There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Hortulanus
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 a Mid-Rim terrestrial planet called Hortulanus. Hortulanus is a cold, mountainous world. The planet can be divided into three geological categories: frozen polar regions, icy mountain plateaus, and semi-arid valleys. I’m told that there is a variety of unique life on Hortulanus – including a sentient species. I’m also told that some of this life is Hortulanus’ primary export. Let’s head down and figure it out.”
Doog: “Alright folks, I’ve been dropped off in a settlement that appears to be on one of the planet’s icy plateaus. It’s cold, obviously, and the air seems a bit thinner than standard. That could be the elevation, though. There’s a spattering of building, here. Most seem to have support poles driven into the ice. I guess that’s the easiest way to secure a foundationless building on the ice sheet. I have no idea if that’s true, but it sounds good. I think I’m just rambling to stay warm at this point.”
Taiga: “Welcome to Research Post Alpha. I’m Taiga Kang, the Research Director.”
Doog: “Oh, that was fast. I’m Doog.”
Taiga: “Yeah, I figured. Well, where should we start?”
Doog: “I don’t know. Tell me about this place.”
Taiga: “Research Post Alpha is one of three LIU settlements on Hortulanus. Research Post is a bit of a misnomer, though. This place doesn’t do research these days.”
Doog: “Why is that?”
Taiga: “Well, this place has been around for over a decade. There’s nothing left to research, well, nothing profitable anyway.”
Doog: “So, why are you still here?”
Taiga: “Because we researched something that turned out to be profitable. Now, we focus on that.”
Doog: “And what’s that?”
Taiga: “Some of the native life. You won’t find any in our post, though. We’ll need to head out.”
Doog: “Lead the way.”
Doog: “Oh, that was fast. I’m Doog.”
Taiga: “Yeah, I figured. Well, where should we start?”
Doog: “I don’t know. Tell me about this place.”
Taiga: “Research Post Alpha is one of three LIU settlements on Hortulanus. Research Post is a bit of a misnomer, though. This place doesn’t do research these days.”
Doog: “Why is that?”
Taiga: “Well, this place has been around for over a decade. There’s nothing left to research, well, nothing profitable anyway.”
Doog: “So, why are you still here?”
Taiga: “Because we researched something that turned out to be profitable. Now, we focus on that.”
Doog: “And what’s that?”
Taiga: “Some of the native life. You won’t find any in our post, though. We’ll need to head out.”
Doog: “Lead the way.”
Taiga: “Luckily for us, the natives also live on the ice sheet. Their settlements are close by.”
Doog: “They live in little huts, but they seem to have some technology. Weird.”
Taiga: “The technology is ours. We gifted it to the Hortu to make them easier to find.”
Doog: “Easier to find? Are they your profitable export?”
Taiga: “Not at all, but they have their uses. They know this environment well. They are useful scouts.”
Doog: “They live in little huts, but they seem to have some technology. Weird.”
Taiga: “The technology is ours. We gifted it to the Hortu to make them easier to find.”
Doog: “Easier to find? Are they your profitable export?”
Taiga: “Not at all, but they have their uses. They know this environment well. They are useful scouts.”
Doog: “They’re called the Hortu?”
Taiga: “Yes. The Hortu are a young race that has only recently began primitive agriculture.”
Doog: “Agriculture on the ice? How?”
Taiga: “Yes. The Hortu are a young race that has only recently began primitive agriculture.”
Doog: “Agriculture on the ice? How?”
Taiga: “They raise and herd another native species called Dramphas. Dramphas are very useful. They have meat, obviously. They also have thick furry hides – good for making clothing and leather. The Hortu depend on the Dramphas for survival.”
Doog: “So, they’re not the export, right? The natives would die without them.”
Taiga: “Correct.”
Doog: “That just leaves one question – what do the Drampa…Draffaa…what do the fluff-rats eat? I don’t see anything other than ice.”
Doog: “So, they’re not the export, right? The natives would die without them.”
Taiga: “Correct.”
Doog: “That just leaves one question – what do the Drampa…Draffaa…what do the fluff-rats eat? I don’t see anything other than ice.”
Taiga: “The Dramphas are herbivores. They eat shrubbery found in the lower elevations.”
Doog: “Why herd the fluff-rats on the ice then? Why not keep them down there, in the lowlands?”
Taiga: “It would make sense on paper, but you don’t have the full picture, yet. The lower elevations are dangerous. There are predators there. The ice sheet is much, much safer.”
Doog: “Predators? And they don’t come up here on the ice?”
Taiga: “Correct. The predators have no method of piercing the ice, so they can never make it up here.”
Doog: “So, the Hortu collect the plants in the dangerous valleys. They feed it to the fluff-rats up here where they are safe.”
Taiga: “Exactly.”
Doog: “Why do I have the feeling that these predators are your export, and we’re heading down into this dangerous valley?”
Taiga: “Because you’re a mind reader?”
Doog: “Why herd the fluff-rats on the ice then? Why not keep them down there, in the lowlands?”
Taiga: “It would make sense on paper, but you don’t have the full picture, yet. The lower elevations are dangerous. There are predators there. The ice sheet is much, much safer.”
Doog: “Predators? And they don’t come up here on the ice?”
Taiga: “Correct. The predators have no method of piercing the ice, so they can never make it up here.”
Doog: “So, the Hortu collect the plants in the dangerous valleys. They feed it to the fluff-rats up here where they are safe.”
Taiga: “Exactly.”
Doog: “Why do I have the feeling that these predators are your export, and we’re heading down into this dangerous valley?”
Taiga: “Because you’re a mind reader?”
Doog: “Holy Kaadu…what is that?”
Taiga: “That is the aforementioned predator, Casoerus Furuus. We call them Mawguts. They’re essentially a giant mouth and a gullet.”
Doog: “Lots of tentacles too.”
Taiga: “Yep.”
Taiga: “That is the aforementioned predator, Casoerus Furuus. We call them Mawguts. They’re essentially a giant mouth and a gullet.”
Doog: “Lots of tentacles too.”
Taiga: “Yep.”
Taiga: “Mawguts eat anything they can get their tentacles on – Dramphas, Hortu, Humans, etc. They’re typically ambush predators. They launch out of the loose regolith of the valley floor and grab any lifeforms nearby.”
Doog: “Are we safe?”
Taiga: “We’re fine up here. The mountain bedrock and ice prevent them from coming up here. They can’t burst through it like they can the valley floor.”
Doog: “Wait, are you telling me these things are mobile?”
Taiga: “Yes. Mawguts move underground via a series of tunnels. They pop out when they detect prey.”
Doog: “I won’t be going down there…ever.”
Taiga: “Me neither.”
Doog: “Are we safe?”
Taiga: “We’re fine up here. The mountain bedrock and ice prevent them from coming up here. They can’t burst through it like they can the valley floor.”
Doog: “Wait, are you telling me these things are mobile?”
Taiga: “Yes. Mawguts move underground via a series of tunnels. They pop out when they detect prey.”
Doog: “I won’t be going down there…ever.”
Taiga: “Me neither.”
Taiga: “Unfortunately, the Dramphas have to come down here to feed. This is where the shrubbery grows. As I said earlier, the Hortu come down here as well – to collect food for their herds. Many Dramphas and Hortu lose their lives to Mawguts every week.”
Doog: “It looks like one of those fluff-rats ventured too close.”
Taiga: “Yes, regrettably.”
Doog: “It looks like one of those fluff-rats ventured too close.”
Taiga: “Yes, regrettably.”
Taiga: “Once a Mawgut gets you into its mouth, it’s game over. Their mouth and gullet are lined with razor sharp fangs. You’re shredded to bits before you reach the stomach.”
Doog: “Yikes. Why would you want to export these things? How do you export them without getting eaten?”
Taiga: “We’ll talk about that back at the Research Post, where it’s safer.”
Doog: “You’ll get no arguments from me.”
Doog: “Yikes. Why would you want to export these things? How do you export them without getting eaten?”
Taiga: “We’ll talk about that back at the Research Post, where it’s safer.”
Doog: “You’ll get no arguments from me.”
Doog: “Hortul-Green Anus-House? I don’t think I want to go in there.”
Taiga: “It says Hortulanus Greenhouse.”
Doog: “That makes more sense. Sort of. Why are we at a greenhouse? Are you guys growing plants to feed the fluff-rats?”
Taiga: “No, we’re growing…”
Taiga: “It says Hortulanus Greenhouse.”
Doog: “That makes more sense. Sort of. Why are we at a greenhouse? Are you guys growing plants to feed the fluff-rats?”
Taiga: “No, we’re growing…”
Taiga: “…Mawguts.”
Doog: “Growing them in a greenhouse? Like plants?”
Taiga: “Mawguts are plants, technically. Their ‘tentacles’ are modified roots. Their teeth are modified thorns.”
Doog: “But they eat stuff and move around.”
Taiga: “Yes. They are very advanced, very evolved plants. We believe that their species struggled as traditional plants. The valley floor lacks proper nutrition. They probably started to develop predatory features to supplement their nutrition. Through evolution, these supplemental features got better and better until they surpassed the plant’s ability to photosynthesize. They could get all the nutrition and energy through predation.”
Doog: “So, they’re plants that got so good at hunting that they no longer needed photosynthesis?”
Taiga: “That’s the theory. As you can see, they’re not green. There’s no chlorophyll anymore, but they still have a lot of chemical markers identical to plants.”
Doog: “Growing them in a greenhouse? Like plants?”
Taiga: “Mawguts are plants, technically. Their ‘tentacles’ are modified roots. Their teeth are modified thorns.”
Doog: “But they eat stuff and move around.”
Taiga: “Yes. They are very advanced, very evolved plants. We believe that their species struggled as traditional plants. The valley floor lacks proper nutrition. They probably started to develop predatory features to supplement their nutrition. Through evolution, these supplemental features got better and better until they surpassed the plant’s ability to photosynthesize. They could get all the nutrition and energy through predation.”
Doog: “So, they’re plants that got so good at hunting that they no longer needed photosynthesis?”
Taiga: “That’s the theory. As you can see, they’re not green. There’s no chlorophyll anymore, but they still have a lot of chemical markers identical to plants.”
Doog: “The greenhouse thing makes some sense now – even though they are no longer remotely close to traditional plants.”
Taiga: “Ah, but they do have another holdover of plant biology. They still reproduce via pollination, and they still produce seeds.”
Doog: “The greenhouse is making more and more sense. You pollinate and grow young Mawguts from seeds.”
Taiga: “Yes.”
Doog: “That also explains how you are able to export them without being eaten.”
Taiga: “We can export their seeds or smaller, safer saplings.”
Doog: “I guess all that’s left is the why. Why export monstrous, killer plants?”
Taiga: “Ah, but they do have another holdover of plant biology. They still reproduce via pollination, and they still produce seeds.”
Doog: “The greenhouse is making more and more sense. You pollinate and grow young Mawguts from seeds.”
Taiga: “Yes.”
Doog: “That also explains how you are able to export them without being eaten.”
Taiga: “We can export their seeds or smaller, safer saplings.”
Doog: “I guess all that’s left is the why. Why export monstrous, killer plants?”
Taiga: “Mawguts are like biological garbage disposals. They can digest any type of biological material – even if it’s rotten or poisoned.”
Doog: “That makes them useful to people?”
Taiga: “Sure. Plant one in your garbage dump and watch it get rid of all the stinking food scraps. Plant one to throw all your dead into. Plant one in a hospital to safely get rid of biological medical waste Heck, the Mawguts have other uses too. Have a pest problem? Plant a Mawgut. Need to attack an enemy? Plant a Mawgut.”
Doog: “That all sounds good, but aren’t Mawguts mobile?”
Taiga: “Yes, precautions need to be taken. You’ll want to plant it within some type of barrier system so it can’t get away.”
Doog: “I see. Well, I don’t think I’ll be needing or wanting one anytime soon.”
Taiga: “Your loss.”
Doog: “That makes them useful to people?”
Taiga: “Sure. Plant one in your garbage dump and watch it get rid of all the stinking food scraps. Plant one to throw all your dead into. Plant one in a hospital to safely get rid of biological medical waste Heck, the Mawguts have other uses too. Have a pest problem? Plant a Mawgut. Need to attack an enemy? Plant a Mawgut.”
Doog: “That all sounds good, but aren’t Mawguts mobile?”
Taiga: “Yes, precautions need to be taken. You’ll want to plant it within some type of barrier system so it can’t get away.”
Doog: “I see. Well, I don’t think I’ll be needing or wanting one anytime soon.”
Taiga: “Your loss.”
Taiga: “Mawgut seeds and seedlings are shipped in special containers. They maintain the correct conditions for survival. They also help prevent ecological disasters.”
Doog: “What do you mean?”
Taiga: “They are code-locked. They can only be opened by the proper receiver. That way, if the transport carrying them crashes, they can’t get out. We learned that one the hard way.”
Doog: “I see. Say, if I wanted to buy one – and I really don’t – how much does one of these terrifying plants cost?”
Taiga: “They’re not cheap. Mawguts have a lifespan close to one-hundred years. Their voraciousness doesn’t vary throughout its lifespan either. Customers are buying a century of biological consumption.”
Doog: “So, like ten credits? Or what?”
Taiga: “What! No! Mawguts cost thousands of credits. Tens of thousands.”
Doog: “Oh, wow. I was way off. I really couldn’t afford one even if I wanted one. Well, anything else to add?”
Taiga: “Nope. We covered the basics.”
Doog: “What do you mean?”
Taiga: “They are code-locked. They can only be opened by the proper receiver. That way, if the transport carrying them crashes, they can’t get out. We learned that one the hard way.”
Doog: “I see. Say, if I wanted to buy one – and I really don’t – how much does one of these terrifying plants cost?”
Taiga: “They’re not cheap. Mawguts have a lifespan close to one-hundred years. Their voraciousness doesn’t vary throughout its lifespan either. Customers are buying a century of biological consumption.”
Doog: “So, like ten credits? Or what?”
Taiga: “What! No! Mawguts cost thousands of credits. Tens of thousands.”
Doog: “Oh, wow. I was way off. I really couldn’t afford one even if I wanted one. Well, anything else to add?”
Taiga: “Nope. We covered the basics.”
Doog: “Well folks, that’s Hortulanus. This icy world is home to crazy plant-like creatures called Mawguts. These horrifying creatures can eat any biological material. There’s also some sentient life and small fluff-rat creatures. Of course, out of three advanced lifeforms on this plant, the LIU exports the murderous ones. Oh well, see ya!”
Note: A Mawgut was released on the planet Abiit to help control the rodent and cat populations. The beast succeeded in eliminating both pests, but it also eliminated dozens of other species, including the sentient settlers. The incident spurred the creation of the Mawgut Act, which required purchasers to construct proper barriers before planting any Mawgut. The Act also requires Mawgut to be transported in code-locked containers. This portion of the law was prompted by the Ridgecrust Crash Incident. For more information, search ‘the Ridgecrust Massacre’ on your LIUpad.
Note: A Mawgut was released on the planet Abiit to help control the rodent and cat populations. The beast succeeded in eliminating both pests, but it also eliminated dozens of other species, including the sentient settlers. The incident spurred the creation of the Mawgut Act, which required purchasers to construct proper barriers before planting any Mawgut. The Act also requires Mawgut to be transported in code-locked containers. This portion of the law was prompted by the Ridgecrust Crash Incident. For more information, search ‘the Ridgecrust Massacre’ on your LIUpad.
