LIU Atlas - Alvearium
There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Alvearium
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.
LIU Atlas - Alvearium
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 another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today we’re visiting the planet Alvearium. Alvearium is a dry desert planet with a toxic atmosphere. The thick, yellow clouds that comprise the atmosphere consists primarily of sulfur dioxide and droplets of sulfuric acid. Only the planet’s tallest peaks rise above the toxic clouds. That’s where we’re headed.”
Doog: “Alright, I’ve been dropped off at a small building on top of one of Alvearium’s mountains. Here, we are higher than the cloud line. The atmosphere here is slightly less corrosive, but extremely thin.”
Doog: “Radiation from Alvearium’s sun easily penetrates the thin atmosphere here, so the facility we’re visiting is located inside the mountain. Only the airlock is visible. Now, if I can just find the door to this thing.”
Doog: “Oh, what do you know? An airlock with an elevator. I like this place.”
Carmen: “Ah, you must be Doog. I’m Lieutenant Carmen Flores, commanding officer of the Epsilon Procurement Squadron.”
Doog: “Pleasure to meet you. Say, are you by chance single?”
Carmen: “Don’t bother. There’s only one thing I love, and that’s my job.”
Doog: “Oh, ok. Better to get shot down early. So what’s your job?”
Carmen: “My squadron explores the depths of Alvearium, researches the native life, and procures some of the resources they possess.”
Doog: “Pleasure to meet you. Say, are you by chance single?”
Carmen: “Don’t bother. There’s only one thing I love, and that’s my job.”
Doog: “Oh, ok. Better to get shot down early. So what’s your job?”
Carmen: “My squadron explores the depths of Alvearium, researches the native life, and procures some of the resources they possess.”
Doog: “You sure have a lot of guns for a group of explorers and researchers…”
Carmen: “The native life is less that cooperative with our mission here. While we are safe up here, above the cloud line, the surface is a dangerous place. It has been classified an Active Conflict Zone. Which means I will be required to arm you when visit the surface.”
Doog: “Sweet!”
Carmen: “There are other dangers on the surface besides the native life. The atmosphere is thick and acidic. The atmospheric pressure is much higher than standard, and only 20% of the light that shines here makes it through to the surface. I hope your suit is rated for Type IV environments.”
Doog: “I think so, but I guess we’ll find out…”
Carmen: “The native life is less that cooperative with our mission here. While we are safe up here, above the cloud line, the surface is a dangerous place. It has been classified an Active Conflict Zone. Which means I will be required to arm you when visit the surface.”
Doog: “Sweet!”
Carmen: “There are other dangers on the surface besides the native life. The atmosphere is thick and acidic. The atmospheric pressure is much higher than standard, and only 20% of the light that shines here makes it through to the surface. I hope your suit is rated for Type IV environments.”
Doog: “I think so, but I guess we’ll find out…”
Doog: “Wow. Nice suits.”
Carmen: “Thanks. They were specifically designed for Alvearium’s atmosphere. We have rebreathers to conserve our limited oxygen supply, pressure gauges, and communication arrays. We’re dependent on line of sight communication. Satellite signals can not penetrate the atmosphere. Also, you’ll notice my helmet emits light. It helps me see, and helps my men find my location. Alright, here’s your weapon.”
Doog: “What! This tiny guy?”
Carmen: “With your level of training and general ineptitude, this is the only thing we feel safe giving you. It’s better than nothing.”
Doog: “You’ve read my file, huh?”
Carmen: “Yes. Now, let’s get a move on. Epsilon Squadron, MOVE OUT!”
Carmen: “Thanks. They were specifically designed for Alvearium’s atmosphere. We have rebreathers to conserve our limited oxygen supply, pressure gauges, and communication arrays. We’re dependent on line of sight communication. Satellite signals can not penetrate the atmosphere. Also, you’ll notice my helmet emits light. It helps me see, and helps my men find my location. Alright, here’s your weapon.”
Doog: “What! This tiny guy?”
Carmen: “With your level of training and general ineptitude, this is the only thing we feel safe giving you. It’s better than nothing.”
Doog: “You’ve read my file, huh?”
Carmen: “Yes. Now, let’s get a move on. Epsilon Squadron, MOVE OUT!”
Carmen: “To descend below the cloud line, we’ll need to repel down the mountain side. Are you comfortable with that?”
Doog: “Descending is the easy part. I’m worried about the return trip…”
Doog: “Descending is the easy part. I’m worried about the return trip…”
Carmen: “Alright. Time to drop below the cloud line. Safeties off. We’re entering the ACZ.”
Doog: “ACZ?”
Carmen: “Active Conflict Zone. Try to pay attention.”
Doog: “ACZ?”
Carmen: “Active Conflict Zone. Try to pay attention.”
Carmen: “Keep your eyes peeled. The natives don’t usually venture out into the open, but you can never be too careful.”
Doog: “You’re right. It’s much darker down here. Good news though, my suit hasn’t melted off yet, so I guess it’s going to hold up.”
Carmen: “Don’t worry about the dark. Follow the beacons we’ve laid out. As long as you stay close to these lights, you’ll be ok. This doesn’t really help you, but the beacons emit radio signals too. My squadron can use our suit’s communication array to locate a beacon.”
Doog: “You’re breaking up? Did you say bacon? I’ll take some bacon!”
Doog: “You’re right. It’s much darker down here. Good news though, my suit hasn’t melted off yet, so I guess it’s going to hold up.”
Carmen: “Don’t worry about the dark. Follow the beacons we’ve laid out. As long as you stay close to these lights, you’ll be ok. This doesn’t really help you, but the beacons emit radio signals too. My squadron can use our suit’s communication array to locate a beacon.”
Doog: “You’re breaking up? Did you say bacon? I’ll take some bacon!”
Doog: “What’s that?”
Carmen: “This is the entrance to the hive we designated as JH-347. It’s our target for today.”
Doog: “Hive?!”
Carmen: “Yes, Alvearium is home to an insectoid race. They build large hives in the planet’s crust. Let‘s head inside.”
Carmen: “This is the entrance to the hive we designated as JH-347. It’s our target for today.”
Doog: “Hive?!”
Carmen: “Yes, Alvearium is home to an insectoid race. They build large hives in the planet’s crust. Let‘s head inside.”
Doog: “When you say insectoids, we’re not talking about spiders, are we?”
Carmen: “No, if I had to classify them, I’d say they are more in the beetle family.”
Doog: “Whew!”
Carmen: “The ‘bugs’ as we call them, eat a bacterium found in the planet’s crust. This bacteria is chemotropic, meaning it doesn’t need sunlight to survive. Instead, they derive energy from oxidizing the abundant sulfur. This process results in leftover sulfuric acid. You’ll see some draining out of the wall over there. Do me a favor, don’t touch it.”
Doog: “You don’t have to ask me twice.”
Carmen: “No, if I had to classify them, I’d say they are more in the beetle family.”
Doog: “Whew!”
Carmen: “The ‘bugs’ as we call them, eat a bacterium found in the planet’s crust. This bacteria is chemotropic, meaning it doesn’t need sunlight to survive. Instead, they derive energy from oxidizing the abundant sulfur. This process results in leftover sulfuric acid. You’ll see some draining out of the wall over there. Do me a favor, don’t touch it.”
Doog: “You don’t have to ask me twice.”
Carmen: “Shhh! We’ve found a hive cluster.”
Doog: “A hive cluster?”
Carmen: “Shhh! Yes, the bugs farm this bacteria in little hexagonal cells that resemble honeycomb. They place there young in these cells to feed on the bacteria. It looks like they have just started building this cluster. Not all the cells are filled yet. Rico, flank them to the left.”
Doog: “A hive cluster?”
Carmen: “Shhh! Yes, the bugs farm this bacteria in little hexagonal cells that resemble honeycomb. They place there young in these cells to feed on the bacteria. It looks like they have just started building this cluster. Not all the cells are filled yet. Rico, flank them to the left.”
Doog: “Are they sentient?”
Carmen: “We’re not too sure. They can’t speak. They don’t possess vocal chords or any kind of air bladder. They appear to communicate via pheromones. Since we have no evidence otherwise, we prefer to label them non-sentient.”
Doog: “Prefer? Why?”
Carmen: “Because if they were sentient, I’d feel bad about doing this. OPEN FIRE!”
Carmen: “We’re not too sure. They can’t speak. They don’t possess vocal chords or any kind of air bladder. They appear to communicate via pheromones. Since we have no evidence otherwise, we prefer to label them non-sentient.”
Doog: “Prefer? Why?”
Carmen: “Because if they were sentient, I’d feel bad about doing this. OPEN FIRE!”
Rico: “Got em!”
Carmen: “Nice shooting boys!”
Doog: “You…you just shot them?”
Carmen: “Do you ever hesitate to kill a bug at home? Do you contemplate a spiders sentience before smashing it with a shoe?”
Doog: “No, I guess not.”
Carmen: “Nice shooting boys!”
Doog: “You…you just shot them?”
Carmen: “Do you ever hesitate to kill a bug at home? Do you contemplate a spiders sentience before smashing it with a shoe?”
Doog: “No, I guess not.”
Carmen: “Secure the area. We need to search the cluster quickly. The bugs may have released alarm pheromones prior to their death.”
Doog: “Search? What are you looking for?
Carmen: “We’re looking for grubs, the larva stage of the bugs development.”
Carmen: “We’re looking for grubs, the larva stage of the bugs development.”
Rico: “I don’t see anything here Lieutenant. This cluster is too fresh. The bacteria is still in crystalline form. It hasn’t been broken down yet.”
Carmen: “Any eggs?”
Rico: “Nope.”
Carmen: “Alright, let’s continue…wait! I’m picking up thermo disturbances in my peripheral. WE’VE GOT COMPANY!”
Carmen: “Any eggs?”
Rico: “Nope.”
Carmen: “Alright, let’s continue…wait! I’m picking up thermo disturbances in my peripheral. WE’VE GOT COMPANY!”
Carmen: “Doog, get out of the way! You’re in my line of fire! Doog!”
Doog: “I…I…I…wha..wha..”
ZAP ZAP
Doog: “I…I…I…wha..wha..”
ZAP ZAP
Carmen: “Wow, nice shooting Doog. You got one. Doog?”
ZAP
Doog: “That’s for the time you ruined my picnic!”
ZAP
Doog: “That’s for the time you made me scream like a girl on that date!”
ZAP
Doog: “That’s for that web I walked through the other day!”
ZAP
Doog: “That’s for…”
Carmen: “Calm down Doog. They’re not spiders. And I think it’s more than dead.”
ZAP
Doog: “That’s for the time you ruined my picnic!”
ZAP
Doog: “That’s for the time you made me scream like a girl on that date!”
ZAP
Doog: “That’s for that web I walked through the other day!”
ZAP
Doog: “That’s for…”
Carmen: “Calm down Doog. They’re not spiders. And I think it’s more than dead.”
Carmen: “Oh, we’ve found another cluster. This one is bigger, and it has a Nestling. There has to be grubs here!”
Doog: “Nestling?”
Carmen: “Yes. The bigger bright green beetle. Early in the larva stage, certain proteins activate that determine whether the grub becomes a nestling or a drone. The smaller guys we’ve been seeing are drones. The larger are Nestlings. The Nestling tend to the cluster and process the crystalline bacteria into a liquid. This liquid is used to feed the grubs.”
Doog: “Gotcha. So it’s murdering time?
Carmen: “You know it. OPEN FIRE!”
Carmen: “Yes. The bigger bright green beetle. Early in the larva stage, certain proteins activate that determine whether the grub becomes a nestling or a drone. The smaller guys we’ve been seeing are drones. The larger are Nestlings. The Nestling tend to the cluster and process the crystalline bacteria into a liquid. This liquid is used to feed the grubs.”
Doog: “Gotcha. So it’s murdering time?
Carmen: “You know it. OPEN FIRE!”
Carmen: “Concentrate your fire on the nestling!!”
Carmen: “Good work guys. Now, tell me we found something good!”
Doog: “There’s definitely something wriggling in these honeycombs.”
Rico: “Bingo! We’ve got grubs!”
Carmen: “Alright! Let’s get to processing before reinforcements arrive.”
Doog: “Processing?”
Carmen: “Alright! Let’s get to processing before reinforcements arrive.”
Doog: “Processing?”
Carmen: “Yes. The grubs have an unique solution in their gut to break down the bacteria. This solution is used to make antibacterial agents. It‘s used as a food preservative.”
Doog: “Gross.”
Carmen: “We simply cut off their heads and drain out the solution. A cluster like this will yield a few gallons. There are units like mine spread all over this world, and as a group, we process several thousand gallons a day. Best part is, it a renewable resource, as long as we don‘t kill too many.”
Doog: “Interesting. Seems like a lot of danger for some food preservatives, but what do I know. Anything else?”
Carmen: “Nope.”
Doog: “Gross.”
Carmen: “We simply cut off their heads and drain out the solution. A cluster like this will yield a few gallons. There are units like mine spread all over this world, and as a group, we process several thousand gallons a day. Best part is, it a renewable resource, as long as we don‘t kill too many.”
Doog: “Interesting. Seems like a lot of danger for some food preservatives, but what do I know. Anything else?”
Carmen: “Nope.”
Doog: “Well folks, Alvearium is an interesting place. Small military units raid insect hives to procure food preservatives. They go in, kill anyone in sight, rip their babies out of their homes, cut their heads off, and drain out their insides. Let’s hope they aren’t sentient, cause otherwise, that sounds mighty disturbing! We’ll, see ya next time!”
Note:
Programs to farm the Alvearium grub off-world have failed, as they require too unique of conditions.
CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 5 - Episode 17 - Eruca System
Note:
Programs to farm the Alvearium grub off-world have failed, as they require too unique of conditions.
CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 5 - Episode 17 - Eruca System
