NationStates Jolt Archive

Lunar Transient Phenomena: For several hundred years, people have observed temporary color changes and lights on the surface of the moon. We call these events lunar transient phenemona. Nobody knows for sure what causes these events; the best explanations include out-gassing from the moon and meteorite strikes.

Question: Well, lately I have been reading a lot about UFO's and that kind of stuff. I soon came upon a book called "There Is Someone Else On The Moon". My curiosity was piqued and I checked the book out from the library. I was the USA Moon program was because in photographs of the moon surface showed signs of intelligence. And that all these signs of intelligent life had been found. But if that had happened it seemed there would have been a much bigger deal about it than just a single book. Basically they were saying that the moon was inhabited and here we're all talking about how
the solar system is empty except for us, yet NASA and all are talking about
all these things on the moon that point to life. This isn't any kind of a
cover-up because NASA was free about the subject and all, but it's like no one cared and ignored the fact that there was life on the moon. It also would seem like we would havesent people there to see what the hell was going on....but NOO! Could someone explained to me what this is all about! Is the guy lying, is it a hoax, or has it in recent years proved to not be true??? HELP?! Because if it is true, then we know where all those UFO's are coming from. Or maybe (I think this is a possibility) an alien race has used the moon as kind of a temporary base that they use while they are studying us. Could
someone please clear this all up for me, I am really confused!!!

Answer: There is no evidence that there is some life form on the moon
that is transforming energy and doing the things life does. Such
books are outside of the community of serious scientists who spend
their time questioning what is true. It is possible to publish a book
with none being able to criticize it. The science journals are
the place to see what is "really true" , ie, is agreed to by most
scientists.

Many scientists and citizens for hundreds of years once regarded the Moon as a place of life. However, as man had progressed into the modern age, he disspelled these notions, sure in the fact that the mere sateillite of Earth was not nearly worthy enough, or "possible" as they called it, to support life.

This, they would discover, was a lie. Strange intelligences had themselve stared back at the earth, regarding it as a uninhabited world, not fit for life. Lunar Telescopes assured the populace that nothing could live on that "too large" of a moon. And so, each side lived happily, assured that he alone was the master of the solar system. Who knew that a chance meeting would change their thinkings forever.

West is west, and east is east, and never the twain shall meet.

(For Modern tech nations, just rp a landing on the moon. For fellow ST nations, perhaps you could send out telegram signals to search for life. FT nations might have a small ship crash on earth's moon. Open)

This is mission control, you're green for launch.
"Roger, initiating engines."

5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

We have lift off.

The massive booster rockets for the Aegis 9 shuttle initiated, pressing the seven man crew back in thier seats with near crushing pressure as it headed up into the stratosphere and beyond.

With the booster rocket disengaged and falling into orbit where it would eventually pass far enought into the gravity well to burn up, the shuttle launched itself for the first moon landing by Theao.

Some days later after a longish flight, the landing module for the Aegis 9, carrying six of the seven crew members, the rovers, and scientific equipment landed, and after a short inspirational speech, the team began gathering samples, conducting tests and normal activities, unaware of what lay in store for them.

OOC: Define Steam Tech. Would you mind something along the lines of a Warjack here?

OOC: Define Steam Tech. Would you mind something along the lines of a Warjack here?
ooc: Think along the lines of Historical Steampunk(League of Extrodinary Gentlemen, Wild Wild West ect)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk#Historical_steampunk

(Will post reply near 7:00, have to go to work)

(OOC: if I get this waaaaay badly done then hit me and I'll repost better)

"Tha Rokkit Ship" sat numbly on the platform as steam ran cooly off the engine and bounced off the head of an absent minded Grobble, a rather large Clock ticked away in the back-ground but it did little to affect the position of the many Grobbles who sat idly staring up at the nights sky.

A sudden burst of fire eviscarated the flesh of the pastey creatures and the Rokkit was airborne, the Gobbos on-board messing about with the systems trying to keep the Rokkit level.....

*some many days and a death later*

Just a few meters from the flaming wreck of the Rokkit the Gobbos had began to pull straws, they looked over at the Blunderbuss cache rested against the Rokkit and then back at the straws...

(OOC: great time to find them before they all shoot eachother.)

Two mysterious metors had crashed into the Moon. The Hordians (http://www.novaspace.com/BOOKS/PIX/Bugman.jpeg), a insect-like people, found this to be quite interesting. Never before had two metors crashed on the same day. And so, a party of astrologers emerged from a hole in a crater, and proceeded to the crash sites.

The first one was a strange one. Hidden behind a rock, they watched as strange one-eyed beasts bounced upon the surface. They had a strange object planted in the ground, and seemed to have a space device. They quickly snuck away to view the second site.

Here they enountered a new life form. They were green and seemed to be squabbiling over a pile of weapons. Their ship was more primitive, and seemed to run upon similar technology that was held by the Horde. They crept away, back into the interior of the moon. The same creatures who only a day earlier assured themselves they were alone in the universe now had met two different races of men.

The Grand Lunar, the ruler of the moon, felt uneasy about what role the moon would play for these two new races, and sent out a police force of such. Before one can fully describe these "musketeers", one must desacribe a Hordian. In general form the Hordian physiology bears a superficial resemblance to that of humans - two arms, two legs, a head upon which are two eyes, a mouth. However, this is where the similarity ends. In truth the Hordians are closer to insects than to man. Their bodies are generally covered in a chitinous carapace that supports and protects the internal organs. Their hands resemble the end of an elephant's trunk, with two flexible, boneless "digits" used for grasping and manipulating objects.

While there were no Hordians specifically assigned to the task of war or fighting prior to the arrival of humans and Goblins on the Moon, there were a number of classes of Hordian who fulfilled similar roles, and possessed appropriate abilities. One such class was that of the Musketeers, originally a caste of hunters of the animals that dwell in the less densely populated lunar tunnels. Their angular frames and wide-set eyes are adapted to the pursuit of the swift-footed creatures that they hunt. Their large, flat feet and sturdy legs make them into an extremely stable firing platform.

2 parties, each with 30 musketeers set out to meet the strange new beings. Each party traveled with an Administrator (http://www.novaspace.com/BOOKS/PIX/Bighead.jpeg) who would try to communicate.
Administrator Hordians are Hordians bred of considerable initiative and versatility, responsible each for a certain cubic content of the moon's bulk.
One could see them going hither and thither with a retinue of bearers, attendants, shouters, parachute-carriers, and so forth - queer groups to see.

They are about 5 ft. high with small slender legs about 18 in. long, and slight feet of the common lunar pattern. On these balanced a little body, throbbing with the pulsations of his heart. He had long, soft, many-jointed arms ending in a tentacled grip, and his neck was many-jointed in the usual way, but exceptionally short and thick. His head [...] "is of the common lunar type, but strangely modified. The mouth has the usual expressionless gape, but it is unusually small and pointing downward, and the mask is reduced to the size of a large flat nose-flap. On either side are the little eyes.

The rest of the head is distended into a huge globe and the chitinous leathery cuticle thins out to a mere membrane, through which the pulsating brain movements are distinctly visible. He in is a creature, indeed, with a tremendously hypertrophied brain, and with the rest of his organism both relatively and absolutely dwarfed. Hordians who had been bred only to remember things travled with them, to chronicle the event.

The first party encirled the Humans, and then blew loud trumpets of a Lunar sort. Then, they aimed their weapons at the humans. The Administrator behind one of the Musketeers and made a waving motion. He then began to speak amongst themselves. They conversed with one another in their reedy tones, that seemed to be impossible to imitate or define. They faced one another, their queer heads moved, the twittering voices came quick and liquid.

Most striking of all would be that no Hordian looked alike. Even members of thee same caste had little distinctions, some things bigger then usual or smaller. Silently they waited for a human response.

The second party also encircled the Goblins, blew trumpets to gather their attention, and all pointed their weapons at the Goblin crew. The Administrator made a waving motion, and appeared to make a speech in his native language. The Muskteers semmed pleased with the speech, and twitted among themselves. Then, they waited eagerly for a response.

"Central, we have a problem."
"What is it Black?"
"We appear to have hosts."
"HOSTS?"
"Yes, there are strange aliens here with wierd devices pointed at us, which may be weapons."
"Well do what you think best."
"Acknowladged."

Captain John Black looked over the strange aliens and repeated the waving motion as well as saying, "We come in peace."

They appeared to be startled, and stepped back when the visitor spoke. They twittered among themselves yet again, some of the Muskteers actually shaking. Of course they hadn't understood, and were now trying to divise a way of communicating.

The Administrator puzzeled over this for a spell, putting his brain to work. He made a motion to his self, and twittered. Then he pointed back at the human. The Musketeers nodded, seeming to find this a grand solution.

"Ah, sir, it appears that they've decided something."
"Seems that way." Black replied over the intersuit radio, a relatively private form of communications, "If I give the signal, get back to the module."
He received a confirmation from the crew as they subtly tensed incase they had to run.

Black took a few steps forward to try and communicate again, "We've come in peace, we did not mean to intrude."

The Administrator's insect like face began to shrivel up in frustration. By now, many of the Muskteers were almost mesmerized by the spacemen, or seemed to be ready to shoot them. He pointed at himself, and twittered one word. He then pointed at the human and waited.
(Think "Me Tarzan, you?" "Me Jane.")

"Looks like we're at the introductions." Black muttered to himself before pointing at himself and replying. "Jason Black, human."

The Administrator smiled in approval, his bloated brain waggiling back and forth. A squat Hordian stood beside him, and catolouged the words. He word be the first of his kind to know Human, and would never forget any word.

The Administrator now pointed to the human. "Jason Black, human." he then pointed to himself, and tilted his head in a expectant posture. The Musketeers were on edge.

Black decided to try and mimic the words/sounds that the alien had made when it first started this round of introductions, but doubted he'd do well. He was surprised that the alien could mimic so well. He spoke, doing his best to mimic the twittering.

Many of the Musketeers seemed to break out laughing at the humans horrible attempts to mimic their language.The Administrater rose his hand and quelled the laughter. He pointed to the Human. "Jason Black, human." then pointed to himself. "Hrmmm?" He repeated this several times. The Administrater wished to know what the humans referred to the Hordians as, so that progress could ensue; however, if the earthman still did not get it, perhaps he could garble up some human speech.

"Sir, it looks like he wants to know our term for him, rather than for you to try to repeat his name."
"I guess that's a possibility." Jason replied before looking at the alien and pointing at his entire group. "Humans." He then gestured to try and include all the aliens. "Aliens or Moonmen."

The Hordians clapped and cheered in their little reedy tones, Musketeers firing their weapons into the air. Green smoke soon filled the area, and a din green glow was in the barrel of the guns.

(Just to save time, I'll rp for a section for you, you'll see why)

For the next five hours the "Moonmen" and Huamns named objects, an applause usually coming after everyone. The Hordian with the memory brain recorded every word withen his mind

But now the Administrator wished to bring them inside. He made a motion for the Humans to follow, as the Mustketeers released their anxiety ridden grips on their blunderbusses, preferring now a lax hold.

(Just needed us to get past that one part, you can continue to rp)

Except for the fact that the team recorder was filming the entire interaction, the entire landing team would have been cashiered and sent to a shrink when they returned to earth.

Black told his team to go back to the landing module, and that he'd go with the moonmen, as they didn't seem dangerous, but would leave his radio on. Jason followed while the other six remained and began walking back to the module.

They lead the Human quite a distance, until a strange cavern door was encountered, with a tunnel inside. After walking for a spell, the tunnel opened up, revealing a massive city.

The Moon was a hollow, and divided up into differnt layers. the first layer seemed large, but was the agriculture center of the moon. All around, chimneys puffed out green smoke, and Hordians were everywhere. Mushroom patches were cultivated, Butchers chopped up stange worm-meat, and a green glow seemed to be everywhere. No building was over 2 stories, but each building looked like it belonged in the emerald city of the wizard of oz.

The human gathered quite a crowd, and enforcers soon had to make a path. For the most part Hordians are physically frail, lightly built and with a carapace that is quite thin and serves little more function than to contain the internal organs. However, in some specialised specimens that carapace has, through injections of nutrients, irritants and the like, been thickened and hardened into serviceable armour, and the muscular structure enhanced through regular exercise and medical treatment. Such armoured and muscled Hordians serve to police the tunnels and galleries of the Moon, dealing with those few Hordians with disruptive tendencies. Such specimens could probably match or even outclass the average human for size and strength, and also have the added advantage of an integral suit of plate armour, so only strong crushing blows or bullets can really harm them, as blades tend to glance off.

The Human was led to a chamber, with a plank extending to a large balloon. After making "come aboard" motions, and with the Human on board, the balloon descended, passing many increasingly wealthy layers until finally, they reached the core.

All around were Hordians with brains to large to walk, and were carried in strange tubs by less intelligent Hordians. All throughout the moon, no Hordian appeared the same, and it was no more apparant then here. All around, tall, short, skinny fat, long arm, short arm, and various other abnormalities were viewed. But even this was outshined by the green towers all around, 50 stories tall, all glowing green.
(I'll let you post a reaction post)

Jason Black's general reaction to the whole experiance was along the lines of, What the hell have they done to the moon, but he managed to avoid freaking out and as they went throught the tour, he relayed what he saw to the crew in the landing craft so they could record it.

As it was, the only thing that kept him calm was the intense training.

After passing wonderstruck "Moonmen," the Human was lead to one of the many towers. A round door opened, and his was lead inside. As quick as lighting, two Enforcers grabbed the human by the arms and carried him further inside the tower. He was brought to the top, to a small room of sorts.

Inside the room, only a green lantern in the center could be found. The Human was shoved inside, the Enforcers blocking the door. The Administrator, along with his memory enhanced friend, spoke from behind the brawn, and tried to make the human understand.

"Us...," he struggled for the words, until he finally gave up. The guards moved without a word, and allowed the Administrator to pass by. The Administrator drew the humans attention upon him, and began to signal him.

First he pointed to the human, and walked in place. He then shook his head no. He then raised his trunk like appendage, as if to say "But!" He then pointed to the Human's mouth, then pointed to his own brain, then to his mouth, then to the Human's mouth.

He nodded, seeing if the human understood.

"Are you looking for the word for Walking?" Black asked as he saw the alien try pantomime, something he sucked at completely.

The Administrator sighed and shook his head. "No." He tried Humanspeak. "Jason Black, Human; no walk." He then repeated the "But!" motion and pointed to the Human's mouth, then pointed to his own brain, then to his mouth, then to the Human's mouth. "Jason Black, Human;walk."

Jason frowned, this wasn't making any sense. "Do you want the difference?"

One of the Enforcers suggested beating the Human until he understood, but the Administrator didn't like the idea. He cleared his throat, and tried to remember more Human words. "Jason Black, Human, no walk; Jason Black talk"

This would be his last attempt. if the Human still didn't understand he would find himself locked in the room for a couple of Lunar days.

"What do you want to talk about?" Jason asked

"Talk about speak. You speak word, we speak word. We learn."
He waited to see if the human understood.

Except for the fact he had on a helmet, he'd have rubbed his forehead. "Why wasn't there a linguist included. Because one wasn't needed."

He pointed at the ground. "Floor." Then named, and pointed at, the ceiling and walls.

"Good. You stay many days." The Enforcers walked out, and locked the door behind them. The Administrator, along with the recorder, stayed. The human would speak for many days, and wouldn't be allowed to leave until he did.

(So, just post on what your friends are doing, and how the guy reacts. The Hordians plan to keep him for a 4 Lunar days, or 112 earth days. If you post that the other Astronauts search for him, we may have a little skirmish. If the guy complies and the ship takes off without him...well...just rp what your guys are going to do.)

ooc: Is the 'atmosphere' earth-like(if it isn't then he'll be dead in a few hours), and even if it is, Jason'll be dead in three days(unless they have all the stuff to keep a human alive, which would be highly unlikely)

(There is enough oxygen for him to breathe, although it'll be like breathing on the top of a mountain. The mushrooms, which the Hordians think he can it, is edible, and it's juice could sustain his water needs. It is slightly intoxictaing to humans however. Still, it won't be a very nice stay.)

"Unfortunately I can't stay, have to get back to my ship." Jason replied to the moonman comment about him staying.

"Unfortunately I can't stay, have to get back to my ship." Jason replied to the moonman comment about him staying.

"No. You stay." The door opened again, an enforcer stepping through the frame. His trunk-like hands rippled with raw muscle, and his alien eyes fell upon the human. He opened his mouth, trying to intimidate the human. "You. St-ay."

"I must go." He replied, miming walking. "Not stay."

"No."
Another enforcer appeared, in his hands he carried a Fersilicite(Iron like mineral silicite on the moon) pair of chains and cuffs. The other enforcer held the Human down, as he was cuffed, and his chains connected to the wall. He was bound by his wrists and left sitting on the floor.

"Jason Black, Human talk. Or...talk with friend?"

The Administrator spoke in his natural tongue to the enforcer. He ordered him to gather a group of Musketeers together, and capture the other Humans. The Enforcer nodded, and left the room.

"If I'm not allowed to leave soon, I'll die." He replied as he was 'arrested', or perhaps kidnapped was the more appropriate term.

The Administrator seemed puzzeled. The fear of death was not known by his kind. Perhaps these Humans were weaker then he thought. "Food. Drink." A Mushroom Haverster came into the room, pouring a sack of mushrooms before the man. They glistened with dew(actually Mercury...but you don't know that.) which the Harvester wiped off.(Water is inside the mushrooms however. Think cactus.)

Elsewhere a taskforce had been developed. The Hordians had never before had a "war." So, their soldiers were hunters or some equipment usable in more civil means. In this taskforce 40 Musketeers assembled outside of entrance cavern...this time with something a little bigger.

2 newly converted "Steam Spiders (http://www.historicalhobbies.com/DOGS/main/images/Gaslight/SSpider1.jpg)" would join them. Sporting a Fersilicite armoured body, a Steam Cannon, and spider-like legs, it was one of the newest Lunar contraptions. The task force moved quickly over the lunar enviroment, their eyes sheilded by black tinted goggles.

The Steam Spiders quickly had the Lander in their sights, and fired a warning shot. Normally, such a weapon would be semi-useless in the vaccuum of space. But the propellent made the difference. Compressed mercury vapor was used as a propellant instead of gunpowder. This allowed it to fire further, and more accurately than the standard weapon of its day. It would often have a telescopic aiming sight mounted on the top to aid in this purpose. It also fired noiselessly, and without the residual smoke associated with musketry. The name ‘steam-cannon’ is actually a misnomer, as no steam was involved in the weapon’s operation. The name derived from the small cloud of radium gas, which was emitted from the chamber after a shot was fired. To the common soldier it resembled a small puff of steam.

The shot fell near the lander, as the Muskteers rushed over a hill and pointed their blunderbusses at the Humans. The Steam Spiders themselves strode forward, their cannons leveled at the Human space contraption.

"Not food, not drink. Must leave, not stay." Jason replied

Meanwhile the moonmen were completely unnoticed by the crew inside the landing module.

"No!" The 1 enforcer in the room prepared himself for combat while the Administrator was deep in thought. "We...keep Jason Black, Human until..." he struggled to connect the limited words he had heard. "until...we know Jason speak."

Outside the lander
As of yet, the Humans had not come out. So, 12 Musketeers carefully made their way towards the lander and banged on what appeared to be the door.

"No stay, you can have a dictionary if you want a list of english words, but I'm not staying." He replied


The hatch opened, but the ladder did not extend, and the distance between the hatch and lunar surface was high than a moonman, "Are you bringing Jason back?"

The Administrator simply garbled "No," and walked out. The door was locked, and hopefully after several Lunar Days the man would talk.

The Musketeers reached up and grabbed the man, and threw him to the ground. A blunderbuss was pushed up against his helmet, as Fersilicite cuffs were placed on his wrists. 5 other Muskteers jumped up and tried to storme the lander, in an effort to capture the other Human.

ooc: If a lunar day is like two months long, he'll be dead long before one day is over.
Also, the moonmen can't actually reach into the landing craft(as the door is taller than they are).

ooc: If a lunar day is like two months long, he'll be dead long before one day is over.
Also, the moonmen can't actually reach into the landing craft(as the door is taller than they are).

I Just figured you would lean out to talk to them, and then they would grab you. Then they would climb/jump up into it. If this is ok, I'll edit.

"Hey, what are you doing." One of the crewmen protested as he was dragged out, while the attempted swarming of the module caused the moonmen to get kicked in the face every time they stuck thier head over the edge.

Their bodies were built for the light gravity of the Moon. The human, having lived on earth, was much stronger. Each kicxk nearly flattened the face of a Musketeer. A piping noise was heard from one of the Steam Spiders, and the Musketeers retreated. With one volley, both Steam Spiders shot directly at the Lander.

The module was an immobile target, but also fairly narrow, making it a difficult target.

The first shot of both Steam Spiders was off by a wide mark. The crews readjusted thier scopes, took aim, and fired, this hope looking for a bullseye.

Once the shooting was realized, proceedures that while silly seeming at the time, came into effect. The cuffed crewman was pulled back into the module, the hatch closed and the engines initiated to take the landing module up and away from the lunar surface.

The Steam Spiders fired again, this time taking a good 5 minutes alone to aim carefully, ensuring a hit. The Musketeers as well began to fire upon the Lander.

By the time five minutes had passed, the landing module had reached lunar orbit and it made it's way to dock with the shuttle.

The Grand Lunar now deeply thought about the current situation. Humans were capable of coming to the moon, they refused to co-operate, and they may come back.

And with that, the Lunar Military was born.

Scientists, a new breed of Hordian, worked day and night to build new weapons of war, capable of defending the Moon...and attacking. Soldiers would be ready at all times, and plans for a spaceship were already being designed.

Large scale cannons were being built, capable of firing upon the earth...even Mars and Venus.

What with Captain Black being imprisoned for multiple months, when he had an air supply for only perhaps a day, when the moonmen returned they'd find a corpse, unless they came back much more recently.