There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Harena
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.
Doog: “Welcome to another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today, we’re visiting the Mid-Rim world of Harena. Harena is a hot, dry planet in orbit around the Class G star, Harenis. Most of the planet consists of rocky, sandy deserts. That’s good, because – apparently – this planet exports a special kind of sand. Yes, you heard that right. This place fills the galaxy’s sandboxes. This ought to be a very interesting episode…said no one ever.”
Doog: “Alright folks, I’m down on the surface of Harena. It’s sandy and rocky, just like I said it would be. As you can see, I’m wearing my environmental suit. The air is breathable here, but it is so dry that it poses a danger to most species. Water will evaporate out of your eyes, mouth, and other exposed orifices…if you know what I mean. Well, enough chatting, let’s meet my guide.”
Daisy: “You must be Doog.”
Doog: “The one and only.”
Daisy: “I’m Daisy, a site scout for the Harena Sand Company.”
Doog: “Daisy, huh? I thought I heard a hint of female voice through that respirator. So, important questions first – are you single?”
Daisy: “You’re hitting on me? You don’t even know what I look like.”
Doog: “I’m not the one to judge someone’s looks.”
Daisy: “Aw.”
Doog: “Besides, we can always keep the helmet on.”
Daisy: “You’re a sleazebag. I’m glad I didn’t fall for that.”
Doog: “Why did I say that last bit! Dang it!”
Doog: “The one and only.”
Daisy: “I’m Daisy, a site scout for the Harena Sand Company.”
Doog: “Daisy, huh? I thought I heard a hint of female voice through that respirator. So, important questions first – are you single?”
Daisy: “You’re hitting on me? You don’t even know what I look like.”
Doog: “I’m not the one to judge someone’s looks.”
Daisy: “Aw.”
Doog: “Besides, we can always keep the helmet on.”
Daisy: “You’re a sleazebag. I’m glad I didn’t fall for that.”
Doog: “Why did I say that last bit! Dang it!”
Doog: “Well, now that we got that out of the way, let’s move on. Is this your base of something?”
Daisy: “This is a windmill and a water tank installed by a Novum Finium infrastructure crew.”
Doog: “So, that’s a no, I guess.”
Daisy: “It’s used to resupply our Quad with water and electricity. We don’t live here, but we visit a site like this every few days.”
Doog: “You get water from here. I thought water was non-existent on Harena?”
Daisy: “There’s plenty of groundwater deep below where the sun can’t evaporate it. Desert winds spin the windmill which pumps up the deep water. The blades of the windmill have solar panels built-in. We get electricity from them.”
Doog: “Electricity is good. It keeps your phone charged.”
Daisy: “It’s mostly used to power the Quad Walker. Otherwise, it would just be a Quad Stander.”
Doog: “You got jokes.”
Daisy: “Come on, lets get onboard the Quad.”
Daisy: “This is a windmill and a water tank installed by a Novum Finium infrastructure crew.”
Doog: “So, that’s a no, I guess.”
Daisy: “It’s used to resupply our Quad with water and electricity. We don’t live here, but we visit a site like this every few days.”
Doog: “You get water from here. I thought water was non-existent on Harena?”
Daisy: “There’s plenty of groundwater deep below where the sun can’t evaporate it. Desert winds spin the windmill which pumps up the deep water. The blades of the windmill have solar panels built-in. We get electricity from them.”
Doog: “Electricity is good. It keeps your phone charged.”
Daisy: “It’s mostly used to power the Quad Walker. Otherwise, it would just be a Quad Stander.”
Doog: “You got jokes.”
Daisy: “Come on, lets get onboard the Quad.”
Daisy: “The Quad Walker is our home or base. We live and work out of here.”
Doog: “It seems a bit cramped.”
Daisy: “There’s usually only two of us, instead of three, but even then, it’s a little overcrowded. We make do, though.”
Doog: “I, for one, wouldn’t suffer like this, especially for some sand. Speaking of which, what are we scouting here? There’s sand everywhere I look.”
Daisy: “We’re not looking for normal, everyday sand.”
Doog: “Oh, that’s right. Harena has ‘special’ sand.”
Daisy: “Why did you do air-quotes when you said special?”
Doog: “How special can sand be? It’s sand. What, does it make industrial strength sand castles or something?”
Daisy: “Actually, it’s used as an additive to concrete. It makes concrete stronger.”
Doog: “Sidewalks are better than sand castles, I suppose.”
Daisy: “You don’t waste Harena sand on things like sidewalks. It’s used to make bunkers and secure buildings and other cool things.”
Doog: “Yeah. Yeah. In the end, it’s just sand, though.”
Doog: “It seems a bit cramped.”
Daisy: “There’s usually only two of us, instead of three, but even then, it’s a little overcrowded. We make do, though.”
Doog: “I, for one, wouldn’t suffer like this, especially for some sand. Speaking of which, what are we scouting here? There’s sand everywhere I look.”
Daisy: “We’re not looking for normal, everyday sand.”
Doog: “Oh, that’s right. Harena has ‘special’ sand.”
Daisy: “Why did you do air-quotes when you said special?”
Doog: “How special can sand be? It’s sand. What, does it make industrial strength sand castles or something?”
Daisy: “Actually, it’s used as an additive to concrete. It makes concrete stronger.”
Doog: “Sidewalks are better than sand castles, I suppose.”
Daisy: “You don’t waste Harena sand on things like sidewalks. It’s used to make bunkers and secure buildings and other cool things.”
Doog: “Yeah. Yeah. In the end, it’s just sand, though.”
Doog: “Why did we stop? Is this the special sand?”
Daisy: “Not exactly.”
Doog: “Wait…what are those? Why are they crawling everywhere? Are they insects?!”
Daisy: “They are the Har, a semi-sentient insectoid species.”
Doog: “They’re so creepy!”
Daisy: “Be nice. They can understand us.”
Daisy: “Not exactly.”
Doog: “Wait…what are those? Why are they crawling everywhere? Are they insects?!”
Daisy: “They are the Har, a semi-sentient insectoid species.”
Doog: “They’re so creepy!”
Daisy: “Be nice. They can understand us.”
Doog: “What do you mean they can understand? I thought you said they weren’t fully sentient.”
Daisy: “What does that have to do with anything? A dog can understand plenty of words. Besides, I said they were semi-sentient.”
Doog: “What does that even mean?”
Daisy: “They have language and intelligence, but they don’t use tools or have culture. That’s the best I can describe it. I’m a scout, not a scientist.”
Doog: “That’s plenty good for me. Say…are they getting closer?!”
Daisy: “What does that have to do with anything? A dog can understand plenty of words. Besides, I said they were semi-sentient.”
Doog: “What does that even mean?”
Daisy: “They have language and intelligence, but they don’t use tools or have culture. That’s the best I can describe it. I’m a scout, not a scientist.”
Doog: “That’s plenty good for me. Say…are they getting closer?!”
Doog: “Back up! Give Doog some space! Quit touching me! Why aren’t they listening!?”
Daisy: “Ha. They like you!”
Doog: “It’s not funny! I’m about to freak out! Hey! I think ones trying to take my wallet! There’s no money in there you dumb bug!”
Daisy: “Oh, relax. You probably have moisture on your suit. The Har are extremely sensitive to that.”
Doog: “There’s going to be some moisture IN my suit if these freaking things don’t get off me!”
Daisy: “Hahaha.”
Daisy: “Ha. They like you!”
Doog: “It’s not funny! I’m about to freak out! Hey! I think ones trying to take my wallet! There’s no money in there you dumb bug!”
Daisy: “Oh, relax. You probably have moisture on your suit. The Har are extremely sensitive to that.”
Doog: “There’s going to be some moisture IN my suit if these freaking things don’t get off me!”
Daisy: “Hahaha.”
Daisy: “See, I told you. Once the moisture was gone from your suit, they left you alone.”
Doog: “Yeah, it only took ten minutes of pure entomophobic trauma that will give me nightmares for years.”
Daisy: “It was funny though!”
Doog: “Yeah, it must have been hilarious…for you. Why are these overly-handsy creatures on this planet, anyway? I thought nothing could survive here?”
Daisy: “They evolved here, giving them several adaptations to combat the heat and dryness.”
Doog: “Like what?”
Daisy: “Like their ability to ‘smell’ the tiniest bits of water.”
Doog: “Oh, yeah. The suit thing. How did I forget that?”
Daisy: “Yep. Also, their exoskeletons protect against evaporation. Those tube thingies on their faces are actually long breathing organs that prevent moisture escaping from their noses. They never urinate. Lots of things.”
Doog: “Yeah, it only took ten minutes of pure entomophobic trauma that will give me nightmares for years.”
Daisy: “It was funny though!”
Doog: “Yeah, it must have been hilarious…for you. Why are these overly-handsy creatures on this planet, anyway? I thought nothing could survive here?”
Daisy: “They evolved here, giving them several adaptations to combat the heat and dryness.”
Doog: “Like what?”
Daisy: “Like their ability to ‘smell’ the tiniest bits of water.”
Doog: “Oh, yeah. The suit thing. How did I forget that?”
Daisy: “Yep. Also, their exoskeletons protect against evaporation. Those tube thingies on their faces are actually long breathing organs that prevent moisture escaping from their noses. They never urinate. Lots of things.”
Daisy: “It also helps that they build these thick mud nests. It’s way cooler inside.”
Doog: “Why are you pushing me forward?”
Daisy: “Because we’re going inside.”
Doog: “Is that really a good idea? What if they freak out and start swarming?”
Daisy: “They’re not wasps or bees. Come on.”
Doog: “That easy for you to say, you weren’t just felt-up by a dozen pinching bug fingers.”
Doog: “Why are you pushing me forward?”
Daisy: “Because we’re going inside.”
Doog: “Is that really a good idea? What if they freak out and start swarming?”
Daisy: “They’re not wasps or bees. Come on.”
Doog: “That easy for you to say, you weren’t just felt-up by a dozen pinching bug fingers.”
Daisy: “See, it’s not so bad in here.”
Doog: “I can’t really tell if it’s cooler or not with this suit on, but I’ll take your word for it. I’m not giving these guys access to the water in any of my orifices.”
Daisy: “Ha. You’re learning.”
Doog: “What am I looking at here? Is this some type of comb?”
Daisy: “Yes. The Har grow food, in the form of bacteria, in little cells like this.”
Doog: “They eat this green goo? Can they get grosser?”
Daisy: “Actually, the green stuff is a waterless mucus the Har produce. It’s full of insoluble non-organic colloids or something like that. The bacteria grow in it, and the Har re-eat the mucus to get the bacteria.”
Doog: “Booger-eating, body-groping monsters. I’m telling you, the Har are the grossest species I’ve met, and I’ve been to the brothel on Camana IV.”
Daisy: “Uh, sure. Anyway, the Har also use this mucus to build these nests. They combine it with the sand.”
Doog: “I’m standing in a snot dome over cells of boogers. Look mom, I finally made it! Wait…mixed with sand. Is that what makes the sand ‘special’?
Daisy: “Again with the air-quotes? Yes, though. We want the sand mixed with Har mucus.”
Doog: “Yes! Let’s get back to the Quad and start stomping this thing down!”
Doog: “I can’t really tell if it’s cooler or not with this suit on, but I’ll take your word for it. I’m not giving these guys access to the water in any of my orifices.”
Daisy: “Ha. You’re learning.”
Doog: “What am I looking at here? Is this some type of comb?”
Daisy: “Yes. The Har grow food, in the form of bacteria, in little cells like this.”
Doog: “They eat this green goo? Can they get grosser?”
Daisy: “Actually, the green stuff is a waterless mucus the Har produce. It’s full of insoluble non-organic colloids or something like that. The bacteria grow in it, and the Har re-eat the mucus to get the bacteria.”
Doog: “Booger-eating, body-groping monsters. I’m telling you, the Har are the grossest species I’ve met, and I’ve been to the brothel on Camana IV.”
Daisy: “Uh, sure. Anyway, the Har also use this mucus to build these nests. They combine it with the sand.”
Doog: “I’m standing in a snot dome over cells of boogers. Look mom, I finally made it! Wait…mixed with sand. Is that what makes the sand ‘special’?
Daisy: “Again with the air-quotes? Yes, though. We want the sand mixed with Har mucus.”
Doog: “Yes! Let’s get back to the Quad and start stomping this thing down!”
Daisy: “We don’t get the special sand from active nests!”
Doog: “Aw, why not?”
Daisy: “Because we’re not cruel monsters!”
Doog: “They’re just bugs.”
Daisy: “Semi-sentient insectoids!”
Doog: “Fine. Where do you get it from then?”
Daisy: “The Har have been on this planet for millions of years. They’ve built billions of nests over that time, and plenty have been abandoned. As scouts, we use ground penetrating radar to locate extinct, unused nests.”
Doog: “Aw, why not?”
Daisy: “Because we’re not cruel monsters!”
Doog: “They’re just bugs.”
Daisy: “Semi-sentient insectoids!”
Doog: “Fine. Where do you get it from then?”
Daisy: “The Har have been on this planet for millions of years. They’ve built billions of nests over that time, and plenty have been abandoned. As scouts, we use ground penetrating radar to locate extinct, unused nests.”
Daisy: “When we locate one – which happens often – we call in for a Nest Harvester.”
Doog: “Wouldn’t this be so much cooler if there were Har scrambling about shrieking in despair?”
Daisy: “No! You really don’t like bugs, do you?”
Doog: “Wouldn’t this be so much cooler if there were Har scrambling about shrieking in despair?”
Daisy: “No! You really don’t like bugs, do you?”
Daisy: “Nest Harvesters use air cannons to remove the regular sand and grinding blades to break up the old nest. We collect this mucus hardened sand, which we call Har-Sand, from the old nest.”
Doog: “Disappointed in the Har vacancy, but I get it. Har-Sand comes from old nests.”
Doog: “Disappointed in the Har vacancy, but I get it. Har-Sand comes from old nests.”
Daisy: “Once collected, the Har-Sand comes to little depots like this for light processing.”
Doog: “Light processing?”
Daisy: “Yeah, generally just augmenting the sand with a few additives, like lye. Then it is shipped out.”
Doog: “Well, it took me getting molested by twenty invertebrates, but I guess we’re finished.”
Daisy: “Thanks for the laughs.”
Doog: “Are you into funny guys? My offer still stands.”
Daisy: “I’d rather enter a Har nest naked.”
Doog: “Can’t say I didn’t try.”
Doog: “Light processing?”
Daisy: “Yeah, generally just augmenting the sand with a few additives, like lye. Then it is shipped out.”
Doog: “Well, it took me getting molested by twenty invertebrates, but I guess we’re finished.”
Daisy: “Thanks for the laughs.”
Doog: “Are you into funny guys? My offer still stands.”
Daisy: “I’d rather enter a Har nest naked.”
Doog: “Can’t say I didn’t try.”
Doog: “Well folks, that’s Harena. This ultra-dry, desert world produces hardened sand for use in concrete. This hardened sand is a mixture of normal sand and the mucus of the local insect race. I get the heebie-jeebies just thinking about them. I’m going to need therapy after this one. Oh well, see ya!”
Note: The first explorers on Harena suffered several injuries from the dry air and the moisture hungry Har. Several nests in the landing area were destroyed in the aftermath. Search the Harena Misunderstanding on your LIUpad for more information.
Note: The first explorers on Harena suffered several injuries from the dry air and the moisture hungry Har. Several nests in the landing area were destroyed in the aftermath. Search the Harena Misunderstanding on your LIUpad for more information.
