Q-Bomb Controversy: Did the UTF test its new weapon?

Did the United Terran Federation test its new weapon, the Q-Bomb? This is the question everyone is asking after images made by the Galileo Observation Probe where released yesterday. The image taken in the Gamma Quadrant, shows the destruction of a planet know as OM-1, that was located near UTF controlled territory.



The image shows the destruction of OM-1 and its moons by a large explosion, "something that only the Q-Bomb could achieve" as experts say. So far the event is still investigated and no official comment was made by any side.

This events overshadows the passing of the new defense bill by the congress that allows the Military of the USD to develop a defensive capability against the new superweapon. The bill, that gives gives the Military 1.2 Billion Credits additional funds had been debated hotly in the past weeks with the opposition voicing their concern about a out of control military as a result of overspending.

with the passing of the bill, the Military researchers started almost immediately their work to find a solution to the problem that is The Q-Bomb.

Research log, Doctor Thomas Issac, Cliffworm encounter

"Personal log of Doctor Thomas Issac, June 10th. I was called to the landing pad today to examining some sort of creature. It appears to be some sort of Sandworm. It has a large head with a maw that has sharp tooths. 2 more large tooths are attached to its side. The body appears to be mostly head, ending in a long tail like longer body. The skin is thick and brown. It seems to be able to eat flesh, which is odd for a regular sandworm. This is either a sub species or something completely new and different"

"The creature has no eyes, it seems to rely on vibration detection. There is also no nose present. "



"After scanning the worm, it seems that its internal structure is made of a exo-skeleton and the worm typical organs. It backed up when I started scanning which leads me to believe that the frequencies of the Tricoder influenced the worm, it seemed not to like the scan at all. We need to remodulate our scanners to have a lower frequency so we do not disturb the worms during the scanning process. I also got a DNA sample which I will put under a microscope very soon. I have to note that this is a very fascinating encounter"

Addendum: I recently could identify this species of Worm as a Cliff Worm. They where commone in the more rocky areas of Al Raqis but have not been seen since quite some time, so locals told me. It seems that people hunted them because of the threat these worms seem to be when spice mining. They also are supposedly venomous, if that is correct then these creatures do pose a threat to people venturing into the desert. I will continue my research in this matter and will report my findings.

Doctor Thomas Issac, lead scientist, Al Raqis

Update on Researchlog.

From Doctor Thomas Isaac

Recent investigations into the structures of the Sandworms have revealed that the Worms do not posses a bone structure as seen in the cut-away drawing that was included in the research log. After speaking with a local inhabitant of Al Raqis, I was told that the Worms posses a exoskeleton. 

If that assessment is correct then it creates a row of new questions that have to be investigated. The cutaway drawing also has to be corrected to from the error.

Singed

Doctor Thomas Isaac, project Lead. 

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Research log, May 5

Speices: Shai-Hulud Gigantus wormus (Common term: Al Raqian Sandworm)

The Sandworm is a native life-form of the planet AL Raqis. It lives in the vast deserts and sand dunes that stretched across the surface of the planet.

Sandworms live beneath the sand. Attracted to rhythmic vibrations on the surface, they will breach in pursuit of the origin of such vibrations. This is an effort to defend their territory, of which they are highly protective. Thus to see a worm, and live to tell about it, is extremely rare, save for the mysterious fremen, who have achieved some kind of mastery over the beast.

Size

By anyone's standards, Sandworms could grow to an enormous size. The size ranges from around 30m and is rumoured to go as far as 2km. The average size of a worm is around 450 meter. 

Age

Due to the difficulty of studying these creatures, not much is originally known about the wild Sandworms. The longevity of the Sandworm is supposedly extreme, estimated in the thousands of years. We still have to study the subject of age. The only ones who really can tell us about the age of the worms are the Fremen.

Appearance

Their skin is thick, rough, and orange colored. It serves the simple function of armor and seems to be comprised of many scales, each a few feet in size. These scales overlapped and interlocked to form the armor that protected it against internal sand invasion.

Sandworms are animals similar in appearance to colossal terrestrial annelids and in other ways to the sea lamprey. They are cylindrical creatures with no significant appendages, equipped with a fearsome array of crystalline teeth, used primarily for rasping rocks and sand, and more than capable of eating anything imaginable.

Image of a Sandworm:

 

This is the theoretical internal view of the Worm. We still have to research into it and expand out knowledge of the Sandworm, but we manage to collect a lot of data already. Still, we can not confirm a connection between the Sandworms and the Spice at this date.

Lightning

The approach of a sandworm towards its breach-point is often indicated by the dry lightning that frequently occurres in the area; a result of static electricity being discharged into positively-charged air.

We have registered a lot of changes in th EM fields which we are sure are created by the Worms. We have to investigate it further so we can actually create a warning system that let us know in advanced where a worm will show up.

Diet

The main component of the Sandworm's diet seems to be sand, and other inorganic and dry components of the Al Raqian crust. We also think they sifted the sand-plankton for nourishment.

Birth

We are currently not sure hoe the procedure of conception and birth is happening with the Wroms, we have to investigate this problem further.

Cultural Impact of the Sandworm

To the planet's Fremen population, the creature is a spiritual symbol of their faith and see them as physical embodiments of the One God of their original Zensunni religion. Within Fremen culture the Sandworm has several additional names, notably The Maker and Shai-Hulud, which variously mean Old Man of the Desert, Old Father Eternity, or Grandfather of the Desert

Young Sandworms seem to be used by the Fremen for special ceremonies. Inducting a new Sayyadinas or reverend mothers is a prime example of the Sandworms essential cultural role.

We still have to learn a lot about these creatures and how they are tied into the network of life here on Al Raqis. Further investigation is necessary to uncover all the mysteries and secrets this creature surrounds.