The Advanced Laboratory, often known as the "Hot Lab," is an outgrowth of the Standard Laboratory, and maintains the same philosophy of task-dedicated design. The Advanced Lab has been completely redesigned specifically to handle difficult and dangerous technologies, such as those used in weapons research, high-energy physics, and space technologies. All building doors are protected by a triple airlock system, each with a self-contained decontamination system and hazard-sensor interlocks.

Other than power, the Advanced Lab is completely self-contained, with no water, air, or other connections to the colony. The internal pressure of the structure is kept slightly lower than the rest of the colony, so that in the event of any leak, air will tend to flow into the structure, rather than out.

The shell of the Advanced Lab is belted with special wound composite shielding to help contain explosions within the structure, and a triple-walled, self-sealing liner helps prevent leaks into the environment or the rest of the colony.

Despite all these precautions, things do go wrong and lab accidents aren't unknown. Still, Eden leaders were satisfied with the Advanced Laboratory's record, and were confident that at least its biological containment systems were foolproof. The disaster that followed proved them wrong.

Operational Notes: The Advanced Lab houses dangerous research projects. It requires no Scientists for basic operation; Scientists required for research vary by project. NOTE: This structure explodes when destroyed, and may explode spontaneously when damaged.

Tales from New Terra

The Advanced Lab was located on the edge of the colony for a reason, thought Dr. Landis as the outer door of the test chamber opened, and the mouth of the rocket engine pointed out into the wilderness beyond the colony.

She glanced down at the bank of instrument readings on her console. Everything was ready. Jensen looked up from his own panel. She nodded at him.

"Countdown begins at 10 seconds," he said. Frosty mist vented from the engine as the turbopumps came up to speed. "Five, four, three, two, one, ignition!"

The engine bucked, belched fire, and then a solid column of nearly transparent hydrogen flame. Despite the safety containment, the whole building vibrated. "Looks good," she said. "Throttle up."

"Throttle up," echoed Jensen. The engine bucked again and began to vibrate visibly, causing the whole building to tremble.

Then it exploded.

The floor moved under their feet.

The images on the screen disappeared as the cameras were vaporized.

Then it was quiet. The pictures came back as replacement cameras slid into the containment chamber. A few twisted shreds of metal were all that was left of the rocket engine.

Jensen shook his head sadly. "Not much to show for two weeks’ work."

She wasn't discouraged. She ran her fingertip over her console, reviewing the readings displayed there. "That's just hardware. We've got numbers, good numbers, and that's what counts. We'll go again in a week, and it will work this time. I see the problem, and I can fix it."

She looked at him and gave him a little smile of encouragement. "Remember that, Jensen. Hardware is nothing. It's all in the numbers."

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