#flat solar system

[todays-xkcd]

We'll turn the asteroid belt into ball bearings to go between different rings orbiting at different speeds.

Flatten the Planets [Explained]

[excerptsfromunpublishedbooks]

Excerpt #60

The Martian warriors stood waiting. They knew that the final battle would be here as the part of The Way known as Celes came into view. The war had run it’s course for seven hundred and three turns of the sun and many on both sides lay dead. Invasion was the enemy’s intent but those born on red soil had pushed back the intruders. Now as the Warriors waited, adjusting the straps of their crab shell armor and tapping their iron spears onto the soil, the mood became tense. The Jovian forces had massed at the fortress-city of Noc and moved sunward towards Olympus Mons as The Way turned.The majority of Martian warriors were entrenched at the head of the main road while others scouted the planet’s edge for outflanking enemy forces.

“There! The Jovians!” Someone shouted, heads raised to look at the horizon. Along The Way was what looked to be a massive orange river. The Martians knew it was the full might of Jupiter’s army coming to bear. Huge orange banners bearing the Unending Storm upon them fluttered in the wind and the sound of horns could be heard.

“By the dark side of the Sun!” Exclaimed a young warrior.

“There are so many of them!” His fear evident, he spoke for most of them. From the rear ranks came a warrior mounted on a strider. He dismounted and shooed the beast away. They looked upon his dark red, almost black armor. It was made from the shell of a bull tower crab and instantly identified him as a fighter of unparalleled skill. The other warriors took heed as he spoke.

“Brothers and sisters.” He said loudly.

“Approaching us is a vast army of Jovian scum that would see us wiped from this land. Our land! This red Martian soil which we call our home is our birthright. Our ancestors have hunted, fought and died here for generations. It is not for outsiders to take our history from us!” Cheers went up among the gathered fighters.

“They may think that their numbers assure them victory but they do not know the true nature of a Martian with everything to lose. Now gather arms brothers and sisters and let us show these Jovian fools that if they wish this land to become theirs it will cost them every last drop of their blood!” The warriors roared in response and steeled themselves for battle.

[excerptsfromunpublishedbooks]

Excerpt #59

Galou tightened the left-side of the triangular sail. With one point attached to the craft and the other two in the air, it stretched tall above their toothboat. Moolo smiled. They had been to sea for turns and he was looking forward to seeing the giant, arching spires of his homeship Quola. Their hold was stocked with goods traded from Terrans they had met at The River.

“Do you believe what they said Galou?” He asked.

“What do you mean?” Replied the elder.

“The Terrans. They claimed that their world had as much land as ours had water. That’s madness! What do they eat? Where do their young grow?” His mind was still boiling with questions and Galou could almost swear he could see steam coming from his apprentice’s head. He bubbled with laughter.

“I don’t know lad. Perhaps some day we will visit their land.” Spotting a nearby toothboat he pointed with his tentacle.

“We should signal our intent. Moolo, do you remember the proper signals?” The youth leapt up, a shimmer of bright pink betraying his excitement. Standing facing the other toothboat he raised his arm-tentacles and changed his color to a bright yellow. A Neptunian on the other boat became yellow in acknowledgment. Moolo then shifted his arms to his left flashing green then white. In return he received a flashing of grey and then white.

“They come from the island colonies and are headed to Quola!” He said excitedly. Galou nodded in affirmation, chuckling but then turned a scarlet red. He pushed Moolo to the side, flashing from bright yellow to the red and then to black. Moolo watched the elder’s signals and mouthed a word in horror.

“Seamaw…” The other Neptunians scrambled atop their craft, it’s round deck swaying from side to side as they searched but it was too late. A dark red shape burst from the water, three large tentacles lashing out to grab hold of the terrified crew. The creature, what could be seen above the water, was a short, fat cone ringed with three huge unblinking, yellow eyes. As it pulled the screaming Neptunians towards it Moolo and Galou gazed in terror as the top of the cone split open three ways into a hideous gaping maw. The beast threw the crew of the other toothboat inside and promptly sealed shut it’s mouth. Sitting, calmly floating in the water it began moving towards them.

“Moolo!” Galou startled the youth back to his wits.

“Fetch the bonegun. Down in the hold. Quick as you can!” Without a word Moolo twirled open the hatch to their quarters below. Diving tentacle first he landed and swiftly spun his body around to place it above the hatch to the hold. He flung the second hatch open and was inside the darkened space deep beneath the waves. Though not much of the craft was visible above, a toothboat was a large vessel and could hide up to four decks below the surface. Feeling around, Moolo’s suctioned hand finally rested on the familiar hollow weapon. With a swiftness powered by fear he leapt through the first then the second hatch. He handed the bonegun to Galou. It was a long, thin, hollow tube with a small tube sticking in perpendicular at the end. The opposite side had four similar tubes that stuck out upwards at an angle, like the ribs if a fish. The elder placed a small amount of greyish substance in the front end. He then forced a small dark, stone ball into the same opening. Inserting a firegel capsule inside the small tube in the front he then rested the gun on his shoulder. The whole time Moolo glanced from the elder to the seamaw which was now deadly close. Galou stood quietly as he took aim. The sound of the waves splashing against the boat and the approaching beast’s body churning were all that could be heard. Almost unnoticeably, Galou depressed the capsule and the silence was shattered by a deafening thunderclap. Smoke shot from the rear tubes of the gun as the stone rocketed forward. In an instant it pierced through it’s intended target, the beast’s closest eye. The seamaw roared in pain as red ichor gushed from it’s wound. The water became stained a muddy crimson color and the creature let go a final cry of pain and dipped below the waves. Moolo shouted in joy, pink racing across his body. Galou sighed, his reserve melting away to reveal the grey of relief.

“Great shot elder.” Said the youth. The elder finally smiled.

“Well I promised your mother that I would bring you back alive!” He exclaimed. They both bubbled with laughter.