NationStates Jolt Archive

A freak coincidence with extraordinary results has sent Xanthalian scientists scrambling to monitor the planet Beta Pictoris I. The current situation was brought about after the planet of Beta Pictoris II, a close neighbor of Beta Pictoris I, blew up due to a predicted instability in the planet's core. This predictable occurance yeilded an unpredicted result when Beta Pictoris I's orbit began to decay as a result of the shockwave. At the time this did not greatly intrest Xanthalian scientists, but a new development has caused an incredible outbust of intrest in the scientific community not only of Xanthal, but many other nations. Beta Pictoris I, an ice planet since the earliest known scientific records, has resumed a stable orbit 2,000,000,000 kilometers closer to the Beta Pictoris star, and has begun to melt. The real kicker? Gasses venting from the melting ice are beginning to re-oxidize the planet's thin atmosphere, and probes have detected life, possibly sentient, under the melting ice. Xanthal has invited science vessels from other nations to orbit the planet and observe with them this miraculous rebirth of ancient life frozen for millenia.

Bump.

I'm gonna' read this, it seems interesting thus far.

Well, that's all there is unless somebody plays with me.

I've got a serious RP thirst right now, so I'll do this if you wish?

My third RP in a row with you? Okay, let's do it.

My third RP in a row with you? Okay, let's do it. Heck, why not, I'll read it through in a more thorough fashion before doing anything.

Waiting...

"A planet blew up?" said Aryen in a synical tone
"Yes deep range scans of the Xanthal system have confirmed this but get this a new planet is forming and it may hold life!" said the scientist very excitedly
"Very well take a vessel and make your way to the Xanthal system to witness this oh and Dr N record everything you see because if theres something that they dont know I wnat us to be the first to get it do I make myself clear?" replied President Sun
"Crystal your excellencey" replied Dr N


Meanwhile in orbit the Science ship Darwin a Excaliber Class Escort was joined by 6 Hyperion Warships togther they jumped out towards the Xanthal system

A total of sixteen Xanthalian science and medical ships are orbiting Beta Pictoris I, concentrating scans on the surface so that they are sure not to miss a thing. A single Andromeda class vessel conducts scans as well as a lone Dreadnaught patrols the area for troublemakers that might set upon the lightly armed science vessels.

OOC: I'll be posting her again soon, busy for now and must leave soon.

the emperor looked over the report
"an entire planet? hm, well let's send the intaro over to do some tests, contact xanthal about permission, there's a good lad"

No permission is needed, send any science vessels you like. No warships though. We don't want trouble.

No permission is needed, send any science vessels you like. No warships though. We don't want trouble. We only have Warships really, except our Space Shuttles, we shall send one of them then?

What we're thinking: You only have warships and shuttles? That's a crappy way to establish a fleet...

What we say: Considering your... lack of adequate vessels, you are authorized to send an Andromeda class ship (they have pretty good sensors) to the site as long as it's weapons are offline at all times.

very good, the ship will be there soon

Xanthal: We shall send the KSNV Augusta, it shall keep all weapons powered down at all times, it shall be under the command of Commodore Alexander Hailey, it is en-route at 100% speed.

No hurry. See you there.

Indeed.

The KSNV Augusta moved through space at Maximum Speed, as it had done for the whole of this trip, Commodore Hailey, having begun to get bored, cheered up considerabley when he was told they were about to reach their destination, the Augusta emerged near Beta Pictoris I with all weapons powered down, but Shields to maximum, they reduced to 0% speed at once, and examined their surroundings.

Blademasters is requesting permission to send one Coriolis II Science Cruiser to investigate this, the cruiser will be dispatched immidiately.

On Makaan IV, the Coriolis II, BWS Investigator was perparing to launch. her hatches sealed, and gravimetric drives online, the 250 meter modified cruiser lifted from the surface of the planet, and silently streaked through the air towards space, and ultimately, the Beta Pictois system.

They read the scene described in post ten.

(OOC: Wow. Now I actually get to squeeze some use out of claiming observational and exploratory rights to all of those at-the-time uninhabited star systems.)

The von Neumann probe in Beta Pictoris orbit became interested by the sudden activity in the area. After transmitting a mission change notice back to GEC, it began to dive for the melting iceworld.

The Xanthalian science vessels let it approach (if you go into the atmosphere you'll get a nasty jolt).

(OOC: talking to me?)

The Cruiser enters jumpspace, beginning the first leg of its journey from the Andromeda Galaxy, its crew tense, unsure of what they will find when they reach the system in question, and because this ship has only just completed her shakedown cruise, the Investigator being the first of the Coriolis II class.

The Xanthalian science vessels let it approach (if you go into the atmosphere you'll get a nasty jolt).

(OOC: 'Let' is probably not quite the right word. A von Neumann probe isn't likely to even be noticed if you're not actively searching for it. What sort of jolt might that be, so as I can avoid errors in my descriptions?)

The Kingdom of Wyrmberg requests permission for it's new science-ship, the WSS Learning Curve, to investigate this phenomenon.

http://www.angelfire.com/trek/falconrising2/Freelancer006.jpg

The Learning Curve is a product of a recent reverse-engineering project, in which the Kingdom purchased a Darwin-class Freighter (along with a Galileio-class Fighter and a DaVinci-class Heavy Fighter) from a space-faring nation called Lost Colonies. It has the same basic design as the Darwin-class freighter, except that most of the cargo capacity has been sacrificed in order to install a small laboratory, a launch-bay for six small "lander" type probes and four "orbiter" type probes, and various scanners, including (but not limited to) several high-resolution electromagnetic and optical scanners, a gravitometer, and a magnetometer.

(OOC: my puppet's spaceship YAY! (Lost Colonies is my main puppet, but I RP it as a whole different nation) anyway... just gives me a warm fuzy feeling to see my ships out there)

The Investigator emerged from jumpspace, in the fringes of the Milky Way, its drives recharging for its next jump.

(OOC: my puppet's spaceship YAY! (Lost Colonies is my main puppet, but I RP it as a whole different nation) anyway... just gives me a warm fuzy feeling to see my ships out there)


OOC: In that case, could you give me some stats on speed, etc.? Never thought to ask when I bought it...

Everyone's still welcome to witness the event.

Eniqcir: OOC: I hear that, but anything is detectable with science vessels around. Their scanners can accurately report on space dust if they have to. And by jolt I mean that one of the Xanthalian vessels will lock a holding beam onto the probe if it gets too low. They don't want any interference on the surface.

Everyone's still welcome to witness the event.

Eniqcir: OOC: I hear that, but anything is detectable with science vessels around. Their scanners can accurately report on space dust if they have to. And by jolt I mean that one of the Xanthalian vessels will lock a holding beam onto the probe if it gets too low. They don't want any interference on the surface.

OOC: Okeydokey.
IC: The VNP continued at high speed towards the planet, entering an extremely eliptical aerobraking orbit. Upon feeling the sudden deceleration from the Xanthalian defences, the fragile probe began to break up.

[code:1:04e84a60b2]
:Error
GetError
1 = IF EvalRepair THEN
2 = IF EvalEnviron THEN;
:EvalRepair
Clear
Stress
DO Nanochon DEL 0 DEP > ROT DEL LOOP
RepSched !
5 DEP > ROT DEL IF Replicate THEN;
[/code:1:04e84a60b2]

After deploying NEMCs to the breakage points, the probe began dumping them overboard into the atmosphere, as a precaution just in case it didn't manage to survive.

The Xanthalian vessel that had locked a beam on pulls the probe into high orbit and leaves it there. Detecting the NEMC dump and fearing that they would cause problems but unable to get a lock on the tiny objects, the vessel beams the entire affected sector into space several thousand kilometers away from the planet.

(OOC: Wyrmberg. acceleration is 100m/s^2 does this answer your question?)

The Investigator drops out of jump drive, 20km away from the planet, and begins to glide towards the planet, its gravimetric drive thrusting the sip through space.

(OOC: Courtesy stats for Coriolis II class Science Cruiser:
Length: 250 meters
Width: 200 meters
Mass: 5000 tons
Crew: Two AIs, 120 humans
Armament: (8 ) Turreted LORAN Gauss Cannons, (4) Fightercraft/Dropships
Extra Equipment: Various sensors, Enhanced defensive shielding for penetration into dangerous areas, science labs, and other necessities for a science ship.
Powerplant: One Quantum Singularity
Engines: One Gravimetric Drive
Shielding: JZ-10000FG generator
Armor: 90cm Titanium/Neutronium Alloy
Max Acceleration: 400 m/s^2
Cruise Acceleration: 200 m/s^2
Cost: $40 Billion)

The Xanthalian vessel that had locked a beam on pulls the probe into high orbit and leaves it there. Detecting the NEMC dump and fearing that they would cause problems but unable to get a lock on the tiny objects, the vessel beams the entire affected sector into space several thousand kilometers away from the planet.

A large boom, among other peices, broke off of the probe and went spinning away. While these bits and the nanoelectromechanical constructors were slowly falling again, the rest of the probe folded itself up behind its aerobrake and heatshield assembly and began trying to nudge itself into a non-equatorial orbit that would swing it north or south of the largest congregation of ships, as opposed to right through, under, or above them. When it was as far away from the Xanthalians as possible, it invested all of its energy in cancelling orbital velocity, so as to begin to fall straight down at very high speed.

IC: The Qugusta's been sitting around I guess, after recieving word of war in Kecha, waiting to see if it's required.

#You can't really get away, the Xanthalians are orbiting all over the planet so they're sure not to miss anything.#

The Xanthalian Andromeda class ship fires a single phaser burst at the probe with pinpoint accuracy, hoping to just eliminate the object from existance to solve their problem.

IC: The KSNV Augusta took note of the Phaser discharge and immediatley raised it's Shields to 110%, and sent a message "To any Xanthalian ships able to reply, we have detected weaponry fire, please explain"

#You can't really get away, the Xanthalians are orbiting all over the planet so they're sure not to miss anything.#

I figured as much, but some points must be further away than others.

Xanthalian Andromeda class ship fires a single phaser burst at the probe with pinpoint accuracy, hoping to just eliminate the object from existance to solve their problem.

The aerobrake/heatshield was completely destroyed, and the probe core too was vaporized. As the remaining disconnected bits and peices continued to fall, an omnidirectional radio burst was repeatedly transmitted from what might be called the 'block box'. When the first few fragments hit the atmosphere and began to burn up, the transmission abruptly stopped. If the Xanthalians could break 1024-bit encryption and speak Celíminé (the first being likely given enough time, the second being extremely doubtful), the transmission would've read as follows:

[code:1:2e237b9d15]
Hostile Environment
Nonrepairable
Replicable
Investigate in 20 (A-B Recommended)
[/code:1:2e237b9d15]

Kecha: "A probe of unknow origin trying to enter the planet's atmosphere without authorization has been neutralized."

Kecha: "A probe of unknow origin trying to enter the planet's atmosphere without authorization has been neutralized." "Do you require assistance"

Kecha: "Not unless the people who sent it come for revenge."

Kecha: "Not unless the people who sent it come for revenge." "How many Xanthalian Warships are here or close by?"

Kecha: "One in the immediate area, twenty available for immediate transdimensional gateway arrival should trouble arise."

Kecha: "One in the immediate area, twenty available for immediate transdimensional gateway arrival should trouble arise." "That's a heavy force, you think there'll be trouble?"

Kecha: "We try not to let anything surprise us."
OOC: This isn't uncommon. Unoccupied fleet vessels are always on call for immediate response to disturbances throughout Xanthalian space. Anywhere between ten and fifty vessels are usually in this status at one time.

Kecha: "We try not to let anything surprise us."
OOC: This isn't uncommon. Unoccupied fleet vessels are always on call for immediate response to disturbances throughout Xanthalian space. Anywhere between ten and fifty vessels are usually in this status at one time. "Yeah well, Commodore Hailey just got spooked from the weapons fire, he was told to come with all weapons down and thought a fight'd broke out and we'd been caught in a bad position"

"Understood. Nothing to worry about.

"Understood. Nothing to worry about. "Thanks for the heads-up"

The BWS Investigator, apon listening to this communication begins to divert power to its 8 gauss cannons, in case they are needed.

Captain of the Investigator: "Xanthalian captain, should the persons who deployed this probe return to attempt to take revenge, the BWS Investigator will assist you in any way possible."

The science vessel moves closer to the planet, beginning to actively scan the surface. Two Arioch dropships with similar scanning equipment drop out of the fighter bay and take up orbital positions similar to the Investigator to makimize sensor efficiency.

Blademasters: "Acknowledged. Thanks."

(*bump*)

Not hearing back from its companion within the specified twenty hours, the second VNP moved in to investigate. Taking it's late companion's advice, the probe folded itself up and activated its Alcubierre-Broeck generator. After dissapearing into its warp bubble, the probe did some very strange things to space-time, and, with a loud crack, popped back into existance just above the planetary surface.

#Wow... I considered this thread dead long ago. Let it go, I've already RPed this planet's future, somebody lives on it now.#

(OOC: Aww... I wanted to see how it ends....)

#It ends with the planet being ceded to the nation of Seed for them to build a homeworld on as a Xanthalian protectorate.#