LIU Atlas - Caligavit Nebula
There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Caligavit Nebula
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 - Caligavit Nebula
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 Seven of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today, we’re visiting the Caligavit Nebula, a large nebula in the deep core. The nebula’s high concentration of debris, protoplanets, and fledgling stars make it a navigational hazard. There are no known hyperspace routes through the dangerous nebula. This isn’t a problem for most travelers, as the nearby hyperspace route, the Caligavit Run, bypasses the nebula. Unfortunately for us, our destination, the Ferox Cluster, lies at the nebula’s center. Despite the warnings from the local Fari Stations, we are entering the nebula.”
Doog: “Don’t worry. We’re not going to try to make the trip with the Magellan. That would be crazy. There are several portions of the nebula that require long sub-light travel. The Magellan doesn’t have enough power for that type of trip, and we certainly don’t have that kind of time. Not to mention, the debris. The Magellan isn’t equipped with sufficient armor to risk this trip. Instead, we’ll catch a ferry. We just need to land on this small space station in order to make arrangements.”
Doog: “Alright, we’ve docked up with the station. There’s not much here. Just a little lobby to wait for the ferry and some ticket windows to purchase rides. Those without ships can buy individual tickets, but we need to bring our ship. We’ll be visiting several planets within the Ferox Cluster. It’s not going to be cheap. I decided to assist Oldie in making the arrangements so we don’t get stuck in some cargo hold again.”
Attendant: “So that’s one mid-class cargo vessel and six crew?”
Oldie: “Uh, yeah.”
Attendant: “And what is your cargo?”
Oldie: “Uh, no cargo. The vessel has been converted. Just a transport for my TV crew.”
Attendant: “Oh! You make TV? Anything I know?”
Oldie: “LIU Atlas.”
Attendant: “Never heard of it. Well, anyway, your total comes to six hundred credits.”
Oldie: “That’s a bit steep. Anyway we can cheapen it up. My crew can ride in boxes or maybe perform janitorial duties…”
Doog: “Oldie, no! For the love of the Emperor, pay the lady!”
Oldie: “Fine. But we’re not getting any snacks then…well, maybe a few snacks.”
Oldie: “Uh, yeah.”
Attendant: “And what is your cargo?”
Oldie: “Uh, no cargo. The vessel has been converted. Just a transport for my TV crew.”
Attendant: “Oh! You make TV? Anything I know?”
Oldie: “LIU Atlas.”
Attendant: “Never heard of it. Well, anyway, your total comes to six hundred credits.”
Oldie: “That’s a bit steep. Anyway we can cheapen it up. My crew can ride in boxes or maybe perform janitorial duties…”
Doog: “Oldie, no! For the love of the Emperor, pay the lady!”
Oldie: “Fine. But we’re not getting any snacks then…well, maybe a few snacks.”
Mike: “So everything is set?”
Doog: “Yeah. Thanks to me. We almost ended up scrubbing toilets the whole trip.”
Oldie: “Hey, I’m trying to make a little profit this year. I want to retire one of these days. Where’s Timbo and Hugo?”
Doog: “They’re prepping the ship. Once the ferry arrives, Hugo will need to fly her onboard. We’ll meet them on the ferry. The lady said it should be here within the hour. All we have to do is kill a little time.”
Mike: “Well, that shouldn’t be too hard. The LIU spared no expense in the entertainment department. We have this lovely kiosk with advertisements and a newspaper from four years ago.”
Doog: “Stare blankly into space it is.”
Computer: “The Kharon, your ferry for this trip, is now arriving. Please board at this time. The ferry is set to depart as soon as all ships have been secured onboard. Thanks for flying with us!”
Doog: “Well, that was convenient.”
Doog: “Yeah. Thanks to me. We almost ended up scrubbing toilets the whole trip.”
Oldie: “Hey, I’m trying to make a little profit this year. I want to retire one of these days. Where’s Timbo and Hugo?”
Doog: “They’re prepping the ship. Once the ferry arrives, Hugo will need to fly her onboard. We’ll meet them on the ferry. The lady said it should be here within the hour. All we have to do is kill a little time.”
Mike: “Well, that shouldn’t be too hard. The LIU spared no expense in the entertainment department. We have this lovely kiosk with advertisements and a newspaper from four years ago.”
Doog: “Stare blankly into space it is.”
Computer: “The Kharon, your ferry for this trip, is now arriving. Please board at this time. The ferry is set to depart as soon as all ships have been secured onboard. Thanks for flying with us!”
Doog: “Well, that was convenient.”
Doog: “Alright folks. We’ve boarded the Kharon, and we’re just waiting for the last few ships to board. The Kharon is a highly specialized ship made to traverse the Caligavit Nebula. It has powerful sub-light engines, advanced scanners, and an armored hull. We should be in good hands.”
Doog: “The ferry has docking ports on both of its sides that are large enough to hold several ships. Ferries like the Kharon transport hundreds of smaller ships in and out of the Ferox Cluster every week. It’s the only safe, reliable passage to this remote cluster. Of course, there are those who chose to risk the trip on their own, but they‘re mostly pirates and smugglers.”
Computer: “All ships have boarded. We are now departing. We expect to make our first jump in twelve minutes. We will reach the Ferox Cluster in 28 hours. Thanks for flying with us!”
Computer: “Our parking hangars are equipped with charging stations. You may charge your ship for a small fee. Feel free to remain in your ships or visit the passenger care compartment. Thanks for flying with us!”
Oldie: “I guess we better charge up the ship. There's not many civilized worlds in the Ferox Cluster. This could be our only shot.”
Oldie: “I guess we better charge up the ship. There's not many civilized worlds in the Ferox Cluster. This could be our only shot.”
Hugo: “Let me guess. That’s my job. Oh well, I guess I’ll stay with the ship. Like always.”
Doog: “Don’t fret. Timbo volunteers to keep you company. Don’t you, Timbo?”
Timbo: “…”
Doog: “That’s what I thought. Alright guys, let’s check out this ‘passenger care compartment’.”
Doog: “Don’t fret. Timbo volunteers to keep you company. Don’t you, Timbo?”
Timbo: “…”
Doog: “That’s what I thought. Alright guys, let’s check out this ‘passenger care compartment’.”
Doog: “This is it? A dingy little concession stand?”
Oldie: “They don’t even have any pony soup…”
Stewardess: “Sounds like this is your first trip aboard the Kharon. Care for a tour?”
Doog: “With you? Sure thing.”
Stewardess: “Alright. This is our café. I know its small, but there’s not a lot of space. The storage hangars take up most of the space in the Kharon. The ferry’s huge power generators, engines, and shield systems take up most of the remaining interior space. We’ve had to make do with the little remaining real estate. The café serves non-alcoholic drinks and light snacks.”
Doog: “I guess it’s better than nothing. So the café is all there is in the passenger care compartment?”
Stewardess: “Oh no. There‘s more. Follow me.”
Oldie: “They don’t even have any pony soup…”
Stewardess: “Sounds like this is your first trip aboard the Kharon. Care for a tour?”
Doog: “With you? Sure thing.”
Stewardess: “Alright. This is our café. I know its small, but there’s not a lot of space. The storage hangars take up most of the space in the Kharon. The ferry’s huge power generators, engines, and shield systems take up most of the remaining interior space. We’ve had to make do with the little remaining real estate. The café serves non-alcoholic drinks and light snacks.”
Doog: “I guess it’s better than nothing. So the café is all there is in the passenger care compartment?”
Stewardess: “Oh no. There‘s more. Follow me.”
Stewardess: “There are several small corridors like this with our patented Rent-A-Bed. If you don’t have sleeping accommodations on your ship, you can rent one of our beds for a small fee. Many travelers take a nap to pass the time.”
Oldie: “You had me at nap.”
Doog: “You’re spending money on that? What about retirement?”
Oldie: “Priorities, Doog. Priorities.”
Doog: “You’re spending money on that? What about retirement?”
Oldie: “Priorities, Doog. Priorities.”
Stewardess: “Come on. Follow me.”
Doog: “What is this? Looks like a stage. How do you have room for a stage, but not enough room for a bigger café?
Stewardess: “This isn’t a stage. This is the Observation Deck. Guests can come here and enjoy breathtaking views of the nebula.”
Doog: “I don’t see anything.”
Stewardess: “Well, that’s because the blast doors are closed. Because of the dangerous nature of the nebula, the doors can only be opened in between jumps #2 and #7, jumps #12 and #15, and jumps #30 to #37. We should be able to open them shortly.”
Doog: “What is this? Looks like a stage. How do you have room for a stage, but not enough room for a bigger café?
Stewardess: “This isn’t a stage. This is the Observation Deck. Guests can come here and enjoy breathtaking views of the nebula.”
Doog: “I don’t see anything.”
Stewardess: “Well, that’s because the blast doors are closed. Because of the dangerous nature of the nebula, the doors can only be opened in between jumps #2 and #7, jumps #12 and #15, and jumps #30 to #37. We should be able to open them shortly.”
Stewardess: “There we are.”
Doog: “Wow. That’s awesome.”
Stewardess: “Quite the sight, huh? The gases of the nebula are ionized by the star cluster within giving it its unique fiery glow. If you think this is cool. You should see it with the lights out. Computer, turn off the lights in the Observation Deck.”
Doog: “Wow. That’s awesome.”
Stewardess: “Quite the sight, huh? The gases of the nebula are ionized by the star cluster within giving it its unique fiery glow. If you think this is cool. You should see it with the lights out. Computer, turn off the lights in the Observation Deck.”
Doog: “It’s sort of romantic. Isn’t it?”
Stewardess: “Please stop touching my hand, sir.”
Doog: “I, uh, didn’t. It was an accident.”
Cam: “Rejected!”
Doog: “Shut it! Hey, what‘s that out there?”
Cam: “Trying to change the subject huh?”
Doog: “No, Look. They‘re zooming around the ferry.”
Stewardess: “Please stop touching my hand, sir.”
Doog: “I, uh, didn’t. It was an accident.”
Cam: “Rejected!”
Doog: “Shut it! Hey, what‘s that out there?”
Cam: “Trying to change the subject huh?”
Doog: “No, Look. They‘re zooming around the ferry.”
Stewardess: “No need to worry. The ferry has a fleet of support ships to help it make its journey. Look, those green ones are space tugs. The help position the Kharon into a precise position to make its next hyperspace jump. Their precision makes the journey much quicker.”
Stewardess: “The tug has a magnetic repulsor on its bumper arm. It allows the tug to push the Kharon without actually making contact with the hull.”
Doog: “What about the yellow ones?”
Stewardess: “Also a support ship. They’re like dozers. They clear obstacles from the Kharon’s path. They have two methods. The mag-disks push smaller particles out of the way….”
Stewardess: “Also a support ship. They’re like dozers. They clear obstacles from the Kharon’s path. They have two methods. The mag-disks push smaller particles out of the way….”
Stewardess: “…while the large robotic arm removes larger objects. They clear the area before any hyperspace jump is initiated.”
Doog: “Seems like a lot of work to get to this cluster. I hope its worth it. I don’t just mean for us either. I wonder why the LIU even bothers with this.”
Stewardess: “It’s not that bad now that this route has been mapped out. It used to be worse. Imagine the struggles of the first explorers. They had to map this whole thing out. And just think, in a century or two, a hyperspace route will open up.”
Doog: “Seems like a lot of work to get to this cluster. I hope its worth it. I don’t just mean for us either. I wonder why the LIU even bothers with this.”
Stewardess: “It’s not that bad now that this route has been mapped out. It used to be worse. Imagine the struggles of the first explorers. They had to map this whole thing out. And just think, in a century or two, a hyperspace route will open up.”
Doog: “Wait, what?”
Stewardess: “Yeah, the LIU is constructing a hyperspace route through the nebula. It will drop travel time down to an hour or so.”
Doog: “How does one construct a hyperspace route in a nebula? I thought it was impossible? And how does it take centuries?”
Stewardess: “Well, I’m no expert. I’m a ferry stewardess, after all. But if you look close enough, you’ll see large yellow cylinders floating around the nebula.”
Mike: “Yeah, I see one over there.”
Stewardess: “Yeah, well apparently they’re some type of gravity anchor points. The cylinders are slowly drawing in nebula dust.”
Stewardess: “Yeah, the LIU is constructing a hyperspace route through the nebula. It will drop travel time down to an hour or so.”
Doog: “How does one construct a hyperspace route in a nebula? I thought it was impossible? And how does it take centuries?”
Stewardess: “Well, I’m no expert. I’m a ferry stewardess, after all. But if you look close enough, you’ll see large yellow cylinders floating around the nebula.”
Mike: “Yeah, I see one over there.”
Stewardess: “Yeah, well apparently they’re some type of gravity anchor points. The cylinders are slowly drawing in nebula dust.”
Stewardess: “As the cylinders draw in more and more dust, their mass increases, and their gravity drives get stronger and stronger. Eventually, this long line of cylinders will clear a straight hyperspace lane through the nebula.”
Doog: “Cool.”
Stewardess: “Well, that was jump #7. We need to close up the Observation Deck. Hope you enjoyed the tour.”
Doog: “Thanks. Sorry about the whole hand thing.”
Doog: “Cool.”
Stewardess: “Well, that was jump #7. We need to close up the Observation Deck. Hope you enjoyed the tour.”
Doog: “Thanks. Sorry about the whole hand thing.”
Doog: “Well folks, the Caligavit Nebula is an interesting place. Despite its beauty, the nebula is a complicated navigational hazard. It blocks direct hyperspace travel to the Ferox Star Cluster. Luckily, an advanced ferry escorts people and ships through the danger. I think I might get some sleep during the rest of this journey, well, as soon as I kick Timbo out of my bed. See ya!”
Note:
This long journey is worth it. The gang will be doing several episodes on the unique planets within the Ferox Cluster. That is, if they don’t die first.”
CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 7 - Episode 2 - Ligati
Note:
This long journey is worth it. The gang will be doing several episodes on the unique planets within the Ferox Cluster. That is, if they don’t die first.”
CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 7 - Episode 2 - Ligati
