is the period after the strike, when the unending winter began. The Calamity is when millions starved because the crops froze. The Calamity is when millions became homeless when ice flows and glaciers crushed their cities. The Calamity is now, when we rest perilously on the edge of extinction.”
Supik: “Quaint? You spit in our faces!”
Doog: “Whoa, I meant no offense! It just looks like everything is built of simple materials like stones and wood.”
Supik: “The Calamity took everything but the stones. Even wood is rare. Our village is not quaint. It is testament to our ingenuity, resourcefulness, and drive to survive. The Calamity took everything, even the weak.”
Doog: “Alright, I see that now. This calamity you speak of, is that the impact event?”
Supik: “No, not the impact itself. The Calamity is the period after the strike, when the unending winter began. The Calamity is when millions starved because the crops froze. The Calamity is when millions became homeless when ice flows and glaciers crushed their cities. The Calamity is now, when we rest perilously on the edge of extinction.”
Doog: “You guys are still experiencing the Calamity?”
Supik: “It does not end until the forests return, until the rivers thunder through the valleys, and the great cities return from the frost.”
Doog: “Any idea when that will be?”
Supik: “Maybe never. Definitely won’t happen in my lifetime. We will endure, though, like we always have.”
Doog: “How were you able to survive?”
Supik: “Villages, like Pinga’an, are located next to the only remaining resource, the subsurface sea.”
Supik: “It does not end until the forests return, until the rivers thunder through the valleys, and the great cities return from the frost.”
Doog: “Any idea when that will be?”
Supik: “Maybe never. Definitely won’t happen in my lifetime. We will endure, though, like we always have.”
Doog: “How were you able to survive?”
Supik: “Villages, like Pinga’an, are located next to the only remaining resource, the subsurface sea.”
Doog: “This is a sea? Looks like a pond.”
Supik: “This is just a portal, an opening in the ice. The sea is below us.”
Doog: “Why isn’t this section freezing?”
Supik: “Salty water freezes at a much lower temperature than fresh water. The waters have grown considerably saltier because lots of the water has been turned into ice. As long as we churn this saltier water, the portal will not freeze.”
Doog: “Ah, that’s what the windmill is for!”
Supik: “Precisely. It is connected to a wheel below the surface. The cold winds coming down the mountain turn the mill, which turns the wheel, which keeps the water unfrozen. This allows us to fish for food and have access to water.”
Supik: “This is just a portal, an opening in the ice. The sea is below us.”
Doog: “Why isn’t this section freezing?”
Supik: “Salty water freezes at a much lower temperature than fresh water. The waters have grown considerably saltier because lots of the water has been turned into ice. As long as we churn this saltier water, the portal will not freeze.”
Doog: “Ah, that’s what the windmill is for!”
Supik: “Precisely. It is connected to a wheel below the surface. The cold winds coming down the mountain turn the mill, which turns the wheel, which keeps the water unfrozen. This allows us to fish for food and have access to water.”
Doog: “So, that’s all you have? Fish and salty water? Do you sell fish to the LIU?”
Supik: “No. It is our last resource. It would be unwise to overfish.”
Doog: “Hmm, the LIU has to be getting something from you.”
Supik: “Labor mostly.”
Doog: “Labor?”
Supik: “The LIU needs workers for a facility not far from here.”
Doog: “Do you get money for this labor? It might allow you to make things a little better around here.”
Supik: “We don’t get money.”
Supik: “No. It is our last resource. It would be unwise to overfish.”
Doog: “Hmm, the LIU has to be getting something from you.”
Supik: “Labor mostly.”
Doog: “Labor?”
Supik: “The LIU needs workers for a facility not far from here.”
Doog: “Do you get money for this labor? It might allow you to make things a little better around here.”
Supik: “We don’t get money.”
Supik: “We get wood. A rare, but necessary resource.”
Doog: “Wood? Doesn’t seem like a fair trade.”
Supik: “You forget the value of wood until your forests are under a mile of ice. We need it to make fires, cook food, construct tools, and build homes. We treasure wood.”
Doog: “I see free wood all around. Look at these trees.”
Supik: “They are dead. They will not regrow. They are a limited resource and rarely harvested. If the LIU would leave, the dead wood would be the last we ever got. Call it a limited stockpile of survival.”
Doog: “Wood? Doesn’t seem like a fair trade.”
Supik: “You forget the value of wood until your forests are under a mile of ice. We need it to make fires, cook food, construct tools, and build homes. We treasure wood.”
Doog: “I see free wood all around. Look at these trees.”
Supik: “They are dead. They will not regrow. They are a limited resource and rarely harvested. If the LIU would leave, the dead wood would be the last we ever got. Call it a limited stockpile of survival.”
Doog: “So, do you all labor?”
Supik: “No. Each village elects a laborer and sends him to the LIU facility for a period of ten years. When he or she is finished, we send another. Some laborers perish before completing their full term, and we must send another sooner. Some survive the decade and retire. They can then come back to the village, like Arwin here.
Arwin: “They say it is an honor to labor for your village. They lie. My body is spent and my soul is empty. All for some wood.”
Supik: “You should have thought about that before you slept with my sister! I’ll send you back for another decade if you’re not careful!”
Doog: “You pick who goes? I thought you said ‘elected’.”
Supik: “I am the Supreme of Clan Mal’uk. My word is final!”
Supik: “No. Each village elects a laborer and sends him to the LIU facility for a period of ten years. When he or she is finished, we send another. Some laborers perish before completing their full term, and we must send another sooner. Some survive the decade and retire. They can then come back to the village, like Arwin here.
Arwin: “They say it is an honor to labor for your village. They lie. My body is spent and my soul is empty. All for some wood.”
Supik: “You should have thought about that before you slept with my sister! I’ll send you back for another decade if you’re not careful!”
Doog: “You pick who goes? I thought you said ‘elected’.”
Supik: “I am the Supreme of Clan Mal’uk. My word is final!”
Supik: “Speaking of my people’s ill fate has grown too tiresome; I’m through with you. It’s time for you to go.”
Doog: “I thought you were supposed to take me to the LIU facility?”
Supik: “That was before you irritated me.”
Doog: “I’ve hardly been irritating today. Did you know how many times I bit my tongue when you said the LIU gives you wood? Wait…is this about the ‘quaint’ thing?”
Supik: “Quiet! I’ll show you the way, but you’re going there alone!”
Doog: “OK, then. I’m sure I’ll find it.”
Doog: “I thought you were supposed to take me to the LIU facility?”
Supik: “That was before you irritated me.”
Doog: “I’ve hardly been irritating today. Did you know how many times I bit my tongue when you said the LIU gives you wood? Wait…is this about the ‘quaint’ thing?”
Supik: “Quiet! I’ll show you the way, but you’re going there alone!”
Doog: “OK, then. I’m sure I’ll find it.”
Supik: “Climb to the top of the valley. Follow the mountain range for two miles. Then descend into that valley. You’ll find the LIU there.”
Doog: “You have got to be kidding me. That’s going to take me days.”
Doog: “You have got to be kidding me. That’s going to take me days.”
Doog: “Alright, alright. I’m making progress. I can’t feel my legs…though, and…I can barely catch my…breath, but I’m making…progress.”
Supik: “You only went up two sections.”
Doog: “It’s progress! Who’s being the…. irritating one now?”
Supik: “You only went up two sections.”
Doog: “It’s progress! Who’s being the…. irritating one now?”
Doog: “Be a TV host…they said. It’s all fun…and games. Meet people…be rich…get the…ladies. Not…a…word about…climbing…eight-hundred…foot ladders. I can’t…do this. Must call…the Magellan.”
Doog: “Alright folks, I had the Magellan pick me up and bring me to Helminth Station, a LIU facility at the bottom of an adjacent valley. I’m joined with Dr. Simon, the guy that runs this place.”
Bruce: “Call me Bruce. My doctorate is in Industrial Technology. I don’t need to flaunt the title.”
Bruce: “Call me Bruce. My doctorate is in Industrial Technology. I don’t need to flaunt the title.”
Doog: “Industrial Technology? What does this facility do?”
Bruce: “The impact event rendered Vorago’s surface economically useless, but the planet does have subsurface ocean that is still viable. My job is to make exploring this ocean safer, easier, and cheaper. We’re developing technology now that is doing just that.”
Doog: “I hope it’s not to harvest fish, because that’s the only thing the natives have going for them.”
Bruce: “No, we wouldn’t do that. We’ve already found something better than fish, and there’s a lot more to be explored. Let’s not stand outside in the cold discussing it. Follow me.”
Bruce: “The impact event rendered Vorago’s surface economically useless, but the planet does have subsurface ocean that is still viable. My job is to make exploring this ocean safer, easier, and cheaper. We’re developing technology now that is doing just that.”
Doog: “I hope it’s not to harvest fish, because that’s the only thing the natives have going for them.”
Bruce: “No, we wouldn’t do that. We’ve already found something better than fish, and there’s a lot more to be explored. Let’s not stand outside in the cold discussing it. Follow me.”
Bruce: “This is the research center. This is where we test various plants, animals, and minerals we find below the ice.”
Doog: “Find anything good?”
Bruce: “A few things, but some technological improvements must be made to make harvesting them economically sustainable.”
Doog: “What’s holding you back?”
Doog: “Find anything good?”
Bruce: “A few things, but some technological improvements must be made to make harvesting them economically sustainable.”
Doog: “What’s holding you back?”
Bruce: “Take a look at the map. The subsurface ocean is the result of a large river valley freezing over. See how it meanders like the river once did? The current has stopped, as the source has frozen over, but the water trapped below the ice still exists. The tight twists and turns in the subsurface sea make it hard to get big equipment down there. We’ve been limited to sending individual divers.”
Doog: “The native laborers.”
Bruce: “Yes. It’s dangerous though. You don’t want to get lost or trapped and run out of oxygen. Suit decompressions are a risk too. I’m trying to make it safer for them.”
Doog: “What are those dots on the map?”
Bruce: “Access points. There are villages at those points…well, except the blue one. That is this facility. Where were you before coming here?”
Doog: “Pinga’an, I believe.”
Bruce: “That’s the yellow one, in front of you. There’s access points spread throughout the valley; this is just showing the immediate area.”
Doog: “The native laborers.”
Bruce: “Yes. It’s dangerous though. You don’t want to get lost or trapped and run out of oxygen. Suit decompressions are a risk too. I’m trying to make it safer for them.”
Doog: “What are those dots on the map?”
Bruce: “Access points. There are villages at those points…well, except the blue one. That is this facility. Where were you before coming here?”
Doog: “Pinga’an, I believe.”
Bruce: “That’s the yellow one, in front of you. There’s access points spread throughout the valley; this is just showing the immediate area.”
Bruce: “I’ve agreed to take you below the ice, but I have a few conditions.”
Doog: “There’s always conditions.”
Bruce: “One, you’ll have to wear one of the specialized diving suits I designed. Two, we’re sticking close to the portal, so you don’t get lost or trapped. It’s deeper and brighter there, so you’ll be safer. And, three, I have a few hundred release statements for you to sign.”
Doog: “Get me a pen, a wrist brace, and an ibuprofen. Let’s do this.”
Doog: “There’s always conditions.”
Bruce: “One, you’ll have to wear one of the specialized diving suits I designed. Two, we’re sticking close to the portal, so you don’t get lost or trapped. It’s deeper and brighter there, so you’ll be safer. And, three, I have a few hundred release statements for you to sign.”
Doog: “Get me a pen, a wrist brace, and an ibuprofen. Let’s do this.”
Bruce: “It looks like you are all set. Oxygen and rebreather are online. Pressure is steady. Let’s do a quick comms check before we head out. Check, check, do you copy?”
Doog: “No.”
Bruce: “No? How did you know to respond if you can’t hear me?”
Doog: “I hear you, but don’t understand you. What is a checkcheck?”
Bruce: “It’s what you say when…never mind, it’s all working. Let’s go.”
Doog: “No.”
Bruce: “No? How did you know to respond if you can’t hear me?”
Doog: “I hear you, but don’t understand you. What is a checkcheck?”
Bruce: “It’s what you say when…never mind, it’s all working. Let’s go.”
Bruce: “If you find yourself lost or separated, ignore spiritual wisdom, and head towards the light. Light means you can exit the ice.”
Doog: “Got it. Speaking of ice, where’s your windmill? How is this not frozen?”
Bruce: “Thermo-pads are built into the structure. We’re a little more high-tech than the natives. Let’s go.”
Doog: “Got it. Speaking of ice, where’s your windmill? How is this not frozen?”
Bruce: “Thermo-pads are built into the structure. We’re a little more high-tech than the natives. Let’s go.”
Doog: “Wow, this is cool.”
Bruce: “Isn’t it? Several underwater species have survived the ‘Calamity’. They do quite well despite the higher salinity and lowered sunlight.”
Doog: “I’m surprised it is this bright down here.”
Bruce: “Sunlight penetrates ice thinner than ten meters. Most of the river channel or subsurface sea is covered by less than that. Photosynthesis is still viable.”
Doog: “Will that change? If the ice gets thicker?”
Bruce: “It appears stable. Despite the runaway cooling effect on the surface, the subsurface environment remains steady. Heat from the planet’s core seems to keep these seas warm. The ice shouldn’t expand into the sea any further. It is possible for snow or ice to fall from above and increase the ice depth, so there is still a possibility the subsurface could experience the calamity as well.”
Bruce: “Isn’t it? Several underwater species have survived the ‘Calamity’. They do quite well despite the higher salinity and lowered sunlight.”
Doog: “I’m surprised it is this bright down here.”
Bruce: “Sunlight penetrates ice thinner than ten meters. Most of the river channel or subsurface sea is covered by less than that. Photosynthesis is still viable.”
Doog: “Will that change? If the ice gets thicker?”
Bruce: “It appears stable. Despite the runaway cooling effect on the surface, the subsurface environment remains steady. Heat from the planet’s core seems to keep these seas warm. The ice shouldn’t expand into the sea any further. It is possible for snow or ice to fall from above and increase the ice depth, so there is still a possibility the subsurface could experience the calamity as well.”
Doog: “So, what’s the resource you found down here? If I know this show, the reveal is something amazing or galaxy-changing. Do these plants cure syphilis? Fish that break the speed of light? Control minds? Fill your pockets with gold?”
Bruce: “You’ll be disappointed if that’s what you’re hoping for. Vorago is good for one thing, food. The only thing it is filling…is bellies.”
Doog: “There’s food down here? Wait, it’s not the fish is it?”
Bruce: “You’ll be disappointed if that’s what you’re hoping for. Vorago is good for one thing, food. The only thing it is filling…is bellies.”
Doog: “There’s food down here? Wait, it’s not the fish is it?”
Bruce: “Relax. I told you the fish are safe. It’s something the natives never knew existed.”
Doog: “What is it?”
Bruce: “Sea worms.”
Doog: “Eww, that sounds terrible.”
Bruce: “The stigma associated with worm meat is a hurdle, but these puppies are tasty. Finding a worm is like finding a pig buried underground.”
Doog: “Wait…are you implying there’s a bacon substitute in this ground?”
Bruce: “More or less. The Vorago Sea Worm closely matches pork in many taste tests. Better yet, each worm is almost pure meat. They have no bones or cartilage. Fat cylinders of meat are just below our feet. The problem is finding them.”
Doog: “What is it?”
Bruce: “Sea worms.”
Doog: “Eww, that sounds terrible.”
Bruce: “The stigma associated with worm meat is a hurdle, but these puppies are tasty. Finding a worm is like finding a pig buried underground.”
Doog: “Wait…are you implying there’s a bacon substitute in this ground?”
Bruce: “More or less. The Vorago Sea Worm closely matches pork in many taste tests. Better yet, each worm is almost pure meat. They have no bones or cartilage. Fat cylinders of meat are just below our feet. The problem is finding them.”
Doog: “Don’t leave me hanging. How do we find the burrowing pork worms?”
Bruce: “My patented ultrasonic motion detectors. There are many more than we thought. They’re all over. It’s an abundant meat source that rivals the fish supply.”
Doog: “Bacon worms on the horizon. Looks like they found something!”
Bruce: “My patented ultrasonic motion detectors. There are many more than we thought. They’re all over. It’s an abundant meat source that rivals the fish supply.”
Doog: “Bacon worms on the horizon. Looks like they found something!”
Doog: “Ooh, wow. That’s bigger than I expected. That’s what she said. But seriously! That’s a fat worm! Also, that’s what she said!”
Bruce. “Sea worms are harvested at around two hundred and fifty pounds. That’s the weight of a fully matured worm. We do grab a three hundred pound one on occasion.”
Doog: “Geez. How do you carry them out of here?”
Bruce: “Well, they’re pretty weightless in the water. Cranes on the surface lift them out of the water.”
Bruce. “Sea worms are harvested at around two hundred and fifty pounds. That’s the weight of a fully matured worm. We do grab a three hundred pound one on occasion.”
Doog: “Geez. How do you carry them out of here?”
Bruce: “Well, they’re pretty weightless in the water. Cranes on the surface lift them out of the water.”
Doog: “It’s wriggling and pulsating. So, disgusting!”
Bruce: “Doesn’t look appetizing, does it? It’s also dangerous when it flails like this. That stinger can tear a suit.”
Doog: “Bacon of the sea sounded good at first, but this is really off-putting. I don’t know if I could eat one of these.”
Bruce: “Another challenge we are struggling to overcome. We’ve been processing the meat at Helminth Station before shipping it out. When people don’t see the source, they don’t mind eating it.”
Doog: “I guess with the right marketing; you guys might be on to something. Goodluck with that!”
Bruce: “Thanks!”
Bruce: “Doesn’t look appetizing, does it? It’s also dangerous when it flails like this. That stinger can tear a suit.”
Doog: “Bacon of the sea sounded good at first, but this is really off-putting. I don’t know if I could eat one of these.”
Bruce: “Another challenge we are struggling to overcome. We’ve been processing the meat at Helminth Station before shipping it out. When people don’t see the source, they don’t mind eating it.”
Doog: “I guess with the right marketing; you guys might be on to something. Goodluck with that!”
Bruce: “Thanks!”
Doog: “Well folks, this episode was the story of two worlds; the surface and the subsurface. Vorago suffered an impact event that started an unending winter. Despite losing access to most resources, the tough natives have survived. Things might be tough up on the surface, but there’s a paradise just below the ice. The subsurface is beautiful and there’s pig-flavored worms in the ground. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to catch a ride on this crane so I don’t have to swim out of here. See ya!”
Note: Vorago Sea Worm meat is sold under the brand Pork Grub ™. Most consumers are unaware that grub refers to more than just food.
Note: Vorago Sea Worm meat is sold under the brand Pork Grub ™. Most consumers are unaware that grub refers to more than just food.
