A MD, probably updated infrequently, with humour, drama, sci fi and a really awful plotline. Written in British English, so please take care and mind your head. Nova Terina, a new settled Ag-World, prospers - until undisclosed events of a far-fetched nature happens! Will my plotline surive?
Introducing....Nova Terina
Welcome! Welcome all, to a CJ! A CJ so ill thought out, even Britain's suburbs can't hope to compare! To a CJ so clichéd that Jordan sues me!
To a CJ written by a person who really can't write introductions
Welcome... To Nova Terina
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Click here for a bigger and actually readable version
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Nova Terina is 24 by 55. For perspective, Topal Island is one large city tile. It's a pretty big map (And I plan to add more to it!)
In this MD, I hope to provide lashings of cheesy wit, Sci-Fi goodness and a little bit of stealing from Zelgadis to make it fly! There'll be goofiness, long words, plot lines, drama, space battles, failure to use and correctly!
And because a boring bit is needed: I am using the map Plantation Bay spliced on to something else by NHP, a money cheat of forgotten origin, NAM is installed and neglected, and I'm using radical ordinance for Demand Only! So, without further ado... to the first chapter!
I hereby name this Chapter "Chapter One" and God bless all who sail on her.
"Agricultural World – Ag World – Devesque.
Planet settled for primarily agricultural use – often stable, peaceful and unexceptional worlds. The majority of planets outside the normal range of climate, FloraFauna or geological values end up as Ag Worlds" Encyclopaedia Britannica
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Over what will one day be known as Topal Island, a robot sentinel lands on the newly discovered planet, already named Nova Terina
It's name is Rodney
Up above, a group of humans babble excitedly. If you happened to be up there, on the CNL Calver, and you listened on the greatest minds of the Commonwealth, you might catch snippets of conversation;
"Gravity well within normal ranges, according to..."
"...field, but I'm not so sure. Those instruments...."
"...far colder than average, it'll be Devesque for sure."
"Oh, I have to pee, so baaaddd"
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Back down below, Rodney wanders, taking snippets of leaves, pebbles from the shore, the occasional outraged bird. He likes this planet. He likes the calm. He likes the green. He likes the cool. But, soon he has to leave. And he does. He likes his controllers.
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And down come the humans! Among them comes a small omnipotent entity, in the form of a bird. A Bluejay, to be exact. This little bird's job, although no one knows it, is to ruthlessly control urban planners, nature and sometimes a curry. Do you have any idea how fun it is to watch human faces as a little aluminium pot of Dahl hops around singing "Mr Sandman?"
So, I'm using these sea walls by... someone starting with an "M". Oldies but goldies! And they really work for Topal Island (where the first city has been founded) Topal Island is all about looking richer, posher, more elegant than your neighbours (as you'll soon see, in my overall plotline OF DOOM)
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Down go the zones. I figure I'll take it bit by bit for this city. I'm lazy and impatient, and it's large. Eventually, I'll cover the whole island with skyscrapers and what not, but for now bask in the natural beauty
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Yeah, I may be an omnipotent urban planner, but that doesn't mean I'm any good.
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Ah, I see a large British community is making their mark. It's a superpower again, you hear? Once they gained access to a tropical planet to grow tea, there was no stopping them! The FSAS tried to blockade it once. It wasn't pretty.
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Up and up roll the inexorable skyscrapers
Next time, governance, plot and a couple more food jokes!
Great start and very interesting transport layout you've made! Looking forward to more! :thumbsup:
Quote from: TheBluejay on April 01, 2010, 02:49:08 PM
He likes this planet. He likes the calm. He likes the green. He likes the cool. But, soon he has to leave. And he does. He likes his controllers.
;D
io_bg: Thanks very much! As it happens, I have a secret stash of updates lined up, might as well strike while the Iron is hot!
thingfishs: Such a pretty smile! :D
Chapter 2: The Second Oldest Profession
"Following CL, GT made a surprisingly quick tradition from non-functioning democracy to dictatorship. The government of the time was largely unpopular, but high living standards amongst those who really mattered meant the establishment could comfortably expect to keep power for a long time yet. GT's mercantile and militaristic aspects only increased following CL, allowing it to make a real killing off arms sales – often literally." Excerpt from "Terina's Inferno"
Colonisation is going as well as could be expected for an Ag-World. With all those exotic, fascinating paradises out there, why would you even give the time of day to Nova Terina? Can you even give a planet the time of day? Is that even possible?
However, Topal Island has passed the 100,000 benchmark, meaning it's time for a Government! Yay!
As always, competition for Plantary Capital is fierce, but my sources (ketchup on strategic tables in the fanciest Johanesburg cafes) inform me that most of the support is for Topal Island, but many ISHC Offcials are waiting on polls of the colonists. Partisanship is rife, as always, and the Liberals don't want a Conservative capital (and vice versa)
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Governmental Plaza! Imaginative name, no? The House of Congress (main building) will be filled with fat, white, middle aged men, chosen from the districts of Topal Island. These Congressmiddleagedmen will then choose the President of Topal Island. As you can probably tell, Topal Island is already gearing up to be the Capital!
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The complex is surrounded by the headquarters of Topal Island's greatest corporations - Many of them are multi-plantary, so they can afford to build big. However, critics argue it simply illustrates Topal Islands already large rich/poor divide and the dominance of corporations in the Government. Hopefully, the elections running right this minute (yes, right now! Now!) will change this. Contenders include the Right Honourable J.C.Billder, Irma Scamyu and Charles Pallin IV.
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Obligatory night shot. Nightlights make everthing pretty!
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Coffee sales have reported to be up by up to 300% in Topal Island. Leading experts are completely bamboozled by this, but they are still very vocal about it. Before we go to our in-studio Scaremonger, we have early reports that the ongoing elections are showing a significant right-wing-swing...
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Overview of Topal Island so far. I'm expecting lots more skycrapers, a seaport or two and some more parkland to fill it up, but please make suggestions and contribute birdseed. Even Gods need feeding, y'know...
Just send over a nice cup of tea. :thumbsup:
God save the Bird (that would be himself, would it...) ;D
Interesting! In that last pic the skyscrapers look so out of place ;D I'll keep up with this one!
-Jordan :thumbsup:
Myself.or.?: *Slurp* Ta muchly! Sounds like a good national anthem &idea
canyonjumper: Oh, I know, it's definatly not the most amazing region pic, is it? Hopefully it'll all balance out soon
MiniUpdate: Spaceport!
Colonisation continues to go well, but starliners have got tired of avoiding hillocks, large trees and over-enthusiastic xeno-biologists. The solution?
A Spaceport!
Although the Planetary Spaceport is due to be situated on the mainland, Topal Island certainly needs a good landing area right now. While it may soon be a minor landingstrip, for now it is the high point of Nova Terina FtL transport and technology
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Behold! St Aubin Spaceport! As you can see (unless you're blind, in which case, how are you even reading this?) St Aubin is capable of handling around 3-4 large cargo & passenger ships at once, as well as several shuttles. The walls are to prevent incineration, pulverisation or salinatisation (alleged) by the ships engines.
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Overhere, the admin building, parking and passenger processing area. You can also see one of the two large cannons that defend St Aubin from attacks. This is the most recent spaceport built in the Commonwealth, and the post-Hoover Dam incident reforms are clear to see...
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Over here is the satellite launching area, once of the control buildings and the second BFG style cannon (officially the Fujitsaw-MassDriver, but seriously, no one actually says that) Satellites are still launched the old fashioned way, and form the back bone of Node (tm) Communications
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And to round everything off, a nightshot. Seriously, nothing cannot be made pretty by nightlights. It seems like of the shuttles is preparing for lift off down there. Hopefully, this one won't collide with an enthusiatic xeno-biologist (or me). Those people get everywhere! So hard to clean up....
No replies? Meh, your loss.
Chapter 3: By The Sea, Mr Todd, There'll Be Smog
"As with many First Settlements, Topal Island (and later Greater Topal) developed into a thriving metropolis. Unlike the majority, however, it shunned the world of High Finance and developed into a planetary mercantile centre. Even before CL, GT's blend of respectable governance and harsh policy made it ideal as a trading power. Today, Topal Island enjoys a powerhouse economy and high living standards – provided you stay in the right places..." Excerpt from "Topal Island: A Diplomats Guide" (non-published)
The election results are in! Of the 50 seats in Topal Island, 34 went to the right-wing Topal Federalist Party, 6 to the Social Democrats and the rest to Independants, giving Federalists a powerful majority. The TFP (sounds like a filesharing network :D) chose the prominent industrialist George Oncompetent as the first President of Topal Island. Being an industrialist, he abruptly changed Topal Islands focus from High Finance to a Mercantile Centre (using the Civ VII Ethics menu) and promptly authorised something rather large.
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Have you worked out what it is yet? Indeed! a whopping great seaport! Built facing the mainland, the port will offer protection from harsh seas and house all of Topal Islands industry. Oncompetent also is championing the "Fresh Start" scheme, a plan to build low income housing estates close to the port, allowing easy access to enployment. Unsuprisingly, the Social Democrats have already lampooned the project as The "Lets Move All The Filthy Poor People Away From Our Nice City" Project. Of course, this is all complete partisanship and has no bearing on reality, as usual.
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Construction goes on.... I love Pegs seaports. They always look fantstic! And the less said about my transit network, the better...
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There we go! You can also see the first "Fresh Start!" estate. Lets swoop in for a closer look (I am a bird, after all. A bird with a camara.)
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As you can see, all that talk about "filthy poor people" and whatnot was a massive exageration, pure dirty politics. How can people fail to prosper in such lovely conditions? *Accepts money from TFP* Don't worry about the box in front of the Borstal Reform School, it's just the new inmates arriving
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The port is capable of handling vast amounts of cargo at any given time, and a ready supply of galley slaves hard workers from the nearby estate means that the port functions more or less 25/6.
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Night shots. Yet more proof that everything looks good with nightlighting.
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And too finish off, have a shot of the Island. It's starting to look quite good, if I do say-so myself!
Well then, always liked what birds do... :P (you don't speak german, do you?)
You're island is coming along just nicely, but I think it's time to actually start the mainland. All those "much needed and highly treasured (as in 'guarded really well!') natives" (just read the flyer of the TFP) have to come from somewhere. I really think "those .... :angrymore:.....'people' " (as I heard members of the same party saying afterwards at the bar) should have a place to call home. And all the goodies they're trading do have to come from somewhere...
As far as your infrastructure goes, just waiting to see how it's gonna cope with more traffic. The port does look quite well and the bay to the south of TI might even attract some cruise liners.
Long live the Bird!!!
(by the way :D "HAPPY EASTER" ;D)
Myself.or.?: I took German for two years, and I have absolutely nothing to show for it. Haben sie meine dodo gesehen? As for the mainland, how right you are. I shall get right on it. In fact...
"%&^@:{*&£$@!!!!" Guy who stubbed his toe
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg696.imageshack.us%2Fimg696%2F4255%2Ffox20news20gets20first2.jpg&hash=63e2101c5308fe67911e7f8eabe232b7639389eb) GTNC News Anchor Droopy Mc Saggerson:
'A veritable flood of immigrants is arriving at St Aubin Spaceport, coming from areas affected by the Solidarity movement. Officials say that St Aubin can barely keep up with the strain, and it's uncertain how long the port will be able to function at this level of activity. Despite the nature of these immigrants, media and the authorities appear hesitant to brand them refugees. One source close to the Social Democratic Party suggested "it may be denial that this sort of thing could possibly happen in the present-day Commonwealth. This sort of thing simply doesn't happen."
Whatever the reason for this wave of new immigrants, The Topal City Housing Department can barely keep its' head above the water. ISHC Offcials are hurrying along construction of a new city on the mainland, christened New Babelyia. Despite its recent incorporation, it is already gaining significant levels of support in committee meetings to choose the capital.
This has been Mc Saggerson, keeping you informed'
Well, thank you Droopy. Now, lets show you New Babelyia!
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The site for New Babelyiais where the two rivers meet. Since Topal Island switched its focus from finace to piracy trading, the city is intended to be the finace capital of Nova Terina
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You know, I would like to say that the transit network here will be sane, efficient and easy. I would also like to say that the Gare du Nord was incredibly suitable and just lept out at me as a choice
I would be lying twice, of course. But that station is so big a pretty, I just had to use it (It's not like the rural terminus of Il Santum is going to want a station big enough to fit 67 buses, 26 sumo wrestlers, a herd of elephants, 7 olympic swimming pools and Gordon Brown, I suppose) I was looking at some other CJ's on SC4Dev, and I think I might just have got a little ambitious. Well, the monstrosity is here now
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Embankment rail! Great in theory! Painful in practice. The twin domes on either side of the station are excellent examples of the nostalgia movement in architecture right now. Widespread problems today? Build like it's still yesterday!
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And too my suprise, the zoned areas veritably zipped along! Well, no suprise, considering the hordes of immigrants coming from the Western Rim. How did they even get to New Babelyia, anyway? Plot hole!
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So I wanted New Babelyia to contain more 'old' architecture than Topal Island. Naively, I allowed New York buildings to grow. Locals are already calling this area 'The Mash.'
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These night shots are becoming a habit, no? But the night lights, they are so pretty....
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Night falls on one of the less fortunate parts of town. Many of these towers house people running from the turmoil and violence of the Western Rim.
BONUS!
These pictures didn't get taken in a vacuum, you know. I fluttered over to Topal Island to see if anything had happened. Turns out of George Oncompetents old buddies from his exploitation of slaves days (then again, politics being what it is...) Paul Reynolds, has been terribly busy on Southern Bay. He made his thousands in an Asylum, millions trading nutter futures and now his billions in land development. Bought the land for an absolute song (what are friends for?) and built, well, better to show you
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Yay for water fronts! Lets take a closer look *swoop*
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Yes, Yes, I know. I'll kick the habit soon, I swear.
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This is like the Dubai of MDs, everything is so extravagant! Its very original, and very tastefully done.
Super start. You have me interested. ;)
Robin :thumbsup:
nedalezz : Oh, high praise indeed! Thank you very much! Although I doubt "tasteful" is the word I would use... ;D
rooker1: Well, I'm glad you are enjoying it! Thank you very much!
So, today is the big announcement! Which city will be Capital? Topal Island or New Babelyia? Crowds of people have gathered outside Topal Islands Congress building, and 4 people have turned the TV on at New Babelyia's Tempory Government HeadQuarters (they had to climb on top and adjust the ariel first)
So, who will it be? Well, ISHC Capital Committee has chosen the media personality Ross Bioanker
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg542.imageshack.us%2Fimg542%2F1009%2Fjonathanrossjobsb431x30.jpg&hash=be8a8691e9a6e2fb11d068efb1a7103d32459189)Ross Bioanker: Thats me!
To break the exciting news!
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*crickets and a tumbleweed*
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Just one that has taste, dear.
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*bird keeps quiet*
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*Topal Crowd Cheers!*
Or the *snickers* sophisticated New Babelyia.
*NB Official coughs*
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg542.imageshack.us%2Fimg542%2F1009%2Fjonathanrossjobsb431x30.jpg&hash=be8a8691e9a6e2fb11d068efb1a7103d32459189)Ross Bioanker: And the offical decision is.... *opens envelope* New Babelyia?!? What - ! I, I mean...
congratulations, New Babelyia!
Clearly, this announcement didn't quite go the way Bioanker planned expected... Someones head will roll, but they won't find out who chose New Babelyia (cough Godly Veto cough cough)
The reaction in New Babelyia is overwhelming.
*NB Official* Oh dear. Well, we'd better build a government building, then?
*NB Offical 2* Get a better TV....
Hmm. Lets leave them too it.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg683.imageshack.us%2Fimg683%2F5984%2Fnewbabparliament.jpg&hash=8976cd8b2e82719b20558062f46eec3f171647d5)
Well, they certainly move fast! This spectacular gothic Parliament building is surrounded by parkland and places for diplomats, ministers and MP's to stay. I certainly envy them (I'm renovating and extending my nest right now. Thought I'd add a hot tub :D)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg144.imageshack.us%2Fimg144%2F6659%2Fnewbabstreets.jpg&hash=5805ae35fa99960710ee86d19d18370394a01bc8)
And here is some medium density prettiness for you all. In fact, have a boatload of pictures of my new bit!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg31.imageshack.us%2Fimg31%2F1305%2Fnewbabcorners.jpg&hash=48b51c66df160dda9545063fc999dd1db6c747ed)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg11.imageshack.us%2Fimg11%2F9131%2Fnewbabnightclose.jpg&hash=ed84b6e6fbf05b27a1dfe0354f07ab93eb0b73dc)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg94.imageshack.us%2Fimg94%2F563%2Fnewbaboverviewnewstuff.jpg&hash=1fbaf8e317f01e9125169fdcd31114087f8c8175)
And my favourite:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg94.imageshack.us%2Fimg94%2F8049%2Fnewbabfrenchstreets.jpg&hash=9a3e596758aeeb6a39a2c6233bd7d46b31c5ff5b)
See those pretty, non-Parisian corner buildings? Usually, they spam grow in skyscraper districts, so I thought I'd put some over here where I actually want them. Did a single one grow? No sir! GRRR. Buildingplop cheat to the rescue.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg696.imageshack.us%2Fimg696%2F1338%2Fnewbabfindnight.jpg&hash=d3fb89e7ce6f480ae45281b6a5e757334a1e418f)
On the other side, New Babelyia Financial District. As you can see, bankers are busy scamming the little old ladies who live in small cottages. "Low density?!" I hear you cry. "Where?!" Well;
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg297.imageshack.us%2Fimg297%2F3296%2Fnewbabsuburb.jpg&hash=c5c6bac2090018ec96765f76de4ad4c23f2a5a6f)
Nova Terinas first suburbs! Okay, they're neither very big or very suburban, but space is limited. It'll be a while before I get to suburbs.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg297.imageshack.us%2Fimg297%2F8243%2Fregionnewbab.jpg&hash=41ea3756d6c05e9f4d07ae77673ee545d52ef817)
Overview of Nova Terina.
NEXT TIME!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg59.imageshack.us%2Fimg59%2F4779%2Fclipboard041.jpg&hash=90250f1398de742cb74b4883dc4c19973db39257)
Nothing thats anywhere near as exciting as this picture
Fantastic looking region. You're doing a great job building up the heavily urban style of growth!
Battlecat : Thank you very much! Your comment was perfectly timed...
Chapter 6: Far From the Madding Crowd
Just to spite Battlecat.
"Rumours about a large swamp monster terrorising the seat of Il Santum have proved to be entirely false after the Mayors wife was found in a trap set by vigilantes" NBT Report
Today we swoop away from the cities and flutter to pastures new! This is an Ag-World, after all (did you forget) Now, lets fly calmly towards the seat of Santos County, Il Santum (thats il, not LL) tum te tum tum... Oh look, the remains of a xeno biologist!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg179.imageshack.us%2Fimg179%2F8036%2Filsantnewbabregion.jpg&hash=096bf164510efd62f9863526bacf2283a3a600d8)
Yes, large photos today. Anyway, you can see railways snaking towards Il Santum quite clearly, which means the Realism HoundTrolls will shortly appear and rip me to shreds for having visible railways. Enjoy this update while you can!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg179.imageshack.us%2Fimg179%2F6995%2Filsantoverview.jpg&hash=d75e9ac0cb06c8f2086083d7c16a3af972e34417)
Oh, it's pretty! Il Santum is the Administative Centre for Santos County, and a good sized town to boot. It's pretty unimportant, but it's fertile and a bit of a breadbasket (or at least will be) and it's vaguely pretty, so it gets an update all of its own.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg405.imageshack.us%2Fimg405%2F4706%2Filsantsuburbs2.jpg&hash=7c4ac0c29c11494715ed48756724c7eaf8008138)
Suburbs and farms and railways, oh my! I'm intending Santos County to be pretty dense with the ol' farmland, with the Dales and the Dissapointments being much more sparsely populated.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg413.imageshack.us%2Fimg413%2F4666%2Filsanttacks.jpg&hash=86776266ca4d21452ae0cfa284b9639668651038)
And there's a high-streety bit
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg683.imageshack.us%2Fimg683%2F8126%2Filsantcentre.jpg&hash=b0d285d5ae71daf14a09ecaa0fdaff93e72e660e)
In fact, two!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg541.imageshack.us%2Fimg541%2F7076%2Filsantsuburbs.jpg&hash=c7269349d11c51680dff4b6215565d627304ec6d)
And some pretty middle class homes. Il Santum is pretty wealthy for a dead end back water town, it's the Tavistock of Nova Terina.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg405.imageshack.us%2Fimg405%2F6241%2Filsantnight.jpg&hash=34b5ae902a44c5a693f28d7b25b7baf852680438)
Il Santum glimmers alone in the wilderness.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg179.imageshack.us%2Fimg179%2F9461%2Frailfar.jpg&hash=9254cccbfdc87e4c6decba5204cd0acb779b8b06)
So I've been fiddling about with FAR and have come the conclusion that I hate the gosh darned thing, however, it looks good. Would you lot, my esteemed readership, consider FAR worth the effort? I'm not sure...
How a bird can fiddle about with railway tracks in beyond me, but I manage it.
Edit: Just to clarify, I'm disliking FAR because I'm A: A lazy cow-bird and B: A clumsy, lazy cow bird. The set itself, as far as I can tell, is perfect. However, me having no hands, it makes FAR quite fiddly to use, and for quite a mild reward (from my POV anyway, realism hounds will disagree. Nice doggies...) so I'm not sure if I should "go full FAR" as they say (Do they say that?)
Edit 2: I spelt edit wrong.
I have edited your post.
You may have had a hard time using it, but show a little respect to those that have worked very hard on creating it.
Robin - Global Moderator.
QuoteSo I've been fiddling about with FAR and have come the conclusion that I hate the gosh darned thing, however, it looks good. Would you lot, my esteemed readership, consider FAR worth the effort? I'm not sure...
I had something to do with creating the FAR, and would welcome your input as to anything that might stand improvement. Your pic actually doesn't show any FAR pieces- there are wide radius switches and curves, although I was involved with those, as well. Identification of some specific issues you have would help. I'd be happy to take a look and let you know what might be done to address them. It's all about making the game better, as far as I'm concerned.
David
I must say, that is a PRETTY little town, surrounded by eye candy farms! Not to say your urban areas dont look good - they do, especially how you did the Presidential Capital Building.
nedalezz: You are too kind! I'm pretty pleased with the Parliament too!
dedgren: PM reply, too lazy to copy-pasta
Chapter 7: Worthy Ideals
But first, I am incredibly pissed off with Imageshack. It's just eaten a bunch of my pictures, don't ask me why. I've gone roundand replaced them, but I might have missed a couple. Give me a poke and Imageshack a slap if you do see some I missed!
"Ardeco is a pretty, liberal and incredibly unimportant University town. It's not possible that the Seftons could have -" Last tranmission from the CNL Calver
Railways have begun their iron crawl across the landscape of Nova Terina, and in their wake come the Humans. The next county seat has appeared! Well, not quite yet. Wait for it...wait for it....
WHOOSH!
*smoke*
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg251.imageshack.us%2Fimg251%2F6452%2Fardecooverview.jpg&hash=a0abbfa2e4cedbcdca55ab12ed7bbb04c19d4c74)
And in a puff of zoning, Ardeco appears! Ardeco is/was/will be (depending on your perspective) a smallish University town on the Abbot River. Through it runs the Santos Line, reaching from New Babelyia and terminating at the mysterious black void which really makes no sense. Got that? I will be testing you later on, so take notes. *Puts on bird sized mortar board*
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg534.imageshack.us%2Fimg534%2F8348%2Fardecouniseasonal.jpg&hash=2412b89250462200bfc955acaad4e97f5e3f01ca)
And what better place to start than Ardeco University? These days, Universities tend to germinate their own towns, rather than the largest cities acquiring them. And darn hard to set up they are, too. Unknown university, new planet, no students? Why on earth would you go there? Head to an established one on an established planet, thats the way to go. However, Ardeco is luring in students with good teachers, unusual courses and the occasional net.
This is my first foray into the exiciting world of seasonal trees, and I have to say they're really rather pretty.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg88.imageshack.us%2Fimg88%2F6615%2Funicheap.jpg&hash=7d6eb52c047c318674e33390f43ca5ce516d2a25)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg88.imageshack.us%2Fimg88%2F5246%2Fardecocheapterr.jpg&hash=ef1b30250f25b579ee1b937d8f7280917b11e070)
Just across the river, a lake of cheap terraced houses provide lodgings for Students for whom dorm life holds no attraction. Like those with a sense of smell.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg402.imageshack.us%2Fimg402%2F9527%2Fardecoterraces.jpg&hash=3edefe287308792dff2a6f113274cd3537d1a0de)
Not that all terraces are cheap Student "crash pads" oh no. Here, the reaction against hi-rise apartments is easy to see! A sea of brick and stucco, with ensuites and sizeable gardens for the children.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg251.imageshack.us%2Fimg251%2F3839%2Fardecoburbs.jpg&hash=5a6360153c3ee7df3bd0d4220087306d2ed6321c)
More terraces. Ardeco is very much a medium density town. However, every town has a centre, otherwise they're breaking various mathmatical laws. Shall we go see Ardecos? No? Well tough, I'm in charge here. Don't make me get out a cattle prod, move it!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg695.imageshack.us%2Fimg695%2F7213%2Fardecostation.jpg&hash=767f42e52917d605fb0fef68a2d90511114f2244)
Here we are. As high risen as we're ever going to get here in Ardeco. Don't you just love that train station?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg251.imageshack.us%2Fimg251%2F5993%2Fardeconight.jpg&hash=5b4e7a35f32865054ca0787a0699f40dd99bcbde)
Annndd... a night shot to finish. Terribly pretty.
The night shot is nice!
And I had some troubles with imageshack, too. In my case sometimes pictures are uploaded two times. Guess that is still better than vanishing pictures, though. ::)
I'm getting slow with this, aren't I? Well, I'm also revising for my GCSE's, so I have to prioritise!
Here's a selection of pictures and captions to show you I actually have been doing some stuff
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg89.imageshack.us%2Fimg89%2F249%2Fslightlyuglyclearing.jpg&hash=3c7362a477234c8477fec6bd8534f678a018eb2f)
A slightly ugly clearing!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg708.imageshack.us%2Fimg708%2F7793%2Ffarmwindmill.jpg&hash=9f01bd85e14137551b93775cab9adddc17613f38)
A rural idyll!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg683.imageshack.us%2Fimg683%2F3041%2Ffarmtown.jpg&hash=5bb69338f91a4846ded5e348082b38b41aa64156)
A teeny tiny town for middle aged people and older only!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg708.imageshack.us%2Fimg708%2F5491%2Ffarmestate.jpg&hash=9137b9adff64bca6419a2580c096764a6a311e60)
Now, not every one in the countryside arr tractor is poor. As you can see, some peopleare doing quite well for themselves! The owners of this farm are from one of the Dynasty like families so common in the Commonwealth, and make a small bit of money from selling ice creams and cakes from the small cafe-shop next to them. Some people dig the whole organic rural homegrown stuff, y'know?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg89.imageshack.us%2Fimg89%2F8113%2Fardecouniwall.jpg&hash=5137d670d84a39678a75c62876a22c6ec9215fa2)
Ardeco University has scraped together enough money to replace the old fence will some walls, far prettier!
I will never find out why the BSC Parks team insisted on having grass a slightly different shade to the Maxis grass that most other parks use. I don't even think it looks any better! (Not that BSC Parks aren't pretty great :) )It's throughly odd, don't you think?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg690.imageshack.us%2Fimg690%2F2863%2Fregionshot3.jpg&hash=d70dcd572a1bdc5cf7f98f3f14ff4a0c8bfec9ed)
It's all very serious today. Sorry. Tell me what you think, and I'll avoid/do more of them in future, depending. But I have to get my plot out somehow!
Also, my GCSE Exams are starting in May, so I will start updating more when I can't take anymore revision. Sorry for the delay!
Chapter 8: Mass Transit
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg402.imageshack.us%2Fimg402%2F6200%2Fardecotrain.jpg&hash=33664709a8c66a306785522284aaa0f1a6064809)
There's been talk of expanding the ST-Distortions the Commonwealth uses to connect each planet to the D-Net into doors large enough to fit trains through. It's an interesting concept, but it's probably just that - talk. All the same, he thought, all the same it would be best to buy shares, invest, spread the wealth to companies who would benefit from such a change in Inter-Stellar Transit. The ideas had of course caused gravity to get a hold on the shares of the Spaceflight Companies, but he wouldn't sell those. Even if you could switch to trains, the Commonwealth was in such a mess -
The train screeched and rattled over a bridge, jolting him out his D-Net connection. 'Blast it!' he muttered. The connections on these frontier planets were so patchy, even on the outskirts of a major town.
Major town
Hah.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg682.imageshack.us%2Fimg682%2F1748%2Fardecotrainburbs.jpg&hash=2faf18ce3630097d49b7da7702492eb49af1a103)
It was a simple enough task. Go to Ardeco, take charge of the University. Same routine as a thousand other planets - make connections, gather influence, create and then solve problems.
Ultimately, make money for the family. Very humdrum, if you ask me, but then no one ever does.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg89.imageshack.us%2Fimg89%2F8113%2Fardecouniwall.jpg&hash=5137d670d84a39678a75c62876a22c6ec9215fa2)
He knew it would be small, primitive compared to the Institutes he was used to, but even so he was surpised by the Campus. A group of unadventureous red brick buildings, built in a Tudor Revival style clustered around a path so new and clean it hurt his eyes. The lawns surrounding the classrooms may one day be a great place to gather and socialise, but in the beginings of what this freezing little planet called spring (even on the equator, hah!) the surrounding area was grey and deserted. The halls were bare of the usual sign-ups and poltical leaflets, instead painted a cold, institutional yellow and contained a myriad of non-sensical twists, angles and even a few times (he was sure of it) doubling back on themselves.
Feel like home?
Hah.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg706.imageshack.us%2Fimg706%2F299%2Fnewspaperj.jpg&hash=65852a7a51822620c4e7017b29373a2b83dc2796)
Corrected offset image. - Robin ;)
Honestly, I am not that much into sci-fi mds but I like your narrative style. So I'll keep on reading.
Good luck with your exams.
Great update! I realize now looking at Deadwoods' soundwalls that they are about 4 stories high... I like that second pic, the train going through is pretty cool ;D
-Jordan :thumbsup:
canyonjumper : Oh, thankee! And yes, those soundwalls, I never noticed that before. So how high does that make the train?
RickD Oh, yay. Glad you like it, and Thanks! I'll certainly need it &mmm
Delays, delays, delays, and I can't even blame the Ash Cloud. So sorry :( Exams in 2 weeks! Woo!. So, without further ado:
Chapter 9: What is this, British Rail?
I've redone the map of Nova Terina! Bask in the MS Painty glory!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg96.imageshack.us%2Fimg96%2F2320%2Fnovaterinamapannotated.jpg&hash=ad1880668cd69d2eb6b6d236cbf843e36f9e2b15)
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1062/novaterinamapannotatedj.jpg (http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1062/novaterinamapannotatedj.jpg)
Ah, the progress of.. progression. Well, I haven't really embarked on anymajor building since the last update, actually. But I've cobbled together enough to provide some low quality wit for you all.
So lets get cracking on this back log!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg707.imageshack.us%2Fimg707%2F5717%2Flogginghut.jpg&hash=9c5d93c6d7483023467071b6d559b83421caf45a)
PUN
So yeah, it's a logging company. I can't really add much to that, can I?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg691.imageshack.us%2Fimg691%2F5818%2Floggingpath.jpg&hash=961b762b3e29cdbfdc50ba12e55d7738625eb37f)
It was actually quite fun to build all this, suprisingly. I was suffering from major treeing fatigue, so I think it gave me great satisfaction to create their DOOM! haha! Take that, beautiful natural oxygen factories and habitats!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg413.imageshack.us%2Fimg413%2F930%2Flogging.jpg&hash=2c5e75fc6d2673734af4d07167525a9f8504f450)
The site is operated by Reynolds Inc. You remember him, of course? Waterfronts, nutter futures? Dun Nuttin Retirement Homes? As always, he's opened up a new site, for no plot or logical reasons other than the Great Creator Bird was too lazy to think up a company or individual who would own it. Ta da!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg696.imageshack.us%2Fimg696%2F319%2Floggingoverview.jpg&hash=1eebaf61c4846e3fb19ab8ec66a3bb7f7c6c5ec7)
Quick overview, just because I can.
Moving further South...and West... And a bit more south...... and you're in the sea, go back.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg98.imageshack.us%2Fimg98%2F8084%2Flonbeayport.jpg&hash=fb32c321c471024763d0a1eb05da9ccad55638ef)
Stepping off the CPL Liang, it was perfectly unsuprising that the majority of passengers were more than slightly underwhelmed by Helertia Planetary Spaceport. It was little more than a blank expanse of concrete, stretching maybe half a mile along the edge of Lonbeay Isle, looking rather bleak. In the rough center was the spaceport proper, two landing strips, a large carpark and a terminal building. Someday, the station will sprawl over vast areas, perhaps, but for now there's no demand for anything like that. Besides, all thats coming in is settlers, and they're easy to accomadate.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg683.imageshack.us%2Fimg683%2F482%2Flonbeayskyline.jpg&hash=0acac36ac4fb9f499b6cf5a16f0dd265530b64a8)
The city itself is much more exciting! I've been trying GLR and I fricking love it. I'm not addicted, I can stop anytime I want! I just don't want to. Right, so we have downtown
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg130.imageshack.us%2Fimg130%2F3497%2Flonbeayoldtown.jpg&hash=da149e8f3088177b09a55c203259cf03c4634337)
Old town
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg98.imageshack.us%2Fimg98%2F4013%2Flonbeayoldtownnight.jpg&hash=0a3410a7b6c1f08c4b696eb6aedd58a23fd0be0e)
There were supposed to be more towns, but Clip2Pic didn't get half the pictures I took, which is terribly irritating. I had like tram shots and night shots and midrise shots and everything, and now look at me!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg707.imageshack.us%2Fimg707%2F4662%2Ftopalestates.jpg&hash=d9998e44d9909360e96c54f0c9705bd6289b4bfa)
And so I leave you with Richville Estates in Topal Island. Ain't no karma, folks.
Great update there, little creation bird ;D I like that building in the roundabout. Perhaps a link please ;D?
-Jordan :thumbsup:
This is a great start thebluejay! Love the sci-fi thingies, I even thought of putting the space ships in my region somewhere, but let's wait for the future, and see what it brings us.
Visit my MD sometime. The link is in my signature.
canyonjumper: Thanks! You have the link, but for everyone else it's the Bourse de Commerce, on the LEX
strucka: Thankee! Wow, your CJ is looking pretty amazing... I bow down to your superior skills
Hello there! No, I'm not quite done yet. RS exam today, English Literature exam tomorrow and I still find time to add to this...thing.
Oh, and Imageshack is being irritating again. I've repaired, but if you notice broken pictures give me a poke. Anyone who cares to shed light on the mystery of Imageshack deleting my pictures is welcome!
Chapter 10: Oiligarchy
"Clean green energy may have been the dream of the 21st Century, but you could almost hear it being thrown out the window when wormholes were discovered. Fusion? Tricky? Fission? Yeah! Solar? Too big. Oil? Wonderbra! It was like every big industry supporters dream come true, and all for the good of the Commonwealth."
I've been taking pictures over the course of the last 20 days, resulting in this nonsensical mishmash of night shots and oil fields laid before you all. I'm not even going to try and link them together with a plot this time, it's "witty captions" or leave it.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg25.imageshack.us%2Fimg25%2F6650%2Flonbeayfinnight.jpg&hash=110fde0c895e83c1b2f9ac362932052fa7ab11ac)
Not that I can really summon up wit to describe this picture. It's the Lonbeay Isle Finanical District at night time, what more do you want? An aria? Shoo! Ungreatful peasants!
...
come back...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg715.imageshack.us%2Fimg715%2F4133%2Flonbeaymarinanight.jpg&hash=754c909ef129b75649e6f988c0fb2c5ad80e0679)
More Lonbeay towers! Yes yes yes, I know Lonbeay is old and midrise, but it's a marina. Marina! MAAAHH-REENA! You sort of have to roll your r's for that, as if you were in a Brazilian carnival. Got it? Good!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg691.imageshack.us%2Fimg691%2F1986%2Flonbeayold2night.jpg&hash=b82fd9a9e0b82f5092d682e3fa69be4881a343c0)
Ah, now this is more like Lonbeay. Great swathes of Faux-Deco and NewClassical blocks, all completely unrealted to eachother. This is why selling off small packets of land to massive amounts of developers is a bad thing, London take note.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg413.imageshack.us%2Fimg413%2F5221%2Flonbeayoldnight.jpg&hash=00921cd2495f24591443d1fbafbf96b659284a6c)
Gothic splendour. If you've never seen real gothic splendour, anyway. But this comes pretty close.
You know, looking again, none of the buildings are even vaguely gothic. I don't know why I thought they were.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg203.imageshack.us%2Fimg203%2F2371%2Flonbeayoldtram.jpg&hash=db68ad240ee5dc7a2d72df3bcb396033c480267f)
Little close up of the "Old Town" I forgot to remove the water pump, but it sorta fits here. Anyway.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg694.imageshack.us%2Fimg694%2F9674%2Flonbeaytowernight.jpg&hash=a607ba16d31b89d8a95b8bc12b42d7af4836ca3c)
And a random modern-esque circle apartment block. Yeah, thats really fitting into the Chicago 1890 build set! But it works, somehow. Even though it chose to grow like...things that grow lots and fast... here, it hasn't occured anywhere else in Nova Terina. I will never work out how the whole grow thing works, I swear.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg641.imageshack.us%2Fimg641%2F9747%2Flondale.jpg&hash=23d0d201fe9c71901b0fe18081b925dd12398d3e)
Well this certainly isn't Lonbeay Isle! This is *consults map* Londale, in the Dales (thats the bit up North) I'd give you an overview, but I don't have one. Ta-Dah!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg10.imageshack.us%2Fimg10%2F7070%2Flondaleburbs.jpg&hash=ff1563fb5d7df3d98369702b1f88864043b627e2)
Pretty pleasant and stuff. It has all the usual amenities - Schools, Clinics, Police Stations. It's pretty unremarkable, unless you live there.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg708.imageshack.us%2Fimg708%2F8860%2Foilfield.jpg&hash=0a471f031da6c9fc700d6ffb172638c87e58708b)
And next door is an extremely charming Oil Field! (fueling the equally charming Gillikin Industrial Concern) See how charming it is?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg205.imageshack.us%2Fimg205%2F9025%2Foilclose.jpg&hash=14222f7b3778fc0d590bc9133f8d5b08bc406c33)
Charming!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg249.imageshack.us%2Fimg249%2F4946%2Fporthaventowers.jpg&hash=f450b5f7c5609eb3503958f615f04c69b1b2b00c)
And too round off this train wreck of an update, here's the first New Babelyia Metropolitan Authority Suburb - Porthaven! Oddly enough, it's a sort of port. Odd, that. Here's the centre (It's a long way from New Babelyia, so the towers are justified. The other 'burbs will be far more dull)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg24.imageshack.us%2Fimg24%2F7389%2Fporthavenpleasaent.jpg&hash=e74588c82aa99da7ad3fde53710cee69314977a3)
And some of the suburbs. I like the pattern I'm using, it gives a nice balance between non-grid and dense.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg46.imageshack.us%2Fimg46%2F3396%2Fporthavenburbsclose.jpg&hash=fb931273d935305a8391b499dc16e6198d3c3488)
Predictable close up filler shot!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg299.imageshack.us%2Fimg299%2F3788%2Fporthavenburbs.jpg&hash=2971d8101211f20da17f36c631313e6304b97e8a)
Predictable establishing overview!
As for the next update, well, don't hold your breath folks. I've still 10-11 exams left on the clock, but you can expect me back into the world of regular updating (what is this strange land I find myself in?) By Mid to late June!
Hi little Birdie,
long time since I passed by in these part of the Universe. I see you're still going well and I still enjoy reading your storyline.
Wish you Good Luck for the exams! No ()what() and after some &Thk/( a lot of &idea !
QuoteSee how charming it is?
Oh right, now that you mention it I can definitely see that it is indeed a very charming oil field. $%Grinno$%
Liked the update!
RickD: Oh yes, terribly charming! I'm glad you liked it :)
Myself.or.? : Great to see you again! I'm really glad you liked it, and thanks! My exams went pretty well - no major foul-ups - fingers crossed I'll make a healthy crop of B's!
Chapter 11: Glorious Return!
Hello all! I'm back!
...
Don't say "yay" or anything -_-
So, my exams are over! Only 50 years till I can retire :)
And what better way to start a new era of CJ updatement than
INTRODUCING A NEW MAIN CHARACTER!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F5262%2Fjacenwalderbig.jpg&hash=59412700d255b81d37ee14b3a2e6e56bb69f479d)
Boom. Yes yes yes, I am aware it is Sims 3. Do you know how hard it is to find character avatars? Damn difficult! Using RL pics is awkward and mildly creepy and Zelgadis cornered the market on anime long ago thus leaving the Sims franchise the only source of fake human beings. Hey, and Sims avatars means I can get expressions on the characters as well, which is mighty handy :)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F6927%2Frargh.jpg&hash=87226b7732895e90ca6dd7352010beb6b8917a4f)
Droopy McSaggerson disapproves of your anti-Sims bias. Shame on you!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850) So this is Jacen Walder. He is a journalist, first-life 27, currently living in Helertia (lucky chap) He's doing his best to break out of the sort of poverty he was brought up in - his purple eyes and grey hair are a result of living next to The Karl Redecker Spaceport in Jo'burg. He has unfortunately had major problems with food in the past, but he currently lives near a Chinese take-away so it's all fine. He currently writes the occasional article for the "Helertian Star" but lets face it, writing for local newspapers brings neither fame nor cash. As a result, his apartment is a rather dilapidated relic of the pioneer days (which were about a month ago. Bloody new builds) He's currently single but please, readers, remember he's not real before you profess your love for him.
All in all, it's a pretty average life that shows no sign of becoming less average - That is, UNTIL MY PLOTLINE OF DOOM demand I requisition a character - and so, here he is!
Helertia Old Town, March 15th, 4:32 PM
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F7910%2Fhelertiahouseadam.jpg&hash=45b034cf15605f0baaf3cd3559fcd5fb6408ab3e)
Jacen Walder stood on the step of his apartment building, a tiny, overly ornate building sandwiched inbetween two large NewClassical corner blocks. Despite the imposing facade and prime location, he rented the flats inside for a pittance - which was exceedingly fortunate, considering that writing for local newspapers brings neither fame nor money.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74):"Thats what I said!"
Jacen groaned. That bloody bird had been following him around all day, he was sure of it, and now he was sure it was talking to him. This was it! He was finally cracking under the strain of being the urban poor!
Jacen opened the heavy (fake) oak door leading into the lobby of his building - and surprise surprise, the bird fluttered in after him, ignoring all attempts to shoo it out. Settling on a doorframe, it eyed him looking as irritated as a bird can look.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74):": "Bloody ingrate! I make him a central character, a fancy apartment for a pittance and spend all day following him around taking pictures of him on extraordinarily laggy games, and what do I get? Swatted at by some low grade news rag!"
Jacen just rolled his eyes and wearily trudged up the stairs. How one can trudge up (fake) marble I don't know, but he managed it. Stopping on the 3rd floor, he glared at his luminescent green door. A legacy from the previous tenant, and something he still hadn't gotten round to changing. Not that he had the money of course. Throwing open the door and shuffling in, he did his best to ignore the bird fluttering in after him, and collapsed on a sofa that sounded like it wanted to collapse on him. Kicking off his shoes (worn, like everything else in the flat) Jacen settled down to read the "low grade news rag" he'd picked up earlier. Although most likely a hallucination, the bird was completely right
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74):":" I should think so too"
The paper was a low grade rag. Irritated by life in general, Jacen had a quick shower, switched clothes and went off to get thoroughly drunk, managing to shut the damn bird inside his flat as he left,throwing one last irritated glance at his bright purple door.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74):":" Cow! I could have gone into a lucrative stock market career, but noooooo I spend my day following you around - out of the goodness of my job description heart, and what do I get in return? I shall make a nest in your pillow!"
Profoundly irritated, I/the bird (this is getting confusing) smoothed some feathers and hopped down onto the sofa, hoping to find something soporific enough in the paper to send him/me to sleep until Jacen returned.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F7108%2Fnewspaperwaves.jpg&hash=7e51445c2d4eab1852f02864457055467efa8908)
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Random City Pics!
As much as plotting is fun (please leave a comment saying what you thought of it! I'm still trying to find a style that suits) One must include city pictures in these things.
I had a bit of a creators block with this, but I built up some suburbs and farms - nothing major, but I did do something pretty big.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg638.imageshack.us%2Fimg638%2F8875%2Fovervieww.jpg&hash=1d656c6c79729085895f2250c7f61c1cabba79a2)
I quite literally doubled the size of the region - and reader, it was boring like you wouldn't believe. I particularly hates trees now. I added the large mountainous region first (Kinbasket Lake/Bay, HP) to provide colonial lands for later on - but then I realized that the amount of usable land there doesn't suit the rural, provincial colonies I had in mind, so I added the southern land mass (Zaraki, also NHP) to do this.
Lets see, what else have we got...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg638.imageshack.us%2Fimg638%2F8875%2Fovervieww.jpg&hash=1d656c6c79729085895f2250c7f61c1cabba79a2)
I got back to nature a little in Windermare Lake
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg638.imageshack.us%2Fimg638%2F2623%2Fwindermare.jpg&hash=a4380fd53db4c615d9c6dd7688d09d087692961e)
And made my first attempt at a stream, which didn't turn out too badly, all things considered.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg683.imageshack.us%2Fimg683%2F8482%2Fwindermarestream.jpg&hash=44e21a3df0a200cf1154a091193baed4cf6a9676)
I germinated another suburb, NBMA Fitkin - it's since acquired an unremarkable industrial park and more or less doubled or tripled in size, but it all follows that sort of pattern. Leafy, green, low density. Altogether stiflingly pleasant, what?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg683.imageshack.us%2Fimg683%2F9320%2Fnbmaburb.jpg&hash=5a9beb474431cc611a8d487a6e31143b3d73ed9c)
And finally, bonus pic of the week!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg823.imageshack.us%2Fimg823%2F6236%2Fnewbabnewzone.jpg&hash=355752afcbaa777d7e75ad090f63f925cb0eeb4c)
New Babelyia continues to make like a fungi and mushroom. And I'm closing in on the 1 mil mark! Whatever shall I do to celebrate?
Thanks everyone for being patient while I struggled through my exams. They're all finished - I never have too speak French or add up again! Joyous day!
Oh! One last thing! I am in need of new characters, soooo... Whoever can create the best character in a comment below wins that character a place in the storyline. Neat, hmmm? Runners up (should there be any!) will get a city or a ship or a landmass named after them - so you better enter! This character can be you , it can be your grandmother, it can be Herg, the Kalaptian Space Hero who just so happens to live in Skegness, serving icecreams to the locals. It's up to you!
interesting, I like the aims this region, the details are fantastic in their cities
kalvar: Thanks! It's much appriciated!
Chapter 12: Ozymandias
Hang onto your hats, people. This is about to get very confusing.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F7910%2Fhelertiahouseadam.jpg&hash=45b034cf15605f0baaf3cd3559fcd5fb6408ab3e)
Helertia's Old Town, about 7am
Jacen awoke to the electronic squawking noise that is the same the galaxy over. Rolling over and holding onto his head like it was about to fall off at the same time, he swept his arm back and forth along the bedside table in that familar "Wheres the alarm clock?" dance.
Needless to say, he was surprised when whatever he found was feathery and made a rather more natural sounding squawk.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850) Jacen: Bird? Bird. Bird? Urrgghhhhhhh.....Tequila slammers. Never again.... where was I?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74) OmniBluejay: Bird, I believe.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850) Jacen: Ah yes, tha - Bird?! Bird! How is there a bird in my apartment?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74) OmniBluejay: You're still drunk, go back to sleep
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850) Jacen: I can't, I've got an assaignm...asaing...asassain....job....Bird? Talking? BIRD?!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74) OmniBluejay: Tweet.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850) Jacen: Urrrrrgggghhhhhhhhh!
Clutching at his head with both hands, Jacen staggered to the bathroom -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74) OmniBluejay: How is that even a bathroom? I hereby rename it The Room With Plumbingtm
Okay, Jacen, staggered to The Room With - Wait, hang on, what? You're me! How does this even work?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74) OmniBluejay: I've seperated us into two entities - Neutral Narrator Me and Character Me. Technically, you're not even supposed to be sentient, but I overlooked that so we could explain how this is going to work to the readers, albiet in a roundabout sort of way. You do the lines of text that say things like "Jacen ate some cheese" and I do the speaking with mortals and talking about changes in the cities. It's a bit complicated, but we're manifestations of a teenagers imagination, so what could go wrong?
Well, I am glad we sorted that out.
Anyway, Jacen staggered to The Room With Plumbingtm and peered into the mirror, pulling at his face in that way that hungover people do, whilst making a variety of noises that indicated he was displeased with his general appearance. Leaving him to it, OmniBluejay hopped around the bedroom, pecking holes in underwear as he went.
The apartment was a squalid dump, it had to be said. The bedroom was full of discarded clothes draped over mouldering chinese take-aways, and the overall impression was of 4chan /b/. In one corner, the bonded fibre panels making up the ceiling appeared to be undergoing some form of decomposition, sprinkling the room with unpleasant looking cream coloured flakes.
OmniBluejay turned to address Jacen as he thudded back in, now looking substantially less like 4am in 1980's Harlem
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74) OmniBluejay: You know these flakes are rapidly approaching sentience? The mass of them is high enough to form a primitive group mind.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850) Jacen: Is this a thinly veiled way of saying you're a hallucination brought about by a group mind of Bonded Fibre flakes?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74) OmniBluejay: ....no. I'm a demi god, remember? And you're about to ask me to prove it, so your landlady is about to knock on your ugly, electric blue door.
They turned, and a series of sharp raps came from the door.
"Yo yo, I'ma door, I'ma let you finish (I'm I'ma let yo finish) But Beyonce had one of the best doorknockers of all time! Listen to me spit rhhyyymmeeessss! Sharply."
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74) OmniBluejay: Not entirely what I meant... And that wasn't a particularly good rap. I'm not even certain is that was a rap at all. Anyway.
Heavy, slow thuds came from the door, as if the person knocking had incredibly heavy arms. Jacen yanked the door open to face a large, yellowish lady wearing bright green eyeshadow and a red jumper.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850) Jacen: Oh, hello
He lied.
OmniBluejay hopped away from the increasingly heated conversation and decided that, since the conversation was likely rather boring, that they ought to skip forward to the assignment that the owner of the local low grade rag had for Jacen
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg13.imageshack.us%2Fimg13%2F1659%2Fwarp15.gif&hash=547c8be1fdf451070d83234bfd2a3782062d9bd9)
The train pulled in at Babelyia St Philips
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg52.imageshack.us%2Fimg52%2F4364%2Fnewbabrail.jpg&hash=a0ad57c27dc95a5c05015983efa235aa311a9541)
Jacen had been ordered to document and photograph the massive changes to the citie's structure brought about by the Social Democrat government, and to provide a quick and easy way of showing what I've been up to recently. Concealing the bird in a large (uncomfortable) rucksack, he boarded a Mag Lev train, napped through the 45 minute journey through prime Nova Terinan countryside.
Stepping off the train at platform 4, Jacen quickly realised that he had no idea how to go about this.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850) Jacen: I am quickly realising I have no idea how to go about this.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74) OmniBluejay: Well... I could help, you know. I am, after all, a bird-god. Getting pictures of developments I instigated shouldn't be too tricky
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850) Jacen: Well, I suppose.... Whats the worst you could do?
Jacen opened his rucksack fully and let the bird fly out.
OmniBluejay: Heheheheheheheh... Zappy fry zap!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg412.imageshack.us%2Fimg412%2F4053%2Fnewbabcanalcons.jpg&hash=77e5e987a4e6157da037ccf4fc05a17bd15e9ebb)
OmniBluejay: And now, the captions. For I am Bluejaymandias, Bird of birds. Look upon my civil engineering works, ye mighty, and despair.
Yup! I felt New Babelyia was too samey, and had nothing to differentiate itself from other cities. Thus, I fiddled with train networks, bulldozed my way through the old town and voila! Canals! Providing a pleasant and effective boost to property prices and time wasted on SC4 when I should be preparing for various important social events.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg22.imageshack.us%2Fimg22%2F2060%2Fnewbabpark.jpg&hash=4184c27206e7370ee1ab9073b9d39ee20be6bcc1)
Situated in a great big block of land I really didn't want to develop due to demand issues, Grace Park!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg52.imageshack.us%2Fimg52%2F4614%2Fnewbabparkclose2.jpg&hash=01c51790361d0b2ab8a7befb5817becbce8100a5)
The park features, among other things, fountains, flowers and wind generators to ensure year round kite flying.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg22.imageshack.us%2Fimg22%2F6626%2Fnewhousingy.jpg&hash=1e3e3bf577bdd973c47468101e765c851e8bda31)
Other, more recent developments include a whopping great gated community, created to make New Babelyia larger than Topal Island (and also because of demand issues)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg408.imageshack.us%2Fimg408%2F8287%2Fnewbabsport.jpg&hash=f943864df13da96f1b87ae12a649028a88b12984)
And a rather amateurish attempt at a sports parks, prompted by (you guessed it) wanting to se a swimming pool.
What
You didn't guess it?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg52.imageshack.us%2Fimg52%2F6198%2Fntoverviewcana.jpg&hash=f8448dbc31a28d3253496a3fdfd2557b9b8e1fea)
Quick overview of how New Bab looks right now. You may notice a maxis airport and a line of convention centers. I assure, these aren't there at all. They are unbuildings, merely your minds playing tricks on you, and you should all give me all of your savings.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850) Jacen: You're rather handy, for a hallucination. Maybe I'll keep you around.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74) OmniBluejay: Like you have a choice, mortal...
And with that, I'm going to bed, because it's 4:30am.
Wow, I really like your city building and storylines! I especially like the way your suburbs are set up. :thumbsup:
I've thoroughly enjoyed getting caught up on your MD here. Wonderful looking urban areas and an interesting story as well! Looking forward to reading more.
Finally your next update arrived, and i just can say: Well done :thumbsup:
lol, awesome update BlueJay ;D
-Jordan :thumbsup:
So whilst converting this update for SC4 Dev my mouse ran out of batteries and would not work no matter how much I hit it, sracthed at it and smacked it against the table. So I had to sneak across the house in the middle of the night trying not to wake anyone up to get to the battery charger, at great personal risk to myself, only to find that dad had decided to steal all the batteries. The things I do for you...
nickie: Thanks! Lots more suburbs today (I'm waiting on the release of SPAM before I start anymore farms up and I really don't fell like skyscrapers today)
Battlecat: Thankie! Really glad you're enjoying it :)
Skimbo: Haha, yeah, I know, I'm slow to update this! Glad you liked it, and thanks!
canyonjumper: Thank you! Glad you're enjoying it!
Chapter 13: Burbs of the Sub Variety
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg717%2F3755%2Fmarillashop.jpg&hash=de062da812b36d953ef7357b9b8a88212560eed8)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Are you sure this is the right train? I'm not sure this is the right train. Do you think this is the wrong train? I think this isn't the right train. I can feel it. In my blood. My fizzing blood. Is this the right fizzing train?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: Giving you Coke was the worst idea I have had in some time. Settle down! Get out of that womans hair!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Well if you will cultivate a hairstyle that large and nest like what do you expect to get?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg688%2F9233%2Foldladyn.jpg&hash=a2dd3e110814a2606fd05ec5fe5bf5311a982fa5) Silly Haired Old Lady: Phmaw-Bub-Durr-Ahhhh! Get your bird out of my hair immediately!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: My bird? What on earth makes you think this bird is mine? It's nothing to do with me!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg688%2F9233%2Foldladyn.jpg&hash=a2dd3e110814a2606fd05ec5fe5bf5311a982fa5) Silly Haired Old Lady: Well you keep talking to it! Honestly, the youth of today, talking to psychotic birds, putting them in unsuspecting wealthy peoples hair...
There was an awkward silence while Jacen attempted to remove the frantically twittering, upside down bird from the lady's very odd hair. Leaning in close, he hissed
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: I thought you said that other people couldn't hear us talk?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: I said that other mortals couldn't hear me talk, cretin. Now get me out of here! She smells like my mother!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: You have a mother?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Sub-Goddess of Old Fish.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: Interesting... Well, can you do something about people hearing me talk to you?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Fine, fine... Right, the snotty cow shouldn't be able to hear you -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg688%2F9233%2Foldladyn.jpg&hash=a2dd3e110814a2606fd05ec5fe5bf5311a982fa5) Silly Haired Old Lady: ExxxCUUUSSSEEE ME?!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Oh.... Maybe I got this wrong...
Wrenching the bird out of the outraged womens' hair, Jacen looked around in mild panic as the lady in front of him sputtered like someone had connected her to a firehouse and turned a shade which can only be described as "Fuchsia"
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Gosh, I think she's inflating.... Quick, distract her!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: Erm...How?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Oh, for my sake... Look! Joe diMaggio!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg688%2F9233%2Foldladyn.jpg&hash=a2dd3e110814a2606fd05ec5fe5bf5311a982fa5) Silly Haired Old Lady: Where?!
The pair hurried towards the doors to the next carriage, which conveniently swung open to let them through and slammed shut behind them. They were standing on a sturdy looking metal verandah that connected each carriage to the next. Oddly, despite the scenery rushing past, it didn't feel like they were moving at all.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: Hang on, this is a Mag-Lev train... We ought to be smeared over the door. What's going on?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Well, if you really want to create more work for those poor cleaners...
There was the distant sound of breaking glass, and then the wind rushed in; the bird disappeared with a loud "SQUAWK" and Jacen started on the aforementioned smearing. Unable to see, unable to talk, unable to think, loosing his grip -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg153%2F655%2Fjrmaglevmlx012.jpg&hash=da6134062285aca92db681c4af89ec7d75c04841)Train:SSSSCCCRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEECCCCHHHHHH
Jacen was abruptly thrown in the other direction; loosing his grip, he was thrown against the carriage door with a hollow sounding THUD. Opening his eyes (and realizing doing so was a terrible idea) he watched as the scenery slowed from San Francisco fog to bicycle.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: W-What...?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: They're called brakes.
The Bluejay, it seemed, had caught up with the train.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Come on! Up! Up up up! We need to get off the train - I was right, this is the wrong train you cretin -
Ignoring the birds' twittering, Jacen stood up slowly (Well, it takes time to unscramble one's brains) Clinging to railings for support. Moving very slowly and cautiously, he disembarked from the train, walked over to a large pole holding up the arching glass roof of the station, and hugged it until he felt better.
Opening his eyes around 15 minutes later, he began looking around the station properly. Large, built entirely of glass, and rather empty. About a metre away was a large sign with "NBMA MARILLA" written on it, in a font that some urban planner in an office on Olivenza clearly thought was retro-kitsch and a good idea. There were a few tickets desks (empty) and a few screens showing train times surrounded by and awful lot of glowing white stone. Well, imitation stone.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg844%2F310%2Fmarillastation.jpg&hash=0f51c84bdab74d4364d8e93616442fe0aece16b2)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Ahhh, you've stopped clinging. Good.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: Why did you do that?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Do what?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: You know perfectly well what I mean!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Jeez, keep your stereotypical anime nerd hair on. Alright, fine. To be perfectly honest... I wasn't expecting human praxic development to be quite so advanced... and fast. Usually praxic development goes hand in had with societal advancement, and you guys... well...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: Well what? Human society is as culturally sophis -
A large overweight man wearing a T-shirt covered in grease stains waddled past listening to Glenn Beck
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: Alright, so maybe it's a bit patchy...
Britney Spears IV walked past in the other direction
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: Alright, alright! You've made your point! So, where are we anyway?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Marilla. It's the newest low density satellite town orbiting New Babelyia, complete with picket fences and housewives baking cookies.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: How pleasant.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg835%2F1835%2Fmarillaoverviewnew.jpg&hash=115ecaca638d282124023619d7c1780f7bf1d2e1)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: Hang on, what's going on with that river? Three different water colours, and the transition looks like an impatient 16 year old with hair issues did it in three seconds despite having repeatedly read the excellent "Ennedi plays Shosaloza" over on a on a site with a name that's something like SC4 Devotion
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Heh heh, imagine that.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg831%2F6514%2Fmarillarilla.jpg&hash=d71eedda844812ad9e5d6faf5970f37f8a2c423f)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: It doesn't look so bad from over here, at least. I'll work some kaboomy magic with it at some point and make a better transition between game water and ploppable, but you'll have to make do for now. It's pretty cool, though. All electricity and water for the suburb is provided by this dam, which emits no air pollution or radioactive mutants, a boon for any local Residents Association.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg375%2F2941%2Fmarilladowntown.jpg&hash=6a1b7fbf1f4eab5761df64089afcea4c47968da1)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: It's got a reasonably pleasant shopping street next to the large and largely unused train station. The shops are pretty typical for a small town. Food, clothing shops that no one ever enters and yet somehow stay in business, Coffee shop chains disguised as local independent ones with names like "Lucys' Smalltown Independent Coffee Shop!" and offices of corporations that make millions by providing no service or good whatsoever.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg375%2F5817%2Fmarillaschool.jpg&hash=837118c9b4698f6bc5bf598dc51018d019760956)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: And prime riverfront property. Because a loud natural water feature that periodically floods your property is worth paying £100,000 extra for. Basically, it's identical to NBMA Fitkin, except is has a river instead of an industrial estate
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg717%2F3990%2Ffitkinnewoverview.jpg&hash=927e5dc4aa37fad419addc7de02311ab334ecebd)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg834%2F2200%2Ffitkinnew2.jpg&hash=e878086c62c9d06e1d52b785ad03fd2b05bf50f8)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: This place just gets more liveable every time you see it, doesn't it? Not a soulless characterless suburb in sight. No sir.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg834%2F2948%2Flateshot.jpg&hash=d95403eaef644e814ed6729b65433c43eac29cf2)
Nice one, Blue, it's getting better each time :)
This is coming along quite nicely! I love how the farms look on your region view. Nice job on the latest update!
Battlecat: Thanks! I'll start doing farms again once SPAM comes out
Skimbo: Thanks! May the march of improvement never cease! And now I sound like Chairman Mao.
Disclaimer: No offence is meant to people of any political leaning. I'm just being silly.
Chapter 14: A Public Broadcast on Behalf of the Commonwealth Backstory Society
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F7910%2Fhelertiahouseadam.jpg&hash=44763bba6a7afe978aa76fb5636f43059fb344b4)
The bird looked longingly through the murky glass at the trees swaying and the fancy cars gleaming invitingly in the spring sun. He ought to be out there, he thought, observing the planet that fell under his jurisdiction and causing entertaining havoc! But no, instead he was shut in a manky old flat whilst Jacen was at work. He'd zap the moronic mortal with a twitch of his beak... if it wasn't so important to the plotline that nothing of that nature happened to anyone just yet.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay:: Urgh, I can think of at least 27 things I'd rather be doing, and that list includes trawling through Simtropolis again... Well, might as well see what's on the telly
Had anyone else been around, they may have noticed the talking Bluejay was not only talking, but using archaic 21st Century language to describe the object that was quite clearly not a telly. But no one was, so the author's laziness went unnoticed.
Hopping up and down on the touch pad built into the coffee table, the bird flicked through channel...after channel...after channel. While 100 years of progress (what date am I setting this story in again? Prizes to anyone who knows) had certainly expanded the amounts of channels; it appeared to have done nothing to the quality. Giving up on finding The BBC, he settled down to watch one of those light documentaries hosted by c-list celebrities with names like "Levi Root goes Native" or, in this case "Alessandra Carron: A Journey"
Despite the appalling name, it seemed to be a solid enough history of the Commonwealth, narrated softly by a Nigella Lawson type, who appeared to be Ms. Carron herself.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg822%2F972%2Fbaronbig.jpg&hash=4b9338c4c6a978445f5f60679afde0650be53616) Alessandra: ...which of course led to an energy crisis and goods and food shortages across most of America. Dr Bellamy, an expert on the early 21st Century, is here to tell us why.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg843%2F4146%2Fevilrichdude.jpg&hash=50ac9c25f2db6aadc6d43641d65da37792ac66dc) Dr Bellamy: Of course, what many people forget is that, in those days, civilization was controlled by a corporation known as "Facebook" which, through use of then attractive technology, kept people stupid and docile. This effect was particularly noticeable in the United States of America, leading to several Republican administrations...
He tuned out. Surely the 21st Century hadn't been that bad? He should know, he'd been around for... all of it. Awful lot of rioting and women wearing silly clothing, he recalled, and very little else...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg843%2F4146%2Fevilrichdude.jpg&hash=50ac9c25f2db6aadc6d43641d65da37792ac66dc) Dr Bellamy: ...by the time the ST-Distortion effect was discovered, it's estimated that the population had fallen by roughly 500 Million.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg822%2F972%2Fbaronbig.jpg&hash=4b9338c4c6a978445f5f60679afde0650be53616) Alessandra: The arrival of FtL transit changed everything for humanity,
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Well, obviously
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg822%2F972%2Fbaronbig.jpg&hash=4b9338c4c6a978445f5f60679afde0650be53616) Alessandra: and the Sol system was rapidly developed, ushering in a glorious era of deregulation and cheap and plentiful mineral resources. As the ST-Distortions grew more powerful and efficient, the range of humanity expanded. The Silver Years, as they came to be known, ended abruptly when the newly colonised planet of Foxes' Glenn, settled by followers of the wondrous cult leader and "talk show host" Glenn Beck, attempted to break away from the United Nations (at the time leading the colonisation efforts) pointing out quite legitimately that Foxes Glenn was a planet, not a nation. The vast amount of paperwork this led to quite quickly destroyed the UN. With individual nation states on Earth laying claims to great swathes of newly discovered territory on other planets, problems rapidly emerged, particularly on Olivenza...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: Ahaha!
He remembered that! Some goof up in Virgin Galactic had meant Brazil and Finland tried to colonise the same planet - the results hadn't been pretty. Ah, those were the good days - Zipping round Hanko's underground network while it was being occupied by the Olivença Forças Armadas, helping out some chump in the Vastarintaliike...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg822%2F972%2Fbaronbig.jpg&hash=4b9338c4c6a978445f5f60679afde0650be53616) Alessandra:...Commonwealth, and the forming of three bands of colonies, which is still used today. The Inner Ring, the 17 planets closest to Earth, settled in the UN and post-UN period, which became notorious for being unstable, chaotic worlds which are only now recovering from 100 years of guerrilla movements, ethnic cleansing and Facebook riots. Trillions of Earth dollars are being spent upgrading creaking infrastructure and poorly built habitation hastily erected in those days. The Outer Ring, which has become the inter-solar model for new colonies, with vast megacities and the workshop planets of the USAN. And the Periphery, where the raw materials are produced in vast quantities to meet the demands of older, more civilised planets.
MEANWHILE
Offices of the Lonbeay Star, Lonbeay Isle.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg683%2F482%2Flonbeayskyline.jpg&hash=44ea9cd5f9cca796ad0423a7fa92602297f9a816)
The offices of the Lonbeay Star are housed between floors 30 and 33 in one of the smaller of the BluGlass Complex towers in the centre of Lonbeay Isle. The diagonal steel bracing coupled with the large blue plate glass made for a striking, if not exactly beautiful, tower. Very much in the shadow of the larger, iconic Strial Tower (both literally and figuratively) Howell Tower is regarded as a stepping stone for companies on their way up, and a compromise for companies on their way down. The Lonbeay Star fits perfectly into the second category.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: Oh, for Bluejays sake, hurry up! If I'm late for Mr Kirkaldy again...
Kirkaldy was the Chief Editor of the Star. He, like many of the companies in the Howell, was on his way down the ranks of News Corp for infraction or infractions unknown - Which of course left him desperate to sling onto his job and the Star 's shaky hold on profitability. He was not fun to see, even without the achingly slow tram system making one late.
Dash! Past the fountain, skid into security, scanner broken again would-you-like-to-please-just-produce-3-ID-forms-hold-on-sir-this-is-illegible-!, into the express lift up to 35-
Dash crash dash down 3 flights of stairs and -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: Sorry, sorry sir! The tram was late and then the scanner was broken and then aliens got into the lift and and -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg844%2F7213%2Fnewguym.jpg&hash=a878df62bed80aa5cbe1c5b215385678efed0575) Mr Kirkaldy: Yes, hmm well. Sit down; you're making me tired, jigging about like that.
Jacen did so
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg844%2F7213%2Fnewguym.jpg&hash=a878df62bed80aa5cbe1c5b215385678efed0575) Mr Kirkaldy: Yes. Well. The company has been very impressed by your recent reporting, and in particular -
Whatever he was impressed by, Jacen never found out, because at that moment -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg688%2F9233%2Foldladyn.jpg&hash=a2dd3e110814a2606fd05ec5fe5bf5311a982fa5) Silly Haired Old Lady: YOU!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: You!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg688%2F9233%2Foldladyn.jpg&hash=a2dd3e110814a2606fd05ec5fe5bf5311a982fa5) Silly Haired Old Lady: Me?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg844%2F7213%2Fnewguym.jpg&hash=a878df62bed80aa5cbe1c5b215385678efed0575) Mr Kirkaldy: Ah, you've already met my sister! Good, go-
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg688%2F9233%2Foldladyn.jpg&hash=a2dd3e110814a2606fd05ec5fe5bf5311a982fa5) Miss Kirkaldy This! This boy! This boy was extremely rude to me! He threw a bird into my hair -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg844%2F7213%2Fnewguym.jpg&hash=a878df62bed80aa5cbe1c5b215385678efed0575) Mr Kirkaldy: A bird?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg688%2F9233%2Foldladyn.jpg&hash=a2dd3e110814a2606fd05ec5fe5bf5311a982fa5) Miss Kirkaldy Don't interrupt me, Sebastian! This boy threw a bird into my lovely hair -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: *Snort*
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg688%2F9233%2Foldladyn.jpg&hash=a2dd3e110814a2606fd05ec5fe5bf5311a982fa5) Miss Kirkaldy And then called me a cow! I demand punishment!
Mr Kirkaldy turned to look at Jacen darkly.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg844%2F7213%2Fnewguym.jpg&hash=a878df62bed80aa5cbe1c5b215385678efed0575) Mr Kirkaldy: Is this true?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: I....umm... what I mean to say, is... err
Oh, he'd lost his job, Jacen was sure of that. Might as well go the whole hog.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: Yes, completely true. She is a cow.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg714%2F8966%2Foldladyrah.jpg&hash=091b2b55f6c78bdc2b855782f4b1a0c6056195b8) Miss Kirkaldy PWAH-PHSWAH-BAH!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg844%2F7213%2Fnewguym.jpg&hash=a878df62bed80aa5cbe1c5b215385678efed0575) Mr Kirkaldy: Hmmm... in light of this... I am promoting you.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: Promoting me?
Maybe he thought the old cow was awful too! Maybe he was rewarding him for insulting his sister! Maybe -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg844%2F7213%2Fnewguym.jpg&hash=a878df62bed80aa5cbe1c5b215385678efed0575) Mr Kirkaldy: To war correspondent.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: War.... correspondent?
His heart sank.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=582f2618e6c603e3184de7d9dcea747444535d6a) Jacen: But... there aren't any wars going on... at the moment...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg844%2F7213%2Fnewguym.jpg&hash=a878df62bed80aa5cbe1c5b215385678efed0575) Mr Kirkaldy: Precisely. You will receive a monthly stipend of roughly NT$10.
This was roughly a quarter of his current stipend. And without fees for each article...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg844%2F7213%2Fnewguym.jpg&hash=a878df62bed80aa5cbe1c5b215385678efed0575) Mr Kirkaldy: Off you go, now.
Jacen walked away to go sell his organs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=ac80d621dba540cd4619ff84dd773fc6a420a1cc) OmniBluejay: And now it's time for my disapproval of the day. First up:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg410%2F5106%2Fgovplazcong.jpg&hash=4f2622eee562d2a0bf59139f02370b8d73c4dcd9)
Not one of my better attempts, I must say. I based it off the prototype Topal Island's Senate (This is the third incarnation of Nova Terina) which worked well. Something odd happened here and... It doesn't work so well. If only there was some way to change it....
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg714%2F6886%2F383n.jpg&hash=0f9f0652d21c5453d99356f72322d8e19648c02f)
Thank you convenient thunder cloud! (Image from the wonderful Grey Gerling. Go check him out. Now. barfquestion.com/comic.html (http://barfquestion.com/comic.html) )
so I tried a few things, including this awesome mistake
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg713%2F1986%2Ftopalhallchange1.jpg&hash=4ef74727c38a0286d324e2814939a792efff484e)
Hmmm... no. So I finally settled for the rather more conventional Umeda Sky Building.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg265%2F5224%2Ftopalhallchange2.jpg&hash=bab69b62d0e2a1bc4ab82bd22ab8f17b00164f7d)
And I'm happier with it, but certainly not done. The grounds look awful, for one. What can be done? Obviously, I don't know, or I'd have done it. Suggestions please!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg339%2F4479%2Fnewbabsubstream.jpg&hash=00cbfea413d976dab697764ff30727c9923edf00)
So I really ought to get better at these streamy river things or just stop doing them altogether. But this didn't turn out too badly, and it's the first of the New Babelyia suburbs!
"But wait!" I hear you cry. "Aren't Porthaven and Fitkin and Roundal and all the other New Babelyia suburbs?"
Well Billy, I'm glad you asked. Actually, no I'm not. Don't question me! But this is the first of the low density zoning inside the actual New Babelyia tile. I figured I ought to do some in the end.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa.imageshack.us%2Fimg833%2F1482%2Fnewbabsubstreamover.jpg&hash=b03fbf5cc0b7638547283e666875ba97dd6aa02b)
Attempt at doing Stream Source 1 (Cave): Fail
Attempt at doing Stream Source 2 (MarshBoggyThing): Utter Failure
Attempt at doing Stream Source 3 (From nowhere): Are you even trying?
How do you make stream sources? How? This river is utterly inexplicable!
And with that, toodle-pip.
Chapter 15:The Scary Alien Whatever
A few hundred thousand years ago, in a star system a cliched distance away, lived a group of friendly aliens who lived happily ever after. But they're boring, so we won't talk about them.
At roughly the same time, an alien race evolved on an earth-like planet a little closer to Earth, and they called themselves the Jerej. They followed a similar praxic route to humanity, which unfortunately led to the same problems that faced 21st Century Earth.
The planet had always been hospitable enough, with plenty of mineral resources. And so, in that short-sighted way that seems to be a universal constant, they went about industrialising as if every resource would never run out and as if they could never impact the environment. Of course, when they realised they'd got that slightly wrong, it was a little late. The only hope for the over populated planet was, of course, extra-solar colonies.
So far so similar to humanity, right?
But there was a problem. An extremely big problem.
For any viable colonies outside a solar system, you need FtL transport, right? Now, we all know how difficult FtL is to achieve. It's been the stumbling block for many an inter-stellar civilization, and it always be. However, the Jerej had a larger problem. Not only was FtL hard to achieve for them, one of their physicists proved it was completely impossible. Reality just wouldn't allow it.
There was a little wailing and gnashing of tentacles, but this was a real can-do species. And so, they came to the logical conclusion that if this reality didn't allow FtL -
They'd just change reality.
So they set about draining the planets in the solar system of any remaining resources, recycling and scraping and salvaging everything they could. I can't imagine life during this period was very pleasant - the dismantling of civilization isn't a very common event, fortunately.
Using these last materials, they constructed a vast Dyson Ring around their star, drawing vast amounts of energy from their sun, solar wind, the remaining power stations on the planet below, anything.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg96.imageshack.us%2Fimg96%2F3342%2Fringin.jpg&hash=cfc3d45d029683a25904effa0ed435cb88599d10)
Image plundered ruthlessly from Internet and edited by yours truly
And, after 200 years of construction, charging and devastating mathematics, the ring fired, emitting a wave that would travel the galaxy, changing the very constants of reality and making FtL travel a real possibility.
All well and good, you might say, but the Jerej (now reduced to cowering around their toppled towers in conditions much reduced in quality) had overlooked something that is, well, rather obvious. This reality-wave contained unthinkable amounts of energy, enough to change the very nature of reality. Firing a wave like that from a ring only a few thousand kilometres from their homeworld had predictable results. The innermost planet simply disappeared, the outermost were knocked out of their orbits, and the Jarej homeworld?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg837.imageshack.us%2Fimg837%2F3753%2F84050565.jpg&hash=8577d6c12eda3baf6e511fd3a93de6fb8fbf2458)
Image entirely made by me. I feel so hip and trendy.
The wave worked perfectly, not that the Jarej were around to appreciate it. FtL travel is possible, in this galaxy at least. All fine! Except, the ring is still there. Maintained by mechanical systems, A.I's, the ring is quietly spinning round the star.
Charging up.
9:41 Baltir Northern Express
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg691.imageshack.us%2Fimg691%2F7681%2Ftrainorthn.jpg&hash=08ba9690f83e7253814f8e40d2908cd50ea82f57)
Yes, I know that isn't really north. Work with me here!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: We always seem to be on trains.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: This is only the second time.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: I know, but... It feels like this all we do.
Hey, I have to write about it. It's not exactly joyous. And I have a history project I should have started 2 weeks ago in for tomorrow, you know.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: You are not sentient go away stop talking gawd you are the worst
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Oooo..kay..... So. What's this Freelance story you got for me again?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: New seaside town is pretty, go take pictures of it and write about how wonderful that TQBS Corporation is. Get paid. Buy birdseed.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Simple enough, then. But I think electricity bills take precedence over birdseed.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Gods cannot live on tofu alone!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: You don't even need to eat!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: You don't need electricity!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Yes..but...damn it, you are worse than Salem. Anyway, couldn't you zap us to Roslea? If we're late, I won't get the job, and it's back to selling organs for us.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: You know that's not reliable. Which is why we got on the train in the first place.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Yes, but the Lonbeay Star has 20 different junior reporters all vying for this story. If one of them gets there first...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: No birdseed, yes, alright. I'll try, but no promises...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg13.imageshack.us%2Fimg13%2F1659%2Fwarp15.gif&hash=547c8be1fdf451070d83234bfd2a3782062d9bd9)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg96.imageshack.us%2Fimg96%2F364%2Fbigdiggah.jpg&hash=16104b2d4bcda17694e4353fbfe157cafabaf13c)
The VHWORP deposited them on top of a rather grey looking hill. Below them, two quarries and what seemed to be a small refinery were gathered around a small spur line. Behind, a large Japanese looking digger was chewing it's way into the hill, surrounded trucks and people painted a pale green. At least the trucks were painted green, the people were just wearing green. In the distance, an expanse of chimneys and grooves were strung around a sludgy river.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: I thought you said Roslea was pretty?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: It is, and it's by the sea too. I don't think we're in Roslea.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: No, you're right... This looks like Gillikin work, I recognise those insignias.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: I thought you said the Parliament had prohibited the Gillikin Council from expanding out from the river?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: I did and they are.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Interesting.... Well, lets get out of here. I can feel my lungs furring.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Deal with it, I need to take some pictures.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg689.imageshack.us%2Fimg689%2F1573%2Fquarryu.jpg&hash=ad03ad9d2f0034f7907c03894b1784346fca78c5)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg529.imageshack.us%2Fimg529%2F9468%2Fquarryclose.jpg&hash=68764b55c66ae2f82bf36ba36bf8cc53fd11b91d)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Okay, lets go. But see if we can avoid the silly picture this time, kay?
VHWORP
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg843.imageshack.us%2Fimg843%2F295%2Fseay.jpg&hash=e7524f1d337c70eb2e19b2cc94d3ac35577b736e)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: YOU ARE SO VERY DEAD!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: At least I avoided the silly picture!
Jacen lunged for the bird -
VHWORP
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg715.imageshack.us%2Fimg715%2F7985%2Fstreamvalley.jpg&hash=a381855617169b4e824fa94dc2d1b5137f53e49e)
- and landed in one of the Valley Forestation Projects streams.
Soaking wet, he swatted furiously at the nervously twittering bird above his head
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Hey! - It's not like I meant! - You were already wet! -
Each excuse was ended by one of Jacen's attempts to grab the bird
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Not only to you zap us into the sea, but you zap us right into possibly the only effluent trail in the entire ocean!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: There's a stream here for you to wash off in. See? Foresight!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Just dry me off and take us to Roslea!
VHWORP
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg692.imageshack.us%2Fimg692%2F7062%2Frosleaoverview.jpg&hash=807faa85c91a456375fbed07df8aa531b9871f34)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: That's better. So what's the story?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: New town, built by people from Bath, very pretty, Mayor Cho Norslof isn't a corporate shill -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Isn't or isn't?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Isn't as in really isn't. Green party links and all.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Impressive. Which corporation?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Sefton.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Of course. Still, nice looking town. Can I rely on you to do the aerial pictures?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: But of course.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg843.imageshack.us%2Fimg843%2F1802%2Fwaterfrontthiong.jpg&hash=7f5edb5c57683ca1185ddadd6cc9772dbf07982a)
The waterfront and central shopping area arranged around the main square. It's a nice place to eat lunch for the bureaucrats and office drones. Bars and restaurants look out to sea at the edge, including Barney's Old Time Local Fish Bar, a division of Starbucks Inc. It's famed for serving only fish caught in the waters around Roslea, and also those from fish farms on Virmire.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9996%2Frosleasquare.jpg&hash=80bb76b822255ee0a5a4d0e365427743d7b41c67)
A closeup of the central shops, twin fountains and general prettiness. On the far right, the Deco Revival town hall. It looks a little big for a town of roughly 15,000, but it is in charge of administering all the countryside and fisheries in this section of Nova Terina. It also houses the western offices of the Dales Authority, the body in charge of maintaining the Dales natural ecosystems and opening them up for human development. It's running several projects with conflicting aims, including the Valley Forestation Project and the Give Gillikin Lots Of Money Project.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg831.imageshack.us%2Fimg831%2F4083%2Fwaterfrontback.jpg&hash=4d2c4701a1933e3924d345750e47243462275b44)
Random pretty shot.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg571.imageshack.us%2Fimg571%2F4863%2Fwaterfrontrich.jpg&hash=2e2e2b97ebd8a9eb2517414fee5fc439a48f20d7)
Richer houses by the waterfront. It seems honey coloured cherubs and pillars never go out of style, hmm?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg529.imageshack.us%2Fimg529%2F4752%2Fhalifaxboxeslove.jpg&hash=8ab1c8cbc1333b5a04b0332c03dfdf1bd6f6f3df)
And finally, I would like to declare my undying love for these Halifax Boxes spa made. They are so very adorable and I can't stop using them.
The more astute among may have noticed the title has changed. This is because the original one sucked. The new one sucks slightly less.
Consider yourselves enlightened!
Hehe... If we don't like the reality, let's change it... :thumbsup:
Nice city
Looking great BlueJay! (Can't really shorten your name, it'd be inappropriate :P ) lolz @ the story and Roslea is really well done!
-Jordan :thumbsup:
Do you know, I completely forgot I hadn't updated this here.
canyonjumper: Just call me Lord and Master of Existence and also RAM.
kodlovag: It's be a useful thing to do, no? Vwoosh. Shiny new computer!
Chapter 16: Ripples
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: You know I can't do anything for you money-wise - It's interfering! There are standards, regulations, precedents! -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Hypocrisies?!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: It's not my fault you're too incompetent to find a decent job!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: And I suppose it's mine? You could change it for me, for everyone with a snap of your fingers!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Fingers?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Beak then! You are so insufferably pedan -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg830.imageshack.us%2Fimg830%2F3029%2Fhelertiahouseadam2.jpg&hash=9668978f44e96355b8b9f31046544df1884d322b)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: -tic, it's impossible to have a normal conversation with you!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Wait, what was that?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: What was what? Don't you try that one on me again!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: No, really, what was that - Where are we? What is going on?!
The apartment was small, and comfortable, as befitting Jacens former good salary as a freelance reporter for the Babelyia Weekly Journal. The walls were papered in white paper, with abstract birds flitting in shades ranging from Russet to Magenta. The floors were slightly polished, with a rich red-purple sheen unique to Tarqoa wood, running under the wide, curved arches separating the small kitchen dining room cum from the drawing room. On the pale wooden table, a small console (A small QWERTY keyboard with soligram projector built in, used for word processing and browsing the Datasphere) was lazily displaying today's Lonbeay Star front page, a story about the scientific expedition to the source of those odd waves. In short, it was a perfectly commonplace flat for the young, quietly successful urban dweller - and it did not feel right at all.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg524.imageshack.us%2Fimg524%2F8252%2Fnewsexpeditonl.jpg&hash=2beb831b8b1e0b90dd30d5067bf64f9941fd6ad9)
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/1377/newsexpeditoni.jpg (http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/1377/newsexpeditoni.jpg)
Jacen stood by the (unpainted...why?...) front door, watching the bird flutter agitatedly.
Outside, a grouchy lorry squeezed through the narrow streets.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Are you alright?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Yes... No! I don't know, everything's wrong... But what's wrong? What is it? There should be flakes and old chinese packets and mouldy sandwiches and...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Why would there be? The housekeeping here is excellent.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Housekeeping? That's not right..but it is, we pay through the nose for it... but we shouldn't have it!
Jacen just looked bewildered.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Listen, Jacen.. something very odd, very... something just happened, and you don't seem to have noticed it at all, and I'm forgetting it - Which is worrying.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: What am I supposed to have noticed? All that's going on is you hopping round the flat like you've never seen it before.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: I haven't ever seen it before because this isn't your flat
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: What? Of course it is, I've lived here for... Since... This is my flat! How can you not remember?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Oh, you want to talk about memory? Tell me, what colour is your front door? Don't look at it, just tell me
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: This is just silly. Why should I tell you what colour my door is? It's a stupid question.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Just do it! What colour is your door?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Why it's... well, it's obviously... well...I mean to say, its quite plainly.. Blue?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Not even close.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: So I have a terrible memory, what does that prove?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Alright, Nile boy, if that doesn't convince you, then where are we?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: That's easy. East Carmine.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: So why does that console show you as having an employee subscription to the i]Lonbeay Star? [/i]
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Because.. I...Oh frick.
They stood in silence, in a flat that most emphatically was not theirs.
East Carmine
Dramatic, no? Out of interest, did any of you notice the doors changing colour, and the newspaper names switching?
Anyway, seeing as Jacen and I seem to have relocated to this East Carmine place, I'd better tell you something about it.
Okay, East Carmine - Technically New Babelyia Metropolitan Authority East Carmine, but that's a little long to type repeatedly. It's the tourist, beach area of New Babelyia - Where the wheels of industry are stopped by little cocktails with silly names. Obviously that's not the official advertising slogan, but it does give one the measure of the place.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg163.imageshack.us%2Fimg163%2F1893%2Fcarmineoverview.jpg&hash=abc267244840c5cbe329de6163fa49f96dd4ac87)
Voila, an overview. Off to the east is the high-rise district, with various skycrapers doing various things. In the centre, a pedestrianised area with faux-old buildings - nothing gives an air of granness like Classical Revival, apparently. There are a wide variety of boutiques, shops and cafes of many different classes. The west is the beginings of the mid-rise housing districts, whilst the beachfront is dedicated to hotels and clubs.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg180.imageshack.us%2Fimg180%2F4407%2Fcarminecentralplaza.jpg&hash=1283983c48e7534cc70f1d2ab8d67b469d60c11c)
Here's the central plaza - In the centre is the Language and Humanities block of New Babelyia University, recently built at a cost of NT$69 Million, most of it coming from large corporations "eager to fashion the next generation of young minds." Be that as it it may, the building is excellent, the location central and the cafes and coffee shops nearby doing a very profitable trade in hangover remedies.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg709.imageshack.us%2Fimg709%2F1700%2Fcarmineshops2.jpg&hash=54c90b2c9617f92e2ad274dd4cf8933dc6c66c69)
Some of the less expensive shops and boutiques - Jacen now lives in the yellowy-cream building next to the two, thin Art Deco shops. The flat is nice enough, but its location above the fish counter leaves much to be desired.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg576.imageshack.us%2Fimg576%2F2779%2Fcarminestation.jpg&hash=872a3648fc19e88ce57bf5066836f4212be59f81)
Some of the offices by the central train station - The tall thin blue and white building is the headquarters of the Inter-Solar Anti-Clockwise Reformed Party Party - One of the many that split from the original Party Party after the great Party Popper crisis of '97 - A candidate from the Party Party was actually elected to Planetary Governor. It was, as you may expect, a rather interesting time which still causes flashbacks from time to time. Take it away, Giles!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg218.imageshack.us%2Fimg218%2F8813%2Foldnewsgu.jpg&hash=5ffe77e327d527ba8208550638c76889553ec1e7) Giles: The raisins! Oh God the raisins!
Hahaha, priceless! More from Giles later.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg245.imageshack.us%2Fimg245%2F9162%2Fcarmineskycrapers.jpg&hash=f8f6816da8b294101099062a51f2eeeaee4643d5)
An overview of the business district. Big towers provide focal point for the city, doncha know?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg840.imageshack.us%2Fimg840%2F8500%2Fcarminemod2.jpg&hash=7557a6116595082445b59f0825e4fc294bdf2bb8)
And the fancy peters out in favour of leafy, European style residential area. You can also see some of the beachfront clubbing area. Alright, I know it's not very clubby - There aren't many club BATS on the STEX, Lex ,SMEX PECs or whatever EX you care to mention. All links greatly welcomed!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg203.imageshack.us%2Fimg203%2F9596%2Fcarminemoderrn.jpg&hash=823eaa340f1877eb5131e175a486759e7f829485)
BANG giant blue and white block in the middle of midrise. It looks like a poorly designed, poorly targeted alien ship, doesn't it? You can also see the NBU Teaching Hospital in the foreground - Apparently it's got a very high reputation, but people who go there still have a tendency to have their broken limbs fixed with elastic bands and chewing gum. And let's not even think about the brain surgery (possibly because we longer have the ability to think after it?)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg178.imageshack.us%2Fimg178%2F4540%2Fcarminebeachtoelclose.jpg&hash=5969cdf324c6dd2111ef47bf79c7fb6bf0565302)
A shot of the more classy hotels lining the beachfront. Stars adorn the entrances like lies on a political manifesto, and every balcony just drips with flourishes and curls.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg704.imageshack.us%2Fimg704%2F7841%2Fcarminebeachhotels.jpg&hash=23db8cab3d324d2f087dd36b0017ea127bd0b084)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg692.imageshack.us%2Fimg692%2F3993%2Fcarminebeachclubs.jpg&hash=dca52149648abe5467015ea3e57213d3eeb7f07f)
Gotta love this beachfront. I certainly am very pleased with how it came out!
I must agree, the beach front is beautiful. I also like the city center.
kodlovag: Thanks! I spent far too much time doing that and not my homework ;D
Chapter 17: Waves
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg574.imageshack.us%2Fimg574%2F8396%2Fcielo.jpg&hash=46a77445c027b411e92a87a5e676f4ec377261b3)
CNL Calver
Designation: Commonwealth Naval Liner
Class: Odyssey Class Transport
Size:About 1.5 times the size of the Oasis of the Seas
Appearance:Kinda blocky and pixellated
Armaments:2x Standard Ballistic Cannon, 1x Impact Laser, 1x Shouty Captain
Crew:190
Passenger Capacity: 6,200 in normal conditions - 17,500 under emergency conditions - 1,235,000 if movement, eating and breathing are unnecessary.
Use:Like all ships given the CNL designation, the Calver is a one stop shop for everything underfunded or overcrowded
Bio:Built just after the appearance of Solidarity in 2122, the Calver was one of the last Odyssey Class ships ever built. For that matter, it's also one of the last civilian ships ever built, and also one of the few ships still used for colonial purposes. As a result, it's under maintained and using outdated technology, but it;s a solid and reliable ship. Captained by Marcus McShoutyface, the Calver has seen absolutely no action whatsoever, but has watched Friends from start to finish.
And so, the CNL Calver speeds off towards something which I have neglected to name (unless I named it and forgot)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea) Captain McShoutyface: I am a poorly photoshopped Sci-Fi cliché!
Quite so.
The CNL Calver is currently carrying a cargo of sensors and physicists, as well as a 200 hundred strong defence force. According to the Commonwealth Bureau of Non-Human Intelligences, this is to cover any eventuality that may arise. In reality, as many media networks have pointed out, the Bureau has simply sent the entirety of Nova Terina's garrison and research scientists.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea) Captain McShoutyface: Sensors! How close are we!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F8784%2Fmts2thumbheya481066793i.jpg&hash=bf8406dd1232292cb72f5b0fb06fde8956807f10) Meek Officer Cliché:Half an hour, sir!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea) Captain McShoutyface: Right then! I want those shields up now! I want insertion squads ready for combat! I want those physicists ready to talk!
The rest of the crew rolled their eyes and ignored him - Putting up shields while FtL would rip the ship apart, and the garrison and physicists had been preparing since the beginning of the day. Discretely, the First Officer whispered into Coms
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F8784%2Fmts2thumbheya481066793i.jpg&hash=bf8406dd1232292cb72f5b0fb06fde8956807f10) Meek Officer Cliché:ETA 30 mins. Get recon satellites powered up and ready.
The Eyrie Installation, The Dales, Nova Terina
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg72.imageshack.us%2Fimg72%2F562%2Fradarinst.jpg&hash=ec9c9db78d197d8f43e99e0d20c20b397690721b)
The Eyrie Network is a Commonwealth wide network of detector stations and sensors. Initially used for SETI, now they're under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Defence and function as an early warning system should Solidarity appear in system.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F4762%2Fscientisoldt.jpg&hash=3a7444a02469fdd3d072b74a92c9af8c8fbbf8c5) Scientist: Sir, we may have a problem on our hands.
This was addressed to the base commander, who was standing facing the screens in an intensely dramatic position.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F8546%2Fnavyh.jpg&hash=024822dc301921f40438db4d0845934ccdf5237e) Commander Bocksticker: What is it, scientist man?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F4762%2Fscientisoldt.jpg&hash=3a7444a02469fdd3d072b74a92c9af8c8fbbf8c5) Scientist: Well you see... sorry, hang on. Aren't you a carbon copy of Cap'n McShoutyface?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F8546%2Fnavyh.jpg&hash=024822dc301921f40438db4d0845934ccdf5237e) Commander Bocksticker: No, not at all. I'm a cheerful sunshine yellow. (Seriously wth is up with that colour scheme I mean gawd - OB)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F4762%2Fscientisoldt.jpg&hash=3a7444a02469fdd3d072b74a92c9af8c8fbbf8c5) Scientist: ...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F8546%2Fnavyh.jpg&hash=024822dc301921f40438db4d0845934ccdf5237e) Commander Bocksticker: And my mouth wasn't poorly photoshopped on from someone else entirely. You say we may have a problem?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F4762%2Fscientisoldt.jpg&hash=3a7444a02469fdd3d072b74a92c9af8c8fbbf8c5) Scientist: Erm, yes, quite. *Haarumph-phsaw-phsaw!*
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F8546%2Fnavyh.jpg&hash=024822dc301921f40438db4d0845934ccdf5237e) Commander Bocksticker: I'm sorry?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F4762%2Fscientisoldt.jpg&hash=3a7444a02469fdd3d072b74a92c9af8c8fbbf8c5) Scientist: Just clearing my throat, sir.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F8546%2Fnavyh.jpg&hash=024822dc301921f40438db4d0845934ccdf5237e) Commander Bocksticker: Very good.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F4762%2Fscientisoldt.jpg&hash=3a7444a02469fdd3d072b74a92c9af8c8fbbf8c5) Scientist: Thank you. Well, as you can see from the map here...Windows has bluescreened again. Give us more money to fix it.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F8546%2Fnavyh.jpg&hash=024822dc301921f40438db4d0845934ccdf5237e) Commander Bocksticker: No.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F4762%2Fscientisoldt.jpg&hash=3a7444a02469fdd3d072b74a92c9af8c8fbbf8c5) Scientist: Also, we had some unexpected dots entering the system.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F8546%2Fnavyh.jpg&hash=024822dc301921f40438db4d0845934ccdf5237e) Commander Bocksticker: Unexpected dots, you say?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F4762%2Fscientisoldt.jpg&hash=3a7444a02469fdd3d072b74a92c9af8c8fbbf8c5) Scientist: We think they may be ships of some description.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F8546%2Fnavyh.jpg&hash=024822dc301921f40438db4d0845934ccdf5237e) Commander Bocksticker: The Calver?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F4762%2Fscientisoldt.jpg&hash=3a7444a02469fdd3d072b74a92c9af8c8fbbf8c5) Scientist: It can't be - too many dots for one, and the Calver is just arriving at the WaveSource now.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F8546%2Fnavyh.jpg&hash=024822dc301921f40438db4d0845934ccdf5237e) Commander Bocksticker: Hmm... keep an eye on the dots. See if they become more or less unexpected.
The CNL Calver, Unnamed System
Inside the Calvers Conference room, a group of people with varying importance stood around a steel table, moulded in a way which made it look like the metal was still flowing. Pretty, but very impractical - the eddies and flows trapped dust like nobody's business. Still, none of the varyingly important people were paying attention to the table or its impractical nature - They were all transfixed by the large plate glass window which gave a superb view of the surronding environment.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg718.imageshack.us%2Fimg718%2F3978%2Fheadscienceofficer.jpg&hash=aa298735c85f2c8332dc0a3075726c0dff5183c8) Head Science Officer: Well. I think it's safe to say that none of us were expecting this.
The HSO was, of course, referring to the massive ring quietly rotating around the star. Or rather, not so quietly. The ring that the Science Team, Captain and First Officer were watching was rotating rapidly, one complete rotation every 6 hours. Being unmaintained for the last few hundred thousand years, the plane in which the ring rotates had become unstable. It was now rotating at an angle, and 'wobbling' if you will.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg593.imageshack.us%2Fimg593%2F276%2Fscientist.jpg&hash=906325327582a52f414dc1ec11a415e03c3105e0) Hunky Physicist: If those are Gorlitz Blades...that thing is generating vast amounts of power.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea) Captain McShoutyface: How much power?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg718.imageshack.us%2Fimg718%2F3978%2Fheadscienceofficer.jpg&hash=aa298735c85f2c8332dc0a3075726c0dff5183c8) Head Science Officer: Well, there's one every kilometre around the ring... More than enough to power hundreds of full size wormholes.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea) Captain McShoutyface: You mean the zero-width ones, right?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg718.imageshack.us%2Fimg718%2F3978%2Fheadscienceofficer.jpg&hash=aa298735c85f2c8332dc0a3075726c0dff5183c8) Head Science Officer: No, I mean ones the size you could fit an entire ship through.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea) Captain McShoutyface: You mean it's OOOVEERRR NNNIIINNNNEE TTHHOOOUUUUUSSSAANNNNDDDD?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg718.imageshack.us%2Fimg718%2F3978%2Fheadscienceofficer.jpg&hash=aa298735c85f2c8332dc0a3075726c0dff5183c8) Head Science Officer: ....Yes?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F8784%2Fmts2thumbheya481066793i.jpg&hash=bf8406dd1232292cb72f5b0fb06fde8956807f10) Meek Officer Cliché:Sir, we've lost contact with the most recent Copernicus!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea) Captain McShoutyface: Issue a Brace alert! Now!
For once, Captain McShoutyface's order was carried out with the same urgency it was given. Various lights began flashing in a panicky sort of way, and a cool female voice (coincidentally, the same voice they use for announcing trains) was heard, stating 'BRACE. BRACE. BRACE' repeatedly.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg593.imageshack.us%2Fimg593%2F276%2Fscientist.jpg&hash=906325327582a52f414dc1ec11a415e03c3105e0) Hunky Physicist: You'd be forgiven for thinking this was the Poseidon Adventure!
Everyone else ignored him; they were too busy clinging onto something that they hoped wouldn't move too much. All over the ship, people were doing the same - Railings, handles, pipes, even the toilets in a few cases
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F8784%2Fmts2thumbheya481066793i.jpg&hash=bf8406dd1232292cb72f5b0fb06fde8956807f10) Meek Officer Cliché: 3....2...Wuuurgghhh!
The ship vibrated alarmingly, small objects began to move along the shelves. With a echoing crashing around the ship, the Calver began to list heavily. Lights flickered alarmingly - On the ceilings, on the walls, the illuminated keypads beside the doors. Gravity momentarily failed as they heavy drums that provided it suddenly stopped working. All through this, a continuous whining creak echoed through the ship. There was a POP and a flash of light as gravity made itself known once more - And as one of the lifts collapsed in on itself - creating a small electrical explosion. The ship hit almost a 50 degree list, when, just as abruptly as it hit -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F8784%2Fmts2thumbheya481066793i.jpg&hash=bf8406dd1232292cb72f5b0fb06fde8956807f10) Meek Officer Cliché: We have normality.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg593.imageshack.us%2Fimg593%2F276%2Fscientist.jpg&hash=906325327582a52f414dc1ec11a415e03c3105e0) Hunky Physicist: You call this normality?
Aside from the fact that he was clinging to the table (which was securely bolted to the floor) to avoid skidding down the floor to the wall below, a number of small objects had changed around the conference room.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F8546%2Fnavyh.jpg&hash=024822dc301921f40438db4d0845934ccdf5237e) Captain McShoutyface: Hmmm. I'm now a cheerful sunshine yellow.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F8784%2Fmts2thumbheya481066793i.jpg&hash=bf8406dd1232292cb72f5b0fb06fde8956807f10) Meek Officer Cliché:Was that window always a leaded casement?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg718.imageshack.us%2Fimg718%2F3978%2Fheadscienceofficer.jpg&hash=aa298735c85f2c8332dc0a3075726c0dff5183c8) Head Science Officer: That can't be very secure. We might want to consider leaving, say, now?
The Ring, Unnamed System
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea) Captain McShoutyface: Remember, don't much around with anything. Find out what this is, why it's killing our satellites -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg593.imageshack.us%2Fimg593%2F276%2Fscientist.jpg&hash=906325327582a52f414dc1ec11a415e03c3105e0) Hunky Physicist: Why it modified your uniform using an appaling colour scheme, yes, yes.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea) Captain McShoutyface: Don't get smart with-!
The Hunky Physicist closed the link. He had more important things to be concerned with than an egomaniac from New Jersey. Like the incredible breach of Bungies intellectual property scandal that was going to break the moment this got back to the wider Commonwealth.
For an Alien Structure, the ring was actually quite a comfortable environment. Blightly lit, wide corridors with frequent windows (A strange transparent plastic instead of glass; it turned the light a pale orange) Doors opened automatically as you approached - Slowly, and with judders, but still fast enough that you barely had to slow down as you walked towards one.
The layout of the station, on the other hand, had neither rhyme nor reason to it. A lot of space seemed to be taken up by power generation and facilities dedicated to operating the systems on the ring - In an hours exploration, only one living area had been found. A small but well lit space, it looked comfortable enough, but hardly space station material - it looked more like a cheap hotel than a major installation. More interesting were the periodic bulges that the satellites had noticed around the ring, jutting in towards the star. It was the largest of these they were heading for now, or at least they hoped they were heading for it...
The Eyrie Installation, The Dales
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F4762%2Fscientisoldt.jpg&hash=3a7444a02469fdd3d072b74a92c9af8c8fbbf8c5) Scientist: Sir, the dots have indeed become more unexpected - They heading right for us and we've lost contact with a beacon out by the 4th Planet in this system!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F8546%2Fnavyh.jpg&hash=024822dc301921f40438db4d0845934ccdf5237e) Commander Bocksticker: We have to operate on the assumption that they're Solidarity. Sound a general distress call, close stations to traffic, mobilise anything and everything we have. Can we recall the Calver in time?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F4762%2Fscientisoldt.jpg&hash=3a7444a02469fdd3d072b74a92c9af8c8fbbf8c5) Scientist: No Sir, not a chance.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F8546%2Fnavyh.jpg&hash=024822dc301921f40438db4d0845934ccdf5237e) Commander Bocksticker: Blast. We'll have to go with Plan B, then.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F4762%2Fscientisoldt.jpg&hash=3a7444a02469fdd3d072b74a92c9af8c8fbbf8c5) Scientist: Angry kittens, sir?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F8546%2Fnavyh.jpg&hash=024822dc301921f40438db4d0845934ccdf5237e) Commander Bocksticker: Don't blame me, it's the only plan we've got
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg600.imageshack.us%2Fimg600%2F4762%2Fscientisoldt.jpg&hash=3a7444a02469fdd3d072b74a92c9af8c8fbbf8c5) Scientist: Sir.
The Ring, Unnamed System
As the Hunky Physicist lead his team into the high ceilinged chamber, he knew that this was his chance for true greatness. He would lead his team flawlessly, recover incredible data - for the good of the Commonwealth - finally get recognition for his talents! Why, it made him dizzy just thinking about it, these high ceilings didn't help. Ah, there was a solid metal console behind him, he could just lean on that for suppor -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg529.imageshack.us%2Fimg529%2F8259%2Fsystemshock02.jpg&hash=ce217cfed532c1290822812bbadae4979c7eec96) System: SHOCK! BEEP!
His elbow pressed a big red button, clearly marked with what said (if you can read that script) DO NOT PRESS.
Around him, machinery that hadn't moved in millennia cranked into life. In engineering rooms, pistons whirled, while in the main chamber, streams of data flowed over screens in front of an aghast science team
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg593.imageshack.us%2Fimg593%2F276%2Fscientist.jpg&hash=906325327582a52f414dc1ec11a415e03c3105e0) Hunky Physicist: Oh...crap...
Jolly good, old bean! My rear literally flew off because i laughed so hard
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg805.imageshack.us%2Fimg805%2F2259%2Fnewsgilly.jpg&hash=b3ceb1a29c3c378f16814886a457e678bad38843)
I'm back, and I have an update ready to go as soon as Simtropolis is back up!
Welcome back :thumbsup:
Terring: Thanks!
Chapter 18: Storm
East Carmine, New Babelyia Metropolitan Area, Nova Terina
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg709.imageshack.us%2Fimg709%2F1700%2Fcarmineshops2.jpg&hash=54c90b2c9617f92e2ad274dd4cf8933dc6c66c69)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg406.imageshack.us%2Fimg406%2F972%2Fbaronbig.jpg&hash=28b2f51c05fc50ec0a756e0476f7e4f9bd2afcec)News:...an evacuation warning issued to the areas scrolling along the bottom of the screen currently. Residents in these areas are advised not to panic, but to head into areas designated "Blue Zones" by the ISHC Emergency Management Committee
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg832.imageshack.us%2Fimg832%2F2382%2Fntzones.jpg&hash=5ab0119454cf21f57386a7c8f102572ea2ec29b4)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: We're supposed to evacuate into the middle of the Disappointments?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Or the ocean.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: I mean, who thought up this Evac plan? How on earth are we supposed to get to the middle of the countryside?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Or the ocean.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: You know, never mind the complete lack of roads and the aggressive flora.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: There's always the ocean.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: How many Xeno-biologists survived the trek to Windermare Lake? Seven! Out of 25! And they expect the entire population of New Babelyia, Lonbeay Isle and Topal Island to just camp out in the wilderness for a few weeks?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: I hear the ocean's quite nice at this time of year.
Jacen snatched a coffee mug off the table and hurled it at the bird. It just missed it, hitting the cornice and shattering, a fragment of china reading "YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE MAD" sailing uncomfortably close to its beak.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Now really, is that any way to behave?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Will you take this seriously! I'm sure you've faced doom at least nine times, but I and the other 1,234,000 people are new at this!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: ...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Well? Where's the snide "It's closer to eleven, actually" then? Or did you finally -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Why do you think I was put in charge of a rural backwater planet, Jacen?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Excuse me?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: I said "why do you think I was put in charge of a planet where the most dramatic event likely to happen is a combine harvester catching fire?" Because it certainly wasn't because of my skills at co-ordinating a Resistance movement or working out a plan of campaign.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Wonderful. I'm stuck in the middle of an invasion by Solidarity, reality is changing around us and our only help is a Bureaucrat Demi-God.
The Calver, Unnamed System
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea)Captain McShoutyface: What did he do?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg718.imageshack.us%2Fimg718%2F3978%2Fheadscienceofficer.jpg&hash=aa298735c85f2c8332dc0a3075726c0dff5183c8)Head Science Officer: We don't know for sure yet. Decoding an entirely new language usually takes a very long time. Even with that very convenient Rosetta Stone object, it's going to take longer than we have.
The woman at the end of the table looked up from the sheaf of papers she was scanning through and nodded.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg576.imageshack.us%2Fimg576%2F6364%2Ftinyjapanesegirl.jpg&hash=06a5877bbdf2b916ccae791a2a18e9a4fcf7ac2e)Translator: It is very convenient.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea)Captain McShoutyface: So what do we do?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg718.imageshack.us%2Fimg718%2F3978%2Fheadscienceofficer.jpg&hash=aa298735c85f2c8332dc0a3075726c0dff5183c8)Head Science Officer: Mai, has there been any progress in buttons?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg576.imageshack.us%2Fimg576%2F6364%2Ftinyjapanesegirl.jpg&hash=06a5877bbdf2b916ccae791a2a18e9a4fcf7ac2e)Mai: We've found a lot of buttons; both large and small. Unfortunately, the only similarity between our buttons and their buttons appears to be that big, red buttons do bad things, a surprisingly common cultural artifact. We've made no progress on the small, yellow buttons or the switches-with-green-lights. It's theorised by some of our top officers that the back-lighted, square orange buttons next to the doors may open and close them.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea)Captain McShoutyface: Is that all we've got to go on?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg576.imageshack.us%2Fimg576%2F6364%2Ftinyjapanesegirl.jpg&hash=06a5877bbdf2b916ccae791a2a18e9a4fcf7ac2e)Mai: Sir, Buttonmashing is a very inexact science.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg718.imageshack.us%2Fimg718%2F3978%2Fheadscienceofficer.jpg&hash=aa298735c85f2c8332dc0a3075726c0dff5183c8)Head Science Officer: It's true. It gets the results in the end, but it takes time - which we haven't got.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea)Captain McShoutyface: I see.
He frowned and looked down at the table, which was displaying graphics and data feeds from all parts of the Ring.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg602.imageshack.us%2Fimg602%2F2559%2Fcaptainy.jpg&hash=05464fb58777b2dd498f6b143c58f605e7abd6ea)Captain McShoutyface: I'm going to yell at that physicist some more.
East Carmine, New Babelyian Metropolitan Authority, Nova Terina
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Are you sure we can't get anything else in here? Because I really like this chair.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: I told you, if we overload this thing we'll probably create a Very Quantum Event Distortion Type-III.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: Yes but it's upholstered -
The budding argument was interrupted by the noise of another car accident drifting in through the window, quickly followed by angry yelling and the blaring of irritated car horns. New Babelyia was not coping well. In many places, only the efforts of massed police were preventing an all-out panic. Some bright spark had turned on the force fields at Babelyia St Philip's to prevent the crowd overwhelming the station, forgetting that trains couldn't run through force fields. Clearing the tracks of debris was going to take some time.
Jacen's initial plan had been to get over to East Carmine Central and take a train to Il Santum, getting off at whichever Trelan River village that looked least inundate with refugee's and play it by ear from there. The crash at St Philip's, however, had consigned that plan to the scrapheap.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: Are you sure about heading to the docks? They're only half built, and it'll take a long time to hike there. We don't have much of that to spare. And you get seasick.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F9933%2Fjacenwalderava.jpg&hash=44f698189220effcee168bc54653519c1211f850)Jacen: The news said that Evac ships would be sailing from the docks and heading up the coast. We can get off at Roslea and take a train to Pardale or somewhere. It'll be fine
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F3337%2Fbluejay600.jpg&hash=86a0d0135edc5cfa04ec4b5653b8b409c294de74)OmniBluejay: If you're sure. Right. Lets go.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg406.imageshack.us%2Fimg406%2F972%2Fbaronbig.jpg&hash=28b2f51c05fc50ec0a756e0476f7e4f9bd2afcec)News:...ships, stating that all would be required for the evacuation of Topal Island. Again, resident in the following Red Zones are advised...
/End Plot
That felt like a very long chapter. Ah well, I suppose it's overdue.
I have fulfilled my promise of loading up the game and actually doing something. Nothing major, just getting back into the swing of things.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg88.imageshack.us%2Fimg88%2F5233%2Fardecoterracesnewcinema.jpg&hash=0c45f6dfe2a38ac50ae5ee2fb1c0fa6d7ab62da6)
A new development of terraces has sprung up in Ardeco, centred around a group of small shops and a Floris Cinema. Be warned; the popcorns is made of packing peanuts. As are most of the movies.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg225.imageshack.us%2Fimg225%2F9340%2Fmaorfrarms.jpg&hash=d41ad08fa910722390d8955f87ac07571a6982e2)
I've been playing around with SPAM, which I'm absolutely delighted to have coincided with. Wonderful stuff. All the old Maxis farms seem to turn into orchards, which is odd. I never much cared for apples.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg695.imageshack.us%2Fimg695%2F3054%2Fneweurocarm.jpg&hash=ff154074120e30c32553d06c61a05c2f989a7fac)
The housing in East Carmine has been expanded. For such a small area, it took ages to make - The game insists on growing row upon row of identical Paris buildings mixed with condos. Not really what I'm after here!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg684.imageshack.us%2Fimg684%2F8862%2Feastcarmovernew.jpg&hash=2ce7155223f8ea1d6f2facb37fbd784d4d1e2a94)
Quick overview of the new addition
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg571.imageshack.us%2Fimg571%2F8877%2Fnewbeach.jpg&hash=caf9b3205c6df6b2d4c6b661c253b6d6e6d6aff5)
The beachfront hotels in East Carmine have been much enjoying the abrupt transformation of pebbles into sand, boosting business tremendously. Geologists reportedly have no idea how it could have happened, laying the blame on "Stone chewing Whales"
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg29.imageshack.us%2Fimg29%2F46%2Feastcarmseaporthalf.jpg&hash=e59ac4b9583b6b1de3e07a6970642dd18818aed2)
Of course, the docks I mentioned are here too. Half built so far, but progressing. You may notice that the background of the city tiles have changed too. I am happy to lay the blame entirely on SimMars. Leaky, leaky SimMars.
Very nice update! Welcome back! :)