Kerguelen

[Pellaken]

Date: Tomorrow

Location: Your computer monitor

Status: Aliens



Aliens have invaded earth. They've used their magic stun weapons to force the entire planet to submit.

However

They do not have hostile intent. Rather, they wish to protect earth.

As simpletons who have not yet figured out to break the light-speed barrier, they decide we are too simple to be given real power outside our planet. They also don't want to get bogged down administrating the place so they pick a human to become "Emperor" of the planet.

Using the alien army and their stun guns, the Emperor is able to order anyone and any nation around. The Emperor could get the President of the USA to put his shorts on his head and dance around like a monkey and force all TV stations to broadcast it. However, the Emperor does not want to do that. Why?

The Emperor is me!


Down to brass tacks

The objective of this "game" is simple. I've decided to hire you on an advisory committee. I've appointed you, and others in this game, to develop the Island of Kerguelen as fast as possible.

Kerguelen:
http://goo.gl/maps/iaTBn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerguelen_Islands

The (main) island is cold, windy, and rocky.

I have begin recruiting people to settle here and plan to build the "Capitol of Earth" here. Your job is to find a way to get this done ASAP.

As Emperor I've left some ideas and questions to help guide you along.

One of the first things we must do is bring heavy industry to the Island; this will allow for future expansion to occur much faster. Without an Airport, we also may want to consider building one as one of our first tasks.

One problem is what to do when the first huge supply ship arrives as there is no large port. How can we possibly build one without one already existing?

How fast can we get supplies there. Could we use aircraft carriers in some way?

What industries should we build first, in order to make settlement and building as fast as possible?

How long would it take before we can settle and properly supply (and provide for quality of life) for one million residents?

Given the constant winds, how useful would wind power be? What other power sources should we use?

Since the terrain is so rocky, would it be possible to build housing partially inside mountains? What concerns would we face?

What useful things can we do with the cold? Could we set up internet servers that are vented to the outside in some way?

"Winning" the game is subjective; in order to "win" you need to provide thought out and original ideas.


You may begin!



edit
A few clarifications

- you may not use alien tech, only earth tech; alien tech is only the key that enables you to access the entire might of the planet
- you may present a long plan and never post in the thread again, or, discuss with other players and present a joint plan; that's up to you
- you may pepper me with questions or bounce ideas off me; I will be playing the role of the Emperor
-

 

[AsdfeZxcas]

We should build a geothermal powerplant first, so to power future industries.

 

[johho888]

Why would we even build industry? We're The Capital. We should have steel and glass administrative offices and wine bars! And we've got the stun guns so we can order everything we want delivered here. Why should we get our hands dirty building things?

A powerplant is good though so we can electricity for lights, computers and the amusement park that should be our priority #2 to lure unexpecting tourists here before the realize any trip here is a one way trip. Hm, ok, maybe housing should be #2 and the amusement park #3. Yes, I see no problem with this.

Also the amusement park would get us good demographics, we can't just have a lot a middle age civil servants shuffling the papers around and doing govermental things. Actually, the more I think about this, the better it sounds. I should get a minister post at least for this. *nods*

 

[tonkatoy5]

I say we start mating with the aliens so that we may produce a super race of Hybrids.

 

[Plank of Wood]

A defense system based around dogs with bees in their mouth, that shoot bees at you when they bark.

 

[tonkatoy5]

A defense system based around dogs with bees in their mouth, that shoot bees at you when they bark.

The Kerguelen Islands have one of the largest populations of feral cats so could we use cats instead of dogs?

 

[BlackBishop]

I say we start mating with the aliens so that we may produce a super race of Hybrids.

The shady advisor licks his lips...

"I second this suggestion."

 

[Plank of Wood]

revive tupac

 

[Falc]

Ports grow. You start with a small one and use it to receive the supplies needed to enlarge it. So when the huge supply ship arrives, it'll just have to load things off to smaller boats. That is left as an exercise to the captain.

We need food storage space. Luckily, it's cold so we can just build a large hangar, it'll keep things cool.

We need living space. This will have to be warm. We'd need to go dig pretty deep into the rock to find heat there, so let's start with basic wooden structures. If there's no wood on the island, that will be the first priority of the supply ship.

We need power, if for no other reason than that it's our best source of light and heat. Have the supply ship deliver whatever's most portable. Diesel generator, small nuclear plant, doesn't matter.

While most of these things can be shipped over for now, one thing that's going to make or break this will be a fresh water source.


Hmmm. Wikipedia tells me that seagoing ships tend to have desalination plants on board...

You know what we really need to start off? A big ship we can live on, with generators on board, with a desalination plant, with living quarters and all. We'll move those things onto land piece by piece as we get our infrastructure set up.

 

[johho888]

That Falc chap seems awefully competent. I suggest we put him in charge of the amusement park as well as housing, ports and food.

 

[Pellaken]

These are certainly some, uh, interesting replies

Falc raises interesting things I'd never considered. I do like the idea of a huge ship anchored off the Island to help get things kick-started.

Any thoughts on possible power sources? I know Geothermal has been suggested, would this work in the area? I myself like Nuclear, especially if we can bury the plant in one of the many lakes so that in the event of the worse case scenario, lack of cooling water is not an issue, and, water would (hopefully) contain some of the radiation spread.


edit
I've been working on this
http://imgur.com/XvLfZ0d
In short, the areas outlined in red seem flat enough to built towns and cities.

I'm also debating expanding this into one of those fantasy games, but this is unlikely.

 

[aedan777]

For the Port we might take a leaf out of the allies and bring our own port. The 2 mulberries were enough to supply an entire army, so we should be able to bring a temporary one, provided few storms, and the distance not being beyond reason, which it could very well be. It may be difficult, but bringing our own port seems quicker than building one on the island.

 

[Plank of Wood]

dogs with bees in their mouth

 

[Sleater]

First of all: let's place an small tax fee to every country in the world to pay up the project. The fee shall be small enough to everyone to pay it in american dollars or Euros, but it will undoubtely be enough to finance the first steps.

This way, even when the emperor has the authority to do so, a single country will not be forced to pay the full project, that looks very costly to me.

And about shipping matherials without suitable ports... call in marine and military engineers units: the guys have the preparation to land material where there's not infrastructure, and to build provisional installations.

The energy problems can be solved meanwhile proper plants are build, with portable generators and maybe, a nuclear Warship whose reactor should be enough to provide energy in the first stages of the works.

 

[Deaghaidh]

I would suggest massive aerial farms, climate controlled skyscrapers for hydroponics so that this incredibly inconveniently placed world capitol doesn't starve to death immediately when the weather is too bad for ships to arrive (which I believe is most of the year). We're going to need an incredible amount of electricity and heat, so I suggest using everything available. Nuclear, geothermal, wind, etc. Redirect waste heat from the power plants through a network of steam tunnels to heat the city.

The terrain is terrible for road building, so I suggest we nip it in the bud and ban private vehicles entirely. Link everything with light rail, ideally subways as they are more sheltered from the elements. Limited building space is going to force us to build super dense anyway, so we'll need to embrace it.

 

[Falc]

Plus, build a high-density optical network infrastructure. Fiber for everyone, homeworking for everyone.

 

[Deaghaidh]

Plus, build a high-density optical network infrastructure. Fiber for everyone, homeworking for everyone.

True. Telecommute, people!

Also, hire some of the worlds greatest chefs to create simple to prepare yet delicious recipes for our abundant Penguin supply.

 

[EUROO7]

What is the purpose of this project?

An undertaking such as this is untenable without a vision.

 

[Deaghaidh]

What is the purpose of this project?

An undertaking such as this is untenable without a vision.

I believe the purpose is to create a new urban center from which to administer the Earth on behalf of Our Extraterrestrial Benefactors.

 

[Pellaken]

I believe the purpose is to create a new urban center from which to administer the Earth on behalf of Our Extraterrestrial Benefactors.

this

Also the transportation problems are interesting. I'll have to think about that.

And food will be the biggest issue limiting the size of the land. I'm curious how to overcome this myself. Perhaps a lot of meat - IE cows and stuff; but how to ensure they are fed? Hum. I will need to do more research.