[Foreboding orchestral music] [Gustav Holst: Mars, the Bringer of War]
[Music] [Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance (Land of Hope and Glory)]
This is New Albion on Mars
Everything is underground at New Albion!
For colonists, "underground" usually refers to what's below their feet.
The ground level of Compartments is in fact a deck over vital services running below.
Electricity and data cables, water, sewerage and air-conditioning ducts run below the deck.
Electricity and data cables are
gas-tight, the others need their own seals for depressurisation emergencies.
In minor emergencies the main ducts can operate in a pass-through mode
with just local services sealed off.
In more severe emergencies a Compartment's ducts can be completely sealed off.
This causes adjacent Compartments to become effectively parts of separate Ways,
with services being pumped back and forth rather than flowing through.
Some commercial utility equipment is located below-deck -
laundry is commonly sited next to mains services.
There are also storage lockers
which some colonists call 'garages' or 'sheds' and decorate accordingly.
'Going underground' at New Albion isn't that different to being on top!
[Dissonant clashing orchestral music] [Gustav Holst: Mars, the Bringer of War]
[orchestral music continues]