Difference between revisions of "Status Quo"

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[[Image:statusquo_big.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Dark Wheel]]
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[[Image:Status_Quo_Edition_2_Cover_Small.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Second Edition Cover drawn by Neil Badman]]
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''Status Quo'' is an [[Oolite]] novella by [[Drew Wagar]]. It is the first part of the Oolite Saga, followed by ''[[Mutabilis]]''.
  
 
== Introduction ==
 
== Introduction ==
  
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This is a short story based on Oolite, written by [[Drew Wagar]]
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''Status Quo'' was originally written to give newcomers to Oolite a feel for how Oolite differs from [[Classic Elite|Elite]] in a the form of a story, setting the scene for all the adventures to come, rather like the original [[Robert Holdstock]]'s novel ''[[The Dark Wheel]]'' set the tone for Elite itself.
  
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It is set in 3138, prior to current Oolite time (Year 3142), but after the events of Elite (Year 3125). Dates for these events are given in Selezen's excellent hypothetical [http://www.hughesd.co.uk/elite/content/oo-timeline.asp Elite/Oolite chronology] and based on his interpretation of GalCop history.
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It's set four years before the time in which players of Oolite find themselves.
  
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The subject of the story is how the [[Q bomb]] came to be invented.
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"A brilliant scientist uncovers a terrifying plot to begin a galactic war. Aided by a talented, but reluctant and embittered combateer, he must stop the deployment of a super weapon he invented. A weapon so powerful it threatens to destroy entire worlds."
  
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This story was an attempt to provide a link between the back stories of Elite, Oolite and the later events of FE2/FFE, giving a newcomer to Oolite some background information on how things differ from Elite in a narrative context, reminiscent of the original Elite novella, 'The Dark Wheel' by Robert Holdstock.
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There is also a [http://www.facebook.com/drewwagarwriter Facebook fan page].
  
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Readers are welcome to submit feedback and comments to the author via his [http://www.wagar.org.uk website].
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=== Second edition ===
  
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There is a sequel, [[Mutabilis]], currently being written.
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Status Quo was revised in October 2009 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Elite. The second edition features some extra scenes, improved dialogue and updated references to bring it in-line with the progress made within Oolite during the three years since Status Quo was first released in 2006.
  
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== Teaser and feedback from readers ==
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=== Third edition ===
  
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"A brilliant scientist uncovers a terrifying plot to begin a Galactic war. Aided by a talented, but reluctant and embittered combateer, he must stop the deployment of a super weapon he invented. A weapon so powerful it threatens to destroy entire worlds."
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Drew is currently (2023) working on a commercial version of this with the Oolite content stripped out. He has removed all available copies from distribution.
  
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“Fantastic, absolutely spot on. A true work of art.”
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== Timeline ==
  
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“I love it so much!”
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This novel is [[Lore|syncretist]] in outlook, seeing Oolite and FE2/FFE set in the same universe.
  
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“Fantastic work.”
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The [[Dark Wheel]] - 3115 CE
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[[Classic Elite]] - 3125 CE
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Status Quo - 3138 CE
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Oolite - 3140 CE
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[[FE2]]/FFE - 3199 CE
  
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“What a ride!”
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== Downloads ==
  
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“Very nice edge of the seat stuff!”
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*You can download the story from this [https://www.drewwagar.com/elect/ website].
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*Or you can download [[Ship Library Book-Status Quo]] (through the in-game [[Expansions Manager]]) for your [[Ship's Library OXP]]. You can then read it on an [[MFD]] while flying!
  
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“Rocks!”
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== Notes==
  
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“One hell of a tale.”
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Status Quo is set in the year 3138, four years before the official time frame of the Oolite game, which has been set as 3142.
  
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“You've still got me hanging on the edge of my seat.”
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In the game, the Q-Bomb does not behave as it does in the novel. However, it is possible to install the [[Status Quo Q-bomb OXP]] to make the Q-Bomb behave as it does in the novel.
  
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“Wow!”
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The author also recommends the following [[OXP]]s be installed in order to make the game play as close to the novel as possible: [[BoyRacer]], [[Torus station|Tori]], [[Famous Planets]], [[Tianve Pulsar]], [[System Redux (Oolite)|System Redux]], [[Behemoth]], [[Imperial Courier (Oolite)|Imperial Courier]], [[SuperCobra]] and [[Snoopers]] (which adds the ''Tionisla Chronicle'' news feed to the game.)
  
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“Excellent work I really love it!”
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[[Category:Oolite stories]]
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[[Category:Status Quo| ]]
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== Downloads / Hardcopy ==
 
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You can download the story in PDF format [http://www.wagar.org.uk/downloads/book/oolite/Status_Quo_Chapter_Four.pdf here]. Please note the 'Creative Commons' license contained within.
 
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''NB: The filename refers to 'chapter four', this is due to historical reasons and can be safely ignored. The full story is contained within!
 
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Status Quo is just over 200 pages long.''
 
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You can buy a hard copy of the story [http://www.cafepress.com/drews_shop.83694981 here], if you'd prefer a copy to hold in your hand. This is sold at 'cost' with the buyer only paying for the production costs at cafepress. The author makes no profit from the sales of the story. This is due to Oolite being a 'Creative Commons' production, and 'Status Quo' thus being a derivative work.
 
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== Notes ==
 
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For readers familiar with Oolite, the story includes the [[Imperial Courier]] and [[SuperCobra]] OXP vessels. Whilst these ships are well known and relatively common vessels by the time of Oolite (Year 3142), the author has made the assumption that these vessels didn't become a common place sight in GalCop space lanes until after the events of this story. Thus their appearance provokes alarm and surprise to the characters portrayed. The justification is that these vessels did not appear in the original 8-bit Elite computer games with which the author was familiar.
 
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Unfortunately this doesn't quite gel with [http://eywtkaticawata.alioth.net/ Ewtkaticawata], which records the first Courier prototype coming into service (Year 2899). This author's view is that perhaps it was always engaged in Galcop/Empire skirmishes outside of GalCop planetary space, still being a Navy only vessel, and not available to the general public. [http://eywtkaticawata.alioth.net/ Ewtkaticawata] also marks the Courier being available on general release (Year 3250). For an explanation of why the Courier is seen in the Oolite timeframe, please see the entry on [[Seldar Shipyards]].
 
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In the absence of specific introduction dates given on the EliteWiki entry for the [[Q bomb]], the author has presumed it appeared immediately after the events of the story (Year 3138), thus coming onto the market four years prior to Oolite itself (Year 3142). Thus it is a relatively new weapon, and people are still getting acclimated to its usage, resulting in a number of high profile accidents.
 
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Since the Q-Bomb did not appear in the Frontier and First Encounter Games, the author has presumed that it was banned by treaty before the events of these two later games (Year 3199 onwards). The date of this event has been set, by the author, twenty years later as a result of the [[Aesbion Conflict]] (Year 3158), notably after the major Thargoid war (Year 3151). Thus the Q-Bomb may have been a key component in the Thargoids' demise.
 
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[[Category:Fiction]]
 
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[[Category:Oolite]]
 
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[[Category:Classic]]
 

Latest revision as of 07:38, 30 April 2023

Second Edition Cover drawn by Neil Badman

Status Quo is an Oolite novella by Drew Wagar. It is the first part of the Oolite Saga, followed by Mutabilis.

Introduction

Status Quo was originally written to give newcomers to Oolite a feel for how Oolite differs from Elite in a the form of a story, setting the scene for all the adventures to come, rather like the original Robert Holdstock's novel The Dark Wheel set the tone for Elite itself.

It's set four years before the time in which players of Oolite find themselves.

"A brilliant scientist uncovers a terrifying plot to begin a galactic war. Aided by a talented, but reluctant and embittered combateer, he must stop the deployment of a super weapon he invented. A weapon so powerful it threatens to destroy entire worlds."

There is also a Facebook fan page.

Second edition

Status Quo was revised in October 2009 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Elite. The second edition features some extra scenes, improved dialogue and updated references to bring it in-line with the progress made within Oolite during the three years since Status Quo was first released in 2006.

Third edition

Drew is currently (2023) working on a commercial version of this with the Oolite content stripped out. He has removed all available copies from distribution.

Timeline

This novel is syncretist in outlook, seeing Oolite and FE2/FFE set in the same universe. 

The Dark Wheel - 3115 CE
Classic Elite - 3125 CE
Status Quo - 3138 CE
Oolite - 3140 CE
FE2/FFE - 3199 CE

Downloads

Notes

Status Quo is set in the year 3138, four years before the official time frame of the Oolite game, which has been set as 3142.

In the game, the Q-Bomb does not behave as it does in the novel. However, it is possible to install the Status Quo Q-bomb OXP to make the Q-Bomb behave as it does in the novel.

The author also recommends the following OXPs be installed in order to make the game play as close to the novel as possible: BoyRacer, Tori, Famous Planets, Tianve Pulsar, System Redux, Behemoth, Imperial Courier, SuperCobra and Snoopers (which adds the Tionisla Chronicle news feed to the game.)

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