There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Alte Baca
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 agricultural planet, Alte Baca. Luckily, Alte Baca is not your typical farm planet – those are generally boring. The natives and workers on Alte Baca only grow one type of fruit, and they only grow it in the extreme peaks of the planet’s mountain chains. That sounds interesting enough, but it gets better. The fruit here is grown to make alcohol. Let’s head down and find out about that.”
Doog: “Alright folks, I’ve been dropped off in a small farming settlement. I don’t see anything growing, but that’s not unexpected. I was dropped off in a valley, not one of the mountain peaks. I don’t really see much else worth talking about, so let’s go find our guide.”
Murphy: “Greetings, young man. I’m Murphy Daniels. Let me guess, you’re the scout for that educational show.”
Doog: “Scout? I’m the TV reporter.”
Murphy: “With a face like…I mean…uh…of course! Pleasure to meet you Doog.”
Doog: “Yeah, thanks. So, what do you do around here? I want to see if your face matches your job.”
Murphy: “I’m this region’s plantation manager.”
Doog: “Let’s see. No, I don’t think that matches. You look more like the male-Karen type. You should be asking for the manager, not doing the managing.”
Murphy: “Ok, I deserved that.”
Doog: “Scout? I’m the TV reporter.”
Murphy: “With a face like…I mean…uh…of course! Pleasure to meet you Doog.”
Doog: “Yeah, thanks. So, what do you do around here? I want to see if your face matches your job.”
Murphy: “I’m this region’s plantation manager.”
Doog: “Let’s see. No, I don’t think that matches. You look more like the male-Karen type. You should be asking for the manager, not doing the managing.”
Murphy: “Ok, I deserved that.”
Doog: “So, what are we looking at here?”
Murphy: “This is this peak’s plantation complex. The large building has accommodations for several workers, like bathrooms, beds, etc. The little tent to the side is a processing area, and the large silo is for storing fermenting fruit.”
Doog: “What’s up with all the green and white and corporate branding?”
Murphy: “The plantations on Alte Baca are run by Unified Terrestrial Industries, a LIU company.”
Doog: “Unified Terrestrial Industries?”
Murphy: “Yeah, we call it ‘UTI’ for short. The UTI controls farming industries on dozens of planets in this sector. To ensure that brand recognition is identical across all of their planets…”
Doog: “…they slap their insignia on everything.”
Murphy: “More or less.”
Murphy: “This is this peak’s plantation complex. The large building has accommodations for several workers, like bathrooms, beds, etc. The little tent to the side is a processing area, and the large silo is for storing fermenting fruit.”
Doog: “What’s up with all the green and white and corporate branding?”
Murphy: “The plantations on Alte Baca are run by Unified Terrestrial Industries, a LIU company.”
Doog: “Unified Terrestrial Industries?”
Murphy: “Yeah, we call it ‘UTI’ for short. The UTI controls farming industries on dozens of planets in this sector. To ensure that brand recognition is identical across all of their planets…”
Doog: “…they slap their insignia on everything.”
Murphy: “More or less.”
Doog: “Well, you described everything but this thing. What does it do?”
Murphy: “This is how we get up to the orchards. It’s a chairlift.”
Doog: “Can’t we fly up there or something? This doesn’t look safe.”
Murphy: “Nah. Flying is too expensive. Cable lifts are the most cost-effective method of transport between the plantation complexes and the orchards.”
Doog: “What about life-effectiveness? Do these things even have seatbelts?”
Murphy: “Oh, come on, Doog. We use them multiple times a day. They are perfectly safe. Hop on.”
Murphy: “This is how we get up to the orchards. It’s a chairlift.”
Doog: “Can’t we fly up there or something? This doesn’t look safe.”
Murphy: “Nah. Flying is too expensive. Cable lifts are the most cost-effective method of transport between the plantation complexes and the orchards.”
Doog: “What about life-effectiveness? Do these things even have seatbelts?”
Murphy: “Oh, come on, Doog. We use them multiple times a day. They are perfectly safe. Hop on.”
Doog: “Holy Kaadu! This thing is much faster than I was anticipating.”
Murphy: “I know, right? We’ll be at the top in no time.”
Doog: “I wasn’t complimenting the lift. I’m complaining! It’s too fast! I’m barely holding on.”
Murphy: “It’s literally a chair. Just sit in it like any other chair.”
Doog: “I fall out of chairs sometimes!”
Murphy: “Well, don’t fall out of this one.”
Murphy: “I know, right? We’ll be at the top in no time.”
Doog: “I wasn’t complimenting the lift. I’m complaining! It’s too fast! I’m barely holding on.”
Murphy: “It’s literally a chair. Just sit in it like any other chair.”
Doog: “I fall out of chairs sometimes!”
Murphy: “Well, don’t fall out of this one.”
Doog: “Ok, even at this speed, this is taking forever.”
Murphy: “It’s a long way up.”
Doog: “How high are these plantations?”
Murphy: “Roughly 5,000 meters above sea level.”
Doog: “Five thousand! Is there even air that high?!”
Murphy: “Not much. We won’t be staying too long. Altitudinal hypoxia is a danger at these heights.”
Doog: “I guess zooming in a seatbelt-less chair wasn’t enough danger, was it? Let’s throw in some oxygen depletion…”
Murphy: “It’s a long way up.”
Doog: “How high are these plantations?”
Murphy: “Roughly 5,000 meters above sea level.”
Doog: “Five thousand! Is there even air that high?!”
Murphy: “Not much. We won’t be staying too long. Altitudinal hypoxia is a danger at these heights.”
Doog: “I guess zooming in a seatbelt-less chair wasn’t enough danger, was it? Let’s throw in some oxygen depletion…”
Doog: “It must be difficult to tend these plantations, given the whole lack of oxygen thing.”
Murphy: “It would be for me or you. Not the Bacans though.”
Doog: “Bacans? You mean the natives?”
Murphy: “Yes. They are adapted to living at these high altitudes. In fact, they primarily lived on these peaks prior to the arrival of the LIU.”
Doog: “They don’t live up there now?”
Murphy: “No, of course not. Space is at a premium on these tiny peaks. UTI relocated them to the valleys.”
Murphy: “It would be for me or you. Not the Bacans though.”
Doog: “Bacans? You mean the natives?”
Murphy: “Yes. They are adapted to living at these high altitudes. In fact, they primarily lived on these peaks prior to the arrival of the LIU.”
Doog: “They don’t live up there now?”
Murphy: “No, of course not. Space is at a premium on these tiny peaks. UTI relocated them to the valleys.”
Doog: “As evil and oppressive as relocation sounds, I get it. These peaks are tiny.”
Murphy: “They are. Only three peaks in this area are high enough for sustained production – every square foot counts.”
Doog: “The fruit won’t grow lower?”
Murphy: “Nope. Well, not in an economically viable way. Baca stalks don’t fruit nearly as much at lower levels. We’re talking a fruit a month. Up here, the stalks grow three fruits a day; sometimes more.”
Doog: “What’s the difference?”
Murphy: “I’m not sure scientifically – I’m just a field manager – but for some reason, the stalks do better up here. It has something to do with the high UV, low oxygen environment. Perhaps photosynthesis is easier up here, or maybe, microscopic pests aren’t able to survive in low oxygen environments.”
Doog: “Speaking of low oxygen, maybe we should hurry up.”
Murphy: “Good point. Let’s get off this lift and check out the plantation. We have about seven minutes.”
Murphy: “They are. Only three peaks in this area are high enough for sustained production – every square foot counts.”
Doog: “The fruit won’t grow lower?”
Murphy: “Nope. Well, not in an economically viable way. Baca stalks don’t fruit nearly as much at lower levels. We’re talking a fruit a month. Up here, the stalks grow three fruits a day; sometimes more.”
Doog: “What’s the difference?”
Murphy: “I’m not sure scientifically – I’m just a field manager – but for some reason, the stalks do better up here. It has something to do with the high UV, low oxygen environment. Perhaps photosynthesis is easier up here, or maybe, microscopic pests aren’t able to survive in low oxygen environments.”
Doog: “Speaking of low oxygen, maybe we should hurry up.”
Murphy: “Good point. Let’s get off this lift and check out the plantation. We have about seven minutes.”
Doog: “Ok, I can’t see how this is economically viable. There’s only like a dozen plants up here.”
Murphy: “A dozen stalks per peak equals about thirty-six to forty-eight fruits per day. Multiple that by three peaks, and this plantation alone grows a hundred plus fruits per day.”
Doog: “That math checks out…maybe…I guess. Still, a hundred fruits isn't a lot.”
Murphy: “There are hundreds of plantations on Alte Baca. Planetwide, tens of thousands of fruits are produced per day.”
Doog: “And that’s enough to make liquor?”
Murphy: “It is. Baca fruit has one of the highest concentrations of sugar in any fruit in this galaxy. Yeast is able to convert that sugar into lots of alcohol.”
Doog: “So, the fruit has enough sugar to overcome being small and sparse.”
Murphy: “Indeed.”
Murphy: “A dozen stalks per peak equals about thirty-six to forty-eight fruits per day. Multiple that by three peaks, and this plantation alone grows a hundred plus fruits per day.”
Doog: “That math checks out…maybe…I guess. Still, a hundred fruits isn't a lot.”
Murphy: “There are hundreds of plantations on Alte Baca. Planetwide, tens of thousands of fruits are produced per day.”
Doog: “And that’s enough to make liquor?”
Murphy: “It is. Baca fruit has one of the highest concentrations of sugar in any fruit in this galaxy. Yeast is able to convert that sugar into lots of alcohol.”
Doog: “So, the fruit has enough sugar to overcome being small and sparse.”
Murphy: “Indeed.”
Murphy: “Baca fruits are typically picked before they are fully ripe. It maximizes the sugar ratio. Fruits that fully mature are filled with seeds, like this.”
Doog: “This thing is mostly seeds. Why would you ever let one get ripe?”
Murphy: “We let a few fully mature so we can acquire the seeds. It helps plant newer stalks and allows for ‘plantation trading’, where we exchange seeds between plantations to increase genetic diversity.”
Doog: “I see.”
Doog: “This thing is mostly seeds. Why would you ever let one get ripe?”
Murphy: “We let a few fully mature so we can acquire the seeds. It helps plant newer stalks and allows for ‘plantation trading’, where we exchange seeds between plantations to increase genetic diversity.”
Doog: “I see.”
Doog: “Alright, we’ve descended a bit to a platform we passed earlier. I can already breathe easier.”
Murphy: “Yes. This is around the halfway point. The oxygen levels should be closer to standard.”
Doog: “What’s the purpose of this ‘halfway point’? Is it here incase people chicken-out on their way to the top?”
Murphy: “No, it’s the closest this cable lift comes to Central Hub.”
Doog: “Central Hub?”
Murphy: “The center of the plantation – a shorter mountain in between the three mountain plantations.”
Doog: “So, from here, you can catch a lift to any of the three peaks in this plantation.”
Murphy: “Yes. It serves other purposes too.”
Murphy: “Yes. This is around the halfway point. The oxygen levels should be closer to standard.”
Doog: “What’s the purpose of this ‘halfway point’? Is it here incase people chicken-out on their way to the top?”
Murphy: “No, it’s the closest this cable lift comes to Central Hub.”
Doog: “Central Hub?”
Murphy: “The center of the plantation – a shorter mountain in between the three mountain plantations.”
Doog: “So, from here, you can catch a lift to any of the three peaks in this plantation.”
Murphy: “Yes. It serves other purposes too.”
Murphy: “Central Hub holds landing bays for various ships. Some are used to export products off-planet. Some, like this, are used for maintenance craft.”
Doog: “Maintenance craft?”
Murphy: “Yeah, like these Hover Sprayers. They spray water, fertilizers, and pesticides on our crops.”
Doog: “Maintenance craft?”
Murphy: “Yeah, like these Hover Sprayers. They spray water, fertilizers, and pesticides on our crops.”
Murphy: “Hover Sprayers have doubled our yield. Prior to the LIU and the UTI, these peaks only produced half as much.”
Murphy: “Central Hub is also home to production facilities. We make Baca liquor here.”
Doog: “Wait, I thought the fruit was processed in the valley and fermented in silos.”
Murphy: “It is. Baca fruits are processed and stored below. Processing involves removing debris, stems, and leaves. Storing the fruit in the silos, exposes it to the high oxygen environment of the valley. This stops the maturation process, boosting fermentation. It’s then shipped back here via lifts to be turned into liquor.”
Doog: “Makes sense, I guess.”
Murphy: “Production is simple. The fermented Baca fruits are squeezed, filtered, and then bottled.”
Doog: “Wait, I thought the fruit was processed in the valley and fermented in silos.”
Murphy: “It is. Baca fruits are processed and stored below. Processing involves removing debris, stems, and leaves. Storing the fruit in the silos, exposes it to the high oxygen environment of the valley. This stops the maturation process, boosting fermentation. It’s then shipped back here via lifts to be turned into liquor.”
Doog: “Makes sense, I guess.”
Murphy: “Production is simple. The fermented Baca fruits are squeezed, filtered, and then bottled.”
Murphy: “We prepared a sample for you.”
Doog: “Wow, that’s strong. It burns, but has some sweetness too.”
Murphy: “It still has some sugar left in it. Good, huh?”
Doog: “Too good maybe. I’ll be drunk and diabetic after a few of these.”
Murphy: “Drunk for sure. Baca Liquor is 120 proof. In fact, we have a little inside joke around here, UTI actually stands for ‘under the influence’.”
Doog: “That or ‘urinary tract infection’ because I’m going to be peeing out all this sugar after my pancreas fails!”
Murphy: “You say that, but you’re stilling drinking more.”
Doog: “I have no self-control.”
Doog: “Wow, that’s strong. It burns, but has some sweetness too.”
Murphy: “It still has some sugar left in it. Good, huh?”
Doog: “Too good maybe. I’ll be drunk and diabetic after a few of these.”
Murphy: “Drunk for sure. Baca Liquor is 120 proof. In fact, we have a little inside joke around here, UTI actually stands for ‘under the influence’.”
Doog: “That or ‘urinary tract infection’ because I’m going to be peeing out all this sugar after my pancreas fails!”
Murphy: “You say that, but you’re stilling drinking more.”
Doog: “I have no self-control.”
Doog: “Well folks, that’s Alte Baca. This mountainous agricultural planet grows high-sugar fruit that is used to make Baca Liquor. Production is a pain, as the fruit used to make it only grows on the planet’s highest peaks. The natives must ride long cable lifts to reach this fruit. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to finish ruining both my liver and pancreas! Oh well, see ya!”
Note: Baca Moonrise
Mix-
200mL Baca Liquor
50mL Starshine
200mL Buzz Cola
10-grams Dry Siripus extract
1mL Dacrima Oil (for taste)
Note: Baca Moonrise
Mix-
200mL Baca Liquor
50mL Starshine
200mL Buzz Cola
10-grams Dry Siripus extract
1mL Dacrima Oil (for taste)
