Gufnork's Rumble

[Snowflake]

PLAH Report, 2104:

Brave PLAH scout continues its effort in searching the Unity remains, only to find another pod infested with more native life forms that are now named mind worms. It was expected that the upcoming battle could be treacherous because the scout has not recovered from the previous battle. Colony two had to retreat because the massive fungus strip where it was headed was determined too dangerous for it to pass without escort.

People in the new established base are struggling because the surronding land is bare and dangerous. Chairman HongHu was furious about the fruitless effort of the PLAH and the unhabitability of the planet.

Turn 2104 to University.

[Chip_Buckner]

GNN - 2104

COMMENTARY: The barren landscape and the absence of evidence of any other Unity survivors has taken its toll on Gaian morale. Lord Chip's claim that we are surrounded by abundant building materials and his pronouncement that "on this rock we build our civilization" are met with derision in the habitation compound. The sentiment that "You can't eat rocks" is on every set of unofficial lips throughout the settlement.

* * *

2104 to the Hive.
(How ironic is it that the Hive and the Corporation are under mind worm attack and the Gaians can't even SEE any fungus?)
(And I didn't get to stockpile energy at the creation of my first unit, either.)

[Gufnork]

Fumbling in the darkness. Entering a new door. Travelling across a barren landscape. The unknown. What more is there to fear? All our fears are indirectly a fear of death, a fear of death is the fear of the unknown. Thus entering a great unknown is as frightening as diving head first from a cliff. After all, who says that death is worse than what lurks around the corner.

-- Provost Gufnork
"I Think, Therefor I Am"

Turn 2104 sent to Morganites.

[Rubin]

M.Y. 2104 Complete

Morganic Report, M.Y. 2104:
CEO Rubin, Personal Voice Diary Excerpt, M.Y. 2104: I just got a message from Security Ops. The search team dispatched following the last transmission from Hydroponics One had come across a field of what initially looked like the final resting place of the remains of Hydroponics One. As the search team approached they found the discovery to be only some remains of the U.N.S. Unity. I foolishly ordered the team to proceed and investigate the crash site. It was horrible. I turned off the commlink before the transmission ended... They were all young and green recruits... Addendum: Finally some good news! 20 minutes ago we got an incoming from the search team. They somehow managed to withstand the horrid native fauna lurking within the Unity remains. They are on their way back to base. I intend to promote the unit. They showed tremendous courage and should be set as an example for other new recruits. ML3dV reporters and a science team are on their way to base perimeter. This is our opportunity to boost the morale of the citizens. Note: I tracked the transmission and found out that the search team was actually traveling in the opposite direction of Hydroponics One. Hmm, there's no need to go public with this, however.
End of Report

Turn 2104 complete - Turn sent to Lord Chip...

[Chip_Buckner]

Four years. We continue to forage for bits of indiginous vegetation from our harsh surroundings, but have yet to see anything move on the horizon. No local fauna. No Unity survivors. Just rocks and--but for the sounds of waves breaking on the coast--silence.

Silence may be golden, but only when it serves as a respite from the chaos of "normal" life. This planet has nothing from which we need a break. Except monotony. We are truly alone.

The formers are breaking the rock into a more usable terrain, but it will be many years before we can expect any return from the investment of time and materials we are making today.

Lord Chip: Personal Journal - 2105

2105 to HongHu

[Snowflake]

Lord Chip, the turn you sent cannot be played by me because it asks for Gaian's password. I guess you have not pressed end turn when you saved it. Could you do it and resend it to me? Thanks! (I've also emailed you.)

[Snowflake]

PLAH report 2105

The entire nation is mouring for the lost of our brave scout. He will be forever remembered as one of the earliest explorers who pave the way of the future success of the Human Hives. Colony two settled down in a grave spirit. People vow to work harder to make this planet inhabitable.

Turn 2105 to University.

[Gufnork]

2105 sent to Rubinites.

[Rubin]

M.Y. 2105 Complete

Morganic Report, M.Y. 2105:
In the fifth year after first arriving on this new and hostile world the Morganites experienced the first significant breakthrough in good news. The entire Morganic population is ecstatic.

Transmission transcript:
- H.Q.: [incoming transmission]
- C-1187: Headquarters! This is Hydroponics One. Do you copy?
- H.Q.: We read you Hydroponics One! We read you!
- C-1187: [coordinate transfer initiated] ... I have good news! We've succesfully set up a base of operations, and obviously communications have been restored. It's been two and a half long years, but the base is now fully operational. We're transfering our position, scientific report and request for basic supplies now.
End of Report

Turn 2105 complete Turn sent to Lord Chip of the Gaians

(Edit: Gufnork, the Morganic faction is still mourning the loss of our founder Nwabudike Morgan. Nwabudike didn't survive planetfall. Our escape pod hit some nasty turbulence and the landing was far from being gentle. As I'm sure you understand, this tragedy is still a sad rememberance among our leaders. Therefore, it'll be at least 5 more years until the Morganites are ready to call themselves the Rubinites.)

[Chip_Buckner]

GNN - 2106

The Gaian community is abuzz with the discovery of extraterrestrial fauna. The First GEF (Gaian Expeditionary Force) encountered what appeared to be debris from the Unity. Upon investigation, however, something moved. The life form is unlike anything found on Earth or, heretofore, upon Chiron. Gaian scientists speculate that the lifeform is either native or--because it has only been seen in remnants of the Unity core--something grown from spores the Unity picked up in deep space on its way to Chiron. Gaian officials insist that further exploration is warranted.

Sadly, the life form exhibited hostile tendancies, attacking 1-GEF. Gaian socio-environmentalists hope that greater efforts will be made to communicate with the new life form.

2106 to the Hive

[Snowflake]

PLAH report 2106:
Inspired by the sacrifice of the brave scout, new green scout marched forward for further exploration. Special terrain was discovered with potential of aiding nutrition production. The marshal recommended the next colony base should be planned around the nutrition resources.

2106 to University.

[Gufnork]

Turn 2106 to Rubin

Ok, this is getting boring. One pod, no worms, no action. Gah, give me some pods!

[Rubin]

M.Y. 2106 Complete

Morganic Report, M.Y. 2106:
The Morganic faction reported an unexpected lack of new discoveries this year. A lone Scout unit decided - against direct orders and for no apparent reason - to explore the route back to Colony Headquarters! Minute planning currently prevents serious inefficiency, but predictions only suggest a minor delay in the inevitable.
End of Report

Turn 2106 complete. Turn has already reached Gaian HQ.

[Chip_Buckner]

GNN-2107

The year 2107 will be recorded as the year of discovery.

At the beginning of the year, terraformer operators happened upon a piece of terrain that differed from the usual Chiron rock outcroppings. Upon investigation, headquarters staff determined the zone to be unusually rich in nutritional resources. This revelation bodes well for Gaian survival and growth.

Later in the year, the 1st GEF (Gaian Expeditionary Force) encountered yet another new kind of life. The pink fungus-like growth is the second form of apparently indiginous life found upon our new planet. Gaian exo-botonists believe that they may be able to derive nutritional supplements from the fungus to further vary and enhance Gaian diets. Exo-zoologists, on the other hand, urged further study, as we do not yet understand whether the new life is animal, vegetable or something altogether unique to Chiron.

As the year concluded, while members of the 1st GEF was exploring the newly-discovered "fungus", they found another instance of the "mind worms" that attacked them earlier. Having found mind worms in a location apart from a Unity pod suggests that this may be indiginous life, rather than something that the Unity picked up in space.

The most intriguing aspect of 1st GEF report is the omission of any reference to casualties. Optimists hope that the initial contact may have been a rogue mind worm colony that differs from the more typically benign variety. Pessimists warn that it is at least as likely that this docile specimin is the exception. Radicals exo-linguists, on the other hand, speculate that we may have learned how to communicate with the local life form. Official sources remain mum.

2107 to HongHu

[Snowflake]

PLAH report, 2107:
It is an uneventful year. However, Gree scout No 2 reported encountering with mind-worms. Result of the battle is expected next year.

2107 to University