For Insomniacs.
At the end of the Earth Minbari War there was a scramble by Earth to obtain new technologies and resources to fund their fleet rebuilding program.
IPX (Interplanetary Expeditions) soon became leader in the discovery of new worlds for colonisation and exploitation, and new technologies either through first contact or by actual acquisition from "lost civilisations".
They consequently became the developers of
proto colony modules , designed for rapid deployment on new worlds, to legitimise any claims based on first discovery. They proved so successful in this role that IPX were able to market the modules for use to other Races too busy or low tech to develop their own. IPX usually tied sale of these modules to a share in any technological discovery.
The first of these modules, the
IPX DOME was essentially a pre fabricated modular research unit that could be operational in weeks by a skeleton workforce. Initially designed for the Institute of Xenostudies, its research potential was quite high. It also had communication links and a limited scanning facility of up 2 or 3 sectors. System wide scanning was considered too high profile for what was essentially covert research but it was deemed necessary to know who was interested in your activities should you be paid a visit. Later developments provided workshops for equipment repairs.
Net products:
Research - High
Intelligence - Low
Repair/construction? - Subsistence
The other modules were more profit making modules to further fund IPX's primary mission of research and tech procurement:-
IPX (AMP) Module or Atmospheric Modification Plant . This facility Changes the atmosphere of the planet to one that is breathable.
Due to a reluctance to fund earlier AMP designs due to their long construction times and even longer modification times a new philosophy to
Atmospheric ConVersion emerged. The new AMP facility took just under a year to begin operation. It still took 60 years to convert an atmosphere unless more resources were applied, however investors could start to see a probable return for their investment. The only side effect to this method was the total detriment of the conditions of a planet and the negative effect on the resources value, due to flooding and other forces of nature. Reactors for these facilities are crude and consume resources the whole time the facility is operational. Once ConVersion is achieved the facility is best destroyed.
Universal Terraform : a mega-corporation that explores and prepares new worlds for colonisation or exploitation, had a deal with
IPX to provide
Climate Control and
Value Improvement Modules that would begin repairing the damage caused to the eco system by the
IPX-AMP . At least these operations could be conducted in breathable atmospheres. Pioneer colonist rather enjoyed the challenge of improving new worlds and would flood to the new colonies for the satisfaction of expanding the human condition.
The above all became available generically to the non aligned races with the more advanced races using their own processes.
Tech Specs A.U.R
Available upon ....
[ May 21, 2004, 03:28: Message edited by: Nomor ]