Ferdinando

Location: A06-Guinevere Tags: science Dr.Arvan 'Yrich Arkov personal log: "Four days ago I landed on the planet Guinevere, an adolescent world whose deserts are scarred by newborn volcanoes - wholly different from the ancient serir on Linopeia III. It is a hostile planet for technologically advanced species, as the extreme heat melts metal while the sand consumes it, eating away our precious machinery and, even worse, damaging the delicate electronic synapses of our droids, computers and ships' AIs. But working without robotic assistance is unconceivable; my laboratory is crammed with the remains of the numerous artificial counterparts that couldn't stand Guinevere's environment, and now redesigned to fulfill their task. Domination through adaptation, the major truth of life - both biological and technological. I am waiting for the M.A.N.T.I.S. mining overseers to arrive and witness the testing of the new lava sampler I designed - if it doesn't work, I can still tell them it was my student's fault." Guinevere 1 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Dr.Arvan: “Overseer Krya, Lieutenant Aarne; I welcome you to our research base and experimenting field on Guinevere. I see you have left your weapons outside on board; it is a necessary safety measure with the volcanic particles in the air, as is wearing protection goggles. While the air is breathable for short periods, the heated dust and lapilli can damage permanently the eyes.” Overseer Krya: “No need for such recommendations, Dr.Arkov; we are well aware of the M.A.N.T.I.S. environmental protocol. Shall we commence with the operation? Dr.Arvan: “Of course. As you can see, we’re about to send the M-X18 prototype to obtain a lava sample for mineralogical analysis. I planned to test the X17 too, but my student destroyed it.” Parix: “It wasn’t my fault; if that Positron Core Collapser hadn’t been on... Dr.Arvan: “Shut up! Guinevere 2 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Guinevere 3 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Dr.Arvan: “The Awesomnite alloy plating is withstanding the heat and protecting the AI computational matrix. Success.” Guinevere 4 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Oversser Aarne: “Impressive. Can this modification be implemented on all of our machinery? And more specifically on military machinery? After all, we may have to contend this planet with Kawashita very soon.” Dr.Arvan: “I am a scientist, Overseer. I disdain war as the irrational behaviour it is. But I see your point. Once the basic instruments and droids are provided with this new armour, we’ll be able to upgrade weapons and vehicles in no time.” Overseer Krya: “Excellent. By the way, don’t worry too much about the possibility of war. If a conflict ever breaks out, the scientific contribution you all give will make it a very short one... " extra pics: Guinevere 6 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Guinevere 7 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr guinevere 8 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Guinevere 9 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Guinevere 10 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr

Awesome landscape!

Fantastic and hilarious! BTW I fear I won't deal with plants for a while, so don't try sending me those!

Exactly Dr.Long.

Thanks for the suggestion Big Sal! I have to resort to my tablet camera till I get a real one, but a brick-built tripod would be perfect to keep it steady. Great idea!

Thanks LittleJohn!

Thanks rodiziorobs (or should I call you Scorpio?)

Thanks SpacerSteve (both for the comment and the reptorslicer egg)

It's good to see that there'still someone who appreciates field research, even if she works for another corporation. Awesome build.

Fantastic build and great NPU.

I'd have liked to make a more precise M.A.N.T.I.S. logo, but my limited collection of lime green hasn't allowed me to make a better version.

Location: B04-Barnius Tags: Science Dr.Arvan ‘Yrich Arkov’s personal log: “I’ve landed on Barnius yesterday. This world is beyond every expectation. Flourishing forests cover its surface, painting it of the vivid colours of alien spring; A similarly vivacious wildlife inhabits the woods. I’d eagerly spend the rest of my life contemplating this places… But I’ve got work to do. There are thousands of genomes that need transcription; and to make things worse, I have a student to look after. I was assigned an apprentice by the New Moscow University a few days ago who is currently busy annoying me, the unexperienced little idiot. At least I can make him do the dishes.” End log. Barnius 1 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Dr.Arvan: “Parix, are you listening? Will you stop taking notes and actually following my explanation at once? Parix: ”Sorry Doc, just trying to write down all these nitrogen bases. Not that they mean anything to me...ATTAGCATCGTATAGCCGZXHFXZ... And what do these Z and X And H stand for, by the way?” Dr.Arvan: ”Parix, sometimes I think your neural cells are on strike. We’re 2.5 million light-years away from Earth and you’re surprised there are different biologic molecules? What really stuns me is that we have actually found all these adenine and thymine and so on. This is an unprecedented case of convergent evolution which you are totally ignoring!” Parix: “Doc, it’s not that I’m ignoring it... I just find it a bit, er, boring.” Barnius 3 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Barnius 5 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Dr.Arvan: “Parix, look. There are millions of new species on this beautiful planet which are endangered by our interference. We’re aliens here, intruders; our very presence puts at risk the ecologic balance of this marvellous environment. That’s why we’re sequencing their DNA. Nothing must be lost. Does that sound boring to you?” Parix: ”What?” Dr.Arvan: “What are you looking at, you... oh, I see. Morning Ms. Alya, any new findings today? Barnius 6 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Ms.Alya: “Explorer SpacerSteve found this reptorslicer egg and sent it for analysis. Dr.Arvan: “Excellent. By the way, I’d suggest you to steer clear from Mr. Starry Eyes, here. At least till I manage to get him killed by a carnivorous plant.” Extra pictures: Barnius 7 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Barnius 8 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Barnius 9 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Barnius 10 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr Barnius 11 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr

Thanks again for the comments! I'd appreciate some suggestions for improvement, too.

Strange...I thought Magrathea was in the Horsehead Nebula. Great work and amusing colour choices.

Excellent work colleague!

Thanks everyone!

Also, as any scientist should know, larvae offer a proteic content superior to any Octan ABS steak. Especially if irradiated with Awesomnium.

Thank you!

Would anyone be so kind to explain me how to load pictures so that they don’t end up becoming a meaningless code? I personally dislike having to post just the links. Thanks.

Location: B03-Linopeia III Tags: science Linopeia III 3 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr https://www.flickr.c...eposted-public/ Dr. Arvan ‘Yrich Arkov’ s personal log: “True scientists don’t stay in their hermetically closed, sterile labs. Biologists must go and look for their exemplars until they can hear their cry, and smell the subtle acidic scent of their pheromone emissions; similarly, my geological resarch must take place in the deep of the Linopeian crust to bring remarkable results.” End log. Linopeia III 4 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr https://www.flickr.c...eposted-public/ Linopeia III 4 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr https://www.flickr.c...eposted-public/ Dr.Arvan: “Do you know the fascinating, long orographic history of this planet, Lieutenant Selene? It used to have many mountainous chains about six-hundred million years ago , spanning for kilometres. But time and its unique climate nevertheless have eroded most of the significant geologic features, leaving behind the endless desertic plains we can see today.” Lt.Selene: “Fascinating indeed sir, but… not really relevant to our domination, is it?” Dr.Arvan: ”Allow me to contradict you. After all, M.A.N.T.I.S. is here to mine the precious Awesomnium hidden in the planet’s crust. What if I told you that we’re digging in the wrong place?” Lt.Selene: “And where should we look then?” Dr.Arvan: “Erosion has grinded to bits the Linopeian mountains; the largest Awesomnium reserve on this side of Andromeda lies hidden in plain sight, floating in the dry air of this planet in the form of sand. The dust you sweep away from your room probably contains a percentage of Awesomnium- and quite a high one, as I have just discovered.” Lt.Selene: “This...this could boost our mining operations by a hundred times! What do we need to put our hands on this treasure?” Dr.Arvan: “A broom. A big, electrostatic broom which will attract the Awesomnium particles as honey does with flies. Engineer Breyga should be working on it right now. Linopeia III 8 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr https://www.flickr.c...eposted-public/ Engineer Breyga: “Doc, do you read me? We’re almost done here. The electrostatic device has begun attracting the Awesomnium... LinopeiaIII 10 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr https://www.flickr.c...eposted-public/ ...and storing it in the refinery. Purity factor is very high-almost ninety-six percent. Dr.Arvan: ”Excellent Mr.Breyga. Any problems during the installation?” Linopeia III 9 by tropeaferdinando, su Flickr https://www.flickr.c...eposted-public/ Engineer Breyga: “Not at all Doc. Jalek, here, has detected some biologic disturbances with his life-form sensor, but, it’s probably just these odd plants...”

Dr.Arkov reporting! I will soon add my first build for the proud M.A.N.T.I.S. Corporation after some real life business once I get my towel packed and take the first flight for Linopeia III.

I hope it works now.

Dr. Arvan 'Yrich Arkov would like to join M.A.N.T.I.S. as a scientist. Backstory soon to come.

Thank you!

Space Pirate Captain Andromeda Ychorax and her crew have sailed with their ship, The Flying Dordellian, in search of a mythical treasure left by an ancient people of planetary architects. Following the navigator Zartiblartstaff’s (the old man clad in white) fragmentary memories, they’ve finally found a trace: an arcane alien idol, covered in gold and marked with an “M”… But they’ll have to fight back their rival Humma Kavula and his cyborg renegades first! Here’s the ship in her dark-red majesty (with dark grey and transparent orange accents): I’ve just realised I forgot to take a photo of it with the closed cargo hold -we apologize for the inconvenience- but trust me, it actually closes. https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/17297498346/ The Dordellian from another angle (and a nice view of that “M”). https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/17323475435/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/17323476905/ The bridge with the crew. https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/17297500806/ The menacing prow. https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/16701008784/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/16703214833/ Here you can see the spacious hold and a little of the control instruments of the aorist-powered thrusters. https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/17323061721/ The poop (first part I built) https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/17135912140/ A nice shot of the upper bridge with the lantern and the steering wheel. https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/17135686948/ The bridge again, here you can see better the graviton-field generator (the big greebly thing in the middle) https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/17137252169/ The captain’s cabin roof can be lifted for playability: inside there’s the ship computer/star maps archive (the bookshelf-like thing)... https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/17135688268/ ..and Andromeda Ychorax’s personal Sqornshellous Zeta sentient armchair! Not all pirates have a parrot as pet. https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/17323477545/ “We are approaching the asteroid!” https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/17116034847/ The whole crew of the Dordellian plus Humma Kavula and his Liutenant Achab. From left to right: Zartiblartstaff, the amnesiac Magrathean; Karrid, the Kantorian assassin; Aracne, the warrioress of Drydon; Nolg John Virsel, a veteran of the Dordellis wars; Captain Andromeda Ychorax himself, Terror of Arkeon, galactic pillager and treasure-hunter; Yoden Gunn, an old, green hermit with a passion for cheese; Jelk Christophrax the ship-boy from Betelburg; Achab, Humma Kavula’s more-machine-than-man lieutenant; Humma Kavula himself, the infamous space pirate presumed dead since the wars of Dordellis and now back with his creepy new robotic legs. https://www.flickr.com/photos/132970338@N08/17323480195/ a parting shot before the showdown. I would like to thank the admins for this awesome contest which produced some awesome entries; I apologise for the last-minute posting and I hope you’ll like this. Thanks again!