Storage Tanks, Common Metals

Storage Tanks, Rare Metals

To maximize efficiency and automation, most ores and metals are processed in the form of a slurry: particles are suspended in a recyclable carrier fluid. In this form, both the ore and processed metals can be pumped through pipelines, stored in tanks, then pumped as needed directly to smelters and manufacturing facilities. Once the slurry reaches its final destination, the solids are extracted, and the carrier fluid pumped back for reuse.

If any of these slurries is allowed to sit for any length of time, the particulates will settle out, and must be remixed before the slurry can be pumped and transported. The Storage Tank structures are equipped to solve this problem. While the problems and technology are the same for both Common and Rare Metals, somewhat different structures and strategies are needed for both.

Common Metals are normally stored in large bulk quantities, and are often moved and used in bulk as well. A Common Metals Storage Tank is subdivided into only a few large compartments, each equipped with stirring paddles that rotate through the mix just quickly enough to keep the particles in suspension. Despite this, problems still occur, and what has become known as "the Ketchup Bottle Effect" will sometimes clog outlet chutes, requiring human intervention.

Rare Metals are stored in smaller quantities and larger varieties. Typical storage periods are longer, and the quantities used are smaller. Thus, Rare Metal Storage Tanks are subdivided into numerous small compartments. While these compartments can be continuously stirred when demand is high, typically the stirring paddles will be turned off, and the slurry allowed to settle out of suspension. Thanks to the small size of individual compartments, it takes very little time to stir up a given tank when supplies are needed.

Though these structures are relatively low maintenance, they do require constant supervision for inventory control, security, and handling clogs and other breakdowns.

Operational Notes: These structures store up to 5000 units of the appropriate type of metals. Cargo Trucks may dock at these structures to load or unload metals. NOTE: Storage tanks cannot store metals when Disabled or Idled. As much as can be stored in other storage facilities will be transferred; the remainder will be lost.

Tales from New Terra

The corridor was filled with rumbles and clanking as the dreaded Eden Parasite-flyer clamped onto the building's roof. Juno "Tank" Steele turned his piercing blue eyes toward the ceiling, set his muscular jaw and hoisted his twin chrome-plated Splurge Rifles to firing position.

"Come home to papa," he growled, "and we'll all be home for supper."

More mechanical sounds as the Parasite-flyer's boarding gangway drilled through the hull beyond the next bulkhead.

Tank thumbed the releases and flipped his wrists, causing the rifles to cock with a metallic ker-shick.

There was a loud boom, and the pressure door at the end of the corridor popped outward half a meter, blown out of its frame, and fell to the deck in a billowing cloud of white smoke.

Tank didn't flinch, but took two powerful steps closer, big guns at ready.

A tall, dark shape moved out of the smoke. A cape swirled, and small, sinister eyes peered at him from the depths of a hideous, perpetually sneering breathing mask. It was Axen Moon, the Dark Elder himself!

"So," boomed the Dark Elder, "the great Tank Steele. We finally meet." He wheezed behind the mask. "For the last time!" He pulled a huge pulse cannon from under his cape and aimed it squarely at Tank.

Tank just narrowed his eyes and smiled. It was the kind of smile that made children cry and paint peel. "You can say that again, you walking trash can. Get ready to check out of this hotel." He scanned the air around the Dark Elder, and saw a slight shimmering there. "That goes double for your alien Shade buddies too! Show yourselves!"

On either side of the Elder, dark spidery shapes shimmered into existence, tentacles waving like black ropes. One of them pointed an alien weapon at Tank. "No uncontrolled human has ever seen us and lived. You will be no exception. Prepare to die, human!"

Tank chuckled. He'd aimed his guns at the spot where he'd known the Shades would appear. "Not on my shift! Eat hot metal slurry, extra-New-Terrestrial scum!"

The aliens screamed as boiling slurry covered their grotesque bodies. Their skins split and peeled away, revealing shapes of blinding light, shapes that screamed as they swooped upward through the ceiling, like hellish ghosts.

Tank lowered his smoking guns slightly and walked forward, smiling at the Dark Elder. "Now, Amigo, we finish this man-to-can. What do you say?"

The Dark Elder holstered his cannon and slowly raised his hands in front of him, evil energies crackling between his fingertips. He said, "Outflow chute is clogged. Pressure reaching critical levels."

Juno Steele shook his head, and let a long, heartfelt sigh escape from his lips. He looked up from the inventory reports on his ClipCom, ran his fingers over his bald spot, then tapped the icon that initiated a manual backflush of Slurry Tank 4.

He slumped back into his battered chair and sighed again. Juno Steele did a lot of sighing. "I have definitely got the most boring job in Plymouth."

Go to Unit Reference