Kai"s Story Snippet 3

Okay...

Chapter 3

 

Krynn noted the uptick in solar activity which was indicative of a storm. He sent orders to what hardware he controlled in order to conserve what he could. He also broadcast the order to the public on the emergency channel, heedless of the Governor's edict on not wasting power. Then he waited for the worse.

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The spacers were used to solar storms that threatened their existence. They received the occasional warning but the extreme measures the A.I. had gone through to get the warning across told many it was serious. Those that were smart took precautions and sheltered right away.

Some of the homeless streamed to the rock, headless of the danger. The additional people along with the mass of their ships and gear taxed the life support systems.

When the storm hit, the solar wind hit with a ferocity of a planetary category 5 hurricane. Streams of electrons overloaded the small fusion reactor as well as electronics that hadn't been properly shielded. Equipment outside was irradiated into junk.

Radiation and electrons overloaded the wiring to the solar panels as well. It sparked, arcing energy and damaging servos as well as the elderly panels.

The people within the rock sheltered, either in special inner shelters or within the depths of the mined out rock itself. Some of the patrons of the bar drank themselves into passing out in place. When the lights began to dim on the second day and a warning got out that the power was going out panic began to set in.

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Molly got off a mayday, risking her remaining power reserves before she reluctantly turned her transmitter off. She then focused on her own survival.

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The Trader Kali pulled his family and business out when he found out the station habitat was dead.

 Kuatha came to him for support but the human just shook his head as he closed the hatch. “I've got to look after my own.”

Kuatha took a step back as the inner hatch closed. He cursed silently and watched as Kali disconnected. Alarms would have normally gone off but there wasn't so much as a squeak.

Kali's massive module was independent of the station rock complex. It also had layers of lead and a water jacket in its outer hull so the components and people within were shielded. By shutting the airlocks and using a tug Kali was able to pull the module out and then move on to a better place to do business.

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The massive solar storm lasted for nearly a week. The habitat lost power. No one could venture out to find out why or route around the problem. Slowly the lights faded and the fans shut down as the batteries were drained.

Twinkle Hooves wasn't the only one near panic. She just couldn't panic herself; others were doing a fine job for her. Besides, there was no point.

The habitat, her only home was dying around her with her in it. She took refuge in the brothel, doing her best to scrounge batteries and life support but she knew it was most likely not going to be enough.

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Kai listened to the news from the radio net as he waited out the storm. He hadn't had much warning but he'd managed to turn the rock he'd been mining to face the sun. A bit of judicious digging and tacking bags of his slag to the outside of his tug in the frantic minutes before the storm had hit had allowed him to hunker down and shelter in place for the duration of the storm.

He'd spent his time conserving power and listening to the radio. Molly's channel was down, a sure sign it was bad, real bad. Everyone who was talking seemed worried, but no one had a plan. They were wringing their hands virtually.

There was nothing mentioned about a rescue mission from the government, just thoughts and prayers for the people on the rock.

Something had to be done. Something soon.

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