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by **Cannonshop** on Mon Mar 19, 2001 7:57 am

I am having a question here: What is the Author's position on the effects of High-Gravity/Low Gravity environments on the physical development of his characters? Obviously the Exedran navy is equipped with artificial gravity systems. How do Exedra and Erosia compare to, say... Earth in terms of gravitation/atmosphere? I noticed that there don't tend to be any Fat people shown on either world, which tends to indicate a high-g(moderate) environment...

by **ZOMBIE USER 866** on Thu Mar 22, 2001 5:07 am

I haven't had a chance to really show a lot of non-military people, yet. Although, I do have a couple of older civilians (pp 5 and 6 of issue 2) who are not overly slender. Erosia is a natural planet, and its gravity is about equal to 95% of Earth's, and its atmosphere is slightly thinner (sea level oxygenation is closer to Earth's 5,000 ft level). Exedra is a terraformed planet, a bit smaller and denser than Earth, with a gravity force that's about 1.2 times that of the mother planet. Native-born Exedrans tend to be (but aren't always) shorter and leaner than Erosians. The first Exedran colonists lived in domes. The planet's O2 levels were cultivated over a period of about 200 years, through intense vegetation (Exedra is about 30% solid forest), and are maintained by constant forestation, though their ozone layer isn't as effective as Earth's. It was created in pieces, beneath a force field, in an effort to speed up the construction of the oxygen-rich atmosphere. Thus, the UV rays are vicious. On Exedra, sunscreen is in soap, shampoo, lotions, and even in the washroom water in metropolitan areas, and people do not ever go outside without sunglasses. The Exedrans are also extremely waste-conscious, and the fines for breaking the No-Waste laws are exhorbitant. First offense littering gets a fine of 5,000 Zo...the equivalent of about $15,000 US dollars. Ocean littering fines are twice that. (Exedra's oceans are smaller than Earth's -- none larger than our Indian Ocean -- but more numerous.)Overall, it's a nice, clean place to live, with an ethnic diversity that rivals Earth's and breathtakingly beautiful scenery. Although, the beautiful scenery was created by frequent and violent quakes. Extreme beauty always comes at a high cost.(^-^)Kaichi

by **Cannonshop** on Thu Mar 22, 2001 5:30 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Kaichi:
I haven't had a chance to really show a lot of non-military people, yet. Although, I do have a couple of older civilians (pp 5 and 6 of issue 2) who are not overly slender. Erosia is a natural planet, and its gravity is about equal to 95% of Earth's, and its atmosphere is slightly thinner (sea level oxygenation is closer to Earth's 5,000 ft level). Exedra is a terraformed planet, a bit smaller and denser than Earth, with a gravity force that's about 1.2 times that of the mother planet. Native-born Exedrans tend to be (but aren't always) shorter and leaner than Erosians. The first Exedran colonists lived in domes. The planet's O2 levels were cultivated over a period of about 200 years, through intense vegetation (Exedra is about 30% solid forest), and are maintained by constant forestation, though their ozone layer isn't as effective as Earth's. It was created in pieces, beneath a force field, in an effort to speed up the construction of the oxygen-rich atmosphere. Thus, the UV rays are vicious. On Exedra, sunscreen is in soap, shampoo, lotions, and even in the washroom water in metropolitan areas, and people do not ever go outside without sunglasses. The Exedrans are also extremely waste-conscious, and the fines for breaking the No-Waste laws are exhorbitant. First offense littering gets a fine of 5,000 Zo...the equivalent of about $15,000 US dollars. Ocean littering fines are twice that. (Exedra's oceans are smaller than Earth's -- none larger than our Indian Ocean -- but more numerous.)Overall, it's a nice, clean place to live, with an ethnic diversity that rivals Earth's and breathtakingly beautiful scenery. Although, the beautiful scenery was created by frequent and violent quakes. Extreme beauty always comes at a high cost.(^-^)Kaichi <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Hmmmm. That means that an Exedran and an Erosian of similar age... hmmm. Exedran troops would absolutely Pummel Erosian troops on any Surface battlefield, given equal weight of equipment, since the Exedran trooper will have greater stamina, due to coming from an environment with roughly 25% higher gravity (figure muscle-mass, strain resistance of bones, skin...), after a few generations, Exedrans will also be more resistant to certain wavelengths of energy (provided that the death-rebirth cycle follows Darwinian standards, i.e., those with a higher resistance to UV light are more likely to breed and have children than those without that resistance... the difference will probably be minimal for several hundered years...) The Fine structure is STEEP! given how much of the planet's habitability is tied up in deliberate effort, this isn't unreasonable. I take it, though, that the dominant cultural influence IS Japanese/Asian? Also, that the dominant Cultural influence on Erosia is European/Slavic, with hints of Germanic influences? With such heavy-handed tactics in their own cities (use of Helicopter Gunships in inhabited areas is generally frowned upon in Anglo-European cultures with Germanic influences, due to both the risk of damaging Valuable property, and, of killing potentially useful workers, something which tends to adversely affect the productivity of ones industrial base.)
I wonder something else, as well: Exedra's industrial base- Given the fragility of the local environment, do they use a lot of Asteroid mining techniques? It would explain both the Long "Cruise" tours, and the apparent large size of the Naval forces-(Carriers, escort vessels, fighters... all high-maintenance, large crewed, systems, very expensive, vulnerable to Budget Axes...) in relation to the relative youth of the world employing them.

by **ZOMBIE USER 866** on Sat Mar 24, 2001 2:12 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Cannonshop:
 Hmmmm. That means that an Exedran and an Erosian of similar age... hmmm. Exedran troops would absolutely Pummel Erosian troops on any Surface battlefield, given equal weight of equipment, since the Exedran trooper will have greater stamina, due to coming from an environment with roughly 25% higher gravity (figure muscle-mass, strain resistance of bones, skin...), after a few generations, Exedrans will also be more resistant to certain wavelengths of energy (provided that the death-rebirth cycle follows Darwinian standards, i.e., those with a higher resistance to UV light are more likely to breed and have children than those without that resistance... the difference will probably be minimal for several hundered years...) <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The Exedrans

by **ZOMBIE USER 866** on Sun Mar 25, 2001 12:10 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Said by me, earlier: Your assumption would hold true if the conflict were to take place on the surface of Exedra, or in a similar environment.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I should have said "similar oxygen-rich environment." I don't mean to imply that the lower gravity has any bearing on the oxygenation of the blood. Please pardon me... I'm pooped out, this week, and I'm worried I'm not making any sense. (~-^)Kaichi

by **Cannonshop** on Mon Mar 26, 2001 7:50 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Kaichi:
 I should have said "similar oxygen-rich environment." I don't mean to imply that the lower gravity has any bearing on the oxygenation of the blood. Please pardon me... I'm pooped out, this week, and I'm worried I'm not making any sense. (~-^)Kaichi <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Well, you Did make sense in the original, but I'm sure some of the folks dropping in might need the clarification. Actually, I was referring to a surface fight on a planet where either A: the environment is a median between the two worlds, or B: where both sides have to pack their own life support (Airless rock, poisonous atmosphere, undersea, etc...) Provided, that is, they're using Recyclers, rather than compressed gas in bottles. (if the latter, all bets are off.), My point is that Erosian troops have far greater hurdles as a conquering force, than an Exedran counterattack task force would face. Naturally, home ground gives advantages.

by **Jpeane** on Mon Mar 26, 2001 8:38 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Kaichi:
 I should have said "similar oxygen-rich environment." I don't mean to imply that the lower gravity has any bearing on the oxygenation of the blood. Please pardon me... I'm pooped out, this week, and I'm worried I'm not making any sense. (~-^)Kaichi <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>You are making sense, Satake san. By the by, I'm enjoying this exchange and look forward to your "tech page". I have a question to add to this as well. Are the Exedrans and Erosians engaged in any surface fighting and if so where is it occurring? The Erosian home world defense doesn't seem very tight for war time. Or are their opponents simply more advanced with stealth technology (and are possibly also more chivalric)? Or is this more of a "cold war" situation where no "formal" fighting is occurring?Jim

by **ZOMBIE USER 866** on Wed Mar 28, 2001 2:50 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Cannonshop:
 Well, you Did make sense in the original, but I'm sure some of the folks dropping in might need the clarification. Actually, I was referring to a surface fight on a planet where either A: the environment is a median between the two worlds, or B: where both sides have to pack their own life support (Airless rock, poisonous atmosphere, undersea, etc...) Provided, that is, they're using Recyclers, rather than compressed gas in bottles. (if the latter, all bets are off.), My point is that Erosian troops have far greater hurdles as a conquering force, than an Exedran counterattack task force would face. Naturally, home ground gives advantages.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>You're right, there, Dan san. Exedran troops would have an advantage, in that situation. The Erosians also have the added disadvantage of fewer people, overall. Exedra has been building its population and military force for nearly 400 years, compared to Erosia's 100. The Erosians haven't had time to reach the same level of power. That's not to say they'd be easy to defeat. We only need to refer to Vietnam, to see how obstinate and clever such a supposedly disadvantaged adversary can be, and how cautious the superior power must be in order to avoid looking like a steamroller. The Erosians have off-world supporters, even within the Alliance, so Exedra must tread carefully in their response to the taking of Ardo. More on this in my reply to Jim...(^-^)Kaichi

by **ZOMBIE USER 866** on Wed Mar 28, 2001 3:00 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by jpeane:
 You are making sense, Satake san. By the by, I'm enjoying this exchange and look forward to your "tech page". I have a question to add to this as well. Are the Exedrans and Erosians engaged in any surface fighting and if so where is it occurring? The Erosian home world defense doesn't seem very tight for war time. Or are their opponents simply more advanced with stealth technology (and are possibly also more chivalric)? Or is this more of a "cold war" situation where no "formal" fighting is occurring?Jim<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>You guys ask great questions! I only hope my answers are adequate!! (^-^)So far, there's no surface fighting going on. Erosia has just taken Ardo (Exedra's primary mining source), but war has not yet been formally declared by Exedra. Their first response is that required by the Alliance treaties: issue a demand that the invading force withdraw, with the threat of Alliance-wide embargo of all trade if the withdrawal doesn't occur within a given time frame (in this case, one week, owing to the importance of the territory in question). If the time frame passes with no response from the offending force, or with refusal to comply with the demand, the embargo goes into effect--again, for a specified period of time (six weeks, for this one). If this time frame passes with no satisfactory result, then the offended party may formally declare war and have at it, immediately. The purpose of the time frames in the treaties is to attempt to avert interplanetary war, whenever possible. Also, the treaties forbid usage of any Ultima-level weapons (ala the Death Star in Star Wars, or other technologies capable of mass destruction, such as one that would decimate or contaminate a planet's atmosphere, water supply, etc). For the most part, Erosia abides by the weapons restrictions of the Alliance treaties, even though they didn't sign them. They know use of those weapons would bring the wrath of the entire Alliance down upon them.Certain acts of military aggression do justify an immediate war declaration, as far as the Alliance is concerned. Assassination, sabotage which costs human lives, attempts at genocide, and deliberate destruction of a vessel or structure in which people are killed are among the justifiable reasons for war. A bloodless invasion is treated differently than an exchange of violence, in the treaties. Because of the wording, Exedra cannot declare war on the basis of Erosia's having invaded Ardo (without bloodshed), but Erosia could decare war on Exedra on the basis of Max's unfortunate blasting of an Erosian military vessel. Exedra could not have declared war, however, had the Erosian gunship or fighters destroyed the Dart, since it was within Erosian airspace without permission. The Exedrans *are* somewhat more techologically advanced than the Erosians, and are generally more powerful, overall. However, as I mention in the reply to Dan, above, their superior strength puts the burden of restraint upon them. Erosia does not have the money nor the man-power to maintain a planetary shield, like Exedra has, so any surface fighting would likely take place either on Erosia or on Ardo. Ardo has its own shield, which would give the on-world invaders an advantage, if the conflict were to happen there. The Erosian Emperor also knows he has time to concentrate his plundering of Ardo, before he needs to worry about defending his home world. He has a few weeks to take all the resources he can get from Ardo and bring them back to his own planet, before Exedra is even be able to declare war. His forces are involved to a great extent in this rush operation, and he won't spare them for defense until he has to. Prod me again, if I've left anything out. I'm getting threats from AOL about being kicked offline for inactivity, while I'm just sitting here typing. Sigh...(^-^)Kaichi

by **ZOMBIE USER 866** on Wed Mar 28, 2001 3:16 am

Oh yeah, and while I'm thinking about it, I'll go ahead and say there are some things I won't disclose, just yet. They're still classified. So if anyone asks about something and I hemm and haw about it, this is why. I don't want to release certain things, too early. I had to think about the last few tech questions very carefully, to make sure I didn't talk too much...(~-^)Kaichi
(and don't think you can get it out of Max or Genjiro, either. Max is not necessarily reliable, as his information is heavily opinionated, and Genjiro doesn't know enough juicy stuff to be of value, yet.)

by **Cannonshop** on Wed Mar 28, 2001 3:51 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Kaichi:
Oh yeah, and while I'm thinking about it, I'll go ahead and say there are some things I won't disclose, just yet. They're still classified. So if anyone asks about something and I hemm and haw about it, this is why. I don't want to release certain things, too early. I had to think about the last few tech questions very carefully, to make sure I didn't talk too much...(~-^)Kaichi
(and don't think you can get it out of Max or Genjiro, either. Max is not necessarily reliable, as his information is heavily opinionated, and Genjiro doesn't know enough juicy stuff to be of value, yet.)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I see... I do have one last question: about how BIG is the Colonial Alliance? (something has been pestering me in the back of my head...) and is it centered on the position of the Sol System?

by **ZOMBIE USER 866** on Fri Mar 30, 2001 2:12 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Cannonshop:
 I see... I do have one last question: about how BIG is the Colonial Alliance? (something has been pestering me in the back of my head...) and is it centered on the position of the Sol System?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>The Alliance is currently made up of four planetary governments (which are themselves federations of smaller internal governments--with the exception of Maragon): Exedra, Cassare, Farai and Maragon. Maragon isn't actually a colony; it was habited before the Earth people came, with a humanoid race who claim to have "seeded" Earth, in its early days. I'm not sure whether or not I believe them, but they do bear striking resemblance to modern-day Earth people. The Alliance also protects the independent mining colonies, like Ardo, though they aren't truly members. There are about half a dozen of those communities, and each one is generally attached to one government or another.Erosia doesn't belong to the Alliance, of course, and neither does Juso, which is an alien world. Mostly, they want nothing to do with humans, and keep to themselves. Jusonians rarely even leave their own world.The colonies are not really centered on the position of the Sol system, either. They're rather scattered around a fold in space (I follow the theory that space is a complex hyperbola), and were reached in generation ships. There's basically no contact between the colonies and Earth, and the colonies' technology lags behind Earth's in some ways, and is more advanced, in others. Travel between the colonies is done via wormholes. I call them "jump gates," though, because they aren't constantly open at a size large enough to admit a starship. It takes an enormous amount of energy to open a 'hole to that size, so mine are pilot-activated, sort of like runway lights on uncontrolled airports can be turned on or off or adjusted by incoming pilots. The gates are usually controlled by whichever colony they're closest to, and traffic through them is regulated closely, just like border gates are. The gates save a lot on energy, since using FTL drives is not necessary all the time.(^-^)Kaichi

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