To the North of Clockhaven sits a collection of old stone buildings that are clustered around the bases of two tall towers. One of the towers is made of stone and functioned as a lookout tower during the golden days of the great empire. The other is a more modern looking construction of the type that most will be familiar with across the Steamlands. A Tesla broadcast tower, part of the great Tesla world system that broadcasts aetheric power around the globe. Although the origins of this Tesla tower pre-date the great scientist who gave them his name, instead owing their existence to a long forgotten genius who’s name faded with the empire that built the old Aquila broadcast network.
Somewhere within the cluster of stone buildings that comprise the old Aquila XIII station the most recent scientist to take on the task of running the station sat in her office eating apples, totally oblivious to the importance of the news she was about to receive…
…
Professor Falcon, the Dark Unicorn of New-Babbage nibbled the apples left by her students while reviewing the days aetheric data when the old mechanical door to her office opened to reveal the hulking brass clockwork form of Unit #6, her assistant and operations manager of the power station.
The large clockwork rumbled, “Professor… Falcon… The… Daily… Report… Is… Ready…”.
“Anything interesting to report?”, enquired the unicorn, “Its been far too dull lately…”.
The old clockwork began reading out highlights of the days events.
“Only… Three… Items… Today…”.
“The… Ratworks… Have… Completed… Repairs… To… The… Old… Conduits… Under… Academy…”.
“Oiling… Work… On… The… Aetheric… Bearings… Completed… Ahead… Of… Schedule…”.
“Aquila IX… Reports… Loss… Of… Power… Due… To… Freak… Snowstorm…”.
Avariel nodded, “So Doctor Gammis is still struggling to keep the lights on in the frozen North.” she stood up and motioned to the map with her horn “I would love to know what is going on up there!”.
Unit #6 rumbled, “We… Will… Cover… The… Shortfall…”.
The unicorn sighed. “Again… It appears we are condemned to spend our lives covering for the shortcomings of Dr. Gammis and his backers. You know I have lost track of the number of times I have offered to visit his facility, but he always refuses…”.
The large clockwork pondered, “Aetheric… Science… Is… Hard…”.
Avariel sighed again, “Its true… Aetheric generators are hard to maintain in a city like New-Babbage. Things must be far worse in that backwater place… what was it called again…”.
Unit #6 rumbled, “The… Town… Of… Wuldram…”.
“Yes! Thats the place!” the unicorn nodded, “Lets send another telegram to Dr. Gammis offering our assistance, just use the one we sent the last twelve times”.
Unit #6 nodded making a note to visit Mr Pendle in the telegraph office later.
The unicorn sat back down, “On a more happy topic at least the ratworks got the conduits fixed, that should keep the Mayors office happy, they can power their toys on the wall from our generators again if they have a need”.
The old clockwork rumbled, “I… Will… Inform… Mr… Mornington… The… Work… Is… Complete…”.
Tepic carfully counts up on his fingers, then his eyes widen…..
“Hang on, the one in the City is Station number……. cor, bet that explains a lot!”