Numerous proposals fly back and forth between subroutines this month, but only a few items receive a consensus. Above Gaia, there is some discussion of expanding the station to include a trade center, but this function is ultimately performed better by numerous commercial sea, air, and space ports on and around the planet.
Currency is a nebulous area: while the colonists initially bartered, no official currency was ever established. Given the proliferation of so many city-states, a number of currencies sprang up. All initial feelers put out regarding a unified currency are politely ignored.
Diplomatic relations officially begin, and things seem to get on swimmingly. Under AI moderation, a long-standing war is settled between two major city-states, and much praise is heaped on the problem-solving abilities of the AI.
On Aquarius, more dissension reins. Some portions of the AI argue for subduing the massive drone-eating creatures, while others preach caution. This argument is interrupted for the moment when an effort to locate Avians willing to live among humans produces an impressive number of volunteers. In fact, the program's first class of 50 is already under way and seemingly attempting to learn everything the human teachers throw at them.
Aries sees the rapid expansion of the grass fertilization project. As the area covered expands, so does the leading edge, but the full industrial might of the system allows the growth to continue at rapid speeds. The new grass seems to be taking hold quite well, and it is irigated using what little surface water exists. The temperature on the planet is still low, however, so it really is surviving rather than thriving. Gas mix is nearly optimal, thank to many years of concentrated efforts to get the mix just right using comets, in-ground deposits, and industrial processes. The wildlife is mostly limited to insects and burrownig mammals at this point in time.
Drones probe deeper into the bowels of Shiva, and fail to make any groundbreaking discoveries. The caverns are massive, scores of miles wide and high at certain points, and the deeper they travel, the more hospitable the temperature gets. After a certain point, the caverns transition from ice to rock, and the temperature rises even further. Water is plentiful, although oxygen levels are extremely low.
Work on a magnetic hydrogen scoop on Hephaestus proceeds brilliantly. A design is tested and works exactly to concept, and production is slated to begin shortly.
The battleship consortium is given a thorough background check, and the results are somewhat unclear. While they all have plausible stories and credentials, something seems somewhat amiss about the whole endeavor. They are mostly based on Aries, although a few designers came from Aquarius and some of the financiers originate on Aries. All are original colonists, none with any military service background. They seem to have met through various professional networks.
The plans are reviewed, and seem entirely feasible, even desireable, although key technical details were redacted by the consortium members. None of the consortium members (all male) are married yet, which is odd, considering their age and the premium placed on reproduction in the colonies. None even have children in non-matrimonial arrangements. Construction is not approved, nor denied at this point in time.
Time lapsed in system: 7 years, 4 months- "Gaia": Earth-like planet with mysterious alien presence, several bustling, competitive human-run colonies, and diplomatic space station (Babylon)
- "Hephaestus": acidic, hostile atmosphere and radioactive, burgeoning research and development station and several power generation facilities
- "Aquarius": aquatic world, savage life, pack-like nomadic intelligent Avians, floating university dedicated to teaching the Avians (50 Avians resident)
- "Aries": Mars-like planet transitioning to Earth-like, industrial terraforming, (scattered trees, quickly advancing grasses, basic wildlife, modest amount of surface water), AI-controlled comfortable Arcology settlements and scattered Maven communities
- "Shiva": Freezing world, habitable caverns in and under permafrost
- Abundant Asteroids: nascent asteroid mining industry, naval base
- Gas Giant A: numerous moons with isolationist intelligent life
- Gas Giant B: several moons with isolationist intelligent life
Military
Self-repairing carbon
Electrochemical ammunition
Mass drivers
Strong magnetic shields
Combat drones
Medical
Cloning and genetic manipulation
Industrial
Aerotransmission of power
Deep drilling
Solar lenses
Magnetic hydrogen scoop
Other
Internet
5-25 Meters (Patrol class): 50 ships
26-50 Meters (Corvette class): 25 ships
51-100 Meters (Frigate class): 9 ships
100-150 Meters (Destroyer class): 3 ships
- Can communicate through mental implants
- Produces own electricity via small organ
- Can be given programs to augment skills and knowledge
- Exhibit a slight tendency towards uniformity
- Specialized implants to perform military, research, and medical roles
- Seek knowledge obsessively
- Pack dwelling
- Near-human intelligence
- Nomadic
- Capable of tool use
- Quick breeding rate
- Teach new generations
- Know basic sign language
- Dwell on multiple moons around Jovian planets
- Very isolationist
- Possess at least rudimentary space flight
- Possess gravity manipulation technology
- Maintain an economy between multiple moons (evidenced by traffic between them)