Season 3 - Episode 1 - Crepus Culum

LIU Atlas - Crepus Culum

There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas. 


                                                            LIU Atlas - Crepus Culum

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.

Doog: "Welcome to Season #3 of LIU Atlas. I'm your host, Terrance "Doog" McDoogal. Today, we are visiting the planet Crepus Culum. Millions of years ago, Crepus Culum fell victim to its star's gravitational pull and became tidally locked. The side of Crepus Culum closest to its star is stuck in a brutally hot, never ending day, while its far side is stuck in a freezing, perpetual night. Only a thin band around the center of the planet, which is trapped in twilight, is habitable. That's where we're headed."

Doog: "Alright folks. I've been dropped off on a landing platform outside Crepus Culum's largest industry, the Wind Gen Corporation. This facility sits in the habitable zone a few hundred miles from the day side of the planet. Because  it is closer to the day side, this particular section of the habitable zone is known as Dawnland. There is a steady warm breeze emanating from the day side."

Doog: "Ah, here comes my guide, the President of Wind-Gen Corp., Dr. Daniel Dewrum. Boy, he sure is tall."
Daniel: "Doog! What are you doing? Get over here by the hand rails!"

Doog: "Geez, settle down. I wasn't even that close to the edge. I know I have a reputation for getting into trouble, but there was no way I was falling off."
Daniel: "No, it's not that. Crepus Culum is one of the windiest planets in this galaxy. The planet has two conflicting hemispheres, one extremely hot and the other extremely cold. The atmosphere tries to achieve thermal equilibrium by transferring heat to the cold side. You could have been blown off the side. Speaking of which, where are your magnetic boots?"
Doog: "Magnetic boots?"
Daniel: "Yeah, they hold your feet onto the platform. Didn't you get my email?"

Doog: "Well, here's the thing, I get millions of fan emails everyday. The important stuff just gets lost."
Daniel: "Really?"
Doog: "No, fine. You're right. It's all spam. A guy clicks on one enlargement ad and his whole email account is ruined for life."
Daniel: "Wow, too much info. Anyway, my email specifically told you to bring some magnetic boots."
Doog: "Do you ever watch this show? I've faced some of the most dangerous conditions this universe has to offer. I think I can handle a little wind..."

Doog: "Ahhh! Daa! I...can...barely...hold...on...Ahhh!"

Daniel: "So what were you saying?"
Doog: "Could I borrow some magnetic boots please?"
Daniel: "That's what I thought. For right now, let's just head inside. There's no wind in there."
Doog: "Sounds good."

Daniel: "The Wind-Gen Corporation utilizes Crepus Culum's powerful winds to generate cheap energy. This renewable source of power can be very profitable, but it needs to be closely monitored. Idle wind turbines translate into idle bank accounts. We monitor the planet's weather and the wind turbines from these two rooms. First, let's visit the Wind Radar Lab."

Daniel: "Here, we closely study the weather conditions on Crepus Culum. After years of study, we were able to find patterns in the weather, and we were able to set up our wind turbines accordingly."

Daniel: "This here is our Digital Storm Tracker. As you can see, massive thunderstorms are created when the warm winds from the day side meet the moist air of Dawnland. These storms contain huge amounts of wind energy."
Doog: "Sweet. This game looks fun. So where do I plug the controller in?"
Daniel: "What? Weren't you listening?"
Doog: "Yeah, yeah, magnetic boots, blah, blah."

Daniel: "It looks like we have two powerful storms approaching zone #8. As, you can see on the screen to your right, the computer has predicted that the wind speeds will be well over two hundred miles per hour during the peak of the storm. Although currently, zone #8 has mild winds of 37 miles per hours coming out of the west."
Doog: "What are the wind speeds coming out of your mouth? Seriously, you've been talking non-stop. I can hardly get a word in. Maybe we could put a turbine on the front of your face."
Daniel: "Maybe we could put a turbine on your ear. Everything I say seems to be whistling right through your head."
Doog: "Ooh. Touché."

Daniel: "In the Wind Power Lab, we monitor our wind turbines. This particular work station is monitoring Turbine Sets A and B. Each set has roughly five hundred turbines. It looks like Set B is running at 100%, but Set A is only running at 97%. It's not perfect, but well within our operating parameters."
Doog: "And, as usual, your face turbine is running at 300%."
Daniel: "What was that? I could barely hear you over the whistling sound."

Daniel: "The turbines are positioned closer to the day side where the storms are their strongest. In order to get there, we'll have to take this tram. We used to fly there, but, well, flying things and strong winds don't mix."

Doog: "What are you doing? Let's get going!"
Daniel: "Sorry, I just can't remember where we put the door in this thing..."

Daniel: "As we get closer to the day side, the forests begin to dwindle. The higher heat and strong winds make it hard for the trees to survive. As you can see, the track is loaded with various weather instruments. These aid in our studies. Its safe to say that Crepus Culum's weather is the most studied in the LIU Galaxy."
Doog: "Speaking of weather, I was wondering whether or not to throw myself off the tram to end your never ending dialogue."
Daniel: "Wait, the train's whistling. We might be coming up on danger, oh wait, that's just your head."
Doog: "Oh, come on! You've used that one to death already."

Daniel: "We've finally arrived at one of our turbines."
Doog: "I can already tell the breeze is much stronger here."
Daniel: "Yes, but it is still quite mild. The storms have yet to arrive, so all we are getting now is an occasional gust. I see you have your magnetic boots on this time."
Doog: "Of course."

Doog: "Holy Kaadu! This gust is powerful! Why aren't my boots working?"
Daniel: "They are working Doog. Your feet are firmly attached to the walkway. In order to keep your upper bodupright, you have to flex your stomach muscles. It's sort of like doing a constant sit-up."
Doog: "Is this a bad time to bring the fact that I can't do a sit-up? In fact, the last time I did a sit-up was in the first grade when I miserably failed the Emperor's Fitness Test."
Daniel: "Actually, the wind gust stopped a few seconds ago."
Doog: "Yeah, but I don't have enough muscles to pull myself back an upright position. Just crop me out and go on without me."

Daniel: "Uh, sure. So, like I was saying, this is one of our wind turbines. The wind rotates the turbine which generates electricity. Here, let me pull you up. I don't know if I can stand here much longer with your pelvis thrusting outwards."

Daniel: "There is a small substation outside each turbine. The substation leads to an underground network that links all the turbines. Shall we head inside?"
Doog: "I don't know if that's a good idea. The warning on the door says to wear hard hats. I've found that neglecting to follow warnings usually ends up with me hurting."
Daniel: "What's going to hurt more, bumping your head or getting blown forward? You might be able to touch your toes for the first time."
Doog: "Your mouth wind will prevent that, but just in case, let's head inside."

Daniel: "These underground tunnels give safe passage between the turbines. Workers caught out during a storm can also seek shelter here. If you follow me, there's a charging station about a half mile down the tunnel."
Doog: "Half mile? Carry me..."

Daniel: "Each set of turbines has a small Charging Station like this. The electricity generated by the turbines must be stored or it will go to waste."

Daniel: "Energy cells, like this, are plugged into the charging ports behind us. The electricity is stored inside. It only takes about ten minutes to fully charge a Energy Cell, but they hold enough energy to power a small ship for a week."

Daniel: "The Energy Cells are then boxed up and shipped out across the universe."
Doog: "Can I hold it?"
Daniel: "Yes, but be very careful. If you drop it, and it breaks, we're all dead."

Doog: "You know, I'm not sure I like those odds. I'm just going to sit this baby down and slowly back away."
Daniel: "Be careful! Don't back up too far, you'll bump into the charging..."

Daniel: "...Station."
Doog: "Da...da..do...don't...w-w-worry a-a-about m-m-me... Thankssss, for for the ta-ta-tour."

Doog: "Well folks, minus the electrical shock and the torn abdomen muscles, Crepus Culum wasn't such a bad place. It's an important part of the LIU's energy sector. Well, I'm just going to wait here for my ride. Boy, it sure is breezy out here on the end of the platform. I can't help but to think I'm forgetting something. Oh well, see ya next time."
 

Note: Doog was later rescued from a tree top two miles away.


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