Terraforming
Terraforming is a process which, over many years, converts a hostile world into a livable one. This is done by increasing hydrographics, building or changing the atmosphere, and introducing plant and animal life.
A Terraforming operation consists of two to three stages, which vary from planet to planet. The usual type of planet terraformed has either too litle or too poisonous an atmosphere, and no free standing water. It's rotation is often too slow to give it a strong enough electro-magnetic field to keep out deadly solar radiation. This slow rotation also tends to make days extremely hot and nights extremely cold . The planet must also have no indigenous life-forms that could be harmed by the operation.
The first step in the Terraforming process is planetary bombardment with ice asteroids. The asteroids, consisting of frozen oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and other gasses and liquids, are found in asteroid belts and the rings of gas giants. They are found and collected by belters, who, with the help of asteroid tugs and Mass-drivers, move them towards the planet which is to be terraformed. When the asteroids reach planetary orbit, Explosives are set on their surfaces to knock them to the planet's surface. Complex computers and starship escorts ensure that the asteroids fall on target.
The asteroids naturally hit the planet's surface and melt, and over time begin to form oceans and an atmosphere about the World. The force of the impact (at the proper angles) tends to increase the planet's speed of rotation helping to build up its electromagnetic field and shorten it's day to a comfortable length (20 to 30 hours).
The second step in the Terraforming process is used only on planets that already have atmospheres, but which are tainted or exotic. This step involves the use of genetically engineered bacteria which ingest the harmfull compounds in the atmosphere and excrete breathable gasses.
The third and final Terraforming step is the introduction of plant and animal life to the world, usually at the same time as colonists. Terraforming first becomes possible at tech level 12. The first step takes approximately one year per hydrograhic UWP rating desired to complete, assuming a standard crew of 1000 workers are at work. They are usually equipped with about 50 ships for asteroid towing and escort. Lookout stations both in orbit and on the planet's surface are set up for observation and control of the operation. Costs for the first step are extremely expensive, usually about Mcr10,000 per hydrographic UWP rating desired.
The second step, when used, is less expensive but takes much longer. The development of the proper bacteria takes three months and costs Mcr 2.5, and their introduction costs Mcr1. However the process takes 10 years if the atmosphere is very thin, 20 years if the atmosphere is thin, 30 years if the atmosphere is standard, and 40 years if it is dense. The third step is left up to the colonists, and cannot properly be priced.
Several companies currently Terraforrm in the Imperium and surrounding area. They are usually commisioned by local or the Imperial governments.
- Third Imperium Fanzine Issue 1