Conversation with #ussatlantis at 11/3/2010 9:59:44 PM on VAdmBlackthorne@opus.il.us.darkmyst.org (irc)
(9:59:45 PM) ChanServ [services@darkmyst.org] entered the room.
(9:59:45 PM) mode (+o ChanServ) by ChanServ
(9:59:45 PM) ChanServ has changed the topic to: Tonight we GTFO of this nebula so that we can smoothly segue into the next plot! All survivors of the lost ships are being moved to the Discovery, warp drive is being repaired, and the Gemini and Soyuz are chasing a possible trail left by the escaped Renzik and Coburn.
(9:59:45 PM) mode (+ntro VAdmBlackthorne) by ChanServ
(10:01:17 PM) Percy [Mibbit@dm-27274.hsd1.ma.comcast.net] entered the room.
(10:01:18 PM) ColDougMcKnight [Mibbit@dm-27274.hsd1.ma.comcast.net] entered the room.
(10:01:46 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Evening.
(10:01:51 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Hiya
(10:01:55 PM) Percy: Hoy
(10:02:29 PM) LtJGAlexisWright [Mibbit@dm-2442.hsd1.or.comcast.net] entered the room.
(10:02:46 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Hiya
(10:03:47 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Hullos
(10:05:53 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Alright, T'Kirr is on a cruise so I doubt we'll hear from her tonight!
(10:06:15 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Nice. Whereabouts?
(10:06:33 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Caribbean somewhere
(10:07:33 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I'd like to discuss an idea I'm kicking around to see if y'all would enjoy it
(10:08:08 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Okay, sure.
(10:08:15 PM) Percy: Hoy
(10:08:18 PM) Percy: *Kay
(10:08:26 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Google Groups is shutting down the Pages feature that we rely on to store our logs.
(10:09:06 PM) Percy: Well that's no good.
(10:09:48 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: What I have in mind would be far better, but will take a lot of work.
(10:10:00 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: And before I dive into said project, I want to see if it's worthwhile.
(10:11:20 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: *waiting*
(10:11:31 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I'm envisioning a way to bring us all together as a a little community during the week between sims, building a site that people will want to hang out on, post links to cool stuff, kick around story ideas, etc
(10:12:18 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Even mini-feeds for each character so that if you wanted to you could post actual logs - not short stories, like we do now, although those will still be featured content, but actual little log blurbs about IC thoughts on things
(10:12:57 PM) Percy: Like a forum with add-ons?
(10:13:07 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I think I can do it by bending wordpress to my will.
(10:13:11 PM) ColDougMcKnight: So something like Facebook or Twitter? Because I don't actually do either of those, but I think I basically understand the gist of them.
(10:13:51 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Since I'm the new kid here, I defer to whatever you old-timers think is best. :)
(10:13:53 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: A blog site would be the back end, but it'd look nothing like a blog when I'm done. You'd all be authors with your own sub-blogs that would let you easily post content
(10:14:32 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: So I could easily rattle off a paragraph Captain's Log if I feel like it, and still be able to post something that takes a little more work to write later on in the week
(10:14:50 PM) Percy: That...could certainly be interesting, certainly, and it would bring in a little bit of a new medium to spice things up with.
(10:15:59 PM) Percy: I'd personally be very intrigued, if nothing else because it would allow for a lot more character development (being an acting nerd and all :-P)
(10:16:23 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I feel we're in need of a little spice! And it'd be nice to stay in touch throughout the week as opposed to the way things are now.
(10:16:33 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Yeah, if you were willing to go to that much trouble, I'd certainly try out the thing. And it might be useful. Coming up with a full length log can be somewhat daunting...little stuff to supplement it might be just the way to get into the right mindset.
(10:16:42 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Minilogs. :V
(10:16:56 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: That's actually what we used to write back in the mid nineties in the AOL sims
(10:17:00 PM) ColDougMcKnight: And yes, I also agree more talking during the week might do us a world of good.
(10:17:06 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Nice.
(10:17:08 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: People would write a formal Duty Log and Personal Log
(10:17:14 PM) Percy: But, of course, I'd leave the question up to you: Is this something that would be too much work on top of your standard workload during the week?
(10:17:23 PM) Percy: I wouldn't want to burden you with that.
(10:17:51 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I could probably figure out all the coding I'd need to do in a weekend
(10:18:27 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: The existing site is already CSS based, and so is wordpress, so I just have to adapt my styles to their layout and move crap around and rename things, etc
(10:19:28 PM) Percy: Ah, I see. Well, you seem pretty excited about the prospect, and I'd like to see what would come of it, so I'd say thee yea, generally speaking.
(10:20:50 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Alrighty, I'll see what I can come up with.
(10:21:07 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Ignore those emails from T'Kirr to the mailstring, looks like her computer is infected.
(10:21:26 PM) Percy: Whuh oh, computer herpes.
(10:21:29 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Excellent. Thanks, and keep us posted. I'll try to be on a little more during the week so I can BE updated.
(10:22:26 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I was going to mess with it tonight but fell asleep instead!
(10:24:07 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Alright then, let's have a bit of a sim, shall we?
(10:24:25 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: yarr
(10:24:27 PM) Percy: Indeed!
(10:24:47 PM) CdrHarper [Mibbit@dm-10730.rcmdva.fios.verizon.net] entered the room.
(10:26:10 PM) VAdmBlackthorne has changed the topic to: We've set out deeper into unexplored space to, well, explore it. Long range sensors have indicated a planetary system with a single gas giant in the star's habitable zone, hosting hundreds of moons.
(10:26:35 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: BILYUNZ AND BILYUNZ UF STARZ
(10:26:47 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Questions?
(10:27:14 PM) Percy: Is there a Jadun platoon upon one of those moons?
(10:27:25 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: We'll just have to find out!
(10:27:33 PM) Percy: Yes! Barefoot!
(10:27:37 PM) Percy: Okay I'll stop now.
(10:28:07 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Are we in close enough yet to get any signs of habitation, or do we wait to find that out as well?
(10:28:18 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Gotta find that out as well.
(10:29:01 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: BEGIN SIM
(10:29:03 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: BEGIN SIM
(10:29:06 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: BEGIN SIM
(10:29:40 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: is manipulating entire banks of scanners, searching for life signs in the the habitable zones ::
(10:30:04 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: sitting in the center seat reading a PADD with reports of activity from Shangri-La ::
(10:30:44 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::At tactical, going a somewhat narrower route, scanning for high level EM signatures and/or advanced alloys.::
(10:31:18 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: looks up from the PADD :: Anything interesting on sensors that warrants a stop in this system?
(10:32:36 PM) Percy: :: On the bridge, for once, at the engineering post as she looks over the schedule of very minor repairs that haven't gotten done yet.::
(10:32:59 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: The largest moon below seems to be home to a number of very interesting mineral deposits. Useful minerals, I might add.
(10:34:05 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Potential low-level life signs on one of the small moons.
(10:34:54 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Very well, let's take a look. Alter course, Commander Harper.
(10:35:12 PM) CdrHarper: :: makes a tiny course correction: :
(10:36:18 PM) ColDougMcKnight: No ships in the system now...and no recent propulsion trails either. Not that we can state anything conclusive in our first five minutes here, given how crowded this place is, but it looks like we're alone out here.
(10:36:50 PM) ColDougMcKnight: At least...alone as far as anyone who'd notice us poking around their doorsteps.
(10:37:08 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: nods :: Bloody good thing, considering the reception we've gotten so far.
(10:37:46 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: It looks like the large mineral moon is a safe place to alight and have a little rest with a good view of the potentially inhabited moon.
(10:38:03 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: It's got a big, slow orbit. Nice vantage point.
(10:38:58 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Take us in toward it then.
(10:39:09 PM) CdrHarper: Aye sir.
(10:42:07 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: ACTION> Atlantis drops from warp and approaches the gas giant, which is mostly orange with bands of purple and red clouds, and a magnificent ring system.
(10:42:48 PM) Percy: :: Completes her scheduling, frowning at one report of sandwich-related incidents. Considering observation seems to be what's planned, she makes certain that the ship's imaging systems are running at optimal efficiency::
(10:43:30 PM) CdrHarper: :: puts the planet on the screen as she makes a wide arcing impulse turn ::
(10:44:06 PM) ColDougMcKnight: And seeing as my usual services shouldn't be required, I'll see if I can't add a few candidates to that "potentially inhabited" list.
(10:45:17 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: ACTION> The largest moon, about the size of Ganymede in the Jovian system, is actually class M!
(10:47:49 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Hey, bingo. I've got one that won't even require EV gear.
(10:48:25 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Now that's interesting.
(10:48:35 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: With your permission, Admiral, I'd like to take a science team to the surface to collect mineral samples.
(10:49:42 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Grins:: If we're going for field trips, I wouldn't mind taking a couple shuttles for a survey of the big moon.
(10:49:52 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: grins :: I understand the possiblity of exciting science, but let's get some more scans from orbit first. I want to be sure there's no pirate cantinas hidden away.
(10:50:12 PM) Percy: :: Looks up at the screen, at the moon, wondering who's down there.:: Ugh, I think I've had just about enough of pirates.
(10:50:39 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Take us into orbit of that habitable moon then.
(10:50:50 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Nods:: Hell of a good place for it, gotta admit. I figure you could hide just about anything in this place if you were imaginative enough.
(10:51:17 PM) CdrHarper: :: sweeps in through the huge system toward the moon of interest ::
(10:53:25 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Barely suppresses the urge to say "but..but... science!" and runs more scans.
(10:53:47 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: ::
(10:53:53 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: (check your PMs for science!)
(10:55:22 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Scans first of all for the prevailing weather patterns. If they ARE going to be heading down there with the possibility of shore leave in mind, then he'd prefer something sunny, but moderately cool.::
(10:55:48 PM) CdrHarper: :: settles the ship into orbit :: Orbit achieved.
(10:56:07 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: looks at the moon on the viewer ::
(10:56:29 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Scans reveal that these coordinates near the dark edge of the light side are near to interesting science and tactical survey points, and it's far enough out to keep us away from haaaaarmful raaadiatiooonn..
(10:57:45 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: So it's tidally locked to the planet?
(10:58:29 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Appears to be the case, sir.
(10:58:55 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Must be an interesting view from the surface then.
(10:59:04 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: As it is with most large moons in gas giant systems.
(10:59:21 PM) Percy: :: Can't help but pout slightly. But radiation causes super powers! And, looking over briefly at McKnight, he WOULD look rather nice in spande-:: *hem* Right, repairs. :: Back to work::
(10:59:26 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Well, that makes it a lot less attractive from any colonization standpoint. Betcha somebody's going to try anyway though.
(11:00:09 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Oh yes, it's lit by planetshine and the planet never goes more than 20 degrees over the horizon, but the colors of the planet mixed with the atmosphere of the moon should make for quite a lovely view.
(11:00:09 PM) Percy: (Sorry, I had to. The Hulk said so.)
(11:00:46 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: The side facing away from the planet should have a normal day/night cycle, if I'm not mistaken.
(11:01:10 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: (That's the star not rising more than 20 degrees above the horizon, btw)
(11:01:15 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Well, of course that's exactly what I meant.
(11:01:56 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: (I totally understood, yeah...)
(11:01:57 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: (Basically you'd get the long nights like in Alaska because the planet would keep blocking the sun, and the only time you'd see it in the sky is when the moon was circling around to the sides )
(11:02:47 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: reiterates the parenthetical statement in a completely confident and scientific manner ::
(11:03:54 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: (Also, "day" would be when the sun is behind you, since that's when you'd get the reflected light off the planet, at "night" the planet would be in the way of the sun, meaning day is the same for both sides of the moon!)
(11:04:15 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Any signs of pirate activity down there?
(11:05:40 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Minimal life signs, sir, no sophisticated life forms appear to inhabit. One of the smaller moon has some more interesting signs.
(11:06:20 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Any metallic structures or signs of ships?
(11:06:27 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Negative, sir.
(11:07:25 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Alright, let's get some fresh air.
(11:09:01 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: puts together a science team ::
(11:10:01 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Wright, Busard, McKnight, with me. Harper, you have the bridge.
(11:10:32 PM) Percy: Yes, sir. :: Rises from her seat, grabbing the tools she has up here::
(11:11:06 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Aye, sir. Permission to retrieve my gear from my quarters, sir?
(11:11:24 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: takes his sidearm from the compartment in the chair arm :: Yes, transporter room one.
(11:12:27 PM) Percy: Meet you there, sir. Need to grab some equipment, just in case.
(11:12:48 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: anxious to actually get some fresh air, enters the TL ::
(11:13:24 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: dashes down the TL and through the halls to her quarters and puts on her SCIENCE GEAR with all its pockets and straps and fancy scanners and things. Also grabs a case of sample containers and anything else that can think of that she actually might need, realized it's too heavy, gets rid of some of it grudgingly, then runs down to transport 1.
(11:14:45 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: arrives in TR1 and awaits the rest of the team ::
(11:15:35 PM) Percy: :: Heads down to get some shield generators in case of highly inclement weather and/or weaponsfire, as well as Rubix and a couple of her brothers/sisters. The generators go into a crate and the robots go into various pockets. Lastly, she grabs a phaser before heading off to TR1 with a hovercart and crate.::
(11:16:43 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: grins :: You packed light.
(11:17:17 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: looks at the hovercart and wonder why she didn't think of that. :: Hey, can I requisition one of those hovercarts? Uh, sir?
(11:17:35 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: nods in the affirmative ::
(11:17:36 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Swings by security on the way down to gear up and grab an extra two marines. When he DOES finally join the others, he's got his rifle at the ready, but his helmet off and secured to his side just in case.::
(11:17:46 PM) Percy: :: Looks down at the crate:: Well, considering what's happened the LAST couple of times we've gone planetside, I figured it'd be better safe than sorry.
(11:18:04 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: sees everyone here, steps up on the pad ::
(11:18:19 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: requisitions one and puts her sample cases on it when it arrives with remarkable speed ::
(11:18:22 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Grins:: And here I was afraid I'd actually have to start sending memos to that effect.
(11:18:43 PM) Percy: Rubix> :: Pops her head out of Percy's side pocket and whirrs happily::
(11:18:58 PM) Percy: No, I think getting shot a couple of time gets the idea across pretty well, thanks.
(11:19:19 PM) CdrHarper: :: all alone on the bridge :: :(
(11:19:41 PM) Percy: Puddington> ::Enters the Bridge, sandwich in tow::
(11:19:44 PM) Percy: (:-P)
(11:20:11 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Everybody up.
(11:20:12 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: steps onto the pad with all her stuff, checking all her straps and pockets one more time, scanner at the ready. ::
(11:21:21 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Energize.
(11:23:06 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: ACTION> We shimmer out and appear in a twilit landscape, purplish-orange reflected light from the planet which looms large in the sky provides an eerie, almost silencing glow over everything. The temperature is in the mid twenties (C) and a light breeze stirs the leaves of the local flora.
(11:24:18 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Philips, Sandoval, what have we got?
(11:24:43 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: closes her eyes and takes a deep, cleansing breath ::
(11:24:44 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: looks around, impressed ::
(11:25:20 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ACTION> The two marines silently sweep their gaze over the horizon, onboard tricorder readouts flashing across their visor displays, sweeping for life signs, EM and thermal readings in the vicinity.
(11:25:43 PM) Percy: Rubix> EeeEEEeee!
(11:26:17 PM) Percy: :: Waits for the two marines to finish their sweep before putting up shield generators::
(11:26:32 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Grins at their silent negative head shakes:: Then feel free to let your hair down. The sky's trippy, but it's a nice day out.
(11:26:58 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: looks up and sees the magnificent rings of the gas giant, nods in approval ::
(11:27:26 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: silently conferring with her second in command from the lab (who will later be named and given a personality and stuff )
(11:27:45 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: (and it's more like quietly conferring, we aren't telepathic)
(11:28:00 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: (....yet.)
(11:28:13 PM) ColDougMcKnight: I may have cause to take back what I said about the colonization thing. Back home, people traveled hundreds of miles to see a light show like this, before personal shuttles I mean.
(11:28:48 PM) Percy: :: Sets up the generators, keeping them deactivated except for an emergency trigger on top of each.:: Either that or they took drugs.
(11:28:51 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Yes, I think we may have found our colony out here.
(11:29:13 PM) Percy: :: Smiles up at the trippy sky and the gas giant::
(11:29:24 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: takes another lungful of the fresh air with satisfaction ::
(11:30:52 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: According to our scans, Admiral, there is quite a bounty of natural resources here. I'm surprised it's not inhabited by an intelligent species. There's a river about half a click in that direction, with a small concentration of warm-blooded creatures.
(11:31:06 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: ::points to indicate that direction ::
(11:31:35 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Let's take a hike then.
(11:33:50 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: ::follows with the hiking and such ::
(11:33:55 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Falls in step, but frowns as the realities of the colony prospect begin to weigh on him.:: Of course, it'd have to be a pretty daredevil crowd to try it. It's pretty remote, and we've had more than ample evidence that this is a dangerous region of space.
(11:34:40 PM) ColDougMcKnight: We'd need to set up anti-ship defenses of some kind, either planet-based or housed in some of the surrounding planetoids.
(11:34:50 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Indeed. We'll get more fleet support in here, and have Shangri La as a military base of operations.
(11:34:54 PM) Percy: ::Follow, follow, follow the Admiral!::
(11:35:03 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Even a staging area for the civilians.
(11:36:21 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Ship them in in convoy? Sure, I guess that'd address part of the problem. Even so, we'd be lying if we told them it wouldn't be rough going for awhile. They'd have to fend for themselves before we could get any kind of consistent patrols out this far.
(11:37:11 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Of course. That problem has always been there though, as we've expanded, the frontier keeps moving.
(11:39:38 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: ACTION> Before we reach the river, we can hear it, but are stopped by the discovery of what appears to the be the remains of an ancient column, crafted from white stone with just a hint of green that could be from moss, partially standing and partially fallen, covered in vines.
(11:40:00 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: And there there seem to be enough resources here that they wouldn't need much in the way of support beyond the first year or two. It looks ideal for agriculture and animal husbandry. I expect that the cluster of life forms we find will be some kind of herd of grazing herbivores...
(11:40:52 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: ooo. :: motions to her assistant to take soil samples while she takes pictures and makes notations, scanning the column for composition ::
(11:40:59 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: And what have we here?
(11:41:34 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: kneels down and touches the stone, finding it cold and weighty with history ::
(11:42:32 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: This appears to be a substance similar to marble. It was quarried and cut approximately.. 8 thousand years ago?
(11:43:26 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Well, well. Looks like other interested parties may want to have a look around this place before we light up the Vacancies sign.
(11:44:09 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I wonder what happened to them.
(11:44:31 PM) Percy: Welp, I better put up some shields.
(11:44:33 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Points over to a small hill off to the left as he puts his helmet on.:: I'm going to head for higher ground, see if I can spot any more like this.
(11:44:47 PM) Percy: :: Places a second generator::
(11:45:05 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: PAUSE SIM
(11:45:08 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: PAUSE SIM
(11:45:10 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: PAUSE SIM
(11:45:32 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: ||
(11:45:39 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Pauses::
(11:45:53 PM) Percy: :: Le pause::
(11:46:12 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Nice sim!
(11:46:35 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Indeed!
(11:47:51 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I want to visit this moon in RL :(
(11:48:18 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: me too :(
(11:49:17 PM) Percy: I want to visit the Tardis.
(11:49:19 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Next week we'll dig deeper into the mystery!
(11:49:20 PM) Percy: And then steal it.
(11:49:29 PM) Percy: And also the Doctor.
(11:51:24 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I'll start work on the new site. Probably won't get a big push on it this weekend, my Dad's gonna be in town.
(11:52:16 PM) Percy: That's cool.
(11:54:00 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I had thought about bringing back the old forums, but I think we can do more with it.
(11:54:52 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Interested to see what you do with it. :)
(11:56:37 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I hope I can make it live up to my grandiose ideas!
(11:59:53 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Catch y'all on the flip side :)
(11:59:58 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Night folks!
(12:00:28 AM) LtJGAlexisWright left the room (quit: Exit: http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client).