Vast area of desert located to the west of Skala City. Experiences perpetual sunlight.
Hellinar Research
Council-owned building in the Western District of Skala City. Due to the perceived lack of need for research in Hellinar the building has suffered a lack of investment. Occupants include Privy Councillors Joss Ratha, Kyle Devin and quartermaster JT Gilbert.
Kul
Previous centre of civilisation prior to the migration to Skala circa 300 years ago.
Mal-Kas
Large-scale ore mine operated by MineVision located in the mountains north of Skala.
Nastra Research Station
Farthest established outpost in Ayon. Used to conduct meteorological research.
Siphon
Water storage pumping facility below Skala.
Skala
Current major civilised city of the temperate band.
Skala Grasslands
Verdant area located directly east of Skala.
T7 – Hellinar Research
Hellinar Research storage and vehicle maintenance facility located southwest of the Central District of Skala.
T24 – Hellinar Research
Hellinar Research storage and vehicle maintenance facility located near the northeastern edge of the Eastern District of Skala.
Temperate Band
A north–south band of fertile land around 1,200km in width between Hellinar and Ayon that creeps eastwards at the rate of approximately three kilometres per year.
Tsarocca
Hadje settlement.
Vault
Facility located beneath Ayon Research to house the Intercessor Drive Cores ROOT and HEX.
Technical
Gas Turbine Engine (GTE)
An internal combustion engine of axial compressor/combustion chamber/turbine design. Used as the primary drive in medium-sized long-haul ‘Unit’ vehicles and commonly as an ancillary power source.
GVX
Advanced mobile science research station designed specifically for operation in extremely low temperatures and over rough terrain.
Mulcher
A device used for converting bio-material into a viable fuel for burning in internal combustion engines.
Platform Control
An active suspension system that works to keep the body of a vehicle level by hydraulically controlling wheel movement.
Pneumatic Valve Spring
A gas spring used in place of a steel coil spring to return an inlet or exhaust valve to the closed position when not depressed by a camshaft.
Power Pack
Interchangeable power unit designed specifically for GVX to assess pros and cons of various power sources on a large-scale vehicle.
Splint
Frame in which a driver can place her (or his) arms to enable intuitive control of GVX’s complex drive functions.
Thomason Plate
A plate forming the base of a pneumatic valve spring that itself is sprung by a light steel coil spring. Under normal operation, i.e. when the pneumatic valve spring is pressurised, the Thomason Plate remains stationary. However, in the event of a loss of pneumatic pressure, the plate rises on its coil spring and acts against the valve retainer to close the valve when not depressed by a camshaft.
Torque Converter
A hydraulic pump and motor coupling that converts the mechanical power of an engine to a controlled flow of hydraulic oil able to power wheels, steering, platform control and other functions.
Unit Vehicle
Part of a three-vehicle group that commonly travel together. Can be docked together nose-first in a star pattern, to form a single structure joined by three awnings. Units such as Hydra and Pegasus are driven by gas turbine engines positioned alongside a double-berth cockpit.
V10 Engine
An internal combustion engine of reciprocating piston design featuring ten cylinders arranged in two banks of five to form a V shape as viewed from the front.
Acknowledgements
Patrick and David would like to thank the following for their contributions to Trinity.
Kris Nash and Oliver Johnstone for their superb insight into mining and living in a desert city, respectively. Jon Gowdy for sharing his experiences in the British Antarctic Survey team. Paula Rissanen for organising the trip to northern Finland and for her company. To Jade Gurss for his invaluable advice. Emma-Jane Lewis for photographing the two worst subjects in her illustrious career. Also to Fraser Sinclair and Lucy Sinclair, Mark Robinson and Julie Monk. Alan Thomason, for his loan of the ‘Thomason Plate’ Patent (https://patents.google.com/patent/US9399933), and Ian Watson for his help with the illustrations.
Above all we would like to thank our families, without whose support this would never have been possible. To Cathy for looking after us and to Celia for her tireless sub-editing; we are both so very grateful.
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John Abbott
Phil Aiken
Ruben Martin Ares
Michael Breen
Ben Brown
Jayne Brown
Tricia Cann
In Memory of Thomas H Castle
Matt Castle
Henry Clark
Rob Clipson
Barry Curtis
Jon Dennis
Andrew Devon
Bas Doppen
Ed Dorgan
Lynn Duncan
David Fleetwood
Rene Gabrel
Kathryn Geaves
Bret Gordon
Jane Graham
Rob Hallifax
Mark Hearn
Keith Hicks
Ruth Hill
Peter Hogan
Philippa Hurwood
David Iddles
Simon Ingram
Tom Johnston
Oliver Johnstone
Dan Kieran
Charles Kimbell
Mit Lahiri
Emma-Jane Lewis
Andrew Lockey
Elaine MacKenzie
Dan McBryde
John Mitchinson
Andrea Morgan
Celia Morgan
Florence Morgan
David Murdoch
Rhel ná DecVandé
Stu Nathan
Carlo Navato
Reema Pal
Justin Pollard
Jon Powell
Graham Pretty
Matthew Price
Mark Robinson
Gemma Robson
Danny Saunders
Bernadette Shail
Neil Shorter
Ellie Sinclair
Taff Smith
David Steare
Philippa Stenning
John Stiner
Phil Stoner-Graham
Luke Trethewy
Gill Turner
Sonja van Amelsfort
Ulrich VanAyrd
Louise Whitbread
Andrea Williams
Grant Wilson
Trinity Page 33