Certain cultures simply love their headgear! The stories a ... · Stellar Reaches Issue #27 Spring...
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Stellar Reaches Issue #27 Spring 2018 Page 22 On some Ovaghoun worlds, the fact that she’s of mixed descent would have lead to her death, pre or post-birth. But the Ovaghoun of Bashkari lack the racial hostility of their kin in the Rukadukaz Republic, so her life continued fairly smoothly. She got on well with the large human population, and her curiosity about life – while not encouraged by her Vilani-style culture – was not quenched either, as it would be with a strict Vilani upbringing. While a bone fide scientist, Mgutho is less educated than the reader would have guessed: effectively raised only to master statistics, without much of an education in literature, history, or other ‘unnecessary frills’. Not even the other sciences were more than superficially touched. Still, what Mgutho does know, she knows like the back of her hand: she even has the ability to do some serious computing just with her unaided – but highly disciplined – mind. Mgutho places a high value on accuracy and obeying the rules and procedures (as the Vilani-influenced Ovaghoun do), and is somewhat more conciliatory and willing to compromise than most Vargr (as her Irilitok forbearers would approve of). Certain cultures simply love their headgear! The stories a starport worker could tell… This graphic is titled “Disembark” © Adriano Portugal. See his work at https://danarogon-ap.deviantart.com/art/Disembark-727713164 …and Away In the normal course of events, Mgutho would have lived out a mildly cloistered but rather happy and satisfying life on her homeworld. But it was not to be: a gas explosion on her street wiped out her neighbourhood during her apprenticeship. But by an incredibly unlikely series of fluke coincidences, the lives of her entire family was spared! Mgutho was intensely thankful to the Ancestors and the Spirit of the Traditions: but strangely, even after conducting the proper ceremonies and rituals of thanksgiving, she felt… restless, ill at ease. As if more was somehow demanded for such a boon, for the salvation of her family. Now restless and searching for… something… Mgutho transferred to an interstellar talent agency, and soon started crossing the stars, putting her training to work in odd, difficult, and isolated situations. She earned a reputation as a rock-solid, reliable worker, which led to many offers for well-paying permanent positions: but the hole in her heart remained, and Mgutho was on the move once again. Now a senior contractor for her Vargr caste-corporation, K. T. Khothuk, she is working on-board the Plata o Plomo as very expensive talent, gathering and processing demographic data (and also working with Imperial data sets) to better measure, quantify, and graph/chart out the position of the weaker Vargr packs and populations within the Imperial Empty Quarter. A few local research institutes are trying to forge ties with her: in some ways, she has
Transcript of Certain cultures simply love their headgear! The stories a ... · Stellar Reaches Issue #27 Spring...
Stellar Reaches Issue #27 Spring 2018 Page 22
OnsomeOvaghounworlds,thefactthatshe’sofmixeddescentwouldhaveleadtoherdeath,preorpost-birth.ButtheOvaghounofBashkarilacktheracialhostilityoftheirkinintheRukadukazRepublic,soherlifecontinuedfairlysmoothly.Shegotonwellwiththelargehumanpopulation,andhercuriosityaboutlife–whilenotencouragedbyherVilani-styleculture–wasnotquenchedeither,asitwouldbewithastrictVilaniupbringing.Whileabonefidescientist,Mguthoislesseducatedthanthereaderwouldhaveguessed:effectivelyraisedonlytomasterstatistics,withoutmuchofaneducationinliterature,history,orother‘unnecessaryfrills’.Noteventheothersciencesweremorethansuperficiallytouched.Still,whatMguthodoesknow,sheknowslikethebackofherhand:sheevenhastheabilitytodosomeseriouscomputingjustwithherunaided–buthighlydisciplined–mind.Mguthoplacesahighvalueonaccuracyandobeyingtherulesandprocedures(astheVilani-influencedOvaghoundo),andissomewhatmoreconciliatoryandwillingtocompromisethanmostVargr(asherIrilitokforbearerswouldapproveof).
Certainculturessimplylovetheirheadgear!Thestoriesastarportworkercouldtell…
Thisgraphicistitled“Disembark”©AdrianoPortugal.Seehisworkathttps://danarogon-ap.deviantart.com/art/Disembark-727713164
…andAwayInthenormalcourseofevents,Mguthowouldhavelivedoutamildlycloisteredbutratherhappyandsatisfyinglifeonherhomeworld.Butitwasnottobe:agasexplosiononherstreetwipedoutherneighbourhoodduringherapprenticeship.Butbyanincrediblyunlikelyseriesofflukecoincidences,thelivesofherentirefamilywasspared!MguthowasintenselythankfultotheAncestorsandtheSpiritoftheTraditions:butstrangely,evenafterconductingtheproperceremoniesandritualsofthanksgiving,shefelt…restless,illatease.Asifmorewassomehowdemandedforsuchaboon,forthesalvationofherfamily.Nowrestlessandsearchingfor…something…Mguthotransferredtoaninterstellartalentagency,andsoonstartedcrossingthestars,puttinghertrainingtoworkinodd,difficult,andisolatedsituations.Sheearnedareputationasarock-solid,reliableworker,whichledtomanyoffersforwell-payingpermanentpositions:buttheholeinherheartremained,andMguthowasonthemoveonceagain.NowaseniorcontractorforherVargrcaste-corporation,K.T.Khothuk,sheisworkingon-boardthePlataoPlomoasveryexpensivetalent,gatheringandprocessingdemographicdata(andalsoworkingwithImperialdatasets)tobettermeasure,quantify,andgraph/chartoutthepositionoftheweakerVargrpacksandpopulationswithintheImperialEmptyQuarter.Afewlocalresearchinstitutesaretryingtoforgetieswithher:insomeways,shehas
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alreadygatheredmorehighqualitydataonlocalVargrpopulationsthaneventheImperialgovernment.28Ifheremployersapprove,shemayevenagreetoshareherresearch…Mguthoisinthemostintenselyanti-VargrregionoftheImperium…butthatmeanslittletoher.Evenifthelocalsslaughterherinthestreets–alwaysapossibilityontheSolomaniworlds,especiallywhennewsofanuglyVargratrocitybecomespublic–well,shehasalreadygottenfarmoreoutoflifethanshedeserves.Sheknowstherisks,andiswillingtopaythepricetogetheranswers.
“Theanswerstowhatquestions?”“AfterIseetheanswers,Iwillknowthequestions.”
Willshegettheanswersshewants?Onlythefuturewilltell.Closingtheme:“WaitingBetweenWorlds”,ZackHemsey,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H529fng2SfwRukonrifguag: Crunch Overview “Tag” UPP Age Sex Race Languages Human 10 2 10 10 11 10; 35 male M.Vilani, Rrakfugk J.Anglic I.Hindi Explorer 8 14 8 12 11 12; 38 male Irilitok, Rrakfugk J.Anglic Ship Hand 3 14 5 10 9 1; 29 female Irilitok, Ukazuk Navy Capt 7 12 4 9 14 8; 42 male Ovaghoun, I.Vilani J.Anglic Scientist 8 10 4 7 5 7; 30 female Ovag/Iri, M.Vilani J.Anglic CrewSkills:Human-Explorer-ShipHand-NavyCaptain-ScientistBasicconcepts=0;Null=.Sidenotes:Experienced(2)=~Expert+(3+)=* Notes:
• TheNavyCaptainhasnozero-Gskill,andnoleadershipskills.• OnlytheNavyCaptainhasscrounge,medical,andbriberyskills.• Theonlycrewmanwithengineering,communication,andpilotingskillsistheShiphand.• OnlytheExplorerhasthenavigationskill.• OnlytheHumanhastheleadershipskill…andthebestcombatriflemanskills.• Everyonecanhandleeitherahandgunorarifle.• EveryoneexcepttheScientistcanhandleavacsuit.• Threeofthefivecrewmenhavestealthskills,andarestreetwise.• Everyonecangetbywithagravvehicle.• FourofthefivecanspeakJulianAnglic,thelanguageoftheJulianProtectorate.• NobodycanspeakImperialAnglic(Transformdialect)yet:overallgrammarandbasicvocabularyis
compatiblewithJulianAnglic,butexpectdifficultieswhengoingin-depth.JulianAnglichasmoreloanwordsfromGashikan(Yilean),Irilitok,andOvaghoun(Vargr)languagesthanImperialAnglic.
28“Itisn’taboutthrowingmoremoneyattheproblem.It’saboutknowingtherightquestions,askingtherightVargrwiththerightcharismaticinterplay,andearningthetrusttogetastatisticallyusefulnumberofhigh-qualityresponses.”
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Grav Vehicle: 0-2-0-1-0 ~ Grav Belt: 1-1-.-.-. Pilot: .-.-1-.-. Ships Boat: .-.-1-.-. Equestrian: 1-.-.-.-. Wheeled Veh: 0-.-.-.-. ATV: .-.-.-1-. Infighting: .-.-.-2-. ~ Brawling: 1-.-.-.-. Rifleman: 3-.-1—1-. * C. Rifleman: 3-.-.-1-. * Handgun: 1-0-.-.-0 Laser Weapon: .-.-.-2-. ~ Heavy Weapon: 2-.-.-.-. ~ Turret: .-.-1-1-. G. Tactics: .-2-.-.-. ~ Ships Tactics:.-.-1-.-. Stealth: 1-2-1-.-. ~ Recon: 1-2-.-.-. ~ Intrusion: .-1-.-.-. Vac Suit: 1-1-0-0-. High-G: 1-.-.-.-.
Zero-G: .-0-.-.-. Survival: .-3-.-1-0 * Mechanical: .-4-.-.-0 * Computer: 0-0-0-0-1 Electronics: .-1—1-.-1 Commo: .-.-1-.-. Sensor Ops: .-.-2-.-1 ~ Engineering: .-.-1-.-. Navigation: .-1-.-.-. Liaison: .-1-.-.-1 Leadership: 1-.-.-.-. Streetwise: 1-.-1-1-. Admin: 1-.—1–.-1 Persuasion: 1-.-1-.-. Medical: .-.-.-1-. Scrounge: .-.-.-1-. Bribery: .-.-.-1-. Instruction: .-.-.—.-1 Math(Stats): .-.-.-.-3 * Biology: .-0-.-.-. Linguistics: 3-1-.-.-1 * J-o-Trades: .-1-.-.-2 ~
AsthehighestgoalofStellarDivinitydoctrineistobecomeaStarGod,manywishtocreateagenuinestar.The
Imperiumlackstheresourcestodoit,notatanaverageTLof12andaneconomicbaseof10trillionImperial
citizens,butwithfusiontechnologyitiscertainlypossibletocreate‘fakestars’,inorbitovercoldworldsfarfrom
thewarmthoftheprimarystar.But,it’sfarcheapertobuildmirrorinstillationsthanpseudostarsgenerating
theirownlight,asdepictedabove.Thisgraphicistitled“IcarusGate”©AdrianoPortugal.Seehisworkathttps://danarogon-ap.deviantart.com/art/Icarus-Gate-674338035
Uchūnoko Kinoshita For the Stars UPP4D87AB,Age40,PureSolomani(Japanese)Skills:Research-3,Theology(Shinto)-2,Robotics-2,Theology(StellarDivinity)-1,Computer-1,RobotOps-1,Electronics-1,Instruction-1,PropAircraft-1,Artisan(ImmersionVR)-1,Mechanical-1,Linguistics-1,Liaison-1,Astronomy(StellarEvolution)-1,Demolitions-0,WheeledVehicle-0,Sub-Machinegun-0,Handgun-0,VaccSuit-0Languages:Anglic(Core),Japanese(Ancient)
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Tools:Twosetsoftools,forhistwojobs.• Asetoftoolstodiagnoseandrepairrobots,gearedtoTL14(someofhistoolsareTL15prototypes,
issuedtohimforfieldtesting.)• Asetofmissionarymaterials,rangingfromTL7glossycolormagazinestoTL15datastoragecrystals,
explainingthegreatnessoftheStellarDivinities…especiallyAmaterasuŌmikami,theJapanesesun-goddess.
o AdecentpercentageofthesematerialsarearangeofVirtualRealityenvironmentsandscenarios:Kinoshitahasnurturedhistalenthereratherwell,andcan(wheninspired)makeattractive,inspiritng,andbeautifulVRenvironmentsatarangeoftechlevels,frombarelythereTL9to(at993Imperial)TL15experimentaltoolsandtechniques.
Visual:Ashortman,abitonthestockyside…butfarmoreagilethanhelooks.Hetypicallydressesintheorange/yellowrobesofaStellarDivinityadept:inhiscase,theSacredOrderofSol.Oneday,heexpectstosetupaShintoshrineforthepurposeofworshippingboththestargod(“Hoshinokami”)ofagivensystem,andthestargodofSolSystem,Amaterasu.andalwayskeepsinhiscabinanunusedsetofrobesforthatoccasion.29Openingtheme:“Because”,YokoKanno&AoiTeshima,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV0D38nFUhU
AmanifestationofthesharedimmersiveVRuniverse,“BlazingGlory”,thatKinoshitasharedwithc.eightmillion
StarDivinersophontsonTheron.Thisvirtualenvironmentisusedprimarilyforreligiouscontemplationamong
thestarworshippersonandnearthehigh-techworld.Kinoshitawasalow-levelArchitectfortheTL15
simulateduniversewhileonTheron:butnow,intheEmptyQuarter,heistoofarawaytodomorethankeepup
withmonths-oldchatter,news,andupdates.However,hestillkeepsasliceofthereligiousartonhisownTL15
personalcomputer,forpersonalmeditationandworship.Thisgraphicistitled“MoiraiGates”©AdrianoPortugal.Seehisworkathttps://danarogon-ap.deviantart.com/art/Moirai-Gates-562963502
29KinoshitastillregretsthathewillneverlivetostepfootontheGrandShrineofIse:dedicatedtotheworshipofAmaterasu,itisthemosthighlyrespectedStellarDivinityshrineintheSolomaniSphere…
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Origins Named“ChildofSpace”byhismother,UchūnokowasgroomedfrombeforebirthtojointhereligiousordersoftheChurchoftheStellarDivinity.MixingtheconceptsofStateShintoandStellarDivinity(andsprinklinginafewbeliefsandritualsfromtheImperialCults30),theEmperoroftheThirdImperiumispubliclyworshipedasagodonhishomeworld,Khurda(Gaakish/Antares1036;in993,D9D469B-6),andtheImperialSunbursttreatedasthesacredsymbolofHispower.31ItwasbroadlyaTL5upbringing(a.k.a.AD1930s/-2600Imperial),inafairimitationofImperialJapanbeforetheGreatPacificWar…withcertainTL14/15extras,sprinkledhereandthere.AfterpassinghisRitesofManhoodinhishometownofAshiodigi,KinoshitawasinductedintotheSchoolofRobotics,wherehelearnedhistrade.AllstudentswereexpectedtomasteranancientJapaneseweapon:KinoshitarequestedtheMitsubishiA6M"Zero",butwasturneddownuntilhehadearnedtherighttodoso.Thistookthreeyearsofstudy(gainingseriousresearchskills),winningoneofthesubsector-wideDucalAwardsforOriginalScholarshipforhismonographsonrobotics.Thissufficientlyimpressedtheschoolmastertorequest–andget–adetailedreplicaoftheZerofromtheDuke,which(alongwithafreeten-yearserviceagreementforfuelandrepairs)wasawardedtotheyoungman.32AsKhurdabearsa“Dense,Highatmosphere”rating,thesophontpopulation–variousancientandlosthumancultures33,allsun-worshipping34,allgeneticallyandculturallyrecreatedbyStellarDivinity-worshippingNobles,corporateexecutives,andotherpowerfulfigures–resideonvariousmountainrangesandplateausoftheworld.Manyofthesemountainrangeshavebeenheavilyreshapedtoshelterpleasantmicro-climates:inotherinstances,themountainshavebeenpartiallyhollowed-out,withwaterandventilationpipedinmechanicallyorbythecunninguseofgravityandheat.
Kinoshita’shometownof20,000isactuallysetdeeperintheatmospherethanmost,withaseriesofmassiveTL10-12domesprotectingtheTL5inhabitantsfromthecrushingatmosphere.Incasethedomesfail,eachhome,business,andcommunitycentreinAshiodigihaspressurespheresforemergencyshelter,andthetownitselfhastunnelsreachingtoabandoned(butstillviable)habitatsatsafeelevations.Onebenefitofthelowerelevationismorelevelland,allowingeasier,moreefficient,andmorevariedorchardfarmingratherthantheusualterrace-basedmountainagricultureoftheworld.
30TheImperialCulthasnoofficialsupport:ifanything,NobilityandseniorImperialofficersarequietlybutforcefullydiscouragedfromjoiningsuchreligions.“Let’savoidacivilwarwithboththeAbrahamicmonotheistsandtheVilaniRitualists,shallwe?”Thatdoesn’tstopbillionsandbillionsofsophonts(mainly,butnotexclusively,fromlow-techcultures:seehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSXNv1ksmQQfordetails)fromexaltingthemostpowerfulsinglemaninChartedSpace.31TheheiroftheChrysanthemumThroneisalsoworshipedasthedirectdescendantofAmaterasuŌmikami…butdiscreetly.Afterall,heandhisfamilyhassidedwith(andresidein)theSolomaniConfederation…andtheImperiumis,asof993,hip-deepinamassivewaragainsttheConfederation.“Ifyouwanttofindthoseshrines,lookfortheotherkindofImperialSunburst:redonwhiteinsteadofyellowonblack,andnorays.”32Thecontract’slongexpired,butthe(disassembled)planeremainsinKinoshita’spossession.He’salwayskeepinganeyeoutforasuitablelandingfieldandhanger,sohecanhaulouttheplanefromstorage,putherbacktogether(completewithammo),andsoaragainintheair…33TheChurchofStellarDivinitywelcomesallsophonts…but,despiteitsoriginsintheFirstImperium(SeeStellarReaches#11,page16andIssue#17,page64),themajorityofworshippersin993areSolomanihumans,ratherthantheVilaniorminorrace(s).34AlladultswhopermanentlyresideonKhurdamustbeeithermembersofStellarDivinity(“StarDiviners”),ormembersofanothersun-worshipping/solardeityreligion.ResidentswhoabandonthesebeliefsareusuallyexiledtonearbyTheron:butthosewhorefusetogoquietly,orwhoteachotherstodisbelieveintheStarGods,areexecuted.“There’sareasonfortheAmberZone,youknow…”
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Withhisownpropellerplane(tunedtoworkintheuniqueatmosphere),Kinoshitawasabletovisitmoreofthesettlementthanmostnativeseverdo,becomingaminorcelebrity.EveryHoliday,KinoshitawouldrepainttheJapaneseSunonthewingswiththeImperialSunburst,visitingeverysettlementontheplanetwithalandingstripbeforelandingatthestarport,givingeachsettlement’sgifttotheseniorStellarDivinityprelate,andstandingproudlyashimself,hisplane,andtheJapaneseSunandImperialSunburstflagsallreceivedHisIlluminatedGrace’sblessing,‘straightfromthesun’.HighTideAftergraduatingfromthelocalSchoolofRoboticswiththetraditionalcriesof“PraisetheSun!”“Banzai!”and“HailtheEmperor!HAILHIM!”Kinoshitatookhisfirsttripoff-world,goingtothewealthy,heavilypopulated,bututterlysterilelunarlandscapesofTheron,oneparsecspinward.(Theron/Gaakish/Antares0937:in993,A100999-F).Onthishigh-techworld,Kinoshitaquicklydiscoveredthathiseducationbackhomeonlyintroducedhimtorobotics.WorkingontheabsolutebleedingedgeofImperialtechnologywassomethingcompletelydifferent!Asof973,onlysixteenImperialworldswereatTLF,andTheronwasoneofthefourthatwashigh-popaswell,abletomass-producetheequipment,arms,starships,andcomputerstheImperiumneededtomeetthefuturewithconfidence.
Inalong-forgottenStellarDivinityshrine,somewhereintheImperialEmptyQuarter,apriestpraystothesun.
StellarDivinityisalmostanextinctreligionwithintheEmptyQuarter,wipedoutbytheextremelyaggressive
Solomani-originreligions.Still:therearemanyImperialvisitorsfromoutsidethesectorwhoaresun
worshippers,andtinyremnantpopulationsaretoleratedinthemajorHindusystems:butnotintheVilani35,
Kikhushegi,Islamic,Christian,orJewishsystems.Thisgraphicistitled“TheOfferingII”©AndreasRocha.Seehisworkathttps://andreasrocha.deviantart.com/art/The-Offering-II-717207027
AsoneofthecoreepicentersoftheplannedImperialshifttoaTLFfoundation,Kinoshitawaskeptverybusy.Heavyworkloadsweremerely‘payingyourdues’.Hisco-workerswereshippedoffallacrosstheImperiumtoleadtechnologytransfersandprovideon-the-spotguidancetolocaltechnologists,comingbackaftertwoyearsorfiveyearsoradecade…ornevercominghomeatall.Inthemeantime,academics,techpriests,feudaltechnarchs,drivenentrepreneurs,andmegacorpresearchgroupsflowedtoTheronfromacrosstheImperium,tomasterthe
35AsStarDivinersdon’tconformtotheTraditions,theWilloftheAncestors,andtheProperRituals,theirfutureinthedevoutlocalVilanisystemsisgrimandshort.Formoreonwhichsystemfollowswhichreligion,seeStellarReaches#19,page18-19.
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technologyandthebestpracticesneededtobringthegoodshome.ImperialDataPacksweredrawnup,pryingSolomaniandVargreyesblinded,designflawsfixedonthefly,andKinoshitahadthetimeofhislife.RecessionalAftertwodecadesofkeepinguparelentlesspace,Kinoshitawascalledintoanofficeandgivenachoice:eitherjoinoneofthenow-numerousTechnologicalUpliftWorkingGroups–officialandunofficial,governmental,corporate,andincreasinglyevennon-profit–ontheEmperor’sdime,orcashoutofthebusiness.Kinoshitaknewthatthisdaywascoming,andhadalreadycontactedsomefriendstofindaplacewherehe’dfitin.Butbeforethemeeting,hehadvisitedhishomesystem…andwasinvitedbyhislocalPriestoftheSunfordinner.KnowingthatKinoshitaremainedastrongbelieverintheStarGods–evenbeingalaypreacherattimes–thePriestaskedhimtotakeonaverydifficulttask:tospreadtheFaithoftheSunintotheEmptyQuarter.AfraidthatKinoshitawouldimmediatelysayno,thePriestquicklyaddedthathewouldbeworkingamongtheHindupeoples,whoalreadyworshipedthesunasoneoftheirmajorgods.TheStellarDivinitygoalistohavethisdeity,Surya,beelevatedtotheonlyHindideityworthyofworship.Kinoshitaistogoforthand,withtheassistanceofothermissionariesandresearchers,determinethebestwaytomakethishappen.Whileanynon-humanswhoareinterestedarewelcometoknowmore,thefocusisontheSolomaniEastIndians.TheVilanihavelongseenStellarDivinityastwistedandcruelinnovationsontheRightWayofDoingThings:–“Traditionsandritualsamere5,000yearsold?Whodoyouthinkweare,gulliblechildren?”TheAbrahamicmonotheistsseeStellarDivinityasout-and-outidolaters:–“ChoosingtoelevateandworshipaballofhotgasesasyourLord,inplaceofyourCreator,Commander,andJudge?SuchcontemptforGodwillnotgounanswered!”AndtheBwapareSimplyNotInterested.Aftermanyprayers,carefullyconductedrituals,andthoughtfulmeditation,KinoshitadecidedtobeamissionaryofStellarDivinityintheEmptyQuarter,pleasinghisfamilyandfriendsonthehomeworld…DiscoveryAsof001-993,KinoshitahasfinishedworshippingattwomakeshiftAltarstotheSuns.36HeisontheoutskirtsoftheabandonedcityofAvesnes,thelastmajorcentreofstarworshipintheEmptyQuarter,ontheworldofRiamlir.37Askilledresearcherandcapabletechnologist,KinoshitausedsomeofthelatestTLFtoystogingerlyextractinformationfromcenturies-deaddatastoragedevices.Theworkwouldhavebeenfutileifthedevicesweren’tVilani-builttolastatleastafewcenturiesinhumidandhotclimates:asitis,whathegotwasfragmentary,takingtimetoputtogetherandfillinthegaps.SomewhereintheVargrExtents,inDfotsethSector,ontheveryedgeofChartedSpace,thereisanisolatedcivilizationofminorhumans.Theyhavenevergainedjumpspacetechnology–despiteotherwisebeinganAverageorHighStellarTechlevelculture–andhavenointerestinleavingtheirhomesystem.WhattheyAREinterestediniscolonizingandexploitingagasgiantthatduetoitschemicalpropertiesandcloseorbittoit’sprimaryhasa
36Riamlirhastwosuns,classK3V(whichthehomeworldorbits)andM3V.Naturally,Kinoshitaraisedupaltarstobothofthem,worshippingthemaspowerfuldeities(“kami”),andpreformingtheappropriateritualfortheirstartype,theplanetsandmoonsthatescortthem,andthestar’sdistancefromhislocation.37SeeStellarReaches#11,page16,formoreinformation.
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remarkabledegreeofilluminationwithinitsupperatmosphere,withoutbeingatruestar.Theoverallvisualeffectisofresidingwithinastar…withouttheannoyingradiation,literalphysicalmeltdown,orinstantdisintegration.38TheVargrExtentsisknownforitsinstability:andeventhoughthecarnivorouspopulationdoesn’teatpeopleasarule39,theydefinitelyliketheideaofhuntingandkillingprey.It’sbetterforalonetargetscientificresearchvesseltobeelinedirectlytotheinvestigationsite,ratherthanjustwanderingaimlesslyaround,excitingappetites.“Trynottobeapieceofprimesteakbeingwavedaboutbeforehundredsofthousandsofhungrywolfpacks,‘kay?”
Animmensepowercorewithinagasgiant,somewhereinDfotsethSector.Exactlywhatrequiresthislevelof
powerisunknown,butit’ssufficientlystar-liketocatchtheinterestofStellarDivinityresearchers.
Theabilitytocreateatruestarwouldrevolutionizethereligion…Thisgraphicistitled“IcarusGate”©AdrianoPortugal
Seehisworkathttps://danarogon-ap.deviantart.com/art/Icarus-Gate-674338035Kinoshitaneedstopindownthedatethesephotosweretaken,verifytheirauthenticity,andthenconsultwithprofessionalastronomerstopindownthegasgiant’slocation.(Ittakesstarlightroughly500yearstoreachfromthehypotheticalgasgianttotheImperialbordersandthehigh-power,high-techobservatoriesthere.)Oncethesitehasbeenpinneddown,Kinoshitaplanstoleadanexpeditiontotheglowing-yet-habitablegasgiant.
38Thisgasgianthasbeentuned–artificiallyornaturally–toonlyemitradiationincertainlimitedvisualfrequencies.Comparedtothemightyfull-spectrumemissionsofaproperstar,it’sascoolasacucumber.39OutsideofBloodVargrspace.Butinside?“Imperialexpeditionsintotheirregionhasalwaysbeenstaffedbyall-Vargrcrews,sincetheyhavebyfarthehighestchanceofreturningalive.Theirreportsdoincludetherareinstanceofkillingandconsuminghumans:rarebecause–forobviousreasons–largehumanpopulationsdon’texistinviolentlyparanoidsocietiesoftechnologicallysophisticatedhunter-killerpacks.Butabetterruleofthumbistoassumethattheykillnotforconsumption…butsimplybecauseitfeelsgood.”
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ItwillhavetobeleftforotherstospreadthenewstotheothertrillionorsoStarDiviners,andestablishthetransportnetworksthroughVargrSpaceandbringthemostdevoted(…andseriouslywealthy…)ofpilgrimstothatworld.40Tosparkcuriosityandinterest:Fromhttp://exoplanets.psu.edu/astronomers-discover-sunscreen-snow-falling-on-hot-exoplanet/
Astronomersdiscoversunscreensnowfallingonhotexoplanet
AstronomersatPennStatehaveusedtheHubbleSpaceTelescopetofindablistering-hotgiantplanetoutsideoursolarsystemwheretheatmosphere“snows”titaniumdioxide—theactiveingredientinsunscreen.TheseHubbleobservationsarethefirstdetectionsofthis“snow-out”process,calleda“coldtrap,”onanexoplanet.Thisdiscovery,andotherobservationsmadebythePennStateteam,provideinsightintothecomplexityofweatherandatmosphericcompositiononexoplanets,andmaysomedaybeusefulforgaugingthehabitabilityofEarth-sizeplanets.
“Inmanyways,theatmosphericstudieswe’redoingnowonthesegaseous‘hotJupiter’kindsofplanetsaretestbedsforhowwe’regoingtodoatmosphericstudiesofterrestrial,Earth-likeplanets,”saidThomasBeatty,assistantresearchprofessorofastronomyatPennStateandtheleadauthorofthestudy.“Understandingmoreabouttheatmospheresoftheseplanetsandhowtheyworkwillhelpuswhenwestudysmallerplanetsthatarehardertoseeandhavemorecomplicatedfeaturesintheiratmospheres.”Theteam’sresultsarepublishedintheOctober,2017issueofTheAstronomicalJournal.
Beatty’steamtargetedplanetKepler-13Abbecauseitisoneofthehottestoftheknownexoplanets.Itsdaysidetemperatureisnearly5,000degreesFahrenheit.Kepler-13Abissoclosetoitsparentstarthatitistidallylocked,soonesidealwaysfacesthestarwhiletheothersideisinpermanentdarkness.Theteamdiscoveredthatthesunscreensnowfallhappensonlyontheplanet’spermanentnighttimeside.Anyvisitorstothisexoplanetwouldneedtobottleupsomeofthatsunscreen,becausetheywon’tfinditonthesizzling-hotdaytimeside.
ThegasgiantinKinoshita’sstoryismoreilluminatedthanhot,asthestory’svisualgoalisawell-litbutcomparativelycooldeepatmosphere,nottheactualcreationofatruestar.(AprojectthatthewealthyChurchofStellarDivinityisveryinterestedin,bytheway.)Butit’sstillgoodforTravellersandeagerterraformerstoknow.Afterall,suchhotgasgiantscanextendthehabitabilityzoneofastarsystemnicely…Closingtheme:“RiseoftheEspers”,EvanCall,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEtZ1z4RfV4
40IfyouarereallyinterestedintheChurchofStellarDivinity,themostcomprehensivecanonmaterialcanbefoundinTraveller20’sGatewaytoDestiny,whichyoucanbuyhere:http://www.rpgnow.com/product/160096/D2002-Traveller20-Gateway-To-DestinyNotethatthereligion1)hasgreatvariationand2)isdescribedasgenerallyaforceforpeace.Iamwillingtoacceptthatclaim:butnotethatpacifistreligionsdon’tdowellintheEmptyQuarter.AmoreviolentandaggressiveversionofStellarDivinitywasinventedforthepost-RebellionSacredStarstheocracyofFornast,inthealternatetimelinedescribedinStellarReaches#17.Certainly,therehavebeenseveralmilitantsun-worshippingempiresinhistory,astheEgyptians,Aztecs,Hindus,andJapanesewouldcheerfullyexplain…
Stellar Reaches Issue #27 Spring 2018 Page 31
SomewhereinDfotsethSector,thisshotwastaken.Aframeofadigitalvideo,depictingalargestation,set
withinagasgiant,wherelightinteractswiththeatmospheretodisplayasetofremarkableproperties.
Assumingcryptographicverificationanddating,Kinoshitaintendstoorganizeandperhapsleadanexpeditionto
thisworld,aworldhebelievestobesacred…Thisgraphicistitled“Walls”©AdrianoPortugalSeehisworkathttps://danarogon-ap.deviantart.com/art/Walls-563908463
