A: this is… a hydro-electric plant?
B: yep this brick steel concrete is built to last a century.
A: how old is it?
B: I say 100 years give or take a few decades.
A: wha- so in case of a fire…
B: the only steps I’m taking are [flipping] big ones. -- Anon Guest
It's generally a safe idea to run when one sees a Human running. The only exception being on an approved jogging track. Such cautions definitely hold true in Human constructions. Yes, even the planned ones.
Especially the planned ones.
Natural forces last forever, or close enough to forever to not matter much. Machinery... does not. The best it can do is to last "a while", and Humanity's definitions of "a while" are... well... not great.
"Sure, the autodredging system needs a little kick-start once a decade, but that's small beans compared to everything else," said Engineer-guide Mal, making wide, sweeping gestures as he lead the others along the safest[1] walkways in the complex. "The whole place was made to last thousands of years and function during all that time with automated maintenance."
"How many thousands?" asked Inspector Jarn.
"Uh... five, I believe. Roman concrete really helped with that projection, too." He stamped on part of the concrete. "This thing's stood firm for seven and only minor hiccoughs."
The five Inspectors exchanged Looks that said, Do we remember where the nearest exits are?
Following that revelation, they all paid very special attention to the Humans working on the site for signs they should be alarmed.
[1] For very Human, and therefore limited, definitions of safety.
[Photo by Tom Brown on Unsplash]
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