Project Tesla

MalTel Internal Memorandum dated 12 Dec 2005

TO: MalTel Techs RE: Project Tesla

Unfortunately, before the quarantine, all of our knowledgeable Electrical Engineers were either out of town, or killed in the plague. Also, our technical database was destroyed by a fire early during the quarantine. This means that we are without vital data about how the Generators that power our phone masts work.

This is why we have started Project Tesla. Using a series of fuel consumption reports and controlled experiments, we aim to figure out how long a generator can run on a single can of fuel.

Please use the discussion section to comment with your reports. Be sure to include any information you think may be relevant, like the likelihood of the generator being destroyed while you were gone, zombie presence, survivor presence, as well as the times and dates you refueled the generators.

Thank you for your cooperation --RocketYam

The Experiment

After early abortive attempts to investigate the rate of fuel consumption in portable generators, mostly at sporadic intervals and in uncontrolled environments, a low-profile research facility in southwest Malton was established by a lone technician, Mordred Geralis.

Initially, the generator life test was carried out on three platforms simultaneously, in order to ascertain that generator lifespan is universal for all generators regardless of location. Later in the experiment, the number of platforms was reduced to one, the universal-life principle being established (and supplies running low).

Five loosely-defined 'trials' were conducted over the course of 92 days of active observation, finally concluding on Wednesday, February 14th (it was a very happy Valentine's Day).

The contents of Mordred Geralis' research log are reproduced below.

Project Tesla Research Log

Trial 1 Notes

Day 1 - Monday, August 14th: Set up shop in [CENSORED]. There's a good cluster of unattractive buildings here, and no zombies or other survivors in sight. Two portable generators have been deployed and fully fueled, one in [CENSORED] at 11:10 PM, the other in [CENSORED] at 11:19 PM. I've sprayed warning messages, so hopefully no one will disturb the project.

Day 2 - Tuesday, August 15th: No change to generator statii as of 11:15 PM. Fuel indicators are still reading at acceptable levels, no damage to the barricades or generators has been observed. No survivors have yet been seen in the vicinity of the project sites.

Day 3 - Wednesday, August 16th: No change to generator statii as of 11:10 PM. Same report as yesterday.

Day 4 - Thursday, August 17th: No change to generator statii as of 11:20 PM. Random survivor sleeping in one of the project sites, but he seems to be just passing through.

Day 5 - Friday, August 18th: Both generators reading 'low on fuel' as of 11:10 PM. Two survivors noted in the immediate area of the project sites, but both seem to be on the move.

Day 6 - Saturday, August 19th: Both generators reading very low on fuel as of 11:00 PM. A minor zombie incursion earlier today was thwarted with the help of a friendly survivor; the project sites remain secure and there were no casualties.

Day 7 - Sunday, August 20th: One of the two test generators was destroyed at some point during the night, but the remaining generator completed its cycle and ran out of fuel sometime between 11:30 AM and 8:15 PM.

Trial 1 Conclusions

Though there remains some question as to how many total hours a generator can run on a single fuel can, the results indicate that the answer lies somewhere in the ballpark of five and a half days. Subsequent trials of greater scale will hopefully provide greater clarity.

Trial 2 Notes

Day 1 - Sunday, August 20th: Set up generators and sprayed warning messages in [CENSORED], [CENSORED], and [CENSORED] at 8:33 PM. Though there's been more zombie activity than I'd hoped for lately, I'm confident that at least one of the test generators will survive for six days. Since I already have a rough estimate of how long a fuel can lasts, I won't need to pay much attention to generator statii during my daily rotation - I'm more worried about the barricades.

Day 7 - Sunday, August 27th: The trial has ended in failure. I did not observe the time at which the generators ran out of fuel, and as such the experiment must be repeated (once I find a few more fuel cans, that is).

Trial 2 Conclusions

There were no useful results generated by this trial, and as such, little to conclude.

Trial 3 Notes

Day 1 - Thursday, November 23rd: Set up generators and sprayed warning messages in [CENSORED] and [CENSORED] at 7:05 PM. Further bulletins as events warrant.

Day 7 - Thursday, November 30th: Checked generators at 6:45 PM. Both were out of fuel. Refueled both at 6:46 PM.

Day 13 - Wednesday, December 6th: Checked generators at approximately 5:30 PM. Both were running low. Checked again at 10:09 PM, both were empty. Refueled one at 10:10 PM, will refuel other tomorrow morning.

Day 14 - Thursday, December 7th: Refueled the other generator at 5:35 PM.

Day 35 - Thursday, December 28th: Run out of refill fuel cans. Missed all intervening generator fuel-out times.

Trial 3 Conclusions

Missed the damn fuel-out time again. This experiment will be the end of me, or at least of what little hair I've got left. My stock of spare generators and fuel cans has run a bit short (as has my first-aid kit stash), so I've taken a resupply trip to [CENSORED]. I'll be heading back to [CENSORED] soon to resume trials. At least I've got some company now: there are several other survivors occupying [CENSORED], and I suspect that I just might remain sane through the course of this miserable ordeal with their assistance.

Trial 4 Notes

Day 1 - Tuesday, January 2nd: Fueled only generator at 1:00 PM in [CENSORED]. Here's hoping that this is the last trial I have to do.

Day 7 - Tuesday, January 9th: Missed fuel-out time again. Refueled at 4:30 PM.

Day 13 - Monday, January 15th: Missed fuel-out time again. I'm beginning to suspect that generators may only last six days after all.

Day 20 - Monday, January 22nd: Missed fuel-out time again. Refueled at 9:48 PM. This time, I'm going to assume that the generator only lasts five days, and will be checking in at four-hour intervals after the five-day mark is passed.

Day 28 - Tuesday, January 30th: Missed fuel-out time again. Refueled at 5:40 PM. Will check back at 12:40 PM on the 4th, 5:40 PM on the 4th, 10:40 PM on the 4th, and 7:10 AM on the 5th. Must make a note!

Day 33 - Sunday, February 4th: Still running with only a little fuel left as of 3:09 PM. As of 6:15 PM, the generator has run out of fuel.

Trial 4 Conclusions

Finally, a measure of generator life within a reasonable span of error... Fuel cans last from 117:29 to 120:35 (hours:minutes). I suspect that the real answer is 120:00 on the dot, which translates to five days exactly. Just one more trial... Oh, only one more trial. And then it will all be over. All I have to do is make a quick hop over to [CENSORED] for a fuel can or two.

Trial 5 Notes

Day 1 - Sunday, February 4th: Refueled generator at 8:35 PM. I expect it will run out on Friday the 9th at 8:35 PM. I'll eat my hat if it doesn't.

Day 5 - Friday, February 9th: Generator was destroyed today. I hate people... New generator fueled up at 5:35 PM. Forecast is that it'll run until Wednesday the 14th. Damn that freakshow...

Day 10 - Wednesday, February 14th: Happy Valentine's Day! Generator ran out of fuel between 5:20 and 5:40 PM, which is good enough for me.

Trial 5 Conclusions

Generators last for 120 hours - this is now a confirmed fact. I will return to my previous roaming technician duties immediately, as soon as I say goodbye to my friend at [CENSORED].