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Curious as this is my first PBEM: What exactly is the queue stock energy bug, what does it do, and why?(if there is more of a reason other then "because its broken", that is)
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Look here, it's a good web page for SMAC/SMAX info:
and here is specifically about bugs on that site:
check items 44 and 45Comment
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Aeolus' Planetfall I
Aeolus grinded his teeth as he heard the sound of the pod being detached from UNS Unity and the subsequential roaring of the ignition of the pod's thrusters. He just did not like being in a situation he cannot control.
Trying to escape the reality, he closed his eyes...
"Mark Joseph Bouchard, are you and the hacker named Aeolus the same person are you not?" a man in a uniform with a familiar tri-pointed yellow star insignia on his sleeve asked.
The bounded figure on a chair situated in the center of the room under a single light bulb chuckled. "Aeolus, eh? Some king of winds... here's your answer," the figure chuckled again, this time accompanied by a loud fart.
"Whaa.. you insolent fool!" the uniformed man struck Bouchard across the face with an electrical baton. As the prisoner shuddered as a short burst of electricity rushed throughout his body, the interrogator said "I will take that as an affirmation."
"Now, Bouchard, or perhaps I should say Aeolus, what was your purpose for hacking into the Christian States of America's military network system?"
"I told you, I don't know who Aeolus is! Let me go and I'll gladly shove that baton up your ass!" Bouchard growled.
"Such big words for a small sniveling maggot like you," the interrogator sneered as he lifted his baton.
A booming voice suddenly filled the room "That's enough. Leave us."
The interrogator’s body stiffened. "Ye.. yes sir.” As the door slid shut behind the uniformed man, the voice once again filled the room. “Mister Bouchard, your reason for your hacking activities…”
“I told you I don’t know squat about anything like that!” the prisoner interrupted.
“Silence! Do not interrupt me again or you will regret it,” the voice commanded, its tone icy. A large figure emerged among the shadows in a corner of the room. As his face came into the radiance of the light bulb, Bouchard thought to himself the face seemed familiar. “As I was saying, I am not interested in why you did it but rather in how you did it. My researchers and technicians assured me that Morgan Data Systems’ security system was impregnable but you managed to break through. Out of thousands who tried, you are the only one who succeed. Your military record is very impressive and you’ve had some spectacular success in leading the Atheist Resistance Movement against the Christian States. Let me be direct here. You are the kind of person I want to be working for me. I reward successes very lucratively and all I ask is your loyalty in exchange.”
Bouchard stared at the imposing figure, uncertain how to response. Suddenly he burst out laughing. “You’re so hilarious! I cannot be bought by anybody! Now let me go!”
Nwabudike Morgan sighed. “How unfortunate. Perhaps this will change your mind.” At a motion of his hand, a television screen previously unseen flickered on. Displaying was a recording of an operation in progress. “See anybody you know, Mister Bouchard?”
Bouchard squinted; he could not believe his eyes. It was him on that operating table. Breaking out in a string of swearings, he demanded “What did you do to me, you mutha…”
Lifting his hand, “Please do not pollute my ears with your filthy mouth. It has been in my experience that men such as you can be… difficult to persuade. I have learned to appreciate the usefulness of an incentive. This is yours,” Morgan gestured toward the screen. “See that chip being implanted into your neck? With a push of a button your head will be nothing but a mist of blood. Also, if you were to attempt to remove the chip, it will self-destruct resulting in the same end. Care to reconsider my offer, Mister Bouchard?”
Stunned, Bouchard fell silent. His mind, in a state of panic, ought a solution. In few seconds, it came to a conclusion – he has no choice or to die. “Mo.. ahem… sir, what do you want me to… do?”
“Ah, that’s considerably much better. Oh, nothing much, really. First of all, I want you to help my researchers to strengthen Data Systems’ security system. Then I will want you to do an odd errand here and there. Nothing much to worry about right now. Also I will be expecting your total loyalty to me and me only. You will reveal to me everything you know about Atheist Resistance Movement. Your comrades… former comrades have been very successful against my Morgan Security Forces and cost me a great deal of money therefore this must be put to a stop. Will you have any problems doing those?”
Bouchard stammered, “No… no, sir.”
Laughing out heartily, Morgan grasped Bouchard’s shoulder. “Excellent! Now, remember, I reward successes very well. I am sure in time you will come to appreciate my… patron-ship. But remember this, for you, a failure will result in only one possible conclusion for you.”
The hissing sounds of the landing pod ripping through the atmosphere woke up Aeolus. Sighing to himself, he reflected back on activities he carried out for Director Morgan just to save his miserable skin. Men he knew and led in Atheist Resistance Movement were sought out and killed based on the information he gave. He had hacked into countless network systems and stole secrets or inserted bugs to cause sabotages. Thousands and thousands had died as a result of his actions. All to save his skin.
The Director was good to him, yes. He did not have to go wanting for anything. Anything he desired, he was able to obtain it. Except for his freedom which was the most desirable thing to him. Wait, make that the second most desirable. The first would be the release from the three furies which haunts him in terms of nightmares and the sensation of heavy guilt on his soul.
“Sir? Sir? We are here on the surface,” an excited voice with a tingle of nervousness in it slowly crept into Aeolus’ wandering thoughts.
“Eh?” Aeolus blinked and looked up. It was the man who led the team to secure the equipment before the detachment. “Ah, yes, I didn’t realize. I was deep into my thoughts. Thanks, and what’s your name?”
“Sir, my name is Akbar Ahmed,” the man replied as he helped Aeolus out of his seat.
“Well, Akbar, my name is not Sir. It’s Aeolus.”
“Yes, sir.. sorry, Aeolus.”Last edited by Barinthus; April 2, 2004, 02:23.Comment
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Aeolus' Planetfall II
Few hours later, everybody was outside of the pod which was half buried into the ground. Nobody could not believe it. They are finally at their destination – Chiron. Despite the mysterious incident aboard Unity they all managed to make it. This place was not what they had imagined it to be. Some have collapsed onto the ground sobbing. Some went off wandering to explore their surroundings although they mostly stayed within the visual range of the pod. Many just stood there on the hillside staring at an alien ocean lapping against the shore.
Aeolus was among those just standing there staring at the gentle waves rolling onto the land. It was peaceful and relaxing. The Director is dead, he thought to himself for what must be a thousand time. After nearly two decades of virtual slavery, he was finally free. Unfortunately the stain of guilt has not lifted from his soul.
Enough! Enough of this self-pity! He angrily thought to himself. Wallowing in self-pity is not going to change anything. For all they know, they could be alone in this area. Or not. They will need to build a base and standing looking at the waves will not get a base built. Aeolus looked around himself and saw that nobody were doing anything productive.
He thought back to what happened on the pod before the detachment about how he had to take the initiative. Apparently he will have to do the same here. Perhaps this is how he could redeem himself by making sure everybody stay together and help each other to survive?
“Akbar! Come here. Alright, we need to unload the pod and start getting the layout of our new home established. I want you to….”
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Three months later…
“Aeolus! I knew I would find you here,” Sinder Roze smiled. Aeolus silently nodded as he stood at his favorite spot a top a low cliff looking above the beach. He often went there to watch the waves throwing themselves against the rocks. The residents of the base have come to learn to leave Aeolus alone whenever he’s at his mediation spot. Except for Roze.
Not too many people liked Roze. She was often very blunt with her thoughts and stepped on many people’s toes. Aeolus has worked with her many times throughout his ‘career’ at Morgan Industries and he has come to become accustomed to her tendencies. She is a very brilliant woman with an uncanny ability to find a solution to a problem where everybody else would have gave up.
Aeolus has often wondered why she did not take lead few months ago during the Planetfall. She was a natural leader which Aeolus knew too well. What happened was that she was too devastated by the Director’s death and she was too busy focusing on her grieving. Unlike Aeolus, Roze worked for Morgan under her own free will. The Director was the only one on Earth who was willing to tolerate her anarchistic tendencies and she was grateful for this in return. So far Roze seems satisfied working with Aeolus.
“Aeolus, if my team’s calculations are correct and if UNS Unity is truly disabled, we should be able to see her coming down any moment now over there,” she pointed across the ocean toward the horizon.
As Aeolus turned around to look, the clouds in distance glowed then flickered for several seconds. Then a huge fireball emerged out under clouds, descending rapidly toward the surface. It was a breathtaking sight and also a sad one. It was an ending of a chapter and a history.
As the fireball disappeared across the horizon out of their sights, Aeolus commented “Now we know it’s done. We will never hear from Earth again. This is our home forever.”
“Yes, it is already our home.”
“Alright, we better get back to the base.” As they walked back toward the base, Aeolus reflected back on what has happened since the Planetfall. They have done much. A permanent home was built and they have been exploring the surrounding areas. Yes, the Director is dead and this is how he will redeem himself – by guiding his people. The realization he just called his fellow Unity personnel ‘his people’ nearly paused him in his steps.
They have not heard from other pods yet and everybody was starting to wonder what if they are the only ones on the Planet. Perhaps, perhaps not. What he didn’t tell Roze was that while they were watching the ship going down, he swore he noticed a small flashing object falling on the far side of the horizon. Perhaps it was a pod?Comment
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Hope you enjoyed my narrative. I know it's a bit rough and could probably use some polishing. I wanted to crank out something fast
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Well, I put the contents of it on your list of ingame crimes if you're ever to fall in the caring hands of my punishment sphere maintenance people.
Joking, good writing
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Chapter 2
2109 to Sankis.
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Nataliya, I need a word with you, Doctor Rubin entered the mobile R & D facility. Nataliya was studying native samples gathered during the first planetary expedition, M.Y. 2101. Her efforts were closely coordinated with Dr. Jeneba's progressive research on Intelligence Algorithms (including Information and Planetary Networks capabilities).
Yes, Doctor Rubin?, she made a pausing gesture, Wait! I know. This is about the Emotional Cognitive Algorithms, isn't it?
Of course it is! Doctor Rubin's voice was stern--yet deprived of emotional content. It is progressing too slowly! Meanwhile... How should I put it... Hmm, I do not care for this seemingly pointless research; however, the citizens are becoming increasingly difficult to oversee. I need someone to act as, eh, public profile or... and...
Nataliya sighed at the Doctor's almost infantile approach to public relations. It was well known among his loyal followers that logic preceeded all of Doctor Rubin's social dispositions. In fact, it seemed somewhat unlikely that he held any emotional or social capabilities at all. In addition, his personal appearance had an eerie aura--maybe from the fact that he had several cybernetic implants--in particular the Datalinks Access Interface (with an immense logical storage capacity). The bio-molecular structure of the implants had remained a secret until a few months before the launch of the U.N.S. Unity. The prospect of cryo-hibernation forced Doctor Rubin to detail the implant compositions. Nataliya knew that some pieces of vital information had not been exposed. It seemed the implants were 'thinking'--even during cryosleep. Whatever the real explanation is, Doctor Rubin presented schematics to several novel devices along with a few stunning scientific theories--especially on Sentient Robotics and Information Algorithms--shortly after planetfall.
Doctor Rubin was highly predictable on social matters, though, and Nataliya had expected him to come forward with his, partly confused(!), Public Relations request. The ECA Research was still only preliminary, but Dr. Jeneba seemed to have excellent understanding of this particular research area. It was, however, still uncertain if Doctor Rubin would request an ECA implant.
Here, Nataliya! Doctor Rubin gave her a small holo-keycard. You have full access to this data. Make it happen! He turned around and headed for the exit lift--hesitated, and said calmly: Oh, and run the tests on Nerve Stapling immediately. Use the residents at Hydroponics Five...
Chiron: The Human Incursion (M.Y. 2103), University Datalinks (unverified entry)Last edited by Rubin; April 2, 2004, 07:38.Comment
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((Little note: This is a current event, M.Y: 2109. It is being broadcast to my cities, but as the pirates think they are most likely the only ones who survived the trip down, they didn't encode it or anything. It is up to you if you decide you wish to hear it ICly. Also, there will be several pictures but they shouldn't be too huge. Estimated size is around 250 kb total. If you have a problem with these pictures, tell me and i'll resize, etc in future updates.))
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"We are interrupting your reguarly scheduled broadcast for an announcement by the Nautilus Government"
"Greetings, Citizens. This is the Governor of Port Royale,Cecil Lorn, speaking. I am here to announce the first wide range Nautilus broadcast since landing on this planet. Now, I will hand over control to your beloved leader, Sankis "Furyblade" Daeda."
"Greetings, Citizens. As Governor Lorn told you, this is the first broadcast since landing here. We have been through tough times together, and I am pleased to announce some news. First thing is our first breakthrough in technology: Centauri Ecology."
"This knowledge have enabled us to create the TerraForming Unit Sea Sculpter, shown below. This will allow us to form the oceans to fit our growing needs, and in the future it is theorised we will be able to shape land itself!"
"An order has been placed for one in the factories at Port Royale, and one is expected in about a decade."
"However, I also bring other news.. A scout of ours has been damaged several years ago due to a floating lifeform of sorts dubbed "Isle of the Deep" by researchers. The crew of the ship that was under attack stated that they were never physically attacked, but felt an intense presence in their minds."
Shown above: "Isle of the Deep"
"Recently, the same foil that was attacked years ago has spotted a strange creature on the coast of one of the planet's many continents."
"Citizens may rest assured that the Nautilus Navy is on high alert and that our two cities are perfectly safe. More on this as it develops"
"Shifting back to more uplifting news, I am proud to annouce the discovery of several unity pods. These pods will contain much needed supplies, and will aid in our construction process"
"This wraps up this announcement. Rest well, Citizens."
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Turn to Angels!
"I now return you to regularly scheduled broadcasting"Last edited by Sankis; April 3, 2004, 16:55.Comment
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Originally posted by GeoModder
Well, I put the contents of it on your list of ingame crimes if you're ever to fall in the caring hands of my punishment sphere maintenance people.
Joking, good writing
Thanks, Geo, that means a lot to me.
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Chapter 2
2110 to Sankis.
Very nice stories so far However, 4 of the images in Sankis' recent post do not show. Also, I'd appreciate if the size of the image 'downloads' is as small as possible (I'm usually on a very slow connection).
I have two events during the 1st decade that need to be covered. Stay tuned
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University Research, Classified Protocol Entry #1187, M.Y. 2104:
-Item: unknown
-Origin: unknown
-Notes: During the early first planetary expedition, M.Y. 2101, a University Scout Patrol was ordered to search though debris fragments from the U.N.S. Unity. After 41 minutes of radio silence the unit reported back that the site did not contain any debris originating from the starship... quote: "There's something else here. I'm not sure what it is!". A research team was requested immediately. By M.Y. 2103 the item was successfully retrieved. Speculations suggest that the item is of definite alien origin. University scientists have not yet finished research on this amazing artifact.Last edited by Rubin; April 3, 2004, 02:20.Comment
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The 'last post' ceremony started in the square in front of the man's office.
He stood up, walked over to the window (a scavenged part of the old landing pod's front screen), and watched over the gathering in front of the memorial statue centred on the square.
The square, rimmed by low, plain looking buildings (almost barrack-like) was illuminated only by the smallest sun of this systems' main stars, Alpha Centauri B. A bright point of light in the sunset dawn.
The people down there, a few hundred, by the count of it, stood aligned (military formation-like) and brought a salute to their former leader memorial plaque.
The man smiled by the look of it. He Let them have their silly ceremony. It kept those reveries busy with a mythe, while still being capable of serving the colony (and him, off course) in light of their newfound 'traditions'.
He thought back of the past difficult years before the leader died, no doubt 'bravely' in the gathered throng minds. By the narrowest of chances he had made Planetfall, unconsciousness, almost deathlike. Then, by finally being awakened, allowed to recover by a indifferently governor who dismissed his rights and rank, he was used in the most dangerous task a newfound colony could have, a scout. He shuddered, remembered the dangers of this alien world outside the base perimeter. The predating mindworms, the spore launchers who almost killed him in a blast of corrosive spores, eating through his protection suit and breathing gear. Well, at least he survived it all and was eventually able to get back at all those wo dismissed him so easily. At long last his recommendations for a second 'camp' were found valid, and knowing that she could not resist such an opportunity to show her 'troops' her bravery, she leaded them right in the trap he disguised in his scouting reports. He imagined her screaming in that fungal tower's tendrils, together with the rest of her command squad. The alien lifeforms squirming around her and eating the eyes out of her sockets while planting eggs in her brain tissue.
And he, enjoying an earned (and carefully planned) rest in the moving colony pod, he had saved the other colonists of being slaughtered the same way, moved them to a safe spot and had won their trust in this. And now, at long last, he was the righfull leader again!
The ceremony ended, the gathered people left slowly, some of them passed the governor office and greeted him. Pravin Lal smiled a bit broader while greeting them back. Ironically Santiago was now, a year after her death, becoming usefull to him as well. And her loyal cadres would do as well...
Now only the remaining staff members of 'Unity' must be punished for their dismissal of his rights. If he only knew who had saved his life and let the cryocel of another person being removed from his landing pod, he would be free to follow his wimp in this as well...Last edited by GeoModder; April 3, 2004, 07:58.Comment
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So, I think this covers the peacekeepers presence and Santiago's disappearance on Planet. I don't plan to write more about Lal anymore. Not enough (actually none) info on how the PK's are doing. I'll be busy enough covering 'my' Atlanteans.
Hope you enjoyed it.
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Re: Chapter 2
Sure, i'll edit them down to a smaller size later, if I can. I only have a very basic graphics program so thats why I didn't before. If I can, i'll try to cut the downloads in half.Originally posted by Rubin
Very nice stories so far However, 4 of the images in Sankis' recent post do not show. Also, I'd appreciate if the size of the image 'downloads' is as small as possible (I'm usually on a very slow connection).
also, can you tell me which pictures are not loading? Their URL or anything would be nice.Comment
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Sankis, i can try to make them smaller, if you send them to me in email. Maybe size could be cut too a bit to smaller resolutionComment
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