Ghost of a flea: The Spice must flow

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January 17, 2007

The Spice must flow

Say you are an hegemonic power needing to conquer and hold a desert region. The most valuable commodity may be ~~delicious oil~~ ~~free and fair elections~~ ~~the Spice~~ ~~whatever it is they have on Tattooine~~ fresh water; without it you cannot sustain the Legions. What to do if there are no local moisture farmers* handy and the indigenous people(s) are proving to be a little too colourful to provide reliable directions to the local waterhole?**

Answer: Get the guys in the Imperial engineering divisions to come up with a vaporator!

“People have been trying to figure out how to do this for years, and we just came out of left field in response to Darpa,” said Abe Sher, chief executive officer of Aqua Sciences. “The atmosphere is a river full of water, even in the desert. It won’t work absolutely everywhere, but it works virtually everywhere.”

Anyone curious about "George Lucas'" "original" description of the process may consult this passage from his "novel".

* This is the Anchorhead Story from Star Wars Episode IV, btw.
** What with the robust traditions of hostage-taking and snuff-film manufacture.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at January 17, 2007 07:07 AM

Comments

I see no Spice Girls.

Posted by: agent bedhead at January 17, 2007 10:17 AM

I gather we shall all be treated to the spectacle of alien Posh soon enough.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at January 17, 2007 10:42 AM

Either that or a Halo-esque body-armour stillsuit.

One must have Desert Power.

Posted by: The_Campblog at January 18, 2007 07:05 AM