Announcement

**SITS** · September 20, 2001, 03:02

This isn't Earth. This isn't Earth. It is a concept I need to keep in my thoughts as I see Planet for the first time. It is tempting to compare everything to the green life that grew on that distant place I once called home. Home is here now and I try to look with untainted eyes, to cherish the beauty of what I see. What do I see?

I see a river that turns on itself, hills of pink fighting against the glimpse of green. Green - it brings tears of homesickness to my eyes - even to the point of hating the pink, wanting to destroy it. But then I step out into the pink mass where a portion of the Unity has crashed and seared the landscape and I kneel down to look closely at the charred ends and reach my hand out and I'm shocked as the this fungus moves away from me. I think for a moment and shift my weight to find myself on top of the fungus. I close my eyes so I can look carefully. I reach out and see and hear the suffering, the hole where the pod had landed, the hole it had burnt. We had caused this life pain and I weep. I've realised that life isn't always green and my shame is immense. I will carry this message forth to other survivors, if there are some. That Planet is alive. And we must love it. Enlightenment.

Turn 2101 to Christmann

**Christmann** · September 20, 2001, 06:07

Turn 2101 to Mark13.

**mark13** · September 20, 2001, 06:24

2101 to Scipio

---------------

It was the coldness that struck him. Of course, he has been in a thousand Planetfall simulations....but this was the eerie reality of it all. A cold burning sensation filled his stomach - and whilst he knew there was no apparent danger to either he or his followers, the magnitude of the task ahead seemed improbable.

**Scipio Centaurus** · September 20, 2001, 10:45

2101 to Arima

------------------

"... one hundred seven... one hundred eight... one hundred nine... one hundred ten!", the CEO counted to himself.

The well-worn leather upholstery on his swivel chair creaked as CEO Scipio Centaurus leaned forward and held the last of the coins up close to the desk lamp to take a closer look. He smiled as he admired the engraving detail on the flowing gown of Lady Liberty on the obverse facing of the one ounce American Eagle gold bullion coin. As he twisted the coin slightly, the light reflected off of the coin in a mesmerising clockwise rotating cartwheel pattern of brilliant orange-yellow lustor. St. Gaudans - the sculptor who had engraved this design - had been a genius without parallel.

"Too bad the industrial nations of Earth had moved away from coin and currency in the middle of the twenty-first century. But then again, that just makes these uncirculated specimens worth all that much more.", thought the CEO.

These treasures, smuggled aboard the Unity at some loss of life, would become the backbone for the fledgling Industrial Alliance's monetary system - at least initially.

The CEO had some ideas about a more advanced monetary system based on production of energy. The system had been tried before in the early years of the twenty-first century in the United States, but it had collapsed due to excessive regulation in the commodities markets. He would not permit that mistake to be repeated. Scipio looked forward to meeting again with CFO Derek Roberts to continue their discussions along those line

His executive assistant poked her head in through the doorway to his office and reminded him of the upcoming Board meeting.

The CEO put the coins back into the desk vault, and reached into the mahogeny humidor for a cigar...

"The directors would surely not begrudge him a few extra moments for that luxury."

**Christmann** · September 20, 2001, 11:48

I regret to inform you all that I won't be home from friday morning to sunday evening. (European Middle Time).

Googlie if you want to it would be great if you could play my turns?

**Googlie** · September 20, 2001, 12:02

No problem

SITS:

As the Gaians, sending to the Hive, send to me at linfrew@aol.com

G.

**Arima** · September 20, 2001, 12:53

Turn passed to Qantaga.

Sorry for the tamper message... I initally opened it using a mod that I was playing.

As I awaken, I notice the vast oceans and mountains of Chiron. I start to analyze the similarities and differences to combat in Earth, and I smile: even on this alien world, tactical and military control remains essential. I'll make sure the entirety of the Unity crew realizes that.

**SITS** · September 20, 2001, 14:14

Googlie - Noted

**Qantaga** · September 20, 2001, 18:29

2101 sent to DiDad.

-------

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

These holy words echo through my mind as I stroll towards the docking bay. Soon now, I will have a look at our new home. We escaped the shadow of death that Earth had become in its final hours and we travelled across the darkness of space for our chance at a new beginning. This time, our beliefs will remain at the forefront of our lives. We will not be enfolded into the false desires for money, power or human understanding. We will devote ourselves to our faith and to the betterment of the lives of our people. Not for worldly gains, but for eternal rewards.

As I approach the doors, they begin to swing open. I am bathed by warm light and must squint my eyes as it has been many years since I have seen more than artificial light. Even though it blinds at first, it is indeed the most welcome sight I have seen in many years.

As I stand at the top of the platform and look around our new home, the breath catches in my throat. This is glorious. I glimpse the edges of a river not too far in the distance. I see rolling hills. I see a strange red carpet stretched out on the horizon. This must be a new form of life that resides here.

I say a prayer of Thanksgiving for our new home. The Lord has blessed us indeed.

After a few days of bandaging injuries, sustained in the plummet through the atmosphere to this place, and taking stock of our supplies, we are ready to begin making plans for the future.

Our Elders gather together. Our first decision is where to set up our first city. As we look around, we realize that this is not the most optimal place to establish a new city, but it could take years to scope out the land and find a perfect location. So, we decide to establish our first city on the site of our landing.

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord; to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

So, we shall name our first city New Jerusalem. We will rise up and give thanks for each new day on this glorious Planet.

We have much to do to prepare ourselves for life here. We must learn to live and eat in this new environment. We have many brilliant minds who are urging us to begin discovering the mysteries of this world. However, for now, we will look to the Lord for guidance. We will focus our wisdom on establishing a home. We will explore the land around us. We will pursue no research for a period of 10 years. At that time, we will revisit the need to invest in research, but we will do so only to the betterment of our people and to follow the will of the Lord.

I hope and pray that everyone who escaped from Unity has found safe passage to this planet. I also pray that they will not repeat the mistakes of Earth. For we shall not repeat our old mistakes!

**SITS** · September 21, 2001, 02:19

Turn 2102 sent to Googlie

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Second year on Planet. Second fear on Planet. We encountered today what must be the native life-form of Planet. A Colony pod looking for a new place to call home, chanced upon - a thing. It seemed to generate fear and loathing as its tendrils moved in a menacing fashion. My people are already calling them Mindworms and fear seems to be spreading fast throughout the population. Fortunately we had scout nearby and when they attacked the creature it gave in immediately and it now seems to be under control. I've explained to the populance at large how easy it was to capture this Mindworm thing and I think it eased their fears. I just hope such things are as easy to control in the future.

**mark13** · September 21, 2001, 06:50

2102 to Scipio

--------------------------

After a year of nomadic wandering on planetsurface, our first of many research centers was founded. University Base sits pretty, like a little oasis among the desert of fungus. An unfortunate reaction to a Unity pod unleashed yet more fungus on our bewildered scout patrol - something we really didn't need at this point.

Meanwhile, a monolith stands proud in the distance. Barely visble from University Base on a clear day, the elegant, tall spire is quite a sight to behold. The monolith itself seems to have a calming effect on our troops....additionally, it seems that statue will give quite a boost to our research capabilities.

But we must not forget the primary function of University Base - research. Whilst studies have already begun into Biogenetics, many more discoveries will surely be made over the coming years - to the benefit of our great colony.

**Googlie** · September 21, 2001, 06:59

2102 to mark13

Consternation ran throughout the base.

The Chairman was ill.

Functionary Googlie rapped the makeshift table for attention. Although no formal command structure as yet had been established, he was one of Chairman Christmann's closest confidants, and readily took the mantle of leadership in this crisis.

"It is a minor thing," he said,"that will pass in a few days. Our doctors say that it is a reaction to the toxins that were not completely purged from the alien vegetation we are now using to supplement our food supplies.

"Meanwhile, there are decisions to be made."

The small council looked on expectantly. Shimoda, whom the Chairman had appointed head of the research cadre of colonists; Seng Hsui, garrison commander, Chief of Police and military leader; Tommy Yang, xenobiologist, who had worked with Deirdre Skye's group, but had joined the Hive's exodus from The Unity. And Saleem "Googlie" Patel, newly appointed Civilian Governor of the headquaters base.

Googlie spoke:

"The decisions we need to make are whether to prise open the two Unity seed pods that we can see just outside the base perimeter - scout patrols are standing by; what line of research our colleague Shimoda and his staff should pursue and how much of our precious energy should be diverted for research purposes; direction to our colony pods that are searching for suitable sites to found additional bases, and, of course, what production orders should I give to our workers in this base itself."

They nodded as one, then Shimoda spoke:

"Is it not true that delaying any decision is itself a decision in itself? And indeed if our beloved Chairman will be among us in a few days as you say, then what damage will have been done if he needs to countermand any status-quo decision we make right now? Not much, I would suggest."

The others nodded gravely. There clearly was concensus to leave things exactly as they were.

"There is the matter of the line of research to pursue," Googlie said.

"Oh, I have already made my decision on that," Shimoda replied.

'I could see I was going to have trouble with this one' Googlie thought to himself, but smiled outwardly.

"Excellent. Then let's proceed. This meeting is adjourned."

**Scipio Centaurus** · September 21, 2001, 14:43

2102 to Arima
------------------

CEO Centaurus closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, taking in the scrubbed and scented air provided to the living quarters of each of the occupants of the executive habitation complex. The CEO's private jacuzzi jetted bubbling hot water against his body, relaxing his muscles. After a few moments, he opened his eyes and took a sip from the glass of champaigne (oh yes indeed...genuine glass...genuine champaigne...both from Earth).

"Gives new meaning to the concept of an 'imported' alcoholic beverage" he thought, as he allowed the slightest hint of a smile to tug at the corner of his mouth.

He looked out through the polarized one-way wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling bayview window of his penthouse living quarters and took note of the evening work shift laboring under the arc lamps, building the new heavy equipment manufacturing facilities down near the docks and quays of the Industrial Alliance's capital and first port - New New York City.

"Not a bad first year on Chiron", he thought, "Two colonies established along a major fresh water river... Microsoft Redoubt near the rocky high mountain sources of the river... New New York City at the base of the river where it spilled into the bay...the discovery of abundant indigenous fruits and vegetables growing in the highly fertile land along the shores of the river...entirely suitable for human consumption with only minor chemical treatment and genetic modification...the recent discovery of fertile ground near a second major river to the east, making it likely that a third colony would soon be established"

The CEO pondered the fate of the other Unity passengers. No sign of any other survivors had been detected to date. Scipio knew that the fate of The Industrial Alliance was closely intertwined with the fate of the others. Free markets require a large and diverse group of customers to drive them.

**Arima** · September 21, 2001, 14:57

2102 Passed to Qantaga
________________________________________

[I]This world sports more and more alien lifeforms. Our initial exploratory team reported a mass of, well, worms, that attacked them. They survived the psychic attack, they reported, largely due to their superior training. Their next goal, I believe, would be investigating the alien structure that lies on the outskirts of Sparta Command...[\I]

Announcement

Turns of RP3 (Role Play Three)

Turns of RP3 (Role Play Three)

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