# Finish the Sci-Fi Story V: Independent's Day control thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 14, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028 "2009-09-14T14:19:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/1 "2009-09-14T14:19:06Z")
[Finish the Science Fiction Story](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=181231) [Finish the Science Fiction Story, Part II](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=252702) [Finish the Sci-Fi Story III - Murder Mystery](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=274181) [Finish the Sci-Fi Story IV: The Next Generation](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=322287) > [@A new "Finish the" story will start this Wednesday, use this thread for Q&A](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-finish-the-story-will-start-this-wednesday-use-this-thread-for-q-a/262090/1): > > After the end of Part II, we had a bit of a Writer’s Guide started, some of it discussing what has become canon in the series, some of it merely speculation and/or impressions. > > Also, Baker has a couple of recaps of major plot points and character developements that anyone is welcome to (via e-mail). > There’s only one rule, more of a guideline, actually: > > MAKE IT FIT > > Part of the fun of having several (hopefully many) people writing a story is watching it grow and go to unexpected places. And watching an idea you inserted on a lark take on a life of its own. But, needless hijacks and detours can make the story tedious to read when done. Hasn’t happened yet, and I don’t think it’ll happen here, but I felt it was something that needed to be said. > > Don’t feel pressured to add huge posts. If you have an idea/person/plot point to add, add it. Whether it’s two sentences or 9 paragraphs. ALL ARE WELCOME. Some people excell at characterisation, some at action, some at mood or scene setting. ALL ARE WELCOME. > > **Once the story starts, use this thread for internal writer’s discussions** > Actually, there is one more rule: > > HAVE FUN! Some established terms in the 'verse we created: > [@](#): > > Xavvian > Bipedal, erect life form of mostly humanoid shape. They are cat-like and have tails. Some Xavvians tails are rather prehensil, most are not. Kind of like the odds of us being ambidexterous. > > Xavvian males are on the average taller than humans. Xavvian males bone structure is configured differently than females, they can jump higher and twist their arms an legs into attitudes that females can’t. > > Xavvian females are, in general, shorter than males, and somewhat slighter in build. But they are still, on average, above medium height for human woman, being in the neighborhood of 5’9" to 5’10". > > Renallian > Renowned for their strength, Renallians are an extremely adaptable species, geneticly. Can be biped or quadraped, flyers, etc… Think Xindi, but all reptilian (to us) in appearance. > > Thosti > A specific branch of biped Renallians that are humanoid in appeareance. They have tails; some rather prehensil, most are not. Aside from the _Orion_ (a merchant/smuggler vessel along the lines of the _Millennium Falcon_), her crew (along the lines of _Serenity_’s in the Firefly 'verse), and a loose plot outline, everything’s pretty much open in the fifth installment. As long as it follows the above. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/2 "2009-09-14T15:59:53Z")
Thanks for starting a new story! In the Intro you said the original captain was Ian Marcam. Then that Col. Patrick Marcam retrofitted her. Is Ian also Patrick or did Patrick take over from Ian and now Sean took over from Patrick? I know we can make things up, but I just wanted to be sure of any facts that were stated. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/3 "2009-09-14T16:02:19Z")
Patrick is Ian’s brother and Sean’s father. He hired Ian and the _Orion_ for the invasion and Sean took over from Ian. She’s been in Sean’s hands for about 15 standard years. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/4 "2009-09-14T16:03:30Z")
Kate Rowe and Jack Harkness would get along very well. Perhaps a litle too well. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/5 "2009-09-14T18:17:28Z")
I’m currently at work, it won’t be until this evening that I can write a decent episode…this is going to be fun! I’m also going to have to review the first four stories, to refresh my memory of species and canon. But if anyone has any questions I still have some documents I made up detailing people, places, races, and so forth in this universe. PS: \*\* Lute\*\*, I love the title! ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/6 "2009-09-14T18:18:58Z")
Please send me any summaries. I’m flying by the seat of my pants and can use some grounding. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/7 "2009-09-14T19:17:44Z")
_Orion_ typically uses Razor torpedos. These are designed to fit two torpedos into a single unit, called “pods”, that split apart shortly after launch. This allows her to launch four warheads before reloading. Reloading is automatic as long as the racks aren’t empty. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/8 "2009-09-14T19:24:35Z")
Oh, yeah: very nice post, **CC**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/9 "2009-09-14T19:26:25Z")
Thanks. I get my best ideas riffing off other’s posts. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/10 "2009-09-14T20:13:58Z")
If anyone bothered to trace the Marcam family tree back to Earth, they’d eventually end up in Ireland. Same for Kate Rowe. Shad’s paternal trail would seem to dead end in the Italian section of East Harlem during the 1890s but at least one other branch originates in the British Isles. Tor’s full name translates to “Thomas, son of Thomas”. His origins are uncertain but the tattoos suggest some Xavvian invovlement. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/11 "2009-09-14T20:24:50Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I’m currently at work, it won’t be until this evening that I can write a decent episode…this is going to be fun! Looking forward to it. > [@](#): > > _PS: \*\* Lute_\*, I love the title!\* 😃 Couldn’t do much else considering the main characters. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/12 "2009-09-14T20:47:32Z")
I don’t see _Orion_ having a dedicated ship’s doctor but her crew with the exception of Kate should have experience in practicing battlefield medicine. ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/13 "2009-09-14T22:19:15Z")
Considering Kate’s … proclivities, I’m sure she has vast experience in treating pulled groin muscles, torn ligaments, bloody noses, dislocated shoulders, etc. Hmmm? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/14 "2009-09-14T22:29:34Z")
> [@Corner\_Case](#): > > Considering Kate’s … proclivities, I’m sure she has vast experience in treating pulled groin muscles, torn ligaments, bloody noses, dislocated shoulders, etc. Hmmm? That’s an entirely different sort of battlefield. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/15 "2009-09-15T02:24:42Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > That’s an entirely different sort of battlefield. 🙂 _Love is a Battlefield_ - Pat Benatar ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/16 "2009-09-15T14:58:29Z")
Referring to Baker’s great summary:[ul][_]Is this the same universe - Where there are non-space drives, crystals, etc.?[_]If so, then does the _Orion_ have a hyperspace drive but not a non-space drive?I don’t plan on bringing Kathy or Tobermory or any of that in to this, but is there a time before or after them that this story occurs?[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/17 "2009-09-15T15:53:40Z")
[ul]Yes.[_]Non-space, yes. She’s a long-range hauler.[_]There could be flashbacks but for the most part all stories are in chronological order stemming from the first.[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/18 "2009-09-15T16:00:31Z")
I’d like to expand on Shad’s background after the tension, and any unfriendly encounter, subsides. I’d make his security detail to have been on Ceres to tie into the first story. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/19 "2009-09-15T16:08:13Z")
> [@Corner\_Case](#): > > does the _Orion_ have a hyperspace drive but not a non-space drive? To expand on this, I don’t think we ever established the existence of hyperspace drives. So far all fast-travel has been performed via non-space. I suppose _Orion_, being an older model, could have the former. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028/20 "2009-09-15T22:42:18Z")
Corner Case, since my latest post went in after yours I’m glad we were writing on different topics. How many times have posters been writing at the same time on similar scenes? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-sci-fi-story-v-independents-day-control-thread/510028.md?page=2)