Iconoclast -- New Aurora -- The Meadows

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Iconoclast -- New Aurora -- The Meadows

In order to handle the large trucks commonly used in 21st and 22nd Century shipping, the entire loop around New Aurora is built of the same plasticrete as the "official" trucking highways, although it is not as wide. Some 95 percent of all truck traffic approaches New Aurora from the northeast via Monmouth (NA1) or southeast via London (NA2), and both of these highways, as well as the entire eastern half of the New Aurora loop, contain special trucking lanes used expressly by these larger trucks. Most of these trucks are headed for the area northeast of the city dome, where New Aurora's truck terminal, called The Meadows, is located.

The Meadows are named after the grassy fields upon which they were built. Small swatches of these original grasslands still occupy some portions of the area at the west end of the port. Apart from the name, nothing about the Meadows is at all pastoral.

The Meadows is a privately owned business providing warehousing, loading and unloading facilities, repairs, fueling, weighing, food and lodging, security, medical needs and more. The Meadows contains 3 warehouses on the lot, 2 at 225,000 square feet and one at 270,000 square feet, with 6 long bays (suitable for Goliath-class trucks), 20 standard double-width docks and 8 "odd-end" double-width docks for special needs, allowing the entire grid to support, if necessary, the simultaneous loading and unloading of up to 62 trucks. The Meadows is, of course, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All offices are also open 24 hours a day, and are located on the premises, so you get immediate answers to shipping concerns. Representatives are just a few yards away, not miles.

All docks are equipped to handle every known method of loading and unloading using ceiling-mounted cranes monitored by human operators. Large-item equipment includes 5 and 10 ton pallet jack lifts at each dock and two 10 ton scales in each warehouse. Deliveries need not wait for a forklift to transfer items to or from incoming or outgoing trucks--staff are assigned to specific docks and warehouses to provide prompt loading and unloading, as well as direct transfer to smaller trucks or rail, and consolidation and deconsolidation of loads. All facilities also have full foam-dispersal fire-prevention systems, full-time security personnel and computerized inventory control.

The Meadows is well-known for their "entry tunnel" system, designed specicifically for the New Aurora highway system, a system which has been replicated at dozens of hubs across Americorp. Trucks are directed to enter one of three entry tunnels (ranging in length from 1/5 to 1/3 of a mile) at highway speed (60 to 120 MPH, averaging 90 MPH). Upon entering the tunnel, the driver brakes and, if possible, extends any airflaps or other braking systems he has on board. The tunnel generates a strong wind gust along its entire length, creating air resistance and bringing the truck down to 10-20 MPH by the time it exits the tunnel. Sensors and cameras along the length of the tunnel track the truck's speed and deceleration rate every hundredth of a second, adjusting wind velocity to slow the truck faster if necessary. This process provides evenly distributed deceleration, allowing the entire truck to slow down at once without vibration, skidding, or physical contact in any significant way. There is no cleanup, no mess, and the system works constantly and can handle a steady, constant flow of trucks.

Once out of the tunnel, larger trucks are directed straight ahead to one of six underground docks, each of which can handle 2 trucks simultaneously. The entries to these docks are angled to allow even Goliath-class trucks to enter with ease, and the edges are rubberized to prevent serious accidents in the event that a driver accidentally "misjudges" his entry. Smaller trucks that can maneuver better are directed to a wide array of other docks around the lot.

While the grid can maintain over 60 trucks at one time, backups do occur. In the event of a backup, trucks are redirected into a holding pattern and are asked to simply drive around the dome once. At a distance of about 10 miles, at 90 miles per hour, this means about a 7 minute delay, at which time most problems will have cleared up. Since even a 10 minute delay is often considered unacceptable, and can mean the loss of a great deal of money for drivers arranging cargo shipments on-the-fly, delays are rare, occurring no more than twice per month.

When problems do occur, The Meadows is well equipped to deal with them. For example, the air tunnel capture system only works if a truck is also enabling brakes and airflaps. If for some reason the truck is unable to brake (brake failure, driver injury, computer malfunction), then the driver can either radio the tower, or sensors on the highway approaching the tunnels will detect inappropriate dangerous speed as the truck enters (by comparing speed between point X and point Y). In either case, the airjets in the tunnel are then injected with a protein solvent which rapidly expands into a thick high-expansion foam with the consistency of styrofoam, air-bubbling into the tunnel within 3 to 5 seconds at a rate of 640,000 GPM. All the truck needs to do, then, is hit the wall of foam. The foam then doubles in density each time it is halved, so over a span of 1000 feet, the truck should halve its speed after 500, 250, 125, 72, 36 and 18 feet intervals. Trucks travelling at 90 MPH, or 132 fps, would normally reach the halfway point of the tunnel in 5 seconds, and should be able to stop within 1000 feet. If the truck is not stopped, however, then the back of the tunnel is already sealed with a blast door as a precaution. In the event that the truck explodes, the foam also acts as a fire suppressant. Ideally, the foam will save the driver, truck and cargo from as much damage as possible.

The protein foam is also environmentally safe and recyclable. After the tunnel is filled, the foam dissolves on its own after 30 seconds, running into a special vat where it is crucibled, dehydrated, and recycled for use when needed. After it dissolves, the system takes approximately an hour to reset itself, with the solute being pumped back into the holding bins ready for release. During this process, incoming trucks are simply diverted to the other two entry tunnels.

The Meadows is also well-equipped to handle all repairs. Truckers aware of needed repairs and fuel requirements can radio ahead, and the parts and fuel will be ready at the dock. During an estimated unloading/loading time of 5 to 20 minutes, most repairs and fueling can be finished (including a full engine swap and replacement of up to 18 tires.) These repairs are auto-billed as they are completed, often in a matter of seconds. The Meadows also provides instant diagnostic services while at the dock. If the system detects that your truck needs a part or fuel, the dock manager will alert you to this fact. If you choose to have repairs done, ceiling-mounted cranes will proceed to the repair bay, retrieve the necessary parts, and return in a matter of minutes. These repairs are also usually completed during the loading process, eliminating all delay. In the unlikely event that repairs are not finished during loading, extra repair time will be credited to your account. In the event of a major problem, trucks unable to be repaired at the dock will be directed (or towed) to D-warehouse, where they are placed into one of 3 special repair bays. In the event of severe difficulties beyond this stage (including inability to pay for repairs), trucks are towed to the D-lot, where they may be stored for an indefinite period of time under the watchful eye of Meadows security.