86 - Just Read the Manual

The cabin of the sand-flea was ‘crunched’.  There were four spaces that might serve as ‘bunks’ and Terry loaded the sleeping boys into two of them.  His trunk carefully tucked itself under one of those spaces and a chime signalled the time.  “Page and Pen it’s almost dawn!”

He lay down in the half-reclined chair just behind what looked like crumpled windscreen and set the controller down in the armchair slot obviously meant to hold it.

Like his moon-tech, everything seemed to be clearly labelled and as the controller seated a number of blinking lights came up, all around.  Tiny, bio-lights, but he could see clearly and didn’t need the stump of candle he’d set on the floor.

“Blow up the lab, he said,” Terry muttered.  “Learn how to drive, he said.  It will be fine he said.”

There was a tremendous judder, the whole machine rocked and hit the walls. Terry found himself clutching the armrests, staring up at the ceiling panels. There was another distant boom and the machine rocked again.  The dust kicked up by the first concussion hadn’t had time to settle and danced in the lights.

“Read the manual, he said.”  Terry put both hands over his eyes.  The machine responded to his voice this time and a panel in front of him popped open to reveal a second class access only tech manual, one that Terry had never seen or read before.  He picked it up and the reading light along the top of the book clicked on.  “All right.”  He opened the cover, leaned back.  “Until I need to find the loo – do NOT show me now,” he snapped at the machine.

**

Rough and Unsteady Ground Traversing, All Terrain Access Vehicle Type VIII, Second Generation, Built RAMTUFF

“No wonder everyone calls you ‘fleas’… even if you do look more flat, like a roach.”

Welcome to the Type VIII, the newest of the Ground Traversing line, designed to be simple and effective to use in emergency situations and disaster relief missions, by civilian forces.  To power up…  Terry leafed forward.  It was already powered up, though on minimal air-flow and minimal power draw, to not call attention to itself. 

Stealth modes. 

I In case of an act of war

II In case of rebellion, act of terror, or insurrection

III In case of indigenous apex predator attack

IV Reconnaissance

            The patented hexagonal skin cells making up the camouflage skin of the Series VIII have a custom designed muscle edge connecting to each node, allowing the surface to fold and wrinkle to fit surrounding wave patterns in water, sand dunes and blowing sand, snow, rocks and even vegetation, especially since our camocolours are keyed to the appropriate chameleonlike match of the vehicle’s surroundings.

            The skin cells, when configured correctly also reflect all currently known sensors, in the visible and invisible spectrum…

Armaments: None in the Series VIII

Driving by voice:

Driving by hand:

Driving by remote:

Follow mode:

Personal care and survival features:

He read them through once, without remembering a single word, and began at the start again, the words beginning to blur.  He yawned once.  Twice.  What was that last paragraph about water finding sensors again? He closed his eyes just for a moment.