Probably the first post in a while due to IRL commitments, the last post has incidentally hit the buffers in terms of size.
To be honest I
was surprised wasn't surprised by this opinion. Are you?
About that 2.1 upgradeI haven't done it yet. Again, requires learning how to hack stuff into the save without wrecking it. It will have to happen someday, but that day isn't today. Maybe when we finally assault Ooth-Nargai and win.
Zansong Egath, 7th Moonstone 2018The hovercraft... hovered through the thick xenoswamp. Invisible gasses rose from damnable depths of stagnant water, making Expedition Leader Ùst Íkthagassog choke. Some photographs and video of the swamps had shown sickly green gasses arising, as was standard from such noxious swamps. Ùst's upbringing, in the fortress Breadbowl, had been insufficient preparation for her to making well in such poisonous environments. It was one thing to plant in suboptimal environments, but another to build farms in such inhospitable environments. There were bigger things to be concerned about, however. The environment of Zansong Egath was somehow unstable. This had suddenly impacted the entire colony, as expected natural paradigms no longer held. Some fauna was massively abundant, whereas others were not. This lead to uncontrolled explosions of the flora, and sometimes of the fauna, overrunning settled areas and reducing morale among the colonists.
An investigation into the anomalies had been launched by the local government, which was (as far as Ùst knew) now made the first sector capital outside of the core of the Dwarven Star Imperium. This had stabilized issues with interstellar administration, which would otherwise have been losing about ten percent of energy income and a considerable amount of political influence in the bureaucratic chaos following the completion of the Nitom Arkoth colony. The chair, however, was empty. Nobody was actively running the sector and there were no prospective decisions to be made for a while. There was not the energy to hire a governor, of course. But one day, that chair would have to be filled, and Zansong Egath would be the capital world for a vast area in the Dwarven Star Imperium. Certainly covering most of Ooth-Nargai space one day, perhaps then the rest of the Delta Quadrant from core to rim. The government firstly, however, had to solve the issues at hand. Solve the problems at Zansong Egath, and one could solve the problems for the rest of the sector. This was the challenge for the colonists of this world. Perhaps, some scientists had found a solution
"Tôsed!"
The shout came from an area of swamp that had been... somewhat de-swamped. The technology didn't quite yet exist, and according to most scientists did not exist, to de-swamp the entire region. However, small outposts could be raised to enable settlement. Here, there was a large radio tower, and a few pre-fabricated buildings upon which the swamp "flora" were trying to climb. The hovercraft halted, wary of the coilguns perched atop one of the bigger concrete structures. A dwarf, wearing a full enviro-suit and carrying a megaphone system, waved Ust and the hovercraft in.
"Ùst Íkthagassog. Human translation is Ùst Squeezeddisloyal. Expedition Leader of the First Xenoswamp Exploration Corps."
"Oh shit. Another expedition trying to cut their way around this perpetually unstable biosphere. Most assuredly, thou art in luck. Me and my... Dwarven Scientific Corps... have probably come across a topping solution for this world. A most topping solution! You won't believe what we have uncovered here."
"Your name and designation?"
"Viscount Cim Umshadterstum. That's His Grace Viscount
JUICE PONDEROUSDESTRUCTION" - the dwarf screamed so the phrase "Ponderousdestruction" echoed throughout the swamp. "That's designation DSC-420.69"
"I don't take kindly to-"
"I will have you know the Emperor HIMSELF has assured me of this designation!"
"Fine. I'm not going to challenge that. Just tell me what the fuck's going on."
. . .The cave entrance was perfectly circular, and set within the swamp. Technicians wearing the insignia of House Lam and the Kinmelbil Mining Guild were present, drilling away the fetid deposits of centuries of xenoflora. Also present were other dwarves, tending the equipment. They bore a strange insignia, of a gear with circuitry embedded in it."Who are those?"
"Oh, don't tell me you don't know of House Stâkud?"
"House Stâkud? Never heard of it."
"But it's one of the most ancient houses of Dwarfkind! It's history goes back to the first golden age, the first age of heroes, even the first age of myth. Back when dwarves actually did the most dwarfy shit ever seen and this was like a metric fuckton of centuries before Boatmurdered! Back when dwarves were destined to make their own dwarves..."
"But we do, right? We-"
"Yeah I don't mean FUCKING reproduce. I mean we build dwarves. Like, we build... people."
"Like humans? Elves?"
"No. We build our own life form. A new kind of life. We become... creators of a new species."
"Like we genetically engineer?"
"Oh no. We can do that OK, I mean we build a new kind of life... out of machines!"
"So, like intelligent robots?"
"But of course! Don't forget the terminology though..."
The Viscount picked a stained notebook out of his enviro-suit. It was perhaps the most filthy item out here even considering the swamp itself.
"The correct terminology is... Synthetic."
"Synthetic? Like what?"
"Just synthetic. A synthetic person. Made by us, with a mind of its own."
"Oh, OK. So like a really smart robot."
"No, a synthetic. Don't call them robots, you'll hurt their feelings."
"Oh, OK. What about the robots?"
"We'll just upgrade their hardware and firmware at the right time. It should be easy, the hard part is getting the technology."
"So, how good are you at that?"
"I studied at the University of Sparkgear. Graduated first of my class in 2192."
"University of Breadbowl, Department of Agricultural Sciences."
"Oh, another Agrarian Graduate. I suppose there's a place for you, someone's got to get the plump helmets to the distillery in record time. I can't complain. Let's see the big deal at the centre of this magnificent excavation."
The pair finally reached the core of the excavation. Here, buried under piles of decomposing xenovegetation, were outcroppings of what looked like machinery.
"Behold, the cause of, and the solution to, all of our problems!"
"Um, this wasn't left here by dwarves, was it?"
"No! It was left here by... those who came before us!"
"Like the Yuht?"
"Radiocarbon dating calibrated for the parameters of this planet, considering of course the variation in Ijaagin's output, indicates that these facilities are approximately seventy-seven centuries old. The Yuht, in comparison, lived approximately six million years ago. I personally calculated the odds at only 1 in e raised to the 31st power that this operation was operated by the Yuht. And that is actually surprisingly, and inconceivably high, Professor Agriculture. Inconcievabl-"
"I never became a professor"
"Well whatever. I could be like ten times as right and still outrank you."
"..."
"Just get to the point."
"Our discoveries and analyses show that this was perhaps a terraforming experiment of sorts. This planet started out pretty barren, and then this alien race must have attempted to turn it into a better world. And not just a better world! A world close to perfection. And our colonists just struck the effort!"
"It certainly is a beautiful world. That must be why His Majesty chose it for colonisation. But it isn't perfect."
"Oh, I certainly agree it isn't perfect. What with the swamps. What with this most damnable arrangement of out of control xenoflora. What with the fauna eating up our sun berry harvests. But that's because the process was, well. Stopped."
"Stopped?"
"Whoever started this process did not finish it. Clearly they were lightyears ahead of us in technology."
"Lightyears ahead?"
"It's a figure of speech."
"..."
"Indeed, light years ahead. These beings must have been at the height of ascendency, or perhaps not. Perhaps they just wanted to make this world suitable for their own. But we can fix that, we can try to reactivate the damn process."
"Reactivate?"
"Indeed. I am compiling a proposal to the Imperial Senate this minute and it will reach Nir Kodor by the start of the new new year. Like the Opal new year, not good old granite. By the time summer has arrived at Sparkgear, we could have a whole new planet on our hands!"
"And if it fails?"
"Oh, then this planet will probably get turned into a poisonous world experiencing a horrific greenhouse effect. At least the swamps will be gone, but a crying shame about the rest of the planet."
"And if it works?"
"If it works this place could be the greatest world known to dwarfkind this century, if ever. I'm hoping and placing my money on better worlds being found though. Or made."
There was a mad twinkle in his eye.
"So, are you planning on something?"
"Just trying to settle down somewhere."
"I say, we could get ourselves a good deal out of this. I don't want to merely be a Vicecount scientist without a science ship. And you certainly need a place to set yourself up. This world needs you. And I need to get this project done. You help me get this project completed and I will write you a reference."
"What kind of reference?"
"A most topping one and I most assuredly hope the governor's seat isn't unoccupied for too long afterwards..."
"But I only graduated in agricultural technology!"
"Oh come on. I can run this all from a science ship. I could run this from my apartment if you need. Just get the information to Professor Lolok Rimsurprise as I tell you to."
"Professor Lolok? I thought everyone called him Mad Lolok."
"He's a professor, he deserves to be called a professor, he's just misunderstood. But he's also great. He's the reason why we're all great."
"Lolok wasn't first in his class-"
"He was too busy for that."
"..."
"Just let's get this damn operation on the hyperlane. The sunshine is on me when it all goes right."
2nd Felsite, 2218The nanoswarms flew out of the cave, and from thousands of other caves, and pits, and from the depths of the oceans, and the thick jungles. The skies over the landed colony ship, which served as the planetary capital. In some of the thick jungles, the swarms consumed the excess xenoflora, leaving behind shrubland, while in others it grew back, or grew differently. Ice and tundra grew atop some tall mountains. Lush grassland and deciduous forests replaced some of the most poisonous swamps A list of species altered scrolled at lightning speed over the monitor in front of Viscount Cim's face. The video feeds from satellites were displayed on his monitors, as were the views from Icum Ïlon.
"Wh- a---- you -- Icum Ïlon?"
The transmission from Expedition Leader Ùst was garbled by the swarms.
"Because of course, I would be here. I have to oversee the operation."
"Re----- it is t-- danger---"
"Oh no. I shall not retreat. I have to be here to oversee the completion of the process. Someone else would get it wrong."
The radio went dead as the swarms blotted out Ijaagin, and the Viscount continued to watch the monitors, issue orders through the telephone, and make adjustments to his equipment. The swarms then began to gradually clear from the sky, leaving the new shape of the planet before the window for Cim to survey his work.
"Ah, Zansong Egath. This is the new Zansong Egath. Here, we dwarves are making paradise. But we are not doing so alone... we need to master this technology for ourselves now."
=====================================================================It's also time to re-do the dwarves list. Here you go:
List of Characters as of 12th Opal 2219
Convenient List of Simulated Characters (and anyone doing RP):Ral Undertrumpets: The new Governor of the Core Sector. Age 56 years, born 2163. Graduated from University of Boatmurdered. RP yours truly.
His Majesty Urist III Angkosh: The current Emperor of the Dwarven Star Imperium. Age 47 years, born 2172.
His Dwarven Highness Tosid Creamloves Creamspiral Angkosh: The current Crown Prince. Age 41 years, born 2178.
Professor Gomath Chancetone: Scientist and Captain of the D.I.S. Joke Column. Age 59 years, born 2160. Graduated University of Boatmurdered.
Professor Bushos Muddlecharm: Scientist in charge of Engineering Research. Age 67 years, born 2152. University of Sparkgear
Professor Lolok Rimsurprise: Maniac Scientist in charge of Society Research. Age 52 years, born 2167. Graduated from University of Boatmurdered, top secret research ph.D at University of Sparkgear.
Professor Dustik Namemisery: Scientist, Former Head of Physics Research, now commanding the D.I.S. Buttonjail. Age 62 years, born 2157. Graduated University of Sparkgear.
Professor Alnis Crewblench: Scientist in charge of Physics Research, replaced Dr. Namemisery. Age 67, born 2152. Graduated University of Lanternwebs, ph.D in hypersonic minecartery.
Ùst Squeezedisloyal: Governor of Sector Zansong Egath. Age 50, born 2169.
Viscount Cim Ponderousdestruction: Scientist candidate. Age 49, born 2170. Graduated University of Sparkgear, first of class of 2192.
Admiral Rumred Conflicthops: Admiral commanding Strike Force StarkRavingMad. Age 48, born 2171. Graduate of Boatmurdered Naval Academy.
Unsimulated Characters (and RP Participants)Chancellor Urnbreath: Member of Emperor Urist III's cabinet. Voiceover guy.
Uncle Nil: Uncle of Ral Undertrumpets. Deeply connected businessdwarf.