**************************************************************************** * * * MILLENNIUM 2.2 * * ripped by mikey * * * **************************************************************************** There is evidence of high concentrations of iridium scattered all over earth's sedimentary rock. Dated at some 65 million years old, one interpretation is that the planet was hit by a mass of 13 trillion tonnes. Such an event would have thrown enough dust into the atmosphere to block out sunlight for up to five years, killing almost all plant cover and most of the cold blooded reptiles in existence at this time. This annihilation is far from unique. Many smaller scale extinctions have occurred during the history of life on Earth also coinciding with impact events. The Earth's crust is pitted with the remains of impact craters but slowly worn down by erosion into almost insignificant blemishes. In 1908, the Tunguz Object exploded before impact, torn apart by Earth's gravity. In 1947, the Sikhote-Alin Object made 106 craters, some over 28 miles in diameter. Although these are recent events and minor ones at that, they are hardly rarities. On average the Earth can expect a major impact event every 170,000 years. Some people would therefore say that we have been a little fortunate to have lasted over 700,000 years without such an impact. One thing is for certain, with so many asteroids in orbit between Mars and Jupiter, sooner or later another major event WILL occur, and at present we neither have the ability nor the will to produce the ability to avert such a disaster. SEPTEMBER, 2200 A.D. Every available telescope, orbital and Earth based, turned towards the constellation of Gemini to follow the incoming Object. The commanders on Luna Base 1 and the lo outpost had been ordered to divert all attention to correlating Earth's observations. Mathematicians coolly calculated and sieved through the ocean of information pouring in from all sources. Every department, as usual, keeping strict records of the Object's approach for the history books but everyone involved knew it would probably be the last chapter. Its mass, they estimated, was more than 20,000,000,000 tonnes composed mainly of ice. Velocity and trajectory placed Earth in a direct line in 17.4 hours. Point of impact was hard to estimate but the worst possible was expected somewhere in the northern Pacific ocean. The only practical attempt to change the Object's course had been futile. A small, fast shuttle had rendezvoused, planted a massive nuclear charge and run away before detonation. The required shift was 10 thousand miles if the Object was to miss without causing damage. The result was not even measured by any observatories on Earth. Nothing more could be done. Every nuclear warhead had been programmed for specific targets on enemy territory. Most less than 10,000 miles away and ALL stationary. To reprogram so many would take more time than was available and to expect them to reach a moving target was ridiculous. Even if it could have been achieved and all warheads had struck the Object, the results would have been worse. One object of 20 trillion tonnes smashed into 1000 pieces would produce a shower of 20 million tonne impacts. Better, it was decided, to fight a monster than an army of giants. Every weapon of destruction upon which man had spent so much effort suddenly became dwarfed and insignificant. Earth braced itself. As Commander of Luna Base 1, you witnessed the event with an astonished gaze. All predictions had been correct. The Object plummeted to Earth and punched a hole straight through the Pacific throwing millions of gallons of water vapour into the atmosphere. Like a bullet through glass, the Object's velocity was unaffected and smashed into the Earth's crust cracking it wide open. With the Object's life now over, the planet's reaction was devastating. The underlying magma core, now untethered, ran wild over what used to be the sea bed and spluttered out thousands of tonnes of molten rock behind the steam. As the remaining ocean flooded in to fill the hole it vaporized instantly with the immense heat. It seemed an unstoppable process. Shock waves ran across the planet and Earth rang like a bell. Vast Earthquakes split even more of the crust adding yet more dust and steam all over the globe. Winds raged themselves up to a frenzy carrying great plumes of debris out into space and across the surface. Slowly but surely, the blue grey disc turned darker and darker. Life ebbed away and civilization ceased to exist. As far as you were concerned, Luna Base 1 was all that remained of the Human Race and its culture. You realised that your base must change from a minor research station in order to support the survival of mankind. Terraforming, changing other planets into Earth-like places, was still in its infancy. It now seemed that the process would have to be used on Earth itself. You also know that the resources of the Moon were not sufficient to achieve recolonization of Earth. Other planets would have to be conquered first to gather enough materials for Terraforming and the immediate survival of your race. INSTRUCTIONS CONTROLS The main game is controlled by using a mouse to move the pointer on screen, giving you access to the departments of the moonbase, any craft in service and various data banks at your disposal. The main control icons are at the top of the screen. Each icon is identified as you point at it. MOON BASE Takes you to a view of the base showing the seven departments. You amy also access the base by clicking the right hand mouse button. COLONIES Gives you access to any colonies you have established. CRAFT ROSTER Gives information of the status and location of any craft you have built, and enables you to access control of the craft. DATA BASE Gives information on the planets and moons of the solar system. BULLETIN BOARD Records recent communication of achievements and events. FILE ACCESS Enables you to load and save your position. You may store up to four different games on a disk. LOG Gives your Civilisation and Technology Rating, which is based on the craft in service, the number of colonies you have established and the total population. ZOOM OUT Allows you to zoom out from any screen to give a view of the entire solar system. ADVANCE HOUR ADVANCE DAY THE MOONBASE The different departments of the base are accessed by pointing at the graphic representation of that department and clicking the left hand mouse button. RESEARCH Before you can start to build equipment or collate data on planets or moons the projects must be researched. You may instruct the research department by selecting form seven different categories of projects. ENERGY The output of this department may be increased by building and installing SolaGens. LIFE SUPPORT The population of the moonbase can only be increased by building additional life support nodules. PRODUCTION Projects which have been researched may be selected for production by accessing the small project monitor on the left hand side of the screen. DEFENCE You may build both fighters and orbital lasers to defend the moonbase. RESOURCES The reserve stock and current output of the mining departments are displayed on this screen. FLIGHT BAY There are eight flight bays which can be accessed by clicking over the graphic of each bay. THE END