Powering the station
The station starts out with maxed out battery power, but not generating any power at all. If power is not supplied, the station will start going dark in about 10 minutes, and the engineers will likely be threatened with lynchings until they resolve it. Or if they don't they will actually be lynched.
The Singularity Engine
The singularity engine is the real engine of the station, containing the mass gravitational power of a black hole so the crew can deep fry various articles of clothing. Starting the singularity engine requires the intervention of at least one human, and is usually the responsibility of the Chief Engineer. However, anyone with sufficient access, a welder, and a wrench can do it. A welding mask is also advised due to the large amount of welding that goes on.
Activating the singularity engine
There are 3 critical parts of the engine: The singularity generator, the field generators, and the emitters.
Steps to activating the engine:
- Check to make sure the singularity generator hasn't moved. It should be in the middle of the singularity bay, but occasionally someone will steal it. If you notice it missing, report it immediately.
- Move an emitter to the area marked by a bracketed yellow square and rotate them so they're pointing at a field generator. Wrench the emitter to bolt it to the floor, then weld it into place. If you are wearing a welding helmet, now's the time to drop the mask so you don't hurt your eyes.
- Repeat this step until all the bracketed yellow squares in the engine bay are filled. It is expected to have a left over emitter or two.
- Enter the singularity bay, where the field generators are housed. Without moving them, wrench them and weld them exactly like the emitters.
- Exit the singularity bay and make absolutely sure the airlock is closed.
- Go to the computer on the south end of the engine bay, insert your ID, and type term_login. Use the EngineMaster command to interface with the engine. The specific command to start the engine is EngineMaster start. If you lack sufficient access or you are too confused by the computer system, you can ask the AI to complete this step for you as long as absolutely everything is appropriately wrenched and welded.
The Solars
The solars are the external solar arrays of the station, nice in that they are almost maintenance free and provide enough power to keep lights and life support on in the station. However, they are not enough to keep anything else on, and they are trivially sabotaged by anyone with a space suit and wirecutters.
Activating the solar arrays
There are two solar arrays on the station, one on the west side with the control station just north of the cargo bay, and one on the east side with the control station just north of the disposal area. Assuming you have sufficient access, you do not need any tools to start the solars.
Steps to activating the solars:
- Click on the computer with an empty hand.
- Set the tracking algorithm to Auto.
Done. The AI can do this as well, and it is often easiest to simply ask the AI to 'set the solars'.
The Furnaces
The furnaces are traditional coal-burning power sources and are typically a last resort on the station. They consume the char mineral and produce power. Do not bother activating the furnaces unless the singularity engine has been stolen or something.
Steps to activating the furnaces:
- Ctrl-left click or Right click -> pull a crate of furnace fuel next to one of the furnaces.
- With an empty hand, click on the crate to open it.
- With an empty hand, click and drag one of the hunks of char onto the furnace.
- You will start 'quickly loading' the char into the furnace. Wait patiently until it is complete.
- With an empty hand, click the furnace and click On.