Imperial Citizen - Crina Nurklin, Punch operator

My name is Crina Nurklin, sir. I serve the Emperor, His Majesty, the Lord of Mankind, by operating a plasma punch machine in Manufactorum Hypercubus-Beta-44-9x. I have been assigned to it for three years now. With my help, it produces steel-sheet aquilas, the kind that get riveted onto the helmets of soldiers fighting out in the last Terran wastelands.

My date of birth is 012.700.M30, so I am seventeen years old at the moment.

Of course, I am a registered Imperial citizen! [proudly pointing at the handwritten certificate on her belt]. And I have never missed a shift or failed an inspection.

I am a licensed Grade VII plasma operator [touching the handwritten licence tucked into her belt]. I earned it early. Because of that, I am permitted to use Viena’s public transportation system up to Class Gamma-Blue.

Since the last Unification Day, I have had my own flat [lifting the spherical mag-key hanging from her belt], about a quarter chronosegment from my workplace. It is part of my work contract. The manufactorum justiciarix told me it could be upgraded to a family-sized unit one day, if I ever apply for a birthing licence and the Administratum sees fit to grant me one. But I am not there yet, Securitor. I am currently... single. [a brief, embarrassed smile]

Is it small? Yes. But it is mine. And it is much better than the mattress-alcove I used to have in the machine pedestal.

I now have my own sink and a small oven. And a proper sleeping alcove, wide enough that I can turn over at night without hitting metal.

The loo and the lye-shower are shared, of course. But they are on the same level, and I only share them with about eighty people, which is for sure considered more than decent.

I have saved enough to buy a few things already. A new data-slate. Some pre-disinfected food. And a few rag-paper books. Mostly authorised war reports. Some instructional manuals. And my parents gifted me a carpet. The floors are quite cold. And I acquired… some other reading. Stories, mostly. About soldiers in difficult situations, finding a little... solitude together before things get worse. [she clears her throat, faintly blushing]

Back to the matter at hand, sir? Yes. Of course.
Yes, I shot the man who tried to break in. Yes, sir. Seven times.
[pointing at the handwritten weapons license the security officer is holding]

 

Augean RT-56

The Vienaen Manufactorum Conglomerate proudly presents a joint venture (*under legal code IEC-§33.Alpha.588.0003.7944.Indigo*) of the most prolific old-data interpreters, ironmongers, and war-smiths — a new hope for the desperate peoples of the deserted wastelands — the elegant and powerful Augean RT-56 Caterpillar! (Logisticae Data Number 900.26.712-Phi-6v6)

With an impressive length of approximately 7 im [Imperial Metres] and an exceptionally high top speed of 56 ikm/eh [Imperial Kilometres per Engineering Hour], the Augean is a force to be reckoned with by the remaining tech-savages and plunder-hobos of the Uncivilisation.

The military variant (Logisticae Data Number 900.26.721-Phi-6v6) is equipped with a .50-calibre light-duty autocannon manufactured by the famed gunsmith family Rott — the notorious Rott Reminder 44-X. (*Please note that the default system is a weapon built to be used by non-Arbites law enforcement agencies. A military grade weapon system may be purchased separately*)

The Augean RT-56 is a truly miraculous vehicle, with more purposes than even the most creative minds could imagine.

The frontal drive section is standardised to allow six ISS.0 [Imperial Standard Size] persons an idyllic journey, while protecting them from thrown stones and hurled empty bottles by a robust bodywork consisting of two formidable layers of 4 imm [Imperial Millimetres] of mild steel. (*Please note that this was tested under laboratory conditions only*). The Reminder 44-X autocannon is also comfortably accessible from this part of the caterpillar.

All seats are heavily padded for increased comfort, and the front-seat passenger even has direct access to a robust Vista-79 cogitator to be used for navigation and advanced engine control. We also prided a small promethium fired kiln for the cabin. It can be used either for heating - in cold desert nights or even Antarctic climates - or as an almost luxurious cooking stove. (*Please note that all four side windows must be opened to operate the kiln longer than 20 em [Engineering Minutes] continuously*)

 
But the true wonder of the Augean RT-56 Caterpillar lies in the rear section. It is delivered entirely empty, offering more space to fill according to your own needs than you could ever hope for.

Do you require a recycling-water transport? No problem! Simply purchase a compatible plastek tank and install it. Or do you intend to travel far and wide and need a perfectly safe place to rest your weary head? Just acquire a folding bed (*Please note that we strongly recommend securing it to the floor plate*) and a pest-resistant mattress. (*Please note, however, that regularly resting for more than four hours on a biocidally pre-treated mattress may cause serious health complications within weeks of use*).

Any other ideas? Sure! Simply try them out and recommend your innovations to friends, neighbours, and comrades. (or to me, your humble author. Maybe I can map them)

Augean RT-56 - the newest way to crawl with style

[No warranty of any kind is provided with this product. Always use at your own risk.]