From b0f2d0a1074966f70e96442670a67ea69247593a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: BodgeMaster <> Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2025 21:25:27 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] 'pk' : continue writing, revision --- pk--lena_first_contact.html | 109 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----- 1 file changed, 95 insertions(+), 14 deletions(-) diff --git a/pk--lena_first_contact.html b/pk--lena_first_contact.html index bb2e870..506aeac 100644 --- a/pk--lena_first_contact.html +++ b/pk--lena_first_contact.html @@ -2,8 +2,65 @@

<Lena first contact>

- Missing: them cobbling their equipment together, - sending the remote activation sequence + Michelle and James drag the comms unit off the truck bed and carry it + inside. Jack grabs a large box filled with all sorts of cables and spare + parts and follows them. Annie follows not long after, carrying a stack of + thick binders of documentation. They walk up the stairs and set their + things down somewhere off to the side. Then, they go for round + two, fetching a generator, some tools, two other + things from the truck. + +

+

+ They have tried cranking the dish around by hand + at some point before this. The tilt mechanism is completely seized up, + the pan mechanism spins freely and doesn't work.
+ Jack begins to disassemble the gearbox for panning the dish around. + Michelle looks up at the tilt mechanism and gets an idea.
+ James, help me up there.
+ With his help, she jumps up to the dish and clings to its underside. + From there, she climbs up to the center.
+ She calls down to James: Can you pass me + a screwdriver? Need a large flathead.
+ He gets one from the toolbox.
+ Catch!
+ Thanks.
+ Sitting on a thick cable hanging from the dish, she begins to remove + the cover of the gearbox in front of her.
+ Jack looks at her and says: Be careful with + your fingers up there. +

+

+ After a while, she gets the cover loose and it falls towards her. + She struggles to keep her balance for a moment as the cover lands wedged + between her legs and the central post? beam? + holding the dish. With some effort, she manages to wrangle it to th other + side of the cable.
+ James, Annie, can you catch this? Careful, + it's heavy.
+ They do and Michelle turns her attention back to the gearbox in front of + her. It is completely dried out and the large gears appear to be stuck + together with some dark brown gunk.
+ I think this one just needs to be cleaned and + lubricated.
+ Jack says: Wish I could say the same for down + here...
+ She looks at the gearbox Jack had been taking apart. + One of the gears inside has been partially stripped of its teeth and + another one is broken. Jack has already removed one of the gears and + is using a screwdriver as a pry bar for the next one. + +

+

+ missing section

The oscilloscope shows a thick wobbly line. Michelle slightly adjusts @@ -16,29 +73,34 @@ Michelle picks up the receiver and listens.
Beeeeep. Beeeeep. Beeeeep. Beeeeep.
+ It takes a while for someone to pick up.
A female voice greets her: Hello?
- She gestures for Jack to flip the switch back and says: + Michelle gestures for Jack to flip the switch back and speaks into the + phone: This is ground support facility 53. Do you hear me?
Yes, I can hear you. So good to hear someone's voice.
- Jack who had heard it says quietly: And I - thought we were the ones facing unexpected difficuties...
+ Jack hears it and says quietly: And I thought + we were the ones facing unexpected difficuties...
Michelle notices the carrier strength gradually dropping and says: Listen, we don't have much time. We're on makeshift equipment. Please turn on the radio in front of - you and tune to some frequency or - channel.
- The person on the other end says: Understood. - Please stay on the line.
- As long as possible. If not, we'll be - back in 24 hours.
- Michelle hears her quietly mumbling to herself: + you and tune to + some frequency or channel.
+ Understood. Please stay on the line. +
+ Michelle says: I give it about ... +
+ She looks at the oscilloscope.
+ ... three minutes until the connection + drops out.
+ The voice on the other end quietly mumbles to herself: How's this thing work...
- She turns the receiver away from her mouth and says: + Michelle turns the receiver away from her mouth.
Jack, I need the manual.
He opens it at one of the bookmarks and hands it over. The page depicts - what the control panel on the other end should look like.
+ the control panel on the other end.
Speaking into the phone again, Michelle says: There should be a button labeled EGCR-1. Push that in and flip the switch next to it up to @@ -75,6 +137,25 @@ facility 53. Do you copy?
A few repeats later, the female voice answers: There we go... Loud and clear.
+ Missing: they introduce themselves, Lena says something along the lines of "everyone is dead"