NationStates Jolt Archive

The shuttle slowed it's descent as it lowered itself onto the martian surface in an area that was mostly swept free of debris. The Northewestern area of the clearing was partially protected by a shelf of rock but other then that and some large diagrams seemingly drawn onto the ground with chalk the area was featureless. As the Shuttle starts to touch the ground the sides unfold forming ramps and stairs down onto to ground. One of the figures steps down the wooden shuttle ramp and shouts over the noise of the shuttles thrusters and through his breather mask.

"LETS MOVE IT, UNLOAD THE CARGO AND MOVE IT TO THE MARKED ZONES, WE ONLY HAVE 5 HOURS TO SUNDOWN!"

At his words the figures started moving large and small crates off the shuttle onto the surface. Quickly they arranged the crates in some areas that seemed marked to fit the the the fit them. In a matter of just over 15 minutes all the dozens crates are unloaded and the figures gathered in a loose circle towards the middle of the cleared area as the shuttle took off again blowing dust around for a few seconds before it was gone. After it had cleared off one of figures in the group spoke up.

"Excellent job, we are ahead of schedule which means if we can have our habitat built in the 2 hour estimated we will have over 2 hours to scout out the surrounding area before night"

At this another figure spoke up, "I am assuming we just do it according to the simulations then?"

"Thats right, the weather is good, the advance survey team seemed to have done a great job in preparing the area so everything should go according to plan."

There didn't seem to be any further need to discuss the matter so the figures seperated into 6 teams of 2 and started opening crates and removing all sorts of tools and materials. At a very rapid and practiced pace the teams started building a large shelter that was about the shape of half of an egg at 70 feet long, 30 feet tall and 30 feet across. In some ways it went together like a camping tent but not quite so simple. However the joints were instant lock plant based adhesives and the large wooden panels were as strong as good oak but very light weight and almost as flexible as bamboo. In just under 2 hours the dwelling stood complete, the superstructor had gone together in less then 20 minutes as the teams works in near flawless unison to put together outside structore. Installing the airlock, insulation, electronics systems, air distrabution systems, internal walls and floors/ceilings and finally the simple but very functional furnishings were what had taken the longest time. After a couple minutes to put up sensor packages and run diagnostics on the facility the team yet again gathered this time with out masks in the center of their new home for the next several months.

"Again, exceptional job everyone, now we have the time today to scout the area and take a look at the contstuction area for the new settlement."

One of the other figures stepped up, "Before we continue David, we should do a quick run down of our personal supplies and information to make sure everyone is on the same boat and knows whats going on, especially since Angela was transfered to us at the last moment.

"Of course of course, Ok everyone, this is important. Remember the nearest Protoss settlement is 23,122 meters north by north east of our current position. Thats a good days hike by most of our standards, so make sure your bio cells, rations, and cellular air filters have a minimum of 3 days supply at all times. Since they can hold up to a weeks worth that shouldn't be a problem. Also make sure you have your gps-multitool with you as well, if you have all of these things even if you get seperated from the group here you should be able to get to safety. Now that we have the covered, who says we go exploring?"

The grins and cheers that went around made it obvious that people had been waiting for the oppertunity to explore with great expectation. They quickly redoned their masks and made their way out the door in a semi-organized mass.

All around the New Platonic lands there were other figures engaged in similar efforts, with for the most part similar levels of success. After all the lands had been chosen, catogrized, and surveyed well in advance. In some places though, even larger efforts were under way...

Two men stand near a hole in the ground. The hole itself is about 5 meters across and 3 meters deep and lies in a very flat and featureless area of martian ground. The sun is visisible a little above a reddish eastern ridge a couple kilometers away.

The taller of the two men turns slightly towards the sun shielding it with his left hand while pointing with his right.

"Is that it?"

"Yes, slightly early as usual, everything should proceed as planned."

"Your sure this will acctually work?"

"Definately, we have done this out in literally thousands of simulations. We have taken into account things you couldn't imagine. For god's sake we formulated growth patterns if it received various amounts of orc urine as it's only water source!"

"Well thats good to know, how long will it take?"

"We managed to speed up the growth process so that we are looking at about 6 months before the first residents can take their places, about 1 year after that it should gain mobility. This is the first one and specifically designed to be smaller so it's eventual height will be about 800m with a root system almost as deep. It's width will be over 500m and we estimate a total sustainable population of 70,000+. That may vary slightly though as there is a certain level of uniqueness built into each one."

"Absolutely amazing!"

"Indeed, I must say I'm very proud to be involved in the project. If this works we will be able to set up our colonies here very rapidly. We should clear the area, here comes the transport."

t yet another location, this one right on the border of New Platonic and Sunset a small hover vehicle with a large cargo area softly whirred away in the morning light. A few feet away from it a woman was carefully planting, what at first appearences appeared to be a small tree in the ground, each one looked to be about half a meter in height and 15 cm in diameter. Stretching away from her to the west was a long line of these every 3 meters there was another one planted stretching as far as the eye could see.
She finished planting one and moved a little bit further down, the hover vehicle moving with her when she vocally commanded it to. Here she planted another and then continued on. She seems to be enjoying her work as she wears a small smile of satisfaction when she mutters to herself.

"Only 100km left to go"

The hovercart responds to this with "Query, 100km where and how rapidly?"

She chuckles slightly as she respondes "I was just talking to myself, end query"

"Query ended"

"Hold a moment, record the following for my records ""Good fences make good neighbors, Good neighbors make good allies, good allies make good friends, good friends help make good fences"" End record"

The woman takes a moment to consult a datapad on her belt

"3m forward angle 92 degrees"

The woman and the hovercraft move on less then 100m from the border, planting as they go.

Directly below the sun's southern axis, mid distance between the normal Earth and Venus orbit, a large transport craft waited as it's containers were carefully moved off of it and opened by figures in heavily shielded space suits. Over the course of several hours a small and unusual station was constrtucted. Parts of it were acctually semi organic in appearance. While other seemed like normal parts of a space station.

Over the course of the next several years it would soak up the suns radiation and grow slowly eventually reaching a sphere about about 200km in diameter. The positioning of this new artificial satellite had been carefully calculated so as to avoid impacting the orbit of the other Astral bodies in the system. Once completed it would act as a enormous solar power station and processing array. Entirely self sustaining once a few more components had been ferried in, it would also act as a manned science station and solar observation point.

This would be, with out a doubt a crowning achievement in Platonic's Science program. Although the simulation showed a 99.7% chance for success there was always the possibility that something could go wrong, or end up not functioning as desired.