Private Ancestral Shadows

[Makai Dashiell]

"An excellent plan. One I agree with, I am unsure if I would release this algae on just any planet. I would like to build it at our cost with your oversight. At our cost because of the experimental nature. Sinking credits into the initial set-up for it not to work or need massive overhaul seems possible in a pivot, I'd rather bear the burden. Simply because this is one experiment that will continue to benefit Aina in the future."

With that clarified, it seemed Alpsis was interested in touring the mines and ores herself. Not impossible, many passages were already naturally open. He could explain in detail where veins were or they could easily bring portable maps to give ideas. Although this was a first for him. A first for a client to actually want to see the mine first hand. Most governments and places were very disinterested in the entire process. So long as the credits from their cut came their way.

"Of course. This facility is connected to one of the caverns. I can bring the maps with us to show where the proposed lines of expansions are based on where veins are. I can also so you examples of what a finished tunnel system looks like."

Elpsis Kerrigan

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Makai Dashiell

Alpsal looked momentarily surprised when Makai made the offer to construct the facility at his own cost. A momentary break to her stoic facade, albeit brief. "I appreciate that a lot. We can work with this," she said firmly. Zabhara pushed the agenda along, clearly wanting to inspect the mine herself, and Alpsal couldn't help agree with her...wife. So she was on her feet, amidst a whirr of mechanical servos. "Lead the way."

"The maps would be appreciated," Navandra Jai Suqua added. She picked up her small notebook, where she had already been making plenty of notes during the back and forth a moment ago.

"I wish to witness safety measures," Karrigan'Narzan declared in halting and accented Basic. Of course, a worker's representative and a Xioquo one at that, who had experienced the lashes of cruel mistresses both Xio and human, would be interested in that. Izana followed placidly, hands folded behind her back.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

"Each of you have the maps from the beginning of the presentation. I'll bring along the same to make annotations that will be available. There may be ideas we come across during the tour. Please come along and watch your step as you do so."

Leading the group out of the conference room, it was only a short walk to the entrance of the small experimental tunnel. The group was to stop and put on hard-hats for their safety. Makai knew it wasn't an active site but the entire point was to ensure the group was at ease. Plus, there was the potential for insurance nightmare if one of them actually did get injured.

A small hiss and the tunnel was revealed.

Covered in duracrete, the tunnel was massively tall. Surprisingly the space was clean and well lit. Scaffolding in place remained as progress further down the tunnel had slowed. For now, this space was merely for show-and-tell it seemed. Makai walked backwards, facing the group as they moved further in so everyone can get a look.

"This is the tunneling space. Reinforced with a proprietary grid system and blown-in duracrete. Obviously this is a larger tunnel due to the fact it is a main throughfare. Smaller branches are never this impressive yet they all are built with the same grid reinforcement and duracrete. Costs are higher initially but we save credits on the backend via insurance and quicker mining times. Less chance of collapse, more stable given any environment. "


Elpsis Kerrigan

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Makai Dashiell

When the hard-hats were handed out, Karrigan'Narzan looked a bit sceptical, frowning. As a helmet it seemed a bit...inadequate to him. The colour was far too bright. Shaking his head, he nonetheless put it on and followed the others, taking careful note of their surroundings as the half-Galan launched into a detailed elaboration of the tunnel system.

Alpsal glanced at Karrigan'Narzan. "Brother, thoughts?" she asked crisply.
"Tunnel construction's sound. Firm," the Xio male commented laconically.
"His people live underground, so take that as high praise," she told Makai.
"I don't praise, I speak facts. Some pleasant, many not," Narzan retorted.

"'Tis cleaner than I'm accustomed to," Navandra Jai Suqua spoke up. Doubtless she was used to mines being incredibly narrow, dirty and dangerous. "The lighting is better as well. I would like to examine the grid design."

"I assume your geologists are aware that these mountains are on a fault line. When there's an earthquake, will the grid be able to sustain this tunnel?" Zabhara asked. Her tone was not unkind, but firm as the rock they walked beneath.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

With the revelation that Narzan and his people lived underground, Makai's eyes immediately lit up. Anything involving geological marvels - including living underground - always caught his attention. Underground living was wise for multiple reasons. Little weather worries, consistent temperature and humidity, excellent coverage if enemies were an issue.

"Really? I would love to hear more then. Perhaps you have pointers that will make time underground more palatable for those not used to it. We can speak later if ideas come to you, I would appreciate it."

Makai moved towards the unfinished portion of the entrance. Duracrete had not been blown in yet, raw flexible mesh was on the wall. Beyond that was raw rock, akin to many more primitive mining sites he had come across in the past. Some that were still in use now. It certainly increased profits but in his opinion not long-term viably.

"Take a look, its a woven proprietary polymer system. On its own its not available to hold back an earthquake. Maybe a small cave-in. Once the duracrete is blown in, it bonds to the woven polymer grid. It should withstand earthquakes but I would ensure there is some inspection system in place post-earthquakes. Preferably a local who is familiar with the strength of these earthquakes and can judge the aftermath to past quakes."

Locals would be the only one who could judge damage adequately.

"Plus there would be cave-in rooms off the tunnels so there would be safe places in the event of a cave-in. Those are fairly common in any mining system. Nothing is guaranteed. It will be safe as possible but mining is dangerous. There is still the potential of injury and death."

Elpsis Kerrigan

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Makai Dashiell

Karrigan'Narzan glanced towards Makai, looking him right in the eye. "I would like this," the Xioquo said at last, suddenly looking very enthusiastic. His accent was thick when he spoke. "Many ideas brim in my head. My people would favour living underground if possible. If not in the mine workings, then underground in the land outside. Dwellings can be dug in the bedrock. Key thing is, living underground doesn't mean it has to be dark, dirty and squalid. Sanitation is most important, you see! Never let the shit accumulate in pits, it poisons the water. Right way is to burn it and push the smoke through high chimneys in the mountainside with bellows! Excacating them is arduous, yes, but tunnels are far more durable than free standing buildings on the surface. I have a notion for how to arrange sleeping areas-"

Alpsal raised her metal hand. "You two can have a one-on-one session later and nerd out about underground living, okay?" she suggested wryly.
"'Nerd'?" Narzan gave her a puzzled look. "I am not familiar."
"Give him a breather before you give him the full speech."
Narzan looked a bit deflated, but nodded. "That is fine. I shall pen my ideas." He glanced across the tunnel section they were in. "There's always risk of someone getting hurt in the mines," he admitted, looking sombre. "But prevention and training is key to reducing it."

Navandra Jai Suqua bit her lip. "In the olden days, a slave who lived a year in the mines was called blessed and accursed. Blessed because they lived, cursed because they had endured for so long and there was no end in sight." She and Narzan shared a knowing look.

For her part, Zabhara was examining the flexible mesh on the wall Makai had indicated. "Your polymer ought to suffice, unless there's a great quake. Like the one on Mount Arash."
"Lived through one?" Alpsal asked.
Zabhara shook her head. "My mother did. In our tongue, our tribe calls it the Great Maw that swallowed the mountain. It shook Mount Arash apart, leaving small fissures in its wake."

"Its effects were felt far and wide," Izana Jai Azali spoke up, looking thoughtful. "Many tribes had to migrate, many lives were lost. Suqua was all but razed. There has not been a quake on that scale for many moons, but it pays to be prepared. This 'dura-crete' of yours, how do you hold it in place? It is wet when it is put in? Is there a mould which stays in place until the material is dry?" the priestess asked curiously.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Elpsis Kerrigan

"Oh, how would you arrange sleeping areas? I feel a dormitory underground for workers..."

Makai tried not to look disappointed when the talk of living underground was brought to a halt. If Myra Arceneau Dashiell was here, no doubt she would be rolling her eyes, agreeing with Elpsis that there was entirely too much talk of caverns and how to live properly underground. In his eyes, there was never enough geological talk.

"I am not sure the reinforced mesh would survive a quake of such magnitude. To be fair, it does not sound as if much would. Much smaller events I feel more confident the structures will be stable."

Moving towards duracrete, he did his best to describe the process.

"Duracrete is nothing special. A specialized sand, more sand, gravel and water. It creates a semi-solid that can be sent through pumps and sprayed while it hardens. The design of the mesh really allows for the duracrete to bond easily to the natural cavern stone and the mesh itself. Some reinforce with metal rods or metal fencing. It can depend on the application."

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Makai Dashiell

"I have plans on hand. Can reveal later," Karrigan'Narzan, who was himself a bit disappointed about being so rudely interrupted, told the half-Galan. The Azalian priestess acknowledged Makai's description of the duracrete with a pleased nod.

"I'm quite curious about your mesh. It sounds to me like we could use it to better protect other underground facilities and dwellings. Or areas that have been tunnelled into a mountain. It's as unfortunate as it is predictable that Firemane's defeat hasn't ended all of Suqua's troubles. Today's relative peace isn't going to last, so this would be useful," Zabhara said, with a glance towards Alpsal.

"It would be," Alpsal spoke grimly, her jaw clenched. Peace was an interval before the next conflict, this she knew. Life was struggle. "I need to introduce you to one of the Kar'zun. Stone people, basically. They and Narzan's people live underground, in mountains and so on. Both were really helpful during the war. Firemane would bomb any town that resisted, herd civilians into camps. So...they had to flee into the mountains." A dark shadow seemed to pass over Alpsal's face, and she turned away. "You three can exchange engineering ideas when there's time."

"Is there anything to see in the mining face?" Navandra Jai Suqua said thoughtfully, referencing the area where the processing would happen once the facility was operational and actually had staff and workers. "I reckon you're not going to use picks and shovels," she commented. That had been the usual Qadiri way of mining.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

"I'm excited to view those plans."

Finally, someone excited about geology on this trip. Not that he wasn't enjoying being scrutinized by various Priestesses who were skeptical of his every move. The distant Hapan in him let it roll off his back and thought it wise to continue with business. It was the purpose of the trip, to see if the locals would allow him to continue. So far progress was slow, but incremental. It was more than he could have hoped for at this point.

"I have some rolls of the mesh laying about. I can supply a rudimentary recipe for making duracrete on any planet, no special equipment needed. If you wanted to experiment on a small scale with the product."

Makai shook his head, unable to complete the request to move to the mining processing area.

"It has not been complete. We wanted to continue but realized there would be issues potentially with the local population. There was no sense in completing this project without getting a go-ahead and some arrangement in place - such as sharing a percentage of the profits in exchange for mining rights. If that wasn't to be secured, this would be turned into an outpost or waypoint for other projects in the area."

No need to sink credits in places where he wouldn't be allowed to work in some from or fashion.

"Mining processing would happen in a vast space like this. Some automatic with drills and droids and machinery. Some by hand. I've often found a mixture of both is most efficient without breaking down a workforce. By hand - picks and shovels - would age anyone quickly."

On one hand, he was concerned about locals. On the other, it was pure business sense. Using droids and machines plus sentient labor only extended the amount of time a sentient could work at an optimal pace. By hand would lead to a host of arthritic issues.

"You're more than welcome to tour any of my facilities off world to get an idea."

Elpsis Kerrigan

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Makai Dashiell

"The labourers aged fast, and saw little of life in the olden days. It was a profession for slaves for a reason," Navandra Jai Suqua said frankly. "The practice was abolished years ago. But for centuries they were the lowest among the slaves. Their only hope was that their owner would free them or they'd somehow scrounge up enough funds to buy their freedom, but there was scant chance of that for a mine labourer. Unlike a mamluk," she said with a nod towards Zabhara.

A Mamluk was an unfree soldier employed by various rulers of Tygara for many centuries. They were essentially slave soldiers, but usually better treated than labouring or house slaves. However, they had been used in battles frequently.
"We were an investment," Zabhara said flatly. "But there was always 'more of them'."

"Investments were treated more carefully," Navandra commented.
"And we were sent to die in battle, what is your point?" Zabhara retorted frostily.
"Enough," Alpsal said firmly. "Not the time or place."
"Agreed," Zabhara spoke. With a haughty expression, she examined the mesh, getting a feel for it in her hands. Evidently pleased with the design, she glanced towards Makai. "I'm interested in the recipe for the dura-crete, thank you for the offer."

"I have seen some of these dr-oids you speak of," priestess Izana Jai Azali spoke. "These metal machines have their purposes. But sky people who came here in the past used them to displace native workers so they could force them to toil in even more wretched conditions. I presume this shall not happen here, for it cannot be allowed."
"Indeed," the geology enthusiast Karrigan'Narzan said laconically.
"Their utility shouldn't be dismissed either," Navandra pointed out matter-of-factly.

"The majority of the workforce's going to be organic," Alpsal said, voice firm as rock. "But with better tools than a pickaxe. Tools we shall set up workshops to make. Droids are best restricted to roles that are very dangerous because they're better equipped to handle environmental hazards or where you need someone to make advanced calculations. That's a sensible balance that utilises their skills best and doesn't leave a worker on the streets because their job got automated away." That, and they also simply lacked the industrial base to manufacture droids in large numbers. Becoming dependent on an offworld supplier flew in the face of the new regime's tenets. "Anyway, is there anything else to see in this facility?"