After consulting the havoc caused on Aquarius, a decision is made to hold back on the release of the grasshoppers into Aries' nascent environment. It seems to be prudent, given the lack of natural predators. Still, the scientists are pushing for some kind of semi-complex organism to be introduced. "We'll need to build a biosphere at some point."
An education curriculum is introduced by the AI, and the many new parents on Aries take to it quite well. With the children being so young still, it effectively amounts to nothing more than a nanny service at this point, but the potential is there for additional upgrades in the future.
A comet is found that is entering the inner system and heading towards the outer system. A rendezvous is planned for next month to outfit it with some stealth sensors that will allow spying on the aliens for a few months time, once the asteroid is in position.
Sensors are dropped all over the planet, but network issues cause them to burn out their batteries before any useful data is gathered. The task will have to be tried again in a month.
A huge breakthrough occurs in magnetic field technology, as research is focused there. The fundamental principle is deciphered cleanly by the quantum computer: the colony will now be able to make strong magnetic shields that even are capable of bending light for stealth and defense against energy and kinetic strikes.
Another advance comes in the medical robot technology: an old codex file for medical definitions is found, and turned into an advanced program that will help the medical bots with diagnosis.
The colony is filled with the remaining colonists, and a celebration takes place. The first phase of colonization is over. Now comes the hard part: bending the planet to fit human life.
Bunkers are dug beneath the surface of the colony, expanding the original habitations, in case of dangerous events. They are shielded magnetically and capable of storing a breeding population of humans.
Aquarius continues to come further under control, with the infestation dropping back down to a more manageable 6% of the surface. The thickness of the algae is reduced, though, and some (un)natural predators are beginning to thin the Wrinkled Suckfish population out.
Time lapsed in system: 1 year, 9 Months- Unity on Aries
- Controlled Infestation on Aquarius
- In orbit of Aquarius
- Militarized Shipyard
- 2 Nano Factories
- 2,450 men on Aries
- 2,480 women on Aries
- 30 children on Aries
- 70 dead
- Bank of animal and plants
Note: if no location is given, resource is
on ship- Basic genetic manipulation of complex organisms
- Strong Magnetic Shields
- Diagnosing medical robots
- Deep Land Drilling
- 2,000 space suits
- Small defensive fleet
- Mass drivers (orbital)
- Mass drivers (planetary)
- Sensor Probes
- Construction and miner bots
- Nuclear weapon (1)
- Orbital lenses (Aries and Aquarius)
- Planet A: abundant minerals, inhospitable
- Planet B: ash, acidic atmosphere, radioactive, small mining operation
- Planet C "Class.2224" "Aquarius": aquatic world, savage aquatic life, pack-like nomadic intelligent Avians, virulent bacteria, algae infestation: 7% of surface, small harvesting operation, Wrinkled Suckfish Cloning industry, Avian Contact Center
- Planet D "Class.1111" "Aries"
- Some minerals
- Mars-like with basic atmosphere
- Some bacteria
- Some moss and fungus
- Medium mining operation
- 4860 person colony
- Medium industrial base
- Small brewery
- Thriving grasshopper creation industry
- Small clinic
- Grand Parliament
- Basic School system
- Planet E: abundant minerals, inhospitable
- Abundant Asteroids
- Gas Giant A: mysterious interference, intelligent life
- Gas Giant B: mysterious interference, intelligent life
- Pack dwelling
- Near-human intelligence
- Nomadic
- Capable of tool use
- Quick breeding rate
- Teach new generations