There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Tabes
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.
Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.
Doog: “Welcome to another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today, we’re visiting the planet, Tabes. Tabes is emerging from ice age that lasted hundreds of millennia. Its temperature is rising, and many of the glaciers that once dominated Tabes are beginning to melt. The newly released water condenses into thick snow clouds, which insulate Tabes’ atmosphere, warming it even further. More importantly, the thawing ice is releasing ancient trapped gases, which the LIU collects. We’re going to head down to one of the collection-rigs on Tabes’ surface and check it out. Let’s go.”
Doog: “Alright folks, we’re approaching Gas-Mining Platform Khione IX, one of a dozen mining platforms stationed around Tabes. These platforms are positioned close to Tabes’ equator, where the warming and melting are more prominent.”
Doog: “Each mining platform employs and houses about one-hundred workers. All the workers here are imported, there’s no sentient-life native to Tabes. Well, that’s enough flying around. Let’s land on the platform.”
Doog: “Like I mentioned in this episode’s opening, despite warming temperatures, a lot of snow falls on Tabes. It has something to do with evaporating meltwater condensing in the cooler atmosphere as it gets pushed across the planet’s many mountain chains. Something like that. Luckily, the air temperature at this level is too warm for much of the snow to stick. It does make everything slick though. Given the fact that this landing platform is over twenty-stories high, I’m planning on waiting here – away from the edge – until my guide gets here.”
Tom: “You must be that Doog-fella. I’m Tom.”
Doog: “Hey, Tom.”
Tom: “So, how does this work?”
Doog: “Hey! That’s my line!”
Tom: “Huh? I’m just asking what we do next.”
Doog: “I know, I’m just kidding. Typically, you tell me about the work you’re doing on Tabes, and I say things like, ‘how does this work?’.”
Tom: “Oh. Well, this is a gas-mining platform, and we collect various gases released by the melting ice. Most of the gases we collect are noble gases – like helium, xenon, neon, etc. – that have been trapped in the ice since the planet formed.”
Doog: “How does it work?”
Doog: “Hey, Tom.”
Tom: “So, how does this work?”
Doog: “Hey! That’s my line!”
Tom: “Huh? I’m just asking what we do next.”
Doog: “I know, I’m just kidding. Typically, you tell me about the work you’re doing on Tabes, and I say things like, ‘how does this work?’.”
Tom: “Oh. Well, this is a gas-mining platform, and we collect various gases released by the melting ice. Most of the gases we collect are noble gases – like helium, xenon, neon, etc. – that have been trapped in the ice since the planet formed.”
Doog: “How does it work?”
Tom: “We employ fractal distillation in combination with mol sieves to extract most resources.”
Doog: “I have no idea what that means.”
Tom: “I don’t either. I’m just regurgitating this script they gave me. I’m just the janitor.”
Doog: “Janitor! Why did they send the janitor!?”
Tom: “Everyone else was busy, I guess.”
Doog: “I’m here to tell my viewers about gas mining, not scrubbing toilets and taking out the trash!”
Tom: “Hey! I do more than that!”
Doog: “Sure you do.”
Tom: “Hey, I’m just as disappointed as you. They told me a TV personality was coming to Tabes. I thought it was going to be someone famous.”
Doog: “I am famous!”
Tom: “In what sector? I’ve never heard of you.”
Doog: “I’m galaxy renowned!”
Tom: “In what galaxy?”
Doog: “Whatever! Let’s just move on!”
Doog: “I have no idea what that means.”
Tom: “I don’t either. I’m just regurgitating this script they gave me. I’m just the janitor.”
Doog: “Janitor! Why did they send the janitor!?”
Tom: “Everyone else was busy, I guess.”
Doog: “I’m here to tell my viewers about gas mining, not scrubbing toilets and taking out the trash!”
Tom: “Hey! I do more than that!”
Doog: “Sure you do.”
Tom: “Hey, I’m just as disappointed as you. They told me a TV personality was coming to Tabes. I thought it was going to be someone famous.”
Doog: “I am famous!”
Tom: “In what sector? I’ve never heard of you.”
Doog: “I’m galaxy renowned!”
Tom: “In what galaxy?”
Doog: “Whatever! Let’s just move on!”
Doog: “So, what are we touring now? The broom closets?”
Tom: “Very funny. We’re not touring anything. I’m taking you to the surface so you can get out of here.”
Doog: “Hey, I know I’ve been a little harsh about the whole ‘janitor’ thing, but there’s no need to kick me out.”
Tom: “As much as I’d love to kick you out, it has nothing to do with your disrespectful view of my profession.”
Doog: “Why are we leaving then?”
Tom: “You didn’t come to Tabes to tour the mining platform. Tabes has other areas of interest.”
Doog: “How does a janitor know that and I don’t?”
Tom: “Maybe janitor is a step higher than D-list TV host.”
Doog: “Pfft, I’m at least C-list.”
Tom: “Yeah, yeah. Whatever makes you feel better. Let’s get in the elevator, that is, if your ego will fit.”
Doog: “Shouldn’t you be buffing these floors as we go – you know – for efficiency and stuff.”
Tom: “Very funny. We’re not touring anything. I’m taking you to the surface so you can get out of here.”
Doog: “Hey, I know I’ve been a little harsh about the whole ‘janitor’ thing, but there’s no need to kick me out.”
Tom: “As much as I’d love to kick you out, it has nothing to do with your disrespectful view of my profession.”
Doog: “Why are we leaving then?”
Tom: “You didn’t come to Tabes to tour the mining platform. Tabes has other areas of interest.”
Doog: “How does a janitor know that and I don’t?”
Tom: “Maybe janitor is a step higher than D-list TV host.”
Doog: “Pfft, I’m at least C-list.”
Tom: “Yeah, yeah. Whatever makes you feel better. Let’s get in the elevator, that is, if your ego will fit.”
Doog: “Shouldn’t you be buffing these floors as we go – you know – for efficiency and stuff.”
Tom: “Well, here’s the surface. If you head west, you’ll find your actual guide.”
Doog: “Wait, you’re not coming with me?”
Tom: “Of course not. I have to get back to work.”
Doog: “How am I supposed to know which way is west? Is there some landmark or something?”
Tom: “This glacier is pretty monotonous. It’s just endless flat ice. I can’t think of any useful landmarks other than the mountains. Good luck seeing them in this visibility.”
Doog: “Oh, good.”
Tom: “I can tell you this, though – if you find yourself falling off an ice shelf into the icy water, you ventured too far south.”
Doog: “Gee, thanks Tom. You’ve been so helpful.”
Doog: “Wait, you’re not coming with me?”
Tom: “Of course not. I have to get back to work.”
Doog: “How am I supposed to know which way is west? Is there some landmark or something?”
Tom: “This glacier is pretty monotonous. It’s just endless flat ice. I can’t think of any useful landmarks other than the mountains. Good luck seeing them in this visibility.”
Doog: “Oh, good.”
Tom: “I can tell you this, though – if you find yourself falling off an ice shelf into the icy water, you ventured too far south.”
Doog: “Gee, thanks Tom. You’ve been so helpful.”
Doog: “‘Just walk west. You’ll find your guide. It’s so easy’, says the stupid janitor. What does he know? If he was so smart, he’d be out here wandering aimlessly through a blizzard with me. If I make it back, I’m definitely crapping in one of the urinals. Take that Tom!”
Doog: “Wait! I hear something! Hello? Hello? Are you my guide?”
Doog: “Wha…wha…what are you?”
Creature: “GWAHHH!”
Doog: “Ahhhh!”
Creature: “GWAHHH!”
Doog: “Ahhhh!”
Doog: “Ahhh! Someone! Help me! Ahhh!”
Nikola: “I heard a woman screaming! Quick! We have to save her!”
Doog: “That might have been – uh, I mean – there was a woman, but I already saved her. Yeah. I’m totally manly. No screams came from this guy.”
Nikola: “Are you sure? Those high-pitched shrieks had me worried.”
Doog: “Absolutely. I wouldn’t make something like that up…I should, uh, probably get a reward or something.”
Nikola: “Why was she screaming?”
Doog: “There was this massive ape-thing out there with huge razor-sharp claws. It was probably going to kill me – uh, I mean – her.”
Nikola: “Uh huh, I see. Was the woman part of your film crew? Where is she?”
Doog: “No. I think she, uh, was from that gas mining platform or something. She probably went back there. Yeah, probably.”
Nikola: “Doubtful. Everyone that’s been on Tabes for more than a day knows what an Unguis is. If she was a local, she wouldn’t have been afraid. Unguis are herbivores. Despite their towering appearance and inquisitive nature, they’re quite harmless.”
Doog: “But the claws…”
Nikola: “They’re for digging into the ice.”
Doog: “I, uh…”
Nikola: “Are you sure that wasn’t you screaming?”
Doog: “It wasn’t me! Why are we still talking about this! I don’t have time to solve the mystery of the screaming woman! I’m trying to find my guide!”
Nikola: “Uh huh. Sure. Well, you’re in luck. I’m Nikola, your guide. Follow me back to my living quarters, we’ll talk there.”
Doog: “That might have been – uh, I mean – there was a woman, but I already saved her. Yeah. I’m totally manly. No screams came from this guy.”
Nikola: “Are you sure? Those high-pitched shrieks had me worried.”
Doog: “Absolutely. I wouldn’t make something like that up…I should, uh, probably get a reward or something.”
Nikola: “Why was she screaming?”
Doog: “There was this massive ape-thing out there with huge razor-sharp claws. It was probably going to kill me – uh, I mean – her.”
Nikola: “Uh huh, I see. Was the woman part of your film crew? Where is she?”
Doog: “No. I think she, uh, was from that gas mining platform or something. She probably went back there. Yeah, probably.”
Nikola: “Doubtful. Everyone that’s been on Tabes for more than a day knows what an Unguis is. If she was a local, she wouldn’t have been afraid. Unguis are herbivores. Despite their towering appearance and inquisitive nature, they’re quite harmless.”
Doog: “But the claws…”
Nikola: “They’re for digging into the ice.”
Doog: “I, uh…”
Nikola: “Are you sure that wasn’t you screaming?”
Doog: “It wasn’t me! Why are we still talking about this! I don’t have time to solve the mystery of the screaming woman! I’m trying to find my guide!”
Nikola: “Uh huh. Sure. Well, you’re in luck. I’m Nikola, your guide. Follow me back to my living quarters, we’ll talk there.”
Nikola: “Let’s start over. I’m Nikola. I’m a biologist. I was sent to Tabes to study the local plants and wildlife.”
Doog: “I’m Doog. I saved a woman. I didn’t scream. I also make a TV show.”
Nikola: “Fair enough.”
Doog: “So, you study those terrifying ape-monsters?”
Nikola: “Yes, but looks aside, Unguis are not terrifying. They’re slow moving, plant-eaters.”
Doog: “There doesn’t seem to be a lot of plants out here. How do they survive?”
Nikola: “That’s the thing, there are plants on Tabes – very unique plants. You won’t find them in the ice flats. The plants on Tabes are troglobites, or cave dwellers.”
Doog: “Cave plants?”
Nikola: “Yes, sir. Want to see some?”
Doog: “Sure.”
Nikola: “Let me attach the trailer to my hover-sled. That way, I can pull you behind.”
Doog: “That sounds great. I used up a lot of energy running from that – I mean, fighting that Unguis earlier.”
Doog: “I’m Doog. I saved a woman. I didn’t scream. I also make a TV show.”
Nikola: “Fair enough.”
Doog: “So, you study those terrifying ape-monsters?”
Nikola: “Yes, but looks aside, Unguis are not terrifying. They’re slow moving, plant-eaters.”
Doog: “There doesn’t seem to be a lot of plants out here. How do they survive?”
Nikola: “That’s the thing, there are plants on Tabes – very unique plants. You won’t find them in the ice flats. The plants on Tabes are troglobites, or cave dwellers.”
Doog: “Cave plants?”
Nikola: “Yes, sir. Want to see some?”
Doog: “Sure.”
Nikola: “Let me attach the trailer to my hover-sled. That way, I can pull you behind.”
Doog: “That sounds great. I used up a lot of energy running from that – I mean, fighting that Unguis earlier.”
Doog: “Why are you on Tabes? I mean, why does the LIU support a biologist on this planet?”
Nikola: “Tabes is changing. Warming temperatures, the release of greenhouse gases, and industrial activity all but ensure that the ice ages of Tabes will never return. In a few decades, Tabes will be unrecognizable. Most of her ice will be gone.”
Doog: “And that means what?”
Nikola: “That means that most of the native life on Tabes will die off. Most species here have been deemed, pre-extinct.”
Doog: “That’s not good.”
Nikola: “No, it’s not. To make sure these species are not lost entirely, I’ve been tasked with collecting DNA samples, so it can be stored on the ARK on Tutari.”
Doog: “You have to collect DNA from every species? Even those taloned-apes?”
Nikola: “Yes. The Unguis were easy, though. It’s the plants that are difficult.”
Nikola: “Tabes is changing. Warming temperatures, the release of greenhouse gases, and industrial activity all but ensure that the ice ages of Tabes will never return. In a few decades, Tabes will be unrecognizable. Most of her ice will be gone.”
Doog: “And that means what?”
Nikola: “That means that most of the native life on Tabes will die off. Most species here have been deemed, pre-extinct.”
Doog: “That’s not good.”
Nikola: “No, it’s not. To make sure these species are not lost entirely, I’ve been tasked with collecting DNA samples, so it can be stored on the ARK on Tutari.”
Doog: “You have to collect DNA from every species? Even those taloned-apes?”
Nikola: “Yes. The Unguis were easy, though. It’s the plants that are difficult.”
Doog: “What makes the plants so difficult? They don’t move, do they? We’re not talking about carnivorous plants, are we?”
Nikola: “No, no. Nothing like that. There’s just a lot of species, and they’re spread wide and far. It doesn’t help that we don’t even know the location of every cave. If we miss a cave – and it contains unique life – we might lose these species forever.”
Doog: “I guess that could be stressful.”
Nikola: “No, no. Nothing like that. There’s just a lot of species, and they’re spread wide and far. It doesn’t help that we don’t even know the location of every cave. If we miss a cave – and it contains unique life – we might lose these species forever.”
Doog: “I guess that could be stressful.”
Nikola: “Here we are, one of a thousand caves we’ve discovered so far.”
Doog: “It is unique, for sure. I’ve never seen plants like this.”
Nikola: “Yeah, they’re pretty neat.”
Doog: “How does a plant even survive in a cave?”
Nikola: “I guess it’s not a true cave. The ceiling is made of ice. This allows some light to penetrate. The air trapped in the cave is heated by this light. It makes this environment much warmer than the outside. The heat even makes some of the ice melt, which drips down on the plants. That’s where they get their water.”
Doog: “So, if the ice ceiling disappears…”
Nikola: “…the system breaks. The temperature in here drops and the plants don’t get water. If the ceiling goes, the plants will die. Furthermore, these plants evolved to use the spectrum of light that penetrates the ice. Without the ice filter, these plants will not be able to photosynthesize correctly. Again, when the ice goes…the plants die.”
Doog: “It is unique, for sure. I’ve never seen plants like this.”
Nikola: “Yeah, they’re pretty neat.”
Doog: “How does a plant even survive in a cave?”
Nikola: “I guess it’s not a true cave. The ceiling is made of ice. This allows some light to penetrate. The air trapped in the cave is heated by this light. It makes this environment much warmer than the outside. The heat even makes some of the ice melt, which drips down on the plants. That’s where they get their water.”
Doog: “So, if the ice ceiling disappears…”
Nikola: “…the system breaks. The temperature in here drops and the plants don’t get water. If the ceiling goes, the plants will die. Furthermore, these plants evolved to use the spectrum of light that penetrates the ice. Without the ice filter, these plants will not be able to photosynthesize correctly. Again, when the ice goes…the plants die.”
Doog: “How do these giant ape creatures fit into all of this?”
Nikola: “The Unguis use their claws to access the caves and eat the plants. Then they move on to the next cave. Their trips between the planet’s various caves help pollination.”
Doog: “So, when the plants die, the Unguis will go extinct too?”
Nikola: “Correct. They are entirely reliant on these cave plants to survive.”
Doog: “Got it. So, are you going to collect some samples or something?”
Nikola: “I’ve already collected DNA from all these species. They are some of the most widespread on Tabes. It’s the niche-species that are only found in a few caves that are my concern these days.”
Doog: “And, you said finding these caves are part of your problem?”
Nikola: “Yes. So far, the most reliable method is following around Unguis. They seem to have the ability to sniff out these rarer caves.”
Doog: “Is any of the life here useful?”
Nikola: “We’re not sure about the plants yet. They haven’t been closely studied. Sample collection takes priority for now. However, there certainly seems to be a market for the Unguis. We’ve already shipped several off-world. I think they’ll survive away from Tabes.”
Doog: “Anything else to point out?”
Nikola: “I’m pretty sure that was you screaming back there.”
Doog: “NO it wasn’t! It was that woman! I swear!”
Nikola: “The Unguis use their claws to access the caves and eat the plants. Then they move on to the next cave. Their trips between the planet’s various caves help pollination.”
Doog: “So, when the plants die, the Unguis will go extinct too?”
Nikola: “Correct. They are entirely reliant on these cave plants to survive.”
Doog: “Got it. So, are you going to collect some samples or something?”
Nikola: “I’ve already collected DNA from all these species. They are some of the most widespread on Tabes. It’s the niche-species that are only found in a few caves that are my concern these days.”
Doog: “And, you said finding these caves are part of your problem?”
Nikola: “Yes. So far, the most reliable method is following around Unguis. They seem to have the ability to sniff out these rarer caves.”
Doog: “Is any of the life here useful?”
Nikola: “We’re not sure about the plants yet. They haven’t been closely studied. Sample collection takes priority for now. However, there certainly seems to be a market for the Unguis. We’ve already shipped several off-world. I think they’ll survive away from Tabes.”
Doog: “Anything else to point out?”
Nikola: “I’m pretty sure that was you screaming back there.”
Doog: “NO it wasn’t! It was that woman! I swear!”
Doog: “Well folks, that’s Tabes. This ice world is melting. The melting ice is great for collecting gases, like helium, neon, and xenon, but it isn’t so great for the life that evolved here. Scientists like Nikola are trying to sample and catalogue all of Tabes’ native life before it is lost forever. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go talk to my editor to see if we can deepen the sound of my screams earlier. Oh well, see ya!”
Note: The moon, Collum, is the largest importer of the ape-like Unguis.
Note: The moon, Collum, is the largest importer of the ape-like Unguis.
