Re: X3F-1622: Petropolis (SG-X2)
"I do not feel that we as a people are stupid," Tauranchula replies to Coleman, "but since your arrival, we have learned just how much we have lost or forgotten. It's not like we didn't know some of it, but we didn't seem capable of determining why. It was just... 'inevitable', to us."
"We know now that we relied on computers too much, though that was apparently the intent of the Altairans. The computer was supposed to guide us along until we could sustain our own culture. If you can fix it, it probably still can. But it was sabotaged before we reached that point. For us, at that time, there was nothing else."
"I can see now, though, how valuable it would be to have trade with you and your people, ColemanHendricks. You would become the second string to our bow. Yes, we know what bows are. We were on the verge of returning to their use when the lightning guns all ran out of power."
While the rest of you were all out having fun, Kyle and Karen had managed to repair the computer in so much as they were able to bypass the damaged unit and reboot the mainframe.
Kyle was even able to call up the schematic for the damage unit, determine what parts were damaged and needed replaced, and even locate the storage unit with those parts still in inventory. He estimates it'd take him and Carter maybe two days to fully repair it.
The computer also had a routine for correcting the problem with the vats. It wasn't a routine on file but one that it constructed based on what its sensors told it was wrong. Starting with the lowest vat, apply 1 lb. of ground mineral to it once per week for 3 weeks. Only after it is clear should you start on the next vat above.
Apparently, there is some sort of cascade effect, possibly some airborne contaminant, that trickles down. Thus, if you started at the top, by the time you got the contaminated ones fixed, all the ones below would have been corrupted.
Kyle has also found out all sorts of interesting data about the arcologies. Normally, the outer shell is transparent. The smog has obscured the view and there are some sort of barnacle growing on the outside because of the smog.