Official: Next Tech

[AdamTG02]

Once we have finished our current research, what scientific advances should we pursue? You have two votes, as this poll will produce a first choice tech and a backup tech. The poll will remain open for six days.

Nonlinear Mathematics has become a popular topic of scientists' conversations on the Information Networks. Apparently, mathematicians are curious about the possibility of developing techniques to solve equations nonlinearly, by skipping several steps in the usual process of algebra. Physicists are curious for a different reason -- based on our knowledge of Applied Physics, these techniques may allow us to create lasers that use not only light, but other types of radiation as well (such as alpha rays and electron beams). These Particle Impactors are not expected to be as powerful as our Gatling Lasers, but physicists believe that they in turn could be improved into something one physicist calls a "Chaos Gun." This would involve further research into a branch of physics known as Superstring Theory, which the nonlinear techniques are expected to make possible.

Advanced Military Algorithms would put immediate military use to our Optical Computers. The same military scientists who developed Doctrine: Flexibility hope to make state-of-the-art computing a weapon of war. This would allow construction of Bunkers to house our troops outside bases, Deep Radar to detect enemy ships and units miles away, and AAA tracking, which would notify our troops of an air-based attack, significantly helping their defense. The Hive doesn't yet have Air Power, but once it does, this could be invaluable. On a more grim note, this avenue of research also includes Punishment Spheres, a method of torturing enemy prisoners of war. These algorithms would give us the infrastructure necessary to mobilize our society around military Power, if we chose to do so. They also promise to be applicable to the topic of artificial intelligence, possibly enabling Pre-Sentient Algorithms. However, the researchers pushing for this technology are more interested in developing techniques of germ warfare and Retroviral Engineering.

Doctrine: Initiative would apply the techniques of Industrial Automation to expanding and refining our navy. Doctrine: Flexibility allows for a small force, but the technology and infrastructure this doctrine would make possible would allow much larger ships, such as Cruisers and Destroyers. This military doctrine would also allow the training of Marines, who, using Amphibious Pods to cross short distances at sea, would be able to attack directly from a nearby ship. With the use of large-scale automation, Naval Yards could be built to supply our shiops with the best equipment and our troops with the best training. Military scientists even believe we would be able to develop a Maritime Control Center to coordinate naval activity throughout our faction -- a naval counterpart to the Hive's Command Nexus. Though the technologies this would lead to are far off, our scientists predict that the intricate automation processes in our shipyards and Naval Yards would be invaluable for our eventual development of Nanometallurgy techniques to refine metals at the atomic level. Similar nanite techniques in medical science, combined with the boldness of mind Initiative would make possible, might allow evolution of those who choose into a Homo Superior wedding man and machine.

Advanced Subatomic Theory represents a sustained effort to investigate and discover the smallest particles of matter. Data from High Energy Chemistry experiments would be fed into complex, self-modifying programs of Polymorphic Software. Using this method, important insights into the makeup of atoms on the sub-quark and lepton level would be gained. Understanding of the makeup of electrons and photons might very well allow us to develop a Comm Jammer using these principles, which would be invaluable in defense against enemy rovers. The sustained scientific activity represented by this initiative would furthermore allow us to develop Skunkworks facilities where prototype components could be made quickly and for limited cost. It is believed that understanding of the fundamental particles of the universe might shed insight on its fundamental forces, in a theory of Applied Relativity. Our chemists also look forward to Silksteel Alloys designed with understanding of these subatomic principles.

Neural Grafting is a line of research prompted by the relentless drive toward efficiency which swept our faction with the dicovery of Industrial Automation. This technology would use our understanding of the Secrets of the Human Brain to implant computers in the human brain itself. Our electronic engineers and neurobiologists believe that a linkage of the human mind to a computer, allowing the processing power of a machine to be wedded to the creativity of a human mind, is possible. If so, this would radically increased computational speed, reaction time, and sensory awareness for those citizens who elected to take part in such a procedure. The boon to our military preparedness would be such that we would be able to train troops with two special abilities. Our technologists also look forward to a true Mind/Machine Interface linking human thoughts with any computerized device, such as a Gatling Rover, and Biomachinery that would assist human metabolism at the cellular level.

Environmental Economics is a field that promises to turn ecological protection into a profitable endeavor. Based on Industrial Economics, this discipline would determine cases where environmental and economic interests coincide -- such as sustainable resource use, eco-tourism, and development and marketing of organic or environmentally friendly products -- and then use Ecological Engineering to make these endeavors as environmentally sound and profitable as possible. The economic gain from this technology is expected to be considerable, both boosting commerce and allowing levels of energy collection that are unfeasible now. Tree farming techniques would also be developed, requiring a large amount of infrastructure but boosting forest output in nutrient and energy significantly. Morgan Industries is currently researching this technology. It is expected to enable both techniques of Advanced Ecological Engineering and an integrated system of Planetary Economics.

Synthetic Fossil Fuels would allow us to fabricate with available chemicals substances similar to the "fossil fuels" of Old Earth, hydrocarbons storing vast amounts of chemical energy, which formed by the accumulation of plant residues over millions of years. To synthesize these materials, our biologists plan to use Gene Splicing to engineer plants that store a great deal of chemical energy with High Energy Chemistry techniques. This production process is expected to allow development of fossil fuels in years rather than millenia, and relies strictly on solar energy, as on Earth. Our chemists believe that researching this new material would allow us to fuel powerful weapons, as well as fabricate plastics and lubricants. Taken together, these developments would be invaluable in the construction of Fungicide Tanks for our Formers, or a practical Missile Launcher. The Hive has recently researched this technology, probably in view of its military applications: In addition to missiles, fossil fuels would be necessary to develop Doctrine: Air Power. They are also expected to allow the eventual development of an Organic Superlubricant.

Centauri Meditation seeks to expand and fully realize the rapport with Planet we are beginning to achieve with Centauri Empathy. Our study of Ecological Engineering has taught us how wondrous and diverse the native life of Planet actually is. Some of our Empaths believe that Planet itself thinks and dreams, and that the dreams of the Planetmind can be tapped through meditation. Regardless of whether that is true, this Meditation program is expected to have tangible effects. By spreading the abilities and skills of Empaths throughout the population, it would allow psychic diagnosis and treatment in health care. A closer rapport with Planet would allow greater harvests of energy from Xenofungus, and might allow for the creation of a Xenoempathy Dome boosting this rapport a hundredfold. The native life breeding program would attain proficiency with Isles of the Deep, and this proficiency could lead in time to a full unraveling of Centauri Genetics.

[AdamTG02]

Wouldn't you know, I would forget to post a poll. Please disregard this post.