Tales from the rim

[Ravenwood]

The cosmic superstrings had lain dormant for over a century, untouched by those few
worlds able to sense the threads that laced the stars.  Those intelligent enough to
construct a superstring demodulator might hear...

CASE BEGINS: Experiment T87423

The civilization on planet L-374-R-tau-III has entered the final stages of a bloody
civil war.  The diaspora of escapees from that world is projected to include less
than 0.1% of the population over the next two years, before the technical ability
to construct spacefaring craft is lost.  Unrepairable ecological damage exists
on this world due to biological warfare and nuclear fallout products, as a result
of the war.  The remaining 1.7 billion inhabitants are projected to survive
less than four generations before ecological collapse ensues and renders the
world uninhabitable for the near future.

Survivor pod '-tau-III-9, a hastily constructed craft of cryptosleep pod bays and
minimal guidance computer, was tracked to world L-375-A-aelph-IV, a planet with
high eccentricity in the middle of an ice age.  72 escapees from the survivor pod
were scattered across the northern hemisphere of '-aelph-IV, where the winter average
temperature plunges below -100C, according to hyperspectral survey. 

Escapee group '-III-9-A of three members apparently landed at 80.28o N, 44.0o E.  A
windrider reconnaissance probe was dispatched, arriving approximately 0.97 orbit
after the landing of the escapee group: no survivors found.

A small shelter with accomodations for five was discovered, along with a primitive
hydroponics array overrun with growth and spoiled, un-harvested rice.  Power was
measured at 99.5% utilization, suggesting a bare minimum existence.  750 meters from
the structure our probe discovered partly buried in the snow, five corpses and the
remains of two mechanoid scythers scattered about the wreck of a mechanoid dropship.
We conclude that the residents were forced to sally from their hovel to attack
the dropship before they were driven insane by the dropship's psychic drone,
only to themselves succomb to wounds and the bitter cold of the region.

Given the apparent lack of success in uplifting primitive peoples towards higher
culture in this region of space, we judge it of little merit to continue expending
limited reconnaissance resources to this end.  We suggest that monitoring of
L-374-R-tau-III be terminated due to the lack of positive experimentation results
from this source.

CASE T87423 CLOSED

(Game mode: Cassandra Classic Extreme
Duration of colony: 2 seasons, 4 days
Max colonists: 5
Arrival temperature: -60C
Lowest recorded temperature: -124C
Colony value at end: 23281
Play time: 0d 3h 53m)