There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Rima
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 rocky, jungle planet called Rima. It’s easy to see what type of economy Rima supports, even from orbit. Massive mounds of tailings cover much of the planet, and pit mines the size of cities pockmark the surface. In case you skipped third grade, this is a mining planet. Don’t worry, they had to tell me too. Let’s head down and check it out.”
Doog: “Most of the surface ore has been extracted from Rima. The last remaining bits sit under Rima’s few remaining jungles. In order to avoid environmental disaster – mostly through oxygen depletion – the native Rimans have stopped surface mining these regions. They’ve refined their mining methods, and now, they only dig down into huge, city-sized pits. The jungles must stay intact. It also means the Magellan must descend.”
Doog: “Alright folks, I’ve been dropped off on a platform thousands of feet below the surface. I can just make out the circular opening above me, which means we’re pretty deep already. I’m too scared to go to the edge and see how much deeper it goes, so that’s going to remain a mystery. Viewers like mysteries, right? I don’t see any mining activity right now, but I can definitely hear something down below.”
Jihoo: “Ah, you must be the reporter. Welcome to Rima. I am Jihoo, supervisor of this pit mine.”
Doog: “Pleasure to meet you. So, what exactly are you mining?”
Jihoo: “Many things. Our largest exports are sodium, magnesium, and bromide, but our most profitable export is Rimanium.”
Doog: “Ree-what?”
Jihoo: “Rimanium, a mineral formed from condensed brine. It’s the remnants of ancient oceans on Rima.”
Doog: “I don’t remember seeing oceans on Rima.”
Jihoo: “They evaporated from the surface eons ago, but their minerals persist. Most were concentrated near the surface – which we exhausted – but we’ve since located huge deposits in the deep pits where the last fragments of ocean were concentrated.”
Doog: “How do jungles survive on an ocean-less planet?”
Jihoo: “Deep roots and pockets of ground water. We must be cautious not to disturb either.”
Doog: “I see.”
Jihoo: “There’s not much more I can explain from this maintenance hatch. I offer you my underling, Luu. She will take you deeper into the mines.”
Doog: “Sounds good, Luu. You jump first.”
Luu: “Jump? No thanks. Let’s wait for the elevators.”
Doog: “Pleasure to meet you. So, what exactly are you mining?”
Jihoo: “Many things. Our largest exports are sodium, magnesium, and bromide, but our most profitable export is Rimanium.”
Doog: “Ree-what?”
Jihoo: “Rimanium, a mineral formed from condensed brine. It’s the remnants of ancient oceans on Rima.”
Doog: “I don’t remember seeing oceans on Rima.”
Jihoo: “They evaporated from the surface eons ago, but their minerals persist. Most were concentrated near the surface – which we exhausted – but we’ve since located huge deposits in the deep pits where the last fragments of ocean were concentrated.”
Doog: “How do jungles survive on an ocean-less planet?”
Jihoo: “Deep roots and pockets of ground water. We must be cautious not to disturb either.”
Doog: “I see.”
Jihoo: “There’s not much more I can explain from this maintenance hatch. I offer you my underling, Luu. She will take you deeper into the mines.”
Doog: “Sounds good, Luu. You jump first.”
Luu: “Jump? No thanks. Let’s wait for the elevators.”
Doog: “When you said we were taking an elevator down…I…uh…envisioned something with more walls. Four to be precise.”
Luu: “These hover-elevators are safer than traditional cable driven elevators. They can adjust to avoid falling debris and stabilize if accidentally struck. The cage above keeps he big stuff out.”
Doog: “I was more worried about falling out. I didn’t even think about falling debris.”
Luu: “Yes. It happens rarely, but with my species lack of a skull and boneless bodies, we take safety seriously. That’s why we wear these biomechanical suits.”
Doog: “I see, but I don’t have a suit, and my bones or skull can’t stop a boulder falling thousands of feet down.”
Luu: “It can’t? Why have them then?”
Doog: “Honestly…I don’t know.”
Luu: “Don’t worry, man-with-useless-bones. The hover-elevators will protect us both.”
Doog: “Good. By the way…my name is Doog.”
Luu: “These hover-elevators are safer than traditional cable driven elevators. They can adjust to avoid falling debris and stabilize if accidentally struck. The cage above keeps he big stuff out.”
Doog: “I was more worried about falling out. I didn’t even think about falling debris.”
Luu: “Yes. It happens rarely, but with my species lack of a skull and boneless bodies, we take safety seriously. That’s why we wear these biomechanical suits.”
Doog: “I see, but I don’t have a suit, and my bones or skull can’t stop a boulder falling thousands of feet down.”
Luu: “It can’t? Why have them then?”
Doog: “Honestly…I don’t know.”
Luu: “Don’t worry, man-with-useless-bones. The hover-elevators will protect us both.”
Doog: “Good. By the way…my name is Doog.”
Doog: “So, you said you’re boneless, right?”
Luu: “Yes.”
Doog: “So, are you, like, an insect or an arachnid?”
Luu: “No.”
Doog: “Phew. An octopus?”
Luu: “No.”
Doog: “Do I need to list all the invertebrate species, or are you going to tell us?”
Luu: “If one was going to group my fully sentient and advanced race into a broad clade, I’d say we were closer to the worm family.”
Doog: “You’re a worm?”
Luu: “We’re a distant cousin in the worm family – not worms. It is derogatory to refer to my species as such. Worms are considered lesser species throughout the galaxy. We prefer to be classified as Riman, nothing more.”
Doog: “Hey, no offense intended. I’ve had worms several times. I mean…nothing as advanced as you guys – imagine the pain – but, seriously, worms are cool. I lost fifteen pounds.”
Luu: “We’re Riman, not worms!”
Doog: “Uh, yeah. That’s what I meant.”
Luu: “Yes.”
Doog: “So, are you, like, an insect or an arachnid?”
Luu: “No.”
Doog: “Phew. An octopus?”
Luu: “No.”
Doog: “Do I need to list all the invertebrate species, or are you going to tell us?”
Luu: “If one was going to group my fully sentient and advanced race into a broad clade, I’d say we were closer to the worm family.”
Doog: “You’re a worm?”
Luu: “We’re a distant cousin in the worm family – not worms. It is derogatory to refer to my species as such. Worms are considered lesser species throughout the galaxy. We prefer to be classified as Riman, nothing more.”
Doog: “Hey, no offense intended. I’ve had worms several times. I mean…nothing as advanced as you guys – imagine the pain – but, seriously, worms are cool. I lost fifteen pounds.”
Luu: “We’re Riman, not worms!”
Doog: “Uh, yeah. That’s what I meant.”
Luu: “This pit mine bottoms out at three miles deep.”
Doog: “I feel it in my ears. Yikes!”
Luu: “Air pressure at these depths is 1.74 atmospheres, nearly double galactic standard.”
Doog: “Breathing is a little more difficult too.”
Luu: “Your vulnerable vertebrate body isn’t so special here, but mine is. Oxygen diffuses into my skin just fine at these depths. My vacuum-free hearing sensors feel nothing.”
Doog: “It’s a good to be a worm, at least, down here.”
Luu: “AGAIN, we’re not worms!”
Doog: “Oh, right.
Doog: “I feel it in my ears. Yikes!”
Luu: “Air pressure at these depths is 1.74 atmospheres, nearly double galactic standard.”
Doog: “Breathing is a little more difficult too.”
Luu: “Your vulnerable vertebrate body isn’t so special here, but mine is. Oxygen diffuses into my skin just fine at these depths. My vacuum-free hearing sensors feel nothing.”
Doog: “It’s a good to be a worm, at least, down here.”
Luu: “AGAIN, we’re not worms!”
Doog: “Oh, right.
Luu: “Do the worms in your body build machines like this?!”
Doog: “I hope not.”
Luu: “Riman mining machines are the envy of many mining worlds. Our slim frames prohibit other species from using our advanced machinery, but they wish they could. Nothing beats our Rima Wall Walker. It has the power to claw through osmium, but the precisive control to avoid water pockets. It can climb walls and maneuver around hollows.”
Doog: “My worms definitely can’t do that…thank the Emperor! I want nothing to maneuver MY hollows.”
Doog: “I hope not.”
Luu: “Riman mining machines are the envy of many mining worlds. Our slim frames prohibit other species from using our advanced machinery, but they wish they could. Nothing beats our Rima Wall Walker. It has the power to claw through osmium, but the precisive control to avoid water pockets. It can climb walls and maneuver around hollows.”
Doog: “My worms definitely can’t do that…thank the Emperor! I want nothing to maneuver MY hollows.”
Luu: “You jest at our appearance and compare us to the brainless parasites that infest your body, but we are much more. Our tech is the envy of the galaxy’s miners. Take our hardsuits, for example. They’re extremely durable and crush-proof, all while maintaining the dexterity to gently remove impurities from Rimanium.”
Doog: “I get it. You guys aren’t stupid worms or parasites. I was only joking around earlier.
You’re clearly smarter than me and have great mechs. You can stop with all the angry bragging.”
Luu: “I…uh…lost my temper. Sorry. You were joking, of course. I should have recognized that.”
Doog: “No need to be sorry. I get on everyone’s nerves…wait…do worms have nerves?”
Luu: “We’re NOT wor…”
Doog: “Ha, got you again.”
Luu: “Um, yes. Ha. Very funny.”
Doog: “I get it. You guys aren’t stupid worms or parasites. I was only joking around earlier.
You’re clearly smarter than me and have great mechs. You can stop with all the angry bragging.”
Luu: “I…uh…lost my temper. Sorry. You were joking, of course. I should have recognized that.”
Doog: “No need to be sorry. I get on everyone’s nerves…wait…do worms have nerves?”
Luu: “We’re NOT wor…”
Doog: “Ha, got you again.”
Luu: “Um, yes. Ha. Very funny.”
Luu: “Perhaps we should cease the jokes for a bit.”
Doog: “I’m exhausting you, aren’t I. That old worm metabolism can’t keep up.”
Luu: “…”
Doog: “Yeah, I’ll stop. So, what is this Rimanium stuff?”
Luu: “It’s a compound containing lithium, chlorine, and other trace elements. The most important parts being the lithium and chlorine.”
Doog: “That probably means something to people smarter than me.”
Luu: “Basically, after processing, Rimanium becomes Trilithium Dichloride, or Li3Cl2.”
Doog: “That’s even worse. Talk to me like I’m the worm.”
Luu: “Rimanium is a mineral formed from brine evaporation. Seawater goes bye-bye, Rimanium stays behind. You can take good elements from the Rimanium to make special chemical called Trilthium Dichloride – three lithium atoms and two chlorine atoms.”
Doog: “That might work…for now. What’s this stuff used for?”
Luu: “We used it as a source of Lithium, but it has more profitable galactic uses. Trilithium dichloride is an RNA precipitator.”
Doog: “I’m a worm.”
Luu: “Sigh. It purifies or cleans RNA. RNA is essentially how our DNA communicates.”
Doog: “Worm Doog no understand.”
Luu: “You’re not a WORM!”
Doog: “Ok, ok.”
Luu: “Sorry, I don’t know how to explain it better than that. In the trilithium dichloride form, it’s useless to my people. We only used the lithium. Races with more advanced biochemical technology crave the trilithium dichloride stuff, though. It’s valuable galactically.”
Doog: “I’m exhausting you, aren’t I. That old worm metabolism can’t keep up.”
Luu: “…”
Doog: “Yeah, I’ll stop. So, what is this Rimanium stuff?”
Luu: “It’s a compound containing lithium, chlorine, and other trace elements. The most important parts being the lithium and chlorine.”
Doog: “That probably means something to people smarter than me.”
Luu: “Basically, after processing, Rimanium becomes Trilithium Dichloride, or Li3Cl2.”
Doog: “That’s even worse. Talk to me like I’m the worm.”
Luu: “Rimanium is a mineral formed from brine evaporation. Seawater goes bye-bye, Rimanium stays behind. You can take good elements from the Rimanium to make special chemical called Trilthium Dichloride – three lithium atoms and two chlorine atoms.”
Doog: “That might work…for now. What’s this stuff used for?”
Luu: “We used it as a source of Lithium, but it has more profitable galactic uses. Trilithium dichloride is an RNA precipitator.”
Doog: “I’m a worm.”
Luu: “Sigh. It purifies or cleans RNA. RNA is essentially how our DNA communicates.”
Doog: “Worm Doog no understand.”
Luu: “You’re not a WORM!”
Doog: “Ok, ok.”
Luu: “Sorry, I don’t know how to explain it better than that. In the trilithium dichloride form, it’s useless to my people. We only used the lithium. Races with more advanced biochemical technology crave the trilithium dichloride stuff, though. It’s valuable galactically.”
Doog: “Is that some type of ventilation system?”
Luu: “Yes. It’s good for bringing oxygen to the depths and removing our mech’s exhaust. More importantly, it serves as humidity control. Lithium reacts violently with water. Rimanium, while more stable, also reacts to water.”
Doog: “Do you think we can take a break? I want to talk into the giant fans and work on my robot voice.”
Luu: “Another joke?”
Doog: “I’m dead serious.”
Luu: “No!”
Doog: “Ok, ok.”
Luu: “Yes. It’s good for bringing oxygen to the depths and removing our mech’s exhaust. More importantly, it serves as humidity control. Lithium reacts violently with water. Rimanium, while more stable, also reacts to water.”
Doog: “Do you think we can take a break? I want to talk into the giant fans and work on my robot voice.”
Luu: “Another joke?”
Doog: “I’m dead serious.”
Luu: “No!”
Doog: “Ok, ok.”
Luu: “We store collected Rimanium in the depths where it’s dryer and safer. Follow me.”
Doog: “Whoa. Slow down. I’m trying to make worm jokes on the fly and it isn’t easy. Dryer plus worms…I got nothing. Is there a fishing joke somewhere? No, not yet. Let’s table that one for now. Yeah, I got nothing. Let’s go.”
Luu: “Sigh.”
Doog: “Whoa. Slow down. I’m trying to make worm jokes on the fly and it isn’t easy. Dryer plus worms…I got nothing. Is there a fishing joke somewhere? No, not yet. Let’s table that one for now. Yeah, I got nothing. Let’s go.”
Luu: “Sigh.”
Doog: “What’s all this?”
Luu: “In order to make Rimanium safer and easier to ship, it undergoes some minor processing. First it is heated, then it is allowed to cool slowly. This removes any moisture and makes the Rimanium more malleable.”
Doog: “Wait are you shipping Rimanium or that other trilizard-chlorox-stuff?”
Luu: “Rimanium. It’s safer and more stable with its impurities.”
Doog: “I see.”
Luu: “In order to make Rimanium safer and easier to ship, it undergoes some minor processing. First it is heated, then it is allowed to cool slowly. This removes any moisture and makes the Rimanium more malleable.”
Doog: “Wait are you shipping Rimanium or that other trilizard-chlorox-stuff?”
Luu: “Rimanium. It’s safer and more stable with its impurities.”
Doog: “I see.”
Luu: “The more pliable Rimanium is formed into bars, which helps with shipping.”
Doog: “Yes! I finally have one.”
Luu: “Have a what?”
Doog: “A worm walked into a bar…”
Luu: “…”
Doog: “The bartender asked him, ‘How did you do that?’”
Luu: “…”
Doog: “Get it? Because worms can’t walk!”
Luu: “Ahem, after boxing the Rimanium bars, our job is essentially done. The recipients purify the bar upon arrival. They get the impurities – like manganese and calcium – as a bonus. We ship out about 90% of our Rimanium haul. We use to the rest to make lithium, a key component of our mecha’s power systems.”
Doog: “Neat. Say, do you have anything else to add? Maybe something about early birds or inchworms?”
Luu: “What?! No!”
Doog: “Dang! Well, thanks for the tour.”
Doog: “Yes! I finally have one.”
Luu: “Have a what?”
Doog: “A worm walked into a bar…”
Luu: “…”
Doog: “The bartender asked him, ‘How did you do that?’”
Luu: “…”
Doog: “Get it? Because worms can’t walk!”
Luu: “Ahem, after boxing the Rimanium bars, our job is essentially done. The recipients purify the bar upon arrival. They get the impurities – like manganese and calcium – as a bonus. We ship out about 90% of our Rimanium haul. We use to the rest to make lithium, a key component of our mecha’s power systems.”
Doog: “Neat. Say, do you have anything else to add? Maybe something about early birds or inchworms?”
Luu: “What?! No!”
Doog: “Dang! Well, thanks for the tour.”
Doog: “Well folks, that’s Rima. It’s home to the galaxy’s smartest worms…ok…I shouldn’t say that. It’s home to a race, distantly related to worms, that is incredibly good at mining. They have lot of cool technology – biomechanical suits, wall walking mining mechs, and indestructible hardsuits. They mine lots of stuff. Some is useful to their advanced society, and some is valuable across the galaxy. I don’t really understand the whole Rimanium thing, but it’s important somehow. Oh well, see ya!”
Note: Trilithium dichloride (Li3Cl2) is an extremely powerful RNA precipitator used to cleanse contamination from genetic samples. It is used in several fields, like cloning, gene exchange, and uplifting.
Note: Trilithium dichloride (Li3Cl2) is an extremely powerful RNA precipitator used to cleanse contamination from genetic samples. It is used in several fields, like cloning, gene exchange, and uplifting.
