Hello Everyone!
Welcome back to the Conductors Log! This week our passengers finally find the train horn, and the train's Aegis shield comes in handy when the track ahead is blocked.
Conductors Log Day 8: Aegis Activation
Looking at everyone's faces, and with the weight of Gunner and Pilot's death still resting on my shoulders, I've decided we're not ready for the tunnel. Not yet.
So, for now, the loop it is. At least until we've got some better gear for everyone, and maybe the guts to brave the greater unknown.
Brains delivered on their promise faster than I expected. The EMP pistol sat on the workbench, ugly and cobbled together from a random pistol barrel that was lying around and some spare bolts, but Brains swore up and down it would knock the shield off any turret we ran into. Though they weren't sure how long.
And I wanted to – no. Needed to believe them.
Driver on the other hand, had made a rather amusing discovery.
They had been muttering for days about needing a way to tell people the train needed to set off. And it seems like their prayers were answered. After fiddling with a few more nobs, a sudden horn noise blared through the train. It startled all of us.
Driver on the other hand was ecstatic. This was exactly what was needed.
They honked the horn a few more times; the train racing forward picking up speed. Faster than any time before. This led to the next discovery.
The train, it turns out, has an alarm system. A shrilling, red light blinking alarm. Going too fast hurts the train, I mean the battery charges very quickly, but it damages the train. It also means stopping in time before hitting something or just in time for a facility would be difficult.
I could feel a lump form in my throat at the thought of something hurting the train. Hurting our only protection. But Driver assured me it will be okay. That he found something else. But before they could explain, Eyes came crashing into the expedition wagon, shouting about some debris blocking the tracks ahead. I could feel the panic rise in my chest, but Driver seemed relaxed, or as relaxed as someone could be at that thought.
They pushed me towards the cockpit and told me to hit a specific button right before the debris hit us. I had no idea what that meant but as the doors to the cockpit shut behind me, I had little choice.
I watched as the debris came closer and closer and in the last second, and I hit the button. The Aegis shield, as Driver later dubbed it, came to life. Blue light filling the room as it blocked the impact. The train barely shuddered from the impact, as if nothing had really been in the way.
Driver was laughing as I emerged from the cockpit, the train slowing down. Saying something about how I should see my face.
I was glad someone was laughing...it eased some of the tension a bit.
Brains joined us after a moment, explaining that the shields ate up a lot of our energy and that we should use it sparingly. They also showed me a repair kit, which I looked at confused.
Brain explained that the train took some damage it'd need repairing next time we stop. Asked me if they should take care of it. I nodded, wondering when I became the designated anything.
The train continued on, Eyes was up in the sky checking what facility we should top at next. Drive was making sure we stayed on track, occasionally honking the horn, as if to remind us they were still there.
Brain and I were busy setting up new workstations, some new storage boxes not only for rations but also for the isotopes Eyes were incredible at collecting. But one thing became clear. We were running out of space. And we weren't sure how to get more...