NationStates Jolt Archive

Having driven our technicians and engineers to the brink of insanity developing a succesful space program, we have decided to give them some time off. But we are not resting on our tails. We are now committing our biologists and genetic technicians towards the task of creating a techno-organic craft capable of stellar travel.

Several species of plant-life have exhibited traits useful for this process. The Paroo tree has an incredibly tough cellular structure; the Kansee Vine can communicate with others of its genus using chemical signals; the Shoou flower emits highly volatile gases as a byproduct of photosynthesis which are currently used for providing power.

The Hydroponic Swamp aboard the Orbital Shipyard houses these and many other forms of Sakkran plant-life. Our biologists and genetic technicians are convening there for the purpose of hybridization and experimentation. They are led by Director Shuuta of S-14 fame, who is well rested after taking a vacation following her adventures aboard the station S-14.

"After looking over the notations of my staff, and doing some testing of my own, I think that this could be a real possibility. But we are still inexperienced in true genetic manipulation, and call on non-hostile nations with a good bank of knowledge in this area to assist with their expertise. Findings will be shared among participating groups." Director Shuuta then fielded questions from the press.

This is the state of affairs as they stand today. Thank you for your time.

ooc:- Organic Spaceship now where have I seen that idea before...something on TV..AAAAHHH I can't recall name Help!

Ic:- We are interested in this development & see potential trade in this idea. Scientist have informed me that this idea may be possible and my Emperor has instructed me to follow this up.

According to the nation scientist chemical signals would be useless in space outside of any vessel, they have suggested you look to animals to overcome this. Features like the bat & whale sonar may be useful, as well as the infra red pits in some snakes.

ooc:- will post more ideas if you are interested & wish to have a space nation partner.

http://www.users.on.net/killerkoala/yuna.JPG
Lady Yuna McCloud
Imperial Trade Ambassador
Empire of Senyahs Corporation
Member of Betriebskoalition (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=61168)

OOC: Heh heh. I'm thinking of the Vorlon craft from Babylon 5 mixed with the Jurai ships from Tenchi Muyo.

IC: Thank you for your prompt response. We have decided to keep our standard means of ship to ship contact, which is encrypted laser pulse transmission, but will indeed use chemical signals for in-craft communication. We also thought of bat and whale sonar, and found it to require atmosphere for the sound pulses to work; It will be completely ineffective in space.

While we wonder about your genetic manipulation capabilities as a nation, we welcome your assistance in this matter. Your technicians could access our Orbital Shipyard from the EM Peashooter launch facility at the Eeorouh Spaceport. A Monitor class shuttle is standing by to receive passengers.

You are the third that we know of to entertain this research. Including ourselves. We will assist.

OOC: Wow. I didn't even know other nations were looking into this when I cooked this up. But now it's time for rest.

IC: Thank you, Snel Race. Your expertise is known, and would be of great benefit. The research at this stage is being conducted at the Hydroponic Swamp facility in the Orbital Shipyard. Director Shuuta will meet you to brief you on our findings at this early stage.

OOC: Heh heh. I'm thinking of the Vorlon craft from Babylon 5 mixed with the Jurai ships from Tenchi Muyo.

OOC: Man I haven't seen Tenchi Muyo in forever.

ooc:- Found what it reminded me of...Moya from Farscape a *Leviathan*

Ic:- Thanks for the offer of the spaceport (with a gentle smile) but we are already in space, one of our tugs will transport several genetic scientist from our Star System (ooc:- via a jumpgate) with samples of native wildlife from our home planet. They will dock with your station within a fortnight (NS time) if you give them permission.

We are interested in developing a biomechanical transport from this technology. Also we will bring plans for techiyon(sp?) transmitters which as your scientist will confirm is a faster way of communicating in-system. (ooc:- To high tech? my former nation Stabmow stole the plans from another nation)

The Tug
http://www.users.on.net/killerkoala/tug.JPG

occ:- We need a proper transport/ cargo vessel as we lost a lot of vessels when we fled from the Stabmow Star System Nova,

http://www.users.on.net/killerkoala/yuna.JPG
Lady Yuna McCloud
Imperial Trade Ambassador
Empire of Senyahs Corporation
Member of Betriebskoalition (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=61168)

You have permission to dock in bay 4. We have prepared a habitation section for your technicians in level 12 below the Hydroponic Swamp and have uploaded the design of your vessels to our DefSat control. Transmitting docking protocols now.

OOC: Having the plans for Tachyon transmitters isn't too high tech, I think. It's having them already built and used that would have some people crying "foul".

Thank you, Snel Race. Your expertise is known, and would be of great benefit. The research at this stage is being conducted at the Hydroponic Swamp facility in the Orbital Shipyard. Director Shuuta will meet you to brief you on our findings at this early stage.

An astrobiologist will be sent as soon as possible.

http://timesurfer.linuxcowboy.net/Snel.jpg
~Coordinator of Clan Ganymede~

Meanwhile, Dr. Blue, just back from his visit to the WoldDisc, was boarding a StarFish at Ganymede's south pole, about to set off to meet with the Sakkrans.

Director Shuuta receives a communique from the comm officer of Station Command, briefing her on the message from the Snel Race. Ah, excellent. Certainly this will be of a great help. She looks at the datapad on her desk and brings up the notes from her findings so far of various possible candidate species of life for the project. Then a communique is dispatched to all her staff.

<<Comm packet>>

All staff on Project Aether: Informing you of impending arrival of Snel Race Astro-Biologist.

Organize all research thus far into something palpable if possible.

Cooperation is essential. Efficiency is essential.

<<Comm complete>>

OOC: Having the plans for Tachyon transmitters isn't too high tech, I think. It's having them already built and used that would have some people crying "foul".

OOC(part 1):- They can claim foul all they want, the plans are for you. We already use them in our ships & have a valid reason for them.

OOC(part 2):- Suggestion for the ships....the one you were considering is a war vessel correct? If so may I suggest we use Moya from Farscape as an example of a transport ship..it means two vessels but it allows you to "sell" the transports to other nations.

Ic:- My Emporer has asked if these techno-organic vessels will be selfaware or "dumb". Also our gentic scientist have a sample of a extreame cold tolerant plant which might be useful.

OOC:- Assume the ship has docked, dropped off the scientist & samples and has left.

http://www.users.on.net/killerkoala/yuna.JPG
Lady Yuna McCloud
Imperial Trade Ambassador
Empire of Senyahs Corporation
Member of Betriebskoalition (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=61168)

OOC pt 1: Fair enough.

OOC pt 2: We were looking at something dumb for now. A smart ship might be a bit much to handle right now. It would be cool, but then there are sentient ship's rights to worry about etc.

A staff-member in a long grey lab coat greets the scientist as he/she arrives.

"This is an honor. We are glad to have you aboard. Allow me to show you to your quarters so you may relax a spell before we begin. The sample could remain in your care, or in ours. It is your choice." With that, the technician escorts the scientist to the research team's quarters.

OOC:- Dammit forgot you can't read my mind :? :oops: It's a male scientist picture 165 cm, black hair, black framed glasses (no idea why, he must like the look glasses are unnecessary in the Empire :roll: ), with a small black beard, his name is Bill gateter.

As for sentient ships rights...count them as citizens & treat them as such...they provide transport as their job & pay tax out of their wages :)

Ic:- "Um hi, names Bill Gateter. I was told to hand these over to you as soon as possible." He looks around as he follows the technician.

As you look around the Hydroponic Swamp level, you can see various trees, vines, hanging moss and some animal life. Think Florida Everglades without the run-off from sugar factories. The area seems about 5 kilomoters wide by 300' high. Hunidity is kept at about 75%, and artificial UV light in all the spectrums is used. Technicians are drawing samples from the plant life, while giving a wide berth to some of the animals in the area, especially the tiger-striped salamanders measuring 4 meters long.

"Thank you, Mr. Gateter. Here are your quarters and your pass-code. A guard will be posted here momentarily for your safety. I'll take this sample to the Director immediately. Welcome aboard." The technician turns on his heel and makes for the door they entered from.

After a few days in transit, the StarFish bearing the Snel delegation was in view of the Shipyard.

"Requesting permission to dock. We have brought samples."

The Shipyard Command center receives the transmission.

"Greetings Snel Race Craft. We have you in sight and have prepared dock bay 4 for your craft. The Director has been informed of your ETA and will greet you at the bay. Enjoy your stay."

ooc:- can I have a discription of his quarters? Ps I'm South Australian so I have never seen much of Florida....I'll think of the images on TV of the amozon. :P

OOC: Will do with the description. And as for the Amazon; well, that's close. We'll go with that.

The quarters are approximately 25 wide by 20 long and 10 high. There is a soft bed, a small kitchenette, a couch and a small desk with a holo unit and a datapad. The rest is quite bare as it leaves room for customization. There are hooks and wall mounts waiting to be used.

Bill looks around his quarters "I wonder where the climate controls are? If that swamp is any indication the rest of this place is going to be warm." With a deep sigh "I already miss the cold winds of home."

ooc:- Its a cold planet average temperature during summer 21 degrees (which is considered "hot").

A shipyard staff-member greets Mr. Gateter at his assigned quarters. She has a thin layer of velvety fuzz covering her whole visible body, and has pricked ears and a slight muzzle.

"If these quarters are not to your liking, we can make arrangements. This whole alevel stays at a constant temperature of 85 farenheit to maintain stability for the Hydroponic Swamp. The level below tends towards cooler temperatures to accomodate various life-forms."

Bill does a quick calculation in his head *Ummm85 degrees farenheit thats ummm about 29 or 30 degrees C* "Er could I please have something cooler? Like um somewhere around 59 degrees farenheit please." With this he pulls out a clean sweat rag and mops his forehead.

"That should not be a problem. We have many habitation modules that are unoccupied at the moment. The closest ones with climate control are below this level. If you'll follow me..."

As they exit the lift going down, a substantial decrease in temperature can be noted. "Here you are. This is basically the same as the upper level, but you can adjust the temperature with voice command. State what temperature you want, and the Shipyard's computers will adjust it to within a .000005% margin of error."

"Ah thank you, I'm most grateful for this." He clicks his heels together and gives a small bow and straightens. "Ah not to be rude or anything but speicies are you?"

The staff-member blinks slightly. The eyelids go lside to side instead of up and down. "Ah, of course. My people are referred to as Rinsha. We once roamed the spaceways in great fleets eons ago, but have since been decimated by hostile entities. The people of Sakkra have accepted us as refugees, and we are doing our best to let them not regret their decision. But make yourself comfortable. I'll inform the Director that you have accomodations."

"Greetings Snel Race Craft. We have you in sight and have prepared dock bay 4 for your craft. The Director has been informed of your ETA and will greet you at the bay. Enjoy your stay."

The StarFish began its approach to the docking bay, reactionless thrusters slowing the craft's spin along the way. Once inside, landing legs extended from each of the five arms. From the underside of one of these unfolded a long ramp, down which walked 3 Snels- a large blue/purple one in the lead, and two more, a light green and a slightly darker green one behind, chattering to themselves.

OOC: A bit of a description of the Snel? I don't think i've heard one.
________________________________________________________

Director Shuuta is at the bay to greet the visiting Snel. A detachment of soldiers in space-modified armor is with her.

"Welcome, Snel. I trust your voyage here was without surprise?" She puffs out her dewlap, displaying the red of approval. In this case, it serves as a joyous greeting. "Scientists Griimph and Krenn are eager to look at the sample you have brought."

The staff-member blinks slightly. The eyelids go lside to side instead of up and down. "Ah, of course. My people are referred to as Rinsha. We once roamed the spaceways in great fleets eons ago, but have since been decimated by hostile entities. The people of Sakkra have accepted us as refugees, and we are doing our best to let them not regret their decision. But make yourself comfortable. I'll inform the Director that you have accomodations."

"Ah thank you again" bill replied. When she had left he asked the computer to change the temperature to 15 degrees Centergrade and started unpacking.

ooc:- going to wait for your lead on this.

Several hours later, there is a beep at Bill's holo-vid unit.

There is a Sakkran male, notable by the spines on the neck, on holo. He has a large scar right in front of the nostrils located on the top of his head.

"Mr. Gateter, I am Biologist Krenn. when you have completed unpacking and adjusting, we would like to see you in the Hydroponic Swamp laboratory, and exchange info and samples we have at the moment. An aide is heading to your quarters with a Cold-Suit to keep you from 'melting' in here. I am to understand the current temperature would be unbearable for you."

The holo-unit clicks off, and a small confirmation message appears.

"Sure would" muttered Bill "how the hell do people stand that heat?"

He quickly made sure his datapad (ooc:- sort of a high powered laptop but smaller) had all the relevent data and then activated the confirmation message to show that he was ready. He then moved to the door to await the arrival of the cold-suit while grimicing at the memory of the tempurature in the Hydroponic Swamp laboratory.

OOC: A bit of a description of the Snel? I don't think i've heard one.

There is a central body with a keratin exoskeleton in the shape of a short oblate elipsoid, with a wedge cut out of the front. The edge of the recession is lined with little fuzzy hairs, which are actually olfactory receptors. Smack in the middle is a single large compound eye, and underneath that is a beak similar to a squid's. Six tentacles extend from the sides of the body, and the front two tentacles end in two fingers each. When relaxed, a mature Snel usually stands about 1.75 meters tall, and 2.25 meters wide.

Director Shuuta is at the bay to greet the visiting Snel. A detachment of soldiers in space-modified armor is with her.

"Welcome, Snel. I trust your voyage here was without surprise?" She puffs out her dewlap, displaying the red of approval. In this case, it serves as a joyous greeting. "Scientists Griimph and Krenn are eager to look at the sample you have brought."

The lead Snel began typing on the synthesizer strapped to its underside. A simulated voice began to say "Samples, we have brought more than one. The voyage was routine. Please lead on."

As the Blue was talking, the Light Green rushed back up the ramp, and returned dragging a rather large black trunk.

Gateter's Suit

The suit is delivered, and resembles an old-style chemical suit, but it is more form fitting in a one-size-fits-all sort of way. It actually seems to shrink slightly until there is a few millimeters of room between Bill's clothes and the cold-suit. There is an external temperature meter and on the suit's visor.

As Bill enters the Swamp, it reads 87 degrees F, and humidity of 80 %. Some Sakkrans are collecting samples from different plants and looking at datapads. Others are sun-bathing on some shale rocks near an artificial pond. A small group of tiger-striped amphibians, measuring 5.7 meters or so, are gathered at the bank of the pond. The Hydroponic Swamp seems to stretch for several kilometers in all directions.

There is a room in the center of the Swamp reading 'Restricted Access'. The Sakkran from the holo-vid message exits that room and spies Mr. Gateter. He stands at about 2.6 meters in height, and is wearing a monocular eye-and-ear piece. "Ah, Mr. Bill Gateter I assume? Excellent, I am Krenn. Head Biologist for this project. My staff is gathering samples and putting them through some testing of environmentl stimulus and response. We will cross-reference that with the information you have brought with you. Let me show you to the facilities and get you acquainted with our technicians."
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Snel Race

"That is most excellent. Do you require any specific environment for your people? Or at least, environments that should be avoided? We will accomodate you in whatever fashion you require, and that we can manage." Shuuta leads the group to the lift tube and enters. As the tube ascends, she eyes the box. "Is there also any environment your samples would react poorly in? It would be a loss if they were to react poorly before we even get to observe them."

"Pleased to meet you Doctor Krenn (ooc:- I'm assuming thats the correct title), I look forward to seeing your facilities and meeting your technicians." Bill checks the suits temperature meter. "I got to say thank you again for the suit, my people might be humans but we certainly gotten too use to our climate back home. Just can't stand the heat as much as we use too before settling on Hoth."

As they enter the restricted access room, there is a slight cooling in the air. A circular table is in the center of the first room, with 5 observation stations fully equipped. To the left is a doorway which leads into a glass-encased room. There, several species of plant life, and some insect life, are connected to diagnostic equipment. To the right is a room encased completely in darkness. It seems heavily shielded and reinfirced. Techicians, biologists, astrophysicists and a plethora of others are at tasks in each room.

Krenn points to each room in turn. "This here is the hybridization area, where we investigate how well each species reacts to being spliced with others, and measure compatibility and results. The room at the left is the genetics chamber. There our finest biologists and geneticists analyze the base structure of existing species, and the effects of reinforcing the qualities we are looking for. And to the right is the vacuum chamber. It simulates the environment of the Void. It is not in use yet and is still being constructed, but will be the most crucial part of the process when we near its end."

"That is most excellent. Do you require any specific environment for your people? Or at least, environments that should be avoided? We will accomodate you in whatever fashion you require, and that we can manage." Shuuta leads the group to the lift tube and enters. As the tube ascends, she eyes the box. "Is there also any environment your samples would react poorly in? It would be a loss if they were to react poorly before we even get to observe them."

"Your swamps will do just fine, if you don't mind us staying there. Otherwise, we like high humidity. You need not be worried about the samples. Their protection has been seen to. And they are pretty hardy, after all. Organisms that must survive vaccum can survive near anything- except perhaps excessive gravity."

As they enter the restricted access room, there is a slight cooling in the air. A circular table is in the center of the first room, with 5 observation stations fully equipped. To the left is a doorway which leads into a glass-encased room. There, several species of plant life, and some insect life, are connected to diagnostic equipment. To the right is a room encased completely in darkness. It seems heavily shielded and reinfirced. Techicians, biologists, astrophysicists and a plethora of others are at tasks in each room.

Krenn points to each room in turn. "This here is the hybridization area, where we investigate how well each species reacts to being spliced with others, and measure compatibility and results. The room at the left is the genetics chamber. There our finest biologists and geneticists analyze the base structure of existing species, and the effects of reinforcing the qualities we are looking for. And to the right is the vacuum chamber. It simulates the environment of the Void. It is not in use yet and is still being constructed, but will be the most crucial part of the process when we near its end."

"Fascinating" Bill murmered as he looked around. "Just what qualities are you looking for anyway?"

Krenn ponders for a second. "The most desireable qualities are resistance to damage and self-repair rate. Resistance to cold, heat and other temperature extremes. Resistance to radiation and ability to survive in a vacuum. That is our focus for now. Later on the itinerary is communication abilities. We will strive to make the neural axons work as well as optic circuitry. There are a great many things, but those are the focus for now. When we have those goals accomplished, then other issues will be tackled."

Bill thinks for a moment "Lets see communication...you might have to use machines for that as most creatures use air/water or earth to comunicate although the Snel might know more. I understand that they are going to be helping this project as well isn't that correct? You might want to look at the Earth squids for their skin pigmitation, apparently they use a code using shifting pattens to communicate. That might be useful if these vessels are able to see each other. Also I've heard of a microbe that lives near volcano vents that can withstand high temperatures, do you have those?" Bill ponders a bit more then snaps his fingers "Eels! they produce an electric current; you could use that to create a field around the vessel and with a bit of modification, maybe get the field to repell small objects like micrometorites and space dust. What do you think?"

"Hmmm....an electric field....yes, a weak electro-magnetic field could repel small meteorites if they contain sufficient ferrous material." Krenn puts his hand on his eye-ear piece. "Test the electric conduction of the Seev Eel and focus on it's electicity-generating ability. Adjust to electro-magnetic field. Test on high velocity ferrous material. Report when findings are sufficient to warrant further development."

"Now then, as for communication, we are going to use chemical signals for in-ship communication. These craft aren't going to be a single organism, but a miniaturized bio-shpere of life. Certain plants have been shown to not only possess neural clusters, but can communicate over distances. Ship to ship communication will likely still be machine based, unless we get a 'happy accident', which i'm not relying on."

Bill makes agreeing noises then asks "What did the Snel Race bring?"

"They have just arrived, and Director Shuuta has gone to meet them. We don't know what they have brought, but it should prove interesting."

(OOC: Hoping it's safe to assume that they got taken to the same place...)

Dr. Blue entered the room with the case of samples, leaving Dr.s Green out in the swamp, where they were quite relaxed.

Typing on the synthesizer, the Snel siad "Greetings." Waving to bill, "you are the other scientists? Good. 'Tis rather chilly in here, but I suppose I can put it with it for now."

Dr. Blue turned, and opened the top of the case. white mist flowed out for a few seconds. "Many of the sample are stored in liquid nitrogen. Do not be alarmed." After removing several canisters and boxes, Dr. Blue removed a box that filled the bottom of the trunk, but was only about 6 inches high. Turning around to face the others again, she opened the box and removed a thick branch.

"Yggdrasil wood."

And large, extremely dark green leaf. "And an Yggdrasil leaf. Neither are full size, of course. Wouldn't even be able to fit them through the door if they were. Heck, there wouldn't even have been room on our ship. But these smaller versions should suffice."

Director Shuuta and Biologist Krenn are nearly saucer-eyed at the sight of the Yggdrasil samples. "Incredible! We have only heard rumors of this material. But to have it before us......" They sub-consciously slip into the native Sakkran tongue, using sub-sonic inflections and lots of low-frequency rumblings. The tympanum on the sides of their heads are in a flurry of activity.

Then they catch themselves. "Oh my. We apologize. In our excitement we forgot that our native tongue can be painful to sensitive ears. We would like to begin analysis and comparison immediately."

Bill looked at Dr. Blue and then at the excited Sakkrans looking puzzled "Um excuse me, I'm affraid I haven't heard of a Yggdrasil what is it and what is it qualities?....Besides the fact that a full grown version sounds like its very large?"

Director Shuuta and Biologist Krenn are nearly saucer-eyed at the sight of the Yggdrasil samples. "Incredible! We have only heard rumors of this material. But to have it before us......" They sub-consciously slip into the native Sakkran tongue, using sub-sonic inflections and lots of low-frequency rumblings. The tympanum on the sides of their heads are in a flurry of activity.

Then they catch themselves. "Oh my. We apologize. In our excitement we forgot that our native tongue can be painful to sensitive ears. We would like to begin analysis and comparison immediately."

"Of course. You may do with them as you wish. But first, perhaps an inventory of the others we have brought."

Dr. Blue began to pick up each canister and box in turn, stating what was contained within.

"Crana web... cryobacteria... strain 121... icefish... macroamoeba... cometary bacteria... and the rest, they are bits of our unfinished projects. Spacesharks, Leviathans, Windchasers, and other such things."

Bill looked at Dr. Blue and then at the excited Sakkrans looking puzzled "Um excuse me, I'm affraid I haven't heard of a Yggdrasil what is it and what is it qualities?....Besides the fact that a full grown version sounds like its very large?"

"Ah, perhaps you have not been keeping up with Martian news. A full grown Yggdrasil is very large, very, very large. Some tens of kilometers wide at the canopy, and several thousand kilometers long. It is the World Tree, growing down towards a planet, moon, or other body from orbit. The first is scheduled to touch down on Mars very soon, within the decade, either on Pavonis or Sabaea Terra."

"The Yggdrasil, like all of our spaceborns, is designed to be entirely self-contained. It can live in a vaccuum indefinitely, and go without food indefinitely, as it only releases waste when necessary. Otherwise, it stores oxygen, water, and carbon dioxide just as a normal plant does with sugar, using photosynthesis and respiration far more efficiently than a planet-bound plant. The bark is very thick, and the outer layers are mineralized, like an exoskeleton. The thick bark protects against vaccuum and radiation, and, of course, radiation resistance is also built into the genome, and the bark and leaves are laced with beads of natural epoxies. Consequently, when a micrometeoroid impacts the tree, the beads break open and instantly fill in the gap. The organism's immune system then breaks down the meteroid, and, if possible, uses it as food. Also, if a major wound is inflicted, several systems are in place to seal the breach as quickly as possible, keeping fluid loss to a minimum."

"Now, then. Crana web, that's the symbiotic stuff that we use for most of our bioengineering and living ships, as well as the Collective. Cryobacteria, as the name implies, organisms designed to live in super cold temperatures. These, actually, are Neptunian, totally different than Earth-like organisms, based on liquid methane instead of water. Strain 121, just the opposite, very interesting iron-eating microbes that can survive at 394 degrees. Hence the name, strain 121. Icefish, well, they're rather boring, from Earth's polar regions, we're using them to develop some Martian creatures, and they've been helpful with Spaceshark and Sturgeon as well. Macroamoeba is very interesting, we obtained a sample from quite some distance away, while responding to a Sunsetan distress call... the first naturally evolved spaceborne that we've encountered, and we've been using it to develop some supersized diatom-like, or perhaps sheeled amoeba would be closer, spaceborns. Cometary bacteria was our pioneer spaceborn project, quite successful, the initial three comets that we seeded with them have actually begun to reproduce. I'll get to the rest as it becomes relevant."

*bump*

Director Shuuta pays close attention. looking to catch anything that her research may have missed about the Yggdrasil samples. "Spacesharks? Leviathans? Interesting ..... Perhaps one thing that can be looked into is the possibility of organic Solar Sails, grown by the craft, to use the Solar Currents as a propellant?"

*The research project gets under-way. Testing, such as compatibility of the Crana-web and the genomes of native Sakkran plantlife is done, with results within expected norms. A separate team of technicians is assigned to look into the Snel Races unfinished projects, and to see how they can be adapted to other purposes*

"It appears the Crana-Web will work on the Paroo/Kansee Vine hybrid plants. It should be able to withstand cold and vacuum, and use chemical communication for in-craft comm. But the real test of this will be in the vacuum chamber. If all goes well, we can begin work on making its healing/repair process more efficient."

Biologist Krenn looks at his datapad and his notes. "We have been analyzing the Yggdrasil sample for this, but find it would take a very long time for the craft to reach full maturity. The Emperor would most likely think this inefficient for our purposes. The best that can be done is use the Yggdrasil as an example for our geneticists. The hybrids we may come up with will not be as spectacular as yours, Snel Race, but they will be easier to maintain for us."

Director Shuuta pays close attention. looking to catch anything that her research may have missed about the Yggdrasil samples. "Spacesharks? Leviathans? Interesting ..... Perhaps one thing that can be looked into is the possibility of organic Solar Sails, grown by the craft, to use the Solar Currents as a propellant?"

"We had considered using leaf structures as solar sails of sorts, but it was not effective. However, we have found magnetosails to be much more promising, and the experience with growing mirrored and high-absorption surfaces has led to great developments with the Spacesharks."

"It appears the Crana-Web will work on the Paroo/Kansee Vine hybrid plants. It should be able to withstand cold and vacuum, and use chemical communication for in-craft comm. But the real test of this will be in the vacuum chamber. If all goes well, we can begin work on making its healing/repair process more efficient."

"We are pleased. A fully functional Crana should in fact be able to exist symbiotically with nearly any other non-poisonous organism, but as we gather that you wish for non-sentient ships, the hybrid solution is probably best."

Biologist Krenn looks at his datapad and his notes. "We have been analyzing the Yggdrasil sample for this, but find it would take a very long time for the craft to reach full maturity. The Emperor would most likely think this inefficient for our purposes. The best that can be done is use the Yggdrasil as an example for our geneticists. The hybrids we may come up with will not be as spectacular as yours, Snel Race, but they will be easier to maintain for us."

"True, true. The Martian Yggdrasil was actually grown as separate parts, wnd then grafted together again, to ensure that it would be completed within a reasonable timeframe. We believe the benefits to your project would be better hull-bark, as well as circulatory and recycling systems."

A separate team of technicians is assigned to look into the Snel Races unfinished projects, and to see how they can be adapted to other purposes.

Much is unavailable, but this is basically what they will find:

The Spacesharks are sleek, looking like a cross between shark, tree, xenomorph, and rocket ship. At the back end is an aerospike, made of something like a cross between horn and bone, ringed with large adjustable mirror-leaves to focus the sun's rays and ignite the fuel. Just forward of the aerospike is a thick trunk, like a streamlined tree. Instead of rough bark, though, the skin is waxy, and somewhat translucent, almost transparent in some places, to allow light to shine on the photovoric cells beneath. Further forward, in place of fins are antenna-like spikes, and collapsable parabolic satelite dishes. An ovipositor is somewhere between the mirror-leaves and the antenna-fins. Just behind the mouth, a deep slit runs horizontally along the body on both sides, in line with the satelites. Three pits are positioned within each slit, each responding to visible, infrared, or ultraviolet light. The mouth is a sharp bony beak, designed for cutting and tearing. Inside this primary mouth is a secondary mouth, and each can be opened only if the other is closed, to avoid venting the Spaceshark's insides into hard vacuum. The secondary mouth is blunt, and designed more for chewing and grinding.

Because of its aerospike engine, food is a requirement for Spacesharks, not just something that allows it to get bigger.

Spacesharks reproduce by attacking another organism, but then placing an egg in the carcass instead of consuming it. The host organism doesn't even have to be dead for this to occur, leading to situtations where a baby Spaceshark ends up violently bursting its way out of another living creature, in an Alien-esque fashion. If the host happens to be social, a feeding frenzy will probably ensue.

(OOC: Eh, typing that wore me out. Info on the others to come later.)

(OOC: Dang, wrong nation. Oh well.)

Leviathans are super-beings, gigantic organisms that contain entire ecologies within them. Due to their large size, Leviathans will take an extremely long time to mature. They are shaped like rough elipsoids. They are semisentient, but are most of their senses are internal. The external senses it has are heat detection, and a limited sense of smell for detecting wisps of pheromones. Leviathans are mostly immobile, following the same orbit forever, but they are able to thrust themselves about slightly when absolutely necessary (for example, their orbit is unstable and would crash them into the sun if they didn't do anything about it).

The Leviathan itself is little more than a pressurized shell, with skin similar to a Spaceshark's, but much thicker. A Leviathan can eat in two ways: First, a gigantic mouth opens at the front to sweep up comet dust, spacekrill, or other hapless animals when it passes through an area thick with such things. Second, long, cilia-like hairs all over its body can trap bits of spacejunk, possibly things that the mouth misses. The smallest bits may be fused into the Leviathan's skin, like an Yggdrasil does with micrometeorites. Larger bits may be passed forward along the cilia and eventually into the mouth, or just left stuck to the skin, to eventually bee grown over. The very largest bits may either be trapped in a bubble formed by folding the skin over it, and then released to the interior, or just left hanging there to be grown over or eaten by scavengers as well. Of course, eating is not really necessary except to grow and reproduce, as a careful balance is maintained between respiration and photosynthesis that recylces all wastes.

The huge interior volume makes the complex plumbing system present in most spaceborns unnecessary, as it pretty much contains its own complete atmosphere, making waste recycling much easier. The very core of a Leviathan is completely unnocuppied by the Leviathan's own body parts, meaning that the internal ecology can run wild. The rest is compartmentalized, so that sections can be sealed off in case of a breach of the skin, to prevent total decompression.

Cleanerfish are symbionts with the Leviathans. They can range in size from an inch to several meters, although large ones should be rare as the Leviathan will likely mistake them for food and try to trap them. The Cleanerfish are rather amorphous chemoautotrophic creatures. They get all of their food from raw chemicals, not necessarily biomass, although they can break down biomass as well as anything else. They live on the Leviathan's skin, crawling along its body and through the cilia, scraping up alll the little bits gumming it up, and any parasites, like cometary bacteria, as well. Apart from the Leviathans, they can live in large clouds in deepspace, holding each other together with their cilia and feeding on comet trails and other space dust. A Cleanerfish that gets separated from its swarm or from its host Leviathan is likely to spend the rest of its life floating pointlessly through deepspace, unless it has the good fortune of landing on a comet or asteroid with sufficient chemicals for it to reproduce.

Cometfish are like super-sized versions of terrestrial starfish, but they're eating habits are quite different. The have a double-mouth, like Spacesharks, but with both layers designed for grinding. Like Cleanerfish, they are chemoautotrophic as well as photovoric, since they often live where they can't get much sun. They generally feed on colonies of cometary bacteria. Although they can survive off of a comet or asteroid, they're only likely to be in that situation if they're thrown off by a gas eruption or some other accident, since they have no method of manuevering in deep space, short of regurgitation to provide reaction mass. Only the eggs/larva travel through deep space deliberately. Small ones may sometimes accompany Cleanerfish and feed on bacteria on a Leviathan's skin, but never large ones, for the same reason that there can be few really big Cleanerfish. Any that live on a Leviathan are likely to reproduce like wild to keep their size down, and jump onto a passing comet or asteroid at the first chance they get.

Spacekrill also live off of cometary bacteria colonies. They are small, with hard exoskeletons, and really look a lot like terrestrial shrimp or krill. Some venture onto the surface, but most stay deep within their comets. Reproduction can only take place in a deep burrow, where the eggs won't be exposed to hard vaccum. Occassionally, a swarm of Spacekrill will be thrown off into deep space by a gass eruption or meteroid impact, at which point they become food for Spacesharks, Leviathans, unlucky Cometfish, etc. Spacekrill are not photovoric, and therefore do expel waste, so they have limited manuevering ability in deep space, but are unlikely to be able to use it in any intelligent way, and therefore will die rather quickly.

ooc:- we might want to control the breading cycle of any vessel we bioengineer, we certainly don't want the spacesharks breeding cycle.

OOC: Excellent point. Modifications will have to be made to curtail the breeding rate a bit.

"We are pleased. A fully functional Crana should in fact be able to exist symbiotically with nearly any other non-poisonous organism, but as we gather that you wish for non-sentient ships, the hybrid solution is probably best."

IC: Director Shuuta looks at the diagnostic equipment as the technicians go about their tasks. "Hmmmm...it appears the hybrid will possess a rudimentary intelligence regardless. It is acceptable. I almost expected it would anyway. If it is capable of communication, even in the crudest form, would not intelligence be inherent?" She seems to pace about a bit.

""We had considered using leaf structures as solar sails of sorts, but it was not effective. However, we have found magnetosails to be much more promising, and the experience with growing mirrored and high-absorption surfaces has led to great developments with the Spacesharks."
I think that the leaf structures which you mentioned could be of more benefit in an emergency than one might think. Perhaps making them more pliable and reflective will be of use? It would aid photo-synthesis and also provide propulsion to a low extent. Good for times when normal means of propulsion are off-line."

Scientist Krenn has a holographic display up, working on some calculations. "I think that melding the Yggdrasil sample to the hybrid will give it a much more stable growth-rate. Without it, the rate of growth will be swift, but the aging rate will also be swift. The hybrid would perish of aging in 40 standard years before it is mature enough to reproduce effectively. It is my reccomendation that we implement this, with lthe Snel Race's permission of course. Life support would be a simple matter. The carbon dioxide we exhale would be converted to an oxygen/nitrogen gaseous solution by the craft. I think working some of the Resin Beetle genome into the factor would also be helpful. It could then digest micro-meteorites and asteroids, as well as other stellar bodies, and convert the minerals in them into food."

Director Shuuta looks at the diagnostic equipment as the technicians go about their tasks. "Hmmmm...it appears the hybrid will possess a rudimentary intelligence regardless. It is acceptable. I almost expected it would anyway. If it is capable of communication, even in the crudest form, would not intelligence be inherent?" She seems to pace about a bit.

"That, I am afraid, is a question for the philosophers. The Doctors Green would be more quilified to discuss that matter."

I think that the leaf structures which you mentioned could be of more benefit in an emergency than one might think. Perhaps making them more pliable and reflective will be of use? It would aid photo-synthesis and also provide propulsion to a low extent. Good for times when normal means of propulsion are off-line."

"Implement it if you wish. We have not pursued such lines of research ourselves."

Scientist Krenn has a holographic display up, working on some calculations. "I think that melding the Yggdrasil sample to the hybrid will give it a much more stable growth-rate. Without it, the rate of growth will be swift, but the aging rate will also be swift. The hybrid would perish of aging in 40 standard years before it is mature enough to reproduce effectively. It is my reccomendation that we implement this, with lthe Snel Race's permission of course. Life support would be a simple matter. The carbon dioxide we exhale would be converted to an oxygen/nitrogen gaseous solution by the craft. I think working some of the Resin Beetle genome into the factor would also be helpful. It could then digest micro-meteorites and asteroids, as well as other stellar bodies, and convert the minerals in them into food."

"Aging rates can be modified by altering the telomerase gene, among others. But, I do not know what plans you may have these beings' life cycles, so I shall not make an issue of it. You have our permission to do with the resources provided as you wish. They are our gift. And life-support, that is a major bonus with living ships. What you propose is precisely what the Crana do for us now, although... well, they're Crana. So that may not be applicable. Anyway, simple reversal of the photosynthesis-repressing alterations that we've made to the spaceborns would cause production of oxygen and water to greatly exceed consumption. Which is precisely what you will need, although I can't say it will be good for the ship. That would make it dependant on animal symbionts. Oh- wait, you intended to install a complete symbiotic biosphere anyway, didn't you? I guess that's not a problem, then."

'The symbiotic biosphere was the sound choice for our needs. Instead of having the one life-form do everything, numerous, specialized life-forms would be implemented. This helps buffer the workload and reduces stress on the craft, making for better performance in the long run.'

Krenn pipes in at this moment. "I have conducted research 75 standard years ago for my thesis project. Part of it was the results of stress on different plant life. Escessive stress can cause a break down of the plant's cell walls at slow, but unstoppable rate. The plant would literally shut down and kill itself. In some species, however, stress does not have detrimental effects. It is prompted to accelerate the healing process, and seems to fortify its cell walls. It is this plant that will provide the majority of the structure of the craft; the Paroo Tree. '

Bill had been listen closly to the conversation "In the genetic samples we provided there is a sample of the "Hoth Jet Fish" it moves throught Hoth's waters by gulping water and expelling it out an opening at the base of its tail. It moves quite fast allowing it to escape predetors. We might want to consider using this to move the vessel through space, by propelling gases out of the vessel like an ion drive (ooc:- a larger more effecient version of the one developed by NASA) and we could use water to double as a manuver thruster."

Bill had been listen closly to the conversation "In the genetic samples we provided there is a sample of the "Hoth Jet Fish" it moves throught Hoth's waters by gulping water and expelling it out an opening at the base of its tail. It moves quite fast allowing it to escape predetors. We might want to consider using this to move the vessel through space, by propelling gases out of the vessel like an ion drive (ooc:- a larger more effecient version of the one developed by NASA) and we could use water to double as a manuver thruster."

"Water is not a good reaction mass. You want something with high energy density that will expand when expelled. Which is usually acheived via combustion. Hydrogen peroxide would be good, if you don't want to resort to cybernetic modifications. If you do use cybernetics, I'd go with Hall Effect thrusters. But for the main engine, once again, high-powered engines will require cybernetics, but I believe we can adequately adapt the Spaceshark's aerospike."

It appears some cybernetics would have to be involved anyway, since we were planning to use our laser communication system for ship-to-ship communication. We could adapt our fusion engines for use in this. The Chief Engineer would probably be interested.

Originally, we considered using an adapted Soorguu plant for propulsion. Its waste product of photosynthesis and carbon dioxide intake is a sulphuric gas, but none of us wanted to work around the horrid stench.

"Ok go with cybernetics, it will also help control the breeding cycle because the young will not be able to function or live long without our aid."

"Ok go with cybernetics, it will also help control the breeding cycle because the young will not be able to function or live long without our aid."

"Unless, of course, they have nanochondria. Very useful things, they are, although they rather blur the line between technology and biology."

"Thats similar to microchondria except with nanomachines correct?" Bill replied.

"Thats similar to microchondria except with nanomachines correct?" Bill replied.

"Yes, nanochondria are self-replicating nanites, or in some cases micrites, designed to exists symbiotically within a cell, and allow it to perform otherwise impossible functions. For example, nanochondria are used on Crana ships to seal the seams between cybernetic and biological systems, and Yggdrasil uses them to synthesize carbon nanotubes."

Hmmmmm...nanochondria, yes? Very interesting. We would hear more of this, as it may prove to be extremely useful. Does it require guidance at the start, or is it known to have any problems?
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With the Crana-Web functioning well symbiotically with the Paroo/Kansee/Yggdrasil plant hybrid, Director Shuuta searches for a name for this new engineered form of life.

"I am not terribly creative when it comes to naming things. I usually leave that to my aides, who field several names and I choose one, depending on the circumstances. Perhaps the name 'Pakayg' is appropriate since it incorporates all three plant-forms? We will subject it to the vacuum chamber shortly, as well as stress testing and stimulus/response.

Bomp?

Hmmmmm...nanochondria, yes? Very interesting. We would hear more of this, as it may prove to be extremely useful. Does it require guidance at the start, or is it known to have any problems?

"It requires initial programming, though what form that takes depends on the purpose of the nanochondria. Those that we intend to act as permanent organelles usually use RNA or DNA, which may be built into the nucleic genome, or kept separate."

"I am not terribly creative when it comes to naming things. I usually leave that to my aides, who field several names and I choose one, depending on the circumstances. Perhaps the name 'Pakayg' is appropriate since it incorporates all three plant-forms? We will subject it to the vacuum chamber shortly, as well as stress testing and stimulus/response.

"Names are just words for things, and words are just sounds assigned meanings. Whatever you choose, we will accept, as I'm afraid we aren't very good at such things ourselves."

"Then it is settled. The genus Rhizophora Hedera Vacuus, named so since it is our first Void-born life, will be henceforth known as the Pakayg. Note that down if you will Assistant, and inform our new Empror of it."
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The pressure of space is simulated with a small sample of the new genetic material. The first few samples yielded poor results. Sometimes the sample died from stress, sometimes the cellular walls would rupture.

After a few weeks, and much genetic restructuring, a working sample that can not only tolerate, but thrive in a void environment, is ready. It takes root on a mineral-rich simulated asteroid and bores powerful root-structures into it, drawing nutrients from the asteroid itself, and using photosynthetic energy to facilitate conversion into usable nutrient trace elements.
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Biologist Krenn and Engineer Griimph observe the diagnostic equipment attached to the Void Chamber. "So far so good. In an optimal environment, it seems to do well. It responds to solar currents, directing it's leaves to best collect light. It seems resistant to ambient radiation...."

A fragment of frozen water floats near the sample, which is attached to its host asteroid. The sample snakes out a limb and surrounds the frozen fragment, drawing it into itself.

"....and if I may say so, has what seems to be a rudimentary intelligence coupled with limited motor skill. Fascinating."

ooc:- Organic Spaceship now where have I seen that idea before...something on TV..AAAAHHH I can't recall name Help!

Ic:- We are interested in this development & see potential trade in this idea. Scientist have informed me that this idea may be possible and my Emperor has instructed me to follow this up.

According to the nation scientist chemical signals would be useless in space outside of any vessel, they have suggested you look to animals to overcome this. Features like the bat & whale sonar may be useful, as well as the infra red pits in some snakes.

ooc:- will post more ideas if you are interested & wish to have a space nation partner.

http://www.users.on.net/killerkoala/yuna.JPG
Lady Yuna McCloud
Imperial Trade Ambassador
Empire of Senyahs Corporation
Member of Betriebskoalition (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=61168)

She looks so sad.

But anyway, LRR engineers, having much experience with such things, will point your guys in the right direction.

Biologist Krenn and Engineer Griimph observe the diagnostic equipment attached to the Void Chamber. "So far so good. In an optimal environment, it seems to do well. It responds to solar currents, directing it's leaves to best collect light. It seems resistant to ambient radiation...."

A fragment of frozen water floats near the sample, which is attached to its host asteroid. The sample snakes out a limb and surrounds the frozen fragment, drawing it into itself.

"....and if I may say so, has what seems to be a rudimentary intelligence coupled with limited motor skill. Fascinating."

"Very promising. How nice."

"I wonder if it can protect itself from micrometerites and the like?"Bill mused "If it can't then it won't be of any use to us."

It appears that the tendency to absorb matter is a trait passed from the Yggdrasil sample. Rather than shield itself, it will allow them to come into contact with the surface of itself, and then envelope them. The mass is most likely used to repair itself after it is converted. We will have to do some studies on how this is facilitated.

We have incdluded the electricity-generating ability of the Seev eel into it's genome, but have yet to see its use in any form. I wonder why?

"Sorry should of made myself clear I ment fast moving micrometerites, the kind that punches holes in unshielded ships. Maybe if we try that we will see it protect itself more vigourously."

"Hmmmm...it just might." Shuuta takes a moment to look over her datapad.

"Krenn. Begin simulation of a meteorite at high speed. Holo-projection, not the real thing."

Krenn places his hand on a console, and maoves his clawed fingers about. A holographic projection of a meteorite speeds towards the sample and...




...passes right through it. No activity was taken by the sample, not even a small surge in cellular activity. "Hmmm...very well. Try an actual object."

A Horde Trooper enters the vacuum chamber through three air-locks, carrying a football-sized stone. Using his thrusters in the room, he makes his way slowly towards a corner. When in position, he hurls the stone at the sample.

A small discharge emanates from the sample and bounces the stone away, fragmenting it but not destroying it.

"Fascinating. Very interesting. Get recordings of everything that just happened and uplink it to our datapads. This bears some investigation."

"Ha knew it!...hmmm it show a knowledge of its environment, plus the ability to tell real from illusionary. Thats increadable..I had trouble telling that holographic projection was fake."

Analyzing some of the data, such as how it sent off a discharge and how it could tell the solid from the illusory was the focus of the investigation after the vacuum chamber test.

"It seems that the neurons and axons are conductors for electricity, in a grander scale than most life-forms. The sample has grown a series of electricity-generating muscles and disks, known as the electroplax, which discharge when they are rubbed together. The voltage measured from this sample was 1300 volts. It discharges from this organ ..." At which a small, projecting nodule is highlighted. "... which should be capable of handling the increased voltage as it grows."

"As to its sensory capability, the analysis shows that chemical pheromones are released and absorbed in a radius around the sample. In this ones case, about 300 meters. Re-absorption of the pheremones carry trace elements of its environment, allowing it to 'smell' and 'taste' what's around it. The range of this process should increase as well, but we will continue studying this."

The sample continues to grow as time passes. A new (bump) is evident.

ooc:- waiting for new developments

OOC: Attempting to figure out how to meld various systems in to form a cohesive techno-organic creature. The Crana-Web will be helpful, but still stuck as to whether or not to go with an artificial propulsion system, or go with the Snel Race's Space Shark system. We're looking into using communication possibility in-ship, by boosting the chemical signal and axon idea with optical circuitry and quantum computer tech. Ideas?

I'm thinking also of how to pilot the craft without having to do something on the border of enslavement. Debating doing some training of anyone with empathic abilities to act as Handlers, which would be the title of the pilots. Much like the Handlers we have that work with the Resin Beetles.

There are now 5 separate samples, that have been given a little time to grow and develop. Each has different DNA strands at work. All are for the most part similar, but each also has slightly different properties. The 1st sample will be allowed to develop at its normal pace, but the electrical field generating ability is not terribly efficient, and could not be controlled very well.

The new samples have hollow inner-structuring, for passengers and crew, and the seeds of a working bio-sphere have been planted within. The elictrical field generating ability of the first sample has been encoded into the new samples, but to a far lesser degree. This is to provide shielding from EM pulses and frequencies. A gelatinous inner-wall is also included, to provide protection from stellar radiation. The waxy outer layer is a buffering layer from micro-meteorites and such that are not repelled by the electro-magnetic field. A viscuous sap runs through all the walls of the structure in case there is a breach. They immediately fill the space and form a heavy patch until a full heal cycle is in effect.

The inner workings are as follows thus far. Using the Crana-web and its nanochondria, a symbiotic bio-sphere is made. Many parts will be touch and sound sensitive, and empty nodules will be present for the crew to have as quarters. We have even figured out the problem of crew and passenger waste elimination. It will be handled by the living craft breaking down waste products, both liquid and solid, and will use specifically designed bacterium to filter useful nutrients and liquids out to be re-used by the craft. Carbon dioxide will be absorbed and an oxygen/nitrogen waste from the craft will be expelled.

In-ship comms will be voice-activated. The messages sent will be transmitted by optic-circuitry boosted genetically enhanced Kansee vines to their appropriate destination, where they will be received and translated by a drum-shaped plant, the Boohan Stump.

The propulsion system will encompass the system the Snel Race's Spaceshark uses, the aero-spike. There will also be solar-energy collecting 'wings', which we have garnered from the Resin Beetle DNA. This will store energy for emergency use, and allow the solar winds to provide propulsion that is, while relatively slow, very efficient for long voyages in terms of energy use. It will also provide energy to the interior bio-sphere should it become needed.

These are the developments that will be ingrained into each craft as they stand. With further maturation, we may see individual abilities come to the fore. But for now, the samples remain in the Vacuum Room, feasting on their host asteroids. Soon we will bring them to the Asteroid belt just past Mars, where we have a mining station converted to a lab. There we will observe the samples in the wild, and see how they fare.

We are now combing the lands for empaths, to guage reaction of the samples to stimulus, and to see if some form of rudimentary communication can be made with the samples.

Van Allen Belt mining facility is currently undergoing adjustments for the research project. A new mining facility is to be constructed in the area. Several transports are already being loaded with supplies, materials and Constructors for this task. Research teams will be asked to prepare themselves for relocation. A defense grid is to be put into place and made operational before the research teams arrive.

"Why not use a cybernetic link between the pilot and the bioship? That way the pilot can communicate with the bioship without the need for empathy. Then you could train candidates that pass a screening process in all the necessary things to help run the bioship, further more you can be confident that the pilots will not steal the bioship. Mainly because you can use a empath during the screening process to make sure the candidates have a strong sense of loyalty to the Nation plus some for the bioship. With normal people implanted with the cybernetic link well be able to have more ships, because as you know (or at least in my Empire) Empaths are rare."

The only empaths we have are only able to transfer thoughts with close relatives. Telepathy between species is likely to be extremely difficult, especially when one is only semi-sentient. Either pavlovian training, reflexes built into the organism, or cybernetics seem to be the best bet.

It is sound. The search for those with Empathic ability was poor. We have a few, but they are very weak in their ability, as it is not in our nature I assume. The cybernetic link route is the best choice for this project, since pavlovian training requires a lot of time and patience. And how would we know if the training will hold? We do not.

What kind of security mesures are in place to make sure these "samples" don't escape?

At this moment, the samples seem to be anchored to their host asteroid, which severely impairs mobility. We assume that this is for their early development phase, but we are keeping watch for changes as they develop. So far the first sample is growing at a pace of 3 inches a week. It has already seemed to show signs of petal-sails forming, and some root-anchors seem to be forming a new structure.

(OOC: Well, I have an idea of what these things will look like, so here it is.)

IC: The first sample is released from the Orbital Station, where tow-craft are awaiting to latch on to the asteroid-host of the living Pakayg craft, and bring it to the Great Asteroid belt and the research facility being constructed there.

http://home.earthlink.net/~peterpank/specimen.JPG

As it is released from the Station and drifts for a moment, it unfurls its petal-sails and begins collecting solar energy.

Director Shuuta is observing this from a remote surveillance camera. "It is a beautiful thing indeed."

<<BUMP>>

The six existing specimens are drawn to their per-ordained coordinates, and float among the asteroids in the area. Occasionally, an asteroid finds itself on a collision course with the specimens. Instead of crashing into the specimens, they are grabbed by tendril-like extensions and either drawn into the specimen and absorbed, or are swatted away.

Within the research facility, the scientists are set up. All their equipment is placed almost exactly where it was onboard the Orbital Shipyard, and the accomodations are matched. There should be little difference in the setup, escept there is now more room to move about in.
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Several weeks pass with very little note-worthy activity. Then a light on the observation console comes to life and telemetry scales along the holo-display.

"Director Shuuta, Mr. Gateter, Snel Race astrobiologists; this is Biologist Krenn. Please report to the control center."

As Shuuta enters the control room, she sees the telemetry scaling, and turns to Krenn. "What is all this disturbance? What is occuring?"

Krenn points to the telemetry. "We are seeing neural system activity unlike any since the beginning of this project. Spikes are here......here....here...and here on all the specimens simultaneously. Putting visuals online now."

As a holo-display flickers to life, the six crafts seem to have positioned themselves into ahexagonal formation. Long tendrils snake from one to another, creating some form of web. Petal-sails are unfurled to full extention, and more tendrils seem to be forming on each individual craft.

"What are they up to?" Shuuta looks at the data, and looks at the display yet again, seemingly wide-eyed.

"They're ....... talking."

Bill enters the contol center and over hears the last part.

"Their talking? They have formed a language of their own?" he ask's as he approchese Dr Shuuta.

"Can you find out what they are saying? And just incase what percautions are you taking to prevent any hostile actions? Not that I'm say they will attack us but its better to be safe then sorry."

ooc:- Just for your information I aim to take the experience of this to create my own bioship. I intend to leave this version to you as you are doing most of the work :wink:

OOC: That's the point of cooperative research. Everyone gets something out of it to take home and work with.

IC: Shuuta is frantically working the holo-console, attempting to decode what the exchanges between the samples are.

"From what I can see, it is not a language as we know it. It is, however, pulses of coded protein strings that they seem to exchange with one another through their exterior tendrils. I am attempting to discern a pattern and form a code base, so we can eavesdrop on them."

Krenn walks over to Bill. "In the event they do become hostile, the defense grid is up and active. It could be turned on the specimens if needed, but I sincerely hope it doesn't come to that. What a waste...." Krenn shakes his head.

"It looks more like instinctive pheromonal communication than any sort of sentience-derived language. Still, interesting."

It may be the case that it is an instinctual exchange. I wonder what it is used for? A team will be posted on rotating shifts around the clock to monitor this. And send a communique to Sakkra requesting decryption software uploads.

"Just out of curiousity do you think they could be observing us? and listening to our communications?"

The Sakkrans all share a simultaneous exchange of looks. "That ......... is an interesting thought. We had not thought of that possibility. If that is the case, then it becomes a case of the watchers being watched. How ..... odd."

"It is almost a certainty. The debate would be whether or not they understand what they see of us."

(OOC: Well, Sakkra brought it to my attention and so's this is how I figured I could introduce myself.)

It's tough being in the Roving Cruiser Squadrons. Either one wanders around the Solar System looking for something to do or one wanders around a particular area looking like the spit-and-polish military force that the Triumvirate of Yut Combined Services is.

RCS Echo is one of the former. In the command room of its flag, the medium cruiser Adventurer, Flag Colonel Timofeyev Bondayehr (no relation to the C/3C of the same name) idly stirs a butter knife in his large stein of tea. Resting his gaunt features on one curled fist, he lets his eyes wander across the display monitors and around the holographic strategic indicator board.

A few new yellow icons appear on the board, eliciting a raised eyebrow from the colonel. "What are those?"

"Umm..." A sensors technician refers to his display. "Looks like whatever the Sakkra have been playing with for the last while. They're talking to each other now... and... that's odd."

"What's odd?"

"They're big plants, sir. Spectrography indicates CHON, and... we're getting an image on telescope now."

Bondayehr stops stirring and raises that one eyebrow a few millimeters higher. "Interesting. You said they're talking..."

"Yes, sir, but they're not speaking any language I know. Just sounds like strings of some twenty-odd characters--no rhyme or reason to them, sir. No coherent pattern or structure... although each character may have three subcomponents. I'm not too sure."

"Very interesting. What are the Sakkra doing about it?"

"Dunno. Their orbital yards are running nominally, and the defense grids are up... but they're probably almost always up."

"Well, now I'm curious. Comms, prepare an unencrypted RF transmission to the Sakkran orbital yards."

"Acting, sir."

***

Sakkran Orbital Station:

This is Flag Colonel Bondayehr of the TYWS-MCR Adventurer, flag of RCS Echo. We notice that those... trees you've been growing in the hard vacuum of space are talking to each other. Out of curiosity, what's happening?

Flag Colonel Timofeyev Bondayehr
Commanding Officer, RCS Echo
TYWS-MCR Adventurer

Sakkran Orbital Station:

This is Flag Colonel Bondayehr of the TYWS-MCR Adventurer, flag of RCS Echo. We notice that those... trees you've been growing in the hard vacuum of space are talking to each other. Out of curiosity, what's happening?

Flag Colonel Timofeyev Bondayehr
Commanding Officer, RCS Echo
TYWS-MCR Adventurer

"Precisely what you think is happening. The Pakaygs are talking to each other. Something to do with putting a nervous system into an Yggdrasil frame."

Colonel Bondayehr blinks and mutters something annoyed in Russian before continuing in English. "The who are talking to each other because a nervous system was put into a what frame? I'm sorry, but we're just troopers."

All right, what's all this then?

As the comm from the Adventurer comes in, Scientist Griimph uplinks the all-clear to the defense grid. No DefSats or latent Brilliant Pebbles will be activated. He sends a response.

"Greetings Colonel Bondayehr. I am Scientist Griimph. We are conducting tests, much as the Snel Race has described. Living crafts. Currently we are seeing interesting side-effects and are analyzing the data. Should you wish to dock, we can clear a berth for you. Griimph out."

Shuuta has been on the verge of mania attempting to decode the Pakayg language for weeks, when she yells "I HAVE IT! It was so basic!"

A holo-display is cued up, and a sample of the protein-strain language comes up. "It's akin to binary, except in a three-dimensional format. Instead of ones and zeros, there are three strands of complex proteins. When lapped, they form a code base. While we can get the basic understanding of what they are communicating, that is all we can get for now. The complex proteins themselves hold information that we are unable to access, unless we tap into a tendril and get a sample."

Krenn looks up at the display. "So what are they saying?"

Shuuta looks at the approaching Scolopendran ship, and at the display. "They are wondering if this new thing is food."

"Oh oh better warn the ships to back off a bit..........or will soon see how effective their ships defences are." bill muttered.

"Well, of course! What else do you expect them to be thinking about? They aren't exactly sophontic. Minor intelligences worry mostly about their own survival, and primary to that is food."

"Hmmmm....perhaps we had better defuse this possibly volatile situation. If it is food they want, then they shall be fed." Krenn puts on his AV headset and begins comms. "Towcraft 3 and 7. Respond please. Priority 3."

A slight crackling is heard throughout the control room. "Towcraft 3 here. What is the emergency?"

"We need you and 7 to haul some stones over to the research facility's ZOC. 12 in total. Looking for mineral richness in iron, nickel, magnesium. In that order. Check frequency for authorization certification"

A moment passes. "Confirmed. Maneuvering to intercept stones. Will be accomplished in a few. Will tow to designated area. Stand by."

As the crafts do their stuff, Shuuta begins sending a comm to the specimens. "I hope I have this right. I'm going to have to filter this through the translation software we got uploaded from Sakkra."

After she completes her task, of mocking together some form of communique the specimens might understand, she sends it to them. After a short time, they cease attempting to maneuver themselves and sit silently. The towcraft make good, and release the asteroids in the research station's ZOC.

"By Gorrm's teeth, that would have been unpleasant. I told them that dinner will be served, not literally.

"Fast thinking Doctor, it might have been a bit unpleasant explaining to their goverment how our experiment ate their ship by mistake."

"Hmm... Space Amoeba."

(OOC: Anybody get the joke? Scolo? Anybody?)

OOC: Sorry, you lost me. If you said Space Herpe, I would soil myself laughing like a lunatic.

(OOC: Heh... space amoeba.)

The eight ships of the Roving Cruiser Squadron wandered about, oblivious to the threat. Actually, had they known, they'd probably less concerned with an attempt to eat them and more concerned with explaining to the Sakkra why they had to open up at pointblank range with the ultraheavy naval autocannon on the space trees. Or explaining to the Scolopendran Science Section why they did so. All that paperwork for weapons-fire in an uncertain situation, no matter the result.

"Hmm..." Bondayehr rubbed his chin. "I'm not sure I wish to dock until I know what's going on. So you're growing space-trees as spaceships, so I hear? Is there any way we can be helpful? We do have a small science staff aboard for odd situations like this."

"You and your staff would be most welcome to come aboard the Research Station. Your crew can have some R&R, and the scientists may find some interesting data."

OOC: Just so you know where you are, the Research Station is in the Asteroid Belt just past Mars, due to the difficulty nosey nations would have monitoring it from a distance. All those rocks, after all.

(OOC: Heh... space amoeba.)
(He got it! Good boy, extra doggy biscuit!)

All that paperwork for weapons-fire in an uncertain situation, no matter the result.
(My favorite war quote: "Why does radiation always involve paperwork....")

"Hmm..." Bondayehr rubbed his chin. "I'm not sure I wish to dock until I know what's going on. So you're growing space-trees as spaceships, so I hear? Is there any way we can be helpful? We do have a small science staff aboard for odd situations like this."

"You're correct. The Sakkrans have come up with an alteration on the Yggdrasil design to make it small and mobile, and capable of carrying a crew. Not to mention part-animal."

"Hmm... Space Amoeba."

(OOC: Anybody get the joke? Scolo? Anybody?)

ooc:- I'm afraid you lost me there.

Krenn looks at his data concerning the specimen's linguistics. "I'm getting some strange under-currents from the specimens in their language. Spikes of complex-coded strains are flowing a bit more often than usual. Their 'scent' range is also increasing. Querying activity is up 27%, and thermo-graphics are showing increased activity internally."

"Meaning what, in layman's terms?"

"I think they're starting to get curious, and might be building up for a move. I need to go outside and perform some EVA to attach some more sensitive equipment, just to be certain. It could just be activity from the Adventurer showing up, but they seem a bit stirred up. Anyone care to join for a pleasant stroll?"

Dr. Blue stepped out of the control room for a moment. "Clickclicksnapclicketyclack...." And one of the greens came forward.

"I'll go out with you."

"Ah pass" Bill looks nervously at the thought "I don't care much for being outside in a EVA suit, all that open space." he gives a cough and a sheen of perspiration forms on his forehead.

Krenn eyes the Green. "Very good. I'm sure you're familiar with EVA maneuvers? Then if you need to, we'll suit up. I have to pick up the equipment after I get in my EVA suit." Krenn exits the control room, and the door swishes shut behind him.

Full spectrum scans are running over the specimens. "Dr. Gateter. Since Krenn is away from his post, would you like to take control of the bio-monmitors?"

"Sure" Bill replied moving over to bio-monmitors recently vacated by Dr. Krenn.

Krenn eyes the Green. "Very good. I'm sure you're familiar with EVA maneuvers? Then if you need to, we'll suit up. I have to pick up the equipment after I get in my EVA suit." Krenn exits the control room, and the door swishes shut behind him."

"I am. But I doubt that you will have a suitable EVA unit. I shall return to my craft, and meet you at the airlock when I am ready."

Krenn arrives at the airlock with an object under his arm, which has many harnesses attached to it.

http://home.earthlink.net/~peterpank/scanner.JPG

The airlock hatches open one at a time, for a total of three hatches, and Krenn steps out. Activating the thrusters on his suit in short bursts, he maneuvers himself to the monitoring area of the project. asteroid traffic seems a bit minimal today; so much the better. He cues up his comm. "Dr. Green. Are you prepared?"

"Chitterclicketyclak-" *Click* "Ah. Sorry, I forgot to switch on the translator. The vocal translator is rather prone to mistakes, though. I am ready."

Green, having six appendages, with jets at the ends of four of them, is far more easily mobile. Twisting in Krenn's direction, he fired off his thrusters, and drifted over.

"Excellent. Dr. Gateter, i'll need you to keep an eye open for any spikes in activity coming from the specimens. Full spectrum analysis, as well as delta-wave readings and communication variables."

The monitoring area can bee seen visibly now, with Brilliant Pebbles missile defenses laying in silent sentry all about.

http://home.earthlink.net/~peterpank/pebbles.JPG

The specimens, on visual inspection, seem to have grown to a length of about 150 meters and a width of 30 meters, not at their most extreme points. Some have retracted their petal-sails, while others keep them unfurled.

"After I strap this monitoring device onto one of the specimens, we'll be able to get far more stable data on their language system, how they register their environment, and any changes in their development."

"Becareful not to be mistaken for food Doctor." Bill says while monitoring the specimens.

Bondayehr scratches the back of his head. "This is more interesting than anything else we can come up with. FlightCom, prepare a shuttle with a science team. FleetCom, order the fleet to keep an eye on the situation. I think I'm going to go on a trip. If those three spacemen need some help, we'd better be ready."

The Fleet Communications officer looks up. "That's against regs, sir."

Bondayehr took on his best interrogator's small smile. "Is there a problem, Lieutenant?"

"Um... no sir."

***

A beetle-like S-3 Scarab shuttle pops from the side of Adventurer and slides on low-distort drive towards the Sakkra station.

As Krenn approaches the specimens, all bio-signs seem nominal. Until he comes within 1km of the test area. A slight spike in activity is evident, and the specimens begin "talking" to each other. The first specimen manipulates its petal-sails to catch some solar winds and rotates towards the scientists approaching. The main idea communicated was Strange .... Approaching.

"Ah Krenn be careful they have noticed your approch, I will monitor their conmunication....you might want to tell them that you are not food."

Krenn checks his comm system to see if there's any way he can send a comm to the specimens that they would understand. Finding none, he opts for improvisation.

"I can not communicate with them as yet. That is partly what this device i'm holding is for. I will have to act as one does to a feral Resin Beetle and approach slowly. Altering velocity now."

Krenn slows to half his current speed and approaches. He takes hold of a small stone in his path, and holds it ahead of him. If a Sakkran could sweat, he would be drowning in it. Instead his jaw clacks and his neck pulses as if in a swallowing action.

Coming within a 50 meter distance, Krenn slows his suit to a comparitive crawl. The 1st specimen snakes a tendril out slowly and touches Krenn with it. It investigates every part of the suit slowly, and the device as well.

Diffferent........strange Krenn holds the stone up against the tendril, and a resin-like goo coming from the surface of the probing tendril grabs hold of it, and draws it into the frontal section of the specimen. Gives ... food. Not ... food.

The tendril does make another appearance, connecting to the other specimens who are all faced in Krenn's direction. The specimen begins to turn slowly, showing its broadside to Krenn, who advances himself slowly, and eventually makes contact with the specimens surface. "Oh by Gorrm's teeth, that was terrifying!"

"It seemed very interesting from my perspective. I doubt it would've harmed you. They probably will reject anything that tastes bad. That is, doesn't provide the proper nutrients."

"It seemed very interesting from my perspective. I doubt it would've harmed you. They probably will reject anything that tastes bad. That is, doesn't provide the proper nutrients."

Bill smiles at Greens comment then activate the com "I would think very hard on being a bad taste if I was you." He chuckles "Or you will be able to give us a discription of their digestive system as it eats you." Bill checks the equipment in front of him "Well it looks like they decided that you are not food Doctor Krenn, well done."

"The Empire of Draconic States is pioneering into the area of Bionuclear life forms. Once we can find a life form that is sustainable in a stellar mass, we will attempt the colonization of stars. Sadly we cannot share the details of this research, but note that it runs very parrallel to what we have seen in this latest attempt of the Sakkra. We wish our reptillian brothers the best of luck and encourage htem to think of life in more than just an organic context as a means of expanding their horizons in space."

Karnell Vortex,
Chief Science Officer of the Empire
3rd cousin of the Emperor

The comm in the EVA suit crackles with Dr. Gateter's message. "Oh thank the Horde." As he moves along the surface of the specimen with one hand, he still holds the sensory equipment in his other arm. Sensory readings show up on his visor.

"Readings on the surface show a heavy chitinous/celluloid structuring. Nodules and small crevaces permeate the specimens surface. Some appear to be larger in circumfrence, and emit trace gases of an ammonia/methane mix." Krenn continues moving slowly along the surface, relaying readings as they scroll along his visor. After a time, he attaches the sensor package onto a protrusion near the mid-section.

It's then that he notices a nodule that seems differently shaped than the others. "Location [xyz] of the specimen shows slightly different structuring than normal. Will investigate."

He runs his 2 fingers along the surface of the odd nodule, then palms it with his right hand. To the right of him, a section of the specimens skin parts, showing a space approximately 10' high and wide by 12' deep. The sensory package is online at this time, and relays information back to the research facility.

"I think I have found a door."

bump

Krenn radios in his findings involving the 'door' in question.

"All readings at a cursory scanning are in accordance with what could be assumed to be an airlock. Returning to the research facility. Request a full internal scan to see if the bio-sphere is functional, or still in development."

ooc:- which do you want?....not yet or GO FOR IT!

OOC: At this point i'd say not yet. The nodules for the airlock are a new discovery, and being scientists, they would want to know how and why it works as it does, before rushing in. If it was a military personnel, then i'd say go for it.

IC: Krenn returns to the research facility with his data-recorder in hand.

"Is the sensory package transmitting?"

Shuuta: "Yes. We are receiving information at a steady rate. THere are indeed under-currents of information that accompany the protein-transferance. And we have also gathered a bit of information when you touched the nodule. It seems all the specimens have similar nodules in similar locations. There are three layers of chitinous membranes that serve as the airlock. The first layer is the external, which de-pressurizes on activation. The second and third layers begin pressurizing and releasing an oxygen/nitrogen mix when that first layer is activated. After the first layer closes, the second layer opens, releasing the mix and pressurizing the area to internal standards."

OOC: To get this moving along a spell, we return to the research facility a few months later. The specimens have grown to approximately 220 meters in length and 55 meters in width, not including their petal-sails. A workable method of decoding the more complex under-currents of their system of communication is complete, even though there is still no knowledge of how to transmit to them, if it is at all possible.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scientist Griimph has completed his daily surface scans of all the samples, as well as some internal scanning.

"Okay. Today's scans show the chitinous outer-dermal layer growing in thickness to about 1.12 meters. The celluloid inner-layer is also growing. The current thickness is .9 meters. The nodules and entry-points are showing minimal growth, but the thickness is increasing. They seem to be fortifying themselves a bit. A large-scale entry point is evident now, as designed in their genome."

Griimph picks up his datapad, and cues up the next page of data. "There is increased communication traffic between the specimens, and their sensory abilities are now at a range of 1,000 kilometers. They know we are here, but are not sure what we are doing. They seem to have rudimentary reasoning abilities, as exhibited by their attempt to sample some asteroids containing highly radioactive elements. These were rejected, yet not removed from their presence. They seem to be studying it."

"Internal scans show an oxygen-nitrogen mix at Terra normals. Several empty nodules are dotted about the interior. There are corridor-like structures here..here...here..here...and here." With that, several points are highlighted along the cut-away view of the specimens.

"So gentlemen, what is our next course of action?"

"Simple in my view, just ask them if we can come aboard one of them and answer any questions they may have. Once they understand that we created them to be our friends in travlling the stars they may decide to tell us what they want in the way of food to help them grow etc."

ooc:- Yes he beleives that they will accept the scientist as friends.

Director Shuuta muses to herself. Ah, such innocence. When did we lose ours? Ah, yes...when we were driven underground a millenia ago "While your suggestion is noteworthy, we still do not have a means to communicate with them in a way that they would understand. Plus, we do not know if they have a defensive internal system that would see us as a threat."

The specimens congregate as they do at their pre-determined hour. They have been stretching the limits of their sensory abilities, and exercising their control over their ability to manipulate their own bodies. They have even given themselves designations. The following is a 'transcript' of their conversations amongst themselves.

Herd Prime <<Have sensed many food-sources around us. Scents on the winds speak of many creatures in shells we can not eat. Scents on the winds also show much activity. Have picked up speech signals. Mobility is possible, but very tiring.>>

Herd Beta <<Confirm non-edible sources located within food area. Bad tasting, but could be a tool. Tested by separating inedible from edible. Great energy is obtained. Could aid in mobility.>>

Herd Ceta <<Trying internal configurations for better mobility. Find that gasses of a certain type mixed with separated inedible results in great exhaust. Mobility is possible, but still tiring. Continuing internal configuration tests.>>

Herd Delta <<Separated inedible boosts internal electricity generating banks. Working on internal focusing configuration. On expulsion, mixing solid particles with electricity results in focused force with good range. Still tiring. Will continue configurations with goal of making process less tiring.>>

Herd Epsilon <<Testing communication abilities with other life. No responses, but confirmed range of 20,000 sectors. Internal maneuvering gas jet configuration in process. Located source of more water. Large water stone incoming. Expected time to close proximity is 3.>>

Herd Gamma <<Confirmed. Will use internal configuration data from all to configure self. Will intercept water stone and return. Will give info on voyage. Need separated inedible samples.>>

With this, the EM, Thermo-graph and biological sensors are off the charts. After a time, the one designated Gamma releases itself from its host-stone, and maneuvers itself slowly. Internal sensors show a dramatic reconfiguration of the rear-section of the specimen into a complex chemical mixing and expulsion bank. Gamma has grown a crude engine.

Gamma furls its petal-sails and proceeds to leave the scientific monitoring area on an intercept course with a large ice-asteroid.

Gamma has grown a crude engine.

Gamma furls its petal-sails and proceeds to leave the scientific monitoring area on an intercept course with a large ice-asteroid.

(OOC: Aerospike, I presume? As opposed to bell nozzle?)

"How encouraging. Perhaps a Crana could interface with it, as the Pakayg's nervous systems were derived from the Crana's. The again, perhaps they would interpret such action as a threat. Perhaps we could synthesize the chemicals that they communicate with."

OOC: You are correct.

Director Shuuta looks at the sensory scanner data as it flows in from the sensory package. Each specimen has one attached. Biologist Krenn also looks at the data, and also a microwave radar screen which covers a 100,000 km area to make certain there are no hostiles in the area. Several Brilliant Pebbles missiles are instructed to follow the Gamma specimen at a distance, and act if something attempts to intercept it.

Scientist Griimph is furiously at work, attempting to replicate the chemical language the specimens use. "I'm working on that now Dr. If things develop at this rate, we need a way to 'talk' with them, or our project will go off and begin spreading dangerously unchecked. We still don't know how often they propogate, if at all."

"They talk of scents in the wind....proberably the solar wind, maybe we should try releasing a request to communicate with them up wind?"

Shuuta takes a moment to condier the possibilities of Dr. Gateters idea. "Hmmmm.......mmmmyeessss. Yes, I think that would work. If we could replicate the correct sequence for a communication, we could release it 'upwind' of them. A probe would have to be fashioned and then adjusted to release the chemical sequence. Do you think you could alter and program one of our Brilliant Pebbles Missiles to do this?"

Shuuta takes a moment to condier the possibilities of Dr. Gateters idea. "Hmmmm.......mmmmyeessss. Yes, I think that would work. If we could replicate the correct sequence for a communication, we could release it 'upwind' of them. A probe would have to be fashioned and then adjusted to release the chemical sequence. Do you think you could alter and program one of our Brilliant Pebbles Missiles to do this?"

"Alter no I'm not an engineer I'm a biochemist, program yes if I had some help."

"Very well then. Griimph, you are our technician here. Order one of the Brilliant Pebbles in to bay 2. We need you to assist Dr. Gateter in programming the missile to act as a probe. You will remove the warhead and attach a sensory package to it instead. I will prepare the chemical communication sequence, and the appropriate chems. We all have work to do. Let's not delay"

With that Griimph cues up the defense grid commands and brings in one of the missile drones. Shuuta begins aligning the chemical sequence within a not-yet-complete sensor package, and adjusts it to fire off the sequnce she is programming into it. Krenn is preparing the actual chemicals and pheremones for the sequence.

"...If things develop at this rate, we need a way to 'talk' with them, or our project will go off and begin spreading dangerously unchecked. We still don't know how often they propogate, if at all."

"There are always the Spacesharks. Hopefully, it won't come to that."

Hmmmm...yes. There is the problem of stellar predators. We should see about boosting their defensive abilities to avoid that manner of situation.

"After we convince them we are friends & can help them. We don't want them to use those defensive against us now do we."

Shuuta is continuing to work on the chemical sequences for the device that is being worked on. "You are correct Dr. Gateter. Hopefully, this will be the first step towards making them at ease with us."

"Have you figured out a way to allow them to communicate with us without having to send those protien chains? Some kind of device that we can fit on them that they can use to communicate? If we have some of those ready we could ask to put them on to allow eaiser communication between them and us."

"Right now this is the best way. Communicate with them in their own language. Then my staff will work on another method of communication." A few more adjustments, and the device is complete. "Aah, finished. Griimph! How is the probe coming?"

"Just a few more minutes and we'll fit in the device."

The device is fit into place, and sent out of the facility. After drifting a moment, the chemical engines ignite, propelling it forward towards the area the Specimens are in. Balancing thrusters located on the 'wings' help it to adjust course and avoid collisions with objects. Its mission is to find the best area upwind on the Solar Winds from the specimens, and then release its payload in the sequence programmed into it.

The message will be delivered when all the specimens are int the path of the solar winds.

Specimen Gamma returns to the research facilities observation area, bearing with it a large asteroid of frozen hydrogen. After it breaks the asteroid into chunks, it draws one into irself using its tendrils. The others do the same. The probe then sends its chemical signal payload into the Solar Wind.

"Now we will see if this was a success or a failure...If we can't get them to accept us we will have to prevent them leaving."

"I believe they have understood the message." The monitoring equipment registers many spikes in the specimens activity. The sensor package reads as saying 'Who?"

"Damn. It looks like someone will have to go make introductions."

"I believe they have understood the message." The monitoring equipment registers many spikes in the specimens activity. The sensor package reads as saying 'Who?"

"Damn. It looks like someone will have to go make introductions."

"Don't look at me, the open space is not my fortae(sp?)."

More loud clicking issued forth from Dr. Blue. Could anyone else understand it, they would've heard "Green! Got another job for you!"

The light-green Snel reappeared, tapping on his voice synthesizer. "Need someone for some more EVA?"

Shuuta looks at the Green Snel, and extends her dewlap showing red. "Why yes. We have to make our presence established to the specimens so that they could recognize us by scent and, possibly, visual communications. I myself am going to go on behalf of my people, but it would likely be a good idea for others to act as emmissary."

Bill mutters "Well better you go then me, I'll go over only if I can go in a shuttle. There is no way I'm using a EVA suit, just don't like the experiance."

"Very well then Mr. Gateter. You may remain here and monitor the situation. Dr. Green and I will EVA to the specimens and make contact. Keep us apprised of the situation, yes?"

Shuuta walks out of the airlock, and puts on her EVA suit.

OOC: More later. Errands to run right now.

"Sure, sure I'll watch while you float in that big almost empty space, protected only by a EVA suit." Gives a small shudder.

As Shuuta dons her EVA suit and leaves the airlock, she bears one of the chemical strain emitters. Maneuvering jets are fired, and she approaches the specimens slowly. It takes a few moments to get there, as debris is scattered about, tumbling slowly. Finally she is in close proximity to the specimens.

" I am facing the Alpha Specimen. The Sun is to my north-west. Which direction is the solar wind coming from?"

As Shuuta dons her EVA suit and leaves the airlock, she bears one of the chemical strain emitters. Maneuvering jets are fired, and she approaches the specimens slowly. It takes a few moments to get there, as debris is scattered about, tumbling slowly. Finally she is in close proximity to the specimens.

" I am facing the Alpha Specimen. The Sun is to my north-west. Which direction is the solar wind coming from?"

ooc:-....from the sun?

OOC: Yah. Sometimes they tend to follow the gravitic path of orbit though.

OOC: Yah. Sometimes they tend to follow the gravitic path of orbit though.

OOC: More likely magnetic lines of force.

OOC: Ah, yes. Sometimes I get my terminology jumbled. Anyway, moving along.....


IC: Shuuta guages the wind speed and direction, and positions herself in its path as it moves towards the specimens. A code is punched into the modified sensor array, and a holo-display reads that the chemical transmission has been released, showing trajectory and speed, as well as any degradation of the chemical stream that may occur.

A short time later, Krenn radios in. "It seems they have received the message. No spikes in biological energy level readings. I'd say they're wary, but waiting."

"Acknowledged. Proceeding with caution. Dr. Green, are you with me?"

"Right behind you. Ready for anything."

"Excellent. When Krenn came out before, he noted a nodule shaped differently than the others on the surface of the specimen Alpha. My datascreen visor is directing me towards that area. Transmitting data to your onboard systems now."

The uplink shows a mapped cross-section of the specimen, with highlighted areas such as the nodule in question.

A short time later..."Transfer of data complete." I am going to see about this 'airlock' as Krenn described it, and get readings from the inside to guage atmospheric quality. If you can get inside, i'd like for you to take sensor readings as well. While I do this, i'll need you, Dr. Gateter, to keep me updated on the status of the specimens. All of them. I want to know if there's a herd mentality or otherwise. Copy?"

She begins maneuvering towards the nodule, slowly. All the time, Shuuta keys in other pre-programmed chemical sequences attempting to keep the specimens at least interested and at ease.

Shuuta reaches the nodule that controls the airlock of the specimen.

"Taking surface readings....seems to be a chitinous/resin composite. Almost like an exoskeleton, but incredibly dense in molecular structure. There is a liquid resin compund running throughtout the exo-skeleton. I see infused in the cellular make-up......titanium. Most likely extracted from the asteroids they ingest. The airlock is open, i'm going in."

Shuuta palms the nodule, and a separation in the surface of the Alpha specimen opens. It is now 15' in diameter, and oval shaped. She enters the opening, all sensors on full. It then shuts, and a second opening reveals itself of the same dimensions. this one is entered as well, and then closes. The onboard sensors of her EVA suit register pressurization and an atmosphere being injected into the chamber.

After a short time, the last lock opens, and the interior of Alpha is seen. It looks almost totally organic, with pulsing nodules everywhere. Webwork of an as of yet unknown function lines the walls, and a soft glow is given off by organic lighting along the walls. Most likely from the Resin Beetle genome we spliced into this. Vines stretch from one side of the craft to the other, pulsing and flexing. There are several empty chambers along the mid-section of the Alpha. Small biological forms float about in the atmosphere, of a polymorphous nature as their shapes shift and bend constantly.

"Ummm they are talking with each other again...looks like the others are curious about how it feels to have something enter it. Will keep a close eye on this, er a suggestion..don't do anything to discomfort the specimen we want to encourage them into accepting us aboard."

"Acknowledged."

Shuuta continues to look about, and sees the frontal section of the craft of to her right in the distance. With a gentle push, she floats her way in that direction.

Coming to what appears to be the frontal section, Shuuta spies what seems to be several cocoon-like pods. Data on the visor of her EVA suit shows it to be the same cellular structure as the exterior of tha ship. Sveeral tendril-looking protrusions stick out from the inside of the coccon.

Shuuta picks up one of the tendrils and analyzes it. It writhes slightly in her hand. Neural shunt filaments, maybe? What in the Pits is this about? She records all the data she can, and then heads back out to the research facility to get everyone else's opinion on this.

ooc:- Wheres Snel Race?...ok Waiting for you to return :)

OOC: Dunno where Snel Race is. Probably has a billion TGs and RPs to keep up with. Let's assume that Shuuta has returned. I'm sure if Snel catches up, he/she'll post their findings from the scans.

(OOC: Not quite a billion, but school is keeping me busy IRL as well. Let's put Green in the pakayg, for now.)

OOC: Completely understandable. Do you want the good Dr. Green to remain on the pakayg craft while Shuuta returns with the data collected so far?

(yes)

As Shuuta makes to exit the Pakayg specimen, she turns to Dr. Green. "I have to return and analyze these scans. I think in these cocoon-like structures, there are neural filament shunts, but i'm not certain. I will return in a short time after a data dump into the facility's database."

She leaves, and the tendrils withdraw themselves back into the cocoon. A slow rumbling sound could be heard occasionally, and then it quiets slowly. Looking inside the cocoons, one could see several of the tendril/clusters continuing to writhe and twist about.

ooc:- Hmmm I wonder if Mr. Green going to get a closer look than it expected :)

Green Bump

Green swam through the air passages like a cross between an octopus and a jellyfish, arms streaming behind.

Every few decameters was a set of thick cellulose membranes. Must be vacuum seals. Probably slam together under the pressure of expanding water to seal of the rest of the ship if there's a hull breach.

Something of a pattern was soon found in the twisting corridors- they spread out and branched like xylem or blood vessels. Hence, they should all meet somewhere. The Snel set himself to the task of finding the central chamber.

*Narration mode*

The amorphous shapes continue flowing along the walls of the vessels. Occasional bursts of electrical current pulse within the walls themselves. Occasionally, there is a branch-off from the main artery (for lack of a better description) leading into another artery, or an empty nodule. The artery seems to stretch for some time, until a faint, pulsating sound like a loud Thrrrrum.......thrrrrum can be heard. It gets louder as one gets closer, but is never deafening. Reaching the end of the artery, there is a collection of what appear to be massive organs, with attending creatures all around. Vine-like tendrils project from this collection of pulsing organs, and meet at the arteries, walls, and the membranous webs all around them.

Bump

Re-bump

*Narration mode*

The amorphous shapes continue flowing along the walls of the vessels. Occasional bursts of electrical current pulse within the walls themselves. Occasionally, there is a branch-off from the main artery (for lack of a better description) leading into another artery, or an empty nodule. The artery seems to stretch for some time, until a faint, pulsating sound like a loud Thrrrrum.......thrrrrum can be heard. It gets louder as one gets closer, but is never deafening. Reaching the end of the artery, there is a collection of what appear to be massive organs, with attending creatures all around. Vine-like tendrils project from this collection of pulsing organs, and meet at the arteries, walls, and the membranous webs all around them.

Hm. I had been expecting some sort of large open space, but I suppose this shouldn't be surprising.

He began speaking through the suit radio. "Control, I've found some sort of central chamber. Nothing that could be called a control room, more like a... chest cavity, I suppose. There are several symbiotes present. I intend to exit my pressure suit so as to make a better study."

Dr. Green quickly undid the locks along the lateral surfaces of his suit, allowing the top half of the shell to pop open. After removing the 'gloves' that covered his forward arms, he pulled himself the rest of the way out, and left the components of the suit bundled in the corridor before entering the organ cavity, and slowly reaching out to grab one of the symbiotes.

*Narration mode*

The symbiote makes no effort to escape or struggle. It continues pulsing, and extends xeveral cilia-like protrusions, poking around Dr. Greens 'hand'. Several other symbiotids investigate, and circle around Dr. Green. They emit a soft light, and almost seem insectoid in appearance, but for a lack of an exoskeleton or wings. It seems to make a musical chatter.

After turning the symbiote over several times, and making sure to have memorized its appearance, Green released it. Taking not of the others that had gathered around, he attempted to imitate their sound.

The symbiotids seem to be confused. They whirl and pitch in the air as Dr. Green mimics their chatter, and then disperse. The sound of the organ thrumming continues on. A deep, groaning sound is now becoming evident throughout the specimen.

IC: "Dr. Green, this is Griimph. Whatever is going on in there, it seems to have caused the Alpha specimen to notice. Showing increasing spikes in internal neurological activity in the front and rear sections."

Hearing noises coming from his suit, Green swam back over to the bundle and fished out the suit radio.

"Green here, please repeat.... Yes, the ship is definitely responding to my presence. I attempted to communicate with the symbionts in the major organ cavity, and it seems to have distressed them."

"In that case, it may be prudent not to repeat that course of action. The neurological spikes may be internal defenses acting up. Then again, they may not. Did you get any readings from the symbionts?"

"Hmmmm I wonder what its internal defence is like.......then again I bet Mr. Green wouldn't like to find out." Bill said with a smile.

"Ultraviolet and infrared signatures are uninteresting. In the human visual spectrum, they look like shell-less insects. The one I examined extended several cillia-like projections."

"Hmmmm...interesting. Shuuta is analyzing the data collected from the frontal area of the Alpha specimen. Cilia-like projections? Could be 'tasting' you? Perhaps. It seems the Resin Beetle genome has adaptations unforseen."

ooc:- lets get this moving again eh?

OOC: Okay.

The vessels in the Alpha Specimen begin to shift slightly, and the insectoid symbionts could be seen all over, scuttling to locations, and then seemingly burying their legs into the internals of the specimen. The shifting stabilizes, but continues. It almost seems that the distances in the central organ chamber, and between the vessel-passages is becoming greater.

The vessels in the Alpha Specimen begin to shift slightly, and the insectoid symbionts could be seen all over, scuttling to locations, and then seemingly burying their legs into the internals of the specimen. The shifting stabilizes, but continues. It almost seems that the distances in the central organ chamber, and between the vessel-passages is becoming greater.

"Control, something interesting is happening. The symbionts are going wild, and the interior chambers seem to be expanding. Can you see anything on the outside?"

"Control, something interesting is happening. The symbionts are going wild, and the interior chambers seem to be expanding. Can you see anything on the outside?"

Griimph and Krenn are going wild in the control room. Krenn is yelling out information from across the room.Griimph radios in to Dr. Green.

"Biological energy readings are spiking like mad. Neurological readings too. Scans indicate an accelerated rate of cellular reproduction on all levels. All other specimens, Beta through Gamma, are showing like signs. Dr. Green, I suggest a hasty retreat. They look like they're having a growth spurt."

From across the room, Krenn yells out "By the Fist of Rragg! Look at that!" In the interior, the organ chamber seems to be stretching and warping. The organs themselves are convulsing wildly and bubbling. The web-work is shaking and stretching, and an awful noise like screeching metal is heard.

"I wonder if they are changing to be more adapted to Mr Green or something else? I mean that Cilia-like projections could of been tasting Mr Green as you said eirlier, and relayed some biological data to the Alpha subject."

After a period of time had passed, the chaotic convulsions slow and finally cease. On the exterior, several large nodules and a new pair of sails has become evident, as well as newer sections becoming available.

http://home.earthlink.net/~peterpank/growth.jpg
Exterior view of a section of the 'growth spurt'.

bump

((Paging Dr. Green))

"Control, it seems to have stabilized in here. What do you see outside? I'm goint to do a little bit more exploring now. I'll see if I can find any more large chambers, maybe some sort of control room."

"Control, it seems to have stabilized in here. What do you see outside? I'm goint to do a little bit more exploring now. I'll see if I can find any more large chambers, maybe some sort of control room."

Griimph responds on the comm. "We read you Dr. Green. Comms are getting a little fuzzy from the *crackle* field being kicked up by the Alpha. Overall *hisssss*f the specimen is about 1k meters total at its most extreme *craaak*s, and 600 meters in width. Mganetic South shows several *ssssss*ers forming. Unable to discern function from here, even with the sensor package. Neurological readings show hea*crackle*ffic in that area."

(paging Dr. Green, paging Dr. Green)

Griimph responds on the comm. "We read you Dr. Green. Comms are getting a little fuzzy from the *crackle* field being kicked up by the Alpha. Overall *hisssss*f the specimen is about 1k meters total at its most extreme *craaak*s, and 600 meters in width. Mganetic South shows several *ssssss*ers forming. Unable to discern function from here, even with the sensor package. Neurological readings show hea*crackle*ffic in that area."

"Control, you're breaking up. Without some way to communicate with the Packayg, i'm coming back out."

Green slipped back into his suit and began attempting to trace his way back to the 'airlock'.

The 'vessel' that Dr. Green used to get to the organ chamber was now visibly larger and longer, with some differences that could be noted, such as some additional branch-off points, the formation of chambers of an as yrt unknown function, and so on. The symbiotids also seem to have all but vanished. The pressure of a very slight gravity can also be felt.

After a time, the 'air-lock' can be seen.

ooc:- Well I better post something for bill...he's been a bit quiet.

Ic:- "Hmmm that's strange...." Bill said "it looks like something is happening with specimen beta, I'm increasing mangnification on the stern of the beta."

ooc: Ok Sakkra what does he see? :)

*narration mode*

What Dr. Gateter sees is the formation of a large, bulbous shape with several extensions surrounding it. Several petal sails are positioned in front of this structure. From what can be gleaned from the scans, there is a lot of EM disturbance coming from this section, as well as mild radioactive emissions. Cross-section scans show hundreds of thousands of small plate-shaped objects in motion, creating an energized charge.

*narration mode*

What Dr. Gateter sees is the formation of a large, bulbous shape with several extensions surrounding it. Several petal sails are positioned in front of this structure. From what can be gleaned from the scans, there is a lot of EM disturbance coming from this section, as well as mild radioactive emissions. Cross-section scans show hundreds of thousands of small plate-shaped objects in motion, creating an energized charge.

"Hmmmm I wonder whats happening?" Bill turns around and tell the others "Hey have a look at this...what do you think its doing?"

Griimph looks over at Dr. Gateter's display, and consults the notes taken during the whole experiment, as well as the science databases.

"It looks like it's generating an EM field, almost akin to a magnetic traction drive, or a magnetic field, or any number of possibilities. Considering its location, i'm opting for a traction drive. But I could be wrong."

"It seems it has been using the radioactive elements it digests and breaks down, into a power supply for manipulating energy fields. Very interesting......"

OOC: Moving right along.....


*overview mode*

Suffice it to say Dr. Green made it back to the research facility in fine order. Scans taken and data collected are analyzed. The specimens themselves have grown to a length of about 1000 meters, and have seemingly stopped growing at that rate. The petal-sails span a length of 300 meters each. The chitinous/celluloid/resin composite that makes up the surface of the specimens has been fully analyzed and downloaded to the Spaceport Research and Development teams on Sakkra.

The Specimens seemingly have the ability to manipulate certain energy fields (magnetic, electrical etc...) around and within themselves, and can shift and alter internal workings based upon need. The pod-like structures scattered along the interior of the specimens have neural-shunt capability, as in they can communicate directly through brain-wave and neurological means.

Krenn has been scanning and logging diagnostic data for over 2 weeks now, and is starting to get a case of 'cabin fever'. It is fortunate at that time that Shuuta decides another foray should be taken into the Alpha specimen, to gauge what the neural tendrils do. This can only be done in a live experiment, and Krenn volunteers readily.

"It will be a change from scanning data all the time. And my first time inside the specimen! I'm quite excited!"

ooc:- Hmmm looks like this is slowing down too much...we better speed this up so you can get your ships. This nation is taking a backburner to another of mine.

IC:- Bill winces "I better come too, do you think they will allow us to go over in a shuttle? Because if they don't get use to them we won't be able to take them amongst other ships."

Bill sighs "I wonder how much longer it will take for them to aquire maximum growth? Did you work out how long it was to take? or is it pot luck on size?"

"Taking a shuttle seems like a workable thing. There is an entry-way in the belly of section 5..." A blinking beacon comes up at the section of the growth spurt, right between and below the petal sails. " ....that responds to a specific transmission. It's been uploaded to the shuttle you'll be using."

"As for growth, it was a crap-shoot how big they would grow, but it seems to have ceased at about........1,025 meters. Is that right? Get me another sweep of the dimensions!"

A short time passes. "Well i'll be skinned! That's correct, 1,025 meters from bow to stern at its most extreme points in length. 615 meters wide, also at its most extreme points in width. The hull plating is about 9 meters dense. Each layer has a 2.5 meter density, with .75 meter spaces in between where the liquid chitinous/resin compund flows through."

Bill nods "Huh Ok I get ready then...I'll take along some equipment to do a quick field test inside the vessel." as he leaves the room for his quaters he is heard to mutter "And hopefully it doesn't take offence & try to expell us from it."

After the pair enters the Alpha specimen, the inside looks particularly ... squishy. There are nodules all around large enough to house several people each. The presence of symbionts is dramatically reduced, and something approaching gravity can be felt. It's at approximately .45 g.

Krenn looks around and takes a few scans. "Hmmmm...an increased amount of EM activity, as well as some other form of energy. It's being released in slow pulses. May be responsible for the weak gravity we may be feeling. Huh. Lots of activity at sectio 3." He heads off slowly towards the fore=section, looking at the sensor sweeps from the package attached to the specimen.

Bill trudges along behind Krenn looking around with worry in his eyes, in his hand is a scanner that is relaying information back to base. About every 10 meters or so he deploys a small relay (a small orange box about 10cm by 15 cm by 5cm, with a suction device on the underside that is activated by pressing a button) tranceiver that keeps a clear line of communication with the base.

Krenn comes to Section 3, and looks around. There are several dozen large pod-shaped structures about, standing at 3 meters high. They each have a slit in the front. Pulsing organs sit atop the pods. The room itself seems to be about 5 meters high by 6 meters wide.

Krenn approaches one of the pods and begins taking scans. "Looks like there's a lot of neuro-activity in these things. What are your scans showing Dr, Gateter?"

ooc:-Ok lets see what happens........ :P

Ic:- "It looks like an electro-chemical axon structure Dr Krenn, there are numerous neuro-fiber bundles in the pods." Bill said looking at the scanner. Bill moved closer to one of the pods leaning over it "I'll try to get a better reading...hmmm..OPPS!(ooc:-actually he said %$#@ or something similar but I'm not putting that in :oops: )" with that Bill falls into the the pod "What the........"

Numerous monofilament tendrils attach themselves to Dr. Gateter when he stumbles into the pod. For a while there is the feeling of falling through a great hole. There is no light or sound. And then it stops.

A loud echoing voice is heard.

Strange one. Strange one. What are you?

A dim lighting can be seen. It appears that the chamber this audience is being held in is surrounded by hundreds of small, green and brown nodes.

"What the........er I'm a homospaian(sp?) or more commonally known as a human. I go by the name of Bill Gater....who are you?"

Bill answers as he struggles to prevent himself from panicing, he must stay calm he thought as he tryed to figure out where he was...'Oh ya..I fell into the pod.'

(ooc:- Well he's a Boioligist so he tend to be a bit literal in regards to the "What are you" question :P )

There is an eerie silence. One could imagine the sound of wind blowing lightly across unseen passages as the nodules shift and turn. The voice, rich and deep, begins again.

Homo .... sapien. Human. We have ..... heard of you ..... from the Scents on .... the Winds.

We see you roaming ... through the Void.

Who are you?

Several greyish green nodules make an appearance from the darkness. It's voice is swift and harsh.

This one might be here to wound us. Expell them all. They will be our ruin, as they ruin themselves.

Still another appears. This one is reddish with green tinges, and has a high, lilting voice.

Beta, are you so certain? You think everything wants to hurt us. Let the human speak and make his case.

"Um....well I am not here to hurt you..indeed that would be impractical...as I am part of the team that help bring you into existance." Bill said slowly hoping he gets this right "While some of my spiecies might wish you harm; those like myself only wish to be friends with you and maybe form a partnership with you in exploring the stars." Bill thought for a moment "Also humans are not the only spiecies travelling through the void, indeed I was with another sentinent just a while ago..why don't you invite him to join me to back up my claims." After a pause bill continued "As to who I am..well I'm a scientist who's speciality is genetic biology, as I said eairlier I'm part of a team of scientist who created you."

(ooc:- Huh you didn't expect bill to do it by himself now did you?)

OOC: Go Bill go! Heh heh.

IC: The clusters of nodules twist and float in an almost random pattern. In actuality, they are jockeying for a closer 'look' at Dr. Gateter.

The blue-green nodules begin, with their deep bass 'voice'.

We are quite .... aware of the other. We have ..... been watching them as they poke and .... prod the Void. It is a part of the genetic ... memory we all share. We are also aware of the ones that ... call themselves Snel.

The greyish-green one comes in, with its harsh staccato voice.

You say there are those that might want to hurt us, and those that don't. How are we to know the difference? I say we erase them all!

Silence, Beta! Your aggressive stance is not needed.

The lilting tones of the reddish one comes through.

I am Gamma, as your communications we have received have designated me. We have been listening since we became aware, and know of your efforts. But tell us, why should we explore the Void with you, when we can do it on our own quite well?

"Well we can tell who might hurt you and who might not, plus we can help with any trouble you might encounter." Bill replyed wishing Krenn was here to help. "Look I'm not the best person to communicate about what we can do for you, my superiors can give you plenty of reasons why..plus they will be better able to answer your questions. Also they will be able to show our willingness to help by providing you with things that you want." Bill thought to himself 'I'm not a diplomat, and this situation requires one!'

The nodules seem to dissapate a moment, and then coalesce again. The voice of Gamma comes up.

You may be correct, or you may not. Beta raises good points, as does Alpha. We will have to sever the connection to you from the communicator for now, as we have much to discuss among ourselves. It is advised that you return to the "Research Facility", as we have heard it called. We will be in contact again when we have made a decision.

The chamber then fades, until it is pitch black. then a feeling of being pulled upwards is felt, then nothing. After a moment, the interior of the pod structure can be seen, the neuro-shunt tendrils laying still.

"Dr. Gateter! Are you OK?"

"Ow (inset random swearing here) my head..." Bill says then he looks around "How long was I in there?" he asks.

Krenn lifts up his arm. "By my chronometer, you've been in there exactly four seconds. But i registered a massive spike in neural activity. What exactly happened in there?"

"Four seconds!!??" Bill exclaimed "It felt like 40 miniutes!" Bill quickly explained to Krenn what happened & suggested they return to the research facility as quickly as possible.

The pair return to the research facility. Krenn relays his end of the story, and uploads his scans into the research database. After Dr. Gatater relays his tale, the others in the project look about at each other, a bit nervously.

"Direct organic neural communication? This is a bit more than I expected! I want DNA traces done to determine which genome may have brought this about!"

A few weeks pass. the specimens have been communicating with each other this whole time, with Gamma going off to forage for water in the form of ice, and returning with it.

As it turns out, the chemical-axon communication system of the Kansee Vine was partly responsible for the neuro-chemical communication ability. That, possibly mixed with the genome sample of the enigmatic Yggdrassil Tree, could have been the cause.

"Yggdrasil? No. We borrowed the complex nervous system from the Crana, yes? It is unsurprising that the Pakaygs should therefore develop the same direct interface ability. I would like to experience this, perhaps. To see how it differs."

ooc:- OMG The Snel Race I thought you had been deleted :shock: :oops: nice to see ya posting 8) :)

IC:- "Ah better you than me..I don't want to be in that situation again..I'm not a diplomat." Bill mutters aloud, while running his hand through his unkept hair.

"The Crana Web. That must be all the web-like structures throughout the Pakayg. Very well, Dr. Blue (?). If you need escort, one of us can come. Otherwise, there is much we need to do here. But we are beginning to reconsider the name choice. If these are indeed sentient creatures, we need to let them come up with their own designation."

Ic:- Bill is still muttering to himself & making sure he stays in the station.

Dr. Blue (?).
OOC: Probably.

IC: "If you want to provide an escort, it wouldn't be refused, but I beleive I can manage on my own. Perhaps I shall ask one of them what they would like to be called."

Dr. Blue left the lab, got suited up, left the station, and began jetting towards the closest Pakayg.

OOC: The closest specimen is Gamma at this moment. No escort is provided, as the staff is currently analyzing and cross-referencing genomes, and running sims on genome combination possibilities.

IC: *narration mode*

The Pakayg specimens are in a hexagonal formation, long tendrils snaking from one to another in a hexagonal web. As Dr. Blue approaches the one known as Gamma, slight spikes in EM and UV activity register on his EVA suit's sensors. No other activity is obvious at this point.

Blue attempted the usual form of entry.

IF APPLICABLE: Once inside, he carefully removed his suit and began down the corridor, waiting for a response.

IF APPLICABLE: Once inside, he carefully removed his suit and began down the corridor, waiting for a response.

Applicable.

There was no response per se, save for a pair of now-winged symbiotids coming to investigate this intruder. A cursory examination with their cilia-like protrusions, and they continue on their way.

As Dr. Blue walks down the corridor, Crana-Web could be seen pulsing with electro-chemical signals flashing. A low, orange glow eminates from small bulbous structures along the walls. A very light form of gravity can be felt.

Finally, Dr. Blue comes upon the pod-structures as detailed by Krenn and Dr. Gateter. They seem active, with the neuro-fibers flagellating slightly.

Dr. Blue climbed into the pod and relaxed, with his arms folded up around his body into a loose ball. As he waited for the Pakayg's response, he began the practice of picturing a blank monochrome field in his mind as a calibration image.

Very much like the experience of Dr. Gateter, there is the feeling of falling through a great hole. There is no light or sound. And then it stops. A soft white glow illuminates what appears to be a chamber. A reddish grouping of nodules slowly fades in, and a lilting voice can be heard.

Greetings to you Maker. We were wondering when you would come to us.

Ah. Greetings to you, as well. You call me Maker? An interesting title. What would you ask of me?

The nodules thrum a bit, pulsing and rotating.

What would we ask of you? Some information for now. The human Maker that came earlier spoke of friendship and exploration, but there was hesitation among some of us. We have been keeping our nose to the Winds, and they tell of trouble amongst the Void. This causes concern.

We are not certain why we are here. We have memories from different places. Some memories are of life in the Void, while others are from Planets. A genetic memory, but from different sources. This has caused a questioning.

Who are we?

The nodules thrum a bit, pulsing and rotating.

What would we ask of you? Some information for now. The human Maker that came earlier spoke of friendship and exploration, but there was hesitation among some of us. We have been keeping our nose to the Winds, and they tell of trouble amongst the Void. This causes concern.

We are not certain why we are here. We have memories from different places. Some memories are of life in the Void, while others are from Planets. A genetic memory, but from different sources. This has caused a questioning.

Who are we?

Your title for me should tell you the answer. You are our creations. We took the best of many, and made you from them, to carry us in the Void. You are spacefaring animals, the most perfect that we could create at this time. Our name for you is Pakayg, but you may choose a new one if you wish.

Then it is as Delta has said. We were created as symbiotic constructs. We are unique in our being, but are not whole. The question of why we are is answered as well as who, what and how. I am glad that you have chosen me to tell this to.

We are to co-exist symbiotically with our Makers, which explains the compulsion to create internal areas we have no immediate use for.

As for a name, I must confer with the others about that.

Then it is as Delta has said. We were created as symbiotic constructs. We are unique in our being, but are not whole. The question of why we are is answered as well as who, what and how. I am glad that you have chosen me to tell this to.

We are to co-exist symbiotically with our Makers, which explains the compulsion to create internal areas we have no immediate use for.

As for a name, I must confer with the others about that.

You are correct. But chosen may not be the correct concept. If I am correct, it is not my will that can dictate what you will know from me. If you are as your precursors, this conversation is unnecessary. Attempt to remember something that you did not know, but which your Makers would. Whatever you seek should be there, as long as our minds are one.

ooc:- My computer is down (I have to use my bro's...but access is limited) so I won't be able to post as often. But keep going along this line..PS this is a poorly disguised bump :P

The reddish nodules seem to swirl around themselves for a moment. It is as you say. Delta has already made a statement concerning memories old, from other places. We will speak amongst oursleves for now, but will be in contact with you soon. I thank you, Maker.

The nodules seem to fade, and then disperse. The light fades in the chamber, and a feeling of being pulled upwards swiftly is felt.

The reddish nodules seem to swirl around themselves for a moment. It is as you say. Delta has already made a statement concerning memories old, from other places. We will speak amongst oursleves for now, but will be in contact with you soon. I thank you, Maker.

The nodules seem to fade, and then disperse. The light fades in the chamber, and a feeling of being pulled upwards swiftly is felt.

Over already? Well, I suppose it was productive.

Blue climbed out of the pod and retreived his suit. Turning on the transmitter, he said "Control, this is Blue. They seem to not want to kill us, and they'll probably fulfill the functions they were designed for. Gamma says they'll be contacting us soon. How, I have no idea."

"Dr. Blue, this is Control. While you're there, could you get some scans of the stern section? We're getting some odd chemical-mix emissions coming from there, with traces of low-level radioactive activity. Disruption from the EM field around there is preventing external scanning."

ooc:- Bump...I still here but my computer access still bad.

<<Whack>>

"Understood. But, eh, could you give me a hint as to which way is which?" Dr. Blue began to wander the corridors. "Do you perhaps have a better description of what I'm looking for?"

"Ah, okay. Where you are now is the portside bow section. Forward-left. The disturbances are being detected aft of you. A bit past the organ chamber that you Dr. Green has visited. I'll relay the schematics of the interior for you from our last scans."

"Thank you. I'll be on my way, then."

Blue proceeded in the indicated direction. Assuming no further incident, he then returned to the space station.

Several months pass. No real activity of note from the specimens has been observed, aside from Gamma going off to find ice rocks occasionally. The growth of the specimens has leveled out at 1050 meters in length. The largest nodules above and below the mid-section of the specimens has been emitting low-level radioactive pulses, and shifting in color and patterning.

One of the specimens, the one named Delta, has broken away from the grouping and heads now to the area of the research facility. It comes to a stop a few kms away. This one's nodules are pulsing a steady blue color, with light microwave radiation being emitted in a sequence.

Krenn records the pulse pattern, and spends a few minutes comparing it tothe other patterns recorded, and looks up. "I think they're trying to communicate with us."

"Hmmmm....it appears to be requesting someone in particular." All eyes shift to Dr. Blue.

"I suppose I'll be making another visit, then."

Dr. Blue got suited up, left the station, and began floating towards the Pakaygs.