terraforming_probe
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terraforming_probe [2018/01/15 17:30] conan Main body of text |
terraforming_probe [2022/06/10 15:13] conan [Terraforming Probe] |
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| The most commonly encountered terraforming probes in known space are those launched by the ancient Terrans of the Sol system, and the early [[Ascendancy]]. These probes were first developed and launched in 57 PT as clusters of autonomous robotic spacecraft, designed to travel at high sublight speeds and transform the environment of planets prior to the arrival of the sleeper colony ships launched in the two centuries prior. These probes typically travel at speeds of 0.95c, and the initial wave has travelled over 3,500 light-years from the Sol system. | The most commonly encountered terraforming probes in known space are those launched by the ancient Terrans of the Sol system, and the early [[Ascendancy]]. These probes were first developed and launched in 57 PT as clusters of autonomous robotic spacecraft, designed to travel at high sublight speeds and transform the environment of planets prior to the arrival of the sleeper colony ships launched in the two centuries prior. These probes typically travel at speeds of 0.95c, and the initial wave has travelled over 3,500 light-years from the Sol system. | ||
| - | Clusters of terraforming probes were launched indiscriminately from Sol for almost 400 years after they were developed, directed at practically every star where traces of carbon were detected in its emission spectrum. Some later probe clusers contained artificial intelligence systems programmed to identify additional candidate stars in their travels, and launch probe clusters at them. Terraforming probes can be found on a huge number of planets, oftenmade habitable by their action, but vast numbers are still travelling through interstellar space, targeting new candidate worlds all the time. | + | Clusters of terraforming probes were launched indiscriminately from Sol for almost 400 years after they were developed, directed at practically every star where traces of carbon were detected in its emission spectrum. Some later probe clusters contained artificial intelligence systems programmed to identify additional candidate stars in their travels, and launch probe clusters at them. Terraforming probes can be found on a huge number of planets, often made habitable by their action, but vast numbers are still travelling through interstellar space, targeting new candidate worlds all the time. |
| If you encounter a terraforming probe, either on a planet or in space, extreme care is advised in dealing with them. | If you encounter a terraforming probe, either on a planet or in space, extreme care is advised in dealing with them. | ||
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| Ancient Terran Probes can be extremely dangerous, for a variety of reasons. | Ancient Terran Probes can be extremely dangerous, for a variety of reasons. | ||
| - | * They tend to contain volatile power sources, such as miniaturised fission cores, which are liable to have degraded over time. | + | * They tend to contain volatile power sources, such as miniaturised fission cores, which are liable to have degraded over time. |
| - | * They often contain strongly radioactive isotopes, whose containment vessels may have been breached or degraded over time. | + | * They often contain strongly radioactive isotopes, whose containment vessels may have been breached or degraded over time. |
| - | * Several types contain mutagens, which have often themselves been altered from their original design parameters during exposure to interstellar radiation. Their effects on living organisms are impossible to predict. | + | * Several types contain mutagens, which have often themselves been altered from their original design parameters during exposure to interstellar radiation. Their effects on living organisms are impossible to predict. |
| - | * Probes designed to alter the atmosphere of target worlds may generate toxic concentrations of atmospheric gases in an area around the probe. | + | * Probes designed to alter the atmosphere of target worlds may generate toxic concentrations of atmospheric gases in an area around the probe. |
| - | * Probes designed to affect geological or geothermal activity may be channeling extreme heat from deep within a planet's crust, or emit periodic seismic shockwaves. | + | * Probes designed to affect geological or geothermal activity may be channeling extreme heat from deep within a planet's crust, or emit periodic seismic shockwaves. |
| - | * Biogenic probes may release hostile creatures in varying stages of development. | + | * Biogenic probes may release hostile creatures in varying stages of development. |
| - | * Malfunctioning probes may be operating outside expected design parameters when encountered. | + | * Malfunctioning probes may be operating outside expected design parameters when encountered. |
| ==== Modern Probes ==== | ==== Modern Probes ==== | ||
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| Other species have developed their own versions of Terraforming Probes as they took to the stars, but none were deployed on such a large and indiscriminate scale as the Terrans. | Other species have developed their own versions of Terraforming Probes as they took to the stars, but none were deployed on such a large and indiscriminate scale as the Terrans. | ||
| - | The [[Dominion]] employ fleets of crewed ships to terraform worlds, and have a preference for macro-scale activities such as asteroid or comet redirection, orbital solar mirrors, atmospheric particle seeding and tectonic resonators. | + | The [[Dominion]] employ fleets of crewed ships to terraform worlds, and have a preference for macro-scale activities such as asteroid or comet redirection, orbital solar mirrors, atmospheric particle seeding and tectonic resonators. The act of coordinating a major terraforming effort is seen as a powerfully heroic undertaking in Dominion society and religion. |
| The [[Commonality]] use their facility with biotechnology to terraform worlds. Commonality probes are typically deployed on barren worlds, where they release vast numbers of engineered microorganisms, who perform a variety of tasks including heat generation, atmosphere conversion and development of a substrate for more specialised organisms. The Commonality terraforming process is considerably slower, and can take several centuries to complete. Additionally, it performs poorly on worlds with established life, and the Commonality tends to avoid terraforming such worlds directly. | The [[Commonality]] use their facility with biotechnology to terraform worlds. Commonality probes are typically deployed on barren worlds, where they release vast numbers of engineered microorganisms, who perform a variety of tasks including heat generation, atmosphere conversion and development of a substrate for more specialised organisms. The Commonality terraforming process is considerably slower, and can take several centuries to complete. Additionally, it performs poorly on worlds with established life, and the Commonality tends to avoid terraforming such worlds directly. | ||
terraforming_probe.txt · Last modified: 2022/06/10 15:16 by conan
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