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thegreatspacerace2022-09-28 07:29 pm
space_aces) wrote in thegreatspacerace2022-09-28 07:29 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME #1
WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD
Your journey only happened because of your benefactor, so it begets that it starts at your benefactor as well. SUPERBIA, which is as much of a location as it is an entity, is where everyone's search for Fortuna begins.
There's not much of a welcome party: shortly after their fateful encounter with SUPERBIA, in which they swore to join the quest to find Fortuna, the new Privateers will find themselves afflicted by a sudden change in perspective. See, teleportation is a tricky process, so from SUPERBIA's point of view, why not make the target destination none other than itself? One highly disconcerting moment later, and the Privateers find themselves inside the belly of the beast.
The vast mega-structure is shockingly lonely, void of anyone other than the Privateers. Those who look off the metal satellite and to The Network for intelligence (or take a skim at the Space Wikipedia article) will find out that the surrounding space is clear for lightyears; rumors have it that the place is cursed. It won't take long to understand why.
There's not much of a welcome party: shortly after their fateful encounter with SUPERBIA, in which they swore to join the quest to find Fortuna, the new Privateers will find themselves afflicted by a sudden change in perspective. See, teleportation is a tricky process, so from SUPERBIA's point of view, why not make the target destination none other than itself? One highly disconcerting moment later, and the Privateers find themselves inside the belly of the beast.
The vast mega-structure is shockingly lonely, void of anyone other than the Privateers. Those who look off the metal satellite and to The Network for intelligence (or take a skim at the Space Wikipedia article) will find out that the surrounding space is clear for lightyears; rumors have it that the place is cursed. It won't take long to understand why.
1Overclocked
The innards of SUPERBIA are that of an impossibly scaled up computer, and the Privateers start right in the middle of it. You are the spider living in the dusty PS4. Literal rivers of coolant, transistors the size of mountains, landscapes made entirely of circuitry. The sky, bounded by a distant metal ceiling, is constantly alight with coursing electricity that cracks the sky with lightning storms. It can be assumed that the Privateers are the first living things to set foot here, because such a place is not ever meant to be traversed by delicate, organic, mortals that worry about things such as "temperature" or "voltage". SUPERBIA needs not lifeforms to continue its operations; why design for them? Traversal itself is difficult: unscalable walls and perilous drops are common to encounter. The only company the Privateers will find are oddly adorable maintenance robots, which sadly seem too occupied by their directives of maintaining the massive machine to offer any assistance (or even acknowledgement of their new guests).
It is immediately clear that the most urgent priority is to get the hell out of here. Before your adventure ends at the starting line.
It is immediately clear that the most urgent priority is to get the hell out of here. Before your adventure ends at the starting line.
2Skeletons In The Closet
If one stays inside SUPERBIA, either by getting horribly lost or losing all common sense, one will notice a peculiar pattern emerge as one gets deeper into the bowels of the mega-structure. Passages shrink and become more level, and the incredible hostility and danger of the surroundings fade away, until one comes across areas which were definitely intended for humanoid organisms to use at one point.
The construction of these areas is cramped, unfurnished, and dreary; they are reminiscent of artificial environments meant to handle harsh external conditions like a submarine or bunker, but they are entirely livable. One can eventually find distinct rooms, but everything in them has crumbled to dust and their original purpose is nigh impossible to discern. Deeper investigation may reveal the few items that have stood the test of time. While it is more plausible for life to have existed here, that doesn't seem to be the case now. What happened here?
The construction of these areas is cramped, unfurnished, and dreary; they are reminiscent of artificial environments meant to handle harsh external conditions like a submarine or bunker, but they are entirely livable. One can eventually find distinct rooms, but everything in them has crumbled to dust and their original purpose is nigh impossible to discern. Deeper investigation may reveal the few items that have stood the test of time. While it is more plausible for life to have existed here, that doesn't seem to be the case now. What happened here?
3The Shipyard
In the opposite direction, when one finally reaches the outer edges of SUPERBIA, they will be rewarded with the place to pick up a spaceship and a stunningly beautiful view of outer space. The outside of SUPERBIA has no atmosphere to get between you and the stars, and they shine brightly, like a beacon calling one out into the first steps of adventure.
The shipyard is already filled with countless space ships of every size, form, and function, all autonomously constructed by SUPERBIA's factories over the countless years. What's the harm in taking one or twenty out for a spin? Even if one has no intentions of permanent ownership of the vehicle, it's not like SUPERBIA will miss it. For a Privateer with a more specific vision, however, there are kiosks around the yard which will allow one to design their very own space ship down to their exact specifications. When the process is done SUPERBIA's matter printers will have it out and space-ready right before your very eyes.
If a Privateer has a ship, vehicle, or large item that they intended to bring with them, they will also find them here, neatly parked in the Shipyard. Why didn't SUPERBIA extend this courtesy to the pilot's themselves? The answer is revealed as soon as the owner makes a closer inspection: the inner contents have been rearranged, like a whirlwind was unleashed inside and assorted loose items thrown around. Now aren't you glad your transportation was given special attention, and the same didn't happen to your innards?
The shipyard is already filled with countless space ships of every size, form, and function, all autonomously constructed by SUPERBIA's factories over the countless years. What's the harm in taking one or twenty out for a spin? Even if one has no intentions of permanent ownership of the vehicle, it's not like SUPERBIA will miss it. For a Privateer with a more specific vision, however, there are kiosks around the yard which will allow one to design their very own space ship down to their exact specifications. When the process is done SUPERBIA's matter printers will have it out and space-ready right before your very eyes.
If a Privateer has a ship, vehicle, or large item that they intended to bring with them, they will also find them here, neatly parked in the Shipyard. Why didn't SUPERBIA extend this courtesy to the pilot's themselves? The answer is revealed as soon as the owner makes a closer inspection: the inner contents have been rearranged, like a whirlwind was unleashed inside and assorted loose items thrown around. Now aren't you glad your transportation was given special attention, and the same didn't happen to your innards?
4Hot Crewmates in Your Area
But how will a single Privateer man an entire space ship? No worries: when one steps into a ship, the strangely endearing maintenance robots will suddenly take acute interest. The robots will follow inside and immediately start assuming the duties of a spacefarer, eliminating the need for extra hands on deck.
Even still, there's just no eliminating the want for a human touch, though. Thankfully even that dilemma has a contingency plotted by SUPERBIA.
Communication devices are easily available on every space ship. They come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from huge stationary consoles to portable smartphone-like screens. But whenever a Privateer attempts to access the Network, a pop-up will appear, obscuring the whole screen.
The device will be rendered unusable until one relents to the pop-up's demands and provides answers to its questions. What will these be used for? The mystery will be solved when a social media app mysteriously installs itself on the same device, with profiles preemptively made for every Privateer. Each Privateer's profile consists of their given answers, paired with embarrassingly candid photographs. SUPERBIA has eyes in many places it seems.
Even still, there's just no eliminating the want for a human touch, though. Thankfully even that dilemma has a contingency plotted by SUPERBIA.
Communication devices are easily available on every space ship. They come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from huge stationary consoles to portable smartphone-like screens. But whenever a Privateer attempts to access the Network, a pop-up will appear, obscuring the whole screen.
The device will be rendered unusable until one relents to the pop-up's demands and provides answers to its questions. What will these be used for? The mystery will be solved when a social media app mysteriously installs itself on the same device, with profiles preemptively made for every Privateer. Each Privateer's profile consists of their given answers, paired with embarrassingly candid photographs. SUPERBIA has eyes in many places it seems.
no subject
Most of your life? Is that normal where you're from?
What dangers exist other than not being able to breathe or getting lost?
[Surely nothing lived out in the vacuum, so there are no predators, are there? And there's no air, which means no atmosphere, which means no weather. So no severe weather events.]
And banditry, if the population exists for it.
[Banditry might be easier in space, actually.
...
Maybe he should put a weapon on his ship.]
no subject
Dangerous stellar phenomenon, that can interfere with or disable a ship's systems. Asteroid fields, faulty starcharts, an error in astrogation, can send a ship in hyperdrive barreling into the nearest sun or crashing into a moon at relativistic speeds. And yes, pirates and various criminal consortiums do exist and prey on shipping lanes and lone freighters, especially the farther one gets from the oldest and most populated worlds of the Core Worlds. Corporations can also exert vast amounts of influence over space ceded to them or that they take, and their values do not often align with...conventional morality. And of course, slavery remains profitable for those who engage in it.
[Oh, and bad news about there being nothing living out in a vaccuum there, Linny...]
Certain kinds of life can exist in space. Mynocks like to chew through exposed power cables and feed off a ship's energy, but they are a minor pest, all things considered. Skittish, and easily driven off, even in flocks.
It's the big things you have to worry about. The ones that can swallow a ship whole if you're not careful. They are rare, but cases have been documented.
It's not a place for the timid, shall we say. But what other choice do we have, aside from remaining here?
[Which is unappealing for many reasons of its own.]
Sorry for long
[On Linhardt's planet, going to a different country is difficult and only a handful of people he knows have even left his continent. To travel freely amongst the multitude of stars and planets...that would solve so many problems that arose from people competing over resources. Or over ideologies. If people could just leave, things might be more peaceful.
On the other hand, some of what Maul describes to him are things Linhardt doesn't know, and for the first time in his life, that scares him rather than excites him. He would like to learn about stellar phenomenon and how to troubleshoot the navigation systems, but if he dies the first time he encounters a problem, that's less than ideal.]
Hyperdrive is when the ships are in the process of warping, yes? Are all of these problems in the electric encyclopedia? Are they all recorded?
[The realization that he was dealing with distances long enough that Warping took an appreciable amount of time was one that glued Linhardt to a chair for 30 minutes as he recalculated his worldview.]
Yes, slavery would be one of the more profitable options for those engaging in such acts.
[It's a practice Linhardt finds deplorable, but it's not one he's unfamiliar with. Slaves could be transported without any additional types of facilities except for a prison: They could eat and live in the same temperatures, etc. as the crew. The primary risk would be revolt.
But why worry about slavers when Maul drops the bombshell that life can live in space?]
How? How do they breathe? Have they bypassed the need for breathing altogether?
[Feeding off the lightning powering the ships is odd, but not any weirder than plants, objectively. So Linhardt accepts it and makes a note to try to work on an alternative power system as soon as possible. Resiliency is key: This is a marathon, not a sprint. If this Fortune device were easy to find, there'd be no need for them. Therefore it's likely to be longer endeavor.]
Where do the big things live? I want to see one.
[Be eaten by, whichever. Linhardt needs to know how their respiratory and digestive systems work. How does something eat a spaceship? He has to know.]
If I had a way back to Fodlan, staying here might be viable: There's enough information here for what I need, although winning the prize would assure my odds.
[One reason Linhardt agreed is that he realized that learning how SUPERBIA worked would be useful enough even if he doesn't 'win'. He'll still look, of course, the possibility is too tantalizing.]
Re: Sorry for long
[A man like Maul couldn't exactly afford to do regular business with Imperial customs and their endless, interminable inspections and ever-increasing number of fees, though a well-placed bribe to the right officer could always do the trick. And good smugglers don't come cheap.]
Hyperspace is how ships in my universe travel across the stars. It requires up to date star charts and precise astrogation calculations. I'm not certain how the hyperdrives or their equivalent work here yet, but I would be surprised if they functioned on the same principles.
I am not a xenobiologist, but I believe I have heard it has something to do with solar winds or some such. They feed on types of energy found only in space in lieu of more conventional terrestrial fare.
[Linhardt desiring to see "a big one" does draw a bemused smile from Maul; most people upon hearing of such creatures wouldn't be so enthusiastic about trying to find them. Odd one, this fellow.]
I've heard of creatures nesting in asteroids, hibernating inside the rock and coming out when potential food comes by. Or they simply sail between the stars under their own power. It does not pay to go looking for such creatures without good cause, or failing that, payment.
Ah? And you will seek this treasure, will you? Despite your inexperience as a space traveler? You are a scholar of some form or another, are you not?
no subject
[Star charts do change! Linhardt had never been certain: He'd seen differences in the maps of the night sky depending on the era, but since they were all hand drawn and often he only had a single data point for a given era, it had been impossible to know for sure.]
I will also find a xenobiologist. I appreciate your patience and willingness to answer my questions.
[Although Linhardt wants to take a ship and fly it towards the nearest asteroid belt, he understands that doing so would be a really bad decision. It's a shame that so many of the most interesting choices have a high probability of his own death. Which is not, in and of itself, a deterrent, but if he does not return, his friends will die.]
I will - I need the knowledge and tools that Fortuna would provide. Although I have never traveled through space, I am a medic and a healer, which is a skillset I expect to be one of the rarer ones amongst our number and therefore of enough value that someone will allow me to accompany them.
[If not, his healing magic gives him more room for error than most. Linhardt has seen a lot of fighters, some explorers, and an engineer, but most healers are prudent enough not to run off chasing a legend.]
I'm a scholar of heredity and the magical arts - magic being the manipulation of ambient energies with one's will.
[Linhardt has encountered multiple people who don't know what magic is, and therefore he defaults to explaining. He doesn't have Maul's patience for 'basic' questions.]
no subject
[A scholar and a medic? You had Maul's curiosity Linhardt, but now...you have his attention.]
Quite so. Allow me to express my interest, in fact. I have a ship, and can offer protection, knowledge, and experience in navigating the...less well-trod parts of the galaxy. Places I fully expect we shall be required to go.
Ah, yes...I know something of the powers of which you speak. They are not entirely unknown to me, though my focus is more offensively-oriented.
Would you be willing to meet in person to discuss the idea of cooperation?
no subject
[If SUPERBIA can travel across galaxies, which it clearly can somehow, then everyone being where they are is a choice the AI made. Why did it make it?
The offer is surprising because it's made so quickly. It appears that Linhardt's assumptions were correct and his skills are valuable. The other surprise is that something good happens for once. Not only does this man have knowledge that is needed and Linhardt lacks, but he's also a mage, so Linhardt won't die of intellectual understimulation.]
I am capable of offensive magic due to my time on the battlefield, though it isn't particularly interesting. Still, I would like to compare our offensive abilities.
[And study them, naturally.]
Yes. I am amenable to such a discussion. I am working in the northernmost stargazing hallway.
[And, true to his word, if Maul does go off looking for Linhardt, that's where he'll find him. What he finds is a tall, lanky man with cornflower blue eyes, long green hair, and handmade artisanal clothing.
Any sense of dignity is ruined(?) by Linhardt's posture, bent over as he is over a tablet. There's also a large amount of electronic parts spread around the scholar: He's started prying open datapads and sensors, clearly experimenting. If examined, some of the electronics on the floor are melted beyond repair, whereas others have cut wires or parts of their circuit boards removed entirely - Linhardt has a collection of processing unit chips in one of his coat pockets.
He feels Maul's presence, so there's no need to look up from his work where he's attempting to weld a new chip onto a board using fire magic.]
These are rather temperamental. One moment.
[Temperamental also means easy to sabotage. Linhardt detests violence, but he has no problem with cheap tricks or cheating.]