Techu Research Station, Antarctica, EARTH
Techu Research Station is located next to the Nike Crevasse in Antarctica. It is an international facility boasting residents from America, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Japan, India, China, Italy, Germany, Egypt and Greece.
Techu was built under the pretext of studying the unique geography of the Nike Crevasse, a fissure in the Antarctic ice that does not move with glacial flow. Numerous attempts to lower equipment to the bottom of the Crevasse have consistently failed, as the devices cease to function at certain depths. A drilling operation was initiated approximately forty years earlier, to penetrate the "island" of ice along the stable inner curve of the chasm. As progress has been made, the shaft has been stabilized and a series of elevators built to carry personnel and equipment to the bottom once bedrock has been reached.
Residents have developed a unique vocabulary, some of which is shared by all residents of Antarctica and some unique to Techu. (See Techu Slang article.)
Everyone knows Antarctica is cold and forbidding, one of the most hostile environments on Earth, but there are also lesser known peculiarities about surviving on the southernmost continent that only those who have lived there can truly understand.
Half the year is spent in darkness where the sun never rises; the other half is unending daylight. The human brain depends on a regular diurnal schedule in order for the brain to manufacture the chemicals that put us to sleep and wake us up. The extended seasons in Antarctica cause tremendous mental and psychological stress on humans, interfering with the production of these chemicals. Because of this, alcoholic beverages (a nervous system depressant in large quantities) are not served in the winter as drinking can exacerbate depression and insomnia.
In Antarctica, one cannot just go outside for a breath of fresh air. In addition to the cold temperatures that can freeze an unprotected person solid in a matter of minutes, wind shears that can carry an adult off their feet and well away from safety may well be invisible to the naked eye. There’s a euphoria that goes along with freezing to death, so you can’t trust your instincts to get you back indoors in time to save your own life. No one steps outside without first registering with a supervisor where you will be going and how long you anticipate being gone, and then suiting up in Extreme Cold Weather gear specifically manufactured for Antarctic explorers. Tardiness results in the sending of a Search and Rescue team.
On The Ice, there is no Fire Department coming to your rescue if there is ever an emergency in the station. YOU are the fireman and EMT. Every station resident is trained on emergency procedures, regularly drilled in such practices, and expected to respond immediately, because if anything should happen to damage the facility, help from other stations will likely not reach you before everyone has died of exposure.
The environment on The Ice has subtler features that can cause problems to the human psyche. In Antarctica, the only natural wildlife are found on and near the coast, so stations on the interior have no ambient noise aside from blowing snow in storms. In clear weather, the silence is deafening. We as humans are so accustomed to ambient noise in the background – the blowing of air conditioning, cars passing down the street, birdsong, leaves rustling in the wind – that the absence of such noise raises mental alarms and begins a process of sensory deprivation that OAEs (Old Antarctic Explorers) call “toast”. Light and color are factors as well. The Antarctic landscape is painted in white and pastels, so the absence of bright colors add to this condition. Since there is no vegetation or wildlife, there are no natural smells in-continent, either. Add to all this the lack of fresh vegetable, fruits or any other perishables during the wintertime when supply planes cannot fly, and virtually all of the senses are dampened. Mental processes are affected, resulting in a loss of concentration and focus, inability to sleep, irritability and zoning out into the “thousand yard stare” for brief periods.
When an individual has spent time on The Ice and is going back to the rest of the world, a psychologist usually accompanies them to assist with readjustment to the reverse, an oversaturation of the senses brought on by a return to a world full of inexplicable color, odor, sound, taste and warmth, a veritable acid trip that can last for days or weeks.
There are three seasons in Antarctica:
Mainbody, beginning approximately the first of October through late February-early March. This varies according to station location and distance from McMurdo Base.
WinFly: The first week after winter (usually in August) when planes begin to fly again, all the way to Mainbody in October.
Winter (the rest of the year), when storms are at their worst and often make travel impossible, not only into the interior of the continent, but also in the surrounding ocean. In winter, the continent experiences almost total darkness, save for starlight. Residents must commit to living on their base for the entire six-month period, with no way off The Ice and no chance of resupply.
Purpose of the Facility
Techu was built under the pretext of studying the unique geography of the Nike Crevasse, a fissure in the Antarctic ice that does not move with glacial flow. Numerous attempts to lower equipment to the bottom of the Crevasse have consistently failed, as the devices cease to function at certain depths. A drilling operation was initiated approximately forty years earlier, to penetrate the "island" of ice along the stable inner curve of the chasm. As progress has been made, the shaft has been stabilized and a series of elevators built to carry personnel and equipment to the bottom once bedrock has been reached.
Techu Slang
Residents have developed a unique vocabulary, some of which is shared by all residents of Antarctica and some unique to Techu. (See Techu Slang article.)
Life on “The Ice”
Everyone knows Antarctica is cold and forbidding, one of the most hostile environments on Earth, but there are also lesser known peculiarities about surviving on the southernmost continent that only those who have lived there can truly understand.
Half the year is spent in darkness where the sun never rises; the other half is unending daylight. The human brain depends on a regular diurnal schedule in order for the brain to manufacture the chemicals that put us to sleep and wake us up. The extended seasons in Antarctica cause tremendous mental and psychological stress on humans, interfering with the production of these chemicals. Because of this, alcoholic beverages (a nervous system depressant in large quantities) are not served in the winter as drinking can exacerbate depression and insomnia.
In Antarctica, one cannot just go outside for a breath of fresh air. In addition to the cold temperatures that can freeze an unprotected person solid in a matter of minutes, wind shears that can carry an adult off their feet and well away from safety may well be invisible to the naked eye. There’s a euphoria that goes along with freezing to death, so you can’t trust your instincts to get you back indoors in time to save your own life. No one steps outside without first registering with a supervisor where you will be going and how long you anticipate being gone, and then suiting up in Extreme Cold Weather gear specifically manufactured for Antarctic explorers. Tardiness results in the sending of a Search and Rescue team.
On The Ice, there is no Fire Department coming to your rescue if there is ever an emergency in the station. YOU are the fireman and EMT. Every station resident is trained on emergency procedures, regularly drilled in such practices, and expected to respond immediately, because if anything should happen to damage the facility, help from other stations will likely not reach you before everyone has died of exposure.
The environment on The Ice has subtler features that can cause problems to the human psyche. In Antarctica, the only natural wildlife are found on and near the coast, so stations on the interior have no ambient noise aside from blowing snow in storms. In clear weather, the silence is deafening. We as humans are so accustomed to ambient noise in the background – the blowing of air conditioning, cars passing down the street, birdsong, leaves rustling in the wind – that the absence of such noise raises mental alarms and begins a process of sensory deprivation that OAEs (Old Antarctic Explorers) call “toast”. Light and color are factors as well. The Antarctic landscape is painted in white and pastels, so the absence of bright colors add to this condition. Since there is no vegetation or wildlife, there are no natural smells in-continent, either. Add to all this the lack of fresh vegetable, fruits or any other perishables during the wintertime when supply planes cannot fly, and virtually all of the senses are dampened. Mental processes are affected, resulting in a loss of concentration and focus, inability to sleep, irritability and zoning out into the “thousand yard stare” for brief periods.
When an individual has spent time on The Ice and is going back to the rest of the world, a psychologist usually accompanies them to assist with readjustment to the reverse, an oversaturation of the senses brought on by a return to a world full of inexplicable color, odor, sound, taste and warmth, a veritable acid trip that can last for days or weeks.
The Antarctic Year
There are three seasons in Antarctica:
Mainbody, beginning approximately the first of October through late February-early March. This varies according to station location and distance from McMurdo Base.
WinFly: The first week after winter (usually in August) when planes begin to fly again, all the way to Mainbody in October.
Winter (the rest of the year), when storms are at their worst and often make travel impossible, not only into the interior of the continent, but also in the surrounding ocean. In winter, the continent experiences almost total darkness, save for starlight. Residents must commit to living on their base for the entire six-month period, with no way off The Ice and no chance of resupply.
Demographics
One third of the population of Techu is involved in scientific research. Ten percent is military, and the remainder is made up of support staff such as cooks, cleaners, shopkeepers, mechanics, IT, General Assistants, servers and medical personnel.
Government
This is a private facility owned and operated by Mahtoht, an international think-tank. As an independent company, the facility staff report to the parent organization; however, due to the isolation of the station, the staff have developed a governing body composed of representatives from each department. National politics are discouraged in the workplace, but residents are given free reign to express opinions during personal time.
Defences
As the station is an international facility, it is manned by a minimum of military staff provided by the United Nations for security purposes. The unit housed at Techu is supervised by Col. Paul Dix, USMC.
Infrastructure
Restrictions are imposed on all residents of Antarctica. The continent is considered a special habitat, so non-native animals (such as dogs and livestock) are forbidden from being imported. Additionally, all waste products (including sewage) must be packaged and exported on a regular basis to prevent human pollution. With these restrictions in mind, the only infrastructure existing at the station is that required for housing and support of the resident staff.
Guilds and Factions
There are basically three communities living within the confines of Techu: 1) the scientists whose primary function is to study the unique properties of the Nike Crevasse, 2) the civilian staff who provide support for the other residents, and 3) the UN military staff who provide station security.
History
The Techu Station was built approximately forty-five years earlier. The original structure was basic and now houses the Retro Yard. Due to the nearly unlimited resources provided by the parent company, Mahtoht, the facility that has grown from the simple origins of the first building have been developed into an architectural marvel with two towers, a self-sufficient greenhouse, residential and recreational spaces and the station's own television and radio stations.
Architecture
Designed by the Luminaries, the architectural style is futuristic, designed to blend into the white landscape with sweeping curves and towers gilded with smart glass. Due to the powerful winds that sweep the continent, all windows are fitted with heated metal shutters that can be opened to let in light on clear days or closed to protect from storms.
No expense has been spared in the decor. Floors are warmed with carpets, some made of revolutionary materials that resemble the look and feel of real grass. A sound system has been installed to provide ambient sounds like birds, streams, crickets and wind in an environment naturally devoid of such noise. Fragrance dispensers are also employed to provide personnel with the scents of nature, with great care taken to prevent allergic reactions. Entire walls in corridors and meeting rooms feature video clips of beaches, deserts, forests, jungle-covered mountains and rocky canyons. Furniture is well made and beautiful, rather than simply lightweight and utilitarian. Almost every common room features an artificial tree and silk flowers.
From the outside, Techu gives the impression of a cross between the Guggenheim Museum and the Fortress of Solitude. Inside, it is a lush work of art, filled with creature comforts, bright colors and engaging spaces.
The building is divided into the following sections:
This is situated at the main entrance of the facility. All new arrivals and departures of personnel and cargo are funneled through this area (Movement Control Center). Offices of senior staff and all department heads are housed here. Additionally, the base Post Office, I.T. department, telephone and internet, network operations and field operations are headquartered here. The station boasts its own radio and television broadcasting network, based in this section.
Incoming aircraft land on an airstrip near the southern face of the facility. From there, planes are directed to the hangars in the Heavy Shop for refueling, preflight checks and any necessary repairs prior to returning to their AOD. The Heavy Shop also boasts a complete machine shop for fabrication of necessary parts, along with a parts warehouse for commonly used and emergency items.
Adjacent to the VMF is the Retro Yard, where all waste (including sewage) is packaged and stored for transport back to the rest of the world.
In the northwest corner of the VMF is the station's main power plant.
The Galley is centrally located in the facility. This section includes Housekeeping, a supply warehouse, several full kitchens and food stores, clothing stores affectionately referred to as Savile Row, and a section of company stores commonly called Wally World, where personnel can order items from the various shopkeepers, pick them up when they arrive, or buy off the shelf.
Techu's kitchens boast some of the finest chefs and baristas in the world, serving in the main Mess Hall called the "Ice House" and in the upstairs VIP kitchen called "Spago South". There are two bars that serve alcohol (during the summer months only) called "Bar None" (in the Happy Place) and the "Power Bar" in the Science wing. Two coffee shops ("Java" in the Happy Place and "Kona" on the upper floor outside Spago South) are available to keep the population caffeinated and snack-happy year round.
This facility is home to the Electronics Shop, where computer equipment is designed, tested and repaired. The "Bone Yard" is a secured section housing certain antiquities pertinent to the site. The Science Support staff is headquartered here. The Science wing is west of the Galley area and features tall banks of windows overlooking the Nike Crevasse.
In the far western portion of the Science wing, a Lifepod is located. This features its own separate emergency power plant, emergency supplies, a small communications hub and bunking areas in case of catastrophic failure of the main facility.
The Engineering section is headquartered next door to the power plant. This is the location for the drilling equipment and supplies for building the elevator assemblies.
The upper floor of the Science wing is devoted to a greenhouse for experimentation with plants, plant research, and as a greenspace to provide limited "freshies" to the station personnel during the winter season. The garden is affectionately called "Eden" and boasts numerous year-round visitors in need of the green, growing things for emotional well-being.
The Happy Place fills the majority of the ground floor area in the southwestern half of the building. This is where residents come to spend their off-duty time, enjoying such recreational zones as the Game Hub, Motown (where musical instruments can be rented), Hollywood (for movies and big screen TV viewing), the Louvre (art studio), the Globe Theater (playhouse), a sauna and gym, a library, the iNet Cafe (where residents can cruise the internet for personal use), and Carnegie Hall, the assembly hall where all station-wide meetings are held.
Additionally, Wiggly Field is an outdoor sports arena located adjacent to the Heavy Shop and Engineering.
On the upper floor deck of the VIP/Officers Residence area, a skating rink is maintained for those who enjoy winter sports, as well as a common area for social gatherings.
Another unique feature of Techu are the Congress Suites. These are under-ice rooms in the basement level where couples can go for romantic retreats. These rooms are private -- off the station's surveillance grid -- with strictly observed check in/check out reservations. Since it is essential that personnel be accounted for at all times, this is a safety precaution.
There are three regular sections where station personnel have private quarters. On the upper floor, the northern tower called "The Ritz" is reserved for Very Important Personnel visiting the station. The remainder of the upper floor houses senior officers, department heads and other temporary guests.
Regular station personnel and support staff reside in below-ice suite "pods" connected by ice tunnels. Some rooms may remain in their natural "ice hotel" format, complete with individual touches like ice carvings on the walls, according to the resident's preference.
Emergency berthing is available for all station personnel in the Lifepod, located in the far western corner of the facility.
No expense has been spared in the decor. Floors are warmed with carpets, some made of revolutionary materials that resemble the look and feel of real grass. A sound system has been installed to provide ambient sounds like birds, streams, crickets and wind in an environment naturally devoid of such noise. Fragrance dispensers are also employed to provide personnel with the scents of nature, with great care taken to prevent allergic reactions. Entire walls in corridors and meeting rooms feature video clips of beaches, deserts, forests, jungle-covered mountains and rocky canyons. Furniture is well made and beautiful, rather than simply lightweight and utilitarian. Almost every common room features an artificial tree and silk flowers.
From the outside, Techu gives the impression of a cross between the Guggenheim Museum and the Fortress of Solitude. Inside, it is a lush work of art, filled with creature comforts, bright colors and engaging spaces.
The building is divided into the following sections:
ADMIN & COMMUNICATIONS
This is situated at the main entrance of the facility. All new arrivals and departures of personnel and cargo are funneled through this area (Movement Control Center). Offices of senior staff and all department heads are housed here. Additionally, the base Post Office, I.T. department, telephone and internet, network operations and field operations are headquartered here. The station boasts its own radio and television broadcasting network, based in this section.
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FACILITY (HEAVY SHOP)
Incoming aircraft land on an airstrip near the southern face of the facility. From there, planes are directed to the hangars in the Heavy Shop for refueling, preflight checks and any necessary repairs prior to returning to their AOD. The Heavy Shop also boasts a complete machine shop for fabrication of necessary parts, along with a parts warehouse for commonly used and emergency items.
Adjacent to the VMF is the Retro Yard, where all waste (including sewage) is packaged and stored for transport back to the rest of the world.
In the northwest corner of the VMF is the station's main power plant.
GALLEY
The Galley is centrally located in the facility. This section includes Housekeeping, a supply warehouse, several full kitchens and food stores, clothing stores affectionately referred to as Savile Row, and a section of company stores commonly called Wally World, where personnel can order items from the various shopkeepers, pick them up when they arrive, or buy off the shelf.
Techu's kitchens boast some of the finest chefs and baristas in the world, serving in the main Mess Hall called the "Ice House" and in the upstairs VIP kitchen called "Spago South". There are two bars that serve alcohol (during the summer months only) called "Bar None" (in the Happy Place) and the "Power Bar" in the Science wing. Two coffee shops ("Java" in the Happy Place and "Kona" on the upper floor outside Spago South) are available to keep the population caffeinated and snack-happy year round.
SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
This facility is home to the Electronics Shop, where computer equipment is designed, tested and repaired. The "Bone Yard" is a secured section housing certain antiquities pertinent to the site. The Science Support staff is headquartered here. The Science wing is west of the Galley area and features tall banks of windows overlooking the Nike Crevasse.
In the far western portion of the Science wing, a Lifepod is located. This features its own separate emergency power plant, emergency supplies, a small communications hub and bunking areas in case of catastrophic failure of the main facility.
The Engineering section is headquartered next door to the power plant. This is the location for the drilling equipment and supplies for building the elevator assemblies.
The upper floor of the Science wing is devoted to a greenhouse for experimentation with plants, plant research, and as a greenspace to provide limited "freshies" to the station personnel during the winter season. The garden is affectionately called "Eden" and boasts numerous year-round visitors in need of the green, growing things for emotional well-being.
MORALE, WELLNESS AND RECREATION (HAPPY PLACE)
The Happy Place fills the majority of the ground floor area in the southwestern half of the building. This is where residents come to spend their off-duty time, enjoying such recreational zones as the Game Hub, Motown (where musical instruments can be rented), Hollywood (for movies and big screen TV viewing), the Louvre (art studio), the Globe Theater (playhouse), a sauna and gym, a library, the iNet Cafe (where residents can cruise the internet for personal use), and Carnegie Hall, the assembly hall where all station-wide meetings are held.
Additionally, Wiggly Field is an outdoor sports arena located adjacent to the Heavy Shop and Engineering.
On the upper floor deck of the VIP/Officers Residence area, a skating rink is maintained for those who enjoy winter sports, as well as a common area for social gatherings.
Another unique feature of Techu are the Congress Suites. These are under-ice rooms in the basement level where couples can go for romantic retreats. These rooms are private -- off the station's surveillance grid -- with strictly observed check in/check out reservations. Since it is essential that personnel be accounted for at all times, this is a safety precaution.
RESIDENCES
There are three regular sections where station personnel have private quarters. On the upper floor, the northern tower called "The Ritz" is reserved for Very Important Personnel visiting the station. The remainder of the upper floor houses senior officers, department heads and other temporary guests.
Regular station personnel and support staff reside in below-ice suite "pods" connected by ice tunnels. Some rooms may remain in their natural "ice hotel" format, complete with individual touches like ice carvings on the walls, according to the resident's preference.
Emergency berthing is available for all station personnel in the Lifepod, located in the far western corner of the facility.
Geography
The station sits not far away from the Nike Crevasse, the only formation of its kind in Antarctica. Glacial flow moves the ice on the continent approximately thirty feet per year, so there are few permanent buildings built here. The South Pole marker is even re-positioned annually due to this phenomenon. However, the Nike Crevasse does not appear to move, nor does the area of ice fitted into the inside curve of the Crevasse. This allows for a stable building site, including the development of under-ice living spaces for the residents, as well as a tunnel and elevator system aimed at reaching the bottom of the Crevasse to determine why it does not move with the ice flow.
Natural Resources
The only natural resource available to the residents of Techu is water, obtained from ice/snow melt. All other supplies must be flown into the facility. During the winter months, this is often impossible due to severe weather, so the stewards of Techu keep vast amounts of non-perishables on hand for long-term isolation.
Maps
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Techu Research Station, Upper Level
This view of the map shows the upper story of the station.
Type
Outpost / Base
Population
The base boasts a year-round population of approximately two thousand souls.
Owning Organization
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