Conversation · Feld "Insular" Console

Nothing happens as you turn the dial. The power is off, the console stands silent.

Nothing happens. "We need to restore power before using this, officer. There was a generator that you missed..." He looks upstairs. "It didn't look like there was fuel in it."

"We should look around outside. There are barrels all over, maybe one of them still has something in it..." He looks into the dim light to his right.

The boat engine!

Nod in agreement.

The console looks on as you talk, mute and unpowered. Its dials are covered in dust.

"Failing that we could... go back to the mainland and get some from..."

"My Kineema?" He shakes his head. "I don't want to do that. Let's just look around."

The console stands by, mutely. 'Urgence -- Ouvert!' reads a dial key. 'Allumer,' reads another. The frequency band says: 'Radiodiffusé.'

"Wait, what about this fuel I found from my MC?" (Show him the canister.)

"There's barely anything left. That won't work."

"Or we could get some from the boat engine?"

"But, officer," he looks you in the eye, "then we would have to swim back to the mainland. Let's just look around, okay."

"Cuno's gonna stop you right there. This..." he strokes the console, "ain't gonna work." He points upward, to the generator. "Not without the juice. You gotta fuel that shit if you want it to work. Let's look outside maybe?"

What about the fuel you found in the MC? The red government-marked fuel...

"Wait, what about this fuel I found from my MC?" (Show him the canister.)

"It's sweet you got government fuel -- way sweet -- but there ain't shit left in there. You need, like, a full load. Let's check outside when you're done with this."

Nah, it won't work. The canister feels light.

Of course. Anything else you want with this console?

(Peek into the canister.)

Yeah, okay. There's barely anything left in there. You have to find a larger supply.

Who's to say this thing even works? You have to supply it with power first. There must be a generator nearby.

There are barrels all around. One of them must still have fuel in it... Pour it into a generator and voila!

Push: 'Light (Interior)'.

The old button is stuck.

The lighting in the room turns on with a sizzle. A dim, ambient orange.

Nothing happens.

Turn: 'Emergency -- Open!'

Slide: 'Radio' dial.

The dial slides under the dusty glass, dark and silent despite the power being on. You make out defunct stations on the UKV frequency. The words "FELD INSULAR" are written on the band.

An idea lights up in your head...

Maybe I could contact Soona -- the programmer lady? She could open the door remotely...

"This is an air-gapped system." The lieutenant inspects the indicator. "Off-air, I think they call it. That won't work."

"Okay."

"We're better off looking for a mechanical solution -- if we need one at all."

"Are you sure?"

"No, I'm not, but it would not be very good military technology if programmer ladies could control it remotely. Also, it's ancient. Incompatible."

"Who the fuck is Soona?" he grunts. "Never mind. It won't work. This is fucking... military mega-grade shit, you know? It's also, like, four hundred years old."

Wait, actually, this would not be very good military technology if programmer ladies could control it remotely... It's probably not connected to the front. Or just plain broken. Nice idea, though...

No. It's too far fetched.

You're right. You're not a circuit bender. You don't know about these things.

"INSULAR..." The lieutenant leans in to inspect the cursive writing. "This is an off-air radiocomputer, I believe. Used for military communications."

It's an air-gapped system. An off-air military model. Its circuits are nearly impossible to bend, i.e. it cannot be remote controlled.

"Whoa... Told you. Military mega grade. Also, like, four hundred years old, I think? A thousand?"

The dial slides under the glass, dark and silent. Restoring electric power has not breathed life into it.

The dial slides under the glass, silently. You make out defunct stations on the UKV frequency. The words "FELD INSULAR" are written on the band.

The glass is dusty, it's hard to make out the writing on the band. Nothing has changed about it.

"It's on..." He smiles. "Turn: Emergency -- Open!"

Automatic boot.

"Aw shit, it's on..." He grins. "Turn: Emergency -- Open!"

It's on! Automatic boot. Now, just turn the key...

The console is powered off and covered in dust. 'Urgence -- Ouvert!' reads a dial key. 'Allumer', reads another. The frequency band says: 'Radiodiffusé'.

Green paint flakes off the monoblock aluminium cabinet. There are rows of switches on the front panel, a frequency band and even a keyboard...

[Leave.]

Run your fingers across the keyboard.

The keys rattle like teeth. This keyboard hasn't been functional in decades.

What is this? (Run your fingers across the keyboard.)

"The console of an antique computation device." The lieutenant points to the wires running into the machine. "The generator upstairs, with wires coming out. They terminate here."

"The console of an antique computation device." The lieutenant points to the wires running into the machine. "There was a generator upstairs, with wires coming out. They terminate here."

"Old hardware." He points to the wires running into the machine. "From the big power-box upstairs. Circuit-bender shit. Military-grade."