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Beyond Alpha Centauri:::: Discussion Thread 4

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  • Mellian,

    You bring up several valid points.


    Grab a cup of coffee, some snacks, and a nice pillow. Prepare yourselves for a lengthy post, providing valid reasons to back up my choices for UCS, as well as counters to Mellian's points.


    First, I stated that one species did at first resist the UCS for a while. They are called the Guado.

    Besides, I'm basing the Guado and Al-Bhed on a possible evolutionary tree. I mean, people in real life have wondered if the Nearthendrals were still alive today. Then we would have TWO human races at the same time.

    However, Spira has similiar climate as Earth, with Ice Ages, jungles, deserts, forests, etc. A strange kind of scaled primate, a cross between orangutan and a lizard, evolved on that planet. Then the primate divided into two sub-species. The Spira world had several creatures that developed PSI, similiar to Mind Worms on Chiron.

    One sub-species evolved defenses and PSI combat, to compete with the PSI creatures on the contient of origin. That eventually becomes the Guado species.

    The other sub-species emigrated to another contienent during an Ice Age, where PSI creatures didn't exist. These non-PSI primates initially had difficulty foraging for food, so they had to use sticks or rocks to break open nuts. Chimpanzees are known to do this in real life Earth Then they eventually evolved into the Al-Bhed.


    Mellian, you're assuming that these peoples are like humans in reproduction with 1 - 3 kids per married couple. The Ronso has several cubs at a birthing, like our tigers and cat species. And the Ronso is able to do it several times, creating prides of 20 Ronso over a lifetime. The Ronso by 2675 AD had approximately 750 million, thanks to their large Prides and Tribes. They were initially afraid of the UCS like the Guado, but realized that in the long run, UCS would be a huge benefactor. Thats called "common sense". However, they reject most technology as frivolous, yet enjoy access to other worlds and other systems to spread their Tribes and Prides. They're expansionist and tribal by nature.

    The Al-Bhed were an technologically advanced civilization, comparable to WW2 era, but without nuclear bombs or spaceflight. Their civilization was ravaged, and had to rebuild their civilization. They had a population of 300 million globally at around 1700 AD, just before the Catastrophe. Then their population declined to around 50 million. The Al-Bhed reached a population of 400 million after 1,000 years, by the time UCS found them. They became extremely excited when UCS arrived, due to the fact that an superior technologically star spanning civilization existed. The Al-Bhed love technology and machinery, and saw the chance to surpass their ancient Pre-Catastrophe civilization level of sophiscation.

    The Guado had similiar situations to the Al-Bhed, but due to their isolationist policies their population growth was sigificantly slower. There were approximately 350 million Guado by 2675.

    In all, Spira had 1.5 billion by 2675. Then millions of UCS citizens MOVED to Spira, lured by the promise of beautiful locales, friendly locals, etc. That, in addition to UCS technology improving standards of life for the 3 alien civilizations, made Spira increase to 2.25 billion by 2701.


    5 native systems... what I meant by that is in the context of Native Americans claiming to be native to America, when they actually emigrated. The UCS claimed 5 uninhabited systems over a period of almost 300 years.

    Sparta has 6 systems, Morgans had 7, I think, before the TAF war, and Hive has like 10+.



    Ever heard of Murphy's Law? A species with sufficiently advanced level of technology would seem to be magical or mythical to a less advanced species. The wider the technological advanced the species is, the more "godly" they will seem to the low tech species. Take for example, year 2002 technology being demostrated to Ancient Romans? They'd think we were the Olympic Gods.

    This is true of ANY planet-bound civilization. This is mainly why the Spira civilizations were awed by the UCS, enough to join and be loyal to it.

    Humans and Fraal, Progenitors, Bree, Gorn, etc... well, they all have some standard technologies. FTL travel, being enclosed in spaceships, energy generation, etc. Humans know that Fraal aren't gods despite their advanced technology, because they share several common characterstics, and would be comparable to 18th century technology civilization to a 21st century civilization.

    In the 18th century, we had rifles and stuff. They haven't changed even up to 2002. Sure, we made them more effective, and soon perhaps laser ones. But the concept is still the same.

    But if Babylon or Phoenicians saw rifles, they wouldn't even understand it, or even the concept of it. This proves Murphy's Law to be true.

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

    Ok, now onwards to disease and stuff. UCS always screen the planets for potential disease organisms. Remember medicine has advanced a lot in 700 years. Hell, they have Longveity Treatments! That level of medical sophisication enables UCS to screen for disease causing organisms, and send probes to gather the bacteria or viruses, and use vaccine technology to immunize the colonists.

    Don't tell me that isn't possible. If that isn't possible, then Longveity Treatments aren't possible either, since Longveity Treatments require a hell a lot higher medical technology than simple bacteria / virus vaccinations.

    And if a new disease or virus crops up, UCS makes an immediate response. Quaratines the area, and finds the responible disease. With the level of technology that affords Longveity Vaccines, curing diseases is easy.

    Another case in point, the Human Genome Project in SMAC, available to PK's in 2100 AD / MY... prevents Prometheus Epidemics. Surely, genetic engineering creates powerful T-cells to eliminate disease. In addition, gene engineering can be used to increase immune system effectiveness. Hell, they're doing it to PLANTS on farms in our real life world.

    So diseases are a relatively minor, if existent, problem unless its nanological, which is doubtful unless we're waging some sort of Nano-Biological warfare?


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

    Natural Disasters. We have hurricanes, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, etc. Right?

    Sure, we lose some infrastructure, due to weakness in material. Most residential houses are made out of wood, which is easy to destroy in natural disasters.

    Have you even seen a tornado or hurricane topple skycrapers?

    Japan and California are implementing better and better "quake-resistant" or "quake-proof" buildings that roll as the quake occurs, preventing major damage.

    University is talented with technology and its applications to engineering. So surely, by 2700, we'd have better material. Silksteel or Ceramstell houses, anyone? Skyrcrapers made out of Neutronium for University, weather resistant material, and surely, we'd have already developed better sensors to detect incoming geological disasters like earthquakes and volcano eruptions by 2700?

    Earthquakes? counter with "rollers" or something similiar, that Japan is implementing.

    Volcanic eruptions? counter with tempature and pressure resistant buildings. Then eat away the lava with nanites, streets good as new. Or, build undergound tunnels or cities in volcanic areas.

    Hurricanes and Tornadoes? phffft. Silksteel, Ceramsteel, Neutronium are WAY more durable and stronger than wood and concrete. Gone are the days of houses tipping over, walls being shattered, houses being torn up, etc.

    Ion storms? Electromagentic protection.

    Floods? Build levees.

    Poisonous gas? Breather masks or further terraforming.

    Need I go on any more?

    Weather and Natural Disasters: minor problem, if any at all.

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


    I think this covers pretty much most of the points Mellian made.



    Laters, Academician Randius Zakharov
    Geniuses are ordinary people bestowed with the gift to see beyond common everyday perceptions.

    Comment


    • I didn't make the assumption that other species will have the same reproduction rate as humans... and was aware that there would be room for you to make that point. Humans is capable, as so evident, to reproduce like crazy... but yet populations stayed pretty much the same for quite awhile due to warfare, diseases, natural disasters, and so on. Take your horn lionsfor example, if they are warriors and operate in tribes/prides, i would think they would have problems among themselves... else they wouldn't exactly be warriors or have warrior traditions if they simply a peaceful species.

      three species on one planet? it is possible, but the idea that they weren't in contact or cause any friction is silly.... especially when you have a species that has near WW2 technological level. Different species compete for survival... unless something happen to naturally have the species to cooperate together.

      As for Murphy's Laws...it mainly base on humanity really, and i don't think all species will react the same or follow the human evolutionary script. So our Common Sense won't be the same as another species CommonSense... despite how much i dislike using examples from ST, but take the Klingons, they killed their Gods and took over Hell apparently. So i doubt all species will bow down to superiority or technology more advance species.

      As for natural disasters...leave room for any crazy phenomenons which Earth and anywhere in our system as to deal with. And, again, despite advance tecnologies of 2701, University didn't have all that when they started colonizing and establishing the initial infrastructure. The Colonial Frontier is a dangerous place until you get around to tame it.

      If the natives doesn't belong in North/South America, then the Europeans don't belong in Europe, Asia and Autralia. I am part Algonquin (some family says Cree), and i do have pro-native feelings here in Canada

      As for Quantum Laser, shooting split light particles is silly, more possible to do that with missiles then via Laser. For a Laser to be useful as a military weapon, need to have a lot of juice pump into it... so, Fission and up Lasers. Splitting a Light Particle could possibly create way bigger reaction then splitting an atom.

      Sprayber - All Spartans diffenitly went off Chirons, even thought they had internal problems like the Cadre, and possibly others?

      Why do we need to know the exact numbers of populations lately? and since the Hive is mysterious and secretive...does it really matter how big their pop is? I don't think the average Hiverian know how big their Empire is except that is really big.


      Note to All:
      For next week or so, won't be able to go on the computer as much... billeting again and the billet family only as limited time access to the internet ...and i work in an High School at the moment, so low chances of doing much.

      -Mellian
      Last edited by Mellian; May 2, 2002, 22:18.

      Comment


      • Another quick note, not all advance alien races uses the same form of FTL.... that is why we use the term FTL then "warp, hyperspace, side-space, q-space, yacka yacka reality, etc" in BAC, it is mainly humanity and some other aliens uses Quantum Tunneling as FTL. the Fraal uses something else and rather not get into that except that they can go anywhere in the galaxy pretty quickly

        -Mellian

        Comment


        • Originally posted by Sovereign



          However, the Protectorate has 17 billion in a single star system, approximately the ENTIRE UCS population spread over 6 systems in ONE system!. The Protectorate holds 3 systems, half the UCS size, yet has slightly more population than UCS itself.




          Once more, I'd like to remind you that the original Endeavor colonists (1) were about 15,000 (more than the Unity) and (2) except for an early spat, with a small colony on the southern continent, has had no signifigant planet-bound infighting.

          Oh yeah, (3) Beta Hydri 4 ("Home") resembles a ice age earth, meaning, there is sufficent Oxygen/nitrogen in the atmosphere to support human life without a breather mask. Atmospheric pressure is close to earth average, so no pressure suits are needed. Plenty of plants that go through photosynthesis, so that's anohter plus in favor for growth.

          Also, there never was a lotsa spooky fungus that sings and worms that give you nightmares.
          Today, you are the waves of the Pacific, pushing ever eastward. You are the sequoias rising from the Sierra Nevada, defiant and enduring.

          Comment


          • Mellian, PLZ check yer PMs.

            In my upcoming post is it okay:

            1) Maria discusses various situations with her advisors
            2) My research teams discuss further advancements (considering the newly gained knowledge
            3) An intro spin-off story of a rebel group on Maya SSSH colony (currently under EC control)



            Je suis desolle - I am sorry that I havent posted for a while but will get there... eventually

            I set up a site, dedicated to SMAC, using www.50megs.com and pretty soon, you shold be able to get stuff from there

            (please be warned the links will probably change so don't link to them on any of your pages... yet)



            --Nikola

            And Lonestar, Nikola (Knee-co-lah) is a male name in Serbia, other Slavic languages, and even in Italian (but different spelling)
            ... This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality...
            ... Pain is an illusion...

            Comment


            • I like Eastern European names! Some of my ancestors were from Russia and German Poland before they lived in New York. How I got to Australia is beyond me.

              Oh, yeah, new Firaxis post is in the pipeline. It'll hopefully be the first of many concerning a galactic-age soccer fan and his adventures.
              Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost.

              Comment


              • Well, I don't know what's going on but here's my two cents...

                Sprayber (IIRC) only listed down statistical #'s for General Tact for him to use for his posts.

                "Why do we need to know the exact numbers of populations lately? and since the Hive is mysterious and secretive...does it really matter how big their pop is? I don't think the average Hiverian know how big their Empire is except that is really big. "

                I gotta agree w/Mellian on this point. I don't think it really matters how big our pop is since not even the Hive citizens know. Like she says, they just know that the GHE is really big.

                Just keep this in mind.....The Hive is bigger than you. That's all you need to know.



                Last edited by Frankychan; May 2, 2002, 23:24.
                Despot-(1a) : a ruler with absolute power and authority (1b) : a person exercising power tyrannically
                Beyond Alpha Centauri-Witness the glory of Sheng-ji Yang
                *****Citizen of the Hive****
                "...but what sane person would move from Hawaii to Indiana?" -Dis

                Comment


                • Sovereign- Are you reading my mind? I swear that what you've said is what I'm thinking about the upcoming post concerning the GHE takeover of an independent world....
                  Despot-(1a) : a ruler with absolute power and authority (1b) : a person exercising power tyrannically
                  Beyond Alpha Centauri-Witness the glory of Sheng-ji Yang
                  *****Citizen of the Hive****
                  "...but what sane person would move from Hawaii to Indiana?" -Dis

                  Comment


                  • Just for interest: Which independent world?

                    Also, what are the Greater Hive Empire's major exports? Firaxis might be willing to do business.
                    Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost.

                    Comment


                    • Guys,

                      Another round of debate with Mellian.

                      Originally posted by Mellian

                      I didn't make the assumption that other species will have the same reproduction rate as humans... and was aware that there would be room for you to make that point. Humans is capable, as so evident, to reproduce like crazy... but yet populations stayed pretty much the same for quite awhile due to warfare, diseases, natural disasters, and so on. Take your horn lionsfor example, if they are warriors and operate in tribes/prides, i would think they would have problems among themselves... else they wouldn't exactly be warriors or have warrior traditions if they simply a peaceful species.

                      three species on one planet? it is possible, but the idea that they weren't in contact or cause any friction is silly.... especially when you have a species that has near WW2 technological level. Different species compete for survival... unless something happen to naturally have the species to cooperate together.

                      The Ronso evolved on a distant contient from the Guado, and the Al-Bhed. Yes, they are tribal with Prides. They'd be what our Lions and Tigers would be, if the lions and tigers developed into a civilzation. Spira is slightly larger than Earth, and has 50% water, as opposed to Earth's 70% water. This means landmasses are approximately 20% larger on Spira.

                      They actually came in contact with the Al-Bhed, as well as Guado, before the Catastrophe. The Catastrophe was the result of their strife, as well as a sea creature. The Catastrophe taught them a painful lesson, and all three species lost regular contact for several hundred years, until the Ronso and Guado rebuilt their civilization to a medevial era. The Ronso focused on Medevial military technology, such as swords, spears, castles, etc.

                      The Guado went a different path. They focused on civil infrastructure, such as aqeducts, walls, cities, and so forth.

                      The Al-Bhed were scattered for a long time, until the nomads finally re-contact'ed each other, and re-grew into their distinct
                      civilization. Thanks to their technological skills, as well as having some ancient machinery / artifacts from pre-Catastrophe era helped them to bypass the slow technology development.

                      When the Ronso and Guado re-established contact, they were wary of each other, but they learned their painful lesson from the Catastrophe, and with the looming threat of sea creatures attacking land. They banded together in face of a "greater threat".

                      However, they had distrust and hatred for the Al-Bhed, blaming them for starting the Catastrophe. However, the same threat caused the three civilizations to "unify", with massive sea creatures attacking coastal cities, shipping, and so forth.

                      In the BAC universe, some Spira scholars suspect that the "grand civilization" genetically engineered the sea creatures to be biological weapons. I think a better civilization era for the pre-Catastrophe would be like late 20th century, but no nuclear power and no spaceflight. The civilization did have rudimentary genetic engineering, and computers. All this knowledge was lost in the Catastrophe.

                      So basically, the three civilizations initially had strife, and that led to the Catatsrophe. Then they lost "everything" except their sentience and who they were. Then they had to rebuild. But they learned not to make the same mistake again, and cause another Catastrophe.



                      As for Murphy's Laws...it mainly base on humanity really, and i don't think all species will react the same or follow the human evolutionary script. So our Common Sense won't be the same as another species CommonSense... despite how much i dislike using examples from ST, but take the Klingons, they killed their Gods and took over Hell apparently. So i doubt all species will bow down to superiority or technology more advance species.
                      I was merely making a point. Some civilizations would be excited to be brought to a new level of existence, new level of life standards, while others would consider the advanced civilization as God or a divine being.


                      As for natural disasters...leave room for any crazy phenomenons which Earth and anywhere in our system as to deal with. And, again, despite advance tecnologies of 2701, University didn't have all that when they started colonizing and establishing the initial infrastructure. The Colonial Frontier is a dangerous place until you get around to tame it.
                      We had silksteel and knowledge of engineering on Chiron. In addition, we already know how to "counter" natural disasters with engineering feats. Levees, durable residential towers, "rollers", and so forth.

                      True, some new, unknown natural disasters would happen. However, we would develop "counter" strategies, as well as engineering to combat these new disasters.



                      As for Quantum Laser, shooting split light particles is silly, more possible to do that with missiles then via Laser. For a Laser to be useful as a military weapon, need to have a lot of juice pump into it... so, Fission and up Lasers. Splitting a Light Particle could possibly create way bigger reaction then splitting an atom.
                      Again, Randius was merely spectulating and throwing around ideas. Some ideas will prove to be true, while others would never work. Hey, its a new technology, so there's bound to be ideas thrown around for its applications.

                      Besides, I was trying to think up the "how" that happens for each quantum technology application. I'm as privy as Randius to realizing which application will work, and which others won't work.

                      Protectorate has Plasma Shard Buckshots, and correct me if I'm mistaken, its like shooting supercharged plasma in a buckshot, something like that



                      Why do we need to know the exact numbers of populations lately? and since the Hive is mysterious and secretive...does it really matter how big their pop is? I don't think the average Hiverian know how big their Empire is except that is really big.
                      Well, I was merely hypothesizing how large the UCS population is, based on population growth, systems held, and so forth, backed up with calcuations and annual population growth. Thats all.


                      Laters,

                      Academician Randius Zakharov
                      Geniuses are ordinary people bestowed with the gift to see beyond common everyday perceptions.

                      Comment


                      • Guys,

                        I forgot to ask.

                        Whats IIRC? I mean, I know its something like "In Character" or something?


                        Laters,

                        Academician Randius Zakharov
                        Geniuses are ordinary people bestowed with the gift to see beyond common everyday perceptions.

                        Comment


                        • Rofl, Sovereign-Ah, that's ok...it took me a while to know what it meant too.

                          IIRC=If I Remember Correctly

                          Mr. President- It is Firaxis! (no,no,no bad joke). Sprayber mentioned that the GHE take over an independent world to show the readers how Hive "liberation" takes place. It'll probably be a non-authored indy world.

                          Hmmm, exports....I don't know. I was thinking the GHE was self-supporting. Whatever was consumed would be made by GHE hands, therefore no "outside influence" would pollute the purity of Hive society. Planned Economics and all.....*shrug*

                          Well, if you want to open trade between Firaxis and the GHE, we can discuss things further.

                          I am suspicious of food items sent to non-Hive worlds. Why? Because someone could just analyze the food and recognize it's species type by galactic sectors. So, a "pear" from Beta Hydri would be analyzed and from flora data collected, a general estimation of the planet of origin could be traced.

                          Yes, yes, yes it sounds far-fetched. But as BAC continues I find myself thinking more like Sheng-ji Yang more and more. Soon, I'll plan for my house to be built underground.

                          ......but I'm just babbling right now to ease the tension.
                          Despot-(1a) : a ruler with absolute power and authority (1b) : a person exercising power tyrannically
                          Beyond Alpha Centauri-Witness the glory of Sheng-ji Yang
                          *****Citizen of the Hive****
                          "...but what sane person would move from Hawaii to Indiana?" -Dis

                          Comment


                          • It is Firaxis!


                            Does the Hive want minerals, hydrogen, or plants? If not, don't worry about it.
                            Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost.

                            Comment


                            • IT'S A MAD HOUSE!!!!

                              Sorry...

                              Anyway...

                              Sorry for my recent inactivity. Lot on me wee mind lately. Now...here's the question to Mellian...I repeat, to Mellian.

                              Mellian: What are the Novans actually going to do? I need this incredibly vital information in order to write a new post!!
                              Empire growing,
                              Pleasures flowing,
                              Fortune smiles and so should you.

                              Comment


                              • *celebrates*

                                Just to give you a life sign, fellas. It's... some philosophical pondering at Earthdome.



                                And Greg and Filkins!



                                I think I'll cede control of Sym in a post or so. Thought he'd end up either in the hands of Coalition (Hive here we come?) or on Mars... *refrains from spoiling any more*
                                Cake and grief counseling will be available at the conclusion of the test. Thank you for helping us help you help us all!

                                Comment

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