SaturnianBlue

@K^2 Something like 4 RPM might actually be acceptable—any people might need a few hours or some training to adapt. Therefore, it might be possible to construct a much smaller settlement.

For a Category 1 storm, this sure looks more powerful...

THE JOOLIAN SYSTEM IN A COLONIZED KERBOL SYSTEM: PART TWO Chapter XXXVIII of Imagining a Kerbal Future War Scenario We’ve covered independence movements, invasions, battles between corporations, and battles between nations, but we haven’t explored a planet vs. planet conflict. In this scenario, we finally explore the idea, with Jool and… Moho? (credit to Kerr of the Tough SciFi discord server for the proposal) This might be a surprising choice, considering the more powerful planets of Eve or Duna appear as more comparable rivals. However, a Jool-Moho conflict gives us the opportunity to explore a war over a market—the energy market. Moho would have the vast resources of the planet to produce inexpensive solar panels to be placed either on the ground or in space. On the other hand, Jool has a massive supply of fusion fuel that can be launched and exported across the Kerbol system to power fusion reactors anywhere in the Kerbol system. Although given the different fonts in this graphic it looks vaguely like a sci-fi font battle as well. While Moho would have a population multiple times lower than the Joolian System, I also believe that on a per capita basis, Moho would have plenty of industry. As a result, the forces may be surprisingly closely-matched. Each side has the same goal—to successfully dominate the energy market. I would guess that Jool would have an overall larger military, in order to protect the entire system from attack. With a large store of fusion fuel, it would be able to build powerful warships with high delta-v. I would assume that the higher development of the system would mean a capability to build more warships. The Joolian System also has the higher position on the gravity well. Mass driver launched projectiles will gain significant velocity as they fall towards Moho. If they manage to survive countermeasures or avoid detection, they could cause havoc. Moho would have less of a need to build such a large military, though it would probably possess the capability to build one. It would also have relatively low supplies of fusion fuel, making it difficult to field a large interplanetary fleet. However, the abundant access to solar energy allows it to power massive weapons, such as swarms of rockets using solar-electric drives, and massive laser weapons for striking targets possibly in the Joolian System. Both options are made relatively easy by the fact that the infrastructure for these weapons likely already exist, since Moho would already have beaming stations to send power to rockets and to distant stations and bases without access to good sources of energy. While the conflict is mainly between the interests of these two worlds, other worlds will likely become entangled in the conflict, as they have to make a decision about where to get their energy from. Some places will remain fairly unaffected, as they can source a lot of their energy from home, but others will be placed in a difficult position. The typical targets for attack remain, but given that the conflict is particularly about energy, there will be more focus on those targets. Typical targets include those like the water supply, ways to export products, and space superiority. The water supply for the Joolian System is practically impossible to eliminate, but the planet—the site of the fusion fuel source itself is rather vulnerable, with water vapor comprising only about 66 ppm of the Joolian atmosphere, according to KSP Interstellar. Though more frequent than the fusion fuel, that isn’t very much. On Moho, the water supply is secure in the poles, but only in the poles. If the transport lines to the equator can be cut, then that threatens many of Moho’s colonies. Ways to export products will be given more priority than usual, especially the ways to export energy. Lasers will become a major target for attacks against Moho, though making those attacks will be difficult, given the destructive nature of the target. Mass drivers and other various delivery methods will become the focus of bombardment against the Joolian System, since that is the likely way most fusion fuel will be exported. The targets related to energy owned by Moho will primarily be the solar arrays. A few may be located on the surface, but I suspect most will be in orbit. A few will likely be in low Kerbol orbit—a truly difficult location to attack. As for Jool, the target will be the scooping aircraft. These targets, however, would likely require an attack from relatively nearby or with a long-distance, high-area, high-damage weapon such as a superlaser. This is because the aircraft would be small compared to the solar arrays, and would also have some propulsive capabilities. I think that in this war scenario, the worlds would mainly be taking shots at each other from a distance, and would not seriously consider invading the other side. This is because while invasion might allow direct control of the energy sources, it would also require them to defend a lot of other locations as well, in order to sustain the invasion. I suspect that the war will continue until one side has suffered so much damage to its energy production that it agrees to a peace. Demographics As it has been implied earlier in the chapter, Laythe will be where the vast majority of the Joolian System’s kerbals will live, likely hosting millions of Kerbals in arcologies located mostly on the islands, and perhaps a little on the water and underwater. In a rather distant second place will be Tylo, with most of its population located in cylinders in orbit. Vall will have a small population living in the ice, and possibly in the underwater ocean. Bop and Pol will probably have a few thousand Kerbals, since there is relatively little need for Kerbals on the small mining moons. Jool itself will likely possess a similar amount, living on helium-3 mining installations. The Joolian System’s population will come for a variety of reasons, but one is certainly dominant. That reason will be because it is simply a unique place to live. The resources of the system will result in many kerbals being sent to help establish mining colonies, but that alone would not result in millions flocking to the system. Genetic tweaking to fit the local environment is unlikely on Jool, Tylo, Bop, or Pol, due to the lack of an atmosphere, temperatures too cold, or there simply being too few people on the worlds to warrant such tweaking. However, Vall and Laythe could see some tweaking. Tweaking on Laythe would be fairly achievable compared to most other worlds. The main traits tweaking would aim for would be much greater resistance to ammonia, resistance to CO2, and possibly greater radiation protection. Eventually, such tweaking may become redundant when Laythe is terraformed. Tweaking on Vall would involve some radical work. Tweaking on this moon mainly focuses on one premise—that Kerbals or other lifeforms can be made to survive in Vall’s subsurface oceans. Essentially, merkerbals. Relations and Trade Fusion fuel will be a major export of Jool. Despite the massive difficulties in launching a ship from Jool into orbit, it is certainly doable, and the relative abundance of the fuel on Jool makes it competitive with other sources. This allows containers of helium-3 and deuterium to be launched into orbit and to a moon, where the containers will be picked up and loaded on interplanetary spacecraft. One of the Joolian System’s major industries will be the tourism industry. The idea of seeing an enormous gas giant in the sky on an eerily Kerbin-like world will certainly appeal to many. If the effects of low gravity have not been counteracted effectively, then Laythe might also see tourism from those who want an experience like Kerbin, but would find the slightly higher gravity of Kerbin too uncomfortable. Moho: Jool and Moho are likely to have only weak ties, or (as explored in the war scenario) could be enemies. Neither side has much to offer to the other, and in fact are more likely to compete over a similar market. This market would be the energy/propulsion market. Jool has vast stores of fusion fuel, while Moho has abundant solar energy. As a result, a sort of energy cold war could begin. Eve: The Joolian system provides yet another source of water for the water-starved world. With a very strong heat shield and a bit of maneuvering capability, a container can be delivered from Jool with only a kick from a mass driver. What Eve has to offer in return, however, is less obvious. The Kerbin System: The Kerbin System’s main contributions to the Joolian System are with the establishment of the colonies and a steady influx of people. In return, the Joolian System provides Kerbin corporations with an excellent place to operate equipment for various purposes. However, there is likely going to be some tension regarding independence. Duna: As stated in the Duna chapter, relations would be quite strong due to the investment Duna would put into the Joolian system, possibly establishing colonies there. Dres/Asteroids: Relations with the asteroids will be strong. Jool provides a trading post and support site for mining operations, and Jool can profit by placing fees on the services they provide. Eeloo: Eeloo may supply radioactive fissiles to Jool, in exchange for equipment. I decided to try a different format for this last section. Instead of a short story like previous chapters, I have decided to write it more in the style of a tourist guide. My reasoning is that it better explores the hypothetical aspects of the Joolian System, which I sometimes had to force into with the previous stories. A Kerbiner’s Quick Guide to the Joolian System The Joolian System, with an enormous gas giant and five moons, three of which are comparable in size to other planets, has been the focus of travel, with its marvelous sites and culture. Before you go, here’s a quick guide from a fellow Kerbiner to the Joolian System. We will start our journey with Laythe, the second largest moon and probably the main attraction on most trips. To reach this moon in particular requires a ride on a mass driver assembly in orbit around Tylo, the main hub for interplanetary travel. On the other side, a space tether grapples onto the vehicle, and a half-revolution later, the capsule will be on its way to Laythe’s surface, with either small rockets or wings to guide its descent. This is fairly inexpensive, considering the main access to Laythe in the early days was by rocket. However, an orbital ring is being built, that will decelerate the incoming capsules, and allow rapid access to the surface. The people of Laythe are varying in opinion and background. Some Laytheians live on the world as a place for a retirement. Others live on Laythe simply because they want to and can afford to, with a job does not require them to be in any particular location. These two groups are carefree, indulgent, and relaxed, boosted by the fact that the effects of a rare habitat breach are quite mild, so they have one major issue they do not have to worry about. There are also other, less distinct groups, but we will skip over them to look at a relatively new group. Consisting mainly of younger Kerbals who have recently departed Kerbin, they have founded new communities with the intention of creating a “New Kerbin”, without the mistakes of the first one. Some of this group sees old Kerbin as doomed or too difficult to save. This dislike of Kerbin has made them the forefront of the Joolian independence movement, and puts them in conflict, especially with Kerbals on other moons, which depend highly on being able to maintain trade relations. As Kerbiners, it might be best for you to keep your head down around them. Laythe relies heavily on tourism, and as a result, they have plenty to offer to the average tourist. These include oceanic cruises, massive resorts, volcanic sightseeing, to name a few. To travel around the various islands, there are aircraft, but most travel, which is between the major population centers, is done through sub-ocean vacuum train lines. The food of Laythe is interesting, to say the least. With genetic modifications, crops on Kerbin have been grown in the open on Laythe, with the addition of artificial lighting to benefit growth. The ease of growing plants has made Laythe the major food production site in the Joolain System, along with the orbital habitats. One of the most unique parts of the Laytheian diet is algae. Initially eaten by the early colonists, and popularized with the beginning of the terraforming effort, algae is surprisingly a staple food, thanks to the development of the various dishes that have made algae into a surprisingly tasty food. Having mentioned the alien life of Laythe, you may be wondering if that is edible. The alien life can peacefully coexist with Kerbals, but for obvious reasons their consumption is completely illegal. It is possible it could be found with a hard enough look, but it would be wise to stick with just watching the life in the aquarium. The second stop on our journey is the green giant of Jool itself. Though the land… rather cloudscapes are a sight like none other, only a few people ever see the sights for themselves. The reason is that a ride down to Jool and the ride back up are both extremely expensive, the only access being rocketplanes, with high performance requirements driving prices up. Additionally, the ride into Jool is very intense. There isn’t much of infrastructure for tourism on Jool, mainly because Jool has focused mainly on fusion fuel mining. However, the sight outside is likely going to be the main attraction, in any case. The smallest of the major moons, Vall is a world covered in ice. Transportation to Vall is similar to Laythe, though the tether will drop you off right on the surface. Once there, transport is primarily through subsurface trains, though trucks are often used for transport between smaller colonies. The surface is quite desolate, being exposed to constant radiation. As a result, it is imperative to be in optimal condition before embarking on any travels across Vall, through which many unique sites can be found... Below the ice is the water mining operations on Vall. Compared to the people of Laythe, the people on Vall (and the other moons) have a rather different mindset. Proportionally, a greater amount of the residents work, and there is of course much greater risk involved in a habitat breach. The residents are, perhaps as a result, quite detail-oriented and generally tend to be more restrained. Recently, the construction of habitats in the subsurface ocean has begun. While life in these oceans has yet to be found, a visit to an ocean observatory in one of these habitats is a must-see. Almost every interplanetary traveller to Jool, unless they have chosen the smaller spaceports on Bop and Pol, will have been quite close to Tylo, the largest of the moons. The spaceports around Tylo are well-prepared for tourists, and have become the center of cultural exchanges within the Joolian System between each of the moons, as well as other planets. A short ride carries passengers to the tether, which delivers them to the surface. The tether is almost single-handedly responsible for major tourism on Tylo, since it was very expensive to access the surface with rockets, given the high gravity and delta-V required. It is hoped that an orbital ring like the one being built around Laythe will also increase the cargo delivered dramatically. Once on the surface, you have many natural wonders to explore, such as the massive caves, which are becoming host to massive cities. Bop and Pol are outliers. Their low gravity and strange landscapes (especially Pol) would seemingly make them ideal targets for tourism like that which takes hold on Minmus, but for now, Laythe has become the focus of most activity regarding tourism. Accessing these sites from Tylo generally involves a launch via mass driver, and a deceleration phase with the use of laser or particle beam stations on the smaller moons. This cuts the time travelled considerably. Bop is arguably the more boring of the two moons, but it does have its share of intrigue, related to some mythical many-armed sea creatures. How this connection ever formed is a mystery, but the moon’s nascent tourism industry has provided a few kraken-theme venues. Technically, Bop has the highest peaks in the Kerbol, at 22 km above “sea level”. This might seem like a daunting activity, but given Bop’s gravity, it is not difficult to achieve the distinction. Pol’s landscapes are a sight worth seeing. The color palette of this moon is like no other, and the jagged rocks and high cliffs further make this an interesting trek off the beaten path. Travel is generally done on double-sided rail cars. If you can grab yourself a jetpack, do it—it’ll allow you to travel around the moon how you want, and you have an opportunity to jump off the cliffs. That about concludes this little guide—hopefully it has helped you narrow your choices down to where you want to romp about the Joolian System. Role and Conclusion The role of Jool itself is as the powerhouse, providing fusion fuel to places that lack it. Laythe will be the new Kerbin, but with a strong emphasis on resorts, beaches and tourism. Vall is the “ice world”—given that fresh water ice is probably the main reason for colonizing Vall, this title is rather appropriate. Tylo is the “middlemoon”, being the one you generally travel to before heading to another location. Bop and Pol are the “outliers”, rather overlooked. Overall, the Joolian System is the system with a bit of everything—habitability, resource availability, and more. Thanks for Reading! Next: Eeloo In A Colonized Kerbol System

Enjoy a view of the beaches on Laythe, while I prepare the next chapter...

Invest 96L, off the east coast, is becoming more and more likely to form. The computer models are quite divided—the ECMWF predicts a relatively weak storm forming before moving into Canada. GFS... Is rather wild, showing a storm that intensifies into a category 3 hurricane that strikes Maine as a category 1. A scenario vaguely like a stronger version of Arthur in 2014. Hopefully that's not the scenario that plays out.

It always terrifies me how quickly the weeks in a summer break seemingly swoop by, when the "summer break" feeling of it all just becomes a new normal. At the beginning I felt pretty much in control to do whatever I wanted, but with camps and online classes, that gets less so...

@ProtoJeb21 With pretty much nothing stopping it aside from eyeball replacement cycles, the storm might be the first sub-900 mb storm since Meranti in 2016.

The resemblance to last year's Maria is rather eerie—both hit a U.S. Territory (though at very different intensities), and formed a pinhole eye during explosive intensification. Wouldn't be surprised if it officially hits super typhoon status in a few hours. Beryl is a tiny storm. If Beryl somehow intensifies more than expected (which is already quite a shocking amount), it might be like a July version of Hurricane Danny from 2015—a small, but relatively powerful hurricane in the MDR, which gets ripped apart by wind shear and dry air as it approaches the Leeward islands.

@ProtoJeb21 Hurricane Fabio is about to hit cooler waters though, the NHC seems to think that Fabio has reached peak intensity, just sort of major hurricane status. In news closer to home, the heat is BAD! At least I spend most of my time indoors, though I guess that's not a good thing either...

@RealKerbal3xThank you!

THE JOOLIAN SYSTEM IN A COLONIZED KERBOL SYSTEM: PART ONE Chapter XXXVII of Imagining a Kerbal Future Introduction At last, we have arrived at the largest of the planetary systems—the Joolian System. With its vast collections of resources and potentially habitable living spaces, this system is destined to be a major power. As a colony, it may truly be the “Jool in the crown”. Government Rich in resources yet rich in environments, the Joolian System will be a major draw for all sorts of groups, making the possibilities for government overall more diverse. However, each moon will attract different interests. Laythe would attract companies seeking to take advantage of the temperate conditions to use less durable equipment, and anyone interested in settlement, especially if the harsh conditions of other worlds make colonization too difficult. Vall would attract groups with an interest in securing pure water ice, whether to sell or to help sustain another colony. Tylo will attract companies who want to provide services to those colonizing the various moons. Lastly, Bop and Pol will be settled to help provide resources to the colonies closer to Jool. If a unified Joolian government forms (which would be quite the feat, given that there will be many groups trying to colonize the system), it is going to be based in Laythe, as it will be the main population center of the Joolian system. However, there is a small possibility that it is on an orbital habitat around Tylo, because Laythe requires transports with high amounts of radiation shielding—making it harder to reach. A representative-based unified Joolian government will have to deal with the problem of how to represent its population. With Laythe having so much of the system’s population, other worlds may feel that they are underrepresented in the system. Additionally, there would be the issue of representing orbital habitats—would they be grouped with the area they orbit in, would they be each be represented, and would smaller habitats be grouped together to form one portion worth of “representation”? Issues Facing the Joolian System The Joolian System will face relatively few challenges, once the colonies are well-established. The Joolian system appears to be very self-sufficient in regards to resources, and most certainly doesn’t suffer from the impression that it is boring. However, there are some potential issues the Joolian System may come across. First, will Jool become independent of the groups that settled it? If so, how? Given the fact that the Joolian system is self-sufficient, a well-organized movement could probably succeed in creating an independent Joolian System, especially since Jool’s distance from the rest of the worlds makes it difficult to organize a response to the movement. The Spectra graphics mod depicts bioluminescent life in the atmosphere. If Laythe and the oceans of Vall are discovered to host alien life, how would it affect the development of the Joolian system? I suspect that completely closing the two worlds to colonization or only to a few unkerballed probes would be met with severe opposition. Such a decision prevents the utilization of some of the best real estate in the Kerbol System. Consequently, the Joolian System would develop very slowly. The surface of Vall and the rest of the moons will continue to be colonized, but most of the appeal in colonizing the system disappears. As a result, the system will be seen as little more than a scientific curiosity and a decent site for mining. If the restriction imposed is the banning of all kerballed spacecraft and the requirement for unmanned ships to be sterilized, development of the Joolian System would happen somewhat faster. Major companies would still set up mining bases on Laythe, because the low operating costs will ultimately outweigh the high cost of sterilization. However, the Joolian System will continue to have a low population. Provided the lifeforms of the world are compatible with Kerbals, the development of the Joolian System might progress as it would if there were no aliens. Certain islands or parts of the ocean may be completely closed off as a nature reserve, but that still leaves much of each world to be colonized. However, it makes one decision later on to be more controversial—terraforming. Laythe is perhaps the easiest place to terraform. If the CO2 and ammonia can be removed from the air and the seas without drastically dropping temperatures and freezing the oceans, Laythe is a world where clothes from Kerbin would suit people just fine. The air may be quite thin, but still liveable. If terraformed with alien lifeforms already living on the moon, then there is a serious risk that the major changes brought by terraforming will make it harder for organisms to survive. Like Duna, however, there is an alternative—paraterraforming, which would only change the conditions inside the dome. It might be possible to modify Laytheian life as well... Vall would also be faced with the same decision, but much later, because terraforming Vall does not have as much appeal as Laythe, primarily because Laythe is already so habitable. Additionally, (para)terraforming Vall would create a pure ocean world, with little access to resources except from far above or far below. The population of the Joolian system will be concentrated on Laythe, but whether for purposes of business or pleasure, there is likely to be a lot of transportation between the moons of Jool. While Kerbin and Duna can utilize space elevators to travel quickly between moons, this will not work in the Joolian System. Every moon that orbits Jool does not have a Sphere of Influence large enough to allow a synchronous orbit. Additionally, a further challenge is posed by radiation in the Inner Joolian system. Orbital tethers and skyhooks, on the other hand, would provide a working solution, but they will not be effective on Laythe, where a vehicle has to climb above the atmosphere to reach the tip. For Laythe, I suspect the main launch methods to be launch loops, mass drivers, or an orbital ring. War and Military The Need for Militaries Around Jool In the case of a Joolian system split among unfriendly powers, the main need for a military would be to defend against the other factions or conquer them. Such a military would be geared towards a quick response, because of the close proximity of the worlds. For a unified Jool, the main need is to defend against invading forces, or perhaps in order to invade other colonies. For the most part, either of these forces will probably have the capability to produce the military to fulfill their purposes, because the Joolian System will gain significant wealth and power, and the abundant resources of the system. Corporate colonies would be at a disadvantage in the arms race, since they must also focus on creating profit. The factions with greater control of Laythe and Tylo will be better prepared, since the former has lots of resources and industry as a whole, while Tylo will have the resources and the shipyards. Invasion Joolian habitats would ultimately succumb to a lack of resources. Joolian habitats are quite safe from bombardment, being protected from a thick atmosphere. They would also be safe from an invasion, which would have to survive an extremely intense reentry and would then have to get near the habitat and somehow board it. However, they would not survive a blockade. In the atmosphere of Jool, the habitats will be almost as resource-starved as a space station. Eventually, all the reserves will be spent, and they must surrender. Laythe would be well-protected in a war. Lying well inside the radiation belt of Jool, only certain ships with extra radiation shielding will get near the world. This would be problematic for ships that have travelled from outside the Joolian System, which may not be designed to survive the higher amount of radiation. However, this also means that Laythe can be blockaded if the transport system required to travel to the moon is disabled, since typical transports would be unable to reach Laythe. This will be countered by the fact that Laythe is generally self-sufficient. Bombarding Laythe will be a difficult process. Defenses like anti-orbit laser submarines would be difficult to destroy, and Laythe has the resources to continue the fight even under a blockade for a very long time. The cities on Laythe are unlikely to be heavily shielded, so they would be vulnerable to attack. However, attacking the cities will likely only strengthen the defenders’ resolve. As a result, the aim of a bombardment will be to directly attack the capability of Laythe to defend itself, by focusing on production sites for weapons and anti-orbit defenses, though both are likely to be hidden underground or underwater. Another aim could be economic targets, in hopes that the damage will cause the Laytheians to give up. Invading Laythe should be avoided if possible. Landing on Laythe will require dropships to have both radiation shielding and heat shielding, forcing Laythe invasion craft to be practically purpose built. Landing on the islands will mean that the enemy is nearby and may be waiting at the landing site, while trying to attack from the beach would probably be suicidal. If the initial invasion managed to succeed, it will still have to face the problems of any planetary invasion. On Laythe, battles would be relatively similar to ones on Kerbin. The main differences are that some sort of protection from the sea spray and a gas mask are necessary, as well as the greater role controlling the ocean would have, as it connects the isolated islands. Vall would be more vulnerable to attack. The water ice makes the creation of bunkers extremely easy, but it does mean that the barrier between the bunker and the surface is weak, so an extremely large nuke, for example, might severely damage a base not dug in very deep. If nukes are not used, however, Vall would still have to confront the fact that a blockade would prevent Vall from accessing key resources. These include fissiles and likely metals, greatly impacting the ability of the world to keep fighting. Enforcing a blockade would be fairly difficult on Vall, however, because there is no magnetic field to shield ships from the radiation belts. As a result, invading Vall is likely not necessary. Ironically for a world so far from Kerbol, Tylo is relatively lacking in water. However, this might only be a minor bottleneck for a Tylo colony under a blockade. Though it is mainly a rock world, Tylo will likely have been struck by icy comets, given its position in the Kerbol System. It is quite possible that water ice could be found in permanently shadowed craters. As a result, the attackers are in for a brutal fight. Bombardment will mainly focus on disrupting the sources of water Tylo does have, as well as the methods used to export goods out of Tylo. During the bombardment, the defenders have enormous caves to protect themselves, so bombarding bunkers and bases will be difficult at best. Tylo does not have the benefit that a dropship DOES have when invading Laythe, the atmosphere. Tylo dropships will have to contain both lots of propellant (or the normal load, just one-way), and powerful engines, reducing what can actually be brought down. The high gravity combined with spacesuits will constrain mobility, and power suits will be few in number, as a result of their mass. More so than most invasions, invading Tylo will be brutal. However, Tylo would also be a harsher environment for resistance forces to fight on, being the one without an atmosphere and the most temperature extremes. In conclusion, fighting on Tylo would be like an extreme version of fighting on the Mun or Moho. Bop and Pol are probably quite easy to take control of. Once the defenses are dealt with, a relatively small invasion force could take the moon over—I don’t expect a huge force to defend the little moons. As relatively easy targets, an interplanetary invasion force would use these moons to gain a foothold in the Joolian system. Joolian Warship Design How might the environment of the Joolian System affect how warships are designed there? The first major consideration would be a greater resistance to radiation shielding. As a result, Joolian warships may be equipped with magnetic radiation shielding when transiting to moons like Laythe and Vall. There may also be greater emphasis on automating the spacecraft, so less shielding is required (although the radiation shielding may partially double as armor). Like with many spacecraft built for use mainly inside a planetary system, warships designed in a situation where the Joolian System is under a faction split will mainly focus on high thrust to respond to situations quickly. In the next chapter, we'll continue our exploration of a fully colonized Joolian System. Thanks for Reading! Next: The Joolian System In A Colonized Kerbol System, Part Two

@ProtoJeb21The ECMWF is noticeably milder—more of a category 1/2 typhoon forecast for Prapiroon, and a 948 mb storm striking the Philippines. Over in the Eastern Pacific, Fabio has already become a 50 mph tropical storm and the NCH predicts a peak of 110 knots. It appears Category 4 might be back on the table...

Seems like the storm in the East Pacific are going to be less intense than might have ben initially expected. Emilia is only forecast to hit mid-TS strength, and the disturbance following Emilia is taking quite a while to form—less time for it to strengthen before it strikes cooler waters.

I know there's a physics range extender mod for actual ships related with BDArmory, and you could probably use Kerbinside for habitats as well.

Combination of drawings and copy paste of the spacecraft I made in-game.

Tropical Storm Daniel has come and is about to go, while the two disturbances following Daniel both are almost certain to become tropical cyclones, with the first expected to form in the next 48 hours. It seems that these two storms are likely to be another duo of extremely powerful storms like Aletta and Bud.

@The Minmus Derp @Laythe Squid Those were discussed in their respective "colonizing" chapters. For ideas I was thinking more in the topics of this series, like government, issues facing the system, war, demographics, etc...

Due to the expansive nature of discussing the Joolian system, the next few chapters are going to take longer than the Dres one. This does mean give all of you to pitch ideas for the chapter.

DRES IN A COLONIZED KERBOL SYSTEM Chapter XXXVI of Imagining a Kerbal Future Introduction Dres doesn’t exist! That’s why I’m skipping this world—no, that would be wrong. We should treat worlds equally, right? Government Dres (and many potential asteroids that may exist in its vicinity) would become colonized by a variety of interests, likely governments trying to gain an edge in the outer Kerbol System, or mining corporations. This is the result of the likely availability of water ice and the low delta-V required to access the resources, combined with the low delta-V to distribute the material. The colonization by many different powers would likely result in quite a few factions controlling small parts of Dres. At the same time, some sort of organization may develop to build major projects such as orbital rings, which would be overall beneficial to Dres, and would require the approval of multiple factions to be constructed. If the Kerbol System has an asteroid belt, Dres would likely the main point of power, as it is likely the only major world. This would make Dres ideal as the seat of power for a federation in the asteroid belt. However, the belt would be dispersed, so groups may settle various asteroids without much control from an authority on Dres. The Issues Facing Dres There may be a small issue to the settlement of Dres. The widely known rumor that Dres does not, in fact, exist. As a result, anyone trying to encourage people to come to Dres will have to actively campaign for the fact that yes, Dres in fact exists. Even with the knowledge that Dres exists, there is still the belief that Dres is in fact boring—a real shame, given the existence of a massive canyon system. The unfortunate belief will likely prevent tourists from coming into the world. To summarize, Dres has some very bad PR, and it should work on it before travel to this world begins. Far down the line, Dres may face a major choice. Assuming that methods of counteracting the effects of low gravity are developed, the dwarf planet could be paraterraformed, creating a world where a Kerbinlike environment and 1/9th G come together, first creating interesting variations on Kerbin activities, and gradually completely new activities. However, this would make continued mining of Dres more difficult, now that habitats comprise much of Dres’ surface. Alternatively, Dres could see continued mining, with much of the material being used to create free space settlements, which could be modified for unique environments as well. Likely, a combination of these approaches will develop. War Dres by itself is unlikely to be a major military power, simply because: A: There is no real need for Dres to act as an expansionist power B: Dres, unlike Kerbin, for example, would likely not have the supply of money available That said, it might be able to muster a proportionally powerful force, as it has access to lots of resources through mining (such as hydrogen for fuel) and trade. The trade would also make Dres an important spaceport, and as a result, it would have lots of shipyards for construction. The two main conflicts might be over areas on Dres (like in the Mun scenario), or as part of a much larger multiplanetary conflict, with factions trying to gain control of the spaceports and mining facilities. If Dres is controlled by rivalling system-spanning factions, the planet would likely see large fleets meant to conquer the rest of Dres. In more peaceful situations, however, the fleets of Dres are likely going to serve mainly as a patrol in the vicinity of Dres. They will enforce their control/customs, defend their assets, and rescue nearby stranded spacecraft. As a result, the ships of Dres will mostly be small and low delta-V vessels, perhaps with boarding parties. A Dresian patrol ship—small, lightly armed, but suited for its role. The primary target of Dres would likely be any of the main space launch methods the world uses to export goods, whether it be mass drivers, tethers, or orbital rings. However, the Dres system would still have the launch systems in the Dres Ring, which would continue to export goods—those would be a secondary target. Additionally, preventing ships from reaching the main transportation hubs would have a major effect, especially for nearby asteroid colonies, which can neither receive or export goods to Dres or the other planets. Battles between factions on Dres would be automated, with very few Kerbals actually living on Dres itself (most would prefer to live in orbital habitats, though this would not be the case if major paraterraforming takes place. Demographics The colonization of Dres will begin more slowly than the other worlds, so the population would be relatively new—therefore, not as much time will have existed for the culture on Dres to develop. Initially, the people coming to Dres will mainly be those who have come here to work in the settlements. Eventually, people who want to live in the habitats on/around Dres will come as well. In my opinion, the population of Dres will reside in space habitats (likely located at Dres’ Ring or in locations near a space tether or orbital ring), or under domes. The population would remain quite small, likely comparable to Moho. However, the availability of resources will allow many habitats to be built, attracting Kerbals to Dres. As mentioned earlier, the poor reputation of Dres may make it difficult for tourism to occur initially, but travellers will come to Dres in fairly large numbers, due to its role as a transport nexus. Someone from Dres would be unlikely to adapt themselves or change because of the environment, which is far too harsh and the gravity would not be a concern, as residents will likely live in rotating habitats, whether on the ground or around Dres. Trade and Relations Moho: The two worlds are quite distant, but they may develop a friendly relationship through the trade of materials each world has relatively little of. Dres can export water, which exist on Moho, but may be somewhat limited. Dres can import metals from Moho, being a rather small world which may not have very easily available metal. Eve: Dres is likely to be closely related with Eve, as parts of Dres will very likely become one of the main sources of water for Eve, whether as a trade partner or as a colony. I’m not sure what Eve would have in exchange, though, aside from equipment and personnel to establish the colony. The Kerbin System: The Kerbin system will help establish the colony with equipment and personnel. Down the line, the system could also provide the bulk of tourists and a massive population boost from those who want to live near/on Dres. In return, Dres would provide the Kerbin system with a way to easily access the belt from a central hub. Duna: Duna will be a close ally (or the colonizer) of Dres, being in an excellent position to support colonies on Dres, and providing a large part of Dres’ population. In return, Duna would have an excellent access point to more distant belt worlds. With so many Dunans on Dres, it would be in the best interest for both of these worlds to remain friendly. Other Asteroids: Asteroids near Dres would be absolutely dependent on Dres. Dres provides an interface between the rest of the planets and the small settlements of the asteroids, eliminating the need for those on other asteroids to take a long trip to another planet to enjoy similar services. In addition, the dwarf planet would also act as a centralized processing center for the raw resources mined on the asteroids, eliminating the need for each settlement to have its own refineries. Additionally, Dres may be settled to the point that many more trades and services besides those related to mining take hold, and residents of smaller asteroids may travel to Dres when the two asteroids get near, and spend some of their savings on the various services found on Dres. On the other hand, Dres may not be particularly close to a significant portion of the belt, as certain planets may actually be closer at many times than Dres itself. The Joolian System: The relationship between Dres and Jool may differ wildly depending on the scenario. If interest in worlds like Laythe, for example, are particularly high, then Jool may actually be the one establishing a colony on Dres, but it could also be the opposite. Culture It is my opinion that the culture of Dres will have a mix of various different elements, with the primary parts being elements from Kerbin cultures, from Duna, possibly Jool, and the various elements of the cultures in the asteroid belt, which may develop quite quickly without much external contact. Conclusion Dres is a small, but very much useful world, helping to open up the belt and will be poised to be the “Connection”. It will help connect the belt with the rest of the Kerbol system, possibly connect the outer and inner Kerbol systems, and it will connect Eve to an easily accessible source of water ice. Thanks for Reading! Next: The Joolian System In A Colonized Kerbol System, Part One

@DeltaDizzy Any other thoughts?

Here's the draft.The final version will also have screenshots/illustrations, but for now its just mainly text. All kinds of feedback are welcome, but the main type I'm looking for is whether this first chapter is interesting enough to act as a hook for further chapters. Additionally, I'd also like some advice on whether I should skip to the first launch and then cover what happened in between, or if I should cover the plot in chronological order.

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Having started work on a story (not the future story one, but another with the working title Escaping Kerbin), I realize that description in regards to a kerbal's face is an amusing, but noticeable challenge, considering you don't have any eyebrows to hoist or noses to crinkle. Should I post the first draft of Escaping Kerbin: Chapter One here?

Indeed. I have now corrected that.