LucasLaughing

Cool little speeder, and I really like the uneven ground; it definitely makes it look like the geysers are bursting through. I don't know that I'm a huge fan of the geysers themselves, but I'm not sure I have a better solution either. At the start of my build I did a little experimenting with clear round 2x2 and 4x4 dishes on top of a column of cylinders, but it didn't look right either.

Wow, so many great scenes and details! I really like the interrogation room with the little mic on the desk, and the lab is beautiful - nice work! I think Chief Accountant Long must have attended one of the Octan Business Management Workshops

Thanks guys! I'm always a proponent of including some real science with the science fiction Thank you everyone!

Location: Ertauq - E03 Tags: Exploration Lu's Log 12 Julali 3815 Even after its terraforming, Mars was a dying planet, a billion years past its prime. Sure, parts of it had been transformed into versions of paradise, and the sight of the sun rising over Olympus Mons never failed to stir the soul, but the green trees always felt far removed from the red soil which had been chemically altered to allow them to live. In contrast, Ertauq is a planet being born; its birthing pains plainly felt in the hundreds of small earthquakes each day. I've been dispatched to a region near the southern pole - one of the few places where liquid water has been found on the surface. Thirsty travelers will be disappointed, however, as the water is highly acidic and averages a temperature of 90 C. And yet, even in these hostile conditions, life finds a way. Microbial mats, made up of heat-loving bacteria, flourish in the lake, feasting on the sulphur and other compounds which bubble up from deep within the planet. The rainbow colors of the lake are caused by different kinds of bacteria, which have differing heat requirements and thrive at different temperatures. Some scientists think life on earth may have originated in pools very much like this one. I'm collecting samples of the various bacteria - the hope is that studying bacteria like these will allow our scientists to synthesize better heat-resistant materials. My hope is that undertaking a risky mission like this one will help my colleagues forget about my embarrassing debacle on Forring last week. Increasing earthquake swarms are telling me that this geyser field is going to become active soon, so I'll finish up here and get back to the Mudskipper. Lu, out.

53 credits to Bob please.

Location: F03 - Forring Tags: Land vehicle, exploration Lu's Log - 05 Julali 3815 After a long week spent mapping the caves of Jurin II, coming here to Forring feels like a vacation. Beautiful grasslands, mild climate, and breathable air. Up until now, I've been living off "canned air" -- growing up with parents who survived the Martian plague instilled in me a strong distrust of unknown atmospheres. But, Dr. Long assures me that the air here is breathable and disease-free so I've been going sans-helmet. And it's amazing. The colors are more vibrant, the air has a slightly sweet taste, sounds aren't muffled by my helmet's audio. I could get used to this. Today's mission is easy; one of the science team's monitoring stations is offline; I've been dispatched to fix it. "Well hello! Hey CLAPPIE, I don't need to worry about this lizard trying to eat me, right?" "Thank you for asking, Lu! According to the Explorer's Guide, this creature feeds only on insects. Ouch! CLAPPIE, that [expletive redacted] plant just bit me! Fascinating! Lu: Gods, that really hurts. Does the guide have an entry on that plant? CLAPPIE: Indeed! The Explorer's Guide notes that the plant produces an exquisitely beautiful flower in the fall. Lu: That's it?! CLAPPIE: Well ... there has been a suggested edit uploaded to the Guide, but it hasn't yet been approved by the administrators. Lu: What does it say?!? CLAPPIE: Hmm ... it notes that the plant is highly venomous and should be avoided. It's toxins are very similar to those of the African "poison dart" frogs on earth! Lu: I'm ... starting to feel a bit dizzy. Will you please call base for me? CLAPPIE: Of course. One moment. ... ... Lu? Lu: Yes? CLAPPIE: Apparently, you are the fifth employee to be poisoned by the plant this week! The others have all survived, but Dr Long warned that you may experience some visual disturbances and should not attempt to drive. Someone has been dispatched to our location! Lu: CLAPPIE, I think the trees are falling... Stop looking at me, plants! Plants, NO EYE CONTACT IS ALLOWED! ... Urmm ... Need to find a weapon. Bad plants ... must be taught a lesson... Need to ... teach the plants with ... battle axe! Aaaaaaahhhhh! Snakes?!? CLAPPIE, we gotta get to the car!!! Drive us into battle CLAPPIE! CHARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 30 minutes later... Hello, Lu? Hi, I'm from the Axle... I'm here to help.... Get away, snake neck lady!!! Rescue three to Axle, please confirm that the energy weapon on vehicle GV4602 has been deactivated. Rescue three, this is Axle. I confirm, weapon has been remotely deactivated. Okay, Lu, why don't you come on down... you're sick, but you'll be better soon. ... there you go, good. Okay, now drop the stick... Okay, just lie down, nice and easy ... Axle,I have one patient sedated and ready for transport; please have the medivac circle around. Copy, one patient sedated and ready for transport. Medivac will be on scene momentarily. Axle out.

Wow, awesome vehicle! I love how many details you've fit onto it... the angled front legs look great and I really like the bubble cockpits too. Great work!

Another fun and funny story! I think the rocks turned out well, and I really like the drilling machine. As others have said, using the cannons for legs is brilliant.

Thank you! I'm glad I was finally able to use those scorpions I've been stockpiling for years ... Thanks Big Sal! CLAPPIE has been fun to work into the stories, although I realized I'll need to explain why his syntax and voice recognition have improved since the last build Thanks judges! Thank you! Thanks! When I first built the skeleton it started creeping me out, so I knew I had a winner

Beautiful landscape - I really like the color palette you chose for the foliage. Cool walker too!

Cool build - I really like the little scooter/utility vehicle, and the structure looks great.

Great story and build! I really like the probe's arms and "face."

Cool bomber! I really like how you did the wings, and the cockpit has a lot of cool details as well.

53 credits to Bob, please.

Thanks guys! This was my first time doing any kind of larger scale sideways rock building; somewhat fragile and I used most of my slopes, but I like how it turned out. Thanks! I often turn to my 'minifigure accessories' box when I'm trying to figure out small-scale details. Those skates ended up being exactly what I was looking for. Thank you! I figured it was time I got onboard the scorpion bandwagon (now there's a disturbing mental image). I'm glad you liked the story; sometimes I worry it's too long, and there's always more story in my head than makes it onto the page... I figured the galaxy needed some unexplained, creepy mysteries, so this is my contribution to that end

Location: Jurin II - E02 Tags: Exploration Lu's Log: 28 Junali 3815 When I started hearing reports that Octan and M.A.N.T.I.S. forces had entered into armed conflict on Jurin II, I initially decided that I wanted to be deployed somewhere far away. I saw enough bloodshed during the Phobos uprising to last a lifetime. Then, I got the call from Dr. Long: one of our orbiting probes detected a magnetic anomaly, similar to the one detected on Hennigan II. "Dr Long," I said, "You had me at 'Magnetic Anomaly." The anomaly was traced to the tidal caves on one of the smaller islands of Jurin II. Our engineers have cooked up a new personal transport system, and once I find a large enough opening I lower myself down into the caves. Normally, this is the kind of exploration that should be done with a team, but everyone else is tied up on the surface. It's a few hours until high tide and even if something were to happen, my suit has at least 6 hours of air. Enough to keep me going until rescue arrived. Hopefully. I've been walking for about 1.5 km, through damp, dripping tunnels, but my suit indicates that the source of the anomaly should be just around this corner ... ... Oh. Oh gods. ... Ok, ok, pull yourself together. You've seen worse than this. ... Lu calling the O.C.S Axle, come in over. Lu, this is the Axle, go ahead with message. Lu: Axle, I've got a code three delta. I repeat, code three delta. Axle: Copy, uh, stand by. ... Okay, confirm that's a code three delta? Lu: That's affirmative. Axle: Alright, I'm sending a team to your coordinates now. I have a few follow up questions, but please keep in mind that this isn't a secure channel. Lu: Roger, go ahead. Axle: What is the condition of the remains? Lu: Skeletal. Axle: Ok, does it appear that the death was due to natural causes? Lu: No. Axle: Alright. And, uh, no offense but I have to ask … is it possible that this is just, you know, one of our people? Axle: Lu? Lu: No. No this is definitely not one of our people. Axle: Ok, thank you. ETA for your team is 45 minutes. Axle, out. Using my suit to take video, I circle around the ... anomaly, careful not to get too close. Sensors confirm that the chain holding the creature is forged of pure Awesomnium. Although this cave obviously fills with water at high tide, the area around the anomaly appears untouched, as if it's surrounded by an invisible bubble. Impossible to tell how long this has been here, or what it's purpose is. Is this an execution? A burial? A mistake? One of the creature's eyes is covered, the other appears to have something small and red stuffed inside. Negative on radiation or energy readings. Lu! Aaah! Dammit, CLAPPIE, you scared the sh*t out of me. What are you doing here, I didn't activate my guide? CLAPPIE: I'm always here Lu. Normally, however, I do not reveal myself until you activate your guide. Lu: That's ... creepy. CLAPPIE: A more perceptive being might view it as 'reassuring.' After all, I have access to hundreds of orbiting satellites and countless computer systems, while you are limited to your simple meat-based sensors. Lu: 'Meat-based' sensors... I- CLAPPIE: Forgive my interruption, but you must evacuate the cave system now, for your own safety. Lu: What? High tide is still an hour away. CLAPPIE: Thank you Lu, but I am aware of the tides. If you like, I could calculate the high and low tides for the next one-thousand years, taking into account orbital drift, of course. Lu: Right... CLAPPIE: I speak not of the tides, but of the creatures that migrate through this cave, fleeing the tides. They are quite hostile. I pause. A skittering noise, which I had taken for falling water, has gotten noticeably louder. Ok, time to jog toward the transport. Later, on the surface... Phew, thanks CLAPPIE. You're welcome, Lu. I wouldn't want you to come to any harm. I have big plans for us. Lu to Axle, I've been forced to evacuate the caves, but I don't think the anomaly is going anywhere. I'll be waiting for you on the surface. Lu, out. ----

Please transfer 70 credits to Bob.

I really like the little melt-pool in the snow, and that's a neat, fearsome looking arm!

Nice use of the alien antennas as food! Also, I really like the look of the artifact - the duplo was a good call.

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!..."

Beautiful reef! Those flame pieces work really well, as do the unicorn horns.

Fantastic little ship! I love the wings, and the fender parts to make a bulge by the fan ... so many great details.

That water ... Awesome little speeder too! Did you plan this out on paper before hand to get the waves right?

Cool tree technique, and a very ... unsettling story. I love your use of CLAPPIE and the hydroponic growth system - I'm sure we'll get those bugs worked out soon!

Amazing! I really like the surf breaking against the rocks, and the whale is awesome. I think you need to update your description, though, and specify which planet this is?