[dragoon500ly]

The next most common installation is the Team Bolt-Hole.

The bolt-hole is simply a underground bunker, designed to protect its occupying team, their vehicle and a minimal amount of supplies. While a detailed description is included below, each team is reminded, that while the bolt-hole will provide both safety and security, it is designed to be abandoned.

CONSTRUCTION

The bolt-hole begins as a very large hole in the ground. The bottom-most layer consists of 4 meters by 4 meters panels, each 1 meter thick and constructed of reinforced concrete. Mounted on this floor are dozens of heavy steel springs designed to cushion the inner layer of the facility. Over this is placed another series of floor panels. Installed on this second level is a steel girder grid, which has a maze of wiring, tubing, pipes and gas canisters necessary for the operation of the bolt-hole. A third layer of floor panels is mounted on top and forms the actual floor of the structure.

The exterior wall panels are 2 meters wide, 8 meters tall and 1 meter thick, and are also constructed of reinforced concrete. Once the exterior wall has been completed, two additional sets of wall panels form the interior structure, each wall is separated by a 1.5m gap that is filled with gravel.

The top of the bolt-hole is also constructed of exterior wall panels set up in a triple layer separated by gravel. Over the very top layer, an additional layer is laid across.

The interior of the structure is painted with an eggshell white, fire-resistant paint designed to reflect and brighten any available light.

LAYOUT

The bolt-hole has several major features.

1) Weapons and Ammunition Storage: All easily removed vehicle weapons and all ammunition is stored in this blast-resistant room. The only entry is through a hydraulically operated blast door located at one end. To gain access a MPID card must be inserted into the card reader to the right of the door. In the event of any explosion, this storage room is designed to vent the force of the blast up and away from the remainder of the bolt-hole.

2) Cyrogenic Chamber: This room contains the team’s freeze tubes. Located on the left end of this room is a hydraulically operated blast door located at one end. To gain access a MPID card must be inserted into the card reader to the right of the door. Located on the outside wall is another hatch secured by a manual handle. To the left of this hatch is a grey metal wall locker, bolted to the wall. This locker contains: 1 Ration Pack; 1 Large MedKit; 4 Shovels; 1 Axe, double-bit; 2 Picks; 2 Crowbars, 400 Sandbags (empty). Next to the entrance door is what has been nicknamed the “Riot Rack”. This is a weapons rack holding two SPAS-12 combat shotguns with 50 rounds of 12 gauge ammunition. (These weapons are intended for the team vehicles).

3) Emergency Personnel Exit: Located in the Cyrogenic Chamber and intended for use only if the other two exits are blocked. This exit is packed with a very light, dry sand that is easy to dig. In fact, most of this sand will fall out of the exit, revealing a metal cylinder with a ladder mounted to one side. At the top of the later is a hatch that opens downward revealing a short length of ladder going up and a second hatch, that will also open downwards. The team knows that after opening this second hatch it will be necessary to dig 1-2 meters in order to reach the outside.

4) Main Room: located to one side of the hatch leading to the Cyrogenic Chamber is a metal picnic-style table intended to be used to clean and assemble weapons, unpack equipment and for any mission planning. At one end is a metal lockbox welded to the table. Inside this box (combination is held by the team leader and assistant team leader) is a sealed package containing mission orders and documents. Also placed on this table are bottles of fluid supplements and energy bars to assist the team in recovering from freeze.

Any team vehicles are parked in the center of this room, raised on four manual screw jacks and four metal blocks used to relieve any tension on the suspension. The vehicle(s) must be first raised, the blocks removed and then lowered to the floor. Suspended from the ceiling over each vehicle is an electrical power hook-up, connected to the vehicle’s onboard fusion reactor. This uses the bolt-hole’s power supply to give the initial jumpstart to the power plant.

A simple four-wheeled metal push cart stands next to one wall. It is used to help move equipment, weapons and ammunition around the bolt-hole.

On one wall is located the Bolt-Hole Computer. This is a very simple machine designed to monitor and control the cryogenics tubes, the ELF receiver, the atmosphere within the bolt-hole as well as the overall status of the bolt-hole systems during the suspension period. Eight hours after the recall signal has been received and the team awakened, the computer will automatically wipe its memory and shut down.

Next to the computer is a control handle for a radio antenna that will raise a 10 meter antenna when activated. A coil of cable is located here and has been run to the nearest vehicle and hooked up to the onboard radio.

On one side of the computer is a charger rack that holds the battery packs for all team equipment as well as a rack of watches for the team’s use.

5) Located off to one side of the computer is the Periscope Package. This package is lifted hydraulically into position, through the earth cover above the bolt-hole. It is designed to view the immediate area around the bolt-hole and is equipped with sensors to monitor the levels of radiation in the area. This cannot be removed from the bolt-hole.

6) Vehicle Access Doors: On the far side of the Main Room are double hydraulic doors. On the left side is a card reader and a control panel holding two levers, marked INNER and OUTER and with OPEN and CLOSED. This panel must be activated by a MPID. When opened, the inner doors rest flush against the sides of the Main Room. The outer doors are concealed behind 3 meters of earth. This exit is large and slow to open, as the armored doors are quite heavy. It is a very conspicuous and slow method of exiting the bolt-hole.

7) Vehicle Exit Tunnel: This tunnel has no standard length. It may slope anywhere from 0 degrees to as much as +45 degrees. In some cases the tunnel can be measured in negative degrees. The exact length and slope depends on local terrain conditions.

8) Personnel Exit: located on the far wall of the Main Room and used to first recon the area around the bolt-hole. This exit is packed with a very light, dry sand that is easy to dig. In fact, most of this sand will fall out of the exit, revealing a metal cylinder with a ladder mounted to one side. At the top of the later is a hatch that opens downward revealing a short length of ladder going up and a second hatch, that will also open downwards. The team knows that after opening this second hatch it will be necessary to dig 1-2 meters in order to reach the outside.

To the right of this exit is a grey metal wall locker, bolted to the exterior wall. This locker contains: 1 Ration Pack; 1 Large MedKit; 4 Shovels; 1 Axe, double-bit; 2 Picks; 2 Crowbars, 400 Sandbags (empty).