Germany in the sea of space

[Andromedos]

Again the ASB decide to screw over people's lifes, but this time with a little twist.
In the early ours of January 1st, 2006, people in Germany are celebrating the New Year, just as most other people on the planet do. But suddenly, at 05:59, there is a blinding white flash, like from a gigantic lighting. Not many people at first realize what happened, due to most of the population being asleep after many hours or celebrating and drinking. But a few hours later, even the persons with the strongest hangover will have realized something has gone terribly wrong as soon as they look outside.
The sky is gone! Well, it is not really gone, but it has changed dramatically! Not only is the sky's blue tone darker, there can also be seen the outlines of a gigantic glasshouse- like megastructure, covering the entire sky. And behind the glass roof people can see, three times bigger than the moon seen from earth, a blue planet... the earth!

Yes, the ASBs have ISOTed Germany, it's people, and 3000 Meters of the rock below it, not in time but in space. Everyone's favourite European nation (;) ) is now located in the Mare Serenitatis on Luna, with a prime view on the blue planet. Of course, since humans can't breath in a vacuum, they placed the nation into a gigantic self- sustaining circular biosphere, about 2 million square kilometres large. Germany fills roughly 1/6th of the biosphere's are. Another 1/6th are occupied by wild woodlands, filled with flora and fauna similar to what's naturally found in 2006's Germany.
The rest of the biosphere is filled with an ocean similar to the North Sea. There are some small islands in it, and oil deposits similar to the Caspian. The ocean is a functioning ecosystem, and the weather and air pressure inside the dome is stable and similar to what's found in Europe. The Rhine River now has its sources in the Bodensee Lake, and the Danube flows through the wild woods east to the Luna Ocean.

The biosphere superstructure consists of a 3000 meters high cliff made of Luna rock, and resting on the cliff is the 10.000 meters high glass dome. The dome itself is made of an unknown glass-like material, but strong enough to withstand most asteroid hits. It also keeps out any kind of harmful radiation. In the cliffs, there are 12 airlocks leading outside to the surface of the moon, each big enough to let a big truck pass through.

On earth, the space left by Germany is filled with a wild landscape made up of woods and plains, without any valuable resources except some coal and salt deposits. All infrastructures were ISOTed with Germany. So where any foreigners present in Germany during the ISOT, sans foreign troops stationed in Germany, who were teleported to their respective nations' capitals. German troops on duty abroad and Germans civilians in other countries were not ISOTed. Airplanes over Germany were isoted to the next available airport.

Germany is cut off from its imports, and has strategic oil and gas reserves for only about three month. The world has lost the third strongest economic power. Many people are cut of from their homes, their friends, their families... And everybody has a terrible hangover.

Any suggestions what will happen?
Let the chaos begin...

[black angel]

i would of done this to the UK but what ever, NASA will be working over time

[DuQuense]

Hang gliders Paridise

[Syphon]

Well I guess Germany now has a valid Claim to the moon regardless of treates signed as their whole country now resides on the moon.

But what about gravity the moons is only 1/6th the earths the ASB's will need to change that.

[Tom Veil]

If I'm in charge of Moon Germany, once I get the populace under control, the first thing that I do is pump out millions of solar panels. That should make for a quite reliable power source. Now that the power's up, everyone takes a couple of years to work on agriculture and infrastructure building. There will be lots of hardship, but so long as they can stave off mass insanity, they will survive, and eventually they will figure out how to replicate the technology. Earthlings might even be better off for the whole inconvenience in the end.

[Andromedos]

i would of done this to the UK but what ever, NASA will be working over time
I was thinking about either using the UK, France, or Germany. I chose Germany partly out of randomness, partly to give it an ISOT that does not involve Nazis in any kind. :D

Well I guess Germany now has a valid Claim to the moon regardless of treates signed as their whole country now resides on the moon.
That's one of the many interesting question I'm hoping to solve with the help of this communites outstanding members.:cool:
The legal and politican situation might become very interesting later in the timeline. And other nations might still be interested in the moon's resources. So keep those suggestions rolling.

But what about gravity the moons is only 1/6th the earths the ASB's will need to change that.
Nope, the moon's gravity is not changed. The germans will have to cope with that. The ASBs already gave them a radiation- proof glasssky and many new trees. They don't want to take the fun out of things. :rolleyes:
By the way, the roof radiation protection also does not let radio waves pass through. The Germans can't simply use the ESA controll centre in Darmstadt to contact earth. They'll have to leave the dome to construct the necessary equipment.
Before I forget, the dome itself is made up of five layers of glass, each 200 meters thick, with 20 meters air between the layers. The cliff is three kilometers thick.

If I'm in charge of Moon Germany, once I get the populace under control, the first thing that I do is pump out millions of solar panels. That should make for a quite reliable power source. Now that the power's up, everyone takes a couple of years to work on agriculture and infrastructure building.
The solar panels are a good idea. About agriculture, Germany currently is the 12th biggest food producer in the world. But of course, with the ISOT, things like fertilizer, gas for the machines, and raw materials for spare parts are missing.
Does anybody know good webpages about agriculture for reference?

There will be lots of hardship, but so long as they can stave off mass insanity, they will survive, and eventually they will figure out how to replicate the technology.
What technology? You mean the titanium- glass dome?


earthlings might even be better off for the whole inconvenience in the end.
Except that the world economy and the European Union just got a major kick in the teeth.

[Andromedos]

Well, let's try to turn this into a timeline. Since this is my first project of this kind, any help and contributions will be very much welcome. The title will be "Germany in the sea of space", unless somebody has an idea that sounds better.

- January 1st, 2006. 05:58 Central European time (GMT+1).
Things are still normal and quite in Germany, or at least as quite as it can be on New Years Eve. Except for emergency personnel, strong willed partygoers, and kids blowing up mailboxes with firecrackers, most of the +/- 82,515,988 people of the nation are sound asleep or passed out due to too much alcohol. Unknown to them, some ASB's decided to have some fun.

- January 1st, 2006. 05:59
The Flash! A light comparable to a big lighting blinds the people in Europe for several second. In this time, several things happen. The "Dome" is created in the Mare Serenitatis on Luna. Germany is ISOTed into the Dome.
Thousands of US military personnel, all of them fast asleep, suddenly appear in several parks and gardens all over Washington DC. Some even appear in the White House's garden. The same happens in Paris, Amsterdam, London, and some other capitals with their respective soldiers. Several airplanes appear on airports in Germany and all over Europe.

- 06:00 and a few seconds later.
Germany: The people who were awake during the Flash rub their eyes, trying to get the dancing stars out of their eyes. Everybody is feeling very light, and that's not just from the alcohol. One of the first people who realize something is truely wrong are the ground crews on the airports, seeing the many airplanes that have appeared neatly lined up on the runways. A few seconds later, the energy distribution in Germany goes haywire, with the power lines to the neighbouring EU nations now being cut off. Frantically the engineers in the power plants try to redistribute the nation's domestic energy production. Oil and gas pipelines are also cut cleanly off at the border, but automatic safety systems stop major oil and gas leaks.

- About one minute later.
The first person allegedly to have seen what had really happened was a college student from Bonn, a certain Nathan Stephan. When most of the lights in Bonn went off due to the energy problems Mr Stephan decided to use the opportunity and look into the sky, to find out if he could see the stars better now, without artificial light around. Well, the young man could indeed see many stars, but also saw the Dome's metal mega structure, and a crescent- like earth. Nathan Stephan let out a high-pitched scream, startling his friends, and pointed at the sky. Then his brain decided it had enough, and he fainted. His friends found this very hilarious... until they had a look at the sky themselves.

Meanwhile on earth, the first person to find himself in odds with the new situation was a Dutch truck driver. Mr Vincent Vadahassel was driving in the Netherlands on the A 40 highway to deliver a truckload of pigs to slaughterhouse in Duisburg. Suddenly he was blinded by the flash, just about as he was to cross the border into Germany. Temporarily blinded, Vincent did not see the magnificent oak tree had suddenly appeared in place of the Autobahn. The truck crashed into the tree at full speed, killing Mr Vandahassel almost instantly. Most of the pigs escaped the wreck to reach the freedom of the newly ISOTed great forest. Similar accidents happen on other roads leading into Germany, and several vehicles on Luna German roads crash into the Cliff or fall off collapsing bridges spanning border- rivers.


- Between 06:00 and 07:00
More and more people in Germany see the earth in the sky above them. Many of them go hysteric or faint. But overall things could have gone worse. Most of the population is still asleep or too drunk to truly understand what they see. But this will change.
The power situation meanwhile is a bit under control. Some towns are still without power, and many things like most streetlights and traffic lights had to be shut down to conserve energy.

Meanwhile on earth, strange reports start arriving in the world's capitals. All communication with the government in Berlin, army units, companies, news outlets, or anybody else in Germany is gone. The energy production in Europe has gone haywire. Travellers report that the highways and railroads are cut off and that trees have appeared instead. German military units on the Balkans, in Africa, and in Afghanistan report at NATO headquarters in Bruxelles, reporting that they have lost any contact to the Bundeswehr command in Potsdam, and asking what is going on. Meanwhile, the first sleeping soldiers are found in the capitals and wakened up. The soldiers of course are very shocked.
In Paris, French President Jacques Chirac is awakened by one of his aides and briefed about what is known. Meanwhile the French air force decides to send scouting planes over Germany as soon as the sun has dawn, to see what is going on.

- Germany, 07:13
In Berlin, one of the security guards assigned to federal chancellor Angel Merkel (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Merkel) has finally overcome his shock and decides to wake up the Kanzlerin. The man, a certain Gabriel Hauser, rings the doorbell of Merkel's private apartment in Berlin (note: I read in a newspaper that Mrs Merkel does still use her private apartment, and not the chancellor suit in the Kanzleramt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundeskanzleramt). Does anybody have more information about this, and the security at Mrs Merkel's place?)
After the door is opened by the chancellor's sleepy husband, Joachim Sauer, and several minutes of explaining a very nervous Mr Sauer that he MUST speak to the chancellor, Gabriel Hauser can finally see Mrs Merkel. The chancellor said years later that she would never forget the look of panic in Mr Hauser's face when he said those words. "Frau Bundeskanzlerin... etwas ist passiert..." ("Mrs chancellor... something has happened".)

- To be continued


now fire away at the holes and point out whatever I have forgotten. This idea has a lot of potential, I think. Add anything that comes to your mind.

[NomadicSky]

Why haven't any of the Germans noticed the gravity yet
I'm sure that'd be the first thing noticed

[Susano]

One problem is raw materials. Yes, the moon has many of that, but before the first mines are built, the factories will be quite starved, which could lead to immidate economic collapse. German soil itself, after all, doesnt have all too many raw materials anymore, and thus teh country is dependant upon trade - from which it is now cut off.

[Alratan]

Why haven't any of the Germans noticed the gravity yet
I'm sure that'd be the first thing noticed I agree, you'd notice the gravity the first time you moved, even if you just turn your head. The really big casualties will be caused by the high speed passenger trains.

[Andromedos]

Why haven't any of the Germans noticed the gravity yet
I'm sure that'd be the first thing noticed I actually wrote that people were feeling lighter, but you are right, I could have wroten more about that. I'll add some more about gravity in the next installment.

One problem is raw materials. Yes, the moon has many of that, but before the first mines are built, the factories will be quite starved, which could lead to immidate economic collapse. German soil itself, after all, doesnt have all too many raw materials anymore, and thus teh country is dependant upon trade - from which it is now cut off. Excactly. This will be a major problem. Especially finding material to produce plastics. The oil deposits under the Luna Sea are yet unknown. At first, the standart of living in Luna Germany will drop rapidly. Recycling will be become even more common. And of course rationising.
Does Germany have the raw materials to produce a lot of batteries?

The really big casualties will be caused by the high speed passenger trains.
Well, considering the ISOT took place early in the morning on a holiday, I doubt there were that many people travelling in express trains. Also don't have those trains automatic emergency stopsystems?

Keep those suggestiong flowing.

[Andromedos]

-January 1st, 07:30 CET
Berlin, Luna- Germany: Agent Gabriel Hauser observes Dr. Angela Merkel as the leader of Germany stands on her apartment's balcony, looking at the blue planet visible behind a sky of glass and steel, her jaw firmly pressed together. Hauser has to give the Kanzlerin a lot of respect; she has taken the events pretty well so far, better than he had himself at first. He remembers that Merkel has a degree in physics, and worked as a scientist in East Germany prior to her political career. After her husband let the agent into the apartment, they found Merkel awake in the living room, woken up by the doorbell. The chancellor was dropping her watch, watching it fall slowly towards the ground. Merkel looked at the two men, with horror in her face. "Joachim... something happened to the gravity! But that's impossible... unless earth has lost a lot of its mass!" Agent Hauser sighed. He asked Mrs Merkel and her husband to sit down, and then carefully explained what was hanging in the sky over Germany. When the agent was finished, the chancellor rose from her seat and went to the balcony, followed moments later by her husbands.
Both have stood there now for several minutes, just looking at the earth and not saying a word. Finally they turn around to face Agent Hauser. " Oh my god... my god... How could this happen? This is impossible." Exclaims Merkel's husband. "Yes it is..." says Merkel. "But it happened anyway. We now have to cope with it." "There was a blinding white flash, and suddenly this- " Agent Hauser points at the Earth and the Dome. "Was there. From one second to the next." Merkel ponders this for a moment. "Agent Hauser, get my escort ready. I need to get to the Kanzleramt as soon as possible. And contact my staff, I want to see everybody as soon as possible." Hauser nods, takes out his cell phone, and leaves the apartment.

-Elysee Palace, Paris, Earth 08:00 CET
A very tired looking President Jacques Chirac has several photos on his desk in front of him, some taken by airplanes, others by spy satellites. All of them show the same thing, wild woodlands and plains in the location where Germany should be. Monsieur le président is currently having a videoconference with Prime Minister Tony Blaire and President George W. Bush, who is onboard the Air Force One. The president was led away from his New Year party by the secret service when the first reports of the unusual events arrived in Washington. Bush is currently en route to an unknown save location.
At first, some military leaders, when hearing of the Flash, thought of a terrorist attack with nuclear weapons. But no unusual radiation or heat was detected, and nukes don't make gigantic forests grow in two hours. And it does not explain the soldiers in the capitals, or the airplanes landed on the airports.
Chriac and Blair agree to send planes and ground forces to explore what was once Germany. The other allied nations would soon be informed. Also, the best scientists will be assembled and work through every available bit of data on the incident, to find out what has happened.

But meanwhile, news of the incident has reached the media. A few videos of the Flash itself were shown on BBC and CNN, and a Dutch news helicopter is circling over the location where once the city of Cleve was located. People all over the world are unable to contact friends or relatives in Germany.
The three world leaders realize that something of this magnitude cannot be hidden for long. Preparations are made to inform the media. But overall, panic has not broken out yet.

-Germany, Luna. 08:00 CET and for the next hours
the situation on the moon is everything but quite. More and more people are waking up, or are being woken up by the screams outside. It will me debated years later if the massive hangovers helped the situation by numbing people's panic, or if it made the panics worse (give me your opinion on that please).
While some people, mainly those who are overweight or have heart disease, find the low gravity rather comfortable, most people are totally freaked out by the sudden change of something as natural as their weight. Even more disturbing is the sight of the dome's mega structure and the earth up in the dark sky (it is currently Luna night on Germany's side of the moon).
Many people faint, or have heart attacks. Others go hysteric, start screaming like possessed, or hide in their houses, in their cellars, or under their beds. Most people simply stare at the sky with open mouth, unable to move or to decide what to do. Some do realize quickly where they are, but the knowledge does not comfort them very much. And the thought of having only a glass roof between life and the death of a vacuum is not very reassuring.
After some time, movement gets into the masses. Some people meet with their neighbours, discussing what has happened. Others switch on TVs and radios to get information. In larger town, people rush to the town halls, police stations, military bases, or universities, demanding to know what is going on. In Berlin a large crown has formed in front of the Reichstag building and the Kanzleramt. Chancellor Merkel meanwhile is holding a staff meeting in the Kanzleramt.
Many people rush to the churches and mosques to find an answer, or at least reassurance and security. For decades churches in Germany have not been so filled with people. But other people, blinded by anger and panic, begin to riot. Stores are looted, people attacked, and in Berlin, Cologne, and several smaller cities in East Germany, fighting erupts between Neonazis, immigrants, and Anarchists in several immigrant- dominated quarters. The police, it's men themselves shocked by the events, responds slowly at first.

Meanwhile, in the small 16.000 people border town of Straelen, North- Rhine Westphalia, people look in awe and shock at the gigantic, 3000 Metres high white- grey lunar Cliff that is the foundation for "the Dome", in place where formally the Netherlands were located. The first person to come over the shock was one of the town's doctors, a certain Antoine Stephan (ironically the father of the student from Bonn who was the first to see the Dome and the Earth in the sky.) Dr Stephan decides to investigate the strange cliff. Organising two strong four wheel drive vehicles, and accompanied by two policemen, a forest ranger, and a former Bundeswehr captain, the Dr Stephan and his men drive down the Bundestraße (federal interstate) that used to lead to the Dutch city of Venlo.

- to be continued


Well, what do you think? Good or bad?
And has the hangovers made the situation worse?

I just realized that a day on the moon is not 24 hours long as on earth, but in fact one month! Fourteen days of daylight are followed by 14 days of night! What will this mean for the plantlife in the dome? Can Germany feed it's people? Maybe the ASBs should install some kind of nightlight...

[The Sandman]

Is the dome reflective at all, or is it transparent? Either way, I would expect that it would rapidly be noticed by even amateur astronomers as night falls.

And at that point, human spaceflight will get a major kick to the seat of the pants! Not such a bad thing, I think.

Also, is this new empty Germany on Earth a pre-human one? If so, there are going to be a whole bunch of mineral deposits there, along with some interesting (and presently extinct) wildlife, like the aurochs.

[Odin]

Um you have a bit of a problem with the bodensee, considering the south bank or a lot of it is Swiss, would be a bit weird to have a rock cliff as the south bank, that would also create tidal problems, perhaps a tidal wave, during the transit. Konstanz would be slightly stuffed, kreuzlingen is on the south bank. No more views of the alps :(.

On the other hand, Germany gets lebensraum! :D

[DuQuense]

You would have massive Auto accidents as people struggle to learn new reflexs when trying to drive. also plane accidents.
You are also going to have lots of Suicides.

Hydro electric plants would be in trouble as the water head is decreased to the equalivenlant of 1/6 the height. but they should still work.

It would not be a glass dome but a clear unobtanium [Arnek?? sp] material.

I would put Germany in the middle of the new land. with a couple miles of sea around the whole land, with some wharfs and steps built into the Wall, for when they finally get there] ?how wide is the wall?

[Alratan]

I think your ASBs are going to have to put some more magic into the dome. The 1/6 gravity combined with the the breaking of the day night cycle is going to lead to massive ecological collapse. After 14 days with no sun many plants will be dead, and even worse, the temperature will drop massively. The massive die off is going to rot, and the atmosphere is going to go stale. Things are going to get very bad for a while, the humans and most animals higher than insects are all going to die. After a few decades, a new equilibrium could perhaps develop, as plants and those trees tolerant to the conditions reestablish themselves.

The main advantage for humanity is their ready made colony on the moon for when they develop substantial lift capacity, and the knowledge that a powerful hostile alien species exists, which should do wonders for interntional unity.

[Nekromans]

It's true. If an alien race comes, Humanity unites. Read Ender's Game - the Formics blast holes in China, so all of Humanity unites to defend itself from them. Of course, in none of these TLs have those wacky little ASBs been wiped out, or nearly, so it's probably not the same thing...

[Andromedos]

Is the dome reflective at all, or is it transparent? Either way, I would expect that it would rapidly be noticed by even amateur astronomers as night falls.
It is transparent. And yes, it will eventually be discovered from earth. But will this really help the germans? Hehehe

Also, is this new empty Germany on Earth a pre-human one? If so, there are going to be a whole bunch of mineral deposits there, along with some interesting (and presently extinct) wildlife, like the aurochs.
Well, I was opting for a present day empty Germany. But if the readers prefer a pre- human Germany, let me know it. It should be interesting either way.

Um you have a bit of a problem with the bodensee, considering the south bank or a lot of it is Swiss, would be a bit weird to have a rock cliff as the south bank, that would also create tidal problems, perhaps a tidal wave, during the transit. Konstanz would be slightly stuffed, kreuzlingen is on the south bank. No more views of the alps :(.
The ASBs fashioned a cpoy of the swiss side of the Bodensee into the "wild lands" that now surround Germany. Those wild lands pretty much act like a buffer zone between c´non- costal Germany and the Cliff. The wild lands resemble a typical, un-touched German landscape.They are made up of woodlands, hills, and in some areas mountains, depending on the type of german terrain it is bordering.

You would have massive Auto accidents as people struggle to learn new reflexs when trying to drive. also plane accidents.
For some quite time, most people won't drive. The oil reserves Germany has left are too valuable. Of course, police, military, and ambulance drivers will have to cope with it pretty quickly.

You are also going to have lots of Suicides.
That will soon be mentioned. Thanks for reminding.

Hydro electric plants would be in trouble as the water head is decreased to the equalivenlant of 1/6 the height. but they should still work
Excellent point, thank you very much. I'll mention that in an later installment.

It would not be a glass dome but a clear unobtanium [Arnek?? sp] material.
Of course you are right. People in Luna Germany just call the Material glass because they have no other name for it. Later the will come around and call it "Titanglas."

I would put Germany in the middle of the new land. with a couple miles of sea around the whole land, with some wharfs and steps built into the Wall, for when they finally get there] ?how wide is the wall?
I thought at first about placing it into the middle of the sea, but then opted against it. But I'll keep this idea around for my "2006 Germany replaces 1940 Britain" ISOT idea.
The wall is 3 kilometres thick, and able to withstand metroid hits and moon quakes.

I think your ASBs are going to have to put some more magic into the dome. The 1/6 gravity combined with the the breaking of the day night cycle is going to lead to massive ecological collapse. After 14 days with no sun many plants will be dead, and even worse, the temperature will drop massively. The massive die off is going to rot, and the atmosphere is going to go stale. Things are going to get very bad for a while, the humans and most animals higher than insects are all going to die. After a few decades, a new equilibrium could perhaps develop, as plants and those trees tolerant to the conditions reestablish themselves.

The main advantage for humanity is their ready made colony on the moon for when they develop substantial lift capacity, and the knowledge that a powerful hostile alien species exists, which should do wonders for interntional unity.
You are of course very right in what you say...
normally, the ASBs don't give their ISOTed humans any great help, but considering the situation, they might do some more. In a normal ISOT, the replaced humans are still on earth most of the time.
Well, what about the ASBs construct the Dome like a giantic "battery". The temperature in the Dome will remain relatively stable. All solar energy hitting the Dome during the luna day that is not needed to keep the temperature stable will be stored in the megastructure. During the Luna night, the energy will be released. Every twelve hours, the megastructur will glow and create a yellowish "twilight", that keeps the plants living.

Should this work? Or should we go with with a massive german- killing?
Maybe I should have taken the Mars instead of the moon...

[NomadicSky]

I would have used the UK and done it something like this
Mars or Moon

It's only the UK but there is a model of europe made around the UK
it's populated with plants and animals from europe no humans. The sea around the UK is also the same plants/animals no human made objects outside of the UK untill the UK gets there
the land and sea have lots of oil, metal, minerals very fetile soil everything the Brits will need to survive


in our world the UK is replaced by a land mass shaped like it but it has no humans just thick forest and the minerals under are the same as the UK

something like this

[PoorBoy]

Phew! Thank God the City of Basel is on the Swiss side of the river! And good thing their airport in is France!

I can just imagine the Swiss, Austrians, Dutch, Czechs, and the Danes rush to a land grab on Former Germany. The Poles...maybe not, but who knows?

[Odin]

that reminds me what about the tiny german enclave, surrounded by switzerland, near the bodensee http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%BCsingen :D

[jolo]

Great Idea. Nice to read.

But maybe foreigners should be dealt with in another way - lots of people in Germany don't have German nationality even though they don't even really know their home language. Lots of people would be slaughtered right away if they suddenly appeared in their home countries. And so on. Maybe let the foreigners decide on a subconscious level, like a dream? Also, many Germans in foreign countries like it there.

The sphere doesn't need to be very strong - it could float on the air bubble within, and supply the needed pressure. But 200m of even the most transparent materials would be pretty hard to see through very much. I'd make it thinner, and let the Germans cope with the danger of asteroids. It might also be possible to give the different German states a glass sphere each, or the likes. I'd also use a liquid to cover the surface of the sphere (it would look more like a drum then), to avoid scratching of the surface by micro meteorites. The liquid might be hydrogen or something else cooled by the climate control systems the ASB's installed. I also suppose that this climate control system directs any excess heat to the surrounding side walls, from where it can be radiated into space.

I simply assume from the development of the thread that there is a climate control system which simulates our 24 hour days, which creates normal weather patterns (maybe without extreme summers and winters), and so on. Some ASB should bother to teach people how to maintenance the sphere(s).

I also assume the eco system the ASB's installed is strong enough to handle German emissions, especially of carbon dioxide. The land- and ocean mass you mentioned should do.

If I had something to say, I'd do the following:

Air planes are grounded - the danger of them colliding into vital structures is too big. Only some emergency and surveillance flights are done, and the surveillance will be done more and more by balloons or the likes.

The exits are taken under state control and watched by the military, later the police.

Private use of cars is outlawed or at least strongly restricted. Any oil reserves in the gas stations, refineries, and so on, are confiscated by the state.

The newly added lands, oceans and isles are confiscated by the state. They are auctioned off to people promising to develop them into new places adapted to the moon environment and needs - farms, towns where complete houses are centrifuges, and so on. Prospectors are send out to find ressources.

I'd trade the German earth territories away in exchange for the full rights to the whole moon, except a small patch in the middle, where people can go when they like to feel like being in Germany, and where Germany can establish an earth base.

I'd mass produce centrifuges to avoid people becoming unable to make visits to the earth one day. Some of them may be muscle-powered (good for office jobs), some with other power sources (especially bed rooms). I'd also try to find other markets to make sure the economy doesn't get into too much turmoil due to loosing all the foreign markets, and due to the oil shortage.

I'd use a lot of land to grow plants rich in oil, at least until the fossile oil is found.

I'd give German citizenship to anyone on the Moon who likes to, without any hurdles, to avoid humanitarian or unnecessary criminal problems.

Once all the immediate necessities are taken care of, I'd start mass producing lunar rovers (size limited by the gates the ASB's created), to explore and develop the surrounding area. Some of them would be equipped with antennas to establish contact to earth, others with measuring and surveillance equipment, and so on. Scientist would explore the sphere(s) from the outside.

I'd also create underground chambers for retreating into in case the sphere fails.

Later, when Germany begins building it's own little spheres (space ports, ressource excavation...), gates would become bigger, and tunnels from the main sphere(s) would add additional possibilities to leave and enter, especially with larger equipment (like rockets). Land outside the sphere would also be auctioned off.

[Andromedos]

I would have used the UK and done it something like this...
Well, it sounds like a good concept, but for now I'll stick to my original idea. Maybe you, NormadicSky, or somebody else could use your concept for a "UK ISOT to Mars" timeline.

that reminds me what about the tiny german enclave, surrounded by switzerland, near the bodensee
Well well... History apparently always finds ways to make life more difficult for me...
I rule... that the enclave of Büsingen stays on earth. It is far to silly to be ISOTed. Let Switzerland deal with it.

Great Idea. Nice to read.
Thanks. :cool::cool:

But maybe foreigners should be dealt with in another way -
The only foreigners that were ISOTed were non- German soldiers. The ASBs want the Germans on the moon to deal with the situation themselves military- wise. All non- military foreigners in Germany were isoted, and Germans abroad stayed where the were.

The sphere doesn't need to be very strong - it could float on the air bubble within, and supply the needed pressure. But 200m of even the most transparent materials would be pretty hard to see through very much. I'd make it thinner, and let the Germans cope with the danger of asteroids. It might also be possible to give the different German states a glass sphere each, or the likes. I'd also use a liquid to cover the surface of the sphere (it would look more like a drum then), to avoid scratching of the surface by micro meteorites. The liquid might be hydrogen or something else cooled by the climate control systems the ASB's installed. I also suppose that this climate control system directs any excess heat to the surrounding side walls, from where it can be radiated into space.
I will stay with one big sphere for now- it's to late to edit it, the forum function is switched off. That's pretty inconvenient, if you ask me...

Anyway, maybe I'll change the dimension of the Dome later... have not yet decided 100%. Or it is mad up of some very transparent ASB material... Keep suggestions going, until the scientists begin to research the wall systematically. I will keep the other ideas concerning the Dome in mind, those are some very good thoughts.

I simply assume from the development of the thread that there is a climate control system which simulates our 24 hour days, which creates normal weather patterns (maybe without extreme summers and winters), and so on. Some ASB should bother to teach people how to maintenance the sphere(s).
The sphere will be maintained automatically, at least for now. I think during the Luna night, lights on the sphere's metal structure (the Dome as a certain art-deco look) will create a certain kind of twilight every twelve hours. During the Luna day, the glass parts of the Dome will collude, blocking out most of the sunlight. Maybe there will be nanobots for that job on the Dome, also repairing the Megastructure...
Temperature should remain relatively stable, between 15- 25 °C.

If I had something to say, I'd do the following:
Very good suggestion, I will probably use several one of those. Thanks a lot!
Especially the centrifuge idea. Several interesting kinds of fitness centres might pop up in Germany.
Also, the low gravity might enable a comeback of airship travel.

[Andromedos]

-Germany, Luna. Still January 1st. About 11:50 CET
The German police has finally rallied enough forces to effectively battle the rioters. While many policemen were very shocked by the events, discipline holds. The rioters, also weakened by the change in gravity, can't offer a lot of effective resistance. Teargas proves especially useful in the fights. But in the larger cities, the battles will rage on for many hours, until reinforcements by the "Bundespolizei" (Federal Police) anti- riot forces arrive. Some people meanwhile begin looting stores, warehouses, and gas stations.

The emergency systems and hospitals of the republic are near collapse due to the many suicides, accidents, and people injured in the riots. Additional problems are the energy shortages, and that part of the medical staff is not present. Some are on vacation, others injured, and many simply still too shocked to show up to help. The Bundeswehr, where discipline has hold quite good so far, send medics to help out in the cities. But until further orders from Berlin arrive, combat troops stay in their barracks.

Meanwhile, Dr. Stephan's expedition that set out to have a look at the Cliff discovers that the "End of the World" as some will soon call it, is in fact far further away than they thought at first. (Author's note: A little screw up on my part...should have made a map before starting this...). Behind the former German border (where the road and half of a former customs station are cut away cleanly) the men find an empty land, resembling the Netherlands, filled with woods and some swamps. From the top of a hill, they see a river resembling the Meusse. But nowhere can they spot an indication of human inhabitants, just some birds and wild animals. Since the terrain is too rugged, and they lack any means to cross the river, they decide to return to town.
Similar expeditions, some by civilians, some by local military units, push out from the borders into the wild land.

Meanwhile in Berlin, Chancellor Merkel is holding a meeting in the federal Chancellery. Present are Dr. Merkel, vice- chancellor Müntefering, and most ministers of the SPD- CDU government. Also present are federal President Horst Köhler, the president of the Bundestag parliament, the leaders of the major political parties (socialists, greens, social- democrats, libertarians, Christian- democrats), part of the Bundeswehr high command, two representatives from the Catholic and Evangelist churches, and several scientists from Berlin's universities and research institutions.


Some basic facts could be established:
- Germany is no longer on the earth, and most likely on the moon, placed into an artificial environment.
- Whatever caused this relocation must be a sentient, intelligent entity with unbelievable powers. There is no other explanation why only Germany was transported, exactly along it's often artificial borders. Everybody, especially the representatives of the churches, is truly shaken by this conclusion. It is also obvious that nobody on earth posses such a power.
- All foreign troops in Germany are gone. Other foreigners are still in the country, and Germans that were abroad are still missing.
- All contact to other nation is obviously cut off completely. Germany is now lacking all exports and imports and large parts of the communication networks are dysfunctional without the satellites. Also the power network is a mess.
- The Dome seems to be stable, at least for now.

The scientists also point out that Germany's new location is apparently on the lunar night side at the moment. This means that the temperature will soon dramatically drop, and that the lack of sunlight will kill most plant life after several days.
Chancellor Merkel shudders at the thought. Then plans are made. Merkel asks the scientists to contact their colleagues and make plans for emergency food productions, using artificial light. She also wants the scientist and the military to do everything to establish contact to the Earth. As soon as possible, a conference must be held with the leaders of the German industry, to organise how the factories can keep producing the things needed for the population to survive. Medical supplies will be a priority, also plans to produce enough energy must quickly be made.
The Luftwaffe is assigned to explore the new lands around Germany and the ocean.
Finally, chancellor Merkel declares a state of emergency. The army will be deployed to support the police and guard all fuel supplies. Reservists will be called to arms, and the government will coordinate all industrial efforts. While this is largely against the constitution, the president and the party leaders largely agree that this is a special situation.
The meeting will continue for many hours, trying to work out more details.

Earth:
Massive amounts of data from ground teams, airplanes, and satellites have finally convinced everybody in the major governments without a doubt that Germany is gone, the only piece remaining of it being the enclave of Büsingen in Switzerland. The military meanwhile was not able to keep of the media, and pictures of the empty land sweep over the world communication systems. Germans abroad are in a state of panic, people everywhere are shocked, and religious fanatics all over the world are having a field day, screaming about the "punishment for the sinful", "the end of the world", or "a late revenge for their crimes."
The world leaders themselves are in panic. Nobody knows how the event happened, or what exactly it was. Also nobody has an idea if Germany and it's people still exist somewhere, or if it was actually "re- naturalised" during the flash, or maybe destroyed. And the people ask themselves... will it happen again?

-to be continued


a bit shorter than the last one... I'll try to write more tomorrow.

[Odin]

Here's an interesting tidbit, what if the ASB let people in Büsingen ring Germany proper on the moon, using a Deutsche Telecom phone? Interesting link, and how long would it take for people to find out?

[DuQuense]

If the ASBs use something like six feet of Arnaek [Skylark, by Doc Smith] Being a order of magnitude harder than diamond. it wouldn't be scratched by meteorites.

Maybe Giant Arneak panels embedded in Inson Beams,

[The Sandman]

With a name like yours, I'm somehow not surprised that you would mention arenak as a possible dome material. However, you would still need something else to handle the whole "produces pseudo day-night cycle to prevent a total collapse of the biosphere" thing.