'zd' Nova Metropolis: continue writing

'zd' Nova Metropolis: split into three chapters in preparation for Jack's dream
html_resources/style: fix annoying gaps in nested lists
2026-03-31 00:46:10 +02:00 · 2026-03-31 00:44:30 +02:00 · 2026-03-31 00:41:34 +02:00 · 2026-02-18 08:42:52 +01:00 · 2026-02-05 10:03:00 +01:00 · 2026-01-22 08:12:00 +01:00
7 changed files with 162 additions and 96 deletions
--- a/html_resources/style.css
+++ b/html_resources/style.css
@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ p, pre, ul, h2 {
 li ul {
  margin-left: 2em;
  margin-bottom: 0;
  width: 100%;
 }
--- a/ka-Smells_Like_Train_Spirit-finding_the_train.html
+++ b/ka-Smells_Like_Train_Spirit-finding_the_train.html
@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><title> I Like Trains </title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="html_resources/style.css"></head><body><svg class="hidden_filter"><filter id="crunchy_blur" x="0" y="0"><feFlood x="4" y="4" height="2" width="2"/><feComposite width="6" height="6" in2="SourceGraphic"/><feTile result="a"/><feComposite in="SourceGraphic" in2="a" operator="in"/><feMorphology operator="dilate" radius="1.4"/><feGaussianBlur stdDeviation="2.2"></feGaussianBlur></filter></svg><div class="home"><a href="index.html">&#8962;</a></div>
+<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><title> Smells Like Train Spirit </title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="html_resources/style.css"></head><body><svg class="hidden_filter"><filter id="crunchy_blur" x="0" y="0"><feFlood x="4" y="4" height="2" width="2"/><feComposite width="6" height="6" in2="SourceGraphic"/><feTile result="a"/><feComposite in="SourceGraphic" in2="a" operator="in"/><feMorphology operator="dilate" radius="1.4"/><feGaussianBlur stdDeviation="2.2"></feGaussianBlur></filter></svg><div class="home"><a href="index.html">&#8962;</a></div>
-<h1>I Like Trains</h1>
+<h1>Smells Like Train Spirit</h1>
 <!-- perspective: Michelle -->
 <p>
  <span class="quote speech">Michelle! Guess what I found...</span><br />
@ -53,8 +53,8 @@
  Jack picks up a section of metal pipe and passes it to her. Putting it
  over the wrench for additional leverage, she pushes against it until the
  bolt snaps with a bang.<br />
-  <span class="quote speech">That&apos;s certainly one of the ways to
+  <span class="quote speech">Guess that&apos;s not going back on...</span>
-  unbolt this thing...</span> she says before moving on to the next one.
+  she says as she moves on to the next one.
 </p>
 <p>
  One by one, she removes the other nuts. Some of them snap off, some
@ -63,16 +63,16 @@
  the wrench against its side until it comes loose...<br />
  <span class="quote speech">There&apos;s a whole loada nothing in
  here.</span><br />
-  <span class="quote speech"><i>Great.</i> I guess there are a bunch more
+  <span class="quote speech">Woulda been too easy. Guess there are a bunch
-  we can try.</span> <span class="comment">needs a better reaction, may
+  more we can try...</span><br />
  want to state disappointment explicitly</span><br />
  She jumps back down onto the end of the car.<br />
  <span class="quote speech">Looks like we&apos;ll be climbing a bunch of
  tank cars today.</span><br />
-  <span class="quote speech">Let&apos;s see about that... Mind giving me
+  <span class="quote speech">Mind giving that back for a moment?</span>
-  the wrench for a moment?</span><br />
+  He gestures for the wrench. <span class="quote speech">I got an
-  He jumps over the gap between cars and uses it to knock against the wall
+  idea.</span><br />
-  of the next tank.<br />
+  Wrench in hand, he jumps over the gap to the next car and knocks on the
  tank.<br />
  <span class="quote speech">Sounds empty.</span>
 </p>
 <p>
@ -80,14 +80,14 @@
  when Jack hits it with the wrench. Michelle climbs on top again.
  The nuts on this one come off more easily and it doesn&apos;t take
  long until she lifts the lid.<br />
-  <span class="quote speech">Jackpot!</span> She sniffs the smell coming
+  <span class="quote speech">Jackpot!</span> She catches a whiff of the
-  off the liquid inside. <span class="quote speech">Smells like
+  fumes coming from the liquid inside. <span class="quote speech">Smells
-  diesel.</span><br />
+  like diesel.</span><br />
  <span class="quote speech">Nice! Let&apos;s find a truck or something...
  Wait, stupid idea but I need to show you...</span><br />
  <span class="quote speech">Oh no, what are you up to again?</span><br />
-  <span class="quote speech">Nothing in particular. Wanna follow me for
+  <span class="quote speech">Uhh... Nothing in particular... Wanna follow
-  a sec?</span>
+  me for a sec?</span>
 </p>
 <p>
  She jumps down and follows him back to the former doorway.
--- a/ph-diesel_creek.html
+++ b/ph-diesel_creek.html
@ -4,20 +4,20 @@
 <p>
  Michelle asks: <span class="quote speech">And you really expect to find
-  machines here that can be salvaged?</span><br />
+  anything here that can be salvaged?</span><br />
  The four are walking into a valley in a large forested area.<br />
  Jack replies: <span class="quote speech">Right now, I&apos;m not even
-  sure this is the place &ndash; everything looks so different &ndash; but,
+  sure this is the place &ndash; everything looks so different &ndash; but
-  if it is, we&apos;ll have plenty to choose from and a bunch more for
+  if it is, we&apos;ll have plenty machines to choose from and a bunch
-  spare parts.</span><br />
+  more for parts.</span><br />
  James gestures to the side, saying:
  <span class="quote speech">Look, over there.</span><br />
-  He points out a group of very rusty and completely overgrown machines.
+  He points to a group of very rusty and completely overgrown machines.
  <br />
-  Annie wonders: <span class="quote speech">How did they get inbetween
+  Annie asks: <span class="quote speech">How did they get inbetween
  the trees?</span><br />
  Jack says: <span class="quote speech">They didn&apos;t. The machines
-  came first, the trees grew after. This wasn&apos;t a forest
+  came first, the trees grew after. This area wasn&apos;t even a forest
  back then.</span><br />
  They make their way over to take a closer look.
 </p>
@ -29,19 +29,18 @@
  a big one like this, maybe a bit smaller, but not as small as that one
  over there &ndash; and preferably without trees growing out of
  it...</span><br />
-  He points to a small excavator that sits askew on a thick tree trunk
+  He points to a mini excavator sitting askew on a tree trunk that had
-  that had grown through the floor and out the side.
+  grown through its floor and out the side.<br />
-  <span class="comment">Compact excavator? Tiny excavator?</span><br />
+  James asks: <span class="quote speech">Why not just use this big one?
  James asks: <span class="quote speech">Why not just use this one?
  What&apos;s wrong with it?</span><br />
-  <span class="quote speech">This thing&apos;s just done for. Apart from it
+  <span class="quote speech">This thing&apos;s just done for. It&apos;s
-  being a pile of rust, it&apos;s missing its tracks, the hydraulics for
+  more rust than steel, missing its tracks and hydraulics for the bucket,
-  moving the bucket, and it looks like the inside of the cab got completely
+  and it looks like someone got a bit carried away trying to remove the
-  dismantled.</span><br />
+  cab.</span><br />
-  They take a quick look at the other machines around them. There is the
+  They take a quick look at the other machines around them. Apart from the
-  other, much smaller excavator, a dump truck, a <span class="comment">
+  two excavators, there is a dump truck, a <span class="comment"> what's
-  what's the name of that machine with a conveyor belt that sorts
+  the name of that machine with a conveyor belt that sorts large rocks and
-  large rocks and rubble from sand?
+  rubble from sand?
  <!--
    ChatGPT says "screening plant" but also refers to it as a
    "vibrating belt sorter". Research that.
@ -52,9 +51,9 @@
  are rusted beyond repair and missing integral parts.<br />
 </p>
 <p>
-  A bit further down the valley, they approach a much larger collection of
+  A bit further down the valley, they find a much larger assortment of
-  machines, parked in rows and parted out like the first ones they saw.
+  machines, parked in long rows and parted out just like the first ones
-  <br />
+  they saw.<br />
  Jack says: <span class="quote speech">Welcome to the machine graveyard.
  If memory serves right, there should be a few buildings back there and
  one of the main parking lots behind them.</span><br />
@ -66,21 +65,29 @@
  stuff onto conveyors but most of the machines here were used in
  construction after the digging was done.</span><br />
 </p>
 <p class="comment">
  research that needs to be done:
  When were hydraulic excavators invented?
  When did they get the ability to use a jackhammer attachment?
  When did the cable-driven ones go out of fashion?
 </p>
 <p>
-  <span class="comment">missing section</span>
+  The buildings are in rough shape, some much worse than others. Most
  don&apos;t have rooves, a few have been completely reduced to foundations
  and piles of rubble. The four walk through a gap between them and find
  themselves on the parking lot. Instead of a forest, they find it mostly
  overgrown with bushes and young trees. They split up and start roaming
  the area.
 </p>
 <p class="comment">
  research that needs to be done:<br />
  &rarr;When were hydraulic excavators invented?<br />
  &rarr;When did they get the ability to use a jackhammer attachment?<br />
  &rarr;When did cable shovels go out of fashion? (Apparently never,
  depending on use case. From a quick image search, modern ones seem to be
  huge industrial machines.)<br />
 </p>
 <p>
  Annie calls the others over to one of the buildings.<br />
  <span class="quote speech">Look what I found...</span><br />
  Michelle arrives before Jack and she laughs. He arrives a moment
  later and peeks inside. There sits a cable shovel, partially covered
-  in rubble from the caved-in roof &ndash; rusty but surprisingly intact.
+  in rubble from the <span class="comment">caved-in? fallen-in?</span>
  roof &ndash; rusty but surprisingly intact.
  <br />
  Jack says: <span class="quote speech">That&apos;s ... uhhh ... kind of
  a historical artifact.</span><br />
--- a/zd-Nova_Metropolis.html
+++ b/zd-Nova_Metropolis.html
@ -30,8 +30,8 @@
  The highway ends and transitions into a large road. Michelle decelerates
  the bus.<br />
  <span class="quote speech">Why are you going so slow?</span><br />
-  <span class="quote speech">Im going exactly speed limit - 50 km/h.</span>
+  <span class="quote speech">Im going exactly speed limit &ndash; 50
-  <br />
+  kilometers per hour.</span><br />
  <span class="quote speech">50? That&apos;s faster than the speed limit in
  Sunside Cove yet this feels so slow...</span><br />
  Michelle chuckles.<br />
@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
  recently. Not even a smashed window.</span><br />
  <span class="quote speech">Over there.</span><br />
  <span class="quote speech">Okay, one smashed window.</span><br />
-  <span class="quote speech">I mean you&apos;re right. Barely any
+  <span class="quote speech">You&apos;re right though. Barely any
  damage &ndash; and surprisingly little sand, I thought we&apos;d
  find a bunch of half-buried ruins.</span><br />
  Michelle pulls up at a bus stop and parks the bus.<br />
@ -66,42 +66,49 @@
  a comfortable position. His words are muffled through the mattres:
  <span class="quote speech">Good night.</span>
 </p>
 <p>
  Michelle, James, and Annie gather at the front door and step outside.
  Michelle reaches for the key switch under the headlight and holds it
  until the door is closed, then she shuts the little door that normally
  hides it. The three start walking, briefly stopping every few meters to
  look into the perfectly preserved storefront windows. Many have
  sunbleached posters hanging in them, some completely faded to white,
  others still showing faint outlines or even a hint of colors, the goods
  surrounding them waiting to attrackt buyers who would never return.
 </p>
 <p>
  A few blocks down the road, they find a music store filled with acoustic
  instruments. They stop a bit longer. Annie really wants to go inside.
  She tries the large glass door &ndash; locked, of course.<br />
  She asks: <span class="quote speech">So... How else can we get
  inside?</span><br />
  Michelle says: <span class="quote speech">Break in. Who&apos;s gonna stop
  you?</span><br />
  Annie looks around, scanning the floor. She notices some of the small
  paving stones at the edge of the sidewalk had come loose and picks one
  up. She hesitates.<br />
  <span class="quote speech">This feels so wrong...</span><br />
  James, who had been standing off to the side, watching the interaction
  between the two, steps between Annie and the door.<br />
  He says: <span class="quote speech">Allow me to work some magic for you.
  Can I have that thing?</span><br />
  He takes the paving stone out of her hand and places it right back
  where she had found it. Then, he takes a keyring out of one of his
  jacket&apos;s pockets and searches for a specific one. Using that key,
  he opens a small lock box near the floor next to the door, out of which
  he grabs another set of keys.<br />
  <span class="quote speech">Fire department key. Probably works on most
  buildings around here. Here you go, your way inside.</span><br />
  He hands her the keys.
 </p>
 <p class="comment">
-  missing section (and maybe a missing chapter of Jack getting the radio)
+  Notes to self:<br />
  Annie will at some point before this have to be comfortable with breaking
  into lost places in Ivydale / Sentinel Shores.<br />
  James has changed his green coat for a brown leather jacket before
  starting the trip to Nova Metropolis.
 </p>
-<p>
+<p class="comment">
-  <span class="quote speech">Jack is gone</span>, Annie notices while
+  missing section about exploring an intricate lobby of some corporate hq
  entering the bus. She looks around.<br />
  <span class="quote speech">There&apos;s a note on the table: &quot;Will
  be back at 06:30&quot;</span><br />
  Michelle looks at her watch. <span class="quote speech">It <i>is</i>
  06:30.</span><br />
  James chimes in: <span class="quote speech">I guess there&apos;s nothing
  to do but wait. He&apos;ll show up soon enough.</span><br />
  Michelle says: <span class="quote speech">I sure hope so.</span><br />
  They place their bags full of found goodies on the floor and sit down
  around the table.
 </p>
 <p>
  After a while, they hear a fast car approaching. Looking outside, they
  see an oldtimer <span class="comment">zoom</span> by. Michelle says:
  <span class="quote speech">That&apos;s him.</span> A moment later, the
  car returns, braking so hard it leaves tire marks on the road. Jack gets
  out and waves at them. He turns off the engine and walks to the front of
  the bus. Annie opens the door.<br />
  <span class="quote speech">Where have you been?</span><br />
  <span class="quote speech">I went on my own little adventure and may or
  may not have procured some radio equipment.</span><br />
  <span class="quote speech">Didn&apos;t you want to sleep?</span><br />
  <span class="quote speech">Well yeah... And then I had a dream that
  inspired me to go looking for stuff.</span> He points to the car he
  arrived in. <span class="quote speech">It&apos;s in the trunk.</span><br />
  <span class="comment">said dream is him running a radio station and Emily
  calling in as a guest</span><br />
  Michelle facepalms. Annie and James look at both of them in confusion.<br />
  <span class="quote speech">Is it one of these radios?</span> Michelle
  makes a gesture showing a big box.<br />
  <span class="comment">Yes, it is. Make this clear when Jack picks it
  up.</span>
 </p>
 <p class="copyright">Copyright &#169; 2023-2026 Jan Danielzick (aka. BodgeMaster) &ndash; All rights reserved.</p><script>let spans=["<span class=\"paper green\">","<span>"];let pre_texts=document.getElementsByTagName("pre");for(let i=0;i<pre_texts.length;i++){if(pre_texts[i].className!="paper")continue;let lines=pre_texts[i].innerHTML.split("\n");let result="";for(let j=0;j<lines.length;j++){if(lines[j].length>=80)result=result+spans[j%2]+lines[j]+"</span>\n";else result=result+spans[j%2]+lines[j]+" ".repeat(80-lines[j].length)+"</span>\n";}pre_texts[i].innerHTML=result;}fetch("./chapters.json").then(function(result){return result.json();}).then(function(json){let chapters=json.pages;for(let i=0;i<chapters.length;i++){if(chapters[i]===document.URL.replace(/^.*\//,"./")){let prevdiv=document.createElement("div");prevdiv.className="prev";if(i>0){prevdiv.innerHTML="<a href=\""+chapters[i-1]+"\">&#9667;</a>";}else{prevdiv.innerHTML="<p>&#9667;</p>";}document.body.appendChild(prevdiv);let nextdiv=document.createElement("div");nextdiv.className="next";if(i<chapters.length-1){nextdiv.innerHTML="<a href=\""+chapters[i+1]+"\">&#9657;</a>";}else{nextdiv.innerHTML="<p>&#9657;</p>";}document.body.appendChild(nextdiv);}}});</script></body></html>
--- a/ze-operator.html
+++ b/ze-operator.html
@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
 <!DOCTYPE html><html><head><title> Operator </title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="html_resources/style.css"></head><body><svg class="hidden_filter"><filter id="crunchy_blur" x="0" y="0"><feFlood x="4" y="4" height="2" width="2"/><feComposite width="6" height="6" in2="SourceGraphic"/><feTile result="a"/><feComposite in="SourceGraphic" in2="a" operator="in"/><feMorphology operator="dilate" radius="1.4"/><feGaussianBlur stdDeviation="2.2"></feGaussianBlur></filter></svg><div class="home"><a href="index.html">&#8962;</a></div>
 <h1>Operator</h1>
 <!-- pwerpective: Jack -->
 <!--
 Jack has a dream where he is a radio station operator and Emily calls in
 as a guest. He wakes up with the idea to get his hands on a desktop radio
 and some other eqipment
 -->
 <p>
 </p>
 <p class="copyright">Copyright &#169; 2023-2026 Jan Danielzick (aka. BodgeMaster) &ndash; All rights reserved.</p><script>let spans=["<span class=\"paper green\">","<span>"];let pre_texts=document.getElementsByTagName("pre");for(let i=0;i<pre_texts.length;i++){if(pre_texts[i].className!="paper")continue;let lines=pre_texts[i].innerHTML.split("\n");let result="";for(let j=0;j<lines.length;j++){if(lines[j].length>=80)result=result+spans[j%2]+lines[j]+"</span>\n";else result=result+spans[j%2]+lines[j]+" ".repeat(80-lines[j].length)+"</span>\n";}pre_texts[i].innerHTML=result;}fetch("./chapters.json").then(function(result){return result.json();}).then(function(json){let chapters=json.pages;for(let i=0;i<chapters.length;i++){if(chapters[i]===document.URL.replace(/^.*\//,"./")){let prevdiv=document.createElement("div");prevdiv.className="prev";if(i>0){prevdiv.innerHTML="<a href=\""+chapters[i-1]+"\">&#9667;</a>";}else{prevdiv.innerHTML="<p>&#9667;</p>";}document.body.appendChild(prevdiv);let nextdiv=document.createElement("div");nextdiv.className="next";if(i<chapters.length-1){nextdiv.innerHTML="<a href=\""+chapters[i+1]+"\">&#9657;</a>";}else{nextdiv.innerHTML="<p>&#9657;</p>";}document.body.appendChild(nextdiv);}}});</script></body></html>
--- a/zf-back_in_a_sec.html
+++ b/zf-back_in_a_sec.html
@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
 <!DOCTYPE html><html><head><title> Back In A Sec </title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="html_resources/style.css"></head><body><svg class="hidden_filter"><filter id="crunchy_blur" x="0" y="0"><feFlood x="4" y="4" height="2" width="2"/><feComposite width="6" height="6" in2="SourceGraphic"/><feTile result="a"/><feComposite in="SourceGraphic" in2="a" operator="in"/><feMorphology operator="dilate" radius="1.4"/><feGaussianBlur stdDeviation="2.2"></feGaussianBlur></filter></svg><div class="home"><a href="index.html">&#8962;</a></div>
 <h1>Back In A Sec</h1>
 <!-- perspective: Annie -->
 <p>
  <span class="comment">missing section?</span>
 </p>
 <p>
  <span class="quote speech">Jack is gone</span>, Annie notices while
  entering the bus. She looks around.<br />
  <span class="quote speech">There&apos;s a note on the table: &quot;Will
  be back at 06:30&quot;</span><br />
  Michelle looks at her watch. <span class="quote speech">It <i>is</i>
  06:30.</span><br />
  James chimes in: <span class="quote speech">I guess there&apos;s nothing
  to do but wait. He&apos;ll show up soon enough.</span><br />
  Michelle says: <span class="quote speech">I sure hope so.</span><br />
  They place their bags full of found goodies on the floor and sit down
  around the table.
 </p>
 <p>
  After a while, they hear a fast car approaching. Looking outside, they
  see an oldtimer <span class="comment">zoom</span> by. Michelle says:
  <span class="quote speech">That&apos;s him.</span> A moment later, the
  car returns, braking so hard it leaves tire marks on the road. Jack gets
  out and waves at them. He turns off the engine and walks to the front of
  the bus. Annie opens the door.<br />
  <span class="quote speech">Where have you been?</span><br />
  <span class="quote speech">I went on my own little adventure and may or
  may not have procured some radio equipment.</span><br />
  <span class="quote speech">Didn&apos;t you want to sleep?</span><br />
  <span class="quote speech">Well yeah... And then I had a dream that
  inspired me to go looking for stuff.</span> He points to the car he
  arrived in. <span class="quote speech">It&apos;s in the trunk.</span><br />
  Michelle facepalms. Annie and James look at both of them in confusion.<br />
  <span class="quote speech">Is it one of these radios?</span> Michelle
  makes a gesture showing a big box.<br />
  <span class="comment">Yes, it is. Make this clear when Jack picks it
  up.</span>
 </p>
 <p class="copyright">Copyright &#169; 2023-2026 Jan Danielzick (aka. BodgeMaster) &ndash; All rights reserved.</p><script>let spans=["<span class=\"paper green\">","<span>"];let pre_texts=document.getElementsByTagName("pre");for(let i=0;i<pre_texts.length;i++){if(pre_texts[i].className!="paper")continue;let lines=pre_texts[i].innerHTML.split("\n");let result="";for(let j=0;j<lines.length;j++){if(lines[j].length>=80)result=result+spans[j%2]+lines[j]+"</span>\n";else result=result+spans[j%2]+lines[j]+" ".repeat(80-lines[j].length)+"</span>\n";}pre_texts[i].innerHTML=result;}fetch("./chapters.json").then(function(result){return result.json();}).then(function(json){let chapters=json.pages;for(let i=0;i<chapters.length;i++){if(chapters[i]===document.URL.replace(/^.*\//,"./")){let prevdiv=document.createElement("div");prevdiv.className="prev";if(i>0){prevdiv.innerHTML="<a href=\""+chapters[i-1]+"\">&#9667;</a>";}else{prevdiv.innerHTML="<p>&#9667;</p>";}document.body.appendChild(prevdiv);let nextdiv=document.createElement("div");nextdiv.className="next";if(i<chapters.length-1){nextdiv.innerHTML="<a href=\""+chapters[i+1]+"\">&#9657;</a>";}else{nextdiv.innerHTML="<p>&#9657;</p>";}document.body.appendChild(nextdiv);}}});</script></body></html>
--- a/zz-one_step_for_a_child-end.html
+++ b/zz-one_step_for_a_child-end.html
@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 <p>
  The group sits around the pot with leftovers on the gas stove, enjoying
  the view of the skyline from above. To increase their odds of seeing
-  where Emily would land, they had decided to wait on top of one of the
+  where Emily would land, they had decided to wait atop one of the
  tallest sky scrapers the city had to offer. The intense light of the
  setting sun paints Nova Metropolis in vibrant hues of yellow and orange
  while the moon is already coming over the horizon. They are engaged in
@ -22,12 +22,11 @@
  <span class="quote speech">It&apos;s time. Emily will be entering the
  atmosphere right about now.</span><br />
  They get up. James pulls a pair of binoculars out of his bag. Jack does
-  the same. Annie looks at both of them - her face clearly showing her
+  the same. Annie looks at both of them - her face clearly showing
  disappointment.<br />
-  <span class="quote speech">Don&apos;t worry, I got ya.</span> says Jack
+  Jack says <span class="quote speech">Don&apos;t worry, I got you.</span>
-  as he pulls a second pair out of his bag and hands it to her with a grin.
+  as he pulls a second pair out of his bag and hands it to her.<br />
-  <br />
+  <span class="quote speech">Oooh, thank you!</span> She takes it and they
  <span class="quote speech">Oh, thank you!</span> She takes it and they
  start walking towards the edge.
 </p>
 <p>
@ -42,8 +41,8 @@
  handing them back to him.<br />
  It looks like a tiny, red glowing dot in the sky, slowly growing in size.
  For a few minutes, not much seems to happen. The dot gets bigger and
-  bigger, turning into a black triangle as the glow fades and finally
+  bigger, slowly turning into a black triangle as the glow fades and finally
-  disappears. The shuttle sheds its heat shield as it slowly comes closer.
+  disappears. The shuttle sheds its heat shields as it comes closer.
 </p>
 <p>
  Around the 15 minute mark, Jack notices that it has moved almost above
@ -55,10 +54,10 @@
  are pretty slim, but something&apos;s not right.</span><br />
  As if on cue, the rear end of the shuttle breaks apart, turning into a
  cloud of fragments. The rest plummets into the city moments later, taking
-  multiple buildings down with it. The ground shakes slightly. Nobody says
+  down multiple buildings along with it. The ground shakes slightly. Nobody
-  anything for a while as they watch the buildings around the impact
+  says a word as they watch the buildings around the impact crumble and
-  crumble and the remaining parts of the shuttle rain out of the sky in a
+  the remaining parts of the shuttle rain out of the sky in a mix of shock
-  mix of shock and awe.
+  and awe.
 </p>
 <p>
  Michelle interrupts the silence: <span class="quote speech">Guys, over
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
BodgeMaster	6da56a2d2f	'zd' Nova Metropolis: continue writing	2026-03-31 00:46:10 +02:00
BodgeMaster	fca6b3c4bc	'zd' Nova Metropolis: split into three chapters in preparation for Jack's dream	2026-03-31 00:44:30 +02:00
BodgeMaster	91721b4b07	html_resources/style: fix annoying gaps in nested lists	2026-03-31 00:41:34 +02:00
BodgeMaster	011d2ef85a	'zz' One Step For A Child: revision	2026-02-18 08:42:52 +01:00
BodgeMaster	f022075748	'ph' Diesel Creek: revision, fill in a gap	2026-02-05 10:03:00 +01:00
BodgeMaster	887b143ce4	'ka' I Like Trains -> Smells Like Train Spirit: rename chapter, revision	2026-01-22 08:12:00 +01:00