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Showing results for tags 'fire'.
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Public Safety - Mandatory Smoke Detectors
TheMurderousCricket posted a topic in SimCity 3000 Resource Club's SC3000 Ordinances
"The Mandatory Smoke Detector Ordinance requires that all buildings in the city be equipped with smoke detectors. These battery-powered devices emit a piercing sound whenever smoke is present. As irritating as the noise is, Sims prefer this harmless annoyance to the alternative -- being unaware a fire has broken out. This ordinance has a monthly cost, an amount based on the number of buildings in the city. When it is enacted, citywide flammability is significantly lowered." -
Hong Kong Bat´s on fire ! This something nobody ever wish to happen to anyone ! The big fire in Hong Kong on such Bat´s you might plop down if you ever want to recreate Hong Kong. Three days of morning announced. World so small just like that highrise in London but on a much larger scale. Same seem to be like plastica and lethal bamboe used. I´m happy the communty is responding so bright and generiousley ! Hope the people winvolved ill have the strenght to rise of this desatreus experience and rebuild their life´s more joyfuly ! Hope this attribute will give some aknowlidgement of the very bad things anyone anywher on earth might have to endure but never ever wanted ! Kschmidt
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i know im one of those strange guys that likes disasters, and this mod used to work really good in the vanilla disk version. Now i have to use SC4 Deluxe on Steam. It doesn't appear to be changing anything in the game. Doesn't adjust flammability and hardly any fires ever. Im very familiar with how it "should" function having used it for years before. Any reason why the deluxe edition won't allow the mod to function? thanks.
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Episode 4 - First fire department in 50000 years
TheMurderousCricket posted a City Journal entry in Saving Magnasanti...
So if a building were to ignite the entire city would burn... - TheNobleGoon Episode 4 Christmas season was still alive while this part of the Magnasanti diary was written and this is perhaps why things got a little lazy in New Magnasanti. Everyone, me included, was just relaxing. One thing I know for sure (and happily share with you) is that New Magnasanti Sims have got a taste of white, carefree Christmas, despite all the wrong and scary that surrounds them. (Also, this is the only cheat I intend to use - two "Winter Wonderland" parks, which normally does not happen in-game) We can slowly resume our work on the city. Bit by bit. One of the things I haven't examined yet is the petitioner queue. I guess it has to be long... Ok, let's get the red tape flowing again, I open up the petitioner window and this is what I get: Hm, at least some of the advisors are smiling... Quite a lot of remarks/suggestions/death threats. Some are really valid, while others are not. Worthy of note is the fact that, coincidentally, the most important issues have been listed first - lack of hospitals, schools, parks and an overwhelming feeling of senselessness. These are the most burning petitioner issues, conveniently placed on top of the list. Looks like me and my Sims are generally on the same page. In case you're wondering, I'd like to show you at least some of the messages that I have received. For instance, I haven't seen this one in a long while: I'm not even sure if it's English anymore... Hmmm... This makes me wonder of what use all these libraries actually are. I'm afraid the word "cat" is spelled with eleven orthographic mistakes around here... Don't even mention grammar... I may not be a native speaker, but man...! Looks like comrade Mao was right when he said that "To read too many books is harmful", because all these libraries seem not to be doing much! Oh. At least one woman around here seems to be literate and has a perfectly good point. Luckily, we have our firefighter stations to help us out. More parks will also do the job, so this issue is already being taken care of! Ummm. What can I say... I burst with laughter (plus a classic "coffee spray") upon reading this. Sometimes, I just can't help the feeling that the "Society for the Excessively Cultured" son de verdad las paletas. A marina. In a city without a drop of surface water. Way to go ma'am. Way to go. What is it that you say? "Our waterways?" "Renowned guests arriving in splendid seacraft?" I bet these are "splendid spacecraft" that you have actually seen... I guess the (mental) health in New Magnasanti is even worse than I thought at first... I'll have to take a closer look at this issue. And fast! Whew. Hearing out the petitioners might be helpful in a mayor's work but it is an exhausting chore as well. Especially when you are up against silly constituents. With that in mind, let's put the paperwork aside for a while and take care of more pressing issues. There is a very important matter we should see into. Something that you might be keenly interested in... Shall we take a look at the crime charts? Hmm? Hmm? Here's how the situation looks like in this episode: Let's compare it to how the things were last time: This, ladies and gentleman, means that the crime has been cut almost by half. And all this by "just" establishing an effective correctional system. Needless to say, it proves the theory that prisons indeed do play a vital role in maintaining the order in a city. I think this is actually comparable to how recycling centers reduce the amount of garbage, or how railways relieve the traffic burden. The "miracle" which has just happened proves, again, how all the relatively small things are only noticed on a grand scale. Probably, you wouldn't get quite as much of an effect in a 15k resident city as you get when doing the same thing in the 5.7mln New Magnasanti. This city is an interesting testing grounds for various buildings, theories and mechanisms and it doesn't take that much time to get to the results, whether good or bad. I'm really happy that the crime has been cut down and that my instincts were correct. The rest of the crime probably stems from a myriad of other problems this city has and I hope that all of them can effectively be solved in time. But in order to perform other miracles like that, I need to have a free mind. I can't be bothered by all those petitioners. Some help in brainstorming and targeting for better, more effective solutions, could be helpful. I heard there are private companies who are willing to offer help and advice to mayors in distress. Since New Magnasanti's charter allows to hire commercial contractors for advisory roles, I happily invited one of them to set up the shop in my city. I even gave them a nice parcel and helped them build their new headquarters. Bah, I even took 'em a picture: Just a step away from the subway station! On our first discussion, the VC experts provided me with a very concise and brief advice... "If it ain't broke, don't fix it?" I have to admit this is true on many levels in New Magnasanti. One of the things I won't even bother with is the water system. You've seen it. An outstanding grid that needs no improvements. Another such item is the subway system, which covers the entire city. It could perhaps use a few tweaks and connections. It only runs in looong, continuous "V"s that don't intersect with each other. Of course, it doesn't mean the system deserves to be bulldozed or something - on the contrary. Just through-connected a bit. Just to let you know, I am colorblind. Green, yellow - all the same. And one more thing... the commercial demand. I think I may actually cave in and let the commerce grow as it pleases... I specifically mention this, because I've been trying to nudge the developers to rebuild and renovate some of the residential areas. However, due to a zero R demand, there is hardly any will for that. Bulldozing already existing buildings cannot help, because there is not enough "momentum" for any new buildings to rise. Therefore, there are only two ways in which this can be achieved. One of them is the "same old, same old" type of thing - granting commercial developers enough land to construct the buildings and businesses the city needs. Theoretically, this could kickstart a search for new employees which, in turn, will need new homes. This way, some of the existing buildings will probably be replaced by nicer, more elegant homes. Another way is to stimulate the "urban renewal" through the taxes. Raising the residential taxes to some outrageous levels, causing new abandonments. This could give me a chance to remove some of the dilapidated buildings. And once the taxes return to normal and Simtizens move back in, nicer apartments are sure to shoot up into the sky. Hard to tell which one's it gonna be... Maybe a combination of both? I should probably mention that this is only an aesthetic change. There won't be any bad or good things coming from the fact that a grey high-rise is transformed into a proud, marble-white tower (except for the tax income of course). This will not solve New Magnasanti's problems. But, I feel this is a right thing to do... Art and aura-wise. I guess this means... welcome back commerce? I'll wait a few weeks or months for the new development to take root... aaaand, I will also increase the residential taxes a bit... I promised you a screenshot of the current budget anyway. In the meantime, I plan to close down all the unneeded prisons that are scattered around the city. Yep, I was not entirely honest with you - I actually placed more than the initial 25 in order to speed up the reeducation process. Believe it or not, most of these prisons are currently completely empty, just few months after experiencing a massive influx of thieves, crooks and other cutthroats. Not to worry - in the other cities I've built, I actually noticed that once a prison "recycles" all outstanding criminals, there just won't be another "wave" of them coming... unless you really ignore the problem. This is why it is perfectly safe to close down any empty prisons one may have if the city is no longer expanding. In fact, the things in New Magnasanti look so good that I can even close some of the jails which belong to the "penal colony"! More will follow. Well, I must say I am pretty satisfied with the crime reduction, which was (is?) the key point of our today's "meeting". Other elements might be much harder to improve, but not impossible to do. Health and education will be a real challenge... Who knows... I might even be forced to create "hospital villages" or "educational camps" in much the same way I did with jails. Could be a lot of trouble but should be fun too. I look forward to this work. I hope you had fun reading today's episode and I also hope you'll stick around for the upcoming ones. Have another look at New Magnasanti. Not to many changes in the urban landscape this time, I admit.- 3 Comments
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Is it possible to make fire-resistant lots?
TheMurderousCricket posted a topic in SC4 Modding - Open Discussion
Hello Community, Simple question - is it possible to somehow edit a custom-made lot and make it immune to fire? -
Version 1.0.0
3,952 Downloads
Art Deco Fire Station, by Mattb325. --------------------------------------- The old Euro Tileset Fire Station from SC3000 gets an SC4 facelift. This large fire station has amazing art deco features and was too good to be left out of SC4. Looks good in either a downtown or suburban setting. It has an extended coverage radius and 4 dispatches. It also provides 43 desirable civic jobs. Stats below.... --------------------------------------- STATS FIRE STATION: Lot Size: 4x3 Occupant Groups: Civic, Fire, Strikeable Fire Plop Cost: $840 Jobs: Jobs$28; Jobs$$14; Jobs$$$1 Bulldoze Cost: $50 Power Consumption: 6 MWh (1MWh produced) Water Consumption: 20 Gal/month Pollution: 1 (Air)/ 1 (Water)/ 0 (Garbage ) Pollution Radius: 2/3/0 Station Coverage Radius: 816 Station Total Dispatches: 4 Vehicle Dispatch Radius: 200 Monthly Cost: $ 220 --------------------------------------- NOTE ABOUT DARK NITE vs MAXIS NITE: This download contains TWO model files; one for dark nite users (and other night-time darkening mods, such as Gizmos night-mod) and one for the standard Maxis nite. You must keep only one file - depending on which version you use. If you are unsure whether you have a night-darkening mod installed, then choose the Maxis night version. If you use the dark nite version, you will need a dark nite mod. (http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/23089-simfox-day-and-nite-modd/) --------------------------------------- DEPENDENCIES: *BSC MEGA Props - CP Vol01.dat (https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=1180) *BSC Mega Props - CP Vol02.dat (https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=2790) *BSC Texture Pack - Cycledogg V01.dat (https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=101) --------------------------------------- To install, simply unzip the contents of this file into your plugins folder. -
Version 1.0.1
547 Downloads
These are some Sim-FirstResponders to bring a little bit of action to your lots. This 4th pack of workers contains 3 different groups of Sims: 10 European Fire Fighters (black Nomex, 1x300bar CABA) 10 US Fire Fighters (beige Nomex, 1x300bar CABA) 8 EMTs Content This File contains one .dat-File with 28 different props: European Fire Fighters ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_EUNomex#0_waiting ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_EUNomex#1_standing ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_EUNomex#2_hose ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_EUNomex#3_hosepump ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_EUNomex#4_axe ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_EUNomex#5_rasp_axe ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_EUNomex#6_rasp_walk ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_EUNomex#7_kneeling ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_EUNomex#8_kneeling_ext ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_EUNomex#9_resting US Fire Fighters ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_US#0_waiting ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_US#1 ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_US#2_hose ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_US#3_hosepump ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_US#4_axe ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_US#5_rasp_axe ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_US#6_rasp_walk ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_US#7_kneeling ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_US#8_kneeling_ext ▪ A_1P_FireFighter_US#9_resting EMTs ▪ A_1P_EMT#1_running ▪ A_1P_EMT#2_kneeling_kit ▪ A_1P_EMT#3_cpr ▪ A_1P_EMT#4_kneeling ▪ A_1P_EMT#5_strecher ▪ A_1P_EMT#6_doc ▪ A_1P_EMT#7_standing ▪ A_1P_EMT#8_standing Dependencies • none Instructions This is a prop file! The content must be placed on your lot using a lot-editor! Unzip and place in (work-) plugin folder, place in plugin folder once used in a lot file, eg.: C:\Users\<USER>\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins Note I have set the height of the Sims to 2.3m + PPE (personal protective equipment). Therefor they are more realistic in size compared to other small props like cars etc. They are a little smaller than the standard Maxis Sim. For spraying and fire you can play with the Maxis props Effect_SmallFountain A B C, Effect_firehydrant, Effect_tinyfire, Effect_tinyfire-night. -
Dieter’s exuberance gets him into a sticky situation and the boys learn that there are more lava tubes to explore in the valleys. Episode 18 – Trail Tales
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Jaak’s friend arrives from Aoraki, and cultural adjustments need to be made. Episode 15 – Slobberfication
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Altai restocks his supply of coldies, and has an unexpected encounter with the past. Episode 13 – Thaw
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Episode 12 – Beaver Dam Jaak has a bad night's sleep. An impressive feat of engineering. Altai and Jaak have a heart to heart.
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Episode 11 – Chief Designer
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Episode 10 – Hanne
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Episode 9 – Lizzie
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Episode 8 – Kangastralia
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Jaak’s Cabin – The Valleys Layan: Right then! Let’s take a look at that donkey engine and see what kind of shape she’s in! First things first though – I’ll need some tools – crescent spanners, screw drivers, an engineering hammer and an oil can – things like that. Do you think you can find them? Jaak: Sure I can! There are tools down in the basement – I’ll go and see what I can find. After some time rummaging, Jaak appeared back up from the basement, with a toolbox filled with various tools and a long spouted oil can with a push button lever. The pair then made their way over to the donkey engine and conducted an initial appraisal of their project. As it turned out the donkey engine despite its age, was in reasonably good shape. Layan observed that all the basic working parts and valves were all still present, saying all it should take is a bit of time to disassemble, clean and then reassemble the engine, to hopefully get it going again. Together they set about to take apart the engine’s working parts, using the oil to soak into bolts and fittings that had not moved for years. They laid all the parts out onto a flat canvas sheet on the ground. Jaak cleaned the parts first by soaking in paraffin and then cleaning them with a stiff wire brush and some old rags. They worked steadily all morning, with Layan taking the time to carefully explain what each part, fitting and valve did. Jaak was captivated, asking lots of questions, which Layan patiently answered – sometimes asking Jaak questions in turn as to what he thought a certain part or fitting did, or what it was for. Jaak was a quick learner, and was often able to correctly figure out what each piece did. Finally all the parts had been thoroughly cleaned and carefully laid out on the canvas. Jaak, stood back and admired their progress. Suddenly his stomach growled loudly. One of Layan’s ears swiveled in Jaak’s direction. Layan: Hooyaa! – that rumble will register on the valley seismographs! Why don’t we stop for lunch, and we can get to reassembling the engine this afternoon. At that moment the sound of a pick-up truck rumbled up the drive. It was Tenzing. Jaak: Hiya Tenzing! We were just about to stop and have lunch – you want to join us? Tenzing: Well that’d be perfect timing! I don’t mind if I do! Layan called me on the radio last night and said he was comin’ down here today – I thought’d swing past and see how you two were gettin’ along. Jaak: We’re doing great! We have already got the donkey engine apart and cleaned up all the moving parts. Jaak then went inside the cabin and returned with bread, cheese, cured meats, and pickles. Together they made enormous door stop sandwiches, all washed down with another pot of sweet milky coffee. After lunch they all returned to the disassembled donkey engine. Tenzing: So. Anyone here got the faintest idea how this thing goes back together? Layan raised an eyebrow at Tenzing and put on a mock high cultured accent. Layan: Tenzing – my dear old thing – this thing as you call it is a finely honed piece of mechanical engineering! You don’t think for a moment that my esteemed colleague and I would have spent all this time this morning cleaning and preparing all these engine parts if one of us didn’t know how to put it all back together! Layan paused and gave Jaak a hard-stare. So Jaak old chap – just how do we put this fine piece of mechanical engineering back together again? Inquiring minds want to know – eh what, what! Jaak was now starting to get used to Layan’s quirky ways and played along – although he had no idea how to do a silly high cultured accent. Jaak: Well. Um. It’s all fairly simple you see. Er – well you pretty much sorta kinda take those bits down there and you stick’em together again over there… Jaak waved grandly in the direction of the donkey engine firebox and empty engine bed. …and when you’ve done that you light a fire in that, and yeah – that makes a head of steam and that arm thing go back and forth and that makes the wheel thing-a-ma-jigger turn around! Both Tenzing and Layan chuff-roared with laughter. Layan: Excellent grasp young cub! Now let’s get this grand old lady put back together! Reassembling the donkey engine did not take nearly as long as the disassembly, now all the parts had been cleaned and they had Tenzing to help with the heavier items like the large flywheel. Soon the neat lines of parts on the canvas sheet dwindled, and the donkey engine once again took shape. The winch mechanism was left as it was, – that would not be needed. Jaak then began to fill the boiler using a hand pump that was fed directly from a pail of water. Several pail loads later the boiler was full. One thing that the valleys did not lack was a supply of readily available firewood. Jaak soon had a stack of firewood ready to load into the firebox. He carefully stacked in the wood, starting with lighter twigs and tinder in the centre, then progressively heavier logs criss-crossed on top, allowing sufficient gaps for the air to flow once the fire was lit. Jaak: It’s just like setting the fire in the cabin wood stove really. Layan: Now let’s get her fired up! Jaak struck a match and lit the fire. The fire quickly caught and began to burn vigorously. However the fire box soon filled with smoke and billowed back out the firebox doorway. Tenzing: Uh oh. Looks like the chimney might be block… Before Tenzing could even finish his sentence, there was a sudden woosh, and a huge black cloud of smoke and sparks came erupting from the smoke stack. Bits of charred twigs, ash and feathers came raining back down in a sooty shower. Tenzing: I think the she jus’ sneezed an’ cleared ‘er nose! I’d bet there was an ol’ birds nest stuck in the smoke stack! Once the chimney had cleared, the fire took off properly and they spent the next half hour or so feeding the fire more wood to get the water boiling and produce steam. Layan had explained that they would need around 60 PSI of steam pressure in the boiler to run the piston that drove the fly wheel. The pressure on the gauge slowly rose. Jaak: It’s coming up to 60 PSI! Steam began to escape from the pop off valve as the pressure increased in the boiler. Layan: OK! Now let’s give ‘er some steam! Layan then carefully opened the steam valve that fed the engine’s main piston. Steam then flowed into the piston with a loud hiss, however the piston arm and flywheel didn’t move. Layan: Tenzing! Give the flywheel a little turn! Tenzing gave the flywheel a gentle turn and soon the piston arm started to move back and forth, and the flywheel began to turn. The familiar sound of the steam engine chuff-chuffity-chuff then filled their ears. Jaak: Whoohooo! It’s working! The two older cats and one cub all grinned at each other with boyish glee. For a while they happily watched the engine chuff away, and the flywheel spinning. Layan: Splendiferous! Tenzing: We need to give ‘er a name! How ’bout… Before Tenzing could finish, Jaak quietly but firmly interrupted him. Jaak: Lizzie. Something about the way Jaak spoke made both the older cats stop and look at Jaak. Layan raised half an eyebrow. Jaak spoke quietly. Jaak: Eliza was my mom’s name. Tenzing walked over to Jaak and put his big lumberjack paw-hand on Jaak’s head and gave it a gentle tousle. Tenzing: Lizzie is’a fine name. Their moment of shared reverie was broken by the sound of a pick-up truck coming up the road and stopping outside the cabin. The door clunked – and the sound of paw-foot steps approached. Altai: Well, well well. It seem’s that you have been busy today PJ – and what may all this be in aid of then? Jaak’s full name was Pukajaak – an Inuit name meaning ‘sugar-like snow’ – but his Dad had always called him PJ. Jaak: We got the old donkey engine going again Dad! It’s my science project for school. We’re going to hook it up to an alternator and batteries so we can have some electric lighting in the cabin. Jaak almost said – ‘and to charge up my phone’, but caught himself just in time. At the mention of ‘we’ Layan’s whiskers twitched ever so slightly and he suddenly became very interested in putting another log in the firebox. Altai: I see you have had some help here today. Hello Tenzing … Altai nodded at Tenzing … … Layan. At this Layan could not avoid Altai any longer without being rude. Layan: Good afternoon Altai. You have the makings of a fine young engineer here. Layan motioned a paw-hand towards Jaak. Altai did not immediately reply, but moved closer to the puffing steam engine and examined each part of it carefully taking particular note of its careful assembly and inspecting its freshly cleaned fittings and valves. He adjusted the speed of the engine faster and slower with the steam valve. Altai gave a slight chuff and nod of his head. Altai: Looks good PJ. Be sure to put the tools away when you are done. With that Altai turned and walked back towards the cabin – but he stopped and turned suddenly. Altai: One rule! Don’t blow yourself up! …and don’t let Layan blow himself or anyone else up either! With that he again turned and disappeared into the cabin. Tenzing turned to Layan. Tenzing: Phew – well tha’ was awkward… What’sit between you two anyway? Layan: That my friend is a long story – however now is not the time – we shall leave that for another day. Episode 8 – Kangastralia _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Layan’s Cabin – The Ridge Cresting the ridge and seeing smoke gently puffing out of the chimney, Jaak decided that there was still just enough daylight left, to make a quick visit to Layan, before heading back down the trail to his cabin in time for supper. Jaak knocked on the door. He heard the sound of Layan’s staff approaching. Tap, tap, tap, tap… Layan: Well hello there young cub! What brings you up here again on this fine snowy day? Layan noted the slightly disheveled appearance of his young friend, his wet jeans and the odd bits of twigs, cones and pine needles still stuck in his fur. Jaak: Oh hello Layan – well, um I sorta needed to take a slight detour off the school bus this afternoon from the fire circle road. Layan: Oh? Is that so? Layan raised one eye-brow with a quizzical expression. It looks like you came straight up here through the trees and via a snow bank. Thar up to his old tricks throwing kids off his bus again? Layan gave Jaak what could only be described as a ‘hard-stare’. Jaak considered the old snow cat for a moment. Layan seemed to have the same knack that his mother had possessed – seeming to know exactly what had happened without him needing to utter a word. Bidden to come and sit on a chair by the stove to dry out his wet jeans, Jaak suddenly found himself again stumble-tumbling all of his pent up words out to Layan – like the sudden torrent of water and debris released from a breached beaver dam in the spring thaw. Mom’s accident. Moving to the valleys. Leaving his friends behind. The difficultly of adjusting to life in the valleys. Feeling cut off from the modern world. Finding it hard to make new friends in the valley. The school bus. Thar. The spit-wad boys. His Dad. Jaak: …Dad. He… he… can just be so… so… Jaak’s words trailed off. His mouth had already got him into trouble once today and he found himself unable to use the word he really wanted to. For his part so far Layan had been the perfect listener, only making the occasional – ‘mhms’, ‘hmms’, and ‘I sees’, as he made his sweet coffee, and found a tin of cookies. Layan raised a knowing eyebrow. Layan: F@@king stubborn? Jaak, as if suddenly jolted back to the reality of his surroundings, and who he was talking to, looked up and met Layan’s eyes. Although he did not know why, a spark of full and complete understanding was passed between them. Jaak’s ears flattened. Jaak: Yeah. F@@king stubborn. For a few minutes silence fell between them, and the tin of cookies was made somewhat lighter. Layan was a patient host. Jaak’s ears suddenly perked up again and he looked up at Layan. Jaak: Layan? Could you help me to make a stone powered generator? One of Layan’s eyebrows shot up. Layan: Oh? Well… that is an interesting proposition. The slight problem is that despite being mined here in the valleys cyan stones are not that easy to come by – not impossible, but their use and distribution is tightly controlled by the central committee of resource allocation – CCoRA. Layan paused for a moment his eyebrows creasing in deep thought, his paw-hand on his chin. Hmm. A power generator eh. Well. I wonder if we could get that old steam-powered donkey engine that’s next to your cabin going again…? Layan: Those old steam donkey engines were once used to drive the winch cables that hauled out logs from the forest. If we could get that old donkey fired up again, the flywheel could be connected up to a generator which could then charge up a bank of batteries. This would provide enough electricity to power lighting or charge up your phone. Jaak: Wow! That sounds great! I wonder if my Dad will be ok about that…? Layan: Oh, I think you should be safe with the donkey engine, it is not exactly new technology is it? Layan gave a loud chuff-chortle Tell you what, tomorrow’s Saturday. You get off home now before it gets dark and I will come down in the morning and take a look at that old donkey with you. Jaak’s cabin – next morning Early the next morning the sun crept its way up the valley announcing the new day – firmly chasing away the chill darkness with its magenta glow. The sun’s rays found a chink in the curtains and danced their way across the room to where Jaak still slept. Jaak began to awaken, lost somewhere in that place between sleep and wake, where laughing spit-wads intermingled with cookies that did somersaults into steaming mugs of sweet coffee, all while running through the trees and never quite getting to the land of Steamtopia… Jaak opened his eyes. His room. His bed. His home. He could hear the sounds of his father readying himself to leave for work. Jaak’s Dad worked in the valley mines. He was the engineer in charge of all the machinery and also for the structural integrity of the mines. He had a fierce reputation for precision and safety. Although it was Saturday, Altai worked long hours and was usually gone before Jaak got up in the morning and often worked late into the evening. The door to the cabin clunked, and then Jaak heard the sound of Altai cranking over the engine to their old pick-up truck. Most people in the valleys owned at least one pick-up truck and they varied in age from brand new double cabs, right though to the classic “50’s”. Jaak remembered his discussion with Layan the evening before, and swung himself out of bed. He didn’t know when Layan would come, but he figured he should probably not be still in bed when he arrived. He pulled on his jeans and shirt, and interrogated the larder for any signs of breakfast. Jaak was just finishing his last piece of peanut butter and jam toast – spread thickly right to the edges – when he heard the familiar tap, tap, tap… of Layan’s staff on the deck. The tap, tap, tap... transformed into a rap, rap, rap… on the door. Jaak: Good morning Layan! I made a pot of coffee with lots of sweetened milk from a can, just like you showed me. Want some? Layan: Good morning to you young cub. Why yes I would love a mug of your coffee – just what’s needed after an early morning trek down the hill! Let’s sit in the morning sun out here on the deck and we shall make our nefarious plans together! Soon the two friends young and old, were sitting on the deck chatting happily and scheming together over two steaming mugs of hot sweet coffee. Episode 7 – Steamtopia
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Jaak’s House – The Valleys With a bingity-bang like a thousand tin cans Busby the old school bus came rattling down the road… [1] Jaak could hear the old school bus grinding its way up the long valley road to where he lived at its end. This noisy approach was somewhat helpful, as the veteran driver a grumpy mountain goat named Thar, waited for no-one if you were late. How these two ancient relics-of-transportation-past managed to hold everything together making the twice daily climbs, traverses and descents of the valley’s often icy roads, was truly one of the marvels of the known universe. Although to be fair, placing the lives of the valley’s children in the hoof-hands of a mountain goat to guide a 30 foot bus safely up and over the valleys many twisting and undulating roads, was not such a bad idea. Even though Jaak lived near the beginning of the morning bus run and was one of the first to get on, he had learned very quickly that the social order of rural school bus seating allocation was not to be messed with, unless you wanted your whiskers permanently rearranged into underwear lace or your tail twisted like a rubik’s snake-cube. Elementary in the front seats, high school juniors in the middle and seniors at the back. Jaak frantically grabbed a last piece of toast with one hand, his satchel with the other and tore for the door to make it to his gate – all before Thar had turned the bus at the end of the road. He made it. Just. The bus door banged shut. Thar: Tha’ be cuttin’ it fine laddie – ye be at tha’ gate; or I don’ wait! Knowing better, Jaak said nothing. He quickly made his way to the middle of the bus and flumped himself down on an empty seat. The bus lurched off again down the hill – to collect the next batch of students – all dutifully waiting at their respective gates. The elementary and high school were two valleys away with twisting mountain switch-backs crossing the high ridges. Walking was not recommended. The bus rattled and door-banged its way through the valley roads. Just before the bus took the last long serpentine haul up, over, and down the ridge to the next valley, it stopped with a screech at a pair of cabins. Jaak sighed inwardly. This stop was the reason that despite there being a number of kids already on the bus, the back seat was still quite empty. Ounce and Chewie. Their dads were miners. They sauntered with a smirk onto the bus, the other kids trying not to notice them, suddenly becoming very interested in looking out the windows. As they made their way down to the back of the bus they bumped anyone who may have been even slightly ‘trespassing’ over the armrests into the aisle. As they passed Jaak’s seat, Ounce remarked just loud enough for those around to hear, but not so loud that he could be over-heard by Thar. Ounce: Hey Chewie – I wonder if the city-litter-boy has worked out how to flush his crap-can yet? Unfortunately for Jaak, he had made the tactical error of musing a little too loudly and somewhat disparagingly when he first arrived, about the valley waste water system or lack thereof, – and extolling the superiority of the one in the city. Truth be told, he had learned very quickly that the phrase – In the city we… was not generally well received by the valley people. Ounce in particular had taken a particular dislike to Jaak from the outset. His acolyte follower Chewie, who shadowed Ounce everywhere, was quick to parrot anything Ounce said or did. Chewie: Yeah litter-boy, you worked how to flush your can yet? If Chewie was capable of original thought he certainly rarely exercised it. These two, made the same stupid joke everyday and thought it was absolutely freaking hilarious. Jaak said nothing. Getting into any kind of confrontation on the school bus swiftly resulted in all those involved, innocent or perpetrator, being immediately kicked off the bus by Thar – no matter where on the mountain road they were or whatever the weather might be. Valley High School The bell rang. Miss Asha: …and finish reading the chapter we are on, with a written summary of the main points and principles to be handed in by next class. Class dismissed. The sound of chairs scraping and general exodus filled the room. Miss Asha called to Jaak before he made the door. Miss Asha: Jaak! Can I have a word? Jaak turned and approached his science teacher. He liked Miss Asha, but in a slightly awed kind of way. She could be scary when crossed. Jaak: Yes, Miss? Miss Asha: Jaak, I was really impressed with the power generator proposal you handed in last week. For most, the proposal was just an exercise – however I wonder if you had considered making an entry into the Cyanos science fair? You’d be up against all the well resourced high schools in Aoraki – but a clever city-kit like you – I think you could take them on! Jaak: Erm, um, I dunno Miss – I hadn’t really thought about it. This was not exactly true. The fact was that since seeing the stone powered, steam driven generator at Layan’s satellite station, he had been dreaming of trying to build his own. The main problem other than actually working out how to build a steam engine, was obtaining a stone to drive it. You did not exactly go down to the general store and buy one with your pocket change. The other problem was his father’s dislike of anything modern or even remotely technological. Jaak had not told his father, about the Tet-Net signal now being beamed directly to their cabin. He was fairly certain that trying to build any kind of scientific project at home would be met with a lot of loud unenthusiastic chuffing. Again, Jaak made it to the bus just in time for the ride home before Thar banged the door shut. The bus rattled and banged its way up the up the fire circle road one valley and ridge over from Jaak’s own. Jaak was deeply lost in thought gazing out the window. Thwack! A well aimed spit wad hit the back of his head. Jaak: HEY-WAAH! What the F@@k??!! Jaak lept from his seat, made an inelegant somersault with a half-twist over the seat in front, landed on top of a surprised elementary kid, who yowled loudly, finishing his vaulted dismount spread-eagled in the bus aisle. The back-seat boys were loudly chuffing with laughter, slapping each other on the back. The bus lurched to a stop. Thar turned in his seat and pointed his hoof-hand towards Jaak and then to Ounce and then to Chewie. Thar: Thee three! Oot! Ounce: Awwww! We didn’t done nuttin’! Chewie: Yeah… we didn’t done… Thar narrowed his beady eyes and he lowered his head to show his formidable horns. Thar: I won’ be tellin’ thee three again… now git oot- before I butt ye offa mah bus! The bus door banged one last time and the bus rumbled away leaving the three boys on the side of the road. Ounce spun and turned towards Jaak. Ounce: YOU’RE ROAD-KILL LITTER-BOY!! Jaak did not wait for Chewie’s echo. Jaak was small, but he was fast. He turned tail and ran on all fours, straight up the side of the hill and into the trees. Ounce and Chewie tried to make chase, but due to their tendency in life towards general laziness, they quickly gave up. Jaak however kept on going up and up further into the trees caring little about the low branches that swiped at him as he ran past. Eventually he stopped, breathing heavily. There was no sign of any spit-wad wielding pursuers. He looked around. While he was not exactly sure where he was he did know that his cabin should be somewhere on the other side of the ridge, and he should not be far from the top of the ridge. He also knew that the trail from his cabin that led up to Layan’s cabin continued on down the other side to the road where they had been kicked off the bus. He continued on up through the trees and continued his climb. Eventually he could see a slight thinning of the trees, and just beyond that the ubiquitous rows of parallel logs that lined many of the trails all over the valleys. The going now became easier as he followed the trail on up the hill and eventually as he neared the crest he saw the familiar sight of Layan’s cabin. [1] The Bingity-Bangity School Bus; Fleur Conkling, Wonder Books – 1950 Episode 6 – Donkey
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Layan’s Cabin – Early next morning The sun began to creep its way over the valley ridges and a soft golden glow wrapped itself around the cabin in a warming embrace. The chill nor’ lazy however was still not quite done with its mischief, persisting in its desire to find its way into any small undefended nook and cranny. Layan was already up and doing, busying himself with his morning chores – mending the fire, putting on a fresh pot of coffee and soon the sound and aroma of sizzling bacon began to wend their way through the room. In one corner a patchwork bundle of grey blankets stirred. A nose tentatively poked its way out from under the said bundle to interrogate the taunting redolence wafting from the pan on the stove. Layan: Good morning young cub! Jaak’s tousled head appeared further out from under the blankets. He blinked a couple of times as his dawning consciousness remembered where he was. Jaak: Oh! Um. Good morning! Layan: Hungry? Jaak: Oh yes! Something smells really good – I’m starving! Layan: Well then. Let’s be having you. Time for a good mountain breakfast. Breakfast was just as delicious as dinner from the night before. Bacon, eggs, wild mushrooms, toast and fresh coffee made with sweetened milk from a can – poured in a gloriously viscous stream from one of the holes punched on either side of the top. Layan: The wind is still with us this morning, but I think it will die down a little later on. Why don’t you go and get yourself cleaned up a bit – there is a spare toothbrush in the drawer under the wash stand. Layan’s demeanor, then changed somewhat abruptly as he threw his paws in the air with theatrical alacrity … Then together we shall make our splendiferous plans for world Tet-Net domination! Mwa ha ha ha ha! Jaak wasn’t sure how seriously to take him or not, but there did seem to be a playful glint in his eye as Layan threw back his head and flashed his toothy smile. Jaak was grateful of the new toothbrush, as his mouth was starting to feel like it had more fur in it than on the outside of his entire body. Layan: Excellent! Now about your Tet-Net problem and lack thereof. We must plan – and I have a cunning plan, a plan so cunning you could put bells on it and call it Christmas! It involves a dish! Yes! No, no – not a dish of figgy pudding… you will see young cub, you will see! Now Jaak was starting to wonder if maybe his Dad did have a point – but his interest was piqued. Layan had indeed enabled to him connect very successfully with the outside world last evening, and he had been able to catch up with his friend Dieter. He had got the latest tit-bits of news and goings on from Aoraki – or at least the part of it that mattered to young teenage boys. Jaak: Layan – how do you connect to the Tet-Net? Tenzing says that there is too much interference from the high iron content in all the volcanic rocks around us. Layan: And you and Tenzing would be right – however I think it is better to show you rather than for me to try and explain. I think – if I do say so myself, which I frequently do – you will find it rather interesting. Now. That wind is still fairly fresh outside so I think we shall have to take an alternative route up to where we need to go. Come young cub – come! With that Layan pulled back a rug on the floor to reveal a trap door leading down to the cellar. When he lifted it up, a wooden ladder appeared leading downwards into the gloom below. Layan: Right then. Pass me that paraffin lamp from the side board would you please, and the box of matches next to it. Let me show you how to light the lamp. Layan then pushed down on the lever at the side of the lamp, and the glass and cage lifted up. He then carefully raised the wick with a small wheel. Layan: OK, young cub, strike me a match and light the wick in the lamp. Jaak, selected a match from the box, and struck it causing it to flare into life. He carefully touched the wick in the lamp and it began to burn with a high smoky yellow flame. Layan trimmed the wick back down until just the yellow flame burned brightly, but now without all the smoke. He then lowered the glass back into its original position. Layan: Right then! Shall we? Onward to our quest for adventure and Tet-Net connectivity! Layan peered down into the gloom of the open cellar door… Roll for perception! Jaak just looked at Layan blankly as if he really was a bit bonkers. No? Oh well, never-mind – we can explain that one later… Layan then climbed down the ladder while holding the lamp and when he reached the bottom he held the lamp up so it shone on the steps so that Jaak could see where to place his paw-feet. The cellar was pretty much what you would expect with jars of preserves and food lining the shelves and other supplies and miscellaneous items dotted around the floor. The walls of the cellar were not constructed but were of natural rock. The cellar was in reality a lava cave and the cabin had been built over its opening. It had a sandy floor that sloped up towards one end where there was an opening into a narrow fissure like passage or hollow lava tube. Jaak then noticed that there was a heavy black cable that snaked its way from down under the floor of the cabin, across the cave and then on up, disappearing into the lava tube entrance. Layan led the way, and Jaak followed behind him. The passage led steadily upwards winding in places, and in others the roof lowered so they needed to duck down to pass. The cable ran right through the entire length of the passage. The journey was not overly long and after about ten minutes of steady climbing the tunnel began to level off and widened into another small cave. Jaak could now see a sliver of daylight shining down through a small opening near the cave roof. Layan: Almost there! Go on ahead young cub you will find your way easily now. Sure enough, the cave opened out into a rocky outcrop, the bright morning sun making Jaak blink and squint for a moment as it reflected off the surrounding snow and his eyes adjusted. What Jaak then saw almost made him revert to full frontal potty mouth. Jaak: Holy fluking flying fluff a duck! A moment later Layan appeared behind him. Layan: Welcome to the Valley Tet-Net ground to sky satellite station. The Tet-Net station was a visual contradiction – high-tech meets steam-punk ingenuity. Next to a very large and high-tech satellite dish was an out-house familiar to any of the valley cabins. A regular out-building shed was anything but regular, with a spinning radar and a smaller satellite dish on its roof. Finally a very old fashioned looking steam engine with a large spinning flywheel chuffed happily away in front of the main dish. Jaak: This is amazing! But how does this all work? Layan: Come and I will show you! The pair closed the short distance between the cave opening and the fence that surrounded the station. Layan opened a gate and they were within the yard of the station. Layan: The steam engine here provides for all the power needs of the station and this shed houses the main communications equipment. The outhouse is for – well you know. Jaak: But how do you keep the steam engine stoked? You can’t have been up here since yesterday – even if you had stoked it right up, the wood would not last for long enough. Layan: Well! You are a bright one! You have indeed spotted the one potential ‘flaw’ in this rather brilliant set-up. Come and look – I will show you… Layan then moved closer to the steam engine, and opened the door to the fire box. To Jaak’s amazement, instead of a glowing fire, a bright blue light came out instead. Jaak leaned in for a closer look and right in the middle of the fire box there was a small blue stone about the size of a pebble spinning slowly. It was glowing brightly. Layan: This, young cub is the secret to our planet’s success. This one stone releases enough energy to power this entire station, with a little left over to mooch a supply down to my cabin. This my boy, is a cyan stone. They are mined exclusively right here in the valleys – nowhere else. In fact, you know those Tets up there in orbit? Layan motioned with his paw toward the sky… That’s how they are powered – although they flatly refused to use my steam engine technology. Some pompous clip-board waving twit from the space agency, going on and on about health and safety concerns. Pfft. They do need a slightly bigger stone than this one of course, to power that huge glowing power core. Layan flashed his trademark toothy grin. Jaak: That’s incredible! I never knew such things even existed. Layan: Every day is a school day eh? Now – we are not yet done here lets get over to that shed yonder and see what we can do to help you with your Tet-Net problem. With Jaak’s skepticism fading rapidly, the pair then moved over to the rustic looking shed with its very non-rustic still revolving radar, and small satellite dish. Once inside, the interior was anything but rustic. Along one wall was an entire bank of computer displays and communication equipment, which would have been sufficient to light the room even without additional lighting. Layan then sat at one of the consoles and tapped the keyboard. A wide map of the valleys appeared, and he quickly zoomed in onto the ridge where they were and the trail leading all they way back down to Jaak’s cabin nestled at the head of the valley. Layan made a few more taps and clicks and what looked like a flowing blanket of green lava was overlaid on the screen. Layan: Ah hah! There you see? As I expected there is no coverage at the end of your valley. Normally if you had your own receiving dish at your cabin, you would have been able to pick up the Tet-Net repeater signal that beams across the valleys from this station. Now let me see… Tap, tap, click… The image on the screen then changed, and the green overlay now included Jaak’s cabin. Layan: That should do it. When you go home, you should now have full Tet-Net coverage at your cabin without the need for your own receiving dish. Jaak: Wow! Really? Thank you so much Layan! I don’t know how to thank you! The rest of the ‘quest’ was less exciting, which involved retracing their steps back down to the cave opening, back down the lava tube tunnel and back to Layan’s cabin; re-emerging though the cellar trap-door. By this time the wind had dropped as Layan had predicted and he then saw Jaak back to the trail by the rocky out crop at the crest of the ridge. Layan: Ok then, young cub, follow the trail now – be sure to stick to the trail all the way down and you’ll be just fine. Give Altai, my warm regards! Jaak: Thank you, I will and bye for now – oh and um… can I please visit again? Layan: Of course you can! I shan’t be using that tooth brush myself ya know. With that Jaak grinned broadly, turned, waved and headed back down the trail to his cabin, where he could not wait to try out his new Tet-Net access. Episode 5 – Bingity-Bangity
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Layan’s Cabin – The Ridge Jaak shivered. He approached the door and knocked gently. In reality it was only a moment, but in what felt like an eternity he heard the footsteps of someone approaching accompanied by a tap, tap, tap. Jaak’s thoughts raced, was Layan some kind of crazy peg leg pirate? The door opened and the light from within spilled out on to the deck where Jaak continued to shiver in the cold. A slightly weather worn, rustic looking snow leopard holding a wooden staff stood in the doorway and briefly appraised his unexpected evening visitor. Layan: Well hello there young cub. Now what might bring you all the way up here just as it is getting dark? Never mind that – come in out of that nor’ lazy wind before your paws freeze to my deck. Jaak still slightly in awe of his situation, stumble-tumbled his way in to the warm and cozy cabin. Jaak: Oh, um, hello I’m Jaak, I’m Altai’s son, I came up the hill to try and get some Tet-Net signal, and I lost track of time and then it got dark and cold and now I don’t know how I’m gonna get back down in the dark and yeah – I decided to come and knock on your door, I’m awfully sorry to bother you… Jaak’s words tumbled out like his stumbled entry into the cabin. Layan: Ok ok, my young cub, lets slow this all down a bit, my ears aren’t quite as young as they used to be – but you are very welcome and of course we’ll get you all sorted out. Come over here by the wood stove and you can get warmed up. I hope you like fish gumbo because – if I do say so myself, which I frequently do – I make a pretty good one and it is almost ready. It was then that Jaak began to take in some of the sights and smells of the cabin. A delicious fishy aroma intermingled with aromatic spices was indeed wafting up from a heavy cast iron pot gently bubbling away which was sitting on the wood burning stove. Jaak suddenly realized he was ravenously hungry. He had not had anything to eat since lunchtime and his late afternoon hike up the hill. Jaak: Thanks! I’m starving! I love fish gumbo! In little time, Layan had extracted two wooden bowls out of his side table, ladled a generous serving of chunky fish gumbo into each of them and set them on a small table. Layan: Come young cub, sit. In typical teenage fashion and with little thought to polite conversation Jaak eagerly and ravenously devoured the contents of his bowl. It was delicious. Layan was patient with his young guest and waited until he was finished before speaking again. Layan: So then, you are Altai’s boy. I had heard that you had come to live in the valleys. How do you like it here? Did you manage to get any Tet-Net signal? Layan posed this last question with a knowing glint in his eye and with the faintest hint of a slight toothy smile. He knew only too well that Jaak would have been unlikely to get any reliable signal even up on the ridge, and that he certainly would not have any signal further down at the bottom of the valley where he lived. Jaak: Yes, I’m Altai’s son. I came here after my mum died. It is pretty different here – it takes a while to get used to toilets that don’t flush, and no, I only got a brief signal and I was only able to talk to my friend in Aoraki for a minute. Layan: Well then. We might have to try and do something about that eh. Well not about the toilets – but the Tet-Net signal? Maybe there is something we could do about that. Jaak looked at Layan with a slightly bemused and skeptical expression. Jaak: What can you do about that? I didn’t see any satellite dish on your roof. Layan: Chuff-chortle! You’ll see. Layan walked over to what looked like a plain hutch dresser that looked entirely in keeping with the basic furnishings of the cabin. Then with a small click the panels slid open and to Jaak’s utter astonishment there appeared a bank of blinking computer displays, a keyboard and other modern electronic computer equipment. There was also what looked like a vintage ham radio with a pedestal microphone attached. Jaak: Holy Shiiiieet… erm…vers! Jaak suddenly realised a moment too late that perhaps he should moderate his potty mouth in front of someone he had only just met. Layan for his part didn’t seem offended. Layan: Heh. Well first things first eh. We better let your Dad know you are safe, so he won’t worry. Layan flicked some switches on the old ham radio and turned a couple of the dials. In a few moments once the valves inside had started to warm, a faint hiss and crackle began to emanate from the speaker. A few more adjustments were made and finally the hiss faded. Layan then took the large microphone in his paw and activated the push to talk switch. Layan: Tree Cat, Tree Cat, this is Ridge Cat do you receive over! Hiss. Crackle. Knob adjustment. Layan: Tree Cat, Tree Cat, this is Ridge Cat calling. Do you receive over! Hiss. Crackle. Voice: Ridge Cat, Ridge Cat, this is Tree Cat! Receiving you loud and clear over! Layan: Tenzing! Good to hear you buddy! I have that young cub, Jaak up here in my cabin. He decided to go for a hike in the snow on his own, and well… it got dark and the aroma of my fish gumbo got the better of him and he decided to stay for supper! Can you get up to Altai’s cabin and let him know he is safe for the night – I’ll see him safely back down the trail in the morning once this old nor’ lazy has blown through – over! Tenzing: Oh fer sure I can do that. Jaak’ll be just fine with you. I’ll jump in me truck and git up there straight away, before ol’ Altai wears out his floor-boards with his frettin’, and calls in the mountain safety rescue – ‘though he still might, once he learns where his boy is! – over! Jaak still watching and listening to all this wide eyed, was certain he caught a chuff-chortle just as Tenzing’s last over clicked off. Layan: The young cub and I are very much obliged Tree Cat! – This is Ridge Cat – out! With that, the radio gave one last defiant hiss, and with a slight crackle Layan flipped the power switch and it fell silent. Layan: Well now young cub – we better get you fixed up for the night. I’ve got a spare cot up in the rafters – how about you give me a hand to get it down? Layan and Jaak then managed to maneuver the cot down from the rafters, without disturbing any of the myriad of other accoutrements stored in the rafters that may have fallen on their heads during the extraction. The cot was the old wooden type with cross legs and a canvas hammock. A few grey wool blankets and a patchwork quilt later, and the cot looked invitingly ready for a tired cub to curl up into for the night. Layan: Oh yes, young cub, I almost forgot… Layan tapped is way back over to his computer equipment and a couple of keyboard taps and mouse clicks later he turned to Jaak. Layan: How about you try that signal on your phone again? Jaak eagerly fished his phone out of his pocket, and to his delight it showed full bars of signal! Jaak: I’ve got signal! That’s… that’s amazing! I haven’t had a connection for weeks! Thank you so much Layan! Jaak then curled up on his bed and opened up his video calling app. Soon a familiar mop of orange hair and wet nose appeared on the screen. Jaak: Dieter! You are never gonna believe what just happened to me today…! Episode 4 – Tet-Net
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Jaak’s House – The Valleys Jaak lay on his bed, trying and hoping for the umpteenth time to get some kind – any kind of signal on his phone. No service. Very occasionally as if to taunt him, a fleeting bar of signal might appear for a moment, but it faded just as quickly. Tenzing had explained to him that because of the geological make-up of the valleys and the high iron content of the volcanic rock surrounding them that getting any sort of regular coverage from the Cyanos Tet-Net was virtually impossible. The only reliable way to obtain any kind of internet connection was to install a satellite dish to catch the relay signal from one of the Tets – the huge tetrahedron ship-stations located in a geo-synchronous orbit around Cyanos. The Tets formed a network of four strategically placed space stations that provided Cyanos with both a satellite communications network and internet relays, but also provided an important part of the Cyanos planetary defense network. Well, the part of it that lived in the modern world with internet and flush toilets – and not the part stuck up the ass end of some technologically forsaken valley in the boondocks, with a can to crap in. Jaak sighed again. His repeated attempts to connect were in vain. It was no good. No service, and definitely no chance of his Dad installing a satellite dish. “Not in the culture boy”, Altai had chuffed at him on his first day. Jaak sighed yet again this time with an audible woosh. He did love his Dad, but he could be so – damn – stubborn with his annoyingly old-fashioned ideas. Jaak looked out the window and up towards the trail that led up to the top of the ridge a few hundred metres above the cabin. He had not been up this trail before. Firstly, at the beginning, when he came to the valleys, he soon discovered that any walking in the snow in his prized basketball boots, ended up very quickly in soaked freezing cold feet. Naturally he had tried to avoid this unpleasantness for the first few weeks and had mostly moped at home staring at the few functions that still worked on his phone sans-service. The second reason why he had not been up the ridge trail before, was that his Dad had made no secret of the fact that he thought that Layan who lived in a small cabin at the top of the ridge, was a bit loony. Jaak wondered if it was more to do with him not fitting in with the culture – something he himself was fast starting to identify with. He was trying hard to make the best of his new situation and fit in, but yes if he was being honest with himself, he desperately missed the modern city, his friends and all it had to offer. Jaak sighed heavily again and swung his feet off the bed and sat on the edge. He looked down at his large paw feet. It was true. Since he had finally ditched his basketball boots the night of the gathering and started going about bare-paw he really had discovered that this was the way to get around in the snow. He took his phone and headed outside towards the trail. If he had a chance of catching any kind of signal it was going to be up high on a ridge. The trail wound its way up and though the trees climbing steadily. It was well marked and Jaak knew he wouldn’t get lost as long as he didn’t wander off and into the trees. Up and up, he climbed stopping occasionally to catch his breath which was now steaming in bursts of puffy white clouds, and also to check his phone to see if he was getting any signal. Nothing – nada. Zilch. Not even a fleeting fluking bar. Eventually, as he continued his climb, the trees started to thin a little and he could see what looked like the top of the ridge crest. There were a number of fallen logs to the side and as he climbed on a little further, he could see that right at the top there was an outcrop of rocks next to the trail. Jaak could also see a few puffs of wood smoke curling their way up from behind the ridge, but from his current vantage below the crest, he couldn’t yet see any cabin, a likely source for the smoke. Arriving at the rock outcrop he indeed found himself at the top of the trail. Jaak could see that the trail continued on down the other side of the ridge, disappearing into the trees once more. He walked over to the nearest rock and sat down to once again catch his breath – and to check for a signal. Jaak looked at his phone, and with a small glimmer of hope, he saw a couple of tentative bars of service flickering on the screen. He tapped the screen to bring up the video messaging app in the hope that one of his friends from Aoraki might be online. Dieter! Jaak’s friend who was the exchange student from the planet Hundeerde was online. Jaak eagerly tapped his avatar and the app beeped back at him. Jaak: Dieter! Are you there? Can you hear me? Dieter’s orange mop of hair and wet nose suddenly filled the small screen in Jaak’s hand. Dieter: Arrrwoooof!! Jaak! Where you been? I thought you must have been swallowed up by a giant volcano or fallen in a pit of lava poo! Jaak: Aww Dieter! I’m so glad to see you – anyone actually – you would not believe how backward they are up here! Yup, we have to crap in a can and I just had to climb a freaking mountain to get some phone service! Oh – by the way – you’ve got a giant booger up your nose! Dieter snuffled loudly, inhaling sharply and with a shake of his head and the booger disappeared. Jaak: Eww! You are soooo disgusting! Dieter: You know it. Pick it, lick it and flick it! Suddenly the image of Dieter flickered, and he disappeared from the screen… No Service. Jaak desperately tapped the phone screen. He even stood up on the rock and raised his arm up as high as he could. It was no good. The signal had gone. Jaak: Aw sh*t. Dejectedly Jaak slumped back down on to the rock and put his phone back into his pocket. He would have to try again some other time. How long Jaak sat there he didn’t know. He desperately missed his friends back in Aoraki and even his fleeting call with Dieter had done little to cheer him up. Unnoticed, lost in his own thoughts time began to slip away. Jaak, suddenly aware of his surroundings noticed that the sun was starting to sink beyond the ridge, casting a warm golden glow across the snow, which then changed to a magenta pink. It was getting rather dark, rather fast. Along with the fading light, came the evening chill and the nor’ lazy wind started to build, dropping the temperature even more – like a stone. Jaak hastily jumped up from his rock and he padded quickly back up to the crest of the trail and looked frantically around him. Just below the ridge he saw the source of the smoke he had seen earlier, a small cabin. He figured it must belong to Layan, whom his father had often spoken of in less than flattering terms. There was nothing else for it – he knew he would never make it back down the mountain trail before the nor’ lazy chilled him to the bone and darkness settled in. There was no full moon tonight. Carefully he made his way down the hill towards the cabin. It looked pretty much like all the other small cabins in the valley, in fact it was not dissimilar to his own although this one appeared to be a little more weathered from the harsh north winds that often whipped across the valley ridges. Tentatively and cautiously he approached the cabin. A low light was shining in the window and smoke from the chimney still curled gently upwards. Outside on the wooden deck there was an old rocking chair swaying in the wind and at one end of the cabin, a pile of firewood was neatly stacked. The deck creaked accusingly at him as he walked across it which added to his apprehension – he approached the door and knocked gently. Episode 3 – Layan’s Cabin
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Cyanos, Northern Polar Region, The Valleys Near the colder northern polar region of the planet Cyanos, are the valleys, a crinkled series of mountain valleys and ridges. The weather is more extreme than the main populated city areas near the equator. The nor’ lazy wind that blows from the north is so called because it doesn’t bother to blow around a person – it likes to blow through them. Road access from Aoraki the Capital City is possible for most of the year however during the winter months often the only way in or out is by air. The nekomi snow leopards live in a small and remote enclave nestled in the valleys. Generally, the snow leopards like to keep mostly to themselves, and even within their own community they prefer to maintain a certain social distance between their immediate neighbours, with a mile or two of road between their cabins. The valley inhabitants work and income centres primarily around the traditional occupations of farming, logging, milling, mining and plentiful fishing from the numerous streams, rivers and ponds that the valleys offer. A few merchants also support the local rural industries. From time to time the valley snow leopards do come together, usually around the time of the full moon. In keeping with their preference of straight forward, no fuss names for things, their main gathering place is also known simply as the fire circle. The gathering at the fire circle is where community matters are discussed and decided, stories are told and passed on, and freshly caught fish are roasted over the fire. The evening for the gathering was bright and clear, and a full moon illuminated the surrounding area reflecting off the freshly fallen snow. The fire had been prepared earlier in the day and it was already burning cheerfully as the various valley inhabitants young and old, began to arrive for the evening. The Fire Circle Tenzing: Hey Jaak! Com’n help me with this here barrel o’ fish – we need to get it up to Miss Asha, you know what she is like with her secret recipe of herbs and spices – she won’t let anyone else season the fish before it’s put on the fire! Jaak, a young small framed youth of thirteen, was unusual in this community, in that it comprised almost exclusively of nekomi snow leopards. He was not a full nekomi snow leopard, but rather a neko-human who had only recently come to live in the valleys. Jaak was most definitely more used to the modern conveniences that a modern city like Aoraki offered, where he had until quite recently lived all his life – things like – mobile phone coverage, the internet and flush toilets. He had come to live with his father Altai, a full nekomi, following the death of his human mother in a car accident a few months before. His parents had divorced when he was young, and he had rarely been to the valleys while growing up. Jaak’s father Altai, while kind and well meaning, was rather traditional in his outlook on life especially when it came to preserving the traditions and customs of the valley snow leopards and the culture in general. It was no secret that some of his attitudes could be a little inflexible. He had simply chuffed loudly when Jaak had asked him shortly after he arrived, if they could install a satellite dish on their cabin roof so he could access the internet via the – almost but not quite – Cyanos wide Tet-Net. Unfortunately for Jaak, the combination of the extremes of the northern region, and the deep volcanic valleys did not allow sufficient cell coverage without installing a modern and expensive satellite dish. Jaak’s dad did not do modern. Suffice to say, the transition from city to rural life for Jaak had not been without its challenges. Jaak: I’m coming Tenzing! Jaak trudged hesitantly towards the burly lumberjack, through the soft wet snow, the damp seeping in though his basketball boots and immediately chilling his cotton socks; the bottom of his jeans were already quite wet, and he gave a slight shiver. Tenzing: Still wearing those city foosball boots Jaak? Hasn’t anyone told you? Snow leopard feet are natural snow-shoes! If ya keep ‘em cooped up in those boots with them damp cotton socks on you are gonna feel way colder. Take ‘em off and try without! Jaak looked at Tenzing with a certain degree of skepticism. He rather liked his boots – in fact they were quite expensive ones and he had saved both his birthday and holiday money to buy them. Any kind of footwear was however a rare and rather novel sight in the valleys. Finally, he shrugged, sat on a nearby rock and started to pull them off. His neko-human genetics had indeed granted him large paw like feet, rather than humanoid type feet. In all honesty, in the city amongst his friends, he had been a little embarrassed by them, and it was quite rare if ever for him to go barefoot or even wear sandals. In fact, the only real thing that gave away his human heritage was his thick mop of grey hair. His tail was certainly floofy enough to pass muster at any game of catch and chew your tail. Jaak wiggled his toes experimentally and put them on the ground. To his surprise the snow did not feel anywhere as cold as he thought it would and almost as if by some kind of innate instinct, when his foot touched the snow it spread out – indeed just like a snow-shoe. Tenzing looked on and gave an encouraging nod and motioned for him to toss his wet boots in the back of his pickup truck. Tenzing: C’mon then muscles, give me a hand here with this big barrel o’ fish. The fish had been freshly caught earlier in the day and were in a regular wooden barrel that had been cut in half and had handles made of rope on either side. Together, they managed to heave it off the back of Tenzing’s pickup truck, without major incident and down onto a wooden sled. Then they started to make their way up to the fire circle, Tenzing pulling on sturdy leather straps from the front and Jaak helping to push from the rear to where Miss Asha was busy preparing the evening’s shared dinner feast (and standing guard with certain level of alacrity over her jar of valley famous herb and spice mix). Miss Asha: Well. There you are! Finally! Now shoo the both of you – there’s work to be done here and I don’t need any clumsy south-paw lumberjack and city-kit getting in my way! Tenzing gave a sideways glance towards Jaak and with a slight smirk and roll of his eyes, that said, ‘she’s pretty bossy eh’ they wandered off together over towards the gathering crowd around the fire circle. Tenzing: I wonder if we will see Layan tonight – a bit of a loner that one, even by our standards, he does like to keep to himself in his cabin up on the ridge. Jaak: I’ve heard people mention him – but I’ve never met him. Dad says he is a bit crazy. Tenzing: Crazy…? Hmm… not so sure about that, I guess living way up in the hills on your own might make you a little quirky, which he is, but yes, he certainly knows about a lot of stuff that others don’t, and he does have some of the best stories. The trick is to get him to tell them. As was their custom the evening commenced with the community council – boring stuff really, matters like fishing hole permits and the need to replace some of the logs lining the forest trails. The key to keeping these meetings from going on for too long was the ironclad rule that dinner was never served until council business was done. The enticing smell of fish roasting on hot coals mingled with Miss Asha’s herbs and spices along with her look was indeed enough to hurry along any proceedings and to quell the more loquacious. Dinner was served, and without the need for a long and boring exposition by anyone trying to bolster the word count in a story – it was by anyone’s standards simply delicious. Talk around the fire then turned to the telling of stories and tales and the huge steaming kettle of sweet milky tea, was soon being poured into mugs and passed around. Altai: So, what tales of the valleys shall we have tonight then? Shall it be the one about the evil devil dog Teufelshunde – driven by his primitive and lustful canine desires, ready to savagely rip any unsuspecting nekomi entrails apart, disemboweling them with his razor sharp fangs dripping in venom and blood – ready to turn you into stone with one look from his rabid red eyes… Jaak: Dad… aren’t we are trying build friendships with the hundels? We had a hunde exchange student at our high school back in Aoraki. He was certainly no devil – I liked him. Aren’t these old stories, well a little bit old fashioned and racist? Altai: Chuff! Well out here boy, there is no we as you call it – it is all about us, preserving our own way of life; the culture. I don’t want any capital city government trans-cultural do-gooders sending any of their type out here. We keep to ourselves, that’s the way we like it – no need to be concerning ourselves with matters and goings-on beyond our borders. Jaak sighed. The culture. It wasn’t the first time, and certainly wouldn’t be the last time he had heard those two words since he had arrived. He knew better than to try and convince his father otherwise at this point, the fact that he knew that the Hundel were actually really pretty ordinary kind of people, well… …except for the fact that they sometimes drink out of toilets and that they don’t really like fish. Episode 2 – No Service
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Profile Distance from Earth – 63 light years Mass – 0.73 EME (Earth Mass Equivalent) Population – 8 million Captial – Aoraki Read More - Planet Profile
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Version 1.0.0
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Diagonal Fire Station, by Mattb325. --------------------------------------- This large coverage and large dispatch fire station is housed in an old Edwardian building with shops along the street frontage and offices on the upper floors. The main garaging for the fire trucks is at the rear with additional emergency access through the large central arch if needed. The building is an overhanging 1x1 lot. Place it along a diagonal road or avenue and then use one of the many park filler pieces available or NAM ped Malls to fill in the blank spaces to your liking. Therefore, each time you plop the building, it is entirely possible to create a new lot around the fire station, just like C:S. Being fire station, it is found in the fire menu. The building provides employment for 120 SIMS. --------------------------------------- STATS: Lot size : 1x1 (Overhanging) Plop Cost: §80 Monthly Cost: §200 Budget Item: Fire Protection/ Fire Department Occupant Groups: Civic, Fire, Strikeable Fire Demand Created: Jobs§: 80, Jobs§§: 30, Jobs§§§: 10. Radius: 800 tiles Dispatch Radius: 200 tiles Total Dispatches: 6 trucks Pollution: Air 1 over 2 tiles, Water 1 over 3 tiles, Garbage 6 over 0 tiles Power consumed:3 MwH / Power Generated 1 MwH Water consumed: 24 Gallons/Month Bulldoze Cost: §20 --------------------------------------- NOTE ABOUT DARK NITE vs MAXIS NITE: There are two model files in this download. You must select the appropriate file from the download. The file suffixed with 'DN' is for those users with a night-time darkening mod installed. The file suffixed with 'MN' is for users who do not have any such mods installed. If you are unsure whether you have a night-darkening mod installed, then choose the Maxis night version. If you use the dark nite version, you will need a dark nite mod. (http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/23089-simfox-day-and-nite-modd/) --------------------------------------- DEPENDENCIES: There are no dependencies required for this file. --------------------------------------- To install, simply unzip the contents of this file into your plugins folder.- 1 Comment
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