Our asteroid survival: A fictitional history of the ten year survival of a large ELE asteroid impact by a small, pre advised, group

by Lionel Woodhead

  To rely on the manual production of so many different items would not be conducive to the higher level work that we hoped for with our expected much lower level of population density into the middle future. This lower population density would lower the required production level but would conversely require more efficient production methods. People requiring one hundred items is more difficult to efficiently satisfy mechanically than people requiring say one million items.

  Our first and most important requirement would be a means of long term sustainable power generation. The mid Victorians had gas and oil for lighting but we would not be able to use this technology without the basic materials being available to us in sufficient quantities. In addition this technology would not be truly sustainable and this objective was one we intended to maintain.

  We would, therefore, have to find a sustainable means of energy production in order to support our desired technology level. In the near term this energy could only come from our in house fossil fuel reserves but towards the end of the near term we would hopefully develop steam, wind and/or water alternatives. In the medium term we hoped to develop solar and/or hydroelectric power generation with, possibly, some bio-fuel (petrol or diesel alternatives) so that our use of the previous vehicle technology could continue through the medium term until we could develop our own.

  We had a relatively large quantity of diesel but this was not unlimited and unless supported by an alternative, actually our recovered wind generators, before the medium term our use of fossil fuels would become unsustainable. To make it last as long as reasonably possible we would have to survive on severely rationed energy usage until we had an alternative sustainable power source. To achieve this we had set in hand a potential solution based on our steam engine designer and builder. The first systems he produced were simple cylinder based steam engines. These were crude devices as we had to limit the energy resources required to produce them.

  His first attempts at producing steam engines were inefficient but once we had the guarantee of some form of sustainable power we would be able to use it to develop more efficient energy generating techniques. We hoped that we could base the next level of steam engines on turbines as we knew, from our books and experience, that these would be far more efficient. The problem was the production of turbine blades which had to be produced to fairly exacting dimensions and from reasonable quality materials requiring the development of some material expertise.

  Once we had a sustainable means of sufficient energy production, even if initially inefficient, and had left the shelter we could consider the possibility of generating more power using other new, and sustainable, energy conversion systems. We knew of the possibility of solar, hydro and wind power so we had only to redevelop these resources and, yet again, our books and recovered units gave us potentially early solutions to our problems. We were digging into a treasure chest but with so much treasure we would have to take it a little at a time.

  To generate energy using any steam power source we needed to attach a suitable generator such that we could translate the rotational energy into electrical energy. The diesel integrated generators we had brought with us into the shelter would last some time but they would inevitably cease to function or we would run out of the material with which to drive them. For our medium term power conversion we needed to copy the old dynamos, having the disadvantages of a mechanical commutator but no phase coupling difficulties, to give us direct current electrical energy. Unfortunately direct current could only be transported short distances (less than one kilometre) but within a village it would be sufficient.

  We would consider manufacturing the more advanced alternators for the production of alternating current that could then be voltage transformed to transmit power more efficiently over a longer distance. In our initial systems we were unable to phase couple the alternating current. For this reason we, initially, had to power separate regions or villages from a different generator thus, in the medium term, reducing efficiency.

  For materials we would, in the early period, be able to salvage much of the required copper from vehicles, wrecked houses, power transmission lines and other sources. To use these resources, however, we had to discover ways to recover and extrude that copper into wire (requiring the use of energy) which we would then have to insulate so that it could be wound into coils or used as wire. With such coils transformers could be produced to convert an alternating voltage up and down and with this we could design motors powerful enough to work machines and make more generators or other required units. When we started creating generators an important deficit was bearings. These we originally obtained from vehicles; usually stripping the brake assembly to get at the wheel bearings but the engines and gearboxes of vehicles could also provide these elements.

  Probably our most important initial requirement, with respect to tools, would be the simple lathe. We initially arranged for a group to produce simple manual lathes as these would be needed to produce items required by our technical groups. These units would be the initiators and with these we would construct whatever our minds could conceive as being useful in further technological development.

  Once we had achieved sustainable energy we would have to develop electronic components that could use our energy resources reasonably efficiently. For this we had to consider what we could produce at any time. The production of simple analogue electronic test gear was a first requirement. Although we were unable to reach the sophistication of our existing pre impact systems our basic analogue test equipment had to be validated against a standard. This would allow us to test our redeveloped simple, analogue, electronic components and circuits until we were able to develop something better.

  The ordinary filament light bulb could be manufactured by us but it would require energy and would, compared to our shelter systems, be very inefficient. Light tubes such as the fluorescent tubes would be more efficient and within our capabilities hence we initiated a project to produce these components. For this, however, we had to learn to create glass tubes, vacuum pumps and recover suitable gases.

  The production of suitable tubes would require energy which would not be available until we had steam, or other alternative, generation capability or we have left the shelter and had an external energy source i.e. wood. For this reason we had to delay practical work except where we had defective tubes to repair or practice on. As can be seen our future was, initially, going to be based around developing some sustainable energy resources which would be on the critical path of nearly all our development protocols.

  We became very ambitious and one of our projects was initiated by a simple question. Could we manufacture a Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting systems? This project was initiated even though it would be far in advance of our proposed middle Victorian era. We had, however, the great advantage over those Victorian scientists in that we knew such components were possible. We only lacked semi-conductor materials of the required purity. Information regarding this was available in our library. Oh what a magnificent fountain of knowledge we had and we intended to make full use of it.

  We would also like to develop our own radio communication systems for use, initially, over short distances. To achieve this we could have used valves but transistors, similar to diodes, became part of our diode research project as we intended use these for our amplifiers. Valves would involve encasement and they also had reliability problems whereas transistors required only a suitable substrate and doping and were much more reliable than valves.

  If we could, in the medium term, manufacture those simple electronic components with reasonable quality resistors, capacitors and inductors we could produce simple low frequency, Amplitude Modulated (AM) and later Frequency Modulated (FM) radios that would provide our medium term, short distance, wireless, communication facilities. Microwave systems would have to wait though they were within our capabilities using facilities with our shelter.

  We had brought into the shelter an ample quantity of electrical compo
nents for the medium term. We had, additionally, brought a large quantity of individual electronic components together with component suppliers catalogues so that we knew what was on the substrates; but even these would not last forever. Much of this material had been obtained from the university and two abandoned electronic component shops that we found in nearby towns. If we could not produce our own, in the long term, we would loose that important element of technology which would be very undesirable.

  Another problem was the production of a means of connecting components, other than twisted wire. We had a considerable amount of solder from England and some obtained from guests but it would not last forever. We therefore had a future need for a supply of old fashion solder (lead and tin). We proposed to recycle any tin and we had enough lead in our stores to last for some time. In addition there would be considerable lead available in the ruined villages. We had the interest, we had the requirement and we had the books with the required information. We were excited at the prospect, were driven to success and we intended to succeed!

  We had, at this early stage, a surfeit of cups, plates, storage jars and cooking utensils; some being plastic and hence would not suffer from breakages. Here again we would eventually need to replace them from our own production; probably by ceramic components as the material required would, initially, be easier to obtain. None of our people were potters but volunteers were available. Though they were keen they would have to wait until we could obtain that basic material, clay. We could, however, build manual and powered potters wheels and this became the initial projects for our volunteer potters.

  It would, unfortunately, be necessary to wait until we had the energy for a kiln (electrical or, of more interest, wood or charcoaled fuelled when outside the shelter) and we were able to find a reasonably quantity of reasonable quality clay. The working of clay would need much practice hence the potters would have to learn their trade by working with any clay we could initially obtain. They would have plenty of time to practice as our ceramic resources would last some time but additions and modified ceramic units, initially unglazed, would eventually be required. It was also possible that we might need specialist clay units not available in our stores.

  We initially had a large quantity of cloth, clothes and blankets that we had made a point of obtaining. We would, however, require basic cloth to make new items of clothes. Although we had, at this stage, a few goats, cows and later sheep these animal numbers would, initially, be insufficient to meet even our then current requirements to make cloth to make clothes.

  We intended to grow flax from which we could make clothes, specialist cloths and rope but, again, producing sufficient for our needs would take time as we could not grow sufficient in our shelter. These facilities would eventually be able to provide, at least, some of our requirements but we would initially have to recycle whatever we had and a small group was set to work considering this problem.

  We were fortunate in having obtained, before the impact, some basic equipment, spinning wheels, a drum carder and a small loom but no spindles; as we later found out. We, or at least the allocated personnel, set to studying the problem of meeting our requirements. They would have to develop the ability to use the current tools and then, from this experience, design and build larger versions capable of producing acceptable cloth. Initially “acceptable” meant anything that would hold together and could be fashioned into something useful.

  One problem, amongst a very great many in those early days, was lack of expertise due to the fact that we had limited personnel. For example our metal department, carpenter, and medicine development were supported by only one expert. These services would be much in demand and they had to obtain voluntary apprentices to be taught their trades. It would, however, take several years for the apprentices to learn sufficient to be able to reasonably practice these trades. Our expertise shortage was worrying and until the time of writing some of these shortages have not been fully resolved.

  The key copying equipment, which came with the house group, proved quite useful in manufacturing copies of small metallic items. Because of our limited metal stocks, however, all that we could allocate to this purpose was that condemned as unsatisfactory for other uses. This lack of suitable material was unfortunate as the equipment proved capable of making small parts for the carder and bigger clocks. For this facility it was further unfortunate that the required modifications to the key copying equipment took time as this work required an expertise that we had to develop.

  In the early days we had plenty of medicines for immediate use; in fact we had a great surplus. Unfortunately, in the medium term, this resource would begin to run out or became too far out of date to risk using unless in an emergency (encapsulated medicines, however, could be expected to last to the time of writing this document and beyond). The manufacture of basic medicines, anaesthetics (nitrous oxide and chloroform) and vitamins to meet a future demand required the full time efforts of the farmer herbalist, his allocated assistant and the part time advice of our busy chemist. They would have to learn how to use the limited material available in our herb garden and any other available substance to produce even the minimum of the required basic medicines.

  In this respect, at least, we would have to largely return to the most basic of natural medicines. It was hoped that this effort would eventually become part time. The herbalist and his assistants could then be involved, with the doctor and chemist, in alternative related tasks (possibly producing medicines from other than simple herbs).

  The herbalist was university trained and had brought with him some herbs, seeds and related books. The original plan was that he would be allocated a herb garden and some space, on request, within our vegetable gardens. Some of his herbs, such as deadly nightshade, were dangerous and the children had to be protected by a prevention of entry wall and gate system to that particular area. He was requested to grow marijuana, tobacco, rose hips and hopefully we could also obtain heroin poppies and if possible a cocaine source. From these plants he hoped to produce, within the medium term, useful medicines against infection, pain and sickness. The latter items were, before the impact, still prohibited so possession could have been dangerous to our project at that time before the impact.

  We had made a point of obtaining seeds and plants, for the herb garden, at some risk to those obtaining these facilities. This risk came from those services designated to support the ridiculous and counterproductive prohibitions of the pre impact period. This prohibition merely allowed, like the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920’s, gangsters to become extremely rich and pay politicians to maintain the prohibition and corrupt judges to bring in the correct verdicts or sentences when required.

  In addition it had paid the gangsters to create addicted children, at schools, much as had been done by the tobacco companies in the nineteen sixties when children as young as eight were given cigarettes by young ladies employed by the tobacco companies. The drug prohibitionists also appeared to have failed to note that during the Victorian era addictions were far lower than during the prohibition periods when all drugs and, in fact, poisons could be obtained by adults on a signature. The fictional Sherlock Holmes was an addict and he appeared to have functioned rather well. During the Second World War bomber pilots were given amphetamines to help them with their tasks. These were also given to soldiers in later wars so they appeared to have had some beneficial official uses.

  It should be noted that prohibition actually prevented research into the creation of beneficial drugs; for example pain relief and cancer support from marijuana derivatives only truly became available around two thousand and twenty. Our hard working herbalist was required to pass his knowledge onto two other persons that it would not be lost should he be, unfortunately, removed from us. His professional work was of great importance and his apprentices were allocated to ensure that his important research could be continued to the benefit of our society.

  The benefits of marijuana were as useful as aspirin, itself d
erived from the willow, without the associated stomach problems. Meadowsweet contains salicylic acid having analgesic effects similar to aspirin but again with fewer side effects. Valerian traditionally, and proven by modern trials, to be an effective sedative relieving spasms and inducing sleep. We would, therefore, not be without basic medical support in the future.

  The making of shoes became a task for the shoe repair man. With this person’s basic equipment and knowledge he soon taught himself to make reasonable shoes from material found in our stores. He was given an assistant and they were soon producing reasonable, if not stylist, shelter shoes. He initially used otherwise useless flexible plastic and old car tyres that we had stored, as we had some remaining storage space, just before the impact, in case they should prove useful.

  We were originally hostile to the idea of using the tyres but relented a little to his entreaties. Even then we only allowed the use of three older tyres as new tyres, obtained from a tyre warehouse rather late in the pre-impact period, were in much better condition. These new tyres were kept in dark storage so that they would last as long as possible. We were fully aware that we might need them later for vehicles when their tyres became too well used. A burst tyre was liable to damage the wheel that we would then have difficulty replacing; though the burst tyre could then be recycled as shoes. It should be noted that later even the rule of equal tyres on an axle was not maintained though there was a potential risk. The actual manufacture of tyres was liable to be a much later project as obtaining even the raw material would be a problem. In addition the expenditure of valuable energy had always to be considered.

  The tyre shoes produced during this initial period, using those tyres, were not great examples of the cobbler’s art but using nothing of any other use they were of great benefit to our society. They were a indeed a boon to our people obtained from nothing except a little work. It is true they were floppy and required a learning period but they were practical shoes manufactured in house and could almost be described as sustainable. A benefit in this vein was that the tyre shoes lasted a long time and were easily repairable from what was, from our then point of view, waste material. Later the cobblers, with the carpenter’s assistance, produced wooden shoes. These simple items were quite comfortable when made for a particular person wearing socks. Unfortunately, they did, without a specialized lathe, require considerable manual labour.