LIU Atlas - Laniatus
There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Laniatus
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 - Laniatus
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 ringed gas giant, Laniatus. Laniatus’ planetary ring was created when one of its moons crossed the gas giant’s Roche Limit and was broken up. Objects in the ring vary in size from dust particles to large moonlets. One of Laniatus’ moonlets is inhabited. That’s where we’re headed.”
Doog: “A moonlet is just another name for a really small moon. Laniatus A, as it is officially designated, is much to small to achieve hydrostatic equilibrium, yet it contains ample mass to distinguish itself from the other bodies in the ring. Laniatus A, the innermost of Laniatus’ twenty six moons, is one of two moons that rest in the planet’s rings. Laniatus A orbits in the inner ring, while Laniatus B orbits in the outer ring.”
Doog: “As we approach Laniatus A, the extent of its development comes into view. Structures seem to protrude from everyone of its surfaces. One of these structures appears to be an airlock. That‘s where we are headed.”
Doog: “Alright, I’ve been dropped off in some sort of receiving bay. I don’t see anyone else, so I’m not sure who my guide will be.”
Max: “Doog. I’m here, look up.”
Max: “Doog. I’m here, look up.”
Doog: “Uh…you’ll have to excuse me. I believe one of my crew members must have drugged me. Apparently, I‘m tripping or something.”
Max: “Haha, I’m afraid not. It’s a common reaction for our first time visitors. Laniatus A is pretty small. It’s gravity is only one twentieth standard gravity. In order to colonize this body, we had to use artificial gravity. It’s no different than the artificial gravity in your ship or a space station.”
Doog: “Yes, I’m aware of artificial gravity, but you’re standing on the ceiling. Apparently the gravity has failed.”
Max: “Not at all. Early in this facility’s construction, we decided to take artificial gravity to its max. We wanted to utilize every inch of the little space available. We’ve installed artificial gravity generators in multiple surfaces.”
Doog: “Weird. So, are you coming down or am I coming up? My neck is getting tired.”
Max: “You’re coming up. Head over to that blue spot over there.”
Max: “Haha, I’m afraid not. It’s a common reaction for our first time visitors. Laniatus A is pretty small. It’s gravity is only one twentieth standard gravity. In order to colonize this body, we had to use artificial gravity. It’s no different than the artificial gravity in your ship or a space station.”
Doog: “Yes, I’m aware of artificial gravity, but you’re standing on the ceiling. Apparently the gravity has failed.”
Max: “Not at all. Early in this facility’s construction, we decided to take artificial gravity to its max. We wanted to utilize every inch of the little space available. We’ve installed artificial gravity generators in multiple surfaces.”
Doog: “Weird. So, are you coming down or am I coming up? My neck is getting tired.”
Max: “You’re coming up. Head over to that blue spot over there.”
Max: “Stand there in the middle of the blue dot. It’s a gravity lift where artificial gravity is suspended. Then just do a little jump. Make sure you do a little spin midair so you land on your feet. Artificial gravity is intact on my end. I don’t want you landing on your head.”
Doog: “I didn’t sign up for this…”
Doog: “I didn’t sign up for this…”
Max: “That wasn’t too bad for your first time.”
Doog: “I only managed a quarter flip and face planted. Not sure how it could have been worse.”
Max: “ I was just trying to be nice. I’m Max, by the way. I’m Director of Operations here.”
Doog: “Nice to meet you. So, what type of operations do you direct here?”
Max: “We have a pretty diverse economy with interests in mining, manufacturing, and power generation. I figured we’d focus on our power generation since we’re short on time. It’s the most interesting anyway.”
Doog: “Sounds good. What’s going on over here?”
Max: “That’s Central Control. They monitor the facility and make sure everything is working properly.”
Doog: “I only managed a quarter flip and face planted. Not sure how it could have been worse.”
Max: “ I was just trying to be nice. I’m Max, by the way. I’m Director of Operations here.”
Doog: “Nice to meet you. So, what type of operations do you direct here?”
Max: “We have a pretty diverse economy with interests in mining, manufacturing, and power generation. I figured we’d focus on our power generation since we’re short on time. It’s the most interesting anyway.”
Doog: “Sounds good. What’s going on over here?”
Max: “That’s Central Control. They monitor the facility and make sure everything is working properly.”
Max: “Let’s head down to our main source of power generation first.”
Doog: “Man, this is scary.”
Max: “You get used to it eventually. I know it’s a bit shocking to see people walking on the wall.”
Doog: “No, not that. Stairs. I see lots of stairs. Stairs on every surface. The horror…”
Doog: “Man, this is scary.”
Max: “You get used to it eventually. I know it’s a bit shocking to see people walking on the wall.”
Doog: “No, not that. Stairs. I see lots of stairs. Stairs on every surface. The horror…”
Max: “Not far now.”
Doog: “Gotta love walking into a room with a radiation warning sign on it.”
Doog: “Gotta love walking into a room with a radiation warning sign on it.”
Doog: “What do we have here?”
Max: “Our main source of power generation is Tritium fusion. Tritium, or Hydrogen-3, is a radioactive isotope of Hydrogen. It’s formed when cosmic rays interact with Laniatus’ atmosphere.”
Doog: “You collect this Tritium from Laniatus?”
Max: “Yes, but we’ll get to that in a bit. Because of its radioactivity, Tritium is not a popular fusion fuel. Some call it dirty fusion, mostly because of its byproduct.”
Doog: “I’ve been involved in a few dirty fusions if you know what I mean.”
Max: “Uh, yeah. Sure. Anyway…
Max: “Our main source of power generation is Tritium fusion. Tritium, or Hydrogen-3, is a radioactive isotope of Hydrogen. It’s formed when cosmic rays interact with Laniatus’ atmosphere.”
Doog: “You collect this Tritium from Laniatus?”
Max: “Yes, but we’ll get to that in a bit. Because of its radioactivity, Tritium is not a popular fusion fuel. Some call it dirty fusion, mostly because of its byproduct.”
Doog: “I’ve been involved in a few dirty fusions if you know what I mean.”
Max: “Uh, yeah. Sure. Anyway…
Max: “The extremely radioactive byproduct of Tritium fusion turns off most people from using it. However, we thought up a convenient disposal method that also solves our collection issue. Come with me.”
Doog: “Oh man, this is trippy.”
Max: “Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to use gravity lifts and we have smooth transitions like this.”
Doog: “I feel like this is some sort of high-tech fun house.”
Max: “Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to use gravity lifts and we have smooth transitions like this.”
Doog: “I feel like this is some sort of high-tech fun house.”
Max: “Be careful not to venture too close to those stairs on your left. If you get caught up in that gravity system, you’ll be face planting down a set of stairs.”
Doog: “You never have to tell me twice to stay away from stairs. Although, seeing a stair ascension in my future. Serious injury may be preferable.”
Doog: “You never have to tell me twice to stay away from stairs. Although, seeing a stair ascension in my future. Serious injury may be preferable.”
Doog: “Where are we now?”
Max: “This is the Firing Center. In order to dispose of the spent Tritium, we load it into a rocket and fire it into Laniatus.”
Doog: “You’re just dropping radioactive material on a planet?”
Max: “Why not? Like most large gas planets, Laniatus’ is already radioactive. We’re just adding to it. Besides, it’s not like anyone lives there.”
Max: “This is the Firing Center. In order to dispose of the spent Tritium, we load it into a rocket and fire it into Laniatus.”
Doog: “You’re just dropping radioactive material on a planet?”
Max: “Why not? Like most large gas planets, Laniatus’ is already radioactive. We’re just adding to it. Besides, it’s not like anyone lives there.”
Max: “The rockets detonate in planet’s atmosphere which forces large amounts of gas off the planet and into orbit. We then mine this gas for Tritium.”
Doog: “Whoa. Whoa. I’m not comfortable being around radioactive bombs.”
Max: “Relax. These rockets aren’t radioactive. We also dispose other unwanted materials: shredded documents, biological waste, classified materials, et cetera. Once fired into the gas giant, they can never be retrieved from its crushing, irradiated depth. It’s the safest way to dispose of anything.”
Doog: “Uh, do you do personal computers? My browsing history may need to rest in the irretrievable depths upon my death.”
Max: “Uh sure…”
Max: “Relax. These rockets aren’t radioactive. We also dispose other unwanted materials: shredded documents, biological waste, classified materials, et cetera. Once fired into the gas giant, they can never be retrieved from its crushing, irradiated depth. It’s the safest way to dispose of anything.”
Doog: “Uh, do you do personal computers? My browsing history may need to rest in the irretrievable depths upon my death.”
Max: “Uh sure…”
Max: “Tritium fusion might be dirty power, but we make up for it in our other power generating method. It’s clean and renewable. To better understand this method, we’ll head to the Ring Wave Center.”
Max: “As you are aware, Laniatus has a ring system. But, I bet you didn’t know that we can generate power with it.”
Doog: “No, I didn’t. How does that work?”
Doog: “No, I didn’t. How does that work?”
Max: “Laniatus A is the innermost item in the ring. As it circles the planet, its weak gravitation pull has an effect on the ring. It pulls the bodies forward as it passes, and then, Laniatus pulls the bodies back when the moonlet leaves. This creates little waves or ripples in the ring. The resonance of the system’s other moons enhance this ripple effect.”
Max: “This process has been going on for centuries. The frequencies of these waves are well documented and can now be predicted. We’ve since developed wave generators that take advantage of this process.”
Doog: “How?”
Max: “We’ll have to use some stock footage. You’re ill equipped to venture out and see it yourself.”
Doog: “How?”
Max: “We’ll have to use some stock footage. You’re ill equipped to venture out and see it yourself.”
Max: “Any body in the ring of sufficient size has been fitted with a wave generator. The varying gravitational forces and wave motion turns the weighted wheel on the generator making power. The energy is stored in the generator until it can be collected.”
Doog: “Seems easy enough. Say, if you have more stock footage, maybe I can head back to my ship and you can finish this show up yourself.”
Max: “Sorry. I don’t think I do. Besides, we’re almost finished.”
Doog: “Seems easy enough. Say, if you have more stock footage, maybe I can head back to my ship and you can finish this show up yourself.”
Max: “Sorry. I don’t think I do. Besides, we’re almost finished.”
Max: “Most of the energy we produce is stored in fuel cells and sold to the rest of the galaxy. The only thing left for us to do is to get the fuel cells up to the shipping hangar.”
Doog: “How do we do that?”
Doog: “How do we do that?”
Max: “Come this way.”
Doog: “Is that another blue spot on the ground? Tell me we‘re not doing another gravity lift….”
Doog: “Is that another blue spot on the ground? Tell me we‘re not doing another gravity lift….”
Max: “Yep. It’s one of the longer lifts on the moonlet. We’re headed up a few thousand feet.”
Doog: “Aw man. This is going to hurt.”
Max: “Nah. This lift is only accelerating a meter a second. We’ll be fine. We have plenty of time for me to get you orientated. Just remember to bend your knees when we land to lessen the impact.”
Doog: “Aw man. This is going to hurt.”
Max: “Nah. This lift is only accelerating a meter a second. We’ll be fine. We have plenty of time for me to get you orientated. Just remember to bend your knees when we land to lessen the impact.”
Doog: “Well folks. Laniatus, its rings, and its moonlet are all important parts of the LIU. Both clean and dirty energy are generated here. Unwanted items are disposed of forever, never to be seen again. All this despite their crazy artificial gravity system. Well, I’m off to ice up my knees…and my face…and my pride. See ya!”
Note:
The Laniatus A Disposal System does not take live specimens. Please find alternative methods to dispose of annoying spouses or significant others.
CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 7 - Episode 9 - Udo Aer
Note:
The Laniatus A Disposal System does not take live specimens. Please find alternative methods to dispose of annoying spouses or significant others.
CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 7 - Episode 9 - Udo Aer
