Factory, Vehicle

From OPU Wiki

Common Metals Cost: high

Rare Metals Cost: none

Build Time: long

Tube Connection Required: yes

Power Required: 50

Size: large

Workers Required: 3

Hit Points: very high

Scientists Required: none

Armor: medium

Description

The Vehicle Factory is responsible for fabrication and assembly of all colony vehicles. While Arachnid robots use much of the same basic technology, the Arachnid's miniature power components, bio-optic computers, and linear response actuators require the specialized fabrication systems and precision assembly provided by an Arachnid Factory, and they cannot be produced in a Vehicle Factory. The Vehicle Factory is designed for rapid one-off production of vehicles based on any template stored in its computer systems, starting with raw materials, continuing through parts fabrication, and on to final assembly, testing, and computer programming. While a wide variety of vehicle designs are used in the colonies, extensive use of standardized parts and technologies is used to simplify production, and also later maintenance and repair.

Operational Notes: The Vehicle Factory produces all vehicles (except Spiders and Scorpions).

Tales from New Terra

Kimberly Cole, Rashad's supervisor, waved to him from the landing outside the control room. "Come on, Rashad. The transport's waiting. We need to roll." Rashad didn't look up from the Vehicle Factory's master programming panel. He rotated the master schematic on his screen for one last check. Everything had to be right, as there would be nobody here to fix it if it went wrong. "Coming," he said. "I just have to get this last vehicle assembly started." Cole took the last step into the control room. She looked curiously over his shoulder. "What vehicle? We're bugging out, Rashad. The Blight waits for no man or woman." She studied the schematic more closely. "What in blazes is that thing? Did you design it?"

Rashad grinned. "I did the pattern and programming, but nope, I didn't design it. Found it in a book of Earth vehicles." She stared at him. "Rashad, we're leaving, bugging out. There won't be anyone left here when this thing is finished. You aren't planning on staying, I hope." "Nope." "Good, because that thing will barely be finished before the Blight hits, and from the looks of it, I don't give you much chance of driving out in it. I don't suppose you expect it to autodrive out after us."

He just laughed, even though she didn't get the joke. He tapped the "run" icon and climbed out of the chair. "That does it; let's go." Below them on the factory floor, the robotic machinery was already in motion, sparks flying as it fabricated parts from raw metal stock. They walked down the stairs, along a corridor, and down a ramp to the tunnel toward the CC, where the Evac Transport was waiting. She looked at him. "What was that all about?" He shrugged. "Something I've wanted to build since I found it in that old database, but never had the chance. Well, the factory isn't doing anything now, and any resources that aren't on a truck are toast anyway, so I figured, why not?"

"You'll never see it."

"I'll know it was built. That'll be something. Maybe it'll even survive the Blight, and somebody will find it someday." He chuckled. "It'll make them crazy figuring it out." They said nothing for a while, but as they climbed the ramp to the CC, she finally asked the question. "What was that thing, anyway? I've never seen anything like it." He smiled. "It's called a 1957 Chevy."