Repairs Needed

Writers: Avery, Chelle
Date Posted: 21st May 2015

Characters: Sarban, Zakis
Description: The technician explains to the Steward that some pipes need replacing.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 12, day 1 of Turn 7

Zakis waited outside the Steward's office, clutching rolled up notes in
his hands. He'd carefully done the inspection and marked down all of the
problem spots. Now he planned on showing the map and evidence to the other
man.

"Come on in," came the steward's even voice. Sarban had just settled in
after morning meal and he was ready to start his daily appointments.
Of course the technician had his attention first. He was hoping for good
news.

"I've got the report of the hydroelectric system," Zakis said, coming in
with his maps. "I can spread these out to show you if you want, or just
give you an overview."

"Both please." Sarban liked charts. As a former seaman, he was well
acquainted
with maps. He liked to see things that way.

Zakis unrolled them and weighted the edges, letting them face the Steward.
He knew what was going on.

"Here's a map of the system as it should look. And here and here," he
tapped at little red marks, "are where there are problems. The circles are
places where there are stress signs, but no interruption. The X crosses are
where there are small leaks."

There were far more red marks than Sarban would have liked. "Tell me this-
will it be better to patch or just to replace?" Sometimes it was
better in the long
run to just start with new instead of fixing things. With something so
important,
Sarban wouldn't want to risk the infrastructure failing.

"We can patch the parts with stress signs without fear, but there's
this one area, here, where I'd want to replace the pipe," he said
seriously. "It's outside and looks like it's been subject to weather
influence."

"How long is the section?" That was good at least. Sarban was thinking
it might be
worse since it had been some time since they had done comprehensive
maintenance.
Aging systems had to be maintained though or there were problems like
the Weyr had
dealt with at Dragonsfall.

"Four dragonlengths. Long enough to be annoying to transport the
material," Zakis said. "Once the new pipes come in, we'll have to shut
that area down so we can remove the old pipe and weld in the new.."

Sighing, Sarban considered the problem. "Well, it'll have to come by
riverboat
which is the quickest option. You can fabricate them here though right?"

"The pipes? Yes."

"What about the stuff to seal them with?" He didn't know much about all of
this so
he was learning.

"I'll need to requisition time and materials from the Smiths. Your
authorization would go a long way to making that smoother." Zakis
respected the Smiths but occasionally the more traditional metalcrafters and
the technicians could butt heads.

"I'll give you whatever you need. I'd rather have this dealt with
sooner than later."
Sarban began to count in his head how much they had on hand and how
much he could
come up with. "Do you know how much it's going to run?" Of course if
the smiths could
use foodstuffs or perhaps even weavergoods, then Sarban could barter
for part of it.

"Not immediately. I don't spend a lot of time with Smiths. But the
Masters of the two crafts talk to each other. I think the materials
will be the harder part to resolve, the labor they shouldn't have a
problem parting with since it'll keep their projects running."

"Well as soon as you know, tell me so I can manage something." It was
an easier time of turn at least. And Emerald Falls wasn't dependent on the
harvest. There was the livestock and products and other ventures. Sarban
made sure that they had plenty in the coffers at any given time so that if he
needed it, it was there.

"Let me go talk to them and see what they want and can offer, then
we'll get you involved again?"

"Aye when we need to hammer out the contract, tell me." As far as Sarban
was concerned, the meeting was over. Hopefully Zakis would go and bring him
back good news. This was turning into a bigger headache by the day.

Last updated on the May 21st 2015

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Repairs Needed