Daily archives: August 1, 2006

Heavensent 8.9

This entry was posted in Fiction God Heavensent on by

The two old coastal supply ships had never merited names in their previous lives. Now, for their short change of career, they had been christened Rexal and Fedra after the twin mountain gods of legend.

Neither ship was capable of running under its own power. The engine rooms had been stripped of all turbines save those that powered the weapons system that filled the cargo bay. They had been tugged across the ocean by old battleships stripped of their main weapons but bristling with anti airs. After the twins were immolated these old timers were to serve as forward air defence for the invasion fleet.

Rexal and Fedra were ahead of Heavensent and its escorts, steaming towards a predetermined area. Charts were being checked and bearings taken, the last of the twins’ skeleton crews disembarked to motor launches and the rockets were ready on their racks. Everyone waited and counted down.

The two old ships and their tugs tacked into the fire zones. From here the pre-calculated trajectories and limited guidance systems of the rockets would land warheads on and around Stran island. Bank by bank, the motors lit and projectiles lifted from the ships.

With the last of the missiles gone, the twins were lost in their own noxious fog banks. As they emerged it was obvious their lives were over. Rexal was already listing where leaked fuel had ignited and punched a hole below the waterline and, like Fedra, was on fire for most of its length. The launch areas were well clear of the oncoming invasion fleet, so the old ships were cut loose and left to their fates.

Heavensent 9.1
Heavensent 8.8
Heavensent 1.1

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Solar panels on the High Street

This entry was posted in photovoltaic Solar Power Grants on by

Electrical chain Currys is to start selling photovoltaic panels in their stores. So far they’re only available in stores at West Thurrock, Fulham and Croydon. At £1000 a panel Currys say they’re charging less than some specialist firms and are touting Government grants that could cut the price by as much as 50%. It’s another important step in the Greening of the mainstream, though many people have issues with shopping at Currys for servivce level reasons.

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Solar panels on the High Street

This entry was posted in Solar Power on by

Electrical chain Currys is to start selling photovoltaic panels in their stores. So far they’re only available in stores at West Thurrock, Fulham and Croydon. At £1000 a panel Currys say they’re charging less than some specialist firms and are touting Government grants that could cut the price by as much as 50%. It’s another important step in the Greening of the mainstream, though many people have issues with shopping at Currys for servivce level reasons.

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Heavensent 8.8

This entry was posted in Fiction Heavensent on by

Note Forgot to post this yesterday.

The choke points either side of Stran Island created turbulent water as the tide rose. Warm, murky sea water streamed past currents of cold, clear fresh water in a complex jumble of flows that messed with the buoyancy of the Pigs as they tried to traverse the gap.

Breaking into a pocket or current of fresh water whilst trimmed for the sea could have the manned torpedoes plummeting toward the rocky bed. Conversely, trimming for fresh water could drive them up to broach the surface. Which was exactly what happened to North 3.

As they started to rise the pilot desperately tried to take on water and adjust the trim, but it was too late. The tail broke surface first, the propeller spinning up a froth. The bucking as the tube tried to settle in the waves threw the second crewman off then cracked the Pig down on him.

The limp body floated away, caught in the main flow of the current that had caused the catastrophe. The second crewman was the person who attached the explosives to the ship’s hull whilst the pilot held station. The pilot was turning toward the current to follow when a patrol boat rounded the island. He urged the tanks to fill faster and take him to a safe running depth.

There was a shout, the second crewman, in underwater gear complete with air tanks, had been spotted. The boat raced toward the limp body. The Pig was nearly under water, but the pilot, high in the saddle, was still exposed. Something splashed in the water to his right. He looked up and saw muzzle flashes from the autoguns on the boat’s bridge.

There were more splashes to his left. He frantically turned the arming key. It clicked as he primed the long fuse, a few more turns and he would arm it. Twin lines of splashes churned up the water and converged on the Pig. The pilot was hit several times and was dead before his body started to slide off the Pig.

Heavensent 8.9
Heavensent 8.7
Heavensent 1.1

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