NationStates Jolt Archive


Destination: Tendril (FT Colonization)

Godular
04-12-2006, 00:15
"When I was informed that the system was uninhabited, I assumed you meant it had no habitable planets to settle on."

General Arcturus, or at least an Avatar-based Facsimile thereof, turned a circle to explore his heavily wooded surroundings. A thin layer of snow dusted the ground, and the occasional chitter of indigenous life spoke out against the light, crisp breeze. Neither of the two Avatars wore any protection from the cold save their typically favored uniforms, but truth be told they did not require such protection. They could survive in the most blazing deserts and the most frigid wastes with equal ease, and even the hardship of interstellar vacuum gave them no pause. A chilly wind was of no consequence to a Godulan Avatar.

"Well," Prefect Corbox began in reply, "by all rights this planet should not BE here. When it comes to flukes of universal probability, this planet not only dodged a bullet but also several dozen more that came after."

"Ah yes, the riddle of Alaundril. Would you care to explain it to me? I got the general idea that a lot of explosions were involved, but that is about it. The rest of your exploration party was rather tight-lipped about it, which is doubly strange considering the nature of our network now."

Corbox nodded, then looked up to the clear sky. "First off, tell me what you see when you look up into the sky, general."

Arcturus did indeed turn his attention to the sky, but gave no sign of actually doing so. The Generals felt it was important to conserve their movement, as remaining eminently unreadable was typically as useful as utilizing actual tactical skill. And just because the Avatars had eyes did not mean they could see only through them.

A basic glance and corroboration with the several vessels that arrived in the system showed a most curious picture.

A supernova remnant a couple hundred or so astronomical units distant, a kaleidoscopic panorama of greens and reds and a few blotches of yellow still glowed with menace under the watchful eye of the rotating neutron star at its center. The beams of radiation at each pole, zooming around in their own little circles at a rate of very nearly exactly once every five seconds, interacted with the inner portions of the free floating gases nearby and further away to make them glow and shift as the various molecules would excite and zip about before combining with other molecules and returning to stability.

This gave the remant and the surrounding remnants a somewhat wispy and tentacular appearance, apparently serving as the inspiration for the sector's name.

The pulsar still retained several planetary bodies, a couple gas giants of relatively massive size and an terran-size icy world showing signs of a recent flash-melt/flash-refreeze that had apparently changed it from a slushy world of frozen methane to a solid lump of ice of more complex organic materials.

Of course, even so, the pulsar was hardly the most interesting object of the sector.

An M-class solar standard star, named Punch, danced with its red-dwarf partner, named Drunk, one astronomical unit distant from each other, forming a combined entity that broke from logic with the name of 'Lucullus'. These two stars sported a surprisingly intricate ring system that seemed to follow an egg-shaped orbit around the two bodies as a whole, several larger chunks of debris kept the rings stable even on the path between orbiting the two stars.

Beyond this ring system there existed a truly prodigious debris field, dwarfing the two asteroid fields of the Thorn system put together.

Beyond that, this planet. Beyond that, still more debris, punctuated by a pair of forming gas giants that seemed to keep the debris at bay for the simple reason that they were hogging everything for themselves.

"I see one seriously messed up place for a planet like this to be."

"And you would be right. Normal rules of nature would say that this planet being here, while still retaining some semblance of indigenous life, is fundamentally impossible. However, as you can see, this system is FAR from normal."

"Indeed. So what exactly are you getting at?"

"This planet, Arcturus, used to belong to THAT star back when it was a red supergiant," Corbox replied, pointing to the supernova remnant. "Or more precisely, it was a moon of a former gas giant that orbited it. Now, the star blew the hell up, which is where the first of this planet's lucky breaks comes into play. We figure that at the time of the supernova, this planet was then behind its primary, which took the brunt of the radiation and heat and sheer kinetic force, what have you.

"That, combined with its nature as a gas giant at the time, caused the sucker to ignite with its own power for a while, as the force knocked it out of orbit with its parent and sent it careening towards THESE two, which were little more than a protoplanetary binary system at first. The shockwaves of the supernova accelerated their development and now we have one newborn star."

"I count two."

"And you would be correct, a Brown Dwarf sits in the middle ground between planet and star, so it doesn't really count as either."

"But it isn't a brown dwarf."

"And you would be correct. But it WAS a brown dwarf right up until this planet's primary smacked into it. You see, apparently the Gas Giant's ignition proved significant to heat this world long enough to survive the trip between the two stars, but the strain of being thrown out of alignment like that weakened its own orbit, so as the big primary came closer, it got caught in the gravitational field of the bigger star and began to drift inward, but THIS planet got slingshotted out and suddenly found itself in a relatively stable orbit right smack dab in the middle of the lane in the debris cleared out by the gas giant.

"The gas giant fell in, but whiffed the bigger star and smacked into the brown dwarf, providing just enough mass, exacerbated somewhat by the fact that the former gas giant was still a bit of a smoking ember, for the brown dwarf to absorb the planet into itself and go red dwarf."

"I see now why you labeled the two stars punch-drunk."

"Yes, though we did give them the respect of a proper combined name. Now, this world is safely nestled amidst a very large number of asteroids and whatnot, and the inner system will likely develop over the next several million-ish years, but a great many have expressed an interest in sticking around here if only to get a very decent look at a relatively recent natural supernova."

"Interesting, so we ARE going to settle. Bastards... thanks for making my job harder."

"Oh don't worry about it. This system is way the hell and gone from anybody who might have an interest in it. If the supernova remnant wasn't in the way, I conjure you could actually see that imperial-clogged cesspit of a galaxy without much effort. We would have more to fear from Vong attacks than imperials, and any one of us could wipe those twits out."

"Indeed. Are we going to place anything of interest out here?"

"Nah, not really. Mostly just research facilities and whatnot, likely another replication fabricator matrix and the standard defensive cordons."

"Which of course brings me to another question, Arkades. Why are you here?"

"Skye appointed me as the Sector Administrator. I didn't get any planets when we shuffled our way into that Cluster a while back, so I got the next one. This one."

"Ah. Anything interesting about this planet?"

"Mostly mountains and evergreen-forests. Glaciers out the wazoo, about 50% of the planet is covered by oceans. Animal life is abundant but mostly diminutive in stature. The most dangerous creature we've come across is a rabbit with the temperament of a wolverine but the general size of a hamster. Surprisingly enough, it has taken something of a shine to us and seems to make a decidedly effective watch-creature. It has a shriek that can shatter glass and bounces around faster than human eyes can follow."

"miniature sonic death bunnies... coooooooool." Arcturus broke into a mischievous grin.

"Yes, very much so."

"Well, I shall go put up the claim beacon, I would like to see one of these creatures when I return."

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TENDRIL SECTOR

Now Under New Management
Next Stop: The Sagittarius Galaxy - 6,420,936 lightyears
Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute.
Godular
05-12-2006, 19:59
"He let you have this system so you could research stuff, didn't he?" Arcturus asked in a manner that suggested he already knew the answer. Progress reports of defensive cordons being put into place continued to roll in, along with several Heighliners emerging to drop a surprisingly large amount of research and construction equipment. That the shipments required multiple Heighliners at all was an astounding fact as it was. That it was only the first of two runs was unfathomable.

"I've always been the man to see about such things. I might not have been a good General--" Corbox gave Arcturus a derisive glare as Arcturus coughed knowingly, "-- but I think Skye has realized that I have been more benefit to the military as a proponent of technological advancement. With this new shift into learning the ways of the universe, I'm getting all KINDS of support now."

"So it isn't just Horizon's End University anymore?"

"Couldn't get much done there anyway. Here... we have an entire system to test things out on. We're already planning to stabilize that neutron star to see if we can use it with the gates we have in Thorn and put up around here too. See if we can't start funneling pulses of X-ray energy at people to incinerate anybody that gets uppity."

"Anything else?"

"Oh, all sorts of stuff that might be on your wishlists. Even people working to expand how much we can do in these forms..." Corbox indicated his body and that of Arcturus, then looked at his hands.

"Couldn't have picked a better place, I suppose. Its way the hell and gone from anybody who would care, and if anybody tries to pick a fight, we can reinforce faster than they can. A very good choice of positioning indeed."

"You bet your ass, General."

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Slaughterkings continued to seed various planetoids with Crystalline structures, focusing mainly on the primary planet of Alaundril, around which the greatest buzz of activity was taking place in general. Multiple heighliners and secondary vessels ferrying equipment down to the surface and out into the system proper, one Heighliner unloading the massive structures required to hold the Replicator Fabrication Arrays, and another Heighliner simply unloading more Slaughterkings and other crystalline structures that immediately darted off into the depths of the system.

Tendril was swiftly becoming 'An Important Place'
Godular
21-12-2006, 09:10
OOC: Finally figured out what Tendril would be 'special' for.

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Prefect Corbox.

Yes, Baron?

After analyzing the qualities of the system under your jurisdiction, we have an additional piece of equipment to transfer over. It is suspected that the isolated nature of the system will prevent the mechanism from being effectively traced if utility should ever be required.

Yes, Baron. Might I ask what this device is?

'The Long Arm of the Law.'

WHAT?! Its finished?! I thought it was in mothballs!

Whatever made you think that? We have allocated only token funding and resources to it to prevent prying eyes from picking up on anything, but we never ceased construction. Needless to say, we completed it some months ago, and have been seeking a proper place to initiate deployment procedures.

Why was I not informed that construction was still under way?

It was your loud mouth that got us into the fight with the Chronosians. We do not question your devotion or innovation, but we do have an issue with your discretion. You can yell and holler as loud as you wish out there, it will be at least a millenia before word of it ever reaches even the outermost fringes of this Galaxy.

...

Oh, do not be offended, Prefect. You have been given a system of your own, and have just been told that the project you initially spearheaded has come to be in full glory. Taking my comment about your loquaciousness personally is wholly unnecessary.

No no, I understand. I was removed from the Office of General of the Army for similar.

You were a poor combat commander, Corbox, but you have more than proven your worth as the head of military research. Take pride that we felt your project sufficiently beneficial to complete it under such secrecy. Take pride that your system shall play host to your greatest achievement.

Yes, Baron. I do.

You have been made aware of the status of the two Heighliners that shall carry the device to Tendril, as well as the munitions that shall accompany it. I shall leave the details of its deployment to you.

Yes, Baron. Thank you. Thank you very much.

You are welcome.

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Three days later, the two Heighliners materialized at the edge of the system, drifting lazily towards alaundril before changing course towards the Pulsar, to which the name Tendril had been given, as if to show what had caused the curious nature of the system.

Closer to the stellar remnant, a ring of planetary debris had formed, mostly heavier elements on whatever worlds were incinerated by the supernova that managed to avoid being blown out into interstellar space by the shockwave. The innermost remaining gas giant jockeyed this ring into stability somewhat, but for the most part it was a wispy affair approximately thirteen AU distant from the prodigious source of radiation at its effective center. The outermost portion of this ring would be the place where the device was set up.

To accentuate this point several hundred new sensor contacts materialized amidst the debris, and then proceeded to drift lazily along the same plane as the debris itself. Evenly spaced, the objects appeared as though they had always been there. Two types of objects were involved in this initial insertion: Metallic Canisters of considerable size and girth, and curious constructs that for all intents and purposes were self propelled wedges of Neutronium-Carbonide Steel.

The Heighliners trundled into place, and began to disperse their cargo. From both of the gargantuan cargo vessels issued forth a number of ring-shaped portals that lined up in stretches of ten before entering into an synchronized orbit with the pulsar. Each section formed by each pair of adjacent gates immediately followed up by initiating probability jump calculations to a wide array of destinations within the Galaxy proper. Places of relative tactical importance were calculated for just as backwater systems and even general coordinates for what for all intents and purposes should have been empty space.

The arrangement took place no less than twenty times before stage two of the deployment initiated. Far simpler than the first stage, but somewhat more confusing in nature. Four black cylinders emerged from the two Heighliners, floating free for a moment before instantly materializing in sync with four of the portal arrays as though forming some type of base platform for each portal. They jumped into place, and immediately coordinated with each of the others for several moments, then the signals in the ring started to flicker to life. Each object within the ring of debris pinged as if to announce that it was in proper working order.

'Red Rain' Torpedos and 'Javelin' Ramming Wedges had been the devices that had made the Godulans feared as a fighting force ever since they had seen such virulent efficacy against the Chronosians, in terms of the former, and various ground-based forces, in terms of the latter. Because of their utilization of the Probability drive to instantly place themselves within close range of enemy vessels, neither form of ordinance could be easily stopped before completing its objective.

Red Rain, now modified from its original form to utilize more modern munitions such as Fractal and Tachyon torpedos rather than fusion weaponry, was essentially a super-powered cluster bomb wrapped around a ramming wedge, capable of dealing tremendous pain to entire enemy fleets by virtue of the widespread missile salvo and the virtue of a significantly sized ramming wedge inserting itself into the largest enemy vessels metaphorical brainbase.

Javelins were little more than the ramming wedges present in Red Rain, but such also had a significant application with regards to planetary assault. A Javelin could be sent to impact a world with power equivalent to an asteroid of moderate to large size, depending on insertion velocity. However, a second use had been found, namely in the area of simple transportation...

Previously, the weapons had to be within a system in order to be properly activated, and would typically accompany Godulan battlefleets on their way to battle. Left at the edge of the system, they could then be 'requisitioned' as necessary.

'The Long Arm of the Law' was a giant targeting and launch platform, utilizing a network of Probability nexi bound within each section of each portal array. A Base Platform would call forth a torpedo from the debris field, coordinate with the portal array in order to provide targeting information to the torpedo, and conduct launch procedures. The Torpedo, released by the base platform, would travel through each section of that specific portal array until it reached the selected portion, which would mark the position from which the torpedo would be able to instantaneously jump to a targeted system.

These arrays would enable the torpedos to launch when requisitioned by other forces from far beyond the system, without requiring the requisitioning fleet to drag the weapons along themselves. It would also enable 'independent' operations, wherein a torpedo could be sent to a system with a relatively simple sequence of programming along the lines of 'Terminate Shipyard Structure' or 'Damage vessel matching >insert profile here<' and such. In which case, the Godulan users need only find the location of a 'Problem' in terms of merely what system was involved, and they could immediately commence a full-scale bombardment campaign without ever having to send in actual forces.

But why only four base platforms, but twenty arrays? At random intervals, the base platforms would probability jump to another array, keeping their presence unpredictable, in the event a counterattack of similar nature were to come. Each platform and portal would also be relatively easy to construct, in the event that one should be destroyed by such an attack.

The Godulan response to the Galaxy Gun. A weapon that could achieve the same objectives, but would be nigh impossible to destroy completely utilizing the same methods.

OOC: Of course, keep in mind this bit is IC secret infoz and whatnot.
Godular
08-01-2007, 20:55
The crystalline webways of the Godulan Strain Kythons continued to spread throughout the surface of the planet, with greater numbers of Avatars emerging and taking in their new surroundings. Already lines of inquiry had formed with respect to the system itself and the many curious features contained within. The Screecher Bunnies, as they came to be called, provided multiple avatars with no end of fascination.

As things picked up, two Avatars stood in the midst of it all, keeping an eye on the neutron star not so very distant.

"I must admit, Corbox," Arcturus began, "Your choice of positioning for the Long Arm of the Law borders on sheer genius."

Corbox raised an eyebrow at the General's compliment. "How so? I simply figured that the asteroid belt would keep the array defended well enough, and keeping it in the other system would force any potential invaders to make a choice between going after the Long Arm or taking out the defense post."

"Oh, such things are considered as a matter of course, but take note of the primary. A neutron star, not so special in its own right, considering that it is but a corpse of a star... but that is the beauty of the thing... in choosing a star that has already been destroyed, you have placed the Long Arm of the Law in a position to make ANOTHER imperial superweapon effectively useless."

Corbox raised an eyebrow again... but then realization dawned with sufficient intensity to knock Corbox on his heels. "A-ha! Ha ha! They can't use suncrushers! The star is already blown up!"

"Exactly. You did not recognize this when you decided on the positioning?"

"It did not even cross my mind. You're right. It IS genius. Amazing... simply amazing..."

"I do not think it counts if you did not realize it when you executed the procedure."

"Bull. The best kinds of genius are by mistake. Serendipity, they call it."

"Ah so. Still, the best way to avoid defending it is to make certain that nobody can figure out where it is."

"No worries. The radiation from the neutron star will block casual attempts to discern its location, and I had some sensor scramblers thrown in as well. To the occasional passerby it would seem like any other pulsar."

"You do ensure that your bases are covered, such is certain."

"Bet yer ass."