Day 7The final two planets within the star's habitable zone are reached and scanned by drones. For future reference, the planetary classification system recorded in ship databanks works as follows: A four-digit number, with the numbers in sequence representing major observable qualities (relative size of planet; temperature; atmospheric pressure; and water presence), from low to high. 0 is non-existent, or planetoid/moon in the case of planet size.
> Planet 3 - Class.3410 - Large planet, within habitable zone - Extremely hot - **Extreme** volcanic activity - Normal-pressure atmosphere - Water totally non-existent - High levels of toxic volcanic ash in the air - Landmasses broken by major rivers and lakes of molten lava - Strong magnetic field> Planet 4 - Class.2231 - Medium planet, within habitable zone - Fairly temperate - High-pressure atmosphere - Gravity somewhat higher than expected - Presence of water confirmed: confined to small lakes & seas, clusters of green, swampy vegetation nearby - Terrain mostly flat, with the majority of raised terrain bearing marks of extreme erosion and wear - Large, dried seas - high probability of toxic salt windsProduction begins on an array of dedicated atmospheric landing shuttles, equipped with groundside construction drones. The process consumes 25 drone-equivalent resource units, as the shuttle needs to be large enough to carry equipment along with the drones themselves. Production of a single shuttle and 10 attendant drone units finishes during the trip. Current stockpiles now stand at roughly 125 RU's (Resource Units).
In the meantime, the main AI colony ship arrives in high orbit of the ocean world, Planet 1. Ship scanners have some difficulty penetrating the clouds, which accumulate unopposed without the presence of noticeable high ground to trap moisture, some banks reaching the size of small continents, and thus it is difficult to locate a possible landing zone. Three possibilities, each with their challenges, are available: Landing in the ocean to establish a platform or underwater outpost; landing on an island, which in all probability would require underground drilling to weather the storms; or landing on the polar icecaps. The latter still has merit despite the intense cold, due to the relative lack of cloud cover which could otherwise pose a danger to landing craft, and leave outposts out of communication for long stretches of time. On another note, probability of life on planet is still viable due to the nearby K-class star, the planet's nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere, and immense quantities of water; but on the surface of the islands, the frequent storms would likely scour all known forms of life in ship databanks away in short order.
Recon drones are approaching the asteroid dome. Preliminary scans do not reveal artificial RF frequencies, particle emissions, or odd energy readings from the self course-correcting rocks. There is also no sign of devices on the surface -- yet, at least. It will be some time yet before the drones actually arrive, as the asteroids almost totally surround the edge of the system. You do notice something odd about a few of the rocks, however; several of them, most notably the ones closest to the massive openings at either parallel end of the wall, bear what looks like black carbon scoring marks, and/or areas where the asteroids seem to have been shorn almost cleanly through on one side.
Initial readings from the other three planets in-system, as well as the gas giants scouted by probes, are now beginning to filter back. The results are very promising:
> Planet 5 - Class.2321 - Medium planet, outside habitable zone - Rocky desert world - Normal pressure atmosphere - Small signs of subsurface water detected - Gigantic holes and canyons gouged into planetary surface that stretch for miles
> Planet 6 - Class.1001 - Small planet, outside habitable zone - Barren dustball world - No atmosphere - No water - Flat and rocky - Near edge of system; high frequency of asteroid impacts - Small patches of ice detected from comet impacts; good probability of surface mineral deposits from other impacts
> Planet 7 - Class.0000 - Planetoid, outside habitable zone - Totally barren - No atmosphere - No water - Extremely jagged, mountainous terrain - **ARTIFICIAL STRUCTURES DETECTED: SMALL OBJECTS IN PLANET ORBIT**
> Gas giants 1 & 2 - On same orbital line, outside habitable zone - No accretion disk(s) (ring) - Multiple small moons, all seemingly barren
> Gas giant 3 - Very large, within habitable zone - Accretion disk (ring) is present - 2 semi-large moons - Patches of water ice on moons detected; possibility of subsurface water
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Topic: Terraformer: The Promised Land (SG) (Read 1547 times)