Season 7 - Episode 10 - Vagantur

LIU Atlas - Vagantur

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


                                                            LIU Atlas - Vagantur

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 forest world of Vagantur. Vagantur has a stable climate with a warm, wet ecosystem. Massive forests cover much of the planet. Like Ebrius, this forest world is being harvested for its lumber. However, Vagantur is being harvested in a much different way.”

Doog: “On Ebrius, logging takes place in small stationary posts, limiting the amount of logging that can occur. Here on Vagantur, logging is centered out of two huge arcologies. The large, mobile arcologies slowly walk around the planet feeling every tree within its reach.”

Doog: “This arcology, known as Vagantur II, is responsible for logging in the planet’s northern hemisphere. It lumbers methodically across the planet, taking any tree in sight. It moves slow enough that forests re-grow behind it, allowing it to operate continuously.”

Doog: “There’s a small landing bay midway up the arcology. That’s where we’re headed.”

Saul: “Welcome to Vagantur II, Doog. I’m Saul Bunion, Chief Lumberjack on board this arcology.”
Doog: “Thanks. Shall we get started?”
Saul: “Yes, follow me.”

Saul: “We’ll take this cargo lift to save a little time.”
Doog: “An elevator, huh? I like this utopia you’ve developed.”
Saul: “What?”
Doog: “Nothing.”

Saul: “By landing in the landing bay instead of the surface, you’re going to be seeing our operation in the reverse order.”
Doog: “Shouldn’t be an issue. What’s going on here?”
Saul: “We process all our lumber on site. Trees logged on the surface are brought up here to be turned into finished lumber.”

Doog: “Those are some massive trees.”
Saul: “Indeed. We collect trees of all sizes, but we particularly like the Vagantur Oak.  Once collected, the logs are split in half then planed. After processing, we’re left with these large wood posts. We don’t process them any further than this. These are shipped out across the galaxy to be used in various ways.”

Saul: “Like all arcologies, we are self-sufficient. Wood scraps, small branches, and bark not used in processing are dropped down chutes to be used as fuel. Workers feed these massive blast furnaces around the clock.”

Doog: “You generate power from this?”
Saul: “Yes. The heat of the furnaces turn water into steam. Steam engines power the entire arcology. Clean power like this is necessary here. If we spoil the planet with pollutants, trees would not re-grow.”
Doog: “True. So, what’s next? It’s uncomfortably hot in here.”
Saul: “Let’s head to the steering chamber.”

Doog: “As we’ve traversed the corridors of this arcology, I’ve noticed several of these firefighting hardsuits. What’s up with that?”

Saul: “A forest fire would cripple our operations here. We take firefighting seriously. We have hundreds of Fireman Hardsuits on board to combat any fire. If a threat gets serious enough, we’ll even call in a few LIU Fire Tankers.”

Saul: “Ah, here we are, the steering chamber.”
Doog: “This guy is driving the arcology?”
Saul: “Yes.”
Doog: “Can I drive?”
Saul: “No. This is a delicate process. Drivers train for years before getting a chance to pilot the arcology.”
Doog: “Is it really that difficult? Looks like there are just two handles.”
Saul: “Only two handles, but coordinating their movement is an art. This is a huge walking machine with thousands of people on board. Several factors must be taken into consideration to insure no one is hurt.”
Doog: “Like what?”
Saul: “Well, inertia dampeners stop us from feeling the arcology move, but they are only effective up to a certain speed. Go too fast, everything in here will start flying around. Stabilizers keep the arcology level, for the most part, but again, they are only effective up to a certain level. The pilot must be careful to avoid going over any of these parameters.”

Saul: “The driver also has the responsibility of choosing where the arcology walks to. This large satellite scan in front of the driver allows him to see several miles in front of the arcology. The pilot must choose a route wisely. If the arcology drifts too far into a treeless area, we might not have enough fuel to get back to a forest.”
Doog: “So, where are you headed?”
Saul: “Probably headed to the river delta. Looks to be high concentrations of thick forest there. Come on, let’s continue.”

Doog: “What’s this?”
Saul: “This is our tree nursery. Seeds collected while logging are brought here to be grown. Forests naturally re-grow in our wake, but we want to increase the amount of preferential species, like the Vagantur Oak. By growing seedlings of the oak here, we give them a head start over other species.”

Saul: “Growth lights, watering systems, and advanced fertilizers allow the saplings to be grown much faster than in the wild. As we level a forest, we plant these seedlings to replace what we took.”
Doog: “Cool. What’s next?”
Saul: “The only thing left is the actual logging itself. Lets head down to the surface.”

Saul: “Remember, the arcology is constantly walking, even when lumberjacks are deployed. Anything deployed to the surface must be fast enough to catch back up with the arcology. So, unless you can run about 12 miles an hour, we need to take a scooter. Can you drive one?”
Doog: “Probably. I definitely can’t run so the odds are better with the scooter.”

Saul: “First things first. Power on the scooter.”

Saul: “There you go.”
Doog: “Look at me! I’m driving!”
Saul: “Relax. Hovering is the easy part. Slowly accelerate down the ramp, and, at the end, lean slightly to your left to turn. Got it?”
Doog: “Yep.”

Doog: “I’ve successfully descended the ramp, Saul.”
Saul: “I see. Although, I wouldn’t call it successful.”
Doog: “I probably should have used two hands.”
Saul: “Probably. Well, I think it might be safer for you to just ride with me.”
Doog: “I’d like that.”

Saul: “Welcome to the surface of Vagantur.”
Doog: “Looks like a typical forest.”
Saul: “For now. The Quad-Logger will make quick work of this forest.”

Doog: “Quad-Logger?”
Saul: “Yeah. That big thing in front of us with the dual blades. This machine takes down larger trees like the Vagantur Oak.”

Saul: “Logging Hardsuits take down the smaller trees.”
Doog: “Speaking of which, he’s cutting down the tree right next us. Perhaps we should move.”
Saul: “Yeah.”

Doog: “Well, that forest didn’t last long.”
Saul: “No, they make quick work of it.”

Saul: “Loader Hardsuits strap together logs and carry them back to the arcology. Larger Oaks are transported to the arcology via crane.”

Saul: “As promised, after a forest is felled, our nursery specialists plant the next generation of trees.”
Doog: “The great circle of life…or something like that.”

Doog: “Well folks, Vagantur is an interesting place. Huge logging arcologies slowly walk around the planet harvesting forests at an alarming rate. However, due to planet’s large size and conservation efforts, this logging operation is sustainable. Forest re-grow before the arcology returns. Well, see ya!”




Note:
Vagantur I once tripped on a small mountain and fell to the ground causing several injuries. The residents of Vagantur II just pointed and laughed.


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