Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

A Social History of Planet

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • A Social History of Planet

    Introduction
    This will be a little collection of tales, one for each faction, inspired by the blurbs of SMAC/X's techs, facility and secrect projects. The intent of these histories is to give the word at the normal citizen: they are not great commanders or particulary important Talents, they are simply common people that live "under an alien sky". I hope you will enjoy these tales. If you have any comments, suggestions or remarks, please post separatly.


    The Planetary Archives
    Chapter One

    The alarm clock brought him out from his deep sleep. Gregor Leonov dressed his uniform and prepared a breakfast. Leaving his comfortable flat, based in the center of Planetary Archives base, he turned on his Personal Datalink. The holovideo showed the dayly agenda and a quicklink to the Main Node. In the meantime the lift stopped at ground floor, leaving him alone in the Residence Tower Reception; sliding doors closed silently behind him. He began to walk to the Research Center, looking the clear streets pulsing of life. The Research Doctors with their white uniforms walked on his right, crossing the way at Planet Ecologists in light green uniforms. "Gregor! nice to meet you", a voice behind him, "Markos! how many time? three...four Planet years...What do you do here? I thought that you was at University Base..." "You know," Markos replied "as Social Engineer I must control that University Council dispositions are applied also in the little bases far from the Headquarters... my first duty here is to speak to Surveillance Chiefs, and control the preparation of the NetWatchers Task Force". They passed through the crowd of scientists. "NetWatchers?", asked Leonov, "Yes.", Markos replied, "Our Network Nodes are too weak against the infiltrations and the Academician has decided to improve our security mesures. At the HQ there are some rumors...", Marcos began to whisper, seeing the University Enforcement that controlled the area, "seems that we have a secrect pact with the Hive, and we are trading with them, also if the Planet Council's sanctions are still in effect... But what about you?", changing the tone. "Hmm... my research group is working on some... alien speciments", entering in the Research Center they took the lift to the Reading Room, "Mind worms or Progenitors?", asked Markos; "Both. It seems that Planet native lifeforms and Tau Ceti inhabitants have in common a large part of their DNA. They have a different way to comunicate, but their organizatives' methods are the same." The lift stopped at 218 floor and let them in a large somber room with more then 500 desks where researchers were reflecting about their job. On a metal signboard there was written 'THE SILENCE OF ONE IS A GOOD FOR ALL'."If you put two diapasion near each other and you make the first vibrate, also the second begin to vibrate this is a sound waves' property well-known also before the Planetfall. Mindworms and Progenitors comunicate with a similar method, the only difference is in the type of waves used: firsts use 'mental waves', the others use electromagnetic waves". "WHAT?", Markos almost shouted. "SHH!!!". Ignoring the others Researchers, Gregor continued: "We call this communication method 'Resonance', and it seems that it's more efficient than human way to comunicate. Progenitors are so developed that they can use their comunications to produce energy!". "The famous Energy Grid?", Markos asked. "Exactly. As you know, after Lab Three's disaster the University Council decided to found a way to exterminate mind worms, and our research group as found in the replication of Resonance a good method to stop the mind worms. We are thinking to improve our Plasma-Steel armors with Reconance sources: our strategic simulations have extimated that this will give us +25% chances to stop mindworms". "Astonishing", Markos nodded, "so we can train our garrisons to control the drones and the native lifeform at the same time! If your research group's efforts are so valid as you say, I think that you can go to travel far away of this boring Razorbeak's lair!". "Oh yes, and maybe I will be assigned to a Secret Project...", replied ironically Leonov, "...and remember to don't call them drones, they are workers as you and me..."; "Oh... a Defender of the Rigths... Commissioner Lal has a new fan...", Markos added sarcastically. Ignoring his friend's mocking, he leaved the Reading Room and arrived in front of Research Lab Section. Passed throgh the retinal control, he obtained a Visitor Pass for Markos. "Came here Markos, I want to show you some of our... speciments".
    [This message has been edited by Vultur (edited October 10, 2000).]
    Aslo the gods are impotent against men's stupidity --Frederich Shiller
    In my vocabulary the word "Impossible" doesn't exist --Napoleon
    Stella Polaris Development Team -> Senior Code Writer (pro tempore) & Designer

  • #2
    Chapter Two
    Leonov and Markos walked silently along the white lounge, meeting on their way some busy researchers. At their rigth they could see the huge Chemical Labs, on the left hand there was the Nuclear Section; the way went into a lift. Leonov passed his Personal Card through the security access and the lift's door opened: "To the Biology Lab", Leonov ordered; "Why two lifts?", asked Markos, "under our feet there is the heart of our base: the Central Datalink; only the Talents can access that section." Markos moking, "Don't call them 'talents' they are workers as you and me!" The lift stopped at the 250th floor, Leonov guided Markos through the corridors, until they arrived in front of an anonimous door. "L-205" murmured Markos, while Leonov opened the door. The lab's lights turned on automatically showing a long row of glass-steel containers placed at the rigth side of the room, and many white desks equipped with some microscans and other tools. Each container had a metal plate, some control buttuns and an holographic bioscan reporting vital activity of the specimen. "Taenia Mentis S-1002...", read Markos, "Do you want to show me a mindworm? I've already seen them", Leonov added, "I know, but I think you don't have seen this experiment, look the other containers: here there are 30 isolated mindworms, but if I 'stimulate' one of them..." an elettric spark hit the mindworm, and the bioscan registered the reaction of the specimen. In 0.1 milliseconds all bioscans registered the same reaction of other mindworms. "Calculating the time of the reaction we have estimated that the mental waves move at 57.8% of the speed of light, but the most interesting point is that we have found no way to isolate the mindworms...till now". Markos looked at his friend waiting for an explanation, but Leonov did sign to follow him. They began to walk until they arrived to the biggest lab of the floor, 'L-250'; a lot of researchers were coming in or out from this lab and Leonov greeted them all. The immense white room was full of researchers who were busy to discuss their theories; there were also a group of promising students authorised to help the researchers in their work. When Leonov entered all the people sat at their place; the room became silent.
    Aslo the gods are impotent against men's stupidity --Frederich Shiller
    In my vocabulary the word "Impossible" doesn't exist --Napoleon
    Stella Polaris Development Team -> Senior Code Writer (pro tempore) & Designer

    Comment


    • #3
      Chapter Three

      “Good morning. Today I’ll supported by our colleague Markos Coldman from the HQ. Today we’ll study the communication methods between the Mind Worms.” Leonov pushed a button on his desk and 5 metallic cylinders appeared. “Doctor Coldman, can you show our theory to the new students?” “With pleasure, Doctor Leonov.” Said Markos, making the best of a bad job; then added to the little researchers’ crowd “When we put two diapason one near the other…”. The explanation occupied an half hour during witch Markos was submerged by questions from the students; “Ok, it’s enough Doctor Coldman,” intervened Leonov at the end of the speech; “Now we’ll began to search the electromagnetic frequency that can cut the link between the Mind Worm. For that reason you’ll be divided in groups of five and each group will work on a different specimen, recording the different reaction to the stimulation”. Two hour passed in the research, but no one seemed finding anything of particular interest. Leonov interrupted the work with this worlds: “Do you think now that is impossible to isolate the Mind Worms?” the researchers nodded “Well, you are wrong! And now I’ll show someone that can do this.” The scientist opened the wall behind him touching a button.
      The crowd murmured astonished… a big isolation chamber was in front of them. “Progenitor Sapiens Sapiens” was written on a golden signboard at the upper left of the glass that divided the specimen from the researchers. Markos looked surprised his friend that smiled sure that his little “show” would be on the mouth of all the base’s inhabitants before the sunset.
      The alien seemed nervous, also if from his prison he couldn’t see the group. Leonov explained that it was the first time that a similar specimen was arrived alive and proposed a series of tests to demonstrate his thesis: the Progenitors can fight better because their senses are more completes the human’s ones. The specimen was exanimate from the scientists during a good part of the day, and only when the natural light was replaced from the artificial one the group decided a pause. Markos looked the work with detachment asking Leonov when a doubt crossed his mind; at the end he looked the alien lying to the ground: he (or she? Asked Markos to himself) was breathing with difficulty, looking his invisible torturers with an unequivocal expression: hate. For a moment Markos thought that the death was a better destiny respect the life passed as specimen, but “The Science MUST Go Forward” remembered to himself and, however, added in his mind with cynicism “his life will be very short here”. Leonov was organizing the work for the day after, while the scientists were picking up their notes; exiting from the building he invited his friend to a dinner with other researchers organized at the “best restaurant of the base – maybe because it’s the only one!” The place was very crowded also if destined to the researchers and to the highest military positions. The waiter took them to their place at the second floor of the restaurant near the big window that showed the entire base behind them. Some researcher stood up to receive the new arrived.
      Aslo the gods are impotent against men's stupidity --Frederich Shiller
      In my vocabulary the word "Impossible" doesn't exist --Napoleon
      Stella Polaris Development Team -> Senior Code Writer (pro tempore) & Designer

      Comment

      Working...
      X