LucasLaughing Posted June 20, 2015 Location: G03 - New California Tags: Octan, Exploration Lu's Log 20 Junali 3815 Xenobiological Survey of G-03 At first glance, "New California" appears to be a desert wasteland, largely devoid of life and, most of the year, this is true. But, things are not always as they seem. G-03 has a highly elliptical orbit and, several times a year, this orbit brings it (relatively) close to a companion planet, G-03b. G-03b is a gas giant and as the planets draw together the gravity from G-03b starts to squeeze and stretch G-03. There are earthquakes, and the ground cracks and deforms. Finally, as the planets near their closest point, water is squeezed from the porous rocks of G-03, flooding onto the surface to create vast rivers and huge, shallow seas. Evolution here has favored organisms that can respond quickly to water, so overnight the desert seems to bloom as plants and fungi spring from long buried seeds and spores. One organism of note is the Eshey-Pombe Traptus, named for the famed pair of explorers that first discovered it. This specimen is very young, but as it grows it will develop pink flowers to tempt unwary prey, and venomous barbs to paralyze any creatures that venture too close, allowing the Traptus to eat them at its leisure. Somewhat the opposite of the innocent looking Traptus, the Diablo Beetle looks fearsome... ...but it feeds on seeds and small invertebrates, which it filters from the sand using feather-like appendages. Next on the scene, a trio of Scorpstriches. Somewhat similar to flightless birds, these creatures have evolved venomous stingers on their tails and long, curved beaks for fishing small creatures out of the dunes. A crested Anklyodison approaches! It and the beetle size each other up, but each decides the other is not enough of a threat to fight. When water is present, time and energy cannot be wasted on unimportant squabbles. Look! Something has spooked the animals: They are right to be wary, because a grave danger approaches them from above. It's a Wind Walker! These giant creatures use the thermal columns generated by the hot desert air to rise high into the sky, before descending on unwary prey. They're held aloft by chambers of gas, which they expand and deflate as needed. They're a graceful creature, but don't let their apparent delicateness fool you. They are predators. Fortunately for our assembled creatures, this Wind Walker has eaten recently and is only interested in water. It sucks up vast quantities of water and, using a process we don't yet understand, separates the hydrogen from the oxygen. It uses the former to stay aloft and the latter is expelled through tiny openings to help the creature maneuver The rivers and oceans wont last long. In a few days, perhaps a week at most, the liquid will filter back down through the thirsty sand. The plants and fungi wither and die. The lucky ones will have released spores or seeds, which will wait below the sand, for years or decades if needed, until the water comes again. Today, though, the water is here and for a brief time "New California" looks exactly like old California used to*. -Lu out. *Disclaimer - I grew up on Mars and have never actually seen "old" California, But I imagine it looks something like this. The whole build: Link to larger pics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike S Posted June 20, 2015 Nice! Quite a zoo you have displayed! Every single specimen is great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jody Meyer Posted June 20, 2015 Wow, great use of the reindeer heads, great zoology story. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kai NRG Posted June 20, 2015 Really like all those creatures! Great concept! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Gidman Posted June 20, 2015 Wow, that's a lot of different alien species! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LittleJohn Posted June 20, 2015 Excellent work on all the aliens! Great plants as well, I like the use of cherries Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kodan Black Posted June 21, 2015 Creative alien builds. Nice tie in to pombe's story too! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aeralure Posted June 21, 2015 Some really creative creatures! I love the variety, those little flightless birds especially. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rodiziorobs Posted June 21, 2015 NPU as far as the eye can see! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shmails Posted June 21, 2015 So much fun!!! I love the creativity in all the flora and fauna, especially the spores. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mrcp6d Posted June 21, 2015 This is quite the zoo! I agree with rodiziorobs completely, there are way too many interesting parts combinations and connections here to list. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lord Tyrus Posted June 21, 2015 I love your animals, fantastic parts usage all round! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheUtilityBelt Posted June 21, 2015 Awesome creatures! Quite a developed (at least for a little while!) ecosystem "New California" has! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Space Terrapin Posted June 21, 2015 Beautiful build, I love all the different critters! Very colourful and imaginative. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob De Quatre Posted June 22, 2015 In which set does that that the big hand shaped brick comes? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Sal Posted June 22, 2015 Wow, so much amazing wildlife in this build! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LucasLaughing Posted June 22, 2015 Thanks for all the kind comments, everyone! This was a very time-consuming build, as many of the animals were revised and rebuilt several times before I was happy with them, so I'm glad you all enjoyed @Bob ..."Pay no attention to the giant floating sky hand ... look, over there, another creature!..." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kabel Posted June 22, 2015 awesome critters there. Loving it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dannylonglegs Posted June 22, 2015 In which set does that that the big hand shaped brick comes? I think it's from one of those late 90s sets when they were still coming into their own insofar as "Accessories" for sets. Love the ecosystem, lu! We'll thought out, all! Great NPUs too! I love the wind-floater! Reminds me of something out of D&D! ~Insectoid Aristocrat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Umbra-Manis Posted June 23, 2015 Great varied wildlife! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andromedas Gates Posted June 23, 2015 The judges awarded you 7 points. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
