#Exosphere LED screen | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

govindhtech · 1 year ago

Text

Amazing Sphere Studio Visuals with NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPUs

With its eye-popping LED displays that span about 750,000 square feet both inside and outside the arena, Sphere Studio, a new kind of entertainment in Las Vegas, is set to follow in the footsteps of other iconic circular performance venues like Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Roman Colosseum.

The world’s largest LED screen, the Exosphere, is located outside the venue and has 1.2 million programmable LED pucks. Behind the screens, about 150 NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPUs power the breathtaking images on floor-to-ceiling, 16x16K monitors throughout the Sphere’s interior.

NVIDIA RTX A6000 Performance Improvement

With the world’s most potent GPU for desktop workstations for visual computing, the NVIDIA RTX A6000, you can unlock the next wave of innovative ideas, scientific discoveries, and immersive entertainment. The RTX A6000, with its state-of-the-art features and performance, enables you to operate at the speed of inspiration to meet the demanding challenges of the future and address the pressing demands of the present.

Magnificent Results via Design

An NVIDIA Ampere Architecture CUDA Core

Considerable performance gains for graphics and simulation workflows, including intricate 3D computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE), are possible with double-speed processing for single-precision floating point (FP32) operations and enhanced power efficiency.

Second-Stage RT Cores

Second-generation RT Cores can run ray tracing with shading or denoising and have up to 2X the throughput of the previous generation, speeding up job tasks like photorealistic rendering, architectural design evaluations, and virtual prototyping. For quicker outcomes with better visual accuracy, this approach also accelerates the rendering of ray-traced motion blur.

Tensor Cores of the Third Generation

AI and data science model training may be accelerated without requiring code modifications thanks to the new Tensor Float 32 (TF32) precision, which offers up to 5X the training throughput over the previous generation. Inferencing throughput doubles with hardware support for structural sparsity. AI for graphics is also made possible by Tensor Cores, which offer features like DLSS, AI denoising, and improved editing for specific uses.

NVIDIA NVLink for Third Generation

A single scalable memory to speed up graphics and computation tasks and handle more datasets is made possible by increased GPU-to-GPU link capacity.

48 GPU Memory Gigabytes (GB)

With NVLink, ultra-fast GDDR6 memory can be scaled up to 96 GB, providing data scientists, engineers, and creative professionals with the enormous memory needed for applications like data science and simulation involving large datasets.

Prepared for Virtualization

A personal workstation with support for NVIDIA virtual GPU (vGPU) software can be transformed into several high-performance virtual workstation instances, allowing distant users to pool resources to support tasks in high-end design, artificial intelligence, and computation.

Generation 4 PCI Express

For data-intensive workloads like artificial intelligence and data research, support for PCI Express Gen 4 offers double the bandwidth of PCIe Gen 3, accelerating data transfer speeds from CPU memory.

Power Effectiveness

The RTX A6000 is designed to fit into a variety of workstations from global OEM manufacturers and boasts a dual-slot, power-efficient design that can save up to twice as much power as Turing GPUs.The NVIDIA BlueField DPUs and NVIDIA ConnectX-6 Dx NICs, which provide strong network connectivity, in conjunction with the NVIDIA DOCA Firefly Service and NVIDIA Rivermax software for media streaming, guarantee that every display panel functions as a single, synchronised canvas.

“With immersive LED content delivered at a scale and clarity that has never been done before, Sphere Studio is captivating audiences not only in Las Vegas but also around the world on social media,” stated Alex Luthwaite, senior vice president of show systems technology at Sphere Entertainment. “This would not be possible without the knowledge and creativity of organisations like NVIDIA, who are essential in enabling NVIDIA’s vision and collaborating closely with NVIDIA’s team to redefine the boundaries of what is achievable with state-of-the-art display technology.”

Sphere, which was listed as one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023, presents signature marquee and corporate events in addition to concerts and residencies featuring the best names in music.

Rock group U2 performed 40 shows in Sphere as its opening act, which ended in March. The Sphere Experience featuring Darren Aronofsky’s Postcard From Earth is a multisensory cinematic experience that combines the venue’s immersive technologies, including high-resolution visuals, advanced concert-grade sound, haptic seats, and atmospheric effects like wind and scents.

Visual Technology Behind the Screens Fueling the Sphere: Sphere Studios produces video content at its location in Burbank, California, and sends it digitally to Sphere Studio, a Las Vegas venue. Then, using NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPUs, the content is streamed in real time to rack-mounted workstations, resulting in previously unheard-of performance that can provide three layers of 16K resolution at 60 frames per second.

Direct data transfers to and from the GPU are made possible by the NVIDIA Rivermax software, which aids in video streaming acceleration. Jitter is removed and latency is optimised when hardware and software acceleration work together.

Precision timing is made possible by NVIDIA BlueField DPUs via the DOCA Firefly Service, which synchronises clocks within a network with sub-microsecond accuracy.

Nir Nitzani, senior product director for networking software at NVIDIA, said, “The integration of NVIDIA RTX GPUs, BlueField DPUs, and Rivermax software creates a powerful trifecta of advantages for modern accelerated computing, supporting the unique high-resolution video streams and strict timing requirements needed at Sphere and setting a new This combination yields tremendous performance gains and extraordinary Sphere Studio experiences.

Equilibrium: Transitioning from Model to Sphere Level

Sphere Entertainment established Sphere Studios, which is tasked with producing the upcoming wave of innovative immersive entertainment, in order to produce fresh immersive content only for Sphere. Several development facilities can be found on the Burbank property, including the Big Dome, a quarter-sized replica of the Sphere screen in Las Vegas that doubles as a content lab, screening room, and production facility.

In order to film content for Sphere without having to combine several camera feeds, Sphere Studios also created the Big Sky camera system, which records uncompressed, 18K images from a single camera. Lenovo servers equipped with NVIDIA A40 GPUs power the studio’s own image processing software.

Additionally, 3D video, virtualization, and ray tracing are made possible by the A40 GPUs. The team utilises applications like as Unreal Engine, Unity, Touch Designer, and Notch to create graphics for various types of shows.

NVIDIA RTX A6000 Price

Nvidia rarely sells the professional graphics card NVIDIA RTX A6000. Retailer listings suggest the NVIDIA RTX A6000 will cost $4,799 USD.

Read more on govindhtech.com

#Amazingspher #studiovisuals #nvidiartx #a6000 #gpus #leddisplay #rtcores #thirdgeneration #gddr6memory #4pci #power #equilibrium #technology #technews #news #govindhtech

0 notes

adtrendshq · 2 years ago

Text

The MSG Sphere & OOH Advertising

Las Vegas has a new star in its skyline, and it's not a celebrity; it's the MSG Sphere, a $2.3 billion engineering marvel that's been making waves on social media. Rising 366 feet tall and boasting a unique dome structure adorned with 1.2 million LED discs, this futuristic venue is not only a spectacle for concertgoers but has also become a canvas for advertising on a colossal scale. At the heart of the buzz is the Exosphere, the outer surface of the Sphere and reportedly the largest LED screen on Earth. From psychedelic ripples to giant blinking eyeballs, the Exosphere is capturing the attention of Las Vegas locals and online audiences alike. But what makes this luminous giant truly special is its potential for out-of-home (OOH) advertising, redefining how brands can captivate audiences in the digital age.

For advertisers, the MSG Sphere presents a monumental opportunity, offering a canvas that's impossible to ignore. However, there's a catch – the costs are as colossal as the Sphere itself. Leaked figures suggest a one-day ad takeover could set brands back $450,000, with a week-long run commanding a hefty $650,000. It's a price tag that puts this advertising gem out of reach for all but the most deep-pocketed brands. Despite the costs, the exposure is massive. With estimated daily impressions of 300,000 in-person and a staggering 4.4 million on social media, an ad on the Sphere is bound to make waves. As Las Vegas gears up for events like the Formula One race, the NBA In-Season Tournament, and the 2024 Super Bowl, the next four months promise a captivating period for advertisers daring enough to embrace the Sphere.

The MSG Sphere isn't just a venue; it's a pioneer in the out-of-home advertising space. Its exterior LED screen represents a dramatic innovation in OOH, aligning with the broader resurgence of digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising. As technological advancements continue to reshape possibilities in advertising, the MSG Sphere stands as a testament to the creative intersections of art, technology, and commerce.

In the evolving landscape of advertising, where digital meets physical, the MSG Sphere is a shining example of pushing boundaries and challenging norms. As brands seek to make a lasting impact, the Sphere beckons as a unique canvas where advertising becomes an immersive experience, captivating audiences both on the streets of Las Vegas and across the digital realm. The future of advertising has never looked more spectacular!

www.newhouse.syr.edu

#msg sphere #advertising #ooh

0 notes

dertaglichedan · 2 years ago

Text

The Sphere’s fully programmable LED screen houses concert venue built to host tens of thousands of people

Oliver Holmes

Thu 6 Jul 2023 07.46 EDT

The Las Vegas skyline has been dominated by a huge animated dome – billed as the world’s largest video screen – dwarfing surrounding high-rise hotels after going live with a 300ft eyeball looking down over the city.

the $2.3B sphere in Las Vegas is insane 😳pic.twitter.com/YWNNUW1iGz

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 5, 2023

The MSG Sphere’s 580,000 sq ft fully programmable LED screen, named the Exosphere, was illuminated for pre-launch testing overnight to celebrate the Fourth of July. The show started with a welcome message, “Hello world”, followed by fireworks and stars and stripes animations, a moon in a night sky and an imposing Halloween pumpkin. Videos showed the screen overshadowing cars – tiny in comparison – on a nearby road.

0 notes

cloudsrust · 4 years ago

Text

Patchwork Care (Part 2)

Perhaps his plan required more steps than he had anticipated. As he stared at the spot and cross paper before him, he couldn’t help but think back to the series of events that led him to be at a deli-café at two in the morning.

“What’s your favorite animal?” A rather harmless question, but for Nova, it was the first step in his flawless scheme of gifting Neon J a doll to remind him that he too was allowed to enjoy the small things in life.

“Huh? Where is this question coming from?”

“It’s ridiculous that I know the entire route of your deployment based on your stories alone, yet I don’t know something as simple as your favorite animal.”

The cyborg seemed like he was about to argue but instead, he paused. The radar on his screen was replaced by a circular loading symbol. Then three dots appeared, soon being replaced by an exclamation point. “Huh. I guess I have never told you before. Weird.”

“Well, are you going to tell me? Or am I going to have to figure it out myself?” Although his tone was seemingly annoyed, it was Aster’s way of being playful. He was thankful that Jun knew him well to know the difference between genuine irritation and cheekiness just by tone.

“So impatient!” The veteran quipped, lightly shoving the DJ by the shoulder. “But to answer that burning question of yours, my favorite animal is the red-crowned crane! To me, that bird holds great meaning. Longevity, loyalty, persistence, good luck, and better days. A graceful being by nature, living its life peacefully and with a flair of dance; it just speaks to me in a spiritual level!~”

“I have never seen a crane in my life before-”

“What? No way. You’re screwing with me.”

“Jun, I’m not from Vinyl City, much less this country. There are plenty of animals, and flora, I have never seen in my entire life.”

“That’s it, we’re going to the zoo.”

That had been a rather eventful day that he would always remember fondly. The numerous pictures that Won had taken and subsequently printed out certainly helped in keeping the recent memory fresh in his mind. Regardless, at least now he had a fairly good idea about what the shape of the plush doll would be. The execution was going to be an uphill battle though. If the sketching phase was giving him this much trouble, he didn’t dare think about what the rest of the process would be like. As he began to wonder if he could skip the sketching phase, the words of his parents came to mind.

“{You want to sew? Really?}” His father, Messier, questioned in sign, looking quite surprised.

“{Just something new I wanted to try out.}” Aster responded back. He knew for a fact that both of his parents were hopeless romantics and he didn’t want them to get the wrong idea. The reason why he was being rather vague about the topic. It was just a handmade gift to a friend that he appreciated a whole lot. There was nothing more to it. Nope.

Messier narrowed his green eyes at him in thought. The DJ preferred being questioned by his father, he could always see what was going on through his mind before he could open his mouth. He was just a highly expressive man, and it had little to do with the fact that he was human. It was ironic that Aster was near identical to him appearance-wise, except for his obvious cosmosapien body parts, yet personality-wise they couldn’t be any more different. No, the influence in his attitude was definitely from his mother’s side.

Speaking of which, he could see her “head” poking in the room through the video call. Like him, Lyman wore protective gear. She wasn’t a being of dark matter and space dust, rather she was a system of satellites that worked as joints and as a head. Her true form was shaped by the multiple exospheres that said satellites had. “Everything alright in there?”

Aster translated her words into sign language, indicating to his father of her arrival since he couldn’t hear much. Of course, the first thing that Messier did was to snitch on him in the worst way possible. “{I think our child has a crush and wants to do a homemade sewing project for them}.”

“What? No- That is not- Ma, I swear Pa is just embellishing the story- That is NOT what I said, at all!” Nova was NOT whining, he was just complaining in a higher pitch. Also, he was NOT salty about his father’s teasing expression.

Lyman gasped excitedly before going over to sit by her husband, she leaned over towards the screen, absolutely glowing in excitement. “Alright, I’ll tell you the basics right away. First a sketch; always sketch out your projects. They are the foundation for everything; measurements, adjustments, in case you need to repeat what you sewed- It’s basically like a blueprint. Never start without a blueprint.”

“{Don’t skip steps. Even if it takes longer, it’s better to be safe than sorry.}”

Ignoring the slightly embarrassing situation attached to those words of wisdom, it was still sound advice. However, he had never drawn a bird before, much less a crane. So now there he was, eating a sandwich at an unworldly hour, staring at a blank page while dozens of crumbled papers were placed around the table.

Nova was so lost in his thoughts that he hadn’t noticed that the Sayu Crew had just arrived.

“Oh! Hi Mr. Nova!” Tila greeted in a chirper tone.

The DJ waved before pausing and looking at his phone. Yup. Still 2 a.m. There were four unsupervised teenagers in a deli at 2 a.m., a district away from their home. Unsupervised. His latent guardian instincts were kicking in. “What are you four doing here, at this hour?”

“Uno reverse.” Sofa countered, making the other three snort or giggle discreetly.

“I am an adult that just so happened to be hungry and busy. Now answer the question.”

“Ditto, actually. Well, except for the adult part.” Remi answered sheepishly. “Listen, we have an inverted sleep schedule, we hit an art block and we got super hungry.”

“I like the sandwiches here, plus my uncle owns the shop. This is kinda like our safe creative space.” Dodo added in a much quieter tone.

At that, the DJ relaxed considerably. No, he wasn’t worried about them. Not at all. “Alright. Just make sure your phones don’t run out of battery in case of an emergency.”

“Okay, Mr. Nova!” The four responded. However, Remi was the one that approached as the others went to the counter to order. The teen seemed to stand there awkwardly before getting enough courage to start a conversation. “I couldn’t help but notice that you uh… You have some drawing materials there. Um…”

“It’s a new craft I’m attempting to make. I need to sketch it out before beginning, however, it is not going as smoothly as I hoped.” He explained vaguely. Then, an idea hit him like a freight train. “Remi, do you know how to draw birds?”

“I’m not an expert, but I know how to draw them.”

“Do you know how to draw cranes specifically?”

“Oh, cranes? I love cranes! I can draw them super fast.” Remi tilted his head as he began to connect dots. “Is that what you’ve been drawing? Want me to help?”

“Yes to both. I’m going to sew one. I’ve been trying out new hobbies lately and I wanted to challenge myself. Didn’t think I would hit a roadblock early on.” Nova partially lied. However, he considered the slight lie to be convincing.

“Well, I have nothing else to do. Do you mind if I take some creative liberties?”

“So long as it stays simple enough for me to follow along, I don’t mind. As for payment, I’ll just pay for your orders and escort you four back to Akusuka safely. I do appreciate your help.”

“You got it, Mr. Atomic!” It was like a fire had been lit and without a word Remi had taken over the art supplies. He was sketching like a mad man. His concentration was not broken, even when he scooted over to let his friends sit next to him at the booth. The only moment he slowed down was when the others gave their input or when he asked Dodo to pose like a crane. They all worked together seamlessly. It was quite admirable.

“Oh, maybe he could wear a jacket of sorts. That would look cute.” Tila mentioned. Remi nodded enthusiastically making a second sketch just for the jacket. It was a uniform that looked oddly familiar.

��Why are you making it a navy officer jacket?” Nova questioned. If he had eyes, they would have been narrowed.

“Well this is clearly for Neon J, so I think it would be a nice touch.”

“I… I never said it was for J. I said I just wanted to try something new. Where did you even get that idea?”

“Did he do the thing again when he said that?” Dodo questioned with a raised eyebrow and half-eaten sub at hand.

“Yup. Never fails.”

“What? What thing?”

Tila covered her mouth with her sleeve, but it was obvious she was grinning. “He has no idea…”

“What are you guys going on about?”

Sofa cleared his throat before placing his clasped hands on the table. “Mr. Nova, I regret to inform you that you have a very obvious tell on when you’re not being honest.”

“Yeah, you get a lot of yellow and blue stars on your left side of your face for a second. Only on your left.” The voice of Sayu confirmed.

No wonder his parents always knew when he was lying or trying to omit details. “… Let’s assume you guys are correct, why would you still think it would be for J specifically?”

“You two and 1010 went on a zoo trip recently. The pictures are all over PolaSpot and Mr. J has gone on and on about cranes this week.” Remi pointed out.

“Right. Of course.” The astrophysicist crossed his arms over his chest, slumping in his seat. “… Neon has never caught me in a lie, so I doubt that tell is as obvious as you claim it to be.”

“Isn’t Neon J technically blind?” The tallest of the teens questioned, looking way too amused.

Aster stayed awfully silent at that, but his head had turned a nice shade of pomegranate.

“Did you forget he was blind?”

“….. You four better not say a word about this conversation. Ever.”

“Treat us to pizza next time we come by Cast Tech and our lips are sealed.”

“Deal.”

——–

The second part is done! I hope it’s as enjoyable as the first part. I hope you have a lovely week!~ ——————– Chapters Index:

——————–

Once again I remind that the amazing writer is @inkedfeather9 -!

#Patchwork Care Fan Fic #no straight roads #nsr #nsr djss #nsr neon j #neon j #dj subatomic supernova #djss #sayu team #Writing in the tags again to not clutter!#AAAaaa first of all I'm sorry it took me so long to post it but Tumblr messed up the formatting when I went to edit it;;;#That aside!#It was even better than the first part!#I absolutely love how you write the characters gosh;;;#also Aster and his father talking in sign language?? Ow my heart I love it!!#And I also love the idea/design of his mother in general!#from DJ's inner guardian coming out to them just reading right through him!#Just-;; for real the way you let the character of everyone shine through such small things is amazing and I can't wait to read more!#Absolutely no rush tho!!#Gosh this fic always leaves me with a smile at the end of each chapter sobs ;w;

51 notes · View notes

teratoscope · 6 years ago

Note

A dangerous predator, descended from an earthly animal, that hunts in orbit, or interplanetary space?

Grootslang

The ride upwell out of a massdriver is apocalyptic. It rattles your teeth even sealed tight in a crash podwrapped in inertial dampeners wrapped in layer after layer of armor andinsulation from the outer shell.But then you break out of theatmosphere and the universe stops shaking—falls utterly still, in fact—and youhear the launch shell separate, laying your shuttlecraft bare to space. Thehull cameras come to life and their feeds crackle into your heads-up-display;the curve of the earth bends out in front of you.You fuckin’ did it. Survived yourfirst tour. Nothing Provisional about your citizenship anymore. You’re an officer now. You get your own room, your own bed, a pledge in the clone vats.Offers from senior officers to follow up on. A vote.But before all of that can getsorted out, you’ll have to cool your heels at the Luna outpost for a while. Youcame up on the opposite side of the planet from home, and it’s less fuss tojust wait for the moon to swing around under the station’s shadow.Which is fine. You’ve waded throughso much worse; you can stand being a little bored with the accommodations.And then you hear the comms squawkat you, an ear-splitting blast of coarse-textured noise. You catch a glimpse ofthe pilot’s face reflected in the main screen, eyes practically popping fromtheir sockets and all the blood gone from his face.You blink, and when you open youreyes again the front half of the shuttle is gone. Your half wheels backward,end over end. For a brief stretch in each revolution you catch sight of amassive form, too huge to fully illuminate from this distance. You can only putit together in parts. It is roughly cylindrical. One end bristles with bulbousdrupes that glimmer faintly with millions of inner lights and throw off animpossible heat haze in the vacuum; the other is ragged, like a hollowed,lightning-scarred stump, and a cloud of waving flagellae erupts from itsdepths, gathering the pieces of wreckage strewn around it and drawing themdown, down.

HD 18 MV 300’ EVA AC 15 AT harpoon tendrils (300’ cone, 2d6 damage, Dex check for half. Ona Dex check that fails by 4 or more, target is snared and drawn to a waitingsphincter-airlock, requiring a Strength check at disadvantage to break looseeach round or take 4d6 acid damage as the chamber fills with aerosolizeddigestive agents) or focused reactor discharge (1,200’ line, 5d6 heat damage,2d6 Rads; roll 1d6 at the top of each round after firing—can only fire again ona 6) or ram (5d20 kinetic damage)Special Alcubierre organ, dauntingtarget

Alcubierre organ—the Grootslang can induce alocalized spacetime distortion that allows it to move at translight speeds atgreat caloric cost. In combat, this allows the Grootslang to retreat from anencounter to elsewhere in the solar system by using a full round to warm up itsbioreactors and sacrificing a quarter of its maximum hp. Hypothetically, usingmethods not currently available with Freestar One’s tech, you could project itsroute and give chase. If the Grootslang would drop to 0 because of its use ofits organ, it enters meltdown and aims its body at the nearest high-valuetarget.

Daunting target—the Grootslang is the size of asmall city and heavily armored. If struck from the outside, it ignores damagefrom any weapon that deals damage that is not either in d12s or higher or usesthree or more dice. Weapons that can damageits exoskeleton deal ½ damage until it is brought to half hp or less.

TheForward Escape project was planned and funded with the intent to field fiveFreestar-class stations, each meant to maintain a stable position at one of theEarth-system Lagrange points and serve a vital function in the preservation ofhuman civilization.

FreestarOne began as the designated military position, and the closest to Earth’sexosphere, situated just outside the moon’s orbit. It has since grown andmutated under the pressures of history.

FreestarsTwo, Four, and Five were meant to serve as civilian habitation platforms andindustrial depots. Of these, only Freestar Two went into position; it waspulverized by enemy mass drivers six months in, forming a cloud of space debristhat still encircles much of the planet. By the time Four and Five were up forlaunch there weren’t enough accounted-for civilians left to send up; thestations were mothballed and stripped down for critical equipment to field toFreestar One. Somewhere earthside, in a heavily shielded geofront whoselocation has been lost to bit rot, user error, and radiation-corrupted drives,the skeletons of these stations still sit and gather dust.

FreestarThree was meant to occupy the Lagrange point opposite Earth’s position in itsorbital path. It was built smaller to minimize its profile and, hopefully,avoid detection in-flight. All of these measures were taken to ensure that itspayload—a comprehensive, redundant vault of biological materials vital to thepotential reconstruction of Earth’s ecosystems, as well as a digitized recordof handpicked cultural artifacts—would go unscathed.

Thestation arrived at its destination in pristine condition. Unfortunately,several specimens had been contaminated by an enemy bioweapon before they wereever loaded on board. The security breach was never traced, and by the timeanybody noticed it was too late.

Thebioweapon incubated for two and a half years. When it matured, it acted fastenough that Prithvi, the onboard AI, was only able to release an incompleteradio-burst warning before the station disappeared from its position in a burstof waste gases.

Eversince, Freestar One has mercilessly tracked the position of the F3organism—what all available footage suggests is an invasive, quasi-cancerousmass inimical to the very notion of taxonomic category. It has colonized the framework of the station and atleast partially integrated into its electronics. Thus far it has never left thesolar system, but it appears to be capable of some kind of non-relativistictravel, given that it has managed several dozen pitstops in the orbit of everyplanet in the system, as well as multiple planetoids.

Observationsuggests that it has been steadily grazing the system for raw material,skimming atmospheres, eating comets and small asteroids, and seeding majorgravity wells with organic “probes” that return by the same means that the F3organism uses to traverse the distances between worlds. Between theseexcursions it suns itself, lounging just inside Mercury’s orbit.

Thepurpose of the F3 organism is unclear. At present it is one of the most directthreats to Freestar One’s existence; the threat of orbital bombardment hasdeterred any further direct exchanges of fire from enemy mass driversearthside, and the Freestar One Highguard maintains human dominance of thebattlefield in orbit, but the F3 organism has human forces beat in space formobility and resilience. It only needs to get in one good hit to screw us, andif we bloody its nose it has the option to run away; we do not.

In spiteof its obvious combat superiority, it has given the station a wide berth,though it does harass Highguard vehicles, Sepian dens, and Iron Saints when itbuzzes the Earth’s atmosphere or makes “pit stops” at the moon, sometimesresulting in confrontations between its spawn and the Luna mining colonyinterns. It just never hangs around in the same hemisphere as the station. Thishas led many to speculate that its purpose is logistical—that it is not only sustaining itself with its grazingpatterns but building a material stockpile to eventually be shared with itsparent species. Certain elements within this camp also point to the steadilydiminishing body of Post-Contact Exotic Artifact signatures detected throughoutlocal space, arguing that the F3 organism was designed specifically toclaim-jump the largest uncontested concentration of the resource that has thusfar driven the second phase of the Contact War.

A lesspopular but significant camp maintain the hypothesis that the F3 organism is a weapon—just a weapon with apowerful and unanticipated safety mechanism. Every time that the F3 organismenters the operating distance of human craft, its presence is announced by aburst of incoherent radio chatter. Those who have spent an inordinate amount oftime studying its output in human comms bands seem uniformly convinced thatPrithvi is still operational aboard the contaminated station, and has justenough control of certain critical systems to deter direct action against thestation and warn aligned targets in the hopes of allowing escape.

If so, theAI is up for consideration for multiple decorations, assuming it is everrecovered.

TheCounter-Xenological Study Committee has assigned the F3 organism the code name“Grootslang.” Standard procedure upon contact is to Retrieve critical mobileassets from the field of operations, Deter Grootslang’s engagement with fixedassets, and Retreat to the nearest safe distance. Direct confrontation is notadvised.

6 notes · View notes