KATAKOMBOJ

I'm Torben. A sad grad school student and urban adventurer. I live in an aluminum box. ISTP-T

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

The Galt Media Scene

As the Federation’s largest city, Galt has a burgeoning mass communications industry that serves both the nearly 35 million people of the surrounding region and the rest of the United Federation. It is part of the “Media Decade,” a string of ten major cities across the Federation that are the hubs for broadcast and publishing. Other cities include Marshall Yard, Amorsolo, Rockford, Pascalene, Hudson Point, Bram, Liberation City, Arachis, and Dorivan.

Television

All six of the major players in the United Federation have a presence in Galt; the city hosts the headquarters of three of the major commercial networks and the government-centered Public Television Network. As per regulation, all six major networks have broadcast feeds in both Esperanto and Standard. Legally, monolingual networks must specify which market they intend to cater and are restricted to a local or regional broadcast area.

The commercial television networks are sponsored by advertising and merchandising whereas PTN and its broadcasts are funded largely by television and radio licensing fees.

Radio

The local radio scene is predominated by ten major stations (including Federation Public Radio) broadcasting from Municipal Galt, with other local stations becoming more prominent the further out one goes from the radius of Smith Park. In general, news stations use amplitude modulation whereas commercial music stations prefer frequency modulation. 

A government station, FPR is the only news radio station that broadcasts using frequency modulation, although it uses amplitude modulation away from the city center.

Publishing

Despite the proliferation of broadcast media channels, newspapers and news magazines maintain a presence in Galt and the Federation at large. Five dailies and three news magazines publish in Galt, with three of the largest dailies having editions available nationwide. Many major noteworthy national publications are headquartered in Galt, including the parent company of the Galtan Courier, the Lassiter Media Group. Newsstands remain common throughout Galt both at the Catacombs and the boroughs topside.

The Galtan Courier maintains an annual bestseller’s list of the most widely sold books. The Courier Bestseller List is often criticized for being biased toward popular literature but remains a sought-after distinction for many writers across the Federation.

FedNet

Galt is home to the central node of the FedNet System, a network of computers connected through telecommunication wires that is available for limited public viewing through temporary (though renewable) academic and commercial access.  The main users of the FedNet are collegiate students, journalists, and military and government personnel.

FedNet is available in 22 of the 23 cantons of the United Federation and the Principality of Barrie. The sole unconnected canton, Sakoro, has a commercial Internet that serves the same purpose. The Sakoroan cantonal government receives their share of sensitive communiques through the office of their representatives in Galt.

Plans to set up a commercial Internet in Galt like the one available in Sakoro were put on hold indefinitely following the electoral crisis of last year.

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

A Commuter’s Guide to Galt

So you’ve decided to visit the world’s largest city. Congratulations! Municipal and Metro Galt can be confusing for the average visitor and getting around is certainly no spring picnic.

Motorists

May you remain in Balance.

A system of expressways crisscrosses the outskirts of the city. Three of them lead directly into the city center, while a fourth acts as a ring road (actually a loop) around the Municipal Galt city limits.The traffic from these roads is immense on weekdays to the point that it’s widely considered a fool’s errand to attempt to drive in many of the city’s boroughs. Driving here will test your patience to its limits.

Most people within Municipal Galt itself prefer not to drive cars unless they intend to travel away from the city, and most domestic automobile use in the Galt Metro area are largely restricted to Saburo and the Internal Affairs District. Most vehicular traffic in the city comes from the surrounding cities of the Galt Metro.

Busses

Omnibus rides are the preferred method of road travel in the city. Busses are a common sight throughout the city and routes plow through the city center. The busses tend to be crowded, especially so during heatwaves where people prefer the cooler busses over walking. Most bus lines that travel between boroughs are double-decker affairs whereas their localized counterparts are usually single decker. Ten omnibus companies have license to operate in Municipal Galt.

Much like the train system that it allegedly decongests, the busses are often very crowded. Standing room only had been common thing prior to the introduction of double-decker busses.

Trains

The United Federation was built on trains, and nowhere is this more apparent than in its capital, the city of a thousand trains. There are 22 rapid transit railway lines throughout the city, which extend and connect to the cities forming Metro Galt; 12 of these lines largely operate underground within Municipal Galt and another 10 operate entirely aboveground. Six of the aboveground railways are completely elevated and largely operate in the urban core. Together with the four freight rail systems serving the industrial quarters of the city and the cross country rail system that connects Galt to the Soren Railway, they make a total of 27 railway lines throughout Municpal Galt.

The rapid transit railway system is a marvel of modern engineering and the site of constant innovation, with two distinct lines (the underground Tecnorail and the elevated Monorail) dedicated to testing new ideas.

The train systems are governed by the Galt Transit Authority, a public-private initiative that manages the railway lines that crisscross Metro Galt and the pedestrian walkways that connect the city. The management of the railways is divided between the rail system and the stations outside the Municipal Galt underground and the stations that form the Galt Catacombs.

Cyclists

Major city roads (and minor roads in largely residential areas) have dedicated cycling lanes. City ordinances do require that parking spaces in buildings have bicycle racks, often located in unintrusive spaces. In general, bicycles are used in largely residential boroughs like Lincoln or parts of the Mill, with most people preferring to take the trains or busses in the city center itself.

Pedestrians

In the busiest parts of town, pedestrian walkways both above and below ground connect buildings, rapid transit stations, and parking garages.  Aboveground pedestrian walkway networks are the most prominent in the boroughs of the Gulch, Smith Park, and Saburo. The underground walkways are far more extensive,

Because of how much of a pain it is to commute in Galt, the city government has encouraged the creation of transit-oriented development and re-development that fosters pedestrian travel. The aboveground walkways have been extended immensely, though not yet to the point of ubiquity like those in Shinar’s capital Babel.

The private sector has been quick to acknowledge this. The developers of tall buildings in the city center often create access points connecting to the both underground and elevated pedestrian pathways and dedicate the floors connecting to them to commercial spaces.

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

A Potholer’s Eye View of the Capital

As busy and as crowded as could be, the capital of the Federation still holds many secrets from its denizens and visitors. Galt’s urban sprawl reveals a multitude of picturesque abandoned spaces. Urban exploration (Urbex) is a time-honored hobby in the city. Urban explorers like myself are constantly fascinated by the indescribable beauty of modern ruins. Desanctified churches, old factories and warehouses, and old utility tunnels from the Steam War era are among the many hidden jewels of the city.

Urbex Galt and other similar or affiliated groups have advocated for responsible exploration excursions in both public and private lands, taking great steps to ensure that urban explorers travel safely and within reasonable legal bounds. In many cases, most owners are more than willing to let urban explorers snoop around with permission, albeit with a waiver signing away liabilities. Public spaces can generally be accessed without permission unless otherwise stated by a local officer, and Urbex Galt maintains that all explorers follow protocol and only enter usually prohibited areas through legitimate channels.

In general, photography and videography are the only things allowed by Urbex Galt and other groups, and great care must be taken to respect the structural integrity of the buildings explored. Vandalism is considered grounds for membership termination.

The relationship between Urbex and Law Enforcement are best described as complicated. While many amateur/unaffiliated urban explorers, including my teenage self, have chafed under stringent tresspassing ordinances, urban explorers have been responsible for leading the police to criminal operations. The dangers associated with criminal activity means that Urbex Galt nominally discourages "active amateur sleuthing” but does provides guidelines on how to handle crime scenes encountered during a trip.

Urbex reveals a lot about the city that most people tend to ignore, especially if it happens to be underground. For instance, most people are hardly aware of the network of steam tunnels linking up some of the major thoroughfares of the city or that the rather cavernous storm drains, used to keep the Catacombs high and dry, can be used as evacuation access points in the event of emergency. It has also been responsible for helping bring to light the plight of many abandoned buildings of architectural importance. The old Galt Penny Opera house was saved through the photos taken by urban explorers, which was enough to name the building a city landmark by the Galt Metro Historical Society.

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

Urbex Trouble

My father and I never did see eye-to-eye much. I sometimes joked that was the reason I was named after my uncle Torben, his younger brother who he didn’t exactly get along with all that well either. 

To call me the problem child wouldn’t give Hansen and Dagmar any justice, but I do concede to setting the precedent. Sven, Jr. was everything he could’ve asked for in a son; none of us were obligated to be anything like him. At our best, father was this icy, distant figure whom I can stay in a room and not quarrel—if he wasn’t was giving me an earful for deciding to be an urban explorer.

Perhaps the only thing I ever do owe my father an apology for is how I went about my hobby of urban exploration. 

I’ve always been naturally curious and had wanted to go caving, but the Tezuka River Delta didn’t have much in the way of impressive natural cave systems., I stumbled upon a fascinating disused tunnel one day at age 15, and it was then that I knew what I discovered urban exploration.  After a few initial incursions, I was caught and fined for trespassing and loitering a few times, and I continued with the hobby clandestinely until I turned 19.

Had he let his hair grow, dad would’ve torn it all out by now due to the number of times I’ve been caught and had sought to dissuade me from urban exploration up until I decided to move out in college. In hindsight, it reflected poorly on a decorated colonel to have a son he couldn’t keep in line. 

Although far from giving her seal of approval, mother was a lot more reasonable than the Colonel. She introduced me to the Urbex Galt group, a dedicated association of urban adventurers in Galt who helped me learn the ropes of responsible urban exploration and the procedures of procuring permission from the pertinent authorities.  She jokes that I’m more like my father than either of us would ever admit. Looking back, she was probably right: father works for Special Ops and did a lot of field work in his youth.

Predictably, mum brought it up during Junior’s fancy breakfast. The colonel seemed to have conceded that urban exploration becoming my hobby was indeed something he shouldn’t be too surprised and later jocularly said I should be embarrassed at myself for repeatedly getting caught all those years. Not to be outdone, I mentioned that this was precisely why I’m not a commando.

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

Light in the Darkness?

The moon from Museum Square last Autumn.

I didn’t really see much of the night sky these days, given that I’m usually underground by nightfall. Part of the reason why living in the Catacombs is so disconcerting the first few nights is how you never seem to see the night sky any more. Some people try to comfort themselves with the thought that besides maybe a light show, we’re not missing much; after all, this is a large urban area with intense nighttime light pollution. 

When I was young, I would spend the nights just staring at the moon with my big brother. It seems to sparkle at some nights.  The moon had this weird metallic sheen on its surface, not like how we’d expect bare rock to look, whenever it was at its brightest. It was when it was dim that it looked the most beautiful.

Even at its faintest, drowned out by the city’s harsh lights, the moon was still visible, sparkling like a jewel in the dark night sky.

Why does it sparkle? I’ve asked a lot of people that question and even the science books fail to give anything remotely adequate. All I’ve gotten from years of research is that the moon (excuse me, Tropetron) is made of rock. But rock isn’t supposed to sparkle. Not unless something reflective and sparkly was put on top of it.

The Mapotherians seem to be the only people who have any explanation: the moon is populated. As outlandish as the moon-people theory sounds, they’ve been right about a lot of things. They do say that planets with cities are said to sparkle at night, but I digress.

One of the things my brother and I could count on was that, every night, the moon would still there. It would be bright and slowly darken, but when it darkens, it sparkles. It’s as if, somehow, it is when things are at their darkest when things start to shine.

(And just my luck, the one night I decide to go moon-gazing, the skies were overcast.)

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

A Review of Growth Industries in the Galt Metro

By Torben S. Whitman, Correspondent

Incoming graduates have a lot to look forward to in the coming months as the job market seems rife with new opportunities in multiple sectors across the greater Galt metro.  The information technology sector leads the charge in new openings, followed by the customer assistance, energy, and, surprisingly, manufacturing.

Among the many growth industries in capital and the surrounding regions is software development, much of which is concentrated on Saburo and the riverside portions of the Mill. While most jobs for software developers are concentrated in the private sector’s startup boom, public sector entities like the Federal Department of Communication and the FedNet Consortium are also hiring.

The energy industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds. The growing domestic demands for energy have led to the construction of new ethanol distilleries in Outer Yatsude and several new depots in the Yatsude Dockyards. This expansion is fueled further by the rising price of platinum that boosts the profits gained from fuel exports to Meridian.

The manufacturing industry’s growth represents a peculiar shift in labour demands. The increasing mechanization and automation meant a smaller demand for unskilled labour in the factory floors and an increase in the demand for dedicated freight workers throughout the supply chain.

Likewise, the demand for skilled labor in the production floors are increasing lockstep with mechanization. Many factories now require specialist operators and service crew to keep machines operating in optimal efficiency, along with more skilled workers for production steps not covered by mechanization. Most new manufacturers and distributors have chosen to set up shop in Saburo, with a few new developments emerging in the Mill as part of a revitalization plan for the borough.

This article was originally published in the The Galtan Courier and is released as part of a limited company policy to feature key articles on the FedNet through the online diaries of on-board staff writers.

Articles in this online diary not published by the Courier reflect the solely the views of the author and may not reflect the official editorial stance of the Courier.

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

Galt Museum of Arts and Culture

The crown jewel of the Smith Park Green, the magnificent façade of the museum is a spectacular triumph of Neoclassical revivalism in Galt, crowned by the copper statues of many of the famous martial figures in the history of the cantons of the United Federation. It connects to the Catacombs through its own stations.

The museum itself acts as a host for many cultural and academic conferences, including the Meridian Cultural Day talks.

My friend and coworker Aurelia Caissa, who moonlights as a photographer for the Courier, works at the museum’s Department of Pascalese Cultural Studies.

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

Democracy Day Light Show

Here’s me and my great aunt, Nancy Faraday (née Whitman) posing for a picture mere moments before the Democracy Day Light Show at Gregor’s Hill at the Internal Affairs District. It was a chilly winter’s night. Darville took this picture. A copy was sent to my mum and dad to tell them that, yes, I still visit Aunt Nancy.

It’s surprising how well Aunt Nancy, a Sigismundian, got along with Darville and Todd, who are Mapotherians, which was a break from the cliché antagonism between members of the two religions.

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

A jocular view of the activities Galt has to offer

Divided per borough, of course.

Smith Park

Museums

Offices

A zoo

Picnics at the Park Green

A Tumblin’ Torus on ever street corner

The homes of the stars! (Look up and you might see their balconies)

High class bars and clubs so exclusive that you’d need million-moneto bribes to be let in.

Saburo

Two Tumblin’ Torus restaurants on every street corner

Novelty cafes that attract technocrats (and have worse coffee than Tumblin’ Torus)

Pretentious novelty stores catering to technocrats

That one cafe that serves better coffee and doughnuts than Tumblin’ Torus

A convention center

Offices

City Hall

The Airport so you can leave crummy old Galt and never come back

Internal Affairs

Politics (fun for the whole family!)

Geopolitics (include your foreign friends!)

Corruption™

An embassy so you can go visit some other more interesting country

Propagandistic national monuments (Meridian called and said “stop being a copycat!”)

Grassy fields for picnics (at least until they banned picnics)

Take your picture with Cardboard Premier Robertson only 7 Monetoj

A light show (yay)

The Beachhead

Skateboarding

Hotels

Beaches (summer only)

Surfing (spring only)

Fishing

Nature trails (in the middle of the city?!)

The Mill

Crime

Flea markets

Factories

Breaking into abandoned factories since there aren’t any nearby caves Urban exploration

Soccer

Food trucks

A Tumblin’ Torus on every other street corner, with more of them as you go closer to the gentrified districts near the waterfront.

The Gulch

Shopping

Offices and pretty much everything else that you can do in Smith Park that doesn’t involve open space.

Lincoln

Parks

People’s houses

Home of the celebrities you can actually relate to

Family diners

Little Meridian (F**k The Emperor!)

The Catacombs

Train rides

Getting lost

Shopping, if you’re under the Gulch or Smith Park

Yatsude Dockyards

The carnival

Ferry rides

More crime

That one food truck that sells your favorite dish

A boat trip to an actually interesting city like Amorsolo or Hudson

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

Finbar MacGuffin, CEng, MIMIMechE

The engineering wunderkind and (by his own admission) the poster-boy for Meridian engineering, Finbar has the distinction of being among the youngest senior members the Imperial Public Works Council. He definitely still retains the tone of a wisecracking adolescent. He is expected to deliver a speech in the upcoming International Technolological Exchange Conference.

He looks awfully familiar. I wonder why.

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

Summer and Winter

Back when he was still relatively fresh off the boat, Todd took up a number of odd jobs in between classes since he could never quite get enough scholarship money to get ahead. One of those was working as a cheap model for stock photo companies and photography students, which was one of the most “normal” jobs he had. The first photo was from one of Aurelia’s photo projects, which involved summer wear.

Nearly seven years later, Todd works as an adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has a bach degree, and most amazingly, has officially reconciled with his mum after years of estrangement.

Early Winter in Galt isn’t nearly as cold as it is in either Northern Meridian or Campbell, so Todd, who’s used to much colder weather, had always worn largely autumn clothes until the height of winter.

He’s wearing the same T-shirt in both pictures. Darville and I actually gave him that shirt.  He calls it his “lucky shirt”; we gave it to him around the time he received several bonuses for clients and established contact with a lost relative.

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

Catacomb Cough

It sometimes amazes me how I can spend my entire life without ever going topside.

I just got back from my check-up at the Galt Catacombs Central Clinic, one of the few healthcare providers licensed by the Federal Health Service. 

The Health Service and the Galt Health Administration have a taken a keen interest in the Catacombs lately, part of their drive to curtail the spread of diseases in the underground that could spread topside.

No less than ten years ago, several virulent cases of bacterial pneumonia across the city were traced to the Catacombs.  A milder, lingering bacterial infection, “Catacomb Cough,” is still regularly reported. It pays to check for it now and then.

Today, I’m fortunate enough to live in a capsule hotel where the rooms were clean. Many capsule hotels were built into the basement floors of the city’s largest buildings, often very close to the underground train stations. These typically better maintained. Others were repurposed underground spaces such as cellars and abandoned railway tunnels. Some of these I’ve had the misfortune of living in were rat-infested hellholes little different from the dangerously cramped topside apartments they ostensibly replaced. Cheaper, dingier, and in some cases just a tad illegal.

While definitely a step up from abject poverty elsewhere, living poor in the Catacombs is no less difficult. Besides the everyday struggle against homelessness (even after the capsule hotels were subsidized by the urban government), the Catacomb dwellers were faced with poor diets, cramped quarters, and a huge blow to their circadian rhythms, causing no end of maladies from back pain to anemia. Every other Catacomb Dweller is groggy, irritable, and with little doubt almost sickly and pale.

Combine this with squalid conditions in some of the capsules and you have a tinderbox for major epidemics.

The Health Service has aimed for a greater presence in the borough, hoping to improve the health conditions of the Catacombs through greater enforcement of health and habitability protocols. The Galt Health Administration has also implemented a subsidy on Vitamin D pills for Catacomb dwellers, which has been subject of a media campaign spearheaded by Councilor Gresham.

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

Healthcare and Archaeology

Although every Mapotherian cleric could be trained in the use of the gauntlets, the intricacy in their production meant that it was a privilege to be even be allowed to make one. The good reverend has mentioned all the times when he had to rely on conventional methods he learned in med school before his ordination and for times when even his gauntlets aren’t up to the task.

Mapotherianism is heavily invested in archaeology, focused mainly on the study and, on occasion, reproduction of the technological accomplishments of the ancestral Leveller civilization. The rarity of the gauntlets and the difficulties involved in their creation gives insight on why Mapotherians hold archaeological artefacts with reverence.

Up until recently, most of the equipment used to build machines that were required to make healing gauntlets and other apparatuses happened to be found in Leveller sites, and it was only recently that some of these necessary parts could be reproduced. 

“It’s also why some Mapotherian organizations quickly become corrupt.” Says Reverend Jehan. “Those less convicted to the cause of serving others will quickly take advantage of the power they have over others, especially if you alone could heal them.”

The Mapotherian mother churches tend to sponsor archaeological digs, either in exclusion or alongside academic institutions, and have had a long history of hoarding equipment for their own use.  Most of the ecclesiastical abuses commonly ascribed to Mapotherians revolve around their digs, something that was said to continue in Mapotherian mother churches in Meridian.  

The mother churches in the Federation, however, often lack the systematic control of the churches in Meridian. The ones in Galt work closely with the local healthcare system as part of their duty to serve the people, and many members of the clergy themselves work for the public health service on the side.

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

The Gauntlet

One minute I was asking Darville about her religion’s obsession with Leveller-era artefacts and the next thing I knew I was attending a Mapotherian Monday service, which also provided healing sessions. This isn’t as farfetched as it sounds. All Mapotherian clergy are licensed medical practitioners by legal requirement in most countries they operate and often operate alongside modern medical practices.  Darville’s late father was a Mapotherian cleric, and the church she attended was headed by one of his colleagues, Rev. Jehan.

What does make it peculiar is the way the Mapotherians practice healing. Mapotherian clerics use some sort of medical healing apparatus—a ‘magic gauntlet’—to heal many minor injuries. 

They claim, though, that it is the wisdom of the revered forerunners that had made them hale. Indeed, some larger Mapotherian churches have larger apparatuses that do look like actual medical equipment, though they’re usually reserved for more serious injuries or diseases, especially those beyond the capabilities of non-Mapotherian medicine. 

After the service, I requested a chat with the head cleric as to the details of the healing gauntlet and its workings.  To my surprise, Rev. Jehan himself was more than happy to explain the basic principles behind their healing and even offered to demonstrate it on the minor cough I’ve been experiencing.

Apparently, a broken arm could be healed in seconds. A bacterial infection? An hour and a half.

Rev. Jehan explained the intricacies of the gauntlet’s settings and the extent of its abilities, which included minor tissue regeneration, resolving early stage infections and inflammations, and the puncture-less delivery of vaccines. Although clearly meant to be technological nature still baffles most casual people and even those with a basic grasp of mechanics such as myself.

It’s got to be magic. But it isn’t.

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

ITEC Speaker Highlights: Finbar MacGuffin

By Torben S. Whitman, Correspondent

Among the speakers at the International Technological Exchange Conference (ITEC) to be held in Amorsolo this spring is Finbar MacGuffin, a chief engineer in the Imperial Public Works Council slated to present a discussion on nuclear power and energy security.

Besides being known for his remarkable contributions to his country’s tech development programs, the young MacGuffin also has an aristocratic pedigree that includes his mother, the Meridian ambassador to the United Federation, and his grandfather, the Baron Goldberg, who was the beloved former viceroy of Campbell and Booker. I also recently learned that the Advisor to Meridian Cultural Affairs at the United Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs is his older brother.

The young mechanical engineer was recently inducted into the Imperial Meridian Institute of Mechanical Engineers. Having recently turned 18, the technological wunderkind was one of the youngest students to complete an engineering degree in the Meridian Empire’s rather rigorous degree program. I managed to get a phone-in interview with MacGuffin, an affable and rather candid young man with a snarky sense of humor.

What can we expect from your talks in the upcoming exchange?

“I’ll be representing the entire Imperial Public Works Council on behalf of the board of directors. Part of my agenda includes… hmmm… let’s see… discussing the recent developments in applied nuclear energy, solving the ‘forever problem’ associated with nuclear waste through the re-development of safe nuclear batteries, and the economic ramifications of nuclear fission power for the frontiers of the Empire and other underdeveloped hinterlands across the globe.“

People are concerned about the number of new nuclear power plants in Campbell. What is your stance on the rumours of possible nuclear proliferation?

“That they’re just rumours. (Laughs) Why would we make nukes? The plants are already causing enough tension as it is. Our aim is energy security. Campbell especially will benefit from widespread electrification, which is hoped to spur growth and meet the current viceroy’s initiatives to turn Campbell into a ‘model colony' or something.”

You’ve mentioned battery technology earlier. What, specifically, would that entail?

“Well, err... (Laughs awkwardly) It’s kinda hard to explain without the charts I’ll be using, but the short and long of it is that we’re looking into long-lasting battery technology derived from spent nuclear fuel, which would allow us to safely use nuclear waste without causing further hazards. They’re immensely portable and can be useful for many medical applications.”

How powerful are these batteries?

“Admittedly, not very. The low current they produce, though, are great for medical appliances and implants. The presentation will also include further developments into other forms of battery technology that the Imperial Academy has been pursuing.”

Your résumé indicates that you’ve worked in ballistics testing, and yet your presentation is about energy infrastructure developments. Is there a reason for the shift?

“Yes, that. I did work for the ballistics division, which specialized, well, in getting things airborne really fast as part of our communications satellite program. I’ve worked with rocket scientists for a time. One promotion later and I found myself working with nuclear physicists and plant engineers. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve tackled energy infrastructure, though.”

What field do you truly specialize in?

“I currently specialize in analysing mechanical systems for defects. I’ve done similar things with ballistics.  I’m used to troubleshooting design plans and did a few blueprints on my own. During college, I used to be allowed access to relict technology. I’m one of the youngest people who can work with relict hardware.”

You designed nuclear power plants?

“No, no. We have dedicated nuclear engineers for that. I mostly just review safety protocols and failsafe devices. Most of my design work was done at the academy.”  

You were inducted rather young into the Imperial Public Works Council. What’s it like?

“It’s kind of lonely, to be honest. Everyone about my age is an entry-level and is usually assigned somewhere else. I’ve never met the other young engineers, and the youngest person I’ve met in the nuclear division is about 27. Most of my responsibilities since then have largely been protocol inspections and, recently, this speaking gig—the whole “fresh young face” thing is great PR. But I’m far from being their poster boy.”

“Who knows, given a few years, I may enjoy the perks of having a sinecure and getting to play golf with the royals.”

This article was originally published in the The Galtan Courier and is released as part of a limited company policy to feature key articles on the FedNet through the online diaries of on-board staff writers.

Articles in this online diary not published by the Courier reflect the solely the views of the author and may not reflect the official editorial stance of the Courier.

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

Breakfast, Tea, and Social Gatherings

Breakfast was the best time to socialize with casual acquaintances for many Galtans, who tended to eat on the go. Tumblin’ Torus owed its success to capitalizing on this habit. This was a tradition followed even in the Catacombs. Each morning, I would greet those who lived in the capsule to be polite. A few of the more pleasant ones replied, often as they dined hungrily on instant noodles or chips. I rarely eat from the vending machines myself; instead I frequently stopped by the convenience store some distance away from the capsule hotel to eat.

Things started looking up since they opened that split-level Tumblin’ Torus down the hall. Every other week, I would’ve saved enough for coffee or bubble tea and a whole wheat chicken bagelwich with all the fixings, a simple luxury to congratulate myself for another week of hard work. I’ve been spending my afternoon tea with my older brother Junior these past few days there. He had been on shore leave and relished the opportunity to catch up. That and he really, really misses Tumblin’ Torus.  

Yesterday he invited me to have breakfast at this one posh restaurant my parents usually only ever go to when they’re with someone important (such as my brother).

[chroniclerofthecatacombs]

Tumblin’ Torus

Perhaps the most famous of the Galtan restaurants, Tumblin’ Torus is a fast casual doughnut and coffee shop that fueled the exponential popularity of the on-the-go breakfast in Galt. People can drink from their spillproof paper cups  while walking really fast.