Someone Didn't Pay the Electric Bill

[out_of_order]

WHO: Cal Kestis, Kaz Brekker, Asterope Glass, Merrin and whoever might want to drop by
WHERE: Not-Temba/Sh'Ka's Power Station and related areas
WHAT: Cal's assembled a team to work on restoring the power and maybe establish communication from the other city
WHEN: End of August to mid-September OMG WHY IS IT SEPTEMBER ALREADY
WARNINGS: Kaz N/A


Basecamp was set up within some of the offices of the power station, with a space for a rudimentary campfire outside if people wanted to heat up food or water to drink or use in general, or just enjoy the fresh air at night. Cal had brought along a couple of portable space heaters he'd cobbled together in case things got too cool inside at night, free for anyone's use.

The first day had mainly consisted of setting up a space for them to stay in and unloading whatever they'd managed to bring by way of equipment and rations, and a bit of territory scouting to see what was available for them. While the water plant, wherever that was, would have to be another project entirely, at least water itself was available, if requiring a bit of a walk from the station. Kyle's buddy system would be recommended, mainly out of concern for the large creatures that have been known to dwell within the wooded areas not far from there.

The power plant itself would be the next thing to look at to see what might need repairs, and if parts would be needed from the other city. Cal had Reeve's notes to share as well as previous experience in working on power restoration for Temba, and the similarities between the cities would make things at least a little easier. The most tedious part would be inspecting the connecting lines to make sure there wouldn't be any damaged areas that might cause problems if they went ahead and turned everything on. This would take the longest time, so the inspections would be divided up in sections, and they'd check back in after each one. The option to swap out between engineers would also be there so no one would be stuck with any one task, and Merrin would be able to bring them back and forth as she got more familiar with the layout of things.

It would be a lot of work and effort, but if there were things worth learning here, getting this done would be a key part to it.


((OOC: Feel free to treat this as a mingle and task sort of thing! Working on stuff? Taking a break? Getting chased by bunnyboars? Dropping off care packages for your hard-working engineers and friends? Do it do it do it! I will post an update on progress once I get some infos~))

Comments

[pleiade]

1. The Writing on the Wall
Asterope's new to this whole situation, but it's clear that she had a head for the math on things before taking up the engineering data point. She's found a wall to use for any necessary calculations regarding power outputs, with circuit diagrams and schematics--she's using a piece of charcoal from the fire to write everything, hands smudged. If you're passing by, you're likely to hear her mutter to herself softly, and occasionally you might get a question thrown in your direction.

"Power in watts is...V squared over R, right?"

2. Electric Feel, Girl
It's easy to draw her away if hands are needed for more practical tasks, like tracing the lines or working on fixing connections, though. She's a hard worker, but there's an sort of sheepishness about her, like she's not sure she's allowed to speak up when she has ideas on how to improve things. When she does manage to find her voice, it's almost apologetic.

"Perhaps the connection from the A1 cable could maybe be redirected to the 342 junction instead? Maybe. Not sure if that'll work."

3. Fiddler on the Roof
Asterope did bring her replicated violin and its bow to the power station with her, and sometimes on her breaks, she can be found on the roof (how did she climb up there? With determination), starting to get back into practice with playing. It's not great, at least to start, but she's careful not to do it too close to where anyone's sleeping, and her improvement is swift.

Eventually, she can be heard working her way through a recognizable rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". And at the end of it, there's a shout of triumph, before she realizes that might be heard and walks to the edge to see who might be listening.

2

[out_of_order]

"No, I think you might be onto something," Cal says as he pauses to study the connections in regards to the suggestion made. He's always willing to listen to a second opinion, and Asterope tends to bring some good insight.

"Hand me that spanner? Let me switch this around and we'll see how it works out."

[pleiade]

She passes the spanner over, and generally plays nurse for the operation, getting Cal any other tools he needs, holding the other cables up while he works. Being listened to is a new sensation for her, one she's enjoying very much.

"It should relieve the amount of resistance at the 348 port by 20% or so, and reduce redundancy in that circuit as well."

[out_of_order]

It's a job that goes smoother with someone providing him the tools. His little droid hangs over his shoulder, playing the job of flashlight in the meantime.

"How'd you figure that?" Cal asks as he works. He can't help but find it amazing how Asterope's able to calculate such things. "Think that should do it. I guess the real test will be once we have power flowing through it." He looks further along the line in consideration as he nods to himself.

3.

[in_extremis]

It was dark by the time Tony had picked his way through the bramble that was this forest, grateful for the flicker of light that he could spot through the leaves as the shadows deepened and the birds stopped calling. It hurried him forward, distinctly aware that he did not know what kind of thing could be making that mournful, buzzing sound that came from first behind him, then far too close to his right. Everything was worse in the dark. And when he was standing in the warm circle of the low burning fire, looking back the way he had come, he was suddenly very sure he wouldn't be trying to make his way back any time soon. With a shiver, he headed straight for the fire, rummaging in the bag over his shoulder for the tinful of cigarettes that Jon wouldn't miss, to kneel and lean fearlessly close into the flames and light his own, tiny ember in this pressing darkness.

Of all of the alien sounds of the planet, that one coming from above him did sound distinctly lyrical, so when he was back on his feet and had his nerves polished back into cool contemplation, he swung slowly back away from the fire to try to see further up over the roof of the building, and let his baggage slide carelessly to the floor. He started to smile at the unexpectedly familiar tune, trying to work out how likely it was that a few simple notes transcended the alien cultures he knew were gathered here, and started in surprise at the whoop that followed, glancing around him for someone to fill him in on this party that he had clearly missed the invitation for. By the time he looked up again, a pale face had appeared, and he raised his eyebrows, then a hand with his point of light to easily track against the darkened forest. "Nice night for it," he offered casually, not quite raising his voice in the comfort that it would carry in this afterworld quiet.

[pleiade]

"Sorry, no one was supposed to hear that..." But since he doesn't seem mad about it, she favors him with a small, uncertain smile. "Just got the violin from the replicator, still getting the notes back. It'll take some practice."

[in_extremis]

It was an isolated enough spot to pick to practice if privacy was what she was after, so Tony raised his other hand in surrender, please, he had clearly intruded, though he also clearly wasn't going anywhere. Instead, he remained rooted to the spot where he smiled back around a drag of the cigarette, bemused by the violin taking precedence as both a replicator use and in this gal's luggage to the power plant, leaving his reply carried up in a stream of smoke, "As long as you know where they went." He flicked his free hand, then glanced around again for all of that support that already hadn't been there for him to give him some direction before he accepted that he had to ask, "How'd you get up there?"

[demjiin]

Checking out camp
Kaz had only a very basic idea of what 'camp' meant, so this was more comfortable than he was imagining. Kaz only had a single blanket laid out so that he could sit with his back to the wall and yet be near enough to one of the heaters Cal had brought to be warm in the evenings. Kaz had only brought strong black coffee by way of rations, though, so it might be a good idea for someone to remind him that food was a thing and he should be eating occasionally.

Working hard or hardly working
Kaz had come to Not-Temba (Sh'Ka?) prepared and packed into his bag, ten pre-made crystals. Thus far he hadn't seen with what they could work yet but he had them in the beige tote bag with the three-eyed pink smiley face over his right shoulder, ready to go. At the moment he was examining with his little pocket flashlight what appeared to be a substation relay. With the corded pipe running into the floor that meant it would run underground since this was the ground floor. Kaz was following the corded pipe backward along the wall with his mag lite and it seemed to be intact. He consulted his smartphone for where to next one of these to inspect (thanks to Reeve's notes, provided by Cal) was meant to be.

Downtime
There were times that, by the necessity of having a bad leg, Kaz had to take breaks for the day. He had the pain-relieving salve Omega had made on under his pant leg, as well as the jar sitting next to him. And that salve was definitely helping relieve the pain, but he also knew he needed to keep his bodyweight off of it when the leg would start to hurt. He would sit with his back against the wall and his leg stretched out in front of him. He had a few projects with him already, but the first one was using an awl for poking little holes in leather, then threading small bands of leathery sinew through said holes to make leather bags for Moonshade. He had the awl in one hand and the blunted wooden 'needle' to pull the thread through the holes in the other. But good luck in duplicating what he's doing because the hand with the awl is making at least 20 small holes, then switching the awl for the needle and pulling the leather thread through each side of matched holes flawlessly. It's a feat of dexterity just to watch and he's already got one of the drawstring bags finished beside him.

Camp

[out_of_order]

"If anything comes up that you realize we might have forgotten about packing, let me know."

Cal came over to set a latched box down, well away from the heater so the contents wouldn't spoil from its exposure. "I know we tried to be thorough, but there's always a chance that we overlooked something." He patted the box. "If you're hungry, we've got some ration bars and some containers of the food paste from the ships," he explained, the latter with just the slightest of a grimace. "Tasty stuff, I know."

[demjiin]

At the mention of the protein goo from the ships, Kaz's mouth twisted with a grimace. Flavorless mush was not popular.

"You'll have to tell me what a 'ration bar' is before I can tell you if I'd consider eating it."

[out_of_order]

Cal couldn't help but laugh a little at the face Kaz made. The stuff from the ships wasn't quite flavorless- in fact there were a lot of different flavors to choose from. It was just all...liquified.

At Kaz's question, the other teenager opens the box to pull out one of the small, foil-wrapped rectangles. Most likely another acquisition from the jaunt to Coruscant. "It's a toss up as to whether it's a step up or down from the food paste," he admitted, tossing it over for the other's inspection.

"Honestly they're meant to just provide necessary nutrients on the go than be particularly flavorful. But I've given some of these a try and compared to what I had to eat while we were out on missions, it's not bad. There are some that are sweet or some that are more on the savory side, depending on what you might feel like."

Camp

[pleiade]

Asterope wraps up her work day and comes back to camp exhausted, but vaguely triumphant. She sees Kaz by the heater, and there's a moment almost of calculation as she moves to sit across from him instead of beside. "Sorry, hope you don't mind company."

She seems to be trying very hard not to impose.

[demjiin]

She made a good choice for seating, and Kaz had his cane end seated against the ground between his bent knees then most of the cane rested against his shoulder. He knew people could see the silver-looking crow's skull cane's head without it being obscured by his gloved hand holding it. Sometimes people would ask about the crow and cup, which only showed in brief flashes when his sleeve moved, tattoo on his forearm and the crow's head of his cane. At the moment he's drinking a mug of coffee despite the hour.

"I don't generally like company. But if you're wanting to use the heater, too, then that's different."

[pleiade]

"Of course. Sorry." Her gaze drifts away from him, as she pulls her knees up to her chest. She's still and quiet, looking down at the floor, and one might almost get the sense that she's trying to be as not-present as possible, in order to avoid bothering Kaz.

i'm late u_u

[noch]

[A]SISSTANCE
Merrin has little to no experience with engineering, though she isn't unwilling to help the engineers—if one is brave enough to ask her for it. She can help inspect the lines, carry and transport tools, hold up flashlights, reach unexpected places, and more—and she won't even complain about it.

Later on, as she gets more familiar with the lay of the power plant and Sh'Ka itself, she takes to teleporting everywhere, appearing and disappearing in clouds of hazy green ichor regardless of whether anyone is standing nearby, unawares. And if anyone needs a ride, even if it's all the way back to the train station, she's willing to do that too.

OUT AND A[B]OUT
Otherwise, she keeps mostly to herself, either hanging around camp with a book or vanishing for hours at a time to go familiarize herself with the power plant and surrounding areas. She and Cal have already had a little run-in with the huge creatures roaming the nearby woods, so she always keeps alert for them, even if she doesn't look it.

[C]AMP TIME
At night, after the sun has gone down, she likes to sit outside in front of the campfire, head upturned so that she can look at the stars. That, or she's working a little magick, legs criss-crossed with a small stone lying on the ground in front of them. She has another, larger stone cradled in her hands, bone-white and broken in half—it glows green as she recites a spell under her breath, in her native Dathomiri.

[A] Fashionably late~

[demjiin]

At present having someone with him that can use both hands and can carry a beige tote bag with a 3 eyed pink smiley face the Agrii used on it, and the 10 power crystals Kaz made back in Temba plus a small white bottle of aspirin within, is very helpful for Kaz, who did have the Engineering Datapoint.

At present Kaz was following the corded pipe backward along the wall with his pocket-sized mag lite flashlight.

"Do you see where it attaches?"

[noch]

Carry? Well... the first thing she did was make that bag and its contents vanish in a haze of ichor, in a way that looked very similar to her teleportation. Don't worry—it was perfectly safe, and she summoned it back again as soon as they reached this area. So it was... sort of like carrying.

Now she's standing on the opposite side of the room from Kaz, a glowing ball of ichor held in the palm of her hand that casts green light onto the length of pipe that she's following.

"No, I do not," she replies, the frown on her face coming through in her tone.

[demjiin]

"Hmm."

he made a noncommittal sound, then saw the cables branch off into a hallway adjacent to the room. There was the distinctive 'thunk' of Kaz's cane as he followed it.

"This must be where the line grounds. This will then mean that barring a break in the wiring of the cables it should lead the whole way in."

If they were lucky, it would lead to breaker switches. If they were very lucky they would be able to follow the pipes overhead straight to the 'water treatment' facility all grouped (relatively) together.

C

[out_of_order]

After working most of the day, it's nice to just stretch out and relax. Cal liked to bring his sleeping roll out by the fire so he could lie there, arms folded behind his head as he stargazed. BD-1 would sit there to join him, or he'd be found capering about chasing after interesting bugs or floating embers from the campfire.

He doesn't have to turn his head to know where Merrin is, although glancing past the fire, Cal's able to glimpse her beyond the flames as they lick towards the night sky. He'd seen her working whatever magick she was when he'd come outside, and knows better than to disturb her.

[noch]

She can feel Cal's presence there on the other side of the fire—just a momentary awareness before it fades into the background, her concentration never breaking. After a moment, the glowing ichor in her talisman ebbs away, along with the flare of her magick, as she finishes the spell and makes the stone vanish in a way very similar to her teleportation, in a puff of green smoke.

Tucking her talisman away, she rises to her feet and edges around the fire to come sit next to Cal, because... just because. It's a quiet, peaceful night, and it feels nice to be near him, stretch her legs out onto the grass in front of her, and bask in the warmth of the fire. She's almost loath to break the silence.

"You made progress today?" On the power, that is.

[out_of_order]

He can tell when she's wrapped things up, having fallen into a sort of passive meditation as he soaked in the atmosphere and the faint sounds of the night, the crackle of the fire.

"Yeah, we did," Cal replies, finally glancing over at her, glad she's decided to join him. "Got the repairs and adjustments done on an entire line, sooner than I thought it would. Probably a good thing we've broken things into sections, and our focus only on an immediate area of the grid. Makes the workload less imposing." He grins a little. "How'd things go on your end?"

[out_of_order]

Down Below

Cal volunteers himself to have a look at the nearest substation relays that Kaz had mentioned to him, not that there are many hands on deck to begin with. He figures that he's the most used to climbing and crawling around dark, potentially treacherous places, although in comparison to working on the gutted remains of starships, the subterranean tunnels beneath the power station are downright cheery. Thankfully the equipment isn't in too bad a condition, ready to divert power after some basic maintenance, once the main power is switched on.

Catch him when he actually remembers to come up for- oh, just kidding. More tools. Or find him down there to remind him to take a break.


Wavering Frequencies

Work on the main generator isn't too demanding. The power station had been relatively well-preserved, and Cal suspected the majority of problems would be in the outlying connections to the rest of the city. Naturally the place had gathered quite a layer of dust, so most of the work he finds himself doing is cleaning things up and making sure ports and vents are clear.

It's when he's cleaning up the control panel itself that he pauses, brow furrowing. He closes his eyes, letting his hand rest there a moment, but it's only after a few seconds that he shakes his head, opening his eyes and after frowning thoughtfully at the equipment, resumes his work.


Progression

The work has been hard, but setting up some parameters to work within so they won't overstretch themselves has been extremely helpful. Once they'd gotten the connecting lines checked and reinforced for the area most directly within and around the power station, the focus was turned to the power generator itself, if not assisting Kaz in making sure the water treatment plant wasn't going to fall apart or implode as soon as they flipped a switch. He'll count their efforts a win if that much works once they power the station on.

"I think we're ready to go. Anyone want to do the honors?"

Wavering Frequencies

[hadthehighground]

Guess who is in town! Obi-Wan hadn’t been back in awhile but the Jedi is pleased to have an excuse to return to the city filled with trees and wildlife. He knew that Cal had come with the team to help with the work on the power station. With communication still not possible as of yet, he wanted to check up on Cal and see how he was doing. Following the Padawan’s presence in the Force until he finds him working on the generator.

“You certainly have been keeping yourself busy,” Obi-Wan says. The Jedi coughing a little at the dust that was in the air, stirred up by Cal’s cleaning efforts.

WOW THANKS FOR EATING THAT NOTIF DW :|

[out_of_order]

"Master Kenobi!" Cal looks around the panel he'd been working on, breaking into a broad smile. He'd thought he'd sensed the other Jedi. BD-1 beeps a greeting as well, popping his head up from behind the red-haired padawan.

"There's plenty to keep busy with," Cal shrugs, laughing a little, although he does offer an apologetic look for the dust. "What brings you over?"

Lol it happens

[hadthehighground]

"Actually, I'm here to move the Palm Cottage to Temba. I don't suppose you heard about what happened in the mines?"

Considering that communication is down here, it's a very real possibility he hasn't unless someone informed him in person.