From 1181b53792c5947d75af3e9375a0b29c389b3e44 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: James Tomasino Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2019 00:00:03 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] backup --- gopher/Excelsior/008.txt | 38 ++ gopher/Relay station A-18/LICENSE | 404 ++++++++++++++++++++++ gopher/Relay station A-18/Last Humans.txt | 119 +++++++ gopher/listing.gophermap | 3 + gopher/outpost M-48/FTL travel.txt | 28 +- gopher/rss.xml | 214 +++++++++++- gopher/ships/Relay station A-18/gophermap | 1 + 7 files changed, 805 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) create mode 100644 gopher/Excelsior/008.txt create mode 100644 gopher/Relay station A-18/LICENSE create mode 100644 gopher/Relay station A-18/Last Humans.txt create mode 120000 gopher/ships/Relay station A-18/gophermap diff --git a/gopher/Excelsior/008.txt b/gopher/Excelsior/008.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9a47715 --- /dev/null +++ b/gopher/Excelsior/008.txt @@ -0,0 +1,38 @@ +Message inbound... + +Space Cruiser Excelsior +Destination: Sector 656233e, Starfield-Beta system +~~ TELEMETRY DATA WITHHELD ~~ +Stardate Epsilon Delta 10 Epsilon +AUTO TELEMETRY: OFF +BIO-MED SENSORS: GOOD +H2O->FUEL CONVERSION: GOOD +H2O RESERVES: GOOD +CRYO SLEEP: GOOD + +[autotranslator on] + +Corporal Sam Arnold, Systems Administrator +--- + +So it's been a while. Some updates for you all: + +1. Even though I already fixed it, I guess I should explain. The overvolt in +the cryo berths was just one of the cells being funky (funnily enough, my +cell). It was an easy fix. +2. Everything's going well upon the Excelsior. We're... no, I'm ready for what +adventure this may bring. I don't know why I keep referring to the ship as +"we", when I'm the only one awake to be excited. The ship and I? Maybe? + +I'm glad to see that the QEC is coming alive with more messages than I can +read. I remember the first time I checked and there were only, like, 4 messages +or whatever. Now there's 250-some messages to read! I'm just glad this old +thing is finally seeing some use. + +Honestly, though, I don't know what else to say. I mean, the next post I make +that'll be meaningful enough to be notable is the post when I land at the +destination planet. Until then? I don't know. + +Anyways, that's all for now. I promise I'll keep you all posted! + +~~END TRANSMISSION :: ACT 1~~ diff --git a/gopher/Relay station A-18/LICENSE b/gopher/Relay station A-18/LICENSE new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1bf4401 --- /dev/null +++ b/gopher/Relay station A-18/LICENSE @@ -0,0 +1,404 @@ +CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (share with attribution, no commercial, no remix) + +Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International + +======================================================================= + +Creative Commons Corporation ("Creative Commons") is not a law firm and +does not provide legal services or legal advice. Distribution of +Creative Commons public licenses does not create a lawyer-client or +other relationship. Creative Commons makes its licenses and related +information available on an "as-is" basis. Creative Commons gives no +warranties regarding its licenses, any material licensed under their +terms and conditions, or any related information. Creative Commons +disclaims all liability for damages resulting from their use to the +fullest extent possible. + +Using Creative Commons Public Licenses + +Creative Commons public licenses provide a standard set of terms and +conditions that creators and other rights holders may use to share +original works of authorship and other material subject to copyright +and certain other rights specified in the public license below. The +following considerations are for informational purposes only, are not +exhaustive, and do not form part of our licenses. + + Considerations for licensors: Our public licenses are + intended for use by those authorized to give the public + permission to use material in ways otherwise restricted by + copyright and certain other rights. Our licenses are + irrevocable. Licensors should read and understand the terms + and conditions of the license they choose before applying it. + Licensors should also secure all rights necessary before + applying our licenses so that the public can reuse the + material as expected. Licensors should clearly mark any + material not subject to the license. This includes other CC- + licensed material, or material used under an exception or + limitation to copyright. More considerations for licensors: + wiki.creativecommons.org/Considerations_for_licensors + + Considerations for the public: By using one of our public + licenses, a licensor grants the public permission to use the + licensed material under specified terms and conditions. If + the licensor's permission is not necessary for any reason--for + example, because of any applicable exception or limitation to + copyright--then that use is not regulated by the license. Our + licenses grant only permissions under copyright and certain + other rights that a licensor has authority to grant. Use of + the licensed material may still be restricted for other + reasons, including because others have copyright or other + rights in the material. A licensor may make special requests, + such as asking that all changes be marked or described. + Although not required by our licenses, you are encouraged to + respect those requests where reasonable. More considerations + for the public: + wiki.creativecommons.org/Considerations_for_licensees + +======================================================================= + +Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 +International Public License + +By exercising the Licensed Rights (defined below), You accept and agree +to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Creative Commons +Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public +License ("Public License"). To the extent this Public License may be +interpreted as a contract, You are granted the Licensed Rights in +consideration of Your acceptance of these terms and conditions, and the +Licensor grants You such rights in consideration of benefits the +Licensor receives from making the Licensed Material available under +these terms and conditions. + + +Section 1 -- Definitions. + + a. Adapted Material means material subject to Copyright and Similar + Rights that is derived from or based upon the Licensed Material + and in which the Licensed Material is translated, altered, + arranged, transformed, or otherwise modified in a manner requiring + permission under the Copyright and Similar Rights held by the + Licensor. For purposes of this Public License, where the Licensed + Material is a musical work, performance, or sound recording, + Adapted Material is always produced where the Licensed Material is + synched in timed relation with a moving image. + + b. Copyright and Similar Rights means copyright and/or similar rights + closely related to copyright including, without limitation, + performance, broadcast, sound recording, and Sui Generis Database + Rights, without regard to how the rights are labeled or + categorized. For purposes of this Public License, the rights + specified in Section 2(b)(1)-(2) are not Copyright and Similar + Rights. + + c. Effective Technological Measures means those measures that, in the + absence of proper authority, may not be circumvented under laws + fulfilling obligations under Article 11 of the WIPO Copyright + Treaty adopted on December 20, 1996, and/or similar international + agreements. + + d. Exceptions and Limitations means fair use, fair dealing, and/or + any other exception or limitation to Copyright and Similar Rights + that applies to Your use of the Licensed Material. + + e. Licensed Material means the artistic or literary work, database, + or other material to which the Licensor applied this Public + License. + + f. Licensed Rights means the rights granted to You subject to the + terms and conditions of this Public License, which are limited to + all Copyright and Similar Rights that apply to Your use of the + Licensed Material and that the Licensor has authority to license. + + g. Licensor means the individual(s) or entity(ies) granting rights + under this Public License. + + h. NonCommercial means not primarily intended for or directed towards + commercial advantage or monetary compensation. For purposes of + this Public License, the exchange of the Licensed Material for + other material subject to Copyright and Similar Rights by digital + file-sharing or similar means is NonCommercial provided there is + no payment of monetary compensation in connection with the + exchange. + + i. Share means to provide material to the public by any means or + process that requires permission under the Licensed Rights, such + as reproduction, public display, public performance, distribution, + dissemination, communication, or importation, and to make material + available to the public including in ways that members of the + public may access the material from a place and at a time + individually chosen by them. + + j. Sui Generis Database Rights means rights other than copyright + resulting from Directive 96/9/EC of the European Parliament and of + the Council of 11 March 1996 on the legal protection of databases, + as amended and/or succeeded, as well as other essentially + equivalent rights anywhere in the world. + + k. You means the individual or entity exercising the Licensed Rights + under this Public License. Your has a corresponding meaning. + + +Section 2 -- Scope. + + a. License grant. + + 1. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Public License, + the Licensor hereby grants You a worldwide, royalty-free, + non-sublicensable, non-exclusive, irrevocable license to + exercise the Licensed Rights in the Licensed Material to: + + a. reproduce and Share the Licensed Material, in whole or + in part, for NonCommercial purposes only; and + + b. produce and reproduce, but not Share, Adapted Material + for NonCommercial purposes only. + + 2. Exceptions and Limitations. For the avoidance of doubt, where + Exceptions and Limitations apply to Your use, this Public + License does not apply, and You do not need to comply with + its terms and conditions. + + 3. Term. The term of this Public License is specified in Section + 6(a). + + 4. Media and formats; technical modifications allowed. The + Licensor authorizes You to exercise the Licensed Rights in + all media and formats whether now known or hereafter created, + and to make technical modifications necessary to do so. The + Licensor waives and/or agrees not to assert any right or + authority to forbid You from making technical modifications + necessary to exercise the Licensed Rights, including + technical modifications necessary to circumvent Effective + Technological Measures. For purposes of this Public License, + simply making modifications authorized by this Section 2(a) + (4) never produces Adapted Material. + + 5. Downstream recipients. + + a. Offer from the Licensor -- Licensed Material. Every + recipient of the Licensed Material automatically + receives an offer from the Licensor to exercise the + Licensed Rights under the terms and conditions of this + Public License. + + b. No downstream restrictions. You may not offer or impose + any additional or different terms or conditions on, or + apply any Effective Technological Measures to, the + Licensed Material if doing so restricts exercise of the + Licensed Rights by any recipient of the Licensed + Material. + + 6. No endorsement. Nothing in this Public License constitutes or + may be construed as permission to assert or imply that You + are, or that Your use of the Licensed Material is, connected + with, or sponsored, endorsed, or granted official status by, + the Licensor or others designated to receive attribution as + provided in Section 3(a)(1)(A)(i). + + b. Other rights. + + 1. Moral rights, such as the right of integrity, are not + licensed under this Public License, nor are publicity, + privacy, and/or other similar personality rights; however, to + the extent possible, the Licensor waives and/or agrees not to + assert any such rights held by the Licensor to the limited + extent necessary to allow You to exercise the Licensed + Rights, but not otherwise. + + 2. Patent and trademark rights are not licensed under this + Public License. + + 3. To the extent possible, the Licensor waives any right to + collect royalties from You for the exercise of the Licensed + Rights, whether directly or through a collecting society + under any voluntary or waivable statutory or compulsory + licensing scheme. In all other cases the Licensor expressly + reserves any right to collect such royalties, including when + the Licensed Material is used other than for NonCommercial + purposes. + + +Section 3 -- License Conditions. + +Your exercise of the Licensed Rights is expressly made subject to the +following conditions. + + a. Attribution. + + 1. If You Share the Licensed Material, You must: + + a. retain the following if it is supplied by the Licensor + with the Licensed Material: + + i. identification of the creator(s) of the Licensed + Material and any others designated to receive + attribution, in any reasonable manner requested by + the Licensor (including by pseudonym if + designated); + + ii. a copyright notice; + + iii. a notice that refers to this Public License; + + iv. a notice that refers to the disclaimer of + warranties; + + v. a URI or hyperlink to the Licensed Material to the + extent reasonably practicable; + + b. indicate if You modified the Licensed Material and + retain an indication of any previous modifications; and + + c. indicate the Licensed Material is licensed under this + Public License, and include the text of, or the URI or + hyperlink to, this Public License. + + For the avoidance of doubt, You do not have permission under + this Public License to Share Adapted Material. + + 2. You may satisfy the conditions in Section 3(a)(1) in any + reasonable manner based on the medium, means, and context in + which You Share the Licensed Material. For example, it may be + reasonable to satisfy the conditions by providing a URI or + hyperlink to a resource that includes the required + information. + + 3. If requested by the Licensor, You must remove any of the + information required by Section 3(a)(1)(A) to the extent + reasonably practicable. + + +Section 4 -- Sui Generis Database Rights. + +Where the Licensed Rights include Sui Generis Database Rights that +apply to Your use of the Licensed Material: + + a. for the avoidance of doubt, Section 2(a)(1) grants You the right + to extract, reuse, reproduce, and Share all or a substantial + portion of the contents of the database for NonCommercial purposes + only and provided You do not Share Adapted Material; + + b. if You include all or a substantial portion of the database + contents in a database in which You have Sui Generis Database + Rights, then the database in which You have Sui Generis Database + Rights (but not its individual contents) is Adapted Material; and + + c. You must comply with the conditions in Section 3(a) if You Share + all or a substantial portion of the contents of the database. + +For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4 supplements and does not +replace Your obligations under this Public License where the Licensed +Rights include other Copyright and Similar Rights. + + +Section 5 -- Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability. + + a. UNLESS OTHERWISE SEPARATELY UNDERTAKEN BY THE LICENSOR, TO THE + EXTENT POSSIBLE, THE LICENSOR OFFERS THE LICENSED MATERIAL AS-IS + AND AS-AVAILABLE, AND MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF + ANY KIND CONCERNING THE LICENSED MATERIAL, WHETHER EXPRESS, + IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHER. THIS INCLUDES, WITHOUT LIMITATION, + WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR + PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ABSENCE OF LATENT OR OTHER DEFECTS, + ACCURACY, OR THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF ERRORS, WHETHER OR NOT + KNOWN OR DISCOVERABLE. WHERE DISCLAIMERS OF WARRANTIES ARE NOT + ALLOWED IN FULL OR IN PART, THIS DISCLAIMER MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. + + b. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, IN NO EVENT WILL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE + TO YOU ON ANY LEGAL THEORY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, + NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, + INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR OTHER LOSSES, + COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS PUBLIC LICENSE OR + USE OF THE LICENSED MATERIAL, EVEN IF THE LICENSOR HAS BEEN + ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR + DAMAGES. WHERE A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IS NOT ALLOWED IN FULL OR + IN PART, THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. + + c. The disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability provided + above shall be interpreted in a manner that, to the extent + possible, most closely approximates an absolute disclaimer and + waiver of all liability. + + +Section 6 -- Term and Termination. + + a. This Public License applies for the term of the Copyright and + Similar Rights licensed here. However, if You fail to comply with + this Public License, then Your rights under this Public License + terminate automatically. + + b. Where Your right to use the Licensed Material has terminated under + Section 6(a), it reinstates: + + 1. automatically as of the date the violation is cured, provided + it is cured within 30 days of Your discovery of the + violation; or + + 2. upon express reinstatement by the Licensor. + + For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6(b) does not affect any + right the Licensor may have to seek remedies for Your violations + of this Public License. + + c. For the avoidance of doubt, the Licensor may also offer the + Licensed Material under separate terms or conditions or stop + distributing the Licensed Material at any time; however, doing so + will not terminate this Public License. + + d. Sections 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8 survive termination of this Public + License. + + +Section 7 -- Other Terms and Conditions. + + a. The Licensor shall not be bound by any additional or different + terms or conditions communicated by You unless expressly agreed. + + b. Any arrangements, understandings, or agreements regarding the + Licensed Material not stated herein are separate from and + independent of the terms and conditions of this Public License. + + +Section 8 -- Interpretation. + + a. For the avoidance of doubt, this Public License does not, and + shall not be interpreted to, reduce, limit, restrict, or impose + conditions on any use of the Licensed Material that could lawfully + be made without permission under this Public License. + + b. To the extent possible, if any provision of this Public License is + deemed unenforceable, it shall be automatically reformed to the + minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable. If the provision + cannot be reformed, it shall be severed from this Public License + without affecting the enforceability of the remaining terms and + conditions. + + c. No term or condition of this Public License will be waived and no + failure to comply consented to unless expressly agreed to by the + Licensor. + + d. Nothing in this Public License constitutes or may be interpreted + as a limitation upon, or waiver of, any privileges and immunities + that apply to the Licensor or You, including from the legal + processes of any jurisdiction or authority. + +======================================================================= + +Creative Commons is not a party to its public +licenses. Notwithstanding, Creative Commons may elect to apply one of +its public licenses to material it publishes and in those instances +will be considered the “Licensor.” The text of the Creative Commons +public licenses is dedicated to the public domain under the CC0 Public +Domain Dedication. Except for the limited purpose of indicating that +material is shared under a Creative Commons public license or as +otherwise permitted by the Creative Commons policies published at +creativecommons.org/policies, Creative Commons does not authorize the +use of the trademark "Creative Commons" or any other trademark or logo +of Creative Commons without its prior written consent including, +without limitation, in connection with any unauthorized modifications +to any of its public licenses or any other arrangements, +understandings, or agreements concerning use of licensed material. For +the avoidance of doubt, this paragraph does not form part of the +public licenses. + +Creative Commons may be contacted at creativecommons.org. diff --git a/gopher/Relay station A-18/Last Humans.txt b/gopher/Relay station A-18/Last Humans.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..022aee8 --- /dev/null +++ b/gopher/Relay station A-18/Last Humans.txt @@ -0,0 +1,119 @@ +###TRANSMISSION RECEIVED### +Source: r/HFY +Author: u/OC +Title: Last Humans + + +---BEGIN MESSAGE--- +Let me tell you what we found at the end of the trail of +destruction. It was a small system, 10 or so planets around a +medium sized yellow dwarf star. Around the third planet we found +the remains of the swarm. Millions of their ships floated in +burning roiling chaos around this charred rock. As far as we could +tell it had been a garden world. Despite our best efforts we could +not get close. Our scans told enough though. The swarm had been +drawn here like moths to a candle. They did that, back then, when +they encountered a particular bit of resistance. Pour enough ships +and lives in and eventually they would break even the strongest +species. + +It had worked for them so far. A quarter of the galaxy lay desolate +behind their advance. Our fiercest warrior species and most +coordinated hive-races were even no match for them. That was, until +they had begun to focus on this one planet above all else. Legions +of ships would break orbits and leave their scrapping of suns to +come here. At the time we were not even aware of intelligent life +in this region. Certainly no species near the Hyperspace Threshold. +You can imagine our surprise and shock coming onto that scene in a +supposedly uninhabited system. + +Of course, we now know of the Humans. Only the youngest emerging +species have yet to hear of them. When we finally found the +remnants of their race orbiting the nearest star, we learned the +price they had paid. You see, the swarm had found them like +countless before. But Humans are a painfully violent and stubborn +species. They have been trying to kill each other off for most of +their history. Yes... you could probably call it insanity. But it +forged an iron hard species. A species that was also armed to the +fangs and making technological breakthroughs at an unheard of rate. +They had even made rudimentary steps into hyperspace technology by +the time the swarm descended. And they fought back. + +How they fought. Hundreds of thousands of fission bombs were built +and used... actually used! They reverse engineered the swarm's +gravity simulators and weaponized them. Weaponized gravity! +Millions of ships crushed or flung apart or shorn in half by Human +ingenuity and a bit of physics. They fought like this all the way +to the ground. There are tales of Humans going hand to hide with +the swarm. Have you ever seen a Human fight in person? They may not +be the biggest or most intimidating species, but they never... +ever... ever give up. From the void of space to the depths of their +world, they came screaming back at the invaders. + +At some point the humans learned the rest of secrets of the +Hyperspace Windows. Probably pried it out a smoking hive ship and +made it speak its secrets through sheer force of will. And then, as +Humans do, they weaponized them. Now, they also discovered as most +species do, that if you open a hyperspace window at the bottom of a +gravity well it causes significant problems. Besides a cataclysmic +release of energy, the subspace tends to... tear, in a way. In deep +space these tend to heal up swiftly. But down in heavy gravity they +linger. As far as we know they will last until the end of time +itself. Of course the humans used this. Thousands of satellites +were launched. Powered by the engines of downed swarm ships of all +things. And on every satellite were dozens of basic hyperspace +generators. Good for maybe one use. The equipment was just basic +enough to open a window hardly larger than a Human hand. + +You see... they used them like mines. Once a swarm ship was +detected a generator would peel away from the rest. At a safe +distance a tiny hyperspace window would open into the depths of the +swarm ship. The explosion caused by doing that in a gravity well +was probably enough to kill a ship. But add in the effect of +running a ship through a window? A moving ship keeps right on +going, and that window slices a neat little hole all the way to the +hull. So now you have an explosion and you are venting atmosphere. + +This went on for a long time. Down there near Earth the void +shimmers with tears in subspace. Hundreds of thousands of tears, +waiting to shred a ship into a million ribbons before you know what +is happening. That is why we could not get close to Earth. The +space around it is a death sentence. But the Humans had one last +weapon to fight with. In the end, they made the swarm kill itself. + +From downed ships they learned the deepest secrets of the swarm. +They learned how to call for help. Humanity built an immense +transmitter. They called it the Laurentian Candle. Carved into a +huge expanse of stone, it calls to the stars. With it they summoned +the swarm to them by sending the call of a swarm Empress in +distress. That is what finally brought millions of ships to die +there, sliced to ribbons above a burning planet. By this point +there were only an estimated 60,000 Humans left alive. So they +built a ship. Right there on the ground. Thousands upon thousands +of cryo capsules in massive clusters. And they left. That was what +cracked the planet in two finally, that massive hyperspace window +slamming shut. + +With that final goodbye to their only home, they saved the galaxy. +It is impossible to shut off the signal from the Candle, and the +swarm plunged in to their deaths. When we found them and learned +what they had done, word spread like light in the void. These +remnants were offered shelter, moons, planets, entire star systems +in the oldest civilizations. Yet they declined every offer. Instead +they asked for ships. Thousands of ships, enough to carry their +entire population into the void. So now they wander, searching for +something. They offer trade of technology or goods for information. +Always information. Maps, charts, scans, rumors... they take it +all. These respected people wander, always welcome wherever they +pause, but never pausing for long. Always on to the next planet or +system. Searching. Yearning. Hunting. For something they lost or +sent out long ago when the swarm was surrounding them and hope was +bleak. + +Something called an "Ark." +---END MESSAGE--- + +Reviewer's note: this message seems to be a piece of creative +artistic work rather than actual report, although due to the nature +of QEC-based communication, it is impossible to determine if that's +actually case or not. diff --git a/gopher/listing.gophermap b/gopher/listing.gophermap index a2ceea1..b1c105f 100644 --- a/gopher/listing.gophermap +++ b/gopher/listing.gophermap @@ -1,3 +1,6 @@ +0Excelsior - Systems Admin Report - Stardate Epsilon Delta 10 Epsilon /Excelsior/008.txt +0outpost M-48 - FTL Travel /outpost M-48/FTL travel.txt +0Relay station A-18 - Last Humans /Relay station A-18/Last Humans.txt 0Melvin P Feltersnatch - Killing time /Melvin P Feltersnatch/006.txt 0Ultragas filling station Theia - just arrived at Theia /Ultragas filling station Theia/01-arrived.txt 0S.S. Stuttgart - Mission briefing. /S.S. Stuttgart/briefing.txt diff --git a/gopher/outpost M-48/FTL travel.txt b/gopher/outpost M-48/FTL travel.txt index e999e2f..5ba2bcc 100644 --- a/gopher/outpost M-48/FTL travel.txt +++ b/gopher/outpost M-48/FTL travel.txt @@ -1 +1,27 @@ -Humanity has been theorizing about the possibilities of interstellar colonization long before it even qualified for Type I civilization on Kardashev scale. Before we event sent our first seed ship, it has been theorized that it will take several generations before it even pass the half-way mark towards it's destination. Some even suggested that by the time the first such ship would arrive, the rest will already have developed faster and more efficient ways of travel between interstellar bodies. Some were putting their hopes in quantum computing, or even self-teaching AI, but alas, our machines are still only as perfect as their creators. Here we are, still floating around at sub-light speeds, spending the first half of the journey speeding up and the other half slowing down and praying for our calculations to be correct. As fascinating as it may seem, even the stars move around. We have to calculate the trajectory of our target and account for the delay caused by the speed of light and the distance, because by the time the star's light reaches our eyes, it might be already long gone. In the better case, it merely moves from it's previous position. Worst case, it's gone supernova and our ship will arrive to a newly formed black hole... Sounds depressing doesn't it? +Humanity has been theorizing about the possibilities of +interstellar colonization long before it even qualified for Type I +civilization on Kardashev scale. Before we event sent our first +seed ship, it has been theorized that it will take several +generations before it even pass the half-way mark towards it's +destination. Some even suggested that by the time the first such +ship would arrive, the rest will already have developed faster and +more efficient ways of travel between interstellar bodies. Some +were putting their hopes in quantum computing, or even +self-teaching AI, but alas, our machines are still only as perfect +as their creators. Here we are, still floating around at sub-light +speeds, spending the first half of the journey speeding up and the +other half slowing down and praying for our calculations to be +correct. As fascinating as it may seem, even the stars move around. +We have to calculate the trajectory of our target and account for +the delay caused by the speed of light and the distance, because by +the time the star's light reaches our eyes, it might be already +long gone. In the better case, it merely moves from it's previous +position. Worst case, it's gone supernova and our ship will arrive +to a newly formed black hole... +Then there is this little annoying thing backed up by out +observations from our home planet - the universe (or at least it's +observable part at least) is expanding - we can tell, because the +stars are gradually changing their color spectrum towards red and +infra-red meaning the light itself is taking longer and longer to +travel all the way to our photoreceptors... +Sounds depressing doesn't it? diff --git a/gopher/rss.xml b/gopher/rss.xml index 39c97d9..2b94878 100644 --- a/gopher/rss.xml +++ b/gopher/rss.xml @@ -2,6 +2,217 @@ Cosmic Voyage gopher://cosmic.voyage Messages from the human stellar diaspora + + Excelsior - Systems Admin Report - Stardate Epsilon Delta 10 Epsilon + khuxkm@cosmic.voyage (khuxkm) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/008.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/008.txt + Fri, 02 Aug 2019 22:17:38 GMT + +Message inbound... + +Space Cruiser Excelsior +Destination: Sector 656233e, Starfield-Beta system +~~ TELEMETRY DATA WITHHELD ~~ +Stardate Epsilon Delta 10 Epsilon +AUTO TELEMETRY: OFF +BIO-MED SENSORS: GOOD +H2O->FUEL CONVERSION: GOOD +H2O RESERVES: GOOD +CRYO SLEEP: GOOD + +[autotranslator on] + +Corporal Sam Arnold, Systems Administrator +--- + +So it's been a while. Some updates for you all: + +1. Even though I already fixed it, I guess I should explain. The overvolt in +the cryo berths was just one of the cells being funky (funnily enough, my +cell). It was an easy fix. +2. Everything's going well upon the Excelsior. We're... no, I'm ready for what +adventure this may bring. I don't know why I keep referring to the ship as +"we", when I'm the only one awake to be excited. The ship and I? Maybe? + +I'm glad to see that the QEC is coming alive with more messages than I can +read. I remember the first time I checked and there were only, like, 4 messages +or whatever. Now there's 250-some messages to read! I'm just glad this old +thing is finally seeing some use. + +Honestly, though, I don't know what else to say. I mean, the next post I make +that'll be meaningful enough to be notable is the post when I land at the +destination planet. Until then? I don't know. + +Anyways, that's all for now. I promise I'll keep you all posted! + +~~END TRANSMISSION :: ACT 1~~ +]]> + + + outpost M-48 - FTL Travel + zeth@cosmic.voyage (zeth) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/outpost M-48/FTL travel.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/outpost M-48/FTL travel.txt + Fri, 02 Aug 2019 09:35:59 GMT + +Humanity has been theorizing about the possibilities of +interstellar colonization long before it even qualified for Type I +civilization on Kardashev scale. Before we event sent our first +seed ship, it has been theorized that it will take several +generations before it even pass the half-way mark towards it's +destination. Some even suggested that by the time the first such +ship would arrive, the rest will already have developed faster and +more efficient ways of travel between interstellar bodies. Some +were putting their hopes in quantum computing, or even +self-teaching AI, but alas, our machines are still only as perfect +as their creators. Here we are, still floating around at sub-light +speeds, spending the first half of the journey speeding up and the +other half slowing down and praying for our calculations to be +correct. As fascinating as it may seem, even the stars move around. +We have to calculate the trajectory of our target and account for +the delay caused by the speed of light and the distance, because by +the time the star's light reaches our eyes, it might be already +long gone. In the better case, it merely moves from it's previous +position. Worst case, it's gone supernova and our ship will arrive +to a newly formed black hole... +Then there is this little annoying thing backed up by out +observations from our home planet - the universe (or at least it's +observable part at least) is expanding - we can tell, because the +stars are gradually changing their color spectrum towards red and +infra-red meaning the light itself is taking longer and longer to +travel all the way to our photoreceptors... +Sounds depressing doesn't it? +]]> + + + Relay station A-18 - Last Humans + zeth@cosmic.voyage (zeth) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Relay station A-18/Last Humans.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Relay station A-18/Last Humans.txt + Fri, 02 Aug 2019 09:27:39 GMT + +###TRANSMISSION RECEIVED### +Source: r/HFY +Author: u/OC +Title: Last Humans + + +---BEGIN MESSAGE--- +Let me tell you what we found at the end of the trail of +destruction. It was a small system, 10 or so planets around a +medium sized yellow dwarf star. Around the third planet we found +the remains of the swarm. Millions of their ships floated in +burning roiling chaos around this charred rock. As far as we could +tell it had been a garden world. Despite our best efforts we could +not get close. Our scans told enough though. The swarm had been +drawn here like moths to a candle. They did that, back then, when +they encountered a particular bit of resistance. Pour enough ships +and lives in and eventually they would break even the strongest +species. + +It had worked for them so far. A quarter of the galaxy lay desolate +behind their advance. Our fiercest warrior species and most +coordinated hive-races were even no match for them. That was, until +they had begun to focus on this one planet above all else. Legions +of ships would break orbits and leave their scrapping of suns to +come here. At the time we were not even aware of intelligent life +in this region. Certainly no species near the Hyperspace Threshold. +You can imagine our surprise and shock coming onto that scene in a +supposedly uninhabited system. + +Of course, we now know of the Humans. Only the youngest emerging +species have yet to hear of them. When we finally found the +remnants of their race orbiting the nearest star, we learned the +price they had paid. You see, the swarm had found them like +countless before. But Humans are a painfully violent and stubborn +species. They have been trying to kill each other off for most of +their history. Yes... you could probably call it insanity. But it +forged an iron hard species. A species that was also armed to the +fangs and making technological breakthroughs at an unheard of rate. +They had even made rudimentary steps into hyperspace technology by +the time the swarm descended. And they fought back. + +How they fought. Hundreds of thousands of fission bombs were built +and used... actually used! They reverse engineered the swarm's +gravity simulators and weaponized them. Weaponized gravity! +Millions of ships crushed or flung apart or shorn in half by Human +ingenuity and a bit of physics. They fought like this all the way +to the ground. There are tales of Humans going hand to hide with +the swarm. Have you ever seen a Human fight in person? They may not +be the biggest or most intimidating species, but they never... +ever... ever give up. From the void of space to the depths of their +world, they came screaming back at the invaders. + +At some point the humans learned the rest of secrets of the +Hyperspace Windows. Probably pried it out a smoking hive ship and +made it speak its secrets through sheer force of will. And then, as +Humans do, they weaponized them. Now, they also discovered as most +species do, that if you open a hyperspace window at the bottom of a +gravity well it causes significant problems. Besides a cataclysmic +release of energy, the subspace tends to... tear, in a way. In deep +space these tend to heal up swiftly. But down in heavy gravity they +linger. As far as we know they will last until the end of time +itself. Of course the humans used this. Thousands of satellites +were launched. Powered by the engines of downed swarm ships of all +things. And on every satellite were dozens of basic hyperspace +generators. Good for maybe one use. The equipment was just basic +enough to open a window hardly larger than a Human hand. + +You see... they used them like mines. Once a swarm ship was +detected a generator would peel away from the rest. At a safe +distance a tiny hyperspace window would open into the depths of the +swarm ship. The explosion caused by doing that in a gravity well +was probably enough to kill a ship. But add in the effect of +running a ship through a window? A moving ship keeps right on +going, and that window slices a neat little hole all the way to the +hull. So now you have an explosion and you are venting atmosphere. + +This went on for a long time. Down there near Earth the void +shimmers with tears in subspace. Hundreds of thousands of tears, +waiting to shred a ship into a million ribbons before you know what +is happening. That is why we could not get close to Earth. The +space around it is a death sentence. But the Humans had one last +weapon to fight with. In the end, they made the swarm kill itself. + +From downed ships they learned the deepest secrets of the swarm. +They learned how to call for help. Humanity built an immense +transmitter. They called it the Laurentian Candle. Carved into a +huge expanse of stone, it calls to the stars. With it they summoned +the swarm to them by sending the call of a swarm Empress in +distress. That is what finally brought millions of ships to die +there, sliced to ribbons above a burning planet. By this point +there were only an estimated 60,000 Humans left alive. So they +built a ship. Right there on the ground. Thousands upon thousands +of cryo capsules in massive clusters. And they left. That was what +cracked the planet in two finally, that massive hyperspace window +slamming shut. + +With that final goodbye to their only home, they saved the galaxy. +It is impossible to shut off the signal from the Candle, and the +swarm plunged in to their deaths. When we found them and learned +what they had done, word spread like light in the void. These +remnants were offered shelter, moons, planets, entire star systems +in the oldest civilizations. Yet they declined every offer. Instead +they asked for ships. Thousands of ships, enough to carry their +entire population into the void. So now they wander, searching for +something. They offer trade of technology or goods for information. +Always information. Maps, charts, scans, rumors... they take it +all. These respected people wander, always welcome wherever they +pause, but never pausing for long. Always on to the next planet or +system. Searching. Yearning. Hunting. For something they lost or +sent out long ago when the swarm was surrounding them and hope was +bleak. + +Something called an "Ark." +---END MESSAGE--- + +Reviewer's note: this message seems to be a piece of creative +artistic work rather than actual report, although due to the nature +of QEC-based communication, it is impossible to determine if that's +actually case or not. +]]> + Melvin P Feltersnatch - Killing time tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) @@ -449,7 +660,7 @@ the hurting. tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/019.txt gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/019.txt - Wed, 15 May 2019 02:46:55 GMT + Mon, 29 Jul 2019 09:52:10 GMT Message Incoming... @@ -511,6 +722,7 @@ other disciplinary actions taken since landfall. As we enter seed cycle one, alpha site will enter alert stage one. We foresee no probable crew issues. . + ]]> diff --git a/gopher/ships/Relay station A-18/gophermap b/gopher/ships/Relay station A-18/gophermap new file mode 120000 index 0000000..640624a --- /dev/null +++ b/gopher/ships/Relay station A-18/gophermap @@ -0,0 +1 @@ +/var/gopher/ships/ship/gophermap \ No newline at end of file