DIRT

From OPU Wiki

Common Metals Cost: medium

Rare Metals Cost: none

Build Time: medium

Tube Connection Required: yes

Power Required: 20

Size: medium

Workers Required: 2

Hit Points: high

Scientists Required: 1

Armor: medium

Description

DIRT stands for Disaster Instant Response Team, and there is no greater comfort to the Colonists than to know that a nearby DIRT stands ready to handle any emergency. These dedicated professionals (active DIRT members are commonly known as "Grubs") are highly skilled in the use of their high-technology equipment, which includes power-assist rescue armor, smart-foam fire suppression cannon, auto-med trauma-control systems, and rapid-response mag-lev tunnel trucks. DIRT teams can handle fires, explosions, haz-mat spills, radiation leaks, biohazards, medical emergencies, building depressurization, and other crises.

A colony adequately served by DIRT can minimize the effect of accidents, disasters, and combat damage. The DIRT houses all emergency equipment and provides on-duty housing for Grubs (who often sleep in their powered armor). A small shop/lab provides for maintenance and upgrades of DIRT equipment and production of expendables such as smart-foam, chemical absorbents, and some medical supplies. An integrated virtual-reality training system keeps the experienced Grubs in constant fighting trim and also allows for schooling of new recruits.

Operational Notes: The DIRT prevents up to 25 percent of damage (from disasters, attacks, or explosions) to connected structures. Each DIRT can fully protect up to 10 structures to which it is connected by Tubes. A lower ratio of DIRTs to structures reduces the percentage of damage prevention.

Tales from New Terra

Pavlo Cortez skillfully guided the disaster truck down the tunnel. Except for the constant wail of the siren and the honking of the horn as he cleared a bike or pedestrian out of the tunnel, the truck was silent, moving smoothly on a cushion of magnetic force. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a chrono display counting up from the moment the alarm had been sounded. One minute, 12 seconds - not bad. He again focused his whole attention on driving. Ahead, two parallel tunnels made the final connection to the Spaceport. The one on the right had been widened for a Piazza, a public market, but it would be nearly deserted this hour of the morning. That was the path he chose.

He felt one of the other Grubs move in behind him, Wasner, he thought. As they'd often practiced, Wasner quickly pulled his visor down for him and sealed it so Pavlo wouldn't have to take his hands off his controls. They were almost to the Spaceport now. Ahead of them Pavlo could see that the emergency lock was closed. Flashing lights warned about the disaster on the other side, but instead of flames, he could see frost on the bulkhead windows. What was that about?

He slowed the truck. Something was wrong about this, but what? Then he saw the bulkhead starting to buckle outward. The magnetic brakes stopped the truck as though they'd been grabbed by an invisible hand, throwing them all against their restraining straps. Pavlo moved the tillers to spin them around, but it was too late. The seam at the top of the bulkhead cracked like an eggshell, vapor under incredible pressure sprayed out of the crack and along the peak of the tunnel roof, and suddenly the top of the tunnel flashed into white-hot flame.

The truck turned, too slowly, their suits were already charring, melting from the indirect heat, and Pavlo could see that even the rocks were burning. The tunnel flickered away. The truck hovered in the middle of the simulator dome, the Grubs on the truck shaking their heads like sleepwalkers waking from a dream. The door cracked open, and Captain Fifield stepped trough. She put her fists on her hips and looked them over disapprovingly. "People, we don't even have a Spaceport yet, and one just killed you! Spaceports mean fuel, cryogenic gases, and in this case, liquid oxygen. Never approach the Spaceport along the side where the cryo tanks are buried."

She looked at Pavlo. "That means left tunnel, Pavlo." She clapped her hands twice. "Let's run this one again people, and see how far you can get before you're killed next time!"