There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Cicatrix
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 - Cicatrix
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 small, outer-rim planet of Cicatrix. Cicatrix, the innermost planet in its star system, is tidally locked. This means the same side of the planet is always facing the sun. As you can see, Cicatrix has been heavily cratered by thousands of small impact events. Meteors and comets, disturbed and flung inward by the system’s seven gas planets, continuously bombarded Cicatrix during its formation. One of these impact events created Craith, a massive impact crater. The impact event that created Craith threw millions of tons of ejecta and debris into the planet’s atmosphere, which settled near the crater. The browner coloration of this ejecta is still visible on Cicatrix’s surface.”
Doog: “Cicatrix has a thin atmosphere with an average atmospheric pressure of 50.2 kilopascals. This is well below standard pressure. However, in the deep depths of Craith Crater, atmospheric pressure rises to about 87.4 kilopascals. This is still much lower than standard, but it did allow a race of beings to evolve here. They live and work in Craith Crater. That’s where we’re headed.”
Doog: “Craith Crater holds the huge city of Craith. The city, which is built around the crater’s western wall, is home to over twenty million people. Despite being on the planet’s tidally locked “day -side”, Craith is always dark. It’s trapped in the crater’s shadow. This is beneficial though. Cicatrix’s thin atmosphere filters out very little radiation, so direct sunlight could be deadly. Let’s just say, I won’t be working on my tan while I’m here. Ah, I think I see my guide.”
Balafre: “Hey Doog. Welcome to Cicatrix. I’m Walter Balafre. Nice to meet you.”
Doog: “Yeah. Nice to meet you too. So, you’re one of the natives?”
Balafre: “Uh no, I’m human.”
Doog: “Oh…my bad. Sometimes this red visor makes species identification a little tricky. Besides, you have some weird thing going on with you right eye. It’s sort of puffy and it’s not even looking at me.”
Balafre: “Ah, yes. My right eye is artificial. Decompression accident in one of Cicatrix’s mines. There are some dangers of living in a city, like Craith. It’s not easy for humans here.”
Doog: “So, why come here?”
Balafre: “Economic opportunity, I guess. Cicatrix houses some large LIU companies. There’s money to be made here.”
Doog: “Yeah. Nice to meet you too. So, you’re one of the natives?”
Balafre: “Uh no, I’m human.”
Doog: “Oh…my bad. Sometimes this red visor makes species identification a little tricky. Besides, you have some weird thing going on with you right eye. It’s sort of puffy and it’s not even looking at me.”
Balafre: “Ah, yes. My right eye is artificial. Decompression accident in one of Cicatrix’s mines. There are some dangers of living in a city, like Craith. It’s not easy for humans here.”
Doog: “So, why come here?”
Balafre: “Economic opportunity, I guess. Cicatrix houses some large LIU companies. There’s money to be made here.”
Balafre: “The natives are much better suited for this environment. Here’s some now. We call them the Cica.”
Doog: “What makes them better suited?”
Balafre: “Their darker skin coloration prevents burning when they venture into the sun. Their eyes are suited for seeing in the dark shadows, but can function in the blinding plains as well. Obviously, their bodies can handle the lower atmospheric pressures. You see they are not wearing environmental suits like you or I.”
Doog: “Indeed, but it looks like I’m seeing two species here. Are the Cica the mean, scary looking people or the angry people with long hair?”
Balafre: “Both. The Cica race exhibits sexual dimorphism.”
Doog: “I’m a big fan of exhibiting anything sexual, but I’ve never heard of dimorphism? And, you’re talking to a guy that’s been to the red light district on Malicanum. Is dimorphism a weird position or something?”
Balafre: “What! No! Sexual dimorphism means that the males and females of the species have different features. The males can be distinguished by their brow markings and bigger eyes. The females have longer hair and more pointed ears.”
Doog: “Ah. Gotcha. Makes sense. I could really get behind this dimorphism thing. No more surprises in the brothel.”
Doog: “What makes them better suited?”
Balafre: “Their darker skin coloration prevents burning when they venture into the sun. Their eyes are suited for seeing in the dark shadows, but can function in the blinding plains as well. Obviously, their bodies can handle the lower atmospheric pressures. You see they are not wearing environmental suits like you or I.”
Doog: “Indeed, but it looks like I’m seeing two species here. Are the Cica the mean, scary looking people or the angry people with long hair?”
Balafre: “Both. The Cica race exhibits sexual dimorphism.”
Doog: “I’m a big fan of exhibiting anything sexual, but I’ve never heard of dimorphism? And, you’re talking to a guy that’s been to the red light district on Malicanum. Is dimorphism a weird position or something?”
Balafre: “What! No! Sexual dimorphism means that the males and females of the species have different features. The males can be distinguished by their brow markings and bigger eyes. The females have longer hair and more pointed ears.”
Doog: “Ah. Gotcha. Makes sense. I could really get behind this dimorphism thing. No more surprises in the brothel.”
Balafre: “Perhaps we should change the subject.”
Doog: “Yeah, good idea. I don’t want to relive that brothel surprise anyway. So, you said earlier that Cicatrix houses some big LIU companies. Anything I know?”
Balafre: “Well, after our previous discussion, I’m not sure I care to guess what you know or don’t know. But, they are some pretty big companies, so I’m sure you heard of them. Cicatrix is home to Augmented Utilities and Trans-Steel.”
Doog: “I actually have heard of those. I mean, who hasn’t? They’re some of the biggest companies in the galaxy.”
Balafre: “Yes. Both are large and highly successful. They are known across the universe. Their economic success has transformed Craith from a small farming village into the high-tech city it is today.”
Doog: “Yeah, good idea. I don’t want to relive that brothel surprise anyway. So, you said earlier that Cicatrix houses some big LIU companies. Anything I know?”
Balafre: “Well, after our previous discussion, I’m not sure I care to guess what you know or don’t know. But, they are some pretty big companies, so I’m sure you heard of them. Cicatrix is home to Augmented Utilities and Trans-Steel.”
Doog: “I actually have heard of those. I mean, who hasn’t? They’re some of the biggest companies in the galaxy.”
Balafre: “Yes. Both are large and highly successful. They are known across the universe. Their economic success has transformed Craith from a small farming village into the high-tech city it is today.”
Balafre: “Both companies are headquartered on the far end of the city, closer to the mineral rich ejecta fields. In order to tour these areas, we’ll need to catch a maglev tram. They’re the best way to get around on Craith.”
Doog: “Sounds better than walking.”
Balafre: “A lot better. Craith is a multi-tiered city that stretches for over fifty miles. It could take us days to get there otherwise.”
Doog: “Did I mention, I love trams?”
Doog: “Sounds better than walking.”
Balafre: “A lot better. Craith is a multi-tiered city that stretches for over fifty miles. It could take us days to get there otherwise.”
Doog: “Did I mention, I love trams?”
Doog: “Alright, let’s hop on. What are we waiting for?”
Balafre: “We need to purchase tickets first, besides, I’m not sure this is the right train.”
Doog: “Did I catch the word ’purchase’ in there? I’m fresh out of credits.”
Balafre: “Sigh. I guess I meant, ‘I have to purchase some tickets’.”
Balafre: “We need to purchase tickets first, besides, I’m not sure this is the right train.”
Doog: “Did I catch the word ’purchase’ in there? I’m fresh out of credits.”
Balafre: “Sigh. I guess I meant, ‘I have to purchase some tickets’.”
Balafre: “I should be able to get us taken care of at this ticket kiosk.”
Doog: “Ah cool, holographic glass. I’ve always been a fan of this stuff.”
Balafre: “Yeah, it’s pretty neat. It’s made by Augmented Utilities, one of the companies here. They specialize in making computerized glass. It’s useful for interactive screens and heads-up displays.”
Doog: “Now, if they could just figure out how to write basic, they’d be set. I can’t read any of the gibberish on here.”
Balafre: “It’s not gibberish, it’s Presciant. Like many outer-rim worlds, the Cica adopted the Presciant script instead of Basic. That’s why the Augmented Utilities’ logo looks the way it does. It’s written in both Basic and Presciant.”
Doog: “Ah cool, holographic glass. I’ve always been a fan of this stuff.”
Balafre: “Yeah, it’s pretty neat. It’s made by Augmented Utilities, one of the companies here. They specialize in making computerized glass. It’s useful for interactive screens and heads-up displays.”
Doog: “Now, if they could just figure out how to write basic, they’d be set. I can’t read any of the gibberish on here.”
Balafre: “It’s not gibberish, it’s Presciant. Like many outer-rim worlds, the Cica adopted the Presciant script instead of Basic. That’s why the Augmented Utilities’ logo looks the way it does. It’s written in both Basic and Presciant.”
Doog: “Alright folks, Balafre and myself have secured passage on a tram so we can cross the enormous city of Craith. As we’ve journeyed through the city, I’ve notice a few odd things, like this crowded plaza here. What’s going on here Balafre?”
Balafre: “Craith is famous for its barzas. Barza is just a portmanteau of bar and plaza. These barzas are communal gathering places where residents meet for drinks and food. They’re found every couple blocks.”
Doog: “Sounds like we should get a barza crawl going. Forget this tram.”
Balafre: “A crawl does sound good. The Cica’s moss wine is galaxy renowned, but there’s a problem.”
Doog: “You don’t have enough credits for the both of us?”
Balafre: “Craith is famous for its barzas. Barza is just a portmanteau of bar and plaza. These barzas are communal gathering places where residents meet for drinks and food. They’re found every couple blocks.”
Doog: “Sounds like we should get a barza crawl going. Forget this tram.”
Balafre: “A crawl does sound good. The Cica’s moss wine is galaxy renowned, but there’s a problem.”
Doog: “You don’t have enough credits for the both of us?”
Balafre: “Well, that. But you’re forgetting one thing…you can’t drink in your environmental suit.”
Doog: “Dang. Forgot about that. Wait, I see lots of people drinking in their suits.”
Balafre: “Many of the non-native races that live here have made modifications to their suits. It’s a must when living in this type of environment for an extended period of time.”
Doog: “Fine. I guess we should carry on…sober.”
Forty Minutes Later…
Doog: “Dang. Forgot about that. Wait, I see lots of people drinking in their suits.”
Balafre: “Many of the non-native races that live here have made modifications to their suits. It’s a must when living in this type of environment for an extended period of time.”
Doog: “Fine. I guess we should carry on…sober.”
Forty Minutes Later…
Balafre: “Ah, finally. The end of the line.”
Doog: “It’s a lot brighter here.”
Balafre: “Yes. This section of the city experiences direct sunlight. It can be bright.”
Doog: “Are we in danger?”
Balafre: “No. Our suits are designed to handle these levels of radiation.”
Doog: “Well, the sign says danger.”
Balafre: “It’s referring to the areas beyond fields. It’s also a warning about atmospheric pressure, not the sunlight. You really ought to learn Presciant...especially in your line of work.”
Doog: “Beyond the fields? Like agriculture fields?”
Doog: “It’s a lot brighter here.”
Balafre: “Yes. This section of the city experiences direct sunlight. It can be bright.”
Doog: “Are we in danger?”
Balafre: “No. Our suits are designed to handle these levels of radiation.”
Doog: “Well, the sign says danger.”
Balafre: “It’s referring to the areas beyond fields. It’s also a warning about atmospheric pressure, not the sunlight. You really ought to learn Presciant...especially in your line of work.”
Doog: “Beyond the fields? Like agriculture fields?”
Balafre: “Yes. The Cica grow a moss-like crop. It’s the only native, natural food here. It only grows in this region of the crater, where there is ample light and air concentrations. Prior to the LIU’s arrival, the Cica relied solely on this crop for survival, but now they import other foods from around the galaxy. This crop is mostly used to make moss wine.”
Doog: “Wine that I can not taste…”
Balafre: “Why don’t you whine about it? Ha, ha… I couldn’t resist.”
Doog: “Wine that I can not taste…”
Balafre: “Why don’t you whine about it? Ha, ha… I couldn’t resist.”
Doog: “Bad jokes aside, what’s next? Are we touring the moss fields? Are we spending lot’s of time with this agriculture? Am I doing some sort of jumping maneuver to get down there? If so, do you have a noose I can borrow before I jump?”
Balafre: “You can get the general idea from here. I think we can skip the agriculture. Let’s head up to the ejecta fields.”
Balafre: “Remember, Cicatrix has very low atmospheric pressures. As we ascend, the pressure drops even further. It’s only about 50 kilopascals up there.”
Doog: “I’ve got a suit on. I’ll be fine, right?”
Balafre: “Yes, of course, but be wary. We’re entering an industrial zone. Suit punctures or other wardrobe malfunctions could be deadly.”
Doog: “Got it.”
Doog: “I’ve got a suit on. I’ll be fine, right?”
Balafre: “Yes, of course, but be wary. We’re entering an industrial zone. Suit punctures or other wardrobe malfunctions could be deadly.”
Doog: “Got it.”
Balafre: “The impactor that struck Cicatrix was composed of various silicate alloys, mostly silicon dioxide. When combined with the natural minerals of Cicatrix, the silicates can be formed into various forms of glass. The first step of the process involves mining the silicates and additives from the ejecta fields.”
Doog: “The ejecta fields are where the debris landed from the Craith impact, correct?”
Balafre: “Yes.”
Doog: “The ejecta fields are where the debris landed from the Craith impact, correct?”
Balafre: “Yes.”
Balafre: “The Cica developed several powerful mining mechs to make ore retrieval easier and safer.”
Doog: “I see the Cica can survive the low pressure, even up here.”
Balafre: “Yes, but for limited periods. Too much exposure at these pressures can even be dangerous for the Cica. That’s why the mechs make mining easier and safer.”
Doog: “I see the Cica can survive the low pressure, even up here.”
Balafre: “Yes, but for limited periods. Too much exposure at these pressures can even be dangerous for the Cica. That’s why the mechs make mining easier and safer.”
Balafre: “The LIU Quad Driller weakens the crater walls by drilling in targeted spots. Larger Chipper Mechs collapse weakened sections of walls. The smaller Loader Mechs break up the debris further and load it into trains.”
Doog: “Seems standard enough. Well, except this big guy. Why’s he called a stripper mech? Does he run on single credits or what?”
Balafre: “Sigh…I said chipper, not stripper.”
Doog: “Ah, makes a bit more sense that way.”
Balafre: “Sigh…I said chipper, not stripper.”
Doog: “Ah, makes a bit more sense that way.”
Doog: “Whatever the mech’s called, it sure has a cool sword.”
Balafre: “Not a sword. It’s a vibrator blade.”
Doog: “Vibrator? Wait, are really you sure this thing isn’t a Stripper Mech?”
Balafre: “Yes, I’m sure! It’s a chipper mech. The blades called a vibrator blade because it vibrates at a super-high frequency. It can cut through anything. It would cut through you like butter.”
Doog: “If it cut through me, it would be more like lard then butter. Anyway, anything else to see in the ejecta fields?”
Balafre: “No. Let’s head to where the collected minerals are processed.”
Balafre: “Not a sword. It’s a vibrator blade.”
Doog: “Vibrator? Wait, are really you sure this thing isn’t a Stripper Mech?”
Balafre: “Yes, I’m sure! It’s a chipper mech. The blades called a vibrator blade because it vibrates at a super-high frequency. It can cut through anything. It would cut through you like butter.”
Doog: “If it cut through me, it would be more like lard then butter. Anyway, anything else to see in the ejecta fields?”
Balafre: “No. Let’s head to where the collected minerals are processed.”
Balafre: “Trans-Steel is one of the largest LIU companies. They make hardened glass products that are used in spaceship canopies and space station windows. They have terrestrial uses as well, mostly in armored glass. Essentially, you’ll find trans-steel anywhere you want a window, but you don’t want the risk of a traditional window, if that makes sense.”
Doog: “Yeah, I guess. How’s it made?”
Balafre: “The exact specifications are a closely guarded secret. Trans-Steel is sold and shipped to other galaxies. We wouldn’t want to give up its secrets. We’ve only been given access to this section of the factory for a few minutes. There’s more to see at AU’s factory, if you’d like to move on.”
Doog: “Yeah, I guess. How’s it made?”
Balafre: “The exact specifications are a closely guarded secret. Trans-Steel is sold and shipped to other galaxies. We wouldn’t want to give up its secrets. We’ve only been given access to this section of the factory for a few minutes. There’s more to see at AU’s factory, if you’d like to move on.”
Balafre: “Augmented Utilities, or AU, makes holographic glass used in interactive screens and heads-up-displays. Cicatrix’s natural metallic minerals are combined with advanced silicate glass to form these holographic window panels. They are in use all around the galaxy.”
Balafre: “Most of the factory is automated, but it does employ a few of the native Cica as well. It pumps out hundreds of panels everyday.”
Doog: “I can’t help but to be a little bit nervous here.”
Balafre: “Why’s that?”
Doog: “I’m one of the galaxy’s clumsiest citizens, and I’m standing in the middle of a glass factory…”
Balafre: “Well, maybe we should leave then.”
Doog: “Must resist urge to touch things. Must not pick up and throw random items. Must…”
Balafre: “Yeah, it’s time to go.”
Balafre: “Why’s that?”
Doog: “I’m one of the galaxy’s clumsiest citizens, and I’m standing in the middle of a glass factory…”
Balafre: “Well, maybe we should leave then.”
Doog: “Must resist urge to touch things. Must not pick up and throw random items. Must…”
Balafre: “Yeah, it’s time to go.”
Doog: “Well folks, Cicatrix is a pretty interesting place. A race of beings, called the Cica, live in one of the planet’s large impact craters. The crater offers shade, higher atmospheric pressure, and an abundant source of minerals. These minerals are used to produce advanced forms of glass, like Trans-Steel and Holo-Glass. They have some cool plaza bars too, so I’m contemplating making some alterations to my suit so I can indulge. Decompression…psst…who worries about that. Well, see ya.”
Note: Doog spent the remainder of his stay on Cicatrix in a hyperbaric chamber with minor injuries due to suit decompression. Turns out he’s allergic to moss wine too. Not his best decision.
Note: Doog spent the remainder of his stay on Cicatrix in a hyperbaric chamber with minor injuries due to suit decompression. Turns out he’s allergic to moss wine too. Not his best decision.
